bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
miRNA-132/212 Gene-Deletion Aggravates the Effect of Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation on Synaptic Functions in the Female Mouse Hippocampus
Authors: Bormann Daniel , Stojanovic Tamara , Cicvaric Ana , Schuld Gabor J. , Cabatic Maureen , Ankersmit Hendrik Jan , Monje Francisco J.
Published: July 2021

Cerebral ischemia and its sequelae, which include memory impairment, constitute a leading cause of disability worldwide. Micro-RNAs (miRNA) are evolutionarily conserved short-length/noncoding RNA molecules recently implicated in adaptive/maladaptive neuronal responses to ischemia. Previous research independently implicated the miRNA-132/212 cluster in cholinergic signaling and synaptic transmission, and in adaptive/protective mechanisms of neuronal responses to hypoxia. However, the putative role of miRNA-132/212 in the response of synaptic transmission to ischemia remained unexplored. Using hippocampal slices from female miRNA-132/212 double-knockout mice in an established electrophysiological model of ischemia, we here describe that miRNA-132/212 gene-deletion aggravated the deleterious effect of repeated oxygen-glucose deprivation insults on synaptic transmission in the dentate gyrus, a brain region crucial for learning and memory functions. We also examined the effect of miRNA-132/212 gene-deletion on the expression of key mediators in cholinergic signaling that are implicated in both adaptive responses to ischemia and hippocampal neural signaling. miRNA-132/212 gene-deletion significantly altered hippocampal AChE and mAChR-M1, but not α7-nAChR or MeCP2 expression. The effects of miRNA-132/212 gene-deletion on hippocampal synaptic transmission and levels of cholinergic-signaling elements suggest the existence of a miRNA-132/212-dependent adaptive mechanism safeguarding the functional integrity of synaptic functions in the acute phase of cerebral ischemia.
Changes in Cerebrospinal Fluid Balance of TNF and TNF Receptors in Naïve Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Early Involvement in Compartmentalised Intrathecal Inflammation
Authors: Magliozzi Roberta , Pezzini Francesco , Pucci Mairi , Rossi Stefania , Facchiano Francesco , Marastoni Damiano , Montagnana Martina , Lippi Giuseppe , Reynolds Richard , Calabrese Massimiliano
Published: July 2021

An imbalance of TNF signalling in the inflammatory milieu generated by meningeal immune cell infiltrates in the subarachnoid space in multiple sclerosis (MS), and its animal model may lead to increased cortical pathology. In order to explore whether this feature may be present from the early stages of MS and may be associated with the clinical outcome, the protein levels of TNF, sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2 were assayed in CSF collected from 122 treatment-naïve MS patients and 36 subjects with other neurological conditions at diagnosis. Potential correlations with other CSF cytokines/chemokines and with clinical and imaging parameters at diagnosis (T0) and after 2 years of follow-up (T24) were evaluated. Significantly increased levels of TNF (fold change: 7.739; p < 0.001), sTNF-R1 (fold change: 1.693; p < 0.001) and sTNF-R2 (fold change: 2.189; p < 0.001) were detected in CSF of MS patients compared to the control group at T0. Increased TNF levels in CSF were significantly (p < 0.01) associated with increased EDSS change (r = 0.43), relapses (r = 0.48) and the appearance of white matter lesions (r = 0.49). CSF levels of TNFR1 were associated with cortical lesion volume (r = 0.41) at T0, as well as with new cortical lesions (r = 0.56), whilst no correlation could be found between TNFR2 levels in CSF and clinical or MRI features. Combined correlation and pathway analysis (ingenuity) of the CSF protein pattern associated with TNF expression (encompassing elevated levels of BAFF, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-10, IL-8, IL-16, CCL21, haptoglobin and fibrinogen) showed a particular relationship to the interaction between innate and adaptive immune response. The CSF sTNF-R1-associated pattern (encompassing high levels of CXCL13, TWEAK, LIGHT, IL-35, osteopontin, pentraxin-3, sCD163 and chitinase-3-L1) was mainly related to altered T cell and B cell signalling. Finally, the CSF TNFR2-associated pattern (encompassing high CSF levels of IFN-β, IFN-λ2, sIL-6Rα) was linked to Th cell differentiation and regulatory cytokine signalling. In conclusion, dysregulation of TNF and TNF-R1/2 pathways associates with specific clinical/MRI profiles and can be identified at a very early stage in MS patients, at the time of diagnosis, contributing to the prediction of the disease outcome.
In Vitro Study of Human Immune Responses to Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels, Recombinant Spidroins and Human Neural Progenitor Cells of Relevance to Spinal Cord Injury Repair
Authors: Lin Chenhong , Ekblad-Nordberg Åsa , Michaëlsson Jakob , Götherström Cecilia , Hsu Chia-Chen , Ye Hua , Johansson Jan , Rising Anna , Sundström Erik , Åkesson Elisabet
Published: July 2021

