bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2 (NFE2)-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2) Activation in Preclinical Models of Peripheral Neuropathic Pain
Authors: Basu Paramita , Averitt Dayna L. , Maier Camelia , Basu Arpita
Published: February 2022

Oxidative stress, resulting from an imbalance between the formation of damaging free radicals and availability of protective antioxidants, can contribute to peripheral neuropathic pain conditions. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, as well as products of the mitochondrial metabolism such as superoxide anions, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radicals, are common free radicals. Nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NFE2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor encoded by the NFE2L2 gene and is a member of the cap ‘n’ collar subfamily of basic region leucine zipper transcription factors. Under normal physiological conditions, Nrf2 remains bound to Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 in the cytoplasm that ultimately leads to proteasomal degradation. During peripheral neuropathy, Nrf2 can translocate to the nucleus, where it heterodimerizes with muscle aponeurosis fibromatosis proteins and binds to antioxidant response elements (AREs). It is becoming increasingly clear that the Nrf2 interaction with ARE leads to the transcription of several antioxidative enzymes that can ameliorate neuropathy and neuropathic pain in rodent models. Current evidence indicates that the antinociceptive effects of Nrf2 occur via reducing oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Here, we will summarize the preclinical evidence supporting the role of Nrf2 signaling pathways and Nrf2 inducers in alleviating peripheral neuropathic pain.
Phytochemical Contents and Pharmacological Potential of Parkia speciosa Hassk. for Diabetic Vasculopathy: A Review
Authors: Azemi Ahmad Khusairi , Nordin Muhammad Luqman , Hambali Kamarul Ariffin , Noralidin Nur Amalina , Mokhtar Siti Safiah , Rasool Aida Hanum Ghulam
Published: February 2022

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia and is considered a major health problem in the world. It is associated with endothelial dysfunction which causes progressive vascular damage. DM is a known risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications such as peripheral artery disease, coronary artery disease, and stroke. Medicinal plants may act as an alternative resource or adjunctive treatment option in the treatment of diabetes and its cardiovascular complications. Parkia speciosa (Fabaceae) is a plant found abundantly in the Southeast Asian region. Its seeds, with or without pods, and roots have long been used as a traditional medicine in this region to treat hypertension and diabetes. Studies have shown its numerous beneficial pharmacological properties. Extracts of P. speciosa, particularly from its seeds and empty pods, show the presence of polyphenols. They also exhibit potent antioxidant, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, and antihypertensive properties. Its hypoglycemic properties are reported to be associated with the presence of β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and stigmat-4-en-3-one. The current review aimed to provide an overview of the current status of P. speciosa, its pharmacological potential, and its phytochemical content in attenuating diabetic vasculopathy. Glycemic status, oxidative stress, inflammation, and hyperlipidemia are known to play pivotal roles in the initiation and severity of diabetic cardiovascular diseases; thus, targeting these factors might be beneficial for preventing and/or treating diabetic vasculopathy.
Analytical Design of Fractional-Order PI Controller for Parallel Cascade Control Systems
Authors: Vu Truong Nguyen Luan , Chuong Vo Lam , Truong Nguyen Tam Nguyen , Jung Jae Hak
Published: February 2022

The fractional-order proportional-integral (FOPI) controller tuning rules based on the fractional calculus for the parallel cascade control systems are systematically proposed in this paper. The modified parallel cascade control structure (PCCS) with the Smith predictor is addressed for stable, unstable, and integrating process models with time delays. Normally, the PCCS consists of three controllers, including a stabilized controller, for a class of unstable and integrating models, a disturbance rejection controller in the secondary loop, and a primary servomechanism controller. Accordingly, the ideal controller is obtained by using the internal model control (IMC) approach for the inner loop. The proportional-derivative (PD) controller is suggested for the stabilized controller and is designed based on a stability criterion. Based on the fractional calculus, the analytical tuning rules of the FOPI controller for the outer loop can be established in the frequency domain. The simulation study is considered for three mentioned cases of process models and the results demonstrate the flexibility and effectiveness of the proposed method for the PCCS in comparison with the other methods. The robustness of the proposed method is also justified by perturbed process models with ±20% of process parameters including gain, time constant, and delay time.
Research on a Real-Time Driver Fatigue Detection Algorithm Based on Facial Video Sequences
Authors: Zhu Tianjun , Zhang Chuang , Wu Tunglung , Ouyang Zhuang , Li Houzhi , Na Xiaoxiang , Liang Jianguo , Li Weihao
Published: February 2022

The research on driver fatigue detection is of great significance to improve driving safety. This paper proposes a real-time comprehensive driver fatigue detection algorithm based on facial landmarks to improve the detection accuracy, which detects the driver’s fatigue status by using facial video sequences without equipping their bodies with other intelligent devices. A tasks-constrained deep convolutional network is constructed to detect the face region based on 68 key points, which can solve the optimization problem caused by the different convergence speeds of each task. According to the real-time facial video images, the eye feature of the eye aspect ratio (EAR), mouth aspect ratio (MAR) and percentage of eye closure time (PERCLOS) are calculated based on facial landmarks. A comprehensive driver fatigue assessment model is established to assess the fatigue status of drivers through eye/mouth feature selection. After a series of comparative experiments, the results show that this proposed algorithm achieves good performance in both accuracy and speed for driver fatigue detection.
An Experimental Study on the Vibration Transmission Characteristics of Wrist Exposure to Hand Transmitted Vibration
Authors: Wu Mingzhong , Jia Sheng , Lin Zhihong
Published: February 2022

