bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Platinum-Based Prodrug Candidate for Chemotherapy and Its Synergistic Effect With Hadrontherapy: Novel Strategy to Treat Glioblastoma
Authors: Ferrari Beatrice , Roda Elisa , Priori Erica Cecilia , De Luca Fabrizio , Facoetti Angelica , Ravera Mauro , Brandalise Federico , Locatelli Carlo Alessandro , Rossi Paola , Bottone Maria Grazia
Published: March 2021

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common tumor of the central nervous system. Current therapies, often associated with severe side effects, are inefficacious to contrast the GBM relapsing forms. In trying to overcome these drawbacks, (OC-6-44)-acetatodiamminedichlorido(2-(2-propynyl)octanoato)platinum(IV), also called Pt(IV)Ac-POA, has been recently synthesized. This new prodrug bearing as axial ligand (2-propynyl)octanoic acid (POA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, has a higher activity due to (i) its high cellular accumulation by virtue of its high lipophilicity and (ii) the inhibition of histone deacetylase, which leads to the increased exposure of nuclear DNA, permitting higher platination and promoting cancer cell death. In the present study, we investigated the effects induced by Pt(IV)Ac-POA and its potential antitumor activity in human U251 glioblastoma cell line using a battery of complementary techniques, i.e., flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, TEM, and Western blotting analyses. In addition, the synergistic effect of Pt(IV)Ac-POA associated with the innovative oncological hadrontherapy with carbon ions was investigated, with the aim to identify the most efficient anticancer treatment combination. Our in vitro data demonstrated that Pt(IV)Ac-POA is able to induce cell death, through different pathways, at concentrations lower than those tested for other platinum analogs. In particular, an enduring Pt(IV)Ac-POA antitumor effect, persisting in long-term treatment, was demonstrated. Interestingly, this effect was further amplified by the combined exposure to carbon ion radiation. In conclusion, Pt(IV)Ac-POA represents a promising prodrug to be incorporated into the treatment regimen for GBM. Moreover, the synergistic efficacy of the combined protocol using chemotherapeutic Pt(IV)Ac-POA followed by carbon ion radiation may represent a promising approach, which may overcome some typical limitations of conventional therapeutic protocols for GBM treatment.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging Group Analysis Using Tract Profiling and Directional Statistics
Authors: Metin Mehmet Özer , Gökçay Didem
Published: March 2021

Group analysis in diffusion tensor imaging is challenging. Comparisons of tensor morphology across groups have typically been performed on scalar measures of diffusivity, such as fractional anisotropy (FA), disregarding the complex three-dimensional morphologies of diffusion tensors. Scalar measures consider only the magnitude of the diffusion but not directions. In the present study, we have introduced a new approach based on directional statistics to use directional information of diffusion tensors in statistical group analysis based on Bingham distribution. We have investigated different directional statistical models to find the best fit. During the experiments, we confirmed that carrying out directional statistical analysis along the tract is much more effective than voxel- or skeleton-guided directional statistics. Hence, we propose a new method called tract profiling and directional statistics (TPDS) applicable to fiber bundles. As a case study, the method has been applied to identify connectivity differences of patients with major depressive disorder. The results obtained with the directional statistic-based analysis are consistent with those of NBS, but additionally, we found significant changes in the right hemisphere striatum, ACC, and prefrontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital connections as well as left hemispheric differences in the limbic areas such as the thalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus. The results are also evaluated with respect to fiber lengths. Comparison with the output of the network-based statistical toolbox indicated that the benefit of the proposed method becomes much more distinctive as the tract length increases. The likelihood of finding clusters of voxels that differ in long tracts is higher in TPDS, while that relationship is not clearly established in NBS.
Are They Calling My Name? Attention Capture Is Reflected in the Neural Tracking of Attended and Ignored Speech
Authors: Holtze Björn , Jaeger Manuela , Debener Stefan , Adiloğlu Kamil , Mirkovic Bojana
Published: March 2021

Difficulties in selectively attending to one among several speakers have mainly been associated with the distraction caused by ignored speech. Thus, in the current study, we investigated the neural processing of ignored speech in a two-competing-speaker paradigm. For this, we recorded the participant’s brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG) to track the neural representation of the attended and ignored speech envelope. To provoke distraction, we occasionally embedded the participant’s first name in the ignored speech stream. Retrospective reports as well as the presence of a P3 component in response to the name indicate that participants noticed the occurrence of their name. As predicted, the neural representation of the ignored speech envelope increased after the name was presented therein, suggesting that the name had attracted the participant’s attention. Interestingly, in contrast to our hypothesis, the neural tracking of the attended speech envelope also increased after the name occurrence. On this account, we conclude that the name might not have primarily distracted the participants, at most for a brief duration, but that it alerted them to focus to their actual task. These observations remained robust even when the sound intensity of the ignored speech stream, and thus the sound intensity of the name, was attenuated.
A Novel Unit-Based Personalized Fingerprint Feature Selection Strategy for Dynamic Functional Connectivity Networks
Authors: Zhao Feng , Chen Zhiyuan , Rekik Islem , Liu Peiqiang , Mao Ning , Lee Seong-Whan , Shen Dinggang
Published: March 2021

