bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distribution of Woody Plant Species Among Different Disturbance Regimes of Forests in a Temperate Deciduous Broad-Leaved Forest
Authors: Xi Jingjing , Shao Yizhen , Li Zihao , Zhao Pengfei , Ye Yongzhong , Li Wang , Chen Yun , Yuan Zhiliang
Published: April 2021

Forests in different disturbance regimes provide diverse microhabitats for species growth. However, whether the species distribution of wood plant is random or follows ecological specialization among forests in different disturbance regimes remains to be elucidated. In this study, four 1 hm2 (100 m × 100 m) forest dynamic monitoring plots in different disturbance regimes of forests were randomly selected in a temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest. We examined the specificity of woody plants to forests through network analysis. Torus-translation test was used to analyze the species distribution preference of woody plants to forests in different disturbance regimes. The specialization index of woody plants was 0.3126, and that of shrubs (51.01%) was higher than that of trees (25.16%). Moreover, 66.67% (38/57) of woody plants were associated with different forests. More shrub species (70.00%) had specific preferences than tree species (45.95%) with respect to forests in different disturbance regimes. Our findings suggest that the distribution of woody plants among forests with different disturbance regimes is not random but is specialized. Different woody plants show different community preferences in different disturbance regimes of forests. Shrubs show higher specialization than trees in different disturbance regimes of forests.
A Tobacco Syringe Agroinfiltration-Based Method for a Phytohormone Transporter Activity Assay Using Endogenous Substrates
Authors: Zhao Jiangzhe , Ju Min , Qian Jiayun , Zhang Mengyuan , Liu Ting , Zhang Kewei
Published: April 2021

Phytohormones are a group of small chemical molecules that play vital roles in plant development, metabolism, and stress responses. Phytohormones often have distinct biosynthesis and signaling perception sites, requiring long- or short-distance transportation. Unlike biosynthesis and signal transduction, phytohormone transport across cells and organs is poorly understood. The transporter activity assay is a bottleneck for the functional characterization of novel phytohormone transporters. In the present study, we report a tobacco syringe agroinfiltration and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (TSAL)-based method for performing a phytohormone transporter activity assay using endogenous hormones present in tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) leaves. A transporter activity assay using this method does not require isotope-labeled substrates and can be conveniently performed for screening multiple substrates by using endogenous hormones in tobacco leaves. The transporter activities of three known hormone transporters, namely AtABCG25 for abscisic acid, AtABCG16 for jasmonic acid, and AtPUP14 for cytokinin, were all successfully validated using this method. Using this method, cytokinins were found to be the preferred substrates of an unknown maize (Zea mays) transporter ZmABCG43. ZmABCG43 transporter activities toward cytokinins were confirmed in a cytokinin long-distance transport mutant atabcg14 through gene complementation. Thus, the TSAL method has the potential to be used for basic substrate characterization of novel phytohormone transporters or for the screening of novel transporters for a specific phytohormone on a large scale.
Information Structure and Word Order Canonicity in the Comprehension of Spanish Texts: An Eye-Tracking Study
Authors: Gattei Carolina A. , París Luis A. , Shalom Diego E.
Published: April 2021

Word order alternation has been described as one of the most productive information structure markers and discourse organizers across languages. Psycholinguistic evidence has shown that word order is a crucial cue for argument interpretation. Previous studies about Spanish sentence comprehension have shown greater difficulty to parse sentences that present a word order that does not respect the order of participants of the verb's lexico-semantic structure, irrespective to whether the sentences follow the canonical word order of the language or not. This difficulty has been accounted as the cognitive cost related to the miscomputation of prominence status of the argument that precedes the verb. Nonetheless, the authors only analyzed the use of alternative word orders in isolated sentences, leaving aside the pragmatic motivation of word order alternation. By means of an eye-tracking task, the current study provides further evidence about the role of information structure for the comprehension of sentences with alternative word order and verb type, and sheds light on the interaction between syntax, semantics and pragmatics. We analyzed both “early” and “late” eye-movement measures as well as accuracy and response times to comprehension questions. Results showed an overall influence of information structure reflected in a modulation of late eye-movement measures as well as offline measures like total reading time and questions response time. However, effects related to the miscomputation of prominence status did not fade away when sentences were preceded by a context that led to non-canonical word order of constituents, showing that prominence computation is a core mechanism for argument interpretation, even in sentences preceded by context.
Reconceptualizing Symbolic Magnitude Estimation Training Using Non-declarative Learning Techniques
Authors: Graham Erin N. , Was Christopher A.
Published: April 2021

