bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Insights into the Activation of a Crustacean G Protein-Coupled Receptor: Evaluation of the Red Pigment-Concentrating Hormone Receptor of the Water Flea Daphnia pulex (Dappu-RPCH R)
Authors: Jackson Graham E. , Gäde Gerd
Published: May 2021

The validation of a previously developed model of the interaction between the red pigment-concentrating hormone of Daphnia pulex and its cognate receptor (Jackson et al., IJBM 106, 969–978, 2018) was undertaken. Single amino acid replacements, noticeably an Ala scan, of the ligand, Dappu-RPCH, were docked to the receptor, and the binding energies calculated and compared to the one with Dappu-RPCH. As a second step, the same molecules were docked using molecular dynamics (MD) in a 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) membrane. Changes in binding energy were compared to previous results on in vitro receptor activation (Marco et al., Sci. Rep. 7, 6851, 2017). Residue scanning and MD simulations both gave comparable results for binding energy. For most mutants, there was a good inverse correlation between in vitro activity and binding. There were, however, exceptions; for example: [Ala4]Dappu-RPCH bound as tightly as the cognate ligand but had little activity. This seeming discrepancy was explained when the MD data were analyzed in detail, showing that, although [Ala4]Dappu-RPCH had multiple interactions with the receptor accounting for the high binding energy, the interacting residues of the receptor were quite different to those of Dappu-RPCH. The MD calculations show clearly that the strong binding affinity of the ligand to the receptor is not sufficient for activation. Interaction of the binding of the ligand to two residues of the receptor, Ser 155 and Gln 237, is also essential. A comparison of our computational results with the experimental results of Marco et al. and comparison with the extensive data on GnRH supports the validity of our Dappu-RPCH R model.
Alternative Splicing of Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (hTERT) and Its Implications in Physiological and Pathological Processes
Authors: Plyasova Anna A. , Zhdanov Dmitry D.
Published: May 2021

Alternative splicing (AS) of human telomerase catalytic subunit (hTERT, human telomerase reverse transcriptase) pre-mRNA strongly regulates telomerase activity. Several proteins can regulate AS in a cell type-specific manner and determine the functions of cells. In addition to being involved in telomerase activity regulation, AS provides cells with different splice variants that may have alternative biological activities. The modulation of telomerase activity through the induction of hTERT AS is involved in the development of different cancer types and embryos, and the differentiation of stem cells. Regulatory T cells may suppress the proliferation of target human and murine T and B lymphocytes and NK cells in a contact-independent manner involving activation of TERT AS. This review focuses on the mechanism of regulation of hTERT pre-mRNA AS and the involvement of splice variants in physiological and pathological processes.
The Spectroscopic Properties and Microscopic Imaging of Thulium-Doped Upconversion Nanoparticles Excited at Different NIR-II Light
Authors: Peng Tingting , Pu Rui , Wang Baoju , Zhu Zhimin , Liu Kai , Wang Fan , Wei Wei , Liu Haichun , Zhan Qiuqiang
Published: May 2021

Lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are promising bioimaging nanoprobes due to their excellent photostability. As one of the most commonly used lanthanide activators, Tm3+ ions have perfect ladder-type electron configuration and can be directly excited by bio-friendly near-infrared-II (NIR-II) wavelengths. Here, the emission characteristics of Tm3+-doped nanoparticles under laser excitations of different near-infrared-II wavelengths were systematically investigated. The 1064 nm, 1150 nm, and 1208 nm lasers are proposed to be three excitation strategies with different response spectra of Tm3+ ions. In particular, we found that 1150 nm laser excitation enables intense three-photon 475 nm emission, which is nearly 100 times stronger than that excited by 1064 nm excitation. We further optimized the luminescence brightness after investigating the luminescence quenching mechanism of bare NaYF4: Tm (1.75%) core. After growing an inert shell, a ten-fold increase of emission intensity was achieved. Combining the advantages of NIR-II wavelength and the higher-order nonlinear excitation, a promising facile excitation strategy was developed for the application of thulium-doped upconversion nanoparticles in nanoparticles imaging and cancer cell microscopic imaging.
Domain Adaptation Using a Three-Way Decision Improves the Identification of Autism Patients from Multisite fMRI Data
Authors: Shi Chunlei , Xin Xianwei , Zhang Jiacai
Published: May 2021

Machine learning methods are widely used in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis. Due to the lack of labelled ASD data, multisite data are often pooled together to expand the sample size. However, the heterogeneity that exists among different sites leads to the degeneration of machine learning models. Herein, the three-way decision theory was introduced into unsupervised domain adaptation in the first time, and applied to optimize the pseudolabel of the target domain/site from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) features related to ASD patients. The experimental results using multisite fMRI data show that our method not only narrows the gap of the sample distribution among domains but is also superior to the state-of-the-art domain adaptation methods in ASD recognition. Specifically, the ASD recognition accuracy of the proposed method is improved on all the six tasks, by 70.80%, 75.41%, 69.91%, 72.13%, 71.01% and 68.85%, respectively, compared with the existing methods.
Effects of Open-Skill Exercises on Cognition on Community Dwelling Older Adults: Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Guo Wei , Wang Biye , Smoter Małgorzata , Yan Jun
Published: May 2021

