bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of the Long Term Acid Gas Sequestration Process in the Borzęcin Structure: Measurements Insight
Authors: Warnecki Marcin , Wojnicki Mirosław , Kuśnierczyk Jerzy , Szuflita Sławomir
Published: August 2021

Geological sequestration of acid gases, including CO2, is now a growing solution to prevent progressive Earth climate change. Disposal of environmentally harmful greenhouse gases must be performed safely and securely to minimise leakage risk and possible uncontrolled emissions of injected gases outside the sequestration structure. The paper describes a series of research activities at the Borzęcin sequestration site located in western Poland, which were designed to study the migration paths of injected acid gases (mainly mixture of CO2 and H2S) into the water-bearing layers underlying natural gas reservoir. Along with understanding the nature and dynamics of acid gases migration within the sequestration structure, the research was also addressed to assess its leak-tightness and the long-term safety of the entire reinjection facility. As a part of the research works, two downhole sampling campaigns were completed in 2018–2019, where samples of water underlying the Borzęcin reservoir were taken and subsequently studied to determine their physicochemical parameters that were never before examined. Compositions of gas dissolved in downhole brine samples were compared with produced and injected gas. Relevant studies of reservoir water from selected wells were performed, including isotopic analyses. Finally, four series of soil gas analyses were performed on the area surrounding the selected well, which are important for the hazardous gas sequestration safety analysis in the Borzęcin facility. All the above mentioned research activities aimed to acquire additional knowledge, which is valuable for risk assessment of the acid gas sequestration process taking place on the specific example of the Borzęcin site operating continuously since 1996.
Model Based Generation Prediction of SPV Power Plant Due to Weather Stressed Soiling
Authors: Sengupta Saheli , Ghosh Aritra , Mallick Tapas K. , Chanda Chandan Kumar , Saha Hiranmay , Bose Indrajit , Jana Joydip , Sengupta Samarjit
Published: August 2021

Solar energy is going to be a major component of global energy generation. Loss due to dust deposition has raised a great concern to the investors in this field. Pre-estimation of this reduced generation and hence the economic loss will help the operators’ readiness for efficient and enhanced economic energy management of the system. In an earlier article, a physics–based model is proposed for assessment of dust accumulation under various climatic conditions which is validated by data of a single location. In this paper, the universality of this model is established and is used to demonstrate the effect of generation loss due to dust deposition and of cleaning. Variation in the soiling pattern due to climatic covariates has also been studied. Generation loss is calculated for Solar Photovoltaic power plants of different capacities at various locations in India. Finally this model has also been extended to predict the generation accounting for the soiling loss in Photovoltaic system. All the calculated and predicted results are validated with the measured values of the above plants.
Comparison of Turbocharging and Pressure Wave Supercharging of a Natural Gas Engine for Light Commercial Trucks and Vans
Authors: Zsiga Norbert , Skopil Mario A. , Wang Moyu , Klein Daniel , Soltic Patrik
Published: August 2021

To increase the efficiency of a natural gas engine, the use of a Miller camshaft was analysed. To avoid a decline in the low-end torque and also in the transient response, a pressure wave supercharger (Comprex™) was compared to the conventional single-stage turbocharger. The analyses for this conceptual comparison were performed experimentally, and the data were then used to run simulations of driving cycles for light commercial vehicles. A torque increase of 49% resulted at 1250 rpm when the Comprex™ was used in combination with a Miller camshaft. Despite the Miller camshaft, the Comprex™ transient response was still faster than the turbocharged engine. Using the same camshaft, the turbocharged engine took 2.5-times as long to reach the same torque. Water injection was used to increase the peak power output while respecting the temperature limitations. As the Comprex™ enables engine braking by design, we show that the use of friction brakes was reduced by two-thirds. Finally, a six-times faster catalyst warmup and an up to 90 °C higher exhaust gas temperature at the three-way catalytic converter added to the benefits of using the Comprex™ supercharger. The known drawbacks of the Comprex™ superchargers were solved due to a complete redesign of the machine, which is described in detail.
Modelling and Simulation of the Performance and Combustion Characteristics of a Locomotive Diesel Engine Operating on a Diesel–LNG Mixture
Authors: Lipskis Imantas , Pukalskas Saugirdas , Droździel Paweł , Barta Dalibor , Žuraulis Vidas , Pečeliūnas Robertas
Published: August 2021

The article describes a compression-ignition engine working with a dual-fuel system installed in diesel locomotive TEP70 BS. The model of the locomotive engine has been created applying AVL BOOST and Diesel RK software and engine performance simulations. Combustion characteristics have been identified employing the mixtures of different fuels. The paper compares ecological (CO2, NOx, PM) and energy (in-cylinder pressure, temperature and the rate of heat release (ROHR)) indicators of a diesel and fuel mixtures-driven locomotive. The performed simulation has shown that different fuel proportions increased methane content and decreased diesel content in the fuel mixture, as well as causing higher in-cylinder pressure and ROHR; however, in-cylinder temperature dropped. CO2, NOx and PM emissions decrease in all cases thus raising methane and reducing diesel content in the fuel mixture.
Q-Learning Neural Controller for Steam Generator Station in Micro Cogeneration Systems
Authors: Lalik Krzysztof , Kozek Mateusz , Podlasek Szymon , Figaj Rafał , Gut Paweł
Published: August 2021

