bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COVID-19 Lockdown-Related Changes in Mood, Health and Academic Functioning
Authors: Hendriksen Pauline A. , Garssen Johan , Bijlsma Elisabeth Y. , Engels Ferdi , Bruce Gillian , Verster Joris C.
Published: November 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns were accompanied by an abrupt transition from face-to-face education to online education. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on academic functioning and mood in Dutch pharmacy students and PhD candidates. A total of n = 341 participants completed an online survey including questions on mood and academic functioning, assessed retrospectively for before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, during COVID-19 lockdown, significantly more time was spent on academic activities, and study grades/output significantly improved. However, the overall effects were of small magnitude, and there was great variability among students, reporting either improved, unchanged or poorer academic functioning. Compared to before COVID-19, the lockdown periods were associated with significantly increased levels of stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and loneliness, and a significant reduction in optimism and happiness. Significant negative correlations were found between ‘performance quality’ and stress, ‘performance quality’ and fatigue, ‘study grades/output’ and stress, and between ‘study grades/output’ and fatigue. Correlations of mood and items related to academic interactions were not statistically significant. Differential effects were seen when the data was analyzed according to sex, living situation, and ethnicity, revealing that women, students living alone, and those with a migration background reported that COVID-19 lockdowns had greater negative mood effects and a more negative impact on academic functioning. Poorer sleep quality and reduced quality of life were significantly associated with reduced mood, as well as reduced academic performance quality and role satisfaction. Regression analysis revealed that being young and not having a non-Western migration background were predictors of improved performance quality. However, only being young was a significant predictor of improved study grades/output during the COVID-19 pandemic. Increased levels of stress and fatigue were significant predictors of both reduced performance quality and poorer study grades/output during the COVID-19 pandemic. In conclusion, for the sample as a whole, the transition to online education during the COVID-19 lockdown was judged as having significant positive effects on academic performance. The lockdown periods were associated with significantly reduced mood and reduced social interactions. It should be taken into account that about one third of students reported academic functioning to be poorer during the COVID-19 pandemic. This represents a substantial group of students who require more attention and guidance to make a successful transition to online education and cope with lockdown-associated stress and fatigue.
Printed Closely Spaced Antennas Loaded by Linear Stubs in a MIMO Style for Portable Wireless Electronic Devices
Authors: Khan Aqeel Ahmed , Saeed Khan Muhammad , Naqvi Syed Aftab , Ijaz Bilal , Asif Muhammad , Ali Esraa Mousa , Khan Salahuddin , Lalbakhsh Ali , Alibakhshikenari Mohammad , Limiti Ernesto
Published: November 2021

An easy-to-manufacture and efficient four-port-printed Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna operating across an ultra-wideband (UWB) region (2.9–13.6 GHz) is proposed and investigated here. The phenomenon of the polarization diversity is used to improve the isolation between MIMO antenna elements by deploying four orthogonal antenna elements. The proposed printed antenna (40 × 40 × 1.524 mm3) is made compact by optimizing the circular-shaped radiating components via vertical stubs on top of the initial design to maximally reduce unwanted interaction while placing them together in proximity. The measurements of the prototype MIMO antennas corroborate the simulation performance. The findings are compared to the recent relevant works presented in the literature to show that the proposed antenna is suitable for UWB MIMO applications. The proposed printed UWB MIMO antenna could be a good fit for compact portable wireless electronic devices.
Cybersecurity of Robotic Systems: Leading Challenges and Robotic System Design Methodology
Authors: Dutta Vibekananda , Zielińska Teresa
Published: November 2021

Recent years have seen a rapid development of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the growth of autonomous robotic applications which are using network communications. Accordingly, an increasing advancement of intelligent devices with wireless sensors (that means autonomous robotic platforms) operating in challenging environments makes robots a tangible reality in the near future. Unfortunately, as a result of technical development, security problems emerge, especially when considering human–robot collaboration. Two abnormalities often compromise the basic security of collaborative robotic fleets: (a) Information faults and (b) system failures. This paper attempts to describe the methodology of a control framework design for secure robotic systems aided by the Internet of Things. The suggested concept represents a control system structure using blocks as the components. The structure is designed for the robots expected to interact with humans safely and act connected by communication channels. The properties of the components and relations between them are briefly described. The novelty of the proposed concept concerns the security mechanisms. The paper also categorizes two different modes of network attacks summarizing their causal effects on the human–robot collaboration systems. The issue of standardization is also raised. In particular, the works of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and European Parliament (EP) on the security templates for communication channels are commented.
Effects of Temperature, Scarification, Stratification, Phytohormones, and After-Ripening on the Dormancy and Germination of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. Seeds
Authors: Deng Shiming , Deng Zhijun , Wang Xiaofeng , Lu Hai , Xue Hua
Published: November 2021

