bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Data-Quality Assessment Signals Toxic-Site Safety Threats and Environmental Injustices
Authors: Shrader-Frechette Kristin , Biondo Andrew M.
Published: February 2021

Most hazardous-waste sites are located in urban areas populated by disproportionate numbers of children, minorities, and poor people who, as a result, face more severe pollution threats and environmental-health inequalities. Partly to address this harm, in 2017 the United Nations unanimously endorsed the New Urban Agenda, which includes redeveloping urban-infill-toxic-waste sites. However, no systematic, independent analyses assess the public-health adequacy of such hazardous-facility redevelopments. Our objective is to provide a preliminary data-quality assessment (PDQA) of urban-infill-toxic-site testing, conducted by private redevelopers, including whether it adequately addresses pollution threats. To this end, we used two qualitative, weight-of-evidence methods. Method 1 employs nine criteria to select assessments for PDQA and help control for confounders. To conduct PDQA, Method 2 uses three US Environmental Protection Agency standards—the temporal, geographical, and technological representativeness of sampling. Our Method 1 results reveal four current toxic-site assessments (by CBRE/Trammell Crow, the world’s largest commercial developer); at all of these sites the main risk drivers are solvents, volatile organic compounds, including trichloroethylene. Our Method 2 results indicate that all four assessments violate most PDQA standards and systematically underestimate health risk. These results reveal environmental injustice, disproportionate health threats to children/minorities/poor people at all four sites. Although preliminary, our conclusion is that alleviating harm and environmental-health inequalities posed by urban-infill-toxic-site pollution may require improving both the testing/cleanup/redevelopment requirements of the New Urban Agenda and the regulatory oversight of assessment and remediation performed by private redevelopers.
Predictive Accuracy of Singleton Versus Customized Twin Growth Chart for Adverse Perinatal Outcome: A Cohort Study
Authors: Nowacka Urszula , Kosińska-Kaczyńska Katarzyna , Krajewski Paweł , Saletra-Bielińska Aleksandra , Walasik Izabela , Szymusik Iwona
Published: February 2021

Background: Fetal growth of twins differs from singletons. The objective was to assess the fetal growth in twin gestations in relation to singleton charts and customized twin charts, respectively, followed by a comparison of the frequency of neonatal complications in small-for-gestational-age (SGA) twins. Methods: We performed an analysis of twin pregnancies with established chorionicity with particular emphasis on postnatal adverse outcomes in newborns classified as SGA. Neonatal birth weight was comparatively assessed using both singleton and twin growth charts with following percentile estimation. Using a statistical model, we established the prediction strength of neonatal complications in SGA twins for both methods. Results: The dataset included 322 twin pairs (247 cases of dichorionic and 75 cases of monochorionic diamniotic gestations). Utilization of twin-specific normograms was less likely to label twins as SGA—nevertheless, this diagnosis strongly correlated with risk of observing adverse outcomes. Using a chart dedicated for twin pregnancies predicted newborn complications in the SGA group with higher sensitivity and had better positive predictive value regarding postnatal morbidity. Conclusions: Estimating twin growth with customized charts provides better prognosis of undesirable neonatal events in the SGA group comparing to singleton nomograms and consequently might determine neonatal intensive care prenatal approach.
The Moderating Roles of Sensation Seeking and Worry among Nature-Based Adventure Tourists
Authors: Kiatkawsin Kiattipoom , Bui Ngoc Anh , Hrankai Richard , Jeong Kwangmin
Published: February 2021

The adventure tourism subsector continues to be popular today. Both industry and academia define adventure tourism’s scope from either the physical (e.g., outdoor activity and physical activity) or psychological aspects (e.g., thrill seeking and challenges). Recent studies have pointed out that adventure tourism can be interpreted differently across cultures and markets. Still, risk has always been universally accepted as an essential characteristic of adventure tourism. Thus, most empirical research has studied the role of risk as one of the motivations. However, attempts to investigate related elements that are either a response to or a coping mechanism for the presence of risk are scarce. This present study adopted one of the most prominent frameworks in explaining behavioral intentions, the theory of planned behavior, and included involvement and knowledge variables to extend it. Furthermore, the sensation-seeking and worry constructs were tested for their moderating impact on intentions to participate in adventure tours. The results of structural equation modeling and multigroup invariance tests revealed that subjective norms were not a significant predictor of intentions, while both sensation seeking and worry significantly moderated the relationships between the study variables.
The Feasibility of Cervical Elastography in Predicting Preterm Delivery in Singleton Pregnancy with Short Cervix Following Progesterone Treatment
Authors: Jung Yun Ji , Kwon Hayan , Shin Jeongeun , Park Yejin , Heo Seok-Jae , Park Hyun Soo , Oh Soo-young , Sung Ji-Hee , Seol Hyun-Joo , Kim Hyun Mi , Seong Won Joon , Hwang Han Sung , Jung Inkyung , Kwon Ja-Young
Published: February 2021

