bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Representation of the 2016 Korean Heatwave in the Unified Model Global NWP Forecasts: The Impact of Remotely Forced Model Errors and Atmosphere-Ocean Coupling
Authors: Kim Eun-Jung , Marzin Charline , Milton Sean F. , Boo Kyung-On , Kim Yoonjae , Oh Jiyoung , Kang Hyun-Suk
Published: November 2020

This study investigates the effects of atmosphere-ocean coupling for medium-range forecasts by using coupled numerical weather prediction (NWP) experiments based on the unified model (UM) on a case study of the 2016 heatwave over the Korean Peninsula. Atmospheric nudging experiments were carried out to determine the key regions which may have large impacts on the forecasts of the heat wave. The results of the nudging experiments suggest that key forcing from the Mongolia region gives the largest impact to this case by causing a transport of warm air from the northwest part of Korea. Moreover, the Pacific region shows an important role in the global circulation in nudging experiments. Results from the atmosphere-ocean coupled model show no clear benefit for the extreme heat wave temperatures in this case. In addition, more model development seems to be needed to improve the representation of sea surface temperature (SST) in some key areas. Nevertheless, it is confirmed that the atmosphere-ocean coupled simulation produces a better representation of aspects of the large-scale flow such as the blocking high over the Kamchatka Peninsula, the high pressure system in the northwest Pacific and Hadley circulation. The results presented in this study show that atmosphere-ocean coupling can be an important way to improve the deterministic model forecasts as the lead time increases beyond a few days.
Numerical Procedures for Relativistic Atomic Structure Calculations
Authors: Fischer Charlotte Froese , Senchuk Andrew
Published: November 2020

Variational methods are used extensively in the calculation of transition rates for numerous lines in a spectrum. In the GRASP code, solutions of the multiconfiguration Dirac–Hartree–Fock (MCDHF) equations that optimize the orbitals are represented by numerical values on a grid using finite differences for integration and differentiation. The numerical accuracy and efficiency of existing procedures are evaluated and some modifications proposed with heavy elements in mind.
Regenerative Medicine in Diabetes
Authors: Sumi Shoichiro
Published: November 2020

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is caused by insufficient insulin function [...]
Whole-Transcriptome Analysis in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Patients with Lipid-Specific Oligoclonal IgM Band Characterization Reveals Two Circular RNAs and Two Linear RNAs as Biomarkers of Highly Active Disease
Authors: Iparraguirre Leire , Olaverri Danel , Blasco Telmo , Sepúlveda Lucía , Castillo-Triviño Tamara , Espiño Mercedes , Costa-Frossard Lucienne , Prada Álvaro , Villar Luisa , Otaegui David , Muñoz-Culla Maider
Published: November 2020

The presence of anti-myelin lipid-specific oligoclonal IgM bands (LS-OCMBs) has been defined as an accurate predictor of an aggressive evolution of multiple sclerosis. However, the detection of this biomarker is performed in cerebrospinal fluid, a quite invasive liquid biopsy. In the present study we aimed at studying the expression profile of miRNA, snoRNA, circRNA and linearRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with lipid-specific oligoclonal IgM band characterization. We included a total of 89 MS patients, 47 with negative LS-OCMB status and 42 with positive status. Microarray (miRNA and snoRNA) and RNA-seq (circular and linear RNAs) were used to perform the profiling study in the discovery cohort and candidates were validated by RT-qPCR in the whole cohort. The biomarker potential of the candidates was evaluated by ROC curve analysis. RNA-seq and RT-qPCR validation revealed that two circular (hsa_circ_0000478 and hsa_circ_0116639) and two linear RNAs (IRF5 and MTRNR2L8) are downregulated in PBMCs from patients with positive LS-OCMBs. Finally, those RNAs show a performance of a 70% accuracy in some of the combinations. The expression of hsa_circ_0000478, hsa_circ_0116639, IRF5 and MTRNR2L8 might serve as minimally invasive biomarkers of highly active disease.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Relation to MRZ Reaction Status in Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Robinson Tilman , Abdelhak Ahmed , Bose Tanima , Meinl Edgar , Otto Markus , Zettl Uwe K. , Dersch Rick , Tumani Hayrettin , Rauer Sebastian , Huss André
Published: November 2020

