bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The image of soviet reality in Kjell Westö’s novel “Mirage 38”
Authors:   Institute of Linguistics, Literature and History of Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, Matashina Irina
Published: February 2021

The article is dedicated to the novel of the modern Finnish-Swedish writer Kjell Westö, “Mirage 38” (published in 2013). The action takes place in the 1930s, and an important role in the work is played by the description of the historical background, within which the storylines develop. The author could not ignore Finland’s foreign policy relations, including relations with the Soviet Union. Such references are the subject of analysis in this article. The historical facts mentioned in the novel are, for the most part, genuine, since Westö takes seriously the factual preparation of his works. Nevertheless, some events are covered through the prism of perception of the protagonist, therefore, they cannot claim to be objective. Moscow in the novel “Mirage 38” appears as a bulwark of urban civilization, in which a new way of life is emerging. The main character, having been assigned to the capital of the country, experiences a dissonance of his inner attitude with what he encounters in reality. The depiction of Soviet reality in the novel bears the imprint of the knowledge available in the 20th century about the era of Stalinism, and therefore is strikingly different from the impressions that contemporaries of the described historical period had. Also, the writer’s acquaintance with Russian literature could have had an impact, since the work mentions its representatives, and the main character discusses their influence on his mood. The correlation of objectively depicted historical facts with the subjective perception of Westö’s characters creates a unique atmosphere that critics appreciated and later awarded the novel “Mirage 38” with a prestigious award.
Rediscovering Russian-Scandinavian relations: The role of medieval Russian waterways
Authors:   University of Aarhus, Frank Thomas
Published: February 2021

This article challenges the Scandinavian silence of medieval Russian-Scandinavian relations and presents a field study (2017) of the medieval waterway Put’ iz varjag v greki (the route from the Varangians to the Greeks) as a key to reopen awareness and provide new knowledge of these influential relations. The article more specifically argues that in order to understand the cultural and religious transformations in Scandinavia in the years 800–1200 it is necessary to reimagine Scandinavia with significant relations to Russia, and in light of that reconsider the entire literary evidence. The hypothesis is that field studies according to the oldest sources can substantiate these contacts and thereby allow us to review the literary evidence. As a literary proof of relations, the article outlines and discusses medieval Eastern and Western sources according to the signifiers “Rus’” and “Varangians”. Furthermore, it considers the problems with former field studies and presents the findings of the new study. The findings show that travel to and from Russia and further east along the Russian rivers was within normal medieval travel-time, and at its core there was cooperation and exchange with the local population. Finally, in light of the findings the article gives a preliminary reinterpretation of the textual evidence of exchange in the period of the Danish King Harald Bluethooth and the Russian Prince Vladimir the Great. It proposes that exchanges influenced the religious transformations in both Denmark and Russia.
Monoamine Oxidase-B (MAO-B) Inhibitors in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Özdemir Zeynep , Alagöz Mehmet Abdullah , Bahçecioğlu Ömer Faruk , Gök Selim
Published: February 2021

Background:

The MAO enzyme is presented in the brain and peripheral tissues
and is a significant enzyme that is responsible for the deamination of biogenic
amines and thus the regulation of neurotransmitter levels. The reaction of these neurotransmitters
with the MAO enzyme produces aldehyde and free amine. MAO enzyme
consists of two isoforms, MAO-A and MAO-B, which are characterized by amino acid
sequence, three-dimensional structure, substrate preference, and inhibitor selectivity. Dopamine,
tyramine, and tryptamine are substrates of both MAO isoforms and MAO inhibitors
such as clorgiline and selegiline, which are used as medications in neurodegenerative
and neurological diseases. In particular, MAO-A inhibitors are used in the treatment
of depression, while MAO-B inhibitors are used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
It is also investigated whether MAO-B inhibitors are effective in the treatment of
Alzheimer's disease. Nowadays, life expectancy has increased, as a result, neurodegenerative
diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease have started to occur more frequently.
The elderly population is increasing day by day. As a result of these common
diseases in elderly people, these people are unable to do their jobs and need care. Therefore,
these diseases have become a significant health problem in society.

Methods:

In this study, review, inclusion, and exclusion criteria were used. Peer-reviewed
research articles were searched. The quality of the examined articles was evaluated
with standard tools. The information obtained was analyzed conceptually by using
qualitative content analysis methodology.

Results:

One hundred and five papers were included in the review. The current MAO-B
inhibitors and their usage areas are discussed together with the structures of the drugs; also,
their possible effects in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s treatment are evaluated. In addition,
different articles have been compiled in which structures such as arylalkylamines,
chalcones, benzoquinone, benzoxazinone, and chromen are substituted with various functional
groups and aromatic rings, along with thestructures of 44 different compounds that
have recently been developed and their inhibitory effects on MAO-B enzyme. As a result,
the structure required for MAO-B inhibition and SAR studies is discussed.

