bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of TP53 Mutations in EGFR-Mutated Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Clinical Significance and Implications for Therapy
Authors: Canale Matteo , Andrikou Kalliopi , Priano Ilaria , Cravero Paola , Pasini Luigi , Urbini Milena , Delmonte Angelo , Crinò Lucio , Bronte Giuseppe , Ulivi Paola
Published: February 2022

Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is the primary cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Oncogene-addicted patients usually benefit from targeted therapy, but primary and acquired resistance mechanisms inevitably occur. Tumor protein 53 (TP53) gene is the most frequently mutated gene in cancer, including NSCLC. TP53 mutations are able to induce carcinogenesis, tumor development and resistance to therapy, influencing patient prognosis and responsiveness to therapy. TP53 mutants present in different forms, suggesting that different gene alterations confer specific acquired protein functions. In recent years, many associations between different TP53 mutations and responses to Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) targeted therapy in NSCLC patients have been found. In this review, we discuss the current landscape concerning the role of TP53 mutants to guide primary and acquired resistance to Tyrosine-Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) EGFR-directed, investigating the possible mechanisms of TP53 mutants within the cellular compartments. We also discuss the role of the TP53 mutations in predicting the response to targeted therapy with EGFR-TKIs, as a possible biomarker to guide patient stratification for treatment.
Improvement in Structure and Visible Light Catalytic Performance of g-C3N4 Fabricated at a Higher Temperature
Authors: Ke Ping , Zeng Danlin , Cui Jiawei , Li Xin , Chen Yang
Published: February 2022

A highly-efficient graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) photocatalyst for visible light photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and methyl orange (MO) simulating dyeing wastewater was synthesized by the thermal polycondensation of melamine. The photocatalysts were characterized by TG-DTG-DSC, XRD, EA, XPS, FT-IR, SEM, TEM, BET, PL and UV-vis DRS. The results showed that the photocatalytic performance of g-C3N4 at a higher calcination temperature was significantly enhanced, and its photocatalytic activities for the photodegradation of RhB and MO were remarkably improved by 64.91% and 41.83%, respectively, which was mainly attributed to the satisfactory crystallinity, stable graphene-like structure, large surface area, and excellent optical properties. It was found that •O2− radicals and •OH radicals were the main active species for the photodegradation process by the free radicals trapping experiments and ESR analysis. The photodegradation mechanism of g-C3N4 was proposed predicated using the characterization results.
G-Protein Coupled Receptor Dysregulation May Play Roles in Severe Preeclampsia—A Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis of Placental Gene Expression Profile
Authors: Vidal Manuel S. , Deguit Christian Deo T. , Yu Gracia Fe B. , Amosco Melissa D.
Published: February 2022

Preeclampsia is one of the major hypertensive diseases of pregnancy. Genetic factors contribute to abnormal placentation. The inadequate transformation of cytotrophoblasts causes failure of maternal spiral arteries’ remodeling and results in narrow, atherotic-prone vessels, leading to relative placental ischemia. This study aims to explore the possibility of identifying dysregulated gene networks that may offer a potential target in the possible prevention of preeclampsia. We performed a weighted gene correlated network analysis (WGCNA) on a subset of gene expression profiles of placental tissues from severe preeclamptic pregnancies. We identified a gene module (number of genes = 402, GS = 0.35, p = 0.02) enriched for several G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-related genes with significant protein–protein molecular interaction (number of genes = 38, FDR = 0.0007) that may play key roles in preeclampsia. Some genes are noted to play key roles in preeclampsia, including LPAR4/5, CRLR, NPY, TACR1/2, and SFRP4/5, whose functions generally relate to angiogenesis and vasodilation or vasoconstriction. Other upregulated genes, including olfactory and orexigenic genes, serve limited functions in the disease pathogenesis. Altogether, this study shows the utility of WGCNA in exploring possible new gene targets, and additionally reinforces the feasibility of targeting GPCRs that may offer intervention against development and disease progression among severe preeclampsia patients.
Impact of Glucocorticoid Use in Oncology in the Immunotherapy Era
Authors: Kalfeist Laura , Galland Loïck , Ledys Fanny , Ghiringhelli François , Limagne Emeric , Ladoire Sylvain
Published: February 2022

Thanks to their anti-inflammatory, anti-oedema, and anti-allergy properties, glucocorticoids are among the most widely prescribed drugs in patients with cancer. The indications for glucocorticoid use are very wide and varied in the context of cancer and include the symptomatic management of cancer-related symptoms (compression, pain, oedema, altered general state) but also prevention or treatment of common side effects of anti-cancer therapies (nausea, allergies, etc.) or immune-related adverse events (irAE). In this review, we first give an overview of the different clinical situations where glucocorticoids are used in oncology. Next, we describe the current state of knowledge regarding the effects of these molecules on immune response, in particular anti-tumour response, and we summarize available data evaluating how these effects may interfere with the efficacy of immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Phosphoinositide 3 Kinase γ Plays a Critical Role in Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Jin Xiaogao , Chu Qinjun , Sun Liwei , Tran Melanie , Wang Yanlin
Published: February 2022

