bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sonic Activation Improves Bioceramic Sealer’s Penetration into the Tubular Dentin of Curved Root Canals: A Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy Investigation
Authors: Pérez-Alfayate Ruth , Algar-Pinilla Juan , Mercade Montse , Foschi Federico
Published: April 2021

Background—The aim was to determine the influence of sonic activation in the tubular dentine penetration of bioceramic sealers. Methods—Forty mesiobuccal curved root canals of mandibular molars with an apical diameter smaller than #30 were prepared, divided into two groups, and filled with EndoSequence BC sealer, with or without sonic activation during its placement. Roots were sectioned at 3 mm, 6 mm, and 9 mm from the apex, producing a sample size of 120. The samples were evaluated using a confocal laser scanning microscope and comparing these images to the images obtained from an operatory microscope. The percentage of sealer penetration and maximum sealer penetration were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using the two-tailed Mann–Whitney U test, where statistical significance was set to p < 0.05. Results—Sonic activation showed higher values for the percentage of sealer penetration when compared at the 9 mm level (p = 0.03). A higher value of maximum sealer penetration was observed at all levels when the sealer was activated. Conclusions—The sonic activation of bioceramic cement resulted in higher sealer penetration into dentinal tubules.
Histone Modification: A Mechanism for Regulating Skeletal Muscle Characteristics and Adaptive Changes
Authors: Kawano Fuminori
Published: April 2021

Epigenetics is getting increased attention in the analysis of skeletal muscle adaptation to physiological stimuli. In this review, histone modifications in skeletal muscles and their role in the regulation of muscle characteristics and adaptive changes are highlighted. The distribution of active histone modifications, such as H3K4me3 and H3 acetylation, largely differs between fast- and slow-twitch muscles. It is also indicated that the transcriptional activity in response to exercise differs in these muscle types. Histone turnover activated by exercise training leads to loosening of nucleosomes, which drastically enhances gene responsiveness to exercise, indicating that the exercise training transforms the chromatin structure to an active status. Furthermore, histone modifications play a critical role in preserving the stem cell lineage in skeletal muscle. Lack of lysine-specific demethylase 1 in satellite cells promotes the differentiation into brown adipocytes during muscle regeneration after injury. H4K20me2, which promotes the formation of heterochromatin, is necessary to repress MyoD expression in the satellite cells. These observations indicate that histone modification is a platform that characterizes skeletal muscles and may be one of the factors regulating the range of adaptive changes in these muscles.
Influence of the Periapical Status of the Posterior Maxillary Teeth on the Width of the Schneiderian Membrane of the Maxillary Sinus Mucosa
Authors: Tsesis Igor , Rosen Eyal , Beitlitum Ilan , Dicker-Levy Einat , Matalon Shlomo
Published: April 2021

Background: Various parameters are known to affect the amount and type of mucosal thickening. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate these effects through a survey of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. CBCT scans of 150 patients, which included the area of the MS and maxillary teeth (canine, first premolar, second premolar, first molar, second molar, and third molar), were evaluated retrospectively for the presence of sinus mucosal thickening. The parameters evaluated as possible causes of mucosal thickening were age, sex, tooth type, proximity to the maxillary sinus, endodontic treatment, and periapical lesion. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression were used to analyze the data. A total of 28% of the teeth presented with mucosal thickening, which was associated with periapical lesions in 57.1% of 77 cases. The size of the lesion was the only parameter that was found to be significantly connected to the presence of mucosal thickness. More than 50% of teeth with periapical lesions in the posterior maxilla exhibited mucosal thickening. Other parameters such as age, sex, and the position of the root tips in relation to the MS floor did not influence the probability of developing mucosal thickening.
Color Harmonization, Deharmonization and Balancing in Augmented Reality
Authors: Marino Emanuele , Bruno Fabio , Liarokapis Fotis
Published: April 2021

Color schemes play a crucial role in blending virtual objects with the real environment. Good color schemes improve user’s perception, which is of crucial importance for augmented reality. In this paper, we propose a set of novel methods based on the color harmonization methodology to recolor augmented reality content according to the real background. Three different strategies are proposed—harmonic, disharmonic, and balance—that allow for satisfying different needs in different settings depending on the application field. The first approach aims to harmonize the colors of virtual objects to make them consistent with the colors of the real background and reach a more pleasing effect to a human eye. The second approach, instead, can be adopted to generate a set of disharmonious colors with respect to real ones to be associated with the augmented virtual content to improve its distinctiveness from the real background. The third approach balances these goals by achieving a compromise between harmony and good visibility among virtual and real objects. Furthermore, the proposed re-coloring method is applied to three different case studies by adopting the three strategies to meet three different objectives, which are specific for each case study. Several parameters are calculated for each test, such as the covered area, the color distribution, and the set of generated colors. Results confirm the great potential of the proposed approaches to improve the AR visualization in different scenarios.
The Use of Chemical Sensors to Monitor Odour Emissions at Municipal Waste Biogas Plants
Authors: Wiśniewska Marta , Kulig Andrzej , Lelicińska-Serafin Krystyna
Published: April 2021

