bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advances in Mass Spectrometry-Based Single Cell Analysis
Authors: Lee Siheun , Vu Hung M. , Lee Jung-Hyun , Lim Heejin , Kim Min-Sik
Published: March 2023

Technological developments and improvements in single-cell isolation and analytical platforms allow for advanced molecular profiling at the single-cell level, which reveals cell-to-cell variation within the admixture cells in complex biological or clinical systems. This helps to understand the cellular heterogeneity of normal or diseased tissues and organs. However, most studies focused on the analysis of nucleic acids (e.g., DNA and RNA) and mass spectrometry (MS)-based analysis for proteins and metabolites of a single cell lagged until recently. Undoubtedly, MS-based single-cell analysis will provide a deeper insight into cellular mechanisms related to health and disease. This review summarizes recent advances in MS-based single-cell analysis methods and their applications in biology and medicine.
Geographic Genetic Structure of Alectoris chukar in Türkiye: Post-LGM-Induced Hybridization and Human-Mediated Contaminations
Authors: Kaya Sarp , Kabasakal Bekir , Erdoğan Ali
Published: March 2023

Türkiye is considered an important evolutionary area for Chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar), since it is both a potential ancestral area and a diversification center for the species. Using 2 mitochondrial (Cty-b and D-loop) and 13 polymorphic microsatellite markers, we investigated the geographic genetic structure of A. chukar populations to determine how past climatic fluctuations and human activities have shaped the gene pool of this species in Türkiye. Our results indicate, firstly, that only A. chukar of the genus Alectoris is present in Türkiye (Anatolia and Thrace), with no natural or artificial gene flow from congenerics. Secondly, the geographic genetic structure of the species in Türkiye has been shaped by topographic heterogeneity, Pleistocene climatic fluctuations, and artificial transport by humans. Third, there appears to be three genetic clusters: Thracian, Eastern, and Western. Fourth, the post-LGM demographic expansion of the Eastern and Western populations has formed a hybrid zone in Central Anatolia (~8 kyBP). Fifth, the rate of China clade-B contamination in Türkiye is about 8% in mtDNA and about 12% in nuDNA, with the Southeastern Anatolian population having the highest contamination. Sixth, the Thracian population was the most genetically distinct, with the lowest genetic diversity and highest level of inbreeding and no China clad-B contamination. These results can contribute to the conservation regarding A. chukar populations, especially the Thracian population.
Exploring the Formation Kinetics of Octacalcium Phosphate from Alpha-Tricalcium Phosphate: Synthesis Scale-Up, Determination of Transient Phases, Their Morphology and Biocompatibility
Authors: Kovrlija Ilijana , Menshikh Ksenia , Marsan Olivier , Rey Christian , Combes Christèle , Locs Janis , Loca Dagnija
Published: March 2023

Even with decades of research studies behind octacalcium phosphate (OCP), determination of OCP phase formation has proved to be a cumbersome challenge. Even though obtaining a large quantity of OCP is important for potential clinical uses, it still remains a hindrance to obtain high yields of pure OCP. Taking that into consideration, the purpose of this study was to scale-up OCP synthesis for the first time and to use a multi-technique approach to follow the phase transformation pathway at multiple time points. In the present study, OCP has been synthesized from α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP), and subsequently scaled-up tenfold and hundredfold (100 mg → 10 g). The hydrolysis mechanism has been followed and described by using XRD and FTIR spectroscopy, as well as Raman and SEM. Gradual transformation into the OCP phase transpired through dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (brushite, DCPD, up to ~36%) as an intermediary phase. Furthermore, the obtained transitional phases and final OCP phases (across all scale-up levels) were tested with human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs), in order to see how different phase mixtures affect the cell viability, and also to corroborate the safety of the scaled-up product. Twelve out of seventeen specimens showed satisfactory percentages of cell viability and confirmed the prospective use of scaled-up OCP in further in vitro studies. The present study, therefore, provides the first scale-up process of OCP synthesis, an in depth understanding of the formation pathway, and investigation of the parameters able to contribute in the OCP phase formation.
Surface Treatments of PEEK for Osseointegration to Bone
Authors: Dondani Jay R. , Iyer Janaki , Tran Simon D.
Published: March 2023

Polymers, in general, and Poly (Ether-Ether-Ketone) (PEEK) have emerged as potential alternatives to conventional osseous implant biomaterials. Due to its distinct advantages over metallic implants, PEEK has been gaining increasing attention as a prime candidate for orthopaedic and dental implants. However, PEEK has a highly hydrophobic and bioinert surface that attenuates the differentiation and proliferation of osteoblasts and leads to implant failure. Several improvements have been made to the osseointegration potential of PEEK, which can be classified into three main categories: (1) surface functionalization with bioactive agents by physical or chemical means; (2) incorporation of bioactive materials either as surface coatings or as composites; and (3) construction of three-dimensionally porous structures on its surfaces. The physical treatments, such as plasma treatments of various elements, accelerated neutron beams, or conventional techniques like sandblasting and laser or ultraviolet radiation, change the micro-geometry of the implant surface. The chemical treatments change the surface composition of PEEK and should be titrated at the time of exposure. The implant surface can be incorporated with a bioactive material that should be selected following the desired use, loading condition, and antimicrobial load around the implant. For optimal results, a combination of the methods above is utilized to compensate for the limitations of individual methods. This review summarizes these methods and their combinations for optimizing the surface of PEEK for utilization as an implanted biomaterial.
Knocking-Down CD147/EMMPRIN Expression in CT26 Colon Carcinoma Forces the Cells into Cellular and Angiogenic Dormancy That Can Be Reversed by Interactions with Macrophages
Authors: Feigelman Gabriele , Simanovich Elina , Brockmeyer Phillipp , Rahat Michal A.
Published: March 2023

