bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Occupational Exposure to Formaldehyde and Cancer Risk Assessment in an Anatomy Laboratory
Authors: Adamović Dragan , Čepić Zoran , Adamović Savka , Stošić Milena , Obrovski Boris , Morača Slobodan , Vojinović Miloradov Mirjana
Published: October 2021

Dissecting a human cadaver is an irreplaceable practice in general training of medical students. Cadavers in anatomy laboratories are usually preserved in formalin, an embalming fluid whose basic component is formaldehyde (FA). The aim of this study is to assess the cancer risk of employees and students that are exposed to FA based on the results of three monitoring campaigns, as well as to suggest permanent solutions to the problem of FA exposure based on the results obtained. Three sampling campaigns of formaldehyde concentration in indoor environments were conducted at five different locations at the Anatomy Department of the Faculty of Medicine with the purpose of assessing permanent employees’ and medical faculty first year students’ exposure to FA. Indoor air was continuously sampled during 8 h of laboratory work and analyzed in accordance with the NIOSH Method 3500. Exceeding of the 8 h time-weighted average (8 h TWA) values recommended by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of 0.75 ppm was recorded in 37% of the samples during the three-month monitoring campaign. Cancer risk assessment levels for permanent employees were in the range from 6.43 × 10−3 to 8.77 × 10−4, while the cancer risk assessment levels for students ranged from 8.94 × 10−7 to 1.83 × 10−6. The results of the research show that cancer risk assessment for employees is several thousand times higher than the limit recommended by the EPA (10−6) and point to the importance of reducing exposure to formaldehyde through the reconstruction of the existing ventilation system, continual monitoring, the use of formaldehyde-free products, and plastination of anatomical specimens.
Perceptions and Experiences of Orthodox Health Practitioners and Hospital Administrators towards Integrating Traditional Medicine into the Ghanaian Health System
Authors: Ampomah Irene G. , Malau-Aduli Bunmi S. , Seidu Abdul-Aziz , Malau-Aduli Aduli E. O. , Emeto Theophilus I.
Published: October 2021

The government of Ghana has been piloting traditional medicine (TM) integration in 17 health facilities across the country. However, the nature of current practice of integrated healthcare has not been thoroughly explored. This paper sought to explore the experiences and recommendations of orthodox health practitioners and hospital administrators in the Ashanti region regarding the practice of integrated healthcare in Ghana. The study adopted a qualitative, phenomenological approach involving 22 interviews. Purposive sampling technique was used in selecting study participants. Framework analysis was used to draw on the experiences of participants relating to TM integration. Participants were knowledgeable about the existence of integrated health facilities and stated that TM integration has created options in health services. However, participants deemed the integrated system ineffective and attributed the inefficiency to poor processing and certification of TM products, opposition of medical doctors to TM usage, absence of a protocol to guide the integration process, and inadequate publicity. Professional training of TM practitioners and inclusion of TM in medical school curriculum could improve collaboration between the health practitioners. Future research should focus on assessing the opinions and involvements of TM practitioners regarding the integration of traditional therapies into national health systems.
Clinical Reasoning Needs to Be Explicitly Addressed in Health Professions Curricula: Recommendations from a European Consortium
Authors: Parodis Ioannis , Andersson Lina , Durning Steven J. , Hege Inga , Knez Jure , Kononowicz Andrzej A. , Lidskog Marie , Petreski Tadej , Szopa Magdalena , Edelbring Samuel
Published: October 2021

Clinical reasoning entails the application of knowledge and skills to collect and integrate information, typically with the goal of arriving at a diagnosis and management plan based on the patient’s unique circumstances and preferences. Evidence-informed, structured, and explicit teaching and assessment of clinical reasoning in educational programs of medical and other health professions remain unmet needs. We herein summarize recommendations for clinical reasoning learning objectives (LOs), as derived from a consensus approach among European and US researchers and health professions educators. A four-step consensus approach was followed: (1) identification of a convenience sample of the most relevant and applied national LO catalogues for health professions educational programs (N = 9) from European and US countries, (2) extraction of LOs related to clinical reasoning and translation into English, (3) mapping of LOs into predefined categories developed within the Erasmus+ Developing, implementing, and disseminating an adaptive clinical reasoning curriculum for healthcare students and educators (DID-ACT) consortium, and (4) synthesis of analysis findings into recommendations for how LOs related to clinical reasoning could be presented and incorporated in LO catalogues, upon consensus. Three distinct recommendations were formulated: (1) make clinical reasoning explicit, (2) emphasize interprofessional and collaboration aspects of clinical reasoning, and (3) include aspects of teaching and assessment of clinical reasoning. In addition, the consortium understood that implementation of bilingual catalogues with English as a common language might contribute to lower heterogeneity regarding amount, structure, and level of granularity of clinical reasoning LOs across countries. These recommendations will hopefully motivate and guide initiatives towards the implementation of LOs related to clinical reasoning in existing and future LO catalogues.
Intervention Programs to Promote the Quality of Caregiver–Child Interactions in Childcare: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Ragni Benedetta , Boldrini Francesca , Buonomo Ilaria , Benevene Paula , Grimaldi Capitello Teresa , Berenguer Carmen , De Stasio Simona
Published: October 2021

