bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Robust Medical Image Colorization with Spatial Mask-Guided Generative Adversarial Network
Authors: Zhang Zuyu , Li Yan , Shin Byeong-Seok
Published: November 2022

Color medical images provide better visualization and diagnostic information for doctors during clinical procedures than grayscale medical images. Although generative adversarial network-based image colorization approaches have shown promising results, in these methods, adversarial training is applied to the whole image without considering the appearance conflicts between the foreground objects and the background contents, resulting in generating various artifacts. To remedy this issue, we propose a fully automatic spatial mask-guided colorization with generative adversarial network (SMCGAN) framework for medical image colorization. It generates colorized images with fewer artifacts by introducing spatial masks, which encourage the network to focus on the colorization of the foreground regions instead of the whole image. Specifically, we propose a novel spatial mask-guided method by introducing an auxiliary foreground segmentation branch combined with the main colorization branch to obtain the spatial masks. The spatial masks are then used to generate masked colorized images where most background contents are filtered out. Moreover, two discriminators are utilized for the generated colorized images and masked generated colorized images, respectively, to assist the model in focusing on the colorization of foreground regions. We validate our proposed framework on two publicly available datasets, including the Visible Human Project (VHP) dataset and the prostate dataset from NCI-ISBI 2013 challenge. The experimental results demonstrate that SMCGAN outperforms the state-of-the-art GAN-based image colorization approaches with an average improvement of 8.48% in the PSNR metric. The proposed SMCGAN can also generate colorized medical images with fewer artifacts.
High-Frequency Local Field Potential Oscillations May Modulate Aggressive Behaviors in Mice
Authors: Yang Jing , Liu Yansu , Fan Yanzhu , Shen Di , Shen Jiangyan , Fang Guangzhan
Published: November 2022

Aggressive behavior is one of congenital social behaviors in many species, which could be promoted by social neglect or isolation in the early stages of life. Many brain regions including the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), medial amygdala (MeA) and ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) are demonstrated to relate to aggressive behavior; however, the dynamic patterns of neural activities during the occurrence of this behavior remain unclear. In this study, 21-day-old male CD-1 mice were reared in social isolation conditions and cohousing conditions for two weeks. Aggressive behaviors of each subject were estimated by the resident–intruder test. Simultaneously, the local field potentials of mPFC, MeA and VMH were recorded for exploring differences in the relative power spectra of different oscillations when aggressive behaviors occurred. The results showed that the following: (1) Compared with the cohousing mice, the socially isolated mice exhibited more aggression. (2) Regardless of “time condition” (pre-, during- and post- attack), the relative power spectra of beta band in the cohousing mice were significantly greater than those in the socially isolated mice, and inversely, the relative power spectra of gamma band in the cohousing mice were significantly smaller than those in the socially isolated mice. (3) The bilateral mPFC exhibited significantly smaller beta power spectra but greater gamma power spectra compared with other brain areas regardless of rearing patterns. (4) For the right VMH of the socially isolated mice, the relative power spectra of the gamma band during attacks were significantly greater than those before attack. These results suggest that aggressive behaviors in mice could be shaped by rearing patterns and that high-frequency oscillations (beta and gamma bands) may engage in mediating aggressive behaviors in mice.
Exploring Active Peptides with Antimicrobial Activity In Planta against Xylella fastidiosa
Authors: El Handi Kaoutar , Sabri Miloud , Valentini Franco , De Stradis Angelo , Achbani El Hassan , Hafidi Majida , El Moujabber Maroun , Elbeaino Toufic
Published: November 2022

Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) is a xylem-limited quarantine plant bacterium and one of the most harmful agricultural pathogens across the world. Despite significant research efforts, neither a direct treatment nor an efficient strategy has yet been developed for combatting Xylella-associated diseases. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been gaining interest as a promising sustainable tool to control pathogens due to their unique mechanism of action, broad spectrum of activity, and low environmental impact. In this study, we disclose the bioactivity of nine AMPs reported in the literature to be efficient against human and plant pathogen bacteria, i.e., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, against Xf, through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Based on viable-quantitative PCR (v-qPCR), fluorescence microscopy (FM), optical density (OD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) assays, peptides Ascaphin-8 (GF19), DASamP1 (FF13), and DASamP2 (IL14) demonstrated the highest bactericidal and antibiofilm activities and were more efficient than the peptide PB178 (KL29), reported as one of the most potent AMPs against Xf at present. Furthermore, these AMPs showed low to no toxicity when tested on eukaryotic cells. In in planta tests, no Xf disease symptoms were noticed in Nicotiana tabacum plants treated with the AMPs 40 days post inoculation. This study highlighted the high antagonistic activity of newly tested AMP candidates against Xf, which could lead to the development of promising eco-friendly management of Xf-related diseases.
Effects of Short-Term High Temperature on Gas Exchange in Kiwifruits (Actinidia spp.)
Authors: Li Dawei , Xie Xiaodong , Liu Xiaoying , Cheng Chang , Guo Wen , Zhong Caihong , Atak Arif
Published: November 2022

