bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supplemental Nicotinic Acid Elevates NAD+ Precursors in the Follicular Fluid of Mares
Authors: Pollard Charley-Lea , Gibb Zamira , Clulow Jennifer , Ruiz Agustin , Sheridan Alecia , Bahrami Mohammad , Swegen Aleona , Grupen Christopher G.
Published: May 2022

A deficiency in NAD+ has previously been linked with increased occurrences of congenital abnormalities and embryonic death in humans and mice. Early embryonic death is a major factor involved in pregnancy loss in mares, and very little is known regarding the NAD+ requirements for optimum reproductive function in horses. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of supplementing the diet of mares with nicotinic acid (NA) on the composition of NAD+ metabolites in the blood and follicular fluid. Vehicle alone or NA (3 g per os) were administered to seven mares over a minimum of 3 consecutive days during the follicular phase of the oestrous cycle. Blood samples were collected immediately prior to supplemental feeding and follicular fluid aspiration. Follicular fluid was collected from the dominant follicle through transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration. Blood and follicular fluid samples were processed and analysed by mass spectrometry. The concentration of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) in the follicular fluid of NA-fed mares was 4-fold greater than that in the corresponding plasma and 10-fold greater than that in the follicular fluid of vehicle-fed mares. The concentrations of NA, nicotinamide (NAM) and nicotinuric acid (NUR) tended to be greater in the follicular fluid of NA-supplemented mares than in the corresponding plasma. The results show that NA supplementation increased the bioavailability of NAD+ precursors in the follicular fluid of the dominant follicle, which is proposed to better promote the maturation of good quality oocytes, especially in older mares.
Chemical Composition of Essential Oils of Bulbs and Aerial Parts of Two Cultivars of Allium sativum and Their Antibiofilm Activity against Food and Nosocomial Pathogens
Authors: Nazzaro Filomena , Polito Flavio , Amato Giuseppe , Caputo Lucia , Francolino Rosaria , D’Acierno Antonio , Fratianni Florinda , Candido Vincenzo , Coppola Raffaele , De Feo Vincenzo
Published: May 2022

This work aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of the essential oils (EOs) of two cultivars of Allium sativum and their antibiofilm activity against the food pathogens Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus. The crystal violet assay ascertained the susceptibility of the bacterial biofilms, while the MTT assay let to evaluations of the metabolic changes occurring in the bacterial cells within biofilms. Their chemical composition indicated some sulfuric compounds (i.e., allicin, diallyl disulfide, and allyl propyl disulfide), and decene as some of the main components of the EOs. The aerial parts and bulbs’ EOs from the two cultivars showed chemical differences, which seemed to affect the antibiofilm activity. The EOs from aerial parts of ‘Bianco del Veneto’ inhibited the biofilm formation of L. monocytogenes and E. coli (60.55% and 40.33%, respectively). In comparison, the ‘Staravec’ EO inhibited the cellular metabolism of E. coli (62.44%) and S. aureus (51.52%) sessile cells. These results indicate their possible use as preserving agents in the food industry and suggest their potential exploitation in the development of new formulations to avoid or limit nosocomial infections.
The Association of Oxidative and Antioxidant Potential with Cardiometabolic Risk Profile in the Group of 60- to 65-Year-Old Seniors from Central Poland
Authors: Sołtysik Bartłomiej K. , Karolczak Kamil , Watała Cezary , Kostka Tomasz
Published: May 2022

Pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases is caused by, inter alia, oxidative stress. On the other hand, cardiovascular risk factors may cause redox imbalance. The pathological pathways between those components are to be determined. In the group comprised of 300 sex-matched subjects, we evaluated a number of cardiovascular risk factors: blood pressure, body mass, lipids, glucose, homocysteine, uric acid, von Willebrand factor (vWF), VCAM-1 and ICAM-1. The presence of cardiovascular diseases and drugs for their treatment were examined. Secondly, we assessed total antioxidative status (TAS), total oxidative status (TOS) and other markers of oxidative stress. TAS was inversely related to LDL cholesterol. TOS was positively associated with BMI and female sex, but negatively associated with the use of angiotensin II receptor antagonists. Plasma lipid peroxides concentration was positively related to ICAM-1 and presence of stroke, whereas platelet lipid peroxides were positively associated with vWF. Platelets proteins thiol groups were in a positive relationship with vWF, but in a negative relationship with uric acid and diagnosed lipid disorders. Both free thiol and amino groups were positively associated with plasma glucose. Platelets free amino groups were related to platelets count. Superoxide generation by blood platelets (both with and without homocysteine) was positively connected to glucose level. Among women, oxidative markers appear to be more related to glucose level, whereas among men they are related to body mass indices. TAS, TOS and oxidative markers are largely related to modifiable cardiovascular risk factors such as body mass, and intake of drugs such as angiotensin II receptor blockers. Plasma and platelet oxidation markers appear to be especially associated with glucose concentration. The presented analyses unanimously indicate strong connections between cardiovascular risk factors and redox potential and specify how cardiometabolic interventions may counter-balance oxidative stress.
JAC4 Protects from X-ray Radiation-Induced Intestinal Injury by JWA-Mediated Anti-Oxidation/Inflammation Signaling
Authors: Zhou Yan , Liu Jingwen , Li Xiong , Wang Luman , Hu Lirong , Li Aiping , Zhou Jianwei
Published: May 2022

