bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Study of Digital Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Giant, Standard, and Miniature Schnauzers
Authors: Aupperle-Lellbach Heike , Heidrich Daniela , Conrad David , Beitzinger Christoph , Masala Nives , Klopfleisch Robert , Müller Tobias
Published: June 2023

In schnauzers, a breed predisposition to squamous cell carcinoma of the digit (dSCC) is well known. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and macroscopic findings of dSCCs in giant (GSs), standard (SSs), and miniature schnauzers (MSs). Methods: Pathology reports of 478 dSCCs from 417 schnauzers (227 GSs, 174 SSs, and 16 MSs) were retrospectively evaluated. Results: The MSs were older than the SSs and GSs (p ≤ 0.01). The male GSs were predisposed to dSCC (p < 0.05). In the GSs, the nodular dSCCs were larger than in the MSs (p ≤ 0.05) and SSs (p ≤ 0.001). The digital SCCs were mostly diagnosed at the forelimbs, especially at digits 1, 2, and 5. At the hindlimbs, the affected toes differed between the GSs and SSs. Multiple dSCCs were more common in SSs than in GSs (p = 0.003). If dSCC was the cause of death, the survival time was shorter than in dogs dying from other diseases (p = 0.004). Metastases occurred in 20% of the cases and led to a significantly shorter survival time in both the GSs and SSs (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results showed various differences in the dSCC depending on the size variant of the schnauzer.
The Impacts of Supplemental Protein during Development on Amino Acid Concentrations in the Uterus and Pregnancy Outcomes of Angus Heifers
Authors: Brandt Kiernan J. , Ault-Seay Taylor B. , Payton Rebecca R. , Schneider Liesel G. , Edwards J. Lannett , Myer Phillip R. , Rhinehart Justin D. , McLean Kyle J.
Published: June 2023

Replacement heifer development is one of the most critical components in beef production. The composition of the ideal uterine environment could maximize fertility and reproductive efficiency. Our hypothesis was that protein supplementation would affect the uterine environment of beef heifers without inhibiting development or reproduction. To test the effects of dietary supplementation on these outcomes, a randomized complete block design with repeated measures was implemented. Angus heifers (n = 60) were blocked by body weight (BW) and randomly assigned to one of three supplemental protein treatment groups (10% (CON), 20% (P20), and 40% (P40)). Mixed model ANOVAs were used to determine whether protein supplementation treatments, time, and the interaction or protein supplementation, semen exposure, and the interaction influenced uterine luminal fluid (ULF) and pregnancy outcomes. Amino acids (AAs) were impacted (p < 0.001), specifically, the essential AAs: Arg, Iso, Leu, Val, His, Lys, Met, Phe, Trp. Protein supplementation influenced multiple AAs post-insemination: Arg (p = 0.03), CC (p = 0.05), 1-MH (p = 0.001), and Orn (p = 0.03). In conclusion, protein supplementation did not affect the reproductive development via puberty attainment or the timing of conception even with alterations in growth. However, uterine AA concentrations did change throughout development and protein supplementation influenced ULF d 14 post-insemination, which may affect the conception rates.
The Prolyl Oligopeptidase Inhibitor KYP-2047 Is Cytoprotective and Anti-Inflammatory in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells with Defective Proteasomal Clearance
Authors: Toppila Maija , Hytti Maria , Korhonen Eveliina , Ranta-aho Sofia , Harju Niina , Forsberg Markus M. , Kaarniranta Kai , Jalkanen Aaro , Kauppinen Anu
Published: June 2023

Increased oxidative stress, dysfunctional cellular clearance, and chronic inflammation are associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Prolyl oligopeptidase (PREP) is a serine protease that has numerous cellular functions, including the regulation of oxidative stress, protein aggregation, and inflammation. PREP inhibition by KYP-2047 (4-phenylbutanoyl-L-prolyl1(S)-cyanopyrrolidine) has been associated with clearance of cellular protein aggregates and reduced oxidative stress and inflammation. Here, we studied the effects of KYP-2047 on inflammation, oxidative stress, cell viability, and autophagy in human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells with reduced proteasomal clearance. MG-132-mediated proteasomal inhibition in ARPE-19 cells was used to model declined proteasomal clearance in the RPEs of AMD patients. Cell viability was assessed using LDH and MTT assays. The amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured using 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (H2DCFDA). ELISA was used to determine the levels of cytokines and activated mitogen-activated protein kinases. The autophagy markers p62/SQSTM1 and LC3 were measured with the western blot method. MG-132 induced LDH leakage and increased ROS production in the ARPE-19 cells, and KYP-2047 reduced MG-132-induced LDH leakage. Production of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 was concurrently alleviated by KYP-2047 when compared with cells treated only with MG-132. KYP-2047 had no effect on autophagy in the RPE cells, but the phosphorylation levels of p38 and ERK1/2 were elevated upon KYP-2047 exposure, and the inhibition of p38 prevented the anti-inflammatory actions of KYP-2047. KYP-2047 showed cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects on RPE cells suffering from MG-132-induced proteasomal inhibition.
A Comparison Study of Generative Adversarial Network Architectures for Malicious Cyber-Attack Data Generation
Authors: Peppes Nikolaos , Alexakis Theodoros , Demestichas Konstantinos , Adamopoulou Evgenia
Published: June 2023