Inflammatory cells contribute to the pathogenesis of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). However, the signaling mechanisms underlying the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the kidney are not well understood. In this study, we examined the effects of phosphoinositide 3 kinase γ (PI3Kγ) on inflammatory cells infiltration into the kidney in response to ischemia-reperfusion injury. Compared with wild-type mice, PI3Kγ knockout mice displayed less IRI in the kidney with fewer tubular apoptotic cell. Furthermore, PI3Kγ deficiency decreased the number of infiltrated neutrophils, macrophages, and T cells in the kidney, which was accompanied by a decrease in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the kidney. Moreover, wild-type mice treated with AS-605240, a selective PI3Kγ inhibitor, displayed less tubular damage, accumulated fewer inflammatory cells, and expressed less proinflammatory molecules in the kidney following IRI. These results demonstrate that PI3Kγ has a critical role in the pathogenesis of kidney damage in IRI, indicating that PI3Kγ inhibition may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for the prevention of ischemia-reperfusion-induced kidney injury.
Platelet Storage Pool Deficiency and Elevated Inflammatory Biomarkers Are Prevalent in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
Authors: Gunning William T. , Kramer Paula M. , Cichocki Jacob A. , Karabin Beverly L. , Khuder Sadik A. , Grubb Blair P.
Published: February 2022

A significant number of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) patients have platelet delta granule storage pool deficiency (δ-SPD). The etiology of POTS is unknown but a number of laboratories, including ours, have reported elevations of G-protein-coupled adrenergic receptor and muscarinic acetylcholine receptor autoantibodies in POTS patients, detected by a variety of techniques, suggesting that the disorder is an autoimmune condition. Thus, it could also be considered an inflammatory disease. In a pilot study, we investigated a limited number of platelet-related cytokines and chemokines and discovered many that were elevated. This case–control study validates our pilot study results that POTS patients have an activated innate immune system. Plasma of 35 POTS patients and 35 patients with unexplained bleeding symptoms and categorized as “non-POTS” subjects was analyzed by multiplex flow cytometry to quantify 16 different innate immune system cytokines and chemokines. Electron microscopy was used to quantify platelet dense granules. Ten of 16 biomarkers of inflammation were elevated in plasma from POTS patients compared to non-POTS subjects, with most of the differences extremely significant, with p values < 0.0001. Of particular interest were elevations of IL-1β and IL-18 and decreased or normal levels of type 1 interferons in POTS patients, suggesting that the etiology of POTS might be autoinflammatory. All POTS patients had δ-SPD. With a growing body of evidence that POTS is an autoimmune disease and having elevations of the innate immune system, our results suggest a potential T-cell-mediated autoimmunity in POTS characteristic of a mixed-pattern inflammatory disease similar to rheumatoid arthritis.
C1q/TNF-Related Protein 3 Prevents Diabetic Retinopathy via AMPK-Dependent Stabilization of Blood–Retinal Barrier Tight Junctions
Authors: Yan Zheyi , Wang Chunfang , Meng Zhijun , Gan Lu , Guo Rui , Liu Jing , Bond Lau Wayne , Xie Dina , Zhao Jianli , Lopez Bernard L. , Christopher Theodore A. , Naik Ulhas P. , Ma Xinliang , Wang Yajing
Published: February 2022

Background The impairment of the inner blood–retinal barrier (iBRB) increases the pathological development of diabetic retinopathy (DR), a severe complication in diabetic patients. Identifying approaches to preserving iBRB integrity and function is a significant challenge in DR. C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein-3 (CTRP3) is a newly discovered adipokine and a vital biomarker, predicting DR severity. We sought to determine whether and how CTRP3 affects the pathological development of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). Methods To clarify the pathophysiologic progress of the blood–retinal barrier in NPDR and explore its potential mechanism, a mouse Type 2 diabetic model of diabetic retinopathy was used. The capillary leakage was assessed by confocal microscope with fluorescent-labeled protein in vivo. Furthermore, the effect of CTRP3 on the inner blood–retinal barrier (iBRB) and its molecular mechanism was clarified. Results The results demonstrated that CTRP3 protects iBRB integrity and resists the vascular permeability induced by DR. Mechanistically, the administration of CTRP3 activates the AMPK signaling pathway and enhances the expression of Occludin and Claudin-5 (tight junction protein) in vivo and in vitro. Meanwhile, CTRP3 improves the injury of human retinal endothelial cells (HRMECs) induced by high glucose/high lipids (HG/HL), and its protective effects are AMPK-dependent. Conclusions In summary, we report, for the first time, that CTRP3 prevents diabetes-induced retinal vascular permeability via stabilizing the tight junctions of the iBRB and through the AMPK-dependent Occludin/Claudin-5 signaling pathway, thus critically affecting the development of NPDR.
First Pediatric Pyeloplasty Using the Senhance® Robotic System—A Case Report
Authors: Holzer Juergen , Beyer Peter , Schilcher Florian , Poth Clemens , Stephan Dietmar , von Schnakenburg Christian , van Gemert Wim , Staib Ludger
Published: February 2022