Previous studies demonstrated an association between cervical strain and risk of spontaneous preterm delivery (sPTD). The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of elastography in predicting sPTD at <32 weeks of gestation in women with singleton pregnancies receiving progesterone for short cervix (≤2.5 cm) diagnosed between 16 and 28 weeks of gestation Among 115 participants eligible for analysis, nine had sPTD at <32 weeks. Preprogesterone (PP0) mean internal os strain (IOS), elasticity contrast index (ECI), hardness ratio (HR), one-week postprogesterone (PP1) IOS, mean external os strain (EOS), ECI, and HR were significantly different between groups. Higher PP0 IOS, PP1 IOS, and PP1 EOS were associated with a 2.92, 4.39 and 3.65-fold increase in the risk of sPTD at <32 weeks, respectively (adjusted for cervical length (CL) at diagnosis; p = 0.04, 0.012 and 0.026, respectively). A combination of CL at diagnosis, PP0 IOS and PP1 EOS showed a significantly higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.858) than that of CL alone (p = 0.041). In women with singleton pregnancies receiving progesterone for short cervix, cervical elastography performed before and one week after progesterone treatment may be useful in predicting sPTD at <32 weeks of gestation.
Experiences of Being a Couple and Working in Shifts in the Mining Industry: Advances and Continuities
Authors: Segovia Jimena Silva , Pastor Pablo Zuleta , Ravanal Estefany Castillo , Segovia-Chinga Tarut
Published: February 2021

In this study, we sought to understand, from a gender perspective, the experiences of mining couples in Antofagasta, Chile, especially the balance between their intimate lives and the absences of their partners due to the shift work modality. We analyzed testimonies from men and women living in Antofagasta, which is considered to be one of the world’s three largest mining regions. Among the main findings, power relations based on the hegemonic gender model supported by the sexual division of labor were identified, which persist in this mining area, despite progress in gender equality issues in Chile. Although there are differences between the discourses of men and women and their subjective positioning, we propose that both actively collaborate with the reproduction of social gender relations marked by male domination. We propose that the way in which couples live is associated with the organization of mining work and especially the shift system, which is central to the reproduction of the gender order with a heteropatriarchal tone.
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals HgCl2 Induces Apoptotic Cell Death in Human Lung Carcinoma H1299 Cells through Caspase-3-Independent Pathway
Authors: Kim Mi Jin , Park Jinhong , Kim Jinho , Kim Ji-Young , An Mi-Jin , Shin Geun-Seup , Lee Hyun-Min , Kim Chul-Hong , Kim Jung-Woong
Published: February 2021

Mercury is one of the detrimental toxicants that can be found in the environment and exists naturally in different forms; inorganic and organic. Human exposure to inorganic mercury, such as mercury chloride, occurs through air pollution, absorption of food or water, and personal care products. This study aimed to investigate the effect of HgCl2 on cell viability, cell cycle, apoptotic pathway, and alters of the transcriptome profiles in human non-small cell lung cancer cells, H1299. Our data show that HgCl2 treatment causes inhibition of cell growth via cell cycle arrest at G0/G1- and S-phase. In addition, HgCl2 induces apoptotic cell death through the caspase-3-independent pathway. Comprehensive transcriptome analysis using RNA-seq indicated that cellular nitrogen compound metabolic process, cellular metabolism, and translation for biological processes-related gene sets were significantly up- and downregulated by HgCl2 treatment. Interestingly, comparative gene expression patterns by RNA-seq indicated that mitochondrial ribosomal proteins were markedly altered by low-dose of HgCl2 treatment. Altogether, these data show that HgCl2 induces apoptotic cell death through the dysfunction of mitochondria.
Mitochondriopathies as a Clue to Systemic Disorders—Analytical Tools and Mitigating Measures in Context of Predictive, Preventive, and Personalized (3P) Medicine
Authors: Liskova Alena , Samec Marek , Koklesova Lenka , Kudela Erik , Kubatka Peter , Golubnitschaja Olga
Published: February 2021

The mitochondrial respiratory chain is the main site of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the cell. Although mitochondria possess a powerful antioxidant system, an excess of ROS cannot be completely neutralized and cumulative oxidative damage may lead to decreasing mitochondrial efficiency in energy production, as well as an increasing ROS excess, which is known to cause a critical imbalance in antioxidant/oxidant mechanisms and a “vicious circle” in mitochondrial injury. Due to insufficient energy production, chronic exposure to ROS overproduction consequently leads to the oxidative damage of life-important biomolecules, including nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and amino acids, among others. Different forms of mitochondrial dysfunction (mitochondriopathies) may affect the brain, heart, peripheral nervous and endocrine systems, eyes, ears, gut, and kidney, among other organs. Consequently, mitochondriopathies have been proposed as an attractive diagnostic target to be investigated in any patient with unexplained progressive multisystem disorder. This review article highlights the pathomechanisms of mitochondriopathies, details advanced analytical tools, and suggests predictive approaches, targeted prevention and personalization of medical services as instrumental for the overall management of mitochondriopathy-related cascading pathologies.
Therapeutic Advances in Oncology
Authors: Liu Jinsha , Pandya Priyanka , Afshar Sepideh
Published: February 2021

Around 77 new oncology drugs were approved by the FDA in the past five years; however, most cancers remain untreated. Small molecules and antibodies are dominant therapeutic modalities in oncology. Antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific antibodies, peptides, cell, and gene-therapies are emerging to address the unmet patient need. Advancement in the discovery and development platforms, identification of novel targets, and emergence of new technologies have greatly expanded the treatment options for patients. Here, we provide an overview of various therapeutic modalities and the current treatment options in oncology, and an in-depth discussion of the therapeutics in the preclinical stage for the treatment of breast cancer, lung cancer, and multiple myeloma.
Heme Oxygenase 1: A Defensive Mediator in Kidney Diseases
Authors: Grunenwald Anne , Roumenina Lubka T. , Frimat Marie
Published: February 2021

