bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Interdisciplinary Work towards Advancing Knowledge on Human Liver Physiology
Authors: Delgado-Coello Blanca , Navarro-Alvarez Nalu , Mas-Oliva Jaime
Published: November 2022

The knowledge accumulated throughout the years about liver regeneration has allowed a better understanding of normal liver physiology, by reconstructing the sequence of steps that this organ follows when it must rebuild itself after being injured. The scientific community has used several interdisciplinary approaches searching to improve liver regeneration and, therefore, human health. Here, we provide a brief history of the milestones that have advanced liver surgery, and review some of the new insights offered by the interdisciplinary work using animals, in vitro models, tissue engineering, or mathematical models to help advance the knowledge on liver regeneration. We also present several of the main approaches currently available aiming at providing liver support and overcoming organ shortage and we conclude with some of the challenges found in clinical practice and the ethical issues that have concomitantly emerged with the use of those approaches.
The Role of IL-6 in Cancer Cell Invasiveness and Metastasis—Overview and Therapeutic Opportunities
Authors: Rašková Magdalena , Lacina Lukáš , Kejík Zdeněk , Venhauerová Anna , Skaličková Markéta , Kolář Michal , Jakubek Milan , Rosel Daniel , Smetana Karel , Brábek Jan
Published: November 2022

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) belongs to a broad class of cytokines involved in the regulation of various homeostatic and pathological processes. These activities range from regulating embryonic development, wound healing and ageing, inflammation, and immunity, including COVID-19. In this review, we summarise the role of IL-6 signalling pathways in cancer biology, with particular emphasis on cancer cell invasiveness and metastasis formation. Targeting principal components of IL-6 signalling (e.g., IL-6Rs, gp130, STAT3, NF-κB) is an intensively studied approach in preclinical cancer research. It is of significant translational potential; numerous studies strongly imply the remarkable potential of IL-6 signalling inhibitors, especially in metastasis suppression.
Cancer Stem Cells—The Insight into Non-Coding RNAs
Authors: Bryl Rut , Piwocka Oliwia , Kawka Emilia , Mozdziak Paul , Kempisty Bartosz , Knopik-Skrocka Agnieszka
Published: November 2022

Since their initial identification three decades ago, there has been extensive research regarding cancer stem cells (CSCs). It is important to consider the biology of cancer stem cells with a particular focus on their phenotypic and metabolic plasticity, the most important signaling pathways, and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) regulating these cellular entities. Furthermore, the current status of therapeutic approaches against CSCs is an important consideration regarding employing the technology to improve human health. Cancer stem cells have claimed to be one of the most important group of cells for the development of several common cancers as they dictate features, such as resistance to radio- and chemotherapy, metastasis, and secondary tumor formation. Therapies which could target these cells may develop into an effective strategy for tumor eradication and a hope for patients for whom this disease remains uncurable.
Targeting PIM Kinases to Improve the Efficacy of Immunotherapy
Authors: Clements Amber N. , Warfel Noel A.
Published: November 2022

The Proviral Integration site for Moloney murine leukemia virus (PIM) kinases is a family of serine/threonine kinases that regulates numerous signaling networks that promote cell growth, proliferation, and survival. PIM kinases are commonly upregulated in both solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Recent studies have demonstrated that PIM facilitates immune evasion in cancer by promoting an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that suppresses the innate anti-tumor response. The role of PIM in immune evasion has sparked interest in examining the effect of PIM inhibition in combination with immunotherapy. This review focuses on the role of PIM kinases in regulating immune cell populations, how PIM modulates the immune tumor microenvironment to promote immune evasion, and how PIM inhibitors may be used to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy.
Overlapping Machinery in Lysosome-Related Organelle Trafficking: A Lesson from Rare Multisystem Disorders
Authors: Banushi Blerida , Simpson Fiona
Published: November 2022

Lysosome-related organelles (LROs) are a group of functionally diverse, cell type-specific compartments. LROs include melanosomes, alpha and dense granules, lytic granules, lamellar bodies and other compartments with distinct morphologies and functions allowing specialised and unique functions of their host cells. The formation, maturation and secretion of specific LROs are compromised in a number of hereditary rare multisystem disorders, including Hermansky-Pudlak syndromes, Griscelli syndrome and the Arthrogryposis, Renal dysfunction and Cholestasis syndrome. Each of these disorders impacts the function of several LROs, resulting in a variety of clinical features affecting systems such as immunity, neurophysiology and pigmentation. This has demonstrated the close relationship between LROs and led to the identification of conserved components required for LRO biogenesis and function. Here, we discuss aspects of this conserved machinery among LROs in relation to the heritable multisystem disorders they associate with, and present our current understanding of how dysfunctions in the proteins affected in the disease impact the formation, motility and ultimate secretion of LROs. Moreover, we have analysed the expression of the members of the CHEVI complex affected in Arthrogryposis, Renal dysfunction and Cholestasis syndrome, in different cell types, by collecting single cell RNA expression data from the human protein atlas. We propose a hypothesis describing how transcriptional regulation could constitute a mechanism that regulates the pleiotropic functions of proteins and their interacting partners in different LROs.
In Vitro Veritas: From 2D Cultures to Organ-on-a-Chip Models to Study Immunogenic Cell Death in the Tumor Microenvironment
Authors: Krysko Dmitri V. , Demuynck Robin , Efimova Iuliia , Naessens Faye , Krysko Olga , Catanzaro Elena
Published: November 2022