Scaffolds of recombinant spider silk protein (spidroin) and hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel hold promise in combination with cell therapy for spinal cord injury. However, little is known concerning the human immune response to these biomaterials and grafted human neural stem/progenitor cells (hNPCs). Here, we analyzed short- and long-term in vitro activation of immune cells in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs) cultured with/without recombinant spidroins, HA hydrogels, and/or allogeneic hNPCs to assess potential host–donor interactions. Viability, proliferation and phenotype of hPBMCs were analyzed using NucleoCounter and flow cytometry. hPBMC viability was confirmed after exposure to the different biomaterials. Short-term (15 h) co-cultures of hPBMCs with spidroins, but not with HA hydrogel, resulted in a significant increase in the proportion of activated CD69+ CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, B cells and NK cells, which likely was caused by residual endotoxins from the Escherichia coli expression system. The observed spidroin-induced hPBMC activation was not altered by hNPCs. It is resource-effective to evaluate human compatibility of novel biomaterials early in development of the production process to, when necessary, make alterations to minimize rejection risk. Here, we present a method to evaluate biomaterials and hPBMC compatibility in conjunction with allogeneic human cells.
Impact of Graft Size Matching on the Early Post-Transplant Complications and Patients Survival in Children after Living Donor Liver Transplantations
Authors: Stefanowicz Marek , Kowalewski Grzegorz , Szymczak Marek , Patkowski Waldemar , Zieniewicz Krzysztof , Grzelak Ireneusz , Kowalski Adam , Ismail Hor , Kamińska Diana , Kaliciński Piotr
Published: July 2021

We aimed to assess the impact of the graft-recipient weight ratio (GRWR) on early post-transplant complications and patient survival rates in children after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). We retrospectively analyzed 321 patients who underwent LDLT from 2004 to 2019. The recipients were categorized into four groups: 37 patients had a GRWR ≤ 1.5% (Group A), 196 patients had a GRWR > 1.5% and ≤3.5% (Group B), 73 patients had a GRWR > 3.5% and <5% (Group C) and 15 patients had a GRWR ≥ 5% (Group D). Incidence of early surgical complications including vascular complications, biliary complications, postoperative bleedings, gastrointestinal perforations and graft loss were comparable among groups with a different GRWR. Delayed abdominal wound closure was more common in patients with a GRWR > 3.5%. Recipients with a GRWR < 5% had a significantly better prognosis concerning patients and graft survival. Using grafts with a GRWR < 5% allows us to expand the donor pool and decrease the risk of mortality while on the waiting list, when patients at the time of transplantation have less advanced liver disease. LDLT with a GRWR ≥ 5% is related to a higher risk of poor outcome, and thus should be an option for treating selected patients when the risk of a delayed transplantation is high and access to deceased donors is limited.
Structure and Properties of DLC Films Deposited on Mg Alloy at Different C2H2 Flows of Magnetron Sputtering Process
Authors: Li Haitao , Sun Pengfei , Cheng Donghai
Published: July 2021

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) film is widely used due to its excellent properties, such as high hardness and high wear resistance. To investigate the advantages of DLC film applied on the surface of Mg alloy, direct current (DC) pulse magnetron sputtering was used to prepare DLC film via plasma sputtering a graphite target and introducing C2H2 gas. The silicon interlayer was fabricated by sputtering the Si target. A scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), a nano-indentation instrument, an electrochemical workstation and a pin-on-disc tester were employed to obtain the surface morphology, microstructure, mechanical properties, corrosion behavior and wear resistance of the obtained film, respectively. The results show that the DLC films are dense and compact, and the structure changes from amorphous to nanocrystalline with the increase of C2H2 flow. The film prepared at low C2H2 flow has larger surface roughness, lower deposition rate, higher hardness and elasticity modulus, poorer corrosion resistance and better wear resistance, compared with the film prepared at higher acetylene flow. The self-corrosion potential of the obtained DLC film is higher than −0.95 V, the corrosion current density is 10−7 A/cm2 orders of magnitude, and the wear rate is 10−9 mm3/Nm orders of magnitude. The friction coefficient of the film is less than 0.065, the hardness is 17.3 to 22.1 MPa, and the elastic modulus is 145 to 170 MPa. The DLC films obtained on the surface of AZ91 alloy have good comprehensive properties.
Synthesis of Carbon-Supported MnO2 Nanocomposites for Supercapacitors Application
Authors: Jablonskiene Jolita , Simkunaite Dijana , Vaiciuniene Jurate , Stalnionis Giedrius , Drabavicius Audrius , Jasulaitiene Vitalija , Pakstas Vidas , Tamasauskaite-Tamasiunaite Loreta , Norkus Eugenijus
Published: July 2021

In this study, carbon-supported MnO2 nanocomposites have been prepared using the microwave-assisted heating method followed by two different approaches. The MnO2/C nanocomposite, labeled as sample S1, was prepared directly by the microwave-assisted synthesis of mixed KMnO4 and carbon powder components. Meanwhile, the other MnO2/C nanocomposite sample labeled as S2 was prepared indirectly via a two-step procedure that involves the microwave-assisted synthesis of mixed KMnO4 and MnSO4 components to generate MnO2 and subsequent secondary microwave heating of synthesized MnO2 species coupled with graphite powder. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy have been used for characterization of MnO2/C nanocomposites morphology, structure, and composition. The electrochemical performance of nanocomposites has been investigated using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements in a 1 M Na2SO4 solution. The MnO2/C nanocomposite, prepared indirectly via a two-step procedure, displays substantially enhanced electrochemical characteristics. The high specific capacitance of 980.7 F g−1 has been achieved from cyclic voltammetry measurements, whereas specific capacitance of 949.3 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 has been obtained from galvanostatic charge/discharge test for sample S2. In addition, the specific capacitance retention was 93% after 100 cycles at 20 A g−1, indicating good electrochemical stability.
The Use of Chemical Cues by Sargassum Shrimps Latreutes fucorum and Leander tenuicornis in Establishing and Maintaining a Symbiosis with the Host Sargassum Algae
Authors: Frahm Jaime L. , Brooks William Randy
Published: July 2021

