bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Androgen Receptor Expression Is a Predictor of Poor Outcome in Urothelial Carcinoma
Authors: Szabados Bernadett , Duncan Sarah , Choy Julia , Jackson-Spence Francesca , Toms Charlotte , Trevisan Giorgia , Berney Daniel M. , Powles Thomas , Ackerman Charlotte
Published: May 2022

Background

Several preclinical and clinical studies demonstrated a strong correlation between androgen receptor (AR) signaling and bladder tumorigenesis. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic significance of AR expression in metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC).

Methods

Samples from a phase III trial (LaMB, NCT00949455) which compared maintenance lapatinib versus placebo after completion of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with HER 1/2-positive mUC of the bladder were collected. Corresponding baseline and follow-up data included patients enrolled in the study and those who screen failed. AR expression was assessed independently by a single pathologist who was blinded to the study. Samples were grouped according to AR expression (negative vs. positive) and correlated with baseline tumor characteristics and survival.

Results

Of the 446 screened samples in the LaMB study, 90 were retrospectively analyzed for AR expression. There were no correlations between AR expression and tumor stage (r = −0.10), tumor grade (r = 0.05) at diagnosis, or subsequent treatment with lapatinib (r = −0.04). The median progression-free survival was 6 months (95% CI, 3.20–6.80) in the AR-negative group and 5 months (95% CI, 3.41–6.59) in the AR-positive group [HR 0.54 (95% CI, 0.31–0.92), p = 0.02]. Similarly, patients with AR-negative disease had more favorable overall survival (OS) with 16 months (95% CI, 6.6–25.4) and 11 months (95% CI, 7.0–15.0) in the AR-positive group [HR 0.55 (95% CI, 0.31–0.98), p = 0.04]. In the multivariate analysis, AR expression was significantly associated with worse OS (p = 0.045).

Conclusions

AR expression is a predictor of poor outcome and presents a targetable alteration in patients with mUC.
Bionic Prostheses: The Emerging Alternative to Vascularised Composite Allotransplantation of the Limb
Authors: Amin Kavit R. , Fildes James E.
Published: May 2022

Twenty years have surpassed since the first vascularised composite allotransplantation (VCA) of the upper limb. This is an opportunity to reflect on the position of VCA as the gold standard in limb reconstruction. The paucity of recipients, tentative clinical outcomes, and insufficient scientific progress question whether VCA will remain a viable treatment option for the growing numbers of amputees. Bionic technology is advancing at a rapid pace. The prospect of widely available, affordable, safely applied prostheses with long-standing functional benefit is appealing. Progress in the field stems from the contributions made by engineering, electronic, computing and material science research groups. This review will address the ongoing reservations surrounding VCA whilst acknowledging the future impact of bionic technology as a realistic alternative for limb reconstruction.
Comparison of Long-Term Survival Between cT1N0 Stage Esophageal Cancer Patients Receiving Endoscopic Dissection and Esophagectomy: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Lu Wei , Li Peng , Wen Wu , Jian Yi
Published: May 2022

Background

Endoscopic dissection (ED) shows relatively high clinical value in early esophageal cancer (cT1N0) such as lower incidence of postoperative complications and hospitalization costs and enhanced recovery. However, whether ED still has certain advantages over esophagectomy in terms of long-term survival remains unclear.

Purpose

The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the long-term outcomes of ED and surgery in the treatment of cT1N0 esophageal cancer.

Methods

Several electronic databases including the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to April 7, 2022 for studies which compared the overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) of cT1N0 esophageal cancer patients receiving the ED or esophagectomy. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were combined and all statistical analysis was conducted through STATA 15.0 software.

Results

A total of 12 studies involving 3,732 patients were enrolled. No significant difference in the OS between ED and surgery groups was observed (HR = 0.78, 95% CI, 0.59–1.04, p = 0.089). However, the DSS of the ED group was significantly longer than that of the surgery group (HR = 0.56, 95% CI, 0.39–0.82, p = 0.003).

Conclusion

In overall, the current evidence manifested that the long-term survival of cT1N0 esophageal cancer patients undergoing ED was not worse than that of patients undergoing esophagectomy. ED may be considered as the primary treatment for cT1N0 esophageal carcinoma patients.
Binary Horse Optimization Algorithm for Feature Selection
Authors: Moldovan Dorin
Published: May 2022

The bio-inspired research field has evolved greatly in the last few years due to the large number of novel proposed algorithms and their applications. The sources of inspiration for these novel bio-inspired algorithms are various, ranging from the behavior of groups of animals to the properties of various plants. One problem is the lack of one bio-inspired algorithm which can produce the best global solution for all types of optimization problems. The presented solution considers the proposal of a novel approach for feature selection in classification problems, which is based on a binary version of a novel bio-inspired algorithm. The principal contributions of this article are: (1) the presentation of the main steps of the original Horse Optimization Algorithm (HOA), (2) the adaptation of the HOA to a binary version called the Binary Horse Optimization Algorithm (BHOA), (3) the application of the BHOA in feature selection using nine state-of-the-art datasets from the UCI machine learning repository and the classifiers Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machines (SVM), Gradient Boosted Trees (GBT), Logistic Regression (LR), K-Nearest Neighbors (K-NN), and Naïve Bayes (NB), and (4) the comparison of the results with the ones obtained using the Binary Grey Wolf Optimizer (BGWO), Binary Particle Swarm Optimization (BPSO), and Binary Crow Search Algorithm (BCSA). The experiments show that the BHOA is effective and robust, as it returned the best mean accuracy value and the best accuracy value for four and seven datasets, respectively, compared to BGWO, BPSO, and BCSA, which returned the best mean accuracy value for four, two, and two datasets, respectively, and the best accuracy value for eight, seven, and five datasets, respectively.
Sorghum as a Potential Valuable Aquafeed Ingredient: Nutritional Quality and Digestibility
Authors: Zarei Mohammad , Amirkolaei Abdolsamad K. , Trushenski Jesse T. , Sealey Wendy M. , Schwarz Michael H. , Ovissipour Reza
Published: May 2022

