bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bone Tissue Condition during Osteosynthesis of a Femoral Shaft Fracture Using Biodegradable Magnesium Implants with an Anticorrosive Coating in Rats with Experimental Osteoporosis
Authors: Maistrovskaia Yuliya V. , Nevzorova Vera A. , Ugay Liyudmila G. , Gnedenkov Sergey V. , Kotsurbei Evgeny A. , Moltyh Ekaterina A. , Kostiv Roman E. , Sinebryukhov Sergey L.
Published: May 2022

Today, osteoporosis has become a major global health issues. The World Health Organization declares that 320 billion people have osteoporosis now, and more than 1.5 billion osteoporosis traumatic events occur every year. Bones become fragile and fracture risk is high; thus, it is crucial to choose the right biodegradable implants in order to minimize reoperations of patients with systemic osteoporosis. This investigation aimed to carry out a morphological assessment of the state of bone tissue with osteosynthesis of a femoral fracture in rats, using a model of osteoporosis with the installation of magnesium alloy implants coated with hydroxyapatite and sealed with polytetrafluoroethylene. According to this study, the indicators of angiogenesis and bone formation in experimental animals were significantly higher when an implant coated with hydroxyapatite sealed with polytetrafluoroethylene was used, compared to an implant coated only with hydroxyapatite and in rats without an implant. Based on the data obtained, it is possible to consider a magnesium implant coated with hydroxyapatite and sealed with polytetrafluoroethylene as a promising material for fracture therapy in patients with reduced bone density.
A Methodology for Controlling Bias and Fairness in Synthetic Data Generation
Authors: Barbierato Enrico , Vedova Marco L. Della , Tessera Daniele , Toti Daniele , Vanoli Nicola
Published: May 2022

The development of algorithms, based on machine learning techniques, supporting (or even replacing) human judgment must take into account concepts such as data bias and fairness. Though scientific literature proposes numerous techniques to detect and evaluate these problems, less attention has been dedicated to methods generating intentionally biased datasets, which could be used by data scientists to develop and validate unbiased and fair decision-making algorithms. To this end, this paper presents a novel method to generate a synthetic dataset, where bias can be modeled by using a probabilistic network exploiting structural equation modeling. The proposed methodology has been validated on a simple dataset to highlight the impact of tuning parameters on bias and fairness, as well as on a more realistic example based on a loan approval status dataset. In particular, this methodology requires a limited number of parameters compared to other techniques for generating datasets with a controlled amount of bias and fairness.
Earth Mover’s Distance-Based Tool for Rapid Screening of Cervical Cancer Using Cervigrams
Authors: Shrivastav Kumar Dron , Arambam Priyadarshini , Batra Shelly , Bhatia Vandana , Singh Harpreet , Jaggi Vinita Kumar , Ranjan Priya , Abed Eyad H. , Janardhanan Rajiv
Published: May 2022

Cervical cancer is a major public health challenge that can be cured with early diagnosis and timely treatment. This challenge formed the rationale behind our design and development of an intelligent and robust image analysis and diagnostic tool/scale, namely “OM—The OncoMeter”, for which we used R (version-3.6.3) and Linux (Ubuntu-20.04) to tag and triage patients in order of their disease severity. The socio-demographic profiles and cervigrams of 398 patients evaluated at OPDs of Batra Hospital & Medical Research Centre, New Delhi, India, and Delhi State Cancer Institute (East), New Delhi, India, were acquired during the course of this study. Tested on 398 India-specific women’s cervigrams, the scale yielded significant achievements, with 80.15% accuracy, a sensitivity of 84.79%, and a specificity of 66.66%. The statistical analysis of sociodemographic profiles showed significant associations of age, education, annual income, occupation, and menstrual health with the health of the cervix, where a p-value less than (<) 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The deployment of cervical cancer screening tools such as “OM—The OncoMeter” in live clinical settings of resource-limited healthcare infrastructure will facilitate early diagnosis in a non-invasive manner, leading to a timely clinical intervention for infected patients upon detection even during primary healthcare (PHC).
Prediction of Ground Surface Settlements Induced by EPB Shield Tunneling in Water-Rich Soft Strata
Authors: Yang Yi , Li Xinggao , Jin Dalong , Jiang Xingqi , Li Hanyuan
Published: May 2022

The main goal of this study is to enhance the prediction of ground surface settlements induced by Earth pressure balance (EPB) shield tunneling. In the setting of Changzhou, China, a comprehensive database of long-term ground-displacement findings from Metro Lines No. 1 and No. 2 was analyzed with the goal of assessing the parameters characterizing the settlement, i.e., volume loss, trough width parameter. For the metro lines in the water-rich soft strata of Changzhou, the ground loss Vl is usually in the range of 0.1–0.75%, and the trough width parameter K is usually in the range from 0.3 to 0.7. A superposition analytical method is proposed to estimate the short-term ground settlements induced by shield tunneling, with attention given to ground loss as well as shield working loads. The suggested analytical approach was found to be in good agreement with the field measurements in the case of EPB shield tunneling. This study can provide a reliable assessment of the long-term as well as short-term ground surface settlements for tunnel design.
Knowledge Representation and Reasoning with an Extended Dynamic Uncertain Causality Graph under the Pythagorean Uncertain Linguistic Environment
Authors: Zhu Yu-Jie , Guo Wei , Liu Hu-Chen
Published: May 2022