It is well-documented that mathematics achievement is an important predictor of many positive life outcomes like college graduation, career opportunities, salary, and even citizenship. As such, it is important for researchers and educators to help students succeed in mathematics. Although there are undoubtedly many factors that contribute to students' success in mathematics, much of the research and intervention development has focused on variations in instructional techniques. Indeed, even a cursory glance at many educational journals and granting agencies reveals that there is a large amount of time, energy, and resources being spent on determining the best way to convey information through direct, declarative instruction. The proposed project is motivated by recent calls to expand the focus of research in mathematics education beyond direct, declarative instruction. The overarching goal of the presented experiment is to evaluate the efficacy of a novel mathematics intervention designed using principles taken from the literature on non-declarative learning. The intervention combines errorless learning and structured cue fading to help second grade students improve their understanding of symbolic magnitude. Results indicate that students who learned about symbolic magnitude using the novel intervention did better than students who were provided with extensive declarative support. These findings offer preliminary evidence in favor of using learning combination of errorless learning and cue fading techniques in the mathematics classroom.
True Grit in Learning Math: The Math Anxiety-Achievement Link Is Mediated by Math-Specific Grit
Authors: Yu Youqing , Hua Liyun , Feng Xingwang , Wang Yueru , Yu Zongren , Zi Tong , Zhao Yajun , Li Jingguang
Published: April 2021

In this study, we tested a possible mechanism of the association between math anxiety and math achievement: the mediating role of math-specific grit (i.e., sustaining effort in the face of adversity when learning math). In Study 1, a sample of 10th grade students (N = 222) completed a battery of personality and attitude questionnaires, and math achievement was indexed by curriculum-based examination scores. Mediation analyses indicated that math-specific grit, but not domain-general grit, mediated the relationship between math anxiety and math achievement. In Study 2, we replicated and extended the above findings with another sample of 11th grade students (N = 465). Mediation analyses indicated that math-specific grit and math-specific procrastination played sequential mediating roles in the relationship between math anxiety and math achievement. That is, individuals with higher math anxiety were less gritty in math learning, possibly further leading them to be more procrastinated in performing math work, which may finally result in worse math achievement. In summary, the current study provides the first evidence that math-specific grit may mediate the relationship between math anxiety and math achievement. Furthermore, it also demonstrated the value of math-specific grit over domain-general grit in predicting math success, which invites a broader investigation on subject-specific grit.
School-Based Participatory Response for Reopening During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of a Metropolitan High School Implementing the Health Promoting School
Authors: Kwon Insook , Kang Sunjoo , Kim Jin Sun
Published: April 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze how a private high school in Seoul developed and executed a “school disinfection strategy” to ensure the students' right to study in a safe environment, and also to analyze the lessons learned from this process.

Methods: This was a case study of school health in a community-based school reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study target was a 64-year-old private high school with 12 classes for each grade with a total of 1,100 students.

Results: A “school disinfection strategy” was set up at individual and class environment levels to protect students from the risk of infection. In addition, school health activities were carried out with a “personal protection safety belt” and “community protection safety belt” for effective implementation. To ensure a safe educational environment for high school students and to ensure smooth execution of face-to-face classes (in-person teaching), the “prevention safety belt strategy” was introduced in accordance with governmental guidelines to sequentially implement various preventive measures necessary to guarantee environmental safety of schools. Activating personal prevention safety belts by checking the symptoms of students when entering the school and during each class, and providing self-made disinfectants by spraying alcohol on wet-wipes were cost-effective and sustainable methods used in this school to prevent the spread of infection.

Conclusions: The experience of developing a prevention safety belt strategy to adapt the guidelines of the local education office to the school situation was presented. Focusing on the school community, as well as individual students and teachers, the concept of prevention safety belts helped to unite and stimulate voluntary participation of students in health promotion activities.
An Approach for Integrating and Analyzing Sustainability in Food-Based Dietary Guidelines
Authors: Mazac Rachel , Renwick Kerry , Seed Barbara , Black Jennifer L.
Published: April 2021

International organizations, governments, researchers, and activists have proposed the need for deeper integration of sustainability considerations in national food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs). Yet, as recent scholarship advances the conversation, questions remain around how to effectively frame and address the interconnectedness of multiple sustainability domains. Little systematic analysis has evaluated how current FBDGs have integrated complex messages about socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable consumption practices with nutrition and health messages. This study had two nested objectives: (i) to examine the validity of an existing sustainable diets framework by assessing how sustainability concepts have been framed and included in national FBDGs available from 2011 to 2019 and (ii) to describe a novel analysis approach that augments an existing framework which integrates sustainability domains and can be adapted for use by future FBDGs. A qualitative content analysis was used to examine sustainability concepts found in 12 FBDGs and supporting documents available in English that were developed for use in 16 countries across Europe, North and South America, and Asia as of 2019—from a global review of those published prior to 2016 and gray literature review of publications between 2016 and 2019. Health domains were the primary frame found across the FBDGs examined, but documents also commonly incorporated agricultural, sociocultural, and economic sustainability principles. Analyzed documents were used to adapt an existing policy analysis framework into a “Sustainability in FBDGs Framework.” This proposed framework contributes a novel analysis approach and has five core domains that are interconnected: health and nutrition, food security and agriculture, markets and value chains, sociocultural and political, and environment and ecosystems. This study adds to the growing body of literature related to sustainable food systems and dietary guidelines by presenting how sustainability framing in FBDGs can be used to further develop a comprehensive framework for integrating sustainability domains. While this project helps to validate previous work, further analyses of FBDGs which have emerged since this study and those not available in English are needed to improve the guidance approach described here and for assessing the incorporation of sustainability domains in future FBDGs. This work is useful in informing processes for policy developers to integrate sustainability considerations into their national FBDGs.
Phase Congruential White Noise Generator
Authors: Deon Aleksei F. , Karaduta Oleg K. , Menyaev Yulian A.
Published: April 2021

