bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
IoT Enabled Ventilator Monitoring System for Covid-19 Patients
Authors: Mashoedah  , Rochayati Umi , Hidayatulloh Indra , Sony Arya , Ernawan Ferda , Fardiansyah  , Nuryanto Apri
Published: December 2021

The use of the IoT protocol on medical equipment is expected to provide protection for medical personnel in dealing with Covid-19 patients, especially when medical personnel are monitoring and setting up an equipment. This study aims to (1) produce a monitoring and control system for a breathing apparatus (Ventilator) based on the Internet of Thing (IoT), (2) test the ventilator control function, (3) test the data transmission function with the IoT protocol. The method used is Define, Design, Develop, and Disseminate (4D). Data collection is done through (1) Testing and Observation (2) Limited field test. This research produces a control and monitoring system for mechanical ventilators. The mechanical ventilator consists of a gripper motion mechanism driven by a dc motor. The movement of the gripper creates pressure and releases pressure on the ambu bag. The depth of pressure exerted by the gripper is measured as the volume and pressure of the air delivered to the lungs. The rate of pressure exerted is measured as the velocity of air flowing into the lungs.
Development of Android-based Mobile Application “Cyber Gen” for Genetic Counselling Implementation among Thalassemia Patients
Authors: Setiawan Henri , Setiawan Doni , Suhanda  , Mustopa Acep Hidayatul
Published: December 2021

Thalassemia is a genetic disease that causes various physical and psychosocial problems. Patients will experience psychosocial and emotional disorders in the form of feelings of depression, anxiety and other problems. Nurses as counselors need to provide genetic counseling interventions as a strategy to overcome these problems through information technology media such as android-based mobile applications. Android-based information technology is the most common and easy-to-use medium for nurses to provide health services such as genetic counseling. This research method used Research and Development design which aimed to design, produce and test the validity of the products that have been produced. The research phase used a qualitative approach to find out the problems and needs of the android application for the implementation of genetic counseling. Furthermore, the system development stage used the FAST (Framework for Application of Systems Technology) method which consists of preliminary investigation, problem analysis, requirements analysis, decision analysis, system design and construction. Testing of the Android-based Cyber Gene mobile application for the implementation of genetic counseling in thalassemia patients was carried out by testing all existing menus using secondary data. The result of this research is the Android-based Mobile Application “Cyber Gene” for Genetic Counseling Implementation among Thalassemia Patients. Nurses, thalassemia patients, and their caregivers can use this application for the comprehensive genetic counseling intervention process with instant messaging through the Live Consultation menu based on the predetermined procedure. Testing the system installed on android version 1.1 with the result that all menus and submenus on the system can be accessed and work well. Therefore, the Cyber Gene application can be used for the implementation of genetic counseling in thalassemia patients, both in hospitals and other health facilities.
Performance of Trainers kits for Industrial Automation Based on Programmable Logic Controllers
Authors: Sukir  , Sa’adilah  , Hartoyo  , Sunaryo  , Saifullizam B. P.
Published: December 2021

The objectives of this study include: (1) get results; and (2) know the performance of trainer kits for industrial automation based on Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC). The type of research is research and development that refers to the ADDIE model according to Robert Maribe Branch. Research steps include: Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate. Data obtained through observation, interviews, and questionnaires, using instruments in the form of observation sheets, interview guidelines, and questionnaires. Data were analysed descriptively. The results showed that: (1) A PLC-based industrial automation trainer kit has been developed in the form of simulation of drilling objects, spraying paint on objects, applying stamps, and moving objects manually and automatically; and (2) PLC-based industrial automation trainer kit products have good performance, which is shown that 100% of the important components can work properly, and all job descriptions (100%) of the trainer kits can work as their function.
Face Tracking for Flying Robot Quadcopter based on Haar Cascade Classifier and PID Controller
Authors: Priambodo A S , Arifin F , Nasuha A , Winursito A
Published: December 2021

The fundamental aim of this research is to develop a face detection system for a quadcopter in order to follow the face object. This research has two main stages, namely the face detection stage and the position control system. The face detection algorithm used in this research is the haar cascade method which is run using the python and OpenCV programming languages. The algorithm worked well, getting around 16fps on a low spec computer without a GPU unit. The results of the face detection algorithm are proven to be able to recognize faces from the camera installed on the DJI Tello mini drone. The mini drone was chosen because it is small and light, so it is harmless, and testing can be carried out indoors. Besides, the DJI Tello can be programmed easily using the python programming language. The drone’s position is then compared with the set point in the middle of the image to obtain errors so that control signals can be calculated for up/down, forward/backward, and right/left movements. From the testing results, the response speed that occurs in the right/left and up/down movements is less than 2 seconds, while for the forward/backward movement, it is less than 3 seconds.
Design of a Ku-band Tile T/R Module
Authors: Zhang Yu , Zhao Hailong , Song Xuefeng , Li Zenglu
Published: December 2021

