bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and Evaluation of a Small Airway Disease Index Derived From Modeling the Late-Expiratory Flattening of the Flow-Volume Loop
Authors: Chen Hengji , Joshi Sangeeta , Oberle Amber J. , Wong An-Kwok , Shaz David , Thapamagar Suman , Tan Laren , Anholm James D. , Giri Paresh C. , Henriquez Craig , Huang Yuh-Chin T.
Published: June 2022

Excessive decrease in the flow of the late expiratory portion of a flow volume loop (FVL) or “flattening”, reflects small airway dysfunction. The assessment of the flattening is currently determined by visual inspection by the pulmonary function test (PFT) interpreters and is highly variable. In this study, we developed an objective measure to quantify the flattening. We downloaded 172 PFT reports in PDF format from the electronic medical records and digitized and extracted the expiratory portion of the FVL. We located point A (the point of the peak expiratory flow), point B (the point corresponding to 75% of the expiratory vital capacity), and point C (the end of the expiratory portion of the FVL intersecting with the x-axis). We did a linear fitting to the A-B segment and the B-C segment. We calculated: 1) the AB-BC angle (∠ABC), 2) BC-x-axis angle (∠BCX), and 3) the log ratio of the BC slope over the vertical distance between point A and x-axis [log (BC/A-x)]. We asked an expert pulmonologist to assess the FVLs and separated the 172 PFTs into the flattening and the non-flattening groups. We defined the cutoff value as the mean minus one standard deviation using data from the non-flattening group. ∠ABC had the best concordance rate of 80.2% with a cutoff value of 149.7°. We then asked eight pulmonologists to evaluate the flattening with and without ∠ABC in another 168 PFTs. The Fleiss’ kappa was 0.320 (lower and upper confidence intervals [CIs]: 0.293 and 0.348 respectively) without ∠ABC and increased to 0.522 (lower and upper CIs: 0.494 and 0.550) with ∠ABC. There were 147 CT scans performed within 6 months of the 172 PFTs. Twenty-six of 55 PFTs (47.3%) with ∠ABC <149.7° had CT scans showing small airway disease patterns while 44 of 92 PFTs (47.8%) with ∠ABC ≥149.7° had no CT evidence of small airway disease. We concluded that ∠ABC improved the inter-rater agreement on the presence of the late expiratory flattening in FVL. It could be a useful addition to the assessment of small airway disease in the PFT interpretation algorithm and reporting.
Changes in Insulin Sensitivity and Lipid Profile Markers Following Initial and Secondary Bouts of Multiple Eccentric Exercises
Authors: Chen Trevor C. , Huang Min-Jyue , Lima Leonardo C. R. , Chou Tai-Ying , Wang Hung-Hao , Tu Jui-Hung , Lin Shi-Che , Nosaka Kazunori
Published: June 2022

An acute bout of eccentric exercise affects insulin sensitivity and lipid profile, but how the magnitude of muscle damage affects them is not clear. We compared changes in blood insulin sensitivity and lipid markers after the first (EC1) and second (EC2) eccentric exercise bouts. Fifteen sedentary young men performed arm, leg and trunk muscle eccentric exercises, and repeated them 2 weeks later. Fasting blood samples were taken before, 2 h and 1–5 days after each exercise bout to analyze plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity, serum glucose (GLU), insulin, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), triacylglycerols (TG), total (TC) and low- (LDLC) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) concentrations as well as TC/HDLC ratio. Changes in these measures were compared between bouts and relationships to peak plasma CK activity were analyzed. Plasma CK activity increased (p < 0.05) after EC1 (peak: 101,668 ± 58,955 IU/L) but not after EC2. The magnitude of changes in GLU (peak after EC1: 26 ± 10% vs. EC2: 7 ± 6%), insulin (46 ± 27% vs. 15 ± 8%), HOMA (86 ± 48% vs. 24 ± 15%), TC (−20 ± 5% vs. −6 ± 4%), TG (−32 ± 11% vs. −6 ± 3%), LDHC (−47 ± 15% vs. −12 ± 9%), HDLC (35 ± 26% vs. 7 ± 4%), and TC/HDLC ratio (−139 ± 13% vs. −11 ± 7%) were significantly greater after EC1 than EC2. Peak plasma CK activity was significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with the peak changes in blood insulin sensitivity and lipid markers for the combined data of EC1 and EC2. These results suggest that the greater the magnitude of muscle damage, the greater the magnitude of changes in the insulin sensitivity to a negative direction and lipid markers to a positive direction.
Cerebral Blood Flow Autoregulation in Offspring From Experimentally Preeclamptic Rats and the Effect of Age
Authors: Whitaker Emmett E. , Johnson Abbie C. , Tremble Sarah M. , McGinn Conor , DeLance Nicole , Cipolla Marilyn J.
Published: June 2022

Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy that causes significant, long term cardiovascular effects for both the mother and offspring. A previous study demonstrated that middle cerebral arteries in offspring from an experimental rat model of preeclampsia were smaller, stiffer, and did not enlarge over the course of maturation, suggesting potential hemodynamic alterations in these offspring. Here we investigated the effect of experimental preeclampsia on cerebral blood flow autoregulation in juvenile and adult offspring that were born from normal pregnant or experimentally preeclamptic rats. Relative cerebral blood flow was measured using laser Doppler flowmetry, and cerebral blood flow autoregulation curves were constructed by raising blood pressure and controlled hemorrhage to lower blood pressure. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess middle cerebral artery size. Heart rate and blood pressure were measured in awake adult offspring using implanted radiotelemetry. Serum epinephrine was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Offspring from both groups showed maturation of cerebral blood flow autoregulation as offspring aged from juvenile to adulthood as demonstrated by the wider autoregulatory plateau. Experimental preeclampsia did not affect cerebral blood flow autoregulation in juvenile offspring, and it had no effect on cerebral blood flow autoregulation in adult offspring over the lower range of blood pressures. However, experimental preeclampsia caused a right shift in the upper range of blood pressures in adult offspring (compared to normal pregnant). Structurally, middle cerebral arteries from normal pregnant offspring demonstrated growth with aging, while middle cerebral arteries from experimentally preeclamptic offspring did not, and by adulthood normal pregnant offspring had significantly larger middle cerebral arteries. Middle cerebral artery lumen diameters did not significantly change as offspring aged. Serum epinephrine was elevated in juvenile experimentally preeclamptic offspring, and a greater degree of hemorrhage was required to induce hypotension, suggesting increased sympathetic activity. Finally, despite no evidence of increased sympathetic activity, adult experimentally preeclamptic offspring were found to have persistently higher heart rate. These results demonstrate a significant effect of experimental preeclampsia on the upper range of autoregulation and cerebrovascular structure in juvenile and adult offspring that could have an important influence on brain perfusion under conditions of hypo and/or hypertension.
Anomaly Detection for Internet of Things Time Series Data Using Generative Adversarial Networks With Attention Mechanism in Smart Agriculture
Authors: Cheng Weijun , Ma Tengfei , Wang Xiaoting , Wang Gang
Published: June 2022

More recently, smart agriculture has received widespread attention, which is a deep combination of modern agriculture and the Internet of Things (IoT) technology. To achieve the aim of scientific cultivation and precise control, the agricultural environments are monitored in real time by using various types of sensors. As a result, smart agricultural IoT generated a large amount of multidimensional time series data. However, due to the limitation of applied scenarios, smart agricultural IoT often suffers from data loss and misrepresentation. Moreover, some intelligent decision-makings for agricultural management also require the detailed analysis of data. To address the above problems, this article proposes a new anomaly detection model based on generative adversarial networks (GAN), which can process the multidimensional time series data generated by smart agricultural IoT. GAN is a deep learning model to learn the distribution patterns of normal data and capture the temporal dependence of time series and the potential correlations between features through learning. For the problem of generator inversion, an encoder–decoder structure incorporating the attention mechanism is designed to improve the performance of the model in learning normal data. In addition, we also present a new reconstruction error calculation method that measures the error in terms of both point-wise difference and curve similarity to improve the detection effect. Finally, based on three smart agriculture-related datasets, experimental results show that our proposed model can accurately achieve anomaly detection. The experimental precision, recall, and F1 score exceeded the counterpart models by reaching 0.9351, 0.9625, and 0.9482, respectively.
Genome-Wide Association Study of Kernel Traits Using a 35K SNP Array in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Wang Peng , Tian Tian , Ma Jingfu , Liu Yuan , Zhang Peipei , Chen Tao , Shahinnia Fahimeh , Yang Delong
Published: June 2022

Kernel size and weight are crucial components of grain yield in wheat. Deciphering their genetic basis is essential for improving yield potential in wheat breeding. In this study, five kernel traits, including kernel length (KL), kernel width (KW), kernel diameter ratio (KDR), kernel perimeter (KP), and thousand-kernel weight (TKW), were evaluated in a panel consisting of 198 wheat accessions under six environments. Wheat accessions were genotyped using the 35K SNP iSelect chip array, resulting in a set of 13,228 polymorphic SNP markers that were used for genome-wide association study (GWAS). A total of 146 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) were identified for five kernel traits on 21 chromosomes [–log10(P) ≥ 3], which explained 5.91–15.02% of the phenotypic variation. Of these, 12 stable MTAs were identified in multiple environments, and six superior alleles showed positive effects on KL, KP, and KDR. Four potential candidate genes underlying the associated SNP markers were predicted for encoding ML protein, F-box protein, ethylene-responsive transcription factor, and 1,4-α-glucan branching enzyme. These genes were strongly expressed in grain development at different growth stages. The results will provide new insights into the genetic basis of kernel traits in wheat. The associated SNP markers and predicted candidate genes will facilitate marker-assisted selection in wheat breeding.
Weight Status Modulated Brain Regional Homogeneity in Long-Term Male Smokers
Authors: Zhang Mengzhe , Gao Xinyu , Yang Zhengui , Niu Xiaoyu , Chen Jingli , Wei Yarui , Wang Weijian , Han Shaoqiang , Cheng Jingliang , Zhang Yong
Published: June 2022

Background

Tobacco smoking and being overweight could lead to adverse health effects, which remain an important public health problem worldwide. Research indicates that overlapping pathophysiology may contribute to tobacco addiction and being overweight, but the neurobiological interaction mechanism between the two factors is still unclear.

