bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lung Cancer in a Patient With Pulmonary Artery Sling: A Case Report
Authors: Mi Jiahui , Wang Xun , Li Xiao , Liu Yanguo , Jiang Guanchao , Yang Feng
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Pulmonary artery sling (PAS) is a rare congenital vascular anomaly that results when the left pulmonary artery arises from the right pulmonary artery. There is little relevant literature on lobectomy for the treatment of lung cancer in patients with PAS, and the prognosis is unknown.

Case Description

A 54-year-old asymptomatic man was found to have a nodule on the left lower lobe of the lung, which measured 2.5 cm. The patient also had PAS. Three-dimensional computed tomography angiography confirmed that the left pulmonary artery arose from the right pulmonary artery and passed between the main trachea and the esophagus toward the left thorax. No obvious contraindication was found in the preoperative examination, and the patient successfully underwent lobectomy of the left lower lobe by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Histological examination of the lesion revealed invasive adenocarcinoma. The postoperative course was uneventful, and no complications occurred in the subsequent 3 years of follow-up.

Conclusions

Lobectomy in a lung cancer patient with PAS did not increase perioperative risk and had no significant effect on prognosis.
Research on an Intelligent Driving Algorithm Based on the Double Super-Resolution Network
Authors: Hang Taoyang , Li Bo , Zhao Qixian , Bei Shaoyi , Han Xiao , Zhou Dan , Zhou Xinye
Published: February 2022

Semantic segmentation plays a very important role in image processing, and has been widely used in intelligent driving, medicine, and other fields. With the development of semantic segmentation, the model has become more and more complex and the resolution of training pictures is higher and higher, so the requirements for required hardware facilities have become higher and higher. Many high-precision networks are difficult to apply in intelligent driving vehicles with limited hardware conditions, and will bring delay to recognition, which is not allowed in practical application. Based on the Dual Super-Resolution Learning (DSRL) network, this paper proposes a network model for training high-resolution pictures, adding a high-resolution convolution module which improves segmentation accuracy and speed while reducing computation. In a CamVid dataset, taking the road category as an example, IOU is 95.23%, which is 4% higher than DSRL, the real-time segmentation time of the same video is reduced by 46% from 120 s to 65 s, and the segmentation effect is better and faster, which greatly alleviates the recognition delay caused by high-resolution input.
The Occurrence of Fungal Diseases in Maize in Organic Farming Versus an Integrated Management System
Authors: Czarnecka Diana , Czubacka Anna , Agacka-Mołdoch Monika , Trojak-Goluch Anna , Księżak Jerzy
Published: February 2022

Organic farming is becoming increasingly popular because it leads to healthier products. Due to limitations on the use of chemical protection, however, plants may be more susceptible to pathogen attacks. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the occurrence of fungal diseases in maize grown in organic versus integrated systems. The field experiment was conducted during the years 2017–2019 in Puławy, Poland. Three maize varieties, Ambrosini, Smolitop and Ricardinio, were cultivated in two fields with a different crop production system. The incidence of fungal diseases, such as northern corn leaf blight, eyespot, common corn rust, corn smut and Fusarium ear rot, was assessed. Fungal isolates were collected from leaves and cobs with disease symptoms and identified microscopically and molecularly. In both cultivation systems, northern corn leaf blight and eyespot were the most common, while corn rust and fusariosis were seen more often in organic cultivation. Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium poae, Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium sporotrichioides were the fungal species most frequently detected in the two systems. Additionally, Fusarium verticillioides was common in the organic system. Weather conditions, especially heavy rainfall and high air humidity, greatly influenced the incidence of such diseases.
Variability in Early Seed Development of 26 Populations of Cuscuta campestris Yunck.: The Significance of Host, Seed Age, Morphological Trait, Light, Temperature, and Genetic Variance
Authors: Sarić-Krsmanović Marija , Zagorchev Lyuben , Gajić Umiljendić Jelena , Rajković Miloš , Radivojević Ljiljana , Teofanova Denitsa , Božić Dragana , Vrbničanin Sava
Published: February 2022

Efficient approaches aimed at restricting Cuscuta campestris distribution can be based on the control of seed germination. Thus, data on effects of environmental factors, seed age, seed longevity and viability, and hosts on C. campestris seed germination and emergence would provide valuable information in that context. Seeds of 26 populations of C. campestris were collected from different locations in Serbia during the field season August–October between 2005 and 2019. Seeds were collected in three major agronomic regions in Serbia: Banat (13 populations), Srem (11 populations), and Macva (2 populations). The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of different temperatures and light on seed germination and seedling growth of populations of C. campestris, determine possible correlations between seed age or hosts and total germination and seedling growth, and survey the morphological diversity and genetic variability of seeds of this parasitic plant. Large variability of germination patterns was observed within each agronomic region, and the high variance of seed germination patterns within regions reflects the ability of C. campestris to adapt to local agricultural management practices. For practical purposes, populations that start and complete their emergence earlier are considered harder to control. Thus, farmers should implement effective mechanical and chemical management measures for early-germinating populations.
The Structure of the Brachial Plexus in Selected Representatives of the Caniformia Suborder
Authors: Grzeczka Arkadiusz , Zdun Maciej
Published: February 2022