A pediatric robotic pyeloplasty has been performed with the Senhance® robotic system for the first time in January 2021 on a 1.5-year-old girl with symptomatic ureteropelvic junction stenosis. A Senhance® robotic system (Asensus Surgical® Inc., Durham, NC, USA) with three arms and 5 mm instruments was used, providing infrared eye tracking of the 5 mm camera and haptic feedback for the surgeon, facilitating suturing of the anastomosis and double-J stent insertion. The robotic surgery lasted 4.5 h, was uneventful and successful, without recurrence of the ureteropelvic junction obstruction after six months, and with normal development of the patient’s growth and organ function. The use of the robotic system was shown to be safe and feasible; long term follow-up will be conducted subsequently in pediatric surgery.
A Knowledge Acquisition Method of Ship Coating Defects Based on IHQGA-RS
Authors: Bu Henan , Ji Xingyu , Zhang Jiatao , Lyu Hongyu , Yuan Xin , Pang Bo , Zhou Honggen
Published: February 2022

Coating defects are caused by a series of factors such as the improper operation of workers and the quality of the coating itself. At present, the coating process of all shipyards is inspected and recorded at a specific time after construction, which cannot prevent and control defects scientifically. As a result, coating quality decreases, and production costs increase. Therefore, this paper proposes a knowledge acquisition method based on a rough set (RS) optimized by an improved hybrid quantum genetic algorithm (IHQGA) to guide the ship-coating construction process. Firstly, the probability amplitude is determined according to the individual position of the population, and the adaptive value k is proposed to determine the rotation angle of the quantum gate. On this basis, the simulated annealing algorithm is combined to enhance the local search ability of the algorithm. Finally, the algorithm is applied to rough set attribute reduction to improve the efficiency and accuracy of rough set attribute reduction. The data of 600 painted examples of 210-KBC bulk carriers from a shipyard between 2015 and 2020 are randomly selected to test the knowledge acquisition method proposed in the paper and other knowledge acquisition methods. The results show that the IHQGA attribute approximate reduction algorithm proposed in this paper is the first to reach the optimal adaptation degree of 0.847, the average adaptation degree is better than other algorithms, and the average consumption time is about 10% less than different algorithms, so the IHQGA has more vital and more efficient seeking ability. The knowledge acquisition result based on the IHQGA optimization rough set has 20–50% fewer rules and 5–10% higher accuracy than other methods, and the industry experts have high recognition. The knowledge acquisition method of this paper is validated on a hull segment. The obtained results are consistent with the expert diagnosis results, indicating that the method proposed in this paper has certain practicability.
Thin Film Fabrication by Pulsed Laser Deposition from TiO2 Targets in O2, N2, He, or Ar for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Albu Dorel F. , Lungu Jeanina , Popescu-Pelin Gianina , Mihăilescu Cristian N. , Socol Gabriel , Georgescu Adrian , Socol Marcela , Bănică Alexandra , Ciupina Victor , Mihailescu Ion N.
Published: February 2022

Active semiconductor layers of TiO2 were synthesized via pulsed laser deposition in He, N2, O2, or Ar to manufacture DSSC structures. As-prepared nanostructured TiO2 coatings grown on FTO were photosensitized by the natural absorption of the N719 (Ruthenium 535-bis TBA) dye to fabricate photovoltaic structures. TiO2 photoanode nanostructures with increased adsorption areas of the photosensitizer (a combination with voluminous media) were grown under different deposition conditions. Systematic SEM, AFM, and XRD investigations were carried out to study the morphological and structural characteristics of the TiO2 nanostructures. It was shown that the gas nature acts as a key parameter of the architecture and the overall performance of the deposited films. The best electro-optical performance was reached for photovoltaic structures based on TiO2 coatings grown in He, as was demonstrated by the short-circuit current (Isc) of 5.40 mA, which corresponds to the higher recorded roughness (of 44 ± 2.9 nm RMS). The higher roughness is thus reflected in a more efficient and deeper penetration of the dye inside the nanostructured TiO2 coatings. The photovoltaic conversion efficiency (η) was 1.18 and 2.32% for the DSSCs when the TiO2 coatings were deposited in O2 and He, respectively. The results point to a direct correlation between the electro-optical performance of the prepared PV cells, the morphology of the TiO2 deposited layers, and the crystallinity features, respectively.
A Review on In Situ Mechanical Testing of Coatings
Authors: Amer Mohamed , Hayat Qamar , Janik Vit , Jennett Nigel , Nottingham Jon , Bai Mingwen
Published: February 2022

Real-time evaluation of materials’ mechanical response is crucial to further improve the performance of surfaces and coatings because the widely used post-processing evaluation techniques (e.g., fractography analysis) cannot provide deep insight into the deformation and damage mechanisms that occur and changes in coatings’ material corresponding to the dynamic thermomechanical loading conditions. The advanced in situ examination methods offer deep insight into mechanical behavior and material failure with remarkable range and resolution of length scales, microstructure, and loading conditions. This article presents a review on the in situ mechanical testing of coatings under tensile and bending examinations, highlighting the commonly used in situ monitoring techniques in coating testing and challenges related to such techniques.
All-Fabric-Based Flexible Capacitive Sensors with Pressure Detection and Non-Contact Instruction Capability
Authors: Ye Xiaorui , Tian Mingwei , Li Ming , Wang Hang , Shi Yangcheng
Published: February 2022