Radiation-induced intestinal injury is one of the major side effects in patients receiving radiation therapy. There is no specific treatment for radiation-induced enteritis in the clinic. We synthesized a compound, named JAC4, which is an agonist and can increase JWA protein expression. JWA has been shown to reduce oxidative stress, DNA damage, anti-apoptosis, and anti-inflammatory; in addition, the small intestine epithelium showed dysplasia in JWA knockout mice. We hypothesized that JAC4 might exert a protective effect against radiation-induced intestinal damage. Herein, X-ray radiation models were built both in mice and in intestinal crypt epithelial cells (IEC-6). C57BL/6J mice were treated with JAC4 by gavage before abdominal irradiation (ABI); the data showed that JAC4 significantly reduced radiation-induced intestinal mucosal damage and increased the survival rate. In addition, radiation-induced oxidative stress damage and systemic inflammatory response were also mitigated by JAC4 treatment. Moreover, JAC4 treatment alleviated DNA damage, decreased cell apoptosis, and maintained intestinal epithelial cell proliferation in mice. In vitro data showed that JAC4 treatment significantly inhibited ROS formation and cell apoptosis. Importantly, all the above protective effects of JAC4 on X-ray radiation-triggered intestinal injury were no longer determined in the intestinal epithelium of JWA knockout mice. Therefore, our results provide the first evidence that JAC4 protects the intestine from radiation-induced enteritis through JWA-mediated anti-oxidation/inflammation signaling.
Comparison of Postural Stability and Regulation among Male Athletes from Different Sports
Authors: Lauenroth Andreas , Schulze Stephan , Reinhardt Lars , Laudner Kevin G. , Delank Karl-Stefan , Schwesig René
Published: May 2022

The purpose of this study was to assess the postural control of 50 male athletes (age: 24.9 ± 4.55 years) who participate in different elite-level competitive sports. Athletes from two team sports from the third German league (ice hockey: n = 16; soccer: n = 23), and one individual sports (diving: n = 11) were included. These athletes were investigated using posturography under different conditions (e.g., stable surface, unstable surface; eyes open, eyes closed) to determine postural stability and regulation. Most of the performance maxima were found among the divers (6), followed by ice hockey (5) and soccer (4). The biggest effect of sport was found in the stability indicator, where the subject was standing on a stable surface and their eyes were closed (NC; p = 0.001, ηp2 = 0.273). This significance was observed between the soccer (17.3 ± 5.66) and diving (24.9 ± 6.98) subjects. The stability indicator had the largest significant effect (50%, 2/4). These results provide coaches and athletes insight into the postural stability and regulation of male athletes in sports with different demands on postural control. Especially for soccer players, it may be beneficial to address muscular imbalances to reduce the risk of lower extremity injuries.
Evaluation of Deviations between Computer-Planned Implant Position and In Vivo Placement through 3D-Printed Guide: A CBCT Scan Analysis on Implant Inserted in Esthetic Area
Authors: Caggiano Mario , Amato Alessandra , Acerra Alfonso , D’Ambrosio Francesco , Martina Stefano
Published: May 2022

Background: Implant rehabilitation in cases of monoedentulism in the esthetic area is a challenge for the clinician. The aim of our study was to test the diagnostic–therapeutic accuracy of computer-guided implant placement in the esthetic area. Methods: Postimplant surgery cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were retrospectively analyzed to assess the accuracy of computer-guided implant placement compared to the preoperative computer-digital planned implant position. We selectively enrolled CBCT scans of patients who underwent immediate or delayed implant placement of a single maxillary incisor, treated with computer-guided implant surgery through a tooth-supported digitally designed 3D printed guide. Our analysis consisted of three digital measurements: the mean deviation of the implant axis, and the mean mesiodistal implant deviation measured both at the apex and at the head of the implant. Results: A total of 95 implants were placed in 95 patients (60 Males, 35 Females; age from 27 to 45-year-old). Congruence analysis showed a mean deviation of implant axis of 1.04° ± 0.56° in sagittal projection, a mean mesiodistal implant deviation between adjacent teeth of 0.14 mm ± 0.07 mm at implant head level and 0.8 mm ± 0.3 mm at the apex in axial projection. Conclusions: computer-guided implant placement through a tooth-supported guide was extremely accurate in the esthetic area because the deviations between the real implant position and the preoperative planning was not clinically relevant.
Methamphetamine Dysregulates Macrophage Functions and Autophagy to Mediate HIV Neuropathogenesis
Authors: Barbaro John M. , Sidoli Simone , Cuervo Ana Maria , Berman Joan W.
Published: May 2022

