bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scar Assessment Tools: How Do They Compare?
Authors: Choo Amanda Min Hui , Ong Yee Siang , Issa Fadi
Published: June 2021

Healing after dermal injury is a complex but imperfect process that results in a wide range of visible scars. The degree of disfigurement is not the sole determinant of a scar's effect on patient well-being, with a number of other factors being critical to outcome. These include cosmetic appearance, symptoms such as itch and pain, functional loss, psychological or social problems, and quality of life. An accurate assessment of these domains can help clinicians measure outcomes, develop, and evaluate treatment strategies. A PubMed literature search was performed up to 31st March 2020. Ten objective scar measurements, four Clinician-Reported Outcome Measures (CROMs), six Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs), and one combined measure were evaluated for their reliability, clinical relevance, responsiveness to clinical change, and feasibility. Many quantitative tools were limited in their clinical relevance and feasibility, whereas few qualitative CROMs and PROMs have undergone rigorous assessment. This review examines currently available assessment tools, focusing primarily on subjective scar measurements (CROMs, PROMs), and offers a perspective on future directions in the field.
Clinicopathology and Recurrence Analysis of 44 Jaw Aneurysmal Bone Cyst Cases: A Literature Review
Authors: Liu Yu , Zhou Jinhan , Shi Jue
Published: June 2021

In the past half-century, considerable attention has been paid to oral and maxillofacial skeletal cyst, however, aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC), unlike other common bone diseases, still contours numerous unanswered questions in terms of classification, etiology and pathological mechanism. The purpose of this article was to evaluate the proportion of primary ABC and secondary ABC, and to assess the recurrence of ABC and related factors. A methodical search of Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science was conducted for well-documented jaw aneurysmal bone cyst (JABC) cases. One hundred thirty-one articles were identified after database searching and 31 of them were included in our study for further research with 44 JABC cases. All the articles were analyzed by two separate authors. About 25% of the reported jaw aneurysmal bone cyst was secondary. Both the pathological classification and surgical treatment had a significant influence on recurrence rate (P = 0.0082, P = 0.0022), while patients' age or radiographic features rarely affected prognosis. Jaw aneurysmal bone cysts can present variable clinical and histological presentations. Recurrence may be attributed to omittance of underlying potential blood supply or conservative surgical protocol.
The Effect of the Antimicrobial Peptide Plectasin on the Growth Performance, Intestinal Health, and Immune Function of Yellow-Feathered Chickens
Authors: Zhang Xinheng , Zhao Qiqi , Wen Lijun , Wu Che , Yao Ziqi , Yan Zhuanqiang , Li Ruoying , Chen Liyi , Chen Feiyang , Xie Zi , Chen Feng , Xie Qingmei
Published: June 2021

The goal of the study was to test the effects of an antibiotic substitute, plectasin, on the growth performance, immune function, intestinal morphology and structure, intestinal microflora, ileal mucosal layer construction and tight junctions, ileal immune-related cytokines, and blood biochemical indices of yellow-feathered chickens. A total of 1,500 one-day-old yellow-feathered chicks were randomly divided into four dietary treatment groups with five replicates in each group and 75 yellow-feathered chicks in each replication, as follows: basal diet (group A); basal diet supplemented with 10 mg enramycin/kg of diet (group B), basal diet supplemented with 100 mg plectasin/kg of diet (group C), and basal diet supplemented with 200 mg plectasin/kg of diet (group D). It was found that the dietary antimicrobial peptide plectasin could improve the ADG and had better F/G for the overall period of 1–63 days. Dietary plectasin can enhance H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) antibody levels of yellow-feathered chickens at 21, and 35 days of age. Dietary plectasin can enhance the intestine structure, inhibit Escherichia coli and proinflammatory cytokines in the ileum, and ameliorate the blood biochemical indices of yellow-feathered chickens at 21 days of age. This study indicates that the antimicrobial peptide plectasin has beneficial effects on the growth performance, intestinal health and immune function of yellow-feathered chickens.
Associations of Underlying Health Conditions With Anxiety and Depression Among Outpatients: Modification Effects of Suspected COVID-19 Symptoms, Health-Related and Preventive Behaviors
Authors: Nguyen Minh H. , Pham Thu T. M. , Pham Linh V. , Phan Dung T. , Tran Tien V. , Nguyen Hoang C. , Nguyen Huu C. , Ha Tung H. , Dao Hung K. , Nguyen Phuoc B. , Trinh Manh V. , Do Thinh V. , Nguyen Hung Q. , Nguyen Thao T. P. , Nguyen Nhan P. T. , Tran Cuong Q. , Tran Khanh V. , Duong Trang T. , Nguyen Tan T. , Pham Khue M. , Nguyen Lam V. , Vo Tam T. , Do Binh N. , Dang Nga H. , Le Thuy T. , Do Ngoc T. , Nguyen Hoai T. T. , Mai Thuy T. T. , Ha Dung T. , Ngo Huong T. M. , Nguyen Kien T. , Bai Chyi-Huey , Duong Tuyen Van
Published: June 2021

Objectives: We explored the association of underlying health conditions (UHC) with depression and anxiety, and examined the modification effects of suspected COVID-19 symptoms (S-COVID-19-S), health-related behaviors (HB), and preventive behaviors (PB).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 8,291 outpatients aged 18–85 years, in 18 hospitals and health centers across Vietnam from 14th February to May 31, 2020. We collected the data regarding participant's characteristics, UHC, HB, PB, depression, and anxiety.

