bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms of Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury: Pathological Mechanisms, Pharmacological Interventions, and Genetic Mitigations
Authors: McSweeney Kristen Renee , Gadanec Laura Kate , Qaradakhi Tawar , Ali Benazir Ashiana , Zulli Anthony , Apostolopoulos Vasso
Published: March 2021

Administration of the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin leads to acute kidney injury (AKI). Cisplatin-induced AKI (CIAKI) has a complex pathophysiological map, which has been linked to cellular uptake and efflux, apoptosis, vascular injury, oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress, and inflammation. Despite research efforts, pharmaceutical interventions, and clinical trials spanning over several decades, a consistent and stable pharmacological treatment option to reduce AKI in patients receiving cisplatin remains unavailable. This has been predominately linked to the incomplete understanding of CIAKI pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms involved. Herein, we detail the extensively known pathophysiology of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity that manifests and the variety of pharmacological and genetic alteration studies that target them.
CRISPR/Cas9 Deletion of SOX2 Regulatory Region 2 (SRR2) Decreases SOX2 Malignant Activity in Glioblastoma
Authors: Saenz-Antoñanzas Ander , Moncho-Amor Veronica , Auzmendi-Iriarte Jaione , Elua-Pinin Alejandro , Rizzoti Karine , Lovell-Badge Robin , Matheu Ander
Published: March 2021

SOX2 is a transcription factor associated with stem cell activity in several tissues. In cancer, SOX2 expression is increased in samples from several malignancies, including glioblastoma, and high SOX2 levels are associated with the population of tumor-initiating cells and with poor patient outcome. Therefore, understanding how SOX2 is regulated in cancer cells is relevant to tackle tumorigenesis. The SOX2 regulatory region 2(SRR2) is located downstream of the SOX2 coding region and mediates SOX2 expression in embryonic and adult stem cells. In this study, we deleted SRR2 using CRISPR/Cas9 in glioblastoma cells. Importantly, SRR2-deleted glioblastoma cells presented reduced SOX2 expression and decreased proliferative activity and self-renewal capacity in vitro. In line with these results, SRR2-deleted glioblastoma cells displayed decreased tumor initiation and growth in vivo. These effects correlated with an elevation of p21CIP1 cell cycle and p27KIP1 quiescence regulators. In conclusion, our data reveal that SRR2 deletion halts malignant activity of SOX2 and confirms that the SRR2 enhancer regulates SOX2 expression in cancer.
Crk and CrkL as Therapeutic Targets for Cancer Treatment
Authors: Park Taeju
Published: March 2021

Crk and CrkL are cellular counterparts of the viral oncoprotein v-Crk. Crk and CrkL are overexpressed in many types of human cancer, correlating with poor prognosis. Furthermore, gene knockdown and knockout of Crk and CrkL in tumor cell lines suppress tumor cell functions, including cell proliferation, transformation, migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, resistance to chemotherapy drugs, and in vivo tumor growth and metastasis. Conversely, overexpression of tumor cells with Crk or CrkL enhances tumor cell functions. Therefore, Crk and CrkL have been proposed as therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. However, it is unclear whether Crk and CrkL make distinct or overlapping contributions to tumor cell functions in various cancer types because Crk or CrkL have been examined independently in most studies. Two recent studies using colorectal cancer and glioblastoma cells clearly demonstrated that Crk and CrkL need to be ablated individually and combined to understand distinct and overlapping roles of the two proteins in cancer. A comprehensive understanding of individual and overlapping roles of Crk and CrkL in tumor cell functions is necessary to develop effective therapeutic strategies. This review systematically discusses crucial functions of Crk and CrkL in tumor cell functions and provides new perspectives on targeting Crk and CrkL in cancer therapy.
High Glucose Treatment Limits Drosha Protein Expression and Alters AngiomiR Maturation in Microvascular Primary Endothelial Cells via an Mdm2-dependent Mechanism
Authors: Lam Brian , Nwadozi Emmanuel , Haas Tara L. , Birot Olivier , Roudier Emilie
Published: March 2021

Diabetes promotes an angiostatic phenotype in the microvascular endothelium of skeletal muscle and skin. Angiogenesis-related microRNAs (angiomiRs) regulate angiogenesis through the translational repression of pro- and anti-angiogenic genes. The maturation of micro-RNA (miRs), including angiomiRs, requires the action of DROSHA and DICER proteins. While hyperglycemia modifies the expression of angiomiRs, it is unknown whether high glucose conditions alter the maturation process of angiomiRs in dermal and skeletal muscle microvascular endothelial cells (MECs). Compared to 5 mM of glucose, high glucose condition (30 mM, 6–24 h) decreased DROSHA protein expression, without changing DROSHA mRNA, DICER mRNA, or DICER protein in primary dermal MECs. Despite DROSHA decreasing, high glucose enhanced the maturation and expression of one angiomiR, miR-15a, and downregulated an miR-15a target: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A (VEGF-A). The high glucose condition increased Murine Double Minute-2 (MDM2) expression and MDM2-binding to DROSHA. Inhibition of MDM2 prevented the effects evoked by high glucose on DROSHA protein and miR-15a maturation in dermal MECs. In db/db mice, blood glucose was negatively correlated with the expression of skeletal muscle DROSHA protein, and high glucose decreased DROSHA protein in skeletal muscle MECs. Altogether, our results suggest that high glucose reduces DROSHA protein and enhances the maturation of the angiostatic miR-15a through a mechanism that requires MDM2 activity.
Parkinson’s Disease Causative Mutation in Vps35 Disturbs Tetherin Trafficking to Cell Surfaces and Facilitates Virus Spread
Authors: Ding Yingzhuo , Li Yan , Chhetri Gaurav , Peng Xiaoxin , Wu Jing , Wang Zejian , Zhao Bo , Zhao Wenjuan , Li Xueyi
Published: March 2021