The digitization trend that prevails nowadays has led to increased vulnerabilities of tools and technologies of everyday life. One of the many different types of software vulnerabilities and attacks is botnets. Botnets enable attackers to gain remote control of the infected machines, often leading to disastrous consequences. Cybersecurity experts engage machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) technologies for designing and developing smart and proactive cybersecurity systems in order to tackle such infections. The development of such systems is, often, hindered by the lack of data that can be used to train them. Aiming to address this problem, this study proposes and describes a methodology for the generation of botnet-type data in tabular format. This methodology involves the design and development of two generative adversarial network (GAN) models, one with six layers and the other with eight layers, to identify the most efficient and reliable one in terms of the similarity of the generated data to the real ones. The two GAN models produce data in loops of 25, 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1000 epochs. The results are quite encouraging as, for both models, the similarity between the synthetic and the real data is around 80%. The eight-layer solution is slightly better as, after running for 1000 epochs, it achieved a similarity degree of 82%, outperforming the six-layer one, which achieved 77%. These results indicate that such solutions of data augmentation in the cybersecurity domain are feasible and reliable and can lead to new standards for developing and training trustworthy ML and DL solutions for detecting and tackling botnet attacks.
T5-Based Model for Abstractive Summarization: A Semi-Supervised Learning Approach with Consistency Loss Functions
Authors: Wang Mingye , Xie Pan , Du Yao , Hu Xiaohui
Published: June 2023

Text summarization is a prominent task in natural language processing (NLP) that condenses lengthy texts into concise summaries. Despite the success of existing supervised models, they often rely on datasets of well-constructed text pairs, which can be insufficient for languages with limited annotated data, such as Chinese. To address this issue, we propose a semi-supervised learning method for text summarization. Our method is inspired by the cycle-consistent adversarial network (CycleGAN) and considers text summarization as a style transfer task. The model is trained by using a similar procedure and loss function to those of CycleGAN and learns to transfer the style of a document to its summary and vice versa. Our method can be applied to multiple languages, but this paper focuses on its performance on Chinese documents. We trained a T5-based model and evaluated it on two datasets, CSL and LCSTS, and the results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
EDET: Entity Descriptor Encoder of Transformer for Multi-Modal Knowledge Graph in Scene Parsing
Authors: Ma Sai , Wan Weibing , Yu Zedong , Zhao Yuming
Published: June 2023

In scene parsing, the model is required to be able to process complex multi-modal data such as images and contexts in real scenes, and discover their implicit connections from objects existing in the scene. As a storage method that contains entity information and the relationship between entities, a knowledge graph can well express objects and the semantic relationship between objects in the scene. In this paper, a new multi-phase process was proposed to solve scene parsing tasks; first, a knowledge graph was used to align the multi-modal information and then the graph-based model generates results. We also designed an experiment of feature engineering’s validation for a deep-learning model to preliminarily verify the effectiveness of this method. Hence, we proposed a knowledge representation method named Entity Descriptor Encoder of Transformer (EDET), which uses both the entity itself and its internal attributes for knowledge representation. This method can be embedded into the transformer structure to solve multi-modal scene parsing tasks. EDET can aggregate the multi-modal attributes of entities, and the results in the scene graph generation and image captioning tasks prove that EDET has excellent performance in multi-modal fields. Finally, the proposed method was applied to the industrial scene, which confirmed the viability of our method.
Predicting Decision-Making in Virtual Environments: An Eye Movement Analysis with Household Products
Authors: Palacios-Ibáñez Almudena , Marín-Morales Javier , Contero Manuel , Alcañiz Mariano
Published: June 2023

Understanding consumer behavior is crucial for increasing the likelihood of product success. Virtual Reality head-mounted displays incorporating physiological techniques such as eye-tracking offer novel opportunities to study user behavior in decision-making tasks. These methods reveal unconscious or undisclosed consumer responses. Yet, research into gaze patterns during virtual product evaluations remains scarce. In this context, an experiment was conducted to investigate users’ gaze behavior when evaluating their preferences for 64 virtual prototypes of a bedside table. Here, 24 participants evaluated and selected their preferred design through eight repeated tasks of an 8-AFC, with individual evaluations conducted for each design to ensure the reliability of the findings. Several eye-tracking metrics were computed (i.e., gaze time, visits, and time to first gaze), statistical tests were applied, and a Long Short-Term Memory model was created to recognize decisions based on attentional patterns. Our results revealed that the Gaze Cascade Model was replicated in virtual environments and that a correlation between product liking and eye-tracking metrics exists. We recognize subjects’ decisions with a 90% accuracy, based on their eye patterns during the three seconds before their decision. The results suggest that eye-tracking can be an effective tool for decision-making prediction during product assessment in virtual environments.
An Optimized Approach to Translate Technical Patents from English to Japanese Using Machine Translation Models
Authors: Ahmed Maimoonah , Ouda Abdelkader , Abusharkh Mohamed , Kohli Sandeep , Rai Khushwant
Published: June 2023

