bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digital Processing of Seismic Data from Open-Pit Mining Blasts
Authors: Koteleva Natalia , Frenkel Ilia
Published: January 2021

This article describes an approach of mathematical processing of signals (seismograms) from five blasthole charges from experimental blasting, each 3 m deep, with equal explosive weight (1 kg), and equidistant (3 m) from one other. The seismic explosive waves were measured at a 13 to 25 m distance. This article provides spectral analysis, wavelet analysis, and fractal analysis results. It defines the dependence of dominant frequency and amplitude on the distance to the blast center. According to the experimental data, the dominant frequency is calculated as y = 1.0262x0.2622 and the amplitude dependency as y = 18.139x−2.276. Furthermore, the analysis shows that 80% of the entire signal is concentrated in half the area of frequency range, i.e., the low frequency zone is of the most interest. This research defines the dependence of distance on the energy value of signal wavelet analysis. It is demonstrated that, according to the experimental data, the 12th frequency range is closely correlated with the distance values. This article gives the definitions of entropy, correlation dimension, and predictability time. This experiment shows that entropy and correlation dimension decrease but predictability time increases when the distance to the blast center increases. This article also describes the method for determining optimal drilling and blasting parameters, and concludes with the possibility of applying the analytical results to predicting and enhancing drilling and blasting operations.
Design and Numerical Simulation-Based Optimization of a Novel Flat-Face Coupling System for Hydraulic Power Equipment
Authors: Wu Yu-Ting , Qin Zhen , Eizad Amre , Lyu Sung-Ki
Published: January 2021

Coupling systems play a vital role in hydraulic power transmission equipment. In recent years, flat-face coupling systems have been extensively studied due to their environment friendly features. The difficulty of the connection process of hydraulic equipment increases with the increase in their working pressure. To improve the convenience of making high-pressure connections, a novel flat-face coupling system is proposed in this article. In the proposed design, which is based on the conventional flat-face coupling system, the resistance caused by high hydraulic fluid pressure during coupling is drastically reduced by the addition of an instantaneous pressure relief module. In this study, the theoretical model of the system kinetics is established to illustrate the operational mechanism of the novel design, and a series of computational fluid dynamics numerical investigations based on the novel dynamic mesh technology and Ansys Mosaic meshing technology are implemented to verify the rationality of the proposed design. Additionally, an optimal design of the novel flat-face coupling system is proposed to reduce the energy loss during hydraulic power transmission.
Development of Eco-Friendly Cement Using a Calcium Sulfoaluminate Expansive Agent Blended with Slag and Silica Fume
Authors: Kim Taewan , Seo Ki-Young , Kang Choonghyun , Lee Tak-Kee
Published: January 2021

This is an experimental study on the development of a low-carbon, eco-friendly cement containing a calcium sulfoaluminate expansive agent (CSAe), slag, and silica fume (SF). The cement to be developed has a low water/binder ratio (w/b) of 0.5 and is designed to be used for structural purposes, with focus on its mechanical performance. CSAe, slag, and SF were mixed at various mixing ratios. The main hydration product of the slag-based CSAe cement in the experiment was ettringite. Substituting less than 30% of CSAe showed a sufficient level of mechanical performance; that is, the material could be used as structural cement. SF controlled the excessive expansion of CSAe. However, since the developed slag-CSAe-SF cement has low early age (1 d) strength, follow-up research is needed for improvement.
Multi-Period Maximal Covering Location Problem with Capacitated Facilities and Modules for Natural Disaster Relief Services
Authors: Alizadeh Roghayyeh , Nishi Tatsushi , Bagherinejad Jafar , Bashiri Mahdi
Published: January 2021

The paper aims to study a multi-period maximal covering location problem with the configuration of different types of facilities, as an extension of the classical maximal covering location problem (MCLP). The proposed model can have applications such as locating disaster relief facilities, hospitals, and chain supermarkets. The facilities are supposed to be comprised of various units, called the modules. The modules have different sizes and can transfer between facilities during the planning horizon according to demand variation. Both the facilities and modules are capacitated as a real-life fact. To solve the problem, two upper bounds—(LR1) and (LR2)—and Lagrangian decomposition (LD) are developed. Two lower bounds are computed from feasible solutions obtained from (LR1), (LR2), and (LD) and a novel heuristic algorithm. The results demonstrate that the LD method combined with the lower bound obtained from the developed heuristic method (LD-HLB) shows better performance and is preferred to solve both small- and large-scale problems in terms of bound tightness and efficiency especially for solving large-scale problems. The upper bounds and lower bounds generated by the solution procedures can be used as the profit approximation by the managerial executives in their decision-making process.
Development of High Resistance Hot Mix Asphalt with Electric Arc Furnace Slag, Ladle Furnace Slag, and Cellulose Fibers from the Papermaking Industry
Authors: Terrones-Saeta Juan María , Suárez-Macías Jorge , Iglesias-Godino Francisco Javier , Corpas-Iglesias Francisco Antonio
Published: January 2021

