bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Clinical Value of Measuring Circulating HPV DNA during Chemo-Radiotherapy in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anus
Authors: Lefèvre Anna C. , Pallisgaard Niels , Kronborg Camilla , Wind Karen L. , Krag Søren R. P. , Spindler Karen-Lise G.
Published: May 2021

Background and purpose: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is investigated in various cancers. In squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) infection with human papilloma virus (HPV) is found in around 90% of cases and here, plasma HPV (pHPV) can be used as ctDNA. Preliminary data have proved the ability to detect pHPV16 and -18 in SCCA. We have developed a highly sensitive method for measurement of six relevant pHPV subtypes, to investigate the elimination pattern of pHPV during chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) for SCCA and its clinical value. Material and methods: Patients treated at Aarhus University Hospital from 2016–2020 were included. P16 status in the primary biopsy was measured and 82% of patients had P16 positive tumor. Blood samples were collected prior to treatment (PT), mid treatment (MT), end of therapy (EOT), and during follow-up (FU). An in-house multiplex digital droplet PCR method measured pHPV subtypes 16, 18, 31, 33, 51, 58. Results: Samples from 88 patients were drawn PT (n = 73), MT (n = 72), EOT (n = 64) and during FU (n = 41). Plasma HPV was detectable in 52 patients and PT pHPV levels correlated to tumor stages. Three elimination patterns were observed during CRT with correlation to outcome: fast responders with no local or distant failures (0/12); slow responders with high risk of local failures (4/20), no distant failures; persistent molecular responders with high risk of distant failures (4/13), but no local failures, p < 0.01. Conclusion: During CRT, pHPV can divide patients with SCCA into three groups with significantly different risk of failure. The use of pHPV can potentially assist in clinical treatment decision.
Efficacy and Safety of Durvalumab Combined with Daratumumab in Daratumumab-Refractory Multiple Myeloma Patients
Authors: Frerichs Kristine A. , Verkleij Christie P. M. , Dimopoulos Meletios A. , Marin Soto Jhon A. , Zweegman Sonja , Young Mary H. , Newhall Kathryn J. , Mutis Tuna , van de Donk Niels W. C. J.
Published: May 2021

Daratumumab is active both as a single agent and in combination with other agents in multiple myeloma (MM) patients. However, the majority of patients will develop daratumumab-refractory disease, which carries a poor prognosis. Since daratumumab also has immunomodulatory effects, addition of the PD-L1 blocking antibody durvalumab at the time of progression may reverse daratumumab-resistance. The efficacy and safety of daratumumab and durvalumab in daratumumab-refractory relapsed/refractory MM patients was evaluated in this prospective, single-arm phase 2 study (NCT03000452). None of the 18 enrolled patients achieved PR or better. The frequency of serious adverse events was 38.9%, with one patient experiencing an immune related adverse event (grade 2 hyperthyroidism). No infusion-related reactions were observed. Analysis of tumor- and immune cell characteristics was performed on bone marrow samples obtained at baseline and during treatment. Daratumumab combined with durvalumab reduced the frequency of regulatory T-cells and decreased the proportion of T-cells expressing LAG3 and CD8+ T-cells expressing TIM-3, without altering T- and NK-cell frequencies. Durvalumab did not affect tumor cell characteristics associated with daratumumab resistance. In conclusion, the addition of durvalumab to daratumumab following development of daratumumab-resistance was associated with an acceptable toxicity profile, but was not effective. This indicates that inhibition of the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway at the time of daratumumab-resistance is insufficient to reverse daratumumab-resistance.
Opportunities and Limits in Salvage Surgery in Persistent or Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Huber Gerhard Frank
Published: May 2021

Except for HPV-induced cancers of the oropharynx, survival rates in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) have not changed substantially over the last decades. Salvage surgery plays an important role where primary treatment was unsuccessful since 50% of advanced-stage patients relapse after nonsurgical primary treatment. Depending on a variety of factors, a considerable number of patients in whom primary treatment was not successful can still be cured by salvage surgery. It is the goal of this review to elucidate these factors with the aim to counsel patients and their relatives realistically about the chances of being cured.
CX3CL1 Overexpression Prevents the Formation of Lung Metastases in Trastuzumab-Treated MDA-MB-453-Based Humanized Tumor Mice (HTM)
Authors: Wege Anja Kathrin , Dreyer Tobias F. , Teoman Attila , Ortmann Olaf , Brockhoff Gero , Bronger Holger
Published: May 2021

