bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
5-Aminolevulinic Acid as a Novel Therapeutic for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Yadav Vipul , Mai Yang , McCoubrey Laura E. , Wada Yasufumi , Tomioka Motoyasu , Kawata Satofumi , Charde Shrikant , Basit Abdul W.
Published: May 2021

5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is a naturally occurring nonprotein amino acid licensed as an optical imaging agent for the treatment of gliomas. In recent years, 5-ALA has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties through upregulation of heme oxygenase-1 via enhancement of porphyrin, indicating that it may be beneficial for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. This study systematically examines 5-ALA for use in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Firstly, the ex vivo colonic stability and permeability of 5-ALA was assessed using human and mouse fluid and tissue. Secondly, the in vivo efficacy of 5-ALA, in the presence of sodium ferrous citrate, was investigated via the oral and intracolonic route in an acute DSS colitis mouse model of IBD. Results showed that 5-ALA was stable in mouse and human colon fluid, as well as in colon tissue. 5-ALA showed more tissue restricted pharmacokinetics when exposed to human colonic tissue. In vivo dosing demonstrated significantly improved colonic inflammation, increased local heme oxygenase-1 levels, and decreased concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in both plasma and colonic tissue. These effects were superior to that measured concurrently with established anti-inflammatory treatments, ciclosporin and 5-aminosalicylic acid (mesalazine). As such, 5-ALA represents a promising addition to the IBD armamentarium, with potential for targeted colonic delivery.
Identifying Novel Actionable Targets in Colon Cancer
Authors: Cerrito Maria Grazia , Grassilli Emanuela
Published: May 2021

Colorectal cancer is the fourth cause of death from cancer worldwide, mainly due to the high incidence of drug-resistance toward classic chemotherapeutic and newly targeted drugs. In the last decade or so, the development of novel high-throughput approaches, both genome-wide and chemical, allowed the identification of novel actionable targets and the development of the relative specific inhibitors to be used either to re-sensitize drug-resistant tumors (in combination with chemotherapy) or to be synthetic lethal for tumors with specific oncogenic mutations. Finally, high-throughput screening using FDA-approved libraries of “known” drugs uncovered new therapeutic applications of drugs (used alone or in combination) that have been in the clinic for decades for treating non-cancerous diseases (re-positioning or re-purposing approach). Thus, several novel actionable targets have been identified and some of them are already being tested in clinical trials, indicating that high-throughput approaches, especially those involving drug re-positioning, may lead in a near future to significant improvement of the therapy for colon cancer patients, especially in the context of a personalized approach, i.e., in defined subgroups of patients whose tumors carry certain mutations.
Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy to Characterize Different Fractions of Extracellular Vesicles from Control and Prostate Cancer Patients
Authors: Osei Eric Boateng , Paniushkina Liliia , Wilhelm Konrad , Popp Jürgen , Nazarenko Irina , Krafft Christoph
Published: May 2021

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-enclosed structures ranging in size from about 60 to 800 nm that are released by the cells into the extracellular space; they have attracted interest as easily available biomarkers for cancer diagnostics. In this study, EVs from plasma of control and prostate cancer patients were fractionated by differential centrifugation at 5000× g, 12,000× g and 120,000× g. The remaining supernatants were purified by ultrafiltration to produce EV-depleted free-circulating (fc) fractions. Spontaneous Raman and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) at 785 nm excitation using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were employed as label-free techniques to collect fingerprint spectra and identify the fractions that best discriminate between control and cancer patients. SERS spectra from 10 µL droplets showed an enhanced Raman signature of EV-enriched fractions that were much more intense for cancer patients than controls. The Raman spectra of dehydrated pellets of EV-enriched fractions without AgNPs were dominated by spectral contributions of proteins and showed variations in S-S stretch, tryptophan and protein secondary structure bands between control and cancer fractions. We conclude that the AgNPs-mediated SERS effect strongly enhances Raman bands in EV-enriched fractions, and the fractions, EV12 and EV120 provide the best separation of cancer and control patients by Raman and SERS spectra.
SARS-CoV-2 Spike-Derived Peptides Presented by HLA Molecules
Authors: Nguyen Andrea T. , Szeto Christopher , Jayasinghe Dhilshan , Lobos Christian A. , Halim Hanim , Chatzileontiadou Demetra S. M. , Grant Emma J. , Gras Stephanie
Published: May 2021

The SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. With the remarkable advances in medical research, vaccines were developed to prime the human immune system and decrease disease severity. Despite these achievements, the fundamental basis of immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus is still largely undefined. Here, we solved the crystal structure of three spike-derived peptides presented by three different HLA molecules, and determined the stability of the overall peptide–HLA complexes formed. The peptide presentation of spike-derived peptides can influence the way in which CD8+ T cells can recognise infected cells, clear infection, and therefore, control the outcome of the disease.
Detection of Exosomes Using Total Internal Reflected Imaging Ellipsometry
Authors: Liu Haoyu , Liu Wei , Jin Gang
Published: May 2021

