bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comprehensive Identification of Reliable Reference Genes for qRT-PCR Normalization of Fusarium oxysporum-Resistant Genes’ Expressions in Lilium sargentiae Wilson
Authors: Ma Lulin , Li Xiang , Duan Qing , Jia Wenjie , Du Wenwen , Wang Xiangning , Cui Guangfen , Zhang Yiping , Wang Jihua
Published: March 2023

Fusarium wilt (caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Lilii) is one of the most damaging diseases in lily (Lilium sargentiae Wilson). Although some F. oxysporum-resistant lily varieties have been identified and are being utilized in resistant breeding, the regulation network of the resistance-associated mechanisms is yet to be studied due to the lack of reliable reference genes for qRT-PCR (quantitative reverse transcription PCR) normalization. The reliability of results by qRT-PCR relies mainly on the stability of the reference genes. This study investigated the reliability of nine candidate reference genes (CYP, EF1-α, GAPDH, TUB, UBQ, AQP, HIS, PGK, and RPL13) for qRT-PCR analysis of F. oxysporum-resistant genes. Expression stability analysis via common programs GeNorm, BestKeeper, and NormFinder, at different time points post-inoculation of F. oxysporum, revealed that all nine genes met the basic requirements of reference genes. Amongst them, HIS and GAPDH displayed the highest and the lowest expression stability, respectively. The reliability of HIS was further validated by analyzing the expression levels of four resistance-related candidate genes. The expression patterns of the four target genes were consistent with their responses to pathogenetic fungi in other plants. Our results show that HIS is the most suitable reference gene for accurately normalizing F. oxysporum-resistant genes’ expressions in L. sargentiae.
The Design of 2DOF IMC-PID Controller in Biochemical Reaction Networks
Authors: Li Yang , Lv Hui , Wang Xing’an
Published: March 2023

DNA molecules can be adopted to design biomolecular control circuits that can effectively control biochemical reaction processes. However, the leak reaction in actual biochemical reactions causes a significant uncertainty for reactions. In this paper, the first-order time-delay system is selected as the controlled object. A two-degree-of-freedom internal model PID controller (2DOF IMC-PID) is constructed for the first time within the framework of chemical reaction networks (CRNs). Under this control strategy, the set-point tracking and disturbance suppression are tuned with individual controllers, respectively. The controller parameters are determined by two filtering parameters that affect the controller’s performance, so the parameter tuning is simpler and more targeted. Then, the 2DOF IMC-PID controller is implemented in DSD reaction networks, with less overshoot in the 2DOF IMC-PID control system than the traditional PID control system and the 2DOF PID control system. Finally, a 2DOF IMC-PID division gate control system is established to effectively inhibit the impacts of leak reactions on the computation results. Although the leak reaction occurs at the division gate, the ideal output can be produced by the 2DOF IMC-PID division gate control system.
Research Progress and Applications of Fe-Mn-Si-Based Shape Memory Alloys on Reinforcing Steel and Concrete Bridges
Authors: Qiang Xuhong , Wu Yapeng , Wang Yuhan , Jiang Xu
Published: March 2023

In civil engineering, beam structures such as bridges require reinforcement to increase load-bearing capacity and extend service life due to damage, aging, and capacity degradation under long-time services and disasters. The utilization of Fe-based shape memory alloys (Fe-SMA) to reinforce structures has been proven efficient and reliable, and the recovery stress of activated Fe-SMA can satisfy the reinforcement requirements. This article overviews the material characteristics and mechanical properties of Fe-SMA. Furthermore, the principle of thermal activation for reinforcing beams using Fe-SMA is described. On this basis, the joining methods between Fe-SMA members and reinforced components are reviewed, and the existing reinforcement research and applications are analyzed for steel and concrete beams. Finally, given the current shortcomings, this paper puts forward the perspectives that need to be studied to promote Fe-SMA’s reinforcement application in civil engineering.
Automatic Decentralized Vibration Control System Based on Collaborative Stand-Alone Smart Dampers
Authors: Debattisti Nicola , Cinquemani Simone , Zanelli Federico
Published: March 2023

In many structures, undesired noise and vibrations generated by external sources represent a huge problem in terms of structural damage and comfort. Active vibration absorbers can be used to dynamically suppress vibrations, by increasing the damping of the system. A wireless smart active damper has been developed to perform this task and some automated functionalities have been implemented to perform the identification of the structure on which it is mounted on. The sharing of information between wireless sensors represents one of the most interesting features of this kind of control system. In this work, a procedure to estimate the nondimensional damping and modal amplitude for each wireless sensor location and each vibration mode is studied. Then, the information obtained by each sensor in the identification phase are used to implement a coordinated control strategy, which is based on a modified version of the Efficient Modal Control (EMC). Such control strategy implements the low level Selective Negative Derivative Feedback control law and modulates the control gains of each actuator and controlled mode pair in order to get an effective vibration reduction. The tuning procedure represents the next step of the algorithm, in which the evaluation of the introduced damping and the maximum applicable gains are derived; finally, the proposed solution is validated with experimental results on a simply-supported beam.
Color Change, Biaxial Flexural Strength, and Fractographic Analysis of Resin-Modified CAD/CAM Ceramics Subjected to Different Surface Finishing Protocols
Authors: Alhassan Mona , Maawadh Ahmed , Labban Nawaf , Shono Nourah , Alebdi Ahmad , Alhijji Saleh , BinMahfooz Abdulelah M.
Published: March 2023