Conclusion:

Many studies demonstrate that MAO-B activity increases with age in brain
tissue, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and platelets in Alzheimer's patients. This suggests that
MAO-B inhibitor drugs, which may be effective in the treatment of Parkinson's disease,
may also be effective in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. This article was written to
explain the multifaceted MAO-B inhibitor molecules.
Application of Microfluidics in Single-cell Manipulation, Omics and Drug Development
Authors: Abdulla Aynur , Maboyi Nokuzola , Ding Xianting
Published: February 2021

Background:

Cell heterogeneity exists among different tissues even in the same type of cells. Cell heterogeneity leads to a difference in cell size, functions, biological activity, and for cancer cells it causes different drug responses and resistance. Meanwhile, microfluidics is a promising tool for single-cell research to reveal cell heterogeneity.

Method:

Through literature research conducted over the past ten years on microfluidics, we summarize and introduce the application of microfluidics in single-cell separation and manipulation, featuring techniques such as acoustic manipulation, optical manipulation, single-cell trapping, and patterning, as well as single-cell omics including single-cell genomics, single-cell transcriptomics, single-cell proteome, single-cell metabolome, and drug development.

Results:

Microfluidics is a flexible, precise tool, and it is easy to integrate with different
functions. Firstly, it can be used as an important tool to separate rare but important cells
according to the cell`s biological or physical properties. Secondly, microfluidics can provide
the possibility of single-cell omics. Thirdly, microfluidics can be used in drug development,
specifically in drug delivery and drug combination. Meanwhile, droplet microfluidics
has gradually become the most powerful tool to encapsulate single-cells with
other reagents for DNA, RNA, or protein analysis.

Conclusion:

Microfluidics is a robust platform technology which is able to accomplish rare cell separation, efficient single-cell omics analysis and provide a platform for drug development and drug delivery.
Targeting Epigenetic Mechanisms to Treat Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD)
Authors: Rodriguez F. David
Published: February 2021

Background:

The impact of abusive alcohol consumption on human health is remarkable. According
to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 3.3 million people die annually because of harmful
alcohol consumption (the figure represents around 5.9% of global deaths). Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a
chronic disease where individuals exhibit compulsive alcohol drinking and present negative emotional states
when they do not drink. In the most severe manifestations of AUD, the individuals lose control over intake despite
a decided will to stop drinking. Given the multiple faces and the specific forms of this disease, the term
AUD often appears in the plural (AUDs). Since only a few approved pharmacological treatments are available
to treat AUD and they do not apply to all individuals or AUD forms, the search for compounds that may help to
eliminate the burden of the disease and complement other therapeutical approaches is necessary.

Method:

This work reviews recent research focused on the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in the pathophysiology
of AUD. Excessive drinking leads to chronic and compulsive consumption that eventually damages
the organism. The central nervous system is a key target and is the focus of this study. The search for the genetic
and epigenetic mechanisms behind the intricated dysregulation induced by ethanol will aid researchers in
establishing new therapy approaches.

Conclusion:

Recent findings in the field of epigenetics are essential and offer new windows for observation and research.
The study of small molecules that inhibit key epienzymes involved in nucleosome architecture dynamics is necessary in
order to prove their action and specificity in the laboratory and to test their effectivity and safety in clinical trials with
selected patients bearing defined alterations caused by ethanol.
Anti-VEGF Mediated Immunomodulatory Role of Phytochemicals: Scientific Exposition for Plausible HCC Treatment
Authors: Kumar Ayana R. , Devan Aswathy R. , Nair Bhagyalakshmi , Nath Lekshmi R.
Published: February 2021

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common solid tumours and the second
leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Advanced-recurrent HCC often requires
a systemic drug therapy where multi tyrosine kinase inhibitor, Sorafenib represents the first-line
therapy option. But it exhibited very limited survival benefit and tumour response due to the early
emergence of drug resistance and drug-related adverse effect. Immunotherapy approaches now being
widely studied as an effective alternative treatment for HCC. Several immune checkpoint inhibitors
(ICI), such as Nivolumab and Pembrolizumab, are approved as monotherapy in
sorafenib-resistant HCC patients. But, the existence of a plethora of immunosuppressive signals in
the tumour microenvironment often leads to unsuccessful immunotherapies. In this context, combinatorial
immunotherapies are getting much acceptance as a way to improve therapeutic outcomes
by blocking immunosuppressive signals in the tumour microenvironment (TME). The combination
of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) inhibitors with ICI resulted in significant
synergistic effects in various preclinical and clinical studies. However, the adverse effects associated
with current synthetic VEGF inhibitors limit its clinical utility. In this review, we have summarized
the potential of phytochemicals, especially the category of flavonoids, alkaloids,
glycosides, terpenoids, and coumarin, as the available-affordable-safe-effective repositories of
VEGF inhibitors. Their possibilities as an alternative for synthetic VEGF inhibitors by synergistic
combination with ICI are reviewed, thereby enhancing patient compliance and survival rates. This
review highlights the demand for a detailed investigation of the plausible role of plant-based
anti-angiogenic-immunotherapy combination against HCC.
Natural Substances and Semisynthetic Derivatives as Potential Alternative Products Against SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Fuochi Virginia , Furneri Pio Maria
Published: February 2021

Background and Objective:

Today, a new β-coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2 has emerged
and it is causing a global pandemic. Inter-human transmission studies have indicated a significant role
of aerosols in the transmission of many respiratory viruses. Hence, it is very important to decrease the
spread of the virus through disinfectant agents. This review aimed to provide an overview related to
possible alternative inhibitory molecules against this virus.