Exosomes are a kind of membrane-bound phospholipid nanovesicle that are secreted extensively in a variety of biological fluids. Accumulating evidence has indicated that exosomes not only communicate with cells, but also perform functional roles in physiology and pathology. In addition, exosomes have also elicited a great deal of excitement due to their potential as disease biomarkers. Therefore, requirements for sensitive methods capable of precisely and specifically determining exosomes were needed. Herein, we not only develop a sensing surface to capture exosomes but also compare two surface proteins on exosomes, which are appropriate for detecting exosome surface markers by total internal reflected imaging ellipsometry (TIRIE). Protein G and antibody were immobilized on a thin layer of golden substrate to form the biosensing surface. The bio-interaction between antibodies and exosomes was recorded by the TIRIE in real time. The distance between exosomes adhered on a surface was 44 nm ± 0.5 nm. The KD  of anti-CD9 and exosome was lower than anti-CD63 and exosome by introducing pseudo-first-order interaction kinetics, which suggested that CD9 is more suitable for exosome surface markers than CD63. The limit of detection (LOD) of TIRIE was 0.4 μg/mL. In conclusion, we have proposed a surface for the detection of exosomes based on TIRIE, which can make the detection of exosomes convenient and efficient.
Neurophysiological Changes Induced by Music-Supported Therapy for Recovering Upper Extremity Function after Stroke: A Case Series
Authors: Ghai Shashank , Maso Fabien Dal , Ogourtsova Tatiana , Porxas Alba-Xifra , Villeneuve Myriam , Penhune Virginia , Boudrias Marie-Hélène , Baillet Sylvain , Lamontagne Anouk
Published: May 2021

Music-supported therapy (MST) follows the best practice principles of stroke rehabilitation and has been proven to instigate meaningful enhancements in motor recovery post-stroke. The existing literature has established that the efficacy and specificity of MST relies on the reinforcement of auditory-motor functional connectivity in related brain networks. However, to date, no study has attempted to evaluate the underlying cortical network nodes that are key to the efficacy of MST post-stroke. In this case series, we evaluated changes in connectivity within the auditory-motor network and changes in upper extremity function following a 3-week intensive piano training in two stroke survivors presenting different levels of motor impairment. Connectivity was assessed pre- and post-training in the α- and the β-bands within the auditory-motor network using magnetoencephalography while participants were passively listening to a standardized melody. Changes in manual dexterity, grip strength, movement coordination, and use of the upper extremity were also documented in both stroke survivors. After training, an increase in the clinical measures was accompanied by enhancements in connectivity between the auditory and motor network nodes for both the α- and the β-bands, especially in the affected hemisphere. These neurophysiological changes associated with the positive effects of post-stroke MST on motor outcomes delineate a path for a larger scale clinical trial.
Explicit Training to Improve Affective Prosody Recognition in Adults with Acute Right Hemisphere Stroke
Authors: Durfee Alexandra Zezinka , Sheppard Shannon M. , Meier Erin L. , Bunker Lisa , Cui Erjia , Crainiceanu Ciprian , Hillis Argye E.
Published: May 2021

Difficulty recognizing affective prosody (receptive aprosodia) can occur following right hemisphere damage (RHD). Not all individuals spontaneously recover their ability to recognize affective prosody, warranting behavioral intervention. However, there is a dearth of evidence-based receptive aprosodia treatment research in this clinical population. The purpose of the current study was to investigate an explicit training protocol targeting affective prosody recognition in adults with RHD and receptive aprosodia. Eighteen adults with receptive aprosodia due to acute RHD completed affective prosody recognition before and after a short training session that targeted proposed underlying perceptual and conceptual processes. Behavioral impairment and lesion characteristics were investigated as possible influences on training effectiveness. Affective prosody recognition improved following training, and recognition accuracy was higher for pseudo- vs. real-word sentences. Perceptual deficits were associated with the most posterior infarcts, conceptual deficits were associated with frontal infarcts, and a combination of perceptual-conceptual deficits were related to temporoparietal and subcortical infarcts. Several right hemisphere ventral stream regions and pathways along with frontal and parietal hypoperfusion predicted training effectiveness. Explicit acoustic-prosodic-emotion training improves affective prosody recognition, but it may not be appropriate for everyone. Factors such as linguistic context and lesion location should be considered when planning prosody training.
Life Cycle Cost Analysis of a Single-Family House in Sweden
Authors: Petrović Bojana , Zhang Xingxing , Eriksson Ola , Wallhagen Marita
Published: May 2021

The objective of this paper was to explore long-term costs for a single-family house in Sweden during its entire lifetime. In order to estimate the total costs, considering construction, replacement, operation, and end-of-life costs over the long term, the life cycle cost (LCC) method was applied. Different cost solutions were analysed including various economic parameters in a sensitivity analysis. Economic parameters used in the analysis include various nominal discount rates (7%, 5%, and 3%), an inflation rate of 2%, and energy escalation rates (2–6%). The study includes two lifespans (100 and 50 years). The discounting scheme was used in the calculations. Additionally, carbon-dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions were considered and systematically analysed with costs. Findings show that when the discount rate is decreased from 7% to 3%, the total costs are increased significantly, by 44% for a 100-year lifespan, while for a 50 years lifespan the total costs show a minor increase by 18%. The construction costs represent a major part of total LCC, with labor costs making up half of them. Considering costs and emissions together, a full correlation was not found, while a partial relationship was investigated. Results can be useful for decision-makers in the building sector.
Patterns of Recurrence after Neoadjuvant Therapy in Early Breast Cancer, according to the Residual Cancer Burden Index and Reductions in Neoadjuvant Treatment Intensity
Authors: Suppan Christoph , Posch Florian , Mueller Hannah Deborah , Mischitz Nina , Steiner Daniel , Klocker Eva Valentina , Setaffy Lisa , Bargfrieder Ute , Hammer Robert , Hauser Hubert , Jost Philipp J. , Dandachi Nadia , Lax Sigurd , Balic Marija
Published: May 2021