(1) Cognitive function may benefit from physical exercise in older adults. However, controversy remains over which mode of exercise is more beneficial. (2) The aim of the proposed study is to investigate the effect of open-skill exercise training on cognitive function in community dwelling older adults compared with closed-skill exercise, cognitive training, and active control. (3) One hundred and sixty participants, aged between 60 and 80 years old, will be recruited from community senior centers in Yangzhou, China and randomly assigned to one of four groups: open-skill exercise group, closed-skill exercise group, mobile game playing group, and active control group. All participants will join a 24-week program involving 50 min sessions three times a week. The primary outcome measure is visuospatial working memory. Secondary measures include subjective memory complaint, attention network, nonverbal reasoning ability, and physical activities. All participants will be measured before, mid-way, and immediately after intervention, and three months later. (4) If successful, this study is expected to provide evidence-based recommendations for older adults to select the most efficient and effective mode of exercise to improve cognitive function. Importantly, the three intervention groups provide an opportunity to separate the cognitive activity component from the physical activity component. Comparison of these components is expected to help elucidate possible mechanisms contributing to the additional cognitive benefit of open-skill exercises.
Implications of ‘Lock-in’ on Public Sector Project Management in a Small Island Development State
Authors: Chadee Aaron Anil , Chadee Xsitaaz Twinkle , Mwasha Abrahams , Martin Hector Hugh
Published: May 2021

The concept of ‘Lock-In’, or the escalating cost of overcommitment on a project to a failing course of action, has unforeseeable implications in project management. This paper presents a case study on the occurrence and consequences of lock-in within the context of public sector housing projects in a small island developing state (SIDS). It demonstrates that cost overruns continue beyond the commissioning phase and throughout the project’s lifecycle, even though technical contingencies were implemented to deliver the intended project benefits. The findings unpack the implications of political expediency as a strategic tool mobilised to supersede proper technical decision-making prior to project execution. It concludes that project practitioners’ commitment to select and continue with a sub-optimal project can lead to the implementation of ineffective solutions to justify their actions, resulting in failed outcomes with negative social consequences. This research helps to advance project management knowledge in the us-er/operation phase, because previous scholarly work was limited to investigating lock-in from project conceptualisation to the commissioning phase.
The Study of Cancer Susceptibility Genes
Authors: Pavlov Youri I.
Published: May 2021

“…most complex, new direction for cancer medicine is to integrate our understanding of aberrant genes and pathways to explain the behavior of cancer as a whole, thereby renewing the cycle of knowledge, discovery and therapeutic intervention [...]
Heme Oxygenase-1 Inhibition Potentiates the Effects of Nab-Paclitaxel-Gemcitabine and Modulates the Tumor Microenvironment in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Ahmad Iman M. , Dafferner Alicia J. , O’Connell Kelly A. , Mehla Kamiya , Britigan Bradley E. , Hollingsworth Michael A. , Abdalla Maher Y.
Published: May 2021

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis. Tumor hypoxia plays an active role in promoting tumor progression, malignancy, and resistance to therapy in PDAC. We present evidence that nab-paclitaxel–gemcitabine (NPG) and/or a hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) up-regulate heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), providing a survival advantage for tumors. Using PDAC cells in vitro and a PDAC mouse model, we found that NPG chemotherapy up-regulated expression of HO-1 in PDAC cells and increased its nuclear translocation. Inhibition of HO-1 with ZnPP and SnPP sensitized PDAC cells to NPG-induced cytotoxicity (p < 0.05) and increased apoptosis (p < 0.05). Additionally, HO-1 expression was increased in gemcitabine-resistant PDAC cells (p < 0.05), and HO-1 inhibition increased GEM-resistant PDAC sensitivity to NPG (p < 0.05). NPG combined with HO-1 inhibitor inhibited tumor size in an orthotopic model. In parallel, HO-1 inhibition abrogated the influx of macrophages and FoxP3+ cells, while increasing the proportion of CD8+ infiltration in the pancreatic tumors. These effects were mediated primarily by reducing expression of the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10.
Liquid Biopsy for Small Cell Lung Cancer either De Novo or Transformed: Systematic Review of Different Applications and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Pizzutilo Elio Gregory , Pedrani Martino , Amatu Alessio , Ruggieri Lorenzo , Lauricella Calogero , Veronese Silvio Marco , Signorelli Diego , Cerea Giulio , Giannetta Laura , Siena Salvatore , Sartore-Bianchi Andrea
Published: May 2021