Eucommia ulmoides Oliv., the only member of the family Eucommiaceae, is endemic to China and has great development and utilization prospects. The seeds of E. ulmoides show dormancy but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the cause of the seed dormancy and provide fundamental knowledge for the breeding, genetic improvement, and conservation of the germplasm resources of this species. According to the seed dormancy classification system developed by Jerry M. Baskin and Carol C. Baskin, we compared the germination percentage between intact seeds and isolated embryos, constructed water absorption curves, and evaluated the germination of seeds treated with scarification, cold/warm-moist stratification, after-ripening during dry storage, and gibberellic acid (GA3). The results showed that the intact seeds germinated only at 10 °C with a low germination percentage of 13.3% whereas the isolated embryos had a high normal germination percentage among a wider range of temperatures. According to the results from the scarified seeds, half seeds, and intact seeds, the seed coat significantly restricted the embryo water absorption. The scarification, after-ripening, cold/warm-moist stratification, and GA3 treatments promoted seed germination. Among them, cold-moist stratification was the most effective method and the temperature range of seed germination increased in both directions from 10 °C with prolonged stratification. The germination percentage increased significantly at constant temperatures with the highest germination percentage of 93.7 ± 0.3% at 10 °C and a light/dark cycle after 90 days of cold-moist stratification. Therefore, the freshly harvested E. ulmoides seeds exhibited a combinational dormancy comprising physical and Type 3 non-deep physiological dormancy, causing limited embryo water absorption by the seed coat and a low embryo growth potential. Given the unique phylogenetic characteristics and utility of E. ulmoides, our findings should promote studies of seed dormancy evolution and the development and application of E. ulmoides germplasm resources.
Particleboards from Recycled Pallets
Authors: Iždinský Ján , Reinprecht Ladislav , Vidholdová Zuzana
Published: November 2021

Worldwide production of wooden pallets continually increases, and therefore in future higher number of damaged pallets need to be recycled. One way to conveniently recycle pallets is their use for the production of particleboards (PBs). The 3-layer PBs, bonded with urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin, were prepared in laboratory conditions using particles from fresh spruce logs (FSL) and recycled spruce pallets (RSP) in mutual weight ratios of 100:0, 80:20, 50:50 and 0:100. Particles from RSP did not affect the moisture properties of PBs, i.e., the thickness swelling (TS) and water absorption (WA). The mechanical properties of PBs based on particles from RSP significantly worsened: the modulus of rupture (MOR) in bending from 14.6 MPa up to 10 MPa, the modulus of elasticity (MOE) in bending from 2616 MPa up to 2012 MPa, and the internal bond (IB) from 0.79 MPa up to 0.61 MPa. Particles from RSP had only a slight negative effect on the decay resistance of PBs to the brown-rot fungus Serpula lacrymans, while their presence in surfaces of PBs did not affect the growth activity of moulds at all.
Enable Fair Proof-of-Work (PoW) Consensus for Blockchains in IoT by Miner Twins (MinT)
Authors: Qu Qian , Xu Ronghua , Chen Yu , Blasch Erik , Aved Alexander
Published: November 2021

Blockchain technology has been recognized as a promising solution to enhance the security and privacy of Internet of Things (IoT) and Edge Computing scenarios. Taking advantage of the Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus protocol, which solves a computation intensive hashing puzzle, Blockchain ensures the security of the system by establishing a digital ledger. However, the computation intensive PoW favors members possessing more computing power. In the IoT paradigm, fairness in the highly heterogeneous network edge environments must consider devices with various constraints on computation power. Inspired by the advanced features of Digital Twins (DT), an emerging concept that mirrors the lifespan and operational characteristics of physical objects, we propose a novel Miner Twins (MinT) architecture to enable a fair PoW consensus mechanism for blockchains in IoT environments. MinT adopts an edge-fog-cloud hierarchy. All physical miners of the blockchain are deployed as microservices on distributed edge devices, while fog/cloud servers maintain digital twins that periodically update miners’ running status. By timely monitoring of a miner’s footprint that is mirrored by twins, a lightweight Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA)-based detection achieves the identification of individual misbehaved miners that violate fair mining. Moreover, we also design a novel Proof-of-Behavior (PoB) consensus algorithm to detect dishonest miners that collude to control a fair mining network. A preliminary study is conducted on a proof-of-concept prototype implementation, and experimental evaluation shows the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed MinT scheme under a distributed byzantine network environment.
Introducing Tempeh as a New Plant-Based Protein Food Item on the Danish Market
Authors: Aaslyng Margit Dall , Højer Rikke
Published: November 2021

Decreasing meat consumption has resulted in a need for new high-quality protein sources. Tempeh is relatively unknown in Denmark and might be capable of meeting this need. The aim of the study was to describe the success criteria for introducing locally produced tempeh and to investigate the sensory quality of three types of tempeh. Only 24% of the consumers in the survey (n = 395) used meat alternatives, which might be explained by a low level of satisfaction with availability. Tempeh was known by 26%—the less meat eaten, the greater the knowledge of tempeh. Twenty-three per cent of the consumers had positive attitudes towards tempeh. The three types of tempeh had markedly different sensory profiles. Nevertheless, the home use test showed that they could be used interchangeably in different recipes. In addition, the consumers were more positive about recipes in which tempeh did not resemble meat compared with meat-inspired recipes. In conclusion, introducing locally produced tempeh on the Danish market is possible but would require further knowledge of the product. In addition, tempeh should be sold as a tasty, high-quality protein food item in its own right. Recipes using tempeh should reflect this and not mimic meat recipes.
Stability of Parametric Intuitionistic Fuzzy Multi-Objective Fractional Transportation Problem
Authors: El Sayed Mohamed A. , El-Shorbagy Mohamed A. , Farahat Farahat A. , Fareed Aisha F. , Elsisy Mohamed A.
Published: November 2021

