bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impacts of p97 on Proteome Changes in Human Cells during Coronaviral Replication
Authors: Cheng Kai-Wen , Li Shan , Wang Feng , Ruiz-Lopez Nallely M. , Houerbi Nadia , Chou Tsui-Fen
Published: November 2021

Human coronavirus (HCoV) similar to other viruses rely on host cell machinery for both replication and to spread. The p97/VCP ATPase is associated with diverse pathways that may favor HCoV replication. In this study, we assessed the role of p97 and associated host responses in human lung cell line H1299 after HCoV-229E or HCoV-OC43 infection. Inhibition of p97 function by small molecule inhibitors shows antiviral activity, particularly at early stages of the virus life cycle, during virus uncoating and viral RNA replication. Importantly, p97 activity inhibition protects human cells against HCoV-induced cytopathic effects. The p97 knockdown also inhibits viral production in infected cells. Unbiased quantitative proteomics analyses reveal that HCoV-OC43 infection resulted in proteome changes enriched in cellular senescence and DNA repair during virus replication. Further analysis of protein changes between infected cells with control and p97 shRNA identifies cell cycle pathways for both HCoV-229E and HCoV-OC43 infection. Together, our data indicate a role for the essential host protein p97 in supporting HCoV replication, suggesting that p97 is a therapeutic target to treat HCoV infection.
The Gut–Liver Axis in Chronic Liver Disease: A Macrophage Perspective
Authors: De Muynck Kevin , Vanderborght Bart , Van Vlierberghe Hans , Devisscher Lindsey
Published: November 2021

Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a growing health concern which accounts for two million deaths per year. Obesity, alcohol overconsumption, and progressive cholestasis are commonly characterized by persistent low-grade inflammation and advancing fibrosis, which form the basis for development of end-stage liver disease complications, including hepatocellular carcinoma. CLD pathophysiology extends to the intestinal tract and is characterized by intestinal dysbiosis, bile acid dysregulation, and gut barrier disruption. In addition, macrophages are key players in CLD progression and intestinal barrier breakdown. Emerging studies are unveiling macrophage heterogeneity and driving factors of their plasticity in health and disease. To date, in-depth investigation of how gut–liver axis disruption impacts the hepatic and intestinal macrophage pool in CLD pathogenesis is scarce. In this review, we give an overview of the role of intestinal and hepatic macrophages in homeostasis and gut–liver axis disruption in progressive stages of CLD.
The Metabolic Control of Myeloid Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment
Authors: Ramel Eloise , Lillo Sebastian , Daher Boutaina , Fioleau Marina , Daubon Thomas , Saleh Maya
Published: November 2021

Myeloid cells are a key determinant of tumor progression and patient outcomes in a range of cancers and are therefore being actively pursued as targets of new immunotherapies. The recent use of high-dimensional single-cell approaches, e.g., mass cytometry and single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) has reinforced the predominance of myeloid cells in the tumor microenvironment and uncovered their phenotypic diversity in different cancers. The cancerous metabolic environment has emerged as a critical modulator of myeloid cell functions in anti-tumor immunity versus immune suppression and immune evasion. Here, we discuss mechanisms of immune-metabolic crosstalk in tumorigenesis, with a particular focus on the tumor-associated myeloid cell’s metabolic programs. We highlight the impact of several metabolic pathways on the pro-tumoral functions of tumor-associated macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells and discuss the potential myeloid cell metabolic checkpoints for cancer immunotherapy, either as monotherapies or in combination with other immunotherapies.
The Membrane Electrical Potential and Intracellular pH as Factors Influencing Intracellular Ascorbate Concentration and Their Role in Cancer Treatment
Authors: Gąbka Mateusz , Dałek Paulina , Przybyło Magdalena , Gackowski Daniel , Oliński Ryszard , Langner Marek
Published: November 2021

Ascorbate is an important element of a variety of cellular processes including the control of reactive oxygen species levels. Since reactive oxygen species are implicated as a key factor in tumorigenesis and antitumor therapy, the injection of a large amount of ascorbate is considered beneficial in cancer therapy. Recent studies have shown that ascorbate can cross the plasma membrane through passive diffusion. In contrast to absorption by active transport, which is facilitated by transport proteins (SVCT1 and SVCT2). The passive diffusion of a weak acid across membranes depends on the electrostatic potential and the pH gradients. This has been used to construct a new theoretical model capable of providing steady-state ascorbate concentration in the intracellular space and evaluating the time needed to reach it. The main conclusion of the analysis is that the steady-state intracellular ascorbate concentration weakly depends on its serum concentration but requires days of exposure to saturate. Based on these findings, it can be hypothesized that extended oral ascorbate delivery is possibly more effective than a short intravenous infusion of high ascorbate quantities.
Positive Regulation of Estrogen Receptor Alpha in Breast Tumorigenesis
Authors: Porras Lucas , Ismail Houssam , Mader Sylvie
Published: November 2021

Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα, NR3A1) contributes through its expression in different tissues to a spectrum of physiological processes, including reproductive system development and physiology, bone mass maintenance, as well as cardiovascular and central nervous system functions. It is also one of the main drivers of tumorigenesis in breast and uterine cancer and can be targeted by several types of hormonal therapies. ERα is expressed in a subset of luminal cells corresponding to less than 10% of normal mammary epithelial cells and in over 70% of breast tumors (ER+ tumors), but the basis for its selective expression in normal or cancer tissues remains incompletely understood. The mapping of alternative promoters and regulatory elements has delineated the complex genomic structure of the ESR1 gene and shed light on the mechanistic basis for the tissue-specific regulation of ESR1 expression. However, much remains to be uncovered to better understand how ESR1 expression is regulated in breast cancer. This review recapitulates the current body of knowledge on the structure of the ESR1 gene and the complex mechanisms controlling its expression in breast tumors. In particular, we discuss the impact of genetic alterations, chromatin modifications, and enhanced expression of other luminal transcription regulators on ESR1 expression in tumor cells.
Myelin-Independent Therapeutic Potential of Canine Glial-Restricted Progenitors Transplanted in Mouse Model of Dysmyelinating Disease
Authors: Stanaszek Luiza , Majchrzak Malgorzata , Drela Katarzyna , Rogujski Piotr , Sanford Joanna , Fiedorowicz Michal , Gewartowska Magdalena , Frontczak-Baniewicz Malgorzata , Walczak Piotr , Lukomska Barbara , Janowski Miroslaw
Published: November 2021

Background: Dysfunction of glia contributes to the deterioration of the central nervous system in a wide array of neurological disorders, thus global replacement of glia is very attractive. Human glial-restricted precursors (hGRPs) transplanted intraventricularly into neonatal mice extensively migrated and rescued the lifespan in half of the studied mice, whereas mouse GRPs (mGRPs) presented no therapeutic benefit. We studied in the same experimental setting canine GRPs (cGRP) to determine whether their therapeutic potential falls between hGRPs and mGRPs. Additional motivation for the selection of cGRPs was a potential for use in veterinary medicine. Methods: cGRPs were extracted from the brain of dog fetuses. The cells were transplanted into the anterior or posterior aspect of the lateral ventricle (LV) of neonatal, immunodeficient, dysmyelinated mice (Mbpshi, Rag2 KO; shiv/rag2). Outcome measures included early cell biodistribution, animal survival and myelination assessed with MRI, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Results: Grafting of cGRP into posterior LV significantly extended animal survival, whereas no benefit was observed after anterior LV transplantation. In contrast, myelination of the corpus callosum was more prominent in anteriorly transplanted animals. Conclusions: The extended survival of animals after transplantation of cGRPs could be explained by the vicinity of the transplant near the brain stem.
Integrative Analyses Reveal Tstd1 as a Potential Modulator of HDL Cholesterol and Mitochondrial Function in Mice
Authors: Zheng Adi , Li Hao , Feng Zhihui , Liu Jiankang
Published: November 2021

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels are closely associated with human health and diseases. To identify genes modulating plasma HDL levels, we integrated HDL measurements and multi-omics data collected from diverse mouse cohorts and combined a list of systems genetics methods, including quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping analysis, mediation analysis, transcriptome-wide association analysis (TWAS), and correlation analysis. We confirmed a significant and conserved QTL for plasma HDL on chromosome 1 and identified that Tstd1 liver transcript correlates with plasma HDL in several independent mouse cohorts, suggesting Tstd1 may be a potential modulator of plasma HDL levels. Correlation analysis using over 70 transcriptomics datasets in humans and mice revealed consistent correlations between Tstd1 and genes known to be involved in cholesterol and HDL regulation. Consistent with strong enrichment in gene sets related to cholesterol and lipoproteins in the liver, mouse strains with high Tstd1 exhibited higher plasma levels of HDL, total cholesterol and other lipid markers. GeneBridge using large-scale expression datasets identified conserved and positive associations between TSTD1/Tstd1 and mitochondrial pathways, as well as cholesterol and lipid pathways in human, mouse and rat. In summary, we identified Tstd1 as a new modulator of plasma HDL and mitochondrial function through integrative systems analyses, and proposed a new mechanism of HDL modulation and a potential therapeutic target for relevant diseases. This study highlights the value of such integrative approaches in revealing molecular mechanisms of complex traits or diseases.
Positive Airway Pressure Therapy for Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Hady Kelly K. , Okorie Caroline U. A.
Published: November 2021

Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a disorder of breathing during sleep, characterized by intermittent or prolonged upper airway obstruction that can disrupt normal ventilation and/or sleep patterns. It can affect an estimated 2–4% of children worldwide. Untreated OSAS can have far reaching consequences on a child’s health, including low mood and concentration as well as metabolic derangements and pulmonary vascular disease. Most children are treated with surgical intervention (e.g., first-line therapy, adenotonsillectomy); however, for those for whom surgery is not indicated or desired, or for those with postoperative residual OSAS, positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy is often employed. PAP therapy can be used to relieve upper airway obstruction as well as aid in ventilation. PAP therapy is effective in treatment of OSAS in children and adults, although with pediatric patients, additional considerations and limitations exist. Active management and care for various considerations important to pediatric patients with OSAS can allow PAP to be an effective and safe therapy in this population.
Telerehabilitation and Wellbeing Experience in Children with Special Needs during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Sarti Daniela , De Salvatore Marinella , Pagliano Emanuela , Granocchio Elisa , Traficante Daniela , Lombardi Elisabetta
Published: November 2021

