bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcriptome Analysis of Testicular Aging in Mice
Authors: Han Gwidong , Hong Seong-Hyeon , Lee Seung-Jae , Hong Seung-Pyo , Cho Chunghee
Published: October 2021

Male reproductive aging, or andropause, is associated with gradual age-related changes in testicular properties, sperm production, and erectile function. The testis, which is the primary male reproductive organ, produces sperm and androgens. To understand the transcriptional changes underlying male reproductive aging, we performed transcriptome analysis of aging testes in mice. A total of 31,386 mRNAs and 9387 long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were identified in the mouse testes of diverse age groups (3, 6, 12, and 18 months old) by total RNA sequencing. Of them, 1571 mRNAs and 715 lncRNAs exhibited changes in their levels during testicular aging. Most of these aging-related transcripts exhibited slight and continuous expression changes during aging, whereas some (9.6%) showed larger expression changes. The aging-related transcripts could be classified into diverse expression patterns, in which the transcripts changed mainly at 3–6 months or at 12–18 months. Our subsequent in silico analysis provided insight into the potential features of testicular aging-related mRNAs and lncRNAs. We identified testis-specific aging-related transcripts (121 mRNAs and 25 lncRNAs) by comparison with a known testis-specific transcript profile, and then predicted the potential reproduction-related functions of the mRNAs. By selecting transcripts that are altered only between 3 and 18 months, we identified 46 mRNAs and 34 lncRNAs that are stringently related to the terminal stage of male reproductive aging. Some of these mRNAs were related to hormonal regulation. Finally, our in silico analysis of the 34 aging-related lncRNAs revealed that they co-localized with 19 testis-expressed protein-coding genes, 13 of which are considered to show testis-specific or -predominant expression. These nearby genes could be potential targets of cis-regulation by the aging-related lncRNAs. Collectively, our results identify a number of testicular aging-related mRNAs and lncRNAs in mice and provide a basis for the future investigation of these transcripts in the context of aging-associated testicular dysfunction.
Hyaluronan-Based Gel Promotes Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells Bone Differentiation by Activating YAP/TAZ Pathway
Authors: La Noce Marcella , Stellavato Antonietta , Vassallo Valentina , Cammarota Marcella , Laino Luigi , Desiderio Vincenzo , Del Vecchio Vitale , Nicoletti Giovanni Francesco , Tirino Virginia , Papaccio Gianpaolo , Schiraldi Chiara , Ferraro Giuseppe Andrea
Published: October 2021

Background: Hyaluronans exist in different forms, accordingly with molecular weight and degree of crosslinking. Here, we tested the capability to induce osteogenic differentiation in hDPSCs (human dental pulp stem cells) of three hyaluronans forms: linear pharmaceutical-grade hyaluronans at high and (HHA) low molecular weight (LHA) and hybrid cooperative complexes (HCC), containing both sizes. Methods: hDPSCs were treated with HHA, LHA, HCC for 7, 14 and 21 days. The effects of hyaluronans on osteogenic differentiation were evaluated by qRT-PCR and WB of osteogenic markers and by Alizarin Red S staining. To identify the involved pathway, CD44 was analyzed by immunofluorescence, and YAP/TAZ expression was measured by qRT-PCR. Moreover, YAP/TAZ inhibitor-1 was used, and the loss of function of YAP/TAZ was evaluated by qRT-PCR, WB and immunofluorescence. Results: We showed that all hyaluronans improves osteogenesis. Among these, HCC is the main inducer of osteogenesis, along with overexpression of bone related markers and upregulating CD44. We also found that this biological process is subordinate to the activation of YAP/TAZ pathway. Conclusions: We found that HA’s molecular weight can have a relevant impact on HA performance for bone regeneration, and we unveil a new molecular mechanism by which HA acts on stem cells.
Preschool Executive Functioning and Child Behavior: Association with Learning Prerequisites?
Authors: Ruffini Costanza , Marzocchi Gian , Pecini Chiara
Published: October 2021

Preschool age is a golden period for the emergence of executive functions (EFs) that, in turn, predict learning and adaptive behavior throughout all life. The study was aimed to identify which EFs measures significantly explained the learning prerequisites and the mediation role of self-regulatory and executive behavior recorded in structured or free settings. One hundred and twenty-seven preschoolers were remotely assessed by standardized tests of response inhibition, working memory, control of interference, and cognitive flexibility. Teachers provided a global measure of learning prerequisites by an observational questionnaire. Self-regulatory behavior during the assessment was evaluated by a rating scale filled by the examiners. Executive function behavior in daily life was measured by a questionnaire filled by parents. Accuracy in tasks of response inhibition and working memory explained about 48% of the variability in learning prerequisites while response speed and accuracy in the control of interference and in cognitive flexibility were not significant. EFs also had indirect effects, mediated by the child’s self-regulatory behavior evaluated during the assessment but not in daily life. The results are interpreted with respect to the contribution of the main EF components to school readiness and the mediation of the child behavior as measured in structure contexts.
Theoretical Investigation on the Friction Behavior of Bio-Inspired Hard-Soft-Integrated Materials
Authors: Wang Mi , Yang Wei , Cui Hao , Yang Shu-Chen , Liu Zhen-Ning , Lu Guo-Long
Published: October 2021