The flexible and wearable capacitive sensors have captured tremendous interest due to their enormous potential for healthcare monitoring, soft robotics, and human−computer interface. However, despite recent progress, there are still pressing challenges to develop a fully integrated textile sensor array with good comfort, high sensitivity, multisensing capabilities, and ultra-light detection. Here, we demonstrate a pressure and non-contact bimodal fabric-only capacitive sensor with highly sensitive and ultralight detection. The graphene nanoplatelets-decorated multidimensional honeycomb fabric and nickel-plated woven fabric serve as the dielectric layer and electrode, respectively. Our textile-only capacitive bimodal sensor exhibits an excellent pressure-sensing sensitivity of 0.38 kPa−1, an ultralow detection limit (1.23 Pa), and cycling stability. Moreover, the sensor exhibits superior non-contact detection performance with a detection distance of 15 cm and a maximum relative capacitance change of 10%. The sensor can successfully detect human motion, such as finger bending, saliva swallowing, etc. Furthermore, a 4 × 4 (16 units) textile-only capacitive bimodal sensor array was prepared and has excellent spatial resolution and response performance, showing great potential for the wearable applications.
Preventing Differential Cryptanalysis Attacks Using a KDM Function and the 32-Bit Output S-Boxes on AES Algorithm Found on the Internet of Things Devices
Authors: Muthavhine Khumbelo Difference , Sumbwanyambe Mbuyu
Published: February 2022

Many Internet of Things (IoT) devices use an Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm to secure data stored and transmitted during the communication process. The AES algorithm often suffers DC (DC) attacks. Little has been done to prevent DC attacks, particularly on an AES algorithm. This study focuses on preventing Differential Cryptanalysis attacks. DC attacks are practiced on an AES algorithm that is found on IoT devices. The novel approach of using a Khumbelo Difference Muthavine (KDM) function and changing the 8 × 8 S-Boxes to be the 8 × 32 S-Boxes successfully prevents DC attacks on an AES algorithm. A KDM function is a newly mathematically developed function, coined and used purposely in this study. A KDM function was never produced, defined, or utilized before by any researcher except for in this study. A KDM function makes a new 32-Bit S-Box suitable for the new Modified AES algorithm and confuses the attacker since it comprises many mathematical modulo operators. Additionally, these mathematical modulo operators are irreversible. The study managed to prevent the DC attack of a minimum of 70% on AES and a maximum of 100% on a Simplified DES. The attack on the new Modified AES Algorithm is 0% since no S-Box is used as a building block.
Synthesis and Spectroscopic Characterization of Dapagliflozin/Zn (II), Cr (III) and Se (IV) Novel Complexes That Ameliorate Hepatic Damage, Hyperglycemia and Oxidative Injury Induced by Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Male Rats and Their Antibacterial Activity
Authors: El-Megharbel Samy , Al-Thubaiti Eman , Qahl Safa , Al-Eisa Rasha , Hamza Reham
Published: February 2022

Diabetes mellitus (DM) causes an imbalance in the oxidative status of the human body. Three novel Dapagliflozin (Dapg) Zn (II), Cr (III) and Se (IV) complexes were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, electronic spectra, magnetic susceptibility, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction. The molar conductance values confirmed the non-electrolytic nature of the Dapg complexes. According to spectral data, Dapg acts as a bidentate ligand. The thermal analyses of the complexes were studied using the DSC technique. The surface morphology and particle sizes of the Dapg complexes were investigated using SEM and XRD. XRD confirmed the crystalline structure for the complexity. This study investigated the effect of novel metal complexes of Dapg with the metals Zn (II), Cr (III) and Se (IV) on oxidative injury and tissue damage in the hepatic tissue of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic male rats. DM was experimentally induced in male rats. The diabetic rats received Dapg, Dapg/Zn, Dapg/Cr and Dapg/Se orally for 30 successive days. Male rats exposed to STZ showed multi-histopathological alterations in their hepatic tissue, including inflammatory and structural changes. STZ elevated oxidative stress markers in the hepatic tissue and lowered the antioxidant defense enzymes. Supplementation of Dapg with Zn, Cr or Se novel complexes significantly prevented hepatic injury and suppressed the generation of reactive oxygen species. The Dapg/Zn complex was highly effective against Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus penumonia, while Dapg/Cr was highly effective against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Dapg/Se was highly effective against Staphylococcus aureas. In conclusion, Dapg novel metal complexes with Zn, Cr or Se protect against oxidative injury and the pathophysiological and bacterial complications of DM and hepatic tissue injury. The Dapg novel metal complexes improved hepatic functions, reduced blood glucose levels and enhanced the levels of antioxidant defense enzymes in diabetic male rats.
Effect of Yttrium-Based Rare Earth on Inclusions and Cryogenic Temperature Impact Properties of Offshore Engineering Steel
Authors: Luo Diqiang , Liu Min , Jiang Xin , Yu Yinhong , Zhang Zhenming , Feng Xiaoming , Lai Chaobin
Published: February 2022

