bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Infectious Disease Agents Associated with Pulmonary Alterations in Aborted Bovine Fetuses
Authors: de Oliveira Thalita Evani Silva , Scuisato Gabriela Sanches , Fritzen Juliana Torres Tomazi , Silva Denise Correia , Massi Rodrigo Pelisson , Pelaquim Isadora Fernanda , Silva Luara Evangelista , Flores Eduardo Furtado , Lima Santos Renato , Pretto-Giordano Lucienne Garcia , Lisbôa Júlio Augusto Naylor , Alfieri Amauri Alcindo , Headley Selwyn Arlington
Published: June 2022

This study investigated the occurrence of selected pathogens of bovine respiratory disease in fetal pulmonary tissue of cattle and associated these with patterns of disease. Fetal pulmonary (n = 37) tissues were evaluated by histopathology; immunohistochemical assays identified intralesional antigens of bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoAHV1), bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), bovine parainfluenza virus 3 (BPIV-3), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), and Mycoplasma bovis. Molecular assays were performed to amplify reproductive disease pathogens and bovine gammaherpesvirus 6 (BoGHV6) from 12 lungs. The 2 patterns of pulmonary diseases were interstitial pneumonia (12/37) and suppurative bronchopneumonia (1/37). The frequency of the intralesional antigens identified was BRSV (16.2%; 6/37), BVDV (13.5%; 5/37), BoAHV1 (8.1%; 3/37), M. bovis (5.4%; 2/37), and BPIV-3 (2.7%; 1/37). Interstitial pneumonia was associated with BRSV (n = 3), BoAHV1 (n = 3), and BVDV (n = 2); suppurative bronchopneumonia contained a Gram-positive bacterium and BVDV and BRSV. Reproductive pathogens detected included Leptospira spp., (n = 3), BVDV, Neospora caninum, and Brucella abortus (n = 2). BoGHV6 DNA was identified in the lungs of two fetuses with interstitial pneumonia. These findings suggest that these fetuses were infected transplacentally by several pathogens. The role of some of these pathogens herein identified must be further elucidated in the possible participation of fetal disease.
Polymorphisms of the Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Receptor Gene Affect Body Conformation Traits in Chinese Dabieshan Cattle
Authors: Zhao Shuanping , Jin Hai , Xu Lei , Jia Yutang
Published: June 2022

This study was performed to expose the polymorphisms of the growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor gene in Chinese Dabieshan cattle, evaluate its effect on body conformation traits, and find potential molecular markers in Chinese cattle. The GHRHR structure and the phylogenetic tree were analyzed using bioinformatics software. The polymorphism of the GHRHR gene in 486 female cattle was genotyped by PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing, and the association between SNPs and body conformation traits of Chinese Dabieshan cattle was analyzed by one-way ANOVA in SPSS software. GHRHR was often conserved in nine species, and its sequence of cattle was closest to sheep and goats. Six polymorphic SNPs were identified, g.10667A > C and g.10670A > C were missense mutation. The association analysis indicated that the six SNPs significantly influenced the body conformation traits of Chinese Dabieshan cattle (p < 0.05). Six haplotypes were identified and Hap1 (-CAACGA-) had the highest frequency (36.10%). The Hap3/5 (-GCCCCCGGAAGG-) exhibited a significantly greater wither height (WH), hip height (HH), heart girth (HG), and hip width (HW) (p < 0.05). Overall, the polymorphisms of GHRHR affected the body conformation traits of Chinese Dabieshan cattle, and the GHRHR gene could be used as a molecular marker in Dabieshan cattle breeding programs.
Multiobject Optimization of National Football League Drafts: Comparison of Teams and Experts
Authors: Gere Attila , Szakál Dorina , Héberger Károly
Published: June 2022

Predicting the success of National Football League drafts has always been an exciting issue for the teams, fans and even for scientists. Among the numerous approaches, one of the best techniques is to ask the opinion of sport experts, who have the knowledge and past experiences to rate the drafts of the teams. When asking a set of sport experts to evaluate the performances of teams, a multicriteria decision making problem arises unavoidably. The current paper uses the draft evaluations of the 32 NFL teams given by 18 experts: a novel multicriteria decision making tool has been applied: the sum of ranking differences (SRD). We introduce a quick and easy-to-follow approach on how to evaluate the performance of the teams and the experts at the same time. Our results on the 2021 NFL draft data indicate that Green Bay Packers has the most promising drafts for 2021, while the experts have been grouped into three distinct groups based on the distance to the hypothetical best evaluation. Even the coding options can be tailored according to the experts’ opinions. Statistically correct (pairwise or group) comparisons can be made using analysis of variance (ANOVA). A comparison to TOPSIS ranking revealed that SRD gives a more objective ranking due to the lack of predefined weights.
Design and Manufacture of a Flexible Pneumatic Soft Gripper
Authors: Lei Jing , Ge Zhenghao , Fan Pengju , Zou Wang , Jiang Tao , Dong Liang
Published: June 2022

