bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seismic Vulnerability Evaluation of a Historical Masonry Tower: Comparison between Different Approaches
Authors: Scamardo Manuela , Zucca Marco , Crespi Pietro , Longarini Nicola , Cattaneo Sara
Published: November 2022

Throughout the last few decades, the scientific community has paid great attention to the structural safety of historical masonry constructions, which have high vulnerability with respect to seismic activities. Masonry towers are very widespread in Italy and represent an important part of the built heritage to be preserved. Different numerical methods with different levels of refinement were developed in the literature to evaluate their seismic performance. The present study shows a practical application of the seismic vulnerability evaluation of a masonry tower using different approaches. The aim is to provide practical suggestions to engineers for the successful evaluation of the performance of masonry towers under seismic loads. An in situ survey was performed to characterize the geometry of the structure and its constitutive material. All the collected information was introduced in a building information model, later used to generate different finite element models for the structural analyses. The global capacity of the structure was evaluated using three different models with different levels of complexity: the first simplified model is made of beam elements with cross-sections discretized in fibers; the second model is made of shell elements and uses a concrete damage plasticity model to describe the nonlinear masonry behavior; the third model adopts solid elements with a concrete smeared crack constitutive law. A preliminary eigen-frequency analysis is performed on the shell model to obtain some basic information about the structural behavior. Nonlinear static analyses were carried out for each model to understand the response of the tower under seismic loads, highlighting the main differences between the approaches. The behavior factor was evaluated on the basis of the analyses results and compared with the ones suggested by the Italian building code. The results showed that the towers do not satisfy the seismic demand required by the standards for all the considered models. Furthermore, the behavior factor calculated according to the Italian design code is overestimated, while the one evaluated by the simplified model is underestimated due to the neglection of the shear behavior. From all the analyzed configurations, the shell model resulted as a good compromise between reliable results and computation efficiency.
Discontinuity Recognition and Information Extraction of High and Steep Cliff Rock Mass Based on Multi-Source Data Fusion
Authors: Kong Xiali , Xia Yonghua , Wu Xuequn , Wang Zhihe , Yang Kaihua , Yan Min , Li Chen , Tai Haoyu
Published: November 2022

It is fundamental to acquire accurate point cloud information on rock discontinuities efficiently and comprehensively when evaluating the stability of rock masses. Taking a high and steep cliff as an example, we combined 3D laser scanning and UAV photogrammetry technology to collect rock data, and proposed an intelligent identification method for rock discontinuities based on the multi-source fusion of point clouds. First, the 3D-laser-collected point cloud data were used as the basis to fuse with the UAV-photogrammetry-collected data, and the unified coordinate system and improved ICP algorithm were used to obtain the complete 3D point cloud in the study area. Secondly, we used neighborhood information entropy to achieve adaptive neighborhood-scale selection and to obtain the optimal neighborhood radius for the KNN search, to effectively calculate the point cloud normal vector and rock mass orientation information. Finally, the KDE algorithm and DBSCAN algorithm were combined for rock discontinuity clustering to achieve intelligent identification and information extraction of the rock structural plane. The clustering results were imported into the DSE program developed based on Matlab to calculate the discontinuity spacing and continuity of the rock mass structure, and to efficiently obtain the parameters of rock mass occurrence. The research results showed that this method can effectively solve the problem of incomplete-data-acquisition ground 3D laser scanning in complex geological conditions, and UAV photogrammetry prone to blurred images in depressed areas. When the extraction results were compared with the field-measured rock occurrence, the average dip angle error was about 2°, the average dip direction error was 1°, and the recognition results met the accuracy requirements. The research results provide a feasible scheme for the identification and extraction of discontinuities of high and steep rock masses.
Recent Research Progress on Nitropolycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Outdoor and Indoor Environments
Authors: Hayakawa Kazuichi
Published: November 2022

Nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) are derivatives of PAHs and contain one or more nitro functional groups (-NO2). Some NPAHs are classified as possible or probable human carcinogens and are more mutagenic than PAHs. Although the atmospheric cancer risk is estimated as 11% from PAHs but 17% from NPAHs, many of the atmospheric behaviors of NPAHs are unknown. There are two major NPAH formation processes. Primary formation of NPAHs occurs directly during the combustion of organic materials. The secondary formation of NPAHs occurs through the transformation of PAHs after they have been released into the environment. The fate, transport, and health effects of NPAHs are considerably different from their parent PAHs because of these differing formation processes. However, the amount of research conducted on NPAHs is comparatively low relative to PAHs. This is primarily due to a lack of effective analytical method for NPAHs, which generally exist in the environment at concentrations one to three orders of magnitude lower than PAHs. However, with the development of more sensitive analytical methods, the number of research papers published on NPAHs has recently increased. The Western Pacific region, one of the post polluted areas in the world, is the most frequently studied area for NPAHs. Many of them reported that atmospheric concentrations of NPAHs were much lower than parent PAHs and oxygenated derivatives (OPAHs). In this article, recent research on sample treatment and analysis, as well as the sources and environmental fate of NPAHs, are discussed with PAHs and OPAHs. A notable achievement using NPAHs is the development of a new emission source analysis method, the NP method, whose features are also discussed in this review.
A Novel Deep Reinforcement Learning Approach for Task Offloading in MEC Systems
Authors: Liu Xiaowei , Jiang Shuwen , Wu Yi
Published: November 2022

