bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mann makes himself: Ludovic Mann and the media
Authors: Mearns Jim
Published: December 2020

Ludovic McLellan Mann was an inveterate user of the press and other media to put his ideas before the public and to campaign for matters that he felt important. This paper presents a short survey of the many newspapers and periodicals filed under his name in the British Newspaper Archive, and demonstrates both the extent of his influence and the range of matters on which he was asked to give advice.
Implementasi dan Analisis Quality of Service (QoS) pada OpenMeetings dengan Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Authors: Amiza Ibel Dwi , Lindawati Lindawati , Soim Sopian
Published: December 2020

Abstract  —  Video Conference is a communication service that can be used to bring together two users (client) or more. Video conferencing can be used for a variety of activities that require communication in real-time without having to come face to face directly. One open-source that can be utilized as a means of communicating is OpenMeetings. OpenMeetings uses IP and in the same network as a means of conducting video conferencing between clients. But if a client is not in the same network, it can utilize the Virtual Private Network (VPN) technology. The VPN can be remote by using a MikroTik router. The Video conferencing service requires fairly high and stable connectivity. Quality of Service (QoS) can be used whether the network is eligible for video conferencing. The QoS parameters used are throughput and packet loss. The QoS test can be done using Wireshark.
Genetic Information Insecurity as State of the Art
Authors: Schumacher Garrett J. , Sawaya Sterling , Nelson Demetrius , Hansen Aaron J.
Published: December 2020

Genetic information is being generated at an increasingly rapid pace, offering advances in science and medicine that are paralleled only by the threats and risk present within the responsible systems. Human genetic information is identifiable and contains sensitive information, but genetic information security is only recently gaining attention. Genetic data is generated in an evolving and distributed cyber-physical system, with multiple subsystems that handle information and multiple partners that rely and influence the whole ecosystem. This paper characterizes a general genetic information system from the point of biological material collection through long-term data sharing, storage and application in the security context. While all biotechnology stakeholders and ecosystems are valuable assets to the bioeconomy, genetic information systems are particularly vulnerable with great potential for harm and misuse. The security of post-analysis phases of data dissemination and storage have been focused on by others, but the security of wet and dry laboratories is also challenging due to distributed devices and systems that are not designed nor implemented with security in mind. Consequently, industry standards and best operational practices threaten the security of genetic information systems. Extensive development of laboratory security will be required to realize the potential of this emerging field while protecting the bioeconomy and all of its stakeholders.
EZH2-Inhibited MicroRNA-454-3p Promotes M2 Macrophage Polarization in Glioma
Authors: Qi Bin , Yang Cheng , Zhu Zhanpeng , Chen Hao
Published: December 2020

Glioma is a primary intracranial tumor with high incidence and mortality. The oncogenic role of EZH2 has been reported in glioma. EZH2 inhibited microRNA-454-3p (miR-454-3p) by binding to its promoter in chondrosarcoma cells. Therefore, our study aimed to identify whether EZH2 regulated M2 macrophage polarization in glioma via miR-454-3p. Clinical samples of different grades of glioma and glioma cells were collected and immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR demonstrated that EZH2 was highly expressed in glioma tissues. Expression of EZH2 was positively correlated with the degree of M2 macrophage polarization in glioma tissues. EZH2 was silenced by lentivirus in glioma cells, which were subsequently co-cultured with macrophages to evaluate its effect on macrophage polarization. miR-454-3p, a down-regulated miR in glioma, was found to be increased after silencing of EZH2. Furthermore, MethPrimer analysis showed that EZH2 silencing inhibited the DNA methylation level of miR-454-3p. Additionally, MS-PCR, dual-luciferase reporter, RIP and RNA pull down assays revealed that miR-454-3p promoted PTEN expression by inhibiting m6A modification through binding to the enzyme YTHDF2. Either inhibition of miR-454-3p or PTEN resulted in promotion of M2 macrophage polarization. Collectively, histone methyltransferase EZH2 inhibited miR-454-3p through methylation modification and promoted m6A modification of PTEN to induce glioma M2 macrophage polarization.
Dissection of the Ovulatory Process Using ex vivo Approaches
Authors: Tokmakov Alexander A. , Stefanov Vasily E. , Sato Ken-Ichi
Published: December 2020

Ovulation is a unique physiological phenomenon that is essential for sexual reproduction. It refers to the entire process of ovarian follicle responses to hormonal stimulation resulting in the release of mature fertilization-competent oocytes from the follicles and ovaries. Remarkably, ovulation in different species can be reproduced out-of-body with high fidelity. Moreover, most of the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways engaged in this process have been delineated usingin vitroovulation models. Here, we provide an overview of the major molecular and cytological events of ovulation observed in frogs, primarily in the African clawed frogXenopus laevis, using mainlyex vivoapproaches, with the focus on meiotic oocyte maturation and follicle rupture. For the purpose of comparison and generalization, we also refer extensively to ovulation in other biological species, most notoriously, in mammals.
Anthropogenic CO2 of High Emission Scenario Compensated After 3500 Years of Ocean Alkalinization With an Annually Constant Dissolution of 5 Pg of Olivine
Authors: Köhler Peter
Published: December 2020

