bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
IDH Mutations in Chondrosarcoma: Case Closed or Not?
Authors: Venneker Sanne , Bovée Judith V. M. G.
Published: July 2023

Chondrosarcomas are malignant cartilage-producing tumours that frequently harbour isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and -2 (IDH) gene mutations. Several studies have confirmed that these mutations are key players in the early stages of cartilage tumour development, but their role in later stages remains ambiguous. The prognostic value of IDH mutations remains unclear and preclinical studies have not identified effective treatment modalities (in)directly targeting these mutations. In contrast, the IDH mutation status is a prognostic factor in other cancers, and IDH mutant inhibitors as well as therapeutic strategies targeting the underlying vulnerabilities induced by IDH mutations seem effective in these tumour types. This discrepancy in findings might be ascribed to a difference in tumour type, elevated D-2-hydroxyglutarate levels, and the type of in vitro model (endogenous vs. genetically modified) used in preclinical studies. Moreover, recent studies suggest that the (epi)genetic landscape in which the IDH mutation functions is an important factor to consider when investigating potential therapeutic strategies or patient outcomes. These findings imply that the dichotomy between IDH wildtype and mutant is too simplistic and additional subgroups indeed exist within chondrosarcoma. Future studies should focus on the identification, characterisation, and tailoring of treatments towards these biological subgroups within IDH wildtype and mutant chondrosarcoma.
Advantage of First-Line Therapeutic Drug Monitoring-Driven Use of Infliximab for Treating Acute Intestinal and Liver GVHD in Children: A Prospective, Single-Center Study
Authors: Maximova Natalia , Nisticò Daniela , Riccio Guglielmo , Maestro Alessandra , Barbi Egidio , Faganel Kotnik Barbara , Marcuzzi Annalisa , Rimondi Erika , Di Paolo Antonello
Published: July 2023

The high serum concentrations of TNF-α characterize acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), for which infliximab treatment may be beneficial. In 28 pediatric patients, four doses of 10 mg/kg infliximab every seven days were administered after steroid failure (Standard Group, n = 14) or as a first-line therapy (Early Group, n = 14). Population pharmacokinetic analyses and evaluation of serum cytokines were performed. After two months of treatment, complete response in gastrointestinal and liver aGVHD was achieved in 43% and 100% of patients in the Standard and Early groups, respectively. During follow-up, four patients in the Standard Group (but none in the Early Group) experienced an aGVHD recurrence. Viral infections occurred more frequently in the Standard Group after the fifth dose. Infliximab clearance did not differ between groups or according to treatment outcome for each organ involved in aGVHD, whereas serum levels of cytokines significantly differed. Therefore, present findings show that use of first-line, TDM-driven infliximab to treat aGVHD in children may result in better clinical outcomes and tolerability, with a different pattern of cytokines generated according to the moment of beginning of treatment.
Elderly and Patients with Large Breast Volume Have an Increased Risk of Seroma Formation after Mastectomy—Results of the SerMa Pilot Study
Authors: Köpke Melitta Beatrice , Wild Carl Mathis , Schneider Mariella , Pochert Nicole , Schneider Felicitas , Sagasser Jacqueline , Kühn Thorsten , Untch Michael , Hinske Christian , Reiger Matthias , Traidl-Hoffmann Claudia , Dannecker Christian , Jeschke Udo , Ditsch Nina
Published: July 2023

The collective of the SerMa pilot study included 100 cases of primary breast cancer or Carcinoma in situ who had undergone a mastectomy procedure with or without reconstruction of the breast using an implant or expander at Augsburg University Hospital between 12/2019 and 12/2022. The study aimed to investigate possible causes of seroma formation; reported here are the clinicopathological correlations between seroma formation and tumor biology and surgical procedures. Seroma occurred significantly more often in patients with older age (median patient age in cases with seroma was 73 years vs. 52 years without seroma; p < 0.001). In addition, patients with larger mastectomy specimen were significantly more likely to develop seroma (median ablation weight in cases with seroma 580 g vs. 330 g without seroma; p < 0.001). Other significant parameters for seroma formation were BMI (p = 0.005), grading (p = 0.015) and tumor size (p = 0.036). In addition, with insertion of implant or expander, a seroma occurred significantly less frequently (p < 0.001). In a binary logistic regression, age in particular was confirmed as a significant risk factor. In contrast, tumor biological characteristics, number of lymph nodes removed or affected showed no significant effect on seroma formation. The present study shows the need for patient education about the development of seroma in particular in older patients and patients with large breast volumes within the preoperative surgical clarification. These clinicopathological data support the previously published results hypothesizing that seroma formation is related to autoimmune/inflammatory processes and will be tested on a larger collective in the planned international multicenter SerMa study.
Deep Learning for Medical Image-Based Cancer Diagnosis
Authors: Jiang Xiaoyan , Hu Zuojin , Wang Shuihua , Zhang Yudong
Published: July 2023