This paper addresses the challenges associated with machine translation of patents from English to Japanese. This translation poses unique difficulties due to their legal nature, distinguishing them from general Japanese-to-English translation. Furthermore, the complexities inherent in the Japanese language add an additional layer of intricacy to the development of effective translation models within this specific domain. Our approach encompasses a range of essential steps, including preprocessing, data preparation, expert feedback acquisition, and linguistic analysis. These steps collectively contribute to the enhancement of machine learning model performance. The experimental results, presented in this study, evaluate three prominent alternatives considered for the final step of the transformer model. Through our methodology, which incorporates a modified version of NLP-Model-III, we achieved outstanding performance for the given problem, attaining an impressive BLEU score of 46.8. Furthermore, significant improvements of up to three points on the BLEU score were observed through hyperparameter fine-tuning. This research also involved the development of a novel dataset consisting of meticulously collected patent document data. The findings of this study provide valuable insights and contribute to the advancement of Japanese patent translation methodologies.
Decomposition of a Petri Net-Based Cyber-Physical System toward Implementation as an Integrated System within FPGA
Authors: Wiśniewski Remigiusz , Costa Anikó , Wojnakowski Marcin , Maliński Maxim
Published: June 2023

Decomposition is one of the commonly used techniques applied in the design of Petri net-based cyber-physical systems. Such an operation permits the splitting of the initial system into sequential components that can be further implemented as an integrated or distributed system. This paper is focused on the decomposition of the modelled CPS toward its further implementation as an integrated system, namely an FPGA device. The adequate decomposition method is presented and explained in detail. Moreover, the proposed idea is explained by the real-life example of the beverage production and distribution system. The results of the experiments are presented and discussed.
Digital Twin of Food Supply Chain for Cyber Exercises
Authors: Sipola Tuomo , Kokkonen Tero , Puura Markku , Riuttanen Kalle-Eemeli , Pitkäniemi Kari , Juutilainen Elina , Kontio Teemu
Published: June 2023

The food supply chain is a critical part of modern societies. As with other facets of life, it is thoroughly digitalized, and uses network connections. Consequently, the cyber security of the supply chain becomes a major concern as new threats emerge. Cyber ranges can be used to prepare for such cyber security threats by creating realistic scenarios mimicking real-world systems and setups. Organizations can participate in cyber security training and exercises that present them with these scenarios. Cyber ranges can also be used efficiently for research and development activities, because cyber ranges are realistic environments and can be used for the generation of realistic data. The aim of this study is to describe a digital twin of the food supply chain built for cyber range-based cyber security exercises. The digital twin mirrors the real-world situation with sufficient detail, as required by the cyber exercise. This research uses the design science methodology, which describes the construction and evaluation of the proposed system. The study explains the general capabilities of the food supply chain digital twin and its use in the cyber range environment. Different parts of the supply chain are implemented as Node.js services that run on the Realistic Global Cyber Environment (RGCE) platform. The flow of ingredients and products is simulated using an apparatus model and message queues. The digital twin was demonstrated in a real live cyber exercise. The results indicate that the apparatus approach was a scalable and realistic enough way to implement the digital twin. The main limitations of the implemented system are the implementation on one specific platform, and the need for more feedback from multiple exercises. Creation of a digital twin enables the use of cyber ranges to train organizations related to the food supply chain.
Multiscenario Simulation and Prediction of Land Use in Huaibei City Based on CLUE-S and PLUS Models
Authors: Yu Zhilin , Zhao Mingsong , Gao Yingfeng , Wang Tao , Zhao Zhidong , Wang Shihang
Published: June 2023

Analyzing land use changes (LUC) in both past and future scenarios is critical to optimize local ecology and formulate policies for sustainable development. We analyzed LUC characteristics in Huaibei City, China from 1985 to 2020, and used the CLUE-S and PLUS models to simulate LU in 2020. Then, we compared the accuracy of the simulation phase and chose the PLUS model to project LU under four scenarios in 2025. The results showed the following: (1) Farmland and grassland areas decreased from 1985 to 2020, while forestland, water, and construction land increased. (2) The LU types in the region are explained well by the driving factors, with all receiver operation characteristic (ROC) values greater than 0.8. (3) The kappa indices for CLUE-S and PLUS analog modeling were 0.727 and 0.759, respectively, with figure of merit (FOM) values of 0.109 and 0.201. (4) Under the farmland and ecological protection scenario (FEP), farmland and forestland areas are protected, increasing by 1727.91 hm2 and 86.22 hm2, respectively, while construction land decreases by 2001.96 hm2. These results confirm that PLUS is significantly better than the CLUE-S model in modeling forestland and water, and slightly better than the CLUE-S model in modeling the rest of the LU type. Urban sustainability is strong in the scenario FEP.
Computational-Intelligence-Based Spectrum-Sharing Scheme for NOMA-Based Cognitive Radio Networks
Authors: Sultan Kiran
Published: June 2023