The MRZ reaction (MRZR) comprises the three antibody indices (AIs) against measles, rubella, and varicella zoster virus, reflecting an intrathecal polyspecific B cell response highly specific for multiple sclerosis (MS). Thus, MRZR can be used to confirm a diagnosis of primary progressive MS (PPMS) but its pathophysiological and wider clinical relevance is unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether PPMS patients with a positive MRZR (MRZR+) differ from those with a negative MRZR (MRZR-) according to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of B cell activity, neuroaxonal damage or glial activity, and clinical features. (1) Methods: In a multicenter PPMS cohort (n = 81) with known MRZR status, we measured B cell-activating factor (BAFF), chemokine CXC ligand 13 (CXCL-13), soluble B cell maturation antigen (sBCMA), soluble transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (sTACI), and chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) in the CSF with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament light chain (NfL) were detected in serum and CSF using single molecule array (SIMOA) technology. (2) Results: MRZR+ patients (45.7% of all PPMS patients) revealed higher levels of NfL in CSF compared to MRZR- patients (54.3%). There were positive correlations between each of sBCMA, sTACI, and intrathecal immunoglobin G (IgG) synthesis. Additionally, NfL concentrations in serum positively correlated with those in CSF and those of GFAP in serum. However, MRZR+ and MRZR- patients did not differ concerning clinical features (e.g., age, disease duration, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) at diagnosis and follow-up); CSF routine parameters; CSF concentrations of BAFF, CXCL-13, sBCMA, sTACI, CHI3L1, and GFAP; or serum concentrations of GFAP and NfL. (3) Conclusions: In PPMS patients, MRZR positivity might indicate a more pronounced axonal damage. Higher levels of the soluble B cell receptors BCMA and transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI) in CSF are associated with a stronger intrathecal IgG synthesis in PPMS.
Shotgun Metagenomic Sequencing Identifies Dysbiosis in Triplet Sibling with Gastrointestinal Symptoms and ASD
Authors: Hazan Sabine , Spradling-Reeves Kimberly D. , Papoutsis Andreas , Walker Stephen J.
Published: November 2020

The gut microbiome profile of a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and co-occurring gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms was compared to that of her healthy triplet siblings to determine if she exhibited intestinal dysbiosis. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was performed in individual fecal samples, and relative microbial abundance and diversity was determined. Microbial diversity was lower in sibling #3, coupled with a higher Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio, a lower relative abundance of Actinobacteria, and an increased relative abundance of Proteobacteria. Our findings are suggestive of gut dysbiosis in a child with ASD and co-occurring GI symptoms, compared to her two healthy triplet siblings.
Sexual Violence against Children and Adolescents Taking Place in Schools: An Integrative Review
Authors: Pereira Charlene de Oliveira , Pimentel Renata Macedo Martins , Leitão Francisco Naildo Cardoso , Moraes Sandra Dircinha Texeira de Araújo , Maia Paula Christianne Gomes Gouveia Souto , Santos Everson Vagner de Lucena , Freitas Maria Nathallya Rodrigues de , Trigueiro Gildenia Pinto dos Santos , Gouveia Filho Petronio Souto , Abreu Luiz Carlos de
Published: November 2020

Sexual violence against children and adolescents is considered a public health problem of worldwide scope. The objective is to analyze the findings in the literature that address the phenomenon of sexual violence against children and adolescents in the school environment; is an integrative literature review that has as its element-problem of interest children and adolescent victims of sexual violence in schools. The research filters used were: the availability of the text (free full text) and publication date (in the last five years); Initially, 1199 studies were identified, then, after application of filters and the removal of duplicated studies, a total of 175 studies was reached. Subsequently, the selection of articles occurred with the sieve of the titles, resulting in 20 studies. From these, 13 proceeded to the eligibility stage, with three being excluded after a full reading. Therefore, nine studies composed the final sample. One of the factors related to the occurrence of sexual violence against children and adolescents in schools is the absence of educational spaces on the subject, being the main parameter for approaching the outline of identification and prevention strategies, with the insertion of sexual education on the school routine, with the participation of the family.
Vaginal Microbiome-Based Bacterial Signatures for Predicting the Severity of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia
Authors: Lee Yoon Hee , Kang Gi-Ung , Jeon Se Young , Tagele Setu Bazie , Pham Huy Quang , Kim Min-Sueng , Ahmad Sajjad , Jung Da-Ryung , Park Yeong-Jun , Han Hyung Soo , Shin Jae-Ho , Chong Gun Oh
Published: November 2020

Although emerging evidence revealed that the gut microbiome served as a tool and as biomarkers for predicting and detecting specific cancer or illness, it is yet unknown if vaginal microbiome-derived bacterial markers can be used as a predictive model to predict the severity of CIN. In this study, we sequenced V3 region of 16S rRNA gene on vaginal swab samples from 66 participants (24 CIN 1−, 42 CIN 2+ patients) and investigated the taxonomic composition. The vaginal microbial diversity was not significantly different between the CIN 1− and CIN 2+ groups. However, we observed Lactobacillus amylovorus dominant type (16.7%), which does not belong to conventional community state type (CST). Moreover, a minimal set of 33 bacterial species was identified to maximally differentiate CIN 2+ from CIN 1− in a random forest model, which can distinguish CIN 2+ from CIN 1− (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.952). Among the 33 bacterial species, Lactobacillus iners was selected as the most impactful predictor in our model. This finding suggests that the random forest model is able to predict the severity of CIN and vaginal microbiome may play a role as biomarker.
Solvable Model of a Generic Driven Mixture of Trapped Bose–Einstein Condensates and Properties of a Many-Boson Floquet State at the Limit of an Infinite Number of Particles
Authors: Alon Ofir E.
Published: November 2020

