bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automated Analysis of the Two-Minute Walk Test in Clinical Practice Using Accelerometer Data
Authors: Trentzsch Katrin , Melzer Benjamin , Stölzer-Hutsch Heidi , Haase Rocco , Bartscht Paul , Meyer Paul , Ziemssen Tjalf
Published: November 2021

One of the core problems for people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) is the impairment of their ability to walk, which can be severely restrictive in everyday life. Therefore, monitoring of ambulatory function is of great importance to be able to effectively counteract disease progression. An extensive gait analysis, such as the Dresden protocol for multidimensional walking assessment, covers several facets of walking impairment including a 2-min walk test, in which the distance taken by the patient in two minutes is measured by an odometer. Using this approach, it is questionable how precise the measuring methods are at recording the distance traveled. In this project, we investigate whether the current measurement can be replaced by a digital measurement method based on accelerometers (six Opal sensors from the Mobility Lab system) that are attached to the patient’s body. We developed two algorithms using these data and compared the validity of these approaches using the results from 2-min walk tests from 562 pwMS that were collected with a gold-standard odometer. In 48.4% of pwMS, we detected an average relative measurement error of less than 5%, while results from 25.8% of the pwMS showed a relative measurement error of up to 10%. The algorithm had difficulties correctly calculating the walking distances in another 25.8% of pwMS; these results showed a measurement error of more than 20%. A main reason for this moderate performance was the variety of pathologically altered gait patterns in pwMS that may complicate the step detection. Overall, both algorithms achieved favorable levels of agreement (r = 0.884 and r = 0.980) with the odometer. Finally, we present suggestions for improvement of the measurement system to be implemented in the future.
Caring for a Relative with Dementia: Determinants and Gender Differences of Caregiver Burden in the Rural Setting
Authors: Schaffler-Schaden Dagmar , Krutter Simon , Seymer Alexander , Eßl-Maurer Roland , Flamm Maria , Osterbrink Jürgen
Published: November 2021

Dementia is a progressive disease that puts substantial strain on caregivers. Many persons with dementia (PwDs) receive care from a relative. Since male and female caregivers experience different issues related to stress, it is important to meet their different needs to prevent the early nursing home placement of PwDs. This study investigated the multifactorial aspects of caregiver burden and explored gender differences in caregiver burden in a rural setting. This was a cross sectional study that administered anonymous questionnaires to family caregivers of PwDs. Caregiver burden was assessed using the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers—short version. A path model was used to determine the multivariate associations between the variables. To reflect the multifaceted aspects of caregiver burden, we used Pearlin’s model with its four dimensions. A total of 113 family caregivers responded to our survey. The overall burden of caregivers was moderate. According to the path model, gender differences were predictors of caregiver burden. The behaviour of the person with dementia and cohabitation had direct effects on caregiver burden. Our results suggest that the experiences of men and women caring for a PwD are different and highlight the need for tailored support in dementia care.
Mitotic Centromere-Associated Kinesin (MCAK/KIF2C) Regulates Cell Migration and Invasion by Modulating Microtubule Dynamics and Focal Adhesion Turnover
Authors: Moon Ha Hyung , Kreis Nina-Naomi , Friemel Alexandra , Roth Susanne , Schulte Dorothea , Solbach Christine , Louwen Frank , Yuan Juping , Ritter Andreas
Published: November 2021

The microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton is crucial for cell motility and migration by regulating multiple cellular activities such as transport and endocytosis of key components of focal adhesions (FA). The kinesin-13 family is important in the regulation of MT dynamics and the best characterized member of this family is the mitotic centromere-associated kinesin (MCAK/KIF2C). Interestingly, its overexpression has been reported to be related to increased metastasis in various tumor entities. Moreover, MCAK is involved in the migration and invasion behavior of various cell types. However, the precise molecular mechanisms were not completely clarified. To address these issues, we generated CRISPR/dCas9 HeLa and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell lines overexpressing or downregulating MCAK. Both up- or downregulation of MCAK led to reduced cell motility and poor migration in malignant as well as benign cells. Specifically, it’s up- or downregulation impaired FA protein composition and phosphorylation status, interfered with a proper spindle and chromosome segregation, disturbed the assembly and disassembly rate of FA, delayed cell adhesion, and compromised the plus-tip dynamics of MTs. In conclusion, our data suggest MCAK act as an important regulator for cell motility and migration by affecting the actin-MT cytoskeleton dynamics and the FA turnover, providing molecular mechanisms by which deregulated MCAK could promote malignant progression and metastasis of tumor cells.
Immunosuppressive Microenvironment and Efficacy of PD-1 Inhibitors in Relapsed/Refractory Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma: Checkpoint Molecules Landscape and Macrophage Populations
Authors: Gusak Artem , Fedorova Liudmila , Lepik Kirill , Volkov Nikita , Popova Marina , Moiseev Ivan , Mikhailova Natalia , Baykov Vadim , Kulagin Alexander
Published: November 2021

