bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GrasProg: Pasture Model for Predicting Daily Pasture Growth in Intensive Grassland Production Systems in Northwest Europe
Authors: Peters Tammo , Kluß Christof , Vogeler Iris , Loges Ralf , Fenger Friederike , Taube Friedhelm
Published: July 2022

Knowledge about pasture growth rates is crucial for optimizing forage use efficiencies in intensively managed pasture and silage-based dairy systems, enabling optimized cutting/grazing times for high yields with high forage quality. The aim of this study was to parameterise a simple model, GrasProg, for predicting pasture growth in an intensively managed dairy production system under a cut-and-carry management. For this, pasture crop-growth rates were measured over a period of two years (2016 and 2017) at five contrasting sites in Schleswig-Holstein, Northern Germany. The pastures received nitrogen (N) fertilizer at a rate of 280 kg N ha−1 and were cut on a four-week interval. Average annual dry matter (DM) yields ranged from 10.9 to 11.6 t/ha for the three different locations. The DM accumulation simulated by GrasProg matched actual measurements over the varying intervals well (R2 = 0.65; RMSE = 49.5 g DM m−2; and NSE = 0.44). Two model parameters were adjusted within the vegetation period, namely, the relative growth rate, a proxy of the number of generative tillers, and the initial biomass at the start of each growth period, a proxy for the tillering density. Both predicted and measured pasture growth rates showed the same typical seasonal pattern, with high growth rates in spring, followed by decreasing growth rates to the end of the vegetation period. These good calibration statistics, with adjusting of only two model parameters, for the different sites and different climatic conditions mean that GrasProg can be used to identify optimum grazing or cutting strategies, with optimal yield and forage quality.
24-Epibrassinolide and 2,6-Dichlorobenzonitrile Promoted Celery Petioles and Hypocotyl Elongation by Altering Cellulose Accumulation and Cell Length
Authors: Liu Yan-Hua , Sun Miao , Wang Hao , Liu Jie-Xia , Tan Guo-Fei , Yan Jun , Wang Yuan-Hua , Yan Zhi-Ming , Liu Hui , Tao Jian-Ping , Zhu Wei-Min , Shu Sheng , Xiong Ai-Sheng
Published: July 2022

BRs (brassinosteroids), an endogenous hormone in plants, regulate cellulose accumulation, cell elongation and plant growth. Propiconazole (PCZ) is an effective inhibitor of BR biosynthesis. DCB (2,6-Dichlorobenzonitrile) can inhibit the synthesis of cellulose and affects the chemical composition of cell walls. Celery is one important leafy vegetable of the Apiaceae family with rich dietary fiber (including cellulose). The petioles length, leaf blades number and cellulose content determine the yield and quality of celery. The family members of AgCESAs are related to cellulose biosynthesis in higher plants. To investigate the effects of BRs, PCZ and DCB on the growth of celery, celery cv. ‘Jinnan Shiqin’ plants were treated with 24-epibrassinolide (24-EBL, most active form of BRs), PCZ and DCB, respectively. The results showed that exogenous application of BRs up-regulated the expression of AgCESAs genes and accumulated more cellulose in celery. The length of petioles and number of leaf blades in celery plants applied with exogenous BRs (1.24 × 10−6 mol/L 24-EBL) were increased 2.16 and 1.37 times of that in the control. The addition of PCZ inhibited the effects of exogenous BRs application. The lengths of hypocotyl and hypocotyl cells of celery plants treated with BRs were longer than that of the control. Under DCB treatments, the expression levels of AgCESAs genes in celery petioles and leaf blades were down-regulated compared with the control, and the celery plants showed decreased cellulose content, shorter petiole length and fewer leaf blades. The length of hypocotyl and hypocotyl cells of celery treated with DCB were shorter than that of the control. This study provided a reference for the functions of BRs and DCB on the growth and development of celery.
Effect of Vaccination against Leptospira on Shelter Asymptomatic Dogs Following a Long-Term Study
Authors: Sant’Anna da Costa Ricardo , Di Azevedo Maria Isabel N. , dos Santos Baptista Borges Ana Luiza , Aymée Luíza , Martins Gabriel , Lilenbaum Walter
Published: July 2022

(1) Background: Vaccination of dogs against leptospirosis is of paramount importance, as they ideally must provide not only long-term protection, but also against the renal carrier state of leptospires. This study assessed the post-vaccine humoral response against Leptospira in naturally exposed dogs and effects on renal carrier status. (2) Methods: A total of 118 dogs were studied for 365 days, separated into Group A (vaccinated, n = 94) and Group B (non-vaccinated, n = 24). Group A was subdivided into three groups: A1 with 32 dogs immunized with the vaccine #1; A2 by 32 dogs with #2; and A3 30 dogs with #3. Serology (MAT and IgG-ELISA) and urinary PCR were conducted. (3) Results: Seroreactivity increased at D15 post-vaccination and, regardless of vaccine brand, remained high up to D180, with antibody switch to IgG after D30. A total of 46.8% of animals from Group A were PCR-positive at least once, in contrast to 75% in Group B, regardless of vaccine brand (p < 0.05; OR: 0.3). (4) Conclusions: All commercial vaccines succeeded at eliciting a long-term IgG-based response and were partially effective at protecting against kidney infection.
Effective Selection for Lower Mortality in Organic Pigs through Selection for Total Number Born and Number of Dead Piglets
Authors: Zaalberg Roos M. , Villumsen Trine M. , Jensen Just , Chu Thinh T.
Published: July 2022

