bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and risk factors for anxiety and depression disorders in workers with work-related musculoskeletal strain or sprain in British Columbia, Canada: a comparison of men and women using administrative health data
Authors: Jones Andrea Marie , Koehoorn Mieke , Bültmann Ute , McLeod Christopher B
Published: January 2021

Objective

To examine the prevalence and risk factors for medically treated anxiety and depression disorders among men and women with musculoskeletal strain or sprain work injury in British Columbia, Canada.

Methods

A retrospective population-based cohort of accepted workers’ compensation lost-time claims from 2000 to 2013 was constructed using linked administrative health data. Anxiety and depression disorders were identified using diagnoses from physician, hospital and pharmaceutical records. The 1-year period prevalence was estimated for the year before and the year after injury. Sociodemographic, clinical and work-related risk factors for prevalent and new onset anxiety and depression disorders were examined using multinomial regression.

Results

13.2% of men and 29.8% of women had medically treated anxiety, depression or both in the year before injury. Only a slight increase (~2%) in the prevalence of these disorders was observed in the year after injury. Somatic and mental comorbidities were both strong risk factors for pre-existing and new onset anxiety and depression for both men and women, but these relationships were stronger for men.

Conclusion

Anxiety and depression disorders including those from prior to injury are common in workers with musculoskeletal strain or sprain and are associated with a complicated clinical profile. Gender-sensitive and sex-sensitive mental healthcare is an important consideration for work disability management.
Intraindividual association between shift work and risk of drinking problems: data from the Finnish Public Sector Cohort
Authors: Cheng Wan-Ju , Härmä Mikko , Koskinen Aki , Kivimäki Mika , Oksanen Tuula , Huang Ming-Chyi
Published: January 2021

Objectives

Studies concerning the association between shift work and drinking problems showed inconsistent results. We used data from a large occupational cohort to examine the association between shift work and different types of drinking behaviour.

Methods

A total of 93 121 non-abstinent workers from the Finnish Public Sector Study were enrolled in the study. Six waves of survey data were collected between 2000 and 2017. Work schedules were categorised as regular day, non-night shift and night shift work, and shift intensities were calculated from registered working hour data. Two indicators of adverse drinking behaviour were measured: at-risk drinking (>7 and >14 drinks per week in women and men, respectively) and high-intensity drinking (measured as pass-out experience). Intraindividual analysis was conducted using fixed-effects regression to examine the association between shift work and drinking behaviours.

Results

Compared with regular day work, night shift work was associated with an increased risk of high-intensity drinking (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.52) but a lower risk of at-risk drinking (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.99). Shift workers who worked long shifts had a lower risk of at-risk drinking compared with those who rarely worked long shifts (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.93).

Conclusions

Associations between shift work and alcohol use vary according to drinking patterns. Workers engaged in high-intensity drinking more often during night shift schedules compared with day work, but did not drink averagely higher volume.
Technical considerations for genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation: optimizing outcomes
Authors: McCormick Zachary L , Cohen Steven P , Walega David R , Kohan Lynn
Published: January 2021

Genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation has emerged as a treatment option for patients with painful knee osteoarthritis who have failed conservative management but who may not qualify or wish to avoid a surgical procedure. Radiofrequency ablation techniques targeting the genicular nerves have evolved as our understanding of the anatomy of the anterior knee joint capsule has become more defined. The article aims to review the basic anatomy of the anterior knee joint and both the traditional and revised approaches to nerve ablation.
Psychological impact of genetic and clinical screening for pulmonary fibrosis on asymptomatic first-degree relatives of affected individuals
Authors: Carmichael Nikkola , Martinez Manzano Jose M , Quesada-Arias Luisa D , Poli Sergio de Frías , Baumgartner Maura Alvarez , Planchart Ferretto Maria A , DiGianni Lisa , Gampala-Sagar Shannon , Leone Dominick A , Gulati Swati , El-Chemaly Souheil Y , Goldberg Hilary J , Putman Rachel , Hatabu Hiroto , Rosas Ivan O , Hunninghake Gary M , Raby Benjamin A
Published: January 2021

Screening for pulmonary fibrosis may help to identify early stages of the disease. We assessed the psychological impact of screening undiagnosed first-degree relatives of patients with pulmonary fibrosis by administering two validated measures after participants received their results: the Decisional Regret Scale and the Feelings About genomiC Testing Results Questionnaire. More than 90% of relatives reported either no or mild decisional regret. Increased measures of decisional regret and negative feelings were present in those found to have a low diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide or interstitial lung abnormalities. Results of telomere length and genetic testing did not significantly impact regret.
The African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council: Advocating for a menthol cigarette ban in San Francisco, California
Authors: Mills Sarah D , McGruder Carol O , Yerger Valerie B
Published: January 2021

The African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council (AATCLC) is an advocacy group that works to inform the direction of tobacco control policy and priorities in the USA. This article narrates the AATCLC’s work advocating for a comprehensive, flavoured tobacco product sales ban in San Francisco, California. Recommendations for tobacco control advocates and lessons learned from their work are provided. The article concludes by discussing conditions necessary to enact the policy. These include having a dedicated advocacy team, community support, a policy sponsor, and clear and repeated messaging that is responsive to community concerns.
Epidermal growth factor receptor activity upregulates lactate dehydrogenase A expression, lactate dehydrogenase activity, and lactate secretion in cultured IB3-1 cystic fibrosis lung epithelial cells
Authors: Massip-Copiz María Macarena , Valdivieso Ángel G. , Clauzure Mariángeles , Mori Consuelo , Asensio Cristian J.A. , Aguilar María Á. , Santa-Coloma Tomás A.
Published: January 2021