The CO2 removal model inter-comparison (CDRMIP) has been established to approximate the usefulness of climate mitigation by some well-defined negative emission technologies. I here analyze ocean alkalinization in a high CO2 world (emission scenario SSP5-85-EXT++ and CDR-ocean-alk within CDRMIP) for the next millennia using a revised version of the carbon cycle model BICYCLE, whose long-term feedbacks are calculated for the next 1 million years. The applied model version not only captures atmosphere, ocean, and a constant marine and terrestrial biosphere, but also represents solid Earth processes, such as deep ocean CaCO3 accumulation and dissolution, volcanic CO2 outgassing, and continental weathering. In the applied negative emission experiment, 0.14 Pmol/yr of alkalinity—comparable to the dissolution of 5 Pg of olivine per year—is entering the surface ocean starting in year 2020 for either 50 or 5000 years. I find that the cumulative emissions of 6,740 PgC emitted until year 2350 lead to a peak atmospheric CO2 concentration of nearly 2,400 ppm in year 2326, which is reduced by only 200 ppm by the alkalinization experiment. Atmospheric CO2 is brought down to 400 or 300 ppm after 2730 or 3480 years of alkalinization, respectively. Such low CO2 concentrations are reached without ocean alkalinization only after several hundreds of thousands of years, when the feedbacks from weathering and sediments bring the part of the anthropogenic emissions that stays in the atmosphere (the so-called airborne fraction) below 4%. The efficiency of carbon sequestration by this alkalinization approach peaks at 9.7 PgC per Pmol of alkalinity added during times of maximum anthropogenic CO2 emissions and slowly declines to half this value 2000 years later due to the non-linear marine chemistry response and ocean-sediment processes. In other words, ocean alkalinization sequesters carbon only as long as the added alkalinity stays in the ocean. To understand the basic model behavior, I analytically explain why in the simulation results a linear relationship in the transient climate response (TCR) to cumulative emissions is found for low emissions (similarly as for more complex climate models), which evolves for high emissions to a non-linear relation.
Assessment of Soil Functions: An Example of Meeting Competing National and International Obligations by Harnessing Regional Differences
Authors: Valujeva Kristine , Nipers Aleksejs , Lupikis Ainars , Schulte Rogier P. O.
Published: December 2020

The increased demand for bio based products worldwide provides an opportunity for Eastern European countries to increase their production in agriculture and forestry. At the same time, such economic development must be congruent with the European Union’s long-term climate and biodiversity objectives. As a country that is rich in bioresources, the Latvian case study is highly relevant to many other countries—especially those in Central and Eastern Europe—and faces a choice of transition pathways to meet both economic and environmental objectives. In order to assess the trade-offs between investments in the bioeconomy and the achievement of climate and biodiversity objectives, we used the Functional Land Management (FLM) framework for the quantification of the supply and demand for the primary productivity, carbon regulation and biodiversity functions. We related the supply of these three soil functions to combinations of land use and soil characteristics. The demand for the same functions were derived from European, national and regional policy objectives. Our results showed different spatial scales at which variation in demand and supply is manifested. High demand for biodiversity was associated with areas dominated by agricultural land at the local scale, while regional differences of unemployment rates and the target for GDP increases framed the demand for primary productivity. National demand for carbon regulation focused on areas dominated by forests on organic soils. We subsequently identified mismatches between the supply and demand for soil functions, and we selected spatial locations for specific land use changes and improvements in management practices to promote sustainable development of the bio-economy. Our results offer guidance to policy makers that will help them to form a national policy that will underpin management practices that are effective and tailored toward local climate conditions and national implementation pathways.
Measures to Control Invasive Crayfish Species in Switzerland: A Success Story?
Authors: Krieg Raphael , King Alex , Zenker Armin
Published: December 2020

Invasive crayfish species were first documented in Switzerland in the 1970s. Today, North American crayfish species dominate in most major lakes and streams in Switzerland. In combination with the crayfish plague, they pose a substantial threat to our native crayfish. Over the past 20 years, various techniques have been applied to reduce negative impacts of these invasive crayfish in Switzerland: eradication (temporary drainage or destruction of a water system, biocides), suppression (intensive trapping, electricity introduction of predatory fish) and containment (construction of crayfish barriers). Temporary drainage or filling-in of isolated ponds, in combination with calcium hydroxide application has been successful in eradicating populations of invasive crayfish. However, trapping and introduction of predatory fish led to a reduction in population density but neither method has ever caused the extinction of a population. Invasive crayfish have not yet reached crayfish barriers, therefore, long-term functionality of these barriers still needs to be proven. Nevertheless, functional controls with native crayfish have shown that barriers prevent their upstream movement. Implementation of crayfish barriers is the most promising method to protect native crayfish from displacement by invasive crayfish species. Many measures are expensive, time consuming, and show little or no success in controlling invasive crayfish. Therefore, we recommend to focus on implementing drastic measures, such as filling-in or draining of isolated waters or a combination of various methods to maximise the reduction of population size.
Initial Complete Chloroplast Genomes of Alchemilla (Rosaceae): Comparative Analysis and Phylogenetic Relationships
Authors: Rono Peninah Cheptoo , Dong Xiang , Yang Jia-Xin , Mutie Fredrick Munyao , Oulo Millicent A. , Malombe Itambo , Kirika Paul M. , Hu Guang-Wan , Wang Qing-Feng
Published: December 2020