Immunogenic cell death (ICD) is a functionally unique form of cell death that promotes a T-cell-dependent anti-tumor immune response specific to antigens originating from dying cancer cells. Many anticancer agents and strategies induce ICD, but despite their robust effects in vitro and in vivo on mice, translation into the clinic remains challenging. A major hindrance in antitumor research is the poor predictive ability of classic 2D in vitro models, which do not consider tumor biological complexity, such as the contribution of the tumor microenvironment (TME), which plays a crucial role in immunosuppression and cancer evasion. In this review, we describe different tumor models, from 2D cultures to organ-on-a-chip technology, as well as spheroids and perfusion bioreactors, all of which mimic the different degrees of the TME complexity. Next, we discuss how 3D cell cultures can be applied to study ICD and how to increase the translational potential of the ICD inducers. Finally, novel research directions are provided regarding ICD in the 3D cellular context which may lead to novel immunotherapies for cancer.
The Oocyte-Specific Linker Histone H1FOO Is Not Essential for Mouse Oogenesis and Fertility
Authors: Sánchez-Sáez Fernando , Sainz-Urruela Raquel , Felipe-Medina Natalia , Condezo Yazmine B. , Sánchez-Martín Manuel , Llano Elena , Pendás Alberto M.
Published: November 2022

Meiosis is a highly conserved specialized cell division process that generates haploid gametes. Many of its events are associated with dynamically regulated chromosomal structures and chromatin remodeling, which are mainly modulated by histone modifications. Histone H1 is a linker histone essential for packing the nucleosome into higher-order structures, and H1FOO (H1 histone family, member O, oocyte-specific) is a H1 variant whose expression pattern is restricted to growing oocytes and zygotes. To further explore the function of H1FOO, we generated mice lacking the H1foo gene by the CRISPR/Cas9 technique. Herein, we combine mouse genetics and cellular studies to show that H1foo-null mutants have no overt phenotype, with both males and females being fertile and presenting no gross defects in meiosis progression nor in synapsis dynamics. Accordingly, the histological sections show a normal development of gametes in both male and female mice. Considering the important role of oocyte constituents in enhancing mammalian somatic cell reprogramming, we analyzed iPSCs generation in H1foo mutant MEFs and observed no differences in the absence of H1FOO. Taken all together, in this work we present the first in vivo evidence of H1FOO dispensability for mouse fertility, clarifying the debate in the field surrounding its essentiality in meiosis.
At the Research Frontiers of Small GTPases
Authors: Tang Bor Luen
Published: November 2022

Small GTPases act as molecular switches in regulating a myriad of cellular signaling, cytoskeletal dynamics, vesicular trafficking, and membrane/organelle transport processes. Here, I provide an editorial overview of papers collected in this Special Issue on the “Regulation and Function of Small GTPases 2.0”.
The Time Course of MHC-I Expression in C57BL/6J and A/J Mice Correlates with the Degree of Retrograde Gliosis in the Spinal Cord following Sciatic Nerve Crush
Authors: Lima Bruno Henrique de Melo , Bombeiro André Luis , Cartarozzi Luciana Politti , Oliveira Alexandre Leite Rodrigues de
Published: November 2022

The pleiotropic role of the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) reflects the close association between the nervous and immune systems. In turn, MHC-I upregulation postinjury is associated with a better regenerative outcome in isogenic mice following peripheral nerve damage. In the present work, we compared the time course of neuronal, glial, and sensorimotor recovery (1, 3, 5, 7, and 28 days after lesion—dal) following unilateral sciatic nerve crush in A/J and C57BL/6J mice. The A/J strain showed higher expression of MHC-I (7 dal, ** p < 0.01), Iba-1 (microglial reaction, 7 dal, *** p < 0.001), and GFAP (astrogliosis, 5 dal, * p < 0.05) than the C57BL/6J counterpart. Synaptic coverage (synaptophysin) was equivalent in both strains over time. In addition, mRNA expression of microdissected spinal motoneurons revealed an increase in cytoskeleton-associated molecules (cofilin, shp2, and crmp2, * p < 0.05), but not trkB, in C57BL/6J mice. Gait recovery, studied by the sciatic functional index, was faster in the A/J strain, despite the equivalent results of C57BL/6J at 28 days after injury. A similar recovery was also seen for the nociceptive threshold (von Frey test). Interestingly, when evaluating proprioceptive recovery, C57BL/6J animals showed an enlarged base of support, indicating abnormal ambulation postinjury. Overall, the present results reinforce the role of MHC-I expression in the plasticity of the nervous system following axotomy, which in turn correlates with the variable recovery capacity among strains of mice.
Role of Adipose Tissue microRNAs in the Onset of Metabolic Diseases and Implications in the Context of the DOHaD
Authors: Kappeler Laurent
Published: November 2022