CX3CL1 is a multifunctional chemokine that is involved in numerous biological processes, such as immune cell attraction and enhanced tumor immune cell interaction, but also in enhancing tumor cell proliferation and metastasis. The multifarious activity is partially determined by two CX3CL1 isoforms, a membrane-bound and a soluble version generated by proteolytic cleavage through proteases. Here, we investigated the impact of CX3CL1 overexpression in MDA-MB-453 and SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells. Moreover, we evaluated the therapeutic capacity of Matrix-Metalloproteinases-inhibitors TMI-1 and GI254023X in combination with the anti-HER2 antibody trastuzumab in vitro and in vivo. TMI-1 and GI254023X caused a reduced shedding of CX3CL1 and of HER2 in vitro but without effects on tumor cell proliferation or viability. In addition, trastuzumab treatment did not retard MDA-MB-453 cell expansion in vitro unless CX3CL1 was overexpressed upon transfection (MDA-MB-453CX3CL1). In humanized tumor mice, which show a coexistence of human tumor and human immune system, CX3CL1 overexpression resulted in a slightly enhanced tumor growth. However, trastuzumab treatment attenuated tumor growth of both MDA-MB-453CX3CL1 and empty vector transfected MDA-MB-453 transplanted mice but showed enhanced efficiency especially in preventing lung metastases in CX3CL1 overexpressing cancer cells. However, TMI-1 did not further enhance the trastuzumab treatment efficacy.
CUX1 Enhances Pancreatic Cancer Formation by Synergizing with KRAS and Inducing MEK/ERK-Dependent Proliferation
Authors: Griesmann Heidi , Mühl Sebastian , Riedel Jan , Theuerkorn Katharina , Sipos Bence , Esposito Irene , Vanden Heuvel Gregory B. , Michl Patrick
Published: May 2021

The transcription factor CUX1 has been implicated in either tumor suppression or progression, depending on the cancer entity and the prevalent CUX1 isoform. Previously, we could show that CUX1 acts as an important mediator of tumor cell proliferation and resistance to apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cell lines. However, in vivo evidence for its impact on pancreatic carcinogenesis, isoform-specific effects and downstream signaling cascades are missing. We crossbred two different CUX1 isoform mouse models (p200 CUX1 and p110 CUX1) with KC (KrasLSL-G12D/+; Ptf1aCre/+) mice, a genetic model for pancreatic precursor lesions (PanIN). In the context of oncogenic KRASs, both mice KCCux1p200 and KCCux1p110 led to increased PanIN formation and development of invasive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomata (PDAC). In KCCux1p110 mice, tumor development was dramatically more accelerated, leading to formation of invasive PDAC within 4 weeks. In vitro and in vivo, we could show that CUX1 enhanced proliferation by activating MEK-ERK signaling via an upstream increase of ADAM17 protein, which in turn led to an activation of EGFR. Additionally, CUX1 further enhanced MEK-ERK activation through upregulation of the serine/threonine kinase MOS, phosphorylating MEK in a KRAS-independent manner. We identified p110 CUX1 as major driver of pancreatic cancer formation in the context of mutant KRAS. These results provide the first in vivo evidence for the importance of CUX1 in the development of pancreatic cancer, and highlight the importance of CUX1-dependent signaling pathways as potential therapeutic targets.
Evaluation of a Three-Marker Panel for the Detection of Uveal Melanoma Metastases: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Lin Zenan , Süsskind Daniela
Published: May 2021

Blood-based B-cell activating factor (BAFF), growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) and osteopontin (OPN) have been identified to be promising biomarkers for the metastases of uveal melanoma (UM). This study intended to assess their kinetics and to evaluate their significance as a three-marker panel. A group of 36 UM patients with and 137 patients without metastases were included in the study. Their plasma OPN levels were measured by ELISA; serum BAFF and GDF-15 levels were determined with a Luminex MAGPIX system. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to calculate the cutoff values of the three markers for identifying the patients with metastases. The ability to identify patients with metastases was compared between the single markers and the combination as a three-marker panel. By using the Student’s t-test, we also investigated the kinetic changes of the levels of BAFF, GDF-15 and OPN across six periods (i.e., 0–6 months, 6–12 months, 12–18 months, 18–24 months, >24 months and post-metastasis) before the imaging diagnosis of metastases. By maximizing the Youden’s index, the serum GDF-15 level of 1209 pg/mL and the plasma OPN level of 92 ng/mL were identified to have the best performance for distinguishing the metastatic patients from non-metastatic patients. The three-marker panel offered a better performance in distinguishing patients with metastases, with an area under the curve of 0.802, than any single biomarker. Increasing trends of the levels of three biomarkers were observed in the two-year period before the imaging diagnosis of metastases. The combined panel of BAFF, GDF-15 and OPN might be a utilizable implementation for the detection of UM metastases. In the bioinformatics study with two external datasets, the high expression of gene BAFF and GDF-15 in primary UM tissues was identified to be associated with poor overall survival rates. As the current work is a single-center retrospective study, more well-designed prospective investigations employing larger cohorts are urgently needed to validate our findings.
Percentile Reference Values for the Neck Circumference of Mexican Children
Authors: Valencia-Sosa Evelyn , Chávez-Palencia Clío , Vallarta-Robledo Juan R. , Romero-Velarde Enrique , Larrosa-Haro Alfredo , Vásquez-Garibay Edgar Manuel , Ramos-García César Octavio
Published: May 2021

