bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel Coronavirus: How Atmospheric Particulate Affects Our Environment and Health
Authors: Sanità di Toppi Luigi , Sanità di Toppi Lorenzo , Bellini Erika
Published: April 2020

It is well-known that atmospheric pollution, first and foremost the particulate matter (PM), causes serious diseases in humans. China’s metropolises and Italy’s Po Valley have in fact achieved a concerning degree of notoriety thanks to runaway air pollution problems. The spread of viral respiratory diseases is facilitated in polluted environments, an example of which is the respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis. In this opinion paper, we consider the possible relationship between air pollution, primarily airborne PM10–2.5, and the spread of the novel coronavirus in Northern Italy. If it is true that the novel coronavirus remains active from some hours to several days on various surfaces, it is logical to postulate that the same can occur when it is adsorbed or absorbed by the atmospheric particulate matter, which may also help carry the virus into the human respiratory system. As the Earth presents us with a very high bill to pay, governments and other authorities need to take prompt action to counter excessive pollution levels, both in Italy and in other countries.
In-Situ Annealing and Hydrogen Irradiation of Defect-Enhanced Germanium Quantum Dot Light Sources on Silicon
Authors: Spindlberger Lukas , Aberl Johannes , Polimeni Antonio , Schuster Jeffrey , Hörschläger Julian , Truglas Tia , Groiss Heiko , Schäffler Friedrich , Fromherz Thomas , Brehm Moritz
Published: April 2020

While light-emitting nanostructures composed of group-IV materials fulfil the mandatory compatibility with CMOS-fabrication methods, factors such as the structural stability of the nanostructures upon thermal annealing, and the ensuing photoluminescence (PL) emission properties, are of key relevance. In addition, the possibility of improving the PL efficiency by suitable post-growth treatments, such as hydrogen irradiation, is important too. We address these issues for self-assembled Ge quantum dots (QDs) that are co-implanted with Ge ions during their epitaxial growth. The presence of defects introduced by the impinging Ge ions results in pronounced PL-emission at telecom wavelengths up to room temperature (RT) and above. This approach allows us to overcome the severe limitations of light generation in the indirect-band-gap group-IV materials. By performing in-situ annealing, we demonstrate a high PL-stability of the defect-enhanced QD (DEQD) system against thermal treatment up to 600 °C for at least 2 h, even though the Ge QDs are structurally affected by Si/Ge intermixing via bulk diffusion. The latter, in turn, allows for emission tuning of the DEQDs over the entire telecom wavelength range from 1.3 µm to 1.55 µm. Two quenching mechanisms for light-emission are discussed; first, luminescence quenching at high PL recording temperatures, associated with the thermal escape of holes to the surrounding wetting layer; and second, annealing-induced PL-quenching at annealing temperatures >650 °C, which is associated with a migration of the defect complex out of the QD. We show that low-energy ex-situ proton irradiation into the Si matrix further improves the light emission properties of the DEQDs, whereas proton irradiation-related optically active G-centers do not affect the room temperature luminescence properties of DEQDs.
Immersive Safe Oceans Technology: Developing Virtual Onboard Training Episodes for Maritime Safety
Authors: Markopoulos Evangelos , Luimula Mika
Published: April 2020

This paper introduces four safety training episodes and virtual training technology called Immersive Safe Oceans which can be used in further education of professionals in immersive training scenarios. These episodes were developed for maritime safety and are under testing. Immersive Safe Oceans Technology is a cost-effective, portable technology that can be used on board just in time or in maritime training centers. Four introduced episodes, namely, (1) command bridge, (2) machine room, (3) crane, and (4) fire safety, illustrate how Immersive Safe Oceans technology can be used in various professional training scenarios. These episodes also emphasize the growing need for virtual reality training in the shipping industry. As a result, next generation learning will happen onboard in sophisticated virtual training centers.
Application of CRISPR Tools for Variant Interpretation and Disease Modeling in Inherited Retinal Dystrophies
Authors: Fuster-García Carla , García-Bohórquez Belén , Rodríguez-Muñoz Ana , Millán José M. , García-García Gema
Published: April 2020

Inherited retinal dystrophies are an assorted group of rare diseases that collectively account for the major cause of visual impairment of genetic origin worldwide. Besides clinically, these vision loss disorders present a high genetic and allelic heterogeneity. To date, over 250 genes have been associated to retinal dystrophies with reported causative variants of every nature (nonsense, missense, frameshift, splice-site, large rearrangements, and so forth). Except for a fistful of mutations, most of them are private and affect one or few families, making it a challenge to ratify the newly identified candidate genes or the pathogenicity of dubious variants in disease-associated loci. A recurrent option involves altering the gene in in vitro or in vivo systems to contrast the resulting phenotype and molecular imprint. To validate specific mutations, the process must rely on simulating the precise genetic change, which, until recently, proved to be a difficult endeavor. The rise of the CRISPR/Cas9 technology and its adaptation for genetic engineering now offers a resourceful suite of tools to alleviate the process of functional studies. Here we review the implementation of these RNA-programmable Cas9 nucleases in culture-based and animal models to elucidate the role of novel genes and variants in retinal dystrophies.
Genetic and Epigenetic Modification of Rat Liver Progenitor Cells via HNF4α Transduction and 5’ Azacytidine Treatment: An Integrated miRNA and mRNA Expression Profile Analysis
Authors: Bolleyn Jennifer , Rombaut Matthias , Nair Nisha , Branson Steven , Heymans Anja , Chuah Marinee , VandenDriessche Thierry , Rogiers Vera , De Kock Joery , Vanhaecke Tamara
Published: April 2020