Methods

The current study used a mixed sample design, including the following four groups: (i) overweight long-term smokers (n = 24); (ii) normal-weight smokers (n = 28); (iii) overweight non-smokers (n = 19), and (iv) normal-weight non-smokers (n = 28), for a total of 89 male subjects. All subjects underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Regional homogeneity (ReHo) was used to compare internal cerebral activity among the four groups. Interaction effects between tobacco addiction and weight status on ReHo were detected using a two-way analysis of variance, correcting for age, years of education, and head motion.

Results

A significant interaction effect between tobacco addiction and weight status is shown in right superior frontal gyrus. Correlation analyses show that the strengthened ReHo value in the right superior frontal gyrus is positively associated with pack-year. Besides, the main effect of tobacco addiction is specially observed in the occipital lobe and cerebellum posterior lobe. As for the main effect of weight status, the right lentiform nucleus, left postcentral gyrus, and brain regions involved in default mode network (DMN) survived.

Conclusions

These results shed light on an antagonistic interaction on brain ReHo between tobacco addiction and weight status in the right superior frontal gyrus, which may be a clinical neuro-marker of comorbid tobacco addiction and overweight. Our findings may provide a potential target to develop effective treatments for the unique population of comorbid tobacco addiction and overweight people.
Social Class-Based Discrimination and Psychological Symptoms Among Socioeconomically Disadvantaged College Students: The Moderated Mediation Role of Stress Mindset and Rumination
Authors: Wu Jia , Li Qianfeng , Wu Qinglu , Li Qiaoling
Published: June 2022

Discrimination as a crucial stressor damages the mental health of socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals through increased ruminative thinking. A “stress-is-enhancing” mindset may protect the mental health of socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals under the pressures of perceived discrimination and rumination. This study examined the mediating role of rumination and the moderating role of stress mindset in the relationship between perceived discrimination and psychological symptoms among socioeconomically disadvantaged college students. A total of 919 socioeconomically disadvantaged undergraduate students (48.4% female, ages 17–25) were recruited. The results indicated that perceived discrimination was positively associated with psychological symptoms among socioeconomically disadvantaged undergraduate students through rumination (B = 0.11, boot SE = 0.01, boot 95% CIs = [0.08, 0.13]). Importantly, stress mindset moderated the indirect association between perceived discrimination and psychological distress through rumination (B = −0.18, boot SE = 0.08, boot 95% CIs = [−0.32, −0.03]). Specifically, compared with individuals with low levels of the stress-is-enhancing mindset, the indirect effect of perceived discrimination on psychological distress through rumination was weaker among individuals with high levels of the stress-is-enhancing mindset. The findings provide support for future intervention practice to promote a stress-is-enhancing mindset to protect the mental health of socioeconomically disadvantaged college students under the pressures of perceived discrimination and rumination.
The Prevalence and Pathophysiology of Chemical Sense Disorder Caused by the Novel Coronavirus
Authors: Narayanan Sareesh Naduvil , Shivappa Pooja , Padiyath Sreeshma , Bhaskar Anand , Li Yan Wa , Merghani Tarig Hakim
Published: June 2022

Emerging viral infections are a ceaseless challenge and remain a global public health concern. The world has not yet come back to normal from the devastating effects of the highly contagious and pathogenic novel coronavirus, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Olfactory and taste dysfunction is common in patients infected by the novel coronavirus. In light of the emergence of different coronavirus variants, it is important to update the prevalence and pathophysiology of these side effects. In this review, articles published on the prevalence of olfactory and taste dysfunction from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and their possible pathophysiologic mechanisms have been reviewed and reported. The modulatory role of different SARS-CoV-2 variants on the chemical senses is then described. The clinical relevance of chemical sense disorder and its long-term morbidity and management is also discussed.
Digital Analysis of Smart Registration Methods for Magnetic Resonance Images in Public Healthcare
Authors: Chen Tao , Yuan Mengxue , Tang Jiajie , Lu Long
Published: June 2022

Brain development and atrophy accompany people's life. Brain development diseases, such as autism and Alzheimer's disease, affect a large part of the population. Analyzing brain development is very important in public healthcare, and image registration is essential in medical brain image analysis. Many previous studies investigate registration accuracy by the “ground truth” dataset, marker-based similarity calculation, and expert check to find the best registration algorithms. But the evaluation of image registration technology only at the accuracy level is not comprehensive. Here, we compare the performance of three publicly available registration techniques in brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis based on some key features widely used in previous MRI studies for classification and detection tasks. According to the analysis results, SPM12 has a stable speed and success rate, and it always works as a guiding tool for newcomers to medical image analysis. It can preserve maximum contrast information, which will facilitate studies such as tumor diagnosis. FSL is a mature and widely applicable toolkit for users, with a relatively stable success rate and good performance. It has complete functions and its function-based integrated toolbox can meet the requirements of different researchers. AFNI is a flexible and complex tool that is more suitable for professional researchers. It retains most details in medical image analysis, which makes it useful in fine-grained analysis such as volume estimation. Our study provides a new idea for comparing registration tools, where tool selection strategy mainly depends on the research task in which the selected tool can leverage its unique advantages.
Burden of Disease of COVID-19: Strengthening the Collaboration for National Studies
Authors: Pires Sara Monteiro , Wyper Grant M. A. , Wengler Annelene , Peñalvo José L. , Haneef Romana , Moran Declan , Cuschieri Sarah , Redondo Hernan G. , De Pauw Robby , McDonald Scott A. , Moon Lynelle , Shedrawy Jad , Pallari Elena , Charalampous Periklis , Devleesschauwer Brecht , Von Der Lippe Elena
Published: June 2022

