bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Finding all maximal perfect haplotype blocks in linear time
Authors: Alanko Jarno , Bannai Hideo , Cazaux Bastien , Peterlongo Pierre , Stoye Jens
Published: February 2020

Recent large-scale community sequencing efforts allow at an unprecedented level of detail the identification of genomic regions that show signatures of natural selection. Traditional methods for identifying such regions from individuals’ haplotype data, however, require excessive computing times and therefore are not applicable to current datasets. In 2019, Cunha et al. (Advances in bioinformatics and computational biology: 11th Brazilian symposium on bioinformatics, BSB 2018, Niterói, Brazil, October 30 - November 1, 2018, Proceedings, 2018. 10.1007/978-3-030-01722-4_3) suggested the maximal perfect haplotype block as a very simple combinatorial pattern, forming the basis of a new method to perform rapid genome-wide selection scans. The algorithm they presented for identifying these blocks, however, had a worst-case running time quadratic in the genome length. It was posed as an open problem whether an optimal, linear-time algorithm exists. In this paper we give two algorithms that achieve this time bound, one conceptually very simple one using suffix trees and a second one using the positional Burrows–Wheeler Transform, that is very efficient also in practice.
Five new cases of syndromic intellectual disability due to KAT6A mutations: widening the molecular and clinical spectrum
Authors: Urreizti Roser , Lopez-Martin Estrella , Martinez-Monseny Antonio , Pujadas Montse , Castilla-Vallmanya Laura , Pérez-Jurado Luis Alberto , Serrano Mercedes , Natera-de Benito Daniel , Martínez-Delgado Beatriz , Posada-de-la-Paz Manuel , Alonso Javier , Marin-Reina Purificación , O’Callaghan Mar , Grinberg Daniel , Bermejo-Sánchez Eva , Balcells Susanna
Published: February 2020

Background

Pathogenic variants of the lysine acetyltransferase 6A or KAT6A gene are associated with a newly identified neurodevelopmental disorder characterized mainly by intellectual disability of variable severity and speech delay, hypotonia, and heart and eye malformations. Although loss of function (LoF) mutations were initially reported as causing this disorder, missense mutations, to date always involving serine residues, have recently been associated with a form of the disorder without cardiac involvement.

Results

In this study we present five new patients, four with truncating mutations and one with a missense change and the only one not presenting with cardiac anomalies. The missense change [p.(Gly359Ser)], also predicted to affect splicing by in silico tools, was functionally tested in the patient’s lymphocyte RNA revealing a splicing effect for this allele that would lead to a frameshift and premature truncation.

Conclusions

An extensive revision of the clinical features of these five patients revealed high concordance with the 80 cases previously reported, including developmental delay with speech delay, feeding difficulties, hypotonia, a high bulbous nose, and recurrent infections. Other features present in some of these five patients, such as cryptorchidism in males, syndactyly, and trigonocephaly, expand the clinical spectrum of this syndrome.
2DKD: a toolkit for content-based local image search
Authors: DeVille Julian S. , Kihara Daisuke , Sit Atilla
Published: February 2020

Background

Direct comparison of 2D images is computationally inefficient due to the need for translation, rotation, and scaling of the images to evaluate their similarity. In many biological applications, such as digital pathology and cryo-EM, often identifying specific local regions of images is of particular interest. Therefore, finding invariant descriptors that can efficiently retrieve local image patches or subimages becomes necessary.

Results

We present a software package called Two-Dimensional Krawtchouk Descriptors that allows to perform local subimage search in 2D images. The new toolkit uses only a small number of invariant descriptors per image for efficient local image retrieval. This enables querying an image and comparing similar patterns locally across a potentially large database. We show that these descriptors appear to be useful for searching local patterns or small particles in images and demonstrate some test cases that can be helpful for both assembly software developers and their users.

Conclusions

Local image comparison and subimage search can prove cumbersome in both computational complexity and runtime, due to factors such as the rotation, scaling, and translation of the object in question. By using the 2DKD toolkit, relatively few descriptors are developed to describe a given image, and this can be achieved with minimal memory usage.
Evaluation of a new set of indicators for mental health care implemented in Madhya Pradesh, India: a mixed methods study
Authors: Ahuja Shalini , Khan Azaz , Goulding Lucy , Bansal Rachel Kaur , Shidhaye Rahul , Thornicroft Graham , Jordans Mark
Published: February 2020

Background

Mental health information systems are, in general, inadequate and unreliable in India. We have developed key mental health indicators for measuring mental health service coverage in primary care. This study aims to evaluate the use of these new indicators in seven health care facilities in Sehore District of Madhya Pradesh in India.

Methods

The study employed a mixed methods approach. We conducted: a qualitative study (n = 26) with health workers, Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) staff, project coordinators and supervisors; a review of case records (n = 61 at time 1 and n = 74 at time 2); and a structured questionnaire (n = 26) with health workers. The performance, user-friendliness, appropriateness, perceived utility and sustainability of the use of new mental health indicators was assessed.

