bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pathology and Pathogenesis of Brain Lesions Produced by Clostridium perfringens Type D Epsilon Toxin
Authors: Finnie John W. , Uzal Francisco A.
Published: August 2022

Clostridium perfringens type D epsilon toxin (ETX) produces severe, and frequently fatal, neurologic disease in ruminant livestock. The disorder is of worldwide distribution and, although vaccination has reduced its prevalence, ETX still causes substantial economic loss in livestock enterprises. The toxin is produced in the intestine as a relatively inactive prototoxin, which is subsequently fully enzymatically activated to ETX. When changed conditions in the intestinal milieu, particularly starch overload, favor rapid proliferation of this clostridial bacterium, large amounts of ETX can be elaborated. When sufficient toxin is absorbed from the intestine into the systemic circulation and reaches the brain, two neurologic syndromes can develop from this enterotoxemia. If the brain is exposed to large amounts of ETX, the lesions are fundamentally vasculocentric. The neurotoxin binds to microvascular endothelial receptors and other brain cells, the resulting damage causing increased vascular permeability and extravasation of plasma protein and abundant fluid into the brain parenchyma. While plasma protein, particularly albumin, pools largely perivascularly, the vasogenic edema becomes widely distributed in the brain, leading to a marked rise in intracranial pressure, coma, sometimes cerebellar herniation, and, eventually, often death. When smaller quantities of ETX are absorbed into the bloodstream, or livestock are partially immune, a more protracted clinical course ensues. The resulting brain injury is characterized by bilaterally symmetrical necrotic foci in certain selectively vulnerable neuroanatomic sites, termed focal symmetrical encephalomalacia. ETX has also been internationally listed as a potential bioterrorism agent. Although there are no confirmed human cases of ETX intoxication, the relatively wide species susceptibility to this toxin and its high toxicity mean it is likely that human populations would also be vulnerable to its neurotoxic actions. While the pathogenesis of ETX toxicity in the brain is incompletely understood, the putative mechanisms involved in neural lesion development are discussed.
A TCP Transcription Factor in Malus halliana, MhTCP4, Positively Regulates Anthocyanins Biosynthesis
Authors: Meng Jiaxin , Yin Jiao , Wang Han , Li Houhua
Published: August 2022

Anthocyanins belong to a group of flavonoids, which are the most important flower pigments. Clarifying the potential anthocyanins biosynthesis molecular mechanisms could facilitate artificial manipulation of flower pigmentation in plants. In this paper, we screened a differentially expressed gene, MhTCP4, from the transcriptome data of Malus halliana petals at different development stages and explored its role in anthocyanins biosynthesis. The transcriptome data and qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression level of MhTCP4 gradually decreased from the flower color fades. Tissue specific expression analysis showed MhTCP4 was expressed in the petal, leaf, and fruit of M. halliana, and was highly expressed in the scarlet petal. Overexpression of MhTCP4 promoted anthocyanins accumulation and increased pigments in infected parts of M. ‘Snowdrift’ and M. ‘Fuji’ fruit peels. In contrast, when endogenous MhTCP4 was silenced, the anthocyanins accumulation was inhibited and pigments decreased in the infected peels. The qRT-PCR analysis revealed that overexpression or silence of MhTCP4 caused expression changes of a series of structural genes included in anthocyanins biosynthesis pathway. The yeast two-hybrid assays indicated that MhTCP4 did not interact with MhMYB10. Furthermore, the yeast one-hybrid assays indicated that MhTCP4 did not directly bind to the promoter of MhMYB10, but that of the anthocyanins biosynthesis genes, MhCHI and MhF3′H. Dual luciferase assays further confirmed that MhTCP4 can strongly activate the promoters of MhCHI and MhF3′H in tobacco. Overall, the results suggest that MhTCP4 positively regulates anthocyanins biosynthesis by directly activated MhCHI and MhF3′H in M. halliana flowers.
FAK-Mediated Signaling Controls Amyloid Beta Overload, Learning and Memory Deficits in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Saleh Bisan , Srikanth Kolluru D. , Sneh Tal , Yue Lambert , Pelech Steven , Elliott Evan , Gil-Henn Hava
Published: August 2022

The non-receptor focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is highly expressed in the central nervous system during development, where it regulates neurite outgrowth and axon guidance, but its role in the adult healthy and diseased brain, specifically in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), is largely unknown. Using the 3xTg-AD mouse model, which carries three mutations associated with familial Alzheimer’s disease (APP KM670/671NL Swedish, PSEN1 M146V, MAPT P301L) and develops age-related progressive neuropathology including amyloid plaques and Tau tangles, we describe here, for the first time, the in vivo role of FAK in AD pathology. Our data demonstrate that while site-specific knockdown in the hippocampi of 3xTg-AD mice has no effect on learning and memory, hippocampal overexpression of the protein leads to a significant decrease in learning and memory capabilities, which is accompanied by a significant increase in amyloid β (Aβ) load. Furthermore, neuronal morphology is altered following hippocampal overexpression of FAK in these mice. High-throughput proteomics analysis of total and phosphorylated proteins in the hippocampi of FAK overexpressing mice indicates that FAK controls AD-like phenotypes by inhibiting cytoskeletal remodeling in neurons which results in morphological changes, by increasing Tau hyperphosphorylation, and by blocking astrocyte differentiation. FAK activates cell cycle re-entry and consequent cell death while downregulating insulin signaling, thereby increasing insulin resistance and leading to oxidative stress. Our data provide an overview of the signaling networks by which FAK regulates AD pathology and identify FAK as a novel therapeutic target for treating AD.
Antitumor Effects of a New Retinoate of the Fungal Cytotoxin Illudin M in Brain Tumor Models
Authors: Linder Benedikt , Zoldakova Miroslava , Kornyei Zsuzsanna , Köhler Leonhard H. F. , Seibt Sebastian , Menger Dominic , Wetzel André , Madarász Emília , Schobert Rainer , Kögel Donat , Biersack Bernhard
Published: August 2022

