bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Studies on the Anticancer and Antioxidant Activities of Resveratrol and Long-Chain Fatty Acid Esters
Authors: Szczepańska Patrycja , Rychlicka Magdalena , Groborz Sylwia , Kruszyńska Angelika , Ledesma-Amaro Rodrigo , Rapak Andrzej , Gliszczyńska Anna , Lazar Zbigniew
Published: April 2023

Resveratrol (RES) is gaining recognition as a natural bioactive compound. To expand the possible applications of RES with its enhanced bioactivity as well as to increase the health benefits of long-chain fatty acids, a lipophilization process of RES was performed using three fatty acids: palmitic acid (PA), oleic acid (OA), and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). The obtained mono-, di-, and tri-esters of RES were evaluated for their anticancer and antioxidant properties against lung carcinoma (A549), colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT29), and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (BxPC3) cell lines. Human fibroblast (BJ) cells were used as a control. Several parameters were investigated: cell viability and apoptosis, including the expression of major pro- and anti-apoptotic markers, as well as the expression of superoxide dismutase, a key enzyme of the body’s antioxidant barrier. Three of the obtained esters: mono-RES-OA, mono-RES-CLA, and tri-RES-PA, which significantly reduced the tumor cell viability up to 23%, at concentrations 25, 10, 50 μg/mL, respectively, turned out to be particularly interesting. The above-mentioned resveratrol derivatives similarly increased the tumor cells’ apoptosis by modifying their caspase activity of pro-apoptotic pathways (p21, p53, and Bax). Moreover, among the mentioned esters, mono-RES-OA induced apoptosis of the analyzed cell lines most strongly, reducing the number of viable cells up to 48% for HT29 cells versus 36% for pure RES. Furthermore, the selected esters exhibited antioxidant properties towards the normal BJ cell line by regulating the expression of major pro-antioxidant genes (superoxide dismutases—SOD1 and SOD2) without the effect on their expression in the tumor, and therefore reducing the defense of cancer cells against increased oxidative stress induced by high ROS accumulation. The obtained results indicate that the esters of RES and long-chain fatty acids allow enhancement of their biological activity. The RES derivatives have the potential for being applied in cancer prevention and treatment, as well as for oxidative stress suppression.
Assessing the Orthogonality of Phage-Encoded RNA Polymerases for Tailored Synthetic Biology Applications in Pseudomonas Species
Authors: Lammens Eveline-Marie , Feyaerts Nathalie , Kerremans Alison , Boon Maarten , Lavigne Rob
Published: April 2023

The phage T7 RNA polymerase (RNAP) and lysozyme form the basis of the widely used pET expression system for recombinant expression in the biotechnology field and as a tool in microbial synthetic biology. Attempts to transfer this genetic circuitry from Escherichia coli to non-model bacterial organisms with high potential have been restricted by the cytotoxicity of the T7 RNAP in the receiving hosts. We here explore the diversity of T7-like RNAPs mined directly from Pseudomonas phages for implementation in Pseudomonas species, thus relying on the co-evolution and natural adaptation of the system towards its host. By screening and characterizing different viral transcription machinery using a vector-based system in P. putida., we identified a set of four non-toxic phage RNAPs from phages phi15, PPPL-1, Pf-10, and 67PfluR64PP, showing a broad activity range and orthogonality to each other and the T7 RNAP. In addition, we confirmed the transcription start sites of their predicted promoters and improved the stringency of the phage RNAP expression systems by introducing and optimizing phage lysozymes for RNAP inhibition. This set of viral RNAPs expands the adaption of T7-inspired circuitry towards Pseudomonas species and highlights the potential of mining tailored genetic parts and tools from phages for their non-model host.
Intestinal Microbiota and miRNA in IBD: A Narrative Review about Discoveries and Perspectives for the Future
Authors: Oliveira Ellen Cristina Souza de , Quaglio Ana Elisa Valencise , Magro Daniéla Oliveira , Di Stasi Luiz Claudio , Sassaki Ligia Yukie
Published: April 2023

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) and comprises a chronic gastrointestinal tract disorder characterized by hyperactive and dysregulated immune responses to environmental factors, including gut microbiota and dietary components. An imbalance of the intestinal microbiota may contribute to the development and/or worsening of the inflammatory process. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been associated with various physiological processes, such as cell development and proliferation, apoptosis, and cancer. In addition, they play an important role in inflammatory processes, acting in the regulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory pathways. Differences in the profiles of miRNAs may represent a useful tool in the diagnosis of UC and CD and as a prognostic marker in both diseases. The relationship between miRNAs and the intestinal microbiota is not completely elucidated, but recently this topic has gained prominence and has become the target of several studies that demonstrate the role of miRNAs in the modulation of the intestinal microbiota and induction of dysbiosis; the microbiota, in turn, can regulate the expression of miRNAs and, consequently, alter the intestinal homeostasis. Therefore, this review aims to describe the interaction between the intestinal microbiota and miRNAs in IBD, recent discoveries, and perspectives for the future.
Circulating Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor as a Predictive Indicator for COVID-19-Associated Acute Kidney Injury and Mortality: Clinical and Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Abdellatif Hidi A. A. , Sultan Basma Osman , Nassar Hassnaa M. , Gomaa Mostafa Elsaied Elsayed , Sakr Mohamed Gamal , Riad Eman , Al-Harbi Alhanouf I. , Abdulhakim Jawaher A. , Fawzy Manal S. , Abd El-Fadeal Noha M.
Published: April 2023