To date, the impact of the tumor microenvironment on the prognosis of patients with classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) during anti-PD-1 therapy has been studied insufficiently. This retrospective study included 61 primary samples of lymph nodes from patients who had relapsed/refractory (r/r) cHL and were treated with nivolumab. Repeated samples were obtained in 15 patients at relapse or disease progression after immunotherapy. Median follow-up was 55 (13–63) months. The best overall response rate and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed depending on the expression of CD68, CD163, PD-1, LAG-3, TIM-3, CTLA-4, TIGIT, CD163/c-maf in the tumor microenvironment in primary and sequential biopsies. The combination of CD163/c-maf antibodies was used for the identification of M2 macrophages (M2). A low number of macrophages in primary samples was associated with inferior PFS during nivolumab treatment (for CD163-positive cells p = 0.0086; for CD68-positive cells p = 0.037), while a low number of M2 with higher PFS (p = 0.014). Complete response was associated with a lower level of M2 (p = 0.011). In sequential samples (before and after nivolumab therapy) an increase in PD-1 (p = 0.011) and LAG-3 (p = 0.0045) and a depletion of CD68 (p = 0.057) and CD163 (p = 0.0049)-positive cells were observed. The study expands understanding of the cHL microenvironment structure and dynamics during nivolumab therapy in patients with r/r cHL.
Synthesis of Methyl Mercaptan on Mesoporous Alumina Prepared with Hydroxysafflor Yellow A as Template: The Synergistic Effect of Potassium and Molybdenum
Authors: Peng Chuang , Zeng Dong , Li Jianjun , Peng Shuai , Xiong Jun , Wang Weiming , Chen Yingming , Liu Hong , Liu Hao , Qin Rui
Published: November 2021

K-promoted Mo-based catalysts showed great promise for the hydrogenation of CS2 to methyl mercaptan (CH3SH). However, the research on the synergistic effect of K and Mo, and the active site of CS2 hydrogenation to CH3SH were unexplored widely. To solve this problem, the synergistic effect of K and Mo in the K-promoted Mo-based catalysts for CS2 hydrogenation to prepare CH3SH was investigated. The mesoporous alumina was the support and loaded the active components potassium and molybdenum to prepare the catalyst. The results suggested that the active components K and Mo can not only cooperatively regulate the acid-base sites on the catalyst surface, but also stabilize the molybdate species at +5 valence during the reduction process and increase the Mo unsaturated coordination sites. Combined with the results of the catalytic activity evaluation, indicating that the main active site of the catalysts is the weak Lewis acid-base site, and the strong acidic site and strong alkaline site are not conducive to the formation of CH3SH. Moreover, the possible catalytic mechanism of CS2 hydrogenation to CH3SH on the weak Lewis acid-base sites of the catalysts was proposed. The research results of this paper can provide an experimental basis and theoretical guidance for the design of high-performance CH3SH synthesis catalyst and further mechanism research.
Regulation of Inflammasomes by Application of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in a Spinal Cord Injury Model
Authors: Baazm Maryam , Behrens Victoria , Beyer Cordian , Nikoubashman Omid , Zendedel Adib
Published: November 2021

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA n3) ameliorate inflammation in different diseases and potentially improve neurological function after neuronal injury. Following spinal cord injury (SCI), inflammatory events result in caspase-1 mediated activation of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1b) and 18. We aim to evaluate the neuroprotective potency of PUFA n3 in suppressing the formation and activation of inflammasomes following SCI. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control, SCI, SCI+PUFA n3, and SCI+Lipofundin MCT (medium-chain triglyceride; vehicle). PUFA n3 or vehicle was intravenously administered immediately after SCI and every 24 h for the next three days. We analyzed the expression of NLRP3, NLRP1, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1b, and 18 in the spinal cord. The distribution of microglia, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes was assessed by immunohistochemistry analysis. Behavioral testing showed significantly improved locomotor recovery in PUFA n3-treated animals and the SCI-induced upregulation of inflammasome components was reduced. Histopathological evaluation confirmed the suppression of microgliosis, increased numbers of oligodendrocytes, and the prevention of demyelination by PUFA n3. Our data support the neuroprotective role of PUFA n3 by targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome. These findings provide evidence that PUFA n3 has therapeutic effects which potentially attenuate neuronal damage in SCI and possibly also in other neuronal injuries.
Redox Sensitive Cysteine Residues as Crucial Regulators of Wild-Type and Mutant p53 Isoforms
Authors: Butturini Elena , Butera Giovanna , Pacchiana Raffaella , Carcereri de Prati Alessandra , Mariotto Sofia , Donadelli Massimo
Published: November 2021

The wild-type protein p53 plays a key role in preventing the formation of neoplasms by controlling cell growth. However, in more than a half of all cancers, the TP53 gene has missense mutations that appear during tumorigenesis. In most cases, the mutated gene encodes a full-length protein with the substitution of a single amino acid, resulting in structural and functional changes and acquiring an oncogenic role. This dual role of the wild-type protein and the mutated isoforms is also evident in the regulation of the redox state of the cell, with antioxidant and prooxidant functions, respectively. In this review, we introduce a new concept of the p53 protein by discussing its sensitivity to the cellular redox state. In particular, we focus on the discussion of structural and functional changes following post-translational modifications of redox-sensitive cysteine residues, which are also responsible for interacting with zinc ions for proper structural folding. We will also discuss therapeutic opportunities using small molecules targeting cysteines capable of modifying the structure and function of the p53 mutant isoforms in view of possible anticancer therapies for patients possessing the mutation in the TP53 gene.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Cancer Cachexia: Impact on Muscle Health and Regeneration
Authors: Beltrà Marc , Pin Fabrizio , Ballarò Riccardo , Costelli Paola , Penna Fabio
Published: November 2021