Selection for the number of living pigs on day 11 (L11) aims to reduce piglet mortality and increase litter size simultaneously. This approach could be sub-optimal, especially for organic pig breeding. This study evaluated the effect of selecting for a trait by separating it into two traits. Genetic parameters for L11, the total number born (TNB), and the number of dead piglets at day 11 (D11) were estimated using data obtained from an organic pig population in Denmark. Based on these estimates, two alternative breeding schemes were simulated. Specifically, selection was made using: (1) a breeding goal with L11 only versus (2) a breeding goal with TNB and D11. Different weightings for TNB and D11 were tested. The simulations showed that selection using the first breeding scheme (L11) produced lower annual genetic gain (0.201) compared to the second (TNB and D11; 0.207). A sensitivity analysis showed that the second scheme performed better because it exploited differences in heritability, and accounted for genetic correlations between the two traits. When the second breeding scheme placed more emphasis on D11, D11 declined, whereas genetic gain for L11 remained high (0.190). In conclusion, selection for L11 could be optimized by separating it into two correlated traits with different heritability, reducing piglet mortality and enhancing L11.
Visual Perception of Photographs of Rotated 3D Objects in Goldfish (Carassius auratus)
Authors: Wegman Jessica J. , Morrison Evan , Wilcox Kenneth Tyler , DeLong Caroline M.
Published: July 2022

This study examined goldfishes’ ability to recognize photographs of rotated 3D objects. Six goldfish were presented with color photographs of a plastic model turtle and frog at 0° in a two-alternative forced-choice task. Fish were tested with stimuli at 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270° rotated in the picture plane and two depth planes. All six fish performed significantly above chance at all orientations in the three rotation planes tested. There was no significant difference in performance as a function of aspect angle, which supported viewpoint independence. However, fish were significantly faster at 180° than at +/−90°, so there is also evidence for viewpoint-dependent representations. These fish subjects performed worse overall in the current study with 2D color photographs (M = 88.0%) than they did in our previous study with 3D versions of the same turtle and frog stimuli (M = 92.6%), although they performed significantly better than goldfish in our two past studies presented with black and white 2D stimuli (M = 67.6% and 69.0%). The fish may have relied on color as a salient cue. This study was a first attempt at examining picture-object recognition in fish. More work is needed to determine the conditions under which fish succeed at object constancy tasks, as well as whether they are capable of perceiving photographs as representations of real-world objects.
Mitochondrial Calcium-Triggered Oxidative Stress and Developmental Defects in Dopaminergic Neurons Differentiated from Deciduous Teeth-Derived Dental Pulp Stem Cells with MFF Insufficiency
Authors: Sun Xiao , Dong Shuangshan , Kato Hiroki , Kong Jun , Ito Yosuke , Hirofuji Yuta , Sato Hiroshi , Kato Takahiro A. , Sakai Yasunari , Ohga Shouichi , Fukumoto Satoshi , Masuda Keiji
Published: July 2022

Mitochondrial fission factor (MFF) is an adapter that targets dynamin-related protein 1 from the cytosol to the mitochondria for fission. Loss-of-function MFF mutations cause encephalopathy due to defective mitochondrial and peroxisomal fission 2 (EMPF2). To elucidate the molecular mechanisms that were involved, we analyzed the functional effects of MFF depletion in deciduous teeth-derived dental pulp stem cells differentiating into dopaminergic neurons (DNs). When treated with MFF-targeting small interfering RNA, DNs showed impaired neurite outgrowth and reduced mitochondrial signals in neurites harboring elongated mitochondria. MFF silencing also caused mitochondrial Ca2+ accumulation through accelerated Ca2+ influx from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor. Mitochondrial Ca2+ overload led DNs to produce excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), and downregulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma co-activator-1 alpha (PGC-1α). MFF was co-immunoprecipitated with voltage-dependent anion channel 1, an essential component of the ER-mitochondrial Ca2+ transport system. Folic acid supplementation normalized ROS levels, PGC-1α mediated mitochondrial biogenesis, and neurite outgrowth in MFF depleted DNs, without affecting their mitochondrial morphology or Ca2+ levels. We propose that MFF negatively regulates the mitochondrial Ca2+ influx from the ER. MFF-insufficiency recapitulated the EMPF2 neuropathology with increased oxidative stress and suppressed mitochondrial biogenesis. ROS and mitochondrial biogenesis might be potential therapeutic targets for EMPF2.
A Simple Method to Estimate the In Situ Performance of Noise Barriers
Authors: Redondo Javier , Gaja-Silvestre Pau , Godinho Luis , Amado-Mendes Paulo
Published: July 2022