The genusAlchemillaL., known for its medicinal and ornamental value, is widely distributed in the Holarctic regions with a few species found in Asia and Africa. Delimitation of species withinAlchemillais difficult due to hybridization, autonomous apomixes, and polyploidy, necessitating efficient molecular-based characterization. Herein, we report the initial complete chloroplast (cp) genomes ofAlchemilla. The cp genomes of two African (Afromilla) speciesAlchemilla pedataandAlchemilla argyrophyllawere sequenced, and phylogenetic and comparative analyses were conducted in the family Rosaceae. The cp genomes mapped a typical circular quadripartite structure of lengths 152,438 and 152,427 base pairs (bp) inA. pedataandA. argyrophylla, respectively.Alchemillacp genomes were composed of a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRa/IRb) of length 25,923 and 25,915 bp, separating the small single copy (SSC) region of 17,980 and 17,981 bp and a large single copy (LSC) region of 82,612 and 82,616 bp inA. pedataandA. argyrophylla, respectively. The cp genomes encoded 114 unique genes including 88 protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 4 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Additionally, 88 and 95 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and 37 and 40 tandem repeats were identified inA. pedataandA. argyrophylla, respectively. Significantly, the loss of group II intron inatpFgene inAlchemillaspecies was detected. Phylogenetic analysis based on 26 whole cp genome sequences and 78 protein-coding gene sequences of 27 Rosaceae species revealed a monophyletic clustering ofAlchemillanested within subfamily Rosoideae. Based on a protein-coding region, negative selective pressure (Ka/Ks < 1) was detected with an average Ka/Ks value of 0.1322 inA. argyrophyllaand 0.1418 inA. pedata. The availability of complete cp genome in the genusAlchemillawill contribute to species delineation and further phylogenetic and evolutionary studies in the family Rosaceae.
Will SARS-CoV-2 Infection Elicit Long-Lasting Protective or Sterilising Immunity? Implications for Vaccine Strategies (2020)
Authors: Kim David S. , Rowland-Jones Sarah , Gea-Mallorquí Ester
Published: December 2020

In December 2019, an outbreak of a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in Wuhan, China resulted in the current COVID-19 global pandemic. The human immune system has not previously encountered this virus, raising the important question as to whether or not protective immunity is generated by infection. Growing evidence suggests that protective immunity can indeed be acquired post-infection—although a handful of reinfection cases have been reported. However, it is still unknown whether the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 leads to some degree of long-lasting protection against the disease or the infection. This review draws insights from previous knowledge regarding the nature and longevity of immunity to the related virus, SARS-CoV, to fill the gaps in our understanding of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2. Deciphering the immunological characteristics that give rise to protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 is critical to guiding vaccine development and also predicting the course of the pandemic. Here we discuss the recent evidence that characterises the adaptive immune response against SARS-CoV-2 and its potential implications for the generation of memory responses and long-term protection.
Metabolic Fingerprinting for Identifying the Mode of Action of the Fungicide SYP-14288 on Rhizoctonia solani
Authors: Liang Li , Cheng Xingkai , Dai Tan , Wang Zhiwen , Li Jin , Li Xueming , Lei Bin , Liu Pengfei , Hao Jianjun , Liu Xili
Published: December 2020

The fungicide SYP-14288 has a high efficiency, low toxicity, and broad spectrum in inhibiting both fungi and oomycetes, but its mode of action (MoA) remains unclear on inhibiting fungi. In this study, the MoA was determined by analyzing the metabolism and respiratory activities of Rhizoctonia solani treated by SYP-14288. Wild-type strains and SYP-14288-resistant mutants of R. solani were incubated on potato dextrose agar amended with either SYP-14288 or one of select fungicides acting on fungal respiration, including complex I, II, and III inhibitors; uncouplers; and ATP synthase inhibitors. Mycelial growth was measured under fungicides treatments. ATP content was determined using an ATP assay kit, membrane potential of mitochondria was detected with the JC-1 kit, and respiratory rate was calculated based on the measurement of oxygen consumption of R. solani. A model of metabolic fingerprinting cluster was established to separate oxidation inhibitors and phosphorylation inhibitors. All the results together displayed a clear discrimination between oxidation inhibitors and phosphorylation inhibitors, and the latter inhibited ATP synthase production having or uncoupling activities. Based on the model, SYP-14288 was placed in phosphorylation inhibitor group, because it significantly reduced ATP content and membrane potential of mitochondria while increasing respiratory rate in R. solani. Therefore, the MoA of SYP-14288 on R. solani was confirmed to involve phosphorylation inhibition and possibly uncoupling activity.
Applying the Inverse Efficiency Score to Visual–Motor Task for Studying Speed-Accuracy Performance While Aging
Authors: Statsenko Yauhen , Habuza Tetiana , Gorkom Klaus Neidl-Van , Zaki Nazar , Almansoori Taleb M.
Published: December 2020