With the internet developing rapidly, mobile edge computing (MEC) has been proposed to offer computational capabilities to tackle the high latency caused by innumerable data and applications. Due to limited computing resources, the innovation of computation offloading technology for an MEC system remains challenging, and can lead to transmission delays and energy consumption. This paper focuses on a task-offloading scheme for an MEC-based system where each mobile device is an independent agent and responsible for making a schedule based on delay-sensitive tasks. Nevertheless, the time-varying network dynamics and the heterogeneous features of real-time data tasks make it difficult to find an optimal solution for task offloading. Existing centralized-based or distributed-based algorithms require huge computational resources for complex problems. To address the above problem, we design a novel deep reinforcement learning (DRL)-based approach by using a parameterized indexed value function for value estimation. Additionally, the task-offloading problem is simulated as a Markov decision process (MDP) and our aim is to reduce the total delay of data processing. Experimental results have shown that our algorithm significantly promotes the users’ offloading performance over traditional methods.
Intertropical Convergence Zone as the Possible Source Mechanism for Southward Propagating Medium-Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances over South American Low-Latitude and Equatorial Region
Authors: Essien Patrick , Figueiredo Cosme Alexandre Oliveira Barros , Takahashi Hisao , Klutse Nana Ama Browne , Wrasse Cristiano Max , Afonso João Maria de Sousa , Quispe David Pareja , Lomotey Solomon Otoo , Ayorinde Tunde Toyese , Sobral José H. A. , Eghan Moses Jojo , Sackey Samuel Sanko , Barros Diego , Bilibio Anderson V. , Nkrumah Francis , Quagraine Kwesi Akumenyi
Published: November 2022

This paper presents the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) as the possible source mechanism of the medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) propagating to the southeast direction over the South American region. Using the data collected by the GNSS dual-frequency receivers network from January 2014 to December 2019, detrended TEC maps were generated to identify and characterize 144 MSTIDs propagating southeastward over the South American low-latitude and equatorial region. We also used images from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) 13 and 16 in the infrared (IR) and water vapor (WV) channel, and reanalisys data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to study the daily features and seasonal migration of ITCZ. In the winter, when ITCZ migrates to the northern hemisphere around 10–15° N, 20 MSTIDs propagated southeastward. During summer, when the ITCZ lies within the continent, around 0–5° S 80 MSTIDs were observed to propagate southeastward; in the equinoxes (spring and fall), 44 MSTIDs were observed. Again, the MSTIDs propagating southeastward showed a clear seasonality of their local time dependence; in summer, the MSTIDs occurred frequently in the evening hours, whereas those in winter occurred during the daytime. We also found for the first time that the day-to-day observation of ITCZ position and MSTIDs propagation directions were consistent. With regard to these new findings, we report that the MSTIDs propagating southeastward over the South American region are possibly induced by the atmospheric gravity waves, which are proposed as being generated by the ITCZ in the troposphere. The mean distribution of the horizontal wavelength, period, and phase velocity are 698 ± 124 km, 38 ± 8 min, and 299 ± 89 m s−1, respectively. For the first time, we were able to use MSTID propagation directions as a proxy to study the source region.
Simulating the Impacts of Wind Farm Wake under the Changes in MYNN Planetary Boundary Layer Scheme in High Resolution Weather Research and Forecasting Model
Authors: Kaytancı Tarık , Menteş Şükran Sibel , Ünal Yurdanur
Published: November 2022

This study focuses on simulating the impacts of wind farm wake due to changes in the Mellor-Yamanda-Nakanishi-Niino (MYNN) planetary boundary layer (PBL) scheme in a high-resolution mesoscale Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model for a non-flat region in Turkey. This is the first study with a comprehensive evaluation of simulated wind farm wake impact responses to changes in the MYNN PBL scheme in the WRF model. Our results show that the WRF-WFP solutions for the wind farm wake impact significantly change with a change in the MYNN PBL scheme. In addition, the incorrect TKE advection and the correction factor of 0.25 for the TKE coefficient in wind farm parametrization (WFP) cause incorrect wind farm wake impacts especially on TKE and air temperature. Our study also shows that modifications in the mixing length create greater changes in simulated wind farm wake impacts than activation of the mass-flux scheme. In this study, the relative contributions of WFP’s components are also evaluated.
An Integrated Air Quality Improvement Path of Energy-Environment Policies in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
Authors: Li Yixi , Wang Long , Chang Shucheng , Yang Zaidong , Luo Yinping , Liao Chenghao
Published: November 2022