This paper introduces a 16 channel Ku-band tile T/R module design in 3D highly integrated packaging. The technical indicator design of T/R module is completed by using four channel amplitude phase multifunctional chip and various design methods. Through reasonable indicator distribution and structure layout, the miniaturization design of T/R module is realized by using high-density substrate and 3D interconnection structure. Through process optimization, structural design and simulation verification, the reliability and producibility of T/R module is studied, and the consistency of products is improved. The test results show that the design has good microwave performance and can meet the requirements of high performance, low cost and batch production of Ku-band T/R module.
An optimized demand-response operation method of regional integrated energy system considering 5G base station energy storage
Authors: Yunli Yue , Beibei Sun , Hao Yue , Dan Chen , Yi Zhou , Jun Lu
Published: December 2021

The scheduling technology of regional integrated energy system is one of the key technologies to realize carbon neutralization by utilizing wind-power. Aiming at the optimal scheduling problem of regional electrothermal integrated energy system considering wind-power utilization and load side energy consumption, this paper proposes an optimized demand-response operation method of regional integrated energy system considering 5G base station energy storage. The regional integrated energy system of load side demand response is constructed based on the comprehensive consideration of technical and economic factors such as wind-power utilization and economic costs and load side peak valley difference. Finally, a two-layer particle swarm optimization method is proposed to solve the model. The experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively achieve wind-power utilization, economic dispatch and reduce the peak valley difference through load side demand response, which can improve the economic efficiency, environmental protection and low-carbon operation of regional integrated energy system.
Research and Design of Active Equalization System for Multi-stage Series Li-ion Battery
Authors: Xu Jinli , Chang Haiqing , Xun Hehui , Wang Jiaowu
Published: December 2021

In view of the obvious phenomenon of the difference between the single cells of the series battery pack after multiple cycles of recycling, it is necessary to adopt balanced control to extend the working life of the battery pack, improve the energy utilization rate, and ensure the safety and stability of the battery pack. This paper proposes a single battery voltage as the control variable, adopts staged equalization, charge-discharge two-level equalization protection and isolated flyback converter circuit to realize the active equalization of battery pack energy, and designs the corresponding equalization control circuit. Through the comparison of a variety of control methods, the application of this system can achieve the final voltage balance. Tests show that the proposed equilibrium system can make full use of the larger capacity monomers, quickly improve the energy imbalance in the battery pack, and can effectively extend the working life of the battery pack and improve energy utilization.
Research on the efficiency of single-wire power transmission
Authors: Zhang Fei , Guo Jing , Wang Jingming , Ren Xiaoying , Gao Lu , Tian Chen , Duan Qiuyu , Gao Yanning
Published: December 2021

With the development of related theoretical research on Single Wire Power Transfer(SWPT), the SWPT system has demonstrated its advantages in a variety of special environments. In this paper, the influence of capacitance and inductance on transmission efficiency is studied in order to improve the transmission efficiency of swpt system. This article simplifies and analyzes the circuit model of the SWPT system. It can be found that the system is a second-order circuit, and its response distribution trend conforms to the Gaussian function distribution. There should be an optimal ratio between the capacitor and the inductance to maximize the circuit response. Through the influence of different capacitance, inductance, and transmission distance on transmission efficiency, multiple sets of experiments and simulations are carried out. The experiment found that the capacitance, inductance, and transmission efficiency are in accordance with the Gaussian non-normal distribution, and the acquired data is fitted by the Gaussian function. The average relative error of the fitting is less than 1% under different transmission distances, which can be better reflect the relationship between the three. The study of single-wire power transmission system will provide a key reference for wireless power transmission.
Sensitivity study of ring-shaped electrostatic sensor based on nonparametric estimation
Authors: Kan Zhe , Li Yuanzhe
Published: December 2021

In this paper, aiming at the problem of the electrostatic sensor signal satisfying the gaussian distribution, the non-parametric kernel estimation method is introduced, and the electrode induction model of the electrostatic sensor is finally fitted by combining the goodness of fit and the simulation data samples. This model satisfies the gaussian distribution and the electrostatic signal satisfying the gaussian distribution is given in the theory. Maxwell simulation software was used to simulate the theoretical sensitivity of the electrostatic sensor and the axial and radial spatial sensitivity characteristics of different sensor parameters were obtained. Within a certain range, the relative permittivity of the insulating tube is also discussed. Finally, an insulating tube with a relative permittivity of 3 is selected as the material of the insulating tube. Finally, the experiment is carried out on the experimental equipment and the conclusions obtained in the article are confirmed.
Fault location method of active distribution network based on graph theory and matrix algorithm
Authors: Li Yalei , Zhang Xiaohong
Published: December 2021

