bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Properties with Involved Mechanisms of Eugenia involucrata DC Fruits
Authors: Mannino Giuseppe , Serio Graziella , Asteggiano Alberto , Gatti Noemi , Bertea Cinzia M. , Medana Claudio , Gentile Carla
Published: September 2022

In this study, the phytochemical profile and the antioxidative properties of Eugenia involucrata fruits were evaluated. Spectrophotometric assays indicated that these berries are a rich source of polyphenols with very high radical-scavenging and metal-reducing activities. High-performance liquid chromatography–Orbitrap analysis was able to carry out the annotation of 36 different compounds, mainly belonging to the flavonol, flavan-3-ol, and anthocyanin families. Antioxidant activity of the fruit extract was evaluated in a cell-based lipid peroxidation model. Obtained data showed that the extract, at very low concentration, was able to prevent oxidative damage in HepG2 cells exposed to oxidative stimuli. Moreover, the evaluation of the gene expression of the most important antioxidant enzymes suggested that the observed antioxidant protection in cells also involves an improvement in enzymatic antioxidant defenses. Finally, the collected data show that E. involucrata fruits are a good source of natural antioxidant molecules and provide evidence of their potential application in the nutraceutical field.
Lentinula edodes, a Novel Source of Polysaccharides with Antioxidant Power
Authors: Muñoz-Castiblanco Tatiana , Mejía-Giraldo Juan Camilo , Puertas-Mejía Miguel Ángel
Published: September 2022

The fruiting bodies of edible mushrooms represent an important source of biologically active polysaccharides. In this study, Lentinula edodes crude polysaccharides (LECP) were extracted in hot water, and their antioxidant and antiradical activities were investigated. The antioxidant activity of LECP was investigated against reactive species such as 1,1’-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid, hydroxyl and superoxide anion radicals, reducing power with EC50 values of 0.51, 0.52, 2.19, 3.59 and 1.73 mg/mL, respectively. Likewise, LECP inhibited the lipid peroxidation induced in methyl linoleate through the formation of conjugated diene hydroperoxide and malondialdehyde. The main sugar composition of LECP includes mannose, galactose, glucose, fucose and glucuronic acid. Characterization by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance determined that LECP was made up of α and β glycosidic bonds with a backbone of α-D-Glc, →6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→, →6)-α-D-Galp-(1→ and β-D-Manp-(1→ residues. The results showed that LECP can scavenge all reactive species tested in a concentration-dependent manner and with a protective effect in the initial and final stages of lipid peroxidation. The natural antioxidant activity of the LECP that was investigated strengthens the high medicinal and nutritional value of this mushroom.
Deep Residual Learning for Image Recognition: A Survey
Authors: Shafiq Muhammad , Gu Zhaoquan
Published: September 2022

Deep Residual Networks have recently been shown to significantly improve the performance of neural networks trained on ImageNet, with results beating all previous methods on this dataset by large margins in the image classification task. However, the meaning of these impressive numbers and their implications for future research are not fully understood yet. In this survey, we will try to explain what Deep Residual Networks are, how they achieve their excellent results, and why their successful implementation in practice represents a significant advance over existing techniques. We also discuss some open questions related to residual learning as well as possible applications of Deep Residual Networks beyond ImageNet. Finally, we discuss some issues that still need to be resolved before deep residual learning can be applied on more complex problems.
Relationship between Unilateral Leg Extension Strength and Dynamic Balance in Healthy Young Men
Authors: Cinarli Fahri Safa , Adanur Oğuzhan , Esen Ozcan , Barasinska Magdalena , Cepicka Ladislav , Gabrys Tomasz , Karayigit Raci
Published: September 2022

It is well known that the quadriceps muscle group is involved in activity during dynamic balance and that dynamic balance tests are an important feedback tool for predicting lower limb injuries. However, the relationship between maximum leg extension strength and performance in the Y Balance Test is not fully known. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between unilateral leg extension strength and dynamic balance in healthy young men. The study was conducted as a cross-sectional study. A total of 33 healthy men (mean age ± standard deviation = 21.21 ± 1.24 years) volunteered for this study. The participants’ dynamic balance was determined with the Y Balance Test and unilateral one repetition maximum strength was determined by the leg extension machine. The same side was preferred for strength and dynamic balance measurements. Normalized reach, composite score, and absolute and relative strength values were analyzed for correlations. Linear regression analysis was used to determine whether strength values predicted the results of the Y Balance Test. There was a positive linear correlation between the strength values and normalized reach distances and composite scores (r ranges from 0.466 to 0.757; p < 0.01). The coefficients of determination showed that dynamic balance and strength (absolute and relative) performance are not independent parameters in healthy young men (r2 = 21–57% explained variance). It was also found that strength values (absolute and relative) can predict balance. Our study confirmed the relationship between strength and dynamic balance. It can be said that especially the strength of the lower extremity has an acceptable effect on dynamic balance.
Oral Lesions in Pediatric Subjects: SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19 Vaccination
Authors: Di Spirito Federica , Caggiano Mario , Di Palo Maria Pia , Contaldo Maria , D’Ambrosio Francesco , Martina Stefano , Amato Alessandra
Published: September 2022

