bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Implementation of TNFRSF Co-Stimulatory Domains in CAR-T Cells for Optimal Functional Activity
Authors: He Yuan , Vlaming Martijn , van Meerten Tom , Bremer Edwin
Published: January 2022

The Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily (TNFRSF) is a large and important immunoregulatory family that provides crucial co-stimulatory signals to many if not all immune effector cells. Each co-stimulatory TNFRSF member has a distinct expression profile and a unique functional impact on various types of cells and at different stages of the immune response. Correspondingly, exploiting TNFRSF-mediated signaling for cancer immunotherapy has been a major field of interest, with various therapeutic TNFRSF-exploiting anti-cancer approaches such as 4-1BB and CD27 agonistic antibodies being evaluated (pre)clinically. A further application of TNFRSF signaling is the incorporation of the intracellular co-stimulatory domain of a TNFRSF into so-called Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) constructs for CAR-T cell therapy, the most prominent example of which is the 4-1BB co-stimulatory domain included in the clinically approved product Kymriah. In fact, CAR-T cell function can be clearly influenced by the unique co-stimulatory features of members of the TNFRSF. Here, we review a select group of TNFRSF members (4-1BB, OX40, CD27, CD40, HVEM, and GITR) that have gained prominence as co-stimulatory domains in CAR-T cell therapy and illustrate the unique features that each confers to CAR-T cells.
Systemic Inflammation Index and Tumor Glycolytic Heterogeneity Help Risk Stratify Patients with Advanced Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Mutated Lung Adenocarcinoma Treated with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Therapy
Authors: Lue Kun-Han , Huang Chun-Hou , Hsieh Tsung-Cheng , Liu Shu-Hsin , Wu Yi-Feng , Chen Yu-Hung
Published: January 2022

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the first-line treatment for patients with advanced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated lung adenocarcinoma. Over half of patients failed to achieve prolonged survival benefits from TKI therapy. Awareness of a reliable prognostic tool may provide a valuable direction for tailoring individual treatments. We explored the prognostic power of the combination of systemic inflammation markers and tumor glycolytic heterogeneity to stratify patients in this clinical setting. One hundred and five patients with advanced EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma treated with TKIs were retrospectively analyzed. Hematological variables as inflammation-induced biomarkers were collected, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic inflammation index (SII). First-order entropy, as a marker of heterogeneity within the primary lung tumor, was obtained by analyzing 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography images. In a univariate Cox regression analysis, sex, smoking status, NLR, LMR, PLR, SII, and entropy were associated with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). After adjusting for confounders in the multivariate analysis, smoking status, SII, and entropy, remained independent prognostic factors for PFS and OS. Integrating SII and entropy with smoking status represented a valuable prognostic scoring tool for improving the risk stratification of patients. The integrative model achieved a Harrell’s C-index of 0.687 and 0.721 in predicting PFS and OS, respectively, outperforming the traditional TNM staging system (0.527 for PFS and 0.539 for OS, both p < 0.001). This risk-scoring model may be clinically helpful in tailoring treatment strategies for patients with advanced EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma.
Nuclear Localization of BRAFV600E Is Associated with HMOX-1 Upregulation and Aggressive Behavior of Melanoma Cells
Authors: Zerfaoui Mourad , Toraih Eman , Ruiz Emmanuelle , Errami Youssef , Attia Abdallah S. , Krzysztof Moroz , Abd Elmageed Zakaria Y. , Kandil Emad
Published: January 2022

Background: Previously, we have demonstrated that nuclear BRAFV600E is associated with melanoma aggressiveness and vemurafenib resistance. However, the underlying mechanisms of how nuclear localization of BRAFV600E promotes cell aggressiveness have not yet been investigated. Despite therapeutic advancements targeting cutaneous melanoma, unknown cellular processes prevent effective treatment for this malignancy, prompting an urgent need to identify new biological targets. This study aims to explore the association of inducible heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX-1) with nuclear BRAFV600E in promoting melanoma aggressiveness. Methods: Proteomics analysis was performed to identify the interacting partner(s) of nuclear BRAFV600E. Immunohistochemistry was applied to evaluate the levels of HMOX-1 and nuclear BRAFV600E expression in melanoma and adjacent healthy tissues. Immunofluorescence assessed the nuclear localization of BRAFV600E in vemurafenib-resistant A375R melanoma cells. Further study of HMOX-1 knockdown or BRAFV600E overexpression in melanoma cells suggested a role for HMOX-1 in the regulation of cell proliferation in vivo and in vitro. Finally, Western blot analysis was performed to confirm the pathway by which HMOX-1 mediates Akt signaling. Results: Proteomics results showed that HMOX-1 protein expression was 10-fold higher in resistant A375R cells compared to parental counterpart cells. In vitro and in vivo results illustrate that nuclear BRAFV600E promotes HMOX-1 overexpression, whereas HMOX-1 reduction represses melanoma cell proliferation and tumor growth. Mechanistic studies revealed that HMOX-1 was associated with nuclear BRAFV600E localization, thus promoting melanoma proliferation via a persistent activation of the AKT pathway. Conclusions: Our results highlight a previously unknown mechanism in which the nuclear BRAFV600E/HMOX-1/AKT axis plays an essential role in melanoma cell proliferation. Targeting HMOX-1 could be a novel method for treating melanoma patients who develop BRAF inhibitor resistance.
A Novel Plant-Derived Choline Transporter-like Protein 1 Inhibitor, Amb544925, Induces Apoptotic Cell Death via the Ceramide/Survivin Pathway in Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Shibata Kaoru , Nishijima Nozomi , Hirai Kaho , Watanabe Saiichiro , Yamanaka Tsuyoshi , Chikazu Daichi , Inazu Masato
Published: January 2022