Background: The potential added value of liquid biopsy (LB) is not well determined in the case of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), an aggressive tumor that can occur either de novo or from the histologic transformation of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: A systematic review of studies adopting LB in patients with SCLC have been performed to assess the clinical utility of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) or circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Results: After a screening of 728 records, 62 studies (32 evaluating CTCs, 27 ctDNA, and 3 both) met predetermined eligibility criteria. Only four studies evaluated LB in the diagnostic setting for SCLC, while its prognostic significance was evaluated in 38 studies and prominently supported by both ctDNA and CTCs. A meta-analysis of 11 studies as for CTCs enumeration showed an HR for overall survival of 2.63 (1.71–4.05), with a potential publication bias. The feasibility of tumor genomic profiling and the predictive role of LB in terms of response/resistance to chemotherapy was assessed in 11 and 24 studies, respectively, with greater consistency for those regarding ctDNA. Intriguingly, several case reports suggest that LB can indirectly capture the transition to SCLC in NSCLC treated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Conclusions: While dedicated trials are needed, LB holds potential clinical roles in both de novo and transformed SCLC. CtDNA analysis appears the most valuable and practicable tool for both disease monitoring and genomic profiling.
Prediction of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Association of Oropharyngeal Cancer (OPC) Using Radiomics: The Impact of the Variation of CT Scanner
Authors: Reiazi Reza , Arrowsmith Colin , Welch Mattea , Abbas-Aghababazadeh Farnoosh , Eeles Christopher , Tadic Tony , Hope Andrew J. , Bratman Scott V. , Haibe-Kains Benjamin
Published: May 2021

Studies have shown that radiomic features are sensitive to the variability of imaging parameters (e.g., scanner models), and one of the major challenges in these studies lies in improving the robustness of quantitative features against the variations in imaging datasets from multi-center studies. Here, we assess the impact of scanner choice on computed tomography (CT)-derived radiomic features to predict the association of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma with human papillomavirus (HPV). This experiment was performed on CT image datasets acquired from two different scanner manufacturers. We demonstrate strong scanner dependency by developing a machine learning model to classify HPV status from radiological images. These experiments reveal the effect of scanner manufacturer on the robustness of radiomic features, and the extent of this dependency is reflected in the performance of HPV prediction models. The results of this study highlight the importance of implementing an appropriate approach to reducing the impact of imaging parameters on radiomic features and consequently on the machine learning models, without removing features which are deemed non-robust but may contain learning information.
Roles of Lytic Viral Replication and Co-Infections in the Oncogenesis and Immune Control of the Epstein–Barr Virus
Authors: Deng Yun , Münz Christian
Published: May 2021

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is the prototypic human tumor virus whose continuous lifelong immune control is required to prevent lymphomagenesis in the more than 90% of the human adult population that are healthy carriers of the virus. Here, we review recent evidence that this immune control has not only to target latent oncogenes, but also lytic replication of EBV. Furthermore, genetic variations identify the molecular machinery of cytotoxic lymphocytes as essential for this immune control and recent studies in mice with reconstituted human immune system components (humanized mice) have begun to provide insights into the mechanistic role of these molecules during EBV infection. Finally, EBV often does not act in isolation to cause disease. Some of EBV infection-modulating co-infections, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), have been modeled in humanized mice. These preclinical in vivo models for EBV infection, lymphomagenesis, and cell-mediated immune control do not only promise a better understanding of the biology of this human tumor virus, but also the possibility to explore vaccine candidates against it.
Role of IQGAP1 in Papillomavirus-Associated Head and Neck Tumorigenesis
Authors: Wei Tao , Choi Suyong , Buehler Darya , Lee Denis , Ward-Shaw Ella , Anderson Richard A. , Lambert Paul F.
Published: May 2021

Approximately 25% of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. In these cancers as well as in HPV-associated anogenital cancers, PI3K signaling is highly activated. We previously showed that IQ motif-containing GTPase activating protein 1 (IQGAP1), a PI3K pathway scaffolding protein, is overexpressed in and contributes to HNSCC and that blocking IQGAP1-mediated PI3K signaling reduces HPV-positive HNSCC cell survival and migration. In this study, we tested whether IQGAP1 promotes papillomavirus (PV)-associated HNSCCs. IQGAP1 was necessary for optimal PI3K signaling induced by HPV16 oncoproteins in transgenic mice and MmuPV1 infection, a mouse papillomavirus that causes HNSCC in mice. Furthermore, we found that, at 6 months post-infection, MmuPV1-infected Iqgap1−/− mice developed significantly less severe tumor phenotypes than MmuPV1-infected Iqgap1+/+ mice, indicating a role of IQGAP1 in MmuPV1-associated HNSCC. The tumors resulting from MmuPV1 infection showed features consistent with HPV infection and HPV-associated cancer. However, such IQGAP1-dependent effects on disease severity were not observed in an HPV16 transgenic mouse model for HNC. This may reflect that IQGAP1 plays a role in earlier stages of viral pathogenesis, or other activities of HPV16 oncogenes are more dominant in driving carcinogenesis than their influence on PI3K signaling.
Particle Number Emissions of a Euro 6d-Temp Gasoline Vehicle under Extreme Temperatures and Driving Conditions
Authors: Giechaskiel Barouch , Valverde Victor , Kontses Anastasios , Melas Anastasios , Martini Giorgio , Balazs Andreas , Andersson Jon , Samaras Zisis , Dilara Panagiota
Published: May 2021