HIV-neurocognitive impairment (HIV-NCI) can be a debilitating condition for people with HIV (PWH), despite the success of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Substance use disorder is often a comorbidity with HIV infection. The use of methamphetamine (meth) increases systemic inflammation and CNS damage in PWH. Meth may also increase neuropathogenesis through the functional dysregulation of cells that harbor HIV. Perivascular macrophages are long-lived reservoirs for HIV in the CNS. The impaired clearance of extracellular debris and increased release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by HIV-infected macrophages cause neurotoxicity. Macroautophagy is a vital intracellular pathway that can regulate, in part, these deleterious processes. We found in HIV-infected primary human macrophages that meth inhibits phagocytosis of aggregated amyloid-β, increases total ROS, and dysregulates autophagic processes. Treatment with widely prescribed ART drugs had minimal effects, although there may be an improvement in phagocytosis when co-administered with meth. Pharmacologically inhibited lysosomal degradation, but not induction of autophagy, further increased ROS in response to meth. Using mass spectrometry, we identified the differentially expressed proteins in meth-treated, HIV-infected macrophages that participate in phagocytosis, mitochondrial function, redox metabolism, and autophagy. Significantly altered proteins may be novel targets for interventional strategies that restore functional homeostasis in HIV-infected macrophages to improve neurocognition in people with HIV-NCI using meth.
Microfluidic Organ-on-a-Chip System for Disease Modeling and Drug Development
Authors: Li Zening , Hui Jianan , Yang Panhui , Mao Hongju
Published: May 2022

An organ-on-a-chip is a device that combines micro-manufacturing and tissue engineering to replicate the critical physiological environment and functions of the human organs. Therefore, it can be used to predict drug responses and environmental effects on organs. Microfluidic technology can control micro-scale reagents with high precision. Hence, microfluidics have been widely applied in organ-on-chip systems to mimic specific organ or multiple organs in vivo. These models integrated with various sensors show great potential in simulating the human environment. In this review, we mainly introduce the typical structures and recent research achievements of several organ-on-a-chip platforms. We also discuss innovations in models applied to the fields of pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, nano-medicine, continuous dynamic monitoring in disease modeling, and their further applications in other fields.
Quantification of Desiccated Extracellular Vesicles by Quartz Crystal Microbalance
Authors: Chernyshev Vasiliy S. , Skliar Mikhail
Published: May 2022

Extracellular vesicle (EV) quantification is a procedure through which the biomedical potential of EVs can be used and their biological function can be understood. The number of EVs isolated from cell culture media depends on the cell status and is especially important in studies on cell-to-cell signaling, disease modeling, drug development, etc. Currently, the methods that can be used to quantify isolated EVs are sparse, and each have limitations. In this report, we introduce the application of a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) as a biosensor for quantifying EVs in a small drop of volatile solvent after it evaporates and leaves desiccated EVs on the surface of the quartz crystal. The shifts in the crystal’s resonant frequency were found to obey Sauerbrey’s relation for EV quantities up to 6 × 107, and it was determined that the biosensors could resolve samples that differ by at least 2.7 × 105 EVs. A ring-shaped pattern enriched in EVs after the samples had dried on the quartz crystal is also reported and discussed. QCM technology is highly sensitive and only requires small sample volumes and is significantly less costly compared with the approaches that are currently used for EV quantification.
Surgical Treatment of Cystic Pituitary Prolactin-Secreting Macroadenomas: A Single Center Study of 42 Patients
Authors: Guo Xiang , Chen Juan , Zhang Zhuo , Wan Xueyan , Shu Kai , Lei Ting
Published: May 2022

This study evaluated the therapeutic effects of surgical treatment of cystic pituitary prolactin-secreting macroadenomas. The clinical data of 42 patients with cystic pituitary prolactin-secreting macroadenomas were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into medication plus surgery and surgery alone groups based on the regularity of bromocriptine treatment before surgery. Both groups underwent extra-pseudocapsular transsphenoidal surgery for tumor resection, and postoperative images and clinical follow-up were retrospectively reviewed. We also evaluated patients who opted for long-term treatment with bromocriptine. In the medication plus surgery group, the long-term surgical cure rate and comprehensive remission rate were 33.3% and 41.7%, while in the surgery alone group they were 69.2% and 80.8%, respectively. No severe or permanent complications occurred, and the surgical complication morbidity rate was 10.5%. The rate of tumor progression during the long-term follow-up was 33.3% and 7.7% in the medication plus surgery and surgery alone groups, respectively. The time required for prolactin levels to return to normal in the surgery alone group was significantly faster and the proportion that returned to normal was significantly higher. Direct surgical treatment after diagnosis combined with postoperative individualized bromocriptine adjuvant therapy had better efficacy in patients with cystic pituitary prolactin-secreting macroadenomas, but its long-term effectiveness requires further follow-up.
Experimental Heat Transfer, Sound Insulation and Interior Comfort Parameters Assessment on a Box Double-Skin Façade
Authors: Năstase Gabriel , Doboși Ioan Silviu , Brezeanu Alin Ionuț , Taus Daniel , Tăbăcaru Maria Bianca , Vuțoiu Beatrice Georgiana , Rusu Diana , Bulmez Alexandru Mihai , Iordan Nicolae Fani
Published: May 2022

The envelope (façade) of a building is the part that forms the primary barrier to its environment. Most of the new and modern office buildings have a glazed envelope and are usually built-in city centers. The concept of a double-skin façade was born as a consequence of urban noise. The principal noise source in urban areas is traffic noise. Using a double-skin façade can be a solution that ensures good sound insulation for a glazed office building. This study presents experimental results obtained both from measurement campaigns carried out over longer periods of time, in connection with heat transfer in the case of this system, and punctual measurements, over shorter periods of time, for sound insulation and interior comfort parameters, from the experimental chamber adjacent to the system. The results from this study indicate that box double-skin façades can contribute to noise reduction, improve the interior thermal comfort and increase the energetic performance compared to normal single-glass façades, but within certain limits.
Interaction of Gut Microbiota with Endocrine Homeostasis and Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Liu Qi , Sun Wei , Zhang Hao
Published: May 2022

