bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome-Associated Increased Surface Expression of VLA4 Integrin on Human Monocytes
Authors: Štok Ula , Štucin Neža , Blokar Elizabeta , Ambrožič Aleš , Sodin-Šemrl Snežna , Čučnik Saša , Žigon Polona
Published: September 2022

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by thrombosis and/or obstetric complications in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). Catastrophic APS (CAPS) is the most severe form of the disease, in which microvascular thromboses develop rapidly, leading to multiorgan failure. Monocytes, along with endothelial cells, are critical players in the pathogenesis of APS. Recruitment of these cells to the site of injury/inflammation involves a series of events, including capture, rolling, adhesion enhancement, and transmigration, which are controlled by surface adhesion molecules. The aim of our study was to investigate the surface adhesion profile of monocytes from APS patients and monocytes stimulated in vitro with aPL from a CAPS patient. The surface expression of the adhesion molecules LFA1, L-selectin, MAC1, PSGL1, and VLA4 was analyzed by flow cytometry. To our knowledge, this preliminary study was the first to show that VLA4 was significantly increased on the surface of monocytes from APS patients. Moreover, in vitro stimulations mimicking CAPS showed an even greater increase in VLA4. Our data suggest that the surface adhesion profile on monocytes is altered in APS and CAPS and may be involved in the thrombotic pathophysiology of the disease by enhancing monocyte adhesion.
Cyclodipeptides: From Their Green Synthesis to Anti-Age Activity
Authors: Mosetti Veronica , Rosetti Beatrice , Pierri Giovanni , Bellotto Ottavia , Adorinni Simone , Bandiera Antonella , Adami Gianpiero , Tedesco Consiglia , Crosera Matteo , Magnano Greta Camilla , Marchesan Silvia
Published: September 2022

Cyclodipeptides (CDPs) or diketopiperazines (DKPs) are often found in nature and in foodstuff and beverages and have attracted great interest for their bioactivities, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. In the laboratory, they can be prepared by green procedures, such as microwave-assisted cyclization of linear dipeptides in water, as performed in this study. In particular, five CDPs were prepared and characterized by a variety of methods, including NMR and ESI-MS spectroscopies and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), and their cytocompatibility and anti-aging activity was tested in vitro, as well as their ability to penetrate the different layers of the skin. Although their mechanism of action remains to be elucidated, this proof-of-concept study lays the basis for their future use in anti-age cosmetic applications.
Inflammasome-Mediated Cytokines: A Key Connection between Obesity-Associated NASH and Liver Cancer Progression
Authors: da Cruz Nathalia Soares , Pasquarelli-do-Nascimento Gabriel , e Oliveira Augusto Cézar Polveiro , Magalhães Kelly Grace
Published: September 2022

Liver cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies and is commonly diagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a tumor type that affects about 90% of patients. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and obesity are both risk factors for this disease. HCC initiation and progression are deeply linked with changes in the hepatic microenvironment, with cytokines playing key roles. The understanding of the pathogenic pathways that connect these disorders to liver cancer remains poor. However, the inflammasome-mediated cytokines associated with both diseases are central actors in liver cancer progression. The release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 during inflammasome activation leads to several detrimental effects on the liver microenvironment. Considering the critical crosstalk between obesity, NASH, and HCC, this review will present the connections of IL-1β and IL-18 from obesity-associated NASH with HCC and will discuss approaches to using these cytokines as therapeutic targets against HCC.
Urinary Exosomal Cystatin C and Lipopolysaccharide Binding Protein as Biomarkers for Antibody−Mediated Rejection after Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Kim Mi Joung , Lim Seong Jun , Ko Youngmin , Kwon Hye Eun , Jung Joo Hee , Kwon Hyunwook , Go Heounjeong , Park Yangsoon , Kim Tae-Keun , Jung MinKyo , Pack Chan-Gi , Kim Young Hoon , Kim Kyunggon , Shin Sung
Published: September 2022

We aimed to discover and validate urinary exosomal proteins as biomarkers for antibody−mediated rejection (ABMR) after kidney transplantation. Urine and for-cause biopsy samples from kidney transplant recipients were collected and categorized into the discovery cohort (n = 36) and a validation cohort (n = 65). Exosomes were isolated by stepwise ultra-centrifugation for proteomic analysis to discover biomarker candidates for ABMR (n = 12). Of 1820 exosomal proteins in the discovery cohort, four proteins were specifically associated with ABMR: cystatin C (CST3), serum paraoxonase/arylesterase 1, retinol-binding protein 4, and lipopolysaccharide−binding protein (LBP). In the validation cohort, the level of urinary exosomal LBP was significantly higher in the ABMR group (n = 25) compared with the T-cell-mediated rejection (TCMR) group and the no major abnormality (NOMOA) group. Urinary exosomal CST3 level was significantly higher in the ABMR group compared with the control and NOMOA groups. Immunohistochemical staining showed that LBP and CST3 in the glomerulus were more abundant in the ABMR group compared with other groups. The combined prediction probability of urinary exosomal LBP and CST3 was significantly correlated with summed LBP and CST3 intensity scores in the glomerulus and peritubular capillary as well as Banff g + ptc scores. Urinary exosomal CST3 and LBP could be potent biomarkers for ABMR after kidney transplantation.
Cellular Mechanisms of Coronary Artery Spasm
Authors: Franczyk Beata , Dybiec Jill , Frąk Weronika , Krzemińska Julia , Kućmierz Joanna , Młynarska Ewelina , Szlagor Magdalena , Wronka Magdalena , Rysz Jacek
Published: September 2022

