bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CEA-Ki-67- Pathologic Subtype: An Adjunct Factor for Refining Prognosis in Stage I Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Yu Dongzhi , Sun Yanbin , McNutt Michael A. , Xu Shun
Published: April 2022

Objectives

The prognosis for stage I pulmonary adenocarcinoma is generally good. However, some patients with stage I pulmonary adenocarcinoma have an unexpectedly poor outcome. This warrants consideration of adjunct markers. In this study, we analyze carcinoembryonic antigen, Ki-67, and a pathologic subtype in combination for prognostic evaluation of stage I pulmonary adenocarcinoma. These factors were selected for study as they have been shown to be individually associated with prognosis in many studies.

Methods

A total of 650 patients with stage I pulmonary adenocarcinoma were investigated retrospectively. Each patient was re-staged using standard TNM criteria. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) values were obtained from preoperative blood samples, and Ki-67 was evaluated with tumor tissue immunohistochemistry. Patient clinicopathologic characteristics, survival status, and date of death were obtained from medical records and telephone follow-up.

Results

CEA > 4.4 ng/ml, Ki-67 > 13%, and a solid-micropapillary tumor growth pattern were each independent adverse prognostic markers for 5-year disease specific survival in stage I pulmonary adenocarcinoma. However, in combination, these 3 factors yielded a prognostic value (designated “CEA-Ki-67-pathologic subtype” value). Stage I pulmonary adenocarcinoma of low-risk CEA-Ki-67-pathologic subtype (CKP) value show biologic behavior similar to TNM stage IA1 tumors, while stage I tumors of high-risk CKP value are similar in prognosis to TNM stage II.

Conclusion

The CKP value may be used as an adjunct to the TNM classification, which may yield a more accurately defined prognosis for cases of stage I pulmonary adenocarcinoma. CKP value may identify patients at higher risk who may benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. Conversely, lower risk CKP values may support avoidance of chemotherapy.
Reduced Preoperative Glomerular Filtration Rate Is Associated With Adverse Postoperative Oncological Prognosis in Patients Undergoing Radical Nephroureterectomy for Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Li Shijie , Chen Xiaonan , Zheng Jianyi , Liu Xuefeng
Published: April 2022

Objective

To evaluate the association between perioperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and postoperative oncological outcomes in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU),and to evaluate the effect of sex on this association.

Methods

The medical records of patients with UTUC who underwent RNU between January 2012 and December 2017 at our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into three groups based on preoperative eGFRs: normal eGFR (>60 mL/min/1.73 m2; n = 179), moderately reduced eGFR (45–60 mL/min/1.73 m2; n = 45), and severely reduced eGFR (≤ 45 mL/min/1.73 m2; n = 36). Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the prognostic impact of preoperative eGFR on prognosis.

Results

Patient mean age was 66.7 ± 9.6 years, and 47.9% were female. Multivariate regression analysis based on Cox proportional risk models and Kaplan-Meier survival rates showed that lower preoperative eGFR was associated with decreased OS, PFS, and CSS. In the adjusted Cox regression model, patients with normal and moderately reduced eGFRs had a decreased hazard for mortality, with adjusted hazard ratios of 0.13 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.07–0.26] and 0.36 (95% CI: 0.18–0.73), respectively (P < 0.001). The smooth fitting curve suggested a linear relationship between eGFR and prognostic survival. Additionally, sensitivity subgroup analyses verified an inverse relationship between the reduced eGFR and OS. Women had a lower eGFR and worse oncological outcomes than men. A nomogram for OS was developed based on multivariate analysis with a C-index of 0.754 (95% CI: 0.728–0.779).

Conclusion

Preoperative renal insufficiency is strongly associated with a higher risk of cancer progression and a lower survival probability. It is important to identify preoperative renal insufficiency in patients with UTUC, particularly female patients.
Particle Safety Assessment in Additive Manufacturing: From Exposure Risks to Advanced Toxicology Testing
Authors: Alijagic Andi , Engwall Magnus , Särndahl Eva , Karlsson Helen , Hedbrant Alexander , Andersson Lena , Karlsson Patrik , Dalemo Magnus , Scherbak Nikolai , Färnlund Kim , Larsson Maria , Persson Alexander
Published: April 2022