A plethora of systemic manifestations of COVID-19 and adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines have been described in pediatric subjects. Therefore, the present systematic review primarily aimed to assess the prevalence and macro-microscopic features of oral lesions following SARS-CoV-2 infection, grading primary oral lesions based on COVID-19 forms, in pediatric subjects. The secondary aim was to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical appearance, and histopathology of oral lesions following the WHO Emergency Use Listing approved and EMA authorized vaccines, in relation to cases and vaccine characteristics. The study protocol was compliant with the PRISMA statement and registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022351821). Case reports, case series, and observational studies were electronically searched till 27 July 2022, on MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane library databases, and the PROSPERO register. Data from nine studies describing oral lesions following viral infection and two records reporting oral lesions following vaccine administration, evaluated through the ROBINS-I tool for quality, were independently extracted and qualitatively synthesized, resulting in scarce, jeopardized, and incomplete findings. Since most of the rare lesions recorded were a part of broad-spectrum systemic disorders and syndromes and, thus. undetailed or nonspecific, further studies should assess oral lesions following SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination in pediatric subjects, considering novel viral variants and newly developing vaccines.
Comparative Study of Moodle Plugins to Facilitate the Adoption of Computer-Based Assessments
Authors: Huerta Milagros , Caballero-Hernández Juan Antonio , Fernández-Ruiz Manuel Alejandro
Published: September 2022

The use of Learning Management Systems (LMS) has had rapid growth over the last decades. Great efforts have been recently made to assess online students’ performance level, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Faculty members with limited experience in the use of LMS such as Moodle, Edmodo, MOOC, Blackboard and Google Classroom face challenges creating online tests. This paper presents a descriptive and comparative study of the existing plugins used to import questions into Moodle, classifying them according to the necessary computing resources. Each of the classifications were compared and ranked, and features such as the support for gamification and the option to create parameterised questions are explored. Parameterised questions can generate a large number of different questions, which is very useful for large classes and avoids fraudulent behaviour. The paper outlines an open-source plugin developed by the authors: FastTest PlugIn, recently approved by Moodle. FastTest PlugIn is a promising alternative to mitigate the detected limitations in analysed plugins. FastTest PlugIn was validated in seminars with 230 faculty members, obtaining positive results about expectations and potential recommendations. The features of the main alternative plugins are discussed and compared, describing the potential advantages of FastTest PlugIn.
Post-Buckling Behaviour of Steel Structures with Different Types of Imperfections
Authors: Rzeszut Katarzyna
Published: September 2022

In this paper, the stability of steel members with a complex initial geometrical imperfection pattern are analysed. This issue is extremely important in the case of slender structures, characterised by multiple close critical loads and modal interactions, which can lead to unstable post-critical paths and imperfection sensitivity. Despite the fact that the loss of stability, as a result of complex geometrical imperfections, is a very common mechanism for the destruction of slender steel structures, there is still no unambiguous and adequate research in the literature and in scientific research taking into account multimodal buckling. Therefore, in this study, special attention was focused on the analysis of the equilibrium path of the structure in the pre- and post-buckling range. This was studied by introducing a model of a structure composed of four rigid bars connected by elastic nodes. For this model, as well as for the structure with and without initial geometrical imperfections, a set of nonlinear algebraic equations of equilibrium was developed. A complex pattern of imperfections was taken into account using a linear superposition of buckling modes obtained from a linear eigenvalue problem. In order to investigate the nature of bifurcation points, the concept of minimum of potential energy was adopted. By means of numerous examples, the influence of imperfections on the structural behaviour was discussed. It was found that, for special imperfection patterns, an increase in the amplitude of initial geometrical imperfection can result in an increase in the value of the critical load defining the bifurcation point. In these cases, initial geometrical imperfections can play a positive role, resulting in stable post-buckling behaviour. This phenomenon corresponds with the so-called “modal nudging” which aims to improve the buckling response of slender elastic structures by introducing a small disturbance in the primary geometry of the structure, which results in equilibrium paths of greater load-carrying capacity. Among other observations, a snap-through phenomenon caused by transition from the local to the global minimum of potential energy was also noted. The observed snap-through was caused by the specific configuration of initial geometrical imperfections, which in this case played quite a dangerous role. It should be emphasised that the proposed model structure allows for a full description of the post-critical behaviour and a trace of the influence of complex imperfection configurations in a simple and clear manner.
Special Issue on Mathematics and Digital Signal Processing
Authors: Lyakhov Pavel
Published: September 2022

Modern computer technology has opened up new opportunities for the development of digital signal processing methods [...]
Numerical and Experimental Investigation of Recycled Brick Coarse Aggregate Concrete
Authors: Ji Yongcheng , Wang Dayang , Wang Lifeng
Published: September 2022