Results: People with UHC had higher odds of depression (OR = 2.11; p < 0.001) and anxiety (OR = 2.86; p < 0.001) than those without UHC. The odds of depression and anxiety were significantly higher for those with UHC and S-COVID-19-S (p < 0.001); and were significantly lower for those had UHC and interacted with “unchanged/more” physical activity (p < 0.001), or “unchanged/more” drinking (p < 0.001 for only anxiety), or “unchanged/healthier” eating (p < 0.001), and high PB score (p < 0.001), as compared to those without UHC and without S-COVID-19-S, “never/stopped/less” physical activity, drinking, “less healthy” eating, and low PB score, respectively.

Conclusion: S-COVID-19-S worsen psychological health in patients with UHC. Physical activity, drinking, healthier eating, and high PB score were protective factors.
Optimal Transport in Multilayer Networks for Traffic Flow Optimization
Authors: Ibrahim Abdullahi Adinoyi , Lonardi Alessandro , Bacco Caterina De
Published: June 2021

Modeling traffic distribution and extracting optimal flows in multilayer networks is of the utmost importance to design efficient, multi-modal network infrastructures. Recent results based on optimal transport theory provide powerful and computationally efficient methods to address this problem, but they are mainly focused on modeling single-layer networks. Here, we adapt these results to study how optimal flows distribute on multilayer networks. We propose a model where optimal flows on different layers contribute differently to the total cost to be minimized. This is done by means of a parameter that varies with layers, which allows to flexibly tune the sensitivity to the traffic congestion of the various layers. As an application, we consider transportation networks, where each layer is associated to a different transportation system, and show how the traffic distribution varies as we tune this parameter across layers. We show an example of this result on the real, 2-layer network of the city of Bordeaux with a bus and tram, where we find that in certain regimes, the presence of the tram network significantly unburdens the traffic on the road network. Our model paves the way for further analysis of optimal flows and navigability strategies in real, multilayer networks.
Implementation of a Fuzzy Logic Controller for the Irrigation of Rose Cultivation in Mexico
Authors: Urbieta Parrazales Romeo , Zagaceta Álvarez María T. , Aguilar Cruz Karen A. , Palma Orozco Rosaura , Fernández Muñoz José L.
Published: June 2021

The design and implementation of a fuzzy logic controller (FLC) are presented, offering a solution to improve the irrigation of rose crops. The objective is to reduce the water consumption and operative costs, taking advantage of intelligent controllers and environmental characteristics in a specific region. Considering that the main controllable variables that affect the growth of plants are relative humidity (RH) and temperature (T), in this study, these variables are used to create a system whose aim is to provide an adequate amount of water for a rose crop in the State of Mexico. The Mamdani method was used for the FLC design and the membership functions, while the area centroid was considered as the defuzzification strategy. After implementing the FLC proposal using a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) in a domestic greenhouse, integrated by an array of [5 × 3] rose plants under natural restrictions, a reduction of 0.2 L per week with respect to the traditional manual irrigation system was found. The proposed design highlights the technological advantages of using a fuzzy logic-controlled irrigation system over traditional methods.
Differential Expression and Functional Analysis of CircRNA in the Ovaries of Low and High Fecundity Hanper Sheep
Authors: Liu Aiju , Chen Xiaoyong , Liu Menghe , Zhang Limeng , Ma Xiaofei , Tian Shujun
Published: June 2021

Litter size is a considerable quality that determines the production efficiency of mutton sheep. Therefore, revealing the molecular regulation of high and low fertility may aid the breeding process to develop new varieties of mutton sheep. CircRNAs are the important factors regulating follicular development, but their mechanism role in the regulation of litter size in Hanper sheep is not clear. In the present study, ovarian tissues from the follicular (F) or luteal phase (L) of Hanper sheep that were either consecutive monotocous (M) or polytocous were collected. Then, we performed transcriptome sequencing to screen for differentially expressed circRNAs (DE-circRNAs) and elucidate their function. In total, 4256 circRNA derived from 2184 host genes were identified in which 183 (146 were upregulated, while 37 were downregulated) were differentially expressed in monotocous sheep in the follicular phase versus polytocous sheep in the follicular phase (MF vs. PF). Moreover, 34 circRNAs (14 were upregulated, while 20 were downregulated) were differentially expressed in monotocous sheep in the luteal phase versus polytocous sheep in the luteal sheep (ML vs. PL). This was achieved through DE-circRNAs function enrichment annotation analysis by GESA, GO, and KEGG, which function through the EGF-EGFR-RAS-JNK, TGF-β and thyroid hormone signaling pathway to affect the litter size of Hanper sheep in MF vs. PF and ML vs. PL. STEM results showed that MAPK signaling pathways play a key role in MF vs. PF and ML vs. PL. Through WGCNA analysis, AKT3 was a core gene in MF vs. PF and ML vs. PL. Moreover, competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network analysis revealed the target binding sites for miRNA such as oar-miR-27a, oar-miR-16b, oar-miR-200a/b/c, oar-miR-181a, oar-miR-10a/b, and oar-miR-432 in the identified DE-cirRNAs.
A Comparative Study on Two Territorial Fishes: The Influence of Physical Enrichment on Aggressive Behavior
Authors: Zhang Zonghang , Fu Yiqiu , Zhang Zhen , Zhang Xiumei , Chen Shengcan
Published: June 2021

