bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High Dose Thoracic Re-Irradiation and Chemo-Immunotherapy for Centrally Recurrent NSCLC
Authors: Grambozov Brane , Stana Markus , Kaiser Bernhard , Karner Josef , Gerum Sabine , Ruznic Elvis , Zellinger Barbara , Moosbrugger Raphaela , Studnicka Michael , Fastner Gerd , Sedlmayer Felix , Zehentmayr Franz
Published: January 2022

Introduction: Thoracic re-irradiation for recurrent lung cancer dates back four decades, when the first small series on 29 patients receiving palliative doses was published. With 5-year overall survival rates of 57% in PDL-1 positive patients after primary chemo-radio-immunotherapy, the number of patients who experience loco-regional relapse will increase in the near future. In this context, centrally recurring lung tumors pose a major treatment challenge. Hence, the aim of the current review is to compile the available evidence on curatively intended thoracic re-irradiation for this special clinical situation. Methods: A systematic literature search according to the PRISMA guidelines was performed. A study was included when the following criteria were met: (1) 66% of the patients had NSCLC, (2) a total dose of 50 Gy in the second course and/or a biologically effective dose of at least 100 Gy in both treatment courses was administered, (3) re-irradiation was administered with modern radiation techniques, (4) 50% or more of the patients had a centrally located relapse, (5) the minimum cohort size was 30 patients. Results: Of the initial 227 studies, 11 were analyzed, 1 of which was prospective. Median overall survival (OS) was 18.1 months (range 9.3–25.1), median progression free survival (PFS) was nine months (range 4.5–16), and median loco-regional control (LRC) was 12.1 months (range 6.5–20). Treatment-related mortality rates ranged from 2% to 14%. The total dose at re-irradiation correlated with both LRC (p-value = 0.012) and OS (p-value = 0.007) with a close relation between these two clinical endpoints (p-value = 0.006). The occurrence of acute toxicity grade 1 to 4 depended on the PTV size at re-irradiation (p-value = 0.033). Conclusion: The evidence regarding curative re-irradiation for centrally recurrent NSCLC is primarily based on scarce retrospective data, which are characterized by a high degree of heterogeneity. The OS in this clinically challenging situation is expected to be around 1.5 years after re-treatment. Patients with a good performance score, younger age, small tumors, and a longer interval to recurrence potentially benefit most from re-irradiation. In this context, prospective trials are warranted to achieve substantial advances in the field.
Solar Heterogenous Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylthionine Chloride on a Flat Plate Reactor: Effect of pH and H2O2 Addition
Authors: Zaruma-Arias Pablo E. , Núñez-Núñez Cynthia M. , González-Burciaga Luis A. , Proal-Nájera José B.
Published: January 2022

Methylthionine chloride (MTC) is a compound with several applications both in the clinical and medical industries. Nevertheless, such compounds can become an environmental problem, as they are not properly treated by wastewater treatment plants. This objective of this work was to study MTC degradation in a flat plate reactor through solar photolysis and heterogeneous photocatalysis processes with TiO2 as a catalyst. In addition to the processes, three pH (3.5, 6.5, and 9) and the effect of H2O2 addition (no dose, 0.5, and 1 mM/L) were tested. The results show that acidic pH is the most appropriate for MTC degradation, which ranged between 56% and 68.7% for photolysis and between 76% and 86.7% in photocatalysis. The H2O2 addition resulted in lower degradation in all cases, leading the authors to conclude that the presence of peroxide actually hinders degradation in solar photolysis and photocatalysis processes. Statistical analysis showed that the constant rate reactions calculated for every process, under the same conditions of pH and H2O2 addition, are significantly different from one another, and the three factors considered for experimental design (process, pH, and H2O2) have a statistically significant effect on MTC degradation. The collector area per order confirmed higher efficiency for photocatalysis when compared to photolysis processes.
Particle Recognition on Transmission Electron Microscopy Images Using Computer Vision and Deep Learning for Catalytic Applications
Authors: Nartova Anna V. , Mashukov Mikhail Yu. , Astakhov Ruslan R. , Kudinov Vitalii Yu. , Matveev Andrey V. , Okunev Alexey G.
Published: January 2022

Recognition and measuring particles on microscopy images is an important part of many scientific studies, including catalytic investigations. In this paper, we present the results of the application of deep learning to the automated recognition of nanoparticles deposited on porous supports (heterogeneous catalysts) on images obtained by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The Cascade Mask-RCNN neural network was used. During the training, two types of objects were labeled on raw TEM images of ‘real’ catalysts: visible particles and overlapping particle projections. The trained neural network recognized nanoparticles in the test dataset with 0.71 precision and 0.72 recall for both classes of objects and 0.84 precision and 0.79 recall for visible particles. The developed model is integrated into the open-access web service ‘ParticlesNN’, which can be used by any researcher in the world. Instead of hours, TEM data processing per one image analysis is reduced to a maximum of a couple of minutes and the divergence of mean particle size determination is approximately 2% compared to manual analysis. The proposed tool encourages accelerating catalytic research and improving the objectivity and accuracy of analysis.
Controlled Transition Metal Nucleated Growth of Carbon Nanotubes by Molten Electrolysis of CO2
Authors: Liu Xinye , Licht Gad , Wang Xirui , Licht Stuart
Published: January 2022