A solvable model of a periodically driven trapped mixture of Bose–Einstein condensates, consisting of N1 interacting bosons of mass m1 driven by a force of amplitude fL,1 and N2 interacting bosons of mass m2 driven by a force of amplitude fL,2, is presented. The model generalizes the harmonic-interaction model for mixtures to the time-dependent domain. The resulting many-particle ground Floquet wavefunction and quasienergy, as well as the time-dependent densities and reduced density matrices, are prescribed explicitly and analyzed at the many-body and mean-field levels of theory for finite systems and at the limit of an infinite number of particles. We prove that the time-dependent densities per particle are given at the limit of an infinite number of particles by their respective mean-field quantities, and that the time-dependent reduced one-particle and two-particle density matrices per particle of the driven mixture are 100% condensed. Interestingly, the quasienergy per particle does not coincide with the mean-field value at this limit, unless the relative center-of-mass coordinate of the two Bose–Einstein condensates is not activated by the driving forces fL,1 and fL,2. As an application, we investigate the imprinting of angular momentum and its fluctuations when steering a Bose–Einstein condensate by an interacting bosonic impurity and the resulting modes of rotations. Whereas the expectation values per particle of the angular-momentum operator for the many-body and mean-field solutions coincide at the limit of an infinite number of particles, the respective fluctuations can differ substantially. The results are analyzed in terms of the transformation properties of the angular-momentum operator under translations and boosts, and as a function of the interactions between the particles. Implications are briefly discussed.
Asynchronous Environment Assessment: A Pertinent Option for Medical and Allied Health Profession Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Gupta Madan Mohan , Jankie Satish , Pancholi Shyam Sundar , Talukdar Debjyoti , Sahu Pradeep Kumar , Sa Bidyadhar
Published: November 2020

The emergence and global spread of COVID-19 has disrupted the traditional mechanisms of education throughout the world. Institutions of learning were caught unprepared and this jeopardised the face-to-face method of curriculum delivery and assessment. Teaching institutions have shifted to an asynchronous mode whilst attempting to preserve the principles of integrity, equity, inclusiveness, fairness, ethics, and safety. A framework of assessment that enables educators to utilise appropriate methods in measuring a student’s progress is crucial for the success of teaching and learning, especially in health education that demands high standards and comprises consistent scientific content. Within such a framework, this paper aims to present a narrative review of the currently utilised methods of assessment in health education and recommend selected modalities that could be administered in an asynchronous mode during the COVID-19 pandemic. Assessment methods such as open-ended short answer questions, problem-based questions, oral exams, and recorded objective structured clinical exams (OSCE) would be appropriate for use in an asynchronous environment to assess the knowledge and competence of health professional students during COVID-19. Fairness and integrity can be ensured by using technological tools such as video and audio recording surveillance.
Wirelessly-Powered Cage Designs for Supporting Long-Term Experiments on Small Freely Behaving Animals in a Large Experimental Arena
Authors: Lee Byunghun , Jia Yaoyao
Published: November 2020

In modern implantable medical devices (IMDs), wireless power transmission (WPT) between inside and outside of the animal body is essential to power the IMD. Unlike conventional WPT, which transmits the wireless power only between fixed Tx and Rx coils, the wirelessly-powered cage system can wirelessly power the IMD implanted in a small animal subject while the animal freely moves inside the cage during the experiment. A few wirelessly-powered cage systems have been developed to either directly power the IMD or recharge batteries during the experiment. Since these systems adapted different power carrier frequencies, coil configurations, subject tracking techniques, and wireless powered area, it is important for designers to select suitable wirelessly-powered cage designs, considering the practical limitations in wirelessly powering the IMD, such as power transfer efficiency (PTE), power delivered to load (PDL), closed-loop power control (CLPC), scalability, spatial/angular misalignment, near-field data telemetry, and safety issues against various perturbations during the longitudinal animal experiment. In this article, we review the trend of state-of-the-art wirelessly-powered cage designs and practical considerations of relevant technologies for various IMD applications.
An RF Approach to Modelling Gallium Nitride Power Devices Using Parasitic Extraction
Authors: Hari Nikita , Ramasamy Sridhar , Ahsan Mominul , Haider Julfikar , Rodrigues Eduardo M. G.
Published: November 2020

This paper begins with a comprehensive review into the existing GaN device models. Secondly, it identifies the need for a more accurate GaN switching model. A simple practical process based on radio frequency techniques using Vector Network Analyser is introduced in this paper as an original contribution. It was applied to extract the impedances of the GaN device to develop an efficient behavioural model. The switching behaviour of the model was validated using both simulation and real time double pulse test experiments at 500 V, 15 A conditions. The proposed model is much easier for power designers to handle, without the need for knowledge about the physics or geometry of the device. The proposed model for Transphorm GaN HEMT was found to be 95.2% more accurate when compared to the existing LT-Spice manufacturer model. This work additionally highlights the need to adopt established RF techniques into power electronics to reduce the learning curve while dealing with these novel high-speed switching devices.
One-Cycle Zero-Integral-Error Current Control for Shunt Active Power Filters
Authors: Orts-Grau Salvador , Balaguer-Herrero Pedro , Alfonso-Gil Jose Carlos , Martínez-Márquez Camilo I. , Gimeno-Sales Francisco J. , Seguí-Chilet Salvador
Published: November 2020

