bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aboveground Structural Attributes and Morpho-Anatomical Response Strategies of Bromus valdivianus Phil. and Lolium perenne L. to Severe Soil Water Restriction
Authors: Zhang Yongmei , García-Favre Javier , Hu Haiying , López Ignacio F. , Ordóñez Iván P. , Cartmill Andrew D. , Kemp Peter D.
Published: November 2023

Grass species have a range of strategies to tolerate soil water restriction, which are linked to the environmental conditions at their site of origin. Climate change enhances the relevance of the functional role of anatomical attributes and their contribution as water stress tolerance factors. Morpho-anatomical traits and adjustments that contribute to drought resistance in Lolium perenne L. (Lp) and Bromus valdivianus Phil. (Bv), a temperate humid grass species, were analysed. The structure of the leaves and pseudostems (stems only in Lp) grown at 20–25% field capacity (FC) (water restriction) and 80–85% FC (control) were evaluated by making paraffin sections. In both species, water restriction reduced the thickness of the leaves and pseudostems, along with the size of the vasculature. Bv had long and dense leaf hairs, small and numerous stomata, and other significant adaptive traits under water stress, including thicker pseudostems (p ≤ 0.001), a greatly thickened bundle sheath wall (p ≤ 0.001) in the pseudostem to ensure water flow, and a thickened cuticle covering on leaf surfaces (p ≤ 0.01) to avoid water loss. Lp vascular bundles developed throughout the stem, and under water restriction the xylem vessel walls were strengthened and lignified. Lp leaves had individual traits of a ribbed/corrugated-shaped upper surface, and the stomata were positioned to maintain relative humidity outside the leaf surface. Water restriction significantly changed the bulliform cell depth in Lp (p ≤ 0.05) that contributed to water loss reduction via the curling leaf blade. This study demonstrated that the two grass species, through different morphological traits, were able to adjust their individual tissues and cells in aboveground parts to reach similar physiological functions to reduce water loss with increased water restriction. These attributes explain how both species enhance persistence and resilience under soil water restriction.
A Thermal Time Basis for Comparing the Germination Requirements of Alfalfa Cultivars with Different Fall Dormancy Ratings
Authors: Wu Yi , Zhang Hongxiang , Tian Yu , Song Yantao , Li Qiang
Published: November 2023

Fall dormancy plays important roles in the evaluation of alfalfa’s winter hardiness and in the selection of alfalfa breeding. A rapid and effective method to estimate the fall dormancy rating of alfalfa will shorten the breeding cycle. The purpose of this study is to test the correlations between the germination thermal time model parameters and the fall dormancy ratings and to evaluate the potential of the thermal-based fall dormancy methodology. Alfalfa cultivars with a series of fall dormancy ratings were used to study the responses of seed germination at six constant temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 °C). The results showed that all cultivars had a relatively high germination percentage at all temperatures and the optimal temperature is 25 or 30 °C. Germination rate and base temperature significantly increased with the fall dormancy rating of alfalfa cultivars while thermal time (θT) decreased with the fall dormancy rating. The extremely significant linear regression relationships between the germination rate, base temperature (Tb), θT, and fall dormancy rating indicated that it is convenient and straightforward to predict the fall dormancy rating of unknown cultivars or lines using thermal time model parameters. This method can significantly shorten the selection and breeding cycles in alfalfa cultivation.
African Swine Fever: A Review of Current Disease Management Strategies and Risks Associated with Exhibition Swine in the United States
Authors: Cochran Hannah J. , Bosco-Lauth Angela M. , Garry Franklyn B. , Roman-Muniz I. Noa , Martin Jennifer N.
Published: November 2023

African swine fever is a high-consequence foreign animal disease endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and the island of Sardinia. The U.S. is the world’s third largest pork producer, and ASF introduction would severely disrupt the pork supply chain, emphasizing the need to protect market access for U.S. proteins. However, niche producers raising swine intended for exhibition may not follow stringent biosecurity protocols, and livestock show circuits may promote untracked animal movement across the country, potentially exacerbating virus’ spread in the event of ASF incursion into the U.S. Youth membership in state or national swine organizations offers a route for outreach and educational activities to enhance foreign animal disease preparedness, and adult presence at swine exhibitions allows a wide variety of programming for all ages to better serve all levels of understanding.
Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Providencia vermicola Infections Occurring in Farmed Tilapia: Two Potentially Emerging Pathogens
Authors: Rajme-Manzur David , Hernández-López Jorge , Martínez-Porchas Marcel , Vargas-Albores Francisco , Garibay-Valdez Estefanía , Coronado-Molina Daniel Eduardo , Hernández-Oñate Miguel Ángel , Vázquez-Ramírez Francisco , Velázquez-Valencia Luis Alfonso , Santacruz Azucena
Published: November 2023