A mutualistic symbiosis exists between the alga Sargassum spp. and two shrimp species, Latreutes fucorum and Leander tenuicornis. However, little is known about how these shrimp locate and establish their host alga. Both visual and chemical cues are potentially available. A previous study has looked at both cue variables with results that are mixed. Specifically, these same shrimp species used chemical cues only when visible cues were available simultaneously. Visual cues would be presumably restricted at night, but chemical cues are potentially available continuously. This current research elaborates on the previous study to fully understand Sargassum shrimp chemoreception. Increases in sample sizes and both a 4-chambered and Y-maze apparatus were used to test whether the shrimp could detect Sargassum cues, dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) (a chemical excreted by some marine algae), and conspecific cues. Neither shrimp species showed a strong directional response to any of the chemical cues, but the Sargassum and DMSP cues did cause more shrimp to exhibit searching behavior. Additionally, several differences in responses between male and female shrimp were found for each cue. A lowered dilution of DMSP was also tested to determine sensitivity of L. fucorum shrimp to the chemical cue; although searching behavior was triggered, conclusions about quantifying the sensitivity could not be made. Overall, these results show the shrimp can detect chemical cues—in the absence of visual cues—that could affect initiating and maintaining this shrimp/algal symbiosis.
Dilated Semantic Segmentation for Breast Ultrasonic Lesion Detection Using Parallel Feature Fusion
Authors: Irfan Rizwana , Almazroi Abdulwahab Ali , Rauf Hafiz Tayyab , Damaševičius Robertas , Nasr Emad Abouel , Abdelgawad Abdelatty E.
Published: July 2021

Breast cancer is becoming more dangerous by the day. The death rate in developing countries is rapidly increasing. As a result, early detection of breast cancer is critical, leading to a lower death rate. Several researchers have worked on breast cancer segmentation and classification using various imaging modalities. The ultrasonic imaging modality is one of the most cost-effective imaging techniques, with a higher sensitivity for diagnosis. The proposed study segments ultrasonic breast lesion images using a Dilated Semantic Segmentation Network (Di-CNN) combined with a morphological erosion operation. For feature extraction, we used the deep neural network DenseNet201 with transfer learning. We propose a 24-layer CNN that uses transfer learning-based feature extraction to further validate and ensure the enriched features with target intensity. To classify the nodules, the feature vectors obtained from DenseNet201 and the 24-layer CNN were fused using parallel fusion. The proposed methods were evaluated using a 10-fold cross-validation on various vector combinations. The accuracy of CNN-activated feature vectors and DenseNet201-activated feature vectors combined with the Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier was 90.11 percent and 98.45 percent, respectively. With 98.9 percent accuracy, the fused version of the feature vector with SVM outperformed other algorithms. When compared to recent algorithms, the proposed algorithm achieves a better breast cancer diagnosis rate.
Value of MRI to Improve Deep Learning Model That Identifies High-Grade Prostate Cancer. Comment on Gentile et al. Optimized Identification of High-Grade Prostate Cancer by Combining Different PSA Molecular Forms and PSA Density in a Deep Learning Model. Diagnostics 2021, 11, 335
Authors: Jue Joshua S. , Mikhail David , González Javier , Alameddine Mahmoud
Published: July 2021

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has been criticized for its low specificity for prostate cancer, which has led to the increased adoption of additional biomarkers, PSA density (PSAD), and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) to increase the localization, risk stratification, and diagnosis of prostate cancer [...]
Reply to Jue et al. Value of MRI to Improve Deep Learning Model That Identifies High-Grade Prostate Cancer. Comment on “Gentile et al. Optimized Identification of High-Grade Prostate Cancer by Combining Different PSA Molecular Forms and PSA Density in a Deep Learning Model. Diagnostics 2021, 11, 335”
Authors: Gentile Francesco , Ferro Matteo , Della Ventura Bartolomeo , La Civita Evelina , Liotti Antonietta , Cennamo Michele , Bruzzese Dario , Velotta Raffaele , Terracciano Daniela
Published: July 2021

In their comment “Value of MRI to Improve Deep Learning Model That Identifies High-Grade Prostate Cancer [...]
The Dependence of Renal 68Ga[Ga]-DOTATOC Uptake on Kidney Function and Its Relevance for Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy with 177Lu[Lu]-DOTATOC
Authors: Gühne Falk , Heinzig Alexander , Seifert Philipp , Drescher Robert , Freesmeyer Martin
Published: July 2021

