bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Safety of FOLFIRI + Durvalumab +/− Tremelimumab in Second Line of Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Safety Run-In from the Randomized Phase II Study DURIGAST PRODIGE 59
Authors: Evrard Camille , Aparicio Thomas , Soularue Emilie , Le Malicot Karine , Desramé Jérôme , Botsen Damien , El Hajbi Farid , Gonzalez Daniel , Lepage Come , Bouché Olivier , Tougeron David ,   on behalf of the DURIGAST—PRODIGE 59 Investigators/Collaborators
Published: May 2022

Efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) as monotherapy in 2nd line treatment for gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma is low, with no evaluation of efficacy and safety of ICI combined with chemotherapy. The DURIGAST PRODIGE 59 study is a randomised, multicentre, phase II study designed to assess the efficacy and safety of the combination of FOLFIRI + Durvalumab +/− Tremelimumab as 2nd line treatment of patients with advanced gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma. Here, we report data from the safety run-in phase with FOLFIRI Durvalumab (arm A) or FOLFIRI Durvalumab and Tremelimumab (arm B). Among the 11 patients included, 63.6% experienced at least one grade 3–4 adverse events (AEs) related to the treatment, most frequently neutropenia (36.4%). There was only one immune-related AE (grade 2 hyperthyroidism). Ten serious AEs were described among six patients, but only two were related to the treatment, due to the chemotherapy. One seizure epilepsy related to a brain metastasis was observed, but was not related by the investigator to the treatment. However, the Independent Data Monitoring Committee recommended brain imaging at inclusion. This safety run-in phase demonstrates an expected safety profile of FOLFIRI with Durvalumab +/− Tremelimumab combination allowing the randomised phase II.
Clinical Feasibility Study of Gold Nanoparticles as Theragnostic Agents for Precision Radiotherapy
Authors: López-Valverde José Antonio , Jiménez-Ortega Elisa , Leal Antonio
Published: May 2022

Background: Gold nanoparticles (AuNP) may be useful in precision radiotherapy and disease monitoring as theragnostic agents. In diagnostics, they can be detected by computerized tomography (CT) because of their higher atomic number. AuNP may also improve the treatment results in radiotherapy due to a higher cross-section, locally improving the physically absorbed dose. Methods: Key parameters values involved in the use of AuNP were imposed to be optimal in the clinical scenario. Mass concentration of AuNP as an efficient contrast agent in clinical CT was found and implemented in a Monte Carlo simulation method for dose calculation under different proposed therapeutic beams. The radiosensitization effect was determined in irradiated cells with AuNP. Results: an AuNP concentration was found for a proper contrast level and enhanced therapeutic effect under a beam typically used for image-guided therapy and monitoring. This lower energetic proposed beam showed potential use for treatment monitoring in addition to absorbed dose enhancement and higher radiosensitization at the cellular level. Conclusion: the results obtained show the use of AuNP concentration around 20 mg Au·mL−1 as an efficient tool for diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring treatment. Simultaneously, the delivered prescription dose provides a higher radiobiological effect on the cancer cell for achieving precision radiotherapy.
At the Intersection of Natural Structural Coloration and Bioengineering
Authors: Chatterjee Atrouli
Published: May 2022

Most of us get inspired by and interact with the world around us based on visual cues such as the colors and patterns that we see. In nature, coloration takes three primary forms: pigmentary coloration, structural coloration, and bioluminescence. Typically, pigmentary and structural coloration are used by animals and plants for their survival; however, few organisms are able to capture the nearly instantaneous and visually astounding display that cephalopods (e.g., octopi, squid, and cuttlefish) exhibit. Notably, the structural coloration of these cephalopods critically relies on a unique family of proteins known as reflectins. As a result, there is growing interest in characterizing the structure and function of such optically-active proteins (e.g., reflectins) and to leverage these materials across a broad range of disciplines, including bioengineering. In this review, I begin by briefly introducing pigmentary and structural coloration in animals and plants as well as highlighting the extraordinary appearance-changing capabilities of cephalopods. Next, I outline recent advances in the characterization and utilization of reflectins for photonic technologies and and discuss general strategies and limitations for the structural and optical characterization of proteins. Finally, I explore future directions of study for optically-active proteins and their potential applications. Altogether, this review aims to bring together an interdisciplinary group of researchers who can resolve the fundamental questions regarding the structure, function, and self-assembly of optically-active protein-based materials.
A Size-Controlled Graphene Oxide Materials Obtained by One-Step Electrochemical Exfoliation of Carbon Fiber Cloth for Applications to In Situ Gold Nanoparticle Formation and Electrochemical Sensors—A Preliminary Study
Authors: Chang Jen-Lin , Liao Chen-Wei , Arthisree D. , Senthil Kumar Annamalai , Zen Jyh-Myng
Published: May 2022