Climate changes occurring today require detailed research of the effects of increasing temperatures on photosynthesis in different species and cultivars. Temperature variability is a crucial determinant of the yield and quality of plants, particularly when high-temperature episodes coincide with their growth and fruit development. The effect of high temperature (HT) on higher plants primarily concerns photosynthetic functions, but the sensitivity of photosynthesis to high temperature is not well-understood in kiwifruits. In this study, we designed a new environmental monitoring system to evaluate the effects of environmental factors on the photosynthetic physiology of different kiwifruit species and cultivars. A significant positive correlation was determined between the main photosynthetic indices of kiwifruits, such as transpiration rate and net photosynthetic rate. The net photosynthetic rate of commercial kiwifruit cultivars was strongly inhibited when the temperature exceeded 44.5 °C, and the leaves of kiwifruits were irreversibly damaged when the temperature increased to 52 °C. Kiwifruit cultivars with different ploidy levels (diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid) were found to be sensitive to high temperature, whereas tetraploids had higher HT resistance and hexaploids had the highest net photosynthetic rate. Further research showed that the HT tolerance of kiwifruits existed not only between species but also among cultivars. A. eriantha had the highest net photosynthetic rate at more than 44.7 °C, but those of A. deliciosa and A. arguta declined sharply as the temperature exceeded 43.5 °C. As a result, it was determined that high temperatures have important effects on the photosynthetic activities of kiwifruit plants with different ploidy levels, and that these effects can significantly change their development according to how they differ among different species/cultivars.
Spatial Dynamics and Fine-Scale Vertical Behaviour of Immature Eastern Australasian White Sharks (Carcharodon carcharias)
Authors: Spaet Julia L. Y. , Butcher Paul A. , Manica Andrea , Lam Chi Hin
Published: November 2022

Knowledge of the 3-dimensional space use of large marine predators is central to our understanding of ecosystem dynamics and for the development of management recommendations. Horizontal movements of white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias, in eastern Australian and New Zealand waters have been relatively well studied, yet vertical habitat use is less well understood. We dual-tagged 27 immature white sharks with Pop-Up Satellite Archival Transmitting (PSAT) and acoustic tags in New South Wales coastal shelf waters. In addition, 19 of these individuals were also fitted with Smart Position or Temperature Transmitting (SPOT) tags. PSATs of 12 sharks provided useable data; four tags were recovered, providing highly detailed archival data recorded at 3-s intervals. Horizontal movements ranged from southern Queensland to southern Tasmania and New Zealand. Sharks made extensive use of the water column (0–632 m) and experienced a broad range of temperatures (7.8–28.9 °C). Archival records revealed pronounced diel-patterns in distinct fine-scale oscillatory behaviour, with sharks occupying relatively constant depths during the day and exhibiting pronounced yo-yo diving behaviour (vertical zig-zag swimming through the water column) during the night. Our findings provide valuable new insights into the 3-dimensional space use of Eastern Australasian (EA) white sharks and contribute to the growing body on the general ecology of immature white sharks.
Endometriosis-Associated Ovarian Cancer: What Are the Implications for Women with Intact Endometrioma Planning for a Future Pregnancy? A Reproductive Clinical Outlook
Authors: Younis Johnny S.
Published: November 2022

Endometriosis is a chronic, universal, and prevalent disease estimated to affect up to 1:10 women of reproductive age. Endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer (EAOC) developing at reproductive age is challenging and of concern for women and practitioners alike. This outlook review focuses on the occurrence of EAOC, especially in infertile women or those planning for a future pregnancy, from the perspective of a reproductive endocrinologist, based on recent evidence. Contemporary pathogenesis, genetic profiles, evidence of causality, clinical diagnosis, prognosis, and up-to-date management are discussed. EAOC seems to be merely associated with endometrioma and includes clear-cell and endometrioid ovarian carcinoma. Although endometrioma is frequently found in women of reproductive age (up to 1:18 of women), EAOC appears to be a rare occurrence. These women are of more advanced reproductive age, nulliparous, and hyperestrogenic, with a large-sized unilateral endometrioma (>9 cm) containing solid components and papillary projections. Each case suspected to have EAOC has specific characteristics, and a multidisciplinary discussion and appropriate patient counseling should be conducted to reach an optimal therapeutic plan. Since most of these cases are diagnosed at an early stage with a favorable prognosis, fertility-sparing surgery may be feasible. The pros and cons of fertility preservation techniques should be discussed.
Primary Cilia: The New Face of Craniofacial Research
Authors: Moore Emily R.
Published: November 2022

The primary cilium is a solitary, sensory organelle that extends from the surface of nearly every vertebrate cell, including craniofacial cells. This organelle converts chemical and physical external stimuli into intracellular signaling cascades and mediates several well-known signaling pathways simultaneously. Thus, the primary cilium is considered a cellular signaling nexus and amplifier. Primary cilia dysfunction directly results in a collection of diseases and syndromes that typically affect multiple organ systems, including the face and teeth. Despite this direct connection, primary cilia are largely unexplored in craniofacial research. In this review, I briefly summarize craniofacial abnormalities tied to the primary cilium and examine the existing information on primary cilia in craniofacial development and repair. I close with a discussion on preliminary studies that motivate future areas of exploration that are further supported by studies performed in long bone and kidney cells.
Effect of Renal Ischemia Reperfusion on Brain Neuroinflammation
Authors: Lee Bina , Ines Ingabire , Je Jihyun , Park Eun Jung , Seong Hyemin , Jo Min Gi , Kim Hwajin , Kim Seon-Hee , Kim Seong Jae , Kim Hye Jung , Kim Minkyeong , Park Sang Won , Yun Seung Pil
Published: November 2022

