bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating the Link between Ketogenic Diet, NAFLD, Mitochondria, and Oxidative Stress: A Narrative Review
Authors: Paoli Antonio , Cerullo Giuseppe
Published: May 2023

Together with the global rise in obesity and metabolic syndrome, the prevalence of individuals who suffer from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has risen dramatically. NAFLD is currently the most common chronic liver disease and includes a continuum of liver disorders from initial fat accumulation to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), considered the more severe forms, which can evolve in, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Common features of NAFLD includes altered lipid metabolism mainly linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, which, as a vicious cycle, aggravates oxidative stress and promotes inflammation and, as a consequence, the progressive death of hepatocytes and the severe form of NAFLD. A ketogenic diet (KD), i.e., a diet very low in carbohydrates (<30 g/die) that induces “physiological ketosis”, has been demonstrated to alleviate oxidative stress and restore mitochondrial function. Based on this, the aim of the present review is to analyze the body of evidence regarding the potential therapeutic role of KD in NAFLD, focusing on the interplay between mitochondria and the liver, the effects of ketosis on oxidative stress pathways, and the impact of KD on liver and mitochondrial function.
RMFNet: Redetection Multimodal Fusion Network for RGBT Tracking
Authors: Zhao Yanjie , Lai Huicheng , Gao Guxue
Published: May 2023

The development of single-modality target tracking based on visible light has been limited in recent years because visual light images are highly susceptible to environmental and lighting influences. Thermal infrared images can well compensate for this defect, so RGBT tracking has attracted increasing attention. However, existing studies are limited to the aggregation of multimodal information using feature fusion, ignoring the role of decision-level fusion in tracking, and the original re-detection algorithm in the used baseline model is prone to the accumulation of failures. To deal with these problems, we propose the Redetection Multimodal Fusion Network (RMFNet). The network is divided into three branches, the visible light branch, the thermal infrared branch, and the fusion branch. The three-branch structure can plainly utilize the complementary advantages of multimodal information and the commonalities and specific characteristics of the two modalities. We propose a multimodal feature fusion module (EFM), which can adaptively calculate the reliability of the modality and perform a weighted fusion of the two-modality features features. The existing redetection algorithm is improved, and the re-detection mechanism of global search in the current frame is added to reduce the accumulation of failures. We have conducted extensive comparative validation on two widely used benchmark datasets, GTOT and RGBT234. The outcomes of the experiments suggest that RMFNet outperforms other tracking methods.
Evolution Model of Coal Failure Using Energy Dissipation under Cyclic Loading/Unloading
Authors: Wang Chunlai , Zuo Chang , Zhao Ze
Published: May 2023

The damage and fracture of coal is accompanied by a complex energy conversion process, and these different stages of energy evolution are closely related to coal failure. In this paper, an evolution model describing the behavior of coal failure was proposed using the energy dissipation under cyclic loading/unloading. The energy growth pattern and energy consumption characteristics of the coal fracture were analyzed under cyclic loading/unloading. An evolution model of the energy behavior of coal fracture was established. The damage variables of energy dissipation were defined, and a theoretical model was established. The parameters included the relationship between the energy state, damage state, and strength state according to the uniaxial cyclic loading/unloading test. The results show that there are energy excitation and inhibition effects in the process of coal fracture; that is, the accumulation rate and level of energy are affected by the energy storage state, and the energy storage rate changes in the mode of “low promotion and high inhibition”. The abrupt increase in dissipated energy can be regarded as the precursor of coal fracture. Based on the analysis of the characteristics of the damage and failure state and dissipated energy, the discriminant equation for the stability of the coal energy state was constructed; it is a meaningful discovery for predicting and evaluating coal failure.
A New Calculation Method of Force and Displacement of Retaining Wall and Slope
Authors: Lu Yingfa , Sun Wenqing , Yang Hao , Jiang Junjie , Lu Lier
Published: May 2023

On the basis of the force and safety factor analysis of traditional retaining walls, a new analytical method of force and displacement of the slope is suggested, the numerical theoretical solution of the stress distribution of the sliding body can be obtained under the conditions, which the stresses distribution are satisfied with the differential equilibrium equations, the boundary conditions, the compatibility equation and the macroscopic equilibrium equations. The interface stresses between the sliding body and the retaining wall is continuous, and the theoretical solution of retaining wall stress distributions can be obtained, while the stress differential equilibrium equation, the compatibility equation, macroscopic force, and moment balance equations are satisfied. The strain and displacement solutions can be obtained by using Duncan Chang and Hooke constitutive equations for the slope and the retaining wall, respectively. The transfer station of landfill in the Guandukou Town of Badong County is taken as an example, the results of the sliding body and retaining wall analysis show: The stress and strain solutions of a slope and a retaining wall can be obtained by the proposed method. The anti-slip force of the retaining wall calculated by the method in this paper contains the positive pressure and shear force along the contact surface and varies with the deformation of the slope, in addition, the numerical theoretical solution of the retaining wall shows that the retaining wall shape and material can be optimized according to the calculation results. It is feasible for the proposed analysis method of slope with retaining wall design to be run many years.
Exploring Local Explanation of Practical Industrial AI Applications: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Le Thi-Thu-Huong , Prihatno Aji Teguh , Oktian Yustus Eko , Kang Hyoeun , Kim Howon
Published: May 2023