The integration of non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) technology and cognitive radio networks (CRNs) promises to enhance the spectrum utilization efficiency of 5G and beyond-5G (B5G) mobile communication systems. In this article, a NOMA-based spectrum-sharing scheme is proposed for dual-hop CRNs in which a primary transmitter separated by a long distance from the primary receiver communicates via NOMA-based CRN. In this scenario, we mathematically formulate a constrained optimization problem to maximize the sum rate of all secondary users (SUs) while maintaining the total transmit power of the system. Inspired by the effectiveness of computational intelligence (CI) tools in solving non-linear optimization problems, this article proposes three CI-based solutions to the given problem aiming to guarantee quality of service (QoS) for all users. In addition, an enhanced version of the classic artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm, referred to here as the enhanced-artificial-bee-colony (EABC)-based power allocation scheme, is proposed to overcome the limitations of classic ABC. The comparison of different CI approaches illustrates that the minimum power required by the secondary NOMA relay to satisfy the primary rate threshold of 5 bit/s/Hz is 20 mW for EABC, while ABC, PSO and GA achieve the same target at 23 mW, 27 mW and 32 mW, respectively. Thus, EABC reduces power consumption by 13.95% compared to ABC, while 29.78% and 46.15% power-saving is achieved compared to PSO and GA, respectively.
A Relationship between Changes of Surface Air and Sea Floor Temperatures at the Arctic Shelf from the Coupled Models Intercomparison Project, Phase 6 Data
Authors: Malakhova Valentina V. , Eliseev Alexey V.
Published: June 2023

The sensitivity of seafloor temperature TB to the warming of surface air temperature Ta is examined for 1850–2300, based on simulations with five models from the Coupled Models Intercomparison Project phase 6 ensemble and driven by a scenario with high anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases. In this historical period (until 2015), sensitivity coefficients α=ΔTB/ΔTa (Δ indicates changes relative to the pre-industrial period) were typically ≤0.12 for annual means and up to 0.43 in summer. However, during the same period in the Barents Sea sector, the sensitivity coefficients were as large as 0.6 in summer. For summer, the obtained results are consistent with the limited measurements available for the Siberian shelf. In future, sensitivity coefficients will increase markedly, and α≥0.7 will become common for the part of the Arctic shelf that becomes ice-free in summer. Our results have implications for estimating the future thermal state of subsea sediments, as well as for oceanic biota.
Neutron Interferometer Experiments Studying Fundamental Features of Quantum Mechanics
Authors: Danner Armin , Lemmel Hartmut , Wagner Richard , Sponar Stephan , Hasegawa Yuji
Published: June 2023

Quantum theory provides us with the best account of microscopic components of matter as well as of radiation. It was introduced in the twentieth century and has experienced a wide range of success. Although the theory’s probabilistic predictions of final experimental outcomes is found to be correct with high precision, there is no general consensus regarding what is actually going on with a quantum system “en route”, or rather the perceivable intermediate behavior of a quantum system, e.g., the particle’s behavior in the double-slit experiment. Neutron interferometry using single silicon perfect crystals is established as a versatile tool to test fundamental phenomena in quantum mechanics, where an incident neutron beam is coherently split in two or three beam paths with macroscopic separation of several centimeters. Here, we present quantum optical experiments with these matter-wave interferometers, studying the effect of the quantum Cheshire Cat in some variants, the neutron’s presence in the paths of the interferometer as well as the direct test of a commutation relation. To reduce disturbances induced by the measurement, the interaction strength is lessened and so-called weak interactions are exploited by employing pre- and post-selection procedures. All results of the experiments confirm the predictions of quantum theory; the observed behaviors of the neutron between the pre- and post-selection in space and time emphasize striking and counter-intuitive aspects of quantum theory.
DMSO Alleviates LPS-Induced Inflammatory Responses in RAW264.7 Macrophages by Inhibiting NF-κB and MAPK Activation
Authors: Han Hyunju , Kang Jin-Kyu , Ahn Keun Jae , Hyun Chang-Gu
Published: June 2023

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), an amphipathic molecule composed of one highly polar sulfinyl group and two nonpolar methyl groups, is considered an excellent solvent due to its capability to dissolve many polar and nonpolar compounds. Therefore, DMSO is widely used to solubilize drugs for therapeutic applications. DMSO is reported to possess anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidative capacities, and the anti-inflammatory efficacy of DMSO has been intensively studied in various cell lines and animal models. An in vitro model of mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells has been widely used, among several experimental designs, for evaluation during the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs. DMSO, which is used to dissolve samples, is also prone to experimental errors because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, we systematically confirmed the cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory effects of DMSO and the related signaling pathways in RAW 264.7 cells. The results show that DMSO at 0.25% to 1.5% did not result in cellular toxicity, with results comparable to the control group where DMSO is absent; at concentrations 2.0%, however, it inhibited the viability of RAW264.7 cells (13.25%). The results demonstrate that pretreatment with DMSO profoundly attenuates the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated levels of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin (PG)E2, as well as the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Collectively, the DMSO pretreatments appear to notably alleviate LPS-induced damage by reducing phosphorylation of p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase proteins (ERKs), nuclear factor-kappa-B (NF-κB) in addition to NF-κB/p65 nuclear translocation. Taken together, the results clearly show that DMSO attenuates the inflammatory response in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells by regulating the activation of the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. These results contribute to potentially reducing experimental errors or misjudgments when using the LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cell model for evaluation during the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs.
Chemical Shift-Encoded Sequence (IDEAL-IQ) and Amide Proton Transfer (APT) MRI for Prediction of Histopathological Factors of Rectal Cancer
Authors: Peng Yang , Zou Xianlun , Chen Gen , Hu Xuemei , Shen Yaqi , Hu Daoyu , Li Zhen
Published: June 2023