The world population is increasing, and our current agricultural practices are not sustainable enough to address the concerns. Alternative proteins including plant-based proteins would provide a more sustainable source of food and feed ingredients. Among food systems, the aquaculture industry is rapidly growing, while still depending on marine sources as a main source of protein. Thus, using alternative plant-based proteins as a source for developing aquafeed would make this industry more viable. Sorghum is a valuable grain with high protein contents, proper mineral and fatty acids balance, and is available all around the world. However, sorghum has not been used widely for aquafeed development. In this review article, we cover sorghum production, composition, sorghum as a protein source for aquafeed development, and bioprocessing methods for enhancing the quality of sorghum.
Genome-Wide Identification, Characterization, and Expression Analysis of TUBBY Gene Family in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Biotic and Abiotic Stresses
Authors: Altaf Adil , Zada Ahmad , Hussain Shahid , Gull Sadia , Ding Yonggang , Tao Rongrong , Zhu Min , Zhu Xinkai
Published: May 2022

The TUBBY gene family is a group of transcription factors found in animals and plants with many functions. TLP genes have a significant role in response to different abiotic stresses. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the TUBBY gene family in T. aestivum. Here we identified 40 TaTLP genes in wheat to reveal their potential function. This study found that TUBBY (TaTLP) genes are highly conserved in wheat. The GO analysis of TaTLP genes revealed their role in growth and stress responses. Promoter analysis revealed that most TaTLPs participate in hormone and abiotic stress responses. The heatmap analysis also showed that TaTLP genes showed expression under various hormonal and abiotic stress conditions. Several genes were upregulated under different hormonal and temperature stresses. The qRT-PCR analysis confirmed our hypotheses. The results clearly indicate that various TaTLP genes showed high expression under temperature stress conditions. Furthermore, the results showed that TaTLP genes are expressed in multiple tissues with different expression patterns. For the first time in wheat, we present a comprehensive TaTLP analysis. These findings provide valuable clues for future research about the role of TLPs in the abiotic stress process in plants. Overall, the research outcomes can serve as a model for improving wheat quality through genetic engineering.
Pollen Morphological Peculiarities of Selected Mimosoideae Taxa of Hainan Island and Their Taxonomic Relevance
Authors: Bahadur Saraj , Taj Sehrish , Long Wenxing , Hanif Uzma
Published: May 2022

Mimosoideae is one of the taxonomically complex subfamilies of Fabaceae. Several studies have reported the pollen morphology of Mimosoideae taxa and their taxonomic relevance, but no such study was found specifically for Hainan Island in southern China. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the selected Mimosoideae taxa and explore the new palynological traits to support and strengthen the systematics of Mimosoideae using multiple microscopic techniques. The polar axis, equatorial diameter of the pollen grains, colpus length and width were measured. The smallest pollen grain size was found in Mimosa pudica (7.8 × 7.75 µm), while the largest pollen size was found in Albizia lebback (87.54 × 77.97 µm). Similarly, significant variation was found in the exine and colpus surface patterns. The subfamily Mimosoideae is considered eurypalynous because of the variation in pollen traits. In addition, variation was also found in the quantitative traits. Comparatively, the pollen features were found to be helpful at the genus and species levels, as well as in the correct identification and discrimination of the taxa. Hence, this study gives a detailed account of the pollen morphologies of certain selected taxa of Mimosoideae collected from different geographical regions on Hainan Island. The pollen morphological traits were proven to have significant taxonomic potential and can be used as additional tools for the correct identification and discrimination of Mimosoideae taxa. These results will provide the basis for further systematic studies.
Olive Pomace and Soybean-Sunflower Acid Oils as Alternative Fat Sources in European Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) Diets: Effects on Performance, Digestibility and Flesh Fatty Acid Composition and Quality Parameters
Authors: Verge-Mèrida Gerard , Barroeta Ana Cristina , Ferrer Carlos , Serrano Tània , Guardiola Francesc , Soler María Dolores , Sala Roser
Published: May 2022

