bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Can Any Drug Be Repurposed for Cancer Treatment? A Systematic Assessment of the Scientific Literature
Authors: Stransky Nicolai , Ruth Peter , Schwab Matthias , Löffler Markus W.
Published: December 2021

Drug repurposing is a complementary pathway for introducing new drugs against cancer. Broad systematic assessments of ongoing repurposing efforts in oncology are lacking, but may be helpful to critically appraise current and future efforts. Hence, we conducted a systematic PubMed search encompassing 100 frequently prescribed and 100 randomly selected drugs, and assessed the published preclinical anti-cancer effects. Furthermore, we evaluated all the identified original articles for methodological quality. We found reports indicating anti-cancer effects for 138/200 drugs, especially among frequently prescribed drugs (81/100). Most were reports suggesting single-agent activity of the drugs (61%). Basic information, such as the cell line used or control treatments utilized, were reported consistently, while more detailed information (e.g., excluded data) was mostly missing. The majority (56%) of in vivo studies reported randomizing animals, while only few articles stated that the experiments were conducted in a blinded fashion. In conclusion, we found promising reports of anti-cancer effects for the majority of the assessed drugs, but speculate that many of them are false-positive findings. Reward systems should be adjusted to encourage the widespread usage of high reporting quality and bias-reducing methodologies, aiming to decrease the rate of false-positive results, and thereby increasing the trust in the findings.
Synthesis of Nanostructured TiO2 Microparticles with High Surface Area
Authors: Matoh Lev , Žener Boštjan , Skalar Tina , Štangar Urška Lavrenčič
Published: December 2021

Hydrothermal reactions represent a simple and efficient method for the preparation of nanostructured TiO2 particles that could be of interest as photocatalysts or catalytic supports. Although the particle size is in the range of 2–5 µm, the nanostructures composing the particles ensure a large specific surface area with values above 100 m2/g. The effects of the different synthesis parameters on the morphology, photocatalytic activity, and stability of the prepared material were studied. The surface morphology of the prepared TiO2 powders was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). To further characterize the samples, the specific surface area for different morphologies was measured and the photocatalytic activity of the prepared powders was tested by degrading model pollutants under UV irradiation. The results show that the initial morphology had little effect on the photocatalytic properties. On the other hand, the final calcination temperature significantly increased the degradation rates, making it comparable to that of P25 TiO2 (particle size 20–30 nm).
Flow Pd(II)-Catalysed Carbonylative Cyclisation in the Total Synthesis of Jaspine B
Authors: Lopatka Pavol , Gavenda Michal , Markovič Martin , Koóš Peter , Gracza Tibor
Published: December 2021

This work describes the total synthesis of jaspine B involving the highly diastereoselective Pd(II)-catalysed carbonylative cyclisation in the preparation of crucial intermediates. New conditions for this transformation were developed and involved the pBQ/LiCl as a reoxidation system and Fe(CO)5 as an in situ source of stoichiometric amount of carbon monoxide (1.5 molar equivalent). In addition, we have demonstrated the use of a flow reactor adopting proposed conditions in the large-scale preparation of key lactones.
Alterations in SLC4A2, SLC26A7 and SLC26A9 Drive Acid–Base Imbalance in Gastric Neuroendocrine Tumors and Uncover a Novel Mechanism for a Co-Occurring Polyautoimmune Scenario
Authors: Calvete Oriol , Reyes José , Valdés-Socin Hernán , Martin Paloma , Marazuela Mónica , Barroso Alicia , Escalada Javier , Castells Antoni , Torres-Ruiz Raúl , Rodríguez-Perales Sandra , Currás-Freixes María , Benítez Javier
Published: December 2021

Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome (APS) is assumed to involve an immune system malfunction and entails several autoimmune diseases co-occurring in different tissues of the same patient; however, they are orphans of its accurate diagnosis, as its genetic basis and pathogenic mechanism are not understood. Our previous studies uncovered alterations in the ATPase H+/K+ Transporting Subunit Alpha (ATP4A) proton pump that triggered an internal cell acid–base imbalance, offering an autoimmune scenario for atrophic gastritis and gastric neuroendocrine tumors with secondary autoimmune pathologies. Here, we propose the genetic exploration of APS involving gastric disease to understand the underlying pathogenic mechanism of the polyautoimmune scenario. The whole exome sequencing (WES) study of five autoimmune thyrogastric families uncovered different pathogenic variants in SLC4A2, SLC26A7 and SLC26A9, which cotransport together with ATP4A. Exploratory in vitro studies suggested that the uncovered genes were involved in a pathogenic mechanism based on the alteration of the acid–base balance. Thus, we built a custom gene panel with 12 genes based on the suggested mechanism to evaluate a new series of 69 APS patients. In total, 64 filtered putatively damaging variants in the 12 genes of the panel were found in 54.17% of the studied patients and none of the healthy controls. Our studies reveal a constellation of solute carriers that co-express in the tissues affected with different autoimmune diseases, proposing a unique genetic origin for co-occurring pathologies. These results settle a new-fangled genetics-based mechanism for polyautoimmunity that explains not only gastric disease, but also thyrogastric pathology and disease co-occurrence in APS that are different from clinical incidental findings. This opens a new window leading to the prediction and diagnosis of co-occurring autoimmune diseases and clinical management of patients.
Identifying Putative Causal Links between MicroRNAs and Severe COVID-19 Using Mendelian Randomization
Authors: Li Chang , Wu Aurora , Song Kevin , Gao Jeslyn , Huang Eric , Bai Yongsheng , Liu Xiaoming
Published: December 2021

