bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Terminal Crossbreeding of Murciano-Granadina Goats to Boer Bucks: Effects on Reproductive Performance of Goats and Growth of Kids in Artificial Rearing
Authors: Pérez-Baena Ion , Jarque-Durán Marta , Gómez Ernesto A. , Díaz José-Ramón , Peris Cristòfol
Published: April 2021

The aim of this work was to improve the growth characteristics of Murciano-Granadina (MG) kids through terminal crossbreeding of MG goats to Boer bucks. Four experiments were carried out, using a total of 354 MG goats, half of which were mated with MG bucks (n = 12) and the other half with Boer bucks (n = 12). The kids were raised in artificial rearing until slaughter weight (9 kg). The birth weight and average daily gain were recorded in crossed kids (n = 197 and 145, respectively) and purebred kids (n = 257 and 169, respectively). Crossed kids presented significant differences (p < 0.001) compared to MG purebred kids in birth weight (+ 24%), mortality in artificial rearing (−37%), average daily gain (+32%) and milk powder conversion rate (−16%). However, the reproductive performance rates of MG goats mated with Boer bucks were slightly worse (pregnancy rate: 78.5% vs. 86.6%, p < 0.05; kidding rate: 62.0% vs. 75.7%; p < 0.01; prolificacy: 1.9 vs. 2.1 kids/parturition), especially when the matings took place in non-breeding season (experiments conducted at latitude 38–39° N). It is concluded that the terminal crossbreeding of MG goats to Boer bucks (those not used to produce replacement kids) could be an interesting option for ethical goat production.
Complete Blood Count Analysis on Beef Cattle Exposed to Fescue Toxicity and Rumen-Protected Niacin Supplementation
Authors: Alfaro Gaston F. , Rodriguez-Zas Sandra L. , Southey Bruce R. , Muntifering Russell B. , Rodning Soren P. , Pacheco Wilmer J. , Moisá Sonia J.
Published: April 2021

Offspring born to dams genetically tested for resistance to fescue toxicity were separated in groups based on their dams’ resistance level (tolerant vs. susceptible). Rumen-protected niacin (RPN) is proposed as a potential alleviator for vasoconstriction produced by fescue toxicity. Complete blood count (CBC) analysis was utilized for detection of significant responses to treatments applied. Our objectives were as follows: (a) to analyze changes in CBC due to fescue toxicity, maternal resistance level, and RPN in growing offspring; and (b) to assess the effects of maternal resistance level when consuming endophyte-infected tall fescue seeds in addition to RPN in offspring performance. Body weight, average daily gain, or health status were not improved by RPN or the genetic test to detect fescue toxicity resistance. Typical signs of alkaloids intoxication and heat stress were noticed in offspring. Particularly, rectal temperature was greater for susceptible control heifers. Results showed that susceptible control offspring presented signs of anemia denoted by low mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV). High levels of white blood cells (WBC) and basophils in combination to low neutrophils to lymphocytes ratio were the signs of infection or inflammation detected in the CBC analysis, especially in tolerant niacin steers. Furthermore, offspring of control heifers had a greater percentage of reticulocytes and RDW, denoting signs of anemia.
Susceptibility of Broiler Chickens to Deoxynivalenol Exposure via Artificial or Natural Dietary Contamination
Authors: Santos Regiane R. , Oosterveer-van der Doelen Marjolein A. M. , Tersteeg-Zijderveld Monique H. G. , Molist Francesc , Mézes Miklós , Gehring Ronette
Published: April 2021

Multi-mycotoxin contamination of poultry diets is a recurrent problem, even if the mycotoxins levels are below EU recommendations. Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the main studied mycotoxins due to its risks to animal production and health. When evaluating the effects of DON, one must consider that under practical conditions diets will not be contaminated solely with this mycotoxin. In the present study, broiler chickens were fed diets with negligible mycotoxin levels or with naturally or artificially contaminated diets containing approximately 4000 μg/kg DON. Birds were sampled at D14 and D28. Naturally-contaminated diets caused the most harm to the birds, especially the young ones, which presented decreased jejunal villus height and increased lesions, down-regulation of a peptide transporter. At D28 broiler chickens seemed to have adapted to the dietary conditions, when no differences were observed in villus morphometry, together with up-regulation of a carbohydrate transporter. However, intestinal lesions remained present in these older birds.
Speed and Blood Parameters Differ between Arabian and Žemaitukai Horses during Endurance Racing
Authors: Poškienė Indrė , Gruodytė Renata , Autukaitė Jurgita , Juozaitienė Vida , Antanaitis Ramūnas
Published: April 2021

Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) has described equine endurance racing as the second largest discipline in the world, above which is only show jumping. The Žemaitukai is an ancient indigenous Lithuanian horse breed known since the 6th or 7th century. The Arabian horse breed is one of the oldest human-developed horse breeds in the world. Compared with other race horse breeds, the muscle tissue of Arabian horses is characterized by significant differences in structure—a predominance of oxidative fiber type I is observed in Arabians, making them the prevailing breed in endurance racing. The Arabian horses are recognized as the leading breed in endurance competitions. Speed, pace, and total time in the race strategy have been extensively studied in human sports, and in contrast, this strategy appears to have been virtually ignored in equestrian sport, despite the potential for contributing to performance optimization. In relation to speed and total time in the race, there are limited data on postrace physical, biochemical, and blood gas parameters of endurance horses. Thus, this study was carried out to investigate the effects of speed on the blood parameters of the Arabian and Žemaitukai horses during an endurance race. Blood samples were taken before and immediately after the exercise. Biochemical and blood gas indicators were analyzed. The study showed significant increases in mean blood gasometrical indicators, such as partial carbon dioxide pressure (8.09–15.18%, p < 0.001); base excess in the extracellular fluid (14.01%, p < 0.001 in the Arabian horses and 172.01% in the Žemaitukai breed, p = 0.006); decreases of the blood electrolyte ionized calcium (4.38–8.72%, p < 0.001) and the hematocrit and hemoglobin values (20.05–20.12%, p < 0.001 in the Arabian horses and 6.22–6.23% in the Žemaitukai breed, p = 0.003–0.004); and decreases in the base excess in the blood values (29.24–39.38%, p < 0.001) and lactate (13.45–31.97%, p < 0.001) in the blood of both breeds in the post-competition horses. Significant increases after competition were determined for the values of creatinine (21.34–30.82%, p = 0.001–0.004), total bilirubin (50.84–56.24%, PH < 0.001), and albumin (2.63–4.48%, p = 0.048–0.001) for both breeds. For the faster Arabian horse breed, recovering after racing took half the time that the local Žemaitukai breed did.
Role of D-Mannose in the Prevention of Recurrent Uncomplicated Cystitis: State of the Art and Future Perspectives
Authors: De Nunzio Cosimo , Bartoletti Riccardo , Tubaro Andrea , Simonato Alchiede , Ficarra Vincenzo
Published: April 2021

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are highly frequent in women, with a significant impact on healthcare resources. Although antibiotics still represent the standard treatment to manage recurrent UTI (rUTI), D-mannose, an inert monosaccharide that is metabolized and excreted in urine and acts by inhibiting bacterial adhesion to the urothelium, represents a promising nonantibiotic prevention strategy. The aim of this narrative review is to critically analyze clinical studies reporting data concerning the efficacy and safety of D-mannose in the management of rUTIs. Methods: A non-systematic literature search, using the Pubmed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cochrane Central Database of Systematic Reviews databases, was performed for relevant articles published between January 2010 and January 2021. The following Medical Subjects Heading were used: “female/woman”, “urinary tract infection”, and “D-mannose”. Only clinical studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses reporting efficacy or safety data on D-mannose versus placebo or other competitors were selected for the present review. Evidence was limited to human data. The selected studies were organized in two categories according to the presence or not of a competitor to D-mannose. Results: After exclusion of non-pertinent studies/articles, 13 studies were analyzed. In detail, six were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), one a randomized cross-over trial, five prospective cohort studies, and one a retrospective analysis. Seven studies compared D-mannose to placebo or others drugs/dietary supplements. Six studies evaluated the efficacy of D-mannose comparing follow-up data with the baseline. D-mannose is well tolerated, with few reported adverse events (diarrhea was reported in about 8% of patients receiving 2 g of D-mannose for at least 6 months). Most of the studies also showed D-mannose can play a role in the prevention or rUTI or urodynamics-associated UTI and can overlap antibiotic treatments in some cases. The possibility to combine D-mannose with polyphenols or Lactobacillus seems another important option for UTI prophylaxis. However, the quality of the collected studies was very low, generating, consequently, a weak grade of recommendations as suggested by international guidelines. Data on D-mannose dose, frequency, and duration of treatment are still lacking. Conclusion: D-mannose alone or in combination with several dietary supplements or Lactobacillus has a potential role in the non antimicrobial prophylaxis or recurrent UTI in women. Despite its frequent prescription in real-life practice, we believe that further well-designed studies are urgently needed to definitively support the role of D-mannose in the management of recurrent UTIs in women.
Safety Analysis of a Certifiable Air Data System Based on Synthetic Sensors for Flow Angle Estimation
Authors: Lerro Angelo , Battipede Manuela
Published: April 2021

This work deals with the safety analysis of an air data system (ADS) partially based on synthetic sensors. The ADS is designed for the small aircraft transportation (SAT) community and is suitable for future unmanned aerial vehicles and urban air mobility applications. The ADS’s main innovation is based on estimation of the flow angles (angle-of-attack and angle-of-sideslip) using synthetic sensors instead of classical vanes (or sensors), whereas pressure and temperature are directly measured with Pitot and temperature probes. As the air data system is a safety-critical system, safety analyses are performed and the results are compared with the safety objectives required by the aircraft integrator. The present paper introduces the common aeronautical procedures for system safety assessment applied to a safety critical system partially based on synthetic sensors. The mean time between failures of ADS’s sub-parts are estimated on a statistical basis in order to evaluate the failure rate of the ADS’s functions. The proposed safety analysis is also useful in identifying the most critical air data system parts and sub-parts. Possible technological gaps to be filled to achieve the airworthiness safety objectives with nonredundant architectures are also identified.
Detection of Quasi-Static Trapped Human Being Using Mono-Static UWB Life-Detection Radar
Authors: Yan Kun , Wu Shiyou , Fang Guangyou
Published: April 2021

