bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Repurposing Treatment of Wernicke–Korsakoff Syndrome for Th-17 Cell Immune Storm Syndrome and Neurological Symptoms in COVID-19: Thiamine Efficacy and Safety, In-Vitro Evidence and Pharmacokinetic Profile
Authors: Vatsalya Vatsalya , Li Fengyuan , Frimodig Jane , Gala Khushboo S. , Srivastava Shweta , Kong Maiying , Ramchandani Vijay A. , Feng Wenke , Zhang Xiang , McClain Craig J.
Published: March 2021

Coronavirus disease identified in 2019 (COVID-19) can be complicated by the Th17 cell-mediated IL-17 proinflammatory response. We tested if thiamine can effectively lower the Th17 response in a clinical study [Proinflammatory state in alcohol use disorder patients termed as disease controls (DC)] and corroborated the results using anin vitrostudy. We developed an effective dose range and model for key pharmacokinetic measures with the potential of targeting the cytokine storm and neurological symptoms of COVID-19. Three-week 200 mg dose of thiamine was administered to sixteen DC patients. Eight healthy volunteers (HV) were also included in this investigation. A subsequentin vitrostudy was performed to validate the effectiveness of thiamine [100 mg/day equivalent (0.01 μg/ml)] treatment in lowering the Th17 proinflammatory response in a mouse macrophage cell line (RAW264.7) treated with ethanol. Based on recent publications, we compared the results of the IL-17 response from our clinical andin vitrostudy to those found in other proinflammatory disease conditions (metabolic conditions, septic shock, viral infections and COVID-19) and effective and safe dose ranges of thiamine. We developed a pharmacokinetic profile for thiamine dose range as a novel intervention strategy in COVID-19. DC group showed significantly elevated proinflammatory cytokines compared to HV. Thiamine-treated DC patients showed significant lowering in IL-17 and increase in the IL-22 levels. In humans, a range of 79–474 mg daily of thiamine was estimated to be effective and safe as an intervention for the COVID-19 cytokine storm. A literature review showed that several neurological symptoms of COVID-19 (∼45.5% of the severe cases) occur in other viral infections and neuroinflammatory states that may also respond to thiamine treatment. Thiamine, a very safe drug even at very high doses, could be repurposed for treating the Th17 mediated IL-17 immune storm, and the subsequent neurological symptoms observed in COVID-19. Further studies using thiamine as an intervention/prevention strategy in COVID-19 patients could identify its precise anti-inflammatory role.
Identification and Allelic Variants Associated With Cold Tolerance of PmPIAS in Pinctada fucata martensii
Authors: Lai Zhuoxin , Adzigbli Linda , Chen Qingyue , Hao Ruijuan , Liao Yongshan , Deng Yuewen , Wang Qingheng
Published: March 2021

The protein inhibitor of activated STAT (PIAS) functions in diverse aspects, including immune response, cell apoptosis, cell differentiation, and proliferation. In the present study, thePIASin the pearl oysterPinctada fucata martensiiwas characterized. The sequence features of PmPIAS were similar to that of other PIAS sequences with PIAS typical domains, including SAP, Pro-Ile-Asn-Ile-Thr (PINIT), RLD domain, AD, and S/T-rich region. Homologous analysis showed that PmPIAS protein sequence showed the conserved primary structure compared with other species. Ribbon representation of PIAS protein sequences also showed a conserved structure among species, and the PINIT domain and RLD domain showed the conserved structure compared with the sequence ofHomo sapiens. The expression pattern ofPmPIASin different tissues showed significant high expression in the gonad.PmPIASalso exhibited a significantly higher expression in the 1 and 2 days after cold tolerance stress (17°C) and showed its potential in the cold tolerance. The SNP analysis of the exon region ofPmPIASobtained 18 SNPs, and among them, 11 SNPs showed significance among different genotypes and alleles between cold tolerance selection line and base stock, which showed their potential in the breeding for cold tolerance traits.
Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Performance in Multiple Domains of Executive Functions in School–Aged Adolescents
Authors: Cabral Ludmila Lucena Pereira , Browne Rodrigo Alberto Vieira , Freire Yuri Alberto , Schwade Daniel , Souto Gabriel Costa , Dantas Matheus , Lima Flávio Anselmo Silva , Farias-Junior Luiz Fernando , Costa Eduardo Caldas , Barros Jônatas França
Published: March 2021