Metastasis in colorectal cancer is responsible for most of the cancer-related deaths. For metastasis to occur, tumor cells must first undergo the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is driven by the transcription factors (EMT-TFs) Snail, Slug twist1, or Zeb1, to promote their migration. In the distant organs, tumor cells may become dormant for years, until signals from their microenvironment trigger and promote their outgrowth. Here we asked whether CD147/EMMPRIN controls entry and exit from dormancy in the aggressive and proliferative (i.e., non-dormant) CT26 mouse colon carcinoma cells, in its wild-type form (CT26-WT cells). To this end, we knocked down EMMPRIN expression in CT26 cells (CT26-KD), and compared their EMT and cellular dormancy status (e.g., proliferation, pERK/pP38 ratio, vimentin expression, expression of EMT-TFs and dormancy markers), and angiogenic dormancy (e.g., VEGF and MMP-9 secretion, healing of the wounded bEND3 mouse endothelial cells), to the parental cells (CT26-WT). We show that knocking-down EMMPRIN expression reduced the pERK/pP38 ratio, enhanced the expression of vimentin, the EMT-TFs and the dormancy markers, and reduced the proliferation and angiogenic potential, cumulatively indicating that cells were pushed towards dormancy. When macrophages were co-cultured with both types of CT26 cells, the CT26-WT cells increased their angiogenic potential, but did not change their proliferation, state of EMT, or dormancy, whereas the CT26-KD cells exhibited values mostly similar to those of the co-cultured CT26-WT cells. Addition of recombinant TGFβ or EMMPRIN that simulated the presence of macrophages yielded similar results. Combinations of low concentrations of TGFβ and EMMPRIN had a minimal additive effect only in the CT26-KD cells, suggesting that they work along the same signaling pathway. We conclude that EMMPRIN is important as a gatekeeper that prevents cells from entering a dormant state, and that macrophages can promote an exit from dormancy.
Unexpected Classes of Aquaporin Channels Detected by Transcriptomic Analysis in Human Brain Are Associated with Both Patient Age and Alzheimer’s Disease Status
Authors: Amro Zein , Ryan Matthew , Collins-Praino Lyndsey E. , Yool Andrea J.
Published: March 2023

The altered expression of known brain Aquaporin (AQP) channels 1, 4 and 9 has been correlated with neuropathological AD progression, but possible roles of other AQP classes in neurological disease remain understudied. The levels of transcripts of all thirteen human AQP subtypes were compared in healthy and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brains by statistical analyses of microarray RNAseq expression data from the Allen Brain Atlas database. Previously unreported, AQPs 0, 6 and 10, are present in human brains at the transcript level. Three AD-affected brain regions, hippocampus (HIP), parietal cortex (PCx) and temporal cortex (TCx), were assessed in three subgroups: young controls (n = 6, aged 24–57); aged controls (n = 26, aged 78–99); and an AD cohort (n = 12, aged 79–99). A significant positive correlation (p < 10−10) was seen for AQP transcript levels as a function of the subject’s age in years. Differential expressions correlated with brain region, age, and AD diagnosis, particularly between the HIP and cortical regions. Interestingly, three classes of AQPs (0, 6 and 8) upregulated in AD compared to young controls are permeable to H2O2. Of these, AQPs 0 and 8 were increased in TCx and AQP6 in HIP, suggesting a role of AQPs in AD-related oxidative stress. The outcomes here are the first to demonstrate that the expression profile of AQP channels in the human brain is more diverse than previously thought, and transcript levels are influenced by both age and AD status. Associations between reactive oxygen stress and neurodegenerative disease risk highlight AQPs 0, 6, 8 and 10 as potential therapeutic targets.
Review on Carbon Dot-Based Fluorescent Detection of Biothiols
Authors: Shellaiah Muthaiah , Sun Kien Wen
Published: March 2023

