bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Potential of Plant-Based Bioactive Compounds on Inhibition of Aflatoxin B1 Biosynthesis and Down-regulation of aflR, aflM and aflP Genes
Authors: Safari Nassim , Mirabzadeh Ardakani Mehran , Hemmati Roghayeh , Parroni Alessia , Beccaccioli Marzia , Reverberi Massimo
Published: October 2020

The use of plant extracts in pre- and post-harvest disease management of agricultural crops to cope with aflatoxin B1 contamination has shown great promise due to their capability in managing toxins and safe-keeping the quality. We investigated the anti-aflatoxigenic effect of multiple doses of eight plant extracts (Heracleum persicum, Peganum harmala, Crocus sativus, Trachyspermum ammi, Rosmarinus officinalis, Anethum graveolens, Berberis vulgaris, Berberis thunbergii) on Aspergillus flavus via LC-MS and the down-regulatory effect of them on aflR, aflM and aflP genes involved in the aflatoxin B1 biosynthesis pathway using RT-qPCR analyses. Our results showed that H. persicum (4 mg/mL), P. harmala (6 mg/mL) and T. ammi (2 mg/mL) completely stopped the production of aflatoxin B1, without inducing significant changes in A. flavus growth. Furthermore, our findings showed a highly significant correlation between the gene expression and the aflatoxin B1 biosynthesis, such that certain doses of the extracts reduced or blocked the expression of the aflR, aflM and aflP and consequently reduced the synthesis of aflatoxin B1. Interestingly, compared to the regulatory gene (aflR), the down-regulation of expression in the structural genes (aflM and aflP) was more consistent and correlated with the inhibition of aflatoxin B1 production. Overall, this study reveals the anti-aflatoxigenic mechanisms of the selected plant extracts at the gene expression level and provides evidence for their use in plant and crop protection.
Relationship between the Length of Sperm Tail Mitochondrial Sheath and Fertility Traits in Boars Used for Artificial Insemination
Authors: Kerns Karl , Jankovitz Jennifer , Robinson Julie , Minton Amanda , Kuster Chris , Sutovsky Peter
Published: October 2020

The length of sperm tail midpiece, occupied by the mitochondrial sheath (MS), has been correlated with reproductive traits of mice, fish, and birds; however, it is not known whether such a correlation exists in higher order species such as domestic pigs. As the mitochondria provide for sperm motility and generate the fertility-affecting reactive oxygen species (ROS), we hypothesized that MS length correlates with boar semen parameters and artificial insemination (AI) fertility. Sperm samples collected from 57 boars and used for single sire AI were labeled with ProteoStat Aggresome probe (AGG; Enzo Life Sciences) for MS imaging by epifluorescence microscopy and image-based flow cytometry (IBFC). The mean boar MS length was 7.26 ± 0.2 µm, ranging from 6.94 ± 0.18 µm to 7.65 ± 0.31 µm. The absolute longest MS measured was 9.19 µm and the shortest was 5.83 µm. Boars in the high tertile of MS length had significantly higher conception rate (CR; p = 0.05) and sperm parameters. Boars within the high tertile of average number piglets born per litter had significantly shorter MS and more varied MS length than boars in the low tertile (p = 0.04). MS length data correlated with conventional sperm parameters including percent viable and intact acrosomes (p = 0.03), basal:induced oxidation ratio (measure of intracellular ROS levels; p = 0.02) and Comp DNA (chromatin integrity; p = 0.06) along with many flow cytometric AGG parameters in IBFC. Sperm head AGG intensity median absolute deviation had a negative correlation with total born (r = −0.423 p = 0.004). These data reveal a complex relationship between sperm MS length and aggresome abundance to sperm parameters and boar reproductive success in AI service.
Aflatoxins in Milk and Dairy Products: Occurrence and Exposure Assessment for the Serbian Population
Authors: Djekic Ilija , Petrovic Jelena , Jovetic Milica , Redzepovic-Djordjevic Azra , Stulic Milica , Lorenzo Jose M. , Iammarino Marco , Tomasevic Igor
Published: October 2020

The main objective of this study was to assess the exposure associated with aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) of the adult population in Serbia from consumption of milk and dairy products. This assessment was performed using concentration values of AFM1 in raw milk (385 samples) and dairy products (556 samples) based on the analyses conducted in the period between 2015 and 2018. In parallel, a dairy products consumption survey was completed during 2018 based on ‘one-day’ and ‘seven-day’ recall methods. In order to estimate the intake of AFM1 from the consumption of dairy products for both recall methods, a Monte Carlo simulation was conducted. The study revealed that pasteurized milk and yogurt are dairy products mostly consumed by the Serbian adult population. Estimated daily intake of AFM1 was in the range of 62–74 × 10−3 ng/kg bw/day, depending on the recall methods and scenarios employed. Although the results show moderate exposure risks compared to similar studies worldwide, climatic conditions and weather extremes that have occurred recently may have negatively influenced the contamination of feed and, consequently, AFM1 contamination of milk. As a result, it is justifiable to promote continuous monitoring in feed and dairy supply chains in Serbia and provide an update of exposure assessment.
A Hybrid Marker-Based Indoor Positioning System for Pedestrian Tracking in Subway Stations
Authors: Lee Gunwoo , Kim Hyun
Published: October 2020