A simple, one-step and facile method has been introduced to prepare fluorescent and electrochemically active carbon nanoparticles with single-size distribution and good long-term stability by electrochemical exfoliation of polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fibers in an alkaline solution-phase condition. The preparation condition was systematically optimized by studying the effect of temperature and electrolytes. It has been found that an electrochemical exfoliation reaction carried out at an applied potential of 2 V vs. Ag/AgCl in a phosphate-ion-containing alkaline solution at a temperature of 40 °C is an ideal condition for the preparation of 14 ± 4 nm-sized carbon nanoparticles. Unlike the literature protocols, there are no filtration and membrane dialysis-based off-line sample pretreatments adopted in this work. The as-prepared carbon nanoparticles were characterized by fluorescence, Raman spectrum, transmission electron microscope, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic characterization methods. It was found that the carbon–oxygen functional group rich in graphene–oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) such as carbon nanoparticles were formed in this work. A preliminary study relating to simultaneous electrochemical oxidation and the sensing of uric acid and ascorbic acid with well-resolved peaks was demonstrated as a model system to extend the new carbon material for electroanalytical applications. Furthermore, in situ synthesis of 2 nm-sized gold nanoparticles stabilized by GOQDs was presented. The carbon nanoparticles prepared by the direct method in this work have shown good stability over 6 months when stored at room temperature. The electrochemical exfoliation reaction has been found to be highly reproducible and suitable for bulk synthesis of luminescence-effective carbon nanoparticles to facilitate fundamental studies and practical applications.
Long-Term Effects of Low-Level Blast Exposure and High-Caliber Weapons Use in Military Special Operators
Authors: Hunfalvay Melissa , Murray Nicholas P. , Creel William T. , Carrick Frederick R.
Published: May 2022

Chronic low-level blast exposure has been linked with neurological alterations and traumatic brain injury (TBI) biomarkers. Impaired smooth-pursuit eye movements (SPEM) are often associated with TBI. The purpose of this study was to determine whether long-term operators of low-level blast exposure or high-caliber weapons use displayed oculomotor behaviors that differed from controls. Twenty-six members of an elite military unit performed a computerized oculomotor testing task using an eye tracker and completed a concussion assessment questionnaire. The participants were split into a blast exposure group and control group. The blast exposure group had a history of exposure to low-level blasts or high-caliber weapon use. The results revealed significant differences in SPEM, saccades, and fixations between the blast exposure group and control group. The blast exposure group’s eye movements were slower, stopped at more frequent points when following a target, traveled further from the target in terms of both speed and direction, and showed higher rates of variation and inefficiency. Poor oculomotor behavior correlated with a higher symptom severity on the concussion assessment questionnaire. Military special operators exposed to long-term low-level blasts or high-caliber weapons usage displayed an impaired oculomotor behavior in comparison to controls. These findings further our understanding of the impact of long-term low-level blast exposure on the oculomotor behavior of military special operators and may inform practical implications for military training.
Distribution of Adiponectin Receptors in the Brain of Adult Mouse: Effect of a Single Dose of the Adiponectin Receptor Agonist, AdipoRON, on Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Clain Julien , Couret David , Planesse Cynthia , Krejbich-Trotot Pascale , Meilhac Olivier , Lefebvre d’Hellencourt Christian , Viranaicken Wildriss , Diotel Nicolas
Published: May 2022

Adiponectin exhibits pleiotropic effects, including anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidant, and neuroprotective ones. Although some studies have documented brain expression in different rodent models of its receptors, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2, their global distribution remains incomplete. Here, we demonstrated that both AdipoR are widely distributed in the brains of adult mice. Furthermore, by double immunostaining studies, we showed that AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 are mainly expressed in neurons and blood vessels. Then, considering the wide distribution of both receptors and the neuroprotective effects of adiponectin, we tested the therapeutic effect of a single injection of the adiponectin receptor agonist, AdipoRON (5 mg.kg−1), 24 h after stroke in a model of middle cerebral artery occlusion technique (MCAO). Under our experimental conditions, we demonstrated that AdipoRON did not modulate the infarct volume, cell death, neuroinflammatory parameters including microglia activation and oxidative stress. This study suggests that a protocol based on multiple injections of AdipoRON at a higher dose after MCAO could be considered to promote the therapeutic properties of AdipoRON on the brain repair mechanism and recovery.
The Strength in Axial Compression of Aluminum Alloy Tube Confined Concrete Columns with a Circular Hollow Section: Experimental Results
Authors: Zhao Di , Zhang Jigang , Lu Ling , Liang Haizhi , Ma Zhehao
Published: May 2022

Steel tube confined concrete (STCC) stub columns have great strength and facilitate construction. In this study, the axial compressive strength of an aluminum alloy tube confined concrete column with (ATCC-CHS) and without (ATCC) a circular hollow section was tested in laboratory experiments. The influence of concrete strength, diameter–thickness ratio and the hollow rate on the failure mode, ultimate compressive strength, strain, stiffness, constraint effects and ductility was quantified. The experiments showed that local buckling failure could be effectively delayed when the outer aluminum tube did not directly bear axial load. Columns without a circular hollow section had bearing capacities approximately 20% higher than those with a circular hollow section, though their ductility was poorer. The ultimate strength tended to increase with decreases in the hollow rate and diameter–thickness ratio. It tended to increase with increasing concrete strength, though stronger concrete also reduced ductility. The bearing capacities of the columns were calculated according to several proposed formulas and compared with the experimental results, and the proposed Teng and Attard’s formula appeared to be satisfactory.
Viral and Genomic Drivers of Squamous Cell Neoplasms Arising in the Lacrimal Drainage System
Authors: Ramberg Ingvild , Vieira Filipe Garrett , Toft Peter Bjerre , von Buchwald Christian , Heegaard Steffen
Published: May 2022