This article presents the results of the optimization of steam generator control systems powered by mixtures of liquid fuels containing biofuels. The numerical model was based on the results of experimental research of steam generator operation in an open system. The numerical model is used to build control algorithms that improve performance, increase efficiency, reduce fuel consumption and increase safety in the full range of operation of the steam generator and the cogeneration system of which it is a component. In this research, the following parameters were monitored: temperature and pressure of the circulating medium, exhaust gas temperature, oxygen content in exhaust gas, percentage control of oil burner power. Two methods of controlling the steam generator were proposed: the classic one, using the PID regulator, and the advanced one, using artificial neural networks. The work shows how the model is adapted to the real system and the impact of the control algorithms on the efficiency of the combustion process. The example is considered for the implementation of advanced control systems in micro-, small- and medium-power cogeneration and trigeneration systems in order to improve their final efficiency and increase the profitability of implementation.
Heat Treatment of Reishi Medicinal Mushroom (Ganoderma lingzhi) Basidiocarp Enhanced Its β-glucan Solubility, Antioxidant Capacity and Lactogenic Properties
Authors: Kiss Attila , Grünvald Petra , Ladányi Márta , Papp Viktor , Papp István , Némedi Erzsébet , Mirmazloum Iman
Published: August 2021

The effect of heat treatment on dried fruiting bodies of Reishi medicinal mushroom (Ganoderma lingzhi) is investigated. Control and samples treated for 20 min at temperatures of 70, 120, 150 and 180 °C were subjected for their free radical scavenging capacity, different glucans and total phenolic content determination. The growth rate of Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus casei supplemented with control and heat-treated samples is also investigated. The roasted mushroom samples at 150 °C and 180 °C showed the highest level of β-glucan (37.82%) and free radical scavenging capacity on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhidrazyl (DPPH•) and 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS•+). The content of total phenolics (TPC) was also influenced by heat treatment and significantly higher TPC values were recorded in samples treated at 120 °C and 150 °C. The presence of reducing sugars was only detected after heat treatment at 150 °C (0.23%) and at 180 °C (0.57%). The heat treatments at 120, 150 and 180 °C, significantly attenuated the number of colony-forming units (CFU) of pathogenic E. coli, in a linear relationship with an elevated temperature. The supplementation of heat-treated Reishi mushroom at 120 °C resulted in the highest growth rate of probiotic L. casei. The obtained results in this study revealed the significant effect of short-term heat treatment by enhancing the antioxidant capacity, β-glucan solubility and prebiotic property of the dried basidiocarp of Reishi mushroom.
Social Media Behavior and Emotional Evolution during Emergency Events
Authors: Gu Mingyun , Guo Haixiang , Zhuang Jun
Published: August 2021

Online social networks have recently become a vital source for emergency event news and the consequent venting of emotions. However, knowledge on what drives user emotion and behavioral responses to emergency event developments are still limited. Therefore, unlike previous studies that have only explored trending themes and public sentiment in social media, this study sought to develop a holistic framework to assess the impact of emergency developments on emotions and behavior by exploring the evolution of trending themes and public sentiments in social media posts as a focal event developed. By examining the event timelines and the associated hashtags on the popular Chinese social media site Sina-Weibo, the 2019 Wuxi viaduct collapse accident was taken as the research object and the event timeline and the Sina-Weibo tagging function focused on to analyze the behaviors and emotional changes in the social media users and elucidate the correlations. It can conclude that: (i) There were some social media rules being adhered to and that new focused news from the same event impacted user behavior and the popularity of previous thematic discussions. (ii) While the most critical function for users appeared to express their emotions, the user foci changed when recent focus news emerged. (iii) As the news of the collapse deepened, the change in user sentiment was found to be positively correlated with the information released by personal-authentication accounts. This research provides a new perspective on the extraction of information from social media platforms in emergencies and social-emotional transmission rules.
Research on the Characteristics and Usefulness of User Reviews of Online Mental Health Consultation Services: A Content Analysis
Authors: Liu Jingfang , Gao Lu
Published: August 2021

Online consultation based on Internet technology is gradually becoming the main way to seek health information and professional assistance. Online user reviews, such as content reviews and star ratings, are an important basis for reflecting users’ views on the effectiveness of health services. Here, we used user reviews related to online psychological consultation services for content feature mining and usefulness analyses. We used a professional online psychological counseling service platform in China to collect user reviews that were liked by users as a data sample for a content analysis. An LDA topic model, dictionary-based sentiment analysis, and the NRC Word-Emotion Association Lexicon were used to extract the topic, sentiment, and context features of the content of 4254 useful reviews, and the influence of these features on the usefulness of the reviews was verified by a multiple linear regression analysis. Our results show that the content of online reviews by psychological counseling users presented a positive emotional attitude as a whole and expressed more views on the process, effects, and future expectations of counseling than on other topics. There was a significant correlation between the topic, sentiment, and context features of a user review and its usefulness: reviews giving high scores and containing topics such as “ease emotions” and “consulting expectations” received more user likes. However, the usefulness of a review was significantly reduced if it was in existence for too long. This research provides valuable suggestions for understanding the needs and emotional attitudes of users with mental health problems in terms of online psychological consultation; identifying the factors that affect the number of likes a review receives can help platform users write better consultation evaluations and thereby provide greater usefulness. In addition, the use of online reviews generated by users for content analysis effectively supplements the current research on online psychological counseling in terms of data and methods.
An O-GlcNAcylomic Approach Reveals ACLY as a Potential Target in Sepsis in the Young Rat
Authors: Denis Manon , Dupas Thomas , Persello Antoine , Dontaine Justine , Bultot Laurent , Betus Charlotte , Pelé Thomas , Dhot Justine , Erraud Angélique , Maillard Anaïs , Montnach Jérôme , Leroux Aurélia A. , Bigot-Corbel Edith , Vertommen Didier , Rivière Matthieu , Lebreton Jacques , Tessier Arnaud , Waard Michel De , Bertrand Luc , Rozec Bertrand , Lauzier Benjamin
Published: August 2021