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused millions of deaths worldwide. Early risk assessment of COVID-19 cases can help direct early treatment measures that have been shown to improve the prognosis of severe cases. Currently, circulating miRNAs have not been evaluated as canonical COVID-19 biomarkers, and identifying biomarkers that have a causal relationship with COVID-19 is imperative. To bridge these gaps, we aim to examine the causal effects of miRNAs on COVID-19 severity in this study using two-sample Mendelian randomization approaches. Multiple studies with available GWAS summary statistics data were retrieved. Using circulating miRNA expression data as exposure, and severe COVID-19 cases as outcomes, we identified ten unique miRNAs that showed causality across three phenotype groups of COVID-19. Using expression data from an independent study, we validated and identified two high-confidence miRNAs, namely, hsa-miR-30a-3p and hsa-miR-139-5p, which have putative causal effects on developing cases of severe COVID-19. Using existing literature and publicly available databases, the potential causative roles of these miRNAs were investigated. This study provides a novel way of utilizing miRNA eQTL data to help us identify potential miRNA biomarkers to make better and early diagnoses and risk assessments of severe COVID-19 cases.
Ellagic Acid Modulates the Amyloid Precursor Protein Gene via Superoxide Dismutase Regulation in the Entorhinal Cortex in an Experimental Alzheimer’s Model
Authors: Ramadan Wafaa S. , Alkarim Saleh
Published: December 2021

Patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are still increasing worldwide. The development of (AD) is related to oxidative stress and genetic factors. This study investigated the therapeutic effects of ellagic acid (EA) on the entorhinal cortex (ERC), which plays a major role in episodic memory, in the brains of an AD rat model. AD was induced using AlCl3 (50 mg/kg orally for 4 weeks). Rats were divided into four groups: control, AD model, EA (treated with 50 mg/kg EA orally for 4 weeks), and ADEA (AD rats treated with EA after AlCl3 was stopped) groups. All rats were investigated for episodic memory using the novel object recognition test (NORT), antioxidant serum biomarkers, lipid peroxidation, histopathology of the ERC, and quantitative PCR for the superoxide dismutase (SOD) gene. EA therapy in AD rats significantly increased the discrimination index for NORT and the levels of SOD, glutathione, and total antioxidant capacity. Lipid peroxidation products were decreased, and the neurofibrillary tangles and neuritic plaques in the ERC sections were reduced after EA administration. The decrease in ERC thickness in the AD group, caused by caspase-3-mediated apoptosis and neurotoxicity due to amyloid precursor protein, was modulated by the increased SOD mRNA expression. Adjustment of the ERC antioxidant environment and decreased oxidative stress under EA administration enhanced SOD expression, resulting in the modulation of amyloid precursor protein toxicity and caspase-3-mediated apoptosis, thereby restoring episodic memory.
Online Inertial Machine Learning for Sensor Array Long-Term Drift Compensation
Authors: Dong Xiaorui , Han Shijing , Wang Ancheng , Shang Kai
Published: December 2021

The sensor drift problem is objective and inevitable, and drift compensation has essential research significance. For long-term drift, we propose a data preprocessing method, which is different from conventional research methods, and a machine learning framework that supports online self-training and data analysis without additional sensor production costs. The data preprocessing method proposed can effectively solve the problems of sign error, decimal point error, and outliers in data samples. The framework, which we call inertial machine learning, takes advantage of the recent inertia of high classification accuracy to extend the reliability of sensors. We establish a reasonable memory and forgetting mechanism for the framework, and the choice of base classifier is not limited. In this paper, we use a support vector machine as the base classifier and use the gas sensor array drift dataset in the UCI machine learning repository for experiments. By analyzing the experimental results, the classification accuracy is greatly improved, the effective time of the sensor array is extended by 4–10 months, and the time of single response and model adjustment is less than 300 ms, which is well in line with the actual application scenarios. The research ideas and results in this paper have a certain reference value for the research in related fields.
Functionalization of Screen-Printed Sensors with a High Reactivity Carbonaceous Material for Ascorbic Acid Detection in Fresh-Cut Fruit with Low Vitamin C Content
Authors: Spissu Ylenia , Barberis Antonio , Bazzu Gianfranco , D’hallewin Guy , Rocchitta Gaia , Serra Pier Andrea , Marceddu Salvatore , Vineis Claudia , Garroni Sebastiano , Culeddu Nicola
Published: December 2021

