bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Quantification of Fatty Acids, Color, and Textural Properties of Locally Produced Bakery Margarine
Authors: Pădureţ Sergiu
Published: February 2022

This study focused on the analysis of bakery margarine samples divided into three groups according to physical-chemical analyses of their fat and water content. A Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) was used for the evaluation of fatty acids, and from 37 fatty acids studied, only 18 were quantified. The highest concentration was occupied by the long-chain saturated fatty acids category (C14:0–C20:0), ranging between 85.61 μg/mg and 127.30 μg/mg. The dominant fatty acid was palmitic acid for all margarine samples. The texture parameters (hardness, mechanical work of plastic deformation, and fracturability) analyzed in this study with three different penetrometers and a puncture test showed that bakery margarine is a hard plastic material with a pronounced fracturability. The margarine’s fracturability varied from 0.35 N to 8.23 N. The highest values were measured using the 10 mm diameter spherical penetrometer. Of the outside and inside evaluated color parameters, only the b* color parameter indicated an influence on the principal component analysis samples’ projections; its values are also positively correlated with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PN).
Effects of Acute Fatigue on Cognitive Performance in Team Sport Players: Does It Change the Way They Perform? A Scoping Review
Authors: Skala Filip , Zemková Erika
Published: February 2022

Fatigue caused by exercise or mentally demanding tasks can lead to an alteration in the cognitive functioning of athletes. Therefore, it is important to investigate whether and to what extent fatigue influences athletes cognitive performance in sports with high cognitive demands. This scoping review aims to map research articles dealing with the effects of acute fatigue on players cognitive performance in team sports. The main inclusion criterium was that studies had to examine the impact of any form of acute fatigue on (i) cognitive functions only, (ii) reactive agility, (iii) sport-specific skills with reactive components included. In total, 12 articles met our inclusion criteria. Results indicated that prolonged exercise causes a decline in the decision-making, attention, and perception abilities of players. Accuracy of sport-specific tasks with cognitive components included rather deteriorated after both exercise and mental fatigue inducement. However, alteration of players cognitive performance depends on the intensity and duration of fatigue-inducing tasks. Mental fatigue and consequent decision-making deterioration can be triggered by at least 30 min of a Stroop color-word task as well as smartphone application exposure. Analysis of the studies revealed a lack of research investigating the acute effect of fatigue on reactive agility, along with cognitive functions such as memory or learning. Due to possible acute negative effects of fatiguing exercise or mentally demanding tasks on human cognition, future research should consider the examination of different types and intensities of exercise on players’ cognitive performance.
Slope Stability Classification under Seismic Conditions Using Several Tree-Based Intelligent Techniques
Authors: Asteris Panagiotis G. , Rizal Fariz Iskandar Mohd , Koopialipoor Mohammadreza , Roussis Panayiotis C. , Ferentinou Maria , Armaghani Danial Jahed , Gordan Behrouz
Published: February 2022

Slope stability analysis allows engineers to pinpoint risky areas, study trigger mechanisms for slope failures, and design slopes with optimal safety and reliability. Before the widespread usage of computers, slope stability analysis was conducted through semi analytical methods, or stability charts. Presently, engineers have developed many computational tools to perform slope stability analysis more efficiently. The challenge associated with furthering slope stability methods is to create a reliable design solution to perform reliable estimations involving a number of geometric and mechanical variables. The objective of this study was to investigate the application of tree-based models, including decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), and AdaBoost, in slope stability classification under seismic loading conditions. The input variables used in the modelling were slope height, slope inclination, cohesion, friction angle, and peak ground acceleration to classify safe slopes and unsafe slopes. The training data for the developed computational intelligence models resulted from a series of slope stability analyses performed using a standard geotechnical engineering software commonly used in geotechnical engineering practice. Upon construction of the tree-based models, the model assessment was performed through the use and calculation of accuracy, F1-score, recall, and precision indices. All tree-based models could efficiently classify the slope stability status, with the AdaBoost model providing the highest performance for the classification of slope stability for both model development and model assessment parts. The proposed AdaBoost model can be used as a screening tool during the stage of feasibility studies of related infrastructure projects, to classify slopes according to their expected status of stability under seismic loading conditions.
Prediction of In-Cylinder Pressure of Diesel Engine Based on Extreme Gradient Boosting and Sparrow Search Algorithm
Authors: Sun Ying , Lv Lin , Lee Peng , Cai Yunkai
Published: February 2022