Structural biological materials with integrated soft and hard phases are ubiquitous in nature. Over recent decades, bio-inspired hard-soft-integrated materials (BHSIMs) have shown excellent mechanical properties of drag reduction and abrasion resistance. This work is proposed to investigate the friction behaviors of BHSIMs via theoretical modeling, numerical simulation and experimental verification. First, the mathematical model of the friction process was established based on the classic adhesive friction theory. Then, a range of factors in the friction process were examined by simulation and the respective friction coefficients were discussed. Subsequently bio-inspired materials with integrated soft and hard layers were prepared by 3D printing and their friction coefficients were measured by experiments, which had verified the results of theoretical analyses.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Luminescent Properties of a New Holmium(III) Coordination Polymer Involving 2,5-Dihydroxy-1,4-terephthalic Acid Dianion as Ligand
Authors: Li Jiaqi , Dun Linan , Zeng Fanming , Li Chun , Su Zhongmin
Published: October 2021

A novel coordination polymer {[Ho2(DHTA)3(H2O)5]·H2O}n (1) was synthesized by hydrothermal synthesis (DHTA = 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-terephthalic acid anion). The crystallographic data show that complex 1 crystallizes in a triclinic system with space group P1¯, with a = 9.6617(17) Å, b = 11.902(2) Å, c = 13.284(2) Å, α = 100.617(3)°, β = 92.765(2)°, γ = 106.715(2)°, V = 1429.6(4) Å3, Z = 2, C24H24O24Ho2, and Mr = 1026.290. Complex 1 contains two eight-coordinated metal centers Ho(III). The TGA results show that the weight loss can be ascribed to the removal of the organic component from 400 to 650 °C. At the temperature above 650 °C, the residue is Holmium(III) oxide (Ho2O3). The luminescent results reveal that the complex has potential application as a new green luminescence material.
Deep Learning-Based Artificial Intelligence System for Automatic Assessment of Glomerular Pathological Findings in Lupus Nephritis
Authors: Zheng Zhaohui , Zhang Xiangsen , Ding Jin , Zhang Dingwen , Cui Jihong , Fu Xianghui , Han Junwei , Zhu Ping
Published: October 2021

Accurate assessment of renal histopathology is crucial for the clinical management of patients with lupus nephritis (LN). However, the current classification system has poor interpathologist agreement. This paper proposes a deep convolutional neural network (CNN)-based system that detects and classifies glomerular pathological findings in LN. A dataset of 349 renal biopsy whole-slide images (WSIs) (163 patients with LN, periodic acid-Schiff stain, 3906 glomeruli) annotated by three expert nephropathologists was used. The CNN models YOLOv4 and VGG16 were employed to localise the glomeruli and classify glomerular lesions (slight/severe impairments or sclerotic lesions). An additional 321 unannotated WSIs from 161 patients were used for performance evaluation at the per-patient kidney level. The proposed model achieved an accuracy of 0.951 and Cohen’s kappa of 0.932 (95% CI 0.915–0.949) for the entire test set for classifying the glomerular lesions. For multiclass detection at the glomerular level, the mean average precision of the CNN was 0.807, with ‘slight’ and ‘severe’ glomerular lesions being easily identified (F1: 0.924 and 0.952, respectively). At the per-patient kidney level, the model achieved a high agreement with nephropathologist (linear weighted kappa: 0.855, 95% CI: 0.795–0.916, p < 0.001; quadratic weighted kappa: 0.906, 95% CI: 0.873–0.938, p < 0.001). The results suggest that deep learning is a feasible assistive tool for the objective and automatic assessment of pathological LN lesions.
Monte Carlo Tree Search as a Tool for Self-Learning and Teaching People to Play Complete Information Board Games
Authors: Gonzalo-Cristóbal Víctor , Núñez-Valdez Edward Rolando , García-Díaz Vicente , González García Cristian , Cotarelo Alba , Gómez Alberto
Published: October 2021

Artificial intelligence allows computer systems to make decisions similar to those of humans. However, the expert knowledge that artificial intelligence systems have is rarely used to teach non-expert humans in a specific knowledge domain. In this paper, we want to explore this possibility by proposing a tool which presents and explains recommendations for playing board games generated by a Monte Carlo Tree Search algorithm combined with Neural Networks. The aim of the aforementioned tool is to showcase the information in an easily interpretable way and to effectively transfer knowledge: in this case, which movements should be avoided, and which action is recommended. Our system displays the state of the game in the form of a tree, showing all the movements available from the current state and a set of their successors. To convince and try to teach people, the tool offers a series of queries and all information available about every possible movement. In addition, it produces a brief textual explanation for those which are recommended or not advisable. To evaluate the tool, we performed a series of user tests, observing and assessing how participants learn while using this system.
Single-Stage Wireless Battery Charging Circuit with Coupling Coefficient Prediction
Authors: Lee Sang-Won , Cho Young-Kyun
Published: October 2021

