bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On Factoring Groups into Thin Subsets
Authors: Protasov Igor
Published: May 2021

A subset X of a group G is called thin if, for every finite subset F of G, there exists a finite subset H of G such that Fx∩Fy=∅, xF∩yF=∅ for all distinct x,y∈X\H. We prove that every countable topologizable group G can be factorized G=AB into thin subsets A,B.
Applications Optimal Math Model to Solve Difficult Problems for Businesses Producing and Processing Agricultural Products in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Han-Khanh
Published: May 2021

During the months of the COVID-19 epidemic, the number of processing and manufacturing agricultural products enterprises in Vietnam faced many difficulties in the consumption of agricultural products, even when they were unable to sell. Therefore, the enterprises are more and more difficult. Many enterprises are not strong enough to restore production, so it is necessary to find solutions to overcome this difficult period. In this research, the author used the application of modern statistical techniques, along with the Grey method, to predict enterprises’ business results in the future, combined with the model of Super-slacks-based-measure efficiency (Super-SBM) to help businesses select the right partners in a supply chain to achieve their business goals. By our proposed approach, the selected solution (AG6 combined with AG10) should be implemented in the future to upgrade efficiency to help stabilize output and raise productivity; thus, both parties are able not only to improve their product quality but also achieve business goals and sustainable development. In fact, it is necessary to further this study, in combination with these factors and other quantitative models, to give investors a more comprehensive view, helping them to make the right decisions and appropriately develop their businesses and social and economic development.
A Heterozygous Genotype-Dependent Branched-Spike Wheat and the Potential Genetic Mechanism Revealed by Transcriptome Sequencing
Authors: Ma Tian , Li Lei , Zhao Yang , Hua Chen , Sun Zhengxi , Li Tao
Published: May 2021

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) spike architecture is an important trait associated with spike development and grain yield. Here, we report a naturally occurring wheat mutant with branched spikelets (BSL) from its wild-type YD-16, which has a normal spike trait and confers a moderate level of resistance to wheat Fusarium head blight (FHB). The lateral meristems positioned at the basal parts of the rachis node of the BSL mutant develop into ramified spikelets characterized as multiple spikelets. The BSL mutant shows three to four-day longer growth period but less 1000-grain weight than the wild type, and it becomes highly susceptible to FHB infection, indicating that the locus controlling the BSL trait may have undergone an intensively artificial and/or natural selection in modern breeding process. The self-pollinated descendants of the lines with the BSL trait consistently segregated with an equal ratio of branched and normal spikelets (NSL) wheat, and homozygotes with the BSL trait could not be achieved even after nine cycles of self-pollination. Distinct segregation patterns both from the self-pollinated progenies of the BSL plants and from the reciprocal crosses between the BSL plants with their sister NSL plants suggested that gametophytic male sterility was probably associated with the heterozygosity for the BSL trait. Transcriptome sequencing of the RNA bulks contrasting in the two types of spike trait at the heading stage indicated that the genes on chromosome 2DS may be critical for the BSL trait formation since 329 out of 2540 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were located on that chromosome, and most of them were down-regulated. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that carbohydrate metabolism may be involved in the BSL trait expression. This work provides valuable clues into understanding development and domestication of wheat spike as well as the association of the BSL trait with FHB susceptibility.
HERV-K(HML7) Integrations in the Human Genome: Comprehensive Characterization and Comparative Analysis in Non-Human Primates
Authors: Grandi Nicole , Pisano Maria Paola , Pessiu Eleonora , Scognamiglio Sante , Tramontano Enzo
Published: May 2021

Endogenous Retroviruses (ERVs) are ancient relics of infections that affected the primate germ line and constitute about 8% of our genome. Growing evidence indicates that ERVs had a major role in vertebrate evolution, being occasionally domesticated by the host physiology. In addition, human ERV (HERV) expression is highly investigated for a possible pathological role, even if no clear associations have been reported yet. In fact, on the one side, the study of HERV expression in high-throughput data is a powerful and promising tool to assess their actual dysregulation in diseased conditions; but, on the other side, the poor knowledge about the various HERV group genomic diversity and individual members somehow prevented the association between specific HERV loci and a given molecular mechanism of pathogenesis. The present study is focused on the HERV-K(HML7) group that—differently from the other HERV-K members—still remains poorly characterized. Starting from an initial identification performed with the software RetroTector, we collected 23 HML7 proviral insertions and about 160 HML7 solitary LTRs that were analyzed in terms of genomic distribution, revealing a significant enrichment in chromosome X and the frequent localization within human gene introns as well as in pericentromeric and centromeric regions. Phylogenetic analyses showed that HML7 members form a monophyletic group, which based on age estimation and comparative localization in non-human primates had its major diffusion between 20 and 30 million years ago. Structural characterization revealed that besides 3 complete HML7 proviruses, the other group members shared a highly defective structure that, however, still presents recognizable functional domains, making it worth further investigation in the human population to assess the presence of residual coding potential.
NADH/NAD+ Redox Imbalance and Diabetic Kidney Disease
Authors: Yan Liang-Jun
Published: May 2021

