bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
AvNAC030, a NAC Domain Transcription Factor, Enhances Salt Stress Tolerance in Kiwifruit
Authors: Li Ming , Wu Zhiyong , Gu Hong , Cheng Dawei , Guo Xizhi , Li Lan , Shi Caiyun , Xu Guoyi , Gu Shichao , Abid Muhammad , Zhong Yunpeng , Qi Xiujuan , Chen Jinyong
Published: November 2021

Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis Planch) is suitable for neutral acid soil. However, soil salinization is increasing in kiwifruit production areas, which has adverse effects on the growth and development of plants, leading to declining yields and quality. Therefore, analyzing the salt tolerance regulation mechanism can provide a theoretical basis for the industrial application and germplasm improvement of kiwifruit. We identified 120 NAC members and divided them into 13 subfamilies according to phylogenetic analysis. Subsequently, we conducted a comprehensive and systematic analysis based on the conserved motifs, key amino acid residues in the NAC domain, expression patterns, and protein interaction network predictions and screened the candidate gene AvNAC030. In order to study its function, we adopted the method of heterologous expression in Arabidopsis. Compared with the control, the overexpression plants had higher osmotic adjustment ability and improved antioxidant defense mechanism. These results suggest that AvNAC030 plays a positive role in the salt tolerance regulation mechanism in kiwifruit.
PAMAM-calix-dendrimers: Synthesis and Thiacalixarene Conformation Effect on DNA Binding
Authors: Mostovaya Olga , Padnya Pavel , Shiabiev Igor , Mukhametzyanov Timur , Stoikov Ivan
Published: November 2021

A convenient method for the synthesis of the first generation PAMAM dendrimers based on the thiacalix[4]arene has been developed for the first time. Three new PAMAM-calix-dendrimers with the macrocyclic core in cone, partial cone, and 1,3-alternate conformations were obtained with high yields. The interaction of the obtained compounds with salmon sperm DNA resulted in the formation of the associates of the size up to 200 nm, as shown by the UV-Vis spectroscopy, DLS, and TEM. It was demonstrated by the CD method that the structure of the DNA did not undergo significant changes upon binding. The PAMAM-calix-dendrimer based on the macrocycle in cone conformation stabilized DNA and prevented its degradation.
Clinical and Molecular Biomarkers for Diagnosis and Staging of NAFLD
Authors: Di Mauro Stefania , Scamporrino Alessandra , Filippello Agnese , Di Pino Antonino , Scicali Roberto , Malaguarnera Roberta , Purrello Francesco , Piro Salvatore
Published: November 2021

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common hepatic pathology in industrialized countries, affecting about 25% of the general population. NAFLD is a benign condition, however, it could evolve toward more serious diseases, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis, and finally, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Liver biopsy is still the gold standard for NAFLD diagnosis. Due to the risks associated with liver biopsy and the impossibility to apply it on a large scale, it is now necessary to identify non-invasive biomarkers, which may reliably identify patients at higher risk of progression. Therefore, several lines of research have tried to address this issue by identifying novel biomarkers using omics approaches, including lipidomics, metabolomics and RNA molecules’ profiling. Thus, in this review, we firstly report the conventional biomarkers used in clinical practice for NAFL and NASH diagnosis as well as fibrosis staging, and secondly, we pay attention to novel biomarkers discovered through omics approaches with a particular focus on RNA biomarkers (microRNAs, long-noncoding RNAs), showing promising diagnostic performance for NAFL/NASH diagnosis and fibrosis staging.
A Knowledge-Based Sense Disambiguation Method to Semantically Enhanced NL Question for Restricted Domain
Authors: Arbaaeen Ammar , Shah Asadullah
Published: November 2021

Within the space of question answering (QA) systems, the most critical module to improve overall performance is question analysis processing. Extracting the lexical semantic of a Natural Language (NL) question presents challenges at syntactic and semantic levels for most QA systems. This is due to the difference between the words posed by a user and the terms presently stored in the knowledge bases. Many studies have achieved encouraging results in lexical semantic resolution on the topic of word sense disambiguation (WSD), and several other works consider these challenges in the context of QA applications. Additionally, few scholars have examined the role of WSD in returning potential answers corresponding to particular questions. However, natural language processing (NLP) is still facing several challenges to determine the precise meaning of various ambiguities. Therefore, the motivation of this work is to propose a novel knowledge-based sense disambiguation (KSD) method for resolving the problem of lexical ambiguity associated with questions posed in QA systems. The major contribution is the proposed innovative method, which incorporates multiple knowledge sources. This includes the question’s metadata (date/GPS), context knowledge, and domain ontology into a shallow NLP. The proposed KSD method is developed into a unique tool for a mobile QA application that aims to determine the intended meaning of questions expressed by pilgrims. The experimental results reveal that our method obtained comparable and better accuracy performance than the baselines in the context of the pilgrimage domain.
Graph Analysis Using Fast Fourier Transform Applied on Grayscale Bitmap Images
Authors: Baszuro Pawel , Swacha Jakub
Published: November 2021