This research intends to further improve the understanding of vibration damage mechanisms in the wrist area and to establish a more effective biodynamic model of the hand-arm system. Scholars have conducted some research work around the influencing factors of vibration response and commonly used vibration transmissibility to characterize the local vibration transmission characteristics of the hand-arm system. In this paper, a hand-transmitted vibration test platform was built according to ISO 10819, and a random combination of four ergonomic factors, namely wrist posture, arm posture, grip force, and thrust force, was used to test the vibration response of six subjects’ wrists; the total vibration transmissibility of the wrist was calculated according to the transmissibility formula. The effect of the four factors on the total vibration transmissibility of the wrist part was comprehensively analyzed, in which the wrist posture was proposed for the first time. The results show that (1) vibration transmissibility of the wrist is not only related to the arm posture, thrust force, and grip force but also related to the wrist posture; (2) the total vibration transmissibility and resonance frequency on the wrist has small correlation with large grip force and thrust force, and the vibration transmissibility of grip force 30 N and 60 N are basically equal in the low-frequency band (from 5–10 Hz to 5–20 Hz); (3) the wrist postures have a significant effect on the total vibration transmissibility at the wrist.
Inhibition of Peroxidation Potential and Protein Oxidative Damage by Metal Mangiferin Complexes
Authors: Nuñez-Selles Alberto , Nuevas-Paz Lauro , Martínez-Sánchez Gregorio
Published: February 2022

Background: Metal coordination complexes of polyphenolic compounds have been claimed to have better antioxidant and protection against protein oxidative damage effects than the isolated ligands. Whereas flavonoids have been extensively studied, xanthones such as mangiferin are lacking extensive research. Methods: Cu (II), Zn (II), and Se (IV) mangiferin complexes were synthesized with different stoichiometric ratios. Products were isolated by preparative chromatography and subjected to spectral analysis by FT-IR, HPLC-DAD, and HPLC-ESI-MS. The inhibition effects on peroxidation potential and protein oxidative damage were determined for all the metal–MF complexes. Results: Eight metal–MF complexes were isolated. Cu (II)–MF complexes did not improve MF antioxidant/protective effects; Zn (II) complexes (stoichiometric ratio 1:2) antioxidant/protective effects had no significant differences to MF; Zn (II)– and Se (IV)–MF complexes (stoichiometric ratio 1:3) showed the best inhibition effects on peroxidation potential (49.06% and 32.08%, respectively), and on the protection against protein oxidative damage (14.49% and 20.81%, respectively). Conclusions: The antioxidant/protective effects of Se (IV)– and Zn (II)–MF coordination complexes were significantly improved as compared to isolated MF, when the reaction between the metal salt and MF was performed with a stoichiometric ratio 1:3.
Auditory Property-Based Features and Artificial Neural Network Classifiers for the Automatic Detection of Low-Intensity Snoring/Breathing Episodes
Authors: Hamabe Kenji , Emoto Takahiro , Jinnouchi Osamu , Toda Naoki , Kawata Ikuji
Published: February 2022

The definitive diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is made using an overnight polysomnography (PSG) test. This test requires that a patient wears multiple measurement sensors during an overnight hospitalization. However, this setup imposes physical constraints and a heavy burden on the patient. Recent studies have reported on another technique for conducting OSAS screening based on snoring/breathing episodes (SBEs) extracted from recorded data acquired by a noncontact microphone. However, SBEs have a high dynamic range and are barely audible at intensities >90 dB. A method is needed to detect SBEs even in low-signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) environments. Therefore, we developed a method for the automatic detection of low-intensity SBEs using an artificial neural network (ANN). However, when considering its practical use, this method required further improvement in terms of detection accuracy and speed. To accomplish this, we propose in this study a new method to detect low SBEs based on neural activity pattern (NAP)-based cepstral coefficients (NAPCC) and ANN classifiers. Comparison results of the leave-one-out cross-validation demonstrated that our proposed method is superior to previous methods for the classification of SBEs and non-SBEs, even in low-SNR conditions (accuracy: 85.99 ± 5.69% vs. 75.64 ± 18.8%).
Comparison of Achieved Rolling Resistance Values of Two Selected Tires on a Solid Surface
Authors: Helexa Milan , Kováč Ján , Krilek Jozef , Melicherčík Ján , Kuvik Tomáš
Published: February 2022