In recent years, numerous explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) use cases have been developed, to solve numerous real problems in industrial applications while maintaining the explainability level of the used artificial intelligence (AI) models to judge their quality and potentially hold the models accountable if they become corrupted. Therefore, understanding the state-of-the-art methods, pointing out recent issues, and deriving future directions are important to drive XAI research efficiently. This paper presents a systematic literature review of local explanation techniques and their practical applications in various industrial sectors. We first establish the need for XAI in response to opaque AI models and survey different local explanation methods for industrial AI applications. The number of studies is then examined with several factors, including industry sectors, AI models, data types, and XAI-based usage and purpose. We also look at the advantages and disadvantages of local explanation methods and how well they work in practical settings. The difficulties of using local explanation techniques are also covered, including computing complexity and the trade-off between precision and interpretability. Our findings demonstrate that local explanation techniques can boost industrial AI models’ transparency and interpretability and give insightful information about them. The efficiency of these procedures must be improved, and ethical concerns about their application must be resolved. This paper contributes to the increasing knowledge of local explanation strategies and offers guidance to academics and industry professionals who want to use these methods in practical settings.
Comparison of CNN-Based Models for Pothole Detection in Real-World Adverse Conditions: Overview and Evaluation
Authors: Jakubec Maroš , Lieskovská Eva , Bučko Boris , Zábovská Katarína
Published: May 2023

Potholes pose a significant problem for road safety and infrastructure. They can cause damage to vehicles and present a risk to pedestrians and cyclists. The ability to detect potholes in real time and with a high level of accuracy, especially under different lighting conditions, is crucial for the safety of road transport participants and the timely repair of these hazards. With the increasing availability of cameras on vehicles and smartphones, there is a growing interest in using computer vision techniques for this task. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have shown great potential for object detection tasks, including pothole detection. This study provides an overview of computer vision algorithms used for pothole detection. Experimental results are then used to evaluate the performance of the latest CNN-based models for pothole detection in different real-world road conditions, including rain, sunset, evening, and night, as well as clean conditions. The models evaluated in this study include both conventional and the newest architectures from the region-based CNN (R-CNN) and You Only Look Once (YOLO) families. The YOLO models demonstrated a faster detection response and higher accuracy in detecting potholes under clear, rain, sunset, and evening conditions. R-CNN models, on the other hand, performed better in the worse-visibility conditions at night. This study provides valuable insights into the performance of different CNN models for pothole detection in real road conditions and may assist in the selection of the most appropriate model for a specific application.
Toward a Comprehensive Understanding and Evaluation of the Sustainability of E-Health Solutions
Authors: Alajlan Azza , Baslyman Malak
Published: May 2023

Digital health transformation (DHT) has been deployed rapidly worldwide, and many e-health solutions are being invented and improved on an accelerating basis. Healthcare already faces many challenges in terms of reducing costs and allocating resources optimally, while improving provided services. E-solutions in healthcare can be a key enabler for improvements while controlling the budget; however, if the sustainability of those solutions is not assessed, many resources directed towards e-solutions and the cost of adoption/implementation will be wasted. Thus, it is important to assess the sustainability of newly proposed or already in-use e-health solutions. In the literature, there is a paucity of empirically driven comprehensive sustainability models and assessment tools to guide practices in real-world cases. Hence, this study proposes a comprehensive sustainability model for e-health solutions to assess the essential sustainability aspects of e-health solutions and anticipate the likelihood of their sustainability. To build the model, a systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to extract the e-health sustainability dimensions and elements. In addition, the SLR analyzes the existing definitions of sustainability in healthcare and sustainability assessment methods. The proposed sustainability model has five dimensions, namely; technology, organization, economic, social, and resources. Each dimension has aspects that provide another level of required detail to assess sustainability. In addition, an assessment method was developed for this model to assess the aspects of each dimension, resulting in the overall prediction of the e-health solution’s sustainability level. The sustainability model and the assessment method were validated by three experts in terms of comprehensiveness and applicability to be used in healthcare. Furthermore, a case study was conducted on a Hospital Information System (HIS) of a hospital in Saudi Arabia to evaluate the sustainability model and its assessment method. The sustainability model and assessment method were illustrated to be effective in evaluating the sustainability of e-solutions and more comprehensive and systematic than the evaluation used in the hospital.
Emergency Evacuation Simulation Study Based on Improved YOLOv5s and Anylogic
Authors: Niu Chuanxi , Wang Weihao , Guo Hebin , Li Kexin
Published: May 2023