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and performance in multiple domains of executive functions in school–aged adolescents. A sample of 132 adolescents (43% girls) aged 11–16 years were included in this cross–sectional study. Each participant completed a progressive aerobic cardiovascular endurance running (PACER) test, computerized cognitive tasks (Attentional Network, Berg’s Card Sorting, Go/No–Go oddball, Sternberg’s Working Memory, and Tower of London) and questionnaire for daytime sleepiness, as well as other factors that might influence cognitive performance (age, sex, school year, pubertal stage, and body mass index – BMI). Generalized linear model was used to calculate the coefficient estimates (β) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) for the cognitive tasks using PACER laps as a predictor, controlling for potential confounding variables. There was a negatively association of PACER laps with planning (β = –17.1, 95% CI –31.9, –2.3) and solution (β = –44.6, 95% CI –75.1, –14.2) time in performing the Tower of London task, as well as with perseverative errors in performing Berg’s task (β = –0.073, 95% CI –0.133, –0.013). Moderating effect of sex was found for the association of PACER laps with completed categories and perseverative errors in Berg’s task (p < 0.05). Mediating effect of BMI was found for the association between PACER laps and NoGo task, revealing a full mediator accounted for 81% of the total effect mediated (standardized indirect effect, –0.069, 95% CI –0.140, –0.020; standardized direct effect, 0.011, 95% CI –0.149, 0.165). No association was found for Attentional or Sternberg’s tasks. The findings suggest that school–aged adolescents with higher CRF level showed better planning and problem–solving abilities and cognitive flexibility. Additionally, the positive association of CRF with cognitive flexibility was sex–moderated and with inhibitory control was BMI–mediated.
Radical Coupling Reactions of Hydroxystilbene Glucosides and Coniferyl Alcohol: A Density Functional Theory Study
Authors: Elder Thomas , Rencoret Jorge , del Río José C. , Kim Hoon , Ralph John
Published: March 2021

The monolignols, p-coumaryl, coniferyl, and sinapyl alcohol, arise from the general phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway. Increasingly, however, authentic lignin monomers derived from outside this process are being identified and found to be fully incorporated into the lignin polymer. Among them, hydroxystilbene glucosides, which are produced through a hybrid process that combines the phenylpropanoid and acetate/malonate pathways, have been experimentally detected in the bark lignin of Norway spruce (Picea abies). Several interunit linkages have been identified and proposed to occur through homo-coupling of the hydroxystilbene glucosides and their cross-coupling with coniferyl alcohol. In the current work, the thermodynamics of these coupling modes and subsequent rearomatization reactions have been evaluated by the application of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The objective of this paper is to determine favorable coupling and cross-coupling modes to help explain the experimental observations and attempt to predict other favorable pathways that might be further elucidated via in vitro polymerization aided by synthetic models and detailed structural studies.
Context Matters: Teaching Styles and Basic Psychological Needs Predicting Flourishing and Perfectionism in University Music Students
Authors: Herrera Dora , Matos Lennia , Gargurevich Rafael , Lira Benjamín , Valenzuela Rafael
Published: March 2021

Professional musicians are expected to perform at a very high level of proficiency. Many times, this high standard is associated with perfectionism, which has been shown to prompt both adaptive and maladaptive motivational dynamics and outcomes among music students. The question about how perfectionism interplays with motivational dynamics in music students is still unanswered and research within this line is scarce, especially in Latin America. In the light of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between the perceptions of motivational context (teachers' motivating styles: autonomy supportive or controlling), basic psychological needs (satisfaction/frustration), perfectionism (adaptive/maladaptive), and flourishing in University music students from Lima, Peru (N = 149; mean age = 20.68, SD = 3.03; 71% men). We performed a path analysis testing a model in which motivational teaching styles predicted both, perfectionism and flourishing via need satisfaction and frustration. The model's fit indices were ideal [χ2 (7, N = 143) = 7.48, p = 0.300, CFI = 0.998, TLI = 0.992, RMSEA = 0.021, SRMR =0.040]. In this model, perceived autonomy supportive style predicted need satisfaction positively and need frustration negatively; perceived controlling teaching style did not predict need satisfaction nor frustration. In turn, need satisfaction positively predicted adaptive perfectionism (i.e., high standards) and flourishing; whereas, need frustration predicted maladaptive perfectionism (i.e., discrepancy). These results shed light on the relevance of perfectionism in the psychology of higher music education students. Lastly, we highlight the importance of autonomy support in fostering adaptive high standards and flourishing in music learning.
Differences Between Subclinical Ruminators and Reflectors in Narrating Autobiographical Memories: Innovative Moments and Autobiographical Reasoning
Authors: Habermas Tilmann , Delarue Iris , Eiswirth Pia , Glanz Sarah , Krämer Christin , Landertinger Axel , Krainhöfner Michelle , Batista João , Gonçalves Miguel M.
Published: March 2021

Reasoning may help solving problems and understanding personal experiences. Ruminative reasoning, however, is inconclusive, repetitive, and usually regards negative thoughts. We asked how reasoning as manifested in oral autobiographical narratives might differ when it is ruminative versus when it is adaptive by comparing two constructs from the fields of psychotherapy research and narrative research that are potentially beneficial: innovative moments (IMs) and autobiographical reasoning (AR). IMs captures statements in that elaborate on changes regarding an earlier personal previous problem of the narrator, and AR capture the connecting of past events with other parts of the narrator’s life or enduring aspects of the narrator. A total ofN= 94 university students had been selected from 492 students to differ maximally on trait rumination and trait adaptive reflection, and were grouped as ruminators (N= 38), reflectors (N= 37), and a group with little ruminative and reflective tendencies (“unconcerned,”N= 19). Participants narrated three negative personal experiences (disappointing oneself, harming someone, and being rejected) and two self-related experiences of more mixed valence (turning point and lesson learnt). Reflectors used more IMs and more negative than positive autobiographical arguments (AAs), but not more overall AAs than ruminators. Group differences were not moderated by the valence of memories, and groups did not differ in the positive effect of narrating on mood. Trait depression/anxiety was predicted negatively by IMs and positively by AAs. Thus, IMs are typical for reflectors but not ruminators, whereas the construct of AR appears to capture reasoning processes irrespective of their ruminative versus adaptive uses.
Strategies for Coping With Stress in Athletes During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Predictors
Authors: Szczypińska Marta , Samełko Aleksandra , Guszkowska Monika
Published: March 2021

