bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Age validation of age 0-3 wild cod Gadus morhua in the western Baltic Sea through mark-recapture and tetracycline marking of otoliths
Authors: Krumme U , Stötera S , McQueen K , Pahlke E
Published: June 2020

The contrasting zones within otoliths are commonly used to infer age of fish, assuming that 1 opaque zone and 1 translucent zone (TZ) form per year. However, the periodicity of zone formation is often un-validated and susceptible to interpretation errors and uncertainties, which propagate into age-structured calculations. The western Baltic cod Gadus morhua (WBC) stock is currently evaluated through an age-based assessment, using the typical, temperate area assumption that TZs form in autumn/winter. The periodicity of zone formation was evaluated through a mark-recapture experiment with juvenile and young adult WBC. During 2014-2017, 9111 wild cod were tagged externally (T-bar anchor tag) and internally (injection with tetracycline-hydrochloride induced a permanent fluorescent mark on their otoliths) and released. Timing of TZ formation was reconstructed through examination of otoliths from recaptured age 0-3 cod for which all required information and otoliths were available (n = 59, length range: 173-500 mm). Contrary to the assumption that TZs are formed during winter, recaptured cod consistently formed 1 TZ per year, between summer and autumn, in both juveniles (age 0-1) and young adults (age 2-3). A calendar year in the otolith is therefore composed of a TZ with opaque material on either side. Coincidence of TZ formation and recent evidence of shallow-water avoidance and reduced feeding and growth in WBC during peak summer suggests that TZs are formed when metabolic demands cannot be met. The results improve accuracy of WBC age estimates and highlight the feasibility and importance of conducting age validation experiments.
Collagenolytic Potential of Rat Liver Myofibroblasts
Authors: JIROUTOVÁ A. , PETEROVÁ E. , BITTNEROVÁ L. , SLAVKOVSKÝ R. , ČEVELOVÁ P. , ŘEZÁČOVÁ M. , CERMAN J. , MIČUDA S. , KANTA J.
Published: June 2020

Rat liver myofibroblasts (MFB) were isolated by repeated passaging of nonparenchymal liver cell fraction. They were cultured on polystyrene Petri dishes, on fibrin or on type I collagen gels for 5 days. Quantitative RT-PCR, Western blotting, zymography and immunocytochemistry were used to study differences in cell morphology and protein expression. MFB were large and spread on plastic substrate, with prominent α-smooth muscle (α-SMA) fibres. They turned much smaller and elongated on collagen which was accompanied by the rearrangement of the cytoskeleton and a decrease in α-SMA and β-actin content. Collagen gel induced the expression of a group of metalloproteinases (MMP-2, -3, -9, -13), on mRNA and protein level which resulted in the degradation of the gel. This response was accompanied by changes in the mRNA expression of cytokines of TGF-β family, CTGF and interleukin-6, as well as of osteopontin and thrombospondin-2 that are involved in metalloproteinases (MMPs) regulation. The expression of MMPs substrates, collagen types I, IV and XII did not change or decreased. The effects of fibrin gels on MFB were milder than those of collagen. MFB assumed to deposit collagen and other ECM components in fibrotic liver, besides hepatic stellate cells, also possess a great collagenolytic potential.
Ground-Based Medical Services for In-Flight Emergencies
Authors: Kim Jung Ha , Choi-Kwon Smi
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of ground-based medical services (GBMS) by the cabin crew of a major South Korean airline for in-flight medical incidents involving passengers.METHODS: We conducted a survey of cabin crew to identify the anticipated
use of GBMS in 2017. We compared the anticipated use to actual use as reported in cabin crew records submitted to the GBMS team and cabin crew logs from May 2013 to April 2016.RESULTS: Among 766 team leaders and assistant leaders, 211 individuals answered the questionnaire. A total
of 915 instances of GBMS use were reported during the study period. There were no significant differences between anticipated and actual use in terms of the reasons for needing GBMS, with medication prescription being the most common reason. However, there were significant differences in the
specific symptoms that triggered contact with GBMS. Pediatric and digestive symptoms were under-predicted, while neuropsychiatric and cardiac symptoms were over-predicted.DISCUSSION: Cabin crew tended to require GBMS to assist with pediatric and digestive conditions more often than
anticipated. Furthermore, digestive and pediatric symptoms often require prescription medications.Kim JH, Choi-Kwon S. Ground-based medical services for in-flight emergencies. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(4):348–351.
Vestibulo-Ocular Responses, Visual Field Dependence, and Motion Sickness in Aerobatic Pilots
Authors: Kuldavletova Olga , Tanguy Sebastian , Denise Pierre , Quarck Gaëlle
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND: Aerobatic flight is a challenge for the vestibular system, which is likely to lead to adaptive changes in the vestibular responses of pilots. We investigated whether aerobatic pilots, as individuals who experience intense vestibular stimulation, present modifications
of the vestibular-ocular reflex, motion sickness susceptibility and intensity, visual vertical estimation, and visual dependence as compared to normal volunteers.METHODS: To evaluate vestibulo-ocular reflexes, eye movements were recorded with videonystagmography while subjects were
rotated on a rotatory chair with the axis of rotation being vertical (canal-ocular reflex) or inclined to 17° (otolith-ocular reflex). Motion sickness was evaluated after the rotatory test using the Graybiel diagnostic criteria. General motion sickness susceptibility and visual field dependence
were also evaluated.RESULTS: Averaged data did not show significant difference in canal-ocular reflex and otolith ocular-reflex between groups. However, a significant asymmetry in otolith-driven ocular responses was found in pilots (CW 0.50 ± 1.21° · s−1
vs. CCW 1.59 ± 1.12° · s−1), though visual vertical estimation was not altered in pilots and both groups were found field independent. Pilots were generally less susceptible to motion sickness (MSSQ scores: 2.52 ± 5.59 vs. 13.5 ± 11.36) and
less affected by the nauseogenic stimulation (Graybiel diagnostic criteria 3.36 ± 3.81 vs. 8.39 ± 7.01).DISCUSSION: We did not observe the expected habituation in the group of aerobatic pilots. However, there was a significant asymmetry in the otolith-driven ocular
responses in pilots, but not in the controls, which may result from the asymmetry in piloting protocols.Kuldavletova O, Tanguy S, Denise P, Quarck G. Vestibulo-ocular responses, visual field dependence, and motion sickness in aerobatic pilots. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(4):326–331.
The Silencing of Children's Literature Publishing in Hong Kong
Authors: Yung Faye Dorcas
Published: June 2020