There is spiking interest in graph analysis, mainly sparked by social network analysis done for various purposes. With social network graphs often achieving very large size, there is a need for capable tools to perform such an analysis. In this article, we contribute to this area by presenting an original approach to calculating various graph morphisms, designed with overall performance and scalability as the primary concern. The proposed method generates a list of candidates for further analysis by first decomposing a complex network into a set of sub-graphs, transforming sub-graphs into intermediary structures, which are then used to generate grey-scaled bitmap images, and, eventually, performing image comparison using Fast Fourier Transform. The paper discusses the proof-of-concept implementation of the method and provides experimental results achieved on sub-graphs in different sizes randomly chosen from a reference dataset. Planned future developments and key considered areas of application are also described.
An Intelligent Hierarchical Security Framework for VANETs
Authors: Gonçalves Fábio , Macedo Joaquim , Santos Alexandre
Published: November 2021

Vehicular Ad hoc Networks (VANETs) are an emerging type of network that increasingly encompass a larger number of vehicles. They are the basic support for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and for establishing frameworks which enable communication among road entities and foster the development of new applications and services aimed at enhancing driving experience and increasing road safety. However, VANETs’ demanding characteristics make it difficult to implement security mechanisms, creating vulnerabilities easily explored by attackers. The main goal of this work is to propose an Intelligent Hierarchical Security Framework for VANET making use of Machine Learning (ML) algorithms to enhance attack detection, and to define methods for secure communications among entities, assuring strong authentication, privacy, and anonymity. The ML algorithms used in this framework have been trained and tested using vehicle communications datasets, which have been made publicly available, thus providing easily reproducible and verifiable results. The obtained results show that the proposed Intrusion Detection System (IDS) framework is able to detect attacks accurately, with a low False Positive Rate (FPR). Furthermore, results show that the framework can benefit from using different types of algorithms at different hierarchical levels, selecting light and fast processing algorithms in the lower levels, at the cost of accuracy, and using more precise, accurate, and complex algorithms in nodes higher in the hierarchy.
First Report of Native Parasitoids of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Greece
Authors: Andreadis Stefanos S. , Gogolashvili Nikoloz E. , Fifis Georgios T. , Navrozidis Emmanouel I. , Thomidis Thomas
Published: November 2021

Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an endemic species of East Asia; it was introduced into Europe in 2007. It has a wide range of hosts as it feeds on over 170 host plant species and significantly impacts crop production. In Greece, H. halys causes significant losses in the production of kiwi, peaches, and green beans; thus, control of this species (including biological control) is essential. Here, we focus on the potential impact of native natural enemies of H. halys in Greece. From June to October 2020, we sampled naturally field-laid H. halys egg masses to recover native parasitoids. A total of 20 egg masses of H. halys were collected from infested fields from different locations in northern Greece. Out of 529 eggs, 45 parasitoids managed to hatch successfully. The overall parasitism rate was 8.5%. We found two species of Hymenopteran egg parasitoids attacking H. halys eggs—Anastatus bifasciatus (Geoffrey) (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) and Ooencyrtus telenomicida (Vassiliev) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), with the former comprising 58% of all parasitoids that were recovered. These results contribute to the knowledge about the natural enemy community that attacks H. halys in Greece, and the use of these native egg parasitoids in biological control programs may be a viable H. halys management strategy.
Effect of Climate Change on Introduced and Native Agricultural Invasive Insect Pests in Europe
Authors: Skendžić Sandra , Zovko Monika , Pajač Živković Ivana , Lešić Vinko , Lemić Darija
Published: November 2021

Climate change and invasive species are major environmental issues facing the world today. They represent the major threats for various types of ecosystems worldwide, mainly managed ecosystems such as agriculture. This study aims to examine the link between climate change and the biological invasion of insect pest species. Increased international trade systems and human mobility have led to increasing introduction rates of invasive insects while climate change could decrease barriers for their establishment and distribution. To mitigate environmental and economic damage it is important to understand the biotic and abiotic factors affecting the process of invasion (transport, introduction, establishment, and dispersal) in terms of climate change. We highlight the major biotic factors affecting the biological invasion process: diet breadth, phenological plasticity, and lifecycle strategies. Finally, we present alien insect pest invasion management that includes prevention, eradication, and assessment of the biological invasion in the form of modelling prediction tools.
Fate of Particulate Matter Associated with Produced Water Discharge by Offshore Platforms in the Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Sea)
Authors: Di Mento Rossella , Pedroncini Andrea , Granato Giuseppe , Lanera Pasquale , Di Lorenzo Bianca , Venti Francesco , Cianelli Daniela
Published: November 2021

In the Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Sea), during monitoring of Production Water (PW) discharged from offshore platforms, high contamination levels of metals, PAH, and aliphatic hydrocarbons are detected in the sediment close to some installations. Here, we investigate for the first time, the transport and fate of the total suspended solids (TSS) associated with PW discharged by selected platforms, considering the separation of particulate matter from the water plume. We apply a 3D hydrodynamic model and a Lagrangian module to simulate the dispersion of PW suspended substances, then we relate the numerical results to the sediment contamination measured data. The TSS released with PW determines a negligible contribution along the water column and seems poorly related to the anomalies observed in the sediment contamination levels. This approach paves the way to assess the potential risks arising from TSS discharged with the PW on marine ecosystems and to optimize the environmental monitoring tools.
Large-Eddy Simulation of Cavitating Tip Leakage Vortex Structures and Dynamics around a NACA0009 Hydrofoil
Authors: Geng Linlin , Zhang Desheng , Chen Jian , Escaler Xavier
Published: November 2021