The soft robot has many degrees of freedom, strong environmental adaptability, and good human–computer interaction ability. As the end-effector of the soft robot, the soft gripper can grasp objects of different shapes without destructivity. Based on the theoretical analysis of the soft robot, the kinematics model of the flexible gripper and the theoretical model of the bending deformation of the air cavity were established. Accordingly, the relationship between the bending angle of the soft gripper and the air pressure was determined. Through the application of finite element software, the bending degree of the pneumatic network multi-cavity soft gripper was simulated, and the influence of structural parameters of soft actuator on bending deformation was determined. In addition, the 3D technology conducts the printing of soft gripper fixtures and molds, the injection molds the actuator, and the human–computer interaction interface controls the movement of the gripper. This paper proposes the control and monitoring of the soft gripper are realized through the electrical control module, the air circuit control module, and the sensor group module, and the size of the airflow velocity can be controlled by PWM DC speed regulation. The adaptability of the soft gripper in grasping objects was verified. The results shows that the software gripper possesses good flexibility and can better grasp objects of different shapes.
Prediction of Kick Count in Triathletes during Freestyle Swimming Session Using Inertial Sensor Technology
Authors: Bianchi Valentina , Ambrosini Luca , Presta Valentina , Gobbi Giuliana , De Munari Ilaria
Published: June 2022

Monitoring sports training performances with automatic, low cost, low power, and ergonomic solutions is a topic of increasing importance in the research of the last years. A parameter of particular interest, which has not been extensively dealt with in a state-of-the-art way, is the count of kicks during swimming training sessions. Coaches and athletes set the training sessions to optimize the kick count and swim stroke rate to acquire velocity and acceleration during swimming. In regard to race distances, counting kicks can influence the athlete’s performance. However, it is difficult to record the kick count without facing some issues about subjective interpretation. In this paper, a new method for kick count is proposed, based on only one triaxial accelerometer worn on the athlete’s ankle. The algorithm was validated on data recorded during freestyle training sessions. An accuracy of 97.5% with a sensitivity of 99.3% was achieved. The proposed method shows good linearity and a slope of 1.01. These results overcome other state-of-the-art methods, proving that this method is a good candidate for a reliable, embedded kick count.
Sustainable Treatment Techniques for Emerging Pollutants—The Case of Personal Hygiene Products
Authors: Dueñas-Muñoz Deysi , Guevara Odalis , Oviedo Galo-Rafael , Crisanto-Perrazo Tania , Toulkeridis Theofilos
Published: June 2022

Personal care products (PCPs) enter wastewater primarily through greywater. Treatment plants have not been able to remove this type of contaminant, although PCP abatement techniques have been developed in recent years. The objective of the current study has been to encounter the sustainable technique that keeps the optimal balance between the criteria considered in the comparison. Therefore, a bibliographic review was conducted in scientific databases of the last eight years, demonstrating that co-composting, anaerobic–aerobic sequencing bioreactors and contaminant absorption through the use of carbon nanotubes are the ones with the least environmental impact. Subsequently, the Saaty and Modified Saaty methods were applied, with a comparative criteria of construction costs, maintenance costs, efficiency and the stage of development. The results indicated that the co-composting technique is the best sustainable technique of those studied, with a score of 0.86/1, which means that the criteria analyzed maintain very close values between them. The co-composting technique yields a low environmental impact in eliminating personal care products. This research work constitutes a practical and easy-to-use tool for decision makers, since it allows finding an optimal elimination treatment for PCPs.
Phenotypic and Genotypic Detection of Biofilm-Forming Staphylococcus aureus from Different Food Sources in Bangladesh
Authors: Ballah Fatimah Muhammad , Islam Md. Saiful , Rana Md. Liton , Ferdous Farhana Binte , Ahmed Rokeya , Pramanik Pritom Kumar , Karmoker Jarna , Ievy Samina , Sobur Md. Abdus , Siddique Mahbubul Pratik , Khatun Mst. Minara , Rahman Marzia , Rahman Md. Tanvir
Published: June 2022

Staphylococcus aureus is a major foodborne pathogen. The ability of S. aureus to produce biofilm is a significant virulence factor, triggering its persistence in hostile environments. In this study, we screened a total of 420 different food samples and human hand swabs to detect S. aureus and to determine their biofilm formation ability. Samples analyzed were meat, milk, eggs, fish, fast foods, and hand swabs. S. aureus were detected by culturing, staining, biochemical, and PCR. Biofilm formation ability was determined by Congo Red Agar (CRA) plate and Crystal Violet Microtiter Plate (CVMP) tests. The icaA, icaB, icaC, icaD, and bap genes involved in the synthesis of biofilm-forming intracellular adhesion compounds were detected by PCR. About 23.81% (100/420; 95% CI: 14.17–29.98%) of the samples harbored S. aureus, as revealed by detection of the nuc gene. The CRA plate test revealed 20% of S. aureus isolates as strong biofilm producers and 69% and 11% as intermediate and non-biofilm producers, respectively. By the CVMP staining method, 20%, 77%, and 3% of the isolates were found to be strong, intermediate, and non-biofilm producers. Furthermore, 21% of S. aureus isolates carried at least one biofilm-forming gene, where icaA, icaB, icaC, icaD, and bap genes were detected in 15%, 20%, 7%, 20%, and 10% of the S. aureus isolates, respectively. Bivariate analysis showed highly significant correlations (p < 0.001) between any of the two adhesion genes of S. aureus isolates. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in Bangladesh describing the detection of biofilm-forming S. aureus from foods and hand swabs using molecular-based evidence. Our findings suggest that food samples should be deemed a potential reservoir of biofilm-forming S. aureus, which indicates a potential public health significance.
The APE2 Exonuclease Is a Client of the Hsp70–Hsp90 Axis in Yeast and Mammalian Cells
Authors: Omkar Siddhi , Wani Tasaduq H. , Zheng Bo , Mitchem Megan M. , Truman Andrew W.
Published: June 2022