Urokinase receptors regulate the interplay between inflammation, immunity, and blood clotting. The soluble urokinase plasminogen activator system is an immunologic regulator affecting endothelial function and its related receptor; the soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) has been reported to impact kidney injury. This work aims to measure serum levels of suPAR in COVID-19 patients and correlate the measurements with variable clinicolaboratory parameters and patient outcomes. In this prospective cohort study, 150 COVID-19 patients and 50 controls were included. The circulating suPAR levels were quantified by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Routine COVID-19 laboratory assessments, including CBC, CRP, LDH, serum creatinine, and estimated glomerular filtration rates, were performed. The need for oxygen therapy, CO-RAD score, and survival rates was assessed. Bioinformatic analysis and molecular docking were run to explore the urokinase receptor structure/function and to characterize molecules as potential anti-suPAR therapeutic targets, respectively. We found higher circulating suPAR levels in COVID-19 patients vs. controls (p < 0.001). Circulating suPAR levels positively correlated with COVID-19 severity, the need for O2 therapy, the total leukocytes count, and the neutrophils to lymphocyte ratio, while they were negatively correlated with the O2 saturation level, albumin, blood calcium, lymphocytic count, and GFR. In addition, the suPAR levels were associated with poor prognostic outcomes such as a high incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and mortality rate. Kaplan–Meier curves showed a lower survival rate with higher suPAR levels. The logistic regression analysis confirmed the significant association of suPAR levels with the occurrence of AKI related to COVID-19 and with increased mortality probability within three months of COVID-19 follow-up. Some compounds that can act similarly to uPAR were discovered and tested by molecular docking to identify the possible ligand–protein interactions. In conclusion, higher circulating suPAR levels were associated with COVID-19 severity and could be considered a putative predictor of AKI development and mortality.
The Effects of Cardioprotective Antidiabetic Therapy on Microbiota in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus—A Systematic Review
Authors: Bica Ioana-Cristina , Pietroșel Valeria-Anca , Salmen Teodor , Diaconu Cosmina-Theodora , Fierbinteanu Braticevici Carmen , Stoica Roxana-Adriana , Suceveanu Andra Iulia , Pantea Stoian Anca
Published: April 2023

As the pathophysiologic mechanisms of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are discovered, there is a switch from glucocentric to a more comprehensive, patient-centered management. The holistic approach considers the interlink between T2DM and its complications, finding the best therapies for minimizing the cardiovascular (CV) or renal risk and benefitting from the treatment‘s pleiotropic effects. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) fit best in the holistic approach because of their effects in reducing the risk of CV events and obtaining better metabolic control. Additionally, research on the SGLT-2i and GLP-1 RA modification of gut microbiota is accumulating. The microbiota plays a significant role in the relation between diet and CV disease because some intestinal bacteria lead to an increase in short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and consequent positive effects. Thus, our review aims to describe the relation between antidiabetic non-insulin therapy (SGLT-2i and GLP-1 RA) with CV-proven benefits and the gut microbiota in patients with T2DM. We identified five randomized clinical trials including dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, liraglutide, and loxenatide, with different results. There were differences between empagliflozin and metformin regarding the effects on microbiota despite similar glucose control in both study groups. One study demonstrated that liraglutide induced gut microbiota alterations in patients with T2DM treated initially with metformin, but another failed to detect any differences when the same molecule was compared with sitagliptin. The established CV and renal protection that the SGLT-2i and GLP-1 RA exert could be partly due to their action on gut microbiota. The individual and cumulative effects of antidiabetic drugs on gut microbiota need further research.
Flavonoids in Amomum tsaoko Crevost et Lemarie Ameliorate Loperamide-Induced Constipation in Mice by Regulating Gut Microbiota and Related Metabolites
Authors: Hu Yifan , Gao Xiaoyu , Zhao Yan , Liu Shuangfeng , Luo Kailian , Fu Xiang , Li Jiayi , Sheng Jun , Tian Yang , Fan Yuanhong
Published: April 2023

Amomum tsaoko (AT) is a dietary botanical with laxative properties; however, the active ingredients and mechanisms are still unclear. The active fraction of AT aqueous extract (ATAE) for promoting defecation in slow transit constipation mice is the ethanol-soluble part (ATES). The total flavonoids of ATES (ATTF) were the main active component. ATTF significantly increased the abundance of Lactobacillus and Bacillus and reduced the dominant commensals, such as Lachnospiraceae, thereby changing the gut microbiota structure and composition. Meanwhile, ATTF changed the gut metabolites mainly enriched in pathways such as the serotonergic synapse. In addition, ATTF increased the serum serotonin (5-HT) content and mRNA expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A (5-HT2A), Phospholipase A2 (PLA2), and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), which are involved in the serotonergic synaptic pathway. ATTF increased Transient receptor potential A1 (TRPA1), which promotes the release of 5-HT, and Myosin light chain 3(MLC3), which promotes smooth muscle motility. Notably, we established a network between gut microbiota, gut metabolites, and host parameters. The dominant gut microbiota Lactobacillus and Bacillus, prostaglandin J2 (PGJ2) and laxative phenotypes showed the most significant associations. The above results suggest that ATTF may relieve constipation by regulating the gut microbiota and serotonergic synaptic pathway and has great potential for laxative drug development in the future.
Efficiency of Promoters of Human Genes FAP and CTGF at Organism Level in a Danio rerio Model
Authors: Selina Polina I. , Alekseenko Irina V. , Kurtova Anastasia I. , Pleshkan Victor V. , Voronezhskaya Elena E. , Demidyuk Ilya V. , Kostrov Sergey V.
Published: April 2023