The article deals with measuring the rolling resistance of two tires Mitas TS04 6.00-16 6PR and Mitas TS05 10.0/75-15.3 10PR on a concrete surface. The measurement was performed in a soil test channel which had to be adjusted for the given purpose. The tires were compared with each other based on the results of the rolling resistance coefficient calculation. The obtained individual values were approximated by linear functions and subsequently subjected to a statistical analysis—a test of the agreement of the regression coefficients of the two basic sets. The results of this analysis showed that there is no statistically significant difference in the values of the achieved rolling resistance coefficients of the monitored tires, although there are differences between them in geometric dimensions and load capacity. The achieved results are basically confirmed by the results of other authors, especially by the fact that on a solid surface the values of the achieved rolling resistances can be reduced by increasing the inflation pressure of the tire. This increase cannot be spontaneous; however, it is always a compromise among the resistances achieved, the life of the tire and its adhesive properties.
Wind Forces and Flow Patterns of Three Tandem Prisms with a Small Height–Width Ratio
Authors: Du Kun , Chen Bo
Published: February 2022

Wind tunnel tests and large eddy simulations were conducted to investigate the dependency of wind forces and flow patterns on the spacing (S) for three tandem prisms with a small height–width ratio H/W = 0.4. At the spacing ratio S/W = 0.7, mean and root-mean-square drag of downstream prisms have large local peaks, and their magnitudes are larger than those at adjacent spacing ratios; these should be noted to ensure the safety and economy of the wind-resistant design of prism-like low-rise buildings. These phenomena are different from that of a small group of tandem prisms with a large H/W and a large group of tandem prisms with a small H/W. At S/W = 0.7, tap pressure time histories of downstream prisms are non-stationary with abrupt changes, but wind force time histories of downstream prisms are stationary, unlike a small group of tandem prisms with a large H/W, where both tap pressure and win d force time histories are non-stationary. Above phenomena at S/W = 0.7 are attributed to a special asymmetric time-averaged wake regime, which has two modes with symmetric wake flow directions and they irregularly switch. The duration of each mode is ruleless. This special wake regime was not observed in previous studies on tandem prisms.
Competitive Detection of Volatile Compounds from Food Degradation by a Zinc Oxide Sensor
Authors: Bonaccorsi Lucio , Donato Andrea , Fotia Antonio , Frontera Patrizia , Gnisci Andrea
Published: February 2022

During the phenomenon of food degradation, several volatile organic compounds are generally released. In particular, due to lipid oxidation in stored and packed meat, hexanal is formed as a typical decomposition product. Therefore, its detection can provide an important indication of the quality and conservation of meat. Unfortunately, the simultaneous release of other compounds, such as 1-pentanol and 1-octen-3-ol, during the first phase of the degradation process can have an undesirable effect on the detection of hexanal. In this work, a metal oxide (MOX) sensor based on zinc oxide (ZnO) was prepared and tested for possible use in the monitoring of low concentrations of hexanal. The sensor was expected to detect the target volatile with minimum interference from all the others, when released all at the same time. For this purpose, the ZnO sensor was exposed to both pure and different mixtures of vapors of the main competing organic compounds. Comparing the results of the mixtures to the response relating to pure hexanal, it was highlighted that the presence of 1-pentanol and 1-octen-3-ol decreases the response of the sensor to hexanal in terms of the eR/R0 ratio, especially at low concentrations (5–10 ppm), while at 50 ppm, the sensor response was comparable with the hexanal quantity, proving that its detection was less affected at higher concentrations.
Acute Changes in Heart Rate Variability to Glucose and Fructose Supplementation in Healthy Individuals: A Double-Blind Randomized Crossover Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: Eckstein Max Lennart , Brockfeld Antonia , Haupt Sandra , Schierbauer Janis Ramon , Zimmer Rebecca Tanja , Wachsmuth Nadine Bianca , Zunner Beate Elisabeth Maria , Zimmermann Paul , Erlmann Maximilian , Obermayer-Pietsch Barbara , Aberer Felix , Moser Othmar
Published: February 2022

Background: It is unknown how different types of carbohydrates alter the cardio-autonomic system in healthy individuals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate how heart-rate variability changes to single dose ingestion of glucose, fructose, glucose and fructose, and an artificial sweetener (sucralose). Methods: In a double-blind randomized crossover placebo-controlled setting, 15 participants received all study-specific substances in liquid form. During each 2-h visit, venous blood glucose was measured in a 5-min interval while heart-rate variability was measured continuously via Holter-electrocardiograph. Results: Ingestion of different types of carbohydrates and sucralose showed significant differences for heart rate (p < 0.001), SDNN (p < 0.008), RMSSD (p < 0.001), pNN50 (p < 0.001) and blood pressure (p < 0.001). Different glucose levels significantly altered parameters of heart-rate variability and blood pressure (all p < 0.001), while the rate of change in blood glucose led to changes in heart rate variability, but not in heart rate (p = 0.25) or blood pressure (p = 0.99). Conclusions: Ingestion of different types of carbohydrates lead to reductions in heart-rate variability compared to a placebo. Blood glucose values above or below 70–90 mg/dL decreased heart rate variability while this was also seen for rapid glucose changes, yet not as pronounced. Healthy individuals should be conscious about carbohydrate intake while maintaining blood glucose levels between 70–90 mg/dL.
Ischemic Cardiomyopathy versus Non-Ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Patients with Reduced Ejection Fraction— Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis Depending on Heart Failure Etiology (Data from European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Registries)
Authors: Tymińska Agata , Ozierański Krzysztof , Balsam Paweł , Maciejewski Cezary , Wancerz Anna , Brociek Emil , Marchel Michał , Crespo-Leiro Maria G. , Maggioni Aldo P. , Drożdż Jarosław , Opolski Grzegorz , Grabowski Marcin , Kapłon-Cieślicka Agnieszka
Published: February 2022

