bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CNNM2-Related Disorders: Phenotype and Its Severity Were Associated With the Mode of Inheritance
Authors: Zhang Han , Wu Ye , Jiang Yuwu
Published: September 2021

CNNM2 (Cystathionine-β-synthase-pair Domain Divalent Metal Cation Transport Mediator 2) pathogenic variants have been reported to cause hypomagnesemia, epilepsy, and intellectual disability/developmental delay (ID/DD). We identified two new cases with CNNM2 novel de novo pathogenic variants, c.814T>C and c.976G>C. They both presented with infantile-onset epilepsy with DD and hypomagnesemia refractory to magnesium supplementation. To date, 21 cases with CNNM2-related disorders have been reported. We combined all 23 cases to analyze the features of CNNM2-related disorders. The phenotypes can be classified into three types: type 1, autosomal dominant (AD) inherited simple hypomagnesemia; type 2, AD inherited hypomagnesemia with epilepsy and ID/DD; and type 3, autosomal recessive (AR) inherited hypomagnesemia with epilepsy and ID/DD. All five type 1 cases had no epilepsy or ID/DD; they all had hypomagnesemia, and three of them presented with symptoms secondary to hypomagnesemia. Fifteen type 2 patients could have ID/DD and seizures, which can be controlled with antiseizure medications (ASMs); their variations clustered in the DUF21 domain of CNNM2. All three type 3 patients had seizures from 1 to 6 days after birth; the seizures were refractory, and 1/3 had status epilepticus; ID/DD in these AR-inherited cases was more severe than that of AD-inherited cases; they all had abnormalities of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Except for one patient whose serum magnesium was the lower limit of normal, others had definite hypomagnesemia. Hypomagnesemia could be improved after magnesium supplement but could not return to the normal level. Variations in the CBS2 domain may be related to lower serum magnesium. However, there was no significant difference in the level of serum magnesium among the patients with three different types of CNNM2-related disorders. The severity of different phenotypes was therefore not explained by decreased serum magnesium. We expanded the spectrum of CNNM2 variants and classified the phenotypes of CNNM2-related disorders into three types. We found that DUF21 domain variations were most associated with CNNM2-related central nervous system phenotypes, whereas hypomagnesemia was more pronounced in patients with CBS2 domain variations, and AR-inherited CNNM2-related disorders had the most severe phenotype. These results provide important clues for further functional studies of CNNM2 and provide basic foundations for more accurate genetic counseling.
Assisted Reproductive Technology and Anorectal Malformation: A Single-Center Experience
Authors: Iacusso Chiara , Iacobelli Barbara Daniela , Morini Francesco , Totonelli Giorgia , Viggiano Milena , Caforio Leonardo , Bagolan Pietro
Published: September 2021

Background:Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are becoming widespread, accounting for approximately 2% of all births in the western countries. Concerns exist on the potential association of ART with congenital anomalies. Few studies have addressed if a relationship exists between ART and the development of anorectal malformation (ARM). Our aim was to analyze the relationship between ARM and ART.

Methods:Single-center retrospective case control study of all patients treated for ARM between 2010 and 2017. Patients with bronchiolitis treated since 2014 were used as controls. Variables analyzed include the following: prevalence of ART, gestational age, birth weight, and maternal age. Patients with ARM born after ART were also compared with those naturally conceived for disease complexity. Fisher's exact and Mann-WhitneyU-tests were used as appropriate.

Results:Three hundred sixty-nine patients were analyzed (143 cases and 226 controls). Prevalence of ART was significantly higher in ARM patients than in controls [7.6 vs. 3.0%; odds ratio: 2.59 (95% CI, 0.98–0.68);p= 0.05]. Among ARM patients, incidence of VACTERL association (17%) is more frequent in ART babies.

Conclusion:Patients with ARM were more likely to be conceived following ART as compared with controls without congenital anomalies. Disease complexity of patients with ARM born after ART seems greater that those born after nonassisted conception.
Nasotracheal vs. Orotracheal Intubation and Post-extubation Airway Obstruction in Critically Ill Children: An Open-Label Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Kumar Vijay , Angurana Suresh Kumar , Baranwal Arun Kumar , Nallasamy Karthi
Published: September 2021

Background: The data on long-term nasotracheal intubation among mechanically ventilated critically ill children is limited. The purpose of this study was to compare the rate of post-extubation airway obstruction (PEAO) with nasotracheal and orotracheal intubation.

Methods: This open-label randomized controlled trial was conducted in PICU of a tertiary care and teaching hospital in North India from January-December 2020 involving intubated children aged 3 months−12 years. After written informed consent, children were randomized into nasotracheal and orotracheal intubation groups. Post-extubation, modified Westley's croup score (mWCS) was used at 10-timepoints (0-min, 30 min, 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48-h after extubation) to monitor for PEAO. The primary outcome was the rate of PEAO; and secondary outcomes were time taken for intubation, number of intubation attempts, complications during intubation, unplanned extubation, repeated intubations, tube malposition/displacement, endotracheal tube blockade, ventilator associated pneumonia, skin trauma, extubation failure/re-intubation, duration of PICU stay, and mortality.