The effects of dietary inclusion of soybean-sunflower and olive pomace acid oils on growth, digestibility and flesh composition were studied in European seabass. Eight diets were fed for 100 days (101.37 ± 0.33 g initial weight, mean ± SD), differing in the added fat source (25% fish oil, 75% experimental oil): S (crude soybean oil), SA (soybean-sunflower acid oil), O (crude olive pomace oil) or OA (olive pomace acid oil); 3 blends: S-O, S-OA, SA-OA at a 1:1 ratio; and a diet containing only fish oil (F) as a control. Animals fed OA showed the worst performance among dietary treatments, with the lowest weight, specific growth ratio, average daily gain and the highest feed conversion ratio (p < 0.01). In contrast, other diets including acid oils did not impair performance. Acid oil diets did not affect the apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein or total fatty acids (p > 0.05), but a lower digestibility of lipids and saturated fatty acids was observed (p < 0.001). Flesh composition and fatty acid profile were not affected by the high dietary free FA content (p > 0.05). Hence the results suggest that the studied acid oils may potentially be used in fish diets although further studies are needed.
Response of Rambouillet Lambs to an Artificial Gastrointestinal Nematode Infection
Authors: Thorne Jacob W. , Bowdridge Scott A. , Murdoch Brenda M. , Redden R. Reid
Published: May 2022

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) threaten the productivity and health of sheep worldwide, prompting the need for genetic selection to reduce GIN susceptibility. Fecal egg count (FEC), packed-cell volume (PCV), and various production traits were examined in parasitized Rambouillet sheep and compared to sire FEC estimated breeding value (EBV). Rambouillet lambs (n = 77) were inoculated with 10,000 H. contortus L3 larvae. Subsequently, FEC, PCV, and body weight (BW) were captured at seven-day intervals for six weeks. Lambs were sired by one of two rams with post-weaning FEC EBV of −9% or +9%. Mean FEC differed (p = 0.0132) with lambs from the lower EBV sire (“Sire L”) being reduced, versus those from the higher EBV sire (“Sire H”), being 2135 ± 211 vs. 2912 ± 207 eggs per gram, respectively. Males and females did not differ for FEC, but females exhibited a higher mean PCV than males, (33.74 vs. 29.65%, p < 0.0001). Lambs were shorn ~120 d post artificial infection and wool measurements were captured. A negative correlation between FEC and grease fleece weight was observed. Our results describe the response of Rambouillet lambs to artificial H. contortus infection and suggest FEC EBV can reduce susceptibility to GIN in this breed.
Effective Remote Sensing from the Internet of Drones through Flying Control with Lightweight Multitask Learning
Authors: Lee Chao-Yang , Lin Huan-Jung , Yeh Ming-Yuan , Ling Jer
Published: May 2022

The rapid development and availability of drones has raised growing interest in their numerous applications, especially for aerial remote-sensing tasks using the Internet of Drones (IoD) for smart city applications. Drones image a large-scale, high-resolution, and no visible band short wavelength infrared (SWIR) ground aerial map of the investigated area for remote sensing. However, due to the high-altitude environment, a drone can easily jitter due to dynamic weather conditions, resulting in blurred SWIR images. Furthermore, it can easily be influenced by clouds and shadow images, thereby resulting in the failed construction of a remote-sensing map. Most UAV remote-sensing studies use RGB cameras. In this study, we developed a platform for intelligent aerial remote sensing using SWIR cameras in an IoD environment. First, we developed a prototype for an aerial SWIR image remote-sensing system. Then, to address the low-quality aerial image issue and reroute the trajectory, we proposed an effective lightweight multitask deep learning-based flying model (LMFM). The experimental results demonstrate that our proposed intelligent drone-based remote-sensing system efficiently stabilizes the drone using our designed LMFM approach in the onboard computer and successfully builds a high-quality aerial remote-sensing map. Furthermore, the proposed LMFM has computationally efficient characteristics that offer near state-of-the-art accuracy at up to 6.97 FPS, making it suitable for low-cost low-power devices.
Legal, Economic and Cyber Security Framework Considerations for Drone Usage
Authors: Șcheau Mircea Constantin , Achim Monica Violeta , Găbudeanu Larisa , Brici Iulia , Vîlcea Alexandru-Lucian
Published: May 2022

Drones have been used in recent years more and more in various economic sectors (e.g., military, agriculture, retail, transport), but also for personal use and entertainment. The current legislative framework and cyber security standards do not fully address the identification of liable stakeholders in the drone ecosystem for cyber-incidents and the requirement to implement preventive cyber-security measures. The aim of this paper is to investigate how the usage of drones fits in the context of the digital economy. For this purpose, we use a complex questionnaire which was sent to a total of 233 respondents from May to July 2021. The responses are analyzed from a qualitative and quantitative perspective. Our results highlight the areas of improvement in the existing legislation and find the following: (1) respondents are willing to pay additional direct and indirect costs related to cyber security to benefit from more secure drones, (2) the entire ecosystem involved in drone production, distribution, and usage is responsible for ensuring the prevention of security breaches, and (3) respondents perceive a shared liability of stakeholders for certain types of cyber-attacks depending on the role of the stakeholders in the drone ecosystem and the type of vulnerability exploited by the cyber-attack. The details on the specific cyber-attack use cases detail each of the above for each type of cyber-attack. Finally, we make proposals to accommodate the new types of use cases brought by the use of drones in various economic contexts. The results of this research paper assist policy makers in terms of improvement to existing legislation in terms of the drone ecosystem. In addition, they increase visibility for stakeholders in the drone ecosystem in terms of aspects to focus on in order to increase the trust of clients in drone usage.
Applied Research on the Minimum Thickness of Leveling Layer of Non-Adhesive Flat Extruded Board System
Authors: Jiang Wei , Zheng Xinyue
Published: May 2022