While the fungal metabolite illudin M (1) is indiscriminately cytotoxic in cancer and non-malignant cells, its retinoate 2 showed a greater selectivity for the former, especially in a cerebral context. Illudin M killed malignant glioma cells as well as primary neurons and astrocytes at similarly low concentrations and destroyed their microtubule and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) networks. In contrast, the ester 2 was distinctly more cytotoxic in highly dedifferentiated U87 glioma cells than in neurons, which were even stimulated to enhanced growth. This was also observed in co-cultures of neurons with U87 cells where conjugate 2 eventually killed them by induction of differentiation based on the activation of nuclear receptors, which bind to retinoid-responsive elements (RARE). Hence, illudin M retinoate 2 appears to be a promising drug candidate.
A Comparative Study of the Plasma Chemokine Profile in COVID-19 Patients Infected with Different SARS-CoV-2 Variants
Authors: Korobova Zoia R. , Arsentieva Natalia A. , Liubimova Natalia E. , Dedkov Vladimir G. , Gladkikh Anna S. , Sharova Alena A. , Chernykh Ekaterina I. , Kashchenko Victor A. , Ratnikov Vyacheslav A. , Gorelov Victor P. , Stanevich Oksana V. , Kulikov Alexandr N. , Pevtsov Dmitriy E. , Totolian Areg A.
Published: August 2022

Background. Infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 mostly affects the upper and lower respiratory tracts and causes symptoms ranging from the common cold to pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Chemokines are deeply involved in the chemoattraction, proliferation, and activation of immune cells within inflammation. It is crucial to consider that mutations within the virion can potentially affect the clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 infection because disease severity and manifestation vary depending on the genetic variant. Our objective was to measure and assess the different concentrations of chemokines involved in COVID-19 caused by different variants of the virus. Methods. We used the blood plasma of patients infected with different variants of SARS-CoV-2, i.e., the ancestral Wuhan strain and the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants. We measured the concentrations of 11 chemokines in the samples: CCL2/MCP-1, CCL3/MIP-1α, CCL4/MIP-1β, CCL7/MCP-3, CCL11/Eotaxin, CCL22/MDC, CXCL1/GROα, CXCL8/IL-8, CXCL9/MIG, CXCL10/IP-10, and CX3CL1/Fractalkine. Results. We noted a statistically significant elevation in the concentrations of CCL2/MCP-1, CXCL8/IL-8, and CXCL1/IP-10 independently of the variant, and a drop in the CCL22/MDC concentrations. Conclusions. The chemokine concentrations varied significantly depending on the viral variant, leading us to infer that mutations in viral proteins play a role in the cellular and molecular mechanisms of immune responses.
Cilostazol Attenuates AngII-Induced Cardiac Fibrosis in apoE Deficient Mice
Authors: Hada Yoshiko , Uchida Haruhito A. , Umebayashi Ryoko , Yoshida Masashi , Wada Jun
Published: August 2022

Cardiac fibrosis is characterized by the net accumulation of extracellular matrix in the myocardium and is an integral component of most pathological cardiac conditions. Cilostazol, a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type III with anti-platelet, anti-mitogenic, and vasodilating properties, is widely used to treat the ischemic symptoms of peripheral vascular disease. Here, we investigated whether cilostazol has a protective effect against Angiotensin II (AngII)-induced cardiac fibrosis. Male apolipoprotein E-deficient mice were fed either a normal diet or a diet containing cilostazol (0.1% wt/wt). After 1 week of diet consumption, the mice were infused with saline or AngII (1000 ng kg−1 min−1) for 28 days. AngII infusion increased heart/body weight ratio (p < 0.05), perivascular fibrosis (p < 0.05), and interstitial cardiac fibrosis (p < 0.0001), but were significantly attenuated by cilostazol treatment (p < 0.05, respectively). Cilostazol also reduced AngII-induced increases in fibrotic and inflammatory gene expression (p < 0.05, respectively). Furthermore, cilostazol attenuated both protein and mRNA abundance of osteopontin induced by AngII in vivo. In cultured human cardiac myocytes, cilostazol reduced mRNA expression of AngII-induced osteopontin in dose-dependent manner. This reduction was mimicked by forskolin treatment but was cancelled by co-treatment of H-89. Cilostazol attenuates AngII-induced cardiac fibrosis in mice through activation of the cAMP–PKA pathway.
Unique Features of the Tissue Structure in the Naked Mole Rat (Heterocephalus glaber): Hypertrophy of the Endoplasmic Reticulum and Spatial Mitochondrial Rearrangements in Hepatocytes
Authors: Vays Valeriya , Vangeli Irina , Eldarov Chupalav , Popkov Vasily , Holtze Susanne , Hildebrandt Thomas , Averina Olga , Zorov Dmitry , Bakeeva Lora
Published: August 2022