Molecular chaperones such as Hsp70 and Hsp90 help fold and activate proteins in important signal transduction pathways that include DNA damage response (DDR). Previous studies have suggested that the levels of the mammalian APE2 exonuclease, a protein critical for DNA repair, may be dependent on chaperone activity. In this study, we demonstrate that the budding yeast Apn2 exonuclease interacts with molecular chaperones Ssa1 and Hsp82 and the co-chaperone Ydj1. Although Apn2 does not display a binding preference for any specific cytosolic Hsp70 or Hsp90 paralog, Ssa1 is unable to support Apn2 stability when present as the sole Ssa in the cell. Demonstrating conservation of this mechanism, the exonuclease APE2 also binds to Hsp70 and Hsp90 in mammalian cells. Inhibition of chaperone function via specific small molecule inhibitors results in a rapid loss of APE2 in a range of cancer cell lines. Taken together, these data identify APE2 and Apn2 as clients of the chaperone system in yeast and mammalian cells and suggest that chaperone inhibition may form the basis of novel anticancer therapies that target APE2-mediated processes.
Tri-Channel Electrochemical Immunobiosensor for Combined Detections of Multiple Exosome Biomarkers of Lung Cancer
Authors: Fan Cui , Jiang Bingyan , Shi Wenjia , Chen Dan , Zhou Mingyong
Published: June 2022

Current methods for the early diagnosis of cancer can be invasive and costly. In recent years, exosomes have been recognized as potential biomarkers for cancer diagnostics. The common methods for quantitative detection of exosomes, such as nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and flow cytometry, rely on large-scale instruments and complex operation, with results not specific for cancer. Herein, we present a tri-channel electrochemical immunobiosensor for enzyme-free and label-free detecting carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and cytokeratin 19 fragments (Cyfra21-1) from exosomes for specific early diagnosis of lung cancer. The electrochemical immunobiosensor showed good selectivity and stability. Under optimum experimental conditions, the linear ranges were from 10−3 to 10 ng/mL for CEA, 10−4 to 102 ng/mL for NSE, and 10−3 to 102 ng/mL for Cyfra21-1, and a detection limit down to 10−4 ng/mL was achieved. Furthermore, we performed exosome analysis in three kinds of lung cancer. The results showed a distinct expression level of exosomal markers in different types. These works provide insight into a promising alternative for the quantification of exosomal markers in specific diseases in the following clinical bioassays.
Demographic Groups’ Differences in Restorative Perception of Urban Public Spaces in COVID-19
Authors: Wang Shiqi , Li Ang
Published: June 2022

The health-promoting functions of one’s spatial environment have been widely recognized. Facing the huge loss of mental resources caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, visiting and perception of urban public spaces with restorative potential should be encouraged. However perceived, restorativeness differs from individual features. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has considerable effects on residents’ leisure travel and psychological states. Therefore, the aim of our research is to identify the demographic variables influencing restorative perception of typical urban public spaces under the social background of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research consists of 841 residents’ restorative evaluation of four kinds of urban public spaces according to the Chinese version of the Perceived Restorativeness Scale, including urban green spaces, exhibition spaces, commercial spaces and sports spaces. Then, 10 individual factors were recorded which represented their demographic features and the influence of COVID-19. Then, the relationship between individual features and perceived restoration of different urban public spaces was analyzed, respectively, by using One-way ANOVA and regression analysis. The results show that the urban green spaces were ranked as the most restorative, followed by commercial spaces, sports spaces and exhibition spaces. Further, the findings indicate that significant factors affect the restoration of four typical urban public spaces.
Analysis of the Air-Reversed Brayton Heat Pump with Different Layouts of Turbochargers for Space Heating
Authors: Wang Shugang , Li Shuangshuang , Jiang Shuang , Wu Xiaozhou
Published: June 2022

The air-reversed Brayton cycle produces charming, environmentally friendly effects by using air as its refrigerant and has potential energy efficiency in applications related to space heating and building heating. However, there exist several types of cycle that need to be discussed. In this paper, six types of air-reversed Brayton heat pump with a turbocharger, applicable under different heating conditions, are developed. The expressions of the heating coefficient of performance (COP) and the corresponding turbine pressure ratio are derived based on thermodynamic analysis. By using these expressions, the effects of turbine pressure ratio on the COP under different working conditions are theoretically analyzed, and the optimal COPs of different cycles under specific working conditions are determined. It is observed that Cycles A and C have the highest heating COPs, and there is an optimal pressure ratio for each cycle. The corresponding pressure ratio of the optimal COP is different, concentrated in the range of 1.5–1.9. When the pressure ratio reaches the optimal value, increasing the pressure ratio does not significantly improve the heating COP. Take Cycle F as an example: the maximum error between the calculated results and experimental observation is lower than 5.6%. These results will enable further study of the air-reversed Brayton heat pump with a turbocharger from a different perspective.
Fragility Curves of Existing RC Buildings Accounting for Bidirectional Ground Motion
Authors: Zucconi Maria , Bovo Marco , Ferracuti Barbara
Published: June 2022