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an inflammatory sequence. It can lead to distant organ injury, including damage to the central nervous system (CNS), mediated by increased circulating cytokines and other inflammatory mediators. It can also lead to increased blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability. However, the effect of AKI on the inflammatory response of the brain has not yet been investigated. Therefore, we observed the effect of AKI on BBB permeability, microglia and astrocyte activation, and neuronal toxicity in the brain. The striatum and ventral midbrain, known to control overall movement, secrete the neurotransmitter dopamine. The activation of microglia and astrocytes present in this area causes neuro-degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). The activation of astrocytes and microglia in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, which are responsible for important functions, including memory, learning, concentration, and language, can trigger nerve cell apoptosis. The activation of astrocytes and microglia at this site is also involved in the inflammatory response associated with the accumulation of beta-amyloid. In the situation of kidney ischemia reperfusion (IR)-induced AKI, activation of microglia and astrocytes were observed in the striatum, ventral midbrain, hippocampus, and cortex. However, neuronal cell death was not observed until 48 h.
In Silico Identification of Genes Associated with Breast Cancer Progression and Prognosis and Novel Therapeutic Targets
Authors: Uchida Shiro , Sugino Takashi
Published: November 2022

Molecular mechanisms underlying breast cancer (BC) progression are complex and remain unclear. In this study, we used bioinformatic tools to identify genes associated with tumor progression mechanisms and novel therapeutic targets in BC. We identified genes with stepwise upregulated expression overlapping between the T and N stages during BC progression using LinkedOmics. We compared the expression level of each gene in BC tissues with that in normal breast tissues and evaluated differences in expression in their intrinsic subtypes and their prognostic value using UALCAN and GEPIA2. We also investigated the dependency of BC cell lines on these genes and whether they are potential therapeutic targets using DepMap. SPDEF, TRIM3, ABCB9, HSPB1, RHBG, SPINT1, EPN3, LRFN2, and PRPH were found to be involved in BC progression. High expression of ABCB9 and SPINT1 was associated with a poor prognosis. SPDEF, TRIM3, ABCB9, RHBG, SPINT1, and PRPH were found to be essential for survival in some BC cell lines (gene effect score < −0.5). PRPH was newly discovered to be involved in the progression of BC and the growth and survival of BC cell lines. Hence, SPDEF, TRIM3, ABCB9, RHBG, SPINT1, and PRPH may serve as novel potential therapeutic targets in BC.
PET/CT with 18F-choline or 18F-FDG in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Submitted to 90Y-TARE: A Real-World Study
Authors: Filippi Luca , Bagni Oreste , Notarianni Ermanno , Saltarelli Adelchi , Ambrogi Cesare , Schillaci Orazio
Published: November 2022

Our aim was to assess the role of positron emission computed tomography (PET/CT) with 18F-choline (18F-FCH) or 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) submitted to 90Y-radioembolization (90Y-TARE). We retrospectively analyzed clinical records of 21 HCC patients submitted to PET/CT with 18F-fluorocholine (18F-FCH) or 18F-fluodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) before and 8 weeks after 90Y-TARE. On pre-treatment PET/CT, 13 subjects (61.9%) were 18F-FCH-positive, while 8 (38.1%) resulted 18F-FCH-negative and 18F-FDG-positive. At 8-weeks post 90Y-TARE PET/CT, 13 subjects showed partial metabolic response and 8 resulted non-responders, with a higher response rate among 18F-FCH-positive with respect to 18F-FDG-positive patients (i.e., 76.9% vs. 37.5%, p = 0.46). Post-treatment PET/CT influenced patients’ clinical management in 10 cases (47.6%); in 8 subjects it provided indication for a second 90Y-TARE targeting metabolically active HCC remnant, while in 2 patients it led to a PET-guided radiotherapy on metastatic nodes. By Kaplan–Meier analysis, patients’ age (≤69 y) and post 90Y-TARE PET/CT’s impact on clinical management significantly correlated with overall survival (OS). In Cox multivariate analysis, PET/CT’s impact on clinical management remained the only predictor of patients’ OS (p < 0.001). In our real-world study, PET/CT with 18F-FCH or 18F-FDG influenced clinical management and affected the final outcome for HCC patients treated with 90Y-TARE.
Three-Dimensional Constructive Interference in Steady State (3D CISS) Imaging and Clinical Applications in Brain Pathology
Authors: Cavallaro Marco , Coglitore Alessandra , Tessitore Agostino , Galletta Karol , Frosina Luciano , Cuffari Antonino , Ingrassia Roberta , Scarcella Sarah Caroline , Caponnetto Michele , Longo Mirta , Granata Francesca , Vinci Sergio Lucio , Mormina Enricomaria
Published: November 2022