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a common and severe complication of diabetes mellitus. If left untreated, DKD can advance to end stage renal disease that requires either dialysis or kidney replacement. While numerous mechanisms underlie the pathogenesis of DKD, oxidative stress driven by NADH/NAD+ redox imbalance and mitochondrial dysfunction have been thought to be the major pathophysiological mechanism of DKD. In this review, the pathways that increase NADH generation and those that decrease NAD+ levels are overviewed. This is followed by discussion of the consequences of NADH/NAD+ redox imbalance including disruption of mitochondrial homeostasis and function. Approaches that can be applied to counteract DKD are then discussed, which include mitochondria-targeted antioxidants and mimetics of superoxide dismutase, caloric restriction, plant/herbal extracts or their isolated compounds. Finally, the review ends by pointing out that future studies are needed to dissect the role of each pathway involved in NADH-NAD+ metabolism so that novel strategies to restore NADH/NAD+ redox balance in the diabetic kidney could be designed to combat DKD.
BIG3 and BIG5 Redundantly Mediate Vesicle Trafficking in Arabidopsis
Authors: Suo Yiping , Hu Fenhong , Zhu Haojie , Li Di , Qi Rui , Huang Jirong , Wu Wenjuan
Published: May 2021

Vesicle trafficking plays an important role in delivering a diverse range of cargoes between different membranous systems in eukaryotes. It is well documented that the brefeldin A (BFA)-inhibited guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), named BIG, regulates vesicle budding at the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and recycling endosomes through activating the ADP-ribosylation factor (ARFs). Among the five BIGs in Arabidopsis, BIG5 is characterized to mediate ARF-dependent trafficking at the plasma membrane or endosomes while the members from BIG1 to BIG4 (BIG1-BIG4) at the TGN in the secretory pathway. However, evidence is increasing to suggest that BIG5 can function redundantly with BIG1-BIG4 to regulate vesicular trafficking in response to various intra- and extra-cellular stimuli. In this study, our genetic analysis showed that BIG5 played an overlapping role at least with BIG3 in cell proliferation. To elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying the BIG5- and BIG3-regulated biological processes, we examined the effect of BIGs on expression patterns of the two transmembrane proteins, PINFORMED 2 (PIN2) epically localized in root epidermal cells and the regulator of G protein signaling 1 (RGS1) localized in the plasma membrane. Our data showed that the PIN2 polar distribution was slightly reduced in big3 big5 in the absence of BFA, and it was significantly reduced by the treatment of 0.1 µM BFA in big3 big5. Further analysis revealed that BFA bodies derived from the plasma membrane were only observed in wild type (WT), big3 and big5 cells, but not in the big3 big5 cells. These results indicate that BIG5 and BIG3 are functionally redundant in the endosome recycling pathway from the plasma membrane to TGN. On the other hand, the single BIG3 or BIG5 mutation had no effect on the plasma membrane expression of RGS1, whereas the double mutations in BIG3 and BIG5 led to a significant amount of RGS1 retained in the vesicle, indicating that BIG3 and BIG5 act redundantly in mediating protein trafficking. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy assays showed that Golgi ultrastructure in big3 big5 cells was abnormal and similar to that in BFA-treated WT cells. Taken together, our data provide several new lines of evidence supporting that BIGs play a redundant role in vesicular trafficking and probably also in maintaining the Golgi structural integrity in Arabidopsis.
The Influence of rs1859168 Polymorphism on Serum Expression of HOTTIP and Its Target miR-615-3p in Egyptian Patients with Breast Cancer
Authors: Abdelaleem Omayma O. , Shaker Olfat G. , AbdelHafez Marwa N. , Abdelghaffar Noha K. , Eid Hanaa M. , Zaidan Mohamed , Khalefa Abeer A. , Ahmed Naglaa A. , Hemeda Nada F. , Zaki Othman M. , Awaji Aeshah Ali A. , Mohammed Shereen R.
Published: May 2021

Background: Polymorphisms of long noncoding RNAs are lately documented as hazardous factors for the development of numerous tumors. Furthermore, the evaluation of noncoding RNAs has emerged as a novel detector of breast cancer patients. We aimed to genotype the HOXA transcript at the distal tip (HOTTIP) rs1859168 and assess its relationship with the levels of the serum HOTTIP and its target miR-615-3p in patients with breast cancer (BC). Methods: One hundred and fifty-one patients with BC, 139 patients with fibroadenoma (FA), and 143 healthy participants were incorporated into the current study. The genotyping of rs1859168 and the measurements of the HOTTIP and miR-615-3p levels were assessed using quantitative real-time PCR. Results: We revealed a significant association between each of the CC genotypes, C allele, dominant and recessive models, and the increased risk of BC (p = 0.013, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively) relative to the healthy controls. Similarly, the CC genotype, C allele, and recessive model were observed to be related to the increased incidence of BC with respect to FA (p < 0.001 for all). A significant upregulation of HOTTIP and a marked decrease of miR-615-3p were verified in patients with BC compared to each of the healthy individuals, patients with FA, and the non-BC group (healthy subjects + FA) (p < 0.001 for all). A significant negative correlation was demonstrated between the expression of HOTTIP and miR-615-3p in the serum of patients with BC. The HOTTIP expression was upregulated, while that of miR-615-3p was downregulated in patients with BC who carried the CC genotype with respect to those who carried the AA or AC genotypes (p < 0.05 for all). Conclusions: The genetic variants of rs1859168 are linked to an increased susceptibility to BC. Moreover, HOTTIP and miR-615-3p may be used as novel indicators and targets for the treatment of patients with BC.
Tissue Engineering Through 3D Bioprinting to Recreate and Study Bone Disease
Authors: Pavek Adriene , Nartker Christopher , Saleh Maamoon , Kirkham Matthew , Khajeh Pour Sana , Aghazadeh-Habashi Ali , Barrott Jared J.
Published: May 2021

