bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The 12 Rs Framework as a Comprehensive, Unifying Construct for Principles Guiding Animal Research Ethics
Authors: Brink Christiaan B. , Lewis David I.
Published: March 2023

Animal research ethics and animal welfare in science have become progressively tightly regulated, and ethical integrity and scientific quality, as well as social responsiveness and responsibility have become key requirements for research to be approved, funded, published, and accepted. The multitude of factors to contemplate has in some instances not only become complex, requiring a team approach, but often perceived as confusing and overwhelming. To facilitate a process of simplistic yet comprehensive conceptualization, we developed the 12 Rs Framework to act as a mind map to guide scientists, oversight structures, and other stakeholders through the myriad of ethical considerations. It unfolds into three domains of twelve encompassing ethical principles, values, and other considerations, including the animal welfare, social values, and scientific integrity domains, whilst also recognizing the diversity of local context, legal requirements, values, and cultures around the globe. In the end, it can be seen as a unifying ethical framework to foster and promote animal research ethics.
Staphylococcal Infections and Neonatal Skin: Data from Literature and Suggestions for the Clinical Management from Four Challenging Patients
Authors: De Rose Domenico Umberto , Pugnaloni Flaminia , Martini Ludovica , Bersani Iliana , Ronchetti Maria Paola , Diociaiuti Andrea , El Hachem May , Dotta Andrea , Auriti Cinzia
Published: March 2023

Staphylococcal infections in neonates might be associated with skin blistering since early antibiotic therapy has been shown to limit infection spread and positively influence outcomes; therefore, neonatologists should be aware of these conditions. This review examines the recent literature on the management of Staphylococcal infections that involve neonatal skin, discussing the most appropriate clinical approach to four cases of neonatal blistering diseases with Staphylococcal infections: a case of Staphylococcal bullous impetigo, a case of Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS), a case of epidermolysis bullosa with overlapping Staphylococcal infection, and a case of burns with overlapping Staphylococcal infection. In treating Staphylococcal infections involving skin in neonates, the presence or absence of systemic symptoms should be considered. In the lack of evidence-based guidelines in this age category, treatment should be individualized according to several factors including the extension of the disease or further skin comorbidities (such as skin fragility), with a multidisciplinary approach.
New Insights in Molecular Mechanisms in Antimicrobial Resistance and Strategies in Anti-Biofilms
Authors: Liu Junyan , Xu Zhenbo , Tan Yulong , Gan Ren-You , Qu Guanggang , Chen Dingqiang
Published: March 2023

This topical collection, entitled “Antimicrobial resistance and anti-biofilms”, was first launched in the journal Antibiotics in November of 2020 [...]
Modeling and Analysis of Contactless Solar Evaporation for Scalable Application
Authors: Zheng Siyang , Yu Jie , Xu Zhenyuan
Published: March 2023

Zero-liquid discharge wastewater treatment driven by sunlight shows potential to minimize its environmental impact by producing solid-only waste from solar energy. To overcome the key barrier of solar absorber contamination, solar-driven contactless evaporation (SCE) has been proposed. However, only a small-scale laboratory device has been studied, which cannot support its scalable application. To analyze the potential of SCE, it is essential to understand the conjugated heat and mass transfer under a scalable application scenario. In this study, a comprehensive model of SCE is developed, which is validated by the laboratory evaporation test and applied to scalable evaporation scenario. Results showed that the scalable evaporation (0.313 kg·m−2·h−1) could obtain higher evaporation rate than the laboratory evaporation (0.139 kg·m−2·h−1) due to suppressed heat losses from the sidewalls. If the design parameters are finely tuned and thermal insulation are properly applied, the evaporation rate could be further enhanced to 0.797 kg·m−2·h−1, indicating a 473.3% performance enhancement than the laboratory SCE. The modelling framework and understanding are expected to pave a way for the further improvement and scalable application of SCE.
An Application of Statistical Methods in Data Mining Techniques to Predict ICT Implementation of Enterprises
Authors: Bakator Mihalj , Cockalo Dragan , Kavalić Mila , Terek Stojanović Edit , Gluvakov Verica
Published: March 2023

Globalization, Industry 4.0, and the dynamics of the modern business environment caused by the pandemic have created immense challenges for enterprises across industries. Achieving and maintaining competitiveness requires enterprises to adapt to the new business paradigm that characterizes the framework of the global economy. In this paper, the applications of various statistical methods in data mining are presented. The sample included data from 214 enterprises. The structured survey used for the collection of data included questions regarding ICT implementation intentions within enterprises. The main goal was to present the application of statistical methods that are used in data mining, ranging from simple/basic methods to algorithms that are more complex. First, linear regression, binary logistic regression, a multicollinearity test, and a heteroscedasticity test were conducted. Next, a classifier decision tree/QUEST (Quick, Unbiased, Efficient, Statistical Tree) algorithm and a support vector machine (SVM) were presented. Finally, to provide a contrast to these classification methods, a feed-forward neural network was trained on the same dataset. The obtained results are interesting, as they demonstrate how algorithms used for data mining can provide important insight into existing relationships that are present in large datasets. These findings are significant, and they expand the current body of literature.
CWSXLNet: A Sentiment Analysis Model Based on Chinese Word Segmentation Information Enhancement
Authors: Guo Shiqian , Huang Yansun , Huang Baohua , Yang Linda , Zhou Cong
Published: March 2023