Background: In addition to its SSTR-specific binding in tumors and healthy tissues, DOTATOC analogues accumulate in kidney parenchyma. Renal tracer uptake might be a surrogate of kidney function or dysfunction. This study aimed to evaluate if kidney function can be estimated from 68Ga[Ga]-DOTATOC uptake in PET/CT and its impact on the nephrotoxicity of 177Lu[Lu]-DOTATOC PRRT. Methods: Two cohorts of patients (A: 128 diagnostic patients; B: 32 PRRT patients) were evaluated retrospectively. SUV values of the kidneys, physiologically SSTR-expressing organs and in background compartments were assessed. Kidney function was calculated as eGFR by CKD-EPI creatinine equation. Pearson’s correlation coefficients and treatment-induced changes of uptake and kidney function were assessed and compared. Results: Kidney function and renal DOTATOC uptake showed a significant inverse correlation (R2 = 0.037; p = 0.029). Evaluated models of PET/CT measurements were not able to predict kidney function sufficiently. The uptake of other organs did not depend on eGFR. While the renal uptake increased after PRRT (p < 0.001), the kidney function did not change significantly (p = 0.382). Neither low pre-therapeutic eGFR nor high pre-therapeutic kidney uptake were risk factors of PRRT-induced deterioration in kidney function. Conclusion: The relevance of kidney function for renal 68Ga[Ga]-DOTATOC uptake is limited. The nephrotoxicity of 177Lu[Lu]-DOTATOC PRRT might be low and cannot be reliably predicted by pre-therapeutic measurements.
Guidelines for Point-of-Care Fluorescence Imaging for Detection of Wound Bacterial Burden Based on Delphi Consensus
Authors: Oropallo Alisha R. , Andersen Charles , Abdo Raymond , Hurlow Jenny , Kelso Martha , Melin Mark , Serena Thomas E.
Published: July 2021

Excessive levels of bacteria impede wound healing and can lead to infectious complications. Unfortunately, clinical signs and symptoms of elevated bacterial burden are often unreliable. As a result, point--of--care fluorescence imaging, used to detect critical bacterial burden in wounds, is becoming widely recognized and adopted by clinicians across the globe as an accepted and added component of wound assessment protocol. A Delphi method was employed to establish consensus guidelines describing fluorescence imaging use. A multidisciplinary panel of 32 wound experts (56% MD, 22% podiatrist, 12.5% nurses/nurse practitioners) representing multiple sites of service (e.g., hospital outpatient, inpatient, private office, long-term care) completed two rounds of online questionnaires. The Delphi included key topics, including competencies required to perform imaging, clinical indications for imaging (e.g., signs/symptoms present, procedures warranting imaging), frequency of imaging, and a clinical workflow algorithm. Describing their clinical experiences of imaging impact, >80% reported changes in treatment plans, 96% reported that imaging-informed treatment plans led to improved wound healing, 78% reported reduced rates of amputations, and 83% reported reduced rates of microbiological sampling. The guidelines provided here will help to standardize use of fluorescence imaging among wound care providers and enhance the quality of patient care.
What Lies Beneath: The Role of Self-Efficacy, Causal Attribution Habits, and Gender in Accounting for the Success of College Students
Authors: Hamann Kerstin , Pilotti Maura A. E. , Wilson Bruce M.
Published: July 2021

Existing research has identified gender as a driving variable of student success in higher education: women attend college at a higher rate and are also more successful than their male peers. We build on the extant literature by asking whether specific cognitive variables (i.e., self-efficacy and causal attribution habits) distinguish male and female students with differing academic performance levels. Using a case study, we collected data from students enrolled in a general education course (sample size N = 400) at a large public university in the United States. Our findings indicate that while students’ course grades and cumulative college grades did not vary by gender, female and male students reported different self-efficacy and causal attribution habits for good grades and poor grades. To illustrate, self-efficacy for female students is broad and stretches across all their courses; in contrast, for male students, it is more limited to specific courses. These gender differences in cognition, particularly in accounting for undesirable events, may assist faculty members and advisors in understanding how students respond to difficulties and challenges.
Effectiveness of a Hybrid Project-Based Learning (H-PBL) Approach for Students’ Knowledge Gain and Satisfaction in a Plant Tissue Culture Course
Authors: Martín Carmen , Moreno Segarra Ignacio , Ibáñez Miguel A. , Mira Sara , Fajardo Carmen , González-Benito Maria Elena
Published: July 2021

The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of two learning methodologies in a Plant Tissue Culture course of a Biotechnology degree—lecture-based and hybrid project-based learning—in which a project assignment was included. The effectiveness of these two systems was compared based on the students’ knowledge acquisition and the perception of their satisfaction. In this study, we evaluated the scores obtained by students in a written exam and the results of a satisfaction survey. The assessment showed that students attained improved marks in the written exam after being taught using the hybrid method. The incorporation of the project assignment in the Plant Tissue Culture program also improved the general perception that the students had of the course. The project assignment allowed the students to achieve new learning outcomes directly related to experimental work and the scientific method. The teachers perceived the hybrid project-based learning method positively, as students not only improved their knowledge gain, but were also more involved in the course.
Undergraduate Students’ Experiences of the Use of MOOCs for Learning at a Cambodian University
Authors: Corrado Riccardo , Pretorius Erica , van der Westhuizen Gert
Published: July 2021

