bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preoperative Progressive Pneumoperitoneum in the Treatment of Hernias With Loss of Domain. Our Experience in 50 Cases
Authors: Subirana Helena , Comas Jaume , Crusellas Oriol , Robres Joaquim , Barri Joan , Domenech Ana , Borlado Cristina , Castellví Jordi
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Surgical planning for repair of giant hernias with loss of domain needs to consider patient comorbidities, potential risks and possible postoperative complications. Some postoperative complications are related to the increase in intra-abdominal pressure caused by the reintroduction of abdominal contents into the peritoneal space. Preoperative progressive pneumoperitoneum (PPP) increases the capacity of abdominal cavity prior to hernia repair and allows for better physiological postoperative adaptation. The aim of this study is to analyze perioperative and intraoperative characteristics as well as outcomes of a cohort of patients treated with PPP prior to giant hernia repair at a single, high volume center.

Methods: Prospective, descriptive, observational single-center study including 50 patients undergoing PPP prior to hernia with loss of domain repair between January 2005 and June 2022. We analysed epidemiological, surgical and safety variables.

Results: Fifty patients were included: 43 incisional hernias, 6 inguinal hernias and 1 umbilical hernia. Mean age was 66 years (36–85). Median insufflation time was 12 days (4–20) and median insufflated volume of ambient air was 10,036 cc. There were complications during PPP in nine patients: 2 decompensation of chronic respiratory disease and 7 subcutaneous emphysema. PPP was prematurely suspended in patients with respiratory decompensation. All patients with incisional and umbilical hernias underwent open repair with mesh placement. Preperitoneal repair was performed in inguinal hernias. Three cases of hernia recurrence were reported during the follow up.

Conclusion: PPP is a safe and effective tool in the preoperative management of patients with giant hernias. It helps to achieve the decrease or absence of abdominal wall tension and can favour the results of complex eventroplasty techniques.
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure Analysis to Construct a Core Collection from Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) Germplasm through SSR Markers
Authors: Kumar Gaddam Prasanna , Pathania Pooja , Goyal Nitu , Gupta Nishu , Parimalan R. , Radhamani J. , Gomashe Sunil Shriram , Kadirvel Palchamy , Rajkumar S.
Published: April 2023

Genetic resources are the fundamental source of diversity available to plant breeders for the improvement of desired traits. However, a large germplasm set is difficult to preserve and use as a working collection in genetic studies. Hence, the present study evaluates the genetic diversity of 3115 safflower accessions from the Indian National Gene Bank, including Indian cultivars, to develop a manageable set of accessions, with similar genetic variations of germplasm studied. A total of 18 polymorphic SSR markers were used. The genetic diversity analysis revealed that germplasm accessions were highly diverse and there is no correlation between genetic diversity and the geographical collection of germplasm or sourcing of germplasm. A core set was developed using a core hunter software with different levels of composition, and it was found that 10% of the accessions showed maximum gene diversity and represented an equal number of alleles and major allele frequency in the germplasm studied. The developed core consisted of 351 accessions, including Indian cultivars, and they were validated with various genetic parameters to ascertain that they were a true core set for the studied accessions of safflower germplasm.
Potential Applications of Core-Shell Nanoparticles in Construction Industry Revisited
Authors: Huseien Ghasan Fahim
Published: April 2023

The demand of high performance and environmentally sustainable construction materials is ever-increasing in the construction industry worldwide. The rapid growth of nanotechnology and diverse nanomaterials’ accessibility has provided an impulse for the uses of smart construction components like nano-alumina, nano-silica, nano-kaolin, nano-titanium, and so forth Amongst various nanostructures, the core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) have received much interests for wide applications in the field of phase change materials, energy storage, high performance pigments, coating agents, self-cleaning and self-healing systems, etc., due to their distinct properties. Through the fine-tuning of the shells and cores of NPS, various types of functional materials with tailored properties can be achieved, indicating their great potential for the construction applications. In this perception, this paper overviewed the past, present and future of core-shell NPs-based materials that are viable for the construction sectors. In addition, several other applications of the core-shell NPs in the construction industries are emphasized and discussed. Considerable benefits of the core-shell NPs for pigments, phase change components, polymer composites, and self-cleaning glasses with enhanced properties are also underlined. Effect of high performance core-shell NPs type, size and content on the construction materials sustainability are highlighted.
Atmospheric Boundary Layer Processes, Characteristics and Parameterization
Authors: Li Yubin , Tang Jie
Published: April 2023

The atmospheric boundary layer is distinguished from the rest of the atmosphere due to its unique characteristics, i [...]
Climate Network Analysis Detects Hot Spots under Anthropogenic Climate Change
Authors: Kuai Haiming , Yu Ping , Liu Wenqi , Zhang Yongwen , Fan Jingfang
Published: April 2023