This work aimed to determine the presence of bacterial pathogens in fish with a clinical picture suggestive of infectious disease in Nile tilapia reared in Chiapas, Mexico. Blood and viscera samples were taken from healthy and diseased animals from commercial farms. Clinical and pathological examinations of each individual were performed and samples were collected for bacteriological studies. The bacterial isolates were identified and characterized by culture, biochemical tests, antibiogram, challenge tests and 16S rRNA sequencing. Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Providencia vermicola were isolated from various diseased organisms. The clinical picture caused by Staphylococcus haemolyticus was characterized by appetite disorders, neurological signs, nodulation or ulceration in different areas and congestion or enlargement of internal organs. Providenciosis in juvenile specimens caused a characteristic picture of hemorrhagic septicemia. Challenge tests performed in healthy organisms revealed that both infections caused higher mortality rates in fish (p < 0.05) compared with non-infected specimens, with 100% survival. There was 100% mortality for animals infected with P. vermicola after three days post infection and 45% for those infected with S. haemolyticus. The isolation and identification of two pathogens involved in an infection process were achieved and cataloged as potential causal agents of disease outbreaks in tilapia farming in Mexico. This is the first report of possible bacterial infection caused by S. haemolyticus and P. vermicola in tilapia farms, which are two uncommon but potentially emerging pathogens for the species.
Deformation and Stress Law of Surrounding Rock for a Bifurcated Tunnel with a Super-Large Section: A Case Study
Authors: Wu Xiaodong , Li Yu , Gong Min , Wu Haojun , Wu Yifan
Published: November 2023

The construction method of transitioning from a small cross-section to excavating a super-large cross-section tunnel plays a crucial role in the quality of the final super-large cross-section tunnel and the safety of the tunnel structures and workers during the construction process. The Shenzhen Liantang Bifurcated Tunnel, with a maximum cross-sectional area of 428.4 m2, was the largest cross-sectional tunnel constructed in China in 2018, and there are few engineering projects that can serve as references. To enhance construction safety and achieve the transformation from a two-lane tunnel to a five-lane tunnel, this paper proposes two tunneling methods, namely, the reverse top-heading method and the advance climbing method. Moreover, numerical simulation using MIDAS GTS/NX software was adapted to compare and analyze the stress and deformation characteristics of the surrounding rock in the construction stages using the two methods. The simulation shows that the advance climbing method is more suitable for the construction of the Liantang tunnel. Through on-site monitoring and measurement, the data of peripheral rock vault subsidence, peripheral convergence, and pressure of the supporting structure were assessed. The results show that the maximum values of peripheral rock vault subsidence and peripheral convergence displacement are located in the permissible range of road tunnel vault subsidence. This further verifies the reasonableness of the advance climbing method. This paper not only provide a basis for the construction of the Liantang tunnel but also serves as a reference for construction methods and typical cases for similar super-large-section tunnel projects.
Numerical Simulation of Seepage Surface and Analysis of Phreatic Line Control from a Fine-Grained Tailings High Stacked Dam under Complicated Geography Conditions
Authors: Han Yabing , Wang Guangjin , Zhang Xudong , Zhao Bing
Published: November 2023

Background: It is adverse for the safety of a tailings dam to use fine-grained tailings as the materials for a high tailings dam because of the low penetration coefficient, the slow consolidating velocity, and the bad physical mechanical property. Furthermore, with the influence of complicated geography conditions, the phreatic line will be increased enormously when encountering special conditions, which directly affect the safe operation of the tailings dam. Methods: In this study, based on the engineering, geological, and hydrogeological conditions and survey results of a tailings dam, a 210 m fine-grained tailings dam located in three gullies was selected and used to simulate the three-dimensional seepage field of a tailings dam under a steady saturated state by using the finite element software MIDAS GTS. The permeability coefficient was inverted, the seepage field of the project under different working conditions was simulated, and the position of the phreatic line was obtained. The controlled position of phreatic lines was determined by combining the seepage field with the stability requirements. Results: Back analysis could accurately reflect the actual permeability coefficient of each partition of tailings dams. Due to the multiple areas of seepage accumulation, large valley corners, and narrowing of the dam axis, the phreatic line of the shoulder region was elevated by 2~3 m compared to the surrounding area and was thereby the most critical region of the tailings dam seepage control. The stability requirements and minimum controlled position of the phreatic line requirements could be met when the controlled position of the phreatic line was 23 m. Conclusion: This study revealed the key areas and reasons why the tailings dam’s phreatic line is prone to be uplifted under complicated geography conditions. It was very critical to control the local phreatic line by adopting local horizontal seepage drainage measures or radiation wells in the key areas of the tailings dam to ensure the safety of the tailings dam. In addition to strengthening the daily monitoring of the key areas and the exfiltration facilities of the tailings dam, it is recommended to carry out determination tests of the permeability coefficient and particle size at regular intervals. The findings could provide countermeasures for seepage control.
New Simple Analytical Surge/Swab Pressure Model for Power-Law and Modified Yield-Power-Law Fluid in Concentric/Eccentric Geometry
Authors: Mohammad Amir , Belayneh Mesfin
Published: November 2023