Noise barriers are usually classified attending to their intrinsic acoustic characteristics. This is standardized by the European Standards EN 1793, parts 2 and 6, in which a single parameter, DLR or DLSI, is defined in order to quantify the sound insulation performance of noise barriers. However, the final performance of a noise barrier, quantified by the so-called insertion loss, IL is not only dependent on the insulation provided by the noise barrier, but it is as well affected by geometrical aspects and the acoustic characteristics of the environment where these noise-reducing devices are placed. In this work, we explore the relationship between the insertion loss and the acoustic insulation by means of numerical methods. Moreover, the authors propose a simple way to predict the insertion loss from a purely acoustic numerical simulation in which this parameter is obtained for a completely rigid noise barrier, and knowing the noise barrier’s sound reduction index, in one third octave bands.
Determination of Continuous Earthmoving Machinery Course Stability under the Conditions of Cyclic Lateral Loading
Authors: Smieszek Miroslaw , Musiiko Volodymyr , Mateichyk Vasyl , Tsiuman Mykola , Koval Andrii , Mościszewski Jakub
Published: July 2022

This article presents the results of complex theoretical and experimental studies on creating universal continuous earthmoving machinery operating under non-standard loading conditions, namely, cyclic lateral loading on the actuator during digging. The lateral loading is due to the complex nature of the actuator motion when digging the soil, namely, the longitudinal motion of the machinery, the actuator digging the soil, and the lateral reciprocating motion of the actuator. This allows for variable width excavations in the soil, whose width exceeds the width of the actuator. The key issue of this machinery operation is to provide its course stability. The article considers the choice of soil-developing actuator and shows the developed calculation schemes of external loading on the operating equipment and a base tractor when digging long excavations in the soil. The dependencies to define external forces acting on the actuator when digging the soil and determining the machinery course stability, considering their spatial nature, have been developed and suggested for practical use. The conditions to ensure the stability of the course of universal earthmoving machinery have been formulated and substantiated. The developed method for determining course stability can be used when creating industrial samples of trenching earthmoving machinery.
Influence of Inlet Parameters on Power Characteristics of Bernoulli Gripping Devices for Industrial Robots
Authors: Mykhailyshyn Roman , Xiao Jing
Published: July 2022

There is a wide variety of gripping devices with various parameters at the present stage of development of robotics. However, the existing literature about the power characteristics of pneumatic gripping devices does not provide any analysis of the different types of input parameters other than supply pressure and flow characteristics, whereas the input parameters completely determine the technical characteristics of the gripping devices of industrial robots. In particular, for pneumatic grippers, the input parameters play a crucial role in their productivity and energy efficiency. This paper fills the gap by providing a study of the impact of such parameters on the power and energy characteristics of Bernoulli ejection grippers for industrial robots, including: the parameters of the compressed air inlet design, the parameters of the fitting for compressed air supply, the diameter of the hose for compressed air supply, and the size of the vacuum zone. First, this paper presents the results of theoretical studies and finite element method for determining the distribution of pressure on the surface of an object of manipulation, which allows one to determine the lifting force of the Bernoulli gripping devices of an industrial robot. It is determined that the horizontal air flow to the capture chamber, compared with that of the vertical, should be used to ensure the maximum possible lifting force. Structures and constriction in fittings, which are used to supply compressed air to the chamber of Bernoulli gripping devices, are considered. Then, the dependencies of the influence of narrowing the fittings on the power characteristics of gripping devices are presented.
GAN-Based Approaches for Generating Structured Data in the Medical Domain
Authors: Abedi Masoud , Hempel Lars , Sadeghi Sina , Kirsten Toralf
Published: July 2022

Modern machine and deep learning methods require large datasets to achieve reliable and robust results. This requirement is often difficult to meet in the medical field, due to data sharing limitations imposed by privacy regulations or the presence of a small number of patients (e.g., rare diseases). To address this data scarcity and to improve the situation, novel generative models such as Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) have been widely used to generate synthetic data that mimic real data by representing features that reflect health-related information without reference to real patients. In this paper, we consider several GAN models to generate synthetic data used for training binary (malignant/benign) classifiers, and compare their performances in terms of classification accuracy with cases where only real data are considered. We aim to investigate how synthetic data can improve classification accuracy, especially when a small amount of data is available. To this end, we have developed and implemented an evaluation framework where binary classifiers are trained on extended datasets containing both real and synthetic data. The results show improved accuracy for classifiers trained with generated data from more advanced GAN models, even when limited amounts of original data are available.
CoroNet: Deep Neural Network-Based End-to-End Training for Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Authors: Mobark Nada , Hamad Safwat , Rida S. Z.
Published: July 2022

In 2020, according to the publications of both the Global Cancer Observatory (GCO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), breast cancer (BC) represents one of the highest prevalent cancers in women worldwide. Almost 47% of the world’s 100,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer, among females. Moreover, BC prevails among 38.8% of Egyptian women having cancer. Current deep learning developments have shown the common usage of deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for analyzing medical images. Unlike the randomly initialized ones, pre-trained natural image database (ImageNet)-based CNN models may become successfully fine-tuned to obtain improved findings. To conduct the automatic detection of BC by the CBIS-DDSM dataset, a CNN model, namely CoroNet, is proposed. It relies on the Xception architecture, which has been pre-trained on the ImageNet dataset and has been fully trained on whole-image BC according to mammograms. The convolutional design method is used in this paper, since it performs better than the other methods. On the prepared dataset, CoroNet was trained and tested. Experiments show that in a four-class classification, it may attain an overall accuracy of 94.92% (benign mass vs. malignant mass) and (benign calcification vs. malignant calcification). CoroNet has a classification accuracy of 88.67% for the two-class cases (calcifications and masses). The paper concluded that there are promising outcomes that could be improved because more training data are available.
Cross Talk between Synthetic Food Colors (Azo Dyes), Oral Flora, and Cardiovascular Disorders
Authors: John Arooba , Yang Hsi-Hsien , Muhammad Sohaib , Khan Zafar Iqbal , Yu Haiyang , Luqman Muhammad , Tofail Matiba , Hussain Muhammad Iftikhar , Awan Muhammad Umer Farooq
Published: July 2022