This paper proposed a method for improving the XLNet model to address the shortcomings of segmentation algorithm for processing Chinese language, such as long sub-word lengths, long word lists and incomplete word list coverage. To address these issues, we proposed the CWSXLNet (Chinese Word Segmentation XLNet) model based on Chinese word segmentation information enhancement. The model first pre-processed Chinese pretrained text by Chinese word segmentation tool, and proposed a Chinese word segmentation attention mask mechanism by combining PLM (Permuted Language Model) and two-stream self-attention mechanism of XLNet. While performing natural language processing at word granularity, it can reduce the degree of masking between masked and non-masked words for two words belonging to the same word. For the Chinese sentiment analysis task, proposed the CWSXLNet-BiGRU-Attention model, which introduces bi-directional GRU as well as self-attention mechanism in the downstream task. Experiments show that CWSXLNet has achieved 89.91% precision, 91.53% recall rate and 90.71% F1-score, and CWSXLNet-BiGRU-Attention has achieved 92.61% precision, 93.19% recall rate and 92.90% F1-score on ChnSentiCorp dataset, which indicates that CWSXLNet has better performance than other models in Chinese sentiment analysis.
Comparison of Lipid Profile and Oxidative Stability of Vacuum-Packed and Longtime-Frozen Fallow Deer, Wild Boar, and Pig Meat
Authors: Reitznerová Anna , Semjon Boris , Bartkovský Martin , Šuleková Monika , Nagy Jozef , Klempová Tatiana , Marcinčák Slavomír
Published: March 2023

The present study aimed to evaluate the lipid content and oxidation of fallow deer (FD), wild boar (WB), and pig meat (PM) at −18 °C for a 360-day storage period. The lowest fat content was observed in thigh meat (TM) of FD (2.53%; p ˂ 0.05). The ratio of polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acids (PUFA/SFA), n-6/n-3, hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic index (h/H), and the lipid nutritional quality indexes were calculated. The PUFA/SFA ratio of each meat sample was compared with the required value of more than 0.4 while the optimal n-6/n-3 ratio was determined only in shoulder meat (SM) of FD meat samples (3.94; p ˂ 0.001). An atherogenic index of lower than 1.0 was observed in each meat sample and a thrombogenic index of lower than 0.5 was observed only in TM of FD (0.53; p ˂ 0.001). During the storage period, the malondialdehyde (MDA) content of WB and PM samples showed a higher variability than the FD samples. On the initial day as well as on the 360th day of the storage period, the lowest MDA content in the loin of PM was measured. Long-term vacuum packaging resulted in lower lipid oxidation during meat storage (p ˂ 0.01); however, the duration of the storage period significantly affected the level of lipid oxidation (p ˂ 0.001).
Illegal Domain Name Generation Algorithm Based on Character Similarity of Domain Name Structure
Authors: Liang Yuchen , Cheng Yanan , Zhang Zhaoxin , Chai Tingting , Li Chao
Published: March 2023

Detecting and controlling illegal websites (gambling and pornography sites) through illegal domain names has been an unsolved problem. Therefore, how to mine and discover potential illegal domain names in advance has become a current research hotspot. This paper studies a method of generating illegal domain names based on the character similarity of domain name structure. Firstly, the K-means algorithm classified illegal domain names with similar structures. Then, put the classified clusters into the adversarial generative network for training. Finally, through a specific result verification method, the experiment shows that the average concentration of the generation algorithm is 23.82%, the effective concentration is 63.54%, and the expansion rate is 7.5. By comparing the results with the enumeration algorithm, the generation algorithm has greatly improved in terms of generation efficiency and accuracy.
Vehicular Edge-Computing Framework for Making Use of Parking and Charging Electric Vehicles
Authors: Deng Qi , Zeng Feng
Published: March 2023

In big cities, there are more and more parking lots and charging piles for electric vehicles, and the resources of parking and charging vehicles can be aggregated to provide strong computing power for vehicular edge computing (VEC). In this paper, we propose a VEC framework that uses charging vehicles in parking lots to assist edge servers in processing computational tasks, and an edge crowdsourcing platform (ECP) is designed to manage and integrate the idle computation resources of electric vehicles in parking lots to provide computation services for requesting vehicles. Based on game theory, we first model the interactions among the edge server, the ECP and the requesting vehicles as a Stackelberg game, and theoretically prove the existence of a Nash equilibrium for this Stackelberg game. Then, a genetic algorithm-based game-strategy solving algorithm is proposed to find the optimal strategy for the edge server and ECP. The simulation results demonstrate that the performance of our proposed solution is better than other traditional solutions. Compared with the solution without ECP, our solution can increase the utilities of the edge server and the requesting vehicle by 13.3% and 10.99%, respectively.
ShuffleDetect: Detecting Adversarial Images against Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Chitic Raluca , Topal Ali Osman , Leprévost Franck
Published: March 2023