A dynamic uncertain causality graph (DUCG) is a probabilistic graphical model for knowledge representation and reasoning, which has been widely used in many areas, such as probabilistic safety assessment, medical diagnosis, and fault diagnosis. However, the convention DUCG model fails to model experts’ knowledge precisely because knowledge parameters were crisp numbers or fuzzy numbers. In reality, domain experts tend to use linguistic terms to express their judgements due to professional limitations and information deficiency. To overcome the shortcomings of DUCGs, this article proposes a new type of DUCG model by integrating Pythagorean uncertain linguistic sets (PULSs) and the evaluation based on the distance from average solution (EDAS) method. In particular, experts express knowledge parameters in the form of the PULSs, which can depict the uncertainty and vagueness of expert knowledge. Furthermore, this model gathers the evaluations of experts on knowledge parameters and handles conflicting opinions among them. Moreover, a reasoning algorithm based on the EDAS method is proposed to improve the reliability and intelligence of expert systems. Lastly, an industrial example concerning the root cause analysis of abnormal aluminum electrolysis cell condition is provided to demonstrate the proposed DUCG model.
Analytical Investigation of Ricochet Range of Ogive—Shaped Nose Projectile Obliquely Penetrating Thick Steel Target
Authors: Wu Yingxiang , Tao Xigui , Xue Yijiang
Published: May 2022

The ricochet phenomenon has been studied worldwide for a long time in consideration of its significance in ballistics. A ricochet projectile has proven to be worthless to its launcher, as warheads fail to penetrate the interior of targets and strike the facilities and personnel of enemies effectively. A large portion of related research has been dedicated to avoiding ricocheting, which mainly focuses on improving the penetration ability of a projectile in order to obtain a better penetration effect, while investigations on the proactive protection of key targets from damage caused by a ricochet projectile are minor. This study analytically explores the ricochet range of a projectile obliquely penetrating a thick steel target. Firstly, the moment of momentum equation of the ricochet projectile based on theoretical mechanics is utilised to analytically calculate its trajectory, where a mathematical model of a two-stage ricochet impacting is established through the geometrical analysis of the ricochet process for determining the ricochet range of a projectile and the size of the bulletproof structure. Then, impact experiments of a projectile obliquely penetrating thick steel targets at different striking velocities and inclination angles are carried out, and the influences of the striking velocity and angle of attack on the damage pattern, area and penetration depth are discussed to identify the ricochet phenomenon. Moreover, the deflection angle of the ricochet projectile is computed, which is compared with the experimental measurements in order to validate the accuracy of this proposed model. This proposed research may promote security protection during live-firing training and provide a theoretical foundation for the optimisation of purposeful protection.
Augmented Reality-Based Framework Supporting Visual Inspection for Automotive Industry
Authors: Chouchene Amal , Ventura Carvalho Adriana , Charrua-Santos Fernando , Barhoumi Walid
Published: May 2022

Visual inspection, inside an industrial environment, has attracted considerable research attention, in terms of its relation to improving productivity and its impact on building the Industry 4.0. One of the pillars of Industry 4.0 is the Augmented Reality (AR) technology, given its beneficiary for several tasks such as maintenance, assembly, and inspection. Nevertheless, such a data presenter tool essentially relies on the data collected from other modules. A keynote technology for data collecting, storing, and exploitation is the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) platform. In this context, this paper proposes an innovative framework in a real case-study industry. The proposed solution supports visual inspection, relying on AR to present the data and IIoT to collect it from the production line. User acceptance tests and feedback reflect the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed system, especially when using Hand-Held Devices (HHD).
Heatwaves in South Asia: Characterization, Consequences on Human Health, and Adaptation Strategies
Authors: Sharma Ayushi , Andhikaputra Gerry , Wang Yu-Chun
Published: May 2022

South Asia, with more than one-fifth of the world’s population, is highly vulnerable to heatwaves and associated health consequences. The population experiences considerably higher residential vulnerability due to limited infrastructural capacities, economic resources, and health and environmental quality deficiencies. However, a limited number of studies are available from the region to account for the health effects of heatwaves. Therefore, this study has conducted a comprehensive review to characterize heatwaves across South Asian countries. The review explicitly identifies the population’s vulnerability to heatwaves during recent years and heatwave management policies in the region. The literature review suggests increased heat-related deaths in most South Asian countries, with few exceptions. In addition, the analysis of historical temperature records identified an upward trend in annual average temperature across the South Asian countries. The study highlights various heatwave definitions that have been used in the region to facilitate comparative evidence. The review of policies identified that only a few South Asian countries have functional heatwave management plans and majorly lack community and residential preparedness for heatwaves. Therefore, this study identifies potential community- and residential-based adaptation strategies to mitigate heat discomfort. As prospective solutions, the study recommends adaptation strategies such as blue–green spaces, indoor passive cooling, infrastructural adjustments, heat action plans, etc. However, such adaptation measures require a holistic amalgamation of different stakeholders to fabricate heatwave-resilient cities.
Assessment of Fine Particulate Matter for Port City of Eastern Peninsular India Using Gradient Boosting Machine Learning Model
Authors: Sharma Manoj , Kumar Naresh , Sharma Shallu , Jangra Vikas , Mehandia Seema , Kumar Sumit , Kumar Pawan
Published: May 2022

