bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Autonomous Landing of Micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicles with Landing-Assistive Platform and Robust Spherical Object Detection
Authors: Lee Donghee , Park Wooryong , Nam Woochul
Published: September 2021

Autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) landing can be useful in multiple applications. Precise landing is a difficult task because of the significant navigation errors of the global positioning system (GPS). To overcome these errors and to realize precise landing control, various sensors have been installed on UAVs. However, this approach can be challenging for micro UAVs (MAVs) because strong thrust forces are required to carry multiple sensors. In this study, a new autonomous MAV landing system is proposed, in which a landing platform actively assists vehicle landing. In addition to the vision system of the UAV, a camera was installed on the platform to precisely control the MAV near the landing area. The platform was also designed with various types of equipment to assist the MAV in searching, approaching, alignment, and landing. Furthermore, a novel algorithm was developed for robust spherical object detection under different illumination conditions. To validate the proposed landing system and detection algorithm, 80 flight experiments were conducted using a DJI TELLO drone, which successfully landed on the platform in every trial with a small landing position average error of 2.7 cm.
A Concept for Conducting Scientific Studies in Vehicles and Stationary Test Rooms during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Kantusch Timmy , Sinanovic Advan , Marker Stefanie
Published: September 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic affected many areas of public life and industry. This also applies to research particularly that relies on scientific studies with test persons. In order to minimize the risk of infection, several aspects of experiment design including the setting might require alteration. An extensive review of the latest research involving the COVID-19 pandemic as a blueprint for dealing with other health situations has been conducted in order to develop a step-by-step approach to plan a study with regard to infection protection. As a result, a generic six-step concept was developed that is applicable for scientific studies in both stationary rooms and vehicles while being adaptable to the respective circumstances. The infection protection measures determined through research were implemented in the individual sub-steps from study planning to execution. They allow a step-by-step approach to prevent infections in scientific studies with different settings during a pandemic and in situations where increased hygiene measures are required.
Theoretical Study on the Relationship of Building Thermal Insulation with Indoor Thermal Comfort Based on APMV Index and Energy Consumption of Rural Residential Buildings
Authors: Nie Jinzhe , Pang Yuxin , Wang Congcong , Zhang Han , Yin Kuichao
Published: September 2021

In the field investigation of rural dwellings, it was found that thermal feelings are significantly different with varied envelopes even under the same indoor air temperature, and this paper explores the phenomenon in simulation. Based on building thermal investigations in several villages of North China, a typical energy and environment simulation model for rural residences was developed using DeST, and the hourly parameters of temperature and humidity were used to calculate the adaptive thermal comfort (APMV) of the rooms. The results show that the main reason for the different thermal comfort at the same air temperature is the large difference in the inner surface temperature. By adjusting the insulation thickness of the envelope structure, the relationship between it and the APMV value is obtained. By adjusting the insulation thickness of the enclosure structure and getting the correlation between it and the APMV value, it is obtained that when the heat transfer coefficient of the enclosure structure meets 0.5 W/(m2·K), the indoors can be in thermal comfort. This paper considers that the indoor air temperature cannot represent the APMV to evaluate the indoor thermal comfort, and the APMV value should be used to evaluate the thermal comfort of the renovated building and calculate the corresponding energy saving rate.
Classification of the Trap-Neuter-Return Surgery Images of Stray Animals Using Yolo-Based Deep Learning Integrated with a Majority Voting System
Authors: Huang Yi-Cheng , Chuang Ting-Hsueh , Lai Yeong-Lin
Published: September 2021

Trap-neuter-return (TNR) has become an effective solution to reduce the prevalence of stray animals. Due to the non-culling policy for stray cats and dogs since 2017, there is a great demand for the sterilization of cats and dogs in Taiwan. In 2020, Heart of Taiwan Animal Care (HOTAC) had more than 32,000 cases of neutered cats and dogs. HOTAC needs to take pictures to record the ears and excised organs of each neutered cat or dog from different veterinary hospitals. The correctness of the archived medical photos and the different shooting and imaging angles from different veterinary hospitals must be carefully reviewed by human professionals. To reduce the cost of manual review, Yolo’s ensemble learning based on deep learning and a majority voting system can effectively identify TNR surgical images, save 80% of the labor force, and its average accuracy (mAP) exceeds 90%. The best feature extraction based on the Yolo model is Yolov4, whose mAP reaches 91.99%, and the result is integrated into the voting classification. Experimental results show that compared with the previous manual work, it can decrease the workload by more than 80%.
The Effect of Enzymatic Crosslink Degradation on the Mechanics of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament: A Hybrid Multi-Domain Model
Authors: Khatib Fadi Al , Gouissem Afif , Eilaghi Armin , Adouni Malek
Published: September 2021

