bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
OmiEmbed: A Unified Multi-Task Deep Learning Framework for Multi-Omics Data
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyu , Xing Yuting , Sun Kai , Guo Yike
Published: June 2021

High-dimensional omics data contain intrinsic biomedical information that is crucial for personalised medicine. Nevertheless, it is challenging to capture them from the genome-wide data, due to the large number of molecular features and small number of available samples, which is also called “the curse of dimensionality” in machine learning. To tackle this problem and pave the way for machine learning-aided precision medicine, we proposed a unified multi-task deep learning framework named OmiEmbed to capture biomedical information from high-dimensional omics data with the deep embedding and downstream task modules. The deep embedding module learnt an omics embedding that mapped multiple omics data types into a latent space with lower dimensionality. Based on the new representation of multi-omics data, different downstream task modules were trained simultaneously and efficiently with the multi-task strategy to predict the comprehensive phenotype profile of each sample. OmiEmbed supports multiple tasks for omics data including dimensionality reduction, tumour type classification, multi-omics integration, demographic and clinical feature reconstruction, and survival prediction. The framework outperformed other methods on all three types of downstream tasks and achieved better performance with the multi-task strategy compared to training them individually. OmiEmbed is a powerful and unified framework that can be widely adapted to various applications of high-dimensional omics data and has great potential to facilitate more accurate and personalised clinical decision making.
Gene Expression Changes Associated with Dedifferentiation in Liposarcoma Predict Overall Survival
Authors: Shannon Nicholas Brian , Tan Qiu Xuan , Tan Joey Wee-Shan , Hendrikson Josephine , Ng Wai Har , Ng Gillian , Liu Ying , Tan Grace Hwei Ching , Wong Jolene Si Min , Soo Khee Chee , Teo Melissa Ching Ching , Chia Claramae Shulyn , Ong Chin-Ann Johnny
Published: June 2021

Up to 10% of well-differentiated liposarcoma (WDLS) progress to dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLS). We aimed to identify gene expression changes associated with dedifferentiation and whether these were informative of tumour biology of DDLS. We analysed datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO, ID = GSE30929) database to identify differentially expressed genes between WDLS (n = 52) and DDLS (n = 39). We validated the signature on whole and laser-capture microdissected samples from patients with tumours consisting of mixed WDLS and DDLS components. A subset of this signature was applied to an independent dataset from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA, n = 58 DDLS) database to segregate samples based on gene expression and compared for recurrence and overall survival (OS). A 15-gene signature consisting of genes with increased expression in DDLS compared to WDLS was generated. This signature segregated WDLS and DDLS samples from patients with mixed component tumours and across multiple recurrences. A further subset of this signature, consisting of five genes (AQP7, ACACB, FZD4, GPD1, LEP), segregated DDLS in a TCGA cohort with a significant difference in OS (p = 0.019) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) (p = 0.061). The five-gene model stratified DDLS into prognostic groups and outperformed clinical factors in existing models in retroperitoneal DDLS.
Automated Quantification of sTIL Density with H&E-Based Digital Image Analysis Has Prognostic Potential in Triple-Negative Breast Cancers
Authors: Thagaard Jeppe , Stovgaard Elisabeth Specht , Vognsen Line Grove , Hauberg Søren , Dahl Anders , Ebstrup Thomas , Doré Johan , Vincentz Rikke Egede , Jepsen Rikke Karlin , Roslind Anne , Kümler Iben , Nielsen Dorte , Balslev Eva
Published: June 2021

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancer type that represents approximately 15% of all breast cancers. Recently, stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (sTIL) resurfaced as a strong prognostic biomarker for overall survival (OS) for TNBC patients. Manual assessment has innate limitations that hinder clinical adoption, and the International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group (TIL-WG) has therefore envisioned that computational assessment of sTIL could overcome these limitations and recommended that any algorithm should follow the manual guidelines where appropriate. However, no existing studies capture all the concepts of the guideline or have shown the same prognostic evidence as manual assessment. In this study, we present a fully automated digital image analysis pipeline and demonstrate that our hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-based pipeline can provide a quantitative and interpretable score that correlates with the manual pathologist-derived sTIL status, and importantly, can stratify a retrospective cohort into two significant distinct prognostic groups. We found our score to be prognostic for OS (HR: 0.81 CI: 0.72–0.92 p = 0.001) independent of age, tumor size, nodal status, and tumor type in statistical modeling. While prior studies have followed fragments of the TIL-WG guideline, our approach is the first to follow all complex aspects, where appropriate, supporting the TIL-WG vision of computational assessment of sTIL in the future clinical setting.
Selective Catalytic Oxidation of Lean-H2S Gas Stream to Elemental Sulfur at Lower Temperature
Authors: Barba Daniela , Vaiano Vincenzo , Palma Vincenzo
Published: June 2021