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. It has been postulated that reduced HCO3− transport through CFTR may lead to a decreased airway surface liquid pH. In contrast, others have reported no changes in the extracellular pH (pHe). We have recently reported that in carcinoma Caco-2/pRS26 cells (transfected with short hairpin RNA for CFTR) or CF lung epithelial IB3-1 cells, the mutation in CFTR decreased mitochondrial complex I activity and increased lactic acid production, owing to an autocrine IL-1β loop. The secreted lactate accounted for the reduced pHe, because oxamate fully restored the pHe. These effects were attributed to the IL-1β autocrine loop and the downstream signaling kinases c-Src and JNK. Here we show that the pHe of IB3-1 cells can be restored to normal values (∼7.4) by incubation with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR, HER1, ErbB1) inhibitors AG1478 and PD168393. PD168393 fully restored the pHe values of IB3-1 cells, suggesting that the reduced pHe is mainly due to increased EGFR activity and lactate. Also, in IB3-1 cells, lactate dehydrogenase A mRNA, protein expression, and activity are downregulated when EGFR is inhibited. Thus, a constitutive EGFR activation seems to be responsible for the reduced pHe in IB3-1 cells.
Synthesis of quaternary metal oxides immobilized on APTMS-coated magnetite: an efficient and reusable nanocatalyst for Knoevenagel condensation under green conditions
Authors: Gilanizadeh Masumeh , Zeynizadeh Behzad
Published: January 2021

A simple, green, and highly efficient procedure has been developed for Knoevenagel condensation of malononitrile and aromatic aldehydes to the corresponding benzylidenemalononitriles in the presence of Fe3O4@APTMS@Zr–Sb–Ni–Zn nanoparticles (NPs) as a durable nanocatalyst. The heterogeneous nanocomposite was prepared by immobilization of Zr–Sb–Ni–Zn mixed metal oxides on APTMS-coated magnetite. The synthesized catalyst was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibration sample magnetometer (VSM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis (BET). In this approach, the condensation of malononitrile and aromatic aldehydes were done in water under reflux conditions to give the corresponding products within 3–60 min in 89%–95% yields. The magnetically recoverable catalyst was recycled and reused about four times without remarkable loss of activity. This method offers various benefits such as mild and eco-friendly reaction conditions, short reaction times, high purity of products, excellent efficiency, use of water as green solvent, and reusability and recoverability of the nanostructure catalyst.
Repurposing of escitalopram oxalate and clonazepam in combination with ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole–trimethoprim for treatment of multidrug-resistant microorganisms and evaluation of the cleavage capacity of plasmid DNA
Authors: Rosa Taciéli F. da , Machado Catrine de S. , Serafin Marissa B. , Bottega Angelita , Coelho Silvana S. , Foletto Vitória S. , Rampelotto Roberta F. , Lorenzoni Vinícius V. , Mainardi Amanda , Hörner Rosmari
Published: January 2021

Bacterial resistance has become one of the most serious public health problems, globally, and drug repurposing is being investigated to speed up the identification of effective drugs. The aim of this study was to investigate the repurposing of escitalopram oxalate and clonazepam drugs individually, and in combination with the antibiotics ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole–trimethoprim, to treat multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms and to evaluate the potential chemical nuclease activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration, fractional inhibitory concentration index, and tolerance level were determined for each microorganism tested. In vitro antibacterial activity was evaluated against 47 multidrug-resistant clinical isolates and 11 standard bacterial strains from the American Type Culture Collection. Escitalopram oxalate was mainly active against Gram-positive bacteria, and clonazepam was active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. When associated with the two antibiotics mentioned, they had a significant synergistic effect. Clonazepam cleaved plasmid DNA, and the mechanisms involved were oxidative and hydrolytic. These results indicate the potential for repurposing these non-antibiotic drugs to treat bacterial infections. However, further studies on the mechanism of action of these drugs should be performed to ensure their safe use.
The relationship between morphology changes and antioxidant enzymes activity during somatic embryogenesis of long-term-maintained callus of Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr.
Authors: Lin Tianyi , Zhou Ren , Wu Yange , Gu Minxia , Bi Bo , Chai Mingliang
Published: January 2021

A callus line of manila grass [Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr.] has been maintained for 8 years in our laboratory. The present study investigated changes in ultrastructure and antioxidant enzyme activity during regeneration of the callus and examined the correlation between these changes and regeneration ability. The changes in fresh weight and diameter of the callus over time could be described by a sigmoidal growth curve with different stages. Electron microscopy revealed small embryonic callus cells, isodiametric in shape, with large, obvious nuclei, and dense cytoplasm. The cellular structures and morphology changed dramatically as regeneration proceeded. Of particular note was the formation of folded scutellum-like embryos at 14 d, which might be the turning point for morphological differentiation. Catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activities were the lowest at 14 d, the same time when superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was highest. Thus, we speculate that the formation of the scutellum-like structures is associated with higher activity of SOD and lower activities of CAT and POD.
Enabling Reliability-Driven Optimization Selection with Gate Graph Attention Neural Network
Authors: Wu Jiang , Xu Jianjun , Meng Xiankai , Zhang Haoyu , Zhang Zhuo
Published: January 2021