Current control has, for decades, been one of the more challenging research fields in the development of power converters. Simple and robust nonlinear methods like hysteresis or sigma-delta controllers have been commonly used, while sophisticated linear controllers based on classical control theory have been developed for PWM-based converters. The one-cycle current control technique is a nonlinear technique based on cycle-by-cycle calculation of the ON time of the converter switches for the next switching period. This kind of controller requires accurate measurement of voltages and currents in order achieve a precise current tracking. These techniques have been frequently used in the control of power converters generating low-frequency currents, where the reference varies slowly compared with the switching frequency. Its application is not so common in active power filter current controllers due to the fast variation of the references that demands not only accurate measurements but also high-speed computing. This paper proposes a novel one-cycle digital current controller based on the minimization of the integral error of the current. Its application in a three-leg four-wire shunt active power filter is presented, including a stability analysis considering the switching pattern selection. Furthermore, simulated and experimental results are presented to validate the proposed controller.
Impact of Non-Financial Factors on the Effectiveness of Audits in Energy Companies
Authors: Milojević Marko , Urbański Mariusz , Terzić Ivica , Prasolov Valeriy
Published: November 2020

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of non-financial factors in the structure of a financial audit on its quality in energy companies. To assess the impact of the audit on performance indicators of companies under study, it is proposed to use the authors’ method by determining the length of the integrated audit vector as well as analysis of variance. The study was carried out on the basis of materials from five large energy (oil and gas) companies from different countries. Santos’ conversion of oil well pumps to solar power has clear environmental benefits. Gazprom’s social responsibility has, although stable, the lowest results. When conducting a financial audit, this component of performance does not have a significant impact. This explains the company’s focus on financial performance. The most effective corporate social responsibility is characteristic of Pioneer Natural Resources (PNR). In Gazprom and E.ON, despite the annual increase in financial indicators according to the classical audit option, the integrated audit vector has lesser value. Changes in the conditions for the formation of efficient activities of energy companies in the context of not only the financial component, but also sustainable development and social responsibility require the transformation of a financial audit in the context of its integration.
Reversible Molten Catalytic Methane Cracking Applied to Commercial Solar-Thermal Receivers
Authors: Rowe Scott C. , Ariko Taylor A. , Weiler Kaylin M. , Spana Jacob T. E. , Weimer Alan W.
Published: November 2020

When driven by sunlight, molten catalytic methane cracking can produce clean hydrogen fuel from natural gas without greenhouse emissions. To design solar methane crackers, a canonical plug flow reactor model was developed that spanned industrially relevant temperatures and pressures (1150–1350 Kelvin and 2–200 atmospheres). This model was then validated against published methane cracking data and used to screen power tower and beam-down reactor designs based on “Solar Two,” a renewables technology demonstrator from the 1990s. Overall, catalytic molten methane cracking is likely feasible in commercial beam-down solar reactors, but not power towers. The best beam-down reactor design was 9% efficient in the capture of sunlight as fungible hydrogen fuel, which approaches photovoltaic efficiencies. Conversely, the best discovered tower methane cracker was only 1.7% efficient. Thus, a beam-down reactor is likely tractable for solar methane cracking, whereas power tower configurations appear infeasible. However, the best simulated commercial reactors were heat transfer limited, not reaction limited. Efficiencies could be higher if heat bottlenecks are removed from solar methane cracker designs. This work sets benchmark conditions and performance for future solar reactor improvement via design innovation and multiphysics simulation.
User Acceptance of Information Feed Advertising: A Hybrid Method Based on SEM and QCA
Authors: Zhao Jie , Yan Can
Published: November 2020

It is of great significance for enterprises’ development to effectively use mobile Internet to carry out information feed advertising. This paper aims to study the influence factors and effect of the users’ acceptance intention of information feed advertising through empirical analysis to provide references for further optimizing information feed advertising strategy. Traditional quantitative analysis methods, such as the Structural Equation Model (SEM), can only measure a single factor’s influence from an individual perspective. Therefore, we introduce the Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) and present a two-stage hybrid method based on SEM and QCA. In the first stage, we analyze the influence of a single variable on the acceptance intention of information feed advertising by SEM. Then, in the second stage, we analyze the impact of different variable combinations by QCA. Based on the actual questionnaire data, we define six independent variables and use AMOS, SPSS, and fsQCA to carry out SEM analysis and the fuzzy-set-based QCA analysis, respectively. The SEM analysis results show that the four factors (including consistency, informativeness, sociability, and advertising reward) have a significant positive impact on user acceptance of information feed advertising. On the contrary, perceived advertising clustering has a significant negative impact. In addition, accuracy has no considerable effect. The QCA analysis reveals that seven constructs of six variables can all significantly enhance information feed ads’ acceptance intention.
Innovative Seismic Microzonation Maps of Urban Areas for the Management of Building Heritage: A Catania Case Study
Authors: Abate Glenda , Bramante Simone , Massimino Maria Rossella
Published: November 2020