The axial movement of pipe in and out of the well generates positive (surge) and negative (swab) pressures that will impact the well pressure. When the swab and surge effects cause well pressures outside the allowable operational limits, wellbore instability (well collapse/well fracture), kick, and induced drill string sticking issues will occur. The problems increase the operational and nonproductive time-related costs. Consequently, the drilling budget rises significantly. It is therefore, imperative to predict the differential pressures in order to mitigate the problems. Even though several models have been developed in the past, models work for the considered experimental setup and conditions. In this paper, a simple analytical model was derived for eccentric/concentric annuli. The fluid rheological behaviors were assumed to be described by power law and yielded power-law. The model is derived based on a steady state condition, and the effects of tripping speed, the power-law fluids, the yield-power-law fluids rheological parameters, and well geometries are considered. The model is compared with experimental data from the literature and with the existing model. Parametric sensitivity studies have been conducted. Results show that the model prediction exhibited quite good performance, with an average percentile error deviation of 9.9% and 6.2% for the power-law and yield-power-law fluids, respectively. However, more testing is required to determine the model’s limitations and application.
Using LSTM to Identify Help Needs in Primary School Scratch Students
Authors: Imbernón Cuadrado Luis Eduardo , Manjarrés Riesco Ángeles , de la Paz López Félix
Published: November 2023

In the last few years, there has been increasing interest in the use of block-based programming languages as well as in the ethical aspects of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in primary school education. In this article, we present our research on the automatic identification of the need for assistance among primary school children performing Scratch exercises. For data collection, user experiences have been designed to take into account ethical aspects, including gender bias. Finally, a first-in-class distance calculation method for block-based programming languages has been used in a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model, with the aim of identifying when a primary school student needs help while he/she carries out Scratch exercises. This model has been trained twice: the first time taking into account the gender of the students, and the second time excluding it. The accuracy of the model that includes gender is 99.2%, while that of the model that excludes gender is 91.1%. We conclude that taking into account gender in training this model can lead to overfitting, due to the under-representation of girls among the students participating in the experiences, making the model less able to identify when a student needs help. We also conclude that avoiding gender bias is a major challenge in research on educational systems for learning computational thinking skills, and that it necessarily involves effective and motivating gender-sensitive instructional design.
Glacier Retreat Leads to the Expansion of Alpine Lake Karakul Observed Via Remote Sensing Water Volume Time Series Reconstruction
Authors: Du Weibing , Pan Yaming , Li Junli , Bao Anming , Chai Huabin , Yuan Ye , Cheng Chaoying
Published: November 2023

Due to high altitudes, Central Asian alpine lakes can serve as indicators of localized climate change. This article monitored the water volume time series trends of the ungauged alpine Lake Karakul, which is typical because of the abundance of glaciers in the basin, from 1990 to 2020 via multiple source remote sensing data. The “Global-Local” multi-scale lake extraction method is used to delineate the boundary of Lake Karakul. Consistency analysis was performed on the altimetry data of CryoSat-2, ICESat-1 and ICESat-2, assuming that the lake surface was flat; a threshold value was set to remove gross error, and then 3σ was used to remove the surface elevation anomaly. Based on the pyramid volume model, the lake area and surface elevation information were used to reconstruct the water volume time series of Lake Karakul. The influencing factors of water volume temporal variation were discussed. The results show that Lake Karakul has been on an expansionary trend in recent years: The lake area increased from 394.9 km2 in 1988 to 411.4 km2 in 2020; the rate of increase is 0.74 m/year. The surface elevation increased from 3886.6 m in 2003 to 3888.6 m in 2020; the rate of increase is 0.11 km2/year. The lake water volume accumulated was 0.817 km3 in 2003–2020, with an accumulation rate of 0.059 km3/year. The Lake Karakul basin is developing towards dry heat, with a cumulative temperature variation rate of +0.38 °C/year; the average rate of variation in annual cumulative precipitation is −3.37 mm/year; the average evapotranspiration in the watershed is on a fluctuating increasing trend, with a rate of variation of +0.43 mm/year; glaciers in the lake basin have a retreating trend, with an average annual rate of variation of −0.22 km2/year from 1992 to 2020. Lake Karakul is more sensitive to temperature variations, and the runoff from retreating glaciers in the basin is an important contribution to the expansion of Lake Karakul.
Optimisation of Product Recovery Options in End-of-Life Product Disassembly by Robots
Authors: Hartono Natalia , Ramírez F. Javier , Pham Duc Truong
Published: November 2023

In a circular economy, strategies for product recovery, such as reuse, recycling, and remanufacturing, play an important role at the end of a product’s life. A sustainability model was developed to solve the problem of sequence-dependent robotic disassembly line balancing. This research aimed to assess the viability of the model, which was optimised using the Multi-Objective Bees Algorithm in a robotic disassembly setting. Two industrial gear pumps were used as case studies. Four objectives (maximising profit, energy savings, emissions reductions and minimising line imbalance) were set. Several product recovery scenarios were developed to find the best recovery plans for each component. An efficient metaheuristic, the Bees Algorithm, was used to find the best solution. The robotic disassembly plans were generated and assigned to robotic workstations simultaneously. Using the proposed sustainability model on end-of-life industrial gear pumps shows the applicability of the model to real-world problems. The Multi-Objective Bees Algorithm was able to find the best scenario for product recovery by assigning each component to recycling, reuse, remanufacturing, or disposal. The performance of the algorithm is consistent, producing a similar performance for all sustainable strategies. This study addresses issues that arise with product recovery options for end-of-life products and provides optimal solutions through case studies.
Current Biomaterials for Wound Healing
Authors: Downer Mauricio , Berry Charlotte E. , Parker Jennifer B. , Kameni Lionel , Griffin Michelle
Published: November 2023

