bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Nature of the Antimicrobial Metabolites Produced by Paenibacillus ehimensis Soil Isolate MZ921932 Using a Metagenomic Nanopore Sequencing Coupled with LC-Mass Analysis
Authors: Eltokhy Mohamed A. , Saad Bishoy T. , Eltayeb Wafaa N. , Yahia Ibrahim S. , Aboshanab Khaled M. , Ashour Mohamed S. E.
Published: December 2021

The continuous emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens poses a global threat to public health. Accordingly, global efforts are continuously conducted to find new approaches to infection control by rapidly discovering antibiotics, particularly those that retain activities against MDR pathogens. In this study, metagenomic nanopore sequence analysis coupled with spectroscopic methods has been conducted for rapid exploring of the various active metabolites produced by Paenibacillus ehimensis soil isolate. Preliminary soil screening resulted in selection of a Gram-positive isolate identified via 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing as Paenibacillus ehimensis MZ921932. The isolate showed a broad range of activity against MDR Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and Candida spp. A metagenomics sequence analysis of the soil sample harboring Paenibacillus ehimensis isolate MZ921932 (NCBI GenBank accession PRJNA785410) revealed the presence of conserved biosynthetic gene clusters of petrobactin, tridecaptin, locillomycin (β-lactone), polymyxin, and macrobrevin (polyketides). The liquid chromatography/mass (LC/MS) analysis of the Paenibacillus ehimensis metabolites confirmed the presence of petrobactin, locillomycin, and macrobrevin. In conclusion, Paenibacillus ehimensis isolate MZ921932 is a promising rich source for broad spectrum antimicrobial metabolites. The metagenomic nanopore sequence analysis was a rapid, easy, and efficient method for the preliminary detection of the nature of the expected active metabolites. LC/MS spectral analysis was employed for further confirmation of the nature of the respective active metabolites.
Theoretical and Experimental Considerations for a Rapid and High Throughput Measurement of Catalase In Vitro
Authors: Bendou Ouardia , Gutiérrez-Fernández Ismael , Marcos-Barbero Emilio L. , Bueno-Ramos Nara , González-Hernández Ana I. , Morcuende Rosa , Arellano Juan B.
Published: December 2021

A rapid and high throughput protocol to measure the catalase activity in vitro has been designed. Catalase is an enzyme with unusual kinetic properties because it does not follow the standard Michaelis–Menten model and is inactivated by H2O2. This makes the analysis of the two rate equations of the second-ordered reactions of the kinetic model rather complex. A two-degree polynomial fitting of the experimental data is proposed after transforming the exponential form of the integrated rate equation of the [H2O2] into a polynomial using the Taylor series. The fitting is validated by establishing an experimental linear relationship between the initial rate of the H2O2 decomposition and the protein concentration, regardless of the suicide inactivation that catalase might undergo beyond t > 0. In addition, experimental considerations are taken into account to avoid statistical bias in the analysis of the catalase activity. ANOVA analyses show that the proposed protocol can be utilized to measure the initial rate of the H2O2 decomposition by catalase in 32 samples in triplicates if kept below 8 mM min−1 in the microplate wells. These kinetic and statistical analyses can pave the way for other antioxidant enzyme activity assays in microplate readers at small scale and low cost.
Relevance of Cellular Redox Homeostasis for Vital Functions of Human Dental Pulp Cells
Authors: Gallorini Marialucia , Widbiller Matthias , Bolay Carola , Carradori Simone , Buchalla Wolfgang , Cataldi Amelia , Schweikl Helmut
Published: December 2021

Odontogenic MSCs are vulnerable to LPS-triggered bacterial infections, and they respond by secreting inflammatory mediators, such as IL-6, and with mineralization. Since both processes might be prone to a disturbance of the redox homeostasis, the oxidative stress influence on vital functions of human dental pulp cells (HPCs) was investigated. With these aims, a model of LPS-stimulated primary HPCs was established, and anti- and pro-oxidant substances were administered up to 21 days to measure inflammation and mineralization parameters. LPS-stimulated HPCs retained mineralization potential, which was decreased with the antioxidants NAC and fisetin and the pro-oxidant BSO. The expression of surface markers related to odontogenic commitment was influenced accordingly but counteracted by the enhanced expression of BMP2 and ALP at the transcriptional level. LPS triggers an early IL-6 production in non-odontogenic conditions, while it can be measured only after 15 days in the presence of the differentiation medium. The present study shows that HPCs functions causally depend on a tightly regulated cellular redox balance. Our data demonstrate a redox control of pulp MSC odontogenic commitment along with a potential association between an IL-6 late secretion and mineralization. These findings lay the groundwork for investigations on the molecular role of IL-6 in dental hard tissue metabolism.
Predicting Partner’s Digital Transformation Based on Artificial Intelligence
Authors: He Chenggang , H. Q. Ding Chris
Published: December 2021

