Search Results (25)

Background/Objectives: Primary pulmonary carcinoma (PC) is a malignant neoplasm that occurs in humans, dogs, and other species. In canine PC, palliative care remains the most practical approach for dogs with inoperable PC. Methods: We investigated the effectiveness of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors in canine lung cancer upon PI3K/AKT/mTOR activation. Three canine PC cell lines (AZACL1, AZACL2, and cPAC-1) were treated with three mTOR inhibitors (AZD8055, temsirolimus, and everolimus). In vitro, sensitivity assays were conducted to evaluate proliferation and Western blotting was used to examine pathway activation and phosphorylation of mTOR-related protein. Results: AZD8055 had a stronger inhibitory effect on cell proliferation than temsirolimus and everolimus in all three PC cell lines. The IC₅₀ for AZD8055 in the AZACL1, AZACL2, and cPAC-1 cell lines were 23.8 μM, 95.8 nM, and 237 nM, for temsirolimus they were 34.6 μM, 11.5 μM, and 11.2 μM, and for everolims they were 36.6 μM, 33.4 μM, and 33.0 μM, respectively. Western blotting revealed PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway activation and differential phosphorylation of mTOR signal-related proteins across the three PC cell lines. In xenograft mice injected with the AZACL1 and AZACL2 cell lines we showed that the AZD8055-treated group exhibited a significant reduction in tumor volume via the inhibition of tumor growth compared to the control group. Conclusions: These findings reveal that the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway plays a key role in canine PC and that AZD8055 may be a novel therapeutic agent for PC-bearing dogs. Full article

The Impact Monitor Project is a European initiative designed to develop an impact assessment toolbox and framework, targeting the European aviation sector. The proposed framework is not only aimed at the environment, economics, and operations but also the societal impacts of new technologies and aircraft configurations. The toolbox works by setting out the key steps in the impact assessment cycle and presenting guidance, tips, and best practices. Led by DLR, the consortium includes research institutions and universities that have contributed their expertise and tools to develop the collaborative assessment toolbox and framework. The project defines three use cases by considering three assessment levels: aircraft, airport, and air transport system. This article focuses on Use Case 2 on continuous descent operations (CDOs) at the aircraft and airport levels. It describes the workflow proposal, along with the tools involved. The collaborative approach showcases integrating these tools and using collaborative strategies enabled by CPACS (Common Parametric Aircraft Configuration Schema) and RCE (remote component environment). The list of tools includes Scheduler (DLR; flight schedule simulation), AirTOp (NLR; TMA simulation), Dynamo/Farm (UPC; trajectory simulation and assessment), LEAS-iT (NLR; emissions simulation), Tuna (NLR; noise simulation), AECCI (ONERA; emissions simulation), TRIPAC (NLR; third-party risk simulation), and SCBA (TML; social and economic impact assessment). Interactions with other use cases of the project will be demonstrated via new aircraft configurations stemming from the use case at the aircraft level of the project. The results demonstrate the workflow’s feasibility, the cooperation among the tools to obtain and refine the outcomes, as well as the analysis of the operational scenario of a generic airport, CAEPport, which has been extensively used in previous Clean Sky 2 projects. Full article

The aircraft design process is a complex task that requires the collaboration of disciplinary experts from various fields. In practice, this complexity requires a large investment in setting up communication interfaces for the exchange of disciplinary data, and serious misinterpretations are not uncommon. To increase the efficiency and robustness of data exchange, a common language is essential. As such, the Common Parametric Aircraft Configuration Schema (CPACS) serves as a central data model, which currently includes detailed parametrizations of aircraft geometry and analysis results from traditional disciplines (e.g., aerodynamics, structure, etc.). However, with the recent interest in alternative propulsion and complex on-board system architectures, CPACS is proving to be too limited to meet the needs of the various disciplinary system experts. The particular challenge here is to enable different views on the same systems, i.e., a functional/logical as well as a geometric/physical representation, without violating the principle of unambiguous data. Therefore, this paper proposes an extension of CPACS which introduces an explicit system definition covering both representations. Its potential is demonstrated by two use cases from disciplinary experts in the field of on-board system design at the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), based on data provided by aircraft design experts. Through validation against the experts’ needs, the proposed system definition proves to bridge the gap between preliminary aircraft design and on-board system design, enabling a holistic, robust and efficient aircraft design process. Full article