Neonatal liver-derived rat epithelial cells (rLEC) from biliary origin are liver progenitor cells that acquire a hepatocyte-like phenotype upon sequential exposure to hepatogenic growth factors and cytokines. Undifferentiated rLEC express several liver-enriched transcription factors, including the hepatocyte nuclear factors (HNF) 3β and HNF6, but not the hepatic master regulator HNF4α. In this study, we first investigated the impact of the ectopic expression of HNF4α in rLEC on both mRNA and microRNA (miR) level by means of microarray technology. We found that HNF4α transduction did not induce major changes to the rLEC phenotype. However, we next investigated the influence of DNA methyl transferase (DNMT) inhibition on the phenotype of undifferentiated naïve rLEC by exposure to 5′ azacytidine (AZA), which was found to have a significant impact on rLEC gene expression. The transduction of HNF4α or AZA treatment resulted both in significantly downregulated C/EBPα expression levels, while the exposure of the cells to AZA had a significant effect on the expression of HNF3β. Computationally, dysregulated miRNAs were linked to target mRNAs using the microRNA Target Filter function of Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. We found that differentially regulated miRNA–mRNA target associations predict ectopic HNF4α expression in naïve rLEC to interfere with cell viability and cellular maturation (miR-19b-3p/NR4A2, miR30C-5p/P4HA2, miR328-3p/CD44) while it predicts AZA exposure to modulate epithelial/hepatic cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle progression and the differentiation of stem cells (miR-18a-5p/ESR1, miR-503-5p/CCND1). Finally, our computational analysis predicts that the combination of HNF4α transduction with subsequent AZA treatment might cause changes in hepatic cell proliferation and maturation (miR-18a-5p/ESR1, miR-503-5p/CCND1, miR-328-3p/CD44) as well as the apoptosis (miR-16-5p/BCL2, miR-17-5p/BCL2, miR-34a-5p/BCL2 and miR-494-3p/HMOX1) of naïve rLEC.
The Effect of Targeted Field Investigation on the Reliability of Axially Loaded Piles: A Random Field Approach
Authors: Christodoulou Panagiotis , Pantelidis Lysandros , Gravanis Elias
Published: April 2020

This work deals with the effect of targeted field investigation on the reliability of axially loaded piles, aiming at an optimal serviceability and ultimate limit state design. This is done in a Random Finite Element Method (RFEM) framework properly considering sampling in the analysis; the RFEM method combines finite element analysis with the random field theory. In this respect, the freely available program called RPILE1D has been modified by the authors as to consider sampling of both soil and pile properties. In each RFEM realization, failure is considered to have occurred when the calculated shaft resistance of pile considering spatially uniform properties (average of sampled values from the soil and pile random fields) is greater than the respective “actual” one considering spatially random properties for both soil and pile. The necessary numerical demonstration of the proposed methodology is done by considering two sampling strategies: a) sampling from a single point and b) sampling from a domain, both along the pile, whilst the various parameters governing the statistical uncertainty of the problem are examined; 5383 different cases were considered in total. As shown, a targeted field investigation may minimize or even eliminate the statistical error inserted in the design. The error is quantified by the difference in the probability of failure comparing different sampling scenarios. Another main finding is that the optimal horizontal sampling location occurs where the pile is going to be constructed. In addition, it is shown that the benefit of a targeted field investigation is much greater than the benefit gained using characteristic soil property values.
The Discovery of the Theater of Akragas (Valley of Temples, Agrigento, Italy): An Archaeological Confirmation of the Supposed Buried Structures from a Geophysical Survey
Authors: Cozzolino Marilena , Caliò Luigi Maria , Gentile Vincenzo , Mauriello Paolo , Di Meo Andrea
Published: April 2020

The theater of the ancient city of Akragas has been researched for centuries and, in 2016, a multidisciplinary and multi-scale research work that involved topographic studies, analysis of satellite images, geomorphological characterization of the land, archaeological surveys, and non-invasive geophysical surveys led to its discovery. In this work, a comparison between the archaeological structures hypothesized by geophysical results and the archaeological structure excavated is presented. The area of about 5.500 m2 was investigated using electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). The survey highlighted a series of resistivity highs arranged on concentric semicircles defining perfectly the presence of an articulate building attributable to a theatrical complex of imposing dimensions (diameter of about 95 m). Archaeological excavation led to the identification of the summa cavea with the discovery of foundation-level structures arranged on a semicircle, on which the tiers were located, and cuts in the rock with seat imprints. The overlap of the technical layouts obtained from the documentation of archaeological excavation on the modelled resistivity maps shows the perfect correspondence between the features of the resistivity highs and the ancient structures actually found.
Historicizing Migration and Displacement: Learning from the Early Roman Empire in the Time of the Nation-State. Response to Lachenicht, Susanne. Learning from Past Displacements? The History of Migrations between Historical Specificity, Presentism and Fractured Continuities. Humanities 2018, 7, 36
Authors: Baroud George
Published: April 2020