Additive manufacturing (AM) or industrial three-dimensional (3D) printing drives a new spectrum of design and production possibilities; pushing the boundaries both in the application by production of sophisticated products as well as the development of next-generation materials. AM technologies apply a diversity of feedstocks, including plastic, metallic, and ceramic particle powders with distinct size, shape, and surface chemistry. In addition, powders are often reused, which may change the particles’ physicochemical properties and by that alter their toxic potential. The AM production technology commonly relies on a laser or electron beam to selectively melt or sinter particle powders. Large energy input on feedstock powders generates several byproducts, including varying amounts of virgin microparticles, nanoparticles, spatter, and volatile chemicals that are emitted in the working environment; throughout the production and processing phases. The micro and nanoscale size may enable particles to interact with and to cross biological barriers, which could, in turn, give rise to unexpected adverse outcomes, including inflammation, oxidative stress, activation of signaling pathways, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity. Another important aspect of AM-associated risks is emission/leakage of mono- and oligomers due to polymer breakdown and high temperature transformation of chemicals from polymeric particles, both during production, use, and in vivo, including in target cells. These chemicals are potential inducers of direct toxicity, genotoxicity, and endocrine disruption. Nevertheless, understanding whether AM particle powders and their byproducts may exert adverse effects in humans is largely lacking and urges comprehensive safety assessment across the entire AM lifecycle—spanning from virgin and reused to airborne particles. Therefore, this review will detail: 1) brief overview of the AM feedstock powders, impact of reuse on particle physicochemical properties, main exposure pathways and protective measures in AM industry, 2) role of particle biological identity and key toxicological endpoints in the particle safety assessment, and 3) next-generation toxicology approaches in nanosafety for safety assessment in AM. Altogether, the proposed testing approach will enable a deeper understanding of existing and emerging particle and chemical safety challenges and provide a strategy for the development of cutting-edge methodologies for hazard identification and risk assessment in the AM industry.
A High-Throughput Toxicity Screen of 42 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Functional Assessment of Migration and Gene Expression in Human Placental Trophoblast Cells
Authors: Blake Bevin E. , Rickard Brittany P. , Fenton Suzanne E.
Published: April 2022

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become ubiquitous environmental contaminants that have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in women and experimental research models. Adverse developmental and reproductive outcomes have been investigated for relatively few PFAS, and such studies are not scalable to address the thousands of unique chemical structures. As the placenta has been reported as a PFAS target tissue, the human placental trophoblast JEG-3 cell line was employed in a high-throughput toxicity screen (HTTS) to evaluate the effects of 42 unique PFAS on viability, proliferation, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). HTTS concentration-response curve fitting determined EC50 values for 79% of tested compounds for at least one of the three endpoints. Trophoblast migratory potential was evaluated for a subset of six prioritized PFAS using a scratch wound assay. Migration, measured as the percent of wound closure after 72 h, was most severely inhibited by exposure to 100 µM perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA; 72% closure), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS; 57% closure), or ammonium perfluoro-2-methyl-3-oxahexanoate (GenX; 79% closure). PFOA and GenX were subsequently evaluated for disrupted expression of 46 genes reported to be vital to trophoblast health. Disrupted regulation of oxidative stress was suggested by altered expression of GPEX1 (300 µM GenX and 3 µM GenX), GPER1 (300 µM GenX), and SOD1 and altered cellular response to xenobiotic stress was indicated by upregulation of the placental efflux transporter, ABCG2 (300 µM GenX, 3 µM GenX, and 100 µM PFOA). These findings suggest the placenta is potentially a direct target of PFAS exposure and indicate that trophoblast cell gene expression and function are disrupted at PFAS levels well below the calculated cytotoxicity threshold (EC50). Future work is needed to determine the mechanism(s) of action of PFAS towards placental trophoblasts.
Comparative Study on Jejunal Immunity and Microbial Composition of Growing-Period Tibetan Pigs and Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) Pigs
Authors: Yang Yuting , Li Yongxiang , Xie Yanggang , Qiao Shiyan , Yang Lijie , Pan Hongbin
Published: April 2022

The gut microbiota plays vital roles in metabolizing nutrient, maintaining the intestinal epithelial barrier but also in modulating immunity. Host genetics and the pig breed are implicated in shaping gut microbiota. Tibetan pig is a unique native Chinese breed and has evolved to manifest a strong disease resistance. However, the immunity and microbiota of growing Tibetan (TP) pigs were still rarely understood. The jejunal immunity phenotype and microbial composition of TP and Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) (DLY) pigs were explored through immunohistochemistry and 16S rRNA sequencing. Higher scores of clusters of differentiation 4 (CD4+) and Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) were observed in TP pigs than those of DLY pigs (p < 0.05), as were Interleukin 10 (IL-10) and zonular occludens 1 (ZO-1) (p < 0.01). Similar levels of bacterial richness and diversity were found in the jejunal microbiota of the TP and DLY pigs. However, the TP pigs showed a significantly different microbiome compared to DLY pigs at the genus level (ANOSIM; p < 0.05). Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, Phenylobacterium, and Sandaracinobacter were enriched in DLY pigs (p < 0.05), while the Lactobacillus and Solibacillus had higher abundances in TP pigs than DLY pigs (p < 0.05). Tibetan pigs have “healthier” intestinal microbial communities than DLY pigs. Close relationships were found between jejunal immune performance and the differential bacteria, Lactobacillus can enhance porcine jejunal immunity, while Stenotrophomonas will have a negative impact on porcine gut immunity.
Seasonality of Carabid Beetles on an Organic Agricultural Field and Its Effect on Foraging Use
Authors: Irmler Ulrich
Published: April 2022

Ground beetle species from marginal areas invade organically farmed fields in a higher abundance and species richness than conventionally farmed fields. Seasonal invasion into organic fields was studied at Ritzerau Manor, converted to organic farming 18 years ago. Carabid species were explored with 123 pitfall traps within the field and in marginal near-natural habitats over the 18 years after conversion. For 56 species, seasonality could be studied in a distance gradient from the field margin to the field center. The results revealed that ground beetles from marginal habitats can use the fields differently depending on their seasonal activity. Early and fast-moving species can reach the center of the field at a 240 m distance from margin; late and slowly moving species only reach the 120 to 60 m distance level. The foraging effect of species, thus, depends on the seasonality and duration of activity. Overall, marginal species make up to 35% of the total foraging of ground beetles. Thus, organic farming not only supports a closer interaction between farmland and the adjacent near-natural landscape, but also benefits from higher biological pest control by immigrating marginal species.
Green-Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Mitigate Salt Stress in Sorghum bicolor
Authors: Rakgotho Tessia , Ndou Nzumbululo , Mulaudzi Takalani , Iwuoha Emmanuel , Mayedwa Noluthando , Ajayi Rachel Fanelwa
Published: April 2022