To investigate whether parameters from IDEAL-IQ/amide proton transfer MRI (APTWI) could help predict histopathological factors of rectal cancer. Preoperative IDEAL-IQ and APTWI sequences of 67 patients with rectal cancer were retrospectively analyzed. The intra-tumoral proton density fat fraction (PDFF), R2* and magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry (MTRasym (3.5 ppm)) were measured according to the histopathological factors of rectal cancer. The relationship between MR parameters and histopathological factors were analyzed, along with diagnostic performance of MR parameters. PDFF, R2* and MTRasym (3.5 ppm) were statistically different between T1+T2/T3+T4 stages, non-metastatic/metastatic lymph nodes, lower/higher tumor grade and negative/positive status of MRF and EMVI (p < 0.001 for PDFF, p = 0.000–0.015 for R2* and p = 0.000–0.006 for MTRasym (3.5 ppm)). There were positive correlations between the above parameters and the histopathological features of rectal cancer (r = 0.464–0.723 for PDFF (p < 0.001), 0.299–0.651 for R2* (p = 0.000–0.014), and 0.337–0.667 for MTRasym (3.5 ppm) (p = 0.000–0.005)). MTRasym (3.5 ppm) correlated moderately and mildly with PDFF (r = 0.563, p < 0.001) and R2* (r = 0.335, p = 0.006), respectively. PDFF provided a significantly higher diagnostic ability than MTRasym (3.5 ppm) for distinguishing metastatic from non-metastatic lymph nodes (z = 2.407, p = 0.0161). No significant differences were found in MR parameters for distinguishing other histopathological features (p > 0.05). IDEAL-IQ and APTWI were associated with histopathological factors of rectal cancer, and might serve as non-invasive biomarkers for characterizing rectal cancer.
Holistic Approach to Process Design and Scale-Up for Itaconic Acid Production from Crude Substrates
Authors: Saur Katharina Maria , Kiefel Robert , Niehoff Paul-Joachim , Hofstede Jordy , Ernst Philipp , Brockkötter Johannes , Gätgens Jochem , Viell Jörn , Noack Stephan , Wierckx Nick , Büchs Jochen , Jupke Andreas
Published: June 2023

Bio-based bulk chemicals such as carboxylic acids continue to struggle to compete with their fossil counterparts on an economic basis. One possibility to improve the economic feasibility is the use of crude substrates in biorefineries. However, impurities in these substrates pose challenges in fermentation and purification, requiring interdisciplinary research. This work demonstrates a holistic approach to biorefinery process development, using itaconic acid production on thick juice based on sugar beets with Ustilago sp. as an example. A conceptual process design with data from artificially prepared solutions and literature data from fermentation on glucose guides the simultaneous development of the upstream and downstream processes up to a 100 L scale. Techno-economic analysis reveals substrate consumption as the main constituent of production costs and therefore, the product yield is the driver of process economics. Aligning pH-adjusting agents in the fermentation and the downstream process is a central lever for product recovery. Experiments show that fermentation can be transferred from glucose to thick juice by changing the feeding profile. In downstream processing, an additional decolorization step is necessary to remove impurities accompanying the crude substrate. Moreover, we observe an increased use of pH-adjusting agents compared to process simulations.
Blood Biomarkers in Takotsubo Syndrome Point to an Emerging Role for Inflammaging in Endothelial Pathophysiology
Authors: Nagai Michiaki , Shityakov Sergey , Smetak Manuel , Hunkler Hannah Jill , Bär Christian , Schlegel Nicolas , Thum Thomas , Förster Carola Yvette
Published: June 2023

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), an acute cardiac condition characterized by transient wall motion abnormalities mostly of the left ventricle, results in difficulties in diagnosing patients. We set out to present a detailed blood analysis of TTS patients analyzing novel markers to understand the development of TTS. Significant differences in proinflammatory cytokine expression patterns and sex steroid and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression levels were observed in the TTS patient collected. Remarkably, the measured catecholamine serum concentrations determined from TTS patient blood could be shown to be two orders of magnitude lower than the levels determined from experimentally induced TTS in laboratory animals. Consequently, the exposure of endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes in vitro to such catecholamine concentrations did not damage the cellular integrity or function of either endothelial cells forming the blood–brain barrier, endothelial cells derived from myocardium, or cardiomyocytes in vitro. Computational analysis was able to link the identified blood markers, specifically, the proinflammatory cytokines and glucocorticoid receptor GR to microRNA (miR) relevant in the ontogeny of TTS (miR-15) and inflammation (miR-21, miR-146a), respectively. Amongst the well-described risk factors of TTS (older age, female sex), inflammaging-related pathways were identified to add to these relevant risk factors or prediagnostic markers of TTS.
The Role of Plasma Cells as a Marker of Chronic Endometritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Santoro Angela , Travaglino Antonio , Inzani Frediano , Angelico Giuseppe , Raffone Antonio , Maruotti Giuseppe Maria , Straccia Patrizia , Arciuolo Damiano , Castri Federica , D’Alessandris Nicoletta , Scaglione Giulia , Valente Michele , Cianfrini Federica , Masciullo Valeria , Zannoni Gian Franco
Published: June 2023