With the development of the social economy and the continuous growth of the population, emergencies within field stations are becoming more frequent. To improve the efficiency of emergency evacuation of field stations and further protect people’s lives, this paper proposes a method based on improved YOLOv5s target detection and Anylogic emergency evacuation simulation. This method applies the YOLOv5s target detection network to the emergency evacuation problem for the first time, using the stronger detection capability of YOLOv5s to solve the problem of unstable data collection under unexpected conditions. This paper first uses YOLOv5s, which incorporates the SE attention mechanism, to detect pedestrians inside the site. Considering the height of the camera and the inability to capture the whole body of the pedestrian when the site is crowded, this paper adopts the detection of the pedestrian’s head to determine the specific location of the pedestrian inside the site. To ensure that the evacuation task is completed in the shortest possible time, Anylogic adopts the principle of closest distance evacuation, so that each pedestrian can leave through the exit closest to him or her. The experimental results show that the average accuracy of the YOLOv5s target detection model incorporating the SE attention mechanism can reach 94.01%; the constructed Anylogic emergency evacuation model can quickly provide an evacuation plan to guide pedestrians to leave from the nearest exit in an emergency, effectively verifying the feasibility of the method. The method can be extended and applied to research related to the construction of emergency evacuation aid decision-making systems in field stations.
A Hierarchical Federated Learning Algorithm Based on Time Aggregation in Edge Computing Environment
Authors: Zhang Wenbo , Zhao Yuchen , Li Fangjing , Zhu Hongbo
Published: May 2023

Federated learning is currently a popular distributed machine learning solution that often experiences cumbersome communication processes and challenging model convergence in practical edge deployments due to the training nature of its model information interactions. The paper proposes a hierarchical federated learning algorithm called FedDyn to address these challenges. FedDyn uses dynamic weighting to limit the negative effects of local model parameters with high dispersion and speed-up convergence. Additionally, an efficient aggregation-based hierarchical federated learning algorithm is proposed to improve training efficiency. The waiting time is set at the edge layer, enabling edge aggregation within a specified time, while the central server waits for the arrival of all edge aggregation models before integrating them. Dynamic grouping weighted aggregation is implemented during aggregation based on the average obsolescence of local models in various batches. The proposed algorithm is tested on the MNIST and CIFAR-10 datasets and compared with the FedAVG algorithm. The results show that FedDyn can reduce the negative effects of non-independent and identically distributed (IID) data on the model and shorten the total training time by 30% under the same accuracy rate compared to FedAVG.
Data Acquisition System Based on the Bluesky Suite in the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility
Authors: Zhao Ying , Hu Chun , Wang Chunpeng , Cao Jiefeng , Zhang Zhaohong
Published: May 2023

The Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility Phase-II Project is now under construction and it consists of 16 newly built advanced beamlines. The experiments carried out at these new beamlines tend to be characterized by high flux, multi-mode, ultra-fast frequency, in situ and dynamic loading. To meet these emerging experimental demands of SSRF Phase-II beamlines, the authors have developed a unified and extensible data acquisition system based on Bluesky suite. It has been applied at the BL07U Spatial-resolved and Spin-resolved ARPES and magnetism beamline. The experiment results show that with up to 5 channel signals, the system is capable of collecting total electron yield signals of experimental sample and standard sample, and incident photon flux signals simultaneously. It improves the user experimental efficiency and quality. In addition, thanks to Bluesky suite, all devices can be abstracted as motors or detectors and then represented by a Python object. Therefore, with the architecture, modules and interface developed for BL07U, the system can be extended to more beamlines efficiently and easily.
Analysis of Urban Heat Island Effect, Heat Stress and Public Health in Colombo, Sri Lanka and Shenzhen, China
Authors: Nanayakkara Srimalee , Wang Weimin , Cao Jie , Wang Jia , Zhou Weiqi
Published: May 2023

Human health, energy and comfort are determined by the climate that remains in the physical environment. Regarding urban climate, few studies assess the urban heat island effect, heat stress, and public health as geographical representations. This study seeks to fill this gap by selecting Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Shenzhen, China, comparatively, two coastal cities with different climate conditions. We quantified and compared the effects of heat waves and their impacts on public health and the effect of urbanization on urban heat islands (UHI). Heat-related public health issues have been calculated using the Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index. The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect was analyzed using Land Surface Temperature (LST), created based on Landsat images obtained in 1997, 2009 and 2019. A rapid increase in temperature and humidity creates an uncomfortable environment in both cities, but apparent differences can be observed in climatic phenomena. During the summer (June to August), the prevailing atmospheric condition in Shenzhen makes a “Very severe stress” with Heatstroke highly likely. Nevertheless, seven months (November to April) are found as “Comfortable” without having any heat-related health injuries. However, Colombo has never been classified as “Comfortable” throughout the year. Out of twelve, five months (April to August) are found as “Very severe stress” with Heatstroke highly likely. When considering the urban expansion and UHI, a fast expansion can be observed in Colombo than in Shenzhen. Consequently, with the more severe heat-related public health and rapid urban heat island expansion, Colombo makes it more stressful than Shenzhen city. Our findings highlight the comparison between heat-related public health and urban heat island between two coastal cities with different climate conditions and under rapid urbanization processes. Therefore, it is imperative to assess these risks and respond effectively.
A Community-Based Sensor Network for Monitoring the Air Quality in Urban Romania
Authors: Velea Liliana , Udriștioiu Mihaela Tinca , Puiu Silvia , Motișan Radu , Amarie Dragos
Published: May 2023