Results

High levels of completion, and correctness of completion, of the new mental health indicators were found for the case records. The simplicity of the forms, as well as technical support from the project team, contributed to acceptability and feasibility of implementation. Perceived sustainability of the new forms was, however, affected by the overstretched primary care staff. Further work is needed to support the integration of mental health with routine HMIS.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that the implementation of key mental health service delivery indicators in Sehore District primary care facilities was feasible. Technical assistance was imperative in maintaining the performance of the indicators over the two studied time points. The integration of mental health indicators in routine health information systems, and political buy-in, are needed to monitor and sustain community mental health programmes in India.
Impact of a paediatric-adult care transition programme on the health status of patients with sickle cell disease: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial (the DREPADO trial)
Authors:   DREPADO study group, Hoegy Delphine , Bleyzac Nathalie , Gauthier-Vasserot Alexandra , Cannas Giovanna , Denis Angélique , Hot Arnaud , Bertrand Yves , Occelli Pauline , Touzet Sandrine , Dussart Claude , Janoly-Dumenil Audrey
Published: February 2020

Background

Thanks to advancements in medical care, a majority of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) worldwide live beyond 18 years of age, and therefore, patients initially followed in paediatric departments are then transferred to adult departments. This paediatric-adult care transition is a period with an increased risk of discontinuity of care and subsequent morbidity and mortality. During this period, the patient will have to manage new interlocutors and places of care, and personal issues related to the period of adolescence. To take into consideration all these aspects, an interesting approach is to use the whole system approach to the patient, as presented in the biopsychosocial approach. The aim of this trial is to evaluate the impact of the proposed biopsychosocial paediatric-adult transition programme.

Methods

The DREPADO study is a multicentre randomised control trial comparing a control group (Arm A) to an interventional group with a paediatric-adult transition programme based on a biopsychosocial approach (Arm B). To be included, patients should have the SS, SC, or Sβ form of sickle cell disease and be aged between 16 and 17 years. The randomisation in a 1:1 ratio assigns to Arm A or B. The primary outcome is the number of hospital admissions and emergencies for complications in the index hospital, in the 2 years after the first consultation in the adult department of care. Secondary outcomes consider the quality of life, but also include coping skills such as sense of self-efficacy and disease knowledge. To provide patient and parent knowledge and coping skills, the transition programme is composed of three axes: educational, psychological, and social, conducted individually and in groups.

Discussion

By providing self-care knowledge and coping skills related to SCD and therapeutics, helping empower patientsin relation to pain management and emotions, and facilitating the relationship to oneself, others, and care in Arm B of the DREPADO study, we believe that the morbidity and mortality of patients with SCD may be reduced after the proposed paediatric-adult transition programme.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03786549; registered on 17 December 2018; https://clinicaltrials.gov/.
Potential of selected lactic acid bacteria from Theobroma cacao fermented fruit juice and cell-free supernatants from cultures as inhibitors of Helicobacter pylori and as good probiotic
Authors: Kouitcheu Mabeku Laure Brigitte , Ngue Samuel , Bonsou Nguemo Idris , Leundji Hubert
Published: February 2020

Objective

The present study was designed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolates from the fermented cocoa juice and their cell-free culture supernatants (CFS) against Helicobacter pylori strains and their potential as good probiotic. Isolation of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) was performed by culture and subculture of sample on MRS agar. Morphological characteristics, Gram staining and catalase reaction were used to identify the isolates. The antagonistic activity of LAB was tested using the agar spot-on-lawn method and the inhibitory effect of CFS using well diffusion assay. Acid tolerance and resistance to antibiotics tests were used to evaluate the probiotic potential of LAB isolates.

Results

Antagonistic effect was observed in 65.52% of isolated LAB. Isolate LAB19 showed the broader spectrum of antagonistic effect. The overall inhibitory activity was two to three folds reduced when CFSs were used instead of LAB isolates themselves. Our data showed that LAB19 controlled H. pylori growth using bacteriocins and that LAB4′, LAB8, LAB11′, LAB12, LAB13′, LAB15, LAB16 and LAB17 were through organic acids. LAB9, LAB11′ and LAB12 showed properties of probiotic tested. In this study, nine LAB isolates were found to possess anti-Helicobacter activity and some preliminary probiotic properties.
Physicochemical quality of water and health risks associated with consumption of African lung fish (Protopterus annectens) from Nyabarongo and Nyabugogo rivers, Rwanda
Authors: Omara Timothy , Nteziyaremye Papias , Akaganyira Solomon , Opio Dickens Waswa , Karanja Lucy Nyambura , Nyangena Decrah Moraa , Kiptui Betty Jematia , Ogwang Remish , Epiaka Stephen Mark , Jepchirchir Abigael , Maiyo Alfayo
Published: February 2020

Objective

To determine the quality of water, heavy metal content of edible muscles of a piscivorous fish (Protopterus annectens) and assess the health risks associated with using water and consumption of P. annectens from Nyabarongo and Nyabugogo rivers of Rwanda.