The electrolysis of CO2 in molten carbonate has been introduced as an alternative mechanism to synthesize carbon nanomaterials inexpensively at high yield. Until recently, CO2 was thought to be unreactive, making its removal a challenge. CO2 is the main cause of anthropogenic global warming and its utilization and transformation into a stable, valuable material provides an incentivized pathway to mitigate climate change. This study focuses on controlled electrochemical conditions in molten lithium carbonate to split CO2 absorbed from the atmosphere into carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and into various macroscopic assemblies of CNTs, which may be useful for nano-filtration. Different CNT morphologies were prepared electrochemically by variation of the anode and cathode composition and architecture, variation of the electrolyte composition pre-electrolysis processing, and variation of the current application and current density. Individual CNT morphologies’ structures and the CNT molten carbonate growth mechanisms are explored using SEM (scanning electron microscopy), TEM (transmission electron micrsocopy), HAADF (high angle annular dark field), EDX (energy dispersive xray), X-ray diffraction), and Raman methods. The principle commercial technology for CNT production had been chemical vapor deposition, which is an order of magnitude more expensive, generally requires metallo-organics, rather than CO2 as reactants, and can be highly energy and CO2 emission intensive (carries a high carbon positive, rather than negative, footprint).
The Anti-Acne Potential and Chemical Composition of Two Cultivated Cotoneaster Species
Authors: Krzemińska Barbara , Dybowski Michał P. , Klimek Katarzyna , Typek Rafał , Miazga-Karska Małgorzata , Dos Santos Szewczyk Katarzyna
Published: January 2022

In light of current knowledge on the role of reactive oxygen species and other oxidants in skin diseases, it is clear that oxidative stress facilitates inflammation and is an important factor involved in skin diseases, i.e., acne. Taking into consideration the fact that some Cotoneaster plants are valuable curatives in skin diseases in traditional Asian medicine, we assumed that thus far untested species C. hsingshangensis and C. hissaricus may be a source of substances used in skin diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities of their various extracts. LC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 47 compounds (flavonoids, phenolic acids, coumarins, sphingolipids, carbohydrates), while GC-MS procedure allowed for the identification of 42 constituents (sugar derivatives, phytosterols, fatty acids, and their esters). The diethyl ether fraction of C. hsingshangensis (CHs-2) exhibited great ability to scavenge free radicals and good capacity to inhibit cyclooxygenase-1, cyclooxygenase-2, lipoxygenase, and hyaluronidase. Moreover, it had the most promising power against microaerobic Gram-positive strains, and importantly, it was non-toxic toward normal skin fibroblasts. Taking into account the value of the calculated therapeutic index (>10), it is worth noting that CHs-2 can be subjected to in vivo study and constitutes a promising anti-acne agent.
SETDB1 Regulates Porcine Spermatogonial Adhesion and Proliferation through Modulating MMP3/10 Transcription
Authors: Liu Ruifang , Liu Zidong , Guo Ming , Zeng Wenxian , Zheng Yi
Published: January 2022

The transition from gonocytes into spermatogonia takes place during the homing process. A subpopulation of undifferentiated spermatogonia in niche then shifts to spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), accompanied by the self-renewal ability to maintain life-long fertility in males. Enormous changes in cell morphology, gene expression, and epigenetic features have been reported during spermatogenesis. However, little is known about the difference of these features in SSCs during aging. Here, we examined the dynamics of SET domain bifurcated 1 (SETDB1) expression in porcine testes. SETDB1 was expressed in postnatal undifferentiated spermatogonia, while gradually disappeared after being packed within the basal compartment of seminiferous tubules. In addition, the cell-adhesion ability, proliferative activity, and trimethylation of the histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9me3) level were significantly altered in SETDB1-deficient porcine SSCs. Moreover, the matrix metalloproteinases 3/10 (MMP3/10) was upregulated at both mRNA and protein levels. These results illustrate the significance of SETDB1 in modulating early male germ cell development.
Beta-Amyloid Instigates Dysfunction of Mitochondria in Cardiac Cells
Authors: Jang Sehwan , Chapa-Dubocq Xavier R. , Parodi-Rullán Rebecca M. , Fossati Silvia , Javadov Sabzali
Published: January 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) includes the formation of extracellular deposits comprising aggregated β-amyloid (Aβ) fibers associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial abnormalities, and neuronal loss. There is an associative link between AD and cardiac diseases; however, the mechanisms underlying the potential role of AD, particularly Aβ in cardiac cells, remain unknown. Here, we investigated the role of mitochondria in mediating the effects of Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 in cultured cardiomyocytes and primary coronary endothelial cells. Our results demonstrated that Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 are differently accumulated in cardiomyocytes and coronary endothelial cells. Aβ1-42 had more adverse effects than Aβ1-40 on cell viability and mitochondrial function in both types of cells. Mitochondrial and cellular ROS were significantly increased, whereas mitochondrial membrane potential and calcium retention capacity decreased in both types of cells in response to Aβ1-42. Mitochondrial dysfunction induced by Aβ was associated with apoptosis of the cells. The effects of Aβ1-42 on mitochondria and cell death were more evident in coronary endothelial cells. In addition, Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 significantly increased Ca2+ -induced swelling in mitochondria isolated from the intact rat hearts. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the toxic effects of Aβ on cell survival and mitochondria function in cardiac cells.
Mast Cells in Immune-Mediated Cholangitis and Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: González Marisol I. , Vannan Danielle T. , Eksteen Bertus , Flores-Sotelo Irán , Reyes José Luis
Published: January 2022