Anthropogenic climate change poses a significant threat to both natural and social systems worldwide. In this study, we aim to identify regions most impacted by climate change using the National Centers for Environmental Prediction and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP-NCAR) reanalysis of near-surface daily air temperature data spanning 73 years (1948–2020). We develop a novel climate network framework to identify “hot spots”, regions that exhibit significant impact or impacted characteristics. Specifically, we use the node degree, a fundamental feature of the network, to measure the influence of each region and analyze its trend over time using the Mann–Kendall test. Our findings reveal that the majority of land areas experiencing increasing degrees are more closely connected to other regions, while the ocean shows the opposite trend due to weakened oceanic circulations. In particular, the degree in the central Pacific Ocean’s El Niño region is significantly reduced. Notably, we identify three “hot spots” in East Asia, South America, and North Africa, respectively, with intensive increasing network degree fields. Additionally, we find that the hot spot in East Asia is teleconnected to remote regions, such as the South Pacific, Siberia, and North America, with stronger teleconnections in recent years. This provides a new perspective for assessing the planetary impacts of anthropogenic global warming. By using a novel climate network framework, our study highlights regions that are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and emphasizes the importance of understanding network structures to assess the global impacts of anthropogenic climate change.
Parallelization Strategies for Graph-Code-Based Similarity Search
Authors: Steinert Patrick , Wagenpfeil Stefan , Mc Kevitt Paul , Frommholz Ingo , Hemmje Matthias
Published: April 2023

The volume of multimedia assets in collections is growing exponentially, and the retrieval of information is becoming more complex. The indexing and retrieval of multimedia content is generally implemented by employing feature graphs. Feature graphs contain semantic information on multimedia assets. Machine learning can produce detailed semantic information on multimedia assets, reflected in a high volume of nodes and edges in the feature graphs. While increasing the effectiveness of the information retrieval results, the high level of detail and also the growing collections increase the processing time. Addressing this problem, Multimedia Feature Graphs (MMFGs) and Graph Codes (GCs) have been proven to be fast and effective structures for information retrieval. However, the huge volume of data requires more processing time. As Graph Code algorithms were designed to be parallelizable, different paths of parallelization can be employed to prove or evaluate the scalability options of Graph Code processing. These include horizontal and vertical scaling with the use of Graphic Processing Units (GPUs), Multicore Central Processing Units (CPUs), and distributed computing. In this paper, we show how different parallelization strategies based on Graph Codes can be combined to provide a significant improvement in efficiency. Our modeling work shows excellent scalability with a theoretical speedup of 16,711 on a top-of-the-line Nvidia H100 GPU with 16,896 cores. Our experiments with a mediocre GPU show that a speedup of 225 can be achieved and give credence to the theoretical speedup. Thus, Graph Codes provide fast and effective multimedia indexing and retrieval, even in billion-scale use cases.
A Study on Consumers’ Perceptions of Museum Cultural and Creative Products through Online Textual Reviews: An Example from Palace Museum’s Cultural and Creative Flagship Store
Authors: Huang Huiqian , Chen He , Zhan Yihong
Published: April 2023

The digital transformation and innovative development of museums have led consumers to increasingly prefer purchasing museum cultural and creative products through e-commerce platforms. Although this trend shows potential for market growth, the lack of distinct cultural identity and insufficient product differentiation hinder its stable development. Therefore, this study aims to explore consumers’ perceptions on Palace Museum’s cultural and creative products using cultural hierarchy theory. Taking the Palace Museum’s Cultural and Creative Flagship Store on Tmall.com as a case study, the employed evaluation method involves constructing a lexicon of cultural features using Word2vec model and then analyzing online textual reviews to identify these features. Results reveal that among the various cultural features of the products, consumers placed the greatest emphasis on “Materials used” and the least on “Specialty craft”. With regards to the cultural features of inner “intangible” level, consumers tend to have a limited comprehension and familiarity with the cultural heritage and histories behind the products. This study provides suggestions to museum professionals to optimize the use of traditional cultural resources and develop a product development plan.
Arginase Inhibition Mitigates Bortezomib-Exacerbated Cardiotoxicity in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Paterek Aleksandra , Oknińska Marta , Pilch Zofia , Sosnowska Anna , Ramji Kavita , Mackiewicz Urszula , Golab Jakub , Nowis Dominika , Mączewski Michał
Published: April 2023

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, while MM therapies also result in adverse cardiac effects. Endothelial dysfunction and impaired nitric oxide (NO) pathway is their possible mediator. Objective: Since MM is associated with increased arginase expression, resulting in the consumption of ʟ-arginine, precursor for NO synthesis, our aim was to test if cardiotoxicity mediated by MM and MM therapeutic, bortezomib (a proteasome inhibitor), can be ameliorated by an arginase inhibitor through improved endothelial function. Methods: We used a mouse Vĸ*MYC model of non-light chain MM. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography. Results: MM resulted in progressive left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction, and bortezomib exacerbated this effect, leading to significant impairment of LV performance. An arginase inhibitor, OAT-1746, protected the heart against bortezomib- or MM-induced toxicity but did not completely prevent the effects of the MM+bortezomib combination. MM was associated with improved endothelial function (assessed as NO production) vs. healthy controls, while bortezomib did not affect it. OAT-1746 improved endothelial function only in healthy mice. NO plasma concentration was increased by OAT-1746 but was not affected by MM or bortezomib. Conclusions: Bortezomib exacerbates MM-mediated LV systolic dysfunction in a mouse model of MM, while an arginase inhibitor partially prevents it. Endothelium does not mediate either these adverse or beneficial effects. This suggests that proteasome inhibitors should be used with caution in patients with advanced myeloma, where the summation of cardiotoxicity could be expected. Therapies aimed at the NO pathway, in particular arginase inhibitors, could offer promise in the prevention/treatment of cardiotoxicity in MM.
Artificial Intelligence Applied to Colonoscopy: Is It Time to Take a Step Forward?
Authors: Gimeno-García Antonio Z. , Hernández-Pérez Anjara , Nicolás-Pérez David , Hernández-Guerra Manuel
Published: April 2023