This paper proposes a single-stage wireless battery charging circuit with a coupling coefficient prediction method. The proposed circuit consists of only two stages: full bridge inverter with transmitter coil in the first stage and full bridge rectifier with receiver coil in the second stage. This circuit implements the constant current (CC) charging mode at the resonant frequency of two coils and the constant voltage (CV) charging mode at a specific frequency that is dependent on the coupling coefficient of two coils. The operation at a specific frequency guarantees the CV operation regardless of load condition and reduces the switching losses than the operation at the resonant frequency owing to a zero-voltage switching (ZVS) operation. In CC-CV modes, the phase-shift technique is additionally applied to improve the output voltage/current regulation. Unlike other approaches, the proposed single-stage wireless battery charging circuit does not require multiple stages of power conversion, or additional components, a pre-measured coupling coefficient or a complex control algorithm for CC-CV charging operation. The prototype proposed circuit was tested under various coil alignment conditions, and successfully implemented the CC-CV charging operation for a 36 V battery pack. The predicted coupling coefficient had an error of ≤0.62% in the coil alignment condition, and the circuit had errors of ≤0.32%, ≤0.1% in the output current and voltage regulation, respectively.
Influence of Plunger Stress on Resilient Modulus of Forest Subgrade Soils Obtained from Cyclic CBR Test
Authors: Ševelová Lenka , Florian Aleš , Žák Jaroslav
Published: October 2021

The low load-bearing capacity of subgrade soils is typical for forest roads. For the determination of the resilient modulus Mr of unbound natural as well as recycled materials, a laboratory triaxial test with cyclic loading is generally preferred. For low volume roads, including forest roads, an alternative method of the cyclic CBR test, which uses standard CBR devices for repeated loading, is being tested and applied in practice. For forest subgrade soils, the procedure for determining the modulus Mr based on cyclic loading of the specimen to a constant penetration depth of 2.54 mm was verified. This procedure was tested on an extensive dataset obtained from 11 forest roads in the Czech Republic, which was then statistically evaluated. The obtained results showed disproportionately high mean values as well as high random variability. Further data analysis revealed that the reason seemed to be the chosen test methodology. When using this procedure for forest soils, high values of plunger stress can occur, which for many types of soils greatly exceed their maximum load-bearing capacity. As result, the modulus Mr is determined at unrealistically high plunger stress values and in many cases on the disrupted specimen. The necessary solution to this shortcoming is to censor the results of the cyclic CBR test, i.e., to exclude unrealistic values of the modulus Mr determined at plunger stresses exceeding the limit values.
Diffuse Pollution and Ecological Risk Assessment in Ludaš Lake Special Nature Reserve and Palić Nature Park (Pannonian Basin)
Authors: Caković Milica , Beloica Jelena , Belanović Simić Snežana , Miljković Predrag , Lukić Sara , Baumgertel Aleksandar , Schwaiger Fritz
Published: October 2021

Diffuse water pollution from agriculture (DWPA) is one of the major factors causing water pollution in Lakes Palić and Ludaš, the two largest shallow lakes of the Pannonian Basin in Serbia. These two lakes are protected under national and international law. On the basis of the number of strictly protected bird species, Ludaš Lake has been classified as a wetland of international importance since 1977 (Ramsar site 3YU002); in 2021, both lakes were nominated as potential Natura 2000 areas. Despite the degree of protection and ecological significance of the area, agricultural land prevails. By a process of land expropriation during 2019, the buffer zone began to expand around the lakes, which should lead to a reduction in pollution. One of the goals of buffer-zone development is to enhance and restore the ecological connectivity of the remaining forest-steppe habitats. During the expropriation process, soil was sampled to record areas with the highest pollution. This paper assesses the environmental risk caused by phosphorus, nitrogen, and the accumulation of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni, Mn, Cd, and Hg). For each heavy metal, the corresponding pollution indices (Igeo, PI, EF, Eri, RI, Nemerow) and soil contamination level were calculated. Pollution indices indicate the ecological risk under the influence of heavy metals in the following order: Cd > Cu > Ni > Zn > Pb > Cr > Hg. Results showed that concentrations of Cd exceeded the maximal permissible concentration in all examined soil samples, and high ecological risk areas were determined. High concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were detected, which could be as a result of intensive agricultural activity. Current conservation measures in this area have not provided adequate protection of the natural environment. Accordingly, existing measures must be controlled or new, more restrictive measures must be prescribed.
Dynamic Allocation of SDN Controllers in NFV-Based MEC for the Internet of Vehicles
Authors: Simões Rhodney , Dias Kelvin , Martins Ricardo
Published: October 2021