Air quality, especially particulate matter pollution levels in urban areas, is an essential academic and social topic due to its association with health issues and climate change. In Romania, increasing awareness of urban communities and the availability of low-cost sensors has led to the development of an independent monitoring network currently distributed in over 194 cities and towns. The uRADMonitor® network consists of 630 sensors measuring PM10 and PM2.5 concentration levels. The spatial distribution of the sensors complements the national air quality network with sensors in residential areas, intense traffic zones, and industrial areas. The data are available through a user-friendly web-based platform from uRADMonitor®. Based on data collected in 2021, we present an analysis of PM10 pollution levels in Romania’s five most populated urban areas by employing five annual statistical indicators recommended by the European Environmental Agency. For the case of Timișoara, we also compare the data measured by independent sensors with those from the national monitoring network. The results highlight the usefulness of our community-based network as it complements the national one.
Combination L-Glutamine with Gemcitabine and Nab-Paclitaxel in Treatment-Naïve Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: The Phase I GlutaPanc Study Protocol
Authors: Gong Jun , Osipov Arsen , Lorber Jeremy , Tighiouart Mourad , Kwan Albert K. , Muranaka Hayato , Akinsola Rasaq , Billet Sandrine , Levi Abrahm , Abbas Anser , Davelaar John , Bhowmick Neil , Hendifar Andrew E.
Published: May 2023

Advanced pancreatic cancer is underscored by progressive therapeutic resistance and a dismal 5-year survival rate of 3%. Preclinical data demonstrated glutamine supplementation, not deprivation, elicited antitumor effects against pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) alone and in combination with gemcitabine in a dose-dependent manner. The GlutaPanc phase I trial is a single-arm, open-label clinical trial investigating the safety of combination L-glutamine, gemcitabine, and nab-paclitaxel in subjects (n = 16) with untreated, locally advanced unresectable or metastatic pancreatic cancer. Following a 7-day lead-in phase with L-glutamine, the dose-finding phase via Bayesian design begins with treatment cycles lasting 28 days until disease progression, intolerance, or withdrawal. The primary objective is to establish the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of combination L-glutamine, gemcitabine, and nab-paclitaxel. Secondary objectives include safety of the combination across all dose levels and preliminary evidence of antitumor activity. Exploratory objectives include evaluating changes in plasma metabolites across multiple time points and changes in the stool microbiome pre and post L-glutamine supplementation. If this phase I clinical trial demonstrates the feasibility of L-glutamine in combination with nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine, we would advance the development of this combination as a first-line systemic option in subjects with metastatic pancreatic cancer, a high-risk subgroup desperately in need of additional therapies.
Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Reduce Cellular Damage after Experimental Spinal Cord Injury in Rats
Authors: Vialle Emiliano Neves , Fracaro Letícia , Barchiki Fabiane , Dominguez Alejandro Correa , Arruda André de Oliveira , Olandoski Marcia , Brofman Paulo Roberto Slud , Kuniyoshi Rebelatto Carmen Lúcia
Published: May 2023

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition without an effective therapy. Cellular therapies are among the promising treatment strategies. Adult stem cells, such as mesenchymal stem cells, are often used clinical research for their immunomodulatory and regenerative potential. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSC) infusion through the cauda equina in rats with SCI. The human ADSC from bariatric surgery was isolated, expanded, and characterized. Wistar rats were subjected to blunt SCI and were divided into four groups. Two experimental groups (EG): EG1 received one ADSC infusion after SCI, and EG2 received two infusions, the first one after SCI and the second infusion seven days after the injury. Control groups (CG1 and CG2) received infusion with a culture medium. In vivo, cell tracking was performed 48 h and seven days after ADSC infusion. The animals were followed up for 40 days after SCI, and immunohistochemical quantification of myelin, neurons, and astrocytes was performed. Cellular tracking showed cell migration towards the injury site. ADSC infusion significantly reduced neuronal loss, although it did not prevent the myelin loss or enhance the area occupied by astrocytes compared to the control group. The results were similar when comparing one or two cell infusions. The injection of ADSC distal to the injured area was shown to be a safe and effective method for cellular administration in spinal cord injury.
The Transverse Mechanical Axis of the Pelvis for Post-Operative Evaluation of Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Tsai Cheng-Jui , Yang Zong-Yan , Wu Tai-Yin , Tsai Ya-Ting , Wang Juyn-Jhe , Liaw Chen-Kun
Published: May 2023