Energy-related clean air measures in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) can yield substantial air quality improvement benefits and promote energy structure optimization. Here, we first evaluate the reduction effect of the stringent energy-related clean air measures in the GBA during the 13th Five-Year Plan period. First, a reduction of 19.3% emission in air pollutant equivalent was measured in 2020 compared to 2015. Second, we compare the energy structure development and air quality benefits of energy-environment policy scenarios by 2025 (SBAU, SA, SO) geared towards proposing integrated energy-environment development paths of air quality improvement. Under SBUA, SA and SO, the annual average PM2.5 concentration will be 21.7, 19.9 and 18.1 μg/m3, respectively, and the total energy demand would be controlled within 318.9, 300.6 and 282.3 Mtce in the GBA in 2025, reaching 7.5%, 8.4% and 9.4% of SO2, 23.5%, 29.3% and 35.4% of NOX, 18.2%, 19.6% and 22.7% of primary PM2.5, and 25.1%, 29.9% and 34.7% of VOCs emission reductions compared to 2020, respectively. Our study proposes that it is necessary for the GBA to jointly set up regional air quality improvement targets and issue integrated regional energy-environment policies in the process of building an “Air Quality Improvement Pioneering Demonstration Area”.
Re-Evaluation of the Nuclear Magnetic Octupole Moment of 209Bi
Authors: Li Jiguang , Gaigalas Gediminas , Bieroń Jacek , Ekman Jörgen , Jönsson Per , Godefroid Michel , Froese Fischer Charlotte
Published: November 2022

We modified the Hfs92 code of the GRASP package in order to describe the magnetic octupole hyperfine interaction. To illustrate the utility of the modified code, we carried out state-of-the-art calculations of the electronic factors of the magnetic octupole hyperfine interaction constants for levels in the ground configuration of the Bi atom. The nuclear magnetic octupole moment of the 209Bi isotope was extracted by combining old measurements of the hyperfine structures of 6p34S3/2o [Hull, R.; Brink, G. Phys. Rev. A 1970, 1, 685] and 2P3/2o [Landman, D.A.; Lurio, A. Phys. Rev. A 1970, 1, 1330] using the atomic-beam magnetic-resonance technique with our theoretical electronic factors. The present extracted octupole moment was consistent with all the available values but the one obtained in the single-particle nuclear shell model approximation. This observation supports the previous finding that nuclear many-body effects, such as the core polarization, significantly contribute to the nuclear magnetic octupole moment in the case of 209Bi.
A Critical Remark on the Applications of Gas-Phase Biofilter (Packed-Bed Bioreactor) Models in Aqueous Systems
Authors: Shareefdeen Zarook , Qasim Muhammad
Published: November 2022

The principles of gas-phase biofilter systems, modeling, and operations are quite different from liquid-phase biofilter systems. Because of “biofilter” terminology used in both gas and liquid-phase systems, researchers often mistakenly use gas-phase models in liquid-phase applications for the analysis of data and determining kinetic parameters. For example, recent studies show a well-known gas-phase biofilter model, known as Ottengraf–Van Den Oever zero-order diffusion-limited model, is applied for analysis of experimental data from an aqueous biofilter system which is used for the removal of toxic divalent copper [Cu(II)] and chromium (VI). The objective of this research is to present the limitations and principles of gas-phase biofilter models and to highlight the incorrect use of gas-phase biofilter models in liquid-phase systems that can lead to erroneous results. The outcome of this work will facilitate scientists and engineers in distinguishing two different systems and selecting a more suitable biofilter model for the analysis of experimental data in determining kinetic parameters.
A Ten-Minute Bioassay to Test Metal Toxicity with the Freshwater Flagellate Euglena agilis
Authors: Choi Soyeon , Lee Hojun , Lee Min-Soo , Park Joon Tae , Heynderickx Philippe M. , Wu Di , Depuydt Stephen , Asselman Jana , Janssen Colin , Häder Donat P. , Han Taejun , Park Jihae
Published: November 2022

A chemical analysis of water quality cannot detect some toxicants due to time constraints, high costs, and limited interactions for detection. Bioassays would offer a complementary means to assess pollution levels in water. Euglena is a flagellate green alga and an excellent system for toxicity testing thanks to its ease of culture, rapid growth, and quick response to environmental stresses. Herein, we examined the sensitivity of E. agilis to seven heavy metals by analyzing six end-point parameters: motility, velocity, cell compactness, upward swimming, r-value, and alignment. Notably, the velocity of E. agilis was most sensitive to cadmium (96.28 mg·L−1), copper (6.51 mg·L−1), manganese (103.28 mg·L−1), lead (78.04 mg·L−1), and zinc (101.90 mg·L−1), while r-values were most sensitive to arsenic (12.84 mg·L−1) and mercury (4.26 mg·L−1). In this study, velocity and r-values are presented as useful biomarkers for the assessment of metal toxicity in Euglena. The metals As, Cd, Cu, and Pb were suitable for this test. The advantages of the ecotoxicity test are its rapidity: It takes 10 min to obtain results, as opposed to the typical 3–4 d of exposure time with intensive labor. Moreover, this test can be performed at room temperature under dark conditions.
Postbiotics and Their Health Modulatory Biomolecules
Authors: Scott Emma , De Paepe Kim , Van de Wiele Tom
Published: November 2022