Coronary artery spasm (CAS) is a reversible phenomenon caused by spontaneous excessive vascular smooth muscle contractility and vascular wall hypertonicity, which results in partial or complete closure of the lumen of normal or atherosclerotic coronary arteries. The clinical picture of CAS includes chest discomfort which is similar in quality to that of stable effort angina. Mechanisms underlying the development of CAS are still unclear. CAS certainly is a multifactorial disease. In this review, we paid attention to the role of the main pathophysiologic mechanisms in CAS: endothelial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, smooth muscle hypercontractility, atherosclerosis and thrombosis, and mutations leading to deficient aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) activity. These findings might shed novel insight on the underlying mechanisms and identify potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for cardiovascular diseases in the future.
Exploiting the Molecular Basis of Oesophageal Cancer for Targeted Therapies and Biomarkers for Drug Response: Guiding Clinical Decision-Making
Authors: Mbatha Sikhumbuzo , Hull Rodney , Dlamini Zodwa
Published: September 2022

Worldwide, oesophageal cancer is the sixth leading cause of deaths related to cancer and represents a major health concern. Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the regions of the world with the highest incidence and mortality rates for oesophageal cancer and most of the cases of oesophageal cancer in this region are oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The development and progression of OSCC is characterized by genomic changes which can be utilized as diagnostic or prognostic markers. These include changes in the expression of various genes involved in signaling pathways that regulate pathways that regulate processes that are related to the hallmarks of cancer, changes in the tumor mutational burden, changes in alternate splicing and changes in the expression of non-coding RNAs such as miRNA. These genomic changes give rise to characteristic profiles of altered proteins, transcriptomes, spliceosomes and genomes which can be used in clinical applications to monitor specific disease related parameters. Some of these profiles are characteristic of more aggressive forms of cancer or are indicative of treatment resistance or tumors that will be difficult to treat or require more specialized specific treatments. In Sub-Saharan region of Africa there is a high incidence of viral infections such as HPV and HIV, which are both risk factors for OSCC. The genomic changes that occur due to these infections can serve as diagnostic markers for OSCC related to viral infection. Clinically this is an important distinction as it influences treatment as well as disease progression and treatment monitoring practices. This underlines the importance of the characterization of the molecular landscape of OSCC in order to provide the best treatment, care, diagnosis and screening options for the management of OSCC.
A Core–Shell Au@TiO2 and Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube-Based Sensor for the Electroanalytical Determination of H2O2 in Human Blood Serum and Saliva
Authors: Saeed Ayman Ali , Abbas Mohammed Nooredeen , El-Hawary Waheed Fathi , Issa Yousry Moustafa , Singh Baljit
Published: September 2022

A hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) sensor was developed based on core–shell gold@titanium dioxide nanoparticles and multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode (Au@TiO2/MWCNTs/GCE). Core–shell Au@TiO2 material was prepared and characterized using a scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM/EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Zeta-potential analyzer. The proposed sensor (Au@TiO2/MWCNTs/GCE) was investigated electrochemically using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The analytical performance of the sensor was evaluated towards H2O2 using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The proposed sensor exhibited excellent stability and sensitivity with a linear concentration range from 5 to 200 µM (R2 = 0.9973) and 200 to 6000 µM (R2 = 0.9994), and a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.4 µM achieved under physiological pH conditions. The practicality of the proposed sensor was further tested by measuring H2O2 in human serum and saliva samples. The observed response and recovery results demonstrate its potential for real-world H2O2 monitoring. Additionally, the proposed sensor and detection strategy can offer potential prospects in electrochemical sensors development, indicative oxidative stress monitoring, clinical diagnostics, general cancer biomarker measurements, paper bleaching, etc.
Evolutionary View on Lactate-Dependent Mechanisms of Maintaining Cancer Cell Stemness and Reprimitivization
Authors: Shegay Petr V. , Zabolotneva Anastasia A. , Shatova Olga P. , Shestopalov Aleksandr V. , Kaprin Andrei D.
Published: September 2022

The role of lactic acid (lactate) in cell metabolism has been significantly revised in recent decades. Initially, lactic acid was attributed to the role of a toxic end-product of metabolism, with its accumulation in the cell and extracellular space leading to acidosis, muscle pain, and other adverse effects. However, it has now become obvious that lactate is not only a universal fuel molecule and the main substrate for gluconeogenesis but also one of the most ancient metabolites, with a signaling function that has a wide range of regulatory activity. The Warburg effect, described 100 years ago (the intensification of glycolysis associated with high lactate production), which is characteristic of many malignant tumors, confirms the key role of lactate not only in physiological conditions but also in pathologies. The study of lactate’s role in the malignant transformation becomes more relevant in the light of the “atavistic theory of carcinogenesis,” which suggests that tumor cells return to a more primitive hereditary phenotype during microevolution. In this review, we attempt to summarize the accumulated knowledge about the functions of lactate in cell metabolism and its role in the process of carcinogenesis and to consider the possible evolutionary significance of the Warburg effect.
A Gold Nanoparticle Bioconjugate Delivery System for Active Targeted Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer and Cancer Stem Cells
Authors: Didamson Onyisi Christiana , Chandran Rahul , Abrahamse Heidi
Published: September 2022