Sepsis in the young population, which is particularly at risk, is rarely studied. O-GlcNAcylation is a post-translational modification involved in cell survival, stress response and metabolic regulation. O-GlcNAc stimulation is beneficial in adult septic rats. This modification is physiologically higher in the young rat, potentially limiting the therapeutic potential of O-GlcNAc stimulation in young septic rats. The aim is to evaluate whether O-GlcNAc stimulation can improve sepsis outcome in young rats. Endotoxemic challenge was induced in 28-day-old rats by lipopolysaccharide injection (E. Coli O111:B4, 20 mg·kg−1) and compared to control rats (NaCl 0.9%). One hour after lipopolysaccharide injection, rats were randomly assigned to no therapy, fluidotherapy (NaCl 0.9%, 10 mL·kg−1) ± NButGT (10 mg·kg−1) to increase O-GlcNAcylation levels. Physiological parameters and plasmatic markers were evaluated 2h later. Finally, untargeted mass spectrometry was performed to map cardiac O-GlcNAcylated proteins. Lipopolysaccharide injection induced shock with a decrease in mean arterial pressure and alteration of biological parameters (p < 0.05). NButGT, contrary to fluidotherapy, was associated with an improvement of arterial pressure (p < 0.05). ATP citrate lyase was identified among the O-GlcNAcylated proteins. In conclusion, O-GlcNAc stimulation improves outcomes in young septic rats. Interestingly, identified O-GlcNAcylated proteins are mainly involved in cellular metabolism.
Overdominance at the Gene Expression Level Plays a Critical Role in the Hybrid Root Growth of Brassica napus
Authors: Shalby Nesma , Mohamed Ibrahim A. A. , Xiong Jie , Hu Kaining , Yang Yebitao , Nishawy Elsayed , Yi Bin , Wen Jing , Ma Chaozhi , Shen Jinxiong , Fu Tingdong , Tu Jinxing
Published: August 2021

Despite heterosis contributing to genetic improvements in crops, root growth heterosis in rapeseed plants is poorly understood at the molecular level. The current study was performed to discover key differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to heterosis in two hybrids with contrasting root growth performance (FO; high hybrid and FV; low hybrid) based on analysis of the root heterosis effect. Based on comparative transcriptomic analysis, we believe that the overdominance at the gene expression level plays a critical role in hybrid roots’ early biomass heterosis. Our findings imply that a considerable increase in up-regulation of gene expression underpins heterosis. In the FO hybrid, high expression of DEGs overdominant in the starch/sucrose and galactose metabolic pathways revealed a link between hybrid vigor and root growth. DEGs linked to auxin, cytokinin, brassinosteroids, ethylene, and abscisic acid were also specified, showing that these hormones may enhance mechanisms of root growth and the development in the FO hybrid. Moreover, transcription factors such as MYB, ERF, bHLH, NAC, bZIP, and WRKY are thought to control downstream genes involved in root growth. Overall, this is the first study to provide a better understanding related to the regulation of the molecular mechanism of heterosis, which assists in rapeseed growth and yield improvement.
The PPARg System in Major Depression: Pathophysiologic and Therapeutic Implications
Authors: Gold Philip W.
Published: August 2021

To an exceptional degree, and through multiple mechanisms, the PPARg system rapidly senses cellular stress, and functions in the CNS in glial cells, neurons, and cerebrovascular endothelial cell in multiple anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective ways. We now know that depression is associated with neurodegeneration in the subgenual prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, decreased neuroplasticity, and defective neurogenesis. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is markedly depleted in these areas, and is thought to contribute to the neurodegeneration of the subgenual prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus. The PPARg system strongly increases BDNF levels and activity in these brain areas. The PPARg system promotes both neuroplasticity and neurogenesis, both via effects on BDNF, and through other mechanisms. Ample evidence exists that these brain areas transduce many of the cardinal features of depression, directly or through their projections to sites such as the amygdala and nucleus accumbens. Behaviorally, these include feelings of worthlessness, anxiety, dread of the future, and significant reductions in the capacity to anticipate and experience pleasure. Physiologically, these include activation of the CRH and noradrenergic system in brain and the sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in the periphery. Patients with depression are also insulin-resistant. The PPARg system influences each of these behavioral and physiological in ways that would ameliorate the manifestations of depressive illness. In addition to the cognitive and behavioral manifestations of depression, depressive illness is associated with the premature onsets of coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes, and osteoporosis. As a consequence, patients with depressive illness lose approximately seven years of life. Inflammation and insulin resistance are two of the predominant processes that set into motion these somatic manifestations. PPARg agonists significantly ameliorate both pathological processes. In summary, PPARg augmentation can impact positively on multiple significant pathological processes in depression. These include loss of brain tissue, defective neuroplasticity and neurogenesis, widespread inflammation in the central nervous system and periphery, and insulin resistance. Thus, PPARg agonists could potentially have significant antidepressant effects.
Temporal Control of Seed Development in Dicots: Molecular Bases, Ecological Impact and Possible Evolutionary Ramifications
Authors: Malovichko Yury V. , Shikov Anton E. , Nizhnikov Anton A. , Antonets Kirill S.
Published: August 2021