(1) Background: The application of deep learning technology to realize cancer diagnosis based on medical images is one of the research hotspots in the field of artificial intelligence and computer vision. Due to the rapid development of deep learning methods, cancer diagnosis requires very high accuracy and timeliness as well as the inherent particularity and complexity of medical imaging. A comprehensive review of relevant studies is necessary to help readers better understand the current research status and ideas. (2) Methods: Five radiological images, including X-ray, ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission computed tomography (PET), and histopathological images, are reviewed in this paper. The basic architecture of deep learning and classical pretrained models are comprehensively reviewed. In particular, advanced neural networks emerging in recent years, including transfer learning, ensemble learning (EL), graph neural network, and vision transformer (ViT), are introduced. Five overfitting prevention methods are summarized: batch normalization, dropout, weight initialization, and data augmentation. The application of deep learning technology in medical image-based cancer analysis is sorted out. (3) Results: Deep learning has achieved great success in medical image-based cancer diagnosis, showing good results in image classification, image reconstruction, image detection, image segmentation, image registration, and image synthesis. However, the lack of high-quality labeled datasets limits the role of deep learning and faces challenges in rare cancer diagnosis, multi-modal image fusion, model explainability, and generalization. (4) Conclusions: There is a need for more public standard databases for cancer. The pre-training model based on deep neural networks has the potential to be improved, and special attention should be paid to the research of multimodal data fusion and supervised paradigm. Technologies such as ViT, ensemble learning, and few-shot learning will bring surprises to cancer diagnosis based on medical images.
Clinician Perspectives on Palliative Care for People with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Facilitators of and Barriers to Referral
Authors: Woodrell Christopher D. , Mulholland Christie N. , Goldstein Nathan E. , Hutchinson Carole L. , Schiano Thomas D. , Hansen Lissi
Published: July 2023

(1) Background: Little is known about facilitators of and barriers to palliative care referral for people with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The objective of this study is to identify facilitators and barriers of palliative care referral described by HCC-treating clinicians. (2) Methods: Semi-structured interviews (n = 16) were conducted with HCC-treating clinicians at two centers, focusing on referral patterns, palliative care needs, and disease course. A code book was created, axial coding was used to code all interviews, and selective coding was used to identify facilitators and barriers of palliative care referral. (3) Results: Facilitators included helpfulness at times of transition; help with management of certain symptoms; provision of psychosocial support; and positive experiences with referral. Barriers included feasibility concerns; lack of information about palliative care and who is appropriate; lack of symptoms requiring outside referral; and concerns that palliative care conveys loss of hope. (4) Conclusions: Participants noted the helpfulness of palliative care at specific points in the disease trajectory and cited barriers related to feasibility, lack of need, lack of awareness, and loss of hope. The results show actionable issues that can be addressed in future research to leverage the benefits of and overcome the barriers to palliative care for people with HCC.
Therapeutic Targeting Potential of Novel Silver Nanoparticles Coated with Anti-CD20 Antibody against Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Adamo Francesco Maria , Silva Barcelos Estevao Carlos , De Falco Filomena , Dorillo Erica , Rompietti Chiara , Sorcini Daniele , Stella Arianna , Del Papa Beatrice , Baldoni Stefano , Esposito Angela , Geraci Clelia , Arcaleni Roberta , Pennetta Chiara , Ragonese Francesco , Moretti Lorenzo , Mameli Mariagrazia , Di Ianni Mauro , Rosati Emanuela , Fioretti Bernard , Sportoletti Paolo
Published: July 2023

Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is an incurable disorder associated with alterations in several pathways essential for survival and proliferation. Despite the advances made in CLL therapy with the new target agents, in some cases, relapses and resistance could occur, making the discovery of new alternatives to manage CLL refractoriness necessary. To provide new therapeutic strategies for CLL, we investigated the anti-leukemic activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), whose impact on CLL cells has been poorly explored. Methods: We studied the action mechanisms of AgNPs in vitro through flow cytometry and molecular analyses. To improve the bioavailability of AgNPs, we generated AgNPs coated with the anti-CD20 antibody Rituximab (AgNPs@Rituximab) and carried out imaging-based approaches and in vivo experiments to evaluate specificity, drug uptake, and efficacy. Results: AgNPs reduced the viability of primary CLL cells and the HG-3 cell line by inducing an intrinsic apoptotic pathway characterized by Bax/Bcl-2 imbalance, caspase activation, and PARP degradation. Early apoptotic events triggered by AgNPs included enhanced Ca2+ influx and ROS overproduction. AgNPs synergistically potentiated the cytotoxicity of Venetoclax, Ibrutinib, and Bepridil. In vitro, the AgNPs@Rituximab conjugates were rapidly internalized within CLL cells and strongly prolonged the survival of CLL xenograft models compared to each unconjugated single agent. Conclusions: AgNPs showed strong anti-leukemic activity in CLL, with the potential for clinical translation in combination with agents used in CLL. The increased specificity of AgNPs@Rituximab toward CLL cells could be relevant for overcoming in vivo AgNPs’ non-specific distribution and increasing their efficacy.
Impact of Developing Dialysis-Requiring Acute Kidney Injury on Long-Term Mortality in Cancer Patients with Septic Shock
Authors: Kim June-Sung , Kim Ye-Jee , Kim Youn-Jung , Kim Won Young
Published: July 2023