Postbiotics are a new category of biotics that have the potential to confer health benefits but, unlike probiotics, do not require living cells to induce health effects and thus are not subject to the food safety requirements that apply to live microorganisms. Postbiotics are defined as a “preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confers a health benefit on the host”. Postbiotic components include short-chain fatty acids, exopolysaccharides, vitamins, teichoic acids, bacteriocins, enzymes and peptides in a non-purified inactivated cell preparation. While research into postbiotics is in its infancy, there is increasing evidence that postbiotics have the potential to modulate human health. Specifically, a number of postbiotics have been shown to improve gut health by strengthening the gut barrier, reducing inflammation and promoting antimicrobial activity against gut pathogens. Additionally, research is being conducted into the potential application of postbiotics to other areas of the body, including the skin, vagina and oral cavity. The purpose of this review is to set out the current research on postbiotics, demonstrate how postbiotics are currently used in commercial products and identify a number of knowledge gaps where further research is needed to identify the potential for future applications of postbiotics.
Repurposable Drugs That Interact with Steroid Responsive Gene Targets for Inner Ear Disease
Authors: Missner Alexander A. , Johns James Dixon , Gu Shoujun , Hoa Michael
Published: November 2022

Corticosteroids, oral or transtympanic, remain the mainstay for inner ear diseases characterized by hearing fluctuation or sudden changes in hearing, including sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), Meniere’s disease (MD), and autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED). Despite their use across these diseases, the rate of complete recovery remains low, and results across the literature demonstrates significant heterogeneity with respect to the effect of corticosteroids, suggesting a need to identify more efficacious treatment options. Previously, our group has cross-referenced steroid-responsive genes in the cochlea with published single-cell and single-nucleus transcriptome datasets to demonstrate that steroid-responsive differentially regulated genes are expressed in spiral ganglion neurons (SGN) and stria vascularis (SV) cell types. These differentially regulated genes represent potential druggable gene targets. We utilized multiple gene target databases (DrugBank, Pharos, and LINCS) to identify orally administered, FDA approved medications that potentially target these genes. We identified 42 candidate drugs that have been shown to interact with these genes, with an emphasis on safety profile, and tolerability. This study utilizes multiple databases to identify drugs that can target a number of druggable genes in otologic disorders that are commonly treated with steroids, providing a basis for establishing novel repurposing treatment trials.
Multi-Layered Regulations on the Chromatin Architectures: Establishing the Tight and Specific Responses of Fission Yeast fbp1 Gene Transcription
Authors: Asada Ryuta , Hirota Kouji
Published: November 2022

Transcriptional regulation is pivotal for all living organisms and is required for adequate response to environmental fluctuations and intercellular signaling molecules. For precise regulation of transcription, cells have evolved regulatory systems on the genome architecture, including the chromosome higher-order structure (e.g., chromatin loops), location of transcription factor (TF)-binding sequences, non-coding RNA (ncRNA) transcription, chromatin configuration (e.g., nucleosome positioning and histone modifications), and the topological state of the DNA double helix. To understand how these genome-chromatin architectures and their regulators establish tight and specific responses at the transcription stage, the fission yeast fbp1 gene has been analyzed as a model system for decades. The fission yeast fbp1 gene is tightly repressed in the presence of glucose, and this gene is induced by over three orders of magnitude upon glucose starvation with a cascade of multi-layered regulations on various levels of genome and chromatin architecture. In this review article, we summarize the multi-layered transcriptional regulatory systems revealed by the analysis of the fission yeast fbp1 gene as a model system.
An Investigation into Apricot Pulp Waste as a Source of Antioxidant Polyphenols and Carotenoid Pigments
Authors: Makrygiannis Ioannis , Athanasiadis Vassilis , Bozinou Eleni , Chatzimitakos Theodoros , Makris Dimitris , Lalas Stavros
Published: November 2022

The interest in extracting bioactive compounds from food processing waste is growing unabated. Apricots are widely consumed worldwide, and many tons of waste are produced annually. Therefore, apricot pulp waste (APW) may serve as a rich source of bioactive compounds. In the present study, we investigated the extraction of antioxidant polyphenols and carotenoid pigments from APW. In both cases, a response surface methodology was employed, so as to optimize the extraction parameters. As regards polyphenols, it was found that optimum extraction yield (i.e., 28.6 mg gallic acid equivalents per g of dry weight) was achieved using a deep eutectic solvent (comprised of glycerol, citric acid, and L-proline at a molar ratio of 2:1:1), a liquid-to-solid ratio of 100 mL/g, and heating at 80 °C for 155 min. Similarly, optimum extraction of carotenoids (171.2 mg β-carotene equivalents per 100 g of dry weight) was achieved by extracting APW with an n-hexane: acetone: ethanol (2:1:1, v/v/v) mixture at 47 °C for 60 min. The proposed methods were highly efficient and can serve as an alternative to conventional methods employed to date.
Overview of Antiviral Drug Therapy for COVID-19: Where Do We Stand?
Authors: Esposito Renata , Mirra Davida , Sportiello Liberata , Spaziano Giuseppe , D’Agostino Bruno
Published: November 2022

