bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Doll Therapy in Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia: A Systematic Review
Authors: Martín-García Angela , Corregidor-Sánchez Ana-Isabel , Fernández-Moreno Virginia , Alcántara-Porcuna Vanesa , Criado-Álvarez Juan-José
Published: February 2022

(1) Background: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are a threat for people with dementia and their caregivers. Doll therapy is a non-pharmacological person-centered therapy to promote attachment, company, and usefulness with the aim of minimizing challenging behaviors. However, the results are not clear. (2) Objective: To know the effectiveness of doll therapy in reducing behavioral and psychological symptoms of people with dementia at a moderate-severe phase. (3) Methodology: The systematic review was informed according to the criteria established by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Searches were conducted in eight databases: Cochrane, PubMed, Web of Science, Cinahl, Embase, Lilacs, PeDro, and Scopus before October 2021. Studies were selected when they accomplished the simple majority of Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT). The risk of bias was appraised with the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool. The review protocol was recorded in Inplasy:1539. (4) Results: The initial search strategy showed 226 relevant studies, 7 of which met the eligibility criteria. In the included studies, a total number of 295 participants (79% female) with a mean age of 85 years were enrolled. There was found to be a reduction in challenging and aggressive behaviors, the participants were less rough and irritable, and their communication skills and emotional state were also improved. (5) Conclusion: Our findings suggest that doll therapy improves the emotional state of people with dementia, diminishes disruptive behaviors, and promotes communication. However, randomized studies with a larger sample size and higher methodological rigor are needed, as well as follow-up protocols in order to reaffirm these results.
COVID-19 Pneumonia Classification Based on NeuroWavelet Capsule Network
Authors: Monday Happy Nkanta , Li Jianping , Nneji Grace Ugochi , Nahar Saifun , Hossin Md Altab , Jackson Jehoiada
Published: February 2022

Since it was first reported, coronavirus disease 2019, also known as COVID-19, has spread expeditiously around the globe. COVID-19 must be diagnosed as soon as possible in order to control the disease and provide proper care to patients. The chest X-ray (CXR) has been identified as a useful diagnostic tool, but the disease outbreak has put a lot of pressure on radiologists to read the scans, which could give rise to fatigue-related misdiagnosis. Automatic classification algorithms that are reliable can be extremely beneficial; however, they typically depend upon a large amount of COVID-19 data for training, which are troublesome to obtain in the nick of time. Therefore, we propose a novel method for the classification of COVID-19. Concretely, a novel neurowavelet capsule network is proposed for COVID-19 classification. To be more precise, first, we introduce a multi-resolution analysis of a discrete wavelet transform to filter noisy and inconsistent information from the CXR data in order to improve the feature extraction robustness of the network. Secondly, the discrete wavelet transform of the multi-resolution analysis also performs a sub-sampling operation in order to minimize the loss of spatial details, thereby enhancing the overall classification performance. We examined the proposed model on a public-sourced dataset of pneumonia-related illnesses, including COVID-19 confirmed cases and healthy CXR images. The proposed method achieves an accuracy of 99.6%, sensitivity of 99.2%, specificity of 99.1% and precision of 99.7%. Our approach achieves an up-to-date performance that is useful for COVID-19 screening according to the experimental results. This latest paradigm will contribute significantly in the battle against COVID-19 and other diseases.
Nitrogen Absorption Pattern Detection and Expression Analysis of Nitrate Transporters in Flowering Chinese Cabbage
Authors: Zhang Shuaiwei , Zhang Yuepeng , Wang Yudan , Hao Yanwei , Su Wei , Sun Guangwen , Liu Houcheng , Chen Riyuan , Song Shiwei
Published: February 2022

Nitrate transporters (NRTs) play an important role in nitrate absorption and internal distribution in plant roots and other parts. Experiments were carried out to explore the sequences and expression characteristics of NRT genes, and their correlation with the N uptake in flowering Chinese cabbage. We have isolated three important BcNRTs (BcNRT1.1, BcNRT1.2, and BcNRT2.1) from flowering Chinese cabbage. Spatio-temporal expression analysis found that BcNRT1.1 and BcNRT2.1 were mainly expressed in roots, while BcNRT1.2 was more expressed in roots than in leaves during vegetative growth and was mainly expressed in leaves during reproductive growth. The NO3− uptake rate of the entire growth period was significantly correlated with BcNRT1.1 and BcNRT1.2 expression in roots. In addition, the total N content was increased with the increase in NO3− concentration in flowering Chinese cabbage. The NH4+ uptake was slightly induced by NH4+, but the total N content had no significant difference under the NH4+ concentration of 1–8 mmol/L. We also found that lower concentrations of NH4+ promoted the expression of BcNRT1.1 and BcNRT1.2 while inhibiting the expression of BcNRT2.1 in the roots of flowering Chinese cabbage. The amount of total N uptake in the treatment with 25/75 of NH4+/NO3− was significantly higher than that of the other two treatments (0/100 and 50/50). In the mixture of NH4+ and NO3−, total N uptake was significantly correlated with the BcNRT1.2 expression. We concluded that mixed nutrition with an NH4+/NO3− of 25/75 could significantly increase total nitrogen uptake in flowering Chinese cabbage, in which two members of the NRT1 subfamily (BcNRT1.1 and BcNRT1.2) might play a major regulatory role in it. This study is a beneficial attempt to dig deeper into the NRT genes resources and lays the foundation for the ultimate use of genetic improvement methods to increase the NUE with less nitrogen fertilizer in flowering Chinese cabbage.
Biostimulants on Crops: Their Impact under Abiotic Stress Conditions
Authors: Franzoni Giulia , Cocetta Giacomo , Prinsi Bhakti , Ferrante Antonio , Espen Luca
Published: February 2022