Cholestasis, which is impaired bile flow from the liver into the intestine, can be caused by cholangitis and/or bile duct obstruction. Cholangitis can arise from bacterial infections and cholelithiasis, however, immune-mediated cholangitis in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is characterized by a strong immune response targeting the biliary epithelial cells (BECs). Persistent biliary inflammation further represents a risk for biliary neoplasia, cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) by driving chronic cellular stress in the BECs. Currently, immune-mediated cholangitis is considered a Th1-Th17-dominant disease, however, the presence of Th2-related mast cells (MCs) in tissue samples from PBC, PSC and CCA patients has been described, showing that these MCs are active players in these diseases. Here, we reviewed and discussed experimental and clinical data supporting a pro-fibrotic role for MCs in immune-mediated cholangitis as well as their participation in supporting tumor growth acting as angiogenesis promoters. Thus, although MCs have classically been identified as downstream effectors of Th2 responses in allergies and parasitic infections, evidence suggests that these MCs are relevant players in biliary inflammation and neoplasia. The availability of strategies to prevent MCs’ activation represents a therapeutic opportunity in biliary diseases.
LncCDH5-3:3 Regulates Apoptosis, Proliferation, and Aggressiveness in Human Lung Cancer Cells
Authors: Kwaśniak Konrad , Czarnik-Kwaśniak Justyna , Malysheva Khrystyna , Pogoda Katarzyna , Korchynskyi Olexandr , Rybojad Paweł , Karczmarek-Borowska Bożenna , Tabarkiewicz Jacek
Published: January 2022

(1) Lung cancer (both small cell and non-small cell) is the leading cause of new deaths associated with cancers globally in men and women. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are associated with tumorigenesis in different types of tumors, including lung cancer. Herein, we discuss: (1) An examination of the expression profile of lncCDH5-3:3 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and an evaluation of its functional role in lung cancer development and progression using in vitro models; (2) A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay that confirms lncCDH5-3:3 expression in tumor samples resected from 20 NSCLC patients, and that shows its statistically higher expression levels at stage III NSCLC, compared to stages I and II. Moreover, knockout (KO) and overexpression, as well as molecular and biochemical techniques, were used to investigate the biological functions of lncCDH5-3:3 in NSCLC cells, with a focus on the cells’ proliferation and migration; (3) The finding that lncCDH5-3:3 silencing promotes apoptosis and probably regulates the cell cycle and E-cadherin expression in adenocarcinoma cell lines. In comparison, lncCDH5-3:3 overexpression increases the expression levels of proliferation and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition markers, such as EpCAM, Akt, and ERK1/2; however, at the same time, it also stimulates the expression of E-cadherin, which conversely inhibits the mobility capabilities of lung cancer cells; (4) The results of this study, which provide important insights into the role of lncRNAs in lung cancer. Our study shows that lncCDH5-3:3 affects important features of lung cancer cells, such as their viability and motility. The results support the idea that lncCDH5-3:3 is probably involved in the oncogenesis of NSCLC through the regulation of apoptosis and tumor cell metastasis formation.
The Microbiota-Gut Axis in Premature Infants: Physio-Pathological Implications
Authors: Bresesti Ilia , Salvatore Silvia , Valetti Giorgia , Baj Andreina , Giaroni Cristina , Agosti Massimo
Published: January 2022

Intriguing evidence is emerging in regard to the influence of gut microbiota composition and function on host health from the very early stages of life. The development of the saprophytic microflora is conditioned by several factors in infants, and peculiarities have been found for babies born prematurely. This population is particularly exposed to a high risk of infection, postnatal antibiotic treatment, feeding difficulties and neurodevelopmental disabilities. To date, there is still a wide gap in understanding all the determinants and the mechanism behind microbiota disruption and its influence in the development of the most common complications of premature infants. A large body of evidence has emerged during the last decades showing the existence of a bidirectional communication axis involving the gut microbiota, the gut and the brain, defined as the microbiota-gut-brain axis. In this context, given that very few data are available to demonstrate the correlation between microbiota dysbiosis and neurodevelopmental disorders in preterm infants, increasing interest has arisen to better understand the impact of the microbiota-gut-brain axis on the clinical outcomes of premature infants and to clarify how this may lead to alternative preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. In this review, we explored the current evidence regarding microbiota development in premature infants, focusing on the effects of delivery mode, type of feeding, environmental factors and possible influence of the microbiota-gut-brain axis on preterm clinical outcomes during their hospital stay and on their health status later in life.
Targeting the gp130/STAT3 Axis Attenuates Tumor Microenvironment Mediated Chemoresistance in Group 3 Medulloblastoma Cells
Authors: Sreenivasan Lakshana , Li Ling Vicky , Leclair Pascal , Lim Chinten James
Published: January 2022