In this study, a parametric intuitionistic fuzzy multi-objective fractional transportation problem (PIF-MOFTP) is proposed. The current PIF-MOFTP has a single-scalar parameter in the objective functions and an intuitionistic fuzzy supply and demand. Based on the (α,β)-cut concept a parametric (α,β)-MOFTP is established. Then, a fuzzy goal programming (FGP) approach is utilized to obtain (α,β)-Pareto optimal solution. We investigated the stability set of the first kind (SSFK) corresponding to the solution by extending the Kuhn-Tucker optimality conditions of multi-objective programming problems. An algorithm to crystalize the progressing SSFK for PIF-MOFTP as well as an illustrative numerical example is presented.
Clinical and Genetic Study of X-Linked Juvenile Retinoschisis in the Czech Population
Authors: Kousal Bohdan , Hlavata Lucia , Vlaskova Hana , Dvorakova Lenka , Brichova Michaela , Dubska Zora , Langrova Hana , Vincent Andrea L. , Dudakova Lubica , Liskova Petra
Published: November 2021

The aim of this study was to identify RS1 pathogenic variants in Czech patients with X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) and to describe the associated phenotypes, including natural history, in some cases. Twenty-one affected males from 17 families were included. The coding region of RS1 was directly sequenced and segregation of the identified mutations was performed in available family members. In total, 12 disease-causing variants within RS1 were identified; of these c.20del, c.275G>A, c.[375_379del; 386A>T], c.539C>A and c.575_576insT were novel, all predicted to be null alleles. The c.539C>A mutation occurred de novo. Three patients (aged 8, 11 and 19 years) were misdiagnosed as having intermediate uveitis and treated with systemic steroids. Repeat spectral domain optical coherence tomography examinations in four eyes documented the transition from cystoid macular lesions to macular atrophy in the fourth decade of life. Four individuals were treated with topical dorzolamide and in two of them, complete resolution of the cystic macular lesions bilaterally was achieved, while one patient was noncompliant. Rebound phenomenon after discontinuation of dorzolamide for 7 days was documented in one case. Misdiagnosis of XLRS for uveitis is not uncommon; therefore, identification of disease-causing variants is of considerable benefit to the affected individuals.
Hemoglobin A2 and Heterogeneous Diagnostic Relevance Observed in Eight New Variants of the Delta Globin Gene
Authors: Mahmud Noraesah , Maffei Massimo , Mogni Massimo , Forni Gian Luca , Pinto Valeria Maria , Barberio Giuseppina , Ungari Silvana , Maffè Antonella , Curcio Cristina , Zanolli Francesco , Paventa Raffaella , Carta Mariarosa , Caleffi Alberta , Mercadanti Mariella , Maoggi Sauro , Ivaldi Giovanni , Coviello Domenico
Published: November 2021

Background: Hemoglobin A (Hb A) (α2β2) in the normal adult subject constitutes 96–98% of hemoglobin, and Hb F is normally less than 1%, while for hemoglobin A2 (Hb A2) (α2δ2), the normal reference values are between 2.0 and 3.3%. It is important to evaluate the presence of possible delta gene mutations in a population at high risk for globin gene defects in order to correctly diagnose the β-thalassemia carrier. Methods: The most used methods for the quantification of Hb A2 are based on automated high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or capillary electrophoresis (CE). In particular Hb analyses were performed by HPLC on three dedicated devices. DNA analyses were performed according to local standard protocols. Results: Here, we described eight new δ-globin gene variants discovered and characterized in some laboratories in Northern Italy in recent years. These new variants were added to the many already known Hb A2 variants that were found with an estimated frequency of about 1–2% during the screening tests in our laboratories. Conclusions: The knowledge recognition of the delta variant on Hb analysis and accurate molecular characterization is crucial to provide an accurate definitive thalassemia diagnosis, particularly in young subjects who would like to ask for a prenatal diagnosis or preimplantation genetic diagnosis.
Next-Generation EEW Empowered by NDSHA: From Concept to Implementation
Authors: Zhang Yan , Wu Zhongliang , Romanelli Fabio , Vaccari Franco , Jiang Changsheng , Gao Shanghua , Li Jiawei , Kossobokov Vladimir G. , Panza Giuliano F.
Published: November 2021