With the introduction of gasoline particulate filters (GPFs), the particle number (PN) emissions of gasoline direct-injection (GDI) vehicles are below the European regulatory limit of 6 × 1011 p/km under certification conditions. Nevertheless, concerns have been raised regarding emission levels at the boundaries of ambient and driving conditions of the real-driving emissions (RDE) regulation. A Euro 6d-Temp GDI vehicle with a GPF was tested on the road and in the laboratory with cycles simulating congested urban traffic, dynamic driving, and towing a trailer uphill at 85% of maximum payload. The ambient temperatures covered a range from −30 to 50 °C. The solid PN emissions were 10 times lower than the PN limit under most conditions and temperatures. Only dynamic driving that regenerated the filter passively, and for the next cycle resulted in relatively high emissions although they were still below the limit. The results of this study confirmed the effectiveness of GPFs in controlling PN emissions under a wide range of conditions.
Immobilization of Rh(I)-N-Xantphos and Fe(II)-C-Scorpionate onto Magnetic Nanoparticles: Reusable Catalytic System for Sequential Hydroformylation/Acetalization
Authors: Rodrigues Fábio M. S. , Dias Lucas D. , Calvete Mário J. F. , Maria Teresa M. R. , Rossi Liane M. , Pombeiro Armando J. L. , Martins Luísa M. D. R. S. , Pereira Mariette M.
Published: May 2021

Two heterogeneous catalysts, MNP@SiO2-N-Xantphos/Rh(I) and MNP@SiO2-NH-C-scorpionate/Fe(II), were prepared by reaction of chloro-functionalized MNP@SiO2 with N-Xantphos and amino-functionalized MNP@SiO2 with iron(II)/C-allyl-scorpionate through nucleophilic substitution and hydroaminomethylation reactions, respectively. All catalysts were characterized using standard spectroscopic means, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetry (TG), and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). An active and highly selective one-pot hydroformylation/acetalization homogeneous system for the transformation of terminal and highly substituted olefins (including terpenes) onto ethyl acetals is described. A synergic effect of bimetallic Rh(I)/P and Fe(II)/C-scorpionate catalysts is disclosed for the first time. The further sequential use of the heterogeneous catalysts, MNP@SiO2-N-Xantphos/Rh(I) and MNP@SiO2-NH-C-scorpionate/Fe(II) in hydroformylation/acetalization reactions allows the direct transformation of olefin onto ethyl acetals, keeping the activity and selectivity. Both catalysts were easily recovered by magnetic separation and reused with negligible loss of activity/selectivity, after six reutilization cycles.
Angiogenic CD34 Stem Cell Therapy in Coronary Microvascular Repair—A Systematic Review
Authors: Rai Balaj , Shukla Janki , Henry Timothy D. , Quesada Odayme
Published: May 2021

Ischemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA) is an increasingly recognized disease, with a prevalence of 3 to 4 million individuals, and is associated with a higher risk of morbidity, mortality, and a worse quality of life. Persistent angina in many patients with INOCA is due to coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), which can be difficult to diagnose and treat. A coronary flow reserve <2.5 is used to diagnose endothelial-independent CMD. Antianginal treatments are often ineffective in endothelial-independent CMD and thus novel treatment modalities are currently being studied for safety and efficacy. CD34+ cell therapy is a promising treatment option for these patients, as it has been shown to promote vascular repair and enhance angiogenesis in the microvasculature. The resulting restoration of the microcirculation improves myocardial tissue perfusion, resulting in the recovery of coronary microvascular function, as evidenced by an improvement in coronary flow reserve. A pilot study in INOCA patients with endothelial-independent CMD and persistent angina, treated with autologous intracoronary CD34+ stem cells, demonstrated a significant improvement in coronary flow reserve, angina frequency, Canadian Cardiovascular Society class, and quality of life (ESCaPE-CMD, NCT03508609). This work is being further evaluated in the ongoing FREEDOM (NCT04614467) placebo-controlled trial.
Profiling Complement System Components in Primary CNS Vasculitis
Authors: Deb-Chatterji Milani , Keller Christian W. , Koch Simon , Wiendl Heinz , Gerloff Christian , Magnus Tim , Lünemann Jan D.
Published: May 2021

Complement activation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many vasculitic syndromes such as anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides. Using an array-based multiplex system, we simultaneously quantified serum and CSF levels of activated and regulatory complement system proteins in patients with primary CNS vasculitis (PACNS; n = 20) compared to patients with non-inflammatory conditions (n = 16). Compared to non-inflammatory controls, levels of C3a, C5a, and SC5b-9, indicative for general activation of the complement system, of C4a, specific for the activation of the classical pathway, Ba and Bb, reflective for alternative complement activation as well as concentrations of complement-inhibitory proteins factor H and factor I were unchanged in patients with PACNS. Our study does not support the hypothesis that complement activation is systemically increased in patients with PACNS.
Oncogenesis, Microenvironment Modulation and Clinical Potentiality of FAP in Glioblastoma: Lessons Learned from Other Solid Tumors
Authors: Shi Yixin , Kong Ziren , Liu Penghao , Hou Guozhu , Wu Jiaming , Ma Wenbin , Cheng Xin , Wang Yu
Published: May 2021