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in healthy individuals as well as in patients with thyroid diseases, including thyroid cancer. Although the prognosis of differentiated thyroid cancer is predictable, that of some poorly differentiated, medullary, and anaplastic thyroid cancers remains unpromising. As the interaction between the gut microbiota and thyroid cancer has been gradually revealed in recent years, the thyroid gland, a crucial endocrine organ, is shown to have a complex connection with the body’s metabolism and is involved in inflammation, autoimmunity, or cancer progression. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and its metabolites can influence changes in hormone levels and susceptibility to thyroid cancer through multiple pathways. In this review, we focus on the interactions of the gut microbiota with thyroid function diseases and thyroid cancer. In addition, we also discuss some potential new strategies for the prevention and treatment of thyroid disease and thyroid cancer. Our aim is to provide some possible clinical applications of gut microbiota markers for early diagnosis, treatment, and postoperative management of thyroid cancer. These findings were used to establish a better multi-disciplinary treatment and prevention management strategy and to individualize the treatment of patients in relation to their gut microbiota composition and pathological characteristics.
Ficus dubia Latex Extract Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis by Regulating the NF-κB Pathway in Inflammatory Human Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Hu Rentong , Chantana Weerachai , Pitchakarn Pornsiri , Subhawa Subhawat , Chantarasuwan Bhanumas , Temviriyanukul Piya , Chewonarin Teera
Published: May 2022

Colorectal cancer is one of the most diagnosed cancers that is associated with inflammation. Ficus dubia latex is recognized as a remedy with various therapeutic effects in traditional medicine, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. The present study aims to compare the anti-tumor activity of Ficus dubia latex extract (FDLE) against HCT-116 and HT-29 human colorectal cancer cell lines in normal and inflammatory condition and explore its mechanism of action. FDLE exhibited remarkable antiproliferative activity against HCT-116 and HT-29 colorectal cancer cell lines in both conditions using MTT and colony formation assays and more effective anti-proliferation was observed in inflammatory condition. Mechanistically, FDLE induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase by down-regulating NF-κB, cyclin D1, CDK4 and up-regulatingp21 in both cell in normal condition. In inflammatory condition, FDLE not only exhibited stronger induction of cell cycle arrest in both cells by down-regulating NF-κB, cyclin D1, CDK4 and down-regulating p21, but also selectively induced apoptosis in HCT-116 cells by down-regulating NF-κB and Bcl-xl and up-regulating Bid, Bak, cleaved caspase-7 and caspase-3 through stronger ability to regulate these proteins. Our results demonstrated that the phytochemical agent in the latex of Ficus dubia could potential be used for treatment and prevention of human colorectal cancer, especially in inflammation-induced hyperproliferation progression.
Hu Antigen R (HuR) Protein Structure, Function and Regulation in Hepatobiliary Tumors
Authors: Lachiondo-Ortega Sofia , Delgado Teresa Cardoso , Baños-Jaime Blanca , Velázquez-Cruz Alejandro , Díaz-Moreno Irene , Martínez-Chantar María Luz
Published: May 2022

Hu antigen R (HuR) is a 36-kDa ubiquitous member of the ELAV/Hu family of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), which plays an important role as a post-transcriptional regulator of specific RNAs under physiological and pathological conditions, including cancer. Herein, we review HuR protein structure, function, and its regulation, as well as its implications in the pathogenesis, progression, and treatment of hepatobiliary cancers. In particular, we focus on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), tumors where the increased cytoplasmic localization of HuR and activity are proposed, as valuable diagnostic and prognostic markers. An overview of the main regulatory axes involving HuR, which are associated with cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, apoptosis, and autophagy in HCC, is provided. These include the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational modulators of HuR function, in addition to HuR target transcripts. Finally, whereas studies addressing the relevance of targeting HuR in CCA are limited, in the past few years, HuR has emerged as a potential therapeutic target in HCC. In fact, the therapeutic efficacy of some pharmacological inhibitors of HuR has been evaluated, in early experimental models of HCC. We, further, discuss the major findings and future perspectives of therapeutic approaches that specifically block HuR interactions, either with post-translational modifiers or cognate transcripts in hepatobiliary cancers.
PET-CT in Clinical Adult Oncology: III. Gastrointestinal Malignancies
Authors: Koppula Bhasker R. , Fine Gabriel C. , Salem Ahmed Ebada , Covington Matthew F. , Wiggins Richard H. , Hoffman John M. , Morton Kathryn A.
Published: May 2022

