bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms of T-Cell Exhaustion in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Saka Didem , Gökalp Muazzez , Piyade Betül , Cevik Nedim Can , Arik Sever Elif , Unutmaz Derya , Ceyhan Güralp O. , Demir Ihsan Ekin , Asimgil Hande
Published: August 2020

T-cell exhaustion is a phenomenon that represents the dysfunctional state of T cells in chronic infections and cancer and is closely associated with poor prognosis in many cancers. The endogenous T-cell immunity and genetically edited cell therapies (CAR-T) failed to prevent tumor immune evasion. The effector T-cell activity is perturbed by an imbalance between inhibitory and stimulatory signals causing a reprogramming in metabolism and the high levels of multiple inhibitory receptors like programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (TIM-3), and Lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (Lag-3). Despite the efforts to neutralize inhibitory receptors by a single agent or combinatorial immune checkpoint inhibitors to boost effector function, PDAC remains unresponsive to these therapies, suggesting that multiple molecular mechanisms play a role in stimulating the exhaustion state of tumor-infiltrating T cells. Recent studies utilizing transcriptomics, mass cytometry, and epigenomics revealed a critical role of Thymocyte selection-associated high mobility group box protein (TOX) genes and TOX-associated pathways, driving T-cell exhaustion in chronic infection and cancer. Here, we will review recently defined molecular, genetic, and cellular factors that drive T-cell exhaustion in PDAC. We will also discuss the effects of available immune checkpoint inhibitors and the latest clinical trials targeting various molecular factors mediating T-cell exhaustion in PDAC.
Pembrolizumab Activity in Recurrent High-Grade Gliomas with Partial or Complete Loss of Mismatch Repair Protein Expression: A Monocentric, Observational and Prospective Pilot Study
Authors: Lombardi Giuseppe , Barresi Valeria , Indraccolo Stefano , Simbolo Michele , Fassan Matteo , Mandruzzato Susanna , Simonelli Matteo , Caccese Mario , Pizzi Marco , Fassina Arianna , Padovan Marta , Masetto Elena , Gardiman Marina Paola , Bonavina Maria Giuseppina , Caffo Maria , Persico Pasquale , Chioffi Franco , Denaro Luca , Dei Tos Angelo Paolo , Scarpa Aldo , Zagonel Vittorina
Published: August 2020

Introduction: Pembrolizumab demonstrated promising results in hypermutated tumors of diverse origin. Immunohistochemical loss of mismatch repair (MMR) proteins has been suggested as a surrogate of hypermutation in high-grade gliomas (HGG). We evaluated the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab in relapsing HGGs with immunohistochemical loss of at least 1 MMR protein. Molecular biomarkers of pembrolizumab activity were also analyzed. Methods: Consecutive patients with recurrent HGG and partial or complete loss of MMR protein expression were prospectively enrolled; they received pembrolizumab 200 mg once every 3 weeks until disease progression. The primary endpoint was disease control rate (DCR). Post hoc exploratory analyses included next-generation sequencing to assess tumor mutational burden (TMB), and immunostaining for CD8+ T-cells and CD68+ macrophages. Results: Among 310 HGG patients screened, 13 cases with MMR loss were enrolled: eight glioblastoma, four anaplastic astrocytoma, and one anaplastic oligodendroglioma. Median age was 43 years. DCR was 31%: four patients had stable disease and no patient had complete or partial response. TMB ranged between 6.8 and 23.4 mutations/megabase. Neither TMB nor gene mutations, nor CD8+ T-cell and CD68+ macrophage content, were associated with pembrolizumab activity. Conclusions: pembrolizumab showed no apparent benefit in these patients. No molecular biomarker was found to be associated with pembrolizumab activity.
YB-1 Knockdown Inhibits the Proliferation of Mesothelioma Cells through Multiple Mechanisms
Authors: Johnson Thomas G. , Schelch Karin , Lai Kaitao , Marzec Kamila A. , Kennerson Marina , Grusch Michael , Reid Glen , Burgess Andrew
Published: August 2020

Y-box binding protein-1 (YB-1) is a multifunctional oncoprotein that has been shown to regulate proliferation, invasion and metastasis in a variety of cancer types. We previously demonstrated that YB-1 is overexpressed in mesothelioma cells and its knockdown significantly reduces tumour cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. However, the mechanisms driving these effects are unclear. Here, we utilised an unbiased RNA-seq approach to characterise the changes to gene expression caused by loss of YB-1 knockdown in three mesothelioma cell lines (MSTO-211H, VMC23 and REN cells). Bioinformatic analysis showed that YB-1 knockdown regulated 150 common genes that were enriched for regulators of mitosis, integrins and extracellular matrix organisation. However, each cell line also displayed unique gene expression signatures, that were differentially enriched for cell death or cell cycle control. Interestingly, deregulation of STAT3 and p53-pathways were a key differential between each cell line. Using flow cytometry, apoptosis assays and single-cell time-lapse imaging, we confirmed that MSTO-211H, VMC23 and REN cells underwent either increased cell death, G1 arrest or aberrant mitotic division, respectively. In conclusion, this data indicates that YB-1 knockdown affects a core set of genes in mesothelioma cells. Loss of YB-1 causes a cascade of events that leads to reduced mesothelioma proliferation, dependent on the underlying functionality of the STAT3/p53-pathways and the genetic landscape of the cell.
Programmed Death 1 Ligand Expression in the Monocytes of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Depends on Tumor Progression
Authors: Asai Akira , Yasuoka Hidetaka , Matsui Masahiro , Tsuchimoto Yusuke , Fukunishi Shinya , Higuchi Kazuhide
Published: August 2020

