bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of Polar Resonances and Their Effects on Kozai–Lidov Mechanism
Authors: Li Miao , Gong Shengping
Published: June 2022

The research on highly inclined mean motion resonances (MMRs), even retrograde resonances, has drawn more attention in recent years. However, the dynamics of polar resonance with inclination i≈90∘ have received much less attention. This paper systematically studies the dynamics of polar resonance and their effects on the Kozai–Lidov mechanism in the circular restricted three-body problem (CRTBP). The maps of dynamics are obtained through the numerical method and semi-analytical method, by mutual authenticating. We investigate the secular dynamics inside polar resonance. The phase-space portraits on the e−ω plane are plotted under exact polar resonance and considering libration amplitude of critical angle σ. Simultaneously, we investigate the evolution of 5000 particles in polar resonance by numerical integrations. We confirm that the e−ω portraits can entirely explain the results of numerical experiments, which demonstrate that the phase-space portraits on the e−ω plane obtained through the semi-analytical method can represent the real Kozai–Lidov dynamics inside polar resonance. The resonant secular dynamical maps can provide meaningful guidance for predicting the long-term evolution of polar resonant particles. As a supplement, in the polar 2/1 case, we analyze the pure secular dynamics outside resonance, and confirm that the effect of polar resonance on secular dynamics is pronounced and cannot be ignored. Our work is a meaningful supplement to the general inclined cases and can help us understand the evolution of asteroids in polar resonance with the planet.
A Resveratrol Phenylacetamide Derivative Perturbs the Cytoskeleton Dynamics Interfering with the Migration Potential in Breast Cancer
Authors: Ceramella Jessica , Chimento Adele , Iacopetta Domenico , De Luca Arianna , Coronel Vargas Gabriela , Rosano Camillo , Pezzi Vincenzo , Saturnino Carmela , Sinicropi Maria Stefania
Published: June 2022

Chemotherapy is commonly used for cancer treatment, however the lack of selectivity on healthy cells and the development of resistance phenomena are the major issues. A better understanding of cancer genetics helped the development of new targeted anticancer treatments, which permit drug delivery with high specificity and lower toxicity. Moreover, the multi-target drug design concept represents the current trend for future drug research and development. Starting from good results previously obtained by our research group on the resveratrol (RSV) phenylacetamide derivative 2, which displayed an interesting anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activity towards the breast cancer cells MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, we identified other features, as the ability to perturb the cytoskeleton dynamics and interfere with the migration and metastatic processes. In vitro and in silico studies demonstrate that the derivative 2 is a tubulin and actin polymerization inhibitor and an actin depolymerization promotor. In addition, it interferes with the metastatic potential in both the breast cancer cells, inhibiting the in vitro cell migration and decreasing the spheroids number. These promising results demonstrate that the RSV phenylacetamide derivative 2 could be an important starting point in the discovery and development of safer and more efficacy multi-targeted agents.
Tension Force Detection of Short Suspender by Using Laser Doppler Vibrometer
Authors: Huang Zhide , Zhang Guihong , Xie Mowen , Du Yan
Published: June 2022

In this study, the vibration frequency of steel rod-type short suspenders simulated by three types of prestressed steel rebars with aspect ratios of 14, 20.8, and 37.8 was detected accurately and remotely by using Laser Doppler Vibrometer (LDV); then the tension force state of short suspenders was evaluated through the quadratic regression relationships between vibration frequency and tension force. The results showed that the vibration frequency of steel rod-type short suspenders increases with the increase in tension force, and there is a good correlation between vibration frequency and prestress. Furthermore, when the prestress applied is the same, the vibration frequency of short suspenders decreases with the increase of their aspect ratios, indicating aspect ratio plays a decisive role on the change of vibration frequency. The errors between the tension force obtained by experiment and tension string theoretical calculation for short suspenders are large, due to the nonrigid boundary condition. The establishment of quadratic regression relationships between vibration frequency and tension force effectively avoids the influence of various factors on the existing calculation model such as mass, stiffness, and constraint type, and makes the detection accuracy of tension force achieve 98%.
Cardiac Radiofrequency Ablation Simulation Using a 3D-Printed Bi-Atrial Thermochromic Model
Authors: Wang Shu , Saija Carlo , Choo Justin , Ou Zhanchong , Birsoan Maria , Germanos Sarah , Rothwell Joshua , Vakili Behrad , Kotadia Irum , Xu Zhouyang , Rolet Adrian , Namour Adriana , Yang Woo Suk , Williams Steven E. , Rhode Kawal
Published: June 2022