The reason for the exceptional longevity of the naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber) remains a mystery to researchers. We assumed that evolutionarily, H. glaber acquired the ability to quickly stabilize the functioning of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to adjust metabolism to external challenges. To test this, a comparison of the hepatic mitochondria and ER of H. glaber and C57BL/6 mice was done. Electron microscopy showed that 2-months-old mice have more developed rough ER (RER) than smooth ER (SER), occupying ~17 and 2.5% of the hepatocytic area correspondingly, and these values do not change with age. On the other hand, in 1-week-old H. glaber, RER occupies only 13% constantly decreasing with age, while SER occupies 35% in a 1-week-old animal, constantly rising with age. The different localization of mitochondria in H. glaber and mouse hepatocytes was confirmed by confocal and electron microscopy: while in H. glaber, mitochondria were mainly clustered around the nucleus and on the periphery of the cell, in mouse hepatocytes they were evenly distributed throughout the cell. We suggest that the noted structural and spatial features of ER and mitochondria in H. glaber reflect adaptive rearrangements aimed at greater tolerance of the cellular system to challenges, primarily hypoxia and endogenous and exogenous toxins. Different mechanisms of adaptive changes including an activated hepatic detoxification system as a hormetic response, are discussed considering the specific metabolic features of the naked mole rat.
How to Use Respiratory Chain Inhibitors in Toxicology Studies—Whole-Cell Measurements
Authors: Żuberek Mariusz , Paciorek Patrycja , Rakowski Michał , Grzelak Agnieszka
Published: August 2022

Mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) inhibition is a phenomenon interesting in itself and serves as a tool for studying various cellular processes. Despite the fact that searching the term “rotenone” in PubMed returns more than 6900 results, there are many discrepancies regarding the directions of changes reported to be caused by this RTC inhibitor in the delicate redox balance of the cell. Here, we performed a multifaceted study of the popular ETC inhibitors rotenone and antimycin A, involving assessment of mitochondrial membrane potential and the production of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anions at cellular and mitochondrial levels over a wide range of inhibitor concentrations (1 nmol/dm3–100 µmol/dm3). All measurements were performed with whole cells, with accompanying control of ATP levels. Antimycin A was more potent in hindering HepG2 cells’ abilities to produce ATP, decreasing ATP levels even at a 1 nmol/dm3 concentration, while in the case of rotenone, a 10,000-times greater concentration was needed to produce a statistically significant decrease. The amount of hydrogen peroxide produced in the course of antimycin A biological activity increased rapidly at low concentrations and decreased below control level at a high concentration of 100 µmol/dm3. While both inhibitors influenced cellular superoxide anion production in a comparable manner, rotenone caused a greater increase in mitochondrial superoxide anions compared to a modest impact for antimycin A. IC50 values for rotenone and antimycin A with respect to HepG2 cell survival were of the same order of magnitude, but the survival curve of cells treated with rotenone was clearly biphasic, suggesting a concentration-dependent mode of biological action. We propose a clear experimental setup allowing for complete and credible analysis of the redox state of cells under stress conditions which allows for better understanding of the effects of ETC inhibition.
Dissection of Crop Metabolome Responses to Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, and Other Nutrient Deficiencies
Authors: Xue Yingbin , Zhu Shengnan , Schultze-Kraft Rainer , Liu Guodao , Chen Zhijian
Published: August 2022

Crop growth and yield often face sophisticated environmental stresses, especially the low availability of mineral nutrients in soils, such as deficiencies of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and others. Thus, it is of great importance to understand the mechanisms of crop response to mineral nutrient deficiencies, as a basis to contribute to genetic improvement and breeding of crop varieties with high nutrient efficiency for sustainable agriculture. With the advent of large-scale omics approaches, the metabolome based on mass spectrometry has been employed as a powerful and useful technique to dissect the biochemical, molecular, and genetic bases of metabolisms in many crops. Numerous metabolites have been demonstrated to play essential roles in plant growth and cellular stress response to nutrient limitations. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to summarize the recent advances in the dissection of crop metabolism responses to deficiencies of mineral nutrients, as well as the underlying adaptive mechanisms. This review is intended to provide insights into and perspectives on developing crop varieties with high nutrient efficiency through metabolite-based crop improvement.
Transcriptome Profiling and Expression Localization of Key Sex-Related Genes in a Socially-Controlled Hermaphroditic Clownfish, Amphiprion clarkii
Authors: Wang Huan , Qu Meng , Tang Wei , Liu Shufang , Ding Shaoxiong
Published: August 2022