The worldwide epidemic of obesity is associated with numerous comorbid conditions, including metabolic diseases such as insulin resistance and diabetes, in particular. The situation is likely to worsen, as the increase in obesity rates among children will probably lead to an earlier onset and more severe course for metabolic diseases. The origin of this earlier development of obesity may lie in both behavior (changes in nutrition, physical activity, etc.) and in children’s history, as it appears to be at least partly programmed by the fetal/neonatal environment. The concept of the developmental origin of health and diseases (DOHaD), involving both organogenesis and epigenetic mechanisms, encompasses such programming. Epigenetic mechanisms include the action of microRNAs, which seem to play an important role in adipocyte functions. Interestingly, microRNAs seem to play a particular role in propagating local insulin resistance to other key organs, thereby inducing global insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. This propagation involves the active secretion of exosomes containing microRNAs by adipocytes and adipose tissue-resident macrophages, as well as long-distance communication targeting the muscles and liver, for example. Circulating microRNAs may also be useful as biomarkers for the identification of populations at risk of subsequently developing obesity and metabolic diseases.
Bone Marrow Macrophages Induce Inflammation by Efferocytosis of Apoptotic Prostate Cancer Cells via HIF-1α Stabilization
Authors: Mendoza-Reinoso Veronica , Schnepp Patricia M. , Baek Dah Youn , Rubin John R. , Schipani Ernestina , Keller Evan T. , McCauley Laurie K. , Roca Hernan
Published: November 2022

The clearance of apoptotic cancer cells by macrophages, known as efferocytosis, fuels the bone-metastatic growth of prostate cancer cells via pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive processes. However, the exact molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, single-cell transcriptomics of bone marrow (BM) macrophages undergoing efferocytosis of apoptotic prostate cancer cells revealed a significant enrichment in their cellular response to hypoxia. Here, we show that BM macrophage efferocytosis increased hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1α) and STAT3 phosphorylation (p-STAT3 at Tyr705) under normoxic conditions, while inhibitors of p-STAT3 reduced HIF-1α. Efferocytosis promoted HIF-1α stabilization, reduced its ubiquitination, and induced HIF-1α and p-STAT3 nuclear translocation. HIF-1α stabilization in efferocytic BM macrophages resulted in enhanced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine MIF, whereas BM macrophages with inactive HIF-1α reduced MIF expression upon efferocytosis. Stabilization of HIF-1α using the HIF-prolyl-hydroxylase inhibitor, Roxadustat, enhanced MIF expression in BM macrophages. Furthermore, BM macrophages treated with recombinant MIF protein activated NF-κB (p65) signaling and increased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Altogether, these findings suggest that the clearance of apoptotic cancer cells by BM macrophages triggers p-STAT3/HIF-1α/MIF signaling to promote further inflammation in the bone tumor microenvironment where a significant number of apoptotic cancer cells are present.
Stem Cell-Based Therapeutic Strategies for Premature Ovarian Insufficiency and Infertility: A Focus on Aging
Authors: Ali Ilyas , Padhiar Arshad Ahmed , Wang Ting , He Liangge , Chen Mingzhuang , Wu Shengda , Zhou Yan , Zhou Guangqian
Published: November 2022

Reproductive aging is on the rise globally and inseparable from the entire aging process. An extreme form of reproductive aging is premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), which to date has mostly been of idiopathic etiology, thus hampering further clinical applications and associated with enormous socioeconomic and personal costs. In the field of reproduction, the important functional role of inflammation-induced ovarian deterioration and therapeutic strategies to prevent ovarian aging and increase its function are current research hotspots. This review discusses the general pathophysiology and relative causes of POI and comprehensively describes the association between the aging features of POI and infertility. Next, various preclinical studies of stem cell therapies with potential for POI treatment and their molecular mechanisms are described, with particular emphasis on the use of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology in the current scenario. Finally, the progress made in the development of hiPSC technology as a POI research tool for engineering more mature and functional organoids suitable as an alternative therapy to restore infertility provides new insights into therapeutic vulnerability, and perspectives on this exciting research on stem cells and the derived exosomes towards more effective POI diagnosis and treatment are also discussed.
Rnd3 Is a Crucial Mediator of the Invasive Phenotype of Glioblastoma Cells Downstream of Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Signalling
Authors: Almarán Beatriz , Ramis Guillem , Fernández de Mattos Silvia , Villalonga Priam
Published: November 2022

Enhanced invasiveness is one of the defining biological traits of glioblastoma cells, which exhibit an infiltrative nature that severely hinders surgical resection. Among the molecular lesions responsible for GBM aggressiveness, aberrant receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signalling is well-characterised. Enhanced RTK signalling directly impacts a myriad of cellular pathways and downstream effectors, which include the Rho GTPase family, key regulators of actin cytoskeletal dynamics. Here, we have analysed the functional crosstalk between oncogenic signals emanating from RTKs and Rho GTPases and focused on the specific contribution of Rnd3 to the invasive phenotype of GBM in this context. We found that RTK inhibition with a panel of RTK inhibitors decreased cell motility and cell invasion and promoted dramatic actin cytoskeleton reorganisation through activation of the RhoA/Rho-associated protein kinase 1 (ROCK) axis. RTK inhibition also significantly decreased Rnd3 expression levels. Consistently, shRNA-mediated Rnd3 silencing revealed that Rnd3 depletion promoted substantial changes in the actin cytoskeleton and reduced cell motility and invasion capacity, recapitulating the effects observed upon RTK inhibition. Our results indicate that Rnd3 is a crucial mediator of RTK oncogenic signalling involved in actin cytoskeletal reorganisation, which contributes to determining the invasive phenotype of GBM cells.
Targeting TRAIL Death Receptors in Triple-Negative Breast Cancers: Challenges and Strategies for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Kundu Manjari , Greer Yoshimi Endo , Dine Jennifer L. , Lipkowitz Stanley
Published: November 2022