The sliding-window-based dynamic functional connectivity networks (SW-D-FCN) derive from resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging has become an increasingly useful tool in the diagnosis of various neurodegenerative diseases. However, it is still challenging to learn how to extract and select the most discriminative features from SW-D-FCN. Conventionally, existing methods opt to select a single discriminative feature set or concatenate a few more from the SW-D-FCN. However, such reductionist strategies may fail to fully capture the personalized discriminative characteristics contained in each functional connectivity (FC) sequence of the SW-D-FCN. To address this issue, we propose a unit-based personalized fingerprint feature selection (UPFFS) strategy to better capture the most discriminative feature associated with a target disease for each unit. Specifically, we regard the FC sequence between any pair of brain regions of interest (ROIs) is regarded as a unit. For each unit, the most discriminative feature is identified by a specific feature evaluation method and all the most discriminative features are then concatenated together as a feature set for the subsequent classification task. In such a way, the personalized fingerprint feature derived from each FC sequence can be fully mined and utilized in classification decision. To illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy, we conduct experiments to distinguish subjects diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder from normal controls. Experimental results show that the proposed strategy can select relevant discriminative features and achieve superior performance to benchmark methods.
Association of MUC19 Mutation With Clinical Benefits of Anti-PD-1 Inhibitors in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Zhou Li , Huang Litang , Xu Qiuli , Lv Yanling , Wang Zimu , Zhan Ping , Han Hedong , Shao Yang , Lin Dang , Lv Tangfeng , Song Yong
Published: March 2021

Although anti-PD-1 inhibitors exhibit impressive clinical results in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases, a substantial percentage of patients do not respond to this treatment. Moreover, the current recommended biomarkers are not perfect. Therefore, it is essential to discover novel molecular determinants of responses to anti-PD-1 inhibitors. We performed Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) in a cohort of 33 Chinese NSCLC patients. Patients were classified into the durable clinical benefit (DCB) and no durable benefit (NDB) groups. Infiltrating CD8+ cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) were investigated by immunohistochemistry. We also used public datasets to validate our results. In our cohort, good clinical responses to anti-PD-1 inhibitors were more pronounced in younger patients with lower Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scores and only extra-pulmonary metastasis. More importantly, we identified a novel MUC19 mutation, which was significantly enriched in DCB patients (P = 0.015), and MUC19-mutated patients had a longer progression-free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio = 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–0.9; P = 0.026). Immunohistochemistry results indicated that the MUC19 mutation was associated with increased infiltration by CD8+ T cells in the TME (P = 0.0313). When combining MUC19 mutation with ECOG scores and intra-pulmonary metastasis status, patients with more positive predictors had longer PFS (P = 0.003). Furthermore, MUC19 mutation was involved in immune responses and associated with a longer PFS in the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) cohort. Collectively, we identified that MUC19 mutations were involved in immune responses, and NSCLC tumors harboring mutated MUC19 exhibited good responses to anti-PD-1 inhibitors.
miR-135a Reduces Osteosarcoma Pulmonary Metastasis by Targeting Both BMI1 and KLF4
Authors: Chen Chenglong , Mao Xingjia , Cheng Caitong , Jiao Yurui , Zhou Yi , Ren Tingting , Wu Zhuangzhuang , Lv Zhi , Sun Xiaojuan , Guo Wei
Published: March 2021

Because of the modest response rate after surgery and chemotherapy, treatment of osteosarcoma (OS) remains challenging due to tumor recurrence and metastasis. miR-135a has been reported to act as an anticarcinogenic regulator of several cancers. However, its expression and function in osteosarcoma remain largely unknown. Here, we reported that abridged miR-135a expression in OS cells and tissues, and its expression is inversely correlated with the expression of BMI1 and KLF4, which are described as oncogenes in several cancers. Ectopic expression of miR-135a inhibited cell invasion and expression of BMI1 and KLF4 in OS cells. In vivo investigation confirmed that miR-135a acts as a tumor suppressor in OS to inhibit tumor growth and lung metastasis in xenograft nude mice. BMI1 and KLF4 were revealed to be direct targets of miR-135a, and miR-135a had a similar effect as the combination of si-BMI1 and si-KLF4 on inhibiting tumor progression and the expression of BMI1 and KLF4 in vivo. Altogether, our results demonstrate that the targeting of BMI1/KLF4 with miR-135a may provide an applicable strategy for exploring novel therapeutic approaches for OS.
Detection and Classification of Breast Lesions With Readout-Segmented Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in a Large Chinese Cohort
Authors: Yang Zhen Lu , Hu Yi Qi , Huang Jia , Zhan Chen Ao , Zhou Min Xiong , Zhang Xiao Yong , Zhang Hui Ting , Xia Li Ming , Ai Tao
Published: March 2021

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of readout-segmented echo-planar imaging DWI (rs-EPI DWI) in detecting and characterizing breast cancers in a large Chinese cohort with comparison to dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI).