Cancer stem cells (CSCs), also called tumor-initiating cells, are a subpopulation of cancer cells believed to be the leading cause of cancer initiation, growth, metastasis, and recurrence. Presently there are no effective treatments targeted at eliminating CSCs. Hence, an urgent need to develop measures to target CSCs to eliminate potential recurrence and metastasis associated with CSCs. Cancer stem cells have inherent and unique features that differ from other cancer cells, which they leverage to resist conventional therapies. Targeting such features with photodynamic therapy (PDT) could be a promising treatment for drug-resistant cancer stem cells. Photodynamic therapy is a light-mediated non-invasive treatment modality. However, PDT alone is unable to eliminate cancer stem cells effectively, hence the need for a targeted approach. Gold nanoparticle bioconjugates with PDT could be a potential approach for targeted photodynamic therapy of cancer and CSCs. This approach has the potential for enhanced drug delivery, selective and specific attachment to target tumor cells/CSCs, as well as the ability to efficiently generate ROS. This review examines the impact of a smart gold nanoparticle bioconjugate coupled with a photosensitizer (PS) in promoting targeted PDT of cancer and CSC.
Current Landscape of Therapeutic Resistance in Lung Cancer and Promising Strategies to Overcome Resistance
Authors: Ashrafi Adnin , Akter Zakia , Modareszadeh Pouya , Modareszadeh Parsa , Berisha Eranda , Alemi Parinaz Sadat , Chacon Castro Maria del Carmen , Deese Alexander R. , Zhang Li
Published: September 2022

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide with a 5-year survival rate of less than 18%. Current treatment modalities include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Despite advances in therapeutic options, resistance to therapy remains a major obstacle to the effectiveness of long-term treatment, eventually leading to therapeutic insensitivity, poor progression-free survival, and disease relapse. Resistance mechanisms stem from genetic mutations and/or epigenetic changes, unregulated drug efflux, tumor hypoxia, alterations in the tumor microenvironment, and several other cellular and molecular alterations. A better understanding of these mechanisms is crucial for targeting factors involved in therapeutic resistance, establishing novel antitumor targets, and developing therapeutic strategies to resensitize cancer cells towards treatment. In this review, we summarize diverse mechanisms driving resistance to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, and promising strategies to help overcome this therapeutic resistance.
Clinical Presentation and Prognostic Features in Patients with Immunotherapy-Induced Vitiligo-like Depigmentation: A Monocentric Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Hermann Nicola , Maul Lara Valeska , Ameri Milad , Traidl Stephan , Ziadlou Reihane , Papageorgiou Karolina , Kolm Isabel , Levesque Mitchell , Maul Julia-Tatjana , Brüggen Marie-Charlotte
Published: September 2022

Vitiligo-like depigmentation (VLD) is an immune-related adverse event (irAE) of checkpoint-inhibitor (CPI) treatment, which has previously been associated with a favourable outcome. The aim of this study was to explore clinical, biological and prognostic features of melanoma patients with VLD under CPI-treatment and to explore whether they exhibit a characteristic immune response profile in peripheral blood. Melanoma patients developing VLD under CPI were included in a prospective observational single-center cohort study. We collected and analysed clinical parameters, photographs and serum from 28 VLD patients. They received pembrolizumab (36%), nivolumab (11%), ipilimumab/nivolumab (32%) or clinical trial medications (21%). We performed a high-throughput proteomics assay (Olink), in which we identified a distinct proteomic signature in VLD patients in comparison to non-VLD CPI patients. Our clinical assessments revealed that VLD lesions had a predominantly symmetrical distribution pattern, with mostly smaller “freckle-like” macules and a preferential distribution in UV-exposed areas. Patients with previous targeted therapy showed a significantly longer time lapse between CPI initiation and VLD onset compared to non-pre-treated patients (12.5 vs. 6.25 months). Therapy responders exhibited a distinct proteomic profile when compared with non-responders in VLD such as upregulation of EDAR and downregulation of LAG3. ITGA11 was elevated in the VLD-group when compared to non-VLD-CPI-treated melanoma patients. Our findings demonstrate that on a proteomic level, VLD is characterized by a distinct immune signature when compared to CPI-treated patients without VLD and that therapy responsiveness is reflected by a characteristic immune profile. The pathomechanisms underlying these findings and how they could relate to the antitumoral response in melanoma remain to be elucidated.
The Immune Contexture of Liposarcoma and Its Clinical Implications
Authors: Resag Antonia , Toffanin Giulia , Benešová Iva , Müller Luise , Potkrajcic Vlatko , Ozaniak Andrej , Lischke Robert , Bartunkova Jirina , Rosato Antonio , Jöhrens Korinna , Eckert Franziska , Strizova Zuzana , Schmitz Marc
Published: September 2022