Monocytes (CD14+ cells) from advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients express programmed death 1 ligand (PD-L)/PD-1 and suppress the host antitumor immune response. However, it is unclear whether cancer progression is associated with CD14+ cells. We compared CD14+ cell properties before and after cancer progression in the same HCC patients and examined their role in antitumor immunity. CD14+ cells were isolated from 15 naïve early-stage HCC patients before treatment initiation and after cancer progression to advanced stages. Although CD14+ cells from patients at early HCC stages exhibited antitumor activity in humanized murine chimera, CD14+ cells from the same patients after progression to advanced stages lacked this activity. Moreover, CD14+ cells from early HCC stages scantly expressed PD-L1 and PD-L2 and produced few cytokines, while CD14+ cells from advanced stages showed increased PD-L expression and produced IL-10 and CCL1. CD14+ cells were also isolated from five naïve advanced-stage HCC patients before treatment as well as after treatment-induced tumor regression. The CD14+ cells from patients with advanced-stage HCC expressed PD-L expressions, produced IL-10 and CCL1, and exhibited minimal tumoricidal activity. After treatment-induced tumor regression, CD14+ cells from the same patients did not express PD-Ls, failed to produce cytokines, and recovered tumoricidal activity. These results indicate that PD-L expression as well as CD14+ cell phenotype depend on the tumor stage in HCC patients. PD-L expressions of monocytes may be used as a new marker in the classification of cancer progression in HCC.
Health-Related Quality of Life and Experiences of Sarcoma Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Younger Eugenie , Smrke Alannah , Lidington Emma , Farag Sheima , Ingley Katrina , Chopra Neha , Maleddu Alessandra , Augustin Yolanda , Merry Eve , Wilson Roger , Benson Charlotte , Miah Aisha , Zaidi Shane , McTiernan Anne , Strauss Sandra , Dileo Palma , Gennatas Spyridon , Husson Olga , Jones Robin
Published: August 2020

Sarcomas are rare cancers with a spectrum of clinical needs and outcomes. We investigated care experiences and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in sarcoma patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients with appointments during the first two months of the UK lockdown were invited to complete a survey. Questions included views on care modifications, COVID-19 worry and psychosocial impact, and EORTC-QLQ-C30 items. 350 patients completed the survey; median age 58 (16–92) years. Care modifications included telemedicine (74%) and postponement of appointments (34%), scans (34%) or treatment (10%). Most felt the quality of care was not affected (72%), however, social life (87%) and emotional wellbeing (41%) were affected. Worry about COVID-19 infection was moderately high (mean 5.8/10) and significantly related to higher cancer-related worry; associated with lower emotional functioning irrespective of treatment intent. Curative patients (44%) with low resilient coping scores had significantly higher COVID-19 worry. Patients who did not know their treatment intent (22%) had significantly higher COVID-19 worry and insomnia. In summary, care experiences were generally positive; however, cancer-related worry, low resilient coping and uncertainty about treatment intent were associated with COVID-19 worry. These patients may benefit from additional psychological support during the pandemic and beyond.
Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Elderly Colorectal Cancer Patients
Authors: Glimelius Bengt , Osterman Erik
Published: August 2020

The value of adjuvant chemotherapy in elderly patients has been the subject of many overviews, with opinions varying from “not effective”, since randomized trials have not been performed, to “as effective as in young individuals”, based upon many retrospective analyses of randomized trials that have included patients of all ages. In the absence of randomized trials performed specifically with elderly patients, retrospective analyses demonstrate that the influence on the time to tumour recurrence (TTR) may be the same as in young individuals, but that endpoints that include death for any reason, such as recurrence-free survival (RFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS), are poorer in the elderly. This is particularly true if oxaliplatin has been part of the treatment. The need for adjuvant chemotherapy after colorectal cancer surgery in elderly patients is basically the same as that in younger patients. The reduction in recurrence risks may be similar, provided the chosen treatment is tolerated but survival gains are less. Adding oxaliplatin to a fluoropyrimidine is probably not beneficial in individuals above a biological age of approximately 70 years. If an oxaliplatin combination is administered to elderly patients, three months of therapy is in all probability the most realistic goal.
Myelomonocytic Skewing In Vitro Discriminates Subgroups of Patients with Myelofibrosis with A Different Phenotype, A Different Mutational Profile and Different Prognosis
Authors: Geissler Klaus , Gisslinger Bettina , Jäger Eva , Jäger Roland , Schiefer Ana-Iris , Bogner Edith , Fuchs Elisabeth , Schischlik Fiorella , Alpar Donat , Simonitsch-Klupp Ingrid , Kralovics Robert , Gisslinger Heinz
Published: August 2020