(1) Background: Considering recent advances in both cancer and sepsis management, we chose to evaluate the associated factors for occurrence of septic acute kidney injury in cancer patients using a nationwide population-based cohort data. (2) Methods: Using data from the National Health Insurance Service of Korea, adult cancer patients who presented to emergency departments with septic shock from 2009 to 2017 were analyzed. A Cox-proportional hazard model was conducted to evaluate the clinical effect of sepsis-related acute kidney injury requiring dialysis. (3) Results: Among 42,477 adult cancer patients with septic shock, dialysis-requiring acute kidney injury occurred in 5449 (12.8%). Recovery from dialysis within 30 days was 77.9% and, overall, 30-day and 2-year mortality rates were 52.1% and 85.1%, respectively. Oncologic patients with dialysis-requiring acute kidney injury frequently occurred in males and patients with hematologic cancer. A multivariate Cox-proportional hazard model showed that dialysis-requiring acute kidney injury had the highest adjusted hazard ratio of 1.353 (95% confidence interval 1.313–1.395) for 2-year mortality. (4) Conclusions: Dialysis-requiring septic acute kidney injury did not occur commonly. However, it had a significant association with increased long-term mortality, which suggests emphasis should be placed on the prevention of acute kidney injury, particularly in male hematologic cancer patients.
New Perspectives on Sex Steroid Hormones Signaling in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Inoue Chihiro , Miki Yasuhiro , Suzuki Takashi
Published: July 2023

The importance of sex hormones, especially estrogen, in the pathogenesis of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has attracted attention due to its high incidence among young adults and nonsmokers, especially those who are female. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) reside in the cancer stroma and influence cancer growth, invasion, metastasis, and acquisition of drug resistance through interactions with cancer cells and other microenvironmental components. Hormone-mediated cell–cell interactions are classic cell–cell interactions and well-known phenomena in breast cancer and prostate cancer CAFs. In cancers of other organs, including NSCLC, the effects of CAFs on hormone-receptor expression and hormone production in cancer tissues have been reported; however, there are few such studies. Many more studies have been performed on breast and prostate cancers. Recent advances in technology, particularly single-cell analysis techniques, have led to significant advances in the classification and function of CAFs. However, the importance of sex hormones in cell–cell interactions of CAFs in NSCLC remains unclear. This review summarizes reports on CAFs in NSCLC and sex hormones in cancer and immune cells surrounding CAFs. Furthermore, we discuss the prospects of sex-hormone research involving CAFs in NSCLC.
Sonidegib in Locally Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Monocentric Retrospective Experience and a Review of Published Real-Life Data
Authors: Nazzaro Gianluca , Benzecry Valentina , Mattioli Maria A. , Denaro Nerina , Beltramini Giada A. , Marzano Angelo V. , Passoni Emanuela
Published: July 2023

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) represents the most common skin cancer and locally advanced BCC (laBCC) refers to an aggressive, large, infiltrative BCC that cannot be treated by surgery or radiotherapy. Sonidegib is a Hedghehog inhibitor (HHi) indicated for laBCC. This is a monocentric retrospective real-life study of laBCCs receiving Sonidegib treatment. Although Sonidegib is widely used, since its approval by Food and Drug Administration in 2015, only a limited number of real-life experiences have been reported. Eleven patients, including four patients diagnosed with Basal Cell Naevus syndrome, received treatment with Sonidegib for laBCCs. Seven (63.6%) patients experienced adverse events (AEs) but only three had to discontinue treatment and were therefore excluded from the following results. Four patients (50%) achieved complete clinical remission (CR); in all cases the remission was confirmed by biopsy. Partial response (PR) was found in three patients out of eight (37.5%). One patient out of eight (12.5%) showed a steady disease (SD). None of the patients showed signs of progression during treatment with HHi. Sonidegib showed the same efficacy in treating laBCCs as already seen in trials. All four patients suffering from Basal Cell Naevus syndrome achieved disease control by being treated with Sonidegib. Consequently, we strongly advise the joint management of laBCCs through a multidisciplinary team whenever feasible.
Individual Contributions of Amido Acid Residues Tyr122, Ile168, and Asp173 to the Activity and Substrate Specificity of Human DNA Dioxygenase ABH2
Authors: Davletgildeeva Anastasiia T. , Tyugashev Timofey E. , Zhao Mingxing , Kuznetsov Nikita A. , Ishchenko Alexander A. , Saparbaev Murat , Kuznetsova Aleksandra A.
Published: July 2023