Wound healing is the body’s process of injury recovery. Skin healing is divided into four distinct overlapping phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Cell-to-cell interactions mediated by both cytokines and chemokines are imperative for the transition between these phases. Patients can face difficulties in the healing process due to the wound being too large, decreased vascularization, infection, or additional burdens of a systemic illness. The field of tissue engineering has been investigating biomaterials as an alternative for skin regeneration. Biomaterials used for wound healing may be natural, synthetic, or a combination of both. Once a specific biomaterial is selected, it acts as a scaffold for skin regeneration. When the scaffold is applied to a wound, it allows for the upregulation of distinct molecular signaling pathways important for skin repair. Although tissue engineering has made great progress, more research is needed in order to support the use of biomaterials for wound healing for clinical translation.
Advances in Escherichia coli-Based Therapeutic Protein Expression: Mammalian Conversion, Continuous Manufacturing, and Cell-Free Production
Authors: Niazi Sarfaraz K. , Magoola Matthias
Published: November 2023

Therapeutic proteins treat many acute and chronic diseases that were until recently considered untreatable. However, their high development cost keeps them out of reach of most patients around the world. One plausible solution to lower-cost manufacturing is to adopt newer technologies like using Escherichia coli to express larger molecules, including full-length antibodies, generally relegated to Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, adopt continuous manufacturing, and convert the manufacturing to cell-free synthesis. The advantages of using E. coli include a shorter production cycle, little risk of viral contamination, cell host stability, and a highly reproducible post-translational modification.
Oral Immunization with Attenuated Salmonella Choleraesuis Expressing the FedF Antigens Protects Mice against the Shiga-Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Challenge
Authors: Zhang Guihua , Fu Yang , Li Yu’an , Li Quan , Wang Shifeng , Shi Huoying
Published: November 2023

Edema disease (ED) is a severe and lethal infectious ailment in swine, stemming from Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). An efficient, user-friendly, and safe vaccine against ED is urgently required to improve animal welfare and decrease antibiotic consumption. Recombinant attenuated Salmonella vaccines (RASV) administered orally induce both humoral and mucosal immune responses to the immunizing antigen. Their potential for inducing protective immunity against ED is significant through the delivery of STEC antigens. rSC0016 represents an enhanced recombinant attenuated vaccine vector designed for Salmonella enterica serotype Choleraesuis. It combines sopB mutations with a regulated delay system to strike a well-balanced equilibrium between host safety and immunogenicity. We generated recombinant vaccine strains, namely rSC0016 (pS-FedF) and rSC0016 (pS-rStx2eA), and assessed their safety and immunogenicity in vivo. The findings demonstrated that the mouse models immunized with rSC0016 (pS-FedF) and rSC0016 (pS-rStx2eA) generated substantial IgG antibody responses to FedF and rStx2eA, while also provoking robust mucosal and cellular immune responses against both FedF and rStx2eA. The protective impact of rSC0016 (pS-FedF) against Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli surpassed that of rSC0016 (pS-rStx2eA), with percentages of 83.3%. These findings underscore that FedF has greater suitability for vaccine delivery via recombinant attenuated Salmonella vaccines (RASVs). Overall, this study provides a promising candidate vaccine for infection with STEC.
Gallium-Containing Materials and Their Potential within New-Generation Titanium Alloys for Biomedical Applications
Authors: McHendrie Rhianna , Xiao Wenlong , Truong Vi Khanh , Hashemi Reza
Published: November 2023

With the rising demand for implantable orthopaedic medical devices and the dominance of device-associated infections, extensive research into the development of novel materials has been prompted. Among these, new-generation titanium alloys with biocompatible elements and improved stiffness levels have received much attention. Furthermore, the development of titanium-based materials that can impart antibacterial function has demonstrated promising results, where gallium has exhibited superior antimicrobial action. This has been evidenced by the addition of gallium to various biomaterials including titanium alloys. Therefore, this paper aims to review the antibacterial activity of gallium when incorporated into biomedical materials, with a focus on titanium-based alloys. First, discussion into the development of new-generation Ti alloys that possess biocompatible elements and reduced Young’s moduli is presented. This includes a brief review of the influence of alloying elements, processing techniques and the resulting biocompatibilities of the materials found in the literature. The antibacterial effect of gallium added to various materials, including bioglasses, liquid metals, and bioceramics, is then reviewed and discussed. Finally, a key focus is given to the incorporation of gallium into titanium systems for which the inherent mechanical, biocompatible, and antibacterial effects are reviewed and discussed in more detail, leading to suggestions and directions for further research in this area.
Neurocognitive Correlates of Clinical Decision Making: A Pilot Study Using Electroencephalography
Authors: Toy Serkan , Shafiei Somayeh B. , Ozsoy Sahin , Abernathy James , Bozdemir Eda , Rau Kristofer K. , Schwengel Deborah A.
Published: November 2023