This paper investigates the mechanical and micro-interfacial properties of recycled concrete. Concrete specimens with recycled brick coarse aggregate (RBCA) admixtures of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% were prepared. Apparent density, slump, and mechanical tests were carried out to evaluate the properties and behavior of the recycled concrete. The evolution laws of parameters such as compressive strength, peak strain, and elastic modulus of the recycled concrete specimens were tested and analyzed. Combined with numerical analysis, the stress distribution and damage propagation process of recycled concrete specimens with different RBCA contents were revealed. Furthermore, the RBCA content parameters and the thickness of the interface transition zone were analyzed to predict the mechanical behavior of RBCA concrete. The results show that the slump of fresh recycled concrete is less than 50 mm when the content of RBCA exceeds 50%. The apparent density of concrete is 15.55% lower than that of ordinary concrete when the content of RBCA is 100%. The cube compressive strength of RBCA concrete decreases with increased RBCA content. With increasing RBCA substitution rate, the internal cracks change from discrete to concentrated. The substitution rate of RBCA and thickness of the interfacial transition zone are negatively correlated with compressive strength and positively correlated with elastic modulus and peak stress.
Application of a 3D-Printed Writing–Typing Assistive Device in Patients with Cervical Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Kim Ji Hwan , Yang Hee Seung , Han Seung Hyun , Lee Byung Min , Lee Youn Kyung , Sim Woo Sob , Park Gwan Su , Lee Seul Bin Na , Jo Min
Published: September 2022

The current study aimed to assess the effects of a customized three-dimensional (3D) printed writing and typing assistive device in patients with cervical spinal cord injury who presented with severe hand dysfunction. Three patients with cervical spinal cord injury who presented with severe hand dysfunction were included in the analysis. The patients’ writing and typing abilities were evaluated after using the silicon assistive device made from a 3D-printed frame for 4 weeks. Patient discomfort and issues were evaluated. Customized 3D-printed writing and typing assistive devices were developed. The Korean Western Aphasia Battery (K-WAB), particularly the writing part, and the word practice program of Hangeul were utilized to assess device effects. All patients with cervical spinal cord injuries (SCIs) performed writing or typing using a customized assistive device. Patients 2 and 3 had better typing and writing accuracies based on the word practice program of Hangeul and the K-WAB, respectively. However, patient 3 had increased time, which was associated with the process of adapting to the use of the customized device. Nevertheless, he was highly satisfied with the device. The patient’s typing and writing speed and accuracy improve with the customized 3D-printed device, which can lead to a better performance in the activities of daily living.
Dimensionality Reduction by Similarity Distance-Based Hypergraph Embedding
Authors: Shen Xingchen , Fang Shixu , Qiang Wenwen
Published: September 2022

Dimensionality reduction (DR) is an essential pre-processing step for hyperspectral image processing and analysis. However, the complex relationship among several sample clusters, which reveals more intrinsic information about samples but cannot be reflected through a simple graph or Euclidean distance, is worth paying attention to. For this purpose, we propose a novel similarity distance-based hypergraph embedding method (SDHE) for hyperspectral images DR. Unlike conventional graph embedding-based methods that only consider the affinity between two samples, SDHE takes advantage of hypergraph embedding to describe the complex sample relationships in high order. Besides, we propose a novel similarity distance instead of Euclidean distance to measure the affinity between samples for the reason that the similarity distance not only discovers the complicated geometrical structure information but also makes use of the local distribution information. Finally, based on the similarity distance, SDHE aims to find the optimal projection that can preserve the local distribution information of sample sets in a low-dimensional subspace. The experimental results in three hyperspectral image data sets demonstrate that our SDHE acquires more efficient performance than other state-of-the-art DR methods, which improve by at least 2% on average.
Microwave Radiation Associated with Lightning Initiation Events of Negative Cloud-to-Ground Flashes
Authors: Sabri Muhammad Haziq Mohammad , Alkahtani Ammar Ahmed , Ahmad Mohd Riduan , Baharin Shamsul Ammar Shamsul , Lu Gaopeng , Kawasaki Zen , Cooray Vernon
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we examined the initiation events of ten negative cloud-to-ground (CG) flashes detected close to measurement stations on 12 November (CG-1 to CG-5) and 24 November (CG-6 to CG-10), 2019. All CG flashes were accompanied by microwave and very-high frequency (VHF) radiation pulses. We recorded all the CG flashes from two measurement stations (ST1 and ST2), which are separated by 13.3 km and consist of fast and slow antenna (FA and SA) sensors, a magnetic field (B-field) sensor, a VHF sensor (60 MHz), and a microwave sensor (~1 GHz). The key finding is that all of the microwave radiation pulses detected before the onset of initial electric field changes (IECs) preceded all VHF radiation pulses with an average lead time of 1.53 µs, ranging between 0.3 and 3.0 µs (for all CG flashes within reversal distance). A total of 50%, 17%, and 33% CG flashes were initiated by a single radiation pulse, two radiation pulses, and three radiation pulses, respectively, and were followed by IECs. Some VHF pulses are classified as short VHF radiation pulses (pulse duration less than 0.5 µs). The average duration from the first microwave and VHF pulses to the onset of IECs were 53.4 µs and 32.78 µs, respectively. The VHF radiation pulses detected before the IECs are suggested to be emitted by short-length positive streamers. Because the microwave radiation pulses were detected earlier (average lead time of 1.53 µs) than VHF radiation pulses, it is most likely that the microwave pulses were emitted by an electron avalanche process.
Dependence of the Index of Biologically Active Ultraviolet Radiation on the Season and Time of Day
Authors: Bojilova Rumiana , Mukhtarov Plamen , Miloshev Nikolay
Published: September 2022