The tip leakage vortex (TLV) has aroused great concern for turbomachine performance, stability and noise generation as well as cavitation erosion. To better understand structures and dynamics of the TLV, large-eddy simulation (LES) is coupled with a homogeneous cavitation model to simulate the cavitation flow around a NACA0009 hydrofoil with a given clearance. The numerical results are validated by comparisons with experimental measurements. The results demonstrate that the present LES can well predict the mean behavior of the TLV. By visualizing the mean streamlines and mean streamwise vorticity, it shows that the TLV dominates the end-wall vortex structures, and that the generation and evolution of the other vortices are found to be closely related to the development of the TLV. In addition, as the TLV moves downstream, it undergoes an interesting progression, i.e., the vortex core radius keeps increasing and the axial velocity of vortex center experiences a conversion from jet-like profile to wake-like profile.
Protecting Biodiversity from Invasive Alien Species by Improving Policy Instruments in Greece: The INVALIS Project Action Plan
Authors: Roussos Orfeas , Kapetanopoulou Christina , Petza Dimitra
Published: November 2021

The Protecting European Biodiversity from Invasive Alien Species (INVALIS) project objective is to improve policies for protecting biodiversity from invasive alien species (IAS), by bringing together seven partners from seven countries and supporting policy measures for prevention, early detection, and control of IAS in their respective territories. The project is funded by the Interreg Europe program. The learning process of the INVALIS project consisted of various experience-exchanging activities among the project partners (interregional workshops, site visits, etc.), as well as among stakeholders at a regional level. This exchange of experiences led to the drafting of regional Action Plans by each partner. The INVALIS Action Plan of Greece is based on an analysis of the current situation of IAS management in Greece, and the transfer of good practices and conclusions derived from the exchange of experiences. Gaps in IAS management were identified mainly in the areas of raising public awareness of IAS and networking among IAS stakeholders. As a result, three actions were proposed to address these deficits: initiating a project on education and raising awareness about IAS, creating a web portal on these species, and establishing an IAS management working group. These actions will contribute towards improving specific policy instruments in Greece.
Correction: Tahara et al. Quick-Freeze, Deep-Etch Electron Microscopy Reveals the Characteristic Architecture of the Fission Yeast Spore. J. Fungi 2021, 7, 7
Authors: Tahara Yuhei O. , Miyata Makoto , Nakamura Taro
Published: November 2021

The authors would like to make the following corrections to this paper [...]
Correction: Chen et al. Mechanisms of Azole Resistance and Trailing in Candida tropicalis Bloodstream Isolates. J. Fungi 2021, 7, 612
Authors: Chen Pao-Yu , Chuang Yu-Chung , Wu Un-In , Sun Hsin-Yun , Wang Jann-Tay , Sheng Wang-Huei , Chen Yee-Chun , Chang Shan-Chwen
Published: November 2021

Because the geometric means of fluconazole and voriconazole in some isolates were not correctly input into the low trailing or high trailing WT group during the visualization process when using GraphPad Prism [...]
Online Left-Hemispheric In-Phase Frontoparietal Theta tACS for the Treatment of Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Authors: Chang Chuan-Chia , Huang Cathy Chia-Yu , Chung Yong-An , Im Jooyeon Jamie , Lin Yen-Yue , Ma Chin-Chao , Tzeng Nian-Sheng , Chang Hsin-An
Published: November 2021

Negative symptoms represent an unmet need for schizophrenia treatment. The effect of theta frequency transcranial alternating current stimulation (theta-tACS) applied during working memory (WM) tasks on negative symptoms has not been demonstrated as of yet. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial of 36 stabilized schizophrenia patients, randomized to receive either twice daily, 6 Hz 2 mA, 20 min sessions of in-phase frontoparietal tACS or sham for five consecutive weekdays. Participants were concurrently engaged in WM tasks during stimulation. The primary outcome measure was the change over time in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) negative subscale score measured from baseline through to the 1-month follow-up. Secondary outcome measures were other symptom clusters, neurocognitive performance, and relevant outcomes. The intention-to-treat analysis demonstrated greater reductions in PANSS negative subscale scores at the end of stimulation in the active (−13.84%) than the sham (−3.78%) condition, with a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 0.96, p = 0.006). The positive effect endured for at least one month. Theta-tACS also showed efficacies for cognitive symptoms, WM capacity, and psychosocial functions. Online theta-tACS offers a novel approach to modulate frontoparietal networks to treat negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The promising results require large-scale replication studies in patients with predominantly negative symptoms.
Results of the Second Phase of the GER-e-TEC Experiment concerning the Telemonitoring of Elderly Patients Affected by COVID-19 Disease to Detect the Exacerbation of Geriatric Syndromes
Authors: Zulfiqar Abrar-Ahmad , Massimbo Delwende Noaga Damien , Hajjam Mohamed , Geny Bernard , Talha Samy , Hajjam Jawad , Erve Sylvie , Hajjam Amir , Andrès Emmanuel
Published: November 2021

