bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Acute Temperature Change Associated with Handling Practices on Metabolic Rate Stabilization in Two Centrarchids
Authors: Goff Shelby , Redd Madeline E. , Conner Almond J. , Pearlman Reid , Allen Peter J.
Published: January 2022

Sportfishing and hatchery practices routinely subject fish to acute temperature changes through placement of fish in live wells and normal handling and transportation procedures. Acute temperature changes alter metabolic rate in ectotherms; however, the rapidity of the response to reach a new homeostatic state is not well known. Therefore, the response duration in metabolic rate after acute temperature change was measured in two centrarchid species, the Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides and Redear Sunfish Lepomis microlophus, which are representative of two different body shapes and are both commonly pursued in recreational fishing and reared in hatcheries. Largemouth Bass were acclimated to either 20°C or 30°C, and Redear Sunfish were acclimated to 24°C. Aerobic metabolic rate was measured immediately after acute temperature change (−4, +0, or +4°C) and was measured repeatedly in cycles of 5.5 or 10.0 min, respectively, until the metabolic rate stabilized. In Largemouth Bass, the metabolic rate stabilized similarly or more slowly following a moderate high-temperature shock (+4°C; 44 min) compared to transfer to conditions with no temperature change (+0°C) or a moderate low-temperature shock (−4°C; 16–48 min). In contrast, the metabolic rate in Redear Sunfish stabilized faster after transfer to +4°C (15 min) than after transfer to −4°C or +0°C (both 31 min), possibly because the elevated metabolic rate after transfer was sustained. Notably, for both species, metabolic rates stabilized at a generally lower level after transfer to −4°C than after transfer to +0°C or +4°C. Therefore, the duration until stabilization of metabolic rate after acute temperature change may depend upon species and acclimation temperature, although for both species examined, the energy savings in reduced metabolic rates after moderate cold shock may be beneficial for recovery from sportfishing or hatchery practices.
Circumventing the curse of dimensionality in magnetic resonance fingerprinting through a deep learning approach
Authors: Barbieri Marco , Lee Philip K. , Brizi Leonardo , Giampieri Enrico , Solera Francesco , Castellani Gastone , Hargreaves Brian A. , Testa Claudia , Lodi Raffaele , Remondini Daniel
Published: January 2022

Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) is a rapidly developing approach for fast quantitative MRI. A typical drawback of dictionary‐based MRF is an explosion of the dictionary size as a function of the number of reconstructed parameters, according to the “curse of dimensionality”, which determines an explosion of resource requirements. Neural networks (NNs) have been proposed as a feasible alternative, but this approach is still in its infancy.

In this work, we design a deep learning approach to MRF using a fully connected network (FCN). In the first part we investigate, by means of simulations, how the NN performance scales with the number of parameters to be retrieved in comparison with the standard dictionary approach. Four MRF sequences were considered: IR‐FISP, bSSFP, IR‐FISP‐B1, and IR‐bSSFP‐B1, the latter two designed to be more specific for
parameter encoding. Estimation accuracy, memory usage, and computational time required to perform the estimation task were considered to compare the scalability capabilities of the dictionary‐based and the NN approaches.

In the second part we study optimal training procedures by including different data augmentation and preprocessing strategies during training to achieve better accuracy and robustness to noise and undersampling artifacts. The study is conducted using the IR‐FISP MRF sequence exploiting both simulations and in vivo acquisitions.

Results demonstrate that the NN approach outperforms the dictionary‐based approach in terms of scalability capabilities. Results also allow us to heuristically determine the optimal training strategy to make an FCN able to predict T1,  T2, and M0 maps that are in good agreement with those obtained with the original dictionary approach. k‐SVD denoising is proposed and found to be critical as a preprocessing step to handle undersampled data.
Local non‐intrusive reduced order modeling based on soft clustering and classification algorithm
Authors: Kang Yu‐Eop , Shon Soonho , Yee Kwanjung
Published: January 2022

The use of non‐intrusive reduced order modeling (NIROM) to approximate high‐fidelity computer models has been steadily increased over the past decade. Recently, local NIROM has been proposed to improve the model accuracy in highly nonlinear problems in which distinct characteristic regimes coexist. The core concept of local NIROM is the decomposition of the parameter domains into a subregime to create multiple models. However, the existing local NIROM not only partitions the individual models in a mutually exclusive manner, but also uses a single model for prediction. This results in the extrapolation of surrogate models and the generation of artificial discontinuities. To mitigate these problems, a local NIROM that allows flexible overlapping of individual NIROMs is developed. This method softly partitions and combines individual NIROMs using machine learning techniques, such as fuzzy c‐means and multinomial logistic regression. Furthermore, a variance‐based adaptive sampling technique that can consider both local exploitation and global exploration is applied to improve model accuracy. The proposed method is validated against the transonic flow and in‐flight icing problem, and demonstrates superior performance relative to its local counterpart by up to 16.5% and 33.9% in terms of normalized root‐mean‐square error and exclusive OR error, respectively.
Relationship of food allergy with quality of life and sleep in psychiatric patients
Authors: Gomi Chiho , Yokota Yuuki , Yoshida Sumiko , Kunugi Hiroshi
Published: January 2022

Aim

Few studies have examined the relationship between food allergy (FA) and psychiatric disorders. We aimed to examine the possible relationship of FA with quality of life (QOL) and sleep in adult patients with psychiatric disorders.