Social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic represented a golden opportunity to implement telerehabilitation for clinical groups of children. The present study aims to show the impact that telerehabilitation had on the experience of well-being of children with special needs being treated at the Foundation IRCCS Neurological Institute ‘C. Besta’ in Milan (Specific Learning Disorders and Cerebral Palsy diagnosis); it aims to do so by comparing it with experiences of those who did not undertake telerehabilitation despite the diagnosis during the pandemic, and with typically developing children. Results show that the three groups differed in the Support, Respect and Learning dimensions of well-being experience. Post hoc comparisons revealed that children with Specific Learning Disorders and Cerebral Palsy scored higher than normotypical children in Support and in Respect scales. Furthermore, children who experienced telerehabilitation showed the highest scores on the Learning scale in comparison with the other two groups. These results support the importance of reorganizing care and assistance by integrating telemedicine, which seems to have fostered a positive experience of well-being in people with special needs, particularly in the perception of a supportive environment that respects psychological needs.
Interannual Variability and Trends of Extreme Rainfall Indices over Benin
Authors: Obada Ezéchiel , Alamou Eric Adechina , Biao Eliezer Iboukoun , Zandagba Esdras B. Josué
Published: November 2021

Observed rainfall data (1961–2016) were used to analyze variability, trends and changes of extreme precipitation indices over Benin. Nine indices out of the ones developed by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI) were used. The results indicate a mix of downward and upward trends for maximum 1-day precipitation (RX1day) and maximum 5-days precipitation (RX5day). Decrease trends are observed for annual total precipitation of wet days (P), while significant increases are found for the simple daily intensity index (SDII). The number of wet days (RR1) and maximum consecutive dry days (CDD) show a mix of increase/decrease trends. However, the number of heavy (R10) and very heavy (R20) wet days and maximum consecutive wet days (CWD) show decreased trends. All wet indices increased over 1991–2010 in relation to 1971–1990. The increase in all wet indices over Benin could explain the intensification of hydrology, and the increase in the frequency and the intensity of floods. It caused damages such as soil erosion, crop destruction, livestock destruction, displacement of populations, proliferation of waterborne diseases and loss of human life. Some adaptive strategies are suggested to mitigate the impacts of changes in extreme rainfall.
A 5-Year Satisfaction Outcome Study of Patients Receiving Six-Implant-Supported Fixed Prosthesis
Authors: Almasri Mazen A.
Published: November 2021

The aim of the study was to analyze the satisfaction of patients treated with a protocol of six-implant-supported fixed prosthesis (6IFP) throughout 5 years of service. This retrospective study collected the data of all patients who had full-arch rehabilitations using 6IFP and followed them for 5 years. After applying the research inclusion/exclusion strategy, 37 cases were finally included in the study. All the patients had no previous complete dentures because they were partially edentulous, not interested in pursuing complete denture rehabilitation, had immediate dental extractions, implantation used the 2-stage protocol, and there was minor peri-implant socket grafting. Cases with severe bone loss that required extensive grafting were excluded. A total number of 222 implants were placed in the maxillary or mandibular arches in a total of 37 patients. The data presented the satisfaction outcomes concerning mastication, phonetics, and comfort during the first 5 years of the recall plan. The former was achieved based on the clinical record reviews, follow-up visits, and recall phone calls at the preoperative stage as well as annually thereafter. The mean satisfaction rate was 94.5%, with a mean record of 8.21 ± 1.7 out of 10, there was no gender predilection significance, and no age range variation significance was validated. Regarding the smoking status, the t-test score exhibited no significant effect on phonetics and mastication (p = 0.12, p = 0.16, respectively), whereas comfort was found to be significantly affected (p = 0.03). The comfort level was found to be slightly less at the immediate postoperative period among smokers when compared to non-smokers. In conclusion, partially edentulous patients who received the rehabilitation plan of arch dental extractions, six immediate implantations, and delayed prosthetic loading were found to be highly satisfied.
Phase Transition and Magnetoelectric Effect in 2D Ferromagnetic Films on a Ferroelectric Substrate
Authors: Bychkov Igor , Belim Sergey , Maltsev Ivan , Shavrov Vladimir
Published: November 2021

In this paper, we investigate the behavior of 2D ferromagnetic (FM) films on a ferroelectric (FE) substrate with a periodic structure. The two-dimensional Frenkel–Kontorova (FK) potential simulates the substrate effect on the film. The substrate potential corresponds to a cubic crystal lattice. The Ising model and the Wolf cluster algorithm are used to describe the magnetic behavior of a FM film. The effect of an electric field on a FE substrate leads to its deformation, which is uniform and manifests itself in a period change of the substrate potential. Computer simulation shows that substrate deformations lead to a decrease in the FM film Curie temperature. If the substrate deformations exceed 5%, the film deformations become inhomogeneous. In addition, we derive the dependence of film magnetization on the external electric field.
Study of the Degradation of Biobased Plastic after Stress Tests in Water
Authors: Ambrosio Gina , Faglia Guido , Tagliabue Stefano , Baratto Camilla
Published: November 2021