Modern compilers provide a huge number of optional compilation optimization options. It is necessary to select the appropriate compilation optimization options for different programs or applications. To mitigate this problem, machine learning is widely used as an efficient technology. How to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of program information is the key to problem mitigation. In addition, when selecting the best compilation optimization option, the optimization goals are often execution speed, code size, and CPU consumption. There is not much research on program reliability. This paper proposes a Gate Graph Attention Neural Network (GGANN)-based compilation optimization option selection model. The data flow and function-call information are integrated into the abstract syntax tree as the program graph-based features. We extend the deep neural network based on GGANN and build a learning model that learns the heuristics method for program reliability. The experiment is performed under the Clang compiler framework. Compared with the traditional machine learning method, our model improves the average accuracy by 5–11% in the optimization option selection for program reliability. At the same time, experiments show that our model has strong scalability.
MR Brain Image Segmentation to Detect White Matter, Gray Matter, and Cerebro Spinal Fluid Using TLBO Algorithm
Authors: Gudise Sandhya , Kande Giri Babu , Savithri T. Satya
Published: January 2021

This paper proposes an advanced and precise technique for the segmentation of Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) of the brain. Brain MRI segmentation is to be familiar with the anatomical structure, to recognize the deformities, and to distinguish different tissues which help in treatment planning and diagnosis. Nature’s inspired population-based evolutionary algorithms are extremely popular for a wide range of applications due to their best solutions. Teaching Learning Based Optimization (TLBO) is an advanced population-based evolutionary algorithm designed based on Teaching and Learning process of a classroom. TLBO uses common controlling parameters and it won’t require algorithm-specific parameters. TLBO is more appropriate to optimize the real variables which are fuzzy valued, computationally efficient, and does not require parameter tuning. In this work, the pixels of the brain image are automatically grouped into three distinct homogeneous tissues such as White Matter (WM), Gray Matter (GM), and Cerebro Spinal Fluid (CSF) using the TLBO algorithm. The methodology includes skull stripping and filtering in the pre-processing stage. The outcomes for 10 MR brain images acquired by utilizing the proposed strategy proved that the three brain tissues are segmented accurately. The segmentation outputs are compared with the ground truth images and high values are obtained for the measure’s sensitivity, specificity, and segmentation accuracy. Four different approaches, namely Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Genetic Algorithm (GA), Bacterial Foraging Algorithm (BFA), and Electromagnetic Optimization (EMO) are likewise implemented to compare with the results of the proposed methodology. From the results, it can be proved that the proposed method performed effectively than the other.
Electrical Resistive Spiking of Fungi
Authors: Adamatzky Andrew , Chiolerio Alessandro , Sirakoulis Georgios
Published: January 2021

We study long-term electrical resistance dynamics in mycelium and fruit bodies of oyster fungi P. ostreatus. A nearly homogeneous sheet of mycelium on the surface of a growth substrate exhibits trains of resistance spikes. The average width of spikes is c. 23[Formula: see text]min and the average amplitude is c. 1[Formula: see text]k[Formula: see text]. The distance between neighboring spikes in a train of spikes is c. 30[Formula: see text]min. Typically, there are 4–6 spikes in a train of spikes. Two types of electrical resistance spikes trains are found in fruit bodies: low frequency and high amplitude (28[Formula: see text]min spike width, 1.6[Formula: see text]k[Formula: see text] amplitude, 57[Formula: see text]min distance between spikes) and high frequency and low amplitude (10[Formula: see text]min width, 0.6[Formula: see text]k[Formula: see text] amplitude, 44[Formula: see text]min distance between spikes). The findings could be applied in monitoring of physiological states of fungi and future development of living electronic devices and sensors.
Event-based Access to Historical Italian War Memoirs
Authors: Rovera Marco , Nanni Federico , Ponzetto Simone Paolo
Published: January 2021

The progressive digitization of historical archives provides new, often domain-specific, textual resources that report on facts and events that have happened in the past; among these, memoirs are a very common type of primary source. In this article, we present an approach for extracting information from Italian historical war memoirs and turning it into structured knowledge. This is based on the semantic notions of events, participants, and roles. We evaluate quantitatively each of the key steps of our approach and provide a graph-based representation of the extracted knowledge, which allows to move between a Close and a Distant Reading of the collection.
A Script-based Approach for Teaching and Assessing Android Application Development
Authors: Modesti Paolo
Published: January 2021

Mobile applications are extremely popular with many higher education institutions offering courses to prepare new developers sought by the software industry. However, teaching and assessing mobile application development poses specific challenges due to the complexity of real-world programming languages and environments. In this work, we present a script-based approach for teaching and assessing Android application development that addresses shortcomings of existing tools that impact negatively on the learning experience. Our evaluation, which covers pedagogical and technical aspects, provides possible evidence that the scripts have been beneficial in helping students to work more efficiently and achieve better results. Additionally, the scripts have been effective in streamlining the grading process and keeping the tutorial material up to date with the evolution of the Android platform.
Active Learning for Inference and Regeneration of Applications that Access Databases
Authors: Shen Jiasi , Rinard Martin C.
Published: January 2021