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a treatment used in the management of various arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation. Enhanced training for electrophysiologists through the use of physical simulators has a significant role in improving patient outcomes. The requirements for a high-fidelity simulator for cardiac RFA are challenging and not fully met by any research or commercial simulator at present. In this study, we have produced and evaluated a 3D-printed, bi-atrial model contained in a custom-made enclosure for RFA simulation using a new soft tissue-mimicking polymer, Layfomm-40, combined with thermochromic pigment and barium sulphate in an acrylic paint carrier. We evaluated the conductive properties of Layfomm-40, its sensitivity to RFA, and its visibility in X-ray imaging, and carried a full simulation of RFA in the cardiac catheterization laboratory by an electrophysiologist. We demonstrated that a patient-specific 3D-printed Layfomm-40 bi-atrial model coated with a custom thermochromic/barium sulphate paint was compatible with the CARTO3 electroanatomic mapping system and could be effectively imaged using X-ray fluoroscopy. We demonstrated the effective delivery and visualization of radiofrequency ablation lesions in this model. The simulator meets nearly all the requirements for high-fidelity physical simulation of RFA. The use of such simulators is likely to have impact on the training of electrophysiologists and the evaluation of novel RFA devices.
Theoretical Studies of Nonlinear Relaxation Electrophysical Phenomena in Dielectrics with Ionic–Molecular Chemical Bonds in a Wide Range of Fields and Temperatures
Authors: Kalytka Valeriy , Bulatbayev Felix , Neshina Yelena , Bilichenko Yekaterina , Bilichenko Arkadiy , Bashirov Aleksandr , Sidorina Yelena , Naboko Yelena , Malikov Nurbol , Senina Yelena
Published: June 2022

This paper is devoted to the development of generalized (for a wide range of fields (100 kV/m–1000 MV/m) and temperatures (0–1500 K) in the radio frequency range (1 kHz–500 MHz)) methods for the theoretical investigation of the physical mechanism of nonlinear kinetic phenomena during the establishment of the relaxation polarization, due to the diffusion motion of the main charge carriers in dielectrics with ionic–molecular chemical bonds (hydrogen-bonded crystals (HBC), including layered silicates, crystalline hydrates and corundum–zirconium ceramics (CZC), etc.) in an electric field. The influence of the nonlinearities equations of the initial phenomenological model of dielectric relaxation (in HBC-proton relaxation) on the mechanism for the formation of volume–charge polarization in solid dielectrics is analyzed. The solutions for the nonlinear kinetic Fokker–Planck equation, together with the Poisson equation, for the model of blocked electrodes are built in an infinite approximation (including all orders k of smallness without dimensional parameters) of perturbation theory for an arbitrary order r of the frequency harmonic of an alternating external polarizing field. It has been established that the polarization nonlinearities in ion-molecular dielectrics, already detected at the fundamental frequency, are interpreted in the mathematical model (for the first time in this work) as interactions of the relaxation modes of the volume charge density calculated on different orders of spatial Fourier harmonics. At the fundamental frequency of the field, an analytical generalized expression is written for complex dielectric permittivity (CDP), which is expressed analytically in terms of special relaxation parameters, which are quite complex real functions in the fields of frequency and temperature. The theoretical CDP and the dielectric loss tangent spectra studied depend on the nature of the relaxation processes in the selected temperature range (Maxwell and diffusion relaxation; thermally activated and tunneling relaxation), which is relevant from the point of view of choosing exact calculation formulas when analyzing the optimal operating modes of functional elements (based on dielectrics and their composites) for circuits of instrumentation, radio engineering and power equipment in real industrial production.
Optimizing Task Offloading Energy in Multi-User Multi-UAV-Enabled Mobile Edge-Cloud Computing Systems
Authors: Alhelaly Soha , Muthanna Ammar , Elgendy Ibrahim A.
Published: June 2022

With the emergence of various new Internet of Things (IoT) devices and the rapid increase in the number of users, enormous services and complex applications are growing rapidly. However, these services and applications are resource-intensive and data-hungry, requiring satisfactory quality-of-service (QoS) and network coverage density guarantees in sparsely populated areas, whereas the limited battery life and computing resources of IoT devices will inevitably become insufficient. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-enabled mobile edge computing (MEC) is one of the most promising solutions that ensures the stability and expansion of the network coverage area for these applications and provides them with computational capabilities. In this paper, computation offloading and resource allocation are jointly considered for multi-user multi-UAV-enabled mobile edge-cloud computing systems. First, we propose an efficient resource allocation and computation offloading model for a multi-user multi-UAV-enabled mobile edge-cloud computing system. Our proposed system is scalable and can support increases in network traffic without performance degradation. In addition, the network deploys multi-level mobile edge computing (MEC) technology to provide the computational capabilities at the edge of the radio access network (RAN). The core network is based on software-defined networking (SDN) technology to manage network traffic. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model can dramatically boost the system performance of the system in terms of time and energy.
The Application of Blockchain in Social Media: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Hisseine Mahamat Ali , Chen Deji , Yang Xiao
Published: June 2022

Social media has transformed the mode of communication globally by providing an extensive system for exchanging ideas, initiating business contracts, and proposing new professional ideas. However, there are many limitations to the use of social media, such as misinformation, lack of effective content moderation, digital piracy, data breaches, identity fraud, and fake news. In order to address these limitations, several studies have introduced the application of Blockchain technology in social media. Blockchains can provides transparency, traceability, tamper-proofing, confidentiality, security, information control, and supervision. This paper is a systematic literature review of papers covering the application of Blockchain technology in social media. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic literature review that elucidates the combination of Blockchain and social media. Using several electronic databases, 42 related papers were reviewed. Our findings show that previous studies on the applications of Blockchain in social media are focused mainly on blocking fake news and enhancing data privacy. Research in this domain began in 2017. This review additionally discusses several challenges in applying Blockchain technologies in social media contexts, and proposes alternative ideas for future implementation and research.
Summertime Assessment of an Urban-Scale Numerical Weather Prediction System for Toronto
Authors: Leroyer Sylvie , Bélair Stéphane , Souvanlasy Vanh , Vallée Marcel , Pellerin Simon , Sills David
Published: June 2022