In view of the large scale distributed power distribution network, distribution network from the traditional single main transformer power supply system becomes more complex broken power supply network, the trend of the distribution network flow and network frame produced change, failure fault feature information of great change, the traditional distribution network fault location method can not accurately obtain the location of the fault zone, the low accuracy of fault location, the error bigger problem a new fault location method of active distribution network combining graph theory and matrix was proposed. According to the knowledge of graph theory, the distribution network is simplified to topology diagram and described in the form of matrix, and then the fault judgment matrix is obtained through a series of matrix addition operation, and the type of fault interval can be identified accurately and quickly by combining the fault criterion table. The simulation results show that this method is simple in principle, fast and effective in criterion, suitable for the flexible operation mode of active distribution network structure, can accurately and quickly determine the fault segment, and can meet the requirements of complex distribution network fault location.
Adaptive damping control strategy of virtual synchronous generator based on fuzzy control
Authors: Li Wenkai , Xie Jie , Zhang Mengzhao , Guo Chunlin
Published: December 2021

Based on the topology and small signal model of virtual synchronous generator, the influence of virtual inertia and damping coefficient on transient process is analysed. In order to solve the problem of overshoot with small damping coefficient and slow response with large damping coefficient, a fuzzy control method is introduced, which can completely eliminate overshoot without affecting the response speed. Another fuzzy controller is designed to optimize the output of the virtual synchronous generator in the primary frequency modulation process according to the SOC of the energy storage system.
The path-following control of the underactuated AUV with input saturation and multiple disturbances
Authors: Sun Xingyu , Miao Jianming , Deng Kankan , Wang Yanyun
Published: December 2021

Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) in marine resource surveys plays an important role. This paper proposes a new path-following control frame for the underactuated AUV with input saturation and multiple disturbances. The disturbances include external disturbances, model parameter uncertainties, unmodeled dynamics and other random disturbances. Compared to most of previously published literatures, which treat disturbances as lumped disturbances, a composite hierarchical anti-disturbance control (CHADC) strategy is adopted to achieve higher precision path following. A disturbance observer (DOB) is constructed to estimate and eliminate the disturbances with partial known information, while the H
∞ theory is used to optimize the path-following controller to attenuate the other disturbances satisfying the L
2-norm bound condition and improve the robustness of system. Besides, Lyapunov direct method and back-stepping method are used to design the path-following controller, where the input saturation is considered, the extended state observer (ESO) is used to estimate the uncertainty of kinematic controller and the nonlinear tracking differentiator (NTD) is used to simplify the controller. Finally, simulations are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control law.
Geographic Expansion of an Invasive Fly: First Record ofZaprionus tuberculatus(Diptera: Drosophilidae) in the Americas
Authors: Cavalcanti Fábio A G S , Ribeiro Lais B , Marins Gabriel , Tonelli Guilherme S S S , Báo Sônia N , Yassin Amir , Tidon Rosana
Published: December 2021

Due to the increase in global transport in recent decades, species that flourish in human-altered environments are widening their geographical distribution. Consequently, endemic species are either declining or going to extinction. Here, we report the first occurrence of the Afrotropical fly Zaprionus tuberculatus Malloch in the Americas. This species has been recognized as invasive by the Invasive Species Compendium, and we argue that it will probably impact drosophilid communities. Our study was conducted on the natural and urban environments of the Brazilian Savanna, a biodiversity hotspot where drosophilid communities have been monitored since 1999. Z. tuberculatus was first collected in January 2020, at low abundances, in urban parks located in Brasília. In December 2020, we recorded it in a preserved area approximately 200 km away from the urban parks. From January to March 2021, we found the species in seven urban parks in Brasília and three natural reserves (conservation units) located around the city. The species’ relative abundance increased from 0.9% in 2020 (n = 11,244 drosophilids) to 17% in 2021 (n = 6,002 drosophilids). This is a rare opportunity to monitor a recent invasion event in a well-studied area. Based on the impact of Z. indianus Gupta, which invaded the Brazilian Savanna in 1999 and remained the dominant species during the rainy seasons, we fear that this new arrival will reduce the diversity of drosophilids in the Neotropics.
Reconstruction of human protein-coding gene functional association network based on machine learning
Authors: Huang Xiao-Tai , Jia Songwei , Gao Lin , Wu Jing
Published: December 2021

Networks consisting of molecular interactions are intrinsically dynamical systems of an organism. These interactions curated in molecular interaction databases are still not complete and contain false positives introduced by high-throughput screening experiments. In this study, we propose a framework to integrate interactions of functional associated protein-coding genes from 31 data sources to reconstruct a network with high coverage and quality. For each interaction, 369 features were constructed including properties of both the interaction and the involved genes. The training and validation sets were built on the pathway interactions as positives and the potential negative instances resulting from our proposed semi-supervised strategy. Random forest classification method was then applied to train and predict multiple times to give a score for each interaction. After setting a threshold estimated by a Binomial distribution, a Human protein-coding Gene Functional Association Network (HuGFAN) was reconstructed with 20 383 genes and 1185 429 high confidence interactions. Then, HuGFAN was compared with other networks from data sources with respect to network properties, suggesting that HuGFAN is more function and pathway related. Finally, HuGFAN was applied to identify cancer driver through two famous network-based methods (DriverNet and HotNet2) to show its outstanding performance compared with other networks. HuGFAN and other supplementary files are freely available at https://github.com/xthuang226/HuGFAN.
pystablemotifs: Python library for attractor identification and control in Boolean networks
Authors: Rozum Jordan C , Deritei Dávid , Park Kyu Hyong , Gómez Tejeda Zañudo Jorge , Albert Réka
Published: December 2021