Recently, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have become the main drivers in many image recognition applications. However, they are vulnerable to adversarial attacks, which can lead to disastrous consequences. This paper introduces ShuffleDetect as a new and efficient unsupervised method for the detection of adversarial images against trained convolutional neural networks. Its main feature is to split an input image into non-overlapping patches, then swap the patches according to permutations, and count the number of permutations for which the CNN classifies the unshuffled input image and the shuffled image into different categories. The image is declared adversarial if and only if the proportion of such permutations exceeds a certain threshold value. A series of 8 targeted or untargeted attacks was applied on 10 diverse and state-of-the-art ImageNet-trained CNNs, leading to 9500 relevant clean and adversarial images. We assessed the performance of ShuffleDetect intrinsically and compared it with another detector. Experiments show that ShuffleDetect is an easy-to-implement, very fast, and near memory-free detector that achieves high detection rates and low false positive rates.
Learning Methods and Predictive Modeling to Identify Failure by Human Factors in the Aviation Industry
Authors: Nogueira Rui P. R. , Melicio Rui , Valério Duarte , Santos Luís F. F. M.
Published: March 2023

This paper proposes a model capable of predicting fatal occurrences in aviation events such as accidents and incidents, using as inputs the human factors that contributed to each incident, together with information about the flight. This is important because aviation demands have increased over the years; while safety standards are very rigorous, managing risk and preventing failures due to human factors, thereby further increasing safety, requires models capable of predicting potential failures or risky situations. The database for this paper’s model was provided by the Aviation Safety Network (ASN). Correlations between leading causes of incident and the human element are proposed, using the Human Factors Analysis Classification System (HFACS). A classification model system is proposed, with the database preprocessed for the use of machine learning techniques. For modeling, two supervised learning algorithms, Random Forest (RF) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), and the semi-supervised Active Learning (AL) are considered. Their respective structures are optimized applying hyperparameter analysis to improve the model. The best predictive model, obtained with RF, was able to achieve an accuracy of 90%, macro F1 of 87%, and a recall of 86%, outperforming ANN models, with a lower ability to predict fatal accidents. These performances are expected to assist decision makers in planning actions to avoid human factors that may cause aviation incidents, and to direct efforts to the more important areas.
Natural Functional Foods as a Part of the Mediterranean Lifestyle and Their Association with Psychological Resilience and Other Health-Related Parameters
Authors: Christodoulou Efstratios , Deligiannidou Georgia-Eirini , Kontogiorgis Christos , Giaginis Constantinos , Koutelidakis Antonios E.
Published: March 2023

Natural Functional Foods (NFFs) are unprocessed foods with proven health benefits beyond their nutritional value. The Mediterranean Diet (MD) and Mediterranean Lifestyle (MEDILIFE) are well known for their beneficial effects on health. Psychological Resilience (PsyR) is not only an important factor in human well-being; it is also regarded as a key indicator of mental health. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between NFFs and the MD and MEDILIFE in Greece, as well as their association with PsyR and other health-related parameters. In a cross-sectional design, 338 healthy adults participated voluntarily in an online research survey. There was a statistically significant association between the consumption of NFFs grown and produced in the Mediterranean region and the MD and MEDILIFE (p < 0.001). When the MD and MEDILIFE associated NFFs scores were summed up to form a 10-item scale (NAFFAME), the NAFFAME had a statistically significant positive correlation with PsyR (p < 0.001) and sleep quality (p < 0.05) and a negative correlation with body mass index (p < 0.001). There was also a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between the means of the NAFFAME score on different weight loss diet outcomes. Multinomial regression analysis identified the NAFFAME score as a prognostic factor in maintaining weight loss after a diet (OR: 1.119, 95% CI: 1.035, 1.208, p < 0.01 compared with no weight loss). This study identified NFFs as a part of the MD and MEDILIFE. NFFs linked to the MEDILIFE could help predict the outcome of a weight loss diet and appear to have a positive effect on PsyR, sleep quality, and maintaining a healthy weight. Thus, the consumption of NFFs grown and produced in the Mediterranean region could be a natural, healthy, and sustainable way of enhancing physical–mental health. Randomised controlled trials should be conducted to confirm the findings of this cross-sectional study.
Effect of Non-Equilibrium Plasma on Microorganisms Colonizing Diatomaceous Earth after the Beer Filtration Process
Authors: Wolny-Koładka Katarzyna , Zdaniewicz Marek , Bodziacki Stanisław , Terebun Piotr , Kwiatkowski Michał , Zarzeczny Dawid , Pawłat Joanna
Published: March 2023

The present study evaluates the antimicrobial potential of non-equilibrium plasma against microorganisms isolated from diatomaceous earth, which is a waste product from the beer filtration process. For evaluation, waste diatomaceous earth from an industrial brewery was treated with non-equilibrium plasma using a glidearc reactor. The temperature of the treated samples was monitored. The effect of plasma on the morphology of the treated material was investigated microscopically. Plasma can affect the treated material in various ways and change its physicochemical properties. Consequently, the scope of potential plasma applications is constantly expanding from material technologies to decontamination applications in the food industry, environmental protection and medicine and stimulates activities in, for example, agriculture and medicine. At the same time, microbiological analyzes were carried out to determine the presence of selected groups of microorganisms on diatomaceous earth before and after plasma treatment. The study revealed that the porous structure of diatomaceous earth is not an obstacle to the effective removal of microorganisms from it using plasma. A significant decrease in the amount of both bacteria and yeast relative to the control (non-plasma samples) was observed with the increasing contact time of the diatomaceous earth with the plasma. The numbers of bacteria and yeast decreased by a maximum of 2.2 log10 CFU∙g−1 and 1.72 log10 CFU∙g−1 (30 min of plasma contact), respectively. The obtained results are extremely promising and encourage further, in-depth research to optimize the plasma process and its effect on microorganisms.
Ozone Formation at a Suburban Site in the Pearl River Delta Region, China: Role of Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds
Authors: Wang Jun , Zhang Yanli , Xiao Shaoxuan , Wu Zhenfeng , Wang Xinming
Published: March 2023