This in vitro study compared the color change (∆E) and biaxial flexural strength (BFS) of two resin nanoceramics (LU and CS) and two polymer-infiltrated ceramic networks (VE and CU) after different surface finishing protocols. A total of 192 discs (12 × 1.2 mm2) were prepared from the materials (n = 48) and then polished with 1200-grit silicon carbide paper, followed by roughening with a 30 µm grit diamond bur. According to the surface finishing applied, the discs from each material category were categorized into four groups: control group (no finishing), polishing (MP), glazing (OG), or a combination of MP and additional polishing (MP+PP). Following surface finishing, all the discs were immersed in a coffee beverage to simulate one year of clinical use. A spectrophotometer and universal testing machine were used to measure the ∆E and BFS, respectively. Fractographic analysis was performed using scanning electron microscopy images. Multivariate analysis of variance was used for the statistical analysis, followed by one-way ANOVA and post hoc Dunnett’s test (a = 0.05). The ∆E and BFS were significantly impacted by material type and surface finishing (p ≤ 0.05). Irrespective of the materials and finishing, untreated LU and OG-treated VE specimens demonstrated the highest (2.98 ± 0.36) and lowest (1.21 ± 0.33) color changes. Regarding BFS, untreated CU and OG-treated CS specimens demonstrated the lowest (121.88 ± 2.08 MPa) and highest (174.17 ± 3.83 MPa) values. Surface finishing using glazing resulted in the highest BFS and lowest ∆E compared to other surface finishing protocols for the tested materials. VE demonstrated the least color changes, and CS showed the highest BFS following surface finishing of the materials tested. Surface finishing is material dependent; thus, it is critical to use the best surface finishing protocol in a clinical setting.
Assessment of Modal Characteristics of Steel–Concrete Composite Girder Bridge with V-Shaped Piers
Authors: Zeng Yong , He Xuan , Li Yongqi , Zhou Jianting
Published: March 2023

As the standards of bridge design and construction continue to improve, more and more combination bridges are being put into use. The public’s demand for aesthetically pleasing bridges is also increasing, making it necessary to use the special structure of steel–concrete combinations, continuous V-shaped piers, and continuously stiffened bridges. This structure has the structural and mechanical characteristics of both a continuous girder and a V-shaped pier bridge. The span can be reduced to a certain extent because the support of the V-shaped piers can be applied directly to the main girder. The spanning capacity of the bridge is generally greater than that of a combined steel–concrete girder bridge with vertical piers. The whole bridge is continuous, without expansion joints, making it more stable and safe for traffic. At present, research on this structural bridge type is not yet complete. In this paper, the structural system and dynamic characteristics of this bridge are investigated in the context of real-life engineering. Firstly, the self-vibration characteristics of the three structures were analyzed, and their effects on the self-vibration characteristics were studied by varying the height of the crossbeam at the V-shaped piers’ support, the main beam stiffness, and the V-shaped piers’ stiffness in the three structures. The results show that the increase in main beam stiffness can effectively improve the vertical stiffness of the three structures, with the most obvious effect on structure one and the least effect on structure two; the increase in V-shaped pier stiffness causes a huge improvement in the transverse stiffness of the three structures. Subsequently, a two-unit rod system model of the background bridge was established using the finite element method, and the original model was improved by calculating the equivalent shear stiffness of the shear nail group so that it could simulate the shear joints more accurately. The effects of the shear connectors on the self-vibration characteristics of the steel–concrete combined continuous beam–V-shaped piers and continuous rigid-frame bridge were investigated through theoretical analysis and finite element simulation. It was found that due to the existence of flexible shear connectors, the interface between the steel beam and concrete slab in the combined beam has a slippage effect which causes the deformation to become unsynchronized, and there is a certain difference between vibration patterns. The stiffness of the shear connectors has a certain effect on the self-vibration frequency of the bridge. The damage to the local shear connectors does not have a large effect on the self-vibration frequency of the overall structure, but the damage to the shear connectors at the beginning of the connection between the V-shaped piers and the main beam is greater than that of the other areas. Damage to shear joints should be given special consideration in comparison to other areas.
Challenges to the Implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Sustainable Construction Projects
Authors: Kineber Ahmed Farouk , Othman Idris , Famakin Ibukun O. , Oke Ayodeji Emmanuel , Hamed Mohammed Magdy , Olayemi Taiwo Matthew
Published: March 2023

