bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating self-recognition in bonobos: mirror exposure reduces looking time to self but not unfamiliar conspecifics
Authors: Shorland Gladez , Genty Emilie , Guéry Jean-Pascal , Zuberbühler Klaus
Published: August 2020

The question of whether animals have some sort of self-awareness is a topic of continued debate. A necessary precondition for self-awareness is the ability to visually discriminate the self from others, which has traditionally been investigated through mirror self-recognition experiments. Although great apes generally pass such experiments, interpretations of results have remained controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate how bonobos (Pan paniscus) respond to different types of images of themselves and others, both before and after prolonged mirror exposure. We first presented presumably mirror-naive subjects with representations of themselves in three different ways (mirror image, contingent and non-contingent video footage) as well as representations of others (video footage of known and unknown conspecifics). We found that subjects paid significantly less attention to contingent images of themselves (mirror image, video footage) than to non-contingent images of themselves and unfamiliar individuals, suggesting they perceived the non-contingent self-images as novel. We then provided subjects with three months of access to a large mirror centrally positioned in the enclosure. Following this manipulation, subjects showed significantly reduced interest in the non-contingent self-images, while interest in unknown individuals remained unchanged, suggesting that the mirror experience has led to a fuller understanding of their own self. We discuss implications of this preliminary investigation for the on-going debate on self-awareness in animals.
Using bioinformatics and metabolomics to identify altered granulosa cells in patients with diminished ovarian reserve
Authors: He Ruifen , Zhao Zhongying , Yang Yongxiu , Liang Xiaolei
Published: August 2020

Background

During fertility treatment, diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) is a challenge that can seriously affect a patient’s reproductive potential. However, the pathogenesis of DOR is still unclear and its treatment options are limited. This study aimed to explore DOR’s molecular mechanisms.

Methods

We used R software to analyze the mRNA microarray dataset E-MTAB-391 downloaded from ArrayExpress, screen for differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and perform functional enrichment analyses. We also constructed the protein-protein interaction (PPI) and miRNA-mRNA networks. Ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) from women with DOR and the control group were collected to perform untargeted metabolomics analyses. Additionally, small molecule drugs were identified using the Connectivity Map database.

Results

We ultimately identified 138 DEGs. Our gene ontology (GO) analysis indicated that DEGs were mainly enriched in cytokine and steroid biosynthetic processes. According to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), the DEGs were mainly enriched in the AGE (advanced glycation end-product)-RAGE (receptor for AGE) signaling pathway in diabetic complications and steroid biosynthesis. In the PPI network, we determined that JUN, EGR1, HMGCR, ATF3, and SQLE were hub genes that may be involved in steroid biosynthesis and inflammation. miRNAs also played a role in DOR development by regulating target genes. We validated the differences in steroid metabolism across GCs using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). We selected 31 small molecules with potentially positive or negative influences on DOR development.

Conclusion

We found that steroidogenesis and inflammation played critical roles in DOR development, and our results provide promising insights for predicting and treating DOR.
The Awareness of Beta-Lactam Antibiotics Prescription among Dental Students
Authors: Shahroom Nor Syakirah Binti , Ganapathy Dhanraj , Duraisamy Revathi
Published: August 2020

Beta-lactam antibiotic is the most common antibiotic prescribed by dental students. However, the actual knowledge on beta lactam is important as antimicrobial resistance is currently an alarming and growing phenomenon and in turn becoming a public health challenge. A survey was conducted to assess the knowledge and awareness of beta-lactam antibiotics prescriptions among dental students in their third years, final years and interns. A total of 145 responses were obtained and the results were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software. Based on their knowledge on beta-lactam antibiotics, 59.3% of the participants knew exactly the mechanisms of action of beta-lactam antibiotic which was by interfering with the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall. In the case of penicillin allergy, 40% of the participants chose erythromycin as the alternative for penicillin allergy. 84% of the participants were aware that the combination of amoxicillin with clavulanic acid may increase its effectiveness. Meanwhile, 98% of the participants were aware that amoxicillin is the drug of choice for bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis. 72% of the participants were aware that most beta-lactam antibiotics are considered safe for pregnant and lactating women which was statistically significant (p<0.05). In conclusion, the students had quite a good knowledge and awareness regarding the prescription of beta-lactam antibiotics since they have been practicing under guidance from the practitioner in the college.
Awareness of Botox Injections in Facial Aesthetics among Dental Students
Authors: Zaaba Nurul Afiqah Amani Binti , Ganapathy Dhanraj , Duraisamy Revathi
Published: August 2020