Background: The prognostic performance of the residual cancer burden (RCB) score is a promising tool for breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy. We independently evaluated the prognostic value of RCB scores in an extended validation cohort. Additionally, we analyzed the association between chemotherapy dose reduction and RCB scores. Methods: In this extended validation study, 367 breast cancer patients with available RCB scores were followed up for recurrence-free survival (RFS), distant disease-free survival (DDFS), and overall survival (OS). We also computed standardized cumulative doses of anthracyclines and taxanes (A/Ts) to investigate a potential interaction between neoadjuvant chemotherapy dose reduction and RCB scores. Results: Higher RCB scores were consistently associated with adverse clinical outcomes across different molecular subtypes (HR for RFS = 1.60, 95% CI 1.33–1.93, p < 0.0001; HR for DDFS = 1.70, 95% CI 1.39–2.05, p < 0.0001; HR for OS = 1.67, 95% CI 1.34–2.08, p < 0.0001). The adverse impact prevailed throughout 5 years of follow-up, with a peak for relapse risk between 1–2 years after surgery. Clinical outcomes of patients with RCB class 1 did not differ substantially at 5 years compared to RCB class 0. A total of 180 patients (49.1%) underwent dose reduction of neoadjuvant A/T chemotherapy. We observed a statistically significant interaction between dose reduction and higher RCB scores (interaction p-value = 0.042). Conclusion: Our results confirm RCB score as a prognostic marker for RFS, DDFS, and OS independent of the molecular subtype. Importantly, we show that lower doses of cumulative neoadjuvant A/T were associated with higher RCB scores in patients who required a dose reduction.
Metal Organic Frameworks for Advanced Applications
Authors: Belver Carolina , Bedia Jorge
Published: May 2021

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of porous materials with a modular structure [...]
Hepatotoxicity of Contemporary Antiretroviral Drugs: A Review and Evaluation of Published Clinical Data
Authors: Otto Ashley O. , Rivera Christina G. , Zeuli John D. , Temesgen Zelalem
Published: May 2021

Contemporary antiretroviral agents afford enhanced potency and safety for patients living with HIV. Newer antiretroviral drugs are often better tolerated than those initially approved in the early stages of the HIV epidemic. While the safety profile has improved, adverse drug reactions still occur. We have segregated the antiretroviral agents used in contemporary practice into class groupings based on their mechanism of antiviral activity (non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, integrase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, and entry inhibitors) while providing a review and discussion of the hepatoxicity seen in the most relevant clinical literature published to date. Clinical literature for individual agents is discussed and agent comparisons afforded within each group in tabular format. Our review will provide a summative overview of the incidence and medications associated with hepatic adverse reactions linked to the use of contemporary antiretroviral drugs.
The Complexity of FGF23 Effects on Cardiomyocytes in Normal and Uremic Milieu
Authors: Figurek Andreja , Rroji Merita , Spasovski Goce
Published: May 2021

Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) appears to be one of the most promising biomarkers and predictors of cardiovascular risk in patients with heart disease and normal kidney function, but moreover in those with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This review summarizes the current knowledge of FGF23 mechanisms of action in the myocardium in the physiological and pathophysiological state of CKD, as well as its cross-talk to other important signaling pathways in cardiomyocytes. In this regard, current therapeutic possibilities and future perspectives are also discussed.
Catalytic Converters for Vehicle Exhaust: Fundamental Aspects and Technology Overview for Newcomers to the Field
Authors: Kritsanaviparkporn Emmy , Baena-Moreno Francisco M. , Reina T. R.
Published: May 2021

This works aims to provide an understanding on basic chemical kinetics pertaining to three-way catalytic (TWC) converters from an educational perspective, aimed at those novel readers in this field. Rate of reactions and its factors are explained, showcasing that the chosen catalyst is the main factor affecting the overall rate of reaction. Furthermore, this overview revisit insights of the catalytic converter structure and the environmental issues that come along with it. Lastly, the chemical and physical properties of the reactants and products-pollutant and less-toxic gases—are discussed, in order to gather a better understanding of the reactants and products that enters a catalytic converter.
Thyroid Microcarcinoma in Pediatric Population in Romania
Authors: Stefan Andreea-Ioana , Piciu Andra , Cosnarovici Maria Margareta , Dragomir Monica , Netea-Maier Romana , Piciu Doina
Published: May 2021