Roads are currently essential links of communication and economic development. However, these roads are progressively requiring higher quality materials, implying a greater impact on the environment, in order to withstand the high levels of heavy vehicle traffic. Therefore, this research proposes the use of industrial by-products to create bituminous mixtures which are more resistant and durable than traditional ones. The industrial by-products used, are electric arc furnace slag, ladle furnace slag, and cellulose fibers from the papermaking industry. These by-products were physically and chemically characterized to be used to conform with bituminous mixtures. At the same time, bituminous mixtures were conformed with conventional materials, thus being able to compare the physical and mechanical properties of the conformed mixtures through different tests. The results showed how the use of cellulose fibers made it possible to absorb a greater percentage of bitumen, as well as the use of electric arc furnace slag and ladle furnace slag created mixtures, with greater Marshall stability. Therefore, sustainable, durable, resistant, and high waste mixtures were developed in this investigation.
Novel Digital Technique to Analyze the Influence of the Operator Experience on the Accuracy of the Orthodontic Micro-Screws Placement
Authors: Bufalá Pérez María , O’Connor Esteban Miriam , Zubizarreta-Macho Álvaro , Riad Deglow Elena , Hernández Montero Sofía , Abella Sans Francesc , Albaladejo Martínez Alberto
Published: January 2021

To analyze the influence of the operator experience on the accuracy of orthodontic self-tapping micro-screws placement, a total of 60 orthodontic self-tapping micro-screws were randomly distributed into two study groups: Group A. Orthodontic micro-screws placement by an orthodontist with 10 years of experience (n = 30); and B. Orthodontic micro-screws placement by an orthodontist student without experience (n = 30). Cone-beam computed tomography scans and intraoral scans were performed before and after the orthodontic self-tapping micro-screws placement and uploaded in 3D implant-planning software to analyze the deviation angle and the horizontal deviation measured at the coronal entry point and apical endpoint between orthodontic micro-screws planned and performed. In addition, intraoperative complications such as root perforations after orthodontic self-tapping micro-screws placement and fracture of the orthodontic self-tapping micro-screws during their placement were also analyzed. The paired t-test revealed statistically significant differences at the apical endpoint (p = 0.004) of planned and performed orthodontic self-tapping micro-screws between the orthodontist with 10 years of experience and the orthodontist student without experience. However, the paired t-test revealed no statistically significant differences at the coronal entry point (p = 0.220) and angular deviations (p = 0.602) of planned and performed orthodontic self-tapping micro-screws between the orthodontist with 10 years of experience and the orthodontic student without experience. Furthermore, five root perforations were observed in the no experience study group and three orthodontic self-tapping micro-screws were fractured in each study group. In conclusion, the results show that the greater experience of the operator influences the accuracy of orthodontic micro-screws placement, resulting in less intraoperative complications.
ToU Pricing-Based Dynamic Electricity Theft Detection in Smart Grid Using Gradient Boosting Classifier
Authors: Punmiya Rajiv , Choe Sangho
Published: January 2021

In the near future, it is highly expected that smart grid (SG) utilities will replace existing fixed pricing with dynamic pricing, such as time-of-use real-time tariff (ToU). In ToU, the price of electricity varies throughout the whole day based on the respective utilities’ decisions. We classify the whole day into two periods with very high and low probabilities of theft activities, termed as the “theft window” and “non-theft window”, respectively. A “smart” malicious consumer can adjust his/her theft to mostly targeting the theft window, manipulate actual usage reporting to outsmart existing theft detectors, and achieve the goal of “paying reduced tariff”. Simulation results show that existing schemes do not detect well such window-based theft activities conversely exploiting ToU strategies. In this paper, we begin by introducing the core concept of window-based theft cases, which is defined at the basis of ToU pricing as well as consumption usage. A modified extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) based machine learning (ML) technique called dynamic electricity theft detector (DETD) has been presented to detect a new type of theft cases.
Experimental Study on Km-Range Long-Distance Measurement Using Silicon Photomultiplier Sensor with Low Peak Power Laser Pulse
Authors: Candan Can , Tiken Mehmet , Berberoglu Halil , Orhan Elif , Yeniay Aydin
Published: January 2021

Silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) have drawn considerable attention due to their superior sensitivity with a multi-pixel matrix structure. SiPM can be the choice of a detector for time of flight measurement which is one of the most promising applications in the field of light detection and ranging (LiDAR). In this work, we take advantage of SiPM and attempt to measure longer distances with a low peak power semiconductor laser under outdoor sunny and windy conditions. We achieved a long detection range of a few kilometers by using SiPM and a laser with a pulse energy of 9 µj at 0.905 µm and 3 dB enhancement in signal to noise ratio (SNR) by the implemented signal extraction algorithm. From the simulation performed, the minimum SNR value and detection probability were also determined for the outdoor field tests.
Quantum Features of Atom–Field Systems in the Framework of Deformed Fields
Authors: Abdel-Khalek Sayed , Berrada Kamal , Altowyan Abeer S.
Published: January 2021