My response to Susanne Lachenicht’s thought-provoking article is a brief attempt to take up her call to write histories that lead not to absolute certainties but to more understanding of the complexities of the past. I focus on documentation, border control, and citizenship in the Early Roman Empire to illustrate some of the radically different ways these were conceptualized and practiced in a premodern multiethnic empire like Rome than in a contemporary nation-state today. Passports, for example, and border control as we know it, did not exist, and migration was not tied to citizenship status. But the account I offer is deliberately tentative and full of qualifications to emphasize the real methodological challenges the study of this subject poses on account of fragmentary literary and material records and the numerous difficulties of interpreting these. I conclude by pointing out both the benefits and the limitations of framing history as a discipline from which one can learn. On the one hand, understanding how seemingly universal categories such as ‘citizen’ and ‘migrant’ are dynamic and constructed rather than static and natural can nuance public debates in nation-states which receive high numbers of migrants (like Germany, Lachenicht’s starting point) by countering ahistorical narratives of a monolithic and sedentary identity. On the other hand, knowledge of the past does not necessarily lead to moral edification.
Local Perceptions, Cultural Beliefs, Practices and Changing Perspectives of Handling Infant Feces: A Case Study in a Rural Geita District, North-Western Tanzania
Authors: Chebet Joy J. , Kilungo Aminata , Alaofè Halimatou , Malebo Hamisi , Katani Shaaban , Nichter Mark
Published: April 2020

We report on the management of infant feces in a rural village in Geita region, Tanzania. Findings discussed here emerged incidentally from a qualitative study aimed at investigating vulnerability and resilience to health challenges in rural settings. Data was gathered through semi-structured focus group discussions (FDGs) with women (n = 4; 32 participants), men (n = 2; 16 participants), and community leaders (n = 1; 8 participants). All FDGs were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed using Atlas.ti. Respondents reported feces of a child under the age of six months were considered pure compared to those of older children. Infant feces were seen as transitioning to harmful at the point when the child began to eat solid food, resulting in their stool visually changing in appearance. Caregivers reportedly used soft implements to handle infant feces due to the belief that tools with hard surfaces would physically harm the child. Infant feces were disposed in environments around the house due to the belief that disposal in latrines would prevent developmental milestones and result in other perceived negative health outcomes for the child. Changing views expressed by participants suggest a window of opportunity to implement evidence-based and culturally relevant interventions to encourage the safe disposal of infant feces.
Changes of Somatosensory Phenotype in the Course of Disease in Osteoarthritis Patients
Authors: Höper Johanna , Schraml Lara , Gierthmühlen Janne , Helfert Stephanie M. , Rehm Stefanie , Härtig Susanne , Schröder Ove , Lankes Michael , Traulsen Frieder C. , Seekamp Andreas , Baron Ralf
Published: April 2020

To investigate sensory changes, physical function (pF), quality of life (QoL) and pain intensity of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) in the natural course of disease, and patients undergoing total joint replacement therapy (TJR) 31 (20 females, mean age 64.6 ± 10.4 years), patients with OA were investigated with questionnaires and quantitative sensory testing (QST) in the area of referred pain at the thigh at baseline and follow-up 22–49 weeks later; changes were analyzed separately for patients with (n = 13) and without TJR (n = 18). In patients without TJR pain intensity, pF, QoL did not improve, and increased pain sensitivity to cold and a stronger loss of detection were observed. In patients after TJR, however, a reduction in mechanical pain sensitivity and allodynia occurred in accordance with a reduction of pain intensity and improvement of functionality while QoL did not improve. Additionally, an increased sensitivity to heat pain and a more pronounced loss of mechanical detection could be observed in this group. TJR seems to stop peripheral pain input leading to a reduction of pain intensity and central sensitization, but surgery-induced sensory changes such as peripheral sensitization and loss of detection occur. Furthermore, TJR has favorable effects on pain intensity and functionality but not QoL.
Cyberbullying among Adolescents: Psychometric Properties of the CYB-AGS Cyber-Aggressor Scale
Authors: Buelga Sofia , Postigo Javier , Martínez-Ferrer Belén , Cava María-Jesús , Ortega-Barón Jessica
Published: April 2020