In order to meet residents’ demands for high sound insulation and thermal insulation performance in buildings, functional materials, such as non-adhesive extruded plastic panels, are added to floor slabs to form the bottom-up “structural layer-functional layer-levelling layer”, common in assembled buildings. The non-adhesive leveling system has gradually become a new floor structure. However, the strength of the functional layer is insufficient. How to determine the minimum thickness of the leveling layer is not fully considered in the current building ground design codes of various countries, which makes the engineering application ahead of the codes and the structural damage problems occur frequently. This must be considered, in order to ensure the safety of the system. Based on the layered elastic half-space theory, the effects of functional layer thickness, leveling layer thickness and leveling layer material on the maximum tensile stress of the system are compared. The results of this research lay a solid foundation for the popularization and application of non-adhesive flat extruded plate systems.
Resonant Power Supply for Plasma Cleaning Based on Fuzzy Logic Power Tracking
Authors: Cai Xiaowei , Fu Zhihe , Xie Huangsheng , Xue Jiaxiang , Ding Duhan , Ou Ning , Zhou Gang
Published: May 2022

The coaxial cylindrical reactor with a rotary nozzle is proposed to be used as the plasma torch of the plasma cleaning machine. The phase-shifted full bridge series resonance circuit is used as the power circuit topology. Because the voltage source load resonance circuit technology is mature, the cycle and difficulty of research and development on this basis are relatively small, and the corresponding control strategy and algorithm are relatively easy to achieve. At the same time, the voltage source circuit is smaller than the current source circuit, in line with the development trend of plasma cleaning equipment. In this paper, based on the phase shift full bridge series resonant circuit, the control strategy is compared and analyzed. Considering the response speed, control precision and efficiency, a PSPWM-PFM (Phase Shift Pulse Width Modulation- Pulse Frequency Modulation) hybrid modulation control strategy is proposed, which makes the system not only have a fast response speed but can also construct a soft switch and has a high efficiency. A maximum power tracking algorithm based on a fuzzy PFM was proposed to solve the problem that the plasma power supply deviated from the resonant frequency point easily due to environmental perturbation, and thus deviated from the maximum power point.
Direct Conversion of Bovine Dermal Fibroblasts into Myotubes by Viral Delivery of Transcription Factor bMyoD
Authors: Son Boram , Lee Seong Ho , Hong Seyoung , Kwon Miji , Joo Jinmyoung , Lim Kwang Suk , Park Hee Ho
Published: May 2022

Direct reprogramming of somatic cells to myoblasts and myotubes holds great potential for muscle development, disease modeling and regenerative medicine. According to recent studies, direct conversion of fibroblasts to myoblasts was performed by using a transcription factor, myoblast determination protein (MyoD), which belongs to a family of myogenic regulatory factors. Therefore, MyoD is considered to be a key driver in the generation of induced myoblasts. In this study, we compared the direct phenotypic conversion of bovine dermal fibroblasts (BDFs) into myoblasts and myotubes by supplementing a transcription factor, bovine MyoD (bMyoD), in the form of recombinant protein or the bMyoD gene, through retroviral vectors. As a result, the delivery of the bMyoD gene to BDFs was more efficient for inducing reprogramming, resulting in direct conversion to myoblasts and myotubes, when compared with protein delivery. BDFs cultured with retrovirus encoding bMyoD increased myogenic gene expression, such as MyoG, MYH3 and MYMK. In addition, the cells expressed myoblast or myotube-specific marker proteins, MyoG and Desmin, respectively. Our findings provide an informative tool for the myogenesis of domestic-animal-derived somatic cells via transgenic technology. By using this method, a new era of regenerative medicine and cultured meat is expected.
The Impact of Modifications in Forest Litter Inputs on Soil N2O Fluxes: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhou Yuting , Meng Delong , Osborne Bruce , Fan Yue , Zou Junliang
Published: May 2022

Although litter can regulate the global climate by influencing soil N2O fluxes, there is no consensus on the major drivers or their relative importance and how these impact at the global scale. In this paper, we conducted a meta-analysis of 21 global studies to quantify the impact of litter removal and litter doubling on soil N2O fluxes from forests. Overall, our results showed that litter removal significantly reduced soil N2O fluxes (−19.0%), while a doubling of the amount of litter significantly increased soil N2O fluxes (30.3%), based on the results of a small number of studies. Litter removal decreased the N2O fluxes from tropical forest and temperate forest. The warmer the climate, the greater the soil acidity, and the larger the soil C:N ratio, the greater the impact on N2O emissions, which was particularly evident in tropical forest ecosystems. The decreases in soil N2O fluxes associated with litter removal were greater in acid soils (pH < 6.5) or soils with a C:N > 15. Litter removal decreased soil N2O fluxes from coniferous forests (−21.8%) and broad-leaved forests (−17.2%) but had no significant effect in mixed forests. Soil N2O fluxes were significantly reduced in experiments where the duration of litter removal was <1 year. These results showed that modifications in ecosystem N2O fluxes due to changes in the ground litter vary with forest type and need to be considered when evaluating current and future greenhouse gas budgets.
Kolmogorov Complexity Analysis and Prediction Horizon of the Daily Erythemal Dose Time Series
Authors: Malinović-Milićević Slavica , Mihailović Anja , Mihailović Dragutin T.
Published: May 2022