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder, characterized by progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, intraneuronal deposition of misfolded proteins known as Lewy bodies, and chronic neuroinflammation. PD can arise from monogenic mutations, but in most cases, the etiology is unclear. Viral infection is gaining increasing attentions as a trigger of PD. In this study, we investigated whether the PD-causative 620 aspartate (D) to asparagine (N) mutation in the vacuolar protein sorting 35 ortholog (Vps35) precipitated herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection. We observed that ectopic expression of Vps35 significantly reduced the proliferation and release of HSV-1 virions; the D620N mutation rendered Vps35 a partial loss of such inhibitory effects. Tetherin is a host cell protein capable of restricting the spread of encapsulated viruses including HSV-1 and SARS-Cov-2, both of which are implicated in the development of parkinsonism. Compared with cells overexpressing wildtype Vps35, cells expressing mutant Vps35 with D620N had less Tetherin on cell surfaces. Real-time and static cell imaging revealed that Tetherin recycled through Vps35-positive endosomes. Expression of Vps35 with D620N reduced endosomal dynamics and frequency of motile Tetherin-containing vesicles, a sign of defective production of recycling carriers. Our study suggests that the D620N mutation in Vps35 hinders Tetherin trafficking to cell surfaces and facilitates virus spread.
Epithelial Cells of Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis Harbor Mutations in Cancer Driver Genes
Authors: Koppolu Agnieszka , Maksym Radosław B. , Paskal Wiktor , Machnicki Marcin , Rak Beata , Pępek Monika , Garbicz Filip , Pełka Kacper , Kuśmierczyk Zofia , Jacko Joanna , Rydzanicz Małgorzata , Banach-Orłowska Magdalena , Stokłosa Tomasz , Płoski Rafał , Malejczyk Jacek , Włodarski Paweł K.
Published: March 2021

Endometriosis is an inflammatory condition manifested by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside of the uterine cavity. The most common clinical presentations of endometriosis are dysmenorrhea, infertility, and severe pelvic pain. Few hypotheses attempt to explain the pathogenesis of endometriosis; however, none of the theories have been fully confirmed or considered universal. We examined somatic mutations in eutopic endometrium samples, deep endometriotic nodules and peripheral blood from 13 women with deep endometriosis of the rectovaginal space. Somatic variants were identified in laser microdissected samples using next-generation sequencing. A custom panel of 1296 cancer-related genes was employed, and selected genes representing cancer drivers and non-drivers for endometrial and ovarian cancer were thoroughly investigated. All 59 detected somatic variants were of low mutated allele frequency (<10%). In deep ectopic lesions, detected variants were significantly more often located in cancer driver genes, whereas in eutopic endometrium, there was no such distribution. Our results converge with other reports, where cancer-related mutations were found in endometriosis without cancer, particularly recurrent KRAS mutations. Genetic alterations located in ectopic endometriotic nodules could contribute to their formation; nevertheless, to better understand the pathogenesis of this disease, more research in this area must be performed.
Mechanism of Na-K-ATPase Inhibition by PGE2 in Intestinal Epithelial Cells
Authors: Nepal Niraj , Arthur Subha , Haynes Jennifer , Palaniappan Balasubramanian , Sundaram Uma
Published: March 2021

The primary means of intestinal absorption of nutrients by villus cells is via Na-dependent nutrient co-transporters located in the brush border membrane (BBM). These secondary active co-transport processes require a favorable transcellular Na gradient that is provided by Na-K-ATPase. In chronic enteritis, malabsorption of essential nutrients is partially due to inhibition of villus Na-K-ATPase activity mediated by specific immune inflammatory mediators that are known to be elevated in the inflamed mucosa. However, how Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a specific mediator of nutrient malabsorption in the villus BBM, may mediate the inhibition of Na-K-ATPase is not known. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of PGE2 on Na-K-ATPase in villus cells and define its mechanism of action. In vitro, in IEC-18 cells, PGE2 treatment significantly reduced Na-K-ATPase activity, accompanied by a significant increase in the intracellular levels of cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP). The treatment with cAMP analog 8-Bromo-cAMP mimicked the PGE2-mediated effect on Na-K-ATPase activity, while Rp-cAMP (PKA inhibitor) pretreatment reversed the same. The mechanism of inhibition of PGE2 was secondary to a transcriptional reduction in the Na-K-ATPase α1 and β1 subunit genes, which was reversed by the Rp-cAMP pretreatment. Thus, the PGE2-mediated activation of the PKA pathway mediates the transcriptional inhibition of Na-K-ATPase activity in vitro.
A Novel Thiosemicarbazide-Based Fluorescent Chemosensor for Hypochlorite in Near-Perfect Aqueous Solution and Zebrafish
Authors: Lee Minji , Choe Donghwan , Park Soyoung , Kim Hyeongjin , Jeong Soomin , Kim Ki-Tae , Kim Cheal
Published: March 2021