The development of sound clinical reasoning, while essential for optimal patient care, can be quite an elusive process. Researchers typically rely on a self-report or observational measures to study decision making, but clinicians’ reasoning processes may not be apparent to themselves or outside observers. This study explored electroencephalography (EEG) to examine neurocognitive correlates of clinical decision making during a simulated American Board of Anesthesiology-style standardized oral exam. Eight novice anesthesiology residents and eight fellows who had recently passed their board exams were included in the study. Measures included EEG recordings from each participant, demographic information, self-reported cognitive load, and observed performance. To examine neurocognitive correlates of clinical decision making, power spectral density (PSD) and functional connectivity between pairs of EEG channels were analyzed. Although both groups reported similar cognitive load (p = 0.840), fellows outperformed novices based on performance scores (p < 0.001). PSD showed no significant differences between the groups. Several coherence features showed significant differences between fellows and residents, mostly related to the channels within the frontal, between the frontal and parietal, and between the frontal and temporal areas. The functional connectivity patterns found in this study could provide some clues for future hypothesis-driven studies in examining the underlying cognitive processes that lead to better clinical reasoning.
Prosocial Behaviours and Resilience in School Coexistence: Implications of Creative Self-Efficacy and Stress in Adolescents
Authors: González Moreno Alba , Molero Jurado María del Mar
Published: November 2023

Adolescence brings with it a number of problems such as school violence. To reduce stress and increase the well-being of students, it is necessary to enhance certain skills such as prosocial behaviours, resilience, and creative self-efficacy. This cross-sectional study investigated the impact of prosocial behaviours and creative self-efficacy on school violence, stress, and resilience in adolescent students. A total of 743 students aged 14–19 years participated. The results revealed positive correlations between the dimensions of prosocial behaviours, creative self-efficacy, and resilience, and negative correlations with perceived stress. Differences were also observed in the relationship between prosocial behaviours, school violence, and stress. Mediation models indicated that creative self-efficacy acted as a mediator between prosocial behaviours and resilience. In addition, stress was found to moderate the relationship between prosocial behaviours and resilience. This study provides evidence on how prosocial behaviours, resilience, and creative self-efficacy act as a positive element in adolescence.
Entropy Change of Historical and Cultural Heritage in Traditional Tibetan Area of China Based on Spatial-Temporal Distribution Pattern
Authors: Xu Xiwei , Zhang Junyu , Liu Shupeng , Liu Jiaqi , Zhang Zhen , Tian Xiaoyuan
Published: November 2023

The traditional Tibetan area of China is an ethnically and culturally significant region with a historical geographical connection. This study investigates the spatial-temporal distribution patterns and entropy changes of historical and cultural heritage by examining the association between cultural heritage and socio-historical factors. It utilizes analytical methods such as information entropy and incorporates temporal, spatial, and typological information from the data obtained in the Third National Cultural Relics Census. The findings are as follows: (1) The three major regions in the Tibetan area of China alternately serve as development cores for the traditional Tibetan area, exhibiting a fluctuating “dispersion-aggregation” trend of historical and cultural heritage, which also displays notable regional variations. (2) The quantity and entropy change of historical and cultural heritage exhibit correlations between different periods, but there are also some intergenerational differences. (3) The spatial-temporal distribution pattern of historical and cultural heritage demonstrates an inter-era correlation, indicating that socio-historical development is a nonlinear process characterized by both “transition” and “accumulation”. These findings are of significant importance for further understanding the social evolutionary process of human settlements in high-altitude areas and for the comprehensive protection of cultural heritage in ethnic regions.
To What Extent Could Alternative Economic Models Increase Investment in the Renovation of and Reduce Energy Poverty in Social Housing in Flanders?
Authors: Van de moortel Els , Allacker Karen
Published: November 2023

An important share of the social housing stock in Flanders is outdated, resulting in a high energy demand for heating. Energetic renovation is hence urgently needed. The current economic model, however, does not stimulate this due to a split incentive. As energy prices have increased in the past few years, more tenants have suffered from energy poverty. This paper investigates three alternative economic models aiming at increasing the incentive for renovation, while financially protecting the tenants. In the first alternative model, tenants are protected by inducing a maximal cost of living based on their income. In the second alternative model, a fixed rent is applied, while the third alternative model proposes to share the cost benefits of the energetic renovation. The paper analyses the alternative models by assessing the costs and income for social housing companies and the costs for tenants for an unrenovated building, a renovation with a low investment cost and a deep energetic renovation. The results show that limiting the cost of living based on income seems most interesting as this is beneficial for the tenants and gives an incentive for the social housing companies to renovate. To reduce energy poverty, a deep renovation is necessary.
Role of Vitamin C in Targeting Cancer Stem Cells and Cellular Plasticity
Authors: Lee Yool
Published: November 2023