Objectives

Quantifying the combined impact of morbidity and mortality is a key enabler to assessing the impact of COVID-19 across countries and within countries relative to other diseases, regions, or demographics. Differences in methods, data sources, and definitions of mortality due to COVID-19 may hamper comparisons. We describe efforts to support countries in estimating the national-level burden of COVID-19 using disability-adjusted life years.

Methods

The European Burden of Disease Network developed a consensus methodology, as well as a range of capacity-building activities to support burden of COVID-19 studies. These activities have supported 11 national studies so far, with study periods between January 2020 and December 2021.

Results

National studies dealt with various data gaps and different assumptions were made to face knowledge gaps. Still, they delivered broadly comparable results that allow for interpretation of consistencies, as well as differences in the quantified direct health impact of the pandemic.

Discussion

Harmonized efforts and methodologies have allowed for comparable estimates and communication of results. Future studies should evaluate the impact of interventions, and unravel the indirect health impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
Polarization as a Discriminator of Light-Absorbing Impurities in or Above Snow
Authors: Ottaviani Matteo
Published: June 2022

This conceptual study presents advanced radiative transfer computations of light polarization originating from a snowpack consisting of nonspherical grains and variable content of light-absorbing impurities, either embedded in the snowpack or (with the same optical properties) lofted above it in the form of atmospheric aerosols. The results highlight the importance of considering shapes other than spherical for the snow grains, which otherwise can lead to non-negligible errors in the retrieval of snow albedo from remote sensing observations. More importantly, it is found that polarimetric measurements provide a means to partition light-absorbing impurities embedded in the snowpack from absorbing aerosols aloft, a task traditionally prohibitive for sensors capable exclusively of measurements of total reflectance. Heritage techniques to obtain snow grain size from shortwave infrared observations of total reflectance are well established, as are those that leverage polarimetric, multiangular observations across the entire optical spectrum to characterize the optical and microphysical properties of atmospheric aerosols. The polarization signatures of near-infrared (e.g., 864 nm) observations carry critical information on snow grain shape. The prospected launch of space-borne polarimeters with proven accuracy, therefore, advocates for the development of data inversion schemes, to boost the accuracy of simultaneous retrievals of atmospheric and surface parameters in the polar and snow-covered regions, critical to climate studies.
Case Report: Countermeasures Against Heat and Coronavirus for Japanese Athletes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympic Games
Authors: Nakamura Mariko , Naito Takashi , Saito Tatsuya , Takahashi Akari , Muraishi Koji , Hakamada Noriko , Otomo Mana , Iizuka Satoshi , Nakamura Daisuke , Takahashi Hideyuki
Published: June 2022

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympic Games were held in the hottest environment in the history of the games. Additionally, the worldwide coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic necessitated daily polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing during the games, wearing a mask became mandatory publicly, and it was an unheard and unique Olympic with no spectators. Heat acclimation, hydration, and body cooling are essential for safe and high-performance activities in hot environments. In 2015, the Japan Institute of Sports Sciences launched the “Heat Countermeasure Project” to conduct experiments and practical research on heat countermeasures and investigate issues related to heat countermeasures in each athletic event. The results obtained were proposed to various Japan national sports teams, and support for heat countermeasures for the Tokyo 2020 games was promoted in consultation with national federations. Furthermore, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, infectious disease countermeasures for the Tokyo 2020 Games during support were a must. Moreover, athletes, coaches, and team staff could not avoid implementing heat countermeasures while adopting measures against infectious diseases. This study aimed to clarify the issues faced with heat countermeasures and report on heat acclimation training and cooling support efforts, considering measures against infectious diseases.
Minimally-Invasive Assisted Robotic Spine Surgery (MARSS)
Authors: Pérez de la Torre Ramiro A. , Ramanathan Siddharth , Williams Ashley L. , Perez-Cruet Mick J.
Published: June 2022