Cancer cachexia is a frequently neglected debilitating syndrome that, beyond representing a primary cause of death and cancer therapy failure, negatively impacts on patients’ quality of life. Given the complexity of its multisystemic pathogenesis, affecting several organs beyond the skeletal muscle, defining an effective therapeutic approach has failed so far. Revamped attention of the scientific community working on cancer cachexia has focused on mitochondrial alterations occurring in the skeletal muscle as potential triggers of the complex metabolic derangements, eventually leading to hypercatabolism and tissue wasting. Mitochondrial dysfunction may be simplistically viewed as a cause of energy failure, thus inducing protein catabolism as a compensatory mechanism; however, other peculiar cachexia features may depend on mitochondria. On the one side, chemotherapy also impacts on muscle mitochondrial function while, on the other side, muscle-impaired regeneration may result from insufficient energy production from damaged mitochondria. Boosting mitochondrial function could thus improve the energetic status and chemotherapy tolerance, and relieve the myogenic process in cancer cachexia. In the present work, a focused review of the available literature on mitochondrial dysfunction in cancer cachexia is presented along with preliminary data dissecting the potential role of stimulating mitochondrial biogenesis via PGC-1α overexpression in distinct aspects of cancer-induced muscle wasting.
Amino Acid Transport and Metabolism Regulate Early Embryo Development: Species Differences, Clinical Significance, and Evolutionary Implications
Authors: Van Winkle Lon J.
Published: November 2021

In this review we discuss the beneficial effects of amino acid transport and metabolism on pre- and peri-implantation embryo development, and we consider how disturbances in these processes lead to undesirable health outcomes in adults. Proline, glutamine, glycine, and methionine transport each foster cleavage-stage development, whereas leucine uptake by blastocysts via transport system B0,+ promotes the development of trophoblast motility and the penetration of the uterine epithelium in mammalian species exhibiting invasive implantation. (Amino acid transport systems and transporters, such as B0,+, are often oddly named. The reader is urged to focus on the transporters’ functions, not their names.) B0,+ also accumulates leucine and other amino acids in oocytes of species with noninvasive implantation, thus helping them to produce proteins to support later development. This difference in the timing of the expression of system B0,+ is termed heterochrony—a process employed in evolution. Disturbances in leucine uptake via system B0,+ in blastocysts appear to alter the subsequent development of embryos, fetuses, and placentae, with undesirable consequences for offspring. These consequences may include greater adiposity, cardiovascular dysfunction, hypertension, neural abnormalities, and altered bone growth in adults. Similarly, alterations in amino acid transport and metabolism in pluripotent cells in the blastocyst inner cell mass likely lead to epigenetic DNA and histone modifications that produce unwanted transgenerational health outcomes. Such outcomes might be avoided if we learn more about the mechanisms of these effects.
Hundreds of LncRNAs Display Circadian Rhythmicity in Zebrafish Larvae
Authors: Mishra Shital Kumar , Zhong Zhaomin , Wang Han
Published: November 2021

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to play crucial roles in various life processes, including circadian rhythms. Although next generation sequencing technologies have facilitated faster profiling of lncRNAs, the resulting datasets require sophisticated computational analyses. In particular, the regulatory roles of lncRNAs in circadian clocks are far from being completely understood. In this study, we conducted RNA-seq-based transcriptome analysis of zebrafish larvae under both constant darkness (DD) and constant light (LL) conditions in a circadian manner, employing state-of-the-art computational approaches to identify approximately 3220 lncRNAs from zebrafish larvae, and then uncovered 269 and 309 lncRNAs displaying circadian rhythmicity under DD and LL conditions, respectively, with 30 of them are coexpressed under both DD and LL conditions. Subsequently, GO, COG, and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses of all these circadianly expressed lncRNAs suggested their potential involvement in numerous biological processes. Comparison of these circadianly expressed zebrafish larval lncRNAs, with rhythmically expressed lncRNAs in the zebrafish pineal gland and zebrafish testis, revealed that nine (DD) and twelve (LL) larval lncRNAs are coexpressed in the zebrafish pineal gland and testis, respectively. Intriguingly, among peptides encoded by these coexpressing circadianly expressed lncRNAs, three peptides (DD) and one peptide (LL) were found to have the known domains from the Protein Data Bank. Further, the conservation analysis of these circadianly expressed zebrafish larval lncRNAs with human and mouse genomes uncovered one lncRNA and four lncRNAs shared by all three species under DD and LL conditions, respectively. We also investigated the conserved lncRNA-encoded peptides and found one peptide under DD condition conserved in these three species and computationally predicted its 3D structure and functions. Our study reveals that hundreds of lncRNAs from zebrafish larvae exhibit circadian rhythmicity and should help set the stage for their further functional studies.
Breakfast Dietary Pattern Is Inversely Associated with Overweight/Obesity in European Adolescents: The HELENA Study
Authors: Cacau Leandro Teixeira , De Miguel-Etayo Pilar , Santaliestra-Pasías Alba M. , Giménez-Legarre Natalia , Marchioni Dirce Maria , Molina-Hidalgo Cristina , Censi Laura , González-Gross Marcela , Grammatikaki Evangelia , Breidenassel Christina , De Ruyter Thaïs , Kersting Mathilde , Gottrand Frederic , Androutsos Odysseas , Gómez-Martinez Sonia , Kafatos Anthony , Widhalm Kurt , Stehle Peter , Molnár Dénes , Manios Yannis , De Henauw Stefaan , Moreno Luis A.
Published: November 2021