The identification of tissue-specific promoters for gene therapeutic constructs is one of the aims of complex tumor therapy. The genes encoding the fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and the connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) can function in tumor-associated stromal cells but are practically inactive in normal adult cells. Accordingly, the promoters of these genes can be used to develop vectors targeted to the tumor microenvironment. However, the efficiency of these promoters within genetic constructs remains underexplored, particularly, at the organism level. Here, we used the model of Danio rerio embryos to study the efficiency of transient expression of marker genes under the control of promoters of the FAP, CTGF, and immediate early genes of Human cytomegalovirus (CMV). Within 96 h after the injection of vectors, the CTGF and CMV promoters provided similar equal efficiency of reporter protein accumulation. In the case of the FAP promoter, a high level of reporter protein accumulation was observed only in certain zebrafish individuals that were considered developmentally abnormal. Disturbed embryogenesis was the factor of changes in the exogenous FAP promoter function. The data obtained make a significant contribution to understanding the function of the human CTGF and FAP promoters within vectors to assess their potential in gene therapy.
Wound Dressing Modifications for Accelerated Healing of Infected Wounds
Authors: Vivcharenko Vladyslav , Trzaskowska Marta , Przekora Agata
Published: April 2023

Infections that occur during wound healing involve the most frequent complications in the field of wound care which not only inhibit the whole process but also lead to non-healing wound formation. The diversity of the skin microbiota and the wound microenvironment can favor the occurrence of skin infections, contributing to an increased level of morbidity and even mortality. As a consequence, immediate effective treatment is required to prevent such pathological conditions. Antimicrobial agents loaded into wound dressings have turned out to be a great option to reduce wound colonization and improve the healing process. In this review paper, the influence of bacterial infections on the wound-healing phases and promising modifications of dressing materials for accelerated healing of infected wounds are discussed. The review paper mainly focuses on the novel findings on the use of antibiotics, nanoparticles, cationic organic agents, and plant-derived natural compounds (essential oils and their components, polyphenols, and curcumin) to develop antimicrobial wound dressings. The review article was prepared on the basis of scientific contributions retrieved from the PubMed database (supported with Google Scholar searching) over the last 5 years.
Membrane–Peptide Interactions: From Basics to Current Applications 2.0
Authors: Gonçalves Sónia , Santos Nuno C.
Published: April 2023

The interaction between peptides and biological membranes is of fundamental importance in the mechanism of numerous membrane-mediated cellular processes, including antimicrobial peptide action, hormone–receptor interactions, drug bioavailability across the blood–brain barrier, and viral fusion processes [...]
Genomic-Based Newborn Screening for Inborn Errors of Immunity: Practical and Ethical Considerations
Authors: King Jovanka R. , Grill Kalle , Hammarström Lennart
Published: April 2023

Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are a group of over 450 genetically distinct conditions associated with significant morbidity and mortality, for which early diagnosis and treatment improve outcomes. Newborn screening for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is currently underway in several countries, utilising a DNA-based technique to quantify T cell receptor excision circles (TREC) and kappa-deleting recombination excision circles (KREC). This strategy will only identify those infants with an IEI associated with T and/or B cell lymphopenia. Other severe forms of IEI will not be detected. Up-front, first-tier genomic-based newborn screening has been proposed as a potential approach by which to concurrently screen infants for hundreds of monogenic diseases at birth. Given the clinical, phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity of IEI, a next-generation sequencing-based newborn screening approach would be suitable. There are, however, several ethical, legal and social issues which must be evaluated in detail prior to adopting a genomic-based newborn screening approach, and these are discussed herein in the context of IEI.
Modeling Chronic Pain Experiences from Online Reports Using the Reddit Reports of Chronic Pain Dataset
Authors: Nunes Diogo A. P. , Ferreira-Gomes Joana , Neto Fani , Martins de Matos David
Published: April 2023