In recent decades, the considerable number of worldwide earthquakes caused considerable damage and several building collapses, underlining the high vulnerability of the existing buildings designed without seismic provisions. In this regard, this work analyses the seismic performance of a reinforced concrete building designed without any seismic criteria, characterized by a seismically-stronger and a seismically-weaker direction, such as several existing reinforced concrete-framed structures designed for vertical load only. The case study building was modelled in OpenSees considering a non-linear three-dimensional model, also accounting for the contribution of joint panel deformability on the global behavior. Thirty bidirectional ground motions have been applied to the structure with the highest component alternatively directed along the two principal building directions. Time-history analyses have been performed for eight increasing hazard levels with the aim of evaluating the influence of bidirectional ground motion on structural response and estimating the seismic vulnerability of the building. The seismic performance of the structures are provided in terms of fragility curves for the two principal directions of the building and for different damage states defined according to the European Macroseismic Scale.
Determining the Charred Layer of Wooden Beams with Finite Element Analysis Based on Enthalpy Approach
Authors: Špilák Dominik , Majlingová Andrea , Kačíková Danica , Tischler Patrik
Published: June 2022

In the process of computer modeling the formation of a charred layer in wood materials, it is important to implement the correct material data. In thermal analysis, there exist two different approaches of implementation: the temperature-dependent material data properties, heat capacity approach and enthalpy approach, which is not commonly used but which has a few advantages. This approach should be examined in more detail because it can solve the problem associated with inaccurate results at temperatures around 100 °C. This scientific paper deals with the assessment of the computer-aided fire modeling and simulation suitability based on the enthalpy approach for determining the charred layer of structural elements. The structural elements selected for testing were spruce wooden beams with rectangular and circular cross-sections. A finite element model (FEM) was created in ANSYS software. The model was validated by medium-scale fire tests data of the spruce wooden beams loaded with a radiation panel. Boundary conditions were identical to the medium-scale fire test. Due to the enthalpy approach, the temperature curves from the simulations also faithfully simulated the section with a constant temperature around 100 °C. Within the temperature profiles, the accuracy of simulations averaged 91.7%. The accuracy of the simulations describing the total area of the charred layer was 93.0% on average. Presented FEM can be used in the search for new construction solutions for wooden elements and modifications to the design of cross-sections of wooden beams or wooden joints so that they can better withstand fire conditions.
Seismic Performance and Optimization of a Novel Partial Seismic Isolation System for Frame Structures
Authors: Chen Baokui , Qiu Yuxin , Xiong Jingang , Liu Yaru , Xu Yanqing
Published: June 2022

To improve the safety performance of important rooms, such as operating rooms and disaster command centers, during an earthquake, a novel partial seismic isolation system suitable for new and existing frame structures is proposed, and the seismic and optimization analysis is carried out. Using the finite element numerical simulation method, the models of the ordinary frame structure and the partial isolated system structures were established. Considering the seismic response of the isolation room, the design safety of the partial isolation room, and the seismic impact on the overall structure, this study analyzed the damping effect of the partial isolation system. We changed the type of isolation bearing, the location of the isolation room, and the load to further optimize the calculation of the seismic isolation structure. The results show that the new partial isolation system could significantly reduce the seismic response of the isolated room under the action of a magnitude-8 rare earthquake. The damping rate of the relative acceleration and relative displacement between the top and bottom of the columns of the isolated room could reach 90%. It was found that the partial seismic isolation system proposed in this paper was applicable to reinforced concrete frame structures and could significantly reduce the seismic response of the isolated rooms without affecting the seismic performance of the main building. This partial seismic isolation system is easy to construct, applicable to both existing and new structures, and provides a new and effective seismic mitigation measure to improve the seismic performance of locally important rooms in the structure.
Generation of the Chondroprotective Proteomes by Activating PI3K and TNFα Signaling
Authors: Sun Xun , Li Ke-Xin , Figueiredo Marxa L. , Lin Chien-Chi , Li Bai-Yan , Yokota Hiroki
Published: June 2022

Purpose: To develop a novel treatment option for Chondrosarcoma (CS) and inflammatory arthritis, we evaluated a counterintuitive approach of activating tumorigenic and inflammatory signaling for generating joint-protective proteomes. Methods: We employed mesenchymal stem cells and chondrocytes to generate chondroprotective proteomes by activating PI3K signaling and the administration of TNFα. The efficacy of the proteomes was examined using human and mouse cell lines as well as a mouse model of CS. The regulatory mechanism was analyzed using mass spectrometry-based whole-genome proteomics. Results: While tumor progression and inflammatory responses were promoted by activating PI3K signaling and the administration of TNFα to CS cells and chondrocytes, those cells paradoxically generated a chondroprotective conditioned medium (CM). The application of CM downregulated tumorigenic genes in CS cells and TNFα and MMP13 in chondrocytes. Mechanistically, Hsp90ab1 was enriched in the chondroprotective CM, and it immunoprecipitated GAPDH. Extracellular GAPDH interacted with L1CAM and inhibited tumorigenic behaviors, whereas intracellular GAPDH downregulated p38 and exerted anti-inflammatory effects. Conclusions: We demonstrated that the unconventional approach of activating oncogenic and inflammatory signaling can generate chondroprotective proteomes. The role of Hsp90ab1 and GAPDH differed in their locations and they acted as the uncommon protectors of the joint tissue from tumor and inflammatory responses.
AF8c, a Multi-Kinase Inhibitor Induces Apoptosis by Activating DR5/Nrf2 via ROS in Colorectal Cancer Cells
Authors: Jeong Soyeon , Farag Ahmed K. , Yun Hye Kyeong , Jeong Yoon A. , Kim Dae Yeong , Jo Min Jee , Park Seong Hye , Kim Bo Ram , Kim Jung Lim , Kim Bu Gyeom , Lee Dae-Hee , Roh Eun Joo , Oh Sang Cheul
Published: June 2022