The applications of 3D bioprinting are becoming more commonplace. Since the advent of tissue engineering, bone has received much attention for the ability to engineer normal bone for tissue engraftment or replacement. While there are still debates on what materials comprise the most durable and natural replacement of normal tissue, little attention is given to recreating diseased states within the bone. With a better understanding of the cellular pathophysiology associated with the more common bone diseases, these diseases can be scaled down to a more throughput way to test therapies that can reverse the cellular pathophysiology. In this review, we will discuss the potential of 3D bioprinting of bone tissue in the following disease states: osteoporosis, Paget’s disease, heterotopic ossification, osteosarcoma, osteogenesis imperfecta, and rickets disease. The development of these 3D bioprinted models will allow for the advancement of novel therapy testing resulting in possible relief to these chronic diseases.
Approaches for the Prediction of Leaf Wetness Duration with Machine Learning
Authors: Solís Martín , Rojas-Herrera Vanessa
Published: May 2021

The prediction of leaf wetness duration (LWD) is an issue of interest for disease prevention in coffee plantations, forests, and other crops. This study analyzed different LWD prediction approaches using machine learning and meteorological and temporal variables as the models’ input. The information was collected through meteorological stations placed in coffee plantations in six different regions of Costa Rica, and the leaf wetness duration was measured by sensors installed in the same regions. The best prediction models had a mean absolute error of around 60 min per day. Our results demonstrate that for LWD modeling, it is not convenient to aggregate records at a daily level. The model performance was better when the records were collected at intervals of 15 min instead of 30 min.
Electrochemical Fingerprint Biosensor for Natural Indigo Dye Yielding Plants Analysis
Authors: Fan Boyuan , Wang Qiong , Wu Weihong , Zhou Qinwei , Li Dongling , Xu Zenglai , Fu Li , Zhu Jiangwei , Karimi-Maleh Hassan , Lin Cheng-Te
Published: May 2021

Indigo is a plant dye that has been used as an important dye by various ancient civilizations throughout history. Today, due to environmental and health concerns, plant indigo is re-entering the market. Strobilanthes cusia (Nees) Kuntze is the most widely used species in China for indigo preparation. However, other species under Strobilanthes have a similar feature. In this work, 12 Strobilanthes spp. were analyzed using electrochemical fingerprinting technology. Depending on their electrochemically active molecules, they can be quickly identified by fingerprinting. In addition, the fingerprint obtained under different conditions can be used to produce scattered patter and heatmap. These patterns make plant identification more convenient. Since the electrochemically active components in plants reflect the differences at the gene level to some extent, the obtained electrochemical fingerprints are further used for the discussion of phylogenetics.
Numerical Simulation of Unreinforced Masonry Buildings with Timber Diaphragms
Authors: Tomić Igor , Vanin Francesco , Božulić Ivana , Beyer Katrin
Published: May 2021

Though flexible diaphragms play a role in the seismic behaviour of unreinforced masonry buildings, the effect of the connections between floors and walls is rarely discussed or explicitly modelled when simulating the response of such buildings. These flexible diaphragms are most commonly timber floors made of planks and beams, which are supported on recesses in the masonry walls and can slide when the friction resistance is reached. Using equivalent frame models, we capture the effects of both the diaphragm stiffness and the finite strength of wall-to-diaphragm connections on the seismic behaviour of unreinforced masonry buildings. To do this, we use a newly developed macro-element able to simulate both in-plane and out-of-plane behaviour of the masonry walls and non-linear springs to simulate wall-to-wall and wall-to-diaphragm connections. As an unretrofitted case study, we model a building on a shake table, which developed large in-plane and out-of-plane displacements. We then simulate three retrofit interventions: Retrofitted diaphragms, connections, and diaphragms and connections. We show that strengthening the diaphragm alone is ineffective when the friction capacity of the wall-to-diaphragm connection is exceeded. This also means that modelling an unstrengthened wall-to-diaphragm connection as having infinite stiffness and strength leads to unrealistic box-type behaviour. This is particularly important if the equivalent frame model should capture both global in-plane and local out-of-plane failure modes.
Pediatric Tumors-Mediated Inhibitory Effect on NK Cells: The Case of Neuroblastoma and Wilms’ Tumors
Authors: Pelosi Andrea , Fiore Piera Filomena , Di Matteo Sabina , Veneziani Irene , Caruana Ignazio , Ebert Stefan , Munari Enrico , Moretta Lorenzo , Maggi Enrico , Azzarone Bruno
Published: May 2021