Results: Seventy children were randomized into nasotracheal (n = 30) and orotracheal (n = 40) groups. Both the groups were similar in baseline characteristics. The rate of PEAO was similar between nasotracheal and orotracheal groups (10 vs. 20%, p = 0.14). The maximum mWCS and mWCS at 10-timepoints were similar in two groups. The time taken for intubation was significantly longer (85 vs. 48 s, p < 0.001) in nasotracheal group, whereas other secondary outcomes were similar in two groups.

Conclusion: The rate of PEAO was not different between nasotracheal and orotracheal groups.

Clinical Trial Registration:http://ctri.nic.in, Identifier: CTRI/2020/01/022988.
Mechanistic Modeling of Maternal Lymphoid and Fetal Plasma Antiretroviral Exposure During the Third Trimester
Authors: Shenkoya Babajide , Atoyebi Shakir , Eniayewu Ibrahim , Akinloye Abdulafeez , Olagunju Adeniyi
Published: September 2021

Pregnancy-induced changes in plasma pharmacokinetics of many antiretrovirals (ARV) are well-established. Current knowledge about the extent of ARV exposure in lymphoid tissues of pregnant women and within the fetal compartment is limited due to their inaccessibility. Subtherapeutic ARV concentrations in HIV reservoirs like lymphoid tissues during pregnancy may constitute a barrier to adequate virological suppression and increase the risk of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). The present study describes the pharmacokinetics of three ARVs (efavirenz, dolutegravir, and rilpivirine) in lymphoid tissues and fetal plasma during pregnancy using materno-fetal physiologically-based pharmacokinetic models (m-f-PBPK). Lymphatic and fetal compartments were integrated into our previously validated adult PBPK model. Physiological and drug disposition processes were described using ordinary differential equations. For each drug, virtual pregnant women (n = 50 per simulation) received the standard dose during the third trimester. Essential pharmacokinetic parameters, including Cmax, Cmin, and AUC (0–24), were computed from the concentration-time data at steady state for lymph and fetal plasma. Models were qualified by comparison of predictions with published clinical data, the acceptance threshold being an absolute average fold-error (AAFE) within 2.0. AAFE for all model predictions was within 1.08–1.99 for all three drugs. Maternal lymph concentration 24 h after dose exceeded the reported minimum effective concentration (MEC) for efavirenz (11,514 vs. 800 ng/ml) and rilpivirine (118.8 vs. 50 ng/ml), but was substantially lower for dolutegravir (16.96 vs. 300 ng/ml). In addition, predicted maternal lymph-to-plasma AUC ratios vary considerably (6.431—efavirenz, 0.016—dolutegravir, 1.717—rilpivirine). Furthermore, fetal plasma-to-maternal plasma AUC ratios were 0.59 for efavirenz, 0.78 for dolutegravir, and 0.57 for rilpivirine. Compared with rilpivirine (0 h), longer dose forgiveness was observed for dolutegravir in fetal plasma (42 h), and for efavirenz in maternal lymph (12 h). The predicted low lymphoid tissue penetration of dolutegravir appears to be significantly offset by its extended dose forgiveness and adequate fetal compartment exposure. Hence, it is unlikely to be a predictor of maternal virological failure or MTCT risks. Predictions from our m-f-PBPK models align with recommendations of no dose adjustment despite moderate changes in exposure during pregnancy for these drugs. This is an important new application of PBPK modeling to evaluate the adequacy of drug exposure in otherwise inaccessible compartments.
Efficacy of Intra-Arterial Plus Intravesical Chemotherapy for High-Risk Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: A Pooled Analysis
Authors: Cheng Chunliang , Qiu Dongxu , Chen Jinbo , Zu Xiongbing , Liu Jinhui , Li Huihuang , Hu Jiao , Yi Zhenglin , He Tongchen , Chen Zhi , Cui Yu
Published: September 2021

Background: The treatment for high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) remains highly debated for its high recurrence and progression risk. This work aimed to verify the efficacy and toxicity of intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) plus intravesical chemotherapy (IVC) in high-risk NMIBC.

Methods: A comprehensive online literature search was conducted in three databases to select researches related to IAC + IVC for high-risk NMIBC. All data were analyzed using the Review Manager software version 5.3. And we used the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool to assessed the quality of these enrolled researches.

Results: Seven eligible original publications were enrolled in our studies with a total of 1,247 patients. Compared with the intravesical instillation, IAC + IVC therapy showed a better therapeutic effect. The total odds ratio for tumor recurrence rate, tumor progression rate, survival rate, and tumor-specific death rate was calculated as 0.51 (95% CI: 0.36–0.72; p < 0.05), 0.51 (95% CI: 0.36–0.72; p < 0.05), 1.75 (95% CI: 1.09–2.81; p < 0.05), and 0.48 (95% CI: 0.28–0.84; p < 0.05), respectively. In patients who received IAC, most of the adverse events (AEs)in the treatment were Grade I and II.