Results

All the water quality parameters were within World Health Organization’s acceptable limits except total nitrogen, iron, manganese and lead levels. Edible muscles of Protopterus annectens contained 272.8 ± 0.36, 292.2 ± 0.25, 8.8 ± 0.36, 135.2 ± 0.15, 148.0 ± 0.21 and 432. 0 ± 0.50 mg/kg of iron, manganese, copper, zinc, chromium and lead at Ruliba station and 336.0 ± 0.70, 302.6 ± 1.22, 6.4 ± 0.26, 44.7 ± 0.20, 138.2 ± 0.17 and 302.4 ± 1.50 mg/kg of iron, manganese, copper, zinc, chromium and lead at Kirinda bridge of Nyabarongo river. Health risk assessments indicated that though ingestion and dermal contact with heavy metals in water from the rivers may not cause obvious health effects, consumption of Protopterus annectens from Nyabarongo river may lead to deleterious health effects.
Binaural sound localization based on deep neural network and affinity propagation clustering in mismatched HRTF condition
Authors: Wang Jing , Wang Jin , Qian Kai , Xie Xiang , Kuang Jingming
Published: February 2020

Binaural sound source localization is an important and widely used perceptually based method and it has been applied to machine learning studies by many researchers based on head-related transfer function (HRTF). Because the HRTF is closely related to human physiological structure, the HRTFs vary between individuals. Related machine learning studies to date tend to focus on binaural localization in reverberant or noisy environments, or in conditions with multiple simultaneously active sound sources. In contrast, mismatched HRTF condition, in which the HRTFs used to generate the training and test sets are different, is rarely studied. This mismatch leads to a degradation of localization performance. A basic solution to this problem is to introduce more data to improve generalization performance, which requires a lot. However, simply increasing the data volume will result in data-inefficiency. In this paper, we propose a data-efficient method based on deep neural network (DNN) and clustering to improve binaural localization performance in the mismatched HRTF condition. Firstly, we analyze the relationship between binaural cues and the sound source localization with a classification DNN. Different HRTFs are used to generate training and test sets, respectively. On this basis, we study the localization performance of DNN model trained by each training set on different test sets. The result shows that the localization performance of the same model on different test sets is different, while the localization performance of different models on the same test set may be similar. The result also shows a clustering trend. Secondly, different HRTFs are divided into several clusters. Finally, the corresponding HRTFs of each cluster center are selected to generate a new training set and to train a more generalized DNN model. The experimental results show that the proposed method achieves better generalization performance than the baseline methods in the mismatched HRTF condition and has almost equal performance to the DNN trained with a large number of HRTFs, which means the proposed method is data-efficient.
Thunderstorm identification algorithm research based on simulated airborne weather radar reflectivity data
Authors: Wang Xu , Liao Rui , Li Jing , He Jianxin , Wang Guoqiang , Xu Zili , Wang Haijiang
Published: February 2020

In the past few decades, radar reflectivity data have been widely used in thunderstorm identification research. Many thunderstorm identification algorithms for ground-based weather radar have been developed. But for airborne weather radar, due to the relative scarcity of data, the thunderstorm identification research is insufficient and there are still few effective identification methods. Airborne weather radar has the realization capability of close-range detection, but most existing airborne weather radars do not have scanning capability. This paper proposes an airborne weather radar volume scan mode, under which there is a total of 31 sector scans at 31 elevations in a volume scan. And a reflectivity data simulation model of the airborne weather radar is established based on this scan strategy, then the ground-based X-band radar reflectivity data are used as input to obtain the simulated X-band airborne radar reflectivity data. Moreover, this paper studies a thunderstorm identification algorithm for the X-band airborne radar with the proposed scan mode. An improved SCI (storm cell identification) algorithm is proposed on the basis of the traditional SCI algorithm which is applicable to S-band ground-based weather radar. The results of thunderstorm identification carried out on the simulated airborne radar data show that the algorithm can effectively identify the thunderstorm cells in the mature stage and the developing stage.
Active acoustic telemetry tracking and tri-axial accelerometers reveal fine-scale movement strategies of a non-obligate ram ventilator
Authors: Meese Emily N. , Lowe Christopher G.
Published: February 2020

Background

California horn sharks (Heterodontus francisci) are nocturnally active, non-obligate ram ventilating sharks in rocky reef habitats that play an important ecological role in regulating invertebrate communities. We predicted horn sharks would use an area restricted search (ARS) movement strategy to locate dense resource patches while minimizing energetic costs of travel and nighttime activity. As ectotherms, we predicted environmental temperature would play a significant role in driving movement and activity patterns.

Methods

Continuous active acoustic tracking methods and acceleration data loggers were used to quantify the diel fine-scale spatial movements and activity patterns of horn sharks. First passage time was used to identify the scale and locations of patches indicative of ARS. Activity was assessed using overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA) as a proxy for energy expenditure. Behavior within a patch was characterized into three activity patterns: resting, episodic burst activity, and moderate, consistent activity.

