bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Targeting Lactate Metabolism by Inhibiting MCT1 or MCT4 Impairs Leukemic Cell Proliferation, Induces Two Different Related Death-Pathways and Increases Chemotherapeutic Sensitivity of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells
Authors: Saulle Ernestina , Spinello Isabella , Quaranta Maria Teresa , Pasquini Luca , Pelosi Elvira , Iorio Egidio , Castelli Germana , Chirico Mattea , Pisanu Maria Elena , Ottone Tiziana , Voso Maria Teresa , Testa Ugo , Labbaye Catherine
Published: February 2021

Metabolism in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells is dependent primarily on oxidative phosphorylation. However, in order to sustain their high proliferation rate and metabolic demand, leukemic blasts use a number of metabolic strategies, including glycolytic metabolism. Understanding whether monocarboxylate transporters MCT1 and MCT4, which remove the excess of lactate produced by cancer cells, represent new hematological targets, and whether their respective inhibitors, AR-C155858 and syrosingopine, can be useful in leukemia therapy, may reveal a novel treatment strategy for patients with AML. We analyzed MCT1 and MCT4 expression and function in hematopoietic progenitor cells from healthy cord blood, in several leukemic cell lines and in primary leukemic blasts from patients with AML, and investigated the effects of AR-C155858 and syrosingopine, used alone or in combination with arabinosylcytosine, on leukemic cell proliferation. We found an inverse correlation between MCT1 and MCT4 expression levels in leukemic cells, and showed that MCT4 overexpression is associated with poor prognosis in AML patients. We also found that AR-C155858 and syrosingopine inhibit leukemic cell proliferation by activating two different cell-death related pathways, i.e., necrosis for AR-C155858 treatment and autophagy for syrosingopine, and showed that AR-C155858 and syrosingopine exert an anti-proliferative effect, additive to chemotherapy, by enhancing leukemic cells sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents. Altogether, our study shows that inhibition of MCT1 or MCT4 impairs leukemic cell proliferation, suggesting that targeting lactate metabolism may be a new therapeutic strategy for AML, and points to MCT4 as a potential therapeutic target in AML patients and to syrosingopine as a new anti-proliferative drug and inducer of autophagy to be used in combination with conventional chemotherapeutic agents in AML treatment.
Novel Diagnostic Approaches for Assessment of the Clinically Negative Neck in Head and Neck Cancer Patients
Authors: Driessen Daphne A. J. J. , Dijkema Tim , Weijs Willem L. J. , Takes Robert P. , Pegge Sjoert A. H. , Zámecnik Patrik , van Engen-van Grunsven Adriana C. H. , Scheenen Tom W. J. , Kaanders Johannes H. A. M.
Published: February 2021

In head and neck cancer, the presence of nodal disease is a strong determinant of prognosis and treatment. Despite the use of modern multimodality diagnostic imaging, the prevalence of occult nodal metastases is relatively high. This is why in clinically node negative head and neck cancer the lymphatics are treated “electively” to eradicate subclinical tumor deposits. As a consequence, many true node negative patients undergo surgery or irradiation of the neck and suffer from the associated and unnecessary early and long-term morbidity. Safely tailoring head and neck cancer treatment to individual patients requires a more accurate pre-treatment assessment of nodal status. In this review, we discuss the potential of several innovative diagnostic approaches to guide customized management of the clinically negative neck in head and neck cancer patients.
3D Modeling and Printing in Congenital Heart Surgery: Entering the Stage of Maturation
Authors: Yoo Shi Joon , Hussein Nabil , Peel Brandon , Coles John , Arsdell Glen S. van , Honjo Osami , Haller Christoph , Lam Christopher Z. , Seed Mike , Barron David
Published: February 2021

3D printing allows the most realistic perception of the surgical anatomy of congenital heart diseases without the requirement of physical devices such as a computer screen or virtual headset. It is useful for surgical decision making and simulation, hands-on surgical training (HOST) and cardiovascular morphology teaching. 3D-printed models allow easy understanding of surgical morphology and preoperative surgical simulation. The most common indications for its clinical use include complex forms of double outlet right ventricle and transposition of the great arteries, anomalous systemic and pulmonary venous connections, and heterotaxy. Its utility in congenital heart surgery is indisputable, although it is hard to “scientifically” prove the impact of its use in surgery because of many confounding factors that contribute to the surgical outcome. 3D-printed models are valuable resources for morphology teaching. Educational models can be produced for almost all different variations of congenital heart diseases, and replicated in any number. HOST using 3D-printed models enables efficient education of surgeons in-training. Implementation of the HOST courses in congenital heart surgical training programs is not an option but an absolute necessity. In conclusion, 3D printing is entering the stage of maturation in its use for congenital heart surgery. It is now time for imagers and surgeons to find how to effectively utilize 3D printing and how to improve the quality of the products for improved patient outcomes and impact of education and training.
Health Literacy and Quality of Life in Young Adults From The Belgian Crohn's Disease Registry Compared to Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Carels Constance , Wauters Lucas , Outtier An , Baert Filip , Bossuyt Peter , Colard Arnaud , De Looze Danny , Ferrante Marc , Goegebuer Alexander , Hauser Bruno , Hilbrands Robert , Hoffman Ilse , Keymeulen Bart , Paquot Isabelle , Ruytjens Isabelle , Simoens Marc , Thienpont Clara , Verreth Annelies , Verstockt Bram , Vermeire Séverine , Veereman Gigi
Published: February 2021

Background and Aims: The management of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases in youth is challenging. We aimed to determine health literacy (HL), quality of life (QoL) and clinical outcomes in young adults from the BELgian CROhn's disease registry (BELCRO) in comparison to type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) as a control.