Methods: The institutional review board approved this retrospective study with waived written informed consent. A total of 520 women (mean age, 43.1- ± 10.5-years) were included from July 2013 to October 2019. First, the ability of rs-EPI DWI in detecting breast lesions identified by DCE-MRI was evaluated. The lesion conspicuity of rs-EPI-DWI and DCE-MRI was compared using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. With pathology as a reference, the performance of rs-EPI DWI and DCE-MRI in distinguishing breast cancers was evaluated and compared using the Chi-square test.

Results: Of 520 women, 327/520 (62.9%) patients had 423 lesions confirmed by pathology with 203 benign and 220 malignant lesions. The rs-EPI DWI can detect 90.8% (659/726) (reader 1) and 90.6% (663/732) (reader 2) of lesions identified by DCE-MRI. The lesion visibility was superior for DCE-MRI than rs-EPI-DWI (all p < 0.05). With pathology as a reference, the sensitivities and specificities of rs-EPI DWI in diagnosing breast cancers were 95.9% (211/220) and 85.7% (174/203) for reader 1 and 97.7% (215/220) and 86.2% (175/203) for reader 2. No significant differences were found for the performance of DCE-MRI and rs-EPI DWI in discriminating breast cancers (all p > 0.05).

Conclusions: Although with an inferior lesion visibility, rs-EPI DWI can detect about 90% of breast lesions identified by DCE-MRI and has comparable diagnostic capacity to that of DCE-MRI in identifying breast cancer.
Exosomes and Their Role in Cancer Progression
Authors: Liu Yang , Shi Ke , Chen Yong , Wu Xianrui , Chen Zheng , Cao Ke , Tao Yongguang , Chen Xiang , Liao Junlin , Zhou Jianda
Published: March 2021

Exosomes from extracellular vesicles can activate or inhibit various signaling pathways by transporting proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and other substances to recipient cells. In addition, exosomes are considered to be involved in the development and progression of tumors from different tissue sources in numerous ways, including remodeling of the tumor microenvironment, promoting angiogenesis, metastasis, and invasion, and regulating the immune escape of tumor cells. However, the precise molecular mechanisms by which exosomes participate in these different processes remains unclear. In this review, we describe the research progress of tumor cell-derived exosomes in cancer progression. We also discuss the prospects of the application of exosomes combined with nanoengineered chemotherapeutic drugs in the treatment of cancer.
A Signature of Nine lncRNA Methylated Genes Predicts Survival in Patients With Glioma
Authors: Cheng Meng , Sun Libo , Huang Kebing , Yue Xiaoyu , Chen Jie , Zhang Zhengwei , Zhao Bing , Bian Erbao
Published: March 2021

Glioma is one of the most common malignant tumors of the central nervous system, and its prognosis is extremely poor. Aberrant methylation of lncRNA promoter region is significantly associated with the prognosis of glioma patients. In this study, we investigated the potential impact of methylation of lncRNA promoter region in glioma patients to establish a signature of nine lncRNA methylated genes for determining glioma patient prognosis. Methylation data and clinical follow-up data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The multistep screening strategy identified nine lncRNA methylated genes that were significantly associated with the overall survival (OS) of glioma patients. Subsequently, we constructed a risk signature that containing nine lncRNA methylated genes. The risk signature successfully divided the glioma patients into high-risk and low-risk groups. Compared with the low-risk group, the high-risk group had a worse prognosis, higher glioma grade, and older age. Furthermore, we identified two lncRNAs termed PCBP1-AS1 and LINC02875 that may be involved in the malignant progression of glioma cells by using the TCGA database. Loss-of-function assays confirmed that knockdown of PCBP1-AS1 and LINC02875 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of glioma cells. Therefore, the nine lncRNA methylated genes signature may provide a novel predictor and therapeutic target for glioma patients.
Molecular Characteristics of Genes and the Immune Microenvironment of a Rare Chest Malignant Tumor (Pulmonary Clear Cell Sarcoma): A Case Report
Authors: Xu Xiaoling , Wang Ding , Wu Wei , Lu Hongyang
Published: March 2021

Pulmonary clear cell sarcoma is a rare malignant tumor that has rarely been reported and is challenging to diagnose, especially when differentiating from malignant melanoma. Currently, EWSR1-ATF1 is the key marker for distinguishing clear cell sarcoma from melanoma, but IHC has diagnostic limitations. We report a patient diagnosed with pulmonary clear cell sarcoma, in which an NGS was used to help with the pathological diagnosis. The exposure to the immune microenvironment in pulmonary clear cell sarcoma suggests that TIGIT-related drugs may be a new and effective treatment for this rare disease. Immune microenvironment-related markers, including PD-L1, CD8, TIM3, LAG3, and CD163, were negatively expressed in pulmonary clear cell sarcoma.
Rhinovirus: A Narrative Review on Its Genetic Characteristics, Pediatric Clinical Presentations, and Pathogenesis
Authors: Bizot Etienne , Bousquet Anais , Charpié Maelle , Coquelin Florence , Lefevre Servane , Le Lorier Justin , Patin Margaux , Sée Perrine , Sarfati Eytan , Walle Servane , Visseaux Benoit , Basmaci Romain
Published: March 2021