Thyroid microcarcinoma in pediatric population in Romania Non-medullary thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common endocrine malignancy, with an increasing incidence in the recent years, due to the increase of the thyroid microcarcinoma. Thyroid microcarcinoma (mTC) is defined, according to WHO criteria, as ≤1 cm dimension thyroid carcinoma, being a rare disease in children population. In adults, the current guidelines recommend a limited surgical approach. In children, however, there are no specific guidelines for mTC. Due to the scarcity of these tumors, mTC in children have largely been understudied, to our knowledge with only one previous publication reporting on the outcomes of a large historic series of patients with mTC from the USA. In Romania, the incidence of TC is rising, one of the reason may be the effect of Chernobyl nuclear accident in the past and the iodine deficiency. The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics and outcome of children diagnosed with mTC in Romania diagnosed from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2018. During the study period we identified 77 cases of differentiated TC (papillary and follicular) and of these 20 cases (19.4%) were mTC. The mTC represented roughly one fifth of our nationwide pediatric population diagnosed in the last 20 years, the majority of cases being recorded in adolescents aged between 15–18 years. Although patients with apparently more unfavorable local phenotype were identified, this was not reflected in the outcome of the patients in terms of remission of the disease and survival. Our study illustrates the heterogeneity of the real-life practice with respect to the pediatric mTC, and underscores the need for carefully designed multicenter international studies, including larger cohorts of patients in order to provide the data required for establishing evidence based uniform protocols. The European Reference Networks (ERN), such as the ERN for Rare Endocrine Diseases (Endo-ERN) provides an ideal platform to initiate such collaborative studies.
The Behavioral Problems in 2.5–5 Years Old Children Linked with Former Neonatal/Infantile Surgical Parameters
Authors: Rugytė Danguolė , Širvinskienė Giedrė , Kregždytė Rima
Published: May 2021

Studies report the link between exposure to major neonatal surgery and the risk of later neurodevelopmental disorders. The aim of this study was to find out the behavioral problem scores of 2.5–5 years old children who had undergone median/major non-cardiac surgery before the age of 90 days, and to relate these to intraoperative cerebral tissue oxygenation values (rSO2), perioperative duration of mechanical ventilation (DMV) and doses of sedative/analgesic agents. Internalizing (IP) and externalizing problems (EP) of 34 children were assessed using the CBCL for ages 1½–5. Median (range) IP and EP scores were 8.5 (2–42) and 15.5 (5–33), respectively and did not correlate with intraoperative rSO2. DMV correlated and was predictive for EP (β (95% CI) 0.095 (0.043; 0.148)). An aggregate variable “opioid dose per days of ventilation” was predictive for EP after adjusting for patients’ gestational age and age at the day of psychological assessment, after further adjustment for age at the day of surgery and for cumulative dose of benzodiazepines (β (95% CI 0.009 (0.003; 0.014) and 0.008 (0.002; 0.014), respectively). Neonatal/infantile intraoperative cerebral oxygenation was not associated with later behavioral problems. The risk factors for externalizing problems appeared to be similar to the risk factors in preterm infant population.
Novel Dihydro-1,3,2H-benzoxazine Derived from Furfurylamine: Crystal Structure, Hirshfeld Surface Analysis, Photophysical Property, and Computational Study
Authors: Wattanathana Worawat , Hanlumyuang Yuranan , Wannapaiboon Suttipong , Chansaenpak Kantapat , Pinyou Piyanut , Nanok Tanin , Kanjanaboos Pongsakorn
Published: May 2021

Dihydro-1,3,2H-benzoxazines (or benzoxazine monomers) are a class of compounds that have been widely utilized in many areas such as the production of the functional polymers and optoelectronic materials. The structure variety of the benzoxazines plays a vital role in their desired properties. The effort of synthesizing functionalized benzoxazines from bioresources is of interest for sustainable development. Herein, we report the synthesis of the novel benzoxazine monomer referred to as 3-(furan-2-ylmethyl)-6-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[e][1,3]oxazine or benzoxazine (I) from a one-pot Mannich reaction using p-cresol, paraformaldehyde, and furfurylamine (a bio-derived amine). An X-ray crystallographic study was performed at low temperature (100 K) to obtain the structural characteristics of the benzoxazine (I). The result reveals that the oxazine ring adopts a half chair conformation to locate all the members of the benzoxazine ring as planar as possible by employing the expansion of the bond angles within the ring. Apart from the structural parameters, the intermolecular interactions were also examined. It was found that the significant interactions within the crystal are C–H···N, C–H···O, and the C–H···π interactions. The C–H···N interactions link the benzoxazine (I) molecules into an infinite molecular chain, propagating along the [100] direction. Hirshfeld surfaces and their corresponding fingerprint plots were comprehensively analyzed to confirm and quantify the significance of these interactions. Moreover, the photophysical properties of the benzoxazine (I) were investigated in solvents with various polarities. The corresponding relations between the structural features, frontier molecular orbitals, and absorption-and-emission characteristics were proposed and explained according to the DFT and TD-DFT calculations.
Study of the Preferred Orientation of Hydroxyapatite in Ivory from Zimbabwe and Mammoth Ivory from Siberia
Authors: Sun Xueying , He Mingyue , Wu Jinlin
Published: May 2021

