bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
UM171 suppresses breast cancer progression by inducing KLF2
Authors: Ran Xiaojuan , Hu Anling , Kuang Yi , Wang Chunlin , Liu Wuling , Xiao Xiao , Zacksenhaus Eldad , Yu Xiangdi , Ben-David Yaacov 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Purpose: Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women with significant death rate. Morbidity is associated with drug resistance and metastasis. Development of novel drugs is unmet need. The aim of this study is to show potent anti-neoplastic activity of the UM171 compound on breast cancer cells and its mechanism of action.
Methods: The inhibitory effect of UM171 on several breast cancer (BC) cell lines was examined using MTT and colony forming assays. Cell cycle and apoptosis assays were utilized to determine the effect of UM171 on BC cell proliferation and survival. Wound healing scratch and transwell migration assays were used to examine the migration of BC cell lines in culture. Xenograft of mouse model with 4T1 cells was used to determine inhibitory effect of UM171 in vivo. Q-RT-PCR and western blotting were used to determine the expression level of genes effected by UM171. Lentivirus-mediated shRNA were used to knockdown the expression of KLF2 in BC cells.
Results: UM171 was previously identified as a potent agonist of human hematopoietic stem cell renewal and inhibitor of leukemia. In this study, UM171 was shown to inhibit the growth of multiple breast cancer cell lines in culture. UM171-mediated growth inhibition was associated with the induction of apoptosis, G2/M cell cycle arrest, lower colony forming capacity and reduced motility. In a xenotransplantation model of mouse triple negative breast cancer 4T1 cells injected into syngeneic BALB/c mice, UM171 strongly inhibited tumor growth at a level comparable to paclitaxel. UM171 increased the expression of the three PIM genes (PIM1-3) in breast cancer cells. Moreover, UM171 strongly induced the expression of the tumor suppressor gene KLF2 and cell cycle inhibitor P21CIP1. Accordingly, knockdown of KLF2 using lentivirus-mediated shRNA significantly attenuated the growth suppressor activity of UM171. As PIM1-3 act as oncogenes and are involved in breast cancer progression, induction of these kinases likely impedes the inhibitory effect of KLF2 induction by UM171. Accordingly, combination of UM171 with a PAN-PIM inhibitor LGH447 significantly reduced tumor growth in culture.
Conclusion: These results suggested that UM171 inhibited breast cancer progression in part through activation of KLF2 and P21. Combination of UM171 with a PAN-PIM inhibitor offer a novel therapy for aggressive forms of breast cancer.
Advancement of an Eco-Friendly and Innovative Sustainable Rubber Wrap Film Exhibiting Superior Sealing Properties
Authors: Suchat Sunisa , Boonrasri Siwarote 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
The rubber wrap film is a promising new product that could have a positive impact on the en-vironment. The film is environmentally friendly, durable, and effective in sealing containers and keeping food fresh or crispy. The raw materials used to make the product were studied, namely fresh and concentrated natural rubber latex. No nitrosamines were found in either fresh or concentrated latex, which is important as nitrosamines are known to be carcinogenic. The absence of nitrosamines in the raw materials suggests that the universal rubber wrap film is safe for use. In this study, the rubber formulation and properties of rubber used to make rubber wrap film were studied. The content of additives affecting rubber properties was varied to find the optimum rubber formulation for making rubber wrap film. The rubber formulation with the least amount of chemicals that met the following criteria was selected: tensile strength at least 15 MPa, elongation at break at least 600%, and nitrosamine content below 6 ppm. It was found experimentally that the optimum rubber formulation for making a translucent rubber film had 0.7 phr zinc oxide and 1.0 phr sulfur. In actual use tests it was found that the translucent rubber wrap sealed containers more tightly than a PE plastic film or aluminum foil, because of its elasticity. This allows the rubber film to conform to the shape of the container more closely, creating a tighter seal. The results of this study provide valuable information for developing a universal rubber wrap film that is safe with low nitrosamines.