Background: The current study examines the relationship between speed and accuracy of performance in a reaction time setting and explores the informative value of the inverse efficiency score (IES) regarding the possibility to reflect age-related cognitive changes.

Objectives: To study the characteristics of speed and accuracy while performing psychophysiological tests throughout the lifespan; to examine the speed-accuracy ratio in age groups and to apply IES to discriminative visual-motor reaction task; and to figure out the predictive potential of psychophysiological tests to identify IES values.

Methods: We utilize nonparametric statistical tests, regression analysis, and supervised machine learning methods.

Results and Conclusion: The examinees under 20 and over 60 years of age share one tendency regarding the speed-accuracy ratio without speed-accuracy trade-off. Both at the time of active developmental changes in adolescence and during ongoing atrophic changes in elderly there is a tendency toward a rise of the number of mistakes while slowing the reaction. In the age range from 20 to 60 the relationship between the speed and accuracy is opposite and speed-accuracy trade-off is present. In our battery, complex visual-motor reaction is the only test with the significant negative association between reaction time and error rate in the subcohort of young and midlife adults taken together. On average, women perform more slowly and accurately than men in the speed-accuracy task, however most of the gender-related differences are insignificant. Using results of other psychophysiological tests, we predicted IES values for the visual-motor reaction with high accuracy (R2 = 0.77 ± 0.08; mean absolute error / IES range = 3.37%). The regression model shows the best performance in the cognitively preserved population groups of young and middle-aged adults (20–60 years). Because of the individual rate of neurodevelopment in youth and cognitive decline in the elderly, the regression model for these subcohorts has a low predictive performance. IES accounts for different cognitive subdomains and may reflect their disproportional changes throughout the lifespan. This encourages us to proceed to explore the combination of executive functioning and psychophysiological test results utilizing machine learning models. The latter can be designed as a reliable computer-aided detector of cognitive changes at early stages.
Hypoxia Augments Cerebral Inflammation in a Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis Mouse Model
Authors: Han Ying , Ding Liping , Cheng Xiang , Zhao Ming , Zhao Tong , Guo Liang , Li Xinyang , Geng Yanan , Fan Ming , Liao Hong , Zhu Lingling
Published: December 2020

The importance of hypoxia in the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasingly being realized; also, hypoxia seems to be an important accelerator of brain inflammation, as has been reported by our group and others. IBD is a chronic intestinal disorder that leads to the development of inflammation, which is related to brain dysfunction. However, no studies have reported whether hypoxia is associated with IBD-induced neuroinflammation. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to determine whether hypoxia augments cerebral inflammation in a DSS-induced colitis mouse model. The mouse model was developed using 3% DSS for five days combined with exposure to hypoxic conditions (6,000 m) for two days. Mice were randomly divided into four groups: control group, DSS group, hypoxia group, and DSS plus hypoxia group. The results demonstrated that DSS combined with hypoxia resulted in up-regulation of colonic and plasmatic proinflammatory cytokines. Meanwhile, DSS plus hypoxia increased expression of Iba1, which is a marker of activated microglia, accompanied by increased expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the brain. Moreover, the expression of tight junction proteins, such as zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), occludin, and claudin-5, was markedly downregulated. The current study provides new insight into how hypoxia exposure induces excessive inflammatory responses andpathophysiological consequences in the brain in a DSS-induced colitis model.
An Analysis of the Putative CBD Binding Site in the Ionotropic Cannabinoid Receptors
Authors: Muller Chanté , Reggio Patricia H.
Published: December 2020

Cannabinoids have been long studied for their therapeutic properties, particularly for their use in the treatment of pain. As new therapies are sought after to treat conditions of chronic pain, so is a better understanding of the ligands and their target receptors or channels. A recently published cryo-EM structure showed the putative binding location of a well-known cannabinoid ligand, cannabidiol (CBD), in TRPV2, a channel that has been implicated in inflammation and chronic pain. TRPV2, along with TRPV1, TRPV3, TRPV4, TRPA1, and TRPM8 all have the capability to be modulated by cannabinoid ligands and are located in the peripheral nervous system. Here, we analyze the putative CBD binding site in each of these channels and compare structural and sequential information with experimental data.
Immunopathology of Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis: Implications for Improved Testing Algorithms and Treatment Strategies
Authors: Frykman Hans , Kumar Pankaj , Oger Joel
Published: December 2020