The incidence of kidney disease is rising, constituting a significant burden on the healthcare system and making identification of new therapeutic targets increasingly urgent. The heme oxygenase (HO) system performs an important function in the regulation of oxidative stress and inflammation and, via these mechanisms, is thought to play a role in the prevention of non-specific injuries following acute renal failure or resulting from chronic kidney disease. The expression of HO-1 is strongly inducible by a wide range of stimuli in the kidney, consequent to the kidney’s filtration role which means HO-1 is exposed to a wide range of endogenous and exogenous molecules, and it has been shown to be protective in a variety of nephropathological animal models. Interestingly, the positive effect of HO-1 occurs in both hemolysis- and rhabdomyolysis-dominated diseases, where the kidney is extensively exposed to heme (a major HO-1 inducer), as well as in non-heme-dependent diseases such as hypertension, diabetic nephropathy or progression to end-stage renal disease. This highlights the complexity of HO-1’s functions, which is also illustrated by the fact that, despite the abundance of preclinical data, no drug targeting HO-1 has so far been translated into clinical use. The objective of this review is to assess current knowledge relating HO-1’s role in the kidney and its potential interest as a nephroprotection agent. The potential therapeutic openings will be presented, in particular through the identification of clinical trials targeting this enzyme or its products.
Blue Light Induces Impaired Autophagy through Nucleotide-Binding Oligomerization Domain 2 Activation on the Mouse Ocular Surface
Authors: Li Ying , Jin Rujun , Li Lan , Choi Ji Suk , Kim Jonghwa , Yoon Hyeon Jeong , Park Jong Hwan , Yoon Kyung Chul
Published: February 2021

In this study, we investigated the effects of blue light exposure on nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2) expression on the mouse ocular surface and evaluated the role of NOD2 activation in light-induced cell death. Mice were divided into wild-type (WT), NOD2-knock out (KO), WT + blue light (WT + BL), and NOD2-KO + blue light (NOD2-KO + BL) groups, and the mice in the WT+BL and NOD2-KO + BL groups were exposed to blue light for 10 days. After 10 days of blue light exposure, increased reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde were observed in the WT + BL and NOD2-KO + BL groups, and the WT + BL group showed a higher expression of NOD2 and autophagy related 16 like 1. Although both WT+BL and NOD2-KO + BL groups showed an increase in the expression of light chain 3-II, NOD2-KO + BL mice had a significantly lower p62 expression than WT + BL mice. In addition, NOD2-KO+BL mice had significantly lower corneal epithelial damage and apoptosis than WT + BL mice. In conclusion, blue light exposure can induce impaired autophagy by activation of NOD2 on the ocular surface. In addition, the reactive oxygen species (ROS)–NOD2–autophagy related 16 like 1 (ATG16L) signaling pathway may be involved in the blue-light-induced autophagy responses, resulting in corneal epithelial apoptosis.
DING Proteins Extend to the Extremophilic World
Authors: Porzio Elena , Faraone Mennella Maria Rosaria , Manco Giuseppe
Published: February 2021

The DING proteins are ubiquitous in the three domains of life, from mesophiles to thermo- and hyperthermophiles. They belong to a family of more than sixty members and have a characteristic N-terminus, DINGGG, which is considered a “signature” of these proteins. Structurally, they share a highly conserved phosphate binding site, and a three dimensional organization resembling the “Venus Flytrap”, both reminding the ones of PstS proteins. They have unusually high sequence conservation, even between distantly related species. Nevertheless despite that the genomes of most of these species have been sequenced, the DING gene has not been reported for all the relative characterized DING proteins. Identity of known DING proteins has been confirmed immunologically and, in some cases, by N-terminal sequence analysis. Only a few of the DING proteins have been purified and biochemically characterized. DING proteins are heterogeneous for their wide range of biological activities and some show different activities not always correlated with each other. Most of them have been originally identified for different biological properties, or rather for binding to phosphate and also to other ligands. Their involvement in pathologies is described. This review is an update of the most recent findings on old and new DING proteins.
Steatotic Livers Are More Susceptible to Ischemia Reperfusion Damage after Transplantation and Show Increased γδ T Cell Infiltration
Authors: Eggenhofer Elke , Groell Anja , Junger Henrik , Kasi Amoon , Kroemer Alexander , Geissler Edward K. , Schlitt Hans J. , Scherer Marcus N.
Published: February 2021