The expected huge amount of connected cars and applications with varying Quality of Service (QoS) demands still depend on agile/flexible networking infrastructure to deal with dynamic service requests to the control plane, which may become a bottleneck for 5G and Beyond Software-Defined Network (SDN) based Internet of Vehicles (IoV). At the heart of this issue is the need for an architecture and optimization mechanisms that benefit from cutting edge technologies while granting latency bounds in order to control and manage the dynamic nature of IoV. To this end, this article proposes an autonomic software-defined vehicular architecture grounded on the synergy of Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) along with a heuristic approach and an exact model based on linear programming to efficiently optimize the dynamic resource allocation of SDN controllers, ensuring load balancing between controllers and employing reserve resources for tolerance in case of demand variation. The analyses carried out in this article consider: (a) to avoid waste of limited MEC resources, (b) to devise load balancing among controllers, (c) management complexity, and (d) to support scalability in dense IoV scenarios. The results show that the heuristic efficiently manages the environment even in highly dynamic and dense scenarios.
HyDSMaaS: A Hybrid Communication Infrastructure with LoRaWAN and LoraMesh for the Demand Side Management as a Service
Authors: Veloso Artur Felipe da Silva , Júnior José Valdemir Reis , Rabelo Ricardo de Andrade Lira , Silveira Jocines Dela-flora
Published: October 2021

Seeking to solve problems in the power electric system (PES) related to exacerbated and uncontrolled energy consumption by final consumers such as residences, condominiums, public buildings and industries, electric power companies (EPC) are increasingly seeking new information and communication technologies (ICTs) to transform traditional electric power distribution networks into smart grids (SG). With this implementation, PES will be able to remotely control electric power consumption as well as monitor data generated by smart meters (SM). However, Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies will enable all this to happen quickly and at low cost, since they are low-cost devices that can be deployed quickly and at scale in these scenarios. With this in mind, this work aimed to study, propose, and implement a hybrid communication infrastructure with LoRaWAN and LoraMesh for the demand-side management as a service (HyDSMaaS) using IoT devices such as long range (LoRa) to provide an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) capable of performing all these applications as a service offered by EPC to end consumers. Additionally, services such as demand-side management (DSMaaS) can be used in this infrastructure. From the preliminary results it was found that the LoRaWAN network achieved a range of up to 2.35 km distance and the LoRaMESH one of 600 m; thus, the latter is more suitable for scenarios where there is little interference and the SMs are at long distances, while the other is used for scenarios with greater agglomeration of nearby SMs. Considering the hybridized scenario between LoraWAN and LoRaMESH, it can be seen that the implementation possibilities increase, since its range was approximately 3 km considering only one hop, and it can reach 1023 devices present in a mesh network. Thus, it was possible to propose the actual implementation of LoRaWAN and LoRaMESH protocols as well as the hybridization of the two protocols for HyDSMaaS. Additionally, the results obtained are exclusively from Radioenge’s LoRa technology, which can be further improved in the case of using more powerful equipment.
Chestnut Cultivar Identification through the Data Fusion of Sensory Quality and FT-NIR Spectral Data
Authors: Corona Piermaria , Frangipane Maria Teresa , Moscetti Roberto , Lo Feudo Gabriella , Castellotti Tatiana , Massantini Riccardo
Published: October 2021

The world production of chestnuts has significantly grown in recent decades. Consumer attitudes, increasingly turned towards healthy foods, show a greater interest in chestnuts due to their health benefits. Consequently, it is important to develop reliable methods for the selection of high-quality products, both from a qualitative and sensory point of view. In this study, Castanea spp. fruits from Italy, namely Sweet chestnut cultivar and the Marrone cultivar, were evaluated by an official panel, and the responses for sensory attributes were used to verify the correlation to the near-infrared spectra. Data fusion strategies have been applied to take advantage of the synergistic effect of the information obtained from NIR and sensory analysis. Large nuts, easy pellicle removal, chestnut aroma, and aromatic intensity render Marrone cv fruits suitable for both the fresh market and candying, i.e., marron glacé. Whereas, sweet chestnut samples, due to their characteristics, have the potential to be used for secondary food products, such as jam, mash chestnut, and flour. The research lays the foundations for a superior data fusion approach for chestnut identification in terms of classification sensitivity and specificity, in which sensory and spectral approaches compensate each other’s drawbacks, synergistically contributing to an excellent result.
Contribution of Green Propolis to the Antioxidant, Physical, and Sensory Properties of Fruity Jelly Candies Made with Sugars or Fructans
Authors: Cedeño-Pinos Cristina , Marcucci María Cristina , Bañón Sancho
Published: October 2021