Background: Despite recent advances in the early detection and treatment of TSCC patients, recurrence rates and survival rates have not improved. The high frequency of lymph node metastasis is one of the causes, and the drug development of new therapeutic mechanisms such as metastasis control is desired. Choline transporter-like protein 1 (CTL1) has attracted attention as a target molecule in cancer therapy. In this study, we examined the antitumor effects of Amb544925, a plant-derived CTL1 inhibitor. Methods: The TSCC cell line HSC-3 was used to measure [3H]choline uptake, cell survival, caspase activity, and cell migration. Xenograft model mice were prepared to verify the antitumor effect of Amb544925. Results: Amb544925 inhibited cell viability and increased caspase-3/7 activity at concentrations that inhibited choline uptake. Amb544925 and ceramide increased SMPD4 expression and suppressed surivivin expression. Furthermore, Amb544925 and ceramide inhibited the migration of HSC-3 cells. In the xenograft model mice, Amb544925 suppressed tumor growth and CTL1 mRNA expression. Conclusions: The plant-derived CTL1 inhibitor Amb544925 is a lead compound of a new anticancer agent exhibiting antitumor effects and inhibition of cell migration through the ceramide/survivin pathway.
Macrophage Involvement in Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ): A Comprehensive, Short Review
Authors: Gkouveris Ioannis , Soundia Akrivoula , Gouveris Panagiotis , Zouki Dionysia , Hadaya Danny , Tetradis Sotirios
Published: January 2022

Antiresorptive agents such as bisphosphonates (BP) and denosumab are commonly prescribed for the management of primary bone malignancy, bone metastasis, osteoporosis, Paget disease, or other bone disorders. Medication-related osteonecrosis of the Jaws (MRONJ) is a rare but significant complication of antiresorptive medications. Duration, dose, and antiresorptive potency as well as concomitant diseases, additional medications, and local factors affect MRONJ incidence and severity. MRONJ pathophysiology is still poorly understood. Nevertheless, decreased bone resorption due to osteoclastic inhibition along with trauma, infection/inflammation, or blood supply inhibition are considered synergistic factors for disease development. In addition, previous data research examined the effects of antiresorptive medication on immune system components and introduced potential alterations on immune response as novel elements in MRONJ pathogenesis. Considering that macrophages are the first cells in the nonspecific immune response, it is not surprising that these multifaceted players attracted increased attention in MRONJ research recently. This current review attempted to elucidate the effects of antiresorptive medications on several aspects of macrophage activity in relation to the complex inflammatory microenvironment of MRONJ. Collectively, unravelling the mode of action and extent of macrophages’ potential contribution in MRONJ occurrence will provide novel insight in disease pathogenesis and potentially identify intrinsic therapeutic targets.
Dermal Papilla Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Increase Hair Inductive Gene Expression in Adipose Stem Cells via β-Catenin Activation
Authors: Kazi Taheruzzaman , Nagata Abir , Nakagawa Takatoshi , Matsuzaki Takashi , Inui Shigeki
Published: January 2022

Recently, extracellular vesicle (EV)-mediated cell differentiation has gained attention in developmental biology due to genetic exchange between donor cells and recipient cells via transfer of mRNA and miRNA. EVs, also known as exosomes, play a role in maintaining paracrine cell communication and can induce cell proliferation and differentiation. However, it remains unclear whether adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) can adopt dermal papilla (DP)-like properties with dermal papilla cell-derived extracellular vesicles (DPC-EVs). To understand the effect of DPC-EVs on cell differentiation, DPC-EVs were characterized and incubated with ASCs, of monolayer and spheroid cell cultures, in combination with the CAO1/2FP medium specialized for dermal papilla cells (DPCs). DPC-like properties in ASCs were initially evaluated by comparing several genes and proteins with those of DPCs via real-time PCR analysis and immunostaining, respectively. We also evaluated the presence of hair growth-related microRNAs (miRNAs), specifically mir-214-5P, mir-218-5p, and mir-195-5P. Here, we found that miRNA expression patterns varied in DPC-EVs from passage 4 (P4) or P5. In addition, DPC-EVs in combination with CAP1/2FP accelerated ASC proliferation at low concentrations and propagated hair inductive gene expression for versican (vcan), alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-sma), osteopontin (opn), and N-Cam (ncam). Comparison between the expression of hair inductive genes (vcan, α-sma, ctnb, and others), the protein VCAN, α-SMA and β-Catenin (CTNB), and hair inductive miRNAs (mir-214-5P, mir-218-5p, and mir-195-5p) of DPC-EVs revealed similarities between P4 DPC-EVs-treated ASCs and DPCs. We concluded that early passage DPC-EVs, in combination with CAP1/2FP, enabled ASCs to transdifferentiate into DPC-like cells.
Cell Cycle Regulation by Heat Shock Transcription Factors
Authors: Tokunaga Yasuko , Otsuyama Ken-Ichiro , Hayashida Naoki
Published: January 2022