Municipal waste treatment plants are an important element of the urban area infrastructure, but also, they are a potential source of odour nuisance. Odour impact from municipal waste processing plants raises social concerns regarding the well-being of employees operating the plants and residents of nearby areas. Chemical methods involve the determination of the quantitative composition of compounds comprising odour. These methods are less costly than olfactometry, and their efficiency is not dependent on human response. The relationship between the concentration of a single odorant and its odour threshold (OT) is determined by the odour activity value (OAV) parameter. The research involved the application of a multi-gas detector, MultiRae Pro. Measurements by means of the device were conducted at three municipal waste biogas plants located in Poland. In this paper we describe the results obtained when using a detector during the technological processes, the unitary procedures conducted at the plants, and the technological regime. The determination of these relationships could be useful in the development of odour nuisance minimization procedures at treatment plants and the adjustment to them. This is of paramount importance from the viewpoint of the safety and hygiene of the employees operating the installations and the comfort of residents in the areas surrounding biogas plants. Monitoring of expressed odorant emissions allows the course of technological processes and conducted unit operations to be controlled.
Mapping of Nanomechanical Properties of Enamel Surfaces Due to Orthodontic Treatment by AFM Method
Authors: Machoy Monika , Wilczyński Sławomir , Szyszka-Sommerfeld Liliana , Woźniak Krzysztof , Deda Anna , Kulesza Sławomir
Published: April 2021

Background: Atomic force microscopy imaging was used to study the structural topography of enamel crystals in healthy and affected enamel. The correlation of topographic images with nanomechanical properties allows for the assessment of morphology and properties at the micro- and nano-meter level in three dimensions simultaneously. Methods: A total of 60 premolars were treated like teeth during orthodontic bonding and debonding procedures. Every stage was observed in AFM. Surface roughness, image surface area difference, mean Young’s modulus, and mean adhesion force (the force of attraction between the scanning blade and the surface averaged over the image) were determined for the following areas: the central part of the surface, responsible for load transmission; the top of the surface, subject to the most abrasive wear; the lower part of the surface, responsible for the transport of fluids. Results: The highest roughness occurred on the etched surface—average 63 nm, followed by the intact enamel—8.3 nm, cleaned enamel—7.0 nm, and the resin-coated surface—5.4 nm. Conclusion: Etching increases enamel roughness and reduces hardness. Resin reduces roughness of the etched surface and increases hardness. The intact enamel has the highest hardness. The enamel smoothness is greater after polishing than in the intact enamel.
Adaptive Sliding Mode Control for a Robotic Manipulator with Unknown Friction and Unknown Control Direction
Authors: Han Seung-Hun , Tran Manh Son , Tran Duc-Thien
Published: April 2021

This paper is aimed at addressing the tracking control issue for an n-DOF manipulator regardless of unknown friction and unknown control direction. In order to handle the above issues, an adaptive sliding mode control (ASMC) is developed with a Nussbaum function. The sliding mode control (SMC) in the proposed control guarantees the tracking problem and fast responses for the manipulator. Additionally, there are adaptive laws for the robust gain in the SMC to deal with the unknown external disturbance and reduce the chattering effect in the system. In practice, the mistakes in the connection between actuators and drivers, named unknown control direction, cause serious damage to the manipulator. To overcome this issue, the Nussbaum function is multiplied by the ASMC law. A Lyapunov approach is investigated to analyze the stability and robustness of the whole system. Finally, several simulations are implemented on a 3-DOF manipulator and their results are compared with those of the existing controllers to validate the advantages of the proposed method.
Dynamic Nonprehensile Manipulation of a Moving Object Using a Batting Primitive
Authors: Joe Hyun-Min , Lee Joonwoo , Oh Jun-Ho
Published: April 2021

To achieve human-level object manipulation capability, a robot must be able to handle objects not only with prehensile manipulation, such as pick-and-place, but also with nonprehensile manipulation. To study nonprehensile manipulation, we studied robotic batting, a primitive form of nonprehensile manipulation. Batting is a challenging research area because it requires sophisticated and fast manipulation of moving objects and requires considerable improvement. In this paper, we designed a batting system for dynamic manipulation of a moving ball and proposed several algorithms to improve the task performance of batting. To improve the recognition accuracy of the ball, we proposed a circle-fitting method that complements color segmentation. This method enabled robust ball recognition against illumination. To accurately estimate the trajectory of the recognized ball, weighted least-squares regression considering the accuracy according to the distance of a stereo vision sensor was used for trajectory estimation, which enabled more accurate and faster trajectory estimation of the ball. Further, we analyzed the factors influencing the success rate of ball direction control and applied a constant posture control method to improve the success rate. Through the proposed methods, the ball direction control performance is improved.
Multi-Sensor Fusion for Aerial Robots in Industrial GNSS-Denied Environments
Authors: Carrasco Paloma , Cuesta Francisco , Caballero Rafael , Perez-Grau Francisco J. , Viguria Antidio
Published: April 2021