Research on compostable bioplastics has recently obtained performances comparable to traditional plastics, like water vapor permeability, sealability, and UV transmission. Therefore, it is crucial to create new tools that help the developers of new polymeric composites study them quickly and cost-effectively. In this work, Raman spectroscopy (RS) was proposed as a versatile tool to investigate the degradation of biobased plastics after a stress test in water: this approach is a novelty for food packaging. Treatments at room temperature (RT) and 80 °C were selected, considering that these biopolymers can be used to packaging ready meals. The investigation was carried out on single-layer sheets of poly-lactic acid (PLA), cellulose ester (CE), poly-butylene succinate (PBS), poly-butylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT), and a new composite material obtained by coupling CE and PBS (BB951) and PLA and CE (BB961). The vibrational modes of the water-treated materials at RT and 80 °C were compared to the Raman spectra of the pristine bioplastic, and the morphologies of the polymers were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy. Composite sheets were the plastics which were mostly affected by the 80 °C treatment in water, through changes in morphology (wrinkling with alternate white and transparent zones), as was especially the case for BB951. The Raman spectra acquired in different zones showed that the vibrations of BB951 were generally maintained in transparent zones but reduced or lacking in white zones. At the same time, the single-layer materials were almost unchanged. For BB961, the Raman vibrations were only slightly modified, in agreement with the visual inspection. The results suggest that RS detects the specific chemical bond that was modified, helping us understand the degradation process of biobased plastics after water treatment.
Characterization of YSZ Coatings Deposited on cp-Ti Using the PS-PVD Method for Medical Applications
Authors: Dercz Grzegorz , Barczyk Jagoda , Matuła Izabela , Kubaszek Tadeusz , Góral Marek , Maszybrocka Joanna , Bochenek Dariusz , Stach Sebastian , Szklarska Magdalena , Ryszawy Damian , Pudełek Maciej
Published: November 2021

A patient’s body accepting a bone implant depends not only on the biomaterial used, but also on its surface, which allows it to properly interact with bone cells. Therefore, research has focused on improving the bioactive and tribological properties of titanium and its alloys. Commercially pure titanium (cp-Ti) is widely used as a biomedical material. However, it is characterized by unsuitable tribological properties. In this work, yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) was deposited on a cp-Ti substrate via plasma spray–physical vapor deposition (PS-PVD). The structural characteristics were determined using X-ray analysis (XRD). Additionally, the lattice parameters of each phase were determined using Rietveld’s method. High-resolution scanning microscopy (HR-SEM) showed a typical column structure of coatings that can be used with PS-PVD. Depending on the process parameters, the coatings differed in thickness in the range of 2.4–9.0 µm. The surface roughness also varied. The samples were subjected to nano-indenter testing. A slight change in hardness after deposition of the coating was observed, in addition to a significant decrease in the Young’s modulus. The Young’s modulus in relation to the metallic substrate was reduced to 58 or 78 GPa depending on the parameters of the spray-coating process.
Surface Topography of Si/TiO2 Stacked Layers on Silicon Substrate Deposited by KrF Excimer Laser Ablation
Authors: Moise Călin Constantin , Pantazi Aida , Mihai Geanina Valentina , Jderu Alin , Bercu Mircea , Messina Angelo Alberto , Enăchescu Marius
Published: November 2021

This study investigates the surface topography of the deposited thin films versus the distance between target and substrate (dTS) inside a laser ablation equipment. The profile of the rough surface was obtained by atomic force microscopy data analysis based on power spectral density and the roughness-length scale (RLS) functions. The roughing on the top film is analyzed considering the previous topography of the underneath surface for each consecutive TiO2 and Si deposition onto Si (100) wafer. The buried oxide layer inside of Si/TiO2/c-Si structure, obtained by KrF excimer laser ablation was characterized by complementary techniques as spectral ellipsometry, X-ray reflectometry, and X-ray diffraction.
An Invariant-Preserving Scheme for the Viscous Burgers-Poisson System
Authors: Darayon Chayapa , Khebchareon Morrakot , Ploymaklam Nattapol
Published: November 2021

We formulate and analyze a new finite difference scheme for a shallow water model in the form of viscous Burgers-Poisson system with periodic boundary conditions. The proposed scheme belongs to a family of three-level linearized finite difference methods. It is proved to preserve both momentum and energy in the discrete sense. In addition, we proved that the method converges uniformly and has second order of accuracy in space. The analysis given in this work is the first time a pointwise error estimation is done on a second-order finite difference operator applied to the Burgers-Poisson system. We validate our findings by performing various numerical simulations on both viscous and inviscous problems. These numerical examples show the efficacy of the proposed method and confirm the proven theoretical results.
Influence of Rubber Powder Modification Methods on the Mechanical and Durability Properties of Rubberized Magnesium Oxychloride Cement
Authors: Zhong Dongqing , Wang Shuguang , Gao Yu , Wang Luming , Li Yanbo , Wang Jiaqing
Published: November 2021