Ozone (O3) is becoming an increasingly concerning air quality problem in China, and previous O3 control strategies focused primarily on reducing anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (AVOCs), while neglecting the role of biogenic VOCs (BVOCs) in O3 formation. In this study, a field campaign was conducted at a suburban site in the Pearl River Delta region of China with high BVOC emissions from 29 August to 3 September 2020. An empirical kinetic modelling approach (EKMA) showed that VOC-limited was the dominant feature for O3 formation at the site. The relative incremental reactivity (RIR) values calculated by the box model (AtChem2-MCM) revealed that isoprene, formaldehyde, methylglyoxal and acetaldehyde had the highest RIRs. Simulation results from the box model also showed that isoprene played a substantial role in the formation of secondary carbonyls, especially contributing 32–92% to the formaldehyde production rate. Box model simulations further showed that during the O3 pollution period with high BVOC emissions, only near zero AVOC emissions could prevent O3 if the levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx) remained unchanged. The results suggest that the presence of high BVOC emissions can greatly impact efforts to control O3 by reducing AVOCs, particularly in regions with relatively high NOx levels (up to 51 ppbv in this study). In the long term, it may be essential to control NOx and choose low BVOC-emitting tree species in urban planning to address this issue, particularly as BVOC emissions are projected to become a more significant source of reactive VOCs with enhanced control of AVOCs.
Structure-Guided Prediction of the Functional Impact of DCLK1 Mutations on Tumorigenesis
Authors: Carli Annalisa L. E. , Hardy Joshua M. , Hoblos Hanadi , Ernst Matthias , Lucet Isabelle S. , Buchert Michael
Published: March 2023

Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) is a functional serine/threonine (S/T)-kinase and a member of the doublecortin family of proteins which are characterized by their ability to bind to microtubules (MTs). DCLK1 is a proposed cancer driver gene, and its upregulation is associated with poor overall survival in several solid cancer types. However, how DCLK1 associates with MTs and how its kinase function contributes to pro-tumorigenic processes is poorly understood. This review builds on structural models to propose not only the specific functions of the domains but also attempts to predict the impact of individual somatic missense mutations on DCLK1 functions. Somatic missense mutations in DCLK1 are most frequently located within the N-terminal MT binding region and likely impact on the ability of DCLK1 to bind to αβ-tubulin and to polymerize and stabilize MTs. Moreover, the MT binding affinity of DCLK1 is negatively regulated by its auto-phosphorylation, and therefore mutations that affect kinase activity are predicted to indirectly alter MT dynamics. The emerging picture portrays DCLK1 as an MT-associated protein whose interactions with tubulin heterodimers and MTs are tightly controlled processes which, when disrupted, may confer pro-tumorigenic properties.
Exploring the Cooling Potential of Ventilated Mask Walls in Neo-Vernacular Architecture: A Case Study of André Ravéreau’s Dwellings in M’zab Valley, Algeria
Authors: Arigue Bidjad , Sriti Leila , Santi Giovanni , Khadraoui Mohamed Amine , Bencheikh Darda
Published: March 2023

This study investigates the thermal performance of the ventilated mask wall used in the low-income neo-vernacular dwellings designed by André Ravéreau to cope with the warm desert climate conditions of M’zab Valley, Ghardaia, in southern Algeria. This device is a ventilated façade provided with an opaque external massive cladding. It is designed to be particularly efficient in hot climates, functioning simultaneously as a brise-soleil and a ventilated façade, compared with conventional façade systems. Based on a typical experiment conducted during the summertime (12–14 August), a residential unit in Sidi Abbaz selected as a case study was modeled and calibrated using EnergyPlus (v8.4) software, and then a dynamic simulation was performed in order to assess the efficiency of the ventilated mask wall as a cooling strategy. By means of the validated thermal model, various alternatives for the façade materials were investigated, and the thermal behavior of the current ventilated mask wall was compared with a 45 cm thick limestone façade wall, and a 30 cm thick hollow clay brick wall under the same conditions. Countless benefits were achieved by the application of the mask wall system, including a stable and less fluctuant inner surface temperature, and a reduction in the incoming summer heat flux. The improvements performed, in particular the time lag of 12 h and the related decrement factor of 0.28 indicate the effectiveness of this wall system, which enabled radiant temperature drops of more than 10 °C, and an air temperature decrease of about 6 °C, during the summer sunniest hours. The results demonstrate that this solution is suitable for buildings design applications to meet the objective of low-energy demand in warm desert climates.
A Novel Family of Lysosomotropic Tetracyclic Compounds for Treating Leukemia
Authors: Carbó José M. , Cornet-Masana Josep M. , Cuesta-Casanovas Laia , Delgado-Martínez Jennifer , Banús-Mulet Antònia , Clément-Demange Lise , Serra Carme , Catena Juanlo , Llebaria Amadeu , Esteve Jordi , Risueño Ruth M.
Published: March 2023