Ceria-supported vanadium catalysts were studied for H2S removal via partial and selective oxidation reactions at low temperature. The catalysts were characterized by N2 adsorption at 77 K, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction techniques, and X-ray fluorescence analysis. X-ray diffraction and Raman analysis showed a good dispersion of the V-species on the support. A preliminary screening of these samples was performed at fixed temperature (T = 327 °C) and H2S inlet concentration (10 vol%) in order to study the catalytic performance in terms of H2S conversion and SO2 selectivity. For the catalyst that exhibited the higher removal efficiency of H2S (92%) together with a lower SO2 selectivity (4%), the influence of temperature (307–370 °C), contact time (0.6–1 s), and H2S inlet concentration (6–15 vol%) was investigated.
Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus-Based Therapies for Cancer
Authors: Aldrak Norah , Alsaab Sarah , Algethami Aliyah , Bhere Deepak , Wakimoto Hiroaki , Shah Khalid , Alomary Mohammad N. , Zaidan Nada
Published: June 2021

With the increased worldwide burden of cancer, including aggressive and resistant cancers, oncolytic virotherapy has emerged as a viable therapeutic option. Oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) can be genetically engineered to target cancer cells while sparing normal cells. This leads to the direct killing of cancer cells and the activation of the host immunity to recognize and attack the tumor. Different variants of oHSV have been developed to optimize its antitumor effects. In this review, we discuss the development of oHSV, its antitumor mechanism of action and the clinical trials that have employed oHSV variants to treat different types of tumor.
Neuroprotective Effects of Physical Activity via the Adaptation of Astrocytes
Authors: Maugeri Grazia , D’Agata Velia , Magrì Benedetta , Roggio Federico , Castorina Alessandro , Ravalli Silvia , Di Rosa Michelino , Musumeci Giuseppe
Published: June 2021

The multifold benefits of regular physical exercise have been largely demonstrated in human and animal models. Several studies have reported the beneficial effects of physical activity, both in peripheral tissues and in the central nervous system (CNS). Regular exercise improves cognition, brain plasticity, neurogenesis and reduces the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases, making timeless the principle of “mens sana in corpore sano” (i.e., a healthy mind in a healthy body). Physical exercise promotes morphological and functional changes in the brain, acting not only in neurons but also in astrocytes, which represent the most numerous glial cells in the brain. The multiple effects of exercise on astrocytes comprise the increased number of new astrocytes, the maintenance of basal levels of catecholamine, the increase in glutamate uptake, the major release of trophic factors and better astrocytic coverage of cerebral blood vessels. The purpose of this review is to highlight the effects of exercise on brain function, emphasize the role of astrocytes in the healthy CNS, and provide an update for a better understanding of the effects of physical exercise in the modulation of astrocyte function.
Profiling of Extracellular Small RNAs Highlights a Strong Bias towards Non-Vesicular Secretion
Authors: Sork Helena , Conceicao Mariana , Corso Giulia , Nordin Joel , Lee Yi Xin Fiona , Krjutskov Kaarel , Orzechowski Westholm Jakub , Vader Pieter , Pauwels Marie , Vandenbroucke Roosmarijn E. , Wood Matthew JA , EL Andaloussi Samir , Mäger Imre
Published: June 2021

The extracellular environment consists of a plethora of molecules, including extracellular miRNA that can be secreted in association with extracellular vesicles (EVs) or soluble protein complexes (non-EVs). Yet, interest in therapeutic short RNA carriers lies mainly in EVs, the vehicles conveying the great majority of the biological activity. Here, by overexpressing miRNA and shRNA sequences in parent cells and using size exclusion liquid chromatography (SEC) to separate the secretome into EV and non-EV fractions, we saw that >98% of overexpressed miRNA was secreted within the non-EV fraction. Furthermore, small RNA sequencing studies of native miRNA transcripts revealed that although the abundance of miRNAs in EVs, non-EVs and parent cells correlated well (R2 = 0.69–0.87), quantitatively an outstanding 96.2–99.9% of total miRNA was secreted in the non-EV fraction. Nevertheless, though EVs contained only a fraction of secreted miRNAs, these molecules were stable at 37 °C in a serum-containing environment, indicating that if sufficient miRNA loading is achieved, EVs can remain delivery-competent for a prolonged period of time. This study suggests that the passive endogenous EV loading strategy might be a relatively wasteful way of loading miRNA to EVs, and active miRNA loading approaches are needed for developing advanced EV miRNA therapies in the future.
Clinical Characterization of a 6-Year-Old Patient with Autism and Two Adjacent Duplications on 10q11.22q11.23. A Case Report
Authors: Tritto Giovanna , Ricca Ivana , Turi Marco , Gemma Andrea , Muratori Filippo , Scarano Gioacchino , Lonardo Fortunato
Published: June 2021

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder presenting in the first 3 years of life. Deficits occur in the core areas of social communication and interaction and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities. The causes of autism are unknown, but clinical genetic studies show strong evidence in favor of the involvement of genetic factors in etiology. Molecular genetic studies report some associations with candidate genes, and candidate regions have emerged from several genome-wide linkage studies. Here, we report a clinical case of autism in a 6-year-old boy with double duplication on 10q11.22q11.23 with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), intellectual disability, developmental delay, hypotonia, gross-motor skills deficit, overgrowth and mild dysmorphic features. In the literature, only five cases of ASD with 10q11.21q11.23 duplication are reported. This is the first extensive clinical description of an ASD subject with 10q11.22q11.23 duplication. Our findings suggest that 10q11.21q11.23 microduplication could represent a copy number variant that predisposes to autism.
Effect of Assembly Unit of Expansive Agents on the Mechanical Performance and Durability of Cement-Based Materials
Authors: Wang Lin , Shu Chunxue , Jiao Tiantian , Han Yong , Wang Hui
Published: June 2021