Like most structures, the brachial plexus is subject to species variation. Analysing this structure over a wide spectrum of species, we can obtain a complex view of the changes–in a given group of animals. The aim of this study was to describe the brachial plexus anatomy of species from two families of Caniformia. We analysed the brachial plexus structure of five species from two families of Caniformia: Canidae and Mustelidae. The cadavers were obtained from breeders and hunters. All were fixed by being kept in a 10% formaldehyde solution for two weeks. This study allows us to present the similarities as well as the differences between species and families. Our study reveals different trends in the course of the individual nerves and innervations of the thoracic limb. A species-specific feature is the extent of the brachial plexus, as each species has a specific number of ventral branches of the spinal nerves in the brachial plexus. However, a characteristic of the family Mustelidae is the course of the median nerve through the epicondylar foramen. Within the Canidae, two species are characterised by a very long branch for the coracobrachialis muscle. The general conclusion is that the brachial plexus of species belonging to the Caniformia is subject to variation within families and species, as well as individual variation while maintaining a general schematic for the group.
Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance in Hospital Wastewater: Identification of Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella spp.
Authors: Galarde-López Miguel , Velazquez-Meza Maria Elena , Bobadilla-del-Valle Miriam , Carrillo-Quiroz Berta Alicia , Cornejo-Juárez Patricia , Ponce-de-León Alfredo , Sassoé-González Alejandro , Alpuche-Aranda Celia Mercedes
Published: February 2022

The objective of this study was to investigate the presence and persistence of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella spp. isolated from wastewater and treated wastewater from two tertiary hospitals in Mexico. We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study in two hospital wastewater treatment plants, which were sampled in February 2020. We obtained 30 Klebsiella spp. isolates. Bacterial identification was carried out by the Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS®) and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were performed using the VITEK2® automated system. The presence of carbapenem resistance genes (CRGs) in Klebsiella spp. isolates was confirmed by PCR. Molecular typing was determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). High rates of Klebsiella spp. resistance to cephalosporins and carbapenems (80%) were observed in isolates from treated wastewater from both hospitals. The molecular screening by PCR showed the presence of blaKPC and blaOXA-48-like genes. The PFGE pattern separated the Klebsiella isolates into 19 patterns (A–R) with three subtypes (C1, D1, and I1). Microbiological surveillance and identification of resistance genes of clinically important pathogens in hospital wastewater can be a general screening method for early determination of under-detected antimicrobial resistance profiles in hospitals and early warning of outbreaks and difficult-to-treat infections.
Staphyloxanthin as a Potential Novel Target for Deciphering Promising Anti-Staphylococcus aureus Agents
Authors: Elmesseri Rana A. , Saleh Sarra E. , Elsherif Heba M. , Yahia Ibrahim S. , Aboshanab Khaled M.
Published: February 2022

Staphylococcus aureus is a fatal Gram-positive pathogen threatening numerous cases of hospital-admitted patients worldwide. The emerging resistance of the pathogen to several antimicrobial agents has pressurized research to propose new strategies for combating antimicrobial resistance. Novel strategies include targeting the virulence factors of S. aureus. One of the most prominent virulence factors of S. aureus is its eponymous antioxidant pigment staphyloxanthin (STX), which is an auspicious target for anti-virulence therapy. This review provides an updated outline on STX and multiple strategies to attenuate this virulence factor. The approaches discussed in this article focus on bioprospective and chemically synthesized inhibitors of STX, inter-species communication and genetic manipulation. Various inhibitor molecules were found to exhibit appreciable inhibitory effect against STX and hence would be able to serve as potential anti-virulence agents for clinical use.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil Extracts of Indigenous Southern Tuscany Cultivar Act as Anti-Inflammatory and Vasorelaxant Nutraceuticals
Authors: Pozzetti Luca , Ferrara Francesca , Marotta Ludovica , Gemma Sandra , Butini Stefania , Benedusi Mascia , Fusi Fabio , Ahmed Amer , Pomponi Serena , Ferrari Stefano , Perini Matteo , Ramunno Anna , Pepe Giacomo , Campiglia Pietro , Valacchi Giuseppe , Carullo Gabriele , Campiani Giuseppe
Published: February 2022

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is the typical source of fats in the Mediterranean diet. While fatty acids are essential for the EVOO nutraceutical properties, multiple biological activities are also due to the presence of polyphenols. In this work, autochthonous Tuscany EVOOs were chemically characterized and selected EVOO samples were extracted to obtain hydroalcoholic phytocomplexes, which were assayed to establish their anti-inflammatory and vasorelaxant properties. The polar extracts were characterized via 1H-NMR and UHPLC-HRMS to investigate the chemical composition and assayed in CaCo-2 cells exposed to glucose oxidase or rat aorta rings contracted by phenylephrine. Apigenin and luteolin were found as representative flavones; other components were pinoresinol, ligstroside, and oleuropein. The extracts showed anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties via modulation of NF-κB and Nrf2 pathways, respectively, and good vasorelaxant activity, both in the presence and absence of an intact endothelium. In conclusion, this study evaluated the nutraceutical properties of autochthonous Tuscany EVOO cv., which showed promising anti-inflammatory and vasorelaxant effects.
Recent Progress in Antioxidant Active Substances from Marine Biota
Authors: Vladkova Todorka , Georgieva Nelly , Staneva Anna , Gospodinova Dilyana
Published: February 2022