Methods: In this prospective and observational study, young adults with Crohn's disease (CD) diagnosed < 18 years and with > 5 years disease duration and a comparable group of patients with DM completed validated HL, QoL and work productivity and activity impairment questionnaires (HLS-EU-Q16, EQ-5D-5L and WPAI). HL was scored as sufficient (13–16), problematic (9–12) or inadequate (0–8). QoL was dichotomized into “no problems” (EQ-5D level 1) or “problems” (EQ-5D levels 2 to 5). Non-parametric (Mann-Whitney U) analyses and Spearman correlations were performed.

Results: A total of 52 CD (median [IQR] age of 25.0 [23.8-27.0], 64% male) and 50 DM (age 20.0 [19.0-22.0], 50% male) patients were included. HL was 14.0 [11.0-16.0] for CD and 14.0 [11.3-14.8] for DM (p = 0.6) with similar proportions of sufficient (60 vs. 68%, p = 0.4), problematic (34 vs. 26%, p = 0.3) and inadequate HL (both 6%, p = 1). Although QoL was comparable for CD and DM (77.0 [68.8-82.0] vs. 75.0 [65.0-80.0] %, p =0.4), CD had a trend for higher pain/discomfort (50 vs. 32%, p = 0.06). HL and QoL correlated in CD (r = 0.6, p < 0.001) and DM patients (r = 0.6, p < 0.001). Fewer CD patients with recent hospitalization/surgery had sufficient HL (31 vs. 69%, p = 0.01) and had lower QoL (70.0 [60.0-77.0] vs. 80.0 [70.0-85.0], p = 0.04) compared to those without.

Conclusions: Selected young Belgian adults suffering from CD for >5 years have similar and sufficient HL compared to DM patients. However, CD patients requiring hospitalization/surgery have lower HL, which indicates the need for targeted educational programs.
Hospitalization Expenditures and Out-Of-Pocket Expenses in Patients With Stroke in Northeast China, 2015–2017: A Pooled Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ma Zihua , Deng Gongman , Meng Zhaolin , Wu Huazhang
Published: February 2021

Background: Stroke is the second most common cause of mortality worldwide and the leading cause of death in China. It imposes a heavy financial burden on patients, especially for some social groups that are vulnerable to economic risks.

Objective: This study aimed to comprehensively assess the magnitude of hospital and out-of-pocket (OOP) costs associated with stroke in Northeast China.

Methods: Patients were selected via a multistage stratified cluster random sampling approach. We reviewed all patients’ records from 39 hospitals across six cities in Liaoning Province between 2015 and 2017. Cost characteristics of four major stroke types were analyzed. Multivariate linear regression analyses were employed to examine the determinants of hospitalization costs and OOP expenses.

Results: A total of 138,757 patients were assessed for the medical costs. The mean hospitalization costs were $1,627, while the mean OOP expenses were $691, accounting for 42.5% of the total expenditures. Medication expenses were the largest contributor to hospitalization costs. The regression analysis suggested that age, length of stay (LOS), social identity, type of stroke, surgery, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, hospital level and hospital type were significantly correlated with hospitalization costs and OOP expenses.

Conclusion: Stroke imposes a heavy financial burden on both patients and society in Liaoning Province, Northeast China. Results showed that there are some differences in the individual and social economic burden among different types of stroke. In addition, stroke patients share a high proportion of costs through OOP expenses, especially for poor social-economic status patients. Targeted intervention measures and specific policies are needed to reduce the individual and social economic burden of stroke as well as improve equity in health care among different social groups.
Several FDA-Approved Drugs Effectively Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Infection in vitro
Authors: Xiong Hua-Long , Cao Jia-Li , Shen Chen-Guang , Ma Jian , Qiao Xiao-Yang , Shi Tian-Shu , Ge Sheng-Xiang , Ye Hui-Ming , Zhang Jun , Yuan Quan , Zhang Tian-Ying , Xia Ning-Shao
Published: February 2021

To identify drugs that are potentially used for the treatment of COVID-19, the potency of 1403 FDA-approved drugs were evaluated using a robust pseudovirus assay and the candidates were further confirmed by authentic SARS-CoV-2 assay. Four compounds, Clomiphene (citrate), Vortioxetine, Vortioxetine (hydrobromide) and Asenapine (hydrochloride), showed potent inhibitory effects in both pseudovirus and authentic virus assay. The combination of Clomiphene (citrate), Vortioxetine and Asenapine (hydrochloride) is much more potent than used alone, with IC50 of 0.34 μM.
Local Emergence of Peregrine Solitons: Experiments and Theory
Authors: Tikan Alexey , Randoux Stéphane , El Gennady , Tovbis Alexander , Copie Francois , Suret Pierre
Published: February 2021