Several urban areas in the Mediterranean have already been subjected to seismic microzonation studies aimed at determining the acceleration expected on the ground surface, therefore mitigating the associated seismic risks. These studies have been generally related to free-field conditions. The present paper shows innovative seismic microzonation maps based on a large-scale estimate of soil-structure interaction (SSI) effects on design accelerations for some areas characterized by a high seismic risk in Catania, Italy. The proposed procedure combined: (1) geotechnical characteristics; (2) building features; and (3) 1-D seismic response analyses in free-field conditions. The seismic hazard and site effects were evaluated using artificial inputs and inputs recorded recently in Catania. Structural fundamental periods and related spectral accelerations, considering both the fixed-base building configuration and flexible-base configuration, were mapped in the Google My Maps environment. These results showed that SSI often had a beneficial effect, but sometimes it had detrimental effects, especially for some masonry buildings. These maps provided important information for planning the seismic retrofitting of investigated buildings, which were based on more detailed analyses of SSI and the developed maps requiring them.
Erratum: Radu, M.-C., et al. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Quality of Educational Process: A Student Survey. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 7770
Authors: Radu Maria-Crina , Schnakovszky Carol , Herghelegiu Eugen , Ciubotariu Vlad-Andrei , Cristea Ion
Published: November 2020

In the original version of our article [...]
A Framework for Classifying Participant Motivation that Considers the Typology of Citizen Science Projects
Authors: Lotfian Maryam , Ingensand Jens , Brovelli Maria Antonia
Published: November 2020

Citizen science, the participation of the public in scientific projects, is growing significantly, especially with technological developments in recent years. Volunteers are the heart of citizen science projects; therefore, understanding their motivation and how to sustain their participation is the key to success in any citizen science project. Studies on participants of citizen science projects illustrate that there is an association between participant motivation and the type of contribution to projects. Thus, in this paper, we define a motivational framework, which classifies participant motivation taking into account the typologies of citizen science projects. Within this framework, we also take into account the importance of motivation in initiating and sustaining participation. This framework helps citizen science practitioners to have comprehensive knowledge about potential motivational factors that can be used to recruit participants, as well as sustaining participation in their projects.
A Molecular Perspective on the Potential Benefits of Metformin for the Treatment of Inflammatory Skin Disorders
Authors: Chang Ji-Eun , Choi Min Sik
Published: November 2020

Due to its anti-hyperglycemic effect, metformin is the first-line medication for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, particularly in people who are obese. However, metformin is a drug with a very wide range of pharmacological properties and reports of its therapeutic effect on diseases including inflammation and cancer are increasing. Numerous research groups have reported that metformin has beneficial effects on a variety of inflammatory skin disorders including psoriasis, acanthosis nigricans, acne, hidradenitis suppurativa, and allergic contact dermatitis. According to these reports, in addition to the well-known action of metformin, that is, its anti-hyperglycemic effect, NF-kB inhibition and the resulting alteration to the cytokine network may be the potential targets of metformin. Its anti-hyperandrogenism effect has also been confirmed as the major action of metformin in some inflammatory skin diseases. Moreover, novel regulatory mechanisms, including autophagy and antioxidant processes, have been suggested as promising mechanisms of action for metformin in inflammatory skin disorders.
Determination of Methemoglobin in Hemoglobin Submicron Particles Using NMR Relaxometry
Authors: Kaewprayoon Waraporn , Suwannasom Nittiya , Kloypan Chiraphat , Steffen Axel , Xiong Yu , Schellenberger Eyk , Pruß Axel , Georgieva Radostina , Bäumler Hans
Published: November 2020

Methemoglobin (MetHb) is a hemoglobin (Hb) derivative with the heme iron in ferric state (Fe3+), unable to deliver oxygen. Quantification of methemoglobin is a very important diagnostic parameter in hypoxia. Recently, novel hemoglobin microparticles (Hb-MP) with a narrow size distribution around 700 nm, consisting of cross-linked Hb were proposed as artificial oxygen carriers. The cross-linking of Hb by glutaraldehyde (GA) generates a certain amount of MetHb. Due to the strong light scattering, quantitative determination of MetHb in Hb-MP suspensions by common spectrophotometry is not possible. Here, we demonstrate that 1H2O NMR relaxometry is a perfect tool for direct measurement of total Hb and MetHb concentrations in Hb-MP samples. The longitudinal relaxation rate 1/T1 shows a linear increase with increasing MetHb concentration, whereas the transverse relaxation rate 1/T2 linearly increases with the total Hb concentration. In both linear regressions the determination coefficient (R2) is higher than 0.99. The method does not require time-consuming pretreatment or digestion of the particles and is not impaired by light scattering. Therefore, it can be established as the method of choice for the quality control of Hb-MP and similar hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers in the future.
Obesity-Related Changes in High-Density Lipoprotein Metabolism and Function
Authors: Stadler Julia T. , Marsche Gunther
Published: November 2020