Results

After resting in daytime shelters, individuals travelled to multiple reefs throughout the night, traversing through depths of 2–112 m and temperatures of 10.0–23.8 °C. All sharks exhibited area restricted search patch use and arrived at their first patch approximately 3.4 ± 2.2 h (mean ± SD) after sunset. Sharks exhibited moderate, consistent activity in 54% of the patches used, episodic burst activity in 33%, and few (13%) were identified as resting at night. ODBA peaked while sharks were swimming through relatively deeper (~ 30 m), colder channels when traversing from one patch to the next. There was no consistent pattern between ODBA and temperature.

Conclusions

We provide one of the largest fine-scale, high-resolution paired data sets for an elasmobranch movement ecology study. Horn sharks exhibited ARS movement patterns for various activity patterns. Individuals likely travel to reefs known to have profitable and predictable patches, potentially tolerating less suitable environmental temperatures. We demonstrate how gathering high-resolution information on the movement decisions of a community resident enhances knowledge of community structure and overall ecosystem function.
Analysis and characterization of materials used in heritage theatrical figurines
Authors: Gong Yuxuan , Qiao Chengquan , Zhong Bochao , Zhong Jiarang , Gong Decai
Published: February 2020

The precious collections of the Qing Dynasty paper-made theatrical figurines known as Shage xiren (纱阁戏人) represent a unique type of Chinese traditional folk art. The name, “Shage xiren” can be explained as the theatrical figurines that display in gauze curtains covered showcases. There were originally 36 showcases of Shage xiren of which 34 are preserved with 28 showcases exhibited at Qingxu Taoist Temple of Pingyao and the other damaged 6 are kept in the storeroom. It is rare that ancient paper-made figurines can be retained; therefore Shage xiren became a valuable source for understanding the traditional folk art as well as exploring rarely inherited crafts. Due to the material specificity and the poor preservation conditions, most of the figurines are found with various damages. It appears necessary to carry out appropriate conservative and restorative actions. To date, very few works have been reported on investigating the materials and crafts of making Shage xiren, resulting in a lack of basis for restoration. In this research, the samples collected from the damaged figurines, including wooden stick, plant fibers, paper pieces, clay fragments and textile fibers were studied. Polarized light microscope, X-ray diffraction, granulometry, Raman spectrum, digital microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectrum analyses were employed to characterize the materials used in producing the cultural relics. The results indicated that not only paper, but also various materials were utilized in making the figurines. To form well-shaped bodies, the figurines have moso bamboo sticks applied as supporting structures, then covered with wheat straw and filled with natural cotton. The paper costumes and decorations were made from coniferous wood pulp and bamboo fibers respectively, and the textile belts were made from silk. The heads, feet and fingers of the figurines were shaped with fine local clay mixed with natural fibers to prevent cracking. The heads were further applied with lime to improve the surface smoothness and brightness. The pigments of red lead, basic lead carbonate, indigo and artificial ultramarine were used in painting and dyeing the clay heads and feet, and paper decorations. Although the figurines were made from accessible materials, the ingenious design and the sophisticated skills combining sculpturing, paper folding and elaborate ornamenting made it one of the unique artefacts. This research further provided reliable evidence in guiding the conservation and restoration work.
Effects of heat treatment on the behavior of teak wood adherends bonded joints
Authors: Budhe S. , Banea M. D. , Ghugal S. , de Barros S.
Published: February 2020

The main aim of this work is to investigate the effect of heat treatment on the teak wood adherend bonded joints. Indian teak wood samples were kept in an oven at 150 °C for 2 h for the heat treatment process. The surface roughness values of the wood adherend before and after the heat treatment process were measured using a surface profilometer. Wettability of un-treated and heat-treated teak wood samples was determined with the contact angle measurements by using the sessile drop method. Single strap joints with un-treated and heat treated wood specimens were tested at ambient temperature. The results show that, there is a clear dependency observed in between the heat treatment and the surface roughness of the wood adherends. Wettability of teak wood adherend surface is degraded after the heat treatment process. An adverse effect of heat treatment of wood adherend on the bonding strength was observed, but the surface roughness was improved.
Epidemiology of tendon and ligament injuries in Aotearoa/New Zealand between 2010 and 2016
Authors: Clark Sita T. , Zhu Mark , Gamble Greg D. , Naot Dorit , Paine Sarah-Jane , Dalbeth Nicola , Cornish Jillian , Musson David S.
Published: February 2020

Background

Injuries to tendons and ligaments make up a large portion of musculoskeletal injuries, and contribute to significant morbidity and healthcare costs. However, there is currently a poor understanding of the burden of these injuries at a population level.

The purpose of this study was to quantify the burden and distribution of tendon and ligament injuries in the Aotearoa/New Zealand population.