Urban-scale Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) systems will be important tools for decision-making in and around large cities in a changing climate exposed to more extreme weather events. Such a state-of-the-art real-time system down to 250-m grid spacing was implemented in the context of the Toronto 2015 Panamerican games, Canada (PanAm). Combined with the Global Environmental Multiscale (GEM) model, attention was brought to the representation of the detailed urban landscape, and to the inclusion of sub-daily variation of the Great Lakes surface temperature. Results show a refined representation of the urban coastal environment micro-meteorology with a strong anisotropy of the urban heat island reaching about 2 °C on average for the summer season, coastal upwelling, and mesoscale features such as cumulus clouds and lake-breeze flow. Objective evaluation at the surface with a dense observational network reveals an overall good performance of the system and a clear improvement in comparison to reference forecasts at 2.5-km grid spacing in particular for standard deviation errors in urban areas up to 0.3 °C for temperature and dew point temperature, and up to 0.5 m s−1 for the wind speed, as well as for precipitation with an increased Equitable Threat Score (ETS) by up to 0.3 for the evening accumulation. The study provides confidence in the capacity of the new system to improve weather forecasts to be delivered to urban dwellers although further investigation of the initialization methods in urban areas is needed.
Immune-Mediated Diseases from the Point of View of Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology
Authors: Ortega Miguel A. , García-Montero Cielo , Fraile-Martinez Oscar , Alvarez-Mon Miguel Angel , Gómez-Lahoz Ana Maria , Lahera Guillermo , Monserrat Jorge , Rodriguez-Jimenez Roberto , Quintero Javier , Álvarez-Mon Melchor
Published: June 2022

Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) represent a large group of diseases (Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis) evidenced by systemic inflammation and multiorgan involvement. IMIDs result in a reduced quality of life and an economic burden for individuals, health care systems, and countries. In this brief descriptive review, we will focus on some of the common biological pathways of these diseases from the point of view of psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology (PNIE). PNIE consists of four medical disciplines (psychology, nervous system, immune system, and endocrine system), which are key drivers behind the health–disease concept that a human being functions as a unit. We examine these drivers and emphasize the need for integrative treatments that addresses the disease from a psychosomatic point of view.
COVID-19 Severity and Androgen Receptor Polymorphism
Authors: Buonacquisto Alessandra , Conflitti Anna Chiara , Pallotti Francesco , Anzuini Antonella , Bianchini Serena , Caponecchia Luisa , Carraro Anna , Ciardi Maria Rosa , Faja Fabiana , Fiori Cristina , Gianfrilli Daniele , Lenzi Andrea , Lichtner Miriam , Mastroianni Claudio Maria , Pasculli Patrizia , Rizzo Flavio , Salacone Pietro , Sebastianelli Annalisa , Lombardo Francesco , Paoli Donatella
Published: June 2022

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the most severe form of the disease was most often seen in male patients. The aim of this study was to identify any male predispositions that could be used to predict the outcome of the disease and enable early intervention. We investigated CAG polymorphism in the androgen receptor gene and serum levels of testosterone and LH, which were considered as probably responsible for this predisposition. The study involved 142 patients who had recovered from COVID-19 at least three months previously and were classified according to their disease severity using the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. We observed a significant increase in the number of CAG repeats with increasing disease severity: the percentage of patients with more than 23 repeats increased two-fold from Grade I to Grade IV. Furthermore, testosterone levels were significantly lower in patients with severe disease. Reduced androgenic signaling could predispose men to a more severe form: low testosterone levels and a reduced androgen receptor activity (CAG > 23) expose the host to an excessive inflammatory response, leading downstream to the multi-organ damage seen in severe COVID-19.
Characteristics of Normalization Methods in Quantitative Urinary Metabolomics—Implications for Epidemiological Applications and Interpretations
Authors: Li Tianqi , Tynkkynen Tuulia , Ihanus Andrei , Zhao Siyu , Mäkinen Ville-Petteri , Ala-Korpela Mika
Published: June 2022

A systematic comparison is presented for the effects of seven different normalization schemes in quantitative urinary metabolomics. Morning spot urine samples were analyzed with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy from a population-based group of 994 individuals. Forty-four metabolites were quantified and the metabolite–metabolite associations and the associations of metabolite concentrations with two representative clinical measures, body mass index and mean arterial pressure, were analyzed. Distinct differences were observed when comparing the effects of normalization for the intra-urine metabolite associations with those for the clinical associations. The metabolite–metabolite associations show quite complex patterns of similarities and dissimilarities between the different normalization methods, while the epidemiological association patterns are consistent, leading to the same overall biological interpretations. The results indicate that, in general, the normalization method appears to have only minor influences on standard epidemiological regression analyses with clinical/physiological measures. Multimetabolite normalization schemes showed consistent results with the customary creatinine reference. Nevertheless, interpretations of intra-urine metabolite associations and nuanced understanding of the epidemiological associations call for comparisons with different normalizations and accounting for the physiology, metabolism and kidney function related to the normalization schemes.
Highly Sensitive Flexible SERS-Based Sensing Platform for Detection of COVID-19
Authors: Mousavi Seyyed Mojtaba , Hashemi Seyyed Alireza , Rahmanian Vahid , Kalashgrani Masoomeh Yari , Gholami Ahmad , Omidifar Navid , Chiang Wei-Hung
Published: June 2022