In-cylinder pressure is one of the most important references in the process of diesel engine performance optimization. In order to acquire effective in-cylinder pressure value, many physical tests are required. The cost of physical testing is high; various uncertain factors will bring errors to test results, and the time of an engine test is so long that the test results cannot meet the real-time requirement. Therefore, it is necessary to develop technology with high accuracy and a fast response to predict the in-cylinder pressure of diesel engines. In this paper, the in-cylinder pressure values of a high-speed diesel engine under different conditions are used to train the extreme gradient boosting model, and the sparrow search algorithm—which belongs to the swarm intelligence optimization algorithm—is introduced to optimize the hyper parameters of the model. The research results show that the extreme gradient boosting model combined with the sparrow search algorithm can predict the in-cylinder pressure under each verification condition with high accuracy, and the proportion of the samples which prediction error is less than 10% in the validation set is 94%. In the process of model optimization, it is found that compared with the grid search method, the sparrow search algorithm has stronger hyper parameter optimization ability, which reduces the mean square error of the prediction model by 27.99%.
Microwave- and Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Cucurbita pepo Seeds: A Comparison Study of Antioxidant Activity, Phenolic Profile, and In-Vitro Cells Effects
Authors: Macedo Catarina , Silva Ana Margarida , Ferreira Ana Sofia , Moreira Manuela M. , Delerue-Matos Cristina , Rodrigues Francisca
Published: February 2022

Nowadays there is a growing demand for nutraceuticals to prevent diseases related to redox imbalances, such as atherosclerosis and diabetes, being crucial to search for new matrixes rich in bioactive compounds. This work aims to characterize the value-added compounds extracted from Curcubita pepo seeds using green methodologies, namely microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), employing water as an extracting solvent for two ratios (condition 1: 1 mg/20 mL; condition 2: 2.5 mg/20 mL). The extract with the best antioxidant/antiradical activity in FRAP (71.09 μmol FSE/g DW) and DPPH (5.08 mg TE/g DW) assays was MAE condition 1, while MAE condition 2 exhibited the highest activity in the ABTS assay (13.29 mg AAE/g DW) and TPC (16.89 mg GAE/g DW). A remarkable scavenging capacity was observed, particularly for HOCl, with IC50 values ranging from 1.88–13.50 μg/mL. A total of 21 phenolic compounds were identified, being catechin (4.567–7.354 mg/g DW), caffeine (1.147–2.401 mg/g DW) and gallic acid (0.945–1.337 mg/g DW) predominant. No adverse effects were observed on Caco-2 viability after exposure to MAE extracts, while the other conditions led to a slight viability decrease in NSC-34. These results highlighted that the extract from MAE condition 2 is the most promising as a potential nutraceutical ingredient.
Deep Reinforcement Learning-Based Spectrum Allocation Algorithm in Internet of Vehicles Discriminating Services
Authors: Guan Zheng , Wang Yuyang , He Min
Published: February 2022

With the rapid development of global automotive industry intelligence and networking, the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) service, as a key communication technology, has been faced with an increasing spectrum of resources shortage. In this paper, we consider a spectrum utilization problem, in which a number of co-existing cellular users (CUs) and prioritized device-to-device (D2D) users are equipped in a single antenna vehicle-mounted communication network. To ensure a business-aware spectrum access mechanism with delay granted in a complex dynamic environment, we consider optimizing a metric that maintains a trade off between maximizing the total capacity of vehicle to vehicle (V2V) and vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) links and minimizing the interference of high priority links. A low complexity priority-based spectrum allocation scheme based on the deep reinforcement learning method is developed to solve the proposed formulation. We trained our algorithm using the deep Q-learning network (DQN) over a set of public bandwidths. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme can allocate spectrum resources quickly and effectively in a high dynamic vehicle network environment. Concerning improved channel transmission rate, the V2V link rate in this scheme is 2.54 times that of the traditional random spectrum allocation scheme, and the V2I link rate is 13.5% higher than that of the traditional random spectrum allocation scheme. The average total interference received by priority links decreased by 14.2 dB compared to common links, realized service priority distinction and has good robustness to communication noise.
Surface Layer Drag Coefficient at Different Radius Ranges in Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Ye Lei , Li Yubin , Gao Zhiqiu
Published: February 2022

Using dropsonde data and a flux-profile method, this study investigates the drag coefficient (Cd)–wind speed relationship within different radius ranges. The results show a systematic decrease of friction velocity u* from the range of R/RMW > 1.05 to that of R/RMW < 0.95 (R is the radial location of a dropsonde profile, and RMW is the radius of maximum wind), and the reduction is 5~25% for different wind speeds. Further, within the ranges of either R/RMW > 1.05 or R/RMW < 1.05, a clear feature of “roll-off” at about 35 m s−1 can be obtained. However, the roll feature becomes vague in the ranges of R/RMW < 0.95, R/RMW < 0.85, and R/RMW < 0.75, indicating the TC dynamics within and near RMW play a role in affecting the flux-profile relationship. Even more, Cd of R < 0.75RMW deviates significantly from the Cd of R < 0.85RMW and R < 0.95RMW, while the deviation between R < 0.85RMW and R < 0.95RMW is much smaller. Especially when 10 m winds exceed 40 m s−1, u* of R < 0.75RMW is significantly larger than that of R < 0.85RMW. This phenomenon is also linked to the TC dynamics (e.g., the large radial gradients of winds and the drastic vertical variation of the bulk Richardson number), but the speculation needs to be verified in future study.
Evaluation of the Homogenization Adjustments Applied to European Temperature Records in the Global Historical Climatology Network Dataset
Authors: O’Neill Peter , Connolly Ronan , Connolly Michael , Soon Willie , Chimani Barbara , Crok Marcel , de Vos Rob , Harde Hermann , Kajaba Peter , Nojarov Peter , Przybylak Rajmund , Rasol Dubravka , Skrynyk Oleg , Skrynyk Olesya , Štěpánek Petr , Wypych Agnieszka , Zahradníček Pavel
Published: February 2022