Liposarcomas (LPS) are the most frequent malignancies in the soft tissue sarcoma family and consist of five distinctive histological subtypes, termed well-differentiated LPS, dedifferentiated LPS (DDLPS), myxoid LPS (MLPS), pleomorphic LPS, and myxoid pleomorphic LPS. They display variations in genetic alterations, clinical behavior, and prognostic course. While accumulating evidence implicates a crucial role of the tumor immune contexture in shaping the response to anticancer treatments, the immunological landscape of LPS is highly variable across different subtypes. Thus, DDLPS is characterized by a higher abundance of infiltrating T cells, yet the opposite was reported for MLPS. Interestingly, a recent study indicated that the frequency of pre-existing T cells in soft tissue sarcomas has a predictive value for immune checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) therapy. Additionally, B cells and tertiary lymphoid structures were identified as potential biomarkers for the clinical outcome of LPS patients and response to CPI therapy. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that macrophages, predominantly of M2 polarization, are frequently associated with poor prognosis. An improved understanding of the complex LPS immune contexture enables the design and refinement of novel immunotherapeutic approaches. Here, we summarize recent studies focusing on the clinicopathological, genetic, and immunological determinants of LPS.
Effectiveness and Safety of Molecular-Targeted Therapy after Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab for Advanced or Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Multicenter, Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Iinuma Koji , Kameyama Koji , Taniguchi Tomoki , Kawada Kei , Ishida Takashi , Takagi Kimiaki , Nagai Shingo , Enomoto Torai , Tomioka Masayuki , Kawase Makoto , Takeuchi Shinichi , Kato Daiki , Takai Manabu , Nakane Keita , Koie Takuya
Published: September 2022

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of molecular-targeted therapies (MTTs) after the discontinuation of nivolumab and ipilimumab (NIVO+IPI) combination therapy in patients who had been diagnosed with advanced/metastatic renal cell carcinoma as real-world outcomes. We enrolled patients treated with MTTs following initial therapy with NIVO+IPI at nine institutions in Japan. We evaluated the objective response rate (ORR) as the primary endpoint and disease control rate (DCR), best overall response, and oncological outcomes (overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS)) as the secondary endpoints. We also evaluated factors predictive of disease progression after the administration of MTTs. Patients were followed up for a median of 8 months. The ORR was 44.8%, and the DCR was 72.4%. The median OS and PFS of MTTs after NIVO+IPI were 18 months and 8 months, respectively. A total of 31% of patients experienced grade 3/4 MTT-related adverse events. The median PFS in patients with bone metastases was significantly shorter than that in those without bone metastases (4 vs. 12 months, p = 0.012). MTTs may be a useful secondary treatment option after the discontinuation of NIVO+IPI.
Molecular Classification of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Wnt–Hippo Signaling Pathway-Related Genes
Authors: Chang Ya-Sian , Chou Yu-Pao , Chung Chin-Chun , Lee Ya-Ting , Yen Ju-Chen , Jeng Long-Bin , Chang Jan-Gowth
Published: September 2022

In Taiwan, a combination of hepatitis B and C infection, economic boom-related food and alcohol overconsumption, and Chinese medicine prescriptions has led to a high rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the causative factors and underlying tumor biology for this unique HCC environment have not been identified. Wnt and Hippo signaling pathways play an important regulatory role in HCC development, and their functions are generally considered as positive and negative regulators of cell proliferation, respectively. In this study, we characterized the molecular features of HCC using a newly developed classification system based on the expression of the Wnt–Hippo signaling pathway-related genes. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was performed on liver tumor tissues from 100 patients with liver cancer. RNA-Seq data for 272 previously characterized Wnt–Hippo signaling pathway-related genes were used for hierarchical clustering. We analyzed the data in terms of prognostic value, transcriptome features, immune infiltration, and clinical characteristics, and compared the resulting subclasses with previously published classifications. Four subclasses of HCC (HCCW1–4) were identified. Subclass HCCW1 displayed the highest PCDHB4 expression. Subclass HCCW2 displayed lower Edmondson–Steiner grades (I and II) and CTNNB1 mutation frequencies. Subclass HCCW3 was associated with a good prognosis, the highest PCDHGB7 expression, high CD8+ naïve T cells abundance, and relatively low TP53 mutation rates. Subclass HCCW4 was associated with a poor prognosis, the highest PCDHB2 and PCDHB6 expression, a relatively high abundance of Th1 cells, NKT and class-switched memory B cells, relatively low enrichment of cDC, iDC, and CD4+ memory T cells, and high Edmondson–Steiner grades (III and IV). We also identified Wnt–Hippo signaling pathway-related genes that may influence immune cell infiltration. We developed a panel of 272 Wnt–Hippo signaling pathway-related genes to classify HCC into four groups based on Taiwanese HCC and The Cancer Genome Atlas Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma datasets. This novel molecular classification system may aid the treatment of HCC.
A Bloody Conspiracy— Blood Vessels and Immune Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment
Authors: Terrassoux Lisa , Claux Hugo , Bacari Salimata , Meignan Samuel , Furlan Alessandro
Published: September 2022