Natural killer (NK) cells play a key role in the control of cancer development, progression and metastatic dissemination. However, tumor cells develop an array of strategies capable of impairing the activation and function of the immune system, including NK cells. In this context, a major event is represented by the establishment of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) composed of stromal cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, tumor-associated macrophages, regulatory T cells and cancer cells themselves. The different immunoregulatory cells infiltrating the TME, through the release of several immunosuppressive molecules or by cell-to-cell interactions, cause an impairment of the recruitment of NK cells and other lymphocytes with effector functions. The different mechanisms by which stromal and tumor cells impair NK cell function have been particularly explored in adult solid tumors and, in less depth, investigated and discussed in a pediatric setting. In this review, we will compare pediatric and adult solid malignancies concerning the respective mechanisms of NK cell inhibition, highlighting novel key data in neuroblastoma and Wilms’ tumor, two of the most frequent pediatric extracranial solid tumors. Indeed, both tumors are characterized by the presence of stromal cells acting through the release of immunosuppressive molecules. In addition, specific tumor cell subsets inhibit NK cell cytotoxic function by cell-to-cell contact mechanisms likely controlled by the transcriptional coactivator TAZ. These findings could lead to a more performant diagnostic approach and to the development of novel immunotherapeutic strategies targeting the identified cellular and molecular targets.
Circulating Forms of Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor in Plasma Can Predict Recurrence and Survival in Patients with Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder
Authors: Dohn Line H. , Thind Peter , Salling Lisbeth , Lindberg Henriette , Oersted Sofie , Christensen Ib J. , Laerum Ole D. , Illemann Martin , von der Maase Hans , Høyer-Hansen Gunilla , Pappot Helle
Published: May 2021

Urothelial carcinoma of the bladder is a highly aggressive disease characterised by a very heterogeneous clinical outcome. Despite cystectomy, patients still have a high recurrence risk and shortened survival. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is present in tumour tissue specimens from patients with urothelial carcinoma. The different uPAR forms in blood are strong prognostic markers in other cancer types. We investigate the presence of different uPAR forms in tumour tissue and test the hypothesis that preoperative plasma levels of the uPAR forms predict recurrence free survival, cancer specific survival, and overall survival in patients treated with cystectomy for urothelial carcinoma. Using Western blotting we analyse neoplasia and adjacent benign-appearing urothelium from randomly selected patients for the presence of intact and cleaved uPAR forms. Prospectively collected preoperative plasma samples from 107 patients who underwent radical cystectomy for urothelial carcinoma are analysed. The different uPAR forms are measured by time-resolved fluorescence immunoassays. uPAR in tumour tissue from patients with urothelial carcinoma is demonstrated in both an intact and cleaved form. The different uPAR forms in plasma are all significantly associated with both recurrence free survival, cancer specific survival, and overall survival, high concentrations predicting short survival. uPAR (I) has the strongest association with a HR of 2.56 for overall survival. In the multivariable survival analysis uPAR (I) is significantly associated with cancer specific survival and overall survival.
Liquid Biopsy in the Clinical Management of High-Grade Serous Epithelial Ovarian Cancer—Current Use and Future Opportunities
Authors: Paracchini Lara , D’Incalci Maurizio , Marchini Sergio
Published: May 2021

The lack of a sensitive and specific biomarker and the limits relating to the single primary tumor sampling make it difficult to monitor high-grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer (HGS-EOC) over time and to capture those alterations that are potentially useful in guiding clinical decisions. To overcome these issues, liquid biopsy has emerged as a very promising tool for HGS-EOC. The analysis of circulating tumor DNA appears to be feasible and studies assessing specific pathogenic mutations (i.e., TP53) or copy number alterations have shown a sufficient degree of sensitivity and specificity to be realistically used to monitor the effectiveness of antitumor therapy. Liquid biopsy can also provide potential important information on the mechanisms of sensitivity and resistance, e.g., by the determination of the reversion of BRCA mutations. Perspective studies are needed to test whether the application of liquid biopsy will significantly improve HGS-EOC management and patients’ survival.
Correction: Kim et al. Cell Surface GRP94 as a Novel Emerging Therapeutic Target for Monoclonal Antibody Cancer Therapy. Cells 2021, 10, 670
Authors: Kim Ji , Cho Yea , Lee Sukmook
Published: May 2021

In Section 4.1.3 of the published paper, the authors made an incorrect and unsupported statement regarding PU-H71 and a Samus-sponsored Phase 1 clinical trial [...]
Sphingosine 1 Phosphate (S1P) Receptor 1 Is Decreased in Human Lung Microvascular Endothelial Cells of Smokers and Mediates S1P Effect on Autophagy
Authors: Goel Khushboo , Beatman Erica L. , Egersdorf Nicholas , Scruggs April , Cao Danting , Berdyshev Evgeny V. , Schweitzer Kelly S. , Petrache Irina
Published: May 2021