We present K
onure
, a new system that uses active learning to infer models of applications that retrieve data from relational databases. K
onure
comprises a domain-specific language (each model is a program in this language) and associated inference algorithm that infers models of applications whose behavior can be expressed in this language. The inference algorithm generates inputs and database contents, runs the application, then observes the resulting database traffic and outputs to progressively refine its current model hypothesis. Because the technique works with only externally observable inputs, outputs, and database contents, it can infer the behavior of applications written in arbitrary languages using arbitrary coding styles (as long as the behavior of the application is expressible in the domain-specific language). K
onure
also implements a regenerator that produces a translated Python implementation of the application that systematically includes relevant security and error checks.
Essentialism is the enemy of the good
Authors: Trim Michelle
Published: January 2021

Right after the spring semester ended, I was invited to do an ethics workshop for a Data Science for the Common Good graduate student research program [6]. It had been a week since George Floyd was killed by police [15], and weeks before Covid-19 related deaths had initially peaked in most parts of the U.S. Organizations, and then even retailers, started sharing anti-racism statements, promises, and in the case of Amazon, Black Lives Matter banners on their website. Press related to facial recognition technology and algorithmic decision making's increasingly troubling role in our criminal justice system had already began the reckoning within computer science [1], calling for a fundamental change in how computing professionals think. So, it shouldn't have been surprising that my lesson for these common-good minded, data-science inclined Ph.D. students could be stated simply as explaining the connection between the myth of objectivity and racism. The stop in the middle connecting a belief in objectivity to racism is a concept called essentialism.
A SIGEVO impact award for a paper arising from the COCO platform
Authors: Auger Anne , Hansen Nikolaus
Published: January 2021

The paper
Comparing Results of 31 Algorithms from the Black-Box Optimization Benchmarking BBOB-2009
received the 2020 SIGEVO Impact Award for ten-year impact, which was announce at the ACM GECCO 2020 conference. The work compares the performance of 31 algorithms that had been benchmarked with the Comparing Continuous Optimizer platform (COCO) for the Black-Box-Optimization Benchmarking (BBOB) GECCO workshop in 2009.
Doped Ceria Nanoparticles with Reduced Solubility and Improved Peroxide Decomposition Activity for PEM Fuel Cells
Authors: Baker Andrew M. , Stewart S. Michael , Ramaiyan Kannan P. , Banham Dustin , Ye Siyu , Garzon Fernando , Mukundan Rangachary , Borup Rod L.
Published: January 2021

Ceria nanoparticles (NPs) have unique catalytic properties which make them suited to scavenge degrading radical species and their precursor peroxides during PEM fuel cell operation. However, in the acidic environment of the fuel cell, ceria dissolves and the resulting cations migrate within the MEA, causing performance and durability losses. In this work, ex situ testing was used to evaluate the peroxide decomposition, selectivity towards radical generation, and solubility of Gd, Pr, and Zr-doped ceria NPs over a range of crystallite sizes and dopant levels. These doped materials exhibit better peroxide scavenging activity and dissolution resistance than undoped ceria. In these materials, activity is largely governed by increased surface area due to high internal porosity at smaller crystallite sizes compared to undoped ceria. Of the compounds tested, ceria NPs doped with 15 at% Zr (10 nm) and 5 at% Pr (17 nm) exhibited greater dissolution resistance than undoped ceria. Stabilization of the former doped NPs is attributed to crystallite agglomeration, while the increased stability of the latter is proposed to be due to its internally-porous, mesoscale structure suggested by its sorption isotherm. Both materials are more dissolution-resistant and active peroxide decomposers compared to undoped ceria but exhibit increased byproduct radical generation.
Review—Recent Advances in Tin Oxide Nanomaterials as Electrochemical/Chemiresistive Sensors
Authors: Sharma Asha , Ahmed Aamir , Singh Anoop , Oruganti Sai Kiran , Khosla Ajit , Arya Sandeep
Published: January 2021

Electrochemical, chemiresistive and wearable sensors based on tin oxide (SnO2) were investigated for chemical sensing applications. There is an increased usage of SnO2 as modifier electrode materials because of its astonishing features of thermal stability, biocompatibility, excellent bandgap, cost effective and abundant availability. The surface of working electrode is modified by nanomaterials of SnO2 in combination with various metals, semiconductors and carbon derivatives for improved sensing performance. Various voltammetric and amperometric techniques were involved in studying the electrochemical properties and behaviour of the anlaytes at the surface of modified electrodes. This review focused on some recent works that provides an overview of the applications of SnO2 nanomaterials for the development of chemiresistive, electrochemical, and wearable sensors.
Morphological Change and Open-circuit Potential of Single Metastable Pit on AA1050 Aluminum in NaCl Solution
Authors: Kakinuma Hiroshi , Muto Izumi , Oya Yoshiyuki , Momii Takahiro , Sugawara Yu , Hara Nobuyoshi
Published: January 2021