Liver transplantation (LTx) is often the only possible therapy for many end-stage liver diseases, but successful long-term transplant outcomes are limited by multiple factors, including ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI). This situation is aggravated by a shortage of transplantable organs, thus encouraging the use of inferior quality organs. Here, we have investigated early hepatic IRI in a retrospective, exploratory, monocentric case-control study considering organ marginality. We analyzed standard LTx biopsies from 46 patients taken at the end of cold organ preparation and two hours after reperfusion, and we showed that early IRI was present after two hours in 63% of cases. Looking at our data in general, in accordance with Eurotransplant criteria, a marginal transplant was allocated at our institution in about 54% of cases. We found that patients with a marginal-organ LTx showing evidence of IRI had a significantly worse one-year survival rate (51% vs. 75%). As we saw in our study cohort, the marginality of these livers was almost entirely due to steatosis. In contrast, survival rates in patients receiving a non-marginal transplant were not influenced by the presence or absence of IRI. Poorer outcomes in marginal organs prompted us to examine pre- and post-reperfusion biopsies, and it was revealed that transplants with IRI demonstrated significantly greater T cell infiltration. Molecular analyses showed that higher mRNA expression levels of CXCL-1, CD3 and TCRγ locus genes were found in IRI livers. We therefore conclude that the marginality of an organ, namely steatosis, exacerbates early IRI by enhancing effector immune cell infiltration. Preemptive strategies targeting immune pathways could increase the safety of using marginal organs for LTx.
Myocardial Hypertrophy and Compensatory Increase in Systolic Function in a Mouse Model of Oxidative Stress
Authors: Varshney Rohan , Ranjit Rojina , Chiao Ying Ann , Kinter Michael , Ahn Bumsoo
Published: February 2021

Free radicals, or reactive oxygen species, have been implicated as one of the primary causes of myocardial pathologies elicited by chronic diseases and age. The imbalance between pro-oxidants and antioxidants, termed “oxidative stress”, involves several pathological changes in mouse hearts, including hypertrophy and cardiac dysfunction. However, the molecular mechanisms and adaptations of the hearts in mice lacking cytoplasmic superoxide dismutase (Sod1KO) have not been investigated. We used echocardiography to characterize cardiac function and morphology in vivo. Protein expression and enzyme activity of Sod1KO were confirmed by targeted mass spectrometry and activity gel. The heart weights of the Sod1KO mice were significantly increased compared with their wildtype peers. The increase in heart weights was accompanied by concentric hypertrophy, posterior wall thickness of the left ventricles (LV), and reduced LV volume. Activated downstream pathways in Sod1KO hearts included serine–threonine kinase and ribosomal protein synthesis. Notably, the reduction in LV volume was compensated by enhanced systolic function, measured by increased ejection fraction and fractional shortening. A regulatory sarcomeric protein, troponin I, was hyper-phosphorylated in Sod1KO, while the vinculin protein was upregulated. In summary, mice lacking cytoplasmic superoxide dismutase were associated with an increase in heart weights and concentric hypertrophy, exhibiting a pathological adaptation of the hearts to oxidative stress.
Advances in Understanding of the Copper Homeostasis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Hofmann Lukas , Hirsch Melanie , Ruthstein Sharon
Published: February 2021

Thirty-five thousand people die as a result of more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections in the United States of America per year. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is classified a serious threat, the second-highest threat category of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Among others, the World Health Organization (WHO) encourages the discovery and development of novel antibiotic classes with new targets and mechanisms of action without cross-resistance to existing classes. To find potential new target sites in pathogenic bacteria, such as P. aeruginosa, it is inevitable to fully understand the molecular mechanism of homeostasis, metabolism, regulation, growth, and resistances thereof. P. aeruginosa maintains a sophisticated copper defense cascade comprising three stages, resembling those of public safety organizations. These stages include copper scavenging, first responder, and second responder. Similar mechanisms are found in numerous pathogens. Here we compare the copper-dependent transcription regulators cueR and copRS of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and P. aeruginosa. Further, phylogenetic analysis and structural modelling of mexPQ-opmE reveal that this efflux pump is unlikely to be involved in the copper export of P. aeruginosa. Altogether, we present current understandings of the copper homeostasis in P. aeruginosa and potential new target sites for antimicrobial agents or a combinatorial drug regimen in the fight against multidrug resistant pathogens.
Generation of Knockout and Transgenic Zebrafish to Characterize Abcc4 Functions in Detoxification and Efflux of Lead
Authors: Lu Xing , Long Yong , Li Xixi , Zhang Lang , Li Qing , Wen Hua , Zhong Shan , Cui Zongbin
Published: February 2021

Lead (Pb) is one of the major heavy metals that are toxic to vertebrates and usually considered as environmental pollutants. ABCC4/MRP4 is an organic anion transporter that mediates cellular efflux of a wide range of exogenous and endogenous compounds such as cyclic nucleotides and anti-cancer drugs; however, it remains unclear whether ABCC4 and its orthologs function in the detoxification and excretion of toxic lead. In this study, we found that the transcriptional and translational expression of zebrafish abcc4 was significantly induced under lead exposure in developing zebrafish embryos and adult tissues. Overexpression of zebrafish Abcc4 markedly decreased the cytotoxicity and accumulation of lead in pig renal proximal tubule cell line (LLC-PK1 cells). To further understand the functions of zebrafish Abcc4 in lead detoxification, the clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 system was used to create an abcc4−/− mutant zebrafish line. In comparison with the wild-type (WT) zebrafish, the abcc4−/− mutants showed a higher death rate and lead accumulation upon exposure to lead. Furthermore, a stable abcc4-transgenic zebrafish line was successfully generated, which exerted stronger ability to detoxify and excrete lead than WT zebrafish. These findings indicate that zebrafish Abcc4 plays a crucial role in lead detoxification and cellular efflux and could be used as a potential biomarker to monitor lead contamination in a water environment.
Nutrition and Acute Pancreatitis
Authors: Yang Allison L.
Published: February 2021

