bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prediction of Microvascular Invasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma With a Multi-Disciplinary Team-Like Radiomics Fusion Model on Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography
Authors: Zhang Wanli , Yang Ruimeng , Liang Fangrong , Liu Guoshun , Chen Amei , Wu Hongzhen , Lai Shengsheng , Ding Wenshuang , Wei Xinhua , Zhen Xin , Jiang Xinqing
Published: March 2021

Objective

To investigate microvascular invasion (MVI) of HCC through a noninvasive multi-disciplinary team (MDT)-like radiomics fusion model on dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) computed tomography (CT).

Methods

This retrospective study included 111 patients with pathologically proven hepatocellular carcinoma, which comprised 57 MVI-positive and 54 MVI-negative patients. Target volume of interest (VOI) was delineated on four DCE CT phases. The volume of tumor core (Vtc) and seven peripheral tumor regions (Vpt, with varying distances of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 mm to tumor margin) were obtained. Radiomics features extracted from different combinations of phase(s) and VOI(s) were cross-validated by 150 classification models. The best phase and VOI (or combinations) were determined. The top predictive models were ranked and screened by cross-validation on the training/validation set. The model fusion, a procedure analogous to multidisciplinary consultation, was performed on the top-3 models to generate a final model, which was validated on an independent testing set.

Results

Image features extracted from Vtc+Vpt(12mm) in the portal venous phase (PVP) showed dominant predictive performances. The top ranked features from Vtc+Vpt(12mm) in PVP included one gray level size zone matrix (GLSZM)-based feature and four first-order based features. Model fusion outperformed a single model in MVI prediction. The weighted fusion method achieved the best predictive performance with an AUC of 0.81, accuracy of 78.3%, sensitivity of 81.8%, and specificity of 75% on the independent testing set.

Conclusion

Image features extracted from the PVP with Vtc+Vpt(12mm) are the most reliable features indicative of MVI. The MDT-like radiomics fusion model is a promising tool to generate accurate and reproducible results in MVI status prediction in HCC.
Astragaloside II Ameliorated Podocyte Injury and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Su Jun , Gao Chongting , Xie Ling , Fan Ying , Shen Yilan , Huang Qunwei , Wang Niansong , Xu Youhua , Yang Nizhi , Gui Dingkun
Published: March 2021

Astragaloside II (AS II), a novel saponin purified from Astragalus membranes, has been reported to modulate the immune response, repair tissue injury, and prevent inflammatory response. However, the protective effects of AS II on podocyte injury in diabetic nephropathy (DN) have not been investigated yet. In this study, we aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of AS II on podocyte injury and mitochondrial dysfunction in DN. Diabetes was induced with streptozotocin (STZ) by intraperitoneal injection at 55 mg/kg in rats. Diabetic rats were randomly divided into four groups, namely, diabetic rats and diabetic rats treated with losartan (10 mg·kg−1·d−1) or AS II (3.2 and 6.4 mg·kg−1·d−1) for 9 weeks. Normal Sprague-Dawley rats were chosen as nondiabetic control group. Urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR), biochemical parameters, renal histopathology and podocyte apoptosis, and morphological changes were evaluated. Expressions of mitochondrial dynamics-related and autophagy-related proteins, such as Mfn2, Fis1, P62, and LC3, as well as Nrf2, Keap1, PINK1, and Parkin, were examined by immunohistochemistry, western blot, and real-time PCR, respectively. Our results indicated that AS II ameliorated albuminuria, renal histopathology, and podocyte foot process effacement and podocyte apoptosis in diabetic rats. AS II also partially restored the renal expression of mitochondrial dynamics-related and autophagy-related proteins, including Mfn2, Fis1, P62, and LC3. AS II also increased the expression of PINK1 and Parkin associated with mitophagy in diabetic rats. Moreover, AS II facilitated antioxidative stress ability via increasing Nrf2 expression and decreasing Keap1 protein level. These results suggested that AS II ameliorated podocyte injury and mitochondrial dysfunction in diabetic rats partly through regulation of Nrf2 and PINK1 pathway. These important findings might provide an innovative therapeutic strategy for the treatment of DN.
PAPRICA: The Pair Production Imaging Chamber—Proof of Principle
Authors: Toppi M. , Avanzolini I. , Balconi L. , Battistoni G. , Calvi G. , De Simoni M. , Dong Y. , Fantoni A. , Franciosini G. , Marafini M. , Fischetti M. , Muccifora V. , Muraro S. , Patera V. , Ronchetti F. , Sarti A. , Sciubba A. , Traini G. , Valle S. M. , Mattei I.
Published: March 2021

In Particle Therapy, safety margins are applied around the tumor to account for the beam range uncertainties and ensure an adequate dose coverage of the tumor volume during the therapy. The reduction of safety margins is in great demand in order to diminish the Particle Therapy side effects especially in the case of treatment of tumors close to Organs at Risk (OAR) and of pediatric patients. To this aim, beam range monitoring techniques are being developed by the scientific community, most of all based on the detection of secondary particles produced by the nuclear interactions of the beam with the patient’s tissue nuclei. In this contribution, a novel beam range monitoring technique is proposed, based on the detection of prompt photons exploiting the pair production mechanism. The proof of principle of the PAir PRoduction Imaging ChAmber (PAPRICA) is studied through the development of a Monte Carlo simulation and the detector performances toward a more realistic scenario are determined.
Driving Scheme Optimization for Electrowetting Displays Based on Contact Angle Hysteresis to Achieve Precise Gray-Scales
Authors: Wang Li , Zhang Hu , Li Wei , Li Jiaxuan , Yi Zhenyu , Wan Qiming , Zhang Jitao , Ma Pengchang
Published: March 2021