In this study, carbon screen-printed sensors (C-SPEs) were functionalized with a high reactivity carbonaceous material (HRCM) to measure the ascorbic acid (AA) concentration in fresh-cut fruit (i.e., watermelon and apple) with a low content of vitamin C. HRCM and the functionalized working electrodes (WEs) were characterized by SEM and TEM. The increases in the electroactive area and in the diffusion of AA molecules towards the WE surface were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry. The performance of HRCM-SPEs were evaluated by CV and constant potential amperometry compared with the non-functionalized C-SPEs and MW-SPEs nanostructured with multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The results indicated that SPEs functionalized with 5 mg/mL of HRCM and 10 mg/mL of MWCNTs had the best performances. HRCM and MWCNTs increased the electroactive area by 1.2 and 1.4 times, respectively, whereas, after functionalization, the AA diffusion rate towards the electrode surface increased by an order of 10. The calibration slopes of HRCM and MWCNTs improved from 1.9 to 3.7 times, thus reducing the LOD of C-SPE from 0.55 to 0.15 and 0.28 μM, respectively. Finally, the functionalization of the SPEs proved to be indispensable for determining the AA concentration in the watermelon and apple samples.
Simulated Microgravity Induces the Proliferative Inhibition and Morphological Changes in Porcine Granulosa Cells
Authors: Dai Truong Xuan , Son Hoang Nghia , Chi Ho Nguyen Quynh , Huy Hoang Nghia Quang , Minh Nguyen Thai , Tram Nguyen Thi Thuy , Huyen Nguyen Thi Thuong , Quan To Minh , Chung Doan Chinh , Nhung Truong Hai , Minh Tran Thi , Diem Tran Hong , Mai Nguyen Thi Phuong , Long Le Thanh
Published: December 2021

Astronauts are always faced with serious health problems during prolonged spaceflights. Previous studies have shown that weightlessness significantly affects the physiological function of female astronauts, including a change in reproductive hormones and ovarian cells, such as granulosa and theca cells. However, the effects of microgravity on these cells have not been well characterized, especially in granulosa cells. This study aimed to investigate the effects of simulated microgravity (SMG) on the proliferation and morphology of porcine granulosa cells (pGCs). pGC proliferation from the SMG group was inhibited, demonstrated by the reduced O.D. value and cell density in the WST-1 assay and cell number counting. SMG-induced pGCs exhibited an increased ratio of cells in the G0/G1 phase and a decreased ratio of cells in the S and G2/M phase. Western blot analysis indicated a down-regulation of cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (cdk4), and cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (cdk6), leading to the prevention of the G1-S transition and inducing the arrest phase. pGCs under the SMG condition showed an increase in nuclear area. This caused a reduction in nuclear shape value in pGCs under the SMG condition. SMG-induced pGCs exhibited different morphologies, including fibroblast-like shape, rhomboid shape, and pebble-like shape. These results revealed that SMG inhibited proliferation and induced morphological changes in pGCs.
Comparative Evaluation of Compressive Bond Strength between Acrylic Denture Base and Teeth with Various Combinations of Mechanical and Chemical Treatments
Authors: Sayed Mohammed E. , Lunkad Honey , Fageeh Ibrahim , Jaafari Mahdi , Tawhari Ali , Muaidi Turki , Alshehri Mesfer Ibrahim , Jethlia Ankur , Jain Saurabh
Published: December 2021

Debonding and detachment of artificial teeth from the denture base is frequently encountered in prosthodontic practice. This study aims to assess the effect of modifications in the ridge-lap surface of denture teeth with various combinations of mechanical and chemical surface treatments with hydrofluoric acid on bond strength with the acrylic denture base resin and to identify the failure modes (adhesive, cohesive, or mixed). Seventy acrylic resin teeth samples were randomly divided into seven groups (n = 10): a control group (unmodified) and six treatment groups, in which various combinations of mechanical and chemical surface treatments were performed. Then, these teeth were attached to a heat-cured denture base resin block at 45° angulation. The acrylized test samples were thermocycled, and the compressive bond strength was evaluated using a universal mechanical testing machine. The results suggest that roughening with diamond burs yields the highest bond strength, whereas etching/grooving and air abrasion result in the lowest bond strength. Acid etching complemented air abrasion to improve bond strength, while negative effects were noted with acid etching in other groups. Furthermore, roughening at the neck portion of the acrylic teeth can be used by the manufacturing companies as a standard to provide higher bond strength while maintaining the esthetics of the anterior teeth.
Optimal Economic–Environmental Operation of BESS in AC Distribution Systems: A Convex Multi-Objective Formulation
Authors: Gil-González Walter , Montoya Oscar Danilo , Grisales-Noreña Luis Fernando , Escobar-Mejía Andrés
Published: December 2021

This paper deals with the multi-objective operation of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in AC distribution systems using a convex reformulation. The objective functions are CO2 emissions, and the costs of the daily energy losses are considered. The conventional non-linear nonconvex branch multi-period optimal power flow model is reformulated with a second-order cone programming (SOCP) model, which ensures finding the global optimum for each point present in the Pareto front. The weighting factors methodology is used to convert the multi-objective model into a convex single-objective model, which allows for finding the optimal Pareto front using an iterative search. Two operational scenarios regarding BESS are considered: (i) a unity power factor operation and (ii) a variable power factor operation. The numerical results demonstrate that including the reactive power capabilities in BESS reduces 200 kg of CO2 emissions and USD 80 per day of operation. All of the numerical validations were developed in MATLAB 2020b with the CVX tool and the SEDUMI and SDPT3 solvers.
ES-HAS: ECC-Based Secure Handover Authentication Scheme for Roaming Mobile User in Global Mobility Networks
Authors: K. S. Suvidha , Rangasamy Jothi , S. Kamath Shyam , Lee Cheng-Chi
Published: December 2021