Partner’s digital transformation is one of the most important metrics for businesses, particularly for businesses in the subscription world. Hence, how to predict partner transformation is a consistent focus in the industry. In this paper, we use an AI (Artificial Intelligence) relevant algorithm to analyze partner’s digital transformation issues and propose a novel method, named the hybrid VKR (VAE, K-means, and random forest) algorithm, to predict partner transformation. We apply our algorithm to partner transformation issues. First, we show the prediction of about 5980 partners from 25,689 partners, who are transformed and sorted according to important indicators. Secondly, we recap the tremendous effort that was required by the company to obtain high-quality results for economic change when a partner is transforming along with one or many of the transformation dimensions. Finally, we identify unethical behavior by looking through deal transaction data. Overall, our work sheds light on several potential problems in partner transformation and calls for improved scientific practices in this area.
Magnetism in Dentistry: Review and Future Perspectives
Authors: Russo Teresa , Peluso Valentina , Fucile Pierpaolo , De Santis Roberto , Gloria Antonio
Published: December 2021

Tissue engineering or tissue reconstruction/repair/regeneration may be considered as a guiding strategy in oral and maxillofacial surgery, as well as in endodontics, orthodontics, periodontics, and daily clinical practice. A wide range of techniques has been developed over the past years, from tissue grafts to the more recent and innovative regenerative procedures. Continuous research in the field of natural and artificial materials and biomaterials, as well as in advanced scaffold design strategies has been carried out. The focus has also been on various growth factors involved in dental tissue repair or reconstruction. Benefiting from the recent literature, this review paper illustrates current innovative strategies and technological approaches in oral and maxillofacial tissue engineering, trying to offer some information regarding the available scientific data and practical applications. After introducing tissue engineering aspects, an overview on additive manufacturing technologies will be provided, with a focus on the applications of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in the biomedical field. The potential applications of magnetic fields and magnetic devices on the acceleration of orthodontic tooth movement will be analysed.
Medium-Energy Synthesis Gases from Waste as an Energy Source for an Internal Combustion Engine
Authors: Chríbik Andrej , Polóni Marián , Magdolen Ľuboš , Minárik Matej
Published: December 2021

The aim of the presented article is to analyse the influence of synthesis gas composition on the power, economic, and internal parameters of an atmospheric two-cylinder spark-ignition internal combustion engine (displacement of 686 cm3) designed for a micro-cogeneration unit. Synthesis gases produced mainly from waste contain combustible components as their basic material (methane, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide), as well as inert gases (carbon dioxide and nitrogen). A total of twelve synthesis gases were analysed that fall into the category of medium-energy gases with lower heating value in the range from 8 to 12 MJ/kg. All of the resulting parameters from the operation of the combustion engine powered by synthesis gases were compared with the reference fuel methane. The results show a decrease in the performance parameters for all operating loads and an increase in hourly fuel consumption. Specifically, for the operating speed of the micro-cogeneration unit (1500 L/min), the decrease in power parameters was in the range of 7.1–23.5%; however, the increase in hourly fuel consumption was higher by 270% to 420%. The decrease in effective efficiency ranged from 0.4 to 4.6%, which in percentage terms represented a decrease from 1.3% to 14.5%. The process of fuel combustion was most strongly influenced by the proportion of hydrogen and inert gases in the mixture. It can be concluded that setting up the synthesis gas production in the waste gasification process in order to achieve optimum performance and economic parameters of the combustion engine for a micro cogeneration unit has an influential role and is of crucial importance.
Improving 3D Path Tracking of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles through Optimization of Compensated PD and PID Controllers
Authors: Zuñiga-Peña Nadia Samantha , Hernández-Romero Norberto , Seck-Tuoh-Mora Juan Carlos , Medina-Marin Joselito , Barragan-Vite Irving
Published: December 2021

The development of quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicles (QUAVs) is a growing field due to their wide range of applications. QUAVs are complex nonlinear systems with a chaotic nature that require a controller with extended dynamics. PD and PID controllers can be successfully applied when the parameters are accurate. However, this parameterization process is complicated and time-consuming; most of the time, parameters are chosen by trial and error without guaranteeing good performance. The originality of this work is to present a novel nonlinear mathematical model with aerodynamic moments and forces in the Newton–Euler formulation, and identify metaheuristic algorithms applied to parameter optimization of compensated PD and PID controls for tracking the trajectories of a QUAV. Eight metaheuristic algorithms (PSO, GWO, HGS, LSHADE, LSPACMA, MPA, SMA and WOA) are reported, and RMSE is used to measure each dynamic performance of the simulations. For the PD control, the best performance is obtained with the HGS algorithm with an RMSE = 0.037247252379126. For the PID control, the best performance is obtained with the HGS algorithm with an RMSE = 0.032594309723623. Trajectory tracking was successful for the QUAV by minimizing the error between the desired and actual dynamics.
Fermented Antler Recovers Stamina, Muscle Strength and Muscle Mass in Middle-Aged Mice
Authors: Kim Yong-Tae , Jeon Hyejin , Kim Sung-Hwan , Heo Keon , Shim Jae-Jung , Lee Jung-Lyoul , Yang Deok-Chun , Kang Se Chan
Published: December 2021

