bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanical properties and cellular content of leukocyte‐ and platelet‐rich fibrin membranes of patients on antithrombotic drugs
Authors: Ockerman Anna , Hendrickx Amber , Willekens Wouter , Fehervary Heleen , Vastmans Julie , Coucke Wim , Verhamme Peter , Politis Constantinus , Vanassche Thomas , Braem Annabel , Quirynen Marc , Jacobs Reinhilde
Published: April 2022

Introduction

The aim of this study was to examine the potential influence of antithrombotics on leukocyte‐ and platelet‐rich fibrin (L‐PRF) membranes.

Methods

Tensile tests and cell counts were performed with L‐PRF membranes originating from patients on anticoagulants and antiplatelets versus patients not taking antithrombotics.

Results

For the tensile tests, 13 control patients, 12 on anticoagulants, and 10 on antiplatelets donated blood. Compared to controls, membranes from anticoagulated donors were weaker (strength 0.57 ± 0.24 MPa vs. 0.80 ± 0.27 MPa,p = .03) and could not be stretched as far (1.8 ± 0.3 vs. 2.1 ± 0.3 times the initial length,p = .01). For the cell counting, 23 control patients, 16 on anticoagulants, and 16 on antiplatelets donated blood. The percentage of platelets was ±50% in the three groups. The percentage of leukocytes was lower in the anticoagulant group compared with controls (69 ± 10% vs. 78 ± 8%,p = .04). However, because of the unknown error of method, it is questionable whether the statistical significance is meaningful. There was no difference between membranes from the control group and the group on antiplatelets.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that L‐PRF membranes originating from patients on anticoagulants are weaker, stretch less far, and contain less leukocytes than L‐PRF membranes of patients not taking these drugs.
True Orthophoto Generation Based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Images Using Reconstructed Edge Points
Authors: Ebrahimikia Mojdeh , Hosseininaveh Ali
Published: April 2022

After considering state‐of‐the‐art algorithms, this paper presents a novel method for generating true orthophotos from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) images of urban areas. The procedure consists of four steps: 2D edge detection in building regions, 3D edge graph generation, digital surface model (DSM) modification and, finally, true orthophoto and orthomosaic generation. The main contribution of this paper is concerned with the first two steps, in which deep‐learning approaches are used to identify the structural edges of the buildings and the estimated 3D edge points are added to the point cloud for DSM modification. Running the proposed method as well as four state‐of‐the‐art methods on two different datasets demonstrates that the proposed method outperforms the existing orthophoto improvement methods by up to 50% in the first dataset and by 70% in the second dataset by reducing true orthophoto distortion in the structured edges of the buildings.
Water property rights in investor‐state contracts on extractive activities, affects water governance: An empirical assessment of 80 contracts in Africa and Asia
Authors: Bosch Hilmer J. , Gupta Joyeeta
Published: April 2022

In view of increasing globalization, the ongoing promotion of foreign direct investment and the lack of comparative literature on how water property rights are changing in the global South, this article asks: How have property rights in water evolved through investor‐State contracts on mineral, petroleum and land issues in Africa and Asia? We analyse 80 publicly available contracts—22 minerals, 40 petroleum and 18 land—of 34 African and 19 Asian countries. We find that: (i) in addition to a State's water law, water allocation is also implicitly governed by contracts and international investment treaties; (ii) States de facto privatize water by allocating quasi‐property rights through the granting of contracts to foreign international investors; (iii) such waters exploited by virtue of contracts reduce the ability of States to regulate water during the term of the contract especially as investors' water use is protected by bilateral investment treaties and potential compensation claims; and (iv) the need of the State to increasingly adaptively govern water as the impacts of climate change on water become more noticeable will be challenged by the long‐term quasi property rights granted by States to investors in such contracts.
Metabolic alkalosis in hemodialysis patients
Authors: Mudunuru S. Arvind , Navarrete Jose , O'Neill W. Charles
Published: April 2022

Background: Hemodialysis solutions typically contain a high alkali concentration designed to counter interdialytic acidosis, but this could result in persistent alkalosis in some patients. The prevalence and significance of persistent alkalosis were therefore examined at four outpatient centers over a 10‐year period. Methods: Alkalosis was defined as a pre‐dialysis serum [HCO3] ≥ 26 meq/L in >6 months of a 12‐month period and was persistent if present in a majority of months thereafter. Control patients had a serum [HCO3] of 19–23 meq/L > 6 of every 12 months. Standard, citrate‐containing dialysate was used in all patients without adjustment of bicarbonate concentration. Results: 444 of 1271 patients had alkalosis that persisted in 73. Compared to control patients, persistently alkalotic patients were older, but gender, race, starting weight, comorbidities, and mortality did not differ. Dialysis dose was 7% greater, protein catabolic rate was 11% lower, and interdialytic weight gain was 29% lower, all p < 0.001. Persistently alkalotic patients had double the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias (p = 0.07) and a 20% greater intradialytic blood pressure decrease (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Alkalosis is common in hemodialysis patients and can be persistent, likely due to decreased protein catabolic rate and increased dialysis dose, and may have detrimental cardiovascular effects.
Spectrum of diseases associated with pyoderma gangrenosum and correlation with effectiveness of therapy: New insights on the diagnosis and therapy of comorbid hidradenitis suppurativa
Authors: Fischer Alexander H. , Jourabchi Natanel , Khalifian Saami , Lazarus Gerald S.
Published: April 2022