It has been shown analytically that Peregrine solitons emerge locally from a universal mechanism in the so-called semiclassical limit of the one-dimensional focusing nonlinear Schrödinger equation. Experimentally, this limit corresponds to the strongly nonlinear regime where the dispersion is much weaker than nonlinearity at initial time. We review here evidences of this phenomenon obtained on different experimental platforms. In particular, the spontaneous emergence of coherent structures exhibiting locally the Peregrine soliton behavior has been demonstrated in optical fiber experiments involving either single pulse or partially coherent waves. We also review theoretical and numerical results showing the link between this phenomenon and the emergence of heavy-tailed statistics (rogue waves).
Microscopic Model of Intermediate Phase in Flexible to Rigid Transition
Authors: Pasos-Trejo Aldo Sayeg , Kraemer Atahualpa S.
Published: February 2021

We introduce a lattice gas model with a modified Hamiltonian considering different energy for cycles of connected atoms. The system can be interpreted as a chalcogenide glass with pollutants forming floppy and rigid structures. We consider an energetic penalization for redundant bonds in the network. This penalization allows us to incorporate the topology constraints of rigidity in the network to study the thermodynamics of the system. We observe, depending on the parameter used for the penalization, that the system exhibits a typical first-order phase transition, or a stepped transition between the low and high density while varying the chemical potential. We also observe a hysteresis loop in the density and energy of the system. We use the area of these loops to calculate the irreversible enthalpy. There are two regimes, one where the enthalpy decreases linearly and the other with almost constant enthalpy. As the enthalpy is almost constant and very low, we interpreted this as the intermediate phase of the chalcogenide glasses.
Analysis of Fitness Status Variations of Under-16 Soccer Players Over a Season and Their Relationships With Maturational Status and Training Load
Authors: Nobari Hadi , Silva Ana Filipa , Clemente Filipe Manuel , Siahkouhian Marefat , García-Gordillo Miguel Ángel , Adsuar José Carmelo , Pérez-Gómez Jorge
Published: February 2021

The purposes of this study were (i) to analyze the variations in maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), maximal heart rate (HRmax), heart rate at rest, acceleration, maximal speed, agility, anaerobic sprint test (RAST) of peak power (RPP), RAST of minimum power, RAST of average power (RAP), and RAST of fatigue index (RFI) during the competitive season, using maturation status and accumulated training load as covariates, and (ii) to describe the differences between responders and non-responders in relation to baseline levels. Twenty-three elite players from the same team competing in the national under-16 competitions were evaluated for 20 weeks in period 1 (before league), middle (mid league), and period 2 (after league). The VO2max (p = 0.009), maximal speed (p = 0.001), RPP (p < 0.001), RAP (p < 0.001), and RFI (p < 0.001) significantly changed across the assessment periods. Interestingly, using accumulated training load and maturation status as covariates revealed no statistical significance (p > 0.05). When analyzing responders and non-responders, only HRmax (between periods 1 and 2) showed no differences between the groups. As a conclusion, it can be seen that accumulated training load and maturation status play an important role in the differences observed across the season. Thus, coaches should consider the importance of these two factors to carefully interpret fitness changes in their players and possibly adjust training decisions according to the maturation level of the players.
Sedentary Patterns and Systemic Inflammation: Sex-Specific Links in Older Adults
Authors: Bergens Oscar , Nilsson Andreas , Papaioannou Konstantinos-Georgios , Kadi Fawzi
Published: February 2021

The study aimed to examine sex-specific associations between objectively measured sedentary patterns and pro- and anti-inflammatory biomarkers in older adults when considering the moderating impact of physical activity (PA). Accelerometer-based monitoring of sedentary patterns and PA was conducted in a population of older men (n = 83; age: 67.4 ± 1.5; height: 178.7 ± 6.6 cm; weight: 80.9 ± 10.6 kg) and women (n = 146; age: 67.4 ± 1.6; height: 164.2 ± 6.1 cm; weight: 64.6 ± 10.1 kg) aged 65–70. Blood samples were collected for the assessment of the inflammatory biomarkers C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, IL-18, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression models. Total and bouts of ≥10 min of sedentary time were inversely associated with the anti-inflammatory marker IL-10 in older men (accumulated sedentary time: β = −0.116; bouts: β = −0.099; all p < 0.05). Associations were independent of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and total PA volume. In women, total and bouts of ≥10 min of sedentary time were detrimentally associated with the pro-inflammatory marker fibrinogen (accumulated sedentary time: β = −0.130; bouts: β = −0.085; all p < 0.05). Associations remained between accumulated sedentary time and fibrinogen when adjusting for MVPA and total PA volume. This study highlights sex-specific routes by which sedentary patterns impact on pro- and anti-inflammatory biomarkers in older adults. The findings support efforts to promote accumulation of time spent in PA at the expense of time in sedentary pursuits on low-grade inflammation in older men and women.
Heart Rate Dynamics During Acute Recovery From Maximal Aerobic Exercise in Young Adults
Authors: Berry Nathaniel T. , Bechke Emily , Shriver Lenka H. , Calkins Susan D. , Keane Susan P. , Shanahan Lilly , Wideman Laurie
Published: February 2021

Introduction

Resting heart rate (HRrest), heart rate variability (HRV), and HR recovery (HRR) from exercise provide valuable information about cardiac autonomic control. RR-intervals during acute recovery from exercise (RRrec) are commonly excluded from HRV analyses due to issues of non-stationarity. However, the variability and complexity within these trends may provide valuable information about changes in HR dynamics.