EH36 offshore engineering steels with varied yttrium-based rare earth content were prepared by trials in industrial production. The effects of yttrium-based rare earth on the inclusions and cryogenic temperature impact properties of EH36 offshore engineering steel were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, automatic statistics of inclusions, thermodynamic analysis and fracture morphology analysis. Yttrium-based rare earth could refine the inclusions and modify irregular Al2O3 and MnS inclusions into small, spherical, regular rare earth inclusions. The optimal impact properties were found in EH36 steel with 0.020 wt.% yttrium-based rare earth. Compared with 0RE steel, the RE-inclusions were within 3 μm (91.95% of total inclusions) in diameter and were spherical or quasi-spherical when dispersed in 200RE steel. Meanwhile, the cryogenic temperature impact properties significantly increased: 200RE steel impact properties were increased by 245.1% at −80 °C.
Anatomy of a Discovery: The Twist–Bend Nematic Phase
Authors: Dunmur David
Published: February 2022

New fluid states of matter, now known as liquid crystals, were discovered at the end of the 19th century and still provide strong themes in scientific research. The applications of liquid crystals continue to attract attention, and the most successful so far has been to the technology of flat panel displays; this has diversified in recent years and LCDs no longer dominate the industry. Despite this, there is plenty more to be uncovered in the science of liquid crystals, and as well as new applications, novel types of liquid crystal phases continue to be discovered. The simplest liquid crystal phase is the nematic together with its handed or chiral equivalent, named the cholesteric phase. In the latter, the aligned molecules of the nematic twist about an axis perpendicular to their alignment axis, but in the 1970s a heliconical phase with a tilt angle of less than 90° was predicted. The discovery of this phase nearly 40 years later is described in this paper. Robert Meyer proposed that coupling between a vector order parameter in a nematic and a splay or bend elastic distortion could result in spontaneously splayed or bent structures. Later, Ivan Dozov suggested that new nematic phases with splay–bend or twist–bend structures could be stabilised if the appropriate elastic constants became negative. Theoretical speculation on new nematic phases and the experimental identification of nematic–nematic phase transitions are reviewed in the paper, and the serendipitous discovery in 2010 of the nematic twist–bend phase in 1″,7″-bis(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl)heptane (CB7CB) is described.
Palliative Systemic Therapy Given near the End of Life for Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Beaudet Marc-Étienne , Lacasse Yves , Labbé Catherine
Published: February 2022

Background: The use of chemotherapy near end of life (EOL) for various cancers is increasing and has been shown to be associated with delayed access to palliative care (PC) and increased aggressiveness in EOL care, without any benefit on survival. Methods: This retrospective study included 90 patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received at least one line of palliative systemic anticancer therapy (SACT) and died between 1 November 2014, and 31 October 2016, at Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec (IUCPQ). Our primary objective was to evaluate the proportion of patients with NSCLC receiving SACT within 30 days of death. Secondary outcomes were to determine the mean and median delays between the administration of the last treatment and death, and to evaluate if there were differences in characteristics and outcomes (including overall survival (OS)) between patients treated or not within 30 days of death. Results: In our cohort, 22% of patients received SACT within 30 days of death. For the entire cohort, the mean delay between the last treatment and death was 94 days, and the median was 57 days. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of baseline characteristics. Use of SACT near EOL was associated with decreased access to PC, higher rates of in hospital death, decreased use of medical aid in dying (MAiD), and a shorter median OS (4.0 vs. 9.0 months). Conclusions: In this retrospective cohort of patients with metastatic NSCLC, 22% of patients received SACT within 30 days of death, with a negative impact on access to PC, higher rates of in hospital death, decreased use of MAiD and palliative sedation, and a shorter median OS.
Deceptive Content Labeling Survey Data from Two U.S. Midwestern Universities
Authors: Suttle Ryan , Hogan Scott , Aumaugher Rachel , Spradling Matthew , Merrigan Zak , Straub Jeremy
Published: February 2022

Intentionally deceptive online content seeks to manipulate individuals in their roles as voters, consumers, and participants in society at large. While this problem is pronounced, techniques to combat it may exist. To analyze the problem and potential solutions, we conducted three surveys relating to how news consumption decisions are made and the impact of labels on decision making. This article describes these three surveys and the data that were collected by them.
Impact of p53 Knockout on Protein Data Set of HaCaT Cells in Confluent and Subconfluent Conditions
Authors: Rusanov Alexander L. , Romashin Daniil D. , Kozhin Peter M. , Karagyaur Maxim N. , Loginov Dmitry S. , Tikhonova Olga V. , Zgoda Victor G. , Luzgina Nataliya G.
Published: February 2022