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor. Of the four molecular subgroups, Group 3 MB is the most aggressive and has the worst prognosis. To understand the origins of chemoresistance involving IL-6/STAT3 signaling, we used in vitro co-culture systems to investigate the contribution of microglia as a brain tumor microenvironment cellular source of paracrine cytokines that promotes acquired drug resistance in Group 3 MB. MB cells subjected to co-culture with microglia exhibited increased expression of phosphorylated JAK1 and STAT3, which was correlated with enhanced resistance to vincristine. We found that both microglia and MB cells co-cultured with microglia secreted significant quantities of IL-6, indicating that IL-6 is a paracrine and autocrine cytokine able to initiate and sustain STAT3 activity in MB cells. Surprisingly, IL-6R−/− MB cells, which cannot respond to exogenous IL-6 stimuli, were responsive to microglia co-culture induced activation of STAT3 and chemoresistance. Subsequently, we found that MB cells conditioned in vitro with the IL-6 family cytokines, IL-6, OSM, LIF, or IL-11, exhibited enhanced JAK1/STAT3 activity and chemoresistance. Intriguingly, MB cells conditioned with any one of the IL-6 family cytokine secreted multiple IL-6 family cytokines, implicating a feedback network involving multiple cytokines. The IL-6 family cytokine receptors share a common signal transducing β-subunit, gp130, which may be targeted to mitigate tumor chemoresistance. We showed that microglia co-culture failed to induce chemoresistance of gp130−/− MB cells, and that combination treatment using gp130 inhibitors, or with the JAK inhibitor ruxolitinib, effectively overcame the observed resistance to vincristine in gp130 expressing MB cells. Our in vitro studies highlight the gp130/JAK/STAT pathway as a therapeutic target in combating acquired treatment resistance in Group 3 MB.
Enhanced Nitrite Detection by a Carbon Screen Printed Electrode Modified with Photochemically-Made AuNPs
Authors: Talbi Malak , Al-Hamry Ammar , Teixeira Priscila Rios , Paterno Leonardo G. , Ali Mounir Ben , Kanoun Olfa
Published: January 2022

Excessive nitrite amounts harm the environment and put public health at high risk. Therefore, accurate and sensitive detection of nitrite in surface and groundwater is mandatory for mitigating its adverse effects. Herein, a highly sensitive electrochemical sensor based on carbon screen-printed electrodes (CSPE) surface-modified with photochemically-made gold nanoparticles (AuNPs, ~12 nm) is proposed for nitrite detection. Scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy show that AuNPs uniformly coat the CSPE, increase its surface area, and contribute to oxidizing nitrite to much lower potential (+0.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl) and faster rate. Under optimized differential pulse voltammetry conditions, the CSPE/AuNPs-PEI electrode responds linearly (R2 > 0.99) to nitrite within a wide concentration range (0.01–4.0 µM), showing a sensitivity of 0.85 µA·µM−1·cm−2 and limit of detection as low as 2.5 nM. The CSPE/AuNPs-PEI electrode successfully detects nitrite in tap water and canned water of olives, showing no influence of those matrices. In addition, the electrode’s response is highly reproducible since a relative standard deviation lower than 10% is observed when the same electrode is operated in five consecutive measurements or when electrodes of different fabrication batches are evaluated.
The Needs of Parents of Children Suffering from Cancer—Continuation of Research
Authors: Lewandowska Anna
Published: January 2022

Background: Parents experience many healthcare needs when caring for their sick children. Research shows that parents of oncological children have a high level of unmet needs, including psychosocial, emotional, physical, informational, financial, educational, and spiritual needs. To date, little quantitative research has been carried out on the specific needs of parents of children with cancer, which creates uncertainty about what areas should be addressed in care. This study investigated the prevalence of unmet needs among parents of children with cancer. Methods: A population survey was conducted between 2015 and 2020. Caregivers of children diagnosed with cancer were invited to participate in the study to assess their problems and needs. Results: The analysis found that 97% of the participants experienced some level of need for one or more items, and 73% of the respondents reported a moderate or high need for one or more items. In the field of medical information, 70% of respondents had moderate or high needs, 55% of parents reported a moderate or high level of need for help in the psychological or emotional field, and 30% in the financial domain. The prevalence of moderate or high need in the remaining domains ranged from 10% to 15%. Conclusions: Parents of children with cancer experience a high level of needs, especially psychological, emotional, and information. These data suggest that the existing healthcare system does not meet the needs of parents of sick children. The results show the need to investigate the mechanisms by which healthcare providers can use the healthcare system to identify and meet needs.
The Small Metal-Binding Protein SmbP Improves the Expression and Purification of the Recombinant Antitumor-Analgesic Peptide from the Chinese Scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch in Escherichia coli
Authors: Martinez-Mora Evelyn , Arredondo-Espinoza Eder , Casillas-Vega Nestor G. , Cantu-Cardenas Maria Elena , Balderas-Renteria Isaias , Zarate Xristo
Published: January 2022