Sensitive caregiver–child interactions appear fundamental throughout childhood, supporting infants’ wellbeing and development not only in a familial context but in professional caregiving as well. The main aim of this review was to examine the existing literature about Early Childhood Education Context (ECEC) intervention studies dedicated to caregiver–child interaction, fostering children’s socioemotional developmental pathways. Studies published between January 2007 and July 2021 were identified in four electronic databases following PRIMSA guidelines. The initial search yielded a total of 342 records. Among them, 48 studies were fully reviewed. Finally, 18 of them met all inclusion criteria and formed the basis for this review. Main factors characterizing implemented programs were recorded (e.g., intervention and sample characteristics, dimensions of the teacher–child interaction targeted by the intervention, outcome variables, main results) in order to frame key elements of ECE intervention programs. Our review points to a range of fundamental issues that should consider to enhance ECEC interventions’ efficacy, supporting children’s socioemotional development and caregiver–child interaction. Reflections and considerations for future research are provided.
Expression Pattern of Purinergic Signaling Components in Colorectal Cancer Cells and Differential Cellular Outcomes Induced by Extracellular ATP and Adenosine
Authors: Dillard Clémentine , Borde Chloé , Mohammad Ammara , Puchois Virginie , Jourdren Laurent , Larsen Annette , Sabbah Michèle , Maréchal Vincent , Escargueil Alexandre , Pramil Elodie
Published: October 2021

The purine nucleotide adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is known for its fundamental role in cellular bioenergetics. However, in the last decades, different works have described emerging functions for ATP, such as that of a danger signaling molecule acting in the extracellular space on both tumor and stromal compartments. Beside its role in immune cell signaling, several studies have shown that high concentrations of extracellular ATP can directly or indirectly act on cancer cells. Accordingly, it has been reported that purinergic receptors are widely expressed in tumor cells. However, their expression pattern is often associated with contradictory cellular outcomes. In this work, we first investigated gene expression profiles through “RNA-Sequencing” (RNA Seq) technology in four colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines (HT29, LS513, LS174T, HCT116). Our results demonstrate that CRC cells mostly express the A2B, P2X4, P2Y1, P2Y2 and P2Y11 purinergic receptors. Among these, the P2Y1 and P2Y2 coding genes are markedly overexpressed in all CRC cells compared to the HCEC-1CT normal-like colonic cells. We then explored the cellular outcomes induced by extracellular ATP and adenosine. Our results show that in terms of cell death induction extracellular ATP is consistently more active than adenosine against CRC, while neither compound affected normal-like colonic cell survival. Intriguingly, while for the P2Y2 receptor pharmacological inhibition completely abolished the rise in cytoplasmic Ca2+ observed after ATP exposure in all CRC cell lines, Ca2+ mobilization only impacted the cellular outcome for HT29. In contrast, non-selective phosphodiesterase inhibition completely abolished the effects of extracellular ATP on CRC cells, suggesting that cAMP and/or cGMP levels might determine cellular outcome. Altogether, our study provides novel insights into the characterization of purinergic signaling in CRC.
Heparin and Arginine Based Plasmin Nanoformulation for Ischemic Stroke Therapy
Authors: Aamir Ramsha , Fyffe Cameron , Korin Netanel , Lawrence Daniel A. , Su Enming J. , Kanapathipillai Mathumai
Published: October 2021

Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke and thrombolytic therapy is the only approved treatment. However, current thrombolytic therapy with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is often hampered by the increased risk of hemorrhage. Plasmin, a direct fibrinolytic, has a significantly superior hemostatic safety profile; however, if injected intravenously it becomes rapidly inactivated by anti-plasmin. Nanoformulations have been shown to increase drug stability and half-life and hence could be applied to increase the plasmin therapeutic efficacy. Here in this paper, we report a novel heparin and arginine-based plasmin nanoformulation that exhibits increased plasmin stability and efficacy. In vitro studies revealed significant plasmin stability in the presence of anti-plasmin and efficient fibrinolytic activity. In addition, these particles showed no significant toxicity or oxidative stress effects in human brain microvascular endothelial cells, and no significant blood brain barrier permeability. Further, in a mouse photothrombotic stroke model, plasmin nanoparticles exhibited significant efficacy in reducing stroke volume without overt intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) compared to free plasmin treatment. The study shows the potential of a plasmin nanoformulation in ischemic stroke therapy.
Characteristics of SlCML39, a Tomato Calmodulin-like Gene, and Its Negative Role in High Temperature Tolerance of Arabidopsis thaliana during Germination and Seedling Growth
Authors: Ding Haidong , Qian Ying , Fang Yifang , Ji Yurong , Sheng Jiarong , Ge Cailin
Published: October 2021