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily member TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis in cancer cells via death receptor (DR) activation with little toxicity to normal cells or tissues. The selectivity for activating apoptosis in cancer cells confers an ideal therapeutic characteristic to TRAIL, which has led to the development and clinical testing of many DR agonists. However, TRAIL/DR targeting therapies have been widely ineffective in clinical trials of various malignancies for reasons that remain poorly understood. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) has the worst prognosis among breast cancers. Targeting the TRAIL DR pathway has shown notable efficacy in a subset of TNBC in preclinical models but again has not shown appreciable activity in clinical trials. In this review, we will discuss the signaling components and mechanisms governing TRAIL pathway activation and clinical trial findings discussed with a focus on TNBC. Challenges and potential solutions for using DR agonists in the clinic are also discussed, including consideration of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of DR agonists, patient selection by predictive biomarkers, and potential combination therapies. Moreover, recent findings on the impact of TRAIL treatment on the immune response, as well as novel strategies to address those challenges, are discussed.
NSCLC Cells Resistance to PI3K/mTOR Inhibitors Is Mediated by Delta-6 Fatty Acid Desaturase (FADS2)
Authors: Colombo Marika , Passarelli Federico , Corsetto Paola A. , Rizzo Angela M. , Marabese Mirko , De Simone Giulia , Pastorelli Roberta , Broggini Massimo , Brunelli Laura , Caiola Elisa
Published: November 2022

Hyperactivation of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) pathway is one of the most common events in human cancers. Several efforts have been made toward the identification of selective PI3K pathway inhibitors. However, the success of these molecules has been partially limited due to unexpected toxicities, the selection of potentially responsive patients, and intrinsic resistance to treatments. Metabolic alterations are intimately linked to drug resistance; altered metabolic pathways can help cancer cells adapt to continuous drug exposure and develop resistant phenotypes. Here we report the metabolic alterations underlying the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines resistant to the usual PI3K-mTOR inhibitor BEZ235. In this study, we identified that an increased unsaturation degree of lipid species is associated with increased plasma membrane fluidity in cells with the resistant phenotype and that fatty acid desaturase FADS2 mediates the acquisition of chemoresistance. Therefore, new studies focused on reversing drug resistance based on membrane lipid modifications should consider the contribution of desaturase activity.
Fever as the Only First Sign of Crohn’s Disease—Difficulties in Diagnosis during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Kęsicka Aleksandra , Burandt Judyta , Główczewski Adam , Krogulska Aneta
Published: November 2022

We present a case of a nine-year-old girl with Crohn’s disease whose only first manifestation was fever. The patient was treated with antibiotics for six weeks by her general practitioner via teleconsultations during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, no significant improvement was observed. Only the appearance of loose stools after six weeks of observation and the lack of effect of previous treatment allowed for targeting of the diagnostic process and an unequivocal recognition of Crohn’s disease. Our aim is to emphasize the difficulties in diagnosis related to the atypical course of the disease, especially in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The described course of Crohn’s disease occurs in a minority of patients; however, this disease should not be overlooked in the differential diagnosis of fever in paediatric patients.
The Rates of Breastfeeding in Baby-Friendly Hospitals in Greece: A Nationwide Survey
Authors: Liakou Eftychia , Christou Evangelos , Iacovidou Nicoletta , Pouliakis Abraham , Sokou Rozeta , Petropoulou Chrysa , Volaki Paraskevi , Triantafyllou Anastasia , Zantiotou Matina , Vrachnis Dionisios , Boutsikou Theodora , Iliodromiti Zoi
Published: November 2022

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) remains the cornerstone of infant nutrition for the first six months of life, presenting multiple short and long term benefits. The purpose of this study is the demonstration of EBF rates of infants born in baby-friendly hospitals (BFH) and the factors that positively influence EBF. Methods: The study was conducted in all four of the BFH that exist in Greece, between 2020 and 2022. The study sample consisted of 1200 mothers, taken from the 7101 that delivered at those hospitals during the time of the study. A questionnaire was used that included questions to evaluate the infant’s nutrition after birth, after exiting the maternity hospital and during the 2nd, 4th and 6th month of age. The WHO guidelines on EBF and breastfeeding (BF), as well as the “Infant and Young Child Feeding” indicators, were used. Results: The EBF rate within 1 h after birth was 71.3%, which gradually declined to 21.2% in the 6th month. The respective rate of BF was 94.5% and declined to 66.1%. The logistic regression revealed that attending antenatal breastfeeding courses, vaginal delivery, full-term pregnancies and the mothers’ advanced education level constitute independent positive prognostic factors for increased EBF rates. Conclusion: The results of the first national study on BFH are presented. Despite the improvement of EBF rates in Greece, compared to the latest available data from 2018, reinforcement of EBF promotion measures is required in order to approach the WHO’s targets by 2025.
Mapping Open Data and Big Data to Address Climate Resilience of Urban Informal Settlements in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Banzhaf Ellen , Bulley Henry N. , Inkoom Justice Nana , Elze Sebastian
Published: November 2022