Vitamin C (VC) is an essential nutrient that is vital for maintaining cellular physiology. Interestingly, it functions as either an antioxidant or a pro-oxidant, depending on the concentration used. At high-doses, VC selectively targets various cancer cell types through its pro-oxidant action, while at low-doses, VC enhances anti-tumor immunity by acting as an antioxidant. This versatility makes VC a promising anti-tumor agent for both standalone and combination therapies. Tumors consist of diverse cancer cell subtypes with distinct phenotypic and functional characteristics. In particular, cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are self-renewing multi-potent cells, are responsible for tumor recurrence, metastasis, chemoresistance, and heightened mortality. CSCs are often associated with the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), which confers increased motility and invasive capabilities that are characteristic of malignant and drug-resistant cells. Thus, eradicating CSC populations is crucial and has led to extensive efforts aimed at identifying medicines that can target them. Recent studies suggest that VC can selectively target CSCs via epigenetic and metabolic pathways in various cancers. Here, we highlight recent progress that has been made in understanding how VC effectively targets CSC evolution, providing a rationale for the use of VC either alone or in combination with other treatments to improve outcomes.
Integrated Genomic Analysis of Primary Prostate Tumor Foci and Corresponding Lymph Node Metastases Identifies Mutations and Pathways Associated with Metastasis
Authors: Moreno Carlos S. , Winham Cynthia L. , Alemozaffar Mehrdad , Klein Emma R. , Lawal Ismaheel O. , Abiodun-Ojo Olayinka A. , Patil Dattatraya , Barwick Benjamin G. , Huang Yijian , Schuster David M. , Sanda Martin G. , Osunkoya Adeboye O.
Published: November 2023

Prostate cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease and mortality is mainly due to metastases but the initial steps of metastasis have not been well characterized. We have performed integrative whole exome sequencing and transcriptome analysis of primary prostate tumor foci and corresponding lymph node metastases (LNM) from 43 patients enrolled in clinical trial. We present evidence that, while there are some cases of clonally independent primary tumor foci, 87% of primary tumor foci and metastases are descended from a common ancestor. We demonstrate that genes related to oxidative phosphorylation are upregulated in LNM and in African-American patients relative to White patients. We further show that mutations in TP53, FLT4, EYA1, NCOR2, CSMD3, and PCDH15 are enriched in prostate cancer metastases. These findings were validated in a meta-analysis of 3929 primary tumors and 2721 metastases and reveal a pattern of molecular alterations underlying the pathology of metastatic prostate cancer. We show that LNM contain multiple subclones that are already present in primary tumor foci. We observed enrichment of mutations in several genes including understudied genes such as EYA1, CSMD3, FLT4, NCOR2, and PCDH15 and found that mutations in EYA1 and CSMD3 are associated with a poor outcome in prostate cancer.
Steering Charge Directional Separation in MXenes/Titanium Dioxide for Efficient Photocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation
Authors: Liu Nianhua , Tang Rong , Li Kai , Wang Bin , Zhao Junze , Xu Qing , Ji Mengxia , Xia Jiexiang
Published: November 2023

Photocatalytic nitrogen fixation has attracted much attention because of its ability to synthesize ammonia under mild conditions. However, the ammonia yield is still greatly limited by the sluggish charge separation and extremely high N2 dissociation energy. Herein, two-dimensional Ti3C2 MXene ultrathin nanosheets were introduced to construct Ti3C2/TiO2 composites via electrostatic adsorption for photocatalytic nitrogen fixation. The photocatalytic activity experiments showed that after adding 0.1 wt% Ti3C2, the ammonia yield of the Ti3C2/TiO2 composite reached 67.9 μmol L−1 after 120 min of light irradiation, nearly 3 times higher than that of the monomer TiO2. XPS, DRS, LSV, and FTIR were used to explore the possible photocatalytic nitrogen fixation mechanism. Studies showed that a close interfacial contact has been formed via the bonding mode of =C-O between the Ti3C2 and TiO2 samples. The formed =C-O bond boosts an oriented photogenerated charge separation and transfer in the Ti3C2/TiO2 composite. This work provides a promising idea for constructing other efficient MXene-based composite photocatalysts for artificial photosynthesis.
UBE3C Facilitates the ER-Associated and Peripheral Degradation of Misfolded CFTR
Authors: Kamada Yuka , Tateishi Hazuki , Nakayamada Uta , Hinata Daichi , Iwasaki Ayuka , Zhu Jingxin , Fukuda Ryosuke , Okiyoneda Tsukasa
Published: November 2023

The ubiquitin E3 ligase UBE3C promotes the proteasomal degradation of cytosolic proteins and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane proteins. UBE3C is proposed to function downstream of the RNF185/MBRL ER-associated degradation (ERAD) branch, contributing to the ERAD of select membrane proteins. Here, we report that UBE3C facilitates the ERAD of misfolded CFTR, even in the absence of both RNF185 and its functional ortholog RNF5 (RNF5/185). Unlike RNF5/185, UBE3C had a limited impact on the ubiquitination of misfolded CFTR. UBE3C knockdown (KD) resulted in an additional increase in the functional ∆F508-CFTR channels on the plasma membrane when combined with the RNF5/185 ablation, particularly in the presence of clinically used CFTR modulators. Interestingly, although UBE3C KD failed to attenuate the ERAD of insig-1, it reduced the ERAD of misfolded ∆Y490-ABCB1 and increased cell surface expression. UBE3C KD also stabilized the mature form of ∆F508-CFTR and increased the cell surface level of T70-CFTR, a class VI CFTR mutant. These results suggest that UBE3C plays a vital role in the ERAD of misfolded CFTR and ABCB1, even within the RNF5/185-independent ERAD pathway, and it may also be involved in maintaining the peripheral quality control of CFTR.
Optimization of Substrate Sizes for In Situ Stress Measurement in Electrodeposits Relying on Nonlinear Effects
Authors: Qiang Jun , Peng Tao
Published: November 2023