Intraspecific aggression is detrimental to body/fin damage, physiological stress, and other problems in aquaculture. Environmental enrichment has been proposed to have positive effects on fish aggressive behavior, physiological stress, and fish welfare, but there are mixed results. Here, we examine the impact of physical enrichment levels (i.e., the intensity of physical enrichment) on aggression in black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) and fat greenling (Hexagrammos otakii). Generally, with the increase in the enrichment level, the frequency of the aggressive behavior of black rockfish gradually decreased. In contrast, a non-monotonous effect of the enrichment level on aggression was observed for fat greenling, with low and intermediate levels leading to no or more aggression, while a high enrichment level reduced aggression. After three days, the high-level enrichment groups in both rockfish and greenling reached social stability (i.e., a relatively stable social structure indicated by lower aggression), while aggression in the other groups continued increased. These results show the significant regulatory effect of enrichment levels on the aggressive behavior in both black rockfish and fat greenling. This study may promote the development of environmental enrichment measures, and it provides useful information for reducing fish aggression and improving fish welfare in aquaculture.
Weekly and Daily Tooth Brushing by Care Staff Reduces Gingivitis and Calculus in Racing Greyhounds
Authors: Rooney Nicola J. , Wonham Katharine L. , McIndoe Katherine S. , Casey Rachel A. , Blackwell Emily J. , Browne William J.
Published: June 2021

Periodontal disease is one of the most common conditions affecting dogs worldwide and is reported to be particularly prevalent in racing greyhounds. A range of potential risk factors have been hypothesised. Previous research has suggested that regular tooth brushing can reduce both calculus and gingivitis, but the frequency required is unclear. Here, we report a controlled blinded in situ trial, in which kennel staff brushed 160 racing greyhounds’ teeth (living at six kennel establishments), either weekly, daily or never over a two-month period. All of the visible teeth were scored for calculus and gingivitis, using previously validated scales. We calculated average scores for each of the three teeth groups and overall whole mouth scores, averaging the teeth groups. Changes were compared to the baseline. After two months, the total calculus scores (controlling for baseline) were significantly different in the three treatment groups, (F(2,129) = 10.76, p < 0.001) with both weekly and daily brushing resulting in significant reductions. Gingivitis was also significantly different between groups (F(2,128) = 4.57, p = 0.012), but in this case, only daily brushing resulted in a significant reduction. Although the dogs in different kennels varied significantly in their levels of both calculus (F(5,129) = 8.64, p < 0.001) and gingivitis (F(5,128) = 3.51 p = 0.005), the intervention was similarly effective in all of the establishments. The teeth groups varied, and the incisors were not significantly affected by the treatment. Since the trainers implementing the routine, reported a minimal time commitment and positive experiences, we suggest that daily brushing is recommended for racing greyhounds, and that any instructions or demonstrations should include attention to all teeth groups including the incisors. Similar trials need to be conducted with retired greyhounds since these have been shown to present particularly high levels of periodontal disease.
SINE Insertion in the Intron of Pig GHR May Decrease Its Expression by Acting as a Repressor
Authors: Chen Cai , Zheng Yao , Wang Mengli , Murani Eduard , D’Alessandro Enrico , Moawad Ali Shoaib , Wang Xiaoyan , Wimmers Klaus , Song Chengyi
Published: June 2021

The genetic diversity of the GH/IGF axis genes and their association with the variation of gene expression and phenotypic traits, principally represented by SNPs, have been extensively reported. Nevertheless, the impact of retrotransposon insertion polymorphisms (RIPs) on the GH/IGF axis gene activity has not been reported. In the present study, bioinformatic prediction and PCR verification were performed to screen RIPs in four GH/IGF axis genes (GH, GHR, IGF1 and IGF1R). In total, five RIPs, including one SINE RIP in intron 3 of IGF1, one L1 RIP in intron 7 of GHR, and three SINE RIPs in intron 1, intron 5 and intron 9 of GHR, were confirmed by PCR, displaying polymorphisms in diverse breeds. Dual luciferase reporter assay revealed that the SINE insertion in intron 1 of GHR significantly repressed the GHR promoter activity in PK15, Hela, C2C12 and 3T3-L1 cells. Furthermore, qPCR results confirmed that this SINE insertion was associated with a decreased expression of GHR in the leg muscle and longissimus dorsi, indicating that it may act as a repressor involved in the regulation of GHR expression. In summary, our data revealed that RIPs contribute to the genetic variation of GH/IGF axis genes, whereby one SINE RIP in the intron 1 of GHR may decrease the expression of GHR by acting as a repressor.
Veterinary Big Data: When Data Goes to the Dogs
Authors: Paynter Ashley N. , Dunbar Matthew D. , Creevy Kate E. , Ruple Audrey
Published: June 2021