Three-dimensional constructive interference in steady state (3D CISS) is a steady-state gradient-echo sequence in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that has been used in an increasing number of applications in the study of brain disease in recent years. Owing to the very high spatial resolution, the strong hyperintensity of the cerebrospinal fluid signal and the high contrast-to-noise ratio, 3D CISS can be employed in a wide range of scenarios, ranging from the traditional study of cranial nerves, the ventricular system, the subarachnoid cisterns and related pathology to more recently discussed applications, such as the fundamental role it can assume in the setting of acute ischemic stroke, vascular malformations, infections and several brain tumors. In this review, after briefly summarizing its fundamental physical principles, we examine in detail the various applications of 3D CISS in brain imaging, providing numerous representative cases, so as to help radiologists improve its use in imaging protocols in daily clinical practice.
An Efficient Motion Planning Method with a Lazy Demonstration Graph for Repetitive Pick-and-Place
Authors: Zuo Guoyu , Li Mi , Yu Jianjun , Wu Chun , Huang Gao
Published: November 2022

Robotic systems frequently need to plan consecutive similar manipulation in some scenarios (e.g., pick-and-place tasks), leading to similar motion plans. Moreover, the workspace of a robot changes with the difference in operation actions, which affects subsequent tasks. Therefore, it is significant to reuse information from previous solutions for new motion planning instances to adapt to workplace changes. This paper proposes the Lazy Demonstration Graph (LDG) planner, a novel motion planner that exploits successful and high-quality planning cases as prior knowledge. In addition, a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) is established by learning the distribution of samples in the planning cases. Through the trained GMM, more samples are placed in a promising location related to the planning tasks for achieving the purpose of adaptive sampling. This adaptive sampling strategy is combined with the Lazy Probabilistic Roadmap (LazyPRM) algorithm; in the subsequent planning tasks, this paper uses the multi-query property of a road map to solve motion planning problems without planning from scratch. The lazy collision detection of the LazyPRM algorithm helps overcome changes in the workplace by searching candidate paths. Our method also improves the quality and success rate of the path planning of LazyPRM. Compared with other state-of-the-art motion planning algorithms, our method achieved better performance in the planning time and path quality. In the repetitive motion planning experiment of the manipulator for pick-and-place tasks, we designed two different experimental scenarios in the simulation environment. The physical experiments are also carried out in AUBO−i5 robot arm. Accordingly, the experimental results verified our method’s validity and robustness.
Clinical Efficacy of Biomimetic Bioactive Biomaterials for Dental Pulp Capping: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Argueta-Figueroa Liliana , Jurado Carlos Alberto , Torres-Rosas Rafael , Bautista-Hernández Mario Alberto , Alhotan Abdulaziz , Nurrohman Hamid
Published: November 2022

Recently, biomimetic bioactive biomaterials have been introduced to the market for dental pulp capping. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine any variation between the effect of using TheraCal LC and other bioactive biomaterials for pulp capping is different, as measured by dentin increment and clinical success. The risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias 2 and Newcastle–Ottawa tools for randomized clinical trials and observational studies. A search for relevant articles was performed on five databases. Additionally, the quality of the included studies was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria. A summary of individual studies and a meta-analysis were performed. The odds ratio of data from clinical success was combined using a random-effects meta-analysis. The meta-analysis results showed homogeneity between the studies (I2 = 0%). They revealed that the clinical success showed no differences between the patients who received TheraCal LC, light-cured calcium silicate-based biomimetic biomaterial, for dental pulp capping or the comparator biomaterials (p > 0.5). However, the certainty of the evidence was low to moderate due to the risk of bias in the included studies.
Development of Ic-ELISA and Colloidal Gold Lateral Flow Immunoassay for the Determination of Cypermethrin in Agricultural Samples
Authors: Huang Lianrun , Zhang Fuxuan , Li Fangxuan , Jia Yin , Wang Minghua , Hua Xiude , Wang Limin
Published: November 2022

Cypermethrin (CYP) is an insecticide in the pyrethroid family and is used widely in agriculture and for public health purposes. However, CYP has been shown to have negative impacts on reproduction, immunity and nerves in mammals. In this study, a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against CYP was prepared and used to establish an indirect competitive immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) and colloidal gold lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) for the quantitative and qualitative determination of CYP residues in agricultural products. The half inhibition concentration of the ic-ELISA was 2.49 ng/mL, and the cut-off value and visual limit of detection of the LFIA were 0.6 and 0.3 μg/mL, respectively. The recovery rates of the ic-ELISA ranged from 78.8% to 87.6% in tomato, cabbage and romaine lettuce. The qualitative results of LFIA and quantitative results of ic-ELISA and HPLC were in good agreement in blind samples. Overall, the established ic-ELISA and LFIA proved to be accurate and rapid methods for the determination of CYP in agricultural products.
Specialized Metabolism of Gordonia Genus: An Integrated Survey on Chemodiversity Combined with a Comparative Genomics-Based Analysis
Authors: Sánchez-Suárez Jeysson , Díaz Luis , Coy-Barrera Ericsson , Villamil Luisa
Published: November 2022