Methods

Of the 812 participants (451 females, mean age: 42.7 ± 11.3 years), 430 had schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder, 106 had depression, 124 had bipolar disorder, 40 had anxiety disorders, 38 had developmental disorders, and 11 had eating disorders; 63 were other cases. We documented FA and sleep disturbance via a questionnaire. QOL was assessed with the Medical Outcomes Study 8‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey (SF‐8 Japanese version).

Results

There were 126 patients (15.5%) reporting FA. SF‐8 physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores were both significantly lower among individuals with FA than those without. Moreover, PCS and MCS scores decreased as the number of allergens increased. Sleep disturbance was common among patients (76.0%). The proportions of individuals with sleep disturbance and nocturnal awakening were significantly higher in the group with FA, with the proportions increasing with higher number of allergens.

Conclusion

We obtained the first evidence that FA is associated with impaired QOL and sleep in psychiatric patients, which can be improved by avoiding exposure to food allergens.
Which roads lead to depression in Latinas? A network analysis of prenatal depressive symptoms, discrimination, acculturative stress, and low birth weight
Authors: Harris Rebeca Alvarado , Chen Daqi , Santos Hudson P.
Published: January 2022

Although immigrant mothers from some Latinx subgroups initially achieve healthy birth outcomes despite lower socioeconomic status, this advantage deteriorates across generations in the United States. Interpersonal discrimination and acculturative stress may interact with economic hardship to predict an intergenerational cascade of emotional and biological vulnerabilities, particularly perinatal depression. Network analyses may elucidate not only how and which psychosocial experiences relate to depressive symptoms, but which symptom‐to‐symptom relationships emerge. This study aims to understand (1) how economic, acculturative, and discrimination stressors relate to prenatal depression and low birth weight and (2) how Latinas may respond to and cope with stressors by exploring symptom–symptom and symptom–experience relationships. A sample of 151 pregnant Latinas (predominantly foreign‐born and Mexican and Central American descent) completed the EPDS and psychosocial questionnaires (discrimination, acculturation, acculturative stress, economic hardship) during pregnancy (24–32 weeks). Birth weights were recorded from postpartum medical records. We created network models using the Extended Bayesian Information Criterion Graphical Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator to estimate the relationship between variables. Discrimination exposure connected psychosocial stressors to depressive symptoms, particularly worry, crying, sadness, and self‐blame. Discrimination also revealed a connection between acculturation and low birth weight. Furthermore, younger age of migration and greater acculturation levels were correlated to greater discrimination stress and low birth weights. Perinatal research in Latinas must account not only for measures of cultural adaptation but recognize how developmental exposures across the life span, including discrimination, may be associated with adverse health trajectories for a mother and her child.
Can responsive deep brain stimulation be a cost‐effective treatment for severe obesity?
Authors: Mahajan Uma V. , Ojukwu Disep I. , Azagury Dan E. , Safer Debra L. , Cunningham Tricia , Halpern Casey H.
Published: January 2022

Objective

A first‐in‐human responsive deep brain stimulation (rDBS) trial (NCT03868670) for obesity is under way, which is based on promising preclinical evidence. Given the upfront costs of rDBS, it is prudent to examine the success threshold for cost‐effectiveness compared with laparoscopic Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (LRYGB).

Methods

Efficacy and safety data on LRYGB and safety data on rDBS were collected for established indications through a literature search. The success threshold was defined as minimum BMI reduction. Treatment costs were calculated via Medicare national reimbursement data.

Results

LRYGB had a mean BMI reduction of 13.75 kg/m2. Based on adverse events, LRYGB was a less‐preferred health state (overall adverse event utility of 0.96 [0.02]) than rDBS (0.98 [0.01]), but LRYGB ($14,366 [$6,410]) had a significantly lower treatment cost than rDBS ($29,951 [$4,490];p< 0.0001). Therefore, for rDBS to be cost‐effective compared with LRYGB, the multiple models yielded a success threshold range of 13.7 to 15.2 kg/m2.

Conclusions

This study established a preliminary efficacy success threshold for rDBS to be cost‐effective for severe obesity, and results from randomized controlled trials are needed. This analysis allows for interpretation of the economic impact of advancing rDBS for obesity in light of ongoing trial results and suggests an attainable threshold is needed for cost‐effectiveness.
Childhood nutrient intakes are differentially associated with hepatic and abdominal fats in adolescence: The EPOCH study
Authors: Cohen Catherine C. , Perng Wei , Bekelman Traci A. , Ringham Brandy M. , Scherzinger Ann , Shankar Kartik , Dabelea Dana
Published: January 2022

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine whether nutrient intakes in childhood are associated with abdominal and hepatic fat depots later in adolescence.

Methods

Using data from 302 participants in the longitudinal Exploring Perinatal Outcomes among CHildren (EPOCH) study, energy partition and nutrient density models were constructed to examine associations of nutrient intakes in childhood (~10 years of age), assessed by food frequency questionnaire, with abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and hepatic fat in adolescence (~16 years of age).