The aim of the study was to compare the strategies of coping with stress during the COVID-19 epidemic in athletes involved in Olympic preparations (57 potential Olympians) and students of physical education (54 extramural students), and to determine their depending on the variable gender. The research was conducted in the form of an on-line survey in the period of April 7–28 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Four standard psychological questionnaires were used. Elite athletes and physical education students practicing sports most often dealt with the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic using cognitive and behavioral coping strategies. The sports level depended on the strategies of coping with the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic more strongly than gender. The relationship between the sense of coherence (mainly comprehensibility) and the hope for success treated as a generalized immune resource with coping strategies in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic postulated by Antonovsky was confirmed.
Ovarian Fragmentation and AKT Stimulation for Expansion of Fertile Lifespan
Authors: Vo Kim Cat Tuyen , Kawamura Kazuhiro
Published: March 2021

Since the first baby was born after in vitro fertilization, the female infertility treatment has been well-developed, yielding successful outcomes. However, successful pregnancies for patients with premature ovarian insufficiency and diminished ovarian reserve are still difficult and diverse therapies have been suggested to improve the chances to have their genetically linked offspring. Recent studies demonstrated that the activation Akt pathway by using a phosphatase and tensin homolog enzyme inhibitor and a phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase stimulator can activate dormant primordial follicles in both mice and human ovaries. Subsequent researches suggested that the disruption of Hippo signaling pathway by ovarian fragmentation increased the expression of downstream growth factors and secondary follicle growth. Based on the combination of ovarian fragmentation and Akt stimulation, the in vitro activation (IVA) approach has resulted in successful follicle growth and live births in premature ovarian insufficiency patients. The approach with disruption of Hippo signaling only was also shown to be effective for treating poor ovarian responders with diminishing ovarian reserve, including advanced age women and cancer patients undergoing sterilizing treatments. This review aims to summarize the effectiveness of ovarian fragmentation and Akt stimulation on follicle growth and the potential of IVA in extending female fertile lifespan.
Computational Microfluidics for Geosciences
Authors: Soulaine Cyprien , Maes Julien , Roman Sophie
Published: March 2021

Computational microfluidics for geosciences is the third leg of the scientific strategy that includes microfluidic experiments and high-resolution imaging for deciphering coupled processes in geological porous media. This modeling approach solves the fundamental equations of continuum mechanics in the exact geometry of porous materials. Computational microfluidics intends to complement and augment laboratory experiments. Although the field is still in its infancy, the recent progress in modeling multiphase flow and reactive transport at the pore-scale has shed new light on the coupled mechanisms occurring in geological porous media already. In this paper, we review the state-of-the-art computational microfluidics for geosciences, the open challenges, and the future trends.
Mi cuerpo es mío
Authors: Santonja Guillén Roser
Published: March 2021

El objetivo de este artículo es ilustrar la comprensión, el enfoque y el proceso terapéutico, en un caso de una adolescente con rasgos de Trastorno límite de la personalidad y Trastorno de la Conducta Alimentaria de tipo Anorexia Restrictiva, a través de la teoría evolutiva del Desarrollo Moral Para ello, construiré este artículo basándome en las tres sesiones de supervisión realizadas.
"No soy un bicho raro". Un caso de deseo sexual hipoactivo.
Authors: Mora Natalia
Published: March 2021

La demanda sobre la que se articula este caso tiene que ver con un trastorno de deseo sexual hipoactivo. La motivación para reavivarlo está ligada al mantenimiento de la relación de pareja actual. El trabajo con la autonomía y la autoestima da sus frutos a lo largo de la psicoterapia, validando la normalidad de la experiencia y dando paso a una mayor fluidez y espontaneidad en la expresión de la sexualidad.
Parejas de cine o cine de parejas
Authors: Villegas Manuel , Mallor Pilar
Published: March 2021

En este artículo se repasan una serie de películas cuyo único tema en común son las relaciones de pareja con la finalidad que puedan servir de apoyo para desarrollar ciertos temas en el trabajo en terapia de pareja. De este modo se consideran los aspectos estructurales y evolutivos que dan lugar a distintos avatares por los que puede atravesar durante su periplo vital las relaciones de pareja, ilustrados a través de diversas películas.
Recensión de Libros: Prometeo en el diván. Psicoterapia del desarrollo de la moral
Authors: Anguera Blanca
Published: March 2021

Villegas, M. (2013). Prometeo en el diván: Psicoterapia del desarrollo moral. Barcelona, España: Herder.
D2D Assisted Cellular Networks in Licensed and Unlicensed Spectrum: Matching-Iteration-Based Joint User Access and Resource Allocation
Authors: Han Qiuqi , Zheng Guangyuan , Xu Chen
Published: March 2021