Currently, orthopedic surgeons mainly use the inter-teardrop line (IT-line) as the transverse mechanical axis of the pelvis (TAP) for postoperative evaluation of total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, the teardrop is often unclear in the pelvis anteroposterior (AP) radiographs, which makes postoperative evaluation of THA difficult. In this study, we attempted to identify other clear and accurate axes for postoperative evaluation of THA. We calculated the mean and standard deviation of these angles and tested the significance of these angles using t-tests. The inter-teardrops line (IT line) and the upper rim of the obturator foramen (UOF) had smaller angles with the IFH line. The bi-ischial line (BI line) was relatively inaccurate in measurements. We recommend using the IT line as the TAP when the lower boundary of the teardrops is clear and the shapes of the teardrops on both sides of the pelvis are symmetrical. When there is no deformation of the obturator foramen on pelvic AP radiographs, the UOF is also a good choice for the TAP. We do not recommend the BI line as the TAP.
Uptake-Dependent and -Independent Effects of Fibroblasts-Derived Extracellular Vesicles on Bone Marrow Endothelial Cells from Patients with Multiple Myeloma: Therapeutic and Clinical Implications
Authors: Lamanuzzi Aurelia , Saltarella Ilaria , Reale Antonia , Melaccio Assunta , Solimando Antonio Giovanni , Altamura Concetta , Tamma Grazia , Storlazzi Clelia Tiziana , Tolomeo Doron , Desantis Vanessa , Mariggiò Maria Addolorata , Desaphy Jean-François , Spencer Andrew , Vacca Angelo , Apollonio Benedetta , Frassanito Maria Antonia
Published: May 2023

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as important players in cell-to-cell communication within the bone marrow (BM) of multiple myeloma (MM) patients, where they mediate several tumor-associated processes. Here, we investigate the contribution of fibroblasts-derived EVs (FBEVs) in supporting BM angiogenesis. We demonstrate that FBEVs’ cargo contains several angiogenic cytokines (i.e., VEGF, HGF, and ANG-1) that promote an early over-angiogenic effect independent from EVs uptake. Interestingly, co-culture of endothelial cells from MM patients (MMECs) with FBEVs for 1 or 6 h activates the VEGF/VEGFR2, HGF/HGFR, and ANG-1/Tie2 axis, as well as the mTORC2 and Wnt/β-catenin pathways, suggesting that the early over-angiogenic effect is a cytokine-mediated process. FBEVs internalization occurs after longer exposure of MMECs to FBEVs (24 h) and induces a late over-angiogenic effect by increasing MMECs migration, chemotaxis, metalloproteases release, and capillarogenesis. FBEVs uptake activates mTORC1, MAPK, SRC, and STAT pathways that promote the release of pro-angiogenic cytokines, further supporting the pro-angiogenic milieu. Overall, our results demonstrate that FBEVs foster MM angiogenesis through dual time-related uptake-independent and uptake-dependent mechanisms that activate different intracellular pathways and transcriptional programs, providing the rationale for designing novel anti-angiogenic strategies.
Non-Thermal Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Application in Endodontics
Authors: Muniz Ana Bessa , Vegian Mariana Raquel da Cruz , Pereira Leite Lady Daiane , da Silva Diego Morais , Moreira Milhan Noala Vicensoto , Kostov Konstantin Georgiev , Koga-Ito Cristiane Yumi
Published: May 2023

The failure of endodontic treatment is frequently associated with the presence of remaining microorganisms, mainly due to the difficulty of eliminating the biofilm and the limitation of conventional irrigation solutions. Non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma (NTPP) has been suggested for many applications in the medical field and can be applied directly to biological surfaces or indirectly through activated liquids. This literature review aims to evaluate the potential of NTPP application in Endodontics. A search in the databases Lilacs, Pubmed, and Ebsco was performed. Seventeen manuscripts published between 2007 and 2022 that followed our established inclusion criteria were found. The selected manuscripts evaluated the use of NTPP regarding its antimicrobial activity, in the direct exposure and indirect method, i.e., plasma-activated liquid. Of these, 15 used direct exposure. Different parameters, such as working gas and distance from the apparatus to the substrate, were evaluated in vitro and ex vivo. NTPP showed a disinfection property against important endodontic microorganisms, mainly Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans. The antimicrobial potential was dependent on plasma exposure time, with the highest antimicrobial effects over eight minutes of exposure. Interestingly, the association of NTPP and conventional antimicrobial solutions, in general, was shown to be more effective than both treatments separately. This association showed antimicrobial results with a short plasma exposure time, what could be interesting in clinical practice. However, considering the lack of standardization of the direct exposure parameters and few studies about plasma-activated liquids, more studies in the area for endodontic purposes are still required.
Whole Blood Spermine/Spermidine Ratio as a New Indicator of Sarcopenia Status in Older Adults
Authors: Sanayama Hidenori , Ito Kiyonori , Ookawara Susumu , Uemura Takeshi , Sakiyama Yoshio , Sugawara Hitoshi , Tabei Kaoru , Igarashi Kazuei , Soda Kuniyasu
Published: May 2023