Dogs provide an ideal model for study as they have the most phenotypic diversity and known naturally occurring diseases of all non-human land mammals. Thus, data related to dog health present many opportunities to discover insights into health and disease outcomes. Here, we describe several sources of veterinary medical big data that can be used in research. These sources include medical records from primary medical care centers or referral hospitals, medical claims data from animal insurance companies, and datasets constructed specifically for research purposes. No data source provides information that is without limitations, but large-scale, prospective, longitudinally collected data from dog populations are ideal for further research as they offer many advantages over other data sources.
Testicular Melatonin and Its Pathway in Roe Deer Bucks (Capreolus capreolus) during Pre- and Post-Rut Periods: Correlation with Testicular Involution
Authors: Elmi Alberto , Govoni Nadia , Zannoni Augusta , Bertocchi Martina , Bernardini Chiara , Forni Monica , Ventrella Domenico , Bacci Maria Laura
Published: June 2021

Roe deer are seasonal breeders with a complete yearly testicular cycle. The peak in reproductive activity is recorded during summer, the rutting period, with the highest levels of androgens and testicular weight. Melatonin plays a pivotal role in seasonal breeders by stimulating the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonads axis and acting locally; in different species, its synthesis within testes has been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological melatonin pattern within roe deer testes by comparing data obtained from animals sampled during pre- and post-rut periods. Melatonin was quantified in testicular parenchyma, along with the genetic expression of enzymes involved in its local synthesis (AANAT and ASMT) and function (UCP1). Melatonin receptors, MT1-2, were quantified both at protein and gene expression levels. Finally, to assess changes in reproductive hormonal profiles, testicular dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) was quantified and used for a correlation analysis. Melatonin and AANAT were detected in all samples, without significant differences between pre- and post-rut periods. Despite DHEA levels confirming testicular involution during the post-rut period, no correlations appeared between such involution and melatonin pathways. This study represents the first report regarding melatonin synthesis in roe deer testes, opening the way for future prospective studies in the physiology of this species.
Antibacterial Residue Excretion via Urine as an Indicator for Therapeutical Treatment Choice and Farm Waste Treatment
Authors: Serrano María Jesús , García-Gonzalo Diego , Abilleira Eunate , Elorduy Janire , Mitjana Olga , Falceto María Victoria , Laborda Alicia , Bonastre Cristina , Mata Luis , Condón Santiago , Pagán Rafael
Published: June 2021

Many of the infectious diseases that affect livestock have bacteria as etiological agents. Thus, therapy is based on antimicrobials that leave the animal’s tissues mainly via urine, reaching the environment through slurry and waste water. Once there, antimicrobial residues may lead to antibacterial resistance as well as toxicity for plants, animals, or humans. Hence, the objective was to describe the rate of antimicrobial excretion in urine in order to select the most appropriate molecule while reducing harmful effects. Thus, 62 pigs were treated with sulfamethoxypyridazine, oxytetracycline, and enrofloxacin. Urine was collected through the withdrawal period and analysed via LC-MS/MS. Oxytetracycline had the slowest rate of degradation (a half-life time of 4.18 days) and the most extended elimination period in urine (over 2 months), followed by enrofloxacin (a half-life time of 1.48 days, total urine elimination in ca. 3 weeks) and sulfamethoxypyridazine (a half-life time of 0.49 days, total urine elimination in ca. 1 week). Bacterial sensitivity and recommendations for responsible use are limiting when selecting the treatment. Nevertheless, with similar effectiveness, sulfamethoxypyridazine would be the choice, as waste treatment would only need to be implemented for 1 week after treatment. Thus, more in-depth knowledge regarding antibacterial elimination would improve resource management, while protecting animals and consumers’ health.
Automatic Wheels and Camera Calibration for Monocular and Differential Mobile Robots
Authors: Chaika Konstantin , Filatov Anton , Filatov Artyom , Krinkin Kirill
Published: June 2021

Mobile robotic systems are highly relevant today in various fields, both in an industrial environment and in terms of their applications in medicine. After assembling the robot, components such as the camera and wheels need to be calibrated. This requires human participation and depends on human factors. The article describes the approach to fully automatic calibration of a robot’s camera and wheels with a subsequent calibration refinement during the operation. It consists of placing the robot in an inaccurate position, but in a pre-marked area, and using data from the camera, information about the environment configuration, as well as the ability to move, in order to perform calibration without external observers or human participation. There are two stages in this process: the camera and the wheel calibrations. The camera calibration collects the necessary set of images by automatically moving the robot in front of the fiducial markers template, and then moving it on the marked floor, assessing its trajectory curvature. Upon calibration completion, the robot automatically moves to the area of its normal operation and it is proposed to refine the calibration during its operation without blocking its work. The suggested approach was experimentally tested on the Duckietown project base. Based on test results, the approach proved to be comparable to manual calibrations and is capable of replacing a human for this task.
Analysis of the Pre and Post-COVID-19 Lockdown Use of Smartphone Apps in Spain
Authors: Solano Alberto , Fayos Ivan , Urueña Alberto , Martínez-Sober Marcelino , Mateo Fernando , Soria-Olivas Emilio
Published: June 2021