Minimally-Invasive robotic spine surgery (MARSS) has expanded the surgeons armamentarium to treat a variety of spinal disorders. In the last decade, robotic developments in spine surgery have improved the safety, accuracy and efficacy of instrumentation placement. Additionally, robotic instruments have been applied to remove tumors in difficult locations while maintaining minimally invasive access. Gross movements by the surgeon are translated into fine, precise movements by the robot. This is exemplified in this chapter with the use of the da Vinci robot to remove apical thoracic tumors. In this chapter, we will review the development, technological advancements, and cases that have been conducted using MARSS to treat spine pathology in a minimally invasive fashion.
Fourth Ventricle Tumors: A Review of Series Treated With Microsurgical Technique
Authors: Sufianov Rinat , Pitskhelauri David , Bykanov Andrey
Published: June 2022

Tumors of the IV ventricle represent 1–5% of all intracranial lesions; they are implicated in 2/3 of the tumors of the ventricular system. According to modern standards, the first treatment stage for this pathology is microsurgical removal. Currently, for the removal of neoplasms of the IV ventricle and brainstem, the median suboccipital approach is widely used, followed by one of the microapproaches. Moreover, with the development of microsurgical techniques, keyhole approaches are now beginning to be utilized. However, surgical treatment of these tumors remains a challenge for neurosurgeons due to the proximity of functionally important anatomical structures (the brainstem, the cerebellum, pathways, vessels, etc.) of the posterior cranial fossa. Therefore, surgery in this area is associated with the possible occurrence of a wide range of postoperative complications. The authors provide a review of series of fourth ventricle tumors treated with microsurgical technique.
From Seeing to Simulating: A Survey of Imaging Techniques and Spatially-Resolved Data for Developing Multiscale Computational Models of Liver Regeneration
Authors: Verma Aalap , Manchel Alexandra , Melunis Justin , Hengstler Jan G. , Vadigepalli Rajanikanth
Published: June 2022

Liver regeneration, which leads to the re-establishment of organ mass, follows a specifically organized set of biological processes acting on various time and length scales. Computational models of liver regeneration largely focused on incorporating molecular and signaling detail have been developed by multiple research groups in the recent years. These modeling efforts have supported a synthesis of disparate experimental results at the molecular scale. Incorporation of tissue and organ scale data using noninvasive imaging methods can extend these computational models towards a comprehensive accounting of multiscale dynamics of liver regeneration. For instance, microscopy-based imaging methods provide detailed histological information at the tissue and cellular scales. Noninvasive imaging methods such as ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging provide morphological and physiological features including volumetric measures over time. In this review, we discuss multiple imaging modalities capable of informing computational models of liver regeneration at the organ-, tissue- and cellular level. Additionally, we discuss available software and algorithms, which aid in the analysis and integration of imaging data into computational models. Such models can be generated or tuned for an individual patient with liver disease. Progress towards integrated multiscale models of liver regeneration can aid in prognostic tool development for treating liver disease.
Accurate Evaluation of Hepatocyte Metabolisms on a Noble Oxygen-Permeable Material With Low Sorption Characteristics
Authors: Nishikawa Masaki , Ito Hiroyasu , Tokito Fumiya , Hirono Keita , Inamura Kousuke , Scheidecker Benedikt , Danoy Mathieu , Kawanishi Takumi , Arakawa Hirohsi , Kato Yukio , Esashika Katsuhiro , Miyasako Hiroshi , Sakai Yasuyuki
Published: June 2022

In the pharmaceutical industry, primary cultured hepatocytes is a standard tool used to assess hepatic metabolisms and toxicity in vitro. Drawbacks, however, include their functional deterioration upon isolation, mostly due to the lack of a physiological environment. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) has been reported to improve the function of isolated hepatocytes by its high oxygen permeability when used as a material of microphysiological systems (MPS). However, its high chemical sorption property has impeded its practical use in drug development. In this study, we evaluated a new culture material, 4-polymethyl-1-pentene polymer (PMP), in comparison with PDMS and conventional tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS). First, we confirmed the high oxygen permeability and low sorption of PMP, and these properties were comparable with PDMS and TCPS, respectively. Moreover, using primary rat hepatocytes, we demonstrated maintained high levels of liver function at least for 1 week on PMP, with its low chemical sorption and high oxygen permeability being key factors in both revealing the potential of primary cultured hepatocytes and in performing an accurate evaluation of hepatic metabolisms. Taken together, we conclude that PMP is a superior alternative to both PDMS and TCPS, and a promising material for a variety of drug testing systems.
Evaluation of Expanded Criteria Donors Using the Kidney Donor Profile Index and the Preimplantation Renal Biopsy
Authors: Villanego F. , Vigara L. A. , Cazorla J. M. , Naranjo J. , Atienza L. , Garcia A. M. , Montero M. E. , Minguez M. C. , Garcia T. , Mazuecos A.
Published: June 2022

