bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting Sugarcane Biometric Parameters by UAV Multispectral Images and Machine Learning
Authors: de Oliveira Romário Porto , Barbosa Júnior Marcelo Rodrigues , Pinto Antônio Alves , Oliveira Jean Lucas Pereira , Zerbato Cristiano , Furlani Carlos Eduardo Angeli
Published: August 2022

Multispectral sensors onboard unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) have proven accurate and fast to predict sugarcane yield. However, challenges to a reliable approach still exist. In this study, we propose to predict sugarcane biometric parameters by using machine learning (ML) algorithms and multitemporal data through the analysis of multispectral images from UAV onboard sensors. The research was conducted on five varieties of sugarcane, as a way to make a robust approach. Multispectral images were collected every 40 days and the evaluated biometric parameters were: number of tillers (NT), plant height (PH), and stalk diameter (SD). Two ML models were used: multiple linear regression (MLR) and random forest (RF). The results showed that models for predicting sugarcane NT, PH, and SD using time series and ML algorithms had accurate and precise predictions. Blue, Green, and NIR spectral bands provided the best performance in predicting sugarcane biometric attributes. These findings expand the possibilities for using multispectral UAV imagery in predicting sugarcane yield, particularly by including biophysical parameters.
Clinical Impact of a Pharmacist-Driven Prospective Audit with Intervention and Feedback on the Treatment of Patients with Bloodstream Infection
Authors: Okada Naoto , Azuma Momoyo , Tsujinaka Kaito , Abe Akane , Takahashi Mari , Yano Yumiko , Sato Masami , Shibata Takahiro , Goda Mitsuhiro , Ishizawa Keisuke
Published: August 2022

Evidence for the utility of pharmacist-driven antimicrobial stewardship programs remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of our institutional pharmacist-driven prospective audit with intervention and feedback (PAF) on the treatment of patients with bloodstream infections (BSIs). The effect of pharmacist-driven PAF was estimated using an interrupted time series analysis with a quasi-experimental design. The proportion of de-escalation during BSI treatment increased by 44% after the implementation of pharmacist-driven PAF (95% CI: 30–58, p < 0.01). The number of days of therapy decreased by 16 per 100 patient days for carbapenem (95% CI: −28 to −3.5, p = 0.012) and by 15 per 100 patient days for tazobactam/piperacillin (95% CI: −26 to −4.9, p < 0.01). Moreover, the proportion of inappropriate treatment in empirical and definitive therapy was significantly reduced after the implementation of pharmacist-driven PAF. Although 30-day mortality did not change, compliance with evidenced-based bundles in the BSI of Staphylococcus aureus significantly increased (p < 0.01). In conclusion, our pharmacist-driven PAF increased the proportion of de-escalation and decreased the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, as well as the proportion of inappropriate treatment in patients with BSI. This indicates that pharmacist-driven PAF is useful in improving the quality of antimicrobial treatment and reducing broad-spectrum antimicrobial use in the management of patients with BSI.
Bilirubin 2022: The Past, the Present and the Future
Authors: Bellarosa Cristina , Tiribelli Claudio
Published: August 2022

The present Special Issue (SI) addresses the double-faced Janus behavior of bilirubin [...]
Enhanced Electrical Transport and Photoconductivity of ZnO/ZnS Core/Shell Nanowires Based on Piezotronic and Piezo-Phototronic Effects
Authors: Jeong Sehee , Park Seong-Ju
Published: August 2022

We report a significant enhancement in the electrical transport and photoconductivity of ZnO/ZnS core/shell nanowires (NWs) compared to those of ZnO NWs via the application of compressive strain. Under a compressive strain of −0.15%, the output current of the ZnO/ZnS core/shell NWs increases by 91.1% compared to that under the no-strain condition, whereas that of the ZnO NWs under the same condition is 42.7%. The significant increase in the output current of the ZnO/ZnS core/shell NWs is attributed to the type-II band alignment and strain-induced piezopotential changes at the junction interface, which induce a reduction in the barrier height to enable efficient charge carrier transport. Furthermore, under UV illumination and a compressive strain of −0.15%, although the photocurrent of the ZnO/ZnS core/shell NWs increases by 4.5 times compared to that of the ZnO NWs, the relative increase in the photocurrent of the ZnO/ZnS core/shell NWs is 11.7% compared to that under the no-strain condition, while the photocurrent of the ZnO NWs increases by 32.3% under the same condition. A decrease in the increase rate in the photocurrent of the ZnO/ZnS core/shell NWs with a change in strain under UV light compared to that under the dark condition can be explained by the piezoelectric screening effect induced by photogenerated carriers. By calculating the change in the Schottky barrier height (SBH), we demonstrate that the piezoelectric potential with a change in strain decreased the SBH, thus increasing the current level. Lastly, we propose a mechanism of the piezotronic and piezo-phototronic effects under applied strain and their effects on energy-band diagrams.
AugFake-BERT: Handling Imbalance through Augmentation of Fake News Using BERT to Enhance the Performance of Fake News Classification
Authors: Keya Ashfia Jannat , Wadud Md. Anwar Hussen , Mridha M. F. , Alatiyyah Mohammed , Hamid Md. Abdul
Published: August 2022