This perspective paper highlights the potentials, limitations, and combinations of openly available Earth observation (EO) data and big data in the context of environmental research in urban areas. The aim is to build the resilience of informal settlements to climate change impacts. In particular, it highlights the types, categories, spatial and temporal scales of publicly available big data. The benefits of publicly available big data become clear when looking at issues such as the development and quality of life in informal settlements within and around major African cities. Sub-Saharan African (SSA) cities are among the fastest growing urban areas in the world. However, they lack spatial information to guide urban planning towards climate-adapted cities and fair living conditions for disadvantaged residents who mostly reside in informal settlements. Therefore, this study collected key information on freely available data such as data on land cover, land use, and environmental hazards and pressures, demographic and socio-economic indicators for urban areas. They serve as a vital resource for success of many other related local studies, such as the transdisciplinary research project “DREAMS—Developing REsilient African cities and their urban environMent facing the provision of essential urban SDGs”. In the era of exponential growth of big data analytics, especially geospatial data, their utility in SSA is hampered by the disparate nature of these datasets due to the lack of a comprehensive overview of where and how to access them. This paper aims to provide transparency in this regard as well as a resource to access such datasets. Although the limitations of such big data are also discussed, their usefulness in assessing environmental hazards and human exposure, especially to climate change impacts, are emphasised.
Abrasion and Cavitation Erosion Resistance of Multi-Layer Dip Coated Sol-Gel Coatings on AA2024-T3
Authors: Hegde Manasa , Kavanagh Yvonne , Duffy Brendan , Tobin Edmond
Published: November 2022

AA2024-T3 are widely used in various applications because of their exceptional physical properties. However, they are susceptible to corrosion and cavitation erosion in aggressive environments due to high concentration of copper. Sol-gel coatings in the field of corrosion prevention are emerging. Improved thickness of coatings significantly improves the barrier effect of the coatings, thereby improving their operational-life in industrial applications. To date, a limited amount of work has been carried out in determining the effect of hybrid sol-gel coatings on abrasion and cavitation erosion of AA2024-T3. The present study investigates the effect of thickness of the coatings on morphology, corrosion, abrasion and cavitation erosion properties of the prepared hybrid sol-gel coatings deposited on AA2024-T3 surfaces. The hybrid sol-gels have been synthesized from 3-trimethoxysilylpropylmethacrylate (MAPTMS), and a zirconium complex prepared from the chelation of zirconium n-propoxide (ZPO), and methacrylic acid (MAAH). AA-2024 T3 were coated using single-dip, double-dip and triple-dip. Abrasion and cavitation erosion tests were performed according to the relevant standards. Structural damage caused by corrosion, abrasion and cavitation erosion was studied by Optical Microscope and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Corrosion protection performance of the coatings was tested using Open Circuit Potential (OCP) and Potentiodynamic polarization (PDS). Results indicated that the multilayer coated samples improved the corrosion, cavitation erosion and abrasion resistance of AA2024-T3. Hence, the prepared silica-based coatings can be proposed as a potential choice for marine renewable energy applications.
Towards the Efficient Way of Asphalt Regeneration by Applying Heating and Mechanical Processing
Authors: Bucinskas Vytautas , Dzedzickis Andrius , Makulavicius Mantas , Sesok Nikolaj , Morkvenaite-Vilkonciene Inga
Published: November 2022

Asphalt layers renovation includes heating, mechanical processing, and the removal of the layer. Implementation of an alternative method—regenerating the upper asphalt layer, saves the operation time and energy. Common regeneration technologies consume a significant amount of energy and pollute the air during operation. This research aimed to investigate the improvement of the asphalt layers regeneration process when heating is applied together with mechanical processing. This methodology enables safe energy in the process of asphalt regeneration in terms of heating agent and mechanical processing. The distribution of the asphalt temperature in its cross-section with and without mechanical processing was evaluated experimentally and theoretically using a mathematical model. Experiments were performed in the temperature range from 250 to 450 °C. Mechanical loading was applied by the pressure force of 4500 N. Using mechanical loading together with heating, the best heat transfer into a deeper layer was found when the heating temperature of the asphalt was 250 °C. The asphalt simulation model showed that deeper asphalt layers require more time for the temperature to reach the limit values.
Domesticating a Halotolerant Bacterium of Vibrio sp. LY1024 with Heterotrophic Nitrification–Aerobic Denitrification Property for Efficient Nitrogen Removal in Mariculture Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Wang Lu , Fu Yutong , Wang Shuaijie , Ye Fei , Cui Enming , Sun Qina
Published: November 2022