Clownfish can be an excellent research model for investigating the socially-controlled sexual development of sequential hermaphrodite teleosts. However, the molecular cascades underlying the social cues that orchestrate the sexual development process remain poorly understood. Here, we performed a comparative transcriptomic analysis of gonads from females, males, and nonbreeders of Amphiprion clarkii, which constitute a complete social group, allowing us to investigate the molecular regulatory network under social control. Our analysis highlighted that the gonads of nonbreeders and males exhibited high similarities but were far from females, both in global transcriptomic profiles and histological characteristics, and identified numerous candidate genes involved in sexual development, some well-known and some novel. Significant upregulation of cyp19a1a, foxl2, nr5a1a, wnt4a, hsd3b7, and pgr in females provides strong evidence for the importance of steroidogenesis in ovarian development and maintenance, with cyp19a1a playing a central role. Amh and sox8 are two potential key factors that may regulate testicular tissue development in early and late stages, respectively, as they are expressed at higher levels in males than in females, but with slightly different expression timings. Unlike previous descriptions in other fishes, the unique expression pattern of dmrt1 in A. clarkii implied its potential function in both male and female gonads, and we speculated that it might play promoting roles in the early development of both testicular and ovarian tissues.
Physiological and Pathological Functions of Neuronal Hemoglobin: A Key Underappreciated Protein in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Zheng Ran , Yan Yiqun , Pu Jiali , Zhang Baorong
Published: August 2022

The expression of Hemoglobin (Hb) is not restricted to erythrocytes but is also present in neurons. Hb is selectively enriched in vulnerable mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons of Parkinson’s disease (PD) instead of resistant neurons. Controversial results of neuronal Hb levels have been reported in postmortem brains of PD patients: although neuronal Hb levels may decline in PD patients, elderly men with higher Hb levels have an increased risk of developing PD. α-synuclein, a key protein involved in PD pathology, interacts directly with Hb protein and forms complexes in erythrocytes and brains of monkeys and humans. These complexes increase in erythrocytes and striatal cytoplasm, while they decrease in striatal mitochondria with aging. Besides, the colocalization of serine 129-phosphorylated (Pser129) α-synuclein and Hb β chains have been found in the brains of PD patients. Several underlying molecular mechanisms involving mitochondrial homeostasis, α-synuclein accumulation, iron metabolism, and hormone-regulated signaling pathways have been investigated to assess the relationship between neuronal Hb and PD development. The formation of fibrils with neuronal Hb in various neurodegenerative diseases may indicate a common fibrillization pathway and a widespread target that could be applied in neurodegeneration therapy.
Role of MicroRNA-7 (MiR-7) in Cancer Physiopathology
Authors: Morales-Martínez Mario , Vega Mario I.
Published: August 2022

miRNAs are non-coding RNA sequences of approximately 22 nucleotides that interact with genes by inhibiting their translation through binding to their 3′ or 5′ UTR regions. Following their discovery, the role they play in the development of various pathologies, particularly cancer, has been studied. In this context, miR-7 is described as an important factor in the development of cancer because of its role as a tumor suppressor, regulating a large number of genes involved in the development and progression of cancer. Recent data support the function of miR-7 as a prognostic biomarker in cancer, and miR-7 has been proposed as a strategy in cancer therapy. In this work, the role of miR-7 in various types of cancer is reviewed, illustrating its regulation, direct targets, and effects, as well as its possible relationship to the clinical outcome of cancer patients.
Hepatocyte Growth Factor Enhances Antineoplastic Effect of 5-Fluorouracil by Increasing UPP1 Expression in HepG2 Cells
Authors: Okumura Manabu , Iwakiri Tomomi , Yoshikawa Naoki , Nagatomo Takao , Ayabe Takanori , Tsuneyoshi Isao , Ikeda Ryuji
Published: August 2022

Aberrant activation of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor c-Met axis promotes tumor growth. Therefore, many clinical trials have been conducted. A phase 3 trial investigating a monoclonal antibody targeting HGF in combination with fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy had to be terminated prematurely; however, the reason behind the failure remains poorly defined. In this study, we investigated the influence of HGF on the antineoplastic effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a fluoropyrimidine, in HepG2 cells. HGF suppressed the proliferative activity of cells concomitantly treated with 5-FU more robustly as compared to that of cells treated with 5-FU alone, and markedly increased the expression of uridine phosphorylase 1 (UPP1). Intracellular concentration of 5-fluorouridine, an initial anabolite of 5-FU catalyzed by UPP1, was increased by HGF. Interestingly, erlotinib enhanced HGF-induced increase in UPP1 mRNA; in contrast, gefitinib suppressed it. Furthermore, erlotinib suppressed HGF-increased phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor at the Tyr1173 site involved in downregulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) activation, and enhanced the HGF-increased phosphorylation of Erk. Collectively, these findings suggest that inhibition of the HGF/c-Met axis diminishes the effects of fluoropyrimidine through downregulation of UPP1 expression. Therefore, extreme caution must be exercised in terms of patient safety while offering chemotherapy comprising fluoropyrimidine concomitantly with inhibitors of the HGF/c-Met axis.
Antibacterial Soy Protein Isolate Prepared by Quaternization
Authors: Dong Qi , Lei Jingwen , Wang Hanjian , Ke Meifang , Liang Xiao , Yang Xindi , Liang Hui , Huselstein Céline , Tong Zan , Chen Yun
Published: August 2022