The use of unmanned aerial robots has increased exponentially in recent years, and the relevance of industrial applications in environments with degraded satellite signals is rising. This article presents a solution for the 3D localization of aerial robots in such environments. In order to truly use these versatile platforms for added-value cases in these scenarios, a high level of reliability is required. Hence, the proposed solution is based on a probabilistic approach that makes use of a 3D laser scanner, radio sensors, a previously built map of the environment and input odometry, to obtain pose estimations that are computed onboard the aerial platform. Experimental results show the feasibility of the approach in terms of accuracy, robustness and computational efficiency.
Novel Data Augmentation Employing Multivariate Gaussian Distribution for Neural Network-Based Blood Pressure Estimation
Authors: Song Kwangsub , Park Tae-Jun , Chang Joon-Hyuk
Published: April 2021

In this paper, we propose a novel data augmentation technique employing multivariate Gaussian distribution (DA-MGD) for neural network (NN)-based blood pressure (BP) estimation, which incorporates the relationship between the features in a multi-dimensional feature vector to describe the correlated real-valued random variables successfully. To verify the proposed algorithm against the conventional algorithm, we compare the results in terms of mean error (ME) with standard deviation and Pearson correlation using 110 subjects contributed to the database (DB) which includes the systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), photoplethysmography (PPG) signal, and electrocardiography (ECG) signal. For each subject, 3 times (or 6 times) measurements are accomplished in which the PPG and ECG signals are recorded for 20 s. And, to compare with the performance of the BP estimation (BPE) using the data augmentation algorithms, we train the BPE model using the two-stage system, called the stacked NN. Since the proposed algorithm can express properly the correlation between the features than the conventional algorithm, the errors turn out lower compared to the conventional algorithm, which shows the superiority of our approach.
Comparative Study of Bacterial Isolates in Ovine Mandibular Osteomyelitis and Oral Microbiota of Healthy Sheep
Authors: Ruiz de Arcaute Marta , Lacasta Delia , Bueso Juan Pedro , Ferrer Luis Miguel , González José María , Villanueva-Saz Sergio , Ramos Juan José
Published: April 2021

Microorganisms involved in ovine mandibular osteomyelitis (OMO) have not yet been deeply studied. The aim of the present study is to elucidate the microorganisms involved in OMO, comparing them with the microorganisms found in the healthy oral cavity of sheep. Two hundred and five samples were taken from mandibular osteomyelitis lesions, and they were compared with the microbiological results of samples obtained from twelve periodontally healthy sheep. Sixty-four samples (32.98%) of OMO lesions showed pure growths, while 130 (67.01%) were mixed cultures. Microorganisms of the genus Streptococcus were the most frequently isolated (20.95%), followed by bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas (8.50%), Trueperella pyogenes (7.26%), Staphylococcus (6.63%) and Escherichia coli (6.22%). Ninety-one different isolates were obtained from healthy mouths, and again, microorganisms of the genus Streptococcus were the most frequent (16.48%), followed by bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus (13.18%), Pseudomonas (9.89%) and Moraxella (6.59%). Based on these and previous results, it could be concluded that the normal microbiota of the oral cavity could be involved in the development of OMO lesions when there is an injury of the gingiva that enables the entry of bacteria to the oral mucosa that eventually settle locally in bony tissues, causing mandibular osteomyelitis.
Green and Efficient Processing of Wood with Supercritical CO2: A Review
Authors: Zhang Jingwen , Yang Lin , Liu Honghai
Published: April 2021

Wood processing is a crucial step of wood utilization, but the adding of environmentally hazardous feedstocks and the use of unreasonable technology allow it to harm the environment and human health. Supercritical CO2 (scCO2) is a non-toxic, odorless, and safe solvent, which is widely used in studies and industrial production, but there is no review summarizing wood processing with scCO2. The unique structure and chemical properties of wood combined with scCO2 technology produce positive results. In this paper, wood processing with scCO2 is summarized, including wood impregnation, wood drying, wood thermochemical conversion, and wood extraction. The green and efficient characteristics of wood processing with scCO2 are explained in detail for researchers, engineers, and investors to provide a clean wood processing method. Further study is needed to reduce its energy consumption and commercialize it eventually.
CFD Simulation of a Hyperloop Capsule Inside a Low-Pressure Environment Using an Aerodynamic Compressor as Propulsion and Drag Reduction Method
Authors: Lluesma-Rodríguez Federico , González Temoatzin , Hoyas Sergio
Published: April 2021