Successful concepts are adopted throughout the phases of the building lifecycle to provide maximum comfort and benefits to occupiers without compromising the function of such a project. Although there is limited information on building information modeling (BIM) execution in developing countries, BIM drivers have received significant attention from different researchers, but with a limited investigation into the influence of BIM barriers on such building projects. Our goal with this research is to identify and remove any challenges that may stand in the way of using BIM in developing country construction projects. To this end, a comprehensive literature search uncovered impediments to BIM implementation. To assess the relative importance of the numerous challenges to BIM mentioned in the literature, a survey questionnaire was distributed to a sample of specialists in the construction industry. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to classify these challenges, and partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was created to bring attention to the most pressing ones in the context of BIM adoption. The results of this research will inform policymakers in underdeveloped nations interested in adopting BIM on the pitfalls they should avoid.
Audio Magnetotelluric and Gravity Investigation of the High-Heat-Generating Granites of Midyan Terrane, Northwest Saudi Arabia
Authors: Aboud Essam , Lashin Aref , Zaidi Faisal , Al-Bassam Abdulaziz , Al Arifi Nassir , Abu Anbar Mohamed , Al-Homadhi Emad
Published: March 2023

The Midyan Terrane (northwest Saudi Arabia) is characterized by the presence of a massive belt of radioactive granitic rocks and thick sedimentary cover near the coastal areas. The area is greatly influenced by the tectonic activities of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba, implying its high potentiality of geothermal energy. In the present work, geophysical surveys, including audio magnetotelluric and gravity methods, were integrated to investigate the subsurface structural pattern of the study area, which identified regional deep and shallow fault systems and detected the subsurface geometry/extension of the granitic rocks as well as detecting the thickness of the sedimentary basins near the coastal area. A total number of 80 audio magnetotelluric and 246 gravity stations were recorded, analyzed, and interpreted. Two high-potential geothermal targets were indicated: high-heat-generating granites and thick anomalous sedimentary basins near the coastal areas. High-heat-generating granites are significant in terms of enhanced geothermal systems (EGSs) whereas sedimentary basins play a crucial role in the formation of conventional geothermal systems. Both areas require more exploration plans to evaluate the energy potential of geothermal reservoirs. The results also contribute to the identification of the subsurface orientation and geometry of radioactive granites, providing the necessary parameters to enhance a volumetric estimation for geothermal reserves.
Enrichment of White Wheat Bread with Pistachio Hulls and Grape Seeds: Effect on Bread Quality Characteristics
Authors: Koç Banu , Atar Kayabaşi Gamze
Published: March 2023

In creating sustainable food systems, alternative uses of food waste and by-products as a source of phenolic compounds or dietary fiber in food formulations should be evaluated to reduce food losses and waste. In this study, wheat bread was fortified with agro-industrial by-products, namely, fresh pistachio hull (FPH), pistachio hull powder (PHP), fresh grape seeds (FGS), and grape seed powder (GSP), at different levels (0.5–4%). The effects of this enrichment on moisture content, crust and crumb color, specific volume, baking loss, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and textural properties were evaluated and compared with control bread. Fortification with pistachio hulls and grape seeds, especially in powdered form, improved the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the bread compared with the control bread. With the increase in the amount of PHP from 0 to 4.0%, the total phenolic content of the bread initially increased from 0.89 to 14.66 mg GAE/g dry weight and the specific volume decreased from 3.59 cm3/g to 2.91 cm3/g. Bread containing PHP showed a significant reduction in baking loss and specific volume, while the addition of FGS and GSP at a low level (0.5%) improved the specific volume. The brightness (L*) of the crumb and crust gradually decreased with increasing levels of all additives. The crumbs of the breads with PHP and FPH were characterized by lower hardness, while GSP and especially FGS had higher hardness. All enriched breads (except those with FGS) were more elastic and easier to chew.
QACM: Quality Aware Crowd Sensing in Mobile Computing
Authors: Thippeswamy B. M. , Ghouse Mohamed , Ahmed Jafarabad Shanawaz , Khan Mohammed Murtuza Ahamed , Adere Ketema , B. M. Prabhu Prasad , B. N. Pavan Kumar
Published: March 2023

Mobile computing is one of the significant opportunities that can be used for various practical applications in numerous fields in real life. Due to inherent characteristics of ubiquitous computing, devices can gather numerous types of data that led to innovative applications in many fields with a unique emerging prototype known as Crowd sensing. Here, the involvement of people is one of the important features and their mobility provides an exclusive opportunity to collect and transmit the data over a substantial geographical area. Thus, we put forward novel idea about Quality of Information (QOI) with unique parameters with opportunistic uniqueness of people’s mobility in terms of sensing and transmission. Additionally, we propose some of the viable improved ideas about the competent opportunistic data collection through efficient techniques. This work also considered some of the open issues mentioned by previous related works.
Characterization of Laboratory Particulate Matter (PM) Mass Setups for Brake Emission Measurements
Authors: Grigoratos Theodoros , Mamakos Athanasios , Vedula RaviTeja , Arndt Michael , Lugovyy Dmytro , Hafenmayer Christian , Moisio Mikko , Agudelo Carlos , Giechaskiel Barouch
Published: March 2023