Neck circumference was studied for the first time in a pediatric population in 2010. Since then, various countries have proposed cutoff values to identify overweight, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. However, no reference values have been established for the Mexican child population. The aim of this study is to provide percentile reference values for the neck circumference of Mexican schoolchildren. Only normal-weight schoolchildren aged 6–11 years were included. Percentiles and growth charts were constructed based on the “Generalized Additive Model for Location, Scale and Shape” (GAMLSS). A total of 1059 schoolchildren (52.9% female) was evaluated. Weight, height, and BMI values were higher for males; however, this difference was not statistically significant. The 50th percentile for females was 24.6 cm at six years old and 28.25 cm at 11 years old, and for males, it was 25.75 cm and 28.76 cm, respectively. Both males and females displayed a pronounced increase in neck circumference between 10 and 11 years of age. The greatest variability was found in the 11-year-old group, with an increase of 5.5 cm for males and 5.4 cm for females. This study presents the first reference values for neck circumference for a Mexican child population.
Contrasting Effects of Regional and Local Climate on the Interannual Variability and Phenology of the Scyphozoan, Aurelia coerulea and Nemopilema nomurai in the Korean Peninsula
Authors: Lee Sun-Hee , Hwang Jiang-Shiou , Kim Kyoung-Yeon , Molinero Juan Carlos
Published: May 2021

The East Asian marginal seas are among the most productive fisheries grounds. However, in recent decades they experienced massive proliferations of jellyfish that pose vast challenges for the management of harvested fish stocks. In the Korean Peninsula, the common bloom-formers Scyphozoan species Aurelia coerulea and Nemopilema nomurai are of major concern due to their detrimental effects on coastal socio-ecological systems. Here, we used pluriannual field observations spanning over 14 years to test the extent of climate influence on the interannual variability and bloom dynamics of A. coerulea and N. nomurai. To depict climate-jellyfish interactions we assessed partitioning effects, direct/indirect links, and the relative importance of hydroclimate forces on the variability of these species. We show that jellyfish interannual patterns and bloom dynamics are shaped by forces playing out at disparate scales. While abundance changes and earlier blooms of A. coerulea were driven by local environmental conditions, N. nomurai interannual patterns and bloom dynamics were linked with regional climate processes. Our results provide a synoptic picture of cascading effects from large scale climate to jellyfish dynamics in the Korean Peninsula that may affect fisheries sustainability due to the prominent detrimental impact these species have in the region.
Preschool Children Science Mental Representations: The Sound in Space
Authors: Ravanis Konstantinos , Kaliampos George , Pantidos Panagiotis
Published: May 2021

The aim of the current study was to examine the way in which preschool children deal with the concept of sound. For this purpose, a study was carried out in the context of detecting and categorizing the mental representations among young children of sounds which propagate through space from source to the receiver. Specifically, 91 preschool children aged 5–6 years voluntarily participated in individual semi-structured interviews which were carried out by three researchers in a special area of kindergartens. During these interviews, the children were asked to express their views on the three following axes: the concept of sound itself; the subjective characteristics of sound; and the phenomenon of the production and propagation of sound. The results of the research showed that while a small percentage of children recognized the propagation of sound in space, the vast majority of them associated sound with either the object that produced it or with the object that received it.
Metacognitive Strategies for Developing Complex Geographical Causal Structures—An Interventional Study in the Geography Classroom
Authors: Heuzeroth Johannes , Budke Alexandra
Published: May 2021

This article examines the impact of applied metacognition on the development of geographical causal structures by students in the geography classroom. For that, three different metacognitive strategies were designed: a. action plan, activating meta-knowledge prior to problem-solving and simultaneously visualizing action steps for dealing with the task (A); b. circular thinking (C), a loop-like, question-guided procedure applied during the problem-solving process that supports and controls content-related and linguistic cognition processes; c. reflexion (R), aiming at evaluating the effectivity and efficiency of applied problem-solving heuristics after the problem-solving process and developing strategies for dealing with future tasks. These strategies were statistically tested and assessed as to their effectiveness on the development of complex geographical causal structures via a quasi-experimental pre-posttest design. It can be shown that metacognitive strategies strongly affect students’ creation of causal structures, which depict a multitude of elements and relations at a high degree of interconnectedness, thus enabling a contentually and linguistically coherent representation of system-specific properties of the human–environment system. On the basis of the discussion of the results, it will be demonstrated that metacognitive strategies can provide a significant contribution to initiating systemic thinking-competences and what the implications might be on planning and teaching geography lessons.
A Novel Energy-Efficiency Optimization Approach Based on Driving Patterns Styles and Experimental Tests for Electric Vehicles
Authors: Valladolid Juan Diego , Patino Diego , Gruosso Giambattista , Correa-Flórez Carlos Adrián , Vuelvas José , Espinoza Fabricio
Published: May 2021