Results

In energy partition models (energy intake not held constant), total, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fat intakes in childhood were associated with higher SAT in adolescence (β [95% CI]: 8.5 [0.1‐17.1], 25.1 [2.1‐48.1], and 59.7 [16.1‐103.3] mm2 per 100 kcal/d), higher starch intake was associated with log‐hepatic fat (back‐transformed β [95% CI]: 1.07 [1.01‐1.15] per 100 kcal/d), and, in boys only, higher animal protein intake was associated with VAT (β [95% CI]: 5.3 [0.3‐10.3] mm2 per 100 kcal/d). Most associations were unchanged when adjusted for energy intake in nutrient density models.

Conclusions

Childhood nutrient intakes were differentially associated with adolescent body fats; specifically, unsaturated fat intake predicted abdominal SAT, animal protein intake predicted VAT, and starch intake predicted hepatic fat. These nutrient intakes may, therefore, be targets for intervention studies aiming to modify adolescent body fat distribution.
Effect of low‐pressure cold plasma on the properties of edible film based on alginate enriched with Dunaliella salina powder
Authors: Gholamazad Aida , Hosseini Sepideh , Hosseini Somaye , Ramezan Yousef , Rahmanabadi Alireza
Published: January 2022

Edible films based on sodium alginate enriched with different percentages of Dunaliella salina powder were prepared and treated by cold plasma for diverse durations in the presence of oxygen and argon. The results demonstrated that plasma treatment, especially in the presence of argon, improves film tensile strength and Young's modulus but reduces its flexibility. Surface morphologies and topography clearly show that cold plasma's physical and chemical etching affected the microstructure of films and increased surface roughness and contact angle. Also, water vapor permeability decreased due to the reduced pores of the film and surface hydrophilicity after treatment. The results of total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of treated films containing D. salina were interestingly increased by both O2 and Ar plasma. The colorimetric findings indicated that plasma increased the intensity of redness in samples containing D. salina, with the color of these samples being more vivid.
ATF6α promotes prostate cancer progression by enhancing PLA2G4A‐mediated arachidonic acid metabolism and protecting tumor cells against ferroptosis
Authors: Zhao Ru , Lv Ye , Feng Tingting , Zhang Ruojia , Ge Luna , Pan Jihong , Han Bo , Song Guanhua , Wang Lin
Published: January 2022

Background

Despite the clinical success of androgen receptor (AR)‐targeted therapies, prostate cancer (PCa) inevitably progresses to castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Transcription factor 6 α (ATF6α), an effector of the unfolded protein response (UPR) that modulates the cellular response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, has been linked to tumor development, metastasis, and relapse. However, the role of ATF6α in CRPC remains unclear.

Methods

The effect of ATF6α on the CRPC‐like phenotype in PCa cells was evaluated by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)−5‐(3‐carb‐Oxymethoxyphenyl)−2‐(4‐sulfophenyl)−2H‐tetrazolium inner salt (MTS), 5‐Bromo‐2‐deoxyUridine (BrdU) incorporation analysis, and cell death assay. Mechanistically, bioinformatic analysis was utilized to evaluate the potential of PLA2G4A as the target of ATF6α. Moreover, Western blot analysis, real‐time polymerase chain reaction, chromatin immunoprecipitation, arachidonic acid (AA), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) assays were performed to identify the regulatory effect of ATF6α on PLA2G4A.

Results

In this study, we found that the increase of ATF6α expression in response to androgen deprivation generates PCa cells with a CRPC‐like phenotype. PCa cells with high levels of ATF6α expression are resistant to ferroptosis, and genetic and pharmacological inhibition of ATF6α could, therefore, promote the ferroptotic death of tumor cells and delay PCa progression. Molecular analyses linked ATF6α regulation of ferroptosis to the PLA2G4A‐mediated release of AA and the resulting increase in PGE2 production, the latter of which acts as an antiferroptotic factor.

Conclusions

This study defines ATF6α as a novel antiferroptotic regulator that exacerbates PCa progression. In addition, our data establish ATF6α‐PLA2G4A signaling as an important pathological pathway in PCa, and targeting this pathway may be a novel treatment strategy.
Perspective: It is time to consider new ways to attack unpesticidable (undruggable) target sites by designing peptide pesticides
Authors: Gressel Jonathan
Published: January 2022

Evolved resistance and regulatory deregistration have severely limited farmers' pesticide options. Many potential new pesticide target sites have been elucidated using targeted gene suppression and mutational tools, but few small molecules could be found that inhibit the target enzymes; the targets were considered ‘undruggable’. Some organisms from all biological kingdoms use toxic peptides to ward off or kill enemies, and the agrochemical industry has used a few peptide analogs (glufosinate and bialophos) for field application. Conversely, pharmaceutical scientists have been using three‐dimensional target protein structure to discover and synthesize short peptides that bind tightly to the surfaces of, and inhibit previously undruggable targets. New computational tools to quickly elucidate 3‐D protein structure from amino acid sequence have just emerged. They replace crystallizing target proteins and performing X‐ray crystallography to elucidate 3‐D structure. These new tools allow prediction of peptides that will bind to the target proteins. They have further modified such peptides to enhance penetration, translocation and temperature stability. There is reason to assume that the same pioneering techniques can be used to develop peptide pesticides as well as pesticide synergists that act against undruggable targets and have excellent environmental and toxicological profiles. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Room‐Temperature Yellow Emission of a High Cd Content (x = 0.70), Highly Strained, Layer‐by‐Layer Grown Zn1−xCdxSe/ZnSe Quantum Well
Authors: Villa-Martínez Gerardo , Sutara Frantisek , Hernández-Calderón Isaac
Published: January 2022