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has wreaked health and economic damage globally. This pandemic has created a difficult challenge for global public health. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has necessitated the use of new technologies and new processes to care for hospitalized patients, including elderly patients. Our team developed a telemonitoring program focused on the prevention of geriatric syndromes, the “GER-e-TEC COVID study”. Methods: This second phase took place during the 3rd wave of the epidemic in France, between 14 December 2020 and 25 February 2021, conducted in the University Hospital of Strasbourg. Results: 30 elderly patients affected by COVID-19 disease were monitored remotely; the mean age was 85.9 years and a male/female ratio of 1.5 to 1.11 (36.7%) died during the experiment. The patients used the telemedicine solution for an average of 27.3 days. 140,260 measurements were taken while monitoring the geriatric syndromes of the entire patient group. 4675 measurements were recorded per patient for geriatric disorders and risks. 319 measurements were recorded per patient per day. The telemedicine solution emitted a total of 1245 alerts while monitoring the geriatric syndromes of the entire patient group. In terms of sensitivity, the results were 100% for all geriatric risks and extremely satisfactory in terms of positive and negative predictive values. Survival analyses showed that gender played no role in the length of the hospital stay, regardless of the reason for the hospitalization (decompensated heart failure (p = 0.45), deterioration of general condition (p = 0.12), but significant for death (p = 0.028)). The analyses revealed that the length of the hospital stay was not affected by the number of alerts. The results concerning the predictive nature of alerts are satisfactory. Conclusions: The MyPredi™ telemedicine system allows for the generation of automatic, non-intrusive alerts when the health of a COVID-19 elderly patient deteriorates due to risks associated with geriatric syndromes.
Changes in Prevalence and Health Checkup Coverage Rate of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) after Introduction of Prefecture-Wide CKD Initiative: Results of the Kagawa Association of CKD Initiatives
Authors: Sofue Tadashi , Hara Taiga , Nishijima Yoko , Nishioka Satoshi , Watatani Hiroyuki , Yamanaka Masahito , Takahashi Norihiro , Nishiyama Akira , Minamino Tetsuo ,   Kagawa Association of Chronic Kidney Disease Initiatives
Published: November 2021

The National Health Insurance (NHI) special health checkup system in Japan targets the NHI population aged 40–74 years. Since 2015, the Kagawa NHI special health checkup was initiated in a prefecture-wide chronic kidney disease (CKD) initiative, including renal examination as an essential item in NHI health checkups. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of the prefecture-wide CKD initiative. We conducted a retrospective cohort survey using the Kagawa National Health Insurance database created by the Kagawa National Health Insurance Organization. Results of the NHI health checkup (2015–2019) and prefecture-wide outcomes (2013–2019) were analyzed. The prevalence of CKD among examinees who underwent the NHI health checkup increased from 17.7% in 2015 to 23.2% in 2019. The percentage of examinees who completed a medical visit was 29.4% in 2015. After initiation of the initiative, the NHI health checkup coverage rate increased significantly, from a mean (standard deviation) of 40.8% (0.4%) to 43.2% (1.1%) (p = 0.04). After the start of the CKD initiative, we found an increase in the prevalence of CKD and the NHI health checkup coverage rate.
Value of SERCA2a as a Biomarker for the Identification of Patients with Heart Failure Requiring Circulatory Support
Authors: Ezzitouny Meryem , Roselló-Lletí Esther , Portolés Manuel , Sánchez-Lázaro Ignacio , Arnau-Vives Miguel Ángel , Tarazón Estefanía , Gil-Cayuela Carolina , Lozano-Edo Silvia , López-Vilella Raquel , Almenar-Bonet Luis , Martínez-Dolz Luis
Published: November 2021

Background: Heart failure (HF) alters the nucleo-cytoplasmic transport of cardiomyocytes and reduces SERCA2a levels, essential for intracellular calcium homeostasis. We consider in this study whether the molecules involved in these processes can differentiate those patients with advanced HF and the need for mechanical circulatory support (MCS) as a bridge to recovery or urgent heart transplantation from those who are clinically stable and who are transplanted in an elective code. Material and method: Blood samples from 29 patients with advanced HF were analysed by ELISA, and the plasma levels of Importin5, Nucleoporin153 kDa, RanGTPase-Activating Protein 1 and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase were compared between patients requiring MCS and those patients without a MCS need prior to heart transplantation. Results: SERCA2a showed significantly lower levels in patients who had MCS compared to those who did not require it (0.501 ± 0.530 ng/mL vs. 1.123 ± 0.661 ng/mL; p = 0.01). A SERCA2a cut-off point of 0.84 ng/mL (AUC 0.812 ± 0.085, 95% CI: 0.646–0.979; p = 0.004) provided a 92% sensitivity, 62% specificity, 91% negative predictive value and 67% positive predictive value. Conclusions: In this cohort, patients with advanced HF and a need for MCS have shown significantly lower levels of SERCA2a as compared to stable patients without a need for MCS prior to heart transplantation. This is a small study with preliminary findings, and larger-powered dedicated studies are required to confirm and validate these results.
Optimized Prediction Models from Fundus Imaging and Genetics for Late Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Govindaiah Arun , Baten Abdul , Smith R. Theodore , Balasubramanian Siva , Bhuiyan Alauddin
Published: November 2021

