bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Multivector Field on Paste Preparation and Formation of Negative Electrodes of Lead Batteries
Authors: Shirov Boris , Naidenov Vesselin , Markov Urii
Published: April 2021

During the operation of the negative electrode, some critical processes take place, which are limiting factors for the operation of lead–acid batteries. To improve the efficiency of the negative active material and minimize these processes, external application of multivector field is proposed. Two applications of the multivector field are studied: during negative paste preparation and during formation. It is established that, when applying multivector field during negative paste preparation, the chemical processes proceed more efficiently. The results are better phase composition and crystallinity of the cured paste, thus increasing the capacity of the consequently built lead batteries by 12% on average. The application of a multivector field during the formation of negative active materials in lead batteries has a positive effect on the skeletal structure, the size and shape of the Pb crystals. This ensures longer service life, which is confirmed by the 17.5% Depth of Discharge continuous tests on 12 V/75 Ah batteries. The batteries formed under the influence of external multivector field showed 20% longer cycle life. Based on the experimental result, a most probable mechanism of the influence of the multivector field on the chemical and electrochemical processes in lead batteries during negative paste preparation and formation of negative active masses is proposed.
Sarcopenia in Chronic Kidney Disease: Focus on Advanced Glycation End Products as Mediators and Markers of Oxidative Stress
Authors: Dozio Elena , Vettoretti Simone , Lungarella Giuseppe , Messa Piergiorgio , Corsi Romanelli Massimiliano M.
Published: April 2021

Sarcopenia is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD), and it is independently associated with morbidity and mortality. Advanced glycation end products (AGE) are mainly known as aging products. In CKD, AGE accumulate due to increased production and reduced kidney excretion. The imbalance between oxidant/antioxidant capacities in CKD patients is one of the main factors leading to AGE synthesis. AGE can, in turn, promote CKD progression and CKD-related complications by increasing reactive oxygen species generation, inducing inflammation, and promoting fibrosis. All these derangements can further increase AGE and uremic toxin accumulation and promote loss of muscle mass and function. Since the link between AGE and sarcopenia in CKD is far from being fully understood, we revised hereby the data supporting the potential contribution of AGE as mediators of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia. Understanding how AGE and oxidative stress impact the onset of sarcopenia in CKD may help to identify new potential markers of disease progression and/or therapeutic targets.
Post-Training Sleep Modulates Topographical Relearning-Dependent Resting State Activity
Authors: Deantoni Michele , Villemonteix Thomas , Balteau Evelyne , Schmidt Christina , Peigneux Philippe
Published: April 2021

Continuation of experience-dependent neural activity during offline sleep and wakefulness episodes is a critical component of memory consolidation. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), offline consolidation effects have been evidenced probing behavioural and neurophysiological changes during memory retrieval, i.e., in the context of task practice. Resting state fMRI (rsfMRI) further allows investigating the offline evolution of recently learned information without the confounds of online task-related effects. We used rsfMRI to investigate sleep-related changes in seed-based resting functional connectivity (FC) and amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF) after spatial navigation learning and relearning. On Day 1, offline resting state activity was measured immediately before and after topographical learning in a virtual town. On Day 4, it was measured again before and after relearning in an extended version of the town. Navigation-related activity was also recorded during target retrieval, i.e., online. Participants spent the first post-training night under regular sleep (RS) or sleep deprivation (SD) conditions. Results evidence FC and ALFF changes in task-related neural networks, indicating the continuation of navigation-related activity in the resting state. Although post-training sleep did not modulate behavioural performance, connectivity analyses evidenced increased FC after post-training SD between navigation-related brain structures during relearning in the extended environment. These results suggest that memory traces were less efficiently consolidated after post-learning SD, eventually resulting in the use of compensatory brain resources to link previously stored spatial elements with the newly presented information.
Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on the Emotional and Behavioral Profiles of Preschool Italian Children with and without Familial Risk for Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Authors: Cantiani Chiara , Dondena Chiara , Capelli Elena , Riboldi Elena M. , Molteni Massimo , Riva Valentina
Published: April 2021

The effects of COVID-19 containment measures on the emotional and behavioral development of preschoolers are not clear. We investigated them within an ongoing longitudinal project including typically developing children (TD) and children at high familial risk for neurodevelopmental disorders (HR-NDD) who were potentially more vulnerable. The study included ninety children aged 2–6 years (TD = 48; HR-NDD = 42). Before the emergency phase (T0), all children received a clinical assessment, including the parent questionnaire Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1.5–5 (CBCL 1.5–5). The same questionnaire was filled out again during the emergency (T1), together with an ad-hoc questionnaire investigating environmental factors characterizing the specific period. Changes in the CBCL profiles between T0 and T1 were evaluated. Overall, irrespective of familial risk, the average T-scores on specific CBCL scales at T1 were higher than at T0. Associations emerged between delta scores reflecting worsening scores on specific CBCL scales and clinical and environmental factors. Our results confirmed the negative impact of the lockdown on preschool children’s emotional/behavioral profiles, and highlight the need for strategic approaches in the age range of 2–6 years, especially for more susceptible children owing to environmental factors and pre-existing emotional problems.
Dynamical EEG Indices of Progressive Motor Inhibition and Error-Monitoring
Authors: Nguyen Trung Van , Balachandran Prasad , Muggleton Neil G. , Liang Wei-Kuang , Juan Chi-Hung
Published: April 2021