One of the most restrictive conditions in ground transportation at high speeds is aerodynamic drag. This is even more problematic when running inside a tunnel, where compressible phenomena such as wave propagation, shock waves, or flow blocking can happen. Considering Evacuated-Tube Trains (ETTs) or hyperloops, these effects appear during the whole route, as they always operate in a closed environment. Then, one of the concerns is the size of the tunnel, as it directly affects the cost of the infrastructure. When the tube size decreases with a constant section of the vehicle, the power consumption increases exponentially, as the Kantrowitz limit is surpassed. This can be mitigated when adding a compressor to the vehicle as a means of propulsion. The turbomachinery increases the pressure of part of the air faced by the vehicle, thus delaying the critical conditions on surrounding flow. With tunnels using a blockage ratio of 0.5 or higher, the reported reduction in the power consumption is 70%. Additionally, the induced pressure in front of the capsule became a negligible effect. The analysis of the flow shows that the compressor can remove the shock waves downstream and thus allows operation above the Kantrowitz limit. Actually, for a vehicle speed of 700 km/h, the case without a compressor reaches critical conditions at a blockage ratio of 0.18, which is a tunnel even smaller than those used for High-Speed Rails (0.23). When aerodynamic propulsion is used, sonic Mach numbers are reached above a blockage ratio of 0.5. A direct effect is that cases with turbomachinery can operate in tunnels with blockage ratios even 2.8 times higher than the non-compressor cases, enabling a considerable reduction in the size of the tunnel without affecting the performance. This work, after conducting bibliographic research, presents the geometry, mesh, and setup. Later, results for the flow without compressor are shown. Finally, it is discussed how the addition of the compressor improves the flow behavior and power consumption of the case.
Investigation on Dynamic Characteristics of the Reed Valve in Compressors Based on Fluid-Structure Interaction Method
Authors: Wang Yanfeng , Wang Jin , He Zhilong , Sun Junwei , Wang Tao , Liu Changhai
Published: April 2021

The flow in the gap between the reed and the valve seat has a significant influence on the dynamic characteristics of the reed valve used in reciprocating compressors. The fluid–structure interaction (FSI) method is an effective method for studying reciprocating compressors. A three-dimensional FSI model of a reciprocating compressor with a reed valve is established in this paper, which has an important influence on the flow rate characteristic of reciprocating compressors. Furthermore, an experimental investigation is implemented to verify the FSI model. Based on the established FSI model, the pressure distribution on the reed valve surface is identified by varying the height of the suction valve limiter and the rotational speed of the compressor, which has an important effect on the dynamic characteristics of the reed valve. Although the low-pressure region, due to the Bernoulli effect on the surface of the reed, hinders the rapid opening of the valve to some extent, it is obviously beneficial to the timely closure of the valve and increases the volumetric efficiency of the compressor. Moreover, the optimal height of the valve limiter and the appropriate rotational speed of the compressor are obtained.
Double High-Level Ozone and PM2.5 Co-Pollution Episodes in Shanghai, China: Pollution Characteristics and Significant Role of Daytime HONO
Authors: Yang Kejing , Kong Lingdong , Tong Songying , Shen Jiandong , Chen Lu , Jin Shengyan , Wang Chao , Sha Fei , Wang Lin
Published: April 2021

In recent years, high fine particulate (PM2.5) pollution episodes with high ozone (O3) levels have been observed in Shanghai from time to time. However, their occurrence and characteristics remain poorly understood. Meanwhile, as a major precursor of tropospheric hydroxyl radical (OH) that initiates the formation of hydroperoxyl and organic peroxy radicals, HONO would inevitably affect the formation of O3, but its role in the formation of O3 during the double high-level PM2.5 and O3 pollution episodes remains unclear. In this study, the characteristics of the double high pollution episodes and the role of HONO in O3 formation in these episodes were investigated based on field observation in urban Shanghai from 2014 to 2016. Results showed that high PM2.5 pollution and high O3 pollution could occur simultaneously. The cases with data of double high O3 and PM2.5 concentrations accounted for about 1.0% of the whole sampling period. During the double high pollution episodes, there still existed active photochemical processes, while the active photochemical processes at high PM2.5 concentration were conductive to the production and accumulation of O3 under a VOC-limited regime and a calm atmospheric condition including high temperature, moderately high relative humidity, and low wind speed, which in turn enhanced the conversions of SO2 and NO2 and the formation and accumulation of secondary sulfate and nitrate aerosols and further promoted the increase of PM2.5 concentration and the deterioration of air pollution. Further analysis indicated that the daytime HONO concentration could be strongly negatively correlated with O3 concentration in most of the double high pollution episodes, revealing the dominant role of HONO in O3 formation during these pollution episodes. This study provides important field measurement-based evidence for understanding the significant contribution of daytime HONO to O3 formation, and helps to clarify the formation and coexistence mechanisms of the double high-level O3 and PM2.5 pollution episodes.
A Comparison of a Priori Estimates of the Solutions of a Linear Fractional System with Distributed Delays and Application to the Stability Analysis
Authors: Kiskinov Hristo , Veselinova Magdalena , Madamlieva Ekaterina , Zahariev Andrey
Published: April 2021

In this article, we consider a retarded linear fractional differential system with distributed delays and Caputo type derivatives of incommensurate orders. For this system, several a priori estimates for the solutions, applying the two traditional approaches—by the use of the Gronwall’s inequality and by the use of integral representations of the solutions are obtained. As application of the obtained estimates, different sufficient conditions which guaranty finite-time stability of the solutions are established. A comparison of the obtained different conditions in respect to the used estimates and norms is made.
Topical Application of Ozonated Oils for the Treatment of MRSA Skin Infection in an Animal Model of Infected Ulcer
Authors: Silva Vanessa , Peirone Cecília , Capita Rosa , Alonso-Calleja Carlos , Marques-Magallanes José A. , Pires Isabel , Maltez Luís , Pereira José Eduardo , Igrejas Gilberto , Poeta Patrícia
Published: April 2021