Hardware implementation of AV1 fraction motion estimation
Authors: Shi Longzhao , Lin Zedeng , Zhang Lijing , Chen Yimeng , Yang Xiaoling 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
A 4-tap coefficient, 8-neighborhood subpixel search algorithm is presented in this paper to simplify hardware implementation. This algorithm is intended to be used for the fraction motion estimation module of the AV1 video coding standard. A 32 × 32 block is used as the fundamental unit for searching and interpolation in hardware implementation. Blocks of the same MV are combined in a merge grouping method to perform subpixel searches, improving search efficiency. The search method for the eight subpixel points of the current MV in a clockwise order is used to realize continuous reading data without stopping the flow, improving the work efficiency of the pipeline. Finally, a shift-and-add method is employed to implement the multiplication calculation of fixed coefficients, fully utilizing the common factor between the coefficients to reuse part of the circuit and other approaches to effectively reduce the expenditure of hardware. The interpolation and searching process of subpixels is implemented in Verilog HDL, and synthesis is performed using Design Compiler under 55 nm process conditions at SMIC with an operating frequency of up to 200 MHz, an area of 5894809.13 µm2, and a power consumption of 352.21 mW.
Vehicle Stability Control for External Disturbance Inputs and Fault-Tolerant via Finite-time Terminal Sliding Mode
Authors: Li Jing , Gao Min , Hu Taihong , Feng Baidong , Luo Jin 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Vehicle stability control, as an important part of active safety technology, has a critical impact on improving the overall safety of vehicles. The purpose of this paper is to discuss an integrated DYC (Direct Yaw Moment Control) and AFS (Active Front Steering) system. A fault-tolerant disturbance adaptive nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode control (FDASMC) is proposed with the aim of solving the problem of maintaining the stability of the system and improving the tracking performance of the system in a finite period of time with external perturbations and actuator failures. Firstly a nonlinear disturbance observer (NDOB) based on the dynamics model of four-wheel independently-actuated electric vehicle(4WIDEV) is constructed with the aim of reducing the negative effects of system uncertainty and external disturbances on the controller accuracy. Secondly to improve the convergence performance of the traditional sliding mode control, this paper introduces a nonlinear function into the sliding mode switching function to ensure that the system accurately tracks the desired state in finite time. In addition, a non-singular fast terminal sliding mode controller is further designed to prevent singular phenomena, and a dynamic gain observer is designed on this to cope with the system instability due to actuator failure. Finally, through theoretical analysis and simulation verification, this paper demonstrates that the proposed integrated control system is not only able to achieve accurate tracking of the desired state within a limited time, but also has excellent tracking accuracy, which significantly improves the vehicle's maneuvering stability.
Living on the Edge: Spatial Distributions and Edge Relationships of Plant Communities in the Coastal Barrens of the Chebucto Peninsula, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Authors: Buckland-Nicks Michael , Porter Caitlin , Lundholm Jeremy 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Context Coastal barrens support habitat types including wetlands, dwarf shrublands and tree 'islands' as well as rare plant species. Forest expansion, sea-level rise and recreational trails affect plant communities but spatial vegetation patterns within barrens are unknown.Objectives To classify plant communities; to quantify size, shape, spatial distributions, edge relationships and environmental correlates of plant community patches.Methods Landcover maps were created at three 500 m x 500 m coastal barrens sites using high-resolution multispectral aerial imagery. Community patches were compared using size and shape metrics; shared edge length identified adjacent communities. Community distributions were modelled using environmental variables such as elevation and distance to coast.Results Forty distinct plant communities were detected, with shrublands (37.5% total area), dwarf shrublands (23.3%) and bog wetlands (13.9%) being the most abundant. Average patch size was 9.2 m2; average patch density was 951 patches/ha, indicating fine scale community variability. ATV trails occurred primarily in bog wetlands. Dwarf shrublands and some wetland types were closest to the coastline; taller shrublands and tree islands occurred further from the coast. Edge relationships revealed a vegetation height gradient across the forest-barren ecotone: tree islands were mostly adjacent to tall shrub communities, followed by progressively shorter vegetation.Conclusions Topographic variability and distance to coast were important predictors of community distribution. Shrublands and dwarf shrublands dominated the sites; other types including forest and wetland were abundant in certain conditions. Edge relationships among communities allowed identification of those most at risk from trail disturbance, forestation and coastal squeeze.