pystablemotifs is a Python 3 library for analyzing Boolean networks. Its non-heuristic and exhaustive attractor identification algorithm was previously presented in Rozum et al. (2021). Here, we illustrate its performance improvements over similar methods and discuss how it uses outputs of the attractor identification process to drive a system to one of its attractors from any initial state. We implement six attractor control algorithms, five of which are new in this work. By design, these algorithms can return different control strategies, allowing for synergistic use. We also give a brief overview of the other tools implemented in pystablemotifs.

Availability and implementation

The source code is on GitHub at https://github.com/jcrozum/pystablemotifs/.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
CNApy: a CellNetAnalyzer GUI in Python for analyzing and designing metabolic networks
Authors: Thiele Sven , von Kamp Axel , Bekiaris Pavlos Stephanos , Schneider Philipp , Klamt Steffen
Published: December 2021

Constraint-based reconstruction and analysis (COBRA) is a widely used modeling framework for analyzing and designing metabolic networks. Here, we present CNApy, an open-source cross-platform desktop application written in Python, which offers a state-of-the-art graphical front-end for the intuitive analysis of metabolic networks with COBRA methods. While the basic look-and-feel of CNApy is similar to the user interface of the MATLAB toolbox CellNetAnalyzer, it provides various enhanced features by using components of the powerful Qt library. CNApy supports a number of standard and advanced COBRA techniques and further functionalities can be easily embedded in its GUI facilitating modular extension in the future.

Availability and implementation

CNApy can be installed via conda and its source code is freely available at https://github.com/cnapy-org/CNApy under the Apache 2 license.
Hope to Despair: Children and Young People’s Lived Experiences of Trafficking Abuse
Authors: Gearon Alinka
Published: December 2021

Despite the increasing awareness of child trafficking and modern slavery as a growing societal issue, little is known about the direct experiences of children and young people in trafficking situations. This paper contributes to this gap by reporting findings from a qualitative study that was conducted in England with young people who had lived experiences of child trafficking. Drawing on personal testimonies through in-depth interviews, this paper reports how children’s journeys of hope turned into despair. Children realised they were deceived when promises made did not materialise, they were subjected to multiple and severe forms of abuse and became aware they were used, sold and resold for traffickers’ gain. This paper considers how in seemingly powerless situations, some degree of children’s agency was exercised. Various coping mechanisms and tactics were developed as children tried to gain some knowledge and power to survive. This research provides valuable insight into the lived experiences of trafficking abuse, enabling practitioners to understand the dynamics, processes and acts children and young people are exposed to. The findings emphasise the importance of recognising the critical role that connected peers play in the trafficking process in helping others to cope, survive and ultimately escape.
Rooting and reaching: insights from Love Leitrim’s successful resistance to fracking in Ireland
Authors: Gorman Jamie
Published: December 2021

What can community development learn from frontline community resistance to extractivism and the fossil fuel industry? In the global North, environmental governance often operates within the dominant mode of neoliberal ‘environmentality’ (Luke. 1999. Environmentality as green governmentality, in E. Darier ed, Discourses of the Environment, Blackwell, Oxford), conceptualizing environmental action in individualized and depoliticized ways. This is compounded by the discursive hegemony of the educated middle-classes, which frames environmental issues in ways that render invisible the concerns of marginalized communities and workers. In this paper, I present an activist ethnography and case study of Love Leitrim, a community group that played a crucial role in the successful Irish movement to resist fracking. I suggest that local environmental justice struggles point to the possibility of a ‘liberation environmentality’ (Fletcher. Environmentality unbound: multiple governmentalities in environmental politics, Geoforum, 2017;85, 311–315); which challenges capitalist modes of environmental governance that facilitate the exploitation of the environment for capital accumulation. The paper identifies how a combination of (i) relational local organizing; (ii) trans-local networking with other frontline communities and (iii) creative political engagement enabled campaigners to organize collectively around the environment, navigate power asymmetries and secure political change across spatial scales. I conclude by suggesting that Love Leitrim’s frontline community struggle offers important insights for community development workers who wish to address the environment as a political issue and play a role in bringing about a just transition for marginalized communities and workers.
Father Hermann Kniebandl (1679–1745), lutenist, composer and scribe from the Cistercian Abbey of Grüssau, Silesia
Authors: Joachimiak Grzegorz
Published: December 2021