Destruction of alveoli by apoptosis induced by cigarette smoke (CS) is a major driver of emphysema pathogenesis. However, when compared to cells isolated from non-smokers, primary human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMVECs) isolated from chronic smokers are more resilient when exposed to apoptosis-inducing ceramide. Whether this adaptation restores homeostasis is unknown. To better understand the phenotype of HLMVEC in smokers, we interrogated a major pro-survival pathway supported by sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) signaling via S1P receptor 1 (S1P1). Primary HLMVECs from lungs of non-smoker or smoker donors were isolated and studied in culture for up to five passages. S1P1 mRNA and protein abundance were significantly decreased in HLMVECs from smokers compared to non-smokers. S1P1 was also decreased in situ in lungs of mice chronically exposed to CS. Levels of S1P1 expression tended to correlate with those of autophagy markers, and increasing S1P (via S1P lyase knockdown with siRNA) stimulated baseline macroautophagy with lysosomal degradation. In turn, loss of S1P1 (siRNA) inhibited these effects of S1P on HLMVECs autophagy. These findings suggest that the anti-apoptotic phenotype of HLMVECs from smokers may be maladaptive, since it is associated with decreased S1P1 expression that may impair their autophagic response to S1P.
Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors (FGFRs) and Noncanonical Partners in Cancer Signaling
Authors: Ferguson Harriet R. , Smith Michael P. , Francavilla Chiara
Published: May 2021

Increasing evidence indicates that success of targeted therapies in the treatment of cancer is context-dependent and is influenced by a complex crosstalk between signaling pathways and between cell types in the tumor. The Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF)/FGF receptor (FGFR) signaling axis highlights the importance of such context-dependent signaling in cancer. Aberrant FGFR signaling has been characterized in almost all cancer types, most commonly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), breast cancer, glioblastoma, prostate cancer and gastrointestinal cancer. This occurs primarily through amplification and over-expression of FGFR1 and FGFR2 resulting in ligand-independent activation. Mutations and translocations of FGFR1-4 are also identified in cancer. Canonical FGF-FGFR signaling is tightly regulated by ligand-receptor combinations as well as direct interactions with the FGFR coreceptors heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) and Klotho. Noncanonical FGFR signaling partners have been implicated in differential regulation of FGFR signaling. FGFR directly interacts with cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, contributing to invasive and migratory properties of cancer cells, whereas interactions with other receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) regulate angiogenic, resistance to therapy, and metastatic potential of cancer cells. The diversity in FGFR signaling partners supports a role for FGFR signaling in cancer, independent of genetic aberration.
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Expression and Resistance Patterns to Targeted Therapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Review
Authors: Karlsen Emma-Anne , Kahler Sam , Tefay Joan , Joseph Shannon R. , Simpson Fiona
Published: May 2021

Globally, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death. The majority of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumours express epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which allows for precise and targeted therapy in these patients. The dysregulation of EGFR in solid epithelial cancers has two distinct mechanisms: either a kinase-activating mutation in EGFR (EGFR-mutant) and/or an overexpression of wild-type EGFR (wt-EGFR). The underlying mechanism of EGFR dysregulation influences the efficacy of anti-EGFR therapy as well as the nature of resistance patterns and secondary mutations. This review will critically analyse the mechanisms of EGFR expression in NSCLC, its relevance to currently approved targeted treatment options, and the complex nature of secondary mutations and intrinsic and acquired resistance patterns in NSCLC.
Physical Fitness and Motor Competence in Chinese and German Elementary School Children in Relation to Different Physical Activity Settings
Authors: Hohmann Andreas , Yuan Xinchi , Schmitt Manfred , Zhang Hui , Pietzonka Micha , Siener Maximilian
Published: May 2021

(1) Background: Children with greater physical activity (PA) may show a higher physical fitness (PF) and motor competence (MC) compared to peers with less PA. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), PF, and MC in 8- to 9-year old children in Germany and China. MVPA was differentiated into five PA settings: family sport, club training, school sport, leisure sport, and outside play. (2) Methods: This longitudinal study comprised N = 577 children (n = 311 girls, n = 266 boys) who were studied over a one-year period. Each child’s PF and MC was determined using sports motor tests. The children’s PAs were measured using a questionnaire. (3) Results: The children’s PA was positively associated with PF and MC. The MVPA-settings: family sport, leisure sport, outside play, school, and club sport, explained between 18 and 23 percent of the variance in selected PF and MC characteristics in a multivariate linear regression analysis. (4) Conclusions: An increase in the children’s MVPA might be an appropriate aim in the school sport in Germany as well as in the club sport system in China. Furthermore, family sport should be enhanced in Germany and outside play activities in China, respectively.
Sunbed Use among 11- to 17-Year-Olds and Estimated Number of Commercial Sunbeds in England with Implications for a ‘Buy-Back’ Scheme
Authors: Gordon Louisa G. , Hainsworth Rob , Eden Martin , Epton Tracy , Lorigan Paul , Grant Megan , Green Adéle C. , Payne Katherine
Published: May 2021