Calmodulin-like (CML) proteins are primary calcium sensors and function in plant growth and response to stress stimuli. However, so far, the function of plant CML proteins, including tomato, is still unclear. Previously, it was found that a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) CML, here named SlCML39, was significantly induced by high temperature (HT) at transcription level, but its biological function is scarce. In this study, the characteristics of SlCML39 and its role in HT tolerance were studied. SlCML39 encodes a protein of 201 amino acids containing four EF hand motifs. Many cis-acting elements related to plant stress and hormone response appear in the promoter regions of SlCML39. SlCML39 is mainly expressed in the root, stem, and leaf and can be regulated by HT, cold, drought, and salt stresses as well as ABA and H2O2. Furthermore, heterologous overexpression of SlCML39 reduces HT tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana at the germination and seedling growth stages. To better understand the molecular mechanism of SlCML39, the downstream gene network regulated by SlCML39 under HT was analyzed by RNA-Seq. Interestingly, we found that many genes involved in stress responses as well as ABA signal pathway are down-regulated in the transgenic seedlings under HT stress, such as KIN1, RD29B, RD26, and MAP3K18. Collectively, these data indicate that SlCML39 acts as an important negative regulator in response to HT stress, which might be mediated by the ABA signal pathway.
An RNA-Seq-Based Framework for Characterizing Canine Prostate Cancer and Prioritizing Clinically Relevant Biomarker Candidate Genes
Authors: Thiemeyer Heike , Taher Leila , Schille Jan Torben , Packeiser Eva-Maria , Harder Lisa K. , Hewicker-Trautwein Marion , Brenig Bertram , Schütz Ekkehard , Beck Julia , Nolte Ingo , Murua Escobar Hugo
Published: October 2021

Prostate cancer (PCa) in dogs is a highly malignant disease akin to its human counterpart. In contrast to the situation in humans, multi-gene approaches facilitating risk stratification of canine PCa are barely established. The aims of this study were the characterization of the transcriptional landscape of canine PCa and the identification of diagnostic, prognostic and/or therapeutic biomarkers through a multi-step screening approach. RNA-Sequencing of ten malignant tissues and fine-needle aspirations (FNA), and 14 nonmalignant tissues and FNAs was performed to find differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and deregulated pathways. The 4098 observed DEGs were involved in 49 pathways. These 49 pathways could be grouped into five superpathways summarizing the hallmarks of canine PCa: (i) inflammatory response and cytokines; (ii) regulation of the immune system and cell death; (iii) cell surface and PI3K signaling; (iv) cell cycle; and (v) phagosome and autophagy. Among the highly deregulated, moderately to strongly expressed DEGs that were members of one or more superpathways, 169 DEGs were listed in relevant databases and/or the literature and included members of the PCa pathway, oncogenes, prostate-specific genes, and druggable genes. These genes are novel and promising candidate diagnostic, prognostic and/or therapeutic canine PCa biomarkers.
ACE2 and Innate Immunity in the Regulation of SARS-CoV-2-Induced Acute Lung Injury: A Review
Authors: Qu Lihua , Chen Chao , Yin Tong , Fang Qian , Hong Zizhan , Zhou Rui , Tang Hongbin , Dong Huifen
Published: October 2021

Despite the protracted battle against coronavirus acute respiratory infection (COVID-19) and the rapid evolution of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), no specific and effective drugs have to date been reported. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a zinc metalloproteinase and a critical modulator of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). In addition, ACE2 has anti-inflammatory and antifibrosis functions. ACE has become widely known in the past decade as it has been identified as the primary receptor for SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, being closely associated with their infection. SARS-CoV-2 primarily targets the lung, which induces a cytokine storm by infecting alveolar cells, resulting in tissue damage and eventually severe acute respiratory syndrome. In the lung, innate immunity acts as a critical line of defense against pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. This review aims to summarize the regulation of ACE2, and lung host cells resist SARS-CoV-2 invasion by activating innate immunity response. Finally, we discuss ACE2 as a therapeutic target, providing reference and enlightenment for the clinical treatment of COVID-19.
Ursolic Acid Accelerates Paclitaxel-Induced Cell Death in Esophageal Cancer Cells by Suppressing Akt/FOXM1 Signaling Cascade
Authors: Meng Ruo Yu , Jin Hua , Nguyen Thi Van , Chai Ok-Hee , Park Byung-Hyun , Kim Soo Mi
Published: October 2021

Ursolic acid (UA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid extracted from various plants, inhibits cell growth, metastasis, and tumorigenesis in various cancers. Chemotherapy resistance and the side effects of paclitaxel (PTX), a traditional chemotherapy reagent, have limited the curative effect of PTX in esophageal cancer. In this study, we investigate whether UA promotes the anti-tumor effect of PTX and explore the underlying mechanism of their combined effect in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Combination treatment with UA and PTX inhibited cell proliferation and cell growth more effectively than either treatment alone by inducing more significant apoptosis, as indicated by increased sub-G1 phase distribution and protein levels of cleaved-PARP and cleaved caspase-9. Similar to the cell growth suppressive effect, the combination of UA and PTX significantly inhibited cell migration by targeting uPA, MMP-9, and E-cadherin in ESCC cells. In addition, combination treatment with UA and PTX significantly activated p-GSK-3β and suppressed the activation of Akt and FOXM1 in ESCC cells. Those effects were enhanced by the Akt inhibitor LY2940002 and inverted by the Akt agonist SC79. In an in vivo evaluation of a murine xenograft model of esophageal cancer, combination treatment with UA and PTX suppressed tumor growth significantly better than UA or PTX treatment alone. Thus, UA effectively potentiates the anti-tumor efficacy of PTX by targeting the Akt/FOXM1 cascade since combination treatment shows significantly more anti-tumor potential than PTX alone both in vitro and in vivo. Combination treatment with UA and PTX could be a new strategy for curing esophageal cancer patients.
Rejuvenating the Aging Heart by Enhancing the Expression of the Cisd2 Prolongevity Gene
Authors: Yeh Chi-Hsiao , Chou Yi-Ju , Chu Ting-Kuan , Tsai Ting-Fen
Published: October 2021