The results of the growth and characterization of an 8 monolayers (MLs) thick Zn1−xCdxSe/ZnSe quantum well (QW) with quite high Cd content (x = 0.70) are presented. At room temperature (RT), the QW presents yellow excitonic emission at 2.179 eV (569 nm, same color as the yellow line of a Kr ion laser). Despite the large Cd content, the RT photoluminescence spectrum shows a well‐defined, symmetric excitonic peak with relatively narrow full width at half maximum, indicating a good structural quality of the QW that is attributed to the sequential layer‐by‐layer growth mode achieved by the use of the submonolayer pulsed beam epitaxy (SPBE) technique. The ZnSe barriers are grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE); the QW heterostructure is deposited on top of a GaAs(001) substrate at 275 °C. Scanning transmission electron microscopy indicates a homogeneous smooth QW layer. The evolution of the excitonic emission energy with increasing temperature in the 19–300 K range shows the well‐known S‐shaped behavior that is interpreted in terms of exciton migration.
Local Photothermal Effect Enabling Ni3Bi2S2 Nanoarray Efficient Water Electrolysis at Large Current Density
Authors: Yao Dongxue , Hao Weiju , Weng Shuo , Hou Meiling , Cen Wanglai , Li Guisheng , Chen Ziliang , Li Yongtao
Published: January 2022

In terms of the large‐scale hydrogen production by water electrolysis, achieving the bifunctional electrocatalyst with high efficiency and stability at high current densities is of great significance but still remains a grand challenge. To address this issue, herein, one unique hybrid electrode is synthesized with the local photothermal effect (LPTE) by supporting the novel ternary nickel (Ni)bismuth (Bi)sulfur (S) nanosheet arrays onto nickel foam (Ni3Bi2S2@NF) via a one‐pot hydrothermal reaction. The combined experimental and theoretical observations reveal that owing to the intrinsic LPTE action of Bi, robust phase stability of Ni3Bi2S2 as well as the synergistic effect with hierarchical configuration, upon injecting the light, the as‐prepared Ni3Bi2S2 exhibits remarkably improved efficiency of 44% and 35% for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), respectively. Such enhanced values are also comparable to those performed in working media heated to 80 °C. In addition, the overall water splitting system by using Ni3Bi2S2@NF as bifunctional electrodes only delivers an ultralow voltage of 1.40 V at 10 mA cm−2 under LPTE, and can be stable more than 36 h at 500–1000 mA cm−2. More broadly, even worked at 0–5 °C, alkaline simulated seawater and high salt seawater, the electrodes still show apparent LPTE effect for improving catalytic efficiency.
Characterization of the panel zone shear behaviour in steel beam‐to‐column joints
Authors: Corman Adrien , Demonceau Jean‐François , Jaspart Jean‐Pierre
Published: January 2022

Nominated for the Eurosteel 2021 Best Paper Award

This short report has been prepared in the context of the Eurosteel 2021 Best Paper Award. It summarizes developments completed and in progress at the University of Liège designed to characterize the complete shear behaviour of the panel zone in steel beam‐to‐column joints in terms of stiffness, resistance and ductility. This work is part of a larger research project which aims to predict the complete rotational response of the joint to failure.
Heterologous overexpression and preliminary antimicrobial activity test of salmocin M, a novel colicin M-like bacteriocin against Salmonella sp.
Authors: Łojewska Ewelina , Sakowicz Tomasz , Korycka-Machała Małgorzata , Kowalczyk Tomasz
Published: January 2022

Currently, it is extremely important to identify and describe new alternative compounds with potential antimicrobial properties. Since various natural biological systems are capable of producing active compounds with such properties, many of them have been the subject of intensive study. The aim of this work was to heterologously overexpress, purify and preliminarily investigate the antimicrobial activity of a novel bacteriocin found in Salmonella species. Overexpressed protein shows an amino acid structure homologous to the well-known colicin M and was never expressed previously in the E. coli platform. Purified salmocin M showed an inhibition spectrum against Salmonella and E. coli strains. To determine its potential as an antimicrobial agent for use in medicine or the food industry, preliminary antimicrobial tests against pathogenic bacteria were carried out. Our research demonstrates that bacteriocin can be produced efficiently in bacterial expression systems, which are one of the cheapest and the most popular platforms for recombinant protein production. Moreover, preliminary results of microbiological tests showed its activity against most of the bacterial strains in a dose-dependent manner.