Children's literature publishing in Hong Kong is supposed to enjoy the freedom of a free market economy and legal autonomy. However, the market structure and the titles available in the market dominated by imported titles reveal that children's books published in Hong Kong have little room to feature the local voice. The market conditions are tough and publishers are incentivised to publish for the larger Sinosphere market. As a result, Cantonese is absent in imported texts annotated with either Mandarin phonetics ruby characters in Hanyu Pinyin or Zhuyin symbols. Non-fiction picturebooks feature a version of history that is biased towards the Chinese Communist Party political rhetoric. Hong Kong subjectivity thus struggles to find space to be represented; usually it is found in publications by smaller independent publishers.
Does the Animal Welfare Kuznets Curve Hypothesis Hold for Japanese Canines?
Authors: Kawata Yukichika
Published: June 2020

The purpose of this study was to examine if and how Japanese canine welfare has improved in the past several decades. I had two possible scenarios: A steady and monotonic improvement or an inverted U-shaped welfare change. I included the influence of status on canine welfare in my investigations by using complete domestic dog data from the period when the status of canines changed. I empirically examined which hypothesis was more relevant using four measures: The percentages of 1) stray dogs captured, 2), not-rehomed stray dogs (total data), 3) not-rehomed stray dogs (panel data), and 4) rabies shots. I observed an inverted U-shaped welfare change for the four measures, indicating the existence of an animal welfare Kuznets curve (AWKC). My results suggested that considering important factors, such as status change, multiple statuses, or both may improve the detection of an AWKC.
Pareto Optimal PID Tuning for Px4-Based Unmanned Aerial Vehicles by Using a Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Gomez Victor , Gomez Nicolas , Rodas Jorge , Paiva Enrique , Saad Maarouf , Gregor Raul
Published: June 2020

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are affordable these days. For that reason, there are currently examples of the use of UAVs in recreational, professional and research applications. Most of the commercial UAVs use Px4 for their operating system. Even though Px4 allows one to change the flight controller structure, the proportional-integral-derivative (PID) format is still by far the most popular choice. A selection of the PID controller parameters is required before the UAV can be used. Although there are guidelines for the design of PID parameters, they do not guarantee the stability of the UAV, which in many cases, leads to collisions involving the UAV during the calibration process. In this paper, an offline tuning procedure based on the multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) algorithm for the attitude and altitude control of a Px4-based UAV is proposed. A Pareto dominance concept is used for the MOPSO to find values for the PID comparing parameters of step responses (overshoot, rise time and root-mean-square). Experimental results are provided to validate the proposed tuning procedure by using a quadrotor as a case study.
Surface Electromyography of the Longissimus and Gluteus Medius Muscles in Greyhounds Walking and Trotting on Ground Flat, Up, and Downhill
Authors: Miró Francisco , Galisteo Alfonso M. , Garrido-Castro Juan L. , Vivo Joaquín
Published: June 2020

In the field of canine rehabilitation, knowledge of muscle function in the therapeutic exercises prescribed is needed by physical therapists and veterinary surgeons. To gain insight into the function of longissimus dorsi (LD) and gluteus medius (GM) muscles in dogs, five Greyhounds performing leash walking and trotting on the ground flat, up (+7%), and downhill (−7%) were studied by surface electromyography, and the mean and maximum activity was compared. For the same incline, the surface electromyography (sEMG) of LD was higher (p < 0.05) at the trot than at the walk. In LD muscle, trotting uphill showed significantly higher maximum activity than any other exercise. A change of +7% incline or −7% decline affected (increased or decreased, respectively) the mean sEMG of the LD and GM muscles of dogs walking or trotting on the ground. When combined, the influence of gait and incline on electromyographic activity was analyzed, and walking at certain inclines showed no difference with trotting at certain inclines. Walking and trotting up and downhill added separate therapeutic value to flat motion. The results of the present study might contribute to a better understanding of the function of LD and GM muscles in dogs, this being especially useful for the field of canine rehabilitation.
Growth Performance Analysis of Two Italian Slow-Growing Chicken Breeds: Bianca di Saluzzo and Bionda Piemontese
Authors: Soglia Dominga , Sartore Stefano , Maione Sandra , Schiavone Achille , Dabbou Sihem , Nery Joana , Zaniboni Luisa , Marelli Stefano , Sacchi Paola , Rasero Roberto
Published: June 2020