In practical situations such as hostage rescue, earthquake and other similar events, the ultra-wideband (UWB) life-detection radar echo response from the respiration motion of the trapped person is always quasi-/non-periodic in respiration frequency or very weak in respiration amplitude, which can be called quasi-static vital sign. Although it is an extremely difficult task, considering the economic cost, the detection ability of the traditional UWB life-detection radars with only a pair of transceiver antennas is desired to be enhanced for locating the quasi-static trapped human being. This article proposes two different detection methods for quasi-static trapped human beings through the single/multiple observation points, which corresponds to the single-/multi-station radar operating mode, respectively. Proof-of-principle experiments were carried out by our designed radar prototypes, validating the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Dehumidified-Air-Assisted Spray Drying of Buckwheat Honey with Maltodextrin and Skim Milk Powder as Carriers
Authors: Barańska Alicja , Jedlińska Aleksandra , Samborska Katarzyna
Published: April 2021

Buckwheat honey is proven to demonstrate health beneficial properties; however, its application in the industry is limited due to its high viscosity and syrupy-like consistency. The paper aimed to investigate process performance and physiochemical properties of carrier-reduced buckwheat honey. Honey was spray dried conventionally (inlet/outlet drying temperature: 180 °C/80 °C) and at low drying temperature with dehumidified air application (inlet/outlet drying temperature: 80 °C/45 °C) with maltodextrin as traditional carrier and alternatively with skim milk powder. The results of this study indicate that lowering the humidity of drying air enabled a decrease in carrier content of up to 25% (w/w solids), following powder recovery over 87%, which has not been recorded before for buckwheat honey powders. The results for the physicochemical properties proved that the application of the dehumidified air and skim milk powder as a carrier ameliorated their physiochemical properties and the antioxidant activity. Furthermore, the energy consumption of dehumidified-air-assisted spray drying was investigated as a basis for potential industrial application of this innovative method, which has not been studied in the literature before. The industrial application of this method must be carefully analyzed with regard to its advantages, as the energy consumption is significantly higher than in conventional spray drying.
Combining of MASW and GPR Imaging and Hydrogeological Surveys for the Groundwater Resource Evaluation in a Coastal Urban Area in Southern Spain
Authors: Alcalá Francisco Javier , Martínez-Pagán Pedro , Paz Maria Catarina , Navarro Manuel , Pérez-Cuevas Jaruselsky , Domingo Francisco
Published: April 2021

This paper conceptualizes and evaluates the groundwater resource in a coastal urban area hydrologically influenced by peri-urban irrigation agriculture. Adra town in southern Spain was the case study chosen to evaluate the groundwater resource contributed from the northern steep urban sector (NSUS) to the southern flat urban sector (SFUS), which belongs to the Adra River Delta Groundwater Body (ARDGB). The methodology included (1) geological and hydrogeological data compilation; (2) thirteen Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW), and eight Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) profiles to define shallow geological structures and some hydrogeological features; (3) hydrogeological surveys for aquifer hydraulic definition; (4) conceptualization of the hydrogeological functioning; and (5) the NSUS groundwater resource evaluation. All findings were integrated to prepare a 1:5000 scale hydrogeological map and cross-sections. Ten hydrogeological formations were defined, four of them (Paleozoic weathered bedrock, Pleistocene littoral facies, Holocene colluvial, and anthropogenic filling) in the NSUS contributing to the SFUS. The NSUS groundwater discharge and recharge are, respectively, around 0.28 Mm3 year−1 and 0.31 Mm3 year−1, and the actual groundwater storage is around 0.47 Mm3. The groundwater renewability is high enough to guarantee a durable small exploitation for specific current and future urban water uses which can alleviate the pressure on the ARDGB.
Instance Segmentation Based on Deep Convolutional Neural Networks and Transfer Learning for Unconstrained Psoriasis Skin Images
Authors: Lin Guo-Shiang , Lai Kuan-Ting , Syu Jian-Ming , Lin Jen-Yung , Chai Sin-Kuo
Published: April 2021

In this paper, an efficient instance segmentation scheme based on deep convolutional neural networks is proposed to deal with unconstrained psoriasis images for computer-aided diagnosis. To achieve instance segmentation, the You Only Look At CoefficienTs (YOLACT) network composed of backbone, feature pyramid network (FPN), Protonet, and prediction head is used to deal with psoriasis images. The backbone network is used to extract feature maps from an image, and FPN is designed to generate multiscale feature maps for effectively classifying and localizing objects with multiple sizes. The prediction head is used to predict the classification information, bounding box information, and mask coefficients of objects. Some prototypes generated by Protonet are combined with mask coefficients to estimate the pixel-level shapes for objects. To achieve instance segmentation for unconstrained psoriasis images, YOLACT++ with a pretrained model is retrained via transfer learning. To evaluate the performance of the proposed scheme, unconstrained psoriasis images with different severity levels are collected for testing. As for subjective testing, the psoriasis regions and normal skin areas can be located and classified well. The four performance indices of the proposed scheme were higher than 93% after cross validation. About object localization, the Mean Average Precision (mAP) rates of the proposed scheme were at least 85.9% after cross validation. As for efficiency, the frames per second (FPS) rate of the proposed scheme reached up to 15. In addition, the F1_score and the execution speed of the proposed scheme were higher than those of the Mask Region-Based Convolutional Neural Networks (R-CNN)-based method. These results show that the proposed scheme based on YOLACT++ can not only detect psoriasis regions but also distinguish psoriasis pixels from background and normal skin pixels well. Furthermore, the proposed instance segmentation scheme outperforms the Mask R-CNN-based method for unconstrained psoriasis images.
Deformation Detection in Cyclic Landslides Prior to Their Reactivation Using Two-Pass Satellite Interferometry
Authors: Ciuffi Pierpaolo , Bayer Benedikt , Berti Matteo , Franceschini Silvia , Simoni Alessandro
Published: April 2021