In the present work, the data from the monitoring of the biologically active ultraviolet (UV) radiation of the Sun at the National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences for the period 2007–2021 were used. Based on the data analysis, a statistical method is proposed for determining the UV radiation index values in clear weather. As a result, estimated values of the UV-Index for each day of the year and for each hour are obtained, which can be used for predicting when reporting the cloud forecast. In the present paper, the applicability of the theoretical dependence of the UV-Index on the square of the cosine of the zenith angle of the Sun is investigated. The seasonal dependence of UV-Index values at fixed zenith angles of the Sun is discussed. Through regression analysis, the influence of the Total Ozone Column (TOC) and the concentration of particulate matter with d < 10 μm (PM10) on the UV-Index in the conditions of the city of Sofia was investigated. Explanations of the obtained results are offered.
A New Method for the Evaluation and Visualization of Air Pollutant Level Predictions
Authors: Faganeli Pucer Jana
Published: September 2022

Accurately predicting air pollutant levels is very important for mitigating their effects. Prediction models usually fail to predict sudden large increases or decreases in pollutant levels. Conventional measures for the assessment of the performance of air pollutant prediction models provide an overall assessment of model behavior, but do not explicitly address model behavior when large changes are observed. In our work, we propose a method to automatically label the observed large changes. We also propose two visualization methods and two measures that can help assess model performance when sudden large changes in pollutant levels occur. The developed measures enable the assessment of model performance only for large changes (MAE of large changes), or weigh the model residuals by the rate of change (WErr), making the evaluation measures “cost-sensitive”. To show the value of the novel evaluation and visualization methods, we employ them in the evaluation of three empirical examples—different statistical models used in real-life settings and a popular atmospheric dispersion model. The proposed visualizations and measures can be a valuable complement to conventional model assessment measures when the prediction of large changes is as important as (even if they are rare) or more important than predictions of other levels.
Entire Symmetric Functions on the Space of Essentially Bounded Integrable Functions on the Union of Lebesgue-Rohlin Spaces
Authors: Vasylyshyn Taras , Zhyhallo Kostiantyn
Published: September 2022

The class of measure spaces which can be represented as unions of Lebesgue-Rohlin spaces with continuous measures contains a lot of important examples, such as Rn for any n∈N with the Lebesgue measure. In this work we consider symmetric functions on Banach spaces of all complex-valued integrable essentially bounded functions on such unions. We construct countable algebraic bases of algebras of continuous symmetric polynomials on these Banach spaces. The completions of such algebras of polynomials are Fréchet algebras of all complex-valued entire symmetric functions of bounded type on the abovementioned Banach spaces. We show that each such Fréchet algebra is isomorphic to the Fréchet algebra of all complex-valued entire symmetric functions of bounded type on the complex Banach space of all complex-valued essentially bounded functions on [0,1].
Battery Management, Key Technologies, Methods, Issues, and Future Trends of Electric Vehicles: A Pathway toward Achieving Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Lipu Molla Shahadat Hossain , Mamun Abdullah Al , Ansari Shaheer , Miah Md. Sazal , Hasan Kamrul , Meraj Sheikh T. , Abdolrasol Maher G. M. , Rahman Tuhibur , Maruf Md. Hasan , Sarker Mahidur R. , Aljanad A. , Tan Nadia M. L.
Published: September 2022

Recently, electric vehicle (EV) technology has received massive attention worldwide due to its improved performance efficiency and significant contributions to addressing carbon emission problems. In line with that, EVs could play a vital role in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). However, EVs face some challenges such as battery health degradation, battery management complexities, power electronics integration, and appropriate charging strategies. Therefore, further investigation is essential to select appropriate battery storage and management system, technologies, algorithms, controllers, and optimization schemes. Although numerous studies have been carried out on EV technology, the state-of-the-art technology, progress, limitations, and their impacts on achieving SDGs have not yet been examined. Hence, this review paper comprehensively and critically describes the various technological advancements of EVs, focusing on key aspects such as storage technology, battery management system, power electronics technology, charging strategies, methods, algorithms, and optimizations. Moreover, numerous open issues, challenges, and concerns are discussed to identify the existing research gaps. Furthermore, this paper develops the relationship between EVs benefits and SDGs concerning social, economic, and environmental impacts. The analysis reveals that EVs have a substantial influence on various goals of sustainable development, such as affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, industry, economic growth, and climate actions. Lastly, this review delivers fruitful and effective suggestions for future enhancement of EV technology that would be beneficial to the EV engineers and industrialists to develop efficient battery storage, charging approaches, converters, controllers, and optimizations toward targeting SDGs.
Modelling and Estimation of Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries: A Review
Authors: Puleston Thomas , Clemente Alejandro , Costa-Castelló Ramon , Serra Maria
Published: September 2022