In flowering plants, seeds serve as organs of both propagation and dispersal. The developing seed passes through several consecutive stages, following a conserved general outline. The overall time needed for a seed to develop, however, may vary both within and between plant species, and these temporal developmental properties remain poorly understood. In the present paper, we summarize the existing data for seed development alterations in dicot plants. For genetic mutations, the reported cases were grouped in respect of the key processes distorted in the mutant specimens. Similar phenotypes arising from the environmental influence, either biotic or abiotic, were also considered. Based on these data, we suggest several general trends of timing alterations and how respective mechanisms might add to the ecological plasticity of the families considered. We also propose that the developmental timing alterations may be perceived as an evolutionary substrate for heterochronic events. Given the current lack of plausible models describing timing control in plant seeds, the presented suggestions might provide certain insights for future studies in this field.
Activation of the Constitutive Androstane Receptor Inhibits Leukocyte Adhesiveness to Dysfunctional Endothelium
Authors: López-Riera Mireia , Ortega Rebeca , Hueso Luisa , Montesinos María Carmen , Gomez-Cabrera Mari Carmen , Sanz María Jesús , Real José T. , Piqueras Laura
Published: August 2021

Leukocyte cell recruitment into the vascular subendothelium constitutes an early event in the atherogenic process. As the effect of the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) on leukocyte recruitment and endothelial dysfunction is poorly understood, this study investigated whether the role of CAR activation can affect this response and the underlying mechanisms involved. Under physiological flow conditions, TNFα-induced endothelial adhesion of human leukocyte cells was concentration-dependently inhibited by preincubation of human umbilical arterial endothelial cells with the selective human CAR ligand CITCO. CAR agonism also prevented TNFα induced VCAM-1 expression, as well as MCP-1/CCL-2 and RANTES/CCL-5 release in endothelial cells. Suppression of CAR expression with a small interfering RNA abrogated the inhibitory effects of CITCO on these responses. Furthermore, CITCO increased interaction of CAR with Retinoid X Receptor (RXR) and reduced TNFα-induced p38-MAPK/NF-κB activation. In vivo, using intravital microscopy in the mouse cremasteric microcirculation treatment with the selective mouse CAR ligand TCPOBOP inhibited TNFα-induced leukocyte rolling flux, adhesion, and emigration and decreased VCAM-1 in endothelium. These results reveal that CAR agonists can inhibit the initial inflammatory response that precedes the atherogenic process by targeting different steps in the leukocyte recruitment cascade. Therefore, CAR agonists may constitute a new therapeutic tool in controlling cardiovascular disease-associated inflammatory processes.
Towards Quantum-Chemical Modeling of the Activity of Anesthetic Compounds
Authors: Cukras Janusz , Sadlej Joanna
Published: August 2021

The modeling of the activity of anesthetics is a real challenge because of their unique electronic and structural characteristics. Microscopic approaches relevant to the typical features of these systems have been developed based on the advancements in the theory of intermolecular interactions. By stressing the quantum chemical point of view, here, we review the advances in the field highlighting differences and similarities among the chemicals within this group. The binding of the anesthetics to their partners has been analyzed by Symmetry-Adapted Perturbation Theory to provide insight into the nature of the interaction and the modeling of the adducts/complexes allows us to rationalize their anesthetic properties. A new approach in the frame of microtubule concept and the importance of lipid rafts and channels in membranes is also discussed.
Transcription Factor WRKY33 Mediates the Phosphate Deficiency-Induced Remodeling of Root Architecture by Modulating Iron Homeostasis in Arabidopsis Roots
Authors: Shen Nuo , Hou Sifan , Tu Guoqing , Lan Wenzhi , Jing Yanping
Published: August 2021