Cancer progression occurs in concomitance with a profound remodeling of the cellular microenvironment. Far from being a mere passive event, the re-orchestration of interactions between the various cell types surrounding tumors highly contributes to the progression of the latter. Tumors notably recruit and stimulate the sprouting of new blood vessels through a process called neo-angiogenesis. Beyond helping the tumor cope with an increased metabolic demand associated with rapid growth, this also controls the metastatic dissemination of cancer cells and the infiltration of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. To decipher this critical interplay for the clinical progression of tumors, the research community has developed several valuable models in the last decades. This review offers an overview of the various instrumental solutions currently available, including microfluidic chips, co-culture models, and the recent rise of organoids. We highlight the advantages of each technique and the specific questions they can address to better understand the tumor immuno-angiogenic ecosystem. Finally, we discuss this development field’s fundamental and applied perspectives.
Waste Biomass Selective and Sustainable Photooxidation to High-Added-Value Products: A Review
Authors: Llatance-Guevara Liliana , Flores Nelly Esther , Barrionuevo Germán Omar , Mullo Casillas José Luis
Published: September 2022

Researchers worldwide seek to develop convenient, green, and ecological production processes to synthesize chemical products with high added value. In this sense, lignocellulosic biomass photocatalysis is an excellent process for obtaining various outcomes for the industry. One issue of biomass transformation via heterogeneous catalysis into valuable chemicals is the selection of an adequate catalyst that ensures high conversion and selectivity at low costs. Titanium oxide (TiO2), is widely used for several applications, including photocatalytic biomass degradation, depolymerization, and transformation. Graphite carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is a metal-free polymeric semiconductor with high oxidation and temperature resistance and there is a recent interest in developing this catalyst. Both catalysts are amenable to industrial production, relatively easy to dope, and suited for solar light absorption. Recent investigations also show the advantages of using heterojunctions, for biomass derivates production, due to their better solar spectrum absorption properties and, thus, higher efficiency, conversion, and selectivity over a broader spectrum. This work summarizes recent studies that maximize selectivity and conversion of biomass using photocatalysts based on TiO2 and g-C3N4 as supports, as well as the advantages of using metals, heterojunctions, and macromolecules in converting cellulose and lignin. The results presented show that heterogeneous photocatalysis is an interesting technology for obtaining several chemicals of industrial use, especially when using TiO2 and g-C3N4 doped with metals, heterojunctions, and macromolecules because these modified catalysts permit higher conversion and selectivity, milder reaction conditions, and reduced cost due to solar light utilization. In order to apply these technologies, it is essential to adopt government policies that promote the use of photocatalysts in the industry, in addition to encouraging active collaboration between photooxidation research groups and companies that process lignocellulosic biomass.
Facile and Novel Route for the Preparation of ZnO Nanoparticles with Different Cr Loadings for Opto-Photocatalysis Applications
Authors: Bawazeer Tahani M.
Published: September 2022

The current article deals with the facile yet novel route to prepare zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles with different weight percentages of chromium as a dopant. The impact of such dopant into the ZnO host lattice is explored in terms of the structural, vibrational, optical, and photocatalytic characteristics. The Bragg reflections in the X-ray diffraction displayed a phase pure wurtzite ZnO hexagonal system. The morphology reflects spherical-shaped ZnO particles in all the systems. The optical analysis ensured a good ultraviolet light absorption and a bandgap energy in the range of 3.30–3.24 eV. The principal Raman vibrations ensured the presence of the wurtzite ZnO crystal structure. The decolorization experiment of methyl green dye with pristine and various chromium-doped ZnO nanoparticles was conducted under the illumination of visible light. The obtained results showed that the incorporation of Cr in the framework significantly improved the photocatalytic performance of ZnO.
Cytochrome P450 1B1: A Key Regulator of Ocular Iron Homeostasis and Oxidative Stress
Authors: Song Yong-Seok , Annalora Andrew J. , Marcus Craig B. , Jefcoate Colin R. , Sorenson Christine M. , Sheibani Nader
Published: September 2022

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1B1 belongs to the superfamily of heme-containing monooxygenases. Unlike other CYP enzymes, which are highly expressed in the liver, CYP1B1 is predominantly found in extrahepatic tissues, such as the brain, and ocular tissues including retina and trabecular meshwork. CYP1B1 metabolizes exogenous chemicals such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. CYP1B1 also metabolizes endogenous bioactive compounds including estradiol and arachidonic acid. These metabolites impact various cellular and physiological processes during development and pathological processes. We previously showed that CYP1B1 deficiency mitigates ischemia-mediated retinal neovascularization and drives the trabecular meshwork dysgenesis through increased levels of oxidative stress. However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for CYP1B1-deficiency-mediated increased oxidative stress remain largely unresolved. Iron is an essential element and utilized as a cofactor in a variety of enzymes. However, excess iron promotes the production of hydroxyl radicals, lipid peroxidation, increased oxidative stress, and cell damage. The retinal endothelium is recognized as a major component of the blood–retinal barrier, which controls ocular iron levels through the modulation of proteins involved in iron regulation present in retinal endothelial cells, as well as other ocular cell types including trabecular meshwork cells. We previously showed increased levels of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation in the absence of CYP1B1, and in the retinal vasculature and trabecular meshwork, which was reversed by administration of antioxidant N-acetylcysteine. Here, we review the important role CYP1B1 expression and activity play in maintaining retinal redox homeostasis through the modulation of iron levels by retinal endothelial cells. The relationship between CYP1B1 expression and activity and iron levels has not been previously delineated. We review the potential significance of CYP1B1 expression, estrogen metabolism, and hepcidin–ferroportin regulatory axis in the local regulation of ocular iron levels.
Single-Cell Gene Expression Analysis Revealed Immune Cell Signatures of Delta COVID-19
Authors: Shaymardanov Abusaid M. , Antonova Olga A. , Sokol Anastasia D. , Deinichenko Kseniia A. , Kazakova Polina G. , Milovanov Mikhail M. , Zakubansky Alexander V. , Akinshina Alexandra I. , Tsypkina Anastasia V. , Romanova Svetlana V. , Muhin Vladimir E. , Mitrofanov Sergey I. , Yudin Vladimir S. , Yudin Sergey M. , Makhotenko Antonida V. , Keskinov Anton A. , Kraevoy Sergey A. , Snigir Ekaterina A. , Svetlichnyy Dmitry V. , Skvortsova Veronika I.
Published: September 2022