Bianca di Saluzzo (BS) and Bionda Piemontese (BP) are two Italian chicken breeds, mainly reared for meat production, primarily in antibiotic-free farming. However, technical information on their growth pattern is still missing. At hatching, 150 unsexed chicks of each breed were weighed, labeled, and reared in indoor pens up to 8 w of age. At 8 w of age, the chicks were separated by sex and randomly transferred to growing pens with access to an external paddock (15 birds/pen; 4 pens/sex for each breed). The body weight (BW) was recorded biweekly for each bird, from hatching to 32 w of age. In order to identify an improvement strategy, the objectives of our study were to analyze the growth pattern of these birds using the Gompertz mathematical model and compare results with other chicken breeds. Polymorphism of the PAX7 gene was also analyzed to test its association with growth traits. Both BS and BP are close to unselected native breeds and, among the Italian local poultry, they are confirmed to be slow-growing birds with an intermediate size between heavy and light chicken breeds. Regarding the PAX7 gene, two alleles were found, F and G, and showed an association with the actual BW in the BP females from 14 w of age onwards. The G allele always exhibited a more favorable effect than the F allele. In small size poultry population, a delicate balance between preservation of biodiversity and performance improvement should be considered. Consequently, the most proper way could be an approach based on a mating scheme to keep inbreeding under control, increase growth rate, and improve commercial maturity.
Multiple Amino Acid Supplementations to Low-Protein Diets: Effect on Performance, Carcass Yield, Meat Quality and Nitrogen Excretion of Finishing Broilers under Hot Climate Conditions
Authors: Attia Youssef A. , Bovera Fulvia , Wang Jinquan , Al-Harthi Mohammed A. , Kim Woo Kyun
Published: June 2020

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of low-protein diets with amino acid supplementation on growth performance, carcass yield, meat quality and nitrogen excretion of broilers raised under hot climate conditions during the finisher period. In trial 1, broilers from 28 to 49 days of age were fed 18% crude protein (CP) as a positive control or 15% CP supplemented with (1) DL-methionine (Met) + L-lysine (Lys), (2) Met + Lys + L-Arginine (Arg), or (3) Met + Lys + L-Valine (Val). In trial 2, broilers from 30 to 45 days of age, were fed an 18% CP diet as a positive control or 15% CP supplemented with Met, Lys, Arg, Val, L-Isoleucine (Ile) or combination with glycine (Gly) and/or urea as nitrogen sources: (1) Met + Lys, (2) Met + Lys + Arg, (3) Met + Lys + Val, (4) Met + Lys + Ile, (5) Met + Lys + Arg +Val + Ile + Gly, and (6) Met+ Lys + Arg + Val + Ile + Gly + urea. Protein use was improved by feeding low-protein amino acid-supplemented diets as compared to the high-protein diet. Feeding 15% crude protein diet supplemented with only methionine and lysine had no negative effects on carcass yield, CP, total lipids and moisture% of breast meat while decreasing nitrogen excretion by 21%.
Best Practice Standards in Animal-Assisted Interventions: How the LEAD Risk Assessment Tool Can Help
Authors: Brelsford Victoria L. , Dimolareva Mirena , Gee Nancy R. , Meints Kerstin
Published: June 2020

Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) in educational and other settings have steadily increased over the last fifty years and a steep rise in AAI has been observed in many countries and settings in recent years. Surprisingly, while different providers and organisations provide a range of guidelines, no unified, standardised guidelines or risk assessment tools for AAI exist. This means that in practice AAI takes place in an unregulated manner and without a gold standard of best practice. In addition, knowledge of which interventions are effective is still scarce and the mechanisms of successful interventions are not yet fully understood. This is partly due to AAI being a relatively new research field and standards of research and practice have often lacked rigour in the past. Furthermore, knowledge and experience of providers undertaking interventions varies greatly as there is no standardised training either. We address the striking lack of standardised guidelines and procedures. In all AAI, high importance should be placed on safety and welfare of all involved. Children and other AAI participants, staff and animals should be given equal consideration when assessing risks and welfare needs. To ensure safe AAI worldwide, we provide urgently needed guidelines on best practice in relation to risk assessment, safeguarding and animal welfare priorities. The guidelines were developed for a large-scale longitudinal, randomised controlled trial AAI project and are relevant to AAIs within educational and other settings. We also provide the first set of comprehensive risk assessment and animal welfare tools to achieve consistent welfare and safety standards for best practice across educational and other settings around the world.
Exploring the Socioeconomic Importance of Antimicrobial Use in the Small-Scale Pig Sector in Vietnam
Authors: Coyne Lucy , Benigno Carolyn , Giang Vo Ngan , Huong Luu Quynh , Kalprividh Wantanee , Padungtod Pawin , Patrick Ian , Ngoc Pham Thi , Rushton Jonathan
Published: June 2020