Device-to-Device (D2D) communications, which enable direct communication between nearby user devices over the licensed spectrum, have been considered a key technique to improve spectral efficiency and system throughput in cellular networks (CNs). However, the limited spectrum resources cannot be sufficient to support more cellular users (CUs) and D2D users to meet the growth of the traffic data in future wireless networks. Therefore, Long-Term Evolution-Unlicensed (LTE-U) and D2D-Unlicensed (D2D-U) technologies have been proposed to further enhance system capacity by extending the CUs and D2D users on the unlicensed spectrum for communications. In this paper, we consider an LTE network where the CUs and D2D users are allowed to share the unlicensed spectrum with Wi-Fi users. To maximize the sum rate of all users while guaranteeing each user’s quality of service (QoS), we jointly consider user access and resource allocation. To tackle the formulated problem, we propose a matching-iteration-based joint user access and resource allocation algorithm. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can significantly improve system throughput compared to the other benchmark algorithms.
DynASP2.5: Dynamic Programming on Tree Decompositions in Action
Authors: Fichte Johannes K. , Hecher Markus , Morak Michael , Woltran Stefan
Published: March 2021

Efficient exact parameterized algorithms are an active research area. Such algorithms exhibit a broad interest in the theoretical community. In the last few years, implementations for computing various parameters (parameter detection) have been established in parameterized challenges, such as treewidth, treedepth, hypertree width, feedback vertex set, or vertex cover. In theory, instances, for which the considered parameter is small, can be solved fast (problem evaluation), i.e., the runtime is bounded exponential in the parameter. While such favorable theoretical guarantees exists, it is often unclear whether one can successfully implement these algorithms under practical considerations. In other words, can we design and construct implementations of parameterized algorithms such that they perform similar or even better than well-established problem solvers on instances where the parameter is small. Indeed, we can build an implementation that performs well under the theoretical assumptions. However, it could also well be that an existing solver implicitly takes advantage of a structure, which is often claimed for solvers that build on Sat-solving. In this paper, we consider finding one solution to instances of answer set programming (ASP), which is a logic-based declarative modeling and solving framework. Solutions for ASP instances are so-called answer sets. Interestingly, the problem of deciding whether an instance has an answer set is already located on the second level of the polynomial hierarchy. An ASP solver that employs treewidth as parameter and runs dynamic programming on tree decompositions is DynASP2. Empirical experiments show that this solver is fast on instances of small treewidth and can outperform modern ASP when one counts answer sets. It remains open, whether one can improve the solver such that it also finds one answer set fast and shows competitive behavior to modern ASP solvers on instances of low treewidth. Unfortunately, theoretical models of modern ASP solvers already indicate that these solvers can solve instances of low treewidth fast, since they are based on Sat-solving algorithms. In this paper, we improve DynASP2 and construct the solver DynASP2.5, which uses a different approach. The new solver shows competitive behavior to state-of-the-art ASP solvers even for finding just one solution. We present empirical experiments where one can see that our new implementation solves ASP instances, which encode the Steiner tree problem on graphs with low treewidth, fast. Our implementation is based on a novel approach that we call multi-pass dynamic programming (M-DPSINC). In the paper, we describe the underlying concepts of our implementation (DynASP2.5) and we argue why the techniques still yield correct algorithms.
Pitfalls in the Detection of Hearing Loss via Otoacoustic Emissions
Authors: Jedrzejczak W. Wiktor , Gos Elżbieta , Pilka Edyta , Skarzynski Piotr H. , Skarzynski Henryk , Hatzopoulos Stavros
Published: March 2021

Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are currently used as a valuable audiological test or as a hearing screening tool. There are many commercially available OAE recording systems that are used both for clinical practice and for research. However, there is little information in the literature comparing their performance in detecting hearing loss. The purpose of this prospective, nonrandomized, and controlled study was to evaluate the screening performance obtained from recent and older versions of the Otometrics Accuscreen OAE screening device in comparison with the Otodynamics ILO-292 OAE system, which has been used as the gold standard. Testing included otoscopic assessment, pure tone audiometry, tympanometry, and transiently evoked OAE (TEOAE) recordings. There was about a 77% agreement between the two versions of the Accuscreen device. Agreement between the two Accuscreen devices and the ILO was approximately 70% for the old and 80% for the new. The newer version of Accuscreen seems to perform better than the old, being more consistent with the reference ILO system and with the audiometry profiles of the tested subjects. In order to set robust standards for OAE evaluation and analysis, additional studies comparing different OAE hearing screening systems are needed.
Age and Gender Effects on Genotoxicity in Diesel Exhaust Particles Exposed C57BL/6 Mice
Authors: Lee Joong Won , Kim Jin Sik , Lee Hee Jae , Jang Ji-Hye , Kim Ja-Hyun , Sim Woo Jong , Lim Yong-beom , Jung Ji-Won , Lim Hyun Joung
Published: March 2021