The present study aims to analyze the psychometric properties of the revised version of the Adolescent Cyber-Aggressor scale (CYB-AGS). This scale is composed of 18 items that measure direct and indirect cyberbullying. A cross-sectional study was conducted using two independent samples of adolescents. The first sample included 1318 adolescents (52.6% girls) from 12 to 16 years old (M = 13.89, SD = 1.32). The second sample included 1188 adolescents (48.5% boys) from 12 to 16 years old (M = 14.19, SD = 1.80). First, to study the psychometric properties of the CYB-AGS, exploratory factor analysis was performed on Sample 1. Results indicated a two-factor structure: direct cyber-aggression and indirect cyber-aggression. Second, to verify the structure of the CYB-AGS, we selected Sample 2 to conduct confirmatory factor analysis and test the scale’s convergent validity with theoretically-related measures. Results confirmed the reliability and validity of the two-dimensional model. Moreover, measurement invariance was established. Finally, regarding convergent validity, positive correlations were obtained between cyberbullying and aggressive behaviors in school, anger expression, negative attitudes towards school, and transgression of norms. Furthermore, negative correlations were found between cyberbullying and attitudes towards institutional authority.
The Landscape of Anthrax Prevention and Control: Stakeholders’ Perceptive in Odisha, India
Authors: Sahoo Krushna Chandra , Negi Sapna , Barla Deepika , Badaik Goldi , Sahoo Sunita , Bal Madhusmita , Padhi Arun Kumar , Pati Sanghamitra , Bhattacharya Debdutta
Published: April 2020

The prevalence and outbreaks of anthrax are interlinked with the animal-environment-human context, which signifies the need for collaborative, trans-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approaches for the prevention and control of anthrax. In India, there are hardly any shreds of evidence on the role of various stakeholders’ on anthrax prevention and control. Therefore, this study addressed the experiences of various stakeholders on anthrax prevention and control strategies in Odisha, India. A qualitative explorative study was carried out using 42 in-depth-interviews among the stakeholders from health, veterinary and general administrative departments from the block, district, and state level. Two major themes emerged: (1) Epidemiological investigation of anthrax in Odisha, India, and (2) Biological and social prevention strategies for anthrax in Odisha, India. The study emphasizes setting up the surveillance system as per standard guideline, and strengthening the diagnostic facility at a regional medical college laboratory to avoid delay. Moreover, it emphasizes step-up inter-sectoral co-ordination, collaboration and sensitization among health, veterinary, forestry, education, nutrition and tribal welfare departments at all levels in order to reduce the prevalence and control the outbreaks of anthrax in Odisha state. It also recommends raising community literacy, in particular on safe carcass disposal, changing behavior on dead-livestock consumption, and compliance with livestock vaccinations.
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: Burden of Disease and Mortality Using Data from the National Rare Diseases Registry in Italy
Authors: Carbone Marco , Kodra Yllka , Rocchetti Adele , Manno Valerio , Minelli Giada , Gerussi Alessio , Ronca Vincenzo , Malinverno Federica , Cristoferi Laura , Floreani Annarosa , Invernizzi Pietro , Conti Susanna , Taruscio Domenica
Published: April 2020

Introduction: Studies on the epidemiology of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are mainly based on tertiary referral centers; and are retrospective case series susceptible to selection bias. The aim of this study was to estimate incidence; survival and cause of mortality of PSC in Italy; using population-based data. Methods: Data collected from the National Rare Diseases Registry (RNMR) and the National Mortality Database (NMD) were integrated and analyzed. Results: We identified 502 PSC incident cases. The crude incidence rate between 2012 and 2014 was 0.10 per 100,000 individuals. Sixty percent were male; mean age at disease onset and at diagnosis were 33 and 37 years; respectively; highlighting a mean diagnostic delay of 4 years. The rate of interregional mobility was 12%. Ten-year survival was 92%. In 32% of cases the cause of death was biliary-related; 12% died of biliary or gallbladder cancer. Conclusions: For rare diseases such as PSC; population-based cohort’s studies are of paramount importance. Incidence rates of PSC in Italy are markedly lower and survival much longer than the ones reported from tertiary; single-centre series. Moreover; the diagnostic delay and the patient interregional mobility highlights the need for increasing awareness on the disease and for resource reallocation among Italian regions within the National Health Service
Psychiatric Disorders and Distal 21q Deletion—A Case Report
Authors: Briegel Wolfgang , Hoyer Juliane
Published: April 2020

Partial deletion of chromosome 21q is a very rare genetic condition with highly variable phenotypic features including heart defects, high or cleft palate, brain malformations (e.g., cerebral atrophy), developmental delay and intellectual disability. So far, there is very limited knowledge about psychiatric disorders and their effective treatment in this special population. To fill this gap, the authors present the case of an initially five-year-old girl with distal deletion (del21q22.2) and comorbid oppositional defiant disorder (main psychiatric diagnosis) covering a period of time of almost four years comprising initial psychological/psychiatric assessment, subsequent treatment with Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and follow-up assessments. Post-intervention results including a 19-month follow-up indicated good overall efficacy of PCIT and high parental satisfaction with the treatment. This case report makes a substantial contribution to enhancing knowledge on psychiatric comorbidity and its effective treatment in patients with terminal 21q deletion. Moreover, it emphasizes the necessity of multidisciplinarity in diagnosis and treatment due to the variety of anomalies associated with 21q deletion. Regular screenings for psychiatric disorders and (if indicated) thorough psychological and psychiatric assessment seem to be reasonable in most affected children, as children with developmental delays are at increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders. As demonstrated with this case report, PCIT seems to be a good choice to effectively reduce disruptive behaviors in young children with partial deletion of chromosome 21q.
Government Expenditure on Maternal Health and Family Planning Services for Adolescents in Mexico, 2003–2015
Authors: Avila-Burgos Leticia , Montañez-Hernández Julio César , Cahuana-Hurtado Lucero , Villalobos Aremis , Hernández-Peña Patricia , Heredia-Pi Ileana
Published: April 2020