Aging is the major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of mortality worldwide among aging populations. Cisd2 is a prolongevity gene that mediates lifespan in mammals. Previously, our investigations revealed that a persistently high level of Cisd2 expression in mice is able to prevent age-associated cardiac dysfunction. This study was designed to apply a genetic approach that induces cardiac-specific Cisd2 overexpression (Cisd2 icOE) at a late-life stage, namely a time point immediately preceding the onset of old age, and evaluate the translational potential of this approach. Several discoveries are pinpointed. Firstly, Cisd2 is downregulated in the aging heart. This decrease in Cisd2 leads to cardiac dysfunction and impairs electromechanical performance. Intriguingly, Cisd2 icOE prevents an exacerbation of age-associated electromechanical dysfunction. Secondly, Cisd2 icOE ameliorates cardiac fibrosis and improves the integrity of the intercalated discs, thereby reversing various structural abnormalities. Finally, Cisd2 icOE reverses the transcriptomic profile of the aging heart, changing it from an older-age pattern to a younger pattern. Intriguingly, Cisd2 icOE modulates a number of aging-related pathways, namely the sirtuin signaling, autophagy, and senescence pathways, to bring about rejuvenation of the heart as it enters old age. Our findings highlight Cisd2 as a novel molecular target for developing therapies targeting cardiac aging.
TaWAK2A-800, a Wall-Associated Kinase, Participates Positively in Resistance to Fusarium Head Blight and Sharp Eyespot in Wheat
Authors: Guo Feilong , Wu Tianci , Xu Gangbiao , Qi Haijun , Zhu Xiuliang , Zhang Zengyan
Published: October 2021

Fusarium head blight (FHB) and sharp eyespot are important diseases of the cereal plants, including bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley. Both diseases are predominately caused by the pathogenic fungi, Fusarium graminearum and Rhizoctonia cerealis. The roles of the wheat-wall-associated kinases (WAKs) in defense against both F. graminearum and R. cerealis have remained largely unknown. This research reports the identification of TaWAK2A-800, a wheat WAK-coding gene located on chromosome 2A, and its functional roles in wheat resistance responses to FHB and sharp eyespot. TaWAK2A-800 transcript abundance was elevated by the early infection of R. cerealis and F. graminearum, or treatment with exogenous chitin. The gene transcript seemed to correspond to the resistance of wheat. Further functional analyses showed that silencing TaWAK2A-800 compromised the resistance of wheat to both FHB (F. graminearum) and sharp eyespot (R. cerealis). Moreover, the silencing reduced the expression levels of six defense-related genes, including the chitin-triggering immune pathway-marker genes, TaCERK1, TaRLCK1B, and TaMPK3. Summarily, TaWAK2A-800 participates positively in the resistance responses to both F. graminearum and R. cerealis, possibly through a chitin-induced pathway in wheat. TaWAK2A-800 will be useful for breeding wheat varieties with resistance to both FHB and sharp eyespot.
Primary Amenorrhea Due to Anatomical Abnormalities of the Reproductive Tract: Molecular Insight
Authors: Kapczuk Karina , Kędzia Witold
Published: October 2021

Congenital anomalies of the female reproductive tract that present with primary amenorrhea involve Müllerian aplasia, also known as Mayer–Rokitansky–Küster–Hauser syndrome (MRKHS), and cervical and vaginal anomalies that completely obstruct the reproductive tract. Karyotype abnormalities do not exclude the diagnosis of MRKHS. Familial cases of Müllerian anomalies and associated malformations of the urinary and skeletal systems strongly suggest a complex genetic etiology, but so far, the molecular mechanism in the vast majority of cases remains unknown. Primary amenorrhea may also be the first presentation of complete androgen insensitivity syndrome, steroid 5α-reductase type 2 deficiency, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 deficiency, and Leydig cells hypoplasia type 1; therefore, these disorders should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the congenital absence of the uterus and vagina. The molecular diagnosis in the majority of these cases can be established.
The Discovery of GALM Deficiency (Type IV Galactosemia) and Newborn Screening System for Galactosemia in Japan
Authors: Kikuchi Atsuo , Wada Yoichi , Ohura Toshihiro , Kure Shigeo
Published: October 2021

The Leloir pathway, which consists of highly conserved enzymes, metabolizes galactose. Deficits in three enzymes in this pathway, namely galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (GALT), galactokinase (GALK1), and UDP-galactose-4′-epimerase (GALE), are associated with genetic galactosemia. We recently identified patients with galactosemia and biallelic variants in GALM, encoding galactose epimerase (GALM), an enzyme that is directly upstream of GALK1. GALM deficiency was subsequently designated as type IV galactosemia. Currently, all the published patients with biallelic GALM variants were found through newborn screening in Japan. Here, we review GALM deficiency and describe how we discovered this relatively mild but not rare disease through the newborn screening system in Japan.
Analysis of Gradient Vanishing of RNNs and Performance Comparison
Authors: Noh Seol-Hyun
Published: October 2021