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) has been linked to various underlying systemic diseases; many associations are based on case reports or small case series, including hidradenitis suppurativa. Literature examining systemic therapies according to underlying comorbid condition is limited. The study objective was to investigate comorbid diseases of PG and correlate disease associations with effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. Using Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions medical records, 220 patients had an ICD‐9 code of 686.01 for PG between 1 January 2006 and 30 June 2015, of whom 130 patients met rigorous inclusion/exclusion criteria for PG (non‐peristomal). The 130 PG patients in our study were 69% female, 58% Caucasian, and 35% African American. Documented comorbid conditions included inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; 35%), rheumatoid arthritis (RA; 12%), hidradenitis suppurativa (HS; 14%), and monoclonal gammopathy (12%). PG patients with HS versus without HS were more likely to be African‐American (83% vs. 28%; P < 0.001) and had an earlier mean age of PG onset (38 vs. 48 years; P = 0.02). Strikingly, 53% of female African‐American patients with PG onset prior to age 40 had comorbid HS. Comorbid inflammatory bowel disease was observed in 38% of PG patients with RA, 28% of PG patients with HS, and 27% of PG patients with monoclonal gammopathy. Of the 32 patients who received infliximab for active PG, complete ulcer healing was observed in 83% (5/6) of patients with comorbid HS versus 31% (8/26) of patients without HS (Fisher exact P = 0.03). Screening patients for associated systemic disease for multiple related illnesses is essential. Effectiveness of systemic therapy may depend upon the underlying systemic disease; hidradenitis suppurativa may be a specific example.
Damage evolution during fracture by correlative microscopy with hyperspectral electron microscopy and laboratory-based microtomography
Authors: Sarosi Peter M. , Furmanski Jevan , Reese William C. , Carpenter Donald L. , Nittoli Mikel A. , Myers Michael G. , Callen Nicole M. , Neeraj Thirumalai
Published: April 2022

Damage evolution during fracture of metals is a critical factor in determining the reliability and integrity of the infrastructure that the society relies upon. However, experimental techniques for directly observing these phenomena have remained challenged. We have addressed this gap by developing a correlative microscopy framework combining high-resolution hyperspectral electron microscopy with laboratory x-ray microtomography (XMT) and applied it to study fracture mechanisms in a steel inclusion system. We observed damage nucleation and growth to be inhomogeneous and anisotropic. Fracture resistance was observed to be controlled by inclusion distribution and the size scale of an inclusion-depleted zone. Furthermore, our studies demonstrate that laboratory XMT can characterize damage to the micrometer scale with a large field of view in dense metals like steel, offering a more accessible alternative to synchrotron-based tomography. The framework presented provides a means to broadly adopt correlative microscopy for studies of degradation phenomena and help accelerate discovery of new materials solutions.
Point-of-care diagnostic tests for tuberculosis disease
Authors: Hong Jia Mei , Lee Hyeyoung , Menon Nishanth V. , Lim Chwee Teck , Lee Luke P. , Ong Catherine W. M.
Published: April 2022

Rapid diagnosis is one key pillar to end tuberculosis (TB). Point-of-care tests (POCTs) facilitate early detection, immediate treatment, and reduced transmission of TB disease. This Review evaluates current diagnostic assays endorsed by the World Health Organization and identifies the gaps between existing conventional tests and the ideal POCT. We discuss the commercial development of new rapid tests and research studies on nonsputum-based diagnostic biomarkers from both pathogen and host. Last, we highlight advances in integrated microfluidics technology that may aid the development of new POCTs.
The Age of Next-Generation Therapeutic-Microbe Discovery: Exploiting Microbe-Microbe and Host-Microbe Interactions for Disease Prevention
Authors: Cruz Nathan , Abernathy George A. , Dichosa Armand E. K. , Kumar Anand
Published: April 2022

Humans are considered “superorganisms,” harboring a diverse microbial collective that outnumbers human cells 10 to 1. Complex and gravely understudied host- and microbe-microbe interactions—the product of millions of years of host-microbe coevolution—govern the superorganism in almost every aspect of life functions and overall well-being.
Genome Sequences of Microbacterium foliorum Bacteriophages StrawberryJamm, Quammi, Teehee, and Casend
Authors: Hoag Thomas P. , DeKlotz Joshua P. , Steele Brian , Ettinger William F. , Butela Kristen A. , Anders Kirk R. , Poxleitner Marianne
Published: April 2022

Four microbacteriophages infecting the host
Microbacterium foliorum
were isolated at Gonzaga University as part of the SEA-PHAGES program. Phages Teehee, StrawberryJamm, Quammi, and Casend are in the EG cluster, with average genome sizes of 62,263 bp and GC contents of 67.2%, with other interesting characteristics.
PlasmidHostFinder: Prediction of Plasmid Hosts Using Random Forest
Authors: Aytan-Aktug Derya , Clausen Philip T. L. C. , Szarvas Judit , Munk Patrick , Otani Saria , Nguyen Marcus , Davis James J. , Lund Ole , Aarestrup Frank M.
Published: April 2022