This article proposes an energy-efficiency strategy based on the optimization of driving patterns for an electric vehicle (EV). The EV studied in this paper is a commercial vehicle only driven by a traction motor. The motor drives the front wheels indirectly through the differential drive. The electrical inverter model and the power-train efficiency are established by lookup tables determined by power tests in a dynamometric bank. The optimization problem is focused on maximizing energy-efficiency between the wheel power and battery pack, not only to maintain but also to improve its value by modifying the state of charge (SOC). The solution is found by means of a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm. The optimizer simulation results validate the increasing efficiency with the speed setpoint variations, and also show that the battery SOC is improved. The best results are obtained when the speed variation is between 5% and 6%.
A Novel Low Power Method of Combining Saliency and Segmentation for Mobile Displays
Authors: Suh Simon , Hong Seok Min , Kim Young-Jin , Park Jong Sung
Published: May 2021

Saliency, which means the area human vision is concentrated, can be used in many applications, such as enemy detection in solider goggles and person detection in an auto-driving car. In recent years, saliency is obtained instead of human eyes using a model in an automated way in HMD (Head Mounted Display), smartphones, and VR (Virtual Reality) devices based on mobile displays; however, such a mobile device needs too much power to maintain saliency on a mobile display. Therefore, low power saliency methods have been important. CURA tried to power down, according to the saliency level, while keeping human visual satisfaction. But it still has some artifacts due to the difference in brightness at the boundary of the region divided by saliency. In this paper, we propose a new segmentation-based saliency-aware low power approach to minimize the artifacts. Unlike CURA, our work considers visual perceptuality and power management at the saliency level and at the segmented region level for each saliency. Through experiments, our work achieves low power in each region divided by saliency and in the segmented regions in each saliency region, while maintaining human visual satisfaction for saliency. In addition, it maintains good image distortion quality while removing artifacts efficiently.
Mechanism Analysis of Dynamic On-State Resistance Degradation for a Commercial GaN HEMT Using Double Pulse Test
Authors: Wang Wei , Liang Yan , Zhang Minghui , Lin Fang , Wen Feng , Wang Hongxing
Published: May 2021

The dynamic on-resistance (RON) behavior of one commercial GaN HEMT device with p-GaN gate is investigated under hard-switching conditions. The non-monotonic performance of dynamic RON with off-state voltage ranging from 50 to 400 V is ascribed to the “leaky dielectric” model. The highest normalized RON value of 1.22 appears at 150 and 200 V. The gradual increase and following maximum of dynamic RON are found when the device is exposed to a stress voltage for an extended stress time under 100 and 200 V, which is due to a much longer trapping time compared to detrapping time related to deep acceptors and donors. No obvious RON degradation, thanks to the suppressed trapping effect, is observed at higher VDS. From the multi-pulse test, the dynamic RON is seen to be insensitive to the frequency. It is demonstrated that the leakage, especially under source and drain contact, is a key issue in the dynamic resistance degradation.
High-Frequency and High-Voltage Asymmetric Bipolar Pulse Generator for Electroporation Based Technologies and Therapies
Authors: Pirc Eva , Miklavčič Damijan , Uršič Katja , Serša Gregor , Reberšek Matej
Published: May 2021

Currently, in high-frequency electroporation, much progress has been made but limited to research groups with custom-made laboratory prototype electroporators. According to the review of electroporators and economic evaluations, there is still an area of pulse parameters that needs to be investigated. The development of an asymmetric bipolar pulse generator with a maximum voltage of 4 kV and minimum duration time of a few hundred nanoseconds, would enable in vivo evaluation of biological effects of high-frequency electroporation pulses. Herein, from a series of most commonly used drivers and optical isolations in high-voltage pulse generators the one with optimal characteristics was used. In addition, the circuit topology of the developed device is described in detail. The developed device is able to generate 4 kV pulses, with theoretical 131 A maximal current and 200 ns minimal pulse duration, the maximal pulse repetition rate is 2 MHz and the burst maximal repetition rate is 1 MHz. The device was tested in vivo. The effectiveness of electrochemotherapy of high-frequency electroporation pulses is compared to “classical” electrochemotherapy pulses. In vivo electrochemotherapy with high-frequency electroporation pulses was at least as effective as with “classical” well-established electric pulses, resulting in 86% and 50% complete responses, respectively. In contrast to previous reports, however, muscle contractions were comparable between the two protocols.
Strong-Weak Feature Alignment for 3D Object Detection
Authors: Wang Zhiyu , Wang Li , Dai Bin
Published: May 2021

Object detection in 3D point clouds is still a challenging task in autonomous driving. Due to the inherent occlusion and density changes of the point cloud, the data distribution of the same object will change dramatically. Especially, the incomplete data with sparsity or occlusion can not represent the complete characteristics of the object. In this paper, we proposed a novel strong–weak feature alignment algorithm between complete and incomplete objects for 3D object detection, which explores the correlations within the data. It is an end-to-end adaptive network that does not require additional data and can be easily applied to other object detection networks. Through a complete object feature extractor, we achieve a robust feature representation of the object. It serves as a guarding feature to help the incomplete object feature generator to generate effective features. The strong–weak feature alignment algorithm reduces the gap between different states of the same object and enhances the ability to represent the incomplete object. The proposed adaptation framework is validated on the KITTI object benchmark and gets about 6% improvement in detection average precision on 3D moderate difficulty compared to the basic model. The results show that our adaptation method improves the detection performance of incomplete 3D objects.
ANN Prediction of Performance and Emissions of CI Engine Using Biogas Flow Variation
Authors: Mandal Adhirath , Cho Haengmuk , Chauhan Bhupendra Singh
Published: May 2021