Biothiols, such as cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy), and glutathione (GSH), play a vital role in gene expression, maintaining redox homeostasis, reducing damages caused by free radicals/toxins, etc. Likewise, abnormal levels of biothiols can lead to severe diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), neurotoxicity, hair depigmentation, liver/skin damage, etc. To quantify the biothiols in a biological system, numerous low-toxic probes, such as fluorescent quantum dots, emissive organic probes, composited nanomaterials, etc., have been reported with real-time applications. Among these fluorescent probes, carbon-dots (CDs) have become attractive for biothiols quantification because of advantages of easy synthesis, nano-size, crystalline properties, low-toxicity, and real-time applicability. A CDs-based biothiols assay can be achieved by fluorescent “Turn-On” and “Turn-Off” responses via direct binding, metal complex-mediated detection, composite enhanced interaction, reaction-based reports, and so forth. To date, the availability of a review focused on fluorescent CDs-based biothiols detection with information on recent trends, mechanistic aspects, linear ranges, LODs, and real applications is lacking, which allows us to deliver this comprehensive review. This review delivers valuable information on reported carbon-dots-based biothiols assays, the underlying mechanism, their applications, probe/CDs selection, sensory requirement, merits, limitations, and future scopes.
Electrochemical and Bioelectrochemical Sensing Platforms for Diagnostics of COVID-19
Authors: Ferreira Milena do Prado , Yamada-Ogatta Sueli Fumie , Teixeira Tarley César Ricardo
Published: March 2023

Rapid transmission and high mortality rates caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus showed that the best way to fight against the pandemic was through rapid, accurate diagnosis in parallel with vaccination. In this context, several research groups around the world have endeavored to develop new diagnostic methods due to the disadvantages of the gold standard method, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), in terms of cost and time consumption. Electrochemical and bioelectrochemical platforms have been important tools for overcoming the limitations of conventional diagnostic platforms, including accuracy, accessibility, portability, and response time. In this review, we report on several electrochemical sensors and biosensors developed for SARS-CoV-2 detection, presenting the concepts, fabrication, advantages, and disadvantages of the different approaches. The focus is devoted to highlighting the recent progress of electrochemical devices developed as next-generation field-deployable analytical tools as well as guiding future researchers in the manufacture of devices for disease diagnosis.
Are Translation Equivalents Always Activated When Bilinguals Perform a Task in One of Their Languages? Behavioral and ERP Evidence of the Role of the Task
Authors: Ferré Pilar , Obrador Josep Albert , Demestre Josep
Published: March 2023

This study investigates the extent to which highly proficient Spanish–Catalan bilinguals activate Spanish translation equivalents when they are presented with Catalan words. Participants performed a translation recognition task (Experiment 1) or a primed lexical decision task (Experiment 2) where the relationship between the first presented (Catalan) word and the second presented (Spanish) word was manipulated. Semantic and form relationships between the first and the second words were examined. Semantic relatedness produced a behavioral interference effect in the translation recognition task and a facilitation effect in the primed lexical decision task. The semantic manipulation also affected the N400 component. Form relatedness produced a behavioral interference effect only in the translation recognition task, which was accompanied by a modulation of the LPC component. In contrast, there were no effects of the formal manipulation in the primed lexical decision task. These results, which are discussed in relation to the revised hierarchical model (RHM), suggest that activation of translation equivalents is a by-product of the type of task.
Project Cost Overrun Risk Prediction Using Hidden Markov Chain Analysis
Authors: Leu Sou-Sen , Liu Yanni , Wu Pei-Lin
Published: March 2023

Construction project cost overrun is a common problem in the construction industry. The cost of construction projects is thought to have increased by approximately 33% on average. Several types of research on construction project cost overrun have been conducted and these generally rely on historical data. However, whilst each project has its own project characteristics and cost trend, real-time project cost data are more reliable to forecast its own cost trend. This paper proposes a real-time hidden Markov chain (HMM) model to predict cost overrun risk based on project-owned cost performance data and the corrective actions if adopted. The cost overrun events occurrence in this model was assumed to follow a Poisson arrival pattern. Real-time HMM with a particle filter was used to run the simulation. One SRC building project in Taiwan was used for model validation and comparison. The posterior probabilities from the real-time HMM model were highly consistent with the cost overrun ratios of real construction projects. The proposed cost overrun prediction model could provide an early alert of cost overruns to the project manager. Based on the survey of cost overrun risk and significantly influential factors, we propose effective cost management plans to alleviate the frequency of project cost overrun.
Highlighting the Characteristics of Roman Mortars from Ovidiu’s Quadriburgium Archaeological Site, Romania
Authors: Mociu Nicolae Costin , Maftei Carmen Elena , Carazeanu Popovici Ionela , Voicu Georgeta , Buta Constantin , Stanescu Madalina
Published: March 2023

This study examines the mortar materials used in the construction of the walls at the Archaeological Roman Fortification site (Ovidiu, Romania) on the shore of Siutghiol Lake. Several analyses were conducted to determine the mortars’ basic physical properties, mineralogical composition, and microstructural characteristics in order to describe the mortars used in the construction of the Roman fortress. The investigation utilized X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDAX), and differential thermal analysis (TGA-DTA). The results indicated that siliceous aggregates and lime binders were used in the production of the studied mortars, the structure was constructed in the sixth century, and the raw materials used to construct the site are of local origin. Using the methods mentioned above, there is the possibility of recreating the fortification’s mortar formula using contemporary materials and recommending intervention materials for the preservation of the archaeology of the Roman Fortification. Furthermore, this study opens up many other research opportunities regarding the reuse of mortars extracted from archaeological sites in the rehabilitation process by integrating them into new mortar recipes that can then be tested to compare the results with those obtained from standardized recipes.
Experimental Study and 3-D Meso-Scale Discrete Element Modeling on the Compressive Behavior of Foamed Concrete
Authors: Gao Yuan , Cheng Yin , Chen Jianzhuang
Published: March 2023

