bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing a Cancer Digital Twin: Supervised Metastases Detection From Consecutive Structured Radiology Reports
Authors: Batch Karen E. , Yue Jianwei , Darcovich Alex , Lupton Kaelan , Liu Corinne C. , Woodlock David P. , El Amine Mohammad Ali K. , Causa-Andrieu Pamela I. , Gazit Lior , Nguyen Gary H. , Zulkernine Farhana , Do Richard K. G. , Simpson Amber L.
Published: March 2022

The development of digital cancer twins relies on the capture of high-resolution representations of individual cancer patients throughout the course of their treatment. Our research aims to improve the detection of metastatic disease over time from structured radiology reports by exposing prediction models to historical information. We demonstrate that Natural language processing (NLP) can generate better weak labels for semi-supervised classification of computed tomography (CT) reports when it is exposed to consecutive reports through a patient's treatment history. Around 714,454 structured radiology reports from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center adhering to a standardized departmental structured template were used for model development with a subset of the reports included for validation. To develop the models, a subset of the reports was curated for ground-truth: 7,732 total reports in the lung metastases dataset from 867 individual patients; 2,777 reports in the liver metastases dataset from 315 patients; and 4,107 reports in the adrenal metastases dataset from 404 patients. We use NLP to extract and encode important features from the structured text reports, which are then used to develop, train, and validate models. Three models—a simple convolutional neural network (CNN), a CNN augmented with an attention layer, and a recurrent neural network (RNN)—were developed to classify the type of metastatic disease and validated against the ground truth labels. The models use features from consecutive structured text radiology reports of a patient to predict the presence of metastatic disease in the reports. A single-report model, previously developed to analyze one report instead of multiple past reports, is included and the results from all four models are compared based on accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score. The best model is used to label all 714,454 reports to generate metastases maps. Our results suggest that NLP models can extract cancer progression patterns from multiple consecutive reports and predict the presence of metastatic disease in multiple organs with higher performance when compared with a single-report-based prediction. It demonstrates a promising automated approach to label large numbers of radiology reports without involving human experts in a time- and cost-effective manner and enables tracking of cancer progression over time.
CW Doppler Radar as Occupancy Sensor: A Comparison of Different Detection Strategies
Authors: Gennarelli Gianluca , Colonna Vittorio Emanuele , Noviello Carlo , Perna Stefano , Soldovieri Francesco , Catapano Ilaria
Published: March 2022

Indoor occupancy sensing is a crucial problem in several application fields that have progressed from intrusion detection systems to automatic control of lighting, heating, air conditioning and many other presence-related loads. Continuous wave Doppler radar is a simple technology to face this problem due to its capability to detect human body movements (e.g., walk, run) and small chest wall vibrations associated to the cardiorespiratory activity. This work deals with a radar prototype operating at 2.4 GHz as a real-time occupancy sensor. The emphasis is on data processing approaches devoted to extract useful information from raw radar signal. Three different strategies, designed to detect human presence in indoor environments, are considered and the main goal is the assessment and comparison of their performance against experimental data collected in controlled conditions. The first strategy is based on the analysis of the standard deviation of the radar signal in time-domain; whereas the second one exploits the histogram of the time-varying signal amplitude. Finally, a third strategy based on an energy measure of the received signal Doppler spectrum is considered. The proposed detection algorithms are optimized through a set of calibration measurements and their performances and robustness are assessed by laboratory trials.
From Policy to Practice: Measures Against Sexual Abuse by Swedish Sports Federations
Authors: Johansson Susanne
Published: March 2022