Influenced by stratospheric total ozone column (TOC), cloud cover, aerosols, albedo, and other factors, levels of daily erythemal dose (Her) in a specific geographic region show significant variability in time and space. To investigate the degree of randomness and predictability of Her time series from ground-based observations in Novi Sad, Serbia, during the 2003–2012 time period, we used a set of information measures: Kolmogorov complexity, Kolmogorov complexity spectrum, running Kolmogorov complexity, the largest Lyapunov exponent, Lyapunov time, and Kolmogorov time. The result reveals that fluctuations in daily Her are moderately random and exhibit low levels of chaotic behavior. We found a larger number of occurrences of deviation from the mean in the time series during the years with lower values of Her (2007–2009, 2011–2012), which explains the higher complexity. Our analysis indicated that the time series of daily values of Her show a tendency to increase the randomness when the randomness of cloud cover and TOC increases, which affects the short-term predictability. The prediction horizon of daily Her values in Novi Sad given by the Lyapunov time corrected for randomness by Kolmogorov is between 1.5 and 3.5 days.
Hotspot siRNA Confers Plant Resistance against Viral Infection
Authors: Mohamed Atef , Jin Zhenhui , Osman Toba , Shi Nongnong , Tör Mahmut , Jackson Stephen , Hong Yiguo
Published: May 2022

A hallmark of antiviral RNA interference (RNAi) is the production of viral small interfering RNA (vsiRNA). Profiling of vsiRNAs indicates that certain regions of viral RNA genome or transcribed viral RNA, dubbed vsiRNA hotspots, are more prone to RNAi-mediated cleavage for vsiRNA biogenesis. However, the biological relevance of hotspot vsiRNAs to the host innate defence against pathogens remains to be elucidated. Here, we show that direct targeting a hotspot by a synthetic vsiRNA confers host resistance to virus infection. Using Northern blotting and RNAseq, we obtained a profile of vsiRNAs of the African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV), a single-stranded DNA virus. Sense and anti-sense strands of small RNAs corresponding to a hotspot and a coldspot vsiRNA were synthesised. Co-inoculation of Nicotiana benthamiana with the double-stranded hotspot siRNA protected plants from ACMV infection, where viral DNA replication and accumulation of viral mRNA were undetectable. The sense or anti-sense strand of this hotspot vsiRNA, and the coldspot vsiRNA in both double-stranded and single-stranded formats possessed no activity in viral protection. We further demonstrated that the hotspot vsiRNA-mediated virus resistance had a threshold effect and required an active RDR6. These data show that hotspot vsiRNAs bear a functional significance on antiviral RNAi, suggesting that they may have the potential as an exogenous protection agent for controlling destructive viral diseases in plants.
Th17-Dependent Nasal Hyperresponsiveness Is Mitigated by Steroid Treatment
Authors: Ueda Shusaku , Miura Kento , Kawasaki Hideki , Ogata Sawako , Yamasaki Norimasa , Miura Shuka , Mori Akio , Kaminuma Osamu
Published: May 2022

Th17 cells are implicated in allergic inflammatory diseases, including allergic rhinitis (AR), though the effect of steroids on Th17 cell-dependent nasal responses is unclear. Herein, we investigated a nasal inflammation model elicited by allergen provocation in mice infused with Th17 cells and its responsiveness against steroid treatment. We transferred BALB/c mice with Th17 cells, which were differentiated in vitro and showed a specific reaction to ovalbumin (OVA). We challenged the transferred mice by intranasal injection of OVA and to some of them, administered dexamethasone (Dex) subcutaneously in advance. Then, we assessed immediate nasal response (INR), nasal hyperresponsiveness (NHR), and inflammatory cell infiltration into the nasal mucosa. The significant nasal inflammatory responses with massive neutrophil accumulation, INR, and NHR were induced upon allergen challenge. Allergen-induced INR and NHR were significantly suppressed by Dex treatment. This study suggested the effectiveness of steroids on Th17 cell-mediated nasal responses in AR.
Does Value Lead to Loyalty? Exploring the Important Role of the Tourist–Destination Relationship
Authors: Wang Haihong , Yang Yufan , He Wenjun
Published: May 2022

The perceived value of a tourist’s trip, representing a trade-off between costs and benefits of travelling to a destination, can exert a significant influence on tourists’ loyalty, which is a main concern for managers of tourist destinations. However, the mechanism between the destination value and tourist loyalty remains unexplored, especially in the new context of relationship marketing. To advance the understanding of the mechanism, we introduced 3 variables of “tourist–destination relationship”, namely place attachment (PA), destination trust (DT) and tourist satisfaction (TS), combined with perceived value (PV) and tourist loyalty (TL), and therefore constructed the conceptual model. Taking the Hangzhou City of China as an example, the conceptual model was fitted and tested using the structural equation model (SEM). The results show that: (1) PV can directly and positively affect TS and DT respectively, while there was no significant effect of PV on PA; (2) TS and DT can directly and positively influence TL, but the effect of PA on TL has not been supported empirically; (3) PV has a significant positive effect on TL; and (4) there are internal relationship among the 3 variables measuring the tourist–destination relationship, in other words, TS can significantly affects PA, DT respectively, and DT has a significant positive effect on PA. The findings of this study provide empirical references for understanding the important role of the tourist–destination relationship.
Effect of Foundation Geometry and Structural Properties of Buildings on Railway-Induced Vibration: An Experimental Modeling
Authors: Mousavi-Rahimi Mehrad , Zakeri Jabbar Ali , Esmaeili Morteza
Published: May 2022