Response inhibition has been widely explored using the stop signal paradigm in the laboratory setting. However, the mechanism that demarcates attentional capture from the motor inhibition process is still unclear. Error monitoring is also involved in the stop signal task. Error responses that do not complete, i.e., partial errors, may require different error monitoring mechanisms relative to an overt error. Thus, in this study, we included a “continue go” (Cont_Go) condition to the stop signal task to investigate the inhibitory control process. To establish the finer difference in error processing (partial vs. full unsuccessful stop (USST)), a grip-force device was used in tandem with electroencephalographic (EEG), and the time-frequency characteristics were computed with Hilbert–Huang transform (HHT). Relative to Cont_Go, HHT results reveal (1) an increased beta and low gamma power for successful stop trials, indicating an electrophysiological index of inhibitory control, (2) an enhanced theta and alpha power for full USST trials that may mirror error processing. Additionally, the higher theta and alpha power observed in partial over full USST trials around 100 ms before the response onset, indicating the early detection of error and the corresponding correction process. Together, this study extends our understanding of the finer motor inhibition control and its dynamic electrophysiological mechanisms.
Magnetoencephalography and High-Density Electroencephalography Study of Acoustic Event Related Potentials in Early Stage of Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study on Cognitive Impairment and Fatigue
Authors: Paolicelli Damiano , Manni Alessia , Iaffaldano Antonio , Tancredi Giusy , Ricci Katia , Gentile Eleonora , Viterbo Rosa Gemma , Quitadamo Silvia Giovanna , de Tommaso Marina , Trojano Maria
Published: April 2021

Cognitive impairment (CI) is a common and disabling symptom of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) with a negative impact on daily living. In this pilot study, we applied magnetoencephalography (MEG) and high density (hd) electroencephalography (EEG) study to evaluate acoustic P300 features in a cohort of early MS. Sixteen MS patients (pwMS) and 19 healthy controls (HCs) matched for age and gender underwent an MEG-/(hd)-EEG-co-recording, using 306-channel Vectorview and 64 scalp electrodes. CI was assessed using Rao’s Brief Repeatable Battery (BRB). Moreover, we performed psychometric tests to assess depression and fatigue. In pwMS, we observed a slight latency prolongation of P300 peak compared to HCs, while P300 amplitude and scalp distribution were similar in the two groups. pwMS did not show an amplitude reduction and different scalp distribution of Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) and Event Related Fields (ERFs) related to an acoustic oddball paradigm. We found an inverse correlation between P300 amplitude and fatigue (r Spearman = −0.4; p = 0.019). In pwMS, phenomena of cortical adaptation to early dysfunction could preserve the cognitive performance of the P300 acoustic task, while the development of fatigue could prospectively lead to amplitude decline of P300, suggesting its possible role as a biomarker.
Prognostic Impact of AHNAK2 Expression in Patients Treated with Radical Cystectomy
Authors: Koguchi Dai , Matsumoto Kazumasa , Shimizu Yuriko , Kobayashi Momoko , Hirano Shuhei , Ikeda Masaomi , Sato Yuichi , Iwamura Masatsugu
Published: April 2021

Data regarding expression levels of AHNAK2 in bladder cancer (BCa) have been very scarce. We retrospectively reviewed clinical data including clinicopathological features in 120 patients who underwent radical cystectomy (RC) for BCa. The expression levels of AHNAK2 in the specimens obtained by RC were classified as low expression (LE) or high expression (HE) by immunohistochemical staining. Statistical analyses were performed to compare associations between the two AHNAK2 expression patterns and the prognoses in terms of recurrence-free survival (RFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). A Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that patients with HE had a significantly worse RFS and CSS than those with LE (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.78, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–2.98, p = 0.027 and HR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.08–3.38, p = 0.023, respectively). In a multivariate analysis, independent risk factors for worse RFS and CSS were shown as HE (HR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.08–3.53, p = 0.026 and HR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.14–4.31, p = 0.019, respectively) and lymph node metastasis (HR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.09–3.84, p = 0.026 and HR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.25–4.97, p = 0.009, respectively). The present study showed that AHNAK2 acts as a novel prognostic biomarker in patients with RC for BCa.
Waste and Solar Energy: An Eco-Friendly Way for Glass Melting
Authors: Padilla Isabel , Romero Maximina , Robla José I. , López-Delgado Aurora
Published: April 2021

In this work, concentrated solar energy (CSE) was applied to an energy-intensive process such as the vitrification of waste with the aim of manufacturing glasses. Different types of waste were used as raw materials: a hazardous waste from the aluminum industry as aluminum source; two residues from the food industry (eggshell and mussel shell) and dolomite ore as calcium source; quartz sand was also employed as glass network former. The use of CSE allowed obtaining glasses in the SiO2-Al2O3-CaO system at exposure time as short as 15 min. The raw materials, their mixtures, and the resulting glasses were characterized by means of X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, and differential thermal analysis. The feasibility of combining a renewable energy, as solar energy and different waste for the manufacture of glasses, would highly contribute to circular economy and environmental sustainability.
The Occurrence of Drought in Mopani District Municipality, South Africa: Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation
Authors: Nembilwi Ndamulelo , Chikoore Hector , Kori Edmore , Munyai Rendani B. , Manyanya Tshilidzi C.
Published: April 2021

