bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Novel Decomposition-Based Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm with Dual-Population and Adaptive Weight Strategy
Authors: Ni Qingjian , Kang Xuying
Published: January 2023

Multi-objective evolutionary algorithms mainly include the methods based on the Pareto dominance relationship and the methods based on decomposition. The method based on Pareto dominance relationship will produce a large number of non-dominated individuals with the increase in population size or the number of objectives, resulting in the degradation of algorithm performance. Although the method based on decomposition is not limited by the number of objectives, it does not perform well on the complex Pareto front due to the fixed setting of the weight vector. In this paper, we combined these two different approaches and proposed a Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm based on Decomposition with Dual-Population and Adaptive Weight strategy (MOEA/D-DPAW). The weight vector adaptive adjustment strategy is used to periodically change the weight vector in the evolution process, and the information interaction between the two populations is used to enhance the neighborhood exploration mechanism and to improve the local search ability of the algorithm. The experimental results on 22 standard test problems such as ZDT, UF, and DTLZ show that the algorithm proposed in this paper has a better performance than the mainstream multi-objective evolutionary algorithms in recent years, in solving two-objective and three-objective optimization problems.
The Role of Hand-Held Cardiac Ultrasound in Patients with COVID-19
Authors: Dadon Ziv , Carasso Shemy , Gottlieb Shmuel
Published: January 2023

The role of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in patient management has been established in recent years as an important tool. It is increasingly used by multiple medical disciplines in numerous clinical settings, for different applications and diagnostic purposes and in the guidance of procedures. The introduction of small-sized and inexpensive hand-held ultrasound devices (HUDs) has addressed some of the POCUS-related challenges and has thus extended POCUS’ applicability. HUD utilization is even more relevant in the COVID-19 setting given the operators’ infection risk, excessive workload concerns and general equipment contamination. This review focuses on the available technology, usefulness, feasibility and clinical applications of HUD for echocardiogram assessment in patients with COVID-19.
The Association of the Oral Microbiota with the Effects of Acid Stress Induced by an Increase of Brain Lactate in Schizophrenia Patients
Authors: Krzyściak Wirginia , Karcz Paulina , Bystrowska Beata , Szwajca Marta , Bryll Amira , Śmierciak Natalia , Ligęzka Anna , Turek Aleksander , Kozicz Tamas , Skalniak Anna E. , Jagielski Paweł , Popiela Tadeusz J. , Pilecki Maciej
Published: January 2023

The altered cerebral energy metabolism central to schizophrenia can be linked to lactate accumulation. Lactic acid is produced by gastrointestinal bacteria, among others, and readily crosses the blood–brain barrier, leading to the brain acidity. This study aimed to examine the association of the oral microbiota with the effects of acid stress induced by an increase of brain lactate in schizophrenia patients. The study included patients with a diagnosis of acute polyphasic psychotic disorder meeting criteria for schizophrenia at 3-month follow-up. Results: Individuals with a significantly higher total score on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale had statistically significantly lower lactate concentrations compared to those with a lower total score and higher brain lactate. We observed a positive correlation between Actinomyces and lactate levels in the anterior cingulate cap and a negative correlation between bacteria associated with lactate metabolism and some clinical assessment scales. Conclusions: Shifts in the oral microbiota in favour of lactate-utilising bacterial genera may represent a compensatory mechanism in response to increased lactate production in the brain. Assessment of neuronal function mediated by ALA-LAC-dependent NMDA regulatory mechanisms may, thus, support new therapies for schizophrenia, for which acidosis has become a differentiating feature of individuals with schizophrenia endophenotypes.
Automated Collateral Scoring on CT Angiography of Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke Using Hybrid CNN and Transformer Network
Authors: Kuang Hulin , Wan Wenfang , Wang Yahui , Wang Jie , Qiu Wu
Published: January 2023

Collateral scoring plays an important role in diagnosis and treatment decisions of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Most existing automated methods rely on vessel prominence and amount after vessel segmentation. The purpose of this study was to design a vessel-segmentation free method for automating collateral scoring on CT angiography (CTA). We first processed the original CTA via maximum intensity projection (MIP) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) region segmentation. The obtained MIP images were fed into our proposed hybrid CNN and Transformer model (MPViT) to automatically determine the collateral scores. We collected 154 CTA scans of patients with AIS for evaluation using five-folder cross validation. Results show that the proposed MPViT achieved an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.767 (95% CI: 0.68–0.83) and a Kappa of 0.6184 (95% CI: 0.4954–0.7414) for three-point collateral score classification. For dichotomized classification (good vs. non-good and poor vs. non-poor), it also achieved great performance.
Development of 3D-Bioprinted Colitis-Mimicking Model to Assess Epithelial Barrier Function Using Albumin Nano-Encapsulated Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
Authors: Almutary Abdulmajeed G. , Alnuqaydan Abdullah M. , Almatroodi Saleh A. , Bakshi Hamid A. , Chellappan Dinesh Kumar , Tambuwala Murtaza M.
Published: January 2023