The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness and knowledge on the use of Botox injections in facial aesthetics among undergraduate dental students. Botulinum toxin is considered as a quick and effective non-surgical solution for enhancing physical appearance. Botox is considered as the best choice, as it is affordable and less radical than surgery. It is derived from gram-positive spore forming, clostridium botulinum. A questionnaire was developed to evaluate the awareness of dentists towards using botulinum toxins in facial aesthetics. The survey was conducted online via survey planet. There were about 103 study population, participated in this study. Data is collected using an online survey planet link and statistically analysed.  95.1% of participants reported that they have general knowledge on the Botox (95.1%). 66 % of  respondents agreed  that clostridium botulinum bacterium is the source of Botox. 24.51% of respondents stated that Botox was commonly used for wrinkle reduction and 96.1% were aware of the toxicity effect of Botox when it is administered in a high dosage. Association between response of the participants and knowledge on Botox was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). According to our study, the majority of students showed an acceptable level of knowledge and awareness on Botox and its use in facial aesthetics.
Irritants and Allergens in Dental Materials - A Review
Authors: George Rinki Susan , Muralidharan N. P. , Roy Anitha
Published: August 2020

This review aims to develop a systematic approach for the selection of suitable and safer dental materials available in the market thereby giving an insight to predict their risk of inducing allergic reactions. The review was conducted by referring to various relevant articles and retrospective studies. It was noted that the most common allergic reactions in dental staff are allergies to latex, acrylates and formaldehyde. The other dental materials that caused irritation included impression materials, metals, resins, rubber products, amalgam restorations. The study comprehended that dental personnel have high risk of allergy from latex gloves, bio aerosols inhaled during the dental practice, contact dermatitis and from the usage of various other potentially harmful dental materials. On the other hand, the patients have high risk of irritation from commonly used dental materials like metals (gold, mercury, chromium, palladium etc), root canal sealants, obturation materials, formaldehyde, amalgam restorations, resin, acrylates, impression materials, latex and local anesthesia. Patients begin to develop symptoms of stomatitis, burning, tingling, cheilitis, oral lichenoid lesions, lip and facial swelling. The oral cavity is exposed to various sensitizing substances that cause allergic reactions. Hence it is necessary to provide comprehensive dental treatment without compromising the health of the patient.
Deciphering the Genetic Aberrations in DNA Damage Response Genes and Their Possible Association with HNSCC
Authors: Akshayaa L. , Smiline Girija A. S. , Paramasivam A. , Priyadharsini J. Vijayashree
Published: August 2020

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) includes carcinomas in the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx. It is considered as the sixth most common form of cancer in the world. Several studies have confirmed that smoking and alcohol consumption are the major risk factors for HNSCC. DNA damage response genes play an important role in the maintenance of the genome. Defects in cell cycle checkpoint and DNA repair mechanisms, such as mutation or abnormalities, may lead to the wide spectrum of human diseases. The present study employs databases and computational tools to identify the genetic abnormalities associated with DNA damage related genes which might have a direct or indirect association with HNSCC. The demographic details of HNSCC patients was obtained from The Cancer Gene Atlas (TCGA, Firehose Legacy) dataset hosted by the cBioportal database. The oncoprint data analysis revealed the highest frequency of gene alteration in the ATR gene (15%), followed by ATM, BRCA2 and CHEK2 (5%). Other genes showed less than 5% alteration. The gene expression profile of ATR gene revealed its differential expression pattern in different grades of tumor relative to normal samples. The survival curve analysis using Kaplan-Meier method revealed that a high level expression of the ATR gene leads to poor survival rate in the female HNSCC patients when compared to males. Thus the present study has identified gross and single nucleotide variants in the ATR gene which could have a putative role in the development of tumor. Further experimental research is required to confirm this association.
An in silico Analysis of Protein Targeted by Glycyrrhizin in Common Dental Pathogens
Authors: Balamithra S. , Girija Smiline , Priyadharsini J. Vijayashree
Published: August 2020

Glycyrrhizin is a phytocompound which is derived from Glycyrrhiza glabra. It is used in treating the upper respiratory tract disease like cough, bronchitis, laryngitis, sore throat, etc. It has various medicinal uses in rheumatism, peptic ulcers, asthma, allergies, and inflammation. Glycyrrhizin has been reported to possess antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, anti inflammatory properties. In view of the above facts, the present in silico study was designed to demonstrate the molecular mechanism underlying the antimicrobial activity of glycyrrhizin against common dental pathogens such as Streptococcus mutans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, Enterococcus faecalis and Tannerella forsythia. The STITCH tool was used to identify the drug-protein interaction. The functional class of the protein was deduced using VICMPred, followed by the identification of epitopes on the virulence factors using BepiPred. Further, the subcellular location of the virulence factors were also studied using PSORTb software. The computational analysis performed identified several virulence factors viz., short chain dehydrogenase/reductase family oxidoreductase of Treponema denticola and D-mannonate oxidoreductase of Tannerella forsythia which were found to interact with glycyrrhizin. Interestingly, phosphopyruvate hydratase was found to be the protein present in all the five genera was shown to interact with glycyrrhizin. Thus the present study reveals the target proteins on the dental pathogens which were shown to interact with glycyrrhizin. Furthermore, experimental validation of the results are warranted to provide substantial details on the anti-microbial activity of glycyrrhizin against common dental pathogens.
Awareness on Nanoparticles Incorporation in Dental Materials among Undergraduate Students - A Cross Sectional Survey
Authors: Muthukumar Aarthi , Duraisamy Revathi , Ganapathy Dhanraj
Published: August 2020