The relationship between the change in the open-circuit potential (OCP) and the morphology of metastable pitting at Al–Fe–Si particles of AA1050 aluminum in 0.1 M NaCl was clarified. First, a metastable pit grew in the depth direction as the OCP decreased suddenly. Second, the pit started to grow on the Al surface, and the OCP remained low. Finally, the pit was repassivated with the reincrease of the OCP. In the early stage of OCP measurements of the electrode area of 1 cm2, the potential oscillations and values were found to be associated with the growth of many metastable pits rather than the initiation and repassivation of each metastable pit. The amplitude of the OCP oscillation decreased with time and disappeared. Then, the OCP decreased slowly and became constant. The transition from metastable to stable pitting was determined to occur gradually.
Multiple Reaction Pathways for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction May Contribute to IrO2 (110)’s High Activity
Authors: Ha Mai-Anh , Larsen Ross E.
Published: January 2021

Density functional theory calculations in conjunction with statistical mechanical arguments are performed on the rutile IrO2 (110) facet in order to characterize multiple reaction pathways on the surface at the highest active limit (the stoichiometric surface with all metal sites available) and at the lowest active limit (the oxygen-terminated surface). Alternative pathways to the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are found, with multiple pathways determined at each step of the four proton-coupled electron transfer reaction. Of particular interest is the detailed characterization of a co-adsorption pathway utilizing neighboring, adsorbed O, OH species in order to evolve oxygen; activation energies of this pathway are <0.5 eV and therefore easily surmountable at the high operating potentials of OER. We also determined that surface Ir atoms can potentially participate in deprotonating an OOH* intermediate; the activation energy to this is 0.67 eV on the oxygen-terminated surface. These theoretical findings explain in part the high activity present in iridium oxide catalysts and also provide insight into the mechanistic pathways available on metal oxide catalysts, which may require the concerted interaction of nearest neighbor co-adsorbates to produce chemicals of interest.
Formation of Excellent Cathode/Electrolyte Interface with UV-Cured Polymer Electrolyte through In Situ Strategy
Authors: Wei Zhenyao , Zhang Tian , Wang Man , Wu Wei , Wang Jun , Li Shuai , Zhao Yusheng , Wang Chaoyang , Yao Xiayin , Xu Xiaoxiong , Deng Yonghong
Published: January 2021

UV-cured polymer electrolyte is synthesized via photo-polymerization of poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate and poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate. The obtained polymer electrolyte exhibits a high ionic conductivity of 2.95 × 10−5 S cm−1 at 30 °C, a wide electrochemical stable window of up to 4.69 V (vs Li/Li+) and excellent compatibility against lithium metal electrode over 800 h. Besides, an integrated cathode/electrolyte interface is constructed through pouring the polymer electrolyte precursor onto the cathode layer. This kind of the integrated cell exhibits faster Li-ion diffusion in cathodic electrochemical reactions than conventional cells. Moreover, LiMn0.8Fe0.2PO4∣∣Li cells with integrated cathode/electrolyte interface deliver a reversible capacity of 164.7 mAh g−1 at 0.1C and retains a capacity of 134.4 mAh g−1 after 240 cycles at 0.2C. Furthermore, the integrated cells show satisfactory performance under disastrous conditions, presenting their high safety. The UV cross-linked polymer electrolyte is a promising polymer electrolyte candidate for high energy density all-solid-state lithium metal batteries.
Effects of Micropore Group Spacing and Irrigation Amount on Soil Respiration and Yield of Tomato with Microsprinkler Irrigation under Plastic Film in Greenhouse
Authors: Zhang Mingzhi , Yan Xiaoqun , Lu Zhenguang , Bai Qingjun , Zhang Yushun , Wang Donglin , Zhou Yuangang , Yin Yuqing
Published: January 2021

Microsprinkler irrigation under a plastic film in the greenhouse (MSPF) is a water‐saving way which adopts the porous discharge form of a pipe under the plastic film. The effects of different micropore group spacings (L1:30 cm, L2: 50 cm) and irrigation amounts [I1: 0.7 Epan; I2: 1.0 Epan; and I3: 1.2 Epan (Epan is the diameter of 20 cm standard pan evaporation, mm)] of the MSPF on the soil respiration and yield of tomato were studied. A completely randomized trial design was used, and drip irrigation under plastic film (CK1) and microsprinkler irrigation (CK2) were also used as controls. The results showed that under the same irrigation amount, the soil respiration rate, tomato yield, and water use efficiency (WUE) of MSPF in spring and autumn are 8.09% and 6.74%, 19.39% and 4.54%, and 10.03% and 2.32% higher than those of CK1, respectively; they are significantly increased by 31.02% and 20.46%, 49.22% and 38.38%, and 58.05% and 34.66% compared with those of CK2, respectively, indicating that MSPF increased the amount of CO2 emission, but tomato yield and WUE were effectively improved, and a dynamic balance was reached among them. Compared with the 50 cm micropore group spacing, the spring and autumn tomato yields and WUE under the 30 cm micropore group spacing were significantly increased by 16.00% and 13.01% and 20.85% and 14.25%, respectively, and the micropore group spacing had no significant effect on the soil respiration rate in both root and nonroot zones. When the I increased from 0.7 Epan to 1.2 Epan, the soil respiration rate and yield in the root and nonroot zones of the spring and autumn tomatoes increased at first and then decreased, and the WUE showed a decreasing trend. The relationship of soil respiration rate between the nonroot and root zones obeys a logarithmic function, and the soil respiration rate in the nonroot zone has a quadratic curve relationship with the yield of tomato. This study can provide data support for the development of water‐saving irrigation and yield increase of facility agricultural tomato and the analysis of the soil carbon cycling mechanism.
Exoskeleton Follow-Up Control Based on Parameter Optimization of Predictive Algorithm
Authors: Zha Shijia , Li Tianyi , Cheng Lidan , Gu Jihua , Wei Wei , Lin Xichuan , Gu Shaofei
Published: January 2021