The anterior cruciate ligament’s (ACL) mechanics is an important factor governing the ligament’s integrity and, hence, the knee joint’s response. Despite many investigations in this area, the cause and effect of injuries remain unclear or unknown. This may be due to the complexity of the direct link between macro- and micro-scale damage mechanisms. In the first part of this investigation, a three-dimensional coarse-grained model of collagen fibril (type I) was developed using a bottom-up approach to investigate deformation mechanisms under tensile testing. The output of this molecular level was used later to calibrate the parameters of a hierarchical multi-scale fibril-reinforced hyper-elastoplastic model of the ACL. Our model enabled us to determine the mechanical behavior of the ACL as a function of the basic response of the collagen molecules. Modeled elastic response and damage distribution were in good agreement with the reported measurements and computational investigations. Our results suggest that degradation of crosslink content dictates the loss of the stiffness of the fibrils and, hence, damage to the ACL. Therefore, the proposed computational frame is a promising tool that will allow new insights into the biomechanics of the ACL.
Situation of Urban Mobility in Pakistan: Before, during, and after the COVID-19 Lockdown with Climatic Risk Perceptions
Authors: Syed Alishbah , Zhang Jiquan , Moniruzzaman Md , Rousta Iman , Omer Talha , Ying Guo , Olafsson Haraldur
Published: September 2021

The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has impacted the usual global movement patterns, atmospheric pollutants, and climatic parameters. The current study sought to assess the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on urban mobility, atmospheric pollutants, and Pakistan’s climate. For the air pollution assessment, total column ozone (O3), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and tropospheric column nitrogen dioxide (NO2) data from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), aerosol optical depth (AOD) data from the Multi-angle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR), and dust column mass density (PM2.5) data from the MERRA-2 satellite were used. Furthermore, these datasets are linked to climatic parameters (temperature, precipitation, wind speed). The Kruskal–Wallis H test (KWt) is used to compare medians among k groups (k > 2), and the Wilcoxon signed-rank sum test (WRST) is for analyzing the differences between the medians of two datasets. To make the analysis more effective, and to justify that the variations in air quality parameters are due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) was used. The findings revealed that the limitations on human mobility have lowered emissions, which has improved the air quality in Pakistan. The results of the study showed that the climatic parameters (precipitation, Tmax, Tmin, and Tmean) have a positive correlation and wind speed has a negative correlation with NO2 and AOD. This study found a significant decrease in air pollutants (NO2, SO2, O3, AOD) of 30–40% in Pakistan during the strict lockdown period. In this duration, the highest drop of about 28% in NO2 concentrations has been found in Karachi. Total column O3 did not show any reduction during the strict lockdown, but a minor decline was depicted as 0.38% in Lahore and 0.55% in Islamabad during the loosening lockdown. During strict lockdown, AOD was reduced up to 23% in Islamabad and 14.46% in Lahore. The results of KWt and WRST evident that all the mobility indices are significant (p < 0.05) in nature. The GLM justified that restraining human activities during the lockdown has decreased anthropogenic emissions and, as a result, improved air quality, particularly in metropolitan areas.
Winter Air Pollution and Genotoxic Effects in Children Living in a Highly Polluted Urban Area
Authors: Zani Claudia , Ceretti Elisabetta , Feretti Donatella , Villarini Milena , Moretti Massimo , Verani Marco , De Donno Antonella , Bonetta Sara , Buschini Annamaria , Bonetti Alberto , Bonizzoni Silvia , Gelatti Umberto ,   on behalf of the MAPEC-LIFE Study Group
Published: September 2021

Air pollutants, especially PM, have been found to determine various effects on human health, including genotoxic effects. The aim of this study was to assess DNA damage with micronuclei (MN) and comet tests on buccal cells of 6–8 years old children living in an area with high air pollution. Both tests were repeated in the same children in two consecutive winters to compare the levels of DNA damage under different pollution conditions. A complete data set including lifestyle, air pollutants levels and biological sampling was available for 180 children in the two winters. A high mean MN frequency was found in both seasons, with higher value in the first (0.51 ± 0.59) than the second winter (0.40 ± 0.52), whereas DNA damage measured with comet test showed higher damage in the second versus the first winter (visual score 208.8 ± 67.1 vs. 173.2 ± 50.8). The associations between air pollutant levels (CO, NO2, SO2, benzene, O3, PM10, and PM2.5; PM0.5 and PAHs) and DNA damage were investigated at different lag times, and mainly, no significant association was found. This study on repeated measure of MN frequency and DNA damage in children’s buccal did not show an association with various air pollutants evaluated in an area with high levels of air pollution.
Estimates of the COVID-19 Infection Fatality Rate for 48 African Countries: A Model-Based Analysis
Authors: Onovo Amobi Andrew , Kalaiwo Abiye , Obanubi Christopher , Odezugo Gertrude , Estill Janne , Keiser Olivia
Published: September 2021