COVID-19 continues to spread and has been declared a global emergency. Individuals with current or past infection should be identified as soon as possible to prevent the spread of disease. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an analytical technique that has the potential to be used to detect viruses at the site of therapy. In this context, SERS is an exciting technique because it provides a fingerprint for any material. It has been used with many COVID-19 virus subtypes, including Deltacron and Omicron, a novel coronavirus. Moreover, flexible SERS substrates, due to their unique advantages of sensitivity and flexibility, have recently attracted growing research interest in real-world applications such as medicine. Reviewing the latest flexible SERS-substrate developments is crucial for the further development of quality detection platforms. This article discusses the ultra-responsive detection methods used by flexible SERS substrate. Multiplex assays that combine ultra-responsive detection methods with their unique biomarkers and/or biomarkers for secondary diseases triggered by the development of infection are critical, according to this study. In addition, we discuss how flexible SERS-substrate-based ultrasensitive detection methods could transform disease diagnosis, control, and surveillance in the future. This study is believed to help researchers design and manufacture flexible SERS substrates with higher performance and lower cost, and ultimately better understand practical applications.
ARMIA: A Sensorized Arm Wearable for Motor Rehabilitation
Authors: Garcia Gabriel J. , Alepuz Angel , Balastegui Guillermo , Bernat Lluis , Mortes Jonathan , Sanchez Sheila , Vera Esther , Jara Carlos A. , Morell Vicente , Pomares Jorge , Ramon Jose L. , Ubeda Andres
Published: June 2022

In this paper, we present ARMIA: a sensorized arm wearable that includes a combination of inertial and sEMG sensors to interact with serious games in telerehabilitation setups. This device reduces the cost of robotic assistance technologies to be affordable for end-users at home and at rehabilitation centers. Hardware and acquisition software specifications are described together with potential applications of ARMIA in real-life rehabilitation scenarios. A detailed comparison with similar medical technologies is provided, with a specific focus on wearable devices and virtual and augmented reality approaches. The potential advantages of the proposed device are also described showing that ARMIA could provide similar, if not better, the effectivity of physical therapy as well as giving the possibility of home-based rehabilitation.
Electroencephalography Findings in Older Adults Undergoing Geriatric Treatment: A Surrogate for the Outcome?
Authors: Meyer Marco , Schmetsdorf Stefanie , Stein Thomas , Niemöller Ulrich , Arnold Andreas , Schramm Patrick , Rosenbauer Josef , Kostev Karel , Tanislav Christian
Published: June 2022

Background: Comprehensive geriatric care (CGC) is a multidisciplinary approach developed to meet the needs of older patients. Electroencephalography (EEG) provides valuable information for monitoring the cerebral function. As a surrogate, EEG findings may help to estimate the course of diseases as well as the treatment outcomes. Objectives: Therefore, the aim of the present study is to investigate EEG findings in older patients receiving CGC. Methods: Patients with an initial EEG in a geriatric unit between May 2019 and April 2020 and treated using the CGC approach were analyzed. EEG abnormalities were defined as generalized (diffuse) background slowing and/or intermittent/persistent focal slowing and/or epileptiform discharges. Assessment results for the Barthel index (BI), Tinetti Balance and Gait test (TBGT), and Timed Up and Go test (TUG) were analyzed in relation to the presence of EEG abnormalities. Results: The study included 398 patients (mean age: 83.0 ± 6.57 years, 69.3% were female). Abnormal EEG patterns were found in 94 (23.6%) patients. Patients with EEG abnormalities had a mean age of 83.4 years versus a mean of 82.8 years in those without (p = 0.451). Based on all calculated scores, the majority of the patients improved after CGC, with a tendency to higher-grade improvements in those without EEG abnormalities (BI: 86.2% vs. 75.5%, p = 0.024; TUG: 53.3% vs. 31.9%, p < 0.001); for TBGT, only a gradual difference was detected (TBGT: 79.9% vs. 71.3%, p = 0.088). The presence of EEG abnormalities was associated with the parameters dementia (36.2% vs. 22.4%, p = 0.010), known epilepsy/seizure (19.1% vs. 5.9%, p < 0.001), structural brain lesion (47.9% vs. 19.7%, p < 0.001), and delirium (9.6% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.030) during hospitalization. Conclusions: We found EEG abnormalities in almost a quarter of the patients treated in the geriatric unit. In older patients, the presence of EEG abnormalities is associated with lower improvements after CGC.
Adaptation to Social-Linguistic Associations in Audio-Visual Speech
Authors: Babel Molly
Published: June 2022