In situ stress measurements have been widely used in various deposition processes for stress detection. The substrate size can affect the uniformity of curvature across the entire surface, which is a major cause of incorrect stress measurements. However, because of the inherent concept of measurement theory and the complexities of the influence of substrate size on measurement accuracy, the underlying nonlinear effects of the rectangular substrate are still not fully understood. We discovered that increasing the substrate size caused an increase in nonlinear effect (nonuniform distribution of curvature radii and stresses in the x and y directions) and surface defects on the rectangular substrate using in situ stress measurement. Furthermore, the bending stiffness of the substrate, which was influenced by the substrate size, was established to illustrate the effect of substrate size on the nonlinear effect. The total stress of the deposit was concentrated at the edge in both the x and y directions, and the deposit at the edge was prone to delamination and cracking. When the substrate size was reduced, the deposit surface did not show obvious defects, and the stress errors in the x and y directions were only 2.34% and 2.54%, respectively. These findings will be beneficial to improve the accuracy of in situ stress measurement and further understand the causes of nonlinear effects.
Fluorescence and Raman Micro-Spectroscopy of LiF Films Containing Radiation-Induced Defects for X-ray Detection
Authors: Bonfigli Francesca , Botti Sabina , Vincenti Maria Aurora , Montereali Rosa Maria , Rufoloni Alessandro , Gaudio Pasquale , Rossi Riccardo
Published: November 2023

Lithium fluoride (LiF) film detectors for extreme ultraviolet radiation, soft and hard X-rays, based on the photoluminescence of radiation-induced electronic defects, have been proposed and are currently under further development and investigation. LiF film detectors are versatile and can be integrated in different experimental apparatus and imaging configurations. LiF can be grown in the form of polycrystalline thin films and it is compatible with several substrates. The radiation-induced color center (CCs) photoluminescence (PL) response can be enhanced through the appropriate choice of substrates and multilayer designs, and by tailoring the micro-structural properties of polycrystalline LiF films through the control of the growth conditions. In this work, we present the characterization, through fluorescence and Raman micro-spectroscopy, of LiF films, thermally evaporated on different substrates with thicknesses of up to 1 μm, irradiated with soft X-rays produced by a laser plasma source. The combination of these micro-spectroscopy techniques could represent an advanced method to investigate the role of the polycrystalline film structures in CC formation efficiency at the microscopic level, a fundamental aspect of the development of LiF film radiation-imaging detectors.
Feasibility Randomised Control Trial of OptiMal: A Self-Management Intervention for Cancer Survivors
Authors: Boland Lauren , Bennett Kathleen E. , Cuffe Sinead , Grant Cliona , Kennedy M. John , Connolly Deirdre
Published: November 2023

Purpose: Cancer survivors can experience symptoms such as fatigue, pain and distress that persist for many months following treatment. These enduring symptoms often impact on participation in self-care activities, returning to school and/or work, and leisure and social activities. Self-management support is increasingly recognised as a core aspect of cancer survivorship care to reduce the impact of persistent symptoms. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and potential effectiveness of a group-based self-management intervention, OptiMal, to improve the physical and psychological health of cancer survivors. OptiMal is a six-week intervention comprising weekly sessions on fatigue, stress and physical activity, diet and effective communication strategies. Methods: A feasibility randomised control trial was undertaken. Individuals up to two years after cancer treatment were randomised to OptiMal or usual care. Feasibility was examined through recruitment and retention metrics. Potential effectiveness was tested through patient-reported outcomes collected at baseline and three months post-intervention. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse study data. Results: Recruitment for this study was 32.5% (80/246 eligible individuals) with 77.5% retention at three-month follow-up (82.5% for intervention group and 72.5% for control group). Of those who attended the intervention, 19 (73%) attended all OptiMal sessions, indicating high adherence to the intervention. The majority of participants had breast cancer and were between 12 and 24 months post-treatment. The intervention group (n = 29) had statistically significant greater improvements in anxiety (p = 0.04) and health-related quality of life (health index score: p = 0.023, visual analogue score: p = 0.035) at three months post-intervention than the control group. Conclusions: Recruitment and retention in this study was similar to other cancer trials and the high adherence rate indicates that OptiMal is an acceptable self-management intervention for cancer survivors and warrants further investigation. OptiMal is intended to address symptoms reported across different cancer types. However, a limitation of this study was that the majority of participants had breast cancer, and therefore, generalisability of findings cannot be assumed for other cancer types. Future studies of OptiMal therefore need to use different strategies to recruit survivors of other cancer types.
Breakthrough and Episodic Cancer Pain from a Palliative Care Perspective
Authors: Løhre Erik Torbjørn , Jakobsen Gunnhild , Solheim Tora Skeidsvoll , Klepstad Pål , Thronæs Morten
Published: November 2023