In a previous study, we found that Lactobacillus curvatus HY7602-fermented antler (FA) improved exercise endurance by increasement of muscle mass and strength in a young mouse model. In this study, we investigated the effect of FA on recovery of muscle mass and strength in aging-induced muscle loss. We have used a middle-aged model in which muscle decline begins in many mammalian species. All mice performed treadmill exercise and forced swimming, and measured muscle grip strength. Then, calf muscle weight and histological analysis, blood biomarker and gene expression in soleus muscle tissue were measured. Muscle strength and forced swimming time were significantly increased in the FA-intake groups compared to controls. The levels of muscle and liver damage-related indicators (ATL, ALP, LDH and CK) and muscle endurance, fatigue and exercise performance-related indicators (lactate and creatinine) were significantly improved by FA supplementation. In addition, FA regulates genes related to muscle protein degradation (Atrogin-1 and MuRF1) and muscle fiber synthesis (MyoD and Myf5), resulting in increased muscle mass, and fiber diameter and area values. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, related to apoptosis in skeletal muscle was significantly decreased. These results demonstrate that FA improves exercise performance with ameliorating blood biomarkers and also increases muscle mass and muscle strength by inhibiting muscle proteolysis and promoting muscle synthesis in a middle-aged mouse.
You Don’t Need Labeled Data for Open-Book Question Answering
Authors: Gholami Sia , Noori Mehdi
Published: December 2021

Open-book question answering is a subset of question answering (QA) tasks where the system aims to find answers in a given set of documents (open-book) and common knowledge about a topic. This article proposes a solution for answering natural language questions from a corpus of Amazon Web Services (AWS) technical documents with no domain-specific labeled data (zero-shot). These questions have a yes–no–none answer and a text answer which can be short (a few words) or long (a few sentences). We present a two-step, retriever–extractor architecture in which a retriever finds the right documents and an extractor finds the answers in the retrieved documents. To test our solution, we are introducing a new dataset for open-book QA based on real customer questions on AWS technical documentation. In this paper, we conducted experiments on several information retrieval systems and extractive language models, attempting to find the yes–no–none answers and text answers in the same pass. Our custom-built extractor model is created from a pretrained language model and fine-tuned on the the Stanford Question Answering Dataset—SQuAD and Natural Questions datasets. We were able to achieve 42% F1 and 39% exact match score (EM) end-to-end with no domain-specific training.
The Spheno-Occipital Synchondrosis and Morphometry of Sella Turcica Association with Different Phenotype Factors Related to Ectopic Eye Tooth/Teeth
Authors: Alam Mohammad Khursheed , Nagarajappa Anil Kumar , Alfawzan Ahmed Ali , Akhter Fatema , Alswairki Haytham Jamil , Issrani Rakhi , Bandela Vinod
Published: December 2021

Objectives: This study investigates the prevalence of Spheno-Occipital Synchondrosis (SOS) and sella turcica morphometry (STM) association with different phenotype factors related to ectopic eye tooth/teeth (EET) using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging. Methods: This comparative retrospective study analyzed 252 CBCT images. Subjects in the EET group consisted of 197 CBCT images with the phenotype factor in number, i.e., unilateral (13, n = 62; 23, n = 59) or bilateral (1323, n = 76) and matched control (n = 55). SOS and STM were investigated using 3D OnDemand Software. Seven parameters of STM were measured. To test the association X2 used for SOS prevalence, disparities in STM were tested using ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test. Results: The prevalence of unfused SOS was 48.4% and 16.1% in the 1323 and control groups, respectively. Fused SOS prevalence was quite similar in all four groups. Phenotype factor in number, i.e., unilateral 13, 23, or bilateral EET group showed significant disparities in six out of seven parameters (p = 0.044 to p ≥ 0.001). Additionally, phenotype factor in position, i.e., occlusal, buccal, or palatal group showed insignificant disparities (p = 0.463 to p = 1.00). Conclusion: SOS in the ectopic eye tooth group (EETG) was prevalent in the 1323 and buccal position groups. Differing from previous two-dimensional (2D) studies, there were statistically significant disparities in all seven measured variables of STM among control, and three different phenotype factors in numbers were revealed using three-dimensional (3D) CBCT imaging.
Characterization and Design for Last Mile Logistics: A Review of the State of the Art and Future Directions
Authors: Na Hyeong Suk , Kweon Sang Jin , Park Kijung
Published: December 2021

One of the most challenging problems in last mile logistics (LML) has been the strategic delivery due to various market risks and opportunities. This paper provides a systematic review of LML-related studies to find current issues and future opportunities for the LML service industry. To that end, 169 works were selected as target studies for in-depth analysis of recent LML advances. First, text mining analysis was performed to effectively understand the underlying LML themes in the target studies. Then, the novel definition and typology of LML delivery services were suggested. Finally, this paper proposed the next generation of LML research through advanced delivery technique-based LML services, environmentally sustainable LML systems, improvement of LML operations in real industries, effective management of uncertainties in LML, and LML delivery services for decentralized manufacturing services. We believe that this systematic literature review can serve as a useful tool for LML decision makers and stakeholders.
TSCH Multiflow Scheduling with QoS Guarantees: A Comparison of SDN with Common Schedulers
Authors: Orozco-Santos Federico , Sempere-Payá Víctor , Silvestre-Blanes Javier , Albero-Albero Teresa
Published: December 2021