Diabetic foot ulcers are a common cause of morbidity in diabetic patients. One of the main pathogens found in these ulcers is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA often carries resistance to several classes of antibiotics and their infections are becoming harder to treat. Therefore, new alternatives are urgently needed. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the capacity of topical ozonated oil application on the treatment of early-stage skin infected with MRSA in an animal model. Ozonated oil was prepared from a mixture of oils subjected to a gas stream of O2/O3 mixture. Sixteen Wistar rats were inoculated by an intradermic injection of MRSA suspension, producing an abscess lesion. After 3 days, the skin epidermis was removed to open the wound. Group 1 received an application of oil mixture without ozone treatment and Group 2 received an application of ozonated oil. After the treatment period, skin was collected, colony-forming units (CFU) of bacteria were quantified and the histological analysis of the skin was carried out. Skin samples from the control 1 and 2 had a bacterial load was of 1.1 × 105 and 5.7 × 103 CFU/mL, respectively. Group 2 showed better wound healing from mild to moderate epidermal regeneration. Topical application of ozonated vegetable oil in MRSA-infected skin in rats showed a small reduction of the bacterial load and better wound healing.
Improving Gemcitabine Sensitivity in Pancreatic Cancer Cells by Restoring miRNA-217 Levels
Authors: Panebianco Concetta , Trivieri Nadia , Villani Annacandida , Terracciano Fulvia , Latiano Tiziana Pia , Potenza Adele , Perri Francesco , Binda Elena , Pazienza Valerio
Published: April 2021

Chemoresistance is a major problem in the therapeutic management of pancreatic cancer, concurring to poor clinical outcome. A number of mechanisms have been proposed to explain resistance to gemcitabine, a standard of care for this malignancy, among which is included aberrant miRNA expression. In the current study, we investigated the role of miR-217, which is strongly down-regulated in cancerous, compared to normal, pancreatic tissues or cells, in sensitizing human pancreatic cancer cell lines to this drug. The low expression of miR-217 in pancreatic cancer patients was confirmed in two gene expression datasets (GSE41372 and GSE60980), and the prognostic value of two target genes (ANLN and TRPS1), was estimated on clinical data from the Tumor Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Transfecting miR-217 mimic in pancreatic cancer cells reduced viability, enhanced apoptosis, and affected cell cycle by promoting a S phase arrest in gemcitabine-treated cells. Moreover, in drug-exposed cells subjected to miR-217 forced expression, a down-regulation for several genes involved in cancer drug resistance was observed, many of which are cell cycle regulators, such as CCND1, CCNE1, CDK2, CDKN1A, CDKN1B, while others, such as ARNT, BRCA1, BRCA2, ELK1, EGFR, ERBB4, and RARA are involved in proliferation and cell cycle progression. Our results support the notion that miR-217 enhances pancreatic cancer sensitivity to gemcitabine, mainly impairing cell cycle progression.
Moderating Effects of BDNF Genetic Variants and Smoking on Cognition in PTSD Veterans
Authors: Nedic Erjavec Gordana , Nikolac Perkovic Matea , Tudor Lucija , Uzun Suzana , Kovacic Petrovic Zrnka , Konjevod Marcela , Sagud Marina , Kozumplik Oliver , Svob Strac Dubravka , Peraica Tina , Mimica Ninoslav , Havelka Mestrovic Ana , Zilic Denis , Pivac Nela
Published: April 2021

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is frequently associated with cognitive disturbances and high prevalence of smoking. This study evaluated cognition in war veterans with PTSD and control subjects, controlled for the effect of smoking and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) rs6265 and rs56164415 genotypes/alleles. Study included 643 male war veterans with combat related PTSD and 120 healthy controls. Genotyping was done by real time PCR. Cognitive disturbances were evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) cognition subscale and the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) test scores. Diagnosis (p < 0.001), BDNF rs56164415 (p = 0.011) and smoking (p = 0.028) were significant predictors of the cognitive decline in subjects with PTSD. BDNF rs56164415 T alleles were more frequently found in subjects with PTSD, smokers and non-smokers, with impaired cognition, i.e., with the higher PANSS cognition subscale scores and with the lower ROCF immediate recall test scores. Presence of one or two BDNF rs56164415 T alleles was related to cognitive decline in PTSD. The T allele carriers with PTSD had advanced cognitive deterioration in smokers and nonsmokers with PTSD, and worse short-term visual memory function. Our findings emphasize the role of the BDNF rs56164415 T allele and smoking in cognitive dysfunction in war veterans with PTSD.
The ‘Shape-Shifter’ Peptide from the Disulphide Isomerase PmScsC Shows Context-Dependent Conformational Preferences
Authors: Smith Lorna J. , Green Chloe W. , Redfield Christina
Published: April 2021