Salinity is an abiotic stress that is responsible for more than 50% of crop losses worldwide. Current strategies to overcome salinity in agriculture are limited to the use of genetically modified crops and chemicals including fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides; however these are costly and can be hazardous to human health and the environment. Green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) is an eco-friendly and cost-effective method, and they might serve as novel biostimulants. This study investigated for the first time the efficiency of ZnO NPs, synthesized from Agathosma betulina to mitigate salt stress in Sorghum bicolor. Hexagonal wurtzite ZnO NPs of about 27.5 nm, were obtained. Sorghum seeds were primed with ZnO NPs (5 and 10 mg/L), prior to planting on potting soil and treatment with high salt (400 mM NaCl). Salt significantly impaired growth by decreasing shoot lengths and fresh weights, causing severe deformation on the anatomical (epidermis and vascular bundle tissue) structure. Element distribution was also affected by salt which increased the Na+/K+ ratio (2.9). Salt also increased oxidative stress markers (reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde), enzyme activities (SOD, CAT and APX), proline, and soluble sugars. Priming with ZnO NPs stimulated the growth of salt-stressed sorghum plants, which was exhibited by improved shoot lengths, fresh weights, and a well-arranged anatomical structure, as well as a low Na+/K+ ratio (1.53 and 0.58) indicating an improved element distribution. FTIR spectra confirmed a reduction in the degradation of biomolecules correlated with reduced oxidative stress. This study strongly suggests the use of green-synthesized ZnO NPs from A. betulina as potential biostimulants to improve plant growth under abiotic stress.
Lycium barbarum Polysaccharide Inhibits E. coli-Induced Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Mammary Epithelial Cells of Dairy Cows via SOCS3 Activation and MAPK Suppression
Authors: Liu Run , Zhu Hao , Zhao Jingwen , Wu Xinyue , Lu Xubin , Xu Tianle , Yang Zhangping
Published: April 2022

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is one of the main causative agents of mastitis in dairy cows. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) has a variety of physiological effects as it has antioxidants, it is hypoglycemic, it has anti-aging properties, it is neuroprotective, immune boosting, and it has anti-inflammatory effects in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we examined whether LBP affects the expression of pro-inflammatory factors, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway via activation of the suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS3) in E. coli-induced primary bovine mammary epithelial cell (pbMEC) inflammatory responses. The experiment was designed with the control group (NC), cells were treated with E. coli for 6 h as the E. coli group (E. coli), and cells were pretreated with 100 μg/mL or 300 μg/mL of LBP for 24 h, followed by the addition of E. coli for 6 h as the E. coli + low level (E + LL) or E. coli + high level (E + HL) groups. The addition of LBP did not alter the cell viability of pbMEC in a dose-dependent assay. Pretreatment with LBP significantly decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory genes (IL1B, MAPK14, COX-2, iNOS) and proteins (COX-2, IL-1β, TNF-α) in the cells challenged by E. coli as compared with the control group (p < 0.05). E. coli stimulation significantly increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in pbMEC, and decreased the antioxidants’ capacity with regard to decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC); however, pretreatment with LBP reversed the oxidative stress and inhibition of antioxidants in cells challenged by E. coli. Moreover, LBP reversed the upregulated expression of the components of the MAPK pathway (increased phosphorylation level of p38, JNK, and ERK), followed by E. coli stimulation. Consistently, cells exposed to E. coli strengthened the staining of p38, whereas pretreatment of LBP weakened the staining of p38 in cells challenged by E. coli. Notably, the expression of SOCS3 was increased by LBP added to the cells in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, the level of decreased expression of proinflammatory factors (IL-1β, TNF-α, and COX-2) was higher in the E + LL group than in the E + HL group. These results indicate that LBP pretreatment is effective in the alleviation of E. coli-induced inflammatory and oxidative responses in pbMEC through activation of SOCS3 and depression of MAPK signaling. As such, this might help us to develop molecular strategies for mitigating the detrimental effects of clinical bovine mastitis.
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Risk Perception of Broiler Grow-Out Farmers on Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in Oyo State, Nigeria
Authors: Oloso Nurudeen O. , Odetokun Ismail A. , Ghali-Mohammed Ibraheem , Fasina Folorunso O. , Olatoye Isaac Olufemi , Adetunji Victoria O.
Published: April 2022