The purpose of this study was to assess whether government policies to expand the coverage of maternal health and family planning (MHFP) services were benefiting the adolescents in need. To this end, we estimated government MHFP expenditure for 10- to 19-year-old adolescents without social security (SS) coverage between 2003 and 2015. We evaluated its evolution and distribution nationally and sub-nationally by level of marginalization, as well as its relationship with demand indicators. Using Jointpoint regressions, we estimated the average annual percent change (AAPC) nationally and among states. Expenditure for adolescents without SS coverage registered 15% for AAPC for the period 2003–2011 and was stable for the remaining years, with 88% of spending allocated to maternal health. Growth in MHFP expenditure reduced the ratio of spending by 13% among groups of states with greater/lesser marginalization; nonetheless, the poorest states continued to show the lowest levels of expenditure. Although adolescents without SS coverage benefited from greater MHFP expenditure as a consequence of health policies directed at achieving universal health coverage, gaps persisted in its distribution among states, since those with similar demand indicators exhibited different levels of expenditure. Further actions are required to improve resource allocation to disadvantaged states and to reinforce the use of FP services by adolescents.
Preschoolers Build Fundamental Motor Skills Critical to an Active Lifestyle: The All 4 Kids© Intervention Study
Authors: Lindsay Anne R. , Starrett Angela , Brian Ali , Byington Teresa A. , Lucas Jennifer , Sigman-Grant Madeleine
Published: April 2020

This pragmatic, real world study examined the effects of the All 4 Kids© intervention on preschoolers’ mastery of movement skills and determined whether the instruction had greater impact than natural development. Methods included a quasi-experimental intervention-comparison subsample of 379 children (COMPARISON) and a pretest-posttest design with convenience scale-up sampling of 2817 preschoolers (SCALE-UP). Children receiving education and dance instruction 3 times/week for 8 weeks were assessed using the Preschool Movement Assessment to evaluate skills pre and post intervention. Using repeated measures ANOVA, McNemar and Wilcoxon signed ranks tests, preschooler’s participation in the intervention resulted in greater improvement in 12 movement skills (F = 83.451, df = 1, p < 0.001, η p 2 = 0.555), balance (p = 0.028), hopping (t = −3.545, df = 112, p = 0.001) and crossing the midline (p < 0.001) than natural development (COMPARISON). In the SCALE-UP study, children significantly improved in all measures based on post-intervention scores. Significant differences were observed between Hispanic and non-Hispanic children for the 12-skills (b = −0.758, se = 0.161, p < 0.001) using hierarchical linear models; boys’ and girls’ scores were not differentially impacted by the intervention. Therefore, implementation of interventions focused on fundamental movement skill development have the potential to remediate secular motor skill decline in young children.
Multi-System Physical Exercise Intervention for Fall Prevention and Quality of Life in Pre-Frail Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Chittrakul Jiraporn , Siviroj Penprapa , Sungkarat Somporn , Sapbamrer Ratana
Published: April 2020

Effective interventions for indicated fall prevention are necessary for older adults with frailty. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of a Multi-system Physical Exercise (MPE) for fall prevention and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in pre-frail older adults. This randomized control trial with allocation concealment included 72 adults aged 65 and above, identified as pre-frailty and with mild and moderate fall risk scores measured by the Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA). Randomly, using block randomization, participants were divided into two groups: an MPE group (n = 36) and a control group (n = 36). The intervention consisted mainly of proprioception, muscle strengthening, reaction time, and balance training and was carried out three days per week for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was fall risk assessed using PPA at 12 weeks post-baseline and at a 24 week follow-up. Significant differences were found in the improvement in fall risk, proprioception, muscle strength, reaction time and postural sway, and fear of fall scores in the MPE group compared with controls at week 12 and 24. In addition, HRQOL had increased significantly in the MPE group in comparison to controls. The MPE program significantly increased muscle strength and improved proprioception, reaction time, and postural sway leading to fall risk reduction in older adults with pre-frailty. Therefore, the MPE program is recommended for used in day-to-day primary care practice in the pre-frail population.
Arsenic Exposure and Risk of Urothelial Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Di Giovanni Pamela , Di Martino Giuseppe , Scampoli Piera , Cedrone Fabrizio , Meo Francesca , Lucisano Giuseppe , Romano Ferdinando , Staniscia Tommaso
Published: April 2020