Multiple crystal structures of the homo-trimeric protein disulphide isomerase PmScsC reveal that the peptide which links the trimerization stalk and catalytic domain can adopt helical, β-strand and loop conformations. This region has been called a ‘shape-shifter’ peptide. Characterisation of this peptide using NMR experiments and MD simulations has shown that it is essentially disordered in solution. Analysis of the PmScsC crystal structures identifies the role of intermolecular contacts, within an assembly of protein molecules, in stabilising the different linker peptide conformations. These context-dependent conformational properties may be important functionally, allowing for the binding and disulphide shuffling of a variety of protein substrates to PmScsC. They also have a relevance for our understanding of protein aggregation and misfolding showing how intermolecular quaternary interactions can lead to β-sheet formation by a sequence that in other contexts adopts a helical structure. This ‘shape-shifting’ peptide region within PmScsC is reminiscent of one-to-many molecular recognition features (MoRFs) found in intrinsically disordered proteins which are able to adopt different conformations when they fold upon binding to their protein partners.
Linking COVID-19 and Heme-Driven Pathophysiologies: A Combined Computational–Experimental Approach
Authors: Hopp Marie-Thérèse , Domingo-Fernández Daniel , Gadiya Yojana , Detzel Milena S. , Graf Regina , Schmalohr Benjamin F. , Kodamullil Alpha T. , Imhof Diana , Hofmann-Apitius Martin
Published: April 2021

The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak was declared a worldwide pandemic in 2020. Infection triggers the respiratory tract disease COVID-19, which is accompanied by serious changes in clinical biomarkers such as hemoglobin and interleukins. The same parameters are altered during hemolysis, which is characterized by an increase in labile heme. We present two computational–experimental approaches aimed at analyzing a potential link between heme-related and COVID-19 pathophysiologies. Herein, we performed a detailed analysis of the common pathways induced by heme and SARS-CoV-2 by superimposition of knowledge graphs covering heme biology and COVID-19 pathophysiology. Focus was laid on inflammatory pathways and distinct biomarkers as the linking elements. In a second approach, four COVID-19-related proteins, the host cell proteins ACE2 and TMPRSS2 as well as the viral proteins 7a and S protein were computationally analyzed as potential heme-binding proteins with an experimental validation. The results contribute to the understanding of the progression of COVID-19 infections in patients with different clinical backgrounds and may allow for a more individual diagnosis and therapy in the future.
Carnosine Protects Macrophages against the Toxicity of Aβ1-42 Oligomers by Decreasing Oxidative Stress
Authors: Caruso Giuseppe , Benatti Cristina , Musso Nicolò , Fresta Claudia G. , Fidilio Annamaria , Spampinato Giorgia , Brunello Nicoletta , Bucolo Claudio , Drago Filippo , Lunte Susan M. , Peterson Blake R. , Tascedda Fabio , Caraci Filippo
Published: April 2021

Carnosine (β-alanyl-L-histidine) is a naturally occurring endogenous peptide widely distributed in excitable tissues such as the brain. This dipeptide has well-known antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aggregation activities, and it may be useful for treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this disease, peripheral infiltrating macrophages play a substantial role in the clearance of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides from the brain. Correspondingly, in patients suffering from AD, defects in the capacity of peripheral macrophages to engulf Aβ have been reported. The effects of carnosine on macrophages and oxidative stress associated with AD are consequently of substantial interest for drug discovery in this field. In the present work, a model of stress induced by Aβ1-42 oligomers was investigated using a combination of methods including trypan blue exclusion, microchip electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence, flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, and high-throughput quantitative real-time PCR. These assays were used to assess the ability of carnosine to protect macrophage cells, modulate oxidative stress, and profile the expression of genes related to inflammation and pro- and antioxidant systems. We found that pre-treatment of RAW 264.7 macrophages with carnosine counteracted cell death and apoptosis induced by Aβ1-42 oligomers by decreasing oxidative stress as measured by levels of intracellular nitric oxide (NO)/reactive oxygen species (ROS) and production of peroxynitrite. This protective activity of carnosine was not mediated by modulation of the canonical inflammatory pathway but instead can be explained by the well-known antioxidant and free-radical scavenging activities of carnosine, enhanced macrophage phagocytic activity, and the rescue of fractalkine receptor CX3CR1. These new findings obtained with macrophages challenged with Aβ1-42 oligomers, along with the well-known multimodal mechanism of action of carnosine in vitro and in vivo, substantiate the therapeutic potential of this dipeptide in the context of AD pathology.
Electromagnetic Torso Scanning: A Review of Devices, Algorithms, and Systems
Authors: Ahdi Rezaeieh Sasan , Darvazehban Amin , Janani Azin S. , Abbosh Amin M.
Published: April 2021