Assessing knowledge, attitudes, and risk perception of Nigerian broiler grow-out farmers (n = 152) to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) with a five sectional purposive-structured-questionnaire: demographics; knowledge; attitudes; risk-perception; and response to regulation of antimicrobial practices. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and binary logistic regression. Respondents’ knowledge score, in total, was lower than average, with all (100%) respondents having the understanding that antibiotics kill/reduce bacteria, most participants (>73%) believing that feeding antibiotics to broiler chickens is a necessity for weight gain, and many (>69%) thinking that no negative side-effects exist with the use of antibiotics. Poor attitude towards antimicrobial usage was prevalent (>63%) with unsatisfactory performance in most instruments: >60% of farmers reported using antimicrobials every week and still use antimicrobials when birds appear sick, and most (>84%) arbitrarily increase the drug dosages when used. However, a satisfactory performance score was reported (68%) in risk perception of AMR with >63% perceiving that inappropriate use of antibiotics is the main factor causing the emergence of resistant bacteria; >65.8% expressed that AMR in broiler chickens is not essential for public health, that AMR cannot develop from broiler bacteria diseases, that increasing the frequency of antimicrobial use cannot increase AMR in future, and that usage cannot lead to antibiotic residue in broiler-meat products leading to AMR development in human. None of the respondents were aware of any regulation for monitoring antimicrobial use. Significant factors associated with knowledge, attitudes, and risk perception of antimicrobial use and resistance among broiler grow-out farmers include marital status, farm category, education, educational specialization, sales target, growth duration/cycle, broiler stocking batch, and feed source. Identified gaps exist in AMR awareness among Nigerian broiler farmers and should be targeted through stakeholders’ participation in combatting AMR threats.
Reversal of Lipid Metabolism Dysregulation by Selenium and Folic Acid Co-Supplementation to Mitigate Pathology in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Zhang Zhong-Hao , Cao Xian-Chun , Peng Jia-Ying , Huang Shao-Ling , Chen Chen , Jia Shi-Zheng , Ni Jia-Zuan , Song Guo-Li
Published: April 2022

Aberrant lipid metabolism is reported to be closely related to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Selenium (Se) and folate are two ideal and safe nutritional supplements, whose biological effects include regulating redox and homocysteine (Hcy) homeostasis in vivo. Here, to achieve effective multitarget therapy for AD, we combined Se and folic acid in a co-supplementation regimen (Se-FA) to study the therapeutic potential and exact mechanism in two transgenic mouse models of AD (APP/Tau/PSEN and APP/PS1). In addition to a reduction in Aβ generation and tau hyperphosphorylation, a restoration of synaptic plasticity and cognitive ability was observed in AD mice upon Se-FA administration. Importantly, by using untargeted metabolomics, we found that these improvements were dependent on the modulation of brain lipid metabolism, which may be associated with an antioxidant effect and the promotion of Hcy metabolism. Thus, from mechanism to effects, this study systematically investigated Se-FA as an intervention for AD, providing important mechanistic insights to inform its potential use in clinical trials.
Grain Boundary—A Route to Enhance Electrocatalytic Activity for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Jiang Ran , Fu Jianyu , Wang Zhaoyang , Dong Cunku
Published: April 2022

The electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) of a given metal catalyst is intrinsically related to its electronic structure, which is difficult to alter for further improvement. Recently, it was discovered that the density of grain boundaries (GBs) is mechanistically of great importance for catalytic activity, implying that GBs are quantitatively correlated with the active sites in the HER. Here, by modeling the atomistic structure of GBs on a Au(110) surface, we find that HER performance is greatly enhanced by Au GBs, suggesting the feasibility of the HER mediated by GBs. The promoted HER performance is due to an increase in the capability of binding adsorbed hydrogen on the sites around GBs. A Au catalyst with a dominantly exposed (110) plane is synthesized, where considerable GBs exist for experimental verification. It is found that HER activity is inherently correlated with the density of the GBs in Au NPs. The improvement in HER activity can be elucidated from the geometrical and electronic points of view; the broken local spatial symmetry near a GB causes a decrease in the coordination numbers of the surface sites and the shift up of the d–band center, thereby reducing the limiting potential for each proton−electron transfer step. Our finding represents a promising means to further improve the HER activity of a catalyst.
Research on Predicting Remain Useful Life of Rolling Bearing Based on Parallel Deep Residual Network
Authors: Wang Xingang , Qiao Dongkai , Han Kaizhong , Chen Xiaohui , He Ziqiu
Published: April 2022

The prediction of bearing remaining useful life (RUL) plays a pivotal role in ensuring the safe operation of machinery and reducing maintenance loss. Traditional prediction methods only consider the features of one domain or integrate the features of multiple domains into a one-dimensional sequence as the model input, which leads to some inaccuracy in prediction. In order to improve the prediction accuracy, a bearing RUL prediction method based on the parallel deep residual convolution neural network (P-ResNet), which is considered both time-domain features and time–frequency features, is proposed in this paper. Synchronous wavelet transform (SWT) is adopted to extract time–frequency features from original vibration signals. Both the time domain features and time–frequency domain features after dimension reduction by PCA are used as input to P-ResNet, which contains two series of parallel convolution operations to learn the time–frequency features and time-domain features, respectively, to ensure the comprehensiveness of information-bearing degradation. The residual layers were added to enhance the learning ability of time–frequency features. Kalman filter algorithm was used to smooth the prediction results. The IEEE PHM 2012 Data Challenge datasets were used as data sources for model training and prediction. Compared with the traditional convolutional neural network (CNN), the P-ResNet model maintains the synchronization of global and local information and has a stronger learning ability. The experiment data validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, and the comparison between the prosed methods and the others proves the superiority of the proposed method.
Physiological and Biochemical Variations in Celery by Imidacloprid and Fenpyroximate
Authors: Zhang Changpeng , Luo Yuqin , Jiang Jinhua , Li Yanjie , Wang Xiangyun , He Hongmei , Fang Nan , Zhao Xueping , Liu Ying , Wang Qiang
Published: April 2022