Personalized management involving heart failure (HF) etiology is crucial for better prognoses for HF patients. This study aimed to compare patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM) in terms of baseline characteristics and prognosis. We assessed 895 patients with HF with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction participating in the Polish part of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)-HF registries. ICM was present in 583 patients (65%), NIDCM in 312 patients (35%). The ICM patients were older (p < 0.001) and had more comorbidities. The NIDCM patients more frequently had atrial fibrillation (p = 0.04) and lower LVEF (p = 0.01); therefore, they were treated more often with anticoagulants (p = 0.01) and digitalis (p < 0.001). The NIDCM patients were prescribed aldosterone antagonists more often (p = 0.01). There were no other differences as regards the use of HF guideline-recommended medications, implantable cardioverter defibrillators or cardiac resynchronization therapy. The ICM patients were more likely to be treated with statins (p < 0.001) and antiplatelet agents (p < 0.001). All-cause death, as well as all-cause death and readmissions for HF at 12 months, occurred more often in the ICM group compared with the NIDCM group (15.9% vs. 10%, p = 0.016; and 40.9% vs. 28.6%, p = 0.00089, respectively). ICM etiology was an independent predictor of the composite endpoint in the total cohort (p = 0.003). The ICM patients were older and had more comorbidities, whereas the NIDCM patients had lower LVEF. One-year prognosis was worse in the ICM patients than in the NIDCM patients. ICM etiology was independently associated with a worse one-year outcome.
Drugs Modulating Renin-Angiotensin System in COVID-19 Treatment
Authors: Labandeira-Garcia Jose L. , Labandeira Carmen M. , Valenzuela Rita , Pedrosa Maria A. , Quijano Aloia , Rodriguez-Perez Ana I.
Published: February 2022

A massive worldwide vaccination campaign constitutes the main tool against the COVID-19 pandemic. However, drug treatments are also necessary. Antivirals are the most frequently considered treatments. However, strategies targeting mechanisms involved in disease aggravation may also be effective. A major role of the tissue renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the pathophysiology and severity of COVID-19 has been suggested. The main link between RAS and COVID-19 is angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a central RAS component and the primary binding site for SARS-CoV-2 that facilitates the virus entry into host cells. An initial suggestion that the susceptibility to infection and disease severity may be enhanced by angiotensin type-1 receptor blockers (ARBs) and ACE inhibitors (ACEIs) because they increase ACE2 levels, led to the consideration of discontinuing treatments in thousands of patients. More recent experimental and clinical data indicate that ACEIs and, particularly, ARBs can be beneficial for COVID-19 outcome, both by reducing inflammatory responses and by triggering mechanisms (such as ADAM17 inhibition) counteracting viral entry. Strategies directly activating RAS anti-inflammatory components such as soluble ACE2, Angiotensin 1-7 analogues, and Mas or AT2 receptor agonists may also be beneficial. However, while ACEIs and ARBs are cheap and widely used, the second type of strategies are currently under study.
Single Application of Low-Dose, Hydroxyapatite-Bound BMP-2 or GDF-5 Induces Long-Term Bone Formation and Biomechanical Stabilization of a Bone Defect in a Senile Sheep Lumbar Osteopenia Model
Authors: Hasenbein Ines , Sachse André , Hortschansky Peter , Schmuck Klaus D. , Horbert Victoria , Anders Christoph , Lehmann Thomas , Huber René , Maslaris Alexander , Layher Frank , Braun Christina , Roth Andreas , Plöger Frank , Kinne Raimund W.
Published: February 2022

Effects of hydroxyapatite (HA) particles with bone morphogenetic BMP-2 or GDF-5 were compared in sheep lumbar osteopenia; in vitro release in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or sheep serum was assessed by ELISA. Lumbar (L) vertebral bone defects (Ø 3.5 mm) were generated in aged, osteopenic female sheep (n = 72; 9.00 ± 0.11 years; mean ± SEM). Treatment was: (a) HA particles (2.5 mg; L5); or (b) particles coated with BMP-2 (1 µg; 10 µg) or GDF-5 (5 µg; 50 µg; L4; all groups n = 6). Untouched vertebrae (L3) served as controls. Three and nine months post-therapy, bone formation was assessed by osteodensitometry, histomorphometry, and biomechanical testing. Cumulative 14-day BMP release was high in serum (76–100%), but max. 1.4% in PBS. In vivo induction of bone formation by HA particles with either growth factor was shown by: (i) significantly increased bone volume, trabecular and cortical thickness (overall increase HA + BMP vs. control close to the injection channel 71%, 110%, and 37%, respectively); (ii) partial significant effects for bone mineral density, bone formation, and compressive strength (increase 17%; 9 months; GDF-5). Treatment effects were not dose-dependent. Combined HA and BMPs (single low-dose) highly augment long-term bone formation and biomechanical stabilization in sheep lumbar osteopenia. Thus, carrier-bound BMP doses 20,000-fold to 1000-fold lower than previously applied appear suitable for spinal fusion/bone regeneration and improved treatment safety.
Ribose and Non-Ribose A2A Adenosine Receptor Agonists: Do They Share the Same Receptor Recognition Mechanism?
Authors: Bolcato Giovanni , Pavan Matteo , Bassani Davide , Sturlese Mattia , Moro Stefano
Published: February 2022