Currently, glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant tumor of the central nervous system in adults. Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is a member of the dipeptidyl peptidase family, which has catalytic activity and is engaged in protein recruitment and scaffolds. Recent studies have found that FAP expression in different types of cells within the GBM microenvironment is typically upregulated compared with that in lower grade glioma and is most pronounced in the mesenchymal subtype of GBM. As a marker of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) with tumorigenic activity, FAP has been proven to promote tumor growth and invasion via hydrolysis of molecules such as brevican in the extracellular matrix and targeting of downstream pathways and substrates, such as fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). In addition, based on its ability to suppress antitumor immunity in GBM and induce temozolomide resistance, FAP may be a potential target for immunotherapy and reversing temozolomide resistance; however, current studies on therapies targeting FAP are still limited. In this review, we summarized recent progress in FAP expression profiling and the understanding of the biological function of FAP in GBM and raised the possibility of FAP as an imaging biomarker and therapeutic target.
Anti-cN1A Antibodies Are Associated with More Severe Dysphagia in Sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis
Authors: Lucchini Matteo , Maggi Lorenzo , Pegoraro Elena , Filosto Massimiliano , Rodolico Carmelo , Antonini Giovanni , Garibaldi Matteo , Valentino Maria Lucia , Siciliano Gabriele , Tasca Giorgio , De Arcangelis Valeria , De Fino Chiara , Mirabella Massimiliano
Published: May 2021

In recent years, an autoantibody directed against the 5′-citosolic nucleotidase1A (cN1A) was identified in the sera of sporadic inclusion body myositis (s-IBM) patients with widely variable sensitivity (33%–76%) and specificity (87%–100%). We assessed the sensitivity/specificity of anti-cN1A antibodies in an Italian cohort of s-IBM patients, searching for a potential correlation with clinical data. We collected clinical data and sera from 62 consecutive s-IBM patients and 62 other inflammatory myopathies patients. Testing for anti-cN1A antibodies was performed using a commercial ELISA. Anti-cN1A antibodies were detected in 23 s-IBM patients, resulting in a sensitivity of 37.1% with a specificity of 96.8%. Positive and negative predictive values were 92.0% and 60.6%, respectively. We did not find significant difference regarding demographic variables, nor quadriceps or finger flexor weakness. Nevertheless, we found that anti-cN1A-positive patients presented significantly lower scores in IBMFRS item 1 (swallowing, p = 0.045) and more frequently reported more severe swallowing problems, expressed as an IBMFRS item 1 score ≤ 2 (p < 0.001). We confirmed the low sensitivity and high specificity of anti-cN1A Ab in s-IBM patients with a high positive predictive value. The presence of anti-CN1A antibodies identified patients with a greater risk of more severe dysphagia.
Emerging Roles of SKP2 in Cancer Drug Resistance
Authors: Wu Ting , Gu Xinsheng , Cui Hongmei
Published: May 2021

More than half of all cancer patients receive chemotherapy, however, some of them easily acquire drug resistance. Resistance to chemotherapy has become a massive obstacle to achieve high rates of pathological complete response during cancer therapy. S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2), as an E3 ligase, was found to be highly correlated with drug resistance and poor prognosis. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms that Skp2 confers to drug resistance, including the Akt-Skp2 feedback loop, Skp2-p27 pathway, cell cycle and mitosis regulation, EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition) property, enhanced DNA damage response and repair, etc. We also addressed novel molecules that either inhibit Skp2 expression or target Skp2-centered interactions, which might have vast potential for application in clinics and benefit cancer patients in the future.
The Mechanism of Asparagine Endopeptidase in the Progression of Malignant Tumors: A Review
Authors: Zhang Wenrui , Lin Yingying
Published: May 2021

Asparagine endopeptidase (AEP), also called legumain, is currently the only known cysteine protease that specifically cleaves peptide bonds in asparaginyl residue in the mammalian genome. Since 2003, AEP has been reported to be widely expressed in a variety of carcinomas and is considered a potential therapeutic target. In the following years, researchers intensively investigated the substrates of AEP and the mechanism of AEP in partial tumors. With the identification of substrate proteins such as P53, integrin αvβ3, MMP-2, and MMP-9, the biochemical mechanism of AEP in carcinomas is also more precise. This review will clarify the probable mechanisms of AEP in the progression of breast carcinoma, glioblastoma, gastric carcinoma, and epithelial ovarian carcinoma. This review will also discuss the feasibility of targeted therapy with AEP inhibitor (AEPI) in these carcinomas.
Somatotype, Accumulated Workload, and Fitness Parameters in Elite Youth Players: Associations with Playing Position
Authors: Nobari Hadi , Oliveira Rafael , Clemente Filipe Manuel , Pérez-Gómez Jorge , Pardos-Mainer Elena , Ardigò Luca Paolo
Published: May 2021