The immortalized keratinocytes, HaCaT, are a popular model for skin research (toxicity, irritation, allergic reactions, or interaction of cells). They maintain a stable keratinocyte phenotype and respond to keratinocyte differentiation stimuli. However, programs of stratification and expression of differentiation markers in HaCaT keratinocytes are aberrant. In HaCaT cells, there are two mutant p53 alleles (i.e., R282Q and H179Y) that contain gain-of-function (GOF) mutations resulting from spontaneous immortalization (mutp53). At the same time, mutp53 acts as a transcription factor and also affects the interaction of p63 protein with its transcription targets. Proteins of the p53 family are crucial for regulation of proliferation and differentiation processes in human keratinocytes, although the involvement of mutp53 in these processes is not fully clear. We present data sets obtained as a result of high-performance proteomic analysis of immortalized HaCaT keratinocytes with p53 knockout in two different states, subconfluent and confluent, which are characterized by different intensites of cell differentiation processes. To obtain the proteomic profiles of the cells, we applied LC-MS/MS measurements processed with MaxQuant software (version 1.6.3.4).
Development of Multiplex PCR Assay for Screening of T6SS-5 Gene Cluster: The Burkholderia pseudomallei Virulence Factor
Authors: Semail Noreafifah , Harun Azian , Aziah Ismail , Nik Zuraina Nik Mohd Noor , Deris Zakuan Zainy
Published: February 2022

Despite the advanced understanding of the disease, melioidosis, an infection caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, continues to be of global interest. The bacterial virulence factor, type six secretion system-5 (T6SS-5), in particular, is an essential factor for B. pseudomallei that is associated with internalization and intracellular survival of the pathogen. To detect the virulence gene cluster, this study has successfully developed a novel seven-gene (tssC-5, tagD-5, tssA-5, hcp-5, tssB-5, tssF-5, and vgrG-5) multiplex PCR assay. The optimum annealing temperature for this assay ranged between 59 and 62 °C. The limit of detection for this assay was 103 CFU/mL for all genes, excluding tssF-5, which was found at 105 CFU/mL of the bacterial concentration. In sensitivity and specificity tests, this multiplex assay was able to amplify all of the seven target genes from 93.8% (n = 33/35) clinical and 100% (n = 2/2) environmental isolates of B. pseudomallei. Whereas only four genes (tssC-5, tagD-5, tssF-5, and vgrG-5) were amplified from Bukholderia thailandesis, two genes (tagD-5 and tssB-5) were amplified from Bukholderia stagnalis, and zero target genes were amplified from Bukholderia ubonensis. No amplification of any genes was obtained when tested against isolated DNA from non-Bukholderia species (n = 20), which include Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, and others. In conclusion, this multiplex PCR assay is sensitive, species-specific, rapid, and reliable to detect the virulent gene cluster T6SS-5 of B. pseudomallei.
Hajdu-Cheney Syndrome: Report of a Case in Spain
Authors: Cortés-Martín Jonathan , Sánchez-García Juan Carlos , Piqueras-Sola Beatriz , Rodríguez-Blanque Raquel , Tovar-Gálvez María Isabel , Díaz-Rodríguez Lourdes
Published: February 2022

This paper describes the case of a 54-year-old woman diagnosed with Hajdu–Cheney syndrome, who presents with characteristic craniofacial dysmorphia, short stature, premature loss of teeth, developmental skeletal disorders, fibrocystic mastopathy, bilateral hearing loss and an intermittent mild neutropenia. The patient received treatment with bisphosphonates and was awaiting evaluation for surgical arthroplasty of both hips when she suffered a motor vehicle accident, which led to a rapid progression in her disease by increasing her degree of dependence for most activities of daily living. The clinical presentation and radiologic findings seen in this case confirm the three main features of the syndrome: phenotypic variability, an age-dependent progression and the presence of generalized osteoporosis and acroosteolysis of distal phalanges. The main objective of the manuscript is to describe a new case of a patient diagnosed with Hajdu–Cheney syndrome. Due to the low prevalence of the syndrome and the small number of cases reported in the scientific literature, obtaining a complete description and a global perspective of the disease is complex.
Trauma of Peripheral Innervation Impairs Content of Epidermal Langerhans Cells
Authors: Albertin Giovanna , Ravara Barbara , Kern Helmut , Zampieri Sandra , Loefler Stefan , Hofer Christian , Guidolin Diego , Messina Francesco , De Caro Raffaele , Alaibac Mauro , Carraro Ugo
Published: February 2022

Langerhans cells represent the first immune cells that sense the entry of external molecules and microorganisms at the epithelial level in the skin. In this pilot case-study, we evaluated Langerhans cells density and progression of epidermal atrophy in permanent spinal cord injury (SCI) patients suffering with either lower motor neuron lesions (LMNSCI) or upper motor neuron lesions (UMNSCI), both submitted to surface electrical stimulation. Skin biopsies harvested from both legs were analyzed before and after 2 years of home-based Functional Electrical Stimulation for denervated degenerating muscles (DDM) delivered at home (h-bFES) by large anatomically shaped surface electrodes placed on the skin of the anterior thigh in the cases of LMNSCI patients or by neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for innervated muscles in the cases of UMNSCI persons. Using quantitative histology, we analyzed epidermal thickness and flattening and content of Langerhans cells. Linear regression analyses show that epidermal atrophy worsens with increasing years of LMNSCI and that 2 years of skin electrostimulation reverses skin changes, producing a significant recovery of epidermis thickness, but not changes in Langerhans cells density. In UMNSCI, we did not observe any statistically significant changes of the epidermis and of its content of Langerhans cells, but while the epidermal thickness is similar to that of first year-LMNSCI, the content of Langerhans cells is almost twice, suggesting that the LMNSCI induces an early decrease of immunoprotection that lasts at least 10 years. All together, these are original clinically relevant results suggesting a possible immuno-repression in epidermis of the permanently denervated patients.
Event-by-Event Investigation of the Two-Particle Source Function in Heavy-Ion Collisions with EPOS
Authors: Kincses Dániel , Stefaniak Maria , Csanád Máté
Published: February 2022