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is accompanied by a cytokine storm with the release of many proinflammatory factors and development of respiratory syndrome. Several SARS-CoV-2 lineages have been identified, and the Delta variant (B.1.617), linked with high mortality risk, has become dominant in many countries. Understanding the immune responses associated with COVID-19 lineages may therefore aid the development of therapeutic and diagnostic strategies. Multiple single-cell gene expression studies revealed innate and adaptive immunological factors and pathways correlated with COVID-19 severity. Additional investigations covering host–pathogen response characteristics for infection caused by different lineages are required. Here, we performed single-cell transcriptome profiling of blood mononuclear cells from the individuals with different severity of the COVID-19 and virus lineages to uncover variant specific molecular factors associated with immunity. We identified significant changes in lymphoid and myeloid cells. Our study highlights that an abundant population of monocytes with specific gene expression signatures accompanies Delta lineage of SARS-CoV-2 and contributes to COVID-19 pathogenesis inferring immune components for targeted therapy.
Pentacoordinate Carbon Atoms in a Ferrocene Dication Derivative—[Fe(Si2-η5-C5H2)2]2+
Authors: Shajan Shilpa , Guo Jin-Chang , Sinjari Aland , Thirumoorthy Krishnan , Thimmakondu Venkatesan S.
Published: September 2022

Pentacoordinate carbon atoms are theoretically predicted here in a ferrocene dication derivative in the eclipsed-(1; C2v), gauche-(2; C2) and staggered-[Fe(Si2-η5-C5H2)2]2+(3; C2h) forms for the first time. Energetically, the relative energy gaps for 2 and 3 range from −3.06 to 16.74 and −2.78 to 40.34 kJ mol−1, respectively, when compared to the singlet electronic state of 1 at different levels. The planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC) atom in the ligand Si2C5H2 becomes a pentacoordinate carbon upon complexation. The ligand with a ptC atom was predicted to be both a thermodynamically and kinetically stable molecule by some of us in our earlier theoretical works. Natural bond orbital and adaptive natural density partitioning analyses confirm the pentacoordinate nature of carbon in these three complexes (1–3). Although they are hypothetical at the moment, they support the idea of “hypercoordinate metallocenes” within organometallic chemistry. Moreover, ab initio molecular dynamics simulations carried out at 298 K temperature for 2000 fs suggest that these molecules are kinetically stable.
Real-Time Measurement of Moisture Content of Paddy Rice Based on Microstrip Microwave Sensor Assisted by Machine Learning Strategies
Authors: Liu Jin , Qiu Shanshan , Wei Zhenbo
Published: September 2022

Moisture content is extremely imoprtant to the processes of storage, packaging, and transportation of grains. In this study, a portable moisture measuring device was developed based on microwave microstrip sensors. The device is composed of three parts: a microwave circuit module, a real-time measurement module, and software to display the results. This work proposes an improvement measure by optimizing the thickness of paddy rice samples (8–13 cm) and adding the ambient temperatures and the moisture contents (13.66–27.02% w.b.) at a 3.00 GHz frequency. A random forest, decision tree, k-nearest neighbor, and support vector machine were applied to predict the moisture content in the paddy rice. Microwave characteristics, phase shift, and temperature compensation were selected as the input variables to the prediction models, which have achieved high accuracy. Among those prediction models, the random forest model yielded the best performance with highest accuracy and stability (R2 = 0.99, RMSE = 0.28, MAE = 0.26). The device showed a relatively stable performance (the maximum average absolute error was 0.55%, the minimum absolute error was 0.17%, the mean standard deviation was 0.18%, the maximum standard deviation was 0.41%, and the minimum standard deviation was 0.08%) within the moisture content range of 13–30%. The instrument has the advantages of real-time, simple structure, convenient operation, low cost, and portability. This work is expected to provide an important reference for the real-time in situ measurement of agricultural products, and to be of great significance for the development of intelligent agricultural equipment.
A Systematic Review on Suitability of Molecular Techniques for Diagnosis and Research into Infectious Diseases of Concern in Resource-Limited Settings
Authors: Yalley Akua K. , Ahiatrogah Selasie , Kafintu-Kwashie Anna A. , Amegatcher Gloria , Prah Diana , Botwe Akua K. , Adusei-Poku Mildred A. , Obodai Evangeline , Nii-Trebi Nicholas I.
Published: September 2022