A novel thiosemicarbazide-based fluorescent sensor (AFC) was developed. It was successfully applied to detect hypochlorite (ClO−) with fluorescence quenching in bis-tris buffer. The limit of detection of AFC for ClO− was analyzed to be 58.7 μM. Importantly, AFC could be employed as an efficient and practical fluorescent sensor for ClO− in water sample and zebrafish. Moreover, AFC showed a marked selectivity to ClO− over varied competitive analytes with reactive oxygen species. The detection process of AFC to ClO− was illustrated by UV–visible and fluorescent spectroscopy and electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry (ESI–MS).
Boosting Selectivity and Sensitivity to Biomarkers of Quantum Resistive Vapour Sensors Used for Volatolomics with Nanoarchitectured Carbon Nanotubes or Graphene Platelets Connected by Fullerene Junctions
Authors: Nag Sananda , Castro Mickaël , Choudhary Veena , Feller Jean-Francois
Published: March 2021

Nanocarbon-based vapour sensors are increasingly used to make anticipated diagnosis of diseases by the analysis of volatile organic compound (VOC) biomarkers from the breath, i.e., volatolomics. However, given the tiny number of molecules to detect, usually only tens of parts per billion (ppb), increasing the sensitivity of polymer nanocomposite chemoresistive transducers is still a challenge. As the ability of these nanosensors to convert the interactions with chemical compounds into changes of resistance, depends on the variations of electronic transport through the percolated network of the conducting nanofillers, it is a key parameter to control. Actually, in this conducting architecture, the bottlenecks for electrons’ circulation are the interparticular junctions giving either ohmic conduction in the case of close contacts or quantum tunnelling when jumps though gaps are necessary. This in turn depends on a number of nanometric parameters such as the size and geometry of the nanofillers (spherical, cylindrical, lamellar), the method of structuring of the conductive architecture in the sensory system, etc. The present study focuses on the control of the interparticular junctions in quantum-resistive vapour sensors (vQRS) by nanoassembling pristine CNT or graphene covalently or noncovalently functionalized with spherical Buckminster fullerene (C60) into a percolated network with a hybrid structure. It is found that this strategy allows us to significantly boost, both selectivity and sensitivity of pristine CNT or graphene-based transducers exposed to a set of seven biomarkers, ethanol, methanol, acetone, chloroform, benzene, toluene, cyclohexane and water. This is assumed to result from the spherical fullerene acting on the electronic transport properties at the nanojunctions between the CNT or graphene nanofillers.
Telemedicine in Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Authors: Pappalardo Marco , Fanelli Umberto , Chiné Vincenzo , Neglia Cosimo , Gramegna Andrea , Argentiero Alberto , Esposito Susanna
Published: March 2021

Telemedicine is the remote practice of medicine through the use of information and communication technologies for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of diseases. In this narrative review, we illustrate how telemedicine technologies are increasingly integrated into pediatric infectious disease programs with the aim of facilitating access to specialist care and reducing costs. There is widespread use of telemedicine for the management of acute and chronic infectious diseases, particularly in countries in which the majority of the population lives in rural areas, far from third-level hospital centers located in large urban centers. Obviously, telemedicine is also used in developed countries, and its importance has been further increased recently given the COVID-19 pandemic. It has many advantages for patients, such as saving time, money and working hours, and reducing cancelled appointments and delays, while there are also many advantages for doctors, allowing collaborations with specialists and continuous updating. Among the disadvantages are the limitation in carrying out an objective examination, which is particularly important for children under 2 years of age, and the need for cutting-edge technology and reliable connectivity. Telemedicine increasingly represents the future and the beginning of a new healthcare system that also will redefine medical care for the treatment of infectious diseases, both acute and chronic. However, the majority of the experience has involved adults, and its validation in pediatric care, as well as its application in real-life practices, are urgently needed.
Optical Temperature Sensing of YbNbO4:Er3+ Phosphors Synthesized by Hydrothermal Method
Authors: Ji Heming , Tang Xunze , Zhang Haiyan , Li Xiaolong , Qian Yannan
Published: March 2021

The novel YbNbO4:Er3+ phosphors were firstly synthesized through the hydrothermal method by adding LiOH·H2O as flux in the H2O/EG system. YbNbO4:Er3+ phosphors showed the agglomerated irregular polygons coexisting with some tiny grains. XRD and Raman spectra were measured to understand the phase structure and the crystal growth mechanism of YbNbO4:Er3+ phosphors. The upconversion (UC) emission spectra, the pump power dependency and UC mechanism were studied under 980 nm excitation. Based on the fluorescence intensity ratio technique, YbNbO4:Er3+ exhibited the maximum sensor sensitivity of 0.00712 K−1 at 220 K, providing a promising application in optical low-temperature sensors.
Modification of the Properties of Al2O3/TZ-3YS Thermal Barrier Coating by the Addition of Silicon Carbide Particles and Fructose
Authors: Borrell Amparo , Carpio Pablo , Salvador Maria , Mataix David , Carnicer Víctor , Orts Tarí María
Published: March 2021