PET-CT is an advanced imaging modality with many oncologic applications, including staging, assessment of response to therapy, restaging and longitudinal surveillance for recurrence. The goal of this series of six review articles is to provide practical information to providers and imaging professionals regarding the best use of PET-CT for specific oncologic indications, and the potential pitfalls and nuances that characterize these applications. In the third of these review articles, key tumor-specific clinical information and representative PET-CT images are provided to outline the role that PET-CT plays in the management of patients with gastrointestinal malignancies. The focus is on the use of 18F fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), rather than on research radiopharmaceuticals under development. Many different types of gastrointestinal tumors exist, both pediatric and adult. A discussion of the role of FDG PET-CT for all of these is beyond the scope of this review. Rather, this article focuses on the most common adult gastrointestinal malignancies that may be encountered in clinical practice. The information provided here will provide information outlining the appropriate role of PET-CT in the clinical management of patients with gastrointestinal malignancies for healthcare professionals caring for adult cancer patients. It also addresses the nuances and provides interpretive guidance related to PET-CT for imaging providers, including radiologists, nuclear medicine physicians and their trainees.
Concomitant Hepatic Artery Resection for Advanced Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma: A Narrative Review
Authors: Noji Takehiro , Hirano Satoshi , Tanaka Kimitaka , Matsui Aya , Nakanishi Yoshitsugu , Asano Toshimichi , Nakamura Toru , Tsuchikawa Takahiro
Published: May 2022

Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHCC) is one of the most intractable gastrointestinal malignancies. These tumours lie in the core section of the biliary tract. Patients who undergo curative surgery have a 40–50-month median survival time, and a five-year overall survival rate of 35–45%. Therefore, curative intent surgery can lead to long-term survival. PHCC sometimes invades the surrounding tissues, such as the portal vein, hepatic artery, perineural tissues around the hepatic artery, and hepatic parenchyma. Contralateral hepatic artery invasion is classed as T4, which is considered unresectable due to its “locally advanced” nature. Recently, several reports have been published on concomitant hepatic artery resection (HAR) for PHCC. The morbidity and mortality rates in these reports were similar to those non-HAR cases. The five-year survival rate after HAR was 16–38.5%. Alternative procedures for arterial portal shunting and non-vascular reconstruction (HAR) have also been reported. In this paper, we review HAR for PHCC, focusing on its history, diagnosis, procedures, and alternatives. HAR, undertaken by established biliary surgeons in selected patients with PHCC, can be feasible.
T-Cell Repertoire in Tumor Radiation: The Emerging Frontier as a Radiotherapy Biomarker
Authors: Baxevanis Constantin N. , Gritzapis Angelos D. , Voutsas Ioannis F. , Batsaki Panagiota , Goulielmaki Maria , Adamaki Maria , Zoumpourlis Vassilios , Fortis Sotirios P.
Published: May 2022

Radiotherapy (RT) is a therapeutic modality that aims to eliminate malignant cells through the induction of DNA damage in the irradiated tumor site. In addition to its cytotoxic properties, RT also induces mechanisms that result in the promotion of antitumor immunity both locally within the irradiation field but also at distant tumor lesions, a phenomenon that is known as the “abscopal” effect. Because the immune system is capable of sensing the effects of RT, several treatment protocols have been assessing the synergistic role of radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy, collectively referred to as radioimmunotherapy. Herein, we discuss mechanistic insights underlying RT-based immunomodulation, which also enhance our understanding of how RT regulates antitumor T-cell-mediated immunity. Such knowledge is essential for the discovery of predictive biomarkers and for the improvement of clinical trials investigating the efficacy of radio-immunotherapeutic modalities in cancer patients.
Something Fishy about Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens) Sex: Polygenic Sex Determination or a Newly Emerged Sex-Determining Region?
Authors: Panthum Thitipong , Jaisamut Kitipong , Singchat Worapong , Ahmad Syed Farhan , Kongkaew Lalida , Wongloet Wongsathit , Dokkaew Sahabhop , Kraichak Ekaphan , Muangmai Narongrit , Duengkae Prateep , Srikulnath Kornsorn
Published: May 2022

Fishes provide a unique and intriguing model system for studying the genomic origin and evolutionary mechanisms underlying sex determination and high sex-chromosome turnover. In this study, the mode of sex determination was investigated in Siamese fighting fish, a species of commercial importance. Genome-wide SNP analyses were performed on 75 individuals (40 males and 35 females) across commercial populations to determine candidate sex-specific/sex-linked loci. In total, 73 male-specific loci were identified and mapped to a 5.6 kb region on chromosome 9, suggesting a putative male-determining region (pMDR) containing localized dmrt1 and znrf3 functional sex developmental genes. Repeat annotations of the pMDR revealed an abundance of transposable elements, particularly Ty3/Gypsy and novel repeats. Remarkably, two out of the 73 male-specific loci were located on chromosomes 7 and 19, implying the existence of polygenic sex determination. Besides male-specific loci, five female-specific loci on chromosome 9 were also observed in certain populations, indicating the possibility of a female-determining region and the polygenic nature of sex determination. An alternative explanation is that male-specific loci derived from other chromosomes or female-specific loci in Siamese fighting fish recently emerged as new sex-determining loci during domestication and repeated hybridization.
Vitronectin and Its Interaction with PAI-1 Suggests a Functional Link to Vascular Changes in AMD Pathobiology
Authors: Biasella Fabiola , Strunz Tobias , Kiel Christina ,   on behalf of the International AMD Genomics Consortium (IAMDGC), Weber Bernhard H. F. , Friedrich Ulrike
Published: May 2022

The pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a frequent disorder of the central retina, is incompletely understood. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) suggest a strong contribution of genomic variation in AMD susceptibility. Nevertheless, little is known about biological mechanisms of the disease. We reported previously that the AMD-associated polymorphism rs704C > T in the vitronectin (VTN) gene influences protein expression and functional aspects of encoded vitronectin, a human blood and extracellular matrix (ECM) protein. Here, we refined the association of rs704 with AMD in 16,144 cases and 17,832 controls and noted that rs704 is carried exclusively by the neovascular AMD subtype. Interaction studies demonstrate that rs704 affects the ability of vitronectin to bind the angiogenic regulator plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) but has no influence on stabilizing its active state. Western blot analysis and confocal imaging reveal a strong enrichment of PAI-1 in the ECM of cultured endothelial cells and RPE cell line ARPE-19 exposed to vitronectin. Large-scale gene expression of VTN and PAI-1 showed positive correlations and a statistically significant increase in human retinal and blood tissues aged 60 years and older. Our results suggest a mechanism by which the AMD-associated rs704 variant in combination with ageing may contribute to the vascular complications in AMD.
Abnormal Epigenetic Regulations in the Immunocytes of Sjögren’s Syndrome Patients and Therapeutic Potentials
Authors: Li Peng , Han Mengwei , Zhao Xingyu , Ren Guanqun , Mei Si , Zhong Chao
Published: May 2022

Sjögren’s syndrome (SjS), characterized by keratoconjunctivitis sicca and dry mouth, is a common autoimmune disease, especially in middle-aged women. The immunopathogenesis of SjS is caused by the sequential infiltration of T and B cells into exocrine glands, including salivary and lacrimal glands. Effector cytokines produced by these immunocytes, such as interferons (IFNs), IL-17, IL-22, IL-21, IL-4, TNF-α, BAFF and APRIL, play critical roles in promoting autoimmune responses and inducing tissue damages. Epigenetic regulations, including DNA methylation, histone modification and non-coding RNAs, have recently been comprehensively studied during the activation of various immunocytes. The deficiency of key epigenetic enzymes usually leads to aberrant immune activation. Epigenetic modifications in T and B cells are usually found to be altered during the immunopathogenesis of SjS, and they are closely correlated with autoimmune responses. In particular, the important role of methylation in activating IFN pathways during SjS progression has been revealed. Thus, according to the involvement of epigenetic regulations in SjS, target therapies to reverse the altered epigenetic modifications in auto-responsive T and B cells are worthy of being considered as a potential therapeutic strategy for SjS.
Optimum Biodiesel Production Using Ductile Cast Iron as a Heterogeneous Catalyst
Authors: El-Khashab Nada Amr , Naeem Marwa Mohamed , Roushdy Mai Hassan
Published: May 2022

Biofuels production become a target for many researchers nowadays. Biodiesel is one the most important biofuels that are produced from biomass using economics and modern techniques. The ductile cast iron solid waste dust is one of the wastes produced by the cast iron industry which has a bad effect on the environment. This paper investigates the possibility of reusing ductile cast iron solid waste as a biodiesel heterogeneous catalyst used in its production from sunflower waste cooking oil. Four reaction parameters were chosen to determine their effect on the reaction responses. The reaction parameters are M:O ratio, reaction time and temperature, and catalyst loading. The reaction responses are the biodiesel and glycerol conversions. The upper and lower limits are selected for each reaction parameter such as (50–70 °C) reaction temperature, (5–20) methanol to oil molar ratio, (1–5%) catalyst loading, and (1–4 h) reaction time. Optimization was done with economic and environmental targets which include lowering the biodiesel production cost, increasing the volume of biodiesel produced, and decreasing the amount of resulting glycerol. The optimum reactions are 20:1 M:O molar ratio, 65 °C reaction temperature, 5 wt% catalyst loading, 2 h reaction time, and a stirring rate of 750 rpm. The biodiesel conversion resulting at this optimum reaction conditions is 91.7 percent with agreed with all biodiesel standards. The catalyst usability test was done it was found the catalyst can be used up to 4 times after that a fresh catalyst is required to be used.
Kinetics of Odorant Recognition with a Graphene-Based Olfactory Receptor Mimicry
Authors: Bonazza Caroline , Bonazza Klaus
Published: May 2022

Malaria vector mosquito species rely on a handful of specific pheromones for mating; one of them, sulcatone (6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one), is also found in human exudation. Therefore, a complete understanding of the insect’s olfaction, and rapid real-time methods for odorant detection, are required. Here, we mimic the odorant recognition of the nerve cells of an insect’s antenna with a synthetic graphene-based bio-electro-interfacial odorant receptor. By this means, we obtain the kinetics of the genuine odorant recognition reaction and compare them to electro-antennogram data that represent the more complex scenario of a living insect. The odorant-binding proteins OBP 9A and 9B only associate with their ligands weakly, showing KDs of between 2.1 mM and 3 mM, while the binding kinetics of OBP proteins depend on the structural feature of a cystine knot and are modulated by the local milieu within a protein-aided enhancement zone.
Neural Annealing and Visualization of Autoregressive Neural Networks in the Newman–Moore Model
Authors: Inack Estelle M. , Morawetz Stewart , Melko Roger G.
Published: May 2022