We have recently shown that SmbP, the small metal-binding protein of Nitrosomonas europaea, can be employed as a fusion protein to express and purify recombinant proteins and peptides in Escherichia coli. SmbP increases solubility, allows simple, one-step purification through affinity chromatography, and provides superior final yields due to its low molecular weight. In this work, we report for the first time the use of SmbP to produce a recombinant peptide with anticancer activity: the antitumor-analgesic peptide (BmK-AGAP), a neurotoxin isolated from the venom of the Chinese scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch. This peptide was expressed in Escherichia coli SHuffle for correct, cytoplasmic, disulfide bond formation and tagged with SmbP at the N-terminus to improve its solubility and allow purification using immobilized metal affinity chromatography. SmbP_BmK-AGAP was found in the soluble fraction of the cell lysate. After purification and removal of SmbP by digestion with enterokinase, 1.8 mg of pure and highly active rBmK-AGAP was obtained per liter of cell culture. rBmK-AGAP exhibited antiproliferative activity on the MCF-7 cancer cell line, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration value of 7.24 μM. Based on these results, we considered SmbP to be a suitable carrier protein for the production of recombinant, biologically active BmK-AGAP. We propose that SmbP should be an attractive fusion protein for the expression and purification of additional recombinant proteins or peptides that display anticancer activities.
Doxycycline Alters the Porcine Renal Proteome and Degradome during Hypothermic Machine Perfusion
Authors: van Leeuwen Leonie , Venema Leonie H. , Heilig Raphael , Leuvenink Henri G. D. , Kessler Benedikt M.
Published: January 2022

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a hallmark for tissue injury in donation after circulatory death (DCD) kidneys. The implementation of hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) provides a platform for improved preservation of DCD kidneys. Doxycycline administration has shown protective effects during IRI. Therefore, we explored the impact of doxycycline on proteolytic degradation mechanisms and the urinary proteome of perfused kidney grafts. Porcine kidneys underwent 30 min of warm ischemia, 24 h of oxygenated HMP (control/doxycycline) and 240 min of ex vivo reperfusion. A proteomic analysis revealed distinctive clustering profiles between urine samples collected at T15 min and T240 min. High-efficiency undecanal-based N-termini (HUNTER) kidney tissue degradomics revealed significantly more proteolytic activity in the control group at T-10. At T240, significantly more proteolytic activity was observed in the doxycycline group, indicating that doxycycline alters protein degradation during HMP. In conclusion, doxycycline administration during HMP led to significant proteomic and proteolytic differences and protective effects by attenuating urinary NGAL levels. Ultimately, we unraveled metabolic, and complement and coagulation pathways that undergo alterations during machine perfusion and that could be targeted to attenuate IRI induced injury.
WC Decomposition Phenomena in ID-HVOF-Sprayed WC-CoCr Coatings Using Fine Powder Feedstock
Authors: Tillmann Wolfgang , Hagen Leif , Baumann Ingor , Paulus Michael
Published: January 2022

Over the last few decades, the high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) spraying of WC-CoCr for internal diameter (ID) coating has attracted much interest for hard chrome replacement. Current demands for the ID coating of small cylindrical parts necessitates the use of specialized spray gun equipment and powder feedstocks with small particle size fractions. Due to the limited spray distance inside cylindrical parts with small IDs, the process control, spraying fine WC-CoCr powders, meets new challenges to avoid significant WC decomposition, which increases the risk of mechanical degradation. Within the scope of this study, ID-HVOF spraying using a fine-structured WC-CoCr (−15 + 5 μm) feedstock with a mean WC particle size of 400 nm is examined with respect to the WC decomposition phenomena using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Hence, a statistical design of experiments (DoE) is utilized to systematically analyze various spray parameter settings along with their interaction as part of the WC to W2C conversion.
The Physicochemical, Antioxidant, and Color Properties of Thin Films Based on Chitosan Modified by Different Phenolic Acids
Authors: Kaczmarek-Szczepańska Beata , Zasada Lidia , Grabska-Zielińska Sylwia
Published: January 2022