In the present study, three modification methods, including water washing, sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and styrene–acrylic emulsion, were used to modify waste rubber powders. The influence of rubber powders on the mechanical properties and frost resistance of magnesium oxychloride cement was examined, and the different modification mechanisms were also analyzed. Based on the analysis of hydrophilic properties after modification, styrene–acrylic emulsion achieved the best modification effect, while water washing produced the least modification effect; regarding mechanical properties, magnesium oxychloride cement mixed with NaOH modified rubber powders achieved the best modification effect, in which the 28 d flexural strength and compressive strength increased by 41.2% and 59.6%, respectively. During the freeze-thaw cycles, the mass loss of specimens was reduced with an increase in the content of rubber powders. In addition, after 300 cycles, the relative dynamic modulus of elasticity of the blank sample was about 28.12%, while that of the magnesium oxychloride cement mixed with NaOH modified rubber powders was approximately 42.38%. In general, the properties of the modified rubber powder–magnesium oxychloride cement composite material can meet the requirements for engineering materials, which provides a theoretical basis and technical support for the application of rubberized magnesium oxychloride cement.
Organic Optoelectronic Materials (Volume II)
Authors: Tran Nguyen-Hung , Nguyen Van-Chuc , Lee Ji-Hoon
Published: November 2021

Organic optoelectronic materials are rapidly being commercialized at present [...]
Liquid Crystalline Cholesteric Reflective Layers for Colored Silicon-Based Solar Cells
Authors: Bae Sangwok , Park Dong-Sun , Choi Suk-Won
Published: November 2021

The performance of a prototype opaque-type colored silicon-based solar cell integrated with liquid crystalline cholesteric layers is investigated. These devices were developed using only organic components and wet processes, without complicated vacuum processes. The evaluated performances of the prototype solar cells were inferior to those of the other types of previously reported colored solar cells because of the inherent limitations of the cholesteric layers, such as the limited reflectance (~50%), narrow color gamut, and viewing angle-dependent color changes. We propose effective strategies for improving the performance of colored solar cell modules integrated with cholesteric layers.
Plasmon-Based Label-Free Biosensor Using Gold Nanosphere for Dengue Detection
Authors: Mahmood Hafiz Zeeshan , Jilani Asim , Farooq Sajid , Javed Yasir , Jamil Yasir , Iqbal Javed , Ullah Sami , Wageh Swelm
Published: November 2021

In this study, a novel label-free immunosensor platform is developed to exploit the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) phenomenon. The LSPR solution-based platform is designed by a gold nanospheres probe, functionalized with monoclonal anti-dengue antibody (IgG). Numerical calculations are performed to assess the LSPR extinction spectrum and spatial near electric field distribution around the nanoparticle surface. Important parameters that govern sensor performance, molecular and refractive index sensitivity are evaluated. On the evaluation of the platform as a molecular sensor, the detection of dengue NS1 antigens is presented. The results are consistent with the numerical simulations, which depicts the system’s ability to identify dengue NS1 antigen concentrations as low as 0.07 ± 0.01 µg/mL, along with fosters its potential application in plasmonic sensing.
Characterization of the Multidimensional Functional Space of the Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Assemblages in a Biosphere Reserve (Central México)
Authors: Rodríguez-Romero Alexis Joseph , Rico-Sánchez Axel Eduardo , Sedeño-Díaz Jacinto Elías , López-López Eugenia
Published: November 2021

The analysis of functional diversity has shown to be more sensitive to the effects of natural and anthropogenic disturbances on the assemblages of aquatic macroinvertebrates than the classical analyses of structural ecology. However, this ecological analysis perspective has not been fully explored in tropical environments of America. Protected Natural Areas (PNAs) such as biosphere reserves can be a benchmark regarding structural and functional distribution patterns worldwide, so the characterization of the functional space of biological assemblages in these sites is necessary to promote biodiversity conservation efforts. Our work characterized the multidimensional functional space of the macroinvertebrate assemblages from an ecosystemic approach by main currents, involving a total of 15 study sites encompassing different impact and human influence scenarios, which were monitored in two contrasting seasons. We calculated functional diversity indices (dispersion, richness, divergence, evenness, specialization, and originality) from biological and ecological traits of the macroinvertebrate assemblages and related these indices to the physicochemical characteristics of water and four environmental indices (Water Quality Index, habitat quality, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, and vegetation cover and land use). Our results show that the indices of functional richness, evenness, and functional specialization were sensitive to disturbance caused by salinization, concentration of nutrients and organic matter, and even to the occurrence of a forest fire in the reserve during one of the sampling seasons. These findings support the conclusion that the changes and relationships between the functional diversity indices and the physicochemical parameters and environmental indices considered were suitable for evaluating the ecological conditions within the reserve.
Protein Structure, Models of Sequence Evolution, and Data Type Effects in Phylogenetic Analyses of Mitochondrial Data: A Case Study in Birds
Authors: Gordon Emily L. , Kimball Rebecca T. , Braun Edward L.
Published: November 2021