Biostimulants are agronomic tools that have been gaining importance in the reduction of fertilizer applications. They can improve the yield of cropping systems or preventing crop yield losses under abiotic stresses. Biostimulants can be composed of organic and inorganic materials and most of the components are still unknown. The characterization of the molecular mechanism of action of biostimulants can be obtained using the omics approach, which includes the determination of transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic changes in treated plants. This review reports an overview of the biostimulants, taking stock on the recent molecular studies that are contributing to clarify their action mechanisms. The omics studies can provide an overall evaluation of a crop’s response, connecting the molecular changes with the physiological pathways activated and the performance with or without stress conditions. The multiple responses of plants treated with biostimulants must be correlated with the phenotype changes. In this context, it is also crucial to design an adequate experimental plan and statistical data analysis, in order to find robust correlations between biostimulant treatments and crop performance.
Publisher’s Note: We Changed Page Numbers to Article Numbers for Articles Published in Infectious Disease Reports Volume 1 to Volume 12, Issue s1
Authors:   Infectious Disease Reports Editorial Office
Published: February 2022

Infectious Disease Reports [...]
The Association between Gender and Physical Activity Was Partially Mediated by Social Network Size during COVID-19
Authors: Kuzmik Ashley , Liu Yin , Cuffee Yendelela , Kong Lan , Sciamanna Christopher N. , Rovniak Liza S.
Published: February 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted physical activity, particularly among women. Limited research has explored how social network support may explain gender-based variations in physical activity during COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating role of social networks in the association between gender and physical activity during a pandemic. This cross-sectional survey assessed whether social network characteristics (i.e., in-person social network size, frequency of in-person social network interactions, and online friend network size) mediate the relationship between gender and either past-week or past-year physical activity. Multiple mediation analyses were conducted to determine the indirect effect of gender on physical activity through social networks. Among 205 participants, women (n = 129) were significantly less physically active (β = −73.82; p = 0.02) than men (n = 76) and reported significantly more Facebook friends (β = 0.30; p < 0.001) than men, which was inversely associated with past-week physical activity (β = −64.49; p = 0.03). Additionally, the indirect effect of gender on past-week physical activity through Facebook friends was significant (β = −19.13; 95% CI [−40.45, −2.09]). Findings suggest that social media sites such as Facebook could be used to encourage physical activity among women during a pandemic.
Monitoring Coastal Vulnerability by Using DEMs Based on UAV Spatial Data
Authors: Minervino Amodio Antonio , Di Paola Gianluigi , Rosskopf Carmen Maria
Published: February 2022

The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) represents a rather innovative, quick, and low-cost methodological approach offering applications in several fields of investigation. The present study illustrates the developed method using Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) based on UAV-derived data for evaluating short-term morphological-topographic changes of the beach system and related implications for coastal vulnerability assessment. UAV surveys were performed during the summers of 2019 and 2020 along a beach stretch affected by erosion, located along the central Adriatic coast. Acquired high-resolution aerial photos were used to generate large-scale DEMs as well as orthophotos of the beach using the Structure from Motion (SfM) image processing tool. Comparison of the generated 2019 and 2020 DEMs highlighted significant morphological changes and a sediment volume loss of about 780 m3 within a surface area of about 4400 m2. Based on 20 m spaced beach profiles derived from the DEMs, a coastal vulnerability assessment was performed using the CVA approach that highlighted some significant variations in the CVA index between 2019 and 2020. Results evidence that UAV surveys provide high-resolution topographic data, suitable for specific beach monitoring activities and the updating of some parameters that enter in the CVA model contributing to its correct application.
Aquaculture Site Selection of Oncorhynchus Mykiss (Rainbow Trout) in Markazi Province Using GIS-Based MCDM
Authors: Aghmashhadi Amir H. , Azizi Ali , Hoseinkhani Maryam , Zahedi Samaneh , Cirella Giuseppe T.
Published: February 2022

The production of seafood, particularly in areas far from coastlines, makes aquaculture an optional farming alternative. Case research from the semi-arid Markazi province, Iran, is examined as a viable aquaculture location for Oncorhynchus mykiss (rainbow trout). ArcGIS Version 10.6.1 and Super Decision Version 3.2 software are utilized for the zoning and assessment of criteria maps. All criteria, i.e., sub-criteria and limitations, were gathered through the academic literature, qualitative interviews via expert opinion, national data, and guidelines. By imposing constraints on the premier aquatic potential map, the final map of the aquaculture potential of Markazi province was obtained. The results indicated that 40.79% of Markazi province has a high potential for aquaculture development. According to the sensitivity analysis, changes in criterion value (i.e., increase or decrease) in weight corresponded with the rate of change. Aquaculture development would require large-scale investment and make Markazi province a major seafood producer in the region.
Tracking the Molecular Fingerprint of Head and Neck Cancer for Recurrence Detection in Liquid Biopsies
Authors: Diez-Fraile Araceli , De Ceulaer Joke , Derpoorter Charlotte , Spaas Christophe , De Backer Tom , Lamoral Philippe , Abeloos Johan , Lammens Tim
Published: February 2022