Currently, some universities in Cambodia are exploring the usage of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), which can support education by allowing cost-free independent learning for university students. For effective implementation, it is fundamental to understand the current Cambodian ecosystem, how universities implement MOOCs for teaching, and how students use them for learning. Due to a current gap in the literature on this matter, this research work aims to investigate students’ awareness of MOOCs, usage, and difficulties encountered with their adoption for learning. This research work is a case study of a university in Cambodia, and it adopts a mixed-mode approach involving a quantitative questionnaire, followed by qualitative semi-structured interviews. Currently, many students are not aware of MOOCs, and regarding those using them, they report a low level of organized effort, which points out to the fact that students are in general not very organized and systematic in the way they approach learning using MOOCs. Furthermore, a major issue still lies in the way these courses are implemented in the curriculum and the learning activities, underlined by the type of ICTs affordances currently exploited by the usage of MOOCs for learning.
An Environmental Education and Communication Project on Migratory Fishes and Fishing Communities
Authors: Carvalho Sara Costa , Braga Heitor Oliveira , de Santa-Maria Sofia , Fonte Beatriz , Pereira Mário Jorge , García-Vinuesa Antonio , Azeiteiro Ulisses Miranda
Published: July 2021

This study aims at evaluating the environmental education (EE) and communication intervention for the valorization of migratory fish resources in an estuary of northern Portugal. The EE component intervention was implemented among Middle School pupils of that region. Students’ knowledge was quantitatively evaluated with an experimental approach of pre-testing and post-testing, on the ocean and estuarine literacy (OEL) and biology of migratory species, such as sea lamprey. This study also analyzes the communication component developed via social media. Results of the EE component show an evident increment of OEL (p < 0.05). It is also highlighted that students had previous knowledge on issues that are not covered in the curriculum. Social media has shown to be an effective communication tool mostly among the scientific community (e.g., Ethnobiology). The research has various implications to OEL since it brings a new perspective towards the integration of ocean literacy in formal education; as well as the valorization of Students’ local ecological knowledge and of inter-generational dynamics. This study contributed to promoting local biodiversity, OEL, and participatory local governance of these ecosystems.
Android Mobile Malware Detection Using Machine Learning: A Systematic Review
Authors: Senanayake Janaka , Kalutarage Harsha , Al-Kadri Mhd Omar
Published: July 2021

With the increasing use of mobile devices, malware attacks are rising, especially on Android phones, which account for 72.2% of the total market share. Hackers try to attack smartphones with various methods such as credential theft, surveillance, and malicious advertising. Among numerous countermeasures, machine learning (ML)-based methods have proven to be an effective means of detecting these attacks, as they are able to derive a classifier from a set of training examples, thus eliminating the need for an explicit definition of the signatures when developing malware detectors. This paper provides a systematic review of ML-based Android malware detection techniques. It critically evaluates 106 carefully selected articles and highlights their strengths and weaknesses as well as potential improvements. Finally, the ML-based methods for detecting source code vulnerabilities are discussed, because it might be more difficult to add security after the app is deployed. Therefore, this paper aims to enable researchers to acquire in-depth knowledge in the field and to identify potential future research and development directions.
Formal Verification of Authentication and Service Authorization Protocols in 5G-Enabled Device-to-Device Communications Using ProVerif
Authors: Edris Ed Kamya Kiyemba , Aiash Mahdi , Loo Jonathan
Published: July 2021

Device-to-Device (D2D) communications will be used as an underlay technology in the Fifth Generation mobile network (5G), which will make network services of multiple Service Providers (SP) available anywhere. The end users will be allowed to access and share services using their User Equipments (UEs), and thus they will require seamless and secured connectivity. At the same time, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) will use the UE to offload traffic and push contents closer to users relying on D2D communications network. This raises security concerns at different levels of the system architecture and highlights the need for robust authentication and authorization mechanisms to provide secure services access and sharing between D2D users. Therefore, this paper proposes a D2D level security solution that comprises two security protocols, namely, the D2D Service security (DDSec) and the D2D Attributes and Capability security (DDACap) protocols, to provide security for access, caching and sharing data in network-assisted and non-network-assisted D2D communications scenarios. The proposed solution applies Identity-based Encryption (IBE), Elliptic Curve Integrated Encryption Scheme (ECIES) and access control mechanisms for authentication and authorization procedures. We formally verified the proposed protocols using ProVerif and applied pi calculus. We also conducted a security analysis of the proposed protocols.
A Decision-Making Method for Machinery Abnormalities Based on Neural Network Prediction and Bayesian Hypothesis Testing
Authors: Liu Gaojun , Yang Shan , Wang Gaixia , Li Fenglei , You Dongdong
Published: July 2021

For anomaly identification of predicted data in machinery condition monitoring, traditional threshold methods have problems during residual testing. It is difficult to make decisions when the residuals are close to the threshold and fluctuate. This paper proposes a Bayesian dynamic thresholding method that combines Bayesian inference with neural network signal prediction. The method makes full use of historical prior data to build an anomaly identification and warning model applicable under single variable or multidimensional variables. A long short-term memory signal prediction model is established, and then a Bayesian hypothesis testing-based anomaly identification strategy is presented to quantify the probability of anomaly occurrence and issue early warnings for anomalies beyond a certain probability. The model was applied to open data sets of a pumping station and actual operating data of a nuclear power turbine. The results indicate that the model successfully predicts the failure probability and failure time. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified.
Recommendation Systems for Education: Systematic Review
Authors: Urdaneta-Ponte María Cora , Mendez-Zorrilla Amaia , Oleagordia-Ruiz Ibon
Published: July 2021