Enrichment with phenolic compounds is proposed as a strategy to obtain more stable and healthier candy products. A green propolis ethanolic dry extract (PEE) from Braccharis dracunculifolia (Brazilian Alecrim-do Campo) was assessed as an antioxidant in jelly candies. Three levels (0, 0.01, and 0.02% w/w) of PEE were tested in jelly candies alternatively made with two carbohydrate bases (sugars or fructans) and three fruity dyes and flavours (menthe, orange, or strawberry). Propolis polyphenol content (identified by HPLC-MS and quantified by HPLC-DAD/UV-Vis), antioxidant capacity (total phenolics and radical scavenging activity), physical properties (moisture, pH, CIELab colour, and texture profile analysis), and flavour were studied in candies. PEE was rich in polyphenols (>8.7%), including several prenylated p-coumaric, caffeoylquinic and diterpenic acids, and flavonoids, with Artepillin-C (3.4%) as the main bioactive compound. The incorporation of PEE into the hot liquor at 80 °C for 5 min before moulding allowed a good retention of propolis polyphenols in the final product (recovery percentages of up to 97.4% for Artepillin-C). Jelly candies made with sugars or dietetic fructans have poor antioxidant properties, which depend on the dyes and flavours used. Using PEE (at 0.02%) strongly improved the antioxidant capacity (relative increases of up to 465%) of candies without altering the pH, colour, or texture, although off-flavour may appear. Propolis, due to its good antioxidant properties, has potential for use as a functional ingredient in jelly candies.
Brazilian Consumers’ Attitudes towards So-Called “Cell-Based Meat”
Authors: Chriki Sghaier , Payet Vincent , Pflanzer Sérgio Bertelli , Ellies-Oury Marie-Pierre , Liu Jingjing , Hocquette Élise , Rezende-de-Souza Jonatã Henrique , Hocquette Jean-François
Published: October 2021

The main goal of this online survey was to investigate the attitudes of Brazilians towards “cell-based meat”, which has become the subject of great scientific and media enthusiasm. The answers of 4471 respondents concluded that 46.6% of them thought “cell-based meat” was promising and acceptable. More than 66% would be willing to try this novel product compared to 23% who expressed reluctance to do so. Nearly 40% of the total respondents did not want to eat “cell-based meat” regularly at all, whereas 29%, 43.2%, and 39.9% were willing to eat it regularly in restaurants, at home, and/or in ready-made meals, respectively. However, the majority of respondents (71%) were keen to pay much less for “cell-based meat” than conventionally produced meat (or even nothing at all), compared to 24.3% who were willing to pay the same price as conventional meat, whereas only 4.8% were willing to pay more. Approximately 51% of them considered that “cell-based meat” should not be called “meat” for marketing purposes. Job, monthly income, age, and gender were major factors impacting consumer acceptance. Meat professionals and consumers with higher incomes were less willing to eat “cell-based meat” regularly. Women (especially younger women) were the most concerned about the ethical and environmental issues related to meat production and were the most convinced that reducing meat consumption could be a good solution to the meat industry’s problems. Respondents who did not accept “cell-based meat” and did not eat meat substitutes had a negative attitude to this novel food (they considered it absurd and/or disgusting) and did not believe that “cell-based meat” should be called “meat” for marketing purposes. In contrast, the people who thought that “cell-based meat” could be called “meat” perceived it in a rather positive way. These results are important for consumers of meat and meat substitutes and for companies aiming to enter the potential future Brazilian market of “cell-based meat”.
Music Is Served: How Acoustic Interventions in Hospital Dining Environments Can Improve Patient Mealtime Wellbeing
Authors: Mathiesen Signe Lund , Aadal Lena , Uldbæk Morten Laulund , Astrup Peter , Byrne Derek Victor , Wang Qian Janice
Published: October 2021

Eating-related challenges and discomforts arising from moderately acquired brain injuries (ABI)—including physiological and cognitive difficulties—can interfere with patients’ eating experience and impede the recovery process. At the same time, external environmental factors have been proven to be influential in our mealtime experience. This experimental pilot study investigates whether redesigning the sonic environment in hospital dining areas can positively influence ABI patients’ (n = 17) nutritional state and mealtime experience. Using a three-phase between-subjects interventional design, we investigate the effects of installing sound proofing materials and playing music during the lunch meals at a specialised ABI hospital unit. Comprising both quantitative and qualitative research approaches and data acquisition methods, this project provides multidisciplinary and holistic insights into the importance of attending to sound in hospital surroundings. Our results demonstrate that improved acoustics and music playback during lunch meals might improve the mealtime atmosphere, the patient well-being, and social interaction, which potentially supports patient food intake and nutritional state. The results are discussed in terms of potential future implications for the healthcare sector.
A Review of Health-Beneficial Properties of Oats
Authors: Paudel Devendra , Dhungana Bandana , Caffe Melanie , Krishnan Padmanaban
Published: October 2021

Oat is among the food crops and ancient grains cultivated and consumed worldwide. It is gaining in popularity owing to its nutritional composition and multifunctional benefits of select bioactive compounds. Beta-glucan is an important component of dietary fiber found in oat grains. It is the major active compound in oats with proven cholesterol-lowering and antidiabetic effects. Oats also provide substantial levels of other bioactive compounds such as phenolic acids, tocols, sterols, avenacosides, and avenanthramides. The consumption of oats has been determined to be beneficial for human health by promoting immunomodulation and improving gut microbiota. In addition, oat consumption assists in preventing diseases such as atherosclerosis, dermatitis, and some forms of cancer. While much has been published in relation to oat nutrients and oat fibers and their impact on major diseases, the oat industries and consumers may benefit from greater knowledge and understanding of clinical effects, range of occurrence, distribution, therapeutic doses and food functional attributes of other oat bioactives such as avenanthramides and saponins as well as other anti-inflammatory agents found in the cereal. This review focuses on the various studies relevant to the contribution of the consumption of oats and oat-based products in preventing human diseases and promoting human health.
Sirtuins as Metabolic Regulators of Immune Cells Phenotype and Function
Authors: Fortuny Lídia , Sebastián Carlos
Published: October 2021