Fake news detection techniques are a topic of interest due to the vast abundance of fake news data accessible via social media. The present fake news detection system performs satisfactorily on well-balanced data. However, when the dataset is biased, these models perform poorly. Additionally, manual labeling of fake news data is time-consuming, though we have enough fake news traversing the internet. Thus, we introduce a text augmentation technique with a Bidirectional Encoder Representation of Transformers (BERT) language model to generate an augmented dataset composed of synthetic fake data. The proposed approach overcomes the issue of minority class and performs the classification with the AugFake-BERT model (trained with an augmented dataset). The proposed strategy is evaluated with twelve different state-of-the-art models. The proposed model outperforms the existing models with an accuracy of 92.45%. Moreover, accuracy, precision, recall, and f1-score performance metrics are utilized to evaluate the proposed strategy and demonstrate that a balanced dataset significantly affects classification performance.
Neutral Beam Coupling with Plasma in a Compact Fusion Neutron Source
Authors: Dlougach Eugenia , Panasenkov Alexander , Kuteev Boris , Serikov Arkady
Published: August 2022

FNS-ST is a fusion neutron source project based on a spherical tokamak (R/a = 0.5 m/0.3 m) with a steady-state neutron generation of ~1018 n/s. Neutral beam injection (NBI) is supposed to maintain steady-state operation, non-inductive current drive and neutron production in FNS-ST plasma. In a low aspect ratio device, the toroidal magnetic field shape is not optimal for fast ions confinement in plasma, and the toroidal effects are more pronounced compared to the conventional tokamak design (with R/a > 2.5). The neutral beam production and the tokamak plasma response to NBI were efficiently modeled by a specialized beam-plasma software package BTR-BTOR, which allowed fast optimization of the neutral beam transport and evolution within the injector unit, as well as the parametric study of NBI induced effects in plasma. The “Lite neutral beam model” (LNB) implements a statistical beam description in 6-dimensional phase space (106–1010 particles), and the beam particle conversions are organized as a data flow pipeline. This parametric study of FNS-ST tokamak is focused on the beam-plasma coupling issue. The main result of the study is a method to achieve steady-state current drive and fusion controllability in beam-driven toroidal plasmas. LNB methods can be also applied to NBI design for conventional tokamaks.
Adaptive Thresholding of CNN Features for Maize Leaf Disease Classification and Severity Estimation
Authors: Mafukidze Harry Dzingai , Owomugisha Godliver , Otim Daniel , Nechibvute Action , Nyamhere Cloud , Mazunga Felix
Published: August 2022

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are the gold standard in the machine learning (ML) community. As a result, most of the recent studies have relied on CNNs, which have achieved higher accuracies compared with traditional machine learning approaches. From prior research, we learned that multi-class image classification models can solve leaf disease identification problems, and multi-label image classification models can solve leaf disease quantification problems (severity analysis). Historically, maize leaf disease severity analysis or quantification has always relied on domain knowledge—that is, experts evaluate the images and train the CNN models based on their knowledge. Here, we propose a unique system that achieves the same objective while excluding input from specialists. This avoids bias and does not rely on a “human in the loop model” for disease quantification. The advantages of the proposed system are many. Notably, the conventional system of maize leaf disease quantification is labor intensive, time-consuming and prone to errors since it lacks standardized diagnosis guidelines. In this work, we present an approach to quantify maize leaf disease based on adaptive thresholding. The experimental work of our study is in three parts. First, we train a wide variety of well-known deep learning models for maize leaf disease classification, then we compare the performance of the deep learning models and finally extract the class activation heatmaps from the prediction layers of the CNN models. Second, we develop an adaptive thresholding technique that automatically extracts the regions of interest from the class activation maps without any prior knowledge. Lastly, we use these regions of interest to estimate image leaf disease severity. Experimental results show that transfer learning approaches can classify maize leaf diseases with up to 99% accuracy. With a high quantification accuracy, our proposed adaptive thresholding method for CNN class activation maps can be a valuable contribution to quantifying maize leaf diseases without relying on domain knowledge.
Making Sense of Language Signals for Monitoring Radicalization
Authors: Araque Óscar , Sánchez-Rada J. Fernando , Carrera Álvaro , Iglesias Carlos Á. , Tardío Jorge , García-Grao Guillermo , Musolino Santina , Antonelli Francesco
Published: August 2022

Understanding radicalization pathways, drivers, and factors is essential for the effective design of prevention and counter-radicalization programs. Traditionally, the primary methods used by social scientists to detect these drivers and factors include literature reviews, qualitative interviews, focus groups, and quantitative methods based on surveys. This article proposes to complement social science approaches with computational methods to detect these factors automatically by analyzing the language signals expressed in social networks. To this end, the article categorizes radicalization drivers and factors following the micro, meso, and macro levels used in the social sciences. It identifies the corresponding language signals and available language resources. Then, a computational system is developed to monitor these language signals. In addition, this article proposes semantic technologies since they offer unique exploration, query, and discovery capabilities. The system was evaluated based on a set of competency questions that show the benefits of this approach.
Experimental Investigation and Applicability of Multi-Stage Simulations in the Case of a Thick-Walled Injection-Moulded Composite
Authors: Dogossy Gábor , Morauszki Tamás , Ronkay Ferenc
Published: August 2022