Conclusion: IAC + IVC regimen for high-risk NMIBC could effectively reduce recurrence and progression and provide a better prognosis than intravesical instillation. The adverse events of IAC were mild and acceptable.
Polypodium vulgare L. (Polypodiaceae) as a Source of Bioactive Compounds: Polyphenolic Profile, Cytotoxicity and Cytoprotective Properties in Different Cell Lines
Authors: Farràs Adrià , Mitjans Montserrat , Maggi Filippo , Caprioli Giovanni , Vinardell María Pilar , López Víctor
Published: September 2021

Pteridophytes, represented by ferns and allies, are an important phytogenetic bridge between lower and higher plants. Ferns have evolved independently of any other species in the plant kingdom being its secondary metabolism a reservoir of phytochemicals characteristic of this taxon. The study of the potential uses of Polypodium vulgare L. (Polypodiaceae) as medicinal plant has increased in recent years particularly when in 2008 the European Medicines Agency published a monograph about the rhizome of this species. Our objective is to provide scientific knowledge on the polar constituents extracted from the fronds of P. vulgare, one of the main ferns of European distribution, to contribute to the validation of certain traditional uses. Specifically, we have characterized the methanolic extract of P. vulgare fronds (PVM) by HPLC-DAD and investigated its potential cytotoxicity, phototoxicity, ROS production and protective effects against oxidative stress by using in vitro methods. The 3T3, HaCaT, HeLa, HepG2, MCF-7 and A549 were the cell lines used to evaluate the possible cytotoxic behaviour of the PVM. HPLC-DAD was utilized to validate the polyphenolic profile of the extract. H2O2 and UVA were the prooxidant agents to induce oxidative stress by different conditions in 3T3 and HaCaT cell lines. Antioxidant activity of in vitro PVM in 3T3 and HaCaT cell lines was evaluated by ROS assay. Our results demonstrate that PVM contains significant amounts of shikimic acid together with caffeoylquinic acid derivatives and flavonoids such as epicatechin and catechin; PVM is not cytotoxic at physiological concentrations against the different cell lines, showing cytoprotective and cellular repair activity in 3T3 fibroblast cells. This biological activity could be attributed to the high content of polyphenolic compounds. The fronds of the P. vulgare are a source of polyphenolic compounds, which can be responsible for certain traditional uses like wound healing properties. In the present work, fronds of the common polypody are positioned as a candidate for pharmaceutical applications based on traditional medicine uses but also as potential food ingredients due to lack of toxicity at physiological concentrations.
Hesperetin Exhibits Anti-Inflammatory Effects on Chondrocytes via the AMPK Pathway to Attenuate Anterior Cruciate Ligament Transection-Induced Osteoarthritis
Authors: Wu Jiaqin , Qian Yuna , Chen Cheng , Feng Fan , Pan Lianhong , Yang Li , Wang Chunli
Published: September 2021

This study aimed to determine whether hesperetin (HPT) has chondroprotective effects against the TNF-α-induced inflammatory response of chondrocytes and related mechanisms and clarify the impact of HPT on osteoarthritis (OA) induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT). Under tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) stimulation, rat chondrocytes were treated with or without HPT. The CCK-8 assay was used to detect viability and cytotoxicity. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to examine the expression of aggrecan, collagen type II, and inflammatory and proliferative genes/proteins in chondrocytes. Flow cytometry was used to check the cell cycle to determine whether HPT protects chondrocytes against the inhibitory effect of TNF-α on chondrocyte proliferation. In addition, RNA sequencing was used to discover possible molecular targets and pathways and then validate these pathways with specific protein phosphorylation levels. Finally, immunofluorescence staining was used to examine the phosphorylation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway. The results showed that HPT restored the upregulation of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), PTGS2, and MMP-13 induced by TNF-α. In addition, HPT reversed the degradation of the extracellular matrix of chondrocytes induced by TNF-α. HPT also reversed the inhibitory effect of TNF-α on chondrocyte proliferation. RNA sequencing revealed 549 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 105 were upregulated and 444 were downregulated, suggesting the potential importance of the AMPK pathway. Progressive analysis showed that HPT mediated the repair of TNF-α-induced chondrocyte damage through the AMPK signaling pathway. Thus, local treatment of HPT can improve OA induced by ACLT. These findings indicated that HPT has significant protective and anti-inflammatory effects on chondrocytes through the AMPK signaling pathway, effectively preventing cartilage degradation. Given the various beneficial effects of HPT, it can be used as a potential natural drug to treat OA.
The Clinical Efficacy and Safety of 11 Commonly Used Treatment Strategies Improving Arrhythmia of CHD in China: A Network Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Tao , Li Wei , Huang Qianqian , Yuan Chuqiao , Qu Liping , Xiao Xiaohe , Zou Wenjun
Published: September 2021

Purpose: Arrhythmia which as a common complication of CHD, has a high incidence. At present, more and more anti-arrhythmic drugs are used in clinical practice. However, which drug has the best efficacy and high safety is still unknown. Therefore, we decided to use NMA to solve this problem.

Method: We searched CNKI, Wanfang database, VIP database, Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane libraries, and collected all RCTs of arrhythmia of CHD, and used RevMan (5.3) and Stata (13.0) to carry out this NMA. The primary outcome indicator of this study is efficiency; the secondary outcome indicator is the incidence of adverse reactions.

Result: A total of 134 RCTs, 13,951 patients, and 11 treatment strategies were included in this NMA. The results show that all treatment strategies can effectively improve the arrhythmia of patients. Among them, PMA+AM, AM+AT, AM+WG have higher effective rates, and PMA+AM, WG+ME, SC+ME have better safety. The effectiveness and safety of the treatment strategies which combined TCM and chemical drugs, are significantly better than that of using chemical drugs alone.