Method:

The literature search was performed in the MEDLINE electronic database using the public
access known as NCBI-PUBMED. Keywords "coronavirus" and “SARS-CoV-2” and “COVID19”
were used. No specific time range was used.

Results:

We provide a review related to structure, anti-coronavirus activity and molecular mechanism
of natural substances and semisynthetic derivatives such as glycopeptides, lipopeptides, probiotics,
surfactants, terpenes and resveratrol. We also include the latest in vitro experiments with anti-SARSCoV-
2 activity. We also provide the theoretical basis for discussing the prospects of such natural molecules
as possible alternative anti-Coronavirus products, so as to develop a complete screening for
future applications.

Conclusion:

In summary, this review suggest to investigate deeper several molecules most of which belong to natural substances to fight COVID19 disease.
Flavonoids Overcome Drug Resistance to Cancer Chemotherapy by Epigenetically Modulating Multiple Mechanisms
Authors: To Kenneth K.W. , Cho William C.S.
Published: February 2021

Drug resistance is the major reason accounting for the treatment failure in cancer chemotherapy.
Dysregulation of the epigenetic machineries is known to induce chemoresistance. It
was reported that numerous genes encoding the key mediators in cancer proliferation, apoptosis,
DNA repair, and drug efflux are dysregulated in resistant cancer cells by aberrant DNA methylation.
The imbalance of various enzymes catalyzing histone post-translational modifications is also
known to alter chromatin configuration and regulate multiple drug resistance genes. Alteration in
miRNA signature in cancer cells also gives rise to chemoresistance. Flavonoids are a large group
of naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds ubiquitously found in plants, fruits, vegetables and
traditional herbs. There has been increasing research interest in the health-promoting effects of
flavonoids. Flavonoids were shown to directly kill or re-sensitize resistant cancer cells to conventional
anticancer drugs by epigenetic mechanisms. In this review, we summarize the current findings
of the circumvention of drug resistance by flavonoids through correcting the aberrant epigenetic
regulation of multiple resistance mechanisms. More investigations including the evaluation of synergistic
anticancer activity, dosing sequence effect, toxicity in normal cells, and animal studies, are
warranted to establish the full potential of the combination of flavonoids with conventional chemotherapeutic
drugs in the treatment of cancer with drug resistance.
MGMT Epigenetics: The Influence of Gene Body Methylation and Other Insights Derived from Integrated Methylomic, Transcriptomic, and Chromatin Analyses in Various Cancer Types
Authors: Bacolod Manny D. , Barany Francis
Published: February 2021

Background:

MGMT (O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase) is primarily responsible for limiting the activity of some widely used chemotherapeutic agents, including temozolomide (TMZ) and carmustine (BCNU). The gene encoding this protein is epigenetically regulated, and assessment of methylation at its promoter region is used to predict glioma patients’ response to TMZ.

Methods:

In this report, we employed a bioinformatic approach to elucidate MGMT’s epigenetic regulation. Integrated for the analysis were genome-wide methylation and transcription datasets for > 8,600 human tissue (representing 31 distinct cancer types) and 500 human cancer cell line samples. Also crucial to the interpretation of results were publicly available data from the ENCODE Project: tracks for histone modifications (via ChIP-seq) and DNase I hypersensitivity (via DNaseseq), as well as methylation and transcription data for representative cell lines (HeLa-S3, HMEC, K562).

Results and Discussion:

We were able to validate (perhaps more comprehensively) the contrasting influences of CpG methylation at promoter region and at gene body on MGMT transcription. While the MGMT promoter is populated by CpG sites whose methylation levels displayed high negative correlation (R) with MGMT mRNA counts, the gene body harbors CpG sites exhibiting high positive R values. The promoter CpG sites with very high negative R’s across cancer types include cg12981137, cg12434587, and cg00618725. Among the notable gene body CpG sites (high positive R’s across cancer types) are cg00198994 (Intron 1), cg04473030 (Intron 2), and cg07367735 (Intron 4). For certain cancer types, such as melanoma, gene body methylation appears to be a better predictor of MGMT transcription (compared to promoter methylation). In general, the CpG methylation v. MGMT expression R values are higher in cell lines relative to tissues. Also, these correlations are noticeably more prominent in certain cancer types such as colorectal, adrenocortical, esophageal, skin, and head and neck cancers, as well as glioblastoma. As expected, hypomethylation at the promoter region is associated with more open chromatin, and enrichment of histone marks H3K4m1, H3K4m2, H3K4m3, and H3K9ac.