The design and implementation of two-factor schemes designed for roaming mobile users for global mobility networks in smart cities requires attention to protect the scheme from various security attacks, such as the replay attack, impersonation attack, man-in-the-middle attack, password-guessing attack and stolen-smart-card attack. In addition to these attacks, the scheme should achieve user anonymity, unlinkability and perfect forward secrecy. In the roaming scenario, as mobile users are connected to the foreign network, mobile users must provide authentication details to the foreign network to which they are connected. The foreign network forwards the authentication messages received from the mobile users to their home network. The home network validates the authenticity of the mobile user. In the roaming scenario, all communication between the three entities is carried over an insecure channel. It is assumed that the adversary has the capabilities to intercept the messages transmitted over an insecure channel. Hence, the authentication scheme designed must be able to resist the above-mentioned security attacks and achieve the security goals. Our proposed scheme ES-HAS (elliptic curve-based secure handover authentication scheme) is a two-factor authentication scheme in which the mobile user possesses the password, and the smart card resists the above-mentioned security attacks. It also achieves the above-mentioned security goals. We also extended our two-factor authentication to a multi-factor authentication scheme using the fingerprint biometric technique. The formal security analysis using BAN logic and the formal security verification of the proposed scheme using the widely accepted AVISPA (automated validation of internet security protocols and applications) tool is presented in this article. In comparison with the related schemes, the proposed scheme is more efficient and robust. This makes the proposed scheme suitable for practical implementation.
Effects of Cr Doping and Water Content on the Crystal Structure Transitions of Ba2In2O5
Authors: Finger Raphael , Widenmeyer Marc , Hansen Thomas C. , Wallacher Dirk , Savvin Stanislav , Bertmer Marko , Weidenkaff Anke , Kohlmann Holger
Published: December 2021

Temperature-dependent crystal structure alterations in the brownmillerite-type material Ba2In2O5 play a fundamental role in its applications: (i) photocatalytic CO2 conversion; (ii) oxygen transport membranes; and (iii) proton conduction. This is connected to a reversible uptake of up an equimolar amount of water. In this study, in situ X-ray and neutron diffraction were combined with Raman spectroscopy and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance experiments to unravel the effects of Cr doping and water content on the crystal structure transitions of Ba2In2O5(H2O)x over a wide temperature range (10 K ≤ T ≤ 1573 K, x < 1). A mixture of isolated and correlated protons was identified, leading to a highly dynamic situation for the protons. Hence, localisation of the protons by diffraction techniques was not possible. Cr doping led to an overall higher degree of disorder and stabilisation of the tetragonal polymorph, even at 10 K. In contrast, a further disordering at high temperatures, leading to a cubic polymorph, was found at 1123 K. Cr doping in Ba2In2O5 resulted in severe structural changes and provides a powerful way to adjust its physical properties to the respective application.
Influence of the Addition of Ni on as-Cast Microstructure of Duplex Fe-Mn-Al-C Lightweight Steel
Authors: Burja Jaka , Šetina Batič Barbara , Balaško Tilen
Published: December 2021

Lightweight Fe-Mn-Al-C steels have low density, and high mechanical properties, which makes them a possibility for weight reduction in vehicles for road transport. In steel production, as-cast microstructure is an important parameter for further processing. The as-cast microstructure of five lightweight duplex steels was investigated: Fe-15Mn-10Al-0.8C, Fe-15Mn-10Al-1.7Ni-0.8C, Fe-15Mn-10Al-3.9Ni-0.8C, Fe-15Mn-10Al-5.6Ni-0.8C and Fe-15Mn-10Al-8.6Ni-0.8C. The influence of Ni was analysed through thermodynamic calculations and microstructural characterization. The samples were analysed through an optical and electron microscopy. The base microstructure of the studied steel consists of ferrite and austenite. Further investigation showed that the decomposition of austenite was accompanied by the formation of kappa carbides and the B2 ordered phase. The addition of Ni prevented the formation of a lamellar kappa ferrite morphology, but at 5.6 wt.% Ni, the decomposition of austenite was most severe, resulting in a large amount of kappa carbides and a B2 ordered phase.
Solubility and Crystallization of Piroxicam from Different Solvents in Evaporative and Cooling Crystallization
Authors: Ostergaard Iben , Qu Haiyan
Published: December 2021

In this work, the solubility of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), piroxicam, is investigated. The polymorphic form II, which is the most stable form at room temperature, was investigated in seven different solvents with various polarities. It has been found that the solubility of piroxicam in the solvents is in the following order: chloroform > dichloromethane > acetone > ethyl acetate > acetonitrile > acetic acid > methanol > hexane. Crystallization of piroxicam from different solvents has been performed with evaporative crystallization and cooling crystallization; the effects of solvent evaporation rate and solute concentration have also been studied. Both form I and form II could be produced in cooling and evaporative crystallization, and no simple link can be identified between the operating parameters and the polymorphic outcome. Results obtained in the present work showed the stochastic nature of the nucleation of different polymorphs as well as the complexity of the crystallization of a polymorphic system.
Triangulopteris lacunata gen. et sp. nov. (Centroplasthelida), a New Centrohelid Heliozoan from Soil
Authors: Zagumyonnyi Dmitry G. , Radaykina Liudmila V. , Tikhonenkov Denis V.
Published: December 2021