In this paper, the pole figures plotted from X-ray diffraction data are employed to analyze the orientation of hydroxyapatite in ivory and mammoth ivory for the first time. The results present evidence of the lamellar structure and the hydroxyapatite appeared as tabular. A preferred orientation of hydroxyapatite was revealed in terms of the calculated orientation factor and the characteristics found in the pole figures. The c-axes of hydroxyapatite are mainly oriented along the growth direction. Both a-axes are on the left of the angle bisector of Retzius. Approximately 25–30° separates the a-axes and the angle bisector of Retzius in ivory, whereas the figure is approximately 10–15° in mammoth ivory. Our work is significant in providing more accurate knowledge of the shapes and organizational state of bio-mineral crystals and providing insight into crystal formation and development in bio-mineralization.
Saliva Exhibits High Sensitivity and Specificity for the Detection of SARS-COV-2
Authors: Warsi Ibrahim , Khurshid Zohaib , Shazam Hamda , Umer Muhammad Farooq , Imran Eisha , Khan Muhammad Owais , Slowey Paul Desmond , Goodson J. Max
Published: May 2021

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to assess the application of a multitude of effective diagnostic specimens for conducting mass testing, for accurate diagnosis and to formulate strategies for its prevention and control. As one of the most versatile and amenable specimen options, saliva offers great advantages for widespread screening strategies due to its non-invasive properties, cost-effectiveness, excellent stability and minimal risk of cross-infection. This review attempts to outline the scientific rationale for detection of SARS-COV-2 in saliva specimens. By combining the data obtained from ten chosen published clinical studies, we calculated the pooled sensitivity and specificity using an online calculator. Through evidence, we established that SARS-COV-2 is detectable in saliva with a high degree of diagnostic sensitivity (87%) and specificity (98%). We also presented a review of emerging technologies approved by the FDA for detection of SARS-COV-2 in oral fluids (saliva and sputum) using polymerase chain reaction methods. Given the challenges involved in obtaining invasive specimens from the naso- and oropharynx, saliva can serve as an easy to collect diagnostic specimen for screening in the work environment, schools and for home testing. Furthermore, saliva offers the opportunity to screen early cases that can be missed by invasive sampling.
Vulnerability of Soil Carbon Regulating Ecosystem Services due to Land Cover Change in the State of New Hampshire, USA
Authors: Mikhailova Elena A. , Lin Lili , Hao Zhenbang , Zurqani Hamdi A. , Post Christopher J. , Schlautman Mark A. , Post Gregory C.
Published: May 2021

Valuation of soil carbon (C) regulating ecosystem services (ES) at the state level is important for sustainable C management. The objective of this study was to assess the value of regulating ES from soil organic carbon (SOC), soil inorganic carbon (SIC), and total soil carbon (TSC) stocks, based on the concept of the avoided social cost of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions for the state of New Hampshire (NH) in the United States of America (USA) by soil order and county using information from the State Soil Geographic (STATSGO) database. The total estimated monetary mid-point value for TSC stocks in the state of New Hampshire was $73.0B (i.e., 73.0 billion U.S. dollars (USD), where B = billion = 109), $64.8B for SOC stocks, and $8.1B for SIC stocks. Soil orders with the highest midpoint value for SOC were Histosols ($33.2B), Spodosols ($20.2B), and Inceptisols ($10.1B). Soil orders with the highest midpoint value for SIC were Inceptisols ($5.8B), Spodosols ($1.0B), and Entisols ($770M, where M = million = 106). Soil orders with the highest midpoint value for TSC were Histosols ($33.8B), Spodosols ($21.2B), and Inceptisols ($15.9B). The counties with the highest midpoint SOC values were Rockingham ($15.4B), Hillsborough ($9.8B), and Coös ($9.2B). The counties with the highest midpoint SIC values were Merrimack ($1.2B), Coös ($1.1B), and Rockingham ($1.0B). The counties with the highest midpoint TSC values were Rockingham ($16.5B), Hillsborough ($10.8B), and Coös ($10.3B). New Hampshire has experienced land use/land cover (LULC) changes between 2001 and 2016. The changes in LULC across the state have not been uniform, but rather have varied by county, soil order, and pre-existing land cover. The counties that have exhibited the most development (e.g., Rockingham, Hillsborough, Merrimack) are those nearest the urban center of Boston, MA. Most soil orders have experienced losses in “low disturbance” land covers (e.g., evergreen forest, hay/pasture) and gains in “high disturbance” land covers (e.g., low-, medium-, and high-intensity developed land). In particular, Histosols are a high-risk carbon “hotspot” that contributes over 50% of the total estimated sequestration of SOC in New Hampshire while covering only 7% of the total land area. Integration of pedodiversity concepts with administrative units can be useful to design soil- and land-cover specific, cost-efficient policies to manage soil C regulating ES in New Hampshire at various administrative levels.
Students’ Empathy for the Environment through Eco-Art Place-Based Education: A Review
Authors: Sunassee Asvina , Bokhoree Chandradeo , Patrizio Andrew
Published: May 2021