Beyond its role on the conversion of nutrients into energy and biomass, cellular metabolism is actively involved in the control of many physiological processes. Among these, it is becoming increasingly evident that specific metabolic pathways are associated with the phenotype of several immune cell types and, importantly, are crucial in controlling their differentiation, proliferation, and effector functions, thus shaping the immune response against pathogens and tumors. In this context, data generated over the last decade have uncovered mammalian sirtuins as important regulators of cellular metabolism, immune cell function, and cancer. Here, we summarize our current knowledge on the roles of this family of protein deacylases on the metabolic control of immune cells and their implications on immune-related diseases and cancer.
Somatic Mosaicism and Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: D’Gama Alissa M.
Published: October 2021

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a genetically heterogenous neurodevelopmental disorder. In the early years of next-generation sequencing, de novo germline variants were shown to contribute to ASD risk. These germline mutations are present in all of the cells of an affected individual and can be detected in any tissue, including clinically accessible DNA sources such as blood or saliva. In recent years, studies have also implicated de novo somatic variants in ASD risk. These somatic mutations arise postzygotically and are present in only a subset of the cells of an affected individual. Depending on the developmental time and progenitor cell in which a somatic mutation occurs, it may be detectable in some tissues and not in others. Somatic mutations detectable at relatively low sequencing coverage in clinically accessible tissues are suggested to contribute to 3–5% of simplex ASD diagnoses, and “brain limited” somatic mutations have been identified in postmortem ASD brain tissue. Somatic mutations likely represent the genetic diagnosis in a proportion of otherwise unexplained individuals with ASD, and brain limited somatic mutations can be used as markers to discover risk genes, cell types, brain regions, and cellular pathways important for ASD pathogenesis and to potentially target for therapeutics.
Erratum: Alnowibet et al. Healthcare Human Resources: Trends and Demand in Saudi Arabia. Healthcare 2021, 9, 955
Authors: Alnowibet Khalid , Abduljabbar Adel , Ahmad Shafiq , Alqasem Latifah , Alrajeh Nabil , Guiso Luigi , Zaindin Mazin , Varanasi Madhusudhan
Published: October 2021

Some details of the authors’ names, affiliations, and email addresses were incorrect in the original version of the article [...]
Development and Validation of Prenatal Physical Activity Intervention Strategy for Women in Buffalo City Municipality, South Africa
Authors: Okafor Uchenna Benedine , Goon Daniel Ter
Published: October 2021

Women rarely participate in physical activity during pregnancy, despite scientific evidence emphasising its importance. This study sought to develop an intervention strategy to promote prenatal physical activity in Buffalo City Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A multi-stage approach was utilised. The Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat (SWOT) approach was applied to the interfaced empirical findings on prenatal physical activity in the setting. Subsequently, the Build, Overcome, Explore and Minimise model was then used to develop strategies based on the SWOT findings. A checklist was administered to key stakeholders to validate the developed strategies. Key strategies to promote prenatal physical activity include the application of the Mom-Connect (a technological device already in use in South Africa to promote maternal health-related information for pregnant women) in collaboration with cellphone and network companies; the South African government to integrate prenatal physical activity and exercise training in the medical and health curricula to empower the healthcare providers with relevant knowledge and skills to support pregnant women in prenatal physical activity counselling; provision of increased workforce and the infrastructure necessary in antenatal sessions and antenatal physical exercise classes and counselling; the government, in partnership with various stakeholders, to provide periodical prenatal physical activity campaigns based in local, community town halls and clinics to address the lack of awareness, misrepresentations and concerns regarding the safety and benefits of physical activity during pregnancy. The effective implementation of this developed prenatal physical activity by policymakers and health professionals may help in the promotion of physical activity practices in the context of women in the setting.
Pietra Leccese and Other Natural Stones in Puglia Region: A New Category of Building Materials for Radiation Protection?
Authors: La Verde Giuseppe , Raulo Adelaide , D’Avino Vittoria , Paternoster Giovanni , Roca Vincenzo , La Commara Marco , Pugliese Mariagabriella
Published: October 2021

In this paper, an in-depth and systematic study of the radiological characterization of three types of Puglia region natural limestones (Pietra Leccese, Pietra Mazzara and Carparo) was carried out. The investigation was performed by XRF spectroscopy for a chemical analysis, and gamma spectroscopy of the specific activity concentration of natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K. Although the limestone does not fall within the category included by Italian Legislative Decree 101/2020, the gamma index was calculated using the results of the gamma spectroscopy measurements. For Pietra Mazzara and Carparo stones, the gamma index was found to be less than the reference value; conversely Pietra Leccese was found to be higher. To obtain a more complete evaluation of the external exposure, radium equivalent activity and external radiation hazard were calculated for all analyzed stones. The results suggest the need to broadly consider the radiological risk for these stones, and for limestone more generally, when used as a building material.
Classification of Human Failure in Chemical Plants: Case Study of Various Types of Chemical Accidents in South Korea from 2010 to 2017
Authors: Jung Seungho , Pak Seungkyoo , Lee Kwanwoo , Kang Chankyu
Published: October 2021