Cell division and cell cycle mechanism has been studied for 70 years. This research has revealed that the cell cycle is regulated by many factors, including cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). Heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) have been noted as critical proteins for cell survival against various stresses; however, recent studies suggest that HSFs also have important roles in cell cycle regulation-independent cell-protective functions. During cell cycle progression, HSF1, and HSF2 bind to condensed chromatin to provide immediate precise gene expression after cell division. This review focuses on the function of these HSFs in cell cycle progression, cell cycle arrest, gene bookmarking, mitosis and meiosis.
Molecular Mechanisms in Pentanucleotide Repeat Diseases
Authors: Loureiro Joana R. , Castro Ana F. , Figueiredo Ana S. , Silveira Isabel
Published: January 2022

The number of neurodegenerative diseases resulting from repeat expansion has increased extraordinarily in recent years. In several of these pathologies, the repeat can be transcribed in RNA from both DNA strands producing, at least, one toxic RNA repeat that causes neurodegeneration by a complex mechanism. Recently, seven diseases have been found caused by a novel intronic pentanucleotide repeat in distinct genes encoding proteins highly expressed in the cerebellum. These disorders are clinically heterogeneous being characterized by impaired motor function, resulting from ataxia or epilepsy. The role that apparently normal proteins from these mutant genes play in these pathologies is not known. However, recent advances in previously known spinocerebellar ataxias originated by abnormal non-coding pentanucleotide repeats point to a gain of a toxic function by the pathogenic repeat-containing RNA that abnormally forms nuclear foci with RNA-binding proteins. In cells, RNA foci have been shown to be formed by phase separation. Moreover, the field of repeat expansions has lately achieved an extraordinary progress with the discovery that RNA repeats, polyglutamine, and polyalanine proteins are crucial for the formation of nuclear membraneless organelles by phase separation, which is perturbed when they are expanded. This review will cover the amazing advances on repeat diseases.
Psychosocial Distress in Parents with Children Awaiting Surgery during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Forner David , Leslie Patricia K. , Aldaihani Abdullah , Bezuhly Michael , Noel Christopher W. , Horne David , Walling Simon , Robitaille Johane , MacLellan Dawn L. , El-Hawary Ron , Logan Karl , Romao Rodrigo , LaRoche Robert , Sett Suvro , Urquhart Robin , Hong Paul
Published: January 2022

Due to resource restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, many pediatric patients are facing substantial delays for surgery, potentially resulting in additional distress for caregivers. We aimed to assess the experiences and psychosocial distress of parents during COVID-19 as they relate to the pandemic, waiting for surgery, and the combined effects of both events. The was a cross-sectional qualitative study. Parents with children who faced treatment delays during the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic for elective, non-emergent procedures across a variety of surgical specialties were recruited. Semi-structured telephone interviews and thematic analysis were utilized. Thematic saturation was reached with eighteen participants. Four themes were identified: coping with COVID-19, distress levels, quality and nature of communication with the surgical team, and the experience of COVID-19 related hospital restrictions. Participants reported varying levels of distress due to the delay in surgery, such as the fear of developmental delay or disease progression for their child. They also indicated their own physical and mental health had been impacted by emotional distress related to both COVID-19 and delays in treatment. Most participants experienced the COVID-19-related hospital restrictions as distressing. This related predominantly to limiting in-hospital caregivers to only one caregiver. Participants were found to have substantial levels of psychosocial distress. Targeted social and emotional support may be helpful in reducing parental distress as the pandemic timeframe continues. Within the limits of individual health systems, reducing restrictions to the number of allowed care givers may help allay distress felt by parents.
Comparative Study of Refraction between Wave Front-Based Refraction and Autorefraction without and with Cycloplegia in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Calvo-Maroto Ana M , Llorente-González Sara , Bezunartea-Bezunartea Jaione , Hurtado-Ceña Francisco Javier , Berrozpe-Villabona Clara , Bilbao-Malavé Valentina , Piñero David P , Barrio-Barrio Jesús , Recalde-Maestre Sergio
Published: January 2022

The main aim of this study was to compare refraction measurements with and without cycloplegia from two refractors devices, (TRK-2P autorefractometer (TRK-2P) and wavefront-based refraction Visionix 130 (VX130)) in children and adolescents. This descriptive observational study included 20 myopic eyes and 40 hyperopic eyes measured in two different Spanish hospitals. Cycloplegia was carried out by three drops of cyclopentolate hydrochloride 1% (Colircusí cycloplegic, Alcon Healthcare S.A., Barcelona). The mean age of the myopia group was 12.40 ± 3.48 years; for the hyperopia group, the mean age was 7.37 ± 2.47 years. In the myopia group, autorefraction and wavefront-based refraction did not show clinically significant differences in any components between with and without cycloplegia. The hyperopia group showed statistical and clinically significant differences in sphere and SE components between relaxed and non-relaxed states of accommodation, although the cylindrical components were not clinically different. In this study, we considered a value of ≥0.50D as a clinically significant difference in refraction. Therefore, both devices were capable of obtaining accurate refractions without cyclopegia in myopia children, although they did not avoid instrument myopia and accommodation involved in hyperopia children. Moreover, both refractometers could be useful for astigmatism monitoring in children without the need for cycloplegic drops.
Questionnaires Assessing Adolescents’ Self-Concept, Self-Perception, Physical Activity and Lifestyle: A Systematic Review
Authors: Palenzuela-Luis Natacha , Duarte-Clíments Gonzalo , Gómez-Salgado Juan , Rodríguez-Gómez José Ángel , Sánchez-Gómez María Begoña
Published: January 2022