Normal hematopoietic function is maintained by a well-controlled balance of myelomonocytic, megaerythroid and lymphoid progenitor cell populations which may be skewed during pathologic conditions. Using semisolid in vitro cultures supporting the growth of myelomonocytic (CFU-GM) and erythroid (BFU-E) colonies, we investigated skewed differentiation towards the myelomonocytic over erythroid commitment in 81 patients with myelofibrosis (MF). MF patients had significantly increased numbers of circulating CFU-GM and BFU-E. Myelomonocytic skewing as indicated by a CFU-GM/BFU-E ratio ≥ 1 was found in 26/81 (32%) MF patients as compared to 1/98 (1%) in normal individuals. Patients with myelomonocytic skewing as compared to patients without skewing had higher white blood cell and blast cell counts, more frequent leukoerythroblastic features, but lower hemoglobin levels and platelet counts. The presence of myelomonocytic skewing was associated with a higher frequency of additional mutations, particularly in genes of the epigenetic and/or splicing machinery, and a significantly shorter survival (46 vs. 138 mo, p < 0.001). The results of this study show that the in vitro detection of myelomonocytic skewing can discriminate subgroups of patients with MF with a different phenotype, a different mutational profile and a different prognosis. Our findings may be important for the understanding and management of MF.
Magnesium Effect in K/Co-Mg-Mn-Al Mixed Oxide Catalyst for Direct NO Decomposition
Authors: Karásková Kateřina , Pacultová Kateřina , Klegova Anna , Fridrichová Dagmar , Valášková Marta , Jirátová Květuše , Stelmachowski Paweł , Kotarba Andrzej , Obalová Lucie
Published: August 2020

Emission of nitric oxide represents a serious environmental problem since it contributes to the formation of acid rain and photochemical smog. Potassium-modified Co-Mn-Al mixed oxide is an effective catalyst for NO decomposition. However, there are problems related to the thermal instability of potassium species and a high content of toxic and expensive cobalt. The reported research aimed to determine whether these shortcomings can be overcome by replacing cobalt with magnesium. Therefore, a series of Co-Mg-Mn-Al mixed oxides with different Co/Mg molar ratio and promoted by various content of potassium was investigated. The catalysts were thoroughly characterized by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), temperature-programmed reduction by hydrogen (TPR-H2), temperature-programmed desorption of CO2 (TPD-CO2), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), N2 physisorption, species-resolved thermal alkali desorption (SR-TAD), and tested in direct NO decomposition with and without the addition of oxygen and water vapor. Partial substitution of magnesium for cobalt did not cause an activity decrease when the optimal molar ratio of K/Co on the normalized surface area was maintained; it means that the portion of expensive and toxic cobalt can be successfully replaced by magnesium without any decrease in catalytic activity.
In Vivo, High-Throughput Selection of Thermostable Cyclohexanone Monooxygenase (CHMO)
Authors: Maxel Sarah , Zhang Linyue , King Edward , Acosta Ana Paula , Luo Ray , Li Han
Published: August 2020

Cyclohexanone monooxygenase (CHMO) from Acinetobacter sp. NCIMB 9871 is characterized as having wide substrate versatility for the biooxidation of (cyclic) ketones into esters and lactones with high stereospecificity. Despite industrial potential, CHMO usage is restricted by poor thermostability. Limited high-throughput screening tools and challenges in rationally engineering thermostability have impeded CHMO engineering efforts. We demonstrate the application of an aerobic, high-throughput growth selection platform in Escherichia coli (strain MX203) for the discovery of thermostability enhancing mutations for CHMO. The selection employs growth for the easy readout of CHMO activity in vivo, by requiring nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-consuming enzymes to restore cellular redox balance. In the presence of the native substrate cyclohexanone, variant CHMO GV (A245G-A288V) was discovered from a random mutagenesis library screened at 42 °C. This variant retained native activity, exhibited ~4.4-fold improvement in residual activity after 30 °C incubation, and demonstrated ~5-fold higher cyclohexanone conversion at 37 °C compared to the wild type. Molecular modeling indicates that CHMO GV experiences more favorable residue packing and supports additional backbone hydrogen bonding. Further rational design resulted in CHMO A245G-A288V-T415C with improved thermostability at 45 °C. Our platform for oxygenase evolution enabled the rapid engineering of protein stability critical for industrial scalability.
A Novel Approach for Detecting Unique Variations among Infectious Bacterial Species in Endocarditic Cardiac Valve Vegetation
Authors: Hannachi Nadji , Lepidi Hubert , Fontanini Anthony , Takakura Tatsuki , Bou-Khalil Jacques , Gouriet Frédérique , Habib Gilbert , Raoult Didier , Camoin-Jau Laurence , Baudoin Jean-Pierre
Published: August 2020