Listeners entertain hypotheses about how social characteristics affect a speaker’s pronunciation. While some of these hypotheses may be representative of a demographic, thus facilitating spoken language processing, others may be erroneous stereotypes that impede comprehension. As a case in point, listeners’ stereotypes of language and ethnicity pairings in varieties of North American English can improve intelligibility and comprehension, or hinder these processes. Using audio-visual speech this study examines how listeners adapt to speech in noise from four speakers who are representative of selected accent-ethnicity associations in the local speech community: an Asian English-L1 speaker, a white English-L1 speaker, an Asian English-L2 speaker, and a white English-L2 speaker. The results suggest congruent accent-ethnicity associations facilitate adaptation, and that the mainstream local accent is associated with a more diverse speech community.
Curiosity Killed the Cat but Not Memory: Enhanced Performance in High-Curiosity States
Authors: Padulo Caterina , Marascia Erika , Conte Nadia , Passarello Noemi , Mandolesi Laura , Fairfield Beth
Published: June 2022

Curiosity benefits memory for target information and may also benefit memory for incidental information presented during curiosity states. However, it is not known whether incidental curiosity-enhanced memory depends on or is affected by the valence of the incidental information during curiosity states. Here, older and younger participants incidentally encoded unrelated face images (positive, negative, and neutral) while they anticipated answers to trivia questions. We found memory enhancements for answers to trivia questions and unrelated faces presented during high-curiosity compared with low-curiosity states in both younger and older adults. Interestingly, face valence did not modify memory for unrelated faces. This suggests processes associated with the elicitation of curiosity enhance memory for incidental information instead of valence.
Entorhinal Cortex and Persistent Olfactory Loss in COVID-19 Patients: A Neuroanatomical Hypothesis. Comment on Fiorentino et al. Correlations between Persistent Olfactory and Semantic Memory Disorders after SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Brain Sci. 2022, 12, 714
Authors: De Luca Pietro , Marra Pasquale , La Mantia Ignazio , Salzano Francesco Antonio , Camaioni Angelo , Di Stadio Arianna
Published: June 2022

Recently, Fiorentino et al. [...]
Executive and Motor Functions in Older Individuals with Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Fastame Maria Chiara , Mulas Ilaria , Putzu Valeria , Asoni Gesuina , Viale Daniela , Mameli Irene , Pau Massimiliano
Published: June 2022

Background: A current research trend is the examination of the interplay between cognitive functioning, higher-order processes, and motor efficiency in late adulthood. However, the association between motor and cognitive functions when cognitive decline occurs has not been extensively explored. This study investigated whether gait features, functional mobility, and handgrip strength were associated with executive functions in older people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. Methods: 127 older participants (Mage = 77.9 years, SD = 5.8 years) who had received a diagnosis of MCI and dementia voluntarily took part in the study. A battery of tests assessing global cognitive function, executive functions, muscular strength, functional mobility, and spatio-temporal parameters of gait was completed by the participants. Results: Statistically significant correlations were obtained between global cognitive function, executive functions, and motor efficiency measures. Moreover, a series of regression analyses showed that 8–13% of the variance of several motor parameters was predicted by several executive functions. Additionally, walking, functional mobility, and global cognitive function predicted 53–71% of the variance relative to the occurrence of dementia. In conclusion, motor functioning is closely related to cognitive functioning in late adulthood. Conclusions: The assessment of muscular strength and functional mobility should be promoted in clinical settings.
Factors Affecting Workplace Well-Being: Building Construction Projects
Authors: Rani Hafnidar A. , Radzi Afiqah R. , Alias Ahmad Rizal , Almutairi Saud , Rahman Rahimi A.
Published: June 2022

This study explores the factors affecting workplace well-being in building construction projects. The objectives of this study are (1) to investigate the critical factors for workplace well-being in building construction projects, (2) to compare the critical factors between large enterprises (LEs) and small-medium enterprises (SMEs), and (3) to compare the critical factors between high-rise building construction projects and non-high-rise building construction projects. Data from 21 semi-structured interviews with construction industry professionals in Malaysia and a systematic literature review were used to develop a potential list of factors. Then, the factors were used to create a survey that was distributed to industry professionals. Data from 205 valid responses were analyzed using mean score ranking, normalization, the Kruskal–Wallis test, and overlap analysis. Fourteen critical factors were determined, including salary package, working hours, project progress, planning of the project, workers’ welfare, relationship between top management and employees, timeline of salary payment, working environment, employee work monitoring, communication between workers, insurance for construction worker, general safety and health monitoring, collaboration between top management and employee, and project leadership. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by identifying the critical factors for improving workplace well-being. The study findings allow researchers and practitioners to develop strategies to promote workplace well-being in building construction projects.
Experimental Investigations on Heat Transfer Characteristics of Direct Contact Liquid Cooling for CPU
Authors: Liu Cheng , Yu Hang
Published: June 2022