Phylogenomic analyses have revolutionized the study of biodiversity, but they have revealed that estimated tree topologies can depend, at least in part, on the subset of the genome that is analyzed. For example, estimates of trees for avian orders differ if protein-coding or non-coding data are analyzed. The bird tree is a good study system because the historical signal for relationships among orders is very weak, which should permit subtle non-historical signals to be identified, while monophyly of orders is strongly corroborated, allowing identification of strong non-historical signals. Hydrophobic amino acids in mitochondrially-encoded proteins, which are expected to be found in transmembrane helices, have been hypothesized to be associated with non-historical signals. We tested this hypothesis by comparing the evolution of transmembrane helices and extramembrane segments of mitochondrial proteins from 420 bird species, sampled from most avian orders. We estimated amino acid exchangeabilities for both structural environments and assessed the performance of phylogenetic analysis using each data type. We compared those relative exchangeabilities with values calculated using a substitution matrix for transmembrane helices estimated using a variety of nuclear- and mitochondrially-encoded proteins, allowing us to compare the bird-specific mitochondrial models with a general model of transmembrane protein evolution. To complement our amino acid analyses, we examined the impact of protein structure on patterns of nucleotide evolution. Models of transmembrane and extramembrane sequence evolution for amino acids and nucleotides exhibited striking differences, but there was no evidence for strong topological data type effects. However, incorporating protein structure into analyses of mitochondrially-encoded proteins improved model fit. Thus, we believe that considering protein structure will improve analyses of mitogenomic data, both in birds and in other taxa.
Future Prediction of COVID-19 Vaccine Trends Using a Voting Classifier
Authors: Zaidi Syed Ali Jafar , Tariq Saad , Belhaouari Samir Brahim
Published: November 2021

Machine learning (ML)-based prediction is considered an important technique for improving decision making during the planning process. Modern ML models are used for prediction, prioritization, and decision making. Multiple ML algorithms are used to improve decision-making at different aspects after forecasting. This study focuses on the future prediction of the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness which has been presented as a light in the dark. People bear several reservations, including concerns about the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine. Under these presumptions, the COVID-19 vaccine would either lower the risk of developing the malady after injection, or the vaccine would impose side effects, affecting their existing health condition. In this regard, people have publicly expressed their concerns regarding the vaccine. This study intends to estimate what perception the masses will establish about the role of the COVID-19 vaccine in the future. Specifically, this study exhibits people’s predilection toward the COVID-19 vaccine and its results based on the reviews. Five models, e.g., random forest (RF), a support vector machine (SVM), decision tree (DT), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), and an artificial neural network (ANN), were used for forecasting the overall predilection toward the COVID-19 vaccine. A voting classifier was used at the end of this study to determine the accuracy of all the classifiers. The results prove that the SVM produces the best forecasting results and that artificial neural networks (ANNs) produce the worst prediction toward the individual aptitude to be vaccinated by the COVID-19 vaccine. When using the voting classifier, the proposed system provided an overall accuracy of 89.9% for the random dataset and 45.7% for the date-wise dataset. Thus, the results show that the studied prediction technique is a promising and encouraging procedure for studying the future trends of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Inter-Variability Study of COVLIAS 1.0: Hybrid Deep Learning Models for COVID-19 Lung Segmentation in Computed Tomography
Authors: Suri Jasjit , Agarwal Sushant , Elavarthi Pranav , Pathak Rajesh , Ketireddy Vedmanvitha , Columbu Marta , Saba Luca , Gupta Suneet , Faa Gavino , Singh Inder , Turk Monika , Chadha Paramjit , Johri Amer , Khanna Narendra , Viskovic Klaudija , Mavrogeni Sophie , Laird John , Pareek Gyan , Miner Martin , Sobel David , Balestrieri Antonella , Sfikakis Petros , Tsoulfas George , Protogerou Athanasios , Misra Durga , Agarwal Vikas , Kitas George , Teji Jagjit , Al-Maini Mustafa , Dhanjil Surinder , Nicolaides Andrew , Sharma Aditya , Rathore Vijay , Fatemi Mostafa , Alizad Azra , Krishnan Pudukode , Nagy Ferenc , Ruzsa Zoltan , Gupta Archna , Naidu Subbaram , Kalra Mannudeep
Published: November 2021

Background: For COVID-19 lung severity, segmentation of lungs on computed tomography (CT) is the first crucial step. Current deep learning (DL)-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) models have a bias in the training stage of segmentation because only one set of ground truth (GT) annotations are evaluated. We propose a robust and stable inter-variability analysis of CT lung segmentation in COVID-19 to avoid the effect of bias. Methodology: The proposed inter-variability study consists of two GT tracers for lung segmentation on chest CT. Three AI models, PSP Net, VGG-SegNet, and ResNet-SegNet, were trained using GT annotations. We hypothesized that if AI models are trained on the GT tracings from multiple experience levels, and if the AI performance on the test data between these AI models is within the 5% range, one can consider such an AI model robust and unbiased. The K5 protocol (training to testing: 80%:20%) was adapted. Ten kinds of metrics were used for performance evaluation. Results: The database consisted of 5000 CT chest images from 72 COVID-19-infected patients. By computing the coefficient of correlations (CC) between the output of the two AI models trained corresponding to the two GT tracers, computing their differences in their CC, and repeating the process for all three AI-models, we show the differences as 0%, 0.51%, and 2.04% (all < 5%), thereby validating the hypothesis. The performance was comparable; however, it had the following order: ResNet-SegNet > PSP Net > VGG-SegNet. Conclusions: The AI models were clinically robust and stable during the inter-variability analysis on the CT lung segmentation on COVID-19 patients.
A New Method Combining Pattern Prediction and Preference Prediction for Next Basket Recommendation
Authors: Chen Guisheng , Li Zhanshan
Published: November 2021