Vehicles’ exhaust particulate matter (PM) emissions have significantly decreased over the years. On the other hand, non-exhaust emissions, i.e., particle emissions from brakes and tires, have increased due to the increase in the vehicle fleet, traffic congestion, and the distance traveled. As a result, regulatory bodies are investigating the possibility of mitigating non-exhaust emissions. The Euro 7 proposal introduces specific emission limits for both brakes and tires for the first time in a regulation worldwide. The methodology for brake particle emissions sampling and measurement builds on the work of the Particle Measurement Programme (PMP) informal working group of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The recently adopted Global Technical Regulation (GTR) on brakes from light-duty vehicles up to 3.5 t prescribes the technical details. In this paper, we present the technical specifications for the measurements of PM. We also evaluate the penetrations for two cases with two setups for minimum and maximum particle losses. This study, using aerosol engineering calculations, estimates the maximum expected differences between the two setups, both of which are compliant with the GTR. This study also discusses the mass ratios of PM2.5 and PM10 as a function of the mass median diameters.
Semi-Hyers–Ulam–Rassias Stability of Some Volterra Integro-Differential Equations via Laplace Transform
Authors: Inoan Daniela , Marian Daniela
Published: March 2023

In this paper the semi-Hyers–Ulam–Rassias stability of some Volterra integro-differential equations is investigated, using the Laplace transform. This is a continuation of some previous work on this topic. The equation in the general form contains more terms, where the unknown function appears together with the derivative of order one and with two integral terms. The particular cases that are considered illustrate the main results for some polynomial and exponential functions.
A Space-Time Legendre-Petrov-Galerkin Method for Third-Order Differential Equations
Authors: Tang Siqin , Li Hong
Published: March 2023

In this article, a space-time spectral method is considered to approximate third-order differential equations with non-periodic boundary conditions. The Legendre-Petrov-Galerkin discretization is employed in both space and time. In the theoretical analysis, rigorous proof of error estimates in the weighted space-time norms is obtained for the fully discrete scheme. We also formulate the matrix form of the fully discrete scheme by taking appropriate test and trial functions in both space and time. Finally, extensive numerical experiments are conducted for linear and nonlinear problems, and spectral accuracy is derived for both space and time. Moreover, the numerical results are compared with those computed by other numerical methods to confirm the efficiency of the proposed method.
Lyoprotectant Formulation and Optimization of the J-Aggregates Astaxanthin/BSA/Chitosan Nanosuspension
Authors: Zhao Yingyuan , Wang Zhaoxuan , Liu Shuxian , Xie Shiying , Xie Yinchun , Li Ruifang , Oda Hiroaki
Published: March 2023

Astaxanthin is a carotenoid with excellent antioxidant activity. However, this small lipid-soluble molecule is insoluble in water and has low stability. Although this situation can be improved when astaxanthin is prepared as a nanosuspension, the aqueous form is still not as convenient and safe as the dry powder form for storage, transport, and use. The lyophilization process provides better protection for thermosensitive materials, but this leads to collapse and agglomeration between nanoparticles. To improve this situation, appropriate lyophilization protectants are needed to offer support between the nanoparticles, such as sugars, amino acids, and hydroxy alcohols. The purpose of this work is to screen lyophilization protectants by single-factor experiments and response surface optimization experiments and then explore the optimal ratio of compound lyophilization protectants, and finally, make excellent astaxanthin/BSA/chitosan nanosuspension (ABC-NPs) lyophilized powder. The work shows that the optimal ratio of the compounding lyophilization protectant is 0.46% oligomeric mannose, 0.44% maltose, and 0.05% sorbitol (w/v). The ABC-NPs lyophilized powder prepared under the above conditions had a re-soluble particle size of 472 nm, with a ratio of 1.32 to the particle size of the sample before lyophilization. The lyophilized powder was all in the form of a pink layer. The sample was fluffy and dissolved entirely within 10 s by shaking with water. Consequently, it is expected to solve the problem of inconvenient storage and transportation of aqueous drugs and to expand the application of nanomedicine powders and tablets.
Altered Distribution of Unesterified Cholesterol among Lipoprotein Subfractions of Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2
Authors: Kolb Livia Noemi , Othman Alaa , Rohrer Lucia , Krützfeldt Jan , von Eckardstein Arnold
Published: March 2023

Biomarkers are important tools to improve the early detection of patients at high risk for developing diabetes as well as the stratification of diabetic patients towards risks of complications. In addition to clinical variables, we analyzed 155 metabolic parameters in plasma samples of 51 healthy volunteers and 66 patients with diabetes using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry. Upon elastic net analysis with lasso regression, we confirmed the independent associations of diabetes with branched-chain amino acids and lactate (both positive) as well as linoleic acid in plasma and HDL diameter (both inverse). In addition, we found the presence of diabetes independently associated with lower concentrations of free cholesterol in plasma but higher concentrations of free cholesterol in small HDL. Compared to plasmas of non-diabetic controls, plasmas of diabetic subjects contained lower absolute and relative concentrations of free cholesterol in all LDL and HDL subclasses except small HDL but higher absolute and relative concentrations of free cholesterol in all VLDL subclasses (except very small VLDL). These disbalances may reflect disturbances in the transfer of free cholesterol from VLDL to HDL during lipolysis and in the transfer of cell-derived cholesterol from small HDL via larger HDL to LDL.
3D-Printed Encapsulation of Thin-Film Transducers for Reliable Force Measurement in Biomedical Applications
Authors: Pertusio Raffaele , Roatta Silvestro
Published: March 2023