The structure and mechanical properties of an injection-moulded short glass fibre (GF)-reinforced polymer composite were analysed through simulation methods. Fibre orientation, which evolves during the production of a thick-walled automotive part, was determined with an injection moulding simulation. Next, using the material model for the injected product, the force that resulted from the given deformation was determined with finite element software. To validate the simulation results, the examined products were manufactured with 30% reinforced GF, and then measurements were carried out. The validation of the fibre orientation tensor was achieved with optical microscope images, while the validation of the finite element, which analysed the flexural tests, was carried out through a comparison of flexural rigidity. The aim of the project was to verify the reliability of multi-stage finite element software. According to the results, in the case of a thick-walled GF-reinforced product, it was demonstrated that the integration of a different finite element software could be used reliably.
Analysis of Measured Temperature Field of Unpaved Steel Box Girder
Authors: Guo Fengqi , Zhang Sanhong , Duan Shuyi
Published: August 2022

This work used the measured data during the whole test period to study the law of temperature change in the steel rail beams, and the distribution characteristics of the sunshine temperature field, in straddle-type monorail tourist transportation systems, employing a field-test and a numerical simulation. The curve form of the temperature gradient was determined by a comparative analysis of the existing domestic and foreign norms. Finally, the generalized extreme value distribution model was used to predict the extreme value of the representative value of the temperature difference, and the value of the temperature base, for different return periods, and the complete temperature gradient model were determined. Results: During the whole test period, the maximum vertical positive temperature difference of the steel box girder was 15.21 °C, and the negative temperature difference was −5.07 °C. In addition, the effect of the ambient temperature, considering solar radiation, was found to be an important factor affecting the distribution of the vertical temperature difference. The analysis determined that the positive and negative temperature difference curves in the unpaved steel box girder were multi-segment polylines and linear straight lines, respectively. The extreme value predicts that the representative temperature differences between T1 and T2 of the 450 mm beam during the 50-year return period were 17.2 °C and 4.58 °C, respectively, and T1 and T2 under the 100-year return period were 17.38 °C and 4.62 °C, respectively.
A Machine-Learning Pipeline for Large-Scale Power-Quality Forecasting in the Mexican Distribution Grid
Authors: Flores Juan J. , Garcia-Nava Jose L. , Cedeno Gonzalez Jose R. , Tellez Victor M. , Calderon Felix , Medrano Arturo
Published: August 2022

Electric power distribution networks face increasing factors for power-quality (PQ) deterioration, such as distributed, renewable-energy generation units and countless high-end electronic devices loaded as controllers or in standalone mode. Consequently, government regulations are issued worldwide to set up strict PQ distribution standards; the distribution grids must comply with those regulations. This situation drives research towards PQ forecasting as a crucial part of early-warning systems. However, most of the approaches in the literature disregard the big-data nature of the problem by working on small datasets. These datasets come from short-scale off-grid configurations or selected portions of a larger power grid. This article addresses a study case from a region-sized state-owned Mexican distribution grid, where the company must preserve essential PQ standards in approximately 700 distribution circuits and 150 quality-control nodes. We implemented a machine-learning pipeline with nearly 4000 univariate forecasting models to address this challenge. The system executes a weekly forecasting pipeline and daily data ingestion and preprocessing pipeline, processing massive amounts of data ingested. The implemented system, MIRD (an acronym for Monitoreo Inteligente de Redes de Distribution—Intelligent Monitoring of Distribution Networks), is an unprecedented effort in the production, deployment, and continuous use of forecasting models for PQ indices monitoring. To the extent of the authors’ best knowledge, there is no similar work of this type in any other Latin-American distribution grid.
The Use of Poultry Corn By-Product Meal on the Growth Performance of Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus
Authors: Nazeer Sidra , Fredricks Ashley , Afe Oluwafunmilola Eunice , Bench Bennie John , Thompson Zach , Davis Donald Allen
Published: August 2022

In this study, three growth trials were conducted to check the efficacy of poultry corn by-product meal, which was a combination of wet poultry processing waste and corn that was co-dried. It was relatively a new product, and its first growth trial was conducted in a laboratory (aquarium study) to evaluate the substitution of whole corn meal with poultry plus corn by-product meal (PCBM) in practical diets for channel catfish. In this trial (84 days culture period), 7 levels of PCBM (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30%) were evaluated in a practical diet containing 32% protein and 6% lipid. The results indicated that fish fed PCBM20 had the highest FW, WG and WG% among all the treatments, and these values were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than at baseline or with PCBM5 treatment. The second trial (fingerlings to sub-market) was conducted in 12 raceways with 4 levels of PCBM (0, 10, 20 and 30%) and 600 fish (mean initial weight 42.3 ± 5.06 g) in each raceway. After 143 days of culture, the results demonstrated that there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the FW, WG and WG% and the survival of the fish. To validate our results again, the third trial (sub-market to market) was conducted in 6 raceways with 2 levels of PCBM (0 and 30%). A total of 600 fish (mean initial weight 136.8 ± 6.3 g) were stocked in each raceway. The results revealed that there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the FW, WG and WG% and fish survival after the culture period of 133 days. In all three trials, upon termination, the hepatosomatic index (HIS), the intraperitoneal fat (IPF), and the dress-out (headed and gutted) percentages were measured for trials 2 and 3. The results showed that there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between all these parameters except for HIS in trial 1 and IPF in trial 2 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, PCBM can be used up to 30% in the diets of channel catfish.
The Southern Hemisphere Blocking Index Revisited
Authors: Yuchechen Adrián E. , Lakkis S. Gabriela , Canziani Pablo O.
Published: August 2022