Soy protein isolate (SPI) is green, high-yield natural plant protein, which is widely applied in industry (packing material and adhesives) and tissue engineering. It is meaningful to improve the antibacterial property of soy protein isolate to fabricate versatile safe products to meet people’s requirements. In this study, quaternized soy protein isolate (QSPI) was synthesized by the reaction between 2,3-epoxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride (EPTMAC) and SPI. The positive charged (17.8 ± 0.23 mV) quaternary ammonium groups endow the QSPI with superior antibacterial properties against multiple bacteria in vitro and in vivo. Notably, QSPI maintains its good biocompatibility and promotes bacterial-infected wound healing in rat models. Furthermore, QSPI possesses superior water solubility in a broad pH range than raw SPI. Altogether, this soy protein isolate derivative with antibacterial property and superior water solubility may extend the application of SPI in industry and tissue engineering.
The Chloronium Cation [(C2H3)2Cl+] and Unsaturated C4-Carbocations with C=C and C≡C Bonds in Their Solid Salts and in Solutions: An H1/C13 NMR and Infrared Spectroscopic Study
Authors: Stoyanov Evgenii S. , Stoyanova Irina V.
Published: August 2022

Solid salts of the divinyl chloronium (C2H3)2Cl+ cation (I) and unsaturated C4H6Cl+ and C4H7+ carbocations with the highly stable CHB11Hal11− anion (Hal=F, Cl) were obtained for the first time. At 120 °C, the salt of the chloronium cation decomposes, yielding a salt of the C4H5+ cation. This thermally stable (up to 200 °C) carbocation is methyl propargyl, CH≡C-C+-H-CH3 (VI), which, according to quantum chemical calculations, should be energetically much less favorable than other isomers of the C4H7+ cations. Cation VI readily attaches HCl to the formal triple C≡C bond to form the CHCl=CH-C+H-CH3 cation (VII). In infrared spectra of cations I, VI, and VII, frequencies of C=C and C≡C stretches are significantly lower than those predicted by calculations (by 400–500 cm−1). Infrared and 1H/13C magic-angle spinning NMR spectra of solid salts of cations I and VI and high-resolution 1H/13C NMR spectra of VII in solution in SO2ClF were interpreted. On the basis of the spectroscopic data, the charge and electron density distribution in the cations are discussed.
Hair Loss and Telogen Effluvium Related to COVID-19: The Potential Implication of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Platelet-Rich Plasma as Regenerative Strategies
Authors: Gentile Pietro
Published: August 2022

The diffusion of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) inducing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has increased the incidence of several dermatological disorders, including hair loss (HL). This article aims to review the literature regarding the incidence of HL and telogen effluvium (TE) in COVID-19 patients and critically appraise the available evidence regarding the role of regenerative strategies like Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and Human Follicle Stem Cells (HFSCs). A literature review regarding the correlation of HL and TE in COVID-19 patients analyzing the biomolecular pathway involved and the role of regenerative strategies was performed using PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, PreMEDLINE, Scopus, and the Cochrane databases. Observational studies revealed an escalated incidence of pattern HL and TE in COVID-19 patients. Psychological stress, systemic inflammation, and oxidative stress are potential culprits. Proinflammatory cytokines and stress hormones negatively affect the normal metabolism of proteoglycans. Reduced anagenic expression of proteoglycans is a potential mediating mechanism that connects HL to COVID-19. Currently, only one study has been published on PRP against HL in COVID-19 patients. Further controlled trials are required to confirm PRP and HFSCs efficacy in COVID-19 patients.
18F-Fluoroethylcholine PET/CT Radiomic Analysis for Newly Diagnosed Prostate Cancer Patients: A Monocentric Study
Authors: Pizzuto Daniele Antonio , Triumbari Elizabeth Katherine Anna , Morland David , Boldrini Luca , Gatta Roberto , Treglia Giorgio , Bientinesi Riccardo , De Summa Marco , De Risi Marina , Caldarella Carmelo , Scarciglia Eros , Totaro Angelo , Annunziata Salvatore
Published: August 2022

Aim: The aim of this study is to assess whether there are some correlations between radiomics and baseline clinical-biological data of prostate cancer (PC) patients using Fluorine-18 Fluoroethylcholine (18F-FECh) PET/CT. Methods: Digital rectal examination results (DRE), Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) serum levels, and bioptical-Gleason Score (GS) were retrospectively collected in newly diagnosed PC patients and considered as outcomes of PC. Thereafter, Volumes of interest (VOI) encompassing the prostate of each patient were drawn to extract conventional and radiomic PET features. Radiomic bivariate models were set up using the most statistically relevant features and then trained/tested with a cross-fold validation test. The best bivariate models were expressed by mean and standard deviation to the normal area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (mAUC, sdAUC). Results: Semiquantitative and radiomic analyses were performed on 67 consecutive patients. tSUVmean and tSkewness were significant DRE predictors at univariate analysis (OR 1.52 [1.01; 2.29], p = 0.047; OR 0.21 [0.07; 0.65], p = 0.007, respectively); moreover, tKurtosis was an independent DRE predictor at multivariate analysis (OR 0.64 [0.42; 0.96], p = 0.03) Among the most relevant bivariate models, szm_2.5D.z.entr + cm.clust.tend was a predictor of PSA levels (mAUC 0.83 ± 0.19); stat.kurt + stat.entropy predicted DRE (mAUC 0.79 ± 0.10); cm.info.corr.1 + szm_2.5D.szhge predicted GS (mAUC 0.78 ± 0.16). Conclusions: tSUVmean, tSkewness, and tKurtosis were predictors of DRE results only, while none of the PET parameters predicted PSA or GS significantly; 18F-FECh PET/CT radiomic models should be tested in larger cohort studies of newly diagnosed PC patients.
Inerting Waste Al Alloy Dust with Natural High Polymers: Sustainability of Industrial Waste
Authors: Liu Bo , Yin Wenjing , Xu Kaili , Zhang Yuyuan
Published: August 2022