We propose a new kind of Schrödinger cat state introduced as a superposition of spin coherent states in the framework of noncommutative spaces. We analyze the nonclassical features for these noncommutative deformed states in terms of the main physical parameters. The physical importance of deformed states is that they provide a convenient description of a large set of laser systems. As an application, we develop the Jaynes–Cummings model by considering the interaction among atoms and cat state fields associated to deformed spin algebras. In this context, we show the dynamical behavior of the nonlocal correlation and nonclassical properties in these quantum systems.
A Novel LOS Decision Technique Reflecting 3D DTED for Modeling an Electronic Warfare Environment
Authors: Lee Jaejoong , Lee Chiho , Lee Hyeon Hwi , Park Kyung Tae , Jung Hyun-Kyo , Kim Kangwook
Published: January 2021

A new line-of-sight (LOS) decision algorithm applicable to simulation of electronic warfare (EW) is developed. For accurate simulation, the digital terrain elevation data (DTED) of the region to be analyzed must be reflected in the simulation, and millions of datasets are necessary in the EW environment. In order to obtain real-time results in such an environment, a technology that determines line-of-sight (LOS) quickly and accurately is very important. In this paper, a novel algorithm is introduced for determining LOS that can be applied in an EW environment with three-dimensional (3D) DTED. The proposed method shows superior performance as compared with the simplest point-to-point distance calculation method and it is also 50% faster than the conventional interpolation method. The DTED used in this paper is the data applied as level 0 for the Republic of Korea, and the decision of the LOS at approximately 1.8 million locations viewed by a reconnaissance plane flying 10 km above the ground is determined within 0.026 s.
An Application of BOTDR to the Measurement of the Curing of a Bored Pile
Authors: Gao Lei , Han Chuan , Abdulhafidh Omar , Gong Yunhao , Jin Yingjie
Published: January 2021

In order to study the deformation of a bored pile during concrete curing, it is necessary to monitor the strain of the pile. In this paper, Brillouin optical time domain reflectometer (BOTDR) technology is used to monitor the pile strain during concrete curing, and reliable monitoring data are obtained. These data provide a basis for the study of pile deformation and pile–soil interaction during curing of bored cast-in-place piles. Compared with the traditional point strain sensor, the distributed fiber optic sensor is simple in layout and highly accurate; it can fully reflect the strain changes of the pile; the experiment also shows the advantages of distributed fiber optic sensing technology over the traditional point monitoring method.
Bermed Earth-Sheltered Wall for Low-Income House: Thermal and Energy Measure to Face Climate Change in Tropical Region
Authors: Callejas Ivan Julio Apolonio , Apolonio Raquel Moussalem , Guarda Emeli Lalesca Aparecida da , Durante Luciane Cleonice , de Andrade Carvalho Rosseti Karyna , Roseta Filipa , Amarante Leticia Mendes do
Published: January 2021

Climate change impact is one of the most important global concerns at present. In the building environment, climate-responsive design may help to enhance the adaptation capacity through a better building energy performance. In this sense, this study addresses an adaptation strategy to reduce the effects of global warming on low-income houses, for which bioclimatic passive strategies should be prioritized, aiming to improve environmental sustainability. The technique chosen to be analyzed is thermal mass for cooling. Thus, the goal is to evaluate the energy consumption and thermal performance impact of implementing bermed earth-sheltered walls on bedrooms in low-income housing (LIH), considered deployed in tropical climate regions. For that, a base scenario (1961–1990) is considered, alongside two future scenarios: 2020 (2011 to 2040) and 2050 (2041 to 2070), both considering the effects of climate change, according to the Fourth Report (AR4) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The methodologies adopted are (i) computational simulation to estimate the annual energy consumption demand and (ii) quantification of the cooling degree-hours (CDH), with the subsequent comparative analysis based on Brazilian regulation for energy efficiency in buildings (RTQ-R). The predictions show that there will be an increase in the energy consumption for cooling and in the CDH in both 2020 and 2050 scenarios, regardless of using a bermed earth-sheltered wall. Nonetheless, this adaptive measure enables the building to be resilient in terms of cooling energy demand in the 2020s, since it is 12.3% lower than in the building without the strategy use, compared with the base scenario. In the 2050s, resilience was almost reached with energy consumption only 10.7% higher, for the same conditions described previously. Therefore, bermed earth-sheltered walls work as a climate-responsive design strategy to face the potential global warming effects, promoting building sustainability in tropical climate regions.
Proton and Heavy Particle Intracranial Radiosurgery
Authors: Lehrer Eric J. , Prabhu Arpan V. , Sindhu Kunal K. , Lazarev Stanislav , Ruiz-Garcia Henry , Peterson Jennifer L. , Beltran Chris , Furutani Keith , Schlesinger David , Sheehan Jason P. , Trifiletti Daniel M.
Published: January 2021