Background: The well-recognized but not fully explored antioxidant activity of marine-biota-derived, biologically active substances has led to interest in their study as substitutes of antibiotics, antiaging agents, anticancer and antiviral drugs, and others. The aim of this review is to present the current state of the art of marine-biota-derived antioxidants to give some ideas for potential industrial applications. Methods: This review is an update for the last 5 years on the marine sources of natural antioxidants, different classes antioxidant compounds, and current derivation biotechnologies. Results: New marine sources of antioxidants, including byproducts and wastes, are presented, along with new antioxidant substances and derivation approaches. Conclusions: The interest in high-value antioxidants from marine biota continues. Natural substances combining antioxidant and antimicrobial action are of particular interest because of the increasing microbial resistance to antibiotic treatments. New antioxidant substances are discovered, along with those extracted from marine biota collected in other locations. Byproducts and wastes provide a valuable source of antioxidant substances. The application of optimized non-conventional derivation approaches is expected to allow the intensification of the production and improvement in the quality of the derived substances. The ability to obtain safe, high-value products is of key importance for potential industrialization.
Sweeteners from Different Lingonberry Jams Influence on Bioaccessibility of Vitamin C, Anthocyanins and Antioxidant Capacity under In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion
Authors: Scrob Teodora , Hosu Anamaria , Cimpoiu Claudia
Published: February 2022

Lingonberries are considered anot fully exploited major source of antioxidants. Their health benefits are closely linked to their bioavailability. Due to growing health concerns, consumers are looking for jams prepared with sweeteners other than white sugar, which could be a good alternative to meet their needs. The aim of this research was to evaluate the influence of sucrose, fructose, erythritol, brown sugar, coconut sugar, stevia and saccharine on the bioaccessibility of vitamin C, anthocyanins andthe antioxidant capacity of lingonberry jams under in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The vitamin C, total anthocyanin content and antioxidant capacity measured by ABTS and FRAP assays were determined spectrophotometrically. Individual anthocyanins were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. All analyzed compounds were highly altered during gastrointestinal digestion and this effect was more visible in the case of the anthocyanins. Antioxidant capacity decreased after gastric digestion, but after the gastrointestinal step, radical scavenging capacity increased, while reducing power decreased. Vitamin C bioaccessibility was negatively affected by coconut sugar addition, while stevia addition showed a protective effect. Fructose and sucrose increased the total anthocyanin stability during the intestinal phase. Stevia, fructose and coconut sugar exhibited high protection of the antioxidant capacity of lingonberry jams during digestion.
Effect of Ultrasonic Vibration on the Surface Adhesive Characteristic of Iced Aluminum Alloy Plate
Authors: Li Yan , Shen He , Guo Wenfeng
Published: February 2022

Icings on moving machinery, such as wind turbines and aircraft wings, degrade their performance and safety. Ultrasonic vibration is considered one of the deicing methods. In this research, simulations and experiments are carried out to explore the effect of ultrasonic vibration on the adhesive characteristic of ice on aluminum alloy plates. Harmonic response analyses are conducted to analyze the changing and distributions of shear stresses at the adhesive interface under different frequencies and sizes of PZT patches. The results show that there is optimum side length and thickness of the PZT patch, as the size of the iced aluminum alloy plate is constant. In these conditions, the shear stresses at the adhesive interface are high. Then, experiments on adhesive torque of ice are carried out to calculate the adhesive shear stresses of ice. The results show that the adhesive force of ice decreases under the excitation of ultrasonic vibration. When the excited frequency is 79 kHz, the adhesive torsional shear stress is 0.014 MPa, which is only 7% of the one with no ultrasonic vibration.
Design and Fabrication of Broad-Beam Microstrip Antenna Using Parasitic Patches and Cavity-Backed Slot Coupling
Authors: Puklibmoung Thana , Sa-Ngiamvibool Worawat
Published: February 2022

The adjusting parasitic patch size technique for the broad-beam microstrip antenna array using the cavity-backed slot coupling is presented. The phase of each element of the microstrip array has been designed to emulate the reflection of waves on the surface of parabolic backscattering. In order to increase the efficiency of this array antenna, the back-slot cavity with an exciting probe will be employed for coupling the electromagnetic waves to the back of this array. The proper sizes and locations of patches and the optimized position of the cavity have been investigated by the Computer Science Technology (CST) Microwave Studio. The gain, the radiation pattern, the bandwidth, and the return loss are extensively analyzed. The fabricated antenna has the return loss of −22.39 dB, the bandwidth of 47 MHz (4.975–5.022 GHz), and the maximum directive gain of 5.6 dB at 5 GHz, and it can produce a wide beam width (half-power beam width around 130°). The antenna could be applied for wide applications in the wireless communications system. In particular, this realizing antenna covers the low earth orbit (LEO) satellite beam.
2+1 Einstein–Klein–Gordon Black Holes by Gravitational Decoupling
Authors: Arias Pio J. , Bargueño Pedro , Contreras Ernesto , Fuenmayor Ernesto
Published: February 2022