This paper studies the influence of assembly unit of expansive agents (CaO and calcium sulphoaluminate) on the limited and free compressive strengths, the limited expansion rate, carbonation resistance, chloride ion penetration resistance and corrosion resistance of reinforcement concrete. The dosages of expansive agent were 0%, 3%, 6%, 9%, and 12% by the total amount of cementitious materials. Two kinds of mineral admixture (blast furnace slag and fly ash) were applied in this study. Results show that suitable dosage (lower than or equal to 9%) of double expansion agent with a large amount of mineral admixtures can improve the limited and free compressive strengths. However, when the dosage of the double expansion agent is higher than 9%, the addition of the double expansion agent leads to the reduction of limited and free compressive strengths. The variation of the limit expansion rate reaches the maximum value when the curing age is 14 days. The increasing addition of expansive agents and lower water-binder ratio demonstrate positive effect on the limited expansion rate. Concrete with 60% mineral admixtures (fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag) shows lower limited expansion rate and higher compressive strength than the concrete with 50% mineral admixtures. Finally, the incorporation of double expansion agent can improve the resistance to carbonation, chloride ion penetration resistance, anti-corrosion of steel bars and mechanical strengths (the limited and free compressive strengths).
Tribological Behaviour of Graphene Nanoplatelets as Additive in Pongamia Oil
Authors: Jason Yeoh Jun Jie , How Heoy Geok , Teoh Yew Heng , Sher Farooq , Chuah Hun Guan , Teh Jun Sheng
Published: June 2021

This study investigated the tribological behaviour of Pongamia oil (PO) and 15W–40 mineral engine oil (MO) with and without the addition of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). The friction and wear characteristics were evaluated in four-ball anti-wear tests according to the ASTM D4172 standard. The morphology of worn surfaces and the lubrication mechanism of GNPs were investigated via SEM and EDS. This study also focuses on the tribological effect of GNP concentration at various concentrations. The addition of 0.05 wt % GNPs in PO and MO exhibits the lowest friction and wear with 17.5% and 12.24% friction reduction, respectively, and 11.96% and 5.14% wear reduction, respectively. Through SEM and EDS surface analysis, the surface enhancement on the worn surface by the polishing effect of GNPs was confirmed. The deposition of GNPs on the friction surface and the formation of a protective film prevent the interacting surfaces from rubbing, resulting in friction and wear reduction.
Seasonal Signals Observed in Non-Contact Long-Term Road Texture Measurements
Authors: Edmondson Vikki , Martin James , Ardill Owen , Lim Michael , Kane Malal , Woodward John
Published: June 2021

Texture is required on road pavements for safe vehicle braking and manoeuvres. This paper provides a unique analysis of long-term texture obtained using traffic speed condition survey (TRACS) data from 14 sites, located along a north to south transect spanning the longest highway in the UK. A total of 19 years of sensor measured texture depth (SMTD) data have been analyzed using spatial filtering techniques and compared with meteorological and traffic datasets. The results for hot rolled asphalt (HRA) surfaces reveal that changes to SMTD follow a linearly increasing trend with time. The “rate of change” is influenced by the order of magnitude of annual average daily traffic (AADT), when factored for the percentage of heavy goods vehicles. This linear trend is disrupted by environmental parameters, such as rainfall events and seasonal conditioning. In the summer, this signal is evident as a transient peak in the “rate of change” of texture greater than 0.04 mm, and in the winter as a reduction. The transient changes in texture corresponded to above average rainfall occurring in the week prior to SMTD measurement. The signal observed demonstrates an inverse pattern to the classically understood seasonal variation of skid resistance in the UK, where values are low in the summer and high in the winter. The findings demonstrate for the first time that texture measurements experience a seasonal signal, and provide compelling evidence pointing toward surface processes (such as polishing and the wetting and drying of surface contaminants) causing changes to texture that are affecting seasonal variation in skid resistance.
Discrete Coating of CNT on Carbon Fiber Surfaces and the Effect on Improving the Electrochemical Performance of VRFB Systems
Authors: Tai Zhongxu , Ju Dongying , Sato Susumu , Hanawa Kenzo
Published: June 2021

Carbon fiber, as an electrode material, has been widely used in all-vanadium liquid flow batteries. In order to further reduce the size of the all-vanadium storage system, it is imperative to increase the current density of the battery and to achieve high conductivity and large electrostatic capacitance. The graphitization of the electrode material and the improvement in the specific surface area of the electrode surface also greatly affect the performance of all-vanadium redox liquid flow batteries. Therefore, in this paper, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with a small diameter and a large specific surface area were coated on the electrode surface of the VRFB system by the dispersion method to improve the cell performance. The performance of the surface-modified electrode was also verified by Raman spectroscopy, XRD and SEM surface observations and charge/discharge experiments.
Chalcogen S∙∙∙S Bonding in Supramolecular Assemblies of Cadmium(II) Coordination Polymers with Pyridine-Based Ligands
Authors: Matijaković Mlinarić Nives , Penić Nikolina , Kukovec Boris-Marko , Đaković Marijana
Published: June 2021