As a new display technology, electrowetting display (EWD) has many excellent display characteristics, such as paper-like, low power consumption, quick response and full color. These characteristics make EWD devices very suitable for portable devices. However, the gray-scale distortion caused by the contact angle hysteresis of EWDs seriously affects the accuracy of gray-scale display. To improve this phenomenon, the hysteresis curve of an EWD panel was studied according to the motion characteristics of advancing contact angle and receding contact angle of oil in a pixel. Then, a driving scheme for EWDs using alternating current (AC) voltage instead of direct current (DC) voltage was proposed in this paper. And the advantages and disadvantages of the driving scheme at different AC frequencies from 90 to 2,700 Hz were analyzed through experiments. According to the stability of aperture ratio in EWDs, a 470 Hz AC driving scheme was determined. Experimental results showed that the aperture ratio distortion of EWDs could be reduced from 35.82 to 5.97%, which significantly improved the display performance of pixel units.
High-Resolution Transcriptome Atlas and Improved Genome Assembly of Common Buckwheat, Fagopyrum esculentum
Authors: Penin Aleksey A. , Kasianov Artem S. , Klepikova Anna V. , Kirov Ilya V. , Gerasimov Evgeny S. , Fesenko Aleksey N. , Logacheva Maria D.
Published: March 2021

Common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) is an important non-cereal grain crop and a prospective component of functional food. Despite this, the genomic resources for this species and for the whole family Polygonaceae, to which it belongs, are scarce. Here, we report the assembly of the buckwheat genome using long-read technology and a high-resolution expression atlas including 46 organs and developmental stages. We found that the buckwheat genome has an extremely high content of transposable elements, including several classes of recently (0.5–1 Mya) multiplied TEs (“transposon burst”) and gradually accumulated TEs. The difference in TE content is a major factor contributing to the three-fold increase in the genome size ofF. esculentumcompared with its sister speciesF. tataricum. Moreover, we detected the differences in TE content between the wild ancestral subspeciesF. esculentumssp.ancestraleand buckwheat cultivars, suggesting that TE activity accompanied buckwheat domestication. Expression profiling allowed us to test a hypothesis about the genetic control of petaloidy of tepals in buckwheat. We showed that it is not mediated by B-class gene activity, in contrast to the prediction from the ABC model. Based on a survey of expression profiles and phylogenetic analysis, we identified the MYB family transcription factor gene tr_18111 as a potential candidate for the determination of conical cells in buckwheat petaloid tepals. The information on expression patterns has been integrated into the publicly available database TraVA:http://travadb.org/browse/Species=Fesc/. The improved genome assembly and transcriptomic resources will enable research on buckwheat, including practical applications.
Do Invasive Earthworms Affect the Functional Traits of Native Plants?
Authors: Thouvenot Lise , Ferlian Olga , Beugnon Rémy , Künne Tom , Lochner Alfred , Thakur Madhav P. , Türke Manfred , Eisenhauer Nico
Published: March 2021

As ecosystem engineers, invasive earthworms are one of the main drivers of plant community changes in North American forests previously devoid of earthworms. One explanation for these community changes is the effects of earthworms on the reproduction, recruitment, and development of plant species. However, few studies have investigated functional trait responses of native plants to earthworm invasion to explain the mechanisms underlying community changes. In a mesocosm (Ecotron) experiment, we set up a plant community composed of two herb and two grass species commonly found in northern North American forests under two earthworm treatments (presence vs. absence). We measured earthworm effects on above- and belowground plant biomass and functional traits after 3 months of experiment. Our results showed that earthworm presence did not significantly affect plant community biomass and cover. Furthermore, only four out of the fifteen above- and belowground traits measured were affected by earthworm presence. While some traits, such as the production of ramets, the carbon and nitrogen content of leaves, responded similarly between and within functional groups in the presence or absence of earthworms, we observed opposite responses for other traits, such as height, specific leaf area, and root length within some functional groups in the presence of earthworms. Plant trait responses were thus species-specific, although the two grass species showed a more pronounced response to earthworm presence with changes in their leaf traits than herb species. Overall, earthworms affected some functional traits related to resource uptake abilities of plants and thus could change plant competition outcomes over time, which could be an explanation of plant community changes observed in invaded ecosystems.
The Arabidopsis thaliana E3 Ubiquitin Ligase BRIZ Functions in Abscisic Acid Response
Authors: Linden Katrina J. , Hsia Mon Mandy , Chen Yi-Tze , Callis Judy
Published: March 2021