The increasing comorbidity of kidney transplant (KT) donors make it necessary to develop scores to correctly assess the quality of kidney grafts. This study analyzes the usefulness of the preimplantation biopsy and the Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI) as indicators of KT survival from expanded criteria donors (ECD). Retrospective study of KT in our center between January 2010 to June 2019 who received a kidney from an ECD and underwent a preimplantation biopsy. 266 KT were included. Graft survival was categorized by KDPI quartiles: Q1 = 86%, Q2 = 95%, Q3 = 99% and Q4 = 100%. KT from KDPI Q1 presented better survival (p = 0.003) and Q4 donors had worse renal function (p = 0.018) and poorer glomerular filtration rate (3rd month; p = 0.017, 1st year; p = 0.010). KT survival was analyzed according to KDPI quartile and preimplantation biopsy score simultaneously: Q1 donors with biopsy score ≤3 had the best survival, especially comparing against Q3 with a biopsy score >3 and Q4 donors (p = 0.014). In multivariable analysis, hyaline arteriopathy, glomerulosclerosis, and KDPI Q4 were predictors for graft survival. High KDPI and a greater histological injury in the preimplantation biopsy, especially glomerular and vascular lesions, were related to a higher rate of KT loss from ECD.
Pharmacological Treatments Available for Immune-Checkpoint-Inhibitor-Induced Colitis
Authors: Ohwada Sae , Ishigami Keisuke , Akutsu Noriyuki , Nakase Hiroshi
Published: June 2022

Immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment has shown revolutionary therapeutic effects in various carcinomas. However, immune-related adverse events (irAE) following this treatment can sometimes lead to treatment discontinuation. One such frequently encountered adverse event is immune-related colitis (irAE colitis). Corticosteroids (CS) are the first-line treatment for irAE colitis, but we often encounter CS-refractory or -resistant cases. The application of multiple biologics has been proposed as a therapy to be administered after CS treatment; however, the efficacy and safety of biologics for patients with irAE colitis who do not respond to CS have not been established. This review summarizes the treatment regimens available for irAE colitis, focusing on the mechanism of action of corticosteroids, infliximab, vedolizumab, and other drugs.
Biomimetic Implant Surfaces and Their Role in Biological Integration—A Concise Review
Authors: Cruz Mariana Brito , Silva Neusa , Marques Joana Faria , Mata António , Silva Felipe Samuel , Caramês João
Published: June 2022

Background: The increased use of dental implants in oral rehabilitation has been followed by the development of new biomaterials as well as improvements in the performance of biomaterials already in use. This triggers the need for appropriate analytical approaches to assess the biological and, ultimately, clinical benefits of these approaches. Aims: To address the role of physical, chemical, mechanical, and biological characteristics in order to determine the critical parameters to improve biological responses and the long-term effectiveness of dental implant surfaces. Data sources and methods: Web of Science, MEDLINE and Lilacs databases were searched for the last 30 years in English, Spanish and Portuguese idioms. Results: Chemical composition, wettability, roughness, and topography of dental implant surfaces have all been linked to biological regulation in cell interactions, osseointegration, bone tissue and peri-implant mucosa preservation. Conclusion: Techniques involving subtractive and additive methods, especially those involving laser treatment or embedding of bioactive nanoparticles, have demonstrated promising results. However, the literature is heterogeneous regarding study design and methodology, which limits comparisons between studies and the definition of the critical determinants of optimal cell response.
Simultaneous and Spatially-Resolved Analysis of T-Lymphocytes, Macrophages and PD-L1 Immune Checkpoint in Rare Cancers
Authors: Cereceda Karina , Bravo Nicolas , Jorquera Roddy , González-Stegmaier Roxana , Villarroel-Espíndola Franz
Published: June 2022

Penile, vulvar and anal neoplasms show an incidence lower than 0.5% of the population per year and therefore can be considered as rare cancers but with a dramatic impact on quality of life and survival. This work describes the experience of a Chilean cancer center using multiplexed immunofluorescence to study a case series of four penile cancers, two anal cancers and one vulvar cancer and simultaneous detection of CD8, CD68, PD-L1, Cytokeratin and Ki-67 in FFPE samples. Fluorescent image analyses were performed using open sources for automated tissue segmentation and cell phenotyping. Our results showed an objective and reliable counting of objects with a single or combined labeling or within a specific tissue compartment. The variability was below 10%, and the correlation between analytical events was 0.92–0.97. Critical cell phenotypes, such as TILs, PD-L1+ or proliferative tumor cells were detected in a supervised and unsupervised manner with a limit of detection of less than 1% of relative abundance. Finally, the observed diversity and abundance of the different cell phenotypes within the tumor microenvironment for the three studied tumor types confirmed that our methodology is useful and robust to be applicable for many other solid tumors.
Nitrogen Dioxide Optical Sensor Based on Redox-Active Tetrazolium/Pluronic Nanoparticles Embedded in PDMS Membranes
Authors: Araya-Hermosilla Esteban , Araya-Hermosilla Rodrigo , Visentin Francesco , Picchioni Francesco , Pucci Andrea , Mattoli Virgilio
Published: June 2022