Adenosine receptors have been a promising class of targets for the development of new therapies for several diseases. In recent years, a renewed interest in this field has risen, thanks to the implementation of a novel class of agonists that lack the ribose moiety, once considered essential for the agonistic profile. Recently, an X-ray crystal structure of the A2A adenosine receptor has been solved, providing insights about the receptor activation from this novel class of agonists. Starting from this structural information, we have performed supervised molecular dynamics (SuMD) simulations to investigate the binding pathway of a non-nucleoside adenosine receptor agonist as well as one of three classic agonists. Furthermore, we analyzed the possible role of water molecules in receptor activation.
Changes of Spasticity across Time in Prolonged Disorders of Consciousness: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Winters Benjamin , Kuluris Bruce , Pathmanaban Rita , Vanderwalt Hannelise , Thibaut Aurore , Schnakers Caroline
Published: February 2022

Objectives: In this retrospective study, we investigated how spasticity developed in patients diagnosed with a prolonged DOC over an almost two-year observation period (21 months), and how it related to the patients’ age, gender, time since injury, etiology, level of consciousness, and anti-spastic medications. Methods: In total, 19 patients with a severe brain injury and prolonged DOC admitted to a long-term care facility were included in this study (14 male, age: 45.8 ± 15.3 years, 10 traumatic brain injury, 1.01 ± 0.99 years after brain injury, 11 minimally conscious state vs. 8 vegetative state). Each patient was assessed at admission and then quarterly, totaling eight assessments over 21 months. Spasticity was measured with the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) for both upper and lower limbs. The Western Neuro Sensory Stimulation Profile (WNSSP) was administered to assess the level of consciousness. Any other medical and demographic information of interest was obtained through medical records. Linear mixed models were used to assess each variable’s impact on the change of spasticity over time. Results: Significant differences were observed in the evolution of spasticity in patients based on their etiology for the upper limbs [F (7, 107.29) = 2.226; p = 0.038], and on their level of consciousness for the lower limbs [F (7, 107.07) = 3.196; p = 0.004]. Conclusion: Our preliminary results suggest that spasticity evolves differently according to the type of brain lesion and the level of consciousness. Spasticity in DOCs might therefore be mediated by different mechanisms and might have to be treated differently among patients. Future longitudinal studies should be performed prospectively in a bigger cohort and with data collection beginning earlier after brain injury to confirm our results and better understand the evolution of spasticity in this population.
Why and When Do Employees Hide Their Knowledge?
Authors: Sulistiawan Jovi , Moslehpour Massoud , Diana Fransisca , Lin Pei-Kuan
Published: February 2022

This study establishes a theoretical and integrative framework for analyzing the relationship between knowledge hiding and task performance. The existing literature indicates that knowledge hiding is prominent in service sector firms and impedes knowledge transfer. However, the potential determinants and consequences have not been extensively investigated. The objectives of this study are threefold: First, examining the effect of distrust and the complexity of knowledge on knowledge hiding. Second, examining the effect of knowledge hiding on task performance. Third, examining the conditional effect of task relatedness in the relationship between distrust, knowledge complexity, and knowledge hiding. We conducted an online survey by using a Google form to collect our data. We gathered data from 325 salespersons in the business departments of a single firm in Indonesia. To test our hypotheses, we employed Partial Least Square (PLS). The results revealed that distrust and knowledge complexity are critical factors in predicting knowledge hiding. Interestingly, knowledge hiding positively affects task performance. The rationale behind this result is that employees tend to believe that hiding knowledge is a strategy to boost their performance in the short run. The contribution of this study is the suggestion that organizations should implement a knowledge-sharing culture to minimize knowledge hiding.
Automated Layout Design Approach of Floor Tiles: Based on Building Information Modeling (BIM) via Parametric Design (PD) Platform
Authors: Wu Shihai , Zhang Nan , Xiang Yujing , Wu Dizi , Qiao Danping , Luo Xiaowei , Lu Wei-Zhen
Published: February 2022

Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology has been widely used in the construction industry in recent years. However, to date, it still cannot sufficiently meet the requirements of construction practitioners in terms of the layout design of floor tiles. Recently, the BIM-based Parametric Design (PD) platform has presented considerable potential in automatically generating and optimizing floor tile layout design. In this paper, we propose a workflow to generate and optimize the layout design of floor tiles globally. To develop the workflow, we first formalize the design algorithm of floor tiles according to the trade know-how cutting and planning rules. Then, we combine the design algorithm with an evolutionary algorithm (EA) to generate and optimize the layout design for floor tiles automatically while minimizing material wastage. A prototype system is established in the ArchiCAD (BIM) and Grasshopper (PD platform) software. An apartment room tiling layout is used to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach. Compared with the existing design methods, the proposed approach (1) reduces the material waste rate by 14.58% and 11.46%; and (2) improves the calculation efficiency and reduces the required computation time by 17.3 s to 50.0 s. Moreover, this research improves the existing design algorithm, enabling the BIM- and PD-based approaches to be used reliably in optimizing floor tile planning with arc-shaped boundaries. The outcomes are summarized in order to provide valuable insights in terms of floor tile waste reduction for further sustainable construction practice.
Structural Identification of a 90 m High Minaret of a Landmark Structure under Ambient Vibrations
Authors: Akhlaq Hanzlah , Butt Faheem , Alwetaishi Mamdooh , Riaz Mamoon , Benjeddou Omrane , Hussein Enas E.
Published: February 2022