The widely used Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN) monthly temperature dataset is available in two formats—non-homogenized and homogenized. Since 2011, this homogenized dataset has been updated almost daily by applying the “Pairwise Homogenization Algorithm” (PHA) to the non-homogenized datasets. Previous studies found that the PHA can perform well at correcting synthetic time series when certain artificial biases are introduced. However, its performance with real world data has been less well studied. Therefore, the homogenized GHCN datasets (Version 3 and 4) were downloaded almost daily over a 10-year period (2011–2021) yielding 3689 different updates to the datasets. The different breakpoints identified were analyzed for a set of stations from 24 European countries for which station history metadata were available. A remarkable inconsistency in the identified breakpoints (and hence adjustments applied) was revealed. Of the adjustments applied for GHCN Version 4, 64% (61% for Version 3) were identified on less than 25% of runs, while only 16% of the adjustments (21% for Version 3) were identified consistently for more than 75% of the runs. The consistency of PHA adjustments improved when the breakpoints corresponded to documented station history metadata events. However, only 19% of the breakpoints (18% for Version 3) were associated with a documented event within 1 year, and 67% (69% for Version 3) were not associated with any documented event. Therefore, while the PHA remains a useful tool in the community’s homogenization toolbox, many of the PHA adjustments applied to the homogenized GHCN dataset may have been spurious. Using station metadata to assess the reliability of PHA adjustments might potentially help to identify some of these spurious adjustments.
Evaluation of Population–Food Relationship from the Perspective of Climate Productivity Potential: A Case Study of Eastern Gansu in Northwest China
Authors: Cheng Junqi , Yin Shuyan
Published: February 2022

Suffering from the double blow of the new crown pneumonia epidemic and floods, food security issues have once again become a source of concern. Eastern Gansu is an important dry farming area in northwestern China, and agricultural production has been greatly affected by climate change. Based on the climate data of 17 national meteorological stations in eastern Gansu from 1961 to 2020 and the data on population, grain planting area and grain production in each region from 1986 to 2019, using the Thornthwaite Memorial model, this paper analyzed the climate production potential (TSPV), population carrying capacity and population carrying capacity index in eastern Gansu, and then revealed the relationship between population and food in eastern Gansu. The findings and results revealed that: (1) over the past 60 years, the temperature in eastern Gansu has been increasing and precipitation has been decreasing; (2) TSPV has been increasing. Moreoever, the spatial distribution was significantly different, showing a trend of decreasing from the southeast to the northwest. Lintao, Huining, and Jingtai displayed a decreasing trend, while other areas exhibited an increasing trend. Precipitation was the main limiting factor for TSPV; (3) Grain production continued to increase due to changing hydrothermal conditions and improved production efficiency. Cultivated land–population carrying capacity and climate production potential–population carrying capacity (TSPV–population carrying capacity) both exhibited a significant increasing trend (p < 0.01). Cultivated land–population capacity increased from southeast to northwest, and all stations expressed an increasing trend. TSPV–population carrying capacity increased from southeast to northwest, and the whole region displayed an increasing trend. Even in extremely reduced production years, TSPV–population carrying capacity was also greater than cultivated land–population carrying capacity. This revealed that, under ideal conditions, TSPV–population carrying capacity can fully meet the needs of the current population. (4) The population carrying capacity index showed a significant downward trend (p < 0.01). It showed a trend of decreasing from south to north, and whole area underwent a decreasing trend consistently, indicating that the population–food relationship in eastern Gansu tended to be balanced. This result was conducive to correct assessment of the relationship between people and food in the study area, and provided a reference for formulating food policies.
Bacteremia Is a Risk Factor for Cerebrospinal Fluid Infection in Patients with Cerebrospinal Fluid Drains—A Retrospective Study
Authors: Vrettou Charikleia S. , Drosos Evangelos , Nepka Martha , Bouboulis George , Kalamatianos Theodosis , Liakopoulou Christina , Gkouvelos Grigorios , Kotanidou Anastasia , Stranjalis George
Published: February 2022

There is little evidence on the role of prior infection in patients with external ventricular drains (EVDs) and lumbar drains (LDs). In this study, our aim is to investigate whether previous bacteremia is a risk factor for cerebrospinal fluid drain infection (CSFDI) in patients with EVDs and LDs and to describe the microorganisms implicated. We designed a retrospective, single-center cohort study. We recorded patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as microbiology laboratory data. We used non-parametric statistical methods to identify possible risk factors for CSFDI. We found 799 neurosurgical admissions during the study period, 70 of which fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Acinetobacter baumannii was the most frequent single pathogen isolated in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia was more common in patients with Acinetobacter baumannii CSFDI (p = 0.01). The distribution of the pathogens in the CSF differed from that of the pathogens isolated in blood (p = 0.001). In the univariate analysis, prior bacteremia was more common in patients with CSFDI (p = 0.027), but, in the multivariate model, prior bacteremia was not identified as an independent risk factor (OR = 0.456, CI: 0.138–1.512, p = 0.2). In an ICU population, the most frequently isolated pathogens were Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae and Acinetobacter baumannii. Previous bacteremia was significantly more probable among patients with EVDs or LDs who developed a CSFDI, and its role warrants further investigation.
DRPPM-EASY: A Web-Based Framework for Integrative Analysis of Multi-Omics Cancer Datasets
Authors: Obermayer Alyssa , Dong Li , Hu Qianqian , Golden Michael , Noble Jerald D. , Rodriguez Paulo , Robinson Timothy J. , Teng Mingxiang , Tan Aik-Choon , Shaw Timothy I.
Published: February 2022