Artificial neural networks have been widely adopted as ansatzes to study classical and quantum systems. However, for some notably hard systems, such as those exhibiting glassiness and frustration, they have mainly achieved unsatisfactory results, despite their representational power and entanglement content, thus suggesting a potential conservation of computational complexity in the learning process. We explore this possibility by implementing the neural annealing method with autoregressive neural networks on a model that exhibits glassy and fractal dynamics: the two-dimensional Newman–Moore model on a triangular lattice. We find that the annealing dynamics is globally unstable because of highly chaotic loss landscapes. Furthermore, even when the correct ground-state energy is found, the neural network generally cannot find degenerate ground-state configurations due to mode collapse. These findings indicate that the glassy dynamics exhibited by the Newman–Moore model caused by the presence of fracton excitations in the configurational space likely manifests itself through trainability issues and mode collapse in the optimization landscape.
Effects of Braid Angle and Material Modulus on the Negative Poisson’s Ratio of Braided Auxetic Yarns
Authors: Shah Arif , Shahid Muhammad , Hardy John , Siddiqui Naveed , Kennedy Andrew , Gul Iftikhar , Rehman Shafi , Nawab Yasir
Published: May 2022

Fibers and textiles are ubiquitous in our daily lives, with mechanical properties that match the design specifications for the task for which they are intended; the development of yarns with a negative Poisson’s ratio (NPR) is a hot topic of current research, owing to their potential for use in high-performance textiles (e.g., military, sports, etc.). This study described a simple approach to constructing braided, helically interlaced yarns. When a torque is applied, the yarns prevent the wrapped component from dislodging from the core. The geometry and auxetic behavior of the braided helical structure was analyzed for two different combinations of core materials with similar wrap materials and different braiding angles. Two elastomeric materials (polyurethane (PU) and polyester) served as monofilament cores, while two stiffer multifilament wrap yarns (ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET)) served as wrap yarns. In addition, the behavior of yarns braided at seven different angles was investigated to determine the materials’ response to the applied braided configuration’s NPR. The NPR was influenced by the core and wrap materials used and the braiding angle. The NPR value was greater for a core comprising more excellent elasticity (e.g., PU versus polyester); a smaller wrap angle and a slower braiding speed also led to a higher NPR value. The maximum NPR value of −1.70 was obtained using a PU core wrapped at a 9° angle and a strain value of 0.5.
Impact of Vessel Transit on Vocalizations of the Taiwanese Humpback Dolphin
Authors: Hu Wei-Chun , Siddagangaiah Shashidhar , Chen Chi-Fang , Pieretti Nadia
Published: May 2022

Recent offshore windfarm development has led to increased vessel traffic in the Eastern Taiwan Strait, which is part of the habitat of the critically endangered Taiwanese humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis taiwanensis). However, data on possible effects on the behavior of this endemic subspecies are lacking to date. In this study, we observed Taiwanese humpback dolphins’ acoustic behavior associated with shipping noise and analyzed their whistles and clicks before, during, and after vessel transit. Before vessel transit, the median rate of dolphin whistles and clicks was 100 and 1550 counts per minute, which significantly reduced to less than 8 and 170 counts per minute during and after vessel transit. Dolphins produced significantly shorter whistles during (0.07 s) and after (0.15 s) vessel transit. The vocalizing behavior of the Taiwanese humpback dolphin may be affected by vessel transit, which, if sustained, could possibly influence the individual communication and feeding success of the population. Implementing measures such as re-routing of the vessel lanes and regulating the speed of the vessel traffic in the habitat are proposed to overcome the influence of vessel noise on Taiwanese humpback dolphins.
Can Monoculture Timber Plantations Conserve More Ant Communities Than Adjacent Natural Forests?
Authors: Mthimunye Thembekile A. , Munyai Thinandavha C.
Published: May 2022

Understanding where biodiversity is and how it is distributed is crucial to conserving vulnerable and dynamic ecosystems. Although natural forests support greater diversity and are vital for the conservation of organisms, recent studies have argued that monoculture plantations can be used as an alternative habitat for forest species. We investigate how ant diversity patterns and assemblage composition vary between monoculture timber plantations and adjacent natural forests using pitfall traps in the Natal Midlands of South Africa. A total of 326 ants were collected, comprising 4 subfamilies, 13 genera, and 30 species. The blue gum plantations had the highest species diversity compared to other habitats. Although two species were found exclusively in the natural forest, it had the lowest ant diversity. Generally, species assemblages between the compared plantations and the natural forests were distinct. Monoculture plantations affect ant communities, leading to a change in their distribution patterns and assemblage composition. Determining how these rapidly expanding plantations affect biodiversity at different scales is essential for preserving indigenous fauna. Although our findings proposed that blue gum plantations have the potential to conserve ant taxonomic diversity compared to pine plantations, we recommend that future studies investigate the response of ant functional diversity to monoculture timber plantations in the region.
Radiomics in Oncological PET Imaging: A Systematic Review—Part 1, Supradiaphragmatic Cancers
Authors: Morland David , Triumbari Elizabeth Katherine Anna , Boldrini Luca , Gatta Roberto , Pizzuto Daniele , Annunziata Salvatore
Published: May 2022