Antimicrobial resistance is a global health threat to humans and animals, causing high mortality and morbidity while effectively ending decades of success in fighting against bacterial infections. Plasmids confer extra genetic capabilities to the host organisms through accessory genes that can encode antimicrobial resistance and virulence.
Medical 3D Printing: Tools and Techniques, Today and Tomorrow
Authors: Willson Kelsey , Atala Anthony
Published: April 2022

Three-dimensional printing is a still-emerging technology with high impact for the medical community, particularly in the development of tissues for the clinic. Many types of printers are under development, including extrusion, droplet, melt, and light-curing technologies. Herein we discuss the various types of 3D printers and their strengths and weaknesses concerning tissue engineering. Despite the advantages of 3D printing, challenges remain in the development of large, clinically relevant tissues. Advancements in bioink development, printer technology, tissue vascularization, and cellular sourcing/expansion are discussed, alongside future opportunities for the field. Trends regarding in situ printing, personalized medicine, and whole organ development are highlighted.
Peptide Effectors in Phytonematode Parasitism and Beyond
Authors: Mitchum Melissa G. , Liu Xunliang
Published: April 2022

Peptide signaling is an emerging paradigm in molecular plant–microbe interactions with vast implications for our understanding of plant–nematode interactions and beyond. Plant-like peptide hormones, first discovered in cyst nematodes, are now recognized as an important class of peptide effectors mediating several different types of pathogenic and symbiotic interactions. Here, we summarize what has been learned about nematode-secreted CLAVATA3/EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION-RELATED (CLE) peptide effectors since the last comprehensive review on this topic a decade ago. We also highlight new discoveries of a diverse array of peptide effectors that go beyond the CLE peptide effector family in not only phytonematodes but in organisms beyond the phylum Nematoda.
Enzyme trafficking and coclustering precede and accurately predict human breast cancer recurrences: an interdisciplinary review
Authors: Petty Howard R.
Published: April 2022

Although great effort has been expended to understand cancer’s origins, less attention has been given to the primary cause of cancer deaths—cancer recurrences and their sequelae. This interdisciplinary review addresses mechanistic features of aggressive cancer by studying metabolic enzyme patterns within ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast lesions. DCIS lesions from patients who did or did not experience a breast cancer recurrence were compared. Several proteins, including phospho-Ser226-glucose transporter type 1, phosphofructokinase type L and phosphofructokinase/fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase type 4 are found in nucleoli of ductal epithelial cells in samples from patients who will not subsequently recur, but traffic to the cell periphery in samples from patients who will experience a cancer recurrence. Large coclusters of enzymes near plasmalemmata will enhance product formation because enzyme concentrations in clusters are very high while solvent molecules and solutes diffuse through small channels. These structural changes will accelerate aerobic glycolysis. Agglomerations of pentose phosphate pathway and glutathione synthesis enzymes enhance GSH formation. As aggressive cancer lesions are incomplete at early stages, they may be unrecognizable. We have found that machine learning provides superior analyses of tissue images and may be used to identify biomarker patterns associated with recurrent and nonrecurrent patients with high accuracy. This suggests a new prognostic test to predict patients with DCIS who are likely to recur and those who are at low risk for recurrence. Mechanistic interpretations provide a deeper understanding of anticancer drug action and suggest that aggressive metastatic cancer cells are sensitive to reductive chemotherapy.
Glycosaminoglycans in cancer therapy
Authors: Wieboldt Ronja , Läubli Heinz
Published: April 2022

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are an important component of the tumor microenvironment (TME). GAGs can interact with a variety of binding partners and thereby influence cancer progression on multiple levels. GAGs can modulate growth factors and chemokine signaling, invasion, and metastasis formation. Moreover, GAGs are able to change the physical property of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Abnormalities in GAG abundance and structure (e.g., sulfation patterns and molecular weight) are found across various cancer types and show biomarker potential. Targeting GAGs, as well as the usage of GAGs and their mimetics, are promising approaches to interfere with cancer progression. In addition, GAGs can be used as drug and cytokine carriers to induce an antitumor response. In this review, we summarize the role of GAGs in cancer and the potential use of GAGs and GAG derivatives to target cancer.
Hemispherical Molding Experiment and Simulation of Unidirectional Carbon Fiber Prepreg
Authors: Wang Hongxiao , Bai Luyao , Hui Yanbo
Published: April 2022

To study the deformation law and forming defects of hemispherical molding of unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced polymer (UN-CFRP), hemispherical molding experiments were carried out, and a three-dimensional finite element model of single-ply UN-CFRP hemispherical molding was established. The results show that the established finite element model can accurately predict the molding deformation law and forming defects of UN-CFRP. The results indicate that the fiber at the top of the sample is uniformly distributed; the fiber on both sides of the sample top and parallel to the fiber direction is local dispersion; the fiber at both sides of the bottom is trapezoidal splitting. The results at the bending corner show that the bending quality is better when the angle between the fiber direction and the tangent of the circular bend is in the range of 70-90°; it is easy to produce extrusion wrinkling when the angle between the fiber direction and the tangent of the circular bend is 15-70°; it is easy to produce extrusion accumulation when the angle between the fiber direction and the tangent at the circular bending is in the range of 0-15°. The results of cross-ply UN-CFRP hemispherical molding show that the full spreading property is good, and there is no obvious fold in the bending part.
Comparison of Contrast‐Enhanced Spectral Mammography and Contrast‐Enhanced MRI in Screening Multifocal and Multicentric Lesions in Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Feng Lei , Sheng Lei , Zhang Litao , Li Na , Xie Yuanzhong
Published: April 2022