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness in the developed world. In this study, we compare the performance of retinal fundus images and genetic-information-based machine learning models for the prediction of late AMD. Using data from the Age-related Eye Disease Study, we built machine learning models with various combinations of genetic, socio-demographic/clinical, and retinal image data to predict late AMD using its severity and category in a single visit, in 2, 5, and 10 years. We compared their performance in sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and unweighted kappa. The 2-year model based on retinal image and socio-demographic (S-D) parameters achieved a sensitivity of 91.34%, specificity of 84.49% while the same for genetic and S-D-parameters-based model was 79.79% and 66.84%. For the 5-year model, the retinal image and S-D-parameters-based model also outperformed the genetic and S-D parameters-based model. The two 10-year models achieved similar sensitivities of 74.24% and 75.79%, respectively, but the retinal image and S-D-parameters-based model was otherwise superior. The retinal-image-based models were not further improved by adding genetic data. Retinal imaging and S-D data can build an excellent machine learning predictor of developing late AMD over 2–5 years; the retinal imaging model appears to be the preferred prognostic tool for efficient patient management.
Machine Learning Consensus Clustering Approach for Patients with Lactic Acidosis in Intensive Care Units
Authors: Pattharanitima Pattharawin , Thongprayoon Charat , Petnak Tananchai , Srivali Narat , Gembillo Guido , Kaewput Wisit , Chesdachai Supavit , Vallabhajosyula Saraschandra , O’Corragain Oisin A. , Mao Michael A. , Garovic Vesna D. , Qureshi Fawad , Dillon John J. , Cheungpasitporn Wisit
Published: November 2021

Background: Lactic acidosis is a heterogeneous condition with multiple underlying causes and associated outcomes. The use of multi-dimensional patient data to subtype lactic acidosis can personalize patient care. Machine learning consensus clustering may identify lactic acidosis subgroups with unique clinical profiles and outcomes. Methods: We used the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III database to abstract electronic medical record data from patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) in a tertiary care hospital in the United States. We included patients who developed lactic acidosis (defined as serum lactate ≥ 4 mmol/L) within 48 h of ICU admission. We performed consensus clustering analysis based on patient characteristics, comorbidities, vital signs, organ supports, and laboratory data to identify clinically distinct lactic acidosis subgroups. We calculated standardized mean differences to show key subgroup features. We compared outcomes among subgroups. Results: We identified 1919 patients with lactic acidosis. The algorithm revealed three best unique lactic acidosis subgroups based on patient variables. Cluster 1 (n = 554) was characterized by old age, elective admission to cardiac surgery ICU, vasopressor use, mechanical ventilation use, and higher pH and serum bicarbonate. Cluster 2 (n = 815) was characterized by young age, admission to trauma/surgical ICU with higher blood pressure, lower comorbidity burden, lower severity index, and less vasopressor use. Cluster 3 (n = 550) was characterized by admission to medical ICU, history of liver disease and coagulopathy, acute kidney injury, lower blood pressure, higher comorbidity burden, higher severity index, higher serum lactate, and lower pH and serum bicarbonate. Cluster 3 had the worst outcomes, while cluster 1 had the most favorable outcomes in terms of persistent lactic acidosis and mortality. Conclusions: Consensus clustering analysis synthesized the pattern of clinical and laboratory data to reveal clinically distinct lactic acidosis subgroups with different outcomes.
Tumorigenic Aspects of MSC Senescence—Implication in Cancer Development and Therapy
Authors: Mojsilović Slavko , Jauković Aleksandra , Kukolj Tamara , Obradović Hristina , Okić Đorđević Ivana , Petrović Anđelija , Bugarski Diana
Published: November 2021

As an organism ages, many physiological processes change, including the immune system. This process, called immunosenescence, characterized by abnormal activation and imbalance of innate and adaptive immunity, leads to a state of chronic low-grade systemic inflammation, termed inflammaging. Aging and inflammaging are considered to be the root of many diseases of the elderly, as infections, autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases, degenerative diseases, and cancer. The role of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) in the inflammaging process and the age-related diseases is not completely established, although numerous features of aging MSCs, including altered immunomodulatory properties, impeded MSC niche supporting functions, and senescent MSC secretory repertoire are consistent with inflammaging development. Although senescence has its physiological function and can represent a mechanism of tumor prevention, in most cases it eventually transforms into a deleterious (para-)inflammatory process that promotes tumor growth. In this review we are going through current literature, trying to explore the role of senescent MSCs in making and/or sustaining a microenvironment permissive to tumor development and to analyze the therapeutic options that could target this process.
H-Wave® Device Stimulation: A Critical Review
Authors: Williamson Tyler K. , Rodriguez Hugo C. , Gonzaba Andrew , Poddar Neil , Norwood Stephen M. , Gupta Ashim
Published: November 2021

