bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A web-based nomogram model for predicting the overall survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients with external beam radiation therapy: A population study based on SEER database and a Chinese cohort
Authors: Zhan Gouling , Peng Honghua , Zhou Lehong , Jin Long , Xie Xueyi , He Yu , Wang Xuan , Du Zhangyan , Cao Peiguo
Published: January 2023

Background

External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rarely used in clinical practice. This study aims to develop and validate a prognostic nomogram model to predict overall survival (OS) in HCC patients treated with EBRT.

Method

We extracted eligible data of HCC patients between 2004 and 2015 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Those patients were randomly divided into a training cohort (n=1004) and an internal validation cohort (n=429), and an external validation cohort composed of a Chinese cohort (n=95). A nomogram was established based on the independent prognostic variables identified from univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. The effective performance of the nomogram was evaluated using the concordance index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), and calibration curves. The clinical practicability was evaluated using decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

T stage, N stage, M stage, AFP, tumor size, surgery, and chemotherapy were independent prognostic risk factors that were all included in the nomogram to predict OS in HCC patients with EBRT. In the training cohort, internal validation cohort, and external validation cohort, the C-index of the prediction model was 0.728 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.716-0.740), 0.725 (95% CI:0.701-0.750), and 0.696 (95% CI:0.629-0.763), respectively. The 6-, 12-,18- and 24- month areas under the curves (AUC) of ROC in the training cohort were 0.835 、0.823 、0.810, and 0.801, respectively; and 0.821 、0.809 、0.813 and 0.804 in the internal validation cohort, respectively; and 0.749 、0.754 、0.791 and 0.798 in the external validation cohort, respectively. The calibration curves indicated that the predicted value of the prediction model performed well. The DCA curves showed better clinical practicability. In addition, based on the nomogram, we established a web-based nomogram to predict the OS of these patients visually.

Conclusion

Based on the SEER database and an independent external cohort from China, we established and validated a nomogram to predict OS in HCC patients treated with EBRT. In addition, for the first time, a web-based nomogram model can help clinicians judge the prognoses of these patients and make better clinical decisions.
Sleeve gastrectomy decreases high-fat diet induced colonic pro-inflammatory status through the gut microbiota alterations
Authors: Cao Chong , Tan Xiaozhuo , Yan Hai , Shen Qiwei , Hua Rong , Shao Yikai , Yao Qiyuan
Published: January 2023

Background

High-fat diet (HFD) induced obesity is characterized with chronic low-grade inflammation in various tissues and organs among which colon is the first to display pro-inflammatory features associated with alterations of the gut microbiota. Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is currently one of the most effective treatments for obesity. Although studies reveal that SG results in decreased levels of inflammation in multiple tissues such as liver and adipose tissues, the effects of surgery on obesity related pro-inflammatory status in the colon and its relation to the microbial changes remain unknown.

Methods

To determine the effects of SG on the colonic pro-inflammatory condition and the gut microbiota, SG was performed on HFD-induced obese mice. To probe the causal relationship between alterations of the gut microbiota and improvements of pro-inflammatory status in the colon following SG, we applied broad-spectrum antibiotics cocktails on mice that received SG to disturb the gut microbial changes. The pro-inflammatory shifts in the colon were assessed based on morphology, macrophage infiltration and expressions of a variety of cytokine genes and tight junction protein genes. The gut microbiota alterations were analyzed using 16s rRNA sequencing. RNA sequencing of colon was conducted to further explore the role of the gut microbiota in amelioration of colonic pro-inflammation following SG at a transcriptional level.

Results

Although SG did not lead to pronounced changes of colonic morphology and macrophage infiltration in the colon, there were significant decreases in the expressions of several pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-18, and IL-23 as well as increased expressions of some tight junction proteins in the colon following SG, suggesting an improvement of pro-inflammatory status. This was accompanied by changing populations of the gut microbiota such as increased richness of Lactobacillus subspecies following SG. Importantly, oral administrations of broad-spectrum antibiotics to delete most intestinal bacteria abrogated surgical effects to relieve colonic pro-inflammation. This was further confirmed by transcriptional analysis of colon indicating that SG regulated inflammation related pathways in a manner that was gut microbiota relevant.

Conclusion

These results support that SG decreases obesity related colonic pro-inflammatory status through the gut microbial alterations.
Research on large-scale wind power consumption in the electricity market considering demand response and energy storage systems
Authors: He Ruijin , Dong Ping , Liu Mingbo , Huang Shanchao , Li Jiaxing
Published: January 2023