The ubiquitin system is essential for multiple hormone signaling pathways in plants. Here, we show that theArabidopsis thalianaE3 ligase BRIZ, a heteromeric ligase that consists minimally of BRIZ1 and BRIZ2 proteins, functions in abscisic acid (ABA) signaling or response.briz1andbriz2homozygous mutants either fail to germinate or emerge later than wild-type seedlings, with little cotyledon expansion or root elongation and no visible greening. Viability staining indicates thatbriz1andbriz2embryos are alive but growth-arrested. Germination ofbrizmutants is improved by addition of the carotenoid biosynthetic inhibitor fluridone or gibberellic acid (GA3), andbrizmutants have improved development in backgrounds deficient in ABA synthesis (gin1-3/aba2) or signaling (abi5-7). Endogenous ABA is not higher inbriz2seeds compared to wild-type seeds, and exogenous ABA does not affectBRIZmRNAs in imbibed seeds. These results indicate thatbrizembryos are hypersensitive to ABA and that under normal growth conditions, BRIZ acts to suppress ABA signaling or response. ABA signaling and sugar signaling are linked, and we found thatbriz1andbriz2mutants excised from seed coats are hypersensitive to sucrose. Althoughbrizsingle mutants do not grow to maturity, we were able to generate maturebriz2-3 abi5-7double mutant plants that produced seeds. These seeds are more sensitive to exogenous sugar and are larger than seeds from siblingabi5-7 BRIZ2/briz2-3plants, suggesting that BRIZ has a parental effect on seed development. From these data, we propose a model in which the BRIZ E3 ligase suppresses ABA responses during seed maturation and germination and early seedling establishment.
Treatment of Traumatised Sexuality
Authors: Almås Elsa , Benestad Esben Esther Pirelli
Published: March 2021

Based on therapeutic meetings with individuals who have experienced sexual violence and abuse, the challenge is how do we help these couples to establish sexual relationships on their own terms, without interference of defence or coping strategies they have used to protect themselves against the overwhelming experiences of violence or abuse in the past? This article will focus on therapeutic work with such couples and how to interact with them and support their efforts to establish satisfying sexual relationships, based on sexological experience as well as experience from work with traumatisation. The basis for our treatment is a modified version of William Masters and Virginia Johnson’s approach. The technique of sensate focus is central, modified by trauma theory, including the understanding of dissociation, and the need to integrate memories from different levels: somatic, emotional, and cognitive. The traumatised client needs special attention to the experiences of predictability and safety and respect due to their history of being transgressed against. The therapists must be aware of the issue of dissociation; different dissociated inner parts can play different roles in the interaction between client and therapist. While couples therapy is a necessary frame for this therapy, the therapist often needs to work with issues unique to each individual. Each partner must be able to identify their own responses and their own sexual needs and preferences. It may therefore be valuable to have a co-therapist. The central goal is for the clients to identify responses to stimulation as a here and now experience in a setting that feels safe and welcome.
Teenagers Tell Better Stories After Improvisational Theater Courses
Authors: Blonde Manon , Mortelier Frédérique , Bourdin Béatrice , Hainselin Mathieu
Published: March 2021

Improvisational theater (improv) is a booming theatrical practice, applying in many fields (teaching, medicine or entrepreneurship). Its effects on cognitive and behavioral processes are beginning to be demonstrated, despite scientific publications that are still rare, particularly about language. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of improv on adolescent narrative skills. Twenty-seven middle school students were recruited and divided into two groups: an IMPRO group (n = 13), composed of novice and intermediate improvisers, and a CONTROL group (n = 14), composed of middle school students doing theater. The evaluation took place in two experimental times spaces 3 months apart (11 sessions). It consisted in the creation of a written narrative resulting from previously observed images. We used quantitative criteria to carry out the analysis of this story (coherence, cohesion, lexicon, and syntax), according to the methodologies of PELEA and EVALEO. We showed an effect of the improv on coherence, which suggests that the practice of improv introduces teenagers to improve the narrative skills and the planification of a story, unlike written theater.
Mediation of Problematic Use in the Relationship Between Types of Internet Use and Subjective Well-Being in Schoolchildren
Authors: Donoso Gonzalo , Casas Ferran , Rubio Andrés , Céspedes Cristian
Published: March 2021

Subjective well-being is a broad category of phenomena that includes people’s emotional responses, domain satisfactions, and global judgments of life satisfaction. This research investigates how schoolchildren’s subjective well-being is affected by the different types of technology use, in personal contexts, and, concurrently, whether these effects are different when the use of technology is problematic. The central hypotheses are as follows: (1) the use of the Internet affects the subjective well-being of schoolchildren negatively only when this use is problematic and (2) the effect on subjective well-being is different according to the type of Internet use. To respond to the objectives of the research, a survey was applied to 15-year-old adolescents (2,579 cases), distributed in 330 public schools, beneficiaries of a government program for the delivery of personal computers and Internet for a year. The different uses of the Internet were measured using frequency scales by type of activity (social, recreational, and educational). Problematic use scale measured the perception of negative consequences of the intensity of Internet use on a daily basis. Subjective well-being was measured by the Personal Well-Being Index-School Children (PWI-SC). Subsequently, for analytical purposes, three simple mediation models were created, whose dependent variable was PWI-SC, while its independent variables were Internet use scales differentiated by purpose (social, recreational, and educational) and problematic use as a mediating variable, as well as attributes of the subjects and their social environment, which were incorporated as control variables. The main results show that only if Internet use is expressed as problematic does it negatively affect subjective well-being. On the contrary, when the use of the Internet is not problematic, the effect is positive and even greater than the simple effect (without mediation) between these two variables. This finding is relevant, since it allows us to provide evidence that suggests that, when studying the effect that the intensity of the Internet, firstly, one must consider the mediating effect exerted by the network’s problematic use and, secondly, that not all types of use have the same impact. Therefore, it is useful to enrich the discussion on subjective well-being and social integration of schoolchildren in the digital age.
Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration: A Transtheoretical Model for Clinical Practice
Authors: Gorman Ingmar , Nielson Elizabeth M. , Molinar Aja , Cassidy Ksenia , Sabbagh Jonathan
Published: March 2021

Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration (PHRI) is a transtheoretical and transdiagnostic clinical approach to working with patients who are using or considering using psychedelics in any context. The ongoing discussion of psychedelics in academic research and mainstream media, coupled with recent law enforcement deprioritization of psychedelics and compassionate use approvals for psychedelic-assisted therapy, make this model exceedingly timely. Given the prevalence of psychedelic use, the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, and the unique cultural and historical context in which psychedelics are placed, it is important that mental health providers have an understanding of the unique motivations, experiences, and needs of people who use them. PHRI incorporates elements of harm reduction psychotherapy and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and can be applied in both brief and ongoing psychotherapy interactions. PHRI represents a shift away from assessment limited to untoward outcomes of psychedelic use and abstinence-based addiction treatment paradigms and toward a stance of compassionate, destigmatizing acceptance of patients' choices. Considerations for assessment, preparation, and working with difficult experiences are presented.
The Effects of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak on Medical Students
Authors: Bilgi Kadir , Aytaş Gamze , Karatoprak Utku , Kazancıoǧlu Rümeyza , Özçelik Semra
Published: March 2021

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic has influenced the whole world, where after the first case was diagnosed in Turkey, educational activities were suspended and partial curfews were implemented. This study was conducted to assess the concerns faced by the medical students about their professional life due to the disrupted educational activities and related psychological effects.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey study, conducted with self-administered questionnaires on Bezmialem Vakif University medical students, during the pandemic. The questionnaire consists of queries about demographics, environmental factors, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scales.

Results: A total of 178 students participated in the study, with a female-to-male ratio of 5:2. Of the total respondents, 19.7% were experiencing severe anxiety, 17.4% moderate anxiety, and 37.1% mild anxiety, according to the GAD-7; and 13.5% of the respondents were experiencing severe depression, 21.9% moderate–severe depression, and 23% mild depression according to the PHQ-9. There was no statistically significant difference between the grades in terms of GAD-7 or PHQ-9 scores. Male participants were more likely to have suicidal thoughts (p = 0.013). According to our study, the factors with the highest influence on students were as follows: “Major changes in personal life,” “Disruption in educational activities,” and “Covid-19 related anxiety of loss of relatives and contamination or infection.” On average, women voted higher points for “Covid-19 related anxiety of loss of relatives and contamination.”

Conclusions: We found that a significant portion of students regardless of their year in medical school were profoundly affected by the pandemic process as is shown by their anxiety and depression scores. The disruption in educational activities is one of the main factors of these effects, and we believe that these should not be ignored, as they could in the future lead to a series of problems for medical education and students alike.
Promoting Aspirin Use for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Among an Adult Internet-Using Population: A Pilot Study
Authors: Oldenburg Niki C. , Horvath Keith J. , Van't Hof Jeremy , Misialek Jeffrey R. , Hirsch Alan T.
Published: March 2021

Cardiovascular disease prevention strategies include aspirin use as a preventive measure. The internet can be used to raise public awareness, promote healthy lifestyles, and improve disease management. This pilot study describes the feasibility of an educational website to recruit and follow adult internet users to examine whether they talked to their physician about aspirin and initiated aspirin use. As part of a statewide intervention promoting an aspirin regimen to prevent heart attacks and strokes in Minnesota, visitors to the website were encouraged to complete an aspirin candidacy tool. Between October, 2015 and February, 2016, men 45–79 and women 55–79 who identified as aspirin candidates were invited to participate in a 6-month study involving four, 5 min online surveys to examine physician discussions about aspirin, aspirin use, and mobile technology use. During the 5-month recruitment period, 234 adults enrolled in the study. Of the 174 who completed the baseline survey and at least one follow-up survey, 74 (43.5%) did not use aspirin at baseline. During follow-up, 12 (16.2%) talked to their doctor about aspirin and 31 (41.8%) initiated aspirin use. Internet, social media, and mobile technology use were high among this population. An educational website may have provided a cue to action for aspirin discussions with physicians and aspirin initiation. More research is needed to evaluate the utility of on-line tools to increase appropriate aspirin use among internet-using populations.
How Much CO2 Will We Have in the Air This Year?
Authors: Jones Chris D. , Betts Richard A.
Published: March 2021

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a gas that contributes to global warming. When we burn fuel (for example to drive cars or to generate power) we put more CO2 into the air, which contributes to climate change. Nature is very good at removing CO2 from the air. Trees need it to grow and the oceans can dissolve it. But not all the new CO2 is removed, so the amount in the air increases each year. Every year, we try to predict how much more CO2 we will have. For an accurate CO2 forecast, we must understand how human activity and natural ecosystems affect each other. In this article, we explain how we can make this forecast. For 2020, we predict that CO2 levels will increase faster than average.
Bile Microbiota in Liver Transplantation: Proof of Concept Using Gene Amplification in a Heterogeneous Clinical Scenario
Authors: D'Amico Francesco , Bertacco Alessandra , Finotti Michele , Di Renzo Chiara , Rodriguez-Davalos Manuel I. , Gondolesi Gabriel E. , Cillo Umberto , Mulligan David , Geibel John
Published: March 2021

Objective: Historically, bile in the biliary tract has been considered sterile. Most of the series are based on patients with biliary tract diseases or the bile has been obtained with procedures susceptible to contamination.