Conclusion: The treatment strategy of combination of multiple drugs usually has higher efficiency and safety. PMA+AM seems to be the most recommended treatment strategy. In addition, the rational combination of TCM and chemical drugs may provide potential benefit.

Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42021229693.
Identification and Analysis of GhEXO Gene Family Indicated That GhEXO7_At Promotes Plant Growth and Development Through Brassinosteroid Signaling in Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)
Authors: Li Shengdong , Liu Zhao , Chen Guoquan , Qanmber Ghulam , Lu Lili , Zhang Jiaxin , Ma Shuya , Yang Zuoren , Li Fuguang
Published: September 2021

Brassinosteroids (BRs), an efficient plant endogenous hormone, significantly promotes plant nutrient growth adapting to biological and abiotic adversities. BRs mainly promote plant cell elongation by regulating gene expression patterns. EXORDIUM (EXO) genes have been characterized as the indicators of BR response genes. Cotton, an ancient crop, is of great economic value and its fibers can be made into all kinds of fabrics. However, EXO gene family genes have not been full identified in cotton. 175 EXO genes were identified in nine plant species, of which 39 GhEXO genes in Gossypium hirsutum in our study. A phylogenetic analysis grouped all of the proteins encoded by the EXO genes into five major clades. Sequence identification of conserved amino acid residues among monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous species showed a high level of conservation across the N and C terminal regions. Only 25% the GhEXO genes contain introns besides conserved gene structure and protein motifs distribution. The 39 GhEXO genes were unevenly distributed on the 18 At and Dt sub-genome chromosomes. Most of the GhEXO genes were derived from gene duplication events, while only three genes showed evidence of tandem duplication. Homologous locus relationships showed that 15 GhEXO genes are located on collinear blocks and that all orthologous/paralogous gene pairs had Ka > Ks values, indicating purifying selection pressure. The GhEXO genes showed ubiquitous expression in all eight tested cotton tissues and following exposure to three phytohormones, IAA, GA, and BL. Furthermore, GhEXO7_At was mainly expressed in response to BL treatment, and was predominantly expressed in the fibers. GhEXO7_At was found to be a plasma membrane protein, and its ectopic expression in Arabidopsis mediated BR-regulated plant growth and development with altered expression of DWF4, CPD, KCS1, and EXP5. Additionally, the functions of GhEXO7_At were confirmed by virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in cotton. This study will provide important genetic resources for future cotton breeding programs.
Role of Cell Wall Polyphosphates in Phosphorus Transfer at the Arbuscular Interface in Mycorrhizas
Authors: Nguyen Cuc Thi , Saito Katsuharu
Published: September 2021

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi provide plants with soil mineral nutrients, particularly phosphorus. In this symbiotic association, the arbuscular interface is the main site for nutrient exchange. To understand phosphorus transfer at the interface, we analyzed the subcellular localization of polyphosphate (polyP) in mature arbuscules of Rhizophagus irregularis colonizing roots of Lotus japonicus wild-type (WT) and H+-ATPase ha1-1 mutant, which is defective in phosphorus acquisition through the mycorrhizal pathway. In both, the WT and the ha1-1 mutant, polyP accumulated in the cell walls of trunk hyphae and inside fine branch modules close to the trunk hyphae. However, many fine branches lacked polyP. In the mutant, most fine branch modules showed polyP signals compared to the WT. Notably, polyP was also observed in the cell walls of some fine branches formed in the ha1-1 mutant, indicating phosphorus release from fungal cells to the apoplastic regions. Intense acid phosphatase (ACP) activity was detected in the periarbuscular spaces around the fine branches. Furthermore, double staining of ACP activity and polyP revealed that these had contrasting distribution patterns in arbuscules. These observations suggest that polyP in fungal cell walls and apoplastic phosphatases may play an important role in phosphorus transfer at the symbiotic interface in arbuscules.
Increased CO2 Relevant to Future Ocean Acidification Alleviates the Sensitivity of a Red Macroalgae to Solar Ultraviolet Irradiance by Modulating the Synergy Between Photosystems II and I
Authors: Zhang Di , Xu Juntian , Beer Sven , Beardall John , Zhou Cong , Gao Kunshan
Published: September 2021

While intertidal macroalgae are exposed to drastic changes in solar photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) during a diel cycle, and to ocean acidification (OA) associated with increasing CO2 levels, little is known about their photosynthetic performance under the combined influences of these drivers. In this work, we examined the photoprotective strategies controlling electron flow through photosystems II (PSII) and photosystem I (PSI) in response to solar radiation with or without UVR and an elevated CO2 concentration in the intertidal, commercially important, red macroalgae Pyropia (previously Porphyra) yezoensis. By using chlorophyll fluorescence techniques, we found that high levels of PAR alone induced photoinhibition of the inter-photosystem electron transport carriers, as evidenced by the increase of chlorophyll fluorescence in both the J- and I-steps of Kautsky curves. In the presence of UVR, photoinduced inhibition was mainly identified in the O2-evolving complex (OEC) and PSII, as evidenced by a significant increase in the variable fluorescence at the K-step (Fk) of Kautsky curves relative to the amplitude of FJ−Fo (Wk) and a decrease of the maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm). Such inhibition appeared to ameliorate the function of downstream electron acceptors, protecting PSI from over-reduction. In turn, the stable PSI activity increased the efficiency of cyclic electron transport (CET) around PSI, dissipating excess energy and supplying ATP for CO2 assimilation. When the algal thalli were grown under increased CO2 and OA conditions, the CET activity became further enhanced, which maintained the OEC stability and thus markedly alleviating the UVR-induced photoinhibition. In conclusion, the well-established coordination between PSII and PSI endows P. yezoensis with a highly efficient photochemical performance in response to UVR, especially under the scenario of future increased CO2 levels and OA.
A Review of Recent Advances and Future Directions in the Management of Salinity Stress in Finger Millet
Authors: Mbinda Wilton , Mukami Asunta
Published: September 2021