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is influenced by antimicrobial use in human and animal health. This use exerts selection pressure on pathogen populations with the development of resistance and the exchange of resistance genes. While the exact scale of AMR in Vietnam remains uncertain, recent studies suggest that it is a major issue in both human and animal health. This study explored antimicrobial use behaviors in 36 pig farms in the Nam Dinh Province (North) and the Dong Nai Province (South) of Vietnam (with a median of 5.5 breeding sows and 41 fattening pigs). It also estimated the economic costs and benefits of use for the producer. Data were collected through a structured face-to-face interview with additional productivity data collected by farmers during a six-week period following the initial interview. Overall, antimicrobial use was high across the farms; however, in-feed antimicrobial use is likely to be under-reported due to misleading and imprecise labelling on premixed commercial feeds. An economic analysis found that the cost of antimicrobials was low relative to other farm inputs (~2% of total costs), and that farm profitability was precariously balanced, with high disease and poor prices leading to negative and low profits. Future policies for smallholder farms need to consider farm-level economics and livestock food supply issues when developing further antimicrobial use interventions in the region.
Thymus zygis subsp. zygis an Endemic Portuguese Plant: Phytochemical Profiling, Antioxidant, Anti-Proliferative and Anti-Inflammatory Activities
Authors: Silva Amélia M. , Martins-Gomes Carlos , Souto Eliana B. , Schäfer Judith , Santos João A. , Bunzel Mirko , Nunes Fernando M.
Published: June 2020

Thymus zygis subsp. zygis is an endemic Portuguese plant belonging to the Thymus zygis species. Although T. zygis is commonly used as a condiment and as a medicinal herb, a detailed description of the polyphenol composition of hydroethanolic (HE) and aqueous decoction (AD) extracts is not available. In this work, we describe for the first time a detailed phenolic composition of Thymus zygis subsp. zygis HE and AD extracts, together with their antioxidant, anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory activities. Unlike other Thymus species, T. zygis subsp. zygis extracts contain higher amounts of luteolin-(?)-O-hexoside. However, the major phenolic compound is rosmarinic acid, and high amounts of salvianolic acids K and I were also detected. T. zygis subsp. zygis extracts exhibited significant scavenging activity of ABTS+, hydroxyl (•OH), and nitric oxide (NO) radicals. Regarding the anti-proliferative/cytotoxic effect, tested against Caco-2 and HepG2 cells, the AD extract only slightly reduced cell viability at higher concentrations (IC50 > 600 µg/mL, 48 h exposure), denoting very low toxicity, while the HE extract showed a high anti-proliferative effect, especially at 48 h exposure (IC50 of 85.01 ± 15.10 μg/mL and 82.19 ± 2.46 μg/mL, for Caco-2 and HepG2, respectively). At non-cytotoxic concentrations, both extracts reduced the nitric oxide (NO) release by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells (at 50 μg/mL, HE and AD extracts inhibited NO release in ~89% and 48%, respectively). In conclusion, the results highlight the non-toxic effect of aqueous extracts, both resembling the consumption of antioxidants in foodstuff or in functional food. Furthermore, the HE extract of T. zygis subsp. zygis is a source of promising molecules with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities, highlighting its potential as a source of bioactive ingredients for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries.
A New Proposal on the Advanced Persistent Threat: A Survey
Authors: Quintero-Bonilla Santiago , Martín del Rey Angel
Published: June 2020

An advanced persistent threat (APT) can be defined as a targeted and very sophisticated cyber attack. IT administrators need tools that allow for the early detection of these attacks. Several approaches have been proposed to provide solutions to this problem based on the attack life cycle. Recently, machine learning techniques have been implemented in these approaches to improve the problem of detection. This paper aims to propose a new approach to APT detection, using machine learning techniques, and is based on the life cycle of an APT attack. The proposed model is organised into two passive stages and three active stages to adapt the mitigation techniques based on machine learning.
Effect of Haptic Feedback on Pilot/Operator Performance During Flight Simulation
Authors: Malik Hassam Ahmed , Rasool Shahzad , Maqsood Adnan , Riaz Rizwan
Published: June 2020

Flying an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is a challenging task, due to the absence of direct sensory information such as a view of surroundings, sound, vibrations, and motion. It is important to provide these sensory stimulations to an operator for better situational awareness and efficient control. In this research, we study the effects of incorporating haptic feedback in UAV flight control. We present an experimental evaluation of three flight control scenarios, that is, in the absence of haptic feedback, in the presence of realistic haptic feedback, and an exaggerated haptic feedback. These three conditions are tested for an altitude hold, gain, and descent task in the flight simulation environment. A linear mathematical model is used to simulate the flight dynamics of a UAV controlled by a 6 DOF Touch 3D Stylus haptic device. Fifteen untrained users are recruited to participate in the flight simulation experiment. The analysis of the results of the experiment indicates an improvement in the longitudinal flight control performance. Specifically, the altitude hold task is better performed with no feedback, the altitude gain with exaggerated haptic feedback, and the altitude descent with realistic haptic feedback. A subjective evaluation in the end corroborates these findings.
Two-Phase Interleaved Boost Converter with ZVT Turn-On for Main Switches and ZCS Turn-Off for Auxiliary Switches Based on One Resonant Loop
Authors: Yau Yeu-Torng , Hwu Kuo-Ing , Jiang Wen-Zhuang
Published: June 2020