A new genus and species of centrohelid heliozoans, Triangulopteris lacunata gen. et sp. nov. (Pterocystidae Cavalier-Smith and Heyden, 2007), from four geographically remote locations (the Crimean Peninsula, the Dnieper Lowland (the East European Plain), Franz Josef Land, and the Kolyma Lowland (North–Eastern Siberia) was examined using light and electron microscopy. The novel centrohelid is characterized by round shape, 4.3–16.3 μm in diameter, covered with two types of scales: 1.06–4.54 μm long triangular spine scales and 1.22–2.05 μm oval plate scales. Studied centrohelid heliozoan possesses a unique spine scale morphology. The base of scales is represented by a horse hoof-shaped basal plate. The inner surface and lateral wings of spine scales have numerous radial ribs with two ‘pockets’ that are located on both sides of the spine shaft. These pockets are formed by the lateral wings and ends of the basal plate. The cyst formation and transition to a spicules-bearing stage were noted. Additionally, phylogenetic tree was constructed based on SSU rRNA sequences including the strain HF-25 from the permafrost of Kolyma Lowland. The resulting phylogeny recovered it within the clade Pterista, while forming a separate sister lineage to H2 clade, which only had included freshwater environmental sequences.
Diversity of Insect Flower Visitors of Xylopia aromatica (Magnoliales, Annonaceae) in a Brazilian Savanna
Authors: Pinheiro Saravy Fábio , Schuchmann Karl-L. , Marques Marinez I.
Published: December 2021

Small beetles are important pollinators of Annonaceae whose flower chambers are small and have diurnal and/or nocturnal anthesis. The pollinators of these flowers belong to the families Nitidulidae, Staphylinidae, Chrysomelidae, and Curculionidae. In this study, the first conducted in the Cerrado of Chapada dos Guimarães, Mato Grosso, Brazil, the behavior of the insect flower visitors of Xylopia aromatica was observed, in both the field and the laboratory. The chambers of 253 flowers were collected from 11 plants, and the biological aspects of their visitors were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The most abundant visitors were thrips and beetles. Coleoptera was represented by four morphospecies occurring frequently in the floral chambers (>70% of individuals). Among beetles, one species belonged to Nitidulidae (Cillaeinae, Conotelus sp. 1) and two belonged to Staphylinidae (Aleocharinae sp. 1 and Aleocharinae sp. 2). These three morphospecies of small elongate beetles have setae where pollen may adhere. In addition, they were present on both male and female phases of the flowers, indicating potential cross-pollination. In the study area, X. aromatica possesses mixed pollination promoted by Thysanoptera and small Nitidulidae and Staphylinidae beetles. This study brings the first record of Lamprosomatinae (Chrysomelidae) and, especially, of Conotelus (Nitidulidae) in the flower chambers of X. aromatica, with new information on behavior of floral visitors coupled with their morphological traits that may promote cross-pollination in this plant species.
Bigger Is Better, Sometimes: The Interaction between Body Size and Carcass Size Determines Fitness, Reproductive Strategies, and Senescence in Two Species of Burying Beetles
Authors: Belk Mark C. , Meyers Peter J. , Creighton J. Curtis
Published: December 2021

The cost of reproduction hypothesis suggests that allocation to current reproduction constrains future reproduction. How organisms accrue reproductive costs and allocate energy across their lifetime may differ among species adapted to different resource types. We test this by comparing lifetime reproductive output, patterns of reproductive allocation, and senescence between two species of burying beetles, Nicrophorus marginatus and N. guttula, that differ in body size, across a range of carcass sizes. These two species of burying beetles maximized lifetime reproductive output on somewhat different–sized resources. The larger N. marginatus did better on large and medium carcasses while the smaller N. guttula did best on small and medium carcasses. For both species, reproduction is costly and reproduction on larger carcasses reduced lifespan more than reproduction on smaller carcasses. Carcass size also affected lifetime reproductive strategies. Each species’ parental investment patterns were consistent with terminal investment on carcasses on which they performed best (optimal carcass sizes). However, they exhibited reproductive restraint on carcass sizes on which they did not perform as well. Reproductive senescence occurred largely in response to carcass size. For both species, reproduction on larger carcasses resulted in more rapid senescence. These data suggest that whether organisms exhibit terminal investment or reproductive restraint may depend on type and amount of resources for reproduction.
Cultivable Endophytic Bacteria in Seeds of Dongxiang Wild Rice and Their Role in Plant-Growth Promotion
Authors: Zhang Zhibin , Liu Tingting , Zhang Xiao , Xie Jing , Wang Ya , Yan Riming , Jiang Yumei , Zhu Du
Published: December 2021