Industrial Wireless Sensor Networks (IWSN) are becoming increasingly popular in production environments due to their ease of deployment, low cost and energy efficiency. However, the complexity and accuracy demanded by these environments requires that IWSN implement quality of service mechanisms that allow them to operate with high determinism. For this reason, the IEEE 802.15.4e standard incorporates the Time Slotted Channel Hopping (TSCH) protocol which reduces interference and increases the reliability of transmissions. This standard does not specify how time resources are allocated in TSCH scheduling, leading to multiple scheduling solutions. Schedulers can be classified as autonomous, distributed and centralised. The first two have prevailed over the centralised ones because they do not require high signalling, along with the advantages of ease of deployment and high performance. However, the increased QoS requirements and the diversity of traffic flows that circulate through the network in today’s Industry 4.0 environment require strict, dynamic control to guarantee parameters such as delay, packet loss and deadline, independently for each flow. That cannot always be achieved with distributed or autonomous schedulers. For this reason, it is necessary to use centralised protocols with a disruptive approach, such as Software Defined Networks (SDN). In these, not only is the control of the MAC layer centralised, but all the decisions of the nodes that make up the network are configured by the controller based on a global vision of the topology and resources, which allows optimal decisions to be made. In this work, a comparative analysis is made through simulation and a testbed of the different schedulers to demonstrate the benefits of a fully centralized approach such as SDN. The results obtained show that with SDN it is possible to simplify the management of multiple flows, without the problems of centralised schedulers. SDN maintains the Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR) levels of other distributed solutions, but in addition, it achieves greater determinism with bounded end-to-end delays and Deadline Satisfaction Ratio (DSR) at the cost of increased power consumption.
Future Renewable Energy Communities Based Flexible Power Systems
Authors: Simões Marcelo G. , Farret Felix A. , Khajeh Hosna , Shahparasti Mahdi , Laaksonen Hannu
Published: December 2021

This paper presents a new holistic approach that combines solutions for the future power systems. It describes clearly how solar energy is definitely the best outlet for a clean and sustainable planet, either due to their use in both vertical (V) or horizontal (H) forms such as: hydroelectric V&H, wind V&H, thermo-oceanic V&H, water movement sea V&H (tides and waves), solar thermoelectric, PV, and surface geothermal energy. New points of view and simple formulas are suggested to calculate the best characteristic intensity, storage means and frequency for specific places and how to manage the most well-known renewable sources of energy. Future renewables-based power system requires a huge amount of flexibility from different type and size of controllable energy resources. These flexible energy resources can be used in an aggregated manner to provide different ancillary services for the distribution and transmission network. In addition, flexible energy resources and renewable generation can be utilized in different kinds of energy communities and smart cities to benefit all stakeholders and society at the same time with future-proof market structures, new business models and management schemes enabling increased utilization of flexible energy resources. Many of the flexible energy resources and renewable-based generation units are also inverter-interfaced and therefore the authors present future power converter systems for energy sources as well as the latest age of multilevel converters.
Line Segment Matching Fusing Local Gradient Order and Non-Local Structure Information
Authors: Cai Weibo , Cheng Jintao , Deng Juncan , Zhou Yubin , Xiao Hua , Zhang Jian , Luo Kaiqing
Published: December 2021

Line segment matching is essential for industrial applications such as scene reconstruction, pattern recognition, and VSLAM. To achieve good performance under the scene with illumination changes, we propose a line segment matching method fusing local gradient order and non-local structure information. This method begins with intensity histogram multiple averaging being utilized for adaptive partitioning. After that, the line support region is divided into several sub-regions, and the whole image is divided into a few intervals. Then the sub-regions are encoded by local gradient order, and the intervals are encoded by non-local structure information of the relationship between the sampled points and the anchor points. Finally, two histograms of the encoded vectors are, respectively, normalized and cascaded. The proposed method was tested on the public datasets and compared with previous methods, which are the line-junction-line (LJL), the mean-standard deviation line descriptor (MSLD) and the line-point invariant (LPI). Experiments show that our approach has better performance than the representative methods in various scenes. Therefore, a tentative conclusion can be drawn that this method is robust and suitable for various illumination changes scenes.
Advanced Applications of Industrial Robotics: New Trends and Possibilities
Authors: Dzedzickis Andrius , Subačiūtė-Žemaitienė Jurga , Šutinys Ernestas , Samukaitė-Bubnienė Urtė , Bučinskas Vytautas
Published: December 2021