High-throughput transcriptomic and proteomic analyses are now routinely applied to study cancer biology. However, complex omics integration remains challenging and often time-consuming. Here, we developed DRPPM-EASY, an R Shiny framework for integrative multi-omics analysis. We applied our application to analyze RNA-seq data generated from a USP7 knockdown in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cell line, which identified upregulated expression of a TAL1-associated proliferative signature in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines. Next, we performed proteomic profiling of the USP7 knockdown samples. Through DRPPM-EASY-Integration, we performed a concurrent analysis of the transcriptome and proteome and identified consistent disruption of the protein degradation machinery and spliceosome in samples with USP7 silencing. To further illustrate the utility of the R Shiny framework, we developed DRPPM-EASY-CCLE, a Shiny extension preloaded with the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) data. The DRPPM-EASY-CCLE app facilitates the sample querying and phenotype assignment by incorporating meta information, such as genetic mutation, metastasis status, sex, and collection site. As proof of concept, we verified the expression of TP53 associated DNA damage signature in TP53 mutated ovary cancer cells. Altogether, our open-source application provides an easy-to-use framework for omics exploration and discovery.
Side-by-Side Comparison of Post-Entry Quarantine and High Throughput Sequencing Methods for Virus and Viroid Diagnosis
Authors: Gauthier Marie-Emilie A. , Lelwala Ruvini V. , Elliott Candace E. , Windell Craig , Fiorito Sonia , Dinsdale Adrian , Whattam Mark , Pattemore Julie , Barrero Roberto A.
Published: February 2022

Rapid and safe access to new plant genetic stocks is crucial for primary plant industries to remain profitable, sustainable, and internationally competitive. Imported plant species may spend several years in Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ) facilities, undergoing pathogen testing which can impact the ability of plant industries to quickly adapt to new global market opportunities by accessing new varieties. Advances in high throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies provide new opportunities for a broad range of fields, including phytosanitary diagnostics. In this study, we compare the performance of two HTS methods (RNA-Seq and sRNA-Seq) with that of existing PEQ molecular assays in detecting and identifying viruses and viroids from various plant commodities. To analyze the data, we tested several bioinformatics tools which rely on different approaches, including direct-read, de novo, and reference-guided assembly. We implemented VirusReport, a new portable, scalable, and reproducible nextflow pipeline that analyses sRNA datasets to detect and identify viruses and viroids. We raise awareness of the need to evaluate cross-sample contamination when analyzing HTS data routinely and of using methods to mitigate index cross-talk. Overall, our results suggest that sRNA analyzed using VirReport provides opportunities to improve quarantine testing at PEQ by detecting all regulated exotic viruses from imported plants in a single assay.
Vibrating Exercise Equipment in Middle-Age and Older Women with Chronic Low Back Pain and Effects on Bioelectrical Activity, Range of Motion and Pain Intensity: A Randomized, Single-Blinded Sham Intervention Study
Authors: Zurek Grzegorz , Kasper-Jędrzejewska Martyna , Dobrowolska Iwona , Mroczek Agata , Delaunay Gerda , Ptaszkowski Kuba , Halski Tomasz
Published: February 2022

Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders. Physical activity (PA) is often recommended as part of the management of CLBP, but to date, no one particular exercise has been shown to be superior. Vibrating exercise equipment (VEE) is widely available and used despite little scientific evidence to support its effectiveness in the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of using VEE compared with sham-VEE in women with CLBP. Methods: A randomized (1:1 randomization scheme) single-blinded sham-controlled intervention study was conducted. Through simple randomization, 92 women aged 49–80 years were assigned to one of two groups: VEE (the experimental group) and sham-VEE (the control group). The VEE and sham-VEE intervention consisted of aerobic exercises with specific handheld equipment. Both groups performed physical activity twice weekly for 10 weeks. The erector spinae muscles’ bioelectrical activity (using an eight-channel electromyograph MyoSystem 1400L), lumbar range of motion (Schober’s test) and pain intensity (visual analog scale) were measured in all participants at baseline and after 10 weeks. Results: There was a significant decrease in the bioelectrical activity of the erector spinae muscles during flexion movement (left: Me = 18.2 before; Me = 14.1 after; p = 0.045; right: Me = 15.4 before; Me = 12.6 after; p = 0.010), rest at maximum flexion (left: Me = 18.1 before; Me = 12.5 after; p = 0.038), extension movement (right: Me = 21.8 before; Me = 20.2 after; p = 0.031) and rest in a prone position (right: Me = 3.5 before; Me = 3.2 after; 0.049); an increase in lumbar range of motion (Me = 17.0 before; Me = 18.0 after; p = 0.0017) and a decrease in pain intensity (Me = 4.0 before; Me = 1.0 after; p = 0.001) following a program of PA in the VEE group. Conclusions: No significant changes were found in intergroup comparisons. The beneficial changes regarding decreased subjective pain sensation in the VEE and sham-VEE groups may be due to participation in systematic physical activity. However, PA with vibrating exercise equipment could be a prospective strategy for increasing lumbar range of motion and for decreasing pain and erector spinae muscle activity in people with CLBP.
Non-Neuronal Transmitter Systems in Bacteria, Non-Nervous Eukaryotes, and Invertebrate Embryos
Authors: Shmukler Yuri B. , Nikishin Denis A.
Published: February 2022