(1) Background: Examine global data from 48 African countries to estimate the SARS-CoV-2 infection fatality rate; (2) Methods: We analyzed time series data on the 135,126 confirmed cases and 3922 deaths from COVID-19 disease outbreak in Africa through 30 May 2020. In a Bayesian prediction model based on the Monte Carlo approach, we adjusted for demographic, economic, biological, and societal variables to account for the untested people; (3) Results: We calculated a total of 1,686,879 COVID-19 infections after correcting for possible risk variables in the Bayesian model, equal to 13 infections per confirmed case. In Africa, the IFR is projected to be 0.23% (95% CI: 0.14–0.33%). The percentages varied by country, ranging from 0.004% in Botswana and the Central African Republic to 1.53% in Nigeria. The projected IFR is twelvefold greater than the WHO’s 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic estimate (0.02%). In four countries: Morocco, Nigeria, Cameroon, and South Africa, the inverse distance weighted interpolation map shows high IFR variability; (4) Conclusions: COVID-19 infection mortality rates can vary significantly between regions, and this might be due to changes in demography, underlying health conditions in the community, healthcare system capacity, positive health seeking behavior, and other variables.
Recent Advances in Electrochemical Biosensors: Applications, Challenges, and Future Scope
Authors: Singh Anoop , Sharma Asha , Ahmed Aamir , Sundramoorthy Ashok K. , Furukawa Hidemitsu , Arya Sandeep , Khosla Ajit
Published: September 2021

The electrochemical biosensors are a class of biosensors which convert biological information such as analyte concentration that is a biological recognition element (biochemical receptor) into current or voltage. Electrochemical biosensors depict propitious diagnostic technology which can detect biomarkers in body fluids such as sweat, blood, feces, or urine. Combinations of suitable immobilization techniques with effective transducers give rise to an efficient biosensor. They have been employed in the food industry, medical sciences, defense, studying plant biology, etc. While sensing complex structures and entities, a large data is obtained, and it becomes difficult to manually interpret all the data. Machine learning helps in interpreting large sensing data. In the case of biosensors, the presence of impurity affects the performance of the sensor and machine learning helps in removing signals obtained from the contaminants to obtain a high sensitivity. In this review, we discuss different types of biosensors along with their applications and the benefits of machine learning. This is followed by a discussion on the challenges, missing gaps in the knowledge, and solutions in the field of electrochemical biosensors. This review aims to serve as a valuable resource for scientists and engineers entering the interdisciplinary field of electrochemical biosensors. Furthermore, this review provides insight into the type of electrochemical biosensors, their applications, the importance of machine learning (ML) in biosensing, and challenges and future outlook.
Rapid Detection of Gut Microbial Metabolite Trimethylamine N-Oxide for Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention
Authors: Chang Yu-Chun , Chu Yi-Hsuan , Wang Chien-Cheng , Wang Chih-Hsuan , Tain You-Lin , Yang Hung-Wei
Published: September 2021

The gut microbiota plays a critical role in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hypertension. Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) and trimethylamine (TMA) are gut microbiota-derived metabolites, and both are known uraemic toxins that are implicated in CKD, atherosclerosis, colorectal cancer and cardiovascular risk. Therefore, the detection and quantification of TMAO, which is a metabolite from gut microbes, are important for the diagnosis of diseases such as atherosclerosis, thrombosis and colorectal cancer. In this study, a new “colour-switch” method that is based on the combination of a plasma separation pad/absorption pad and polyallylamine hydrochloride-capped manganese dioxide (PAH@MnO2) nanozyme was developed for the direct quantitative detection of TMAO in whole blood without blood sample pretreatment. As a proof of concept, a limit of quantitation (LOQ) of less than 6.7 μM for TMAO was obtained with a wide linear quantification range from 15.6 to 500 μM through quantitative analysis, thereby suggesting potential clinical applications in blood TMAO monitoring for CKD patients.
FLIM-Based Intracellular and Extracellular pH Measurements Using Genetically Encoded pH Sensor
Authors: Goryashchenko Alexander S. , Pakhomov Alexey A. , Ryabova Anastasia V. , Romanishkin Igor D. , Maksimov Eugene G. , Orsa Alexander N. , Serova Oxana V. , Mozhaev Andrey A. , Maksimova Margarita A. , Martynov Vladimir I. , Petrenko Alexander G. , Deyev Igor E.
Published: September 2021

The determination of pH in live cells and tissues is of high importance in physiology and cell biology. In this report, we outline the process of the creation of SypHerExtra, a genetically encoded fluorescent sensor that is capable of measuring extracellular media pH in a mildly alkaline range. SypHerExtra is a protein created by fusing the previously described pH sensor SypHer3s with the neurexin transmembrane domain that targets its expression to the cytoplasmic membrane. We showed that with excitation at 445 nm, the fluorescence lifetime of both SypHer3s and SypHerExtra strongly depend on pH. Using FLIM microscopy in live eukaryotic cells, we demonstrated that SypHerExtra can be successfully used to determine extracellular pH, while SypHer3s can be applied to measure intracellular pH. Thus, these two sensors are suitable for quantitative measurements using the FLIM method, to determine intracellular and extracellular pH in a range from pH 7.5 to 9.5 in different biological systems.
Longitudinal Changes in Cognition, Behaviours, and Functional Abilities in the Three Main Variants of Primary Progressive Aphasia: A Literature Review
Authors: de la Sablonnière Justine , Tastevin Maud , Lavoie Monica , Laforce Robert
Published: September 2021