Chronic endometritis (CE) is the persistent inflammation of the endometrial lining associated with infertility and various forms of reproductive failures. The diagnosis of CE is based on the histological evidence of stromal plasma cells; however, standardized methods to assess plasma cells are still lacking. In the present paper, we aimed to determine the most appropriate plasma cell threshold to diagnose CE based on pregnancy outcomes. Three electronic databases were searched from their inception to February 2022 for all studies comparing pregnancy outcomes between patients with CE and patients without CE. The relative risk (RR) of pregnancy, miscarriage, and/or live birth rates were calculated and pooled based on the plasma cell threshold adopted. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Nine studies adopting different thresholds (1 to 50 plasma cells/10 HPF) were included. In the meta-analysis, we only found a significant association between miscarriage rate and a plasma cell count ≥ 5/10 HPF (RR = 2.4; p = 0.007). Among studies not suitable for meta-analysis, CE showed an association with worsened pregnancy only when high thresholds (10 and 50/10 HPF) were adopted. In conclusion, our study suggests that the presence of plasma cells at low levels (<5/10 HPF) may not predict worsened pregnancy outcomes. Based on these findings, a threshold of ≥5 plasma cells/10 HPF may be more appropriate to diagnose CE.
A Potential Biomarker of Brain Activity in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Pilot fNIRS Study in Female Preschoolers
Authors: Scaffei Elena , Mazziotti Raffaele , Conti Eugenia , Costanzo Valeria , Calderoni Sara , Stoccoro Andrea , Carmassi Claudia , Tancredi Raffaella , Baroncelli Laura , Battini Roberta
Published: June 2023

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a neurodevelopmental condition whose detection still remains challenging in young females due to the heterogeneity of the behavioral phenotype and the capacity of camouflage. The availability of quantitative biomarkers to assess brain function may support in the assessment of ASD. Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive and flexible tool that quantifies cortical hemodynamic responses (HDR) that can be easily employed to describe brain activity. Since the study of the visual phenotype is a paradigmatic model to evaluate cerebral processing in many neurodevelopmental conditions, we hypothesized that visually-evoked HDR (vHDR) might represent a potential biomarker in ASD females. We performed a case-control study comparing vHDR in a cohort of high-functioning preschooler females with ASD (fASD) and sex/age matched peers. We demonstrated the feasibility of visual fNIRS measurements in fASD, and the possibility to discriminate between fASD and typical subjects using different signal features, such as the amplitude and lateralization of vHDR. Moreover, the level of response lateralization was correlated to the severity of autistic traits. These results corroborate the cruciality of sensory symptoms in ASD, paving the way for the validation of the fNIRS analytical tool for diagnosis and treatment outcome monitoring in the ASD population.
Influence of Water Content and Mixing Conditions on the Properties of Lime-Based Materials
Authors: Silva Bruna A. , Ferreira Pinto Ana Paula , Gomes Augusto , Candeias António
Published: June 2023

This paper evaluates the influence of water content and mixing conditions (mixing time and sequence of addition of the constituents) on the fresh state properties of lime-based materials and their impact on the hardened state properties. Higher water contents allowed an increased fluidity and lower torque, yield stress and plastic viscosity values. In turn, a longer mixing time with the aggregate caused a progressively stiffer mortar and a substantial increase in the torque, yield stress and plastic viscosity values due to the breakdown of lime agglomerates that consume part of the free water available to lubricate the mix. A longer mixing time without the aggregate caused similar trends, albeit to a much lesser extent. The water content and mixing conditions also had a major impact on the resulting porous structure of lime mortars and, thus, on their mechanical strength.
Adenosine Methylation Level of miR-125a-5p Promotes Anti-PD-1 Therapy Escape through the Regulation of IGSF11/VSIG3 Expression
Authors: Bougras-Cartron Gwenola , Nadaradjane Arulraj , Joalland Marie-Pierre , Lalier-Bretaudeau Lisenn , Raimbourg Judith , Cartron Pierre-François
Published: June 2023

Background: Despite encouraging anti-tumour activity in lung cancer, anti-PD-1 therapy has encountered increasing resistance to treatment. Several companion diagnostic assays have been performed to identify patients who may benefit from this immunotherapy and to adapt this therapy in case of acquired resistance. Methods: A large panel of methods was used for the analysis of expression and methylation levels of miRNAs (qPCR, MemiRIP, …), protein/miRNA interactions (CLIP, oligo pull-down, …), and protein–protein interactions (CoIP) in cells and/or blood samples. Results: Our work highlights that the saturation of PD-1 by anti-PD1 therapies induces an immune escape phenomenon due to the overexpression of IGSF11 following adenosine methylation of miR-125a-5p. Mechanistically, we identify METTL3/KHDRBS3 and HuR as two crucial players in the methylation and the loss of the repressive function of this miRNA. Finally, our work shows that the adenosine methylation of miR-125a-5p is analyzable from EVs/exosomes from longitudinal blood samples and that such EVs/exosomes modulate the IGSF11/VSIG3 expression in lung cancer cells to promote an immune escape phenomenon. Conclusions: Our data provide a biomarker (m6A-miR-125a-5p level) and two therapeutic solutions (anti-IGSF11 antibody and METTL3 inhibitor) that could potentially address the anti-PD1 therapy failure in the context of precision and personalized medicine.
Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in the HIV Setting
Authors: Huguet Maria , Navarro José-Tomás , Moltó José , Ribera Josep-Maria , Tapia Gustavo
Published: June 2023