A two-phase interleaved boost converter with soft switching is proposed herein. By means of only one auxiliary circuit with two auxiliary switches having zero-current switching (ZCS) turn-on, two main switches are switched on with zero-voltage transition (ZVT) to enhance the overall efficiency. Moreover, a current-balancing circuit with a no current-balancing bus is utilized to render the load current extracted from the two phases as even as possible, so that the system stability is upgraded. In such a study, this converter, having the input of 24 V ± 10 % and the rated output of 36V/6A, was employed to demonstrate the effectiveness of such a converter by experiment.
GDC-Based Infiltrated Electrodes for Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cells (SOECs)
Authors: Spiridigliozzi Luca , Di Bartolomeo Elisabetta , Dell’Agli Gianfranco , Zurlo Francesca
Published: June 2020

In this work, porous complex and metal-free cathodes based on a (La0.6Sr0.4) (Cr0.5Mn0.5) O3 (LSCM) screen-printed backbone infiltrated with Ce0.9Gd0.1O2 (GDC) were fabricated for solid oxide electrolyzer cells. GDC infiltration has been optimized by structural and microstructural investigation and tested by electrochemical measurements in CO/CO2 mixtures. Infiltrated electrodes with a non-aqueous GDC solution showed the best electro-catalytic activity towards CO2 reduction, exhibiting a much lower polarization resistance, i.e., Rpol = 0.3 Ω·cm2 at 900 °C. The electrochemical performance of LSCM/GDCE in terms of Rpol is comparable to the best-performing Ni-YSZ cathode in the same operating conditions (Rpol = 0.23 Ω·cm2).
Ten Points for High-Quality Statistical Reporting and Data Presentation
Authors: Nieminen Pentti
Published: June 2020

Background: Data analysis methods have become an essential part of empirical research papers, especially in health sciences and medical research. It has previously been reported that a noteworthy percentage of articles have flaws in their statistical reporting. Reporting problems have been a long-term issue, and despite continued efforts to improve the situation, improvements have been far from satisfactory. One explanation is an inadequate assessment of statistical reporting during peer review. This communication proposes a short instrument to assess the quality of data analysis reporting in manuscripts and published papers. Method: A checklist-type instrument was developed by selecting and refining items from previous reports about the quality of statistical reporting in medical journals and from published guidelines for reporting and data presentation. Items were pretested and modified during pilot studies. A total of 160 original medical research articles that were published in 4 journals were evaluated to test the instrument. Interrater and intrarater agreements were examined by comparing quality scores assigned to 40 articles published in a psychiatric journal. Results: The data analysis reporting test consists of nine questions that assess the quality of health research from a reader’s perspective. The composed scale has a total score ranging from 0 to 10 and discriminated between journals and study designs. A high score suggested that an article had a good presentation of findings in tables and figures and that the description of analysis methods was helpful to readers. Interrater and intrarater agreements were high. Conclusion: An applicable checklist for quickly testing the statistical reporting quality of manuscripts and published research papers was developed. This instrument aims to improve the quality of empirical research in scientific fields where statistical methods play an important role.
Multiple Fractional Solutions for Magnetic Bio-Nanofluid Using Oldroyd-B Model in a Porous Medium with Ramped Wall Heating and Variable Velocity
Authors: Saqib Muhammad , Khan Ilyas , Chu Yu-Ming , Qushairi Ahmad , Shafie Sharidan , Sooppy Nisar Kottakkaran
Published: June 2020

Three different fractional models of Oldroyd-B fluid are considered in this work. Blood is taken as a special example of Oldroyd-B fluid (base fluid) with the suspension of gold nanoparticles, making the solution a biomagnetic non-Newtonian nanofluid. Based on three different definitions of fractional operators, three different models of the resulting nanofluid are developed. These three operators are based on the definitions of Caputo (C), Caputo–Fabrizio (CF), and Atnagana–Baleanu in the Caputo sense (ABC). Nanofluid is taken over an upright plate with ramped wall heating and time-dependent fluid velocity at the sidewall. The effects of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) and porous medium are also considered. Triple fractional analysis is performed to solve the resulting three models, based on three different fractional operators. The Laplace transform is applied to each problem separately, and Zakian’s numerical algorithm is used for the Laplace inversion. The solutions are presented in various graphs with physical arguments. Results are computed and shown in various plots. The empirical results indicate that, for ramped temperature, the temperature field is highest for the ABC derivative, followed by the CF and Caputo fractional derivatives. In contrast, for isothermal temperature, the temperature field of C-derivative is higher than the CF and ABC derivatives, respectively. It was noticed that the velocity field for the ABC derivative is higher than the CF and Caputo fractional derivatives for ramped velocity. However, the velocity field for the Caputo fractional derivative is lower than the ABC and CF for isothermal velocity.
Application of Modal-Displacement Based Design Method to Multi-Story Timber Blockhaus Structures
Authors: Sciomenta Martina , Rinaldi Vincenzo , Bedon Chiara , Fragiacomo Massimo
Published: June 2020