Methods

Using the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC, a no fault comprehensive compensation scheme encompassing all of Aotearoa/New Zealand; population in 2013 4.4 million) database, data specific to tendon and ligament injuries were identified between July 2010 and June 2016. The total number of claims made and the total cost of these claims per financial year were analyzed. Injuries were categorized by anatomical site, gender, ethnicity and age of the claimant.

Results

During the 6-year study period, the total number of tendon and ligament injury claims was 1,112,077, with a total cost of over $1.4 billion NZD. There was a 16.2% increase in the number of claims, and a 40% increase in the total cost of these injuries during this period.

The majority of claims were made by people of European ethnicity, whilst the number of claims made by people of Asian ethnicity increased at the greatest rate; 52% (from 9047 claims in 2011) during the 6-year study period. Interestingly, Māori (Indigenous New Zealanders) maintained the highest average cost per claim ($1614.05 NZD); 13% more than the overall average cost per claim ($1262.12 NZD). The most common sites of injury were the shoulder and knee; these injuries were also the greatest contributors to overall cost. The total costs of injuries peaked in claimants aged 40–54, irrespective of the number of claims made for that age group.

Conclusions

Health and economic burdens of tendon and ligament injuries in Aotearoa/New Zealand are rising. The high healthcare costs underscore the urgent need for multifaceted interventions to reduce the incidence and improve clinical outcomes of tendon and ligament injuries.
GIS-based modeling of snowmelt-induced landslide susceptibility of sensitive marine clays
Authors: Al-Umar Mohammad , Fall Mamadou , Daneshfar Bahram
Published: February 2020

In this study, a simulation tool, based on the combination of Geographic Information System (GIS) and Grid-Based Regional Slope-Stability Model (TRIGRS), is developed to assess and predict the snowmelt-induced landslides in areas of sensitive marine clays in the Ottawa region (Canada). Topographic, geologic, hydrologic, and geotechnical information of the study area, in addition to snowmelt intensity data for different periods, was required to conduct this modeling study. Snowmelt intensity records for periods of 6–48 h, 3–15 days, 25 days, and 30 days, as well as the information on historical landslides in the study area, were used to examine both the timing and location of shallow landslides due to snowmelt across the Ottawa region. The developed tool is validated by comparing the predicted landslide-susceptible areas with the historical landslide maps in the study area. A good agreement between the predicted and recorded historical landslides was obtained, which suggests that the developed GIS-TRIGRS based tool can predict relatively well the snowmelt-induced landslide susceptibility in the sensitive marine clays. The modeling results show that high slope areas of sensitive marine clays are more prone to snowmelt-induced landslides. As a result, this simulation tool could be used to assess and/or predict snowmelt-induced landslides in different areas of the Ottawa region, which is an important means for decision-making processes with respect to protecting the population and infrastructure against snow-melt induced marine clay landslides.
Potential consequences of expanded MUAC-only programs on targeting of acutely malnourished children and ready-to-use-therapeutic-food allocation: lessons from cross-sectional surveys
Authors: Guesdon Benjamin , Couture Alexia , Pantchova Danka , Bilukha Oleg
Published: February 2020

Background

Some of the recently piloted innovative approaches for the management of acute malnutrition in children use the “expanded MUAC-only” approach, with Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) < 125 mm as the sole anthropometric criterion for screening and admission, classification of cases as severe using the 115 mm cut-off, and use Ready-to-Use-Therapeutic-Food (RUTF) for the management of both moderate (MAM) and severe (SAM) cases of acute malnutrition. Our study aimed at exploring the potential consequences of this “expanded MUAC-only” program scenario on the eligibility for treatment and RUTF allocation, as compared with the existing WHO normative guidance.

Methods

We analyzed data from 550 population representative cross-sectional cluster surveys conducted since 2007. We retrieved all children classified as SAM and MAM according to currently used case definitions, and calculated the proportions of SAM children who would be excluded from treatment, misclassified as MAM, or whose specific risks (because of having both MUAC and weight-for height deficits) would be ignored. We also analyzed the expected changes in the number and demographics (sex, age) of children meant to receive RUTF according to the new approach.

Results

We found that approximately one quarter of SAM children would not be detected and eligible for treatment under the “expanded MUAC-only” scenario, and another 20% would be classified as MAM. A further 17% of the total SAM children would be admitted and followed only according to their MUAC or oedema status, while they also present with a severe weight-for height deficit on admission. Considering MAM targeting, about half of the MAM children would be left undetected. This scenario also shows a 2.5 time increase in the number of children targeted with RUTF, with approximately 70% of MAM and 30% of SAM cases among this new RUTF target.