Reported experiences of chronic pain may convey qualities relevant to the exploration of this private and subjective experience. We propose this exploration by means of the Reddit Reports of Chronic Pain (RRCP) dataset. We define and validate the RRCP for a set of subreddits related to chronic pain, identify the main concerns discussed in each subreddit, model each subreddit according to their main concerns, and compare subreddit models. The RRCP dataset comprises 86,537 submissions from 12 subreddits related to chronic pain (each related to one pathological background). Each RRCP subreddit was found to have various main concerns. Some of these concerns are shared between multiple subreddits (e.g., the subreddit Sciatica semantically entails the subreddit backpain in their various concerns, but not the other way around), whilst some concerns are exclusive to specific subreddits (e.g., Interstitialcystitis and CrohnsDisease). Our analysis details each of these concerns and their (dis)similarity relations. Although limited by the intrinsic qualities of the Reddit platform, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first research work attempting to model the linguistic expression of various chronic pain-inducing pathologies and comparing these models to identify and quantify the similarities and differences between the corresponding emergent, chronic pain experiences.
Climate and Environmental Changes and Their Potential Effects on the Dynamics of Chagas Disease: Hybridization in Rhodniini (Hemiptera, Triatominae)
Authors: Ravazi Amanda , Oliveira Jader de , Madeira Fernanda Fernandez , Nunes Giovana Menezes , Reis Yago Visinho dos , Oliveira Ana Beatriz Bortolozo de , Azevedo Luísa Martins Sensato , Galvão Cleber , Azeredo-Oliveira Maria Tercília Vilela de , Rosa João Aristeu da , Alevi Kaio Cesar Chaboli
Published: April 2023

Chagas disease affects about eight million people. In view of the issues related to the influence of anthropogenic changes in the dynamics of the distribution and reproductive interaction of triatomines, we performed experimental crosses between species of the Rhodniini tribe in order to evaluate interspecific reproductive interactions and hybrid production capacity. Reciprocal crossing experiments were conducted among Rhodnius brethesi × R. pictipes, R. colombiensis × R. ecuadoriensis, R. neivai × R. prolixus, R. robustus × R. prolixus, R. montenegrensis × R. marabaensis; R. montenegrensis × R. robustus, R. prolixus × R. nasutus and R. neglectus × R. milesi. With the exception of crosses between R. pictipes ♀ × R. brethesi ♂, R. ecuadoriensis ♀ × R. colombiensis ♂ and R. prolixus ♀ × R. neivai ♂, all experimental crosses resulted in hybrids. Our results demonstrate that both allopatric and sympatric species produce hybrids, which can generate concern for public health agencies in the face of current anthropogenic events. Thus, we demonstrate that species of the Rhodniini tribe are capable of producing hybrids under laboratory conditions. These results are of great epidemiological importance and raise an important discussion about the influence of climatic and environmental interactions on Chagas disease dynamics.
Unexpected Procedure Difficulties Increasing the Complexity of Transvenous Lead Extraction: The Single Centre Experience with 3721 Procedures
Authors: Kutarski Andrzej , Jacheć Wojciech , Nowosielecka Dorota , Polewczyk Anna
Published: April 2023

Background: Transvenous lead extraction (TLE) should be completed, even when facing difficulties which have yet to be described. The aim was to explore unexpected TLE obstacles (the circumstances of the occurrence and influence on TLE outcome). Methods: The retrospective analysis of a single centre database containing 3721 TLEs. Results: Unexpected procedure difficulties (UPDs) occurred in 18.43% of cases (singles in 12.20% of cases and multiples in 6.26% of cases). These included blockages in the lead venous approach in3.28% of cases, functional lead dislodgement in 0.91% of cases, and loss of broken lead fragment in 0.60% of cases. All of them, including implant vein—in 7.98% of cases, lead fracture during extraction—in 3.84% of cases, and lead-to-lead adherence—in 6.59% of cases, Byrd dilator collapse—in 3.41% of cases, including the use of an alternative prolonged the procedure but had no influence on long-term mortality. Most of the occurrences were associated with lead dwell time, younger patient age, lead burden, and poorer procedure effectiveness and complications (common cause). However, some of the problems seemed to be related to cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) implantation and the subsequent lead management strategy. A more complete list of all tips and tricks is still required. Conclusions: (1) The complexity of the lead extraction procedure combines both prolonged procedure duration and the occurrence of lesser-known UPDs. (2) UPDs are present in nearly one fifth of the TLE procedures, and can occur simultaneously. (3) UPDs, which usually force the extractor to expand the range of techniques and tools, should become part of the training in transvenous lead extraction.
Development of a Quality-of-Life Instrument to Measure Current Health Outcomes: Health-Related Quality of Life with Six Domains (HRQ-6D)
Authors: Bujang Mohamad Adam , Lai Wei Hong , Ratnasingam Selvasingam , Tiong Xun Ting , Hon Yoon Khee , Yap Eileen Pin Pin , Jee Yvonne Yih Huan , Ahmad Nurul Fatma Diyana , Kim Alex Ren Jye , Husin Masliyana , Haniff Jamaiyah
Published: April 2023