Human Fe(II)/α-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase ABH2 plays a crucial role in the direct reversal repair of nonbulky alkyl lesions in DNA nucleobases, e.g., N1-methyladenine (m1A), N3-methylcytosine (m3C), and some etheno derivatives. Moreover, ABH2 is capable of a less efficient oxidation of an epigenetic DNA mark called 5-methylcytosine (m5C), which typically is a specific target of DNA dioxygenases from the TET family. In this study, to elucidate the mechanism of the substrate specificity of ABH2, we investigated the role of several active-site amino acid residues. Functional mapping of the lesion-binding pocket was performed through the analysis of the functions of Tyr122, Ile168, and Asp173 in the damaged base recognition mechanism. Interactions of wild-type ABH2, or its mutants Y122A, I168A, or D173A, with damaged DNA containing the methylated base m1A or m3C or the epigenetic marker m5C were analyzed by molecular dynamics simulations and kinetic assays. Comparative analysis of the enzymes revealed an effect of the substitutions on DNA binding and on catalytic activity. Obtained data clearly demonstrate the effect of the tested amino acid residues on the catalytic activity of the enzymes rather than the DNA-binding ability. Taken together, these data shed light on the molecular and kinetic consequences of the substitution of active-site residues for the mechanism of the substrate recognition.
Understanding the Role of the Glial Scar through the Depletion of Glial Cells after Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Perez-Gianmarco Lucila , Kukley Maria
Published: July 2023

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a condition that affects between 8.8 and 246 people in a million and, unlike many other neurological disorders, it affects mostly young people, causing deficits in sensory, motor, and autonomic functions. Promoting the regrowth of axons is one of the most important goals for the neurological recovery of patients after SCI, but it is also one of the most challenging goals. A key event after SCI is the formation of a glial scar around the lesion core, mainly comprised of astrocytes, NG2+-glia, and microglia. Traditionally, the glial scar has been regarded as detrimental to recovery because it may act as a physical barrier to axon regrowth and release various inhibitory factors. However, more and more evidence now suggests that the glial scar is beneficial for the surrounding spared tissue after SCI. Here, we review experimental studies that used genetic and pharmacological approaches to ablate specific populations of glial cells in rodent models of SCI in order to understand their functional role. The studies showed that ablation of either astrocytes, NG2+-glia, or microglia might result in disorganization of the glial scar, increased inflammation, extended tissue degeneration, and impaired recovery after SCI. Hence, glial cells and glial scars appear as important beneficial players after SCI.
Effects of Ag on High-Temperature Creep Behaviors of Peak-Aged Al-5Cu-0.8Mg-0.15Zr-0.2Sc(-0.5Ag)
Authors: Wang Ying , Zhou Ge , Che Xin , Li Feng , Chen Lijia
Published: July 2023

The tensile creep of Al-5Cu-0.8Mg-0.15Zr-0.2Sc(-0.5Ag) was tested at 150–250 °C and 125–350 MPa, and the effect of Ag on the high-temperature creep of Al-Cu-Mg alloys was discussed. After the addition of Ag, the high-temperature creep performances of the alloy were significantly improved at 150 °C/300 MPa and 200 °C/(150 MPa, 175 MPa). Then, constitutive relational models of the alloy during high-temperature creep were built, and the activation energy was calculated to be 136.65 and 104.06 KJ/mol. Based on the thermal deformation mechanism maps, the high-temperature creep mechanism of the alloy was predicted. After the addition of Ag, the creep mechanism of the alloy at 150 °C transitioned from lattice diffusion control to grain boundary diffusion control. At 250 °C, the mechanism was still controlled by grain boundary slip, but as the stress index increased and after Ag was added, the alloy fractures lead to the formation of dimples, thus improving the high-temperature creep performance.
Design and Analysis of Systematic Batched Network Codes
Authors: Mao Licheng , Yang Shenghao , Huang Xuan , Dong Yanyan
Published: July 2023

Systematic codes are of important practical interest for communications. Network coding, however, seems to conflict with systematic codes: although the source node can transmit message packets, network coding at the intermediate network nodes may significantly reduce the number of message packets received by the destination node. Is it possible to obtain the benefit of network coding while preserving some properties of the systematic codes? In this paper, we study the systematic design of batched network coding, which is a general network coding framework that includes random linear network coding as a special case. A batched network code has an outer code and an inner code, where the latter is formed by linear network coding. A systematic batched network code must take both the outer code and the inner code into consideration. Based on the outer code of a BATS code, which is a matrix-generalized fountain code, we propose a general systematic outer code construction that achieves a low encoding/decoding computation cost. To further reduce the number of random trials required to search a code with a close-to-optimal coding overhead, a triangular embedding approach is proposed for the construction of the systematic batches. We introduce new inner codes that provide protection for the systematic batches during transmission and show that it is possible to significantly increase the expected number of message packets in a received batch at the destination node, without harm to the expected rank of the batch transfer matrix generated by network coding.
Technical and Economic Feasibility Analysis of Solar Inlet Air Cooling Systems for Combined Cycle Power Plants
Authors: Roshanzadeh Behnam , Asadi Ashkan , Mohan Gowtham
Published: July 2023