Graphical abstract
Effects of docosanyl ferulate, a constituent of Withania somnifera, on ethanol- and morphine-elicited conditioned place preference and ERK phosphorylation in the accumbens shell of CD1 mice
Authors: Maccioni Riccardo , Serra Marcello , Marongiu Jacopo , Cottiglia Filippo , Maccioni Elias , Bassareo Valentina , Morelli Micaela , Kasture Sanjay B. , Acquas Elio
Published: January 2022

Background

Docosanyl ferulate (DF) is a behaviourally active GABAA receptor complex (GABAAR) agonist, recently isolated from the standardized methanolic extract of Withania somnifera Dunal (WSE) root. Previous studies have shown that WSE prevents both ethanol- and morphine-dependent acquisition and expression of conditioned place preference (CPP) and stimulation of dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh).

Aims

The study aimed at determining (a) whether DF contributes to WSE’s ability to affect the acquisition and expression of ethanol- and morphine-elicited CPP and, given that phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK) in the AcbSh is involved in associative learning and motivated behaviours, (b) whether WSE and DF may affect ethanol- and morphine-induced ERKs phosphorylation in the AcbSh.

Methods

In adult male CD1 mice, DF’s effects on the acquisition and expression of ethanol- and morphine-elicited CPP were evaluated by a classical place conditioning paradigm, whereas the effects of WSE and DF on ethanol- and morphine-elicited pERK in the AcbSh were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.

Results and conclusions

The study shows that DF, differently from WSE, affects only the acquisition but not the expression of ethanol- and morphine-induced CPP. Moreover, the study shows that both WSE and DF can prevent ethanol- and morphine-elicited pERK expression in the AcbSh. Overall, these results highlight subtle but critical differences for the role of GABAARs in the mechanism by which WSE affects these ethanol- and morphine-dependent behavioural and molecular/cellular responses and support the suggestion of WSE and DF for the control of different components of drug addiction.
Two-stage exchange for PJI with co-existing cerclages for fracture: higher rates of early re-infections and difficult to treat microbes
Authors: Karczewski Daniel , Müllner Maximilian , Hipfl Christian , Perka Carsten , Müller Michael
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) with osteosynthesis material for contemporaneous fractures are a challenging, yet poorly described condition. This study will analyze PJI with co-existing fractures treated with cerclages and two-stage exchange.

Materials and methods

Patients with and without cerclages for coexisting periprosthetic fractures, undergoing two-stage exchange for PJI of hip or knee, between 06/2013 and 02/2016, were compared concerning baseline characteristics and re-infection rate in the course of a 2 year follow-up. All patients were treated with a standardized two-stage protocol. A PJI was defined according to the EBJIS criteria. All foreign material, including cerclages, was sent in for sonication for microbiological analysis.

Results

Ninety-six patients treated with two-stage exchange for PJI could be included. Co-existing fractures treated with cerclage were identified in nine patients (9.3%, study group). Diaphyseal femoral simple in five cases (AO2A3) and proximal intertrochanteric in three cases (AO1A3) were the leading fracture locations. In one patient, cerclage implantation was performed prior to prosthesis explantation, in six, during prosthesis explantation, and in two, in the course of prosthesis reimplantation. The study group showed a significantly higher rate of difficult to treat microbes (44.4%; 8.0%; p = .001), Charlson Comorbidity Index (5.4; 3.7; p = .033), relapse infections with the same microbe (22.2%; 1.1%; p = .001), and early-onset infections (< 30 days) (11.1%; 1.1%; p = .046), than the comparison two-stage exchange group without fractures. In contrast, age (72.5 study group; 68.2 comparison group; p = .224), rate of revisions for PJI in the past (55.5%; 51.7%; p = .827), and total re-infection rate (22.2%; 10.3%; p = .287) did not show a difference.

Conclusion

PJI with co-existing cerclages for fractures were associated with multi-resistant microbes, relapse by the same microbe and early-onset re-infections. Cerclages might be considered a potential source of re-infection during a two-stage exchange. However, statistical weaknesses and a small study group must be considered limitations of the study.
Screening for polystyrene nanoparticle toxicity on kidneys of adult male albino rats using histopathological, biochemical, and molecular examination results
Authors: Ahmed Yasmine H. , El-Naggar Mehrez E. , Rashad Maha M. , M.Youssef Ahmed , Galal Mona K. , Bashir Dina W.
Published: January 2022

Polystyrene Nanoparticles (PS-NPs) used for packaging foam, disposable cups, and food containers. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate PS- NPs toxic effects on kidney of adult male albino rats. A total of 30 rats divided into three groups (n = 10): group I negative control group; group II orally administered 3% PS-NPs (3 mg/kg body weight/day) and group III orally administered 3% PS-NPs (10 mg/kg body weight/day) for 35 days. Blood and kidney samples collected and processed for biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical examinations. Results showed that low and high doses PS-NPs had significantly increased serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, malondialdehyde, significantly further reduced glutathione, downregulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 and glutathione peroxidase, upregulation of caspase-3 and Cytochrome-c. Histopathological examination revealed several alterations. Low dose of PS-NPs exhibited dilated glomerular capillaries, hypotrophy of some renal corpuscles significantly decreases their diameter to 62 μm. Some proximal convoluted tubules and distal convoluted tubules showed loss of cellular architecture with pyknotic nuclei. Hyalinization and vacuolation in renal medulla. In high dose PS-NPs, alterations increased in severity. A significant increase in percentage area of cyclooxygenase-2 in low and high-doses. In conclusion, PS-NPs are a nephrotoxic causing renal dysfunction.
The influence of layer and voxel geological modelling strategy on groundwater modelling results
Authors: Enemark Trine , Andersen Lærke T. , Høyer Anne-Sophie , Jensen Karsten H. , Kidmose Jacob , Sandersen Peter B. E. , Sonnenborg Torben O.
Published: January 2022