Pain treatments have historically centered on drugs, but an “opioid crisis” has necessitated new standards of care, with a paradigm shift towards multi-modal pain management emphasizing early movement, non-narcotics, and various adjunctive therapies. Electrotherapies remain understudied and most lack high-quality clinical trials, despite a desperate need for effective adjunctive options. A systematic search of human clinical studies on H-Wave® device stimulation (HWDS) was conducted as well as a comprehensive review of articles articulating possible HWDS mechanisms of action. Studies unrelated to H-Wave were excluded. Data synthesis summarizes outcomes and study designs, categorized as pre-clinical or clinical. Pre-clinical studies demonstrated that HWDS utilizes a biphasic waveform to induce non-fatiguing muscle contractions which positively affect nerve function, blood and lymph flow. Multiple clinical studies have reported significant benefits for diabetic and non-specific neuropathic pain, where function also improved, and pain medication usage substantially dropped. In conclusion, low- to moderate-quality HWDS studies have reported reduced pain, restored functionality, and lower medication use in a variety of disorders, although higher-quality research is needed to verify condition-specific applicability. HWDS has enough reasonable evidence to be considered as an adjunctive component of non-opioid multi-modal pain management, given its excellent safety profile and relative low cost. Level of Evidence: III.
Dystrophin in the Neonatal and Adult Rat Intestine
Authors: Lionarons Judith M. , Hoogland Govert , Slegers Rutger J. , Steinbusch Hellen , Claessen Sandra M. H. , Vles Johan S. H.
Published: November 2021

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) complaints are frequently noted in aging dystrophinopathy patients, yet their underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. As dystrophin protein isoform 71 (Dp71) is particularly implicated in the development of smooth muscle cells, we evaluated its distribution in the neonatal and adult rat intestine in this study. Methods: Dp71 expression levels were assessed in the proximal (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) and distal (caecum, colon and rectum) intestine by Western blotting and qPCR. In addition, the cellular distribution of total Dp was evaluated in the duodenum and colon by immunohistochemical colocalization studies with alpha-smooth muscle actin (aSMA), Hu RNA binding proteins C and D (HuC/HuD) for neurons and vimentin (VIM) for interstitial cells. Results: In neonatal and adult rats, the distal intestine expressed 2.5 times more Dp71 protein than the proximal part (p < 0.01). This regional difference was not observed in Dp71 mRNA. During both stages, Dp-immunoreactivity was predominant in the muscularis propria, where it co-localized with aSMA and HuC/HuD. Conclusions: In neonatal and adult rats, Dp71 was expressed highest in the distal intestine. Together with the observation that Dp may be expressed by myenteric neurons, this warrants a paradigm shift in the treatment of GI comorbidities.
Modulation of Physiological Stress Response of Triticum aestivum L. to Glyphosate by Brassinosteroid Application
Authors: Shopova Elena , Katerova Zornitsa , Brankova Liliana , Dimitrova Ljudmila , Sergiev Iskren , Todorova Dessislava , Talaat Neveen B.
Published: November 2021

The potential of brassinosteroids to modulate the physiological responses of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to herbicide stress was evaluated. Young winter wheat seedlings were treated with 24-epibrassinolide (EBL) and 24 h later were sprayed with glyphosate. The physiological responses of treated plants were assessed 14 days after herbicide application. Wheat growth was noticeably inhibited by glyphosate. The herbicide application significantly increased the content of the stress markers proline and malondialdehyde (MDA) evidencing oxidative damage. The content of phenolic compounds was decreased in the herbicide-treated plants. Slight activation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and considerable increase of glutathione reductase (GR) and guaiacol peroxidase (POX) activities were found. Increased POX and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities were anticipated to be involved in herbicide detoxification. Conjugation with glutathione in herbicide-treated plants could explain the reduction of thiols suggesting unbalanced redox state. EBL application did not alter the plant growth but a moderate activation of antioxidant defense (POX, GR, and CAT activities and phenolic levels) and detoxifying enzyme GST was observed. The hormonal priming provoked a slight decrease in MDA and proline levels. The results demonstrate that EBL-pretreatment partly restored shoot growth and has a potential to mitigate the oxidative damages in glyphosate-treated plants through activation of the enzymatic antioxidant defense and increase of the phenolic compounds.
Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness Prediction Using CT Images
Authors: Mendes Bruno , Domingues Inês , Silva Augusto , Santos João
Published: November 2021

Prostate Cancer (PCa) is mostly asymptomatic at an early stage and often painless requiring active surveillance screening. Transrectal Ultrasound Guided Biopsy (TRUS) is the principal method to diagnose PCa following a histological examination by observing cell pattern irregularities and assigning the Gleason Score (GS) according to the recommended guidelines. This procedure presents sampling errors and, being invasive may cause complications to the patients. External Beam Radiotherapy Treatment (EBRT) is presented as curative option for localised and locally advanced disease, as a palliative option for metastatic low-volume disease or after prostatectomy for prostate bed and pelvic nodes salvage. In the EBRT worflow a Computed Tomography (CT) scan is performed as the basis for dose calculations and volume delineations. In this work, we evaluated the use of data-characterization algorithms (radiomics) from CT images for PCa aggressiveness assessment. The fundamental motivation relies on the wide availability of CT images and the need to provide tools to assess EBRT effectiveness. We used Pyradiomics and Local Image Features Extraction (LIFEx) to extract features and search for a radiomic signature within CT images. Finnaly, when applying Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to the features, we were able to show promising results.
Analysis of Four Types of Anchorage Devices for Prestressed Glulam Beam and Experimental Research
Authors: Li Mingfei , Wu Mingtao , Guo Nan , Mei Lidan , Zhao Yan
Published: November 2021

