bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome-Wide Scan for Five Brain Oscillatory Phenotypes Identifies a New QTL Associated with Theta EEG Band
Authors: Rebelo Miguel Ângelo , Gómez Carlos , Gomes Iva , Poza Jesús , Martins Sandra , Maturana-Candelas Aarón , Ruiz-Gómez Saúl J. , Durães Luis , Sousa Patrícia , Figueruelo Manuel , Rodríguez María , Pita Carmen , Arenas Miguel , Álvarez Luis , Hornero Roberto , Pinto Nádia , Lopes Alexandra M.
Published: November 2020

Brain waves, measured by electroencephalography (EEG), are a powerful tool in the investigation of neurophysiological traits and a noninvasive and cost-effective alternative in the diagnostic of some neurological diseases. In order to identify novel Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) for brain wave relative power (RP), we collected resting state EEG data in five frequency bands (δ, θ, α, β1, and β2) and genome-wide data in a cohort of 105 patients with late onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD), 41 individuals with mild cognitive impairment and 45 controls from Iberia, correcting for disease status. One novel association was found with an interesting candidate for a role in brain wave biology, CLEC16A (C-type lectin domain family 16), with a variant at this locus passing the adjusted genome-wide significance threshold after Bonferroni correction. This finding reinforces the importance of immune regulation in brain function. Additionally, at a significance cutoff value of 5 × 10−6, 18 independent association signals were detected. These signals comprise brain expression Quantitative Loci (eQTLs) in caudate basal ganglia, spinal cord, anterior cingulate cortex and hypothalamus, as well as chromatin interactions in adult and fetal cortex, neural progenitor cells and hippocampus. Moreover, in the set of genes showing signals of association with brain wave RP in our dataset, there is an overrepresentation of loci previously associated with neurological traits and pathologies, evidencing the pleiotropy of the genetic variation modulating brain function.
Experimental Investigation of Novel Corrugated Steel Deck under Construction Load for Composite Slim-Flooring
Authors: John Keerthana , Ashraf Mahmud , Weiss Matthias , Al-Ameri Riyadh
Published: November 2020

Trapezoidal-shaped thin-walled metallic profiled sheets are used in composite floor construction to enable rapid construction and reduce reinforcement and formwork requirements in concrete casting. However, relevant literature reported the early failure of steel sections due to the buckling and shear of existing trapezoidal and re-entrant decking profiles. There are also limitations regarding design rules for composite flooring systems. Current work aims to develop a new type of composite top-hat section for possible use in composite slim-floor construction. Sinusoidal metallic corrugated sheets that are widely used in building construction were utilized and a new bending technique was used to produce deck components, in which transverse corrugations were introduced along the main direction of the corrugated profile. This paper investigates the structural response of these new sections for several loading and support conditions using a pilot experimental scheme. The developed top-hat sections demonstrated considerable resistance to bending as well as buckling through effective stress re-distributions under considered construction stage loading for single span and continuous span conditions. Currently available design equations recommended by Australian Standards for a similar type of corrugated decks were used to predict the design strength and to compare it with those obtained experimentally. It was concluded that the expressions proposed by the code were inadequate for single span loading cases and would require modifications before being applied to the new profile.
Correction: Wang, M., et al. HSP70–eIF4G Interaction Promotes Protein Synthesis and Cell Proliferation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers 2020, 12, 2262
Authors: Wang Meng , Wei Kai , Qian Baifeng , Feiler Svenja , Lemekhova Anastasia , Büchler Markus W. , Hoffmann Katrin
Published: November 2020

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]
Gender Disparities in Epidemiology, Treatment, and Outcome for Head and Neck Cancer in Germany: A Population-Based Long-Term Analysis from 1996 to 2016 of the Thuringian Cancer Registry
Authors: Dittberner Andreas , Friedl Benedikt , Wittig Andrea , Buentzel Jens , Kaftan Holger , Boeger Daniel , Mueller Andreas H. , Schultze-Mosgau Stefan , Schlattmann Peter , Ernst Thomas , Guntinas-Lichius Orlando
Published: November 2020

This study determined with focus on gender disparity whether incidence based on age, tumor characteristics, patterns of care, and survival have changed in a population-based sample of 8288 German patients with head neck cancer (HNC) registered between 1996 and 2016 in Thuringia, a federal state in Germany. The average incidence was 26.13 ± 2.89 for men and 6.23 ± 1.11 per 100,000 population per year for women. The incidence peak for men was reached with 60–64 years (63.61 ± 9.37). Highest incidence in females was reached at ≥85 years (13.93 ± 5.87). Multimodal concepts increased over time (RR = 1.33, CI = 1.26 to 1.40). Median follow-up time was 29.10 months. Overall survival (OS) rate at 5 years was 48.5%. The multivariable analysis showed that male gender (Hazard ratio [HR] = 1.44; CI = 1.32 to 1.58), tumor subsite (worst hypopharyngeal cancer: HR = 1.32; CI = 1.19 to 1.47), and tumor stage (stage IV: HR = 3.40; CI = 3.01 to 3.85) but not the year of diagnosis (HR = 1.00; CI = 0.99 to 1.01) were independent risk factors for worse OS. Gender has an influence on incidence per age group and tumor subsite, and on treatment decision, especially in advanced stage and elderly HNC patients.
Electric Field Based Therapies in Cancer Treatment
Authors: Rols Marie-Pierre , Golzio Muriel , Kolosnjaj-Tabi Jelena
Published: November 2020