Cooling systems can effectively enable information and communication technology (ICT) equipment to utilize power more efficiently in data centers (DCs). Two-phase cooling provides a potential method to cool CPUs and other electronics and involves submerging them in a thermal conductive dielectric liquid or coolant. In this study, an innovative cooling structure and a two-phase immersion cooling system procedure are presented. The CPU is directly submerged in an engineered fluid, and an experimental test is conducted to obtain the boiling heat transfer and energy consumption data. A prediction equation for saturated boiling HTC in the pool, based on the influence of the characteristics of the heat transfer surface of the CPU and the physical parameters, is proposed. The average partial power usage effectiveness (pPUE) value of the proposed system is 1.036, indicating a significantly improved energy conservation effect compared to conventional air cooling systems. Studies have shown that direct-touch heat dissipation is suitable for supercomputer server CPU heat dissipation with low heat flux density, while for high-density CPU heat dissipation, it is easy to reach the maximum temperature limit of the CPU, thereby reducing the CPU frequency.
Predicting Compressive Strength of Blast Furnace Slag and Fly Ash Based Sustainable Concrete Using Machine Learning Techniques: An Application of Advanced Decision-Making Approaches
Authors: Shah Syyed Adnan Raheel , Azab Marc , Seif ElDin Hany M. , Barakat Osama , Anwar Muhammad Kashif , Bashir Yasir
Published: June 2022

The utilization of waste industrial materials such as Blast Furnace Slag (BFS) and Fly Ash (F. Ash) will provide an effective alternative strategy for producing eco-friendly and sustainable concrete production. However, testing is a time-consuming process, and the use of soft machine learning (ML) techniques to predict concrete strength can help speed up the procedure. In this study, artificial neural networks (ANNs) and decision trees (DTs) were used for predicting the compressive strength of the concrete. A total of 1030 datasets with eight factors (OPC, F. Ash, BFS, water, days, SP, FA, and CA) were used as input variables for the prediction of concrete compressive strength (response) with the help of training and testing individual models. The reliability and accuracy of the developed models are evaluated in terms of statistical analysis such as R2, RMSE, MAD and SSE. Both models showed a strong correlation and high accuracy between predicted and actual Compressive Strength (CS) along with the eight factors. The DT model gave a significant relation to the CS with R2 values of 0.943 and 0.836, respectively. Hence, the ANNs and DT models can be utilized to predict and train the compressive strength of high-performance concrete and to achieve long-term sustainability. This study will help in the development of prediction models for composite materials for buildings.
Survival Outcomes and Prognostic Factors in Glioblastoma
Authors: Brown Nicholas F. , Ottaviani Diego , Tazare John , Gregson John , Kitchen Neil , Brandner Sebastian , Fersht Naomi , Mulholland Paul
Published: June 2022

Background: IDH-wildtype glioblastoma is the most common malignant primary brain tumour in adults. As there is limited information on prognostic factors outside of clinical trials; thus, we conducted a retrospective study to characterise the glioblastoma population at our centre. Methods: Demographic, tumour molecular profiles, treatment, and survival data were collated for patients diagnosed with glioblastoma at our centre between July 2011 and December 2015. We used multivariate proportional hazard model associations with survival. Results: 490 patients were included; 60% had debulking surgery and 40% biopsy only. Subsequently, 56% had standard chemoradiotherapy, 25% had non-standard chemo/radio-therapy, and 19% had no further treatment. Overall survival was 9.2 months. In the multivariate analysis, longer survival was associated with debulking surgery vs. biopsy alone (14.9 vs. 8 months) (HR 0.54 [95% CI 0.41–0.70]), subsequent treatment after diagnosis (HR 0.12 [0.08–0.16]) (standard chemoradiotherapy [16.9 months] vs. non-standard regimens [9.2 months] vs. none [2.0 months]), tumour MGMT promotor methylation (HR 0.71 [0.58–0.87]), and younger age (hazard ratio vs. age < 50: 1.70 [1.26–2.30] for ages 50–59; 3.53 [2.65–4.70] for ages 60–69; 4.82 [3.54–6.56] for ages 70+). Conclusions: The median survival for patients with glioblastoma is less than a year. Younger age, debulking surgery, treatment with chemoradiotherapy, and MGMT promotor methylation are independently associated with longer survival.
Knockdown of 15-bp Deletion-Type v-raf Murine Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homolog B1 mRNA in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cells Repressed Cell Growth In Vitro and Tumor Volume In Vivo
Authors: Song Jiaxuan , Kobayashi Yoshiaki , Asano Yoshimasa , Sato Atsushi , Taniguchi Hiroaki , Ui-Tei Kumiko
Published: June 2022

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is predicted to become the second-most common cause of death within the next 10 years. Due to the limited efficacy of available therapies, the survival rate of PDAC patients is very low. Oncogenic BRAF mutations are one of the major causes of PDAC, specifically the missense V600E and L485–P490 15-bp deletion mutations. Drugs targeting the V600E mutation have already been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. However, a drug targeting the deletion mutation at L485–P490 of the BRAF gene has not been developed to date. The BxPC-3 cell line is a PDAC-derived cell line harboring wild-type KRAS and L485–P490 deleted BRAF genes. These cells are heterozygous for BRAF, harboring both wild-type BRAF and BRAF with the 15-bp deletion. In this study, siRNA was designed for the targeted knockdown of 15-bp deletion-type BRAF mRNA. This siRNA repressed the phosphorylation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase proteins downstream of BRAF and suppressed cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, siRNAs with 2′-O-methyl modifications at positions 2–5 reduce the seed-dependent off-target effects, as confirmed by reporter and microarray analyses. Thus, such siRNA is a promising candidate therapy for 15-bp deletion-type BRAF-induced tumorigenesis.
Umbilical Cord Blood as a Source of Less Differentiated T Cells to Produce CD123 CAR-T Cells
Authors: Caël Blandine , Galaine Jeanne , Bardey Isabelle , Marton Chrystel , Fredon Maxime , Biichle Sabeha , Poussard Margaux , Godet Yann , Angelot-Delettre Fanny , Barisien Christophe , Bésiers Christophe , Adotevi Olivier , Pouthier Fabienne , Garnache-Ottou Francine , Bôle-Richard Elodie
Published: June 2022