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) involves the delivery of a highly conformal ablative dose of radiation to both benign and malignant targets. This has traditionally been accomplished in a single fraction; however, fractionated approaches involving five or fewer treatments have been delivered for larger lesions, as well as lesions in close proximity to radiosensitive structures. The clinical utilization of SRS has overwhelmingly involved photon-based sources via dedicated radiosurgery platforms (e.g., Gamma Knife® and Cyberknife®) or specialized linear accelerators. While photon-based methods have been shown to be highly effective, advancements are sought for improved dose precision, treatment duration, and radiobiologic effect, among others, particularly in the setting of repeat irradiation. Particle-based techniques (e.g., protons and carbon ions) may improve many of these shortcomings. Specifically, the presence of a Bragg Peak with particle therapy at target depth allows for marked minimization of distal dose delivery, thus mitigating the risk of toxicity to organs at risk. Carbon ions also exhibit a higher linear energy transfer than photons and protons, allowing for greater relative biological effectiveness. While the data are limited, utilization of proton radiosurgery in the setting of brain metastases has been shown to demonstrate 1-year local control rates >90%, which are comparable to that of photon-based radiosurgery. Prospective studies are needed to further validate the safety and efficacy of this treatment modality. We aim to provide a comprehensive overview of clinical evidence in the use of particle therapy-based radiosurgery.
Sudden Cell Death Induced by Ca2+ Delivery via Microbubble Cavitation
Authors: Maciulevičius Martynas , Navickaitė Diana , Chopra Sonam , Jakštys Baltramiejus , Šatkauskas Saulius
Published: January 2021

Intracellular calcium ion delivery via sonoporation has been validated to be a substitute for classical chemotherapy. However, the mechanism behind calcium sonoporation remains unclear to this day. To elucidate the role of calcium in the process of sonoporation, we aimed to investigate the influence of different calcium concentration on cell membrane permeabilization and cell viability after sonoporation. In this study, we present experimental evidence that extracellular calcium plays a major role in cell membrane molecular transport after applying ultrasound pulses. Ultrasound-microbubble cavitation in the presence of different calcium concentration affects fundamental cell bio-physio-chemical conditions: cell membrane integrity, metabolic activity, and colony formation. Corresponding vital characteristics were evaluated using three independent viability tests: propidium iodide assay (20 min–3 h), MTT assay (48 h), and cell clonogenic assay (6 d). The results indicate instant cell death, as the level of cell viability was determined to be similar within a 20 min–48 h–6 d period. Inertial cavitation activities have been determined to be directly involved in calcium delivery via sonoporation according to high correlation (R2 > 0.85, p < 0.01) of inertial cavitation dose with change in either cell membrane permeabilization, metabolic activity, and colony formation efficiency. In general, calcium delivery via sonoporation induces rapid cell death, occurring within 20 min after treatment, that is the result of ultrasound mediated microbubble cavitation.
Shared Blood Transcriptomic Signatures between Alzheimer’s Disease and Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Lee Taesic , Lee Hyunju
Published: January 2021

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are known to have a shared molecular mechanism. We aimed to identify shared blood transcriptomic signatures between AD and DM. Blood expression datasets for each disease were combined and a co-expression network was used to construct modules consisting of genes with similar expression patterns. For each module, a gene regulatory network based on gene expression and protein-protein interactions was established to identify hub genes. We selected one module, where COPS4, PSMA6, GTF2B, GTF2F2, and SSB were identified as dysregulated transcription factors that were common between AD and DM. These five genes were also differentially co-expressed in disease-related tissues, such as the brain in AD and the pancreas in DM. Our study identified gene modules that were dysregulated in both AD and DM blood samples, which may contribute to reveal common pathophysiology between two diseases.
Adjunctive Approaches to Aphasia Rehabilitation: A Review on Efficacy and Safety
Authors: Picano Chiara , Quadrini Agnese , Pisano Francesca , Marangolo Paola
Published: January 2021

Aphasia is one of the most socially disabling post-stroke deficits. Although traditional therapies have been shown to induce adequate clinical improvement, aphasic symptoms often persist. Therefore, unconventional rehabilitation techniques which act as a substitute or as an adjunct to traditional approaches are urgently needed. The present review provides an overview of the efficacy and safety of the principal approaches which have been proposed over the last twenty years. First, we examined the effectiveness of the pharmacological approach, principally used as an adjunct to language therapy, reporting the mechanism of action of each single drug for the recovery of aphasia. Results are conflicting but promising. Secondly, we discussed the application of Virtual Reality (VR) which has been proven to be useful since it potentiates the ecological validity of the language therapy by using virtual contexts which simulate real-life everyday contexts. Finally, we focused on the use of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), both discussing its applications at the cortical level and highlighting a new perspective, which considers the possibility to extend the use of tDCS over the motor regions. Although the review reveals an extraordinary variability among the different studies, substantial agreement has been reached on some general principles, such as the necessity to consider tDCS only as an adjunct to traditional language therapy.
Get Your Guidance Going: Investigating the Activation of Spatial Priors for Efficient Search in Virtual Reality
Authors: Beitner Julia , Helbing Jason , Draschkow Dejan , Võ Melissa L.-H.
Published: January 2021