Physiological barrier function is very difficult to replicate in vitro. This situation leads to poor prediction of candidate drugs in the drug development process due to the lack of preclinical modelling for intestinal function. By using 3D bioprinting, we generated a colitis-like condition model that can evaluate the barrier function of albumin nanoencapsulated anti-inflammatory drugs. Histological characterization demonstrated the manifestation of the disease in 3D-bioprinted Caco-2 and HT-29 constructs. A comparison of proliferation rates in 2D monolayer and 3D-bioprinted models was also carried out. This model is compatible with currently available preclinical assays and can be implemented as an effective tool for efficacy and toxicity prediction in drug development.
Surface Plasmon Resonance-Based Gold-Coated Hollow-Core Negative Curvature Optical Fiber Sensor
Authors: Divya J. , Selvendran S.
Published: January 2023

The hollow-core fiber-based sensor has garnered high interest due to its simple structure and low transmission loss. A new hollow-core negative-curvature fiber (HC-NCF) sensor based on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique is proposed in this work. The cladding region is composed of six circular silica tubes and two elliptical silica tubes to reduce fabrication complexity. Chemically stable gold is used as a plasmonic material on the inner wall of the sensor structure to induce the SPR effect. The proposed sensor detects a minor variation in the refractive indices (RIs) of the analyte placed in the hollow core. Numerical investigations are carried out using the finite element method (FEM). Through the optimization of structural parameters, the maximum wavelength sensitivity of 6000 nm/RIU and the highest resolution of 2.5 × 10−5 RIU are achieved in the RI range of 1.31 to 1.36. In addition, an improved figure of merit (FOM) of 2000 RIU−1 for Y-polarization and 857.1 RIU−1 for X-polarization is obtained. Because of its simple structure, high sensitivity, high FOM, and low transmission loss, the proposed sensor can be used as a temperature sensor, a chemical sensor, and a biosensor.
Silver Nanostar-Based SERS for the Discrimination of Clinically Relevant Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae Species and Clones
Authors: de Almeida Miguel Peixoto , Rodrigues Carla , Novais Ângela , Grosso Filipa , Leopold Nicolae , Peixe Luísa , Franco Ricardo , Pereira Eulália
Published: January 2023

The development of rapid, reliable, and low-cost methods that enable discrimination among clinically relevant bacteria is crucial, with emphasis on those listed as WHO Global Priority 1 Critical Pathogens, such as carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and carbapenem-resistant or ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae. To address this problem, we developed and validated a protocol of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with silver nanostars for the discrimination of A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae species, and their globally disseminated and clinically relevant antibiotic resistant clones. Isolates were characterized by mixing bacterial colonies with silver nanostars, followed by deposition on filter paper for SERS spectrum acquisition. Spectral data were processed with unsupervised and supervised multivariate data analysis methods, including principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA), respectively. Our proposed SERS procedure using silver nanostars adsorbed to the bacteria, followed by multivariate data analysis, enabled differentiation between and within species. This pilot study demonstrates the potential of SERS for the rapid discrimination of clinically relevant A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae species and clones, displaying several advantages such as the ease of silver nanostars synthesis and the possible use of a handheld spectrometer, which makes this approach ideal for point-of-care applications.
Clinical Effects of Immuno-Oncology Therapy on Glioblastoma Patients: A Systematic Review
Authors: Najafi Masoumeh , Jahanbakhshi Amin , Finocchi Ghersi Sebastiano , Giaccherini Lucia , Botti Andrea , Cavallieri Francesco , Rossi Jessica , Iori Federico , Iotti Cinzia , Ciammella Patrizia , Nabiuni Mohsen , Gomar Marzieh , Rezaie Omid , Cozzi Salvatore
Published: January 2023

The most prevalent and deadly primary malignant glioma in adults is glioblastoma (GBM), which has a median survival time of about 15 months. Despite the standard of care for glioblastoma, which includes gross total resection, high-dose radiation, and temozolomide chemotherapy, this tumor is still one of the most aggressive and difficult to treat. So, it is critical to find more potent therapies that can help glioblastoma patients have better clinical outcomes. Additionally, the prognosis for recurring malignant gliomas is poor, necessitating the need for innovative therapeutics. Immunotherapy is a rather new treatment for glioblastoma and its effects are not well studied when it is combined with standard chemoradiation therapy. We conducted this study to evaluate different glioblastoma immunotherapy approaches in terms of feasibility, efficacy, and safety. We conducted a computer-assisted literature search of electronic databases for essays that are unique, involve either prospective or retrospective research, and are entirely written and published in English. We examined both observational data and randomized clinical trials. Eighteen studies met the criteria for inclusion. In conclusion, combining immunotherapy with radiochemotherapy and tumor removal is generally possible and safe, and rather effective in the prolongation of survival measures.
The Price Premium in Green Buildings: A Spatial Autoregressive Model and a Multi-Criteria Optimization Approach
Authors: Copiello Sergio , Coletto Simone
Published: January 2023