Landslides are widespread geological features in Italy’s Northern Apennines, with slow-moving earthflows among the most common types. They develop in fine-grained rocks and are subject to periodic rainfall-induced reactivations alternating to phases of dormancy. In this paper, we use radar interferometry (InSAR) and information about landslide activity to investigate deformation signals on an areal basis and to assess the dynamics of recently reactivated earthflows. We use traditional two-pass interferometry by taking advantage of the short revisit time of the Sentinel 1 satellite to characterize 4 years of slope deformations over the 60 km2 study area, where 186 landslides are mapped. Our results show that most intense and sustained deformation signals are associated with phenomena on the verge of reactivation, indicating that radar interferometry may have a potential for early warning purposes. By focusing on three specific earthflow reactivations, we analyze their dynamics through the years that preceded their failure. Despite inherent uncertainties, it was possible to retrieve the deformation signal’s temporal evolution, which displayed seasonally recurring accelerations, peaking during the major precipitation episodes in the area.
Spatial Evaluation of Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in a Sasa (Dwarf Bamboo) Invaded Wetland Ecosystem in Central Hokkaido, Japan
Authors: Kagemoto Akane , Takakai Fumiaki , Nagata Osamu , Takada Masayuki , Hatano Ryusuke
Published: April 2021

To evaluate the effect of vegetation change on greenhouse gas (GHG) budget from a wetland ecosystem, the CO2, CH4 and N2O budgets from whole area (21.5 ha) of the Bibai Wetland, where dwarf bamboo (Sasa) or Ilex has invaded into original Sphagnum dominated vegetation, located in Hokkaido, Japan were estimated. The original Sphagnum-dominated vegetation was changed from a sink to a source of CO2 by invasion of short-Sasa (50 cm > height), while the invasion of tall-Sasa (50 cm < height < 150 cm) or Ilex increased CO2 uptake. Annual CH4 emission was decreased by the invasion of Sasa or Ilex. The annual N2O emission was slightly increased by invasion of Ilex only. These GHG budgets were correlated with the environmental factors related to the water table depth. The distribution of vegetation and environmental factors was estimated from satellite image bands, and the GHG budget of the entire wetland was estimated. The whole wetland area was considered to be a sink for GHG (−113 Mg CO2-eq y−1) and CO2 uptake by tall-Sasa occupied 71% of the GHG budget. The vegetation change due to the lowering of the water table depth currently increases the rate of carbon accumulation in the ecosystem by about 5 times.
Bottom-Up Emission Inventory and Its Spatio-Temporal Distribution from Paved Road Dust Based on Field Investigation: A Case Study of Harbin, Northeast China
Authors: Li Lili , Wang Kun , Sun Zhijian , Wang Weiye , Zhao Qingliang , Qi Hong
Published: April 2021

Road dust is one of the primary sources of particulate matter which has implications for air quality, climate and health. With the aim of characterizing the emissions, in this study, a bottom-up approach of county level emission inventory from paved road dust based on field investigation was developed. An inventory of high-resolution paved road dust (PRD) emissions by monthly and spatial allocation at 1 km × 1 km resolution in Harbin in 2016 was compiled using accessible county level, seasonal data and local parameters based on field investigation to increase temporal-spatial resolution. The results demonstrated the total PRD emissions of TSP, PM10, and PM2.5 in Harbin were 270,207 t, 54,597 t, 14,059 t, respectively. The temporal variation trends of pollutant emissions from PRD was consistent with the characteristics of precipitation, with lower emissions in winter and summer, and higher emissions in spring and autumn. The spatial allocation of emissions has a strong association with Harbin’s road network, mainly concentrating in the central urban area compared to the surrounding counties. Through scenario analysis, positive control measures were essential and effective for PRD pollution. The inventory developed in this study reflected the level of fugitive dust on paved road in Harbin, and it could reduce particulate matter pollution with the development of mitigation strategies and could comply with air quality modelling requirements, especially in the frigid region of northeastern China.
Bacterial Contamination in Health Care Centers: Differences between Urban and Rural Settings
Authors: Monteiro Ana , Almeida Beatriz , Paciência Inês , Cavaleiro Rufo João , Ribeiro Edna , Carolino Elisabete , Viegas Carla , Uva António Sousa , Verde Sandra Cabo
Published: April 2021