Repeated search studies are a hallmark in the investigation of the interplay between memory and attention. Due to a usually employed averaging, a substantial decrease in response times occurring between the first and second search through the same search environment is rarely discussed. This search initiation effect is often the most dramatic decrease in search times in a series of sequential searches. The nature of this initial lack of search efficiency has thus far remained unexplored. We tested the hypothesis that the activation of spatial priors leads to this search efficiency profile. Before searching repeatedly through scenes in VR, participants either (1) previewed the scene, (2) saw an interrupted preview, or (3) started searching immediately. The search initiation effect was present in the latter condition but in neither of the preview conditions. Eye movement metrics revealed that the locus of this effect lies in search guidance instead of search initiation or decision time, and was beyond effects of object learning or incidental memory. Our study suggests that upon visual processing of an environment, a process of activating spatial priors to enable orientation is initiated, which takes a toll on search time at first, but once activated it can be used to guide subsequent searches.
Phenomenology, Epidemiology and Aetiology of Postpartum Psychosis: A Review
Authors: Perry Amy , Gordon-Smith Katherine , Jones Lisa , Jones Ian
Published: January 2021

Postpartum psychoses are a severe form of postnatal mood disorders, affecting 1–2 in every 1000 deliveries. These episodes typically present as acute mania or depression with psychosis within the first few weeks of childbirth, which, as life-threatening psychiatric emergencies, can have a significant adverse impact on the mother, baby and wider family. The nosological status of postpartum psychosis remains contentious; however, evidence indicates most episodes to be manifestations of bipolar disorder and a vulnerability to a puerperal trigger. While childbirth appears to be a potent trigger of severe mood disorders, the precise mechanisms by which postpartum psychosis occurs are poorly understood. This review examines the current evidence with respect to potential aetiology and childbirth-related triggers of postpartum psychosis. Findings to date have implicated neurobiological factors, such as hormones, immunological dysregulation, circadian rhythm disruption and genetics, to be important in the pathogenesis of this disorder. Prediction models, informed by prospective cohort studies of high-risk women, are required to identify those at greatest risk of postpartum psychosis.
Future Housing Identities: Designing in Line with the Contemporary Sustainable Urban Lifestyle
Authors: Nikezić Ana , Ristić Trajković Jelena , Milovanović Aleksandra
Published: January 2021

Over the past decade, urban housing typologies have evolved from being a feature of modern life to an essential postmodern issue, questioning future housing identities. One of the ways in which architecture can become engaged in this ever-changing process of urban regeneration is to challenge the inherited traditional housing typologies with the newly recognized values of contemporary lifestyle. This paper presents research and design aimed at exploring contemporary sustainable urban lifestyles as a resource for positioning housing structures as cultural urban infrastructure. The main focus of this study is design principles and strategies for generating future housing identities in accordance with sustainable urban development and sustainability of life in urban areas. It is about finding housing conceptual models for an interaction between housing and identity as a response to the impact of increased cities, changed lifestyles in contemporary cities and the requirements for the preservation of the city image and the public space within the housing areas in the city center. The main goal of this study is to understand whether and how an architectural design can preserve a sustainability of life within the city center and become a valuable agent of place identity in the process of urban regeneration. The paper indicates that the contemporary development of society requires a new architectural paradigm, in which lifestyle and architecture create a unique elastic open-ended system with the ability to adapt and change over time and throughout the place.
A Randomized Trial of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents with Cancer
Authors: Saultier Paul , Vallet Clothilde , Sotteau Frédéric , Hamidou Zeinab , Gentet Jean-Claude , Barlogis Vincent , Curtillet Catherine , Verschuur Arnauld , Revon-Riviere Gabriel , Galambrun Claire , Chambost Hervé , Auquier Pascal , Michel Gérard , André Nicolas
Published: January 2021

Background: to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a physical activity program (PAP) in children and adolescents with cancer. Methods: children and adolescents with cancer were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the six-month PAP (intervention group) or to the control group. The first evaluation was performed at the end of the PAP (T0 + 6 mo). At T0 + 6 mo, both groups received the six-month PAP with a second evaluation at T0 + 12 mo. The primary outcome was the evolution of exercise capacity measured using the six-minute walk test (6 MWT) at T0 + 6 mo. Secondary outcomes included PAP safety and changes in other physical functions, self-esteem, and quality-of-life parameters. Results: The trial involved 80 children and adolescents (age range 5.0–18.4 years), of whom 41 were assigned to the interventional group and 39 to the control group. Underlying malignancies were leukemia (39%) and a broad range of solid tumors (61%). No adverse events occurred. At T0 + 6 mo, the evolution of the 6 MWT distance (±SEM) was improved in the intervention group vs. the control group (86 ± 12 m vs. 32 ± 6 m, p < 0.001). Several other physical parameters were significantly improved in the intervention group. Global self-esteem and parent-reported quality-of-life were significantly increased in the intervention group. Analysis at T0 + 12 mo showed persistence of the benefits in the intervention group on exercise capacity evolution (115 ± 18 m vs. 49 ± 11 m, p = 0.004) and on most physical and QoL parameters. Conclusion: In children and adolescents with cancer, a physical activity program is safe, improves exercise capacity, and may have physical and psychological benefits.
In Vitro Spectroscopy-Based Profiling of Urothelial Carcinoma: A Fourier Transform Infrared and Raman Imaging Study
Authors: Kujdowicz Monika , Placha Wojciech , Mech Brygida , Chrabaszcz Karolina , Okoń Krzysztof , Malek Kamilla
Published: January 2021