Infectious diseases significantly impact the health status of developing countries. Historically, infectious diseases of the tropics especially have received insufficient attention in worldwide public health initiatives, resulting in poor preventive and treatment options. Many molecular tests for human infections have been established since the 1980s, when polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing was introduced. In spite of the substantial innovative advancements in PCR technology, which currently has found wide application in most viral pathogens of global concern, the development and application of molecular diagnostics, particularly in resource-limited settings, poses potential constraints. This review accessed data from sources including PubMed, Google Scholar, the Web of Knowledge, as well as reports from the World Health Organization’s Annual Meeting on infectious diseases and examined these for current molecular approaches used to identify, monitor, or investigate some neglected tropical infectious diseases. This review noted some growth efforts in the development of molecular techniques for diagnosis of pathogens that appear to be common in resource limited settings and identified gaps in the availability and applicability of most of these molecular diagnostics, which need to be addressed if the One Health goal is to be achieved.
A Study on the Characteristics of Inductively Coupled Plasma Nitridation Process
Authors: Shin Jong-Hyeon , Kim Yong-Hyun , Park Jong-Bae , Kim Dae-Chul , Kim Young-Woo , Kim Jong-Sik , Yoon Jung-Sik
Published: September 2022

In this study, we investigated the nitridation of silicon oxide film surfaces using an inductively coupled plasma source. The plasma parameters and nitride film characteristics were measured under various nitrogen gas pressures and radio frequency power levels. Plasma parameters such as electron density, electron temperature, and ion density were measured and analyzed using several instruments. The nitridation characteristics of the thin films were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The findings provide information on the correlation between nitridation rate and process parameters.
Cement and Clinker Production by Indirect Mechanosynthesis Process
Authors: Bouchenafa Othmane , Hamzaoui Rabah , Florence Céline , Mansoutre Sandrine
Published: September 2022

Global cement production has reached 3.9 billion tons. However, the clinkerization process, which is the basis of cement production, is responsible for an approximate annual global CO2 emission of 2 billion tons. As part of CEMBUREAU’s 5C strategy, the European cement industry aims to achieve carbon neutrality throughout the cement-concrete value chain by 2050. This article is a continuation of the previous article on the indirect mechanosynthesis clinkerization process, which combines mechanical activation (high-energy milling) and thermal treatment at lower temperatures (from 900 °C) than those used for conventional clinkerization to produce clinker. With this process, we manufactured cement and clinker from industrial and laboratory raw mixes, which had to be rectified by adding kaolinite in compliance with the different cement indicators (LSF, SM, AM). The cement and clinker produced by indirect mechanosynthesis (15 min of mechanical activation and heat treatment 900 °C or 1200 °C) were characterized. In order to test the hydraulic properties of the cement produced, cement pastes were made. Mechanical and structural studies were carried out (between 70 and 90% of C2S). Mechanical tests revealed for 7 curing days, the values of 3.60 and 7.60 MPa at 900 °C and 1200 °C, respectively, in comparison to commercial cements CEM I and CEM III (23.03 and 19.14 MPa).
Implementation of 3ω Method for Studying the Thermal Conductivity of Perovskite Thin Films
Authors: Aleksandrova Mariya , Pandiev Ivailo , Singh Ajaya Kumar
Published: September 2022

In this paper, an approach for precise determination of the thermal conductivity of novel lead-free perovskite thin films by 3ω method, realized with a field programmable analog array circuit, is presented. The objective of the work is to study the relation between the thermal conductivity of the photoelectric perovskites and the thermal stability of the solar cells, in which they are incorporated. It is found that the solar cells’ long-term stability under different exploitation conditions, such as continuous illumination and elevated temperatures, is affected to a different extent, according to the thermal conductivity. The developed setup for implementation of the 3ω method is adapted for thin-film samples and can be applied to all layers involved in the solar cell, thus defining their individual contribution to the overall device thermal degradation. According to the conducted measurements, the coefficients of thermal conductivity for the novel materials are as follows: for the iodine-based perovskite film, it is 0.14 W/mK and for the chlorine-based perovskite film, it is 0.084 W/mK. As a result, the thermal instability and degradation rate at continuous illumination are, respectively, 10.6% and 200 nV/min for the iodine-based perovskite solar cell, and 6.5% and 20 nV/min for the chlorine-based cell. At elevated temperatures up to 54 °C, the corresponding instability values are 15 µV/°C with a degradation rate of an average of 2.2 µV/min for the cell with iodine-containing perovskite and 300 nV/°C with a degradation rate of 66 nV/min for the cell with chlorine-containing perovskite.
Real-World Treatment Patterns and Clinical Outcomes in Canadian Patients with AML Unfit for First-Line Intensive Chemotherapy
Authors: Sanford David , Desjardins Pierre , Leber Brian , Paulson Kristjan , Assouline Sarit , Lembo Paola M. C. , Fournier Pierre-André , Leitch Heather A.
Published: September 2022