Members of the phylum Actinomycetota (formerly Actinobacteria) have historically been the most prolific providers of small bioactive molecules. Although the genus Streptomyces is the best-known member for this issue, other genera, such as Gordonia, have shown interesting potential in their specialized metabolism. Thus, we combined herein the result of a comprehensive literature survey on metabolites derived from Gordonia strains with a comparative genomic analysis to examine the potential of the specialized metabolism of the genus Gordonia. Thirty Gordonia-derived compounds of different classes were gathered (i.e., alkaloids, amides, phenylpropanoids, and terpenoids), exhibiting antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities, and several were also isolated from Streptomyces (e.g., actinomycin, nocardamin, diolmycin A1). With the genome data, we estimated an open pan-genome of 57,901 genes, most of them being part of the cloud genome. Regarding the BGCs content, 531 clusters were found, including Terpenes, RiPP-like, and NRPS clusters as the most frequent clusters. Our findings demonstrated that Gordonia is a poorly studied genus in terms of its specialized metabolism production and potential applications. Nevertheless, given their BGCs content, Gordonia spp. are a valuable biological resource that could expand the chemical spectrum of the phylum Actinomycetota, involving novel BGCs for inspiring innovative outlines for synthetic biology and further use in biotechnological initiatives. Therefore, further studies and more efforts should be made to explore different environments and evaluate other bioactivities.
The Self-Administered Version of the Structured Interview for Disorders of Extreme Stress (SIDES-SR) in a Clinical and Non-Clinical Portuguese Sample
Authors: Pires Rute , Ferreira Ana , Paulino Marco , Gama Marques João , Henriques-Calado Joana , Gonçalves Bruno
Published: November 2022

Disorders of Extreme Stress Not Otherwise Specified (DESNOS) refers to a constellation of symptoms deriving from chronic interpersonal trauma, inflicted by caregivers or in the context of intimate relationships. The Structured Interview for Disorders of Extreme Stress—Self-Report (SIDES-SR) was designed for the assessment of DESNOS. This study aimed to validate the Portuguese version of the SIDES-SR in the community (N = 814; Mage = 40.09, SD = 14.25, 39.2% male, 60.8% female) and clinical (N = 310; Mage = 42.49, SD = 12.47, 57.7% male, 42.3% female) samples. It had three objectives: (1) to validate the SIDES-SR rationally derived domains in the community sample; (2) to characterise the reliability of the SIDES-SR scales in both samples; and (3) to explore mean differences in the SIDES-SR results in both samples. The Portuguese SIDES-SR confirmed the six clinical domains of DESNOS and demonstrated acceptable internal consistency levels, similar to those obtained in prior research. Highly significant differences and large and very large effect sizes between the community and clinical samples were found for all the SIDES-SR domains. DESNOS symptomatology was shown to be more frequent in females and the clinical sample reported a higher frequency of traumatic events in life, specifically interpersonal trauma. The results support the relevance of the SIDES-SR for clinical practice in the assessment of the DESNOS diagnosis.
Architectural Formation of Growable Light Steel Structure and Its 3D Visualisation Design and Construction Method
Authors: Jia Huijuan , Liu Zhiyuan , Zhang Binsheng , Song Yongsheng , Zhang Xian
Published: November 2022

With the applications of new construction technologies and design ideas, innovative construction methods and architectural designs promote overall productivity and enrich architectural impressions. However, faced with the contradictions between construction efficiency, project benefits, and sustainability, together with the dynamically variable social demands and monotonous design of current temporary light steel structures, a new type of growable light steel structure with parameterisable and assembled architectural units is proposed. Besides, a fast-assembled track foundation that can be detachable and recycled is adopted. Both can promote the growth of light steel units. To be specific, its architectural spaces can be extended and contracted, and the structural form and service space can be adjusted by the reorganisation and optimisation of unit arrangements. Meanwhile, due to the advantages of information integrations and 3D visualisations of BIM technology, a BIM-based design and construction method of growable light steel structures is studied. Based on the arrangements of track and parametrically transformed light steel units, this study expands the architectural forms of light steel structures. It explores their respective applications in practical architectural design to solve current shortages of land resources, properly respond to variable building environments, simultaneously enrich the design schemes of current light steel structures, improve the utilisation rate of structural spaces, and enhance the aesthetic sensations of buildings.
Study on the Relationship between Chloride Ion Penetration and Resistivity of NAC-Cement Concrete
Authors: Liang Xiaofei , Qi Wenjie , Fang Zhisheng , Zhang Shiyi , Fan Yingfang , Shah Surendra P.
Published: November 2022

To explore the effect of nano-attapulgite clay (NAC) on the durability of concrete, two kinds of NAC (calcined raw ore and calcined high viscosity ore: calcination at 650 °C for 2 h) were used to study their effects on the durability of concrete, mainly discussing the changes of chloride ion permeability and the resistivity of concrete with NAC. The effect of NAC on the strength of concrete was analyzed by testing the compressive strength of concrete. The two-electrode method, four-electrode method, and concrete resistivity tester were used to analyze the relationship between the testing method and concrete resistivity, and the effect of NAC on concrete resistivity was analyzed. The influence of NAC on the chloride corrosion resistance of concrete was analyzed by measuring the chloride diffusion coefficient, and the relationship between the chloride diffusion coefficient and resistivity was established. The diffusion process of chloride ions in concrete was analyzed by theoretical derivation and numerical simulation. The results show that: calcining raw ore NAC can improve the compressive strength of concrete, while calcining high-viscosity ore reduces the compressive strength of concrete. At the age of 28 days, the strength of concrete mixed with calcined raw ore is about 7.10% higher than that of ordinary concrete, while the compressive strength of concrete mixed with calcined high-viscosity ore is about 4.32% lower than that of common concrete. The resistivity of concrete mixed with calcined raw ore increases the fastest, and the 56 days age is about 15.8% and 29.6% higher than that of ordinary concrete and calcined high-viscosity ore. There is a good negative correlation between concrete resistivity and chloride diffusion coefficient. At 28 days, the incorporation of calcined raw ore concrete decreased by about 19.9% and 49.4% compared with ordinary concrete and calcined high-viscosity ore, respectively. After 10 years of decline, the chloride ion content is 11.1% and 23.2% lower than that of ordinary concrete and concrete mixed with calcined high viscosity ore.
Plated versus Corrugated Web Steel Girders in Shear: Behavior, Parametric Analysis, and Reliability-Based Design Optimization
Authors: Leblouba Moussa , Karzad Abdul Saboor , Tabsh Sami W. , Barakat Samer
Published: November 2022