An Analysis of Shear-Dependent Mechanochemical Reaction Kinetics
Authors: Rana Resham , Hopper Nicholas , Sidoroff François , Cayer-Barrioz Juliette , Mazuyer Denis , Tysoe Wilfred T 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

The variation in the rate of a tribochemical reaction is calculated as a function of combined normal and shear stresses using Evans-Polanyi perturbation theory. The effect of perturbations such as stresses is obtained using transition-state theory from their influence on the equilibrium constant between the initial- and transition-state structures using the molar Gibbs free energy change. An advantage of this approach is it capability of calculating the effect of several perturbations, such as combined normal and shear stresses. Two effects have been identified. The first is that the effective activation volume contains contributions from both the normal and shear stresses. More importantly, the analysis predicts that the asymptote of this plot at zero stress is not equal to the thermal reaction rate; there is a change in the inherent tribochemical reaction rate that depends on velocity. This prediction is shown to be true for the shear-induced decomposition of ethyl thiolate species adsorbed on a Cu(100) single crystal substrate where this effect contributes to about two orders of magnitude increase in the reaction rate. This indicates that tribochemical reactions can be influenced by either just normal stresses or a combination of normal and shear stresses, but that the latter contribution is much larger. It is predicted that there is a linear relationship between the activation energy and the logarithm of the pr-exponential factor of this asymptotic rate constant, known as a compensation effect in catalysis. While this has not yet been seen for tribochemical reactions on surfaces, it has been found for reactions occurring in sheared fluids.
Pre-surgical Cryoablation in≤ 2cm ER+HER2-tumors. Prognostic factors for the presence of residual invasive carcinoma
Authors: Navarro María José Roca , Goldaracena Jose María Oliver , Alonso Diego Garrido , Monforte Ylenia Navarro , Durbán Teresa Díaz de Bustamante , Chicote Mª Vicenta Córdoba , martínez Fernando García , álvarez Covadonga Martí , gregorio Laura Yébenes , Botella José Luís Montes , Hervás Carmen Martín , Méndez José Ignacio Sánchez 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background: Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) is the standard approach for small low-risk tumors. If the efficacy of cryoablation is demonstrated, it could provide a minimally invasive alternative to surgery.
Purpose: To determine the success of ultrasound-guided cryoablation in achieving the absence of Residual Invasive Cancer (RIC) for patients with ER+/HER2- tumors ≤ 2cm and sonographically negative axillary nodes.
Materials and Methods: This prospective study was carried out from April 2021 to June 2023, and involved 60 preoperative cryoablation procedures on ultrasound-visible, node-negative (cN0) infiltrating ductal carcinomas (IDC). Standard diagnostic imaging included mammography and tomosynthesis, supplemented by ultrasound-guided biopsy. MRI was performed in patients with associated intraductal carcinoma (DCIS) and an invasive component on core needle biopsy (18 out of 22 cases). All tumors were tagged with ferromagnetic seeds. A triple-phase protocol (freezing-thawing-freezing) with Argon was used, with an average procedure duration of 40 minutes.
A logistic regression model was applied to determine significant correlation between RIC and the study variables.
Results: Fifty-nine women (mean age 63 ± 8 years) with sixty low-risk unifocal IDC underwent cryoablation prior to surgery. Pathological examination of lumpectomy specimens post-cryoablation revealed RIC in only one of 38 patients with pure IDC and in 4 of 22 mixed IDC/DCIS cases. All treated tumors had clear surgical margins, with no significant procedural complications.
Conclusions: Cryoablation was effective in eradicating 97% of pure infiltrating ER+/HER2-tumors ≤ 2cm, demonstrating its potential as a surgical alternative in selected patients.