The vaccine weapon has resulted in being essential in fighting the COVID-19 outbreak, but it is not fully preventing infection due to an alarming spreading of several identified variants of concern. In fact, the recent emergence of variants has pointed out how the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic still represents a global health threat. Moreover, oral antivirals also develop resistance, supporting the need to find new targets as therapeutic tools. However, cocktail therapy is useful to reduce drug resistance and maximize vaccination efficacy. Natural products and metal-drug-based treatments have also shown interesting antiviral activity, representing a valid contribution to counter COVID-19 outbreak. This report summarizes the available evidence which supports the use of approved drugs and further focuses on significant clinical trials that have investigated the safety and efficacy of repurposing drugs and new molecules in different COVID-19 phenotypes. To date, there are many individuals vulnerable to COVID-19 exhibiting severe symptoms, thus characterizing valid therapeutic strategies for better management of the disease is still a challenge.
Irradiation Alters the Expression of MUC1, CD44 and Hyaluronan in Oral Mucosal Epithelium
Authors: Kashyap Bina , Naumanen Konsta , Mikkonen Jopi , Dekker Hannah , Schulten Engelbert , Bloemena Elisabeth , Pasonen-Seppänen Sanna , Kullaa Arja
Published: November 2022

Purpose: It is well established that cancer cells exploit aberrant synthesis of mucin 1 (MUC1) and hyaluronan (HA) synthesis along with HA’s physiological cell surface receptor CD44. However, their role in irradiated oral tissue has not been reported previously. We, therefore, aimed to study MUC1, CD44 and HA immunohistochemically in irradiated oral mucosa and their role in the long-term effects after radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: Oral mucosal biopsies were obtained from healthy subjects as controls and from patients after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (irradiated group) during dental implant surgery. The presence of MUC1, CD44, and HA in oral mucosa was studied by immunohistochemical methods. The differences in the localization and intensity in the oral epithelium between control and irradiated tissue were analyzed. Results: The staining intensity of MUC1 was confined to the superficial epithelial layer, whereas HA and CD44 were found in the cell membranes in the epithelial basal and intermediate layers of control specimens. In irradiated epithelium, MUC1 staining was distributed throughout all the layers of the oral epithelium, with significant staining in the basal and intermediate layers. Accordingly, HA and CD44 staining extended to involve the superficial cells of the irradiated epithelium. The staining pattern of MUC1 and CD44 showed significant changes in irradiated samples. Conclusions: Our results showed that the staining intensities of MUC1, CD44, and HA were significantly elevated in irradiated tissue compared to controls. MUC1, CD44, and HA are important markers and take part in long-term changes in the oral mucosa after radiotherapy.
Insulin and Oral Hypoglycemic Drug Overdose in Post-Mortem Investigations: A Literature Review
Authors: Manetti Alice Chiara , Visi Giacomo , Spina Federica , De Matteis Alessandra , Del Duca Fabio , Turillazzi Emanuela , Maiese Aniello
Published: November 2022

Background and Objectives: Insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents are drugs widely used in the world population due to their therapeutic effects on diabetes mellitus. Despite these benefits, they can also cause accidental or voluntary drug overdose. This review aims to evaluate post-mortem investigations in cases of suspected hypoglycemic drug overdose. Materials and Methods: We performed a comprehensive search using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review (PRISMA) standards; we systematically searched the PubMed, Science Direct Scopus, Google Scholar, and Excerpta Medica Database (EM-BASE) databases from the point of database inception until August 2022. The following inclusion criteria were used: (1) original research articles, (2) reviews and mini-reviews, (3) case reports/series, (4) and only papers written in English. Results: Thirty-three scientific papers, including original research articles, case reports, and case series, fulfilled the inclusion criteria. A total of 109 cases of insulin or hypoglycemic drug overdose were found. There were 71 cases of suicide (65%), 25 cases of accidental poisoning (23%), and 13 cases of homicide (12%). The most commonly used drug was insulin (95.4%). Autopsy and post-mortem examinations were performed in 84 cases, while toxicological investigations were performed in 79 cases. The most common gross findings in the autopsy were pulmonary edema (55.7%) and congestion (41.8%), while the most common histological finding was neuronal depletion or necrosis (29.1%). Conclusions: In the suspicion of death from insulin or overdose from oral hypoglycemic agents, autopsy findings may be nonspecific, and the search for injection marks can be positive at the external examination. Significant post-mortal alterations can interest biological samples and an early autopsy investigation is recommended.
The Evolving Scenario in the Assessment of Radiological Response for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Era of Immunotherapy: Strengths and Weaknesses of Surrogate Endpoints
Authors: Giuffrida Paolo , Celsa Ciro , Antonucci Michela , Peri Marta , Grassini Maria Vittoria , Rancatore Gabriele , Giacchetto Carmelo Marco , Cannella Roberto , Incorvaia Lorena , Corsini Lidia Rita , Morana Piera , La Mantia Claudia , Badalamenti Giuseppe , Brancatelli Giuseppe , Cammà Calogero , Cabibbo Giuseppe
Published: November 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a challenging malignancy characterised by clinical and biological heterogeneity, independent of the stage. Despite the application of surveillance programs, a substantial proportion of patients are diagnosed at advanced stages when curative treatments are no longer available. The landscape of systemic therapies has been rapidly growing over the last decade, and the advent of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has changed the paradigm of systemic treatments. The coexistence of the tumour with underlying cirrhosis exposes patients with HCC to competing events related to tumour progression and/or hepatic decompensation. Therefore, it is relevant to adopt proper clinical endpoints to assess the extent of treatment benefit. While overall survival (OS) is the most accepted endpoint for phase III randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and drug approval, it is affected by many limitations. To overcome these limits, several clinical and radiological outcomes have been used. For instance, progression-free survival (PFS) is a useful endpoint to evaluate the benefit of sequential treatments, since it is not influenced by post-progression treatments, unlike OS. Moreover, radiological endpoints such as time to progression (TTP) and objective response rate (ORR) are frequently adopted. Nevertheless, the surrogacy between these endpoints and OS in the setting of unresectable HCC (uHCC) remains uncertain. Since most of the surrogate endpoints are radiology-based (e.g., PFS, TTP, ORR), the use of standardised tools is crucial for the evaluation of radiological response. The optimal way to assess the radiological response has been widely debated, and many criteria have been proposed over the years. Furthermore, none of the criteria have been validated for immunotherapy in advanced HCC. The coexistence of the underlying chronic liver disease and the access to several lines of treatments highlight the urgent need to capture early clinical benefit and the need for standardised radiological criteria to assess cancer response when using ICIs in mono- or combination therapies. Here, we review the most commonly used clinical and radiological endpoints for trial design, as well as their surrogacy with OS. We also review the criteria for radiological response to treatments for HCC, analysing the major issues and the potential future perspectives.
Immunologic Role of Innate Lymphoid Cells against Mycobacterial tuberculosis Infection
Authors: Narinyan William , Poladian Nicole , Orujyan Davit , Gargaloyan Areg , Venketaraman Vishwanath
Published: November 2022