The pathogenesis of squamous cell neoplasms arising in the lacrimal drainage system is poorly understood, and the underlying genomic drivers for disease development remain unexplored. We aimed to investigate the genomic aberrations in carcinomas arising in the LDS and correlate the findings to human papillomavirus (HPV) status. The HPV analysis was performed using HPV DNA PCR, HPV E6/E7 mRNA in-situ hybridization, and p16 immunohistochemistry. The genomic characterization was performed by targeted DNA sequencing of 523 cancer-relevant genes. Patients with LDS papilloma (n = 17) and LDS carcinoma (n = 15) were included. There was a male predominance (68%) and a median age at diagnosis of 46.0 years (range 27.5–65.5 years) in patients with papilloma and 63.8 years (range 34.0–87.2 years) in patients with carcinoma. Transcriptional activity of the HPV E6/E7 oncogenes was detected in the whole tumor thickness in 12/15 (80%) papillomas (HPV6, 11, 16) and 10/15 (67%) squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) (HPV11: 3/15 (20%) and HPV16: 7/15 (47%)). Pathogenic variants in PIK3CA, FGFR3, AKT1, and PIK3R1, wildtype TP53, p16 overexpression, and deregulated high-risk E6/E7 transcription characterized the HPV16-positive SCC. The deregulated pattern of HPV E6/E7 expression, correlating with HPV DNA presence and p16 positivity, supports a causal role of HPV in a subset of LDS papillomas and carcinomas. The viral and molecular profile of LDS SCC resembles that of other HPV-driven SCC.
The Effect of Adjuvant Chemotherapy on Localized Extraskeletal Osteosarcoma: A Systematic Review
Authors: Tsukamoto Shinji , Mavrogenis Andreas F. , Angelelli Lucia , Righi Alberto , Filardo Giuseppe , Kido Akira , Honoki Kanya , Tanaka Yuu , Tanaka Yasuhito , Errani Costantino
Published: May 2022

(1) Background: Extraskeletal osteosarcoma (ESOS) is a malignant tumor characterized by the production of bone or bone matrix by tumor cells without any continuity into the skeletal bones. The standard treatment for localized ESOS is wide resection; however, the effect of (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy remains unclear. To investigate the effect of (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy for localized ESOS, we conducted a systematic review of studies comparing the 5-year disease-free survival rate between patients who underwent surgery combined with (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy and those who underwent surgery alone. (2) Methods: Of the 210 studies identified by systematically searching the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases, 12 were included in the final analysis. These 12 articles were not randomized controlled trials, but retrospective studies. In total, 761 patients with localized ESOS were included in this study. (3) Results: The 5-year disease-free survival rate was 47.9% (187 of 390 patients) in the surgery and (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy group and 40.4% (150 of 371 patients) in the surgery alone group. The overall pooled odds ratio was 1.23 (95% confidence interval, 0.69–2.19; p = 0.479) and the heterogeneity I2 was 37%. (4) Conclusions: The effect of adjuvant chemotherapy on localized ESOS seems to be limited. Therefore, routine use of adjuvant chemotherapy for localized ESOS should be avoided. However, further randomized controlled trials are required to confirm these results.
Modifiers of and Disparities in Palliative and Supportive Care Timing and Utilization among Neurosurgical Patients with Malignant Central Nervous System Tumors
Authors: Jin Michael Chuwei , Hsin Gary , Ratliff John , Thomas Reena , Zygourakis Corinna Clio , Li Gordon , Wu Adela
Published: May 2022

Patients with primary or secondary central nervous system (CNS) malignancies benefit from utilization of palliative care (PC) in addition to other supportive services, such as home health and social work. Guidelines propose early initiation of PC for patients with advanced cancers. We analyzed a cohort of privately insured patients with malignant brain or spinal tumors derived from the Optum Clinformatics Datamart Database to investigate health disparities in access to and utilization of supportive services. We introduce a novel construct, “provider patient racial diversity index” (provider pRDI), which is a measure of the proportion of non-white minority patients a provider encounters to approximate a provider’s patient demographics and suggest a provider’s cultural sensitivity and exposure to diversity. Our analysis demonstrates low rates of PC, home health, and social work services among racial minority patients. Notably, Hispanic patients had low likelihood of engaging with all three categories of supportive services. However, patients who saw providers categorized into high provider pRDI (categories II and III) were increasingly more likely to interface with supportive care services and at an earlier point in their disease courses. This study suggests that prospective studies that examine potential interventions at the provider level, including diversity training, are needed.
Deep Learning Using CT Images to Grade Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: Development and Validation of a Prediction Model
Authors: Xu Lifeng , Yang Chun , Zhang Feng , Cheng Xuan , Wei Yi , Fan Shixiao , Liu Minghui , He Xiaopeng , Deng Jiali , Xie Tianshu , Wang Xiaomin , Liu Ming , Song Bin
Published: May 2022