Unlike straight web I-girders, the construction industry’s demand for corrugated web steel girders is increasing due to their high shear strength without needing transverse stiffeners. Although the corrugation fabrication cost could be high, savings on material, transportation, and erection costs can compensate for the expenditures needed to build flat-plated girders with stiffeners. This study investigates the shear behavior of straight and corrugated webs with different geometries and corrugation profiles (triangular and trapezoidal) through laboratory testing. Following a detailed parametric study, the results of the experimental program were used to formulate a reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) problem to achieve target reliability. When applied to two case studies related to girders of a building and a bridge, the RBDO demonstrated that it is possible to design girders with corrugated webs to achieve economic designs in terms of material volume in the range of 20% to 40% with thinner webs and without the need for transverse stiffeners.
The Somatic Mutation Landscape of UDP-Glycosyltransferase (UGT) Genes in Human Cancers
Authors: Hu Dong Gui , Marri Shashikanth , Hulin Julie-Ann , McKinnon Ross A. , Mackenzie Peter I. , Meech Robyn
Published: November 2022

The human UDP-glycosyltransferase (UGTs) superfamily has a critical role in the metabolism of anticancer drugs and numerous pro/anti-cancer molecules (e.g., steroids, lipids, fatty acids, bile acids and carcinogens). Recent studies have shown wide and abundant expression of UGT genes in human cancers. However, the extent to which UGT genes acquire somatic mutations within tumors remains to be systematically investigated. In the present study, our comprehensive analysis of the somatic mutation profiles of 10,069 tumors from 33 different TCGA cancer types identified 3427 somatic mutations in UGT genes. Overall, nearly 18% (1802/10,069) of the assessed tumors had mutations in UGT genes with huge variations in mutation frequency across different cancer types, ranging from over 25% in five cancers (COAD, LUAD, LUSC, SKCM and UCSC) to less than 5% in eight cancers (LAML, MESO, PCPG, PAAD, PRAD, TGCT, THYM and UVM). All 22 UGT genes showed somatic mutations in tumors, with UGT2B4, UGT3A1 and UGT3A2 showing the largest number of mutations (289, 307 and 255 mutations, respectively). Nearly 65% (2260/3427) of the mutations were missense, frame-shift and nonsense mutations that have been predicted to code for variant UGT proteins. Furthermore, about 10% (362/3427) of the mutations occurred in non-coding regions (5′ UTR, 3′ UTR and splice sites) that may be able to alter the efficiency of translation initiation, miRNA regulation or the splicing of UGT transcripts. In conclusion, our data show widespread somatic mutations of UGT genes in human cancers that may affect the capacity of cancer cells to metabolize anticancer drugs and endobiotics that control pro/anti-cancer signaling pathways. This highlights their potential utility as biomarkers for predicting therapeutic efficacy and clinical outcomes.
Integrated Design of Optimized Weighted Deep Feature Fusion Strategies for Skin Lesion Image Classification
Authors: Mohanty Niharika , Pradhan Manaswini , Reddy Annapareddy V. N. , Kumar Sachin , Alkhayyat Ahmed
Published: November 2022

This study mainly focuses on pre-processing the HAM10000 and BCN20000 skin lesion datasets to select important features that will drive for proper skin cancer classification. In this work, three feature fusion strategies have been proposed by utilizing three pre-trained Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models, namely VGG16, EfficientNet B0, and ResNet50 to select the important features based on the weights of the features and are coined as Adaptive Weighted Feature Set (AWFS). Then, two other strategies, Model-based Optimized Weighted Feature Set (MOWFS) and Feature-based Optimized Weighted Feature Set (FOWFS), are proposed by optimally and adaptively choosing the weights using a meta-heuristic artificial jellyfish (AJS) algorithm. The MOWFS-AJS is a model-specific approach whereas the FOWFS-AJS is a feature-specific approach for optimizing the weights chosen for obtaining optimal feature sets. The performances of those three proposed feature selection strategies are evaluated using Decision Tree (DT), Naïve Bayesian (NB), Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), and Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifiers and the performance are measured through accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and F1-score. Additionally, the area under the receiver operating characteristics curves (AUC-ROC) is plotted and it is observed that FOWFS-AJS shows the best accuracy performance based on the SVM with 94.05% and 94.90%, respectively, for HAM 10000 and BCN 20000 datasets. Finally, the experimental results are also analyzed using a non-parametric Friedman statistical test and the computational times are recorded; the results show that, out of those three proposed feature selection strategies, the FOWFS-AJS performs very well because its quick converging nature is inculcated with the help of AJS.
Current Developments in Cellular Therapy for Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies
Authors: Steinbach Christina , Merchant Almas , Zaharie Alexandru-Teodor , Horak Peter , Marhold Maximilian , Krainer Michael
Published: November 2022