Enormous progress has been made in pulsed electric field-based therapies since J [...]
Linking Autism Risk Genes to Disruption of Cortical Development
Authors: Garcia-Forn Marta , Boitnott Andrea , Akpinar Zeynep , De Rubeis Silvia
Published: November 2020

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social communication and social interaction, and the presence of repetitive behaviors and/or restricted interests. In the past few years, large-scale whole-exome sequencing and genome-wide association studies have made enormous progress in our understanding of the genetic risk architecture of ASD. While showing a complex and heterogeneous landscape, these studies have led to the identification of genetic loci associated with ASD risk. The intersection of genetic and transcriptomic analyses have also begun to shed light on functional convergences between risk genes, with the mid-fetal development of the cerebral cortex emerging as a critical nexus for ASD. In this review, we provide a concise summary of the latest genetic discoveries on ASD. We then discuss the studies in postmortem tissues, stem cell models, and rodent models that implicate recently identified ASD risk genes in cortical development.
Controlled Size Reduction of Liquid Exfoliated Graphene Micro-Sheets via Tip Sonication
Authors: Di Berardino Chiara , Bélteky Péter , Schmitz Fabian , Lamberti Francesco , Menna Enzo , Kukovecz Ákos , Gatti Teresa
Published: November 2020

Liquid exfoliation of three-dimensional bulk solids with an inherent layered structure is an effective and scalable method to produce stable re-aggregation colloidal inks of 2D materials that are suitable for solution processing. Shear mixing is a relatively gentle technique that allows exfoliation while preserving the native lateral size of the 3D precursors, while tip sonication often leads to extensive structural damage, producing 2D sheets where many edge defects are introduced. We present a mixed approach to obtain liquid dispersions of few-layer graphene flakes, wherein the average lateral size of the colloids can be tuned in a controlled way. This strategy relies on the application of defined tip sonication steps on graphene inks previously prepared through the use of a shear mixer, thus starting with already-exfoliated micro-sheets with a limited amount of edge defects. Our approach could represent a valuable method to prepare 2D material inks with variable size distributions, as differences in this parameter could have a significant impact on the electronic behavior of the final material and thus on its field of application.
Diatoms in Kamchatka’s Hot Spring Soils
Authors: Fazlutdinova Alfiya , Gabidullin Yunir , Allaguvatova Rezeda , Gaysina Lira
Published: November 2020

Diatoms inhabiting terrestrial habitats that are affected by thermal activity remain poorly studied, despite significant interest in the biodiversity of hot springs. The Kamchatka peninsula is characterized by the presence of 30 active volcanoes associated with hydrotherms. Our study involved a survey of diatom diversity in soils around the Malki, Upper Paratunka, and Dachnie thermal springs on the Kamchatka peninsula. A total of 49 diatom taxa were found. The genera Pinnularia, Planothidium, Fragilariforma, Epithemia, Halamphora, Gomphonema, Nitzschia, Aulocoseira, Sellaphora, Surirella, and Navicula were the most common. Pinnularia cf. subcapitata and Planothidium lanceolatum were dominant in all springs. Diatom communities in the soils near the thermal springs included both aquatic and terrestrial species, which may reflect the transitional nature of habitats at the borders of hot springs and soils. To gain a better understanding of the diversity of diatom communities in soils near thermal springs, broader worldwide studies are necessary.
Complications of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration: A Narrative Review
Authors: Mizuide Masafumi , Ryozawa Shomei , Fujita Akashi , Ogawa Tomoya , Katsuda Hiromune , Suzuki Masahiro , Noguchi Tatsuya , Tanisaka Yuki
Published: November 2020

Considerable progress has been made recently in the use of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) to diagnose intra-luminal gastrointestinal lesions and extra-luminal lesions near the gastrointestinal tract. Numerous reports have indicated that EUS-FNA has high diagnostic performance and safety, which has led to the routine use of EUS-FNA and an increasing number of cases. Thus, while EUS-FNA has a low rate of complications, endoscopists may encounter these complications as the number of cases increases. Infrequent reports have also described life-threatening complications. Therefore, endoscopists should possess a comprehensive understanding of the complications of EUS-FNA, which include hemorrhage, perforation, infection, and acute pancreatitis, as well as their management. This review examines the available evidence regarding the complications associated with EUS-FNA, and the findings will be useful for ensuring that endoscopists perform EUS-FNA safely and appropriately.
Drivers for Non-Profits’ Success: Volunteer Engagement and Financial Sustainability Practices through the Resource Dependence Theory
Authors: Ilyas Sehrish , Butt Mattiullah , Ashfaq Fouzia , Acquadro Maran Daniela
Published: November 2020