The energy issue has given rise to a prolific research field, which branches into several strands. One of these strands focuses on the role played by building energy features in shaping property prices. Indeed, market players are expected to show a higher willingness to pay for building units characterized by higher energy performance. The study of the so-called price premium for building energy efficiency has flourished in the last decade or so; plenty of evidence is now available concerning its occurrence, although its magnitude is still debated. The literature relies on the methodological frameworks of statistical modeling and multiple regression, primarily employing hedonic price models. Lately, spatial autoregressive models have also been adopted. Here, we propose to deal with estimation of the price premium by adopting an innovative perspective. In particular, we use a methodological framework in which regression models are complemented with a multi-criteria optimization approach. Using a spatial autoregressive model first, and with D as the reference energy rating band, we find the following price premiums: 55% for A4, 42% for A3 to A, 20% for B or C, −14% for F, and −29% for G. The multi-criteria optimization approach proves efficient in estimating the price premium. The estimates above are essentially confirmed: the results converge for all the energy rating bands except for G.
Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis of the Wind–Train–Bridge System of a Long-Span Railway Suspension Truss Bridge
Authors: Wang Shaoqin , Wan Xing , Guo Minghao , Qiao Hong , Zhang Nan , Ye Qing
Published: January 2023

In order to study the coupling vibration between a bridge and a train under the action of crosswind loads, a dynamic interaction model of the wind–train–bridge system is established considering the geometric nonlinear factors of a long-span suspension bridge. A calculation frame is composed, and a corresponding computer program is written. A long-span highway–railway suspension bridge scheme is studied as an example. The linear and nonlinear vibration responses of the bridge under the simultaneous action of both train loads and wind loads are compared using the self-written program, and the influence of wind velocity and train speed on the dynamic responses of the bridge is studied. The results show that the large displacement nonlinearity of the structure does not influence the changing tendency of bridge displacement and acceleration time histories, but reduces the maximum values of the responses. The geometric nonlinear influence on the bridge accelerations is more obvious than that on the displacements. The natural frequencies of this long-span suspension bridge are very low and it is sensitive to wind action. The changes in train speed and average wind velocity have a great influence on the maximum value of bridge displacement, especially when the lateral deformation and acceleration increase sharply with the wind velocity, and the coupling vibration between wind, train, and the bridge can easily occur. The research results can provide references for the safe operation and maintenance of long-span bridges.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Businesses in 2022
Authors:   Businesses Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Non-Conventional Allogeneic Anti-BCMA Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Based Immune Cell Therapies for Multiple Myeloma Treatment
Authors: Du Zhicheng , Zhu Sumin , Zhang Xi , Gong Zhiyuan , Wang Shu
Published: January 2023

MM, characterized by the progressive accumulation of clonal plasma cells in bone marrow, remains a severe medical problem globally. Currently, almost all MM patients who have received standard treatments will eventually relapse. Autologous anti-BCMA CAR-T cells are one of the FDA-approved immunotherapy cell-based products for treating adults with relapsed or refractory (r/r) multiple myeloma. However, this type of CAR-T cell product has several limitations, including high costs, long manufacturing times, and possible manufacturing failure, which significantly hinder its wider application for more patients. In this review, we summarized the current development stage of applying other types of immune cells to bring the anti-BCMA CAR-T therapy from autologous to allogeneic. In general, anti-BCMA CAR gene-edited αβ T cells and CAR-Natural Killer (NK) cells are at the forefront, with multiple clinical trials ongoing, while CAR-γδ T cells and CAR-invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells are still in pre-clinical studies. Other immune cells such as macrophages, B cells, and dendritic cells have been mainly developed to target other antigens and have the potential to be used to target BCMA. Nevertheless, additional regulatory requirements might need to be taken into account in developing these non-conventional allogenic anti-BCMA CAR-based cell products.
Multi-Parameter Analysis of Disseminated Tumor Cells (DTCs) in Early Breast Cancer Patients with Hormone-Receptor-Positive Tumors
Authors: König Theresa , Dogan Senol , Höhn Anne Kathrin , Weydandt Laura , Aktas Bahriye , Nel Ivonne
Published: January 2023

Background: Patients with hormone-receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer are at increased risk for late recurrence. One reason might be disseminated tumor cells (DTCs), which split off in the early stages of the disease and metastasize into the bone marrow (BM). Methods: We developed a novel multi-parameter immunofluorescence staining protocol using releasable and bleachable antibody–fluorochrome-conjugates. This sequential procedure enabled us to analyze six distinct phenotypical and therapy-related markers on the same DTC. We characterized BM aspirates from 29 patients with a HR+ tumor and a known positive DTC status—based on the standardized detection of epithelial cells in BM. Results: Using the immunofluorescence staining, a total of 153 DTCs were detected. Luminal A patients revealed a higher DTC count compared with luminal B. The majority of the detected DTCs were CK-positive (128/153). However, in 16 of 17 luminal A patients we found HER2-positive DTCs. We detected CK-negative DTCs (25/153) in 12 of 29 patients. Of those cells, 76% were Ki67-positive and 68% were HER2-positive. Moreover, we detected DTC clusters consisting of mixed characteristics in 6 of 29 patients. Conclusions: Using sequential multi-parameter imaging made it possible to identify distinct DTC profiles not solely based on epithelial features. Our findings indicate that characterization rather than quantification of DTCs might be relevant for treatment decisions.
Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) Program for Patients with Peritoneal Surface Malignancies Undergoing Cytoreductive Surgery with or without HIPEC: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis
Authors: Robella Manuela , Tonello Marco , Berchialla Paola , Sciannameo Veronica , Ilari Civit Alba Maria , Sommariva Antonio , Sassaroli Cinzia , Di Giorgio Andrea , Gelmini Roberta , Ghirardi Valentina , Roviello Franco , Carboni Fabio , Lippolis Piero Vincenzo , Kusamura Shigeki , Vaira Marco
Published: January 2023