Objectives. We aimed to determine the difference between contrast‐enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) and contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE‐MRI) in detecting multifocal and multicentric breast cancer (MMBC). Methods: This study was conducted among breast cancer patients between July 1, 2017, and May 30, 2021. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CESM and CE‐MRI in the diagnosis of MMBC were evaluated with pathological results as the gold standard. Results. A total of 188 lesions were detected in 54 patients with MMBC, including 177 breast cancer and 11 benign lesions. Based on CESM and CE‐MRI, 4 false‐positive cases and 3 false‐negative cases and 7 false‐positive cases and 1 false‐negative case, respectively, were found. The accuracy of CESM was higher than that of MRI (96.3% vs 95.7%), and the specificity was higher than that of MRI (63.6% vs 36.4%). There were no significant differences in the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the detection of MMBC between CESM and CE‐MRI (p = 0.500; p = 0.250; p = 0.792). Conclusion. CESM is an effective method for the detection of MMBC, which is consistent with the sensitivity and accuracy of CE‐MRI.
Practice of Music Therapy for Autistic Children Based on Music Data Mining
Authors: Wang Mingxun , Luo Gang , Chen Hao
Published: April 2022

For children with autism, music therapy has aroused great concern with its novelty and better influence. Music therapy, as one of the effective treatment methods, has an important influence on the social interaction, behavior, and emotion of autistic children. This study attempts to explore a form of applying highly specialized impromptu music therapy to the personal treatment of autistic children in schools for the disabled, as well as the design method of specific music activities. Based on music data mining, the machine learning method is introduced to model music emotion features, and various algorithms are compared to find a model with higher recognition rate, and, at the same time, the antinoise ability and generalization ability of the model are further improved. Finally, a music emotion cognitive model with better performance is established. The results show that the model can effectively promote the overall development of autistic children’s cognitive movement, social communication, language communication, and cognition.
Numerical Solution of the Heat Transfer Equation Coupled with the Darcy Flow Using the Finite Element Method
Authors: Hirpho Mohammed
Published: April 2022

The finite element approach was utilized in this study to solve numerically the two-dimensional time-dependent heat transfer equation coupled with the Darcy flow. The Picard-Lindelöf Theorem was used to prove the existence and uniqueness of the solution. The prior and posterior error estimates are then derived for the numerical scheme. Numerical examples were provided to show the effectiveness of the theoretical results. The essential code development in this study was done using MATLAB computer simulation.
Multiparameter Adaptive Optimisation of MSE Osseous Expansion Position
Authors: Wang Bin , Wang Weiqian , Fan Fengyan , Liang Chengwen
Published: April 2022

The accuracy of the implantation position of the MSE osseous expansion anchorage implant is a key issue in the treatment of osseous expansion, which also suffers from the drawback of falling into prematureness too early when the standard QPSO algorithm is used for its multiobjective optimisation. In this study, an adaptive improved QPSO algorithm is proposed to address the above problems. Firstly, a partitioned retrieval strategy is used to divide the population into an auxiliary class group and a main iterative population, and the respective search iteration intervals of the populations are assigned, thus optimising the initialisation mechanism of the standard algorithm, and then, the pheromone mechanism in the ACO algorithm is introduced to make the particles in the QPSO algorithm carry pheromones, and the particles determine their direction of travel by sensing the pheromone concentration in each path, thus improving the search ability of the particles. Experimental simulation results show that the improved strategy proposed in this study effectively improves the population diversity of the standard QPSO algorithm, avoids the algorithm from entering local optimum, and has good application in MSE osseous expansion position optimisation.
Response of Composite Beam Structure under Unbalanced Excitation of Rice Threshing System
Authors: Zhai Xujun , You Xingqin , Zhang Hao , Tang Zhong , Wang Xinzhong , Wang Guoqiang
Published: April 2022

This paper studies the dynamic response of the support beam under the unbalanced excitation of the rice threshing system. The differential equation of motion of the supporting beam under the action of harmonic force is established by the modal superposition method, and its dynamic response is analyzed. It is found that the initial vibration of the supporting beam will fluctuate greatly when it is excited by the unbalanced force. In response to this problem, the application of composite beams as the support structure of the threshing system is proposed. The composite beam is mainly composed of uniform and isotropic Euler–Bernoulli beams that are parallel to each other, and the two beams are connected by elastic spring elements. Then, the vibration response of the composite beam structure under unbalanced forces is studied. The results show that the vibration of the composite beam is more stable when it is excited by the unbalanced drum. The overall vibration response amplitude is smaller than that with single support, and the vibration reduction effect is obvious. When the stiffness changes, the change trend of the response amplitude of beam 1 and beam 2 is opposite, that is, the stiffness increases, the vibration amplitude of beam 1 decreases, and the amplitude of beam 2 increases. This shows that the composite beam is suitable for the support structure of the harvester.
Adult Renal Transplantation in a Patient 28 Years after Heart Transplantation as a Neonate for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
Authors: Licata Joseph , Roberts Shane Michael , Janicki Piotr , Bezinover Dmitri
Published: April 2022