Dealing with mariculture wastewater that contains high nitrogenous compounds with efficient biological nitrogen removal technology is challenging but meaningful. The key lies in developing an active microorganism that can spontaneously complete the nitrification–denitrification processes in the marine environment. Herein, a halotolerant heterotrophic nitrification–aerobic denitrification (HN-AD) bacterium of Vibrio sp. LY1024 with good nitrogen removal capacity is domesticated to achieve the aforementioned goal. As a result, ammonium (NH4+-N) and nitrate (NO3−-N) removal rates of almost 100% and 98.5% are detected over Vibrio sp. LY1024 at the salinity of 3.5%, even further increasing the salinity of wastewater to 5.5%. Its removal capacity towards both NH4+-N and NO3−-N can still maintain at almost 100% and 94.7%, respectively. Further combining these results with those of intermediate product determination, it can be speculated that the ammonium removal is according to the pathway of NH4+-N → NH2OH → NO3−-N → N2O → N2. Moreover, the influence of wastewater temperature on the nitrogen removal efficiency of Vibrio sp. LY1024 is also considered. The NH4+-N and NO3−-N removal efficiency over Vibrio sp. LY1024 at a relatively low temperature of 15 °C is still up to 97.3% and 76.4%, respectively. Our work provides a promising halotolerant and low-temperature resistance microorganism for the treatment of mariculture wastewater.
Growth of High-Quality Perovskite KTa1-xNbxO3 Thin Films by RF Magnetron Co-Sputtering
Authors: Kang Geon-Hyeong , Jung Ki Chul , Kim Jongbum , Kang JoonHyun , Kim In Soo , Kim Young-Hwan
Published: November 2022

In this study, we demonstrate the growth of high-quality KTa1-xNbxO3 (KTN) thin films by using multi-target radio frequency (RF) magnetron co-sputtering with KTaO3, KNbO3, and K2CO3 targets. KTaO3 and KNbO3 targets were used to control the Ta/Nb ratio while the K2CO3 target was used to supply excess potassium (K) to compensate for the K deficiency. Through careful control of the RF powers applied to each target, high-quality perovskite KTN (x = 0.53) thin films were grown on various single crystal substrates. Variable temperature Raman spectroscopy revealed that the KTN thin films exhibit a ferroelectric phase at room temperature with a Curie temperature of ~403 K. The optical constants n and k of the KTN thin film were also similar to those reported for single KTN crystals. These results present a simple route toward fabricating high-quality perovskite KTN thin films with desired structural and optical properties for various device applications utilizing the RF magnetron co-sputtering method.
Studies of Boriding Using Possibility to Increase the Corrosion Resistance of Cast Steel 20GL
Authors: Mednikov Alexey , Tkhabisimov Alexander , Kalakuckaya Olga , Zilova Olga , Kachalin Gennady
Published: November 2022

This paper presents the findings of corrosion studies of cast steel 20GL (structural alloyed steel: G—1% of Mn, L—alloyed) with boriding, selected as a promising passive method of protecting hydraulic machine elements from hydro-solid particle erosion and corrosive effects. Earlier studies have shown the boriding efficiency to increase the solid particle erosion resistance of cast steel 20GL by two–eight times depending on the solid particles’ impact angle of 30° and 90°. The boriding was carried out in a melt based on sodium tetraborate, sodium fluoride and sodium chloride salts in a shaft furnace with external heating. Results indicated that the boriding process did not affect the initial roughness of cast steel 20GL but increased the surface microhardness by more than six times, up to 1680–2080 HV0.01. The total layer thickness after two boriding processes was from 80 to 150 µm. The results of corrosion resistance studies by electrochemical methods obtained in this work showed the positive effect of boriding of steel 20GL. Boriding turns steel 20GL from a low-resistant class (score 6) to a resistant class (score 4–5) on a 10-point scale of corrosion resistance of metals. The boriding at a depth of 150 ± 5 µm reduces the corrosion rate in the environment of 3% NaCl solution by 2.8 times and in the environment of 0.7% Na2SO4 solution by 4.1 times, compared with the initial material without modification. It is revealed that an increase in boriding depth leads to an increase in corrosion resistance. The results indicate that the boriding of hydraulic machine parts made of 20GL steel will increase their corrosion resistance, thus prolonging the operating and overhaul period.
Effect of Resin Finishing on Some Properties of 100% Cotton Light Weight Woven Fabric
Authors: Ho Long-Yi , Kan Chi-Wai
Published: November 2022

In this study, experimental investigation was conducted to assess the wrinkle-resistance performance of resin-treated 100% cotton light-weight fabric. Resin (Dimethyloldihydroethylene urea, DMDHEU) was used for treating 100% cotton light-weight fabric with different treatment parameters (resin concentration: 30 g/L, 45 g/L, 60 g/L; pick-up: 60%, 70%, 80%; drying temperature: 110 °C, 120 °C; and curing time: 2 min, 2.5 min, 3 min). After resin treatment, wrinkle properties, as well as the tearing strength and dimensional stability, of the resin treated fabrics were evaluated. Experimental results revealed that the resin concentration, pick-up, drying temperature, and curing time are inter-related, which could affect the final performance of the 100% cotton light-weight woven fabric. Thus, the effects of different parameters on the performance of the 100% cotton light-weight woven fabric were compared and discussed. Generally speaking, the resin finishing improved the wrinkle properties and dimensional stability but reduced the tearing strength of 100% cotton light-weight woven fabric.
Recycling of Glass Waste by Deposition of TiO2 for the Intensification of the Photocatalytic Effect in the Purification of Wastewater
Authors: Isopencu Gabriela , Eftimie Mihai , Melinescu Alina , Dancila Annette Madelene , Mares Monica
Published: November 2022