The strategies that non-profit organizations choose for volunteer engagement and financial sustainability are of the utmost importance for successful work. The main purpose of this study was to investigate feasible strategies for volunteer engagement and financial sustainability. Interviews were conducted to obtain data on the experience of volunteer managers in dealing with volunteers and financial matters together. Qualitative data analysis methods were used to code and analyze the data. Significant themes emerged from the data gathered through interviews that highlighted the strategies for volunteer engagement and financial sustainability chosen by the managers of non-profit organizations. From the manager’s perspective, the following strategies were considered important for engaging volunteers at non-profit organizations (NPOs): ‘building the skill sets of volunteers’, ‘fulfilling ulterior motives’, and ‘administering a culture of administrative support’. Moreover, ‘local fundraising preference’, ‘transparency’, and ‘building trust’ were regarded as successful strategies for maintaining financial sustainability. The findings of this study showed that, to function smoothly, non-profit organizations need to follow certain strategies to be cautious about volunteers as well as finance. The findings provide fruitful implications for practitioners and policy makers, and these are discussed in the paper. Furthermore, the limitations addressed in the study suggest a future direction for research in terms of study design and more focus on study informants.
The Prospect of Physiological Events Associated with the Micropropagation of Eucalyptus sp.
Authors: Abiri Rambod , Atabaki Narges , Abdul-Hamid Hazandy , Sanusi Ruzana , Ab Shukor Nor Aini , Shaharuddin Noor Azmi , Ahmad Siti Aqlima , Malik Sonia
Published: November 2020

Micropropagation is a reliable technique in biotechnology and genetic engineering domain, which has been widely applied for rapid mass propagation of plants in vitro condition. Through micropropagation techniques, reproduction of plants can be attained from different explants using organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis. Over the decades, micropropagation techniques have offered tremendous potential for forest tree improvement. Eucalyptus is a woody plant species recalcitrant to in vitro culture. In general, the micropropagation of Eucalyptus culture processes and the genotype, environment surroundings, and age of explants in culture media is frequently linked with the occurrence of micropropagation variation. In the current review paper, an update of the most important physiological and molecular phenomena aspects of Eucalyptus micropropagation was linked to the most profound information. To achieve the mentioned target, the effect of plant growth regulators (PGRs), nutrients, other adjuvant and environmental features, as well as genetic interaction with morpho- and physiological mechanisms was studied from the induction to plant acclimatisation. On the other hand, important mechanisms behind the organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis of Eucalyptus are discussed. The information of current review paper will help researchers in choosing the optimum condition based on the scenario behind the tissue culture technique of Eucalyptus. However, more studies are required to identify and overcome some of the crucial bottlenecks in this economically important forest species to establish efficient micropropagation protocol at the industrial level.
Effect of Omega-3 Microcapsules Addition on the Profile of Volatile Compounds in Enriched Dry-Cured and Cooked Sausages
Authors: Solomando Juan Carlos , Antequera Teresa , Martín Alberto , Perez-Palacios Trinidad
Published: November 2020

The main goal of the present study was evaluating the effect of enriching meat products (cooked (C-SAU) and dry-cured sausages (D-SAU)) with monolayered (Mo) and multilayered (Mu) fish oil microcapsules on the profile of volatile compounds, with special interest in lipid oxidation markers. For that, Solid-Phase Microextraction (SPME) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) were used. Significant differences were found in the volatile compound profile between Mo and Mu, which was been reflected in the meat samples. Thus, in general, volatile compounds from lipid oxidation have shown higher abundance in Mo and C-SAU and D-SAU enriched with this type of microcapsule, indicating that the wall of Mu (chitosan-maltodextrine) might protect the encapsulated bioactive compounds more effectively than that of Mo (maltodextrine). However, this finding is not reflected in the results of previous studies evaluating the sensory perception and oxidation stability of C-SAU and D-SAU, but it should be considered since unhealthy oxidation products can be formed in the enriched meat products with Mo. Thus, the addition of Mu as an omega-3 vehicle for enriching meat products may be indicated.
Inactivation of Salmonella Typhimurium by Non-Thermal Plasma Bubbles: Exploring the Key Reactive Species and the Influence of Organic Matter
Authors: Baek Ki Ho , Heo Ye Seul , Park Joo Young , Kang Taemin , Lee Yee Eun , Lim Junghyun , Kim Seong Bong , Jo Cheorun
Published: November 2020

The key reactive species generated by non-thermal plasma bubbles for the inactivation of Salmonella Typhimurium and the effects of organic matter on the inactivation efficacy were investigated. Plasma, which is primarily composed of ozone (O3), was generated by dielectric barrier discharge and injected into a solution (400 mL) as a bubble. The surviving population of S. Typhimurium decreased in proportion to the treatment time, resulting in a 5.29 log reduction after 5 min of treatment. Verification tests to specify key reactive species were conducted using an O3 destruction unit and reactive oxygen species scavengers. The results indicated that singlet oxygen (1O2) contributes substantially to the inactivation of S. Typhimurium, and that the presence of superoxide anion radicals (O2·−) from O3 is essential for the production of 1O2. When a S. Typhimurium suspension containing organic matter (final concentration: 0, 0.005, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.5 g/L), consisting of beef extract and peptone, was treated with plasma bubbles for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 min, respectively, the potential of the plasma bubbles for inactivating S. Typhimurium successfully was verified with longer contact time, despite organic matter attenuating the inactivation efficiency in a dose-dependent manner.
Comparing Preferences towards Multiracial Advertising in Sweden and the US-Exploration through Eye-Tracking
Authors: Osanami Törngren Sayaka , Moriuchi Emi , Adolfsson Caroline , Nyström Marcus , Ulver Sofia
Published: November 2020