Infectious endocarditis (IE) remains one of the deadliest heart diseases with a high death rate, generally following thrombo-embolic events. Today, therapy is based on surgery and antibiotic therapy. When thromboembolic complications in IE patients persist, this is often due to our lack of knowledge regarding the pathophysiological development and organization of cells in the vegetation, most notably the primordial role of platelets and further triggered hemostasis, which is related to the diversity of infectious microorganisms involved. Our objective was to study the organization of IE vegetations due to different bacteria species in order to understand the related pathophysiological mechanism of vegetation development. We present an approach for ultrastructural analysis of whole-infected heart valve tissue based on scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Our approach allowed us to detect differences in cell organization between the analyzed vegetations and revealed a distinct chemical feature in viridans Streptococci ones. Our results illustrate the benefits that such an approach may bring for guiding therapy, considering the germ involved for each IE patient.
Physical Fitness Promotion among Adolescents: Effects of a Jump Rope-Based Physical Activity Afterschool Program
Authors: Yang Xiaofeng , Lee Joonyoung , Gu Xiangli , Zhang Xiaoxia , Zhang Tao
Published: August 2020

The major purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a jump rope-based physical activity afterschool program on middle school students’ physical fitness. Sixty students (Mage = 13.37, SD = 0.58; 53.3% female) participated in a 12-week jump rope-based afterschool program (45 min/time, three times/week). Participants were randomly assigned to three groups: (a) freestyle rope skipping (N = 20), traditional jump rope (N = 20), and a control group (N = 20). Physical fitness tests, including muscular strength (standing long jump, right-hand grip, and left-hand grip), flexibility, body composition, and bone mineral density (BMD) were measured in pre- and post-tests. A 2 (time) × 3 (groups) repeated measure multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was performed. The results found significant improvements in muscular strength (standing long jump, right-hand grip, and left-hand grip) in both intervention groups (p < 0.001; ds = 0.2–0.44). Only the freestyle rope skipping group had increased BMD (p < 0.05, d = 0.33). Compared to the traditional jump rope, the freestyle rope skipping group showed significantly higher improvement in flexibility (p < 0.05, d = 0.83). These findings suggest that the jump rope-based afterschool program with freestyle rope skipping would be more effective than traditional jump rope to promote physical fitness performance among adolescents.
Study of the Static and Microwave Magnetic Properties of Nanostructured BaFe12−xTixO19
Authors: Zezyulina Polina A. , Petrov Dmitry A. , Rozanov Konstantin N. , Vinnik Denis A. , Maklakov Sergey S. , Zhivulin Vladimir E. , Starikov Andrey Yu. , Sherstyuk Daria P. , Shannigrahi Santiranjan
Published: August 2020

The effect of Ti substitution on the microwave and magnetostatic properties of nanostructured hexagonal BaFe12−xTixO19 ferrite composites is studied. The microwave permeability is measured in the frequency range of 0.1–22 GHz by a coaxial technique. An analysis of the magnetostatic data is made by the law of approach to saturation. The ferrimagnetic resonance frequencies calculated from the magnetostatic data are consistent with those obtained from the microwave measurements. The natural ferrimagnetic resonance frequencies are located in the frequency range of 15 to 22 GHz, depending on the substitution level x. An increase in the amount of substitution elements results in a low-frequency shift of the ferrimagnetic resonance frequency for samples with x < 1. With x rising from 1 to 2.5, the resonance frequency increases. The results of the study demonstrate that the tailored optimization of the nano-structure of a functional material is a robust tool to fine-tune its microwave magnetic properties. The ferrites under study are promising materials to be applied as functional coatings intended to control electromagnetic interference in microwave devices.
A Fully Inkjet-Printed Strain Sensor Based on Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Kao Hsuan-Ling , Cho Cheng-Lin , Chang Li-Chun , Chen Chun-Bing , Chung Wen-Hung , Tsai Yun-Chen
Published: August 2020

A fully inkjet-printed strain sensor based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was fabricated in this study for microstrain and microcrack detection. Carbon nanotubes and silver films were used as the sensing layer and conductive layer, respectively. Inkjet-printed CNTs easily undergo agglomeration due to van der Waals forces between CNTs, resulting in uneven films. The uniformity of CNT film affects the electrical and mechanical properties. Multi-pass printing and pattern rotation provided precise quantities of sensing materials, enabling the realization of uniform CNT films and stable resistance. Three strain sensors printed eight-layer CNT film by unidirectional printing, rotated by 180° and 90° were compared. The low density on one side of eight-layer CNT film by unidirectional printing results in more disconnection and poor connectivity with the silver film, thereby, significantly increasing the resistance. For 180° rotation eight-layer strain sensors, lower sensitivity and smaller measured range were found because strain was applied to the uneven CNT film resulting in non-uniform strain distribution. Lower resistance and better strain sensitivity was obtained for eight-layer strain sensor with 90° rotation because of uniform film. Given the uniform surface morphology and saturated sheet resistance of the 20-layer CNT film, the strain performance of the 20-layer CNT strain sensor was also examined. Excluding the permanent destruction of the first strain, 0.76% and 1.05% responses were obtained for the 8- and 20-layer strain sensors under strain between 0% and 3128 µε, respectively, which demonstrates the high reproducibility and recoverability of the sensor. The gauge factor (GF) of 20-layer strain sensor was found to be 2.77 under strain from 71 to 3128 µε, which is higher than eight-layer strain sensor (GF = 1.93) due to the uniform surface morphology and stable resistance. The strain sensors exhibited a highly linear and reversible behavior under strain of 71 to 3128 µε, so that the microstrain level could be clearly distinguished. The technology of the fully inkjet-printed CNT-based microstrain sensor provides high reproducibility, stability, and rapid hardness detection.
Novel Approaches for Imaging-Based Diagnosis of Ocular Surface Disease
Authors: Schmidl Doreen , Schlatter Andreas , Chua Jacqueline , Tan Bingyao , Garhöfer Gerhard , Schmetterer Leopold
Published: August 2020