We present a case of kidney transplantation in a 28-year-old patient who received a heart transplant at 7 weeks of age due to hypoplastic left heart syndrome. The patient’s renal insufficiency was the result of chronic immunosuppression and hypertension. The almost 28-year-old graft demonstrated very good function. This patient represents as one of the longest pediatric cardiac graft recipients living without any significant functional limitations.
Association between the Predicted Value of APACHE IV Scores and Intensive Care Unit Mortality: A Secondary Analysis Based on EICU Dataset
Authors: Xu Yuan , Chao Sheng , Niu Yulin
Published: April 2022

Objective. The evidence regarding the relationship between Acute Physiological and Chronic Health Assessment (APACHE) IV scores and emergency intensive care unit (EICU) mortality in patients following organ transplantation remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between APACHE IV score and EICU mortality. Methods. Data from 391 American men and women admitted to the EICU after undergoing organ transplants including heart, bone marrow, liver, kidney, lung, and pancreas in the United States. We used this data to analyze the relationship between APACHE IV scores and in-hospital mortality in the postoperative EICU. The primary endpoint was ICU hospitalization mortality after organ transplantation. The entire study data was extracted from the EICU database and uploaded to the DataDryad website. Results. Interaction tests indicate age, respiratory failure, and hormone use can modify the association between APACHE IV and EICU mortality. A stronger association of APACHE and mortality can be observed at <60 years old, no respiratory failure, and no use of hormones. In contrast, there was no association between respiratory failure, hormone use, APACHE, and ICU mortality in patients over 60 years of age. Conclusion. When using the APACHE score for risk stratification of critically ill patients after transplantation, the patient’s age, respiratory failure, and use of hormones should be taken into account.
Coffee Drying and Processing Method Influence Quality of Arabica Coffee Varieties (Coffea arabica L.) at Gomma I and Limmu Kossa, Southwest Ethiopia
Authors: Firdissa Elfinesh , Mohammed Ali , Berecha Gezahegn , Garedew Weyessa
Published: April 2022

Solar tunnel drying and semiwash processing methods are popular among coffee growers in southwestern Ethiopia. However, the effect of these processing methods on coffee quality has not been studied in detail. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of processing and drying methods on the quality of coffee varieties at Gomma‐I and Limmu Kossa areas in the 2016/2017 growing season. Two processing methods (fully washed and semiwashed) and three drying methods (solar tunnel, artificial, and natural sun) were compared using three coffee varieties (741, 7440, and 74110) to test their effect on coffee quality. Coffee beans processed by semiwash method and dried by solar tunnel produced nondefective (primary and secondary) coffee beans compared with others at both locations. Similarly, coffee beans processed by semiwashed method recorded the highest mean value for shape and make and body than wet processing method. Best coffee bean color, greenish color, was produced from coffee beans processed by the fully washed processing method. All coffee varieties processed by semiwashed method produced medium pointed acidity, the second most acceptable grade value for coffee quality for all drying methods. Coffee beans processed by the fully washed method produced more flavor than semiwash processing method. Coffee beans dried by sun and solar tunnel drying methods also produced better flavor than artificial drier. In general, all coffee varieties processed by semiwash method and dried by natural sun and solar tunnel method produced higher preliminary total quality and total specialty coffee value, graded under specialty grade Q1. Hence, coffee growers in the study area can use semiwash processing method and solar tunnel dryer as an alternative/complementary processing method since they produce better or equivalent quality product with full wash and natural sun drying method.
Mechanical Properties and Micromorphology of Calcium Oxide Expansion Agent on River Sand/Machine‐Made Sand Concrete
Authors: Wei Feng , Zhang Fei , Gao Li , Wang Rui , Ren Xiang , Zhang Dan
Published: April 2022

Freeze‐thaw damage is one of the main factors affecting the service life and durability of concrete. Optimizing the microscopic pore distribution of concrete is an effective measure to improve its frost resistance. This paper takes mixed sand (machine‐made sand + river sand) concrete as the research object and analyzes the influence mechanism of different content of CaO expansion agent on the physical and mechanical properties and frost resistance of mixed sand concrete. Concrete samples with different calcium oxide contents (0%, 6%, 8%, and 10%) were prepared by mass substitution with fly ash. Early air content, slump, compressive strength testing, and other analysis methods are used to determine the physical and mechanical properties of river sand‐manufactured sand concrete with different calcium oxide expansion agent blending ratios. Freeze‐thaw cycles were observed under X‐ray computed tomography, SEM, and EDS to explore the mechanical properties, porosity, and microstructures of the samples. The concrete air content increases, the porosity first decreases and then increases, and its compressive strength decreases as the mixing ratio of calcium oxide expansion agent increases, but the mixing ratio has little effect on the slump. When the content of calcium oxide in concrete is higher than 8%, the mass compressive strength and relative dynamic elastic modulus of concrete increase with the increase of substituting calcium oxide expansion agent. The cross section of the concrete sample is a two‐dimensional plane before freezing‐thawing, and the pore structure densified as CaO content increases. However, new cracks are generated in the sample with 10% expansion agent content. After 400 freezing‐thawing cycles, 0% and 6% calcium oxide expansive samples have irregular three‐dimensional structures with concave and convex, and many connected holes and penetrating cracks appear. There are a small number of disconnected void clusters in the section of the sample with 8% and 10% content. A large number of calcium hydroxide ((Ca(OH)2) crystals fill the pores and cracks and improve the frost resistance of concrete.
Evaluation of Hydrogeochemical Processes in Groundwater Using Geochemical and Geostatistical Approaches in the Upper Bengal Basin
Authors: Islam Md. Shajedul , Mostafa M. G.
Published: April 2022