An assessment and prediction of PM2.5 for a port city of eastern peninsular India is presented. Fifteen machine learning (ML) regression models were trained, tested and implemented to predict the PM2.5 concentration. The predicting ability of regression models was validated using air pollutants and meteorological parameters as input variables collected from sites located at Visakhapatnam, a port city on the eastern side of peninsular India, for the assessment period 2018–2019. Highly correlated air pollutants and meteorological parameters with PM2.5 concentration were evaluated and presented during the period under study. It was found that the CatBoost regression model outperformed all other employed regression models in predicting PM2.5 concentration with an R2 score (coefficient of determination) of 0.81, median absolute error (MedAE) of 6.95 µg/m3, mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 0.29, root mean square error (RMSE) of 11.42 µg/m3 and mean absolute error (MAE) of 9.07 µg/m3. High PM2.5 concentration prediction results in contrast to Indian standards were also presented. In depth seasonal assessments of PM2.5 concentration were presented, to show variance in PM2.5 concentration during dominant seasons.
Dendroclimatology in Latin America: A Review of the State of the Art
Authors: Sánchez-Calderón Oscar David , Carlón-Allende Teodoro , Mendoza Manuel E. , Villanueva-Díaz José
Published: May 2022

The application of dendrochronology for understanding climatic variations has been of great interest to climatologists, ecologists, geographers, archeologists, among other sciences, particularly in recent decades when more dendrochronological studies have been developed. We analyzed and identified the current state and recent advances in dendroclimatology in Latin America for the period 1990 to 2020. We carried out reviews in ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Scopus databases with the keywords “dendrochronology”, “dendroclimatology”, “dendrochronology and climatic variability”, “dendroclimatology and climatic variability”, “dendrochronology and trend”, and “dendroclimatology and trend” for each Latin American country. Results show that dendroclimatological research in the last 11 years has increased and has been mainly developed in temperate climate zones (83%) and tropical or subtropical areas (17%), where conifer species have been the most used with over 59% of the studies. However, broadleaf species for dendrochronological studies have also increased in the last decade. Dendroclimatological research in Latin America has provided important advances in the study of climatic variability by defining the response functions of tree-rings to climate and developing climatic reconstructions. Our research identified areas where it is necessary to increase dendroclimatic studies (e.g., dry and tropical forests), in addition to applying new techniques such as isotope analysis, blue intensity, dendrochemistry, among other tree-ring applications.
Two Large Earthquakes Registered by the CSES Satellite during Its Earthquake Prediction Practice in China
Authors: Li Mei , Wang Haitao , Liu Jie , Shen Xuhui
Published: May 2022

Two large earthquakes, the Maduo MS 7.4 earthquake and the Menyuan MS 6.9 earthquake, have been successfully recorded on the Chinese mainland, since the data of the CSES satellite were put into service for earthquake prediction work on the Chinese mainland at the end of April 2020. Obvious variations in O+ density and electron density were found during our weekly data processing work during 5–11 May 2021 and 28 December 2021–2 January 2022, respectively. Two warnings of impending events around the anomalous areas within two weeks had been reported immediately after the anomaly appearance. The Maduo MS 7.4 earthquake occurred on 22 May 2021 and the Menyuan MS 6.9 earthquake on 8 January 2022, during these two warning periods. More details were revealed after these two large shocks occurred. Ionospheric enhancement took place on 8 May 2021, with a magnitude of 41.6% for O+ density and 22.2% for electron density, a distance of 680 km from the Maduo epicenter, 14 days prior to the event. Before the Menyuan earthquake, ionospheric enhancement took place on 28 December 2021, as well as during its revisiting orbit on 2 January 2022, with a magnitude of 47.3% for O+ density and 38.4% for electron density, an epicentral distance of 120 km, 11 and 6 days prior to this event. The Kp index was also examined to avoid the influence from solar activities. Despite this, accurate earthquake prediction is not possible due to much uncertainty, such as the correct location and magnitude of an impending event. Thus, long-term practice and comprehensive investigation of the seismo-ionospheric influence are necessary in the future.
Superstructure and Distorted-Wave Codes and Their Applications
Authors: Bhatia Anand
Published: May 2022

There have been many observations of the solar and astrophysical spectra of various ions. The diagnostics of these observations require atomic data that include energy levels, oscillator strengths, transition rates, and collision strengths. These have been calculated using the Superstructure and Distorted-wave codes. We describe calculations for various ions. We calculate intensity ratios and compare them with observations to infer electron densities and temperatures of solar plasmas.
ADP-Induced Conformational Transition of Human Adenylate Kinase 1 Is Triggered by Suppressing Internal Motion of α3α4 and α7α8 Fragments on the ps-ns Timescale
Authors: Guo Chenyun , Zhang Haoran , Lin Weiliang , Chen Hanyu , Chang Ting , Wu Zhihua , Yu Jiaxin , Lin Donghai
Published: May 2022