Redox flow batteries are one of the most promising technologies for large-scale energy storage, especially in applications based on renewable energies. In this context, considerable efforts have been made in the last few years to overcome the limitations and optimise the performance of this technology, aiming to make it commercially competitive. From the monitoring point of view, one of the biggest challenges is the estimation of the system internal states, such as the state of charge and the state of health, given the complexity of obtaining such information directly from experimental measures. Therefore, many proposals have been recently developed to get rid of such inconvenient measurements and, instead, utilise an algorithm that makes use of a mathematical model in order to rely only on easily measurable variables such as the system’s voltage and current. This review provides a comprehensive study of the different types of dynamic models available in the literature, together with an analysis of the existing model-based estimation strategies. Finally, a discussion about the remaining challenges and possible future research lines on this field is presented.
Respiratory-Induced Amplitude Modulation of Forcecardiography Signals
Authors: Centracchio Jessica , Andreozzi Emilio , Esposito Daniele , Gargiulo Gaetano D.
Published: September 2022

Forcecardiography (FCG) is a novel technique that records the weak forces induced on the chest wall by cardio-respiratory activity, by using specific force sensors. FCG sensors feature a wide frequency band, which allows us to capture respiration, heart wall motion, heart valves opening and closing (similar to the Seismocardiogram, SCG) and heart sounds, all simultaneously from a single contact point on the chest. As a result, the raw FCG sensors signals exhibit a large component related to the respiratory activity, referred to as a Forcerespirogram (FRG), with a much smaller, superimposed component related to the cardiac activity (the actual FCG) that contains both infrasonic vibrations, referred to as LF-FCG and HF-FCG, and heart sounds. Although respiration can be readily monitored by extracting the very low-frequency component of the raw FCG signal (FRG), it has been observed that the respiratory activity also influences other FCG components, particularly causing amplitude modulations (AM). This preliminary study aimed to assess the consistency of the amplitude modulations of the LF-FCG and HF-FCG signals within the respiratory cycle. A retrospective analysis was performed on the FCG signals acquired in a previous study on six healthy subjects at rest, during quiet breathing. To this aim, the AM of LF-FCG and HF-FCG were first extracted via a linear envelope (LE) operation, consisting of rectification followed by low-pass filtering; then, the inspiratory peaks were located both in the LE of LF-FCG and HF-FCG, and in the reference respiratory signal (FRG). Finally, the inter-breath intervals were extracted from the obtained inspiratory peaks, and further analyzed via statistical analyses. The AM of HF-FCG exhibited higher consistency within the respiratory cycle, as compared to the LF-FCG. Indeed, the inspiratory peaks were recognized with a sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) in excess of 99% in the LE of HF-FCG, and with a sensitivity and PPV of 96.7% and 92.6%, respectively, in the LE of LF-FCG. In addition, the inter-breath intervals estimated from the HF-FCG scored a higher R2 value (0.95 vs. 0.86) and lower limits of agreement (± 0.710 s vs. ±1.34 s) as compared to LF-FCG, by considering those extracted from the FRG as the reference. The obtained results are consistent with those observed in previous studies on SCG. A possible explanation of these results was discussed. However, the preliminary results obtained in this study must be confirmed on a larger cohort of subjects and in different experimental conditions.
An Investigation of Left Ventricular Valve Disorders and the Mechano-Electric Feedback Using a Synergistic Lumped Parameter Cardiovascular Numerical Model
Authors: Pearce Nicholas , Kim Eun-jin
Published: September 2022