This paper presents the operational modal analysis of a 90-m-high RC minaret of an iconic mosque considered as a landmark of the city. The minaret was monitored for three days with 11 tri-axial MEMS accelerometers. The purpose of the study was to observe the behavior, develop a representative finite element (FE) model, and establish baseline data for health monitoring studies. The modal properties were extracted using three operational modal analysis techniques (OMA): Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition (EFDD), Stochastic Subspace Identification (SSI), and Natural Excitation Technique with Eigensystem Realization Algorithm (NExT-ERA). The first 10 identified modes were below 7 Hz. Eight modes out of the ten were bending-dominant, while the remaining two were torsion-dominant. A FE model was also developed in ETABS to ascertain and compare the response of the structure with the identified results. From the FE model, the modes corresponding to the first ten identified modes were considered for comparison with the identified frequencies from ambient monitoring. The maximum 7.71% error was observed between the experimental and numerical frequencies. The error was minimized by using the manual updating the material properties and adding the weight of nonstructural elements. The variation of identified modal frequencies with ambient temperature was observed to be linearly dependent to a reasonable degree. A general trend of decreasing identified frequencies was observed with the rise in temperature.
Improved Data-Driven Stochastic Subspace Identification with Autocorrelation Matrix Modal Order Estimation for Bridge Modal Parameter Extraction Using GB-SAR Data
Authors: Liu Xianglei , Zhao Songxue , Wang Peipei , Wang Runjie , Huang Ming
Published: February 2022

With the advantage of non-contact measurement, ground-based synthetic aperture radar (GB-SAR) has been widely used to obtain the dynamic deflection of various bridges. Data-driven stochastic subspace recognition (Data-SSI), a popularized time-domain technique, is commonly used for modal parameter identification of bridges. To improve the computational efficiency and accuracy of the Data-SSI method for bridge modal parameter estimation using GB-SAR, this paper proposes an improved Data-SSI method. First, boxplot data filtering is applied to screen out the error points to generate a Hankel matrix. Second, the Hankel matrix compression method is presented to reduce the ill-conditioned vectors in the column vectors of the Hankel matrix to improve calculation efficiency. Finally, the exact modal order (EMO) modal estimation algorithm based on the autocorrelation matrix is adopted to reduce the generation of false modes and improve the calculation efficiency. The results of simulation and field experiments show that the natural frequency values for the improved Data-SSI method are 2.3208 and 2.3189 and the damping ratio coefficient values are 8.10 and 8.08, under windows 1 and 2, respectively. The operation times using the improved Data-SSI method are 2.02 s and 7.61 s under windows 1 and 2, respectively. This proves that the proposed improved Data-SSI method has higher accuracy and computational efficiency.
Test/Retest Reliability and Validity of Remote vs. In-Person Anthropometric and Physical Performance Assessments in Cancer Survivors and Supportive Partners
Authors: Hoenemeyer Teri W. , Cole William W. , Oster Robert A. , Pekmezi Dorothy W. , Pye Andrea , Demark-Wahnefried Wendy
Published: February 2022

(1) Background: Anthropometric and physical performance testing is commonly done in lifestyle research and is traditionally performed in-person. To expand the scalability of lifestyle interventions among cancer survivors, in-person assessments were adapted to remote means and evaluated for feasibility, safety, validity, and reliability. (2) Methods: Cancer survivors and supportive partners were approached to participate in three anthropometric and physical performance testing sessions (two remote/one in-person). Correlations, concordance, and differences between testing modes were evaluated. (3) Results: 110-of-112 individuals approached for testing participated (98% uptake); the sample was 78% female, 64% non-Hispanic White, of mean age 58 years and body mass index = 32.4 kg/m2. ICCs for remote assessments ranged from moderate (8’ walk = 0.47), to strong (8’ get-up-and-go = 0.74), to very strong (30 s chair stand = 0.80; sit-and-reach = 0.86; 2 min step test = 0.87; back scratch = 0.90; weight = 0.93; waist circumference = 0.98) (p-values < 0.001). Perfect concordance (100%) was found for side-by-side and semi-tandem balance, and 87.5–90.3% for tandem balance. No significant differences between remote and in-person assessments were found for weight, 8’ walk, and 8’ get-up-and-go. No adverse events occurred and 75% indicated no preference or preferred virtual testing to in-person. (4) Conclusions: Remote anthropometric and physical performance assessments are reliable, valid, acceptable, and safe among cancer survivors and supportive partners.
Circulating Proteins Associated with Response and Resistance to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer
Authors: Chantada-Vázquez María del Pilar , Conde-Amboage Mercedes , Graña-López Lucía , Vázquez-Estévez Sergio , Bravo Susana B. , Núñez Cristina
Published: February 2022