The relationships between the mechanical properties of foam concrete and its pore structure and cement slurry properties have been confirmed, but these relationships cannot be directly reflected just through experimental research. Thus, experiments and the discrete element method (DEM) were used to reveal the relationship between pore structure, cement slurry characteristics, and mechanical properties in foam concrete in this paper. In order to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of numerical simulation, tests of foam concrete were carried out first, such as X-ray computed tomography (CT), the uniaxial compression test, and the three-point flexural test. On this basis, the failure process of foamed concrete was reflected by numerical simulation. The results show that the bearing capacity of foam concrete increases significantly with its increased density. In 750 kg/m3 foam concrete, the stress is mainly borne by the cement matrix. The ability of the cement matrix around the pores to resist tensile failure is weak, and the failure of foamed concrete is mainly caused by tensile failure. Moreover, when the loading rate is low, it takes a long time for the foamed concrete to break, and the cracks generated by the force expand along the weakest area around the pores to form a rough failure section. At higher loading rates, cracks tend to develop directly through the cement matrix along a straight line. The crack development process inside foam concrete is accurately presented by DEM. The density of foam concrete increases, the number of internal cracks decreases, and the cracks are dispersed. The crack development of foam concrete can be divided into the following stages: First, the microcracks are generated near the supports. Following that, the cracks are caused by tensile stress and gradually extend with increasing loading until the foamed concrete fails. Under full calibration, the engineering design of foam concrete can be completed by DEM.
Fabrication and Application of Ag, Black TiO2 and Nitrogen-Doped 3D Reduced Graphene Oxide (3D Black TiO2/Ag/N@rGO) Evaporator for Efficient Steam Generation
Authors: Bezza Fisseha A. , Iwarere Samuel A. , Tichapondwa Shepherd M. , Chirwa Evans M. N.
Published: March 2023

The scarcity of fresh water, which is aggravated by rapid economic development and population growth, is a major threat to the modern world. Solar-driven interfacial desalination and steam generation is a promising strategy that localizes heat at the air-water interface through appropriate thermal management and demonstrates efficient photothermal performance. In the current study, Ag, black TiO2, and nitrogen-doped 3D reduced graphene oxide (3D black TiO2/Ag/N@rGO) hierarchical evaporator was fabricated, and its morphology, elemental composition, porosity, broadband solar absorption potential, photothermal performance, and interfacial desalination potential were assessed. The 3D solar evaporator showed efficient solar absorption over the entire broadband UV-visible near-infrared (UV-Vis NIR) region and demonstrated 99% photothermal conversion efficiency and potential freshwater generation of 1.43 kg·m−2 h−1. The specific surface area and porosity analyses demonstrated an ultrahigh specific surface area, high pore volume, and a mesoporous structure, with a predominant pore diameter of 4 nm. The strong photothermal performance can be attributed to the nitrogen doping of the rGO, which boosted the electrocatalytic and photothermal activity of the graphene through the activation of the excess free-flowing π electrons of the sp2 configuration of the graphene; the broadband solar absorption potential of the black TiO2; and the localized surface plasmon resonance effect of the AgNPs, which induced hot electron generation and enhanced photothermal conversion. Hence, the high photothermal conversion efficiency attained can be attributed to the synergistic photothermal performances of the individual components and the high interfacial surface area, abundant heat, and mass transfer microcavities of the 3D hierarchical porous solar absorber, offering multiple reflections of light and enhanced solar absorption. The study highlights the promising potential of the 3D evaporator for real-word interfacial desalination of seawater, helping to solve the water shortage problem sustainably.
Modification of Ti/Sb-SnO2/PbO2 Electrode by Active Granules and Its Application in Wastewater Containing Copper Ions
Authors: Kang Xuanqi , Wu Jia , Wei Zhen , Jia Bo , Feng Qing , Xu Shangyuan , Wang Yunhai
Published: March 2023

Active granule (WC/Co3O4) doping Ti/Sb-SnO2/PbO2 electrodes were successfully synthesized by composite electrodeposition. The as-prepared electrodes were systematically characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electrochemical performance, zeta potential, and accelerated lifetime. It was found that the doping of active granules (WC/Co3O4) can reduce the average grain size and increase the number of active sites on the electrode surface. Moreover, it can improve the proportion of surface oxygen vacancies and non-stoichiometric PbO2, resulting in an outstanding conductivity, which can improve the electron transfer and catalytic activity of the electrode. Electrochemical measurements imply that Ti/Sb-SnO2/Co3O4-PbO2 and Ti/Sb-SnO2/WC-Co3O4-PbO2 electrodes have superior oxygen evolution reactions (OERs) relative to those of Ti/Sb-SnO2/PbO2 and Ti/Sb-SnO2/WC-PbO2 electrodes. A Ti/Sb-SnO2/Co3O4-PbO2 electrode is considered as the optimal modified electrode due to its long lifetime (684 h) and the remarkable stability of plating solutions. The treatment of copper wastewater suggests that composite electrodes exhibit low cell voltage and excellent extraction efficiency. Furthermore, pilot simulation tests verified that a composite electrode consumes less energy than other electrodes. Therefore, it is inferred that composite electrodes may be promising for the treatment of wastewater containing high concentrations of copper ions.
Photocatalytic Removal of Thiamethoxam and Flonicamid Pesticides Present in Agro-Industrial Water Effluents
Authors: Arfanis Michalis K. , Theodorakopoulos George V. , Anagnostopoulos Christos , Georgaki Irene , Karanasios Evangelos , Romanos George Em. , Markellou Emilia , Falaras Polycarpos
Published: March 2023