In this paper, we discuss a possible combination of Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) and Neo-deterministic Seismic Hazard Assessment (NDSHA), and propose a new warning model, EEW2.0. The aim is to provide a differentiated warning alert to various end-users based on the results of seismic hazard assessment evaluation. The implementation of such a system contains three basic steps: (a) classification of “potential to cause hazard” in terms of magnitude; (b) determination of the source areas and building a hazard database in terms of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) maps, considering all possible earthquake scenarios in the source area, for the whole protected area; (3) equipping unique decision framework for specific end-users. When a damaging earthquake (M ≥ 5.0) is detected, EEW2.0 quickly matches the prepared MMI map by estimated magnitude and epicenter, then directly extracts the MMI value and issues an early warning to the public. With the great attention and resources put into the reduction in seismic and its secondary risk in the 21st century, the proposed EEW2.0 will likely play an active role in protecting lives and reducing economic losses.
Deep Learning Approaches to Automated Video Classification of Upper Limb Tension Test
Authors: Choi Wansuk , Heo Seoyoon
Published: November 2021

The purpose of this study was to classify ULTT videos through transfer learning with pre-trained deep learning models and compare the performance of the models. We conducted transfer learning by combining a pre-trained convolution neural network (CNN) model into a Python-produced deep learning process. Videos were processed on YouTube and 103,116 frames converted from video clips were analyzed. In the modeling implementation, the process of importing the required modules, performing the necessary data preprocessing for training, defining the model, compiling, model creation, and model fit were applied in sequence. Comparative models were Xception, InceptionV3, DenseNet201, NASNetMobile, DenseNet121, VGG16, VGG19, and ResNet101, and fine tuning was performed. They were trained in a high-performance computing environment, and validation and loss were measured as comparative indicators of performance. Relatively low validation loss and high validation accuracy were obtained from Xception, InceptionV3, and DenseNet201 models, which is evaluated as an excellent model compared with other models. On the other hand, from VGG16, VGG19, and ResNet101, relatively high validation loss and low validation accuracy were obtained compared with other models. There was a narrow range of difference between the validation accuracy and the validation loss of the Xception, InceptionV3, and DensNet201 models. This study suggests that training applied with transfer learning can classify ULTT videos, and that there is a difference in performance between models.
Urban Morphometrics and the Intangible Uniqueness of Tangible Heritage. An Evidence-Based Generative Design Experiment in Historical Kochi (IN)
Authors: Venerandi Alessandro , Romice Ombretta , Chepelianskaia Olga , Kalyan Kavya , Bhardwaj Nitin , Viese Vija , Ugás Sebastián , Raman Shibu , Porta Sergio
Published: November 2021

Asia is urbanising rapidly. Current urbanisation practices often compromise sustainability, prosperity, and local quality of life while context-sensitive alternatives show very limited impact. A third way is necessary to integrate mass-production, heritage, and human values. As part of UNICITI’s initiative, A Third Way of Building Asian Cities, we propose a scalable and replicable methodology which captures unique morphological traits of urban types (i.e., areas with homogenous urban form) to inform innovative large-scale and context-sensitive practices. We extract urban types from a large set of quantitative descriptors and provide a systematic way to generate figure-grounds aligned with such urban types. The application of the proposed methodology to Kochi (IN) reveals 24 distinct urban types with unique morphological features. Profiles, containing design-relevant values of morphometrics, are then produced for a selection of urban types located in the historical district of Fort Kochi/Mattancherry. Based on these, figure-ground design demonstrations are carried out in three sample sites. Outcomes seem aligned with the urban character of their respective types, while allowing distinct design expressions, suggesting that the proposed approach has potential to inform the design in historical/heritage areas and, more broadly, the search for a Third Way of Building Asian Cities.
Impact of Elevated CO2 and Temperature on Growth, Development and Nutrient Uptake of Tomato
Authors: Rangaswamy Tejaswini C. , Sridhara Shankarappa , Manoj Konapura Nagaraja , Gopakkali Pradeep , Ramesh Nandini , Shokralla Shadi , Zin El-Abedin Tarek K. , Almutairi Khalid F. , Elansary Hosam O.
Published: November 2021

Elevated carbon dioxide (EC) can increase the growth and development of different C3 fruit crops, which may further increase the nutrient demand by the accumulated biomass. In this context, the current investigation was conceptualized to evaluate the growth performance and nutrient uptake by tomato plants under elevated CO2 (EC700 and EC550 ppm) and temperature (+2 °C) in comparison to ambient conditions. Significant improvement in the growth indicating parameters like leaf area, leaf area index, leaf area duration and crop growth rate were measured at EC700 and EC550 at different stages of crop growth. Further, broader and thicker leaves of plants under EC700 and EC550 have intercepted higher radiation by almost 11% more than open field plants. Conversely, elevated temperature (+2 °C) had negative influence on crop growth and intercepted almost 7% lower radiation over plants under ambient conditions. Interestingly, earliness of phenophases viz., branch initiation (3.0 days), flower initiation (4.14 days), fruit initiation (4.07 days) and fruit maturation (7.60 days) were observed at EC700 + 2 °C, but it was statistically on par with EC700 and EC550 + 2 °C. Irrespective of the plant parts and growth stages, plants under EC700 and EC550 have showed significantly higher nutrient uptake due to higher root biomass. At EC700, the tune of increase in total nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake was almost 134%, 126% and 135%, respectively compared to open field crop. This indicates higher nutrient demand by the crop under elevated CO2 levels because of higher dry matter accumulation and radiation interception. Thus, nutrient application is needed to be monitored at different growth stages as per the crop needs.
Influence of Congested Match Schedules, Pre-Match Well-Being and Level of Opponents on Match Loads during World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series
Authors: Conte Daniele , Guerriero Aristide , Lupo Corrado , Schultz Arruda Ademir Felipe , Kamarauskas Paulius
Published: November 2021