The 5-year relative survival for patients with head and neck cancer, the seventh most common form of cancer worldwide, was reported as 67% in developed countries in the second decade of the new millennium. Although surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or combined treatment often elicits an initial satisfactory response, relapses are frequently observed within two years. Current surveillance methods, including clinical exams and imaging evaluations, have not unambiguously demonstrated a survival benefit, most probably due to a lack of sensitivity in detecting very early recurrence. Recently, liquid biopsy monitoring of the molecular fingerprint of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma has been proposed and investigated as a strategy for longitudinal patient care. These innovative methods offer rapid, safe, and highly informative genetic analysis that can identify small tumors not yet visible by advanced imaging techniques, thus potentially shortening the time to treatment and improving survival outcomes. In this review, we provide insights into the available evidence that the molecular tumor fingerprint can be used in the surveillance of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Challenges to overcome, prior to clinical implementation, are also discussed.
The Dynamic Regulation of G-Quadruplex DNA Structures by Cytosine Methylation
Authors: Stevens Aaron John , de Jong Lucy , Kennedy Martin Alexander
Published: February 2022

It is well known that certain non B-DNA structures, including G-quadruplexes, are key elements that can regulate gene expression. Here, we explore the theory that DNA modifications, such as methylation of cytosine, could act as a dynamic switch by promoting or alleviating the structural formation of G-quadruplex structures in DNA or RNA. The interaction between epigenetic DNA modifications, G4 formation, and the 3D architecture of the genome is a complex and developing area of research. Although there is growing evidence for such interactions, a great deal still remains to be discovered. In vivo, the potential effect that cytosine methylation may have on the formation of DNA structures has remained largely unresearched, despite this being a potential mechanism through which epigenetic factors could regulate gene activity. Such interactions could represent novel mechanisms for important biological functions, including altering nucleosome positioning or regulation of gene expression. Furthermore, promotion of strand-specific G-quadruplex formation in differentially methylated genes could have a dynamic role in directing X-inactivation or the control of imprinting, and would be a worthwhile focus for future research.
Signal Transduction during Metabolic and Inflammatory Reprogramming in Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling
Authors: Gomes Marta T. , Bai Yang , Potje Simone R. , Zhang Lu , Lockett Angelia D. , Machado Roberto F.
Published: February 2022

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease characterized by (mal)adaptive remodeling of the pulmonary vasculature, which is associated with inflammation, fibrosis, thrombosis, and neovascularization. Vascular remodeling in PAH is associated with cellular metabolic and inflammatory reprogramming that induce profound endothelial and smooth muscle cell phenotypic changes. Multiple signaling pathways and regulatory loops act on metabolic and inflammatory mediators which influence cellular behavior and trigger pulmonary vascular remodeling in vivo. This review discusses the role of bioenergetic and inflammatory impairments in PAH development.
Structural Characterization and Osseointegrative Properties of Pulsed Laser-Deposited Fluorinated Hydroxyapatite Films on Nano-Zirconia for Implant Applications
Authors: Li Min , Komasa Satoshi , Hontsu Shigeki , Hashimoto Yoshiya , Okazaki Joji
Published: February 2022

Standard zirconia implants used in restoration still present problems related to inertness and long-term stability. Various physicochemical approaches have been used to modify the implant surfaces to improve early and late bone-to-implant integration; however, no ideal surface modification has been reported. This study used pulsed laser deposition to deposit a fluorinated hydroxyapatite (FHA) film on a zirconia implant to create a biologically active surface. The film prepared was uniform, dense, and crack-free, and exhibited granular surface droplets; it also presented excellent mechanical strength and favorable biological behavior. The FHA-coated implant was implanted on the femur of Sprague–Dawley rats, and various tests and analyses were performed. Results show that the in vitro initial cell activity on the FHA-coated samples was enhanced. In addition, higher alkaline phosphatase activity and cell mineralization were detected in cells cultured on the FHA-coated groups. Further, the newly formed bone volume of the FHA-coated group was higher than that of the bare micro-adjusted composite nano-zirconia (NANOZR) group. Therefore, the FHA film facilitated osseointegration and may improve the long-term survival rates of dental implants, and could become part of a new treatment technology for implant surfaces, promoting further optimization of NANOZR implant materials.
Vaccination against Atherosclerosis: Is It Real?
Authors: Poznyak Anastasia V. , Bezsonov Evgeny E. , Popkova Tatyana V. , Starodubova Antonina V. , Orekhov Alexander N.
Published: February 2022