Overexploitation of groundwater for irrigation and radical changes of river morphology in the Bengal basin has posed difficulties to sustainable management of this resource. Forty groundwater samples were collected from tube wells of the pre-monsoon and postmonsoon seasons in 2020, and the water parameters were analyzed. The hydrogeochemical studies, bivariate plots, and multivariate techniques were used to evaluate the rock-water interactions, influencing factors, and contamination pathways. The principal component analysis (PCA) was used to extract several directions in the data space and understand the different geochemical processes. Q-mode hierarchical cluster analysis coupled with the post hoc ANOVA test of variance was also used to divide the sampling sites based on the geochemical water facies. The PHREEQC-3v software was used to measure the partial pressure of CO2 in groundwater and elucidate the chemical reactions controlling the water chemistry. Near-neutral pH (7.4) and high EC (813.2 μS/cm), TDS (507.35 mg/L), and total hardness (383.45 mg/L) characterize the groundwaters of the study area. The research revealed that the order of abundance of cations was Ca2+>Mg2+>Na+>K+ and of anions was HCO3−>>Cl->SO42−>NO3->PO43-. The PCA revealed that the chemical properties of the groundwater are derived from rock-water interactions. Hierarchical cluster analysis showed that two distinct groundwater zones were affected by neighboring river flow and irrigation return flow. Several diagrams suggested that the water was mainly of Ca-HCO3 type originating from chemical weathering of rock-forming minerals with advanced water-rock interaction. The analyzed groundwater was supersaturated with calcite and partially saturated with dolomite. As a result, the chemical features of groundwater in the study area were largely dependent on the water-rock interaction, local lithological conditions, and neighboring river morphology. This study can be helpful for the improvement of water resource management, especially for drinking and irrigation purposes.
Effect of Vandetanib Treatment on Cystic Changes in the Liver following Metastasis from Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Matsui Ai , Toda Soji , Murayama Daisuke , Iwasaki Hiroyuki
Published: April 2022

A number of causes are responsible for the development of cystic lesions in the liver. However, metastasis is a rare cause, and cystic metastasis from medullary thyroid carcinoma has not yet been reported. A 46-year-old Japanese man presented to our hospital with a mass in the left side of his neck. Neck and thyroid ultrasonography revealed a thyroid tumor with calcification and enlarged cervical lymph nodes. He had a family history of medullary thyroid cancer. Computed tomography revealed a tumor in the thyroid and multiple cysts in the liver. Total thyroidectomy with modified neck and upper mediastinum dissections were performed. After surgery, vandetanib treatment was initiated owing to tumor progression; following this, the liver cysts increased in size, abdominal distension appeared, and serum liver enzyme levels were found to be elevated. Percutaneous liver cyst puncture was performed to reduce abdominal distension; however, it was ineffective. The liver enzyme levels improved after replacing vandetanib with lenvatinib treatment. The liver cysts in this case were indicated to be associated with medullary thyroid carcinoma.
Phosphorylation and Stabilization of PD-L1 by CK2 Suppresses Dendritic Cell Function
Authors: Zhao Xixi , Wei Yongkun , Chu Yu-Yi , Li Yintao , Hsu Jung-Mao , Jiang Zhou , Liu Chunxiao , Hsu Jennifer L. , Chang Wei-Chao , Yang Riyao , Chan Li-Chuan , Qu Jingkun , Zhang Shuqun , Ying Haoqiang , Yu Dihua , Hung Mien-Chie
Published: April 2022

Targeting immune checkpoints such as programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) has transformed cancer treatment, with durable clinical responses across a wide range of tumor types. However, a high percentage of patients fail to respond to anti–PD-1/PD-L1 treatment. A greater understanding of PD-L1 regulation is critical to improving the clinical response rate of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. Here, we demonstrate that PD-L1 is phosphorylated and stabilized by casein kinase 2 (CK2) in cancer and dendritic cells (DC). Phosphorylation of PD-L1 at Thr285 and Thr290 by CK2 disrupted PD-L1 binding with speckle-type POZ protein, an adaptor protein of the cullin 3 (CUL3) ubiquitin E3 ligase complex, protecting PD-L1 from CUL3-mediated proteasomal degradation. Inhibition of CK2 decreased PD-L1 protein levels by promoting its degradation and resulted in the release of CD80 from DC to reactivate T-cell function. In a syngeneic mouse model, combined treatment with a CK2 inhibitor and an antibody against T-cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (Tim-3) suppressed tumor growth and prolonged survival. These findings uncover a mechanism by which PD-L1 is regulated and suggest a potential antitumor treatment option to activate DC function by blocking the CK2–PD-L1 pathway and inhibiting Tim-3.