Two cadmium(II) coordination polymers, with thiocyanate and pyridine-based ligands e.g., 3-acetamidopyridine (3-Acpy) and niazid (nicotinic acid hydrazide, nia), namely one-dimensional {[Cd(SCN)2(3-Acpy)]}n (1) and two-dimensional {[Cd(SCN)2(nia)]}n (2), are prepared in the mixture of water and ethanol. The adjacent cadmium(II) ions in 1 are bridged by two N,S-thiocyanate ions and an N,O-bridging 3-Acpy molecule, forming infinite one-dimensional polymeric chains, which are assembled by the intermolecular N–H∙∙∙S hydrogen bonds in one direction and by the intermolecular S∙∙∙S chalcogen bonds in another direction. Within the coordination network of 2, the adjacent cadmium(II) ions are bridged by N,S-thiocyanate ions in one direction and by N,O,N’-chelating and bridging nia molecules in another direction. The coordination networks of 2 are assembled by the intermolecular N–H∙∙∙S and N–H∙∙∙N hydrogen bonds and S∙∙∙S chalcogen bonds. Being the only supramolecular interactions responsible for assembling the polymer chains of 1 in the particular direction, the chalcogen S∙∙∙S bonds are more significant in the structure of 1, whilst the chalcogen S∙∙∙S bonds which act in cooperation with the N–H∙∙∙S and N–H∙∙∙N hydrogen bonds are of less significance in the structure of 2.
Optomechanically Induced Transparency and Slow–Fast Light Effect in Hybrid Cavity Optomechanical Systems
Authors: Liao Qinghong , Bao Weida , Xiao Xing , Nie Wenjie , Liu Yongchun
Published: June 2021

We theoretically investigate the optomechanically induced transparency (OMIT) phenomenon and the fast and slow light effects of a four-mode optomechanical system with the Kerr medium. The optomechanical system is composed of an array of three single-mode cavities and a mechanical oscillator. The three cavities are a passive cavity, a no-loss-gain cavity and a gain optical cavity, respectively. A Kerr medium is inserted in the passive cavity. We study the influence of the Kerr medium on the stability of the optomechanical system, and find that the stable regime of the optomechanical system can be adjusted by changing the Kerr coefficient. We demonstrate that the phenomenon of optomechanically induced transparency will appear when the Kerr medium exists in the optomechanical system and find that the frequency position of the absorption peak on the left increases linearly with the Kerr coefficient. In addition, we also investigate the fast and slow light effects in this system. The results show that we can control the fast and slow light by adjusting the Kerr coefficient, tunneling strength, and driving field strength. This study has potential application prospects in the fields of quantum optical devices and quantum information processing.
The Effect of Climate and Human Pressures on Functional Diversity and Species Richness Patterns of Amphibians, Reptiles and Mammals in Europe
Authors: Tsianou Mariana A. , Lazarina Maria , Michailidou Danai-Eleni , Andrikou-Charitidou Aristi , Sgardelis Stefanos P. , Kallimanis Athanasios S.
Published: June 2021

The ongoing biodiversity crisis reinforces the urgent need to unravel diversity patterns and the underlying processes shaping them. Although taxonomic diversity has been extensively studied and is considered the common currency, simultaneously conserving other facets of diversity (e.g., functional diversity) is critical to ensure ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services. Here, we explored the effect of key climatic factors (temperature, precipitation, temperature seasonality, and precipitation seasonality) and factors reflecting human pressures (agricultural land, urban land, land-cover diversity, and human population density) on the functional diversity (functional richness and Rao’s quadratic entropy) and species richness of amphibians (68 species), reptiles (107 species), and mammals (176 species) in Europe. We explored the relationship between different predictors and diversity metrics using generalized additive mixed model analysis, to capture non-linear relationships and to account for spatial autocorrelation. We found that at this broad continental spatial scale, climatic variables exerted a significant effect on the functional diversity and species richness of all taxa. On the other hand, variables reflecting human pressures contributed significantly in the models even though their explanatory power was lower compared to climatic variables. In most cases, functional richness and Rao’s quadratic entropy responded similarly to climate and human pressures. In conclusion, climate is the most influential factor in shaping both the functional diversity and species richness patterns of amphibians, reptiles, and mammals in Europe. However, incorporating factors reflecting human pressures complementary to climate could be conducive to us understanding the drivers of functional diversity and richness patterns.
Predictive Evaluation on Cytological Sample of Metastatic Melanoma: The Role of BRAF Immunocytochemistry in the Molecular Era
Authors: Ronchi Andrea , Montella Marco , Zito Marino Federica , Caraglia Michele , Grimaldi Anna , Argenziano Giuseppe , Moscarella Elvira , Brancaccio Gabriella , Troiani Teresa , Napolitano Stefania , Franco Renato , Cozzolino Immacolata
Published: June 2021