In obese individuals, atherogenic dyslipidemia is a very common and important factor in the increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Adiposity-associated dyslipidemia is characterized by low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and an increase in triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. Several factors and mechanisms are involved in lowering HDL-C levels in the obese state and HDL quantity and quality is closely related to adiponectin levels and the bioactive lipid sphingosine-1-phosphate. Recent studies have shown that obesity profoundly alters HDL metabolism, resulting in altered HDL subclass distribution, composition, and function. Importantly, weight loss through gastric bypass surgery and Mediterranean diet, especially when enriched with virgin olive oil, is associated with increased HDL-C levels and significantly improved metrics of HDL function. A thorough understanding of the underlying mechanisms is crucial for a better understanding of the impact of obesity on lipoprotein metabolism and for the development of appropriate therapeutic approaches. The objective of this review article was to summarize the newly identified changes in the metabolism, composition, and function of HDL in obesity and to discuss possible pathophysiological consequences.
Radial Turbine Thermo-Mechanical Stress Optimization by Multidisciplinary Discrete Adjoint Method
Authors: Racca Alberto , Verstraete Tom , Casalino Lorenzo
Published: November 2020

This paper addresses the problem of the design optimization of turbomachinery components under thermo-mechanical constraints, with focus on a radial turbine impeller for turbocharger applications. Typically, turbine components operate at high temperatures and are exposed to important thermal gradients, leading to thermal stresses. Dealing with such structural requirements necessitates the optimization algorithms to operate a coupling between fluid and structural solvers that is computationally intensive. To reduce the cost during the optimization, a novel multiphysics gradient-based approach is developed in this work, integrating a Conjugate Heat Transfer procedure by means of a partitioned coupling technique. The discrete adjoint framework allows for the efficient computation of the gradients of the thermo-mechanical constraint with respect to a large number of design variables. The contribution of the thermal strains to the sensitivities of the cost function extends the multidisciplinary outlook of the optimization and the accuracy of its predictions, with the aim of reducing the empirical safety factors applied to the design process. Finally, a turbine impeller is analyzed in a demanding operative condition and the gradient information results in a perturbation of the grid coordinates, reducing the stresses at the rotor back-plate, as a demonstration of the suitability of the presented method.
Detection of Atrial Fibrillation Using a Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Liaqat Sidrah , Dashtipour Kia , Zahid Adnan , Assaleh Khaled , Arshad Kamran , Ramzan Naeem
Published: November 2020

The atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most well-known cardiac arrhythmias in clinical practice, with a prevalence of 1–2% in the community, which can increase the risk of stroke and myocardial infarction. The detection of AF electrocardiogram (ECG) can improve the early detection of diagnosis. In this paper, we have further developed a framework for processing the ECG signal in order to determine the AF episodes. We have implemented machine learning and deep learning algorithms to detect AF. Moreover, the experimental results show that better performance can be achieved with long short-term memory (LSTM) as compared to other algorithms. The initial experimental results illustrate that the deep learning algorithms, such as LSTM and convolutional neural network (CNN), achieved better performance (10%) as compared to machine learning classifiers, such as support vectors, logistic regression, etc. This preliminary work can help clinicians in AF detection with high accuracy and less probability of errors, which can ultimately result in reduction in fatality rate.
Penalty-Enhanced Utility-Based Multi-Criteria Recommendations
Authors: Zheng Yong
Published: November 2020

Recommender systems have been successfully applied to assist decision making in multiple domains and applications. Multi-criteria recommender systems try to take the user preferences on multiple criteria into consideration, in order to further improve the quality of the recommendations. Most recently, the utility-based multi-criteria recommendation approach has been proposed as an effective and promising solution. However, the issue of over-/under-expectations was ignored in the approach, which may bring risks to the recommendation model. In this paper, we propose a penalty-enhanced model to alleviate this issue. Our experimental results based on multiple real-world data sets can demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed solutions. In addition, the outcomes of the proposed solution can also help explain the characteristics of the applications by observing the treatment on the issue of over-/under-expectations.
Triatoma rosai sp. nov. (Hemiptera, Triatominae): A New Species of Argentinian Chagas Disease Vector Described Based on Integrative Taxonomy
Authors: Alevi Kaio , de Oliveira Jader , Garcia Ariane , Cristal Daniel , Delgado Luiza , de Freitas Bittinelli Isadora , dos Reis Yago , Ravazi Amanda , de Oliveira Ana , Galvão Cleber , de Azeredo-Oliveira Maria , Madeira Fernanda
Published: November 2020

Chagas disease is the most prevalent neglected tropical disease in the Americas and makes an important contribution to morbidity and mortality rates in countries where it is endemic since 30 to 40% of patients develop cardiac diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, or both. In this paper, a new species of the genus Triatoma is described based on specimens collected in the Department San Miguel, Province of Corrientes, Argentina. Triatoma rosai sp. nov. is closely related to T. sordida (Stål, 1859), and was characterized based on integrative taxonomy using morphological, morphometric, molecular data, and experimental crosses. These analyses, combined with data from the literature (cytogenetics, electrophoresis pattern, molecular analyses, cuticular hydrocarbons pattern, geometric morphometry, cycle, and average time of life as well as geographic distribution) confirm the specific status of T. rosai sp. nov. Natural Trypanosoma cruzi infection, coupled with its presence mostly in peridomestic habitats, indicates that this species can be considered as an important Chagas disease vector from Argentina.
Susceptibility of Fall Armyworms (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E.) from Mexico and Puerto Rico to Bt Proteins
Authors: Gutierrez-Moreno Rebeca , Mota-Sanchez David , Blanco Carlos A. , Chandrasena Desmi , Difonzo Christina , Conner Jeffrey , Head Graham , Berman Kristina , Wise John
Published: November 2020