This article is concerned with one of the largest surviving collections of 18th-century lute tablature manuscripts, from the Cistercian abbey of Grüssau in Silesia (now Krzeszów, Poland). The collection consists of 15 volumes of manuscript lute tablature, containing more than 2,000 pieces for Baroque lute. I focus on a group of otherwise unknown compositions from these sources, all connected with the entwined monogram ‘HK’. Contemporary sources, including previously unexplored correspondence, suggest that these initials can be associated with Father Hermann Kniebandl, who also seems to have been one of the scribes represented in the collection—the first to have been identified in the entire collection up to now. Furthermore, among the works copied in this hand are seven pieces identified with the ‘HK’ monogram which may be the first identified autograph compositions by Kniebandl. Until now, his name has been associated only with the title-pages of two manuscripts from the Grüssau collection, but both are dedications copied by other scribes (though the music that follows in one of these sources is copied in his hand).
Momentary Associations of Osteoarthritis Pain and Affect: Depression as Moderator
Authors: Parmelee Patricia A , Behrens Emily A , Costlow Hill Kyrsten , Cox Brian S , DeCaro Jason A , Keefe Francis J , Smith Dylan M
Published: December 2021

Objectives

This research examined main and moderating effects of global depressive symptoms upon in-the-moment associations of pain and affect among individuals with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Effects of depression on short-term change in pain and affect were also examined.

Method

Older adults with physician-confirmed OA (N = 325) completed a baseline interview tapping global depressive symptoms, followed by an experience sampling protocol that captured momentary pain and affect 4 times daily for 7 days. Multilevel models controlling demographics and health conditions examined main and moderating effects of depression on momentary associations of pain with positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA). Similar methods addressed short-term change in pain and affect. Auxiliary analyses explored broad associations of depressive symptoms with person-level averages and variability in pain and affect.

Results

Global depression predicted current pain, PA, and NA, as well as change in pain and affect over a 3- to 8-h period. Furthermore, both in the moment and over short periods, the association of pain and NA was stronger among persons higher in depressive symptoms. No moderating effect for the PA–pain association was found. Depressive symptoms were also associated with variability in pain and affect, particularly NA.

Discussion

Results confirm previous work on the relation of chronic pain with both global depressive symptoms and short-term affect. This research further demonstrates a unique moderating role of depression on the association of momentary pain with NA and suggests that the causal path may be stronger from pain to affect than vice versa.
In-depth structural characterization of oligosaccharides released by GH107 endofucanase MfFcnA reveals enzyme subsite specificity and sulfated fucan substructural features
Authors: Ropartz David , Marion Lery , Fanuel Mathieu , Nikolic Jasna , Jam Murielle , Larocque Robert , Ficko-Blean Elizabeth , Michel Gurvan , Rogniaux Helene
Published: December 2021

The extracellular matrix of brown algae represents an abundant source of fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides (FCSPs). FCSPs include sulfated fucans, essentially composed of fucose, and highly heterogeneous fucoidans, comprising various monosaccharides. Despite a range of potentially valuable biological activities, the structures of FCSPs are only partially characterized and enzymatic tools leading to their deconstruction are rare. Previously, the enzyme MfFcnA was isolated from the marine bacterium Mariniflexile fucanivorans and biochemically characterized as an endo-α-1 → 4-l-fucanase, the first member of glycoside hydrolase family 107. Here, MfFcnA was used as an enzymatic tool to deconstruct the structure of the sulfated fucans from Pelvetia canaliculata (Fucales brown alga). Oligofucans released by MfFcnA at different time points were characterized using mass spectrometry coupled with liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry through Charge Transfer Dissociation. This approach highlights a large diversity in the structures released. In particular, the analyses show the presence of species with less than three sulfates per two fucose residues. They also reveal species with monosaccharides other than fucose and the occurrence of laterally branched residues. Precisely, the lateral branching is either in the form of a hexose accompanied by a trisulfated fucose nearby, or of a side chain of fucoses with a pentose as the branching point on the polymer. Overall, the results indicate that the structure of sulfated fucans from P. canaliculata is more complex than expected. They also reveal the interesting capacity of MfFcnA to accommodate different substrates, leading to structurally diverse oligofucan products that potentially could be screened for bioactivities.
Can we align antibiotic policies at an international level in the absence of harmonized definitions?
Authors: Simjee Shabbir , Henninger Marc , Ippolito Gabriella , Atkinson Jackie
Published: December 2021

The foundations of robust policies are reliant on harmonized definitions allowing consistency of understanding. However, it is evident that there is a lack of harmonization of definitions in the antibiotic space and even the simplest of terms such as ‘antibiotic’ and ‘antimicrobial’ do not have a single harmonized definition at an international level. This lack of harmonization makes interpretation of policies in different geographies a difficult, sometimes impossible, task. This article proposes a set of definitions that could be adopted by international institutions such as the WHO, World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) as well as regulatory agencies.
Lorentz scanning electron/ion microscopy
Authors: Harada Ken , Shimada Keiko , Takahashi Yoshio
Published: December 2021