Early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention improve the quality of life and prognosis of patients with sarcopenia. The natural polyamines spermine and spermidine are involved in many physiological activities. Therefore, we investigated blood polyamine levels as a potential biomarker for sarcopenia. Subjects were Japanese patients >70 years of age who visited outpatient clinics or resided in nursing homes. Sarcopenia was determined based on muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance according to the criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (2019). The analysis included 182 patients (male: 38%, age: 83 [76–90] years). Spermidine levels were higher (p = 0.002) and the spermine/spermidine ratio was lower (p < 0.001) in the sarcopenia group than in the non-sarcopenia group. Polyamine concentration analysis showed that the odds ratios for age and spermidine changed in parallel with sarcopenia progression, and the odds ratio for the spermine/spermidine ratio changed inversely with the degree of sarcopenia progression. Additionally, when the odds ratio was analyzed with spermine/spermidine instead of polyamine concentrations, only for spermine/spermidine, the odds ratio values varied in parallel with the progression of sarcopenia. Based on the present data, we believe that the blood spermine/spermidine ratio may be a diagnostic indicator of risk for sarcopenia.
Insights into the Potential Impact of Quetiapine on the Microglial Trajectory and Inflammatory Response in Organotypic Cortical Cultures Derived from Rat Offspring
Authors: Chamera Katarzyna , Curzytek Katarzyna , Kamińska Kinga , Trojan Ewa , Leśkiewicz Monika , Tylek Kinga , Regulska Magdalena , Basta-Kaim Agnieszka
Published: May 2023

Atypical antipsychotics currently constitute the first-line medication for schizophrenia, with quetiapine being one of the most commonly prescribed representatives of the group. Along with its specific affinity for multiple receptors, this compound exerts other biological characteristics, among which anti-inflammatory effects are strongly suggested. Simultaneously, published data indicated that inflammation and microglial activation could be diminished by stimulation of the CD200 receptor (CD200R), which takes place by binding to its ligand (CD200) or soluble CD200 fusion protein (CD200Fc). Therefore, in the present study, we sought to evaluate whether quetiapine could affect certain aspects of microglial activity, including the CD200-CD200R and CX3CL1-CX3CR1 axes, which are involved in the regulation of neuron–microglia interactions, as well as the expression of selected markers of the pro- and anti-inflammatory profile of microglia (Cd40, Il-1β, Il-6, Cebpb, Cd206, Arg1, Il-10 and Tgf-β). Concurrently, we examined the impact of quetiapine and CD200Fc on the IL-6 and IL-10 protein levels. The abovementioned aspects were investigated in organotypic cortical cultures (OCCs) prepared from the offspring of control rats (control OCCs) or those subjected to maternal immune activation (MIA OCCs), which is a widely implemented approach to explore schizophrenia-like disturbances in animals. The experiments were performed under basal conditions and after additional exposure to the bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS), according to the “two-hit” hypothesis of schizophrenia. The results of our research revealed differences between control and MIA OCCs under basal conditions and in response to treatment with LPS in terms of lactate dehydrogenase and nitric oxide release as well as Cd200r, Il-1β, Il-6 and Cd206 expression. The additional stimulation with the bacterial endotoxin resulted in a notable change in the mRNA levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory microglial markers in both types of OCCs. Quetiapine diminished the influence of LPS on Il-1β, Il-6, Cebpb and Arg1 expression in control OCCs as well as on IL-6 and IL-10 levels in MIA OCCs. Moreover, CD200Fc reduced the impact of the bacterial endotoxin on IL-6 production in MIA OCCs. Thus, our results demonstrated that quetiapine, as well as the stimulation of CD200R by CD200Fc, beneficially affected LPS-induced neuroimmunological changes, including microglia-related activation.
Designing and Simulation Assessment of a Chair Attachment Air Blowing Methods to Enhance the Safety of Prolonged Sitting
Authors: Mistarihi Mahmoud Z. , Al-Omari Ammar A. , Al-Dwairi Abdullah F.
Published: May 2023

Musculoskeletal disorders and the stagnation of sitting are among the side effects of excessive sitting in awkward sitting positions. In this study, a developed chair attachment cushion design with an optimal air blowing technique is proposed to eliminate the negative side effects of prolonged sitting. Instantaneously reducing the contact area between the chair and its occupant is the fundamental goal of the proposed design. The fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making approaches represented by FAHP and FTOPSIS were integrated to evaluate and select the optimal proposed design. An ergonomic and biomechanics assessment of the occupant’s seating position while employing the novel safety cushion design was validated using simulation software (CATIA). Sensitivity analysis was also used to confirm the design’s robustness. Results show that the manual blowing system using an accordion blower was the optimal design concept based on the selected evaluation criteria. In fact, the proposed design provides an acceptable RULA index value for the examined sitting postures and performed very safely in the biomechanics single action analysis.
Automated Deep Learning-Based Classification of Wilms Tumor Histopathology
Authors: van der Kamp Ananda , de Bel Thomas , van Alst Ludo , Rutgers Jikke , van den Heuvel-Eibrink Marry M. , Mavinkurve-Groothuis Annelies M. C. , van der Laak Jeroen , de Krijger Ronald R.
Published: May 2023