In this study, the photocatalytic effect of TiO2 (1 wt. % and 3 wt. %) deposited on the surface of sintered cathode ray tube glass was examined, as well as its effect on an E. coli strain (BL21(DE3)). DTA analysis indicated the sintering temperature for samples to be 820 °C while scanning electron microscopy (SEM)showed an intimate contact and a strong interface between the support and photocatalyst. Near-ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS) was employed to establish the chemical and bonding environment of the samples. The investigations of the bacterial viability were conducted using flow cytometry, a specific cellular viability assay, while bacterial growth was measured using the turbidimetric method. The experimental results show the influence of the TiO2 concentration on the bacterial inactivation process: higher concentrations (3% wt.) have a bactericidal effect in the long term, whereas lower concentrations (1% wt.) render them inactive for a shorter time in the exponential growth stage. The preliminary results were used to calculate the efficiency of microbial inactivation and the parameters of the kinetics of inactivation using ANOVA software. The results indicate that this material could be an effective solution for water disinfection.
Research on Brownian Thermal Noise Limit of a Cylindrical Ultra-Stable Cavity with Support Pads
Authors: Jiao Dongdong , Xu Guanjun , Zhang Linbo , Gao Jing , Li Yang , Dong Ruifang , Liu Tao , Zhang Shougang
Published: November 2022

Brownian thermal noise (TN) of ultra-stable cavities (USCs) imposes a fundamental limitation on the frequency stability of ultra-narrow linewidth lasers. This work investigates the TN in cylindrical USCs with the four support pads in detail through theoretical estimation and simulation. To evaluate the performance of state-of-the-art ultra-narrow linewidth lasers, we derive an expression of the TN for a cylindrical spacer according to the fluctuation–dissipation theorem, which takes into account the front face area of the spacer. This estimation is more suitable for the TN of the cylindrical USC than the previous one. Meanwhile, we perform detailed studies of the influence of the four support pads on the TN in cylindrical USCs for the first time by numerical simulations. For a 400 mm long cylindrical USC with an ultra-low expansion spacer and fused silica substrates, the displacement noise contributed from the four support pads is roughly four times that of the substrates and the GaAs/AlGaAs crystalline coating. The results show that the four support pads are the primary TN contributors under some materials and geometries of USCs.
Thymoquinone Plus Immunotherapy in Extra-Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: Case Series for a Novel Combination
Authors: Mohamed Amr , Azmi Asfar S. , Asa Sylvia L. , Tirumani Sree Harsha , Mahipal Amit , Cjakrabarti Sakti , Bajor David , Selfridge J. Eva , Kaseb Ahmed O.
Published: November 2022

Background: Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a heterogeneous group of cancers that had a significant increase in annual incidence in the last decade. They can be divided into well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). Poorly differentiated NECs are aggressive forms of cancers with limited therapeutic options. The first line treatment of metastatic poorly differentiated NECs is similar to small cell lung cancer, with cytotoxic chemotherapy (etoposide plus platinum). Patients who progress have limited therapeutic options and poor overall survival, calling for other novel agents to combat this deadly disease. Therefore, in this article, we summarized the effects of a novel component, Thymoquinone (TQ, C10H12O2), which is the main bioactive component of the black seed (Nigella sativa, Ranunculaceae family), plus immunotherapy in case series of patients with refractory metastatic extra-pulmonary NEC (EP-NEC) and one case of mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasm (MiNEN). Methods: We report the effect of TQ plus dual immune checkpoint inhibitors (nivolumab plus ipilimumab) in four patients with poorly differentiated gastrointestinal Ep-NEC and MiNEN who progressed on cytotoxic chemotherapy. Results: This is the first case series to report the clinical activity of TQ plus dual immune checkpoint inhibitors (nivolumab plus ipilimumab) in patients with refractory metastatic EP-NEC. The four patients showed benefits with the combined regimen TQ plus dual ICPIs with durable response and exceeded the two years of progression-free survival. None of the four patients experienced significant toxicity, and all of them showed improvement in quality of life. Conclusion: The reported clinical courses suggest that combined TQ plus ICPIs is a potential promising regimen for refractory EP-NEC and MiNEN that deserves further prospective investigation.
Integration of Solar Energy Supply on Smart Distribution Board Based on IoT System
Authors: Mallahi Fatmah , Mohamed Mariam , Shaker Yomna
Published: November 2022

Today’s residential electricity management depends heavily on the Internet of Things (IoT). It is still challenging to create practical, affordable smart condition monitoring, protection, and control systems for residential distribution networks. The performance of the developed system is evaluated for a variety of residential electric loads with different energy consumption patterns. In this paper, a photovoltaic tracking system and also a cleaning system will be connected to a smart board. All input data will be gathered and sent over Bluetooth using a working prototype built on an Arduino board. The mobile application is also used to let individual users monitor the system in real-time, alert users about electrical system issues, display their energy use in real time, and provide other essential alerts and warnings.
Ultrasound Versus Computed Tomography for Diaphragmatic Thickness and Skeletal Muscle Index during Mechanical Ventilation
Authors: Gatti Stefano , Abbruzzese Chiara , Ippolito Davide , Lombardi Sophie , De Vito Andrea , Gandola Davide , Meroni Veronica , Sala Vittoria Ludovica , Sironi Sandro , Pesenti Antonio , Foti Giuseppe , Rezoagli Emanuele , Bellani Giacomo
Published: November 2022