The sport movement must protect children and young athletes from all forms of abuse. However, research points to a disconnect between policy and implementation of policy against sexual abuse. No studies have investigated measures against sexual abuse in Swedish sport. The purpose of this study was to explore measures against sexual abuse in the 10 largest sports federations (SFs) for child and youth sport in Sweden. The study draws on interviews with representatives (n = 18) of the SFs and on a review of SFs' website content regarding sexual abuse and safe sport. Results show that the SFs have taken few or no measures against sexual abuse. Measures for safe sports vary in existence, development, and organization between the SFs, and many SFs are in the early stages of safe sport measures and practice. Although the SF representatives emphasize that sexual abuse is unacceptable, a conflict between making it visible or invisible emerges and creates a gap between policy and practice. Reproducing a culture of silence around sexual abuse in sports seems advantageously for SFs. Social and organizational factors that can debilitate safe sport measures and facilitate sexual abuse in sport are discussed.
The Impacts of Black Soldier Fly Frass on Nitrogen Availability, Microbial Activities, C Sequestration, and Plant Growth
Authors: Gebremikael Mesfin T. , Wickeren Niklas van , Hosseini Pezhman S. , De Neve Stefaan
Published: March 2022

Using insects, notably black soldier fly (BSF), is becoming one of the emerging technologies to valorize agrifood waste into high-value products, such as proteins for animal feed. Its market is expected to grow more rapidly following the new European legislation extending larvae protein use in poultry farming. The anticipated increase in larvae protein also results in a parallel increase in frass, a residue leftover after rearing the larvae and selling as a biofertilizer. Little is known about the impacts of frass made from different feedstocks used for raising the larvae on plant growth and soil quality. We set up an incubation and pot experiment to understand their effect on plant growth and soil quality and tested seven frass fertilizers made from various types of food waste and anaerobic digestate and potato pulp as reference materials using maize as a test plant. We found that the effect of frass on N availability and soil microbial quality significantly (p < 0.05) varied depending on the feedstock used for rearing the BSF larvae. N immobilization occurred up to more than 70 days, and 4–20% net N was released at the end of the 103-day-long experiment. In line with N availability dynamics, most of the frass treatments did not significantly increase the plant growth. All frasses significantly increased the microbial biomass C and enzyme activities. About 56–70% of the applied C in frass is estimated to be stable in the soil. Our data confirm that frass is a valuable product to improve soil quality but need to be applied with N sources that are readily available to avoid nutrient shortage during plant growth.
Case Report: Primary Indolent Epstein-Barr Virus-Positive T-Cell Lymphoproliferative Disease Involving the Central Nervous System
Authors: Wang Kun , Li Jinjian , Zhou Xuehui , Lv Junhui , Wang Yirong , Li Xinwei
Published: March 2022

Background

T-cell lymphoproliferative disease (T-LPD), characterized by primary Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection and clonal proliferation of T cells, occurs both in systemic and non-lymphatic organs. However, isolated indolent EBV-positive T-LPD involving the central nervous system has not been reported.

Case Presentation

A 48-year-old male who complained of headache, blurred vision, and weakness of the left lower limb for 1 month was hospitalized in our department. Neither neurological deficit nor palpable lymphadenopathy had been found. Bone marrow and laboratory tests had shown no abnormality as well. Enhanced MRI demonstrated enhanced cotton-like lesions up to 20 mm in diameter located in the right frontal, temporal, parietal and left parietal, occipital lobes with perifocal edema. Neuronavigation-assisted mini-craniotomy was performed to achieve total excision of the right temporal superficial lesion and identify the diagnosis. Pathological and EBV analysis described the lesion as indolent EBV-positive T-cell lymphoproliferative disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Then, a therapeutic regimen including whole-brain irradiation, chemotherapy, prednisolone, and aciclovir was given. Serial radiological imaging showed no signal of recurrence at 5 months' follow-up.

Conclusion

Primary indolent T-LPD in the central nervous system is quite rare, and it needs to be distinguished from aggressive cerebral T-cell lymphoma, metastatic tumors, and other CNS lesions.
Temporal and Spatial Characterization of Mononuclear Phagocytes in Circulating, Pulmonary Alveolar, and Interstitial Compartments in LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury
Authors: Li Qi , Xiang Guoan , Peng Shouchun , Ji Wenjie
Published: March 2022