Prior to 2011 legislation prohibiting children from using commercial sunbeds, the prevalence of sunbed use in 15- to 17-year-olds in some areas in England was as high as 50%. Despite significant decreases since 2011, children today still practice indoor tanning. We estimated current sunbed use in 11- to 17-year-olds in England, the number of available commercial sunbed units, and the associated cost of a ‘buy-back’ scheme to remove commercial sunbeds under a potential future policy to ban sunbeds. We undertook a calibration approach based on published prevalence rates in English adults and other sources. Internet searches were undertaken to estimate the number of sunbed providers in Greater Manchester, then we extrapolated this to England. Estimated mean prevalence of sunbed use was 0.6% for 11- to 14-year-olds and 2.5% for 15- to 17-year-olds, equating to 62,130 children using sunbeds in England. A predicted 2958 premises and 17,865 sunbeds exist nationally and a ‘buy-back’ scheme would cost approximately GBP 21.7 million. Public health concerns remain greatest for 11- to 17-year-olds who are particularly vulnerable to developing skin cancers after high ultraviolet exposure.
Anesthesia in Children with Neuroblastoma, Perioperative and Operative Management
Authors: Tognon Costanza , Pulvirenti Rebecca , Fati Federica , De Corti Federica , Viscardi Elisabetta , Volpe Andrea , Gamba Piergiorgio
Published: May 2021

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial, solid, pediatric malignancy and, despite the constant progress of treatment and development of innovative therapies, remains a complex, challenging disease causing major morbidity and mortality in children. There is significant variability in the management of neuroblastoma, partially due to the heterogeneity of the clinical and biological behavior, and partially secondary to the different approaches between treating institutions. Anesthesia takes an integral part in the multidisciplinary care of patients with NB, from diagnosis to surgery and pain control. This paper aims to review and discuss the critical steps of the perioperative and operative management of children undergoing surgery for neuroblastoma. Anesthesia and analgesia largely depend on tumor location, surgical approach, and extension of the surgical dissection. Attention should be paid to the physio-pathological changes on cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and immune systems induced by the tumor or by chemotherapy. At the time of surgery meticulous patient preparation needs to be carried out to optimize intraoperative monitoring and minimize the risk of complications. The cross-sectional role of anesthesia in cancer care requires effective communication between all members of the multidisciplinary team.
Bottom-Up Drivers for Global Fish Catch Assessed with Reconstructed Ocean Biogeochemistry from an Earth System Model
Authors: Song Hyo-Jong , Park Jong-Yeon
Published: May 2021

Identifying bottom-up (e.g., physical and biogeochemical) drivers for fish catch is essential for sustainable fishing and successful adaptation to climate change through reliable prediction of future fisheries. Previous studies have suggested the potential linkage of fish catch to bottom-up drivers such as ocean temperature or satellite-retrieved chlorophyll concentration across different global ecosystems. Robust estimation of bottom-up effects on global fisheries is, however, still challenging due to the lack of long-term observations of fisheries-relevant biotic variables on a global scale. Here, by using novel long-term biological and biogeochemical data reconstructed from a recently developed data assimilative Earth system model, we newly identified dominant drivers for fish catch in globally distributed coastal ecosystems. A machine learning analysis with the inclusion of reconstructed zooplankton production and dissolved oxygen concentration into the fish catch predictors provides an extended view of the links between environmental forcing and fish catch. Furthermore, the relative importance of each driver and their thresholds for high and low fish catch are analyzed, providing further insight into mechanistic principles of fish catch in individual coastal ecosystems. The results presented herein suggest the potential predictive use of their relationships and the need for continuous observational effort for global ocean biogeochemistry.
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy for the Treatment of Oligometastatic Tumors versus Standard of Care
Authors: Raymakers Adam J. N. , Cameron David , Tyldesley Scott , Regier Dean A.
Published: May 2021

Background: Recent clinical trial results reported that stereotactic radiotherapy (SABR) may improve survival for patients with oligometastatic (OM) cancer. Given that these results come from a phase II trial, there remains considerable uncertainty about this finding, and about the cost-effectiveness of SABR for patients with OM cancer. In this analysis, we estimate the cost-effectiveness of SABR for oligometastatic cancer patients. Methods: A probabilistic time-dependent Markov model was constructed to simulate treatment of oligometastatic cancer patients over five- and ten-year time horizons. The primary data source was the phase II, Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy for the Comprehensive Treatment of Oligometastases (SABR-COMET )trial and supplemented with data from the literature. We estimated the effect of SABR and the standard of care (SoC) using quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Costs were measured from a provincial payer perspective (2018 Canadian dollars). Results: In the reference case analysis (five-year time horizon), SABR was associated with additional incremental costs of CAD 38,487 and an incremental QALY gain of 0.84. This resulted in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of CAD 45,726 per QALY gained. Over a ten-year time horizon, the increased uncertainty in the long-term effectiveness of SABR resulted in an ICER of CAD 291,544 per QALY gained. Estimates from the probabilistic analysis indicated that at a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of CAD 50,000 and CAD 100,000 per QALY gained, there is 54% and 78% probability (respectively) that SABR would be cost-effective using the five-year time horizon. Conclusions: The adoption of SABR therapy requires a considerable upfront capital investment. Our results suggest that the cost-effectiveness of SABR is contingent on the uncertainty in the evidence base. Further clinical trials to confirm the effectiveness of SABR and research into the real-world costs associated with this treatment could reduce the uncertainty around implementation of the technology.
Quinoa’s Potential to Enhance Dietary Management of Obesity and Type-2 Diabetes: A Review of the Current Evidence
Authors: Little Alexander , Murphy Kevin , Solverson Patrick
Published: May 2021

