bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design of a Novel Long-Reach Cable-Driven Hyper-Redundant Snake-like Manipulator for Inspection and Maintenance
Authors: Canali Carlo , Pistone Alessandro , Ludovico Daniele , Guardiani Paolo , Gagliardi Roberto , De Mari Casareto Dal Verme Lorenzo , Sofia Giuseppe , Caldwell Darwin G.
Published: March 2022

Robotic inspection and maintenance are gaining importance due to the number of different scenarios in which robots can operate. The use of robotic systems to accomplish such tasks has deep implications in terms of safety for human workers and can significantly extend the life of infrastructures and industrial facilities. In this context, long-reach cable-driven hyper-redundant robots can be employed to inspect areas that are difficult to reach and hazardous environments such as tanks and vessels. This paper presents a novel long-reach cable-driven hyper-redundant robot called SLIM (Snake-Like manipulator for Inspection and Maintenance). SLIM consists of a robotic arm, a pan and tilt mechanism as end-effector, and an actuation box that can rotate and around which the arm can wrap. The robot has a total of 15 degrees of freedom and, therefore, for the task of positioning the tool centre point in a bi-dimensional Cartesian space with a specific attitude, it has 10 degrees of redundancy. The robot is designed to operate in harsh environments and high temperatures and can deploy itself up to about 4.8 m. This paper presents the requirements that drove the design of the robot, the main aspects of the mechanical and electronic systems, the control strategy, and the results of preliminary experimental tests performed with a physical prototype to evaluate the robot performances.
Prediction Model for the Performance of Different PV Modules Using Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Jaber Mahmoud , Abd Hamid Ag Sufiyan , Sopian Kamaruzzaman , Fazlizan Ahmad , Ibrahim Adnan
Published: March 2022

This study presents a prediction model for comparing the performance of six different photovoltaic (PV) modules using artificial neural networks (ANNs), with simple inputs for the model. Cell temperature (Tc), irradiance, fill factor (FF), short circuit current (Isc), open-circuit voltage (Voc), maximum power (Pm), and the product of Voc and Isc are the inputs of the neural networks’ processes. A Prova 1011 solar system analyzer was used to extract the datasets of IV curves for six different PV modules under test conditions. As for the result, the highest FF was the mono-crystalline with an average of 0.737, while the lowest was the CIGS module with an average of 0.66. As for efficiency, the most efficient was the mono-crystalline module with an average of 10.32%, while the least was the thin-film module with an average of 7.65%. It is noted that the thin-film and flexible mono-modules have similar performances. The results from the proposed model give a clear idea about the best and worst performances of the PV modules under test conditions. Comparing the prediction process with the real dataset for the PV modules, the prediction accuracy for the model has a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 0.874%, with an average root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute deviation (MAD) of, respectively, 0.0638 A and 0.237 A. The accuracy of the proposed model proved its efficiency for predicting the performance of the six PV modules.
A Simultaneous Analysis of the User Safety and Resilience of a Twin-Tube Road Tunnel
Authors: Caliendo Ciro , Genovese Gianluca , Russo Isidoro
Published: March 2022

This study complements our previous work with a simultaneous analysis of user safety and road tunnel resilience. We developed a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model and simulated the corresponding egress process to evaluate the risk level of users exposed to different types of fire, such those which might occur on the undisrupted lane of a partially closed tube tunnel due to a traffic accident, or in the adjacent tube when used for two-way traffic in the case of the complete closure of the tube involved in the accident. The CFD results showed that: (i) better environmental conditions were found with the partial closure of the tube rather than the complete one; (ii) additional benefits can be achieved by activating variable message signs (VMSs) that suggest an alternative itinerary for heavy good vehicles (HGVs) only; (iii) safety issues for human health may arise only in the case of a 100 MW fire, occurring during the complete closure of the tube and the use of the parallel one for two-way traffic. The findings of the CFD simulations were subsequently used to perform a quantitative risk analysis (QRA) based on a probabilistic approach. The findings of the QRA were found to be consistent with those obtained by the tunnel resilience analysis. In particular, the lowest risk level for user safety was found with the partial closure of the tube instead of the complete one, and by activating the VMSs to redirect HGVs only towards an alternative itinerary. This finding was found to correspond to a higher resilience index of the tunnel (i.e., a lower resilience loss due to a traffic accident occurring in a tube). This study increases our knowledge on certain relevant aspects of the operating conditions of tunnels and can serve as a possible reference for tunnel management agencies (TMAs) in their choice of the most appropriate arrangement to recover the functionality of a tunnel taking into account both user safety and resilience at the same time.
An Integrated Web-Based GIS Platform for the Environmental Monitoring of Industrial Emissions: Preliminary Results of the Project
Authors: Giglione Giada , Annibaldi Anna , Iaccarino Antonio , Capancioni Roberto , Borghini Giorgio , Ciabattoni Fiorenzo , Illuminati Silvia , Pace Giandomenico , Memmola Francesco , Giantomassi Gianni
Published: March 2022