Imaging has become indispensable in the diagnosis and management of diseases in the posterior part of the eye. In recent years, imaging techniques for the anterior segment are also gaining importance and are nowadays routinely used in clinical practice. Ocular surface disease is often synonymous with dry eye disease, but also refers to other conditions of the ocular surface, such as Meibomian gland dysfunction or keratitis and conjunctivitis with different underlying causes, i.e., allergies or infections. Therefore, correct differential diagnosis and treatment of ocular surface diseases is crucial, for which imaging can be a helpful tool. A variety of imaging techniques have been introduced to study the ocular surface, such as anterior segment optical coherence tomography, in vivo confocal microscopy, or non-contact meibography. The present review provides an overview on how these techniques can be used in the diagnosis and management of ocular surface disease and compares them to clinical standard methods such as slit lamp examination or staining of the cornea or conjunctiva. Although being more cost-intensive in the short term, in the long term, the use of ocular imaging can lead to more individualized diagnoses and treatment decisions, which in turn are beneficial for affected patients as well as for the healthcare system. In addition, imaging is more objective and provides good documentation, leading to an improvement in patient follow-up and education.
MRI and Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer
Authors: Porreca Angelo , Colicchia Michele , Busetto Gian Maria , Ferro Matteo
Published: August 2020

Since the introduction of Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) screening, prostate cancer mortality has decreased [...]
Diagnostic Reference Level of Radiation Dose and Image Quality among Paediatric CT Examinations in A Tertiary Hospital in Malaysia
Authors: Muhammad Nor Azura , Abdul Karim Muhammad Khalis , Abu Hassan Hasyma , Ahmad Kamarudin Mazliana , Ding Wong Jeannie Hsiu , Ng Kwan Hoong
Published: August 2020

Pediatrics are more vulnerable to radiation and are prone to dose compared to adults, requiring more attention to computed tomography (CT) optimization. Hence, diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) have been implemented as part of optimization process in order to monitor CT dose and diagnostic quality. The noise index has recently been endorsed to be included as a part of CT optimization in the DRLs report. In this study, we have therefore set local DRLs for pediatric CT examination with a noise index as an indicator of image quality. One thousand one hundred and ninety-two (1192) paediatric patients undergoing CT brain, CT thorax and CT chest-abdomen-pelvis (CAP) examinations were analyzed retrospectively and categorized into four age groups; group 1 (0–1 year), group 2 (1–5 years), group 3 (5–10 years) and group 4 (10–15 years). For each group, data such as the volume-weighted CT dose index (CTDIvol), dose-length product (DLP) and the effective dose (E) were calculated and DRLs for each age group set at 50th percentile were determined. Both CT dose and image noise values between age groups have differed significantly with p-value < 0.05. The highest CTDIvol and DLP values in all age groups with the lowest noise index value reported in the 10–15 age group were found in CT brain examination. In conclusion, there was a significant variation in doses and noise intensity among children of different ages, and the need to change specific parameters to fit the clinical requirement.
Pixel-Based Approach for Generating Original and Imitating Evolutionary Art
Authors: Wang Yuchen , Xie Rong
Published: August 2020

We proposed a pixel-based evolution method to automatically generate evolutionary art. Our method can generate diverse artworks, including original artworks and imitating artworks, with different artistic styles and high visual complexity. The generation process is fully automated. In order to adapt to the pixel-based method, a von Neumann neighbor topology-modified particle swarm optimization (PSO) is employed to the proposed method. The fitness functions of PSO are well prepared. Firstly, we come up with a set of aesthetic fitness functions. Next, the imitating fitness function is designed. Finally, the aesthetic fitness functions and the imitating fitness function are weighted into one single object function, which is used in the modified PSO. Both the original outputs and imitating outputs are shown. A questionnaire is designed to investigate the subjective aesthetic feeling of proposed evolutionary art, and the statistics are shown.
Upsampling Real-Time, Low-Resolution CCTV Videos Using Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Hazra Debapriya , Byun Yung-Cheol
Published: August 2020

Video super-resolution has become an emerging topic in the field of machine learning. The generative adversarial network is a framework that is widely used to develop solutions for low-resolution videos. Video surveillance using closed-circuit television (CCTV) is significant in every field, all over the world. A common problem with CCTV videos is sudden video loss or poor quality. In this paper, we propose a generative adversarial network that implements spatio-temporal generators and discriminators to enhance real-time low-resolution CCTV videos to high-resolution. The proposed model considers both foreground and background motion of a CCTV video and effectively models the spatial and temporal consistency from low-resolution video frames to generate high-resolution videos. Quantitative and qualitative experiments on benchmark datasets, including Kinetics-700, UCF101, HMDB51 and IITH_Helmet2, showed that our model outperforms the existing GAN models for video super-resolution.
Diplodia fraxini and Diplodia subglobosa: The Main Species Associated with Cankers and Dieback of Fraxinus excelsior in North-Eastern Italy
Authors: Linaldeddu Benedetto T. , Bottecchia Francesco , Bregant Carlo , Maddau Lucia , Montecchio Lucio
Published: August 2020