Human rhinoviruses (HRVs) are the leading cause of common colds. With the development of new molecular methods since the 2000s, HRVs have been increasingly involved among severe clinical infections. Recent knowledge of the HRV genetic characteristics has also improved the understanding of their pathogenesis. This narrative review aims to provide a current comprehensive knowledge about this virus in the pediatric community. HRVs represent a main cause of upper and lower respiratory tract infections in children. HRV is the second virus involved in bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children, and HRV bronchiolitis has a higher risk of recurrent wheezing episode or asthma. Some recent findings described HRVs in stools, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid, thanks to new molecular techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) by detecting HRVs with high sensibility. However, the high rate of asymptomatic carriage and the prolonged excretion in postsymptomatic patients complicate interpretation. No sufficient data exist to avoid antibiotic therapy in pediatric high-risk population with HRV detection. Severe clinical presentations due to HRVs can be more frequent in specific population with chronic pathology or genetic particularity. Inflammatory response is mediated by the nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B pathway and production of interferon (IFN)-beta and IFN-gamma, interleukin 8 (IL8), and IL1b. No specific treatment or antiviral therapy exists, although research is still ongoing. Nowadays, in addition to benign diseases, HRVs are recognized to be involved in some severe clinical presentations. Recent advances in genetic knowledge or specific inflammatory response may lead to specific treatment.
Spatiotemporal Complexity Mediated by Higher-Order Peregrine-Like Extreme Events
Authors: Coulibaly Saliya , Tiofack Camus G. L. , Clerc Marcel G.
Published: March 2021

The Peregrine soliton is the famous coherent solution of the non-linear Schrödinger equation, which presents many of the characteristics of rogue waves. Usually studied in conservative systems, when dissipative effects of injection and loss of energy are included, these intrigued waves can disappear. If they are preserved, their role in the dynamics is unknown. Here, we consider this solution in the framework of dissipative systems. Using the paradigmatic model of the driven and damped non-linear Schrödinger equation, the profile of a stationary Peregrine-type solution has been found. Hence, the Peregrine soliton waves are persistent in systems outside of the equilibrium. In the weak dissipative limit, analytical description has a good agreement with the numerical simulations. The stability has been studied numerically. The large bursts that emerge from the instability are analyzed by means of the local largest Lyapunov exponent. The observed spatiotemporal complexity is ruled by the unstable second-order Peregrine-type soliton.
Commercial Release of Genetically Modified Crops in Africa: Interface Between Biosafety Regulatory Systems and Varietal Release Systems
Authors: Akinbo Olalekan , Obukosia Silas , Ouedraogo Jeremy , Sinebo Woldeyesus , Savadogo Moussa , Timpo Samuel , Mbabazi Ruth , Maredia Karim , Makinde Diran , Ambali Aggrey
Published: March 2021

African countries face key challenges in the deployment of GM crops due to incongruities in the processes for effective and efficient commercial release while simultaneously ensuring food and environmental safety. Against the backdrop of the preceding scenario, and for the effective and efficient commercial release of GM crops for cultivation by farmers, while simultaneously ensuring food and environmental safety, there is a need for the close collaboration of and the interplay between the biosafety competent authorities and the variety release authorities. The commercial release of genetically modified (GM) crops for cultivation requires the approval of biosafety regulatory packages. The evaluation and approval of lead events fall under the jurisdiction of competent national authorities for biosafety (which may be ministries, autonomous authorities, or agencies). The evaluation of lead events fundamentally comprises a review of environmental, food, and feed safety data as provided for in the Biosafety Acts, implementing regulations, and, in some cases, the involvement of other relevant legal instruments. Although the lead GM event may be commercially released for farmers to cultivate, it is often introgressed into locally adapted and farmer preferred non-GM cultivars that are already released and grown by the farmers. The introduction of new biotechnology products to farmers is a process that includes comprehensive testing in the laboratory, greenhouse, and field over some time. The process provides answers to questions about the safety of the products before being introduced into the environment and marketplace. This is the first step in regulatory approvals. The output of the research and development phase of the product development cycle is the identification of a safe and best performing event for advancement to regulatory testing, likely commercialization, and general release. The process of the commercial release of new crop varieties in countries with established formal seed systems is guided by well-defined procedures and approval systems and regulated by the Seed Acts and implemented regulations. In countries with seed laws, no crop varieties are approved for commercial cultivation prior to the fulfillment of the national performance trials and the distinctness, uniformity, and stability tests, as well as prior to the approval by the National Variety Release Committee. This review outlines key challenges faced by African countries in the deployment of GM crops and cites lessons learned as well as best practices from countries that have successfully commercialized genetically engineered crops.
Disentangling Environmental Effects on the Tree Species Abundance Distribution and Richness in a Subtropical Forest
Authors: Feng Guang , Huang Jihong , Xu Yue , Li Junqing , Zang Runguo
Published: March 2021