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a heterogeneous condition, characterized by autoantibodies (Abs) that target functionally important structures within neuromuscular junctions (NMJ), thus affecting nerve-to-muscle transmission. MG patients are more often now subgrouped based on the profile of serum autoantibodies, which segregate with clinical presentation, immunopathology, and their response to therapies. The serological testing plays an essential role in confirming MG diagnosis and guiding disease management, although a small percentage of MG patients remain negative for antibodies. With the advancements in new highly effective pathophysiologically-specific immunotherapeutic options, it has become increasingly important to identify the specific Abs responsible for the pathogenicity in individual MG patients. There are several new assays and protocols being developed for the improved detection of Abs in MG patients. This review focuses on the divergent immunopathological mechanisms in MG, and discusses their relevance to improved diagnostic and treatment. We propose a comprehensive “reflex testing,” algorithm for the presence of MG autoantibodies, and foresee that in the near future, the convenience and specificity of novel assays will permit the clinicians to consider them into routine systematic testing, thus stimulating laboratories to make these tests available. Moreover, adopting treatment driven testing algorithms will be crucial to identify subgroups of patients potentially benefiting from novel immunotherapies for MG.
Development and Validation of a Nomogram for Differentiating Combined Hepatocellular Cholangiocarcinoma From Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Wang Tao , Wang Wanxiang , Zhang Jinfu , Yang Xianwei , Shen Shu , Wang Wentao
Published: December 2020

Objectives

To establish a nomogram based on preoperative laboratory study variables using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression for differentiating combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC) from intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA).

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of iCCA and cHCC patients who underwent liver resection. Blood signatures were established using LASSO regression, and then, the clinical risk factors based on the multivariate logistic regression and blood signatures were combined to establish a nomogram for a differential preoperative diagnosis between iCCA and cHCC. The differential accuracy ability of the nomogram was determined by Harrell’s index (C-index) and decision curve analysis, and the results were validated using a validation set. Furthermore, patients were categorized into two groups according to the optimal cut-off values of the nomogram-based scores, and their survival differences were assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves.

Results

A total of 587 patients who underwent curative liver resection for iCCA or cHCC between January 2008 and December 2017 at West China Hospital were enrolled in this study. The cHCC score was based on the personalized levels of the seven laboratory study variables. On multivariate logistic analysis, the independent factors for distinguishing cHCC were age, sex, biliary duct stones, and portal hypertension, all of which were incorporated into the nomogram combined with the cHCC-score. The nomogram had a good discriminating capability, with a C-index of 0.796 (95% CI, 0.752–0.840). The calibration plot for distinguishing cHCC from iCCA showed optimal agreement between the nomogram prediction and actual observation in the training and validation sets. The decision curves indicated significant clinical usefulness.

Conclusion

The nomogram showed good accuracy for the differential diagnosis between iCCA and cHCC preoperatively, and therapeutic decisions would improve if it was applied in clinical practice.
Stem Cells as Therapy for Necrotizing Enterocolitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Preclinical Studies
Authors: Villamor-Martinez Eduardo , Hundscheid Tamara , Kramer Boris W. , Hooijmans Carlijn R , Villamor Eduardo
Published: December 2020

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common life-threatening gastrointestinal condition among very and extremely preterm infants. Stem cell therapy has shown some promising protective effects in animal models of intestinal injury, including NEC, but no systematic review has yet evaluated the preclinical evidence of stem cell therapy for NEC prevention or treatment.

Methods: PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for studies using an animal model of NEC with stem cells or their products. The SYRCLE tool was used for the assessment of risk of bias. A random-effects model was used to pool odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results: We screened 953 studies, of which nine (eight rat and one mouse models) met the inclusion criteria. All animal models induced NEC by a combination of hypothermia, hypoxia, and formula feeding. Risk of bias was evaluated as unclear on most items for all studies included. Meta-analysis found that both mesenchymal and neural stem cells and stem cell-derived exosomes reduced the incidence of all NEC (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.16–0.32, k = 16), grade 2 NEC (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.24–0.70, k = 16), and grade 3–4 NEC (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.19–0.42, k = 16). k represents the number of independent effect sizes included in each meta-analysis. The effect of the exosomes was similar to that of the stem cells. Stem cells and exosomes also improved 4-day survival (OR 2.89 95% CI 2.07–4.04, k = 9) and 7-day survival (OR 3.96 95% CI 2.39–6.55, k = 5) after experimental NEC. Meta-analysis also found that stem cells reduced other indicators of intestinal injury.