The use of smartphones for accurate navigation in underground spaces, such as subway stations, poses several challenges. This is because it is difficult to obtain a sure estimate of user location due to the radio signal interference caused by the entry and exit of trains, the infrastructure of the subway station installation, and changes in the internal facility environment. This study uses quick response markers and augmented reality to solve these difficulties using an error correction method. Specifically, a hybrid marker-based indoor positioning system (HMIPS) which provides accurate and efficient user-tracking results is proposed. The HMIPS performs hybrid localization by using marker images as well as inertial measurement unit data from smartphones. It utilizes the Viterbi tracking algorithm to solve the problem of tracking accuracy degradation that may occur when inertial sensors are used by adopting a sensor error correction technique. In addition, as an integrated system, the HMIPS provides a tool to easily carry out all the steps necessary for positioning. The results of experiments conducted in a subway station environment confirm that the HMIPS provides accurate and practical navigation services. The proposed system is expected to be useful for indoor navigation, even in poor indoor positioning environments.
Rainfall Standard of Disaster Prediction for Agricultural Droughts in S. Korea
Authors: Song Youngseok , Park Moojong
Published: October 2020

With the climate change adding to the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, drought has devastated large areas of lands in South Korea. Still, the exact beginning and end of the drought is difficult to identify, and this impedes the development and implementation of disaster predictions. Although the drought phenomenon has been well-documented, predictions thereof are limited due to the non-linear and complex temporal fluctuations of the hydrologic factors. Hence, this study set up some reference points for disaster-prediction rainfall based on South Korea’s agricultural drought damage data, to help in drought relief. To set up the proposed reference points for disaster-prediction rainfall, we analyzed rainfall in light of the disaster-prevention relevance to agricultural droughts and the disaster reduction. As an analysis method, rainfall of municipality was calculated through Thiessen’s polygonal method, to apply rainfall weighting value for each rainfall observatory. In addition, the linear regression analysis was applied to suggest the calculation formula for setting the annual disaster reduction rainfall. The results of this study, standard of judgment point for disaster prevention of agricultural drought at the time of disaster management, were analyzed for rainfall for local governments and the whole country. Rather than using various drought indices that are currently developed, policy makers or public servant made suggestions based on rainfall that is most accessible and convenient for judging the timing of agricultural drought. As the disaster-prevention rainfall with agricultural droughts is expected to occur, we established the average annual rainfall of ≤1200 or 100 mm below the preceding year’s average annual rainfall. Moreover, as the disaster-reduction rainfall for agricultural droughts to end, we determined the average monthly rainfall of ≥150 mm.
Rearrangeable Nonblocking Conditions for Four Elastic Optical Data Center Networks
Authors: Lin Bey-Chi
Published: October 2020

Four variants of elastic optical data center network (DCN) architectures based on optical circuit switching were proposed in an earlier study. The necessary and sufficient values of frequency slot units (FSUs) per fiber required for these four DCNs in the sense of there being strictly nonblocking (SNB) were derived, but no results in the sense of being rearrangeable nonblocking (RNB) were presented. In reality, only limited bandwidths are available, and reducing the value of FSUs per fiber has become a critical task to realize nonblocking optical DCN architectures in practice. In this paper, we derive the sufficient value of FSUs per fiber required for the four DCNs to be RNB by two multigraph approaches. Our results show that the proposed RNB conditions in terms of FSUs per fiber for a certain two of the four DCNs reduce their SNB results down to at least half for most cases, and even down to one-third.
Latency-Aware DU/CU Placement in Convergent Packet-Based 5G Fronthaul Transport Networks
Authors: Klinkowski Mirosław
Published: October 2020

The 5th generation mobile networks (5G) based on virtualized and centralized radio access networks will require cost-effective and flexible solutions for satisfying high-throughput and latency requirements. The next generation fronthaul interface (NGFI) architecture is one of the main candidates to achieve it. In the NGFI architecture, baseband processing is split and performed in radio (RU), distributed (DU), and central (CU) units. The mentioned entities are virtualized and performed on general-purpose processors forming a processing pool (PP) facility. Given that the location of PPs may be spread over the network and the PPs have limited capacity, it leads to the optimization problem concerning the placement of DUs and CUs. In the NGFI network scenario, the radio data between the RU, DU, CU, and a data center (DC)—in which the traffic is aggregated—are transmitted in the form of packets over a convergent packet-switched network. Because the packet transmission is nondeterministic, special attention should be put on ensuring the appropriate quality of service (QoS) levels for the latency-sensitive traffic flows. In this paper, we address the latency-aware DU and CU placement (LDCP) problem in NGFI. LDCP concerns the placement of DU/CU entities in PP nodes for a given set of demands assuming the QoS requirements of traffic flows that are related to their latency. To this end, we make use of mixed integer linear programming (MILP) in order to formulate the LDCP optimization problem and to solve it. To assure that the latency requirements are satisfied, we apply a reliable latency model, which is included in the MILP model as a set of constraints. To assess the effectiveness of the MILP method and analyze the network performance, we run a broad set of experiments in different network scenarios.
Oil Press-Cakes and Meals Valorization through Circular Economy Approaches: A Review
Authors: Ancuța Petraru , Sonia Amariei
Published: October 2020