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb), is one of the leading causes of mortality due to respiratory tract infections worldwide. Infection by M. tb involves activation of a type I immune response characteristic of T helper type 1 (Th1) lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, Interleukin-12 (IL-12), and interferon (IFN)-γ, all of which stimulate the activation of macrophages and robust phagocytosis in order to prevent further infectious manifestations and systemic dissemination. Recent discoveries about innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) have provided further insight about how these cells participate within the protective immune response against M. tb infection and help boost the type I immune response. In order to clearly understand the mechanisms of M. tb infection and advance the efficacy of future treatment and prevention, we must first look at the individual functions each type of immune cell plays within this process, specifically ILCs. By review of the recent literature and current evidence, our group aims to summarize the characterization of the three major groups of ILCs, including NK cells, and analyze the role that each group of ILCs play in the infectious process against M. tb in order to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the host immune response. Equally, previous studies have also highlighted the effects of how administration of the Bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine influences the cells and cytokines of the immune response against M. tb. Our group also aims to highlight the effects that BCG vaccine has on ILCs and how these effects provide added protection against M. tb.
Vertigo in Acute Stroke Is a Predictor of Brain Location but Is Not Related to Early Outcome: The Experience of Sagrat Cor Hospital of Barcelona Stroke Registry
Authors: d’Annunzio Angela , Arboix Adrià , García-Eroles Luís , Sánchez-López María-José
Published: November 2022

Background: Vertigo is an uncommon symptom among acute stroke victims. Knowledge about the clinical profile, the brain location, and the early outcome in stroke patients with cerebrovascular diseases and vertigo remains limited. Objectives: In this study, the effects of vertigo on cerebral topography and early prognosis in cerebrovascular diseases were investigated. Methods: A comparative analysis in terms of demographics, risk factors, clinical characteristics, stroke subtypes, cerebral and vascular topography, and early outcome was performed between patients with presence or absence of vertigo on a sample of 3743 consecutive acute stroke patients available from a 24-year ongoing single-center hospital-based stroke registry. Results: Vertigo was present in 147 patients (3.9%). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that variables independently associated with vertigo were: location in the cerebellum (OR 5.59, CI 95% 3.24–9.64), nausea or vomiting (OR 4.48, CI 95% 2.95–6.82), medulla (OR 2.87, CI 95% 1.31–6.30), pons (OR 2.39, CI 95% 1.26–4.51), basilar artery (OR 2.36, CI 95% 1.33–4.17), ataxia (OR 2.33, CI 95% 1.41–3.85), and headache (OR 2.31, CI 95% 1.53–3.49). Conclusion: The study confirmed that the presence of vertigo was not related with increased in-hospital mortality or poor prognosis at hospital discharge. Vertigo is mainly related to non-lacunar vertebrobasilar stroke with topographic localization in the cerebellum and/or brainstem.
«One Small Step for Mouse»: High CO2 Inhalation as a New Therapeutic Strategy for Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Nadeev Alexander D. , Kritskaya Kristina A. , Fedotova Evgeniya I. , Berezhnov Alexey V.
Published: November 2022