Cardiac diseases and failure make up one of largest contributions to global mortality and significantly detriment the quality of life for millions of others. Disorders in the valves of the left ventricle are a prominent example of heart disease, with prolapse, regurgitation, and stenoses—the three main valve disorders. It is widely known that mitral valve prolapse increases the susceptibility to cardiac arrhythmia. Here, we investigate stenoses and regurgitation of the mitral and aortic valves in the left ventricle using a synergistic low-order numerical model. The model synergy derives from the incorporation of the mechanical, chemical, and electrical elements. As an alternative framework to the time-varying elastance (TVE) method, it allows feedback mechanisms at work in the heart to be considered. The TVE model imposes the ventricular pressure–volume relationship using a periodic function rather than calculating it consistently. Using our synergistic approach, the effects of valve disorders on the mechano-electric-feedback (MEF) are investigated. The MEF is the influence of cellular mechanics on the electrical activity, and significantly contributes to the generation of arrhythmia. We further investigate stenoses and regurgitation of the mitral and aortic valves and their relationship with the MEF and generation of arrhythmia. Mitral valve stenosis is found to increase the sensitivity to arrhythmia-stimulating systolic stretch, and reduces the sensitivity to diastolic stretch. Aortic valve stenosis does not change the sensitivity to arrhythmia-stimulating stretch, and regurgitation reduces it. A key result is found when valve regurgitation is accompanied by diastolic stretch. In the presence of MEF disorder, ectopic beats become far more frequent when accompanied by valve regurgitation. Therefore, arrhythmia resulting from a disorder in the MEF will be more severe when valve regurgitation is present.
Molecular Determinants Underlying the Anti-Cancer Efficacy of CD38 Monoclonal Antibodies in Hematological Malignancies
Authors: Mustafa Nurulhuda , Azaman Muhamad Irfan , Ng Giselle G. K. , Chng Wee Joo
Published: September 2022

CD38 was first discovered as a T-cell antigen and has since been found ubiquitously expressed in various hematopoietic cells, including plasma cells, NK cells, B cells, and granulocytes. More importantly, CD38 expression levels on malignant hematopoietic cells are significantly higher than counterpart healthy cells, thus presenting itself as a promising therapeutic target. In fact, for many aggressive hematological cancers, including CLL, DLBCL, T-ALL, and NKTL, CD38 expression is significantly associated with poorer prognosis and a hyperproliferative or metastatic phenotype. Studies have shown that, beyond being a biomarker, CD38 functionally mediates dysregulated survival, adhesion, and migration signaling pathways, as well as promotes an immunosuppressive microenvironment conducive for tumors to thrive. Thus, targeting CD38 is a rational approach to overcoming these malignancies. However, clinical trials have surprisingly shown that daratumumab monotherapy has not been very effective in these other blood malignancies. Furthermore, extensive use of daratumumab in MM is giving rise to a subset of patients now refractory to daratumumab treatment. Thus, it is important to consider factors modulating the determinants of response to CD38 targeting across different blood malignancies, encompassing both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels so that we can diversify the strategy to enhance daratumumab therapeutic efficacy, which can ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Enhanced Recovery Care versus Traditional Care after Surgery in Pediatric Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Retrospective Case-Control Study
Authors: Dipasquale Valeria , Laganà Francesca , Arrigo Serena , Trimarchi Giuseppe , Romeo Carmelo , Navarra Giuseppe , Mattioli Girolamo , Gandullia Paolo , Romano Claudio
Published: September 2022

This study reports the outcomes of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) surgery. Children who underwent surgery for IBD at two academic referral centers from January 2016 to June 2021 were included. Preoperative counseling, early enteral feeding (Impact®, Nestlé Health Science, and early mobilization were all part of the ERAS protocol. The outcomes (timing of first defecation, postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay (LOS)) were compared to traditional perioperative regimens (non-ERAS group). Thirty-three children who had 61 abdominal surgeries for IBD were included. Forty (65.5%) surgical procedures were included in the non-ERAS group, and 21 (34.5%) were included in the ERAS group. The postoperative complication rate was significantly lower in the ERAS group than in the non-ERAS group (29.6% vs. 55%, p = 0.049). The first defecation occurred earlier in the ERAS group than in the non-ERAS group (p < 0.001). There was no significant intergroup difference in the LOS. The implementation of ERAS in pediatric IBD surgery resulted in better outcomes than traditional perioperative care, especially in terms of postoperative complication rate and bowel function recovery. Further pediatric studies are needed to validate these findings and support ERAS application in children.
Combination Strategies of Different Antimicrobials: An Efficient and Alternative Tool for Pathogen Inactivation
Authors: Basavegowda Nagaraj , Baek Kwang-Hyun
Published: September 2022

Despite the discovery and development of an array of antimicrobial agents, multidrug resistance poses a major threat to public health and progressively increases mortality. Recently, several studies have focused on developing promising solutions to overcome these problems. This has led to the development of effective alternative methods of controlling antibiotic-resistant pathogens. The use of antimicrobial agents in combination can produce synergistic effects if each drug invades a different target or signaling pathway with a different mechanism of action. Therefore, drug combinations can achieve a higher probability and selectivity of therapeutic responses than single drugs. In this systematic review, we discuss the combined effects of different antimicrobial agents, such as plant extracts, essential oils, and nanomaterials. Furthermore, we review their synergistic interactions and antimicrobial activities with the mechanism of action, toxicity, and future directions of different antimicrobial agents in combination. Upon combination at an optimum synergistic ratio, two or more drugs can have a significantly enhanced therapeutic effect at lower concentrations. Hence, using drug combinations could be a new, simple, and effective alternative to solve the problem of antibiotic resistance and reduce susceptibility.
Two Loci Contribute to Age-Related Hearing Loss Resistance in the Japanese Wild-Derived Inbred MSM/Ms Mice
Authors: Yasuda Shumpei P. , Miyasaka Yuki , Hou Xuehan , Obara Yo , Shitara Hiroshi , Seki Yuta , Matsuoka Kunie , Takahashi Ai , Wakai Eri , Hibino Hiroshi , Takada Toyoyuki , Shiroishi Toshihiko , Kominami Ryo , Kikkawa Yoshiaki
Published: September 2022