Compression ignition (CI) engines are popular in the transport sector because of their high compression ratio. However, in recent years, it has become a major concern from an environmental point of view because of the emission and depleting fossil fuel. The advanced combustion concept has been a popular research topic in the CI engine. Low-temperature combustion with alternate fuel has helped in reducing the oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and soot emission of the engine. Biogas is a popular substitute of energy especially deduced from biomass because of its clean combustion properties, as well it being a renewable energy source compared to non-renewable diesel resources. In experiments with dual fuel, i.e., conventional diesel and alternate fuel (biogas) were carried out through them. In the present study, an artificial neural network model was used to estimate emissions and check the attributes of performance. Different algorithms and training functions were used to train the models. However, the best training algorithm was Levenberge Marquardt and the training function was Tansig (Hyperbolic tangent sigmoid) and Logsig (logarithmic sigmoid), which showed the best result with regression coefficient (R > 0.98) and Mean square error (MSE < 0.001). The best model was trained by evaluating MSE and regression coefficient. Experimental results and artificial neural network (ANN) prediction showed that the experimental results were similar to each other and lie at the same intervals. The ANN model helped in predicting experimental data that were earlier difficult to experimentally perform using interpolation and extrapolations. It was observed that there was an increase in Brake Specific Energy Consumption (BSEC) and a decrease in Brake thermal efficiency (BTE) with improved biogas flow rate and reduced NOx emission in the combustion chamber. Carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions increase linearly with the increase in biogas flow rate, whereas smoke opacity decreases. It could be concluded that this study helps in understanding the effect of dual fuel (diesel-biogas) combustion under different load conditions of the engine with the help of ANN, which could be a substitute fuel and help to protect the environment.
Comparison between a Traditional (Horse Manure) and a Non-Conventional (Cork Powder) Organic Residue in the Uptake of Potentially Toxic Elements by Lettuce in Contaminated Soils
Authors: Moreira Inês , Leitão Inês , Mourato Miguel P. , Martins Luisa L.
Published: May 2021

The use of natural organic correctives is a current agricultural practice that may have advantages for the production of plants in contaminated soils. Cork powder is a natural sub-product of the cork industry that has several potential benefits compared to more commonly used soil amendments. In this work, an evaluation was performed of the use of cork powder (a non-conventional organic residue) and horse manure (traditionally used in agriculture) to control the availability of potentially toxic elements in artificially contaminated soils. Four concentrations were used for each element: Cr (100 to 800 mg kg−1), Ni (37.5 to 300 mg kg−1), Zn (150 to 1200 mg kg−1), Cd (1.5 to 12 mg kg−1) and Pb (150 to 1200 mg kg−1). The accumulation of these elements in lettuce plants grown in pots under controlled conditions was evaluated. With the exception of Cd, no significant differences were detected in the absorption of the different elements by lettuce plants at the studied amounts of correctives applied (1% for cork powder and 0.5% for horse manure). Cadmium was the element that accumulated most in lettuce. Cork powder was shown to be less effective than horse manure in controlling the bioavailability of these elements in the soil. Further tests with chemically modified cork products could improve its efficiency.
Uncovering the Hidden Numbers of Nature in the Standard Accounts of Society: Application to a Case Study of Oak Woodland dehesa and Conifer Forest Farms in Andalusia-Spain
Authors: Campos Pablo , Mesa Bruno , Álvarez Alejandro
Published: May 2021

The standard System of National Accounts (SNA) does not estimate the margins of the products without market prices consumed because it assumes that the cost prices of the final products consumed correspond to the consumer marginal willingness to pay (MWTP). Valuations of products consumed without market prices at their cost prices may not coincide with their simulated exchange values (SEV) that would be paid by consumers. This inconsistent SNA valuation can be avoided by simulating stated or revealed market prices based on consumers’ demands. Our Agroforestry Accounting System (AAS) methodology estimates the margins of the individual products without market prices based on the consumer MWTP. The SEV of private owners and public consumers MWTP for these non-market products are estimated in this study by applying stated and revealed preference valuation methods. The objectives of this study are to compare the environmental incomes, ecosystem services and profitability rates obtained by applying the AAS and the refined SNA (rSNA) methodologies to the case-study oak woodland dehesa and conifer forest farms in Andalusia, Spain. The 41 farms comprise 26 large oak woodland dehesa farms in which trees of the Quercus genus predominate, and 15 conifer forest farms where Pinus species predominate. In the studied farms, 20 individual activities have been identified which 19 are common to both the AAS and rSNA approaches, along with the additional activity of carbon which is registered in the AAS. Ownership rights of 13 private activities correspond to the farmer and 7 public activities to the government. In 2010, the case-study results show that livestock and game species consume grazed fodder which represents 50% and 95%, respectively, of their total forage units consumed in the period 2010. Livestock farming accounts for 31% of the labour compensation in the private oak woodland dehesa farms and 1% in the public conifer forest farms for the farm activities as a whole. The ecosystem services measured by the AAS in the privately-owned oak woodland dehesa and publicly-owned conifer forest farms are 2.7 and 4.6 times greater, respectively, than those estimated by the rSNA. The environmental incomes measured by the AAS for the privately-owned oak woodland dehesa and publicly-owned conifer forest farms account for 61% and 53%, respectively, of their total incomes.
Comparative Study of Distributed Consensus Gossip Algorithms for Network Size Estimation in Multi-Agent Systems
Authors: Kenyeres Martin , Kenyeres Jozef
Published: May 2021