Primary progressive aphasias (PPAs) are a group of neurodegenerative diseases presenting with insidious and relentless language impairment. Three main PPA variants have been described: the non-fluent/agrammatic variant (nfvPPA), the semantic variant (svPPA), and the logopenic variant (lvPPA). At the time of diagnosis, patients and their families’ main question pertains to prognosis and evolution, but very few data exist to support clinicians’ claims. The objective of this study was to review the current literature on the longitudinal changes in cognition, behaviours, and functional abilities in the three main PPA variants. A comprehensive review was undertaken via a search on PUBMED and EMBASE. Two authors independently reviewed a total of 65 full-text records for eligibility. A total of 14 group studies and one meta-analysis were included. Among these, eight studies included all three PPA variants. Eight studies were prospective, and the follow-up duration was between one and five years. Overall, svPPA patients showed more behavioural disturbances both at baseline and over the course of the disease. Patients with lvPPA showed a worse cognitive decline, especially in episodic memory, and faster progression to dementia. Finally, patients with nfvPPA showed the most significant losses in language production and functional abilities. Data regarding the prodromal and last stages of PPA are still missing and studies with a longer follow-up observation period are needed.
Correction: David et al. Effects of Transient Loss of Vision on Head and Eye Movements during Visual Search in a Virtual Environment. Brain Sci. 2020, 10, 841
Authors: David Erwan , Beitner Julia , Võ Melissa Le-Hoa
Published: September 2021

We wish to make the following correction to the published paper “Effects of Transient Loss of Vision on Head and Eye Movements during Visual Search in a Virtual Environment” [...]
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors for the Treatment of Depression in Adults with Down Syndrome: A Preliminary Retrospective Chart Review Study
Authors: Thom Robyn P. , Palumbo Michelle L. , Thompson Claire , McDougle Christopher J. , Ravichandran Caitlin T.
Published: September 2021

Background: Depression is a common psychiatric comorbidity in individuals with Down syndrome (DS), particularly adults, with an estimated lifetime prevalence of at least 10%. The current literature on the treatment of depression in adults with DS is limited to case series published more than two decades ago, prior to the widespread use of modern antidepressant medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The purpose of this retrospective chart review study was to examine the effectiveness, tolerability, and safety of SSRIs for depression in adults with DS. Methods: Medical records of 11 adults with DS and depression were reviewed. Assignment of scores for severity (S) of symptoms of depression and improvement (I) of symptoms with treatment with an SSRI was made retrospectively using the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI). Demographic and clinical characteristics of the study population, SSRI name, dose, and duration of treatment; and adverse effects were also recorded. Results: All 11 patients (7 male, 4 female; mean age = 27.2 years, range 18–46 years) completed a 12-week treatment course with an SSRI. The median duration of time after initiation of the SSRI covered by record review was 2.1 years, with a range of 24 weeks to 6.7 years. Nine of the 11 patients (82%; 95% CI 52%, 95%) were judged responders to SSRIs based on a rating of “much improved” or “very much improved” on the CGI-I after 12 weeks of treatment (median time of follow-up was 14.4 weeks, with a range of 12.0–33.0 weeks). Adverse effects occurred in four patients (36%). The most common adverse effects were daytime sedation and anger. Conclusions: In this preliminary retrospective study, the majority of patients responded to a 12-week course of SSRI treatment and some tolerated long-term use. Controlled studies are needed to further assess the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of SSRIs for the treatment of depression in adults with DS.
Improving Energy Performance of Historic Buildings through Hygrothermal Assessment of the Envelope
Authors: Martín-Garín Alexander , Millán-García José Antonio , Terés-Zubiaga Jon , Oregi Xabat , Rodríguez-Vidal Iñigo , Baïri Abderrahmane
Published: September 2021

The intervention on historic buildings through building energy retrofitting has become one of the current challenges of improving energy efficiency. Nonetheless, this building typology presents certain complexities. Among them, one of the most relevant is the protection on their façades due to the historical and/or artistic values of a given façade and, therefore, the addition of external thermal insulation is restricted. However, at the same time, in several of those buildings indoor surfaces do not present that architectural value, and then internal thermal insulation becomes a promising strategy for improving their thermal performance. Nevertheless, its application must be carefully evaluated to avoid possible pathologies caused by moisture problems. This paper aims to identify constructive solutions for interior insulation of walls free from moisture problems. For this purpose, a comprehensive analysis of a series of constructive solutions based on internal insulation has been carried out through hygrothermal simulations. The results show how the application of water-repellent impregnation becomes essential to guaranteeing the integrity of the envelope. In addition, the combination of insulations with or without inner membranes, such as smart vapor retarders or vapor diffusion barriers, has been evaluated detecting the solutions that best fit the objective. Finally, taking advantage of the great potential of 2D simulation tools, the post-processing of the data has been performed to apply the wood decay model, and thus assess the behavior of a very conflictive point in this type of intervention, i.e., the wooden beam-ends. The results in this critical point have shown how the application of the proposed constructive solutions becomes essential to guarantee the integrity of the element and how the application of traditional solutions could lead to a hazard that must be avoided.
Advances in Green Catalysis for the Synthesis of Medicinally Relevant N-Heterocycles
Authors: Santos A. Sofia , Raydan Daniel , Cunha José C. , Viduedo Nuno , Silva Artur M. S. , Marques M. Manuel B.
Published: September 2021