As a transitional vegetation type between evergreen broadleaved forest and deciduous broadleaved forest, evergreen-deciduous broadleaved mixed forest is composed of diverse plant species. This distinctive forest is generally distributed in mountainous areas with complex landforms and heterogeneous microenvironments. However, little is known about the roles of environmental conditions in driving the species diversity patterns of this forest. Here, based on a 15-ha plot in central China, we aimed to understand how and to what extent topographical characteristics and soil nutrients regulate the number and relative abundance of tree species in this forest. We measured environmental factors (terrain convexity, slope, soil total nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations) and species diversity (species abundance distribution and species richness) in 20 m × 20 m subplots. Species abundance distribution was characterized by skewness, Berger–Parker index, and the proportion of singletons. The generalized additive model was used to examine the variations in diversity patterns caused by environmental factors. The structural equation model was used to assess whether and how topographical characteristics regulate species diversity via soil nutrients. We found that soil nutrients had significant negative effects on species richness and positive effects on all metrics of species abundance distribution. Convexity had significant positive effects on species richness and negative effects on all metrics of species abundance distribution, but these effects were mostly mediated by soil nutrients. Slope had significant negative effects on skewness and the Berger–Parker index, and these effects were almost independent of soil nutrients. Soil nutrients and topographical characteristics together accounted for 9.5–17.1% of variations in diversity patterns and, respectively, accounted for 8.9–13.9% and 3.3–10.7% of the variations. We concluded that soil nutrients were more important than topographical factors in regulating species diversity. Increased soil nutrient concentration led to decreased taxonomic diversity and increased species dominance and rarity. Convexity could be a better proxy for soil nutrients than slope. Moreover, these abiotic factors played limited roles in regulating diversity patterns, and it is possible that the observed patterns are also driven by some biotic and abiotic factors not considered here.
Functional Role of Long-Chain Acyl-CoA Synthetases in Plant Development and Stress Responses
Authors: Zhao Huayan , Kosma Dylan K. , Lü Shiyou
Published: March 2021

Fatty acids (FAs) play vital roles in plants as components of lipid membranes that demarcate cells and organelles, as sources of stored energy in the form of neutral lipids, and as signaling molecules that elicit plant responses to adverse conditions. The activation of FAs through the formation of acyl-CoA intermediates by acyl-CoA synthetase (ACS) family enzymes is required for their synthesis and degradation. Long-chain ACSs (LACSs) represent a small subgroup of ACS enzymes that specifically convert long-chain or very-long-chain FAs into corresponding thioesters for multiple lipid-associated processes. Alteration of LACS activity often results in pleiotropic phenotypes such as male sterility, organ fusion, aberrant cuticular structure, delayed seed germination, altered seed oil content, and plant capacity to respond to various environmental stresses. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of LACS family enzymes including substrate specificity, tissue-specific expression patterns, and distinct subcellular localization highlighting their specific roles in lipid synthesis and degradation, the effects of altered LACS activity on plant development, the relationship between LACS activity and stress resistance, and the regulation of LACS activity. Finally, we pose several major questions to be addressed, which would advance our current understanding of LACS function in plants.
Message Framing Effects on Individuals' Social Distancing and Helping Behavior During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Ceylan Melis , Hayran Ceren
Published: March 2021

This research responds to urgent calls to fill knowledge gaps on COVID-19 (new coronavirus) in communicating social distancing messages to the public in the most convincing ways. The authors explore the effectiveness of framing social distancing messages around prosocial vs. self-interested appeals in driving message compliance and helping behavior. The results show that when a message emphasizes benefits for everyone in society, rather than solely for the individual, citizens find the message more persuasive to engage in social distancing, and also more motivating to help others. The results further demonstrate that the proposed effects are higher for individuals who have a lower locus of control and lower fear of coronavirus as prosocial messages lead them to feel a joint responsibility in protecting from the pandemic. Theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.
High-Minority Nursing Homes Disproportionately Affected by COVID-19 Deaths
Authors: Weech-Maldonado Robert , Lord Justin , Davlyatov Ganisher , Ghiasi Akbar , Orewa Gregory
Published: March 2021

Racial/ethnic disparities in healthcare have been highlighted by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Nursing Home COVID-19 Public File, this study examined the relationship between nursing home racial/ethnic mix and COVID-19 resident mortality. As of October 25, 2020, high minority nursing homes reported 6.5 COVID-19 deaths as compared to 2.6 deaths for nursing homes that had no racial/ethnic minorities. After controlling for interstate differences, facility-level resident characteristics, resource availability, and organizational characteristics, high-minority nursing homes had 61% more COVID-19 deaths [Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) = 1.61; p < 0.001] as compared to nursing facilities with no minorities. From a policy perspective, nursing homes, that serve primarily minority populations, may need additional resources, such as, funding for staffing and personal protective equipment in the face of the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has sharpened the focus on healthcare disparities and societal inequalities in the delivery of long-term care.
Surviving the Pandemic: Remote Working in the Maltese Public Service During the Covid-19 Outbreak
Authors: Bezzina Frank , Cassar Vincent , Marmara Vincent , Said Emanuel
Published: March 2021