Determining the network size is a critical process in numerous areas (e.g., computer science, logistic, epidemiology, social networking services, mathematical modeling, demography, etc.). However, many modern real-world systems are so extensive that measuring their size poses a serious challenge. Therefore, the algorithms for determining/estimating this parameter in an effective manner have been gaining popularity over the past decades. In the paper, we analyze five frequently applied distributed consensus gossip-based algorithms for network size estimation in multi-agent systems (namely, the Randomized gossip algorithm, the Geographic gossip algorithm, the Broadcast gossip algorithm, the Push-Sum protocol, and the Push-Pull protocol). We examine the performance of the mentioned algorithms with bounded execution over random geometric graphs by applying two metrics: the number of sent messages required for consensus achievement and the estimation precision quantified as the median deviation from the real value of the network size. The experimental part consists of two scenarios—the consensus achievement is conditioned by either the values of the inner states or the network size estimates—and, in both scenarios, either the best-connected or the worst-connected agent is chosen as the leader. The goal of this paper is to identify whether all the examined algorithms are applicable to estimating the network size, which algorithm provides the best performance, how the leader selection can affect the performance of the algorithms, and how to most effectively configure the applied stopping criterion.
Advances in Atypical FT-IR Milk Screening: Combining Untargeted Spectra Screening and Cluster Algorithms
Authors: Spieß Lukas , de Peinder Peter , van den Bijgaart Harrie
Published: May 2021

Fourier-transform mid-infrared spectrometry is an attractive technology for screening adulterated liquid milk products. So far, studies on how infrared spectroscopy can be used to screen spectra for atypical milk composition have either used targeted methods to test for specific adulterants, or have used untargeted screening methods that do not reveal in what way the spectra are atypical. In this study, we evaluate the potential of combining untargeted screening methods with cluster algorithms to indicate in what way a spectrum is atypical and, if possible, why. We found that a combination of untargeted screening methods and cluster algorithms can reveal meaningful and generalizable categories of atypical milk spectra. We demonstrate that spectral information (e.g., the compositional milk profile) and meta-data associated with their acquisition (e.g., at what date and which instrument) can be used to understand in what way the milk is atypical and how it can be used to form hypotheses about the underlying causes. Thereby, it was indicated that atypical milk screening can serve as a valuable complementary quality assurance tool in routine FTIR milk analysis.
Carcass and Primal Composition Predictions Using Camera Vision Systems (CVS) and Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) Technologies on Mature Cows
Authors: Segura José , Aalhus Jennifer L. , Prieto Nuria , Larsen Ivy L. , Juárez Manuel , López-Campos Óscar
Published: May 2021

This study determined the potential of computer vision systems, namely the whole-side carcass camera (HCC) compared to the rib-eye camera (CCC) and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) technology to predict primal and carcass composition of cull cows. The predictability (R2) of the HCC was similar to the CCC for total fat, but higher for lean (24.0%) and bone (61.6%). Subcutaneous fat (SQ), body cavity fat, and retail cut yield (RCY) estimations showed a difference of 6.2% between both CVS. The total lean meat yield (LMY) estimate was 22.4% better for CCC than for HCC. The combination of HCC and CCC resulted in a similar prediction of total fat, SQ, and intermuscular fat, and improved predictions of total lean and bone compared to HCC/CCC. Furthermore, a 25.3% improvement was observed for LMY and RCY estimations. DXA predictions showed improvements in R2 values of 26.0% and 25.6% compared to the HCC alone or the HCC + CCC combined, respectively. These results suggest the feasibility of using HCC for predicting primal and carcass composition. This is an important finding for slaughter systems, such as those used for mature cattle in North America that do not routinely knife rib carcasses, which prevents the use of CCC.
Family-Based Genome-Wide Association Study of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Middle Eastern Families
Authors: Al-Sarraj Yasser , Al-Dous Eman , Taha Rowaida Z. , Ahram Dina , Alshaban Fouad , Tolfat Mohammed , El-Shanti Hatem , Albagha Omar M.E.
Published: May 2021