Synthetic food colors are important ingredients in the food industry. These synthetic food colorants are azo dyes, majorly acidic in nature such as Allura red and Tartrazine. They are present in sweets, carbonated drinks, meat products, and candies to attract the consumers. This review article is an attempt to explain the adverse effects of azo dyes and their association with oral cavities and cardiovascular disorders. These synthetic dyes (azo dyes) have staining effects on dentin. Poor dental care accelerates the bacterial accumulation on the dental crown (Gram-negative bacteria P. gingivalis, T. denticola, and T. forsythia and Gram-positive bacteria Strep. Gordonii), causing the washing of enamel, forming dental plaque. Bacterial pathogens (P. ginigivalis and F. nacleatum) release different chemicals (FadA and Fap2) that bind to protein on the cell by producing an inflammatory response through different line-host defenses, such as Gingival epithelial cells (ECs), Hemi-desmosomes, and desmosomes, which helps the bacterium migration from the cell–cell junction. This makes the junctions slightly open up and makes the whole vessel permeable, through which the bacterium enters into the blood stream line. This leads to different major arteries, such as the carotid artery, and causes the accumulation of plaque in major cardiac arteries, which causes different cardiovascular disorders. These bacterial species present in gums cause cardiovascular diseases, such as ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease, heart attacks and strokes, and arrhythmias, which can lead to death.
Impact of Climate and Land-Use Change on Groundwater Resources, Study of Faisalabad District, Pakistan
Authors: Sajjad Meer Muhammad , Wang Juanle , Abbas Haider , Ullah Irfan , Khan Rehan , Ali Furman
Published: July 2022

Groundwater depletion has become a major concern all over the world. Recently, the rapid population growth and need for water and food have placed a massive strain on land and water resources. In this study, groundwater depletion resulting from land-use and climate change was investigated in the Faisalabad district, Pakistan, from 2000 to 2015. A Pearson correlation analysis between climatic parameters and land-use indices with groundwater was conducted to explore the major influencing factors. Interpolation maps of groundwater were generated using the inverse distance weighting interpolation (IDW) method. The Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) of five-year intervals demonstrated a strong increasing trend, whereas the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) presented a declining trend. The results also indicated a significant declining trend in groundwater levels in the region, with the annual average groundwater level decreasing at a rate of approximately 0.11 m/year. Climatic parameters (i.e., precipitation and temperature) further reveal an insignificant increasing trend estimated using the Mann–Kendall test and Sens’s slope. Overall, spatial analysis results showed a statistically significant positive trend in the groundwater level of the Faisalabad district, where the NDBI ratio is high and the NDVI is low, owing to the extensive extraction of groundwater for domestic and industrial use. These findings may be useful for a better understanding of groundwater depletion in densely populated areas and could also aid in devising safety procedures for sustainable groundwater management.
Understanding the Simulated Ammonia Increasing Trend from 2008 to 2015 over Europe with CHIMERE and Comparison with IASI Observations
Authors: Fortems-Cheiney Audrey , Dufour Gaëlle , Foret Gilles , Siour Guillaume , Van Damme Martin , Coheur Pierre-François , Clarisse Lieven , Clerbaux Cathy , Beekmann Matthias
Published: July 2022

The objective of this study is to assess and understand the NH3 recent trends and to identify the key components driving its concentrations. We have simulated the seasonal cycle, the interannual variability, and the trends in NH3 vertical column densities (VCD) from 2008 to 2015 over Europe, with the CHIMERE regional chemistry–transport model. We have also confronted the simulations against the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) satellite observations. IASI often shows a strong maximum in summer in addition to the spring peak, whereas CHIMERE only shows a slight peak in summer some years. This result could point to a misrepresentation of the temporal profile of the NH3 emissions, i.e., to missing emission sources during summertime either due to more than expected fertilizer use or to increased volatilization under warmer conditions. The simulated NH3 VCDs present an increasing trend over continental Europe (+2.7 ± 1.0 %/yr) but also at the national scale for Spain, Germany, UK, France, and Poland. Sensitivity tests indicate that these simulated positive trends are mainly due to (i) the trends in NH3 emissions, found heterogeneous in the EMEP NH3 emissions with strong disparities depending on the country, and (ii) the negative trends in NOx and SOx emissions. The impact of reductions in NO2 and SO2 emissions on NH3 concentrations should therefore be taken into account in future policies. This simulated NH3 VCD increase at the European scale is confirmed by IASI-v3R satellite observations in spring and summer, when ammonia emissions strongly contribute to the annual budget in accordance with crop requirements. Nevertheless, there are remaining differences about the significance and magnitude between the simulated and observed trends at the national scale, and it warrants further investigation.
PhIP-Seq Reveals Autoantibodies for Ubiquitously Expressed Antigens in Viral Myocarditis
Authors: Rasquinha Mahima T. , Lasrado Ninaad , Petro-Turnquist Erika , Weaver Eric , Venkataraman Thiagarajan , Anderson Daniel , Laserson Uri , Larman H. Benjamin , Reddy Jay
Published: July 2022