This study examines how human resources in the Maltese Public Service adopt new work practices in response to COVID-19 public health measures during the first wave of the pandemic. We analyze the data we collected through seven focus group discussions and ten in-depth interviews with Public Service employees and managers in a diversity of ministries and roles. Our study reveals that Public Service policies promoting remote working relied exclusively on the service's IT infrastructure. However, the ability to respond to customer needs effectively in a time of surging demand relied entirely on effective employees' access to responsive and efficient ICT support as well as employees' prior experience with remote work modes and their predisposition to change to remote working. Adopting remote working modes uncovered inherent weaknesses in the Public Service IT infrastructure that put additional strain on the Government's centralized IT support function, especially when Public Service employees adopted tools not supported by the centralized IT support. In circumstances where centralized IT support was ineffective, Public Service employees relied on their own knowledge resources which they informally shared in groups of practice or employed operant resources (or tacit knowledge) to achieve service level objectives. These observations suggest that in times when organizations respond to immediate and unprecedented change, human resources seek to adapt by relying on tacit knowledge that is shared among people in known (often informal) groups of people with a common interest or role.
Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence in the Earth’s Magnetotail From Observations and Global MHD Simulations
Authors: El-Alaoui Mostafa , Walker Raymond J. , Weygand James M. , Lapenta Giovanni , Goldstein Melvyn L.
Published: March 2021

Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulent flows are found in the solar wind, the magnetosheath and the magnetotail plasma sheet. In this paper, we review both observational and theoretical evidence for turbulent flow in the magnetotail. MHD simulations of the global magnetosphere for southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) exhibit nested vortices in the earthward outflow from magnetic reconnection that are consistent with turbulence. Similar simulations for northward IMF also exhibit enhanced vorticity consistent with turbulence. These result from Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) instabilities. However, the turbulent flows association with reconnection fill much of the magnetotail while the turbulent flows associated with the KH instability are limited to a smaller region near the magnetopause. Analyzing turbulent flows in the magnetotail is difficult because of the limited extent of the tail and because the flows there are usually sub-magnetosonic. Observational analysis of turbulent flows in the magnetotail usually assume that the Taylor frozen-in-flow hypothesis is valid and compare power spectral density vs. frequency with spectral indices derived for fluid turbulence by Kolmogorov in 1941. Global simulations carried out for actual magnetospheric substorms in the tail enable the results of the simulations to be compared directly with observed power spectra. The agreement between the two techniques provides confidence that the plasma sheet plasma is actually turbulent. The MHD results also allow us to calculate the power vs. wave number; results that also support the idea that the tail is turbulent.
Case Report: Compromised Airway Following Anesthesia and Its Correlation With the Use of ACE Inhibitors—An Unexpected Clinical Event and Review of Literature
Authors: Mohanty Sanjeev , Bangaari Ashish , Gnanasekaran Kumaran
Published: March 2021

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors associated angioedema involving the upper aerodigestive tract is indisputably a hazardous airway condition which is clinically poorly recognized and frequently underestimated. We describe and present case of a 70-year old man on ramipril who developed massive tongue swelling post-operatively after unremarkable laryngeal mask anaesthesia which was fortuitously managed conservatively. High index of suspicion, timely recognition and knowledge of pathophysiology and the clinical course should guide airway and further supportive management in these patients.
The Use of the Generalized Linear Model to Assess the Speed and Uniformity of Germination of Corn and Soybean Seeds
Authors: Jardim Amorim Deoclecio , Pereira dos Santos Amanda Rithieli , Nunes da Piedade Gabriela , Quelvia de Faria Rute , Amaral da Silva Edvaldo Aparecido , Pereira Sartori Maria Márcia
Published: March 2021

The use of seeds with high physiological quality allows rapid growth and establishment of seedlings in the field to be obtained. Therefore, the accuracy of the information obtained during the determination of the physiological quality of seeds is of great importance. The objective was to use generalized linear models, investigating which link function (Probit, Logit and Complementary log-log) is suitable to predict T50 and uniformity during germination of soybean and corn seeds. To perform the experiments, we used seeds from five commercial hybrids and/or cultivars of corn and soybean. The germination speed was calculated by counting the germinated seeds and the results were expressed in the form of proportions. Germination uniformity was calculated by the difference in the times required for germination. The best model was selected according to the criteria of the test of Deviance, AIC and BIC. The Logit model showed accurate results for most cultivars. The evaluation of germination in the form of proportions considering the assumption of binomial response is satisfactory, and the choice of the link function is dependent on the characteristics of each lot and/or species evaluated. The use of this methodology makes it possible to estimate any germination time and uniformity.
Designing a Cleavable Cell Surface Protein for Cytotherapy and Drug Delivery Applications
Authors: Basel Matthew T. , Shrestha Tej B. , Pyle Marla , Nguyen Tuyen Duong Thanh , Aryal Santosh , Troyer Deryl L. , Bossmann Stefan H.
Published: March 2021