Despite the increasing use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in HER2-positive breast cancer (BC) patients, the clinical problem of predicting individual treatment response remains unanswered. Furthermore, the use of ineffective chemotherapeutic regimens should be avoided. Serum biomarker levels are being studied more and more for their ability to predict therapy response and aid in the development of personalized treatment regimens. This study aims to identify effective protein networks and biomarkers to predict response to NAC in HER2-positive BC patients through an exhaustive large-scale LC-MS/MS-based qualitative and quantitative proteomic profiling of serum samples from responders and non-responders. Serum samples from HER2-positive BC patients were collected before NAC and were processed by three methods (with and without nanoparticles). The qualitative analysis revealed differences in the proteomic profiles between responders and non-responders, mainly in proteins implicated in the complement and coagulation cascades and apolipoproteins. Qualitative analysis confirmed that three proteins (AFM, SERPINA1, APOD) were correlated with NAC resistance. In this study, we show that serum biomarker profiles can predict treatment response and outcome in the neoadjuvant setting. If these findings are further developed, they will be of significant clinical utility in the design of treatment regimens for individual BC patients.
(Neo)Adjuvant Treatment of Locally Advanced Esophageal and Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma: Special Focus on Sex Differences
Authors: Zander Thomas , Wagner Anna Dorothea
Published: February 2022

Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction is a common disease. This disease is significantly more prevalent in men, although the main underlying risk factor has an equal sex distribution. In locally advanced disease, multimodal therapy has been developed as the standard in the western world. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy or perioperative chemotherapy using the FLOT regimen was established as the standard. Most recently, adjuvant immunotherapy after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery has been introduced into the multimodal therapy. Substantial sex-specific differences in outcome in multimodal therapy have been described in retrospective subgroup analysis. Further studies are warranted to dissect the sex-specific differences in these treatment regimens.
State of the Art and Future Implications of SH003: Acting as a Therapeutic Anticancer Agent
Authors: Lee Kangwook , Youn Bo-Young , Choi Yu-Jeong , Moon Seunghwan , Im Jungkwun , Cho Kyongha , Ko Seong-Gyu , Cheon Chunhoo
Published: February 2022

Cancer ranks as the first leading cause of death globally. Despite the various types of cancer treatments, negative aspects of the treatments, such as side effects and drug resistance, have been a continuous dilemma for patients. Thus, natural compounds and herbal medicines have earned profound interest as chemopreventive agents for reducing burden for patients. SH003, a novel herbal medicine containing Astragalus membranaceus, Angelica gigas, and Trichosanthes kirilowii, showed the potential to act as an anticancer agent in previous research studies. A narrative review was conducted to present the significant highlights of the total 15 SH003 studies from the past nine years. SH003 has shown positive results in both in vivo and vitro studies against various types of cancer cells; furthermore, the first clinical trial was performed to identify the maximum tolerated dose among solid cancer patients. So far, the potential of SH003 as a chemotherapeutic agent has been well-documented in research studies; continuous work on SH003’s efficacy and safety is required to facilitate better cancer patient care but is part of the knowledge needed to understand whether SH003 has the potential to become a pharmaceutical.
Outcomes of Different Haploidentical Transplantation Strategies from the Taiwan Blood and Marrow Transplantation Registry
Authors: Tsai Xavier Cheng-Hong , Chen Tzu-Ting , Gau Jyh-Pyng , Wang Po-Nan , Liu Yi-Chang , Lien Ming-Yu , Li Chi-Cheng , Yao Ming , Ko Bor-Sheng
Published: February 2022

Background: The two most noteworthy strategies for haploidentical stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) are posttransplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy) with or without thymoglobulin (ATG) and granulocyte colony stimulating factor-primed bone marrow plus peripheral blood stem cells (GIAC). We aimed to compare these approaches in patients with hematological malignancies. Methods: We enrolled 178 patients undergoing haplo-HSCT, including modified GIAC (mGIAC), PTCy without ATG, and PTCy with ATG. Results: The patients in the mGIAC group had the most favorable platelet and neutrophil engraftment kinetics. Although the grade III–IV acute graft-versus-host-disease (GvHD) rates were similar, those receiving mGIAC had a significantly higher extensive chronic GvHD rate. The patients receiving mGIAC had a similar cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) to that in the patients receiving PTCy with ATG, but this was lower than that in the patients receiving PTCy without ATG. The patients receiving mGIAC had the lowest nonrelapse mortality (NRM) and the highest overall survival (OS) rates. The differences in CIR, NRM, and OS remained significant when focusing on patients with low/intermediate-risk diseases before haplo-HSCT. Intriguingly, among patients with high/very-high-risk diseases before haplo-HSCT, no differences were observed in the CIR, NRM, OS, or GvHD/relapse-free survival. Conclusion: the mGIAC approach may yield a better outcome in Taiwanese patients with hematologic malignancies, especially for those with low/intermediate-risk diseases.
Toward More Comprehensive Homologous Recombination Deficiency Assays in Ovarian Cancer Part 2: Medical Perspectives
Authors: Quesada Stanislas , Fabbro Michel , Solassol Jérôme
Published: February 2022