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a ubiquitous neurodegenerative disorder for which no effective treatment strategies are available. Existing pharmacotherapy is aimed only at correcting symptoms and slowing the progression of the disease, mainly by replenishing dopamine deficiency. It is assumed that mitochondrial dysfunction plays a key role in the pathogenesis of PD. It has been suggested that activation of specific degradation of damaged mitochondria (mitophagy) may prevent cell death. An almost exclusive way to initiate mitophagy is acidification of intracellular pH. We attempted to implement transient brain acidification using two experimental therapy strategies: forced moderate physical activity and high CO2 inhalation. The beneficial effects of CO2 supplementation on behavioral aspects were demonstrated in a rotenone-induced PD model. Mice treated with CO2 restored their exploratory behavior and total locomotor activity lost after rotenone administration. Additionally, this treatment enabled the removal of impaired coordination. We have illustrated this therapeutic strategy using histological studies of brain sections to confirm the survival of nigrostriatal areas. These findings suggest that high CO2 inhalation presumably initiates mitophagy via transient brain acidification, and can treat PD-like symptoms in a rodent rotenone model of PD.
Research on Logistics Distribution Center Location Based on Hybrid Beetle Antennae Search and Rain Algorithm
Authors: Mei Zhimin , Chi Xuexin , Chi Rui
Published: November 2022

The location of logistics distribution centers is a crucial issue in modern logistics distribution systems. In order to obtain a more reasonable solution, an effective optimization algorithm is essential. This paper proposes a new hybrid method, named the beetle antennae search–rain algorithm (BRA), for the problem of logistics distribution centers’ location. The innovation of the BRA is embodied in three aspects. Firstly, the beetle antennae search (BAS) algorithm is embedded into the rain algorithm (RA); thus, the BAS is improved from an individual search to a swarm intelligent search and the global search ability is improved. Secondly, the search direction strategy of the BAS algorithm is incorporated into the RA, which can improve response speed while ensuring optimization performance. Finally, the search precision is improved by the mechanism of eliminating the inferior solution and generating a new solution. The BRA is tested on 10 benchmark functions and applied to solve the logistics distribution centers’ location problem. The performance of the BRA is compared to that of several classical heuristics by using relevant evaluation indexes and dynamic optimization convergence graphs. Experimental results show that the BRA outperforms the BAS algorithm, the RA and some other classic heuristics. It is also revealed that the BRA is an effective and competitive algorithm for logistics distribution centers’ location.
Exploiting the Nucleic Acid Nature of Aptamers for Signal Amplification
Authors: Jauset-Rubio Miriam , Ortiz Mayreli , O’Sullivan Ciara K.
Published: November 2022

Aptamer-based assays and sensors are garnering increasing interest as alternatives to antibodies, particularly due to their increased flexibility for implementation in alternative assay formats, as they can be employed in assays designed for nucleic acids, such as molecular aptamer beacons or aptamer detection combined with amplification. In this work, we took advantage of the inherent nucleic acid nature of aptamers to enhance sensitivity in a rapid and facile assay format. An aptamer selected against the anaphylactic allergen β-conglutin was used to demonstrate the proof of concept. The aptamer was generated by using biotinylated dUTPs, and the affinity of the modified aptamer as compared to the unmodified aptamer was determined by using surface plasmon resonance to calculate the dissociation constant (KD), and no significant improvement in affinity due to the incorporation of the hydrophobic biotin was observed. The modified aptamer was then applied in a colorimetric competitive enzyme-linked oligonucleotide assay, where β-conglutin was immobilized on the wells of a microtiter plate, competing with β-conglutin free in solution for the binding to the aptamer. The limit of detection achieved was 68 pM, demonstrating an improvement in detection limit of three orders of magnitude as compared with the aptamer simply modified with a terminal biotin label. The concept was then exploited by using electrochemical detection and screen-printed electrodes where detection limits of 326 fM and 7.89 fM were obtained with carbon and gold electrodes, respectively. The assay format is generic in nature and can be applied to all aptamers, facilitating an easy and cost-effective means to achieve lower detection limits.
Does Background Music Affect Silent Dining Emotions? An Empirical Study of Restaurants during COVID-19
Authors: Chen Yen-Cheng , Chiang Ming-Chen , Lee Ching-Sung , Tsui Pei-Ling
Published: November 2022

The music environment of a restaurant is an important factor that affects consumer behaviors during the dining experience, especially silent dining behaviors among people who are not encouraged to talk in the context of COVID-19. This study empirically analyzed the influence of consumers’ background music preferences on their emotions and behavioral responses during their dining experience at a high-end Chinese restaurant. A total of 393 valid samples were obtained through purposive sampling and snowball sampling. The research tools used in this study included a personal background information questionnaire, four Oriental and Western music conditions, a background music preference scale, a scale for evaluating emotions during the dining experience, and a behavioral response scale. The results showed that the subjects preferred the Chinese classical music—the Butterfly Lovers Concerto. Background music affected the participants’ emotions during their dining experience, and different background music conditions resulted in significant differences in emotions and behaviors. The consumers’ emotions, during their dining experience significantly predicted their behaviors under all four music conditions. The greatest contribution and value of this study stem from the finding that the background music at a restaurant can arouse specific positive emotions in consumers during their dining experience and thus affect their eating behavior.
UHPC-Filled Rectangular Steel Tubular Beam–Column: Numerical Study and Design
Authors: Cai Heng , Yan Yanxiang
Published: November 2022