Conclusion: The data from this meta-analysis suggest that both stem cells and stem cell-derived exosomes prevented NEC in rodent experimental models. However, unclear risk of bias and incomplete reporting underline that poor reporting standards are common and hamper the reliable interpretation of preclinical evidence for stem cell therapy for NEC.
Complications Following Primary Repair of Non-proximal Hypospadias in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wu Yuhao , Wang Junke , Zhao Tianxin , Wei Yuexin , Han Lindong , Liu Xing , Lin Tao , Wei Guanghui , Wu Shengde
Published: December 2020

Purpose: The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature on the complications and postoperative outcomes of children with non-proximal hypospadias.

Methods: Electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library CENTRAL were searched systematically from January 1990 to June 2020 for the literature that reported the postoperative outcomes of patients with non-proximal hypospadias. Non-proximal hypospadias encompassed distal and mid-penile hypospadias.

Results: We included 44 studies involving 10,666 subjects. Urethrocutaneous fistula (UCF) was the most common complication with an incidence of 4.0% (95% CI, 3.1–5.0%). Incidence of overall complications was 8.0% (95% CI, 6.3–9.8%). Meta-regression analysis revealed that length of urethral stent indwelling (coefficient 0.006; 95% CI, 0.000–0.011; p = 0.036) and penile dressing (coefficient 0.010; 95% CI, 0.000–0.021; p = 0.048) were two risk factors for UCF. Multivariate meta-regression analysis did not identify any independent risk factors for UCF. No differences were found between stent and stentless groups in non-proximal hypospadias regarding incidences of UCF (OR, 0.589; 95% CI, 0.267–1.297), meatal stenosis (OR, 0.880; 95% CI, 0.318–2.437), and overall complications (OR, 0.695; 95% CI, 0.403–1.199). No differences were found between foreskin preservation and circumcision in terms of complications either.

Conclusions: UCF is the most common complication following hypospadias repair with an incidence of 4.0%. Independent risk factors for UCF were not identified in the current research. Distal hypospadias repair without stent indwelling is not likely to compromise the postoperative outcome. Further studies should be designed to explore the differences between different surgical approaches and the potential risk factors for complications following hypospadias repair.
Non-invasive Fetal Electrocardiography for Intrapartum Cardiotocography
Authors: Vullings Rik , van Laar Judith O. E. H.
Published: December 2020

Fetal monitoring is important to diagnose complications that can occur during pregnancy. If detected timely, these complications might be resolved before they lead to irreversible damage. Current fetal monitoring mainly relies on cardiotocography, the simultaneous registration of fetal heart rate and uterine activity. Unfortunately, the technology to obtain the cardiotocogram has limitations. In current clinical practice the fetal heart rate is obtained via either an invasive scalp electrode, that poses risks and can only be applied during labor and after rupture of the fetal membranes, or via non-invasive Doppler ultrasound technology that is inaccurate and suffers from loss of signal, in particular in women with high body mass, during motion, or in preterm pregnancies. In this study, transabdominal electrophysiological measurements are exploited to provide fetal heart rate non-invasively and in a more reliable manner than Doppler ultrasound. The performance of the fetal heart rate detection is determined by comparing the fetal heart rate to that obtained with an invasive scalp electrode during intrapartum monitoring. The performance is gauged by comparing it to performances mentioned in literature on Doppler ultrasound and on two commercially-available devices that are also based on transabdominal fetal electrocardiography.
Prognostic Genetic Markers for Thrombosis in COVID-19 Patients: A Focused Analysis on D-Dimer, Homocysteine and Thromboembolism
Authors: Abu-Farha Mohamed , Al-Sabah Salman , Hammad Maha M. , Hebbar Prashantha , Channanath Arshad Mohamed , John Sumi Elsa , Taher Ibrahim , Almaeen Abdulrahman , Ghazy Amany , Mohammad Anwar , Abubaker Jehad , Arefanian Hossein , Al-Mulla Fahd , Thanaraj Thangavel Alphonse
Published: December 2020

COVID-19 is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2, which has infected over thirty eight million individuals worldwide. Emerging evidence indicates that COVID-19 patients are at a high risk of developing coagulopathy and thrombosis, conditions that elevate levels of D-dimer. It is believed that homocysteine, an amino acid that plays a crucial role in coagulation, may also contribute to these conditions. At present, multiple genes are implicated in the development of these disorders. For example, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FGG, FGA, and F5 mediate increases in D-dimer and SNPs in ABO, CBS, CPS1 and MTHFR mediate differences in homocysteine levels, and SNPs in TDAG8 associate with Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia. In this study, we aimed to uncover the genetic basis of the above conditions by examining genome-wide associations and tissue-specific gene expression to build a molecular network. Based on gene ontology, we annotated various SNPs with five ancestral terms: pulmonary embolism, venous thromboembolism, vascular diseases, cerebrovascular disorders, and stroke. The gene-gene interaction network revealed three clusters that each contained hallmark genes for D-dimer/fibrinogen levels, homocysteine levels, and arterial/venous thromboembolism with F2 and F5 acting as connecting nodes. We propose that genotyping COVID-19 patients for SNPs examined in this study will help identify those at greatest risk of complications linked to thrombosis.
Leveraging Image Analysis to Compute 3D Plant Phenotypes Based on Voxel-Grid Plant Reconstruction
Authors: Das Choudhury Sruti , Maturu Srikanth , Samal Ashok , Stoerger Vincent , Awada Tala
Published: December 2020