Al2O3/TZ-3YS coatings developed by suspension plasma spraying were studied in the present work. Mechanical and thermal characterization was realized to evaluate the suitability of thermal barrier coatings. In addition, SiC particle reinforcement was evaluated for its effect on the mechanical properties of the coating. The problem with SiC reinforcement is its high melting point that causes a large amount of unmolten material to be deposited on the coating. One possible solution followed in the present study consists of including fructose as an additive in order to modify the suspension characteristics. The results conclude that the use of fructose as an additive increases the mechanical and thermal properties (from 1.0 to 1.6 W/m·K), since the microstructure is modified, and results in a lower porosity (17%) compared to the SiC coating (25%).
RETRACTED: Utilizing of (Zinc Oxide Nano-Spray) for Disinfection against “SARS-CoV-2” and Testing Its Biological Effectiveness on Some Biochemical Parameters during (COVID-19 Pandemic)—“ZnO Nanoparticles Have Antiviral Activity against (SARS-CoV-2)”
Authors: El-Megharbel Samy , Alsawat Mohammed , Al-Salmi Fawziah , Hamza Reham
Published: March 2021

A newly synthesized zinc (II) oxide nanoparticle (ZnO-NPs) has been used as a disinfectant Nano-spray for the emerging corona virus (SARS-CoV-2). The synthesized obtained nanomaterial of (ZnO) was fully chemically characterized by using different spectroscopic analysis (FT-IR, UV and XRD) and surface analysis techniques. ZnO-Nps surface morphology and chemical purity has been investigated by transmission electron microscope (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), Additionally Zeta potential and Zeta size distribution were measured and evaluated to confirm its nano-range scale. The synthesized Zno-NPs have been tested using 10% DMSO and ddH2O for estimation of antiviral activity against (SARS-CoV-2) by using cytotoxicity assay (CC50) and inhibitory concentration (IC50). The results revealed that (Zno-NPs) has high anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity at cytotoxic concentrations in vitro with non-significant selectivity index (CC50/IC50 ≤ 1). The current study results demonstrated the (ZnO-NPs) has potent antiviral activity at low concentration (IC50 = 526 ng/mL) but with some cytotoxic effect to the cell host by (CC50 = 292.2 ng/mL). We recommend using of (ZnO-NPs) as potent disinfectant against (SARS-Cov-2), but there are slight side effects on the cellular host, so we recommend more prospective studies on complexation of other compounds with (ZnO-NPs) in different concentrations to reduce its cellular toxicity and elevate its antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 activities.
Structures of Impurity Defects in Lithium Niobate and Tantalate Derived from Electron Paramagnetic and Electron Nuclear Double Resonance Data
Authors: Grachev Valentin G. , Malovichko Galina I.
Published: March 2021

Point intrinsic and extrinsic defects, especially paramagnetic ions of transition metals and rare-earth elements, have essential influence on properties of lithium niobate, LN and tantalate, LT, and often determine their suitability for numerous applications. Discussions about structures of the defects in LN/LT have lasted for decades. Many experimental methods facilitate progress in determining the structures of impurity centers. This paper gives current bird’s eye view on contributions of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), and Electron Nuclear Double Resonance (ENDOR) studies to the determination of impurity defect structures in LN and LT crystals for a broad audience of researchers and students. Symmetry and charge compensation considerations restrict a number of possible structures. Comparison of measured angular dependences of ENDOR frequencies with calculated ones for Li and Nb substitution using dipole–dipole approximation allows unambiguously to determine the exact location of paramagnetic impurities. Models with two lithium vacancies explain angular dependencies of EPR spectra for Me3+ ions substituting for Li+ like Cr, Er, Fe, Gd, Nd, and Yb. Self-compensation of excessive charges through equalization of concentrations of Me3+(Li+) and Me3+(Nb5+) and appearance of interstitial Li+ in the structural vacancy near Me3+(Nb5+) take place in stoichiometric LN/LT due to lack of intrinsic defects.
Synthesis, Structure and Evaluation of the N-(2-Acetyl-4-(styryl)phenyl)-4-benzenesulfonamide Derivatives for Anticholinesterase and Antioxidant Activities
Authors: Mphahlele Malose , Gildenhuys Samantha , Zamisa Sizwe
Published: March 2021

N-(2-Acetyl-4-bromophenyl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide (2) was transformed into 5-(4-methoxymethylstyryl)-2-(p-tolylsulfonamido)acetophenone (3a) and 5-(4- trifluoromethylstyryl)-2-(p-tolylsulfonamido)acetophenone (3b). Their structures were determined using a combination of NMR (1H & 13C) and mass spectroscopic as well as single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. These compounds and the corresponding precursor, 2-amino-5-bromoacetophenone (1), were evaluated through enzymatic assays in vitro for inhibitory effect against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activities as well as antioxidant effect through the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) free radical scavenging assays. Molecular docking was performed on 3a to determine plausible protein–ligand interactions on a molecular level. Their drug likeness properties (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) and ability to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) have also been predicted at theoretical level.
Prediction of Compressive Strength of Rice Husk Ash Concrete through Different Machine Learning Processes
Authors: Iqtidar Ammar , Bahadur Khan Niaz , Kashif-ur-Rehman Sardar , Faisal Javed Muhmmad , Aslam Fahid , Alyousef Rayed , Alabduljabbar Hisham , Mosavi Amir
Published: March 2021