N-heterocycles, both saturated and unsaturated, are ubiquitous biologically active molecules that are extremely appealing scaffolds in drug discovery programs. Although classical synthetic methods have been developed to access many relevant N-heterocyclic scaffolds, representing well-established and reliable routes, some do not meet the needs of sustainability. In this context, several advances have been made towards the sustainable synthesis of N-heterocycles. This review focuses on the most recent examples from the last five years of catalytic synthesis of several heterocyclic compounds of medicinal relevance. Thus, the synthesis of isoindoloquinazolines, quinazolines and azaindoles, among others, are covered. The synthetic methods selected include the use of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts and the use of alternative and sustainable methods such as, for example, metal-catalyzed acceptorless coupling and one-pot reactions. The green aspects of the individual synthetic approaches are highlighted, and the scope of each methodology is described.
Porin 1 Modulates Autophagy in Yeast
Authors: Broeskamp Filomena , Edrich Elizabeth S. M. , Knittelfelder Oskar , Neuhaus Lisa , Meyer Thorsten , Heyden Jonas , Habernig Lukas , Kreppel Florian , Gourlay Campbell W. , Rockenfeller Patrick
Published: September 2021

Autophagy is a cellular recycling program which efficiently reduces the cellular burden of ageing. Autophagy is characterised by nucleation of isolation membranes, which grow in size and further expand to form autophagosomes, engulfing cellular material to be degraded by fusion with lysosomes (vacuole in yeast). Autophagosomal membranes do not bud from a single cell organelle, but are generated de novo. Several lipid sources for autophagosomal membranes have been identified, but the whole process of their generation is complex and not entirely understood. In this study, we investigated how the mitochondrial outer membrane protein porin 1 (Por1), the yeast orthologue of mammalian voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC), affects autophagy in yeast. We show that POR1 deficiency reduces the autophagic capacity and leads to changes in vacuole and lipid homeostasis. We further investigated whether limited phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) availability in por1∆ was causative for reduced autophagy by overexpression of the PE-generating phosphatidylserine decarboxylase 1 (Psd1). Altogether, our results show that POR1 deficiency is associated with reduced autophagy, which can be circumvented by additional PSD1 overexpression. This suggests a role for Por1 in Psd1-mediated autophagy regulation.
Remodeling of Ion Channel Trafficking and Cardiac Arrhythmias
Authors: Blandin Camille E. , Gravez Basile J. , Hatem Stéphane N. , Balse Elise
Published: September 2021

Both inherited and acquired cardiac arrhythmias are often associated with the abnormal functional expression of ion channels at the cellular level. The complex machinery that continuously traffics, anchors, organizes, and recycles ion channels at the plasma membrane of a cardiomyocyte appears to be a major source of channel dysfunction during cardiac arrhythmias. This has been well established with the discovery of mutations in the genes encoding several ion channels and ion channel partners during inherited cardiac arrhythmias. Fibrosis, altered myocyte contacts, and post-transcriptional protein changes are common factors that disorganize normal channel trafficking during acquired cardiac arrhythmias. Channel availability, described notably for hERG and KV1.5 channels, could be another potent arrhythmogenic mechanism. From this molecular knowledge on cardiac arrhythmias will emerge novel antiarrhythmic strategies.
Epigenetic Modifications Associated with Maternal Anxiety during Pregnancy and Children’s Behavioral Measures
Authors: Cao-Lei Lei , van den Heuvel Marion I. , Huse Klaus , Platzer Matthias , Elgbeili Guillaume , Braeken Marijke A. K. A. , Otte Renée A. , Witte Otto W. , Schwab Matthias , Van den Bergh Bea R. H.
Published: September 2021

Epigenetic changes are associated with altered behavior and neuropsychiatric disorders and they modify the trajectory of aging. Maternal anxiety during pregnancy is a common environmental challenge for the fetus, causing changes in DNA methylation. Here, we determined the mediating role of DNA methylation and the moderating role of offspring sex on the association between maternal anxiety and children’s behavioral measures. In 83 mother–child dyads, maternal anxiety was assessed in each trimester of pregnancy when the child was four years of age. Children’s behavioral measures and children’s buccal DNA methylation levels (NR3C1, IGF2/H19 ICR, and LINE1) were examined. Higher maternal anxiety during the third trimester was associated with more methylation levels of the NR3C1. Moderating effects of sex on the association between maternal anxiety and methylation were found for IGF2/H19 and LINE1 CpGs. Mediation analysis showed that methylation of NR3C1 could buffer the effects of maternal anxiety on children’s behavioral measures, but this effect did not remain significant after controlling for covariates. In conclusion, our data support an association between maternal anxiety during pregnancy and DNA methylation. The results also underscore the importance of sex differences and timing effects. However, DNA methylation as underlying mechanism of the effect of maternal anxiety during pregnancy on offspring’s behavioral measures was not supported.
COL5A1 RS12722 Is Associated with Temporomandibular Joint Anterior Disc Displacement without Reduction in Polish Caucasians
Authors: Dalewski Bartosz , Białkowska Katarzyna , Pałka Łukasz , Jakubowska Anna , Kiczmer Paweł , Sobolewska Ewa
Published: September 2021