Fall armyworm is one of the main pests of conventional and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn in many countries in the Americas, Africa, Asia and in Australia. We conducted diet-overlay bioassays to determine the status of susceptibility to four Bt proteins (Cry1A.105, Cry2Ab2, Cry1F and Cry1Ac) in three different populations of fall armyworm from Mexico, and one population from Puerto Rico. Bioassays showed that fall armyworms from Puerto Rico were resistant to Cry1F with a resistance ratio 50 (RR50) higher than 10,000 ng/cm2 and to Cry1Ac with a RR50 = 12.2 ng/cm2, displaying the highest median lethal concentration (LC50) values to all Bt proteins tested. The effective concentration 50 (EC50) values further confirmed the loss of susceptibility to Cry1F and Cry1Ac in this population. However, LC50 and EC50 results with Cry1A.105 and Cry2Ab2 revealed that fall armyworm from Puerto Rico remained largely susceptible to these two proteins. The Mexican populations were highly susceptible to all the Bt proteins tested and displayed the lowest LC50 and EC50 values to all Bt proteins. Our results suggest that Cry1F and Cry1Ac resistance is stable in fall armyworm from Puerto Rico. However, this population remains susceptible to Cry1A.105 and Cry2Ab2. Results with Mexican fall armyworms suggest that possible deployment of Bt corn in Mexico will not be immediately challenged by Bt-resistant genes in those regions.
Integrating Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead, 1904) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) into Management Programs for Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Apple Orchards: Impact of Insecticide Applications and Spray Patterns
Authors: Ludwick Dalton C. , Patterson Jessica , Leake Layne B. , Carper Lee , Leskey Tracy C.
Published: November 2020

Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an invasive species in the United States, where it has caused significant damage to specialty crops, including apples. While integrated pest management techniques have been developed for H. halys in apple, including spray application techniques, it is unknown how these techniques affect foraging, adventive Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead, 1904) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), and its offspring. In this study, egg masses (unparasitized and 2 and 7 day parasitized pre-treatment) were placed in apple orchards in treated and untreated locations that received full block insecticide applications or reduced application techniques, including border row or alternate row middle applications. Bifenthrin, thiamethoxam + λ-cyhalothrin, clothianidin, and methomyl were evaluated. Egg masses were retrieved 24 h after spray applications. For 2 and 7 day parasitized pre-treatment, adult T. japonicus emergence was recorded from each egg mass. For unparasitized egg masses, T. japonicus females were given 24 h to forage and oviposit on post-treatment egg masses with female survivorship, and adult emergence from egg masses was recorded. Female survivorship was significantly lower on post-treatment egg masses retrieved from areas receiving bifenthrin applications. Emergence from post-treatment egg masses was affected by thiamethoxam + λ-cyhalothrin, bifenthrin, and methomyl in some treated areas, whereas less impact was observed on 2 and 7 day pre-treatment parasitized egg masses in general. These data provide further insights into H. halys management and the potential impact of T. japonicus in sprayed orchard agroecosystems.
Assessment of Minimal Residual Disease by Next Generation Sequencing in Peripheral Blood as a Complementary Tool for Personalized Transplant Monitoring in Myeloid Neoplasms
Authors: Aguirre-Ruiz Paula , Ariceta Beñat , Viguria María , Zudaire María , Blasco-Iturri Zuriñe , Arnedo Patricia , Aguilera-Diaz Almudena , Jauregui Axier , Mañú Amagoia , Prosper Felipe , Mateos María , Fernández-Mercado Marta , Larráyoz María , Redondo Margarita , Calasanz María , Vázquez Iria , Bandrés Eva
Published: November 2020

Patients with myeloid neoplasms who relapsed after allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) have poor prognosis. Monitoring of chimerism and specific molecular markers as a surrogate measure of relapse is not always helpful; therefore, improved systems to detect early relapse are needed. We hypothesized that the use of next generation sequencing (NGS) could be a suitable approach for personalized follow-up post-HSCT. To validate our hypothesis, we analyzed by NGS, a retrospective set of peripheral blood (PB) DNA samples previously evaluated by high-sensitive quantitative PCR analysis using insertion/deletion polymorphisms (indel-qPCR) chimerism engraftment. Post-HCST allelic burdens assessed by NGS and chimerism status showed a similar time-course pattern. At time of clinical relapse in 8/12 patients, we detected positive NGS-based minimal residual disease (NGS-MRD). Importantly, in 6/8 patients, we were able to detect NGS-MRD at time points collected prior to clinical relapse. We also confirmed the disappearance of post-HCST allelic burden in non-relapsed patients, indicating true clinical specificity. This study highlights the clinical utility of NGS-based post-HCST monitoring in myeloid neoplasia as a complementary specific analysis to high-sensitive engraftment testing. Overall, NGS-MRD testing in PB is widely applicable for the evaluation of patients following HSCT and highly valuable to personalized early treatment intervention when mixed chimerism is detected.
Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphisms and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Risk: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Morgado-Águila Carolina , Rey-Sánchez Purificación , Gil-Fernández Guadalupe , Costa-Fernández María Carmen , Rodríguez-Velasco Francisco José
Published: November 2020