The prediction of sensor data can help the exoskeleton control system to get the human motion intention and target position in advance, so as to reduce the human-machine interaction force. In this paper, an improved method for the prediction algorithm of exoskeleton sensor data is proposed. Through an algorithm simulation test and two-link simulation experiment, the algorithm improves the prediction accuracy by 14.23 ± 0.5%, and the sensor data is smooth. Input the predicted signal into the two-link model, and use the calculated torque method to verify the prediction accuracy data and smoothness. The simulation results showed that the algorithm can predict the joint angle of the human body and can be used for the follow-up control of the swinging legs of the exoskeleton.
MYCN-Amplified Neuroblastoma Is Addicted to Iron and Vulnerable to Inhibition of the System Xc-/Glutathione Axis
Authors: Floros Konstantinos V. , Cai JinYang , Jacob Sheeba , Kurupi Richard , Fairchild Carter K. , Shende Mayuri , Coon Colin M. , Powell Krista M. , Belvin Benjamin R. , Hu Bin , Puchalapalli Madhavi , Ramamoorthy Sivapriya , Swift Kimberly , Lewis Janina P. , Dozmorov Mikhail G. , Glod John , Koblinski Jennifer E. , Boikos Sosipatros A. , Faber Anthony C.
Published: January 2021

MYCN is amplified in 20% to 25% of neuroblastoma, and MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma contributes to a large percent of pediatric cancer–related deaths. Therapy improvements for this subtype of cancer are a high priority. Here we uncover a MYCN-dependent therapeutic vulnerability in neuroblastoma. Namely, amplified MYCN rewires the cell through expression of key receptors, ultimately enhancing iron influx through increased expression of the iron import transferrin receptor 1. Accumulating iron causes reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and MYCN-amplified neuroblastomas show enhanced reliance on the system Xc- cystine/glutamate antiporter for ROS detoxification through increased transcription of this receptor. This dependence creates a marked vulnerability to targeting the system Xc-/glutathione (GSH) pathway with ferroptosis inducers. This reliance can be exploited through therapy with FDA-approved rheumatoid arthritis drugs sulfasalazine (SAS) and auranofin: in MYCN-amplified, patient-derived xenograft models, both therapies blocked growth and induced ferroptosis. SAS and auranofin activity was largely mitigated by the ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1, antioxidants like N-acetyl-L-cysteine, or by the iron scavenger deferoxamine (DFO). DFO reduced auranofin-induced ROS, further linking increased iron capture in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma to a therapeutic vulnerability to ROS-inducing drugs. These data uncover an oncogene vulnerability to ferroptosis caused by increased iron accumulation and subsequent reliance on the system Xc-/GSH pathway.

Significance:

This study shows how MYCN increases intracellular iron levels and subsequent GSH pathway activity and demonstrates the antitumor activity of FDA-approved SAS and auranofin in patient-derived xenograft models of MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma.
Efficacy and Biomarker Analysis of Camrelizumab in Combination with Apatinib in Patients with Advanced Nonsquamous NSCLC Previously Treated with Chemotherapy
Authors: Zhou Caicun , Wang Yina , Zhao Jun , Chen Gongyan , Liu Zhihua , Gu Kangsheng , Huang Meijuan , He Jianxing , Chen Jianhua , Ma Zhiyong , Feng Jifeng , Shi Jianhua , Yu Xinmin , Cheng Ying , Yao Yu , Chen Yuan , Guo Renhua , Lin Xiaoyan , Wang Zhehai , Gao Guanghui , Wang Quanren , Li Weixia , Yang Xinfeng , Wu Lihong , Zhang Jun , Ren Shengxiang
Published: January 2021

Purpose:

Our preclinical work suggests that appropriate angiogenesis inhibition could potentiate PD-1/PD-L1 blockade via alleviating hypoxia, increasing infiltration of CD8+ T cells and reducing recruitment of tumor-associated macrophages. We hereby conducted a clinical trial to evaluate this combination in pretreated patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients and Methods:

The study included phase Ib apatinib dose-escalation and phase II expansion cohorts. Patients received apatinib at doses of 250–500 mg orally once daily, in combination with camrelizumab 200 mg intravenously every 2 weeks.

Results:

From March 2017 to October 2018, 105 chemotherapy-pretreated patients with nonsquamous NSCLC were enrolled and received apatinib 250 mg (recommended phase II dose) and camrelizumab. Among them, one (1.0%) complete response, 28 (26.7%) partial responses, and 48 (45.7%) stable diseases were observed. In the efficacy-evaluable population (n = 94), objective response rate (ORR) was 30.9% [95% confidence interval (CI), 21.7–41.2]. The median progression-free survival was 5.7 months (95% CI, 4.5–8.8) and overall survival was 15.5 months (95% CI, 10.9–24.5). Efficacy of combination therapy was evident across all PD-L1 and tumor mutation burden subgroups, and appeared to be improved in patients with STK11/KEAP1 mutation (mutant vs. wild-type, ORR: 42.9% vs. 28.1%; 1-year survival rate: 85.1% vs. 53.1%). No unexpected adverse events were observed.