Numerous reports describe the association between the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs12722 and rs13946 in the COL5A1 gene and injuries, such as Achilles tendon pathology, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, and tennis elbow. Hence, there were no studies investigating COL5A1 and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pathology. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between COL5A1 rs12722 and rs13946 SNPs and TMJ articular disc displacement without reduction (ADDwoR). In this case-control study, the study group consisted of 124 Caucasian patients of both sexes. Each patient had a history of ADDwoR no more than 3 months prior. The control group comprised 126 patients with no signs of TMD according to DC/TMD. Genotyping of the selected SNPs was performed by real-time PCR using TaqMan probes. The significance of the differences in the distribution of genotypes was analyzed using Pearson’s chi-square test. Logistic regression modeling was performed to analyze the influence of the 164 investigated SNPs on ADDwoR. The COL5A1 marker rs12722 turned out to be statistically significant (p-value = 0.0119), implying that there is a difference in the frequencies of TMJ ADDwoR. The distribution of rs12722 SNPs in the study group TT(66), CC(27), CT(31) vs. control group TT(45), CC(26), CT(51) indicates that patients with CT had an almost 2.4 times higher likelihood of ADDwoR (OR = 2.41) than those with reference TT (OR = 1), while rs13946 genotypes were shown to be insignificant, with a p-value of 0.1713. The COL5A1 rs12722 polymorphism is a risk factor for ADDwoR in the Polish Caucasian population.
Host Cell and SARS-CoV-2-Associated Molecular Structures and Factors as Potential Therapeutic Targets
Authors: Chaudhary Jitendra Kumar , Yadav Rohitash , Chaudhary Pankaj Kumar , Maurya Anurag , Roshan Rakesh , Azam Faizul , Mehta Jyoti , Handu Shailendra , Prasad Ramasare , Jain Neeraj , Pandey Avaneesh Kumar , Dhamija Puneet
Published: September 2021

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is caused by an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus, referred to as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which belongs to the realm Riboviria, order Nidovirales, family Coronaviridae, genus Betacoronavirus and the species Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus. This viral disease is characterized by a myriad of varying symptoms, such as pyrexia, cough, hemoptysis, dyspnoea, diarrhea, muscle soreness, dysosmia, lymphopenia and dysgeusia amongst others. The virus mainly infects humans, various other mammals, avian species and some other companion livestock. SARS-CoV-2 cellular entry is primarily accomplished by molecular interaction between the virus’s spike (S) protein and the host cell surface receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), although other host cell-associated receptors/factors, such as neuropilin 1 (NRP-1) and neuropilin 2 (NRP-2), C-type lectin receptors (CLRs), as well as proteases such as TMPRSS2 (transmembrane serine protease 2) and furin, might also play a crucial role in infection, tropism, pathogenesis and clinical outcome. Furthermore, several structural and non-structural proteins of the virus themselves are very critical in determining the clinical outcome following infection. Considering such critical role(s) of the abovementioned host cell receptors, associated proteases/factors and virus structural/non-structural proteins (NSPs), it may be quite prudent to therapeutically target them through a multipronged clinical regimen to combat the disease.
Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Identification of Genetic Factors Predisposing High-Risk Individuals to Asymptomatic Heart Failure
Authors: Yang Ning-I , Yeh Chi-Hsiao , Tsai Tsung-Hsien , Chou Yi-Ju , Hsu Paul Wei-Che , Li Chun-Hsien , Chan Yun-Hsuan , Kuo Li-Tang , Mao Chun-Tai , Shyu Yu-Chiau , Hung Ming-Jui , Lai Chi-Chun , Sytwu Huey-Kang , Tsai Ting-Fen
Published: September 2021

Heart failure (HF) is a global pandemic public health burden affecting one in five of the general population in their lifetime. For high-risk individuals, early detection and prediction of HF progression reduces hospitalizations, reduces mortality, improves the individual’s quality of life, and reduces associated medical costs. In using an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted genome-wide association study of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) database from 117 asymptomatic high-risk individuals, we identified a SNP signature composed of 13 SNPs. These were annotated and mapped into six protein-coding genes (GAD2, APP, RASGEF1C, MACROD2, DMD, and DOCK1), a pseudogene (PGAM1P5), and various non-coding RNA genes (LINC01968, LINC00687, LOC105372209, LOC101928047, LOC105372208, and LOC105371356). The SNP signature was found to have a good performance when predicting HF progression, namely with an accuracy rate of 0.857 and an area under the curve of 0.912. Intriguingly, analysis of the protein connectivity map revealed that DMD, RASGEF1C, MACROD2, DOCK1, and PGAM1P5 appear to form a protein interaction network in the heart. This suggests that, together, they may contribute to the pathogenesis of HF. Our findings demonstrate that a combination of AI-assisted identifications of SNP signatures and clinical parameters are able to effectively identify asymptomatic high-risk subjects that are predisposed to HF.
Uncovering the Metabolic and Stress Responses of Human Embryonic Stem Cells to FTH1 Gene Silencing
Authors: Scaramuzzino Luana , Lucchino Valeria , Scalise Stefania , Lo Conte Michela , Zannino Clara , Sacco Alessandro , Biamonte Flavia , Parrotta Elvira Immacolata , Costanzo Francesco Saverio , Cuda Giovanni
Published: September 2021