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an acute inflammatory process of the pancreas that is characterized by severe abdominal pain, elevated pancreatic enzymes, and pancreatic changes on abdominal imaging. AP is, by nature, an inflammatory process that leads to protein catabolism and an increased metabolic rate, highlighting the strong need for early nutritional support in the initial management of the disease process. The goal of nutritional support in acute pancreatitis is to correct the negative nitrogen balance to reduce inflammation and improve outcomes. Many trials and multiple systemic reviews and meta-analyses have examined the best modality, timing, and composition of nutritional support for acute pancreatitis. Early enteral nutrition has emerged as an important aspect of the clinical management of AP. This narrative review aimed to provide an overview of the clinical management of nutrition in acute pancreatitis based on the currently available data.
ESA, Iron Therapy and New Drugs: Are There New Perspectives in the Treatment of Anaemia?
Authors: Del Vecchio Lucia , Minutolo Roberto
Published: February 2021

Anemia is a well-known consequence of chronic kidney disease (CKD); it is mainly due to a relative insufficiency of erythropoietin synthesis by the failing kidneys. Over the years, the combination of erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESA) and iron has become the standard of care of anemia. All ESAs effectively increase hemoglobin (Hb) levels in a substantial percentage of patients. However, in the last decade, their use has been surrounded by safety issues in increased cardiovascular risk, especially when used at high doses in inflamed and hyporesponsive patients. This has led to the definition of a more cautious Hb target. Iron deficiency is very frequent in CKD patients, with a higher frequency in non-dialysis patients. Traditionally, iron supplementation is mostly used as supportive therapy for anemia control. However, the concept is growing that intravenous iron therapy per se could be beneficial in the presence of heart failure. A new class of drugs, prolyl hydroxylase domain (PHD) inhibitors (PHD inhibitors) is becoming available for the treatment of anemia in CKD patients. Theoretically, these agents have a number of advantages, the main ones being that of stimulating the synthesis of endogenous erythropoietin and increasing iron availability. The impact of their future use in clinical practice is still to be defined. Another possible strategy could be targeting serum hepcidin and its related pathways. This possibility is fascinating from the scientific point of view, but at present its development phase is still far from clinical application.
The Accelerations of a Wave Measurement Buoy Impacted by Breaking Waves in the Surf Zone
Authors: Brown Adam C. , Paasch Robert K.
Published: February 2021

A spherical wave measurement buoy capable of detecting breaking waves has been designed and built. The buoy is 16 inches in diameter and houses a 9 degree of freedom inertial measurement unit (IMU). The orientation and acceleration of the buoy is continuously logged at frequencies up to 200 Hz providing a high fidelity description of the motion of the buoy as it is impacted by breaking waves. The buoy was deployed several times throughout the winter of 2013–2014. Both moored and free-drifting data were acquired in near-shore shoaling waves off the coast of Newport, OR. Almost 200 breaking waves of varying type and intensity were measured over the course of multiple deployments. The characteristic signature of spilling and plunging breakers was identified in the IMU data.
Comparison of Frequency and Severity of Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders in Children with Simple Obesity and Paediatric Patients with Prader–Willi Syndrome
Authors: Lecka-Ambroziak Agnieszka , Wysocka-Mincewicz Marta , Świercz Anna , Jędrzejczak Małgorzata , Szalecki Mieczysław
Published: February 2021

Sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs) can be present in children with simple obesity and with Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) and influence an individual diagnostic and treatment approach. We compared frequency and severity of SRBDs in children with simple obesity and with PWS, both without and on recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment, and correlation of SRBDs with insulin resistance tests. A screening polysomnography-polygraphy (PSG), the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were analysed in three groups of patients—with simple obesity (group 1, n = 30, mean age 14.2 years), patients with PWS without the rhGH therapy (group 2, n = 8, mean age 13.0 years) and during the rhGH treatment (group 3, n = 17, mean age 8.9 years). The oxygen desaturation index (ODI) was significantly higher in groups 2 and 3, compared to group 1 (p = 0.00), and hypopnea index (HI) was higher in group 1 (p = 0.03). Apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) and apnea index (AI) results positively correlated with the insulin resistance parameters in groups 1 and 3. The PSG values worsened along with the increasing insulin resistance in children with simple obesity and patients with PWS treated with rhGH that may lead to a change in the patients’ care.
The Assisi Think Tank Meeting Breast Large Database for Standardized Data Collection in Breast Cancer—ATTM.BLADE
Authors: Marazzi Fabio , Masiello Valeria , Masciocchi Carlotta , Merluzzi Mara , Saldi Simonetta , Belli Paolo , Boldrini Luca , Capocchiano Nikola Dino , Di Leone Alba , Magno Stefano , Meldolesi Elisa , Moschella Francesca , Mulé Antonino , Smaniotto Daniela , Terribile Daniela Andreina , Tagliaferri Luca , Franceschini Gianluca , Gambacorta Maria Antonietta , Masetti Riccardo , Valentini Vincenzo , Poortmans Philip M. P. , Aristei Cynthia
Published: February 2021