Recommendation systems have emerged as a response to overload in terms of increased amounts of information online, which has become a problem for users regarding the time spent on their search and the amount of information retrieved by it. In the field of recommendation systems in education, the relevance of recommended educational resources will improve the student’s learning process, and hence the importance of being able to suitably and reliably ensure relevant, useful information. The purpose of this systematic review is to analyze the work undertaken on recommendation systems that support educational practices with a view to acquiring information related to the type of education and areas dealt with, the developmental approach used, and the elements recommended, as well as being able to detect any gaps in this area for future research work. A systematic review was carried out that included 98 articles from a total of 2937 found in main databases (IEEE, ACM, Scopus and WoS), about which it was able to be established that most are geared towards recommending educational resources for users of formal education, in which the main approaches used in recommendation systems are the collaborative approach, the content-based approach, and the hybrid approach, with a tendency to use machine learning in the last two years. Finally, possible future areas of research and development in this field are presented.
Unity-Gain Zero-Offset CMOS Buffer with Improved Feedforward Path
Authors: Jendernalik Waldemar , Jakusz Jacek , Piotrowski Robert , Blakiewicz Grzegorz , Szczepański Stanisław
Published: July 2021

A voltage unity-gain zero-offset CMOS amplifier with reduced gain error and increased PSRR (power supply rejection ratio) is proposed. The amplifier uses two feed mechanisms, negative feedback and supporting positive feedforward, to achieve low deviation from unit gain over the entire input range. The circuit, designed in a standard 180-nanometer 1.8-voltage CMOS process, is compared with two known buffers of similar topology, also designed in the same process. Simulations show that, with the same supply (1.8 V), power (1.2 mW), load (12 pF), bandwidth (50 MHz), and similar area (600 µm2), the proposed buffer achieves the lowest gain error (0.3%) and the highest PSRR (72 dB).
Machine Learning and LPWAN Based Internet of Things Applications in Healthcare Sector during COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Khan Zeeshan Ali , Abbasi Ubaid , Kim Sung Won
Published: July 2021

Low power wide area networks (LPWAN) are comprised of small devices having restricted processing resources and limited energy budget. These devices are connected with each other using communication protocols. Considering their available resources, these devices can be used in a number of different Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Another interesting paradigm is machine learning, which can also be integrated with LPWAN technology to embed intelligence into these IoT applications. These machine learning-based applications combine intelligence with LPWAN and prove to be a useful tool. One such IoT application is in the medical field, where they can be used to provide multiple services. In the scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of LPWAN-based medical services has gained particular attention. This article describes various COVID-19-related healthcare services, using the the applications of machine learning and LPWAN in improving the medical domain during the current COVID-19 pandemic. We validate our idea with the help of a case study that describes a way to reduce the spread of any pandemic using LPWAN technology and machine learning. The case study compares k-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) and trust-based algorithms for mitigating the flow of virus spread. The simulation results show the effectiveness of KNN for curtailing the COVID-19 spread.
Autonomous Fuzzy Controller Design for the Utilization of Hybrid PV-Wind Energy Resources in Demand Side Management Environment
Authors: Anthony Mohanasundaram , Prasad Valsalal , Kannadasan Raju , Mekhilef Saad , Alsharif Mohammed H. , Kim Mun-Kyeom , Jahid Abu , Aly Ayman A.
Published: July 2021

This work describes an optimum utilization of hybrid photovoltaic (PV)—wind energy for residential buildings on its occurrence with a newly proposed autonomous fuzzy controller (AuFuCo). In this regard, a virtual model of a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) and PV system (each rated at 2 kW) are constructed in a MATLAB Simulink environment. An autonomous fuzzy inference system is applied to model primary units of the controller such as load forecasting (LF), grid power selection (GPS) switch, renewable energy management system (REMS), and fuzzy load switch (FLS). The residential load consumption pattern (4 kW of connected load) is allowed to consume energy from the grid and hybrid resources located at the demand side and classified as base, priority, short-term, and schedulable loads. The simulation results identify that the proposed controller manages the demand side management (DSM) techniques for peak load shifting and valley filling effectively with renewable sources. Also, energy costs and savings for the home environment are evaluated using the proposed controller. Further, the energy conservation technique is studied by increasing renewable conversion efficiency (18% to 23% for PV and 35% to 45% for the VAWT model), which reduces the spending of 0.5% in energy cost and a 1.25% reduction in grid demand for 24-time units/day of the simulation study. Additionally, the proposed controller is adapted for computing energy cost (considering the same load pattern) for future demand, and it is exposed that the PV-wind energy cost reduced to 6.9% but 30.6% increase of coal energy cost due to its rise in the Indian energy market by 2030.
Artisanal Brazilian Cheeses—History, Marketing, Technological and Microbiological Aspects
Authors: Penna Ana Lucia Barretto , Gigante Mirna Lucia , Todorov Svetoslav Dimitrov
Published: July 2021