The food industry generates a large amount of waste every year, which opens up a research field aimed at minimizing and efficiently managing this issue to support the concept of zero waste. From the extraction process of oilseeds results oil cakes. These residues are a source of bioactive compounds (protein, dietary fiber, antioxidants) with beneficial properties for health, that can be used in foods, cosmetics, textile, and pharmaceutical industries. They can also serve as substrates for the production of enzymes, antibiotics, biosurfactants, and mushrooms. Other applications are in animal feedstuff and for composites, bio-fuel, and films production. This review discusses the importance of oilseed and possible valorization methods for the residues obtained in the oil industry.
Calculation of Loads on Carrying Structures of Articulated Circular-Tube Wagons Equipped with New Draft Gear Concepts
Authors: Lovska Alyona , Fomin Oleksij , Kučera Pavel , Píštěk Václav
Published: October 2020

This article deals with the dynamic load and strength of the carrying structures of articulated circular-tube wagons. The study was conducted on the carrying structures of wagons equipped with new draft gear concepts. The accelerations on the carrying structures of wagons were determined using mathematical modeling. The results of modeling show that implementation of the draft gear concept can decrease the dynamic load of wagons by about 10% in comparison with that of a typical SA-3 coupler. Using the created computational models, the service life of the structure of the proposed articulated wagons was also determined. This research will encourage engineers to design modern structures of railway vehicles of higher operational efficiency.
Long-Term Remote Monitoring of Ground Deformation Using Sentinel-1 Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR): Applications and Insights into Geotechnical Engineering Practices
Authors: Ramirez Ryan , Lee Seung-Rae , Kwon Tae-Hyuk
Published: October 2020

Development of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology and the dedicated suite of processing tools have aided the evolution of remote sensing techniques for various Earth Observation (EO) applications. Interferometric SAR (InSAR) is a relatively new geodetic technique which provides high-speed and reliable geographic, geologic, and hazards information allowing the prognosis of future environmental and urban planning. In this study, we explored the applicability of two differential interferometry techniques, conventional and advanced differential InSAR (A-DInSAR), for topographic mapping and long-term geotechnical monitoring by exploiting satellite data, particularly Sentinel-1 SAR data, which is publicly shared. We specifically used the open-source tools of SeNtinel Application Platform (SNAP) and Stanford Method for Persistent Scatterers (StaMPS) for interferometric data processing to implement A-DInSAR. This study presents various applications, which include generation of a digital elevation model (DEM), mapping of seismically induced displacement and associated damages, and detection and long-term monitoring of tunneling-induced ground deformation and rainfall-induced landslide. Geometric and temporal decorrelations posed challenges and limitations in the successful implementation of Sentinel-1 SAR interferometry specifically in vegetated areas. The presented results proved the validity and reliability of the exploited SAR data and InSAR techniques for addressing geotechnical engineering related problems.
Preliminary Investigation of the Performance of an Engine Equipped with an Advanced Axial Turbocharger Turbine
Authors: Guarda Gregory , Pesyridis Apostolos , Sam Ashish Alex
Published: October 2020

Stringent emission regulations and increased demand for improved fuel economy have called for advanced turbo technologies in automotive engines. The use of turbochargers on smaller engines is one such concept, but they are limited by a time delay in reaching the required boost during transient operation. The amount of turbocharger lag plays a key role in the driver’s perceived quality of a passenger vehicle’s engine response. This paper investigates an alternative method to the conventional design of a turbocharger turbine to improve the transient response of a passenger vehicle. The investigation utilises the Ford Eco-Boost 1.6 L petrol engine, an established production engine, equipped with a turbocharger of similar performance to the GT1548 produced by Honeywell. The commercially available Ricardo WAVE was used to model the engine. Comparing the steady-state performance showed that the axial turbine provides higher efficiencies at all operating conditions of an engine. The transient case demonstrated an improved transient response at all operating conditions of the engine. The study concluded that, by designing a similar sized axial turbine, the mass moment of inertia can be reduced by 12.64% and transient response can be improved on average by 11.76%, with a maximum of 21.05% improvement. This study provides encouragement for the wider application of this turbine type to vehicles operating on dynamic driving cycles such as passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles, and certain off-road applications.
Exploring Reward Strategies for Wind Turbine Pitch Control by Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Sierra-García Jesús Enrique , Santos Matilde
Published: October 2020

In this work, a pitch controller of a wind turbine (WT) inspired by reinforcement learning (RL) is designed and implemented. The control system consists of a state estimator, a reward strategy, a policy table, and a policy update algorithm. Novel reward strategies related to the energy deviation from the rated power are defined. They are designed to improve the efficiency of the WT. Two new categories of reward strategies are proposed: “only positive” (O-P) and “positive-negative” (P-N) rewards. The relationship of these categories with the exploration-exploitation dilemma, the use of ϵ-greedy methods and the learning convergence are also introduced and linked to the WT control problem. In addition, an extensive analysis of the influence of the different rewards in the controller performance and in the learning speed is carried out. The controller is compared with a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) regulator for the same small wind turbine, obtaining better results. The simulations show how the P-N rewards improve the performance of the controller, stabilize the output power around the rated power, and reduce the error over time.
Gene Expression Profiling of Multiple Histone Deacetylases (HDAC) and Its Correlation with NRF2-Mediated Redox Regulation in the Pathogenesis of Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Authors: Teena Rajan , Dhamodharan Umapathy , Ali Daoud , Rajesh Kesavan , Ramkumar Kunka Mohanram
Published: October 2020

Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a protein of the leucine zipper family, which mitigates inflammation and employs cytoprotective effects. Attempting to unravel the epigenetic regulation of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), we profiled the expression of eleven isoform-specific histone deacetylases (HDACs) and correlated them with NRF2 and cytokines. This study recruited a total of 60 subjects and categorized into DFU patients (n = 20), T2DM patients (n = 20), and healthy controls (n = 20). The DFU patients were subcategorized into uninfected and infected DFU (n = 10 each). We observed a progressive decline in the expression of NRF2 and its downstream targets among T2DM and DFU subjects. The inflammatory markers IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly upregulated, whereas anti-inflammatory marker IL-10 was significantly downregulated in DFU. Of note, a significant upregulation of HDAC1, 3, 4, 11, SIRT3 and downregulation of HDAC2,8, SIRT1, SIRT2, SIRT3, SIRT7 among DFU patients were observed. The significant positive correlation between NRF2 and SIRT1 in DFU patients suggested the vital role of NRF2/SIRT1 in redox homeostasis and angiogenesis. In contrast, the significant negative correlation between NRF2 and HDAC1, 3 and 4, implied an imbalance in NRF2-HDAC1, 3, 4 circuit. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was observed between HDAC4 and IL-6, and the negative correlation between SIRT1 and IL-6 suggested the pro-inflammatory role of HDAC4 and the anti-inflammatory role of SIRT1 in NRF2 signaling. In conclusion, the epigenetic changes such as upregulation of HDAC1, 3, 4, 11, SIRT3 and downregulation of HDAC2, 8, SIRT1, SIRT2, SIRT6, SIRT7 and their association with NRF2 as well as inflammatory markers are suggestive of their roles in pathophysiology of T2DM and DFU.
Targeting P53 as a Future Strategy to Overcome Gemcitabine Resistance in Biliary Tract Cancers
Authors: Wu Chiao-En , Pan Yi-Ru , Yeh Chun-Nan , Lunec John
Published: October 2020

Gemcitabine-based chemotherapy is the current standard treatment for biliary tract cancers (BTCs) and resistance to gemcitabine remains the clinical challenge. TP53 mutation has been shown to be associated with poor clinicopathologic characteristics and survival in patients with BTCs, indicating that p53 plays an important role in the treatment of these cancers. Herein, we comprehensively reviewed previous BTC preclinical research and early clinical trials in terms of p53, as well as novel p53-targeted treatment, alone or in combination with either chemotherapy or other targeted therapies in BTCs. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that p53 mutations in BTCs are associated with enhanced gemcitabine resistance, therefore targeting p53 may be a novel therapeutic strategy for treatment of BTCs. Directly targeting mutant p53 by p53 activators, or indirectly by targeting cell cycle checkpoint proteins (Chk1, ataxia telangiectasia related (ATR), and Wee1) leading to synthetic lethality, may be potential future strategies for gemcitabine-resistant p53 mutated BTCs. In contrast, for wild-type p53 BTCs, activation of p53 by inhibition of its negative regulators (MDM2 and wild-type p53-induced phosphatase 1 (WIP1)) may be alternative options. Combination therapies consisting of standard cytotoxic drugs and novel small molecules targeting p53 and related signaling pathways may be the future key standard approach to beat cancer.
A Critical Appraisal of PV-Systems’ Performance
Authors: Usman Zainab , Tah Joseph , Abanda Henry , Nche Charles
Published: October 2020

Climate change and global warming have triggered a global increase in the use of renewable energy for various purposes. In recent years, the photovoltaic (PV)-system has become one of the most popular renewable energy technologies that captures solar energy for different applications. Despite its popularity, its adoption is still facing enormous challenges, especially in developing countries. Experience from research and practice has revealed that installed PV-systems significantly underperform. This has been one of the major barriers to PV-system adoption, yet it has received very little attention. The poor performance of installed PV-systems means they do not generate the required electric energy output they have been designed to produce. Performance assessment parameters such as performance yields and performance ratio (PR) help to provide mathematical accounts of the expected energy output of PV-systems. Many reasons have been advanced for the disparity in the performance of PV-systems. This study aims to analyze the factors that affect the performance of installed PV-systems, such as geographical location, solar irradiance, dust, and shading. Other factors such as multiplicity of PV-system components in the market and the complexity of the permutations of these components, their types, efficiencies, and their different performance indicators are poorly understood, thus making it difficult to optimize the efficiency of the system as a whole. Furthermore, mathematical computations are presented to prove that the different design methods often used for the design of PV-systems lead to results with significant differences due to different assumptions often made early on. The methods for the design of PV-systems are critically appraised. There is a paucity of literature about the different methods of designing PV-systems, their disparities, and the outcomes of each method. The rationale behind this review is to analyze the variations in designs and offer far-reaching recommendations for future studies so that researchers can come up with more standardized design approaches.
The Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of a Liquid Biopsy for Esophageal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Matsushita Daisuke , Arigami Takaaki , Okubo Keishi , Sasaki Ken , Noda Masahiro , Kita Yoshiaki , Mori Shinichiro , Uenosono Yoshikazu , Ohtsuka Takao , Natsugoe Shoji
Published: October 2020