An MSM/Ms strain was established using Japanese wild mice, which exhibit resistance to several phenotypes associated with aging, such as obesity, inflammation, and tumorigenesis, compared to common inbred mouse strains. MSM/Ms strain is resistant to age-related hearing loss, and their auditory abilities are sustained for long durations. The age-related hearing loss 3 (ahl3) locus contributes to age-related hearing in MSM/Ms strain. We generated ahl3 congenic strains by transferring a genomic region on chromosome 17 from MSM/Ms mice into C57BL/6J mice. Although C57BL/6J mice develop age-related hearing loss because of the ahl allele of the cadherin 23 gene, the development of middle- to high-frequency hearing loss was significantly delayed in an ahl3 congenic strain. Moreover, the novel age-related hearing loss 10 (ahl10) locus associated with age-related hearing resistance in MSM/Ms strain was mapped to chromosome 12. Although the resistance effects in ahl10 congenic strain were slightly weaker than those in ahl3 congenic strain, slow progression of age-related hearing loss was confirmed in ahl10 congenic strain despite harboring the ahl allele of cadherin 23. These results suggest that causative genes and polymorphisms of the ahl3 and ahl10 loci are important targets for the prevention and treatment of age-related hearing loss.
Nephron-Sparing Approaches in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: Current and Future Strategies
Authors: Ham Won Sik , Park Jee Soo , Jang Won Sik , Kim Jongchan
Published: September 2022

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is a relatively rare cancer, and much of the approach to treatment has been derived from strategies employed in treating bladder cancer. Radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) is regarded as the gold standard treatment for UTUC. However, due to potential complications, such as renal function impairment, that can affect oncologic outcomes, the demand for nephron-sparing treatment to effectively treat cancer while preserving renal function has increased. As a result, various treatment methods for low-grade, low-volume UTUC, such as segmental ureterectomy, endoscopic resection, and intraluminal therapy, have been attempted and reported. Although these treatment modalities have exhibited acceptable oncological results, further studies are required. In the future, the introduction of new technologies, such as improved diagnostic and surgical equipment, and new drug delivery systems, could enhance the effectiveness of nephron-sparing strategies in the treatment of UTUC. Additionally, understanding the biological and genetic characteristics of UTUC that distinguish it from those of bladder cancer will also aid in establishing strategies for nephron-sparing.
The Discovery and Development of Natural-Based Biomaterials with Demonstrated Wound Healing Properties: A Reliable Approach in Clinical Trials
Authors: Fadilah Nur Izzah Md , Maarof Manira , Motta Antonella , Tabata Yasuhiko , Fauzi Mh Busra
Published: September 2022

Current research across the globe still focuses strongly on naturally derived biomaterials in various fields, particularly wound care. There is a need for more effective therapies that will address the physiological deficiencies underlying chronic wound treatment. The use of moist bioactive scaffolds has significantly increased healing rates compared to local and traditional treatments. However, failure to heal or prolonging the wound healing process results in increased financial and social stress imposed on health institutions, caregivers, patients, and their families. The urgent need to identify practical, safe, and cost-effective wound healing scaffolding from natural-based biomaterials that can be introduced into clinical practice is unequivocal. Naturally derived products have long been used in wound healing; however, clinical trial evaluations of these therapies are still in their infancy. Additionally, further well-designed clinical trials are necessary to confirm the efficacy and safety of natural-based biomaterials in treating wounds. Thus, the focus of this review is to describe the current insight, the latest discoveries in selected natural-based wound healing implant products, the possible action mechanisms, and an approach to clinical studies. We explore several tested products undergoing clinical trials as a novel approach to counteract the debilitating effects of impaired wound healing.
Formal Meta-Analysis of Hypoxic Gene Expression Profiles Reveals a Universal Gene Signature
Authors: Puente-Santamaria Laura , Sanchez-Gonzalez Lucia , Pescador Nuria , Martinez-Costa Oscar , Ramos-Ruiz Ricardo , del Peso Luis
Published: September 2022