This review focused on the historical, marketing, technological, and microbiological characteristics of artisanal Brazilian cheese. Brazilian cheese production was introduced and developed from the influence of immigrants considering the combination of climate, races of the animals, quality and specificity of milk, technological cheese-making processes and environmental microbiology, among other factors. It resulted in cheese products with specific physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory quality, which represent the heritage and identities of the different Brazilian regions. The production of artisanal cheese increased in many Brazilian regions, mainly in the southeast, especially due to the traditional production and innovative development of new varieties of cheese. The microbiological quality and safety of raw-milk artisanal cheese continues to be a concern and many studies have been focusing on this matter. Special attention needs to be given to the cheeses produced by raw milk, since numerous reports raised concerns related to their microbiological safety. This fact requires attention and the implementation of strict hygiene practices on the production and commercialization, besides appropriate governmental regulations and control. However, more studies on the relationship between technological processes and microbiological properties, which results in a superior culinary quality and safety of artisanal Brazilian cheeses, are needed.
Genome-Wide Identification of the Gustatory Receptor Gene Family of the Invasive Pest, Red Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790)
Authors: Engsontia Patamarerk , Satasook Chutamas
Published: July 2021

The red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) is a highly destructive pest of oil palm, date, and coconut in many parts of Asia, Europe, and Africa. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has called for international collaboration to develop a multidisciplinary strategy to control this invasive pest. Previous research focused on the molecular basis of chemoreception in this species, particularly olfaction, to develop biosensors for early detection and more effective bait traps for mass trapping. However, the molecular basis of gustation, which plays an essential role in discriminating food and egg-laying sites and chemical communication in this species, is limited because its complete gustatory receptor gene family still has not been characterized. We manually annotated the gene family from the recently available genome and transcriptome data and reported 50 gustatory receptor genes encoding 65 gustatory receptors, including 7 carbon dioxide, 9 sugar, and 49 bitter receptors. This study provides a platform for future functional analysis and comparative chemosensory study. A better understanding of gustation will improve our understanding of this species’ complex chemoreception, which is an important step toward developing more effective control methods.
Alloreactive Immune Response Associated to Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Treatment: A Systematic Review
Authors: Sanabria-de la Torre Raquel , Quiñones-Vico María I. , Fernández-González Ana , Sánchez-Díaz Manuel , Montero-Vílchez Trinidad , Sierra-Sánchez Álvaro , Arias-Santiago Salvador
Published: July 2021

The well-known immunomodulatory and regenerative properties of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are the reason why they are being used for the treatment of many diseases. Because they are considered hypoimmunogenic, MSCs treatments are performed without considering histocompatibility barriers and without anticipating possible immune rejections. However, recent preclinical studies describe the generation of alloantibodies and the immune rejection of MSCs. This has led to an increasing number of clinical trials evaluating the immunological profile of patients after treatment with MSCs. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the generation of donor specific antibodies (DSA) after allogeneic MSC (allo-MSC) therapy and the impact on safety or tolerability. Data from 555 patients were included in the systematic review, 356 were treated with allo-MSC and the rest were treated with placebo or control drugs. A mean of 11.51% of allo-MSC-treated patients developed DSA. Specifically, 14.95% of these patients developed DSA and 6.33% of them developed cPRA. Neither the production of DSA after treatment nor the presence of DSA at baseline (presensitization) were correlated with safety and/or tolerability of the treatment. The number of doses administrated and human leucocyte antigen (HLA) mismatches between donor and recipient did not affect the production of DSA. The safety of allo-MSC therapy has been proved in all the studies and the generation of alloantibodies might not have clinical relevance. However, there are very few studies in the area. More studies with adequate designs are needed to confirm these results.
Adiponectin Modulation by Genotype and Maternal Choline Supplementation in a Mouse Model of Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Alldred Melissa J. , Lee Sang Han , Ginsberg Stephen D.
Published: July 2021

Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder caused by the triplication of human chromosome 21, which results in neurological and physiological pathologies. These deficits increase during aging and are exacerbated by cognitive decline and increase of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) neuropathology. A nontoxic, noninvasive treatment, maternal choline supplementation (MCS) attenuates cognitive decline in mouse models of DS and AD. To evaluate potential underlying mechanisms, laser capture microdissection of individual neuronal populations of MCS offspring was performed, followed by RNA sequencing and bioinformatic inquiry. Results at ~6 months of age (MO) revealed DS mice (the well-established Ts65Dn model) have significant dysregulation of select genes within the Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) signaling pathway relative to normal disomic (2N) littermates. Accordingly, we interrogated key T2DM protein hormones by ELISA assay in addition to gene and encoded protein levels in the brain. We found dysregulation of adiponectin (APN) protein levels in the frontal cortex of ~6 MO trisomic mice, which was attenuated by MCS. APN receptors also displayed expression level changes in response to MCS. APN is a potential biomarker for AD pathology and may be relevant in DS. We posit that changes in APN signaling may be an early marker of cognitive decline and neurodegeneration.
Safety and Effectiveness of Vedolizumab for the Treatment of Pediatric Patients with Very Early Onset Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Authors: Fabiszewska Sylwia , Derda Edyta , Szymanska Edyta , Osiecki Marcin , Kierkus Jaroslaw
Published: July 2021