Esophageal cancer is among the most aggressive diseases, and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have been recognized as novel biomarkers for various cancers over the past two decades, including esophageal cancer. CTCs might provide crucial clinical information for predicting cancer prognosis, monitoring therapeutic responses or recurrences, or elucidating the mechanism of metastasis. The isolation of CTCs is among the applications of a “liquid biopsy”. There are various technologies for liquid biopsies, and they are classified into two main methods: cytometric or non-cytometric techniques. Here, we review a total of 57 eligible articles to summarize various technologies for the use of a liquid biopsy in esophageal cancer and perform a meta-analysis to assess the clinical utility of liquid biopsies as a prognostic and diagnostic biomarker technique. For prognostic evaluation, the pooled hazard ratio in the cytometric assay is relatively higher than that of the non-cytometric assay. On the other hand, a combination of multiple molecules, using a non-cytometric assay, might be a favorable biomarker technique for the early diagnosis of esophageal cancer. Although determining strong evidence for a biomarker by using a liquid biopsy is still challenging, our meta-analysis might be a milestone for the future development of liquid biopsies in use with esophageal cancer.
Unraveling the Heterogeneity of Sarcoma Survivors’ Health-Related Quality of Life Regarding Primary Sarcoma Location: Results from the SURVSARC Study
Authors: van Eck Ilse , den Hollander Dide , Desar Ingrid M.E. , Soomers Vicky L.M.N. , van de Sande Michiel A.J. , de Haan Jacco J. , Verhoef Cornelis , Vriens Ingeborg J.H. , Bonenkamp Johannes J. , van der Graaf Winette T.A. , van Houdt Winan J. , Husson Olga
Published: October 2020

Sarcoma patients experience physical and psychological symptoms, depending on age of onset, subtype, treatment, stage, and location of the sarcoma, which can adversely affect patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to unravel the heterogeneity of sarcoma survivors’ HRQoL regarding primary sarcoma location. A cross-sectional study was conducted among Dutch sarcoma survivors (N = 1099) aged ≥18, diagnosed 2–10 years ago. Primary sarcoma locations were head and neck, chest, abdominal including retroperitoneal, pelvis including urogenital organs, axial skeleton, extremities (upper and lower), breast, skin and other locations. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer—Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ)-C30 was used to measure HRQoL accompanied by treatment-specific HRQoL questions. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were collected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Axial skeleton sarcomas had the lowest functioning levels and highest symptoms compared to other locations. Skin sarcomas had the highest functioning levels and lowest symptoms on most scales. Bone sarcomas scored worse on several HRQoL domains compared to soft tissue sarcomas. High prevalence of treatment-specific HRQoL issues were found per location. In conclusion, sarcomas can present everywhere, which is reflected by different HRQoL outcomes according to primary sarcoma location. The currently used HRQoL measure lacks treatment-specific questions and is too generic to capture all sarcoma-related issues, emphasizing the necessity for a comprehensive sarcoma-specific HRQoL measurement strategy.
CD123 as a Biomarker in Hematolymphoid Malignancies: Principles of Detection and Targeted Therapies
Authors: El Achi Hanadi , Dupont Edouard , Paul Shilpa , Khoury Joseph D.
Published: October 2020

CD123, the α chain of the interleukin 3 receptor, is a cytokine receptor that is overexpressed in multiple hematolymphoid neoplasms, including acute myeloid leukemia, blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, hairy cell leukemia, and systemic mastocytosis. Importantly, CD123 expression is upregulated in leukemic stem cells relative to non-neoplastic hematopoietic stem cells, which makes it a useful diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker in hematologic malignancies. Varying levels of evidence have shown that CD123-targeted therapy represents a promising therapeutic approach in several cancers. Tagraxofusp, an anti-CD123 antibody conjugated to a diphtheria toxin, has been approved for use in patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm. Multiple clinical trials are investigating the use of various CD123-targeting agents, including chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells (expressing CD123, monoclonal antibodies, combined CD3-CD123 dual-affinity retargeting antibody therapy, recombinant fusion proteins, and CD123-engager T cells. In this review, we provide an overview of laboratory techniques used to evaluate and monitor CD123 expression, describe the strengths and limitations of detecting this biomarker in guiding therapy decisions, and provide an overview of the pharmacologic principles and strategies used in CD123-targeted therapies.
Rare Primary Malignant Bone Sarcomas
Authors: Palmerini Emanuela , Righi Alberto , Staals Eric L.
Published: October 2020