(1) Background: Histopathological assessment of Wilms tumors (WT) is crucial for risk group classification to guide postoperative stratification in chemotherapy pre-treated WT cases. However, due to the heterogeneous nature of the tumor, significant interobserver variation between pathologists in WT diagnosis has been observed, potentially leading to misclassification and suboptimal treatment. We investigated whether artificial intelligence (AI) can contribute to accurate and reproducible histopathological assessment of WT through recognition of individual histopathological tumor components. (2) Methods: We assessed the performance of a deep learning-based AI system in quantifying WT components in hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides by calculating the Sørensen–Dice coefficient for fifteen predefined renal tissue components, including six tumor-related components. We trained the AI system using multiclass annotations from 72 whole-slide images of patients diagnosed with WT. (3) Results: The overall Dice coefficient for all fifteen tissue components was 0.85 and for the six tumor-related components was 0.79. Tumor segmentation worked best to reliably identify necrosis (Dice coefficient 0.98) and blastema (Dice coefficient 0.82). (4) Conclusions: Accurate histopathological classification of WT may be feasible using a digital pathology-based AI system in a national cohort of WT patients.
Evaluation of the Oesophagogastric Cancer-Associated Microbiome: A Systematic Review and Quality Assessment
Authors: Vadhwana Bhamini , Tarazi Munir , Boshier Piers R. , Hanna George B.
Published: May 2023

Objective. Oesophagogastric cancer is the fifth most common cancer worldwide, with poor survival outcomes. The role of bacteria in the pathogenesis of oesophagogastric cancer remains poorly understood. Design. A systematic search identified studies assessing the oesophagogastric cancer microbiome. The primary outcome was to identify bacterial enrichment specific to oesophagogastric cancer. Secondary outcomes included appraisal of the methodology, diagnostic performance of cancer bacteria and the relationship between oral and tissue microbiome. Results. A total of 9295 articles were identified, and 87 studies were selected for analysis. Five genera were enriched in gastric cancer: Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Prevotella, Fusobacterium and Veillonella. No clear trends were observed in oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Streptococcus, Prevotella and Fusobacterium were abundant in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Functional analysis supports the role of immune cells, localised inflammation and cancer-specific pathways mediating carcinogenesis. STORMS reporting assessment identified experimental deficiencies, considering batch effects and sources of contamination prevalent in low-biomass samples. Conclusions. Functional analysis of cancer pathways can infer tumorigenesis within the cancer–microbe–immune axis. There is evidence that study design, experimental protocols and analytical techniques could be improved to achieve more accurate and representative results. Whole-genome sequencing is recommended to identify key metabolic and functional capabilities of candidate bacteria biomarkers.
Exploiting Supramolecular Synthons in Cocrystals of Two Racetams with 4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid and 4-Hydroxybenzamide Coformers
Authors: Marquez Jason , Novikov Egor , Rigin Sergei , Fonari Marina S. , Castañeda Raúl , Kornilova Tatiana , Timofeeva Tatiana V.
Published: May 2023

Structures of three cocrystals of nootropic racetams were studied. They included two cocrystals of phenylpiracetam (PPA) with 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA) with different stoichiometries, PPA·HBA and PPA·2HBA, and cocrystal of 2-(4-phenyl-2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)-N’-isopropylideneacetohydrazide (PPAH) with 4-hydroxybenzamide (HBD), PPAH·HBD·(acetone solvate). X-ray study of the pure forms of PPA and PPAH was also carried out to identify variations of molecular synthons under the influence of conformers. The cocrystal structures revealed the diversity of supramolecular synthons namely, amide-amide, amide-acid, acid-acid, and hydroxyl-hydroxyl; however, very similar molecular chains were found in PPA and PPA·2HBA, and similar molecular dimers in PPAH and PPAH·HBD. In addition, conformational molecular diversity was observed as disorder in PPA·2HBA as it was observed earlier for rac-PPA that allows for the consideration that cocrystal as an example of partial solid solution. Quantum chemical calculations of PPA and PPAH conformers demonstrated that for most conformers, energy differences do not exceed 2 kcal/mol that suggests the influence of packing conditions (in this case R- and S-enantiomers intend to occupy the same molecular position in crystal) on molecular conformation.
Probing Low-Temperature OCM Performance over a Dual-Domain Catalyst Bed
Authors: Huang Baoting , Wang Jin , Shpasser Dina , Gazit Oz M.
Published: May 2023

The Mn-Na2WO4/SiO2 catalyst is regarded as the most promising catalyst for the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM). Despite its remarkable performance, the Mn-Na2WO4/SiO2 catalyst requires a high reaction temperature (>750 °C) to show significant activity, a temperature regime that simultaneously causes quick deactivation. In the current work, we show that the benefits of this catalyst can be leveraged even at lower reaction temperatures by a using a stacked catalyst bed, which includes also a small amount of 5% La2O3/MgO on-top- of the Mn-Na2WO4/SiO2 catalyst. The simple stacking of the two catalysts provides >7-fold higher activity and ~1.4-fold higher C2 yield at 705 °C compared to Mn-Na2WO4/SiO2 and La2O3/MgO, respectively. We specifically show that the enhanced OCM performance is associated with synergistic interactions between the two catalyst domains and study their origin.
Five Bonds to Carbon through Tri-Coordination in
Al3C3−/0
Authors: Malhan Abdul Hamid , Thimmakondu Venkatesan S. , Thirumoorthy Krishnan
Published: May 2023