In this study, the thermodynamic behavior of a combined cycle power plant with integrated solar-driven inlet air cooling was simulated for Tehran, Phoenix, and Houston during warm-hot seasons. A considerable reduction in the output power was realized during hot ambient conditions due to the lower density of the air and lower mass flow rate to the turbines. The output power decreases from 306.6 to 260.8 MW as ambient temperature increases from 15 to 45 °C. This research focuses on utilizing solar cooling systems to achieve low inlet air temperature to generate high-electricity yields. Four different types of solar collectors and two different absorption chiller units were selected and simulated for each city to achieve the required goal. It was identified that integrating a solar inlet air cooling (SIAC) system can avert the reduction in output power with no impact on efficiency. The humid climatic condition in Houston and the low electricity cost in Tehran posed some challenges in designing a feasible SIAC system. However, by optimizing the solar collectors and cooling capacities, an optimal solution for utilizing inlet air cooling in humid climates is presented. In terms of overall impact, the evacuated flat plate collector (EFPC) coupled with a double-effect absorption chiller displayed the best economic performance among the four variants under study. In Phoenix, this combination can maintain output power during hot days with a DPR of 2.96 years.
A Systematic Review and Classification of Glazing Technologies for Building Façades
Authors: Michael Michalis , Favoino Fabio , Jin Qian , Luna-Navarro Alessandra , Overend Mauro
Published: July 2023

High-performance glazing technologies are essential for achieving the occupant comfort and building energy efficiency required in contemporary and future buildings. In real-world applications, glazing façades are selected from a steadily increasing number of glazing technologies. However, the authors could not identify a systematic and comprehensive review and classification of glazing technologies in the literature. This creates a barrier when comparing typologically different glazing technologies and combining multiple technologies in a glazing unit. This paper provides a systematic review and classification of established and emerging glazing technologies based on publications from 2001–2022 which were interpreted following the PRISMA methodology. This study reveals that the majority of high-performance glazing systems used in practice are in multi-layer glazing configurations and that the glazing system performance can focus on including additional and multiple functionalities, which aim at improving overall building performance. It was also found that there is a large potential for improvement of multilayer, evacuated, aerogels, electrochromic, and solar cell glazing by incorporating other technologies or innovative materials in multi-layer glazing units for either improving existing technologies or for the development of new ones. However, their longevity, robustness, and cost affordability should be ensured.
Pitting and Strip Corrosion Influence on Casing Strength of Salt Cavern Compressed Air Energy Storage
Authors: Wan Jifang , Ji Wendong , He Yuxian , Li Jingcui , Gao Ye
Published: July 2023

In response to the localized corrosion generated by underground casing, which seriously affects the safe operation of salt cavern compressed air storage, we used commercial finite element software, ANSYS, to propose a partial model applicable to casings with pitting and strip corrosion. The results show that the pitting depth of the casing is closely related to fracture and collapse pressure. As pitting corrosion depth increases, its effect on fracture and collapse pressure becomes more significant. The greater the number of corrosion pits, the lower the compressive strength of the casing, and the casing tends to be more prone to fracture. The area with large stress is mainly distributed along the long axis of the strip corrosion. In the short axis of the strip corrosion, there is no stress concentration and appears as a low stress region. The effect of strip corrosion depth on failure pressure is greater than the effect of strip corrosion length. In this work, we developed a method to predict residual strength, which is useful to assess not only well integrity but, additionally, safety of the casing used during petroleum and natural gas exploration and production.
Thrust Coordinated Assignment and Ripple Suppression of a Multiple-Modular Permanent Magnet Linear Synchronous Motor Based on Model Predictive Thrust Control
Authors: Zuo Kai , Hong Yi , Yang Jin , Xu Lei , Qi Haitao , Li Baolong , Liu Hao , Liu Luyuan
Published: July 2023

This paper presents a model predictive thrust force control (MPTFC) method for a multiple-modular permanent magnet synchronous linear motor (PMSLM). It focuses on the thrust assignment and thrust ripple of the motor drive system with a multiple-branch inverter. A discrete time model of the PMSLM is established, and the driving system structure and operation principle of the motor are studied. A multi-mode cost function is designed according to the requirements of the different load conditions, and the optimal voltage vector action time is determined. The operation mode is analyzed to determine the distribution factor, so as to reduce the thrust pulsation during operation and improve the performance of the drive system. The results indicate that the proposed MPTFC method is effective in different operating modes, and the drive system has high efficiency and safer performance compared to a conventional drive system.
Energy Extraction and Processing Science
Authors: Kong Shaoqi , Feng Gan , Liu Yueliang , Wen Chuang
Published: July 2023

With an increasingly tight supply of world energy resources, unconventional oil and gas resources, including shale oil and gas, coal-bed gas, tight sandstone oil and gas, have attracted much attention [...]
Application and Efficiency of a Series-Hybrid Drive for Agricultural Use Based on a Modified Version of the World Harmonized Transient Cycle
Authors: Medževeprytė Ugnė Koletė , Makaras Rolandas , Lukoševičius Vaidas , Kilikevičius Sigitas
Published: July 2023