Cement is among the major contributors to the global carbon dioxide emissions. Thus, sustainable alternatives to the conventional cement are essential for producing greener concrete structures. Rice husk ash has shown promising characteristics to be a sustainable option for further research and investigation. Since the experimental work required for assessing its properties is both time consuming and complex, machine learning can be used to successfully predict the properties of concrete containing rice husk ash. A total of 192 data points are used in this study to assess the compressive strength of rice husk ash blended concrete. Input parameters include age, amount of cement, rice husk ash, super plasticizer, water, and aggregates. Four soft computing and machine learning methods, i.e., artificial neural networks (ANN), adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), multiple nonlinear regression (NLR), and linear regression are employed in this research. Sensitivity analysis, parametric analysis, and correlation factor (R2) are used to evaluate the obtained results. The ANN and ANFIS outperformed other methods.
Physiological Metals Can Induce Conformational Changes in Transthyretin Structure: Neuroprotection or Misfolding Induction?
Authors: Ciccone Lidia , Tonali Nicolò , Shepard William , Nencetti Susanna , Orlandini Elisabetta
Published: March 2021

Transthyretin (TTR) is a plasma homotetrameric protein that transports thyroxine and retinol. TTR itself, under pathological conditions, dissociates into partially unfolded monomers that aggregate and form fibrils. Metal ions such as Zn2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Mn2+ and Ca2+ play a controversial role in the TTR amyloidogenic pathway. TTR is also present in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), where it behaves as one of the major Aβ-binding-proteins. The interaction between TTR and Aβ is stronger in the presence of high concentrations of Cu2+. Crystals of TTR, soaked in solutions of physiological metals such as Cu2+ and Fe2+, but not Mn2+, Zn2+, Fe3+, Al3+, Ni2+, revealed an unusual conformational change. Here, we investigate the effects that physiological metals have on TTR, in order to understand if metals can induce a specific and active conformation of TTR that guides its Aβ-scavenging role. The capability of certain metals to induce and accelerate its amyloidogenic process is also discussed.
Point Mutation Specific Antibodies in B-Cell and T-Cell Lymphomas and Leukemias: Targeting IDH2, KRAS, BRAF and Other Biomarkers RHOA, IRF8, MYD88, ID3, NRAS, SF3B1 and EZH2
Authors: Singh Kunwar , Gollapudi Sumanth , Mittal Sasha , Small Corinn , Kumar Jyoti , Ohgami Robert
Published: March 2021

B-cell and T-cell lymphomas and leukemias often have distinct genetic mutations that are diagnostically defining or prognostically significant. A subset of these mutations consists of specific point mutations, which can be evaluated using genetic sequencing approaches or point mutation specific antibodies. Here, we describe genes harboring point mutations relevant to B-cell and T-cell malignancies and discuss the current availability of these targeted point mutation specific antibodies. We also evaluate the possibility of generating novel antibodies against known point mutations by computationally assessing for chemical and structural features as well as epitope antigenicity of these targets. Our results not only summarize several genetic mutations and identify existing point mutation specific antibodies relevant to hematologic malignancies, but also reveal potential underdeveloped targets which merit further study.
Acute Kidney Injury in the Patient with Cancer
Authors: Meraz-Munoz Alejandro , Langote Amit , Jhaveri Kenar , Izzedine Hassane , Gudsoorkar Prakash
Published: March 2021

Over the last three decades, advancements in the diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care of patients with cancer have significantly improved their overall survival. However, these advancements have also led to a higher rate of cancer-related complications. Acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are highly prevalent in patients with cancer, and they are associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality. This bidirectional interplay between cancer and kidney, termed “the kidney–cancer connection” has become a very active area of research. This review aims to provide an overview of some of the most common causes of AKI in patients with cancer. Cancer therapy-associated AKI is beyond the scope of this review and will be discussed separately.
Quenching Experiments with CrAl-coated Zircaloy Cladding in Reflooding Water Flows
Authors: In Wang Kee , Lee Kwan Geun
Published: March 2021

A quenching experiment is performed to investigate the heat transfer characteristics and cooling performance of CrAl-coated Zircaloy (Zr) cladding in a water flow. The CrAl-coated Zr cladding is one of the accident tolerant fuels for light water reactors. The uncoated Zr cladding is also used in this quenching experiment for comparison. This experiment simulates reflood quenching of fuel rod during loss of coolant accident (LOCA) in nuclear power plant. The test conditions were determined to represent the peak cladding temperature, the coolant subcooling and the reflood velocity in the event of LOCA. The flow visualization showed the film boiling during early stage of reflood quenching and the transition to nucleate boiling. The film layer decreases as the coolant subcooling increases and becomes wavy as the reflood velocity increases. The CrAl-coated Zr cladding showed more wavy and thinner film than the uncoated Zr cladding. The rewetting temperature increases as the initial wall temperature and/or the coolant subcooling increases. The quench front velocity increases significantly as the coolant subcooling increases. The reflood velocity has a negligible effect on rewetting temperature and quench front velocity.
Effect of LCA Data Sources on GBRS Reference Values: The Envelope of an Italian Passive House
Authors: Palumbo Elisabetta
Published: March 2021