Growing evidence indicates that artificial intelligence (AI) applied to medicine is here to stay. In gastroenterology, AI computer vision applications have been stated as a research priority. The two main AI system categories are computer-aided polyp detection (CADe) and computer-assisted diagnosis (CADx). However, other fields of expansion are those related to colonoscopy quality, such as methods to objectively assess colon cleansing during the colonoscopy, as well as devices to automatically predict and improve bowel cleansing before the examination, predict deep submucosal invasion, obtain a reliable measurement of colorectal polyps and accurately locate colorectal lesions in the colon. Although growing evidence indicates that AI systems could improve some of these quality metrics, there are concerns regarding cost-effectiveness, and large and multicentric randomized studies with strong outcomes, such as post-colonoscopy colorectal cancer incidence and mortality, are lacking. The integration of all these tasks into one quality-improvement device could facilitate the incorporation of AI systems in clinical practice. In this manuscript, the current status of the role of AI in colonoscopy is reviewed, as well as its current applications, drawbacks and areas for improvement.
Crystal Structure of a Classical MHC Class I Molecule in Dogs; Comparison of DLA-88*0 and DLA-88*5 Category Molecules
Authors: Sun Yujiao , Ma Lizhen , Li Shen , Wang Yawen , Xiao Ruiqi , Yang Junqi , Dijkstra Johannes M. , Xia Chun
Published: April 2023

DLA-88 is a classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I gene in dogs, and allelic DLA-88 molecules have been divided into two categories named “DLA-88*0” and “DLA-88*5.” The defining difference between the two categories concerns an LQW motif in the α2 domain helical region of the DLA-88*5 molecules that includes the insertion of an extra amino acid compared to MHC class I consensus length. We here show that this motif has been exchanged by recombination between different DLA-88 evolutionary lineages. Previously, with pDLA-88*508:01, the structure of a molecule of the DLA-88*5 category was elucidated. The present study is the first to elucidate a structure, using X-ray crystallography, of the DLA-88*0 category, namely DLA-88*001:04 complexed with β2m and a nonamer peptide derived from canine distemper virus (CDV). The LQW motif that distinguishes DLA-88*5 from DLA-88*0 causes a shallower peptide binding groove (PBG) and a leucine exposed at the top of the α2 domain helix expected to affect T cell selection. Peptide ligand amino acid substitution and pMHC-I complex formation and stability analyses revealed that P2 and P3 are the major anchor residue positions for binding to DLA-88*001:04. We speculate that the distribution pattern of the LQW motif among canine classical MHC class I alleles represents a strategy to enhance allogeneic rejection by T cells of transmissible cancers such as canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT).
DPP8 Selective Inhibitor Tominostat as a Novel and Broad-Spectrum Anticancer Agent against Hematological Malignancies
Authors: Kikuchi Shohei , Wada Akinori , Kamihara Yusuke , Okazaki Kosuke , Jawaid Paras , Rehman Mati Ur , Kobayashi Eiji , Susukida Takeshi , Minemura Tomoki , Nabe Yoshimi , Iwao Noriaki , Ozawa Tatsuhiko , Hatano Ryo , Yamada Mitsugu , Kishi Hiroyuki , Matsuya Yuji , Mizuguchi Mineyuki , Hayakawa Yoshihiro , Dang Nam H. , Sakamoto Yasumitsu , Morimoto Chikao , Sato Tsutomu
Published: April 2023

DPP8/9 inhibition induces either pyroptotic or apoptotic cell death in hematological malignancies. We previously reported that treatment with the DPP8/9 inhibitor 1G244 resulted in apoptotic cell death in myeloma, and our current study further evaluates the mechanism of action of 1G244 in different blood cancer cell lines. Specifically, 1G244 inhibited DPP9 to induce GSDMD-mediated-pyroptosis at low concentrations and inhibited DPP8 to cause caspase-3-mediated-apoptosis at high concentrations. HCK expression is necessary to induce susceptibility to pyroptosis but does not participate in the induction of apoptosis. To further characterize this DPP8-dependent broad-spectrum apoptosis induction effect, we evaluated the potential antineoplastic role for an analog of 1G244 with higher DPP8 selectivity, tominostat (also known as 12 m). In vitro studies demonstrated that the cytotoxic effect of 1G244 at high concentrations was enhanced in tominostat. Meanwhile, in vivo work showed tominostat exhibited antitumor activity that was more effective on a cell line sensitive to 1G244, and at higher doses, it was also effective on a cell line resistant to 1G244. Importantly, the weight loss morbidity associated with increasing doses of 1G244 was not observed with tominostat. These results suggest the possible development of novel drugs with antineoplastic activity against selected hematological malignancies by refining and increasing the DPP8 selectivity of tominostat.
Sovereign Bond Yield Differentials across Europe: A Structural Entropy Perspective
Authors: Warin Thierry , Stojkov Aleksandar
Published: April 2023