Significance:

This work identifies a role for CK2 in immunosuppression by phosphorylation and stabilization of PD-L1, identifying CK2 inhibition as an immunotherapeutic approach for treating cancer.
Immune Determinants of the Association between Tumor Mutational Burden and Immunotherapy Response across Cancer Types
Authors: Sinha Neelam , Sinha Sanju , Valero Cristina , Schäffer Alejandro A. , Aldape Kenneth , Litchfield Kevin , Chan Timothy A. , Morris Luc G.T. , Ruppin Eytan
Published: April 2022

The FDA has recently approved a high tumor mutational burden (TMB-high) biomarker, defined by ≥10 mutations/Mb, for the treatment of solid tumors with pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) that targets PD1. However, recent studies have shown that this TMB-high biomarker is only able to stratify ICI responders in a subset of cancer types, and the mechanisms underlying this observation have remained unknown. The tumor immune microenvironment (TME) may modulate the stratification power of TMB (termed TMB power), determining if it will be predictive of ICI response in a given cancer type. To systematically study this hypothesis, we inferred the levels of 31 immune-related factors characteristic of the TME of different cancer types in The Cancer Genome Atlas. Integration of this information with TMB and response data of 2,277 patients treated with anti-PD1 identified key immune factors that determine TMB power across 14 different cancer types. We find that high levels of M1 macrophages and low resting dendritic cells in the TME characterized cancer types with high TMB power. A model based on these two immune factors strongly predicted TMB power in a given cancer type during cross-validation and testing (Spearman Rho = 0.76 and 1, respectively). Using this model, we predicted the TMB power in nine additional cancer types, including rare cancers, for which TMB and ICI response data are not yet publicly available. Our analysis indicates that TMB-high may be highly predictive of ICI response in cervical squamous cell carcinoma, suggesting that such a study should be prioritized.

Significance:

This study uncovers immune-related factors that may modulate the relationship between high tumor mutational burden and ICI response, which can help prioritize cancer types for clinical trials.
Templated Insertions Are Associated Specifically with BRCA2 Deficiency and Overall Survival in Advanced Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Moore Grace , Majumdar Rahul , Powell Simon N. , Khan Atif J. , Weinhold Nils , Yin Shen , Higginson Daniel S.
Published: April 2022

Cancer cells defective in homologous recombination (HR) are responsive to DNA-crosslinking chemotherapies, PARP inhibitors, and inhibitors of polymerase theta (Pol θ), a key mediator of the backup pathway alternative end-joining. Such cancers include those with pathogenic biallelic alterations in core HR genes and another cohort of cases that exhibit sensitivity to the same agents and harbor genomic hallmarks of HR deficiency (HRD). These HRD signatures include a single-base substitution pattern, large rearrangements, characteristic tandem duplications, and small deletions. Here, we used what is now known about the backup pathway alternative end-joining (Alt-EJ) through the key factor Pol θ to design and test novel signatures of polymerase theta–mediated (TMEJ) repair. We generated two novel signatures; a signature composed of small deletions with microhomology and another consisting of small, templated insertions (TINS). We find that TINS consistent with TMEJ repair are highly specific to tumors with pathogenic biallelic mutations in BRCA2 and that high TINS genomic signature content in advanced ovarian cancers associate with overall survival following treatment with platinum agents. In addition, the combination of TINS with other HRD metrics significantly improves the association of platinum sensitivity with survival compared with current state-of-the-art signatures.

Implications:

Small, templated insertions indicative of theta-mediated end-joining likely can be used in conjunction with other HRD mutational signatures as a prognostic tool for patient response to therapies targeting HR deficiency.
Prenatal Diagnosis of a Liver Mass by Tru-Cut® Biopsy
Authors: Jacquier Emma , Ruggiano Ilaria , Badr Dominique A. , Cannie Mieke M. , Carlin Andrew , Jani Jacques C.
Published: April 2022

A 32-year-old woman, gravida 2 para 1 at 33 weeks’ gestation, was referred for a third opinion regarding a large fetal liver mass. The couple sought approval for a termination of pregnancy, following a differential diagnosis of hepatoblastoma. A specialized ultrasound and fetal magnetic resonance imaging were repeated in our unit and the results were consistent with a presumed diagnosis of hemangioma. A Tru-Cut® (Merit Medical, Utah, USA) liver biopsy was performed confirming a benign hemangioma and the couple opted to continue with the pregnancy.
A new redescription of Daphnia pusilla (Serventy, 1929) (Cladocera: Daphniidae) with emphasis on the thoracic limbs of Daphnia (Ctenodaphnia) Dybowski & Grochowski, 1895
Authors: KOTOV ALEXEY A. , GARIBIAN PETR G. , SHIEL RUSSELL J. , WALSH ROBERT
Published: April 2022