An anchorage device is an integral part of the prestressed Glulam beams. Therefore, its rationality and practicability have significant effects on the mechanical performance of the prestressed beams. To investigate the impact of the anchorage devices on the bearing capacity and stiffness of the prestressed beams, this paper compared and analyzed four kinds of anchors in detail through the finite element software. The results showed that when the initial mid-span deflection was 5 mm, 10 mm, and 15 mm, the bearing capacity of prestressed beams with four anchorage devices was 80.37–177.24%, 93.56–182.51%, and 95.62–194.60% higher than that of ordinary Glulam beam, respectively. When the initial mid-span top prestresses were 1 MPa, 1.5 MPa, and 2 MPa, the bearing capacity of prestressed beams with four anchorage devices was 101.71–172.57%, 105.85–175.88%, and 109.64–180.87% higher than that of ordinary Glulam beam, respectively. In addition, based on the simulation results, the prestressed beam with the external anchorage had the highest bearing capacity and stiffness. The deformation capacity of the beam with boot anchorage was the largest. The stress distribution of the beam installed under beam anchorage was the most uniform, and the beam with slotted anchorage was easy to cause stress concentration at the notch. Finally, based on the outstanding performance of the external anchorage, it was selected to carry out one experiment, and the experimental result showed that the simulation could predict the damage model and load–deflection relationship of the prestressed beams well.
CNC Edge Finishing of Granite: Effect of Machining Conditions on Part Quality, Cutting Forces, and Particle Emissions
Authors: Bahri Haithem , Songmene Victor , Kouam Jules , Samuel Agnes Marie , Samuel Fawzy Hosny
Published: November 2021

Edge finishing is a shaping process that is extremely important in the granite and marble processing industries. It does not only shape the edge but also makes it shiny and durable. However, this process generates dust (fine and ultrafine particles) that can have a significant impact on air quality in the workshop and can put workers’ health at risk. While environmental requirements and occupational health and safety regulations are becoming increasingly stringent, at the same time, industries must continue to produce quality parts at competitive prices. The purpose of this study was to examine the surface quality, the cutting forces, and the emission of fine (FP) and ultrafine (UFP) particles during wet and dry edge finishing of granite edges as a function of the machining parameters and abrasive grit sizes. Three machining operations were investigated: roughing, semi-finishing, and finishing, using diamond abrasives (with grit sizes 45, 150, 300, 600, 1500, and 3000). The experiments were carried out on two granites, one being black and the other white. The tested spindle speeds ranged from 1500 rpm to 3500 rpm and the feed rates from 500–1500 mm/min. It was found that roughing operations produce more fine particles while finishing operations produce more ultrafine particles. These particle emissions, as well as the part quality and the cutting forces are strongly dependent on cutting speed and on the grit size of the abrasive used.
Flexible Pressure Sensor with Micro-Structure Arrays Based on PDMS and PEDOT:PSS/PUD&CNTs Composite Film with 3D Printing
Authors: Shao Yiwei , Zhang Qi , Zhao Yulong , Pang Xing , Liu Mingjie , Zhang Dongliang , Liang Xiaoya
Published: November 2021

Flexible pressure sensors are widely used in different fields, especially in human motion, robot monitoring and medical treatment. Herein, a flexible pressure sensor consists of the flat top plate, and the microstructured bottom plate is developed. Both plates are made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) by molding from the 3D printed template. The contact surfaces of the top and bottom plates are coated with a mixture of poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly (styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and polyurethane dispersion (PUD) as stretchable film electrodes with carbon nanotubes on the electrode surface. By employing 3D printing technology, using digital light processing (DLP), the fabrication of the sensor is low-cost and fast. The sensor models with different microstructures are first analyzed by the Finite Element Method (FEM), and then the models are fabricated and tested. The sensor with 5 × 5 hemispheres has a sensitivity of 3.54 × 10−3 S/kPa in the range of 0–22.2 kPa. The zero-temperature coefficient is −0.0064%FS/°C. The durability test is carried out for 2000 cycles, and it remains stable during the whole test. This work represents progress in flexible pressure sensing and demonstrates the advantages of 3D printing technology in sensor processing.
Influence of C and N on Strain-Induced Martensite Formation in Fe-15Cr-7Mn-4Ni-0.5Si Austenitic Steel
Authors: Quitzke Caroline , Huang Qiuliang , Biermann Horst , Volkova Olena , Wendler Marco
Published: November 2021

In this study, the effect of interstitial contents on the mechanical properties and strain-induced martensite formation in an austenitic stainless steel was investigated. The mechanical properties of solution annealed Fe-15Cr-7Mn-4Ni-0.5Si-(0.01-0.2)N-(0.01-0.2)C concentrations in weight percent stainless steels were studied using room temperature tensile tests. All three alloys used in the present study have a sum content of C + N of about 0.2 wt.%. To verify the influence of C and N on deformation behavior, microstructural investigations are performed using light optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and magnetic and hardness measurements. Moreover, strain-induced α′-martensite nucleation was characterized by scanning electron microscope using EBSD. In the present alloy system, carbon provides a stronger austenite stabilizing effect than nitrogen. Hence, the smallest amount of strain-induced α′-martensite was formed in the steel alloyed with 0.2 wt.% C. It also exhibited the optimal mechanical properties, including the highest ultimate tensile strength (1114 MPa), uniform elongation (63%), and total elongation (68%). Moreover, the interstitial content influences the occurrence of dynamic strain aging (DSA), which was only observed in the steel alloyed with carbon. With increasing C content, the triggering strain for DSA decreases, which can be confirmed by in situ magnetic measurements during tensile testing.
Prediction of Second Melting Temperatures Already Observed in Pure Elements by Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Tournier Robert F. , Ojovan Michael I.
Published: November 2021