This retrospective study aimed to develop and validate deep-learning-based models for grading clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) patients. A cohort enrolling 706 patients (n = 706) with pathologically verified ccRCC was used in this study. A temporal split was applied to verify our models: the first 83.9% of the cases (years 2010–2017) for development and the last 16.1% (year 2018–2019) for validation (development cohort: n = 592; validation cohort: n = 114). Here, we demonstrated a deep learning(DL) framework initialized by a self-supervised pre-training method, developed with the addition of mixed loss strategy and sample reweighting to identify patients with high grade for ccRCC. Four types of DL networks were developed separately and further combined with different weights for better prediction. The single DL model achieved up to an area under curve (AUC) of 0.864 in the validation cohort, while the ensembled model yielded the best predictive performance with an AUC of 0.882. These findings confirms that our DL approach performs either favorably or comparably in terms of grade assessment of ccRCC with biopsies whilst enjoying the non-invasive and labor-saving property.
Glycerol and Catalysis by Waste/Low-Cost Materials—A Review
Authors: Costa Ana , de Oliveira Alex , Esposito Roberto , Len Christophe , Luque Rafael , Noronha Renata , Rocha Filho Geraldo , Nascimento Luís
Published: May 2022

The growing global demand for renewable energy sources can be reached using biofuels such as biodiesel, for example. The most used route to produce biodiesel is the transesterification reaction of oils or fats with short-chain alcohols, generating fatty acid esters (biodiesel) and a very important by-product, glycerol (Gly). Gly is widely used in different sectors of the industry, and in order to add value to this by-product, heterogeneous catalysis becomes a relevant tool, whether to transform glycerol into other chemical products of interest or even use it in the production of catalysts. Among the several studies found in the literature, the use of low-cost materials and/or wastes from the most diverse activities to prepare active catalytic materials for the transformation of Gly has been increasingly reported due to its valuable advantages, especially related to the cost of raw materials and environmental aspects. Thus, this brief review article presents the relationship between catalysis, low-cost materials, waste, and glycerol, through different studies that show glycerol being transformed through reactions catalyzed by materials produced from low-cost sources/waste or with the glycerol itself used as a catalyst.
Pt/C-TiO2 as Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysts against Sulfur Poisoning
Authors: Liu Yuxin , Ye Jing , Kong Fanpeng , Du Chunyu , Zuo Pengjian , Du Lei , Yin Geping
Published: May 2022

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells using Pt-based materials as electrocatalysts have achieved a decent performance, represented by the launched Toyota Mirai vehicle. The ideal PEM fuel cells consume stored pure hydrogen and air. However, SO2, as a primary air contaminant, may be fed along with air at the cathode, leading to Pt site deactivation. Therefore, it is important to improve the SO2 tolerance of catalysts for the stability of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). In this work, we develop the Pt/C-TiO2 catalyst against SO2 poisoning during ORR. Impressively, the hybrid Pt/C-TiO2 catalyst with 20 mass % TiO2 shows the best ORR and anti-toxic performance: the kinetic current density of ORR is 20.5% higher and the degradation rate after poisoning is 50% lower than Pt/C. The interaction between Pt and TiO2 as well as the abundant hydroxyl groups on the surface of TiO2 are both revealed to account for the accelerated removal of poisonous SO2 on Pt surfaces.
Fabrication of 5 V High-Performance Solid-State Asymmetric Supercapacitor Device Based on MnO2/Graphene/Ni Electrodes
Authors: Hsieh Ming-Chun , Chen Bo-Han , Hong Zhong-Yun , Liu Jue-Kai , Huang Pin-Cheng , Huang Chao-Ming
Published: May 2022

To reach high energy density and excellent cycle stability, an asymmetric supercapacitor device combining a high-power electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC) anode and high energy density battery-type cathode has been designed and fabricated. A binder-free strategy was used to prepare cathode by coating graphene (G) on Ni foam (Ni), then electrodepositing MnO2, followed by calcination process. The potentiodynamic (PD) electrodeposition cycles of MnO2 onto graphene significantly impact the electrochemical properties. Benefiting from the hierarchical structure and binder-free process of the designed 75 C/G/Ni hybrid cathode, potentiostatic (PS) electrodeposition followed by PD electrodeposition for 75 cycles demonstrates a high specific capacitance of 691 F g−1 at 2 A g−1. The enhanced capacitive performance can be attributed to the synergistic effect between MnO2 nanosheets and graphene, in which graphene can serve as ideal support matrix and conductive channels. Furthermore, an asymmetric supercapacitor was fabricated with 75 C/G/Ni and (G + AC)/Ni as the cathode and anode, respectively, and a carboxymethyl cellulose–potassium hydroxide (CMC-KOH) gel electrolyte. The 75 C/G/Ni//(G + AC)/Ni asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) exhibits a maximum energy density of 43 kW kg−1 at a power density of 302 W kg−1 with a potential window of 1.6 V and maintains good cycling stability of 88% capacitance retention at 2 A g−1 (over 5000 cycles). Four solid-state asymmetric supercapacitors stack connected in series display an effective 5.0 V working potential to increase the voltage and output energy as a device. The device was charged using a 18,650 Li battery with a voltage of +3.8 V for 30 s and discharged six white LEDs for 20 min. The facile fabrication and remarkable capacitive performance of the MnO2/G/Ni hybrid make it a promising electrode candidate in electrochemical energy conversion/storage devices.
Comparative Efficiencies for Phenol Degradation on Solar Heterogeneous Photocatalytic Reactors: Flat Plate and Compound Parabolic Collector
Authors: Silerio-Vázquez Felipe de J. , Núñez-Núñez Cynthia M. , Alarcón-Herrera María T. , Proal-Nájera José B.
Published: May 2022