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disease characterized by abnormalities in language and social communication with substantial clinical heterogeneity. Genetic factors play an important role in ASD with heritability estimated between 70% to 80%. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified multiple loci associated with ASD. However, most studies were performed on European populations and little is known about the genetic architecture of ASD in Middle Eastern populations. Here, we report the first GWAS of ASD in the Middle eastern population of Qatar. We analyzed 171 families with ASD, using linear mixed models adjusting for relatedness and other confounders. Results showed that common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in seven loci are associated with ASD (p < 1 × 10−5). Although the identified loci did not reach genome-wide significance, many of the top associated SNPs are located within or near genes that have been implicated in ASD or related neurodevelopmental disorders. These include GORASP2, GABBR2, ANKS6, THSD4, ERCC6L, ARHGEF6, and HDAC8. Additionally, three of the top associated SNPs were significantly associated with gene expression. We also found evidence of association signals in two previously reported ASD-susceptibility loci (rs10099100 and rs4299400). Our results warrant further functional studies and replication to provide further insights into the genetic architecture of ASD.
Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Genomic Regions Associated with Fusarium Wilt Resistance in Common Bean
Authors: Paulino Jean , Almeida Caléo , Bueno César , Song Qijian , Fritsche-Neto Roberto , Carbonell Sérgio , Chiorato Alisson , Benchimol-Reis Luciana
Published: May 2021

Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. phaseoli, Fop) is one of the main fungal soil diseases in common bean. The aim of the present study was to identify genomic regions associated with Fop resistance through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in a Mesoamerican Diversity Panel (MDP) and to identify potential common bean sources of Fop’s resistance. The MDP was genotyped with BARCBean6K_3BeadChip and evaluated for Fop resistance with two different monosporic strains using the root-dip method. Disease severity rating (DSR) and the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), at 21 days after inoculation (DAI), were used for GWAS performed with FarmCPU model. The p-value of each SNP was determined by resampling method and Bonferroni test. For UFV01 strain, two significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were mapped on the Pv05 and Pv11 for AUDPC, and the same SNP (ss715648096) on Pv11 was associated with AUDPC and DSR. Another SNP, mapped on Pv03, showed significance for DSR. Regarding IAC18001 strain, significant SNPs on Pv03, Pv04, Pv05, Pv07 and on Pv01, Pv05, and Pv10 were observed. Putative candidate genes related to nucleotide-binding sites and carboxy-terminal leucine-rich repeats were identified. The markers may be important future tools for genomic selection to Fop disease resistance in beans.
Modernism—Borders and Crises
Authors: Eysteinsson Ástráður
Published: May 2021

This article discusses the concept of modernism, as reflected for instance in attempts to find a manageable narrative frame for the history of literary modernism. The article argues that this attempt is complicated by modernism as an unruly and complex trend that manifests itself in different ways, and at different moments, as it enters into a complex dialogue with other trends within various linguistic communities. These different times and places of modernism also turn out to interact with one another through translations and other forms of reception that sometimes entail renewed modernist creativity. Discussing these significant aspects of modernism, the article also considers the problems critics of modernism face as they attempt to come up with a narrative framework for the history of modernism and its ongoing relationship with realism. A key point argued in the article is that to come to terms with both these trends we need to appreciate the ways in which modernism is linked to historical crises and traumas of our time, including the first and the second world wars. Paying particular attention to the interplay of Nordic and European modernisms, the article discusses how aspects of modernism have manifested themselves in Iceland, a Nordic island which may seem doubly removed from the European centres of modernism in cities such as London and Paris.
Chronic Chest Pain Control after Trans-Thoracic Biopsy in Mediastinal Lymphomas
Authors: Sica Antonello , Casale Beniamino , Sagnelli Caterina , Di Dato Maria Teresa , Rispoli Marco , Santagata Mario , Buonavolontà Pietro , Fiorelli Alfonso , Vitiello Paola , Caccavale Stefano , Creta Massimiliano , Salzano Anna Maria , Sagnelli Evangelista , Saracco Elisabetta , Gazzerro Giuseppe , Famiglietti Vincenzo , Tammaro Dario , Papa Alfonso
Published: May 2021

Chest pain following a trans-thoracic biopsy often has multiple etiologies, especially in patients with lymphomas. Pathological neuronal mechanisms integrate with an overproduction of IL-6, TNF-α, IL1-β by macrophages and monocytes, which amplifies inflammation and pain. In consideration of this complex pathogenesis, international guidelines recommend diversified analgesia protocols: thoracic epidural, paravertebral block, and systemic administration of opioids. This study reports an attempt to reduce chest pain and prevent chronic pain in 51 patients undergoing trans-thoracic biopsy for mediastinal lymphoma. The entity of pain, measured 72nd hour after biopsy by the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), was compared with that seen at a 6th month checkpoint in 46 patients. The pain decreased in all cases. At the 6th month checkpoint, among 31 opioid-treated patients, none of the 16 patients with NRS < 6 within the 72nd hour post biopsy had developed chronic chest pain, while 8 of the 15 with higher values did (p < 0.01). Of 10 patients undergoing thoracotomy and treated with opioids, eight had a NRS of no more than 2, of which six had no chronic pain. Of the twenty-one patients who underwent VATS biopsy and were treated with opioids, fifteen had NRS no greater than 2, of which ten had no chronic pain. Subgroups of patients biopsied under mediastinotomy or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and treated with thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) or PVB were too small for such analysis.
A Validation Study on the Frequency and Natural History of Miscarriages Using the Spanish Primary Care Database BIFAP
Authors: Sanchez Ortiz Sara , Huerta Consuelo , Llorente-García Ana , Ortega Paloma , Astasio Paloma , Cea-Soriano Lucía
Published: May 2021