Atherosclerosis has been known in medicine for several centuries. As early as 1755, the Swedish anatomist Albrecht von Haller used the term “atheroma” to describe vascular lesions. Atherosclerosis may originate from an unbalanced diet or bad habits, and is mainly found in developed countries. Clinical trials have been conducted to establish the causes of atherosclerosis, and also to develop treatments for this disease. However, prevention of the disease has always been better than treatment, so vaccination may be the key to saving thousands of lives. The creation of a vaccine may be directly related to the study of autoimmune processes occurring in the body, immunity. This review considers the issues related to the involvement of the immune response in the development of atherosclerotic lesions. Modern concepts of atherogenesis, immune inflammation in atherosclerosis, and potential vaccine targets are also discussed. There is a particular focus on experimental and clinical data supporting the development of immune therapies to reduce cardiovascular risk.
JAK2-Mediated Phosphorylation of Stress-Induced Phosphoprotein-1 (STIP1) in Human Cells
Authors: Chao Angel , Liao Min-Jie , Chen Shun-Hua , Lee Yun-Shien , Tsai Chi-Neu , Lin Chiao-Yun , Tsai Chia-Lung
Published: February 2022

Stress-induced phosphoprotein-1 (STIP1)—a heat shock protein (HSP)70/HSP90 adaptor protein—is commonly overexpressed in malignant cells, where it controls proliferation via multiple signaling pathways, including JAK2/STAT3. We have previously shown that STIP1 stabilizes the protein tyrosine kinase JAK2 in cancer cells via HSP90 binding. In this study, we demonstrate that STIP1 may act as a substrate for JAK2 and that phosphorylation of tyrosine residues 134 and 152 promoted STIP1 protein stability, induced its nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling, and promoted its secretion into the extracellular space. We also found that JAK2-mediated STIP1 phosphorylation enhanced cell viability and increased resistance to cisplatin-induced cell death. Conversely, interference STIP1 with JAK2 interaction—attained either through site-directed mutagenesis or the use of cell-penetrating peptides—decreased JAK2 protein levels, ultimately leading to cell death. On analyzing human ovarian cancer specimens, JAK2 and STIP1 expression levels were found to be positively correlated with each other. Collectively, these results indicate that JAK2-mediated phosphorylation of STIP-1 is critical for sustaining the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in cancer cells.
The Sister Chromatid Division of the Heteromorphic Sex Chromosomes in Silene Species and Their Transmissibility towards the Mitosis
Authors: Bačovský Václav , Janíček Tomáš , Hobza Roman
Published: February 2022

Young sex chromosomes possess unique and ongoing dynamics that allow us to understand processes that have an impact on their evolution and divergence. The genus Silene includes species with evolutionarily young sex chromosomes, and two species of section Melandrium, namely Silene latifolia (24, XY) and Silene dioica (24, XY), are well-established models of sex chromosome evolution, Y chromosome degeneration, and sex determination. In both species, the X and Y chromosomes are strongly heteromorphic and differ in the genomic composition compared to the autosomes. It is generally accepted that for proper cell division, the longest chromosomal arm must not exceed half of the average length of the spindle axis at telophase. Yet, it is not clear what are the dynamics between males and females during mitosis and how the cell compensates for the presence of the large Y chromosome in one sex. Using hydroxyurea cell synchronization and 2D/3D microscopy, we determined the position of the sex chromosomes during the mitotic cell cycle and determined the upper limit for the expansion of sex chromosome non-recombining region. Using 3D specimen preparations, we found that the velocity of the large chromosomes is compensated by the distant positioning from the central interpolar axis, confirming previous mathematical modulations.
The Platelet Collagen Receptor GPVI Is Cleaved by Tspan15/ADAM10 and Tspan33/ADAM10 Molecular Scissors
Authors: Koo Chek Ziu , Matthews Alexandra L. , Harrison Neale , Szyroka Justyna , Nieswandt Bernhard , Gardiner Elizabeth E. , Poulter Natalie S. , Tomlinson Michael G.
Published: February 2022

The platelet-activating collagen receptor GPVI represents the focus of clinical trials as an antiplatelet target for arterial thrombosis, and soluble GPVI is a plasma biomarker for several human diseases. A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10) acts as a ‘molecular scissor’ that cleaves the extracellular region from GPVI and many other substrates. ADAM10 interacts with six regulatory tetraspanin membrane proteins, Tspan5, Tspan10, Tspan14, Tspan15, Tspan17 and Tspan33, which are collectively termed the TspanC8s. These are emerging as regulators of ADAM10 substrate specificity. Human platelets express Tspan14, Tspan15 and Tspan33, but which of these regulates GPVI cleavage remains unknown. To address this, CRISPR/Cas9 knockout human cell lines were generated to show that Tspan15 and Tspan33 enact compensatory roles in GPVI cleavage, with Tspan15 bearing the more important role. To investigate this mechanism, a series of Tspan15 and GPVI mutant expression constructs were designed. The Tspan15 extracellular region was found to be critical in promoting GPVI cleavage, and appeared to achieve this by enabling ADAM10 to access the cleavage site at a particular distance above the membrane. These findings bear implications for the regulation of cleavage of other ADAM10 substrates, and provide new insights into post-translational regulation of the clinically relevant GPVI protein.
Pathogenetic Mechanisms of Hypertension–Brain-Induced Complications: Focus on Molecular Mediators
Authors: Di Chiara Tiziana , Del Cuore Alessandro , Daidone Mario , Scaglione Stefania , Norrito Rosario Luca , Puleo Maria Grazia , Scaglione Rosario , Pinto Antonio , Tuttolomondo Antonino
Published: February 2022