There is growing evidence that the accumulation of DNA damage induced by fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure is an underlying mechanism of pulmonary disease onset and progression. However, there is a lack of experimental evidence on whether common factors (age, gender) affect PM2.5 induced genomic damage. Here, we assessed the DNA damage potency of PM2.5 using conventional genotoxicity testing in old male and female mice aged 8 and 40 weeks. Mice were intratracheally instilled with diesel exhaust PM2.5 (DEP, NIST SRM 1650b), twice a week for 4 weeks. Exposure to DEP was not associated with an increase in the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes and did not induce a systemic genotoxic effect in the bone marrow. Meanwhile, the results from the comet assay showed a significant increase in DNA damage in DEP exposed mouse lung specimens. The positive relationship between DEP exposure and DNA damage is stronger in the older than in the younger group. Statistical analysis showed that there was a modifying effect of age on the association between PM2.5 exposure and DNA damage. Our results suggest that the age factor should be considered to better understand the cellular adverse effects of PM2.5.
Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinase 2 (ERBB2) Promotes ATG12-Dependent Autophagy Contributing to Treatment Resistance of Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Chen Yongqiang , Wang Ruobing , Huang Shujun , Henson Elizabeth S. , Bi Jayce , Gibson Spencer B.
Published: March 2021

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family member erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (ERBB2) is overexpressed in many types of cancers leading to (radio- and chemotherapy) treatment resistance, whereas the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Autophagy is known to contribute to cancer treatment resistance. In this study, we demonstrate that ERBB2 increases the expression of different autophagy genes including ATG12 (autophagy-related 12) and promotes ATG12-dependent autophagy. We clarify that lapatinib, a dual inhibitor for EGFR and ERBB2, promoted autophagy in cells expressing only EGFR but inhibited autophagy in cells expressing only ERBB2. Furthermore, breast cancer database analysis of 35 genes in the canonical autophagy pathway shows that the upregulation of ATG12 and MAP1LC3B is associated with a low relapse-free survival probability of patients with ERBB2-positive breast tumors following treatments. Downregulation of ERBB2 or ATG12 increased cell death induced by chemotherapy drugs in ERBB2-positive breast cancer cells, whereas upregulation of ERBB2 or ATG12 decreased the cell death in ERBB2-negative breast cancer cells. Finally, ERBB2 antibody treatment led to reduced expression of ATG12 and autophagy inhibition increasing drug or starvation-induced cell death in ERBB2-positive breast cancer cells. Taken together, this study provides a novel approach for the treatment of ERBB2-positive breast cancer by targeting ATG12-dependent autophagy.
CXCL10 Is an Agonist of the CC Family Chemokine Scavenger Receptor ACKR2/D6
Authors: Chevigné Andy , Janji Bassam , Meyrath Max , Reynders Nathan , D’Uonnolo Giulia , Uchański Tomasz , Xiao Malina , Berchem Guy , Ollert Markus , Kwon Yong-Jun , Noman Muhammad Zaeem , Szpakowska Martyna
Published: March 2021

Atypical chemokine receptors (ACKRs) are important regulators of chemokine functions. Among them, the atypical chemokine receptor ACKR2 (also known as D6) has long been considered as a scavenger of inflammatory chemokines exclusively from the CC family. In this study, by using highly sensitive β-arrestin recruitment assays based on NanoBiT and NanoBRET technologies, we identified the inflammatory CXC chemokine CXCL10 as a new strong agonist ligand for ACKR2. CXCL10 is known to play an important role in the infiltration of immune cells into the tumour bed and was previously reported to bind to CXCR3 only. We demonstrated that ACKR2 is able to internalize and reduce the availability of CXCL10 in the extracellular space. Moreover, we found that, in contrast to CC chemokines, CXCL10 activity towards ACKR2 was drastically reduced by the dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4 or CD26) N-terminal processing, pointing to a different receptor binding pocket occupancy by CC and CXC chemokines. Overall, our study sheds new light on the complexity of the chemokine network and the potential role of CXCL10 regulation by ACKR2 in many physiological and pathological processes, including tumour immunology. Our data also testify that systematic reassessment of chemokine-receptor pairing is critically needed as important interactions may remain unexplored.
Large Extracellular Vesicle Characterization and Association with Circulating Tumor Cells in Metastatic Castrate Resistant Prostate Cancer
Authors: Gerdtsson Anna S. , Setayesh Sonia M. , Malihi Paymaneh D. , Ruiz Carmen , Carlsson Anders , Nevarez Rafael , Matsumoto Nicholas , Gerdtsson Erik , Zurita Amado , Logothetis Christopher , Corn Paul G. , Aparicio Ana M. , Hicks James , Kuhn Peter
Published: March 2021