Background: Cutaneous malignant melanoma is an aggressive neoplasm. In advanced cases, the therapeutic choice depends on the mutational status of BRAF. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNA) is often applied to the management of patients affected by melanoma, mainly for the diagnosis of metastases. The evaluation of BRAF mutational status by sequencing technique on cytological samples may be inconvenient, as it is a time and biomaterial-consuming technique. Recently, BRAF immunocytochemistry (ICC) was applied for the evaluation of BRAF V600E mutational status. Although it may be useful mainly in cytological samples, data about BRAF ICC on cytological samples are missing. Methods: We performed BRAF ICC on a series of 50 FNA samples of metastatic melanoma. BRAF molecular analysis was performed on the same cytological samples or on the corresponding histological samples. Molecular analysis was considered the gold standard. Results: BRAF ICC results were adequate in 49 out of 50 (98%) cases, positive in 15 out of 50 (30%) cases and negative in 34 out of 50 (68%) of cases. Overall, BRAF ICC sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value results were 88.2%, 100%, 100% and 94.1%, respectively. The diagnostic performance of BRAF ICC results was perfect when molecular evaluation was performed on the same cytological samples. Hyperpigmentation represents the main limitation of the technique. Conclusions: BRAF ICC is a rapid, cost-effective method for detecting BRAF V600E mutation in melanoma metastases, applicable with high diagnostic performance to cytological samples. It could represent the first step to evaluate BRAF mutational status in cytological samples, mainly in poorly cellular cases.
Aortic Origins of the Celiac Trunk and Superior Mesenteric Artery
Authors: Rusu Mugurel Constantin , Jianu Adelina Maria , Manta Bogdan Adrian , Hostiuc Sorin
Published: June 2021

(1) Background. The vertebral level of origin (VLO) of the celiac trunk (CT) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) has been scarcely investigated. (2) Method. This study used 107 computed tomography angiograms and an eleven type grading system to classify the VLO of the CT and SMA. Each of the T12–L2 vertebra were divided in three horizontal levels. The intervertebral discs were considered distinct levels. (3) Results. The VLO of the CT ranged from the upper third of the T12 vertebra to the lower third of the L1 vertebra. The VLO of the SMA ranged from the lower third of the T12 vertebra to the upper third of the L2 vertebra. There was a highly significant association between the VLO of the CT and SMA (Chi2 = 201, p < 0.001), usually respecting a “plus two” rule. The mean CT–SMA distance was 1.82 +/− 0.66 cm in males and 1.55 +/− 0.411 cm in females, the difference being statistically significant. The mean CT–SMA distance tended to decrease with increasing CT–SMA types, the differences being statistically significant. (4) Conclusions. These characteristics of CT and SMA origins and their relations should be known by surgeons, as they could impact operative management and should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Computer-Aided Detection False Positives in Colonoscopy
Authors: Hsieh Yu-Hsi , Tang Chia-Pei , Tseng Chih-Wei , Lin Tu-Liang , Leung Felix W.
Published: June 2021

Randomized control trials and meta-analyses comparing colonoscopies with and without computer-aided detection (CADe) assistance showed significant increases in adenoma detection rates (ADRs) with CADe. A major limitation of CADe is its false positives (FPs), ranked 3rd in importance among 59 research questions in a modified Delphi consensus review. The definition of FPs varies. One commonly used definition defines an FP as an activation of the CADe system, irrespective of the number of frames or duration of time, not due to any polypoid or nonpolypoid lesions. Although only 0.07 to 0.2 FPs were observed per colonoscopy, video analysis studies using FPs as the primary outcome showed much higher numbers of 26 to 27 per colonoscopy. Most FPs were of short duration (91% < 0.5 s). A higher number of FPs was also associated with suboptimal bowel preparation. The appearance of FPs can lead to user fatigue. The polypectomy of FPs results in increased procedure time and added use of resources. Re-training the CADe algorithms is one way to reduce FPs but is not practical in the clinical setting during colonoscopy. Water exchange (WE) is an emerging method that the colonoscopist can use to provide salvage cleaning during insertion. We discuss the potential of WE for reducing FPs as well as the augmentation of ADRs through CADe.
Listeria Monocytogenes Brain Abscesses in a Patient with Disseminated Non-Small Cellular Lung Cancer: MRI Findings
Authors: Simonsen Anders Lykkemark , Shekhrajka Nitesh , Hertz Frederik Boëtius , Helweg-Larsen Jannik , Bengård Andersen Åse , Lebech Anne-Mette
Published: June 2021

Brain abscesses caused by Listeria monocytogenes (LM) are very rare and carry a high mortality risk. We present a patient with disseminated non-small cellular lung cancer (NSCLC) and multiple unusual LM brain abscesses. These abscesses have multiple elongated peripherally enhancing lesions in a characteristic formation that is “worm or tramtrack-like” following the white matter fiber tracts.
Tactile Sensor Data Interpretation for Estimation of Wire Features
Authors: Cirillo Andrea , Laudante Gianluca , Pirozzi Salvatore
Published: June 2021