Chitosan-based films are promising for consideration as packaging materials. In this study, we modified the chitosan by phenolic acid addition, such as ferulic acid, caffeic acid, tannic acid, and gallic acid. The mechanical and thermal properties were studied, and the water vapor permeability rate was determined. Moreover, the antioxidant activity and film color were considered. The results showed that phenolic acids are effective cross-linkers for chitosan. The addition of phenolic acids improved the mechanical properties and decreased the roughness of surfaces. The enthalpy value was lower for films with phenolic acids than for pure chitosan. Chitosan with ferulic acid showed the highest antioxidant activity and water permeability value. Based on the obtained results, we determined that films obtained from the chitosan/ferulic acid mixture are the most promising for use as packaging material.
A New Approach to Calibrating Functional Complexity Weight in Software Development Effort Estimation
Authors: Hai Vo Van , Nhung Ho Le Thi Kim , Prokopova Zdenka , Silhavy Radek , Silhavy Petr
Published: January 2022

Function point analysis is a widely used metric in the software industry for development effort estimation. It was proposed in the 1970s, and then standardized by the International Function Point Users Group, as accepted by many organizations worldwide. While the software industry has grown rapidly, the weight values specified for the standard function point counting have remained the same since its inception. Another problem is that software development in different industry sectors is peculiar, but basic rules apply to all. These raise important questions about the validity of weight values in practical applications. In this study, we propose an algorithm for calibrating the standardized functional complexity weights, aiming to estimate a more accurate software size that fits specific software applications, reflects software industry trends, and improves the effort estimation of software projects. The results show that the proposed algorithms improve effort estimation accuracy against the baseline method.
ARIA—A VUV Beamline for EuPRAXIA@SPARC_LAB
Authors: Villa Fabio , Coreno Marcello , Ebrahimpour Zeinab , Giannessi Luca , Marcelli Augusto , Opromolla Michele , Petrillo Vittoria , Stellato Francesco
Published: January 2022

EuPRAXIA@SPARC_LAB is a new Free Electron Laser (FEL) facility that is currently under construction at the Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati of the INFN. The electron beam driving the FEL will be delivered by an X-band normal conducting LINAC followed by a plasma wakefield acceleration stage. It will be characterized by a small footprint and will deliver ultra-bright photon pulses for experiments in the water window to the user community. In addition to the soft-X-rays beamline already planned in the project, we propose the installation of a second photon beamline with seeded FEL pulses in the range between 50 and 180 nm. Here, we will present the FEL generation scheme, the layout of the dedicated beamline and the potential applications of the FEL radiation source in this low energy range.
Explore Optical Solitary Wave Solutions of the kp Equation by Recent Approaches
Authors: Alotaibi Hammad
Published: January 2022

The study of nonlinear evolution equations is a subject of active interest in different fields including physics, chemistry, and engineering. The exact solutions to nonlinear evolution equations provide insightful details and physical descriptions into many problems of interest that govern the real world. The Kadomtsev–Petviashvili (kp) equation, which has been widely used as a model to describe the nonlinear wave and the dynamics of soliton in the field of plasma physics and fluid dynamics, is discussed in this article in order to obtain solitary solutions and explore their physical properties. We obtain several new optical traveling wave solutions in the form of trigonometric, hyperbolic, and rational functions using two separate direct methods: the (w/g)-expansion approach and the Addendum to Kudryashov method (akm). The nonlinear partial differential equation (nlpde) is reduced into an ordinary differential equation (ode) via a wave transformation. The derived optical solutions are graphically illustrated using Maple 15 software for specific parameter values. The traveling wave solutions discovered in this work can be viewed as an example of solutions that can empower us with great flexibility in the systematic analysis and explanation of complex phenomena that arise in a variety of problems, including protein chemistry, fluid mechanics, plasma physics, optical fibers, and shallow water wave propagation.
ITS DNA Barcoding Reveals That Halophila stipulacea Still Remains the Only Non-Indigenous Seagrass of the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: García-Escudero Catalina A. , Tsigenopoulos Costas S. , Gerakaris Vasilis , Tsakogiannis Alexandros , Apostolaki Eugenia T.
Published: January 2022

Non-indigenous species (NIS) are one of the major threats to the native marine ecosystems of the Mediterranean Sea. Halophila stipulacea was the only exotic seagrass of the Mediterranean until 2018, when small patches of a species morphologically identified as Halophila decipiens were reported in Salamina Island, Greece. Given the absence of reproductive structures during the identification and the taxonomic ambiguities known to lead to misidentifications on this genus, we reassessed the identity of this new exotic record using DNA barcoding (rbcL, matK and ITS) and the recently published taxonomic key. Despite their morphologic similarity to H. decipiens based on the new taxonomic key, the specimens showed no nucleotide differences with H. stipulacea specimens (Crete) for the three barcodes and clustered together on the ITS phylogenetic tree. Considering the high species resolution of the ITS region and the common morphological variability within the genus, the unequivocal genetic result suggests that the Halophila population found in Salamina Island most likely corresponds to a morphologically variant H. stipulacea. Our results highlight the importance of applying an integrated taxonomic approach (morphological and molecular) to taxonomically complex genera such as Halophila, in order to avoid overlooking or misreporting species range shifts, which is essential for monitoring NIS introductions.
Design and Development of Unibody Quadcopter Structure Using Optimization and Additive Manufacturing Techniques
Authors: Nvss Sagar , Esakki Balasubramanian , Yang Lung-Jieh , Udayagiri Chandrasekhar , Vepa Kameswara Sridhar
Published: January 2022