Introduction: Adolescence is considered a fundamental time to promote change. During this time, young people consolidate their social and individual identity. By influencing positive changes, chronic diseases can be avoided, delayed or modified in the future. The use of valid and reliable questionnaires is an optimal resource for gathering information and thus useful for this study. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to: (1). identify the questionnaires that assess self-esteem/self-concept, self-perception, physical exercise and lifestyle of adolescents; (2). analyse the psychometric measures of the questionnaires used to assess the self-esteem/self-concept, self-perception, physical exercise and lifestyle of adolescents; and (3). determine which questionnaires are the most reliable and valid for assessing the self-esteem/self-concept, self-perception, physical exercise and lifestyle of adolescents. Method: A bibliographic search was carried out in the following databases: Virtual Health Library, Cochrane, Medline, Cuiden, Scielo, Dialnet, PubMed and Ministry of Health, Consumption and Social Welfare following the PICO method. The recommendations of the PRISMA statement were followed. Results: A total of 71 scientific articles were collected. Within the self-perception/self-concept questionnaires, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale stands out for being an optimal and widely used resource in adolescents. Regarding the questionnaires that evaluate self-perception, the General Health Questionnaire is the most used; it is used in numerous national health surveys in different countries. The Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents ranks first with respect to the rest of the tools. It is a widely used resource internationally and provides enough information on the physical activity carried out by the subject in a given week. Although there are several questionnaires that measure lifestyle, the Health Behavior in School-aged Children instrument was selected. This instrument is at the European level and involves the collaboration of 48 countries and allows us to compare the lifestyle habits of adolescents from different countries. Discussion: The questionnaire that stands out in the assessment of self-esteem/self-concept is the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. The General Health Questionnaire has been selected as the best tool for assessing self-perception. To measure physical exercise, the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents is identified as the ideal instrument because it is widely used and can be completed quickly. Regarding lifestyle, the Health Behavior in School aged Children is shown to be an effective instrument in assessing lifestyle.
Electrochemical Surface Biofunctionalization of Titanium through Growth of TiO2 Nanotubes and Deposition of Zn Doped Hydroxyapatite
Authors: Vranceanu Diana Maria , Ungureanu Elena , Ionescu Ionut Cornel , Parau Anca Constantina , Kiss Adrian Emil , Vladescu Alina , Cotrut Cosmin Mihai
Published: January 2022

The current research aim is to biofunctionalize pure titanium (Ti, grade IV) substrate with titania nanotubes and Zn doped hydroxyapatite-based coatings by applying a duplex electrochemical treatment, and to evaluate the influence of Zn content on the physico-chemical properties of hydroxyapatite (HAp). The obtained nanostructured surfaces were covered with HAp-based coatings doped with Zn in different concentrations by electrochemical deposition in pulsed galvanostatic mode. The obtained surfaces were characterized in terms of morphology, elemental and phasic composition, chemical bonds, roughness, and adhesion. The nanostructured surface consisted of titania nanotubes (NT), aligned, vertically oriented, and hollow, with an inner diameter of ~70 nm. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that the nanostructured surface consists of an anatase phase and some rutile peaks as a secondary phase. The morphology of all coatings consisted of ribbon like-crystals, and by increasing the Zn content the coating became denser due to the decrement of the crystals’ dimensions. The elemental and phase compositions evidenced that HAp was successfully doped with Zn through the pulsed galvanostatic method on the Ti nanostructured surfaces. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and XRD analysis confirmed the presence of HAp in all coatings, while the adhesion test showed that the addition of a high quantity leads to some delamination. Based on the obtained results, it can be said that the addition of Zn enhances the properties of HAp, and through proper experimental design, the concentration of Zn can be modulated to achieve coatings with tunable features.
Annealing Effect on One Step Electrodeposited CuSbSe2 Thin Films
Authors: Abouabassi Khadija , Atourki Lahoucine , Sala Andrea , Ouafi Mouaad , Boulkaddat Lahcen , Ait Hssi Abderrahim , Labchir Nabil , Bouabid Khalid , Almaggoussi Abdelmajid , Gilioli Edmondo , Ihlal Ahmed
Published: January 2022

The purpose of this work is to study the influence of the annealing temperature on the structural, morphological, compositional and optical properties of CuSbSe2 thin films electrodeposited in a single step. CuSbSe2 thin films were grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)/glass substrates using the aqueous electrodeposition technique, then annealed in a tube furnace under nitrogen at temperatures spanning from 250 to 500 °C. The resulting films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis, Raman spectroscopy and UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The annealing temperature plays a fundamental role on the films structural properties; in the range 250–350 °C the formation of pure CuSbSe2 phase from electrodeposited binary selenides occurs. From 400 to 500 °C, CuSbSe2 undergoes a preferential phase orientation change, as well as the increasing formation of copper-rich phases such as Cu3SbSe3 and Cu3SbSe4 due to the partial decomposition of CuSbSe2 and to the antimony losses.
Impact of Multi-Walled CNT Incorporation on Dielectric Properties of PVDF-BaTiO3 Nanocomposites and Their Energy Harvesting Possibilities
Authors: Uddin Abu Sadat M. Iftekhar , Lee Dongin , Cho Chanseob , Kim Bonghwan
Published: January 2022