The evolution of Protection and Control (P&C) systems has developed though analogue and digital generations, and is presently advancing towards the utilization of Virtualization of Protection, Automation and Control environments (VPAC). This article focuses on redefining the features of traditional and modern P&C systems, Centralized Protection Automation and Control (CPAC), and VPAC, focusing on the integration of Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) with secure communication that is time-effective in the centralized distribution of power and prevention of network vulnerability. Though standards such as IEC 61850-9-2 LE have been adopted, the actualization of full interoperability between diverse IED manufacturers remains elusive. With the digitization of technologies, P&C systems are naturally transitioning to virtual environments, with timing precision, redundancy and security being imperative. Latency and resource management and allocation in VPAC systems are considerable global issues. This paper discusses the issues of maintaining low operational performance in virtual substation environments while satisfying the requirements for performance in real time. The impacts of large volumes of data and artificial intelligence on the management of the grid are studied, and AI-based analytics that predict system failures and automatically change load flows are shown, as they have the potential to increase the flexibility and stability of the grid. The use of big data enables electric power utilities to enhance their protection systems, anticipate disturbances and improve energy management methods. The paper presents a comparative analysis between traditional P&C and its virtualized counterparts, with strong emphasis placed on the flexibility and scaling of VPAC resources. Full article

Cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable and treatable when detected early, making its elimination within reach for Canada and the world. However, cervical cancer is now the fastest-increasing cancer (+3.7% per year since 2015) in Canada as of 2023, marking the first significant increase in cervical cancer incidence since 1984. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and cervical screening are key preventive measures, with targets set by the WHO and the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) to eliminate cervical cancer in Canada by 2030 and 2040, respectively. These targets include increasing HPV vaccination rates, implementing primary HPV screening, and improving follow-up for abnormal HPV+ results. However, Canada’s progress has been impeded by significant challenges. As of the most recent data, HPV vaccine coverage rates in Canada range from 47% to 81%, with an estimated national HPV vaccination completion rate of 64% in Canada, far below the target of 90% by 2025 set by the CPAC. With the exception of British Columbia and Prince Edward Island, the adoption of HPV DNA testing as the primary screening method has been slow across the Canadian provinces and territories despite its superior sensitivity compared with traditional cytology. This article reviews the current state of HPV vaccination and screening in Canada, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts, transparency, and resource sharing to overcome barriers. Key recommendations include the dissemination of accessible educational materials, partnerships, and collaboration, including nationwide task forces and roundtables, and the implementation of standardized guidelines for HPV screening. Achieving cervical cancer elimination requires a united approach involving federal, provincial, and territorial health authorities, researchers, clinicians, NGOs, community groups, and patients’ voices working together to ensure consistent, effective, timely, and meaningful cervical cancer prevention strategies are used across the country. Full article

We recently reported that cranberry proanthocyanidins (C-PACs) inhibit esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) by 83% through reversing reflux-induced bacterial, inflammatory and immune-implicated proteins and genes as well as reducing esophageal bile acids, which drive EAC progression. This study investigated whether C-PACs’ mitigation of bile reflux-induced transporter dysregulation mechanistically contributes to EAC prevention. RNA was isolated from water-, C-PAC- and reflux-exposed rat esophagi with and without C-PAC treatment. Differential gene expression was determined by means of RNA sequencing and RT-PCR, followed by protein assessments. The literature, coupled with the publicly available Gene Expression Omnibus dataset GSE26886, was used to assess transporter expression levels in normal and EAC patient biopsies for translational relevance. Significant changes in ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters implicated in therapeutic resistance in humans (i.e., Abcb1, Abcb4, Abcc1, Abcc3, Abcc4, Abcc6 and Abcc10) and the transport of drugs, xenobiotics, lipids, and bile were altered in the reflux model with C-PACs’ mitigating changes. Additionally, C-PACs restored reflux-induced changes in solute carrier (SLC), aquaporin, proton and cation transporters (i.e., Slc2a1, Slc7a11, Slc9a1, Slco2a1 and Atp6v0c). This research supports the suggestion that transporters merit investigation not only for their roles in metabolism and therapeutic resistance, but as targets for cancer prevention and targeting preventive agents in combination with chemotherapeutics. Full article