Nanotechnology is widely used in day to day life including its use in medicine. Using nanotechnology it is easy to analyse the atoms , chemical bonds and molecules present between various compounds. Use of nanoparticles in the field of dentistry is called nano dentistry. Chemical, physical and biological aspects of nanoparticles should be taken into account while choosing nanoparticles for the use in the field of nano dentistry. Nanoparticles are used in innovations of dentistry. Nano materials can be used for preventing and curing oral diseases such as oral cancer and to maintain oral health care. This study aims at evaluating knowledge and awareness of nanoparticles incorporated in dental materials among undergraduate dental students. A questionnaire with a set of 9 questions to assess the students knowledge and awareness about nanoparticles incorporation in dental materials. The sample size of 99 participants of dental students of Saveetha Dental College were selected by a simple random sampling method. The participants were asked to fill the questionnaire in an online site called survey planet. The results were collected and statistically analysed. Chi square test was done and it was found that 71% of the participants were aware about the use of nanoparticles in dental materials, even though it is statistically not significant (p value- 0.436), 73% of respondents were aware about nanoparticle incorporation in impression materials with p value 0.449 (not significant) and 72% were aware about use of nanomaterials in titanium implants(p value-0.340). Within the limitations of the study, it can be observed that the undergraduate students at the Faculty of Dentistry of Saveetha were well aware about the use of nanoparticles in dental materials.
Targeting the Secreted Aspartic Proteinase (SAP-1) Associated with Virulence in C. albicans by C. cassia Bio-compounds: A Computational Approach
Authors: Ranasinghe Abigail , Girija A. S. Smiline , Priyadharsini J. Vijayashree
Published: August 2020

Evaluation of the drug ligand interactions between the C. cassia bio-compounds with the SAP-1 in C. albicans to explore the inhibitory medicinal potential of C. cassia bio-compounds by a computational approach is performed in the present investigation.

Antimicrobial assay was done using agar well diffusion method with the crude aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the dried barks of C. cassia against C. albicans. 2D & 3D structures of the active bio-compounds of C. cassia were optimized and the 3D structure of SAP-1 was retrieved from the PDB data bank. In-silico inhibitory potential of the selected C. cassia biocompounds against SAP-1 was done by Auto Dock 2.0 and was visualized with Accelrys discovery studio visualizing tool with the assessment of the molecular properties of the ligands against SAP-1 by molinspiration calculations and further assessment for their drug likeliness. In-vitro analysis showed a promising anti-fungal activity of C. cassia extracts against C. albicans. Cinnamoyl E-acetate and Eugenyl acetate seem to possess promising inhibitory effect to target SAP-1 with a least binding energy of –5.33 and -5.21 Kcal/mol with four hydrogen bonds respectively. Molinspiration assessments showed zero violations for all the C. cassia compounds with the TPSA scores of <140 Å towards the best oral bioavailability. The findings of the study emphasize that cinnamaldehyde, cinnamoyal acetate and eugenol from C. cassia seem to possess a promising inhibitory effect against SAP-1 of C. albicans suggesting the medicinal value of the spice against SAP-1.
Knowledge and Awareness about the Mode of Transmission of Vector Borne Diseases among General Public
Authors: Aathira C. M. , Geetha R. V. , Lakshmi T.
Published: August 2020

Vector borne diseases account for more than 17% of other contagious diseases and can be caused either by parasites, bacteria or viruses. Malaria is a parasitic infection caused by female Anopheles mosquitoes. It causes millions of cases globally and most deaths occur in children. Dengue is another vector disease caused by Aedes mosquito and also affects millions of people, also causing more deaths. Other vector diseases may include yellow fever, zika fever, west nile fever, chikungunya, elephantiasis etc.  The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge and awareness about the mode of transmission of vector borne disease among the general public and also to analyse the correlation between gender and the level of awareness about vector borne disease among them. A cross sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among people in the region of Chennai. A set of 15 questions including questions on knowledge and awareness on the mode of transmission of vector borne diseases among the general population. It included questions like examples of vector borne diseases, mode of transmission of disease, preventive measures etc. The people of age group between 25-45 years were involved in the survey. There were 100 responses to the survey. The duration of the study was about 7 days. It is clear that the population was aware about the vector borne diseases but not very clear about the preventive measures to be taken to prevent the spread of vector borne diseases.
Graft Uptake in Overlay and Underlay Technique Myringoplasty
Authors: Sudha K. Jaya
Published: August 2020

The aim of this investigation was to compare the graft uptake in overlay and underlay system in myriongoplasty. The examination led among 50 patients in Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital. Among 50 patients 25 patients underwent overlay and 25 patients experienced underlay strategy. This study concludes that underlay technique should be preferred compared to overlay method, but the ultimate decision about the technique to be employed depends on the surgeons preference and the site of perforation.
Platelet Rich Plasma - Platelet Counts and Application - A Literature Review
Authors: Kalyani P. , Kaarthikeyan G. , Kumar M. P. Santhosh
Published: August 2020