Human adenylate kinase 1 (hAK1) plays a vital role in the energetic and metabolic regulation of cell life, and impaired functions of hAK1 are closely associated with many diseases. In the presence of Mg2+ ions, hAK1 in vivo can catalyze two ADP molecules into one ATP and one AMP molecule, activating the downstream AMP signaling. The ADP-binding also initiates AK1 transition from an open conformation to a closed conformation. However, how substrate binding triggers the conformational transition of hAK1 is still unclear, and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Herein, we determined the solution structure of apo-hAK1 and its key residues for catalyzing ADP, and characterized backbone dynamics characteristics of apo-hAK1 and hAK1-Mg2+-ADP complex (holo-hAK1) using NMR relaxation experiments. We found that ADP was primarily bound to a cavity surrounded by the LID, NMP, and CORE domains of hAK1, and identified several critical residues for hAK1 catalyzing ADP including G16, G18, G20, G22, T39, G40, R44, V67, D93, G94, D140, and D141. Furthermore, we found that apo-hAK1 adopts an open conformation with significant ps-ns internal mobility, and Mg2+-ADP binding triggered conformational transition of hAK1 by suppressing the ps-ns internal motions of α3α4 in the NMP domain and α7α8 in the LID domain. Both α3α4 and α7α8 fragments became more rigid so as to fix the substrate, while the catalyzing center of hAK1 experiences promoted µs-ms conformational exchange, potentially facilitating catalysis reaction and conformational transition. Our results provide the structural basis of hAK1 catalyzing ADP into ATP and AMP, and disclose the driving force that triggers the conformational transition of hAK1, which will deepen understanding of the molecular mechanisms of hAK1 functions.
Potential and Therapeutic Roles of Diosmin in Human Diseases
Authors: Huwait Etimad , Mobashir Mohammad
Published: May 2022

Because of their medicinal characteristics, effectiveness, and importance, plant-derived flavonoids have been a possible subject of research for many years, particularly in the last decade. Plants contain a huge number of flavonoids, and Diosmin, a flavone glycoside, is one of them. Numerous in-vitro and in-vivo studies have validated Diosmin’s extensive range of biological capabilities which present antioxidative, antihyperglycemic, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and antiulcer properties. We have presented this review work because of the greater biological properties and influences of Diosmin. We have provided a brief overview of Diosmin, its pharmacology, major biological properties, such as anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, antibacterial, anticardiovascular, liver protection, and neuroprotection, therapeutic approach, potential Diosmin targets, and pathways that are known to be associated with it.
Serum-Based Biomarkers in Neurodegeneration and Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: LoPresti Patrizia
Published: May 2022

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease with typical onset between 20 and 40 years of age, so the disability associated with this disease, unfortunately, occurs in the prime of life. At a very early stage of MS, the relapsing-remitting mobility impairment occurs in parallel with a progressive decline in cognition, which is subclinical. This stage of the disease is considered the beginning of progressive MS. Understanding where a patient is along such a subclinical phase could be critical for therapeutic efficacy and enrollment in clinical trials to test drugs targeted at neurodegeneration. Since the disease course is uneven among patients, biomarkers are needed to provide insights into pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prognosis of events that affect neurons during this subclinical phase that shapes neurodegeneration and disability. Thus, subclinical cognitive decline must be better understood. One approach to this problem is to follow known biomarkers of neurodegeneration over time. These biomarkers include Neurofilament, Tau and phosphotau protein, amyloid-peptide-β, Brl2 and Brl2-23, N-Acetylaspartate, and 14-3-3 family proteins. A composite set of these serum-based biomarkers of neurodegeneration might provide a distinct signature in early vs. late subclinical cognitive decline, thus offering additional diagnostic criteria for progressive neurodegeneration and response to treatment. Studies on serum-based biomarkers are described together with selective studies on CSF-based biomarkers and MRI-based biomarkers.
C9orf72 Hexanucleotide Repeat Expansion-Related Neuropathology Is Attenuated by Nasal Rifampicin in Mice
Authors: Hatanaka Yukari , Umeda Tomohiro , Shigemori Keiko , Takeuchi Toshihide , Nagai Yoshitaka , Tomiyama Takami
Published: May 2022

The non-coding GGGGCC hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE) in C9orf72 gene is a dominant cause of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This intronic mutation elicits the formation of nuclear and cytoplasmic inclusions containing RNA, RNA-binding proteins, and HRE-derived dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs), leading to neurodegeneration via the gain-of-toxic function or loss-of-function of relevant proteins. Using C9-500 mice harboring ~500 repeats of the GGGGCC sequence in human C9orf72 gene, we investigated the effects of rifampicin against HRE-related pathological phenotypes. Rifampicin was administered intranasally to 4.5- to 5-month-old mice for 1 month, and their cognitive function and neuropathology were assessed by the Morris water maze test and immunohistochemical staining. Rifampicin treatment reduced the formation of RNA foci and cytoplasmic inclusions containing DPRs or phosphorylated TDP-43, and furthermore, the levels of phosphorylated double-strand RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) that regulates repeat-associated non-ATG (RAN) translation. Synapse loss in the hippocampus and neuronal loss and microglial activation in the prefrontal and motor cortices were also attenuated, and mouse memory was significantly improved. Our findings suggest a therapeutic potential of nasal rifampicin in the prevention of C9orf72-linked neurodegenerative disorders.
Implication of Different Tumor Biomarkers in Drug Resistance and Invasiveness in Primary and Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Sánchez-Díez Marta , Alegría-Aravena Nicolás , López-Montes Marta , Quiroz-Troncoso Josefa , González-Martos Raquel , Menéndez-Rey Adrián , Sánchez-Sánchez José Luis , Pastor Juan Manuel , Ramírez-Castillejo Carmen
Published: May 2022