Conclusions

This empirical evidence suggests that adoption of “expanded MUAC-only” programs would likely lead to a priori exclusion from treatment or misclassifying as MAM a large proportion of SAM cases, while redirecting programmatic costs in favor of those less in need. It underscores the need to explore other options for improving the impact of programs addressing the needs of acutely malnourished children.
Metabolite Concentration Changes in Humans After a Bout of Exercise: a Systematic Review of Exercise Metabolomics Studies
Authors: Schranner Daniela , Kastenmüller Gabi , Schönfelder Martin , Römisch-Margl Werner , Wackerhage Henning
Published: February 2020

Background

Exercise changes the concentrations of many metabolites, which are small molecules (< 1.5 kDa) metabolized by the reactions of human metabolism. In recent years, especially mass spectrometry-based metabolomics methods have allowed researchers to measure up to hundreds of metabolites in a single sample in a non-biased fashion. To summarize human exercise metabolomics studies to date, we conducted a systematic review that reports the results of experiments that found metabolite concentrations changes after a bout of human endurance or resistance exercise.

Methods

We carried out a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines and searched for human metabolomics studies that report metabolite concentrations before and within 24 h after endurance or resistance exercise in blood, urine, or sweat. We then displayed metabolites that significantly changed their concentration in at least two experiments.

Results

Twenty-seven studies and 57 experiments matched our search criteria and were analyzed. Within these studies, 196 metabolites changed their concentration significantly within 24 h after exercise in at least two experiments. Human biofluids contain mainly unphosphorylated metabolites as the phosphorylation of metabolites such as ATP, glycolytic intermediates, or nucleotides traps these metabolites within cells. Lactate, pyruvate, TCA cycle intermediates, fatty acids, acylcarnitines, and ketone bodies all typically increase after exercise, whereas bile acids decrease. In contrast, the concentrations of proteinogenic and non-proteinogenic amino acids change in different directions.

Conclusion

Across different exercise modes and in different subjects, exercise often consistently changes the average concentrations of metabolites that belong to energy metabolism and other branches of metabolism. This dataset is a useful resource for those that wish to study human exercise metabolism.
Predicting changes in Bitcoin price using grey system theory
Authors: Faghih Mohammadi Jalali Mahboubeh , Heidari Hanif
Published: February 2020

Bitcoin is currently the leading global provider of cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency allows users to safely and anonymously use the Internet to perform digital currency transfers and storage. In recent years, the Bitcoin network has attracted investors, businesses, and corporations while facilitating services and product deals. Moreover, Bitcoin has made itself the dominant source of decentralized cryptocurrency. While considerable research has been done concerning Bitcoin network analysis, limited research has been conducted on predicting the Bitcoin price. The purpose of this study is to predict the price of Bitcoin and changes therein using the grey system theory. The first order grey model (GM (1,1)) is used for this purpose. It uses a first-order differential equation to model the trend of time series. The results show that the GM (1,1) model predicts Bitcoin’s price accurately and that one can earn a maximum profit confidence level of approximately 98% by choosing the appropriate time frame and by managing investment assets.
Initial leucocytosis and other significant indicators of poor outcome in severe traumatic brain injury: an observational study
Authors: Vijian Kugan , Teo Eu Gene , Kanesen Davendran , Wong Albert Sii Hieng
Published: February 2020

Background

Globally, severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been the principal cause of mortality among individuals aged 45 and below. The incidence of road traffic accidents in Malaysia is one of the highest in the world with thousands of victims sustaining severe disabilities. The aim of this study is to determine the association between leucocytosis and extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOSE) scores as well the relationship of other factors and the outcomes of severe TBI.

Methods

This was a retrospective observational study. A total of 44 consecutive patients who were admitted to Sarawak General Hospital from January 1, 2018, to September 30, 2018, with severe TBI were included. Data were collected from discharge summaries and hospital medical records. Chi-square and t test were used. SPSS was employed.

Results

Of a total of 44 patients with severe TBI, 18 patients (41%) died during the same admission. The mean age of patients was 37.1 years with 93.2% of affected patients being male. 56.9% of patients presented with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 6 and less. A large percentage (86.3%) were discharged with a GOSE of less than 7. Older age and low admission GCS (6 and less) were significantly associated with poor GOSE scores on discharge and after 6 months (p < 0.05) on multivariate analysis. Leucocytosis on admission was also associated with poor outcomes where patients with higher total white counts on presentation attaining lower GOSE scores (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

We concluded that leucocytosis was significantly associated with poor outcomes in severe TBI patients in addition to other factors such as advanced age and poor GCS on arrival.
Factors associated with utilization of adolescent-friendly services in Bhaktapur district, Nepal
Authors: Napit Krishtee , Shrestha Khadga Bahadur , Magar Sudip Ale , Paudel Rashmi , Thapa Barsha , Dhakal Bhup Raj , Amatya Archana
Published: February 2020

Background

The status of adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in Nepal is alarming. Adolescent-friendly services (AFS) were introduced to cater the health needs of adolescents. Optimal utilization of the services with wider accessibility is required to prevent adolescents from adopting life-threatening behaviors that result in poor SRH-related outcomes. Despite the upgrading of health facilities to adolescent-friendly sites, studies reveal low utilization of the service. However, these studies failed to explore the factors influencing the low levels of service utilization in these adolescent-friendly facilities. This study quantified the utilization of AFS and identified factors associated with its utilization among adolescents of Bhaktapur district.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of 362 systematic randomly selected adolescents from four village development committees of Bhaktapur district was conducted, using a self-administered questionnaire. Relationships between utilization of AFS and associated factors were determined by multivariate logistic regression at a level of significance with a p value of less than 0.05 and adjusted odds ratio. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions with adolescents were used to collect qualitative data which were then described using thematic analysis.