The remodeling of root architecture is regarded as a major development to improve the plant’s adaptivity to phosphate (Pi)-deficient conditions. The WRKY transcription factors family has been reported to regulate the Pi-deficiency-induced systemic responses by affecting Pi absorption or transportation. Whether these transcription factors act as a regulator to mediate the Pi-deficiency-induced remodeling of root architecture, a typical local response, is still unclear. Here, we identified an Arabidopsis transcription factor, WRKY33, that acted as a negative regulator to mediate the Pi-deficiency-induced remodeling of root architecture. The disruption of WRKY33 in wrky33-2 mutant increased the plant’s low Pi sensitivity by further inhibiting the primary root growth and promoting the formation of root hair. Furthermore, we revealed that WRKY33 negatively regulated the remodeling of root architecture by controlling the transcriptional expression of ALMT1 under Pi-deficient conditions, which further mediated the Fe3+ accumulation in root tips to inhibit the root growth. In conclusion, this study demonstrates a previously unrecognized signaling crosstalk between WRKY33 and the ALMT1-mediated malate transport system to regulate the Pi deficiency responses.
Genomic Scan of Male Fertility Restoration Genes in a ‘Gülzow’ Type Hybrid Breeding System of Rye (Secale cereale L.)
Authors: Vendelbo Nikolaj Meisner , Mahmood Khalid , Sarup Pernille , Kristensen Peter Skov , Orabi Jihad , Jahoor Ahmed
Published: August 2021

Efficient and stable restoration of male fertility (Rf) is a prerequisite for large-scale hybrid seed production but remains an inherent issue in the predominant fertility control system of rye (Secale cereale L.). The ‘Gülzow’ (G)-type cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) system in hybrid rye breeding exhibits a superior Rf. While having received little scientific attention, one major G-type Rf gene has been identified on 4RL (Rfg1) and two minor genes on 3R (Rfg2) and 6R (Rfg3) chromosomes. Here, we report a comprehensive investigation of the genetics underlying restoration of male fertility in a large G-type CMS breeding system using recent advents in rye genomic resources. This includes: (I) genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on G-type germplasm; (II) GWAS on a biparental mapping population; and (III) an RNA sequence study to investigate the expression of genes residing in Rf-associated regions in G-type rye hybrids. Our findings provide compelling evidence of a novel major G-type non-PPR Rf gene on the 3RL chromosome belonging to the mitochondrial transcription termination factor gene family. We provisionally denote the identified novel Rf gene on 3RL RfNOS1. The discovery made in this study is distinct from known P- and C-type systems in rye as well as recognized CMS systems in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). We believe this study constitutes a stepping stone towards understanding the restoration of male fertility in the G-type CMS system and potential resources for addressing the inherent issues of the P-type system.
Molecular and Structural Parallels between Gluten Pathogenic Peptides and Bacterial-Derived Proteins by Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Vazquez Diego S. , Schilbert Hanna M. , Dodero Veronica I.
Published: August 2021

Gluten-related disorders (GRDs) are a group of diseases that involve the activation of the immune system triggered by the ingestion of gluten, with a worldwide prevalence of 5%. Among them, Celiac disease (CeD) is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease causing a plethora of symptoms from diarrhea and malabsorption to lymphoma. Even though GRDs have been intensively studied, the environmental triggers promoting the diverse reactions to gluten proteins in susceptible individuals remain elusive. It has been proposed that pathogens could act as disease-causing environmental triggers of CeD by molecular mimicry mechanisms. Additionally, it could also be possible that unrecognized molecular, structural, and physical parallels between gluten and pathogens have a relevant role. Herein, we report sequence, structural and physical similarities of the two most relevant gluten peptides, the 33-mer and p31-43 gliadin peptides, with bacterial pathogens using bioinformatics going beyond the molecular mimicry hypothesis. First, a stringent BLASTp search using the two gliadin peptides identified high sequence similarity regions within pathogen-derived proteins, e.g., extracellular proteins from Streptococcus pneumoniae and Granulicatella sp. Second, molecular dynamics calculations of an updated α-2-gliadin model revealed close spatial localization and solvent-exposure of the 33-mer and p31-43 peptide, which was compared with the pathogen-related proteins by homology models and localization predictors. We found putative functions of the identified pathogen-derived sequence by identifying T-cell epitopes and SH3/WW-binding domains. Finally, shape and size parallels between the pathogens and the superstructures of gliadin peptides gave rise to novel hypotheses about activation of innate immunity and dysbiosis. Based on our structural findings and the similarities with the bacterial pathogens, evidence emerges that these pathologically relevant gluten-derived peptides could behave as non-replicating pathogens opening new research questions in the interface of innate immunity, microbiome, and food research.
NLRP3 Deficiency in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Enhances Surveillance of NK-92 through a Modulation of MICA/B
Authors: Lee Hwan Hee , Kim Dongoh , Jung Joohee , Kang Hyojeung , Cho Hyosun
Published: August 2021

Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common and even worse at prognosis. The patients with HCC which accompanied by other diseases, such as cirrhosis, can be limited in various treatments, such as chemotherapy, not HCC patients without other diseases. NLRP3 inflammasome plays an important role in the innate immune response, but emerging evidence has indicated that the NLRP3 inflammasome is implicated in all stages of cancer development. Various cells express NLRP3 protein through the autocrine or paracrine signaling in their environment, but NK cells do not. The expanding evidence shows that patients who suffer from liver cancers have a low frequency of natural killer (NK) cells, and the function of these cells is also impaired. Thus, we examined how the expression of NLRP3 in HCC cells affects cancer surveillance by NK cells in a state of a co-culture of both cells. When the expression of NLRP3 in HCC cells was ablated, MICA/B on the surface of HCC cells was upregulated through the lowered expression of matrix metalloproteinase. The expression of MICA on the surface of HCC cells interacted with the NKG2D receptor on NK-92 cells, which led to NK cytotoxicity. Furthermore, in a xenograft mice model, NLRP3 KO HCC cells delayed tumor development and metastasis as well as increased the sensitivity to NK cell cytotoxicity. Taken together, NLRP3 KO in HCC could enhance NK immunosurveillance through an interaction of NKG2D-MICA.
Vitamin D3 Enriches Ceramide Content in Exosomes Released by Embryonic Hippocampal Cells
Authors: Conte Carmela , Cataldi Samuela , Arcuri Cataldo , Mirarchi Alessandra , Lazzarini Andrea , Garcia-Gil Mercedes , Beccari Tommaso , Curcio Francesco , Albi Elisabetta
Published: August 2021