In this work we study the 2+1-Einstein–Klein–Gordon system in the framework of Gravitational Decoupling. We associate the generic matter decoupling sector with a real scalar field so we can obtain a constraint which allows us to close the system of differential equations. The constraint corresponds to a differential equation involving the decoupling functions and the metric of the seed sector and will be independent of the scalar field itself. We show that when the equation admits analytical solutions, the scalar field and the self-interacting potential can be obtained straightforwardly. We found that, in the cases under consideration, it is possible to express the potential as an explicit function of the scalar field only for certain particular cases corresponding to limiting values of the parameters involved.
Fixed Point Results for New Types of Fuzzy Contractions via Admissible Functions and

FZ

-Simulation Functions
Authors: Moussaoui Abdelhamid , Saleem Naeem , Melliani Said , Zhou Mi
Published: February 2022

In this paper, we introduce two new concepts, generalized α-η-FZ-contraction and modified α-η-FZ-contraction, which unify several types of contractions in the context of fuzzy metric spaces. We discuss the existence and uniqueness results of such mappings in the setting of a complete fuzzy metric space in the sense of George and Veeramani and present several significant consequences of our obtained results by using variant examples for FZ-simulation functions and admissible mappings. Some examples are provided to illustrate the usability of our main results.
An Efficient Iterative Procedure for Proximally Quasi-Nonexpansive Mappings and a Class of Boundary Value Problems
Authors: Ullah Kifayat , Ahmad Junaid , Arshad Muhammad , Ma Zhenhua , Abdeljawad Thabet
Published: February 2022

It is well-known in the literature that many analytical techniques are introduced in order to find a solution for problems such as functional, differential, and integral equations. These analytical techniques sometimes fail to solve such problems, thus prompting the proposal of numerical methods for approaching their approximate solutions. This paper suggests a multi-valued version of an efficient iterative procedure called the F iterative procedure in Banach space and establishes its weak and strong convergence to fixed points of certain proximally quasi-nonexpansive operators. To support these results and to suggest the high accuracy of this procedure, we develop an example of a proximally quasi-nonexpansive operator and perform a comparative numerical experiment. As an application, we solve a two-point boundary value problem (BVP) in Banach space. Our results are new and extend some results from the literature for the new setting of mappings.
The Natural Cryoprotectant Honey for Fertility Cryopreservation
Authors: Cheepa Faryal Farooq , Liu Huilan , Zhao Gang
Published: February 2022

Honey is a mixture of 25 sugars with other bioactive substances (i.e., organic acids, enzymes, antioxidants, and vitamins) and has been known as a highly nutritious functional food. Traditionally, it has been widely used in medicinal applications to cure various diseases. The effectiveness of honey in different applications has been used for its antimicrobial activity, absorption of hydrops, cleansing, removing odor, assisting granulation, recovery of nutrition, and formation of tissue and epithelium, which proved that honey has dehydrating and preserving properties to make it ideal for the cryopreservation of cells and tissues. Cryopreservation is an advanced preservation technique for tissue, cells, organelles, or other biological specimen storage, performed by cooling the sample at a very low temperature. It is the most common approach to improved preserving fertility (sperm, embryos, and oocytes) in different species that may undergo various life-threatening illnesses and allows for the genetic screening of these cells to test the sample for diseases before use. However, with toxic cryoprotectant (CPA), cryopreservation of fertility has been challenging because of their particular structure and sensitivity to chilling. Honey’s unique composition, as well as its dehydrating and preserving properties, qualify it to be used as a natural cryoprotectant. The aim of this study is to emphasize the ability of honey as a natural cryoprotectant in cryopreservation. The articles for this review were searched from Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Scopus, using the keywords, honey, cryopreservation, natural cryoprotectant/CPAs, extenders, and fertility. Honey, as a natural cryoprotectant in fertility cryopreservation, yielded satisfactory results, with respect to improved post-thaw quality and viability. It is now proved as a non-toxic and highly efficient natural cryoprotectant in fertility preservation because its increasing viscosity at low temperature can provide a protective barrier to cells by reducing ice formation. Furthermore, its antioxidant property plays a vital role in protecting the cells from thermal damage by reducing the reactive oxygen species (ROS). This review provides a road map for future studies to investigate the potential of honey in the cryopreservation of other cells and tissue and contribute to the scientific research, regarding this remarkable natural product.
Effects of Eccentric vs. Concentric Sports on Blood Muscular Damage Markers in Male Professional Players
Authors: Córdova-Martínez Alfredo , Caballero-García Alberto , Bello Hugo J. , Perez-Valdecantos Daniel , Roche Enrique
Published: February 2022