The European regulatory framework requires prior authorization for the use of plants and activities that may impact the environment, to ensure an adequate level of environmental and human health protection. Data on industrial wastewater, urban sewage, atmospheric emissions and waste management of installations subject to licenses generate interest among stakeholders (Environmental Protection Agencies, Police Forces, regions, provinces, municipalities, Local Health Authorities, operators, research bodies, citizens), but unfortunately, they are not properly digitized and processed, as they are often unavailable. Therefore, the main goal of this project is to provide a flexible, interactive and easy-to-use tool for stakeholders to allow them to consult these kinds of environmental data. For this purpose, a database integrated with a web-based Geographical Information System (GIS) platform to collect, manage and share pollutant emissions data, is currently being designed and developed. The web platform offers to users interconnected informative modules on required authorizations, license processes and analytical controls. Moreover, stored data from industries and on emissions are georeferenced and displayed in a web GIS map. Stakeholders have free but limited access to specific sections of the web platform, depending on their tasks. They can consult environmental data and GIS representations, download reports or documents and enter new data. This web application seeks to: (1) promote collaboration among stakeholders, (2) simplify the monitoring of an installation’s authorization status and industrial emissions trends, (3) optimize the environmental licensing procedures, (4) enhance the management of environmental control by the relevant authorities, (5) support health and environmental research, and (6) provide industries with innovative services for data transmission. To evaluate the performance and benefits of the newly-developed tool, a real-life pilot case has been applied using data from industries located in the Province of Ascoli Piceno (Marche region, Italy).
Bacterial Diversity and Dominant Spoilage Microorganisms in Fresh-Cut Broccoli
Authors: Cui Siqi , Yu Xiaolu , Chen Ya , Zhang Jianli , Liu Guangmin
Published: March 2022

Different cutting types not only affect the quality and bioactive substances of broccoli but may produce wounding stress that influences the quantity and diversity of microorganisms and finally leads to safety concerns. In this study, three different fresh-cutting types (floret (F), quarterly cut floret (QF) and shredded floret (FS)) and four storage stages (0, 1, 2 and 3 day(s)) were designed to detect the bacterial diversity in broccoli. Results showed that the quantity and growth of microorganisms in fresh-cut broccoli were positively correlated with the intensity of fresh-cut damage, and the 97 strains isolated using 16S rRNA gene sequences were mainly classified into four phyla: Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. The predominant phylum was Proteobacteria, dominated by Pseudomonas spp. and Acinetobacter spp. Four representative strains of different species were selected to analyze their spoilage potential on fresh-cut broccoli. Pseudomonas spp. had great impacts on the corruption of broccoli, which affected fresh-cut broccoli by metabolizing to produce nitrite and consuming nutrition. Moreover, Comamonas spp. and Acinetobacter spp. also affected the quality of broccoli, but received little attention previously. This study provides a reference for precise bacteriostasis and preservation of fresh-cut vegetables such as broccoli.
Toward Improving the Reliability of Discrete Movement Recognition of sEMG Signals
Authors: Zhou Shengli , Fei Fei , Yin Kuiying
Published: March 2022

Currently, the classification accuracy of surface electromyography (sEMG) signals is high in literature, but the conventional recognition system may classify untrained movements or the trained movements of low reliability to one of its target classes by mistake. If such a system is used for prosthetic control, sometimes it may cause a disaster. A two-layer classifier that fuses the Gaussian mixture model (GMM) and k-nearest neighbor (kNN) in a sequential structure is proposed in this study. The proposed algorithm can reject the trained movements with low reliability and is efficient in rejecting the untrained movements, thus enhancing the reliability of the myoelectric control system. The results show that the proposed algorithm can produce 95.7% active accuracy in recognizing 12 trained movements and a 30.3% error rate for rejecting 12 untrained movements. When the movement number is six, the active accuracy for trained movements can reach 99.2%, and the error rate of untrained movement is only 17.4%, which is much better than previous studies. Therefore, the proposed classifier can accurately recognize the trained movements and reject untrained movement patterns effectively.
Co-Designing Age-Friendly Neighborhood Spaces in Copenhagen: Starting with an Age-Friendly Co-Design Process
Authors: Carroll Sidse , Nørtoft Kamilla
Published: March 2022

Age-friendly cities and communities are currently attracting much attention as the ageing population becomes a larger proportion of our societies and their needs and aspirations become more diverse, which needs to be reflected in our cities. This calls for older people to play an active role in the design of suitable environments, e.g., by being involved in the design process. With this paper, we present a study where the methodology of co-design was used to engage 100+ older people in a low-income neighborhood in Copenhagen in designing new neighborhood spaces to reflect their needs and wishes. By focusing on the co-design process, and not the design solution, we investigate and present insights across the entire span of the process—from recruitment to implementation—and seek to extract particular elements that contribute to the age friendliness of the process. Recommendations for future co-design processes with older people include focusing on explicit communication and foreseeable steps to create a process that offers multiple and flexible participation options and to upgrade the latter stages of the co-design process through scale 1:1 prototyping and implementation. The findings contribute to both the professional practice of co-designing with older people on a spatial scale, as well as to policy makers and practice stakeholders when initiating initiatives with age-friendly cities and communities.
Becoming a Part of the Houyhnhnm’s Environment
Authors: Collins Reiko Goto , Collins Tim
Published: March 2022