In 1921, Otto Loewi published his report that ushered in the era of chemical transmission of biological signals. January 2021 marked the 90th anniversary of the birth of Professor Gennady A. Buznikov, who was the first to study the functions of transmitters in embryogenesis. A year earlier it was 60 years since his first publication in this field. These data are a venerable occasion for a review of current knowledge on the mechanisms related to classical transmitters such as 5-hydroxytryptamine, acetylcholine, catecholamines, etc., in animals lacking neural elements and prenervous invertebrate embryos.
Decellularized Dental Pulp, Extracellular Vesicles, and 5-Azacytidine: A New Tool for Endodontic Regeneration
Authors: Diomede Francesca , Fonticoli Luigia , Marconi Guya Diletta , Della Rocca Ylenia , Rajan Thangavelu Soundara , Trubiani Oriana , Murmura Giovanna , Pizzicannella Jacopo
Published: February 2022

Dental pulp is a major component of the dental body that serves to maintain the tooth life and function. The aim of the present work was to develop a system that functions as a growth-permissive microenvironment for dental pulp regeneration using a decellularized dental pulp (DDP) matrix, 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-Aza), and Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) derived from human Dental Pulp Stem Cells (hDPSCs). Human dental pulps extracted from healthy teeth, scheduled to be removed for orthodontic purpose, were decellularized and then recellularized with hDPSCs. The hDPSCs were seeded on DDP and maintained under different culture conditions: basal medium (CTRL), EVs, 5-Aza, and EVs+-5-Aza. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analyses were performed to evaluate the proteins’ expression related to dentinogenesis, such as ALP, RUNX2, COL1A1, Vinculin, DMP1, and DSPP. Protein contents found in the DDP recellularized with hDPSCs were highly expressed in samples co-treated with EVs and 5-Aza compared to other culture conditions. This study developed a DDP matrix loaded by hDPSCs in co-treatment with EVs, which might enhance the dentinogenic differentiation with a high potentiality for endodontic regeneration.
Is It Just Face Blindness? Exploring Developmental Comorbidity in Individuals with Self-Reported Developmental Prosopagnosia
Authors: Svart Nanna , Starrfelt Randi
Published: February 2022

Developmental prosopagnosia (DP)—or ‘face blindness’—refers to life-long problems with facial recognition in the absence of brain injury. We know that neurodevelopmental disorders tend to co-occur, and this study aims to explore if individuals with self-reported DP also report indications of other neurodevelopmental disorders, deficits, or conditions (developmental comorbidity). In total, 115 individuals with self-reported DP participated in this online cross-sectional survey. Face recognition impairment was measured with a validated self-report instrument. Indications of difficulties with navigation, math, reading, or spelling were measured with a tailored questionnaire using items from published sources. Additional diagnoses were measured with direct questions. We also included open-ended questions about cognitive strengths and difficulties. Results: Overall, 57% reported at minimum one developmental comorbidity of interest, with most reflecting specific cognitive impairment (e.g., in memory or object recognition) rather than diagnostic categories (e.g., ADHD, dyslexia). Interestingly, many participants reported cognitive skills or strengths within the same domains that others reported impairment, indicating a diverse pattern of cognitive strengths and difficulties in this sample. The frequency and diversity of self-reported developmental comorbidity suggests that face recognition could be important to consider in future investigations of neurodevelopmental comorbidity patterns.
Hyperammonaemic Encephalopathy Caused by Adult-Onset Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency
Authors: Niclasen Bjarke Hammer , Schelde-Olesen Maria Therese , Astvad Mads , Løkke Anders , Krøigård Thomas , Nielsen Helle H.
Published: February 2022

Hyperammonaemic encephalopathy in adults is a rare condition in the absence of liver disease and is associated with a high mortality and risk of permanent neurological deficits. Seldomly, the condition is caused by an inborn error of metabolism in the urea cycle, triggered by an exogenic factor such as gastrointestinal haemorrhage, gastric bypass surgery, starvation, seizures, vigorous exercise, burn injuries, or drugs hampering the elimination of ammonia. Here, we present a fatal case of an unrecognized genetic ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD) presenting with a subacute progressive encephalopathy. We review the current literature and discuss the differential diagnosis and treatment options. As swift diagnosis and initiation of treatment is vital, awareness of hyperammonaemic encephalopathy and its possible causes can help improve the prognosis of this condition.
cVEP Training Data Validation—Towards Optimal Training Set Composition from Multi-Day Data
Authors: Stawicki Piotr , Volosyak Ivan
Published: February 2022