Purpose

Assess the complexity of RRrec and determine what physiologic and demographic information are associated with differences in these indices in young adults.

Methods

RR-intervals were collected throughout maximal treadmill exercise and recovery in young adults (n = 92). The first 5 min of RRrec were (1) analyzed with previously reported methods that use 3-interval lengths for comparison and (2) detrended using both differencing(diff) and polynomial regression(res). The standard deviation of the normal interval (SDNN), root mean square of successive differences (rMSSD), root mean square (RMS) of the residual of regression, and sample entropy (SampEn) were calculated. Repeated measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) tested for differences in these indices for each of the methodological approaches, controlling for race, body fat, peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), and resting HR (HRrest). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results

VO2peak and HRrest were significantly correlated with traditional measures of HRR and the variability surrounding RRrec. SampEndiff and SampEnres were correlated with VO2peak but not HRrest or HRR. The residual-method provided a significantly (p = 0.04) lower mean standard error (MSE) (0.064 ± 0.042) compared to the differencing-method (0.100 ± 0.033).

Conclusions

Complexity analysis of RRrec provides unique information about cardiac autonomic regulation immediately following the cessation of exercise when compared to traditional measures of HRR and both HRrest and VO2peak influence these results.
Lipocalin-2 in Diabetic Complications of the Nervous System: Physiology, Pathology, and Beyond
Authors: Bhusal Anup , Lee Won-Ha , Suk Kyoungho
Published: February 2021

Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) is a 25 kDa secreted protein that belongs to the family of lipocalins, a group of transporters of small hydrophobic molecules such as iron, fatty acids, steroids, and lipopolysaccharide in circulation. LCN2 was previously found to be involved in iron delivery, pointing toward a potential role for LCN2 in immunity. This idea was further validated when LCN2 was found to limit bacterial growth during infections in mice by sequestering iron-laden siderophores. Recently, LCN2 was also identified as a critical regulator of energy metabolism, glucose and lipid homeostasis, and insulin function. Furthermore, studies using Lcn2 knockout mice suggest an important role for LCN2 in several biobehavioral responses, including cognition, emotion, anxiety, and feeding behavior. Owing to its expression and influence on multiple metabolic and neurological functions, there has emerged a great deal of interest in the study of relationships between LCN2 and neurometabolic complications. Thorough investigation has demonstrated that LCN2 is involved in several neurodegenerative diseases, while more recent studies have shown that LCN2 is also instrumental for the progression of diabetic complications like encephalopathy and peripheral neuropathy. Preliminary findings have shown that LCN2 is also a promising drug target and diagnostic marker for the treatment of neuropathic complications from diabetes. In particular, future translational research related to LCN2, such as the development of small-molecule inhibitors or neutralizing antibodies against LCN2, appears essential for exploring its potential as a therapeutic target.
A Feasibility Study on the Use of the Method of Loci for Improving Episodic Memory Performance in Schizophrenia and Non-clinical Subjects
Authors: Sousa Ana Elisa , Mahdid Yacine , Brodeur Mathieu , Lepage Martin
Published: February 2021

We investigated the feasibility of a short intervention using the Method of Loci (MoL), a well-known visuospatial mnemonic, to improve episodic memory recall performance in schizophrenia. The MoL training protocol comprised encoding and recall of two lists of items (words and images), a training session and practice with MoL. Then, participants had the opportunity to put into practice the newly learned MoL and were instructed to encode and recall two new lists of items using. This approach was first validated with healthy individuals (N = 71). Subsequently, five individuals with schizophrenia completed the protocol. Improvement in healthy individuals was observed for the word list (Wilcoxon effect size r = 0.15). No significant memory improvement was denoted in the schizophrenia group, possibly due to participants' difficulties using the method efficiently and due to fatigue. The MoL seems to require episodic memory, working memory monitoring and executive functions, making it suboptimal for a population with impairments in all those domains. Future research should examine the use of other strategies, better suited for individuals with cognitive impairments like those found in schizophrenia.
Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Patients With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Nationwide, Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Hu Je-Ming , Lee Chia-Cheng , Lin Tzu-Chiao , Chung Chi-Hsiang , Chen Chao-Yang , Chang Pi-Kai , Hsiao Cheng-Wen , Sun Chien-An , Tzeng Nian-Sheng , Chien Wu-Chien
Published: February 2021

Background: The association between attention-deficit hypersensitivity disorder (ADHD) and the risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) is, as yet, to be investigated, and thus, we have conducted this nationwide, cohort study to examine the association in patients from Taiwan.

Methods: In this study, 798 individuals with newly diagnosed ADHD and 2,394 (1:3) age-, gender-, and index year- matched controls without ADHD were enrolled, between 2000 and 2013, from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database, a subset of the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. The cumulative incidence of CRC was assessed in each cohort by the Kaplan–Meier method. The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the crude, and the adjusted hazards ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), was conducted to estimate the association between ADHD and CRC.