White noise generators can use uniform random sequences as a basis. However, such a technology may lead to deficient results if the original sequences have insufficient uniformity or omissions of random variables. This article offers a new approach for creating a phase signal generator with an improved matrix of autocorrelation coefficients. As a result, the generated signals of the white noise process have absolutely uniform intensities at the eigen Fourier frequencies. The simulation results confirm that the received signals have an adequate approximation of uniform white noise.
Photogrammetric Measurement and Analysis of the Shape Profile of Pneumatic Artificial Muscles
Authors: Chambers Jonathan M. , Wereley Norman M.
Published: April 2021

Inaccuracies in modeling of the geometric shape of PAMs has long been cited as a probable source of error in modeling and design efforts. The geometric shape and volume of PAMs is commonly approximated using a cylindrical shape profile, even though its shape is non-cylindrical. Correction factors—based on qualitative observations of the PAM’s general shape—are often implemented to compensate for error in this cylindrical shape approximation. However, there is little evidence or consensus on the accuracy and form of these correction factors. Approximations of the shape profile are also used to calculate the internal volume of PAMs, as experimental measurements of the internal volume require intrusive testing methods and specialized equipment. This research presents a photogrammetric method for measuring the shape profile and internal volume of PAMs. A test setup, method of image data acquisition, and a preliminary analysis of the image data, is presented in this research. A 22.2 mm (7/8 in) diameter PAM is used to demonstrate the photogrammetric procedure and test its accuracy. Analysis of the tested PAM characterizes trends of the shape profile with respect to pressure and contraction. The common method of estimating the diameter—through the use of the cylindrical approximation and initial geometry of the PAM—is tested by comparison to the measured shape profile data. Finally, a simple method of calculating the internal volume using the measured shape profile data is developed. The presented method of acquiring photogrammetric measurements of PAM shape produces an accurate characterization of its shape profile, thereby mitigating uncertainty in PAM shape in analysis and other efforts.
Biologic Treatments for Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder
Authors: Kusumoto Misa , Mathis Bryan J.
Published: April 2021

The global COVID-19 pandemic has brought respiratory disease to the forefront of public health, but asthma prevalence has been rising globally for decades. Asthma is mediated by errant immune activation and airway remodeling, but the influences of environment, nutrition, and comorbidities (e.g., asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder-overlap [ACO]) are still poorly understood. Even as a new generation of biologic-based treatments offer better airway control and reductions in mortality, a lack of prophylactic treatments and mechanistic understanding complicates efforts to prevent pathogenesis. This review will explicate and synthesize current knowledge on the effect of ACO and biologics (omalizumab, mepolizumab, reslizumab, benralizumab, and dupilumab) on pathogenesis, treatment, and prognosis.
New Chloramphenicol Derivatives with a Modified Dichloroacetyl Tail as Potential Antimicrobial Agents
Authors: Tsirogianni Artemis , Kournoutou Georgia G. , Bougas Anthony , Poulou-Sidiropoulou Eleni , Dinos George , Athanassopoulos Constantinos M.
Published: April 2021

To combat the dangerously increasing pathogenic resistance to antibiotics, we developed new pharmacophores by chemically modifying a known antibiotic, which remains to this day the most familiar and productive way for novel antibiotic development. We used as a starting material the chloramphenicol base, which is the free amine group counterpart of the known chloramphenicol molecule antibiotic upon removal of its dichloroacetyl tail. To this free amine group, we tethered alpha- and beta-amino acids, mainly glycine, lysine, histidine, ornithine and/or beta-alanine. Furthermore, we introduced additional modifications to the newly incorporated amine groups either with protecting groups triphenylmethyl- (Trt) and tert-butoxycarbonyl- (Boc) or with the dichloroacetic group found also in the chloramphenicol molecule. The antimicrobial activity of all compounds was tested both in vivo and in vitro, and according to the results, the bis-dichloroacetyl derivative of ornithine displayed the highest antimicrobial activity both in vivo and in vitro and seems to be a dynamic new pharmacophore with room for further modification and development.
Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Hyperuricemic Effects of Chrysin on a High Fructose Corn Syrup-Induced Hyperuricemia Rat Model via the Amelioration of Urate Transporters and Inhibition of NLRP3 Inflammasome Signaling Pathway
Authors: Chang Yi-Hsien , Chiang Yi-Fen , Chen Hsin-Yuan , Huang Yun-Ju , Wang Kai-Lee , Hong Yong-Han , Ali Mohamed , Shieh Tzong-Ming , Hsia Shih-Min
Published: April 2021