Background: During the 2016 Assisi Think Tank Meeting (ATTM) on breast cancer, the panel of experts proposed developing a validated system, based on rapid learning health care (RLHC) principles, to standardize inter-center data collection and promote personalized treatments for breast cancer. Material and Methods: The seven-step Breast LArge DatabasE (BLADE) project included data collection, analysis, application, and evaluation on a data-sharing platform. The multidisciplinary team developed a consensus-based ontology of validated variables with over 80% agreement. This English-language ontology constituted a breast cancer library with seven knowledge domains: baseline, primary systemic therapy, surgery, adjuvant systemic therapies, radiation therapy, follow-up, and toxicity. The library was uploaded to the BLADE domain. The safety of data encryption and preservation was tested according to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) guidelines on data from 15 clinical charts. The system was validated on 64 patients who had undergone post-mastectomy radiation therapy. In October 2018, the BLADE system was approved by the Ethical Committee of Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy (Protocol No. 0043996/18). Results: From June 2016 to July 2019, the multidisciplinary team completed the work plan. An ontology of 218 validated variables was uploaded to the BLADE domain. The GDPR safety test confirmed encryption and data preservation (on 5000 random cases). All validation benchmarks were met. Conclusion:BLADE is a support system for follow-up and assessment of breast cancer care. To successfully develop and validate it as the first standardized data collection system, multidisciplinary collaboration was crucial in selecting its ontology and knowledge domains. BLADE is suitable for multi-center uploading of retrospective and prospective clinical data, as it ensures anonymity and data privacy.
The Role of SNP Interactions when Determining Independence of Novel Signals in Genetic Association Studies—An Application to ARG1 and Bronchodilator Response
Authors: Walsh Ryan , Voorhies Kirsten , McDonald Merry-Lynn , McGeachie Michael , Sordillo Joanne E. , Lange Christoph , Wu Ann Chen , Lutz Sharon M.
Published: February 2021

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) play a critical role in identifying many loci for common diseases and traits. There has been a rapid increase in the number of GWAS over the past decade. As additional GWAS are being conducted, it is unclear whether a novel signal associated with the trait of interest is independent of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the same region that has been previously associated with the trait of interest. The general approach to determining whether the novel association is independent of previous signals is to examine the association of the novel SNP with the trait of interest conditional on the previously identified SNP and/or calculate linkage disequilibrium (LD) between the two SNPs. However, the role of epistasis and SNP by SNP interactions are rarely considered. Through simulation studies, we examined the role of SNP by SNP interactions when determining the independence of two genetic association signals. We have created an R package on Github called gxgRC to generate these simulation studies based on user input. In genetic association studies of asthma, we considered the role of SNP by SNP interactions when determining independence of signals for SNPs in the ARG1 gene and bronchodilator response.
Association of Sepsis Mortality with Specific Cancer Sites and Treatment Type: The Multiethnic Cohort Study
Authors: Shvetsov Yurii B. , Ogino Mari H. , Glibetic Natalija , Asato Chloe B. , Wilkens Lynne R. , Le Marchand Loïc , Matter Michelle L.
Published: February 2021

Sepsis is a severe dysregulated immune response to infection. Sepsis deaths represent 9% of cancer deaths in the U.S. Evidence of the effect of specific cancer sites on sepsis mortality risk remains limited, and no research has evaluated the effect of cancer treatment on the risk of sepsis death. We examined whether cancer sites and treatments differentially affect the risk of sepsis death compared to other-cause mortality, among the 94,784 Hawaii participants in the Multiethnic Cohort, including 29,255 cancer cases, using competing risk Cox proportional hazards regression. Cancer diagnosis at any site was associated with similar increases in sepsis and non-sepsis mortality risk (HR: 3.39 and 3.51, resp.). Colorectal cancer differentially affected the risk of sepsis and non-sepsis mortality with a 40% higher effect on the risk of sepsis death compared with non-sepsis mortality (RRR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.14–1.72). Lung cancer was associated with a significantly lower increase in sepsis compared to non-sepsis mortality (HR: 1.22 and 3.0, resp.; RRR: 0.39). Radiation therapy had no effect on sepsis mortality but was associated with higher risk of non-sepsis mortality (HR: 0.90 and 1.16, resp.; RRR: 0.76), whereas chemotherapy was associated with higher risk of both sepsis and non-sepsis mortality (HR: 1.31 and 1.21, resp.). We conclude that the risk of sepsis-related mortality is differentially affected by cancer sites and treatments. These associations were consistent across sexes and ethnic groups.
Methylene Blue and Proflavine as Intraarterial Marker for Functional Perforazome—Comparative Study
Authors: Nedu Maria-Eliza , Tertis Mihaela , Cristea Cecilia , Georgescu Alexandru Valentin
Published: February 2021