Our team has previously reported a series of quinazoline-based lapatinib hybrids as potent kinase-targeting anticancer agents. Among them, AF8c showed a relatively safe profile in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. In this study, we delineate a novel anticancer activity of AF8c in CRC cells. AF8c mediated p53-dependent apoptosis of CRC cells via the generation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS), as well as activation of nuclear respiratory factor 2 alpha subunit (Nrf2) and death receptor 5 (DR5), among others. The silencing of DR5 attenuated the expression levels of Nrf2 and partially inhibited AF8c-induced apoptosis. Additionally, upregulation of Nrf2 by AF8c evoked apoptosis through a decrease in antioxidant levels. Treatment of a CRC mice model with AF8c also resulted in the upregulation of DR5, Nrf2, and CHOP proteins, subsequently leading to a significant decrease in tumor burden. In comparison with lapatinib, AF8c showed higher cellular antiproliferative activity at the tested concentrations in CRC cells and synergized TRAIL effects in CRC cells. Overall, our results suggest that AF8c-induced apoptosis may be associated with DR5/Nrf2 activation through ER stress and ROS generation in CRC cells. These findings indicate that AF8c represents a promising polypharmacological molecule for the treatment of human CRC.
Liquid Biopsy for Pancreatic Cancer Detection Using Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Sala Alexandra , Cameron James M. , Jenkins Cerys A. , Barr Hugh , Christie Loren , Conn Justin J. A. , Evans Thomas R. Jeffry , Harris Dean A. , Palmer David S. , Rinaldi Christopher , Theakstone Ashton G. , Baker Matthew J.
Published: June 2022

Pancreatic cancer claims over 460,000 victims per year. The carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 test is the blood test used for pancreatic cancer’s detection; however, its levels can be raised in symptomatic patients with other non-malignant diseases, or with other tumors in the surrounding area. Attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy has demonstrated exceptional potential in cancer diagnostics, and its clinical implementation could represent a significant step towards early detection. This proof-of-concept study, investigating the use of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy on dried blood serum, focused on the discrimination of both cancer versus healthy control samples, and cancer versus symptomatic non-malignant control samples, as a novel liquid biopsy approach for pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Machine learning algorithms were applied, achieving results of up to 92% sensitivity and 88% specificity when discriminating between cancers (n = 100) and healthy controls (n = 100). An area under the curve (AUC) of 0.95 was obtained through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Balanced sensitivity and specificity over 75%, with an AUC of 0.83, were achieved with cancers (n = 35) versus symptomatic controls (n = 35). Herein, we present these results as demonstration that our liquid biopsy approach could become a simple, minimally invasive, and reliable diagnostic test for pancreatic cancer detection.
TRPC6 Inactivation Reduces Albuminuria Induced by Protein Overload in Sprague Dawley Rats
Authors: Kim Eun Young , Dryer Stuart E.
Published: June 2022

Canonical transient receptor potential-6 (TRPC6) channels have been implicated in familial and acquired forms of focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), and in renal fibrosis following ureteral obstruction in mice. TRPC6 channels also appear to play a role in driving glomerular disease in aging and in autoimmune glomerulonephritis. In the present study, we examine the role of TRPC6 in the proteinuric state caused by prolonged albumin overload (AO) in Sprague Dawley rats induced by daily injections of exogenous albumin. This was assessed in rats with a global and constitutive inactivation of TRPC6 channels (Trpc6del/del rats) and in wild-type littermates (Trpc6wt/wt rats). AO for 14 and 28 days caused increased urine albumin excretion that was significantly attenuated in Trpc6del/del rats compared to Trpc6wt/wt controls. AO overload did not induce significant glomerulosclerosis or azotemia in either genotype. AO induced mild tubulointerstitial disease characterized by fibrosis, hypercellularity and increased expression of markers of fibrosis and inflammation. Those changes were equally severe in Trpc6wt/wt and Trpc6del/del rats. Immunoblot analysis of renal cortex indicated that AO increased the abundances of TRPC3 and TRPC6, and caused a nearly complete loss of TRPC5 in Trpc6wt/wt rats. The increase in TRPC3 and the loss of TRPC5 occurred to the same extent in Trpc6del/del rats. These data also suggest that TRPC6 plays a role in the normal function of the glomerular filtration barrier. However, whether TRPC6 inactivation protects the tubulointerstitial compartments in Sprague Dawley rats depends on the disease model examined.
Golgi Complex: A Signaling Hub in Cancer
Authors: Spano Daniela , Colanzi Antonino
Published: June 2022