Many cytotherapy applications focus on delivering a therapeutic molecule or nanoparticle to a disease site. One challenging step in this delivery is releasing the therapeutic molecule from the delivery cell upon arrival at the delivery sight. Here a protein is designed and expressed that can bind a biotin-labeled cargo and release that cargo in response to the presence of urokinase plasminogen activator. A gene was designed that coded for a protein that contained a streptavidin domain for binding biotin-labeled cargo, a urokinase cleavage domain for release by urokinase plasminogen activator, and a PLAP domain for cell-surface expression. The utility of the resultant protein was tested with biotin (5-fluorescein) and a biotinylated PLGA nanoparticle to test the performance of the delivery systems with models for small molecule drugs and nanoformulations. When expressed in neural progenitor cells (C17.2), the designed protein was able to bind both the biotin (5-fluorescein) and the biotinylated PLGA nanoparticles and was able to release the biotin (5-fluorescein) in response to urokinase plasminogen activator. This designed, multi-domain protein may prove useful as a method for specifically releasing a cargo from delivery cells at a target site.
Experimental Study on Physical and Rheological Properties of Trinidad Lake Asphalt Modified Binder
Authors: Kołodziej Krzysztof , Bichajło Lesław , Siwowski Tomasz
Published: March 2021

Mastic asphalt (MA) has been recognized as one of the most deformation-resistant and thus durable materials for bridge pavement. The performance properties of MA are highly dependent on the physical and rheological properties of the binder applied in the MA mixture. To modify the binder properties to obtain the expected performance of the MA mixture, Trinidad Lake Asphalt (TLA) is often applied. In this study, the TLA-modified binders to be used in mastic asphalt bridge pavement systems were evaluated to develop the optimum material combination using conventional and performance-related testing. Physical and rheological tests were carried out on TLA-modified binders with the different modifier content in the range of 10–50% on a weight basis. The tests revealed that the TLA modifier addition to the 35/50 base bitumen should be close to the value of 20%. Higher concentrations of TLA may make the binder very stiff and could induce low-temperature cracks in mastic asphalt.
Design and Implementation Scheme of QSFP28 Optical Transceiver for Long-Reach Transmission Using PAM4 Modulation
Authors: Kim Jae-Woo , Kim Dong-Seong , Kim Seung-Hwan , Shin Sang-Moon
Published: March 2021

A quad, small form-factor pluggable 28 Gbps optical transceiver design scheme is proposed. It is capable of transmitting 50 Gbps of data up to a distance of 40 km using modulation signals with a level-four pulse-amplitude. The proposed scheme is designed using a combination of electro-absorption-modulated lasers, transmitter optical sub-assembly, low-cost positive-intrinsic-native photodiodes, and receiver optical sub-assembly to achieve standard performance and low cost. Moreover, the hardware and firmware design schemes to implement the optical transceiver are presented. The results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed scheme and the performance of the manufactured optical transceiver, thereby confirming its applicability to real industrial sites.
Model-Driven Approach of Virtual Interactive Environments for Enhanced User Experience
Authors: Cardona-Reyes Héctor , Muñoz-Arteaga Jaime , Mitre-Ortiz Andres , Villalba-Condori Klinge Orlando
Published: March 2021

The video game and entertainment industry has been growing in recent years, particularly those related to Virtual Reality (VR). Therefore, video game creators are looking for ways to offer and improve realism in their applications in order to improve user satisfaction. In this sense, it is of great importance to have strategies to evaluate and improve the gaming experience in a group of people, without considering the fact that users have different preferences and, coupled with this, also seeks to achieve satisfaction in each user. In this work, we present a model to improve the user experience in a personal way through reinforcement learning (RL). Unlike other approaches, the proposed model adjusts parameters of the virtual environment in real-time based on user preferences, rather than physiological data or performance. The model design is based on the Model-Driven Architecture (MDA) approach and consists of three main phases: analysis phase, design phase, and implementation phase. As results, a simulation experiment is presented that shows the transitions between undesired satisfaction states to desired satisfaction states, considering an approach in a personal way.
A Novel Longitudinal Speed Estimator for Four-Wheel Slip in Snowy Conditions
Authors: Zhang Dongmin , Song Qiang , Wang Guanfeng , Liu Chonghao
Published: March 2021

This article proposes a novel longitudinal vehicle speed estimator for snowy roads in extreme conditions (four-wheel slip) based on low-cost wheel speed encoders and a longitudinal acceleration sensor. The tire rotation factor, η, is introduced to reduce the deviation between the rotation tire radius and the manufacturer’s marked tire radius. The Local Vehicle Speed Estimator is defined to eliminate longitudinal vehicle speed estimation error. It improves the tire slip accuracy of four-wheel slip, even with a high slip rate. The final vehicle speed is estimated using two fuzzy control strategies that use vehicle speed estimates from speed encoders and a longitudinal acceleration sensor. Experimental and simulation results confirm the algorithm’s validity for estimating longitudinal vehicle speed for four-wheel slip in snowy road conditions.
Multi-Scale Ensemble Learning for Thermal Image Enhancement
Authors: Ban Yuseok , Lee Kyungjae
Published: March 2021