The global pandemic of COVID-19 has changed our daily habits and has undoubtedly affected our smartphone usage time. This paper attempts to characterize the changes in the time of use of smartphones and their applications between the pre-lockdown and post-lockdown periods in Spain, during the first COVID-19 confinement in 2020. This study analyzes data from 1940 participants, which was obtained both from a survey and from a tracking application installed on their smartphones. We propose manifold learning techniques such as clustering, to assess, both in a quantitative and in a qualitative way, the behavioral and social effects and implications of confinement in the Spanish population. We also determine the Big Five personality traits along with addiction, Social Digital Pressure and depression indicators for every group determined by the clustering.
Study of Surface Emissions of 220Rn (Thoron) at Two Sites in the Campi Flegrei Caldera (Italy) during Volcanic Unrest in the Period 2011–2017
Authors: Ambrosino Fabrizio , Sabbarese Carlo , Giudicepietro Flora , De Cesare Walter , Pugliese Mariagabriella , Roca Vincenzo
Published: June 2021

The study concerns the analysis of 220Rn (thoron) recorded in the surface soil in two sites of the Campi Flegrei caldera (Naples, Southern Italy) characterized by phases of volcanic unrest in the seven-year period 1 July 2011–31 December 2017. Thoron comes only from the most surface layer, so the characteristics of its time series are strictly connected to the shallow phenomena, which can also act at a distance from the measuring point in these particular areas. Since we measured 220Rn in parallel with 222Rn (radon), we found that by using the same analysis applied to radon, we obtained interesting information. While knowing the limits of this radioisotope well, we highlight only the particular characteristics of the emissions of thoron in the surface soil. Here, we show that it also shows some clear features found in the radon signal, such as anomalies and signal trends. Consequently, we provide good evidence that, in spite of the very short life of 220Rn compared to 222Rn, both are related to the carrier effect of CO2, which has significantly increased in the last few years within the caldera. The hydrothermal alterations, induced by the increase in temperature and pressure of the caldera system, occur in the surface soils and significantly influence thoron’s power of exhalation from the surface layer. The effects on the surface thoron are reflected in both sites, but with less intensity, the same behavior of 222Rn following the increasing movements and fluctuations of the geophysical and geochemical parameters (CO2 flux, fumarolic tremor, background seismicity, soil deformation). An overall linear correlation was found between the 222−220Rn signals, indicating the effect of the CO2 vector. The overall results represent a significant step forward in the use and interpretation of the thoron signal.
Shock Absorption Characteristics and Optimal Design of Corrugated Fiberboard Using Drop Testing
Authors: Wang Chien-Chih , Chen Chin-Hua , Jiang Bernard C.
Published: June 2021

The application of corrugated paper to buffer packaging has increased with the rise of the circular economy. The dynamic buffer curve is the key to designing the buffer packaging structure but requires multiple testing by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) without resources. In this study, we propose drop testing to perform a fractional factorial experiment and establish a regression model of impact strength through experimental data. The analysis results show that static stress, falling height, and buffer material thickness are the key variables of impact strength, and an impact strength prediction model (R2 = 94.1%) was obtained. Model verification using the buffer package design of a personal computer showed that the measured values of impact strength fell within the estimated 95% confidence interval. These results indicate that SMEs can use the proposed analysis procedure to improve the design of corrugated paper using minimal resources.
Excision of Lower Lip Mucocele Using Injection of Hydrocolloid Dental Impression Material in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report
Authors: Botticelli Gianluca , Severino Marco , Ferrazzano Gianmaria Fabrizio , Vittorini Velasquez Pedro , Franceschini Carlo , Di Paolo Carlo , Gatto Roberto , Falisi Giovanni
Published: June 2021

Oral mucocele is a benign cystic exophytic lesion affecting the minor salivary gland and is especially present in pediatric patients (3% under 14 years). It is characterized by an extravasation or retention of fluid or mucus in the submucosal tissue of the minor salivary glands. Several surgical techniques have been proposed over the years, including the excision of the mucocele by using the injection of a hydrocolloid impression material in the light of the cyst to prevent the collapse of the cystic wall and solidify the lesion, resulting in a better cleavage plan. The combined clinical approach between the combination of Shira’s technique and the surgical excision of the cystic lesion results in a conservative surgical removal of the lesion. Here, we reported the removal of a labial mucocele in a 14-year-old male patient, using the injection of a hydrocolloid impression material. At a 12 months follow up, the patient showed complete healing of the surgical site, showing a pinkish lip lining mucosa without scarring or recurrence of the primary lesion. The combined therapeutic approach between Shira’s technique and surgical excision allows a safe and predictable excision of the labial mucocele, minimizing the risk of recurrence.
Evaluating the Effect of Tissue Selection on the Characteristics of Extracellular Matrix Hydrogels from Decellularized Porcine Bladders
Authors: Kao Chen-Yu , Nguyen Huynh-Quang-Dieu , Weng Yu-Chuan , Hung Yu-Han , Lo Chun-Min
Published: June 2021