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is a novel method of using plasma concentrated with platelets for wound healing and tissue regeneration. Platelet rich plasma is prepared from the venous blood using a differential centrifugation technique. It involves a separation spin and a concentration spin, yielding platelet rich plasma. PRP products have been classified into 4 types depending upon major cell constituent and fibrin density upon activation. These are as follows: Pure PRP, Leukocyte and PRP, Pure PRF, Leukocyte and PRF. PRF differs from PRP in that it is rich in a high density fibrin network after activation. PRP is abundant in a variety of growth factors such as VEGF, PDGF, TGF, EGF, and Interleukin-1. Literature consists of reports by different authors about the platelet yield of PRP centrifuged by different systems. A number of factors have also been quoted to influence the platelet concentration in platelet rich plasma. Hence, the aim of this review is to discuss the platelet concentration in PRP centrifuged by different systems and to observe for variations if any.
Antibacterial, Antifungal and Antiviral Properties of Malpighiaceae Family and Its Potential Impact for Oral Cavity Infectious Diseases
Authors: Villanueva-Amador Getsemaní Sinaí , Sánchez-Vargas Luis Octavio , Gaitán-Cepeda Luis Alberto , Huerta-Reyes Maira
Published: August 2020

Recently, the impact of oral infections on global human health and their importance in the complications of patients with some chronic conditions have been recognized. Current medical treatments deal with the specificity and resistance of pathogenic strains of the oral cavity made up of by bacteria, fungi and viruses; thus, novel substances are necessary for use as effective drugs. Plants have been a source of active chemical agents since ancient times; however, a number of family plants still remain unstudied. This is the case of Malpighiaceae, a flowering plant family that possesses secondary metabolites that have exhibited a variety of pharmacological effects with promising results. This review has as objective to provide an overview of the extracts and active constituents isolated from species belonging to the Malpighiaceae family, to emphasize their activities against bacteria, fungi and viruses during recent years and their potential impact on the pathogens of the oral cavity.
Randomized Clinical Trial of Anesthetic Efficacy of Buffered Versus Conventional Local Anesthetic Agent in Patient with Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis
Authors: Hemmanur Srujana , Nasim Iffat
Published: August 2020

Local anesthetics are used to alleviate pain and discomfort of the patient during root canal therapy. Effective pain control is an absolute essential for better patient compliance and attitude towards the treatment. The purpose of the study was to observe the onset of action of local anesthesia, its duration of action and pain experienced by the patient during treatment procedure. Patients diagnosed with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis and no changes in the periapical tissues indicated for endodontic management were included in the study. The study was a double blinded randomised clinical trial. The non-randomization procedure allocated 32 teeth with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis, 8 teeth to each control group (group I treated by conventional 2% Lignocaine and group III treated by conventional 4% Articaine HCL) and 8 teeth to each experimental group (group II treated by buffered 2% Lignocaine and group IV treated by buffered 4% Articaine HCL).The buffering of local anesthetic agent improves the efficacy, onset of action and longevity of the local anesthetic agent. Buffered local anesthetics can be used in place of conventional local anesthetic agents. Long term clinical trials will be required to observe the result and to draw a comment and conclusion.
Knowledge and Awareness of Vitamin K Therapy among Dental Students
Authors: Fathima Hena Mariam , Ganapathy Dhanraj , Subhashree R. , Rakshagan V.
Published: August 2020

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin, important for the function of numerous proteins within the body, such as the coagulation factors, osteocalcin, and matrix-Gla protein. Vitamin K exists naturally as vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) and vitamin K2 (menaquinone). Vitamin K has a plethora of potential implications, including prevention and treatment of arterial calcifications, coronary heart disease, and cancer, improvements in bone strength, and reduced risks of fractures as well as improvements in insulin sensitivity. The survey was cross-sectional in design. Following participant self-administered enrolment in the study, data were collected by a questionnaire that assessed participants’ knowledge about vitamin k therapy. This study was conducted among the clinical dental students in different dental colleges across Chennai. The questionnaire consisted of 10 multiple-choice questions. From the results, it is seen that only 10% of the participants knew that Vitamin K2 can increase bone mass while most of them were unsure. Only 16% were aware that Vitamin K2 can improve the salivary buffering capacity via its impact on the secretion of calcium and inorganic phosphates while a large 65% were not aware. Only 18% knew that Vitamin K can actually build new dentin and 60% were unsure of the same. The level of knowledge and awareness of vitamin k therapy among dental students in dental students was poor.
Combustible Performance of Floor Finishing Materials and Coating Applied to Nuclear Power Plants
Authors: Kwon Inkyu
Published: August 2020

Finishing construction materials applied to nuclear power plants and other attached structures are manufactured domestically; however, their fire-related performance has not yet been clarified, and data exist only for common materials with general purposes. Finishing construction materials must meet the requirement of Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), which is regarded as a global standard in the nuclear power plant industry. In this study, to support data when a new guideline for evaluation of fire safety in nuclear power plant and the attached structures thereof are prepared, the finishing materials on the floor and the coating applied onto the floor and other portions were selected and tested using related standards of two nations. The results showed that there were differences in the manner of evaluation and testing. Moreover, certain criteria did not meet Korean standards. Nevertheless, most criteria were satisfied with testing methods suggested by the NRC.
Alarm Sound Propagation Characteristics of Gas Extinguishing System Installed in Computer Server Room
Authors: Jeong Jeong-ho
Published: August 2020