Protein expression profiles are directly related to the different properties of cells and are conditioned by the cellular niche. As an example, they are the cause of the characteristic cell plasticity, epithelium–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and drug resistance of cancer cells. This article characterizes ten biomarkers related to these features in three human colorectal cancer cell lines: SW-480, SW-620, and DLD-1, evaluated by flow cytometry; and in turn, resistance to oxaliplatin is studied through dose–response trials. The main biomarkers present in the three studied lines correspond to EpCAM, CD-133, and AC-133, with the latter two in low proportions in the DLD-1 line. The biomarker CD166 is present in greater amounts in SW-620 and DLD-1 compared to SW-480. Finally, DLD-1 shows high values of Trop2, which may explain the aggressiveness and resistance of these cells to oxaliplatin treatments, as EpCAM is also highly expressed. Exposure to oxaliplatin slows cell growth but also helps generate resistance to the treatment. In conclusion, the response of the cell lines is variable, due to their genetic variability, which will condition protein expression and cell growth. Further analyses in this area will provide important information for better understanding of patients’ cellular response and how to prevent resistance.
The Effects of the Exposure of Musculoskeletal Tissue to Extracorporeal Shock Waves
Authors: Wuerfel Tobias , Schmitz Christoph , Jokinen Leon L. J.
Published: May 2022

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a safe and effective treatment option for various pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. Many studies address the molecular and cellular mechanisms of action of ESWT. However, to date, no uniform concept could be established on this matter. In the present study, we perform a systematic review of the effects of exposure of musculoskeletal tissue to extracorporeal shock waves (ESWs) reported in the literature. The key results are as follows: (i) compared to the effects of many other forms of therapy, the clinical benefit of ESWT does not appear to be based on a single mechanism; (ii) different tissues respond to the same mechanical stimulus in different ways; (iii) just because a mechanism of action of ESWT is described in a study does not automatically mean that this mechanism is relevant to the observed clinical effect; (iv) focused ESWs and radial ESWs seem to act in a similar way; and (v) even the most sophisticated research into the effects of exposure of musculoskeletal tissue to ESWs cannot substitute clinical research in order to determine the optimum intensity, treatment frequency and localization of ESWT.
Advanced Electrochemical and Opto-Electrochemical Biosensors for Quantitative Analysis of Disease Markers and Viruses
Authors: Karimian Najmeh , Polo Federico , Ugo Paolo
Published: May 2022

Instrumental laboratory methods for biochemical and chemical analyses have reached a high level of reliability with excellent sensitivity and specificity [...]
A Study on Daylighting Performance of Split Louver with Simplified Parametric Control
Authors: Alsukkar Muna , Hu Mingke , Gadi Mohamed , Su Yuehong
Published: May 2022

A split louver consists of two sections with their slat angles to be adjusted separately for glare protection and redirection of sunlight, respectively. The upper section works in conjunction with the lower section to enhance daylight availability and uniformity throughout the year. The study aims to improve the daylighting performance of the split louver by applying a simplified parametric control, which predetermines the angle difference between adjacent slats in the upper section for a chosen solar altitude and then keeps this difference fixed during operation. The slats in the upper section can be changed parametrically using the Grasshopper to reflect daylight onto the ceiling and then illuminate the rear zone of a space. The lower section of the split louver can control the daylight in the front space area and may affect the amount of light in the back. The performance indicator in evaluating the proposed split louver design for the chosen typical days is the percentage coverage of the work plane area for the illuminance range of 150~750 lux, which was achieved up to 100% in some cases. The proposed split louver with the simplified parametric control has the potential to provide relatively consistent and distributed daylight coverage of the floor area and a glare-free environment.
Numerical Study of Micro-Thermal Environment in Block Based on Porous Media Model
Authors: Lei Jie , Wang Dengyun , Chen Zhenqian
Published: May 2022

The mitigation of the heat island effect has become one of the most challenging issues with the rapid urbanization and increased human activities. A standard model and a porous media model were developed to simulate the microthermal environment in the presence of anthropogenic heat in Nanjing Xinjiekou block. The accuracy of the simulation results was verified by field measurement data. Compared with the standard CFD method, the porous media method reduces the number of meshes by 27.8% and the total computation time by 66.7%. By comparing and analyzing the thermal environment of the block with various porosities and heat intensities at different heights, calculations proved that the velocity is positively correlated with the porosity change, and the temperature is negatively correlated with it in contrast. The temperature increases linearly with the increase in anthropogenic heat intensity under the block height range, and the gradient is about 0.025 K/W at the height of 2 m. The porous media approach allows for effective prediction of the micro-thermal environment in the initial stages of urban design while increasing the porosity of the block and controlling the intensity of anthropogenic heat emissions can be a prominent means of improving the thermal environment.
Effect of the Progressive Failure of Shear Connectors on the Behavior of Steel-Reinforced Concrete Composite Girders
Authors: Alsharari Fahad , El-Sisi Alaa El-Din , Mutnbak Mohammed , Salim Hani , El-Zohairy Ayman
Published: May 2022