This study aimed at assessing (1) the effect of congested match schedules on match loads and well-being as well as (2) pre-match well-being and level of opponents on match loads in elite women’s rugby sevens. Eleven players of the Brazilian women’s rugby sevens national team were investigated across three 2019-20 HSVC World Rugby Women’s Seven Series tournaments to assess: (1) within-tournament match-to-match changes in various external and internal match load measures; (2) daily changes in players’ well-being collected before the commencement of a tournament (day one) and during or post-tournament (day two to day four); and (3) the effect of pre-match well-being and level of opponents (high vs. low level) on match loads. Results revealed no between-match significant differences (p > 0.05) in most of the investigated match load measures. A congested match schedule negatively affected perceived fatigue (p < 0.001), muscle soreness (p = 0.004) and overall wellness (p < 0.001), with post hoc analyses showing decreased values on day four compared to previous days (small-to-moderate effect sizes). Finally, pre-match well-being and level of opponents did not affect match loads (p > 0.05). These results highlighted the necessity to embrace a multidimensional approach when adopting monitoring systems in elite women’s rugby sevens during tournaments and to consider various contextual factors possibly affecting match loads, besides those investigated.
Healthcare Providers’ Perspectives and Role in Improving Patient Engagement in HIV Treatment and Care in Almaty, Kazakhstan
Authors: King Elizabeth J. , Kussainova Ainur Zh. , Erlon-Baurjan Jangul , Nugmanova Zhamilya S.
Published: November 2021

The HIV epidemic continues to grow in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. At the same time, there are major gaps in engagement in HIV treatment and care among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the region, including Kazakhstan. Healthcare providers may have the potential to improve patients’ initiation of and adherence to HIV treatment; however, their perspectives and experiences are often overlooked in the research from Kazakhstan. The purpose of our study was to gain an in-depth understanding of how providers perceive the factors influencing PLHIV’s engagement in HIV treatment and care and to identify opportunities for expanding the role that providers can have in improving patient initiation and adherence to treatment in Kazakhstan. Through purposive sampling, we conducted in-depth interviews with 14 healthcare providers at the City AIDS Center in Almaty. We used team-based coding and thematic analysis in order to analyze the data. Quotes from providers were translated from Kazakh and Russian to English to illustrate the themes. Our results show that providers currently view their role as the need to break down myths around ART medications, and to educate and motivate patients to accept their diagnosis and learn to live with HIV. The need to address stigma and social isolation among PLHIV, the risk of overworked providers, and the need to improve patient-provider communication strategies are areas to consider for further interventions. Patient-provider communication interventions are needed in Kazakhstan in order to help meet the country’s 90-90-90 HIV targets.
Increases in Alcohol and Cannabis Use Associated with Deteriorating Mental Health among LGBTQ2+ Adults in the Context of COVID-19: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study in Canada, 2020–2021
Authors: Goodyear Trevor , Slemon Allie , Richardson Chris , Gadermann Anne , Salway Travis , Dhari Shivinder , Knight Rod , Jenkins Emily
Published: November 2021

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, other queer, and Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2+) people are particularly at risk for the psycho-social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, though population-tailored research within this context remains limited. This study examines the extent of, and associations between, increased alcohol and cannabis use and deteriorating mental health among LGBTQ2+ adults in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data are drawn from LGBTQ2+ respondents to a repeated, cross-sectional survey administered to adults living in Canada (May 2020–January 2021). Bivariate cross-tabulations and multivariable logistic regression models were utilized to examine associations between increased alcohol and cannabis use, and self-reported mental health, overall coping, and suicidal thoughts. Five-hundred and two LGBTQ2+ participants were included in this analysis. Of these, 24.5% reported increased alcohol use and 18.5% reported increased cannabis use due to the pandemic. In the adjusted analyses, increased alcohol use was associated with poor overall coping (OR = 2.28; 95% CI = 1.28–4.07) and worse self-reported mental health (OR = 1.98; 95% CI = 1.21–3.25), whereas increased cannabis use was associated with suicidal thoughts (OR = 2.30; 95% CI = 1.16–4.55). These findings underscore the need for population-tailored, integrated substance use and mental health supports to address interrelated increases in alcohol/cannabis use and worsening mental health among LGBTQ2+ adults, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Prenatal Lead and Depression Exposures Jointly Influence Birth Outcomes and NR3C1 DNA Methylation
Authors: Appleton Allison A. , Kiley Kevin C. , Schell Lawrence M. , Holdsworth Elizabeth A. , Akinsanya Anuoluwapo , Beecher Catherine
Published: November 2021