Gas extinguishing systems are used for fire protection in server rooms and data centers. In the fire safety standards (NFSC 106, 107) of gas extinguishing systems (carbon dioxide, halon, and clean agent extinguishing system), sound alarm devices are installed in each protected area to provide an effective warning to personnel in the protected area or areas with objects to be protected. By measuring the noise level generated in a small server room, it was found that more than 70 dB of noise was generated. Therefore, to effectively transmit alarm sound to workers in all areas within the protection area, such as a server room, an acoustic alarm device must be designed and installed so that an alarm sound is transmitted at a level of 15 dB or higher than the noise level generated by equipment installed in the facility. As a result of predicting the alarm sound through the room acoustic simulation for a small server room equipped with an acoustic alarm system in a cabinet-type gas extinguishing system, it was found that it was insufficient in effectively delivering an alarm sound to the entire protection area. To effectively transmit an alarm sound inside the protection area where a gas extinguishing system is installed, the output of the alarm device needs to be increased and the room acoustic parameters should be predicted in advance using room acoustic prediction techniques and actively adjusting the acoustics according to the noise generated inside the protection area. Additionally, the distance between alarm devices needs to be shortened to deliver sufficient alarm volume throughout the protection area, and it is necessary to establish specific standards for this.
Failure Behavior Analysis of Single-leaf Blast-resistant Door by Explosion Loads
Authors: Shin Hyunseop , Kim Sungwook , Moon Jaeheum , Kim Wonwoo , Hong Weonhee
Published: August 2020

For a blast-resistant structural system with concrete slab as the primary structural member, edge rotation based on flexural failure is generally used as an index to evaluate its structural performance. However, it has been predicted that short-span single-leaf blast doors are vulnerable to shear failure. In this study, limitations on the general application of the edge rotation as a performance evaluation index were reviewed using a finite element (FE) method. The results demonstrated that shear failure was dominant in the impulsive and dynamic response regions, while shear failure or flexural-shear combined failure was dominant in the quasi-static region. In the case of short-span single-leaf blast door, the concrete slab is vulnerable to shear failure, and therefore, the door should be designed considering pressure-impulse curves based on shear failure. For further study, several explosion tests and FE analyses will be required to verify the structural responses and failure level changes according to various specifications of the blast door, and to obtain a general evaluation index for its structural performance.
Liquefaction Characteristics of Sands Based on Cyclic Direct Simple Shear Test
Authors: Hwang Byongyoun , Kwak Tae-Young , Kim Jongkwan , Han Jin-Tae
Published: August 2020

In this study, a series of cyclic direct simple shear tests were conducted on Pohang sand, Jumunjin sand, and Ottawa sand. The cyclic resistance ratio (CRR) was derived on the basis of the test results obtained. For verification of the effect of particle distribution on liquefaction resistance, the simplified method for evaluation of the possibility of liquefaction was used to assess these sands. The test results showed that the cyclic resistance ratio of Pohang sand was the lowest, which was consistent with the result of the simplified evaluation method for determining the possibility of liquefaction. In addition, the results showed that the liquefaction resistance increased for particle shapes being more angular than round. Normalization was subsequently applied to minimize the effects of the different factors, and the correlation between the CRRN=10 normalization curve and the CRRN=15 normalization curve was confirmed.
Snow Vulnerability Analysis in the Korean Peninsula using RCP Climate Change Scenarios
Authors: Ha Joonhyeok , Park Heeseong , Chung Gunhui
Published: August 2020

Snow vulnerability analysis was implemented using 400 years of controlled RCP 2.6, 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5 scenarios in the following divided periods: the former period (2011-2040), middle period (2041-2070), and later period (2071-2100). Data from a total of 74 meteorological stations were used and the Thiessen polygon method was applied in the areas without stations. The indicators were classified into the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) structure, and the weight for vulnerability analysis was calculated using the entropy method. As snow vulnerability analysis was implemented for the future scenarios, it was difficult to determine social and economic factors as indicators; thus, only predicted weather data and population trends were considered. As a result, the rankings for snow vulnerable areas were determined for each period and scenario. Overall, snow vulnerability would decrease due to the decrease in long-term heavy snowfall in climate change scenarios. However, increased snow vulnerability is also expected in Sejong-si and the western coastal area due to a rise in population and snow depth in the future. Based on this, disaster prevention projects considering the characteristics of the region in the future could be implemented.
Application of LID to the District Unit Plan and Mixed-Use Buildings: Focusing on the Case of the 1-5 Living Area in MAC
Authors: Shin Hyunjun , Chang Chul-Ki
Published: August 2020