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program refers to a multimodal intervention to reduce the length of stay and postoperative complications; it has been effective in different kinds of major surgery including colorectal, gynaecologic and gastric cancer surgery. Its impact in terms of safety and efficacy in the treatment of peritoneal surface malignancies is still unclear. A systematic review and a meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the effect of ERAS after cytoreductive surgery with or without HIPEC for peritoneal metastases. MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar and Cochrane Database were searched from January 2010 and December 2021. Single and double-cohort studies about ERAS application in the treatment of peritoneal cancer were considered. Outcomes included the postoperative length of stay (LOS), postoperative morbidity and mortality rates and the early readmission rate. Twenty-four studies involving 5131 patients were considered, 7 about ERAS in cytoreductive surgery (CRS) + HIPEC and 17 about cytoreductive alone; the case histories of two Italian referral centers in the management of peritoneal cancer were included. ERAS adoption reduced the LOS (−3.17, 95% CrI −4.68 to −1.69 in CRS + HIPEC and −1.65, 95% CrI −2.32 to –1.06 in CRS alone in the meta-analysis including 6 and 17 studies respectively. Non negligible lower postoperative morbidity was also in the meta-analysis including the case histories of two Italian referral centers. Implementation of an ERAS protocol may reduce LOS, postoperative complications after CRS with or without HIPEC compared to conventional recovery.
Anti-Vimentin Nanobody Decreases Glioblastoma Cell Invasion In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Zottel Alja , Novak Metka , Šamec Neja , Majc Bernarda , Colja Sara , Katrašnik Mojca , Vittori Miloš , Hrastar Barbara , Rotter Ana , Porčnik Andrej , Lah Turnšek Tamara , Komel Radovan , Breznik Barbara , Jovčevska Ivana
Published: January 2023

Purpose: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumour and one of the deadliest cancers. In addition to late diagnosis and inadequate treatment, the extremely low survival rate is also due to the lack of appropriate therapeutic biomarkers and corresponding therapeutic agents. One of the potential therapeutic biomarkers is the intermediate filament vimentin, which is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The purpose of this study was to analyse the effect of the anti-vimentin nanobody Nb79 on cell invasion in vitro and in vivo. To further our understanding of the mechanism of action, we investigated the association between Nb79 and EMT in GBM and GBM stem cells by analysing the expression levels of key EMT-related proteins. Methods: The expression of vimentin in glioma tissues and cells was determined by RT-qPCR. An invasion assay was performed on differentiated glioblastoma cell line U-87 MG and stem cell line NCH421k in vitro as well as in vivo in zebrafish embryos. The effect of Nb79 on expression of EMT biomarkers beta-catenin, vimentin, ZEB-1 and ZO1 was determined by Western blot and immunocytochemistry. Results: Our study shows that vimentin is upregulated in glioblastoma tissue compared to lower grade glioma and non-tumour brain tissue. We demonstrated that treatment with Nb79 reduced glioblastoma cell invasion by up to 64% in vitro and up to 21% in vivo. In addition, we found that the tight junction protein ZO-1 had higher expression on the cell membrane, when treated with inhibitory anti-vimentin Nb79 compared to control. Conclusion: In conclusion, our results suggest that anti-vimentin nanobody Nb79 is a promising tool to target glioblastoma cell invasion.
At What Point Are Long-Term (>5 Years) Survivors of APL Safe? A Study from the SEER Database
Authors: Yin Xue-Jiao , Wang Rong , Shen Hong-Shi , Jin Jie , Zhu Hong-Hu
Published: January 2023

Background: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a highly curable cancer, but it is not clear whether it is also necessary to monitor long-term toxicity in “cured” patients who survive for more than five years, which is critical to ensuring maximum survival in APL patients. Methods: A total of 1952 APL 5-year survivors and 5973 non-APL acute myeloid leukemia (AML) 5-year survivors were included from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was calculated to measure the risk of death. Cumulative mortality is calculated as the incidence of specific causes of death under competing risk events. Results: The SMR of all causes of death in >5-year survivors of APL was higher than that of the general population only at 60–119 months (SMR, 1.41). This was mainly because a significant increase in mortality from AML (SMR, 87.67) and second malignant neoplasms (SMNs) (SMR, 1.56) was found only at 60–119 months. However, there was no higher risk of death from non-cancer-related disease in >5-year survivors of APL than that of the general population (SMR, 0.89). The SMR of all-cause deaths in >5-year survivors of non-APL AML decreased year by year and was no higher than that of the general population until after 216 months. The cumulative incidence of AML-related death, SMN-related death, and non-cancer-related death was significantly lower in APL patients than in non-APL AML patients throughout the follow-up period. Conclusions: Compared with the general population, the risk of death of patients with APL was higher within 5 to 10 years but not higher over 10 years. Therefore, we believe that long-term survivors of APL are safe after 10 years.
Elucidation of the Role of SMAD4 in Epithelial–Mesenchymal Plasticity: Does It Help to Better Understand the Consequences of DPC4 Inactivation in the Malignant Progression of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma?
Authors: Ungefroren Hendrik , Konukiewitz Björn , Braun Rüdiger , Wellner Ulrich Friedrich , Keck Tobias , Marquardt Jens-Uwe
Published: January 2023