Peripheral circulating monocytes and resident macrophages are heterogeneous effector cells that play a critical role in the maintenance and restoration of pulmonary integrity. However, their detailed dynamic changes in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) remain unclear. Here, we investigated the impact of mononuclear phagocyte cells in the development of LPS-induced ALI/Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and described the relations between the dynamic phenotypic changes and pulmonary pathological evolution. In this study, mice were divided into two groups and intraperitoneally injected with normal saline (NS) or LPS, respectively. A series of flow cytometry assay was performed for the quantification of peripheral circulating monocyte subpopulations, detection of the polarization state of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF)-isolated alveolar macrophages (AMϕ) and pulmonary interstitial macrophages (IMϕ) separated from lung tissues. Circulating Ly6Clo monocytes expanded rapidly after the LPS challenge on day 1 and then decreased to day 7, while Ly6Chi monocytes gradually increased and returned to normal level on the 7th day. Furthermore, the expansion of M2-like AMϕ (CD64+CD206+) was peaked on day 1 and remained high on the third day, while the polarization state of IMϕ (CD64+ CD11b+) was not influenced by the LPS challenge at all the time points. Taken together, our findings show that Ly6Clo monocytes and M2-like AMϕ form the major peripheral circulation and pulmonary immune cell populations, respectively. The dynamic changes of mononuclear phagocyte in three compartments after the LPS challenge may provide novel protective strategies for mononuclear phagocytes.
Scientific Validation of Human Neurosphere Assays for Developmental Neurotoxicity Evaluation
Authors: Koch Katharina , Bartmann Kristina , Hartmann Julia , Kapr Julia , Klose Jördis , Kuchovská Eliška , Pahl Melanie , Schlüppmann Kevin , Zühr Etta , Fritsche Ellen
Published: March 2022

There is a call for a paradigm shift in developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) evaluation, which demands the implementation of faster, more cost-efficient, and human-relevant test systems than current in vivo guideline studies. Under the umbrella of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a guidance document is currently being prepared that instructs on the regulatory use of a DNT in vitro battery (DNT IVB) for fit-for-purpose applications. One crucial issue for OECD application of methods is validation, which for new approach methods (NAMs) requires novel approaches. Here, mechanistic information previously identified in vivo, as well as reported neurodevelopmental adversities in response to disturbances on the cellular and tissue level, are of central importance. In this study, we scientifically validate the Neurosphere Assay, which is based on human primary neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) and an integral part of the DNT IVB. It assesses neurodevelopmental key events (KEs) like NPC proliferation (NPC1ab), radial glia cell migration (NPC2a), neuronal differentiation (NPC3), neurite outgrowth (NPC4), oligodendrocyte differentiation (NPC5), and thyroid hormone-dependent oligodendrocyte maturation (NPC6). In addition, we extend our work from the hNPCs to human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived NPCs (hiNPCs) for the NPC proliferation (iNPC1ab) and radial glia assays (iNPC2a). The validation process we report for the endpoints studied with the Neurosphere Assays is based on 1) describing the relevance of the respective endpoints for brain development, 2) the confirmation of the cell type-specific morphologies observed in vitro, 3) expressions of cell type-specific markers consistent with those morphologies, 4) appropriate anticipated responses to physiological pertinent signaling stimuli and 5) alterations in specific in vitro endpoints upon challenges with confirmed DNT compounds. With these strong mechanistic underpinnings, we posit that the Neurosphere Assay as an integral part of the DNT in vitro screening battery is well poised for DNT evaluation for regulatory purposes.
Efectividad del Feedback Formal en Salud Mental Comunitaria en España: un Estudio Clínico Aleatorizado
Authors: Sánchez-Rotger Pau , Martínez-Alés Gonzalo , Martí-Esquitino Jesús , Bravo-Ortiz María Fe
Published: March 2022

Objetivo: evaluar la efectividad de la introducción del instrumento de feedback formal PCOMS en psicoterapia en el sistema nacional de salud español.

Método: se trató de un estudio clínico aleatorizado y controlado simple ciego en cuatro centros de salud mental y atención primaria del Hospital Universitario La Paz, España. Los pacientes asignados al grupo experimental completaron junto con su terapeuta las medidas del instrumento PCOMS durante cada sesión, mientras que los pacientes asignados al grupo control recibieron el tratamiento habitual. Un total de 58 pacientes completaron el estudio. La variable principal fue el resultado terapéutico, medida a través de la escala ORS. Las variables secundarias fueron la sintomatología, a través de la escala GSI (SCL-90), satisfacción, a través de la escala CRES-4, y abandono prematuro.