Anthropogenic toxic vapour and gases are a worldwide threat for human health and to the environment. Therefore, it is crucial to develop highly sensitive devices that guarantee their rapid detection. Here, we prepared redox-switchable colloids by the in-situ reduction of 2,3,5-triphenyl-2H-tetrazolium (TTC) into triphenyl formazan (TF) stabilised with Pluronic F127 in aqueous media. The colloids were readily embedded in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to produce a selective colour-switchable membrane for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) detection. We found that the TTC reduction resulted in the production of red-coloured colloids with zeta potential between −1 to 3 mV and hydrodynamic diameters between 114 to 305 nm as hydrophobic dispersion in aqueous media stabilised by Pluronic at different molar concentrations. Moreover, the embedded colloids rendered highly homogenous red colour gas-permeable PDMS elastomeric membrane. Once exposed to NO2, the membrane began to bleach after 30 s due to the oxidation of the embedded TF and undergo a complete decolouration after 180 s. Such features allowed the membrane integration in a low-cost sensing device that showed a high sensitivity and low detection limit to NO2.
Screen-Printed Gold Electrode Functionalized with Deferoxamine for Iron(III) Detection
Authors: Alberti Giancarla , Zanoni Camilla , Rovertoni Sara , Magnaghi Lisa Rita , Biesuz Raffaela
Published: June 2022

Deferoxamine (DFO), a hydroxamic siderophore with a high affinity for Fe(III), is immobilized as a functionalized self-assembled monolayer of a thiol (SAM) on the gold surface of a screen-printed cell to develop a voltammetric sensor for iron(III). The surface of the working electrode was characterized, before and after functionalization, by determining surface properties such as the area and the double-layer capacitance. The Fe(III) detection was performed by DPV analysis after preconcentration of the cation at the open circuit potential in solution at pH = 1 for two minutes. The method was applied to the iron(III) quantification in water samples giving promising results.
Childhood Immunity and Infections: Time to Consider Endothelial Cells and Platelets
Authors: Buonsenso Danilo
Published: June 2022

The immune system was, and still is, the protagonist of this pandemic [...]
Plant DNA Barcodes, Community Ecology, and Species Interactions
Authors: Kress W. John , Gostel Morgan R.
Published: June 2022

The community of biologists has been eager to realize the promise of DNA barcodes since the concept of a rapid method for genetic identification of species was first proposed in 2003 [...]
Does the Obesity Problem Increase Environmental Degradation? Macroeconomic and Social Evidence from the European Countries
Authors: Koengkan Matheus , Fuinhas José Alberto
Published: June 2022

The macroeconomic effect of the obesity epidemic on environmental degradation was examined for panel data from thirty-one European countries from 1991 to 2016. The quantile via moments model (QVM) was used to realize our empirical investigation. The empirical results indicate that the obesity epidemic, electricity consumption, and urbanisation encourage environmental degradation by increasing CO2 emissions, while economic growth decreases them. Moreover, we identify that the obesity epidemic raises the environmental degradation problem in three ways. First, the obesity epidemic is caused by the increased consumption of processed foods from multinational food corporations. The increase in food production will positively impact energy consumption from non-renewable energy sources. Second, obesity reduces physical and outdoor activities, increasing the intensive use of home appliances and motorized transportation and screen-viewing leisure activities, consequently increasing energy consumption from non-renewable energy sources. A third possible way can be related indirectly to economic growth, globalization, and urbanisation. This empirical investigation will contribute to the literature and for policymakers and governments. Therefore, this investigation will encourage the development of initiatives to mitigate the obesity problem in European countries and accelerate the energy transition process. Finally, this investigation will open a new topic in the literature regarding the correlation between the obesity epidemic and environmental degradation.
Influence of Growing Miscanthus x giganteus on Ecosystem Services of Chernozem
Authors: Vodiak Yana , Tsapko Yurii , Kucher Anatolii , Krupin Vitaliy , Skorokhod Iryna
Published: June 2022

The paper investigates the optimization of ecosystem services of podzolized heavy loamy chernozem (black soil) as a result of the cultivation of the perennial energy culture of Miscanthus x giganteus. The research was conducted on an experimental land plot during 2016–2021. No fertilization was applied to the soil during the experiments, and over the years of research, the growing seasons were accompanied by abnormal droughts, but even under such conditions, the plants of Miscanthus x giganteus gradually increased their yield. At the initial stage of research, in the third year of cultivation, dry biomass of Miscanthus x giganteus was obtained at 14.3 t/ha, in the fourth year–18.6 t/ha, and already in the fifth and sixth years, 21.7 and 24.5 t/ha, respectively. That is, energy-wise, the harvest for the last year was equivalent to 15.9 tons of coal or 12,618 m3 of natural gas. Cultivation of Miscanthus x giganteus on black soil for six years has improved the provision of its ecosystem services, regulation, and ecosystem maintenance services. The possibility of growing perennial energy crops on agricultural soils has been proven by obtaining a significant amount of biomass and a positive phytoremediation effect on the soil by reducing erosion, preserving biodiversity, sequestering carbon, and sustainably improving the ecological situation.
An Overview on Co-Pyrolysis of Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable Wastes
Authors: Ghai Hemant , Sakhuja Deepak , Yadav Shikha , Solanki Preeti , Putatunda Chayanika , Bhatia Ravi Kant , Bhatt Arvind Kumar , Varjani Sunita , Yang Yung-Hun , Bhatia Shashi Kant , Walia Abhishek
Published: June 2022