Hyperuricemia is the main cause of gout and involved in the occurrence of many other diseases such as hyperlipidemia and hypertension correlated with metabolic disorders. Chrysin is a flavonoid compound found naturally in honey, propolis, and mushrooms and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. However, its mechanism of action is not clear yet. This study investigated the mechanism of chrysin’s anti-hyperuricemic effect in hyperuricemia-induced rats fed with high-fructose corn syrup. Orally administrated chrysin for 28 consecutive days effectively decreased uric acid by inhibiting the activity of xanthine oxidase (XO) in the liver. Moreover, chrysin markedly downregulated the protein expression of uric acid transporter 1 (URAT1) and glucose transporter type 9 (GLUT9) and upregulated the protein expression of organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1) and human ATP-binding cassette subfamily G-2 (ABCG2). In addition, chrysin showed prominent anti-oxidative and inflammatory effects as the malondialdehyde (MDA) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) concentration was reduced in both rat kidney and serum, which aligned with the inhibition of NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome signaling pathway activation. Collectively, our results strongly suggest that chrysin exhibits potent anti-hyperuricemic and anti-inflammatory effects that may yield new adjuvant treatments for gout.
Cybersecurity Model Based on Hardening for Secure Internet of Things Implementation
Authors: Echeverría Aarón , Cevallos Cristhian , Ortiz-Garces Ivan , Andrade Roberto O.
Published: April 2021

The inclusion of Internet of Things (IoT) for building smart cities, smart health, smart grids, and other smart concepts has driven data-driven decision making by managers and automation in each domain. However, the hyper-connectivity generated by IoT networks coupled with limited default security in IoT devices increases security risks that can jeopardize the operations of cities, hospitals, and organizations. Strengthening the security aspects of IoT devices prior to their use in different systems can contribute to minimize the attack surface. This study aimed to model a sequence of seven steps to minimize the attack surface by executing hardening processes. Conducted a systematic literature review using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) techniques. In this way, we were able to define a proposed methodology to evaluate the security level of an IoT solution by means of a checklist that considers the security aspects in the three layers of the IoT architecture. A risk matrix adapted to IoT is established to evaluate the attack surface. Finally, a process of hardening and vulnerability analysis is proposed to reduce the attack surface and improve the security level of the IoT solution.
The Effect of Edible Coatings on Selected Physicochemical Properties of Cassava Chips
Authors: Acevedo-Correa Diofanor , Jaimes-Morales José , Montero-Castillo Piedad M.
Published: April 2021

The objective of this research was to study the effect of edible coatings on the physicochemical properties of cassava chips. The oil and moisture absorption in fried cassava chips that were not coated and in chips that were coated with pectin and whey protein films were determined using a completely randomized experiment design with a 33 factorial arrangement. The multifactorial ANOVA analysis of variance showed that all factors had significant statistical differences for moisture loss and oil absorption (p < 0.05). The coating type, the control, and the whey protein-coated chips presented a 321% greater oil content on average at 180 °C and 180 s than the pectin-coated chips. The density, heat capacity, and thermal diffusivity had statistical differences at all temperatures (p < 0.05). The sensory analysis showed that the coating type affected all sensory parameters, except crispness, as indicated by significant statistical differences (p < 0.05). The temperature only influenced the color of the control chips, with statistical differences (p < 0.05) at all temperatures.
A Corner-Highlighting Method for Ambient Occlusion
Authors: Park Sukjun , Baek Nakhoon
Published: April 2021

Graphical user experiences are now ubiquitous features, and therefore widespread. Specifically, the computer graphics field and the game industry have been continually favoring the ambient occlusion post-processing method for its superb indirect light approximation and its effectiveness. Nonetheless of its canonical performance, its operation on non-occluded surfaces is often seen redundant and unfavorable. In this paper, we propose a new perspective to handle such issues by highlighting the corners where ambient occlusion is likely to occur. Potential illumination occlusions are highlighted by checking the corners of the surfaces in the screen-space. Our algorithm showed feasibility for renderers to avoid unwanted computations by achieving performance improvements of 15% to 28% acceleration, in comparison to the previous works.
Comparison of Postural Stability and Regulation among Female Athletes from Different Sports
Authors: Lauenroth Andreas , Reinhardt Lars , Schulze Stephan , Laudner Kevin G. , Delank Karl-Stefan , Schwesig René
Published: April 2021

The aim of this study was to evaluate the postural regulation of female athletes who participate in different sports under normal and high-demand conditions. Fifty-nine female athletes were classified into four specific groups based on their individual sport, which included basketball (n = 16), gymnastics (n = 10), ski jumping (n = 13), diving (n = 8), and one group of recreational athletes (n = 12). These groups were then compared using several posturographic tests under four bipedal conditions: eyes open or closed and on a stable surface or foam pad. While there were some differences between groups standing in the less demanding positions (stable surface), the higher demanding positions (unstable surface-foam pads) showed significant differences between the technical sports (ski jumping, diving, and gymnastics) and basketball and recreational athletes. Most (50%, 6/12) of significant differences were provided by sports. In contrast, the predictors age, weight, and height played only a minor role within the covariance analysis. The largest effect by sports was detected for the anterior-posterior weight distribution standing on foam pads with closed eyes (p = 0.015, ηp2 = 0.211). Ski jumping and recreational athletes showed the largest (p = 0.011) partial difference by sports for this parameter and test position. According to the parameters, the weight distribution index (WDI) was the variable with the most significant effects (50%, 6/12). These results provide coaches and athletes with a more sport specific view on postural regulation and potentially assist in identifying deficits to improve sports performance and reduce the risk of injury.
An Empirical Evaluation of Prediction by Partial Matching in Assembly Assistance Systems
Authors: Gellert Arpad , Precup Stefan-Alexandru , Pirvu Bogdan-Constantin , Fiore Ugo , Zamfirescu Constantin-Bala , Palmieri Francesco
Published: April 2021