Large-scale wind power integration brings great challenges to power system operation. The use of large-scale wind power in the electricity market has become a concern for many researchers. Demand response (DR) and energy storage systems (ESSs) play crucial roles in the consumption of large-scale wind power. In this paper, a detailed DR model is established, including price-based demand response (PBDR) and incentive-based demand response (IBDR). IBDR contains load shifting (LS) and load curtailment (LC). The IBDR model in this study not only includes its bidding and market clearing but also contains relevant constraints: maximum/minimum duration time, shifting/curtailment gap time, and shifting/curtailment frequency. A two-stage trading method, including a day-ahead (DA) market and a real-time (RT) market, is proposed. The method contains various market participants: conventional units (CUs), rapid adjustment units (RAUs), wind power, ESS, and multiple types of DR. The roles and economic benefits of various market participants in the consumption of large-scale wind power are analyzed in an IEEE 30 bus system, verifying the accuracy and validity of the model. The best DR scale and the suggestions of ESS are given. The results show that the proposed method can effectively utilize wind power and decrease system costs.
Primary ChAdOx1 vaccination does not reactivate pre-existing, cross-reactive immunity
Authors: Henze Larissa , Braun Julian , Meyer-Arndt Lil , Jürchott Karsten , Schlotz Maike , Michel Janine , Grossegesse Marica , Mangold Maike , Dingeldey Manuela , Kruse Beate , Holenya Pavlo , Mages Norbert , Reimer Ulf , Eckey Maren , Schnatbaum Karsten , Wenschuh Holger , Timmermann Bernd , Klein Florian , Nitsche Andreas , Giesecke-Thiel Claudia , Loyal Lucie , Thiel Andreas
Published: January 2023

Currently available COVID-19 vaccines include inactivated virus, live attenuated virus, mRNA-based, viral vectored and adjuvanted protein-subunit-based vaccines. All of them contain the spike glycoprotein as the main immunogen and result in reduced disease severity upon SARS-CoV-2 infection. While we and others have shown that mRNA-based vaccination reactivates pre-existing, cross-reactive immunity, the effect of vector vaccines in this regard is unknown. Here, we studied cellular and humoral responses in heterologous adenovirus-vector-based ChAdOx1 nCOV-19 (AZ; Vaxzeria, AstraZeneca) and mRNA-based BNT162b2 (BNT; Comirnaty, BioNTech/Pfizer) vaccination and compared it to a homologous BNT vaccination regimen. AZ primary vaccination did not lead to measurable reactivation of cross-reactive cellular and humoral immunity compared to BNT primary vaccination. Moreover, humoral immunity induced by primary vaccination with AZ displayed differences in linear spike peptide epitope coverage and a lack of anti-S2 IgG antibodies. Contrary to primary AZ vaccination, secondary vaccination with BNT reactivated pre-existing, cross-reactive immunity, comparable to homologous primary and secondary mRNA vaccination. While induced anti-S1 IgG antibody titers were higher after heterologous vaccination, induced CD4+ T cell responses were highest in homologous vaccinated. However, the overall TCR repertoire breadth was comparable between heterologous AZ-BNT-vaccinated and homologous BNT-BNT-vaccinated individuals, matching TCR repertoire breadths after SARS-CoV-2 infection, too. The reasons why AZ and BNT primary vaccination elicits different immune response patterns to essentially the same antigen, and the associated benefits and risks, need further investigation to inform vaccine and vaccination schedule development.
CytoSorb in patients with coronavirus disease 2019: A rapid evidence review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wei Shilin , Zhang Yanchun , Zhai Kerong , Li Jian , Li Mingming , Yang Jianbao , Zhang Rongzhi , Li Yongnan , Li Zhenzhen
Published: January 2023

Background

After its approval by the European Union in 2011, CytoSorb therapy has been applied to control cytokine storm and lower the increased levels of cytokines and other inflammatory mediators in blood. However, the efficiency of this CytoSorb treatment in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) still remains unclear. To elucidate the Cytosorb efficiency, we conducted a systematic review and single-arm proportion meta-analysis to combine all evidence available in the published literature to date, so that this comprehensive knowledge can guide clinical decision-making and future research.

Methods

The literature published within the period 1 December 2019 to 31 December 2021 and stored in the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, and International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) was searched for all relevant studies including the cases where COVID-19 patients were treated with CytoSorb. We performed random-effects meta-analyses by R software (3.6.1) and used the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist to assess the risk of bias. Both categorical and continuous variables were presented with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) as pooled proportions for categorical variables and pooled means for continuous outcomes.

Results

We included 14 studies with 241 COVID-19 patients treated with CytoSorb hemadsorption. Our findings reveal that for COVID-19 patients receiving CytoSorb treatment, the combined in-hospital mortality was 42.1% (95% CI 29.5–54.6%, I2 = 74%). The pooled incidence of adjunctive extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support was 73.2%. Both the C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels decreased after CytoSorb treatment. The pooled mean of the CRP level decreased from 147.55 (95% CI 91.14–203.96) to 92.36 mg/L (95% CI 46.74–137.98), while that of IL-6 decreased from 339.49 (95% CI 164.35–514.63) to 168.83 pg/mL (95% CI 82.22–255.45).