Liquid biopsies hold potential as minimally invasive sources of tumor biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, therapy prediction or disease monitoring. We present an approach for parallel single-object identification of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and tumor-derived large extracellular vesicles (LEVs) based on automated high-resolution immunofluorescence followed by downstream multiplexed protein profiling. Identification of LEVs >6 µm in size and CTC enumeration was highly correlated, with LEVs being 1.9 times as frequent as CTCs, and additional LEVs were identified in 73% of CTC-negative liquid biopsy samples from metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer. Imaging mass cytometry (IMC) revealed that 49% of cytokeratin (CK)-positive LEVs and CTCs were EpCAM-negative, while frequently carrying prostate cancer tumor markers including AR, PSA, and PSMA. HSPD1 was shown to be a specific biomarker for tumor derived circulating cells and LEVs. CTCs and LEVs could be discriminated based on size, morphology, DNA load and protein score but not by protein signatures. Protein profiles were overall heterogeneous, and clusters could be identified across object classes. Parallel analysis of CTCs and LEVs confers increased sensitivity for liquid biopsies and expanded specificity with downstream characterization. Combined, it raises the possibility of a more comprehensive assessment of the disease state for precise diagnosis and monitoring.
Masdevallia × urbanae (Orchidaceae)—A New, Natural Hybrid between M. floribunda and M. tuerckheimii from Guatemala
Authors: Archila Morales Fredy L. , Lipińska Monika M. , Szlachetko Dariusz L.
Published: March 2021

Masdevallia Ruiz. & Pav. in the broad concept comprises about 350 species distributed from southern Mexico to southern Brazil with the highest diversity in the Andes of Ecuador and Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. Until now, only six species have been found in Guatemala. While studying the diversity of the orchid flora in this megadiverse country, we came across plants that in terms of morphological characteristics, were intermediate between M. floribunda Lindl. and M. tuerckheimii Ames. All three taxa are pollinated by two so far undescribed species of Zygothrica fruit flies. In the presented work, we describe the new entity as a new natural hybrid. This is the first record of the hybridization within the genus Masdevallia from Guatemala.
SSOR Preconditioned Gauss-Seidel Detection and Its Hardware Architecture for 5G and beyond Massive MIMO Networks
Authors: Chataut Robin , Akl Robert , Dey Utpal Kumar , Robaei Mohammadreza
Published: March 2021

With the limitedness of the sub-6 GHz bandwidth, the world is exploring a thrilling wireless technology known as massive MIMO. This wireless access technology is swiftly becoming key for 5G, B5G, and 6G network deployment. The massive MIMO system brings together antennas at both base stations and the user terminals to provide high spectral service. Despite the fact that massive MIMO offers astronomical benefits such as low latency, high data rate, improved array gain, and far better reliability, it faces several implementation challenges due to the hundreds of antennas at the base station. The signal detection at the base station during the uplink is one of the critical issues in this technology. Detection of user signal becomes computationally complex with a multitude of antennas present in the massive MIMO systems. This paper proposes a novel preconditioned and accelerated Gauss–Siedel algorithm referred to as Symmetric Successive Over-relaxation Preconditioned Gauss-Seidel (SSORGS). The proposed algorithm will address the signal detection challenges associated with massive MIMO technology. Furthermore, we enhance the convergence rate of the proposed algorithm by introducing a novel Symmetric Successive Over-relaxation preconditioner (SSOR) scheme and an initialization scheme based on the instantaneous channel condition between the base station and the user. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm referred to as Symmetric Successive Over-relaxation Preconditioned Gauss-Seidel (SSORGS) provides optimal BER performance. At BER =10−3, over the range of SNR, the SSORGS algorithm performs better than the traditional algorithms. Additionally, the proposed algorithm is computationally more efficient than the traditional algorithms. Furthermore, we designed a comprehensive hardware architecture for the SSORGS algorithm to find the interrelated components necessary to build the actual physical system.
Towards a Blockchain Assisted Patient Owned System for Electronic Health Records
Authors: Fatokun Tomilayo , Nag Avishek , Sharma Sachin
Published: March 2021

Security and privacy of patients’ data is a major concern in the healthcare industry. In this paper, we propose a system that activates robust security and privacy of patients’ medical records as well as enables interoperability and data exchange between the different healthcare providers. The work proposes the shift from patient’s electronic health records being managed and controlled by the healthcare industry to a patient-centric application where patients are in control of their data. The aim of this research is to build an Electronic Healthcare Record (EHR) system that is layered on the Ethereum blockchain platform and smart contract in order to eliminate the need for third-party systems. With this system, the healthcare provider can search for patient’s data and request the patients’ consent to access it. Patients manage their data which enables an expedited data exchange across EHR systems. Each patient’s data are stored on the peer-to-peer node ledger. The proposed patient-centric EHR platform is cross-platform compliant, as it can be accessed via personal computers and mobile devices and facilitates interoperability across healthcare providers as patients’ medical records are gathered from different healthcare providers and stored in a unified format. The proposed framework is tested on a private Ethereum network using Ganache. The results show the effectiveness of the system with respect to security, privacy, performance and interoperability.
Accumulated Heating and Chilling Are Important Drivers of Forest Phenology and Productivity in the Algonquin-to-Adirondacks Conservation Corridor of Eastern North America
Authors: Stefanuk Michael A. , Danby Ryan K.
Published: March 2021