In Italy, after the first report in Friuli-Venezia Giulia along the border with Slovenia in 2009, ash dieback has successively been reported in Veneto, Tuscany and Trentino-Alto Adige. Given its alarming expansion in European ash formations along the sub-montane belt of north-eastern Italy and the limited information about the associated fungal microorganisms; since 2017, a study has been conducted in order to isolate and characterize the fungal species involved in the aetiology of the disease. The surveys were conducted in six ash–maple forests distributed along the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia pre-Alpine regions (Italy). In each site, the health status of ash trees was assessed and a sample (shoot or branch) with the typical symptoms of the disease was taken from ten trees to isolate the associated pathogens. The fungal colonies developed were identified using morphological features and DNA sequences. The 60 samples processed yielded a total of 109 fungal isolates belonging to 9 families including: Botryosphaeriaceae (62 isolates), Diaporthaceae (18), Nectriaceae (10), Didymellaceae (9), Helotiaceae (5), Diatrypaceae (2), Didymosphaeriaceae (1), Phaeosphaeriaceae (1) and Valsaceae (1). In particular, three species—Diplodia subglobosa, Diplodia fraxini and Diaporthe eres—were isolated with high frequency, while Hymenoscyphus fraxineus was isolated from only five plants distributed in four sites. The pathogenicity tests, conducted on 3-year-old seedlings, detached branches (3–4 cm diameter), and leaves of Fraxinus excelsior, showed that Diplodia fraxini is the most virulent species and the only one able to reproduce the symptoms observed in nature. Overall, the results obtained emphasize that several fungal pathogens are involved in the aetiology of the disease, many of which belong to the Botryosphaeriaceae family.
A Cup of Hemp Coffee by Moka Pot from Southern Italy: An UHPLC-HRMS Investigation
Authors: Piccolella Simona , Crescente Giuseppina , Formato Marialuisa , Pacifico Severina
Published: August 2020

After a long period defined by prohibition of hemp production, this crop has been recently re-evaluated in various industrial sectors. Until now, inflorescences have been considered a processing by-product, not useful for the food industry, and their disposal also represents an economic problem for farmers. The objects of the present work are coffee blends enriched with shredded inflorescences of different cultivars of industrial hemp that underwent solid/liquid extraction into the Italian “moka” coffee maker. The obtained coffee drinks were analyzed by Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) tools for their quali-quantitative phytocannabinoid profiles. The results showed that they are minor constituents compared to chlorogenic acids and caffeine in all samples. In particular, cannabidiolic acid was the most abundant among phytocannabinoids, followed by tetrahydrocannabinolic acid. Neither Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) nor cannabinol, its main oxidation product, were detected. The percentage of total THC never exceeded 0.04%, corresponding to 0.4 mg/kg, far below the current maximum limits imposed by the Italian Ministry of Health. This study opens up a new concrete possibility to exploit hemp processing by-products in order to obtain drinks with high added value and paves the way for further in vitro and in vivo investigations aimed at promoting their benefits for human health.
Sensorial Perception of Astringency: Oral Mechanisms and Current Analysis Methods
Authors: Pires Mariana A. , Pastrana Lorenzo M. , Fuciños Pablo , Abreu Cristiano S. , Oliveira Sara M.
Published: August 2020

Understanding consumers’ food choices and the psychological processes involved in their preferences is crucial to promote more mindful eating regulation and guide food design. Fortifying foods minimizing the oral dryness, rough, and puckering associated with many functional ingredients has been attracting interest in understanding oral astringency over the years. A variety of studies have explored the sensorial mechanisms and the food properties determining astringency perception. The present review provides a deeper understanding of astringency, a general view of the oral mechanisms involved, and the exciting variety of the latest methods used to direct and indirectly quantify and simulate the astringency perception and the specific mechanisms involved.
Volume Transition and Phase Coexistence in Polyelectrolyte Gels Interacting with Amphiphiles and Proteins
Authors: Hansson Per
Published: August 2020

Polyelectrolyte gels have the capacity to absorb large amounts of multivalent species of opposite charge from aqueous solutions of low ionic strength, and release them at elevated ionic strengths. The reversibility offers the possibility to switch between “storage” and “release” modes, useful in applications such as drug delivery. The review focuses on systems where so-called volume phase transitions (VPT) of the gel network take place upon the absorption and release of proteins and self-assembling amphiphiles. We discuss the background in terms of thermodynamic driving forces behind complex formation in oppositely charged mixtures, the role played by cross-links in covalent gels, and general aspects of phase coexistence in networks in relation to Gibbs’ phase rule. We also briefly discuss a gel model frequently used in papers covered by the review. After that, we review papers dealing with collapse and swelling transitions of gels in contact with solution reservoirs of macroions and surfactants. Here we describe recent progress in our understanding of the conditions required for VPT, competing mechanisms, and hysteresis effects. We then review papers addressing equilibrium aspects of core–shell phase coexistence in gels in equilibrium. Here we first discuss early observations of phase separated gels and results showing how the phases affect each other. Then follows a review of recent theoretical and experimental studies providing evidence of thermodynamically stable core–shell phase separated states, and detailed analyses of the conditions under which they exist. Finally, we describe the results from investigations of mechanisms and kinetics of the collapse/swelling transitions induced by the loading/release of proteins, surfactants, and amphiphilic drug molecules.
Understanding Wetlands Stratigraphy: Geophysics and Soil Parameters for Investigating Ancient Basin Development at Lake Duvensee
Authors: Corradini Erica , Dreibrodt Stefan , Erkul Ercan , Groß Daniel , Lübke Harald , Panning Diana , Pickartz Natalie , Thorwart Martin , Vött Andreas , Willershäuser Timo , Wilken Dennis , Wunderlich Tina , Zanon Marco , Rabbel Wolfgang
Published: August 2020