This article examined and compared the US-born and Swedish-born college students’ preferences towards monoracial or multiracial advertisement. We showed four fashion advertisements, tracked their eye movements with a stationary eye-tracker, and asked questions through survey and debriefing to understand how students see and perceive advertisements with and without racial diversity. We found that both Swedish and American students exhibited higher preference in monoracial advertisements. We also found that Swedish and American students’ preferences towards advertisements were quite similar, but there were some variations in the reported level of attractiveness of the advertisements, reaction times, and dwell time between the Swedish and American students. Even though we did not find any statistically significant results from the eye-tracking data due to the limited sample size, the results point to interesting trends and tendencies that need to be addressed in further studies.
Genetic Mutations and Variants in the Susceptibility of Familial Non-Medullary Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Miasaki Fabíola Yukiko , Fuziwara Cesar Seigi , Carvalho Gisah Amaral de , Kimura Edna Teruko
Published: November 2020

Thyroid cancer is the most frequent endocrine malignancy with the majority of cases derived from thyroid follicular cells and caused by sporadic mutations. However, when at least two or more first degree relatives present thyroid cancer, it is classified as familial non-medullary thyroid cancer (FNMTC) that may comprise 3–9% of all thyroid cancer. In this context, 5% of FNMTC are related to hereditary syndromes such as Cowden and Werner Syndromes, displaying specific genetic predisposition factors. On the other hand, the other 95% of cases are classified as non-syndromic FNMTC. Over the last 20 years, several candidate genes emerged in different studies of families worldwide. Nevertheless, the identification of a prevalent polymorphism or germinative mutation has not progressed in FNMTC. In this work, an overview of genetic alteration related to syndromic and non-syndromic FNMTC is presented.
CRISPR-Cas Diversity in Clinical Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi Isolates from South Asian Countries
Authors: Tanmoy Arif Mohammad , Saha Chinmoy , Sajib Mohammad Saiful Islam , Saha Senjuti , Komurian-Pradel Florence , van Belkum Alex , Louwen Rogier , Saha Samir Kumar , Endtz Hubert P.
Published: November 2020

Typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi), is a global health concern and its treatment is problematic due to the rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Rapid detection of patients infected with AMR positive S. Typhi is, therefore, crucial to prevent further spreading. Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats and CRISPR-associated genes (CRISPR-Cas), is an adaptive immune system that initially was used for typing purposes. Later, it was discovered to play a role in defense against phages and plasmids, including ones that carry AMR genes, and, at present, it is being explored for its usage in diagnostics. Despite the availability of whole-genome sequences (WGS), very few studied the CRISPR-Cas system of S. Typhi, let alone in typing purposes or relation to AMR. In the present study, we analyzed the CRISPR-Cas system of S. Typhi using WGS data of 1059 isolates obtained from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan in combination with demographic data and AMR status. Our results reveal that the S. Typhi CRISPR loci can be classified into two groups: A (evidence level >2) and B (evidence level ≤2), in which we identified a total of 47 unique spacers and 15 unique direct repeats. Further analysis of the identified spacers and repeats demonstrated specific patterns that harbored significant associations with genotype, demographic characteristics, and AMR status, thus raising the possibility of their usage as biomarkers. Potential spacer targets were identified and, interestingly, the phage-targeting spacers belonged to the group-A and plasmid-targeting spacers to the group-B CRISPR loci. Further analyses of the spacer targets led to the identification of an S. Typhi protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) sequence, TTTCA/T. New cas-genes known as DinG, DEDDh, and WYL were also discovered in the S. Typhi genome. However, a specific variant of the WYL gene was only identified in the extensively drug-resistant (XDR) lineage from Pakistan and ciprofloxacin-resistant lineage from Bangladesh. From this work, we conclude that there are strong correlations between variations identified in the S. Typhi CRISPR-Cas system and endemic AMR positive S. Typhi isolates.
Black Carbon as a Source of Trace Elements and Nutrients in Ice Sheet of King George Island, Antarctica
Authors: Polyakov Vyacheslav , Abakumov Evgeny , Mavlyudov Bulat
Published: November 2020

Enormous deglaciation in the polar and mountainous regions of the Earth is associated not only with large-scale climatic changes but also with the global transfer of black carbon (BC) microparticles, which accumulate on the surface of glaciers and lead to changes in albedo and the rate of degradation of ice. BC is the product of an incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, volcanic eruptions, and wildfires. The accumulation of organogenic microparticles leads to the formation of cryoconites, which are dust made of a combination of small rock particles and the result of anthropogenic activities (fossil fuel combustion) that play a special role in deglaciation. Here, we describe the content of trace metals and nutrients in accumulation of the BC from glaciers of Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, Western Antarctica. The analysis of trace metals concentrations showed that most of the studied elements (Cr, Pb, Zn, Ni) have a volcanic origin; at the same time, Cd and Cu have been accumulated as a result of anthropogenic activity. The content of nutrients in BC are most similar with Technosols, which forms near the scientific station at King George Island. The particles of BC can be translocated into organisms, which could pose a significant risk for living organisms and humans.
Analyzing Older Adults’ Perceived Values of Using Smart Bracelets by Means–End Chain
Authors: Jeng Mei-Yuan , Yeh Tsu-Ming , Pai Fan-Yun
Published: November 2020