Enteroviruses such as group B coxsackieviruses (CVB) are commonly suspected as causes of myocarditis that can lead to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and the mouse model of CVB3 myocarditis is routinely used to understand DCM pathogenesis. Mechanistically, autoimmunity is suspected due to the presence of autoantibodies for select antigens. However, their role continues to be enigmatic, which also raises the question of whether the breadth of autoantibodies is sufficiently characterized. Here, we attempted to comprehensively analyze the autoantibody repertoire using Phage ImmunoPrecipitation Sequencing (PhIP-Seq), a versatile and high-throughput platform, in the mouse model of CVB3 myocarditis. First, PhIP-Seq analysis using the VirScan library revealed antibody reactivity only to CVB3 in the infected group but not in controls, thus validating the technique in this model. Second, using the mouse peptide library, we detected autoantibodies to 32 peptides from 25 proteins in infected animals that are ubiquitously expressed and have not been previously reported. Third, by using ELISA as a secondary assay, we confirmed antibody reactivity in sera from CVB3-infected animals to cytochrome c oxidase assembly factor 4 homolog (COA4) and phosphoinositide-3-kinase adaptor protein 1 (PIK3AP1), indicating the specificity of antibody detection by PhIP-Seq technology. Fourth, we noted similar antibody reactivity patterns in CVB3 and CVB4 infections, suggesting that the COA4- and PIK3AP1-reactive antibodies could be common to multiple CVB infections. The specificity of the autoantibodies was affirmed with influenza-infected animals that showed no reactivity to any of the antigens tested. Taken together, our data suggest that the autoantibodies identified by PhIP-Seq may have relevance to CVB pathogenesis, with a possibility that similar reactivity could be expected in human DCM patients.
Biotechnology, Bioengineering and Applications of Bacillus Nattokinase
Authors: Yuan Li , Liangqi Chen , Xiyu Tang , Jinyao Li
Published: July 2022

Thrombosis has threatened human health in past decades. Bacillus nattokinase is a potential low-cost thrombolytic drug without side-effects and has been introduced into the consumer market as a functional food or dietary supplement. This review firstly summarizes the biodiversity of sources and the fermentation process of nattokinase, and systematically elucidates the structure, catalytic mechanism and enzymatic properties of nattokinase. In view of the problems of low fermentation yield, insufficient activity and stability of nattokinase, this review discusses the heterologous expression of nattokinase in different microbial hosts and summarizes the protein and genetic engineering progress of nattokinase-producing strains. Finally, this review summarizes the clinical applications of nattokinase.
Role of Single Nucleotide Variants in the YAP1 Gene in Adolescents with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Lidaka Lasma , Bekere Laine , Lazdane Gunta , Lazovska Marija , Dzivite-Krisane Iveta , Gailite Linda
Published: July 2022

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrinopathies in women. It can manifest in adolescence, affecting up to 8% of adolescents. Long-term health consequences characteristic of PCOS are impaired fertility, increased risk of type 2 diabetes, metabolic disorders and cardiovascular disease. All of these sequelae are exacerbated by increased body weight, a major feature of PCOS. The protein encoded by the YAP1 gene plays a key role in one of the pivotal mechanisms that govern cellular/organismal metabolism and contributes to the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases. Aim: To compare the prevalence of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in the YAP1 gene among adolescents with PCOS, adolescents at risk of PCOS development and healthy adolescents, and assess their association with the clinical characteristics of PCOS. Results: The frequencies of the five investigated YAP1 gene SNVs (rs11225161, rs11225166, rs3858420, rs11225138 and rs79981660) were not significantly different among adolescents with PCOS, risk group patients and healthy controls. Furthermore, none of the SNVs contributed to the clinical characteristics of adolescents with PCOS and adolescents at risk of PCOS development. Conclusions: No significant associations were found between PCOS in adolescents and the five investigated SNVs in the YAP1 gene.
In Vivo Tracking for Oncolytic Adenovirus Interactions with Liver Cells
Authors: Naumenko Victor A. , Vishnevskiy Daniil A. , Stepanenko Aleksei A. , Sosnovtseva Anastasiia O. , Chernysheva Anastasiia A. , Abakumova Tatiana O. , Valikhov Marat P. , Lipatova Anastasiia V. , Abakumov Maxim A. , Chekhonin Vladimir P.
Published: July 2022