A large amount of waste dust will be produced in the process of metal grinding, resulting in a waste of resources and environmental pollution. Therefore, we present a new method of inerting waste aluminum (Al) alloy dust for recycling purposes. Three natural high polymers—starch, pectin, and hydroxypropyl cellulose—were selected to inert waste metal dust in order to prevent the alloy from hydrolyzing and keep the dust pure enough for reuse. The particles of the Al base alloy before and after dust reaction were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR), and the relevant reaction mechanism was clarified. The hydrogen evolution test indicated that, across the temperature interval of 313–333 K, 0.75 wt% pectin inerted hydrogen evolution most efficiently (90.125%). XRD analysis indicated that the inerted product is composed of Al monomer and Al3Mg2, with no detectable content of Al hydroxide. The purity of the Al alloy dust was preserved. SEM and FTIR analyses indicated that the -OH, -COOH, and -COOCH3 functional groups in the high polymer participated in the coordination reaction by adsorbing on the surface of the waste Al alloy particles to produce a protective film, which conforms to Langmuir’s adsorption model. Verification of the inerted Al alloy dust in industrial production confirmed the possibility of reusing waste Al alloy dust. This study provides a simple and effective method for recycling waste Al alloy dust.
Characterization of In Situ Concrete of Existing RC Constructions
Authors: Vona Marco
Published: August 2022

The strengths and mechanical characteristics of concrete play a key role in the safety levels for the recovery and reuse of existing RC buildings and civil engineering works. This is one of the main focuses of the current research trend. To this aim, the characteristics of concrete must be investigated: the characterization of the concrete and its in situ conditions play a key role. For these reasons, many studies on in situ and laboratory test methods and procedures have been carried out over the last two decades. In the past few years, non-destructive investigation methods have been considered reliable and used in many engineering applications, also for RC constructions. More recent codes and guidelines identify destructive test methods as a reference for practice application. However, non-destructive investigation methods can be used though exclusively in combination with destructive tests to support them. In this study, a significant database is considered to assess the reliability of the relationship between destructive and non-destructive methods for in situ concrete in existing RC constructions. The results of the analyses are used to verify the effectiveness of the methods and prediction models and suggest more effective test procedures. It can be stated that many of the existing empirical methods (based on pre-established correlations) are unable to provide a reliable evaluation of the compressive concrete strength and its variability. In practical applications, non-destructive methods often lead to unsatisfactory results for the existing reinforced concrete constructions. Finally, based on the results, some first operational indications are provided for practical investigations and future possible codes and guideline improvements.
Equilibrium, Kinetic, and Thermodynamic Studies on Adsorption of Rhodamine B from Aqueous Solutions Using Oxidized Mesoporous Carbons
Authors: Marciniak Michal , Goscianska Joanna , Norman Małgorzata , Jesionowski Teofil , Bazan-Wozniak Aleksandra , Pietrzak Robert
Published: August 2022

Oxidized mesoporous carbon CSBA-15, obtained by the hard method, was applied to remove rhodamine B from the aqueous system. The process of carbon oxidation was performed using 0.5 and 5 M of nitric (V) acid solution at 70 and 100 °C. Functionalization of mesoporous carbon with HNO3 solutions led to reduction in the surface area, pore volume, and micropore area, however, it also led to an increased number of oxygen functional groups of acidic character. The functional groups probably are located at the entrance of micropores, in this way, reducing the values of textural parameters. Isotherms of rhodamine B adsorption indicate that the oxidation of mesoporous carbons resulted in an increase in the effectiveness of the removal of this dye from aqueous solutions. The influence of temperature, pH, and contact time of mesoporous material/rhodamine B on the effectiveness of dye removal was tested. The process of dye adsorption on the surfaces of the materials studied was established to be most effective at pH 12 and at 60 °C. Kinetic studies of the process of adsorption proved that the equilibrium state between the dye molecules and mesoporous carbon materials is reached after about 1 h. The adsorption kinetics were well fitted using a pseudo-second-order model. The most effective in rhodamine B removal was the sample CSBA-15-5-100, containing the greatest number of oxygen functional groups of acidic character. The Langmuir model best represented equilibrium data.
Structural and Electronic Properties of SnO Downscaled to Monolayer
Authors: Mubeen Adil , Majid Abdul , Alkhedher Mohammad , Tag-ElDin ElSayed M. , Bulut Niyazi
Published: August 2022

Two-dimensional (2D) SnO is a p-type semiconductor that has received research and industrial attention for device-grade applications due to its bipolar conductivity and transparent semiconductor nature. The first-principles investigations based on the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) level of theory often failed to accurately model its structure due to interlayer Van der Waals interactions. This study is carried out to calculate structural and electronic properties of bulk and layered structures of SnO using dispersion correction scheme DFT+D3 with GGA-PBE to deal with the interactions which revealed good agreement of the results with reported data. The material in three-dimensional bulk happened to be an indirect gap semiconductor with a band gap of 0.6 eV which is increased to 2.85 eV for a two-dimensional monolayer structure. The detailed analysis of the properties demonstrated that the SnO monolayer is a promising candidate for future optoelectronics and spintronics devices, especially thin film transistors.
On Some Numerical Methods for Solving Large Differential Nonsymmetric Stein Matrix Equations
Authors: Sadek Lakhlifa , Sadek El Mostafa , Talibi Alaoui Hamad
Published: August 2022