We have developed an observation and measurement method for spatial electromagnetic fields by using scanning electron/ion microscopes, combined with electron holography reconstruction technique. A cross-grating was installed below the specimen, and the specimens were observed under the infocus condition, and the grating was simultaneously observed under the defocus condition. Electromagnetic fields around the specimen were estimated from grating-image distortions. This method is effective for low and middle magnification and resolution ranges; furthermore, this method can in principle be realizable in any electron/ion beam instruments because it is based on the Lorentz force model for charged particle beams.
A case of TEVAR for acute aortic dissection after MICS AVR and retroperitoneal tumor resection
Authors: Tsutsui Masahiro , Narita Masahiko , Ushioda Ryohei , Kikuchi Yuta , Shirasaka Tomonori , Ishikawa Natsuya , Kamiya Hiroyuki
Published: December 2021

If multiple treatments are performed within a short time, when something occurs, it is difficult to identify its cause. Here, we present a case of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for acute aortic dissection (AAD) after multiple treatments. A 76-year-old woman underwent minimally invasive aortic valve replacement, transcatheter lumbar artery embolism and retroperitoneal tumor resection within a short period of time. After a series of procedures, the patient experienced sudden back pain, and computed tomography revealed an AAD Type B. Her back pain persisted; therefore, we performed TEVAR, and the post-operative course was uneventful. In this case, the relationship between AAD and treatment before AAD was unclear, but AAD should considered when performing treatments that may cause AAD.
Validation of a Spectrophotometric Method for Urinary Iodine Determination on Microplate Based on Sandell-Kolthoff Reaction
Authors: Oblak Adrijana , Arohonka Petra , Erlund Iris , Kuzmanovska Sonja , Zaletel Katja , Gaberšček Simona
Published: December 2021

Objective

Iodine is an essential part of the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine. Therefore, it is essential to monitor iodine supply in a population. The biochemical marker for assessing and controlling iodine is urinary iodine concentration (UIC).

Materials and Methods

This cross-sectional study included 180 pregnant women and 308 women of reproductive age. Urine specimens from 185 of the 488 volunteers were used. The urine specimens were measured using 2 methods: (1) ammonium persulfate digestion (APD), followed by the Sandell-Kolthoff (S-K) reaction modified on microplate for spectrophotometric detection; and (2) the reference method, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Results

The regression equation between the methods was ICP-MS method = 1.137*(APD S-K)-5.57. A Passing-Bablok regression showed no deviation from linearity (P = .17). A Bland-Altman plot showed a negative mean bias of –2.7%.

Conclusion

The APD S-K reaction modified on microplate for spectrophotometric detection of UIC can be implemented into routine work. Its results are comparable to those of laboratories worldwide and to ICP-MS.
Constraining the initial conditions of NGC 2264 using ejected stars found in Gaia DR2
Authors: Schoettler Christina , Parker Richard J , de Bruijne Jos
Published: December 2021

Fast, ejected stars have been found around several young star-forming regions, such as the Orion Nebula Cluster. These ejected stars can be used to constrain the initial density, spatial and kinematic substructure when compared to predictions from N-body simulations. We search for runaway and slower walkaway stars using Gaia Data Release 2 (DR2) within 100 pc of NGC 2264, which contains subclustered regions around higher mass OB stars (S Mon, IRS 1, and IRS 2). We find five runaways and nine walkaways that trace back to S Monocerotis (S Mon) and six runaways and five walkaways that trace back to IRS 1/2 based on their 3D kinematics. We compare these numbers to a range of N-body simulations with different initial conditions. The number of runaways/walkaways is consistent with initial conditions with a high initial stellar density (∼10 000 M⊙ pc−3), a high initial amount of spatial substructure, and either a subvirial or virialized ratio for all subclusters. We also confirm the trajectories of our ejected stars using the data from Gaia Early Data Release 3 (EDR3), which reduces the number of runaways from IRS 1/2 from six to four but leaves the number of runaways from S Mon unchanged. The reduction in runaways is due to smaller uncertainties in the proper motion and changes in the parallax/distance estimate for these stars in Gaia EDR3. We find further runaway/walkaway candidates based on proper motion alone in Gaia DR2, which could increase these numbers once radial velocities are available. We also expect further changes in the candidate list with upcoming Gaia data releases.
Phylogenetic and Molecular Analyses Identify SNORD116 Targets Involved in the Prader–Willi Syndrome
Authors: Baldini Laeya , Robert Anne , Charpentier Bruno , Labialle Stéphane
Published: December 2021