The past decade has witnessed a surge into research on disruptive technologies that either challenge or complement conventional thoracic diagnostic modalities. The non-ionizing, non-invasive, compact, and low power requirements of electromagnetic (EM) techniques make them among the top contenders with varieties of proposed scanning systems, which can be used to detect wide range of thoracic illnesses. Different configurations, antenna topologies and detection or imaging algorithms are utilized in these systems. Hence, to appreciate their progress and assess their potential, a critical review of EM thoracic scanning systems is presented. Considering the numerous thoracic diseases, such as fatty liver disease, lung cancer, respiratory and heart related complications, this paper will exclusively focus on torso scanning systems, tracing the early foundation of research that studied the possibility of using EM waves to detect thoracic diseases besides exploring recent progresses. The advantages and disadvantages of proposed systems and future possibilities are thoroughly discussed.
The Effect of Acute Aerobic Exercise on Divergent and Convergent Thinking and Its Influence by Mood
Authors: Aga Kohei , Inamura Masato , Chen Chong , Hagiwara Kosuke , Yamashita Rikuto , Hirotsu Masako , Seki Tomoe , Takao Akiyo , Fujii Yuko , Matsubara Toshio , Nakagawa Shin
Published: April 2021

Abundant evidence shows that various forms of physical exercise, even conducted briefly, may improve cognitive functions. However, the effect of physical exercise on creative thinking remains under-investigated, and the role of mood in this effect remains unclear. In the present study, we set out to investigate the effect of an acute bout of aerobic exercise on divergent and convergent thinking and whether this effect depends on the post-exercise mood. Forty healthy young adults were randomly assigned to receive a 15-min exercise or control intervention, before and after which they conducted an alternate use test measuring divergent thinking and an insight problem-solving task measuring convergent thinking. It was found that exercise enhanced divergent thinking in that it increased flexibility and fluency. Importantly, these effects were not mediated by the post-exercise mood in terms of pleasure and vigor. In contrast, the effect on convergent thinking depended on subjects’ mood after exercise: subjects reporting high vigor tended to solve more insight problems that were unsolved previously, while those reporting low vigor became less capable of solving previously unsolved problems. These findings suggest that aerobic exercise may affect both divergent and convergent thinking, with the former being mood-independent and the latter mood-dependent. If these findings can be replicated with more rigorous studies, engaging in a bout of mood, particularly vigor-enhancing aerobic exercise, may be considered a useful strategy for gaining insights into previously unsolved problems.
Symptoms of Addictive Eating: What Do Different Health Professions Think?
Authors: Whatnall Megan , Skinner Janelle , Verdejo-Garcia Antonio , Carter Adrian , Brown Robyn M. , Andrews Zane B. , Dayas Chris V. , Hardman Charlotte A. , Loxton Natalie , Sumithran Priya , Burrows Tracy
Published: April 2021

The symptoms of addictive eating are often debated, with some overlap in symptoms with substance addictions or other disorders such as binge eating disorder. This study explored the levels of agreement with symptoms of addictive eating among different health professions, the conditions they provide advice for, and the population group/s they work with. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted in February–April 2020 including 142 health professionals (87% female, 65% residing in Australia, 28% each working in private practice/hospital settings). Of these, 47% were dietitians, 20% psychologists/psychotherapists/counsellors, 16% other health practitioners (e.g., social workers), 13% health researchers, and 5% medical professionals. Agreement with 11 statements relating to addictive eating symptoms was assessed on a scale of 1/strongly disagree to 5/strongly agree (e.g., certain foods produce physiological effects in the brain rewards system). Differences in agreement by health profession were assessed by one-way analysis of variance. There were significant differences in agreement with individual statements between health professions. Psychologists, psychotherapists, and counsellors reported lower agreement to statements relating to physiological effects in the reward system, withdrawal symptoms, and over-eating to alleviate stress/anxiety, than other professions (p < 0.05). Those providing advice for disordered eating only reported lower agreement across statements compared with those providing advice for overweight/obesity or both (p < 0.001). There were minimal differences based on the population group/s that health professionals work with. There is some agreement among health professionals regarding addictive eating symptoms, however, this differs by profession and the conditions they treat. This study provides a novel perspective on health professionals’ views on addictive eating symptoms, and there is a need for more research to explore the concepts further.
The Relationship between Building Agents in the Context of Integrated Project Management: A Prospective Analysis
Authors: Cerezo-Narváez Alberto , Pastor-Fernández Andrés , Otero-Mateo Manuel , Ballesteros-Pérez Pablo
Published: April 2021

The increasing complexity of building projects, with high quality standards, integrated technologies and strong management restrictions, demands the intervention of numerous and diverse specialists. This requires an intense leadership, organization and coordination effort. However, building regulations, such as the Spanish Law on Building Management (LOE) 38/1999, only formally consider developers, project designers, project and work supervisors, quality control entities, construction companies, owners and final users as building agents. However, these categories are insufficient to represent the interests of all the stakeholders. The purpose of this paper is to carry out an analysis of the agents that are currently part of the entire building process. If their relationship of influence and dependence, as well as their alignment with the overall objectives of the project are studied, potential convergences, divergences, agreements and disagreements can be established. To do this, the authors conducted a prospective analysis through the MACTOR (Matrix of Alliances and Conflicts: Tactics, Objectives and Recommendations) strategic planning simulation tool, for which the rules of the Delphi technique were applied and a consultation with technical experts, both professionals and academics, was held. The research provides insight to assess the power relationships between the building agents, as well as to measure the alignment of objectives with their interests. Results show that, in the context of integrated project management (IPM), the influence of technical agents is reduced by limiting their functions to those marked by their regulatory framework, allowing them to focus on their legal powers, and the room for manoeuvre of the professional agents, who are subject to systematized monitoring and control, is also reduced. The prospective analysis also highlights the importance of defining the scope from its early stages, as well as the need to reach multilateral agreements based on the other two main constraints: time and cost.
Risk Reduction Framework for Blue-Green Roofs
Authors: Andenæs Erlend , Time Berit , Muthanna Tone , Asphaug Silje , Kvande Tore
Published: April 2021