The current study investigated the fabrication of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) adhering to Barium titanate (BaTiO3) nanoparticles and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) nanocomposites, as well as the impact of MWCNT on the PVDF-BaTiO3 matrix in terms of dielectric constant and dielectric loss with a view to develop a high performance piezoelectric energy harvester in future. The capacity and potential of as-prepared nanocomposite films for the fabrication of high-performance flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator (PNG) were also investigated in this work. In particular, five distinct types of nanocomposites and films were synthesized: PB (bare PVDF–BaTiO3), PBC-1 (PVDF–BaTiO3-0.1 wt% CNT), PBC-2 (PVDF–BaTiO3-0.3 wt% CNT), PBC-3 (PVDF–BaTiO3-0.5 wt% CNT), and PBC-4 (PVDF–BaTiO3-1 wt% CNT). The dielectric constant and dielectric loss increased as MWCNT concentration increased. Sample PBC-3 had the optimum dielectric characteristics of all the as-prepared samples, with the maximum output voltage and current of 4.4 V and 0.66 μA, respectively, with an applied force of ~2N. Fine-tuning the BaTiO3 content and thickness of the PNGs is likely to increase the harvester’s performance even more. It is anticipated that the work would make it easier to fabricate high-performance piezoelectric films and would be a suitable choice for creating high-performance PNG.
Analysis of Thermal Performances in a Ventilated Room Using LBM-MRT: Effect of a Porous Separation
Authors: Hireche Zouhira , Himrane Nabil , Nasseri Lyes , Hamrioui Yasmine , Ameziani Djamel Eddine
Published: January 2022

This article demonstrates the feasibility of porous separation on the performance of displacement ventilation in a rectangular enclosure. A jet of fresh air enters the cavity through an opening at the bottom of the left wall and exits through an opening at the top of the right wall. The porous separation is placed in the center of the cavity and its height varies between 0.2 and 0.8 with three values of thickness, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3. The heat transfer rate was calculated for different intervals of Darcy (10−6 ≤ Da ≤ 10), Rayleigh (10 ≤ Ra ≤ 106), and Reynolds (50 ≤ Re ≤ 500) numbers. The momentum and the energy equations were solved by the lattice Boltzmann method with multiple relaxation times (LB-MRT). Schemes D2Q9 and D2Q5 were chosen for the velocity and temperature fields, respectively. For porous separation, the generalized Darcy–Brinkman–Forchheimer model was adopted. It is represented by a term added in the standard LB equations. For the dynamic domain, numerical simulations revealed complex flow structures depending on all control parameters. The results showed that the thermal field, mainly in the second compartment, is very dependent on the size and permeability of the porous separation. However, they have no influence on the transfer rate.
Oxalic Acid, a Versatile Coformer for Multicomponent Forms with 9-Ethyladenine
Authors: Benito Mónica , Barceló-Oliver Miquel , Frontera Antonio , Molins Elies
Published: January 2022

Six new multicomponent solids of 9-ethyladenine and oxalic acid have been detected and characterized. The salt screening has been performed by mechanochemical and solvent crystallization processes. Single crystals of the anhydrous salts in 1:1 and 2:1 nucleobase:coformer molar ratio were obtained by solution crystallization and elucidated by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The supramolecular interactions observed in these solids have been studied using density functional theory (DFT) calculations and characterized by the quantum theory of “atoms in molecules” (QTAIM) and the noncovalent interaction plot (NCIPlot) index methods. The energies of the H-bonding networks observed in the solid state of the anhydrous salts in 1:1 and 2:1 nucleobase:coformer are reported, disclosing the strong nature of the charge assisted NH···O hydrogen bonds and also the relative importance of ancillary C–H··O H-bonds.
Effects of Long-Term Habitat Protection on Montane Small Mammals: Are Sorex araneus and S. minutus More Sensitive Than Previously Considered?
Authors: Benedek Ana Maria , Lazăr Anamaria , Cic Niculina Viorica , Cocîrlea Maria Denisa , Sîrbu Ioan
Published: January 2022

Protection of natural areas by restricting human activities aims to preserve plant and animal populations and whole communities, ensuring the conservation of biological diversity and enhancement of ecosystem services. Therefore, it is expected that the longer the protection, the stronger the desired effects. We evaluated the responses of small mammals at the population and community levels under protection in the southern Carpathian Mountains. We surveyed small mammals for five years in sites with long- and short-term protection and non-protected. Besides protection status, we included elevation, habitat heterogeneity, and the month of survey as predictors in our models. As response variables, we considered abundance, presence, species composition and species richness. Community abundance responded to all four predictors and species composition was influenced by protection status and month of study. The shrews Sorex araneus and S. minutus had positive responses to protection, both in terms of abundance and relative abundance (their ratio within the community). Our results suggest that overall, montane small mammal communities respond positively to long-term protection, especially S. araneus and S. minutus. These shrew species are considered habitat generalists, but they appear to be in fact sensitive to the habitat quality enhanced through protection.
Underwater Photogrammetry Captures the Initial Recovery of a Coral Reef at Lalo Atoll
Authors: Fukunaga Atsuko , Pascoe Kailey H. , Pugh Ashley R. , Kosaki Randall K. , Burns John H. R.
Published: January 2022