To cope with the demands for medical care in an aging society, smart healthcare wearable devices that can measure physiological signals are being regarded as the primary tools in medical care programs, allowing the users to acquire basic health data. Although the smart healthcare wearable devices could be applied to disease management and prevention that could help older adults control their health, older adults must be willing and able to use and continue to use them. In this research, interviews conducted through means–end chain (MEC) and laddering were used to guide the older adults step-by-step by explaining abstract ideas and emphasizing value in their perceptions of specific attributes. A “hierarchical value map” was further constructed to confirm the perceived value of smart healthcare wearable devices to older adults. The research results showed that, in terms of attribute functions, seniors believed that smart bracelets in mobile health devices should have the attributes of safe use, real-time information feedback, correct data, comfortable wear, and clear screen. In terms of consequent benefits, older adults can use smart bracelets in mobile health devices to gain benefits in learning about smart products, understanding technology applications, increasing health awareness and relaxation, and satisfying curiosity. In terms of value goals, older adults want to achieve the value goals of a sense of social belonging, improved quality of life, and healthier bodies. Health is the most important thing for older adults, but previous research has often focused on the use of equipment for physical examinations; relatively few studies have allowed older adults to experience the equipment personally. The device can provide the ultimate value of long-term health promotion for older adults.
Is Historical Temporality “Heterogeneous” and “Contingent”? William H. Sewell’s Cultural Turn
Authors: Mathieu Jon
Published: November 2020

“Time” and “temporality” are difficult and central notions for historical scholarship. They exist in many varieties, which renders generalizations challenging. An interesting attempt has been made by US-scholar William H. Sewell in his Logics of History. Social Theory and Social Transformation (2005). He qualifies historical temporality as fateful, contingent, complex, eventful, and heterogeneous. It is rare for a historian to be so explicit. Sewell was inspired by discussions with sociologists and anthropologists during his transition from social to cultural history in the 1980 and 1990s. This article examines the question whether and how the change of the intellectual environment impacted the theoretical outcome. Are Sewell’s attributes to historical temporality plausible for historical scholarship in general, or do they reflect the boundary work of a particular group?
Towards Context-Aware Opinion Summarization for Monitoring Social Impact of News
Authors: Ramón-Hernández Alejandro , Simón-Cuevas Alfredo , Lorenzo María Matilde García , Arco Leticia , Serrano-Guerrero Jesús
Published: November 2020

Opinion mining and summarization of the increasing user-generated content on different digital platforms (e.g., news platforms) are playing significant roles in the success of government programs and initiatives in digital governance, from extracting and analyzing citizen’s sentiments for decision-making. Opinion mining provides the sentiment from contents, whereas summarization aims to condense the most relevant information. However, most of the reported opinion summarization methods are conceived to obtain generic summaries, and the context that originates the opinions (e.g., the news) has not usually been considered. In this paper, we present a context-aware opinion summarization model for monitoring the generated opinions from news. In this approach, the topic modeling and the news content are combined to determine the “importance” of opinionated sentences. The effectiveness of different developed settings of our model was evaluated through several experiments carried out over Spanish news and opinions collected from a real news platform. The obtained results show that our model can generate opinion summaries focused on essential aspects of the news, as well as cover the main topics in the opinionated texts well. The integration of term clustering, word embeddings, and the similarity-based sentence-to-news scoring turned out the more promising and effective setting of our model.
Wooded Semi-Natural Habitats Complement Permanent Grasslands in Supporting Wild Bee Diversity in Agricultural Landscapes
Authors: Rivers-Moore Justine , Andrieu Emilie , Vialatte Aude , Ouin Annie
Published: November 2020

Loss of semi-natural habitats (SNH) in agricultural landscapes affects wild bees, often negatively. However, how bee communities respond varies and is still unclear. To date, few studies have used precise descriptors to understand these effects. Our aim was to understand the respective and complementary influences of different wooded and herbaceous habitats on wild bee communities. We selected thirty 500-m radius landscapes on a gradient of a percentage of wooded SNH in south-western France. At each landscape, we sampled wild bees in spring 2016 and plants in spring 2015 and 2016 at the forest edge, in a hedgerow, and in a permanent grassland. Pollen carried by the most abundant bee species was collected and identified. Using beta diversity indices, we showed that wild bee community composition differs between the three SNH types, and especially between herbaceous and wooded SNH. Based on Jacobs’ selection index, we showed that pollen of some plant species recorded in wooded SNH are preferentially selected by wild bees. Studying the impact of the loss of each SNH type on the global bee-pollen interaction network, we found that wooded SNH contributed to its resilience, enabling specific plant–bee interactions. Overall, our results underline the non-negligible contribution of wooded SNH to the diversity of wild bees in agricultural landscapes, and thus the importance of maintaining different types of SNH.
Hybrid Partition-Based Patrolling Scheme for Maritime Area Patrol with Multiple Cooperative Unmanned Surface Vehicles
Authors: Xie Jiajia , Zhou Rui , Luo Jun , Peng Yan , Liu Yuan , Xie Shaorong , Pu Huayan
Published: November 2020