Many gestational exposures influence birth outcomes, yet the joint contribution of toxicant and psychosocial factors is understudied. Moreover, associated gestational epigenetic mechanisms are unknown. Lead (Pb) and depression independently influence birth outcomes and offspring NR3C1 (glucocorticoid receptor) DNA methylation. We hypothesized that gestational Pb and depression would jointly influence birth outcomes and NR3C1 methylation. Pregnancy exposure information, DNA methylation, and birth outcome data were collected prospectively from n = 272 mother–infant pairs. Factor analysis was used to reduce the dimensionality of NR3C1. Multivariable linear regressions tested for interaction effects between gestational Pb and depression exposures with birth outcomes and NR3C1. Interaction effects indicated that higher levels of Pb and depression jointly contributed to earlier gestations, smaller infant size at birth, and asymmetric fetal growth. Pb and depression were also jointly associated with the two primary factor scores explaining the most variability in NR3C1 methylation; NR3C1 scores were associated with some infant outcomes, including gestational age and asymmetric fetal growth. Pb and depression can cumulatively influence birth outcomes and epigenetic mechanisms, which may lay the foundation for later health risk. As toxicants and social adversities commonly co-occur, research should consider the life course consequences of these interconnected exposures.
Exploring the Influences of Point-of-Interest on Traffic Crashes during Weekdays and Weekends via Multi-Scale Geographically Weighted Regression
Authors: Qu Xinyu , Zhu Xinyan , Xiao Xiongwu , Wu Huayi , Guo Bingxuan , Li Deren
Published: November 2021

Some studies on the impact of traditional land use factors on traffic crashes do not take into account the limitations of spatial heterogeneity and spatial scale. To overcome these limitations this study presents a systematic method based on multi-scale geographically weighted regression (MGWR), which considers spatial heterogeneity and spatial scale differences of different influencing factors, to explore the influence of reclassified points-of-interest (POI) on traffic crashes occurring on weekdays and weekends. Experiments were conducted on 442 communities in Hankou, Wuhan, and the performance of the proposed method was compared against traditional methods based on ordinary least squares (OLS), spatial lag model (SLM), spatial error model (SEM), and geographically weighted regression (GWR). The experiments show that the proposed method yielded the best fitness of models and more accurate model results of local coefficient estimates. The highlights of the results are as follows: There are differences in the scale of the predictor variables. Residential POI, scenic POI, and transportation POI have a global effect on traffic crashes. Commercial service POI and industrial POI affects traffic crashes at the regional scale, while public service POI affects crashes at the local scale. The local coefficient estimates from residential POI and scenic POI have little impact on traffic crashes. During weekdays, more transportation POI in the entire study area leads to more traffic crashes. While on weekends, transportation POI has a significant positive effect on crashes only in some communities. The local coefficient estimates for industrial POI vary at different periods. Commercial service POI and public service POI may increase the risk of crashes in some communities, which can be observed on weekdays and weekends. Exploring the influence of POI on traffic crashes at different periods is helpful for traffic management strategies and in reducing traffic crashes.
Special Issue on Emerging Trends and Challenges in Supervised Learning Tasks
Authors: Pes Barbara
Published: November 2021

With the massive growth of data-intensive applications, the machine learning field has gained widespread popularity [...]
The Filippi’s Glands of Giant Silk Moths: To Be or Not to Be?
Authors: Sehadova Hana , Zavodska Radka , Zurovec Michal , Sauman Ivo
Published: November 2021

The Filippi’s glands (FGs), formerly “Lyonet’s glands”, are paired accessory organs associated with the silk glands. They are unique to Lepidoptera caterpillars and their exact role is not clear. The FGs are thought to be involved in the construction of a silk cocoon in bombycoid moths. FGs can differ in size and shape, therefore, in this study we attempt to find a correlation between FG morphology and phylogenetic position within the Bombycoidea. We use light and electron microscopy to examine the presence and morphology of FGs in a range of wild (giant) silk moths and several related species. Our results confirm that the majority of studied silk moth species have complex type of FGs that continuously increase in size during larval development. We identified several species of giant silk moths and two hawk moth species that completely lack FGs throughout their larval development. Finally, in several hawk moth species in which FGs are well developed during the first larval stage, these glands do not grow and remain small during later larval growth. Our results suggest that FGs are not critical for spinning and that loss of FGs occurred several times during the evolution of saturniids and sphingids. Comparison of FGs in different moths is an important first step in the elucidation of their physiological significance.
Efficient Model for Accurate Assessment of Frequency Support by Large Populations of Plug-in Electric Vehicles
Authors: Dakanalis Michail , Kanellos Fotios D.
Published: November 2021