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the 4th leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with a 5-year-survival rate below 10% that is the lowest of all cancer types [...]
Intraoperative Evaluation of Soft Tissue Sarcoma Surgical Margins with Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Imaging
Authors: Gong Matthew F. , Li William T. , Bhogal Sumail , Royes Brittany , Heim Tanya , Silvaggio Maria , Malek Marcus , Dhupar Rajeev , Lee Stella J. , McGough Richard L. , Weiss Kurt R.
Published: January 2023

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare malignant tumors often associated with poor outcomes and high local recurrence rates. Current tools for intraoperative and definitive margin assessment include intraoperative frozen section and permanent pathology, respectively. Indocyanine green dye (ICG) is a historically safe fluorophore dye that has demonstrated efficacy for intraoperative margin assessment in the surgical management of both breast and gastrointestinal cancers. The utility of ICG in the surgical management of sarcoma surgery has primarily been studied in pre-clinical mouse models and warrants further investigation as a potential adjunct to achieving negative margins. This study is a prospective, non-randomized clinical study conducted on patients with confirmed or suspected STS. Patients younger than 18 years, with a prior adverse reaction to iodine or fluorescein, or with renal disease were excluded from the study. Intravenous ICG was infused approximately three hours prior to surgery at a dosage of 2.0–2.5 mg/kg, and following tumor resection, the excised tumor and tumor bed were imaged for fluorescence intensity. When scanning the tumor bed, a threshold of 77% calibrated to the region of maximum intensity in the resected tumor was defined as a positive ICG margin, according to published protocols from the breast cancer literature. ICG results were then compared with the surgeon’s clinical impression of margin status and permanent pathology results. Out of 26 subjects recruited for the original study, 18 soft tissue sarcomas (STS) were included for analysis. Three subjects were excluded for having bone sarcomas, and five subjects were excluded due to final pathology, which was ultimately inconsistent with sarcoma. The average age of patients was 64.1 years old (range: 28–83), with an average ICG dose of 201.8 mg. In 56% (10/18) of patients, ICG margins were consistent with the permanent pathology margins, with 89% specificity. The use of ICG as an intraoperative adjunct to obtaining negative margins in soft tissue sarcoma surgery is promising. However, studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to further delineate the accuracy, optimal dosage, timing, and types of sarcoma in which this diagnostic tool may be most useful.
Molecular Insights into Substrate Binding of the Outer Membrane Enzyme OmpT
Authors: Zhang Yubo , Baaden Marc
Published: January 2023

The enzyme OmpT of the outer membrane of Escherichia coli shows proteolytic activity and cleaves peptides and proteins. Using molecular dynamics simulations in a fully hydrated lipid bilayer on a time scale of hundreds of nanoseconds, we draw a detailed atomic picture of substrate recognition in the OmpT-holo enzyme complex. Hydrogen bonds and salt bridges are essential for maintaining the integrity of the active site and play a central role for OmpT in recognizing its substrate. Electrostatic interactions are critical at all stages from approaching the substrate to docking at the active site. Computational alanine scanning based on the Molecular Mechanics Generalized Born Surface Area (MM-GBSA) approach confirms the importance of multiple residues in the active site that form salt bridges. The substrate fluctuates along the axis of the β-barrel, which is associated with oscillations of the binding cleft formed by the residue pairs D210-H212 and D83-D85. Principal component analysis suggests that substrate and protein movements are correlated. We observe the transient presence of putative catalytic water molecules near the active site, which may be involved in the nucleophilic attack on the cleavable peptide bond of the substrate.
Synthesis and Investigation of Zeolite TiO2/Al-ZSM-12 Structure and Properties
Authors: Tsaplin Dmitry E. , Ostroumova Vera A. , Kulikov Leonid A. , Zolotukhina Anna V. , Sadovnikov Alexey A. , Kryuchkov Michail D. , Egazaryants Sergey V. , Maksimov Anton L. , Wang Kaige , Luo Zhongyang , Naranov Evgeny R.
Published: January 2023

The textural, structural, morphological, and acidic properties of TiO2/Al-ZSM-12 zeolite synthesized viathe hydrothermal method and using methyltriethylammonium chloride as a template were studied in this study. The structure, size, and shape of the crystallites, and the acidity of the synthesized materials were investigated in detail using the following methods: XRD, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption–desorption, XRF, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, DRS UV–Vis, DRIFTS, PL, SEM, TEM, solid-state NMR spectroscopy on 27Al, 1H, 29Si, 1H-29Si and 23Na nuclei, NH3-TPD, TG, DSC, DTA, FTIR-Py, FTIR-2,6-dTBP, FTIR-CD3CN, and DRIFTS-acid. The presence of tetrahedral titanium in the TiO2/Al-ZSM-12 zeolite was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy, DRIFT, and 29Si NMR. It was revealed that the crystallites of the TiO2/Al-ZSM-12 zeolite, elongated along the b axis, had a higher acidity compared to the unsubstituted zeolite Al-ZSM-12. The oxidative catalytic activity of the TiO2/Al-ZSM-12 zeolite was studied in the photoinduced decomposition of the crystal violet dye and it was found that the reaction proceeds most efficiently in the presence of H2O2 as an oxidizing agent and TiO2/Al-ZSM-12 as a catalyst (PCA = 0.157%∙min−1).
Surface Passivation Engineering for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
Authors: Shi Jingying , Zhao Xuefei , Li Can
Published: January 2023