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) therapy has led to great successes in patients with leukemia and lymphoma. Umbilical Cord Blood (UCB), stored in UCB banks, is an attractive source of T cells for CAR-T production. We used a third generation CD123 CAR-T (CD28/4-1BB), which was previously developed using an adult’s Peripheral Blood (PB), to test the ability of obtaining CD123 CAR-T from fresh or cryopreserved UCB. We obtained a cell product with a high and stable transduction efficacy, and a poorly differentiated phenotype of CAR-T cells, while retaining high cytotoxic functions in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, CAR-T produced from cryopreserved UCB are as functional as CAR-T produced from fresh UCB. Overall, these data pave the way for the clinical development of UCB-derived CAR-T. UCB CAR-T could be transferred in an autologous manner (after an UCB transplant) to reduce post-transplant relapses, or in an allogeneic setting, thanks to fewer HLA restrictions which ease the requirements for a match between the donor and recipient.
Radiotherapy in the Management of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: A Systematic Review
Authors: Zhang Haidong , Jiang Tianxiang , Mu Mingchun , Zhao Zhou , Yin Xiaonan , Cai Zhaolun , Zhang Bo , Yin Yuan
Published: June 2022

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are considered insensitive to radiotherapy. However, a growing number of case reports and case series have shown that some lesions treated by radiotherapy achieved an objective response. The aim of the study was to perform a systematic review of all reported cases, case series, and clinical studies of GISTs treated with radiotherapy to reevaluate the role of radiotherapy in GISTs. A systematic search of the English-written literature was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases. Overall, 41 articles describing 112 patients were retrieved. The included articles were of low to moderate quality. Bone was the most common site treated by radiotherapy, followed by the abdomen. In order to exclude the influence of effective tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), a subgroup analysis was conducted on whether and which TKIs were concurrently applied with radiotherapy. Results showed that radiotherapy alone or combined with resistant TKIs could help achieve objective response in selected patients with advanced or metastatic GISTs; however, survival benefits were not observed in the included studies. Pain was the most common symptom in symptomatic GISTs, followed by neurological dysfunction and bleeding. The symptom palliation rate was 78.6% after excluding the influence of effective TKIs. The adverse reactions were mainly graded 1–2. Radiotherapy was generally well-tolerated. Overall, radiotherapy may relieve symptoms for GIST patients with advanced or metastatic lesions and even help achieve objective response in selected patients without significantly reducing the quality of life. In addition to bone metastases, fixed abdominal lesions may be treated by radiotherapy. Publication bias and insufficient quality of included studies were the main limitations in this review. Further clinical studies are needed and justified.
Postoperative Delirium in Patients with Oral Cancer: Is Intraoperative Fluid Administration a Neglected Risk Factor?
Authors: Obermeier Katharina Theresa , Kraus Moritz , Smolka Wenko , Henkel Jochen , Saller Thomas , Otto Sven , Liokatis Paris
Published: June 2022

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant tumor derived from squamous cells and can be found in different localizations. In the oral cavity especially, it represents the most common type of malignant tumor. First-line therapy for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is surgery, including tumor resection, neck dissection, and maybe reconstruction. Although perioperative mortality is low, complications such as delirium are very common, and may have long-lasting consequences on the patient’s quality of life. This study examines if excessive fluid administration, among other parameters, is an aggravating factor for the development of postoperative delirium. A total of 198 patients were divided into groups concerning the reconstruction technique used: group A for primary wound closure or reconstruction with a local flap, and group B for microsurgical reconstruction. The patients with and without delirium in both groups were compared regarding intraoperative fluid administration, fluid balance, and other parameters, such as blood loss, duration of surgery and overall ventilation, alcohol consumption, and creatinine, albumin, natrium, and hematocrit levels. The logistic regression for group A shows that fluid intake (p = 0.02, OR = 5.27, 95% CI 1.27–21.8) and albumin levels (p = 0.036, OR = 0.22, CI 0.054–0.908) are independent predictors for the development of delirium. For group B, gender (p = 0.026, OR = 0.34, CI 0.133–0.879) with a protective effect for females, fluid intake (p = 0.003, OR = 3.975, CI 1.606–9.839), and duration of ventilation (p = 0.025, OR = 1.178, CI 1.021–1.359) are also independent predictors for delirium. An intake of more than 3000 mL for group A, and 4150 mL for group B, increases the risk of delirium by approximately five and four times, respectively. Fluid management should be considered carefully in patients with OSCC, in order to reduce the occurrence of postoperative delirium. Different factors may become significant for the development of delirium regarding different surgical procedures.
Palladium and Graphene Oxide Doped ZnO for Aqueous Acetamiprid Degradation under Visible Light
Authors: Sayury Miyashiro Carolina , Hamoudi Safia
Published: June 2022