Salinity stress is a major environmental impediment affecting the growth and production of crops. Finger millet is an important cereal grown in many arid and semi-arid areas of the world characterized by erratic rainfall and scarcity of good-quality water. Finger millet salinity stress is caused by the accumulation of soluble salts due to irrigation without a proper drainage system, coupled with the underlying rocks having a high salt content, which leads to the salinization of arable land. This problem is projected to be exacerbated by climate change. The use of new and efficient strategies that provide stable salinity tolerance across a wide range of environments can guarantee sustainable production of finger millet in the future. In this review, we analyze the strategies that have been used for salinity stress management in finger millet production and discuss potential future directions toward the development of salt-tolerant finger millet varieties. This review also describes how advanced biotechnological tools are being used to develop salt-tolerant plants. The biotechnological techniques discussed in this review are simple to implement, have design flexibility, low cost, and highly efficient. This information provides insights into enhancing finger millet salinity tolerance and improving production.
MicroRNA Techniques: Valuable Tools for Agronomic Trait Analyses and Breeding in Rice
Authors: Chen Jiwei , Teotia Sachin , Lan Ting , Tang Guiliang
Published: September 2021

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Extensive studies have revealed that miRNAs have critical functions in plant growth, development, and stress responses and may provide valuable genetic resources for plant breeding research. We herein reviewed the development, mechanisms, and characteristics of miRNA techniques while highlighting widely used approaches, namely, the short tandem target mimic (STTM) approach. We described STTM-based advances in plant science, especially in the model crop rice, and introduced the CRISPR-based transgene-free crop breeding. Finally, we discussed the challenges and unique opportunities related to combining STTM and CRISPR technology for crop improvement and agriculture.
‘Just Let Them Play’: Complex Dynamics in Youth Sport, Why It Isn’t So Simple
Authors: Nash Christine , Taylor Jamie
Published: September 2021

This ethnographic case study examines the long-term impact of youth sport coaching within tennis, using observations, field notes, and interviews as data sources. We highlight the complexities that youth sport coaches face in their role in developing young players within, in this example, tennis, but suggest that these issues are transferable across the youth sport context. There are some key messages for youth sport coaches and sporting organisations arising from this study, particularly around the role of a youth sport coach. We advocate an expertise approach to developing youth sport coaches due to the many roles, within their sport and from a biopsychosocial perspective, that they have to navigate. Additionally, we suggest that simplistic narratives in youth sport coaching are misplaced.
Effects of COVID-19-Related School Closures on Student Achievement-A Systematic Review
Authors: Hammerstein Svenja , König Christoph , Dreisörner Thomas , Frey Andreas
Published: September 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic led to numerous governments deciding to close schools for several weeks in spring 2020. Empirical evidence on the impact of COVID-19-related school closures on academic achievement is only just emerging. The present work aimed to provide a first systematic overview of evidence-based studies on general and differential effects of COVID-19-related school closures in spring 2020 on student achievement in primary and secondary education. Results indicate a negative effect of school closures on student achievement, specifically in younger students and students from families with low socioeconomic status. Moreover, certain measures can be identified that might mitigate these negative effects. The findings are discussed in the context of their possible consequences for national educational policies when facing future school closures.
Haplets: Finger-Worn Wireless and Low-Encumbrance Vibrotactile Haptic Feedback for Virtual and Augmented Reality
Authors: Preechayasomboon Pornthep , Rombokas Eric
Published: September 2021

We introduce Haplets, a wearable, low-encumbrance, finger-worn, wireless haptic device that provides vibrotactile feedback for hand tracking applications in virtual and augmented reality. Haplets are small enough to fit on the back of the fingers and fingernails while leaving the fingertips free for interacting with real-world objects. Through robust physically-simulated hands and low-latency wireless communication, Haplets can render haptic feedback in the form of impacts and textures, and supplements the experience with pseudo-haptic illusions. When used in conjunction with handheld tools, such as a pen, Haplets provide haptic feedback for otherwise passive tools in virtual reality, such as for emulating friction and pressure-sensitivity. We present the design and engineering for the hardware for Haplets, as well as the software framework for haptic rendering. As an example use case, we present a user study in which Haplets are used to improve the line width accuracy of a pressure-sensitive pen in a virtual reality drawing task. We also demonstrate Haplets used during manipulation of objects and during a painting and sculpting scenario in virtual reality. Haplets, at the very least, can be used as a prototyping platform for haptic feedback in virtual reality.
Benthic Macroinvertebrates as Ecological Indicators: Their Sensitivity to the Water Quality and Human Disturbances in a Tropical River
Authors: Tampo Lallébila , Kaboré Idrissa , Alhassan Elliot H. , Ouéda Adama , Bawa Limam M. , Djaneye-Boundjou Gbandi
Published: September 2021