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are pluripotent cells with indefinite self-renewal ability and differentiation properties. To function properly and maintain genomic stability, ESCs need to be endowed with an efficient repair system as well as effective redox homeostasis. In this study, we investigated different aspects involved in ESCs’ response to iron accumulation following stable knockdown of the ferritin heavy chain (FTH1) gene, which encodes for a major iron storage protein with ferroxidase activity. Experimental findings highlight unexpected and, to a certain extent, paradoxical results. If on one hand FTH1 silencing does not correlate with increased ROS production nor with changes in the redox status, strengthening the concept that hESCs are extremely resistant and, to a certain extent, even refractory to intracellular iron imbalance, on the other, the differentiation potential of hESCs seems to be affected and apoptosis is observed. Interestingly, we found that FTH1 silencing is accompanied by a significant activation of the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived-2)-like 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway and pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), which crosstalk in driving hESCs antioxidant cascade events. These findings shed new light on how hESCs perform under oxidative stress, dissecting the molecular mechanisms through which Nrf2, in combination with PPP, counteracts oxidative injury triggered by FTH1 knockdown.
The B2 Structural Motif as a Tool for Modulating Ring Currents in Monocyclic Li Clusters
Authors: Đorđević Slađana , Radenković Slavko
Published: September 2021

Magnetically induced current densities, calculated at the M06-2X/def2-TZVP level using the diamagnetic-zero version of the continuous transformation of origin of current density (CTOCD-DZ) method, were employed to study the aromaticity in Li3B2− and Li4B2. It was found that the Li3/Li4 rings in Li3B2− and Li4B2 remarkably resemble the monocyclic Li3+ and Li42+ clusters. Unlike the parent Li3+ and Li42+ systems that sustain negligibly weak global current density circulation, the Li3B2− and Li4B2 clusters exhibit a strong diatropic current density. The present work demonstrates how structural modifications introduced by the B2 unit can be used for modulating the current density in cyclic Li-based clusters.
A Systematic Review of the Prospective Relationship between Child Maltreatment and Chronic Pain
Authors: Marin Teresa J. , Lewinson Rebecca E. , Hayden Jill A. , Mahood Quenby , Rossi Meghan A. , Rosenbloom Brittany , Katz Joel
Published: September 2021

Objective: The present systematic review aimed to evaluate the association between childhood maltreatment and chronic pain, with specific attention to the temporal nature of the relationship and putative moderators, including, the nature (type), timing of occurrence, and magnitude of maltreatment; whether physical harm or injury occurred; and whether post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) subsequently developed. Method: We included studies that measured the prospective relationship between child maltreatment and pain. Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL were searched electronically up to 28 July 2019. We used accepted methodological procedures common to prognosis studies and preregistered our review (PROSPERO record ID 142169) as per Cochrane review recommendations. Results: Nine studies (17,340 participants) were included in the present review. Baseline participant age ranged from 2 years to more than 65 years. Follow-up intervals ranged from one year to 16 years. Of the nine studies included, three were deemed to have a high risk of bias. With the exception of one meta-analysis of three studies, results were combined using narrative synthesis. Results showed low to very low quality and conflicting evidence across the various types of maltreatment, with the higher quality studies pointing to the absence of direct (non-moderated and non-mediated) associations between maltreatment and pain. PTSD was revealed to be a potential mediator and/or moderator. Evidence was not found for other proposed moderators. Conclusions: Overall, there is an absence of evidence from high quality studies of an association between maltreatment and pain. Our results are limited by the small number of studies reporting the relationship between child maltreatment and pain using a prospective design. High quality studies, including prospective cohort studies and those that assess and report on the moderators described above, are needed to advance the literature.
Is Recent Exposure to Antibiotics a Risk Factor for Hospitalisation in Korean Children with Acute Non-Bacterial Gastroenteritis? A Nationwide Population-Based Study
Authors: Suh Dongbum , Kwon Hyuksool
Published: September 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of recent antibiotic therapy and probiotics on hospitalisation in children with acute gastroenteritis. Using a retrospective study design, data from the population aged up to 18 years were collected from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort. The duration of antibiotic therapy within 14 days of the index visit, prescription of probiotics at initial presentation, the effect size of antibiotic exposure on hospitalisation, and its modification by probiotics were assessed. Of 275,395 patients with acute gastroenteritis, 51,008 (18.5%) had prior exposure to antibiotics. Hospitalisation within 7 days of the index visit was positively associated with exposure to antibiotics (p-trend < 0.001). The prescription of probiotics (as a main effect; odds ratio, 0.80; 95% confidence interval 0.72–0.87) was associated with a decreased risk of hospitalisation. Prior exposure to antibiotics might be a significant risk factor for hospitalisation in children presenting with acute gastroenteritis. This may be favourably modified by administering probiotics at the initial presentation.
Coupled Superhydrophilic PMMA Film with Inverted Pyramid Microstructures for Antireflection and Antifogging Properties
Authors: Feng Xiaoming , Tian Guizhong , Niu Shichao , Zhou Honggen
Published: September 2021