This review is dedicated to the advanced applications of robotic technologies in the industrial field. Robotic solutions in areas with non-intensive applications are presented, and their implementations are analysed. We also provide an overview of survey publications and technical reports, classified by application criteria, and the development of the structure of existing solutions, and identify recent research gaps. The analysis results reveal the background to the existing obstacles and problems. These issues relate to the areas of psychology, human nature, special artificial intelligence (AI) implementation, and the robot-oriented object design paradigm. Analysis of robot applications shows that the existing emerging applications in robotics face technical and psychological obstacles. The results of this review revealed four directions of required advancement in robotics: development of intelligent companions; improved implementation of AI-based solutions; robot-oriented design of objects; and psychological solutions for robot–human collaboration.
Effect of Enterocins A and B on the Viability and Virulence Gene Expression of Listeria monocytogenes in Sliced Dry-Cured Ham
Authors: Pérez-Baltar Aida , Medina Margarita , Montiel Raquel
Published: December 2021

Dry-cured ham can be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes during its industrial processing. The use of bacteriocins could ensure the safety of such meat products, but their effect on pathogen physiology is unknown. Therefore, the impact of enterocins A and B on the L. monocytogenes population, and the expression patterns of five genes (inlA, inlB, clpC, fbpA and prfA) related to adhesion/invasion and virulence regulation have been monitored in sliced dry-cured ham during 30 d of storage in refrigeration (4 °C) and temperature-abuse conditions (20 °C). L. monocytogenes strains S2 (serotype 1/2a) and S7-2 (serotype 4b) counts were reduced by 0.5 and 0.6 log units immediately after the application of enterocins A and B, a decrease lower than previously reported. Differences in gene expression were found between the two strains. For strain S2, expression tended to increase for almost all genes up to day seven of storage, whereas this increase was observed immediately after application for strain S7-2; however, overall gene expression was repressed from day one onwards, mainly under temperature-abuse conditions. L. monocytogenes strains investigated in the present work exhibited a mild sensitivity to enterocins A and B in sliced dry-cured ham. Bacteriocins caused changes in the expression patterns of virulence genes associated with adhesion and invasion, although the potential virulence of surviving cells was not enhanced.
Measurement and Mitigation of Radon Concentration in a Traditional Dwelling in Galicia, Spain
Authors: Pol Ricardo , Rodríguez Raúl , Quindós Luis Santiago , Fuente Ismael
Published: December 2021

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which tends to build up within structures. It is therefore necessary to include techniques to mitigate radon concentration when undertaking refurbishment. The goal of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a mitigation technique based on pressurizing the interior of a building, by testing a prototype of the mitigating device, developed by Siglo 21 Consultores and the LaRUC of the University of Cantabria, under real conditions, to determine its effectiveness during refurbishment. The methodology involved installing the proposed solution in a traditional country dwelling in an area characterized by high radon concentration, on the coast of Galicia, Spain. In order to measure the effectiveness of the solution, continuous measurement sensors, set in an ionization chamber, and properly calibrated by the LaRUC laboratory, were installed. The results obtained show that pressurizing the living quarters brings about an effective reduction in the radon concentration, with a relatively simple building solution. This solution, which is compatible with the principle of minimum intervention, is seen to be especially appropriate when work is undertaken in structures recognized as heritage.
Screening Approach for Short-Term PM2.5 Health Co-Benefits: A Case Study from 15 Metropolitan Cities around the World during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Lam Yun-Fat , Chang Jeffrey M. H. , Loo Becky P. Y. , Zhang Hong-Sheng , Leung Kenneth K. M. , Axhausen Kay W.
Published: December 2021

Fifteen cities across the world have been selected to investigate the public health co-benefits of PM2.5 reduction, during a period when various non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were adopted in the COVID-19 pandemic. Through applying a public health model, AirQ+, substantial spatial variations of global public health co-benefits were identified. Differences in seasonal air quality and population baselines were key underlying factors. For cities in North America, NPIs were introduced during the low pollution season, generating no co-benefits. On the other hand, tremendous health co-benefits were observed for cities in India and China, due to the high PM2.5 background with a large population. Among all, New Delhi has received the largest co-benefits, which saved over 14,700 premature deaths. As the pollution level (i.e., 45 μg m−3) with NPIs still exceeded the air quality standard, more rigorous emission controls are urgently needed to protect the public′s health in India. At last, a novel and practical tool for co-benefit screening was developed using data from one of the global measurement networks (i.e., IQAir).
Multiplicity of Positive Solutions to Nonlocal Boundary Value Problems with Strong Singularity
Authors: Kim Chan-Gyun
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we consider generalized Laplacian problems with nonlocal boundary conditions and a singular weight, which may not be integrable. The existence of two positive solutions to the given problem for parameter λ belonging to some open interval is shown. Our approach is based on the fixed point index theory.
A Hypergraph Model for Communication Patterns
Authors: Ciobanu Gabriel
Published: December 2021

The article deals with interaction in concurrent systems. A calculus able to express specific communication patterns is defined, together with its abstract control structures. A hypergraph model for these structures is presented. The hypergraphs are able to properly express the communication patterns, providing a fully abstract model for the pattern calculus. It is also proved that the hypergraph model preserves the operational reductions of processes from pattern calculus and of the actions from the control structures.
Evaluation of Hepatic Biochemical Parameters during Antiviral Treatment in COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Marc Felicia , Moldovan Corina , Hoza Anica , Restea Patricia , Sachelarie Liliana , Romila Laura Ecaterina , Suteu Corina , Farcas Dorina Maria
Published: December 2021