Phenol is a recalcitrant anthropogenic compound whose presence has been reported in both wastewater and drinking water; human exposure to phenolic substances can lead to health problems. The degradation of phenol (measured as COD decrease) through solar heterogeneous photocatalysis with immobilized TiO2 was performed in two different reactors: a flat-plate reactor (FPR) and a compound parabolic collector (CPC). A 23 full factorial experimental design was followed. The variables were the presence of TiO2, H2O2 addition, and the type of reactor. Data were fitted to the pseudo-first-order reaction-rate-kinetics model. The rate constant for photocatalytic phenol degradation with 1 mM of H2O2 was 6.6 × 10−3 min−1 for the FPR and 5.9 × 10−3 min−1 in the CPC. The calculated figures of merit were analyzed with a MANCOVA, with UV fluence as a covariate. An ANCOVA showed that the type of reactor, H2O2 addition, or fluence had no statistically significant effect on the results, but there was for the presence of TiO2. According to the MANCOVA, fluence and TiO2 presence were significant (p < 0.05). The CPC was on average 17.4% more efficient than the FPR when it came to collector area per order (ACO) by heterogeneous photocatalysis and 1 mM H2O2 addition.
Pyroptosis and Its Role in SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Bittner Zsofia Agnes , Schrader Markus , George Shilpa Elizabeth , Amann Ralf
Published: May 2022

The pore-forming inflammatory cell death pathway, pyroptosis, was first described in the early 1990s and its role in health and disease has been intensively studied since. The effector molecule GSDMD is cleaved by activated caspases, mainly Caspase 1 or 11 (Caspase 4/5 in humans), downstream of inflammasome formation. In this review, we describe the molecular events related to GSDMD-mediated pore formation. Furthermore, we summarize the so far elucidated ways of SARS-CoV-2 induced NLRP3 inflammasome formation leading to pyroptosis, which strongly contributes to COVID-19 pathology. We also explore the potential of NLRP3 and GSDMD inhibitors as therapeutics to counter excessive inflammation.
Effect of Thrombin on the Metabolism and Function of Murine Macrophages
Authors: Ukan Ürün , Delgado Lagos Fredy , Kempf Sebastian , Günther Stefan , Siragusa Mauro , Fisslthaler Beate , Fleming Ingrid
Published: May 2022

Macrophages are plastic and heterogeneous immune cells that adapt pro- or anti-inflammatory phenotypes upon exposure to different stimuli. Even though there has been evidence supporting a crosstalk between coagulation and innate immunity, the way in which protein components of the hemostasis pathway influence macrophages remains unclear. We investigated the effect of thrombin on macrophage polarization. On the basis of gene expression and cytokine secretion, our results suggest that polarization with thrombin induces an anti-inflammatory, M2-like phenotype. In functional studies, thrombin polarization promoted oxLDL phagocytosis by macrophages, and conditioned medium from the same cells increased endothelial cell proliferation. There were, however, clear differences between the classical M2a polarization and the effects of thrombin on gene expression. Finally, the deletion and inactivation of secreted modular Ca2+-binding protein 1 (SMOC1) attenuated phagocytosis by thrombin-stimulated macrophages, a phenomenon revered by the addition of recombinant SMOC1. Manipulation of SMOC1 levels also had a pronounced impact on the expression of TGF-β-signaling-related genes. Taken together, our results show that thrombin induces an anti-inflammatory macrophage phenotype with similarities as well as differences to the classical alternatively activated M2 polarization states, highlighting the importance of tissue levels of SMOC1 in modifying thrombin-induced macrophage polarization.
Low-Frequency Oscillations of In Vivo Ambient Extracellular Brain Serotonin
Authors: Witt Colby E. , Mena Sergio , Honan Lauren E. , Batey Lauren , Salem Victoria , Ou Yangguang , Hashemi Parastoo
Published: May 2022

Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter that plays a major role in many aspects of neuroscience. Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry measures fast in vivo serotonin dynamics using carbon fiber microelectrodes. More recently, fast-scan controlled-adsorption voltammetry (FSCAV) has been developed to measure slower, minute-to-minute changes in ambient extracellular serotonin. We have previously demonstrated that FSCAV measurements of basal serotonin levels give critical information regarding brain physiology and disease. In this work, we revealed the presence of low-periodicity fluctuations in serotonin levels in mouse hippocampi, measured in vivo with FSCAV. Using correlation analyses, we found robust evidence of oscillations in the basal serotonin levels, which had a period of 10 min and were not present in vitro. Under control conditions, the oscillations did not differ between male and female mice, nor do they differ between mice that underwent a chronic stress paradigm and those in the control group. After the acute administration of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, we observed a shift in the frequency of the oscillations, leading us to hypothesize that the newly observed fluctuations were transporter regulated. Finally, we optimized the experimental parameters of the FSCAV to measure at a higher temporal resolution and found more pronounced shifts in the oscillation frequency, along with a decreased oscillation amplitude. We postulate that this work may serve as a potential bridge for studying serotonin/endocrine interactions that occur on the same time scale.
Angiogenesis, Lymphangiogenesis, and Inflammation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Few Certainties and Many Outstanding Questions
Authors: Poto Remo , Loffredo Stefania , Palestra Francesco , Marone Gianni , Patella Vincenzo , Varricchi Gilda
Published: May 2022