Methylene blue (MB) is both a dye and a medicine known and used for a long time including as lymphatic tracer in melanoma and breast cancer for revealing sentinel lymph nodes. Proflavine (PRO) is an acriflavine dye, used as bacteriostatic disinfectant against many gram-positive bacteria that was also successfully applied to evaluate morphopathological changes in tissues. This study was performed on a group of twenty-eight Wistar rats and had as its main objective the in vivo evaluation of the use of MB and PRO as perforator tracers. The two dyes proved to be effective functional perforasome tracers with medium inflammatory infiltrate in the skin of the island perforator flap which heals perfectly at 14 days with complete absence of the inflammatory reaction. At the same injected amount, PRO seems to determine a greater inflammatory reaction compared with MB, but in smaller concentration, the inflammatory response is absent in the case of PRO. In conclusion, both substances tested within this in vivo study are good functional perforasome tracers, but PRO has the advantage of the absence of inflammatory reaction when using lower concentrations, while preserving unalerted its efficiency as tracer.
Incorporation of Hydroxyapatite into Glass Ionomer Cement (GIC) Formulated Based on Alumino-Silicate-Fluoride Glass Ceramics from Waste Materials
Authors: Wan Jusoh Wan Nurshamimi , Matori Khamirul Amin , Mohd Zaid Mohd Hafiz , Zainuddin Norhazlin , Ahmad Khiri Mohammad Zulhasif , Abdul Rahman Nadia Asyikin , Abdul Jalil Rohaniah , Kul Esra
Published: February 2021

Glass ionomer cement (GIC) is a well-known restorative material applied in dentistry. The present work aims to study the effect of hydroxyapatite (HA) addition into GIC based on physical, mechanical and structural properties. The utilization of waste materials namely clam shell (CS) and soda lime silica (SLS) glass as replacements for the respective CaO and SiO2 sources in the fabrication of alumino-silicate-fluoride (ASF) glass ceramics powder. GIC was formulated based on ASF glass ceramics, polyacrylic acid (PAA) and deionized water, while 1 wt.% of HA powder was added to enhance the properties of the cement samples. The cement samples were subjected to four different ageing times before being analyzed. In this study, the addition of HA caused an increment in density and compressive strength results along with ageing time. Besides, X-ray Diffraction (XRD) revealed the formation of fluorohydroxyapatite (FHA) phase in HA-added GIC samples and it was confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis which detected OH‒F vibration mode. In addition, needle-like and agglomeration of spherical shapes owned by apatite crystals were observed from Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). Based on Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, the detection of chemical elements in the cement samples were originated from chemical compounds used in the preparation of glass ceramics powder and also the polyacid utilized in initiating the reaction of GIC.
Maize Stalk Material for On-Site Treatment of Highly Polluted Leachate and Mine Wastewater
Authors: Marin Nicoleta Mirela , Dinu Laurentiu , Stanculescu Ioana , Cristea Nicolae Ionut , Ionescu Alexandra Ioana
Published: February 2021

New research applications involving the use of cellulosic material derived from maize stalk for on-site treatment of leachate were evaluated for specific removal of Cu(II) and Fe(III) from real, highly polluted tailing pond and mine wastewater samples. Two major issues generated by anthropic mining activities were also tackled: wastewater metal content decrease to improve water quality and subsequently metal specific recovery, increasing the economic efficiency of metal production by using a green technology for residual management. Rapid saturation of the maize stalk mass determined in batch studies and the mine pilot experiment led to diminished metal concentrations in the second pilot experiment, where Cu(II) and Pb(II) from synthetic solutions were monitored in order to test biomaterial performances. In addition, in the second pilot experiment, maize stalk removed Pb(II) in the first 36 h, below the determination limit of the analytical method. The biomaterial bed in the column was saturated after 252 h of inflow solution. FTIR-ATR, TG and SEM techniques probed the interaction between maize stalk polar groups C=O, –OH, C–O and tailing water metallic ions by large FTIR band displacements, intensity decrease and shape changes, modification of thermal stability and by changes in the appearance of adsorbent microstructure images owing mainly to ion exchange mechanism.
Soiling Effect Mitigation Obtained by Applying Transparent Thin-Films on Solar Panels: Comparison of Different Types of Coatings
Authors: Rudnicka Małgorzata , Klugmann-Radziemska Ewa
Published: February 2021

Dust accumulation on the front cover of solar panels is closely linked to location and orientation of photovoltaic (PV) installation. Its build-up depends on the module tilt angle, frequency of precipitation, humidity, wind strength and velocity, as well as grain size. Additionally, soil composition is determined by solar farm surroundings such as local factories, agricultural crops, and traffic. Over time, molecules of atmospheric dust agglomerate on top of each other and cause gradual reduction in generated energy. Manual cleaning techniques are required to restore working conditions of PV installation to their original conditions; however, they are time consuming and may lead to damage of the glass coverage. Therefore, implementing a different approach by utilizing self-cleaning and anti-dust coatings on front covers of module surfaces is thought of as a competitive manner of cleansing. Based on the varying properties of such thin-films, a division was made into hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and anti-dust coatings. In this article, the authors would like to present a comprehensive review of those types of transparent films. Moreover, a few hydrophobic coatings available on the Polish market were analyzed by applying them on glass tiles and covering them with three types of dust.
Prospects for Electrical Performance Tuning in Ca3Co4O9 Materials by Metallic Fe and Ni Particles Additions
Authors: Constantinescu Gabriel , Mikhalev Sergey M. , Lisenkov Aleksey D. , Lopes Daniela V. , Sarabando Artur R. , Ferro Marta C. , Silva Tiago F. da , Sergiienko Sergii A. , Kovalevsky Andrei V.
Published: February 2021