Research Highlights: Forest phenology and productivity were responsive to seasonal heating and chilling accumulation, but responses differed across the temperature range. Background and Objectives: Temperate forests have responded to recent climate change worldwide, but the pattern and magnitude of response have varied, necessitating additional studies at higher spatial and temporal resolutions. We investigated climatic drivers of inter-annual variation in forest phenology and productivity across the Algonquin-to-Adirondacks (A2A) conservation corridor of eastern North America. Methods: We used remotely sensed indices from the AVHRR sensor series and a suite of gridded climate data from the Daymet database spanning from 1989–2014. We used random forest regression to characterize forest–climate relationships between forest growth indices and climatological variables. Results: A large portion of the annual variation in phenology and productivity was explained by climate (pR2 > 80%), with variation largely driven by accumulated heating and chilling degree days. Only very minor relationships with precipitation-related variables were evident. Conclusions: Our results indicate that anthropogenic climate change in the A2A has not yet reached the point of triggering widespread changes in forest phenology and productivity, but the sensitivity of forest growth to inter-annual variation in seasonal temperature accumulation suggests that more temperate forest area will be affected by climate change as warming continues.
Advances in Extraction Methods to Recover Added-Value Compounds from Seaweeds: Sustainability and Functionality
Authors: Matos Gabriela S. , Pereira Sara G. , Genisheva Zlatina A. , Gomes Ana Maria , Teixeira José A. , Rocha Cristina M. R.
Published: March 2021

Seaweeds are a renewable natural source of valuable macro and micronutrients that have attracted the attention of the scientists in the last years. Their medicinal properties were already recognized in the ancient traditional Chinese medicine, but only recently there has been a considerable increase in the study of these organisms in attempts to demonstrate their health benefits. The extraction process and conditions to be used for the obtention of value-added compounds from seaweeds depends mainly on the desired final product. Thermochemical conversion of seaweeds, using high temperatures and solvents (including water), to obtain high-value products with more potential applications continues to be an industrial practice, frequently with adverse impact on the environment and products’ functionality. However more recently, alternative methods and approaches have been suggested, searching not only to improve the process performance, but also to be less harmful for the environment. A biorefinery approach display a valuable idea of solving economic and environmental drawbacks, enabling less residues production close to the much recommended zero waste system. The aim of this work is to report about the new developed methods of seaweeds extractions and the potential application of the components extracted.
Characterisation of Fat Crystal Polymorphism in Cocoa Butter by Time-Domain NMR and DSC Deconvolution
Authors: Declerck Arnout , Nelis Veronique , Danthine Sabine , Dewettinck Koen , Van der Meeren Paul
Published: March 2021

The polymorphic state of edible fats is an important quality parameter in fat research as well as in industrial applications. Nowadays, X-ray diffraction (XRD) is the most commonly used method to determine the polymorphic state. However, quantification of the different polymorphic forms present in a sample is not straightforward. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) is another method which provides information about fat crystallization processes: the different peaks in the DSC spectrum can be coupled to the melting/crystallisation of certain polymorphs. During the last decade, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has been proposed as a method to determine, qualitatively and/or quantitatively, the polymorphic forms present in fat samples. In this work, DSC- and NMR-deconvolution methods were evaluated on their ability to determine the polymorphic state of cocoa butter, with XRD as a reference method. Cocoa butter was subjected to two different temperature profiles, which enforced cocoa butter crystallization in different polymorphic forms. It was found that XRD remains the best method to qualitatively determine the polymorphic state of the fat. Whereas the quantitative NMR and DSC deconvolution results were not fully in line with the XRD results in all cases, NMR deconvolution showed great promise both in a qualitative and quantitative way.
An Assessment of GUCA1C Variants in Primary Congenital Glaucoma
Authors: Souzeau Emmanuelle , Weisschuh Nicole , Craig Jamie E. , Pasutto Francesca , Koch Karl-Wilhelm
Published: March 2021

In the special issue “Molecular Genetics of Retinal Dystrophies”, Morales–Cámara and colleagues reported the association of a new candidate gene with primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) [...]
Diagnostic Accuracy of Oral Cancer and Suspicious Malignant Mucosal Changes among Future Dentists
Authors: Gaballah Kamis , Faden Asmaa , Fakih Fatima Jassem , Alsaadi Anfal Yousuf , Noshi Nadeen Faiz , Kujan Omar
Published: March 2021

This study aimed to assess the ability of dental students and recent graduates to detect and recognize mucosal changes that are suggestive of oral cancer and potentially malignant disorders. In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was administered to dental students and recent graduates of Ajman University (n = 132). Completed questionnaires were received from 84 (63.6%) females and 48 (36.4%) males which included fifth-year students (n = 80), interns (n = 39), and dental practitioners (n = 13). This questionnaire was designed to assess the respondent’s ability to detect and recognize different types of oral lesions, as well as their knowledge of oral cancer appearance and malignancy potential. The overall accuracy of diagnosis was 46%. The participants correctly identified normal variations, benign tumors, malignant tumors, and premalignant lesions at rates of 60.3%, 31.0%, 55.7%, and 33.4%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two genders in their ability to recognize and detect correct answers (females, 48.3%; males, 47.2%). According to education level, interns provided the highest percentage of correct answers (52.5%), followed by newly dental practitioners (51.9%) and fifth-year students (44.1%). Conclusion: The respondents of this survey did not exhibit a satisfactory diagnostic capability in recognizing mucosal changes consistent with the clinical presentation of oral cancer. Thus, a need exists for improved and updated educational methods for undergraduate students regarding oral cancer and potentially malignant disorders. Meanwhile, practitioners should look for oral abnormalities to provide better diagnosis and management. Practitioners should also stay up to date on the oral malignancy topic by attending workshops and clinicopathological conferences.
Optimizing Irrigation Water Use Efficiency for Tomato and Maize Fields across Italy Combining Remote Sensing Data and the AquaCrop Model
Authors: Corbari Chiara , Ben Charfi Imen , Mancini Marco
Published: March 2021