Quadcopters represent rotary wing configuration of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with immense application potential in industrial and strategic contexts. Tradeoff between flight endurance and payload capacity renders design optimization of UAVs a critical activity with substantial impact on the application possibilities. Among the structural parts of a typical Quadcopter, the central body frame constitutes major portion of the total weight. The present study aims at reduction of the frame weight while conforming with structural integrity requirements, through an integrated approach involving topology optimization, part consolidation and design for additive manufacturing (DFAM). Commercial UAV designs consist of multiple parts and fastening elements that necessitate considerable time and effort for assembly. This study reengineers the frame as a monocoque structure with desirable outcomes of weight reduction and less assembly time. The reengineered Quadcopter structure is manufactured through Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) and characterized with reference to structural, vibrational and fatigue characteristics. Concomitant application of modal analysis, computational fluid dynamics and wind tunnel testing reveals close match between theoretical estimates and experimental results. Assembly and field trials of the monocoque Quadcopter structure affirm betterment of operational superiority and endurance vis-a-vis commercial UAV designs.
Diagnostic, Prognostic and Predictive Markers in Pediatric Germ Cell Tumors—Past, Present and Future
Authors: Jezierska Michalina , Gawrychowska Ada , Stefanowicz Joanna
Published: January 2022

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are a heterogenous group of neoplasms in children and young adults, in which serum tumor markers have been demonstrated to be highly sensitive diagnostic and monitoring tools. The known "old" serum biomarkers, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human choriogonadotropin (β-hCG) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), have some limitations in sensitivity and specificity. MIRNAs from the miR-371~373 (chromosomal locus 19q13.41) and miR-302/367 (4q25) clusters are universally over-expressed in malignant GCT tissue samples. The levels of miRNAs from these clusters are elevated in the serum. They seem to be highly sensitive and specific in malignant GCTs diagnosis and disease assessment during treatment and follow-up. The aim of our review was to present the role of serum tumor markers in the clinical staging, treatment monitoring and follow-up of pediatric patients with GCTs and show new possibilities. The serum levels of miRNAs seem to be a new, promising essential tool in the clinical management of GCTs.
Accuracy of Critical Shoulder Angle and Acromial Index for Predicting Supraspinatus Tendinopathy
Authors: Hsu Tzu-Herng , Lin Che-Li , Wu Chin-Wen , Chen Yi-Wen , Vitoonpong Timporn , Lin Lien-Chieh , Huang Shih-Wei
Published: January 2022

Critical shoulder angle (CSA) is the angle between the superior and inferior bony margins of the glenoid and the most lateral border of the acromion. The acromial index (AI) is the distance from the glenoid plane to the acromial lateral border and is divided by the distance from the glenoid plane to the lateral aspect of the humeral head. Although both are used for predicting shoulder diseases, research on their accuracy in predicting supraspinatus tendinopathy in patients with shoulder pain is limited. Data were retrospectively collected from 308 patients with supraspinatus tendinopathy between January 2018 and December 2019. Simultaneously, we gathered the data of 300 patients with shoulder pain without supraspinatus tendinopathy, confirmed through ultrasound examination. Baseline demographic data, CSA, and AI were compared using the independent Student’s t test and Mann–Whitney U test. Categorical variables were analyzed using the chi-square test. A receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was performed to investigate the accuracy of CSA and AI for predicting supraspinatus tendinopathy, and the optimal cut-off point was determined using the Youden index. No statistical differences were observed for age, sex, body mass index, evaluated side (dominant), diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia between the groups. The supraspinatus tendinopathy group showed higher CSAs (p < 0.001) than did the non-supraspinatus tendinopathy group. For predicting supraspinatus tendinopathy, the area under the curve (AUC) of ROC curve of the CSA was 76.8%, revealing acceptable discrimination. The AUC of AI was 46.9%, revealing no discrimination. Moreover, when patients with shoulder pain had a CSA > 38.11°, the specificity and sensitivity of CSA in predicting supraspinatus tendinopathy were 71.0% and 71.8%, respectively. CSA could be considered an objective assessment tool to predict supraspinatus tendinopathy in patients with shoulder pain. AI revealed no discrimination in predicting supraspinatus tendinopathy in patients with shoulder pain.
Evaluation of Optimal Sites for the Insertion of Orthodontic Mini Implants at Mandibular Symphysis Region through Cone-Beam Computed Tomography
Authors: Zhang Shizhen , Wei Xiaoyu , Wang Lufei , Wu Zhouqiang , Liu Lu , Yan Xinyu , Lai Wenli , Long Hu
Published: January 2022