This paper investigates the effects of the repetitive block-wise training process on the classification accuracy for a code-modulated visual evoked potentials (cVEP)-based brain–computer interface (BCI). The cVEP-based BCIs are popular thanks to their autocorrelation feature. The cVEP-based stimuli are generated by a specific code pattern, usually the m-sequence, which is phase-shifted between the individual targets. Typically, the cVEP classification requires a subject-specific template (individually created from the user’s own pre-recorded EEG responses to the same stimulus target), which is compared to the incoming electroencephalography (EEG) data, using the correlation algorithms. The amount of the collected user training data determines the accuracy of the system. In this offline study, previously recorded EEG data collected during an online experiment with 10 participants from multiple sessions were used. A template matching target identification, with similar models as the task-related component analysis (TRCA), was used for target classification. The spatial filter was generated by the canonical correlation analysis (CCA). When comparing the training models from one session with the same session’s data (intra-session) and the model from one session with the data from the other session (inter-session), the accuracies were (94.84%, 94.53%) and (76.67%, 77.34%) for intra-sessions and inter-sessions, respectively. In order to investigate the most reliable configuration for accurate classification, the training data blocks from different sessions (days) were compared interchangeably. In the best training set composition, the participants achieved an average accuracy of 82.66% for models based only on two training blocks from two different sessions. Similarly, at least five blocks were necessary for the average accuracy to exceed 90%. The presented method can further improve cVEP-based BCI performance by reusing previously recorded training data.
Parametric HBIM Procedure for the Structural Evaluation of Heritage Masonry Buildings
Authors: Croce Pietro , Landi Filippo , Puccini Benedetta , Martino Massimiliano , Maneo Alessio
Published: February 2022

In the architecture, engineering and construction sectors, Building Information Modeling (BIM)-based procedures have become adopted more and more. In fact, the development of suitable BIM models facilitates the management of the design and construction phases and improves the efficiency of the maintenance policies during the life cycle of the building. Although the BIM method is mostly implemented in the building industry for new constructions, in recent years, the deployment of this technology has also attracted increasing attention for existing structures to rebuild their geometry and gather relevant data, especially for historical buildings; in this case, we refer to Heritage BIM (HBIM). A HBIM procedure requires a multidisciplinary approach involving not only historical, conservation, and restoration considerations but also suitable maintenance and repair plans, duly balancing the structural needs with the preservation of the historical value of the building and its content. Although the integration of the structural assessment in the HBIM process would be highly beneficial, its practical implementation is often in the early stages. In the paper, an original parametric procedure for the assessment of existing masonry buildings is proposed in the BIM environment. The procedure combines E-PUSH, a software program for the structural analysis of masonry structures under seismic and non-seismic actions with an appropriate BIM approach, so improving the management of gathered data through cognitive phases. The assessment process is, thus, simplified since data required for the structural analysis are directly retrieved from the BIM model, and the structural analyses and verifications are performed without using external programs. The proposed BIM workflow is finally illustrated and discussed referring to a relevant case study, the seismic vulnerability assessment of the “Bernardo Rucellai” school in Florence (Italy).
Disappearance and Sustainability of Historical Industrial Areas in Osijek (Croatia): Three Case Studies
Authors: Kraus Lucija , Bojanić Obad Šćitaroci Bojana , Karač Zlatko , Kraus Ivan
Published: February 2022

Historical industrial areas are considered as areas of particular importance in terms of their heritage value and cultural significance. They are usually located in city centers and have great potential for economic, cultural and urban development. At the beginning of the 20th century, Osijek was well known as an industrial city, but the globalization had a ripple effect on the industry, leaving industrial sites of Osijek in ruins. Although comprehensive studies have not yet been made, field research into historical industrial areas of Osijek showed that they are mostly abandoned. A literature review showed that there is not even one document that contains locations and basic information on the historical industrial areas that existed in Osijek from 1824–1945. The aim of this paper is to define exact locations of historical industrial areas that existed in Osijek from 1824–1945 and to analyze their current state, their architectural, urban and identity features. The research resulted in a database containing basic information about 59 historical industrial areas in Osijek. An analysis and comparison of the current state of 13 remaining existing historical industrial areas in Osijek is given. The three case studies present detailed analysis, comparison and evaluation of observed historical industrial areas.
Role of CBL Mutations in Cancer and Non-Malignant Phenotype
Authors: Leardini Davide , Messelodi Daria , Muratore Edoardo , Baccelli Francesco , Bertuccio Salvatore N. , Anselmi Laura , Pession Andrea , Masetti Riccardo
Published: February 2022