Pesticides are one of the abiotic stresses that have had an impact on the quality of agricultural products, especially in China. This study was the first to explore the soluble protein (SP) accumulation, peroxidase (POD) activity, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity variations in the stem and leaf of celery plants in the field after 2 h, 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 14, 21, 28-day of spraying imidacloprid (IMI) and fenpyroximate (FEN) at various doses. The findings demonstrated that there was no notable difference in ultimate residues between 1 F and 10 F, and even with the 10 F treatment, the residues were not a concern. The SP accumulation alterations were mainly provoked by residues, which dramatically boosted in stem and eventually declined in leaf. The POD activity in celery was a dynamic process with a marked shift (enhanced and declined) when compared with non-pesticide treatment after 28 days. The field trial exhibited that the SOD was principally positioned in leaf whether pesticides were applied or not, which might be due to the distinctive structure of the celery leaf compared with the stem. No obvious linear relation between application dose and SOD activity was observed.
A Scalable Digit-Parallel Polynomial Multiplier Architecture for NIST-Standardized Binary Elliptic Curves
Authors: Kumar Harish , Rashid Muhammad , Alhomoud Ahmed , Khan Sikandar Zulqarnain , Bahkali Ismail , Alotaibi Saud S.
Published: April 2022

This work presents a scalable digit-parallel finite field polynomial multiplier architecture with a digit size of 32 bits for NIST-standardized binary elliptic fields. First, a dedicated digit-parallel architecture is proposed for each binary field recommended by NIST, i.e., 163, 233, 283, 409 and 571. Then, a scalable architecture having support for all variants of binary fields of elliptic curves is proposed. For performance investigation, we have compared dedicated multiplier architectures with scalable design. After this, the dedicated and scalable architectures are compared with the most relevant state-of-the-art multipliers. All multiplier architectures are implemented in Verilog HDL using the Vivado IDE tool. The implementation results are reported on a 28 nm Virtex-7 FPGA technology. The dedicated multipliers utilize slices of 1182 (for m=163), 1451 (for m=233), 1589 (for m=283), 2093 (for m=409) and 3451 (for m=571). Moreover, our dedicated designs can operate at a maximum frequency of 500, 476, 465, 451 and 443 MHz. Similarly, for all supported binary fields, our scalable architecture (i) utilizes 3753 slices, (ii) achieves 305 MHz clock frequency, (iii) takes 0.013 μs for one finite field multiplication and (iv) consumes 3.905 W power. The proposed scalable digit-parallel architecture is more area-efficient than most recent state-of-the-art multipliers. Consequently, the reported results and comparison to the state of the art reveal that the proposed architectures are well suited for cryptographic applications.
To Explore the Stem Cells Homing to GBM: The Rise to the Occasion
Authors: Tsibulnikov Sergey , Drefs Natalya M. , Timashev Peter S. , Ulasov Ilya V.
Published: April 2022

Multiple efforts are currently underway to develop targeted therapeutic deliveries to the site of glioblastoma progression. The use of carriers represents advancement in the delivery of various therapeutic agents as a new approach in neuro-oncology. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and neural stem cells (NSCs) are used because of their capability in migrating and delivering therapeutic payloads to tumors. Two of the main properties that carrier cells should possess are their ability to specifically migrate from the bloodstream and low immunogenicity. In this article, we also compared the morphological and molecular features of each type of stem cell that underlie their migration capacity to glioblastoma. Thus, the major focus of the current review is on proteins and lipid molecules that are released by GBM to attract stem cells.
Effect of Vitamin D on Graft-versus-Host Disease
Authors: Rodríguez-Gil Alfonso , Carrillo-Cruz Estrella , Marrero-Cepeda Cristina , Rodríguez Guillermo , Pérez-Simón José A.
Published: April 2022

The different cell subsets of the immune system express the vitamin D receptor (VDR). Through the VDR, vitamin D exerts different functions that influence immune responses, as previously shown in different preclinical models. Based on this background, retrospective studies explored the impacts of vitamin D levels on the outcomes of patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation, showing that vitamin D deficiency is related to an increased risk of complications, especially graft-versus-host disease. These results were confirmed in a prospective cohort trial, although further studies are required to confirm this data. In addition, the role of vitamin D on the treatment of hematologic malignancies was also explored. Considering this dual effect on both the immune systems and tumor cells of patients with hematologic malignancies, vitamin D might be useful in this setting to decrease both graft-versus-host disease and relapse rates.
Wax-Printed Fluidic Controls for Delaying and Accelerating Fluid Transport on Paper-Based Analytical Devices
Authors: Tarara Maria , Giokas Dimosthenis L. , Tsogas George Z.
Published: April 2022