This study uses structural entropy as a valuable method for studying complex networks in a macro-finance context, such as the European government bond market. We make two contributions to the empirical literature on sovereign bond markets and entropy in complex networks. Firstly, our article contributes to the empirical literature on the disciplinary function of credit markets from an entropy perspective. In particular, we study bond yield differentials at an average daily frequency among EU countries’ 10-year Eurobonds issued between 1 January 1997, and 4 October 2022. Secondly, the article brings a methodological novelty by incorporating an entropy perspective to the study of government bond yield differentials and European capital market integration. Entropy-based methods hold strong potential to bring new sources of dynamism and valuable contributions to the areas of macroeconomics and finance.
Application of the RAPS Method for Determining the Dependence of Nitrate Concentration in Groundwater on the Amount of Precipitation
Authors: Šrajbek Marko , Đurin Bojan , Sušilović Petra , Singh Suraj Kumar
Published: April 2023

Protecting groundwater from contamination is today’s most current environmental protection topic. What can man do in his environment to reduce the harmful impact of contamination on the environment, and thus the immediate effect on groundwater? Agricultural production is an ongoing source of groundwater contamination due to the increasingly frequent use of nitrates in fertilizers, which are washed out from the soil into groundwater due to precipitation. This paper investigates three wellfields in the north of the Republic of Croatia near the town of Varaždin. With the application of the RAPS method, the dependence of nitrate concentration in groundwater on the amount of precipitation was established. The analysis results show the connection of the observed parameters, especially in the upper aquifer layer. In this layer, the coefficients of correlation are greater than 0.80 at all locations, which shows a strong positive connection between the parameters. In the lower aquifer, the values of the coefficients of correlation are lower, and the results mostly indicate a weak correlation. The obtained results will serve as a starting point for future studies, which will aim to precisely determine the factors that influence groundwater quality in the observed area.
Impact of Static Air-Gap Eccentricity Fault on Synchronous Generator Efficiency
Authors: He Yu-Ling , Tang Ling , Sun Kai , Zhang Wen-Hao , Wu Xue-Wei , Wang Hai-Peng
Published: April 2023

This paper presents a precise analysis of the efficiency characteristic of the synchronous generator under both normal and SAGE conditions. In this work, various losses of the synchronous generator are computed by the qualitative theoretical model and the finite element analysis in detail. Further, the generator efficiency model is proposed according to the relationship between the output power and the loss. The presented model is verified in a 5-kW non-salient synchronous generator. The result demonstrates that the loss increases and the efficiency reduce as the SAGE intensifies.
Application of the Calcium Looping Process for Thermochemical Storage of Variable Energy
Authors: Atkinson Kelly , Hughes Robin , Macchi Arturo
Published: April 2023

The calcium looping (CaL) process, which exploits the reversible calcination of calcium carbonate, has been proposed as a solution to the challenges facing deployment of concentrated solar power (CSP). As an extension of the work undertaken to date, this project proposes a novel configuration of the CSP-CaL process which may offer advantages over other proposed configurations, including a reduction in process equipment requirements, elimination of pressure differentials between vessels, and a reduction in compression duty during the energy discharge period. The results obtained through process simulation indicate that the proposed process can achieve round-trip efficiencies in the range of 32–46% and energy storage densities in the range of 0.3–1.0 GJ/m3. These parameters are strongly dependent on the residual conversion of the CaO sorbent as well as the efficiency of the power cycles used to remove heat on the carbonator side of the process.
Induction Motor Bearing Fault Diagnosis Based on Singular Value Decomposition of the Stator Current
Authors: Zhukovskiy Yuriy , Buldysko Aleksandra , Revin Ilia
Published: April 2023

Among the most widespread systems in industrial plants are automated drive systems, the key and most common element of which is the induction motor. In view of challenging operating conditions of equipment, the task of fault detection based on the analysis of electrical parameters is relevant. The authors propose the identification of patterns characterizing the occurrence and development of the bearing defect by the singular analysis method as applied to the stator current signature. As a result of the decomposition, the time series of the three-phase current are represented by singular triples ordered by decreasing contribution, which are reconstructed into the form of time series for subsequent analysis using a Hankelization of matrices. Experimental studies with bearing damage imitation made it possible to establish the relationship between the changes in the contribution of the reconstructed time series and the presence of different levels of bearing defects. By using the contribution level and tracking the movement of the specific time series, it became possible to observe both the appearance of new components in the current signal and the changes in the contribution of the components corresponding to the defect to the overall structure. The authors verified the clustering results based on a visual assessment of the component matrices’ structure similarity using scattergrams and hierarchical clustering. The reconstruction of the time series from the results of the component grouping allows the use of these components for the subsequent prediction of faults development in electric motors.
Potential Effects of Oral Isotretinoin on Growth Plate and Height
Authors: Cardoso-Demartini Adriane A. , Boguszewski Cesar Luiz , Boguszewski Margaret C. S.
Published: April 2023