In biomedical studies as well as in clinical trials, it is often useful to have a reliable measure of the force exerted by the body (e.g., clenching force at the teeth or pinch force at fingertips) or on the body by external stimuli (e.g., taps to elicit reflexes or local pressure for nociceptive stimulation). Thin-film sensors such as FlexiForce® provide a very handy and versatile solution for these applications, but can be easily damaged and offer poor accuracy and repeatability, being heavily affected by the surface material they come into contact with. The aim of the study is the realization of a 3D-printed housing that completely embeds the sensor, thus providing mechanical protection and increasing the reliability of the measurement. The increasing availability of 3D printers and of printing materials for medical use allows the user to shape the housing according to specific needs, with short developing time and low cost.
Updates in KMT2A Gene Rearrangement in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Górecki Mateusz , Kozioł Ilona , Kopystecka Agnieszka , Budzyńska Julia , Zawitkowska Joanna , Lejman Monika
Published: March 2023

The KMT2A (formerly MLL) encodes the histone lysine-specific N-methyltransferase 2A and is mapped on chromosome 11q23. KMT2A is a frequent target for recurrent translocations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), or mixed lineage (biphenotypic) leukemia (MLL). Over 90 KMT2A fusion partners have been identified until now, including the most recurring ones—AFF1, MLLT1, and MLLT3—which encode proteins regulating epigenetic mechanisms. The presence of distinct KMT2A rearrangements is an independent dismal prognostic factor, while very few KMT2A rearrangements display either a good or intermediate outcome. KMT2A-rearranged (KMT2A-r) ALL affects more than 70% of new ALL diagnoses in infants (<1 year of age), 5–6% of pediatric cases, and 15% of adult cases. KMT2A-rearranged (KMT2A-r) ALL is characterized by hyperleukocytosis, a relatively high incidence of central nervous system (CNS) involvement, an aggressive course with early relapse, and early relapses resulting in poor prognosis. The exact pathways of fusions and the effects on the final phenotypic activity of the disease are still subjects of much research. Future trials could consider the inclusion of targeted immunotherapeutic agents and prioritize the identification of prognostic factors, allowing for the less intensive treatment of some infants with KMT2A ALL. The aim of this review is to summarize our knowledge and present current insight into the mechanisms of KMT2A-r ALL, portray their characteristics, discuss the clinical outcome along with risk stratification, and present novel therapeutic strategies.
Designing, Development, and Evaluation of an Informatics Platform for Enhancing Treatment Adherence in Latent Tuberculosis Infection Patients: A Study Protocol
Authors: Kumar Rohitashwa , Singhal Manmohan , Kumar Devendra , Joshi Ashish , Islam KM Monirul
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Digital health interventions are gradually being incorporated into the management of tuberculosis to ensure treatment adherence, but only a small number of trials focusing on latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) care have tested and evaluated them. It is anticipated that 170 million persons with LTBI may eventually develop active TB; thus, treatment of LTBI patients is an important aspect, along with ensuring treatment adherence. Digital platforms can be beneficial to ensure treatment adherence in LTBI patients, as various studies have shown the positive impact of digital interventions in improving patients’ treatment adherence and treatment outcome. This study aims to explore the various available digital interventions worldwide for treatment adherence in LTBI patients and develop an informatics platform for enhancing treatment adherence in LTBI patients. Methods: This will be a quasi-experimental study divided into three phases. In the first phase, a scoping review method will be used to conduct a systematic literature review using the PRISMA tool to report on various digital interventions focused on treatment adherence in LTBI patients. In the second phase, a text message-based digital platform will be developed, and in the third phase of the study, an evaluation of the digital platform will be done using qualitative and quantitative questionnaires. The study will be conducted using a mixed-methods approach between January 2023 and December 2023. The sample size will be 162 participants, of whom 81 will be assigned to an intervention group and 81 will receive the usual care from the respective chest clinic as a control group. Results: A descriptive analysis of demographic variables and other variables will be done. Continuous variables will be described as mean ± standard deviation (M ± SD), medians (inter-quartile ranges) (M (IQR)), and medians (5th percentile to 95th percentile) (P5-P95). A two-sample independent T-test, the chi-square test, and the Mann-Whitney test will be used for comparisons between groups. Treatment success between control and intervention will be compared through a chi-square test. Conclusions: The key finding of the study will be an understanding of the efficiency of digital platforms for improving treatment adherence in latent TB patients in India.
Exploration of the Design of Spiderweb-Inspired Structures for Vibration-Driven Sensing
Authors: Naderinejad Mahdi , Junge Kai , Hughes Josie
Published: March 2023

In the quest to develop large-area soft sensors, we can look to nature for many examples. Spiderwebs show many fascinating properties that we can seek to understand and replicate in order to develop large-area, soft, and deformable sensing structures. Spiders’ webs are used not only to capture prey, but also to localize their prey through the vibrations that they feel through their legs. Inspired by spiderwebs, we developed a large-area tactile sensor for localizing contact points through vibration sensing. We hypothesize that the structure of a web can be leveraged to amplify, filter, or otherwise morphologically tune vibrations to improve sensing capabilities. To explore this design space, we created a means of computationally designing and 3D printing web structures. By using vibration sensors mounted on the edges of webs to simulate a spider monitoring vibrations, we show how varying the structural properties affects the localization performance when using vibration sensors and long short-term memory (LSTM)-based neural network classifiers. We seek to explain the classification performance seen in different webs by considering various metrics of information content for different webs and, hence, provide insight into how bio-inspired spiderwebs can be used to assist large-area sensing structures.
A Novel Minidumbbell DNA-Based Sensor for Silver Ion Detection
Authors: Zhang Jiacheng , Liu Yuan , Yan Zhenzhen , Wang Yue , Guo Pei
Published: March 2023