Results: The Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that the cumulative incidence of CRC was significantly higher in patients with ADHD than in those without it (log rank test, p < 0.001). After adjustments for age, gender, comorbidities, and other covariates, the ADHD group was associated with an increased risk of CRC in comparison to the non-ADHD group (adjusted HR = 3.458, 95% CI = 1.640–7.293, p < 0.001). In addition, the usage of methylphenidate was not associated with the risk of developing CRC in patients with ADHD.

Conclusion: This retrospective cohort study depicts the evidence that ADHD was associated with the increased risk of CRC. Further studies are needed to confirm the association and the underlying mechanisms.
Police Encounters, Agitation, Diagnosis, and Employment Predict Psychiatric Hospitalisation of Intensive Home Treatment Patients During a Psychiatric Crisis
Authors: Barakat Ansam , Blankers Matthijs , Cornelis Jurgen E. , van der Post Louk , Lommerse Nick M. , Beekman Aartjan T. F. , Dekker Jack J. M.
Published: February 2021

Objective: This study aims to determine factors associated with psychiatric hospitalisation of patients treated for an acute psychiatric crisis who had access to intensive home treatment (IHT).

Methods: This study was performed using data from a randomised controlled trial. Interviews, digital health records and eight internationally validated questionnaires were used to collect data from patients on the verge of an acute psychiatric crisis enrolled from two mental health organisations. Thirty-eight factors were assigned to seven risk domains. The seven domains are “sociodemographic”, “social engagement”, “diagnosis and psychopathology”, “aggression”, “substance use”, “mental health services” and “quality of life”. Multiple logistic regression analysis (MLRA) was conducted to assess how much pseudo variance in hospitalisation these seven domains explained. Forward MLRA was used to identify individual risk factors associated with hospitalisation. Risks were expressed in terms of relative risk (RR) and absolute risk difference (ARD).

Results: Data from 183 participants were used. The mean age of the participants was 40.03 (SD 12.71), 57.4% was female, 78.9% was born in the Netherlands and 51.4% was employed. The range of explained variance for the domains related to “psychopathology and care” was between 0.34 and 0.08. The “aggression” domain explained the highest proportion (R2 = 0.34) of the variance in hospitalisation. “Quality of life” had the lowest explained proportion of variance (R2 = 0.05). The forward MLRA identified four predictive factors for hospitalisation: previous contact with the police or judiciary (OR = 7.55, 95% CI = 1.10–51.63; ARD = 0.24; RR = 1.47), agitation (OR = 2.80, 95% CI = 1.02–7.72; ARD = 0.22; RR = 1.36), schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders (OR = 22.22, 95% CI = 1.74–284.54; ARD = 0.31; RR = 1.50) and employment status (OR = 0.10, 95% CI = 0.01–0.63; ARD = −0.28; RR = 0.66).

Conclusion: IHT teams should be aware of patients who have histories of encounters with the police/judiciary or were agitated at outset of treatment. As those patients benefit less from IHT due to the higher risk of hospitalisation. Moreover, type of diagnoses and employment status play an important role in predicting hospitalisation.
A Persons-Centered Approach for Prevention of COVID-19 Disease and Its Impacts in Persons With Disabilities
Authors: Senjam Suraj Singh
Published: February 2021

The World Health Organization (WHO) considers COVID-19 a great threat to humanity and, thus, declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic on March 11, 2020. To limit its transmission, governments announced lockdowns in their respective nations, and recommended control measures, including behavior change. Persons with disabilities (PwDs) are among the population that may be at a higher risk of becoming infected and may suffer serious illness due to COVID-19. Additionally, lockdowns pose immense challenges and have tremendous impacts on PwDs in terms of receiving their daily support. To mitigate these challenges, their impact, and to reduce the risk of infection, it is important to design strategies that can improve the overall outcome for PwDs. This study therefore intends to provide a uniform strategy or guideline using the person-centered approach principles which is perhaps the most feasible and implementable approach to circumvent the challenges faced by PwDs during emergency lockdowns. Two case studies are used as examples. This pandemic also provides an opportunity for health care planners and policymakers in the health sector to implement reforms to ensure disability inclusiveness in potential future emergency lockdowns.
Case Report: Successful Management of Conidiobolus Lamprauges Rhinitis in a Dog
Authors: Jaffey Jared A. , Hostnik Eric T. , Hoffman Aline Rodrigues , Jay Maureen , Ferguson Sylvia H. , Wiederhold Nathan P.
Published: February 2021

This is a case ofConidiobolus lampraugesrhinitis in a Goldendoodle, that was presented for evaluation of sneezing, coughing, lethargy, as well as right-sided epistaxis and clear ocular discharge. Computed tomography revealed a large amount of soft tissue within the right nasal passage that obscured the osseous turbinates from the right maxillary canine tooth to the right side of the choanae. Biopsies revealed eosinophilic granulomas with variable number of basophilic to negatively staining, septate, fungal hyphae with non-parallel walls and irregular branching that were subsequently determined to beConidiobolus lampraugesvia panfungal PCR and sequencing. Complete and sustained resolution of clinical disease was achieved after 75 days of systemic antifungal therapy. This report describes for the first time, important clinical features of a dog with nasal conidiobolomycosis that will facilitate its recognition, prognostication, and treatment in clinical practice.
Analysis of Continuing Airworthiness Occurrences under the Prism of a Learning Framework
Authors: Clare James , Kourousis Kyriakos I.
Published: February 2021