Macroinvertebrate metrics are helpful tools for the assessment of water quality and overall aquatic ecosystem health. However, their degree of sensitivity and the most reliable metrics for the bioassessment program development are very poorly studied in Togo. This study aimed to test the sensitivity of metrics calculated at the family and genus levels. A total of 21 water quality parameters and macroinvertebrates' data were collected during three periods at 20 sampling sites within the Zio River. The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), factor analysis (FA), and Spearman's correlation analysis were conducted on water quality parameters and macroinvertebrates' data. The results reveal that macroinvertebrate structure and composition were affected by water quality parameters related to human disturbances. In this study, three groups of macroinvertebrate communities were identified including sensitive taxa such as Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, and Odonata (EPTO) taxa; the resistant or resilient taxa such as Oligochaeta, Hirudinea, Diptera, and Pulmonates (OHDP) taxa; and tolerant taxa such as Prosobranchia, Bivalvia, Lepidoptera, Heteroptera, and Coleoptera (PBLHC). All the 13 macroinvertebrate-based metrics were found to be sensitive in the detection of water quality and human disturbance gradients. However, metrics related to EPTO and the tolerance measure [multimetric index of the Zio River basin (MMIZB), Average Score per Taxon (ASPT), and Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP)] are the most robust in discrimination of pressure gradients. This study reveals that macroinvertebrates are sensitive and can be used for the bioassessment program development at the order, family, or genera taxonomic level.
Evaluation of Agronomic Performance of Maize (Zea mays L.) under a Fertilization Gradient in Transylvanian Plain
Authors: Barșon Gabriel , Șopterean Laura , Suciu Loredana Alexandra , Crișan Ioana , Duda Marcel Matei
Published: September 2021

In the last few years, Romania has become a top maize producer. Export potential is sustained by ensuring high-quantity and -quality maize. Success of maize crop is highly dependent on inputs. In this context, insight into the potential of different fertilizers to maximize crop performance could shed light on best practices to enhance yields and other traits of interest. The aim of this study was to assess the agronomic performance of maize under a fertilization gradient. Six fertilizer regimes were tested on three maize hybrids between 2018 and 2020, in conditions from the Transylvanian Plain. Results showed that fertilization had a significant influence on yield, thousand kernels weight, grain quality (starch and protein content) and crop health. The experimental year also played a significant role in the expression of productivity potential of maize genotypes. Different fertilizer regimes could be used for targeting desired outcomes, but top performance across all or multiple agronomic components remains a challenge and should receive further attention for optimization.
Experimental Research on Grape Cluster Vibration Signals during Transportation and Placing for Harvest and Post-Harvest Handling
Authors: Faheem Muhammad , Liu Jizhan , Chang Guozheng , Abbas Irfan , Xie Binbin , Shan Zhu , Yang Kaiyu
Published: September 2021

Berry dropping or shattering is an important factor during the harvest and post-harvest handling of fresh eating grapes until they reach the supermarkets. There are a lot of methods to measure post-harvest placing damage and the detachment force for single fruits. However, until now, there has been no objective method to observe and analyze the berry dropping mechanism of cluster fruits during robotic post-harvest handling. Therefore, in this paper, the effect of a cluster’s vibration on berry drop during vertical transportation and the impact of different packaging materials on fresh grape clusters during robotic placing were analyzed. For this purpose, a lead screw lathe, along with an attached actuator, three grape cluster samples (0.48, 0.50, 0.53 kg), three packaging materials (rigid plastic box, corrugated fiberboard box, expandable polystyrene box), four transportation speeds (0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 m/s), and four acceleration excitations (6, 8, 10, 12 m/s2) that were given in a mechanical system (actuator) were studied. In order to analyze the berry drop mechanism of grape clusters before and after the impact with packaging material, a force sensor and high-speed video camera were used. It was concluded from the vertical transportation test that with the increase in speed and acceleration excitations, the change in hanging force increased positively (R2 = 0.92). Additionally, the force after the striking of the grape cluster with packaging materials decreased negatively (R2 = 0.97), and the corresponding index of berry deflection increased. It was also observed from the high-speed camera images that rigid plastic boxes caused the maximum deflection of the grape berries, with the highest change in force of 8.6 N after the impact. Experimental results showed a negative correlation between the hanging force signals and the force after impact of the cluster, with a goodness of fit of R2 = 0.95 at different speeds. Overall, the proposed findings can be used as a reference study for improving robotic post-harvest handling, providing a useful visual and technical understanding of the berry fall susceptibility of cluster fruits, and can be used to develop a post-harvest robotic placing tool for avoiding berry drop damage on both industrial and farm levels.
Organic Matter and Mineral Composition of Silicate Soils: FTIR Comparison Study by Photoacoustic, Diffuse Reflectance, and Attenuated Total Reflection Modalities
Authors: Volkov Dmitry , Rogova Olga , Proskurnin Mikhail
Published: September 2021