Background: Vedolizumab (vedo) is effective for induction and maintenance of remission in adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Pediatric data are still limited, especially for the youngest children with very early onset disease (VEO-IBD). The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of vedo in VEO-IBD. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of pediatric IBD patients with VEO-IBD (defined as aged <6 years) receiving vedo. Data on demographics, disease behavior, activity, and previous treatments/surgeries were collected. Disease activity was assessed using the pediatric Crohn’s disease (CD) activity index (PCDAI) for CD or pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC) activity index (PUCAI) for UC. Primary outcome was clinical response after induction therapy with vedolizumab (4th dose week). It was defined as a decrease in PCDAI of at least 12.5 points between baseline and 4th dose week for CD, and a decrease in PUCAI of at least 20 points between baseline and this time for UC. Descriptive statistics were performed to analyze the data. Results: The study included 16 patients with VEO-IBD who have received vedo: 4/16 (25%) with CD, and 12/16 (75%) with UC at the median age of diagnosis 33.7 months (6.6 months–4.5 years). Median age at vedo initiation was 6.5 years (2.2–16.5 years). Among the analyzed individuals, 56.25% had failed more than one anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alfa agent. Clinical response at 4th dose week was observed in 9/16 (56.3%) patients: mean baseline PCDAI score was 34.4 ± 1.9 and 10.6 ± 1.8 after induction therapy with vedo, while PUCAI score was 26 ± 6 vs. 18 ± 8, respectively. There was improvement in patients’ nutritional state: at baseline 2/16 (12.5%) children had body mass index (BMI) below 1 percentile and no child had such BMI after induction therapy with vedo. No infusion reactions or serious adverse events/infections were reported. Conclusion: Vedolizumab is safe and effective in the medical management of pediatric patients with VEO-IBD.
Is TGF-β1 a Biomarker of Huntington’s Disease Progression?
Authors: Plinta Klaudia , Plewka Andrzej , Wójcik-Pędziwiatr Magdalena , Zmarzły Nikola , Rudziński Marcin , Rudzińska-Bar Monika
Published: July 2021

Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant genetic disease that can be divided into preclinical and symptomatic stages. Due to the diverse HD phenotype, there is an urgent need to identify markers that would independently assess its severity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of plasma levels of TGF-β1 in the assessment of HD severity. One hundred HD patients and 40 healthy volunteers were included in the study. All HD patients underwent neurological and cognitive function assessment. TGF-β1 levels were determined in the plasma of all patients. The correlations between TGF-β1 levels and clinical profile and HD severity were also investigated. In symptomatic patients, cognitive decline was demonstrated, while in preclinical patients, no symptoms were found. Plasma levels of TGF-β1 in HD patients did not differ significantly from the control group and did not change with the progression of the disease. In addition, TGF-β1 levels also did not correlate with the severity of motor dysfunction. Positive correlations between plasma TGF-β1 concentration and intensity of cognitive impairment were found, but only in the early disease stage. There was no clear benefit in assessing plasma TGF-β1 levels in HD patients as a marker of disease severity.
The Treatment Gap in Osteoporosis
Authors: Ayub Nazia , Faraj Malak , Ghatan Sam , Reijers Joannes A. A. , Napoli Nicola , Oei Ling
Published: July 2021

Worldwide, there are millions of people who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, a bone disease that increases the risk of fracture due to low bone mineral density and deterioration of bone architecture. In the US alone, there are approximately ten million men and women diagnosed with osteoporosis and this number is still growing. Diagnosis is made by measuring bone mineral density. Medications used for the treatment of osteoporosis are bisphosphonates, denosumab, raloxifene, and teriparatide. Recently, romosozumab has been added as well. In recent years, a number of advances have been made in the field of diagnostic methods and the diverse treatment options for osteoporosis. Despite these advances and a growing incidence of osteoporosis, there is a large group being left undertreated or even untreated. This group of the under/untreated has been called the treatment gap. Concerns regarding rare side effects of the medications, such as osteonecrosis of the jaw, have been reported to be one of the many causes for the treatment gap. Also, this group seems not to be sufficiently informed of the major benefits of the treatment and the diversity in treatment options. Knowledge of these could be very helpful in improving compliance and hopefully reducing the gap. In this paper, we summarize recent evidence regarding the efficacy of the various treatment options, potential side effects, and the overall benefit of treatment.
Comment on Morse et al. A Universal Pharmacokinetic Model for Dexmedetomidine in Children and Adults. J. Clin. Med. 2020, 9, 3480
Authors: Eleveld Douglas J. , Colin Pieter J. , Hannivoort Laura N. , Absalom Anthony R. , Struys Michel M. R. F.
Published: July 2021

We read with interest the recently published manuscript [...]
Estimation of the Loading Dose for Target-Controlled Infusion of Dexmedetomidine. Reply to Eleveld et al. Comment on “Morse et al. A Universal Pharmacokinetic Model for Dexmedetomidine in Children and Adults. J. Clin. Med. 2020, 9, 3480”
Authors: Morse James D. , Cortinez L. Ignacio , Anderson Brian J.
Published: July 2021

The parameters for a three-compartment model described by Morse and colleagues [...]