Background: Arsenic is a toxic metalloid element widely distributed throughout the environment. Arsenic contaminated water has become an ongoing public health issue affecting hundred million people worldwide. The aim of this paper was to summarize the evidence in the association between arsenic metabolites and urinary tract cancer risk. Methods: A systematic review was conducted searching for observational studies that evaluated the association of arsenic metabolites and urinary tract cancer. Risk estimates from individual studies were pooled by using random effects models. Results: All the metabolites considered in this study resulted to be significantly associated to urothelial cancer, respectively: IA% 3.51 (1.21–5.82) (p = 0.003), MMA with WMD = 2.77 (1.67–3.87) (p < 0.001) and DMA with WMD = −4.56 (−7.91–1.22) (p = 0.008). Conclusions: Arsenic metabolites are significantly associated to urothelial cancer. Future studies will help to verify the independent association(s) between arsenic metabolites and urothelial cancer.
Reply to “Comment on: Effects of Nigella Sativa on Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review”
Authors: Hamdan Amiza , Haji Idrus Ruszymah , Mokhtar Mohd Helmy
Published: April 2020

Thank you for your interest and the comments [...]
Corpus-Based Paraphrase Detection Experiments and Review
Authors: Vrbanec Tedo , Meštrović Ana
Published: April 2020

Paraphrase detection is important for a number of applications, including plagiarism detection, authorship attribution, question answering, text summarization, text mining in general, etc. In this paper, we give a performance overview of various types of corpus-based models, especially deep learning (DL) models, with the task of paraphrase detection. We report the results of eight models (LSI, TF-IDF, Word2Vec, Doc2Vec, GloVe, FastText, ELMO, and USE) evaluated on three different public available corpora: Microsoft Research Paraphrase Corpus, Clough and Stevenson and Webis Crowd Paraphrase Corpus 2011. Through a great number of experiments, we decided on the most appropriate approaches for text pre-processing: hyper-parameters, sub-model selection—where they exist (e.g., Skipgram vs. CBOW), distance measures, and semantic similarity/paraphrase detection threshold. Our findings and those of other researchers who have used deep learning models show that DL models are very competitive with traditional state-of-the-art approaches and have potential that should be further developed.
Effects of Diallyl Trisulfide, an Active Substance from Garlic Essential Oil, on Energy Metabolism in Male Moth Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier)
Authors: Wu Meng-Ya , Ying Yi-Yi , Zhang Su-Su , Li Xue-Gang , Yan Wen-Han , Yao Yu-Chen , Shah Sakhawat , Wu Gang , Yang Feng-Lian
Published: April 2020

This study investigated the effects of diallyl trisulfide (DAT), an active substance from garlic essential oil, on the metabolism of the main energy substances of pre- and postmating males of Sitotroga cerealella. Males at 12 h postemergence were fumigated with DAT at a concentration (LC10 = 0.010 µL/L) in a glass jar for 7 h. The main energy metabolites from pre- and postmating males were determined, including protein, triglyceride, glycogen, total soluble sugar, trehalose, and trehalase. The contents of total protein and total soluble sugar and the trehalase activity of premating males were significantly increased following DAT treatment, whereas the contents of protein from the accessory gland, triglyceride, glycogen, and trehalose were significantly decreased after treatment. Additionally, after mating, the total protein and soluble sugar contents were significantly increased and the glycogen content was significantly decreased in the treatment group relative to the levels in controls, but there was no significant difference observed in triglyceride, accessory gland proteins, trehalose content, or trehalase activity between the treatment and control groups. Furthermore, the changes in the main energy substances between pre- and postmating in males after the DAT treatment (∆DAT) were smaller than those in the control group (∆CK). This result indicated that DAT can accelerate the rate of metabolism in males at LC10, leading to the accumulation of greater levels of total soluble sugar to support life activities and to the increased synthesis of proteins to resist an adverse environment.
Predatory Earwigs are Attracted by Herbivore-Induced Plant Volatiles Linked with Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria
Authors: Bell Kim , Naranjo-Guevara Natalia , Santos Rafaela C. dos , Meadow Richard , Bento José M. S.
Published: April 2020

Plant-associated microbes may induce plant defenses against herbivores. Plants, in turn, can attract natural enemies, such as predators, using herbivore-induced plant volatiles. Intricate communication occurs between microorganisms, plants, and insects. Given that many aspects related to mechanisms involved in this symbiotic system remain unknown, we evaluated how beneficial soil-borne microorganisms can affect the interactions between plants, herbivores, and natural enemies. For this study, we established a multitrophic system composed of the predatory earwig Doru luteipes (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), arugula (Eruca sativa, Brassicaceae) as the host plant, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) larvae as a specialist herbivore, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae as a generalist herbivore, and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens as the plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), in a series of nocturnal olfactometry experiments. By assessing earwig preference towards herbivore-induced and PGPR-inoculated plants in different combinations, we showed that the interaction between rhizobacteria, plants, and herbivores can affect the predatory earwig’s behavior. Furthermore, we observed a synergistic effect in which earwigs were attracted by plants that presented as PGPR inoculated and herbivore damaged, for both specialist and generalist herbivores. Our findings help fill the important knowledge gap regarding multitrophic interactions and should provide useful guidelines for their application to agricultural fields.
Erratum: Holland, J.M., et al. Approaches to Identify the Value of Seminatural Habitats for Conservation Biological Control. Insects 2020, 11, 195
Authors: Holland John M. , Jeanneret Philippe , Moonen Anna-Camilla , van der Werf Wopke , Rossing Walter A. H. , Antichi Daniele , Entling Martin H. , Giffard Brice , Helsen Herman , Szalai Mark , Rega Carlo , Gibert Caroline , Veromann Eve
Published: April 2020