In this work, we explore a new method for controlling fluid transport rate on paper-based analytical devices that enables both the delay and the acceleration of fluid flow. The delays were incorporated by wax printing linear patterns of variable width within the flow channel and melted to penetrate the paper. In this manner, the surface tension of the fluid decreases while its contact angle increases, causing a pressure drop along the fluid path that reduces capillary flow. The acceleration of flow was accomplished by overlaying hydrophobic stripes (prepared by wax printing and melting the wax) on the hydrophilic path (top or top–bottom). In this manner, the fluid was repelled from two dimensions (vertical and applicate), increasing the flow rate. The combination of these methods on the same devices could adjust wicking time in intermediate time internals. The method enabled a wide timing of fluid transport, accomplishing a change in wicking times that extended from −41% to +259% compared to open paper channels. As a proof of concept, an enzymatic assay of glucose was used to demonstrate the utility of these fluid control methods in kinetic methods of analysis.
Identifying Those at Risk of Glaucoma: A Deep Learning Approach for Optic Disc and Cup Segmentation and Their Boundary Analysis
Authors: Kim Jongwoo , Tran Loc , Peto Tunde , Chew Emily Y.
Published: April 2022

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss that gradually damages the optic nerve. In ophthalmic fundus images, measurements of the cup to optic disc (CD) ratio, CD area ratio, neuroretinal rim to optic disc (RD) area ratio, and rim thickness are key measures to screen for potential glaucomatous damage. We propose an automatic method using deep learning algorithms to segment the optic disc and cup and to estimate the key measures. The proposed method comprises three steps: The Region of Interest (ROI) (location of the optic disc) detection from a fundus image using Mask R-CNN, the optic disc and cup segmentation from the ROI using the proposed Multiscale Average Pooling Net (MAPNet), and the estimation of the key measures. Our segmentation results using 1099 fundus images show 0.9381 Jaccard Index (JI) and 0.9679 Dice Coefficient (DC) for the optic disc and 0.8222 JI and 0.8996 DC for the cup. The average CD, CD area, and RD ratio errors are 0.0451, 0.0376, and 0.0376, respectively. The average disc, cup, and rim radius ratio errors are 0.0500, 0.2257, and 0.2166, respectively. Our method performs well in estimating the key measures and shows potential to work within clinical pathways once fully implemented.
New Supplementary Photography Methods after the Anomalous of Ground Control Points in UAV Structure-from-Motion Photogrammetry
Authors: Yang Jia , Li Xiaopeng , Luo Lei , Zhao Lewen , Wei Juan , Ma Teng
Published: April 2022

Recently, multirotor UAVs have been widely used in high-precision terrain mapping, cadastral surveys and other fields due to their low cost, flexibility, and high efficiency. Indirect georeferencing of ground control points (GCPs) is often required to obtain highly accurate topographic products such as orthoimages and digital surface models. However, in practical projects, GCPs are susceptible to anomalies caused by external factors (GCPs covered by foreign objects such as crops and cars, vandalism, etc.), resulting in a reduced availability of UAV images. The errors associated with the loss of GCPs are apparent. The widely used solution of using natural feature points as ground control points often fails to meet the high accuracy requirements. For the problem of control point anomalies, this paper innovatively presents two new methods of completing data fusion by supplementing photos via UAV at a later stage. In this study, 72 sets of experiments were set up, including three control experiments for analysis. Two parameters were used for accuracy assessment: Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Multiscale Model to Model Cloud Comparison (M3C2). The study shows that the two new methods can meet the reference accuracy requirements in horizontal direction and elevation direction (RMSEX = 70.40 mm, RMSEY = 53.90 mm, RMSEZ = 87.70 mm). In contrast, the natural feature points as ground control points showed poor accuracy, with RMSEX = 94.80 mm, RMSEY = 68.80 mm, and RMSEZ = 104.40 mm for the checkpoints. This research considers and solves the problems of anomalous GCPs in the photogrammetry project from a unique perspective of supplementary photography, and proposes two new methods that greatly expand the means of solving the problem. In UAV high-precision projects, they can be used as an effective means to ensure accuracy when the GCP is anomalous, which has significant potential for application promotion. Compared with previous methods, they can be applied in more scenarios and have higher compatibility and operability. These two methods can be widely applied in cadastral surveys, geomorphological surveys, heritage conservation, and other fields.
A Challenge-Based Learning Intensive Course for Competency Development in Undergraduate Engineering Students: Case Study on UAVs
Authors: Félix-Herrán Luis C. , Izaguirre-Espinosa Carlos , Parra-Vega Vicente , Sánchez-Orta Anand , Benitez Victor H. , Lozoya-Santos Jorge de-J.
Published: April 2022