Hepatotoxicity remains an as yet unsolved problem for adenovirus (Ad) cancer therapy. The toxic effects originate both from rapid Kupffer cell (KCs) death (early phase) and hepatocyte transduction (late phase). Several host factors and capsid components are known to contribute to hepatotoxicity, however, the complex interplay between Ad and liver cells is not fully understood. Here, by using intravital microscopy, we aimed to follow the infection and immune response in mouse liver from the first minutes up to 72 h post intravenous injection of three Ads carrying delta-24 modification (Ad5-RGD, Ad5/3, and Ad5/35). At 15–30 min following the infusion of Ad5-RGD and Ad5/3 (but not Ad5/35), the virus-bound macrophages demonstrated signs of zeiosis: the formation of long-extended protrusions and dynamic membrane blebbing with the virus release into the blood in the membrane-associated vesicles. Although real-time imaging revealed interactions between the neutrophils and virus-bound KCs within minutes after treatment, and long-term contacts of CD8+ T cells with transduced hepatocytes at 24–72 h, depletion of neutrophils and CD8+ T cells affected neither rate nor dynamics of liver infection. Ad5-RGD failed to complete replicative cycle in hepatocytes, and transduced cells remained impermeable for propidium iodide, with a small fraction undergoing spontaneous apoptosis. In Ad5-RGD-immune mice, the virus neither killed KCs nor transduced hepatocytes, while in the setting of hepatic regeneration, Ad5-RGD enhanced liver transduction. The clinical and biochemical signs of hepatotoxicity correlated well with KC death, but not hepatocyte transduction. Real-time in vivo tracking for dynamic interactions between virus and host cells provides a better understanding of mechanisms underlying Ad-related hepatotoxicity.
Short-Term Effect of Cigarette Smoke on Exhaled Volatile Organic Compounds Profile Analyzed by an Electronic Nose
Authors: Dragonieri Silvano , Quaranta Vitaliano Nicola , Buonamico Enrico , Battisti Claudia , Ranieri Teresa , Carratu Pierluigi , Carpagnano Giovanna Elisiana
Published: July 2022

Breath analysis using an electronic nose (e-nose) is an innovative tool for exhaled volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis, which has shown potential in several respiratory and systemic diseases. It is still unclear whether cigarette smoking can be considered a confounder when analyzing the VOC-profile. We aimed to assess whether an e-nose can discriminate exhaled breath before and after smoking at different time periods. We enrolled 24 healthy smokers and collected their exhaled breath as follows: (a) before smoking, (b) within 5 min after smoking, (c) within 30 min after smoking, and (d) within 60 min after smoking. Exhaled breath was collected by a previously validated method and analyzed by an e-nose (Cyranose 320). By principal component analysis, significant variations in the exhaled VOC profile were shown for principal component 1 and 2 before and after smoking. Significance was higher 30 and 60 min after smoking than 5 min after (p < 0.01 and <0.05, respectively). Canonical discriminant analysis confirmed the above findings (cross-validated values: baseline vs. 5 min = 64.6%, AUC = 0.833; baseline vs. 30 min = 83.6%, AUC = 0.927; baseline vs. 60 min = 89.6%, AUC = 0.933). Thus, the exhaled VOC profile is influenced by very recent smoking. Interestingly, the effect seems to be more closely linked to post-cigarette inflammation than the tobacco-related odorants.
SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance in Indoor Air Using Electrochemical Sensor for Continuous Monitoring and Real-Time Alerts
Authors: Lu Fei , Gecgel Ozhan , Ramanujam Ashwin , Botte Gerardine G.
Published: July 2022

The severe acute respiratory syndrome related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread globally and there is still a lack of rapid detection techniques for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in indoor air. In this work, two test rigs were developed that enable continuous air monitoring for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 by sample collection and testing. The collected samples from simulated SARS-CoV-2 contaminated air were analyzed using an ultra-fast COVID-19 diagnostic sensor (UFC-19). The test rigs utilized two air sampling methods: cyclone-based collection and internal impaction. The former achieved a limit of detection (LoD) of 0.004 cp/L in the air (which translates to 0.5 cp/mL when tested in aqueous solution), lower than the latter with a limit of 0.029 cp/L in the air. The LoD of 0.5 cp/mL using the UFC-19 sensor in aqueous solution is significantly lower than the best-in-class assays (100 cp/mL) and FDA EUA RT-PCR test (6250 cp/mL). In addition, the developed test rig provides an ultra-fast method to detect airborne SARS-CoV-2. The required time to test 250 L air is less than 5 min. While most of the time is consumed by the air collection process, the sensing is completed in less than 2 s using the UFC-19 sensor. This method is much faster than both the rapid antigen (<20 min) and RT-PCR test (<90 min).
New ECG Compression Method for Portable ECG Monitoring System Merged with Binary Convolutional Auto-Encoder and Residual Error Compensation
Authors: Shi Jiguang , Wang Fei , Qin Moran , Chen Aiyun , Liu Wenhan , He Jin , Wang Hao , Chang Sheng , Huang Qijun
Published: July 2022