This paper considers the impact of foundation geometry on the vibrations transferred to a building in the vicinity of a railway line from the aspect of choosing an appropriate foundation type. For this purpose, a 1-g scale physical model is developed that includes the main parts containing dry sandy soil, a rigid soil container, and a five-story structure with three types of foundations, i.e., single, strip and mat. Next, the effects of the floor slab frequency associated with the local bending mode, the dominant soil frequency in vertical translation, and foundation geometry on the vibration level in the building are investigated. The experimental results obtained from the impulse loading exciting the frequency range of 0–156 Hz and scaled train axle load show that the vibration level transmitted to the floors in a structure with mat foundation is the smallest. Additionally, the strip and mat foundations reduced the root mean square ratio of vertical velocity on the first floor by, respectively, almost 8% and 53% in comparison with the single foundation, confirming the superior performance of the mat foundation. When the natural frequency of the slab bending mode approaches the dominant frequency of the ground’s vertical motion, resonance amplification becomes an inevitable phenomenon.
Self-Cleaning Cement-Based Building Materials
Authors: Lapidus Azariy , Korolev Evgenii , Topchiy Dmitriy , Kuzmina Tatyana , Shekhovtsova Svetlana , Shestakov Nikolai
Published: May 2022

The modern rhythm of human life leads to well-known problems, which are air, water and soil pollution and climate warming. An increase in the power of industries and vehicles leads not only to atmospheric pollution by-products of incomplete fuel combustion but also to various microscopic particles that form aerosols, which carry an obvious danger to human health and also pollute the buildings’ facades. An environmentally friendly building material with a hybrid method “Nano-titania gradient” was developed. This method consists of forming a gradient of n-TiO2 particles concentration in the composite since the physical properties of the composite are always inextricably linked to the geometry. To increase the efficiency of the photocatalytic process, a method of surface sensitization of titanium dioxide with the use of graphene oxide was proposed, which contributed to an increase in the overall photosensitivity. Thus, the decomposition of nitrogen oxide by volume with the modified surface increased by 27% in comparison with the classic titanium dioxide, and the decomposition of volatile organic substances increased by 32%. It was found that for the facade plate made with surface-sensitized TiO2, the process of self-cleaning is completed after 3 h after the irradiation start. The modern rhythm of human life leads to well-known problems, which are air, water and soil pollution and climate warming. Using the theory of percolation, the concentration range of the photocatalyst content was calculated. To facilitate the material, waste cellulose was introduced. To increase the efficiency of the photocatalytic process, a method of surface sensitization of titanium dioxide (SS TiO2) with the use of graphene oxide was proposed. The analysis of the experimental-statistical models of the compressive strength shows that the optimum content of TiO2 was in the range from 0.8 to 1.1%, and cellulose from 0.4 to 0.8%, the optimum content of SS TiO2 was in the range from 0.7 to 1.1%, and cellulose from 0.4 to 0.8%. Analysis of the experimental and statistical model of the bending strength shows that the optimal content of TiO2 and SS TiO2 was in the range of 0.6 to 1.0%, and cellulose from 0.4 to 0.8%. When studying the structure of composites, it was found that titanium dioxide was sorbed on the surface of swollen cellulose fibers and remained there after the process of cement hydration. The effectiveness of the method of surface sensitization of titanium dioxide by combining it with graphene oxide was shown. Thus, the decomposition of nitrogen oxide by volume with the modified surface increased by 27% in comparison with the classic titanium dioxide, and the decomposition of volatile organic substances increased by 32%. It was found that for the facade plate made with surface-sensitized TiO2, the process of self-cleaning was completed after 3 h after the irradiation start.
Cytological Comparison between Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma by Image Analysis Software Using Touch Smear Samples of Surgically Resected Specimens
Authors: Kitamura Sho , Kai Keita , Nakamura Mitsuo , Tanaka Tomokazu , Ide Takao , Noshiro Hirokazu , Sueoka Eisaburo , Aishima Shinich
Published: May 2022

To investigate useful cytological features for differential diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), this study cytologically compared HCC to ICC using image analysis software. Touch smear specimens of surgically resected specimens were obtained from a total of 61 nodules of HCC and 16 of ICC. The results indicated that the major/minor axis ratio of ICC is significantly larger than that of HCC (1.67 ± 0.27 vs. 1.32 ± 0.11, p < 0.0001) in Papanicolaou staining. This result means that the nucleus of HCC is close to round and the nucleus of ICC is close to an oval. This significant difference in the major/minor axis ratio between ICC and HCC was consistently observed by the same analyses using clinical samples of cytology (4 cases of HCC and 13 cases of ICC) such a fine-needle aspiration, brushing and ascites (ICC: 1.45 ± 0.13 vs. HCC: 1.18 ± 0.056, p = 0.004). We also confirmed that nuclear position center-positioned nucleus (p < 0.0001) and granular cytoplasm (p < 0.0001) are typical features of HCC tumor cells compared to ICC tumor cells. The research study found a significant difference in the nuclear morphology of HCC (round shape) and ICC (oval shape) in Papanicolaou-stained cytology specimens. This simple and objective finding will be very useful for the differential cytodiagnosis of HCC and ICC.
Microscope-Based Augmented Reality with Intraoperative Computed Tomography-Based Navigation for Resection of Skull Base Meningiomas in Consecutive Series of 39 Patients
Authors: Pojskić Mirza , Bopp Miriam H. A. , Saβ Benjamin , Carl Barbara , Nimsky Christopher
Published: May 2022