Scientific literature provides evidence that mitigating the effects of a building’s operation does not in itself ensure an overall improvement in its environmental performance. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) plays a key role in gauging the overall environmental performance of a building although several authors argue that the lack of LCA threshold values makes it difficult to compare design options or measure whether reduced impact targets are achieved. This has led the Green Building Rating Systems (GBRS) to include the LCA within their evaluation criteria and, in like Active House (AH), establish threshold values of the main impact categories to quantify the level of performance achieved. Since the reliability of the data sources is a crucial issue for applying the LCA method, the effectiveness of their implementation within the GBRS also strictly depends on the origin of the impact values. To quantify the extent to which the source affects the impacts calculated by the LCA threshold value in AH, the present study compared the outcomes of two assessments carried out in parallel using two different data sources: AH–LCA evaluation tool v.1.6 and the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). A Passive House (PH)-compliant, small residential building was selected as a case study, as this is a standard that excels in ultra-low-energy performance. Moreover, given the crucial role that the envelope plays in the PH standard, the analysis was undertaken on the envelope of a PH-compliant building located in Northern Italy. To stress the influence of embedded effects in a Passive House, the assessment focused on the production and end-of-life stages of building materials. The comparison showed a relevant difference between the two scenarios for all the environmental indicators: e.g., deviations of 10% for Global Warming Potential, 20% for Acidification Potential and Eutrophication Potential, and 40–50% for Renewable Primary Energy.
Assessment of Machine Learning Algorithms for Modeling the Spatial Distribution of Bark Beetle Infestation
Authors: Koreň Milan , Jakuš Rastislav , Zápotocký Martin , Barka Ivan , Holuša Jaroslav , Ďuračiová Renata , Blaženec Miroslav
Published: March 2021

Machine learning algorithms (MLAs) are used to solve complex non-linear and high-dimensional problems. The objective of this study was to identify the MLA that generates an accurate spatial distribution model of bark beetle (Ips typographus L.) infestation spots. We first evaluated the performance of 2 linear (logistic regression, linear discriminant analysis), 4 non-linear (quadratic discriminant analysis, k-nearest neighbors classifier, Gaussian naive Bayes, support vector classification), and 4 decision trees-based MLAs (decision tree classifier, random forest classifier, extra trees classifier, gradient boosting classifier) for the study area (the Horní Planá region, Czech Republic) for the period 2003–2012. Each MLA was trained and tested on all subsets of the 8 explanatory variables (distance to forest damage spots from previous year, distance to spruce forest edge, potential global solar radiation, normalized difference vegetation index, spruce forest age, percentage of spruce, volume of spruce wood per hectare, stocking). The mean phi coefficient of the model generated by extra trees classifier (ETC) MLA with five explanatory variables for the period was significantly greater than that of most forest damage models generated by the other MLAs. The mean true positive rate of the best ETC-based model was 80.4%, and the mean true negative rate was 80.0%. The spatio-temporal simulations of bark beetle-infested forests based on MLAs and GIS tools will facilitate the development and testing of novel forest management strategies for preventing forest damage in general and bark beetle outbreaks in particular.
The Effect of Crown Dimensions on Stem Profile for Dahurian Larch, Korean Spruce, and Manchurian Fir in Northeast China
Authors: Hussain Amna , Shahzad Muhammad Khurram , Jiang Lichun
Published: March 2021

Crown architecture has long been evaluated for its impact on taper modeling. However, most of the research has focused on a limited number of crown dimensions. This study examined the effect of adding several crown dimensions in improving the diameter and volume estimates of Dahurian larch, Korean spruce, and Manchurian fir in northeast China. The crown dimensions included crown length, crown ratio, crown width, height to live crown base, diameter at the crown base, and crown shape. A well-known taper model of Clark et al. (1991) was fitted to the data of 276 trees from natural stands. To adjust the inherent autocorrelation in the data, we added a third-order continuous-time error structure in the model fit. Model fitting was carried out with the NLMIXED procedure (Non-linear Mixed Procedure), followed by the MODEL procedure of SAS using the generalized nonlinear least-squares method. Fit statistics and graphical assessments were used to evaluate the original and modified models. Above 98% of the total variance of d was explained by the models for all species. The addition of crown variables showed slight improvements for root mean square error (RMSE) values in the analyzed species. The RMSE plots indicated that the models with crown variables slightly improved the diameter and volume predictions for the species but only for the upper stem (>50%–90%). The study demonstrated that crown dimensions influence the stem taper, but the original model of Clark et al. (1991) reasonably realized that effect.
A Choice-Modeling Approach to Inform Policies Aimed at Reducing Wildfire Hazard through the Promotion of Fuel Management by Forest Owners
Authors: Santos José L. , Martins Ana , Novais Ana , Canadas Maria João
Published: March 2021