In recent years, plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) have gained immense popularity and are on a trajectory of constant growth. As a result, power systems are confronted with new issues and challenges, threatening their safety and reliability. PEVs are currently treated as simple loads due to their low penetration. However, as their numbers are growing, PEVs could potentially be exploited as distributed energy storage devices providing ancillary services to the network. Batteries used in PEVs are developed to deliver instantaneously active power, making them an excellent solution for system frequency support. This paper proposes a detailed dynamic model that is able to simulate frequency support capability from a large number of PEVs, using an innovative aggregate battery model that takes into account the most significant constraints at PEV and aggregate battery levels. The cost optimization algorithm, which is the most time-consuming process of the problem, is executed only at the aggregate battery level, thereby reducing the computational requirements of the model without compromising the obtained accuracy. The proposed method is applied to the power system of Crete exploiting detailed statistical data of EV mobility. It is proven that PEVs can effectively support power system frequency fluctuations without any significant deviation from their optimal operation.
1p36 Deletion Syndrome and the Aorta: A Report of Three New Patients and a Literature Review
Authors: Lodato Valentina , Orlando Valeria , Alesi Viola , Di Tommaso Silvia , Bengala Mario , Parlapiano Giovanni , Agnolucci Elisa , Cicenia Marianna , Calì Federica , Digilio Maria Cristina , Drago Fabrizio , Novelli Antonio , Baban Anwar
Published: November 2021

Background: Monosomy 1p36 syndrome is now considered the most common terminal deletion syndrome, with an estimated incidence of 1 in 5000. Cardiac involvement is well described in the literature mainly in terms of congenital heart defects (CHDs) and cardiomyopathies (CMPs). Few data in the literature describe the potential progressive nature of aortic dilatation (root and ascending aorta) in 1p36 deletion syndrome. SKI harboured in the deleted region might play a predisposing factor for this aspect. Methods: we reviewed the aortic aspect both in the literature and in our cohort, where major attention to the aortic abnormalities was given through dedicated echocardiographic measurements even in previously screened individuals. Results: aortic involvement in 1p36 deletion syndrome was described in the literature three times within the CHD context. We observed three additional patients from our cohort (three out of nine patients) with aortic dilatation. All patients with dilated aorta had SKI haploinsufficiency within the deleted region. Conclusions: at long-term outcome and with a growing population of this rare disease, this association (1p36 deletion and aortic dilatation) might represent a major concern especially in terms of risk stratification and the potential need for specific management (conservative pharmacologic and eventually surgical) whenever indicated. The present study suggests the need for detailed multicentric studies and indication to periodic echocardiographic screening in addition to baseline tests, especially in individuals with deletions harbouring SKI.
Protein Biomarkers in Glaucoma: A Review
Authors: Fiedorowicz Ewa , Cieślińska Anna , Kuklo Patrycja , Grzybowski Andrzej
Published: November 2021

Glaucoma is a multifactorial disease. Early diagnosis of this disease can support treatment and reduce the effects of pathophysiological processes. A significant problem in the diagnosis of glaucoma is limited access to the tested material. Therefore, intensive research is underway to develop biomarkers for fast, noninvasive, and reliable testing. Biomarkers indicated in the formation of glaucoma include chemical compounds from different chemical groups, such as proteins, sugars, and lipids. This review summarizes our knowledge about protein and/or their protein-like derived biomarkers used for glaucoma diagnosis since 2000. The described possibilities resulting from a biomarker search may contribute to identifying a group of compounds strongly correlated with glaucoma development. Such a find would be of great importance in the diagnosis and treatment of this disorder, as current screening techniques have low sensitivity and are unable to diagnose early primary open-angle glaucoma.
Plasma IgM Levels Differentiate between Survivors and Non-Survivors of Culture-Positive and Culture-Negative Sepsis and SIRS: A Pilot Study
Authors: Pathare Navichandra , Szakmany Tamas , Hall Judith E. , Heurich Meike
Published: November 2021

Immunoglobulin IgM is important for controlling viral and bacterial infections, and low immunoglobulin levels have been found in sepsis. There is a clear need to stratify sepsis patients according to the presence of an invading organism, compared to no organism identified, and SIRS patients, where organ dysfunction is a result of a non-infective process. The aim of this pilot study in a small cohort of patients with sepsis was to evaluate the association between IgM plasma levels and survival in 47 patients with sepsis and 11 patients diagnosed with organ failure without the identification of a pathogen (SIRS). Patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at The Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Llantrisant, UK between 2010 and 2014. We found that low IgM levels were associated with sepsis, but not SIRS. IgM levels did not differ significantly for culture-positive (CP) compared with culture-negative (CN, no organism found) sepsis samples. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to compare survival curves according to IgM levels, with no significant difference. We observed significantly higher survival in the CP samples when comparing with CN. Cut-off value for IgM (266 μg/mL) for diagnosis of sepsis patients was determined using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves with 70% sensitivity, 69% specificity and 92% negative predictive values (NPV), respectively. The corresponding area under the curve (AUC) for the discrimination of sepsis patients was AUC = 0.73, and in a subgroup analysis of CP was AUC = 0.77 and for CN was AUC = 0.79. We confirm IgM as a good diagnostic marker of sepsis. These findings indicate a difference in the pathology between culture-positive versus negative sepsis, SIRS and survival. This indicates that IgM is likely relevant to pathology, because of its role in the early immune response against pathogens, the potentially protective role of natural IgM antibodies, and supports its application in immunoglobulin therapy.
Impact and Strategies on Joint Surgery Centers without Lockdowns during the Peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Hsu Chia-Hao , Hsu Nin-Chieh
Published: November 2021