This work further explores the possibilities for designing the high-temperature electrical performance of the thermoelectric Ca3Co4O9 phase, by a composite approach involving separate metallic iron and nickel particles additions, and by employing two different sintering schemes, capable to promote the controlled interactions between the components, encouraged by our recent promising results obtained for similar cobalt additions. Iron and nickel were chosen because of their similarities with cobalt. The maximum power factor value of around 200 μWm−1K−2 at 925 K was achieved for the composite with the nominal nickel content of 3% vol., processed via the two-step sintering cycle, which provides the highest densification from this work. The effectiveness of the proposed approach was shown to be strongly dependent on the processing conditions and added amounts of metallic particles. Although the conventional one-step approach results in Fe- and Ni-containing composites with the major content of the thermoelectric Ca3Co4O9 phase, their electrical performance was found to be significantly lower than for the Co-containing analogue, due to the presence of less-conducting phases and excessive porosity. In contrast, the relatively high performance of the composite with a nominal nickel content of 3% vol. processed via a two-step approach is related to the specific microstructural features from this sample, including minimal porosity and the presence of the Ca2Co2O5 phase, which partially compensate the complete decomposition of the Ca3Co4O9 matrix. The obtained results demonstrate different pathways to tailor the phase composition of Ca3Co4O9-based materials, with a corresponding impact on the thermoelectric performance, and highlight the necessity of more controllable approaches for the phase composition tuning, including lower amounts and different morphologies of the dispersed metallic phases.
Role of Surface Effects in the Vibrational Density of States and the Vibrational Entropy in Spin Crossover Nanomaterials: A Molecular Dynamics Investigation
Authors: Fahs Alaa , Nicolazzi William , Molnár Gábor , Bousseksou Azzedine
Published: February 2021

Size reduction effects on the lattice dynamics of spin crossover (SCO) thin films have been investigated through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the density of vibrational states. The proposed simple model structure and reduced force field allows us to obtain good orders of magnitude of the sound velocity in both spin states and takes into account the contribution of free surfaces in the vibrational properties of very thin films (below a thickness of 12 nm). The slab method issue from the field of surface physico-chemistry has been employed to extract surface thermodynamic quantities. In combination with the related slab-adapted method, the slab approach provides a powerful numerical tool to separate surface contributions from finite-size effects. Due to the relatively low stiffness of SCO materials, the lattice dynamics seems to be governed by surface instead of confinement effects. The size evolution of thermodynamic quantities is successfully reproduced, especially the increase of the vibrational entropy with the size reduction, in good agreement with experimental observations.
Modeling, Simulation and Uncertain Optimization of the Gun Engraving System
Authors: Xin Tong , Yang Guolai , Xu Fengjie , Sun Quanzhao , Minak Alexandi
Published: February 2021

The system designed to accomplish the engraving process of a rotating band projectile is called the gun engraving system. To obtain higher performance, the optimal design of the size parameters of the gun engraving system was carried out. First, a fluid–solid coupling computational model of the gun engraving system was built and validated by the gun launch experiment. Subsequently, three mathematic variable values, like performance evaluation indexes, were obtained. Second, a sensitivity analysis was performed, and four high-influence size parameters were selected as design variables. Finally, an optimization model based on the affine arithmetic was set up and solved, and then the optimized intervals of performance evaluation indexes were obtained. After the optimal design, the percent decrease of the maximum engraving resistance force ranged from 6.34% to 18.24%; the percent decrease of the maximum propellant gas temperature ranged from 1.91% to 7.45%; the percent increase of minimum pressure wave of the propellant gas ranged from 0.12% to 0.36%.
A Systematic Review on Task Design in Dynamic and Interactive Mathematics Learning Environments (DIMLEs)
Authors: Cevikbas Mustafa , Kaiser Gabriele
Published: February 2021

Task design constitutes a growing core of research in mathematics education. In particular, task design in Dynamic and Interactive Mathematics Learning Environments (DIMLEs) has become very popular, although it remains under-researched. This study aims to systematically analyze the current state of research on task design in DIMLEs. The literature was searched through the Web of Science, and 10 articles were included in the review. Results show that the majority of research studies were undertaken in Asia, with a focus on secondary and higher education. Studies used design-based research, case study, and grounded theory. Most studies were carried out in the domain of geometry, followed by algebra and calculus. Most researchers used GeoGebra as a DIMLE. The studies used different frameworks and contributed to the literature by developing and testing design principles, problematizing task design, and extending existing frameworks. There are also some reported challenges concerning task design in DIMLEs, such as students’ negative attitudes and beliefs and being inexperienced or unfamiliar with DIMLEs. E-assessment issues also created problems, as well as students’ poor mathematical background and time-consuming activities for teachers and students. Overall, the results indicate that further studies are needed on task design in DIMLEs.
Common Fixed Points Technique for Existence of a Solution of Urysohn Type Integral Equations System in Complex Valued b-Metric Spaces
Authors: Aslam Muhammad Suhail , Bota Monica Felicia , Chowdhury Mohammad S. R. , Guran Liliana , Saleem Naeem
Published: February 2021

In this paper we give some common fixed point theorems for Ćirić type operators in complex valued b-metric spaces. Also, some corollaries under this contraction condition are obtained. Our results extend and generalize the results of Hammad et al. In the second part of the paper, in order to strengthen our main results, an illustrative example and some applications are given.