Conclusions

The majority of the COVID-19 patients treated with CytoSorb received ECMO support. In-hospital mortality was 42.1% for the COVID-19 patients who had CytoSorb treatment. Both CRP and IL-6 levels decreased after Cytosorb treatment.
Patient-derived monoclonal antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein N-terminal and C-terminal domains cross-react with their counterparts of SARS-CoV, but not other human betacoronaviruses
Authors: Wen Yingfen , Guo Wenjing , Min Yuyi , Zhong Kexin , Zhang Xulei , Xing Xiaomin , Tong Yuwei , Pan Yuejun , Hong Wenxin , Cai Weiping , Yu Lei
Published: January 2023

Introduction

SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein plays a key role in multiple stages of the viral life cycle such as viral replication and assembly. This protein is more conserved than the Spike protein of the virus and can induce both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, thereby becoming a target for clinical diagnosis and vaccine development. However, the immunogenic characteristics of this protein during natural infection are still not completely understood.

Methods

Patient-derived monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against SARS-CoV-2 N protein were generated from memory B cells in the PBMCs using the antigen-specific B cell approach. For epitope mapping of the isolated hmAbs, a panel of series-truncated N proteins were used , which covered the N-terminal domain (NTD, aa 46-174 ) and C-terminal domain (CTD, aa 245-364 ), as well as the flanking regions of NTD and CTD. NTD- or CTD-specific Abs in the plasma from COVID-19 patients were also tested by ELISA method. Cross-binding of hmAbs or plasma Abs in COVID-19 patients to other human β-CoV N proteins was determined using the capture ELISA.

Results

We isolated five N-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from memory B cells in the peripheral blood of two convalescent COVID-19 patients. Epitope mapping revealed that three of the patient-derived mAbs (N3, N5 and N31) targeted the C-terminal domain (CTD), whereas two of the mAbs (N83 and 3B7) targeted the N-terminal domain (NTD) of SARS-CoV-2 N protein. All five patient-derived mAbs were cross-reactive to the N protein of SARS-CoV but showed little to no cross-reactivity to the N proteins of other human beta coronaviruses (β-CoVs). We also tested 52 plasma samples collected from convalescent COVID-19 patients for Abs against the N proteins of human β-CoVs and found that 78.8% of plasma samples showed detectable Abs against the N proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV. No plasma sample had cross-reactive Abs to the N protein of MERS-CoV. Cross-reactive Abs to the N proteins of OC43 and HKU1 were detected in 36.5% (19/52) and 19.2% (10/52) of plasma samples, respectively.

Discussion

These results suggest that natural SARS-CoV-2 infection elicits cross-reactive Abs to the N protein of SARS-CoV and that the five patient-derived mAbs to SARS-CoV-2 N protein NTD and CTD cross-react with their counterparts of SARS-CoV, but not other human β-CoVs. Thus, these five patient-derived mAbs can potentially be used for developing the next generation of COVID-19 At-Home Test kits for rapid and specific screening of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Research progress on specific and non-specific immune effects of BCG and the possibility of BCG protection against COVID-19
Authors: Du Jingli , Su Yue , Wang Ruilan , Dong Enjun , Cao Yan , Zhao Wenjuan , Gong Wenping
Published: January 2023

Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the only approved vaccine for tuberculosis (TB) prevention worldwide. BCG has an excellent protective effect on miliary tuberculosis and tuberculous meningitis in children or infants. Interestingly, a growing number of studies have shown that BCG vaccination can induce nonspecific and specific immunity to fight against other respiratory disease pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. The continuous emergence of variants of SARS-CoV-2 makes the protective efficiency of COVID-19-specific vaccines an unprecedented challenge. Therefore, it has been hypothesized that BCG-induced trained immunity might protect against COVID-19 infection. This study comprehensively described BCG-induced nonspecific and specific immunity and the mechanism of trained immunity. In addition, this study also reviewed the research on BCG revaccination to prevent TB, the impact of BCG on other non-tuberculous diseases, and the clinical trials of BCG to prevent COVID-19 infection. These data will provide new evidence to confirm the hypotheses mentioned above.
End-of-neoadjuvant treatment circulating microRNAs and HER2-positive breast cancer patient prognosis: An exploratory analysis from NeoALTTO
Authors: Di Cosimo Serena , Ciniselli Chiara M. , Pizzamiglio Sara , Cappelletti Vera , Silvestri Marco , El-Abed Sarra , Izquierdo Miguel , Bajji Mohammed , Nuciforo Paolo , Huober Jens , Cameron David , Chia Stephen , Gomez Henry L. , Iorio Marilena V. , Vingiani Andrea , Pruneri Giancarlo , Verderio Paolo
Published: January 2023

Background

The absence of breast cancer cells in surgical specimens, i.e., pathological complete response (pCR), is widely recognized as a favorable prognostic factor after neoadjuvant therapy. In contrast, the presence of disease at surgery characterizes a prognostically heterogeneous group of patients. Here, we challenged circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) at the end of neoadjuvant therapy as potential prognostic biomarkers in the NeoALTTO study.

Methods

Patients treated within the trastuzumab arm (i.e., pre-operative weekly trastuzumab for 6 weeks followed by the addition of weekly paclitaxel for 12 weeks; post-operative FEC for 3 cycles followed by trastuzumab up to complete 1 year of treatment) were randomized into a training (n= 54) and testing (n= 72) set. RT-PCR-based high-throughput miRNA profile was performed on plasma samples collected at the end of neoadjuvant treatment of both sets. After normalization, circulating miRNAs associated with event free survival (EFS) were identified by univariate and multivariate Cox regression model.