In the past few years, deep learning-based electrocardiogram (ECG) compression methods have achieved high-ratio compression by reducing hidden nodes. However, this reduction can result in severe information loss, which will lead to poor quality of the reconstructed signal. To overcome this problem, a novel quality-guaranteed ECG compression method based on a binary convolutional auto-encoder (BCAE) equipped with residual error compensation (REC) was proposed. In traditional compression methods, ECG signals are compressed into floating-point numbers. BCAE directly compresses the ECG signal into binary codes rather than floating-point numbers, whereas binary codes take up fewer bits than floating-point numbers. Compared with the traditional floating-point number compression method, the hidden nodes of the BCAE network can be artificially increased without reducing the compression ratio, and as many hidden nodes as possible can ensure the quality of the reconstructed signal. Furthermore, a novel optimization method named REC was developed. It was used to compensate for the residual between the ECG signal output by BCAE and the original signal. Complemented with the residual error, the restoration of the compression signal was improved, so the reconstructed signal was closer to the original signal. Control experiments were conducted to verify the effectiveness of this novel method. Validated by the MIT-BIH database, the compression ratio was 117.33 and the root mean square difference (PRD) was 7.76%. Furthermore, a portable compression device was designed based on the proposed algorithm using Raspberry Pi. It indicated that this method has attractive prospects in telemedicine and portable ECG monitoring systems.
Real-Time Stress Analysis Affecting Nurse during Elective Spinal Surgery Using a Wearable Device
Authors: Sung Sayhyun , Kwon Ji-Won , Kim Jung-Eun , Lee Yu-Jin , Lee Soo-Bin , Lee Seung-Kyu , Moon Seong-Hwan , Lee Byung Ho
Published: July 2022

Successful spinal surgery demands high levels of concentration and cooperation from participating health care workers. The intraoperative stress levels and concentration levels of surgeons have been studied previously; however, those of nurses are rarely studied. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to understand the stresses affecting surgical nurses by their participating role during spinal surgery. A total of 160 surgical stress records were obtained during 40 surgeries, including electroencephalography (EEG) signals and heart rate variability (HRV) from three orthopedic spinal surgeons and six nurses; concentration, tension level and physical stress were analyzed. Levels of both concentration and tension were significantly higher in circulating nurses during all surgical stages (p < 0.05). Both beats per minute and low frequency/high frequency ratios, which reflect physical stress, were higher in scrub nurses (p < 0.05). As the surgical experience of scrub nurses increased, the key parameters related to stress tended to decrease (p < 0.01). These results will contribute to understanding the pattern of intraoperative stress of surgical nurses, and therefore help in enhancing the teamwork of the surgical team for optimal outcomes.
Divergent Conceptualization of Embodied Emotions in the English and Chinese Languages
Authors: Zhou Pin , Critchley Hugo , Nagai Yoko , Wang Chao
Published: July 2022

Traditional cognitive linguistic theories acknowledge that human emotions are embodied, yet they fail to distinguish the dimensions that reflect the direction of neural signaling between the brain and body. Differences exist across languages and cultures in whether embodied emotions are conceptualized as afferent (feelings from the body) or efferent (enacted through the body). This important distinction has been neglected in academic discourse, arguably as a consequence of the ‘lexical approach’, and the dominance within the affective psychology of the cognitive and semantic models that overlook the role of interoception as an essential component of affective experience. Empirical and theoretical advances in human neuroscience are driving a reappraisal of the relationships between the mind, brain and body, with particular relevance to emotions. Allostatic (predictive) control of the internal bodily states is considered fundamental to the experience of emotions enacted through interoceptive sensory feelings and through the evoked physiological and physical actions mediated through efferent neural pathways. Embodied emotion concepts encompass these categorized outcomes of bidirectional brain–body interactions yet can be differentiated further into afferent or interoceptive and efferent or autonomic processes. Between languages, a comparison of emotion words indicates the dominance of afferent or interoceptive processes in how embodied emotions are conceptualized in Chinese, while efferent or autonomic processes feature more commonly in English. Correspondingly, in linguistic expressions of emotion, Chinese-speaking people are biased toward being more receptive, reflective, and adaptive, whereas native English speakers may tend to be more reactive, proactive, and interactive. Arguably, these distinct conceptual models of emotions may shape the perceived divergent values and ‘national character’ of Chinese- and English-speaking cultures.
Transnasal Endoscopic Approach for Osteoid Osteoma of the Odontoid Process in a Child: Technical Note and Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Giammalva Giuseppe Roberto , Dell’Aglio Letizia , Guarrera Brando , Baro Valentina , Calvanese Leonardo , Schiavo Gloria , Mantovani Giulia , Rinaldi Valentina , Iacopino Domenico Gerardo , Causin Francesco , Nicolai Piero , Ferrari Marco , Denaro Luca
Published: July 2022

Osteoid osteoma (OO) is a primary benign tumor that accounts for up to 3% of all bone tumors. The cervical spine is less affected by OOs, and very few cases of C2 OOs have been reported in the literature, both in adults and children. Surgery may be required in case of functional torticollis, stiffness, and reduced range of motion (ROM) due to cervical OOs refractory to medical therapy. Several posterior and anterior surgical techniques have been described to remove C2 OOs. In particular, anterior approaches to the cervical spine represent the most used surgical route for treating C2 OOs. We describe the first case of OO of the odontoid process removed through a transnasal endoscopic approach with the aid of neuronavigation in a 6-year-old child. No intraoperative complications occurred, and the post-operative course was uneventful. The patient had immediate relief of neck pain and remained pain-free throughout the follow-up period, with complete functional recovery of the neck range of motion (ROM). In this case, based on the favorable anatomy, the transnasal endoscopic approach represented a valuable strategy for the complete removal of an anterior C2 OO without the need for further vertebral fixation since the preservation of ligaments and paravertebral soft tissue.
Sex Differences in Parkinson’s Disease: From Bench to Bedside
Authors: Russillo Maria Claudia , Andreozzi Valentina , Erro Roberto , Picillo Marina , Amboni Marianna , Cuoco Sofia , Barone Paolo , Pellecchia Maria Teresa
Published: July 2022