An updated climatology for the occurrence of blockings in the Southern Hemisphere (SH) using daily reanalysis data from 1948–2021 is presented. Geopotential height (z) at 500 hPa was the working variable. The blocking index (BI) was defined for every 2.5° of longitude whenever z(35° S)−z(50° S)<0. The results were organized in longitudinal bands of a width of 10° in order to compare them with previous findings. The primary region for the occurrence of blockings was located around the date line, with a secondary region in southern South America (SSA) and its vicinities, with a third-rank region situated in southern Africa and its surroundings. The results were also stratified by the intensity and duration (persistence) of the events, and the annual and seasonal differences were discussed. Additionally, three different areas were defined to study the distribution of the blockings therein, with the Pacific region (110° E–80° W) having the maximum intensities and longest durations. Linear trends were estimated for the annual and the seasonal time series of the BI and for the number of episodes. On an annual basis, more frequent and the strongest events are expected at 180° E and their surroundings in the future. An alternative BI, using radiosonde data, was built for SSA at 58.50° W. The time evolution of this index was in general agreement with the one estimated from the reanalysis data at some longitudes.
The European Standard EN 15757 Concerning Specifications for Relative Humidity: Suggested Improvements for Its Revision
Authors: Camuffo Dario , Della Valle Antonio , Becherini Francesca
Published: August 2022

The European Standard EN 15757: 2010 ‘Conservation of Cultural Property—Specifications for temperature and relative humidity to limit climate-induced mechanical damage in organic hygroscopic materials’ is a guide specifying the allowed limits of variability of the indoor climate, in particular relative humidity (RH) to preserve cultural heritage objects and collections composed of climate-vulnerable materials. This paper is finalized to provide useful elements to improve the Standard at its next revision, based on focused research. The methodologies and the mathematical tools used are performed on 18 case studies representing different buildings, climates, and use, including heated and unheated buildings, museums, churches, concert halls, archives, and storage rooms. The first aim is to compare the method based on the centred moving average suggested by Annex A of EN15757 with an alternative method based on percentile interpolation to calculate the reference RH values, and in particular the safe band of RH variability, as well as the upper and lower risky bands. It has been found that the two methods provided the same results, but the latter is easier to manage. The second aim is to verify if the duration of the record necessary for the determination of the safe band is really 13 months of measurements as required by the Standard to account for the specific request of the centred moving average with a 30-day time window. This paper demonstrates that the same goal may be reached with a 12-month record, but extracting from the record itself the two periods required by the time window, i.e., the last 15 days of the year will be copied before the start of the record, and the same with the first 15 days after the end. The third aim is to test if the particular choice of the width of the time window is influential on the width of the safe band, and to assess the relationship between the width of the safe band and the width of the time window. The results show that the safe band logarithmically depends on the length of the time window, so it is crucial to respect the 30-day window established by the Standard.
Kalman Filter Tuning Using Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm for State and Parameter Estimation of Lithium-Ion Cells
Authors: Theiler Michael , Schneider Dominik , Endisch Christian
Published: August 2022

To ensure a reliable and safe operation of battery systems in various applications, the system’s internal states must be observed with high accuracy. Hereby, the Kalman filter is a frequently used and well-known tool to estimate the states and model parameters of a lithium-ion cell. A strong requirement is the selection of a suitable model and a reasonable initialization, otherwise the algorithm’s estimation might be insufficient. Especially the process noise parametrization poses a difficult task, since it is an abstract parameter and often optimized by an arbitrary trial-and-error principle. In this work, a traceable procedure based on the genetic algorithm is introduced to determine the process noise offline considering the estimation error and filter consistency. Hereby, the parameters found are independent of the researcher’s experience. Results are validated with a simulative and experimental study, using an NCA/graphite lithium-ion cell. After the transient phase, the estimation error of the state-of-charge is lower than 0.6% and for internal resistance smaller than 4mΩ while the corresponding estimated covariances fit the error well.
Association between Phase Angle from Bioelectric Impedance and Muscular Strength and Power in Physically Active Adults
Authors: Fukuoka Aryanne Hydeko , de Oliveira Núbia Maria , Matias Catarina N. , Teixeira Filipe J. , Monteiro Cristina P. , Valamatos Maria J. , Reis Joana F. , Gonçalves Ezequiel Moreira
Published: August 2022