This study aims to evaluate the overall bone thickness (OBT) and cortical bone thickness (CBT) of mandibular symphysis and to determine the optimal sites for the insertion of orthodontic mini implants. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 32 patients were included in this study. The sample was further categorized into three facial types: low-, average-, and high-angle. OBT and CBT were measured at the mandibular symphysis region. All measurements were performed at six different heights from the cementoenamel junction [CEJ] and at seven different angles to the occlusal plane. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for statistical comparison and a p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Our results revealed that neither OBT nor CBT was influenced by age or sex, except for the observation that CBT was significantly greater in adults than in adolescents. OBT and CBT were significantly greater in low-angle cases than in average- and high-angle cases. Both OBT and CBT were significantly influenced by insertion locations, heights and angles, and their interactions. CBT and OBT were greatest at the location between two lower central incisors, and became greater with increases in insertion height and angle. Both recommended and optimal insertion sites were mapped. The mandibular symphysis region was suitable for the placement of orthodontic mini implants. The optimal insertion site was 6–10 mm apical to the CEJ between two lower central incisors, with an insertion angle being 0–60 degrees to the occlusal plane.
Solitary Angiokeratoma of the Labial Mucosa: Report of a Rare Case and Literature Review
Authors: Alhazmi Rahaf M. , Dar-Odeh Najla , Babkair Hamzah
Published: January 2022

Oral angiokeratoma is a rare vascular lesion that has various clinical presentations. It usually occurs as part of generalized angiokeratoma and rarely appears as a solitary lesion with no underlying systemic diseases. Only 33 cases were reported so far worldwide. In this case report, we present a rare case of isolated solitary oral angiokeratoma in a 22-year-old female patient, which is the first case to be reported in the labial mucosa that has been treated successfully by surgical excision.
Deep Learning and Kurtosis-Controlled, Entropy-Based Framework for Human Gait Recognition Using Video Sequences
Authors: Sharif Muhammad Imran , Khan Muhammad Attique , Alqahtani Abdullah , Nazir Muhammad , Alsubai Shtwai , Binbusayyis Adel , Damaševičius Robertas
Published: January 2022

Gait is commonly defined as the movement pattern of the limbs over a hard substrate, and it serves as a source of identification information for various computer-vision and image-understanding techniques. A variety of parameters, such as human clothing, angle shift, walking style, occlusion, and so on, have a significant impact on gait-recognition systems, making the scene quite complex to handle. In this article, we propose a system that effectively handles problems associated with viewing angle shifts and walking styles in a real-time environment. The following steps are included in the proposed novel framework: (a) real-time video capture, (b) feature extraction using transfer learning on the ResNet101 deep model, and (c) feature selection using the proposed kurtosis-controlled entropy (KcE) approach, followed by a correlation-based feature fusion step. The most discriminant features are then classified using the most advanced machine learning classifiers. The simulation process is fed by the CASIA B dataset as well as a real-time captured dataset. On selected datasets, the accuracy is 95.26% and 96.60%, respectively. When compared to several known techniques, the results show that our proposed framework outperforms them all.
Autonomous Technology for 2.1 Channel Audio Systems
Authors: Yao Shu-Nung , Huang Chang-Wei
Published: January 2022

During the COVID-19 pandemic, smart home requirements have shifted toward entertainment at home. The purpose of this research project was therefore to develop a robotic audio system for home automation. High-end audio systems normally refer to multichannel home theaters. Although multichannel audio systems enable people to enjoy surround sound as they do at the cinema, stereo audio systems have been popularly used since the 1980s. The major shortcoming of a stereo audio system is its narrow listening area. If listeners are out of the area, the system has difficulty providing a stable sound field. This is because of the head-shadow effect blocking the high-frequency sound. The proposed system, by integrating computer vision and robotics, can track the head movement of a user and adjust the directions of loudspeakers, thereby helping the sound wave travel through the air. Unlike previous studies, in which only a diminutive scenario was built, in this work, the idea was applied to a commercial 2.1 audio system, and listening tests were conducted. The theory and the simulation coincide with the experimental results. The approximate rate of audio quality improvement is 31%. The experimental results are encouraging, especially for high-pitched music.
High-Precise Bipolar Disorder Detection by Using Radial Basis Functions Based Neural Network
Authors: Luján Miguel Ángel , Torres Ana M. , Borja Alejandro L. , Santos José L. , Sotos Jorge Mateo
Published: January 2022

Presently, several million people suffer from major depressive and bipolar disorders. Thus, the modelling, characterization, classification, diagnosis, and analysis of such mental disorders bears great significance in medical research. Electroencephalogram records provide important information to improve clinical diagnosis and are very useful in the scientific community. In this work, electroencephalogram records and patient data from the Hospital Virgen de la Luz in Cuenca (Spain) were processed for a correct classification of bipolar disorders. This work implemented an innovative radial basis function-based neural network employing a fuzzy means algorithm. The results show that the proposed method is an effective approach for discrimination of two kinds of classes, i.e., bipolar disorder patients and healthy persons. The proposed algorithm achieved the best performance compared with other machine learning techniques such as Bayesian linear discriminant analysis, Gaussian naive Bayes, decision trees, K-nearest neighbour, or support vector machine, showing a very high accuracy close to 97%. Therefore, the neural network technique presented could be used as a new tool for the diagnosis of bipolar disorder, considering the possibility of integrating this method into medical software.