Mopani District Municipality in the northeast of South Africa is largely semi-arid and frequently affected by meteorological droughts. The recent 2015/16 event had devastating impacts on water levels, crop yields, livestock herds and rural livelihoods. We investigated the nature of the drought hazard; its impacts, including vulnerability of rural communities in Mopani District and adaptation strategies they have employed to cope with drought. A mixed methods approach with both quantitative and qualitative datasets was used. The district was divided into two distinct climatic areas: the drier eastern lowveld and the wetter western bushveld. Questionnaires were administered among community members whilst key informant interviews were conducted among relevant government and municipal officials. Climate data was used to characterize historical drought using a Standardized Precipitation and Evapotranspiration Index whilst vegetation anomaly maps were used to demonstrate impacts. Spatially distinct patterns of drought conditions were evident with harsh and dry conditions towards the east. It was found that nearly half the time there is some form of drought or another in the district mostly linked to the remote El Nino phenomenon. In several areas, rain-fed agriculture is no longer tenable, with a direct impact on rural livelihoods. A Household Vulnerability Index determined variable levels of vulnerability such that different strategies are employed to adapt to drought some of which cause environmental problems. Local government intervention strategies include supply of seeds and fertilisers, providing cheap fodder and supplying water using trucks. The findings of this study contribute to disaster risk reduction efforts in a region that is highly vulnerable to current and future climate-risks.
Simulating the Growth of Dual-Phase Boride Layer on AISI M2 Steel by Two Kinetic Approaches
Authors: Keddam Mourad , Jurči Peter
Published: April 2021

Two kinetic approaches (integral method and Dybkov method) have been applied for simulating the boriding kinetics of AISI M2 steel in the range of 1173 to 1323 K, by including the effect of incubation periods. For the integral method, a peculiar solution of the resulting system of differential algebraic equations (DAE) has been employed for assessing the diffusivities of boron in FeB and Fe2B. The boron activation energies in FeB and Fe2B have been deduced from both approaches and compared with the data taken from the literature. Furthermore, to experimentally extend the validity of both approaches, four additional boriding conditions obtained on the boronized samples at 1173, 1223, 1273 and 1323 K for 10 h were then used. The predicted boride layers’ thicknesses were confronted to the experimental values. Consequently, a satisfactory concordance was obtained when comparing the simulated layers’ thicknesses to the experimental values derived from the literature.
Epitaxy of LiNbO3: Historical Challenges and Recent Success
Authors: Zivasatienraj Bill , Tellekamp M. Brooks , Doolittle W. Alan
Published: April 2021

High-quality epitaxial growth of thin film lithium niobate (LiNbO3) is highly desirable for optical and acoustic device applications. Despite decades of research, current state-of-the-art epitaxial techniques are limited by either the material quality or growth rates needed for practical devices. In this paper, we provide a short summary of the primary challenges of lithium niobate epitaxy followed by a brief historical review of lithium niobate epitaxy for prevalent epitaxial techniques. Available figures of merit for crystalline quality and optical transmission losses are given for each growth method. The highest crystalline quality lithium niobate thin film was recently grown by halide-based molecular beam epitaxy and is comparable to bulk lithium niobate crystals. However, these high-quality crystals are grown at slow rates that limit many practical applications. Given the many challenges that lithium niobate epitaxy imposes and the wide variety of methods that have unsuccessfully attempted to surmount these barriers, new approaches to lithium niobate epitaxy are required to meet the need for simultaneously high crystalline quality and sufficient thickness for devices not currently practical by existing techniques.
Movement Tube Detection Network Integrating 3D CNN and Object Detection Framework to Detect Fall
Authors: Zou Song , Min Weidong , Liu Lingfeng , Wang Qi , Zhou Xiang
Published: April 2021

Unlike most of the existing neural network-based fall detection methods, which only detect fall at the time range, the algorithm proposed in this paper detect fall in both spatial and temporal dimension. A movement tube detection network integrating 3D CNN and object detection framework such as SSD is proposed to detect human fall with constrained movement tubes. The constrained movement tube, which encapsulates the person with a sequence of bounding boxes, has the merits of encapsulating the person closely and avoiding peripheral interference. A 3D convolutional neural network is used to encode the motion and appearance features of a video clip, which are fed into the tube anchors generation layer, softmax classification, and movement tube regression layer. The movement tube regression layer fine tunes the tube anchors to the constrained movement tubes. A large-scale spatio-temporal (LSST) fall dataset is constructed using self-collected data to evaluate the fall detection in both spatial and temporal dimensions. LSST has three characteristics of large scale, annotation, and posture and viewpoint diversities. Furthermore, the comparative experiments on a public dataset demonstrate that the proposed algorithm achieved sensitivity, specificity an accuracy of 100%, 97.04%, and 97.23%, respectively, outperforms the existing methods.
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Regulatory Framework for Salt and Drought Tolerance in Hibiscus hamabo Siebold & Zuccarini
Authors: Wang Zhiquan , Ni Longjie , Hua Jianfeng , Liu Liangqin , Yin Yunlong , Li Huogen , Gu Chunsun
Published: April 2021