Recently, the development of immunotherapies such as cellular therapy, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines and immunomodulators has revolutionized the treatment of various cancer entities. In order to close the existing gaps in knowledge about cellular immunotherapy, specifically focusing on the chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) T-cells, their benefits and application in clinical settings, we conducted a comprehensive systematic review. Two co-authors independently searched the literature and characterized the results. Out of 183 records, 26 were considered eligible. This review provides an overview of the cellular immunotherapy landscape in treating prostate cancer, honing in on the challenges of employing CAR T-cell therapy. CAR T-cell therapy is a promising avenue for research due to the presence of an array of different tumor specific antigens. In prostate cancer, the complex microenvironment of the tumor vastly contributes to the success or failure of immunotherapies.
External Validation of the Individualized Prediction of Breast Cancer Survival (IPBS) Model for Estimating Survival after Surgery for Patients with Breast Cancer in Northern Thailand
Authors: Charumporn Thanapat , Jarupanich Nutcha , Rinthapon Chanawin , Meetham Kantapit , Pattayakornkul Napat , Taerujjirakul Teerapant , Tanasombatkul Krittai , Ditsatham Chagkrit , Chongruksut Wilaiwan , Phanphaisarn Areerak , Pongnikorn Donsuk , Phinyo Phichayut
Published: November 2022

The individualized prediction of breast cancer survival (IPBS) model was recently developed. Although the model showed acceptable performance during derivation, its external performance remained unknown. This study aimed to validate the IPBS model using the data of breast cancer patients in Northern Thailand. An external validation study was conducted based on female patients with breast cancer who underwent surgery at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai hospital from 2005 to 2015. Data on IPBS predictors were collected. The endpoints were 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). The model performance was evaluated in terms of discrimination and calibration. Missing data were handled with multiple imputation. Of all 3581 eligible patients, 1868 were included. The 5-year OS and DFS were 85.2% and 81.9%. The IPBS model showed acceptable discrimination: C-statistics 0.706 to 0.728 for OS and 0.675 to 0.689 for DFS at 5 years. However, the IPBS model minimally overestimated both OS and DFS predictions. These overestimations were corrected after model recalibration. In this external validation study, the IPBS model exhibited good discriminative ability. Although it may provide minimal overestimation, recalibrating the model to the local context is a practical solution to improve the model calibration.
The TLK1–MK5 Axis Regulates Motility, Invasion, and Metastasis of Prostate Cancer Cells
Authors: Khalil Md Imtiaz , De Benedetti Arrigo
Published: November 2022

Background: Metastatic dissemination of prostate cancer (PCa) accounts for the majority of PCa-related deaths. However, the exact mechanism of PCa cell spread is still unknown. We uncovered a novel interaction between two unrelated promotility factors, tousled-like kinase 1 (TLK1) and MAPK-activated protein kinase 5 (MK5), that initiates a signaling cascade promoting metastasis. In PCa, TLK1–MK5 signaling might be crucial, as androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) leads to increased expression of both TLK1 and MK5 in metastatic patients, but in this work, we directly investigated the motility, invasive, and metastatic capacity of PCa cells following impairment of the TLK1 > MK5 axis. Results: We conducted scratch wound repair and transwell invasion assays with LNCaP and PC3 cells to determine if TLK1 and MK5 can regulate motility and invasion. Both genetic depletion and pharmacologic inhibition of TLK1 and MK5 resulted in reduced migration and invasion through a Matrigel plug. We further elucidated the potential mechanisms underlying these effects and found that this is likely due to the reorganization of the actin fibers at lamellipodia and the focal adhesions network, in conjunction with increased expression of some MMPs that can affect penetration through the ECM. PC3, a highly metastatic cell line when assayed in xenografts, was further tested in a tail-vein injection/lung metastasis model, and we showed that, following inoculation, treatment with GLPG0259 (MK5 specific inhibitor) or J54 (TLK1 inhibitor) resulted in the lung tumor nodules being greatly diminished in number, and for J54, also in size. Conclusion: Our data support that the TLK1–MK5 axis is functionally involved in driving PCa cell metastasis and clinical aggressiveness; hence, disruption of this axis may inhibit the metastatic capacity of PCa.
Multiscale Modelling of Nanoparticle Distribution in a Realistic Tumour Geometry Following Local Injection
Authors: Caddy George , Stebbing Justin , Wakefield Gareth , Adair Megan , Xu Xiao Yun
Published: November 2022