Pesticide residues, when present in agricultural wastewater, constitute a potential risk for the environment and human health. Hence, focused actions for their abatement are of high priority for both the industrial sectors and national authorities. This work evaluates the effectiveness of the photocatalytic process to decompose two frequently detected pesticides in the water effluents of the fruit industry: thiamethoxam-a neonicotinoid compound and flonicamid-a pyridine derivative. Their photocatalytic degradation and mineralization were evaluated in a lab-scale photocatalytic batch reactor under UV-A illumination with the commercial photocatalyst Evonik P25 TiO2 by employing different experimental conditions. The complete degradation of thiamethoxam was achieved after 90 min, when the medium was adjusted to natural or alkaline pH. Flonicamid was proven to be a more recalcitrant substance and the removal efficiency reached ~50% at the same conditions, although the degradation overpassed 75% in the acidic pH medium. Overall, the pesticides’ degradation follows the photocatalytic reduction pathways, where positive charged holes and hydroxyl radicals dominate as reactive species, with complete mineralization taking place after 4 h, regardless of the pH medium. Moreover, it was deduced that the pesticides’ degradation kinetics followed the Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) model, and the apparent rate constant, the initial degradation rate, as well as the L-H model parameters, were determined for both pesticides.
The Complement System in Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Santarsiero Donata , Aiello Sistiana
Published: March 2023

Kidney transplantation is the therapy of choice for patients who suffer from end-stage renal diseases. Despite improvements in surgical techniques and immunosuppressive treatments, long-term graft survival remains a challenge. A large body of evidence documented that the complement cascade, a part of the innate immune system, plays a crucial role in the deleterious inflammatory reactions that occur during the transplantation process, such as brain or cardiac death of the donor and ischaemia/reperfusion injury. In addition, the complement system also modulates the responses of T cells and B cells to alloantigens, thus playing a crucial role in cellular as well as humoral responses to the allograft, which lead to damage to the transplanted kidney. Since several drugs that are capable of inhibiting complement activation at various stages of the complement cascade are emerging and being developed, we will discuss how these novel therapies could have potential applications in ameliorating outcomes in kidney transplantations by preventing the deleterious effects of ischaemia/reperfusion injury, modulating the adaptive immune response, and treating antibody-mediated rejection.
Gut-Microbiota-Derived Metabolites Maintain Gut and Systemic Immune Homeostasis
Authors: Wang Juanjuan , Zhu Ningning , Su Xiaomin , Gao Yunhuan , Yang Rongcun
Published: March 2023

The gut microbiota, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses and phages, inhabits the gastrointestinal tract. This commensal microbiota can contribute to the regulation of host immune response and homeostasis. Alterations of the gut microbiota have been found in many immune-related diseases. The metabolites generated by specific microorganisms in the gut microbiota, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), tryptophan (Trp) and bile acid (BA) metabolites, not only affect genetic and epigenetic regulation but also impact metabolism in the immune cells, including immunosuppressive and inflammatory cells. The immunosuppressive cells (such as tolerogenic macrophages (tMacs), tolerogenic dendritic cells (tDCs), myeloid-derived suppressive cells (MDSCs), regulatory T cells (Tregs), regulatory B cells (Breg) and innate lymphocytes (ILCs)) and inflammatory cells (such as inflammatory Macs (iMacs), DCs, CD4 T helper (Th)1, CD4Th2, Th17, natural killer (NK) T cells, NK cells and neutrophils) can express different receptors for SCFAs, Trp and BA metabolites from different microorganisms. Activation of these receptors not only promotes the differentiation and function of immunosuppressive cells but also inhibits inflammatory cells, causing the reprogramming of the local and systemic immune system to maintain the homeostasis of the individuals. We here will summarize the recent advances in understanding the metabolism of SCFAs, Trp and BA in the gut microbiota and the effects of SCFAs, Trp and BA metabolites on gut and systemic immune homeostasis, especially on the differentiation and functions of the immune cells.
Highly Selective and Sensitive Sensor Based IL and CMC-MWCNTs Nanocomposite for Rutin Determination
Authors: Meng Xin , Xiao Bao-Lin , Song Xin-Yan , Ma Xin-Xin , Li Yang-Yang , Ma Lin-Lin , Chen Yu-Jie , Li Yu-Ying , Xu Ke-Xin , Wei Jian-She , Hong Tao , Moosavi-Movahedi Ali Akbar , Hong Jun
Published: March 2023