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is one of the most important outcome measures to be assessed by medical research. This study aims to develop and validate an instrument called the “health-related quality of life with six domains” (HRQ-6D), which aims to measure an individual’s health-related quality of life within a 24 h period of time. This is a questionnaire development study involving five phases, which are (i) to explore the subject matter content for gaining a better understanding of the topic, (ii) to develop the questionnaire, (iii) to assess both its content validity and face validity, (iv) to conduct a pilot study, and finally, (v) to undertake a field testing of the questionnaire. For the field-testing phase, a cross-sectional study involving a self-administered survey for HRQ-6D items was conducted among healthcare workers with various health conditions. Exploratory factor analysis was initially applied to construct the major dimensions of the HRQ-6D. Confirmatory factor analysis was subsequently applied to evaluate the model fit of the overall framework of the HRQ-6D. The clinical utility of this HRQ-6D was also assessed via its association with actual clinical evidence. A total of 406 respondents participated in the survey. Six domains were identified from the analysis, namely “pain”, “physical strength”, “emotion”, “self-care”, “mobility”, and “perception of future health” comprising two items in each domain. Each domain was reported to have a minimum value of Cronbach’s alpha of 0.731, and the model fit for the overall framework of the HRQ-6D was also found to be excellent. Exploratory factor analysis was undertaken for the 12 items of the HRQ-6D. All the domains can be categorized into three major dimensions, namely “health”, “body function”, and “future perception”, with a minimum value for their factor loadings of at least 0.507. A notable finding was that the HRQ-6D was significantly associated with an individual’s existing comorbidities and current status of health (p < 0.05). This study successfully validated the HRQ-6D, and we found it to possess both excellent levels of reliability and validity and a satisfactory degree of model fit; it was also significantly associated with actual clinical evidence.
Pleiotropic Effects of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors in Cardiovascular Disease and Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Rastogi Anjay , Januzzi James
Published: April 2023

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) have been shown to improve cardiovascular and renal outcomes in patients with established cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and heart failure (HF) with reduced or preserved ejection fraction. Clinical benefit has been substantiated in patients with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D). Consequently, SGLT2is have an increasingly important role in HF and CKD management that extends beyond T2D treatment. Their pleiotropic pharmacological effects underlying their cardiovascular and renal benefits are not completely understood but include significant effects beyond blood glucose reduction. SGLT2is inhibit the reabsorption of glucose and sodium in the proximal tubule which, in addition to lowering blood glucose, activates tubuloglomerular feedback, leading to reduced glomerular hydrostatic pressure and the mitigation of glomerular filtration rate loss. SGLT2is have diuretic and natriuretic effects, leading to decreased blood pressure, preload, and left ventricular (LV) filling pressure, and improvements in other surrogates of afterload. In HF, SGLT2is mitigate the risks of hyperkalemia and ventricular arrhythmia and improve LV dysfunction. SGLT2is also reduce sympathetic tone and uric acid levels, increase hemoglobin levels, and are postulated to have anti-inflammatory properties. This narrative review discusses the multifactorial and interrelated pharmacological mechanisms underlying the cardiovascular and renal benefits of SGLT2is.
Effects of Topography and PDGF on the Response of Corneal Keratocytes to Fibronectin-Coated Surfaces
Authors: Lam Kevin , Shihabeddin Tarik , Awkal Jacob , Najjar Alex , Miron-Mendoza Miguel , Maruri Daniel , Varner Victor , Petroll W. , Schmidtke David
Published: April 2023

During corneal wound healing, corneal keratocytes are exposed to both biophysical and soluble cues that cause them to transform from a quiescent state to a repair phenotype. How keratocytes integrate these multiple cues simultaneously is not well understood. To investigate this process, primary rabbit corneal keratocytes were cultured on substrates patterned with aligned collagen fibrils and coated with adsorbed fibronectin. After 2 or 5 days of culture, keratocytes were fixed and stained to assess changes in cell morphology and markers of myofibroblastic activation by fluorescence microscopy. Initially, adsorbed fibronectin had an activating effect on the keratocytes as evidenced by changes in cell shape, stress fiber formation, and expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). The magnitude of these effects depended upon substrate topography (i.e., flat substrate vs aligned collagen fibrils) and decreased with culture time. When keratocytes were simultaneously exposed to adsorbed fibronectin and soluble platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), the cells elongated and had reduced expression of stress fibers and α-SMA. In the presence of PDGF-BB, keratocytes plated on the aligned collagen fibrils elongated in the direction of the fibrils. These results provide new information on how keratocytes respond to multiple simultaneous cues and how the anisotropic topography of aligned collagen fibrils influences keratocyte behavior.
Output Feedback Tracking Control with Collision Avoidance for Dynamic Positioning Vessel under Input Constraint
Authors: Zhang Benwei , Xia Guoqing
Published: April 2023

This dissertation presents a fresh control strategy for dynamic positioning vessels exposed to model uncertainty, various external disturbances, and input constraint. The vessel is supposed to work in a particular situation surrounding a lighthouse or a submerged reef, where collision avoidance must be prevented. The control strategy involves making the vessel navigate under the action of modified artificial potential functions (MAPFs) along a smooth trajectory. To achieve this goal, we put forward a collision-avoidance control strategy, which consists of the backstepping technique, an extended state observer (ESO), and an active dynamic positioning control technique. The MAPFs, together with a strategy, are applied to realize collision avoidance. To address the input constraint problem, an auxiliary dynamic system (ADS) is constructed. Entire related signals of the control system could converge to a small neighboring zone of the equilibrium state via Lyapunov deduction. Simulation outcomes verify the effectiveness of the presented control strategy.
An Intelligent Algorithm for USVs Collision Avoidance Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning Approach with Navigation Characteristics
Authors: Sun Zhe , Fan Yunsheng , Wang Guofeng
Published: April 2023