Resultado: se encontraron diferencias entre el grupo experimental y control en el resultado terapéutico. El número necesario a tratar indicó que por cada siete pacientes tratados en la condición experimental se evitaría el empeoramiento o estancamiento de un paciente. No se obtuvieron diferencias en sintomatología, satisfacción o abandono prematuro.

Conclusiones: el instrumento PCOMS puede incrementar la efectividad de la psicoterapia en contextos de salud mental del sistema nacional de salud español.
Psicoterapia Psicodinámica y Psicoterapia De Grupo: Conceptos e Intervenciones Terapéuticas
Authors: Rodríguez-Zafra Mónica , Gil Escudero Guillermo
Published: March 2022

Este trabajo describe en primer lugar los rasgos esenciales de la psicoterapia psicodinámica de grupo. Su fundamento se encuentra en la utilización de, al menos, algunas ideas básicas del psicoanálisis y técnicas de intervención específicas, así como en la creación de un ambiente propicio para fomentar el autoconocimiento, la reflexión y los cambios en las conductas -en su sentido más amplio-, tanto internas como externas. En segundo lugar, se explicitan los principios fundamentales de la psicoterapia psicodinámica en general, los conceptos que subyacen a esta concepción y los objetivos hacia los que está dirigida, -el bienestar psicológico de las personas, la mejora de las relaciones interpersonales y el desarrollo y crecimiento individual- que son los elementos que orientan la práctica clínica de este enfoque psicoterapéutico. Y, por último, se enumeran y comentan las diferentes técnicas de intervención que se utilizan de igual modo tanto en la psicoterapia psicodinámica individual como en la psicoterapia psicodinámica de grupos. Se incluyen tanto las intervenciones “interpretativas” como las de “apoyo”, así como se hace referencia a temas relevantes en este tipo de psicoterapia tales como la interrelación entre el paciente y el psicoterapeuta, la alianza terapéutica y los procesos de transferencia.
Acción y Cuerpo en el Grupo: Una visión Psicodramática. La incorporación de la Acción y el Cuerpo en el Grupo, como vía para generar una experiencia global que permita un cambio integrado
Authors: Andres Mascuñana Teresa , Andres Mascuñana María
Published: March 2022

La terapia de grupo da un marco privilegiado para incluir el manejo de lo corporal y de la acción como herramientas terapéuticas. Tanto el cuerpo como la acción se convierten en herramientas para generar experiencias globales, que permiten acceder a un estado de conexión que facilita la creación de nuevos modos vinculares. Los últimos hallazgos en neurociencia respaldan esta tésis. Son las experiencias y no las ideas las que realmente generan nuevas conexiones neuronales que permiten los cambios.
Los Grupos de Crecimiento Personal: Origen y Características
Authors: Gil Escudero Guillermo , Rodríguez-Zafra Mónica
Published: March 2022

Se analiza el origen de los grupos de crecimiento personal (GCP) que tuvo su fundamento en las ideas y técnicas de intervención de cuatro fuentes principales: las aportaciones del trabajo del National Training Laboratory (NTL), de la psicología humanista, de los “grupos maratón” y de los grupos de “encuentro abierto”. Asimismo,se exponen las características de los GCP que básicamente consisten en la realización de un conjunto planificado de actividades en grupo, en un entorno relajado y seguro, que incluyen ejercicios y reuniones en grupos pequeños que combinan de modo equilibrado la comunicación interpersonal, la experiencia emocional y la reflexión. Tienen básicamente un carácter vivencial y no académico. El hecho de que los grupos se lleven a cabo de modo intensivo y en un entorno aislado facilita la toma de distancia temporal de los problemas personales e interpersonales, así como el aislamiento de las influencias del entorno que dificultan la concentración en el análisis y la reflexión. Los GCP proporcionan la oportunidad de establecer nuevas relaciones personales y la oportunidad de analizar, con la ayuda del resto de participantes, el origen y circunstancias de los problemas personales y de relación, lo que habitualmente produce un aumento y mejora de las relaciones interpersonales y de la consciencia intrapersonal.
Una experiencia de formación en Psicoterapia de Grupo en el Servicio de Psicología Aplicada de la UNED
Authors: Salamanca Iniesta Paloma , Alonso Sánchez Clara , Otero Ortega Carlos , Málaga Castilla María del Rosario , Sánchez Rivera Nazaret
Published: March 2022