Results

Starting from 23 circulating miRNAs associated with EFS in the training set, we generated a 3-circulating miRNA prognostic signature consisting of miR-185-5p, miR-146a-5p, miR-22-3p, which was confirmed in the testing set. The 3-circulating miRNA signature showed a C-statistic of 0.62 (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 0.53-0.71) in the entire study cohort. By resorting to a multivariate Cox regression model we found a statistical significant interaction between the expression values of miR-194-5p and pCR status (p.interaction =0.005) with an estimate Hazard Ratio (HR) of 1.83 (95%CI 1.14- 2.95) in patients with pCR, and 0.87 (95%CI 0.69-1.10) in those without pCR. Notably, the model including this interaction along with the abovementioned 3-circulating miRNA signature provided the highest discriminatory capability with a C-statistic of 0.67 (95%CI 0.58-0.76).

Conclusions

Circulating miRNAs are informative to identify patients with different prognosis among those with heterogeneous response after trastuzumab-based neoadjuvant treatment, and may be an exploitable tool to select candidates for salvage adjuvant therapy.
The diagnostic performance of radiomics-based MRI in predicting microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis
Authors: Liang Gao , Yu Wei , Liu Shuqin , Zhang Mingxing , Xie Mingguo , Liu Min , Liu Wenbin
Published: January 2023

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of radiomics-based MRI in predicting microvascular invasion (MVI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Method

The databases of PubMed, Cochrane library, Embase, Web of Science, Ovid MEDLINE, Springer, and Science Direct were searched for original studies from their inception to 20 August 2022. The quality of each study included was assessed according to the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 and the radiomics quality score. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were calculated. The summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve was plotted and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy. Sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis were performed to explore the source of the heterogeneity. Deeks’ test was used to assess publication bias.

Results

A total of 15 studies involving 981 patients were included. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, DOR, and AUC were 0.79 (95%CI: 0.72–0.85), 0.81 (95%CI: 0.73–0.87), 4.1 (95%CI:2.9–5.9), 0.26 (95%CI: 0.19–0.35), 16 (95%CI: 9–28), and 0.87 (95%CI: 0.84–0.89), respectively. The results showed great heterogeneity among the included studies. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the results of this study were statistically reliable. The results of subgroup analysis showed that hepatocyte-specific contrast media (HSCM) had equivalent sensitivity and equivalent specificity compared to the other set. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method had high sensitivity and specificity than other methods, respectively. The investigated area of the region of interest had high specificity compared to the volume of interest. The imaging-to-surgery interval of 15 days had higher sensitivity and slightly low specificity than the others. Deeks’ test indicates that there was no publication bias (P=0.71).

Conclusion

Radiomics-based MRI has high accuracy in predicting MVI in HCC, and it can be considered as a non-invasive method for assessing MVI in HCC.
Lipid profile as a novel prognostic predictor for patients with acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Bai Shenrui , Wang Huizhong , Shao Ruonan , Fu Bibo , Lu Shujing , Wang Jingzi , Lu Yue , Wang Hua
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study investigated the relationship between serum lipid levels and clinical outcomes in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by establishing a predictive risk classification model.

Method

A total of 214 AML patients who were pathologically diagnosed and treated with standard induction chemotherapy at Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center were included. The patients were randomly divided into the training (n = 107) and validation (n=107) cohorts. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were used to assess the value of triglyceride (TG), Apolipoprotein B (Apo B), Apo Apolipoprotein A-I (Apo A-I), cholesterol (CHO), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) as prognostic factors for AML.

Results

After a series of data analyses, a five-factor model was established to divide the patients into high- and low-risk groups. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the high-risk group had a poor prognosis (P<0.05). The area under the curve of the novel model for five-year OS was 0.737. A nomogram was constructed to integrate the model with age and the 2017 ELN cytogenetic classification, with the merged model showing improved accuracy with an area under the curve of 0.987 for five-year OS.

Conclusion

A novel model was constructed using a combination of the serum lipid profile and clinical characteristics of AML patients to enhance the predictive accuracy of clinical outcomes. The nomogram used the lipid profile which is routinely tested in clinical blood biochemistry and showed both specific prognostic and therapeutic potential.
Scleritis in rheumatoid arthritis: Before and during biologic era
Authors: Vergouwen Daphne P. C. , de Jong Pascal H. P. , Schreurs Marco W. J. , Berge Josianne C. Ten , Rothova Aniki
Published: January 2023

Objectives

Scleritis represents a severe extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recent clinical observations suggest a decreasing incidence of scleritis in RA, attributed to improved treatment options. Our study reports on the incidence and clinical characteristics of scleritis in RA observed in the biological era and reflects on our results in a historical perspective.

Methods

We performed a retrospective evaluation of all 1623 consecutive patients with RA diagnosed at the department of rheumatology between 2011 and 2021 at the Erasmus Medical Center to investigate the incidence of scleritis. We also reviewed clinical and laboratory data of all patients with scleritis and RA from the department of ophthalmology at our center. In addition, we reviewed the literature on this topic and discuss our results in view of changes over time.