The eutherian-specific SNORD116 family of repeated box C/D snoRNA genes is suspected to play a major role in the Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS), yet its molecular function remains poorly understood. Here, we combined phylogenetic and molecular analyses to identify candidate RNA targets. Based on the analysis of several eutherian orthologs, we found evidence of extensive birth-and-death and conversion events during SNORD116 gene history. However, the consequences for phylogenetic conservation were heterogeneous along the gene sequence. The standard snoRNA elements necessary for RNA stability and association with dedicated core proteins were the most conserved, in agreement with the hypothesis that SNORD116 generate genuine snoRNAs. In addition, one of the two antisense elements typically involved in RNA target recognition was largely dominated by a unique sequence present in at least one subset of gene paralogs in most species, likely the result of a selective effect. In agreement with a functional role, this ASE exhibited a hybridization capacity with putative mRNA targets that was strongly conserved in eutherians. Moreover, transient downregulation experiments in human cells showed that Snord116 controls the expression and splicing levels of these mRNAs. The functions of two of them, diacylglycerol kinase kappa and Neuroligin 3, extend the description of the molecular bases of PWS and reveal unexpected molecular links with the Fragile X syndrome and autism spectrum disorders.
Dynamic 23S rRNA modification ho5C2501 benefits Escherichia coli under oxidative stress
Authors: Fasnacht Michel , Gallo Stefano , Sharma Puneet , Himmelstoß Maximilian , Limbach Patrick A , Willi Jessica , Polacek Norbert
Published: December 2021

Post-transcriptional modifications are added to ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) to govern ribosome biogenesis and to fine-tune protein biosynthesis. In Escherichia coli and related bacteria, RlhA uniquely catalyzes formation of a 5-hydroxycytidine (ho5C) at position 2501 of 23S rRNA. However, the molecular and biological functions as well as the regulation of ho5C2501 modification remain unclear. We measured growth curves with the modification-deficient ΔrlhA strain and quantified the extent of the modification during different conditions by mass spectrometry and reverse transcription. The levels of ho5C2501 in E. coli ribosomes turned out to be highly dynamic and growth phase-dependent, with the most effective hydroxylation yields observed in the stationary phase. We demonstrated a direct effect of ho5C2501 on translation efficiencies in vitro and in vivo. High ho5C2501 levels reduced protein biosynthesis which however turned out to be beneficial for E. coli for adapting to oxidative stress. This functional advantage was small under optimal conditions or during heat or cold shock, but becomes pronounced in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Taken together, these data provided first functional insights into the role of this unique 23S rRNA modification for ribosome functions and bacterial growth under oxidative stress.
Highly conserved s2m element of SARS-CoV-2 dimerizes via a kissing complex and interacts with host miRNA-1307-3p
Authors: Imperatore Joshua A , Cunningham Caylee L , Pellegrene Kendy A , Brinson Robert G , Marino John P , Evanseck Jeffrey D , Mihailescu Mihaela Rita
Published: December 2021

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic highlights the necessity for a more fundamental understanding of the coronavirus life cycle. The causative agent of the disease, SARS-CoV-2, is being studied extensively from a structural standpoint in order to gain insight into key molecular mechanisms required for its survival. Contained within the untranslated regions of the SARS-CoV-2 genome are various conserved stem-loop elements that are believed to function in RNA replication, viral protein translation, and discontinuous transcription. While the majority of these regions are variable in sequence, a 41-nucleotide s2m element within the genome 3′ untranslated region is highly conserved among coronaviruses and three other viral families. In this study, we demonstrate that the SARS-CoV-2 s2m element dimerizes by forming an intermediate homodimeric kissing complex structure that is subsequently converted to a thermodynamically stable duplex conformation. This process is aided by the viral nucleocapsid protein, potentially indicating a role in mediating genome dimerization. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the s2m element interacts with multiple copies of host cellular microRNA (miRNA) 1307-3p. Taken together, our results highlight the potential significance of the dimer structures formed by the s2m element in key biological processes and implicate the motif as a possible therapeutic drug target for COVID-19 and other coronavirus-related diseases.
Role of ketone bodies in diabetes-induced dementia: sirtuins, insulin resistance, synaptic plasticity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neurotransmitter
Authors: Chung Ji Yeon , Kim Oh Yoen , Song Juhyun
Published: December 2021

Patients with type 2 diabetes can have several neuropathologies, such as memory deficits. Recent studies have focused on the association between metabolic imbalance and neuropathological problems, and the associated molecular pathology. Diabetes triggers neuroinflammation, impaired synaptic plasticity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and insulin resistance in the brain. Glucose is a main energy substrate for neurons, but under certain conditions, such as fasting and starvation, ketone bodies can be used as an energy fuel for these cells. Recent evidence has shed new light on the role of ketone bodies in regulating several anti-inflammation cellular pathways and improving glucose metabolism, insulin action, and synaptic plasticity, thereby being neuroprotective. However, very high amount of ketone bodies can be toxic for the brain, such as in ketoacidosis, a dangerous complication that may occur in type 1 diabetes mellitus or alcoholism. Recent findings regarding the relationship between ketone bodies and neuropathogenesis in dementia are reviewed in this article. They suggest that the adequately low amount of ketone bodies can be a potential energy source for the treatment of diabetes-induced dementia neuropathology, considering the multifaceted effects of the ketone bodies in the central nervous system. This review can provide useful information for establishing the therapeutic guidelines of a ketogenic diet for diabetes-induced dementia.
NARROW AND DWARF LEAF 1, the Ortholog of Arabidopsis ENHANCER OF SHOOT REGENERATION1/DORNRÖSCHEN, Mediates Leaf Development and Maintenance of the Shoot Apical Meristem in Oryza sativa L
Authors: Kusnandar Andree S , Itoh Jun-Ichi , Sato Yutaka , Honda Eriko , Hibara Ken-ichiro , Kyozuka Junko , Naramoto Satoshi
Published: December 2021