High throughput image-based plant phenotyping facilitates the extraction of morphological and biophysical traits of a large number of plants non-invasively in a relatively short time. It facilitates the computation of advanced phenotypes by considering the plant as a single object (holistic phenotypes) or its components, i.e., leaves and the stem (component phenotypes). The architectural complexity of plants increases over time due to variations in self-occlusions and phyllotaxy, i.e., arrangements of leaves around the stem. One of the central challenges to computing phenotypes from 2-dimensional (2D) single view images of plants, especially at the advanced vegetative stage in presence of self-occluding leaves, is that the information captured in 2D images is incomplete, and hence, the computed phenotypes are inaccurate. We introduce a novel algorithm to compute 3-dimensional (3D) plant phenotypes from multiview images using voxel-grid reconstruction of the plant (3DPhenoMV). The paper also presents a novel method to reliably detect and separate the individual leaves and the stem from the 3D voxel-grid of the plant using voxel overlapping consistency check and point cloud clustering techniques. To evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm, we introduce the University of Nebraska-Lincoln 3D Plant Phenotyping Dataset (UNL-3DPPD). A generic taxonomy of 3D image-based plant phenotypes are also presented to promote 3D plant phenotyping research. A subset of these phenotypes are computed using computer vision algorithms with discussion of their significance in the context of plant science. The central contributions of the paper are (a) an algorithm for 3D voxel-grid reconstruction of maize plants at the advanced vegetative stages using images from multiple 2D views; (b) a generic taxonomy of 3D image-based plant phenotypes and a public benchmark dataset, i.e., UNL-3DPPD, to promote the development of 3D image-based plant phenotyping research; and (c) novel voxel overlapping consistency check and point cloud clustering techniques to detect and isolate individual leaves and stem of the maize plants to compute the component phenotypes. Detailed experimental analyses demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method, and also show the potential of 3D phenotypes to explain the morphological characteristics of plants regulated by genetic and environmental interactions.
Semi-Automated Field Plot Segmentation From UAS Imagery for Experimental Agriculture
Authors: Robb Ciaran , Hardy Andy , Doonan John H. , Brook Jason
Published: December 2020

We present an image processing method for accurately segmenting crop plots from Unmanned Aerial System imagery (UAS). The use of UAS for agricultural monitoring has increased significantly, emerging as a potentially cost effective alternative to manned aerial surveys and field work for remotely assessing crop state. The accurate segmentation of small densely-packed crop plots from UAS imagery over extensive areas is an important component of this monitoring activity in order to assess the state of different varieties and treatment regimes in a timely and cost-effective manner. Despite its importance, a reliable crop plot segmentation approach eludes us, with best efforts being relying on significant manual parameterization. The segmentation method developed uses a combination of edge detection and Hough line detection to establish the boundaries of each plot with pixel/point based metrics calculated for each plot segment. We show that with limited parameterization, segmentation of crop plots consistently over 89% accuracy are possible on different crop types and conditions. This is comparable to results obtained from rice paddies where the plant material in plots is sharply contrasted with the water, and represents a considerable improvement over previous methods for typical dry land crops.
Allocation Strategies for Seed Nitrogen and Phosphorus in an Alpine Meadow Along an Altitudinal Gradient on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Wang Zhiqiang , Bu Haiyan , Wang Mingcheng , Huang Heng , Niklas Karl J.
Published: December 2020

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) play important roles in many aspects of plant biology. The allocation of N and P in plant vegetative organs (i.e., leaves, stems, and fine roots) is critical to the regulation of plant growth and development. However, how these elements are allocated in seeds is unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the N and P allocation strategies of seeds in an alpine meadow along an altitudinal gradient. We measured the seed N and P contents of 253 herbaceous species in 37 families along an altitudinal gradient (2,000–4,200 m) in the east Tibetan alpine meadow. The geometric means of seed N and P concentrations and N:P ratios were 34.81 mg g–1, 5.06 mg g–1, and 6.88, respectively. Seed N and P concentrations varied across major taxonomic groups and among different altitude zones. N:P ratios showed no significant variations among different taxonomic groups with the exception of N-fixing species. The numerical value of the scaling exponent of seed N vs. P was 0.73, thus approaching 3/4, across the entire data set, but varied significantly across major taxonomic groups. In addition, the numerical value of the scaling exponent of N vs. P declined from 0.88 in the high altitude zone to 0.63 in the low altitude zone. These results indicate that the variations in the numerical value of the scaling exponent governing the seed N vs. P scaling relationship varies as a function of major taxonomic groups and among different altitude zones. We speculate that this variation reflects different adaptive strategies for survival and germination in an alpine meadow. If true, the data presented here advance our understanding of plant seed allocation strategies, and have important implications for modeling early plant growth and development.
Bullying Trends Inside Sport: When Organized Sport Does Not Attract but Intimidates
Authors: Vveinhardt Jolita , Fominiene Vilija B.
Published: December 2020