Rare primary malignant bone sarcomas (RPMBS), other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, chordoma, and Ewing sarcoma, account for about 5–10% of primary bone tumors and represent a major diagnostic challenge. These tumors include spindle cell and round cell sarcoma entities, hemangiopericytoma-like and vascular tumors. Additionally, several histotypes, traditionally described in the soft tissues, such as myxofibrosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of bone, have been reported in patients with primary bone tumors. While wide surgical resection is the mainstay of local treatment, systemic therapy of these rare entities is controversial. Patients with undifferentiated spindle cell or pleomorphic high-grade tumors of bone, are usually treated with osteosarcoma-like chemotherapy, while patients with round cell and undifferentiated round cell tumors (URCTs), may respond to sarcoma treatment regimens for Ewing sarcoma patients. Studies on analogies and differences among these ultra-rare tumors have seldom been reported. This review describes relevance, clinical aspects, diagnostic procedures, staging, treatment recommendations, and current research in this composite tumor group.
A Simple Angle-Resolved Thermal Molecular Beam Reactor: Applied to CO Oxidation on Pt{110}
Authors: Bowker Michael , Klink Björn Udo , Lass Kristian , Bennett Roger A.
Published: October 2020

We developed a simple form of thermal molecular beam catalytic reactor system which is capable of measuring sticking probabilities and reaction probabilities, together with angle-resolved scattering of molecules and products during catalytic reactions at the surface. This includes very fast determination of the angle dependence of the reaction product flux at steady-state. It was employed to determine the oxidation of CO on Pt{110}-(1 × 2), including individual molecular sticking and scattering. The initial sticking probability of oxygen on Pt{110} shows a small variation between 140 and 750 K surface temperature, from 0.45 to 0.28. The saturation uptake drops from 1.5 ± 0.2 ML at 140 K to 0.6 ML at 300 K and to 0.23 ± 0.02 ML at 750 K. The initial sticking probability of CO at 300 K is 0.80 and decreases to 0.62 at 470 K. Beyond that temperature, it descends steeply down to near zero at 570 K, due to the high desorption rate of CO at that temperature. Kisliuk precursor mobility parameters K were calculated from shape of the sticking curves. For 300 K, a value of 0.11 ± 0.01 was found, which increases to 0.76 ± 0.01 at 470 K, indicating a change from considerable mobility in the precursor state, to more limited mobility before desorption at high temperature. In temperature-programmed CO-O2 reaction experiments, CO2 production was observed to initiate in the temperature region 460–510 K. Using isothermal angle-resolved experiments, the CO2 flux was determined in the [11¯0] plane at temperatures of 470–620 K. Two sharp scattering lobes at positions of ±16° off the surface normal were found, with a high cosine power angle dependence, which were attributed to desorption from the {111}-like microfacets of the 1 × 2 reconstructed surface, with products evolving over a high barrier.
On the Anti-Cancer Effect of Cold Atmospheric Plasma and the Possible Role of Catalase-Dependent Apoptotic Pathways
Authors: Bengtson Charlotta , Bogaerts Annemie
Published: October 2020

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a promising new agent for (selective) cancer treatment, but the underlying cause of the anti-cancer effect of CAP is not well understood yet. Among different theories and observations, one theory in particular has been postulated in great detail and consists of a very complex network of reactions that are claimed to account for the anti-cancer effect of CAP. Here, the key concept is a reactivation of two specific apoptotic cell signaling pathways through catalase inactivation caused by CAP. Thus, it is postulated that the anti-cancer effect of CAP is due to its ability to inactivate catalase, either directly or indirectly. A theoretical investigation of the proposed theory, especially the role of catalase inactivation, can contribute to the understanding of the underlying cause of the anti-cancer effect of CAP. In the present study, we develop a mathematical model to analyze the proposed catalase-dependent anti-cancer effect of CAP. Our results show that a catalase-dependent reactivation of the two apoptotic pathways of interest is unlikely to contribute to the observed anti-cancer effect of CAP. Thus, we believe that other theories of the underlying cause should be considered and evaluated to gain knowledge about the principles of CAP-induced cancer cell death.
Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone in Lung Physiology and Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Zhang Chongxu , Cui Tengjiao , Cai Renzhi , Wangpaichitr Medhi , Mirsaeidi Mehdi , Schally Andrew V. , Jackson Robert M.
Published: October 2020

Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) is secreted primarily from the hypothalamus, but other tissues, including the lungs, produce it locally. GHRH stimulates the release and secretion of growth hormone (GH) by the pituitary and regulates the production of GH and hepatic insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Pituitary-type GHRH-receptors (GHRH-R) are expressed in human lungs, indicating that GHRH or GH could participate in lung development, growth, and repair. GHRH-R antagonists (i.e., synthetic peptides), which we have tested in various models, exert growth-inhibitory effects in lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo in addition to having anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and pro-apoptotic effects. One antagonist of the GHRH-R used in recent studies reviewed here, MIA-602, lessens both inflammation and fibrosis in a mouse model of bleomycin lung injury. GHRH and its peptide agonists regulate the proliferation of fibroblasts through the modulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt pathways. In addition to downregulating GH and IGF-1, GHRH-R antagonist MIA-602 inhibits signaling pathways relevant to inflammation, including p21-activated kinase 1-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3/nuclear factor-kappa B (PAK1-STAT3/NF-κB and ERK). MIA-602 induces fibroblast apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, which is an effect that is likely important in antifibrotic actions. Taken together, the novel data reviewed here show that GHRH is an important peptide that participates in lung homeostasis, inflammation, wound healing, and cancer; and GHRH-R antagonists may have therapeutic potential in lung diseases.
Multilayer Structure of Reduced Graphene Oxide and Copper Oxide as a Gas Sensor
Authors: Pisarkiewicz Tadeusz , Maziarz Wojciech , Małolepszy Artur , Stobiński Leszek , Michoń Dagmara , Rydosz Artur
Published: October 2020