Surface passivation engineering is an imperative way to improve photoelectrode performance for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. To the best of our knowledge, it has never been systematically reviewed in a feature article. In this review, we summarize various passivation materials and their preparation, characterizations by PEC measurements and some related spectral technologies. We highlight the features of the passivation effect that separate it from other modifications, such as cocatalyst decoration, and we demonstrate significant progress in combining surface passivation engineering with other interfacial modification strategies for the rational design of photoelectrodes. Ideas for future research on surface passivation modification for improving the performance of photoelectrodes are also proposed.
Influence of Rapid Heat Treatment on the Photocatalytic Activity and Stability of Strontium Titanates against a Broad Range of Pollutants
Authors: Abedi Mahsa , Szamosvölgyi Ákos , Sápi András , Kukovecz Ákos , Kónya Zoltán , Gyulavári Tamás , Pap Zsolt
Published: January 2023

Strontium titanate (STO) photocatalysts were prepared via a slightly modified Pechini sol–gel method. A unique rapid calcination technique with a short exposure time was used to obtain crystalline products. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Their photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the photocatalytic oxidation of phenol, oxalic acid, and chlorophenol under UV light irradiation using commercial STO as a reference. These pollutants, together with glucose and propanol, were used to investigate the stability of the samples against various functional groups. All our samples exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than the commercial STO reference. With increasing calcination temperature, the crystallinity and primary crystallite sizes increased while the band gaps and specific surface areas decreased. The photocatalytic activity of the most efficient sample was explained by the presence of SrCO3 on its surface. The STO catalysts were highly stable as they largely retained their crystalline composition after exposure to chemicals with different functional groups. Finally, we compared the costs associated with the unique calcination technique with a more conventional one and found that our method is ~35% more cost-effective.
Prediction of Mortality in Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis Based on the Fibrinogen Mannosylation
Authors: Baralić Marko , Pažitná Lucia , Brković Voin , Laušević Mirjana , Gligorijević Nikola , Katrlík Jaroslav , Nedić Olgica , Robajac Dragana
Published: January 2023

As we already reported, fibrinogen fucosylation emerged as a prognostic marker of peritoneal membrane function in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on peritoneal dialysis. After a follow-up period of 18 months, we estimated the ability of employed lectins, as well as other biochemical parameters, to serve as mortality predictors in these patients. Following a univariate Cox regression analysis, ferritin, urea clearance, residual diuresis, hyperglycemia, and an increase in the signal intensity obtained with Galanthus nivalis lectin (GNL) emerged as potential mortality predictors, but additional multivariate Cox regression analysis pointed only to glucose concentration and GNL as mortality predictors. Higher signal intensity obtained with GNL in patients that died suggested the importance of paucimannosidic/highly mannosidic N-glycan structures on fibrinogen as factors that are related to unwanted cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality and can possibly be seen as a prediction tool. Altered glycan structures composed of mannose residues are expected to affect the reactivity of mannosylated glycoproteins with mannose-binding lectin and possibly the entire cascade of events linked to this lectin. Since patients with ESRD are prone to cardiovascular complications and the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, one can hypothesize that fibrinogen with increasingly exposed mannose residues may contribute to the unwanted events.
Proteoglycan SPOCK1 as a Poor Prognostic Marker Promotes Malignant Progression of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma via Triggering the Snail/Slug-MMP-2 Axis-Mediated Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
Authors: Lin Yung-Wei , Wen Yu-Ching , Hsiao Chi-Hao , Lai Feng-Ru , Yang Shun-Fa , Yang Yi-Chieh , Ho Kuo-Hao , Hsieh Feng-Koo , Hsiao Michael , Lee Wei-Jiunn , Chien Ming-Hsien
Published: January 2023

Sparc/osteonectin, cwcv, and kazal-like domains proteoglycan 1 (SPOCK1) has been reported to play an oncogenic role in certain cancer types; however, the role of SPOCK1 in the progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains elusive. Here, higher SPOCK1 transcript and protein levels were observed in ccRCC tissues compared to normal tissues and correlated with advanced clinical stages, larger tumor sizes, and lymph node and distal metastases. Knockdown and overexpression of SPOCK1 in ccRCC cells led to decreased and increased cell clonogenic and migratory/invasive abilities in vitro as well as lower and higher tumor growth and invasion in vivo, respectively. Mechanistically, the gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) database was used to identify the gene set of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathways enriched in ccRCC samples with high SPOCK1 expression. Further mechanistic investigations revealed that SPOCK1 triggered the Snail/Slug–matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 axis to promote EMT and cell motility. Clinical ccRCC samples revealed SPOCK1 to be an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS), and positive correlations of SPOCK1 with MMP-2 and mesenchymal-related gene expression levels were found. We observed that patients with SPOCK1high/MMP2high tumors had the shortest OS times compared to others. In conclusion, our findings reveal that SPOCK1 can serve as a useful biomarker for predicting ccRCC progression and prognosis, and as a promising target for treating ccRCC.
The Rosetta Stone Hypothesis-Based Interaction of the Tumor Suppressor Proteins Nit1 and Fhit
Authors: Mittag Sonnhild , Wetzel Franziska , Müller Sebastian Y. , Huber Otmar
Published: January 2023