Pre-stressed steel-concrete composite beams are widely used in bridges around the world. Loads during the service life of bridges may cause failure in the form of fracture in the studs near the ends of the bridge girders. The effect of stud failure on the residual static capacity and residual fatigue life of composite girders is not well investigated. Therefore, this study presents numerical investigations into the effects of the progressive failure of stud shear connectors on the residual static performance and remaining fatigue life of post-tensioned steel-concrete composite beams. The Finite Element (FE) model was validated using existing experimental work. Moreover, the effects of the progressive failure of stud shear connectors on the steel-concrete interface slippage, shear stress range, and compressive and tensile strains were investigated. The behavior of the composite girders in terms of the estimated fatigue life and residual capacity was inversely affected by the number of fractured studs. The AASHTO theoretical equation conservatively estimated the remaining fatigue life until 15% of the rows were removed and then the FE model predicted fewer remaining fatigue cycles than the theoretical equation. Until 15% of the rows were removed, the strengthened sample had a better response in terms of the stress range, tensile and compressive strains, and residual capacity. After that, both the strengthened and non-strengthened samples exhibited similar responses to the failure of studs. Subsequently, the positive effects of the post-tensioning vanish as the end studs fail. Therefore, designers should pay special attention to the ends of post-tensioned composite beams where the local failure of studs is expected.
LDH-A—Modulation and the Variability of LDH Isoenzyme Profiles in Murine Gliomas: A Link with Metabolic and Growth Responses
Authors: Shindo Masahiro , Maeda Masatomo , Myat Ko , Mane Mayuresh M. , Cohen Ivan J. , Vemuri Kiranmayi , Albeg Avi S. , Serganova Inna , Blasberg Ronald
Published: May 2022

Three murine glioma cell lines (GL261, CT2A, and ALTS1C1) were modified to downregulate the expression of the murine LDH-A gene using shRNA, and compared to shRNA scrambled control (NC) cell lines. Differences in the expression of LDH-A and LDH-B mRNA, protein and enzymatic activity, as well as their LDH isoenzyme profiles, were observed in the six cell lines, and confirmed successful LDH-A KD. LDH-A KD (knock-down) resulted in metabolic changes in cells with a reduction in glycolysis (GlycoPER) and an increase in basal respiratory rate (mitoOCR). GL261 cells had a more limited ATP production capacity compared to CT2A and ALTS1C1 cells. An analysis of mRNA expression data indicated that: (i) GL261 LDH-A KD cells may have an improved ability to metabolize lactate into the TCA cycle; and (ii) that GL261 LDH-A KD cells can upregulate lipid metabolism/fatty acid oxidation pathways, whereas the other glioma cell lines do not have this capacity. These two observations suggest that GL261 LDH-A KD cells can develop/activate alternative metabolic pathways for enhanced survival in a nutrient-limited environment, and that specific nutrient limitations have a variable impact on tumor cell metabolism and proliferation. The phenotypic effects of LDH-A KD were compared to those in control (NC) cells and tumors. LDH-A KD prolonged the doubling time of GL261 cells in culture and prevented the formation of subcutaneous flank tumors in immune-competent C57BL/6 mice, whereas GL261 NC tumors had a prolonged growth delay in C57BL/6 mice. In nude mice, both LDH-A KD and NC GL261 tumors grew rapidly (more rapidly than GL261 NC tumors in C57BL/6 mice), demonstrating the impact of an intact immune system on GL261 tumor growth. No differences between NC and KD cell proliferation (in vitro) or tumor growth in C57BL/6 mice (doubling time) were observed for CT2A and ALTS1C1 cells and tumors, despite the small changes to their LDH isoenzyme profiles. These results suggest that GL261 glioma cells (but not CT2A and ALTS1C1 cells) are pre-programmed to have the capacity for activating different metabolic pathways with higher TCA cycle activity, and that this capacity is enhanced by LDH-A depletion. We observed that the combined impact of LDH-A depletion and the immune system had a significant impact on the growth of subcutaneous-located GL261 tumors.
Genetic and Drug Inhibition of LDH-A: Effects on Murine Gliomas
Authors: Maeda Masatomo , Ko Myat , Mane Mayuresh M. , Cohen Ivan J. , Shindo Masahiro , Vemuri Kiranmayi , Serganova Inna , Blasberg Ronald
Published: May 2022

The effects of the LDH-A depletion via shRNA knockdown on three murine glioma cell lines and corresponding intracranial (i.c.) tumors were studied and compared to pharmacologic (GNE-R-140) inhibition of the LDH enzyme complex, and to shRNA scrambled control (NC) cell lines. The effects of genetic-shRNA LDH-A knockdown and LDH drug-targeted inhibition (GNE-R-140) on tumor-cell metabolism, tumor growth, and animal survival were similar. LDH-A KD and GNE-R-140 unexpectedly increased the aggressiveness of GL261 intracranial gliomas, but not CT2A and ALTS1C1 i.c. gliomas. Furthermore, the bioenergetic profiles (ECAR and OCR) of GL261 NC and LDH-A KD cells under different nutrient limitations showed that (a) exogenous pyruvate is not a major carbon source for metabolism through the TCA cycle of native GL261 cells; and (b) the unique upregulation of LDH-B that occurs in GL261 LDH-A KD cells results in these cells being better able to: (i) metabolize lactate as a primary carbon source through the TCA cycle, (ii) be a net consumer of lactate, and (iii) showed a significant increase in the proliferation rate following the addition of 10 mM lactate to the glucose-free media (only seen in GL261 KD cells). Our study suggests that inhibition of LDH-A/glycolysis may not be a general strategy to inhibit the i.c. growth of all gliomas, since the level of LDH-A expression and its interplay with LDH-B can lead to complex metabolic interactions between tumor cells and their environment. Metabolic-inhibition treatment strategies need to be carefully assessed, since the inhibition of glycolysis (e.g., inhibition of LDH-A) may lead to the unexpected development and activation of alternative metabolic pathways (e.g., upregulation of lipid metabolism and fatty-acid oxidation pathways), resulting in enhanced tumor-cell survival in a nutrient-limited environment and leading to increased tumor aggressiveness.
CXCR4/CXCL12 Activities in the Tumor Microenvironment and Implications for Tumor Immunotherapy
Authors: Mezzapelle Rosanna , Leo Manuela , Caprioglio Francesca , Colley Liam S. , Lamarca Andrea , Sabatino Lina , Colantuoni Vittorio , Crippa Massimo P. , Bianchi Marco E.
Published: May 2022