Structures under seismic excitation undergo different inter-story drift levels that can be associated to damage of both structural and non-structural elements, and thus to the expected losses. The Modal-Displacement Based Design (DBD) procedure, in this regard, has been developed to fix major issues of Force Based Design (FBD) approaches, thus to design multi-story buildings in which the inter-story drift can allow one to control damage mechanisms. In this paper, the conventional Modal-DBD methodology is applied to multi-story timber buildings constructed using the Blockhaus technology. Given their intrinsic geometrical and mechanical features (i.e., stacking of logs, door/window openings, gaps and friction mechanisms, etc.), dedicated methods of analysis are required for them, compared to other wooden structures. A three-story case-study Blockhaus system of technical interest is thus presented for the assessment of Modal-DBD calculation steps. As shown, special care must be spent for the selection of convenient inter-story drift limits that in general should reflect the characteristics of the examined structural typology. The backbone parameters are thus collected for each shear-wall composing the 3D Blockhaus building, based on refined Finite Element (FE) analyses of separate log-walls. The overall results of the Modal-DBD process are thus finally assessed by means of a Push-Over (PO) analysis, carried out on a simplified 3D FE model of the examined multi-story structure. The comparison of FE predictions, as shown, demonstrates that reliable estimates can be obtained when the Modal-DBD procedure is applied to timber Blockhaus systems. In particular, base shear loads can be estimated with good accuracy, while the corresponding top displacements are slightly overestimated (with up to +10%–14% the expected values, for the collapse prevention performance level).
Unification of Internal Resistance Estimation Methods for Li-Ion Batteries Using Hysteresis-Free Equivalent Circuit Models
Authors: Islam S M Rakiul , Park Sung-Yeul , Balasingam Balakumar
Published: June 2020

Internal resistance is one of the important parameters in the Li-Ion battery. This paper identifies it using two different methods: electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and parameter estimation based on equivalent circuit model (ECM). Comparing internal resistance, the conventional parameter estimation method yields a different value than EIS. Therefore, a hysteresis-free parameter identification method based on ECM is proposed. The proposed technique separates hysteresis resistance from the effective resistance. It precisely estimated actual internal resistance, which matches the internal resistance obtained from EIS. In addition, state of charge, open circuit voltage, and different internal equivalent circuit components were identified. The least square method was used to identify the parameters based on ECM. A parameter extraction algorithm to interpret impedance spectrum obtained from the EIS. The algorithm is based on the properties of Nyquist plot, phasor algebra, and resonances. Experiments were conducted using a cellphone pouch battery and a cylindrical 18650 battery.
Can We Assume the Gene Expression Profile as a Proxy for Signaling Network Activity?
Authors: Piran Mehran , Karbalaei Reza , Piran Mehrdad , Aldahdooh Jehad , Mirzaie Mehdi , Ansari-Pour Naser , Tang Jing , Jafari Mohieddin
Published: June 2020

Studying relationships among gene products by expression profile analysis is a common approach in systems biology. Many studies have generalized the outcomes to the different levels of central dogma information flow and assumed a correlation of transcript and protein expression levels. However, the relation between the various types of interaction (i.e., activation and inhibition) of gene products to their expression profiles has not been widely studied. In fact, looking for any perturbation according to differentially expressed genes is the common approach, while analyzing the effects of altered expression on the activity of signaling pathways is often ignored. In this study, we examine whether significant changes in gene expression necessarily lead to dysregulated signaling pathways. Using four commonly used and comprehensive databases, we extracted all relevant gene expression data and all relationships among directly linked gene pairs. We aimed to evaluate the ratio of coherency or sign consistency between the expression level as well as the causal relationships among the gene pairs. Through a comparison with random unconnected gene pairs, we illustrate that the signaling network is incoherent, and inconsistent with the recorded expression profile. Finally, we demonstrate that, to infer perturbed signaling pathways, we need to consider the type of relationships in addition to gene-product expression data, especially at the transcript level. We assert that identifying enriched biological processes via differentially expressed genes is limited when attempting to infer dysregulated pathways.
Acetylcholine and Acetylcholine Receptors: Textbook Knowledge and New Data
Authors: Tsetlin Victor I.
Published: June 2020

It was a pleasure to receive a proposal to organize and be a guest editor of a Special Issue of Biomolecules [...]
Metallo-β-Lactamase Inhibitors Inspired on Snapshots from the Catalytic Mechanism
Authors: Palacios Antonela R. , Rossi María-Agustina , Mahler Graciela S. , Vila Alejandro J.
Published: June 2020