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous hematological cancer characterized by poor prognosis and frequent relapses. Aside from specific mutation-related changes, in AML, the overall function of lysosomes and mitochondria is drastically altered to fulfill the elevated biomass and bioenergetic demands. On the basis of previous results, in silico drug discovery screening was used to identify a new family of lysosome-/mitochondria-targeting compounds. These novel tetracyclic hits, with a cationic amphiphilic structure, specifically eradicate leukemic cells by inducing both mitochondrial damage and apoptosis, and simultaneous lysosomal membrane leakiness. Lysosomal leakiness does not only elicit canonical lysosome-dependent cell death, but also activates the terminal differentiation of AML cells through the Ca2+–TFEB–MYC signaling axis. In addition to being an effective monotherapy, its combination with the chemotherapeutic arsenic trioxide (ATO) used in other types of leukemia is highly synergistic in AML cells, widening the therapeutic window of the treatment. Moreover, the compounds are effective in a wide panel of cancer cell lines and possess adequate pharmacological properties rendering them promising drug candidates for the treatment of AML and other neoplasias.
The Role of NK Cells in EBV Infection and Related Diseases: Current Understanding and Hints for Novel Therapies
Authors: Desimio Maria G. , Covino Daniela A. , Rivalta Beatrice , Cancrini Caterina , Doria Margherita
Published: March 2023

The Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous herpesvirus most often transmitted during infancy and infecting the vast majority of human beings. Usually, EBV infection is nearly asymptomatic and results in life-long persistency of the virus in a latent state under the control of the host immune system. Yet EBV can cause an acute infectious mononucleosis (IM), particularly in adolescents, and is associated with several malignancies and severe diseases that pose a serious threat to individuals with specific inborn error of immunity (IEI). While there is a general consensus on the requirement for functional CD8 T cells to control EBV infection, the role of the natural killer (NK) cells of the innate arm of immunity is more enigmatic. Here we provide an overview of the interaction between EBV and NK cells in the immunocompetent host as well as in the context of primary and secondary immunodeficiencies. Moreover, we report in vitro data on the mechanisms that regulate the capacity of NK cells to recognize and kill EBV-infected cell targets and discuss the potential of recently optimized NK cell-based immunotherapies for the treatment of EBV-associated diseases.
What Is Known about Breast Cancer in Young Women?
Authors: Zhu Jie Wei , Charkhchi Parsa , Adekunte Shadia , Akbari Mohammad R.
Published: March 2023

Breast cancer (BC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women under the age of 40 years worldwide. In addition, the incidence of breast cancer in young women (BCYW) has been rising. Young women are not the focus of screening programs and BC in younger women tends to be diagnosed in more advanced stages. Such patients have worse clinical outcomes and treatment complications compared to older patients. BCYW has been associated with distinct tumour biology that confers a worse prognosis, including poor tumour differentiation, increased Ki-67 expression, and more hormone-receptor negative tumours compared to women >50 years of age. Pathogenic variants in cancer predisposition genes such as BRCA1/2 are more common in early-onset BC compared to late-onset BC. Despite all these differences, BCYW remains poorly understood with a gap in research regarding the risk factors, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Age-specific clinical characteristics or outcomes data for young women are lacking, and most of the standard treatments used in this subpopulation currently are derived from older patients. More age-specific clinical data and treatment options are required. In this review, we discuss the epidemiology, clinicopathologic characteristics, outcomes, treatments, and special considerations of breast cancer in young women. We also underline future directions and highlight areas that require more attention in future studies.
Current Applications of Liquid Biopsy in Gastrointestinal Cancer Disease—From Early Cancer Detection to Individualized Cancer Treatment
Authors: David Paul , Mittelstädt Anke , Kouhestani Dina , Anthuber Anna , Kahlert Christoph , Sohn Kai , Weber Georg F.
Published: March 2023

Worldwide, gastrointestinal (GI) cancers account for a significant amount of cancer-related mortality. Tests that allow an early diagnosis could lead to an improvement in patient survival. Liquid biopsies (LBs) due to their non-invasive nature as well as low risk are the current focus of cancer research and could be a promising tool for early cancer detection. LB involves the sampling of any biological fluid (e.g., blood, urine, saliva) to enrich and analyze the tumor’s biological material. LBs can detect tumor-associated components such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), extracellular vesicles (EVs), and circulating tumor cells (CTCs). These components can reflect the status of the disease and can facilitate clinical decisions. LBs offer a unique and new way to assess cancers at all stages of treatment, from cancer screenings to prognosis to management of multidisciplinary therapies. In this review, we will provide insights into the current status of the various types of LBs enabling early detection and monitoring of GI cancers and their use in in vitro diagnostics.
Management of Barrett’s Esophagus: Practice-Oriented Answers to Clinical Questions
Authors: Zagari Rocco Maurizio , Iascone Veronica , Fuccio Lorenzo , Panarese Alba , Frazzoni Leonardo
Published: March 2023