Obesity in children and adolescents is a public health problem and diet can play a major role in this condition. We aimed to identify sex-specific dietary patterns (DP) and to evaluate the association with overweight/obesity in European adolescents. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis with 2327 adolescents aged between 12.5 to 17.5 years from a multicenter study across Europe. The body mass index was categorized in “normal weight” and “overweight/obesity”. Two non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls were collected with a computerized self-reported software. Principal component factor analysis was used to identify DP. Mixed-effect logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between the sex-specific DP and overweight/obesity outcome. As a result, we found three DP in boys (snacking and bread, Mediterranean diet, and breakfast) and four DP in girls (convenience, plant-based and eggs, Western, and breakfast). The association between DP and overweight/obesity highlights that those adolescents with higher adherence to the breakfast DP had lower odds for overweight/obesity, even after the inclusion of covariables in the adjustments. In European adolescents, the breakfast DP positively characterized by breakfast cereals, fruit, milk, and dairy and negatively characterized by sugar-sweetened beverages in boys and negatively characterized by cereals (pasta, rice, and others) in girls, was inversely associated with overweight/obesity.
Health-Related Motor Testing of Children in Primary School: A Systematic Review of Criterion-Referenced Standards
Authors: Köster Paulina , Hohmann Andreas , Niessner Claudia , Siener Maximilian
Published: November 2021

Being physically fit in younger years prevents several diseases in the presence as well as in the life course. Therefore, monitoring physical fitness and motor competence through motor testing is essential for determining developmental status and identifying health-related risks. The main objectives of this systematic review were (1) to identify currently available health-related criterion-referenced standards and cut-off points for physical fitness and motor competence test items, (2) to frame the methodological background on setting health-related criterion-referenced standards and (3) to give implications for a health-related evaluation system for physical fitness and motor competence tests. The electronic data base search (PubMed, Web of Science and SURF) yielded 2062 records in total and identified six empirical studies reporting cut-off points of motor test items for children (7–10 years), as well as 30 methodological papers discussing determination approaches to health-related criterion-referenced standards. Data collection, selection and analyses followed the PRISMA guidelines. Health-related motor test standards need to be gender- and age-specific but should refer to an absolute cut-off point rather than to relative performance in the reference group. Due to the lack of data on health-related criterion referenced standards, receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) curves provide a tool for the determination of cut-off points and criterion referenced standards for physical fitness and motor competence tests. A standardized approach forms the fundamental base for a globally applicable evaluation of health-related fitness tests.
Empirical Coastal Atmospheric Corrosion of Masonry Metal Wall Ties
Authors: Chaves Igor , de Prazer Sean , Jardim do Nascimento Barbara , Flowers Gregory
Published: November 2021

Not counting domestic dwellings, it has been estimated that in Australia alone, some tens of thousands of masonry buildings and structures have exceeded their design life, with many of these being at risk of partial (or worse) collapse from falling or dislodged masonry. This has significant implications for human life but also for the urban environment and economic health of building owners, managers, and insurers and for local and national economies. This risk can mainly be attributed to the slow deterioration of masonry under atmospheric and other environments and the corrosion of so-called wall ties. Wall ties are relatively thin pieces of steel that tie the outer leaf of masonry walls to the stabilized inner leaf. The problem is likely severe for scenarios such as cyclonic and earthquake events, as they cause area-wide damage and the potential wide-spread loss of human life—losses that could be prevented by timely intervention. This paper reports on the in situ inspection of two case study buildings and the data obtained from controlled wall tie corrosion field trials, which are used to develop predictive models of structural response. These models will inform practical tools that will be developed for building assessment, cost-effective monitoring, and rectification, assisting in the management of existing masonry buildings.
Alfalfa Rotation Strategy and Soil Type Influence Soil Characteristics and Replanted Alfalfa Yield in the Irrigated Semiarid, Subtropical Southwestern USA
Authors: Lauriault Leonard M. , Darapuneni Murali K.
Published: November 2021