The purpose of this study is to introduce the procedure to apply LID (Low Impact Development) in developing the master plan for the mixed-use residential buildings to be built at three blocks (H5, H6, H9) in the 1-5 Living Area in the Multifunctional Administrative City. The legal background of the district unit plan was revised by adding new clauses for the definition of LID and rainwater circulation system where LID is applied. Based on the revised district unit plan regulations, several LID technologies which were appropriate for each block were selected, and they were reflected in the master plan and design guideline as a part of the rainwater circulation system. After the design guideline was developed in detail, a company that will develop the design and build was selected through a design competition. As of 2020, these mixed-use residential buildings are under construction. Once they are built and used by occupants, they will enable researchers to empirically evaluate the benefits of LID by showing how rainwater circulates and how LID works in the building and area.
Rockfall Risk Analysis Based on Precise Topography using UAV
Authors: Choi Jaehee , Kim Namgyun , Choe Bongjin , Jun Byonghee
Published: August 2020

In this study, the risk of rockfall on incision slopes adjacent to roads was evaluated using the RocFall program. The study area was a slope adjacent to the road leading to a university campus in Samcheok-si, Gangwon-do, with an area of 774 m2 and an average slope of approximately 43°. A rock shed was installed at the lower zone of the slope. A 3D model of the terrain was generated based on point cloud data gathered using a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle). Fast and accurate orthoimages were captured by UAV and high-resolution digital surface models (DSMs) were produced; these data were used to assess the risk of rockfall. Compared to terrain extraction using a digital elevation model (DEM) generated from an existing digital map, terrain extraction using a UAV was more effective in deriving results close to the actual situation in the field, especially for the analysis of rockfall jump height and kinetic energy. The necessity of constructing 3D topographic data using UAVs to predict rockfall disasters in mountainous regions was confirmed.
Problems and Improvement Measures of ｢Special Act on the Safety Control of Publicly Used Establishments｣
Authors: Ha Kyoungryong , Hwang Euyhong , Choi Donmook
Published: August 2020

The examination of the transition process of the「Special Act on the Safety Control of Publicly Used Establishments」(hereinafter referred to as the "Publicly Used Establishments Act") shows that the related laws are being revised when major accidents result in human or property damage. People who intend to conduct a multi-use business must install safety facilities, etc., prescribed by Presidential Decree, in accordance with the standards prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Public Administration and Security. In this study, the legal standards, construction and safety accident cases that could raise issues in the current Publicly Used Establishment-related laws were investigated. As a result, we identified issues such as emergency exit opening and closing problems, legal blind spot issues in food courts, fire alarm system limitations, and the absence of a ventilation system. To tackle these issues, improvement measures such as adding restriction regulations for automatic opening and closing devices, an automatic fire detection system, food courts in emergency exits, as well as visual alarm device regulations, and the establishment of ventilation system regulations were suggested.
Can self-monitoring mobile health apps reduce sedentary behavior? A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Yamamoto Kojiro , Ebara Takeshi , Matsuda Fumiko , Matsukawa Tsuyoshi , Yamamoto Nao , Ishii Kenji , Kurihara Takahiro , Yamada Shota , Matsuki Taro , Tani Naomichi , Kamijima Michihiro
Published: August 2020

Objective

To examine whether the self-monitoring interventions of a mobile health app reduce sedentary behavior in the short and long terms.

Method

We designed a double-blind randomized control trial. Participants were selected from among the staff of a medical institution and registrants of an online research firm. Forty-nine participants were randomly assigned to either a control group (n = 25) or an intervention group (n = 24). The control group was given only the latest information about sedentary behavior, and the intervention was provided real-time feedback for self-monitoring in addition to the information. These interventions provided for 5 weeks (to measure the short-term effect) and 13 weeks (to measure the long-term effect) via the smartphone app. Measurements were as follows: subjective total sedentary time (SST), objective total sedentary time (OST), mean sedentary bout duration (MSB), and the number of sedentary breaks (SB). Only SST was measured by self-report based on the standardized International Physical Activity Questionnaire and others were measured with the smartphone.

Results

No significant results were observed in the short term. In the long term, while no significant results were also observed in objective sedentary behavior (OST, MSB, SB), the significant differences were observed in subjective sedentary behavior (SST, βint − βctrl between baseline and 9/13 weeks; 1.73 and 1.50 h/d, respectively).

Conclusions

Real-time feedback for self-monitoring with smartphone did not significantly affect objective sedentary behavior. However, providing only information about sedentary behavior to users with smartphones may make misperception on the amount of their subjective sedentary behavior.
AAV‐mediated gene transfer of DNase I in the liver of mice with colorectal cancer reduces liver metastasis and restores local innate and adaptive immune response
Authors: Xia Yujia , He Jiayi , Zhang Hongji , Wang Han , Tetz George , Maguire Casey A. , Wang Yu , Onuma Amblessed , Genkin Dmitry , Tetz Victor , Stepanov Alexey , Terekhov Stanislav , Ukrainskaya Valeria , Huang Hai , Tsung Allan
Published: August 2020