The existing state of the world climate creates the need for an educational programme that incorporates effective proposals for the environment that can be practically implemented. The present environmental education literature has changed due to new study paradigms. Understanding how students relate to nature, how their personal beliefs and behaviours are influenced, and how their actions are affected can provide an increased understanding of how they can contribute meaningfully to global objectives. This paper aims to analyse educational research papers published in the area of environmental art education in order to find the factor with the greatest effect and illuminate how they can help to improve the measures implemented. This study paper (i) focuses on students’ engagement with an environment curriculum; (ii) demonstrates the need for action related to the environment; (iii) encourages critical thinking; and (iv) demonstrates students’ independent thinking and rational decision making. The findings show that such research can help to improve environmental art education based on action and take future research challenges into account.
A Recommendation Engine for Predicting Movie Ratings Using a Big Data Approach
Authors: Awan Mazhar Javed , Khan Rafia Asad , Nobanee Haitham , Yasin Awais , Anwar Syed Muhammad , Naseem Usman , Singh Vishwa Pratap
Published: May 2021

In this era of big data, the amount of video content has dramatically increased with an exponential broadening of video streaming services. Hence, it has become very strenuous for end-users to search for their desired videos. Therefore, to attain an accurate and robust clustering of information, a hybrid algorithm was used to introduce a recommender engine with collaborative filtering using Apache Spark and machine learning (ML) libraries. In this study, we implemented a movie recommendation system based on a collaborative filtering approach using the alternating least squared (ALS) model to predict the best-rated movies. Our proposed system uses the last search data of a user regarding movie category and references this to instruct the recommender engine, thereby making a list of predictions for top ratings. The proposed study used a model-based approach of matrix factorization, the ALS algorithm along with a collaborative filtering technique, which solved the cold start, sparse, and scalability problems. In particular, we performed experimental analysis and successfully obtained minimum root mean squared errors (oRMSEs) of 0.8959 to 0.97613, approximately. Moreover, our proposed movie recommendation system showed an accuracy of 97% and predicted the top 1000 ratings for movies.
Review on Generative Adversarial Networks: Focusing on Computer Vision and Its Applications
Authors: Park Sung-Wook , Ko Jae-Sub , Huh Jun-Ho , Kim Jong-Chan
Published: May 2021

The emergence of deep learning model GAN (Generative Adversarial Networks) is an important turning point in generative modeling. GAN is more powerful in feature and expression learning compared to machine learning-based generative model algorithms. Nowadays, it is also used to generate non-image data, such as voice and natural language. Typical technologies include BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers), GPT-3 (Generative Pretrained Transformer-3), and MuseNet. GAN differs from the machine learning-based generative model and the objective function. Training is conducted by two networks: generator and discriminator. The generator converts random noise into a true-to-life image, whereas the discriminator distinguishes whether the input image is real or synthetic. As the training continues, the generator learns more sophisticated synthesis techniques, and the discriminator grows into a more accurate differentiator. GAN has problems, such as mode collapse, training instability, and lack of evaluation matrix, and many researchers have tried to solve these problems. For example, solutions such as one-sided label smoothing, instance normalization, and minibatch discrimination have been proposed. The field of application has also expanded. This paper provides an overview of GAN and application solutions for computer vision and artificial intelligence healthcare field researchers. The structure and principle of operation of GAN, the core models of GAN proposed to date, and the theory of GAN were analyzed. Application examples of GAN such as image classification and regression, image synthesis and inpainting, image-to-image translation, super-resolution and point registration were then presented. The discussion tackled GAN’s problems and solutions, and the future research direction was finally proposed.
Anomaly Detection Based on Temporal Behavior Monitoring in Programmable Logic Controllers
Authors: Han Seungjae , Lee Keonyong , Cho Seongje , Park Moonju
Published: May 2021

As Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) are increasingly connected and integrated into the industrial Internet of things, cybersecurity threats to PLCs are also increasing. Adversaries can perform a denial of service (DoS) attack based on the transmission of a large number of network packets, and a control-logic injection attack through sophisticated packet transmission. We propose an approach to detecting and defending against attacks that exploit security vulnerabilities in a PLC system. In order to protect against indiscriminate packet transmission attacks that exploit uncontrolled resource consumption vulnerabilities, an abnormal temporal behavior detection method is proposed that monitors the CPU usage of tasks. If a temporal anomaly is detected, the proposed approach tries to detect control-flow anomalies by examining the sequences of function calls, then detects stack-based buffer overflow attacks. The proposed method is implemented in a water tank control system for evaluation purposes. The experimental results show that the proposed method can improve the security of the system by detecting anomalies in temporal behavior with little system overhead.
Natural Killer Cell Mobilization in Breast and Prostate Cancer Survivors: The Implications of Altered Stress Hormones Following Acute Exercise
Authors: Hanson Erik D. , Bates Lauren C. , Moertl Kaileigh , Evans Elizabeth S.
Published: May 2021