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) establishment failure is often attributed to autotoxicity when alfalfa is reseeded shortly after termination of the previous alfalfa stand, but renovation/rotation strategies for irrigated semiarid, subtropical environments have not been studied. Two identical studies were initiated at the New Mexico State University Rex E. Kirksey Agricultural Science Center at Tucumcari, NM, USA to compare continuous alfalfa (ALF), a single year of rotation to sorghum-sudangrass (SS1; Sorghum bicolor × S. sudanense (Piper) Stapf), two years of rotation with sorghum-sudangrass (SS2), and winter wheat forage (Triticum aestivum L.) followed by a single season of sorghum-sudangrass (WW/SS). Soil type and renovation/rotation strategy may influence soil fertility prior to replanting alfalfa, but soil fertility did not appear to influence alfalfa re-establishment or first production year yields. With a Test x Rotation interaction due to differences between tests for WW/SS for first production year yield after September alfalfa replanting, the main effect of Rotation was significant for yield (6.43AB, 5.3B0, 6.92A, and 3.54C Mg ha−1 for ALF, SS1, SS2, and WW/SS, respectively; 5% LSD = 1.22). Alfalfa stand destruction and replanting with no intervening crop rotation may be feasible in sandy soils with irrigation in the semiarid, subtropical southwestern USA and similar environments.
Optimization Preparation of Indium Tin Oxide Nanoparticles via Microemulsion Method Using Orthogonal Experiment
Authors: Jiang Zhucheng , Liu Ting , Zhai Xiaoyu , Liu Jiaxiang
Published: November 2021

Indium tin oxide (ITO), an experimentally friendly transparent conducting oxide (TCO), has attracted great attention in the photoelectric field due to its intrinsically low resistivity and high transparency. In this work, the experimental conditions of preparing ITO nanoparticles using the microemulsion method were optimized by an orthogonal experiment. The optimal experimental conditions were obtained: mass ratio of the surfactant (AEO-3, MOA-5), a co-surfactant (n-propyl alcohol) of 5:3, molar ratio of indium and ammonia of 1:20, calcination temperature of 700 °C and calcination time of 4 h. Subsequently, the influence from process variables on the resistivity was researched systematically. The results demonstrated that the calcination temperature had a great effect on the resistivity; the resistivity reduced from 11.28 to 2.72 Ω·cm with the increase in the calcination temperature from 500 to 700 °C. Ultimately, ITO nanoparticles were prepared and systematically characterized under the optimal experimental conditions. The particles with a size of 60 nm were attributed to the cubic ITO crystal phase and showed low resistivity of 0.3675 Ω·cm. Significantly, ITO nanoparticles with low resistivity were obtained using the microemulsion method, which has potential application in the field of ITO nanoparticle preparation.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of the Tensile Mechanical Responses of Selective Laser-Melted Aluminum with Different Crystalline Forms
Authors: Zeng Qiang , Wang Lijuan , Jiang Wugui
Published: November 2021

The mechanical deformation of cellular structures in the selective laser melting (SLM) of aluminum was investigated by performing a series of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of uniaxial tension tests. The effects of crystalline form, temperature, and grain orientation of columnar grains on the mechanical properties of SLM aluminum were examined. The MD results showed that the tensile strength of SLM aluminum with columnar grains at different temperatures was lower than that of single-crystal aluminum, but greater than that of aluminum with equiaxed grains. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus both decreased approximately linearly upon increasing the temperature. The deformation mechanisms of equiaxed and columnar grains included dislocation slip, grain boundary migration, and torsion, while the deformation mechanisms of single crystals included stacking fault formation and amorphization. Finally, the influence of the columnar grain orientation on the mechanical properties was studied, and it was found that the Young’s modulus was almost independent of the grain orientation. The tensile strength was greatly affected by the columnar grain orientation. Reasonable control of the grain orientation can improve the tensile strength of SLM aluminum.
Building a National Reassessment Process for Oncology Drugs: Lessons Learned by the Canadian Real-World Evidence for Value of Cancer Drugs (CanREValue) Collaboration through a Simulated Reassessment Exercise
Authors: Dai Wei , Craig Erica , Fraser Brent , Chambers Alex , Mai Helen , Brown M. , Earle Craig , Evans William , Geirnaert Marc , Taylor Marianne , Trudeau Maureen , Sperber Daniel , Beca Jaclyn , Denburg Avram , Mercer Rebecca , Parmar Ambica , Tadrous Mina , Takhar Pam , Chan Kelvin ,   on behalf of the CanREValue Collaboration
Published: November 2021

The CanREValue Collaboration established the Reassessment & Uptake Working Group to develop a preliminary process to reassess funded cancer drugs in Canada. A simulated exercise was conducted to evaluate the proposed reassessment process using a real-world case. We invited 32 attendees including representatives from Health Canada and Health Technology Assessment (HTA) agencies, along with payers, clinicians, academics, and patient representatives. A case was developed using a real-world study on a publicly funded cancer drug. In facilitated group sessions, participants were asked to deliberate upon the evidence presented in the case to issue reassessment recommendations. Several themes were identified through the deliberation discussions. While the generalizability of real-world evidence (RWE) is perceived as a strength, trust in the RWE depends largely on the source of the real-world data. The attendees suggested several improvements to the proposed reassessment process including evidence requirement for reassessment, recommendation categories, and a priori study protocols. This exercise generated important insights on the evidence required for conducting reassessment and considerations for improvements of the proposed reassessment process. Building upon lessons from this exercise, future work would continue to refine the reassessment process as part of the overall CanREValue framework.
Multi-Ideology ISIS/Jihadist White Supremacist (MIWS) Dataset for Multi-Class Extremism Text Classification
Authors: Gaikwad Mayur , Ahirrao Swati , Phansalkar Shraddha , Kotecha Ketan
Published: November 2021