R. Goto Collins and T. Collins are environmental artists. Their goal is to challenge their own subjectivity through research and practice. Reiko’s interest in relational and collaborative artwork with the more-than-human world goes back to the 1980s. In 2014, she decided to engage a horse (Darkness) as a collaborative partner, with Tim’s support. In this article, the reader will find a reflection on a creative inquiry between a horse, two humans and their shared environment. How a practice (of being with) might reveal an evolving subjectivity (becoming) with a horse? With a foundation of reading and practical testing of Edith Stein’s ideas in we then looked to Charles Sanders Pierce’s work on signs. This would provide a structure that enabled us to appreciate and process the range of signs discovered as we sought to communicate across species. Specific questions include: does Darkness interact with and adapt to changes in his environment? Is he self-aware and evolving through life experience, uniquely engaged with his environment? By recognizing and supporting his life and intelligence, would he reveal a world Tim and I were immersed in but could not perceive? How could we communicate that world through arts-based research?
A Novel Reference-Based and Gradient-Guided Deep Learning Model for Daily Precipitation Downscaling
Authors: Xiang Li , Xiang Jie , Guan Jiping , Zhang Fuhan , Zhao Yanling , Zhang Lifeng
Published: March 2022

The spatial resolution of precipitation predicted by general circulation models is too coarse to meet current research and operational needs. Downscaling is one way to provide finer resolution data at local scales. The single-image super-resolution method in the computer vision field has made great strides lately and has been applied in various fields. In this article, we propose a novel reference-based and gradient-guided deep learning model (RBGGM) to downscale daily precipitation considering the discontinuity of precipitation and ill-posed nature of downscaling. Global Precipitation Measurement Mission (GPM) precipitation data, variables in ERA5 re-analysis data, and topographic data are selected to perform the downscaling, and a residual dense attention block is constructed to extract features of them. By exploring the discontinuous feature of precipitation, we introduce gradient feature to reconstruct precipitation distribution. We also extract the feature of high-resolution monthly precipitation as a reference feature to resolve the ill-posed nature of downscaling. Extensive experimental results on benchmark data sets demonstrate that our proposed model performs better than other baseline methods. Furthermore, we construct a daily precipitation downscaling data set based on GPM precipitation data, ERA5 re-analysis data and topographic data.
Ozone Monitoring in the Baikal Region (East Siberia): Spatiotemporal Variability under the Influence of Air Pollutants and Site Conditions
Authors: Obolkin Vladimir , Potemkin Vladimir , Khuriganova Olga , Khodzher Tamara
Published: March 2022

This article analyses the results of year-round automatic ozone monitoring in seven cities of the Baikal region (southeastern Siberia). We reveal that significant differences in the spatiotemporal variability of the average daily ozone concentrations depend on different anthropogenic loads. In large cities with heavy industry, which are located in the Angara River valley, the ozone concentrations were minimal and changed little during the year: less than 5 µg/m3 in the Angarsk city and 20–30 µg/m3 in the Irkutsk city. In the settlements of a less polluted region, the Selenga River valley, the ozone concentrations were significantly higher, and the annual ozone variability was typical of East Siberia: the maximum in spring (60 to 70 μg/m3) and the minimum in autumn and winter (10 to 30 μg/m3). The maximum ozone concentrations were observed in rural conditions (Listvyanka station), up to 80–100 μg/m3 during the spring maximum. Nitrogen oxides had the main influence on ozone depletion in the surface atmosphere of the cities, especially in winter, the season of maximum burning of fossil fuels (negative correlation can reach −0.9). In cities with heavy industry, the effect of NOx on ozone was weaker. Perhaps other anthropogenic impurities can also affect ozone suppression in these cities, which have not yet been studied.
Modeling Interaction in Human–Machine Systems: A Trust and Trustworthiness Approach
Authors: Sapienza Alessandro , Cantucci Filippo , Falcone Rino
Published: March 2022

Trust has been clearly identified as a key concept for human–machine interaction (HMI): on the one hand, users should trust artificial systems; on the other hand, devices must be able to estimate both how much other agents trust them and how trustworthy the other agents are. Indeed, the applications of trust in these scenarios are so complex that often, the interaction models consider only a part of the possible interactions and not the system in its entirety. On the contrary, in this work, we made the effort to consider the different types of interaction together, showing the advantages of this approach and the problems it allows to face. After the theoretical formalization, we introduce an agent simulation to show the functioning of the proposed model. The results of this work provide interesting insights for the evolution of HMI models.
Clinical Evaluation on the Performance and Safety of a Non-Ablative Fractional 1340 nm Laser for the Treatment of Stretch Marks in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Case Series
Authors: Viviano Maria Teresa , Provini Alessia , Mazzanti Cinzia , Nisticò Steven Paul , Patruno Cataldo , Cannarozzo Giovanni , Bennardo Stefano , Fusco Irene , Bennardo Luigi
Published: March 2022