Silver ion (Ag+) is one of the most common heavy metal ions that cause environmental pollution and affect human health, and therefore, its detection is of great importance in the field of analytical chemistry. Here, we report an 8-nucleotide (nt) minidumbbell DNA-based sensor (M-DNA) for Ag+ detection. The minidumbbell contained a unique reverse wobble C·C mispair in the minor groove, which served as the binding site for Ag+. The M-DNA sensor could achieve a detection limit of 2.1 nM and sense Ag+ in real environmental samples with high accuracy. More importantly, the M-DNA sensor exhibited advantages of fast kinetics and easy operation owing to the usage of an ultrashort oligonucleotide. The minidumbbell represents a new and minimal non-B DNA structural motif for Ag+ sensing, allowing for the further development of on-site environmental Ag+ detection devices.
Anticipatory Postural Adjustments and Compensatory Postural Responses to Multidirectional Perturbations—Effects of Medication and Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Heß Tobias , Oehlwein Christian , Milani Thomas L.
Published: March 2023

Background: Postural instability is one of the most restricting motor symptoms for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). While medication therapy only shows minor effects, it is still unclear whether medication in conjunction with deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) improves postural stability. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate whether PD patients treated with medication in conjunction with STN-DBS have superior postural control compared to patients treated with medication alone. Methods: Three study groups were tested: PD patients on medication (PD-MED), PD patients on medication and on STN-DBS (PD-MED–DBS), and healthy elderly subjects (HS) as a reference. Postural performance, including anticipatory postural adjustments (APA) prior to perturbation onset and compensatory postural responses (CPR) following multidirectional horizontal perturbations, was analyzed using force plate and electromyography data. Results: Regardless of the treatment condition, both patient groups showed inadequate APA and CPR with early and pronounced antagonistic muscle co-contractions compared to healthy elderly subjects. Comparing the treatment conditions, study group PD-MED–DBS only showed minor advantages over group PD-MED. In particular, group PD-MED–DBS showed faster postural reflexes and tended to have more physiological co-contraction ratios. Conclusion: medication in conjunction with STN-DBS may have positive effects on the timing and amplitude of postural control.
Who Is Afraid of Monkeypox? Analysis of Psychosocial Factors Associated with the First Reactions of Fear of Monkeypox in the Italian Population
Authors: Nimbi Filippo Maria , Baiocco Roberto , Giovanardi Guido , Tanzilli Annalisa , Lingiardi Vittorio
Published: March 2023

Background: A rising number of monkeypox cases have been detected in Europe and several Western nations. Evaluating the fear associated with monkeypox is crucial to determine the necessity for tailored education and prevention programs for specific populations. This study explores the psychological and social factors linked to the fear response to monkeypox. Methods: Nine self-report measures were completed by 333 participants (212 women, 110 men, and 11 individuals identifying as other genders) from the general Italian population, investigating different psychosocial variables. Results: The findings revealed that higher levels of monkeypox fear were linked to identifying as LGB+ or having close associations with the LGBTQI+ community, being single, having lower education levels, placing greater importance on religion, receiving more COVID-19 vaccine doses, having a lower current quality of life, and attributing increased impairment to the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychologically, higher levels of monkeypox fear were associated with higher levels of epistemic credulity, close-mindedness, anxiety, difficulty expressing emotions, and difficulty processing them. Conversely, lower levels of monkeypox fear were related to the belief that the media exaggerated the risks associated with monkeypox epidemics. A partial mediation model was presented and tested. Conclusions: Collecting and utilizing this data can help design targeted education and prevention programs to overcome the fear of monkeypox and promote healthier behaviors.
Explanatory Model of Psychogenic, Behavioral and Environmental Causal Attributions of Cancer, and Their Psychogenic, Biomedical and Alternative Treatment in the General Population of Medellín, Colombia
Authors: Higuita-Gutiérrez Luis Felipe , Salas-Zapata Walter Alfredo , Cardona-Arias Jaiberth Antonio
Published: March 2023