Many achievements toward unmanned surface vehicles have been made using artificial intelligence theory to assist the decisions of the navigator. In particular, there has been rapid development in autonomous collision avoidance techniques that employ the intelligent algorithm of deep reinforcement learning. A novel USV collision avoidance algorithm based on deep reinforcement learning theory for real-time maneuvering is proposed. Many improvements toward the autonomous learning framework are carried out to improve the performance of USV collision avoidance, including prioritized experience replay, noisy network, double learning, and dueling architecture, which can significantly enhance the training effect. Additionally, considering the characteristics of the USV collision avoidance problem, two effective methods to enhance training efficiency are proposed. For better training, considering the international regulations for preventing collisions at sea and USV maneuverability, a complete and reliable USV collision avoidance training system is established, demonstrating an efficient learning process in complex encounter situations. A reward signal system in line with the USV characteristics is designed. Based on the Unity maritime virtual simulation platform, an abundant simulation environment for training and testing is designed. Through detailed analysis, verification, and comparison, the improved algorithm outperforms the pre-improved algorithm in terms of stability, average reward, rules learning, and collision avoidance effect, reducing 26.60% more accumulated course deviation and saving 1.13% more time.
Unveiling the Link between Corporate Board Attributes, Board Behavior, and Financial Leverage: Insights from Malaysia
Authors: Tahir Hussain , Rahman Mahfuzur , Masud Md. , Rahman Mohammed
Published: April 2023

The aim of this paper is to examine the characteristics and conduct of boards in non-financial Malaysian firms, with a particular emphasis on the companies’ financial leverage, using panel data spanning from 2012 to 2018. Overall, the study reveals that the relationship between board attributes and a firm’s financial leverage is significant, but mixed. Notably, we find that extremely small or large boards are ineffective in maintaining the optimal financial leverage level that benefits all stakeholders. Our study concludes that board independence is negatively correlated with financial leverage, whereas the tenure of board members is negatively associated with financial leverage. Additionally, board diversity exhibits a statistically significant and positive correlation with financial leverage. Currently, the Malaysian corporate governance code advocates announcing regulations to regulate corporate structures.
Profiling Turkish Cryptocurrency Owners: Payment Users, Crypto Investors and Crypto Traders
Authors: Ante Lennart , Fiedler Florian , Steinmetz Fred , Fiedler Ingo
Published: April 2023

With ownership estimates of up to 25%, Turkey is at the forefront of cryptocurrency adoption, rendering it an interesting example to study the proclaimed use cases of cryptocurrencies. Using exploratory factor analysis based on a sample of 715 Turkish cryptocurrency owners, we identified 3 different owner groups and their underlying motives. The first group (payment users) looks at cryptocurrency as an option for payments, thereby disregarding its speculative element, while the second group (crypto investors) can best be described as experienced investors holding cryptocurrency as part of their investment strategy. The third group (crypto traders) consists of risk-tolerant traders. Further analyses show that groups not only differentiate by demographics, income and education, but also by factors such as ideology, purchase intention and the use of domestic or foreign exchanges. The results contribute to the understanding of Turkish cryptocurrency owners, their intrinsic and extrinsic motivations and can be incorporated into the pending regulatory processes in the country. The findings suggest that cryptocurrencies have outgrown the use case of mere speculation in Turkey. Those in the group of Turkish payment users are identified as potential lead users whose current needs may represent common needs for crypto users in similar markets in the future. These findings motivate further research on the diffusion and usage patterns of cryptocurrency in emerging markets and innovation in general in the context of lead markets.
Metric-Based Approach for Quantifying Urban Expansion Impact on Urban Form Changes in the JBMUR South Conurbation Corridor
Authors: Jatayu Anoraga , Rustiadi Ernan , Juanda Bambang , Pribadi Didit Okta
Published: April 2023

The formation of the Jakarta Bandung Mega-Urban Region (JBMUR) has created a rapidly urbanized corridor, the JBMUR south conurbation corridor. Due to its geographical location, the expansion process in the JBMUR south conurbation corridor has caused significant social, economic, and environmental problems. This study explores and quantifies the impact of the urban expansion of the JBMUR on its south corridor, mainly on the spatial pattern and the form dynamics based on the land-use changes process, using landscape metrics and its implications on planning policy. The metrics used in this study describes a few patterns and form characteristics: density, clustering, connectivity, and shape. Those metrics are then quantitatively measured using the FRAGSTATS Urban Expansion Intensity to measure the expansion rate in four of the JBMUR South Conurbation Corridor urban areas. The result shows that the urban areas grow significantly from the core area and expand outside with the following pattern: increased urban density, less compact, and the two urban areas becoming closer/more connected. This growth intensity and pattern are happening due to the misalignment of the planning policies in the municipalities of the south corridor. It is needed for any future planning policies to mitigate these problems and create a robust plan to maintain the sustainability of the JBMUR South Conurbation Corridor as a whole.
The Impact of the Type and Abundance of Urban Blue Space on House Prices: A Case Study of Eight Megacities in China
Authors: Peng Chucai , Xiang Yang , Chen Luxia , Zhang Yangyang , Zhou Zhixiang
Published: April 2023