Hibiscus hamabo Siebold & Zuccarini (H. hamabo) is tolerant to salt and drought conditions, but the molecular mechanisms that underlie this stress tolerance remain unclear. In this study, the transcriptome of H. hamabo roots was investigated under NaCl or PEG treatment. A total of 20,513 and 27,516 significantly changed known genes at 6 h and 24 h, respectively, were detected between the salt or drought treatments and the control libraries. Among these, there were 3845 and 7430 overlapping genes under the two stresses at 6 h and 24 h, respectively. Based on the analysis of enriched KEGG pathways and clustering of expression patterns, the DEGs that were continuously up- or down-regulated under both salt and drought treatments were mainly enriched in MAPK signaling pathway, transcription factors, transporters and other pathways. The transcriptome expression profiles of H. hamabo provide a genetic resource for identifying common regulatory factors involved in responses to different abiotic stresses. In addition, the identified factors may be useful to developing genetic breeding strategies for the Malvaceae.
On Solving the Nonlinear Falkner–Skan Boundary-Value Problem: A Review
Authors: Asaithambi Asai
Published: April 2021

This article is a review of ongoing research on analytical, numerical, and mixed methods for the solution of the third-order nonlinear Falkner–Skan boundary-value problem, which models the non-dimensional velocity distribution in the laminar boundary layer.
Nutritional, Phytochemical Characteristics and In Vitro Effect on α-Amylase, α-Glucosidase, Lipase, and Cholinesterase Activities of 12 Coloured Carrot Varieties
Authors: Yusuf Emel , Wojdyło Aneta , Oszmiański Jan , Nowicka Paulina
Published: April 2021

Twelve carrot varieties with different colours (purple, orange, yellow, and white) and sizes (normal, mini, and micro) were analysed for prospective health benefits (activities against diabetes-, obesity-, and aging- related enzymes—α-amylase, α-glucosidase, lipase, acetylocholinesterase, and butyrylocholinesterase, respectively) and nutritional contents (polyphenols, carotenoids, and chlorophylls). The conducted studies showed that the highest content of total polyphenols was observed in different sizes of purple carrots. The normal yellow and mini orange carrots demonstrated the highest content of carotenoids. According to the study results, the mini purple carrot showed the highest activities against diabetes-related enzyme (α-glucosidase); furthermore, the highest activities of cholinesterase inhibitors were observed for micro purple carrot. Nevertheless, normal orange carrot exhibited the highest activity against lipase. The results of the present study showed that purple-coloured carrot samples of different sizes (normal, mini, and micro) exhibited attractive nutritional contents. However, their pro-health effects (anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-aging) should not be seen in the inhibition of amylase, glucosidase, lipase, and cholinesterase. Probably the mechanisms of their action are more complex, and the possible health-promoting effect results from the synergy of many compounds, including fibre, phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals. Therefore, it would be worth continuing research on different varieties of carrots.
Effects of Radio Frequency Heating on the Stability and Antioxidant Properties of Rice Bran
Authors: Chen Yen-Hui , Yen Yu-Fen , Chen Su-Der
Published: April 2021

Radio frequency (RF) technology is considered as a rapid heating method. Lipase in rice bran could highly accelerate lipid oxidation. The objectives of this study were to establish the radio frequency heating conditions for lipase inactivation and to evaluate the stability and antioxidant capacity. The results showed that the suitable electrode gap for a 1 kg sample load was 6 cm, and it only took 2 min to heat rice bran from 25 °C to 100 °C. Besides, there were no significant differences in the total phenolic content, flavonoid content and color between the untreated and RF-treated group, and the DPPH free radical scavenging activity of the RF treatment reached 84.8%. The acid value, free fatty acid content and peroxide value of the RF-treated rice bran met the quality standard after 8 weeks of storage at 4, 25 and 37 °C. In summary, this study provides valuable information about the RF heating procedure, and shows the great potential of RF technology for stabilizing rice bran efficiently.
Microbiological Safety and Sensory Quality of Cultivated Mushrooms (Pleurotus eryngii, Pleurotus ostreatus and Lentinula edodes) at Retail Level and Post-Retail Storage
Authors: Schill Simone , Stessl Beatrix , Meier Nadia , Tichy Alexander , Wagner Martin , Ludewig Martina
Published: April 2021

In this study, the microbiological and sensory quality of cultivated mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus and eryngii and Lentinula edodes) available at the Austrian retail level were determined. Aerobic mesophilic bacteria (AMC), Enterobacteriaceae (EB), Pseudomonadaceae (PS), lactic acid bacteria (LAB), yeast, moulds and presumptive Bacillus cereus were enumerated at the day of purchase and after storage at 4 °C for 7 or 12 days. Additionally, the presence of Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes was investigated. Isolates of presumptive spoilage bacteria were confirmed by partial 16S rRNA sequencing. At the day of purchase, 71.2% of the samples were of high microbiological quality and grouped into the low contamination category (AMC < 5.0 log cfu/g), while the sensory quality of 67.1% was categorized as “very good or good”. After storage, the number of samples with high microbial quality was 46.6%, and only 37.0% of the samples scored as “very good or good”. The most abundant species across all mushroom samples were the Pseudomonas fluorescens species complex (58.4%) and the potential mushroom pathogen Ewingella americana (28.3%). All mushroom samples tested negative for Salmonella spp., L. monocytogenes and Bacillus cereus. The microbiological and sensory quality of the analysed mushrooms at the day of purchase and after storage was considered to be good overall. Longer transport distances were found to have a significant influence on the microbiological and sensory quality.
The Effect of Ilex × meserveae S. Y. Hu Extract and Its Fractions on Renal Morphology in Rats Fed with Normal and High-Cholesterol Diet
Authors: Kuropka Piotr , Zwyrzykowska-Wodzińska Anna , Kupczyński Robert , Włodarczyk Maciej , Szumny Antoni , Nowaczyk Renata M.
Published: April 2021