A large part of the world’s population suffers from Striae distensae (SD) or stretch marks, which create physical and psychological discomfort in people. We evaluate the SD clinical improvement by using a non-ablative fractional Nd:YAP 1340 nm laser. The research was performed on 25 patients of both sexes, with a mean age of 31 ± 13.09 years. Each patient underwent from a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 4 treatments, with an Nd:YAP (1340 nm) medical device, every four weeks, with 3- and 6-month follow-up, in these areas: back, abdomen, breast, flanks, lower limbs, buttocks, and thighs. Manchester Scar Scale assessed stretch marks improvement. Side effects, patient pain, and SD overall appearance improvement were also recorded for all patients. Digital photographs measured the aesthetic results. Treatment was well-tolerated (pain score 1.08 ± 0.76) by all patients. There were no long-term side effects, and 88% of patients revealed an SD excellent improvement showing good aesthetic results achieved by the treatment. The total mean pretreatment Manchester Scar Scale score decreased from 13.80 (±1.58) to 10.36 (±1.70) after 3 months (p < 0.01) and to 8.36 (±1.07) after 6 months (p < 0.01). An Nd:YAP (1340 nm) laser seems to be a safe and effective treatment, showing a higher security profile with no side effects.
Is It Possible to Improve Urinary Incontinence and Quality of Life in Female Patients? A Clinical Evaluation of the Efficacy of Top Flat Magnetic Stimulation Technology
Authors: Lopopolo Graziella , Salsi Benedetta , Banfi Alessandra , Isaza Pablo González , Fusco Irene
Published: March 2022

Background and Objectives: Urinary incontinence is the accidental loss of urine that can occur at any age, especially among women over 50; however, its prevalence is increasing. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of a device that uses Top Flat Magnetic Stimulation for the management of women with mixed urinary incontinence. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 female patients underwent a total of six treatment sessions performed twice a week for three consecutive weeks, for 28 min. Three questionnaires were used for the evaluation of the urinary improvements: Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF), Incontinence Questionnaire Overactive Bladder Module (ICIQ-OAB), and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-Short Form (IIQ-7). The questionnaires were compiled immediately before each treatment, within the treatment period (until the sixth treatment session), and up to 3 months of follow-up. Results: Improvement in quality of life is observed according to the results of the questionnaire, already after six sessions and at three months follow-up. ICIQ-UI-SF’s average score at baseline was 20.2 (±1.1), and it significantly declined (p < 0.01) to 1.8 (±2.4) after six sessions and to 4.8 (±2.8) at 3 months follow-up; ICIQ-OAB’s average score significantly decreased (p < 0.01) from 10.4 (±3.2) at baseline to 1.4 (±0.8) after six sessions and 2.3 (±1.6) at 3 months follow-up. IIQ-7’s average score significantly decreased (p < 0.01) from 20.2 (±1.7) at baseline to 0.4 (±0.5) after six sessions and to 4.7 (±2.8) at 3 months follow-up. Conclusions: Our results suggest that Top Flat Magnetic Stimulation technology can reduce mixed urinary incontinence symptoms for all women examined, leading to an improvement in the patient quality of life and patient awareness of their pelvic floor area with good results.
Cranial-Vertebral-Maxillary Morphological Integration in Down Syndrome
Authors: García-García Marta Teresa , Diz-Dios Pedro , Abeleira-Pazos María Teresa , Limeres-Posse Jacobo , García-Mato Eliane , Varela-Aneiros Iván , Outumuro-Rial Mercedes , Diniz-Freitas Márcio
Published: March 2022

Background: Morphological integration refers to the tendency of anatomical structures to show correlated variations because they develop in response to shared developmental processes or function in concert with other structures. The objective of this study was to determine the relationships between the dimensions of different cranial-cervical-facial structures in patients with Down syndrome (DS). Methodology: The study group consisted of 41 individuals with DS who had undergone cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) at the Dental Radiology Unit of the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain). In the historical archive of this same unit, 41 CBCTs belonging to individuals with no known systemic disorders or severe malformations of the maxillofacial region were selected, forming an age and sex-matched control group. Twenty-nine measurements were performed on each participant’s CBCT images, which were grouped into three blocks: atlantoaxial dimensions, craniovertebral dimensions and cephalometric dimensions. To determine whether there were significant differences between the dimensions obtained in the DS and control groups, we applied multiple analysis of variance and linear discriminant analysis tests. The analysis of the association between blocks (in pairs) was performed with the canonical correlation analysis test. Results: The dimensions evaluated in the three blocks of variables of individuals with DS differ significantly from those of nonsyndromic controls (p < 0.001). The highest discriminative capacity to identify controls and patients with DS was obtained with the cephalometric dimensions (87.5%). With regard to the association between blocks (two-by-two measurements), we found no significant relationship in the DS group. However, we confirmed a statistically significant correlation between all pairs of blocks of variables in the controls, especially between the atlantoaxial and cephalometric dimensions (p < 0.001) and between the craniovertebral and cephalometric dimensions (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results confirm a very poor morphological integration of the cranial-cervical-maxillary complex in individuals with DS. This finding reinforces the proposal that gene overload enhances the channeling process.
Effect of Rapid Weight Loss on Hydration Status and Performance in Elite Judo Athletes
Authors: Ceylan Bayram , Aydos Latif , Šimenko Jožef
Published: March 2022