Market basket prediction, which is the basis of product recommendation systems, is the concept of predicting what customers will buy in the next shopping basket based on analysis of their historical shopping records. Although product recommendation systems develop rapidly and have good performance in practice, state-of-the-art algorithms still have plenty of room for improvement. In this paper, we propose a new algorithm combining pattern prediction and preference prediction. In pattern prediction, sequential rules, periodic patterns and association rules are mined and probability models are established based on their statistical characteristics, e.g., the distribution of periods of a periodic pattern, to make a more precise prediction. Products that have a higher probability will have priority to be recommended. If the quantity of recommended products is insufficient, then we make a preference prediction to select more products. Preference prediction is based on the frequency and tendency of products that appear in customers’ individual shopping records, where tendency is a new concept to reflect the evolution of customers’ shopping preferences. Experiments show that our algorithm outperforms those of the baseline methods and state-of-the-art methods on three of four real-world transaction sequence datasets.
Do Co-Worker Networks Increase or Decrease Productivity Differences?
Authors: Lőrincz László
Published: November 2021

Do labor mobility and co-worker networks contribute to convergence or divergence between regions? Based on the previous literature, labor mobility contributes to knowledge transfer between firms. Therefore, mobility may contribute to decreasing productivity differences, while limited mobility sustains higher differences. The effect of co-worker networks, however, can be two-fold in this process; they transmit information about potential jobs, which may enhance the mobility of workers—even between regions—and this enhanced mobility may contribute to levelling of differences. However, if mobility between regions involves movement costs, co-worker networks may concentrate locally—possibly contributing to the persistence of regional differences. In this paper, we build an agent-based model of labor mobility across firms and regions with knowledge spillovers that reflects key empirical observations on labor markets. We analyze the impact of network information provided about potential employers in this model and find that it contributes to increasing inter-regional mobility, and subsequently, to decreasing regional differences. We also find that both the density of coworker networks, as well as their regional concentrations, decrease if network information is available.
Shaping the Ecotone Zone in Forest Communities That Are Adjacent to Expressway Roads
Authors: Czaja Justyna , Wilczek Zbigniew , Chmura Damian
Published: November 2021

As a result of forest fragmentation, ecotones have become an important contribution to the landscape. The areas that include ecotones are constantly growing, thus creating new habitats for plants and animals. The factor that has the greatest impact on the configuration and extent of an ecotone is called the “edge effect”. The aim of this study was to determine the width of the ecotones in forests that are adjacent to an expressway and to characterize the edge effect they produced. The research was performed along ten transects situated at the edge of a forest and in the interior part of a forest (plots from 0 to 200 m). The structures of the forest stand, trees, shrubs, dwarf shrubs and herbs were determined and data on the species composition and species cover were also collected. Results of the statistical analyses (linear mixed models as well as detrended and canonical correspondence analyses) indicated significant changes in the structure, species composition, and species turnover that were dependent on the distance from the edge of the forest. It was shown that shrubs (cover, density, species richness) were the most affected while vascular plants were the least affected. However, the changes were ambiguous. There was either an increase or decrease in the individual parameters of the forest structure and the coverage of forest species. The extent of the forest edge began at a minimum distance of 0–20 m.
Employing Genome-Wide SNP Discovery to Characterize the Genetic Diversity in Cinnamomum camphora Using Genotyping by Sequencing
Authors: Gong Xue , Yang Aihong , Wu Zhaoxiang , Chen Caihui , Li Huihu , Liu Qiaoli , Yu Faxin , Zhong Yongda
Published: November 2021

Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J.Presl is a representative tree species of evergreen broad-leafed forests in East Asia and has exceptionally high economic, ornamental, and ecological value. However, the excessive exploitation and utilization of C. camphora trees have resulted in the shrinking of wild population sizes and rare germplasm resources. In this study, we characterized 171 C. camphora trees from 39 natural populations distributed throughout the whole of China and one Japanese population. We investigated genetic diversity and population structure using genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) identified by genotyping by sequencing (GBS) technology. The results showed the genetic diversity of the C. camphora populations from western China > central China > eastern China. Moreover, the Japanese population showed the highest diversity among all populations. The molecular variance analysis showed 92.03% of the genetic variation within populations. The average pairwise FST was 0.099, and gene flow Nm was 2.718, suggesting a low genetic differentiation among populations. Based on the genetic clustering analysis, the 40 C. camphora populations clustered into three major groups: Western China, Central China, and Eastern China + Japan. Eastern China’s population had the closest genetic relationship with the Japanese population, suggesting possible gene exchange between the two adjacent areas. This study furthers our understanding of the genetic diversity and genetic structure of C. camphora in East Asia and provides genetic tools for developing strategies of C. camphora germplasm utilization.
Iodine Fractions in Soil and Their Determination
Authors: Duborská Eva , Matulová Michaela , Vaculovič Tomáš , Matúš Peter , Urík Martin
Published: November 2021