Dongxiang wild rice (Oryza rufipogon Griff.) germplasm is a precious resource for the improvement of agronomic traits in rice. Rice seeds also harbor a diverse endophytic bacterial community, and their interactions with their hosts and each other can influence plant growth and adaptability. Here, we investigated the community composition of cultivable endophytic bacteria obtained from the surface-sterilized seeds of Dongxiang wild rice and screened them for plant growth-promoting traits. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the 47 isolates were affiliated with five classes and 13 discrete genera, and Bacillus and Microbacterium predominated. Evaluations of plant growth promoting (PGP) traits showed that 45 endophytic bacteria isolates produced between 3.37 and 90.11 μg mL−1 of Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), with the highest yield of 90.11 μg mL−1 (Fse28). Further, 37 of the isolates were able to solubilize mineral phosphate, while 28 other isolates had the ability of N2-fixation, 17 isolates possessed 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity with the highest yield of 20.72 μmol mg−1 protein h−1 (Fse35), and 17 isolates were also able to produce siderophores. The two strains Fse28 and Fse35 had multiple PGP traits that significantly improved the agronomic traits (root length, shoot length, dry matter, and chlorophyll content) of cultivated rice seedlings. Our results illustrate the rich diversity of seed endophytic bacteria in Dongxiang wild rice and their potential for developing novel efficient bioinoculants to enhance soil fertility and favor seedling growth.
Indoor Environment Dataset to Estimate Room Occupancy
Authors: Vela Andreé , Alvarado-Uribe Joanna , Ceballos Hector G.
Published: December 2021

The estimation of occupancy is a crucial contribution to achieve improvements in energy efficiency. The drawback of data or incomplete data related to occupancy in enclosed spaces makes it challenging to develop new models focused on estimating occupancy with high accuracy. Furthermore, considerable variation in the monitored spaces also makes it difficult to compare the results of different approaches. This dataset comprises the indoor environmental information (pressure, altitude, humidity, and temperature) and the corresponding occupancy level for two different rooms: (1) a fitness gym and (2) a living room. The fitness gym data were collected for six days between 18 September and 2 October 2019, obtaining 10,125 objects with a 1 s resolution according to the following occupancy levels: low (2442 objects), medium (5325 objects), and high (2358 objects). The living room data were collected for 11 days between 14 May and 4 June 2020, obtaining 295,823 objects with a 1 s resolution, according to the following occupancy levels: empty (50,978 objects), low (202,613 objects), medium (35,410 objects), and high (6822 objects). Additionally, the number of fans turned on is provided for the living room data. The data are publicly available in the Mendeley Data repository. This dataset can be used to train and compare different machine learning, deep learning, and physical models for estimating occupancy at enclosed spaces.
An Ecchymosis with Fulminant Evolution
Authors: Michelerio Andrea , Barruscotti Stefania , Rizzo Nathalie , Tomasini Carlo
Published: December 2021

We present the case of an 83-year-old woman who presented with an advanced cutaneous angiosarcoma of the head. The tumor had first appeared as a small ecchymosis on her forehead 3 months before admission. There was an extremely rapid and dramatic evolution, as evidenced by photographic documentation by her relatives. Unfortunately, the delay in access to the healthcare system due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and the fulminant growth were the main determinants for our patient outcome.
Native Joint Infections by Aspergillus Species
Authors: Koutserimpas Christos , Chamakioti Ifigeneia , Naoum Symeon , Raptis Konstantinos , Alpantaki Kalliopi , Samonis George
Published: December 2021

Background: Septic arthritis due to Aspergillus spp. represents a rare, but severe disease. Nevertheless, clear guidelines regarding most effective medical treatment have not yet been established. The present study is a literature review of all reported cases of fungal septic arthritis due to Aspergillus spp, in order to clarify epidemiology, as well as the medical and operative management and their outcome. Methods: A meticulous review of all published septic arthritis infections due to Aspergillus has been conducted. Information regarding demographics, causative fungus, antifungal treatment (AFT), surgical intervention, as well as the infection’s outcome were recorded and evaluated. Results: A total of 30 Aspergillus spp. strains from 29 hosts have been studied. The patients’ mean age was 45.8 years. The most commonly affected joint was the knee (45.7%), while the predominant symptom was joint pain (62%). Most patients were immunocompromised (72.4%). Diagnosis was established through cultures and/or histopathology. Aspergillus fumigatus was the most common responsible fungi (63.3%), followed by A. flavus (16.6%) and A. terreus (10%). Regarding AFT, the preferred agent proved to be Amphotericin B (14 cases; 48.3%), followed by voriconazole (11; 37.9%), while the mean AFT duration was 5.6 months. In most cases surgical treatment was also performed (in 4 cases no surgery was reported). Treatment was effective in 20 cases (69%). Conclusions: Septic arthritis caused by Aspergillus spp. represents a severe clinical entity. It seems that, with the available data, prolonged AFT along with surgical intervention is the preferred management of this infection, while identification of the responsible fungus is of utmost importance.
The Prevalence of Liver Steatosis and Fibrosis Assessed by Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography and Controlled Attenuation Parameter in Apparently Healthy Romanian Medical Students
Authors: Nastasa Robert , Stanciu Carol , Zenovia Sebastian , Singeap Ana-Maria , Cojocariu Camelia , Sfarti Catalin , Girleanu Irina , Chiriac Stefan , Cuciureanu Tudor , Huiban Laura , Muzica Cristina-Maria , Trifan Anca
Published: December 2021

Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography (VCTE) with Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) is used as a non-invasive method for evaluating liver steatosis and fibrosis simultaneously. In this prospective study, we aimed to assess the prevalence of liver steatosis and fibrosis, as well as the associated risk factors in Romanian medical students by VCTE and CAP score. We used a cut-off CAP score of ≥248 dB/m for the diagnosis of mild steatosis (S1), ≥268 dB/m for moderate steatosis (S2), and ≥280 dB/m to identify severe steatosis (S3). For liver fibrosis, the cut-off values were: ≤5.5 kPa, indicating no fibrosis (F0), 5.6 kPa for mild fibrosis (F1), 7.2 kPa for significant fibrosis (F2), 9.5 kPa for advanced fibrosis (F3), and 12.5 kPa for cirrhosis (F4). In total, 426 Romanian medical students (67.8% females, mean age of 22.22 ± 1.7 years) were evaluated. Among them, 352 (82.6%) had no steatosis (S0), 32 (7.5%) had mild steatosis (S1), 13 (3.1%) had a moderate degree of steatosis (S2), and 29 (6.8%) had severe steatosis (S3). Based on liver stiffness measurements (LSM), 277 (65%) medical students did not have any fibrosis (F0), 136 (31.9%) had mild fibrosis (F1), 10 (2.4%) participants were identified with significant fibrosis (F2), 3 (0.7%) with advanced fibrosis (F3), and none with cirrhosis (F4). In conclusion, the prevalence of liver steatosis and fibrosis is low among Romanian medical students.
Ruptured Hemorrhagic Ectopic Pregnancy Implanted in the Diaphragm: A Rare Case Report and Brief Literature Review
Authors: Kang Ok Ju , Koh Ji Hye , Yoo Ji Eun , Park So Yeon , Park Jeong-Ik , Yang Songsoo , Lee Sang-Hun , Lee Soo-Jeong , Ahn Jun-Woo , Roh Hyun-Jin , Kim Jeong Sook
Published: December 2021

The mortality and morbidity rates of non-tubal ectopic pregnancies with abdominal hemorrhaging are 7–8 times higher than those of tubal pregnancies. Diaphragmatic pregnancy is a rare non-tubal ectopic form, causing acute abdominal hemoperitoneum. Here, we present a case of a primary diaphragmatic ectopic pregnancy with hemorrhage that was immediately diagnosed and successfully managed with laparoscopic surgery. Rapid and accurate diagnosis using appropriate imaging modalities is critical for improving the prognosis of a child-bearing woman with an abdominal pregnancy.
Subgingival Microbiota Profile in Association with Cigarette Smoking in Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Bašić Krešimir , Peroš Kristina , Bošnjak Zrinka , Šutej Ivana
Published: December 2021

While smoking is recognized as one of the factors for the development and progression of periodontal diseases, a relation between the composition of the subgingival microbiota and smoking is yet to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of subgingival bacteria in young smokers and non-smokers without clinical signs of periodontal disease. In this cross-sectional study, performed at the Department of Pharmacology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, we enrolled 32 periodontally healthy smokers and 32 non-smokers, aged 25–35 years old. The number of oral bacteria and the prevalence of particular bacteria were assessed for each subject. Subgingival plaque samples were collected with sterile paper points from two first molars for microbiological analyses with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. In smokers, a significantly higher prevalence of Actinomyces odontolyticus was observed compared to non-smokers, and a significantly lower prevalence of Streptococcus sanguinis was observed compared to non-smokers. Smoking affects the composition of subgingival microbiota, either via depletion of beneficial bacteria or the increase in pathogenic bacteria.
Large-Scale Earthwork Progress Digitalization Practices Using Series of 3D Models Generated from UAS Images
Authors: Cho Jin-Woo , Lee Jae-Kang , Park Jisoo
Published: December 2021

Since the Fourth Industrial Revolution, existing manpower-centric manufacture has been shifting towards technology and data-centric production in all areas of society. The construction sector is also facing a new paradigm called smart construction with a clear purpose of improving productivity and securing safety by applying site management using information and communications technology (ICT). This study aims to develop a framework for earthwork process digitalization based on images acquired by using the unmanned aerial system (UAS). The entire framework includes precise UAS data acquisition, cut-and-fill volume estimation, cross-section drawing, and geo-fencing generation. To this end, homogeneous time-series drone image data were obtained from active road construction sites under earthwork. The developed system was able to generate precise 3D topographical models and estimate cut-and-fill volume changes. In addition, the proposed framework generated cross-sectional views of each area of interest throughout the construction stages and finally created geo-fencing to assist the safe operation of heavy equipment. We expect that the proposed framework can contribute to smart construction areas by automating the process of digitizing earthwork progress.
Sentence Augmentation for Language Translation Using GPT-2
Authors: Sawai Ranto , Paik Incheon , Kuwana Ayato
Published: December 2021

Data augmentation has recently become an important method for improving performance in deep learning. It is also a significant issue in machine translation, and various innovations such as back-translation and noising have been made. In particular, current state-of-the-art model architectures such as BERT-fused or efficient data generation using the GPT model provide good inspiration to improve the translation performance. In this study, we propose the generation of additional data for neural machine translation (NMT) using a sentence generator by GPT-2 that produces similar characteristics to the original. BERT-fused architecture and back-translation are employed for the translation architecture. In our experiments, the model produced BLEU scores of 27.50 for tatoebaEn-Ja, 30.14 for WMT14En-De, and 24.12 for WMT18En-Ch.
Architecture Integration of 5G Networks and Time-Sensitive Networking with Edge Computing for Smart Manufacturing
Authors: Harmatos János , Maliosz Markosz
Published: December 2021