Prediction of Short- and Long-term Outcomes Using Pre-Operative Ventricular Size in Infants with Post- Hemorrhagic Ventricular Dilation
Authors: Serebin Molly , Zhang Jian , Yan Ke , Cabacungan Erwin , Deshmukh Tejaswini , Maheshwari Mohit , Foy Andrew , Cohen Susan S 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Post-hemorrhagic ventricular dilation (PHVD) leads to developmental delays in premature infants, yet the optimal timing for neurosurgical interventions is unknown. Neuroimaging modalities have emerged to delineate injury and follow the progression of PHVD. Fronto-temporal horn ratio (FTHR) is used as a marker of ventricular dilation and can be a standardized tool to direct the timing of neurosurgical intervention. Our study determined the pre-operative FTHR measurement threshold to predict short- and long-term outcomes.
Methods
This is a retrospective cohort study of premature infants with severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) treated in a level IV NICU that developed PHVD and required neurosurgical intervention between 2012 and 2019. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was performed to evaluate the pre-operative FTHR predictability for developmental delay. An area under the curve (AUC) measured the accuracy of FTHR. In-hospital outcomes and developmental assessments were analyzed.
Results
We reviewed 121 charts of infants with IVH and identified 43 infants with PHVD who required neurosurgical intervention. We found FTHR measurements were an excellent measure of cognitive and motor delay with an AUC of 0.89 and 0.88, respectively. An average pre-operative FTHR of ≥ 0.67 was associated with worse lung and feeding outcomes. There was excellent inter-observer reliability of individual components of FTHR measurements.
Conclusions
Early intervention for PHVD is ideal but not always practical. Identifying ventricular size thresholds associated with better outcomes are needed to direct neurosurgical intervention timing.
Achieving High Efficiency, Super Broadband, Ultra-Thin, and Advanced Electromagnetic Absorption for S, C, X, Ku, K, Ka, V, W, and Millimeter Band Radar Applications
Authors: Coskun Aykut , Ozmen Ahmet , Ahmed Fahad , Ertugrul Mehmet 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

The aim of this study is focused on an excellent electromagnetic absorption response for radar applications by proposing an insensitive to incidence angle, ultra-thin, super broadband, and high efficiency metasurface. Achieving qualified absorption from low to high frequency is challenging due to impedance matching requirements in the structure. Herein, the proposed structure achieves a wide absorption bandwidth (over 90% absorptivity) from 2.4 GHz to 300 GHz. Moreover , the absorption efficiency of electromagnetic waves reaches (99%) from 4 GHz to 300 GHz. For transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes, the proposed structure behaves the same up to 45° when exposed to oblique incidences. The total thickness of the designed absorber is 3.6 mm, corresponding to 0.03λ0 at the lowest operating frequency. In addition, the proposed absorber is 1 compared with previous reports of radar bands. It is observed that it offers superior practical feasibility and is a promising candidate for S, C, X, Ku, K, Ka, V, W, and millimeter band radar applications.
Improved Durability of Wood Strand-Based Panels Using Guayule
Authors: Entsminger Edward D. , Mohammadabadi Mostafa , Stokes C. Elizabeth , Pradhan Suman 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
In this study, the effect of guayule resin on termite and fungal decay biological performances of wood strand-based (WSB) panels was explored. Guayule was applied using different methods to find the most effective one. Southern yellow pine (Pinus spp. L.) wood strands were mixed with phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin to a target resin content of 5.0% and hot-pressed to manufacture the control WSB panels. For the in-situ process, a guayule solution was prepared and sprayed on the pine wood strands immediately after spraying the PF resin to a target content of 5.0%. For brushing and spraying methods, a sub-set of the control panel specimens were further brushed or sprayed with the guayule solution on all surfaces, like a coating. To understand the effect of guayule on durability of these panels, specimens cut from control and treated panels were subjected to termite resistance and fungal degradation soil block tests. In-situ specimens having 5.0% guayule were subjected to tensile, internal bond, water absorption, and thickness swelling tests to find whether guayule affects the mechanical performance of WSB panels. The results showed that in-situ treatment resulted in significant reduction in mechanical properties of wood stand-based panels. The sprayed technique produced the most durable panels as mass loss reduced to 2.21% for termite and 3.24% for fungi specimens.