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of 5% rapid weight loss on hydration status and judo performance in highly trained judo athletes. Methods: Eighteen male judo athletes participated in the study and were divided into two groups: control and rapid weight loss (RWL). RWL athletes were given 48 h to cut 5% of their body mass while the control group followed their routines. Athletes performed three measurements, including hydration, body mass and three consecutive special judo fitness tests (SJFTs). At the 1st and 6th minutes following each SJFT and 1st, 6th and 15th minutes following the last SJFT, blood lactate and heart rate (HR) was monitored. Results: The effect of RWL on variables was tested with split-plot ANOVA. RWL significantly affected urine specific gravity with a higher value following weight loss compared to baseline and recovery (F2-32 = 13.2, p < 0.001). In addition, athletes’ SJFT total throw numbers differed among measurements (F2-32 = 7.70, p < 0.001). Athletes presented worse SJFT index after weight loss (F2-32 = 8.05, p = 0.01; F1-16 = 6.43, p = 0.02, respectively). HR changed significantly among measurements days and times (F28-448 = 143.10, p < 0.001). Conclusion: RWL induced dehydration and impaired heart rate recovery in highly trained judo athletes, and they could not rehydrate between competition simulated weigh-in and 15 h of recovery.
Molecular Pathophysiology and Potential Therapeutic Strategies of Ketamine-Related Cystitis
Authors: Chen Chin-Li , Wu Sheng-Tang , Cha Tai-Lung , Sun Guang-Huan , Meng En
Published: March 2022

Ketamine was first synthesized as a clinical medicine for anesthesia in 1970. It has been used as a recreational drug because of its low cost and hallucination effect in the past decade. Part of ketamine abusers may experience ketamine-related cystitis (KC) and suffer from lower urinary tract symptoms, including urinary frequency, urgency, and severe bladder pain. As the disease progression, a contracted bladder, petechial hemorrhage of the bladder mucosa, and ureteral stricture with hydronephrosis may occur. The pathophysiology of KC is still uncertain, although several hypotheses have been raised. Cessation of ketamine abuse is critical for the management of KC to prevent progressive disease, and effective treatment has not been established. Research has provided some theoretical bases for developing in vitro experiments, animal models, and clinical trials. This review summarized evidence of molecular mechanisms of KC and potential treatment strategies for KC. Further basic and clinical studies will help us better understand the mechanism and develop an effective treatment for KC.
Digestive Enzyme Activities and Gut Emptying Are Correlated with the Reciprocal Regulation of TRPA1 Ion Channel and Serotonin in the Gut of the Sea Urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius
Authors: Ding Jingyun , Wang Huiyan , Li Zequn , Sun Jiangnan , Ding Peng , Chi Xiaomei , Yang Mingfang , Chang Yaqing , Zhao Chong
Published: March 2022

The energetic link in the benthic community is based on physiological characteristics of the low food absorption efficiency of sea urchins. Low food absorption efficiency of sea urchins is correlated with the activity of digestive enzymes and the duration of food in their gut. Thus, the digestive enzymes activities (pepsin and amylase enzyme activities) and gut emptying are important indicators in assessing nutrient digestion and absorption in sea urchins. In the present study, the relationship between these indicators and molecules related to digestive physiology were quantified in sea urchins. We found (1) an inter-regulatory relationship existed between Transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily A, member 1 (TRPA1), and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) in the gut of Strongylocentrotus intermedius; (2) digestive enzyme activities were negatively correlated with the TRPA1 and concentration of 5-HT in the gut of S. intermedius; (3) gut emptying rate was positively correlated with TRPA1 and concentration of 5-HT in the gut of S. intermedius. The present study revealed that the digestion and absorption of food are correlated with the TRPA1 and 5-HT in the gut of S. intermedius, which provides valuable information about the digestive physiology of sea urchins. This novel finding is relevant to understanding the low food digestibility of sea urchins. It also provides valuable information to the digestive physiology of sea urchins, which are key to maintaining the stability of food webs in the marine ecosystem.
Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis Discriminates Aerobic Power in Futsal Players: The Role of Body Composition
Authors: Matias Catarina N. , Campa Francesco , Cerullo Giuseppe , D’Antona Giuseppe , Giro Rita , Faleiro João , Reis Joana F. , Monteiro Cristina P. , Valamatos Maria J. , Teixeira Filipe J.
Published: March 2022