The public-good nature of benefits of fuel management explains its current undersupply and the consequent wildfire blow. Policies to promote fuel management are thus required. To be cost-effective, they need to be informed by context-specific estimates of forest owners’ willingness-to-accept (WTA) for managing fuel. This study develops a choice-modeling approach to this problem. A survey of forest owners was undertaken in a wildfire-prone parish in Portugal. Respondents were asked about their willingness to subscribe different management contracts. A choice model was estimated and used to predict owners’ WTA for different fuel management commitments, and the marginal cost of reducing burned area in the parish. Estimated WTA amounts depend on owner type and commitment. Active owners demanded lower amounts for adopting silvicultural intervention commitments, and higher for those implying income foregone. The marginal cost of reducing burned area through fuel management increases with area, but it currently is yet smaller than the corresponding marginal benefit. Our results suggest that zero burned area is not an option and optimum fuel management lies beyond the current level. It will be shifted even beyond by targeted (key-spot) fuel management approaches; WTA differences across owners can be used to design context-specific policies that are more cost-effective.
Development of a Modality-Invariant Multi-Layer Perceptron to Predict Operational Events in Motor-Manual Willow Felling Operations
Authors: Borz Stelian Alexandru
Published: March 2021

Motor-manual operations are commonly implemented in the traditional and short rotation forestry. Deep knowledge of their performance is needed for various strategic, tactical and operational decisions that rely on large amounts of data. To overcome the limitations of traditional analytical methods, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been lately used to deal with various types of signals and problems to be solved. However, the reliability of AI models depends largely on the quality of the signals and on the sensing modalities used. Multimodal sensing was found to be suitable in developing AI models able to learn time and location-related data dependencies. For many reasons, such as the uncertainty of preserving the sensing location and the inter- and intra-variability of operational conditions and work behavior, the approach is particularly useful for monitoring motor-manual operations. The main aim of this study was to check if the use of acceleration data sensed at two locations on a brush cutter could provide a robust AI model characterized by invariance to data sensing location. As such, a Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) with backpropagation was developed and used to learn and classify operational events from bimodally-collected acceleration data. The data needed for training and testing was collected in the central part of Romania. Data collection modalities were treated by fusion in the training dataset, then four single-modality testing datasets were used to check the performance of the model on a binary classification problem. Fine tuning of the regularization parameters (α term) has led to acceptable testing and generalization errors of the model measured as the binary cross-entropy (log loss). Irrespective of the hyperparameters’ tunning strategy, the classification accuracy (CA) was found to be very high, in many cases approaching 100%. However, the best models were those characterized by α set at 0.0001 and 0.1, for which the CA in the test datasets ranged from 99.1% to 99.9% and from 99.5% to 99.9%, respectively. Hence, data fusion in the training set was found to be a good strategy to build a robust model, able to deal with data collected by single modalities. As such, the developed MLP model not only removes the problem of sensor placement in such applications, but also automatically classifies the events in the time domain, enabling the integration of data collection, handling and analysis in a simple less resource-demanding workflow, and making it a feasible alternative to the traditional approach to the problem.
Effects of Soil Moisture and Temperature on Microbial Regulation of Methane Fluxes in a Poplar Plantation
Authors: Feng Huili , Guo Jiahuan , Malghani Saadatullah , Han Menghua , Cao Penghe , Sun Jiejie , Xu Xuan , Xu Xia , Wang Weifeng
Published: March 2021

Improved mechanistic understanding of soil methane (CH4) exchange responses to shifts in soil moisture and temperature in forest ecosystems is pivotal to reducing uncertainty in estimates of the soil-atmospheric CH4 budget under climate change. We investigated the mechanism behind the effects of soil moisture and temperature shifts on soil CH4 fluxes under laboratory conditions. Soils from the Huai River Basin in China, an area that experiences frequent hydrological shifts, were sampled from two consecutive depths (0–20 and 20–50 cm) and incubated for 2 weeks under different combinations of soil moisture and temperature. Soils from both depths showed an increase in soil moisture and temperature-dependent cumulative CH4 fluxes. CH4 production rates incubated in different moisture and temperature in surface soil ranged from 1.27 to 2.18 ng g−1 d−1, and that of subsurface soil ranged from 1.18 to 2.34 ng g−1 d−1. The Q10 range for soil CH4 efflux rates was 1.04–1.37. For surface soils, the relative abundance and diversity of methanotrophs decreased with moisture increase when incubated at 5 °C, while it increased with moisture increase when incubated at 15 and 30 °C. For subsurface soils, the relative abundance and diversity of methanotrophs in all samples decreased with moisture increase. However, there was no significant difference in the diversity of methanogens between the two soil depths, while the relative abundance of methanogens in both depths soils increased with temperature increase when incubated at 150% water-filled pore space (WFPS). Microbial community composition exhibited large variations in post incubation samples except for one treatment based on the surface soils incubated at 15 °C, which showed a decrease in the total and unique species number of methanotrophs with moisture increase. In contrast, the unique species number of methanogens in surface soils increased with moisture increase. The analysis of distance-based redundancy analysis (db-RDA) showed that soil pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), NO3−-N, and NH4+-N mainly performed a significant effect on methanotrophs community composition when incubated at 60% WFPS, while they performed a significant effect on methanogens community composition when incubated at 150% WFPS. Overall, our findings emphasized the vital function of soil hydrology in triggering CH4 efflux from subtropical plantation forest soils under future climate change.
Toward Blockchain-Enabled Supply Chain Anti-Counterfeiting and Traceability
Authors: Yiu Neo C. K.
Published: March 2021