This study aims to compare photoacoustic (FTIR–PAS), diffuse reflectance (DRIFT), and attenuated total reflection (ATR) FTIR modalities in the wide wavenumber range from NIR (7500 cm−1) to FIR (150 cm−1) for the same silicate soil samples under the same conditions. The possibilities of non-destructive rapid qualitative analysis of soils by these modalities without comprehensive data treatment were compared. The assignment of more than 100 bands for the chernozem and sod-podzolic as common types of silicate types of soil was made. The following groups of bands of organic matter and inorganic matrix were reliably found in spectra of all or at least two modalities: 3690–3680 cm−1 (hydrogen-bonded SiO–H…H2O stretch, not ATR), 2930–2910 cm−1 and 2860–2850 cm−1 (methylene stretch), 1390–1380 cm−1, (symmetric stretch carboxylate, DRIFT and FTIR–PAS); 2000–1990 cm−1, 1885 cm−1, and 1790–1783 cm−1 (SiO2 overtones, DRIFT and FTIR–PAS), 1163–1153 cm−1, SiO2 lattice (not FTIR–PAS), 1037 cm−1 (Si–O or Al–O stretch), 796 cm−1 (lattice symmetrical Si–O–Si stretch); 697 cm−1, SiO2; and 256 cm−1 (not FTIR–PAS). Amide I, II, and III bands appear in DRIFT and FTIR–PAS spectra while not in ATR. Except for methylene and carboxylate groups, CH vibrations (3100–2900 cm−1) are not seen in ATR. Bands at 1640–1630 cm−1, 1620–1610 cm−1, 1600–1598 cm−1 (primary water bands and probably carboxylate) appear in the spectra of all three modalities but are unresolved and require data treatment. It is preferable to use all three modalities to characterize both soil organic matter and mineral composition. DRIFT provides the maximum number of bands in all three modalities and should be selected as a primary technique in the NIR and 4000–2000 cm−1 regions for hydrogen-bonding bands, CHX groups, and the silicate matrix. ATR–FTIR complements DRIFT and provides a good sensitivity for soil water and the matrix in 2000–400 cm−1. FTIR–PAS in 4000–1500 cm−1 reveals more bands than DRIFT and shows the highest sensitivity for absorption bands that do not appear in DRIFT or ATR-IR spectra. Thus, FTIR–PAS is expedient for supporting either DRIFT or ATR–FTIR. This modality comparison can be a basis for methodological support of IR spectroscopy of soils and similar organomineral complexes.
Suitability of Image Analysis in Evaluating Air and Water Permeability of Soil
Authors: Bryk Maja , Kołodziej Beata
Published: September 2021

A comprehensive understanding of the water and air permeability of soil is necessary for modelling the transport properties which depend on soil structure. We aimed to evaluate the suitability of image analysis to estimate gas and liquid transport in soil using resin-impregnated soil blocks. The soil texture, TOC, density, porosity, air capacity (VV), air permeability (logAP), and the saturated hydraulic conductivity (logKS) of a Cambisol developed from loess were measured. To characterise the pores, using the soil structure images, we determined the macroporosity (AA), index of soil pore-network growth rate, percolation number (lognPER), length of pore path/unit area (PLA), and relative volume of pores overlapping top and/or bottom edge of the image (VTB). logKS and logAP related to morphometric parameters of soil structure derived from the image analysis. The main factor controlling the soil’s infiltration was the total volume of soil pores (VV and AA). AA, PLA, VTB, and lognPER were equally useful for characterising the soil pore system. These results will contribute to more accurate estimations of gas and liquid transport in soils and allow to obtain historical hydraulic properties and model long-term trends in the soil water regime based on the existing collections of thin sections and polished blocks.
A Nested Chinese Restaurant Topic Model for Short Texts with Document Embeddings
Authors: Niu Yue , Zhang Hongjie , Li Jing
Published: September 2021

In recent years, short texts have become a kind of prevalent text on the internet. Due to the short length of each text, conventional topic models for short texts suffer from the sparsity of word co-occurrence information. Researchers have proposed different kinds of customized topic models for short texts by providing additional word co-occurrence information. However, these models cannot incorporate sufficient semantic word co-occurrence information and may bring additional noisy information. To address these issues, we propose a self-aggregated topic model incorporating document embeddings. Aggregating short texts into long documents according to document embeddings can provide sufficient word co-occurrence information and avoid incorporating non-semantic word co-occurrence information. However, document embeddings of short texts contain a lot of noisy information resulting from the sparsity of word co-occurrence information. So we discard noisy information by changing the document embeddings into global and local semantic information. The global semantic information is the similarity probability distribution on the entire dataset and the local semantic information is the distances of similar short texts. Then we adopt a nested Chinese restaurant process to incorporate these two kinds of information. Finally, we compare our model to several state-of-the-art models on four real-world short texts corpus. The experiment results show that our model achieves better performances in terms of topic coherence and classification accuracy.
Review of the Relationship between Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and Elastin-Derived Peptides (EDPs)
Authors: Szychowski Konrad A. , Skóra Bartosz
Published: September 2021