Social media platforms are a popular choice for extremist organizations to disseminate their perceptions, beliefs, and ideologies. This information is generally based on selective reporting and is subjective in content. However, the radical presentation of this disinformation and its outreach on social media leads to an increased number of susceptible audiences. Hence, detection of extremist text on social media platforms is a significant area of research. The unavailability of extremism text datasets is a challenge in online extremism research. The lack of emphasis on classifying extremism text into propaganda, radicalization, and recruitment classes is a challenge. The lack of data validation methods also challenges the accuracy of extremism detection. This research addresses these challenges and presents a seed dataset with a multi-ideology and multi-class extremism text dataset. This research presents the construction of a multi-ideology ISIS/Jihadist White supremacist (MIWS) dataset with recent tweets collected from Twitter. The presented dataset can be employed effectively and importantly to classify extremist text into popular types like propaganda, radicalization, and recruitment. Additionally, the seed dataset is statistically validated with a coherence score of Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and word mover’s distance using a pretrained Google News vector. The dataset shows effectiveness in its construction with good coherence scores within a topic and appropriate distance measures between topics. This dataset is the first publicly accessible multi-ideology, multi-class extremism text dataset to reinforce research on extremism text detection on social media platforms.
Biomechanical Gain in Joint Excursion from the Curvature of the Achilles Tendon: Role of the Geometrical Arrangement of Inflection Point, Center of Rotation, and Calcaneus
Authors: Kinugasa Ryuta , Yamamura Naoto , Takagi Shu , Sinha Shantanu
Published: November 2021

The dorsal movement of the Achilles tendon during ankle rotation is restricted by anatomical obstructions. Previously, we demonstrated that the anatomical obstruction provides a gain (gainAT) in the proximal displacement of the calcaneus compared to the change in the Achilles tendon length. Here, we empirically validate and extend our previous modeling study by investigating the effects of a broad range of obstruction locations on gainAT. The largest gainAT could be achieved when the obstruction was located on the most ventral and distal sides within the physiological range of the Achilles tendon, irrespective of the ankle position.
The Interplay between Myocardial Fibrosis, Strain Imaging and Collagen Biomarkers in Adults with Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot
Authors: Karali Konstantina , Makedou Kali , Kallifatidis Alexandros , Didagelos Matthaios , Giannakoulas George , Davos Constantinos H. , Karamitsos Theodoros D. , Ziakas Antonios , Karvounis Haralambos , Hadjimiltiades Stavros
Published: November 2021

Background: We sought to assess the interplay between right ventricle (RV) fibrosis, biventricular dysfunction based on global longitudinal strain (GLS) analysis, and biomarkers such as Galectin-3 (Gal-3), procollagen type III (PCIII), and NTproBNP. Methods: We studied 35 adult patients with rToF. All patients underwent a cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) scan including feature tracking for deformation imaging. Blood biomarkers were measured. Results: LGE RV was detected in all patients, mainly at surgical sites. Patients with the highest RV LGE scoring had greater RV dilatation and dysfunction whereas left ventricular (LV) function was preserved. LV GLS correlated with RV total fibrosis score (p = 0.007). A LV GLS value of −15.9% predicted LGE RV score > 8 (AUC 0.754 (p = 0.02)). Neither RV GLS nor biomarker levels were correlated with the extent of RV fibrosis. A cut-off value for NTproBNP of 145.25 pg/mL predicted LGE RV score > 8 points (AUC 0.729, (p = 0.03)). A cut-off value for Gal-3 of 7.42 ng/mL predicted PR Fraction > 20% [AUC 0.704, (p = 0.05)]. Conclusions: A significant extent of RV fibrosis was mainly detected at surgical sites of RV, affecting RV performance. CMR-FT reveals subtle LV dysfunction in rToF patients, due to decreased performance of the fibrotic RV. Impaired LV function and elevated NTproBNP in rToF reflect a dysfunctional fibrotic RV.
Idiopathic Megacolon—Short Review
Authors: Constantin Adrian , Achim Florin , Spinu Dan , Socea Bogdan , Predescu Dragos
Published: November 2021