We would like to make the following correction to the published paper [...]
The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comprehensive Review of Taxonomy, Genetics, Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Control
Authors: Helmy Yosra A. , Fawzy Mohamed , Elaswad Ahmed , Sobieh Ahmed , Kenney Scott P. , Shehata Awad A.
Published: April 2020

A pneumonia outbreak with unknown etiology was reported in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, in December 2019, associated with the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market. The causative agent of the outbreak was identified by the WHO as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), producing the disease named coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). The virus is closely related (96.3%) to bat coronavirus RaTG13, based on phylogenetic analysis. Human-to-human transmission has been confirmed even from asymptomatic carriers. The virus has spread to at least 200 countries, and more than 1,700,000 confirmed cases and 111,600 deaths have been recorded, with massive global increases in the number of cases daily. Therefore, the WHO has declared COVID-19 a pandemic. The disease is characterized by fever, dry cough, and chest pain with pneumonia in severe cases. In the beginning, the world public health authorities tried to eradicate the disease in China through quarantine but are now transitioning to prevention strategies worldwide to delay its spread. To date, there are no available vaccines or specific therapeutic drugs to treat the virus. There are many knowledge gaps about the newly emerged SARS-CoV-2, leading to misinformation. Therefore, in this review, we provide recent information about the COVID-19 pandemic. This review also provides insights for the control of pathogenic infections in humans such as SARS-CoV-2 infection and future spillovers.
The Usefulness of Serum Biomarkers in the Early Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy: Results of the EUROCONDOR Clinical Trial
Authors: Hernández Cristina , Porta Massimo , Bandello Francesco , Grauslund Jakob , Harding Simon P. , Aldington Stephen J. , Egan Catherine , Frydkjaer-Olsen Ulrik , García-Arumí José , Gibson Jonathan , Lang Gabriele E. , Lattanzio Rosangela , Massin Pascale , Midena Edoardo , Ponsati Berta , Ribeiro Luísa , Scanlon Peter , Cunha-Vaz José , Simó Rafael
Published: April 2020

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of serum biomarkers to predict the worsening of retinal neurodysfunction in subjects with type 2 diabetes. For this purpose, we measured selected molecules (N-epsilon-carboxy methyl lysine (CML), laminin P1 (Lam-P1), and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA)) in the serum of 341 participants of the EUROCONDOR study at baseline, 24, and 48 weeks. Retinal neurodysfunction was assessed by measuring implicit time (IT) using multifocal electroretinography, and structural changes were examined by spectral domain–optical coherence tomography. The values of IT at baseline were directly correlated with baseline serum concentrations of CML (r = 0.135, p = 0.013). Furthermore, in the placebo group, increase in CML concentration throughout follow-up correlated with the IT (r = 0.20; p = 0.03). Baseline serum levels of CML also correlated with macular retinal thickness (RT) (r = 0.231; p < 0.001). Baseline Lam-P1 levels correlated with the increase of the RT at the end of follow-up in the placebo group (r = 0.22; p = 0.016). We provide evidence that CML may be a biomarker of both retinal neurodysfunction and RT, whereas Lam-P1 was associated with RT only. Therefore, circulating levels of these molecules could provide a complementary tool for monitoring the early changes of diabetic retinopathy (DR).
Calciprotein Particles and Serum Calcification Propensity: Hallmarks of Vascular Calcifications in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Silaghi Ciprian N. , Ilyés Tamás , Van Ballegooijen Adriana J. , Crăciun Alexandra M.
Published: April 2020

Cardiovascular complications are one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide and are strongly associated with atherosclerosis and vascular calcification (VC). Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a higher prevalence of VC as renal function declines, which will result in increased mortality. Serum calciprotein particles (CPPs) are colloidal nanoparticles that have a prominent role in the initiation and progression of VC. The T50 test is a novel test that measures the conversion of primary to secondary calciprotein particles indicating the tendency of serum to calcify. Therefore, we accomplished a comprehensive review as the first integrated approach to clarify fundamental aspects that influence serum CPP levels and T50, and to explore the effects of CPP and calcification propensity on various chronic disease outcomes. In addition, new topics were raised regarding possible clinical uses of T50 in the assessment of VC, particularly in patients with CKD, including possible opportunities in VC management. The relationships between serum calcification propensity and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality were also addressed. The review is the outcome of a comprehensive search on available literature and could open new directions to control VC.
Evaluation of Ferromagnetic Steel Hardness Based on an Analysis of the Barkhausen Noise Number of Events
Authors: Roskosz Maciej , Fryczowski Krzysztof , Schabowicz Krzysztof
Published: April 2020