Markers of bladder cancer cells remain elusive, which is a major cause of the low recognition of this malignant neoplasm and its recurrence. This implies an urgent need for additional diagnostic tools which are based on the identification of the chemism of bladder cancer. In this study, we employed label-free techniques of molecular imaging—Fourier Transform Infrared and Raman spectroscopic imaging—to investigate bladder cancer cell lines of various invasiveness (T24a, T24p, HT-1376, and J82). The urothelial HCV-29 cell line was the healthy control. Specific biomolecules discriminated spatial distribution of the nucleus and cytoplasm and indicated the presence of lipid bodies and graininess in some cell lines. The most prominent discriminators are the total content of lipids and sugar moieties as well as the presence of glycogen and other carbohydrates, un/saturated lipids, cytochromes, and a level of S-S bridges in proteins. The combination of the obtained hyperspectral database and chemometric methods showed a clear differentiation of each cell line at the level of the nuclei and cytoplasm and pointed out spectral signals which differentiated bladder cancer cells. Registered spectral markers correlated with biochemical composition changes can be associated with pathogenesis and potentially used for the diagnosis of bladder cancer and response to experimental therapies.
Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy with Carbon Ion Radiotherapy Boost for Acinic Cell Carcinoma of the Salivary Glands
Authors: Schmid Maximilian P. , Held Thomas , Lang Kristin , Herfarth Klaus , Hörner-Rieber Juliane , Harrabi Semi B. , Moratin Julius , Freudlsperger Christian , Zaoui Karim , Debus Jürgen , Adeberg Sebastian
Published: January 2021

Aim: to report clinical outcome in patients with acinic cell carcinoma of the salivary glands treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) boost. Materials and Methods: all patients with acinic cell carcinoma of the salivary glands treated at the Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center were considered for this retrospective analysis. All patients received a CIRT boost with 18–24 Gy radiobiologic effectiveness (RBE)-weighted dose in 3 Gy RBE-weighted dose per fraction followed by IMRT, with 50–54 Gy in 2 Gy per fraction. Disease outcome was evaluated for local (LR), nodal (NR), distant recurrence (DR), and disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Morbidity was scored based on Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5. Descriptive statistics and the Kaplan-Meier method were used for analysis. Results: fifteen patients were available for analysis. Median follow-up after radiotherapy was 43 months. Six patients were treated for primary disease and nine for recurrent disease. Eight patients were treated with radiotherapy for macroscopic disease. Disease recurrence was observed in four patients: 1 LR, 2 NR, and 2 DR; 5-year local control, DFS, and OS were 80%, 52%, and 80%, respectively. No radiotherapy-related G3-5 morbidity was observed. Conclusion: In acinic cell carcinoma, IMRT with carbon ion radiotherapy boost leads to excellent results after R1-resection and is a promising treatment modality for definitive treatment in inoperable patients.
Amino Acid Transporters on the Guard of Cell Genome and Epigenome
Authors: Kahya Uğur , Köseer Ayşe Sedef , Dubrovska Anna
Published: January 2021

Tumorigenesis is driven by metabolic reprogramming. Oncogenic mutations and epigenetic alterations that cause metabolic rewiring may also upregulate the reactive oxygen species (ROS). Precise regulation of the intracellular ROS levels is critical for tumor cell growth and survival. High ROS production leads to the damage of vital macromolecules, such as DNA, proteins, and lipids, causing genomic instability and further tumor evolution. One of the hallmarks of cancer metabolism is deregulated amino acid uptake. In fast-growing tumors, amino acids are not only the source of energy and building intermediates but also critical regulators of redox homeostasis. Amino acid uptake regulates the intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels, endoplasmic reticulum stress, unfolded protein response signaling, mTOR-mediated antioxidant defense, and epigenetic adaptations of tumor cells to oxidative stress. This review summarizes the role of amino acid transporters as the defender of tumor antioxidant system and genome integrity and discusses them as promising therapeutic targets and tumor imaging tools.
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for the Treatment of Bladder Cancer
Authors: Lopez-Beltran Antonio , Cimadamore Alessia , Blanca Ana , Massari Francesco , Vau Nuno , Scarpelli Marina , Cheng Liang , Montironi Rodolfo
Published: January 2021