Background: Repetitive eccentric contractions can lead to higher degree of damage compared to repetitive concentric contractions. However, this type of exercise does not reproduce the real situations during the season in competitive sport disciplines. Methods: We analyzed the pattern of muscle damage blood markers in male professionals from three disciplines: cycling (n = 18), mainly concentric, vs. basketball (n = 12) and volleyball (n = 14), both mainly eccentric. Circulating muscle markers were analyzed in two moments of the regular season: after a 20-day training (no competition) period (T1) and after a 20-day period of high demanding competition (T2). Results: Blood levels of creatine kinase and myoglobin (muscle markers) increased in all groups at T2 compared to T1 as a result of competition intensity. The lower increases were noticed in cyclists at the end of both periods. Testosterone levels decreased at T2 compared to T1 in all disciplines, with lower levels found in cyclists. However, cortisol plasma levels decreased in basketball and volleyball players at T2, but increased significantly in cyclists, suggesting a limited adaptation to the effort. Conclusions: The pattern of circulating muscle markers is different depending of the demanding efforts (training vs. competition) of each particular discipline.
Reduction in O-GlcNAcylation Mitigates the Severity of Inflammatory Response in Cerulein-Induced Acute Pancreatitis in a Mouse Model
Authors: Moore Mackenzie , Avula Nandini , Wong Alicia , Beetch Megan , Jo Seokwon , Alejandro Emilyn U.
Published: February 2022

Acute pancreatitis (AP) involves premature trypsinogen activation, which mediates a cascade of pro-inflammatory signaling that causes early stages of pancreatic injury. Activation of the transcription factor κB (NF-κB) and secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators are major events in AP. O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), a stress-sensitive enzyme, was recently implicated to regulate NF-κB activation and inflammation in AP in vitro. This study aims to determine whether a pancreas-specific transgenic reduction in OGT in a mouse model affects the severity of AP in vivo. Mice with reduced pancreatic OGT (OGTPanc+/−) at 8 weeks of age were randomized to cerulein, which induces pancreatitis, or saline injections. AP was confirmed by elevated amylase levels and on histological analysis. The histological scoring demonstrated that OGTPanc+/− mice had decreased severity of AP. Additionally, serum lipase, LDH, and TNF-α in OGTPanc+/− did not significantly increase in response to cerulein treatment as compared to controls, suggesting attenuated AP induction in this model. Our study reveals the effect of reducing pancreatic OGT levels on the severity of pancreatitis, warranting further investigation on the role of OGT in the pathology of AP.
Non-Coding Transcriptome Provides Novel Insights into the Escherichia coli F17 Susceptibility of Sheep Lamb
Authors: Chen Weihao , Lv Xiaoyang , Zhang Weibo , Hu Tingyan , Cao Xiukai , Ren Ziming , Getachew Tesfaye , Mwacharo Joram M. , Haile Aynalem , Sun Wei
Published: February 2022

It has long been recognized that enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is the major pathogen responsible for vomiting and diarrhea. E. coli F17, a main subtype of ETEC, is characterized by high morbidity and mortality in young livestock. However, the transcriptomic basis underlying E. coli F17 infection has not been fully understood. In this study, RNA sequencing was performed to explore the expression profiles of circRNAs and miRNAs in the jejunum of E. coli F17-antagonism (AN) and -sensitive (SE) lambs. A total of 16,534 circRNAs and 271 miRNAs (125 novel miRNAs and 146 annotated miRNAs) were screened, and 214 differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs and 53 DE miRNAs were detected between the AN and SE lambs (i.e., novel_circ_0025840, novel_circ_0022779, novel_miR_107, miR-10b). Functional enrichment analyses showed that source genes of DE circRNAs were mainly involved in metabolic-related pathways, while target genes of DE miRNAs were mainly enriched in the immune response pathways. Then, a two-step machine learning approach combining Random Forest (RF) and XGBoost (candidates were first selected by RF and further assessed by XGBoost) was performed, which identified 44 circRNAs and 39 miRNAs as potential biomarkers (i.e., novel_circ_0000180, novel_circ_0000365, novel_miR_192, oar-miR-496-3p) for E. coli infection. Furthermore, circRNA-related and lncRNA-related ceRNA networks were constructed, containing 46 circRNA-miRNA-mRNA competing triplets and 630 lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA competing triplets, respectively. By conducting a serious of bioinformatic analyses, our results revealed important circRNAs and miRNAs that could be potentially developed as candidate biomarkers for intestinal inflammatory response against E. coli F17 infection; our study can provide novel insights into the underlying mechanisms of intestinal immunity.
MicroRNA-200c Attenuates the Tumor-Infiltrating Capacity of Macrophages
Authors: Raue Rebecca , Frank Ann-Christin , Fuhrmann Dominik C. , de la Cruz-Ojeda Patricia , Rösser Silvia , Bauer Rebekka , Cardamone Giulia , Weigert Andreas , Syed Shahzad Nawaz , Schmid Tobias , Brüne Bernhard
Published: February 2022

Macrophages constitute a major part of the tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Within the tumor microenvironment, they acquire an alternatively activated, tumor-supporting phenotype. Factors released by tumor cells are crucial for the recruitment of tumor-associated macrophages. In the present project, we aimed to understand the role of hsa-miR-200c-3p (miR-200c) in the interplay between tumor cells and macrophages. To this end, we employed a coculture system of MCF7 breast tumor cells and primary human macrophages and observed the transfer of miR-200c from apoptotic tumor cells to macrophages, which required intact CD36 receptor in macrophages. We further comprehensively determined miR-200c targets in macrophages by mRNA-sequencing and identified numerous migration-associated mRNAs to be downregulated by miR-200c. Consequently, miR-200c attenuated macrophage infiltration into 3-dimensional tumor spheroids. miR-200c-mediated reduction in infiltration further correlated with a miR-200c migration signature comprised of the four miR-200c-repressed, predicted targets PPM1F, RAB11FIB2, RDX, and MSN.
Genomic and Transcriptomic Landscape and Evolutionary Dynamics of Heat Shock Proteins in Spotted Sea Bass (Lateolabrax maculatus) under Salinity Change and Alkalinity Stress
Authors: Li Xujian , Liu Saisai , Wang Yapeng , Lu Wei , Zhang Quanqi , Cheng Jie
Published: February 2022