Selecting drought-tolerant and more water-efficient wheat genotypes is a research priority, specifically in regions with irregular rainfall or areas where climate change is expected to result in reduced water availability. The objective of this work was to use high-throughput measurements with morphophysiological traits to characterize wheat genotypes in relation to water stress. Field experiments were conducted from May to September 2018 and 2019, using a sprinkler bar irrigation system to control water availability to eighteen wheat genotypes: BRS 254; BRS 264; CPAC 01019; CPAC 01047; CPAC 07258; CPAC 08318; CPAC 9110; BRS 394 (irrigated biotypes), and Aliança; BR 18_Terena; BRS 404; MGS Brilhante; PF 020037; PF 020062; PF 120337; PF 100368; PF 080492; and TBIO Sintonia (rainfed biotypes). The water regimes varied from 22 to 100% of the crop evapotranspiration replacement. Water stress negatively affected gas exchange, vegetation indices, and grain yield. High throughput variables TCARI, NDVI, OSAVI, SAVI, PRI, NDRE, and GNDVI had higher yield and morphophysiological measurement correlations. The drought resistance index indicated that genotypes Aliança, BRS 254, BRS 404, CPAC 01019, PF 020062, and PF 080492 were more drought tolerant. Full article

This guideline provides evidence-based guidance on the risk-based management of cervical dysplasia in the colposcopy setting in the context of primary HPV-based screening and HPV testing in colposcopy. Colposcopy management of special populations is also discussed. The guideline was developed by a working group in collaboration with the Gynecologic Oncology Society of Canada (GOC), Society of Colposcopists of Canada (SCC) and the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC). The literature informing these guidelines was obtained through a systematic review of the relevant literature via a multi-step search process led by information specialists. The literature was reviewed up to June 2021 with manual searches of relevant national guidelines and more recent publications. Quality of the evidence and strength of recommendations was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. The intended users of this guideline include gynecologists, colposcopists, screening programs and healthcare facilities. Implementation of the recommendations is intended to promote equitable and standardized care for all people undergoing colposcopy in Canada. The risk-based approach aims to improve personalized care and reduce over-/under-treatment in colposcopy. Full article

The removal of antibiotics from wastewater is receiving considerable attention to fulfill water quality parameters required for reuse. This study compares a spinning submerged filter adsorber with a fixed bed adsorber for continuous antibiotic removal. Adsorbers were evaluated with micro granular activated carbon (μGAC: 508 μm), coarse powder activated carbon (cPAC: 197 μm), powder activated carbon (PAC: 77 μm), and a domestic wastewater effluent spiked with a mixture of amoxicillin, sulfamethoxazole, and levofloxacin with concentrations ranging from 10 to 50 mg/L. The fixed bed adsorber packed with cPAC was the most efficient adsorber running with wastewater spiked with 50 mg/L of each antibiotic and an empty bed contact time (EBCT) of 4.5 min. The spinning submerged filter adsorber configuration also provided high removal effectiveness using a 15 g/L concentration of PAC but with a lower hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 40 min. This adsorption unit can be filled with small PAC particles, unlike packed beds, and PAC concentrations can be increased up to 150 g/L if necessary. It combines adsorption and filtration with a completely mixed mode of operation in which the PAC concentration can be adapted to effluent micropollutant concentrations, making it an interesting alternative for adsorption processes. Full article