En este trabajo se describe una experiencia de formación en Psicoterapia de Grupo, impartida en el Servicio de Psicología Aplicada (SPA) de la Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED). Se ofrece este modelo con el objeto de que pueda ser útil como referencia de formación para otros grupos de formación y/o en otras modalidades y circunstancias económico/sociales. La formación comenzó en marzo de 2021 y fue completamente online dado que las restricciones de los aforos en la docencia, por las medidas sanitarias de aquel momento, dificultaban que fuese presencial. Además, uno de los objetivos más importantes fue poder tener la posibilidad de ofrecer apoyo psicoterapéutico grupal de forma inmediata con el objeto de atender a las necesidades de los usuarios y usuarias del SPA de la UNED, que se encontraban tanto en diferentes ciudades de España como en el extranjero. El trabajo realizado, tanto de formación como de terapia, pone claramente de manifiesto la eficacia del modelo formativo que se ha descrito en este trabajo, así como su capacidad para responder de forma prácticamente inmediata a una modalidad psicoterapéutica demandada, eficaz y necesaria.
Terapia de grupo o Terapia en Grupo
Authors: García Galeán Laura
Published: March 2022

Recensión del artículo López-Yarto, L. E. (2002). Terapia de grupo o terapia en grupo. Aperturas Psicoanalíticas, 10. https://aperturas.org/articulo.php?articulo=0000193#contenido
Effect of Aerodynamic Damping Approximations on Aeroelastic Eigensensitivities
Authors: Kaiser Christoph , Quero David
Published: March 2022

Aeroelastic sensitivities for the flutter solution are a crucial component of the multi-disciplinary optimization methods employed in modern aircraft design. This paper derives the aeroelastic sensitivities for different aerodynamic damping approximations—the p-k method, the g method and the generalized aeroelastic analysis method—highlighting the influence of the employed aerodynamic approximation on the required derivatives. The derived formulation for the determination of aeroelastic sensitivities by means of a direct method is verified for the case of a two-degree-of-freedom typical section model, where analytical aeroelastic sensitivities can be analytically obtained. For this and for an additional model, namely the AGARD 445.6 weakened wing, the significant effect of the aerodynamic damping approximation on the aeroelastic sensitivities is shown.
Non-Composted Chinaberry (Melia azedarach L.) Sawdust Mixtures as Growth Medium for Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)
Authors: Yasin Muhammad , Noorani Hassan , Anwar Farhan , Siddiqui Manahil , Safdar Muhammad Ehsan , Andreasen Christian
Published: March 2022

Sawdust as a soilless growth substrate for plants is becoming popular in greenhouse production. However, fresh sawdust often requires time for decomposition before it is ready for use as a growth substrate. We studied whether amendments of banana peels (as a source of potassium), eggshells (as a source of calcium), and urea (as a source of nitrogen) in non-composted fresh chinaberry (Melia azedarach) sawdust could enhance its potential as a growth medium. In two pot experiments, the growth of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) was evaluated using mixtures of non-composted M. azedarach sawdust. The treatments were: (T1) 100% soil (control) (vol/vol); (T2) 100% M. azedarach sawdust (vol/vol); (T3) 80% M. azedarach sawdust +20% banana peel (vol/vol); (T4) 60% M. azedarach sawdust +20% banana peel +20% eggshell (vol/vol); and (T5) 60% M. azedarach sawdust +20% banana peel +20% eggshell (vol/vol) +91 kg N ha−1 (urea). There was no significant difference between the treatments regarding seed germination and okra emergence, but leaf area, chlorophyll content index, plant biomass, number of pods per plant−1, fresh pods, and dry weight were significantly lower in pots with fresh sawdust mixtures. Organic amendments of banana peels and eggshells improved the sawdust substrate. Adding a further 91 kg N hectare−1 improved the growth but was insufficient to produce the same yield of okra as in non-fertilized sandy clay loam soil. We cannot exclude that non-composted M. azedarach sawdust may be a potential growth substrate for okra, but the amendments added were not enough to obtain the same yields as when okra was grown in soil.
Influence of Climate Variability and Soil Fertility on the Forage Quality and Productivity in Azorean Pastures
Authors: Melo Catarina D. , Maduro Dias Cristiana S. A. M. , Wallon Sophie , Borba Alfredo E. S. , Madruga João , Borges Paulo A. V. , Ferreira Maria T. , Elias Rui B.
Published: March 2022