Porcine urinary bladder is one of the most used organs to fabricate extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel. Although there are two different ECM types inside a bladder, i.e., urinary bladder matrix (UBM) and a subtype ECM (sECM), most studies have only employed UBM for hydrogel fabrication, and overlooked the potential use of sECM. In another aspect, the delamination of UBM from bladders is a time-consuming process; consequently, the use of the whole bladder (WB) will likely increase production yield. Therefore, the objective of this study was to fabricate hydrogels from sECM and WB and compare them to UBM. The results indicated that different layers of the bladder shared almost the same biochemical composition. In terms of gelation kinetics, rheology and morphology, although hydrogels from UBM and sECM exhibited some discrepancies, those from UBM and WB interestingly possessed almost the same characteristics. In in vitro studies, all the hydrogels possessed nearly the same biochemical effects towards L929 viability and C2C12 differentiation. These results could preliminarily indicate that the use of sECM should no longer be ignored, and WB could be a promising substitution for UBM hydrogels, eliminating the need for time-consuming delamination processes, as well as increasing the possibility of mass production.
Simple Thalidomide Analogs in Melanoma: Synthesis and Biological Activity
Authors: Barbarossa Alexia , Catalano Alessia , Ceramella Jessica , Carocci Alessia , Iacopetta Domenico , Rosano Camillo , Franchini Carlo , Sinicropi Maria Stefania
Published: June 2021

Thalidomide is an old well-known drug that is still of clinical interest, despite its teratogenic activities, due to its antiangiogenic and immunomodulatory properties. Therefore, efforts to design safer and effective thalidomide analogs are continually ongoing. Research studies on thalidomide analogs have revealed that the phthalimide ring system is an essential pharmacophoric fragment; thus, many phthalimidic compounds have been synthesized and evaluated as anticancer drug candidates. In this study, a panel of selected in vitro assays, performed on a small series of phthalimide derivatives, allowed us to characterize compound 2k as a good anticancer agent, acting on A2058 melanoma cell line, which causes cell death by apoptosis due to its capability to inhibit tubulin polymerization. The obtained data were confirmed by in silico assays. No cytotoxic effects on normal cells have been detected for this compound that proves to be a valid candidate for further investigations to achieve new insights on possible mechanism of action of this class of compounds as anticancer drugs.
Multi-Objective Reliability-Based Optimization of Control Arm Using MCS and NSGA-II Coupled with Entropy Weighted GRA
Authors: Jiang Rongchao , Sun Tao , Liu Dawei , Pan Zhenkuan , Wang Dengfeng
Published: June 2021

Lightweight design is one of the important ways to reduce automobile fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. At the same time, the fatigue life of automobile parts also greatly affects vehicle safety. This paper proposes a multi-objective reliability optimization method by integrating Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) with the NSGA-II algorithm coupled with entropy weighted grey relational analysis (GRA) for lightweight design of the lower control arm of automobile Macpherson suspension. The dynamic load histories of the control arm were extracted through dynamic simulations of a rigid-flexible coupling vehicle model on virtual proving ground. Then, the nominal stress method was used to predict its fatigue life. Six design variables were defined to describe the geometric dimension of the control arm, while mass and fatigue life were taken as optimization objectives. The multi-objective optimization design of the control arm was carried out based on the Kriging surrogate model and NSGA-II algorithm. Aiming at the uncertainty of design variables, the reliability constraint was added to the multi-objective optimization to improve the reliability of the fatigue life of the control arm. The optimal design of the control arm was determined from Pareto solutions by entropy weighted grey relational analysis (GRA). The optimization results show that the mass of the control arm was reduced by 4.1% and the fatigue life was increased by 215.8% while its reliability increased by 7.8%. The proposed multi-objective reliability optimization method proved to be feasible and effective for lightweight design of a suspension control arm.
Multi-GeV Laser Wakefield Electron Acceleration with PW Lasers
Authors: Kim Hyung , Pathak Vishwa , Hojbota Calin , Mirzaie Mohammad , Pae Ki , Kim Chul , Yoon Jin , Sung Jae , Lee Seong
Published: June 2021

Laser wakefield electron acceleration (LWFA) is an emerging technology for the next generation of electron accelerators. As intense laser technology has rapidly developed, LWFA has overcome its limitations and has proven its possibilities to facilitate compact high-energy electron beams. Since high-power lasers reach peak power beyond petawatts (PW), LWFA has a new chance to explore the multi-GeV energy regime. In this article, we review the recent development of multi-GeV electron acceleration with PW lasers and discuss the limitations and perspectives of the LWFA with high-power lasers.
An Examination of Fungal and Bacterial Assemblages in Bulk and Rhizosphere Soils under Solanum tuberosum in Southeastern Wyoming, USA
Authors: Custer Gordon , van Diepen Linda , Stump William
Published: June 2021

Solanum tuberosum, commonly known as potato, is the most important non-cereal crop in the world. However, its cultivation is prone to disease and other issues. In recent years, a newfound interest in the soil microbiome and the potential benefits it may convey has led researchers to study plant–microbe interactions in great detail and has led to the identification of putative beneficial microbial taxa. In this survey, we examined fungal and bacterial diversity using high-throughput sequencing in soils under a potato crop in southeastern Wyoming, USA. Our results show decreased microbial diversity in the rhizosphere, with increases in the abundances of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as well as pathogenic microbes. We show coarse taxonomic differences in microbial assemblages when comparing the bulk and rhizosphere soils for bacteria but not for fungi, suggesting that the two kingdoms respond differently to the selective pressures of the rhizosphere. Using cooccurrence network analysis, we identify microbes that may serve as keystone taxa and provide benefits to their host plants through competitive exclusion of detrimental pathogenic taxa and increased nutrient availability. Our results provide additional information on the structure and complexity of the potato rhizosphere microbiome and highlight candidate taxa for microbial isolation and inoculation.
Air Pollution Observations in Selected Locations in Poland during the Lockdown Related to COVID-19
Authors: Rogulski Mariusz , Badyda Artur
Published: June 2021