Result

About a quarter (24.7%) of the respondents had utilized the adolescent-friendly services. Factors positively associated with the utilization of services included adolescents aged 15-19 years, female, heard about AFS, lack of fear of being seen while getting SRH services, lack of shyness about receiving SRH services, and the perceived need for SRH services as soon as illness became apparent. The qualitative findings revealed lack of awareness about the services, socio-cultural barriers, confidentiality, feasible service hours, and the preference for of same-sex service providers as the factors affecting utilization.

Conclusion

The utilization of adolescent-friendly services was very low in Bhaktapur district. Most of the adolescents were unaware of the existence of the AFS which emphasizes the need to focus on the increasing awareness of SRH and AFS by the government in coordination with local schools, clubs, etc. Creating an enabling environment in the service delivery sites, and ensuring privacy and confidentiality, as well as ensuring same-sex service providers and feasible service hours to adolescents, could increase the service utilization.
A substrate for modular, extensible data-visualization
Authors: Matelsky Jordan K. , Downs Joseph , Cowley Hannah P. , Wester Brock , Gray-Roncal William
Published: February 2020

Background

As the scope of scientific questions increase and datasets grow larger, the visualization of relevant information correspondingly becomes more difficult and complex. Sharing visualizations amongst collaborators and with the public can be especially onerous, as it is challenging to reconcile software dependencies, data formats, and specific user needs in an easily accessible package.

Results

We present , a data-visualization framework designed to simplify communication and code reuse across diverse research teams. Our platform provides a simple, powerful, browser-based interface for scientists to rapidly build effective three-dimensional scenes and visualizations. We aim to reduce the limitations of existing systems, which commonly prescribe a limited set of high-level components, that are rarely optimized for arbitrarily large data visualization or for custom data types.

Conclusions

To further engage the broader scientific community and enable seamless integration with existing scientific workflows, we also present , a Python library that bridges the use of with the ubiquitous scientific computing platform,Jupyter. Our intention is to lower the activation energy required to transition between exploratory data analysis, data visualization, and publication-quality interactive scenes.
The performance of consumer-grade near infrared spectrometer in traditional Chinese medicine
Authors: Lin Zhaozhou , Zhuang Zhihong , Luo Chongnian , Zhang Jiayu , Gu Hao
Published: February 2020

Technical advances in instrument manufacturing have promoted the miniaturization and cost reduction of portable NIR spectrometers. The price of a device is now affordable to ordinary consumers, which might promotes the application of NIRS in real scenarios. Generally, the portable spectrometers have a lower spectral resolution and a narrower spectral region compared with the benchtop ones. Whether the consumer grade portable spectrometers is good enough for basic analysis in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) remains unclear. Two real world applications were introduced in this work to evaluate the capability of consumer grade spectrometers solving complex problems. Spectra collected on bark samples were used to test the qualitative performance of the spectrometer. The result showed that the cross validation error of the hierarchical FDA (Fisher Discrimination Analysis) models was at most 0.0769. For the quantitative analysis, spectra of pharmaceutical powder were used to train a model to predict the moisture of new individual sample. The RPD (the Ratio of Performance to Deviation) value of the moisture model was 6.83. These results demonstrated the usability of the models built on NIRS data measured by consumer grade spectrometer.
Implications of microRNA in kidney metabolic disorders
Authors: Zhou Yang , Yang Junwei
Published: February 2020

The kidney requires large amount of energy to regulate the balance of fluid, electrolytes and acid-base homeostasis. Mitochondria provide indispensible energy to drive these functions. Diverse energy sources such as fatty acid and glucose are fueled for ATP production at different renal sites controlled by a fine-tuned regulation mechanism. microRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various kidney diseases. Recent studies have highlighted their contributions to metabolic abnormalities. Characterization of the miRNAs in renal metabolic disorders may promote a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of these diseases and potentially serve as therapeutic targets.
Cyber violence pattern and related factors: online survey of females in Egypt
Authors: Hassan Fatma Mohamed , Khalifa Fatma Nada , El Desouky Eman D. , Salem Marwa Rashad , Ali Mona Mohamed
Published: February 2020

Background and objectives

Cyber violence against women and girls is an emerging worldwide problem with a grave impact on individuals and societies. This study aimed to assess the problem of cyber violence against women among the Egyptian population.

Methods

A convenience sampling method was used to recruit a total of 356 females. A self-completion questionnaire was distributed through one of the social media applications.