At present, the tactile perception is essential for robotic applications when performing complex manipulation tasks, e.g., grasping objects of different shapes and sizes, distinguishing between different textures, and avoiding slips by grasping an object with a minimal force. Considering Deformable Linear Object manipulation applications, this paper presents an efficient and straightforward method to allow robots to autonomously work with thin objects, e.g., wires, and to recognize their features, i.e., diameter, by relying on tactile sensors developed by the authors. The method, based on machine learning algorithms, is described in-depth in the paper to make it easily reproducible by the readers. Experimental tests show the effectiveness of the approach that is able to properly recognize the considered object’s features with a recognition rate up to 99.9%. Moreover, a pick and place task, which uses the method to classify and organize a set of wires by diameter, is presented.
Intelligent Optimization Mechanism Based on an Objective Function for Efficient Home Appliances Control in an Embedded Edge Platform
Authors: Xu Rongxu , Jin Wenquan , Hong Yonggeun , Kim Do-Hyeun
Published: June 2021

In recent years the ever-expanding internet of things (IoT) is becoming more empowered to revolutionize our world with the advent of cutting-edge features and intelligence in an IoT ecosystem. Thanks to the development of the IoT, researchers have devoted themselves to technologies that convert a conventional home into an intelligent occupants-aware place to manage electric resources with autonomous devices to deal with excess energy consumption and providing a comfortable living environment. There are studies to supplement the innate shortcomings of the IoT and improve intelligence by using cloud computing and machine learning. However, the machine learning-based autonomous control devices lack flexibility, and cloud computing is challenging with latency and security. In this paper, we propose a rule-based optimization mechanism on an embedded edge platform to provide dynamic home appliance control and advanced intelligence in a smart home. To provide actional control ability, we design and developed a rule-based objective function in the EdgeX edge computing platform to control the temperature states of the smart home. Compared to cloud computing, edge computing can provide faster response and higher quality of services. The edge computing paradigm provides better analysis, processing, and storage abilities to the data generated from the IoT sensors to enhance the capability of IoT devices concerning computing, storage, and network resources. In order to satisfy the paradigm of distributed edge computing, all the services are implemented as microservices. The microservices are connected to each other through REST APIs based on the constrained IoT devices to provide all the functionalities that accomplish a trade-off between energy consumption and occupant-desired environment setting for the smart home appliances. We simulated our proposed system to control the temperature of a smart home; through experimental findings, we investigated the application against the delay time and overall memory consumption by the embedded edge system of EdgeX. The result of this research work suggests that the implemented services operated efficiently in the raspberry pi 3 hardware of IoT devices.
A 1-V 7th-Order SC Low-Pass Filter for 77-GHz Automotive Radar in 28-nm FD-SOI CMOS
Authors: Parisi Alessandro , Papotto Giuseppe , Ragonese Egidio , Palmisano Giuseppe
Published: June 2021

This paper presents a switched capacitor low-pass filter in a 28-nm fully depleted silicon on insulator CMOS technology for 77-GHz automotive radar applications. It is operated at a power supply as low as 1 V and guarantees 5-dB in-band voltage gain while providing out-of-band attenuation higher than 36 dB and a programmable passband up to 30 MHz. A double sampling technique is adopted, which allows high operating frequency to be achieved while saving power. Moreover, low-voltage biasing and common-mode feedback circuits are exploited to guarantee an almost rail-to-rail output voltage swing. The proposed filter provides an output 1-dB compression point as high as 8.7 dBm with a power consumption of 9 mW. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first SC-based implementation of a low pass filter for automotive radar applications.
Control and Validation of a Reinforced Power Conversion System for Upcoming Bioelectrochemical Power to Gas Stations
Authors: Shahparasti Mahdi , Rajaei Amirhossein , Tarraso Andres , Vidal Leon Romay Jose David , Luna Alvaro
Published: June 2021

This paper presents a proposal for potential bioelectrochemical power to gas stations. It consists of a two-level voltage source converter interfacing the electrical grid on the AC side and an electromethanogenesis based bioelectrochemical system (EMG-BES) working as a stacked module on the DC side. The proposed system converts CO2 and electrical energy into methane, using wastewater as the additional chemical energy input. This energy storage system can contribute to dampening the variability of renewables in the electrical network, provide even flexibility and grid services by controlling the active and reactive power exchanged and is an interesting alternative technology in the market of energy storage for big energy applications. The big challenge for controlling this system lays in the fact that the DC bus voltage of the converter has to be changed in order to regulate the exchanged active power with the grid. This paper presents a cascade approach to control such a system by means of combining external control loops with fast inner loops. The outer power loop, with a proportional-integral (PI) controller with special limitation values and anti-windup capability, is used to generate DC bus voltage reference. An intermediate loop is used for DC bus voltage regulation and current reference generation. A new proportional resonant controller is used to track the current reference. The proposed scheme has been validated through real-time simulation in OPAL OP4510.
Far Wake and Its Relation to Aerodynamic Efficiency
Authors: Gunasekaran Sidaard , Altman Aaron
Published: June 2021