Conclusion:

Overall, our analysis illustrated the contrasting influence of promoter and gene body methylation on MGMT expression. These observations may help improve diagnostic assays for MGMT.
Exosomes as a Promising Therapeutic Strategy for Peripheral Nerve Injury
Authors: Yu Tianhao , Xu Yingxi , Ahmad Muhammad Arslan , Javed Rabia , Hagiwara Haruo , Tian Xiaohong
Published: February 2021

Peripheral nerve injury has a high incidence and often leads to severe losses of sensory
and motor functions in the afflicted limb. Autologous nerve grafts are widely accepted as the gold
standard for peripheral nerve repair, but the presence of inherent drawbacks dramatically reduces
their usability. Numerous tissue engineering nerve grafts are developed as alternatives to autologous
nerve grafts, and a variety of cells and neurotrophic factors are introduced into these grafts for improvement.
However, they are still difficult to obtain satisfactory clinical results. Peripheral nerve
regeneration following injury remains a significant challenge for researchers and clinicians. Exosomes
are extracellular membranous nanovesicles that are secreted by most cells. As the key players
of intercellular communication, exosomes play a fundamental role in the physiological and
pathological processes of the nervous system. Accumulating evidence has suggested that exosomes
can exert neurotherapeutic effects via mediating axonal regrowth, Schwann cell activation, vascular
regeneration, and inflammatory regulation. Exosomes are emerging as a promising approach for
treating peripheral nerve injury. Furthermore, they also provide possibilities for enhancing the repairing
capacity of various nerve grafts. This review primarily highlights the regenerative effects of
exosomes on peripheral nerve injury. The exosomes from distinct sources reported so far in the
literature are summarized to understand their roles in the process of nerve repair. Moreover, the
challenges that must be addressed in their clinical transformation are outlined as well. This review
also provides further insight into the potential application of exosomes for peripheral nerve repair.
Recent Trend in the Chemistry of Triazolopyrimidines and their Applications
Authors: Salem Mounir A. , Behalo Mohamed S. , Khidre Rizk E.
Published: February 2021

:

This review deals with the synthetic methods, chemical reactions, and applications of triazolopyrimidine derivatives. The synthetic methods and chemical reactions are subdivided into groups according to the junction between triazole and pyrimidine moieties for instance [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine, [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine, [1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine, [1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine, [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-c]pyrimidine, and [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyrimidine. Pharmacological activity of triazolopyrimidins is also reported.
An Overview of Debenzylation Methods to Obtain 1-Deoxynojirimycin (DNJ)
Authors: Iftikhar Mehwish , Zhou Min , Lu Yinghong
Published: February 2021

:

A classic reductive amidation/amination (C-N bond formation) approach for DNJ synthesis has been widely practiced due to the availability of low-cost reagents. The key steps for this synthetic route are Swern oxidation, reductive amidation/amination, and debenzylation. A lot of attention has been given to the optimization of these key intermediates apart from debenzylation. This review aims to describe the deprotection advances employing efficient, systematic, and practical protocols for sample preparation and separation by using Pd(OH)2/C, Li, BCl3 and Pd/C as catalysts. The impact of varying reaction parameters such as solvents, acids and temperature for deprotection was emphasized for optimal DNJ synthesis.
Nanoceuticals as an Emerging Field: Current Status and Future Prospective
Authors: Malik Reetu , Rathi Jyoti , Manchanda Deeksha , Makhija Manish , Kushwaha Deepshikha , Katiyar Prashant , Kaushik Deepak , Jalwal Pawan , Pandey Parijat , Purohit Deepika
Published: February 2021

Background:

The safety and quality of food have been a matter of great discussion
throughout the centuries and the application of nanotechnology in the field of nutraceuticals i.e.
nanoceuticals has improved the variety and protection of food products in many ways.

Objective:

Improving the quality and safety of the food products with a view to improve public health and the invasion of nanotechnological advancements in the area of nutrition has resulted in the expansion of novel foods with improved oral bioavailability as well as thermal stability. The main objective of this review is to summarize available literature on nanoceuticals including patents and clinical trials.

Method:

The review was extracted from the searches performed at PubMed, Google Patents and Google Scholars, etc. Data from these searches was collected and evaluated for getting the information about the available literature on the nanoceuticals. Along with this, some reported patents have also been included in this review in order to conclude the future of nanoceuticals.

Result:

The literature so obtained was studied thoroughly as per the requirement of the objective
of this review. The details of nanoceuticals including major applications, regulatory aspects, some
reported patents and clinical trials are compiled here in this review. Nanoceuticals like vitamins,
antibiotics, bioactive peptides, probiotics, etc., which are dispersed, absorbed or incorporated in
nano diameter range sacs, have improved solubility, delivery properties, biological activities, protection
against degradation and therefore have improved biological activities and delivery to the target
cells and tissues in the body. Different regulations from various countries recommend that any
food ingredients which result from the use of nanotechnologies must undergo safety risk assessment
standards before entering into the market as nano-food.