(1) Background: The antiviral treatment for COVID-19 disease started to be largely used in 2020 and has been found to be efficient, although it is not specific for SARS-CoV-2 virus. There were some concerns that it may produce liver damage or other side effects. (2) Methods: The aim of this study was to observe if antiviral therapy is affecting liver parameters or producing other side-effects in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 disease. The study included a group of patients hospitalized in the internal medicine department of Oradea Municipal Clinical Hospital, Romania, between August 2020–June 2021, diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 viral infection by RT-PCR method or rapid antigen test. During hospitalization, patients were treated with a Lopinavir/Ritonavir (Kaletra) combination, or with Favipiravir or Remdesivir. In addition to monitoring the evolution of the disease (clinical and biochemical), also hepatic parameters were analyzed at admission, during hospitalization, and at discharge. (3) Results: In the group of studied patients, the mean value of aspartat aminotrensferase did not increase above normal at discharge, alanin aminotransferase increased, but below twice the normal values, and cholestasis registered a statistically insignificant slight increase. (4) Conclusions: In our study, we found that all three antivirals were generally well tolerated and their use did not alter liver function in a significant manner.
Aging as a Risk Factor on the Immunoexpression of Pro-Inflammatory IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α Cytokines in Chronic Apical Periodontitis Lesions
Authors: Teixeira Quésia Euclides , Ferreira Dennis de Carvalho , da Silva Alexandre Marques Paes , Gonçalves Lucio Souza , Pires Fabio Ramoa , Carrouel Florence , Bourgeois Denis , Sufiawati Irna , Armada Luciana
Published: December 2021

Persistent inflammatory responses in the elderly may act as modifiers on the progression and repair of chronic apical periodontitis lesions (CAPLs). While the involvement of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in inflammatory responses and, particularly, in CAPL has been documented, their expression in elderly patients needs to be further characterized. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines in CAPL from elderly individuals with young/middle-aged individuals. Thirty CAPL (15 cysts and 15 granulomas) from elderly patients (>60 years) and 30 CAPL (15 cysts and 15 granuloma) from young/middle-aged individuals (20–56 years) were selected. Immunohistochemical reactions were performed against IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. The slides were subdivided into five high-magnification fields and analyzed. The number of positive stains was evaluated for each antibody. There was no significant difference between the cytokines when the cysts and granuloma were compared in the two groups. In the young/middle-aged, only IL-1β showed a difference and was significantly higher in granulomas (p = 0.019). CAPL pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in the elderly were significantly higher than in young/middle-aged individuals (p < 0.05). The pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly higher in CAPL in the elderly compared with the young/middle-aged group. Further elaborate research studies/analyses to elucidate the reasons for and consequences of inflammation in the elderly are recommended.
The Effects of Tetrapeptides Designed to Fit the Androgen Binding Site of ZIP9 on Myogenic and Osteogenic Cells
Authors: Malviya Viveka Nand , Bulldan Ahmed , Wende Raffael Christoph , Kabbesh Hassan , Möller Marie-Louise , Schreiner Peter Richard , Scheiner-Bobis Georgios
Published: December 2021

ZIP9 is a recently identified membrane-bound androgen receptor of physiological significance that may mediate certain physiological responses to androgens. Using in silico methods, six tetrapeptides with the best docking properties at the testosterone binding site of ZIP9 were synthesized and further investigated. All tetrapeptides displaced T-BSA-FITC, a membrane-impermeable testosterone analog, from the surface of mouse myogenic L6 cells that express ZIP9 but not the classical androgen receptor (AR). Silencing the expression of ZIP9 with siRNA prevented this labeling. All tetrapeptides were found to be pro-androgenic; in L6 cells they stimulated the expression of myogenin, triggered activation of focal adhesion kinase, and prompted the fusion of L6 myocytes to syncytial myotubes. In human osteoblastic SAOS-2 cells that express AR and ZIP9, they reduced the expression of alkaline phosphatase and stimulated mineralization. These latter effects were prevented by silencing ZIP9 expression, indicating that the osteoblast/osteocyte conversion is exclusively mediated through ZIP9. Our results demonstrate that the synthetic tetrapeptides, by acting as ZIP9-specific androgens, have the potential to replace testosterone or testosterone analogs in the treatment of bone- or muscle-related disorders by circumventing the undesirable effects mediated through the classical AR.
Nonwoven Textiles from Hyaluronan for Wound Healing Applications
Authors: Kubíčková Jolana , Medek Tomáš , Husby Jarmila , Matonohová Jana , Vágnerová Hana , Marholdová Lucie , Velebný Vladimír , Chmelař Josef
Published: December 2021