Recovery of coral reefs after physical damage sustained from storm events can be affected by various factors. Here, we examined the initial recovery of a coral reef at the southern end of uninhabited Lalo Atoll of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument after its complete destruction by Hurricane Walaka in 2018. While the site was still mostly (98%) covered by a mixture of rubble and sand, surveys utilizing underwater photogrammetry allowed for detailed quantitative assessments of benthic cover and confirmed colonization of coral (Pocillopora meandrina and Porites lobata), macroalgae and sponges. The proportion of sand in the rubble–sand mixture also decreased from the level observed in 2019. Visual fish surveys confirmed the presence of 35 reef fish species, a large increase from no reef fish in 2019, despite the low biotic benthic cover. Overall, the colonization of benthic organisms and the return of reef fish, which is potentially supported by the benthos and cryptofauna in the rubble bed, offer positive signs of reef recovery. The photogrammetric surveys in the present study captured the subtle changes in the benthic cover and provided us with a procedure to continue monitoring the succession of the site. Continuous monitoring of the site should reveal whether the reef returns to the original state of Acropora coral dominance or progresses towards a coral assemblage with a different composition.
Noninvasive Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma on Sonazoid-Enhanced US: Value of the Kupffer Phase
Authors: Takahashi Hiroshi , Sugimoto Katsutoshi , Kamiyama Naohisa , Sakamaki Kentaro , Kakegawa Tatsuya , Wada Takuya , Tomita Yusuke , Abe Masakazu , Yoshimasu Yu , Takeuchi Hirohito , Itoi Takao
Published: January 2022

The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of Contrast-Enhanced US Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (CEUS LI-RADS) version 2017, which includes portal- and late-phase washout as a major imaging feature, with that of modified CEUS LI-RADS, which includes Kupffer-phase findings as a major imaging feature. Participants at risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with treatment-naïve hepatic lesions (≥1 cm) were recruited and underwent Sonazoid-enhanced US. Arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE), washout time, and echogenicity in the Kupffer phase were evaluated using both criteria. The diagnostic performance of both criteria was analyzed using the McNemar test. The evaluation was performed on 102 participants with 102 lesions (HCCs (n = 52), non-HCC malignancies (n = 36), and benign (n = 14)). Among 52 HCCs, non-rim APHE was observed in 92.3% (48 of 52). By 5 min, 73.1% (38 of 52) of HCCs showed mild washout, while by 10 min or in the Kupffer phase, 90.4% (47 of 52) of HCCs showed hypoenhancement. The sensitivity (67.3%; 35 of 52; 95% CI: 52.9%, 79.7%) of modified CEUS LI-RADS criteria was higher than that of CEUS LI-RADS criteria (51.9%; 27 of 52; 95% CI: 37.6%, 66.0%) (p = 0.0047). In conclusion, non-rim APHE with hypoenhancement in the Kupffer phase on Sonazoid-enhanced US is a feasible criterion for diagnosing HCC.
Application of Highly Flexible Adaptive Image Receive Coil for Lung MR Imaging Using Zero TE Sequence: Comparison with Conventional Anterior Array Coil
Authors: Bae Kyungsoo , Jeon Kyung Nyeo , Hwang Moon Jung , Jung Yunsub , Lee Joonsung
Published: January 2022

(1) Background: Highly flexible adaptive image receive (AIR) coil has become available for clinical use. The present study aimed to evaluate the performance of AIR anterior array coil in lung MR imaging using a zero echo time (ZTE) sequence compared with conventional anterior array (CAA) coil. (2) Methods: Sixty-six patients who underwent lung MR imaging using both AIR coil (ZTE-AIR) and CAA coil (ZTE-CAA) were enrolled. Image quality of ZTE-AIR and ZTE-CAA was quantified by calculating blur metric value, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of lung parenchyma. Image quality was qualitatively assessed by two independent radiologists. Lesion detection capabilities for lung nodules and emphysema and/or lung cysts were evaluated. Patients’ comfort levels during examinations were assessed. (3) Results: SNR and CNR of lung parenchyma were higher (both p < 0.001) in ZTE-AIR than in ZTE-CAA. Image sharpness was superior in ZTE-AIR (p < 0.001). Subjective image quality assessed by two independent readers was superior (all p < 0.05) in ZTE-AIR. AIR coil was preferred by 64 of 66 patients. ZTE-AIR showed higher (all p < 0.05) sensitivity for sub-centimeter nodules than ZTE-CAA by both readers. ZTE-AIR showed higher (all p < 0.05) sensitivity and accuracy for detecting emphysema and/or cysts than ZTE-CAA by both readers. (4) Conclusions: The use of highly flexible AIR coil in ZTE lung MR imaging can improve image quality and patient comfort. Application of AIR coil in parenchymal imaging has potential for improving delineation of low-density parenchymal lesions and tiny nodules.
Video Capsule Endoscopy Optimal Timing in Overt Obscure Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Authors: Song Joo Hye , Kim Ji Eun , Chung Hwe Hoon , Hong Sung Noh , Kim Heejung , Kim Eun Ran , Chang Dong Kyung , Kim Young-Ho
Published: January 2022

Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) has become the noninvasive diagnostic standard in the investigation of overt obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB), with a high positive and negative predictive value. However, the diagnostic yield of the VCE is thought to depend on when it was performed. We evaluate the optimal timing performing VCE relative to overt OGIB to improve the diagnostic yield. A total 271 patients had admitted and underwent VCE for overt OGIB between 2007 and 2016 in Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. To evaluate the diagnostic yield of VCE for overt OGIB with respect to timing of the intervention, diagnostic yield was analyzed according to the times after latest bleeding. The finding of VCE was classified into P0 or P1 (no potential for bleeding or uncertain hemorrhagic potential) and P2 (high potential for bleeding, such as active bleeding, typical angiodysplasia, large ulcerations or tumors). The P2 lesion was found in 106 patients and diagnostic yield of was 39.1% for overt OGIB. Diagnostic yield of VCE to detect P2 lesion was higher when it is performed closer to the time of latest bleeding (timing of VCE between the VCE and latest bleeding: <24 h, 43/63 (68.3%); 1 days, 16/43 (34.9%); 2 days, 18/52 (34.6%); 3 days, 13/43 (30.2%); 4 days, 7/28 (25.0%); 5–7 days, 6/24 (25.0%), and ≥8 days, 4/18 (22.2%); ptrend < 0.001). The interval between the VCE and latest bleeding were categorized into <24 h (n = 63), 1–2 days (n = 95), 3–7 days (n = 95) and ≥8 days (n = 18). Multivariable analyses showed the odds ratio for P2 lesion detection was 4.99 (95% confidence interval, 1.47–16.89) in <24 h group, compared with ≥8 days group (p < 0.010). The overall re-bleeding rate for those with P2 lesion was higher than for those with P0 or P1 lesion at the end of mean follow up of 2.5 years. The proportion of patients who underwent therapeutic intervention including surgery, endoscopic intervention and embolization was higher when VCE is performed closer to the time of latest bleeding (p = 0.010). Early deployment of VCE within 24 h of the latest GI bleeding results in a higher diagnostic yield for patients with overt OGIB and consequently resulted in a higher therapeutic intervention rate
A Metabonomic View on Wilms Tumor by High-Resolution Magic-Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Authors: Tasic Ljubica , Avramović Nataša , Quintero Melissa , Stanisic Danijela , Martins Lucas , da Costa Tassia , Jadranin Milka , de Souza Accioly Maria , Faria Paulo , de Camargo Beatriz , de Sá Pereira Bruna , Maschietto Mariana
Published: January 2022

Pediatric cancer NMR-metabonomics might be a powerful tool to discover modified biochemical pathways in tumor development, improve cancer diagnosis, and, consequently, treatment. Wilms tumor (WT) is the most common kidney tumor in young children whose genetic and epigenetic abnormalities lead to cell metabolism alterations, but, so far, investigation of metabolic pathways in WT is scarce. We aimed to explore the high-resolution magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (HR-MAS NMR) metabonomics of WT and normal kidney (NK) samples. For this study, 14 WT and 7 NK tissue samples were obtained from the same patients and analyzed. One-dimensional and two-dimensional HR-MAS NMR spectra were processed, and the one-dimensional NMR data were analyzed using chemometrics. Chemometrics enabled us to elucidate the most significant differences between the tumor and normal tissues and to discover intrinsic metabolite alterations in WT. The metabolic differences in WT tissues were revealed by a validated PLS-DA applied on HR-MAS T2-edited 1H-NMR and were assigned to 16 metabolites, such as lipids, glucose, and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), among others. The WT compared to NK samples showed 13 metabolites with increased concentrations and 3 metabolites with decreased concentrations. The relative BCAA concentrations were decreased in the WT while lipids, lactate, and glutamine/glutamate showed increased levels. Sixteen tissue metabolites distinguish the analyzed WT samples and point to altered glycolysis, glutaminolysis, TCA cycle, and lipid and BCAA metabolism in WT. Significant variation in the concentrations of metabolites, such as glutamine/glutamate, lipids, lactate, and BCAAs, was observed in WT and opened up a perspective for their further study and clinical validation.
Drone Applications Fighting COVID-19 Pandemic—Towards Good Practices
Authors: Restás Ágoston
Published: January 2022

Of the recent epidemics, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly severe, not only putting our health at risk, but also negatively affecting our daily lives. As there are no developed algorithms for the use of drones in epidemiological situations, it is ideal to analyze the experience gained on drones so far and outline the effective methods for future good practice. The author relies on a method of analyzing widely available open information, such as images and videos available on the Internet, reports from drone users, announcements by drone manufacturers and the contents of newspaper articles. Furthermore, the author has relied on the results of the relevant literature, as well as previous experience as a drone user and fire commander. The study reveals numerous possibilities associated with drone usage in epidemic related situations, but previous applications are based on previous experience gained during a non-epidemic situation, without developed algorithms. Applications can be divided into different types of groups: drones can collect data for management and provide information to the public, perform general or special logistical tasks to support health care and disinfect to reduce the risk of spreading the epidemic.
UAV Obstacle Avoidance Algorithm to Navigate in Dynamic Building Environments
Authors: Aldao Enrique , González-deSantos Luis , Michinel Humberto , González-Jorge Higinio
Published: January 2022