Conclusion:

The idea of “nanoceuticals” is increasing enthusiasm and marketable dairy/food and food supplements. This article focuses on the history, applications, regulation aspects, patents, clinical trials and future prospects of nanoceuticals.
PDE3 Inhibition by Cilostazol Ameliorated Behavioral and Biochemical Deficits in Prenatal Alcohol Induced Experimental ADHD
Authors: Sharma Niti , Sharma Bhupesh , Dhiman Neerupma , Golani Lalit K.
Published: February 2021

Background:

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder
with complex aetiology and phenotypes. Maternal consumption of alcohol is known to produce
deleterious effects in the progeny, generating ADHD-related phenotypes. Phosphodiesterase-3 (PDE3)
has been shown to provide benefits in various brain conditions.

Objective:

To investigate the role of a selective PDE3 inhibitor, effects of cilostazol administration on
core phenotypes of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE) model of ADHD were assessed.

Methods:

PAE was established by exposing animals to 6/4 g.kg-1 (weekdays/weekends) ethyl alcohol
from gestational days 8-20 and cilostazol (30/60 mg.kg-1 p.o.) was administered to the offspring (PND21-
48) of females exposed to ethyl alcohol. To identify probable mechanisms involved, the effects on protein
markers of neuronal function such as, neuronal survival-BDNF, neuronal transcription factor-pCREB,
brain inflammation (IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α) and brain oxidative stress (TBARS and GSH) were studied
in frontal cortex, cerebellum, and striatum. Also, effects on behaviour such as hyperactivity, inattention
and anxiety were assessed.

Result:

PAE induced hyper-locomotion, inattention, and anxiety in tested animals. Administration of
cilostazol to PAE group of animals resulted in amelioration of behavioural deficits. Also, cilostazol resulted
in a significant increase in the levels of BDNF, pCREB, IL-10 and GSH along with a significant
decrease in TNF-α, IL-6 and TBARS in different brain areas of PAE group.

Conclusion:

Cilostazol, a selective PDE3 inhibitor rectified behavioural phenotypes associated with
ADHD, possibly by altering protein markers associated with neuronal survival, neuronal transcription
factor, brain inflammation, and brain oxidative stress.
Nitric Oxide Inhibition Assay and the Respective Target Identification of
an Aptamer Designed to Control Atherosclerosis
Authors: Achary Anant , Manibalan Subramanian , Akshaysri Pilavadiyan , Thabusree Sethuraman , Chitra Madasamy , Vasanthi Mani
Published: February 2021

Introduction:

Aptamers are emerging newer therapeutics and diagnostics whichcan be
designed to bind any kind of target proteins. Vascular endothelial damage by the excess amount of
nitric oxide production in systemic circulation leads to the secretion of inflammatory chemoattractants
and cell adhesions are the prime pro-atherogenic events in the formation of plagues at atrial intimal
layers due to oxidation – sensitive mechanisms. Nitric oxide inhibition assay is one of the
valuable qualitative anti-atherosclerosis matrices.

Methods:

In this research, Nitric oxide inhibition efficiency of an ssDNA aptamer on cell lines was
studied, and the respective targets of that aptamer were identified by network analysis. The aptamer
used here was originally designed for Selectin P Ligand Protein to control the atherogenic
process. 20 nM of aptamer solution in LipofectamineTM 2000 sshowshighest level 70.5% inhibition
of nitric oxide liberation on 24 hours cultured medium of lipopolysaccharide stimulated murine
macrophage RAW 264.7 cell lines.

Results:

Protein interaction network analysis of the nitric oxide synthesis pathway interactors and
the molecular docking analysis with network resulted in proteins such as AKT serine/threonine kinase
1, calmodulin, estrogen receptor 1, and nitric oxide synthase-3, which confirmed that the G –
quadruplex Model of 18-mer sequence effectively bound to the active sites of estrogen receptor 1,
and nitric oxide synthase-3.

Conclusion :

The aptamer designed for atherosclerotic target has also exertedsignificant nitric
oxide inhibition to control the atherogenic events through the proteins such as, AKT1, NOS3 and
ESR1.
Development of Machine Learning Based Blood-brain Barrier Permeability Prediction Models Using Physicochemical Properties, MACCS and Substructure Fingerprints
Authors: Saxena Deeksha , Sharma Anju , Siddiqui Mohammed Haris , Kumar Rajnish
Published: February 2021

Background:

Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) protects the central nervous system from systemic
circulation and maintains the homeostasis of the brain. BBB permeability is one of the essential
characteristics of drugs acting on the central nervous system to indicate if the drug could
reach the brain or not. The available laboratory methods for the prediction of BBB permeability
are accurate but expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, many attempts have been made over
the years to predict the BBB permeability of compounds using computational approaches. The accuracy
of the prediction models with external dataset has always been an issue with the prediction
models.