The purpose of this study was three-fold: (1) to describe anthropometric, maturation, and somatotype differences of players based on playing positions; (2) to analyze variations of accumulated load training (AcL) and fitness parameters between playing positions; and finally (3) to explain the variation of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and peak power (PP) through the AcL, body fat (BF), maturity, somatotype and fitness levels. Twenty-seven male youth soccer players under-16 were divided by the following positions participated in this study: six central midfielders, four wingers (WG), five forwards, eight defenders, and four goalkeepers (GK). They were evaluated on two occasions: pre-season and after-season. Height, sitting height, body mass, BF, girths, percentage of BF (BF%), lean body mass, maturity, somatotype, sprint test, change of direction test, Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1, Wingate, PP, VO2max and fatigue index were assessed. Then, AcL was monitored during training sessions. The main results revealed significant differences between player positions for maturity offset (p = 0.001), for BF (p = 0.006), BF% (p = 0.015), and lean body mass kg (p = 0.003). Also, there were significant differences for AcL and fatigue index in pre-season between player positions (p < 0.05). In addition, there were some significant differences in pre- and after-season for VO2max and PP between player positions (p < 0.05). In conclusion, GK showed higher values in anthropometric, body composition variables and maturity offset compared to the other positions, while WG presented lower levels of BF. In pre-season, there were more differences by player positions for the different variables analyzed than after-season that reinforces the tactical role of the positions, and the emphasis in increased load in the beginning of the season. This study could be used by coaches, staff, and researchers as a reference for athletes of the same sex, age, and competitive level.
Antibacterial Surfaces, Thin Films, and Nanostructured Coatings
Authors: Valerini Daniele
Published: May 2021

Antibacterial surfaces can play a key role in a great number of everyday applications, spanning from biomedical purposes (medical devices, protection equipment, surgery tools, human implants, etc [...]
Recent Advances in Protective Coatings for Accident Tolerant Zr-Based Fuel Claddings
Authors: Kashkarov Egor , Afornu Bright , Sidelev Dmitrii , Krinitcyn Maksim , Gouws Veronica , Lider Andrey
Published: May 2021

Zirconium-based alloys have served the nuclear industry for several decades due to their acceptable properties for nuclear cores of light water reactors (LWRs). However, severe accidents in LWRs have directed research and development of accident tolerant fuel (ATF) concepts that aim to improve nuclear fuel safety during normal operation, operational transients and possible accident scenarios. This review introduces the latest results in the development of protective coatings for ATF claddings based on Zr alloys, involving their behavior under normal and accident conditions in LWRs. Great attention has been paid to the protection and oxidation mechanisms of coated claddings, as well as to the mutual interdiffusion between coatings and zirconium alloys. An overview of recent developments in barrier coatings is introduced, and possible barrier layers and structure designs for suppressing mutual diffusion are proposed.
RuSseL: A Self-Consistent Field Theory Code for Inhomogeneous Polymer Interphases
Authors: Revelas Constantinos J. , Sgouros Aristotelis P. , Lakkas Apostolos T. , Theodorou Doros N.
Published: May 2021

In this article, we publish the one-dimensional version of our in-house code, RuSseL, which has been developed to address polymeric interfaces through Self-Consistent Field calculations. RuSseL can be used for a wide variety of systems in planar and spherical geometries, such as free films, cavities, adsorbed polymer films, polymer-grafted surfaces, and nanoparticles in melt and vacuum phases. The code includes a wide variety of functional potentials for the description of solid–polymer interactions, allowing the user to tune the density profiles and the degree of wetting by the polymer melt. Based on the solution of the Edwards diffusion equation, the equilibrium structural properties and thermodynamics of polymer melts in contact with solid or gas surfaces can be described. We have extended the formulation of Schmid to investigate systems comprising polymer chains, which are chemically grafted on the solid surfaces. We present important details concerning the iterative scheme required to equilibrate the self-consistent field and provide a thorough description of the code. This article will serve as a technical reference for our works addressing one-dimensional polymer interphases with Self-Consistent Field theory. It has been prepared as a guide to anyone who wishes to reproduce our calculations. To this end, we discuss the current possibilities of the code, its performance, and some thoughts for future extensions.
Enhanced Round-Robin Algorithm in the Cloud Computing Environment for Optimal Task Scheduling
Authors: Alhaidari Fahd , Balharith Taghreed Zayed
Published: May 2021

Recently, there has been significant growth in the popularity of cloud computing systems. One of the main issues in building cloud computing systems is task scheduling. It plays a critical role in achieving high-level performance and outstanding throughput by having the greatest benefit from the resources. Therefore, enhancing task scheduling algorithms will enhance the QoS, thus leading to more sustainability of cloud computing systems. This paper introduces a novel technique called the dynamic round-robin heuristic algorithm (DRRHA) by utilizing the round-robin algorithm and tuning its time quantum in a dynamic manner based on the mean of the time quantum. Moreover, we applied the remaining burst time of the task as a factor to decide the continuity of executing the task during the current round. The experimental results obtained using the CloudSim Plus tool showed that the DRRHA significantly outperformed the competition in terms of the average waiting time, turnaround time, and response time compared with several studied algorithms, including IRRVQ, dynamic time slice round-robin, improved RR, and SRDQ algorithms.
Protein Dynamics and Time Resolved Protein Crystallography at Synchrotron Radiation Sources: Past, Present and Future
Authors: Martin-Garcia Jose M.
Published: May 2021