Reduced graphene oxide and copper oxide multilayer structures were fabricated in a planar configuration by deposition on both ceramic and Si/SiO2 substrates with interdigitated Au electrodes by the spray method. SEM (scanning electron microscopy), TEM (transmission electron microscopy), XRD (X-ray diffraction), and elemental analysis investigations indicated that graphene oxide (GO) was obtained in a form of interconnected flakes consisting of 6–7 graphene layers for GO with the total thickness of ca. 6 nm and 2–3 layers for rGO with the total thickness of 1 nm. The lateral size of one flake reached up to 10 micrometers. Copper oxide was obtained by the wet chemical method. The number of sequential layers of the sensing structure was optimized to obtain good sensitivity and acceptable response/recovery times in response to the oxidizing nitrogen dioxide atmosphere. Both semiconductor partners revealed p-type conductivity. Formation of isotype heterojunctions between both semiconductor partners was taken into account and their influence on electrical transport explained. Optimized sensor structures revealed relative sensitivities reaching several tens of percent and acceptable response and recovery times in NO2 concentration ranged from a few to 20 ppm. Possibility of manufacturing sensors working at room temperature was shown, but at the cost of prolonged response/recovery times.
Effect of Adult Weight Gain on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Its Association with Anthropometric Parameters in the Lean Japanese Population
Authors: Tanaka Sho , Fujishiro Midori , Watanabe Kentaro , Imatake Kazuhiro , Suzuki Yasuyuki , Abe Masanori , Ishihara Hisamitsu , Tani Shigemasa
Published: October 2020

Limited data are available on the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its association with adult weight gain (AWG) in the lean population. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of NAFLD and to investigate whether AWG is associated with NAFLD in the lean Japanese population. We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent abdominal ultrasonography as part of the annual health checkup between January 2019 and December 2019. Participants were classified into two groups: those with AWG ≥ 10 kg (AWG group, n = 497), and those without gain (non-AWG group, n = 3006). To adjust for the confounding effects, we generated 482 pairs using 1:1 propensity score matching. The associations between AWG and NAFLD, anthropometric parameters and NAFLD were investigated using univariate logistic regression analysis. We identified NAFLD in 197 (5.6%) participants. AWG was significantly associated with NAFLD (odds ratio (OR), 1.81; p = 0.003). Waist circumference was significantly associated with NAFLD in both the AWG (OR, 1.24; p < 0.001) and non-AWG groups (OR, 1.17; p < 0.001). The association between body mass index and NAFLD existed in the former group (OR, 1.76; p < 0.001), but was not significant in the latter group. AWG is a risk factor for NAFLD even in the lean Japanese population, and associations between anthropometric parameters and NAFLD become stronger if AWG coexists.
Deep Learning of Appearance Affinity for Multi-Object Tracking and Re-Identification: A Comparative View
Authors: Gómez-Silva María J. , de la Escalera Arturo , Armingol José M.
Published: October 2020

Recognizing the identity of a query individual in a surveillance sequence is the core of Multi-Object Tracking (MOT) and Re-Identification (Re-Id) algorithms. Both tasks can be addressed by measuring the appearance affinity between people observations with a deep neural model. Nevertheless, the differences in their specifications and, consequently, in the characteristics and constraints of the available training data for each one of these tasks, arise from the necessity of employing different learning approaches to attain each one of them. This article offers a comparative view of the Double-Margin-Contrastive and the Triplet loss function, and analyzes the benefits and drawbacks of applying each one of them to learn an Appearance Affinity model for Tracking and Re-Identification. A batch of experiments have been conducted, and their results support the hypothesis concluded from the presented study: Triplet loss function is more effective than the Contrastive one when an Re-Id model is learnt, and, conversely, in the MOT domain, the Contrastive loss can better discriminate between pairs of images rendering the same person or not.
Underwater-Sonar-Image-Based 3D Point Cloud Reconstruction for High Data Utilization and Object Classification Using a Neural Network
Authors: Sung Minsung , Kim Jason , Cho Hyeonwoo , Lee Meungsuk , Yu Son-Cheol
Published: October 2020

This paper proposes a sonar-based underwater object classification method for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) by reconstructing an object’s three-dimensional (3D) geometry. The point cloud of underwater objects can be generated from sonar images captured while the AUV passes over the object. Then, a neural network can predict the class given the generated point cloud. By reconstructing the 3D shape of the object, the proposed method can classify the object accurately through a straightforward training process. We verified the proposed method by performing simulations and field experiments.
“Oil is the New Data”: Energy Technology Innovation in Digital Oil Fields
Authors: Choi HaeOk , Park Hwanll
Published: October 2020