CBL plays a key role in different cell pathways, mainly related to cancer onset and progression, hematopoietic development and T cell receptor regulation. Somatic CBL mutations have been reported in a variety of malignancies, ranging from acute myeloid leukemia to lung cancer. Growing evidence have defined the clinical spectrum of germline CBL mutations configuring the so-called CBL syndrome; a cancer-predisposing condition that also includes multisystemic involvement characterized by variable phenotypic expression and expressivity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the molecular mechanisms in which CBL exerts its function and describes the clinical manifestation of CBL mutations in humans.
Genetic Alterations Predict Long-Term Survival in Ductal Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreatic Head
Authors: Safi Sami-Alexander , Haeberle Lena , Goering Wolfgang , Keitel Verena , Fluegen Georg , Stoecklein Nikolas , Rehders Alexander , Knoefel Wolfram Trudo , Esposito Irene
Published: February 2022

Background: Survival of patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (PDAC) is poor and has remained almost unchanged over the past decades. The genomic landscape of PDAC has been characterized in recent years. The aim of this study was to identify a genetic profile as a possible predictor of prolonged survival in order to tailor therapy for PDAC patients. Methods: Panel next generation sequencing (NGS) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed on paraffin-embedded tumor tissues from curatively treated PDAC patients. Tumor slides were re-evaluated with a focus on the histomorphology. Patients were subgrouped according to short and long overall (<4 years/>4 years) and disease-free (<2 years/>2 years) survival. Results: Thirty-nine patients were included in the study. Clinicopathological staging variables as well as the histomorphological subgroups were homogenously distributed between short- and long-term overall and disease-free survivors. In survival analysis, patients with the KRAS G12D mutation and patients with TP53 nonsense and splice-site mutations had a significantly worse overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Patients with long-term OS and DFS showed no KRAS G12D, no TP53 nonsense or splice-site mutations. Rare Q61H/D57N KRAS mutations were only found in long-term survivors. The allele frequency rate of KRAS and TP53 mutations in tumor cells was significantly higher in short-term disease-free survivors and overall survivors, respectively. Conclusions: NGS of PDAC revealed significant differences in survival outcome in a patient collective with homogenously distributed clinicopathological variables. Further multi-institutional studies are warranted to identify more long-term survivors to detect genetic differences suitable for targeted therapy.
Validation of IL-7R as an Immunological Biomarker for Human Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Jang Sung-Ill , Cho Jae-Hee , Kim So-Young , Hong In-Young , Park Joon-Seong , Lee Hye-Sun , Park Goeun , Kim Jong-Kyoung , Lee Hyung-Keun , Lee Dong-Ki
Published: February 2022

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive cancer for which no early diagnostic method is available. The immune surveillance hypothesis suggests that the immune system plays crucial roles in tumor development and progression. We validated a PDAC-specific biomarker derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to facilitate early PDAC diagnosis. mRNA levels of interleukin-7R (IL-7R), reportedly a potential immunological marker for PDAC, were measured in PBMCs isolated prospectively from healthy controls (n = 100) and patients with PDAC (n = 135), pancreatic cysts (n = 82), chronic pancreatitis (n = 42), acute pancreatitis (n = 47), and other malignancies (n = 116). The IL-7R level was significantly higher in patients with PDAC than in healthy controls, patients with benign pancreatic disease, and patients with other malignancies. As diagnostic parameters, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy for IL-7R were 58.5%, 92%, 90.8%, 62.2%, and 72.8%, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was 0.766. IL-7R levels did not differ between resectable and unresectable PDAC cases. The combined measurement of IL-7R and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) significantly improved the diagnostic parameters and AUROC compared with the use of IL-7R or CA19-9 alone. IL-7R is significantly upregulated in PBMCs in patients with PDAC, and it may be a novel diagnostic marker for PDAC. The combined use of IL-7R and CA19-9 enhanced the diagnostic performance.
Degradation of Benzene Using Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Combined with Transition Metal Oxide Catalyst in Air
Authors: Li Yuwei , Yuan Hao , Zhou Xiongfeng , Liang Jianping , Liu Yueyue , Chang Dalei , Yang Dezheng
Published: February 2022

In this paper, a uniform and stable dielectric barrier discharge plasma is presented for degradation of benzene combined with a transition metal oxide catalyst. The discharge images, waveforms of discharge current, and the optical emission spectra are measured to investigate the plasma characteristics. The effects of catalyst types, applied voltage, driving frequency, and initial VOCs concentration on the degradation efficiency of benzene are studied. It is found that the addition of the packed dielectric materials can effectively improve the uniformity of discharge and enhance the intensity of discharge, thus promoting the benzene degradation efficiency. At 22 kV, the degradation efficiencies of dielectric barrier discharge plasma packed with CuO, ZnO and Fe3O4 are 93.6%, 93.2% and 76.2%, respectively. When packing with ZnO, the degradation efficiency of the dielectric barrier discharge plasma is improved from 86.8% to 94.9%, as the applied voltage increases from 16 kV to 24 kV. The catalysts were characterized by XPS, XRD and SEM. The synergistic mechanism and the property of the catalyst are responsible for benzene degradation in the plasma–catalysis system. In addition, the main physiochemical processes and possible degradation mechanism of benzene are discussed.
Cytokines and Chemokines in Cancer Cachexia and Its Long-Term Impact on COVID-19
Authors: Singh Santosh Kumar , Singh Rajesh
Published: February 2022