Objective:

To develop Machine learning-based BBB permeability prediction model using physicochemical properties and molecular fingerprints

Methods:

Support vector machine (SVM), k-nearest neighbor (kNN), Random forest (RF), and
Naïve Bayes (NB) algorithms were applied on a large dataset of 1978 compounds using 1917 feature
vectors containing physicochemical properties, MACCS fingerprints, and substructure fingerprints
to predict the BBB permeability.

Results and Discussion:

The comparative analysis of performance metrics of developed models
suggested that SVM with the radial basis function kernel performed better than the kNN, RF, and
NB algorithms. The BBB permeability prediction model's accuracy with the SVM was 96.77%.
The prediction performance of the model developed in this study was found better than the existing
machine learning-based BBB permeability prediction models.

Conclusion:

The prediction model developed in this study could be useful for screening compounds
based on their BBB permeability at the preliminary stages of drug design and development.
COVID-19 and Alcohol Misuse: A Case Report
Authors: Asadollahi-Amin Ali , Nowroozi Ali , Hasibi Mehrdad , Asanjarani Behzad , SeyedAlinaghi SeyedAhmad
Published: February 2021

In the beginning of 2020, a newly emerged virus, now named SARS-CoV-2, began to spread in China. After four months, it has reached all over the globe, infecting more than 2.5 million people. Currently, there are no proved treatments available. However, in social media, false information about alcohol consumption and its role against the virus is spreading. We described a victim of these false facts who presented with reduced eyesight due to alcohol drinking, a few days later showed symptoms of COVID-19 and, even though treated, lost his eyesight partially. Alcohol taking has no preventive or curing effect on COVID-19 and negatively impacts the body and immune system, which, therefore, should not be considered a treatment for COVID-19 disease.
Two Cases of Double Pituitary Adenomas in a Surgical Series Over 16 Years in a Single Centre
Authors: Damiani Luca , Riccioni Luca , Nuzzi Daniele , Celico Mariella , Panzacchi Riccardo , Ragazzini Cecilia , Tosatto Luigino , Nasi Maria Teresa , Balestrieri Antonio
Published: February 2021

Background:

Double pituitary adenomas (DA) are two morphologically and immunohystochemically
different tumours in the same gland. They are rare, generally small adenomas and
divided in: separated, when clearly recognizable before or during surgery, and contiguous, when diagnosed
only in the following histopathological examination. Acromegaly and Cushing’s disease
are the main prevalent clinical presentation.

Objective:

We described two cases of DA in a surgical series over 16 years in a single center.

Methods:

In September 2018, we diagnosed a DA in a man with acromegaly (case 1). In order to
assess the presence of other cases of DA, we performed a retrospective analysis of the endonasal
endoscopically operated sellar adenomas from January 2004 to December 2019.

Results :

468 pituitary adenomas were found. A DA with a Pit-1 positive macroadenoma (GH-TSH-
PRL positive) and an ACTH microadenoma clinically silent in an acromegalic woman was retrospectively
found (case 2).

Conclusion :

Our analysis confirms that DA are rare (0.4% of the pituitary adenomas) and often associated
with acromegaly. Their pre-operatively diagnosis is difficult but clinician’s awareness of
DA can improve the diagnosis. The use of pituitary transcription factors could be useful in detecting
DA.
Beyond Physical Exercise: The Role of Nutrition, Gut Microbiota and Nutraceutical Supplementation in Reducing Age-Related Sarcopenia
Authors: Banerjee Antara , Marotta Francesco , Sriramulu Sushmitha , Chabria Yashna , Hari Sruthi , Catanzaro Roberto , Barbagallo Mario , Balakrishnan Baskar , He Fang , Nandagopal Radha Rajesh Kanna , Pathak Surajit
Published: February 2021

Sarcopenia is a commonly prevalent geriatric condition mainly characterized by progressive
loss of the skeletal muscle mass that results in noticeably reduced muscle strength and quality.
Most of the geriatric population above 60 years of age are overweight, leading to the accumulation
of fat in the muscles resulting in abated muscle function. The increased loss of muscle mass is associated
with high rates of disability, poor motility, frailty and mortality. The excessive degeneration
of muscles is now also being observed in middle-aged people. Therefore, geriatrics has recently
started shifting towards the identification of early stages of the disability in order to expand the life
span of the patient and reduce physical dependence. Recent findings have indicated that patients
with increased physical activity are also affected by sarcopenia, therefore indicating the role of nutritional
supplements to enhance muscle health which in turn helps to counteract sarcopenia. Various
interventions with physical training have not provided substantial improvements to this disorder,
thereby highlighting the crucial role of nutritional supplementation in enhancing muscle mass
and strength. Nutritional supplementation has not only been shown to enhance the positive effects
of physical interventions but also have a profound impact on the gut microbiome that has come forward
as a key regulator of muscle mass and function. This brief review throws light upon the efficiency
of nutrients and nutraceutical supplementation by highlighting their ancillary effects in physical
interventions as well as improving the gut microbiome status in sarcopenic adults, thereby giving
rise to a multimodal intervention for the treatment of sarcopenia.
Preparation and Evaluation of PCMs by Macro Encapsulation for Solar Energy Storage
Authors: Routray Sunita , Agarwal Vishal , Swain Ranjita , Mohapatro Rudra Narayan
Published: February 2021