Correlations were found between the aerodynamic efficiency and the mean and fluctuating quantities in the far wake of a wall-to-wall SD7003 model and an AR 4 flat plate. This correlation was described algebraically by modeling the wake signature as a function of wing geometry and initial conditions. The model was benchmarked against experimental results to elicit the wing performance as a function of angle of attack by interrogating the wake. In these algebraic models, the drag coefficient along with other initial conditions of the turbulent generator (either airfoil or wing) were used to reconstruct the Reynolds Stress distribution and the momentum deficit distribution in the turbulent wake. Experiments were undertaken at the United States Air Force Research Labs Horizontal Free Surface Water Tunnel (AFRL/HFWT). These experiments build on previous results obtained at the University of Dayton Low Speed Wind Tunnel (UD-LSWT) on a cylinder, an AR 7 SD7062 wing, and a small remote control twin motor aircraft. The Reynolds stress and the momentum deficit of the turbulent generators were experimentally determined using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) with a minimum of 1000 image pairs averaged at each condition. The variation of an empirical factor (γ) used to match the Reynolds stress and momentum deficit distributions showed striking correlation to the variation of drag and aerodynamic efficiency of the turbulent generator. This correlation suggests that the wing performance information is preserved in the free shear layer 10 chord lengths downstream of the trailing edge (TE) of the wing irrespective of the dimensionality of the flow.
Effect of Long-Term Nitrogen and Phosphorus Additions on Understory Plant Nutrients in a Primary Tropical Forest
Authors: Mao Qinggong , Chen Hao , Wang Cong , Pang Zongqing , Mo Jiangming , Lu Xiankai
Published: June 2021

Humid tropical forests are commonly characterized as N-rich but P-deficient. Increased N deposition may drive N saturation and aggravate P limitation in tropical forests. Thus, P addition is proposed to mitigate the negative effects of N deposition by stimulating N cycling. However, little is known regarding the effect of altered N and P supply on the nutrient status of understory plants in tropical forests, which is critical for predicting the consequences of disturbed nutrient cycles. We assessed the responses of N concentration, P concentration, and N:P ratios of seven understory species to N and P addition in an 8-year fertilization experiment in a primary forest in south China. The results showed that N addition had no effect on plant N concentration, P concentration, and N:P ratios for most species. In contrast, P addition significantly increased P concentration, and decreased N:P ratios but had no effect on plant N concentration. The magnitude of P concentration responses to P addition largely depended on the types of organs and species. The increased P was more concentrated in the fine roots and branches than in the leaves. The gymnospermous liana Gnetum montanum Markgr. had particularly lower foliar N: P (~9.8) and was much more responsive to P addition than the other species studied. These results indicate that most plants are saturated in N but have great potential to restore P in primary tropical forests. N deposition does not necessarily aggravate plant P deficiency, and P addition does not increase the retention of deposited N by increasing the N concentration. In the long term, P inputs may alter the community composition in tropical forests owing to species-specific responses.
Development of Genomic SSR for the Subtropical Hardwood Tree Dalbergia hupeana and Assessment of Their Transferability to Other Related Species
Authors: Li Changhong , Zheng Yongqi , Liu Yu , Lin Furong , Huang Ping
Published: June 2021

Dalbergia hupeana Hance (D. hupeana) is a precious hardwood tree of the genus Dalbergia. It is one of the few species widely distributed within subtropical areas and is important for timber production and forest restoration. At present, there is little published genetic information on D. hupeana. Therefore, we performed a genome survey using next generation sequencing (NGS) and developed a set of novel genomic SSR (gSSR) markers from the assembled data, and assessed the transferability of these markers to other Dalbergia species in Asia. The results of the genome survey show the genome size of D. hupeana to be about 664 Mb and highly heterozygous. The assembly of sequencing data produced 2,431,997 contigs, and the initial assembly of the NGS data alone resulted in contig N50 of 393 kb with a total of 720 Mb. A total of 127,742 perfect SSR markers were found in the assembled contigs. A total of 37 highly polymorphic and easily genotyped gSSR markers were developed in D. hupeana, while the majority of gSSR markers could be successfully transferred to nine other Dalbergia species in Asia. The transferability rate of gSSR markers was highest in D. balansae, which is more closely related to D. hupeana. Seven gSSR markers were able to be amplified in all tested species. In addition, a preliminary assessment of the genetic diversity of three tree species in the Dalbergia genus suggested a high level of genetic diversity within populations distributed in the subtropical area in China. However, the determination of the global status of their genetic variation still requires further and more comprehensive assessment. Our findings will enable further studies on the genetic diversity, phylogenetics, germplasm characterization, and taxonomy of various Dalbergia species.
Effects of Soil Properties and Plant Diversity on Soil Microbial Community Composition and Diversity during Secondary Succession
Authors: Shang Ruiguang , Li Shuaifeng , Huang Xiaobo , Liu Wande , Lang Xuedong , Su Jianrong
Published: June 2021