Barrett’s esophagus is the most important complication of gastro-esophageal reflux disease and the only known precursor of esophageal adenocarcinoma. The diagnosis and treatment of Barrett’s esophagus are clinically challenging as it requires a high level of knowledge and competence in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. For instance, endoscopists should know when and how to perform biopsies when Barrett’s esophagus is suspected. Furthermore, the correct identification and treatment of dysplastic Barrett’s esophagus is crucial to prevent progression to cancer as well as it is the endoscopic surveillance of treated patients. Herein, we report practice-oriented answers to clinical questions that clinicians should be aware of when approaching patients with Barrett’s esophagus.
30 Years of Improved Survival in Non-Transplant-Eligible Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Chacon Aurelia , Leleu Xavier , Bobin Arthur
Published: March 2023

The treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) has greatly evolved these past few years. Recent advances in therapeutics have largely benefited elderly patients now renamed “non-transplant-eligible” (NTE) patients. Since the 1960s, and for several decades, chemotherapy was the only treatment for MM. Then, the field was marked by the emergence of targeted therapies in the 2000s, such as immunomodulating agents (thalidomide, lenalidomide, and pomalidomide) and proteasome inhibitors (bortezomib, carfilzomib, and ixazomib), which were the first steps towards an increase in survival. Thereafter, the apparition of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was considered a milestone in the treatment of MM for both transplant-eligible and NTE patients. Anti-CD38 mAbs can be safely administered to older patients with an impressive efficacy leading to a never-achieved-before survival rate with the triple association of anti-CD38 mAbs, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone. However, progress is still expected with the introduction in the armamentarium for NTE patients of the most recent innovative immunotherapy-based treatments newly introduced in MM, e.g., CAR-T cells and bispecific antibodies. These “improved versions” of immune-based treatments will probably also benefit NTE patients, although further studies will be needed to better understand their role in this population.
Catalytic Performance and Reaction Mechanisms of Ethyl Acetate Oxidation over the Au–Pd/TiO2 Catalysts
Authors: Bao Minming , Liu Yuxi , Deng Jiguang , Jing Lin , Hou Zhiquan , Wang Zhiwei , Wei Lu , Yu Xiaohui , Dai Hongxing
Published: March 2023

The development of efficient and stable catalysts is of great importance for the elimination of volatile organic pollutants (VOCs). In this work, AuPdx nanoparticles (NPs) were loaded on TiO2 through the electrostatic adsorption approach to generate the yAuPdx/TiO2 (i.e., 0.35AuPd0.46/TiO2, 0.34AuPd2.09/TiO2, and 0.37AuPd2.72/TiO2; x and y are Pd/Au molar ratio and AuPdx loading, respectively; x = 0.46–2.72; and y = 0.34–0.37 wt%) catalysts, and their catalytic activities for the oxidation of ethyl acetate were determined. The results showed that the 0.37AuPd2.72/TiO2 sample exhibited the best activity (T50% = 217 °C and T90% = 239 °C at SV = 40,000 mL/(g h), Ea = 37 kJ/mol, specific reaction rate at 220 °C = 113.8 µmol/(gPd s), and turnover frequency (TOFNoble metal) at 220 °C = 109.7 × 10−3 s−1). The high catalytic performance of the 0.37AuPd2.72/TiO2 sample was attributed to the good dispersion of AuPd2.72 NPs, the strong redox ability, the large ethyl acetate adsorption capacity, and the strong interaction between AuPdx and TiO2. Acetaldehyde, ethanol, and acetic acid are the main intermediates in the oxidation of ethyl acetate, and the loading of AuPdx NPs effectively reduces the formation of the toxic by-product acetaldehyde. The oxidation of ethyl acetate over the 0.34AuPd2.09/TiO2 sample might occur via the pathway of ethyl acetate → ethanol → acetic acid → acetate → CO2 and H2O. We believe that the obtained results may provide a useful idea for the design of bimetallic catalysts under industrial conditions and for understanding the VOCs oxidation mechanisms.
HTR1A, TPH2, and 5-HTTLPR Polymorphisms and Their Impact on the Severity of Depressive Symptoms and on the Concentration of Tryptophan Catabolites during Hepatitis C Treatment with Pegylated Interferon-α2a and Oral Ribavirin (PEG-IFN-α2a/RBV)
Authors: Pawlowski Tomasz , Malyszczak Krzysztof , Pawlak Dariusz , Inglot Małgorzata , Zalewska Małgorzata , Grzywacz Anna , Radkowski Marek , Laskus Tomasz , Janocha-Litwin Justyna , Frydecka Dorota
Published: March 2023

Background: Seeing that there are no data about associations between serotonin gene polymorphism and tryptophan catabolite concentration during PEG-IFN-α2a treatment, the aim of the current study is to examine (a) the associations between polymorphisms within the HTR1A, TPH2, and 5-HTT genes and the severity of depression symptoms and (b) the relationships among rs6295, rs4570625, and 5-HTTLPR rs25531polymorphisms and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) activity, as well as kynurenine (KYN), tryptophan (TRP), kynurenic acid (KA), and anthranilic acid (AA) concentrations. Materials and methods: The study followed a prospective, longitudinal, single-center cohort design. The severity of the depressive symptoms of 101 adult patients with chronic HCV infections was measured during PEG-IFN-α2a/RBV treatment. We used the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) to assess the severity of depressive symptoms. The subjects were evaluated six times—at baseline and at weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24. At all the time points, MADRS score, as well as KYN, TRP, KA, and AA concentrations, and IDO activity were measured. At baseline, rs6295, rs4570625, and 5-HTTLPR rs25531polymorphisms were assessed. Results: Subjects with C/C genotypes of 5-HT1A and lower-expressing alleles (S/S, LG/LG, and S/LG) of 5-HTTLPR scored the highest total MADRS scores and recorded the highest increase in MADRS scores during treatment. We found associations between TRP concentrations and the TPH-2 and 5-HTTLPR rs25531 genotypes. Conclusions: Our findings provide new data that we believe can help better understand infection-induced depression as a distinct type of depression.
Rotating Magnetic Field Mitigates Ankylosing Spondylitis Targeting Osteocytes and Chondrocytes via Ameliorating Immune Dysfunctions
Authors: Han Yu , Yang Hua , Hua Zhongke , Nie Shenglan , Xu Shuling , Zhou Cai , Chen Fengyi , Li Mengqing , Yu Qinyao , Sun Yang , Wei Yunpeng , Wang Xiaomei
Published: March 2023