Background: Diaphragmatic alterations occurring during mechanical ventilation (MV) can be monitored using ultrasound (US). The performance of computed tomography (CT) to evaluate diaphragmatic thickness is limited. Further, the association between muscle mass and outcome is increasingly recognized. However, no data are available on its correlation with diaphragmatic thickness. We aimed to determine correlation and agreement of diaphragmatic thickness between CT and US; and its association with muscle mass and MV parameters. Methods: Prospective observational study. US measurements of the diaphragmatic thickness were collected in patients undergoing MV within 12 h before or after performing a CT scan of the thorax and/or upper abdomen. Data on skeletal muscle index (SMI), baseline, and ventilatory data were recorded and correlated with US and CT measures of diaphragmatic thickness. Agreement was explored between US and CT data. Results: Twenty-nine patients were enrolled and the diaphragm measured by CT resulted overall thicker than US-based measurement of the right hemidiaphragm. The US thickness showed the strongest correlation with the left posterior pillar at CT (r = 0.49, p = 0.008). The duration of the controlled MV was negatively correlated with US thickness (r = −0.45, p = 0.017), the thickness of the right anterior pillar (r = −0.41, p = 0.029), and splenic dome by CT (r = −0.43, p = 0.023). SMI was positively correlated with US diaphragmatic thickness (r = 0.50, p = 0.007) and inversely correlated with the duration of MV before enrollment (r = −0.426, p = 0.027). Conclusions: CT scan of the left posterior pillar can estimate diaphragmatic thickness and is moderately correlated with US measurements. Both techniques show that diaphragm thickness decreases with MV duration. The diaphragmatic thickness by US showed a good correlation with SMI.
An Al-Biruni Earth Radius Optimization-Based Deep Convolutional Neural Network for Classifying Monkeypox Disease
Authors: Khafaga Doaa Sami , Ibrahim Abdelhameed , El-Kenawy El-Sayed M. , Abdelhamid Abdelaziz A. , Karim Faten Khalid , Mirjalili Seyedali , Khodadadi Nima , Lim Wei Hong , Eid Marwa M. , Ghoneim Mohamed E.
Published: November 2022

Human skin diseases have become increasingly prevalent in recent decades, with millions of individuals in developed countries experiencing monkeypox. Such conditions often carry less obvious but no less devastating risks, including increased vulnerability to monkeypox, cancer, and low self-esteem. Due to the low visual resolution of monkeypox disease images, medical specialists with high-level tools are typically required for a proper diagnosis. The manual diagnosis of monkeypox disease is subjective, time-consuming, and labor-intensive. Therefore, it is necessary to create a computer-aided approach for the automated diagnosis of monkeypox disease. Most research articles on monkeypox disease relied on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and using classical loss functions, allowing them to pick up discriminative elements in monkeypox images. To enhance this, a novel framework using Al-Biruni Earth radius (BER) optimization-based stochastic fractal search (BERSFS) is proposed to fine-tune the deep CNN layers for classifying monkeypox disease from images. As a first step in the proposed approach, we use deep CNN-based models to learn the embedding of input images in Euclidean space. In the second step, we use an optimized classification model based on the triplet loss function to calculate the distance between pairs of images in Euclidean space and learn features that may be used to distinguish between different cases, including monkeypox cases. The proposed approach uses images of human skin diseases obtained from an African hospital. The experimental results of the study demonstrate the proposed framework’s efficacy, as it outperforms numerous examples of prior research on skin disease problems. On the other hand, statistical experiments with Wilcoxon and analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests are conducted to evaluate the proposed approach in terms of effectiveness and stability. The recorded results confirm the superiority of the proposed method when compared with other optimization algorithms and machine learning models.
Deep Learning-Based Glaucoma Screening Using Regional RNFL Thickness in Fundus Photography
Authors: Yang Hyunmo , Ahn Yujin , Askaruly Sanzhar , You Joon S. , Kim Sang Woo , Jung Woonggyu
Published: November 2022

Since glaucoma is a progressive and irreversible optic neuropathy, accurate screening and/or early diagnosis is critical in preventing permanent vision loss. Recently, optical coherence tomography (OCT) has become an accurate diagnostic tool to observe and extract the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), which closely reflects the nerve damage caused by glaucoma. However, OCT is less accessible than fundus photography due to higher cost and expertise required for operation. Though widely used, fundus photography is effective for early glaucoma detection only when used by experts with extensive training. Here, we introduce a deep learning-based approach to predict the RNFL thickness around optic disc regions in fundus photography for glaucoma screening. The proposed deep learning model is based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) and utilizes images taken with fundus photography and with RNFL thickness measured with OCT for model training and validation. Using a dataset acquired from normal tension glaucoma (NTG) patients, the trained model can estimate RNFL thicknesses in 12 optic disc regions from fundus photos. Using intuitive thickness labels to identify localized damage of the optic nerve head and then estimating regional RNFL thicknesses from fundus images, we determine that screening for glaucoma could achieve 92% sensitivity and 86.9% specificity. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis results for specificity of 80% demonstrate that use of the localized mean over superior and inferior regions reaches 90.7% sensitivity, whereas 71.2% sensitivity is reached using the global RNFL thicknesses for specificity at 80%. This demonstrates that the new approach of using regional RNFL thicknesses in fundus images holds good promise as a potential screening technique for early stage of glaucoma.