Multi-robot cooperative patrolling systems have been extensively employed in the civilian and military fields, including monitoring forest fires, marine search-and-rescue, and area patrol. Multi-robot area patrol problems refer to the activity that a team of robots works cooperatively and regularly to visit the key targets in the given area for security. Following consideration of the low cost and high safety of unmanned surface vehicles (USV), a team of USVs is organized to perform area patrol in a sophisticated maritime environment. In this paper, we establish a mathematical model considering the characteristics of the cooperative patrol task and the limited conditions of USVs. A hybrid partition-based patrolling scheme is proposed for a multi-USV system to visit targets with different importance levels in a maritime area. Firstly, a centralized area partition algorithm is utilized to partition the patrolling area according to the number of USVs. Secondly, a distributed path planning algorithm is applied to planning the patrolling path for each USV to visit the targets in a maritime environment to minimize the length of the patrolling path for the USV team. Finally, comparative experiments between the proposed scheme and other methods are carried out to validate the performance of the hybrid partition-based patrolling scheme. Simulation results and experimental analysis show the efficiency of the proposed hybrid partition-based patrolling scheme compared to several previous patrolling algorithms.
Simulating the Trajectory and Biomass Growth of Free-Floating Macroalgal Cultivation Platforms along the U.S. West Coast
Authors: Whiting Jonathan M. , Wang Taiping , Yang Zhaoqing , Huesemann Michael H. , Wolfram Phillip J. , Mumford Thomas F. , Righi Dylan
Published: November 2020

Trajectory tracking and macroalgal growth models were coupled to support a novel macroalgae-harvesting concept known as the Nautical Off-shore Macroalgal Autonomous Device (NOMAD). The NOMAD consists of 5 km long carbon-fiber longlines that are seeded and free float southward along the U.S. West Coast for approximately 3 months before harvesting off the California coast, taking advantage of favorable environmental conditions. The trajectory and macroalgal growth models were applied to answer planning questions pertinent to the techno-economic analysis such as identifying the preferred release location, approximate pathway, timing until harvest, and estimated growth. Trajectories were determined with the General NOAA Operational Modeling Environment (GNOME) model, using 11 years of current and wind data, determining probabilities by running nearly 40,000 Monte Carlo simulations varying the start time and location. An accompanying macroalgal growth model was used to estimate the growth of macroalgae based on the trajectory tracks and environmental forcing products, including light, temperature and nutrients. Model results show that NOMAD lines transit south in the months of April to September due to seasonal currents, taking approximately 3 months to reach Southern California. During transit, NOMAD lines are dispersed but typically avoid beaching or passing through marine sanctuaries. NOMAD lines can yield up to 30 kg wet weight per meter of cultivation line.
Fuzzy Cognitive Maps Optimization for Decision Making and Prediction
Authors: Poczeta Katarzyna , Papageorgiou Elpiniki I. , Gerogiannis Vassilis C.
Published: November 2020

Representing and analyzing the complexity of models constructed by data is a difficult and challenging task, hence the need for new, more effective techniques emerges, despite the numerous methodologies recently proposed in this field. In the present paper, the main idea is to systematically create a nested structure, based on a fuzzy cognitive map (FCM), in which each element/concept at a higher map level is decomposed into another FCM that provides a more detailed and precise representation of complex time series data. This nested structure is then optimized by applying evolutionary learning algorithms. Through the application of a dynamic optimization process, the whole nested structure based on FCMs is restructured in order to derive important relationships between map concepts at every nesting level as well as to determine the weights of these relationships on the basis of the available time series. This process allows discovering and describing hidden relationships among important map concepts. The paper proposes the application of the suggested nested approach for time series forecasting as well as for decision-making tasks regarding appliances’ energy consumption prediction.
Cardiac Optical Mapping in Situ in Swine Models: A View of the Current Situation
Authors: Martišienė Irma , Mačianskienė Regina , Benetis Rimantas , Jurevičius Jonas
Published: November 2020

Optical mapping is recognized as a promising tool for the registration of electrical activity in the heart. Most cardiac optical mapping experiments are performed in ex vivo isolated heart models. However, the electrophysiological properties of the heart are highly influenced by the autonomic nervous system as well as humoral regulation; therefore, in vivo investigations of heart activity in large animals are definitely preferred. Furthermore, such investigations can be considered the last step before clinical application. Recently, two comprehensive studies have examined optical mapping approaches for pig hearts in situ (in vivo), likely advancing the methodological capacity to perform complex electrophysiological investigations of the heart. Both studies had the same aim, i.e., to develop high-spatiotemporal-resolution optical mapping suitable for registration of electrical activity of pig heart in situ, but the methods chosen were different. In this brief review, we analyse and compare the results of recent studies and discuss their translational potential for in situ cardiac optical mapping applications in large animals. We focus on the modes of blood circulation that are employed, the use of different voltage-sensitive dyes and their loading procedures, and ways of eliminating contraction artefacts. Finally, we evaluate the possible scenarios for optical mapping (OM) application in large animals in situ and infer which scenario is optimal.
Experimental Evaluation of Anion Exchange Membranes for the Desalination of (Waste) Water Produced after Polymer-Flooding
Authors: Sosa-Fernández Paulina A. , Post Jan W. , Nabaala Harrison L. , Bruning Harry , Rijnaarts Huub
Published: November 2020