Industrial assistive systems result from a multidisciplinary effort that integrates IoT (and Industrial IoT), Cognetics, and Artificial Intelligence. This paper evaluates the Prediction by Partial Matching algorithm as a component of an assembly assistance system that supports factory workers, by providing choices for the next manufacturing step. The evaluation of the proposed method was performed on datasets collected within an experiment involving trainees and experienced workers. The goal is to find out which method best suits the datasets in order to be integrated afterwards into our context-aware assistance system. The obtained results show that the Prediction by Partial Matching method presents a significant improvement with respect to the existing Markov predictors.
The Cutting Movement Assessment Score (CMAS) Qualitative Screening Tool: Application to Mitigate Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Risk during Cutting
Authors: Dos’Santos Thomas , Thomas Christopher , McBurnie Alistair , Donelon Thomas , Herrington Lee , Jones Paul A.
Published: April 2021

Side-step cutting is an action associated with non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury with a plethora of negative economical, health, and psychological implications. Although ACL injury risk factors are multifactorial, biomechanical and neuromuscular deficits which contribute to “high-risk” and aberrant movement patterns are linked to ACL injury risk due to increasing knee joint loads and potential ACL loading. Importantly, biomechanical and neuromuscular deficits are modifiable; thus, being able to profile and classify athletes as potentially “high-risk” of injury is a crucial process in ACL injury mitigation. The Cutting Movement Assessment Score (CMAS) is a recently validated field-based qualitative screening tool to identify athletes that display high-risk postures associated with increased non-contact ACL injury risk during side-step cutting. This article provides practitioners with a comprehensive and detailed overview regarding the rationale and implementation of the CMAS. Additionally, this review provides guidance on CMAS methodological procedures, CMAS operational definitions, and training recommendations to assist in the development of more effective non-contact ACL injury risk mitigation programmes.
Pharmacological Inhibition of WIP1 Sensitizes Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells to the MDM2 Inhibitor Nutlin-3a
Authors: Fontana Maria Chiara , Nanni Jacopo , Ghelli Luserna di Rorà Andrea , Petracci Elisabetta , Padella Antonella , Ghetti Martina , Ferrari Anna , Marconi Giovanni , Soverini Simona , Iacobucci Ilaria , Papayannidis Cristina , Curti Antonio , Audisio Ernesta , Giannini Maria Benedetta , Rondoni Michela , Lanza Francesco , Cavo Michele , Martinelli Giovanni , Simonetti Giorgia
Published: April 2021

In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the restoration of p53 activity through MDM2 inhibition proved efficacy in combinatorial therapies. WIP1, encoded from PPM1D, is a negative regulator of p53. We evaluated PPM1D expression and explored the therapeutic efficacy of WIP1 inhibitor (WIP1i) GSK2830371, in association with the MDM2 inhibitor Nutlin-3a (Nut-3a) in AML cell lines and primary samples. PPM1D transcript levels were higher in young patients compared with older ones and in core-binding-factor AML compared with other cytogenetic subgroups. In contrast, its expression was reduced in NPM1-mutated (mut, irrespective of FLT3-ITD status) or TP53-mut cases compared with wild-type (wt) ones. Either Nut-3a, and moderately WIP1i, as single agent decreased cell viability of TP53-wt cells (MV-4-11, MOLM-13, OCI-AML3) in a time/dosage-dependent manner, but not of TP53-mut cells (HEL, KASUMI-1, NOMO-1). The drug combination synergistically reduced viability and induced apoptosis in TP53-wt AML cell line and primary cells, but not in TP53-mut cells. Gene expression and immunoblotting analyses showed increased p53, MDM2 and p21 levels in treated TP53-wt cells and highlighted the enrichment of MYC, PI3K-AKT-mTOR and inflammation-related signatures upon WIP1i, Nut-3a and their combination, respectively, in the MV-4-11 TP53-wt model. This study demonstrated that WIP1 is a promising therapeutic target to enhance Nut-3a efficacy in TP53-wt AML.
The Consumption of Cholesterol-Enriched Diets Conditions the Development of a Subtype of HCC with High Aggressiveness and Poor Prognosis
Authors: Simoni-Nieves Arturo , Salas-Silva Soraya , Chávez-Rodríguez Lisette , Escobedo-Calvario Alejandro , Desoteux Matthis , Bucio Leticia , Souza Verónica , Miranda-Labra Roxana U. , Muñoz-Espinosa Linda E. , Coulouarn Cédric , Gutiérrez-Ruiz María Concepción , Marquardt Jens U. , Gomez-Quiroz Luis E.
Published: April 2021