The molecular basis for leaf development, a major focus in developmental biology, remains unclear in the monocotyledonous grass, rice (Oryza sativa). Here, we performed a mutant screen in rice and identified an AP2-type transcription factor family protein, NARROW AND DWARF LEAF1 (NDL1). NDL1 is the ortholog of Arabidopsis thaliana (subsequently called Arabidopsis) ENHANCER OF SHOOT REGENERATION1 (ESR1)/DORNRÖSCHEN (DRN) and mediates leaf development and maintenance of the shoot apical meristem (SAM). Loss of function of NDL1 results in bladeless leaves and SAMs that are flat, rather than dome-shaped, and lack cell proliferation activity. This loss of function also causes reduced auxin signaling. Moreover, as is the case with Arabidopsis ESR1/DRN, NDL1 plays crucial roles in shoot regeneration. Importantly, we found that NDL1 is not expressed in the SAM but is expressed in leaf primordia. We propose that NDL1 cell autonomously regulates leaf development, but non-cell autonomously regulates SAM maintenance in rice.
The multicritical point principle as the origin of classical conformality and its generalizations
Authors: Kawai Hikaru , Kawana Kiyoharu
Published: December 2021

The multicritical point principle is one of the interesting theoretical possibilities that can explain the fine-tuning problems of the universe. It simply claims that “the coupling constants of a theory are tuned to one of the multicritical points, where some of the extrema of the effective potential are degenerate.” One of the simplest examples is the vanishing of the second derivative of the effective potential around a minimum. This corresponds to the so-called classical conformality, because it implies that the renormalized mass m2 vanishes. More generally, the form of the effective potential of a model depends on several coupling constants, and we should sweep them to find all the multicritical points. We study the multicritical points of a general scalar field ϕ at one-loop level under the circumstance that the vacuum expectation values of the other fields are all zero. For simplicity, we also assume that the other fields are either massless or so heavy that they do not contribute to the low-energy effective potential of ϕ. This assumption makes our discussion very simple because the resultant one-loop effective potential is parametrized by only four effective couplings. Although our analysis is not completely general because of the assumption, it can still be widely applicable to many models of the Coleman–Weinberg mechanism and its generalizations. After classifying the multicritical points at low-energy scales, we will briefly mention the possibility of criticalities at high-energy scales and their implications for cosmology.
From Abandonment to Hospitalisation: Evolution of Hospital Care in Rural Spain (1939–1975)
Authors: Barceló Prats Josep , Lanero Táboas Daniel
Published: December 2021

The aim of this article is to explain the situation of the Spanish hospital system during the twentieth century and to analyse the reasons why the difficulties that a significant part of the Spanish population, resident in rural areas, had to access hospital services during the Franco dictatorship were perpetuated. The first section uses a conceptual perspective to discuss the repercussions that the new medical significance of the hospital had for the notion of ‘rural hospital’. The second section examines the projects for hospital modernisation that appeared before the Spanish Civil War (1936–39) and highlights what impeded the consolidation of these pioneering experiences in the country. The following section analyses the hospital situation in Spain’s rural world as well as the profound changes that occurred during the last decades of the dictatorship, just on the threshold of the health reform that was finally implemented in the democratic period.
Unambiguous Trends Combining Absolute and Relative Income Poverty: New Results and Global Application
Authors: Decerf Benoit , Ferrando Mery
Published: December 2021

Over the period 1990–2015, many countries experienced a reduction in extreme absolute poverty and an increase in relative poverty. As a result, the global trend of “overall” income poverty, which combines absolute and relative poverty, may depend on arbitrary normative choices such as the priority given to the absolutely poor over the relatively poor. This article proves that, if one assumes that an individual who is absolutely poor is poorer than an individual who is only relatively poor, the overall poverty trend is sometimes independent of the priority parameter, even for cases for which absolute and relative poverty follow opposite trends. A survey conducted for this study suggests that this normative assumption collects broad support. This article applies overall poverty measures satisfying this assumption to assess the evolution of global poverty from 1990 to 2015. Results show that global overall poverty has been (at least) halved, regardless of the value chosen for the priority parameter.