A recurrent neural network (RNN) combines variable-length input data with a hidden state that depends on previous time steps to generate output data. RNNs have been widely used in time-series data analysis, and various RNN algorithms have been proposed, such as the standard RNN, long short-term memory (LSTM), and gated recurrent units (GRUs). In particular, it has been experimentally proven that LSTM and GRU have higher validation accuracy and prediction accuracy than the standard RNN. The learning ability is a measure of the effectiveness of gradient of error information that would be backpropagated. This study provided a theoretical and experimental basis for the result that LSTM and GRU have more efficient gradient descent than the standard RNN by analyzing and experimenting the gradient vanishing of the standard RNN, LSTM, and GRU. As a result, LSTM and GRU are robust to the degradation of gradient descent even when LSTM and GRU learn long-range input data, which means that the learning ability of LSTM and GRU is greater than standard RNN when learning long-range input data. Therefore, LSTM and GRU have higher validation accuracy and prediction accuracy than the standard RNN. In addition, it was verified whether the experimental results of river-level prediction models, solar power generation prediction models, and speech signal models using the standard RNN, LSTM, and GRUs are consistent with the analysis results of gradient vanishing.
Optimizing Small BERTs Trained for German NER
Authors: Zöllner Jochen , Sperfeld Konrad , Wick Christoph , Labahn Roger
Published: October 2021

Currently, the most widespread neural network architecture for training language models is the so-called BERT, which led to improvements in various Natural Language Processing (NLP) tasks. In general, the larger the number of parameters in a BERT model, the better the results obtained in these NLP tasks. Unfortunately, the memory consumption and the training duration drastically increases with the size of these models. In this article, we investigate various training techniques of smaller BERT models: We combine different methods from other BERT variants, such as ALBERT, RoBERTa, and relative positional encoding. In addition, we propose two new fine-tuning modifications leading to better performance: Class-Start-End tagging and a modified form of Linear Chain Conditional Random Fields. Furthermore, we introduce Whole-Word Attention, which reduces BERTs memory usage and leads to a small increase in performance compared to classical Multi-Head-Attention. We evaluate these techniques on five public German Named Entity Recognition (NER) tasks, of which two are introduced by this article.
Effect on Intermediary Metabolism and Digestive Parameters of the High Substitution of Fishmeal with Insect Meal in Sparus aurata Feed
Authors: Fabrikov Dmitri , Vargas-García María del Carmen , Barroso Fernando G. , Sánchez-Muros María José , Cacua Ortíz Sylvia María , Morales Amalia E. , Cardenete Gabriel , Tomás-Almenar Cristina , Melenchón Federico
Published: October 2021

Hermetia illucens and Tenebrio molitor were tested on account of their potential to replace fish protein in feed. Two levels of replacement for H. illucens, 30% and 50% (H30 and H50), and one for T. molitor, 50% (T50), as well as an additional diet with a modified fatty acid fraction (H50M), were investigated in relation to juvenile Sparus aurata growth indices, enzyme activities and gut microbiome. A T50 diet showed similar results to a control (C) diet, with no significant differences regarding morphological indices and minor differences for nutritional indices. Regarding the gut microbiome, H50M was the diet which showed the more similar prokaryotic community to C, which suggests that fatty acid fractions might influence the composition of the gut microbiome. Nevertheless, differences appeared to be related to a redistribution of dominant species, while changes in species affiliation were limited to minoritary species. The positive correlation between some of these minoritary species (Peptostreptococcus russellii, Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Weisella confusa) and several fish growth parameters might explain differences between control and insect diets. Deciphering such uncertainty and revealing the potential role these unusual species may play on fish performance should be addressed in future investigations.
The Precipitous Decline in Reasoning and Other Key Abilities with Age and Its Implications for Federal Judges
Authors: Kaufman Alan S.
Published: October 2021

U. S. Supreme Court justices and other federal judges are, effectively, appointed for life, with no built-in check on their cognitive functioning as they approach old age. There is about a century of research on aging and intelligence that shows the vulnerability of processing speed, fluid reasoning, visual-spatial processing, and working memory to normal aging for men and women at all levels of education; even the maintained ability of crystallized knowledge declines in old age. The vulnerable abilities impact a person’s decision-making and problem solving; crystallized knowledge, by contrast, measures a person’s general knowledge. The aging-IQ data provide a rationale for assessing the key cognitive abilities of anyone who is appointed to the federal judiciary. Theories of multiple cognitive abilities and processes, most notably the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) model, provide a well-researched blueprint for interpreting the plethora of findings from studies of IQ and aging. Sophisticated technical advances in test construction, especially in item-response theory and computerized-adaptive testing, allow for the development of reliable and valid theory-based tests of cognitive functioning. Such assessments promise to be a potentially useful tool for evaluating federal judges to assess the impact of aging on their ability to perform at a level their positions deserve, perhaps to measure their competency to serve the public intelligently. It is proposed that public funding be made available to appoint a panel of experts to develop and validate an array of computerized cognitive tests to identify those justices who are at risk of cognitive impairment.
Novel Botrytis and Cladosporium Species Associated with Flower Diseases of Macadamia in Australia
Authors: Prasannath Kandeeparoopan , Shivas Roger G. , Galea Victor J. , Akinsanmi Olufemi A.
Published: October 2021

Macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia) is endemic to eastern Australia and produces an edible nut that is widely cultivated in commercial orchards globally. A survey of fungi associated with the grey and green mold symptoms of macadamia flowers found mostly species of Botrytis (Sclerotiniaceae, Leotiomycetes) and Cladosporium (Cladosporiaceae, Dothideomycetes). These isolates included B. cinerea, C. cladosporioides, and unidentified isolates. Amongst the unidentified isolates, one novel species of Botrytis and three novel species of Cladosporium were delimited and characterized by molecular phylogenetic analyses. The new species are Botrytis macadamiae, Cladosporium devikae, C. macadamiae, and C. proteacearum.
Google Search in Exchange Rate Models: Hype or Hope?
Authors: Herzog Bodo , dos Santos Lana
Published: October 2021

This paper studies the power of online search intensity metrics, measured by Google, for examining and forecasting exchange rates. We use panel data consisting of quarterly time series from 2004 to 2018 and ten international countries with the highest currency trading volume. Newly, we include various Google search intensity metrics to our panel data. We find that online search improves the overall econometric models and fits. First, four out of ten search variables are robustly significant at one percent and enhance the macroeconomic exchange rate models. Second, country regressions corroborate the panel results, yet the predictive power of search intensity with regard to exchange rates vary by country. Third, we find higher prediction performance for our exchange rate models with search intensity, particularly in regard to the direction of the exchange rate. Overall, our approach reveals a value-added of search intensity in exchange rate models.
User Intention of Anonymous Social Application “Soul” in China: Analysis based on an Extended Technology Acceptance Model
Authors: Yu Zhiyuan , Song Xiaoxiao
Published: October 2021

Anonymity is an inherent attribute of the Internet. Depending on pseudonyms, cyber citizens can role play and present themselves by reconstructing a different identity. In order to satisfy the needs of anonymous self-expression, anonymous social applications have become popular worldwide. In this paper, we conduct a survey regarding user intention (UI) of “Soul”, which is a popular anonymous social media application in China, especially for the youth. For this purpose, we design an adapted technology acceptance model (TAM) consisting of seven influencing factors, i.e., perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), perceived anonymity (PA), perceived privacy riskiness (PPR), subjective norms (SN), emotional attachments (EA) and perceived interactivity (PI). Both the measurement and structural models are tested via partial least squares structural equation model. The results show that PU, PEOU, PPR and PI have a significant relationship with UI. Therein, both SN and EA can impact PU, and meanwhile, the direct paths between PI → PEOU, PA → PPR also exist. Contrary to expectation, the effect of SN on UI is not directly significant. The proposed model is able to explain 64.1% of variance for UI among Soul users. The results suggest that the proposed constructs provide relatively good explanations for the continuous intention to use the Soul app.
Multi-Dimensional Variation in Adult Speech as a Function of Age
Authors: Fougeron Cécile , Guitard-Ivent Fanny , Delvaux Véronique
Published: October 2021

We present a multidimensional acoustic report describing variation in speech productions on data collected from 500 francophone adult speakers (20 to 93 y.o.a.) as a function of age. In this cross-sectional study, chronological age is considered as a continuous variable while oral productions, in reading and speech-like tasks, are characterized via 22 descriptors related to voice quality, pitch, vowel articulation and vocalic system organization, time-related measures and temporal organization, as well as maximal performances in speech-like tasks. In a first analysis, we detail how each descriptor varies according to the age of the speaker, for male and female speakers separately. In a second analysis, we explore how chronological age is, in turn, predicted by the combination of all descriptors. Overall, results confirm that with increasing age, speakers show more voice instability, sex-dependent pitch changes, slower speech and articulation rates, slower repetition rates and less complexity effects in maximal performance tasks. A notable finding of this study is that some of these changes are continuous throughout adulthood while other appear either at old age or in early adulthood. Chronological age appears only moderately indexed in speech, mainly through speech rate parameters. We discuss these results in relation with the notion of attrition and with other possible factors at play, in an attempt to better capture the multidimensional nature of the notion of “age”.
4,7-Bis(dodecylthio)-[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-c]pyridine
Authors: Chmovzh Timofey N. , Kudryashev Timofey A. , Rakitin Oleg A.
Published: October 2021

Bis(alkylsulfanyl) derivatives of 1,2,5-thiadiazoles fused with aromatic and heteroaromatic rings containing long alkyl chains are of interest as compounds with liquid crystalline properties. In this communication, 4,7-bis(dodecylthio)-[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-c]pyridine 1 was obtained from 4,7-dibromo-[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-c]pyridine 2 by a combination of two reactions—aromatic nucleophilic substitution SNAr and Buchwald–Hartwig cross-coupling. The structure of the newly synthesized compounds was established by means of elemental analysis; high-resolution mass spectrometry; 1H, 13C NMR, IR and UV spectroscopy; and mass spectrometry.
Effect of Carbon Fiber Surface Microstructure on Composite Interfacial Property Based on Image Quantitative Characterization Technique
Authors: Xiong Shu , Zhao Yan , Song Jiupeng
Published: October 2021