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and progression to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) result as a consequence of diverse conditions, mainly unbalanced diets. Particularly, high-fat and cholesterol content, as well as carbohydrates, such as those commonly ingested in Western countries, frequently drive adverse metabolic alterations in the liver and promote NAFLD development. Lipid liver overload is also one of the main risk factors for initiation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but detailed knowledge on the relevance of high nutritional cholesterol remains elusive. We were aimed to characterize HCC development in mice fed with a Western diet (high in lipids and cholesterol) and to identify molecular alterations that define a subtype of liver cancer induced by lipid overload. Mice under western or high cholesterol diets more frequently developed tumors with a more aggressive phenotype than animals fed with a chow diet. Associated changes involved macrophage infiltration, angiogenesis, and stemness features. RNA-seq revealed a specific gene expression signature (Slc41a; Fabp5; Igdcc4 and Mthfd1l) resembling the adverse phenotypic features and poor clinical outcomes seen in patients with HCC. In conclusion; consumption of lipid enriched diets; particularly cholesterol; could accelerate HCC development with an aggressive phenotype and poor prognosis
Is Carboxypeptidase B1 a Prognostic Marker for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ?
Authors: Kothari Charu , Clemenceau Alisson , Ouellette Geneviève , Ennour-Idrissi Kaoutar , Michaud Annick , Diorio Caroline , Durocher Francine
Published: April 2021

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is considered a non-obligatory precursor for invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Around 70% of women with atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) undergo unnecessary surgery due to the difficulty in differentiating ADH from low-grade DCIS. If untreated, 14–60% of DCIS progress to IDC, highlighting the importance of identifying a DCIS gene signature. Human transcriptome data of breast tissue samples representing each step of BC progression were analyzed and high expression of carboxypeptidase B1 (CPB1) expression strongly correlated with DCIS. This was confirmed by quantitative PCR in breast tissue samples and cell lines model. High CPB1 expression correlated with better survival outcome, and mRNA level was highest in DCIS than DCIS adjacent to IDC and IDC. Moreover, loss of CPB1 in a DCIS cell line led to invasive properties associated with activation of HIF1α, FN1, STAT3 and SPP1 and downregulation of SFRP1 and OS9. The expression of CPB1 could predict 90.1% of DCIS in a cohort consisting of DCIS and IDC. We identified CPB1, a biomarker that helps differentiate DCIS from ADH or IDC and in predicting if a DCIS is likely to progress to IDC, thereby helping clinicians in their decisions.
GSK-3β Can Regulate the Sensitivity of MIA-PaCa-2 Pancreatic and MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells to Chemotherapeutic Drugs, Targeted Therapeutics and Nutraceuticals
Authors: Abrams Stephen L. , Akula Shaw M. , Meher Akshaya K. , Steelman Linda S. , Gizak Agnieszka , Duda Przemysław , Rakus Dariusz , Martelli Alberto M. , Ratti Stefano , Cocco Lucio , Montalto Giuseppe , Cervello Melchiorre , Ruvolo Peter , Libra Massimo , Falzone Luca , Candido Saverio , McCubrey James A.
Published: April 2021

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is a regulator of signaling pathways. KRas is frequently mutated in pancreatic cancers. The growth of certain pancreatic cancers is KRas-dependent and can be suppressed by GSK-3 inhibitors, documenting a link between KRas and GSK-3. To further elucidate the roles of GSK-3β in drug-resistance, we transfected KRas-dependent MIA-PaCa-2 pancreatic cells with wild-type (WT) and kinase-dead (KD) forms of GSK-3β. Transfection of MIA-PaCa-2 cells with WT-GSK-3β increased their resistance to various chemotherapeutic drugs and certain small molecule inhibitors. Transfection of cells with KD-GSK-3β often increased therapeutic sensitivity. An exception was observed with cells transfected with WT-GSK-3β and sensitivity to the BCL2/BCLXL ABT737 inhibitor. WT-GSK-3β reduced glycolytic capacity of the cells but did not affect the basal glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration. KD-GSK-3β decreased both basal glycolysis and glycolytic capacity and reduced mitochondrial respiration in MIA-PaCa-2 cells. As a comparison, the effects of GSK-3 on MCF-7 breast cancer cells, which have mutant PIK3CA, were examined. KD-GSK-3β increased the resistance of MCF-7 cells to chemotherapeutic drugs and certain signal transduction inhibitors. Thus, altering the levels of GSK-3β can have dramatic effects on sensitivity to drugs and signal transduction inhibitors which may be influenced by the background of the tumor.
Quantification of Circulating Cell Free Mitochondrial DNA in Extracellular Vesicles with PicoGreen™ in Liquid Biopsies: Fast Assessment of Disease/Trauma Severity
Authors: Marcatti Michela , Saada Jamal , Okereke Ikenna , Wade Charles E. , Bossmann Stefan H. , Motamedi Massoud , Szczesny Bartosz
Published: April 2021