Therapeutic properties of Ilex species are widely used in natural medicine. Ilex × meserveae may become a potential substitute for Ilex paraguariensis (Yerba Mate). As a part of the preliminary safety verification of this European Ilex hybrid vs. Yerba Mate, an eight-week study concerning the impact of regular administration of leaves of both species on kidneys was conducted. The standard water infusion and three dominant fractions of Ilex × meserveae leaves’ constituents (polyphenols, saponins and less polar terpenoids) were separately tried on 96 male Wistar rats divided into 8-member groups. Animals were divided into two basic nutritional groups: the first one was rats fed standard feed and the second on was rats fed with high-cholesterol diet (20 g of cholesterol per kg of standard feed). Postmortem morphometric evaluation of stained kidney samples concerned the filtration barrier elements, which are crucial in proper diuresis. The results showed that saponins present in the hydroalcoholic dry extract (administered in a dose of 10 mg/kg of body weight/day) as well as in water infusions (1:20) from Ilex × meserveae and Ilex paraguariensis do not demonstrate nephrotoxicity but conversely, have a protective role on kidney status in animals fed with a normal diet and in a high-cholesterol diet.
Accounting for Cooperativity in the Thermotropic Volume Phase Transition of Smart Microgels
Authors: Friesen Simon , Hannappel Yvonne , Kakorin Sergej , Hellweg Thomas
Published: April 2021

A full quantitative description of the swelling of smart microgels is still problematic in many cases. The original approach of Flory and Huggins for the monomer–solvent interaction parameter χ cannot be applied to some microgels. The reason for this obviously is that the cross-linking enhances the cooperativity of the volume phase transitions, since all meshes of the network are mechanically coupled. This was ignored in previous approaches, arguing with distinct transition temperatures for different meshes to describe the continuous character of the transition of microgels. Here, we adjust the swelling curves of a series of smart microgels using the Flory–Rehner description, where the polymer–solvent interaction parameter χ is modeled by a Hill-like equation for a cooperative thermotropic transition. This leads to a very good description of all measured microgel swelling curves and yields the physically meaningful Hill parameter ν. A linear decrease of ν is found with increasing concentration of the cross-linker N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide in the microgel particles p(NIPAM), p(NNPAM), and p(NIPMAM). The linearity suggests that the Hill parameter ν corresponds to the number of water molecules per network chain that cooperatively leave the chain at the volume phase transition. Driven by entropy, ν water molecules of the solvate become cooperatively “free” and leave the polymer network.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Dementia-Common Gene Associations through Network-Based Identification of Common Driver Genes
Authors: Jeong Hyun-Hwan , Chandrakantan Arvind , Adler Adam C.
Published: April 2021

Background: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) occurs in 7% of the adult population. The relationship between neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and sleep disorders have long attracted clinical attention; however, no comprehensive data exists elucidating common gene expression between the two diseases. The objective of this study was to (1) demonstrate the practicability and feasibility of utilizing a systems biology approach called network-based identification of common driver genes (NICD) to identify common genomic features between two associated diseases and (2) utilize this approach to identify genes associated with both OSA and dementia. Methods: This study utilized 2 public databases (PCNet, DisGeNET) and a permutation assay in order to identify common genes between two co-morbid but mutually exclusive diseases. These genes were then linked to their mechanistic pathways through Enrichr, producing a list of genes that were common between the two different diseases. Results: 42 common genes were identified between OSA and dementia which were primarily linked to the G-coupled protein receptor (GPCR) and olfactory pathways. No single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the viability of using publicly available databases and permutation assays along with canonical pathway linkage to identify common gene drivers as potential mechanistic targets for comorbid diseases.
A Network Medicine Approach for Drug Repurposing in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Lombardo Salvo Danilo , Basile Maria Sofia , Ciurleo Rosella , Bramanti Alessia , Arcidiacono Antonio , Mangano Katia , Bramanti Placido , Nicoletti Ferdinando , Fagone Paolo
Published: April 2021

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive hereditary muscular disease caused by a lack of dystrophin, leading to membrane instability, cell damage, and inflammatory response. However, gene-editing alone is not enough to restore the healthy phenotype and additional treatments are required. In the present study, we have first conducted a meta-analysis of three microarray datasets, GSE38417, GSE3307, and GSE6011, to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between healthy donors and DMD patients. We have then integrated this analysis with the knowledge obtained from DisGeNET and DIAMOnD, a well-known algorithm for drug–gene association discoveries in the human interactome. The data obtained allowed us to identify novel possible target genes and were used to predict potential therapeutical options that could reverse the pathological condition.
An Investigation of Human Errors in Medication Adverse Event Improvement Priority Using a Hybrid Approach
Authors: Hsieh Min-Chih , Chiang Po-Yi , Lee Yu-Chi , Wang Eric Min-Yang , Kung Wen-Chuan , Hu Ya-Tzu , Huang Ming-Shi , Hsieh Huei-Chi
Published: April 2021