Longitudinal growth and puberty are the result of a complex interaction of genetic, hormonal, nutritional, and environmental factors. Acne vulgaris is a chronic disease of the pilosebaceous unit that affects 85% of adolescents worldwide. Isotretinoin is a synthetic vitamin A derivative drug effective and is widely employed for the treatment of moderate and severe acne vulgaris. Premature epiphyseal closure has been reported in patients with neuroblastoma treated with high doses of isotretinoin as well as in patients with acne receiving lower doses. Although the mechanisms for these effects are not clear, it has been suggested that isotretinoin may have a negative impact on the GH-IGF-I axis, leading to a reduction in IGF-I and IGFBP3 serum levels. Although many of the isotretinoin adverse effects in pediatric patients are transient, premature epiphyseal closure and bone abnormalities can lead to transient abnormalities and permanent deformities with a negative impact on longitudinal growth and final height. The aim of this study was to review the potential effects of oral isotretinoin on the growth plate and growth during childhood and adolescence.
Gel Dosimetry
Authors: Gallo Salvatore , Locarno Silvia
Published: April 2023

The purpose of radiation therapy (RT) is to cover tumor tissue homogeneously with a planned dose while minimizing the dose to the surrounding healthy tissue [...]
Seasonal Changes in the Prediction Accuracy of Hayfield Productivity Using Sentinel-2 Remote-Sensing Data in Hokkaido, Japan
Authors: Kiyama Ruka , Uchida Yoshitaka
Published: April 2023

In large hayfields belonging to intensive dairy systems, satellite remote-sensing data can be useful to determine the hayfield yield and quality efficiently. In this study, we compared the land survey data of hayfield yield, and its quality parameters such as crude protein and neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDF), with the Sentinel-2 satellite image data for thirteen hayfield paddocks in Kamishihoro region, Hokkaido, Japan. Commonly used indices derived from the satellite image data, including the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), were used to assess the hayfield yield and quality. In this region, hayfields are usually harvested twice yearly, in early summer (first harvest) and late summer (second harvest). As result, the Sentinel-2 data could predict the pasture growth and quality for the first harvest better than those for the second harvest. The EVI and the index based on the bands B8a and B7 were the best predictors for the biomass and NDF for the first harvest, respectively. However, the satellite-image-based predictors were not found for the second harvest. Towards the second harvest season, the color of the hayfield surface became more heterogeneous because of the flowering of weeds and uneven pasture growth, which made it challenging to predict pasture growth based on the remote-sensing data. Our land survey approach (quadrat-based sampling from a small area) should also be improved to compare the remote-sensing data and the pasture with uneven growth.
Relationship between Vitamin D and Immunity in Older People with COVID-19
Authors: Lauretani Fulvio , Salvi Marco , Zucchini Irene , Testa Crescenzo , Cattabiani Chiara , Arisi Arianna , Maggio Marcello
Published: April 2023

Vitamin D is a group of lipophilic hormones with pleiotropic actions. It has been traditionally related to bone metabolism, although several studies in the last decade have suggested its role in sarcopenia, cardiovascular and neurological diseases, insulin-resistance and diabetes, malignancies, and autoimmune diseases and infections. In the pandemic era, by considering the response of the different branches of the immune system to SARS-CoV-2 infection, our aims are both to analyse, among the pleiotropic effects of vitamin D, how its strong multimodal modulatory effect on the immune system is able to affect the pathophysiology of COVID-19 disease and to emphasise a possible relationship between the well-known circannual fluctuations in blood levels of this hormone and the epidemiological trend of this infection, particularly in the elderly population. The biologically active form of vitamin D, or calcitriol, can influence both the innate and the adaptive arm of the immune response. Calcifediol levels have been found to be inversely correlated with upper respiratory tract infections in several studies, and this activity seems to be related to its role in the innate immunity. Cathelicidin is one of the main underlying mechanisms since this peptide increases the phagocytic and germicidal activity acting as chemoattractant for neutrophils and monocytes, and representing the first barrier in the respiratory epithelium to pathogenic invasion. Furthermore, vitamin D exerts a predominantly inhibitory action on the adaptive immune response, and it influences either cell-mediated or humoral immunity through suppression of B cells proliferation, immunoglobulins production or plasma cells differentiation. This role is played by promoting the shift from a type 1 to a type 2 immune response. In particular, the suppression of Th1 response is due to the inhibition of T cells proliferation, pro-inflammatory cytokines production (e.g., INF-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-17) and macrophage activation. Finally, T cells also play a fundamental role in viral infectious diseases. CD4 T cells provide support to B cells antibodies production and coordinate the activity of the other immunological cells; moreover, CD8 T lymphocytes remove infected cells and reduce viral load. For all these reasons, calcifediol could have a protective role in the lung damage produced by COVID-19 by both modulating the sensitivity of tissue to angiotensin II and promoting overexpression of ACE-2. Promising results for the potential effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation in reducing the severity of COVID-19 disease was demonstrated in a pilot clinical trial of 76 hospitalised patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection where oral calcifediol administration reduced the need for ICU treatment. These interesting results need to be confirmed in larger studies with available information on vitamin D serum levels.
Novel Insights into circRNA Saga Coming from Spermatozoa and Epididymis of HFD Mice
Authors: Manfrevola Francesco , Chioccarelli Teresa , Mele Vincenza Grazia , Porreca Veronica , Mattia Monica , Cimini Donatella , D’Agostino Antonella , Cobellis Gilda , Fasano Silvia , Schiraldi Chiara , Chianese Rosanna , Pierantoni Riccardo
Published: April 2023