Background: The aim of surgery for skull base meningiomas is maximal resection with minimal damage to the involved cranial nerves and cerebral vessels; thus, implementation of technologies for improved orientation in the surgical field, such as neuronavigation and augmented reality (AR), is of interest. Methods: Included in the study were 39 consecutive patients (13 male, 26 female, mean age 64.08 ± 13.5 years) who underwent surgery for skull base meningiomas using microscope-based AR and automatic patient registration using intraoperative computed tomography (iCT). Results: Most common were olfactory meningiomas (6), cavernous sinus (6) and clinoidal (6) meningiomas, meningiomas of the medial (5) and lateral (5) sphenoid wing and meningiomas of the sphenoidal plane (5), followed by suprasellar (4), falcine (1) and middle fossa (1) meningiomas. There were 26 patients (66.6%) who underwent gross total resection (GTR) of the meningioma. Automatic registration applying iCT resulted in high accuracy (target registration error, 0.82 ± 0.37 mm). The effective radiation dose of the registration iCT scans was 0.58 ± 1.05 mSv. AR facilitated orientation in the resection of skull base meningiomas with encasement of cerebral vessels and compression of the optic chiasm, as well as in reoperations, increasing surgeon comfort. No injuries to critical neurovascular structures occurred. Out of 35 patients who lived to follow-up, 33 could ambulate at their last presentation. Conclusion: A microscope-based AR facilitates surgical orientation for resection of skull base meningiomas. Registration accuracy is very high using automatic registration with intraoperative imaging.
Circulating microRNAs in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Plasma: Sensitive Tool for Detection of Secondary CNS Involvement, Monitoring of Therapy and Prediction of CNS Relapse in Aggressive B-NHL Lymphomas
Authors: Krsmanovic Pavle , Mocikova Heidi , Chramostova Kamila , Klanova Magdalena , Trnkova Marie , Pesta Michal , Laslo Peter , Pytlik Robert , Stopka Tomas , Trneny Marek , Pospisil Vit
Published: May 2022

Lymphoma with secondary central nervous system (CNS) involvement represents one of the most aggressive malignancies, with poor prognosis and high mortality. New diagnostic tools for its early detection, response evaluation, and CNS relapse prediction are needed. We analyzed circulating microRNAs in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma of 162 patients with aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (B-NHL) and compared their levels in CNS-involving lymphomas versus in systemic lymphomas, at diagnosis and during treatment and CNS relapse. We identified a set of five oncogenic microRNAs (miR-19a, miR-20a, miR-21, miR-92a, and miR-155) in CSF that detect, with high sensitivity, secondary CNS lymphoma involvement in aggressive B-NHL, including DLBCL, MCL, and Burkitt lymphoma. Their combination into an oncomiR index enables the separation of CNS lymphomas from systemic lymphomas or nonmalignant controls with high sensitivity and specificity, and high Receiver Operating Characteristics (DLBCL AUC = 0.96, MCL = 0.93, BL = 1.0). Longitudinal analysis showed that oncomiR levels reflect treatment efficacy and clinical outcomes, allowing their monitoring and prediction. In contrast to conventional methods, CSF oncomiRs enable detection of early and residual CNS involvement, as well as parenchymal involvement. These circulating oncomiRs increase 1–4 months before CNS relapse, allowing its early detection and improving the prediction of CNS relapse risk in DLBCL. Similar effects were detectable, to a lesser extent, in plasma.
A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase (ADAM) Family—Novel Biomarkers of Selected Gastrointestinal (GI) Malignancies?
Authors: Łukaszewicz-Zając Marta , Pączek Sara , Mroczko Barbara
Published: May 2022

The global burden of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers is expected to increase. Therefore, it is vital that novel biomarkers useful for the early diagnosis of these malignancies are established. A growing body of data has linked secretion of proteolytic enzymes, such as metalloproteinases (MMPs), which destroy the extracellular matrix, to pathogenesis of GI tumours. A disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) proteins belong to the MMP family but have been proven to be unique due to both proteolytic and adhesive properties. Recent investigations have demonstrated that the expression of several ADAMs is upregulated in GI cancer cells. Thus, the objective of this review is to present current findings concerning the role of ADAMs in the pathogenesis of GI cancers, particularly their involvement in the development and progression of colorectal, pancreatic and gastric cancer. Furthermore, the prognostic significance of selected ADAMs in patients with GI tumours is also presented. It has been proven that ADAM8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 17 and 28 might stimulate the proliferation and invasion of GI malignancies and may be associated with unfavourable survival. In conclusion, this review confirms the role of selected ADAMs in the pathogenesis of the most common GI cancers and indicates their promising significance as potential prognostic biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets for GI malignancies. However, due to their non-specific nature, future research on ADAM biology should be performed to elucidate new strategies for the diagnosis of these common and deadly malignancies and treatment of patients with these diseases.
Extrachromosomal Circular DNA from TCGA Tumors Is Generated from Common Genomic Loci, Is Characterized by Self-Homology and DNA Motifs near Circle Breakpoints
Authors: Tatman Philip D. , Black Joshua C.
Published: May 2022