Radiosensitizers have proven to be an effective method of improving radiotherapy outcomes, with the distribution of particles being a crucial element to delivering optimal treatment outcomes due to the short range of effect of these particles. Here we present a computational model for the transport of nanoparticles within the tumour, whereby the fluid velocity and particle deposition are obtained and used as input into the convection-diffusion equation to calculate the spatio-temporal concentration of the nanoparticles. The effect of particle surface charge and injection locations on the distribution of nanoparticle concentration within the interstitial fluid and deposited onto cell surfaces is assessed. The computational results demonstrate that negatively charged particles can achieve a more uniform distribution throughout the tumour as compared to uncharged or positively charged particles, with particle volume within the fluid being 100% of tumour volume and deposited particle volume 44.5%. In addition, varying the injection location from the end to the middle of the tumour caused a reduction in particle volume of almost 20% for negatively charged particles. In conclusion, radiosensitizing particles should be negatively charged to maximise their spread and penetration within the tumour. Choosing an appropriate injection location can further improve the distribution of these particles.
Isotoxic High-Dose Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (iHD-SBRT) Versus Conventional Chemoradiotherapy for Localized Pancreatic Cancer: A Single Cancer Center Evaluation
Authors: Manderlier Martin , Navez Julie , Hein Matthieu , Engelholm Jean-Luc , Closset Jean , Bali Maria Antonietta , Van Gestel Dirk , Moretti Luigi , Van Laethem Jean-Luc , Bouchart Christelle
Published: November 2022

Given the lack of direct comparative evidence, we aimed to compare the oncological outcomes of localized pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) treated in the same tertiary cancer center with isotoxic high-dose stereotactic body radiotherapy (iHD-SBRT) or conventional chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Biopsy-proven borderline/locally advanced patients treated with iHD-SBRT (35 Gy in 5 fractions with a simultaneous integrated boost up to 53 Gy) or CRT (45–60 Gy in 25–30 fractions) were retrospectively included from January 2006 to January 2021. The median overall survival (mOS) was evaluated trough uni- and multivariate analyses. The progression free survival (PFS) and the 1-year local control (1-yLC) were also reported. Eighty-two patients were included. The median follow-up was 19.7 months. The mOS was in favour of the iHD-SBRT group (22.5 vs. 15.9 months, p < 0.001), including after multivariate analysis (HR 0.39 [CI95% 0.18–0.83], p = 0.014). The median PFS and the 1-yLC were also significantly better for iHD-SBRT (median PFS: 16.7 vs. 11.5 months, p = 0.011; 1-yLC: 75.8 vs. 39.3%, p = 0.004). In conclusion, iHD-SBRT is a promising RT option and may offer an improvement in OS in comparison to CRT for localized PDAC. Further validation is required to confirm the exact role of iHD-SBRT and the optimal therapeutic sequence for the treatment of localized PDAC.
The POLR3G Subunit of Human RNA Polymerase III Regulates Tumorigenesis and Metastasis in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Lautré Wiebke , Richard Elodie , Feugeas Jean-Paul , Dumay-Odelot Hélène , Teichmann Martin
Published: November 2022

RNA polymerase (Pol) III transcribes short untranslated RNAs that contribute to the regulation of gene expression. Two isoforms of human Pol III have been described that differ by the presence of the POLR3G/RPC32α or POLR3GL/RPC32β subunits. POLR3G was found to be expressed in embryonic stem cells and at least a subset of transformed cells, whereas POLR3GL shows a ubiquitous expression pattern. Here, we demonstrate that POLR3G is specifically overexpressed in clinical samples of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) but not in other molecular subtypes of breast cancer. POLR3G KO in the MDA-MB231 TNBC cell line dramatically reduces anchorage-independent growth and invasive capabilities in vitro. In addition, the POLR3G KO impairs tumor growth and metastasis formation of orthotopic xenografts in mice. Moreover, KO of POLR3G induces expression of the pioneer transcription factor FOXA1 and androgen receptor. In contrast, the POLR3G KO neither alters proliferation nor the expression of epithelial–mesenchymal transition marker genes. These data demonstrate that POLR3G expression is required for TNBC tumor growth, invasiveness and dissemination and that its deletion affects triple-negative breast cancer-specific gene expression.
Luminescent Analysis of ATP: Modern Objects and Processes for Sensing
Authors: Efremenko Elena , Senko Olga , Stepanov Nikolay , Maslova Olga , Lomakina Galina Yu. , Ugarova Natalia
Published: November 2022

Bioluminescent analysis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentrations is now acquiring new applications in the form of objects and processes in which it can be effectively used for sensing. A quick analysis of biological objects and systems for which the level of ATP concentrations is one of the main parameters, and a forecast of the development of various situations in such biosystems under industrial production conditions or the ecological state of the environment, confirmed by various results of analytical control of other parameters, turns out to be simple and effective. Sanitary control, quality control of purified water, microbial analysis in the food industry, maintenance of drugs and estimation of their quality, and monitoring of the metabolic state of biocatalysts used in various biotechnological processes are between the main trends of recent applications of bioluminescent ATP-assay. Additionally, the new areas of ATP sensing are developed, and the following topics are their creation of synthetic microbial consortia, their introduction as new biocatalysts to biodegradation of pesticides, suppression of methane accumulation in model urban land fields, control of dangerous development of biocorrosive processes, design of chemical-biocatalytic hybrid processes, creation of effective antimicrobial dressing and protective tissue materials, etc. These aspects are the subject of this review.