In this work, a real-time collision avoidance algorithm was presented for autonomous navigation in the presence of fixed and moving obstacles in building environments. The current implementation is designed for autonomous navigation between waypoints of a predefined flight trajectory that would be performed by an UAV during tasks such as inspections or construction progress monitoring. It uses a simplified geometry generated from a point cloud of the scenario. In addition, it also employs information from 3D sensors to detect and position obstacles such as people or other UAVs, which are not registered in the original cloud. If an obstacle is detected, the algorithm estimates its motion and computes an evasion path considering the geometry of the environment. The method has been successfully tested in different scenarios, offering robust results in all avoidance maneuvers. Execution times were measured, demonstrating that the algorithm is computationally feasible to be implemented onboard an UAV.
Improved Dividend Estimation from Intraday Quotes
Authors: Söderbäck Pontus , Blomvall Jörgen , Singull Martin
Published: January 2022

Liquid financial markets, such as the options market of the S&P 500 index, create vast amounts of data every day, i.e., so-called intraday data. However, this highly granular data is often reduced to single-time when used to estimate financial quantities. This under-utilization of the data may reduce the quality of the estimates. In this paper, we study the impacts on estimation quality when using intraday data to estimate dividends. The methodology is based on earlier linear regression (ordinary least squares) estimates, which have been adapted to intraday data. Further, the method is also generalized in two aspects. First, the dividends are expressed as present values of future dividends rather than dividend yields. Second, to account for heteroscedasticity, the estimation methodology was formulated as a weighted least squares, where the weights are determined from the market data. This method is compared with a traditional method on out-of-sample S&P 500 European options market data. The results show that estimations based on intraday data have, with statistical significance, a higher quality than the corresponding single-times estimates. Additionally, the two generalizations of the methodology are shown to improve the estimation quality further.
Synthetic Aperture Radar Image Despeckling Based on Multi-Weighted Sparse Coding
Authors: Liu Shujun , Pu Ningjie , Cao Jianxin , Zhang Kui
Published: January 2022

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images are inherently degraded by speckle noise caused by coherent imaging, which may affect the performance of the subsequent image analysis task. To resolve this problem, this article proposes an integrated SAR image despeckling model based on dictionary learning and multi-weighted sparse coding. First, the dictionary is trained by groups composed of similar image patches, which have the same structural features. An effective orthogonal dictionary with high sparse representation ability is realized by introducing a properly tight frame. Furthermore, the data-fidelity term and regularization terms are constrained by weighting factors. The weighted sparse representation model not only fully utilizes the interblock relevance but also reflects the importance of various structural groups in despeckling processing. The proposed model is implemented with fast and effective solving steps that simultaneously perform orthogonal dictionary learning, weight parameter updating, sparse coding, and image reconstruction. The solving steps are designed using the alternative minimization method. Finally, the speckles are further suppressed by iterative regularization methods. In a comparison study with existing methods, our method demonstrated state-of-the-art performance in suppressing speckle noise and protecting the image texture details.
On the Zero-Outage Secrecy-Capacity of Dependent Fading Wiretap Channels
Authors: Jorswieck Eduard , Lin Pin-Hsun , Besser Karl-Ludwig
Published: January 2022

It is known that for a slow fading Gaussian wiretap channel without channel state information at the transmitter and with statistically independent fading channels, the outage probability of any given target secrecy rate is non-zero, in general. This implies that the so-called zero-outage secrecy capacity (ZOSC) is zero and we cannot transmit at any positive data rate reliably and confidentially. When the fading legitimate and eavesdropper channels are statistically dependent, this conclusion changes significantly. Our work shows that there exist dependency structures for which positive zero-outage secrecy rates (ZOSR) are achievable. In this paper, we are interested in the characterization of these dependency structures and we study the system parameters in terms of the number of observations at legitimate receiver and eavesdropper as well as average channel gains for which positive ZOSR are achieved. First, we consider the setting that there are two paths from the transmitter to the legitimate receiver and one path to the eavesdropper. We show that by introducing a proper dependence structure among the fading gains of the three paths, we can achieve a zero secrecy outage probability (SOP) for some positive secrecy rate. In this way, we can achieve a non-zero ZOSR. We conjecture that the proposed dependency structure achieves maximum ZOSR. To better understand the underlying dependence structure, we further consider the case where the channel gains are from finite alphabets and systematically and globally solve the ZOSC. In addition, we apply the rearrangement algorithm to solve the ZOSR for continuous channel gains. The results indicate that the legitimate link must have an advantage in terms of the number of antennas and average channel gains to obtain positive ZOSR. The results motivate further studies into the optimal dependency structures.
Role of Time Scales in the Coupled Epidemic-Opinion Dynamics on Multiplex Networks
Authors: Jankowski Robert , Chmiel Anna
Published: January 2022

Modelling the epidemic’s spread on multiplex networks, considering complex human behaviours, has recently gained the attention of many scientists. In this work, we study the interplay between epidemic spreading and opinion dynamics on multiplex networks. An agent in the epidemic layer could remain in one of five distinct states, resulting in the SIRQD model. The agent’s attitude towards respecting the restrictions of the pandemic plays a crucial role in its prevalence. In our model, the agent’s point of view could be altered by either conformism mechanism, social pressure, or independent actions. As the underlying opinion model, we leverage the q-voter model. The entire system constitutes a coupled opinion–dynamic model where two distinct processes occur. The question arises of how to properly align these dynamics, i.e., whether they should possess equal or disparate timescales. This paper highlights the impact of different timescales of opinion dynamics on epidemic spreading, focusing on the time and the infection’s peak.