In this research paper fifteen mandatory occurrence reports are analysed. The purpose of this is to highlight the learning potential incidents such as these may possess for organisations involved in aircraft maintenance and continuing airworthiness management activities. The outputs from the mandatory occurrence reports are aligned in tabular form for ease of inclusion in human factors’ continuation training material. A new incident learning archetype is also introduced, which intends to represent how reported incidents can be managed and translated into lessons in support of preventing event recurrence. This ‘learning product’ centric model visually articulates activities such as capturing the reported information, establishing causation and the iterative nature of developing a learning product.
Occurrence and Distribution of Major Viruses Infecting Eggplant in Lebanon and Molecular Characterization of a Local Potato Virus X Isolate
Authors: Abou Kubaa Raied , Choueiri Elia , De Stradis Angelo , Jreijiri Fouad , Saponari Maria , Cillo Fabrizio
Published: February 2021

This research was carried out in order to evaluate the presence and distribution of viral infections causing severe disease in eggplant plants collected from different districts in Bekaa valley, Lebanon. Most infected plants showed virus-like symptoms consisting predominantly of leaf blotch, mottling chlorotic and ring spots; leaf twisting and plant dwarf were also observed in the visited fields. Symptomatic and asymptomatic plants were collected and screened by ELISA test for the presence of several different pathogenic viruses potentially present in the area. Results showed that potato virus Y (PVY) was the most prevalent virus found by ELISA (detected in the 15.3% of the tested plants), followed by eggplant mottled dwarf virus (EMDV, 2.9%) and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV, 1.2%), while tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) and pepper mottle virus (PepMoV) were not detected. Biological indexing of symptomatic ELISA-negative plants, followed by electron microscopy, indicated the presence of virus-like particles of the genus Potexvirus, which was subsequently confirmed as potato virus X (PVX) by RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. PVX was found in 35.3% of the tested plants, all sampled in the northern Bekaa area. In a phylogenetic analysis, the partial coat protein gene sequence of a selected Lebanese isolate, PVX-AK1, clustered together with other PVX isolates from Asia. Furthermore, the 124-aa sequence of PVX-AK1 shared 100% identity with PVX-UK3, an isolate which is known as avirulent in potato genotypes carrying either Nx or Rx resistance genes. This work revealed a picture of the previously uninvestigated phytosanitary status of eggplant crops in an important horticultural area of Lebanon.
Can Organic Amendments Improve Soil Physical Characteristics and Increase Maize Performances in Contrasting Soil Water Regimes?
Authors: Sisouvanh Phimmasone , Trelo-ges Vidhaya , Isarangkool Na Ayutthaya Supat , Pierret Alain , Nunan Naoise , Silvera Norbert , Xayyathip Khampaseuth , Hartmann Christian
Published: February 2021

Organic amendments are believed to help increase the soil carbon storage and therefore improve soil quality, which may be important in the context of climate change. However, the added value of organic amendments for farmers must be clearly demonstrated in order to convince them of the utility of their use. The aims of this study were: (i) to investigate the impact on maize of compost and vermicompost combined with two levels (negligible and significant) of plant water stress; and (ii) to determine how the organic amendments affected the soil’s physical properties and maize productivity. Water stress levels were imposed by controlling the matric potential of soil columns in which cultivated soil characteristics was mimicked (10 cm topsoil with organic amendments, above a 50 cm subsoil without any inputs containing the majority of the roots). Plant and soil characteristics were monitored daily for 70 days. Our results show that the use of organic amendments is profitable for farmers as: (i) maize performances were increased in both moisture regimes; and (ii) the improvement was particularly striking in terms of yield. No additional benefits were measured when using vermicompost instead of compost. The data suggest that the improvement in plant characteristics did not result from increased water storage in the soils with organic amendments, but rather from better access to the water, resulting in faster root development in the macroporosity of the amended soils.
Germination Parameters of Selected Summer Weeds: Transferring of the AlertInf Model to Other Geographical Regions
Authors: Šoštarčić Valentina , Masin Roberta , Loddo Donato , Brijačak Ema , Šćepanović Maja
Published: February 2021

Effective weed management depends on correct control timing, which depends on seedling emergence dynamics. Since soil temperature and soil moisture are the two main factors that determine weed germination, the hydrothermal time model can be used to predict their emergence. The aim of this study was to estimate the base temperature (Tb) and base water potential (Ψb) for the germination of Chenopodium album, Amaranthus retroflexus, Setaria pumila, and Panicum capillare collected from fields in continental Croatia and then to compare these values with those of Italian populations embedded in the AlertInf model. Germination tests were performed at seven constant temperatures (ranging from 4 to 27 °C) and eight water potentials (0.00–1.00 MPa). The estimated Tb and Ψb were 3.4 °C and −1.38 MPa for C. album, 13.9 °C and −0.36 MPa for A. retroflexus, 6.6 °C and −0.71 MPa for S. pumila, and 11.0 °C and −0.87 MPa for P. capillare, respectively. According to the criterion of overlap of the 95% confidence intervals, only the Tb of C. album and the Ψb of A. retroflexus of the Croatian and Italian populations were similar. Further field experiments should be conducted to monitor the weed emergence patterns of C. album and calibrate the AlerInf equation parameters.
Dietary Polyphenol Supplementation in Food Producing Animals: Effects on the Quality of Derived Products
Authors: Serra Valentina , Salvatori Giancarlo , Pastorelli Grazia
Published: February 2021