Aims: The present study aimed to assess the ability of bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) in discriminating fitness levels in futsal players, exploring the association of body composition and bioelectrical parameters with aerobic power. Methods: Forty-eight professional futsal players (age 23.8 ± 5.3 years) were involved in a cross-sectional study during their pre-season phase. Fat mass (FM) and muscle mass were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. VO2max was obtained by indirect calorimetry through a graded exercise test performed on a treadmill. Bioelectrical resistance (R), reactance (Xc), and phase angle (PhA) were directly measured using a foot-to-hand bioimpedance technology at a 50 kHz frequency. Bioelectric R and Xc were standardized for the participants’ height and used to plot the bioimpedance vector in the R-Xc graph according to the BIVA approach. Results: The participants divided into groups of VO2max limited by tertiles showed significant differences in mean vector position in the R-Xc graph (p < 0.001), where a higher VO2max resulted in a longer vector and upper positioning. FM, muscle mass, and PhA differed (p < 0.01) among the athletes grouped by tertiles of VO2max, where athletes with a greater aerobic power showed a lower percentage of FM and a higher percentage of muscle mass and PhA. FM and PhA were associated with VO2max (FM: r = −0.658, p < 0.001; PhA: r = 0.493, p < 0.001). These relationships remained significant after adjusting for age and body mass (FM: ß = −0.335, p = 0.046; PhA: ß = 0.351, p = 0.003). Conclusions: Bioelectrical impedance vectors positioned on the lower pole of the R-Xc graph identified futsal players with a lower VO2max, while longer vectors corresponded to a greater aerobic power. Additionally, PhA, that describes the vector direction, was positively associated with VO2max, while a higher FM negatively affected VO2max in the futsal players. BIVA and PhA evaluation may represent a valid support for screening the aerobic fitness level in professional futsal players, when more sophisticated assessment methods are not available.
Straightforward Analysis of Sulfated Glycosaminoglycans by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry from Biological Samples
Authors: Krüger Lynn , Biskup Karina , Karampelas Vasileios , Ludwig Antje , Kasper Antje-Susanne , Poller Wolfram C. , Blanchard Véronique
Published: March 2022

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are considered to be the most difficult type of glycoconjugates to analyze as they are constituted of linear long polysaccharidic chains having molecular weights reaching up to several million daltons. Bottom-up analysis of glycosaminoglycans from biological samples is a long and work-extensive procedure due to the many preparation steps involved. In addition, so far, only few research articles have been dedicated to the analysis of GAGs by means of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) because their intact ionization can be problematic due to the presence of labile sulfate groups. In this work, we had the aim of exploring the sulfation pattern of monosulfated chondroitin/dermatan sulfate (CS/DS) disaccharides in human tissue samples because they represent the most abundant form of sulfation in disaccharides. We present here an optimized strategy to analyze on-target derivatized CS/DS disaccharides via MALDI-TOF-MS using a fast workflow that does not require any purification after enzymatic cleavage. For the first time, we show that MALDI-TOF/TOF experiments allow for discrimination between monosulfated CS disaccharide isomers via specific fragments corresponding to glycosidic linkages and to cross-ring cleavages. This proof of concept is illustrated via the analysis of CS/DS disaccharides of atherosclerotic lesions of different histological origins, in which we were able to identify their monosulfation patterns.
Plasma miRNA Profile of Crohn’s Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
Authors: Saccon Tatiana D. , Dhahbi Joseph M. , Schneider Augusto , Nunez Lopez Yury O. , Qasem Ahmad , Cavalcante Marcelo B. , Sing Lauren K. , Naser Saleh A. , Masternak Michal M.
Published: March 2022

Crohn’s disease (CD) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are immune mediated inflammatory diseases. Several studies indicate a role for microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathogenesis of a variety of autoimmune diseases, including CD and RA. Our study’s goal was to investigate circulating miRNAs in CD and RA patients to identify potential new biomarkers for early detection and personalized therapeutic approaches for autoimmune diseases. For this study, subjects with CD (n = 7), RA (n = 8) and healthy controls (n = 7) were recruited, and plasma was collected for miRNA sequencing. Comparison of the expression patterns of miRNAs between CD and healthy patients identified 99 differentially expressed miRNAs. Out of these miRNAs, 4 were down regulated, while 95 were up regulated. Comparison of miRNAs between RA and healthy patients identified 57 differentially expressed miRNAs. Out of those, 12 were down regulated, while 45 were up regulated. For all the miRNAs down regulated in CD and RA patients, 420 GO terms for biological processes were similarly regulated between both groups. Therefore, the identification of new plasma miRNAs allows the emergence of new biomarkers that can assist in the diagnosis and treatment of CD and RA.
α-Synuclein Fibrils as Penrose Machines: A Chameleon in the Gear
Authors: De Giorgi Francesca , Uversky Vladimir N. , Ichas François
Published: March 2022

In 1957, Lionel Penrose built the first man-made self-replicating mechanical device and illustrated its function in a series of machine prototypes, prefiguring our current view of the genesis and the proliferation of amyloid fibrils. He invented and demonstrated, with the help of his son Roger, the concepts that decades later, would become the fundamentals of prion and prion-like neurobiology: nucleation, seeding and conformational templating of monomers, linear polymer elongation, fragmentation, and spread. He published his premonitory discovery in a movie he publicly presented at only two conferences in 1958, a movie we thus reproduce here. By making a 30-year-jump in the early 90’s, we evoke the studies performed by Peter Lansbury and his group in which α-Synuclein (α-Syn) was for the first time (i) compared to a prion; (ii) shown to contain a fibrillization-prone domain capable of seeding its own assembly into fibrils; (iii) identified as an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP), and which, in the early 2000s, (iv) was described by one of us as a protein chameleon. We use these temporally distant breakthroughs to propose that the combination of the chameleon nature of α-Syn with the rigid gear of the Penrose machine is sufficient to account for a phenomenon that is of current interest: the emergence and the spread of a variety of α-Syn fibril strains in α-Synucleinopathies.
Construction of Multiple Logic Circuits Based on Allosteric DNAzymes
Authors: Liu Xin , Zhang Qiang , Zhang Xun , Liu Yuan , Yao Yao , Kasabov Nikola
Published: March 2022