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is clinically characterized by bone fusion that is induced by the pathological formation of extra bone. Unfortunately, the fundamental mechanism and related therapies remain unclear. The loss of SHP-2 (encoded by Ptpn11) in CD4-Cre;Ptpn11f/f mice resulted in the induction of AS-like pathological characteristics, including spontaneous cartilage and bone lesions, kyphosis, and arthritis. Hence, this mouse was utilized as an AS model in this study. As one of the basic physical fields, the magnetic field (MF) has been proven to be an effective treatment method for articular cartilage degeneration. In this study, the effects of a rotating magnetic field (RMF; 0.2 T, 4 Hz) on an AS-like mouse model were investigated. The RMF treatment (2 h/d, 0.2 T, 4 Hz) was performed on AS mice from two months after birth until the day before sampling. The murine specimens were subjected to transcriptomics, immunomics, and metabolomics analyses, combined with molecular and pathological experiments. The results demonstrated that the mitigation of inflammatory deterioration resulted in an increase in functional osteogenesis and a decrease in dysfunctional osteolysis due to the maintenance of bone homeostasis via the RANKL/RANK/OPG signaling pathway. Additionally, by regulating the ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells, RMF treatment rebalanced the immune microenvironment in skeletal tissue. It has been observed that RMF interventions have the potential to alleviate AS, including by decreasing pathogenicity and preventing disease initiation. Consequently, RMF, as a moderately physical therapeutic strategy, could be considered to alleviate the degradation of cartilage and bone tissue in AS and as a potential option to halt the progression of AS.
Exercise in Adolescence Enhances Callosal White Matter Refinement in the Female Brain in a Rat Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Milbocker Katrina A. , Smith Ian F. , Brengel Eric K. , LeBlanc Gillian L. , Roth Tania L. , Klintsova Anna Y.
Published: March 2023

A total of 1 in 20 infants born annually are exposed to alcohol prenatally, which disrupts neurodevelopment and results in several disorders categorized under the umbrella term Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Children and adolescents affected by FASD exhibit delayed maturation of cerebral white matter, which contributes to deficits in executive function, visuospatial processing, sensory integration, and interhemispheric communication. Research using animal models of FASD have uncovered that oligoglia proliferation, differentiation, and survival are vulnerable to alcohol teratogenesis in the male brain due in part to the activation of the neuroimmune system during gestation and infancy. A comprehensive investigation of prenatal alcohol exposure on white matter development in the female brain is limited. This study demonstrated that the number of mature oligodendrocytes and the production of myelin basic protein were reduced first in the female corpus callosum following alcohol exposure in a rat model of FASD. Analysis of myelin-related genes confirmed that myelination occurs earlier in the female corpus callosum compared to their counterparts, irrespective of postnatal treatment. Moreover, dysregulated oligodendrocyte number and myelin basic protein production was observed in the male and female FASD brain in adolescence. Targeted interventions that support white matter development in FASD-affected youth are nonexistent. The capacity for an adolescent exercise intervention to upregulate corpus callosum myelination was evaluated: we discovered that volunteer exercise increases the number of mature oligodendrocytes in alcohol-exposed female rats. This study provides critical evidence that oligoglia differentiation is difficult but not impossible to induce in the female FASD brain in adolescence following a behavioral intervention.
Cirrhotic Liver Sustains In Situ Regeneration of Acellular Liver Scaffolds after Transplantation into G-CSF-Treated Animals
Authors: Dias Marlon Lemos , Wajsenzon Inês Julia Ribas , Alves Gabriel Bastos Naves , Paranhos Bruno Andrade , Andrade Cherley Borba Vieira , Siqueira Monteiro Victoria Regina , de Sousa Raysa Maria Reis , da Silva Pereira Evelyn Nunes Goulart , Rodrigues Karine Lino , Daliry Anissa , Mello Debora Bastos , Coeli dos Santos Goldenberg Regina
Published: March 2023