There is growing evidence that hypertension is the most important vascular risk factor for the development and progression of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The brain is an early target of hypertension-induced organ damage and may manifest as stroke, subclinical cerebrovascular abnormalities and cognitive decline. The pathophysiological mechanisms of these harmful effects remain to be completely clarified. Hypertension is well known to alter the structure and function of cerebral blood vessels not only through its haemodynamics effects but also for its relationships with endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress and inflammation. In the last several years, new possible mechanisms have been suggested to recognize the molecular basis of these pathological events. Accordingly, this review summarizes the factors involved in hypertension-induced brain complications, such as haemodynamic factors, endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress, inflammation and intervention of innate immune system, with particular regard to the role of Toll-like receptors that have to be considered dominant components of the innate immune system. The complete definition of their prognostic role in the development and progression of hypertensive brain damage will be of great help in the identification of new markers of vascular damage and the implementation of innovative targeted therapeutic strategies.
Baroreceptors in the Aortic Arch and Their Potential Role in Aortic Dissection and Aneurysms
Authors: Reutersberg Benedikt , Pelisek Jaroslav , Ouda Ahmed , de Rougemont Olivier , Rössler Fabian , Zimmermann Alexander
Published: February 2022

The arterial baroreflex is a key autonomic regulator of blood pressure whose dysfunction has been related to several cardiovascular diseases. Changes in blood pressure are sensed by specific mechanosensory proteins, called baroreceptors, particularly located in the outer layer of the carotid sinus and the inner curvature of the aortic arch. The signal is propagated along the afferent nerves to the central nervous system and serves as negative feedback of the heart rate. Despite extensive research, the precise molecular nature of baroreceptors remains elusive. Current knowledge assumes that baroreceptors are ion channels at the nerve endings within the outer layer of the arteries. However, the evidence is based mainly on animal experiments, and the specific types of mechanosensitive receptors responsible for the signal transduction are still unknown. Only a few studies have investigated mechanosensory transmission in the aortic arch. In addition, although aortic dissection, and particularly type A involving the aortic arch, is one of the most life-threatening cardiovascular disorders, there is no knowledge about the impact of aortic dissection on baroreceptor function. In this review, we aim not to highlight the regulation of the heart rate but what mechanical stimuli and what possible ion channels transfer the corresponding signal within the aortic arch, summarizing and updating the current knowledge about baroreceptors, specifically in the aortic arch, and the impact of aortic pathologies on their function.
Affection of Respiratory Muscles in ALS and SMA
Authors: Hermann Wiebke , Langner Simona , Freigang Maren , Fischer Stefanie , Storch Alexander , Günther René , Hermann Andreas
Published: February 2022

Respiratory dysfunction is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in motor neuron disease (MND). However, classical volitional measures of respiratory function in these patients are impeded by, e.g., bulbar paralysis or progressive disability. Diaphragm ultrasound imaging might be a valuable tool for assessing respiratory impairment, albeit different ultrasound measures have not been systematically investigated in adult MND patients and, in particular, have not yet been comparatively applied in adult patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). We hypothesized that in contrast to ALS patients, adult SMA patients show a relative sparing of diaphragm function. We retrospectively analyzed diaphragm ultrasound imaging data of 40 patients with ALS and 23 patients with SMA in comparison to a multitude of established parameters of respiratory function. Indeed, ALS patients showed more severe diaphragm dysfunction than adult SMA patients, however, diaphragm dysfunction was also common in adult SMA patients. Notably, dynamic measures of diaphragm function rather than thickness measures were impaired in ALS compared to SMA. Thus, diaphragm ultrasound imaging might be a useful tool to evaluate respiratory dysfunction in adult MND patients. Future larger and prospective studies are needed to validate our initial findings.
KD Diagnosis Does Not Increase Cardiovascular Risk in Children According to Dynamic Intima–Media Roughness Measurements
Authors: König Miriam , Ullmann Theresa , Pastor-Villaescusa Belén , Dalla-Pozza Robert , Bohlig Sarah , Schmidt-Trucksäss Arno , Pattathu Joseph , Haas Nikolaus A. , Jakob André
Published: February 2022

Background: Kawasaki Disease (KD) is a generalized vasculitis in childhood with possible long-term impact on cardiovascular health besides the presence of coronary artery lesions. Standard vascular parameters such as carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT) have not been established as reliable markers of vascular anomalies after KD. The carotid intima–media roughness (cIMR) representing carotid intimal surface structure is considered a promising surrogate marker for predicting cardiovascular risk even beyond cIMT. We therefore measured cIMR in patients with a history of KD in comparison to healthy controls to investigate whether KD itself and/or KD key clinical aspects are associated with cIMR alterations in the long-term. Methods: We assessed cIMR in this case-control study (44 KD, mean age in years (SD); 13.4 (7.5); 36 controls, mean age 12.1 (5.3)) approximately matched by sex and age. Different clinical outcomes such as the coronary artery status and acute phase inflammation data were analyzed in association with cIMR values. Results: When comparing all patients with KD to healthy controls, we detected no significant difference in cIMR. None of the clinical parameters indicating the disease severity, such as the persistence of coronary artery aneurysm, were significantly associated with our cIMR values. However, according to our marginally significant findings (p = 0.044), we postulate that the end-diastolic cIMR may be rougher than the end-systolic values in KD patients. Conclusions: We detected no significant differences in cIMR between KD patients and controls that could confirm any evidence that KD predisposes patients to a subsequent general arteriopathy. Our results, however, need to be interpreted in the light of the low number of study participants.
Editorial for the Special Issue on Bioceramic Composites
Authors: Piconi Corrado , Sprio Simone
Published: February 2022