The analysis of circulating cell free DNA (ccf-DNA) is an emerging diagnostic tool for the detection and monitoring of tissue injury, disease progression, and potential treatment effects. Currently, most of ccf-DNA in tissue and liquid biopsies is analysed with real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) that is primer- and template-specific, labour intensive and cost-inefficient. In this report we directly compare the amounts of ccf-DNA in serum of healthy volunteers, and subjects presenting with various stages of lung adenocarcinoma, and survivors of traumatic brain injury using qPCR and quantitative PicoGreen™ fluorescence assay. A significant increase of ccf-DNA in lung adenocarcinoma and traumatic brain injury patients, in comparison to the group of healthy human subjects, was found using both analytical methods. However, the direct correlation between PicoGreen™ fluorescence and qPCR was found only when mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)-specific primers were used. Further analysis of the location of ccf-DNA indicated that the majority of DNA is located within lumen of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and is easily detected with mtDNA-specific primers. We have concluded that due to the presence of active DNases in the blood, the analysis of DNA within EVs has the potential of providing rapid diagnostic outcomes. Moreover, we speculate that accurate and rapid quantification of ccf-DNA with PicoGreen™ fluorescent probe used as a point of care approach could facilitate immediate assessment and treatment of critically ill patients.
Malignant Phyllodes Tumor of the Breast: A Practice Review
Authors: Fede Ângelo Bezerra de Souza , Pereira Souza Ronaldo , Doi Mauricio , De Brot Marina , Aparecida Bueno de Toledo Osorio Cynthia , Rocha Melo Gondim Guilherme , Casali-da-Rocha Jose Claudio , Jbili Rima , Bitencourt Almir Galvao Vieira , Alves de Souza Juliana , Caparica Bitton Rafael , Baroni Alves Makdissi Fabiana , Moraes Sanches Solange
Published: April 2021

Introduction: Phyllodes tumor (PT) of the breast, particularly malignant phyllodes tumor (mPT), is a rare fibroepithelial neoplasm. A complex diagnosis is based on pathologic, radiologic, and clinical findings, with controversies about what is the best therapeutic strategy. Objective: Our objective was to provide an overview of the clinical, pathologic, and therapeutic aspects of this rare tumor. Conclusions: mPT is a rare presentation of breast cancer and a challenge in clinical practice. A multidisciplinary approach should take into account some aspects like pathogenic mutations and hereditary syndromes. Oncologic surgery is the fundamental approach, and the use of adjuvant therapies is still controversial due to the lack of clinical trials. Treatment recommendations should be individualized according to patient risk and preferences. Prospective studies are fundamental to clarifying the best treatment for these tumors.
Preparation and Characterization of Electromagnetic Shielding Composites Based on Graphene-Nanosheets-Loaded Nonwoven Fabric
Authors: Fan Zuwei , Liu Rangtong , Cheng Xiaojie
Published: April 2021

A fabric-like electromagnetic (EM) shielding composite based on nonwoven was fabricated using a coating method with a mixture containing graphene (GE) nanosheets and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) adhesive agent, and then characterized for its mechanical properties, air permeability, EM properties, and morphologies. The GE loading amount and EM shielding effect was improved by applying a double coating process, with, in particular, a 2-sided coating that produced superior air permeability and shielding effectiveness (SE) than 2-layer coating. The coating produced an increased tensile initial modulus and flexural rigidity, whose increase was affected by the coating agent GE content. Increased GE content also resulted in decreased air permeability and increased SE and electrical conductivity. After coating with 25 g/L GE, the composite SE reached 31.2 dB, such that the electric/magnetic field strength of transmitted EM waves were reduced by ~97%. Scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectrometry results illustrated that aggregated GE was tightly bonded with the fibers due to the adhesive effect of PVDF and, with the increased coating agent GE content, the fibrous network was gradually filled with GE/PVDF attachments and increasing numbers of fibers were covered. Such an EM shielding material could be referenced for development by industrial or household protective applications.
Nematic Liquid Crystals
Authors: Jasiurkowska-Delaporte Małgorzata , Kolek Łukasz
Published: April 2021

The discovery of liquid crystals (LCs) is dated to the year 1888, when Friedrich Reinitzer reported his observation of the double melting points of cholesterol benzoate [...]
Rapid Microwave Method for Synthesis of Iron Oxide Particles under Specific Conditions
Authors: Mitar Ivana , Guć Lucija , Soldin Željka , Vrankić Martina , Paut Andrea , Prkić Ante , Krehula Stjepko
Published: April 2021

The advantages of microwave technology over conventionally conducted experiments are numerous. Some of them are reduction in reaction time, a higher degree of process control, repeatability, and work safety. Microwave synthesis routes require a complete description of the experimental details, instrumentation, and design program of a microwave oven used in the experiments. In this work, microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of hematite (α-Fe2O3) particles from 0.1 M FeCl3 solution in highly alkaline media with heating in a microwave oven at continuous microwave emission of 800 W at 150 °C, 200 °C, and 250 °C for 20 min are presented. Also, the influence of the percentage of the addition of a cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) on the composition, size, and shape of the final product was investigated. The samples precipitated at 150 °C formed a final product consisting of goethite (α-FeOOH) and hematite particles in contrast to the those precipitated at 200 °C and 250 °C where pure hematite phase was obtained. In these synthesis routes, the CTAB caused to slow down the rate of the goethite-to-hematite transformation process at temperatures at 200 °C but did not affect the transformation at 250 °C.
Impact of Metformin on Cancer Biomarkers in Non-Diabetic Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials
Authors: Farkhondeh Tahereh , Amirabadizadeh Alireza , Aramjoo Hamed , Llorens Silvia , Roshanravan Babak , Saeedi Farhad , Talebi Marjan , Shakibaei Mehdi , Samarghandian Saeed
Published: April 2021