Rutin is a natural antioxidant flavonoid compound with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral effects that is used to prepare drugs with wide application in clinical treatment. Therefore, the quantitative detection of rutin has important practical significance. In this work, a novel electrochemical sensor based on glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs) modified with sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and 1-butyl-3-methylimid (ionic liquid, IL) was developed for the super-sensitive detection of the flavonoid rutin. The properties of these modified materials were analyzed by transmission electron microscope (TEM), cyclic voltammograms (CVs), and electrochemical-impedance spectroscopy (EIS). CMC was used to disperse MWCNTs to further enhance their hydrophilicity and biocompatibility. The modified MWCNTs improved the sensitivity of rutin detection. The square-wave voltammetry (SWV) technique showed that the linear range of rutin concentration determination was 0.01 μM to 1 µM and 1 µM to 10 µM. The minimum concentration detection of rutin was 0.83 nM and 6.6 nM, respectively. The proposed sensor presented good selectivity for rutin and successfully analyzed rutin content in the pharmaceutical rutin tablets. These results are consistent with those measured by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC). Therefore, this sensor has latent application value in the analysis of rutin in food and drug tablets and nutraceutical samples.
The Process and Mechanisms of Freezing and Thawing Deterioration of Petroglyphs under Snowmelt and Rainfall Infiltration
Authors: Wu Guopeng , Cui Kai , Ge Chengrui , Yu Xiangpeng
Published: March 2023

Freeze–thaw cycles under the conditions of snowmelt and rainfall infiltration in winter are triggers for petroglyph weathering. Rock samples from the Helan Mountains were subjected freeze–thaw cycles under various conditions in laboratory testing, and the mass, elastic wave velocity and unconfined compressive strength were tested. The results show that the mass loss rate, wave velocity and compressive strength decreased. In addition, according to XRD analyses, the content of calcite and feldspar in the samples decreased, and according to SEM analyses, the microscopic pores grew. Considering the mass, mineral content and micro-voids, the variation decreases in the order: snowmelt group, rainfall infiltration group, normal freeze–thaw group. However, for wave velocity and compressive strength, the opposite results were observed. This research contributes to a better understanding of the weathering processes and mechanisms of petroglyphs in the Helan Mountains in winter.
Predicting the Average Composition of an AlFeNiTiVZr-Cr Alloy with Machine Learning and X-ray Spectroscopy
Authors: Sadat Tarik
Published: March 2023

A multi-principal element alloy (MPEA) is a type of metallic alloy that is composed of multiple metallic elements, with each element making up a significant portion of the alloy. In this study, the initial atomic percentage of elements in an (AlFeNiTiVZr)1-xCrx MPEA alloy as a function of the position on the surface was investigated using machine learning algorithms. Given the absence of a linear relationship between the atomic percentage of elements and their location on the surface, it is not possible to discern any clear association from the dataset. To overcome this non-linear relationship, the prediction of the atomic percentage of elements was accomplished using both decision tree (DT) and random forest (RF) regression models. The models were compared, and the results were found to be consistent with the experimental findings (a coefficient of determination R2 of 0.98 is obtained with the DT algorithm and 0.99 with the RF one). This research demonstrates the potential of machine learning algorithms in the analysis of wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (WDS) datasets.
Cuproptosis-Related Gene DLAT as a Novel Biomarker Correlated with Prognosis, Chemoresistance, and Immune Infiltration in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: A Preliminary Study Based on Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Fang Zengli , Wang Wei , Liu Yuan , Hua Jie , Liang Chen , Liu Jiang , Zhang Bo , Shi Si , Yu Xianjun , Meng Qingcai , Xu Jin
Published: March 2023

A novel form of cell death, cuproptosis, was recently identified to be mediated by the binding of copper to lipoylated enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) may play a crucial role in the progression of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD), which often exhibits metabolic reprogramming. In the present study, univariate Cox regression analysis and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis were performed to identify prognostic CRGs. Data from the Cancer Therapeutics Response Portal and the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer database were downloaded for drug sensitivity analysis. DLAT was identified as the only prognostic CRG in PAAD (HR = 2.72; 95% CI, 1.10–6.74). Functional enrichment analyses indicated that the basic function of DLAT is closely related to metabolism, and multiple tumor-promoting and immune response-related pathways were enriched in DLAT-high PAAD samples. The influence of DLAT and related genes on cancer immunity was evaluated by comprehensive immune infiltration analyses, which revealed the value of these genes as biomarkers for evaluating the sensitivity to immunotherapy. Additionally, high DLAT expression induced drug resistance, and significantly increased resistance to commonly used chemotherapeutics in PAAD, such as gemcitabine, oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and irinotecan. In conclusion, our study preliminarily revealed the prognostic value of DLAT, which is correlated with PAAD progression, chemoresistance, and immune infiltration, providing a valuable reference for PAAD treatment. However, our findings need to be confirmed by further in vivo and in vitro experiments.
Blood Transfusions and Adverse Events after Colorectal Surgery: A Propensity-Score-Matched Analysis of a Hen–Egg Issue
Authors: Catarci Marco , Guadagni Stefano , Masedu Francesco , Montemurro Leonardo Antonio , Ciano Paolo , Benedetti Michele , Delrio Paolo , Garulli Gianluca , Pirozzi Felice , Scatizzi Marco
Published: March 2023