The heat shock protein (Hsp) superfamily has received accumulated attention because it is ubiquitous and conserved in almost all living organisms and is involved in a wide spectrum of cellular responses against diverse environmental stresses. However, our knowledge about the Hsp co-chaperon network is still limited in non-model organisms. In this study, we provided the systematic analysis of 95 Hsp genes (LmHsps) in the genome of spotted sea bass (Lateolabrax maculatus), an important aquaculture species in China that can widely adapt to diverse salinities from fresh to sea water, and moderately adapt to high alkaline water. Through in silico analysis using transcriptome and genome database, we determined the expression profiles of LmHsps in response to salinity change and alkalinity stress in L. maculatus gills. The results revealed that LmHsps were sensitive in response to alkalinity stress, and the LmHsp40-70-90 members were more actively regulated than other LmHsps and may also be coordinately interacted as co-chaperons. This was in accordance with the fact that members of LmHsp40, LmHsp70, and LmHsp90 evolved more rapidly in L. maculatus than other teleost lineages with positively selected sites detected in their functional domains. Our results revealed the diverse and cooperated regulation of LmHsps under alkaline stress, which may have arisen through the functional divergence and adaptive recruitment of the Hsp40-70-90 co-chaperons and will provide vital insights for the development of L. maculatus cultivation in alkaline water.
Computational Approach for Probing Redox Potential for Iron-Sulfur Clusters in Photosystem I
Authors: Ali Fedaa , Shafaa Medhat W. , Amin Muhamed
Published: February 2022

Photosystem I is a light-driven electron transfer device. Available X-ray crystal structure from Thermosynechococcus elongatus showed that electron transfer pathways consist of two nearly symmetric branches of cofactors converging at the first iron–sulfur cluster FX, which is followed by two terminal iron–sulfur clusters FA and FB. Experiments have shown that FX has lower oxidation potential than FA and FB, which facilitates the electron transfer reaction. Here, we use density functional theory and Multi-Conformer Continuum Electrostatics to explain the differences in the midpoint Em potentials of the FX, FA and FB clusters. Our calculations show that FX has the lowest oxidation potential compared to FA and FB due to strong pairwise electrostatic interactions with surrounding residues. These interactions are shown to be dominated by the bridging sulfurs and cysteine ligands, which may be attributed to the shorter average bond distances between the oxidized Fe ion and ligating sulfurs for FX compared to FA and FB. Moreover, the electrostatic repulsion between the 4Fe-4S clusters and the positive potential of the backbone atoms is lowest for FX compared to both FA and FB. These results agree with the experimental measurements from the redox titrations of low-temperature EPR signals and of room temperature recombination kinetics.
Roles of PI3K/AKT/mTOR Axis in Arteriovenous Fistula
Authors: Ratti Stefano , Mauro Raffaella , Rocchi Cristina , Mongiorgi Sara , Ramazzotti Giulia , Gargiulo Mauro , Manzoli Lucia , Cocco Lucio , Fiume Roberta
Published: February 2022

Renal failure is a worldwide disease with a continuously increasing prevalence and involving a rising need for long-term treatment, mainly by haemodialysis. Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the favourite type of vascular access for haemodialysis; however, the lasting success of this therapy depends on its maturation, which is directly influenced by many concomitant processes such as vein wall thickening or inflammation. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that drive AVF maturation and failure can highlight new or combinatorial drugs for more personalized therapy. In this review we analysed the relevance of critical enzymes such as PI3K, AKT and mTOR in processes such as wall thickening remodelling, immune system activation and inflammation reduction. We focused on these enzymes due to their involvement in the modulation of numerous cellular activities such as proliferation, differentiation and motility, and their impairment is related to many diseases such as cancer, metabolic syndrome and neurodegenerative disorders. In addition, these enzymes are highly druggable targets, with several inhibitors already being used in patient treatment for cancer and with encouraging results for AVF. Finally, we delineate how these enzymes may be targeted to control specific aspects of AVF in an effort to propose a more specialized therapy with fewer side effects.
Anti-GD2 Directed Immunotherapy for High-Risk and Metastatic Neuroblastoma
Authors: Chan Godfrey Chi-Fung , Chan Carol Matias
Published: February 2022