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has caused huge changes in people’s daily habits and had a significant impact on the economy. The lockdowns significantly reduced road traffic and meant that many people worked remotely. Therefore, the question arose as to how the reduced road traffic and stays of residents at home affected the degree of pollution and the structure of major air pollutants. To answer this question, the article presents an analysis of changes in typical air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2) in the five largest Polish cities and one of the voivodships. The data from the Polish State Environmental Monitoring were used for the analysis. The analysis showed that the period of the first lockdown in Poland (April 2020), despite the reduced road traffic, resulted in a significant increase in PM10 emissions (9–91% during working days and an average of 30% on Saturdays and Sundays), a slight increase in PM2.5 emissions (on average from 2% to 11% for all analyzed locations), and a reduction in NO2 emissions (on average from 6% to 11% for all analyzed locations) compared to the period before the lockdown. However, the changes were not homogeneous—in Łódź and Warsaw, in most cases, an increase in all analyzed pollutants was observed, and the greatest decrease in pollution took place in Małopolska voivodship (including Kraków). Comparing the data from April 2020 to the data from April 2019, the overall difference in the PMs concentrations was small, although there are places where there has been a significant decrease (Wrocław, Poznań), and there were also places where the concentration increased (Warsaw, Łódź, Małopolska). In the case of nitrogen dioxide, pollution concentration decreased in most locations. The only exception was the background stations in Warsaw, where the increase was 27%.
Non-Instantaneous Impulsive Boundary Value Problems Containing Caputo Fractional Derivative of a Function with Respect to Another Function and Riemann–Stieltjes Fractional Integral Boundary Conditions
Authors: Asawasamrit Suphawat , Thadang Yasintorn , Ntouyas Sotiris , Tariboon Jessada
Published: June 2021

In the present article we study existence and uniqueness results for a new class of boundary value problems consisting by non-instantaneous impulses and Caputo fractional derivative of a function with respect to another function, supplemented with Riemann–Stieltjes fractional integral boundary conditions. The existence of a unique solution is obtained via Banach’s contraction mapping principle, while an existence result is established by using Leray–Schauder nonlinear alternative. Examples illustrating the main results are also constructed.
Collembola (Hexapoda) as Biological Drivers between Land and Sea
Authors: Olejniczak Izabella , Sterzyńska Maria , Boniecki Paweł , Kaliszewicz Anita , Panteleeva Ninel
Published: June 2021

Macroalgae debris accumulated onshore function as points of interaction between marine and terrestrial ecological systems, but knowledge of the importance of detritivores facilitating the introduction of organic matter via the detritus pathway into neighbouring ecosystems, is still poorly understood. In particular, not much is known about biodiversity patterns and the colonisation of macroalgal debris by terrestrial, detritivorous soil microarthropods in the harsh environmental conditions in the subpolar Arctic region. We hypothesised that (i) soil microarthropods of the coastal tundra, including Collembola, can cross the ecosystem boundary and colonise decaying and freshly exposed macroalgae; and (ii) various inundation regimes by sea water, microhabitat stability and decaying of macroalgae drive distribution patterns of collembolan species. Our results suggest that environmental filtering influences collembolan species’ distributions across the examined gradient and induces sorting of species according to their functional traits, including dispersal ability, resistance to disturbance and environmental tolerance.
Identifying Hidden Viable Bacterial Taxa in Tropical Forest Soils Using Amplicon Sequencing of Enrichment Cultures
Authors: Sansupa Chakriya , Fareed Mohamed Wahdan Sara , Disayathanoowat Terd , Purahong Witoon
Published: June 2021

This study aims to estimate the proportion and diversity of soil bacteria derived from eDNA-based and culture-based methods. Specifically, we used Illumina Miseq to sequence and characterize the bacterial communities from (i) DNA extracted directly from forest soil and (ii) DNA extracted from a mixture of bacterial colonies obtained by enrichment cultures on agar plates of the same forest soil samples. The amplicon sequencing of enrichment cultures allowed us to rapidly screen a culturable community in an environmental sample. In comparison with an eDNA community (based on a 97% sequence similarity threshold), the fact that enrichment cultures could capture both rare and abundant bacterial taxa in forest soil samples was demonstrated. Enrichment culture and eDNA communities shared 2% of OTUs detected in total community, whereas 88% of enrichment cultures community (15% of total community) could not be detected by eDNA. The enrichment culture-based methods observed 17% of the bacteria in total community. FAPROTAX functional prediction showed that the rare and unique taxa, which were detected with the enrichment cultures, have potential to perform important functions in soil systems. We suggest that enrichment culture-based amplicon sequencing could be a beneficial approach to evaluate a cultured bacterial community. Combining this approach together with the eDNA method could provide more comprehensive information of a bacterial community. We expected that more unique cultured taxa could be detected if further studies used both selective and non-selective culture media to enrich bacteria at the first step.
Construction of a Three-Color Prism-Based TIRF Microscope to Study the Interactions and Dynamics of Macromolecules
Authors: Fairlamb Max S. , Whitaker Amy M. , Bain Fletcher E. , Spies Maria , Freudenthal Bret D.
Published: June 2021