Measurements are carried out of the Barkhausen noise (BN) and hardness on specimens where changes in hardness were obtained due to strain hardening (S235 and DC01 steels) and due to thermochemical treatment (AMS 6414 steel). A method is presented of processing the recorded BN signal to extract diagnostic information. The BN number of events is selected as the signal characteristic property to develop relevant correlations. A new methodology is presented for the development of correlations between the Barkhausen noise number of events and hardness. A possibility is indicated of developing correlations with a high R2 determination coefficient. The method limitations are specified.
On the Broadening of Single-Layer Metasurface Bandwidth by Coupling Resonances
Authors: Fernández Álvarez Humberto , de Cos Gómez María Elena , Las-Heras Andrés Fernando
Published: April 2020

In this contribution a new technique to increase the bandwidth of metasurfaces without increasing their profile is presented. This work takes advantage of the potential multiresonant behavior of a metamaterial whose unit cells comprise nested metallization geometries in the same layer. The novelty stems from the possibility of overlapping these resonances for increasing the bandwidth (instead of obtaining a multiresonant metasurface). Several guidelines to achieve the aforementioned bandwidth broadening, which are applicable to all metasurface designs, will be provided. An equivalent circuit model will be used to better explain the presented technique; then, it will be applied to several metasurface absorbers (MTAs), showing not only a bandwidth broadening but also an absorption reinforcement. Measurements will be also presented to corroborate the simulation results.
Nanomaterials Used in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage: An Up-to-Date Overview
Authors: David Madalina Elena , Ion Rodica-Mariana , Grigorescu Ramona Marina , Iancu Lorena , Andrei Elena Ramona
Published: April 2020

In the last few years, the preservation of cultural heritage has become an important issue globally, due to the fact that artifacts and monuments are continually threatened by degradation. It is thus very important to find adequate consolidators that are capable of saving and maintaining the natural aspect of these objects. This study aims to provide an updated survey of the main nanomaterials used for the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage. In the last few years, besides the classic nanomaterials used in this field, such as metal nanoparticles (copper and silver) and metal oxides (zinc and aluminum), hydroxyapatite and carbonated derivatives, tubular nanomaterials (such as carbon nanotubes) have been used as a potential consolidate material of cultural heritage. Tubular nanomaterials have attracted attention for use in different fields due to their structures, as well as their ability to present multiple walls. These nanotubes have the necessary properties in preserving cultural heritage, such as superior mechanical and elastic strength (even higher than steel), high hydrophobicity (with a contact angle up to 140°), optical properties (high photodegradation protection), large specific surface area (from 50 to 1315 m2/g, depending on the number of walls) for absorption of other nanomaterials and relatively good biocompatibility.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Titanium–Equine Bone Biocomposites
Authors: Jeong Wonki , Shin Se-Eun , Choi Hyunjoo
Published: April 2020

Microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V/equine bone (EB) composites fabricated by ball milling and spark plasma sintering (SPS) have been investigated. Ti-6Al-4V/EB composites were successfully fabricated by a planetary ball-milling of spherical Ti6Al4V powder and natural EB powder and SPS at 1000 °C within 15 min under 50 MPa. EB was uniformly dispersed in the Ti6Al4V matrix owing to ball-milling, and beta phase transformation temperature of 1000 °C provided phase stability. The composites containing 0.5 wt.% EB exhibit Vickers hardness and elastic modulus of 540.6 HV and 130.5 GPa, respectively. The microstructures and mechanical properties of the composites were observed using scanning electron micrograph and nanoindentation.
Distinguishing NASH Histological Severity Using a Multiplatform Metabolomics Approach
Authors: Ioannou George N. , Nagana Gowda G. A. , Djukovic Danijel , Raftery Daniel
Published: April 2020

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is categorized based on histological severity into nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We used a multiplatform metabolomics approach to identify metabolite markers and metabolic pathways that distinguish NAFL from early NASH and advanced NASH. We analyzed fasting serum samples from 57 prospectively-recruited patients with histologically-proven NAFLD, including 12 with NAFL, 31 with early NASH and 14 with advanced NASH. Metabolite profiling was performed using a combination of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy analyzed with multivariate statistical and pathway analysis tools. We targeted 237 metabolites of which 158 were quantified. Multivariate analysis uncovered metabolite profile clusters for patients with NAFL, early NASH, and advanced NASH. Also, multiple individual metabolites were associated with histological severity, most notably spermidine which was more than 2-fold lower in advanced fibrosis vs. early fibrosis, in advanced NASH vs. NAFL and in advanced NASH vs. early NASH, suggesting that spermidine exercises a protective effect against development of fibrosing NASH. Furthermore, the results also showed metabolic pathway perturbations between early-NASH and advanced-NASH. In conclusion, using a combination of two reliable analytical platforms (LC-MS and NMR spectroscopy) we identified individual metabolites, metabolite clusters and metabolic pathways that were significantly different between NAFL, early-NASH, and advanced-NASH. These differences provide mechanistic insights as well as potentially important metabolic biomarker candidates that may noninvasively distinguish patients with NAFL, early-NASH, and advanced-NASH. The associations of spermidine levels with less advanced histology merit further assessment of the potential protective effects of spermidine in NAFLD.