This study aims to assess the airborne bioburden of rural and urban Portuguese Primary Health Care Centers (PHCC) using active and passive sampling methods and identify the potential differences in airborne microbiota between both environments. The highest total aerobic mesophilic bacterial load in indoor air were found in the Vaccination Room (448 CFU.m−3) in the Rural PHCC and in the Waiting Room (420 CFU.m−3) for Urban PHCC. The total coliforms contamination level in indoor air was detected only in the Cleaning Supplies Room (4 CFU.m−3) in the Urban PHCC. The most frequent bacteria genera identified was Micrococcus (21% Rural PHCC; 31% Urban PHCC). The surface samples showed a highest total aerobic mesophilic bacterial contamination in the Treatment Room (86 × 103 CFU.m−2) from the Rural PHCC and in the Front Office (200 × 103 CFU.m−2) from the Urban PHCC. The electrostatic dust cloth (EDC) samples showed a highest bacterial load in the Urban PHCC. Total aerobic mesophilic bacterial load in settled dust and in the Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) filter samples in the Urban PHCC (8 CFU.g−1 and 6 × 103 CFU.m−2) presented higher values compared with the Rural PHCC (1 CFU.g−1 and 2.5 × 103 CFU.m−2). Urban PHCC presented higher bacterial airborne contamination compared with the Rural PHCC for the majority of sampling sites, and when compared with the indoor air quality (IAQ) Portuguese legislation it was the Rural PHCC in two sampling places who did not comply with the established criteria.
Plant Adaptation to Global Climate Change
Authors: Mishra Amit Kumar
Published: April 2021

The problem of climate change is unavoidably accompanied by climate variabilities, such as high temperature, varying patterns of rainfall, and other environmental factors (including biotic factors), and causes an adverse impact on plant development and global food security [...]
Toward the Enhancement of Microalgal Metabolite Production through Microalgae–Bacteria Consortia
Authors: González-González Lina Maria , de-Bashan Luz E.
Published: April 2021

Engineered mutualistic consortia of microalgae and bacteria may be a means of assembling a novel combination of metabolic capabilities with potential biotechnological advantages. Microalgae are promising organisms for the sustainable production of metabolites of commercial interest, such as lipids, carbohydrates, pigments, and proteins. Several studies reveal that microalgae growth and cellular storage of these metabolites can be enhanced significantly by co-cultivation with growth-promoting bacteria. This review summarizes the state of the art of microalgae–bacteria consortia for the production of microalgal metabolites. We discuss the current knowledge on microalgae–bacteria mutualism and the mechanisms of bacteria to enhance microalgae metabolism. Furthermore, the potential routes for a microalgae–bacteria biorefinery are outlined in an attempt to overcome the economic failures and negative energy balances of the existing production processes.
A Current Update on the Distribution, Morphological Features, and Genetic Identity of the Southeast Asian Mahseers, Tor Species
Authors: Jaafar Faizul , Na-Nakorn Uthairat , Srisapoome Prapansak , Amornsakun Thumronk , Duong Thuy-Yen , Gonzales-Plasus Maria Mojena , Hoang Duc-Huy , Parhar Ishwar S.
Published: April 2021

The king of rivers or mahseer comprises three genera: Tor, Neolissochilus, and Naziritor, under the Cyprinidae family. The Tor genus has been classified as the true mahseer due to the presence of a median lobe among the three genera. The Tor species are widely distributed across Southeast (SE) Asia, and 13 Tor species have been reported previously: Tor ater, Tor dongnaiensis, Tor douronensis, Tor laterivittatus, Tor mosal, Tor mekongensis, Tor putitora, Tor sinensis, Tor soro, Tor tambra, Tor tambroides, Tor tor and Tor yingjiangensis. However, the exact number of valid Tor species remains debatable. Different and unstandardized approaches of applying genetic markers in taxonomic identification and morphology variation within the same species have further widened the gap and ameliorated the instability of Tor species taxonomy. Therefore, synchronized and strategized research among Tor species researchers is urgently required to improve and fill the knowledge gap. This review is a current update of SE Asia’s Tor species, outlining their distribution, morphology, and genetic identification. In addition, the present review proposes that there are ten valid Tor species in the SE Asian region. This list will serve as a template and standard to improve the taxonomy of the SE Asian Tor species, which could serve as a basis to open new directions in Tor research.
Beneficial Role of Carica papaya Extracts and Phytochemicals on Oxidative Stress and Related Diseases: A Mini Review
Authors: Kong Yew Rong , Jong Yong Xin , Balakrishnan Manisha , Bok Zhui Ken , Weng Janice Kwan Kah , Tay Kai Ching , Goh Bey Hing , Ong Yong Sze , Chan Kok Gan , Lee Learn Han , Khaw Kooi Yeong
Published: April 2021

Oxidative stress is a result of disruption in the balance between antioxidants and pro-oxidants in which subsequently impacting on redox signaling, causing cell and tissue damages. It leads to a range of medical conditions including inflammation, skin aging, impaired wound healing, chronic diseases and cancers but these conditions can be managed properly with the aid of antioxidants. This review features various studies to provide an overview on how Carica papaya help counteract oxidative stress via various mechanisms of action closely related to its antioxidant properties and eventually improving the management of various oxidative stress-related health conditions. Carica papaya is a topical plant species discovered to contain high amounts of natural antioxidants that can usually be found in their leaves, fruits and seeds. It contains various chemical compounds demonstrate significant antioxidant properties including caffeic acid, myricetin, rutin, quercetin, α-tocopherol, papain, benzyl isothiocyanate (BiTC), and kaempferol. Therefore, it can counteract pro-oxidants via a number of signaling pathways that either promote the expression of antioxidant enzymes or reduce ROS production. These signaling pathways activate the antioxidant defense mechanisms that protect the body against both intrinsic and extrinsic oxidative stress. To conclude, Carica papaya can be incorporated into medications or supplements to help manage the health conditions driven by oxidative stress and further studies are needed to investigate the potential of its chemical components to manage various chronic diseases.
Elucidating Recombination Mediator Function Using Biophysical Tools
Authors: Henry Camille , Henrikus Sarah S.
Published: April 2021