In DNA computing, the implementation of complex and stable logic operations in a universal system is a critical challenge. It is necessary to develop a system with complex logic functions based on a simple mechanism. Here, the strategy to control the secondary structure of assembled DNAzymes’ conserved domain is adopted to regulate the activity of DNAzymes and avoid the generation of four-way junctions, and makes it possible to implement basic logic gates and their cascade circuits in the same system. In addition, the purpose of threshold control achieved by the allosteric secondary structure implements a three-input DNA voter with one-vote veto function. The scalability of the system can be remarkably improved by adjusting the threshold to implement a DNA voter with 2n + 1 inputs. The proposed strategy provides a feasible idea for constructing more complex DNA circuits and a highly integrated computing system.
MicroRNAs in Pulmonary Hypertension, from Pathogenesis to Diagnosis and Treatment
Authors: Xu Junhua , Linneman John , Zhong Yanfeng , Yin Haoyang , Xia Qinyi , Kang Kang , Gou Deming
Published: March 2022

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a fatal and untreatable disease, ultimately leading to right heart failure and eventually death. microRNAs are small, non-coding endogenous RNA molecules that can regulate gene expression and influence various biological processes. Changes in microRNA expression levels contribute to various cardiovascular disorders, and microRNAs have been shown to play a critical role in PH pathogenesis. In recent years, numerous studies have explored the role of microRNAs in PH, focusing on the expression profiles of microRNAs and their signaling pathways in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) or pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs), PH models, and PH patients. Moreover, certain microRNAs, such as miR-150 and miR-26a, have been identified as good candidates of diagnosis biomarkers for PH. However, there are still several challenges for microRNAs as biomarkers, including difficulty in normalization, specificity in PH, and a lack of longitudinal and big sample-sized studies. Furthermore, microRNA target drugs are potential therapeutic agents for PH treatment, which have been demonstrated in PH models and in humans. Nonetheless, synthetic microRNA mimics or antagonists are susceptible to several common defects, such as low drug efficacy, inefficient drug delivery, potential toxicity and especially, off-target effects. Therefore, finding clinically safe and effective microRNA drugs remains a great challenge, and further breakthrough is urgently needed.
Contrast Medium Hypersensitivity: A Large Italian Study with Long-Term Follow-Up
Authors: Nucera Eleonora , Parrinello Giuseppe , Gangemi Sebastiano , Buonomo Alessandro , Aruanno Arianna , Lohmeyer Franziska Michaela , Inchingolo Riccardo , Rizzi Angela
Published: March 2022

Hypersensitivity reactions (HRs) to contrast media (CM) are a major problem. We compared differences of HRs to iodinated contrast media (ICM) versus gadolinium-based contrast media (GBCM), collecting data on prevalence, type, latency and severity. Secondly, the predisposition to perform new contrast tests, use of premedication and possible appearance of new reactions were explored in a long-term follow-up of 5 years. Clinical data, comorbidities, skin test (ST) results, re-exposure to CM procedures with any new reactions, premedication and CM used were collected. In a retrospective single-center study, 350 patients with mild to moderate HRs were enrolled. Asthma, food allergy, non-allergic drug hypersensitivity and neurologic disease were significantly more frequent in patients with HRs to GBCM compared to the high evidence of cardiovascular disease and history of cancer in patients with HRs to ICM. A marked delay in performing STs was reported by patients with negative results (66 months, p < 0.01). Iomeprol, iopamidol and gadobenic acid were the culprit CM most involved in HRs in patients with positive STs. During follow-up, 7.1% of responders reported new HRs to CM despite negative STs, premedication and infusion of alternative CM in most cases.
The Role of Tau beyond Alzheimer’s Disease: A Narrative Review
Authors: Virgilio Eleonora , De Marchi Fabiola , Contaldi Elena , Dianzani Umberto , Cantello Roberto , Mazzini Letizia , Comi Cristoforo
Published: March 2022

Nowadays, there is a need for reliable fluid biomarkers to improve differential diagnosis, prognosis, and the prediction of treatment response, particularly in the management of neurogenerative diseases that display an extreme variability in clinical phenotypes. In recent years, Tau protein has been progressively recognized as a valuable neuronal biomarker in several neurological conditions, not only Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Cerebrospinal fluid and serum Tau have been extensively investigated in several neurodegenerative disorders, from classically defined proteinopathy, e.g., amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and Parkinson’s disease (PD), but also in inflammatory conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), as a marker of axonal damage. In MS, total Tau (t-Tau) may represent, along with other proteins, a marker with diagnostic and prognostic value. In ALS, t-Tau and, mainly, the phosphorylated-Tau/t-Tau ratio alone or integrated with transactive DNA binding protein of ~43 kDa (TDP-43), may represent a tool for both diagnosis and differential diagnosis of other motoneuron diseases or tauopathies. Evidence indicated the crucial role of the Tau protein in the pathogenesis of PD and other parkinsonian disorders. This narrative review summarizes current knowledge regarding non-AD neurodegenerative diseases and the Tau protein.
HIV-1-Mediated Acceleration of Oncovirus-Related Non-AIDS-Defining Cancers
Authors: Proulx Jessica , Ghaly Maria , Park In-Woo , Borgmann Kathleen
Published: March 2022