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic inflammation, predominantly affecting the lung parenchyma and peripheral airways, that results in progressive and irreversible airflow obstruction. COPD development is promoted by persistent pulmonary inflammation in response to several stimuli (e.g., cigarette smoke, bacterial and viral infections, air pollution, etc.). Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, and lymphangiogenesis, the formation of new lymphatic vessels, are features of airway inflammation in COPD. There is compelling evidence that effector cells of inflammation (lung-resident macrophages and mast cells and infiltrating neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes, etc.) are major sources of a vast array of angiogenic (e.g., vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), angiopoietins) and/or lymphangiogenic factors (VEGF-C, -D). Further, structural cells, including bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts/myofibroblasts, and airway smooth muscle cells, can contribute to inflammation and angiogenesis in COPD. Although there is evidence that alterations of angiogenesis and, to a lesser extent, lymphangiogenesis, are associated with COPD, there are still many unanswered questions.
RETRACTED: Gonzalez, G.; Chen, L. EFA6 in Axon Regeneration, as a Microtubule Regulator and as a Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor. Cells 2021, 10, 1325
Authors: Gonzalez Gilberto , Chen Lizhen
Published: May 2022

The journal retracts the article “Retraction: Gonzalez, G.; Chen, L. EFA6 in Axon Regeneration, as a Microtubule Regulator and as a Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor” [...]
Peptide-Conjugated Aggregation-Induced Emission Fluorogenic Probe for Glypican-3 Protein Detection and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Imaging
Authors: Zhang Song , Jing Jiangbo , Meng Lingchen , Xu Bin , Ma Xibo , Tian Wenjing
Published: May 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality on a global scale, and the development of accurate detection and imaging methods for HCC cells is urgently needed. Herein, by connecting peptide L5, which can specifically bind to the overexpressed Glypican-3 (GPC-3) protein of HCC cells with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) moiety ammonium cation-functionalized 9,10-distyrylanthracene (NDSA) via the “click” reaction, we synthesized a fluorescent probe NDSA-L5. In an aqueous solution, the probe shows weak emission, whereas, in the presence of the GPC-3 protein, bright fluorescence can be obtained since NDSA-L5 binds to the GPC-3 protein, leading to the restricted intramolecular movement of AIE-active NDSA-L5. The imaging and flow cytometry experiments demonstrate that the NDSA-L5 probe can rapidly accumulate in the subcutaneous HCC cells and liver tumor tissue and shows a potential application in early detection and surgical navigation for HCC cancer.
Optofluidic Micromachined Platform for Refractive Index Measurement
Authors: Djinović Zoran , Tomić Miloš , Kocsis Agnes
Published: May 2022

We present a combination of micromachined optofluidic platforms equipped with a fiber-optic sensing configuration based on a three-path Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) for simultaneous measurement of the refractive index of liquids and the autocalibration in dynamic regime. The sensing principle is based on the low-coherence interferometry, characterized by a generation of Gaussian enveloped interferograms, for which the position of its maximum depends on the optical path difference (OPD) between the sensing and reference arm of the MZI. When liquid flows through the central microchannel of the optofluidic platform it crosses the light beam between the two optical fibers in the sensing arm causing the OPD change. An algorithm has been applied for the calculation of the refractive index of liquids out of the raw interference signals. We obtained a very good agreement between the experimental results and literature data of refractive indices of subjected fluids. The accuracy of refractive index measurement is approximately 1%, predominantly determined by the accuracy of reading the position of the mechanical scanner. The proposed sensor is attractive for the label-free biological, biochemical, and chemical sensing owing autocalibration and high sensitivity yet consuming a very small sample volume of 1 µL. It is capable to measure the refractive index of various liquids and/or gases simultaneously in the process.
Multiple Skeletal Anomalies of Sprague Dawley Rats following Prenatal Exposure to Anastatica hierochuntica, as Delineated by a Modified Double-Staining Method
Authors: Zin Siti Rosmani Md , Alshawsh Mohammed Abdullah , Mohamed Zahurin
Published: May 2022

Anastatica hierochuntica (A. hierochuntica) is a plant that originates from Middle Eastern countries. This herb is commonly consumed by pregnant women to ease the process of childbirth. However, consumption of A. hierochuntica during the prenatal period may disrupt foetal development. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential effects of four different doses (0, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) of A. hierochuntica aqueous extract (AHAE) on the skeletal development of Sprague Dawley rat foetuses. The AHAE was administered from gestational day (GD) 6 till GD20. We also aimed to produce a simplified and reproducible skeletal staining procedure for proper skeletal assessment of full-term Sprague Dawley rat foetuses. Skeletal structures were stained using a modified method that utilised Alcian Blue 8GX and Alizarin Red S dyes. The staining procedure involved fixation, skinning, evisceration, cartilage staining, bone staining and clearing. Our modified staining technique has successfully showed a clear demarcation between the bone and cartilage components, which enabled objective assessment of the skeletal ossification following administration of AHAE. Some skeletal anomalies such as sacrocaudal agenesis and maxillary defect (cleft lip) were observed in 250 and 1000 mg/kg groups, respectively. These findings indicate potential toxicity effects of AHAE on the developing foetuses.
Mini Containers to Improve the Cold Chain Energy Efficiency and Carbon Footprint
Authors: Syam Mahmmoud Muhammed , Cabrera-Calderon Samantha , Vijayan Kishorre Annanth , Balaji Vignesh , Phelan Patrick E. , Villalobos Jesus Rene
Published: May 2022