Natural killer (NK) cells from the innate immune system are integral to overall immunity and also in managing the tumor burden during cancer. Breast (BCa) and prostate cancer (PCa) are the most common tumors in U.S. adults. Both BCa and PCa are frequently treated with hormone suppression therapies that are associated with numerous adverse effects including direct effects on the immune system. Regular exercise is recommended for cancer survivors to reduce side effects and improve quality of life. Acute exercise is a potent stimulus for NK cells in healthy individuals with current evidence indicating that NK mobilization in individuals with BCa and PCa is comparable. NK cell mobilization results from elevations in shear stress and catecholamine levels. Despite a normal NK cell response to exercise, increases in epinephrine are attenuated in BCa and PCa. The significance of this potential discrepancy still needs to be determined. However, alterations in adrenal hormone signaling are hypothesized to be due to chronic stress during cancer treatment. Additional compensatory factors induced by exercise are reviewed along with recommendations on standardized approaches to be used in exercise immunology studies involving oncology populations.
Proton Dynamics of Water Diffusion in Shrimp Hydrolysates Flour and Effects of Moisture Absorption on Its Properties
Authors: Zhao Yue , Lin Songyi , Yang Ruiwen , Chen Dong , Sun Na
Published: May 2021

Moisture absorbed into shrimp hydrolysates (SHs) flour profoundly affected its properties. The unstored hydrolysate flour was called SHs-0h and SHs stored for 30 h at 25 °C and 75% relative humidity was named SHs-30. During the process of storage, the moisture dynamics in SHs flour were investigated by dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR). The effects of moisture absorption on the radicals scavenging rates of SHs flour were evaluated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The effects of moisture absorption on secondary structure were studied by mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy and infrared microimaging spectroscopy. The changes of volatile components were monitored by purge and trap coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (PT-GC-MS). DVS results showed that the moisture absorption rate of SHs flour could reach a maximum of 88.93%. Meanwhile, the water was transformed into more stable water with shorter relaxation times. The porous structure of the SHs-30 h flour disappeared and became smoother compared to SH-0 h flour. DPPH (31.09 ± 0.54%) and OH (26.62 ± 1.14%) radicals scavenging rates of SHs-30 h significantly reduced (p < 0.05) compared to that of SHs-0 h flour. The vibrations of the MIR absorbance peaks were changed. Finally, eight volatile components disappeared and six new volatile compounds were found. This study provided a theory basis for moisture dynamics in peptide flour during the storage process.
Evaluation of Quality Parameters of Seven Processing Type Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Cultivars in the Eastern Sub-Himalayan Plains
Authors: Das Santanu , Mitra Biplab , Saha Asok , Mandal Somnath , Paul Prodyut Kumar , El-Sharnouby Mohamed , Hassan Mohamed M. , Maitra Sagar , Hossain Akbar
Published: May 2021

The eastern sub-Himalayan plain of India is a popular potato growing belt in which vast scope exists to introduce processing grade cultivars. The selection and introduction of a better quality processing grade cultivar in this region may pave the way for the processing industries. Keeping these in the backdrop, this study was conducted at Instructional Farm of Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya (UBKV), Pundibari, Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India under eastern sub-Himalayan plains during winter seasons of 2016–17 and 2017–18 in which seven processing type potato cultivars (Kufri Chipsona-1, Kufri Chipsona-3, Kufri Chipsona-4, Kufri Frysona, Kufri Himsona, Kufri Surya and Kufri Chandramukhi) were evaluated in terms of different quality parameters pre-requisite for chips processing viz., dry matter content, specific gravity, starch content, chips colour score, crispiness and hardness of chips through randomised complete block design (RCBD). The study revealed wide variation in all quality parameters amongst the cultivars. Cultivar ‘Kufri Frysona’ showed the highest specific gravity (1.121) as well as dry matter content (23.35%) followed by ‘Kufri Chipsona-3’. The cultivar ‘Kufri Frysona’ showed the highest starch content (28.52%) too. Chips prepared from ‘Kufri Chipsona-1’ were recorded to be crispier with a relatively lower value of deformation before the first break and less hardness value. All processing type potato cultivar reflected the chips colour score <3 (evaluated, based on 1–10 scale, 10 being the darkest and least desirable) though ‘Kufri Frysona’ had the lowest chips colour score (1.50) signifying its superiority for the region. ‘Kufri Frysona’ cultivation could be recommended in this agro-climatic region particularly for chips manufacturing potato industries.
Planning a Park and Ride System: A Literature Review
Authors: Ortega Jairo , Tóth János , Péter Tamás
Published: May 2021

The Park and Ride (P&R) system is integrated into the transport infrastructure of a city’s urban environment. P&R is an intermodal connection point between private vehicles and public transport, and therefore is considered a fundamental element in transport planning. The planning of a P&R system is linked to numerous parameters related to transport planning, such as origin and purpose of travel in the P&R system, P&R location problem, P&R and potential demand, P&R and catchment area, P&R and public transport, and P&R in the future transportation (autonomous, electric vehicles). Thus, the planning process becomes essential for the successful implementation of the P&R system. However, most studies have shown each part of the planning process separately. Therefore, the researchers in this paper have conducted a comprehensive analysis of the available literature on P&R system planning, and studies that consider the planning sections separately are to be part of the complete research. In conclusion, the planning of P&R facilities should not be regarded as a separate mobility design element. Instead, it should be viewed as an essential component integrated into the city’s urban environment.
Imprecise Medicine: BRCA2 Variants of Uncertain Significance (VUS), the Challenges and Benefits to Integrate a Functional Assay Workflow with Clinical Decision Rules
Authors: Jimenez-Sainz Judit , Jensen Ryan B.
Published: May 2021