Neuroblastoma is one of the few childhood cancers that carries a tumor-specific antigen in the form of a glycolipid antigen known as GD2. It has restricted expression in normal tissue, such as peripheral afferent nerves. Monoclonal antibodies targeting GD2 have been applied clinically to high-risk neuroblastoma with significant success. However, there are different anti-GD2 products and administration regimens. For example, anti-GD2 has been used in combination with chemotherapy during the induction phase or with retinoic acid during the maintenance stage. Regimens also vary in the choice of whether to add cytokines (i.e., IL-2, GMCSF, or both). Furthermore, the addition of an immune enhancer, such as β-glucan, or allogeneic natural killer cells also becomes a confounder in the interpretation. The question concerning which product or method of administration is superior remains to be determined. So far, most studies agree that adding anti-GD2 to the conventional treatment protocol can achieve better short- to intermediate-term event-free and overall survival, but the long-term efficacy remains to be verified. How to improve its efficacy is another challenge. Late relapse and central nervous system metastasis have emerged as new problems. The methods to overcome the mechanisms related to immune evasion or resistance to immunotherapy represent new challenges to be resolved. The newer anti-GD2 strategies, such as bispecific antibody linking of anti-GD2 with activated T cells or chimeric antigen receptor T cells, are currently under clinical trials, and they may become promising alternatives. The use of anti-GD2/GD3 tumor vaccine is a novel and potential approach to minimizing late relapse. How to induce GD2 expression from tumor cells using the epigenetic approach is a hot topic nowadays. We expect that anti-GD2 treatment can serve as a model for the use of monoclonal antibody immunotherapy against cancers in the future.
Neuropsychological Outcome of Critically Ill Patients with Severe Infection
Authors: Della Giovampaola Maria , Cavalli Irene , Mascia Luciana
Published: February 2022

Sepsis and septic shock represent important burdens of disease around the world. Sepsis-associated neurological consequences have a great impact on patients, both in the acute phase and in the long term. Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a severe brain dysfunction that may contribute to long-term cognitive impairment. Its pathophysiology recognizes the following two main mechanisms: neuroinflammation and hemodynamic impairment. Clinical manifestations include different forms of altered mental status, from agitation and restlessness to delirium and deep coma. A definite diagnosis is difficult because of the absence of specific radiological and biological criteria; clinical management is restricted to the treatment of sepsis, focusing on early detection of the infection source, maintenance of hemodynamic homeostasis, and avoidance of metabolic disturbances or neurotoxic drugs.
E-Mobility in Positive Energy Districts
Authors: Castillo-Calzadilla Tony , Alonso-Vicario Ainhoa , Borges Cruz E. , Martin Cristina
Published: February 2022

A rise in the number of EVs (electric vehicles) in Europe is putting pressure on power grids. At an urban scale, Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) are devised as archetypes of (small) urban districts managing a set of interconnected buildings and district elements (lighting system, vehicles, smart grid, etc.). This paper offers a comprehensive analysis of the impact of e-mobility in a PED, simulated using MATLAB-Simulink software. The PED, a small district in northern Spain, is assessed in five scenarios representing varying requirements in terms of energy efficiency of buildings, type of street lighting and number of EVs. The results suggest that the energy rating of the buildings (ranging from A for the most efficient to E) conditions the annual energy balance. A PED with six interconnected buildings (3 residential and 3 of public use) and 405 EVs (as a baseline) only achieves positivity when the buildings have a high energy rating (certificate A or B). In the most efficient case (A-rated buildings), simulation results show that the PED can support 695 EVs; in other words, it can provide nearly 9 million green kilometres. This result represents a potential 71% saving in carbon emissions from e-mobility alone (as compared to the use of fossil-fuel vehicles), thus contributing a reduction in the carbon footprint of the district and the city as a whole.
Effects of Bottom-Overhead Design Variables on Pedestrian-Level Thermal Comfort during Summertime in Different High-Rise Residential Buildings: A Case Study in Chongqing, China
Authors: Weng Ji , Luo Ben , Xiang Hengling , Gao Bo
Published: February 2022

The design of bottom-overhead (or lift-up) buildings is advantageous in improving the thermal environment of high-density cities and enhancing the comfort level of occupants’ activity space on the ground floor. This study aims to investigate the impact of multiple architectural design variables on the ground floor overhead area of slab-like and tower high-rise residential buildings from the perspective of pedestrian-level thermal comfort with ENVI-met simulations and Standard Effective Temperature (SET*) evaluation. The design variables of the 25 tested models include the number of continuously arranged buildings, aspect ratio, overhead form, overhead space height, positions of overhead space enclosures, and openness degree, derived from existing overhead buildings in Chongqing. The results demonstrate that when the number of continuously arranged buildings and the aspect ratio increase, the overhead area has a more comfortable environmental state, while the overhead height is negatively correlated. In addition, when the enclosures are on opposite sides and their openness degree is 0.75–0.5, the area tends to be more comfortable. For slab-like buildings, the thermal comfort of the partial-overhead form is the worst while the semi-overhead form is relatively better. However, the overhead form has no significant impact on the thermal comfort of tower buildings. These findings can provide some suggestions and inspiration for the design of overhead buildings to create a more sustainable and livable microenvironment.
Preparation of Magnesium Ammonium Phosphate Mortar by Manufactured Limestone Sand Using Compound Defoaming Agents for Improved Strength and Impermeability
Authors: Mao Wenting , Cao Chunpeng , Li Xincheng , Qian Jueshi , You Chao
Published: February 2022