Digitalization and networking are taking on an increasingly important role in manufacturing. Fifth Generation mobile networks (5G) allow us to wirelessly connect multiple assets in factories with guaranteed quality of service (QoS). A 5G non-public network (5G-NPN) realizes a dedicated network with secure communication within the factory. Time-sensitive networking (TSN) provides deterministic connectivity and reliability in local networks. Edge computing moves computing power near factory locations, reducing the latency of edge applications. Making production processes more flexible, more robust, and resilient induces a great challenge for integrating these technologies. This paper presents the benefits of the joint use of 5G-NPN, TSN, and edge computing in manufacturing. To that end, first, the characteristics of the technologies are analyzed. Then, the integration of different 5G-NPN deployment options with edge (and cloud) computing is presented to provide end-to-end services. For enhanced reliability, ways of interworking between TSN and edge computing domains are proposed. Afterward, as an example realization of edge computing, the investigation on the capabilities of the Kubernetes container orchestration platform is presented together with the gap analysis for smart manufacturing requirements. Finally, the different integration options, interworking models, and Kubernetes-based edge computing are evaluated to assist smart factories to use these new technologies in combination in the future.
An Improved Coordinate Registration for Over-the-Horizon Radar Using Reference Sources
Authors: Guo Zhen , Wang Zengfu , Hao Yuhang , Lan Hua , Pan Quan
Published: December 2021

In the target localization of skywave over-the-horizon radar (OTHR), the error of the ionospheric parameters is one main error source. To reduce the error of ionospheric parameters, a method using both the information of reference sources (e.g., terrain features, ADS-B) in ground coordinates and the corresponding OTHR measurements is proposed to estimate the ionospheric parameters. Describing the ionospheric electron density profile by the quasi-parabolic model, the estimation of the ionospheric parameters is formulated as an inverse problem, and is solved by a Markov chain Monte Carlo method due to the complicated ray path equations. Simulation results show that, comparing with using the a prior value of the ionospheric parameters, using the estimated ionospheric parameters based on four airliners in OTHR coordinate registration process, the ground range RMSE of interested targets is reduced from 2.86 to 1.13 km and the corresponding improvement ratio is up to 60.39%. This illustrates that the proposed method using reference sources is able to significantly improve the accuracy of target localization.
Securing Workflows Using Microservices and Metagraphs
Authors: Miller Loïc , Mérindol Pascal , Gallais Antoine , Pelsser Cristel
Published: December 2021

Companies such as Netflix increasingly use the cloud to deploy their business processes. Those processes often involve partnerships with other companies, and can be modeled as workflows where the owner of the data at risk interacts with contractors to realize a sequence of tasks on the data to be secured. In this paper, we first show how those workflows can be deployed and enforced while preventing data exposure. Second, this paper provides a global framework to enable the verification of workflow policies. Following the principles of zero-trust, we develop an infrastructure using the isolation provided by a microservice architecture to enforce owner policy. We implement a workflow with our infrastructure in a publicly available proof of concept. This work allows us to verify that the specified policy is correctly enforced by testing the deployment for policy violations, and find the overhead cost of authorization to be reasonable for the benefits. In addition, this paper presents a way to verify policies using a suite of tools transforming and checking policies as metagraphs. It is evident from the results that our verification method is very efficient regarding the size of the policies. Overall, this infrastructure and the mechanisms that verify the policy is correctly enforced, and then correctly implemented, help us deploy workflows in the cloud securely.
Collaborative Optimization Method of Power and Efficiency for LCC-S Wireless Power Transmission System
Authors: Xue Ming , Yang Qingxin , Li Chunzhi , Zhang Pengcheng , Ma Shuting , Zhang Xin
Published: December 2021

Dynamic wireless charging enables moving equipment such as electric vehicles, robots to be charged in motion, and thus is a research hotspot. The applications in practice, however, suffer from mutual inductance fluctuation due to unavoidable environmental disturbances. In addition, the load also changes during operation, which makes the problem more complicated. This paper analyzes the impacts of equivalent load and mutual inductances variation over the system by LCC-S topology modeling utilizing two-port theory. The optimal load expression is derived. Moreover, a double-sided control strategy enabling optimal efficiency and power adjustment is proposed. Voltage conducting angles on the inverter and rectifier are introduced. The simulation and experimental results verify the proposed method.
An Efficient Vehicle Localization Method by Using Monocular Vision
Authors: Liang Yonghui , He Yuqing , Yang Junkai , Jin Weiqi , Liu Mingqi
Published: December 2021

Accurate localization of surrounding vehicles helps drivers to perceive surrounding environment, which can be obtained by two parameters: depth and direction angle. This research aims to present a new efficient monocular vision based pipeline to get the vehicle’s location. We proposed a plug-and-play convolutional block combination with a basic target detection algorithm to improve the accuracy of vehicle’s bounding boxes. Then they were transformed to actual depth and angle through a conversion method which was deduced by monocular imaging geometry and camera parameters. Experimental results on KITTI dataset showed the high accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method. The mAP increased by about 2% with an additional inference time of less than 5 ms. The average depth error was about 4% for near distance objects and about 7% for far distance objects. The average angle error was about two degrees.