Electrodialysis (ED) has been recently proposed to desalinate polymer-flooding produced water (PFPW), a byproduct stream from the oil and gas industry rich in charged polymers. However, process performance is limited by fouling occurring on the ion-exchange membranes, particularly on the anionic ones (AEMs). Thus, this study aimed to correlate the properties of different AEMs with their performance while desalinating PFPW, ultimately evaluating their significance when fouling is to be minimized and operation improved. Six stacks containing different homogeneous and commercially available AEMs were employed to desalinate synthetic PFPW during 8-days ED experiments operated in reversal mode. AEMs recovered from the stacks were analyzed in terms of water uptake, ion-exchange capacity, permselectivity, and area resistance, and compared with virgin AEMs. Relatively small changes were measured for most of the parameters evaluated. For most AEMs, the water uptake and resistance increased, while the ion-exchange capacity (IEC) and permselectivity decreased during operation. Ultimately, AEMs with high area resistance were linked to the fast development of limiting current conditions in the stack, so this property turned out to be the most relevant when desalinating PFPW.
Microstructure Evolution and Mechanical Properties of Refractory Mo-Nb-V-W-Ti High-Entropy Alloys
Authors: Regenberg Maximilian , Hasemann Georg , Wilke Markus , Halle Thorsten , Krüger Manja
Published: November 2020

High-entropy alloys can either be defined as solid solution alloys containing at least five elements in equiatomic or near-equiatomic composition, or as alloys with high configurational entropies (larger than 1.5R), regardless of the number of elements involved. The present study reports on an alloy design route for refractory high-entropy alloys based on equiatomic Mo-Nb-V alloys with additions of W and Ti. In general, the work was motivated by Senkov et al. The aim of the experiments carried out was to produce a refractory high-entropy alloy with a single-phase structure. For this purpose, a systematic alloy design involving four- and five-element compositions was used. Scanning electron microscopy analysis has shown that Mo-Nb-V-xW-yTi (x = 0, 20; y = 5, 10, 15, 20, 25) is in fact a refractory high-entropy alloy with a body-centered cubic dendritic structure. Furthermore, the Ti-concentration of the experimental alloys was varied, to obtain the influence of Titanium on the microstructure development. Additionally, compressive tests at room temperature were carried out to evaluate the influence of the different alloying elements and the Ti-fraction on the mechanical properties. The observations of the present work are then compared to the published results on similar alloys from the working group of Yao et al. and critically discussed.
Variable Selection in Untargeted Metabolomics and the Danger of Sparsity
Authors: Tinnevelt Gerjen H. , Engelke Udo F.H. , Wevers Ron A. , Veenhuis Stefanie , Willemsen Michel A. , Coene Karlien L.M. , Kulkarni Purva , Jansen Jeroen J.
Published: November 2020

The goal of metabolomics is to measure as many metabolites as possible in order to capture biomarkers that may indicate disease mechanisms. Variable selection in chemometric methods can be divided into the following two groups: (1) sparse methods that find the minimal set of variables to discriminate between groups and (2) methods that find all variables important for discrimination. Such important variables can be summarized into metabolic pathways using pathway analysis tools like Mummichog. As a test case, we studied the metabolic effects of treatment with nicotinamide riboside, a form of vitamin B3, in a cohort of patients with ataxia–telangiectasia. Vitamin B3 is an important co-factor for many enzymatic reactions in the human body. Thus, the variable selection method was expected to find vitamin B3 metabolites and also other secondary metabolic changes during treatment. However, sparse methods did not select any vitamin B3 metabolites despite the fact that these metabolites showed a large difference when comparing intensity before and during treatment. Univariate analysis or significance multivariate correlation (sMC) in combination with pathway analysis using Mummichog were able to select vitamin B3 metabolites. Moreover, sMC analysis found additional metabolites. Therefore, in our comparative study, sMC displayed the best performance for selection of relevant variables.
Duodenal Metatranscriptomics to Define Human and Microbial Functional Alterations Associated with Severe Obesity: A Pilot Study
Authors: Granata Ilaria , Nardelli Carmela , D’Argenio Valeria , Tramontano Salvatore , Compare Debora , Guarracino Mario Rosario , Nardone Gerardo , Pilone Vincenzo , Sacchetti Lucia
Published: November 2020