The prevalence of diet-induced obesity and type-2 diabetes remains a growing concern in the United States. As best management practices still include improved diet and physical activity, bioactive food components, contained within functional foods, show promise in curbing the cardiometabolic complications associated with excess weight and diabetes. Quinoa is an emerging candidate crop for its versatility in wide-ranging growing conditions as one approach to address food security, but it also contains several components that may serve as a dietary tool for post-industrial countries struggling with the health complications of caloric excess. Preliminary rodent feeding studies demonstrate that components within quinoa, namely, phytosteroids, phenolics, polysaccharides, and peptides, can prevent adiposity, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia. Mechanistic activity may involve reduced lipid absorption and adipogenesis, increased energy expenditure and glucose oxidation and corrected gut microbiota. Other intestinal actions may include blocked carbohydrate digestion with enhanced incretin signaling. Evidence in clinical trials is lacking and future research spanning cells to the clinic is needed to further elucidate the interesting preliminary reports reviewed here. Quinoa offers several unique attributes that could be harnessed to improve the dietary management of obesity and diabetes.
Message Passing and Metabolism
Authors: Parr Thomas
Published: May 2021

Active inference is an increasingly prominent paradigm in theoretical biology. It frames the dynamics of living systems as if they were solving an inference problem. This rests upon their flow towards some (non-equilibrium) steady state—or equivalently, their maximisation of the Bayesian model evidence for an implicit probabilistic model. For many models, these self-evidencing dynamics manifest as messages passed among elements of a system. Such messages resemble synaptic communication at a neuronal network level but could also apply to other network structures. This paper attempts to apply the same formulation to biochemical networks. The chemical computation that occurs in regulation of metabolism relies upon sparse interactions between coupled reactions, where enzymes induce conditional dependencies between reactants. We will see that these reactions may be viewed as the movement of probability mass between alternative categorical states. When framed in this way, the master equations describing such systems can be reformulated in terms of their steady-state distribution. This distribution plays the role of a generative model, affording an inferential interpretation of the underlying biochemistry. Finally, we see that—in analogy with computational neurology and psychiatry—metabolic disorders may be characterized as false inference under aberrant prior beliefs.
Cancer Niches and Their Kikuchi Free Energy
Authors: Sajid Noor , Convertino Laura , Friston Karl
Published: May 2021

Biological forms depend on a progressive specialization of pluripotent stem cells. The differentiation of these cells in their spatial and functional environment defines the organism itself; however, cellular mutations may disrupt the mutual balance between a cell and its niche, where cell proliferation and specialization are released from their autopoietic homeostasis. This induces the construction of cancer niches and maintains their survival. In this paper, we characterise cancer niche construction as a direct consequence of interactions between clusters of cancer and healthy cells. Explicitly, we evaluate these higher-order interactions between niches of cancer and healthy cells using Kikuchi approximations to the free energy. Kikuchi’s free energy is measured in terms of changes to the sum of energies of baseline clusters of cells (or nodes) minus the energies of overcounted cluster intersections (and interactions of interactions, etc.). We posit that these changes in energy node clusters correspond to a long-term reduction in the complexity of the system conducive to cancer niche survival. We validate this formulation through numerical simulations of apoptosis, local cancer growth, and metastasis, and highlight its implications for a computational understanding of the etiopathology of cancer.
The Impact of Economic Specialization on Regional Economic Development in the European Union: Insights for Formation of Smart Specialization Strategy
Authors: Dzemydaitė Giedrė
Published: May 2021

The smart specialization concept was implemented in the EU in 2014, stating that regions have to specify specialization areas for development of innovations. Economic specialization reveals a comparative advantage in that field. However, there are different arguments linking specialization to economic development. This study analyzes these arguments and aims to investigate the impact of economic specialization on regional economic development and to give insights into identifying prospective areas in regional economies. A panel fixed effect estimation of industry-level regional data suggests that economic specialization in broader regional employment, called relative specialization, is ambiguously associated with economic development. Our findings suggest that neither economic specialization nor economic diversity are a clear-cut solution for ensuring economic growth. Economic structure in EU regions differs, and there is no one answer for which approach is better for economic development. Specialization measures, particularly the location quotient, cannot fully capture the dynamics in the industry structure that could be essential for formation of regional development strategy.
The Demographic Transformation of the Teaching Force in the United States
Authors: Ingersoll Richard , Merrill Elizabeth , Stuckey Daniel , Collins Gregory , Harrison Brandon
Published: May 2021