Methods: We evaluated the bile in a heterogeneous cohort of liver donors and recipient patients, with samples obtained in a sterile way, directly from the gallbladder and the common bile duct.

Results: We assessed the bile microbiota in six liver donors and in six liver recipients after whole or split liver procedures in adult or pediatric recipients. Bile samples were studied using PCR sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplification (rDNA).

Conclusions: We demonstrated that the bile is sterile, thereby ruling this out as a source of contamination following transplant.
A fogágybetegség és a krónikus obstruktív tüdőbetegség kapcsolatának jelentősége
Authors: Tián Tamás , Gorzó István , Ősze Gábor , Somfay Attila , Radnai Márta
Published: March 2021

A fogágybetegség és a krónikus obstruktív tüdőbetegség (COPD) is a leggyakrabban megjelenő krónikus betegségekcsoportjába tartozik. A fogelvesztéssel járó előrehaladott fogágybetegség a világ 6. leggyakrabban előforduló krónikusbetegsége, mely kb. 743 millió embert érint, míg a COPD világszerte évente átlagosan 3 millió emberéletet követel (ez5,3%-a az összes haláloknak világszerte) és 2016 óta a világ 3. vezető halálokává vált. Egy norvég tanulmány szerinta nagyon súlyos COPD-ben szenvedő, tüdőtranszplantáció előtt álló betegek esetén a parodontitisz prevalenciája megközelítia 44%-ot, szemben a nem COPD-s kontrollcsoport 7,3%-os gyakoriságával. A két betegség összefüggése jelenlegdirekt módon nem bizonyított, ám egyre több tanulmány támasztja alá a két betegség közti kapcsolat lehetőségét.Tanulmányunkban összegezni szeretnénk a jelenleg elérhető szakirodalmi adatokat és ez által betekintést nyújtania két betegség kölcsönhatásába és feltételezett patomechanizmusába. Szükség lenne olyan klinikai vizsgálatokra, melyekbennagy esetszámmal vizsgálnak parodontálisan érintett COPD-s betegeket, így megerősítve vagy cáfolva azta feltevést, miszerint a fogágybetegek parodontális terápiája hozzájárulhat-e a COPD-ben szenvedő betegek életminőségénekjavításához.
Életmentő korai diagnózis a fogorvosi székben Diffúz nagy B-sejtes lymphoma a sinus maxillarisban
Authors: Mensch Károly , Schmidt Péter , Farkas Péter , Károlyházy Katalin
Published: March 2021

A non-Hodgkin lymphomák a fej-nyaki rosszindulatú daganatok ritka formái. Gyakran mellékleletként kerülnek diagnosztizálásra,vagy előrehaladott állapotban, a klinikai tünetek megjelenésével. A stomato-onkológiai szűrés során akkor lehetségesdiagnosztizálni, ha valamilyen mértékben a szájüreg felé kezd terjedni. Jelen közleményben egy sinus maxillaristérintő diffúz nagy B-sejtes lymphomás páciens diagnosztikai lépései, onkológiai ellátása és teljes fogászati rehabilitációjakerül bemutatásra, melyet nagymértékben meghatározott a páciens alapbetegsége. Végeredményben a korai diagnózisnak,az időben megkezdett sikeres onkológiai ellátásnak köszönhetően a daganat teljes remissziót mutatott, tizennyolchónap elteltével relapszus nem jelentkezett. A páciens általános állapota jó, az elkészült fogászati restaurátumokkal,fogművekkel elégedett, rendszeres kontrollra visszajár.
Laborvizsgálat jelentősége implantációs betegeknél
Authors: Nagy-Csoma Luca , Iványi Dóra , Kivovics Péter , Németh Orsolya
Published: March 2021

A fogászati implantáció elterjedésével előtérbe kerülnek az implantációval kapcsolatos szövődmények vizsgálatai. Azegyik gyakori szövődmény az implantátum körüli szöveteket érintő gyulladás. Ennek kialakulásában számos tényezőjátszik szerepet, többek közt az általános egészségi állapotot befolyásoló betegségek, például a cukorbetegség, hiperlipidémiaés egyéb szisztémás betegségek [1]. Kutatásunk célja a vérvizsgálat – mint az implantációt megelőző szűrővizsgálat– effektivitásának felmérése és alkalmazása a periimplantáris gyulladások prevenciójában.Vizsgálataink során 33 beteg teljes fogászati státusz felvételét és nagy rutinlabor eredményeit vetettünk össze. Azadatokat Microsoft Excel (Remond, Washington, Egyesült Államok) program segítségével értékeltük. A vizsgált betegek81,8%-a szenvedett részleges foghiányban, közülük 66,7%-nál volt parodontális csontelváltozás diagnosztizálhatóorthopantomogram felvétel alapján. A betegpopuláció 21,2%-ának volt magas az éhomi vércukorszintje, 51,5%-nak pedigmegnövekedett a vérzsír értéke. Emellett megvizsgáltuk a parodontális érintettség és a laboreltérések együttes előfordulásigyakoriságát is. Magas vércukorszint és a parodontális érintettség a betegek 6,1%-ánál, parodontális érintettségés a magas gyulladásos paraméter a betegek 21,2%-ánál volt egyszerre megfigyelhető. A periimplantáris gyulladásokkialakulásának egyik rizikófaktora a nem vagy rosszul kezelt cukorbetegség. A hiperlipidémia negatívan befolyásoljaa periimplantáris szövetek lokális immunreakcióit és az implantáció hosszútávú sikerességét befolyásoló csontintegrációt.Bármely általános rizikófaktor, parodontális érintettséggel együtt fokozott kockázatot jelent az implantáció során,ezáltal fontos szerepe van ezeknél a pácienseknél a rizikóanalízisnek és a rendszeres kontrollvizsgálatnak. A Fogászatiés Szájsebészeti Oktató Intézet álláspontja szerint a vérvizsgálat már az implantációt megelőzően alkalmas az általánosrizikófaktorok kiszűrésére.
Aspect Ratio Driven Relationship between Nozzle Internal Flow and Supersonic Jet Mixing
Authors: Bhide Kalyani , Siddappaji Kiran , Abdallah Shaaban
Published: March 2021