The release of exosomes can lead to cell–cell communication. Nutrients such as vitamin D3 and sphingolipids have important roles in many cellular functions, including proliferation, differentiation, senescence, and cancer. However, the specific composition of sphingolipids in exosomes and their changes induced by vitamin D3 treatment have not been elucidated. Here, we initially observed neutral sphingomyelinase and vitamin D receptors in exosomes released from HN9.10 embryonic hippocampal cells. Using ultrafast liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, we showed that exosomes are rich in sphingomyelin species compared to whole cells. To interrogate the possible functions of vitamin D3, we established the optimal conditions of cell treatment and we analyzed exosome composition. Vitamin D3 was identified as responsible for the vitamin D receptor loss, for the increase in neutral sphingomyelinase content and sphingomyelin changes. As a consequence, the generation of ceramide upon vitamin D3 treatment was evident. Incubation of the cells with neutral sphingomyelinase, or the same concentration of ceramide produced in exosomes was necessary and sufficient to stimulate embryonic hippocampal cell differentiation, as vitamin D3. This is the first time that exosome ceramide is interrogated for mediate the effect of vitamin D3 in inducing cell differentiation.
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Role of Acetylcholinesterase in their Pathogenesis
Authors: Walczak-Nowicka Łucja Justyna , Herbet Mariola
Published: August 2021

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases by influencing the inflammatory response, apoptosis, oxidative stress and aggregation of pathological proteins. There is a search for new compounds that can prevent the occurrence of neurodegenerative diseases and slow down their course. The aim of this review is to present the role of AChE in the pathomechanism of neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, this review aims to reveal the benefits of using AChE inhibitors to treat these diseases. The selected new AChE inhibitors were also assessed in terms of their potential use in the described disease entities. Designing and searching for new drugs targeting AChE may in the future allow the discovery of therapies that will be effective in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
The Role of Epigenetic Factors in Psoriasis
Authors: Dopytalska Klaudia , Ciechanowicz Piotr , Wiszniewski Kacper , Szymańska Elżbieta , Walecka Irena
Published: August 2021

Psoriasis is a chronic, systemic, immune-mediated disease with an incidence of approximately 2%. The pathogenesis of the disease is complex and not yet fully understood. Genetic factors play a significant role in the pathogenesis of the disease. In predisposed individuals, multiple trigger factors may contribute to disease onset and exacerbations of symptoms. Environmental factors (stress, infections, certain medications, nicotinism, alcohol, obesity) play a significant role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. In addition, epigenetic mechanisms are considered result in modulation of individual gene expression and an increased likelihood of the disease. Studies highlight the significant role of epigenetic factors in the etiology and pathogenesis of psoriasis. Epigenetic mechanisms in psoriasis include DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNAs. Epigenetic mechanisms induce gene expression changes under the influence of chemical modifications of DNA and histones, which alter chromatin structure and activate transcription factors of selected genes, thus leading to translation of new mRNA without affecting the DNA sequence. Epigenetic factors can regulate gene expression at the transcriptional (via histone modification, DNA methylation) and posttranscriptional levels (via microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs). This study aims to present and discuss the different epigenetic mechanisms in psoriasis based on a review of the available literature.
Development of a Novel Electrochemical Biosensor Based on Carbon Nanofibers–Cobalt Phthalocyanine–Laccase for the Detection of p-Coumaric Acid in Phytoproducts
Authors: Bounegru Alexandra Virginia , Apetrei Constantin
Published: August 2021

The present paper developed a new enzymatic biosensor whose support is a screen-printed electrode based on carbon nanofibers modified with cobalt phthalocyanine and laccase (CNF-CoPc-Lac/SPE) to determine the p-coumaric acid (PCA) content by cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry. Sensor modification was achieved by the casting and cross-linking technique, using glutaraldehyde as a reticulation agent. The biosensor’s response showed the PCA redox processes in a very stable and sensitive manner. The calibration curve was developed for the concentration range of p-coumaric acid of 0.1–202.5 μM, using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The biosensor yielded optimal results for the linearity range 0.4–6.4 μM and stood out by low LOD and LOQ values, i.e., 4.83 × 10−7 M and 1.61 × 10−6 M, respectively. PCA was successfully determined in three phytoproducts of complex composition. The results obtained by the voltammetric method were compared to the ones obtained by the FTIR method. The amount of p-coumaric acid determined by means of CNF-CoPc-Lac/SPE was close to the one obtained by the standard spectrometric method.
Epigenetic Clocks Are Not Accelerated in COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Franzen Julia , Nüchtern Selina , Tharmapalan Vithurithra , Vieri Margherita , Nikolić Miloš , Han Yang , Balfanz Paul , Marx Nikolaus , Dreher Michael , Brümmendorf Tim H. , Dahl Edgar , Beier Fabian , Wagner Wolfgang
Published: August 2021