Results

About 41.6% of the participants experienced cyber violence during the last year, and 45.3% of them reported multiple times of exposure. Social media was the most common way of exposure, and the offenders were unknown for 92.6% of the victims. The most commonly reported forms included 41.2% receiving images or symbols with sexual content, 26.4% receiving insulting e-mails or messages, 25.7% receiving offensive or humiliating posts or comments, 21.6% receiving indecent or violent images that demean women, and 20.3% receiving infected files through e-mails. The majority of the victims (76.9%) experienced psychological effects in the form of anger, worry, and fear; 13.6 % social effects; 4.1% exposed to physical harm; and 2.0% reported financial losses. Blocking the offender was the most common victims’ response.

Conclusion

Females in the Egyptian population are highly exposed to cyber violence, so implementation of anti-cyber violence program is essential to counteract this phenomenon.
Mind the gap- open communication protocols for vehicle grid integration
Authors: Neaimeh Myriam , Andersen Peter Bach
Published: February 2020

Mass adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and their associated charging requirements introduce new electricity demand, which needs to be managed to minimise electricity grid upgrades. Management of BEV charging requires coordination and communication between various mobility and energy entities. Communication protocols provide a set of rules and guidelines to facilitate the communication and data exchange between two or more entities to ensure successful charging demand management and electricity grid integration of BEVs. A key challenge is that companies are currently developing and implementing several proprietary protocols to manage BEV charging, which could risk losing or vastly under-utilising BEV charging demand flexibility, and consequently hindering proper grid integration. This work presents the status quo on communication protocols and standards for vehicle grid integration and it is targeted for industries and governments. The objectives of the work are to review current protocols, present some of the advantages of open protocols, identify challenges and additional efforts required to develop, implement, and standardise these protocols to ensure that charging infrastructure for electric vehicles is synergistic with the operation of the electricity system.
Utilization of grafting technique for sustaining cantaloupe productivity and quality under deficit irrigation water
Authors: Ezzo M. I. , Mohamed Ahmed S. , Glala Ahmed A. , Saleh Said A.
Published: February 2020

Background

Water use efficiency (WUE) is becoming a decisive factor for agricultural expansion to face water shortage. To meet the needs of high population density in Egypt, we have to use modern irrigation systems and new cultivation technologies. The current study is aiming to apply grafting technique for ameliorating the impact of deficit water on cantaloupe productivity and fruit quality. Two commercial cultivars (IdealandVeleta) were grafted on two rootstocks (Cobalt and Strong-Tosa) and self-grafting. The seedlings were treated with three different irrigation levels: 100, 75, and 50% of Class A pan Evapotranspiration (ETc).

Results

The results showed that moderate irrigation level (75% ETc) increased the early yield, fruits number, by 15.3 and 17.4%, respectively, compared to control irrigation treatment (100% ETc). No significant variation was found concerning total yield between 100 and 75% ETc, so this led to an increase in WUE of moderate irrigation level (75% ETc) by 34.3%, compared to control irrigation treatment (100% ETc). Increasing deficit levels up to 50% ETc reduced the total yield by 47.4%, but it increased the WUE by 8.8%, compared to the non-deficit irrigation level (100% ETc). Meanwhile, grafting both cultivars on Cobalt rootstock improved the fruit number, total yield, and WUE by 39.2%, 26.9%, and 24.1%, respectively when irrigated with the moderate irrigation level (75% ETc), as compared to the non-grafted plants which recorded the highest decrease when irrigated with deficit irrigation level (50% ETc).

Conclusion

Finally, the combination treatments of Ideal/Strong-Tosa, Veleta/Cobalt, or Ideal/Cobalt irrigated with moderate irrigation level (75% ETc) increased the WUE by 97.3, 83.4, and 65%, respectively, compared to the control treatment (non-grafted plants of the same cv. at 100% ETc) and recorded higher flesh thickness, TSS and firmness.
Hybrid image of three contents
Authors: Sripian Peeraya , Yamaguchi Yasushi
Published: February 2020

A hybrid image allows multiple image interpretations to be modulated by the viewing distance. Originally, it can be constructed by combining the low and high spatial frequencies of two different images. The original hybrid image synthesis was limited to similar shapes of source images that were aligned in the edges, e.g., faces with a different expression, to produce an effective double image interpretation. In our previous work, we proposed a noise-inserted method for synthesizing a hybrid image from dissimilar shape images or unaligned images. In this work, we propose a novel method for adding an image to be seen from a middle viewing distance. The middle-frequency (MF) image is extracted by a special bandpass filter, which generates ringing while extracting only specified frequency bands. With this method, the middle frequency should be perceived as a meaningless pattern when viewed from a far distance and close up. A parameter tuning experiment was performed to determine the suitable cutoff frequencies for designing the filter for the MF image. We found that ringings of a suitable size could be used to make the middle frequency less noticeable when seen from far away.