This study aimed to compare muscle strength and power indicators according to bioimpedance spectroscopy’s phase angle (PhA) values, in resistance-trained (RT) men, while exploring associations between PhA and performance. Forty-four men aged 18–45 years, engaged in RT, were allocated according to PhA tertiles. Lean soft tissue (LST) and fat mass (%FM) were assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry; dynamic muscle strength using 1 repetition maximum (1RM) of bench press (BP) and back squat (BS) and muscle power using Wingate test (WT) and countermovement jump (CMJ). For WT and CMJ, the 3rd tertile was significantly higher than the 1st tertile (p = 0.027 and p = 0.018, respectively). Regarding BP 1RM, the 3rd tertile was significantly higher than the 2nd tertile (p = 0.037). LST better explained the variability in the WT, BS and BP (p =< 0.001), while %FM better accounted for jump height in CMJ (p =< 0.001). PhA was a predictor of performance in both CMJ (p = 0.040) and BP (p = 0.012), independently of LST and %FM. Participants with higher PhA also displayed superior muscle strength of the upper limbs and greater muscle power of the lower limbs. PhA displayed significant moderate associations with performance in CMJ and BP, even after controlling for body composition. Still, LST was the most important predictor of muscle strength and power.
Spreading of P301S Aggregated Tau Investigated in Organotypic Mouse Brain Slice Cultures
Authors: Korde Dhwani S. , Humpel Christian
Published: August 2022

Tau pathology extends throughout the brain in a prion-like fashion through connected brain regions. However, the details of the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. The present study aims to examine the spreading of P301S aggregated tau, a mutation that is implicated in tauopathies, using organotypic slice cultures. Coronal hippocampal organotypic brain slices (170 µm) were prepared from postnatal (day 8–10) C57BL6 wild-type mice. Collagen hydrogels loaded with P301S aggregated tau were applied to slices and the spread of tau was assessed by immunohistochemistry after 8 weeks in culture. Collagen hydrogels prove to be an effective protein delivery system subject to natural degradation in 14 days and they release tau proteins up to 8 weeks. Slices with un- and hyperphosphorylated P301S aggregated tau demonstrate significant spreading to the ventral parts of the hippocampal slices compared to empty collagen hydrogels after 8 weeks. Moreover, the spread of P301S aggregated tau occurs in a time-dependent manner, which was interrupted when the neuroanatomical pathways are lesioned. We illustrate that the spreading of tau can be investigated in organotypic slice cultures using collagen hydrogels to achieve a localized application and slow release of tau proteins. P301S aggregated tau significantly spreads to the ventral areas of the slices, suggesting that the disease-relevant aggregated tau form possesses spreading potential. Thus, the results offer a novel experimental approach to investigate tau pathology.
Galectins Differentially Regulate the Surface Glycosylation of Human Monocytes
Authors: AbuSamra Dina B. , Martínez-Carrasco Rafael , Argüeso Pablo
Published: August 2022

Monocytes are circulating blood cells that rapidly mobilize to inflamed sites where they serve diverse effector functions shaped in part by microenvironmental cues. The establishment of specific glycosylation patterns on the immune cell glycocalyx is fundamental to direct the inflammatory response, but relatively little is known about the mechanisms whereby the microenvironment controls this process. Here, we report that galectins differentially participate in remodeling the surface glycosylation of human primary CD14+CD16− monocytes under proinflammatory conditions. Using a lectin array on biotinylated protein, we found that the prototypic galectin-1 negatively influenced the expression of galactose epitopes on the surface of monocytic cells. On the other hand, the tandem-repeat galectin-8 and, to a certain extent, the chimeric galectin-3 promoted the expression of these residues. Jacalin flow cytometry and pull-down experiments further demonstrated that galectin-8 causes a profound upregulation of mucin-type O-glycosylation in cell surface proteins from primary monocytes and THP-1 cells. Overall, these results highlight the emerging role of the galectin signature on inflamed tissues and provide new insights into the contribution of extracellular galectins to the composition of the glycocalyx in human monocytes.
Treatment of Chronic Refractory Pain by Combined Deep Brain Stimulation of the Anterior Cingulum and Sensory Thalamus (EMOPAIN Study): Rationale and Protocol of a Feasibility and Safety Study
Authors: Leplus Aurélie , Lanteri-Minet Michel , Donnet Anne , Darmon Nelly , Regis Jean , Fontaine Denys
Published: August 2022