In this paper, we propose a new numerical method based on the extended block Arnoldi algorithm for solving large-scale differential nonsymmetric Stein matrix equations with low-rank right-hand sides. This algorithm is based on projecting the initial problem on the extended block Krylov subspace to obtain a low-dimensional differential Stein matrix equation. The obtained reduced-order problem is solved by the backward differentiation formula (BDF) method or the Rosenbrock (Ros) method, the obtained solution is used to build the low-rank approximate solution of the original problem. We give some theoretical results and report some numerical experiments.
Burnout Syndrome among Otorhinolaryngologists during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Šiupšinskienė Nora , Spiridonovienė Brigita , Pašvenskaitė Agnė , Vaitkus Justinas , Vaitkus Saulius
Published: August 2022

Background and Objectives: To determine the prevalence of burnout syndrome among otorhinolaryngologists in Lithuania and investigate associations with sociodemographic and professional factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: Burnout was measured using the validated Lithuanian version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Demographic characteristics and professional characteristics were collected utilizing an anonymous questionnaire. Results: Eighty otorhinolaryngologists (ORL group) and 30 information technology professionals (the control group) were enrolled in this study. A high level of professional burnout in at least one of the subscales was observed in 82.5% of the ORL group subjects. Depersonalization and burnout syndrome were more frequently detected with increasing age in the ORL group (r = 0.2, p < 0.04). Greater satisfaction with salary and working environment resulted in a lower burnout incidence (r = 0.31, p = 0.001). Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of burnout syndrome has been high among Lithuanian otorhinolaryngologists. Demographic and professional characteristics are significantly related to burnout syndrome among Lithuanian otorhinolaryngologists.
Multi-Modal Brain Tumor Detection Using Deep Neural Network and Multiclass SVM
Authors: Maqsood Sarmad , Damaševičius Robertas , Maskeliūnas Rytis
Published: August 2022

Background and Objectives: Clinical diagnosis has become very significant in today’s health system. The most serious disease and the leading cause of mortality globally is brain cancer which is a key research topic in the field of medical imaging. The examination and prognosis of brain tumors can be improved by an early and precise diagnosis based on magnetic resonance imaging. For computer-aided diagnosis methods to assist radiologists in the proper detection of brain tumors, medical imagery must be detected, segmented, and classified. Manual brain tumor detection is a monotonous and error-prone procedure for radiologists; hence, it is very important to implement an automated method. As a result, the precise brain tumor detection and classification method is presented. Materials and Methods: The proposed method has five steps. In the first step, a linear contrast stretching is used to determine the edges in the source image. In the second step, a custom 17-layered deep neural network architecture is developed for the segmentation of brain tumors. In the third step, a modified MobileNetV2 architecture is used for feature extraction and is trained using transfer learning. In the fourth step, an entropy-based controlled method was used along with a multiclass support vector machine (M-SVM) for the best features selection. In the final step, M-SVM is used for brain tumor classification, which identifies the meningioma, glioma and pituitary images. Results: The proposed method was demonstrated on BraTS 2018 and Figshare datasets. Experimental study shows that the proposed brain tumor detection and classification method outperforms other methods both visually and quantitatively, obtaining an accuracy of 97.47% and 98.92%, respectively. Finally, we adopt the eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) method to explain the result. Conclusions: Our proposed approach for brain tumor detection and classification has outperformed prior methods. These findings demonstrate that the proposed approach obtained higher performance in terms of both visually and enhanced quantitative evaluation with improved accuracy.
Salivary Biomarkers Associated with Psychological Alterations in Patients with Diabetes: A Systematic Review
Authors: Bargues-Navarro Guillermo , Ibáñez-del Valle Vanessa , El Mlili Nisrin , Cauli Omar
Published: August 2022

The care of individuals with diabetes needs a holistic perspective, taking into account both the physical disease and the mental health problems that may be associated. Different studies show a higher prevalence of depression or anxiety issues in diabetes patients than in the general population, which is why diabetes can be considered one of the chronic diseases in which psychological care is crucial to maintain quality of life. The objective of this review is to examine the published articles that relate the bidirectional associations between objective and subjective measures of anxiety, depressive symptomatology, stress, sleep quality, and salivary biomarkers in patients with diabetes. For this, a search was carried out in the electronic databases PubMed, Cochrane, and SCOPUS using the keywords “diabetes”, “saliva”, “sleep”, “anxiety”, “depression”, and “stress” for works published up until May 2022 and limited to the English and Spanish languages. The sample comprised 14 articles, 5 of which analysed the associations between depressive symptomatology and salivary biomarkers in people with diabetes. Among the salivary biomarkers most frequently used to evaluate psychological alterations in persons with diabetes are cortisol and melatonin. Thus, significant changes in the levels of these biomarkers were observed in most studies. Four out of five studies reported a statistically significant relationship between increased salivary cortisol in the evening/midnight or the cortisol awakening response and depressive symptoms. In contrast, lower cortisol levels upon waking in the morning were observed when there was no depression or anxiety. Regarding the association between salivary cortisol values and sleep quality in patients with diabetes, lower morning cortisol values related to prolonged nighttime sleep were common in the analysed studies. Low melatonin concentrations showed a negative correlation with sleep quality. As it is an easy-to-apply and non-invasive method, the measurement of salivary biomarkers can be very useful for predicting psychological alterations in patients with diabetes. Further scientific studies are required to determine the sensitivity of these biological substances acting as biomarkers for detecting sleep disorders and psychological alterations.
Pelvic Malunion: A Systematic Review, Dichotomy of Definitions and Treatment
Authors: Stine Sasha , Washington Austen , Sen Ramesh Kumar , Nasr Kerellos , Vaidya Rahul
Published: August 2022