Background:

Phase Change Materials (PCMs) are used in a latent heat storage
system for storing thermal energy. The thermal conductivity of PCMs is enhanced by
macro encapsulation for large-scale use.

Objective:

This technique not only provides a self-supporting structure of PCM but also
separates the PCM from thermal fluids and enhances the heat transfer rate.

Methods:

The current work involves the study of encapsulation of low-cost inorganic
PCMs, such as sodium nitrate (NaNO3), in a temperature range of 300 - 500°C. Silicate
coating is also applied to PCM capsules. A solar water heater is then designed using the
macro encapsulated PCM.

Result and Conclusion:

The water heater consists of cylindrical copper pipes filled with
phase change material. The efficiency of the solar water heater is found to be 22.5%
Network Analysis of Depressive Symptomatology in Elderly Patients with Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Park Seon-Cheol
Published: February 2021

Background:

A novel psychopathological approach is the application of network
analysis, as it is proposed that symptoms and their interconnections constitute a disease itself,
rather than simply being components or outcome factors of disease.

Objective:

Using data from the Clinical Research Center for Depression (CRESCEND)
Study, this study examined depressive symptoms in elderly patients with major depressive
disorder using a network analysis approach.

Methods:

Among 135 elderly patients with major depressive disorder who were recruited from the CRESCEND study, we created a network based on individual items from the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), with the nodes being each item (symptom) and the edges being the strength of the association between the items (interconnection). By calculating measures of centrality of each of the nodes, we were able to determine which depressive symptoms were most central (influential) in the network.

Results:

The insight item was completely unconnected with other items and it was excluded
in terms of network analysis. Thus, a network analysis of the 16 HAMD items estimated that
the anxiety psychic item was the most central domain, followed by insomnia (middle of the
night), depressive mood, and insomnia (early hours of the morning) items. On the contrary,
the retardation item was the most poorly interconnected with the network.

Conclusion:

We suggest that our study contributes to the literature because we have found
that anxiety, depressed mood, and insomnia are most central to the network, indicating that
they are the most influential symptoms in major depression in elderly individuals.
Corrosion Studies Using the Scanning Vibrating Electrode Technique (SVET) - A Brief Review
Authors: Hussain Amir
Published: February 2021

Background:

The Scanning Vibrating Electrode Technique is an important method in
the field of corrosion. The technique has helped researchers to understand corrosion mechanisms
in real time, due to the availability of commercial systems, which are user-friendly, having a high
degree of sensitivity and reliability. The technique provides quantitative and qualitative
measurements by utilising a vibrating probe at a fixed height over the sample.

Objective:

The paper provides a basic understanding of the technique, including a brief history, development, method of measurement and then highlighting some applications of the technique.

Conclusion:

The paper shows the usefulness of the technique and its’ importance in corrosion
research.
Co-Crystals for Generic Pharmaceuticals: An Outlook on Solid Oral Dosage Formulations
Authors: Rajendran Maniyam Arun Pandian , Allada Ravikiran , Sajid Syed Shahnawaz
Published: February 2021

Co-crystal is an attractive alternative and a new class of solid forms because that can be engineered
to have desired physicochemical properties. Co-crystals have gained considerable attention
from the generic pharmaceutical industry after the USFDA released its finalized guidlines in the year
2018 on the regulatory classification of co-crystals. In this review, we discussed how co-crystals could
be explored as a potential alternative solid form for the development of a generic product that meets
the legal, regulatory, and bioequivalence requirements. In the contents, we discussed in detail concepts
such as the selection of coformers, various ways of making co-crystals, the strategy of characterization
to discriminate between co-crystal and salt, polymorphism in co-crystals, the aspects of intellectual
property and, finally, the regulatory aspects of co-crystals.
Simulation of SAR signal processing system in telescopic mapping
Authors: Gurnov K. B. , Izotova E. M.
Published: February 2021

At the present stage of development of surveillance tools, the most popular are radar tools. A special place among such systems is occupied by radars with a synthesized antenna aperture, which make it possible to obtain high-resolution radar images with a relatively small size of the antenna system. The creation of such radar facilities has a number of features, which increases the cost of the development process and increases the time frame, and verification of work can be complicated by the inability to form the required conditions. To eliminate such difficulties, it is advisable to create adequate mathematical models of systems that would allow you to conduct all the necessary tests and work out algorithms, with minimal time spent. In this paper, a phenomenological model of the reflected signal in SAR is proposed, and a SAR model is developed that has a block structure and can be supplemented with modules to identify new dependencies.
Methodology for estimating reception efficiency of mutually correlated or in- phase signals at diversity transmission
Authors: Zvonarev V. V. , Pimenov V. F. , Popov A. S.
Published: February 2021