Conclusions:

Combined apatinib and camrelizumab showed encouraging antitumor activity and acceptable toxicity in chemotherapy-pretreated patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC. Patients with STK11/KEAP1 mutation might derive more benefits from this combination. We will validate these results in an ongoing phase III trial (NCT04203485).
Ethical Aspects of Genotype Disclosure: Perceptions of Participants in a Nutrigenetic Study in Finland
Authors: De Suchetana , Tringham Maaria , Hopia Anu , Tahvonen Raija , Pietilä Anna-Maija , Vähäkangas Kirsi
Published: January 2021

Objective: The aim of this study was to gain insight into the understanding of genetics and perceptions on the ethical issues related to genotype disclosure of the participants in a nutrigenetic study. Methods: A close-ended questionnaire was developed based on literature and discussions among the research group members. The questionnaire contained a ­total of 33 questions, which were divided into 4 categories – demographics, knowledge assessment, concerns related to participation, and opinions on disclosure of information. Majority of the participants (250 out of 281) of a nutrigenetic study, in which effect of disclosing APOE allele status on lifestyle changes was studied, completed the questionnaire online following the informed consent process. The responses from the knowledge assessment and the concern categories were transformed into knowledge and concern scales, respectively, and analysed by descriptive statistical methods. The statistical associations between the categorical variables were determined using χ2 test of independence. The relationship between the continuous variables was assessed using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient and internal consistency of questions by Cronbach’s alpha. Results: No correlation was observed between the level of education and knowledge scores. About 10% of the participants thought that the genetic predisposition would be stressful to them and their family members. Conclusions: Careful distribution of information before a nutrigenetic study supports understanding and reduces concerns of genetic susceptibility. In Finland, strong basic education is likely to have strengthened the trust in research process.
Evidence of SARS-CoV2 Entry Protein ACE2 in the Human Nose and Olfactory Bulb
Authors: Klingenstein Moritz , Klingenstein Stefanie , Neckel Peter H. , Mack Andreas F. , Wagner Andreas P. , Kleger Alexander , Liebau Stefan , Milazzo Alfio
Published: January 2021

Usually, pandemic COVID-19 disease, caused by SARS-CoV2, presents with mild respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, but frequently also with anosmia and neurological symptoms. Virus-cell fusion is mediated by angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) with their organ expression pattern determining viral tropism. Clinical presentation suggests rapid viral dissemination to the central nervous system leading frequently to severe symptoms including viral meningitis. Here, we provide a comprehensive expression landscape of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 proteins across human postmortem nasal and olfactory tissue. Sagittal sections through the human nose complemented with immunolabelling of respective cell types represent different anatomically defined regions including olfactory epithelium, respiratory epithelium of the nasal conchae and the paranasal sinuses along with the hardly accessible human olfactory bulb. ACE2 can be detected in the olfactory epithelium as well as in the respiratory epithelium of the nasal septum, the nasal conchae, and the paranasal sinuses. ACE2 is located in the sustentacular cells and in the glandular cells in the olfactory epithelium as well as in the basal cells, glandular cells, and epithelial cells of the respiratory epithelium. Intriguingly, ACE2 is not expressed in mature or immature olfactory receptor neurons and basal cells in the olfactory epithelium. Similarly, ACE2 is not localized in the olfactory receptor neurons albeit the olfactory bulb is positive. Vice versa, TMPRSS2 can also be detected in the sustentacular cells and the glandular cells of the olfactory epithelium. Our findings provide the basic anatomical evidence for the expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in the human nose, olfactory epithelium, and olfactory bulb. Thus, they are substantial for future studies that aim to elucidate the symptom of SARS-CoV2 induced anosmia via the olfactory pathway.
Microthrombi as a Major Cause of Cardiac Injury in COVID-19
Authors: Pellegrini Dario , Kawakami Rika , Guagliumi Giulio , Sakamoto Atsushi , Kawai Kenji , Gianatti Andrea , Nasr Ahmed , Kutys Robert , Guo Liang , Cornelissen Anne , Faggi Lara , Mori Masayuki , Sato Yu , Pescetelli Irene , Brivio Matteo , Romero Maria , Virmani Renu , Finn Aloke V.
Published: January 2021

Background:

Cardiac injury is common in patients who are hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and portends poorer prognosis. However, the mechanism and the type of myocardial damage associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remain uncertain.

Methods:

We conducted a systematic pathological analysis of 40 hearts from hospitalized patients dying of COVID-19 in Bergamo, Italy, to determine the pathological mechanisms of cardiac injury. We divided the hearts according to presence or absence of acute myocyte necrosis and then determined the underlying mechanisms of cardiac injury.