Reliable groundwater model predictions are dependent on representative models of the geological environment, which can be modelled using several different techniques. In order to inform the choice of the geological modelling technique, the differences between a layer modelling approach and a voxel modelling approach were analyzed. The layer model consists of stratigraphically ordered surfaces, while the voxel model consists of a structured mesh of volumetric pixels. Groundwater models based on the two models were developed to investigate their impact on groundwater model predictions. The study was conducted in the relatively data-dense area Egebjerg, Denmark, where both a layer model and a voxel model have been developed based on the same data and geological conceptualization. The characteristics of the two methodologies for developing the geological models were shown to have a direct impact on the resulting models. The differences between the layer and the voxel models were, however, shown to be diverse and not related to larger conceptual elements, with few exceptions. The analysis showed that the geological modelling approaches had an influence on preferred parameter values and thereby groundwater model predictions of hydraulic head, groundwater budget terms and particle tracking results. A significance test taking into account the predictive distributions showed, that for many predictions, the differences between the models were significant. The results suggest that the geological modelling strategy has an influence on groundwater model predictions even if based on the same geological conceptualization.
Introduction of IgM testing for the diagnosis of acute Lyme borreliosis: a study of the benefits, limitations and costs
Authors: Joyner Greg , Mavin Sally , Milner Rachel , Lim Chin
Published: January 2022

Testing for IgM antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in Scottish patients with suspected Lyme borreliosis was introduced in 2018 to supplement the IgG testing already in situ. Results from 2018 to 2020 were assessed alongside available clinical data to evaluate the utility of IgM testing in serum. An estimated false positive rate of 25.5% was observed with IgM immunoblot vs 80.1% for IgM chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA). IgM testing can aid earlier diagnoses if used within a selective two-tier testing protocol: only patients with acute onset of symptoms should be tested for IgM CLIA but confirmation by immunoblot and consideration of clinical picture is necessary.
Recovering a Black Cemetery: Automated Mapping of Hidden Gravesites Using an sUAV and GIS in East End Cemetery, Richmond, VA
Authors: Spera Stephanie A. , Franklin Matthew S. , Zizzamia Elizabeth A. , Smith Ryan K.
Published: January 2022

Estimates suggest that over 15,000 people are buried at East End Cemetery, a historic African American cemetery in Richmond, Virginia, that until recently received no public funding for upkeep. Here, we present a case study analysis and potentially replicable methodology for counting and locating unmarked burial depressions in non-forested areas using a low-cost sUAV (drone) and simple, hydrology-based geographic information systems analyses. Upon visual inspection of 12% of our final 8,000 burial site dataset, we find our dataset is a plausible representation (75% accuracy) of potential grave locations. We hope that the methods presented below can be implemented to assist in reclaiming historically underfunded Black cemeteries across the American South.
Itô versus Stratonovich in a stochastic cosmological model
Authors: Escudero Carlos , Manada Carlos
Published: January 2022

In this work, we study a stochastic version of the Friedmann acceleration equation. This model has been proposed in the cosmology literature as a possible explanation of the uncertainty found in the experimental quantification of the Hubble parameter. Its noise has been tacitly interpreted in the Stratonovich sense. Herein, we prove that this interpretation leads to a positive probability of finite-time blowup of the solution, that is, of the Hubble parameter. In contrast, if we just modify the noise interpretation to that of Itô, then the solution globally exists almost surely. Moreover, the expected asymptotic behavior is found under this interpretation too.
Learning Large Q-Matrix by Restricted Boltzmann Machines
Authors: Li Chengcheng , Ma Chenchen , Xu Gongjun
Published: January 2022

Estimation of the large Q-matrix in cognitive diagnosis models (CDMs) with many items and latent attributes from observational data has been a huge challenge due to its high computational cost. Borrowing ideas from deep learning literature, we propose to learn the large Q-matrix by restricted Boltzmann machines (RBMs) to overcome the computational difficulties. In this paper, key relationships between RBMs and CDMs are identified. Consistent and robust learning of the Q-matrix in various CDMs is shown to be valid under certain conditions. Our simulation studies under different CDM settings show that RBMs not only outperform the existing methods in terms of learning speed, but also maintain good recovery accuracy of the Q-matrix. In the end, we illustrate the applicability and effectiveness of our method through a TIMSS mathematics data set.
Improved and Flexible HDR Editing by Targeting Introns in iPSCs
Authors: Fu Juan , Fu Ya-Wen , Zhao Juan-Juan , Yang Zhi-Xue , Li Si-Ang , Li Guo-Hua , Quan Zi-Jun , Zhang Feng , Zhang Jian-Ping , Zhang Xiao-Bing , Sun Chang-Kai
Published: January 2022