The growing interest in producing healthier animal products with a higher ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids, is associated with an increase in lipoperoxidation. For this reason, it is essential to attenuate oxidative deterioration in the derived products. Natural antioxidants such as polyphenols represent a good candidate in this respect. The first part of the review highlights the occurrence, bioavailability, and the role of polyphenols in food-producing animals that, especially in intensive systems, are exposed to stressful situations in which oxidation plays a crucial role. The second part offers an overview of the effects of polyphenols either supplemented to the diet of monogastric and ruminants or added directly to meat and dairy products on the physicochemical and sensorial properties of the product. From this review emerges that polyphenols play an important, though not always clear, role in the quality of meat and meat products, milk and dairy products. It cannot be ruled out that different compounds or amounts of polyphenols may lead to different results. However, the inclusion of agro-industrial by-products rich in polyphenols, in animal feed, represents an innovative and alternative source of antioxidants as well as being useful in reducing environmental and economic impact.
The Cat Mandible (I): Anatomical Basis to Avoid Iatrogenic Damage in Veterinary Clinical Practice
Authors: Lombardero Matilde , Alonso-Peñarando Diana , Yllera María del Mar
Published: February 2021

Cats are one of our favourite pets in the home. They differ considerably from dogs but are usually treated clinically as small dogs, despite some anatomical and physiological dissimilarities. Their mandible is small and has some peculiarities relative to the dentition (only three incisors, a prominent canine, two premolars and one molar); a conical and horizontally oriented condyle, and a protudent angular process in its ventrocaudal part. Most of the body of the mandible is occupied by the mandibular dental roots and the mandibular canal that protects the neurovascular supply: the inferior alveolar artery and vein, and the inferior alveolar nerve that exits the mandible rostrally as the mental nerves. They irrigate and innervate all the teeth and associated structures such as the lips and gingiva. Tooth roots and the mandibular canal account for up to 70% of the volume of the mandibular body. Consequently, when fractured it is difficult to repair without invading the dental roots or vascular structures. Gaining a comprehensive anatomical knowledge and good clinical practice (such as image diagnosis before and post-surgery) will help in the awareness and avoidance of iatrogenic complications in day-to-day feline clinical practice.
Effects of Human Presence and Voice on the Behaviour of Shelter Dogs and Cats: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Tuozzi Adele , Arhant Christine , Anderle Kristina , Backes Jessica , Cords Catherine , Magierski Viola , Rault Jean-Loup , Windschnurer Ines
Published: February 2021

Reading books to shelter animals combining auditory enrichment with human presence is increasingly used although its effects on animal welfare have not yet been investigated. This study compared the behaviour of single-housed shelter dogs and cats during a prerecorded reading condition in the absence or presence of an unfamiliar human (without direct physical contact). Fourteen dogs and twenty-one cats were observed in their enclosure in the two conditions in a counterbalanced order. Behaviours such as scratching the door, gaze direction and location in relation to the audio source/human were analysed from video recording for 10 min per condition. Dogs spent more time in their bed (p < 0.047) and looking at the auditory source (p < 0.004) when a human was present. Cats showed door scratching and rubbing when a human was present (p < 0.043), whereas they tended to spend more time in the vertical dimension (p = 0.051), where the hiding boxes were located, during auditory stimulation without a human present. These results show that the presence of a human induces greater interest compared to just audio stimulation in shelter dogs and cats but may induce frustration likely due to not being able to physically interact in some animals.
Are Severe Mastitis Cases in Dairy Cows Associated with Bacteremia?
Authors: Brennecke Julia , Falkenberg Ulrike , Wente Nicole , Krömker Volker
Published: February 2021

The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of bacteremia in dairy cows with severe mastitis. Milk samples were collected from affected udder quarters, and corresponding blood samples were collected from dairy cows with severe mastitis at the time of diagnosis before any therapeutic measures were undertaken. The cultural detection of pathogens in blood classified a bacteremia. Further diagnostic tests were performed to provide evidence of bacteremia. This was realized by PCR with regard to S. aureus, E. coli and S. uberis and the Limulus test. Detection of culturable pathogens in the blood of cows with severe clinical mastitis was rare and occurred in only one of 70 (1.4%) cases. Overall, bacterial growth was detected in 53 of 70 (75.7%) milk samples. S. uberis (22/70), E. coli (12/70) and S. aureus (4/70) were the most frequently isolated pathogens from milk of cows with severe mastitis. PCR was performed in 38 of 70 (54.3%) blood samples. PCR was positive in eight of 38 cases. S. uberis was found most frequently in six blood samples (8.6%). E. coli was found on PCR in one blood sample (1.4%). S. aureus was identified in one blood sample (1.4%). When Coliforms were detected in the quarter milk sample, a Limulus test was performed in the corresponding blood sample. In three of 15 cases, the Limulus test was positive (4.3% of samples). Further studies are needed to investigate the occurrence of bacteremia in cows with severe mastitis in a higher population size.
Tunability of the Nonlinear Interferometer Method for Anchoring Constructive Interference Patterns on the ITU-T Grid
Authors: Park Kyungdeuk , Lee Dongjin , Shin Heedeuk
Published: February 2021