Results:

Of the 40 hearts examined, 14 (35%) had evidence of myocyte necrosis, predominantly of the left ventricle. Compared with subjects without necrosis, subjects with necrosis tended to be female, have chronic kidney disease, and have shorter symptom onset to admission. The incidence of severe coronary artery disease (ie, >75% cross-sectional narrowing) was not significantly different between those with and without necrosis. Three of 14 (21.4%) subjects with myocyte necrosis showed evidence of acute myocardial infarction, defined as ≥1 cm
2
area of necrosis, whereas 11 of 14 (78.6%) showed evidence of focal (>20 necrotic myocytes with an area of ≥0.05 mm
2
but <1 cm
2
) myocyte necrosis. Cardiac thrombi were present in 11 of 14 (78.6%) cases with necrosis, with 2 of 14 (14.2%) having epicardial coronary artery thrombi, whereas 9 of 14 (64.3%) had microthrombi in myocardial capillaries, arterioles, and small muscular arteries. We compared cardiac microthrombi from COVID-19–positive autopsy cases to intramyocardial thromboemboli from COVID-19 cases as well as to aspirated thrombi obtained during primary percutaneous coronary intervention from uninfected and COVID-19–infected patients presenting with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction. Microthrombi had significantly greater fibrin and terminal complement C5b-9 immunostaining compared with intramyocardial thromboemboli from COVID-19–negative subjects and with aspirated thrombi. There were no significant differences between the constituents of thrombi aspirated from COVID-19–positive and –negative patients with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction.

Conclusions:

The most common pathological cause of myocyte necrosis was microthrombi. Microthrombi were different in composition from intramyocardial thromboemboli from COVID-19–negative subjects and from coronary thrombi retrieved from COVID-19–positive and –negative patients with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction. Tailored antithrombotic strategies may be useful to counteract the cardiac effects of COVID-19 infection.
Straightening the Uterus with Epicurus
Authors: Nijs Wim
Published: January 2021

Despite Lucretius’ observations about fertility and marriage at the end of book 4, the Epicurean view on procreation is to a great extent still uncharted territory, due to the shortage of textual evidence other than Lucretius. An important, but often neglected source of information can be found in the few remaining columns of the, unfortunately rather badly preserved, Herculaneum papyrus PHerc. 908/1390, conventionally known as the treatise On Procreation. This paper aims to draw attention to the Gynecological treatise of Soranus of Ephesus as a hitherto unnoticed textual parallel for col. 6-7 of our papyrus. Additionally, I will use these columns to shed some light on the background for Lucretius’ observations in DRN 4.1263-1277, where he discusses the importance of adopting the proper coital position during intercourse.
“To the Moles”? A Note on Isaiah 2:20
Authors: Yurovitskaya Maria
Published: January 2021

The corrupt Masoretic reading לַחְפֹּר פֵּרוֹת at Isa 2:20 is usually restored as לַחֲפַרְפָּרוֹת, which is interpreted as “to the moles.” The alternative interpretation of לחפרפרות as “to the bats,” first attested in Ibn Ezra, may in fact be preferable, as it is supported by the (previously ignored) evidence of the Fragmentary Targum, which use חפרפרא to translate Hebrew עֲטַלֵּף (“bat”) at Deut 14:18.
Foreshadowing Spinoza
Authors: Kato Yoshi
Published: January 2021

This paper examines two interpretations of a passage in Descartes’s text. Johannes Clauberg and Benedict Spinoza comment on the same paragraph in the Principles of Philosophy (1646). Descartes, in the paragraph, argues that the same amount of motion remains in the universe because of God’s immutable essence and operation. On the one hand, Clauberg embraces Descartes’s physics in general but modifies it to suit the theological tradition of the Reformed church, which held the official confession for where his professional career mattered. Spinoza, on the other hand, gets rid of all traces of the biblical religion from Descartes’s physics. While particular theological (or anti-theological) positions of these thinkers dictate their interpretations of Descartes’s text, their solutions are surprisingly similar.
Method vs. Metaphysics
Authors: van Ruler Han
Published: January 2021

This article discusses Descartes’s preferred focus on morally and theologically neutral subjects and points out the impact of this focus on the scientific status of theology. It does so by linking Descartes’s method to his transformation of the notion of substance. Descartes’s Meditations centred around epistemological questions rather than non-human intelligences or the life of the mind beyond this world. Likewise, in his early works, Descartes consistently avoided referring to causal operators. Finally, having first redefined the notion of substance in the Principia, Descartes would completely abandon making use of this notion in his later years. Indeed, in contrast to many authors before and after him, Descartes never showed any interest in the long-established metaphysical interpretation of substances as being causal factors of natural change. With God, nature, and mind commonly serving as instances of substantial causality, Descartes’s philosophy had a huge impact on the place of God in science and discreetly excluded theology as a subject to which his method might be applied.
“Church Sweat”
Authors: Randolph Jacob R.
Published: January 2021

Martin Luther’s ideas about vocational identity were forged in the early years of the Reformation, but were nuanced and reshaped throughout his life as new challenges arose. In this article, I examine the ways in which his conflict with Andreas Karlstadt over the propriety of an academic lifestyle from 1523 to 1525 provided an essential element of Luther’s masculine identity, an element that he continued to draw on throughout his life of lecturing. By 1535, Luther had come to a fully-formed masculine vocational identity, and Karlstadt had become the foil against which Luther measured himself and all other Christian men.