The real psychological impact of COVID-19 remains difficult to quantify and may differ between hospital sizes and levels. Taiwan’s response to COVID-19 differed in that it successfully prevented its spread, without implementing any lockdowns before May 2021. Patients’ fear would be the major reason for the reduction of surgeries. The daily data for patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA), total hip arthroplasty, and hemiarthroplasty were collected from two major joint surgery centers of a university hospital and a community hospital in Taiwan. Compared with the previous year, the initial impact of the pandemic evidently reduced the total number of patients (outpatient: 20–29%; admission: 22–37%; surgery: 18–35%) in both hospitals. During the study period, the total number of TKAs decreased by 56–61% in both hospitals. The reduction in arthroplasty surgeries was attributable to patients’ fear. Even with confirmed COVID-19 cases, the university hospital experienced less impact than the community hospital. The TKA was the most affected of all surgery types. Even without local epidemics and restrictions in Taiwan, the worldwide pandemic inevitably led to a reduction of approximately 60% of the total TKA operation volume, especially for community hospitals. The surgery scheduling strategies helped maintain the routine arthroplasty services.
Transcutaneous Laryngeal Ultrasound for Vocal Cord Paralysis Assessment in Patients Undergoing Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Patel Agastya , Spychalski Piotr , Aszkiełowicz Aleksander , Mikaszewski Bogusław , Kobiela Jarek
Published: November 2021

Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury is an important complication following thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Recently, Transcutaneous laryngeal ultrasound (TLUSG) has emerged as a non-invasive alternative to laryngoscopic examination for vocal cord (VC) assessment. The aim of the systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine its diagnostic accuracy in reference to laryngoscopy. It was conducted in accordance with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane library and Web of Science databases were searched to identify relevant articles. Sixteen studies were included in the review. Pooled diagnostic accuracy was calculated based on weighted arithmetic mean and plotting forest plot. The pooled visualization rate was 86.28% and 94.13% preoperatively and postoperatively, respectively. The respective pooled sensitivity and specificity was 78.48% and 98.28%, and 83.96% (CI 95%: 77.24–88.50%) and 96.15% (CI 95%: 95.24–96.88%). The diagnostic accuracy improved if transverse and lateral approaches, and valsalva maneuver were utilized. Male gender and older age were the most crucial risk factors for VC non-visualization. TLUSG is an efficacious screening tool for vocal cord palsy due to its high sensitivity. It is likely to prevent unnecessary laryngoscopic examination in around 80% of patients, with the potential for becoming a gold standard for specific (female/young) patient cohort through assimilative modifications use, increasing expertise and development of objective measurements in the future.
Is There a Correlation between Multiparametric Assessment in Ultrasound and Intrinsic Subtype of Breast Cancer?
Authors: Gumowska Magdalena , Mączewska Joanna , Prostko Piotr , Roszkowska-Purska Katarzyna , Dobruch-Sobczak Katarzyna
Published: November 2021

Molecular profile of breast cancer provides information about its biological activity, prognosis and treatment strategies. The purpose of our study was to investigate the correlation between ultrasound features and molecular subtypes of breast cancer. From June 2019 to December 2019, 86 patients (median age 57 years; range 32–88) with 102 breast cancer tumors were included in the study. The molecular subtypes were classified into five types: luminal A (LA), luminal B without HER2 overexpression (LB HER2−), luminal B with HER2 overexpression (LB HER2+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (HER2+) and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Histopathological verification was obtained in core biopsy or/and post-surgery specimens in all cases. Univariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between the subtypes and ultrasound imaging features. Experienced radiologists assessed lesions according to the BIRADS-US lexicon. The ultrasound scans were performed with a Supersonic Aixplorer and Supersonix. Based on histopathological verification, the rates of LA, LB HER2−, LB HER2+, HER2+, and TNBC were 33, 17, 17, 16, 19, respectively. Both LB HER2+ and HER2+ subtypes presented higher incidence of calcification (OR = 3.125, p = 0.02, CI 0.0917–5.87) and HER2+ subtype presented a higher incidence of posterior enhancement (OR = 5.75, p = 0.03, CI 1.2257–32.8005), compared to other subtypes. The calcifications were less common in TNBC (OR = 0.176, p = 0.0041, CI 0.0469–0.5335) compared to other subtypes. There were no differences with regard to margin, shape, orientation, elasticity values and vascularity among five molecular subtypes. Our results suggest that there is a correlation between ultrasonographic features assessed according to BIRADS-US lexicon and BC subtypes with HER2 overexpression (both LB HER2+ and HER2+). It may be useful for identification of these aggressive subtypes of breast cancer.