Obesity is a pathophysiological disorder associated with adiposity accumulation, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation state that is progressively increasing in younger population worldwide, negatively affecting male reproductive skills. An emerging topic in the field of male reproduction is circRNAs, covalently closed RNA molecules produced by backsplicing, actively involved in a successful spermatogenesis and in establishing high-quality sperm parameters. However, a direct correlation between obesity and impaired circRNA cargo in spermatozoa (SPZ) remains unclear. In the current work, using C57BL6/J male mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD, 60% fat) as experimental model of oxidative stress, we investigated the impact of HFD on sperm morphology and motility as well as on spermatic circRNAs. We performed a complete dataset of spermatic circRNA content by a microarray strategy, and differentially expressed (DE)-circRNAs were identified. Using a circRNA/miRNA/target network (ceRNET) analysis, we identified circRNAs potentially involved in oxidative stress and sperm motility pathways. Interestingly, we demonstrated an enhanced skill of HFD sperm in backsplicing activity together with an inefficient epididymal circRNA biogenesis. Fused protein in sarcoma (FUS) and its ability to recruit quaking (QKI) could be involved in orchestrating such mechanism.
Imbalance of Essential Metals in Traumatic Brain Injury and Its Possible Link with Disorders of Consciousness
Authors: Squitti Rosanna , Reale Giuseppe , Tondolo Vincenzo , Crescenti Daniela , Bellini Sonia , Moci Marco , Caliandro Pietro , Padua Luca , Rongioletti Mauro
Published: April 2023

Dysfunction of the complex cerebral networks underlying wakefulness and awareness is responsible for Disorders of Consciousness (DoC). Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a common cause of DoC, and it is responsible for a multi-dimensional pathological cascade that affects the proper functioning of the brainstem and brain consciousness pathways. Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), and Copper (Cu) have a role in the neurophysiology of both the ascending reticular activating system, a multi-neurotransmitter network located in the brainstem that is crucial for consciousness, and several brain regions. We aimed to summarize the role of these essential metals in TBI and its possible link with consciousness alterations. We found that TBI alters many neuronal molecular mechanisms involving essential metals, causing neurodegeneration, neural apoptosis, synaptic dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation. This final pattern resembles that described for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other neurological and psychiatric diseases. Furthermore, we found that amantadine, zolpidem, and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)—the most used treatments for DoC recovery—seem to have an effect on essential metals-related pathways and that Zn might be a promising new therapeutic approach. This review summarizes the neurophysiology of essential metals in the brain structures of consciousness and focuses on the mechanisms underlying their imbalance following TBI, suggesting their possible role in DoC. The scenario supports further studies aimed at getting a deeper insight into metals’ role in DoC, in order to evaluate metal-based drugs, such as metal complexes and metal chelating agents, as potential therapeutic options.
Strong Metal Support Effect of Pt/g-C3N4 Photocatalysts for Boosting Photothermal Synergistic Degradation of Benzene
Authors: Huang Zhongcheng , Cai Xiaorong , Zang Shaohong , Li Yixin , Zheng Dandan , Li Fuying
Published: April 2023

Catalysis is the most efficient and economical method for treating volatile organic pollutants (VOCs). Among the many materials that are used in engineering, platinized carbon nitride (Pt/g-C3N4) is an efficient and multifunctional catalyst which has strong light absorption and mass transfer capabilities, which enable it to be used in photocatalysis, thermal catalysis and photothermal synergistic catalysis for the degradation of benzene. In this work, Pt/g-C3N4 was prepared by four precursors for the photothermal synergistic catalytic degradation of benzene, which show different activities, and many tests were carried out to explore the possible reasons for the discrepancy. Among them, the Pt/g-C3N4 prepared from dicyanamide showed the highest activity and could convert benzene (300 ppm, 20 mL·min−1) completely at 162 °C under solar light and 173 °C under visible light. The reaction temperature was reduced by nearly half compared to the traditional thermal catalytic degradation of benzene at about 300 °C.
RNA Transcripts in Human Ovarian Cells: Two-Time Cryopreservation Does Not Affect Developmental Potential
Authors: Zhou Yang , Wang Wanxue , Todorov Plamen , Pei Cheng , Isachenko Evgenia , Rahimi Gohar , Mallmann Peter , Nawroth Frank , Isachenko Volodimir
Published: April 2023