Urban blue spaces (UBS) have been shown to provide a multitude of cultural ecosystem services to urban residents, while also having a considerable impact on the surrounding community’s house prices. However, the impact of different types of UBS and the effect of their abundance on house prices have been largely understudied. This study aims to address this gap by examining the impact of different types of UBS on house prices using eight megacities in China as a case study. Spatial hedonic price models are developed to assess the impact of different types of UBS on house prices, and differences in their impact across cities are identified. Variance partitioning analysis is also used to decompose the relative contributions of UBS variables and explore the relationship between UBS-attributable premiums and the abundance of UBS. The results indicate that lakes and the main river have a significant positive impact on house prices in most cities, while the impact of small rivers on house prices varies across cities. The influence of UBS variables differs significantly across cities, but these differences are not solely driven by the abundance of UBS. This study provides valuable information for UBS planning and management and contributes to the equitable distribution of urban public services.
Usi Civici: Open Evaluation Issues in the Italian Legal Framework on Civic Use Properties
Authors: Casprini Danny , Oppio Alessandra , Torrieri Francesca
Published: April 2023

Physical spaces and assets vary in legal nature and as such can be subjected to both private and public ownership. Therefore, rights and obligations connected with the use and enjoyment of the different goods depends on the juridic nature of the good itself. In the Italian legal framework, private goods are subject to homogeneous regulation, whereas public goods might comprehend a plethora of heterogeneous categories each of them featuring a specific legal regulation. Among those, collective-owned goods present a complex case as they have the typical characteristics of common goods but might be the object of specific rival and exclusive rights that are guaranteed to certain communities with the system of “civic use rights” (usi civici). This peculiar legal regime is typical of rural areas, where, traditionally, common ownership of the land was pursued and encouraged resulting in the creation of a common agri-sylvan-pastoral heritage. As such, the areas susceptible to being left behind or even abandoned due to a lack of public resources or initiatives that can foster their intrinsic cultural, social, and economic value. We intend collective goods to be long-term physical assets that trigger ecosystems of social entrepreneurial, innovative partnerships, and impact investing that can meet long-lasting and/or emerging social and collective needs. This paper aims to achieve two objectives. Firstly, we investigate the Italian juridical regime of “shared-ownership rights” and “civic use rights” aiming to define a taxonomy that provides support in categorising these goods according to pre-defined legal clusters. Secondly, we explore the evaluation issues related to land appraisal processes.
An Exploratory Investigation Evaluating the Impact of Fatigue-Induced Stride Length Compensations on Ankle Biomechanics among Skilled Baseball Pitchers
Authors: Crotin Ryan L. , Ramsey Dan K.
Published: April 2023

Altered propulsive and bracing ground reaction forces from lower-body fatigue significantly impact stride length to increase weakness in dynamic elbow stabilizers and risk of medial elbow injury in baseball pitchers. This work investigated altered stride length on three-dimensional ankle joint dynamics to illustrate fatigue-induced changes in ankle motion that can also be impacted by coaching errors. Nineteen pitchers (15 collegiate and 4 high school) were randomized in a crossover design study that encouraged fatigue by throwing two simulated 80-pitch games at ±25% of their desired stride length. An integrated motion-capture system with two force plates and radar gun tracked each throw. Retrospective analysis using pairwise comparisons, including effect size calculations, were undertaken to identify differences in ankle dynamics between stride length conditions for both the drive and stride leg. Longer strides were found to be more effective in drive ankle propulsion and stride-bracing mechanics. Conversely, shorter strides delayed bracing dynamics by demonstrating continued drive ankle plantar flexion moments after stride-foot contact to extend pitchers’ time in propulsion (p < 0.001, d > 0.8). Additionally, heightened braking effects were seen during the acceleration phase of throwing with greater stride knee extension power when pitching with shorter strides (p < 0.001, d > 0.8). The knowledge gained from this work offers new insight into compensatory stride length adaptation that impacts systemic and throwing arm-specific fatigue to maintain ball velocity, as bilateral ankle joint dynamics can be significantly affected in response to cumulative workload.
Snow Metrics as Proxy to Assess Sarcoptic Mange in Wild Boar: Preliminary Results in Aosta Valley (Italy)
Authors: Viani Annalisa , Orusa Tommaso , Borgogno-Mondino Enrico , Orusa Riccardo
Published: April 2023