The aim of this study was to analyze and provide an in-depth improvement priority for medication adverse events. Thus, the Human Factor Analysis and Classification System with subfactors was used in this study to analyze the adverse events. Subsequently, the improvement priority for the subfactors was determined using the hybrid approach in terms of the Analytical Hierarchy Process and the fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution. In Of the 157 medical adverse events selected from the Taiwan Patient-safety Reporting system, 25 cases were identified as medication adverse events. The Human Factor Analysis and Classification System and root cause analysis were used to analyze the error factors and subfactors that existed in the medication adverse events. Following the analysis, the Analytical Hierarchy Process and the fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution were used to determine the improvement priority for subfactors. The results showed that the decision errors, crew resource management, inadequate supervision, and organizational climate contained more types of subfactors than other error factors in each category. In the current study, 16 improvement priorities were identified. According to the results, the improvement priorities can assist medical staff, researchers, and decisionmakers in improving medication process deficiencies efficiently.
Feasibility of an Outpatient Training Program after COVID-19
Authors: Betschart Martina , Rezek Spencer , Unger Ines , Beyer Swantje , Gisi David , Shannon Harriet , Sieber Cornel
Published: April 2021

Long-term physical consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are currently being reported. As a result, the focus is turning towards interventions that support recovery after hospitalization. To date, the feasibility of an outpatient program for people recovering from COVID-19 has not been investigated. This study presents data for a physiotherapy-led, comprehensive outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program. Patients were recruited after hospital discharge. Training consisted of twice weekly, interval-based aerobic cycle endurance (ACE) training, followed by resistance training (RT); 60–90 min per session at intensities of 50% peak work rate; education and physical activity coaching were also provided. Feasibility outcomes included: recruitment and dropout rates, number of training sessions undertaken, and tolerability for dose and training mode. Of the 65 patients discharged home during the study period, 12 were successfully enrolled onto the program. Three dropouts (25%) were reported after 11–19 sessions. Tolerability of interval-based training was 83% and 100% for exercise duration of ACE and RT, respectively; 92% for training intensity, 83% progressive increase of intensity, and 83% mode in ACE. We tentatively suggest from these preliminary findings that the PR protocol used may be both feasible, and confer benefits to a small subgroup of patients recovering from COVID-19.
Outflow Tract Formation—Embryonic Origins of Conotruncal Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Stefanovic Sonia , Etchevers Heather C. , Zaffran Stéphane
Published: April 2021

Anomalies in the cardiac outflow tract (OFT) are among the most frequent congenital heart defects (CHDs). During embryogenesis, the cardiac OFT is a dynamic structure at the arterial pole of the heart. Heart tube elongation occurs by addition of cells from pharyngeal, splanchnic mesoderm to both ends. These progenitor cells, termed the second heart field (SHF), were first identified twenty years ago as essential to the growth of the forming heart tube and major contributors to the OFT. Perturbation of SHF development results in common forms of CHDs, including anomalies of the great arteries. OFT development also depends on paracrine interactions between multiple cell types, including myocardial, endocardial and neural crest lineages. In this publication, dedicated to Professor Andriana Gittenberger-De Groot and her contributions to the field of cardiac development and CHDs, we review some of her pioneering studies of OFT development with particular interest in the diverse origins of the many cell types that contribute to the OFT. We also discuss the clinical implications of selected key findings for our understanding of the etiology of CHDs and particularly OFT malformations.
Reflux Esophagitis and Fatigue: Are They Related?
Authors: Kang Sung-Goo , Hwang Hyun jee , Kim Youngwoo , Lee Junseak , Oh Jung Hwan , Kim Jinsu , Lim Chul-Hyun , Youn Seung Bae , Jung Sung Hoon
Published: April 2021