Results

The incidence of scleritis within recent series of patients with a diagnosis of RA in our tertiary center was 0,25% in 10 years (4 out of 1623; 2011-2021).The cumulative incidence of scleritis in RA based on literature review from the pre-biologic era varied from 0.7% per 8 years to 0,8% per 30 years. Manifestations and complications of scleritis remained unchanged over time, with scleral necrosis developing in more than 80% of cases and mortality of RA patients with scleritis remained similar to pre-biologic era (30% in 9 years after the onset of scleritis). The RA patients with scleritis often exhibited autoantibodies (rheumatoid factor and/or anti-citrullinated protein antibody) and erosive disease.

Conclusion

Although our recent series is characterized by a slightly lower incidence of scleritis in RA compared to the pre-biologic era, clinical presentation remained severe and similar to the pre-biologic era. Ophthalmologists and rheumatologists should be aware of scleritis as a severe extra-articular manifestation of RA.
Forest stand factors determine the rainfall pattern of crown allocation of Picea schrenkiana in the northern slope of Mount Bogda, Tianshan Range, China
Authors: Zhao Shanchao , Zheng Xin-Jun , Yin Lihe , Wang Yugang
Published: January 2023

The middle elevation forest of the Tianshan Mountains, dominated by the conifer tree Picea schrenkiana, is an important part of the mountain ecosystem of arid Northwestern China, which plays a pivotal role in carbon sequestration and water conservation. As the first interface of water transfer in a forest ecosystem, tree crown allocates precipitation regulating soil water supply and sustaining vegetation growth below the crown. In this study, four 20-m × 20-m sampling quadrats were randomly installed at each of three elevation sites (2,200 m, 1,800 m, and 1,450 m) on the northern slope of Mount Bogda, the main peak of the Eastern Tianshan Range. The effects of forest stand factors and incoming rainfall on forest crown allocation of precipitation were investigated, and the trade-off between water and carbon was also discussed. The results revealed that (1) the interception, throughfall, and stemflow ratio had values of 44.3%–50.0%, 49.6%–55.4%, and<0.5%, respectively; (2) there was a complementary relationship between stemflow ability and threshold rainfall when stemflow emerged, and the crown interception rainfall had a saturation value; and (3) the allocation of crown-intercepted rainfall was controlled by trunk diameter at breast height, crown height-to-width ratio, and leaf area index, which was why differences arose in the allocation of crown precipitation at differing elevations. With greater arbor biological carbon density, the crown interception ratio initially increased rapidly but then remained stable, indicating that once a natural forest stand is mature, its biomass carbon sequestration would not change further allocation of crown precipitation.
Telomere Power: How to Live Longer and Healthier
Authors: Blackburn Elizabeth
Published: January 2023

Did you know that your daily choices, including how much you exercise, what you eat, and even how you think, can change the basic units that are present in your cells? In this article, I will tell you about telomeres, which are the protective tips of DNA molecules—the molecules where the organism’s genes are stored. I will also introduce you to an enzyme that we discovered, called telomerase, which is responsible for the addition and maintenance of telomeres. After diving into the molecular details of telomeres and telomerase, I will reveal to you some very interesting connections between telomeres and human health. I hope, by the end of this article, you will be amazed by the way in which psychological, environmental, and societal factors can influence the fundamentals of our biology.
Life Cycle Assessment of the Cellulosic Jet Fuel Derived from Agriculture Residue
Authors: Liu Ziyu , Liu Haobo , Yang Xiaoyi
Published: January 2023

The purpose of this paper is to discover the impacts of contradictory factors in the application of agricultural residue with sustainable biofuel benefits. Based on the Life cycle assessment (LCA) approach, the quantitative LCA assessment model and approach have been established, coupling upstream cultivation and downstream jet biofuel product, which would benefit agriculture residue choice. The LCA model investigated the effects of interaction factors on energy consumption, including land release and agriculture residue use change. The computational framework of the LCA model is classified into three sub-models, including the cultivation and harvesting model, the refining process and distribution model, and the flight model. According to uncertainty analysis by the LCA model, the positive energy gains have been conducted at a wide range of hydrogen production and methanol production. The application model is represented by six types of typical aircraft widely used in China, including the LTO cycle module, actual cruising distance and maximum cruising distance module, actual payload, and maximum payload module. In the whole life cycle assessment, GHGs of agriculture residue is 17.9 gCO2e/MJ while petroleum-based jet fuel is 90.2 gCO2e/MJ. The order of GHGs in WTW (well to wheel) is agriculture residue < corn stover < beanstalk < wheat straw < rice straw. The land release conducted obviously to the total GHGs emission for rice straw, which indicated that land release should involve in the LCA.
Nephroprotective Effect of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) Seeds and Their Sprouts on CCl4-Induced Nephrotoxicity and Oxidative Stress in Rats
Authors: Barakat Hassan , Alkabeer Ibrahim Ali , Althwab Sami A. , Alfheeaid Hani A. , Alhomaid Raghad M. , Almujaydil Mona S. , Almuziree Raya S. A. , Bushnaq Taqwa , Mohamed Ahmed
Published: January 2023