We present a case study of a bog showing how an integrated approach of multi-method geophysical sounding and local soil sampling can be used to identify, differentiate, and map organic sediments. Our study is based on ground-penetrating radar (GPR), electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and shear-wave seismic (SH seismic) profiling applied to sediments of the former Lake Duvensee (northern Germany), nowadays a bog. This is a well-known locality for remains from the Mesolithic hunter-gatherers’ occupation that has been attracting archaeological and geoarchaeological research for100 years. The bog is embedded in low conductive glacial sand and is characterized by layers of different gyttja sediments (detritus and calcareous). The present study was conducted in order to identify the bog morphology and the thickness of the peat body and lake sediments, in order to understand the basin evolution. To validate the geophysical results, derived from surface measurements, drilling, soil analyses as well as borehole guided wave analysis of electromagnetic waves and Direct-Push (DP-EC) have been carried out and used for comparison. It turned out that each method can distinguish between sediments that differ in grain size, particularly between peat, lake sediments (gyttjas and mud) and basal glacial sand deposits. GPR is even able to separate between strongly and weakly decomposed peat layers, which is also clear considering resistivity variations in the ERT computation. From the association between geophysical properties and sediment analysis (e.g., water content and organic matter) different gyttjas were distinguished (coarse and fine) and seismic velocity was correlated to bulk density. Moreover, GPR and SH-wave seismics present different resolutions, confirming that the latter allows measurements, which are more focused on determining the extension of basal sand deposits, the depth of which is difficult to reach with GPR. Representative values of electrical resistivity, dielectric permittivity, and shear wave velocity have been determined for each sediment type and are therefore available to complete the investigation of wetland environments. Fine grained lake sediments were difficult to differentiate by the applied methods. This could be a result of high ionic concentration within the permanent groundwater body, partly masking the sediment properties.
Psychosocial Intervention in European Addictive Behaviour Recovery Programmes: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Molina Antonio , Saiz Jesús , Gil Francisco , Cuenca María Luisa , Goldsby Tamara
Published: August 2020

Background: The vulnerability of drug users in treatment increases their risk of social exclusion. Psychosocial interventions aim to solve or minimise this risk, increasing social integration for individuals in treatment. In this study, the effectiveness of various European drug recovery programmes was studied by examining psychosocial intervention groups with vulnerable populations. Methods: Research was conducted utilising qualitative methodology in the following manner: bibliographical review (reports and papers) and 18 interviews with key informants (from nine European countries). Results: Treatment programmes were found to be effective for recovery from opiate use, however, social recovery programmes were not found to be effective. For females in treatment and young drug users, the adequacy of programmes received medium-to-low evaluations. Conclusion: It is necessary to increase the effectiveness of psychosocial intervention in recovery-based programmes. In addition, the relevance of these programmes in relation to psychosocial characteristics of the various risk groups (except opioid consumers) should be validated and revisited. Additionally, psychosocial intervention professionals should take a more active role in such programmes, especially in intervention with young people (in health education, prevention, early detection, and intervention) and with women (in regard to the detection and effective intervention for socio-health problems, social and job reintegration, access inequality, and use of services available due to gender).
Relationship between the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) and the Self-Efficacy Scale among Cancer Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Matsuda Yuhei , Karino Masaaki , Kanno Takahiro
Published: August 2020

A few studies have provided detailed reports suggesting that subjective swallowing disorders may be related to dysphagia. Therefore, we verified the relationship between oral health-related self-efficacy and dysphagia severity in cancer treatment using a cross-sectional study. Participants included patients undergoing treatment for cancer at Shimane University Hospital in Shimane, Japan, and those receiving outpatient treatment at the hospital’s Oral Care Center between August 2018 and April 2019. In all, 203 participants enrolled in the study and completed the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), the Self-efficacy Scale for Advanced Cancer (SEAC), and the Oral Health-related Self-Efficacy Scale for Patients with Cancer (OSEC). Multivariate analysis showed a statistically significant correlation between the low FOIS score and the SEAC subscales of Activities of Daily Living Self-efficacy (ADE) (odds ratio 1.04, 95% [CI] 1.00–1.07) and Symptom Coping Self-efficacy (SCE) (odds ratio 0.61, 95% [CI] 0.42–0.88). Based on the Jonckheere-Terpstra test, the SEAC and the OSEC tended to increase as the category of the FOIS progressed. To conclude, self-efficacy played an important role in dysphagia and may affect the severity of dysphagia in cancer patients.
Automatic Incident Triage in Radiation Oncology Incident Learning System
Authors: Syed Khajamoinuddin , Sleeman William , Hagan Michael , Palta Jatinder , Kapoor Rishabh , Ghosh Preetam
Published: August 2020