A number of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been approved as first-line therapy in case of cisplatin-ineligible patients or as second-line therapy for patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) of the bladder. About 30% of patients with mUC will respond to ICIs immunotherapy. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression detected by immunohistochemistry seems to predict response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with mUC as supported by the objective response rate (ORR) and overall survival (OS) associated with the response observed in most clinical trials. Pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, demonstrated better OS respective to chemotherapy in a randomized phase 3 study for second-line treatment of mUC. Nivolumab, a PD-1 antibody, also demonstrated an OS benefit when compared to controls. Atezolizumab, Durvalumab, and Avelumab antibodies targeting PD-L1 have also received approval as second-line treatments for mUC with durable response for more than 1 year in selected patients. Atezolizumab and Pembrolizumab also received approval for first-line treatment of patients that are ineligible for cisplatin. A focus on the utility of ICIs in the adjuvant or neoadjuvant setting, or as combination with chemotherapy, is the basis of some ongoing trials. The identification of a clinically useful biomarker, single or in association, to determine the optimal ICIs treatment for patients with mUC is very much needed as emphasized by the current literature. In this review, we examined relevant clinical trial results with ICIs in patients with mUC alone or as part of drug combinations; emphasis is also placed on the adjuvant and neoadjuvant setting. The current landscape of selected biomarkers of response to ICIs including anti-PD-L1 immunohistochemistry is also briefly reviewed.
Can National Tests from the Last Year of Compulsory School Be Used to Obtain More Detailed Information about Academic Performance in Children Treated for Brain Tumours? A Nationwide, Population-Based Study from Sweden
Authors: Lönnerblad Malin , Berglund Eva , van’t Hooft Ingrid , Blomgren Klas
Published: January 2021

Children treated for brain tumours often have late-appearing complications that may affect their school performance. Uneven skill profiles may help reveal late complications that can be compensated for but otherwise remain undetected. We investigated Swedish national school tests of oral, reading and writing skills in the first foreign language (English), the mother tongue (Swedish) and mathematics. Data were obtained from The Swedish Childhood Cancer Registry and Statistics Sweden. The results from 475 children diagnosed with a brain tumour before their 15th birthday and 2197 matched controls showed that children treated for brain tumours evinced more difficulties with national tests than controls in almost all subtests, especially in the subject English, and that they may perform better on oral than written tasks. There were larger differences between female cases and controls than between male cases and controls; age at diagnosis played a significant role for some subtests, whereas tumour grade did not. Missing information from national tests proved to be a strong predictor of poor academic performance. Our results show that regular educational follow-ups, as a complement to neuropsychological follow-ups, are important for all children treated for brain tumours, regardless of sex, age at diagnosis or tumour grade.
The Evolutionary Landscape of Treatment for BRAFV600E Mutant Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Mauri Gianluca , Bonazzina Erica , Amatu Alessio , Tosi Federica , Bencardino Katia , Gori Viviana , Massihnia Daniela , Cipani Tiziana , Spina Francesco , Ghezzi Silvia , Siena Salvatore , Sartore-Bianchi Andrea
Published: January 2021

The BRAFV600E mutation is found in 8–10% of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients and it is recognized as a poor prognostic factor with a median overall survival inferior to 20 months. At present, besides immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) for those tumors with concomitant MSI-H status, recommended treatment options include cytotoxic chemotherapy + anti-VEGF in the first line setting, and a combination of EGFR and a BRAF inhibitor (cetuximab plus encorafenib) in second line. However, even with the latter targeted approach, acquired resistance limits the possibility of more than an incremental benefit and survival is still dismal. In this review, we discuss current treatment options for this subset of patients and perform a systematic review of ongoing clinical trials. Overall, we identified six emerging strategies: targeting MAPK pathway (monotherapy or combinations), targeting MAPK pathway combined with cytotoxic agents, intensive cytotoxic regimen combinations, targeted agents combined with CPIs, oxidative stress induction, and cytotoxic agents combined with antiangiogenic drugs and CPIs. In the future, the integration of new therapeutic strategies targeting key players in the BRAFV600E oncogenic pathways with current treatment approach based on cytotoxic chemotherapy and surgery is likely to redefine the treatment landscape of these CRC patients.
Loss of Tid1/DNAJA3 Co-Chaperone Promotes Progression and Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Surgical Resection: A Novel Model to Stratify Risk of Recurrence
Authors: Chen Kuan-Yang , Huang Yi-Hsiang , Teo Wan-Huai , Chang Ching-Wen , Chen Yu-Syuan , Yeh Yi-Chen , Lee Chieh-Ju , Lo Jeng-Fan
Published: January 2021

Tid1, a mitochondrial co-chaperone protein, acts as a tumor suppressor in various cancer types. However, the role of Tid1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. First, we found that a low endogenous Tid1 protein level was observed in poorly differentiated HCC cell lines. Further, upregulation/downregulation of Tid1 abrogated/promoted the malignancy of human HCC cell lines, respectively. Interestingly, Tid1 negatively modulated the protein level of Nrf2. Tissue assays from 210 surgically resected HCC patients were examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) analyses. The protein levels of Tid1 in the normal and tumor part of liver tissues were correlated with the clinical outcome of the 210 HCC cases. In multivariate analysis, we discovered that tumor size > 5 cm, multiple tumors, presence of vascular invasion, low Tid1 expression in the non-tumor part, and high Nrf2 expression in the non-tumor part were significant factors associated with worse recurrence-free survival (RFS). A scoring system by integrating the five clinical and pathological factors predicts the RFS among HCC patients after surgical resection. Together, Tid1, serving as a tumor suppressor, has a prognostic role for surgically resected HCC to predict RFS.
Comparing Biochemical and Raman Microscopy Analyses of Starch, Lipids, Polyphosphate, and Guanine Pools during the Cell Cycle of Desmodesmus quadricauda
Authors: Moudříková Šárka , Ivanov Ivan Nedyalkov , Vítová Milada , Nedbal Ladislav , Zachleder Vilém , Mojzeš Peter , Bišová Kateřina
Published: January 2021