The increasing use and distribution of chemicals are causing serious chemical accidents such as fires, explosions, and leaks during manufacturing and handling. In most cases, all risks caused by chemicals are classified as accidents due to defects in process facilities, human errors, and multi-cause accidents. Among chemical accidents caused by human errors, accurate analysis of accidents caused by the complex action of various types of human failures is required. Based on the accident investigation reports that occurred in South Korea from 2010 to 2017, chemical accidents caused by human failure were analyzed, and the fundamental causes were derived by classifying them into human error and violation. Human failure was analyzed according to the classification criteria for human failure of health and safety executive (HSE). As a result of the analysis, several types of human failure acted in combination to be a more significant cause of chemical accidents; incorrect application of process rules and procedures, inappropriate chemical information, lack of education, and defects in the current safety regulation were analyzed as the main causes. In addition, the cause of human errors was presented through case studies of chemical accidents in South Korea.
Spanish Nurses’ Knowledge about Palliative Care. A National Online Survey
Authors: Martínez-Sabater Antonio , Chover-Sierra Pilar , Chover-Sierra Elena
Published: October 2021

(1) Background: Nurses can find people with advanced diseases or in their last days of life during their professional careers and in many different care settings. For this reason, they need to have at least a basic level of palliative care education since they are the professional cohort treating these patients in a very close way. This research aims to determine the level of knowledge in palliative care of Spanish nurses and establish any possible difference based on their experience and training in palliative care. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional design using survey methods (distributed an online questionnaire) aimed at Spanish registered nurses. A validated questionnaire (PCQN-SV) was used to determine the level of knowledge in palliative care; information on some variables to characterize the population was also collected (experience and education in palliative care, years of professional experience, academic level, and others). Uni and bivariate descriptive analyses were performed. A binary logistic regression model was also developed to identify those variables that influenced obtaining results higher than the population’s average. (3) Results: Spanish nurses have a medium–low level of knowledge in palliative care, higher in those who have previous experience or education in this area. Statistically significant differences were also found according to the area in which their caring activity was developed. (4) Conclusions: It is necessary to implement strategies for the basic training of nursing professionals in palliative care to offer quality care to people in advanced stages of illnesses or at the end of their lives.
Mental Health in Prison: Integrating the Perspectives of Prison Staff
Authors: Testoni Ines , Nencioni Irene , Arbien Maibrit , Iacona Erika , Marrella Francesca , Gorzegno Vittoria , Selmi Cristina , Vianello Francesca , Nava Alfonso , Zamperini Adriano , Wieser Michael Alexander
Published: October 2021

(1) Background: The Italian Constitutional Court’s decision n. 99/2019 abolished the distinction between physical and psychological health care in the Italian prison system. However, this and other changes to the penitentiary system present challenges to prison staff, which may vary based on their roles and backgrounds; (2) Purpose: To create a process of dialogue and collaboration that include different points of view, needs, and proposals regarding mental health in prisons, this study collects and integrates the perspectives of 91 prison staff who work in various capacities in eight prisons in northeast Italy. (3) Methods: Each participant was involved in either a focus group or a semi-structured interview, and thematic analysis was used to process the resulting transcripts; (3) Results: Through this process, 10 themes were derived that highlight the difficulties of working with prisoners with psychiatric disorders or psychological distress, including lack of human and economic resources, lack of positive communication between prisoners and society and a sense of professional incompetency; (4) Conclusions: Based on these themes, the need for increased points of view, dialogue, and collaboration between prison professionals and between prison and society is discussed, and the current feasibility of treating psychiatric disorders in prison is considered.
Community-Based Rehabilitation Indicators: Validation and Preliminary Evidence for Disability in Italy
Authors: Tofani Marco , Esposito Giuseppina , Berardi Anna , Galeoto Giovanni , Iorio Silvia , Marceca Maurizio
Published: October 2021

Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) is a multi-sectorial community strategy for guaranteeing that people with disabilities enjoy the same rights and opportunities as all other community members. CBR is organized in a five-component matrix—namely, health, education, social, livelihood, and empowerment. To measure the effectiveness of CBR, the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed standardized indicators. The objective of the present study is to translate and validate the CBR indicators (CBR-Is), providing preliminary evidence of their use for disability in Italy. After obtaining permission from the WHO, the CBR-Is followed a process of translation and cross-cultural adaptation according to international guidelines. An examination of internal consistency and reliability was than performed. The intra-rater reliability was estimated using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient with a 95% confidence interval. In order to measures the differences between people with and without disabilities, an independent sample t-test was used for quantitative indicators. The Italian version of the CBR-Is (IT-CBR-Is) was administered to 234 people. The internal consistency showed a good value, with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.862, and the intra-rater reliability analysis showed solid values for each domain (range: 0.723–0.882). Statistically significant differences between people with and without disabilities were found for each domain of the CBR matrix—namely, health, social, education, livelihood, and empowerment. The IT-CBR-Is are consistent and reliable measures when used to investigate disability in a community-based inclusive development perspective. National stakeholders can now have specific indicators to implement services and actions for people with disabilities.
The Effect of Muscle Strength on Marathon Race-Induced Muscle Soreness
Authors: Andrade Marilia Santos , Ferrer Carolina Ribeiro Lopes , Vancini Rodrigo Luiz , Nikolaidis Pantelis Theodoros , Knechtle Beat , Rosemann Thomas , Bachi André Luis Lacerda , Seffrin Aldo , de Lira Claudio Andre Barbosa
Published: October 2021