Here, five bonds to carbon through tri-coordination are theoretically established in the global minimum energy isomers of Al3C3− anion (1a) and Al3C3 neutral (1n) for the first time. Various isomers of Al3C3−/0 are theoretically identified using density functional theory at the PBE0-D3/def2-TZVP level. Chemical bonding features are thoroughly analyzed for these two isomers (1a and 1n) with different bonding and topological quantum chemical tools, such as adaptive natural density partitioning (AdNDP), Wiberg Bond Indices (WBIs), nucleus-independent chemical shifts (NICS), and atoms in molecules (AIM) analyses. The structure of isomer 1a is planar with C2v symmetry, whereas its neutral counterpart 1n is non-planar with C2 symmetry, in which its terminal aluminum atoms are out of the plane. The central allenic carbon atom of isomers 1a and 1n exhibits tri-coordination and thus makes it a case of five bonds to carbon, which is confirmed through their total bond order as observed in WBI. Both the isomers show σ- and π-aromaticity and are predicted with the NICS and AdNDP analyses. Further, the results of ab initio molecular dynamics simulations reveal their kinetic stability at room temperature; thus, they are experimentally viable systems.
3D-Printed Hydrodynamic Focusing Lab-on-a-Chip Device for Impedance Flow Particle Analysis
Authors: Desagani Dayananda , Kleiman Shani , Zagardan Teddy , Ben-Yoav Hadar
Published: May 2023

Particles analysis, such as cell counting and differentiation, are widely used for the diagnosis and monitoring of several medical conditions, such as during inflammation. Three-dimensional-printed lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices, which can utilize one of the cell counting methods, can bring this technology to remote locations through its cost-efficient advantages and easy handling. We present a three-dimensional-printed LOC device with integrated electrodes. To overcome the limited resolution of a 3D printer, we utilized a flow-focusing design. We modeled and simulated the mass transfer and flow dynamics in the LOC by incorporating a flow-focusing design and reached an optimal channel diameter of 0.5 mm, resulting in a flow-focusing distance of <60 µm. We also used electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to enable the dependence of the electrode–solution interface on the flow-focusing properties. Finally, we highlighted the proof-of-concept detection of microspheres (6 µm diameter), which model biological cells that flow in the channel, by recording the electrochemical impedance at 10 kHz, thus showing the potential of a future point-of-care (POC) device.
Genome-Wide Identification of Candidate Genes Associated with Heat Stress in Mulberry (Morus alba L.)
Authors: Jin Xin , Ackah Michael , Acheampong Adolf , Zhang Qiaonan , Wang Lei , Lin Qiang , Qiu Changyu , Zhao Weiguo
Published: May 2023

Mulberry (Morus alba L.) is an economically important plant for the silk industry and has the possibility of contributing immensely to Chinese pharmacopeia because of its health benefits. Domesticated silkworms feed only on mulberry leaves, meaning that the worms’ survival depends on the mulberry tree. Mulberry production is threatened by climate change and global warming. However, the regulatory mechanisms of mulberry responses to heat are poorly understood. We performed transcriptome analysis of high-temperature-stressed (42 °C) M. alba seedlings using RNA-Seq technologies. A total of 703 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were discovered from 18,989 unigenes. Among these, 356 were up-regulated, and 347 were down-regulated. KEGG analysis revealed that most DEGs were enriched in valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation, and in starch and sucrose metabolism, alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, carotenoid biosynthesis and galactose metabolism, among others. In addition, TFs such as the NAC, HSF, IAA1, MYB, AP2, GATA, WRKY, HLH and TCP families were actively involved in response to high temperatures. Moreover, we used RT-qPCR to confirm the expression changes of eight genes under heat stress observed in the RNA-Seq analysis. This study provides M. alba transcriptome profiles under heat stress and provides theoretical bases to researchers for better understanding mulberry heat response mechanisms and breeding heat-tolerant mulberry plants.
Climate Change Effects on River Flow in Eastern Europe: Arctic Rivers vs. Southern Rivers
Authors: Kalugin Andrey
Published: May 2023

The hydrological model ECOMAG was used to calculate runoff characteristics in the main arctic (Northern Dvina and Pechora) and southern (Don and Kuban) river basins of Eastern Europe using the data from the ensemble of global climate models under the scenario of 1.5 and 2 °C global warming in the 21st century relative to pre-industrial values. Flow generation models were calibrated and validated based on runoff measurements at gauging stations using meteorological observation data. According to the results of numerical experiments, the relative change in river runoff in European Russia increases from north to south and from east to west under global warming of 1.5 to 2 °C. As a result, hydrological systems in milder climate were found to be more vulnerable to climate change. The assessment of flow anomalies in European Russia under the selected climate scenarios revealed the following general features: winter runoff in arctic rivers would increase, spring melt runoff in the Northern Dvina and Don would decrease, and summer–autumn runoff in all studied rivers would decrease to varying degrees. The most negative runoff anomalies are characterized in the southwestern part of the Northern Dvina basin, the middle part of the Don basin, and the lowland part of the Kuban basin, whereas positive runoff anomalies are characterized in the northern and eastern parts of the Pechora basin. Global warming of 1.5 to 2 °C would have the greatest impact on the rate of reduction of Kuban summer–autumn runoff and Don runoff during the spring flood, as well as the increase in Northern Dvina and Pechora winter runoff.