Background and Objectives: Pelvic nonunion and malunion have been documented as rare complications in pelvic fractures and literature describing these topics is severely limited. Articles dedicated solely to pelvic malunion are nearly nonexistent. We conducted a literature search with the goal of providing a summary of the definition, causes, treatment strategies, and outcomes of pelvic malunion correction. Materials and Methods: An initial review of the literature was performed using the PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews databases. Search terms used were “malunion” AND “pelvic” OR “pelvis”. Duplicate articles, non-English language articles without translations available and non-human subject studies were excluded. Results: Eleven original publications were found describing experiences with pelvic malunion. Seven of the articles were exclusively dedicated to the topic of pelvic fracture malunion, and only two reported on a series of patients treated for malunion with variably staged procedures. Most reports define pelvic pain as the main indication for surgical correction, along with gait disturbance, standing or sitting imbalance, and urinary or sexual dysfunction. Radiographically, vertical displacement of one to two centimeters and rotation of the hemipelvis of fifteen degrees or more have been described in defining malunion. No treatment algorithms exist, and each patient is treated with a unique work-up and operative plan due to the complexity of the problem. Only one series reported a patient satisfaction rate of 75% following malunion treatment. Conclusions: Pelvic malunion is a rare complication of pelvic ring injury and is seldom discussed in the literature. We found two small case series reporting exclusively on malunion treatment and complications. While some of the combination studies made the distinction in the diagnosis of malunion and nonunion, they rarely differentiated the treatment outcomes between the two categories. This paper describes pelvic malunion and highlights the need for more research into surgical outcomes of treatment specifically regarding functionality, patient satisfaction, and recurrence of preoperative symptoms.
Low-Density Polyethylene Migration from Food Packaging on Cured Meat Products Detected by Micro-Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Katsara Klytaimnistra , Kenanakis George , Alissandrakis Eleftherios , Papadakis Vassilis M.
Published: August 2022

Food packaging has been demonstrated as a crucial issue for the migration of microplastics (MPs) into foodstuffs, concerning human health risk factors. Polymeric materials called plastics are continuously utilized in food packaging. Polyethylene (PE) is commonly used as a food packaging material, because it offers easy handling during transportation and optimal storage conditions for food preservation. In this work, three types of cured meat products of different fat compositions and meat processing methods—bacon, mortadella, and salami—were studied using spectroscopic methods (Raman and FT–IR/ATR) to determine the migration of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) from plastic packaging to the surface of the meat samples. The experimental duration of this study was set to be 28 days owing to the selected meat samples’ degradation, which started to become visible to the human eye after 10 days of storage in vacuum LDPE packaging, under refrigerated conditions at 4 °C. Spectroscopic measurements were performed at 0, 3, 9, 12, 15, and 28 days of storage to obtain comparative results. We demonstrated that the Raman spectral peaks of LDPE firstly appeared as a result of polymeric migration on day 9 in Bacon, on day 15 in Salami, and finally on day 28 in Mortadella. On day 28, all meat samples were tainted, with a layer of bacterial outgrowth developed, as proven by bright–field microscopic observation. Food packaging migration to the surface of cured meat samples was validated using Raman vibrational spectroscopy. To ensure minimal consumption of MPs in cured meat products stored in plastic packaging, while at the same time maintaining good food quality, they should be kept in refrigerated conditions and consumed within a short period of time. In this work, the migration of MPs from food packaging to the surface of cured meat samples was observed using micro-Raman spectroscopy.
Demonstration of Yb-Doped Fiber Amplifier Operating near 980 nm with the Slope Efficiency Close to the Theoretical Limit
Authors: Li Zhaode , Zhou Shangde , Liu Aimin , Cao Jianqiu , Huang Zhihe , Chen Jinbao
Published: August 2022

In this paper, the scalability of slope efficiency of a Yb-doped fiber amplifier operating near 980 nm is studied with the core-pumping scheme. By means of numerical prediction, it is found that the theoretical limit of slope efficiency should be about 92.2%. Then, the experiment study is carried out. An 85.3% slope efficiency of emission around 980 nm is achieved with the seed light around 976.5 nm, and the strong in-band amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) is supposed to be a factor limiting the upscaling of slope efficiency. In order to suppress the in-band ASE, the double-wavelength fiber oscillator near 980 nm is fabricated and used as the seed source, with which the slope efficiency is elevated to 90.7%. Such slope efficiency is very close to the theoretical limit and sets a new record of slope efficiency for the Yb-doped fiber amplifier operating near 980 nm, to the best of our knowledge. It is also revealed that the suppression of in-band ASE should be of great importance to elevate the slope efficiency of a Yb-doped fiber amplifier operating near 980 nm.