Despite the widespread use of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) and the subsequent decrease in AIDS-defining cancers, HIV-related lymphomas remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people with HIV (PWH). Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) subtype in PWH. This lymphoma is a heterogeneous disease including morphological variants and molecular subtypes according to the cell of origin or the mutation profile. In the pre-cART era, treatment with standard-dose chemotherapy induced high rates of toxicity and outcomes were very poor. The introduction of cART and the incorporation of infection prophylaxis allowed the use of conventional intensive chemotherapy regimens used in the general population, such as R-CHOP or R-EPOCH. The use of cART during chemotherapy treatment was initially controversial due to the potential risk of adverse drug–drug interactions. However, the availability of current cART regimens with less potential to cause drug interactions and evidence that cART improves survival rates in NHL strongly support the use of cART in PWH with DLBCL. Consequently, interdisciplinary collaboration between HIV specialists and hemato-oncologists for the management of potential interactions and overlapping toxicities between antiretroviral and antineoplastic drugs is crucial for the optimal treatment of PWH with NHL.
Exosomes: A Promising Strategy for Repair, Regeneration and Treatment of Skin Disorders
Authors: Tienda-Vázquez Mario Adrián , Hanel Juan Manuel , Márquez-Arteaga Elsa Margarita , Salgado-Álvarez Ana Paola , Scheckhuber Christian Quintus , Alanis-Gómez José Rafael , Espinoza-Silva Janette Ivone , Ramos-Kuri Manuel , Hernández-Rosas Fabiola , Melchor-Martínez Elda M. , Parra-Saldívar Roberto
Published: June 2023

The skin is the organ that serves as the outermost layer of protection against injury, pathogens, and homeostasis with external factors; in turn, it can be damaged by factors such as burns, trauma, exposure to ultraviolet light (UV), infrared radiation (IR), activating signaling pathways such as Toll-like receptors (TLR) and Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), among others, causing a need to subsequently repair and regenerate the skin. However, pathologies such as diabetes lengthen the inflammatory stage, complicating the healing process and, in some cases, completely inhibiting it, generating susceptibility to infections. Exosomes are nano-sized extracellular vesicles that can be isolated and purified from different sources such as blood, urine, breast milk, saliva, urine, umbilical cord bile cells, and mesenchymal stem cells. They have bioactive compounds that, thanks to their paracrine activity, have proven to be effective as anti-inflammatory agents, inducers of macrophage polarization and accelerators of skin repair and regeneration, reducing the possible complications relating to poor wound repair, and prolonged inflammation. This review provides information on the use of exosomes as a promising therapy against damage from UV light, infrared radiation, burns, and skin disorders.
Endoscopic Pilonidal Sinus Treatment: Preliminary Results, Learning Curve and Comparison with Standard Open Approach
Authors: Parente Giovanni , Ruspi Francesca , Thomas Eduje , Di Mitri Marco , Cravano Sara Maria , D’Antonio Simone , Gargano Tommaso , Lima Mario
Published: June 2023

Background: Pilonidal sinus (PNS) is a common disease which can lead to complications including infection and abscess formation. Different surgical approaches have been suggested, based on primary or secondary wound closure intention healing or endoscopic treatment (EPSiT). The aim of this study is to verify the superior outcomes of EPSiT, especially in comparison with the traditional open approach, and discuss the operators’ learning curve. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted identifying all the patients who underwent surgical treatment for PNS with EPSiT technique between 2019 and 2022 and with open technique between 2002 and 2022. We divided patients in two groups: open procedure (group 1) and EPSiT (group 2). We considered a p value < 0.05 as statistically significant. Results: The mean operative time was 58.6 ± 23.7 min for group 1 and 42.8 ± 17.4 min for group 2 (p < 0.01). The mean hospital stay was 2.6 ± 1.7 days for group 1 patients and of 0.8 ± 0.4 days for group 2 (p < 0.01). Complete healing was obtained in 18.7 ± 5.6 days for group 1 and 38.3 ± 23.5 days for group 2 (p < 0.01). Recurrences were of 23.4% for group 1 and 5.4% for group 2 (p = 0.03). Conclusions: EPSiT is a minimally invasive and effective approach for the treatment of pilonidal cyst that can be safely performed in pediatric patients with promising results concerning aesthetic outcome and pain control, and with a rapid and less complicated recovery compared to traditional open procedures.
Surface Modifications of Magnesium-Based Materials for Hydrogen Storage and Nickel–Metal Hydride Batteries: A Review
Authors: Kang Yinglong , Zhang Kemin , Lin Xi
Published: June 2023