Liver metastasis is the main cause of colorectal cancer (CRC)‐related death. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) play important roles in CRC progression. Deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) has been shown to alter NET function by cleaving DNA strands comprising the NET backbone. Moreover, DNase I displays high antimetastatic activity in multiple tumor models. To circumvent long‐term daily administrations of recombinant DNase I, we have developed an adeno‐associated virus (AAV) gene therapy vector to specifically express DNase I in the liver. In this study, we demonstrate AAV‐mediated DNase I liver gene transfer following a single intravenous injection suppresses the development of liver metastases in a mouse model of CRC liver metastasis. Increased levels of neutrophils and NET formation in tumors are associated with poor prognosis in many patients with advanced cancers. Neutrophil infiltration and NET formation were inhibited in tumor tissues with AAV‐DNase I treatment. This approach restored local immune responses at the tumor site by increasing the percentage of CD8+ T cells while keeping CD4+ T cells similar between AAV‐DNase I and AAV‐null treatments. Our data suggest that AAV‐mediated DNase I liver gene transfer is a safe and effective modality to inhibit metastasis and represents a novel therapeutic strategy for CRC.
Automatic localization and segmentation of focal cortical dysplasia in FLAIR‐negative patients using a convolutional neural network
Authors: Feng Cuixia , Zhao Hulin , Li Yueer , Wen Junhai
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is a common cause of epilepsy; the only treatment is surgery. Therefore, detecting FCD using noninvasive imaging technology can help doctors determine whether surgical intervention is required. Since FCD lesions are small and not obvious, diagnosing FCD through visual evaluations of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans is difficult. The purpose of this study is to detect and segment histologically confirmed FCD lesions in images of normal fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR)‐negative lesions using convolutional neural network (CNN) technology.

Methods

The technique involves training a six‐layer CNN named Net‐Pos, which consists of two convolutional layers (CLs); two pooling layers (PLs); and two fully connected (FC) layers, including 60 943 learning parameters. We employed activation maximization (AM) to optimize a series of pattern image blocks (PIBs) that were most similar to a lesion image block by using the trained Net‐Pos. We developed an AM and convolutional localization (AMCL) algorithm that employs the mean PIBs combined with convolution to locate and segment FCD lesions in FLAIR‐negative patients. Five evaluation indices, namely, recall, specificity, accuracy, precision, and the Dice coefficient, were applied to evaluate the localization and segmentation performance of the algorithm.

Results

The PIBs most similar to an FCD lesion image block were identified by the trained Net‐Pos as image blocks with brighter central areas and darker surrounding image blocks. The technique was evaluated using 18 FLAIR‐negative lesion images from 12 patients. The subject‐wise recall of the AMCL algorithm was 83.33% (15/18). The Dice coefficient for the segmentation performance was 52.68.

Conclusion

We developed a novel algorithm referred to as the AMCL algorithm with mean PIBs to effectively and automatically detect and segment FLAIR‐negative FCD lesions. This work is the first study to apply a CNN‐based model to detect and segment FCD lesions in images of FLAIR‐negative lesions.
Global multisensory reorganization after vestibular brain stem stroke
Authors: Conrad Julian , Habs Maximilian , Boegle Rainer , Ertl Matthias , Kirsch Valerie , Stefanova‐Brostek Iskra , Eren Ozan , Becker‐Bense Sandra , Stephan Thomas , Wollenweber Frank , Duering Marco , zu Eulenburg Peter , Dieterich Marianne
Published: August 2020

Objective

Patients with acute central vestibular syndrome suffer from vertigo, spontaneous nystagmus, postural instability with lateral falls, and tilts of visual vertical. Usually, these symptoms compensate within months. The mechanisms of compensation in vestibular infarcts are yet unclear. This study focused on structural changes in gray and white matter volume that accompany clinical compensation.

Methods

We studied patients with acute unilateral brain stem infarcts prospectively over 6 months. Structural changes were compared between the acute phase and follow‐up with a group of healthy controls using voxel‐based morphometry.

Results

Restitution of vestibular function following brain stem infarcts was accompanied by downstream structural changes in multisensory cortical areas. The changes depended on the location of the infarct along the vestibular pathways in patients with pathological tilts of the SVV and on the quality of the vestibular percept (rotatory vs graviceptive) in patients with pontomedullary infarcts. Patients with pontomedullary infarcts with vertigo or spontaneous nystagmus showed volumetric increases in vestibular parietal opercular multisensory and (retro‐) insular areas with right‐sided preference. Compensation of graviceptive deficits was accompanied by adaptive changes in multiple multisensory vestibular areas in both hemispheres in lower brain stem infarcts and by additional changes in the motor system in upper brain stem infarcts.