(1) Background: There is a major gap of knowledge towards the natural history of miscarriages in electronic medical records. We aimed to calculate the frequency of miscarriages using data from BIFAP database. (2) Methods: We identified all pregnancy losses and carried out a multistep validation exercise. Potential cases with positive predictive values (PPV) of miscarriage confirmation <85% or those confirming other pregnancy loss were excluded. Kaplan–Meier figures and incidence rates (IRs) of miscarriage with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) expressed by 1000 person-weeks were calculated. Stratifying analysis by age, specific high-risk groups, and drug exposure within the pre-pregnancy period were performed restricted to women with recording last menstrual period (LMP). (3) Results: Women with confirmed miscarriage (N = 18,070), tended to be older, with higher frequency of comorbidities and drug utilization. Restricting to women with LPM recorded, IR of miscarriage was 10.89 (CI 95% 10.68–11.10) per 1000 women-weeks, with a median follow-up of 10 weeks (IQR: 8–12). The IR according to age was: 2.71 (CI 95% 2.59–2.84) in those aged <30 years compared to 9.11 (CI 95% 8.55–9.70) in women aged ≥40 years. Advanced maternal age (Hazard Ratio (HR, 95% confidence interval) CI 95%: 3.34 (3.08–3.62)), use of antihypertensives (1.49 (1.21–1.84), and use of drugs classified as D or X during pregnancy (1.17 (1.07–1.29)) showed to be positive predictors associated with increased risk of miscarriages. (4) Conclusion: BIFAP database can be used to identify women suffering from miscarriages, which will serve to further study risk factors associated with miscarriages with special attention to drug utilization.
Benefits of Structured Engagement with Target Audiences of a Health Website: Study Design for a Multi-Case Study
Authors: Tieman Jennifer , Lewis Virginia
Published: May 2021

Access to evidence and practice knowledge precedes use, but availability does not guarantee reach and uptake by intended audiences. The CareSearch project provides online palliative care evidence and information to support health and aged care professionals as well as patients, carers and families to make informed decisions about care at the end of life. Already established in the palliative care sector, CareSearch commenced planning to extend its reach, and ensure website use is maximised for different audiences. This paper reports on the development of the Engagement Framework which will be used to guide and deliver an Engagement Project which will actively seek feedback and insights from intended users in a structured process. The process for developing the Engagement Framework commenced with a literature review of approaches used in knowledge translation, implementation science, and social marketing. The Engagement Framework comprising eight steps was then developed. The Engagement Framework outlines the series of tasks to be undertaken by team members when working with three target groups (Aged Care; Allied Health; and Patients, Carers and Families). A process/formative evaluation collecting data using qualitative methods is also described for use in the subsequent Engagement Project. The evaluation will explore the experiences of project participants as well as staff implementing the engagement activities. The three target groups will enable a cross-case comparison of the strengths and weaknesses of the approach. Planning, implementing and evaluating engagement with intended audiences, offers one mechanism to identify ways to increase interaction and integration with knowledge users.
Factors beyond Workplace Matter: The Effect of Family Support and Religious Attendance on Sustaining Well-Being of High-Technology Employees
Authors: Huang Ing-Chung , Du Pey-Lan , Lin Long-Sheng , Lin Tsai-Fei , Kuo Shu-Chun
Published: May 2021

Background: Apart from the workplace, drawing support from family and religion is critical to maintaining the well-being of high-technology employees. Relying on the job demands-resources model and the positive affective spillover effect, the aim of this study was to investigate the mediated relationship of family support, work engagement and subjective well-being, and the moderating effect of religious attendance on the mediated relationship. Methods: A cross-sectional research design was adopted. Mediation and moderated mediation were tested using the PROCESS macro v3.5 for the SPSS supplement. Purposive sampling was used for the distribution of questionnaires to high-technology employees in Taiwan. Results: Results from the data of 603 high-technology employees indicated that family support, work engagement, and subjective well-being exhibited a significant mediated relationship, and the mediated relationship was stronger among individuals with religious attendance experience. Conclusions: This study emphasizes the driving effect of family support on high-technology employee well-being and the moderating effect of religious attendance as a situational strength. We recommend closely attending to employee well-being because doing so is conducive to both the personal quality of life of employees and the sustainable development of organizations.