Cancer cachexia remains a serious public health concern worldwide, particularly as cancer rates rise. Treatment is endangered, and survival is reduced, because this illness is commonly misdiagnosed and undertreated. Although weight loss is the most evident sign of cachexia, there are other early metabolic and inflammatory changes that occur before the most obvious symptoms appear. Cachexia-related inflammation is induced by a combination of factors, one of which is the release of inflammation-promoting chemicals by the tumor. Today, more scientists are beginning to believe that the development of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) related cachexia is similar to cancer-related cachexia. It is worth noting that patients infected with COVID-19 have a significant inflammatory response and can develop cachexia. These correlations provide feasible reasons for the variance in the occurrence and severity of cachexia in human malignancies, therefore, specific therapeutic options for these individuals must be addressed based on disease types. In this review, we highlighted the role of key chemokines, cytokines, and clinical management in relation to cancer cachexia and its long-term impact on COVID-19 patients.
What Have We Learned in 30 Years of Investigations on Bari Transposons?
Authors: Palazzo Antonio , Caizzi Ruggiero , Moschetti Roberta , Marsano René Massimiliano
Published: February 2022

Transposable elements (TEs) have been historically depicted as detrimental genetic entities that selfishly aim at perpetuating themselves, invading genomes, and destroying genes. Scientists often co-opt “special” TEs to develop new and powerful genetic tools, that will hopefully aid in changing the future of the human being. However, many TEs are gentle, rarely unleash themselves to harm the genome, and bashfully contribute to generating diversity and novelty in the genomes they have colonized, yet they offer the opportunity to develop new molecular tools. In this review we summarize 30 years of research focused on the Bari transposons. Bari is a “normal” transposon family that has colonized the genomes of several Drosophila species and introduced genomic novelties in the melanogaster species. We discuss how these results have contributed to advance the field of TE research and what future studies can still add to the current knowledge.
Shear-Stress-Gradient and Oxygen-Gradient Ektacytometry in Sickle Cell Patients at Steady State and during Vaso-Occlusive Crises
Authors: Boisson Camille , Nader Elie , Renoux Céline , Gauthier Alexandra , Poutrel Solène , Bertrand Yves , Stauffer Emeric , Virot Emilie , Hot Arnaud , Fort Romain , Cannas Giovanna , Joly Philippe , Connes Philippe
Published: February 2022

Oxygen gradient ektacytometry (oxygenscan) measures the changes in red blood cell (RBC) deformability in normoxia and during deoxygenation. We investigated the changes in RBC deformability, measured by both oxygenscan and classical shear-stress-gradient ektacytometry, in 10 patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) during vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) versus steady state. Oxygenscan and shear-stress-gradient ektacytometry parameters were also measured in 38 SCD patients at steady state on two different occasions. Shear-stress-gradient ektacytometry parameters, maximal RBC deformability at normoxia and the minimum RBC deformability during deoxygenation were lower during VOC compared to steady state. The oxygen partial pressure at which RBCs started to sickle (PoS) was not significantly affected by VOC, but the results were very heterogeneous: the PoS increased in 5 in 10 patients and decreased in 4 in 10 patients. Both oxygenscan and shear-stress-gradient ektacytometry parameters remained unchanged in patients at steady state between two sets of measurements, performed at 17 ± 8 months intervals. In conclusion, the present study showed that both oxygen gradient ektacytometry and shear-stress-gradient ektacytometry are sensitive to disease activity in SCD, and that both techniques give comparable results; however, the oxygen-dependent propensity of RBCs to sickle was highly variable during VOC.
Challenging the Paradigm: Anti-Inflammatory Interleukins and Angiogenesis
Authors: Peluzzo Amanda M. , Autieri Michael V.
Published: February 2022

Angiogenesis is a vital biological process, and neovascularization is essential for the development, wound repair, and perfusion of ischemic tissue. Neovascularization and inflammation are independent biological processes that are linked in response to injury and ischemia. While clear that pro-inflammatory factors drive angiogenesis, the role of anti-inflammatory interleukins in angiogenesis remains less defined. An interleukin with anti-inflammatory yet pro-angiogenic effects would hold great promise as a therapeutic modality to treat many disease states where inflammation needs to be limited, but revascularization and reperfusion still need to be supported. As immune modulators, interleukins can polarize macrophages to a pro-angiogenic and reparative phenotype, which indirectly influences angiogenesis. Interleukins could also potentially directly induce angiogenesis by binding and activating its receptor on endothelial cells. Although a great deal of attention is given to the negative effects of pro-inflammatory interleukins, less is described concerning the potential protective effects of anti-inflammatory interleukins on various disease processes. To focus this review, we will consider IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, IL-19, and IL-33 to be anti-inflammatory interleukins, all of which have recognized immunomodulatory effects. This review will summarize current research concerning anti-inflammatory interleukins as potential drivers of direct and indirect angiogenesis, emphasizing their role in future therapeutics.