Background: Muscle soreness after a competition or a training session has been a concern of runners due to its harmful effect on performance. It is not known if stronger individuals present a lower level of muscle soreness after a strenuous physical effort. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the pre-race muscle strength or the V˙O2max level can predict muscle soreness 24, 48 and 72 h after a full marathon in men. Methods: Thirty-one marathon runners participated in this study (age, 40.8 ± 8.8 years old; weight, 74.3 ± 10.4 kg; height, 174.2 ± 7.6 cm; maximum oxygen uptake, V˙O2max, 57.7 ± 6.8 mL/kg/min). The isokinetic strength test for thigh muscles and the V˙O2max level was performed 15–30 days before the marathon and the participants were evaluated for the subjective feeling of soreness before, 24, 48 and 72 h after the marathon. Results: The participants presented more pain 24 h after the race (median = 3, IQR = 1) than before it (median = 0, IQR = 0) (p < 0.001), and the strength values for the knee extensor muscles were significantly associated with muscle soreness assessed 24 h after the race (p = 0.028), but not 48 (p = 0.990) or 72 h (p = 0.416) after the race. The V˙O2max level was not associated with the muscle pain level at any moment after the marathon. Conclusions: Marathon runners who presented higher muscular strength for the knee extensor muscles presented lower muscle soreness 24 h after the race, but not after 48 h or 72 h after the race. Therefore, the muscle soreness level 3 days after a marathon race does not depend on muscle strength.
The Identification and Classification of Arid Zones through Multicriteria Evaluation and Geographic Information Systems—Case Study: Arid Regions of Northwest Mexico
Authors: Perez-Aguilar Lidia Yadira , Plata-Rocha Wenseslao , Monjardin-Armenta Sergio Alberto , Franco-Ochoa Cuauhtémoc , Zambrano-Medina Yedid Guadalupe
Published: October 2021

Arid and semiarid regions are geographic units that cover approximately 43% of the earth’s surface worldwide, and conditions of extreme drought and reduced vegetation cover predominate in these regions. In Mexico, arid and semiarid ecosystems cover more than half of the territory, with desertification, mainly caused by anthropogenic activities and climatic events, as the main problem in these regions. The present research aimed to assess, identify, and classify arid and semiarid zones by employing a methodology based on multicriteria evaluation analysis (MCA) using the weighted linear combination (WLC) technique and geographic information systems (GIS) in the hydrological administrative regions (HARs) of the North Pacific, Northwest, and Baja California Peninsula, located in Northwest Mexico. Data related to aridity, desertification, degradation, and drought were investigated, and the main factors involved in the aridity process, such as surface temperature, soil humidity, precipitation, slopes, orientations, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and evapotranspiration, were obtained. For the standardization of factors, a fuzzy inference system was used. The weight of each factor was then determined with the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). To delimit arid regions, the classification of arid zones proposed by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) was used, and the result was an aridity suitability map. To validate the results, the sensitivity analysis method was applied. Quantitative and geospatial aridity indicators were obtained at the administrative hydrological level and by state. The main results indicated that semiarid and dry subhumid zones predominated, representing 40% and 43% of the surface of the study area, respectively, while arid regions represented 17%, and humid regions represented less than 1%. In addition, of the states for which 100% of the surface lay in the study area, it was observed that Baja California and Baja California Sur had the largest arid and semiarid zones, while subhumid regions predominated in Sonora and Sinaloa.
Usability of WebXR Visualizations in Urban Planning
Authors: Rzeszewski Michał , Orylski Matuesz
Published: October 2021

Extended reality (XR) technology is increasingly often considered in practical applications related to urban planning and smart city management. It offers many advantages as a new visualization technique that gives its users access to places that are not available in material space and a unique perspective on existing objects. It can provide immersive multi-sensory experience that can induce emotional response in participatory planning. However, standard mode of implementation that relies on mobile phone applications and VR headsets has a disadvantage when it comes to availability and accessibility. Here we test the WebXR solution that can mitigate those problems. We have created six AR and VR environments that resembled common urban planning scenarios and conducted usability tests with people having planning and GIS background. Results indicate that WebXR can provide useful solution in urban planning when the interface and environment resemble common practices and situations encountered in real life. Environments that have introduced new digital affordances like AR measurements or semi-transparent walkable scale models were rated lower. Users evaluated presented environment as having high usability and expressed their positive attitude toward using XR in their professional practice mainly as a participatory and visualization tool.