Remote sensing data of canopy cover and leaf area index are used together with the AquaCrop model to optimize irrigation water use efficiency for tomato and maize fields across Italy, which differ in climate, soil types and irrigation technique. An optimization irrigation strategy, “SIM strategy”, is developed based on crop stress thresholds and then applied to all the analyzed fields in different crop seasons, evaluating the effect not only on irrigation volume and number of irrigations but also on crop yield and canopy cover, and on the drainage flux which represents the main water loss. Irrigation volume reduction is found to be between 200 and 1000 mm, mainly depending on the different soil types within the climate, irrigation technique and crop type. This is directly related to the drainage flux reduction which is of a similar entity. The SIM strategy efficiency has then been quantified by different indicators, such as the irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) which is higher than with the observed irrigations (around 35% for tomato fields in Southern Italy, between 30 and 80% for maize in Northern Italy), and the percolation deficit and irrigation efficiency. The AquaCrop model has been previously calibrated against canopy cover and leaf area index (LAI) data, producing errors between 0.7 and 5%, while absolute mean errors (MAE) between 0.015 and 0.04 are obtained for soil moisture (SM). The validation of the AquaCrop model has been performed against evapotranspiration (ET) ground-measured data and crop yields producing MAE values ranging from 0.3 to 0.9 mm/day, and 0.9 ton/ha for maize and 10 ton/ha for tomatoes, respectively.
Spectroscopic Analysis of the Binding of Paraquat and Diquat Herbicides to Biosubstrates
Authors: Macii Francesca , Detti Rebecca , Bloise Francesca Rita , Giannarelli Stefania , Biver Tarita
Published: March 2021

The study of the interaction of persistent organic pollutants with biosubstrates helps to unravel the pathways for toxicity, however, few mechanistic data are present in the literature for these systems. We analyzed the binding of paraquat (PQ) and diquat (DQ) herbicides to natural calf thymus DNA and a DNA G-quadruplex by spectrophotometric titrations, ethidium bromide exchange tests, viscometry, and melting experiments. The interaction with bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein was studied spectrofluorimetrically at different temperatures. The retention of the targets on positive, negative, and neutral micellar aggregates and liposomes was analyzed by ultrafiltration experiments. Despite some favorable features, PQ and DQ only externally bind natural DNA and do not interact with DNA oligonucleotides. Both herbicides bind bovine serum albumin (BSA). PQ binds BSA mainly according to an electrostatics-driven process. However, ultrafiltration data also show that some hydrophobic contribution participates in the features of these systems. The practical problems related to unfavorable spectroscopic signals and inner filter effects are also discussed. Overall, both herbicides show a low affinity for nucleic acids and weak penetration into liposomes; in addition, the equilibrium constants values found for BSA system suggest optimal conditions for transport in the body.
Wearable Focal Muscle Vibration on Pain, Balance, Mobility, and Sensation in Individuals with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Pilot Study
Authors: Chandrashekhar Raghuveer , Wang Hongwu , Dionne Carol , James Shirley , Burzycki Jenni
Published: March 2021

People with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) experience a lower quality of life caused by associated pain, loss of sensation and mobility impairment. Current standard care for DPN is limited and lacking. This study explores the benefits of 4-week, in-home wearable focal muscle vibration (FMV) therapy on pain, balance, mobility, and sensation in people with DPN. Participants were randomized into three groups and received different FMV intensities. FMV was applied using a modified MyovoltTM wearable device to the tibialis anterior, distal quadriceps, and gastrocnemius/soleus muscles on both lower limbs for three days a week over four weeks. The outcomes included pain, balance, mobility, sensation, device usage log, feedback survey, and a semi-structured interview. In all, 23 participants completed the study. The results showed significant improvement in average pain (Pre: 4.00 ± 2.29; Post: 3.18 ± 2.26; p = 0.007), pain interference with walking ability (Pre: 4.14 ± 3.20; Post: 3.09 ± 1.976; p = 0.03), and standard and cognitive Timed Up-and-Go scores (Pre: 13.75 ± 5.34; Post: 12.65 ± 5.25; p = 0.04; Pre: 15.12 ± 6.60; Post: 12.71 ± 5.57; p = 0.003, respectively); the overall pain improvement was trending towards significance (Pre: 3.48 ± 2.56; Post: 2.87 ± 1.85; p = 0.051). Balance and sensations improved but not significantly. There was a trend towards significance (p = 0.088), correlation (r = 0.382) between changes in balance and baseline pain. The participants were highly satisfied with wearable FMV and were 100% compliant. FMV therapy was associated with improved pain, mobility, and sensation. Further study with a larger sample and better outcome measures are warranted.