Photosynthetic energy conversion and the resulting photoautotrophic growth of green algae can only occur in daylight, but DNA replication, nuclear and cellular divisions occur often during the night. With such a light/dark regime, an algal culture becomes synchronized. In this study, using synchronized cultures of the green alga Desmodesmus quadricauda, the dynamics of starch, lipid, polyphosphate, and guanine pools were investigated during the cell cycle by two independent methodologies; conventional biochemical analyzes of cell suspensions and confocal Raman microscopy of single algal cells. Raman microscopy reports not only on mean concentrations, but also on the distribution of pools within cells. This is more sensitive in detecting lipids than biochemical analysis, but both methods—as well as conventional fluorescence microscopy—were comparable in detecting polyphosphates. Discrepancies in the detection of starch by Raman microscopy are discussed. The power of Raman microscopy was proven to be particularly valuable in the detection of guanine, which was traceable by its unique vibrational signature. Guanine microcrystals occurred specifically at around the time of DNA replication and prior to nuclear division. Interestingly, guanine crystals co-localized with polyphosphates in the vicinity of nuclei around the time of nuclear division.
Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype Suppression Mediated by Small-Sized Mesenchymal Stem Cells Delays Cellular Senescence through TLR2 and TLR5 Signaling
Authors: Kwon Ji Hye , Kim Miyeon , Um Soyoun , Lee Hyang Ju , Bae Yun Kyung , Choi Soo Jin , Hwang Hyun Ho , Oh Wonil , Jin Hye Jin
Published: January 2021

In order to provide a sufficient number of cells for clinical use, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) must be cultured for long-term expansion, which inevitably triggers cellular senescence. Although the small size of MSCs is known as a critical determinant of their fate, the main regulators of stem cell senescence and the underlying signaling have not been addressed. Umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (UCB-MSCs) were obtained using size-isolation methods and then cultured with control or small cells to investigate the major factors that modulate MSC senescence. Cytokine array data suggested that the secretion of interukin-8 (IL-8) or growth-regulated oncogene-alpha (GROa) by senescent cells was markedly inhibited during incubation of small cells along with suppression of cognate receptor (C-X-C motif chemokine receptor2, CXCR2) via blockade of the autocrine/paracrine positive loop. Moreover, signaling via toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR5, both pattern recognition receptors, drove cellular senescence of MSCs, but was inhibited in small cells. The activation of TLRs (2 and 5) through ligand treatment induced a senescent phenotype in small cells. Collectively, our data suggest that small cell from UCB-MSCs exhibit delayed cellular senescence by inhibiting the process of TLR signaling-mediated senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) activation.
Influence of Molybdenum and Tungsten on the Formation of Zirconium Oxide Coatings on a Steel Base
Authors: Bold Amangul , Sassykova Larissa , Fogel Lidiya , Vagramyan Tigran , Abrashov Aleksey
Published: January 2021

In this paper, we have developed conditions for the deposition of zirconium oxide coatings from solutions containing hexafluorozirconic acid as well as tungsten and molybdenum salts on a steel base. Based on electrochemical studies, it was shown that the addition of tungsten and molybdenum salts to the solution to deposit zirconium oxide coatings led to the inhibition of the anodic process of iron ionization. It was shown that the optimal conditions for the deposition of oxide-zirconium coatings on the surface of steel samples from a solution of 0.2 g/L Zr (IV) + 0.15 g/L W (VI) + 0.1 g/L Mo (VI) were a deposition temperature of 30 °C and time of 10 min. The thickness of the oxide-zirconium coatings formed under these conditions was 64.72 nm, the adhesion value was 3.17 MPa/s, and the corrosion resistance was 26 s according to Akimov’s drop method. The depth of corrosive penetration, determined in the salt fog chamber, did not exceed 2 mm after 240 h of testing, meeting the requirements for adhesive layers under the paintwork.
Methodology to Improve Services in Small IT Centers: Application to Educational Centers
Authors: Rubio Sánchez Juan Luis
Published: January 2021

Educational centers (schools, academies, high schools, etc.) are usually small companies, which make them special in terms of management. The management of IT services is far from standard and based in home solutions. The disadvantage of this approach is clear, as it happened during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The solution to properly managing IT services is based on the use of the ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library). The question is how to apply this standard that only defines the processes to implement, but does not describe the way or the order to implement them. In this article it is shown which IT processes are really needed in any educational center and the order in which they should be implemented. The method used consists of fulfilling a knowledge database with extensive information from schools, academies, and other educational centers. After that, an existing optimization model is adopted and a representative learning center is defined, which is used to propose the IT processes sequence; finally, a set of optimal IT processes and the order to implement them is defined. These ordered processes optimize the quality of IT for learning services. The main result is an ordered set of IT processes that best fit the needs of IT departments in small educational centers.