Background: Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) of the sensory thalamus has been proposed for 40 years to treat medically refractory neuropathic pain, but its efficacy remains partial and unpredictable. Recent pilot studies of DBS targeting the ACC, a brain region involved in the integration of the affective, emotional, and cognitive aspects of pain, may improve patients suffering from refractory chronic pain. ACC-DBS could be complementary to thalamic DBS to treat both the sensory-discriminative and the affective components of chronic pain, but the safety of combined DBS, especially on cognition and affects, has not been studied. Methods: We propose a prospective, randomized, double-blind, and bicentric study to evaluate the feasibility and safety of bilateral ACC-DBS combined with unilateral thalamic DBS in adult patients suffering from chronic unilateral neuropathic pain, refractory to medical treatment. After a study period of six months, there is a cross-over randomized phase to compare the efficacy (evaluated by pain intensity and quality of life) and safety (evaluated by repeated neurological examination, psychiatric assessment, cognitive assessment, and assessment of affective functions) of combined ACC-thalamic DBS and thalamic DBS only, respectively. Discussion: The EMOPAIN study will show if ACC-DBS is a safe and effective therapy for patients suffering from chronic unilateral neuropathic pain, refractory to medical treatment. The design of the study will, for the first time, assess the efficacy of ACC-DBS combined with thalamic DBS in a blinded way.
Underlying Role of Rumination-Mediated Attachment Style Plays in PTSD after TIA and Stroke
Authors: Zhou Kaiping , Zhang Linjing , Li Tonggui , Wang Weiping
Published: August 2022

Objective: Attachment and rumination were examined as the intermediary variables on post-traumatic stress disorder and medication compliance in stroke or TIA patients. Methods: A total of 300 participants with stroke or TIA from the Second Hospital of Hebei Province were selected. Patients accomplished NIHSS, ABCD2, ECR, RSQ, and RRS on admission. After 3 months, the PCL-C and MMAS were collected. Results: In the stroke or TIA patients, the incident of PTSD was 7.7%; PTSD scores were significantly associated with attachment anxiety (r = 0.225, p < 0.01), symptom rumination (r = 0.197, p < 0.01), and obsessive thinking (r = 0.187, p < 0.01). After the Sobel test analysis and verification by the Baron and Kenny’s stepwise approach we found that ruminant mediated the relationship between attachment anxiety and PTSD; obsessive thinking mediated the relationship between attachment anxiety and PTSD. Conclusions: The relationship between attachment anxiety and PTSD was positively predicted by rumination and obsessive thinking. Adult attachment style, rumination, and PTSD scores may not predict medication compliance.
Communicatively Restricted Organizational Stress (CROS) on Campus: An Exploratory Investigation of Stress and Support among Predominantly White University Faculty
Authors: Veksler Alice E. , Boren Justin P.
Published: August 2022

Communicatively Restricted Organizational Stress (CROS) is a phenomenon characterized by real and/or perceived prohibitions against communicating with others about one’s organizational stressors. Given that CROS is marked by an inability to utilize social support, effects are often profoundly negative for the organizational members. However, the extent to which CROS functions similarly across similar types of organizations is unknown. In this exploratory project, the effects of CROS are investigated in a small sample (n = 41) of predominantly white university faculty. Conceptualizations of CROS argue that it is dependent both on the existence of stress and the presence of close and potentially supportive relationships. Provided that academia is a high-stress environment characterized by a strong likelihood of the formation of Personal Workplace Relationships (PWRs), CROS should be prevalent for this population and should lead to negative effects. Results indicated that CROS exists for university faculty and that its prevalence correlated negatively with measures of social support. Furthermore, CROS-associated distress is positively associated with perceived stress, burnout, and overcommitment and negatively associated with work well-being and job satisfaction. Although objective physiological measures of health were collected, the data were not able to be analyzed. The discussion focuses on implications and directions for future research.
Improving Project Communications Management Practices in the Construction Sector during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Malaysian Scenario
Authors: Subramaniam Chitdrakantan , Ismail Syuhaida , Rani Wan Nurul Mardiah Wan Mohd , Mahdiyar Amir
Published: August 2022

The construction industry remains an important economic sector that supports the growth of a nation. It is vital to maintain the industry’s momentum when facing the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, or similar in the future, to ensure employability and decent jobs for every individual in the industry, especially foreign labourers who are always regarded as vulnerable. Improving existing project communications management practices is essential to suppressing infection among labourers; however, there are only a few efforts made to understand the current condition. This study explores the communications management barriers and the potential improvement measures amid the COVID-19 outbreak sweeping across the Malaysian construction industry. The findings disclose that out of eleven communication channels, only six communications management barrier variables with eight items, and three communications management improvement measure variables with seven items, are classified as highly critical, based on a systematic literature review (SLR), and a questionnaire survey on 100 foreign labourers and management team members, respectively, where the data gathered were analysed using the Rasch measurement model. The finding also suggests that site review meetings, team meeting discussions and project reports require immediate attention to ensure the construction industry remains robust without significant interruption during the course of the pandemic.
Work–Life-Balance Policies for Women and Men in an Islamic Culture: A Culture-Centred and Religious Research Perspective
Authors: Abubaker Mahmoud , Luobbad Mousa , Qasem Ismael , Adam-Bagley Chris
Published: August 2022