Exploring the shape of the pair-source function for particles such as pions or kaons has been an important goal of heavy-ion physics, and substantial effort has been made in order to understand the underlying physics behind the experimental observations of non-Gaussian behavior. In experiments, since no direct measurement of the source function is possible, quantum-statistical momentum correlations are utilized to gain information about the space-time geometry of the particle emitting source. Event generators, such as EPOS, however, provide direct access to the freeze-out coordinates of final state particles, and thus the source function can be constructed and investigated. The EPOS model is a sophisticated hybrid model where the initial stage evolution of the system is governed by Parton-Based Gribov–Regge theory, and subsequently a hydrodynamic evolution is utilized, followed by hadronization and hadron dynamics. EPOS has already proven to be successful in describing several different experimental observations for systems characterized by baryon chemical potential close to zero, but so far the source shape has not been explored in detail. In this paper we discuss an event-by-event analysis of the two-particle source function in sNN = 200 GeV Au+Au collisions generated by the EPOS model. We find that when utilizing all stages of the model, Lévy-shaped distributions (unlike Gaussian distributions) provide a good description of the source shape in the individual events. Hence it is clear that it is not the event averaging that creates the non-Gaussian features in the pair distributions. Based on this observation, we determine Lévy-parameters of the source as a function of event centrality and particle momentum.
The Role of Microcomputer Clubs in the Education of the Polish Youth in the 1980s: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Król Karol
Published: February 2022

In the 1980s, Polish schools hardly had access to computers, particularly at the primary and secondary levels. The main reasons were funds and shortage of qualified staff that could handle computer hardware. As a consequence, the youth first came across a computer, how to use it, service hardware, and write programs outside schools in the early 1980s. Often informal groups of hobbyists gathered around a single computer were the seeds of microcomputer clubs, which cropped up in huge numbers in Poland in the 1980s. The objective of the paper is to portray the role of microcomputer clubs in the process of shaping the youth and computer education in the 1980s in Poland compared to other countries. The conclusions are founded on a literature review. The analyzed material included an Internet Archive collection “The Computer Magazine Archives”. The content of one of the first Polish computer magazines, Bajtek Magazine was analyzed in detail. It has been demonstrated that the Polish youth of the 1980s first came across a computer mainly outside schools, primarily in microcomputer clubs. It was the root of computer and information technology education in Poland. Moreover, microcomputer clubs were reported to provide education, as well as foster character education, aid socialization, and shape attitudes.
Emergency Digital Teaching during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Students’ Perspectives
Authors: Gonzalez Rolando , Sørum Hanne , Raaen Kjetil
Published: February 2022

This paper presents a qualitative study of the experience of students of the shift from face-to-face learning to online learning during the COVID-19 lockdown in Norway. Detailed inputs were collected from 200 university students enrolled in a bachelor’s degree in information technology in Norway through an online survey. Their responses were categorized into three main themes: the teacher’s role, the life of a student, and digital learning. We found that, surprisingly, the students felt that the shift to digital learning had positive effects on their lives, such as the availability of more time for study, study flexibility through recorded lectures which could be reviewed repeatedly and anytime, and more time to pose questions. However, some students also pointed out negative effects such as more distractions, lack of structure, and a perceived invasion of privacy when required to turn on their cameras. The students valued the use of high-quality technical equipment as well as student engagement during online lectures, but also freedom of choice to participate.
Creativity in Higher Education: A Qualitative Analysis of Experts’ Views in Three Disciplines
Authors: Georgiou Helen , Turney Annette , Matruglio Erika , Jones Pauline , Gardiner Paul , Edwards-Groves Christine
Published: February 2022

Creativity has been identified as an increasingly important graduate attribute for employment in the 21st century. As sites of significant development of disciplinary specialization, universities seem to be the natural place for creativity to be fostered. However, there remain contestations and ambiguities in the ways creativity is theorized, and this translates to difficulties in operationalization, particularly in the higher education context, which attracts significantly less research than the school setting. Here, we report on interviews with physicists, historians, and poets, as both educators and producers of knowledge that progresses their disciplines, to provide elaborations on the nature of creativity. We draw on sociological theory to elucidate the characteristics of creativity as expressed by experts in particular disciplinary fields. We find that whilst perceptions appear common across the disciplines, on further analysis, they tend instead to encapsulate discrete attributes. Further, there are some qualities of creativity that are uniquely emphasized by participants in specific disciplinary fields. We argue that theorizing both the discipline and the nature of creativity together is important in order to understand how creativity might more fruitfully be discussed and fostered in higher education.
Extract Descriptors for Point Cloud Registration by Graph Clustering Attention Network
Authors: Ren Yapeng , Luo Wenjie , Tian Xuedong , Shi Qingxuan
Published: February 2022