Off-road vehicles and transportation are vital for agricultural economics, yet the transition to green energies is challenging. To make this transition easier, a tool that enables the testing of heavy-duty off-road vehicles in various scenarios was created. Based on the methods of the World Harmonized Transient Cycle (WHTC), a new Hybrid Operational Cycle (HOC) that reflects the features of agricultural work was created and applied in a graphical model simulation. This was a newly developed methodology. The cycle and the model were based on gathered research data. A numerical model of a medium-power tractor with an internal combustion engine and a series-hybrid setup was created, and simulations were performed in Matlab and AVL Cruise. Both diesel and hybrid vehicles were compared in terms of their power production, fuel consumption, and efficiency in fieldwork and transportation scenarios. The results showed that a series-hybrid transmission can achieve an efficiency similar to that of a tractor with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), but because it uses an electric powertrain, it still provides the opportunity to exploit energy regeneration during transportation and under low-load conditions. The designed model may also be used to develop control algorithms for hybrid drives and improve their efficiency.
Spatial Network and Driving Factors of Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity in China
Authors: Zhou Zhou , Duan Jianqiang , Geng Shaoqing , Li Ran
Published: July 2023

Agricultural green total factor productivity (AGTFP) is an important indicator to reflect the sustainability level of agriculture. The AGTFP network reflects the spatial correlations of the AGTFP among regions; thus, exploring its network structure and influencing factors can provide targeted policy guidance to the coordinated development of the agriculture sector. This study builds an epsilon-based measurement data envelopment analysis (EBM-DEA) model to calculate 31 provincial AGTFPs in China from 2002 to 2020. Then, social network analysis (SNA) was utilized to explore the characteristics of the AGTFP network, and the quadratic assignment procedure (QAP) was applied to find its external influencing factors. We reached four central conclusions: (1) Overall, there was a gradual upward trend of AGTFP in China during 2002~2020, and the average value rose from 0.75 in 2002 to 0.90 in 2020, but there were some differences among regions. (2) There is a complex and stable network characteristic of AGTFP; the average network density is 0.3753, and the average network efficiency is 0.4714. Meanwhile, some eastern and central areas, such as Henan, Anhui, Hubei, Hebei, Jiangsu, etc., have relatively high centrality and are a bridge in the entire network. (3) The AGTFP network can be divided into eight blocks, including two net beneficial blocks (the central-eastern provinces with high centrality); two net spillover blocks, including the provinces located in the developed urban areas (Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Jilin), the underdeveloped northwest regions (Ningxia, Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Tibet). The other areas are two-way spillover blocks. (4) Transportation development gap, technological progress gap, and the similarities of the agricultural industry structure are critical factors influencing the AGTFP network. Hence, improving the efficiency of the logistics and transportation industry, promoting technology transfer from developed areas to underdeveloped areas, and developing characteristic agriculture are all conducive to promoting the whole region’s AGTFP. Our research provides policy implications for sustainable agricultural development in China and other developing countries.
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus in Central China Based on SNP Markers
Authors: Yang Aixia , Ding Xiaolei , Feng Yuan , Chen Tingting , Ye Jianren
Published: July 2023

Hubei, Hunan and Henan Provinces are located in Central China, a region with extensive transport networks and trade. The pine wilt nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the causative agent of pine wilt disease, is spread mainly through human activities. To further understand the genetic structure of PWN in Central China, we studied the genetic information of PWN populations in this region and compared the genetic relationship with strains from Guangdong and Jiangsu provinces. We found that the HB (Hubei) 15, HEN (Henan) 20, HN (Hunan) 07, HN08 and HN10 had significantly more SNPs and homozygotes than other strains from Central China, and their most frequent mutant genotypes also differed from other strains. The clustering results indicated that HB15, HEN 20, HN07, HN08 and HN10 were genetically distinct from other strains and closely related to Guangdong strains. We also observed significant genetic variation among strains in Henan province, suggesting that some of them might have different transmission sources than those from Hubei and Hunan provinces. Introgression analysis identified three possible pathways: (1) Guangdong to Henan; (2) Guangdong to Hunan; and (3) Jiangsu to Hubei. The results provide a basis for tracing the origin and spread of pine wood disease in China.
Limosilactobacillus fermentum MG5091 and Lactococcus lactis MG4668 and MG5474 Suppress Muscle Atrophy by Regulating Apoptosis in C2C12 Cells
Authors: Park Jeong-Yong , Lee Ji Yeon , Kim YongGyeong , Kang Chang-Ho
Published: July 2023

Muscular atrophy is a chronic muscle disease characterized by a loss of muscle mass and muscle weakness due to excessive protein breakdown relative to protein synthesis. Apoptosis is a major factor in sarcopenia and the final stage of muscle atrophy that occurs via various mechanisms. In this study, we evaluated the protective effects of cell-free supernatants (CFSs) from different lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains in dexamethasone (DEX)-treated C2C12 cells, followed by probiotic properties. We found that Limosilactobacillus fermentum (L. fermentum) MG4263 and MG5091 and Lactococcus lactis (Lc. lactis) MG4668 and MG5474 inhibited muscle atrophy F-box (atrogin-1) and muscle-specific RING-finger protein-1 (MuRF-1) in DEX-treated C2C12 cells. In addition, LAB strains inhibited the expression of apoptotic proteins, such as Bcl-2-associated X (Bax)/Bcl-2 and caspase-3 in DEX-treated C2C12 cells. L. fermentum MG5091, Lc. lactis MG4668, and MG5474 showed high survival rates in gastrointestinal (GIT) conditions and high adhesion rate to HT-29 cells. The LAB strains were also assessed for hemolysis and toxicity in HT-29 cells to confirm their stability. The LAB strains showed no hemolytic activity and toxicity to HT-29 cells. Therefore, L. fermentum MG5091, Lc. lactis MG4668, and MG5474 suggest their potential as probiotics to be used as functional foods for the inhibition of muscular atrophy.
Acoustic TDOA Measurement and Accurate Indoor Positioning for Smartphone
Authors: Cheng Bingbing , Wu Jiao
Published: July 2023