Highly efficient gene knockout (KO) editing of CRISPR–Cas9 has been achieved in iPSCs, whereas homology-directed repair (HDR)-mediated precise gene knock-in (KI) and high-level expression are still bottlenecks for the clinical applications of iPSCs. Here, we developed a novel editing strategy that targets introns. By targeting the intron before the stop codon, this approach tolerates reading frameshift mutations caused by nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ)-mediated indels, thereby maintaining gene integrity without damaging the non-HDR-edited allele. Furthermore, to increase the flexibility and screen for the best intron-targeting sgRNA, we designed an HDR donor with an artificial intron in place of the endogenous intron. The presence of artificial introns, particularly an intron that carries an enhancer element, significantly increased the reporter expression levels in iPSCs compared to the intron-deleted control. In addition, a combination of the small molecules M3814 and trichostatin A (TSA) significantly improves HDR efficiency by inhibiting NHEJ. These results should find applications in gene therapy and basic research, such as creating reporter cell lines.
The Psychological Implications of Companion Robots: A Theoretical Framework and an Experimental Setup
Authors: Massa Nicoletta , Bisconti Piercosma , Nardi Daniele
Published: January 2022

In this paper we present a theoretical framework to understand the underlying psychological mechanism involved in human-Companion Robot interactions. At first, we take the case of Sexual Robotics, where the psychological dynamics are more evident, to thereafter extend the discussion to Companion Robotics in general. First, we discuss the differences between a sex-toy and a Sexual Robots, concluding that the latter may establish a collusive and confirmative dynamics with the user. We claim that the collusiveness leads to two main consequences, such as the fixation on a specific and atypical type of sexual interaction, called paraphilic, and to the infantilization of the user, which we explain through the theoretical framework of “object-relation theory”. We argue that these dynamics may degrade to an infantile stage the relational abilities of users, extending this argument to Companion Robots in general. Then, we enquire if and how the relational dynamics enacted in HRI may shift to human relations: we discuss the analogy with virtual reality concluding that, under certain condition, a symbolic shift might happen. In the last part of this work, we propose an experimental setup to verify if a collusive and confirmative interaction with a Companion Robot can, over time, impact on the user’s ability to manage relational frustration.
Diversify, produce or buy? An analysis of factors contributing to household dietary diversity among shrimp and non-shrimp farmers in coastal Bangladesh
Authors: Bernzen Amelie , Mangnus Ellen , Sohns Franziska
Published: January 2022

Until the Covid-19 pandemic, Bangladesh had reported consistent improvements regarding its food and nutrition security (FNS) status, and yet, the country still features poor FNS outcomes among parts of its population. In rural coastal regions of the Ganges–Brahmaputra-Meghna delta, farming households’ vulnerability is particularly exacerbated by a range of environmental hazards, increasing challenges for agriculture to contribute to higher FNS levels. In the context of existing literature on the trade-offs between subsistence agriculture and cash-earning livelihood activities, vis-à-vis food and nutrition security outcomes, this article assesses the relative contribution of crop diversification vis à vis other factors on the households’ Food Consumption Score (FCS) in specific livelihood contexts. We provide differentiated analyses between primarily export-oriented shrimp farming and non-shrimp farming households, so policy makers can better address FNS targets. Quantitative data from 1,188 sample households across the delta were analysed through descriptive and linear regression analyses. Results show that households cultivating shrimp have a significantly higher dietary diversity than households that do not. Among shrimp farmers, crop diversification has the relatively strongest significant positive effect on dietary diversity, suggesting part of the aquacultural crops are geared towards subsistence. By contrast, crop diversification seems to have a negative effect on dietary diversity among households that do not produce shrimp, especially when different agricultural crops are combined. Importantly, both for shrimp and non-shrimp farmers, crop diversification systems combining agriculture with aquaculture, and agroforestry seem to improve diverse diets among households. While by no means a panacea to solving FNS challenges among rural households, we suggest that promoting specific crop diversification systems could be a beneficial pathway to improved FNS outcomes.
Influence of tolerances on error estimation in P3R and 4R planar mechanisms
Authors: Jaiswal Ankur , Jawale H. P.
Published: January 2022

Four-bar linkages form a primitive configuration of many mechanisms. The output of these mechanisms deviates from the desired one due to many factors including tolerance on links. For satisfactory application, the mechanism performance needs to be characterized. This article presents a treatment on the synthesis and analysis of linear-input P3R (1-Prismatic, 3-Revolute) and rotary-input 4R (4-Revolute) planar mechanism configurations, and the estimation of mechanical error under the influence of link tolerances. A detailed methodology is presented for error estimation as part of performance analysis for each mechanism. As an illustrative case, mechanisms are considered to operate under identical output generation conditions and comparative performance evaluation is carried out. Effect of link proportion is studied to investigate the mechanism behavior related to mechanical error. Comparison of error provides the basis for selecting the mechanism that gives better performance. The proposed methodology demonstrates generalized characterization of the mechanical error sources with validation.
Conformal Prediction in Clinical Medical Sciences
Authors: Vazquez Janette , Facelli Julio C.
Published: January 2022