The Golgi Complex is the central hub in the endomembrane system and serves not only as a biosynthetic and processing center but also as a trafficking and sorting station for glycoproteins and lipids. In addition, it is an active signaling hub involved in the regulation of multiple cellular processes, including cell polarity, motility, growth, autophagy, apoptosis, inflammation, DNA repair and stress responses. As such, the dysregulation of the Golgi Complex-centered signaling cascades contributes to the onset of several pathological conditions, including cancer. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the signaling pathways regulated by the Golgi Complex and implicated in promoting cancer hallmarks and tumor progression.
Functional Profiling of In Vitro Reactivated Memory B Cells Following Natural SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Gam-COVID-Vac Vaccination
Authors: Astakhova Ekaterina A. , Byazrova Maria G. , Yusubalieva Gaukhar M. , Kulemzin Sergey V. , Kruglova Natalia A. , Prilipov Alexey G. , Baklaushev Vladimir P. , Gorchakov Andrey A. , Taranin Alexander V. , Filatov Alexander V.
Published: June 2022

Both SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination have previously been demonstrated to elicit robust, yet somewhat limited immunity against the evolving variants of SARS-CoV-2. Nevertheless, reports performing side-by-side comparison of immune responses following infection vs. vaccination have been relatively scarce. The aim of this study was to compare B-cell response to adenovirus-vectored vaccination in SARS-CoV-2-naive individuals with that observed in the COVID-19 convalescent patients six months after the first encounter with the viral antigens. We set out to use a single analytical platform and performed comprehensive analysis of serum levels of receptor binding domain (RBD)-specific and virus-neutralizing antibodies, frequencies of RBD-binding circulating memory B cells (MBCs), MBC-derived antibody-secreting cells, as well as RBD-specific and virus-neutralizing activity of MBC-derived antibodies after Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V) vaccination and/or natural SARS-CoV-2 infection. Overall, natural immunity was superior to Gam-COVID-Vac vaccination. The levels of neutralizing MBC-derived antibodies in the convalescent patients turned out to be significantly higher than those found following vaccination. Our results suggest that after six months, SARS-CoV-2-specific MBC immunity is more robust in COVID-19 convalescent patients than in Gam-COVID-Vac recipients. Collectively, our data unambiguously indicate that natural immunity outperforms Gam-COVID-Vac-induced immunity six months following recovery/vaccination, which should inform healthcare and vaccination decisions.
Numerical Calculation of the Arc-Sprayed Particles’ Temperature in Transient Thermal Field
Authors: Toma Stefan Lucian , Chicet Daniela-Lucia , Cazac Alin-Marian
Published: June 2022

The physical and mechanical properties of the coatings produced by electric arc thermal spraying are closely related to the velocity and temperature of the particles that interact with the substrate surface. Knowing the temperature variation of the sprayed particles allows establishing their aggregation state, respectively determining the spraying distance, so that the state of aggregation of the particles at the impact moment is predominantly liquid. Obviously, when the sprayed particle passes through the spray cone, it cools continuously due to the low and variable temperature of the entrainment gas. This paper aims to determine analytically the thermal behavior of the particles entrained by the gas jet formed at the thermal spraying in an electric arc, depending on the variable temperature, existing along the spraying cone. In this sense, by modeling with finite elements, using the ANSYS program, the temperature inside the spray jet was determined, and by a mathematical model carried out based on the thermal balance equations, the thermal profile of the sprayed particles was determined. The thermal profile demonstrates that their temperature suddenly increases to the solidification temperature, then increases to the melting temperature—due to the latent heat of solidification, after which it decreases to 300 K.
Synthesis and Characterization of Novel NiW–CeO2 Composite Coating with Enhanced Corrosion and Wear Resistance
Authors: Dadvand Mina , Savadogo Oumarou
Published: June 2022

Compact and uniform NiW composite coatings filled with ceramic particles such as CeO2 were electrodeposited on brass substrates using direct current (DC) and a well–designed pulse reverse current waveforms (PRC). PRC coatings exhibited the noblest corrosion potential and lowest current density compared to DC–electrodeposited coatings. Among all PRC coatings, PRC–NiW–CeO2 demonstrated the highest corrosion potential (−4.72 × 10−1 V) and the lowest current density (5.32 × 10−6 V). It also seems that the addition of CeO2 particles to the NiW matrix enhanced the wear resistance of the coatings, and the lowest wear volume of (133.10 × 103 µm3) and friction coefficient of 0.25 were obtained due to the formation of the uniform, void free and compact structures with a high content of CeO2 particles in the coating.
High-Speed Laser Metal Deposition of CrFeCoNi and AlCrFeCoNi HEA Coatings with Narrow Intermixing Zone and their Machining by Turning and Diamond Smoothing
Authors: Lindner Thomas , Liborius Hendrik , Töberling Gerd , Vogt Sabrina , Preuß Bianca , Rymer Lisa-Marie , Schubert Andreas , Lampke Thomas
Published: June 2022