This paper presents a numerical study on the nonlinear behaviors of UHPC-filled square steel tubular (UHPCFST) columns under complex actions. A novel fiber model was developed considering the local buckling effects of steel tubes. The reliability and robustness of the model were validated by a large amount of experimental data in the reported literature. Then, the current design codes were evaluated and discussed on the basis of the collected experimental data, and a practical calculation method was finally proposed to predict the bending moment capacities of UHPCFST beam–columns. The results indicate that the proposed fiber model can accurately predict the nonlinear behaviors of UHPCFST beam–columns, including axial compression, eccentric compression, pure bending, and hysteretic behaviors. Compared with current design codes, the practical calculation method presents high precision and can accurately predict the bending moment capacities of UHPCFST beam–columns.
Strength Properties of Cement-Solidified Dredged Sludge Affected by Curing Temperature
Authors: Cao Yupeng , Zhang Jing , Zhao Zengfeng , Liu Junxia , Lin Hui
Published: November 2022

In this study, unconfined compressive strength (qu) tests were conducted to explore the coupling effect of organic matter content (3.7%, 7.7%, 10.7%, and 13.7%) and curing temperature (18 °C, 36 °C, 46 °C) on the development of early and mid-late strength of cement-solidified dredged sludge (cement-stabilized clay, or CSC). The microstructure of the CSC containing organic matter at different curing temperatures was also analyzed. The results show that qu of CSC decreases with the increase in organic matter content (Co). The strength growth rate of CSC in the mid-late stage (≥14 days) is small when Co ≥ 7.7%, and it is difficult to increase this strength growth rate even if the curing temperature is increased up to 46 °C. There is a cement incorporation ratio threshold of 15% for qu of CSC containing organic matter (Co = 7.7%), which is not affected by curing temperature; increasing the cement incorporation ratio (to 20%) cannot increase qu significantly. The CSC with high curing temperature has more hydration products and higher structural compactness, and it can obtain higher qu in the early and mid-late stages. A high curing temperature can increase the early strength growth rate and shorten the curing age for CSC containing organic matter.
Research on Fine Scheduling and Assembly Planning of Modular Integrated Building: A Case Study of the Baguang International Hotel Project
Authors: Dong Changyin , Wang Hao , Zhang Haipeng , Zhang Ming , Guan Jun , Zhang Zongjun , Lin Qian , Zuo Zewen
Published: November 2022

There exist various challenges in constructing a large in-city project, such as narrow construction sites, limited surrounding roads, heavy construction periods and tasks, various types of vehicles, and affected cargo transport. Considering construction needs, transportation characteristics, and site conditions, this paper puts forward the overall planning for modular integrated construction (MiC) transportation and on-site assembly. Meanwhile, the traffic organization and transportation scheduling method are designed for smart construction sites and different engineering materials are coordinated in the space-time dimension during the overall period from construction delivery. Meanwhile, an integer programming model is developed to solve the truck scheduling matching problem between the supply side and the construction side. The weighted loss time of the truck is set as the optimization objective function, and time, space, and material type are the constraints. For this model, this paper proposes an operations scheduling solution method by combining operations research and actual field construction scheduling experience. The traditional empirical scheduling method and the proposed operations research scheduling model are compared through a case study of actual engineering scheduling data. The experimental results show that the operations research scheduling model is better than the traditional empirical scheduling method at different traffic levels. In addition, the implementation of the scheme is guaranteed through measures such as pre-data analysis, management framework, and information technology equipment. The planning and scheduling cover the whole process of MiC module transportation and on-site assembly, which have practical guiding significance for the project and ensure the timely success and acceptance of the project.
Synergies between Mass Customisation and Construction 4.0 Technologies
Authors: Conte Manoela , Echeveste Marcia E. S. , Formoso Carlos T. , Bazzan Jordana
Published: November 2022

A challenge faced by some companies in the residential building sector is to cope with the complexity introduced to respond to the increasing diversity of customer demands in a profitable and sustainable way. Mass customisation (MC) has been described as a strategy to deliver customised products at costs and delivery times similar to mass production. The implementation of this strategy can be supported by several information and communication technologies emerging in the Industry 4.0 paradigm, which has been named Construction 4.0 in the construction industry. The aim of this research work is to identify the synergistic potential between Construction 4.0 technologies and the implementation of MC practices in the construction sector. A decision matrix associating a set of MC practices and C4.0 technologies has been devised based on a literature review. Specialists assessed the relationships between items, and the Jaccard similarity index was calculated to understand which Construction 4.0 technologies should be jointly implemented to support MC strategies. As a secondary contribution, this study has also proposed a method to guide companies in the identification of technologies that can support the implementation of MC in specific contexts.