As climate change in the Nordic region brings an increase in extreme precipitation events, blue-green roofs have emerged as a solution for stormwater management, hereafter referred to as “blue-green roofs”. The addition of blue-green layers on a conventional compact roof represents several multi-disciplinary technical challenges and quality risks that must be managed. This paper aims to list and address the key building technical challenges associated with blue-green roofs and to present a framework for managing these risks. Literature and document studies as well as qualitative interviews and expert meetings have been conducted to collect research data on defects in blue-green roofs and causes thereof. A list of nine key challenges has been extracted along with recommendations on how to address them. The recommendations are structured around a framework developed for practical use in building projects. For ease of use, the nine key challenges are presented on a general level, with references to detailed recommendations. The framework is intended to be used to reduce the building technical risks of blue-green roofs, by addressing the most important quality risk elements.
Advances in Targeting Cutaneous Melanoma
Authors: Kasakovski Dimitri , Skrygan Marina , Gambichler Thilo , Susok Laura
Published: April 2021

To date, the skin remains the most common cancer site among Caucasians in the western world. The complex, layered structure of human skin harbors a heterogenous population of specialized cells. Each cell type residing in the skin potentially gives rise to a variety of cancers, including non-melanoma skin cancer, sarcoma, and cutaneous melanoma. Cutaneous melanoma is known to exacerbate and metastasize if not detected at an early stage, with mutant melanomas tending to acquire treatment resistance over time. The intricacy of melanoma thus necessitates diverse and patient-centered targeted treatment options. In addition to classical treatment through surgical intervention and radio- or chemotherapy, several systemic and intratumoral immunomodulators, pharmacological agents (e.g., targeted therapies), and oncolytic viruses are trialed or have been recently approved. Moreover, utilizing combinations of immune checkpoint blockade with targeted, oncolytic, or anti-angiogenic approaches for patients with advanced disease progression are promising approaches currently under pre-clinical and clinical investigation. In this review, we summarize the current ‘state-of-the-art’ as well as discuss emerging agents and regimens in cutaneous melanoma treatment.
Loss-of-Function Mutations of BCOR Are an Independent Marker of Adverse Outcomes in Intensively Treated Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Eckardt Jan-Niklas , Stasik Sebastian , Kramer Michael , Röllig Christoph , Krämer Alwin , Scholl Sebastian , Hochhaus Andreas , Crysandt Martina , Brümmendorf Tim H. , Naumann Ralph , Steffen Björn , Kunzmann Volker , Einsele Hermann , Schaich Markus , Burchert Andreas , Neubauer Andreas , Schäfer-Eckart Kerstin , Schliemann Christoph , Krause Stefan W. , Herbst Regina , Hänel Mathias , Frickhofen Norbert , Noppeney Richard , Kaiser Ulrich , Baldus Claudia D. , Kaufmann Martin , Rácil Zdenek , Platzbecker Uwe , Berdel Wolfgang E. , Mayer Jiří , Serve Hubert , Müller-Tidow Carsten , Ehninger Gerhard , Stölzel Friedrich , Kroschinsky Frank , Schetelig Johannes , Bornhäuser Martin , Thiede Christian , Middeke Jan Moritz
Published: April 2021

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by recurrent genetic events. The BCL6 corepressor (BCOR) and its homolog, the BCL6 corepressor-like 1 (BCORL1), have been reported to be rare but recurrent mutations in AML. Previously, smaller studies have reported conflicting results regarding impacts on outcomes. Here, we retrospectively analyzed a large cohort of 1529 patients with newly diagnosed and intensively treated AML. BCOR and BCORL1 mutations were found in 71 (4.6%) and 53 patients (3.5%), respectively. Frequently co-mutated genes were DNTM3A, TET2 and RUNX1. Mutated BCORL1 and loss-of-function mutations of BCOR were significantly more common in the ELN2017 intermediate-risk group. Patients harboring loss-of-function mutations of BCOR had a significantly reduced median event-free survival (HR = 1.464 (95%-Confidence Interval (CI): 1.005–2.134), p = 0.047), relapse-free survival (HR = 1.904 (95%-CI: 1.163–3.117), p = 0.01), and trend for reduced overall survival (HR = 1.495 (95%-CI: 0.990–2.258), p = 0.056) in multivariable analysis. Our study establishes a novel role for loss-of-function mutations of BCOR regarding risk stratification in AML, which may influence treatment allocation.