Obesity is a multifactorial disorder, and the gut microbiome has been suggested to contribute to its onset. In order to better clarify the role of the microbiome in obesity, we evaluated the metatranscriptome in duodenal biopsies from a cohort of 23 adult severely obese and lean control subjects using next generation sequencing. Our aim was to provide a general picture of the duodenal metatranscriptome associated with severe obesity. We found altered expressions of human and microbial genes in the obese compared to lean subjects, with most of the gene alterations being present in the carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolic pathways. Defects were also present in several human genes involved in epithelial intestinal cells differentiation and function, as well as in the immunity/inflammation pathways. Moreover, the microbial taxa abundance inferred by our transcriptomic data differed in part from the data that we previously evaluated by 16S rRNA in 13/23 individuals of our cohort, particularly concerning the Firmicutes and Proteobacteria phyla abundances. In conclusion, our pilot study provides the first taxonomic and functional characterization of duodenal microbiota in severely obese subjects and lean controls. Our findings suggest that duodenal microbiome and human genes both play a role in deregulating metabolic pathways, likely affecting energy metabolism and thus contributing to the obese phenotype.
Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Other Anaplasma spp. in Various Hosts in the Mnisi Community, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa
Authors: Kolo Agatha O. , Collins Nicola E. , Brayton Kelly A. , Chaisi Mamohale , Blumberg Lucille , Frean John , Gall Cory A. , M. Wentzel Jeanette , Wills-Berriman Samantha , Boni Liesl De , Weyer Jacqueline , Rossouw Jennifer , Oosthuizen Marinda C.
Published: November 2020

DNA samples from 74 patients with non-malarial acute febrile illness (AFI), 282 rodents, 100 cattle, 56 dogs and 160 Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks were screened for the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA using a quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay targeting the msp2 gene. The test detected both A. phagocytophilum and Anaplasma sp. SA/ZAM dog DNA. Microbiome sequencing confirmed the presence of low levels of A. phagocytophilum DNA in the blood of rodents, dogs and cattle, while high levels of A. platys and Anaplasma sp. SA/ZAM dog were detected in dogs. Directed sequencing of the 16S rRNA and gltA genes in selected samples revealed the presence of A. phagocytophilum DNA in humans, dogs and rodents and highlighted its importance as a possible contributing cause of AFI in South Africa. A number of recently described Anaplasma species and A. platys were also detected in the study. Phylogenetic analyses grouped Anaplasma sp. SA/ZAM dog into a distinct clade, with sufficient divergence from other Anaplasma species to warrant classification as a separate species. Until appropriate type-material can be deposited and the species is formally described, we will refer to this novel organism as Anaplasma sp. SA dog.
Garnet Geochemistry of Reduced Skarn System: Implications for Fluid Evolution and Skarn Formation of the Zhuxiling W (Mo) Deposit, China
Authors: Duan Xiao-Xia , Ju Ying-Fu , Chen Bin , Wang Zhi-Qiang
Published: November 2020

A newly discovered tungsten ore district containing more than 300,000 tons of WO3 in southern Anhui Province has attracted great attention. The Zhuxiling W (Mo) deposit in the district is dominated by skarn tungsten mineralization. This paper conducted in suit EPMA and LA-ICPMS spot and mapping analysis of the skarn mineral garnet to reveal the evolution of fluids, metasomatic dynamics, and formation conditions of skarn. Two generations of garnet have been identified for Zhuxiling W (Mo) skarn: 1) Gt-I generation garnet is isotropic, Al-rich grossular without zoning. As a further subdivision, Gt-IB garnet (Adr19-46Grs49-77 (Sps+Pyr+Alm)4-5) contains significantly high content of Ti and Mn compared with Gt-IA garnet (Adr3-42Grs53-96 (Sps+Pyr+Alm)1-5). 2) Gt-II generation garnet is anisotropic, Fe-rich andradite with oscillatory zoning. Gt-II garnet displays compositional changes with a decrease of Fe and an increase of Mn from proximal skarn (Gt-IIA) to distal skarn (Gt-IIB) with the presence of subcalcic garnet for Gt-IIB type (Sps+Pyr+Alm = 56–68). The presence of pyrrhotite associated with subcalcic garnet indicates a relatively reduced skarn system. Gt-I grossular is overall enriched in Cr, Zr, Y, Nb, and Ta compared with the Gt-II andradite, and both W and Sn strongly favor Fe-rich garnet compared with Al-rich garnet. Gt-IA grossular garnet presents a REE trend with an upward-facing parabola peaking at Pr and Nd in contrast to low and flat HREE, and Gt-IB grossular garnet has a distinct REE pattern with enriched HREE. Gt-IIA andradite garnet displays a right-dipping REE pattern (enriched LREE and depleted HREE) with a prominent positive Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu* = 3.6–15.3). In contrast, Gt-IIB andradite garnet shows depleted LREE and enriched HREE with a weak positive Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu* = 0–6.0). The incorporation and fractionation of REE in garnet are collectively controlled by crystal chemistry and extrinsic factors, such as P–T–X conditions of fluids, fluid/rock ratios, and mineral growth kinetics. Major and trace elements of two generations of garnet combined with optical and textural characteristics suggest that Gt-I Al-rich grossular garnets grow slowly through diffusive metasomatism under a closed system, whereas Gt-II Fe-rich andradite represent rapid growth garnet formed by the infiltration metasomatism of magmatic fluids in an open system. The Mn-rich garnet implies active fluid–rock interaction with Mn-rich dolomitic limestone of the Lantian Group in the district.