Functional and nutritional characteristics of seed sprouts and their association with oxidative stress-related disorders have recently become a focus of scientific investigations. The biological activities of fennel seeds (FS) and fennel seed sprouts (FSS) were investigated in vitro and in vivo. The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoids (TF), total flavonols (TFF), and antioxidant activity (AOA) of FS and FSS were examined. HPLC and GC–MS analyses for FS and FSS were carried out. Consequently, the nephroprotective and antioxidative stress potential of FS and FSS extracts at 300 and 600 mg kg−1 on CCl4-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats was investigated. In this context, kidney relative weight, blood glucose level (BGL), lipid profile, kidney function (T. protein, albumin, globulin, creatinine, urea, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN)), and oxidative stress biomarkers (GSH, CAT, MDA, and SOD) in the rat’s blood as well as the histopathological alteration in kidney tissues were examined. Results indicated that the sprouting process of FS significantly improved TPC, TF, TFL, and AOA in vitro. HPLC identified nineteen compounds of phenolic acids and their derivatives in FS. Thirteen phenolic compounds in FS and FSS were identified, the highest of which was vanillic acid. Six flavonoids were also identified with a predominance of kaempferol. GC–MS indicated that the trans-anethole (1-methoxy-4-[(E)-prop-1-enyl]benzene) component was predominant in FS and FSS, significantly increasing after sprouting. In in vivo examination, administering FS and FSS extracts ameliorated the BGL, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (CHO), and their derivative levels compared to CCl4-intoxicated rats. A notable improvement in FS and FSS with 600 mg kg−1 compared to 300 mg kg−1 was observed. A dose of 600 mg FSS kg−1 reduced the TG, CHO, and LDL-C and increased HDL-C levels by 32.04, 24.62, 63.00, and 67.17% compared to G2, respectively. The atherogenic index (AI) was significantly improved with 600 mg kg−1 of FSS extracts. FS and FSS improved kidney function, reduced malondialdehyde (MDA), and restored the activity of reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). Both FS and FSS extracts attenuated the histopathological alteration in CCl4-treated rats. Interestingly, FSS extract presented better efficiency as a nephroprotection agent than FS extract. In conclusion, FSS can potentially restore oxidative stability and improve kidney function after acute CCl4 kidney injury better than FS. Therefore, FS and FSS extracts might be used for their promising nephroprotective potential and to help prevent diseases related to oxidative stress. Further research on their application in humans is highly recommended.
COVID-19 Causes Ferroptosis and Oxidative Stress in Human Endothelial Cells
Authors: Jankauskas Stanislovas S. , Kansakar Urna , Sardu Celestino , Varzideh Fahimeh , Avvisato Roberta , Wang Xujun , Matarese Alessandro , Marfella Raffaele , Ziosi Marcello , Gambardella Jessica , Santulli Gaetano
Published: January 2023

Oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction have been shown to play crucial roles in the pathophysiology of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). On these grounds, we sought to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis in human endothelial cells. We hypothesized that oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation induced by COVID-19 in endothelial cells could be linked to the disease outcome. Thus, we collected serum from COVID-19 patients on hospital admission, and we incubated these sera with human endothelial cells, comparing the effects on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation between patients who survived and patients who did not survive. We found that the serum from non-survivors significantly increased lipid peroxidation. Moreover, serum from non-survivors markedly regulated the expression levels of the main markers of ferroptosis, including GPX4, SLC7A11, FTH1, and SAT1, a response that was rescued by silencing TNFR1 on endothelial cells. Taken together, our data indicate that serum from patients who did not survive COVID-19 triggers lipid peroxidation in human endothelial cells.
Robotics in Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations: An Ethical and Design Perspective Framework for Response Phase
Authors: Chitikena Hareesh , Sanfilippo Filippo , Ma Shugen
Published: January 2023

Every year, especially in urban areas, the population density rises quickly. The effects of catastrophes (i.e., war, earthquake, fire, tsunami) on people are therefore significant and grave. Assisting the impacted people will soon involve human-robot Search and Rescue (SAR) operations. Therefore, it is crucial to connect contemporary technology (i.e., robots and cognitive approaches) to SAR to save human lives. However, these operations also call for careful consideration of several factors, including safety, severity, and resources. Hence, ethical issues with technologies in SAR must be taken into consideration at the development stage. In this study, the most relevant ethical and design issues that arise when using robotic and cognitive technology in SAR are discussed with a focus on the response phase. Among the vast variety of SAR robots that are available nowadays, snake robots have shown huge potential; as they could be fitted with sensors and used for transporting tools to hazardous or confined areas that other robots and humans are unable to access. With this perspective, particular emphasis has been put on snake robotics in this study by considering ethical and design issues. This endeavour will contribute to providing a broader knowledge of ethical and technological factors that must be taken into account throughout the design and development of snake robots.
Design of a Moisture Content Detection System for Yinghong No. 9 Tea Leaves Based on Machine Vision
Authors: Wang Feiren , Xie Boming , Lü Enli , Zeng Zhixiong , Mei Shuang , Ma Chengying , Guo Jiaming
Published: January 2023