Bullying is acknowledged by scientists as a considerable and still unresolved problem in sport. By triggering stress-related emotions, they determine the behavior of those experiencing bullying and cause various negative effects on their physical and mental health. However, in the presence of the tenacious trend in sports “to put one’s own house in order,” athletes, coaches, teams, and sports organizations themselves often do not emphasize bullying or state that they do not encounter the problem at all, and adheres to the belief that athletes may use negative emotions instrumentally in order to perform tasks given to them more effectively. The aim of this research was to reveal the determinants of the internal environment of sports organizations, causing trends of bullying in organized sport. To achieve the research aim, a qualitative research paradigm was chosen. The empirical study involved eight coaches working in organized sport in Lithuania. The survey was conducted using the semi-structured interview method. Data were analyzed employing inductive content analysis. The presented research results encompass the transcriptions of interviews, which are conceptually divided into three main categories revealing coaches’ opinion on trends of bullying in organized sport, related to the sports organization’s internal environment. Categories identified during the study can be equated to interrelated levels of model of Organizational behavior. The micro level-interrelationships; the mezzo level-sports professionals’ (coaches’) behavior; and the macro level-management of interrelationships. These results revealed which determinants of the sports organization’s internal environment can be favorable for emergence of bullying and its dynamics in both interrelationships among athletes and interrelationships between athletes and coaches. And these trends of bullying, revealed on the basis of the responses of coaches involved in the study, allow us to see harmful principles of coaching, bullying-promoting traditions of team/group leadership, existing in sport, and to predict how this may effect both the athlete himself, his environment and attractiveness of the sporting activity itself.
Leisure Sports Participants’ Engagement in Preventive Health Behaviors and Their Experience of Constraints on Performing Leisure Activities During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Kim Young-Jae , Cho Jeong-Hyung , Park Yeon-Ji
Published: December 2020

This study assessed the demographic characteristics of Koreans engaged in leisure sports activities during the COVID-19 pandemic and the differences in their preventive health behaviors and constraints on leisure activities. For this study, the demographic characteristics (gender, age, marital status, level of participation in leisure sports, years of participation, companions with whom individuals participating in these sports, type of space used for performing the sports, occupation, and average monthly income) of 544 leisure sport participants (men: 46.0%, women: 54.0%; average age: 36.8 and 33.5 years, respectively), who were recruited on a nationwide basis, were examined through an online survey. Then, comparisons between groups were performed using independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and multivariate analysis of variance. Women who participated in both indoor and outdoor leisure sports showed higher adoption of health prevention behaviors than their male counterparts, and married individuals who participated in indoor leisure sports showed higher adoption of health prevention behaviors than unmarried participants. Moreover, individuals who participated in both indoor and outdoor leisure sports by themselves had many interpersonal constraints overall, and the group of married individuals who participated in indoor leisure sports showed structural constraints. In conclusion, leisure sports participants have adopted many health prevention behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic, but this had led to some interpersonal constraints. These results indicate that, in the case of future pandemics, personal and institutional efforts will need to be made to promote participation in leisure sports and prevent excessive social isolation.
Increasing Risks of Suicide Attempt and Suicidal Drug Overdose After Head Trauma in Patients With Sleep-Disordered Breathing: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Harnod Dorji , Lin Cheng-Li , Harnod Tomor , Kao Chia-Hung
Published: December 2020

Objective: To determine the risks of suicide attempt (SA) and suicidal drug overdose (SDO) after head trauma in patients with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) by using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan.

Methods: We analyzed the data of patients aged ≥20 years who were diagnosed with SDB between 2000 and 2012. We further divided them into two cohorts [with admission for head injury (SBI) and without (SBN)], and we compared them against sex-, age-, comorbidity-, and index-date-matched healthy individuals. The adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals of SA and SDO were calculated with adjustment of age, sex, and comorbidities.

Results: Approximately 0.61% of patients among the overall 142,063 patients with SDB had SA, with 535 and 335 patients included in the SBN and SBI cohorts, respectively. Compared with patients with SBN, a significantly higher risk of SA was observed in patients with SBI (aHR = 2.22), especially in those aged under 50 years (aHR = 2.48). Notably, a SDO incidence of 1.20% was noted in patients with SDB, and the SBI cohort had a 1.81-fold higher risk for SDO when compared with the SBN cohort.

Conclusion: The risks of subsequent SA and SDO are proportionally increased by the effects of head trauma with a moderating role of SDB, especially in those aged <50 years. SDB and head trauma can increase suicide behaviors individually and synergistically.