This article summarizes the results of an exploratory research project that investigated what demographic trends and changes have, or have not, occurred in the elementary and secondary teaching force in the U.S. over the past three decades, from 1987 to 2018. Our main data source was the Schools and Staffing Survey and its successor, the National Teacher Principal Survey, collectively the largest and most comprehensive source of data on teachers available in the U.S. These surveys are conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the statistical arm of the U.S. Department of Education. The results show that the teaching force has been, and is, greatly changing; yet, even the most dramatic trends appear to have been little noticed or understood by researchers, policy makers, and the public. This article summarizes seven of the most prominent trends and changes that we found. The U.S. teaching force is: larger; older; less experienced; more female; more diverse, by race/ethnicity; consistent in academic ability; unstable. For each of the trends, we explore two broad questions: 1. What are the reasons for and sources of the trend? 2. What are the implications and consequences of the trend?
Critical Pedagogy and Language Education: Hearing the Voices of Brazilian Teachers of English
Authors: Siqueira Sávio
Published: May 2021

Based on an ethnographic research study involving Brazilian teachers from different educational contexts in the city of Salvador, Brazil, this paper aims to approach and discuss the dialogic relationship between critical pedagogy and language education, within the context of English as a global lingua franca. The main goal of the original work was to investigate how EFL teachers see themselves as language professionals in the contemporary world, how aware they are of the implications related to the condition of English as an international language or a global lingua franca, and to what extent they conceive teaching the language under a critical intercultural pedagogy. Data were generated through a questionnaire, class observation sessions, and video recordings of semi-structured group interviews in which issues like the globality of English, culture teaching, interculturality, and critical (language) pedagogy were approached and debated. Results have shown that participants are aware of the implications of the global status of English and that teaching the language in these current times cannot happen in a neutral and/or uncritical way. It was also revealed that teachers find difficult to systematize the teaching of culture in their EFL classes, as much as it is challenging for them to see themselves as critical intercultural professionals who can engage in critical pedagogy in their specific educational settings.
Financial Gains and Moral Satisfaction as Key Factors for Greater Efficiency in the Field of Education
Authors: Brinia Vasiliki , Leimoniti Stavroula , Dimos Alexandros
Published: May 2021

The present study examines teachers’ perceptions regarding moral satisfaction, financial gain and professional motivation in order to examine the relationship between these factors and their work efficiency. The degree of agreement and disagreement in the perceptions of 270 Primary Education teachers, regarding the extent to which their effectiveness at work is affected by the existence of the above factors, is studied, and the study was conducted in 31 primary schools in Greece. The size of the sample and the way the results are extracted is a key innovation of the research, as for the first time, the above concepts are quantified through the answers of those involved in education. Their answers are examined by the method of quantitative research and the statistical program IBM-SPSS 24. It appears that moral rewards, the relationship with their manager and colleagues and their degree of self-esteem are elements that, if increased and positive, lead to higher productivity in their work. The recognition of the overall offer of the teachers by colleagues, the manager, society and the state have a positive effect on the effectiveness of their work, while its lack reduces their motivation to be efficient.
Multi-Scale, Class-Generic, Privacy-Preserving Video
Authors: Zhang Zhixiang , Cilloni Thomas , Walter Charles , Fleming Charles
Published: May 2021

In recent years, high-performance video recording devices have become ubiquitous, posing an unprecedented challenge to preserving personal privacy. As a result, privacy-preserving video systems have been receiving increased attention. In this paper, we present a novel privacy-preserving video algorithm that uses semantic segmentation to identify regions of interest, which are then anonymized with an adaptive blurring algorithm. This algorithm addresses two of the most important shortcomings of existing solutions: it is multi-scale, meaning it can identify and uniformly anonymize objects of different scales in the same image, and it is class-generic, so it can be used to anonymize any class of objects of interest. We show experimentally that our algorithm achieves excellent anonymity while preserving meaning in the visual data processed.
Sensor-Based Entropy Source Analysis and Validation for Use in IoT Environments
Authors: Răstoceanu Florin , Rughiniș Răzvan , Ciocîrlan Ștefan-Dan , Enache Mihai
Published: May 2021

The IoT market has grown significantly in recent years, and it is estimated that it will continue to do so. For this reason, the need to identify new solutions to ensure security is vital for the future development in this field. Inadequate sources of entropy are one of the factors that negatively influence security. In this study, inspired by NIST’s latest entropy estimation recommendations, we proposed a methodology for analyzing and validating a sensor-based entropy source, highlighted by an innovative experiment design. Moreover, the proposed solution is analyzed in terms of resistance to multiple types of attacks. Following an analysis of the influence of sensor characteristics and settings on the entropy rate, we obtain a maximum entropy value of 0.63 per bit, and a throughput of 3.12 Kb/s, even when no motion is applied on the sensors. Our results show that a stable and resistant entropy source can be built based on the data obtained from the sensors. Our assessment of the proposed entropy source also achieves a higher complexity than previous studies, in terms of the variety of approached situations and the types of the performed experiments.