The ultrabright and ultrashort pulses produced at X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) has enabled studies of crystallized molecular machines at work under ‘native’ conditions at room temperature by the so-called time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography (TR-SFX) technique. Since early TR-SFX experiments were conducted at XFELs, it has been largely reported in the literature that time-resolved X-ray experiments at synchrotrons are no longer feasible or are impractical due to the severe technical limitations of these radiation sources. The transfer of the serial crystallography approach to newest synchrotrons upgraded for higher flux density and with beamlines using sophisticated focusing optics, submicron beam diameters and fast low-noise photon-counting detectors offers a way to overcome these difficulties opening new and exciting possibilities. In fact, there is an increasing amount of publications reporting new findings in structural dynamics of protein macromolecules by using time resolved crystallography from microcrystals at synchrotron sources. This review gathers information to provide an overview of the recent work and the advances made in this filed in the past years, as well as outlines future perspectives at the next generation of synchrotron sources and the upcoming compact pulsed X-ray sources.
Production of Biochar and Its Potential Application in Cementitious Composites
Authors: Khitab Anwar , Ahmad Sajjad , Khan Riaz Akhtar , Arshad Muhammad Tausif , Anwar Waqas , Tariq Junaid , Khan Ali Sikandar Rasheed , Khan Raja Bilal Nasar , Jalil Affan , Tariq Zeesshan
Published: May 2021

In cement composites, usually, reinforcement is provided to restrict the crack development and their further propagation under service conditions. Typically, reinforcements utilized in cementitious composites range from nanometer scale to millimeter scale by using nano-, micro-, and millimeter-sized fibers and particles. These reinforcements provide the crack arresting mechanisms at the nano/microscale and restrict the growth of the cracks under service loads, but usually, the synthesis of nano/microfibers, and afterward their dispersion in the cementitious materials, pose difficulty, thus limiting their vast application in the construction industry. Carbonaceous inerts are green materials since they are capable of capturing and storing carbon, thus limiting the emission of CO2 to the atmosphere. In the present study, a comprehensive review of the synthesis of low cost and environmentally friendly nano/micro carbonaceous inerts from pyrolysis of different agricultural/industrial wastes, and afterward, their application in the cementitious materials for producing high performance cementitious composites is presented, which have the potential to be used as nano/micro reinforcement in the cementitious matrix.
Value of Hematological and Coagulation Parameters as Prognostic Factors in Acute Coronary Syndromes
Authors: Babes Elena Emilia , Zaha Dana Carmen , Tit Delia Mirela , Nechifor Aurelia Cristina , Bungau Simona , Andronie-Cioara Felicia Liana , Behl Tapan , Stoicescu Manuela , Munteanu Mihai Alexandru , Rus Marius , Toma Mirela Marioara , Brisc Ciprian
Published: May 2021

The values of hematological and coagulation biomarkers were evaluated as predictors of in hospital mortality and complications, in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). This retrospective observational study enrolled 936 ACS subjects admitted to the Clinical Emergency Hospital of Oradea, Romania, between January–December 2019. Hematological and coagulation parameters were obtained at admission. During hospitalization, the following adverse events were recorded: death, ventricular rhythm disturbances, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, re-infarction, and stroke. Accuracy of hematological and coagulation parameters as predictors of adverse outcome were also evaluated. The diagnosis was unstable angina in 442 patients (47.22%), non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in 113 patients (12.1%) and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in 381 patients (40.70%); 87 patients (9.29%) died during hospitalization and 193 (20.7%) developed complications. Predictors for in hospital mortality were as follows: red cell distribution width (RDW) (AUC 0.691, p < 0.0001), white blood cells (WBC) (AUC 0.684, p < 0.0001), neutrophils (NEU) (AUC 0.684, p < 0.0001), and prothrombin time (PT) (AUC 0.765, p < 0.0001). WBC (AUC 0.659, p < 0.0001), NEU (AUC 0.664, p < 0.0001), RDW (AUC 0.669, p < 0.0001), and PT (AUC 0.669, 95% CI 0.622–0.714, p < 0.0001) also had accuracy for complications prediction. RDW had a good ability to predict heart failure in NSTEMI patients (AUC 0.832, p < 0.0001). An acceptable ability to predict ventricular rhythm disturbances occurrence had WBC (AUC 0.758, p < 0.0001) and NEU (AUC 0.772, p < 0.0001). Hematological and coagulation parameters can help in risk stratification of ACS patients. RDW, WBC, NEU, and PT were able to predict mortality and in-hospital complications in ACS patients. RDW has a good accuracy in predicting complications and heart failure in NSTEMI patients. WBC and NEU are good predictors for ventricular rhythm disturbances.
A Novel Computational Model for Detecting the Severity of Inflammation in Confirmed COVID-19 Patients Using Chest X-ray Images
Authors: Alqahtani Mohammed S. , Abbas Mohamed , Alqahtani Ali , Alshahrani Mohammad , Alkulib Abdulhadi , Alelyani Magbool , Almarhaby Awad , Alsabaani Abdullah
Published: May 2021