Introduction: Idiopathic megacolon (IM) is a rare condition with a more or less known etiology, which involves management challenges, especially therapeutic, and both gastroenterology and surgery services. With insufficiently drawn out protocols, but with occasionally formidable complications, the condition management can be difficult for any general surgery team, either as a failure of drug therapy (in the context of a known case, initially managed by a gastroenterologist) or as a surgical emergency (in which the diagnostic surprise leads additional difficulties to the tactical decision), when the speed imposed by the severity of the case can lead to inadequate strategies, with possibly critical consequences. Method: With such a motivation, and having available experience limited by the small number of cases (described by all medical teams concerned with this pathology), the revision of the literature with the update of management landmarks from the surgical perspective of the pathology appears as justified by this article. Results: If the diagnosis of megacolon is made relatively easily by imaging the colorectal dilation (which is associated with initial and/or consecutive clinical aspects), the establishing of the diagnosis of idiopathic megacolon is based in practice almost exclusively on a principle of exclusion, and after evaluating the absence of some known causes that can lead to the occurrence of these anatomic and clinical changes, mimetically, clinically, and paraclinically, with IM (intramural aganglionosis, distal obstructions, intoxications, etc.). If the etiopathogenic theories, based on an increase in the performance of the arsenal of investigations of the disease, have registered a continuous improvement and an increase of objectivity, unfortunately, the curative surgical treatment options still revolve around the same resection techniques. Moreover, the possibility of developing a form of etiopathogenic treatment seems as remote as ever.
A 3D Vision Cone Based Method for Collision Free Navigation of a Quadcopter UAV among Moving Obstacles
Authors: Ming Zhenxing , Huang Hailong
Published: November 2021

In the near future, it’s expected that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will become ubiquitous surrogates for human-crewed vehicles in the field of border patrol, package delivery, etc. Therefore, many three-dimensional (3D) navigation algorithms based on different techniques, e.g., model predictive control (MPC)-based, navigation potential field-based, sliding mode control-based, and reinforcement learning-based, have been extensively studied in recent years to help achieve collision-free navigation. The vast majority of the 3D navigation algorithms perform well when obstacles are sparsely spaced, but fail when facing crowd-spaced obstacles, which causes a potential threat to UAV operations. In this paper, a 3D vision cone-based reactive navigation algorithm is proposed to enable small quadcopter UAVs to seek a path through crowd-spaced 3D obstacles to the destination without collisions. The proposed algorithm is simulated in MATLAB with different 3D obstacles settings to demonstrate its feasibility and compared with the other two existing 3D navigation algorithms to exhibit its superiority. Furthermore, a modified version of the proposed algorithm is also introduced and compared with the initially proposed algorithm to lay the foundation for future work.
Students Who Orient towards Studying vs. Learning: Teachers’ Perceptions
Authors: Quijano-López Rocío , Pérez-Ferra Miguel
Published: November 2021

Many present-day students orient towards outcomes instead of learning. This is leading to failure that affects students, families, the educational system itself, and occupational and financial systems in Spain. Indeed, current data points to an 18.2% university drop-out rate during the first year. The present study seeks to identify teachers’ perceptions of the deficiencies pertaining to study orientations, their involvement in training processes, and student knowledge about the actual state of affairs regarding this topic. The target population for this incidental study was 1769 university lecturers, with a final participating sample of 317. A cross-sectional study was conducted, which was descriptive and inferential in nature. Linear regression was employed to explain variance. Outcomes showed a high degree of homogeneity in teachers’ responses. Outcomes indicate that orientations towards academic learning and study are deemed necessary. Furthermore, such orientations do not prevail due to a lack of teacher engagement, possibly due to a lack of teacher training directed towards managing and balancing class time with monitoring practices. A degree of insufficiency was observed with regards to teacher training for study management, in addition to greater teacher engagement amongst hired teaching staff with indefinite contracts working at public or private institutions, relative to official permanent teaching staff.
Machine Learning in Beyond 5G/6G Networks—State-of-the-Art and Future Trends
Authors: Rekkas Vasileios P. , Sotiroudis Sotirios , Sarigiannidis Panagiotis , Wan Shaohua , Karagiannidis George K. , Goudos Sotirios K.
Published: November 2021

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and especially Machine Learning (ML) can play a very important role in realizing and optimizing 6G network applications. In this paper, we present a brief summary of ML methods, as well as an up-to-date review of ML approaches in 6G wireless communication systems. These methods include supervised, unsupervised and reinforcement techniques. Additionally, we discuss open issues in the field of ML for 6G networks and wireless communications in general, as well as some potential future trends to motivate further research into this area.
Magnetic Field Saturation of Non-Insulation High-Temperature Superconducting Coils during Overcurrent
Authors: Wu Wei , Gao Yusong , Jin Zhijian
Published: November 2021

Non-insulation high-temperature superconducting coils provide a much lower risk of burnout in fault/abnormal conditions, such as hot-spot quench and overcurrent. This study employs an equivalent circuit grid model, coupled with magnetic field calculation and the E–J power law of superconductors, to deeply and systematically investigate the overcurrent charging process in a double-pancake non-insulation coil. An evident saturation of the magnetic field in the axial direction of the coil was observed and verified by experiments. Experimentally, the entire process, including the behavior of the magnetic field, was consistent with the numerical results. Based on the verified model, two main points were addressed: (1) Transient current distribution inside the coil during overcurrent charging was studied. Potential quenching risks were found to be at the innermost and outermost turn near the electrodes, as well as the pancake-to-pancake connection part. (2) Magnetic field saturation, which is a unique phenomenon in non-insulation superconducting coils during overcurrent charging, was studied in detail and first quantitatively defined by a new concept “converged load factor”. Its relationship with turn-to-turn resistivity was revealed.
FaceVAE: Generation of a 3D Geometric Object Using Variational Autoencoders
Authors: Park Sungsoo , Kim Hyeoncheol
Published: November 2021