The genus Daphnia O.F. Müller, 1776 (Crustacea: Cladocera) still has a confused taxonomy for several objective and subjective reasons. Still there are many taxa with inadequately described morphology, primarily among the subgenus Daphnia (Ctenodaphnia) Dybowski & Grochowski, 1895. We provide a redescription of an Australian endemic taxon Daphnia (Ctenodaphnia) pusilla (Serventy, 1929) according to recent standards of morphological study with special attention to the thoracic limbs. We conclude that main differences between thoracic limbs of the subgenera D. (Ctenodaphnia) and Daphnia s. str. concern the limb I only as it is well-known among the cladocerans of other families. But still only a few species of D. (Ctenodaphnia) have been studied adequately, and efforts to redescribe their morphology need to be continued.
Protection and Nursing Values of 2D/3D Lanthanide Coordination Polymers on Ischemic Injury by Reducing Myocardial Cell Apoptosis
Authors: Fan Wen-Jing , Zhang Ying , Tie Li , Fan Wen-Hui
Published: April 2022

In this work, two lanthanide metal coordination polymers (CPs) with Ho ions as metal centers were successfully prepared via the reaction between metal salt HoCl3·6H2O or Ho(NO3)3·6H2O and the ligand of 4-(pyridyl-N-oxide)methylphosphonic
acid (H2L) under solvothermal conditions. Their chemical formulae are {[Ho2(L)2(H2O)5]2Cl·2H2O}N (1) and [Ho(L)(OH)(H2O)]N (2). Their bioactivity and mechanism
were analyzed for possible application as ischemic injury treatment. First, percentage of the apoptotic myocardium was determined with flow cytometry after treatment using the compound. The activation for the signaling pathway of PI3K/Akt in myocardium was also examined by real-time RT-PCR.
In-Silico Evaluation of 10 Structurally Different Glucosinolates on the Key Enzyme of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Sobhy Remah , Nawaz Asad , Fikry Mohammad , Sami Rokayya , Algarni Eman , Benajiba Nada , Qari Sameer H. , Qumsani Alaa T. , Khalifa Ibrahim
Published: April 2022

The novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) triggered a worldwide rise in the prevalence of the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) and surfaced as a universal wellbeing matter. Analogous with SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, the main 3-chymotrypsin-alike cysteine protease (3CLPro) virus enzyme
that manages the replications of 2019-nCoV and regulates its existence span, possibly will be considered like a medication break through focus. In this study, the binding potential of 10 glucosinolates (Glu) having a variety of structures was studied with the catalytic dyad remains of 2019-nCoV-3CLPro
by molecular cutting developing. The outcomes have shown that Glu containing sinigrin (SN) have been shown to be realistically bound to the 2019-nCoV-3CLPro receptor and catalytic dyad binding sites (Cys145 and His41). Our simulation results have shown that sinigrin have a potential
activity against 2019-nCoV and could be further used for drug production and optimization in the battle against COVID-19. In details, SN-SARS-CoV-2-3CLPro-facilityacted without exhibit whichever observable variations, with reference to the constancy of Glu-enzyme complexes by means
of average RMSD of 1.5±0.02 Å. Meanwhile, the ordinary behavior of a SN-SARS-CoV-2-3CLPro complex continued as compact and steady during (50 ns) MD simulations. Current investigation has revealed that Glu with a specific structure could be successful against COVID-19
as natural components.
Re-reading Manzoni at the time of COVID-19: Contagion, ethics and justice
Authors: Lollini Massimo
Published: April 2022

The article contributes to the rediscovery of the depth and complexity of Manzoni's thought, which too often has been reduced to an uncritical expression of Catholicism. Narrating the plague that struck Milan in 1630 in The Betrothed and the History of the Column of Infamy Manzoni reveals political, social, and cultural mechanisms remarkably similar to ours while struggling with the Coronavirus pandemic. The essay analyzes the apparatuses of contagion, the crucial importance of language, the devices of alienation favoring the loss of the sense of objectivity during the 1628 plague, and the pandemic of our time. For Manzoni, the recovery of reality in its bare complexity is possible, to a certain extent, by referring to the two fundamental lines of his thought. On the one hand, the philosophical irony with deep roots in Friedrich Schlegel, European Romanticism, and the reaction to Kantian philosophy. Romantic irony triggers the ethics of writing that runs through Manzoni's novel. On the other hand is the religious direction that Manzoni finds expressed in the Gospels, human conscience, and the idea of “eternal justice”. It emerges in crucial moments of the novel and its appendix, in what Emmanuel Levinas called the “epiphany of the face” which is considered in intersection with Paul Ricoeur's idea of “oneself as another”. Manzoni sees all the problems inherent in both reason and religion. In trying to keep them united, he participates in the most advanced Romantic view of religion and politics, what Frederick Beiser has defined as “one of the most creative and interesting attempts in the history of philosophy to surmount the classical dilemma between humanism and religion.”
Unpacking “Sense of Place” and “Place-making” in Organization Studies: A Toolkit for Place-sensitive Research
Authors: Cartel Mélodie , Kibler Ewald , Dacin M. Tina
Published: April 2022

There is increasing interest in organizational scholarship in the role of place. To support these developments, we offer a framework for place-sensitive research in organizational analysis. The notion of place refers to a unique location, endowed with a material from and a socially constructed set of meanings. In line with the phenomenology of place, our framework first distinguishes between two ontologies of place: place as experience—through which people develop a sense of place—and place as practice—through which people engage collectively to make places. Second, our framework distinguishes between three temporal orientations in relation to place: past, present, and future. We then draw from research in geography to reflect on two under-explored methodological toolkits to collect data on and analyze place as experience and place as practice in organization studies: walking interviews, and geographical videography.