Age is a major risk factor for severe outcome of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In this study, we followed the hypothesis that particularly patients with accelerated epigenetic age are affected by severe outcomes of COVID-19. We investigated various DNA methylation datasets of blood samples with epigenetic aging signatures and performed targeted bisulfite amplicon sequencing. Overall, epigenetic clocks closely correlated with the chronological age of patients, either with or without acute respiratory distress syndrome. Furthermore, lymphocytes did not reveal significantly accelerated telomere attrition. Thus, these biomarkers cannot reliably predict higher risk for severe COVID-19 infection in elderly patients.
Genetic Dissection of Phosphorus Use Efficiency in a Maize Association Population under Two P Levels in the Field
Authors: Li Dongdong , Wang Haoying , Wang Meng , Li Guoliang , Chen Zhe , Leiser Willmar L. , Weiß Thea Mi , Lu Xiaohuan , Wang Ming , Chen Shaojiang , Chen Fanjun , Yuan Lixing , Würschum Tobias , Liu Wenxin
Published: August 2021

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is an important challenge the world faces while having to increase crop yields. It is therefore necessary to select maize (Zea may L.) genotypes with high phosphorus use efficiency (PUE). Here, we extensively analyzed the biomass, grain yield, and PUE-related traits of 359 maize inbred lines grown under both low-P and normal-P conditions. A significant decrease in grain yield per plant and biomass, an increase in PUE under low-P condition, as well as significant correlations between the two treatments were observed. In a genome-wide association study, 49, 53, and 48 candidate genes were identified for eleven traits under low-P, normal-P conditions, and in low-P tolerance index (phenotype under low-P divided by phenotype under normal-P condition) datasets, respectively. Several gene ontology pathways were enriched for the genes identified under low-P condition. In addition, seven key genes related to phosphate transporter or stress response were molecularly characterized. Further analyses uncovered the favorable haplotype for several core genes, which is less prevalent in modern lines but often enriched in a specific subpopulation. Collectively, our research provides progress in the genetic dissection and molecular characterization of PUE in maize.
Thoracoscopy for Spontaneous Pneumothorax
Authors: Porcel José M. , Lee Pyng
Published: August 2021

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is the treatment of choice for recurrence prevention in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax (SP). Although the optimal surgical technique is uncertain, bullous resection using staplers in combination with mechanical pleurodesis, chemical pleurodesis and/or staple line coverage is usually undertaken. Currently, patient satisfaction, postoperative pain and other perioperative parameters have significantly improved with advancements in thoracoscopic technology, which include uniportal, needlescopic and nonintubated VATS variants. Ipsilateral recurrences after VATS occur in less than 5% of patients, in which case a redo-VATS is a feasible therapeutical option. Randomized controlled trials are urgently needed to shed light on the best definitive management of SP.
Comparison of the Uptake of Hepatocellular Carcinoma on Pre-Therapeutic MDCT, CACT, and SPECT/CT, and the Correlation with Post-Therapeutic PET/CT in Patients Undergoing Selective Internal Radiation Therapy
Authors: Meine Timo C. , Brunkhorst Thomas , Werncke Thomas , Schütze Christian , Vogel Arndt , Kirstein Martha M. , Dewald Cornelia L. A. , Becker Lena S. , Maschke Sabine K. , Kretschmann Nils , Wacker Frank K. , Hinrichs Jan B. , Meyer Bernhard C.
Published: August 2021