This work attempts to connect internal flow to the exit flow and supersonic jet mixing in rectangular nozzles with low to high aspect ratios (AR). A series of low and high aspect ratio rectangular nozzles (design Mach number = 1.5) with sharp throats are numerically investigated using steady state Reynolds-averaged Navier−Stokes (RANS) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with k-omega shear stress transport (SST) turbulence model. The numerical shadowgraph reveals stronger shocks at low ARs which become weaker with increasing AR due to less flow turning at the throat. Stronger shocks cause more aggressive gradients in the boundary layer resulting in higher wall shear stresses at the throat for low ARs. The boundary layer becomes thick at low ARs creating more aerodynamic blockage. The boundary layer exiting the nozzle transforms into a shear layer and grows thicker in the high AR nozzle with a smaller potential core length. The variation in the boundary layer growth on the minor and major axis is explained and its growth downstream the throat has a significant role in nozzle exit flow characteristics. The loss mechanism throughout the flow is shown as the entropy generated due to viscous dissipation and accounts for supersonic jet mixing. Axis switching phenomenon is also addressed by analyzing the streamwise vorticity fields at various locations downstream from the nozzle exit.
Assessing the Transformative Potential of Food Banks: The Case Study of Magazzini Sociali (Italy)
Authors: Berti Giaime , Giordano Claudia , Mininni Mariavaleria
Published: March 2021

Food poverty and/or food insecurity have become a substantial problem in the advanced capitalist world, with growing portions of people struggling to eat healthy food every day. At the same time, just in the European Union (EU), around 88 million tonnes of food waste are generated annually. We call this paradox the “food paradox”. The question is, how to tackle food paradox? Food banks are usually presented as a win–win solution to tackle the food paradox, despite being quite controversial. Indeed, food banks are highly contested because, according to critics, they do not aim to address the structural causes, but rather they only intervene on the effects of the food paradox. This paper develops the PAHS conceptual framework, the acronym of prefiguration, autonomy, hybridization, and scalability, which provides the four categories through which to explore the transformative potential of food surplus redistribution initiatives. The PAHS is adopted to investigate the case study of Magazzini Sociali, a food bank project developed by IoPotentino, a not-for-profit organization operating in Potenza. The results show a good transformative potential of the organization and provide an example of social innovation that can be replicated in other contexts.
Using Convolutional Neural Networks to Map Houses Suitable for Electric Vehicle Home Charging
Authors: Flynn James , Giannetti Cinzia
Published: March 2021

With Electric Vehicles (EV) emerging as the dominant form of green transport in the UK, it is critical that we better understand existing infrastructures in place to support the uptake of these vehicles. In this multi-disciplinary paper, we demonstrate a novel end-to-end workflow using deep learning to perform automated surveys of urban areas to identify residential properties suitable for EV charging. A unique dataset comprised of open source Google Street View images was used to train and compare three deep neural networks and represents the first attempt to classify residential driveways from streetscape imagery. We demonstrate the full system workflow on two urban areas and achieve accuracies of 87.2% and 89.3% respectively. This proof of concept demonstrates a promising new application of deep learning in the field of remote sensing, geospatial analysis, and urban planning, as well as a major step towards fully autonomous artificially intelligent surveying techniques of the built environment.
Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Purple Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.): Varietal Comparisons and Physical Distribution
Authors: Im Yeong Ran , Kim Inhwan , Lee Jihyun
Published: March 2021