The processing of high-entropy alloys (HEAs) via laser metal deposition (LMD) is well known. However, it is still difficult to avoid chemical intermixing of the elements between the coating and the substrate. Therefore, the produced coatings do not have the same chemical composition as the HEA feedstock material. Single-layer CrFeCoNi and AlCrFeCoNi HEA coatings were deposited using high-speed laser metal deposition (HS-LMD). Elemental mapping confirmed a good agreement with the chemical composition of the powder feedstock material, and revealed that chemical intermixing was confined to the immediate substrate interface. The coatings are characterized by a homogeneous structure with good substrate bonding. The machining of these coatings via turning is possible. Subsequent diamond smoothing results in a strong decrease in the surface roughness. This study presents a complete manufacturing chain for the production of high-quality HS-LMD HEA coatings.
Intelligent Evaluation of Marine Corrosion of Q420 Steel Based on Image Recognition Method
Authors: Wang Kai , Li Chenpei , Lu Jinling , Nan Cuihong , Zhang Qiaoling , Zhang Hao
Published: June 2022

Marine engineering materials are prone to serious corrosion damage, which affects the efficiency and reliability of marine equipment. The diversity of corrosion morphology makes it difficult to achieve the quantification and standardization of the microscopic local information on the corroded surface, which is of great significance to reveal the multi-scale corrosion mechanism. In this paper, an image intelligent recognition method for the corrosion damage of Q420 steel in seawater is established, which is based on the gray level co-occurrence matrix, binary image method and fractal model. Through the feature extraction of corrosion morphology, the quantitative analysis of corrosion morphology and the microscopic evaluation of corrosion characteristics are achieved. The image recognition data are consistent with the electrochemical result for most cases, which confirms the validity of this image intelligent recognition method. The average gray value and energy value of corrosion morphology reduces with the Cl− concentration, indicating that the corrosion damage aggravates gradually. The increasing standard deviation and entropy reflects that the randomness of the pit distribution increases. The pitting ratio increases from 20.19% to 51.64% as the Cl− concentration increases from 50% to 200% of the standard solution. However, there exists a discrepancy for high Cl− concentration because of the irregular corrosion morphology and various pit depth. The fractal dimension increases with the complexity of the corroded surface at low Cl− concentration, but the fractal dimension decreases at high Cl− concentration because the corrosion complexity is interfered by the interconnection of corrosion holes due to the accelerated pit evolution.
Choroidal Thickness Increase after Subliminal Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation
Authors: Baltă Florian , Dinu Valentin , Zemba Mihail , Baltă George , Barac Andreea Diana , Schmitzer Speranța , Dragosloveanu Christiana Diana Maria , Barac Ramona Ileana
Published: June 2022

Background: The purpose of this study is to estimate the success rate of subliminal transscleral cyclophotocoagulation for refractory glaucoma and to determine the correlation between the decrease in intraocular pressure and the variation in choroidal thickness. Methods: A pre–post study was conducted over a period of 3 years, including 81 eyes from 67 patients with different types of drug-refractory glaucoma who underwent subliminal transscleral cyclophotocoagulation. The variables included best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure and choroidal thickness. Results: We observed the following success rates (defined as IOP < 21 mmHg): 80% at 1 month (65 patients), 74% at 3 months (60 patients), 64% at 6 months (52 patients) and 50.6% at 1 year (41 patients). A strong correlation was noted between the decrease in intraocular pressure and the increase in the average choroidal thickness at 1 year (318.42 µm) compared to the average preoperative thickness (291.78 µm). A correlation of increased choroidal thickness at 1-month with the success rate of the procedure was also observed. Conclusions: We observed a statistically significant correlation between the success rate, decrease in intraocular pressure and choroidal thickness. The correlation of increased choroidal thickness at 1-month with the success rate of the procedure could be used clinically as a predictive factor for the final outcome of patients. Further experimental research is warranted to determine whether the increase in choroidal thickness after subliminal transscleral cyclophotocoagulation is indeed evidence of increased uveoscleral drainage.
Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lung Disease in the Patients with Cystic Fibrosis—A Challenging Diagnostic Problem
Authors: Wyrostkiewicz Dorota , Opoka Lucyna , Filipczak Dorota , Jankowska Ewa , Skorupa Wojciech , Augustynowicz-Kopeć Ewa , Szturmowicz Monika
Published: June 2022

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal, recessive genetic disorder, caused by a mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance receptor regulator (CFTR) gene. Dysregulated mucous production, and decreased bronchial mucociliary clearance, results in increased susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infections. Recently, nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections were identified as an emerging clinical problem in CF patients. Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the frequency of NTM isolations in CF patients hospitalized in the pulmonary department, serving as a hospital CF center, and to describe challenges concerning the recognition of NTMLD (nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease) in those patients. Methods: Consecutive CF patients, who were hospitalized due to pulmonary exacerbations (PEX), in a single CF center, between 2010 and 2020, were retrospectively assessed for the presence of NTM in respiratory specimens. Clinical and radiological data were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Positive respiratory specimen cultures for NTM were obtained in 11 out of 151 patients (7%), mean age—35.7 years, mean BMI—20.2 kg/m2, mean FEV1—58.6% pred. Cultures and phenotyping revealed the presence of Mycobacterium avium (M. avium)—in six patients, Mycobacterium chimaera (M. chimaera) in two, Mycobacterium kansasii (M. kansasii)—in one, Mycobacterium abscessus (M. abscessus)—in one, Mycobacterium lentifavum (M. lentiflavum)—in one. Simultaneously, respiratory cultures were positive for fungi in 91% of patients: Candida albicans (C. albicans)—in 82%, Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus)—in 45%. Clinical signs of NTMLD were non—specific, chest CT indicated NTMLD in five patients only. Conclusion: Due to non-specific clinical presentation, frequent sputum cultures for NTM and analysis of serial chest CT examinations are crucial for NTMLD recognition in CF patients. Further studies concerning the predictive role of fungal pathogens for NTMLD development in CF patients are needed.
Sensor Data Analytics: Challenges and Methods for Data-Intensive Applications
Authors: Ortega Felipe , Cano Emilio L.
Published: June 2022