Nonwoven textiles are used extensively in the field of medicine, including wound healing, but these textiles are mostly from conventional nondegradable materials, e.g., cotton or synthetic polymers such as polypropylene. Therefore, we aimed to develop nonwoven textiles from hyaluronan (HA), a biocompatible, biodegradable and nontoxic polysaccharide naturally present in the human body. For this purpose, we used a process based on wet spinning HA into a nonstationary coagulation bath combined with the wet-laid textile technology. The obtained HA nonwoven textiles are soft, flexible and paper like. Their mechanical properties, handling and hydration depend on the microscale fibre structure, which is tuneable by selected process parameters. Cell viability testing on two relevant cell lines (3T3, HaCaT) demonstrated that the textiles are not cytotoxic, while the monocyte activation test ruled out pyrogenicity. Biocompatibility, biodegradability and their high capacity for moisture absorption make HA nonwoven textiles a promising material for applications in the field of wound healing, both for topical and internal use. The beneficial effect of HA in the process of wound healing is well known and the form of a nonwoven textile should enable convenient handling and application to various types of wounds.
Cooperative Parent-Mediated Therapy in Children with Fragile X Syndrome and Williams Beuren Syndrome: A Pilot RCT Study of a Transdiagnostic Intervention-Preliminary Data
Authors: Alfieri Paolo , Scibelli Francesco , Casula Laura , Piga Simone , Napoli Eleonora , Valeri Giovanni , Vicari Stefano
Published: December 2021

Children with fragile X syndrome and William Beuren syndrome share several socio-communicative deficits. In both populations, around 30/35% of individuals meets criteria for autism spectrum disorder on gold standard instruments. Notwithstanding, few studies have explored feasibility and validity of therapy for socio-communicative deficits in individuals with these genetic conditions. In this study, we present preliminary data on a pilot RCT aimed to verify the effectiveness of cooperative parent-mediated therapy for socio-communicative deficits in a transdiagnostic perspective in a small sample of 12 participants. Our preliminary data showed that the experimental group had significant improvement in one socio-communicative skill (responsivity) and in clinical global impression, while the control group in an adaptive measure of socialization and word production. Implications of these results are then discussed.
Comparison of Visual Fixation Trajectories in Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typical Development: A Markov Chain Model
Authors: Masedu Francesco , Vagnetti Roberto , Pino Maria Chiara , Valenti Marco , Mazza Monica
Published: December 2021

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition in which visual attention and visual search strategies are altered. Eye-tracking paradigms have been used to detect these changes. In our study, 18 toddlers with ASD and 18 toddlers with typical development (TD; age range 12–36 months) underwent an eye-tracking paradigm where a face was shown together with a series of objects. Eye gaze was coded according to three areas of interest (AOIs) indicating where the toddlers’ gaze was directed: ‘Face’, ‘Object’, and ‘No-stimulus fixation’. The fixation sequence for the ASD and TD groups was modelled with a Markov chain model, obtaining transition probabilities between AOIs. Our results indicate that the transition between AOIs could differentiate between toddlers with ASD or TD, highlighting different visual exploration patterns between the groups. The sequence of exploration is strictly conditioned based on previous fixations, among which ‘No-stimulus fixation’ has a critical role in differentiating the two groups. Furthermore, our analyses underline difficulties of individuals with ASD to engage in stimulus exploration. These results could improve clinical and interventional practice by considering this dimension among the evaluation process.
Increased Electrical Conductivity of Carbon Nanotube Fibers by Thermal and Voltage Annealing
Authors: Gangoli Varun Shenoy , Barnett Chris J. , McGettrick James D. , Orbaek White Alvin , Barron Andrew R.
Published: December 2021

We report the effect of annealing, both electrical and by applied voltage, on the electrical conductivity of fibers spun from carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Commercial CNT fibers were used as part of a larger goal to better understand the factors that go into making a better electrical conductor from CNT fibers. A study of thermal annealing in a vacuum up to 800 °C was performed on smaller fiber sections along with a separate analysis of voltage annealing up to 7 VDC; both exhibited a sweet spot in the process as determined by a combination of a two-point probe measurement with a nanoprobe, resonant Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Scaled-up tests were then performed in order to translate these results into bulk samples inside a tube furnace, with similar results that indicate the potential for an optimized method of achieving a better conductor sample made from CNT fibers. The results also help to determine the surface effects that need to be overcome in order to achieve this.
Oral Microbiota—A New Frontier in the Pathogenesis and Management of Head and Neck Cancers
Authors: Metsäniitty Marjut , Hasnat Shrabon , Salo Tuula , Salem Abdelhakim
Published: December 2021

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) comprises the majority of tumors in head and neck tissues. The prognosis of HNSCC has not significantly improved for decades, signifying the need for new diagnostic and therapeutic targets. Recent evidence suggests that oral microbiota is associated with carcinogenesis. Thus, we conducted a comprehensive systematic review to evaluate the current evidence regarding the role of oral microbiota in HNSCC and whether their targeting may confer diagnostic, prognostic or therapeutic utility. Following the screening of 233 publications retrieved from multiple databases, 34 eligible studies comprising 2469 patients were compiled and critically appraised. Importantly, many oral pathogens, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum were linked to certain oral potentially malignant lesions and various types of HNSCC. Furthermore, we summarized the association between the expression profiles of different oral bacterial species and their tumorigenic and prognostic effects in cancer patients. We also discussed the current limitations of this newly emerging area and the potential microbiota-related strategies for preventing and treating HNSCC. Whilst many clinical studies are underway to unravel the role of oral microbiota in cancer, the limited available data and experimental approaches reflect the newness of this promising yet challenging field.
Assessment of Collagen-Based Nanostructured Biomimetic Systems with a Co-Culture of Human Bone-Derived Cells
Authors: Borciani Giorgia , Montalbano Giorgia , Melo Priscila , Baldini Nicola , Ciapetti Gabriela , Vitale-Brovarone Chiara
Published: December 2021