This paper aims to explore the nature of Work–Life Balance (WLB) policies offered within a developing country (Gaza; Palestine) by two telecommunication companies. Firstly, the cultural context is described, in which two semi-public companies have developed a particular set of family-friendly policies, which have attempted to serve the needs of employees of a country enduring blockade and bombardment. Then, ideas are developed exploring why the adoption of Work–Life Balance (WLB) policies in these organisations may have taken a particular pathway. Using the value assumptions of an Islamically informed critical realist approach, qualitative studies have been undertaken in which 20 managers and 42 employees (one third female) have been interviewed in two semi-public companies during a time of turbulence (2015 to 2021) in the political economy of Gaza. These interviews have been subjected to systematic qualitative analysis and interpreted from the methodologies of critical realism and auto-ethnography. The reasons for the provision of WLB benefits identified by respondents were often different in kind and degree from those found in studies in Western countries. These assumed reasons also differed between managers and professional employees. Generally, WLB benefits supported women in an Islamic and Arabic culture in ways which were resonant with cultural settings, but which also reflected local political and union pressures, government regulations, and international influences. The reasons for the provision of WLB benefits identified by respondents were often different in kind and degree from those found in studies in Western countries. These reasons also differed between managers and professional employees. Generally, WLB benefits supported women in an Islamic and Arabic culture in ways which were resonant with cultural and religious settings. This study, the first of its kind in a Muslim, Arabic culture deserves replication with both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
The Role of Perineural Invasion in Prostate Cancer and Its Prognostic Significance
Authors: Niu Yuequn , Förster Sarah , Muders Michael
Published: August 2022

Perineural invasion (PNI) is a common indication of tumor metastasis that can be detected in multiple malignancies, including prostate cancer. In the development of PNI, tumor cells closely interact with the nerve components in the tumor microenvironment and create the perineural niche, which provides a supportive surrounding for their survival and invasion and benefits the nerve cells. Various transcription factors, cytokines, chemokines, and their related signaling pathways have been reported to be important in the progress of PNI. Nevertheless, the current understanding of the molecular mechanism of PNI is still very limited. Clinically, PNI is commonly associated with adverse clinicopathological parameters and poor outcomes for prostate cancer patients. However, whether PNI could act as an independent prognostic predictor remains controversial among studies due to inconsistent research aim and endpoint, sample type, statistical methods, and, most importantly, the definition and inclusion criteria. In this review, we provide a summary and comparison of the prognostic significance of PNI in prostate cancer based on existing literature and propose that a more standardized description of PNI would be helpful for a better understanding of its clinical relevance.
Genetic and Methylation Analysis of CTNNB1 in Benign and Malignant Melanocytic Lesions
Authors: Zaremba Anne , Jansen Philipp , Murali Rajmohan , Mayakonda Anand , Riedel Anna , Krahl Dieter , Burkhardt Hans , John Stefan , Géraud Cyrill , Philip Manuel , Kretz Julia , Möller Inga , Stadtler Nadine , Sucker Antje , Paschen Annette , Ugurel Selma , Zimmer Lisa , Livingstone Elisabeth , Horn Susanne , Plass Christoph , Schadendorf Dirk , Hadaschik Eva , Lutsik Pavlo , Griewank Klaus
Published: August 2022

Melanocytic neoplasms have been genetically characterized in detail during the last decade. Recurrent CTNNB1 exon 3 mutations have been recognized in the distinct group of melanocytic tumors showing deep penetrating nevus-like morphology. In addition, they have been identified in 1–2% of advanced melanoma. Performing a detailed genetic analysis of difficult-to-classify nevi and melanomas with CTNNB1 mutations, we found that benign tumors (nevi) show characteristic morphological, genetic and epigenetic traits, which distinguish them from other nevi and melanoma. Malignant CTNNB1-mutant tumors (melanomas) demonstrated a different genetic profile, instead grouping clearly with other non-CTNNB1 melanomas in methylation assays. To further evaluate the role of CTNNB1 mutations in melanoma, we assessed a large cohort of clinically sequenced melanomas, identifying 38 tumors with CTNNB1 exon 3 mutations, including recurrent S45 (n = 13, 34%), G34 (n = 5, 13%), and S27 (n = 5, 13%) mutations. Locations and histological subtype of CTNNB1-mutated melanoma varied; none were reported as showing deep penetrating nevus-like morphology. The most frequent concurrent activating mutations were BRAF V600 (n = 21, 55%) and NRAS Q61 (n = 13, 34%). In our cohort, four of seven (58%) and one of nine (11%) patients treated with targeted therapy (BRAF and MEK Inhibitors) or immune-checkpoint therapy, respectively, showed disease control (partial response or stable disease). In summary, CTNNB1 mutations are associated with a unique melanocytic tumor type in benign tumors (nevi), which can be applied in a diagnostic setting. In advanced disease, no clear characteristics distinguishing CTNNB1-mutant from other melanomas were observed; however, studies of larger, optimally prospective, cohorts are warranted.
Role of Positron Emission Tomography in Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma
Authors: Rozenblum Laura , Houillier Caroline , Soussain Carole , Bertaux Marc , Choquet Sylvain , Galanaud Damien , Hoang-Xuan Khê , Kas Aurélie
Published: August 2022