In previous studies, we have identified the tumor suppressor proteins Fhit (fragile histidine triad) and Nit1 (Nitrilase1) as interaction partners of β-catenin both acting as repressors of the canonical Wnt pathway. Interestingly, in D. melanogaster and C. elegans these proteins are expressed as NitFhit fusion proteins. According to the Rosetta Stone hypothesis, if proteins are expressed as fusion proteins in one organism and as single proteins in others, the latter should interact physically and show common signaling function. Here, we tested this hypothesis and provide the first biochemical evidence for a direct association between Nit1 and Fhit. In addition, size exclusion chromatography of purified recombinant human Nit1 showed a tetrameric structure as also previously observed for the NitFhit Rosetta Stone fusion protein Nft-1 in C. elegans. Finally, in line with the Rosetta Stone hypothesis we identified Hsp60 and Ubc9 as other common interaction partners of Nit1 and Fhit. The interaction of Nit1 and Fhit may affect their enzymatic activities as well as interaction with other binding partners.
Correlative Multi-Modal Microscopy: A Novel Pipeline for Optimizing Fluorescence Microscopy Resolutions in Biological Applications
Authors: Pelicci Simone , Furia Laura , Pelicci Pier Giuseppe , Faretta Mario
Published: January 2023

The modern fluorescence microscope is the convergence point of technologies with different performances in terms of statistical sampling, number of simultaneously analyzed signals, and spatial resolution. However, the best results are usually obtained by maximizing only one of these parameters and finding a compromise for the others, a limitation that can become particularly significant when applied to cell biology and that can reduce the spreading of novel optical microscopy tools among research laboratories. Super resolution microscopy and, in particular, molecular localization-based approaches provide a spatial resolution and a molecular localization precision able to explore the scale of macromolecular complexes in situ. However, its use is limited to restricted regions, and consequently few cells, and frequently no more than one or two parameters. Correlative microscopy, obtained by the fusion of different optical technologies, can consequently surpass this barrier by merging results from different spatial scales. We discuss here the use of an acquisition and analysis correlative microscopy pipeline to obtain high statistical sampling, high content, and maximum spatial resolution by combining widefield, confocal, and molecular localization microscopy.
Microstructural Changes in the Corpus Callosum in Systemic Lupus Erythematous
Authors: Julio Paulo Rogério , Caldeira Thais , Pinheiro Gustavo Retuci , Capello Carla Helena , Fritolli Renan Bazuco , Marini Roberto , Cendes Fernando , Fernandes Paula Teixeira , Costallat Lilian T. L. , Rittner Leticia , Appenzeller Simone
Published: January 2023

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) occurs in more than 50% of patients. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has identified global cerebral atrophy, as well as the involvement of the corpus callosum and hippocampus, which is associated with cognitive impairment. In this cross-sectional study we included 71 cSLE (mean age 24.7 years (SD 4.6) patients and a disease duration of 11.8 years (SD 4.8) and two control groups: (1) 49 adult-onset SLE (aSLE) patients (mean age of 33.2 (SD 3.7) with a similar disease duration and (2) 58 healthy control patients (mean age of 29.9 years (DP 4.1)) of a similar age. All of the individuals were evaluated on the day of the MRI scan (Phillips 3T scanner). We reviewed medical charts to obtain the clinical and immunological features and treatment history of the SLE patients. Segmentation of the corpus callosum was performed through an automated segmentation method. Patients with cSLE had a similar mid-sagittal area of the corpus callosum in comparison to the aSLE patients. When compared to the control groups, cSLE and aSLE had a significant reduction in the mid-sagittal area in the posterior region of the corpus callosum. We observed significantly lower FA values and significantly higher MD, RD, and AD values in the total area of the corpus callosum and in the parcels B, C, D, and E in cSLE patients when compared to the aSLE patients. Low complement, the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies, and cognitive impairment were associated with microstructural changes. In conclusion, we observed greater microstructural changes in the corpus callosum in adults with cSLE when compared to those with aSLE. Longitudinal studies are necessary to follow these changes, however they may explain the worse cognitive function and disability observed in adults with cSLE when compared to aSLE.
The Role of Exosomes in Human Carcinogenesis and Cancer Therapy—Recent Findings from Molecular and Clinical Research
Authors: Stefańska Katarzyna , Józkowiak Małgorzata , Angelova Volponi Ana , Shibli Jamil Awad , Golkar-Narenji Afsaneh , Antosik Paweł , Bukowska Dorota , Piotrowska-Kempisty Hanna , Mozdziak Paul , Dzięgiel Piotr , Podhorska-Okołów Marzenna , Zabel Maciej , Dyszkiewicz-Konwińska Marta , Kempisty Bartosz
Published: January 2023