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are central elements of a number of physiological processes such as differentiation and intracellular signaling, as well as pathological processes, e.g., inflammation or apoptosis. ROS are involved in the growth and proliferation of stem cells, cell communication, cell aging, all types of inflammation, cancer development and proliferation, or type 2 diabetes. Elastin-derived peptides (EDPs) are detected in all these conditions and, according to the current state of knowledge, the role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) protein is crucial. It is believed that EDPs are a result of the aforementioned pathological conditions and are generated during degradation of ECM. However, as shown in the literature, the production of EDPs can be induced not only by inter alia chemical, enzymatic, and physical factors but also directly by ROS. No comprehensive study of the impact of ROS on EDPs and EDPs on ROS production has been conducted to date; therefore, the aim of this paper is to summarize the current state of knowledge of the relationship between ROS and ECM with special involvement of EDPs in the processes mentioned above. Depending on the type of cells, tissue, or organism, the relationships between ROS and ECM/EDPs may differ completely.
Vulnerability Management Models Using a Common Vulnerability Scoring System
Authors: Walkowski Michał , Oko Jacek , Sujecki Sławomir
Published: September 2021

Vulnerability prioritization is an essential element of the vulnerability management process in data communication networks. Accurate prioritization allows the attention to be focused on the most critical vulnerabilities and their timely elimination; otherwise, organizations may face severe financial consequences or damage to their reputations. In addition, the large amounts of data generated by various components of security systems further impede the process of prioritizing the detected vulnerabilities. Therefore, the detection and elimination of critical vulnerabilities are challenging tasks. The solutions proposed for this problem in the scientific literature so far—e.g., PatchRank, SecureRank, Vulcon, CMS, VDNF, or VEST—are not sufficient because they do not consider the context of the organization. On the other hand, commercial solutions, such as Nessus, F-Secure, or Qualys, do not provide detailed information regarding the prioritization procedure, except for the scale. Therefore, in this paper, the authors present an open-source solution called the Vulnerability Management Center (VMC) in order to assist organizations with the vulnerability prioritization process. The VMC presents all calculated results in a standardized way by using a Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS), which allows security analysts to fully understand environmental components’ influences on the criticality of detected vulnerabilities. In order to demonstrate the benefits of using the the open-source VMC software developed here, selected models of a vulnerability management process using CVSS are studied and compared by using three different, real testing environments. The open-source VMC suite developed here, which integrates information collected from an asset database, is shown to accelerate the process of removal for the critical vulnerabilities that are detected. The results show the practicability and efficacy of the selected models and the open-source VMC software, which can thus reduce organizations’ exposure to potential threats.
Empirical Study of Constraint-Handling Techniques in the Optimal Synthesis of Mechanisms for Rehabilitation
Authors: Muñoz-Reina José Saúl , Villarreal-Cervantes Miguel Gabriel , Corona-Ramírez Leonel Germán
Published: September 2021

Currently, rehabilitation systems with closed kinematic chain mechanisms are low-cost alternatives for treatment and health care. In designing these systems, the dimensional synthesis is commonly stated as a constrained optimization problem to achieve repetitive rehabilitation movements, and metaheuristic algorithms for constrained problems are promising methods for searching solutions in the complex search space. The Constraint Handling Techniques (CHTs) in metaheuristic algorithms have different capacities to explore and exploit the search space. However, the study of the relationship in the CHT performance of the mechanism dimensional synthesis for rehabilitation systems has not been addressed, resulting in an important gap in the literature of such problems. In this paper, we present a comparative empirical study to investigate the influence of four CHTs (penalty function, feasibility rules, stochastic-ranking, and ϵ-constraint) on the performance of ten representative algorithms that have been reported in the literature for solving mechanism synthesis for rehabilitation (four-bar linkage, eight-bar linkage, and cam-linkage mechanisms). The study involves analysis of the overall performance, six performance metrics, and evaluation of the obtained mechanism. This identified that feasibility rules usually led to efficient optimization for most analyzed algorithms and presented more consistency of the obtained results in these kinds of problems.
Lower-Limb Exosuits for Rehabilitation or Assistance of Human Movement: A Systematic Review
Authors: Koch Martin Andreas , Font-Llagunes Josep M.
Published: September 2021

Background: The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the technological state-of-the-art of exosuits and the clinical results obtained when applied to users with mobility impairment. Methods: Searches are carried out in the COCHRANE, PubMed, IEEE Xplore and MEDLINE databases. Titles, abstracts and full texts are screened for inclusion criteria. Technological and clinical data are extracted. The quality of the studies is evaluated via a study quality assessment tool. Results: 19 studies are identified as relevant. Active (47%) and passive exosuits (53%) are used. Most are used untethered (84%), accommodating the demand of mobility. No study reports power consumption, which is important for dimensioning power systems. Fields of applications are post-stroke (79%), osteoarthritis (16%) and post-trauma (5%). Mostly the ankle joint is addressed (57%), while less studies address multiple joints (21%). The outcomes of clinical evaluations of lower-limb exosuits with patients suffering from mobility impairments are positive in the correction of gait pattern and reducing metabolic energy consumption during hemiparetic walking. Conclusions: Lower-limb exosuits for clinical applications are still facing technological challenges. Fields of application are limited to stroke, osteoarthritis and trauma. While clinical outcomes are overall positive, improvements in the study protocols are suggested.