Transparent substrates with antifogging and antireflection ability are of extreme significance for optical devices, because they alleviate performance loss and maintenance costs. Here, we reported that a multifunctional film, with excellent mechanical properties, can be fabricated on the PMMA surface via the micro-transfer printing method. In particular, the synergistic effect of the inverted pyramid microstructure and SiO2 nanoparticles gives the film excellent antireflective, superhydrophilic and antifogging properties, and the silica sol firmly adheres to the PMMA substrate via the silane coupling agent, which exhibits an encouraging prospect of practical applications from lenses for personal and sports eyewear to transparent displays and sensors, etc.
A Review of Electronic Transport in Superconducting Sr2RuO4 Junctions
Authors: Anwar Muhammad Shahbaz , Robinson Jason W. A.
Published: September 2021

We review electronic transport in superconducting junctions with Sr2RuO4. Transport measurements provide evidence for chiral domain walls and, therefore, chiral superconductivity in superconducting Sr2RuO4, but so far, the symmetry of the underlying superconducting state remains inconclusive. Further studies involving density of states measurements and spin-polarised transport in local/non-local Sr2RuO4 junctions with magnetic materials could lead to fundamental discoveries and a better understanding of the superconducting state.
Pandemic Growth and Benfordness: Empirical Evidence from 176 Countries Worldwide
Authors: Farhadi Noah , Lahooti Hooshang
Published: September 2021

In the battle against the Coronavirus, over 190 territories and countries independently work on one end goal: to stop the pandemic growth. In this context, a tidal wave of data has emerged since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. Extant research shows that the pandemic data are partially reliable. Only a small group of nations publishes reliable records on COVID-19 incidents. We collected global data from 176 countries and explored the causal relationship between average growth ratios and progress in the reliability of pandemic data. Furthermore, we replicated and operationalized the results of prior studies regarding the conformity of COVID-19 data to Benford’s law. Our outcomes confirm that the average growth rates of new cases in the first nine months of the Coronavirus pandemic explain improvement or deterioration in Benfordness and thus reliability of COVID-19 data. We found significant evidence for the notion that nonconformity to BL rises by the growth of new cases in the initial phases of outbreaks.
In Situ Observation of Epitaxial Growth during Evaporative Simultaneous Crystallization from Aqueous Electrolytes in Droplets
Authors: Penha Frederico M. , Andrade Fábio R. D. , Lanzotti Amanda S. , Moreira Junior Paulo F. , Zago Gustavo P. , Seckler Marcelo M.
Published: September 2021

In this study, crystallization phenomena were investigated by real-time in situ observation of seeded droplets under evaporation using a self-developed hot-stage platform. Ternary solutions at eutonic conditions at 25 °C were investigated for the following systems: NaCl–KCl–H2O, NaCl–CaSO4–H2O, and NaCl–Na2SO4–H2O. Evidence of epitaxial growth was found for aqueous NaCl–KCl and aqueous NaCl–Na2SO4. Sodium chloride nucleated and grew epitaxially upon the other substrates in a larger proportion compared with the inverse. This observation could be related to the higher solubility, and consequently higher residual supersaturation of NaCl regarding the other components. Hopper-like NaCl crystals developed in almost all systems. The results may help devise strategies to control particle morphologies and purity in industrial crystallization from complex systems.
Influence of Sawdust Particle Sizes on the Physico-Mechanical Properties of Unfired Clay Blocks
Authors: Jannat Nusrat , Latif Al-Mufti Rafal , Hussien Aseel , Abdullah Badr , Cotgrave Alison
Published: September 2021

Sawdust, which is a waste/by-product of the wood/timber industry, can be utilised as a valuable raw material in building material production due to its abundance and low cost. However, the application of sawdust in the manufacture of unfired clay blocks has received little investigation. Furthermore, the impact of different sawdust particle sizes on the properties of unfired clay blocks has not been studied. Therefore, this study screened sawdust at three different particle sizes: SP-a (212 μm < x < 300 μm), SP-b (425 μm < x < 600 μm) and SP-c (1.18 mm < x < 2.00 mm), to examine their effects on the physical and mechanical properties of unfired clay blocks. The density, linear shrinkage, capillary water absorption and flexural and compressive strengths were among the tests performed. Different sawdust percentages, i.e., 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% of the total weight of the clay, were considered. The tests results show that when sawdust was added to the mixture, the density of the samples reduced for all particle sizes. However, the linear shrinkage increased in SP-a samples but decreased in the other two particle size samples as the sawdust percentage increased from 2.5% to 10%. On the other hand, the capillary water absorption coefficient increased while the strength decreased with increasing sawdust content for all three groups. The highest compressive strength (CS) and flexural strength (FS) were achieved at 2.5% of sawdust content. Furthermore, it was observed that SP-b (CS—4.74 MPa, FS—2.00 MPa) samples showed the highest strength followed by SP-a (CS—4.09 MPa, FS—1.69 MPa) and SP-c (CS—3.90 MPa, FS—1.63 MPa) samples. Consequently, good-quality unfired clay blocks can be manufactured using sawdust up to 2.5% with particle sizes ranging between 600 and 425 μm.