The cold chain—the system of refrigerated storage and transport that provides fresh produce or other essentials to be maintained at desired temperatures and environmental conditions—is responsible for substantial energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and failures in the cold chain lead to food and energy waste. Here, we introduce the mini container concept as an alternative to conventional reefers, particularly for small growers. Mini containers are relatively small, insulated boxes, with environmental conditions controlled by an electric-powered central driving unit, which can be aggregated as needed and transported by non-refrigerated trucks and trailers. We analyze the energy consumption and GHG emissions for the transport of tomatoes in two cities representing contrasting climates, Phoenix, Arizona, and Chicago, Illinois, for conventional reefers and the proposed mini containers. These two cities provide the opportunity to compare the energy consumption and GHG emissions for the proposed mini containers versus conventional refrigerated transport under extremely different climate conditions. The results show that, as expected in both cases, as the ambient air temperature increases, the energy consumption and GHG emissions also increase. For partial reefer loads less than 72% and 85% for Phoenix and Chicago, respectively, the use of the mini containers reduces energy consumption and GHG emissions because of the reduced volume requiring refrigeration. In general, since the mini containers are fully electrified, their corresponding GHG emissions can be dramatically reduced, and since the fresh produce can be pre-cooled with renewable energy, GHG emissions can even be eliminated.
Effects of n-Al2O3 and μ-TiCN on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al2O3 Composite Ceramics Manufactured by Material Extrusion and Photo-Polymerization Combined Process
Authors: He Xin , Xu Jie , Ji Weixi
Published: May 2022

Alumina (Al2O3) composite ceramics with different composition ratio and particle-size distribution were fabricated by the material extrusion and photo-polymerization combined process (MEX-PPM) based on additive-manufacturing (AM) technology in our previous work. These particles were nanosized Al2O3 (n-Al2O3), micron-sized TiCN (μ-TiCN) and Al2O3. Effects of n-Al2O3 and μ-TiCN on Al2O3 composite ceramics were investigated by characterizing the volume density, EDS spectrum, mechanical properties and microstructure of the prepared samples. It was found that n-Al2O3 had a significant effect on the hardness of Al2O3 composite ceramics, μ-TiCN, with excellent performance in density, flexural strength and fracture toughness. The Al2O3 composite ceramics with optimum contents of 10 wt % n-Al2O3 and 30 wt % μ-TiCN showed good microstructure and mechanical properties. Their porosity and volume density were at 4.073% and 4.177 g/cm3, respectively. Their hardness, flexural strength and fracture toughness were at 16.592 GPa, 592.875 MPa and 6.308 MPa/mm2. The flexural strength of the ceramics was significantly higher than that of Al2O3 ceramics prepared by SLA in document (178.84 ± 17.66 MPa), which had great potential in high-pressure strength structure.
Microstructural Characterization of the Corrosion Product Deposit in the Flow-Accelerated Region in High-Temperature Water
Authors: Zhang Tong , Li Tong , Lu Jinlin , Guo Qi , Xu Jian
Published: May 2022

The clogging behavior of the micro-orifice under a flow accelerated condition was investigated after 500 h of immersion in high-temperature water. The results indicated the residual area of the micro-orifice was reduced to one-third of its original size after 500 h of immersion due to the deposition of corrosion products. In this process, the clogging behavior of micro-orifice can be divided into three stages: the stable deposition stage, the quick recovery stage, and the dynamic equilibrium stage. The corrosion products were porous and consisted of many deposited particles. The process of particle deposition and removal was carried out simultaneously.
Diet Metabarcoding Reveals Extensive Dietary Overlap between Two Benthic Stream Fishes (Zingel asper and Cottus gobio) and Provides Insights into Their Coexistence
Authors: Villsen Kurt , Corse Emmanuel , Archambaud-Suard Gaït , Héran Kévin , Meglécz Emese , Ereskovsky Alexander V. , Chappaz Rémi , Dubut Vincent
Published: May 2022

Niche partitioning studies are essential to understand the mechanisms that allow ecologically similar species to coexist. The Rhone streber (Zingel asper) and the European bullhead (Cottus gobio) are both benthic riverine fishes that consume macroinvertebrates. Both species are protected under European legislature. We focused on trophic niche partitioning between these species, as sufficient access to trophic resources is an important requirement for long-term coexistence. We used a combination of faeces metabarcoding dietary data and prey community data to evaluate dietary overlap, trophic niche variation and dietary preferences. Sampling was performed in three sites along the Durance River (France). Both species consumed a wide range of macroinvertebrates but neither C. gobio nor Z. asper selected the most abundant taxa (chironomids and simuliids). Both species selected larger mayfly (Baetis and Ecdyonurus) and caddisfly (Hydropsyche) taxa. Dietary overlap was generally high but declined when large mayflies were rare. Contrasting secondary prey preferences and trophic niche variation may allow these species to exploit the same preferred mayflies in periods of abundance and to avoid competition during resource scarcity. We propose that dietary partitioning may support the coexistence of these two ecologically similar, benthic predators.
Unsupervised Few Shot Key Frame Extraction for Cow Teat Videos
Authors: Zhang Youshan , Wieland Matthias , Basran Parminder S.
Published: May 2022