The surface roughness (Ra) and composite interfacial property of carbon fiber (CF) are considered to be mainly affected by the microstructure of the CF surface. However, quantitative characterization of the CF surface microstructure is always a difficulty. How the CF surface microstructure affects the interfacial property of CF composites is not entirely clear. A quantitative characterization technique based on images was established to calculate the cross-section perimeter and area of five types of CFs, as well as the number (N), width (W) and depth (D) of grooves on these CF surfaces. The CF composite interfacial shear strength (IFSS) was tested by the micro-droplet debonding test and modified by the realistic perimeter. The relationship between the groove structure parameter and the Ra, specific surface area and composite interfacial property was discussed in this article. The results indicated that the CF cross-section perimeter calculated by this technique showed strong consistency with the CF specific surface area and composite interfacial property. At last, the composite interface bonding mechanism based on defect capture was put forward. This mechanism can be a guiding principle for CF surface modification and help researchers better understand and establish interface bonding theories.
Surface Modification of Carbon Nanofibers to Improve Their Biocompatibility in Contact with Osteoblast and Chondrocytes Cell Lines
Authors: Smolka Wojciech , Ptas Monika , Panek Agnieszka , Krok-Borkowicz Malgorzata , Zambrzycki Marcel , Gubernat Maciej , Markowski Jaroslaw , Fraczek-Szczypta Aneta
Published: October 2021

The goal of this study is to investigate the influence of different types of modifiers, such as sodium hyaluronate (NaH), graphene oxide (GO), silica oxycarbide (SiOC) and oxidation process (ox) on physicochemical, morphological, and biological properties of electrospun carbon nanofibers (eCNFs). Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to evaluate the microstructure and chemistry of as-prepared and modified CNFs. The electrical properties of CNFs scaffolds were examined using a four-point probe method to evaluate the influence of modifiers on the volume conductivity and surface resistivity of the obtained samples. The wettability of the surfaces of modified and unmodified CNFs scaffolds was also tested by contact angle measurement. During the in vitro study all samples were put into direct contact with human chondrocyte CHON-001 cells and human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells. Their viability was analysed after 72 h in culture. Moreover, the cell morphology and cell area in contact with CNFs was observed by means of fluorescence microscopy. The obtained results show great potential for the modification of CNFs with polymer, ceramic and carbon modifiers, which do not change the fiber form of the substrate but significantly affect their surface and volume properties. Preliminary biological studies have shown that the type of modification of CNFs affects either the rate of increase in the number of cells or the degree of spreading in relation to the unmodified sample. More hydrophilic and low electrically conductive samples such as CNF_ox and CNF_NaH significantly increase cell proliferation, while other GO and SiOC modified samples have an effect on cell adhesion and thus cell spreading. From the point of view of further research and the possibility of combining the electrical properties of modified CNF scaffolds with electrical stimulation, where these scaffolds would be able to transport electrical signals to cells and thus affect cell adhesion, spreading, and consequently tissue regeneration, samples CNF_GO and CNF_SiOC would be the most desirable.
Microstructural Variation and a Physical Mechanism Model for a Ti-55511 Alloy during Double-Stage Hot Deformation with Stepped Strain Rates in the β Region
Authors: He Dao-Guang , Su Gang , Lin Yong-Cheng , Jiang Yu-Qiang , Li Zhou , Chen Zi-Jian , Yan Xin-Tao , Xia Yu-Chi , Xie Yang-Chen
Published: October 2021

The microstructural variation and high-temperature flow features of a Ti-55511 alloy in the β region are studied by utilizing double-stage compression with a stepped strain rate. The results demonstrate that the stresses in the latter stage of hot compression markedly reduce as the strain at the previous stage or the strain rate at the previous/latter stage drops. Moreover, the annihilation/interaction of substructures is promoted, and the distinct refinement of the dynamic recrystallization (DRX) in the β grain can be found. However, the coarsening of the β grain and the consumption of dislocation substructures are accelerated at high temperatures. Furthermore, the principal DRX nucleation mechanism of the Ti-55511 alloy during double-stage compression with a stepped strain rate in the β region is discontinuous DRX. Additionally, by using the microstructural variation characteristics related to the forming parameters, a physical mechanism equation is modeled to forecast the forming features, the DRX fraction, and the size of the β grain in the investigated alloy. The forecasted results are in accordance with the tested results, indicating that the established model can accurately forecast the microstructure variation and flow features of the studied alloy.
Experimental and Numerical Comparison of Impact Behavior between Thermoplastic and Thermoset Composite for Wind Turbine Blades
Authors: Pinto Thiago Henrique Lara , Gul Waseem , Torres Libardo Andrés González , Cimini Carlos Alberto , Ha Sung Kyu
Published: October 2021