The recombination mediator proteins (RMPs) are ubiquitous and play a crucial role in genome stability. RMPs facilitate the loading of recombinases like RecA onto single-stranded (ss) DNA coated by single-strand binding proteins like SSB. Despite sharing a common function, RMPs are the products of a convergent evolution and differ in (1) structure, (2) interaction partners and (3) molecular mechanisms. The RMP function is usually realized by a single protein in bacteriophages and eukaryotes, respectively UvsY or Orf, and RAD52 or BRCA2, while in bacteria three proteins RecF, RecO and RecR act cooperatively to displace SSB and load RecA onto a ssDNA region. Proteins working alongside to the RMPs in homologous recombination and DNA repair notably belongs to the RAD52 epistasis group in eukaryote and the RecF epistasis group in bacteria. Although RMPs have been studied for several decades, molecular mechanisms at the single-cell level are still not fully understood. Here, we summarize the current knowledge acquired on RMPs and review the crucial role of biophysical tools to investigate molecular mechanisms at the single-cell level in the physiological context.
Brain–Computer Interface Speller Based on Steady-State Visual Evoked Potential: A Review Focusing on the Stimulus Paradigm and Performance
Authors: Li Minglun , He Dianning , Li Chen , Qi Shouliang
Published: April 2021

The steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP), measured by the electroencephalograph (EEG), has high rates of information transfer and signal-to-noise ratio, and has been used to construct brain–computer interface (BCI) spellers. In BCI spellers, the targets of alphanumeric characters are assigned different visual stimuli and the fixation of each target generates a unique SSVEP. Matching the SSVEP to the stimulus allows users to select target letters and numbers. Many BCI spellers that harness the SSVEP have been proposed over the past two decades. Various paradigms of visual stimuli, including the procedure of target selection, layout of targets, stimulus encoding, and the combination with other triggering methods are used and considered to influence on the BCI speller performance significantly. This paper reviews these stimulus paradigms and analyzes factors influencing their performance. The fundamentals of BCI spellers are first briefly described. SSVEP-based BCI spellers, where only the SSVEP is used, are classified by stimulus paradigms and described in chronological order. Furthermore, hybrid spellers that involve the use of the SSVEP are presented in parallel. Factors influencing the performance and visual fatigue of BCI spellers are provided. Finally, prevailing challenges and prospective research directions are discussed to promote the development of BCI spellers.
Prediction of Other-Cause Mortality in Older Patients with Breast Cancer Using Comorbidity
Authors: de Boer Anna Z. , Bastiaannet Esther , Putter Hein , Marang-van de Mheen Perla J. , Siesling Sabine , de Munck Linda , de Ligt Kelly M. , Portielje Johanneke E. A. , Liefers Gerrit Jan , de Glas Nienke A.
Published: April 2021

Background: Individualized treatment in older patients with breast cancer can be improved by including comorbidity and other-cause mortality in prediction tools, as the other-cause mortality risk strongly increases with age. However, no optimal comorbidity score is established for this purpose. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the predictive value of the Charlson comorbidity index for other-cause mortality with the use of a simple comorbidity count and to assess the impact of frequently occurring comorbidities. Methods: Surgically treated patients with stages I-III breast cancer aged ≥70 years diagnosed between 2003 and 2009 were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Competing risk analysis was performed to associate 5-year other-cause mortality with the Charlson index, comorbidity count, and specific comorbidities. Discrimination and calibration were assessed. Results: Overall, 7511 patients were included. Twenty-nine percent had no comorbidities, and 59% had a Charlson score of 0. After five years, in 1974, patients had died (26%), of which 1450 patients without a distant recurrence (19%). Besides comorbidities included in the Charlson index, the psychiatric disease was strongly associated with other-cause mortality (sHR 2.44 (95%-CI 1.70–3.50)). The c-statistics of the Charlson index and comorbidity count were similar (0.65 (95%-CI 0.64–0.65) and 0.64 (95%-CI 0.64–0.65)). Conclusions: The predictive value of the Charlson index for 5-year other-cause mortality was similar to using comorbidity count. As it is easier to use in clinical practice, our findings indicate that comorbidity count can aid in improving individualizing treatment in older patients with breast cancer. Future studies should elicit whether geriatric parameters could improve prediction.
Recent Progress of Exosomes in Multiple Myeloma: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, Prognosis and Therapeutic Strategies
Authors: Wang Xi , He Lin , Huang Xiaobing , Zhang Shasha , Cao Wanjun , Che Feifei , Zhu Yizhun , Dai Jingying
Published: April 2021