Exosomes are biological nanoscale spherical lipid bilayer vesicles, 40–160 nm in diameter, produced by most mammalian cells in both physiological and pathological conditions. Exosomes are formed via the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT). The primary function of exosomes is mediating cell-to-cell communication. In terms of cancer, exosomes play important roles as mediators of intercellular communication, leading to tumor progression. Moreover, they can serve as biomarkers for cancer detection and progression. Therefore, their utilization in cancer therapies has been suggested, either as drug delivery carriers or as a diagnostic tool. However, exosomes were also reported to be involved in cancer drug resistance via transferring information of drug resistance to sensitive cells. It is important to consider the current knowledge regarding the role of exosomes in cancer, drug resistance, cancer therapies, and their clinical application in cancer therapies.
Structural and Mechanical Properties of CrN Thin Films Deposited on Si Substrate by Using Magnetron Techniques
Authors: Tranca Denis E. , Sobetkii Arcadie , Hristu Radu , Anton Stefan R. , Vasile Eugeniu , Stanciu Stefan G. , Banica Cosmin K. , Fiorentis Efstathios , Constantinescu David , Stanciu George A.
Published: January 2023

Chromium nitride thin films are known for their good mechanical properties. We present the characteristics of ultrathin chromium nitride films under 400 nm thickness deposited on silicon substrates by direct current and high-power impulse magnetron sputtering techniques. The methods of investigation of the CrN films were scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and nanoindentation. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed using AFM and SEM images by fractal dimension, surface roughness and gray-level co-occurrence matrix methods. Our results show that using magnetron techniques, ultrathin CrN films with excellent mechanical properties were obtained, characterized by values of Young’s modulus between 140 GPa and 250 GPa for the samples obtained using high-power impulse magneton sputtering (HiPIMS) and between 240 GPa and 370 GPa for the samples obtained using direct current sputtering (DC). Stiffness measurements also reveal the excellent mechanical properties of the investigated samples, where the samples obtained using HiPIMS sputtering had stiffness values between 125 N/m and 132 N/m and the samples obtained using DC sputtering had stiffness values between 110 N/m and 119 N/m.
P-type (CuTi)Ox Thin Films Deposited by Magnetron Co-Sputtering and Their Electronic and Hydrogen Sensing Properties
Authors: Mańkowska Ewa , Mazur Michał , Domaradzki Jarosław , Wojcieszak Damian
Published: January 2023

Thin films of copper oxide (CuxO), titanium oxide (TiOx), and several mixtures of copper and titanium oxides ((CuTi)Ox) were deposited using magnetron sputtering. X-ray diffraction analysis of the as-deposited TiOx thin film revealed the presence of TiO crystallites, while in the case of (CuTi)Ox with the lowest amount of copper, metallic Cu crystallites were found. In the case of (Cu0.77Ti0.23)Ox and CuxO thin films, characteristic peaks for metallic copper and copper oxides were observed in their diffractograms. It was found that post-process annealing at 473 K considerably affects the microstructure of (CuTi)Ox thin films. After annealing, anatase phase was observed in (Cu0.23Ti0.77)Ox and (Cu0.41Ti0.59)Ox thin films. In turn, the (Cu0.77Ti0.23)Ox and CuxO films were formed only in the copper oxide phase. The (Cu0.77Ti0.23)Ox film annealed at 473 K showed the best opto-electronic performance, as it had the highest transmission and the lowest resistivity. However, the greatest advantage of this thin film was the p-type semiconducting behavior, which was the strongest of all of the thin films in this work, as indicated by the measurement of the Seebeck coefficient. All deposited thin films were sensitive to hydrogen exposure, while the best sensor response of 10.9 was observed for the (Cu0.77Ti0.23) Ox thin film annealed at 473 K.
Nanostructured Silicon Derived from an Agricultural Residue Bagasse Ash via Magnesiothermic Reduction Method
Authors: Seroka Ntalane S. , Taziwa Raymond , Khotseng Lindiwe
Published: January 2023

This study presents the magnesiothermic reduction of silica into silicon. This reduction process occurs at a lower reaction temperature than its carbothermal counterpart. Furthermore, silica was extracted from sugarcane bagasse ash via a thermo-chemical treatment method using, for the first time, L-cysteine chloride monohydrate and used as a precursor in the production of silicon using magnesiothermic reduction. The as-synthesized nanocrystalline silicon’s physicochemical properties were investigated using XRD, Raman, FTIR, BET, and SEM. A peak at 2 of 28.2 with a crystallite size of 32 nm was discovered using X-ray diffraction spectroscopy. The pronounced peak around 518 cm−1 was observed from the Raman spectrum, characteristic of crystalline silicon. The FTIR analysis showed two sharp peaks at 446 cm−1 and 1056 cm−1, indicative of the Si-O rocking mode and Si-O-Si stretching mode functional groups present. N2 physisorption at 77 K reveals that the surface area, pore volume, and pore diameter of the as-synthesized silicon were 73 m2/g, 0.23 cm3/g, and 12 nm, respectively. In this study, we were able to produce silicon from silica extracted from SCBA using the magnesiothermic reduction method in a tube furnace, which has potential for thin-film solar cells.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Cryptography in 2022
Authors:   Cryptography Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

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