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic, recurrent disease. Reflux esophagitis can interfere with sleep via acid reflux, which can cause daytime sleepiness or fatigue. However, little is known about the association between reflux esophagitis and fatigue. Objectives: We evaluated the association between fatigue and reflux esophagitis in subjects seen at health check-ups. Methods: Consecutive patients who were scheduled for screening endoscopies were enrolled prospectively at the Comprehensive Medical Examination Center of St. Vincent Hospital and Eunpyeong St. Mary’s Hospital, Korea. Three validated questionnaires were used to assess fatigue, daytime hypersomnolence, anxiety, and depression: the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory—Korean version (MFI-K), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results: We investigated 497 consecutive eligible subjects. The reflux esophagitis and symptomatic GERD groups comprised 103 (20.7%) and 92 (18.5%) subjects, respectively. The MFI-K total, ESS, HADS-anxiety, and HADS-depression scores did not differ between the esophagitis and non-esophagitis groups (50.0 ± 11.5 vs. 49.7 ± 10.9, p = 0.661; 6.2 ± 2.8 vs. 6.1 ± 3.1, p = 0.987; 5.8 ± 3.1 vs. 5.2 ± 3.2, p = 0.060; 6.2 ± 3.6 vs. 6.0 ± 3.3, p = 0.561). However, the MFI-K total, ESS, HADS-anxiety, and HADS-depression scores were higher in the symptomatic group than in the non-symptomatic group (54.7 ± 12.7 vs. 48.6 ± 10.3, p < 0.001; 7.1 ± 3.5 vs. 5.9 ± 2.9, p = 0.002; 6.4 ± 3.3 vs. 5.1 ± 3.1, p < 0.001; 7.5 ± 4.0 vs. 5.7 ± 3.1, p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that the MFI-K total was correlated with GERD symptoms (p = 0.021), women (p = 0.001), anxiety (p < 0.001), and depression (p < 0.001). Conclusion: There was no statistically significant association in which reflux esophagitis could cause daytime sleepiness, fatigue, anxiety, or depression. However, fatigue was associated with GERD symptoms, women, anxiety, and depression. Further studies should clarify the association between fatigue and reflux esophagitis.
Impact of BMGIM Music Therapy on Emotional State in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: March-Luján Vicente Alejandro , Prado-Gascó Vicente , Huguet José María , Cortés Xavier , Arquiola José María Paredes , Capilla-Igual María , Josefa-Rodríguez-Morales María , Monzó-Gallego Ana , Armero José Luis Platero , Ortí José Enrique de la Rubia
Published: April 2021

Background. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a high prevalence of emotional disturbances which worsen the symptoms of the disease. As a therapeutic alternative that is part of a comprehensive care alongside medication, the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (BMGIM) music-assisted therapy has achieved promising emotional improvements in patients with chronic diseases. The objective of the study was to determine the impact of a treatment based on a BMGIM group adaptation on patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and their emotional state, therefore analyzing state of mind, quality of life, anxiety, depression, immunocompetence as a marker of well-being, and levels of acute and chronic stress. Methods. Longitudinal, prospective, quantitative, and experimental study including 43 patients with IBD divided into an intervention group (22 patients), who received eight sessions over eight weeks, and a control group (21 patients). A saliva sample was taken from each patient before and after each session in order to determine cortisol and IgA levels. Similarly, a hair sample was taken before the first and after the last session to determine the cumulative cortisol level. All molecules were quantified using the ELISA immunoassay technique. In addition, patients completed several emotional state questionnaires: HADS, MOOD, and CCVEII. Results. An improvement was observed in the following states of mind: sadness, fear, anger, and depression. No significant effect was observed in state of mind in terms of happiness or anxiety, in the levels of cortisol in hair, and in patients’ perceived quality of life. A reduction in cortisol was observed in saliva, although this did not significantly affect the IgA titer. Conclusions. BMGIM seems to improve the emotional state of patients with IBD.
Fecal Calprotectin and Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin in Children with Non-IgE-Mediated Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy
Authors: Roca María , Donat Ester , Rodriguez Varela Ana , Carvajal Eva , Cano Francisco , Armisen Ana , Ekoff Helena , Cañada-Martínez Antonio José , Rydell Niclas , Ribes-Koninckx Carmen
Published: April 2021

Our aim is to assess the efficacy of fecal calprotectin (fCP) and fecal eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (fEDN) as diagnostic markers of cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) and for monitoring the infants’ response to a non-IgE mediated cow’s milk protein (CMP)-free diet. We prospectively recruited infants aged 0 to 9 months. Stool samples were taken from 30 infants with CMPA, 19 with mild functional gastrointestinal disorders, 28 healthy infants, and 28 children who presented mild infections. Despite the fact that levels of fCP and fEDN in CMPA infants were higher than in healthy infants at month 0, differences for both parameters did not reach statistical significance (p-value 0.119 and 0.506). After 1 month of an elimination diet, no statistically significant differences in fCP with basal levels were found (p-values 0.184) in the CMPA group. We found a high variability in the fCP and fEDN levels of young infants, and discrepancies in individual behavior of these markers after a CMP-free diet was started. It seems that neither fCP nor fEDN levels are helpful to discriminate between healthy infants and those with signs or symptoms related to non-IgE-mediated CMPA. Additionally, it is debatable if on an individual basis, fCP or fEDN levels could be used for clinical follow-up and dietary compliance monitoring. However, prospective studies with larger populations are needed to draw robust conclusions.
Deep Learning Can Differentiate IDH-Mutant from IDH-Wild GBM
Authors: Pasquini Luca , Napolitano Antonio , Tagliente Emanuela , Dellepiane Francesco , Lucignani Martina , Vidiri Antonello , Ranazzi Giulio , Stoppacciaro Antonella , Moltoni Giulia , Nicolai Matteo , Romano Andrea , Di Napoli Alberto , Bozzao Alessandro
Published: April 2021