Existing product anti-counterfeiting and traceability solutions across today’s internationally spanning supply chain networks are indeed developed and implemented with centralized system architecture relying on centralized authorities or intermediaries. Vulnerabilities of centralized product anti-counterfeiting solutions could possibly lead to system failure or susceptibility of malicious modifications performed on product records or various potential attacks to the system components by dishonest participant nodes traversing along the supply chain. Blockchain technology has progressed from simply being a use case of immutable ledger for cryptocurrency transactions, to a programmable interactive environment of developing decentralized and reliable applications addressing different use cases globally. Key areas of decentralization, fundamental system requirements, and feasible mechanisms of developing decentralized product anti-counterfeiting and traceability ecosystems utilizing blockchain technology are identified in this research, via a series of security analyses performed against solutions currently implemented in supply chain industry with centralized architecture. The decentralized solution will be a secure and immutable scientific data provenance tracking and management platform where provenance records, providing compelling properties on data integrity of luxurious goods, are recorded and verified automatically across the supply chain.
Performance Analysis of Internet of Things Interactions via Simulation-Based Queueing Models
Authors: Bouloukakis Georgios , Moscholios Ioannis , Georgantas Nikolaos , Issarny Valérie
Published: March 2021

Numerous middleware application programming interfaces (APIs) and protocols were introduced in the literature in order to facilitate the application development of the Internet of Things (IoT). Such applications are built on reliable or even unreliable protocols that may implement different quality-of-service (QoS) delivery modes. The exploitation of these protocols, APIs and QoS modes, can satisfy QoS requirements in critical IoT applications (e.g., emergency response operations). To study QoS in IoT applications, it is essential to leverage a performance analysis methodology. Queueing-network models offer a modeling and analysis framework that can be adopted for the IoT interactions of QoS representation through either analytical or simulation models. In this paper, various types of queueing models are presented that can be used for the representation of various QoS settings of IoT interactions. In particular, we propose queueing models to represent message-drop probabilities, intermittent mobile connectivity, message availability or validity, the prioritization of important information, and the processing or transmission of messages. Our simulation models demonstrate the significant effect on delivery success rates and response times when QoS settings are varied.
Effects of Dissolved Potassium on Growth Performance, Body Composition, and Welfare of Juvenile African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)
Authors: Wenzel Lisa Carolina , Strauch Sebastian Marcus , Eding Ep , Presas-Basalo Francisco Xose , Wasenitz Berit , Palm Harry Wilhelm
Published: March 2021

Optimal crop production in aquaponics is influenced by water pH and potassium concentrations. The addition of potassium hydroxide (KOH) into the recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) may benefit aquaponics by increasing the water pH for better biofilter activity and supplementing K for better plant growth and quality. We investigated the growth, feed conversion, body composition and welfare indicators of juvenile African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) treated with four concentrations of K (K0 = 2, K200 = 218, K400 = 418, and K600 = 671 mg L−1). While growth, feed conversion and final body composition were unaffected, the feeding time and individual resting significantly increased with increasing K+. The swimming activity and agonistic behavior were reduced significantly under increased concentrations of K+. Leftover feed and the highest number of skin lesions were observed under K600. We suggest that K+ concentrations between 200 and 400 mg L−1 can improve the welfare status of juvenile African catfish. This enables the application of KOH in RAS to supply alkalinity to achieve optimum nitrification at minimum water exchange and improve the nutritional profile of the process water with benefits for the welfare status of African catfish and aquaponics plant production and quality.
Nutritional and Rheological Characteristics of Composite Flour Substituted with Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) Pulp Flour for Cake Manufacturing and Organoleptic Properties of Their Prepared Cakes
Authors: Barakat Hassan
Published: March 2021

Revalorization of Adansonia digitata L. “Baobab” pulp flour (BPF) to produce a notorious and functional cake in the current study was assessed. Wheat flour (WF 72%) was partially substituted by BPF at 5, 10, and 15% to prepare composite flour (WF + BPF) for potential cake manufacturing. Approximate chemical composition, macro- and microelements content, amino acids (AAs), total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant activity (AOA) of partially substituted composite flour (WF + BPF) were determined. The rheological properties of the composite flours were assessed using MIXOLAB. Moreover, an organoleptic evaluation of the baked cakes was performed with 20 trained panelists. The substitution with BPF significantly increased the total ash and crude fiber content in composite flour in a level-dependent manner, while moisture, crude fat, crude protein, available carbohydrates contents, and energy values were not significantly changed. Interestingly, macroelements such as Ca, K, and P were significantly increased, while Na was significantly decreased, whereas Mg content was not significantly changed. Similarly, microelements such as Zn, Fe, and Cu increased with the increase of BPF substitution. Significant increases in TPC and AOA were found by increasing the substitution with BPF. The biological value (BV), essential amino acid index (EAAI), protein efficiency ratio (PER), as well as essential amino acids (EAAs) requirement index (RI) were positively improved in WF + BPF. Adding BPF up to 10% not only improved the water absorption, α-amylase activity, and viscosity, but also caused a slight weakness in the gluten network, to produce a composite flour suitable for cake making. Conclusively, this study revealed that fortification with BPF up to 5–10% improved the nutritional quality without adverse effects on technological, and organoleptic characteristics and providing economic, commercial, and health benefits.