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s disease and gender differences have been described on several aspects of PD. In the present commentary, we aimed to collect and discuss the currently available evidence on gender differences in PD regarding biomarkers, genetic factors, motor and non-motor symptoms, therapeutic management (including pharmacological and surgical treatment) as well as preclinical studies. Methods: A systematic literature review was performed by searching the Pubmed and Scopus databases with the search strings “biomarkers”, “deep brain stimulation”, “female”, “gender”, “genetic”, “levodopa”, “men”, “male”, “motor symptoms”, “non-motor symptoms”, “Parkinson disease”, “sex”, “surgery”, and “women”. Results: The present review confirms the existence of differences between men and women in Parkinson Disease, pointing out new information regarding evidence from animal models, genetic factors, biomarkers, clinical features and pharmacological and surgical treatment. Conclusions: The overall goal is to acquire new informations about sex and gender differences in Parkinson Disease, in order to develop tailored intervetions.
Enhancing EFL Learners’ Self-Efficacy Beliefs of Learning English with Emoji Feedbacks in CALL: Why and How
Authors: Chen Yen-Jung , Hsu Liwei
Published: July 2022

Encouraging feedback positively affects learners’ self-efficacy; in language learning, self-efficacy predicts language learner performance and behavior. Our research involved three studies to expand knowledge about why and how we can enhance English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ self-efficacy beliefs in online settings. In Study 1, based on an online survey with 310 participants, we ascertained the extent to which EFL learners with greater self-efficacy tend to challenge themselves by learning content that requires a proficiency level that is higher than their current proficiency. In Study 2, we recruited 120 EFL learners; the results indicate that positive feedback via emojis embedded in online courses could significantly boost EFL learners’ self-efficacy beliefs about learning English. Study 3 involved 35 participants and extended the understanding provided by the first two studies, showing that EFL learners not only like to use emojis for computer-mediated communication (CMC), but also prefer to receive them as feedback. This research adds to knowledge on “why” and “how” we can enhance EFL learners’ self-efficacy beliefs in online contexts. We systematically provide empirical evidence regarding the aforementioned issues and demonstrate that positive feedback through emojis has great potential to enhance EFL learners’ self-efficacy, even when such feedback is subliminal.
Analysis of the Installation Effect on the Axial Performance of Pressure-Grouted Helical Piles in Clay by Small-Scale Model Tests
Authors: Zhuang Xiaoxuan , Zong Zhongling , Huang Yunhan , Wang Peipei
Published: July 2022

A pressure-grouted helical pile (PGHP) is a stiffened helical pile installed by using the simultaneous drilling and grouting technique. The formation of the soil-cement column surrounded by the helical pile is influenced by the multiple installation parameters, including helix number, helix size, and drilling speed. A series of small-scale model tests was carried out in clay to investigate the influence of installation parameters on axial behavior of PGHP and the load transfer mechanism. The model piles were pulled out after the loading tests, and the dimensions of the soil-cement columns were measured. The ultimate compressive bearing capacities of the PGHPs were 260% to 293% higher than the un-grouted helical piles. The ultimate bearing capacities of the PGHPs were proportional to the increase of the helix number and helix size and decreased with the drilling speed. The average bond diameter of the soil-cement column was 1.26 to 1.35 times the helix size. The adhesion between the soil-cement column and the surrounding clay was in the range of 0.8 to 1.2. The overall results examine the feasibility of the simultaneous drilling and grouting technique in clay and the improvement of the axial bearing performance compared to un-grouted helical piles.
Determination of Slip Factor between CNC-Cut Serrated Surfaces of S355J2 Grade Steel Plates
Authors: Yolaçan Taygun Fırat , Schäfer Markus
Published: July 2022

Structural joint configurations realized with serrated steel surfaces have started to be used in the construction fields to assemble the primary and the secondary structural members of civil engineering structures. The main advantages of these joint configurations rely on their flexibility to accommodate construction tolerances and their slip-resistant load-bearing mechanism against dynamic loading conditions. Therefore, it is important to reliably establish the characteristic value of the friction coefficient or in other words the slip factor between the serrated steel surfaces to design reliable slip-resistant connections. In this study, the characteristic slip factor between the CNC-cut serrated surfaces prepared from S355J2 grade steel plates is determined to investigate the impact of the CNC-cutting procedure on the slip-resistant load-bearing behaviour of steel-to-steel interfaces. Five experimental tests were performed according to EN1090-2, Annex G. The results are presented as the load-slip curves, variation of the bolt pre-tension load level, nominal and actual slip factors for the tested configuration of the CNC-cut serrated steel-to-steel interface.