A second melting temperature occurs at a temperature Tn+ higher than Tm in glass-forming melts after heating them from their glassy state. The melting entropy is reduced or increased depending on the thermal history and on the presence of antibonds or bonds up to Tn+. Recent MD simulations show full melting at Tn+ = 1.119Tm for Zr, 1.126Tm for Ag, 1.219Tm for Fe and 1.354Tm for Cu. The non-classical homogeneous nucleation model applied to liquid elements is based on the increase of the Lindemann coefficient with the heating rate. The glass transition at Tg and the nucleation temperatures TnG of glacial phases are successfully predicted below and above Tm. The glass transition temperature Tg increases with the heating rate up to Tn+. Melting and crystallization of glacial phases occur with entropy and enthalpy reductions. A universal law relating Tn+ and TnG around Tm shows that TnG cannot be higher than 1.293Tm for Tn+= 1.47Tm. The enthalpies and entropies of glacial phases have singular values, corresponding to the increase of percolation thresholds with Tg and TnG above the Scher and Zallen invariant at various heating and cooling rates. The G-phases are metastable up to Tn+ because the antibonds are broken by homogeneous nucleation of bonds.
On the Origin of Plastic Deformation and Surface Evolution in Nano-Fretting: A Discrete Dislocation Plasticity Analysis
Authors: Xu Yilun , Balint Daniel S. , Dini Daniele
Published: November 2021

Discrete dislocation plasticity (DDP) calculations were carried out to investigate a single-crystal response when subjected to nano-fretting loading conditions in its interaction with a rigid sinusoidal asperity. The effects of the contact size and preceding indentation on the surface stress and profile evolution due to nano-fretting were extensively investigated, with the aim to unravel the deformation mechanisms governing the response of materials subjected to nano-motion. The mechanistic drivers for the material’s permanent deformations and surface modifications were shown to be the dislocations’ collective motion and piling up underneath the contact. The analysis of surface and subsurface stresses and the profile evolution during sliding provides useful insight into damage and failure mechanisms of crystalline materials subject to nano-fretting; this can lead to improved strategies for the optimisation of material properties for better surface resistance under micro- and nano-scale contacts.
Experimental Study on the Permeation and Migration Rules of Pressurized Water in Textile-Reinforced Concrete (TRC)
Authors: Wang Boxin , Liu Jiaqi , Wang Qing
Published: November 2021

As a new type of repairing and reinforcing material, textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) is often used to improve mechanical properties and durability of offshore, port, and hydraulic structures in the corrosive environment. In order to investigate how to quantify the permeability performance of TRC under external pressurized water, standard concrete permeability tests, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tests, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) tests were conducted. These tests considered the effects of fiber grid size, Tex content, and water–cement ratio on the impermeability of TRC. Experimental results show that water gathers around the fiber bundles and migrates upwards along the longitudinal fiber under external water pressure and seeps out from the upper surface of the concrete specimen. Furthermore, based on the concentric annular slit flow theory and hydropower similarity principle, this study established a formula for the permeability of TRC and the calculated values are in good agreement with the experimental values.
On Random Subspace Optimization-Based Hybrid Computing Models Predicting the California Bearing Ratio of Soils
Authors: Trong Duong Kien , Pham Binh Thai , Jalal Fazal E. , Iqbal Mudassir , Roussis Panayiotis C. , Mamou Anna , Ferentinou Maria , Vu Dung Quang , Duc Dam Nguyen , Tran Quoc Anh , Asteris Panagiotis G.
Published: November 2021

The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) is an important index for evaluating the bearing capacity of pavement subgrade materials. In this research, random subspace optimization-based hybrid computing models were trained and developed for the prediction of the CBR of soil. Three models were developed, namely reduced error pruning trees (REPTs), random subsurface-based REPT (RSS-REPT), and RSS-based extra tree (RSS-ET). An experimental database was compiled from a total of 214 soil samples, which were classified according to AASHTO M 145, and included 26 samples of A-2-6 (clayey gravel and sand soil), 3 samples of A-4 (silty soil), 89 samples of A-6 (clayey soil), and 96 samples of A-7-6 (clayey soil). All CBR tests were performed in soaked conditions. The input parameters of the models included the particle size distribution, gravel content (G), coarse sand content (CS), fine sand content (FS), silt clay content (SC), organic content (O), liquid limit (LL), plastic limit (PL), plasticity index (PI), optimum moisture content (OMC), and maximum dry density (MDD). The accuracy of the developed models was assessed using numerous performance indexes, such as the coefficient of determination, relative error, MAE, and RMSE. The results show that the highest prediction accuracy was obtained using the RSS-based extra tree optimization technique.