Extrachromosomal circular DNA has emerged as a frequent genomic alteration in tumors. High numbers of circular DNAs correspond to poor prognosis suggesting an important function in tumor biology. However, despite mounting evidence supporting the importance of circular DNA, little is known about their production, maintenance, or selection. To provide insight into these processes, we analyzed circular DNA elements computationally identified in 355 TCGA tumors spanning 22 tumor types. Circular DNAs originated from common genomic loci irrespective of cancer type. Genes found in circularized genomic regions were more likely to be expressed and were enriched in cancer-related pathways. Finally, in support of a model for circle generation through either a homology or microhomology-mediated process, circles exhibit homology near their breakpoint. These breakpoints are also enriched in specific DNA motifs. Our analysis supports a model where gene-containing circles emerge from common, highly transcribed regions through a homology-mediated process.
Surgical Indications and Outcomes of Resection for Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors with Vascular Involvement
Authors: Li Amy Y. , Visser Brendan C. , Dua Monica M.
Published: May 2022

Complete surgical resection of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) has been suggested as the only potentially curative treatment. A proportion of these tumors will present late during disease progression, and invade or encase surrounding vasculature; therefore, surgical treatment of locally advanced disease remains controversial. The role of surgery with vascular reconstruction in pNETs is not well defined, and there is considerable variability in the use of aggressive surgery for these tumors. Accurate preoperative assessment is critical to evaluate individual considerations, such as anatomical variants, areas and lengths of vessel involvement, proximal and distal targets, and collateralization secondary to the degree of occlusion. Surgical approaches to address pNETs with venous involvement may include thrombectomy, traditional vein reconstruction, a reconstruction-first approach, or mesocaval shunting. Although the amount of literature on pNETs with vascular reconstruction is limited to case reports and small institutional series, the last two decades of studies have demonstrated that aggressive resection of these tumors can be performed safely and with acceptable long-term survival.
Mechanistic and Therapeutic Insights into Ataxic Disorders with Pentanucleotide Expansions
Authors: Zhang Nan , Ashizawa Tetsuo
Published: May 2022

Pentanucleotide expansion diseases constitute a special class of neurodegeneration. The repeat expansions occur in non-coding regions, have likely arisen from Alu elements, and often result in autosomal dominant or recessive phenotypes with underlying cerebellar neuropathology. When transcribed (potentially bidirectionally), the expanded RNA forms complex secondary and tertiary structures that can give rise to RNA-mediated toxicity, including protein sequestration, pentapeptide synthesis, and mRNA dysregulation. Since several of these diseases have recently been discovered, our understanding of their pathological mechanisms is limited, and their therapeutic interventions underexplored. This review aims to highlight new in vitro and in vivo insights into these incurable diseases.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea as a Risk Factor for COVID-19 Severity—The Gut Microbiome as a Common Player Mediating Systemic Inflammation via Gut Barrier Dysfunction
Authors: Mashaqi Saif , Kallamadi Rekha , Matta Abhishek , Quan Stuart F. , Patel Salma I. , Combs Daniel , Estep Lauren , Lee-Iannotti Joyce , Smith Charles , Parthasarathy Sairam , Gozal David
Published: May 2022

The novel corona virus that is now known as (SARS-CoV-2) has killed more than six million people worldwide. The disease presentation varies from mild respiratory symptoms to acute respiratory distress syndrome and ultimately death. Several risk factors have been shown to worsen the severity of COVID-19 outcomes (such as age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity). Since many of these risk factors are known to be influenced by obstructive sleep apnea, this raises the possibility that OSA might be an independent risk factor for COVID-19 severity. A shift in the gut microbiota has been proposed to contribute to outcomes in both COVID-19 and OSA. To further evaluate the potential triangular interrelationships between these three elements, we conducted a thorough literature review attempting to elucidate these interactions. From this review, it is concluded that OSA may be a risk factor for worse COVID-19 clinical outcomes, and the shifts in gut microbiota associated with both COVID-19 and OSA may mediate processes leading to bacterial translocation via a defective gut barrier which can then foster systemic inflammation. Thus, targeting biomarkers of intestinal tight junction dysfunction in conjunction with restoring gut dysbiosis may provide novel avenues for both risk detection and adjuvant therapy.
The Gamification of XFEL Education Using XFEL Crystal Blaster
Authors: Kabayiza Fiacre , Woodruff Sarah B. , Bauer William J.
Published: May 2022

Novel groundbreaking techniques, such as serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX), which utilizes X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs), have led to impressive advances in the field of structural biology. However, educating the next generation of scientists on this complex, advanced, and continuously evolving field can be challenging. Gamification has been shown to be an effective strategy for engaging new learners and has a positive influence on knowledge acquisition, student satisfaction, and motivation. Here, we present an educational game, XFEL Crystal Blaster, aimed at increasing middle and high school students’ exposure to advanced topics in crystallography. This simple and accessible game is available on multiple platforms, is intuitive for gamers, and requires no prior knowledge of the game’s content. The assessment of students’ experiences with the game suggests that the XFEL Crystal Blaster game is likely to develop some introductory knowledge of XFELs and X-ray crystallography and increase interest in learning more about X-ray crystallography. Both of these outcomes are key to engaging students in the exploration of emerging scientific fields that are potential career pathways.