(1) Background: To comparatively analyze the uptake of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on pre-therapeutic imaging modalities, the arterial phase multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT), the parenchymal phase C-arm computed tomography (CACT), the Technetium99m-macroaggregates of human serum albumin single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT), and the correlation to the post-therapeutic Yttrium90 positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in patients with selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT). (2) Methods: Between September 2013 and December 2016, 104 SIRT procedures were performed at our institution in 74 patients with HCC not suitable for curative surgery or ablation. Twenty-two patients underwent an identical sequence of pre-therapeutic MDCT, CACT, SPECT/CT, and post-therapeutic PET/CT with a standardized diagnostic and therapeutic protocol. In these 22 patients, 25 SIRT procedures were evaluated. The uptake of the HCC was assessed using tumor-background ratio (TBR). Therefore, regions of interest were placed on the tumor and the adjacent liver tissue on MDCT (TBRMDCT), CACT (TBRCACT), SPECT/CT (TBRSPECT/CT), and PET/CT (TBRPET/CT). Comparisons were made with the Friedman test and the Nemenyi post-hoc test. Correlations were analyzed using Spearman’s Rho and the Benjamini–Hochberg method. The level of significance was p < 0.05. (3) Results: TBR on MDCT (1.4 ± 0.3) was significantly smaller than on CACT (1.9 ± 0.6) and both were significantly smaller compared to SPECT/CT (4.6 ± 2.0) (pFriedman-Test < 0.001; pTBRMDCT/TBRCACT = 0.012, pTBRMDCT/TBRSPECT/CT < 0.001, pTBRCACT/TBRSPECT/CT < 0.001). There was no significant correlation of TBR on MDCT with PET/CT (rTBRMDCT/TBRPET/CT = 0.116; p = 0.534). In contrast, TBR on CACT correlated to TBR on SPECT/CT (rTBRCACT/TBRSPECT/CT = 0.489; p = 0.004) and tended to correlate to TBR on PET/CT (rTBRCACT/TBRPET/CT =0.365; p = 0.043). TBR on SPECT/CT correlated to TBR on PET/CT (rTBRSPECT/CT/TBRPET/CT = 0.706; p < 0.001) (4) Conclusion: The uptake assessment on CACT was in agreement with SPECT/CT and might be consistent with PET/CT. In contrast, MDCT was not comparable to CACT and SPECT/CT, and had no correlation with PET/CT due to the different application techniques. This emphasizes the value of the CACT, which has the potential to improve the dosimetric assessment of the tumor and liver uptake for SIRT.
Promising Mid-Term Outcomes after Humeral Head Preserving Surgery of Posterior Fracture Dislocations of the Proximal Humerus
Authors: Heilmann Lukas F. , Katthagen J. Christoph , Raschke Michael J. , Schliemann Benedikt , Lill Helmut , El Bajjati Hassan , Jensen Gunnar , Dey Hazra Rony-Orijit
Published: August 2021

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome after humeral head preserving surgical treatment of posterior fracture dislocations of the proximal humerus. Methods: Patients with a posterior fracture dislocation of the proximal humerus that were operatively treated in two level-1 trauma centers within a timeframe of 8 years were identified. With a minimum follow-up of 2 years, patients with humeral head preserving surgical treatment were invited for examination. Results: 19/24 fractures (79.2%; mean age 43 years) were examined with a mean follow-up of 4.1 ± 2.1 years. Of these, 12 fractures were categorized as posteriorly dislocated impression type fractures, and 7 fractures as posteriorly dislocated surgical neck fractures. Most impression type fractures were treated by open reduction, allo- or autograft impaction and screw fixation (n = 11), while most surgical neck fractures were treated with locked plating (n = 6). Patients with impression type fractures showed significantly better ASES scores (p = 0.041), Simple Shoulder Test scores (p = 0.003), Rowe scores (p = 0.013) and WOSI scores (p = 0.023), when compared to posteriorly dislocated surgical neck fractures. Range of motion was good to excellent for both groups with no significant difference. Conclusions: This mid-term follow-up study reports good to very good clinical results for humeral head preserving treatment.
Ground Truth Data Generator for Eye Location on Infrared Driver Recordings
Authors: Valcan Sorin , Gaianu Mihail
Published: August 2021

Labeling is a very costly and time consuming process that aims to generate datasets for training neural networks in several functionalities and projects. In the automotive field of driver monitoring it has a huge impact, where much of the budget is used for image labeling. This paper presents an algorithm that will be used for generating ground truth data for 2D eye location in infrared images of drivers. The algorithm is implemented with many detection restrictions, which makes it very accurate but not necessarily very constant. The resulting dataset shall not be modified by any human factor and will be used to train neural networks, which we expect to have a very good accuracy and a much better consistency for eye detection than the initial algorithm. This paper proves that we can automatically generate very good quality ground truth data for training neural networks, which is still an open topic in the automotive industry.
Automated Detection and Diagnosis of Diabetic Retinopathy: A Comprehensive Survey
Authors: Lakshminarayanan Vasudevan , Kheradfallah Hoda , Sarkar Arya , Jothi Balaji Janarthanam
Published: August 2021

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision loss in the world. In the past few years, artificial intelligence (AI) based approaches have been used to detect and grade DR. Early detection enables appropriate treatment and thus prevents vision loss. For this purpose, both fundus and optical coherence tomography (OCT) images are used to image the retina. Next, Deep-learning (DL)-/machine-learning (ML)-based approaches make it possible to extract features from the images and to detect the presence of DR, grade its severity and segment associated lesions. This review covers the literature dealing with AI approaches to DR such as ML and DL in classification and segmentation that have been published in the open literature within six years (2016–2021). In addition, a comprehensive list of available DR datasets is reported. This list was constructed using both the PICO (P-Patient, I-Intervention, C-Control, O-Outcome) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) 2009 search strategies. We summarize a total of 114 published articles which conformed to the scope of the review. In addition, a list of 43 major datasets is presented.
Meeting the Mental Health Needs of College Student-Mothers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States
Authors: Ajayi Kobi V.
Published: August 2021

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is the deadliest public health emergency in the twenty-first century. To mitigate the rapid spread of the virus, institutions around the globe, including higher education, instituted infection control measures such as social distancing and restricted movements with virtual/remote work and learning environments. These changes, including the pandemic-related stressors, are associated with poor mental health among college students. However, student-mothers may encounter an aggravated psychological impact of the pandemic because of their competing and challenging intersecting roles. Multipronged strategies and targeted-mental health services that consider the needs of student-mothers, their children, and families are encouraged to mitigate the pandemic’s impact. Doing so has important implications for public health, policy, and research.