The global satellite navigation signal works well in open areas outdoors. However, due to its weakness, it is challenging to position continuously and reliably indoors. In this paper, we developed a hybrid system that combines radio signals and acoustic signals to achieve decimeter-level positioning indoors. Specifically, acoustic transmitters are synchronized with different codes. At the same time, our decoding scheme only requires a simple cross-correlation operation without time-frequency analysis. Secondly, acoustic signals will be reflected by glass, walls and other obstacles in the indoor environment. Time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurement accuracy is seriously affected. We developed a robust first path detection algorithm to obtain reliable TDOA measurement values. Finally, we combine the maximum likelihood (ML) algorithm with the proposed TDOA measurement method to obtain the location of the smartphone. We carried out static positioning experiments for smartphones in two scenes. The experimental results show that the average positioning error of the system is less than 0.5 m. Our system has the following advantages: (1) smartphone access. (2) an unlimited number of users. (3) easily deployed acoustic nodes. (4) decimeter-level positioning accuracy.
Italian Lockdown and Consumption: The Rise of Flour during Forced Domestic Isolation from a Digital Perspective
Authors: Moschin Massimiliano
Published: July 2023

This article analyses the first Italian lockdown in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of a digital scenario, trying to find assumptions from social media to understand the amazing increase in flour consumption that occurred, up to an average value of +80%. The focus of this article is on the most common social platforms of the country, Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, and the analysis took place around the keyword “flour”. The aim was to find some answers looking at the media consumption of content related to the topic, looking at the first 100 most engaging posts on Facebook pages, Facebook public groups and Instagram profiles. What emerged is that after an initial dominion of professional content creation in the second month of the three months of domestic reclusion, user-generated content augmented on Facebook, while on Instagram, the most-followed profile was the one of a domestic cooking star. What seemed to emerge is that cooking at home and completing simple recipes based on flour could have been a sort of protection practice against the instability and terrific times due to the pandemic in the Italian cultural field.
k-mer-Based Genome-Wide Association Studies in Plants: Advances, Challenges, and Perspectives
Authors: Karikari Benjamin , Lemay Marc-André , Belzile François
Published: July 2023

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have allowed the discovery of marker–trait associations in crops over recent decades. However, their power is hampered by a number of limitations, with the key one among them being an overreliance on single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as molecular markers. Indeed, SNPs represent only one type of genetic variation and are usually derived from alignment to a single genome assembly that may be poorly representative of the population under study. To overcome this, k-mer-based GWAS approaches have recently been developed. k-mer-based GWAS provide a universal way to assess variation due to SNPs, insertions/deletions, and structural variations without having to specifically detect and genotype these variants. In addition, k-mer-based analyses can be used in species that lack a reference genome. However, the use of k-mers for GWAS presents challenges such as data size and complexity, lack of standard tools, and potential detection of false associations. Nevertheless, efforts are being made to overcome these challenges and a general analysis workflow has started to emerge. We identify the priorities for k-mer-based GWAS in years to come, notably in the development of user-friendly programs for their analysis and approaches for linking significant k-mers to sequence variation.
Transcriptomic Analysis of Liver Tissue of Black Sea Bass (Centropristis striata) Exposed to High Nitrogen Environment
Authors: Liu Bingjian , Jin Xun , Zhang Kun , Liu Yifan , Wang Shaowen , Chen Shiyi , Zhang Shufei , Yin Xiaolong
Published: July 2023

The black sea bass, Centropristis striata, is a potential candidate for commercial aquaculture. Due to inadequate removal of nitrogen in its breeding environment, C. striata exhibits increased nitrate concentration, which can cause acute toxicity, including energy metabolism damage and tissue damage. Therefore, RNA-seq technology was applied to characterize genes associated with toxicity tolerance under nitrate stress. The nitrate treatment caused significant changes in a total of 8920 genes, of which 2949 genes were up-regulated and 5971 genes were down-regulated. It was found that significantly enriched GO terms and KEGG were associated with blood microparticles, inhibitors of enzyme activity, and complement and coagulation cascade pathways. Furthermore, through bioinformatics analysis, it was found that these different pathways obtained in GO and KEGG enrichment analysis were mostly related to the immune and inflammatory response of fish. This study expands our understanding of the mechanism of nitrate stress affecting the liver function of C. striata.
Occupational Asthma Prevalence among Migrant Workers Attending Shuaiba Industrial Medical Center in Kuwait
Authors: Alhadlaq Hussah Waleed , Ateeq Alanoud , Shayea Abdulaziz M. F. , Gasana Janvier
Published: July 2023