Iodine is an essential micronutrient for most living beings, including humans. Despite efforts through various iodine deficiency disorders elimination programs, such as salt iodization, this problem still persists. Sub-clinical deficiencies have often an endemic character, and they are characteristic to certain areas, where iodine is low or inaccessible in the geochemical environment. Thus, the monitoring of iodine speciation and fractionation—especially in soil, drinking water, and food—is needed. Therefore, the aim of this work is to review the iodine distribution in most common soil fractions which relate to its bioavailability; and briefly summarize the available methods for their identification in the environmental matrices as well.
University Community Members’ Perceptions of Labels for Online Media
Authors: Suttle Ryan , Hogan Scott , Aumaugher Rachel , Spradling Matthew , Merrigan Zak , Straub Jeremy
Published: November 2021

Fake news is prevalent in society. A variety of methods have been used in an attempt to mitigate the spread of misinformation and fake news ranging from using machine learning to detect fake news to paying fact checkers to manually fact check media to ensure its accuracy. In this paper, three studies were conducted at two universities with different regional demographic characteristics to gain a better understanding of respondents’ perception of online media labeling techniques. The first study deals with what fields should appear on a media label. The second study looks into what types of informative labels respondents would use. The third focuses on blocking type labels. Participants’ perceptions, preferences, and results are analyzed by their demographic characteristics.
Potential of Chickpea Flours with Different Microstructures as Multifunctional Ingredient in an Instant Soup Application
Authors: Noordraven Laura E. C. , Kim Hyun-Jung , Hoogland Hans , Grauwet Tara , Van Loey Ann M.
Published: November 2021

Chickpea flours are an interesting multifunctional ingredient for different food products. This study investigated the potential of differently processed chickpea flours as alternative thickening agents in an instant soup recipe, replacing potato starch. Dry instant soup powders were compared on bulk density and powder flowability, whereas prepared liquid instant soups were studied in terms of rheological behaviour (as influenced by microstructure) and volatile composition. The chickpea-flour-containing soup powders possessed similar powder flowability to a reference powder but were easier to mix and will potentially result in reduced blockages during filling. For prepared liquid instant soups, similar viscosities were reached compared to the potato starch reference soup. Nevertheless, the chickpea-flour-containing soups showed higher shear thinning behaviour due to the presence of larger particles and the shear induced breakdown of particle clusters. Flavour compounds from the soup mix interacted with chickpea flour constituents, changing their headspace concentrations. Additionally, chickpea flours introduced new volatile compounds to the soups, such as ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, and sulphur compounds, which can possibly alter the aroma and flavour. It was concluded that chickpea flours showed excellent potential as alternative thickening ingredient in instant soups, improving the protein, mineral and vitamin content, and the powder flowability of the soups, although the flavour of the soups might be affected by the changes in volatile profiles between the soups.
Development, Characterization, Stability and Bioaccessibility Improvement of 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone Loaded Zein/Sophorolipid/Polysaccharide Ternary Nanoparticles: Comparison of Sodium Alginate and Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose
Authors: Chen Yufeng , Peng Jingchong , Wang Yueqi , Wadhawan Daniel , Wu Lijun , Gao Xiaojing , Sun Yi , Xia Guobin
Published: November 2021

In this study, two polysaccharides [sodium alginate (ALG) and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)] were selected to establish zein/sophorolipid/ALG (ALG/S/Z) and zein/sophorolipid/ALG (CMC/S/Z) nanoparticles to encapsulate 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF), respectively. The results showed that polysaccharide types significantly affected performance of ternary nanoparticles, including CMC/S/Z possessed lower polydispersity index, particle size and turbidity, but higher zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity compared to ALG/S/Z. Compared to zein/sophorolipid nanoparticles (S/Z), both ALG/S/Z and CMC/S/Z had better stability against low pH (pH 3~4) and high ionic strengths (150~200 mM NaCl). Hydrophobic effects, electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding were confirmed in ternary nanoparticles fabrication via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Circular dichroism revealed that CMC and ALG had no evident impact on secondary structure of zein in S/Z, but changed surface morphology of S/Z as observed by scanning electron microscope. Encapsulated 7,8-DHF exhibited an amorphous state in ternary nanoparticles as detected by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. Furthermore, compared to S/Z, ALG/S/Z, and CMC/S/Z remarkably improved the storage stability and bioaccessibility of 7,8-DHF. CMC/S/Z possessed a greater storage stability for 7,8-DHF, however, ALG/S/Z exhibited a better in vitro bioaccessibility of 7,8-DHF. This research provides a theoretical reference for zein-based delivery system application.