Whether it is fossil energy or renewable energy, the storage, efficient use, and multi-application of energy largely depend on the research and preparation of high-performance materials. The research and development of energy storage materials with a high capacity, long cycle life, high safety, and high cleanability will improve the properties of energy storage systems and promote their wide application. In recent years, Mg-based materials, from a comprehensive consideration of energy storage performance, raw material reserves, and prices, have demonstrated potential industrial applications as large-scale hydrogen storage materials. Nevertheless, Mg-based materials also have obvious disadvantages: as a hydrogen storage material, the hydrogen absorption/desorption rate is insufficient, as well as the high hydrogen absorption/desorption temperatures; as the electrode material of Ni-MH batteries, the reactions of Mg with alkaline electrolyte and corrosion are the main problems for applications. This article reviews different surface treatment methods and mechanisms for surface modifications of Mg-based materials for hydrogen storage and Ni-MH battery applications, as well as the performance of the materials after surface modifications. Multiple experimental studies have shown that the surface layer or state of Mg-based materials has a strong impact on their performance. Surface modification treatment can greatly improve the energy storage performance of magnesium-based materials for hydrogen storage and Ni-MH battery applications. Specifically, Mg-based materials can have a lower hydrogen absorption/desorption temperature and a faster hydrogen absorption/desorption rate when used as hydrogen storage materials and can improve the corrosion resistance, initial discharge capacity, and cycling stability in alkaline solutions when used as negative electrode materials for Ni-MH batteries. By offering an overview of the surface modification methods for Mg-based materials in two energy storage fields, this article can improve researchers’ understanding of the surface modification mechanism of Mg-based materials and contribute to improving material properties in a more targeted manner. While improving the material properties, the material’s preparation and surface modification treatment process are considered comprehensively to promote the development, production, and application of high-performance Mg-based materials.
Examination of a Theoretical Model for Drainage of Foams Prepared from Licorice Root Extract Solution
Authors: Ahmadi Tighchi Hashem , Kayhani Mohammad Hasan , Faezian Ali , Yeganehzad Samira , Miller Reinhard
Published: June 2023

The root of the licorice plant (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is rich in natural surfactants, called saponins. The beneficial properties of this plant have led to different applications, including its use as a foaming agent. In this research, a theoretical model and its validity are discussed for the liquid drainage of foams made from licorice root extract solutions. After stating the important characteristics in the free drainage of foam, a relationship of the drained liquid volume based on effective parameters was obtained via a simplification of the governing equation. The theoretical model is applied to experimental foam drainage data measured at different concentrations of licorice root extract solutions. A comparison of theoretical and experimental results shows good agreement for the volume of drained liquid as a function of time. The characteristics obtained from the combination of effective parameters allows for a quantification of the drainage rate. In addition, the drainage rate at the beginning of the foam decay process, as a measure of stability, can be estimated using measurable properties.
New Perspectives in Endoscopic Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Authors: Calabrese Federica , Poletti Valeria , Auriemma Francesco , Paduano Danilo , Gentile Carmine , Facciorusso Antonio , Franchellucci Gianluca , De Marco Alessandro , Brandaleone Luca , Ofosu Andrew , Samanta Jayanta , Ramai Daryl , De Luca Luca , Al-Lehibi Abed , Zuliani Walter , Hassan Cesare , Repici Alessandro , Mangiavillano Benedetto
Published: June 2023

Gastroesophageal reflux disease has a high incidence and prevalence in the general population. Clinical manifestations are heterogenous, and so is the response to medical treatment. Proton pump inhibitors are still the most common agents used to control reflux symptoms and for healing esophagitis, but they are not a one-size-fits-all solution for the disease. Patients with persistent troublesome symptoms despite medical therapy, those experiencing some adverse drug reaction, or those unwilling to take lifelong medications deserve valid alternatives. Anti-reflux Nissen fundoplication is an effective option, but the risk of adverse events has limited its spread. In recent years, advancements in therapeutic endoscopy have been made, and three major endoluminal alternatives are now available, including (1) the delivery of radiofrequency energy to the esophago–gastric junction, (2) transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF), and (3) anti-reflux mucosal interventions (ARMI) based on mucosal resection (ARMS) and mucosal ablation (ARMA) techniques to remodel the cardia. Endoscopic techniques have shown interesting results, but their diffusion is still limited to expert endoscopists in tertiary centers. This review discusses the state of the art in the endoscopic approach to gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Craniofacial Cephalometric Morphology in Caucasian Adult Patients with Cleft Palate Only (CPO)
Authors: Zawiślak Alicja , Wędrychowska-Szulc Barbara , Grocholewicz Katarzyna , Janiszewska-Olszowska Joanna
Published: June 2023

Orofacial clefts are common birth defects that affect the morphology of the skull. Cleft palate only (CPO) has a different etiology than other types of clefts, and craniofacial morphology in CPO differs from that of UCLP and BCLP. The long-term effect of the cleft and its surgery is visible after growth cessation. However, few studies exist describing cephalometric craniofacial morphology in adults with CPO. The aim of the present study was to describe the cephalometric craniofacial morphology of adult patients with CPO compared to healthy patients. The study included analysis of cephalometric lateral headfilms of 28 adults with CPO and 28 healthy subjects. It was found that the angles of SNA, ANB, 1-:NB angle (°) and Wits appraisal were significantly smaller in CPO, whereas NL-NSL (°), 1+:NA angle (°) and 1+:NA (mm) had significantly higher values in CPO compared to the control group. It has been concluded that CPO in adult patients is characterized by a sagittal jaw discrepancy due to maxillary deficiency, with a tendency for compensatory inclination of the upper and lower incisors.