The widespread diffusion of the wild boar on the Italian territory and its consistent use for hunting have created the possibility to conduct multiple studies on the pathologies afflicting this ungulate. Nevertheless, in the last two decades, only some pathologies such as classical and African Swine Fever, Tuberculosis, Brucellosis from Brucella suis have benefited from substantial public funding and the consequent great interest from the scientific world, while less attention was addressed to parasitic diseases including sarcoptic mange. Therefore, to fill this gap, the purpose of this study was to contribute to the knowledge of sarcoptic mange in the wild boar population in Aosta Valley in the Northwest of Italy, including sympatric species as foxes. Due to past field surveys, it has been possible to find a possible role of snow metrics in the spread of this pathogen. Even if there are only empirical evidence and the mechanism remain unknown remote sensing analysis considering snow metrics were performed to provide to veterinarians, foresters, biologists, and ecologists new tools to better understand wield board dynamics and join to ordinary tool an instrument to enhance management and planning strategies. The snow metrics (SM) were derived from USGS NASA Landsat 8 L2A retrieved from Theia CNES platform and processed in Orfeo Toolbox LIS extension package. The relationship between SM and the disease spread was tested per each Aosta Valley municipality obtaining LISA maps for each hunting season. The results have showed that this parasite is present in an endemic form even if with rather low prevalence values, equal to 1.2% in the season hunting season 2013/2014, and equal to 7.5% in the hunting season 2014/2015. Moreover, within simultaneous given values of SM, sarcoptic mange seem to find good conditions for spreading.
Role of Exendin-4 Functional Imaging in Diagnosis of Insulinoma: A Systematic Review
Authors: Sidrak Marko Magdi Abdou , De Feo Maria Silvia , Corica Ferdinando , Gorica Joana , Conte Miriam , Filippi Luca , Evangelista Laura , De Vincentis Giuseppe , Frantellizzi Viviana
Published: April 2023

Background: Insulinomas are the most common neuroendocrine neoplasms of the pancreas. Diagnosis is made through patient clinical presentation with hypoglycemia symptoms and imaging, such as EUS, CT, MRI, and functional imaging. Exendin-4 PET/CT (and SPECT/CT) is a new prominent radiotracer developed to image insulinomas. The aim of the study is to evaluate whether exendin-4 imaging is a useful tool in imaging for insulinoma patients when other imaging methods do not reach them. Methods: MEDLINE research conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science gathered a total of 501 papers. Studies that evaluated exendin-4 SPECT and PET in insulinoma patients were screened and assessed through QUADAS-2 for risk of bias and applicability concerns’ assessment. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were reported when available. Results: A total of 13 studies were deemed eligible for a QUADAS 2 review. Studies included ranged from 2009 to 2022. The most-used tracer was 68Ga-DOTA-exendin-4 in PET and 111In-DTPA-exendin-4 in SPECT. Exendin-4 labeled with 99mTc was also reported. The QUADAS-2 risk of bias assessment was overall low, with some unclear reports in the reference and index domains. Only two domains were at high risk of bias because of an explicated non-blind imaging review. Applicability concerns for bias were low in all domains. Reported sensitivities ranged from 95% to 100% and specificities from 20% to 100%. Conclusions: exendin-4 imaging is a sensitive functional imaging tracer in both SPECT and PET applications, especially in suspicion of benign insulinomas located where endoscopic ultrasound cannot reach, being more sensitive than morfostructural imaging.
Recent Advances in Water-Splitting Electrocatalysts Based on Electrodeposition
Authors: Kim Yujin , Jun Sang Eon , Lee Goeun , Nam Seunghoon , Jang Ho Won , Park Sun Hwa , Kwon Ki Chang
Published: April 2023

Green hydrogen is being considered as a next-generation sustainable energy source. It is created electrochemically by water splitting with renewable electricity such as wind, geothermal, solar, and hydropower. The development of electrocatalysts is crucial for the practical production of green hydrogen in order to achieve highly efficient water-splitting systems. Due to its advantages of being environmentally friendly, economically advantageous, and scalable for practical application, electrodeposition is widely used to prepare electrocatalysts. There are still some restrictions on the ability to create highly effective electrocatalysts using electrodeposition owing to the extremely complicated variables required to deposit uniform and large numbers of catalytic active sites. In this review article, we focus on recent advancements in the field of electrodeposition for water splitting, as well as a number of strategies to address current issues. The highly catalytic electrodeposited catalyst systems, including nanostructured layered double hydroxides (LDHs), single-atom catalysts (SACs), high-entropy alloys (HEAs), and core-shell structures, are intensively discussed. Lastly, we offer solutions to current problems and the potential of electrodeposition in upcoming water-splitting electrocatalysts.
Development of a Quartz-Based Photo-Mobile Polymer Film for Controlled Motion Triggered by Light or Heat
Authors: Castagna Riccardo , Riminesi Cristiano , Pianesi Maria Savina , Sabbatini Simona , Di Donato Andrea , Singh Gautam , Francescangeli Oriano , Cantisani Emma , Castellini Paolo , Lucchetta Daniele Eugenio
Published: April 2023

We have developed a photo-mobile polymer film, that combines organic and inorganic materials, to allow for controlled motion that can be triggered by light or heat. Our film is made using recycled quartz and consists of two layers: a multi-acrylate polymer layer and a layer containing oxidized 4-amino-phenol and N-Vinyl-1-Pyrrolidinone. The use of quartz in our film also gives it a high temperature resistance of at least 350 °C. When exposed to heat, the film moves in a direction that is independent of the heat source, due to its asymmetrical design. Once the heat source is removed, the film returns to its original position. ATR-FTIR measurements confirm this asymmetrical configuration. This technology may have potential applications in energy harvesting, due to the piezoelectric properties of quartz.