Single-molecule total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy allows for the real-time visualization of macromolecular dynamics and complex assembly. Prism-based TIRF microscopes (prismTIRF) are relatively simple to operate and can be easily modulated to fit the needs of a wide variety of experimental applications. While building a prismTIRF microscope without expert assistance can pose a significant challenge, the components needed to build a prismTIRF microscope are relatively affordable and, with some guidance, the assembly can be completed by a determined novice. Here, we provide an easy-to-follow guide for the design, assembly, and operation of a three-color prismTIRF microscope which can be utilized for the study of macromolecular complexes, including the multi-component protein–DNA complexes responsible for DNA repair, replication, and transcription. Our hope is that this article can assist laboratories that aspire to implement single-molecule TIRF techniques, and consequently expand the application of this technology.
Mitochondrial Protein Abundance Gradients Require the Distribution of Separated Mitochondria
Authors: Bollmann Franziska , Dohrke Jan-Niklas , Wurm Christian A. , Jans Daniel C. , Jakobs Stefan
Published: June 2021

Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles that interchange their contents mediated by fission and fusion. However, it has previously been shown that the mitochondria of cultured human epithelial cells exhibit a gradient in the relative abundance of several proteins, with the perinuclear mitochondria generally exhibiting a higher protein abundance than the peripheral mitochondria. The molecular mechanisms that are required for the establishment and the maintenance of such inner-cellular mitochondrial protein abundance gradients are unknown. We verified the existence of inner-cellular gradients in the abundance of clusters of the mitochondrial outer membrane protein Tom20 in the mitochondria of kidney epithelial cells from an African green monkey (Vero cells) using STED nanoscopy and confocal microscopy. We found that the Tom20 gradients are established immediately after cell division and require the presence of microtubules. Furthermore, the gradients are abrogated in hyperfused mitochondrial networks. Our results suggest that inner-cellular protein abundance gradients from the perinuclear to the peripheral mitochondria are established by the trafficking of individual mitochondria to their respective cellular destination.
Combined Effect of Cultivar and Peel Chromaticity on Figs’ Primary and Secondary Metabolites: Preliminary Study Using Biochemical and FTIR Fingerprinting Coupled to Chemometrics
Authors: Hssaini Lahcen , Elfazazi Kaoutar , Razouk Rachid , Ouaabou Rachida , Hernandez Francisca , Hanine Hafida , Charafi Jamal , Houmanat Karim , Aboutayeb Rachid
Published: June 2021

Figs are a traditional pantry staple for healthy eating in Middle Eastern and North African countries as fig trees grow abundantly in such hot and dry climates. Despite the importance of this species, chemotypic diversity has gone unheeded and therefore its valorization pathways remain poorly documented. For this reason, high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) alongside vibrational spectroscopy were used to investigate the changes of antiradical potency and primary and secondary metabolites in fresh figs with regard to the combined effect of the cultivar factor and the fruit peel chromatic coordinates. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) fingerprinting displayed six major peaks assigned to functional groups of the investigated samples with significant differences in their vibration intensities. Biochemical screening revealed highly significant variability (p < 0.05) among the investigated cultivars. Antioxidant activity was found to be higher in free radical scavenging using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) compared to ferric reducing ability (FRAP). Chemometric investigations of both biochemical and FTIR fingerprinting showed satisfactory resolutions, and the total phenol contents and chromatic coordinates had the highest scores in the dataset. However, the cultivars’ geographical origin seemed not to have a clear impact on the clustering results. The aforementioned analytical procedures were found to be equally important and can be jointly used for high-resolution screening and discrimination of fig trees.
Rehydration Process in Rustyback Fern (Asplenium ceterach L.): Profiling of Volatile Organic Compounds
Authors: Živković Suzana , Skorić Marijana , Ristić Mihailo , Filipović Biljana , Milutinović Milica , Perišić Mirjana , Puač Nevena
Published: June 2021

When exposed to stressful conditions, plants produce numerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that have different biological and environmental functions. VOCs emitted during the rehydration process by the fronds of desiccation tolerant fern Asplenium ceterach L. were investigated. Headspace GC–MS analysis revealed that the volatiles profile of rustyback fern is mainly composed of fatty acid derivatives: isomeric heptadienals (over 25%) and decadienals (over 20%), other linear aldehydes, alcohols, and related compounds. Aerial parts of the rustyback fern do not contain monoterpene-type, sesquiterpene-type, and diterpene-type hydrocarbons or corresponding terpenoids. Online detection of VOCs using proton-transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR–MS) showed a significant increase in emission intensity of dominant volatiles during the first hours of the rehydration process. Twelve hours after re-watering, emission of detected volatiles had returned to the basal levels that corresponded to hydrated plants. During the early phase of rehydration malondialdehyde (MDA) content in fronds, as an indicator of membrane damage, decreased rapidly which implies that lipoxygenase activity is not stimulated during the recovery process of rustyback fern.