Blood transfusions are considered a risk factor for adverse outcomes after colorectal surgery. However, it is still unclear if they are the cause (the hen) or the consequence (the egg) of adverse events. A prospective database of 4529 colorectal resections gathered over a 12-month period in 76 Italian surgical units (the iCral3 study), reporting patient-, disease-, and procedure-related variables, together with 60-day adverse events, was retrospectively analyzed identifying a subgroup of 304 cases (6.7%) that received intra- and/or postoperative blood transfusions (IPBTs). The endpoints considered were overall and major morbidity (OM and MM, respectively), anastomotic leakage (AL), and mortality (M) rates. After the exclusion of 336 patients who underwent neo-adjuvant treatments, 4193 (92.6%) cases were analyzed through a 1:1 propensity score matching model including 22 covariates. Two well-balanced groups of 275 patients each were obtained: group A, presence of IPBT, and group B, absence of IPBT. Group A vs. group B showed a significantly higher risk of overall morbidity (154 (56%) vs. 84 (31%) events; OR 3.07; 95%CI 2.13–4.43; p = 0.001), major morbidity (59 (21%) vs. 13 (4.7%) events; OR 6.06; 95%CI 3.17–11.6; p = 0.001), and anastomotic leakage (31 (11.3%) vs. 8 (2.9%) events; OR 4.72; 95%CI 2.09–10.66; p = 0.0002). No significant difference was recorded between the two groups concerning the risk of mortality. The original subpopulation of 304 patients that received IPBT was further analyzed considering three variables: appropriateness of BT according to liberal transfusion thresholds, BT following any hemorrhagic and/or major adverse event, and major adverse event following BT without any previous hemorrhagic adverse event. Inappropriate BT was administered in more than a quarter of cases, without any significant influence on any endpoint. The majority of BT was administered after a hemorrhagic or a major adverse event, with significantly higher rates of MM and AL. Finally, a major adverse event followed BT in a minority (4.3%) of cases, with significantly higher MM, AL, and M rates. In conclusion, although the majority of IPBT was administered with the consequence of hemorrhage and/or major adverse events (the egg), after adjustment accounting for 22 covariates, IPBT still resulted in a definite source of a higher risk of major morbidity and anastomotic leakage rates after colorectal surgery (the hen), calling urgent attention to the implementation of patient blood management programs.
Validation of an Automated System for the Extraction of a Wide Dataset for Clinical Studies Aimed at Improving the Early Diagnosis of Candidemia
Authors: Giacobbe Daniele Roberto , Mora Sara , Signori Alessio , Russo Chiara , Brucci Giorgia , Campi Cristina , Guastavino Sabrina , Marelli Cristina , Limongelli Alessandro , Vena Antonio , Mikulska Malgorzata , Marchese Anna , Di Biagio Antonio , Giacomini Mauro , Bassetti Matteo
Published: March 2023

There is increasing interest in assessing whether machine learning (ML) techniques could further improve the early diagnosis of candidemia among patients with a consistent clinical picture. The objective of the present study is to validate the accuracy of a system for the automated extraction from a hospital laboratory software of a large number of features from candidemia and/or bacteremia episodes as the first phase of the AUTO-CAND project. The manual validation was performed on a representative and randomly extracted subset of episodes of candidemia and/or bacteremia. The manual validation of the random extraction of 381 episodes of candidemia and/or bacteremia, with automated organization in structured features of laboratory and microbiological data resulted in ≥99% correct extractions (with confidence interval < ±1%) for all variables. The final automatically extracted dataset consisted of 1338 episodes of candidemia (8%), 14,112 episodes of bacteremia (90%), and 302 episodes of mixed candidemia/bacteremia (2%). The final dataset will serve to assess the performance of different ML models for the early diagnosis of candidemia in the second phase of the AUTO-CAND project.
Clinical Features and Prognostic Impact of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma without Dilatation of the Main Pancreatic Duct: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Takayanagi Takuya , Sekino Yusuke , Kasuga Noriki , Ishii Ken , Nagase Hajime , Nakajima Atsushi
Published: March 2023

The presence of main pancreatic duct (MPD) dilatation is important for diagnosing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs). However, we occasionally encounter PDAC cases without MPD dilatation. The objectives of this study were to compare the clinical findings and prognosis of pathologically diagnosed PDAC cases with and without MPD dilatation and to extract factors related to the prognosis of PDAC. The 281 patients pathologically diagnosed with PDAC were divided into two groups: the dilatation group (n = 215), consisting of patients with MPD dilatation of 3 mm or more, and the non-dilatation group (n = 66), consisting of patients with MPD dilatation less than 3 mm. We found that the non-dilatation group had more cancers in the pancreatic tail, more advanced disease stage, lower resectability, and worse prognoses than the dilatation group. Clinical stage and history of surgery or chemotherapy were identified as significant prognostic factors for PDAC, while tumor location was not. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI), and contrast-enhanced computed tomography had a high tumor detection rate for PDAC even in the non-dilatation group. Construction of a diagnostic system centered on EUS and DW-MRI is necessary for the early diagnosis of PDAC without MPD dilatation, which can improve its prognosis.
Student Academic and Social Engagement in the Life of the Academy—A Lever for Retention and Persistence in Higher Education
Authors: Sá Maria José
Published: March 2023