Damage generated due to low velocity impact in composite plates was evaluated focusing on the design and structural integrity of wind turbine blades. Impact properties of composite plates manufactured with thermoplastic and thermoset resins for different energy levels were measured and compared. Specimens were fabricated using VARTM (vacuum assisted resin transfer molding), using both matrix systems in conjunction with carbon, glass and carbon/glass hybrid fibers in the NCF (non-crimp fabric) architecture. Resin systems used were ELIUM 188O (thermoplastic) from Arkema Co., Ltd. and a standard epoxy reference, EPR-L20 from Hexion Co., Ltd. (thermoset). Auxiliary numerical finite element analyses were performed to better understand the tests physics. These models were then compared with the experimental results to verify their predictive capacity, given the intrinsic limitations due to their simplicity. Based in the presented results, it is possible to observe that ELIUM is capable to replace a conventional thermoset matrix. The thermoplastic panels presented similar results compared to its thermoset counterparts, with even a trend of less impact damage. Additionally, for both thermoplastic and thermoset resin systems, glass layups showed the lowest levels of damage while carbon panels presented the highest damage levels. Hybrid laminates can be applied as a compromise solution.
Influence of Firing Temperature on Phase Composition and Color Properties of Ceramic Tile Bodies
Authors: Wiśniewska Kornelia , Pichór Waldemar , Kłosek-Wawrzyn Ewelina
Published: October 2021

This study is focused on the behavior of the cream-firing clays from Opoczno region (Poland). The ceramic masses on which tests were carried out consisted of cream-firingBorkowice clay and dolomite in two different grain sizes as an additive that changes the color of ceramic materials. Test samples were prepared by plastic method and fired at range of 1100–1240 °C. Phase composition of theinvestigated materials was characterized by XRD method with quantitive analysis of the amorphous phase determined by the Retvield technique. Color properties of the surface of the obtained ceramic materials were determined in CIE-Lab color space. The phase composition of the obtained ceramics depends on the firing temperature. The color of the surface of the ceramic materials also depends on the firing temperature. There was a tendency to decrease the brightness, decrease the blue shade, and increase the yellow shade of the surface of materials with increasing the temperature. The conducted tests allowed to conclude that the color of ceramic materials depends on their phase composition. The most important role in the formation of color correspond to the amorphous phase, formed during the process. The lower content of the amorphous phase in the material allows to obtain brighter products with a lower proportion of yellow, and therefore closer to white. Moreover, following tests were carried out: total water absorption, total open porosity, linear shrinkage, and flexural strength. With increasing the temperature, total water absorption and total open porosity decrease, and total linear shrinkage increases due to the progressive sintering process. Flexural strength increases with the increase of the firing temperature for materials consisting of Borkowice clay. The addition of dolomite introduced new pores into the material, which resulted in an increase in flexural strength at lower firing temperatures and a decrease in flexural strength at higher firing temperatures.
Effect of Rejuvenators on the Workability and Performances of Reclaimed Asphalt Mixtures
Authors: Tang Wei , Yu Xin , Li Ning , Dong Fuqiang , Wang Zhongyuan , Zhang Yu
Published: October 2021

The use of rejuvenators has enhanced the workability of asphalt mixtures containing the reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP). This conclusion is based on the determination of viscosity of asphalt binders, while not validated from reclaimed asphalt mixtures. In this study, the effect of two rejuvenators (ordinary and emulsified rejuvenator) on the workability of reclaimed asphalt mixtures was evaluated by measuring the mixing torque and determining the air void content of reclaimed mixtures. In addition, their effects on the performances of reclaimed mixture were studied via the three indexes tests, rutting test and freeze-thaw splitting tests. The experimental results show that mixing torque and air void content of reclaimed mixtures with the emulsified rejuvenator is 4% and 6% lower than that with the ordinary rejuvenator, respectively. This indicates that improvement of the workability of reclaimed mixtures can be achieved by using an emulsified rejuvenator, but not by an ordinary rejuvenator. That is also the reason that at least 20% greater high-temperature stability is found for reclaimed mixtures by using the emulsified rejuvenator than using the ordinary rejuvenator. In addition, reclaimed mixtures with the emulsified rejuvenator show similar moisture susceptibility to that with the ordinary rejuvenator. This study provides a feasible method to assess the workability effect of rejuvenators on reclaimed mixtures directly and recommends the use of an emulsified rejuvenator to improve the workability and high-temperature stability of reclaimed mixtures.
Recent Advancements in the Nanomaterial Application in Concrete and Its Ecological Impact
Authors: Saleem Haleema , Zaidi Syed Javaid , Alnuaimi Nasser Abdullah
Published: October 2021

At present, nanotechnology is a significant research area in different countries, owing to its immense ability along with its economic impact. Nanotechnology is the scientific study, development, manufacturing, and processing of structures and materials on a nanoscale level. It has tremendous application in different industries such as construction. This study discusses the various progressive uses of nanomaterials in concrete, as well as their related health risks and environmental impacts. Nanomaterials such as nanosilica, nano-TiO2, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), ferric oxides, polycarboxylates, and nanocellulose have the capability to increase the durability of buildings by improving their mechanical and thermal properties. This could cause an indirect reduction in energy usage and total expenses in the concrete industry. However, due to the uncertainties and irregularities in size, shape, and chemical compositions, some nanosized materials might have harmful effects on the environment and human health. Acknowledgement of the possible beneficial impacts and inadvertent dangers of these nanosized materials to the environment will be extremely important when pursuing progress in the upcoming years. This research paper is expected to bring proper attention to the probable effects of construction waste, together with the importance of proper regulations, on the final disposal of the construction waste.