High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the most frequent and aggressive form of ovarian cancer, representing an important challenge for clinicians. Half of HGSOC cases have homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), which has specific causes (mainly alterations in BRCA1/2, but also other alterations encompassed by the BRCAness concept) and consequences, both at molecular (e.g., genomic instability) and clinical (e.g., sensitivity to PARP inhibitor) levels. Based on its prevalence and clinical impact, HRD status merits investigation. To date, three PARP inhibitors have received FDA/EMA approval. For some approvals, the presence of specific molecular alterations is required. Three companion diagnostic (CDx) assays based on distinct technical and medical considerations have received FDA approval to date. However, their use remains controversial due to their technical and medical limitations. In this companion and integrated review, we take a “bench-to-bedside” perspective on HRD definition and evaluation in the context of HGSOC. Part 1 of the review adopts a molecular perspective regarding technical considerations and the development of CDx. Part 2 focuses on the clinical impact of HRD evaluation, primarily through currently validated CDx and prescription of PARP inhibitors, outlining achievements, limitations and medical perspectives.
Research Progress and Reaction Mechanism of CO2 Methanation over Ni-Based Catalysts at Low Temperature: A Review
Authors: Li Li , Zeng Wenqing , Song Mouxiao , Wu Xueshuang , Li Guiying , Hu Changwei
Published: February 2022

The combustion of fossil fuels has led to a large amount of carbon dioxide emissions and increased greenhouse effect. Methanation of carbon dioxide can not only mitigate the greenhouse effect, but also utilize the hydrogen generated by renewable electricity such as wind, solar, tidal energy, and others, which could ameliorate the energy crisis to some extent. Highly efficient catalysts and processes are important to make CO2 methanation practical. Although noble metal catalysts exhibit higher catalytic activity and CH4 selectivity at low temperature, their large-scale industrial applications are limited by the high costs. Ni-based catalysts have attracted extensive attention due to their high activity, low cost, and abundance. At the same time, it is of great importance to study the mechanism of CO2 methanation on Ni-based catalysts in designing high-activity and stability catalysts. Herein, the present review focused on the recent progress of CO2 methanation and the key parameters of catalysts including the essential nature of nickel active sites, supports, promoters, and preparation methods, and elucidated the reaction mechanism on Ni-based catalysts. The design and preparation of catalysts with high activity and stability at low temperature as well as the investigation of the reaction mechanism are important areas that deserve further study.
Free Fatty Acid Receptors (FFARs) in Adipose: Physiological Role and Therapeutic Outlook
Authors: Al Mahri Saeed , Malik Shuja Shafi , Al Ibrahim Maria , Haji Esraa , Dairi Ghida , Mohammad Sameer
Published: February 2022

Fatty acids (FFAs) are important biological molecules that serve as a major energy source and are key components of biological membranes. In addition, FFAs play important roles in metabolic regulation and contribute to the development and progression of metabolic disorders like diabetes. Recent studies have shown that FFAs can act as important ligands of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) on the surface of cells and impact key physiological processes. Free fatty acid-activated receptors include FFAR1 (GPR40), FFAR2 (GPR43), FFAR3 (GPR41), and FFAR4 (GPR120). FFAR2 and FFAR3 are activated by short-chain fatty acids like acetate, propionate, and butyrate, whereas FFAR1 and FFAR4 are activated by medium- and long-chain fatty acids like palmitate, oleate, linoleate, and others. FFARs have attracted considerable attention over the last few years and have become attractive pharmacological targets in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Several lines of evidence point to their importance in the regulation of whole-body metabolic homeostasis including adipose metabolism. Here, we summarize our current understanding of the physiological functions of FFAR isoforms in adipose biology and explore the prospect of FFAR-based therapies to treat patients with obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
Divalent Metal Ions Boost Effect of Nucleic Acids Delivered by Cell-Penetrating Peptides
Authors: Maloverjan Maria , Padari Kärt , Abroi Aare , Rebane Ana , Pooga Margus
Published: February 2022

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are promising tools for the transfection of various substances, including nucleic acids, into cells. The aim of the current work was to search for novel safe and effective approaches for enhancing transfection efficiency of nanoparticles formed from CPP and splice-correcting oligonucleotide (SCO) without increasing the concentration of peptide. We analyzed the effect of inclusion of calcium and magnesium ions into nanoparticles on CPP-mediated transfection in cell culture. We also studied the mechanism of such transfection as well as its efficiency, applicability in case of different cell lines, nucleic acid types and peptides, and possible limitations. We discovered a strong positive effect of these ions on transfection efficiency of SCO, that translated to enhanced synthesis of functional reporter protein. We observed significant changes in intracellular distribution and trafficking of nanoparticles formed by the addition of the ions, without increasing cytotoxicity. We propose a novel strategy for preparing CPP-oligonucleotide nanoparticles with enhanced efficiency and, thus, higher therapeutic potential. Our discovery may be translated to primary cell cultures and, possibly, in vivo studies, with the aim of increasing CPP-mediated transfection efficiency and the likelihood of using CPPs in clinics.