The moisture content of Yinghong No. 9 tea leaves is an important indicator for their processing. The traditional method used to detect the moisture content of tea leaves is not suitable for large-scale production. To improve the efficiency of tea processing, a moisture content detection system for Yinghong No. 9 tea leaves based on machine vision was developed, and the relationship between the moisture content and the fresh tea leaves was researched. Firstly, nine color features and five texture features of the tea leaves images were extracted, and two different tea leaves databases were constructed based on linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and principal component analysis (PCA). Secondly, two models of moisture prediction for fresh tea leaves were built using a backpropagation (BP) neural network, which were then optimized by particle swarm optimization (PSO) and a genetic algorithm (GA), respectively. After, the two preprocessing methods and the two optimization algorithms were cross-combined to optimize the models for moisture content prediction. Finally, the models above were filtered using segmental analysis for the segmental moisture content prediction. It was verified by experiments that the coefficient of determination (R2) of the combined model of PCA-GA-BP and PCA-PSO-BP was 94.1073%, the RMSE was 1.1490%, and the MAE was 0.9982%. The results of this paper can help in the instantaneous detection of the moisture content of fresh tea leaves during processing, improving the production efficiency of Yinghong No. 9 tea.
A Single-Cell Electroporation Model for Quantitatively Estimating the Pore Area Ratio by High-Frequency Irreversible Electroporation
Authors: Ding Lujia , Fang Zheng , Moser Michael A. J. , Zhang Wenjun , Zhang Bing
Published: January 2023

The electroporation technique utilizes pulsed electric fields to induce porous defects in the cell membrane, and the technique can be used for delivering drugs into cells and killing cancer cells. To develop an electric pulse protocol in the clinic with this technique, the key issue is to understand the evolution of pores in the cell membrane during the process of electroporation. This paper presents a study to address this issue. Specifically, a mathematical model of single-cell electroporation (SCE) was developed, which includes pore area ratio (PAR) as an indicator of the electroporation dynamics and area weight for considering the 3D nature of cells. The model was employed to simulate the electroporation of a single cell with different high-frequency irreversible electroporation (H-FIRE) protocols. The simulation result has found that the change of PAR with respect to the time duration of electroporation follows a sigmoid pattern to increase under specific protocols, which is called the cumulative effect of PAR. Subsequently, the relationship between the protocol of H-FIRE, described by a set of pulse parameters such as pulse width, pulse delay, electric field strength, and pulse burst duration, and the cumulative effect of PAR was established, which thereby allows designing the protocol to kill cells effectively. The study concluded that the proposed SCE model, along with the cumulative effect of PAR, is useful in designing H-FIRE protocols for the ablation of cancer tumors in the clinic.
Application Characteristics of Bioethanol as an Oxygenated Fuel Additive in Diesel Engines
Authors: Yoon Sam Ki
Published: January 2023

In this study, pure diesel fuel (E0), 5% bioethanol blended with 95% diesel fuel (E5), 10% bioethanol blended with 90% diesel fuel (E10) and 15% bioethanol blended with 85% diesel fuel (E15) were tested on a diesel engine. The 40, 60 and 80 Nm were the main experimental variables, while the engine speed was kept constant at 1500 rpm. The main results show that the addition of ethanol slightly reduced the maximum combustion pressure and delayed the combustion start, but increased the heat release rate (HRR) to varying degrees. Although the addition of ethanol was not very helpful for reducing hydrocarbon (HC), it could reduce carbon monoxide (CO) under appropriate load conditions (60 Nm and 80 Nm). Additionally, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and smoke emissions were reduced with the addition of ethanol under all test conditions.
Exosome-Coated tPA/Catalase Nanoformulation for Thrombolytic Therapy
Authors: Khalil Sara , Kanapathipillai Mathumai
Published: January 2023

Current tissue plasminogen-based therapeutic strategies for stroke suffer from systemic side effects and poor efficacy. Hence, novel drug delivery methods are needed to overcome these shortcomings. Exosome-based drug formulations have been shown to have superior therapeutic outcomes compared to conventional systemic drug delivery approaches. In this paper, we report exosome surface-coated tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)/catalase nanoformulations with improved thrombolytic efficacy compared to free tPA, which also reduce side effects. The results showed that the tPA exosome formulations retained tPA activity, improved tPA stability, exhibited significant fibrinolysis, and showed no significant toxicity effects. Further, when combined with antioxidant enzyme catalase, the formulation was able to inhibit hydrogen peroxide-mediated oxidative stress and toxicity. Hence, exosome-based tPA/catalase nanoformulations could have the potential to offer a safer and effective thrombolytic therapy.
Modeling Autism Spectrum Disorders with Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Brain Organoids
Authors: Santos John Lenon de Souza , Araújo Cecília de Almeida , Rocha Clarissa Araújo Gurgel , Costa-Ferro Zaquer Suzana Munhoz , Souza Bruno Solano de Freitas
Published: January 2023