Specific work environments, such as exposure to chemicals emitted during industrial processes, are related to occupational asthma. From 1985 to 2012, Kuwait was expected to have the highest asthma prevalence rate among Middle East nations, at 15%. This cross-sectional study was conducted using secondary data from occupational health physicians’ records in the Shuaiba Industrial Medical Center (SIMC) extracted and analyzed using SPSS. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used to check the association between risk factors and bronchial asthma (BA). The data sample size was 3478 in 2018 and 3807 in 2019. In 2018, BA had a significant relationship with age categories, work year groups, and determinants of fitness. Migrant workers above 51 years of age had a high risk of developing BA (p-value = 0.012). There was a high risk of developing BA in workers who worked > 21 years (p-value < 0.001) and in workers who worked between 11 and 20 years (p-value = 0.042). Overweight workers had a risk of developing BA (p-value = 0.042). In 2019, BA had an associated relationship with age categories and determinants of fitness. Workers above 51 years of age had about a 39% risk of developing BA (p-value = 0.009). Otherwise, the BMI, working year groups, marital status, and smoking status had no association with BA. In conclusion, BA is prevalent among migrant workers at the SIMC. Long hours, low income, and a lack of PPE are just a few of the issues that migrant workers have been exposed to, raising their risk of poor health.
In Silico Apple Genome-Encoded MicroRNA Target Binding Sites Targeting Apple Chlorotic Leaf Spot Virus
Authors: Ashraf Muhammad Aleem , Murtaza Nimra , Brown Judith K. , Yu Naitong
Published: July 2023

Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV) (genus, Trichovirus; family, Betaflexiviridae) is a widespread, deleterious, and the most damaging pathogen of pome and fruit trees including domesticated apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.), to which it is transmitted by grafting and pruning. The positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus is 600–700 nm long and has a genome of 74.7–7.56 kbp in size, minus the poly-A tail and 3′- and 5′-untranslated regions. The genome has three overlapping open reading frames (ORFs) that encode a replication-associated protein (Rep), movement protein (MP), and coat protein (CP). RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated antiviral defense in eukaryotes has evolved to control infections in plant viruses. The objective of this study was to analyze locus-derived microRNAs (mdm-miRNAs) in the apple genome with potential for targeting ACLSV +ssRNA-encoded mRNAs, using a predictive approach that involves four algorithms. The goal is to mobilize the in silico-predicted endogenous mdm-miRNAs and trigger the RNAi pathway experimentally in apple trees to evaluate antiviral resistance to ACLSV. Experimentally validated apple (2n = 2X = 34) mdm-miRNAs (n = 322) were obtained from the miRBase database and aligned to the ACLSV genome (KU870525). Of the 322 targeting mature locus-derived mdm-miRNAs analyzed, nine apple mdm-miRNA homologs (mdm-miR395k, mdm-miR5225c, and mdm-miR7121 (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h) were predicted by all “four algorithms”, whereas fifty-eight mdm-miRNAs were identified as consensus binding sites by the combined results of two algorithms. The miRanda, RNA22, and TAPIR algorithms predicted binding of mdm-miR395k at nucleotide position 4691 and identified it as the most effective interacting mdm-miRNA targeting the virus ORF1 sequence. An integrated Circos plot was generated to validate the accuracy of target prediction and determine if apple mdm-miRNAs could bind to the predicted ACLSV mRNA target(s). A genome-wide in silico-predicted miRNA-mediated target gene regulatory network was implicated to validate interactions necessary to warrant in vivo analysis. The availability of validated locus-derived microRNAs (mdm-miRNAs) with predicted potential to target ACLSV in infected apple trees represents the first step toward development of ACLSV-resistant apple trees.
Protein-Mediated Electroporation in a Cardiac Voltage-Sensing Domain Due to an nsPEF Stimulus
Authors: Ruiz-Fernández Alvaro R. , Campos Leonardo , Villanelo Felipe , Garate Jose Antonio , Perez-Acle Tomas
Published: July 2023

This study takes a step in understanding the physiological implications of the nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) by integrating molecular dynamics simulations and machine learning techniques. nsPEF, a state-of-the-art technology, uses high-voltage electric field pulses with a nanosecond duration to modulate cellular activity. This investigation reveals a relatively new and underexplored phenomenon: protein-mediated electroporation. Our research focused on the voltage-sensing domain (VSD) of the NaV1.5 sodium cardiac channel in response to nsPEF stimulation. We scrutinized the VSD structures that form pores and thereby contribute to the physical chemistry that governs the defibrillation effect of nsPEF. To do so, we conducted a comprehensive analysis involving the clustering of 142 replicas simulated for 50 ns under nsPEF stimuli. We subsequently pinpointed the representative structures of each cluster and computed the free energy between them. We find that the selected VSD of NaV1.5 forms pores under nsPEF stimulation, but in a way that significant differs from the traditional VSD opening. This study not only extends our understanding of nsPEF and its interaction with protein channels but also adds a new effect to further study.