Continuous urbanization and modernization have increased the burning of fossil fuels to meet energy needs across the globe, emanating environmental pollution and depleting fossil fuels. Therefore, a shift towards sustainable and renewable energy is necessary. Several techniques to exploit biomass to yield energy are trending, with pyrolysis one of them. Usually, a single feedstock is employed in pyrolysis for anoxygenic generation of biochar together with bio-oil at elevated temperatures (350–600 °C). Bio-oil produced through pyrolysis can be upgraded to crude oil after some modification. However, these modifications of bio-oil are one of the major drawbacks for its large-scale adoption, as upgradation increases the overall cost. Therefore, in recent years the scientific community has been researching co-pyrolysis technology that involves the pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass waste with non-biodegradable waste. Co-pyrolysis reduces the need for post-modification of bio-oil, unlike pyrolysis of a single feedstock. This review article discusses the recent advancements and technological challenges in waste biomass co-pyrolysis, the mechanism of co-pyrolysis, and factors that affect co-pyrolysis. The current study critically analyzes different recent research articles presented in databases such as PubMed, MDPI, ScienceDirect, Springer, etc. Hence, this review is one-of-a-kind in that it attempts to explain each and every aspect of the co-pyrolysis process and its current progress in the scientific field. Consequently, this review also compiles the remarkable achievements in co-pyrolysis and recommendations for the future.
Design of a Deflection Switched Reluctance Motor Control System Based on a Flexible Neural Network
Authors: Li Zheng , Wei Xiaopeng , Wang Jinsong , Liu Libo , Du Shenhui , Guo Xiaoqiang , Sun Hexu
Published: June 2022

Deflection switched reluctance motors (DSRM) are prone to chattering at low speeds, which always affects the output efficiency of the DSRM and the mechanical loss of the motor. Combining the characteristics of a traditional reluctance motor with the strong nonlinear and high coupling of the DSRM, a control system for a DSRM based on a flexible neural network (FNN) is proposed in this paper. Based on the better robustness and fault tolerance of fuzzy PI control, the given speed signal is adjusted and converted into a torque control signal. As a result, the FNN control module possesses the strong self-learning ability and adaptive adjustment ability necessary to obtain the control voltage signal. Through simulations and experiments, it was verified that the control system can run stably on DSRM and shows good dynamic performance and anti-interference ability.
BIPV Modeling with Artificial Neural Networks: Towards a BIPV Digital Twin
Authors: Polo Jesús , Martín-Chivelet Nuria , Sanz-Saiz Carlos
Published: June 2022

Modeling the photovoltaic (PV) energy output with high accuracy is essential for predicting and analyzing the performance of a PV system. In the particular cases of building-integrated and building-attached photovoltaic systems (BIPV and BAPV, respectively) the time-varying partial shading conditions are a relevant added difficulty for modeling the PV power conversion. The availability of laser imaging detection and ranging (LIDAR) data to create very-high-resolution elevation digital models can be effectively used for computing the shading at high resolution. In this work, an artificial neural network (ANN) has been used to model the power generation of different BIPV arrays on a 5 min basis using the meteorological and solar irradiance on-site conditions, as well as the shading patterns estimated from a digital surface model as inputs. The ANN model has been validated using three years of 5-min-basis monitored data showing very high accuracy (6–16% of relative error depending on the façade). The proposed methodology combines the shading computation from a digital surface model with powerful machine learning algorithms for modeling vertical PV arrays under partial shading conditions. The results presented here prove also the capability of the machine learning techniques towards the creation of a digital twin for the specific case of BIPV systems that complements the conventional monitoring strategies and can be used in the diagnosis of performance anomalies.
Effect of Operational Conditions on Ammonia Recovery from Simulated Livestock Wastewater Using Gas-Permeable Membrane Technology
Authors: Riaño Berta , Molinuevo-Salces Beatriz , Vanotti Matías B. , García-González María Cruz
Published: June 2022

Gas-permeable membrane (GPM) technology is a novel alternative to reduce N content in wastewater while recovering N in the form of an ammonium salt solution that can be used as fertilizer. This work aims to elucidate the effects of three operational conditions on the performance of GPM technology for ammonia recovery in batch conditions using synthetic wastewater that simulates livestock wastewater. Firstly, the effect of the ratio of the initial mass of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) per membrane surface from 197 to 936 g N per m2 of membrane was investigated. The highest ratio presented the highest TAN recovery rate (90 g N m−2 d−1). Secondly, the influence of the ratio of the volume of wastewater per volume of acidic trapping solution in the range from 7.8 to 33.3 L L−1 was studied. In this case, the higher the ratio, the higher the N concentration in the trapping solution, achieving a N concentration of 43,773 mg N L−1 with a ratio of 33.3 L L−1. Finally, two different TAN concentrations (<0.1 and 30 g N L−1) in the acidic trapping solution were evaluated. The use of a trapping solution with a TAN concentration of 30 g N L−1 led to a reduction in the TAN recovery rate, which meant that the diffusion of ammonia through the membrane was more difficult as the trapping solution became saturated with TAN. Overall, the tested conditions highly influence the performance of GPM technology, and therefore, these conditions should be set to optimize the ammonia recovery and reduce nitrogen losses.