With the advent of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), overall survival has been improved, and the incidence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining cancers has also been remarkably reduced. However, non-AIDS-defining cancers among human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1)-associated malignancies have increased significantly so that cancer is the leading cause of death in people living with HIV in certain highly developed countries, such as France. However, it is currently unknown how HIV-1 infection raises oncogenic virus-mediated cancer risks in the HIV-1 and oncogenic virus co-infected patients, and thus elucidation of the molecular mechanisms for how HIV-1 expedites the oncogenic viruses-triggered tumorigenesis in the co-infected hosts is imperative for developing therapeutics to cure or impede the carcinogenesis. Hence, this review is focused on HIV-1 and oncogenic virus co-infection-mediated molecular processes in the acceleration of non-AIDS-defining cancers.
The Role of Circulating Tumor Cells in the Prognosis of Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancers: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Lisencu Lorena Alexandra , Trancă Sebastian , Bonci Eduard-Alexandru , Pașca Andrei , Mihu Carina , Irimie Alexandru , Tudoran Oana , Balacescu Ovidiu , Lisencu Ioan Cosmin
Published: March 2022

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in women worldwide. One subtype of breast cancer is the triple-negative, which accounts for 15% of total breast cancer cases and is known for its poor prognosis. The main cause of death is due to metastasis. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) play a key role in the metastatic process. CTCs arise either by detaching from the primary tumor or from cancer stem cells undergoing an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This review aims to present up-to-date data concerning the role of CTC numbers in relation to the prognostic and treatment response in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) patients, and also to discuss the methods used for CTCs’ identification. A search in the MEDLINE database was performed. A total of 234 articles were identified. The results of the 24 eligible studies showed that positive CTC status is associated with shorter overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in mTNBC patients. Furthermore, a decrease in number of CTCs during therapy seems to be a favorable prognostic factor, making CTCs’ detection an important prognostic tool before and during therapy in mTNBC patients. The methods used for CTC detection are still developing and need further improvement.
The Calcium Channel Subunit Gamma-4 as a Novel Regulator of MafA in Pancreatic Beta-Cell Controls Glucose Homeostasis
Authors: Wu Rui , Karagiannopoulos Alexandros , Eliasson Lena , Renström Erik , Luan Cheng , Zhang Enming
Published: March 2022

Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) are high-risk factors of diabetes development and may be caused by defective insulin secretion in pancreatic beta-cells. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion is mediated by voltage-gated Ca2+ (CaV) channels in which the gamma-4 subunit (CaVγ4) is required for the beta-cell to maintain its differentiated state. We here aim to explore the involvement of CaVγ4 in controlling glucose homeostasis by employing the CaVγ4−/− mice to study in vivo glucose-metabolism-related phenotypes and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. We show that CaVγ4−/− mice exhibit perturbed glucose homeostasis, including IFG and IGT. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion is blunted in CaVγ4−/− mouse islets. Remarkably, CaVγ4 deletion results in reduced expression of the transcription factor essential for beta-cell maturation, MafA, on both mRNA and protein levels in islets from human donors and CaVγ4−/− mice, as well as in INS-1 832/13 cells. Moreover, we prove that CaMKII is responsible for mediating this regulatory pathway linked between CaVγ4 and MafA, which is further confirmed by human islet RNA-seq data. We demonstrate that CaVγ4 is a key player in preserving normal blood glucose homeostasis, which sheds light on CaVγ4 as a novel target for the treatment of prediabetes through correcting the impaired metabolic status.
Determination of Serum Progranulin in Patients with Untreated Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Authors: Nádró Bíborka , Lőrincz Hajnalka , Juhász Lilla , Szentpéteri Anita , Sztanek Ferenc , Varga Éva , Páll Dénes , Paragh György , Harangi Mariann
Published: March 2022

Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant trait characterized by elevated LDL-C concentrations and is associated with an increased risk of premature atherosclerosis. Progranulin (PGRN) is a multifunctional protein that is known to have various anti-atherogenic effects. To date, the use of serum PGRN in patients with FH has not been studied. Methods: In total, 81 untreated patients with heterozygous FH (HeFH) and 32 healthy control subjects were included in this study. Serum PGRN, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, oxLDL and TNFα concentrations were determined by ELISA. Lipoprotein subfractions were detected by Lipoprint. We diagnosed FH using the Dutch Lipid Clinic Network criteria. Results: We could not find a significant difference between the PGRN concentrations of the HeFH patients and controls (37.66 ± 9.75 vs. 38.43 ± 7.74 ng/mL, ns.). We found significant positive correlations between triglyceride, TNFα, sVCAM-1, the ratio of small HDL subfraction and PGRN, while significant negative correlations were found between the ratio of large HDL subfraction and PGRN both in the whole study population and in FH patients. PGRN was predicted by sVCAM-1, logTNFα and the ratio of small HDL subfraction. Conclusions: The strong correlations between HDL subfractions, inflammatory markers and PGRN suggest that PGRN may exert its anti-atherogenic effect in HeFH through the alteration of HDL composition and the amelioration of inflammation rather than through decreasing oxidative stress.