Research studies worldwide have focused on higher education dropout, persistence, and success. Given the profound changes in higher education that have taken place in recent decades, higher education institutions need to compete for students by attracting, retaining, and, ultimately, graduating them. Thus, higher education institutions increasingly offer actions that aim to foster student success. While a smooth and supported process of student transition from secondary to tertiary education is one of the key variables in higher education student retention and paramount for preventing student dropout, the student’s overall experience in higher education plays a pivotal role in their performance and success. This paper focuses specifically on higher education students’ academic and social involvement, notably through their engagement in extracurricular activities and decision-making processes, which are perceived as critical mechanisms in their persistence in higher education. The study used a qualitative approach with the analysis of four Portuguese higher education institutions. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with students and institutional leaders, complemented with document analysis, and explored through content analysis. The results reveal that, from the wide range of opportunities for involvement offered to students by the higher education institution, activities of an academic nature are the most sought after by students to complement their educational experience. However, students perceive involvement in extracurricular activities in general as critical, both to their overall education and preparation for the labor market and to an easier integration into the institutional environment. Hence, student involvement in cultural or recreational activities, alongside their involvement in institutional decision-making bodies and associative movements, is a privileged way of complementing students’ academic training and is perceived by them as important in their overall education, both as professionals and as individuals.
Deep Learning Architecture Improvement Based on Dynamic Pruning and Layer Fusion
Authors: Li Qi , Li Hengyi , Meng Lin
Published: March 2023

The heavy workload of current deep learning architectures significantly impedes the application of deep learning, especially on resource-constrained devices. Pruning has provided a promising solution to compressing the bloated deep learning models by removing the redundancies of the networks. However, existing pruning methods mainly focus on compressing the superfluous channels without considering layer-level redundancies, which results in the channel-pruned models still suffering from serious redundancies. To mitigate this problem, we propose an effective compression algorithm for deep learning models that uses both the channel-level and layer-level compression techniques to optimize the enormous deep learning models. In detail, the channels are dynamically pruned first, and then the model is further optimized by fusing the redundant layers. Only a minor performance loss results. The experimental results show that the computations of ResNet-110 are reduced by 80.05%, yet the accuracy is only decreased by 0.72%. Forty-eight convolutional layers could be discarded from ResNet-110 with no loss of performance, which fully demonstrates the efficiency of the proposal.
A Tile-Based, Adaptable Boost Converter with Fast Transient Response and Small Voltage Ripples in 40 nm CMOS Technology
Authors: Hosny Mostafa , Ibrahim Sameh
Published: March 2023

This work presents a fully integrated boost switched-capacitor regulator in 40 nm CMOS technology. In addition to using small MOS + MOM capacitors to reduce the area, the regulator utilizes a pseudo-6-bit analog-to-digital converter at the converter’s output to determine the driving capability needed. Combined with a 32-phase clock, this novel approach reduces control complexity, achieves small ripples, and shows a very fast transient response from zero to the maximum load of 6 mA, and vice versa, in 100 ps with output overshoot and undershoot not exceeding 4% of the regulator’s output voltage. A new Figure of Merit is developed to establish a basis for comparing fully integrated switched regulators’ transient response.
Oscillation Damping Neuro-Based Controllers Augmented Solar Energy Penetration Management of Power System Stability
Authors: Aref Mahmoud , Abdelaziz Almoataz Y. , Geem Zong Woo , Hong Junhee , Abo-Elyousr Farag K.
Published: March 2023

The appropriate design of the power oscillation damping controllers guarantees that distributed energy resources and sustainable smart grids deliver excellent service subjected to big data for planned maintenance of renewable energy. Therefore, the main target of this study is to suppress the low-frequency oscillations due to disruptive faults and heavy load disturbance conditions. The considered power system comprises two interconnected hydroelectric areas with heavy solar energy penetrations, severely impacting the power system stabilizers. When associated with appropriate controllers, FACTs technology such as the static synchronous series compensator provides efficient dampening of the adverse power frequency oscillations. First, a two-area power system with heavy solar energy penetration is implemented. Second, two neuro-based controllers are developed. The first controller is constructed with an optimized particle swarm optimization (PSO) based neural network, while the second is created with the adaptive neuro-fuzzy. An energy management approach is developed to lessen the risky impact of the injected solar energy upon the rotor speed deviations of the synchronous generator. The obtained results are impartially compared with a lead-lag compensator. The obtained results demonstrate that the developed PSO-based neural network controller outperforms the other controllers in terms of execution time and the system performance indices. Solar energy penetrations temporarily influence the electrical power produced by the synchronous generators, which slow down for uncomfortably lengthy intervals for solar energy injection greater than 0.5 pu.