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy that is still incurable. The bone marrow microenvironment (BMM), with cellular and non-cellular components, can create a favorable environment for the survival, proliferation and migration of MM cells, which is the main reason for the failure of MM therapies. Many studies have demonstrated that exosomes play an important role in the tumor-supportive BMM. Exosomes are nanoscale vesicles that can be released by various cells. Some exosomes contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of MM. MM-derived exosomes act on different cells in the BMM, thereby creating an environment conducive to the survival and growth of MM cells. Owing to the important roles of exosomes in the BMM, targeting the secretion of exosomes may become an effective therapeutic strategy for MM. In addition, the abnormal expression of “cargos” in the exosomes of MM patients may be used to diagnose MM or used as part of a screen for the early prognoses of MM patients. Exosomes also have good biological properties, including safety, biocompatibility, stability and biodegradability. Therefore, the encapsulation of anti-cancer drugs in exosomes, along with surface modifications of exosomes with targeting molecules, are very promising strategies for cancer therapies—particularly for MM. In addition, DC-derived exosomes (DC-EXs) can express MHC-I, MHC-II and T cell costimulatory molecules. Therefore, DC-EXs may be used as a nanocarrier to deliver cancer vaccines in MM. This review summarizes the recent progress of exosome research regarding the pathogenesis of, diagnosis of, prognosis of and therapeutic strategies for MM.
Clinical Implications of Androgen-Positive Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Brumec Maša , Sobočan Monika , Takač Iztok , Arko Darja
Published: April 2021

This review summarizes the recent findings of a vast array of studies conducted on androgen receptor-positive triple-negative breast cancer (AR-positive TNBC) to provide a better understanding of this specific breast cancer subgroup. AR expression is correlated with higher age, lower histological grade, lower proliferation index Ki-67, spiculated masses, and calcifications on mammography. Studies investigating the correlation between AR expression and lymph node metastasis are highly discordant. In addition, results regarding prognosis are highly contradictory. AR antagonists are a promising novel therapeutic approach in AR-positive TNBC. However, AR signaling pathways should be more investigated in order to understand the influence of AR expression on TNBC more thoroughly.
Current Status and Future Perspectives of Perioperative Therapy for Resectable Biliary Tract Cancer: A Multidisciplinary Review
Authors: Yoo Changhoon , Shin Sang Hyun , Park Joon-Oh , Kim Kyu-Pyo , Jeong Jae Ho , Ryoo Baek-Yeol , Lee Woohyung , Song Ki-Byung , Hwang Dae-Wook , Park Jin-hong , Lee Jae Hoon
Published: April 2021

Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are a group of aggressive malignancies that arise from the bile duct and gallbladder. BTCs include intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IH-CCA), extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EH-CCA), and gallbladder cancer (GBCA). BTCs are highly heterogeneous cancers in terms of anatomical, clinical, and pathological characteristics. Until recently, the treatment of resectable BTC, including surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, has largely been based on institutional practice guidelines and evidence from small retrospective studies. Recently, several large randomized prospective trials have been published, and there are ongoing randomized trials for resectable BTC. In this article, we review prior and recently updated evidence regarding surgery, adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and adjuvant radiation therapy for patients with resectable BTC.
Noninvasive Urine-Based Tests to Diagnose or Detect Recurrence of Bladder Cancer
Authors: Charpentier Marine , Gutierrez Charly , Guillaudeux Thierry , Verhoest Grégory , Pedeux Rémy
Published: April 2021

Liquid biopsies are increasingly used for the diagnosis and follow-up of cancer patients. Urine is a body fluid that can be used to detect cancers and others diseases. It is noninvasive and easy to collect. To detect Bladder Cancer (BC), cytology is the first assay used. It is an effective way to detect high grade BC but has a high rate of equivocal results, especially for low grade BC. Furthermore, cystoscopy is used to confirm cytology results and to determine cancer status. Cystoscopy is also effective but highly invasive, and not well accepted by patients, especially for BC follow-up. In this review we survey the numerous assays recently developed in order to diagnose BC at an early stage, and to facilitate the follow-up of patients. We discuss their effectiveness, ease of use, and applications. Finally, we discuss assays that, in the future, could improve the diagnosis and management of BC patients.
Targeting Replicative Stress and DNA Repair by Combining PARP and Wee1 Kinase Inhibitors Is Synergistic in Triple Negative Breast Cancers with Cyclin E or BRCA1 Alteration
Authors: Chen Xian , Yang Dong , Carey Jason P. W. , Karakas Cansu , Albarracin Constance , Sahin Aysegul A. , Arun Banu K. , Guray Durak Merih , Li Mi , Kohansal Mehrnoosh , Bui Tuyen N. , Ha Min-Jin , Hunt Kelly K. , Keyomarsi Khandan
Published: April 2021

The identification of biomarker-driven targeted therapies for patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a major clinical challenge, due to a lack of specific targets. Here, we show that cyclin E, a major regulator of G1 to S transition, is deregulated in TNBC and is associated with mutations in DNA repair genes (e.g., BRCA1/2). Breast cancers with high levels of cyclin E not only have a higher prevalence of BRCA1/2 mutations, but also are associated with the worst outcomes. Using several in vitro and in vivo model systems, we show that TNBCs that harbor either mutations in BRCA1/2 or overexpression of cyclin E are very sensitive to the growth inhibitory effects of AZD-1775 (Wee 1 kinase inhibitor) when used in combination with MK-4837 (PARP inhibitor). Combination treatment of TNBC cell lines with these two agents results in synergistic cell killing due to induction of replicative stress, downregulation of DNA repair and cytokinesis failure that results in increased apoptosis. These findings highlight the potential clinical application of using cyclin E and BRCA mutations as biomarkers to select only those patients with the highest replicative stress properties that may benefit from combination treatment with Wee 1 kinase and PARP inhibitors.
Upper Gastrointestinal Lesions during Endoscopy Surveillance in Patients with Lynch Syndrome: A Multicentre Cohort Study
Authors: Chautard Romain , Malka David , Samaha Elia , Tougeron David , Barbereau Didier , Caron Olivier , Rahmi Gabriel , Barrioz Thierry , Cellier Christophe , Feau Sandrine , Lecomte Thierry
Published: April 2021