Recently, a method of engineering the quantum states with a nonlinear interferometer was proposed to achieve precise state engineering for near-ideal single-mode operation and near-unity efficiency (L. Cui et al., Phys. Rev. A 102, 033718 (2020)), and the high-purity bi-photon states can be created without degrading brightness and collection efficiency. Here, we study the coarse or fine tunability of the nonlinear interference method to match constructive interference patterns into a transmission window of standard 100-GHz DWDM channels. The joint spectral intensity spectrum is measured for various conditions of the nonlinear interference effects. We show that the method has coarse- and fine-tuning ability while maintaining its high spectral purity. We expect that our results expand the usefulness of the nonlinear interference method. The photon-pair generation engineered via this method will be an excellent practical source of the quantum information process.
Prediction of Wide Range Two-Dimensional Refractivity Using an IDW Interpolation Method from High-Altitude Refractivity Data of Multiple Meteorological Observatories
Authors: Wang Sungsik , Lim Tae Heung , Oh Kyoungsoo , Seo Chulhun , Choo Hosung
Published: February 2021

This article proposes a method for the prediction of wide range two-dimensional refractivity for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) applications, using an inverse distance weighted (IDW) interpolation of high-altitude radio refractivity data from multiple meteorological observatories. The radio refractivity is extracted from an atmospheric data set of twenty meteorological observatories around the Korean Peninsula along a given altitude. Then, from the sparse refractive data, the two-dimensional regional radio refractivity of the entire Korean Peninsula is derived using the IDW interpolation, in consideration of the curvature of the Earth. The refractivities of the four seasons in 2019 are derived at the locations of seven meteorological observatories within the Korean Peninsula, using the refractivity data from the other nineteen observatories. The atmospheric refractivities on 15 February 2019 are then evaluated across the entire Korean Peninsula, using the atmospheric data collected from the twenty meteorological observatories. We found that the proposed IDW interpolation has the lowest average, the lowest average root-mean-square error (RMSE) of ∇M (gradient of M), and more continuous results than other methods. To compare the resulting IDW refractivity interpolation for airborne SAR applications, all the propagation path losses across Pohang and Heuksando are obtained using the standard atmospheric condition of ∇M = 118 and the observation-based interpolated atmospheric conditions on 15 February 2019. On the terrain surface ranging from 90 km to 190 km, the average path losses in the standard and derived conditions are 179.7 dB and 182.1 dB, respectively. Finally, based on the air-to-ground scenario in the SAR application, two-dimensional illuminated field intensities on the terrain surface are illustrated.
Train Wheel Condition Monitoring via Cepstral Analysis of Axle Box Accelerations
Authors: Baasch Benjamin , Heusel Judith , Roth Michael , Neumann Thorsten
Published: February 2021

Continuous wheel condition monitoring is indispensable for the early detection of wheel defects. In this paper, we provide an approach based on cepstral analysis of axle-box accelerations (ABA). It is applied to the data in the spatial domain, which is why we introduce a new data representation called navewumber domain. In this domain, the wheel circumference and hence the wear of the wheel can be monitored. Furthermore, the amplitudes of peaks in the navewumber domain indicate the severity of possible wheel defects. We demonstrate our approach on simple synthetic data and real data gathered with an on-board multi-sensor system. The speed information obtained from fusing global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and inertial measurement unit (IMU) data is used to transform the data from time to space. The data acquisition was performed with a measurement train under normal operating conditions in the mainline railway network of Austria. We can show that our approach provides robust features that can be used for on-board wheel condition monitoring. Therefore, it enables further advances in the field of condition based and predictive maintenance of railway wheels.
Source-Based Size-Resolved Optical Properties of Carbonaceous Aerosols
Authors: Jung Chang Hoon , Han Sang Hee , Lee Ji Yi , Kim Yong Pyo
Published: February 2021

In this study, the source-based optical properties of polydisperse carbonaceous aerosols were determined from PM2.5 concentrations measured at a Global Atmospheric Watch station in South Korea. The extinction and absorption coefficients of carbonaceous aerosols were calculated using the Mie theory and assuming a lognormal size distribution. Based on the mass concentration from the EPA’s Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) receptor model, which considers five source identification and apportionment factors (biogenic source, local biomass burning, secondary organic aerosol, transported biomass burning, and mixed sources), the source-based size-resolved mass extinction and absorption efficiencies were estimated for each source using a multilinear regression model. The results show that the source-based optical properties depend on the aerosol size and physicochemical characteristics of the chemical compounds. The long-range transport of biomass burning (LBB) aerosol, which has a mass concentration of 20%, holds a 12.1–23.1% total extinction efficiency—depending on the size and refractive index—in the range of 0.1–0.5 μm in geometric mean diameter and humic-like substances (HULIS) imaginary refractive index of 0.006–0.3. Biogenic sources of aerosols with small diameters have higher mass absorption efficiencies (MAE) than other sources, depending on the size and refractive index.