Soil microbial communities play an important role in maintaining the ecosystem during forest secondary succession. However, the underlying mechanisms that drive change in soil microbial community structures during secondary succession remain poorly defined in species-rich subtropical coniferous forests. In this study, Illumina high-throughput sequencing was used to analyze the variations in soil microbial community structures during forest secondary succession in subtropical coniferous forests in China. The role of soil properties and plant diversity in affecting soil bacterial and fungal communities was determined using random forest and structural equation models. Highly variable soil microbial diversity was observed in different stages of secondary succession. Bacterial community diversity rose from early to middle and late successional stages, whereas fungal community diversity increased from early to middle successional stages and then declined in the late stage. The relative abundance of Acidobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Eremiobacterota(WPS-2), Rokubacteria, and Mortierellomycota increased during succession, whereas the relative abundance of Ascomycota and Mucoromycota decreased. The community composition and diversity of the soil microbial community were remarkably influenced by plant diversity and soil properties. Notably, tree species richness (TSR) displayed a significant and direct correlation to the composition and diversity of both bacterial and fungal communities. The carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio had a direct impact on the bacterial community composition and diversity, and pH had a marked impact on the fungal community composition and diversity. Furthermore, succession stage and plant diversity indirectly impacted the composition and diversity of soil bacterial and fungal communities via soil properties. Overall, it can be concluded that soil intrinsic properties and plant diversity might jointly drive the changes in soil microbial community composition and diversity during secondary succession of subtropical coniferous forests.
Assessing Biomass Removal and Woody Debris in Whole-Tree Harvesting System: Are the Recommended Levels of Residues Ensured?
Authors: Bessaad Abdelwahab , Bilger Isabelle , Korboulewsky Nathalie
Published: June 2021

Forest biomass is a sustainable source of renewable energy and a valuable alternative to finite fossil fuels. However, its overharvesting may lead to soil nutrient depletion and threaten future stand productivity, as well as affect the habitat for biodiversity. This paper provides quantitative data on biomass removal, fine woody debris [d ≤ 7 cm], and coarse woody debris [d > 7 cm] left on the forest floor in whole tree harvesting systems. Using tree allometric equations and inventory field methods for woody debris estimation, we assessed biomass removal on nine fuelwood harvesting sites in Central France, as well as fine and coarse woody debris left on the sites. The aboveground biomass estimates showed a high variability between the studied sites, it varied between 118 and 519 Mg ha−1. However, less variability was found among sites managed as coppice-with-standards 174 ± 56 Mg ha−1. Exported biomass was 107 ± 42 Mg ha−1 on average, including 35 ± 9% of fine wood. The amounts of both fine and coarse woody debris left on sites were generally less than 10% of the total harvested biomass in 2/3 of the studied sites. These amounts are lower than the minimum retention levels recommended by the sustainable forest biomass harvesting guidelines. Therefore, more technical effort and additional management measures should be taken to ensure more woody debris, especially in poor forest soils and thus, to guarantee a sustainable biomass harvesting.
6G Opportunities Arising from Internet of Things Use Cases: A Review Paper
Authors: Barakat Basel , Taha Ahmad , Samson Ryan , Steponenaite Aiste , Ansari Shuja , Langdon Patrick M. , Wassell Ian J. , Abbasi Qammer H. , Imran Muhammad Ali , Keates Simeon
Published: June 2021

The race for the 6th generation of wireless networks (6G) has begun. Researchers around the world have started to explore the best solutions for the challenges that the previous generations have experienced. To provide the readers with a clear map of the current developments, several review papers shared their vision and critically evaluated the state of the art. However, most of the work is based on general observations and the big picture vision, and lack the practical implementation challenges of the Internet of Things (IoT) use cases. This paper takes a novel approach in the review, as we present a sample of IoT use cases that are representative of a wide variety of its implementations. The chosen use cases are from the most research-active sectors that can benefit from 6G and its enabling technologies. These sectors are healthcare, smart grid, transport, and Industry 4.0. Additionally, we identified some of the practical challenges and the lessons learned in the implementation of these use cases. The review highlights the cases’ main requirements and how they overlap with the key drivers for the future generation of wireless networks.
Preliminary Investigation of Different Drying Systems to Preserve Hydroxytyrosol and Its Derivatives in Olive Oil Filter Cake Pressurized Liquid Extracts
Authors: López-Salas Lucía , Cea Inés , Borrás-Linares Isabel , Emanuelli Tatiana , Robert Paz , Segura-Carretero Antonio , Lozano-Sánchez Jesús
Published: June 2021

Phenolic compounds present in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) could be retained in its byproducts during processing. Among them, hydroxytyrosol and its derivatives deserve special attention due to their health benefits recognized by The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). In the present research, the presence of these compounds in the filter cake byproduct was studied by combining pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-TOF-MS). The applied optimum extraction parameters were 1500 psi, 120 °C and aqueous ethanol (50:50, v/v). The influence of different drying methods (vacuum-, freeze- and spray-drying) in the recovery of phenolic compounds was also evaluated. A total of 16 compounds from EVOO were identified in the extracts, 3 of them being hydroxytyrosol-related compounds, 6 substances of oleoside and elenolic acid derivatives, together with 6 secoiridoids and 1 lignan. The results highlighted the great number of phenolic compounds recovered from filter cake with these techniques, being even higher than the reported content in EVOO and other byproducts. The combination of PLE and freeze-drying resulted in being the best procedure for the recovery of phenolic compounds from filter cake byproduct.