The outer layer of purple sweet potato is removed during processing; however, this layer serves as a potential source of phenolics, especially anthocyanins. Herein, the phenolic composition and antioxidant activity were determined for the inner and outer layers of five purple sweet potato cultivars (‘Sinjami’, ‘Jami’, ‘Danjami’, ‘Yeonjami’, and ‘Borami’) harvested in Korea. Anthocyanins were identified using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (UHPLC-(ESI)-qTOF-MS) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-linear ion trap mass spectrometer (UHPLC-Ion trap-MS), and their composition was quantified using HPLC-coupled with diode array detector (DAD). Non-anthocyanin phenolic compounds (phenolic acids and flavonols) were quantified using UHPLC-(ESI)-triple quadrupole (QqQ). A total of 20 anthocyanins, including non-acylated or acylated peonidin, cyanidin, and pelargonidin glycosides, were identified. Peonidin 3-caffeoyl-p-hydroxybenzoyl sophoroside-5-glucoside was the major anthocyanin, with the highest level in the ‘Sinjami’ cultivar (outer; 12,366 mg/kg DW, inner; 14,832 mg/kg DW). Additionally, 12 phenolic acids and 6 flavonols (quercetin derivatives) were identified, with the outer layers of all cultivars displaying higher total levels than the inner layers. ‘Sinjami’ and ‘Jami’ had higher phenolic acid and quercetin derivative content and antioxidant activities than the other three cultivars (p < 0.05). Thus, the outer layers of ‘Sinjami’ and ‘Jami’ cultivars could be potential sources of anthocyanins and other phenolics.
In Vivo Bioavailability of Selenium in Selenium-Enriched Streptococcus thermophilus and Enterococcus faecium in CD IGS Rats
Authors: Krausova Gabriela , Kana Antonin , Vecka Marek , Hyrslova Ivana , Stankova Barbora , Kantorova Vera , Mrvikova Iva , Huttl Martina , Malinska Hana
Published: March 2021

The selenium (Se) enrichment of yeasts and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) has recently emerged as a novel concept; the individual health effects of these beneficial microorganisms are combined by supplying the essential micronutrient Se in a more bioavailable and less toxic form. This study investigated the bioavailability of Se in the strains Enterococcus faecium CCDM 922A (EF) and Streptococcus thermophilus CCDM 144 (ST) and their respective Se-enriched forms, SeEF and SeST, in a CD (SD-Sprague Dawley) IGS rat model. Se-enriched LAB administration resulted in higher Se concentrations in the liver and kidneys of rats, where selenocystine was the prevalent Se species. The administration of both Se-enriched strains improved the antioxidant status of the animals. The effect of the diet was more pronounced in the heart tissue, where a lower glutathione reductase content was observed, irrespective of the Se fortification in LAB. Interestingly, rats fed diets with EF and SeEF had higher glutathione reductase activity. Reduced concentrations of serum malondialdehyde were noted following Se supplementation. Diets containing Se-enriched strains showed no macroscopic effects on the liver, kidneys, heart, and brain and had no apparent influence on the basic parameters of the lipid metabolism. Both the strains tested herein showed potential for further applications as promising sources of organically bound Se and Se nanoparticles.
PEA/Polydatin: Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Approach to Counteract DNBS-Induced Colitis
Authors: Peritore Alessio Filippo , D’Amico Ramona , Cordaro Marika , Siracusa Rosalba , Fusco Roberta , Gugliandolo Enrico , Genovese Tiziana , Crupi Rosalia , Di Paola Rosanna , Cuzzocrea Salvatore , Impellizzeri Daniela
Published: March 2021

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) has well-known anti-inflammatory effects. However, PEA does not possess an antioxidant ability. A comicronized formulation of ultramicronized PEA (um-PEA) and polydatin (Pol) PEA/Pol, a biological precursor of resveratrol with antioxidant activity, could have protective effects on oxidative stress produced by inflammatory processes. We evaluated the effects of a comicronized PEA/Pol 10 mg/kg (9 mg of um-PEA+1 mg of polydatin) in a model of Dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS)-induced colitis. Ulcerative colitis was induced in mice by intrarectally injection of DNBS (4 mg in 100 µL of 50% ethanol per mouse). Macroscopic and histologic colon alterations and marked clinical signs were observed four days after DNBS and elevated cytokine production. The myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity assessed for neutrophil infiltration was associated with ICAM-1 and P-selectin adhesion controls in colons. Oxidative stress was detected with increased poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and nitrotyrosine positive staining and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in inflamed colons. Macroscopic and histologic alterations minimized by oral PEA/Pol, as well as neutrophil infiltration, inflammatory cytokine release, MDA, nitrotyrosine, PARP and ICAM-1, and P-selectin expressions. The mechanism of action of PEA/Pol could be related to the sirtuin 1/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (SIRT-1/Nrf2) pathway and nuclear factor (NF)-κB. PEA/Pol administration inhibited NF-κB and increased SIRT-1/Nrf2 expressions. Our results show that PEA/Pol is capable of decreasing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) DNBS-induced in mice.
Old Plant, New Possibilities: Wild Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L., Ericaceae) in Topical Skin Preparation
Authors: Tadić Vanja M. , Nešić Ivana , Martinović Milica , Rój Edward , Brašanac-Vukanović Snežana , Maksimović Svetolik , Žugić Ana
Published: March 2021

Bilberry represents a valuable source of antioxidant substances responsible for its application for the treatment of different conditions (such as inflammation, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and different age-related diseases) associated with increased oxidative stress. As oxidative stress might cause skin impairments, we aim to evaluate a topical preparation containing bilberry leaves extract and bilberry seeds oil, obtained as a byproduct of the food industry. To obtain the extracts, the conventional maceration technique for leaves, and supercritical carbon dioxide extraction for seeds were employed. The chemical profile of both actives was achieved by HPLC and GC methods, revealing the presence of phenolic acids (chlorogenic being the most abundant), flavonoids (isoquercetin in the highest amount), and resveratrol in leaves extract, while in seeds oil the essential ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids were determined in favorable ratio, almost being 1. Antioxidant potential of the wild bilberry extract and seed oil was evaluated using in vitro DPPH and FRAP assays. Finally, effects of the oil-in-water creams with mentioned wild bilberry isolates on the skin were investigated in an in vivo study conducted on healthy human volunteers, revealing the significant beneficial effects when topically applied.
Lactobacillus delbrueckii Protected Intestinal Integrity, Alleviated Intestinal Oxidative Damage, and Activated Toll-Like Receptor–Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase–Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 Pathway in Weaned Piglets Challenged with Lipopolysaccharide
Authors: Chen Fengming , Chen Jiayi , Chen Qinghua , Yang Lingyuan , Yin Jie , Li Yinghui , Huang Xingguo
Published: March 2021