Cancer pain intensity (PI) fluctuates, but the relationship between pain flares and background pain with respect to pain management is not settled. We studied how flare and background PIs corresponded with treatment results for background cancer pain. Patients admitted to an acute palliative care unit with average and/or worst PI ≥ 1 on the 11-point numeric rating scale were included. Average and worst PI at admission and average PI at discharge were collected. We examined how the difference and ratio between worst and average PI and average PI at admission, were associated with average PI development during hospitalization. Positive differences between worst and average PI at admission were defined as pain flares. Ninety out of 131 patients had pain flares. The reduction in average PI for patients with flares was 0.9 and for those without, 1.9 (p = 0.02). Patients with large worst minus average PI differences reported the least improvement, as did those with large worst/average PI ratios. Patients with pain flares and average PI ≤ 4 at admission had unchanged average PI during hospitalization, while those with pain flares and average PI > 4 experienced pain reduction (2.1, p < 0.001). Large pain flares, in absolute values and compared to background PI, were associated with inferior pain relief.
Human AI Teaming for Coronary CT Angiography Assessment: Impact on Imaging Workflow and Diagnostic Accuracy
Authors: Andre Florian , Fortner Philipp , Aurich Matthias , Seitz Sebastian , Jatsch Ann-Kathrin , Schöbinger Max , Wels Michael , Kraus Martin , Gülsün Mehmet Akif , Frey Norbert , Sommer Andre , Görich Johannes , Buss Sebastian J.
Published: November 2023

As the number of coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) examinations is expected to increase, technologies to optimize the imaging workflow are of great interest. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve clinical workflow and diagnostic accuracy in high-volume cardiac imaging centers. A total of 120 patients (79 men; 62.4 (55.0–72.7) years; 26.7 (24.9–30.3) kg/m2) undergoing coronary CTA were randomly assigned to a standard or an AI-based (human AI) coronary analysis group. Severity of coronary artery disease was graded according to CAD-RADS. Initial reports were reviewed and changes were classified. Both groups were similar with regard to age, sex, body mass index, heart rate, Agatston score, and CAD-RADS. The time for coronary CTA assessment (142.5 (106.5–215.0) s vs. 195.0 (146.0–265.5) s; p < 0.002) and the total reporting time (274.0 (208.0–377.0) s vs. 350 (264.0–445.5) s; p < 0.02) were lower in the human AI than in the standard group. The number of cases with no, minor, or CAD-RADS relevant changes did not differ significantly between groups (52, 7, 1 vs. 50, 8, 2; p = 0.80). AI-based analysis significantly improves clinical workflow, even in a specialized high-volume setting, by reducing CTA analysis and overall reporting time without compromising diagnostic accuracy.
Asymmetric Entanglement-Assisted Quantum MDS Codes Constructed from Constacyclic Codes
Authors: Chen Jianzhang , Fang Wanchuan , Zhou Shuo , Qiu Jie , Zhang Chenyang , Xu Yixin , Zeng Bozhe , Chen Youqin
Published: November 2023

Due to the asymmetry of quantum errors, phase-shift errors are more likely to occur than qubit-flip errors. Consequently, there is a need to develop asymmetric quantum error-correcting (QEC) codes that can safeguard quantum information transmitted through asymmetric channels. Currently, a significant body of literature has investigated the construction of asymmetric QEC codes. However, the asymmetry of most QEC codes identified in the literature is limited by the dual-containing condition within the Calderbank-Shor-Steane (CSS) framework. This limitation restricts the exploration of their full potential in terms of asymmetry. In order to enhance the asymmetry of asymmetric QEC codes, we utilize entanglement-assisted technology and exploit the algebraic structure of cyclotomic cosets of constacyclic codes to achieve this goal. In this paper, we generalize the decomposition method of the defining set for constacyclic codes and apply it to count the number of pre-shared entangled states in order to construct four new classes of asymmetric entanglement-assisted quantum maximal-distance separable (EAQMDS) codes that satisfy the asymmetric entanglement-assisted quantum Singleton bound. Compared with the codes existing in the literature, the lengths of the constructed EAQMDS codes and the number of pre-shared entangled states are more general, and the codes constructed in this paper have greater asymmetry.
Cohesion: A Measure of Organisation and Epistemic Uncertainty of Incoherent Ensembles
Authors: Davey Timothy
Published: November 2023

This paper offers a measure of how organised a system is, as defined by self-consistency. Complex dynamics such as tipping points and feedback loops can cause systems with identical initial parameters to vary greatly by their final state. These systems can be called non-ergodic or incoherent. This lack of consistency (or replicability) of a system can be seen to drive an additional form of uncertainty, beyond the variance that is typically considered. However, certain self-organising systems can be shown to have some self-consistency around these tipping points, when compared with systems that find no consistent final states. Here, we propose a measure of this self-consistency that is used to quantify our confidence in the outcomes of agent-based models, simulations or experiments of dynamical systems, which may or may not contain multiple attractors.