Background: Patients with Lynch syndrome are at increased risk of gastric and duodenal cancer. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy surveillance is generally proposed, even though little data are available on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in these patients. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the prevalence and incidence of gastrointestinal lesions following upper gastrointestinal endoscopy examination in Lynch patients. Methods: A large, multicentre cohort of 172 patients with a proven germline mutation in one of the mismatch repair genes and at least one documented upper gastrointestinal endoscopy screening was assessed. Detailed information was collected on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy findings and the outcome of endoscopic follow-up. Results: Seventy neoplastic gastrointestinal lesions were diagnosed in 45 patients (26%) out of the 172 patients included. The median age at diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal lesions was 54 years. The prevalence of cancer at initial upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was 5% and the prevalence of precancerous lesions was 12%. Upper gastrointestinal lesions were more frequent after 40 years of age (p < 0.001). Helicobacter pylori infection was associated with an increased prevalence of gastric, but not duodenal, lesions (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Neoplastic upper gastrointestinal lesions are frequent in patients with Lynch syndrome, especially in those over 40 years of age. The results of our study suggest that Lynch patients should be considered for upper gastrointestinal endoscopic and Helicobacter pylori screening.
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Interactome with 364 Novel Protein-Protein Interactions
Authors: Karunakaran Kalyani B. , Yanamala Naveena , Boyce Gregory , Becich Michael J. , Ganapathiraju Madhavi K.
Published: April 2021

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive cancer affecting the outer lining of the lung, with a median survival of less than one year. We constructed an ‘MPM interactome’ with over 300 computationally predicted protein-protein interactions (PPIs) and over 2400 known PPIs of 62 literature-curated genes whose activity affects MPM. Known PPIs of the 62 MPM associated genes were derived from Biological General Repository for Interaction Datasets (BioGRID) and Human Protein Reference Database (HPRD). Novel PPIs were predicted by applying the HiPPIP algorithm, which computes features of protein pairs such as cellular localization, molecular function, biological process membership, genomic location of the gene, and gene expression in microarray experiments, and classifies the pairwise features as interacting or non-interacting based on a random forest model. We validated five novel predicted PPIs experimentally. The interactome is significantly enriched with genes differentially ex-pressed in MPM tumors compared with normal pleura and with other thoracic tumors, genes whose high expression has been correlated with unfavorable prognosis in lung cancer, genes differentially expressed on crocidolite exposure, and exosome-derived proteins identified from malignant mesothelioma cell lines. 28 of the interactors of MPM proteins are targets of 147 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs. By comparing disease-associated versus drug-induced differential expression profiles, we identified five potentially repurposable drugs, namely cabazitaxel, primaquine, pyrimethamine, trimethoprim and gliclazide. Preclinical studies may be con-ducted in vitro to validate these computational results. Interactome analysis of disease-associated genes is a powerful approach with high translational impact. It shows how MPM-associated genes identified by various high throughput studies are functionally linked, leading to clinically translatable results such as repurposed drugs. The PPIs are made available on a webserver with interactive user interface, visualization and advanced search capabilities.
Molecular Biology of Ovarian Cancer: From Mechanisms of Intraperitoneal Metastasis to Therapeutic Opportunities
Authors: Książek Krzysztof
Published: April 2021

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most frequent malignancies of the female genital tract, and is still the leading cause of death from gynecological tumors [...]
Myc-Related Mitochondrial Activity as a Novel Target for Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Ortiz-Ruiz Alejandra , Ruiz-Heredia Yanira , Morales María Luz , Aguilar-Garrido Pedro , García-Ortiz Almudena , Valeri Antonio , Bárcena Carmen , García-Martin Rosa María , Garrido Vanesa , Moreno Laura , Gimenez Alicia , Navarro-Aguadero Miguel Ángel , Velasco-Estevez María , Lospitao Eva , Cedena María Teresa , Barrio Santiago , Martínez-López Joaquín , Linares María , Gallardo Miguel
Published: April 2021

Mitochondria are involved in the development and acquisition of a malignant phenotype in hematological cancers. Recently, their role in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma (MM) has been suggested to be therapeutically explored. MYC is a master regulator of b-cell malignancies such as multiple myeloma, and its activation is known to deregulate mitochondrial function. We investigated the impact of mitochondrial activity on the distinct entities of the disease and tested the efficacy of the mitochondrial inhibitor, tigecycline, to overcome MM proliferation. COXII expression, COX activity, mitochondrial mass, and mitochondrial membrane potential demonstrated a progressive increase of mitochondrial features as the disease progresses. In vitro and in vivo therapeutic targeting using the mitochondrial inhibitor tigecycline showed promising efficacy and cytotoxicity in monotherapy and combination with the MM frontline treatment bortezomib. Overall, our findings demonstrate how mitochondrial activity emerges in MM transformation and disease progression and the efficacy of therapies targeting these novel vulnerabilities.