Accelerated advances in science and technology drive the need for professionals with flexible problem-solving abilities towards a collaborative working environment. The advances pose a challenge to educational institutions about how to develop learning environments that contribute to meeting the aforementioned necessity. Additionally, the fast pace of technology and innovative knowledge are encouraging universities to employ challenge-based-learning (CBL) approaches in engineering education supported by modern technology such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other advanced electronic devices. Within the framework of competency-based education (CBE) and CBL are the design, implementation, and evaluation of an intensive 40 h elective course which includes a 5-day challenge to promote the development of disciplinary and transversal competencies in undergraduate engineering students whilst relying on UAVs as the medium where the teaching–learning process takes place. Within this credit course, a case study was carried out considering the framework of an exploratory mixed-methods educational research approach that sought a broad understanding of the studied phenomena using various data collection instruments with quantitative and qualitative characteristics. An innovative academic tool was introduced, namely a thematic UAV platform that systematically exposed students to the principles underlying robotic systems and the scientific method, thereby stimulating their intellectual curiosity as a trigger to solve the posed challenge. Moreover, students came up with innovative teamwork-based solutions to a designed challenge while having an enjoyable and motivating time flying drones on an indoor obstacle course arranged by themselves. The preliminary findings may contribute to the design of other CBL experiences, supported by technology applied for educational purposes, which could promote the development of more disciplinary and transversal competencies in future engineers.
3DPCTN: Two 3D Local-Object Point-Cloud-Completion Transformer Networks Based on Self-Attention and Multi-Resolution
Authors: Huang Shuyan , Yang Zhijing , Shi Yukai , Tan Junpeng , Li Hao , Cheng Yongqiang
Published: April 2022

Acquiring high-fidelity 3D models from real-world scans is challenging. Existing shape completion-methods are incapable of generating details of objects or learning complex point distributions. To address this problem, we propose two transformer-based point-cloud-completion networks and a coarse-to-fine strategy to extract object shape features by way of self-attention (SA) and multi-resolution (MR), respectively. Specifically, in the first stage, the model extracts incomplete point-cloud features based on self-attention and multi-resolution encoders and predicts the missing partial with a set of parametric surface elements. Then, in the second stage, it merges the coarse-grained prediction with the input point cloud by iterative furthest point sampling (IFPS), to obtain a complete but coarse-grained point cloud. Finally, in the third stage, the complete but coarse point-cloud distribution is improved by a point-refiner network based on a point-cloud transformer (PCT). The results from comparison to state-of-the-art methods and ablation experiments on the ShapeNet-Part dataset both verified the effectiveness of our method.
Integrative Analysis of Expression Profiles of mRNA and MicroRNA Provides Insights of Cotton Response to Verticillium dahliae
Authors: Mei Jun , Wu Yuqing , Niu Qingqing , Miao Meng , Zhang Diandian , Zhao Yanyan , Cai Fangfang , Yu Dongliang , Ke Liping , Feng Hongjie , Sun Yuqiang
Published: April 2022

Cotton Verticillium wilt, caused by the notorious fungal phytopathogen Verticillium dahliae (V. dahliae), is a destructive soil-borne vascular disease and severely decreases cotton yield and quality worldwide. Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of genes responsive to V. dahliae are crucial for V. dahliae tolerance in plants. However, the specific microRNAs (miRNAs) and the miRNA/target gene crosstalk involved in cotton resistance to Verticillium wilt remain largely limited. To investigate the roles of regulatory RNAs under V. dahliae induction in upland cotton, mRNA and small RNA libraries were constructed from mocked and infected roots of two upland cotton cultivars with the V. dahliae-sensitive cultivar Jimian 11 (J11) and the V. dahliae-tolerant cultivar Zhongzhimian 2 (Z2). A comparative transcriptome analysis revealed 8330 transcripts were differentially expressed under V. dahliae stress and associated with several specific biological processes. Moreover, small RNA sequencing identified a total of 383 miRNAs, including 330 unique conserved miRNAs and 53 novel miRNAs. Analysis of the regulatory network involved in the response to V. dahliae stress revealed 31 differentially expressed miRNA–mRNA pairs, and the up-regulation of GhmiR395 and down-regulation of GhmiR165 were possibly involved in the response to V. dahliae by regulating sulfur assimilation through the GhmiR395-APS1/3 module and the establishment of the vascular pattern and secondary cell wall formation through GhmiR165-REV module, respectively. The integrative analysis of mRNA and miRNA expression profiles from upland cotton lays the foundation for further investigation of regulatory mechanisms of resistance to Verticillium wilt in cotton and other crops.
Novel Hybrid 1,2,4- and 1,2,3-Triazoles Targeting Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Enoyl Acyl Carrier Protein Reductase (InhA): Design, Synthesis, and Molecular Docking
Authors: El Sawy Maged A. , Elshatanofy Maram M. , El Kilany Yeldez , Kandeel Kamal , Elwakil Bassma H. , Hagar Mohamed , Aouad Mohamed Reda , Albelwi Fawzia Faleh , Rezki Nadjet , Jaremko Mariusz , El Ashry El Sayed H.
Published: April 2022

Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is still a serious public health concern around the world. More treatment strategies or more specific molecular targets have been sought by researchers. One of the most important targets is M. tuberculosis’ enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase InhA which is considered a promising, well-studied target for anti-tuberculosis medication development. Our team has made it a goal to find new lead structures that could be useful in the creation of new antitubercular drugs. In this study, a new class of 1,2,3- and 1,2,4-triazole hybrid compounds was prepared. Click synthesis was used to afford 1,2,3-triazoles scaffold linked to 1,2,4-triazole by fixable mercaptomethylene linker. The new prepared compounds have been characterized by different spectroscopic tools. The designed compounds were tested in vitro against the InhA enzyme. At 10 nM, the inhibitors 5b, 5c, 7c, 7d, 7e, and 7f successfully and totally (100%) inhibited the InhA enzyme. The IC50 values were calculated using different concentrations. With IC50 values of 0.074 and 0.13 nM, 7c and 7e were the most promising InhA inhibitors. Furthermore, a molecular docking investigation was carried out to support antitubercular activity as well as to analyze the binding manner of the screened compounds with the target InhA enzyme’s binding site.
Evaluation of a Gel Containing a Propionibacterium Extract in an In Vivo Model of Wound Healing
Authors: M. Campolo , G. Gallo , F. Roviello , A. Ardizzone , M. La Torre , A. Filippone , M. Lanza , S. Cuzzocrea , L. Siroli , E. Esposito
Published: April 2022