β-Lactam antibiotics are the most widely prescribed antibacterial drugs due to their low toxicity and broad spectrum. Their action is counteracted by different resistance mechanisms developed by bacteria. Among them, the most common strategy is the expression of β-lactamases, enzymes that hydrolyze the amide bond present in all β-lactam compounds. There are several inhibitors against serine-β-lactamases (SBLs). Metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) are Zn(II)-dependent enzymes able to hydrolyze most β-lactam antibiotics, and no clinically useful inhibitors against them have yet been approved. Despite their large structural diversity, MBLs have a common catalytic mechanism with similar reaction species. Here, we describe a number of MBL inhibitors that mimic different species formed during the hydrolysis process: substrate, transition state, intermediate, or product. Recent advances in the development of boron-based and thiol-based inhibitors are discussed in the light of the mechanism of MBLs. We also discuss the use of chelators as a possible strategy, since Zn(II) ions are essential for substrate binding and catalysis.
Human Parvoviruses May Affect the Development and Clinical Course of Meningitis and Meningoencephalitis
Authors: Vilmane Anda , Terentjeva Anna , Tamosiunas Paulius L. , Suna Normunds , Suna Inga , Petraityte-Burneikiene Rasa , Murovska Modra , Rasa-Dzelzkaleja Santa , Nora-Krukle Zaiga
Published: June 2020

Meningitis and meningoencephalitis are neurological inflammatory diseases, and although routine diagnostics include testing of a wide range of pathogens, still in many cases, no causative agent is detected. Human parvovirus B19 (B19V), human bocaviruses 1–4 (HBoV1–4), and human parvovirus 4 (hPARV4) are members of the Parvoviridae family and are associated with a wide range of clinical manifestations including neurological disorders. The main aim of this study was to determine whether human parvoviruses infection markers are present among patients with meningitis/meningoencephalitis in Latvia as well as to clarify the role of these viruses on the clinical course of the mentioned diseases. Our study revealed HBoV1–4 and B19V genomic sequences in 52.38% and 16.67% of patients, respectively. Furthermore, symptoms such as the presence of a headache and its severity, fatigue, disorientation, and difficulties to concentrate were significantly frequently present in patients with active parvovirus infection in comparison with parvoviruses negative patients, therefore we suggest that HBoV1–4 and B19V infection should be included in the diagnostics to reduce the number of meningitis/meningoencephalitis with unknown/unexplained etiology.
Psychosocial and Behavioral Impact of COVID-19 in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Online Parent Survey
Authors: Colizzi Marco , Sironi Elena , Antonini Federico , Ciceri Marco Luigi , Bovo Chiara , Zoccante Leonardo
Published: June 2020

The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak could result in higher levels of psychological distress, especially among people suffering from pre-existing mental health conditions. Young individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are particularly at risk due to their vulnerability to unpredictable and complex changes. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ASD individuals, whether any pre-pandemic sociodemographic or clinical characteristics would predict a negative outcome, and to narratively characterize their needs. Parents and guardians of ASD individuals filled out an online survey consisting of 40 questions investigating socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of their children, impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on their wellbeing and needs to deal with the emergency. Data were available on 527 survey participants. The COVID-19 emergency resulted in a challenging period for 93.9% of families, increased difficulties in managing daily activities, especially free time (78.1%) and structured activities (75.7%), and, respectively, 35.5% and 41.5% of children presenting with more intense and more frequent behavior problems. Behavior problems predating the COVID-19 outbreak predicted a higher risk of more intense (odds ratio (OR) = 2.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.42–3.29) and more frequent (OR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.13–2.48) disruptive behavior. Even though ASD children were receiving different types of support, also requiring specialist (19.1%) or emergency (1.5%) interventions in a relatively low proportion of cases, a number of needs emerged, including receiving more healthcare support (47.4%), especially in-home support (29.9%), as well as interventions to tackle a potentially disruptive quarantine (16.8%). The COVID-19 outbreak has undoubtedly resulted in increased difficulties among ASD individuals.
New Directions in Exercise Prescription: Is There a Role for Brain-Derived Parameters Obtained by Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy?
Authors: Herold Fabian , Gronwald Thomas , Scholkmann Felix , Zohdi Hamoon , Wyser Dominik , Müller Notger G. , Hamacher Dennis
Published: June 2020

In the literature, it is well established that regular physical exercise is a powerful strategy to promote brain health and to improve cognitive performance. However, exact knowledge about which exercise prescription would be optimal in the setting of exercise–cognition science is lacking. While there is a strong theoretical rationale for using indicators of internal load (e.g., heart rate) in exercise prescription, the most suitable parameters have yet to be determined. In this perspective article, we discuss the role of brain-derived parameters (e.g., brain activity) as valuable indicators of internal load which can be beneficial for individualizing the exercise prescription in exercise–cognition research. Therefore, we focus on the application of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), since this neuroimaging modality provides specific advantages, making it well suited for monitoring cortical hemodynamics as a proxy of brain activity during physical exercise.
Selected Ionotropic Receptors and Voltage-Gated Ion Channels: More Functional Competence for Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC)-Derived Nociceptors
Authors: Schoepf Clemens L. , Zeidler Maximilian , Spiecker Lisa , Kern Georg , Lechner Judith , Kummer Kai K. , Kress Michaela
Published: June 2020