Osteoporosis is a worldwide disease resulting in the increase of bone fragility and enhanced fracture risk in adults. In the context of osteoporotic fractures, bone tissue engineering (BTE), i.e., the use of bone substitutes combining biomaterials, cells, and other factors, is considered a potential alternative to conventional treatments. Innovative scaffolds need to be tested in in vitro systems where the simultaneous presence of osteoblasts (OBs) and osteoclasts (OCs), the two main players of bone remodeling, is required to mimic their crosstalk and molecular cooperation. To this aim, two composite materials were developed, based on type I collagen, and containing either strontium-enriched mesoporous bioactive glasses or rod-like hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. The developed nanostructured systems underwent genipin chemical crosslinking and were then tested with an indirect co-culture of human trabecular bone-derived OBs and buffy coat-derived OC precursors, for 2–3 weeks. The favorable structural and biological properties of the materials proved to successfully support the viability, adhesion, and differentiation of cells, encouraging a further investigation of the developed bioactive systems as biomaterial inks for the 3D printing of more complex scaffolds for BTE.
Levels of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme and Apolipoproteins Are Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease and Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Xu Chun , Garcia Debra , Lu Yongke , Ozuna Kaysie , Adjeroh Donald A. , Wang Kesheng ,   on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: December 2021

Angiotensin-converting enzyme-1 (ACE1) and apolipoproteins (APOs) may play important roles in the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This study aimed to examine the associations of AD, CVD, and endocrine-metabolic diseases (EMDs) with the levels of ACE1 and 9 APO proteins (ApoAI, ApoAII, ApoAIV, ApoB, ApoCI, ApoCIII, ApoD, ApoE, and ApoH). Non-Hispanic white individuals including 109 patients with AD, 356 mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 373 CVD, 198 EMD and controls were selected from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset. Multivariable general linear model (GLM) was used to examine the associations. ApoE ε4 allele was associated with AD, as well as ApoAIV, ApoB and ApoE proteins, but not associated with CVD and EMD. Both AD and CVD were associated with levels of ACE1, ApoB, and ApoH proteins. AD, MCI and EMD were associated with levels of ACE1, ApoAII, and ApoE proteins. This is the first study to report associations of ACE1 and several APO proteins with AD, MCI, CVD and EMD, respectively, including upregulated and downregulated protein levels. In conclusion, as specific or shared biomarkers, the levels of ACE1 and APO proteins are implicated for AD, CVD, EMD and ApoE ε4 allele. Further studies are required for validation to establish reliable biomarkers for these health conditions.
Immunotherapy in Nonendemic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: Real-World Data from Two Nonendemic Regions
Authors: Economopoulou Panagiota , Pantazopoulos Anastasios , Spathis Aris , Kotsantis Ioannis , Kyriazoglou Anastasios , Kavourakis George , Zakopoulou Roubini , Chatzidakis Ioannis , Anastasiou Maria , Prevezanou Maria , Resteghini Carlo , Licitra Lisa , Bergamini Cristiana , Colombo Elena , Caspani Francesca , Denaro Nerina , Vecchio Stefania , Bonomo Pierluigi , Cossu Rocca Maria , Bertolini Federica , Ferrari Daris , Psyrri Amanda , Bossi Paolo
Published: December 2021

Background: nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a complex disease entity that mainly predominates in endemic regions. Real-world data with immunotherapy from nonendemic regions are limited. Methods: we collected data from patients with recurrent/metastatic (R/M) NPC treated at a center in Greece and 8 centers in Italy. Between 2016 and 2021, 46 patients who were treated with at least one cycle of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) were identified. Herein, we present our results and a review of the literature. Results: assessment of response was available in 42 patients. Overall, 11 patients responded to immunotherapy (Overall Response Rate-ORR 26.2%). Three patients had complete response (CR), and 8 patients had partial response (PR). Disease control rate (DCR) was 61.9%. Median Progression Free Survival (PFS) was 5.6 months and median Overall Survival (OS) was 19.1 months. Responders to ICI improved PFS and OS as compared to that of nonresponders. A lower probability of responding to ICI was shown in patients with more than three metastatic sites (p = 0.073), metastatic disease at initial diagnosis, (p = 0.039) or EBV DNA positive before ICI initiation, (p = 0.074). Decline in EBV DNA levels was found to be statistically significant associated with best response to ICI (p = 0.049). Safety was manageable. Conclusions: among 46 patients with R/M NPC treated with immunotherapy in two nonendemic regions, ORR was 26.2% and durable responses were observed. Low disease burden could serve as a biomarker for response to ICI.