This Special Issue on bioceramic composites and its published papers, addressing a number of current topics from industry and academia, are intended to be a reference for students and scholars in the field of biomaterials science, giving an insight into challenges and research topics in the field bioceramic composites [...]
Vessel Deployment and De-Hubbing in Maritime Networks: A Case Study on Colombo Port and Its Feeder Market
Authors: Kawasaki Tomoya , Tagawa Hoshi , Kavirathna Chathumi Ayanthi
Published: February 2022

Generally, vessels are deployed as hub-and-spoke networks to achieve high slot utilization and cost efficiency for shipping lines in global maritime container shipping networks. At the Port of Colombo, most transhipment containers originate from and are destined for Indian ports, the export/import container volume of which has been rapidly increasing, and Indian ports have been developed to accommodate vessel enlargement. In such circumstances, the partial or complete abandonment of a hub (Colombo port) in this region is expected, which is known as “de-hubbing.” This study aims to clarify the impact of port developments and an increase in container cargo demand from the source country on maritime network selection from the perspective of shipping lines. We develop a mixed integer linear programming model to describe vessel deployment, including transhipment via the Colombo port and direct shipment in Indian ports. As a result of the analysis, the number of direct services to Indian ports is expected to increase when the cargo demand of Indian ports increases and the port development of Indian ports is conducted. The progress of the de-hubbing phenomenon decreases vessel size at Colombo port because the container demand at Indian ports is mostly satisfied by newly deployed trunk lines to Indian ports. This study suggests that if Colombo port expects to maintain its hub status, it is critical to consider various other incentives to attract and retain mainline carriers in addition to expanding its port infrastructure. Similarly, if India expects to receive direct calls from mainlines, it is important not only to develop their port infrastructure but also to increase their cargo demand.
Use of 1D Unsteady HEC-RAS in a Coupled System for Compound Flood Modeling: North Carolina Case Study
Authors: Bush Samuel T. , Dresback Kendra M. , Szpilka Christine M. , Kolar Randall L.
Published: February 2022

The research presented herein develops and compares an ADCIRC and ADCIRC/HEC-RAS (1D) paired model for the purpose of compound flood modeling within the Tar River and Pamlico Sound basins of North Carolina. Both the ADCIRC and 1D HEC-RAS models are capable of simulating river systems but differ in their underlying numerical formulations. A case-study comparison of each model’s ability to simulate flooding accurately and quickly in a riverine/estuarine system is investigated herein; results may serve as a valuable reference to forecasters and model developers. Individual models of the Tar River and Pamlico Sound area in North Carolina were used, and pairings of these models were devised to determine the benefits and drawbacks of using ADCIRC alone, or ADCIRC + 1D HEC-RAS, to simulate the response of the Tar River and Pamlico Sound during three test events: Hurricane Irene, Hurricane Floyd, and an unnamed April 2003 event. With increased emphasis on predicting total water levels, the results of this study can provide information for the possible development of similarly paired models for coastal river systems across the US and improve the body of knowledge about each model’s relative performance in riverine and estuarine areas.
Experimental Investigation on the Characteristic of Hydrodynamic-Acoustic Cavitation (HAC)
Authors: Yuan Miao , Kang Yong , Shi Hanqing , Li Dezheng , Li Hongchao
Published: February 2022

This study aimed to investigate the Cavitation dynamics of Hydrodynamic-acoustic cavitation by employing experimental methods. The spatial distribution of cavitation clouds, the temporal and spatial distribution achieved by cavitation clouds, and the main flow structure in the flow field were extracted and analyzed by complying with the cavitating flow image captured with the high-speed camera. As indicated from the results, the widened cavitation region and the strength of cavitation under the synergy of ultrasound were reported. When the inlet pressure is 2 MPa, the average value of the volume-averaging cavitation intensity variable is 0.029, 0.058, and 0.092, respectively, and the corresponding growth rate is 95% and 58.5%. By adopting the Proper Orthogonal Decomposition method (POD), the ultrasound was revealed to primarily enhance the cavitation intensity by downregulating the cavitation threshold other than altering the large-scale vortex structure in the flow field. The high-frequency pressure pulsation of ultrasound strengthened the instability exhibited by the shear layer and induced small-scale vortex structures at the shear layer, which was suggested to be the more violently shed and collapse.
Different Responses in Vascular Traits between Dutch Elm Hybrids with a Contrasting Tolerance to Dutch Elm Disease
Authors: Moravčík Michal , Mamoňová Miroslava , Račko Vladimír , Kováč Ján , Dvořák Miloň , Krajňáková Jana , Ďurkovič Jaroslav
Published: February 2022