Acetamiprid is a neonicotinoid insecticide widely used in pest control. In recent years, it has been considered as a contaminant in groundwater, lakes, and rivers. Photocatalysis under visible light radiation proved to be an effective process for getting rid of several organic pollutants. In the present work, photodegradation of aqueous acetamiprid was investigated over bare zinc oxide (ZnO) photocatalyst as well as ZnO doped with either palladium or palladium combined with graphene oxide. Both ZnO and doped-ZnO were synthesized via a microwave-assisted hydrothermal procedure. The obtained photocatalysts were characterized using different techniques. After 5 h of reaction at ambient temperature under visible light irradiation, acetamiprid conversions attained ca. 38, 82, and 98% in the presence of bare ZnO, Pd-doped ZnO and Pd-GO-doped ZnO photocatalysts, respectively, thus demonstrating the positive effect of Pd- and GO-doping on the photocatalytic activity of ZnO. In addition, Pd-GO-doped ZnO was shown to keep its activity even when it is recycled five times, thus proving its stability in the reaction medium.
Serum Cytokines Predict Neurological Damage in Genetically Diverse Mouse Models
Authors: Pérez Gómez Aracely A. , Karmakar Moumita , Carroll Raymond J. , Lawley Koedi S. , Amstalden Katia , Young Colin R. , Threadgill David W. , Welsh C. Jane , Brinkmeyer-Langford Candice
Published: June 2022

Viral infections contribute to neurological and immunological dysfunction driven by complex genetic networks. Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) causes neurological dysfunction in mice and can model human outcomes to viral infections. Here, we used genetically distinct mice from five Collaborative Cross mouse strains and C57BL/6J to demonstrate how TMEV-induced immune responses in serum may predict neurological outcomes in acute infection. To test the hypothesis that serum cytokine levels can provide biomarkers for phenotypic outcomes of acute disease, we compared cytokine levels at pre-injection, 4 days post-injection (d.p.i.), and 14 d.p.i. Each strain produced unique baseline cytokine levels and had distinct immune responses to the injection procedure itself. Thus, we eliminated the baseline responses to the injection procedure itself and identified cytokines and chemokines induced specifically by TMEV infection. Then, we identified strain-specific longitudinal cytokine profiles in serum during acute disease. Using stepwise regression analysis, we identified serum immune markers predictive for TMEV-induced neurological phenotypes of the acute phase, e.g., IL-9 for limb paralysis; and TNF-α, IL-1β, and MIP-1β for limb weakness. These findings indicate how temporal differences in immune responses are influenced by host genetic background and demonstrate the potential of serum biomarkers to track the neurological effects of viral infection.
The Interaction of mTOR and Nrf2 in Neurogenesis and Its Implication in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Zoungrana Linda Ines , Krause-Hauch Meredith , Wang Hao , Fatmi Mohammad Kasim , Bates Lauryn , Li Zehui , Kulkarni Parth , Ren Di , Li Ji
Published: June 2022

Neurogenesis occurs in the brain during embryonic development and throughout adulthood. Neurogenesis occurs in the hippocampus and under normal conditions and persists in two regions of the brain—the subgranular zone (SGZ) in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricles. As the critical role in neurogenesis, the neural stem cells have the capacity to differentiate into various cells and to self-renew. This process is controlled through different methods. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) controls cellular growth, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy. The transcription factor Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) is a major regulator of metabolism, protein quality control, and antioxidative defense, and is linked to neurogenesis. However, dysregulation in neurogenesis, mTOR, and Nrf2 activity have all been associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, and Parkinson’s. Understanding the role of these complexes in both neurogenesis and neurodegenerative disease could be necessary to develop future therapies. Here, we review both mTOR and Nrf2 complexes, their crosstalk and role in neurogenesis, and their implication in neurodegenerative diseases.
The Impact of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Authors: Zhao Jiantao , Wang Xuemei , Huo Zijun , Chen Yanchun , Liu Jinmeng , Zhao Zhenhan , Meng Fandi , Su Qi , Bao Weiwei , Zhang Lingyun , Wen Shuang , Wang Xin , Liu Huancai , Zhou Shuanhu
Published: June 2022

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive and highly fatal neurodegenerative disease. Although the pathogenesis of ALS remains unclear, increasing evidence suggests that a key contributing factor is mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondria are organelles in eukaryotic cells responsible for bioenergy production, cellular metabolism, signal transduction, calcium homeostasis, and immune responses and the stability of their function plays a crucial role in neurons. A single disorder or defect in mitochondrial function can lead to pathological changes in cells, such as an impaired calcium buffer period, excessive generation of free radicals, increased mitochondrial membrane permeability, and oxidative stress (OS). Recent research has also shown that these mitochondrial dysfunctions are also associated with pathological changes in ALS and are believed to be commonly involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. This article reviews the latest research on mitochondrial dysfunction and its impact on the progression of ALS, with specific attention to the potential of novel therapeutic strategies targeting mitochondrial dysfunction.