The use of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) applications in medicine has attracted a great deal of attention in the medical literature, but little is known about how to use Conformal Predictions (CP) to assess the accuracy of individual predictions in clinical applications. We performed a comprehensive search in SCOPUS® to find papers reporting the use of CP in clinical applications. We identified 14 papers reporting the use of CP for clinical applications, and we briefly describe the methods and results reported in these papers. The literature reviewed shows that CP methods can be used in clinical applications to provide important insight into the accuracy of individual predictions. Unfortunately, the review also shows that most of the studies have been performed in isolation, without input from practicing clinicians, not providing comparisons among different approaches and not considering important socio-technical considerations leading to clinical adoption.
COOPERATING THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO END SERIOUS BREACHES OF PEREMPTORY NORMS
Authors: Barber Rebecca J
Published: January 2022

The International Law Commission's 2019 Draft Conclusions on Peremptory Norms of International Law assert that States have an obligation to cooperate to end serious breaches of peremptory norms. International law provides scarce guidance, however, regarding how States are expected to fulfil that obligation. This article seeks to elaborate: first, whether the prohibition of crimes against humanity and the ‘basic rules’ of international humanitarian law are peremptory norms; second, what States are required to do to fulfil their obligation to cooperate; and third, how States might utilise the General Assembly as a forum through which to fulfil that obligation.
Between learned and popular culture: A world of syncretism and acculturation
Authors: Richard Nathalie
Published: January 2022

The world of charlatans is a world of constantly shifting borders and redefinitions, a world of crossed lines and pushed boundaries. Can one even speak of “the world” of charlatans in the singular, when the examples we are given to read in this volume reveal such great diversity that they seem to defeat any attempt to define common traits, as Roy Porter (1989) tried to do in his time? Certainly, commercial interests and the lure of a quick and easy profit seem to have motivated some charlatans. Certainly, the universal effects of the nostrum or (psycho)therapeutic procedures were often put forward as a commercial argument. Certainly, many had an itinerant career; but this was not always the case. In fact, these traits are not shared, and the main reason is probably that, aside from a very particular context in early modern Italy, the qualification of charlatan was not claimed by the actors themselves, but was attributed to them by others, be they contemporaries or later historians. These features are therefore only common if we understand them as stigmata1 attributed to charlatans by those who wish to distinguish themselves from them or to draw a line between orthodoxy and heterodoxy.
Bifurcation of elastic curves with modulated stiffness
Authors: BRAZDA K. , JANKOWIAK G. , SCHMEISER C. , STEFANELLI U.
Published: January 2022

We investigate the equilibrium configurations of closed planar elastic curves of fixed length, whose stiffness, also known as the bending rigidity, depends on an additional density variable. The underlying variational model relies on the minimisation of a bending energy with respect to shape and density and can be considered as a one-dimensional analogue of the Canham–Helfrich model for heterogeneous biological membranes. We present a generalised Euler–Bernoulli elastica functional featuring a density-dependent stiffness coefficient. In order to treat the inherent nonconvexity of the problem, we introduce an additional length scale in the model by means of a density gradient term. We derive the system of Euler–Lagrange equations and study the bifurcation structure of solutions with respect to the model parameters. Both analytical and numerical results are presented.
Chinese Investment in Turkey: The Belt and Road Initiative, Rising Expectations and Ground Realities
Authors: Gürel Burak , Kozluca Mina
Published: January 2022

Turkey’s inclusion in the Belt and Road Initiative in 2015 has raised the expectations of Turkish businesses and government concerning growth-generating investment from China. Existing studies on Chinese investments in Turkey lack sufficient data on the volume of investment, types of firms, and sectoral composition. Based on a novel dataset of Chinese investments in Turkey, this article contributes to filling this gap. We show that although Chinese investment in Turkey has increased considerably in recent years, it remains quite modest compared with investments from the West. Moreover, despite the expanding activities of Chinese technology companies, more than half of Chinese investment in Turkey consists of low value-added manufacturing, extraction of raw materials, and marketing of Chinese products. Overall, the developmental potential of Chinese investment in Turkey has not been radically different from other countries’ investments.
Cross-language activation in bimodal bilinguals: Do mouthings affect the co-activation of speech during sign recognition?
Authors: Ormel Ellen , Giezen Marcel R. , Van Hell Janet G.
Published: January 2022

The present study provides insight into cross-language activation in hearing bimodal bilinguals by (1) examining co-activation of spoken words during processing of signs by hearing bimodal bilingual users of Dutch (their L1) and Sign Language of the Netherlands (NGT; late learners) and (2) investigating the contribution of mouthings to bimodal cross-language activation. NGT signs were presented with or without mouthings in two sign-picture verification experiments. In both experiments the phonological relation (unrelated, cohort overlap or final rhyme overlap) between the Dutch translation equivalents of the NGT signs and pictures was manipulated. Across both experiments, the results showed slower responses for sign-picture pairs with final rhyme overlap relative to phonologically unrelated sign-picture pairs, indicating co-activation of the spoken language during sign processing, but no significant effect for sign-picture pairs with cohort overlap in Dutch. In addition, co-activation was not affected by the presence or absence of mouthings.