Preclinical research using different rodent model systems has largely contributed to the scientific progress in the pain field, however, it suffers from interspecies differences, limited access to human models, and ethical concerns. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) offer major advantages over animal models, i.e., they retain the genome of the donor (patient), and thus allow donor-specific and cell-type specific research. Consequently, human iPSC-derived nociceptors (iDNs) offer intriguingly new possibilities for patient-specific, animal-free research. In the present study, we characterized iDNs based on the expression of well described nociceptive markers and ion channels, and we conducted a side-by-side comparison of iDNs with mouse sensory neurons. Specifically, immunofluorescence (IF) analyses with selected markers including early somatosensory transcription factors (BRN3A/ISL1/RUNX1), the low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor (p75), hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels (HCN), as well as high voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) of the CaV2 type, calcium permeable TRPV1 channels, and ionotropic GABAA receptors, were used to address the characteristics of the iDN phenotype. We further combined IF analyses with microfluorimetric Ca2+ measurements to address the functionality of these ion channels in iDNs. Thus, we provide a detailed morphological and functional characterization of iDNs, thereby, underpinning their enormous potential as an animal-free alternative for human specific research in the pain field for unveiling pathophysiological mechanisms and for unbiased, disease-specific personalized drug development.
Structural Performance of Arched Space Trusses Using Date Palm Midribs for Light and Cost-Effective Construction in Egypt
Authors: A. Darwish Eman , Mansour Yasser , Elmously Hamed , Abdelrahman Amr , Moustafa Ayman
Published: June 2020

Date palm midribs enjoy a long heritage among rural builders and craftsmen in Egypt for their abundance and low-cost. This familiarity encouraged previous studies to tackle the question of using date palm midribs in wide-span construction to provide simple, quick, cost efficient shaded structures. The design of tri-arched space truss was aimed to utilize date palm midribs in cost-efficient wide-span construction with minimal processing and maximum structural efficiency. However, the validated mechanical properties, the workability, the short-term and the long-term structural behaviors of the system are yet to be investigated. This paper investigates the structural behavior of a proposed tri-arched system using 1:3 scale specimens. The long-term environmental effects are also studied in one of the specimens. The specimens experienced high flexibility and gradual failure. A finite element model was created to predict the behavior of the specimens. The validated model was used to determine the structural behavior of the system with 12 m span. The system was found to be safe under the loads of wind and roofing. This paper is a part of a continuous process of validation that aims to utilize date palm midribs in contemporary wide-span construction to match the spirit of the youth in rural communities.
DSCAM-AS1-Driven Proliferation of Breast Cancer Cells Involves Regulation of Alternative Exon Splicing and 3′-End Usage
Authors: Elhasnaoui Jamal , Miano Valentina , Ferrero Giulio , Doria Elena , Leon Antonette E. , Fabricio Aline S. C. , Annaratone Laura , Castellano Isabella , Sapino Anna , De Bortoli Michele
Published: June 2020

DSCAM-AS1 is a cancer-related long noncoding RNA with higher expression levels in Luminal A, B, and HER2-positive Breast Carcinoma (BC), where its expression is strongly dependent on Estrogen Receptor Alpha (ERα). DSCAM-AS1 expression is analyzed in 30 public datasets and, additionally, by qRT-PCR in tumors from 93 BC patients, to uncover correlations with clinical data. Moreover, the effect of DSCAM-AS1 knockdown on gene expression and alternative splicing is studied by RNA-Seq in MCF-7 cells. We confirm DSCAM-AS1 overexpression in high grade Luminal A, B, and HER2+ BCs and find a significant correlation with disease relapse. In total, 908 genes are regulated by DSCAM-AS1-silencing, primarily involved in the cell cycle and inflammatory response. Noteworthily, the analysis of alternative splicing and isoform regulation reveals 2085 splicing events regulated by DSCAM-AS1, enriched in alternative polyadenylation sites, 3′UTR (untranslated region) shortening and exon skipping events. Finally, the DSCAM-AS1-interacting splicing factor heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L (hnRNPL) is predicted as the most enriched RBP for exon skipping and 3′UTR events. The relevance of DSCAM-AS1 overexpression in BC is confirmed by clinical data and further enhanced by its possible involvement in the regulation of RNA processing, which is emerging as one of the most important dysfunctions in cancer.
Eupatilin Promotes Cell Death by Calcium Influx through ER-Mitochondria Axis with SERPINB11 Inhibition in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Lee Jin-Young , Bae Hyocheol , Yang Changwon , Park Sunwoo , Youn Byung-Soo , Kim Han-Soo , Song Gwonhwa , Lim Whasun
Published: June 2020

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of gynecological cancer-related mortality. The anticancer effect of eupatilin, a family of flavonoids, is known in many cancer types, but it is unclear what mechanism it plays in ovarian cancer. In this study, eupatilin promoted cell death of ovarian cancer cells by activating caspases, cell cycle arrest, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, calcium influx, disruption of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)–mitochondria axis with SERPINB11 inhibition, and downregulation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Additionally, eupatilin-reduced SERPINB11 expression enhanced the effect of conventional chemotherapeutic agents against ovarian cancer cell progression. Cotreatment with siSERPINB11 and eupatilin increased calcium-ion-dependent apoptotic activity in ovarian cancer cells. Although there were no significant toxic effects of eupatilin on embryos, eupatilin completely inhibited tumorigenesis in a zebrafish xenograft model. In addition, eupatilin suppressed angiogenesis in zebrafish transgenic models. Collectively, downregulating SERPINB11 with eupatilin against cancer progression may improve therapeutic activity.