Introduction: Our aim was to investigate and evaluate the influence of metformin on cancer-related biomarkers in clinical trials. Methods: This systematic study was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Major databases, including Scopus, Web of Sciences, PubMed, Ovid-Medline, and Cochrane, were systematically reviewed by February 2020. Clinical trials investigating metformin effects on the evaluation of homeostatic models of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), Ki-67, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood sugar (FBS), and insulin were selected for further analysis. Quality assessment was performed with version 2 of the Cochrane tool for determining the bias risk for randomized trials (RoB 2). Heterogeneity among the included studies was assessed using the Chi-square test. After quality assessment, a random effects model was performed to summarize the data related to insulin, HOMA-IR, Ki-67, and a fixed-effect model for FBS and BMI in a meta-analysis. Results: Nine clinical trials with 716 patients with operable breast and endometrial cancer and 331 with primary breast cancer were involved in the current systematic and meta-analysis study. Systematic findings on the nine publications indicated metformin decreased insulin levels in four studies, FBS in one, BMI in two, Ki-67 in three studies, and HOMA-IR in two study. The pooled analysis indicated that metformin had no significant effect on the following values: insulin (standardized mean differences (SMD) = −0.87, 95% confidence intervals (CI) (−1.93, 0.19), p = 0.11), FBS (SMD = −0.18, 95% CI (−0.30, −0.05), p = 0.004), HOMA-IR (SMD = −0.17, 95% CI (−0.52, 0.19), p = 0.36), and BMI (SMD = −0.13, 95% CI (−0.28, 0.02), p = 0.09). Metformin could decrease Ki-67 in patients with operable endometrial cancer versus healthy subjects (SMD = 0.47, 95% CI (−1.82, 2.75), p = 30.1). According to Egger’s test, no publication bias was observed for insulin, FBS, BMI, HOMA-IR, and Ki-67. Conclusions: Patients with operable breast and endometrial cancer under metformin therapy showed no significant changes in the investigated metabolic biomarkers in the most of included study. It was also found that metformin could decrease Ki-67 in patients with operable endometrial cancer. In comparison to the results obtained of our meta-analysis, due to the high heterogeneity and bias of the included clinical trials, the present findings could not confirm or reject the efficacy of metformin for patients with breast cancer and endometrial cancer.
Inter-Individual Differences in Ornamental Colouration in a Mediterranean Lizard in Relation to Altitude, Season, Sex, Age, and Body Traits
Authors: Moreno-Rueda Gregorio , Reguera Senda , Zamora-Camacho Francisco J. , Comas Mar
Published: April 2021

Animals frequently show complex colour patterns involved in social communication, which attracts great interest in evolutionary and behavioural ecology. Most researchers interpret that each colour in animals with multiple patches may either signal a different bearer’s trait or redundantly convey the same information. Colour signals, moreover, may vary geographically and according to bearer qualities. In this study, we analyse different sources of colour variation in the eastern clade of the lizard Psammodromus algirus. Sexual dichromatism markedly differs between clades; both possess lateral blue eyespots, but whereas males in the western populations display strikingly colourful orange-red throats during the breeding season, eastern lizards only show some commissure pigmentation and light yellow throats. We analyse how different colour traits (commissure and throat colouration, and the number of blue eyespots) vary according to body size, head size (an indicator of fighting ability), and sex along an elevational gradient. Our findings show that blue eyespots function independently from colour patches in the commissure and throat, which were interrelated. Males had more eyespots and orange commissures (which were yellow or colourless in females). Throat colour saturation and the presence of coloured commissures increased in older lizards. The number of eyespots, presence of a coloured commissure, and throat colour saturation positively related to head size. However, while the number of eyespots was maximal at lowlands, throat colour saturation increased with altitude. Overall, our results suggest that this lizard harbours several colour signals, which altitudinally differ in their importance, but generally provide redundant information. The relevance of each signal may depend on the context. For example, all signals indicate head size, but commissure colouration may work well at a short distance and when the lizard opens the mouth, while both throat and eyespots might work better at long distance. Meanwhile, throat colouration and eyespots probably work better in different light conditions, which might explain the altitudinal variation in the relative importance of each colour component.
Regression Models for Symbolic Interval-Valued Variables
Authors: Chacón Jose Emmanuel , Rodríguez Oldemar
Published: April 2021

This paper presents new approaches to fit regression models for symbolic internal-valued variables, which are shown to improve and extend the center method suggested by Billard and Diday and the center and range method proposed by Lima-Neto, E.A.and De Carvalho, F.A.T. Like the previously mentioned methods, the proposed regression models consider the midpoints and half of the length of the intervals as additional variables. We considered various methods to fit the regression models, including tree-based models, K-nearest neighbors, support vector machines, and neural networks. The approaches proposed in this paper were applied to a real dataset and to synthetic datasets generated with linear and nonlinear relations. For an evaluation of the methods, the root-mean-squared error and the correlation coefficient were used. The methods presented herein are available in the the RSDA package written in the R language, which can be installed from CRAN.