Exposure to sunlight is the major source of vitamin D and the main environmental cause of non-melanocytic skin cancers. Vitamin D, partly mediated through the vitamin D receptor (VDR), has potential therapeutic applications in skin cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of BsmI and ApaI VDR polymorphisms among patients with non-melanoma cancers and controls. An observational case-control study was conducted in a sample of 154 subjects. We observed no significant effects between these polymorphisms and skin cancer risk. When stratified for gender, GG and AG BsmI polymorphisms significantly increased the risk of basal cell carcinomas in males. In relation to ApaI, all three polymorphisms significantly increased the risk of basal cell carcinoma in males. When stratified for age, we found that being 70 years of age or younger was a protective factor against both skin cancers. Being a female and 70 years old or younger was a protective factor for basal cell carcinoma. A comparison of the frequencies of the VDR genotypes in patients older than 70 years vs. 70 years or younger also revealed age-dependent variations in patients with non-melanoma skin cancer. Our study suggests a role for VDR polymorphisms in non-melanoma skin cancer development.
We Can Boost IQ: Revisiting Kvashchev’s Experiment
Authors: Stankov Lazar , Lee Jihyun
Published: November 2020

This paper examined the effects of training in creative problem-solving on intelligence. We revisited Stankov’s report on the outcomes of an experiment carried out by R. Kvashchev in former Yugoslavia that reported an IQ increase of seven points, on average, across 28 tests of intelligence. We argue that previous analyses were based on a conservative analytic approach and failed to take into account the reductions in the IQ test variances at the end of the three-years’ training. When standard deviations of the initial test and 2nd retest were pooled in the calculation of the effect sizes, the experimental group’s performance was 10 IQ points higher on average than that of the control group. Further, with the properly defined measures of fluid and crystallized intelligence, the experimental group showed a 15 IQ points higher increase than the control group. We concluded that prolonged intensive training in creative problem-solving can lead to substantial and positive effects on intelligence during late adolescence (ages 18–19).
An Invasive Mussel (Arcuatula senhousia, Benson 1842) Interacts with Resident Biota in Controlling Benthic Ecosystem Functioning
Authors: Bernard Guillaume , Kauppi Laura , Lavesque Nicolas , Ciutat Aurélie , Grémare Antoine , Massé Cécile , Maire Olivier
Published: November 2020

The invasive mussel Arcuatula senhousia has successfully colonized shallow soft sediments worldwide. This filter feeding mussel modifies sedimentary habitats while forming dense populations and efficiently contributes to nutrient cycling. In the present study, the density of A. senhousia was manipulated in intact sediment cores taken within an intertidal Zostera noltei seagrass meadow in Arcachon Bay (French Atlantic coast), where the species currently occurs at levels corresponding to an early invasion stage. It aimed at testing the effects of a future invasion on (1) bioturbation (bioirrigation and sediment mixing) as well as on (2) total benthic solute fluxes across the sediment–water interface. Results showed that increasing densities of A. senhousia clearly enhanced phosphate and ammonium effluxes, but conversely did not significantly affect community bioturbation rates, highlighting the ability of A. senhousia to control nutrient cycling through strong excretion rates with potential important consequences for nutrient cycling and benthic–pelagic coupling at a broader scale. However, it appears that the variability in the different measured solute fluxes were underpinned by different interactions between the manipulated density of A. senhousia and several faunal and/or environmental drivers, therefore underlining the complexity of anticipating the effects of an invasion process on ecosystem functioning within a realistic context.
Spatio-Temporal Variability of Anthropogenic and Natural Wrack Accumulations along the Driftline: Marine Litter Overcomes Wrack in the Northern Sandy Beaches of Portugal
Authors: Guerrero-Meseguer Laura , Veiga Puri , Rubal Marcos
Published: November 2020

Marine litter can end up deposited on sandy beaches and become entangled in the natural wrack, threatening its roles in ecosystems. However, it is currently unknown whether the storage of both artificial and natural accumulations on sandy beaches is correlated. Here, we quantified and compared, by first time, the litter and natural wrack on five sandy beaches in the north of Portugal. Results showed that the amount of marine litter and natural wrack were not correlated. Most of the sandy beaches had more litter than wrack and both artificial and natural accumulations disclosed high spatio-temporal variability. In summer, annual and opportunistic macroalgae dominated the wrack, while the litter was mainly formed by cigarette butts and leftover food. In winter, perennial taxa were more abundant in the wrack and plastics from mussel farming and cotton bud sticks dominated the litter. The macroalga Fucus spp., plastic pieces and materials from fishing were frequent in both periods. This study confirms that, currently, more litter than natural wrack reaches the Northern Portuguese sandy beaches, evidencing the need to take urgent measures against this contamination. Future management measures should consider this spatio-temporal variability to quantify both depositions.