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutant and wildtype glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) often show overlapping features on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), representing a diagnostic challenge. Deep learning showed promising results for IDH identification in mixed low/high grade glioma populations; however, a GBM-specific model is still lacking in the literature. Our aim was to develop a GBM-tailored deep-learning model for IDH prediction by applying convoluted neural networks (CNN) on multiparametric MRI. We selected 100 adult patients with pathologically demonstrated WHO grade IV gliomas and IDH testing. MRI sequences included: MPRAGE, T1, T2, FLAIR, rCBV and ADC. The model consisted of a 4-block 2D CNN, applied to each MRI sequence. Probability of IDH mutation was obtained from the last dense layer of a softmax activation function. Model performance was evaluated in the test cohort considering categorical cross-entropy loss (CCEL) and accuracy. Calculated performance was: rCBV (accuracy 83%, CCEL 0.64), T1 (accuracy 77%, CCEL 1.4), FLAIR (accuracy 77%, CCEL 1.98), T2 (accuracy 67%, CCEL 2.41), MPRAGE (accuracy 66%, CCEL 2.55). Lower performance was achieved on ADC maps. We present a GBM-specific deep-learning model for IDH mutation prediction, with a maximal accuracy of 83% on rCBV maps. Highest predictivity achieved on perfusion images possibly reflects the known link between IDH and neoangiogenesis through the hypoxia inducible factor.
Word Order in Complex Verb Phrases in Heritage Polish Spoken in Germany
Authors: Brehmer Bernhard , Sopata Aldona
Published: April 2021

This paper deals with word order in complex verb phrases consisting of auxiliaries and infinitive complements in heritage Polish. In Polish, infinitive complements normally follow auxiliaries, but discontinuous structures occur if required by the information structure. We investigate the occurrence and evaluation of adjacent and discontinuous word order patterns in relation to (a) the chronological age at testing and (b) the age of onset of the acquisition of the majority language, German. Therefore, we distinguish between simultaneous bilinguals (2L1, n = 61), early sequential bilinguals (cL2, n = 41) and an age-matched monolingual control group (ML, n = 50). The data consist of elicited oral narratives as well as acceptability judgments. We found that both 2L1 and cL2 bilinguals differ from the ML, but the difference depends on the age at testing and the type of data (oral production or evaluation). While 2L1 bilinguals show a u-curve development, which is shaped by the interplay of delayed acquisition in childhood and attrition in early adulthood, cL2 bilinguals started to prefer discontinuous structures rather early. Only in adulthood do both groups converge and exhibit an overuse and over-acceptance of discontinuous structures compared to the ML, which is due to cross-linguistic influence from German. However, language-internal factors (such as clause structure) also turned out to impact the distribution of adjacent and discontinuous structures in heritage (and monolingual) Polish.
A Singularly P-Stable Multi-Derivative Predictor Method for the Numerical Solution of Second-Order Ordinary Differential Equations
Authors: Shokri Ali , Neta Beny , Mehdizadeh Khalsaraei Mohammad , Rashidi Mohammad Mehdi , Mohammad-Sedighi Hamid
Published: April 2021

In this paper, a symmetric eight-step predictor method (explicit) of 10th order is presented for the numerical integration of IVPs of second-order ordinary differential equations. This scheme has variable coefficients and can be used as a predictor stage for other implicit schemes. First, we showed the singular P-stability property of the new method, both algebraically and by plotting the stability region. Then, having applied it to well-known problems like Mathieu equation, we showed the advantage of the proposed method in terms of efficiency and consistency over other methods with the same order.
A Novel Numerical Method for Computing Subdivision Depth of Quaternary Schemes
Authors: Shahzad Aamir , Khan Faheem , Ghaffar Abdul , Yao Shao-Wen , Inc Mustafa , Ali Shafqat
Published: April 2021

In this paper, an advanced computational technique has been presented to compute the error bounds and subdivision depth of quaternary subdivision schemes. First, the estimation is computed of the error bound between quaternary subdivision limit curves/surfaces and their polygons after kth-level subdivision by using l0 order of convolution. Secondly, by using the error bounds, the subdivision depth of the quaternary schemes has been computed. Moreover, this technique needs fewer iterations (subdivision depth) to get the optimal error bounds of quaternary subdivision schemes as compared to the existing techniques.
Statistical and Type II Error Assessment of a Runoff Predictive Model in Peninsula Malaysia
Authors: Ling Lloyd , Yusop Zulkifli , Ling Joan Lucille
Published: April 2021

Flood related disasters continue to threaten mankind despite preventative efforts in technological advancement. Since 1954, the Soil Conservation Services (SCS) Curve Number (CN0.2) rainfall-runoff model has been widely used but reportedly produced inconsistent results in field studies worldwide. As such, this article presents methodology to reassess the validity of the model and perform model calibration with inferential statistics. A closed form equation was solved to narrow previous research gap with a derived 3D runoff difference model for type II error assessment. Under this study, the SCS runoff model is statistically insignificant (alpha = 0.01) without calibration. Curve Number CN0.2 = 72.58 for Peninsula Malaysia with a 99% confidence interval range of 67 to 76. Within these CN0.2 areas, SCS model underpredicts runoff amounts when the rainfall depth of a storm is < 70 mm. Its overprediction tendency worsens in cases involving larger storm events. For areas of 1 km2, it underpredicted runoff amount the most (2.4 million liters) at CN0.2 = 67 and the rainfall depth of 55 mm while it nearly overpredicted runoff amount by 25 million liters when the storm depth reached 430 mm in Peninsula Malaysia. The SCS model must be validated with rainfall-runoff datasets prior to its adoption for runoff prediction in any part of the world. SCS practitioners are encouraged to adopt the general formulae from this article to derive assessment models and equations for their studies.