Since late 2019, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread all over the world. The disease is highly contagious, and it may lead to acute respiratory distress (ARD). Medical imaging can play an important role in classifying, detecting, and measuring the severity of the virus. This study aims to provide a novel auto-detection tool that can detect abnormal changes in conventional X-ray images for confirmed COVID-19 cases. X-ray images from patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were converted into 19 different colored layers. Each layer represented objects with similar contrast that could be defined as a specific color. The objects with similar contrasts were formed in a single layer. All the objects from all the layers were extracted as a single-color image. Based on the differentiation of colors, the prototype model was able to recognize a wide spectrum of abnormal changes in the image texture. This was true even if there was minimal variation of the contrast values of the detected uncleared abnormalities. The results indicate that the proposed novel method can detect and determine the degree of lung infection from COVID-19 with an accuracy of 91%, compared to the opinions of three experienced radiologists. The method can also efficiently determine the sites of infection and the severity of the disease by classifying the X-rays into five levels of severity. Thus, the proposed COVID-19 autodetection method can identify locations and indicate the degree of severity of the disease by comparing affected tissue with healthy tissue, and it can predict where the disease may spread.
Identifying Risk Factors Affecting the Usage of Digital and Social Media: A Preliminary Qualitative Study in the Dental Profession and Dental Education
Authors: Sharka Rayan , San Diego Jonathan P. , Nasseripour Melanie , Banerjee Avijit
Published: May 2021

Aims: This study aimed to identify the risk factors of using DSM to provide an insight into the inherent implications this has on dental professionals in practice and trainee professionals’ education. Materials and methods: Twenty-one participants (10 dental professionals and 11 undergraduate and postgraduate dental students) participated in this qualitative study using semi-structured interviews in a dental school in the UK. The interviews were analysed and categorised into themes, some of which were identified from previous literature (e.g., privacy and psychological risks) and others emerged from the data (e.g., deceptive and misleading information). Results: The thematic analysis of interview transcripts identified nine perceived risk themes. Three themes were associated with the use of DSM in the general context, and six themes were related to the use of DSM in professional and education context. Conclusions: This study provided evidence to understand the risk factors of using DSM in dental education and the profession, but the magnitude of these risks on the uptake and usefulness of DSM needs to be assessed.
Psychosocial Obstacles in Young Children Argumentative Interactions
Authors: Convertini Josephine
Published: May 2021

Argumentation is an important aspect in the field of education because of its impact on learning processes. At the same time, argumentation is a complex activity in terms of cognitive, relational, emotional and social dynamics. In this paper, I investigate and I describe possible difficulties encountered by children during the argumentative process. The study involves 25 preschool children at a kindergarten engaged in three building tasks. The tasks were video-recorded and the argumentative discussions transcribed. For the aim of this paper, I analyze how argumentation are distributed among participants. I select interactions in which participants apparently do not argue or there are differences in the degree of argumentative participation between participants of the same group. I analyze these interactions and moments of impasse in the argumentative steps. The findings show how the simplicity of solving the task (e.g., when children do not encounter any problem in completing the activity) and the children’s self-perception of their competences in solving the task may have an impact on argumentation activities. Moreover, this perception is co-constructed by children within the interaction. The study contributes to the line of research on designing argumentation and highlights the role of the adult in managing children’s interactions.
The Pilot Study of the Hazard Perception Test for Evaluation of the Driver’s Skill Using Virtual Reality
Authors: Sawada Tatsunori , Uda Hiroki , Suzuki Akira , Tomori Kounosuke , Ohno Kanta , Iga Hiroki , Okita Yuho , Fujita Yoshio
Published: May 2021

Background: Although various technologies are used to evaluate driving skill, there are some limitations such as the limited range of the monitor and the possible risk of causing cybersickness. The purpose of this study is to investigate differences in the hazard perception and cybersickness experienced between novice and experienced drivers measured in a VR hazard perception test with a head-mounted display (HMD). Methods: The novice (n = 32) and the experienced drivers (n = 36) participated in the hazard perception test through the VR of an HMD. Results: The total number of identified hazards was 1071 in the novice drivers and 1376 in the experienced drivers. Two of the hazards appeared to be only identifiable through the HMD. A chi-square test revealed that experienced drivers were more likely to identify the hazards than the novice drivers (p < 0.05). The novice drivers appeared to identify “hazard prediction of the current behavior of other road users” more than other hazard types, unlike the experienced group. The Simulator Sickness Questionnaire scores indicated no significant difference in the different age or gender groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that the VR hazard perception test may be useful for evaluating patients’ driving skills.
Temperature-Sensitivity of Two Microwave HEMT Devices: AlGaAs/GaAs vs. AlGaN/GaN Heterostructures
Authors: Alim Mohammad Abdul , Chowdhury Abu Zahed , Islam Shariful , Gaquiere Christophe , Crupi Giovanni
Published: May 2021

The goal of this paper is to provide a comparative analysis of the thermal impact on the microwave performance of high electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) based on GaAs and GaN technologies. To accomplish this challenging goal, the relative sensitivity of the microwave performance to changes in the ambient temperature is determined by using scattering parameter measurements and the corresponding equivalent-circuit models. The studied devices are two HEMTs with the same gate width of 200 µm but fabricated using different semiconductor materials: GaAs and GaN technologies. The investigation is performed under both cooled and heated conditions, by varying the temperature from −40 °C to 150 °C. Although the impact of the temperature strongly depends on the selected operating condition, the bias point is chosen in order to enable, as much as possible, a fair comparison between the two different technologies. As will be shown, quite similar trends are observed for the two different technologies, but the impact of the temperature is more pronounced in the GaN device.