CXCR4 is a G-Protein coupled receptor that is expressed nearly ubiquitously and is known to control cell migration via its interaction with CXCL12, the most ancient chemokine. The functions of CXCR4/CXCL12 extend beyond cell migration and involve the recognition and disposal of unhealthy or tumor cells. The CXCR4/CXCL12 axis plays a relevant role in shaping the tumor microenvironment (TME), mainly towards dampening immune responses. Notably, CXCR4/CXCL12 cross-signal via the T and B cell receptors (TCR and BCR) and co-internalize with CD47, promoting tumor cell phagocytosis by macrophages in an anti-tumor immune process called ImmunoGenic Surrender (IGS). These specific activities in shaping the immune response might be exploited to improve current immunotherapies.
Changes in Heavy Oil Saturates and Aromatics in the Presence of Microwave Radiation and Iron-Based Nanoparticles
Authors: Vakhin Alexey V. , Khelkhal Mohammed A. , Mukhamatdinov Irek I. , Mukhamatdinova Rezeda E. , Tajik Arash , Slavkina Olga V. , Malaniy Sergey Y. , Gafurov Marat R. , Nasybullin Aydar R. , Morozov Oleg G.
Published: May 2022

Our knowledge of electromagnetic heating’s effect on heavy oil upgrading is largely based on very limited data. The aim of the present research was thus to study in detail the effect of microwave exposure in the absence and presence of nanosized magnetite on the composition of heavy oil. The obtained data reveal that the use of nanosized magnetite improves not only microwave radiation application as a result of its absorption and release of thermal energy but also that these nanoparticles have a catalytic ability to break carbon–heteroatom bonds in the composition of resins and asphaltene molecules. In fact, the overall reduction in asphaltenes or resins does not always adequately describe very important changes in asphaltene composition. Even a small fraction of broken carbon–heteroatom bonds can lead to an increase in the mobility of asphaltenes. Moreover, this study has shed light on the important evidence for asphaltenes’ transformation, which was found to be the formation of light aromatic compounds, such as alkylbenzenes, naphthalenes and phenanthrenes. These compounds were fixed in the composition of the aromatic fraction. We believe that these compounds could be the fragments obtained from asphaltenes’ degradation. The evidence from this study points toward the idea that asphaltenes’ destruction is crucial for increasing oil mobility in the reservoir rock during its thermal stimulation.
Facile Synthesis of Fe(0)@Activated Carbon Material as an Active Adsorbent towards the Removal of Cr (VI) from Aqueous Media
Authors: Almujaybil Mohammed J. , Abunaser Dania Fathi Mohammed , Gouda Mohamed , Khalaf Mai M. , Mohamed Ibrahim M. A. , Abd El-Lateef Hany M.
Published: May 2022

A novel adsorbent substrate based on zero-valent iron in activated carbon (Fe(0)@AC) was introduced in this work, and was evaluated as a cheap adsorbent for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions. The as-prepared Fe(0)@AC material was chemically prepared via NaBH4 reduction in the presence of ferric chloride as an iron source, followed by the addition of powdered activated carbon. The different physicochemical tools confirm the successful preparation of Fe(0) composite with activated carbon as a heterogeneous composite with heterogeneous morphology of the rock-shape structure, which could play a role in the metal adsorption application. Interestingly, the removal efficiency (RE) of Cr(VI) was increased from 52% to 84% due to the Fe(0)@AC adsorbent being changed from 0.2 to 0.4 g/100 mL. Following this, the increase rate was stabilized, and the RE reached 95% in the case of 0.8 g/100 mL from Fe(0)@AC adsorbent. This result could be due to the increase in the sorbent active sites with more contents from Fe(0)@AC. The adsorption model based on the Langmuir approach could successfully describe the experimental outcomes for Cr(VI) removal by Fe(0)@AC with the correlation coefficient of 0.977. To conclude, Fe(0)@AC heterogeneous material is an active adsorbent for Cr(VI) removal from aqueous solutions.
MarvelD3 Is Upregulated in Ulcerative Colitis and Has Attenuating Effects during Colitis Indirectly Stabilizing the Intestinal Barrier
Authors: Weiß Franziska , Czichos Carolina , Knobe Lukas , Voges Lena , Bojarski Christian , Michel Geert , Fromm Michael , Krug Susanne M.
Published: May 2022