Digital oil fields (DOFs) are built on data produced from energy technology innovation during the application of new technologies to oil resource development. In this study, this conversion is examined through the paradigm switch to “oil is the new data”. An analysis of related patents shows that DOF technology is developing through convergence and close links with other industries, specifically the equipment, parts, and material industries. Additionally, it is conjectured that the strategic preemption of standards will emerge as an important policy issue because a standard must be established for the interoperability of the elemental technologies of DOFs. Furthermore, with the expansion of DOF-related technologies, device-related technologies have also been developed. Of these device-related technologies, sensor technology specifically provides new possibilities for the development of DOFs. The significance of this study is that it explains the evolution of DOFs over the course of 10 years, which is illustrative of technological innovation in the field of energy-related development and data collection.
Effects of Low Charge and Environmental Conditions on Diesel Generators Operation
Authors: Issa Mohamad , Ibrahim Hussein , Hosni Hatem , Ilinca Adrian , Rezkallah Miloud
Published: October 2020

In the context of electricity production in remote areas, the use of diesel generators, either alone or in hybridization with renewable energy sources, faces many technical problems. Indeed, the electrical instability that often characterizes the isolated networks, due to the fluctuating character of renewable resources and the high variability in the load profile, leads to the operation of the diesel generator in transient dynamic conditions, at low loads or outside prescribed environmental conditions. Furthermore, the extended operation of the diesel generator at low charge results in the condensation of combustion residues on the engine cylinder walls, which, after a certain time, increases friction, reduces the efficiency and increases fuel consumption. One way to solve this problem and to eliminate these deposits is to operate the engine at a higher speed until the operating temperature is reached. This paper explores the impact of the wind turbine penetration rate for hybrid wind–diesel systems and the effects of cold temperatures, high altitude, and other environmental operation conditions on diesel generators’ performances. We outlines the impacts of low load and environmental conditions such as ambient temperature, humidity, moisture, abrasive dust, cold and corrosive environments on the operation of modern diesel generators. The problem has been approached by examining the existing literature, researching damage cases, analyzing existing data, and assessing industrial experiences.
Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Bioenergy Production from Different Wood Pellet Supply Chains
Authors: Sgarbossa Andrea , Boschiero Martina , Pierobon Francesca , Cavalli Raffaele , Zanetti Michela
Published: October 2020

The EU is one of the largest producers and consumers of wood pellets in the world, covering around 36% of the global wood pellet production and around 50% of the global consumption in 2018. The EU wood pellet consumption is expected to further increase in response to the ambitious energy and climate goals for 2030. Currently, wood pellets are mainly produced from sawdust and other sawmill residues; however, other types of forest feedstock are being investigated in order to meet the increasing wood pellet demand and move toward greater energy independence. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the environmental impact of different wood pellet supply chains. A comparative cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment is performed considering the following wood feedstock systems: (i) sawdust from sawmill (S1), (ii) roundwood logs (S2), (iii) whole trees from forest thinning operation (S3), and (iv) logging residues produced during forest tree harvesting (S4). The study focuses on Global Warming Potential (GWP), Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP), Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential (POCP), and Human Toxicity Potential (HTP). Results show that S3 displays the lowest figures on all the environmental impact categories considered in this study. Compared to the reference case S1, S3 shows a GWP reduction of 46%, an ODP reduction of 6.6%, a POCP reduction of 14.8%, and HTP reduction of 13.2%. S3 and S4 have lower GWP than S1 and S2, even when the biogenic CO2 emissions are considered. Overall, the life cycle phases that have the highest GWP, POCP, and HTP are the burning phase and the preparation of the material to be pelletized, particularly the drying process. Nevertheless, the main phases that contribute to the ODP are the forest operations and the pellet preparation.
Lagrangian Reduced Order Modeling Using Finite Time Lyapunov Exponents
Authors: Xie Xuping , Nolan Peter J. , Ross  Shane D. , Mou  Changhong , Iliescu Traian
Published: October 2020

There are two main strategies for improving the projection-based reduced order model (ROM) accuracy—(i) improving the ROM, that is, adding new terms to the standard ROM; and (ii) improving the ROM basis, that is, constructing ROM bases that yield more accurate ROMs. In this paper, we use the latter. We propose two new Lagrangian inner products that we use together with Eulerian and Lagrangian data to construct two new Lagrangian ROMs, which we denote α-ROM and λ-ROM. We show that both Lagrangian ROMs are more accurate than the standard Eulerian ROMs, that is, ROMs that use standard Eulerian inner product and data to construct the ROM basis. Specifically, for the quasi-geostrophic equations, we show that the new Lagrangian ROMs are more accurate than the standard Eulerian ROMs in approximating not only Lagrangian fields (e.g., the finite time Lyapunov exponent (FTLE)), but also Eulerian fields (e.g., the streamfunction). In particular, the α-ROM can be orders of magnitude more accurate than the standard Eulerian ROMs. We emphasize that the new Lagrangian ROMs do not employ any closure modeling to model the effect of discarded modes (which is standard procedure for low-dimensional ROMs of complex nonlinear systems). Thus, the dramatic increase in the new Lagrangian ROMs’ accuracy is entirely due to the novel Lagrangian inner products used to build the Lagrangian ROM basis.