Inappropriate wound healing (WH) management can cause significant comorbidities, especially in patients affected by chronic and metabolic diseases, such as diabetes. WH involves several different, partially overlapping processes, including hemostasis, inflammation, cell proliferation, and remodeling. Oxidative stress in WH contributes to WH impairment because of the overexpression of radical oxygen species (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS). This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antioxidative action of a gel containing a Propionibacterium extract (Emorsan® Gel) and assess its skin re-epithelialization properties in a mouse model of WH. The scavenging effects of the bacterial extract were assessed in vitro through the ABTS and DPPH assays and in L-929 murine fibroblasts. The effects of the Emorsan® Gel were studied in vivo in a murine model of WH. After WH induction, mice were treated daily with vehicle or Emorsan® Gel for 6 or 12 days. According to the in vitro tests, the Propionibacterium extract exerted an inhibitory effect on ROS and RNS, consequently leading to the reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrite levels. Before proceeding with the in vivo study, the Emorsan® Gel was verified to be unabsorbed. Therefore, the observed effects could be ascribed to a local action. The results obtained in vivo showed that through local reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation (IL-1β, TNF-α), the Emorsan® Gel significantly reduced the infiltration of mast cells into the injured wound, leading to the amelioration of symptoms such as itch and skin irritation. Therefore, the Emorsan® Gel improved the speed and percentage of wound area closure by improving the tissue remodeling process, prompting vascular–endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF)- β production and reducing the expression of adhesion molecules. Emorsan® Gel, by its ability to inhibit free radicals, could reduce local inflammation and oxidative stress, thus enhancing the speed of wound healing.
TRPC6 Is Found in Distinct Compartments of the Human Kidney
Authors: Englisch Colya N. , Röhricht Daniel , Walz Mariesa , Junker Kerstin , Beckmann Anja , Meier Carola , Paulsen Friedrich , Jung Martin , Tschernig Thomas
Published: April 2022

In the context of renal proteinuric diseases, TRPC6 has been shown to play an important role in ultrafiltration associated with the slit diaphragm through the control of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration in the podocytes of glomeruli. However, to date, the properties of TRPC6 have been studied mainly in cell lines or in animal models. Therefore, the aim of the study presented here was to investigate the presence and distribution of TRPC6 in human kidneys in order to possibly verify the applicability of the results previously obtained in nonhuman experiments. For this purpose, kidneys from nine cadavers were prepared for immunohistochemical staining and were supplemented with a fresh human kidney obtained by nephrectomy. TRPC6 was detected in glomeruli and in the parietal epithelial cells of Bowman’s capsule. Larger amounts were detected in the tubular system and collecting ducts. In contrast to the peritubular capillary bed, which showed no immune reaction, the cortical resistance vessels showed mild TRPC6 staining. In conclusion, our studies on the expression of TRPC6 in human kidney tissue support the translational concept of the involvement of TRPC6 in various renal diseases and reveal new aspects of the distribution of TRPC6 in the human kidney.
The Development of an Information Technology Architecture for Automated, Agile and Versatile Companies with Ecological and Ethical Guidelines
Authors: Kuehnel Klaus , Au-Yong-Oliveira Manuel
Published: April 2022

Based on many years of experience as a management consultant in different industries and corporate structures and cultures, the motivation to use digital transformation in connection with variable corporate goals—such as fluctuating workloads, agile response to customer inquiries, and ecological and economic sustainability—results in a process or a product to be developed that intelligently adapts to market requirements and requires forward-looking leadership. Using an AI-based methodical analysis and synthesis approach, the high consumption of economic and human resources is to be continuously monitored and optimization measures initiated at an early stage. The necessary information technology with its infrastructure and architecture is the starting point to accompany the agility and changeability of corporate goals. Researching the relevant documents begins with writing the panorama or the state of knowledge on the topic. This article is about the IT infrastructure based on the requirements for an architecture and behavior that a versatile, agile company needs to accompany the constantly changing framework conditions of the market. The technology used and the available resources, including the human resources, need to be adapted as early as possible. Data now represent the most valuable asset on Earth and future industrial manufacturing systems must maximize the opportunity of data usage. Low-level data must be transformed to make them useful in supporting intelligent decision-making, for example. Furthermore, future manufacturing systems must be highly productive, adaptable, absent of error, and kind to the environment and to local communities. The all-important design should minimize the waste of material, capital, energy, and media. Herein, we discuss the fulfilling of agile customer requirements involving adaptable and modulated production processes (related to the ‘agile manufacturing’ and ‘digital transformation’ perspectives).