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of complex neurodevelopmental disorders that affect communication and social interactions and present with restricted interests and repetitive behavior patterns. The susceptibility to ASD is strongly influenced by genetic/heritable factors; however, there is still a large gap in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the neurobiology of ASD. Significant progress has been made in identifying ASD risk genes and the possible convergent pathways regulated by these gene networks during development. The breakthrough of cellular reprogramming technology has allowed the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from individuals with syndromic and idiopathic ASD, providing patient-specific cell models for mechanistic studies. In the past decade, protocols for developing brain organoids from these cells have been established, leading to significant advances in the in vitro reproducibility of the early steps of human brain development. Here, we reviewed the most relevant literature regarding the application of brain organoids to the study of ASD, providing the current state of the art, and discussing the impact of such models on the field, limitations, and opportunities for future development.
The Many (Inter)faces of Anti-CRISPRs: Modulation of CRISPR-Cas Structure and Dynamics by Mechanistically Diverse Inhibitors
Authors: Belato Helen B. , Lisi George P.
Published: January 2023

The discovery of protein inhibitors of CRISPR-Cas systems, called anti-CRISPRs (Acrs), has enabled the development of highly controllable and precise CRISPR-Cas tools. Anti-CRISPRs share very little structural or sequential resemblance to each other or to other proteins, which raises intriguing questions regarding their modes of action. Many structure–function studies have shed light on the mechanism(s) of Acrs, which can act as orthosteric or allosteric inhibitors of CRISPR–Cas machinery, as well as enzymes that irreversibly modify CRISPR–Cas components. Only recently has the breadth of diversity of Acr structures and functions come to light, and this remains a rapidly evolving field. Here, we draw attention to a plethora of Acr mechanisms, with particular focus on how their action toward Cas proteins modulates conformation, dynamic (allosteric) signaling, nucleic acid binding, and cleavage ability.
Nanotechnology as a Promising Approach to Combat Multidrug Resistant Bacteria: A Comprehensive Review and Future Perspectives
Authors: Hetta Helal F. , Ramadan Yasmin N. , Al-Harbi Alhanouf I. , A. Ahmed Esraa , Battah Basem , Abd Ellah Noura H. , Zanetti Stefania , Donadu Matthew Gavino
Published: January 2023

The wide spread of antibiotic resistance has been alarming in recent years and poses a serious global hazard to public health as it leads to millions of deaths all over the world. The wide spread of resistance and sharing resistance genes between different types of bacteria led to emergence of multidrug resistant (MDR) microorganisms. This problem is exacerbated when microorganisms create biofilms, which can boost bacterial resistance by up to 1000-fold and increase the emergence of MDR infections. The absence of novel and potent antimicrobial compounds is linked to the rise of multidrug resistance. This has sparked international efforts to develop new and improved antimicrobial agents as well as innovative and efficient techniques for antibiotic administration and targeting. There is an evolution in nanotechnology in recent years in treatment and prevention of the biofilm formation and MDR infection. The development of nanomaterial-based therapeutics, which could overcome current pathways linked to acquired drug resistance, is a hopeful strategy for treating difficult-to-treat bacterial infections. Additionally, nanoparticles’ distinct size and physical characteristics enable them to target biofilms and treat resistant pathogens. This review highlights the current advances in nanotechnology to combat MDR and biofilm infection. In addition, it provides insight on development and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, spread of MDR and XDR infection, and development of nanoparticles and mechanisms of their antibacterial activity. Moreover, this review considers the difference between free antibiotics and nanoantibiotics, and the synergistic effect of nanoantibiotics to combat planktonic bacteria, intracellular bacteria and biofilm. Finally, we will discuss the strength and limitations of the application of nanotechnology against bacterial infection and future perspectives.
Effect of Expanded Perlite Aggregate Plaster on the Behavior of High-Temperature Reinforced Concrete Structures
Authors: Ulusu İsmet , Kurnuç Seyhan Aslıhan
Published: January 2023

Polyurethane-based materials, which are widely used in exterior cladding, pose a great risk for buildings because they can easily catch fire at temperatures as low as 50–65 °C. Thus, different materials are needed to ensure that structures exposed to high temperatures do not have any stability problems. In this study, expanded perlite aggregate plaster (EPAP) was produced to eliminate the negative effects that may occur in buildings exposed to high temperatures. High temperature tests were carried out on test plates of different thicknesses to determine the effect of plaster thickness under high temperatures. In order to compare the effects of high temperatures, a test sample of normal aggregate plaster (NAP), which is widely used in buildings, was prepared. In the high temperature test, the temperature values on the back surfaces of the EPAP (≈115 °C) test plates were approximately 3 times lower than the temperature values of the NAP (≈350 °C) test plate. It can be said that structural stability loss and durability problems may occur in structures covered with NAP in a high-temperature environment, and that no negative effect will occur in terms of structural stability and durability problems in structures covered with EPAP in high temperature environments.