The incidence of primary central nervous system lymphoma has increased over the past two decades in immunocompetent patients and the prognosis remains poor. A diagnosis and complete evaluation of the patient is needed without delay, but histologic evaluation is not always available and PCNSL can mimic a variety of brain lesions on MRI. In this article, we review the potential role of 18F-FDG PET for the diagnosis of PCNSL in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. Its contribution to systemic assessment at the time of diagnosis has been well established by expert societies over the past decade. In addition, 18F-FDG provides valuable information for differential diagnosis and outcome prediction. The literature also shows the potential role of 18F-FDG as a therapeutic evaluation tool during the treatment and the end of the treatment. Finally, we present several new radiotracers that may have a potential role in the management of PCNSL in the future.
DNA Polymerase Theta Plays a Critical Role in Pancreatic Cancer Development and Metastasis
Authors: Smolinska Agnieszka , Singer Kerstin , Golchert Janine , Smyczynska Urszula , Fendler Wojciech , Sendler Matthias , van den Brandt Jens , Singer Stephan , Homuth Georg , Lerch Markus M. , Moskwa Patryk
Published: August 2022

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), due to its genomic heterogeneity and lack of effective treatment, despite decades of intensive research, will become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths by 2030. Step-wise acquisition of mutations, due to genomic instability, is considered to drive the development of PDAC; the KRAS mutation occurs in 95 to 100% of human PDAC, and is already detectable in early premalignant lesions designated as pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN). This mutation is possibly the key event leading to genomic instability and PDAC development. Our study aimed to investigate the role of the error-prone DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) repair pathway, alt-EJ, in the presence of the KRAS G12D mutation in pancreatic cancer development. Our findings show that oncogenic KRAS contributes to increasing the expression of Polθ, Lig3, and Mre11, key components of alt-EJ in both mouse and human PDAC models. We further confirm increased catalytic activity of alt-EJ in a mouse and human model of PDAC bearing the KRAS G12D mutation. Subsequently, we focused on estimating the impact of alt-EJ inactivation by polymerase theta (Polθ) deletion on pancreatic cancer development, and survival in genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) and cancer patients. Here, we show that even though Polθ deficiency does not fully prevent the development of pancreatic cancer, it significantly delays the onset of PanIN formation, prolongs the overall survival of experimental mice, and correlates with the overall survival of pancreatic cancer patients in the TCGA database. Our study clearly demonstrates the role of alt-EJ in the development of PDAC, and alt-EJ may be an attractive therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer patients.
NET Formation in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Changes during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Knopf Jasmin , Sjöwall Johanna , Frodlund Martina , Hinkula Jorma , Herrmann Martin , Sjöwall Christopher
Published: August 2022

The severity of the coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19) is strongly linked to a dysregulated immune response. This fuels the fear of severe disease in patients with autoimmune disorders continuously using immunosuppressive/immunomodulating medications. One complication of COVID-19 is thromboembolism caused by intravascular aggregates of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) occluding the affected vessels. Like COVID-19, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by, amongst others, an increased risk of thromboembolism. An imbalance between NET formation and clearance is suggested to play a prominent role in exacerbating autoimmunity and disease severity. Serologic evidence of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 has a minor impact on the SLE course in a Swedish cohort reportedly. Herein, we assessed NET formation in patients from this cohort by neutrophil elastase (NE) activity and the presence of cell-free DNA, MPO-DNA, and NE-DNA complexes and correlated the findings to the clinical parameters. The presence of NE-DNA complexes and NE activity differed significantly in pre-pandemic versus pandemic serum samples. The latter correlated significantly with the hemoglobin concentration, blood cell counts, and complement protein 3 and 4 levels in the pre-pandemic but only with the leukocyte count and neutrophil levels in the pandemic serum samples. Taken together, our data suggest a change, especially in the NE activity independent of exposure to SARS-CoV-2.
2020 Editor’s Choice Articles in the “Cell Nuclei: Function, Transport and Receptors” Section
Authors: Miyamoto Hiroshi
Published: August 2022

In 2020, a total of 106 original research articles, 84 reviews, and 1 other paper were published within the “Cell Nuclei: Function, Transport and Receptors” section [...]
Inflammation-Related Molecules at the Maternal–Fetal Interface during Pregnancy and in Pathologically Altered Endometrium
Authors: Sieg Wlodzimierz , Kiewisz Jolanta , Podolak Amira , Jakiel Grzegorz , Woclawek-Potocka Izabela , Lukaszuk Jakub , Lukaszuk Krzysztof
Published: August 2022

The blastocyst expresses paternally derived alloantigens and induces inflammation during implantation. However, it is necessary for the onset of pregnancy. An abnormal response might result in a pathological course of pregnancy or pregnancy failure. On the other hand, a state of maternal immune tolerance is necessary to ensure the normal development of pregnancy by suppressing inflammatory processes. This article discusses recognized mechanisms and the significance of inflammatory processes for embryo implantation and pregnancy establishment. We would also like to present disorders involving excessive inflammatory response and their influence on events occurring during embryo implantation. The chain of correlation between the processes responsible for embryo implantation and the subsequent physiological course of pregnancy is complicated. Many of those interrelationships are still yet to be discovered. Undoubtedly, their recognition will give hope to infertile couples for the emergence of new treatments that will increase the chance of giving birth to a healthy child.