Background: Understanding the causal attributions for cancer, the elements affecting therapeutic adherence, and behaviors that may compromise people’s health or even put them at risk of dying from this disease has garnered a considerable degree of attention. Methods: This study was designed in the city of Medellín with the aim to develop and validate a model for the study of (i) the categories that can be attributable to cancer etiology, (ii) the categories that can be attributed to the efficacy of treatment, and (iii) the relationship between the categories that can be attributed to the etiology and to the efficacy of the treatment. Structural equations were performed on 611 participants. Results: The analysis revealed that attributing the disease to psychogenic factors distances people from biomedical treatments (β coefficient, −0.12), and brings them closer to psychogenic (β coefficient, 0.22) and alternative treatments (β coefficient, 0.24). Attributing cancer to behavioral factors brings people closer to psychogenic treatments (β coefficient, 0.40) over biomedical treatments (β coefficient, 0.24). Conclusions: Symbolic, cultural, and social factors were evidenced, thereby leading to the underestimation of biomedical treatments and imparting a greater degree of importance to psychogenic or alternative therapies. These therapies will subsequently affect the achievement of therapeutic objectives such as increased survival.
Dynamic Response and Failure Mechanism of Deep-Buried Tunnel with Small Net Distance under Blasting Load
Authors: Shi Jianjun , Xu Wenxiang , Zhang Hao , Ma Xinyan , An Huaming
Published: March 2023

Under blasting load, a series of safety problems, such as lining cracking and surrounding rock instability, are prone to occur in deep-buried tunnels with a small net distance. It is significant to understand the dynamic response and failure mechanism of tunnels under blasting. The blasting attenuation formula is optimized through theoretical analysis and field experiments. The measuring point vibration is monitored in real time and the tunnel blasting model is established by ANSYS/LS-DYNA software. The model was set as having no reflective boundary and an uncoupled charge structure was used. The attenuation law of blasting seismic waves is studied from the adjacent tunnel lining and the direction of the tunnel cross-section and length. The inner and outer sides of the tunnel lining are investigated, respectively. The displacement and acceleration of lining measuring point are also analyzed. The dynamic response of the tunnel lining under blasting excavation is analyzed from multiple angles. The results show that the arch foot on the inner side of the lining (the side in contact with the tunnel headroom) is the first to generate vibration. On the outside of the lining (the side in contact with the rock),the peak vibration velocity is reached after blasting load unloading. There is little difference in the vibration velocity at different positions of the transverse section, but great difference in the vibration velocity of the longitudinal section. The influence of the horizontal displacement was greater than that of the vertical displacement. The vibration acceleration of the measuring point at the arch foot of the section is the largest and the detonation is also the largest.
Role and Potential of Different T Helper Cell Subsets in Adoptive Cell Therapy
Authors: Andreu-Sanz David , Kobold Sebastian
Published: March 2023

Historically, CD8+ T cells have been considered the most relevant effector cells involved in the immune response against tumors and have therefore been the focus of most cancer immunotherapy approaches. However, CD4+ T cells and their secreted factors also play a crucial role in the tumor microenvironment and can orchestrate both pro- and antitumoral immune responses. Depending on the cytokine milieu to which they are exposed, CD4+ T cells can differentiate into several phenotypically different subsets with very divergent effects on tumor progression. In this review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge about the role of the different T helper subsets in the immune system, with special emphasis on their implication in antitumoral immune responses. Furthermore, we also summarize therapeutic applications of each subset and its associated cytokines in the adoptive cell therapy of cancer.
A Novel Subgroup of UCHL1-Related Cancers Is Associated with Genomic Instability and Sensitivity to DNA-Damaging Treatment
Authors: Burkart Sebastian , Weusthof Christopher , Khorani Karam , Steen Sonja , Stögbauer Fabian , Unger Kristian , Hess Julia , Zitzelsberger Horst , Belka Claus , Kurth Ina , Hess Jochen
Published: March 2023

Purpose: Identification of molecularly-defined cancer subgroups and targeting tumor-specific vulnerabilities have a strong potential to improve treatment response and patient outcomes but remain an unmet challenge of high clinical relevance, especially in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC). Experimental design: We established a UCHL1-related gene set to identify and molecularly characterize a UCHL1-related subgroup within TCGA-HNSC by integrative analysis of multi-omics data. An extreme gradient boosting model was trained on TCGA-HNSC based on GSVA scores for gene sets of the MSigDB to robustly predict UCHL1-related cancers in other solid tumors and cancer cell lines derived thereof. Potential vulnerabilities of UCHL1-related cancer cells were elucidated by an in-silico drug screening approach. Results: We established a 497-gene set, which stratified the TCGA-HNSC cohort into distinct subgroups with a UCHL1-related or other phenotype. UCHL1-related HNSC were characterized by higher frequencies of genomic alterations, which was also evident for UCHL1-related cancers of other solid tumors predicted by the classification model. These data indicated an impaired maintenance of genomic integrity and vulnerability for DNA-damaging treatment, which was supported by a favorable prognosis of UCHL1-related tumors after radiotherapy, and a higher sensitivity of UCHL1-related cancer cells to irradiation or DNA-damaging compounds (e.g., Oxaliplatin). Conclusion: Our study established UCHL1-related cancers as a novel subgroup across most solid tumor entities with a unique molecular phenotype and DNA-damaging treatment as a specific vulnerability, which requires further proof-of-concept in pre-clinical models and future clinical trials.
Unique Characteristics of Patients with Von Hippel–Lindau Disease Defined by Various Diagnostic Criteria
Authors: Halperin Reut , Arnon Liat , Eden-Friedman Yehudit , Tirosh Amit
Published: March 2023