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematological malignancy that predominantly affects the elderly. Prognosis declines with age. For those who cannot tolerate intensive chemotherapy, historically established treatment options have been hypomethylating agents (HMAs), low dose cytarabine (LDAC), and best supportive care (BSC). As the standard of care evolves for those unfit for intensive chemotherapy, there is a need to understand established treatment pathways, clinical outcomes and healthcare resource utilization in Canada. The CURRENT study was a retrospective chart review of AML patients not eligible for intensive chemotherapy who initiated first-line treatment between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2018. Data were collected from 170 Canadian patients treated at six hematology centers, of whom 118 received systemic therapy and 52 received BSC as first-line treatment. Median overall survival was 8.58 months and varied from 2.96 months for BSC to 13.31 months for HMAs. Over 80% of patients had at least one outpatient visit, and 67% of patients receiving systemic therapy and 71% of those receiving BSC had at least one admission to hospital, during their first line of therapy. A total of 96 (81.4%) patients receiving first line systemic therapy and 39 (75.0%) of those receiving first line BSC had at least one red blood cell or platelet transfusion. These findings highlight the unmet need for novel therapies for patients ineligible for intensive chemotherapy.
An Unsupervised Video Stabilization Algorithm Based on Key Point Detection
Authors: Luan Yue , Han Chunyan , Wang Bingran
Published: September 2022

In recent years, video stabilization has improved significantly in simple scenes, but is not as effective as it could be in complex scenes. In this study, we built an unsupervised video stabilization model. In order to improve the accurate distribution of key points in the full frame, a DNN-based key-point detector was introduced to generate rich key points and optimize the key points and the optical flow in the largest area of the untextured region. Furthermore, for complex scenes with moving foreground targets, we used a foreground and background separation-based approach to obtain unstable motion trajectories, which were then smoothed. For the generated frames, adaptive cropping was conducted to completely remove the black edges while maintaining the maximum detail of the original frame. The results of public benchmark tests showed that this method resulted in less visual distortion than current state-of-the-art video stabilization methods, while retaining greater detail in the original stable frames and completely removing black edges. It also outperformed current stabilization models in terms of both quantitative and operational speed.
An Information-Theoretic Bound on p-Values for Detecting Communities Shared between Weighted Labeled Graphs
Authors: Obradovic Predrag , Kovačević Vladimir , Li Xiqi , Milosavljevic Aleksandar
Published: September 2022

Extraction of subsets of highly connected nodes (“communities” or modules) is a standard step in the analysis of complex social and biological networks. We here consider the problem of finding a relatively small set of nodes in two labeled weighted graphs that is highly connected in both. While many scoring functions and algorithms tackle the problem, the typically high computational cost of permutation testing required to establish the p-value for the observed pattern presents a major practical obstacle. To address this problem, we here extend the recently proposed CTD (“Connect the Dots”) approach to establish information-theoretic upper bounds on the p-values and lower bounds on the size and connectedness of communities that are detectable. This is an innovation on the applicability of CTD, broadening its use to pairs of graphs.
BTH: Behavior-Based Structured Threat Hunting Framework to Analyze and Detect Advanced Adversaries
Authors: Bhardwaj Akashdeep , Kaushik Keshav , Alomari Abdullah , Alsirhani Amjad , Alshahrani Mohammed Mujib , Bharany Salil
Published: September 2022

Organizations of every size and industry are facing a new normal. Adversaries have become more sophisticated and persistent than ever before. Every network is facing never-ending onslaughts. Yet many organizations continue to rely on signature-based reactive threat detection and mitigation solutions as the primary line of defense against new-age, cutting-edge attacks. Even conventional attacks can bypass such security solutions. This means legacy protection solutions leave the organization’s data vulnerable to damage, destruction, and theft. Adversarial attacks are like ocean waves: they are very persistent and keep coming like attack campaigns. Sometimes the waves, in our case, attacks, look the same, where indicators of compromise (IoCs) effectively detect the attacks, while sometimes, the waves or attacks change and continue to look different, especially over a while. If somehow the defenders can recognize what is making those attacks or waves and the conditions, then detecting threats and attacks can have a longer-lasting effect of success. This study focuses on the behavior and habits of the attackers that can provide better and long-lasting results when matching adversarial profiles instead of using just IoCs. The paper presents a unique framework for behavior-based structured threat hunting to deliver rapid, consistent remediation against emerging threats and malware on systems and networks.
L-Band Wavelength-Selectable Erbium Laser with Stable Single-Frequency Oscillation
Authors: Hsieh Shang-En , Hsu Ching-Hsuan , Yeh Chien-Hung , Jiang Syu-Yang , Lai Yu-Ting , Chow Chi-Wai , Liaw Shien-Kuei
Published: September 2022

In this presentation, we demonstrate an erbium-doped fiber (EDF) laser by a compound-ring structure to reach the output performances of narrow linewidth, stable single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) and high optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR) in the L-band bandwidth of 1563.0 to 1613.0 nm. Based on the Vernier effect through the compound-ring design, the substantial multi-longitudinal-mode (MLM) noises can be mitigated fully. Furthermore, the relative optical output features of the fiber laser are also performed experimentally.