Sometimes, for medical reasons, when a frozen tissue has already thawed, an operation by re-transplantation may be cancelled, and ovarian tissues should be re-frozen for transplantation next time. Research about the repeated cryopreservation of ovarian cells is rarely reported. It has been published that there is no difference in the follicle densities, proportions of proliferation of early preantral follicles, appearance of atretic follicles, or ultrastructural quality of frozen-thawed and re-frozen-rethawed tissue. However, the molecular mechanisms of a repeated cryopreservation effect on the developmental potential of ovarian cells are unknown. The aim of our experiments was to investigate the effect of re-freezing and re-thawing ovarian tissue on gene expression, gene function annotation, and protein–protein interactions. The morphological and biological activity of primordial, primary, and secondary follicles, aimed at using these follicles for the formation of artificial ovaries, was also detected. Second-generation mRNA sequencing technology with a high throughput and accuracy was adopted to determine the different transcriptome profiles in the cells of four groups: one-time cryopreserved (frozen and thawed) cells (Group 1), two-time cryopreserved (re-frozen and re-thawed after first cryopreservation) cells (Group 2), one-time cryopreserved (frozen and thawed) and in vitro cultured cells (Group 3), and two times cryopreserved (re-frozen and re-thawed after first cryopreservation) and in vitro cultured cells (Group 4). Some minor changes in the primordial, primary, and secondary follicles in terms of the morphology and biological activity were detected, and finally, the availability of these follicles for the formation of artificial ovaries was explored. It was established that during cryopreservation, the CEBPB/CYP19A1 pathway may be involved in regulating estrogen activity and CD44 is crucial for the development of ovarian cells. An analysis of gene expression in cryopreserved ovarian cells indicates that two-time (repeated) cryopreservation does not significantly affect the developmental potential of these cells. For medical reasons, when ovarian tissue is thawed but cannot be transplanted, it can be immediately re-frozen again.
Exploring the Conformational Equilibrium of Mefenamic Acid Released from Silica Aerogels via NMR Analysis
Authors: Khodov Ilya , Sobornova Valentina , Mulloyarova Valeriya , Belov Konstantin , Dyshin Alexey , de Carvalho Luís Batista , Tolstoy Peter , Kiselev Michael
Published: April 2023

This study examines the influence of mefenamic acid on the physical and chemical properties of silica aerogels, as well as its effect on the sorption characteristics of the composite material. Solid state magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) and high-pressure 13C NMR kinetic studies were conducted to identify the presence of mefenamic acid and measure the kinetic rates of CO2 sorption. Additionally, a high-pressure T1–T2 relaxation-relaxation correlation spectroscopy (RRCOSY) study was conducted to estimate the relative amount of mefenamic acid in the aerogel’s pores, and a high-pressure nuclear Overhauser effect spectoscopy (NOESY) study was conducted to investigate the conformational preference of mefenamic acid released from the aerogel. The results indicate that mefenamic acid is affected by the chemical environment of the aerogel, altering the ratio of mefenamic acid conformers from 75% to 25% in its absence to 22% to 78% in the presence of aerogel.
The Utility of Peptide Ligand-Functionalized Liposomes for Subcutaneous Drug Delivery for Arthritis Therapy
Authors: Nanjaiah Hemalatha , Moudgil Kamal D.
Published: April 2023

Liposomes and other types of nanoparticles are increasingly being explored for drug delivery in a variety of diseases. There is an impetus in the field to exploit different types of ligands to functionalize nanoparticles to guide them to the diseased site. Most of this work has been conducted in the cancer field, with relatively much less information from autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Furthermore, in RA, many drugs are self-administered by patients subcutaneously (SC). In this context, we have examined the attributes of liposomes functionalized with a novel joint-homing peptide (denoted ART-1) for arthritis therapy using the SC route. This peptide was previously identified following phage peptide library screening in the rat adjuvant arthritis (AA) model. Our results show a distinct effect of this peptide ligand on increasing the zeta potential of liposomes. Furthermore, liposomes injected SC into arthritic rats showed preferential homing to arthritic joints, following a migration profile in vivo similar to that of intravenously injected liposomes, except for a less steep decline after the peak. Finally, liposomal dexamethasone administered SC was more effective than the unpackaged (free) drug in suppressing arthritis progression in rats. We suggest that with suitable modifications, this SC liposomal treatment modality can be adapted for human RA therapy.
Obesity Is Associated with Distorted Proteoglycan Expression in Adipose Tissue
Authors: Meen Astri J. , Doncheva Atanaska I. , Böttcher Yvonne , Dankel Simon N. , Hoffmann Anne , Blüher Matthias , Fernø Johan , Mellgren Gunnar , Ghosh Adhideb , Sun Wenfei , Dong Hua , Noé Falko , Wolfrum Christian , Pejler Gunnar , Dalen Knut Tomas , Kolset Svein O.
Published: April 2023