Von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) disease diagnosis is based on two criteria sets: International criteria (IC, two hemangioblastomas, one hemangioblastoma plus one visceral lesion, or VHL family history/pathogenic variant plus hemangioblastoma/visceral lesion); or Danish criteria (DC, two clinical manifestations, or VHL family history/pathogenic variant plus hemangioblastoma/visceral lesion). We aimed to compare the characteristics of patients with VHL-related pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (vPNET) meeting either the clinical Danish criteria only (DOC) or IC to those with sporadic PNET (sPNET). The cohort included 33 patients with VHL (20 vPNETs) and 65 with sPNET. In terms of genetic testing and family history of VHL, 90.0% of the patients with vPNET in the IC group had a germline VHL pathogenic variant, and 70.0% had a family history of VHL vs. 20% and 10% in the DOC group, respectively (p < 0.05 for both). Patients with vPNET were younger at diagnosis compared with sPNET (51.6 ± 4.1 vs. 62.8 ± 1.5 years, p < 0.05). Patients in the IC group were younger at diagnosis with VHL, vPNET, pheochromocytoma, or paraganglioma (PPGL) and renal-cell carcinoma (RCC) than those in the DOC group (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). The most prevalent presenting manifestations were hemangioblastoma (42.8%) and PPGL (33.3%) vs. RCC (58.3%) and PNET (41.7%) in the IC vs. DOC groups. In conclusion, patients with vPNET meeting DOC criteria show greater similarity to sPNET. We suggest performing genetic testing, rather than solely using clinical criteria, for establishing the diagnosis of VHL.
Green Carbon Dots: Applications in Development of Electrochemical Sensors, Assessment of Toxicity as Well as Anticancer Properties
Authors: Hatimuria Madushmita , Phukan Plabana , Bag Soumabha , Ghosh Jyotirmoy , Gavvala Krishna , Pabbathi Ashok , Das Joydeep
Published: March 2023

Carbon dots are one of the most promising nanomaterials which exhibit a wide range of applications in the field of bioimaging, sensing and biomedicine due to their ultra-small size, high photostability, tunable fluorescence, electrical properties, etc. However, green carbon dots synthesized from several natural and renewable sources show some additional advantages, such as favorable biocompatibility, wide sources, low cost of production and ecofriendly nature. In this review, we will provide an update on the latest research of green carbon dots regarding their applications in cancer therapy and in the development of electrochemical sensors. Besides, the toxicity assessment of carbon dots as well as the challenges and future direction of research on their anticancer and sensing applications will be discussed.
DRAM1 Promotes Lysosomal Delivery of Mycobacterium marinum in Macrophages
Authors: Banducci-Karp Adrianna , Xie Jiajun , Engels Sem A. G. , Sarantaris Christos , van Hage Patrick , Varela Monica , Meijer Annemarie H. , van der Vaart Michiel
Published: March 2023

Damage-Regulated Autophagy Modulator 1 (DRAM1) is an infection-inducible membrane protein, whose function in the immune response is incompletely understood. Based on previous results in a zebrafish infection model, we have proposed that DRAM1 is a host resistance factor against intracellular mycobacterial infection. To gain insight into the cellular processes underlying DRAM1-mediated host defence, here we studied the interaction of DRAM1 with Mycobacterium marinum in murine RAW264.7 macrophages. We found that, shortly after phagocytosis, DRAM1 localised in a punctate pattern to mycobacteria, which gradually progressed to full DRAM1 envelopment of the bacteria. Within the same time frame, DRAM1-positive mycobacteria colocalised with the LC3 marker for autophagosomes and LysoTracker and LAMP1 markers for (endo)lysosomes. Knockdown analysis revealed that DRAM1 is required for the recruitment of LC3 and for the acidification of mycobacteria-containing vesicles. A reduction in the presence of LAMP1 further suggested reduced fusion of lysosomes with mycobacteria-containing vesicles. Finally, we show that DRAM1 knockdown impairs the ability of macrophages to defend against mycobacterial infection. Together, these results support that DRAM1 promotes the trafficking of mycobacteria through the degradative (auto)phagolysosomal pathway. Considering its prominent effect on host resistance to intracellular infection, DRAM1 is a promising target for therapeutic modulation of the microbicidal capacity of macrophages.
Human β-Defensins in Diagnosis of Head and Neck Cancers
Authors: Kompuinen Jenna , Keskin Mutlu , Yilmaz Dogukan , Gürsoy Mervi , Gürsoy Ulvi Kahraman
Published: March 2023

Head and neck cancers are malignant growths with high death rates, which makes the early diagnosis of the affected patients of utmost importance. Over 90% of oral cavity cancers come from squamous cells, and the tongue, oral cavity, and salivary glands are the most common locations for oral squamous cell carcinoma lesions. Human β-defensins (hBDs), which are mainly produced by epithelial cells, are cationic peptides with a wide antimicrobial spectrum. In addition to their role in antimicrobial defense, these peptides also take part in the regulation of the immune response. Recent studies produced evidence that these small antimicrobial peptides are related to the gene and protein expression profiles of tumors. While the suppression of hBDs is a common finding in head and neck cancer studies, opposite findings were also presented. In the present narrative review, the aim will be to discuss the changes in the hBD expression profile during the onset and progression of head and neck cancers. The final aim will be to discuss the use of hBDs as diagnostic markers of head and neck cancers.