The article describes and theoretically substantiates the potential technical capabilities of spatially separated earth stations (ES). When several ESs emit in-phase or mutually pairwise correlated signals in the direction of one received antenna of the object, the total level of the sum of emissions at its output (at the input of the receiving path) may be several times higher than the sum of the powers of these signals. In this regard, the article investigates the influence of the phase difference of the transmitted signals on the value of their total average power at the input of the receiving path. In the case of addition of common-mode signals, a formula is used to calculate in which the power of harmonic radiation is proportional to the square of the sum of the amplitude of the common-mode signals. This paradox is also valid for pairwise cross-correlated signals. The presented technique for evaluatingтthe effectivenessтallows one to establish not only the dependence of the energy ratios on the nonтenergy parameter, but also to determine the number of low-power ESs required to ensureтthe required signal level at the input of the receiving device. The use of the presented technique makes it possible to evaluate the efficiency of receiving a combined high-power signal for a differentтnumber of emitters that form in-phase or pairwise mutual correlation of signals at the receiving point.
Analysis of the Results of Applying the Bee Colony Method in the Problem of Coloring General Graphs
Authors: Pshenichnykh А. O. , Vatutin E. I.
Published: February 2021

Purpose of research. We have discovered a wide range of problems that are important in practice and which can be reduced in polynomial time to discrete combinatorial optimization problems, many of which can be solved using graph theory. One of these tasks is finding the chromatic number of a graph and its corresponding coloring. Taking into account the fact that the combinatorial problem of finding the chromatic number of a graph belongs to the complexity class and does not allow obtaining an optimal solution in a rational time for problems of practically important dimension, the search for a suitable heuristic method that allows obtaining high-quality solutions with low costs required for computation is demanded and relevant. The aim of the study is to analyze the results of using the bee colony method in the task at hand. The tasks of this research are: description of algorithmic techniques in a formalized form, which make it possible to apply the bee colony method in the problem to be solved, making modifications to the bee colony method that increase the efficiency of the method, namely the quality of the resulting final colorings, as well as the determination of factors affecting the quality and the time spent in finding solutions. Methods. To conduct research in the selected area, computational experiments were organized based on the use of heuristic methods in the problem under consideration. Meta-optimization of the tuning parameters of the methods and determination of their convergence rate was carried out, as well as a comparison of the quality and time of obtaining solutions. Results. As a result of the study, the convergence rate of the method was found to be higher than that of the random walk method; the dependence of the quality of the resulting final colorings on the graph size N and density d was found. It was found that the chosen method is faster than the method of weighted random enumeration with the variation of vertices according to the minimum of admissible colors on »67% , which currently generates solutions with the lowest chromatic number, while losing quality to it on »7% . A higher rate of convergence was noticed when compared with the method of random walks, the principle of which is the same as that of foraging bees. Conclusion. It was found that the bee colony method finds colorings with the same average chromatic number in fewer iterations than the random walk method, i.e. it has a higher convergence rate, while remaining significantly fast relative to the method of random search with a variation of vertices to reduce the allowed colors.
Formalization of Life Cycle Stages of Geographic Information Products Creation at Research and Production Enterprises
Authors: Zaitsev E. M. , Kolomiets E. A. , Nikolaev V. N.
Published: February 2021

Purpose of research. The purpose of this article is to formalize the processes of creating geographic information products (GIP), within its life cycle (LC), taking into account heterogeneous types of GIS resources of a research - production enterprise (RPE). A typical subsystem of AIS infrastructure of an enterprise is an object of this study. Methods. On the basis of an analysis of scientific sources and standards it was shown that changes in traditional approaches, principles, models are necessary in the creation of GIP. It is also necessary to change infrastructure and resources management of NPP. Presented in tabular form model is describing GIP life cycle taking into account the list of required resources and provisions. Features of LC GIP based on geoinformation technologies processes have been identified. The general approach in formalization of stages describing processes of GIP processing and operation of typical elements of GIS enterprise is described. A model of automated processing process (APP) of GIP is developed on the basis of system representations and theoretical-multiple approach. It is represented by the Cartesian product of vectors. The role and features of information support in the development of GIP are highlighted. Results. The analysis of GIP functioning features, as well as developed structural graphic and tabular presentation, made it possible to identify links between GIP features and stages content of their LCs. The results will allow clearer positioning of GIP elements and components presented for development and operation, especially in GIS NPP. The results will provide an opportunity to define the requirements for systems of this class adequately. Conclusion. The presented LC GIP models, taking into account the identified features of their construction and functioning, will allow, in the future, setting and solving modeling and management system tasks of this class.