Radiomics is an upcoming field in nuclear oncology, both promising and technically challenging. To summarize the already undertaken work on supradiaphragmatic neoplasia and assess its quality, we performed a literature search in the PubMed database up to 18 February 2022. Inclusion criteria were: studies based on human data; at least one specified tumor type; supradiaphragmatic malignancy; performing radiomics on PET imaging. Exclusion criteria were: studies only based on phantom or animal data; technical articles without a clinically oriented question; fewer than 30 patients in the training cohort. A review database containing PMID, year of publication, cancer type, and quality criteria (number of patients, retrospective or prospective nature, independent validation cohort) was constructed. A total of 220 studies met the inclusion criteria. Among them, 119 (54.1%) studies included more than 100 patients, 21 studies (9.5%) were based on prospectively acquired data, and 91 (41.4%) used an independent validation set. Most studies focused on prognostic and treatment response objectives. Because the textural parameters and methods employed are very different from one article to another, it is complicated to aggregate and compare articles. New contributions and radiomics guidelines tend to help improving quality of the reported studies over the years.
Special Issue: “Machine Learning for Computer-Aided Diagnosis in Biomedical Imaging”
Authors: Mun Seong K. , Koh Dow-Mu
Published: May 2022

The radiology imaging community has been developing computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) tools since the early 1990s before the imagination of artificial intelligence (AI) fueled many unbound healthcare expectations and other industries [...]
Evaluation of Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein D Expression as a Diagnostic Marker for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Kumar Vikas , Lone Moien Rasheed , Kumar Anurag , Vincent Vinnyfred , Thakkar Himani , Mishra Deepika , Chauhan Shyam S.
Published: May 2022

The heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein D (hnRNPD) serves as a prognostic marker for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We evaluated the diagnostic potential of hnRNPD to differentiate between OSCC and normal mucosa. Immunohistochemistry for hnRNPD and a routinely used diagnostic marker deltaNp63 (p40) was performed in 32 normal mucosae and 46 OSCC specimens. Subsequently, receiver-operating characteristic analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic potential of hnRNPD in comparison to that of p40. Immunostaining for p40 and hnRNPD was observed in 39 (84.78%) and 38 (82.60%) cases, respectively, in OSCC specimens. The poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma displayed 100% (eight cases) immunoreactivity for hnRNPD as compared to 87.5% (seven cases) for p40. Nuclear staining of p40 and hnRNPD was observed in all OSCC specimens. p40 staining was restricted to basal cells, whereas both basal and para-basal cells displayed hnRNPD staining in OSCC specimens. Areas under the curve for p40 and hnRNPD were 0.86 and 0.87, respectively. p40 and hnRNPD showed equal sensitivities (80.95%). However, hnRNPD displayed marginally higher (88.23%) specificity for tumor cells as compared to that of p40 (85.29%). Conclusion: In addition to being a well-established prognostic marker, hnRNPD can serve as a diagnostic marker for OSCC.
On Almost Norden Statistical Manifolds
Authors: Samereh Leila , Peyghan Esmaeil , Mihai Ion
Published: May 2022

We consider a statistical connection ∇ on an almost complex manifold with (pseudo-) Riemannian metric, in particular the Norden metric. We investigate almost Norden (statistical) manifolds under the condition that the almost complex structure J is ∇-recurrent. We provide one example of a complex statistical connection.
GTAD: Graph and Temporal Neural Network for Multivariate Time Series Anomaly Detection
Authors: Guan Siwei , Zhao Binjie , Dong Zhekang , Gao Mingyu , He Zhiwei
Published: May 2022

The rapid development of smart factories, combined with the increasing complexity of production equipment, has resulted in a large number of multivariate time series that can be recorded using sensors during the manufacturing process. The anomalous patterns of industrial production may be hidden by these time series. Previous LSTM-based and machine-learning-based approaches have made fruitful progress in anomaly detection. However, these multivariate time series anomaly detection algorithms do not take into account the correlation and time dependence between the sequences. In this study, we proposed a new algorithm framework, namely, graph attention network and temporal convolutional network for multivariate time series anomaly detection (GTAD), to address this problem. Specifically, we first utilized temporal convolutional networks, including causal convolution and dilated convolution, to capture temporal dependencies, and then used graph neural networks to obtain correlations between sensors. Finally, we conducted sufficient experiments on three public benchmark datasets, and the results showed that the proposed method outperformed the baseline method, achieving detection results with F1 scores higher than 95% on all datasets.
Moving beyond Risk Quotients: Advancing Ecological Risk Assessment to Reflect Better, More Robust and Relevant Methods
Authors: Raimondo Sandy , Forbes Valery E.
Published: May 2022

Under standard guidance for conducting Ecological Risk Assessments (ERAs), the risks of chemical exposure to diverse organisms are most often based on deterministic point estimates evaluated against safety-factor-based levels of concern (LOCs). While the science and guidance for mechanistic effect models (e.g., demographic, population, and agent-based) have long been demonstrated to provide more ecologically relevant effect endpoints upon which risk can be evaluated, their application in ERAs has been limited, particularly in the US. This special issue highlights the state of the science in effect modeling for ERAs through demonstrated application of the recently published Population modeling Guidance, Use, Interpretation, and Development for ERA (Pop-GUIDE). We introduce this issue with a perspective on why it is critical to move past the current application of deterministic endpoints and LOCs. We demonstrate how the current, widely used approaches contain extensive uncertainty that could be reduced considerably by applying models that account for species life histories and other important endogenous and exogenous factors critical to species sustainability. We emphasize that it is long past time to incorporate better, more robust, and ecologically relevant effect models into ERAs, particularly for chronic risk determination. The papers in this special issue demonstrate how mechanistic models that follow Pop-GUIDE better inform ERAs compared to the current standard practice.