Extracting geometric descriptors in 3D vision is the first step. It plays an important role in 3D registration, 3D reconstruction, and other applications. The success of many 3D tasks is closely related to whether the geometric descriptor has accurate characteristics. Today, the main methods are divided into manual production and neural network learning. The applicability of descriptors is limited to a low-level point, corner, edge, and fixed neighborhood features. For this, we use the class attention of the point cloud. In order to extract class attention, the graph clustering approach is utilized. It can collect points with similar structures and divide regions dynamically. While maintaining rotation invariance, features can enhance their fit to the original data. Point attention and edge attention are used to describe the structural characteristics of point clouds. We combine the three attentions indicated before to improve the features obtained by the PointNet decoder. This feature can dynamically reflect the structure of the point cloud, which includes both soft shape information and rich detail information. Finally, the 3D descriptors are extracted with the FoldingNet decoder. Our method is validated on both indoor and outdoor datasets. The accuracy of the final result is improved by two percentage points.
Predicting Gasoline Vehicle Fuel Consumption in Energy and Environmental Impact Based on Machine Learning and Multidimensional Big Data
Authors: Yang Yushan , Gong Nuoya , Xie Keying , Liu Qingfei
Published: February 2022

The underestimation of fuel consumption impacts various aspects. In the vehicle market, manufacturers often advertise fuel economy for marketing. In fact, the fuel consumption reference value provided by the manufacturer is quite different from the real-world fuel consumption of the vehicles. The divergence between reference fuel consumption and real-world fuel consumption also has negative effect on the aspects of policy and environment. In order to effectively promote the sustainable development of transport, it is urged to recognize the real-world fuel consumption of vehicles. The gaps in previous studies includes small sample size, single data dimension, and lack of feature weight evaluation. To fill the research gap, in this study, we conduct a comparative analysis through building five regression models to forecast the real-world fuel consumption rate of light-duty gasoline vehicles in China based on big data from the perspectives of vehicle factors, environment factors, and driving behavior factors. Results show that the random forest regression model performs best among the five candidate models, with a mean absolute error of 0.630 L/100 km, a mean absolute percentage error of 7.5%, a mean squared error of 0.805, an R squared of 0.776, and a 10-fold cross-validation score of 0.791. Further, we capture the most important features affecting fuel consumption among the 25 factors from the above three perspectives. According to the relative weight of each factor in the most optimal model, the three most important factors are brake and accelerator habits, engine power, and the fuel economy consciousness of vehicle owners in sequence.
Holistic View on Synthetic Natural Gas Production: A Technical, Economic and Environmental Analysis
Authors: Vega Puga Estefania , Moumin Gkiokchan , Neumann Nicole Carina , Roeb Martin , Ardone Armin , Sattler Christian
Published: February 2022

Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) is the most researched option for a Power-to-Fuel pathway in Germany after hydrogen, having the advantage of being compatible with the existing infrastructure. However, it is not clear under which conditions SNG is economically and environmentally advantageous compared to natural gas usage, since this is determined by a complex interplay of many factors. This study analyzes the technical, economic and environmental aspects of a pilot SNG plant to determine the key parameters for profitable and sustainable operation. The SNG plant was simulated in Aspen Plus® with CO2 from biogas production as a feedstock and with hydrogen provided by a 1 MWel electrolyzer unit. A life cycle analysis (LCA) was undertaken considering several impact categories with a special focus on global warming potential (GWP). An SNG cost of 0.33–4.22 €/kWhth was calculated, depending on factors such as operational hours, electricity price and type of electrolyzer. It was found that the CO2 price has a negligible effect on the SNG cost, while the electricity is the main cost driver. This shows that significant cost reductions will be needed for SNG to be competitive with natural gas. For the investigated scenarios, a CO2 tax of at least 1442 €/t was determined, calling for more drastic measures. Considering the global warming potential, only an operation with an emission factor of electricity below 121 g CO2-eq/kWhel leads to a reduction in emissions. This demonstrates that unless renewable energies are implemented at a much higher rate than predicted, no sustainable SNG production before 2050 will be possible in Germany.
Identification of Even-Order Harmonics Injected by Semiconverter into the AC Grid
Authors: Brandis Andrej , Pelin Denis , Klaić Zvonimir , Šljivac Damir
Published: February 2022

In this study, the feedback effects of a three-phase half-controlled rectifier (also known as a semiconverter) to three-phase AC power grid was analyzed. Special attention was paid to the identification of harmonic order of the phase current. As a reference point for analysis, the mathematical model of an uncontrolled rectifier was used. The harmonic order of the phase current was identified by displaying the measurement results as well as using a mathematical model that is easily applicable, although this is unusual for harmonic analysis because it is based on time domain data. For this purpose, laboratory models of uncontrolled and half-controlled rectifiers were assembled. For both converters, the results obtained by practical laboratory measurements were compared to the mathematically obtained results, with the commutation in the mathematical model being ignored. The effects of commutation were analyzed in more detail for the laboratory model. For the semiconverter, the characteristic waveforms were studied for few different firing angles of the thyristor. Additionally, total power factor and total harmonic distortion of phase current were determined for all chosen firing angles. Finally, a comprehensive conclusion was drawn based on theoretically and practically obtained results on the appearance of even-order current harmonics, which should be taken into consideration when designing input filters and which contributes to power quality of the AC power grid.