In this study, we propose a multi-scale ensemble learning method for thermal image enhancement in different image scale conditions based on convolutional neural networks. Incorporating the multiple scales of thermal images has been a tricky task so that methods have been individually trained and evaluated for each scale. However, this leads to the limitation that a network properly operates on a specific scale. To address this issue, a novel parallel architecture leveraging the confidence maps of multiple scales have been introduced to train a network that operates well in varying scale conditions. The experimental results show that our proposed method outperforms the conventional thermal image enhancement methods. The evaluation is presented both quantitatively and qualitatively.
The Effect of Cement Aging on the Stability of a Cement-in-Cement Revision Construct
Authors: Schonhoff Mareike , Bormann Therese , Knappe Kevin , Reiner Tobias , Stange Linda , Jaeger Sebastian
Published: March 2021

A revision surgery can be a complicated procedure. The prevention of the removal of a well-integrated cement mantle can minimize intraoperative complications. With the cement-in-cement technique, the implant will be fixated with a layer of bone cement onto the remaining cement mantle. In our experimental in vitro study, we investigated the effect of cement aging of a cement-in-cement revision construct and regular cement mantle on the bending strength. Two different types of bone cement were tested at four different stages of aging. The Palacos cement showed no significant difference in bending strength at any aging point, regardless of whether it was used primarily or as a cement-in-cement revision. In contrast, the SmartSet MV cement showed a significant difference between the primary and cement-in-cement applications depending on cement aging time. The comparison of the two cement-in-cement structures investigated showed significant differences between the manufacturers depending on the cement aging.
A High-Lift Optimization Methodology for the Design of Leading and Trailing Edges on Morphing Wings
Authors: Themistokleous Charalampos , Markatos Nikolaos-Grigorios , Prospathopoulos John , Riziotis Vasilis , Sieros Giorgos , Papadakis George
Published: March 2021

Morphing offers an attractive alternative compared to conventional hinged, multi-element high lift devices. In the present work, morphed shapes of a NACA 64A010 airfoil are optimized for maximum lift characteristics. Deformed shapes of the leading and trailing edge are represented through Bezier curves derived from locally defined control points. The optimization process employs the fast Foil2w in-house viscous-inviscid interaction solver for the calculation of aerodynamic characteristics. Transitional flow results indicate that combined leading and trailing edge morphing may increase maximum lift in the order of 100%. A 60–80% increase is achieved when morphing is applied to leading edge only—the so-called droop nose—while a 45% increase is obtained with trailing edge morphing. Out of the stochastic optimization algorithms tested, the Genetic Algorithm, the Evolution Strategies, and the Particle Swarm Optimizer, the latter performs best. It produces the designs of maximum lift increase with the lowest computational cost. For the optimum morphed designs, verification simulations using the high fidelity MaPFlow CFD solver ensure that the high lift requirements set by the optimization process are met. Although the deformed droop nose increases drag, the aerodynamic performance is improved ensuring the overall effectiveness of the airfoil design during take-off and landing.
Identification of Statin’s Action in a Small Cohort of Patients with Major Depression
Authors: Thakkar Ishani , Massardo Teresa , Pereira Jaime , Quintana Juan Carlos , Risco Luis , Saez Claudia G. , Corral Sebastián , Villa Carolina , Spuler Jane , Olivares Nixa , Valenzuela Guillermo , Castro Gabriel , Riedel Byron , Vicentini Daniel , Muñoz Diego , Lastra Raúl , Rodriguez-Fernandez Maria
Published: March 2021

Statins are widely used as an effective therapy for ischemic vascular disorders and employed for primary and secondary prevention in cardiac and cerebrovascular diseases. Their hemostatic mechanism has also been shown to induce changes in cerebral blood flow that may result in neurocognitive improvement in subjects with Major Depressive Disorder. Behavioral data, various blood tests, and resting-state brain perfusion data were obtained at the start of this study and three months post-therapy from a small cohort of participants diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder. Subjects received either rosuvastatin (10 mg) or placebo with their standard selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors therapy. At the end of the study, patients using rosuvastatin reported more positive mood changes than placebo users. However, standard statistical tests revealed no significant differences in any non-behavioral variables before and after the study. In contrast, feature selection techniques allowed identifying a small set of variables that may be affected by statin use and contribute to mood improvement. Classification models built to assess the distinguishability between the two groups showed an accuracy higher than 85% using only five selected features: two peripheral platelet activation markers, perfusion abnormality in the left inferior temporal gyrus, Attention Switching Task Reaction latency, and serum phosphorus levels. Thus, using machine learning tools, we could identify factors that may be causing self-reported mood improvement in patients due to statin use, possibly suggesting a regulatory role of statins in the pathogenesis of clinical depression.