Magnesium ammonium phosphate cement (MAPC) mortar has recently risen up as high performance rapid repair material for concrete structures. But high costs of the raw materials limit its restoration and maintenance projects on a wide application range. This study proposes the use of manufactured limestone sand with lower cost and wider range of sources in replacement of quartz sand as fine aggregates to produce MAPC mortar. However, the limestone fines of manufactured sand were initially found to have negative effects on the performance of MAPC mortar, causing significant blistering and volume expansion and decreased compressive strength and interfacial bonding strength. To minimize these negative effects, polyether modified silicone (PMS) defoamer and its compound use with mineral admixtures Portland cement and silica fume were investigated on the effectiveness in reducing expansion and improving other properties of MAPC mortar. Results showed that the compound use of PMS defoamer and Portland cement as a new defoaming formula effectively reduced the volume expansion from 7.92% to 0.91%. The compressive strength and interfacial bonding strength were significantly improved by over 34% and 60% respectively. Moreover, this defoaming formula showed improvements in water-tight performance and resistance to chloride penetration. According to the mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) analysis, the total porosity of MAPC mortar after defoaming treatment was decreased by about 40% and the pore structure was also modified to be finer by significantly reducing the harmful macropores. Overall, the use of manufactured limestone sands as fine aggregates turned out to be a feasible and economic approach for promoting the filed application of MAPC mortar.
Pt-Mo/C, Pt-Fe/C and Pt-Mo-Sn/C Nanocatalysts Derived from Cluster Compounds for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
Authors: Shapovalov Sergey S. , Mayorova Natalia A. , Modestov Alexander D. , Shiryaev Andrei A. , Egorov Alexander V. , Grinberg Vitali A.
Published: February 2022

Nanosized bimetallic PtMo, PtFe and trimetallic PtMoSn catalysts deposited on highly dispersed carbon black Vulcan XC-72 were synthesized from the cluster complex compounds PtCl(P(C6H5)3)(C3H2N2(CH3)2)Mo(C5H4CH3)(CO)3, Pt(P(C6H5)3)(C3N2H2(CH3)2)Fe(CO)3(COC6H5C2C6H5), and PtCl(P(C6H5)3)(C3N2H2(CH3)2)C5H4CH3Mo(CO)3SnCl2, respectively. Structural characteristics of these catalysts were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), microprobe energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The synthesized catalysts were tested in aqueous 0.5 M H2SO4 in a three-electrode electrochemical cells and in single fuel cells. Electrocatalytic activity of PtMo/C and PtFe/C in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the activity of PtMoSn/C in electrochemical oxidation of ethanol were evaluated. It was shown that specific characteristics of the synthesized catalysts are 1.5–2 times higher than those of a commercial Pt(20%)/C catalyst. The results of experiments indicate that PtFe/C, PtMo/C, and PtMoSn/C catalysts prepared from the corresponding complex precursors can be regarded as promising candidates for application in fuel cells due to their high specific activity.
Experimental Arthritis Inhibits Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Mice
Authors: Rusznák Kitti , Horváth Ádám István , Pohli-Tóth Kinga , Futácsi Anett , Kemény Ágnes , Kiss Gabriella , Helyes Zsuzsanna , Czéh Boldizsár
Published: February 2022

Background: Adult-born neurons of the hippocampal dentate gyrus play a role in specific forms of learning, and disturbed neurogenesis seems to contribute to the development of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as major depression. Neuroinflammation inhibits adult neurogenesis, but the effect of peripheral inflammation on this form of neuroplasticity is ambiguous. Objective: Our aim was to investigate the influence of acute and chronic experimental arthritis on adult hippocampal neurogenesis and to elucidate putative regulatory mechanisms. Methods: Arthritis was triggered by subcutaneous injection of complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) into the hind paws of adult male mice. The animals were killed either seven days (acute inflammation) or 21 days (chronic inflammation) after the CFA injection. Behavioral tests were used to demonstrate arthritis-related hypersensitivity to painful stimuli. We used in vivo bioluminescence imaging to verify local inflammation. The systemic inflammatory response was assessed by complete blood cell counts and by measurement of the cytokine/chemokine concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, KC and MIP-2 in the inflamed hind limbs, peripheral blood and hippocampus to characterize the inflammatory responses in the periphery and in the brain. In the hippocampal dentate gyrus, the total number of newborn neurons was determined with quantitative immunohistochemistry visualizing BrdU- and doublecortin-positive cells. Microglial activation in the dentate gyrus was determined by quantifying the density of Iba1- and CD68-positive cells. Results: Both acute and chronic arthritis resulted in paw edema, mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia. We found phagocytic infiltration and increased levels of TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, KC and MIP-2 in the inflamed hind paws. Circulating neutrophil granulocytes and IL-6 levels increased in the blood solely during the acute phase. In the dentate gyrus, chronic arthritis reduced the number of doublecortin-positive cells, and we found increased density of CD68-positive macrophages/microglia in both the acute and chronic phases. Cytokine levels, however, were not altered in the hippocampus. Conclusions: Our data suggest that acute peripheral inflammation initiates a cascade of molecular and cellular changes that eventually leads to reduced adult hippocampal neurogenesis, which was detectable only in the chronic inflammatory phase.