In this paper, a control method of a novel tilt-rotor UAV with a blended wing body layout is studied. The novel UAV is capable of vertical take-off and landing and has strong stealth capabilities that can be applied to carrier-borne reconnaissance aircraft. However, the high aspect ratio of blended wing body UAVs leads to a wingtip or oar-tip touchdown problem when adopting the conventional position-attitude control (CPAC) scheme with a large crosswind disturbance. Moreover, when the UAV is subject to interference during reconnaissance, aerial photography, and landing missions, the conventional scheme cannot provide both attitude stability and track accuracy. First, a direct thrust vectoring control (DTVC) scheme is proposed. The control authority of the rotor tilt mechanism was added to enable the decoupling of the attitude and trajectory and to improve the response rate and response bandwidth of the flight trajectory. Second, considering the problems of strong couplings and parameter uncertainties and the nonlinear features and mismatched perturbations that are inevitable in the tilt-rotor, we designed a robust UAV controller based on the backstepping sliding mode control method and determined the stability of the control system through the Lyapunov function. Finally, in the case of crosswire interference during vertical takeoff and landing and the aerial photography missions of the UAV, the numerical simulation of the CPAC scheme and the DTVC scheme was carried out, respectively, and the Monte Carlo random test method was introduced to conduct the statistical test of the landing accuracy. The simulation results show that the DTVC scheme improves the landing accuracy and speed compared to the CAPC scheme and decouples the position control loop from the attitude control loop, finally enabling the UAV to complete the flight control in the VTOL phase. Full article

The Fenton reaction as an effective advanced oxidation technology has been widely used in wastewater treatment for its stable effluent quality, simple operation, mild condition, and higher organic degradation with non-selectivity. However, the traditional Fenton reaction is limited by the sluggish regeneration of Fe²⁺, resulting in a slower reaction rate, and it is necessary to further increase the dosage of Fe²⁺, which will increase the production of iron sludge. Activated carbon (AC) has a strong adsorption property, and it cannot be ignored that it also can reduce Fe³⁺. In this study, the degradation of acid red G (ARG) by adding AC to the Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ system, the role of the reducing ability, and the reason why AC can reduce Fe³⁺ were studied. By adding three kinds of ACs, including coconut shell-activated carbon (CSPAC), wood-activated carbon (WPAC), and coal-activated carbon (CPAC), the ability of ACs to assist the Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ Fenton-like system to degrade ARG was clarified. Through the final treatment effect and the ability to reduce Fe³⁺, the type of AC with the best promotion effect was CSPAC. The different influence factors of particle size, the concentration of CSPAC, concentration of H₂O₂, concentration of Fe³⁺, and pH value were further observed. The best reaction conditions were determined as CSPAC powder with a particle size of 75 μm and dosage of 0.6 g/L, initial H₂O₂ concentration of 0.4 mmol/L, Fe³⁺ concentration of 0.1 mmol/L, and pH = 3. By reducing the adsorption effect of CSPAC, it was further observed that CSPAC could accelerate the early reaction rate of the degradation process of ARG by the Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ system. FT-IR and XPS confirmed that the C-O-H group on the surface of CSPAC could reduce Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺. This study can improve the understanding and role of AC in the Fenton reaction, and further promote the application of the Fenton reaction in sewage treatment. Full article

The increasing occurrence of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in water systems coupled with their recalcitrance to conventional water treatment methods calls for research into more eco-friendly and cost-effective curbing media. Mesoporous cassava peel activated carbon (CPAC) was prepared under conditions derived from optimizing the surface area and yield with the temperature and holding time as the model inputs using the response surface methodology. The sequestration potential and mechanisms of the resultant activated carbon (AC) for active pharmaceutical ingredients from wastewater were studied using batch experiments. The CPAC adsorption kinetics and isothermal mechanisms for the three pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine (CBZ), clarithromycin (CLN), and trimethoprim (TRM)) were studied in both wastewater and Milli-Q water. The API concentrations were measured using liquid chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer (LC-MS) system. The maximum removal efficiencies were 86.00, 58.00, and 68.50% for CBZ, CLN, and TRM for wastewater, which were less than those from the Milli-Q water at 94.25, 73.50, and 84.5%, respectively. The sorption process for the CLN was better explained by the Freundlich model, whereas the CBZ and TRM adsorption processes could suitably be explained by both the Langmuir and Freundlich models. At an initial concentration of 20 mgL⁻¹ for all APIs and a CPAC dosage of 2.0 gL⁻¹, the maximum adsorption capacities were 25.907, 84.034, and 1.487 mgg⁻¹ for CBZ, TRM, and CLN, respectively. These results demonstrated the potential of CPAC to remove APIs from water, with its sequestration potential being more exhibited after the removal of the organic matter owing to the lower competition for active sites by the APIs. Additionally, positive adsorbates were better removed than negatively charged adsorbates due to the dominance of anions in the cassava peel lattice. Full article