Oxidative stress is increasingly being recognized as a player in the pathogenesis of intestinal pathologies, and probiotics are becoming an attractive means of addressing it. The present study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with Lactobacillus delbrueckii (LAB) on intestinal integrity and oxidative damage in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged piglets. A total of 36 crossbred weaned piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Large Yorkshire) were randomly divided into three groups: (1) non-challenged controls (CON), (2) LPS-challenged controls (LPS), and (3) 0.2% LAB (2.01 × 1010 CFU/g) + LPS treatment (LAB + LPS). On the 29th day of the experiment, the LPS and CON groups were injected intraperitoneally with LPS and saline at 100 ug/kg body weight, respectively. The results show that the LPS-induced elevation of the serum diamine oxidase (DAO) level and small intestinal crypt depth (CD) were reversed by the dietary addition of LAB, which also markedly increased the ileal expression of tight junction proteins (occludin, ZO-1, and claudin-1) in the LPS-challenged piglets. Furthermore, LAB supplementation normalized other LPS-induced changes, such as by decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) in both the serum and intestinal mucosa and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in the jejunal mucosa, increasing glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in both the serum and intestinal mucosa, and increasing glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the jejunal mucosa. LAB also activated Toll-like receptor (TLR)–Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (Btk)–nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2) signaling pathways in the intestine, suggesting that it plays a vital role in the ameliorative antioxidant capacity of weaned piglets. In summary, LAB increased intestinal integrity by improving the intestinal structure and tight junctions while enhancing antioxidant functions via the activation of the TLR–Btk–Nrf2 signaling pathway.
Deletion of Superoxide Dismutase 1 Blunted Inflammatory Aortic Remodeling in Hypertensive Mice under Angiotensin II Infusion
Authors: Shiraishi Yasunaga , Ishigami Norio , Kujiraoka Takehiko , Sato Atsushi , Fujita Masanori , Ido Yasuo , Adachi Takeshi
Published: March 2021

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an enzyme that catalyzes the dismutation of two superoxide anions (O2·−) into hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and oxygen (O2) and is generally known to protect against oxidative stress. Angiotensin II (AngII) causes vascular hypertrophic remodeling which is associated with H2O2 generation. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of cytosolic SOD (SOD1) in AngII-induced vascular hypertrophy. We employed C57/BL6 mice (WT) and SOD1 deficient mice (SOD1−/−) with the same background. They received a continuous infusion of saline or AngII (3.2 mg/kg/day) for seven days. The blood pressures were equally elevated at 1.5 times with AngII, however, vascular hypertrophy was blunted in SOD1−/− mice compared to WT mice (WT mice 91.9 ± 1.13 µm versus SOD1−/− mice 68.4 ± 1.41 µm p < 0.001). The elevation of aortic interleukin 6 (IL-6) and phosphorylation of pro-inflammatory STAT3 due to AngII were also blunted in SOD1−/− mice’s aortas. In cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), reducing expression of SOD1 with siRNA decreased AngII induced IL-6 release as well as phosphorylation of STAT3. Pre-incubation with polyethylene glycol (PEG)-catalase also attenuated phosphorylation of STAT3 due to AngII. These results indicate that SOD1 in VSMCs plays a role in vascular hypertrophy due to increased inflammation caused by AngII, probably via the production of cytosolic H2O2.
Discharge Coefficients of a Heavy Suspension Nozzle
Authors: Rio-Cano Carlos , Tousi Navid M. , Bergada Josep M. , Comas Angel
Published: March 2021

The suspensions used in heavy vehicles often consist of several oil and two gas chambers. In order to perform an analytical study of the mass flow transferred between two gas chambers separated by a nozzle, and when considering the gas as compressible and real, it is usually needed to determine the discharge coefficient of the nozzle. The nozzle configuration analyzed in the present study consists of a T shape, and it is used to separate two nitrogen chambers employed in heavy vehicle suspensions. In the present study, under compressible dynamic real flow conditions and at operating pressures, discharge coefficients were determined based on experimental data. A test rig was constructed for this purpose, and air was used as working fluid. The study clarifies that discharge coefficients for the T shape nozzle studied not only depend on the pressure gradient between chambers but also on the flow direction. Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations, using air as working fluid and when flowing in both nozzle directions, were undertaken, as well, and the fluid was considered as compressible and ideal. The CFD results deeply helped in understanding why the dynamic discharge coefficients were dependent on both the pressure ratio and flow direction, clarifying at which nozzle location, and for how long, chocked flow was to be expected. Experimentally-based results were compared with the CFD ones, validating both the experimental procedure and numerical methodologies presented. The information gathered in the present study is aimed to be used to mathematically characterize the dynamic performance of a real suspension.