Deep learning for 3D data has become a popular research theme in many fields. However, most of the research on 3D data is based on voxels, 2D images, and point clouds. At actual industrial sites, face-based geometry data are being used, but their direct application to industrial sites remains limited due to a lack of existing research. In this study, to overcome these limitations, we present a face-based variational autoencoder (FVAE) model that generates 3D geometry data using a variational autoencoder (VAE) model directly from face-based geometric data. Our model improves the existing node and edge-based adjacency matrix and optimizes it for geometric learning by using a face- and edge-based adjacency matrix according to the 3D geometry structure. In the experiment, we achieved the result of generating adjacency matrix information with 72% precision and 69% recall through end-to-end learning of Face-Based 3D Geometry. In addition, we presented various structurization methods for 3D unstructured geometry and compared their performance, and proved the method to effectively perform reconstruction of the learned structured data through experiments.
Numerical Simulation of Combustion and Characteristics of Fly Ash and Slag in a “V-type” Waste Incinerator
Authors: Luo Zixue , Chen Wei , Wang Yue , Cheng Qiang , Yuan Xiaohua , Li Zhigang , Yang Junjie
Published: November 2021

This study is focused on a “V-type” waste incinerator for municipal solid waste (MSW) combustion. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods are used to study the MSW combustion process. The characteristics of fly ash and slag are analyzed by using a laser particle analyzer, scanning electron microscope, X-ray fluorescence, and X-ray diffraction. The results show that the error between the CFD simulation data and measured data is less than 10%, and the changing trend of the combustion process is well-modeled. The fly ash mainly has an irregular spherical or ellipsoid structure, whereas the slag mainly has an irregular porous structure. The main constituents of the ash and slag are CaO and SiO2, along with heavy metal elements such as Cu, Pb, and Cr.
Empirical Analysis of the Impact of COVID-19 Social Distancing on Residential Electricity Consumption Based on Demographic Characteristics and Load Shape
Authors: Jang Minseok , Jeong Hyun Cheol , Kim Taegon , Suh Dong Hee , Joo Sung-Kwan
Published: November 2021

Since January 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has been impacting various aspects of people’s daily lives and the economy. The first case of COVID-19 in South Korea was identified on 20 January 2020. The Korean government implemented the first social distancing measures in the first week of March 2020. As a result, energy consumption in the industrial, commercial and educational sectors decreased. On the other hand, residential energy consumption increased as telecommuting work and remote online classes were encouraged. However, the impact of social distancing on residential energy consumption in Korea has not been systematically analyzed. This study attempts to analyze the impact of social distancing implemented as a result of COVID-19 on residential energy consumption with time-varying reproduction numbers of COVID-19. A two-way fixed effect model and demographic characteristics are used to account for the heterogeneity. The changes in household energy consumption by load shape group are also analyzed with the household energy consumption model. There some are key results of COVID-19 impact on household energy consumption. Based on the hourly smart meter data, an average increase of 0.3% in the hourly average energy consumption is caused by a unit increase in the time-varying reproduction number of COVID-19. For each income, mid-income groups show less impact on energy consumption compared to both low-income and high-income groups. In each family member, as the number of family members increases, the change in electricity consumption affected by social distancing tends to decrease. For area groups, large area consumers increase household energy consumption more than other area groups. Lastly, The COVID-19 impact on each load shape is influenced by their energy consumption patterns.
Recent Advances in Vibration Control Methods for Wind Turbine Towers
Authors: Malliotakis Georgios , Alevras Panagiotis , Baniotopoulos Charalampos
Published: November 2021

Wind power is a substantial resource to assist global efforts on the decarbonization of energy. The drive to increase capacity has led to ever-increasing blade tip heights and lightweight, slender towers. These structures are subject to a variety of environmental loads that give rise to vibrations with potentially catastrophic consequences, making the mitigation of the tower’s structural vibrations an important factor for low maintenance requirements and reduced damage risk. Recent advances in the most important vibration control methods for wind turbine towers are presented in this paper, exploring the impact of the installation environment harshness on the performance of state-of-the-art devices. An overview of the typical structural characteristics of a modern wind turbine tower is followed by a discussion of typical damages and their link to known collapse cases. Furthermore, the vibration properties of towers in harsh multi-hazard environments are presented and the typical design options are discussed. A comprehensive review of the most promising passive, active, and semi-active vibration control methods is conducted, focusing on recent advances around novel concepts and analyses of their performance under multiple environmental loads, including wind, waves, currents, and seismic excitations. The review highlights the benefits of installing structural systems in reducing the vibrational load of towers and therefore increasing their structural reliability and resilience to extreme events. It is also found that the stochastic nature of the typical tower loads remains a key issue for the design and the performance of the state-of-the-art vibration control methods.