The ascomycetous fungus Ophiostoma novo-ulmi is the causative agent of the current Dutch elm disease (DED) pandemic, which has ravaged many tens of millions of European and North American elm trees. Host responses in vascular traits were studied in two Dutch elm hybrids, ‘Groeneveld’ and ‘Dodoens’, which show different vascular architecture in the secondary xylem and possess contrasting tolerances to DED. ‘Groeneveld’ trees, sensitive to DED, possessed a high number of small earlywood vessels. However, these trees showed a poor response to DED infection for the earlywood vascular characteristics. Following infection, the proportion of least vessels with a vessel lumen area less than 2500 µm2 decreased from 65.4% down to 53.2%. A delayed response in the increasing density of vessels showing a reduced size in the latewood prevented neither the rapid fungal spread nor the massive colonisation of the secondary xylem tissues resulting in the death of the infected trees. ‘Dodoens’ trees, tolerant to DED, possessed a low number of large earlywood vessels and showed a prominent and fast response to DED infection. Vessel lumen areas of newly formed earlywood vessels were severely reduced together with the vessel size : number ratio. Following infection, the proportion of least vessels with a vessel lumen area less than 2500 µm2 increased from 75.6% up to 92.9%. A trend in the increasing density of vessels showing a reduced size was maintained not only in the latewood that was formed in the year of infection but also in the earlywood that was formed in the consecutive year. The occurrence of fungal hyphae in the earlywood vessels that were formed a year following the infection was severely restricted, as revealed by X-ray micro-computed tomography imaging. Possible reasons responsible for a contrasting survival of ‘Groeneveld’ and ‘Dodoens’ trees are discussed.
Neotropical Studies on Hymenochaetaceae: Unveiling the Diversity and Endemicity of Phellinotus
Authors: Salvador-Montoya Carlos A. , Elias Samuel G. , Popoff Orlando F. , Robledo Gerardo L. , Urcelay Carlos , Góes-Neto Aristóteles , Martínez Sebastián , Drechsler-Santos Elisandro R.
Published: February 2022

Phellinotus, a neotropical genus of wood-decay fungi commonly found on living members of the Fabaceae family, was initially described as containing two species, P. neoaridus and P. piptadeniae. The members of this genus, along with six other well-established genera and some unresolved lineages, are the current representatives of the ‘phellinotus clade’. On the other hand, based on a two-loci phylogenetic analysis, some entities/lineages of the ‘phellinotus clade’ have been found in Fomitiporella s.l. In this work, we performed four-loci phylogenetic analyses and based on our results the genera of the ‘phellinotus clade’ are shown to be monophyletic groups. In addition to the natural groups confirmed as different genera, morphological revisions, phylogenetic relationships, and host distribution of different specimens resembling P. neoaridus and P. piptadeniae revealed three new species in the Phellinotus genus, referred to here as P. magnoporatus, P. teixeirae and P. xerophyticus. Furthermore, for P. piptadeniae a narrower species concept was adopted with redefined morphological characters and a more limited distribution range. Both P. neoaridus and P. teixeirae have a distribution range restricted to seasonally dry tropical forests in South America. Additionally, based on detailed morphological revisions Phellinus badius, Phellinus resinaceus, and Phellinus scaber are transferred to the Phellinotus genus. The geographic distribution and host range of the genus are then discussed.
Soil Organic Carbon Isotope Tracing in Sorghum under Ambient CO2 and Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE)
Authors: Leavitt Steven , Cheng Li , Williams David , Brooks Talbot , Kimball Bruce , Pinter Paul , Wall Gerard , Ottman Michael , Matthias Allan , Paul Eldor , Thompson Thomas , Adam Neal
Published: February 2022

As atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, [CO2Air], continue their uncontrolled rise, the capacity of soils to accumulate or retain carbon is uncertain. Free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) experiments have been conducted to better understand the plant, soil and ecosystem response to elevated [CO2], frequently employing commercial CO2 that imparts a distinct isotopic signal to the system for tracing carbon. We conducted a FACE experiment in 1998 and 1999, whereby sorghum (C4 photosynthetic pathway) was grown in four replicates of four treatments using a split-strip plot design: (i) ambient CO2/ample water (365 μmol mol−1, “Control–Wet”), (ii) ambient CO2/water stress (“Control–Dry”), (iii) CO2-enriched (560 μmol mol−1, “FACE–Wet”), and (iv) CO2-enriched/water stressed (“FACE–Dry”). The stable-carbon isotope composition of the added CO2 (in FACE treatments) was close to that of free atmosphere background values, so the subsequent similar 13C-enriched carbon signal photosynthetically fixed by C4 sorghum plants could be used to trace the fate of carbon in both FACE and control treatments. Measurement of soil organic carbon content (SOC (%) = gC/gdry soil × 100%) and δ13C at three depths (0–15, 15–30, and 30–60 cm) were made on soils from the beginning and end of the two experimental growing seasons. A progressive ca. 0.5‰–1.0‰ δ13C increase in the upper soil SOC in all treatments over the course of the experiment indicated common entry of new sorghum carbon into the SOC pools. The 0–15 cm SOC in FACE treatments was 13C-enriched relative to the Control by ca. 1‰, and according to isotopic mass balance, the fraction of the new sorghum-derived SOC in the Control–Wet treatment at the end of the second season was 8.4%, 14.2% in FACE–Wet, 6.5% in Control–Dry, and 14.2% in FACE–Dry. The net SOC enhancement resulting from CO2 enrichment was therefore 5.8% (or 2.9% y−1 of experiment) under ample water and 7.7% (3.8% y−1 of experiment) under limited water, which matches the pattern of greater aboveground biomass increase with elevated [CO2Air] under the Dry treatment, but no parallel isotopic shifts were found in deeper soils. However, these increased fractions of new carbon in SOC at the end of the experiment do not necessarily mean an increase in total SOC content, because gravimetric measurements of SOC did not reveal a significant increase under elevated [CO2Air], at least within the limits of SOC-content error bars. Thus, new carbon gains might be offset by pre-experiment carbon losses. The results demonstrate successful isotopic tracing of carbon from plants to soils in this sorghum FACE experiment showing differences between FACE and Control treatments, which suggest more dynamic cycling of SOC under elevated [CO2Air] than in the Control treatment.
Are We Indeed So Illuded? Recency and Frequency Illusions in Dutch Prescriptivism
Authors: van der Meulen Marten
Published: February 2022

In 2005, Arnold Zwicky posited two misapprehensions about language: the Recency Illusion, or the false idea that certain language variation is new, and the Frequency Illusion, the erroneous belief that a particular word or phrase occurs often. Since their conception, these concepts have received widespread attention in popular scientific linguistics, but quantitative research investigating their application is scarce. The purpose of this paper is to provide an empirical investigation of Zwicky’s proposed illusions. It does so by collecting statements about recency (‘this word is new’) and frequency (‘this construction occurs often’) from a database of Dutch prescriptive publications (1900–2018). I assessed their accuracy by comparing them to linguistic sources, including dictionaries, and usage corpora and other data. Our research showed that recency statements were rare, but that frequency statements, especially using high frequency terms such as vaak (‘often’), were commonplace. Compared to usage, most prescriptive recency and frequency statements for both lexis and grammar indeed constituted Zwickian illusions. This seems partly due to genuine erroneous or unsupported beliefs by authors, but also partly to prescriptive genre conventions and rhetorical choices. Our explorative research highlights the complex usage–prescriptivism interface, and argues for more research into this aspect of language perceptions.
The Jargon of Italian Travellers in Change: A New Social Scenario for Relexification
Authors: Tribulato Chiara
Published: February 2022

The present research paper explores the effects of relexification in the context of an in-group jargon variety. Specifically, it addresses the role of Romani as a supplier language in the process of lexical renewal that is ongoing in Dritto—the jargon of the Italian Travellers. Considered the most ancient descendant of the Italian historical jargon of the Roads, Dritto is a secret code which is still actively used within some socially marginalized service-provider communities, such as the families involved in the circus and the travelling show business. At the margins of the mainstream society, the families of Dritti entertainers share their living and economic spaces with the families of Italian Sinti, whose presence has been documented in Italy for centuries. As a consequence of this intense and prolonged cohabitation, Romani elements have always been documented in the corpora of Italian historical jargon. However, a considerably more significant contribution has recently been documented by researchers among the funfair workers in northern Italy. This work examines the driving factors behind this contact-induced shift by considering the changing socio-economic context faced by the travelling community in the last decades.
Method for Adjusting Torsional Natural Frequencies of Powertrains with Novel Coupling Design
Authors: Kinnunen Kalle , Laine Sampo , Tiainen Tuomas , Viitala Raine
Published: February 2022

Torsional vibrations are inherently present in every rotating powertrain. In resonant conditions, torsional vibrations can be significantly amplified. A typical method to reduce the torsional vibration particularly at resonance is to modify the torsional natural frequencies with the component design. Commonly, a straightforward method for the modification is the adjustment of the torsional stiffness of a coupling. This study presents a method to modify the torsional natural frequencies using a coupling design with continuously adjustable torsional stiffness. The presented coupling design is investigated with torsional analysis and experimental measurements. Torsional analysis was utilized to predict the effects of varying the coupling stiffness to the torsional natural frequencies of a powertrain. The experimental measurements were conducted by attaching the adjustable stiffness coupling to the powertrain and measuring the change in the torsional natural frequencies while the torsional stiffness of the coupling was adjusted. The torsional natural frequencies were determined from the measurements by identifying the resonance induced torsional vibrations from the vibration response of the powertrain. The torsional vibrations were excited to the system by a load motor. The measurements showed that the first torsional natural frequency of the powertrain changed from 15.6 Hz to 43.0 Hz as the torsional stiffness of the coupling was adjusted. The results of the torsional analysis and the experimental measurements were compared to determine the performance of the realized coupling. The results indicated that the torsional natural frequencies determined by torsional analysis agree well with the experimentally measured results. The prediction errors were generally below ±5%, which is typically considered as a margin for accurate torsional analysis.