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is a cancer characterized by rapidly rising incidence and poor survival, resulting in the need for new prevention and treatment options. We utilized two cranberry polyphenol extracts, one proanthocyanidin enriched (C-PAC) and a combination of anthocyanins, flavonoids, and glycosides (AFG) to assess inhibitory mechanisms utilizing premalignant Barrett’s esophagus (BE) and EAC derived cell lines. We employed reverse phase protein arrays (RPPA) and Western blots to examine cancer-associated pathways and specific signaling cascades modulated by C-PAC or AFG. Viability results show that C-PAC is more potent than AFG at inducing cell death in BE and EAC cell lines. Based on the RPPA results, C-PAC significantly modulated 37 and 69 proteins in JH-EsoAd1 (JHAD1) and OE19 EAC cells, respectively. AFG treatment significantly altered 49 proteins in both JHAD1 and OE19 cells. Bioinformatic analysis of RPPA results revealed many previously unidentified pathways as modulated by cranberry polyphenols including NOTCH signaling, immune response, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Collectively, these results provide new insight regarding mechanisms by which cranberry polyphenols exert cancer inhibitory effects targeting EAC, with implications for potential use of cranberry constituents as cancer preventive agents. Full article

Quinoa stands out as an excellent crop in the Cerrado region for cultivation in the off-season or irrigated winter season. Here, we tested the effects of different water regimes on the agronomic characteristics, physiology, and grain quality of different elite quinoa genotypes under field conditions. The experiment was conducted under field conditions at Embrapa Cerrados (Planaltina, DF, Brazil). The experimental design was in randomized blocks, in a split-plot scheme, with four replications. The plots were composed of 18 quinoa genotypes and modified BRS Piabiru (the currently used genotype), and the split-plots were divided into 4 different water regimes. The following variables were evaluated: productivity and productivity per unit of applied water (PUAA), plant height, flavonoids, anthocyanins, gas exchange, chlorophyll, leaf proline, and relative water content. Our results showed that water regimes between 309 and 389 mm can be recommended for quinoa in the Cerrado region. CPAC6 and CPAC13 presented the highest yield and PUAA under high and intermediate WRs, and hence were the most suitable for winter growth under irrigation. CPAC17 is most suitable for off-season growth under rainfed conditions, as it presented the highest PUAA under the low WRs (247 and 150). CPAC9 stood out in terms of accumulation of flavonoids and anthocyanins in all WRs. Physiological analyses revealed different responses of the genotypes to water restriction, together with symptoms of stress under lower water regimes. Our study reinforces the importance of detailed analyses of the relationship between productivity, physiology, and water use when choosing genotypes for planting and harvest in different seasons. Full article

(1) Background: One in two Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, but as a result of the progress in diagnosis and treatment, more individuals are surviving cancer than ever before. However, the impact of cancer does not end with treatment. The objectives of this review are to (1) provide a broad overview of the supportive care interventions and models of care that have been researched to support Canadian post-treatment cancer survivors; and (2) analyze how these supportive care interventions and/or care models align with the practice recommendations put forth by Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) and the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology/Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CAPO/CPAC). (2) Methods: An electronic search was completed in MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL in January 2021. Included studies described supportive care interventions or models of care utilized by adult Canadian cancer survivors. (3) Results: Forty-two articles were included. Survivors utilized a multitude of supportive care interventions, with peer support and physical activity programs being most frequently cited. Four models of follow-up care were identified: primary care, oncology care, shared-care, and transition clinics. The supportive care interventions and models of care variably aligned with the recommendations set by CCO and CAPO/CPAC. The most commonly followed recommendation was the promotion of self-management and quality resources for patients. (4) Conclusions: Results indicate an inconsistency in access to supportive care interventions and the delivery of survivorship care for cancer survivors across Canada. Current efforts are being made to implement the recommendations by CCO and CAPO/CPAC; however, provision of these guidelines remains varied. Full article