Pathological mutations in homology-directed repair (HDR) genes impact both future cancer risk and therapeutic options for patients. HDR is a high-fidelity DNA repair pathway for resolving DNA double-strand breaks throughout the genome. BRCA2 is an essential protein that mediates the loading of RAD51 onto resected DNA breaks, a key step in HDR. Germline mutations in BRCA2 are associated with an increased risk for breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancer. Clinical findings of germline or somatic BRCA2 mutations in tumors suggest treatment with platinum agents or PARP inhibitors. However, when genetic analysis reveals a variant of uncertain significance (VUS) in the BRCA2 gene, precision medicine-based decisions become complex. VUS are genetic changes with unknown pathological impact. Current statistics indicate that between 10–20% of BRCA sequencing results are VUS, and of these, more than 50% are missense mutations. Functional assays to determine the pathological outcome of VUS are urgently needed to provide clinical guidance regarding cancer risk and treatment options. In this review, we provide a brief overview of BRCA2 functions in HDR, describe how BRCA2 VUS are currently assessed in the clinic, and how genetic and biochemical functional assays could be integrated into the clinical decision process. We suggest a multi-step workflow composed of robust and accurate functional assays to correctly evaluate the potential pathogenic or benign nature of BRCA2 VUS. Success in this precision medicine endeavor will offer actionable information to patients and their physicians.
Genome-Wide Analysis of Potassium Channel Genes in Rice: Expression of the OsAKT and OsKAT Genes under Salt Stress
Authors: Musavizadeh Zahra , Najafi-Zarrini Hamid , Kazemitabar Seyed Kamal , Hashemi Seyed Hamidreza , Faraji Sahar , Barcaccia Gianni , Heidari Parviz
Published: May 2021

Potassium (K+), as a vital element, is involved in regulating important cellular processes such as enzyme activity, cell turgor, and nutrient movement in plant cells, which affects plant growth and production. Potassium channels are involved in the transport and release of potassium in plant cells. In the current study, three OsKAT genes and two OsAKT genes, along with 11 nonredundant putative potassium channel genes in the rice genome, were characterized based on their physiochemical properties, protein structure, evolution, duplication, in silico gene expression, and protein–protein interactions. In addition, the expression patterns of OsAKTs and OsKATs were studied in root and shoot tissues under salt stress using real-time PCR in three rice cultivars. K+ channel genes were found to have diverse functions and structures, and OsKATs showed high genetic divergence from other K+ channel genes. Furthermore, the Ka/Ks ratios of duplicated gene pairs from the K+ channel gene family in rice suggested that these genes underwent purifying selection. Among the studied K+ channel proteins, OsKAT1 and OsAKT1 were identified as proteins with high potential N-glycosylation and phosphorylation sites, and LEU, VAL, SER, PRO, HIS, GLY, LYS, TYR, CYC, and ARG amino acids were predicted as the binding residues in the ligand-binding sites of K+ channel proteins. Regarding the coexpression network and KEGG ontology results, several metabolic pathways, including sugar metabolism, purine metabolism, carbon metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, monoterpenoid biosynthesis, and folate biosynthesis, were recognized in the coexpression network of K+ channel proteins. Based on the available RNA-seq data, the K+ channel genes showed differential expression levels in rice tissues in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. In addition, the real-time PCR results revealed that OsAKTs and OsKATs are induced by salt stress in root and shoot tissues of rice cultivars, and OsKAT1 was identified as a key gene involved in the rice response to salt stress. In the present study, we found that the repression of OsAKTs, OsKAT2, and OsKAT2 in roots was related to salinity tolerance in rice. Our findings provide valuable insights for further structural and functional assays of K+ channel genes in rice.
Spatial Assessment of Wildfires Susceptibility in Santa Cruz (Bolivia) Using Random Forest
Authors: Bustillo Sánchez Marcela , Tonini Marj , Mapelli Anna , Fiorucci Paolo
Published: May 2021

Wildfires are expected to increase in the near future, mainly because of climate changes and land use management. One of the most vulnerable areas in the world is the forest in central-South America, including Bolivia. Despite that this country is highly prone to wildfires, literature is rather limited here. To fill this gap, we implemented a dataset including the burned area that occurred in the department of Santa Cruz in the period of 2010–2019, and the digital spatial data describing the predisposing factors (i.e., topography, land cover, ecoregions). The main goal was to develop a model, based on Random Forest, in which probabilistic outputs allowed to elaborate wildfires susceptibility maps. The overall accuracy was finally estimated by using 5-fold cross-validation. In addition, the last three years of observations acted as the testing dataset, allowing to evaluate the predictive performance of the model. The quantitative assessment of the variables revealed that “flooded savanna” and “shrub or herbaceous cover, flooded, fresh/saline/brakish water” are respectively the ecoregions and land cover classes with the highest probability of predicting wildfires. This study contributes to the development and validation of an innovative mapping tool for fire risk assessment, implementable at a regional scale in different areas of the globe.