A novel method of monitoring the health of dairy cows in large-scale dairy farms is proposed via image-based analysis of cows on rotary-based milking platforms, where deep learning is used to classify the extent of teat-end hyperkeratosis. The videos can be analyzed to segment the teats for feature analysis, which can then be used to assess the risk of infections and other diseases. This analysis can be performed more efficiently by using the key frames of each cow as they pass through the image frame. Extracting key frames from these videos would greatly simplify this analysis, but there are several challenges. First, data collection in the farm setting is harsh, resulting in unpredictable temporal key frame positions; empty, obfuscated, or shifted images of the cow’s teats; frequently empty stalls due to challenges with herding cows into the parlor; and regular interruptions and reversals in the direction of the parlor. Second, supervised learning requires expensive and time-consuming human annotation of key frames, which is impractical in large commercial dairy farms housing thousands of cows. Unsupervised learning methods rely on large frame differences and often suffer low performance. In this paper, we propose a novel unsupervised few-shot learning model which extracts key frames from large (∼21,000 frames) video streams. Using a simple L1 distance metric that combines both image and deep features between each unlabeled frame and a few (32) labeled key frames, a key frame selection mechanism, and a quality check process, key frames can be extracted with sufficient accuracy (F score 63.6%) and timeliness (<10 min per 21,000 frames) for commercial dairy farm setting demands.
Block-Iterative Reconstruction from Dynamically Selected Sparse Projection Views Using Extended Power-Divergence Measure
Authors: Ishikawa Kazuki , Yamaguchi Yusaku , Abou Al-Ola Omar M. , Kojima Takeshi , Yoshinaga Tetsuya
Published: May 2022

Iterative reconstruction of density pixel images from measured projections in computed tomography has attracted considerable attention. The ordered-subsets algorithm is an acceleration scheme that uses subsets of projections in a previously decided order. Several methods have been proposed to improve the convergence rate by permuting the order of the projections. However, they do not incorporate object information, such as shape, into the selection process. We propose a block-iterative reconstruction from sparse projection views with the dynamic selection of subsets based on an estimating function constructed by an extended power-divergence measure for decreasing the objective function as much as possible. We give a unified proposition for the inequality related to the difference between objective functions caused by one iteration as the theoretical basis of the proposed optimization strategy. Through the theory and numerical experiments, we show that nonuniform and sparse use of projection views leads to a reconstruction of higher-quality images and that an ordered subset is not the most effective for block-iterative reconstruction. The two-parameter class of extended power-divergence measures is the key to estimating an effective decrease in the objective function and plays a significant role in constructing a robust algorithm against noise.
Weakly Supervised Building Semantic Segmentation Based on Spot-Seeds and Refinement Process
Authors: Moghalles Khaled , Li Heng-Chao , Alazeb Abdulwahab
Published: May 2022

Automatic building semantic segmentation is the most critical and relevant task in several geospatial applications. Methods based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are mainly used in current building segmentation. The requirement of huge pixel-level labels is a significant obstacle to achieve the semantic segmentation of building by CNNs. In this paper, we propose a novel weakly supervised framework for building segmentation, which generates high-quality pixel-level annotations and optimizes the segmentation network. A superpixel segmentation algorithm can predict a boundary map for training images. Then, Superpixels-CRF built on the superpixel regions is guided by spot seeds to propagate information from spot seeds to unlabeled regions, resulting in high-quality pixel-level annotations. Using these high-quality pixel-level annotations, we can train a more robust segmentation network and predict segmentation maps. To iteratively optimize the segmentation network, the predicted segmentation maps are refined, and the segmentation network are retrained. Comparative experiments demonstrate that the proposed segmentation framework achieves a marked improvement in the building’s segmentation quality while reducing human labeling efforts.
Global Value Chains Participation during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Dynamic Panel Approach
Authors: Wuri Josephine , Widodo Tri , Hardi Amirullah Setya
Published: May 2022

In recent decades, the emergence of global value chains (GVCs) has changed international trade patterns. Today, the production of goods involves international production sharing, which allows countries to trace the value-added distribution to international trade. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has lowered the trade intensity between countries and can disrupt many sectors. This study uses a dynamic panel approach with the generalized method of moments estimator to investigate the pandemic’s impact on GVC participation. We also investigate whether gross domestic product (GDP) per capita may influence GVC participation, and use institutional quality as control variables. We used the Asian Development Bank Multi-Regional Input-Output (ADB MRIO) data for the 2010–2020 period. We employ backward and forward linkage approaches based on value-added exports to address the overvaluation problems in gross exports. The empirical results illustrate that the COVID-19 pandemic led to a decrease in GVC participation, on average. Furthermore, GDP per capita plays a significant role in GVC participation in backward and forward linkages with higher-quality institutions.