Sensors have become a key element for the development of the Information Society [...]
A Network Structure Entropy Considering Series-Parallel Structures
Authors: Cai Meng , Liu Jiaqi , Cui Ying
Published: June 2022

Entropy is an important indicator to measure network heterogeneity. We propose a new network structure entropy, SP (series-parallel) structure entropy, based on the global network topology while adding a medial measure that considers the series-parallel structure. First, the results of special networks show that SP structure entropy can overcome other structure’s entropy deficiencies to some extent. Then, through simulation analysis of typical networks, the validity and applicability of SP structure entropy in describing general networks are verified. Finally, we analyze an enterprise consulting network to demonstrate the superiority of the SP structure entropy for real network analysis.
A Multi-Dimensional and Multi-Factor Trust Computation Framework for Cloud Services
Authors: Junejo Aisha Kanwal , Jokhio Imran Ali , Jan Tony
Published: June 2022

In this paper, we propose a novel trust computation framework (TCF) for cloud services. Trust is computed by taking into consideration multi-dimensional quality of service (QoS) evidence and user feedback. Feedback provides ample evidence regarding the quality of experience (QoE) of cloud service users. However, in some cases, users may behave maliciously and report false feedback. Users can carry out collusion and Sybil attacks to slander/self-promote cloud services. Trust computed in such cases could be misleading and inaccurate. Evaluating the credibility of user feedback can help in not only preventing the collusion and Sybil attacks but also remunerating the affected cloud services. Despite the advantages of credibility evaluation, very few studies take into consideration feedback credibility and multi-dimensional evaluation criteria. Considering the limitations of existing studies, we propose a new TCF in which trust is computed by aggregating multi-dimensional evidence from QoS and QoE. We have used multi-dimensional QoS attributes to compute the objective trust of cloud services. The QoS attributes are divided into three dimensions, i.e., node profile, average resource consumption, and performance. The node profile of a cloud service is attributed to CPU frequency, memory size, and hard disk capacity. The average resource consumption is quantified based on the current CPU utilisation rate, current memory utilisation rate, current hard disk utilisation rate, and energy consumption. Moreover, the performance of a cloud service is measured by the average response time and task success ratio. Besides that, the credibility of feedback is evaluated to prevent the malicious behaviour of cloud users. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed TCF in computing accurate trust in cloud services.
Performance Assessment of Mismatch Mitigation Methodologies Using Field Data in Solar Photovoltaic Systems
Authors: Niazi Kamran Ali Khan , Kerekes Tamas , Dolara Alberto , Yang Yongheng , Leva Sonia
Published: June 2022

Partial shading and other non-ideal conditions cause electrical mismatches that reduce the output power generated by a photovoltaic (PV) system. It affects the overall performance and efficiency of PV systems. Therefore, a model is developed in MATLAB, which analyses the performance of the PV systems under real irradiance profiles and temperatures for various available mismatch mitigation methodologies, i.e., bypass diode, DC power optimizer, and differential power processing (DPP). More specifically, this study will help to understand the best mismatch reduction methodologies for a solar PV system under different scenarios. The results also are validated by comparing them with a similar PV system installed in SolarTechLAB, which also operates under the same irradiance and temperature conditions under which these models are tested. This study also presents novel results, covering discussions on the reverse voltage distribution under mismatch scenarios among bypass diode, DC power optimizer, and DPP techniques.
Swin Transformer Based on Two-Fold Loss and Background Adaptation Re-Ranking for Person Re-Identification
Authors: Wang Qi , Huang Hao , Zhong Yuling , Min Weidong , Han Qing , Xu Desheng , Xu Changwen
Published: June 2022

Person re-identification (Re-ID) aims to identify the same pedestrian from a surveillance video in various scenarios. Existing Re-ID models are biased to learn background appearances when there are many background variations in the pedestrian training set. Thus, pedestrians with the same identity will appear with different backgrounds, which interferes with the Re-ID performance. This paper proposes a swin transformer based on two-fold loss (TL-TransNet) to pay more attention to the semantic information of a pedestrian’s body and preserve valuable background information, thereby reducing the interference of corresponding background appearance. TL-TransNet is supervised by two types of losses (i.e., circle loss and instance loss) during the training phase. In the retrieval phase, DeepLabV3+ as a pedestrian background segmentation model is applied to generate body masks in terms of query and gallery set. The background removal results are generated according to the mask and are used to filter out interfering background information. Subsequently, a background adaptation re-ranking is designed to combine the original information with the background-removed information, which digs out more positive samples with large background deviation. Extensive experiments on two public person Re-ID datasets testify that the proposed method achieves competitive robustness performance in terms of the background variation problem.