Proteoglycans are central components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and binding partners for inflammatory chemokines. Morphological differences in the ECM and increased inflammation are prominent features of the white adipose tissues in patients with obesity. The impact of obesity and weight loss on the expression of specific proteoglycans in adipose tissue is not well known. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between adiposity and proteoglycan expression. We analyzed transcriptomic data from two human bariatric surgery cohorts. In addition, RT-qPCR was performed on adipose tissues from female and male mice fed a high-fat diet. Both visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue depots were analyzed. Adipose mRNA expression of specific proteoglycans, proteoglycan biosynthetic enzymes, proteoglycan partner molecules, and other ECM-related proteins were altered in both human cohorts. We consistently observed more profound alterations in gene expression of ECM targets in the visceral adipose tissues after surgery (among others VCAN (p = 0.000309), OGN (p = 0.000976), GPC4 (p = 0.00525), COL1A1 (p = 0.00221)). Further, gene analyses in mice revealed sex differences in these two tissue compartments in obese mice. We suggest that adipose tissue repair is still in progress long after surgery, which may reflect challenges in remodeling increased adipose tissues. This study can provide the basis for more mechanistic studies on the role of proteoglycans in adipose tissues in obesity.
Flavonols in Action: Targeting Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation in Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Jazvinšćak Jembrek Maja , Oršolić Nada , Karlović Dalibor , Peitl Vjekoslav
Published: April 2023

Major depressive disorder is one of the most common mental illnesses that highly impairs quality of life. Pharmacological interventions are mainly focused on altered monoamine neurotransmission, which is considered the primary event underlying the disease’s etiology. However, many other neuropathological mechanisms that contribute to the disease’s progression and clinical symptoms have been identified. These include oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, hippocampal atrophy, reduced synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis, the depletion of neurotrophic factors, and the dysfunction of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Current therapeutic options are often unsatisfactory and associated with adverse effects. This review highlights the most relevant findings concerning the role of flavonols, a ubiquitous class of flavonoids in the human diet, as potential antidepressant agents. In general, flavonols are considered to be both an effective and safe therapeutic option in the management of depression, which is largely based on their prominent antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, preclinical studies have provided evidence that they are capable of restoring the neuroendocrine control of the HPA axis, promoting neurogenesis, and alleviating depressive-like behavior. Although these findings are promising, they are still far from being implemented in clinical practice. Hence, further studies are needed to more comprehensively evaluate the potential of flavonols with respect to the improvement of clinical signs of depression.
Optimization, Control, and Design of Arbitrarily Shaped Fan Arrays
Authors: Conrad Daniel , Mayer Jonathan , Reichert Erik
Published: April 2023

In many air conditioning applications fan arrays offer an increasingly popular alternative to single large fans due to redundancy and ease of maintainability. Additionally, there is the possibility to dynamically resize the array by selectively turning off a number of fans. In this work, a new method for the optimal control of such fan arrays is derived with the goal to minimize the overall power consumption, i.e., maximizing the system efficiency. The approach is universal in the sense that a fan array can be composed of any number, size, and type of fans or mixtures thereof. We explore the achievable power savings for a real world example by applying the method. Moreover, we give an outline of the optimal design of fan arrays and future work.
Metallurgical Aspects of Ni-Coating and High Temperature Treatments for FBG Spectrum Regeneration
Authors: Lupi Carla , Vendittozzi Cristian , Ciro Erwin , Felli Ferdinando , Pilone Daniela
Published: April 2023

The structural integrity of mechanical components is assessed by FBG sensors in many industrial fields. The FBG sensor has a relevant application at very high or low temperatures. To avoid the variability of the reflected spectrum and the mechanical properties degradation of the FBG sensor, metal coatings have been used to guarantee the grating’s integrity in extreme temperature environments. Particularly, at high temperatures, Ni could be a suitable selection as a coating to improve the features of FBG sensors. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that Ni coating and high-temperature treatments can recover a broken, seemingly unusable sensor. In this work, two main objectives were pursued: first, the determination of the best operative parameters to achieve the most compact, adherent, and homogeneous coating; second, the correlation between the obtained morphology and structure and the FBG spectrum modification, once Ni was deposited on the FBG sensor. The Ni coating was deposited from aqueous solutions. By performing heat treatments of the Ni-coated FBG sensor, it was investigated how the wavelength (WL) varied as a function of temperature and how that variation was caused by the structural or dimensional change of the Ni coating.
On the Springback and Load in Three-Point Air Bending of the AW-2024 Aluminium Alloy Sheet with AW-1050A Aluminium Cladding
Authors: Kut Stanisław , Pasowicz Grzegorz , Stachowicz Feliks
Published: April 2023

This article presents the results of an analysis of the bending load characteristics and the springback phenomenon occurring during three-point bending of 1.0 and 2.0 mm thick AW-2024 aluminium alloy sheets with rolled AW-1050A cladding. A new proprietary equation was proposed for determining the bending angle as a function of deflection, which takes into account the influence of the tool radius and the sheet thickness. The experimentally determined springback and bending load characteristics were compared with the results of numerical modelling using different models: Model I, a 2D model for a plane deformation state, disregarding the material properties of the clad layers; Model II, a 2D model for a plane deformation state, taking into account the material properties of the cladding layers; Model III, a 3D shell model with the Huber–von Mises isotropic plasticity condition; Model IV, a 3D shell model with the Hill anisotropic plasticity condition; and Model V, a 3D shell model with the Barlat anisotropic plasticity condition. The effectiveness of these five tested FEM models in predicting the bending load and springback characteristics was demonstrated. Model II was the most effective in predicting bending load, while Model III was the most effective in predicting the amount of springback after bending.