Integrating transcriptional profiles results in identifying gene expression signatures that are more robust than those obtained for individual datasets. However, a direct comparison of datasets derived from heterogeneous experimental conditions is problematic, hence their integration requires applying of specific meta-analysis techniques. The transcriptional response to hypoxia has been the focus of intense research due to its central role in tissue homeostasis and prevalent diseases. Accordingly, many studies have determined the gene expression profile of hypoxic cells. Yet, despite this wealth of information, little effort has been made to integrate these datasets to produce a robust hypoxic signature. We applied a formal meta-analysis procedure to datasets comprising 430 RNA-seq samples from 43 individual studies including 34 different cell types, to derive a pooled estimate of the effect of hypoxia on gene expression in human cell lines grown ingin vitro. This approach revealed that a large proportion of the transcriptome is significantly regulated by hypoxia (8556 out of 20,888 genes identified across studies). However, only a small fraction of the differentially expressed genes (1265 genes, 15%) show an effect size that, according to comparisons to gene pathways known to be regulated by hypoxia, is likely to be biologically relevant. By focusing on genes ubiquitously expressed, we identified a signature of 291 genes robustly and consistently regulated by hypoxia. Overall, we have developed a robust gene signature that characterizes the transcriptomic response of human cell lines exposed to hypoxia in vitro by applying a formal meta-analysis to gene expression profiles.
Biological Studies of New Implant Materials Based on Carbon and Polymer Carriers with Film Heterostructures Containing Noble Metals
Authors: Dorovskikh Svetlana I. , Vikulova Evgeniia S. , Sergeevichev David S. , Guselnikova Tatiana Ya. , Zheravin Alexander A. , Nasimov Dmitriy A. , Vasilieva Maria B. , Chepeleva Elena V. , Saprykin Anatoly I. , Basova Tamara V. , Morozova Natalya B.
Published: September 2022

This paper presents pioneering results on the evaluation of noble metal film hetero-structures to improve some functional characteristics of carbon-based implant materials: carbon-composite material (CCM) and carbon-fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFR-PEEK). Metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) was successfully applied to the deposition of Ir, Pt, and PtIr films on these carriers. A noble metal layer as thin as 1 µm provided clear X-ray imaging of 1–2.5 mm thick CFR-PEEK samples. The coated and pristine CCM and CFR-PEEK samples were further surface-modified with Au and Ag nanoparticles (NPs) through MOCVD and physical vapor deposition (PVD) processes, respectively. The composition and microstructural features, the NPs sizes, and surface concentrations were determined. In vitro biological studies included tests for cytotoxicity and antibacterial properties. A series of samples were selected for subcutaneous implantation in rats (up to 3 months) and histological studies. The bimetallic PtIr-based heterostructures showed no cytotoxicity in vitro, but were less biocompatible due to a dense two-layered fibrous capsule. AuNP heterostructures on CFR-PEEK promoted cell proliferation in vitro and exhibited a strong inhibition of bacterial growth (p < 0.05) and high in vitro biocompatibility, especially Au/Ir structures. AgNP heterostructures showed a more pronounced antibacterial effect, while their in vivo biocompatibility was better than that of the pristine CFR-PEEK, but worse than that of AuNP heterostructures.
Promoting Earth Buildings for Residential Construction in New Zealand
Authors: Samarasinghe Don Amila Sajeevan , Falk Stephanie
Published: September 2022

The construction of earth buildings, both throughout history and in the current day, is well-established worldwide. Despite New Zealand’s pre- and post-colonial history of earth construction, earth buildings as residential homes have not been well-received or popularised throughout present-day New Zealand. This research aims to identify the reasons for this lack of awareness and to determine methods that promote earth buildings in New Zealand. This research is based on data collected from semi-structured interviews conducted with subject matter experts and via an online questionnaire completed by members of the Earth Building Association New Zealand (EBANZ). The data collected revealed the experiences and perceptions of all participants regarding the advantages, challenges and promotion of earth buildings specific to New Zealand. Following analysis of these responses, key reoccurring themes were identified and compared. Regarding New Zealand’s lack of awareness of earth buildings, interview and questionnaire participants responded that this shortcoming was due to earth construction being a very niche market and lacking commercial marketing. Education was the most frequently reoccurring theme raised by all participants as the top promotional tool for raising awareness of earth buildings. The results of this research can be applied to future work regarding obstacles that limit the growth of New Zealand’s earth building industry, as well as research on the role of New Zealand’s education system in exposing the next generation of builders, designers, and consumers to earth construction.
Application of Low-Cost Sensors for Accurate Ambient Temperature Monitoring
Authors: Mobaraki Behnam , Komarizadehasl Seyedmilad , Castilla Pascual Francisco Javier , Lozano-Galant José Antonio
Published: September 2022

In structures with reduced monitoring budgets, the high cost of commercial metering devices is always an obstacle for monitoring structural health. This might be an issue when temperatures must be measured for both structural and environmental reasons. To fill this gap, in this paper, a novel monitoring system is proposed for the accurate measurement of indoor temperature in buildings. This protocol is characterized by its generality, as it can be easily adapted to measure any structural or environmental parameters on site. The proposed monitoring system uses from one to eight low-cost sensors to obtain multiple measurements of the ambient temperatures. The accuracy ranges of the developed monitoring systems with different numbers of sensors are statistically analysed. The results indicate that the discrepancy of the measurements decreases with the increase in the number of sensors, as the maximum standard deviation of 10 sensors (0.42) decreases to 0.32 and 0.27 for clusters of 20 and 30 sensors, respectively.