The Radiotherapy Incident Reporting and Analysis System (RIRAS) receives incident reports from Radiation Oncology facilities across the US Veterans Health Affairs (VHA) enterprise and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). In this work, we propose a computational pipeline for analysis of radiation oncology incident reports. Our pipeline uses machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP) based methods to predict the severity of the incidents reported in the RIRAS platform using the textual description of the reported incidents. These incidents in RIRAS are reviewed by a radiation oncology subject matter expert (SME), who initially triages some incidents based on the salient elements in the incident report. To automate the triage process, we used the data from the VHA treatment centers and the VCU radiation oncology department. We used NLP combined with traditional ML algorithms, including support vector machine (SVM) with linear kernel, and compared it against the transfer learning approach with the universal language model fine-tuning (ULMFiT) algorithm. In RIRAS, severities are divided into four categories; A, B, C, and D, with A being the most severe to D being the least. In this work, we built models to predict High (A & B) vs. Low (C & D) severity instead of all the four categories. Models were evaluated with macro-averaged precision, recall, and F1-Score. The Traditional ML machine learning (SVM-linear) approach did well on the VHA dataset with 0.78 F1-Score but performed poorly on the VCU dataset with 0.5 F1-Score. The transfer learning approach did well on both datasets with 0.81 F1-Score on VHA dataset and 0.68 F1-Score on the VCU dataset. Overall, our methods show promise in automating the triage and severity determination process from radiotherapy incident reports.
Validation of the Severity of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by Other Measures than History: Activity Bracelet, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing and a Validated Activity Questionnaire: SF-36
Authors: van Campen C. (Linda) M. C. , Rowe Peter C. , Visser Frans C.
Published: August 2020

Introduction: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a severe and disabling chronic disease. Grading patient’s symptom and disease severity for comparison and therapeutic decision-making is necessary. Clinical grading that depends on patient self-report is subject to inter-individual variability. Having more objective measures to grade and confirm clinical grading would be desirable. Therefore, the aim of this study was to validate the clinical severity grading that has been proposed by the authors of the ME International Consensus Criteria (ICC) using more standardized measures like questionnaires, and objective measures such as physical activity tracking and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Methods and results: The clinical database of a subspecialty ME/CFS clinic was searched for patients who had completed the SF 36 questionnaire, worn a SensewearTM armband for five days, and undergone a cardiopulmonary exercise test. Only patients who completed all three investigations within 3 months from each other—to improve the likelihood of stable disease—were included in the analysis. Two-hundred-eighty-nine patients were analyzed: 121 were graded as mild, 98 as moderate and 70 as having severe disease. The mean (SD) physical activity subscale of the SF-36 was 70 (11) for mild, 43 (8) for moderate and 15 (10) for severe ME/CFS patients. The mean (SD) number of steps per day was 8235 (1004) for mild, 5195 (1231) for moderate and 2031 (824) for severe disease. The mean (SD) percent predicted oxygen consumption at the ventilatory threshold was 47 (11)% for mild, 38 (7)% for moderate and 30 (7)% for severe disease. The percent peak oxygen consumption was 90 (14)% for mild, 64 (8)% for moderate and 48 (9)% for severe disease. All comparisons were p < 0.0001. Conclusion: This study confirms the validity of the ICC severity grading. Grading assigned by clinicians on the basis of patient self-report created groups that differed significantly on measures of activity using the SF-36 physical function subscale and objective measures of steps per day and exercise capacity. There was variability in function within severity grading groups, so grading based on self-report can be strengthened by the use of these supplementary measures.
Mechanisms Underlying Development of Taurine-Deficient Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Schaffer Stephen , Ito Takashi , Azuma Junichi , Jong Chian , Kramer Jay
Published: August 2020

Taurine is a ubiquitous β-amino acid that plays an essential role in ensuring normal mitochondrial and myocardial function. In the mitochondria, taurine reacts with a tRNA forming a 5-taurinomethyluridine conjugate that primarily regulates the biosynthesis of the mitochondria encoded protein, ND6, which serves as a subunit of complex I of the respiratory chain. Impaired formation of the taurine conjugate reduces activity of complex I and plays a central role in the pathophysiology of the mitochondrial disease MELAS (myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes). The restoration of mitochondrial levels of the taurine conjugate enhances electron flux through the respiratory chain, thereby preventing at least some of the symptoms of MELAS. Taurine therapy also diminishes the severity of congestive heart failure, an observation that led to its approval for the treatment of congestive heart failure in Japan. The review article discusses the role of defective calcium handling, reduced ATP generation, enhanced oxidative stress and apoptosis in the development of taurine-deficient cardiomyopathy. Some patients suffering from congestive heart failure are taurine-deficient, an observation supporting the hypothesis that low taurine levels contribute to the severity of heart failure. Thus, mishandling of taurine leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, which is involved in the development of both MELAS and congestive heart failure.