In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the impaired intestinal barrier is mainly characterized by changes in tight junction protein expression. The functional role of the tight junction-associated MARVEL protein MARVELD3 (MD3) in IBD is yet unknown. (i) In colon biopsies from IBD patients we analyzed MD3 expression and (ii) in human colon HT-29/B6 cells we studied the signaling pathways of different IBD-relevant cytokines. (iii) We generated a mouse model with intestinal overexpression of MD3 and investigated functional effects of MD3 upregulation. Colitis, graded by the disease activity index, was induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and the intestinal barrier was characterized electrophysiologically. MD3 was upregulated in human ulcerative colitis and MD3 expression could be increased in HT-29/B6 cells by IL-13 via the IL13Rα1/STAT pathway. In mice DSS colitis, MD3 overexpression had an ameliorating, protective effect. It was not based on direct enhancement of paracellular barrier properties, but rather on regulatory mechanisms not solved yet in detail. However, as MD3 is involved in regulatory functions such as proliferation and cell survival, we conclude that the protective effects are hardly targeting the intestinal barrier directly but are based on regulatory processes supporting stabilization of the intestinal barrier.
Cross-Talk between CB1, AT1, AT2 and Mas Receptors Responsible for Blood Pressure Control in the Paraventricular Nucleus of Hypothalamus in Conscious Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats and Their Normotensive Controls
Authors: Mińczuk Krzysztof , Schlicker Eberhard , Malinowska Barbara
Published: May 2022

We have previously shown that in urethane-anaesthetized rats, intravenous injection of the angiotensin II (Ang II) AT1 receptor antagonist losartan reversed the pressor effect of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonist CP55940 given in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN). The aim of our study was to determine the potential interactions in the PVN between CB1 receptors and AT1 and AT2 receptors for Ang II and Mas receptors for Ang 1–7 in blood pressure regulation in conscious spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. The pressor effects of Ang II, Ang 1–7 and CP55940 microinjected into the PVN were stronger in SHRs than in WKYs. Increases in blood pressure in response to Ang II were strongly inhibited by antagonists of AT1 (losartan), AT2 (PD123319) and CB1 (AM251) receptors, to Ang 1–7 by a Mas antagonist (A-779) and AM251 and to CP55940 by losartan, PD123319 and A-779. Higher (AT1 and CB1) and lower (AT2 and Mas) receptor expression in the PVN of SHR compared to WKY may partially explain the above differences. In conclusion, blood pressure control in the PVN depends on the mutual interaction of CB1, AT1, AT2 and Mas receptors in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats and their normotensive controls.
Fibronectin as a Marker of Disease Severity in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Lemańska-Perek Anna , Krzyżanowska-Gołąb Dorota , Dragan Barbara , Tyszko Maciej , Adamik Barbara
Published: May 2022

The SARS-CoV-2 virus alters the expression of genes for extracellular matrix proteins, including fibronectin. The aim of the study was to establish the relationship between different forms of fibronectin, such as plasma (pFN), cellular (EDA-FN), and proteolytic FN-fragments, and disease severity and mortality of critically ill patients treated in the intensive care unit. The levels of pFN, EDA-FN, and FN-fragments were measured in patients with a viral (N = 43, COVID-19) or bacterial (N = 41, sepsis) infection, using immunoblotting and ELISA. The level of EDA-FN, but not pFN, was related to the treatment outcome and was significantly higher in COVID-19 Non-survivors than in Survivors. Furthermore, EDA-FN levels correlated with APACHE II and SOFA scores. FN-fragments were detected in 95% of COVID-19 samples and the amount was significantly higher in Non-survivors than in Survivors. Interestingly, FN-fragments were present in only 56% of samples from patients with bacterial sepsis, with no significant differences between Non-survivors and Survivors. The new knowledge gained from our research will help to understand the differences in immune response depending on the etiology of the infection. Fibronectin is a potential biomarker that can be used in clinical settings to monitor the condition of COVID-19 patients and predict treatment outcomes.
Multiomics Approach Reveals an Important Role of BNIP3 in Myocardial Remodeling and the Pathogenesis of Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction
Authors: Chaanine Antoine H. , Higgins LeeAnn , Lauterboeck Lothar , Markowski Todd , Yang Qinglin , Delafontaine Patrice
Published: May 2022

Previous work showed a role of BNIP3 in myocardial remodeling and progression to HFrEF. We utilized a multiomics approach to unravel BNIP3-related molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of HFrEF. BNIP3 knockdown in HFrEF improved glycolysis, pyruvate metabolism, branched-chain amino acid catabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation, and restored endoplasmic reticulum (ER)–mitochondrial (mt) calcium and ion homeostasis. These effects of BNIP3 on cardiac metabolism were related to its interaction and downregulation, and/or phosphorylation, of specific mt-proteins involved in the aforementioned metabolic pathways, including the MICOS and SLC25A families of carrier proteins. BNIP3 affected ER–mt-calcium and ion homeostasis via its interaction-induced VDAC1 dimerization and modulation of VDAC1 phosphorylation at Ser104 and Ser241, and the downregulation of LETM1. At the ER level, BNIP3 interacted with the enzyme SERCA2a and the PKA signaling complex, leading to the downregulation of SERCA2a and PKA-mediated Ser16 phospholamban phosphorylation. Additionally, BNIP3 attenuated AMPK and PRKCE activity by modulating AMPK phosphorylation at Ser485/491 and Ser377 residues, and PRKCE phosphorylation at Thr521 and Thr710 residues. BNIP3 also interacted with sarcomeric, cytoskeletal, and cellular transcription and translation proteins, and affected their expression and/or phosphorylation. In conclusion, BNIP3 modulates multiple pathobiological processes and constitutes an attractive therapeutic target in HFrEF.