Immunogenicity Analysis of Recombinant Plasmodium malariae AMA-1 Antigen as a Potential Vaccine Candidate
Authors: Li Moyan , Wang Yuerong , Zhang Luwen , Lu Fanbo , Xia Jinxing , Zheng Meijuan , Zhang Min , Cheng Yang , Lu Feng , Han Eun Taek , Wang Bo , Xu Yuanhong 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

The apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1) is a potential candidate for the development of a malaria vaccine targeting Plasmodium parasites. Although studies on the immunogenicity of AMA-1 are abundant for Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, there is a notable scarcity of information for Plasmodium malariae. In this study, we expressed recombinant PmAMA-1 using an Escherichia coli expression system. The integrity of the rPmAMA-1 was verified through western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence assays. The immunogenic characteristics of rPmAMA-1 were assessed in BALB/c mice, utilizing the purified protein emulsified in Freund’s adjuvant. The findings revealed that mice immunized with rPmAMA-1 generated significantly elevated specific IgG antibodies, with IgG1 being the predominant component. The immune responses exhibited Th1 (IL-2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α), Th2 (IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10) and Th17 (IL-17a) phenotypes, but with a notable bias on Th1 response. Furthermore, the antisera against rPmAMA-1 from immunized mice enabled effective recognition of its native counterpart on P. malariae parasites, affirming the correct conformation and folding of the recombinant protein. The immune profiling study strongly suggests that PmAMA-1 would likely evoke a substantial immune response in vivo, positioning it as a promising candidate for vaccine development.
Effect of antiretroviral protease inhibitors on Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte egress and invasion
Authors: Wilson Danny W. , Frolich Sonja , Andrews Katherine T. , Skinner-Adams Tina S. 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Background Anti-retroviral protease inhibitors directly inhibit the growth of asexual blood stage malaria parasites; however, this activity is not fully understood. While mode of action hypotheses have included parasite aspartic protease (plasmepsin) inhibition, current data suggest that digestive vacuole plasmepsins I-IV are not essential for asexual parasite survival, that plasmepsins VI-VIII are not expressed in these parasites and that antiretroviral protease inhibitors are poor inhibitors of plasmepsin V. The remaining plasmepsins, IX and X, have recently been shown to be essential for merozoite egress and invasion, playing important roles in the processing of key proteins including the rhoptry bulb protein PfRAP1, and subtilisin-like serine protease PfSUB1, respectively. To further understand the antiplasmodial activity of antiretroviral protease inhibitors, here we investigated the impact of tipranavir, lopinavir, ritonavir and saquinavir on the processing of PfRAP1, the PfSUB1-processed PfMSP1, and the egress and invasion of P. falciparum parasites from human erythrocytes.Methods The effect of tipranavir, lopinavir, ritonavir and saquinavir on P. falciparum parasite egress and invasion was assessed using synchronized asexual blood stage P. falciparum parasites. Schizont rupture and purified merozoite invasion were performed with and without drug and quantified by flow cytometry analysis. The impact of selected antitretroviral protease inhibitors on PfRAP1 and PfMSP1 processing was assessed by Western blot.Results The effect of tipranavir, lopinavir, ritonavir and saquinavir on the egress and invasion of P. falciparum parasites from human erythrocytes varied considerably but was low at concentrations shown to inhibit P. falciparum asexual parasite growth in vitro and negligible at clinically relevant concentrations. While the treatment of parasites with the antiretroviral protease inhibitors appeared to reduce the overall expression of PfRAP1 and PfMSP1, the processing of these proteins was not inhibited by concentrations known to inhibit parasite growth in vitro.Conclusions The limited activity of tipranavir, lopinavir, ritonavir and saquinavir on the egress and invasion of P. falciparum parasites from human erythrocytes and the processing of PfRAP1 and PfMSP1 suggests that processing events mediated by plasmepsin IX and X that are required for merozoite invasion are unlikely to be a primary mode of action for these drugs in these parasites.