Interpretation

This study demonstrates multisensory neuroplasticity in both hemispheres along with the clinical compensation of vestibular deficits following unilateral brain stem infarcts. The data further solidify the concept of a right‐hemispheric specialization for core vestibular processing. The identification of cortical structures involved in central compensation could serve as a platform to launch novel rehabilitative treatments such as transcranial stimulations.
Seizures and early onset dementia: D2HGA1 inborn error of metabolism in adults
Authors: Tabarestani Sepideh , Varriano Brenda , Rawal Sapna , France Morel Chantal , Carmela Tartaglia Maria , Andrade Danielle M.
Published: August 2020

D‐2‐hydroxyglutaric aciduria type 1 (D2HGA1) is a rare inherited metabolic disorder usually manifesting in infancy/early childhood with seizures and significant central nervous system involvement. We report two siblings with D2HGA1 presenting with mild intellectual disability, and the onset of seizures in adulthood. One of them was misdiagnosed as tuberous sclerosis due to her presentation and the presence of subependymal nodules on brain imaging. Both further developed early onset dementia. This report expands the phenotype of D2HGA1 to include late‐onset seizures and early onset dementia in adults.
Multivariable extremum seeking control via cyclic search and monitoring function
Authors: Aminde Nerito Oliveira , Oliveira Tiago Roux , Hsu Liu
Published: August 2020

This article addresses the design of a multivariable extremum‐seeking controller for a class of nonlinear static multi‐input systems. A method is proposed based on cyclic search directions and a monitoring function to guarantee the objective function to track an adequate reference trajectory via sliding‐mode control. The method allows achieving an arbitrarily small neighborhood of the desired optimal point (extremum) starting from any initial conditions. Simulation results illustrate the significant advantages of the proposed multivariable control strategy in terms of speed of convergence, global convergence and small residual errors.
A Non‐Invasive Nanoprobe for In Vivo Photoacoustic Imaging of Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaque
Authors: Ge Xiaoxiao , Cui Hongtu , Kong Jian , Lu Shi‐Yu , Zhan Rui , Gao Jianing , Xu Yangkai , Lin Shuangyan , Meng Kaixin , Zu Lingyun , Guo Shaojun , Zheng Lemin
Published: August 2020

Vulnerable atherosclerotic (AS) plaque is the major cause of cardiovascular death. However, clinical methods cannot directly identify the vulnerable AS plaque at molecule level. Herein, osteopontin antibody (OPN Ab) and NIR fluorescence molecules of ICG co‐assembled Ti3C2 nanosheets are reported as an advanced nanoprobe (OPN Ab/Ti3C2/ICG) with enhanced photoacoustic (PA) performance for direct and non‐invasive in vivo visual imaging of vulnerable AS plaque. The designed OPN Ab/Ti3C2/ICG nanoprobes successfully realize obvious NIR fluorescence imaging toward foam cells as well as the vulnerable AS plaque slices. After intravenous injection of OPN Ab/Ti3C2/ICG nanoprobes into AS model mice, in vivo imaging results show a significantly enhanced PA signal in the aortic arch accumulated with vulnerable plaque, well indicating the remarkable feasibility of OPN Ab/Ti3C2/ICG nanoprobes to distinguish the vulnerable AS plaque. The proposed OPN Ab/Ti3C2/ICG nanoprobes not only overcome the clinical difficulty to differentiate vulnerable plaque, but also achieve the non‐invasively specific in vivo imaging of vulnerable AS plaque at molecule level, greatly promoting the innovation of cardiovascular diagnosis technology.
Tailoring of Typical Color Centers in Diamond for Photonics
Authors: Liu Kang , Zhang Sen , Ralchenko Victor , Qiao Pengfei , Zhao Jiwen , Shu Guoyang , Yang Lei , Han Jiecai , Dai Bing , Zhu Jiaqi
Published: August 2020

On the demand of single‐photon entangled light sources and high‐sensitivity probes in the fields of quantum information processing, weak magnetic field detection and biosensing, the nitrogen vacancy (NV) color center is very attractive and has been deeply and intensively studied, due to its convenience of spin initialization, operation, and optical readout combined with long coherence time in the ambient environment. Although the application prospect is promising, there are still some problems to be solved before fully exerting its characteristic performance, including enhancement of emission of NV centers in certain charge state (NV− or NV0), obtaining indistinguishable photons, and improving of collecting efficiency for the photons. Herein, the research progress in these issues is reviewed and commented on to help researchers grasp the current trends. In addition, the development of emerging color centers, such as germanium vacancy defects, and rare‐earth dopants, with great potential for various applications, are also briefly surveyed.
Orientation‐Dependent Host–Dopant Interactions for Manipulating Charge Transport in Conjugated Polymers
Authors: Zhang Fengjiao , Mohammadi Erfan , Qu Ge , Dai Xiaojuan , Diao Ying
Published: August 2020

Molecular orientation plays a critical role in controlling carrier transport in organic semiconductors (OSCs). However, this aspect has not been explored for surface doping of OSC thin films. The challenge lies in lack of methods to precisely modulate relative molecular orientation between the dopant and the OSC host. Here, the impact of molecular orientation on dopant–host electronic interactions by large modulation of conjugated polymer orientation via solution coating is reported. Combining synchrotron‐radiation X‐ray measurements with spectroscopic and electrical characterizations, a quantitative correlation between doping‐enhanced charge carrier mobility and the Herman's orientation parameter is presented. This direct correlation can be attributed to enhanced charge‐transfer interactions at host/dopant interface with increasing face‐on orientation of the polymer. These results demonstrate that the surface doping effect can be fundamentally manipulated by controlling the molecular orientation of the OSC layer, enabling optimization of carrier transport.