Acellular liver scaffolds (ALS) produced by decellularization have been successfully explored for distinct regenerative purposes. To date, it is unknown whether transplanted ALSs are affected by cirrhotic livers, either becoming cirrhotic themselves or instead remaining as a robust template for healthy cell growth after transplantation into cirrhotic rats. Moreover, little is known about the clinical course of recipient cirrhotic livers after ALS transplantation. To address these questions, we transplanted ALSs into cirrhotic rats previously treated with the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Here, we report successful cellular engraftment within the transplanted ALSs at 7, 15, and 30 days after transplantation. Recellularization was orchestrated by liver tissue cell activation, resident hepatocytes and bile duct proliferation, and an immune response mediated by the granulocyte components. Furthermore, we showed that transplanted ALSs ensured a pro-regenerative and anti-inflammatory microenvironment, attracted vessels from the host cirrhotic tissue, and promoted progenitor cell recruitment. ALS transplantation induced cirrhotic liver regeneration and extracellular matrix remodeling. Moreover, the transplanted ALS sustained blood circulation and attenuated alterations in the ultrasonographic and biochemical parameters in cirrhotic rats. Taken together, our results confirm that transplanted ALSs are not affected by cirrhotic livers and remain a robust template for healthy cell growth and stimulated cirrhotic liver regeneration.
An Example of Neuro-Glial Commitment and Differentiation of Muse Stem Cells Obtained from Patients with IQSEC2-Related Neural Disorder: A Possible New Cell-Based Disease Model
Authors: Al Sammarraie Sura Hilal Ahmed , Aprile Domenico , Meloni Ilaria , Alessio Nicola , Mari Francesca , Manata Marianna , Lo Rizzo Caterina , Di Bernardo Giovanni , Peluso Gianfranco , Renieri Alessandra , Galderisi Umberto
Published: March 2023

Although adult stem cells may be useful for studying tissue-specific diseases, they cannot be used as a general model for investigating human illnesses given their limited differentiation potential. Multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) stem cells, a SSEA3(+) cell population isolated from mesenchymal stromal cells, fat, and skin fibroblasts, may be able to overcome that restriction. The Muse cells present in fibroblast cultures obtained from biopsies of patients’ skin may be differentiated into cells of interest for analyzing diseases. We isolated Muse stem cells from patients with an intellectual disability (ID) and mutations in the IQSEC2 gene (i.e., BRAG1 gene) and induced in vitro neuroglial differentiation to study cell commitment and the differentiation of neural lineages. The neuroglial differentiation of Muse cells revealed that IQSEC2 mutations may alter the self-renewal and lineage specification of stem cells. We observed a decrease in the percentage of SOX2 (+) neural stem cells and neural progenitors (i.e., SOX2+ and NESTIN+) in cultures obtained from Muse cells with the mutated IQSEC2 gene. The alteration in the number of stem cells and progenitors produced a bias toward the astrocytes’ differentiation. Our research demonstrates that Muse stem cells may represent a new cell-based disease model.
Effect of Process Parameters on Electrodeposition Process of Co-Mo Alloy Coatings
Authors: Nan Xiang , Wang Fu , Xin Sensen , Zhu Xuewei , Zhou Qiongyu
Published: March 2023

Plating bath composition, temperature, current density, and pH have a great influence on the properties of a Co-Mo alloy coating. However, these conclusions are obtained from the perspective of test results. Most of the factors that affect the properties of the coating operate by interfering with the electrodeposition process. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the kinetics of the electrodeposition process. To further study the influence of process parameters on the deposition process of Co-Mo alloy coatings, cyclic voltammetry (CV), scanning linear voltammetry (LSV), and electrochemical impedance testing (EIS) were used to study the deposition kinetics of Co-Mo alloy coatings. The results show that with the increase in sodium molybdate content in the plating solution, more Mo elements are involved in the deposition process. At the same time, a higher Mo element content can reduce the dissolution of the coating as the anode and improve the service life of the coating, but too high a Mo element content will lead to cracks on the surface of the coating. The deposition temperature will affect the processes of reduction deposition and oxidation dissolution of the coating. The pH of the plating bath will directly affect the reduction reaction process of MoO42− ions in the plating bath. With the increase in the pH value, the reduction reaction rate of MoO42− ions decreases, and the cathodic reduction reaction current density decreases. At the same time, the peak current density of anodizing decreases with the decrease in the pH value of the plating solution, indicating that the alkaline plating solution has an inhibitory effect on the plating dissolution process.
Preparation of a Flexible Reduced Graphene Oxide-Si Composite Film and Its Application in High-Performance Lithium Ion Batteries
Authors: Chu Zhaoyun , Zhao Xiangchuan , Wang Qi , Bao Tianshuang , Li Hongxiang , Cao Yue , Zhang Boming , Cao Jun , Si Weimeng
Published: March 2023

This paper describes a strategy for preparing free-standing reduced graphene oxide@Si nanoparticles (rGO@Si NPs) composite membranes. Graphene oxide (GO) was reduced and self-assembled synchronously with nanoparticles of silicon (Si NPs) on a metal surface and the composite film was subsequently used in a lithium-ion battery (LIB). This work describes several important novel aspects of the reported technology. Firstly, the composite membrane has a flexible self-supporting structure, allowing it to function as an anode material without requiring binders and current collectors. Secondly, the successful assembly of Si NPs and reduced Graphene oxide (rGO) sheets has enabled the production of the rGO@Si NPs composite film with high controllability and orderliness. Thirdly, the conductive nature of graphene has significantly decreased the resistivity while enhancing the electron transport capacity of the battery anode. Lastly, the robust and flexible structure of the graphene sheet has greatly mitigated the large volume variation in Si NPs during charging or discharging, resulting in the rGO@Si NPs composite film exhibiting excellent energy density and high-power density.