This work aimed to determine and compare the effect of elevation and season on the productivity and the nutritive value of pastures in the Azores (Terceira Island). Forage was collected and analysed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), ether extract (EE), mineral ash (Ash), dry matter digestibility (DMD) and organic matter digestibility (OMD). The net productivity (NP) was higher in the low elevation pasture A (1.80 g m−2), lower in pasture B (0.98 g m−2) and peaked in the winter in both pastures A (3.57 g m−2) and B (2.33 g m−2) and during the summer in the high elevation pasture C (2.15 g m−2). The soil chemical proprieties varied significantly among the three pastures. The highest soil pH, available P, K, Ca and Mg were recorded in pasture A. Positive correlations were observed between all soil parameters analysed and NP, except for the OM content. The DM, PB and EE changed significantly with elevation, while all nutritive parameters (except CP, EE and Ash) increased significantly along the growth season. Environmental factors influenced the nutritive parameters and productivity, suggesting that climate change might have significant impacts on forage production and quality.
Almeria’s Green Pest Management Revolution: An Opportunity That Arose from a Food Safety Alert
Authors: Acebedo Miguel M. , Diánez Fernando , Santos Mila
Published: March 2022

Almería, a province of Spain, is the leader in horticultural production on a Spanish and European scale. The specific conditions of greenhouse cultivation favor plant development, but also the proliferation of pests. This high incidence of pests was controlled in the past mainly by means of chemical phytosanitary treatments. The aim of the present work has been to analyze the tools facilitated by the Andalusian Government (Junta de Andalucía) to replace the usual pest management process, taking advantage of the context of the food safety alert arising from the detection of isophenphos-methyl in peppers from the province of Almeria in December 2007. The results illustrate that, unlike many programs of public subsidies which involve long-term expenditure, the aid in question took advantage of the socioeconomic situation following the food safety alert. The program led to substantial economic savings and met its objectives swiftly, achieving excellent results in terms of removing most of the pesticides used in the “conventional production system”. In the 2006–2007 season, only 515 hectares in Almería used biological control organisms, four years later, it reached 20,081 hectares, and the average area during the last ten years was 24,953 hectares. This shows that Almeria’s green pest management revolution had been consolidated.
NM23 Is a CP-Binding Protein Involved in Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus Infection in Shrimp
Authors: Yin Xiaotong , Wang Xiaoshan , Sun Hui , Fei Rongmei
Published: March 2022

The aim of this study was to identify the putative host cell receptor for Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHHNV) CP in the gill membrane of L. vannamei. Putative CP binding partners were screened first using a 2-dimensional Virus Overlay Protein Blot Assay (VOPBA) to probe isolated gill membrane proteins using recombinant CP. Putative binding partners were identified using mass spectrometry. A Phage Display Random Dodecapeptide Library was used to screen for dodecapeptides and motifs that bound to CP. Finally, putative binding pairs were confirmed using GST(glutathione-S-transferase) pulldown assays. 2-Dimensional VOPBA identified NM23 as a putative binding partner for IHHNV CP. GST pulldown experiments confirmed the direct interaction of NM23 and IHHNV CP. The phage display library was used to identify six groups of dodecapeptides that bound to CP. From these peptides, three characteristic binding motifs were identified, SW*Y, SKWV, and PQR. Interestingly, the SW*Y motif was also found in NM23. We are the first to implicate NM23 in IHHNV infection and postulate that it may bind to the CP using the SW*Y motif, although this remains to be confirmed.
Plant Growth Promoting Microorganisms Useful for Soil Desalinization
Authors: Terzaghi Mattia , Castiglione Stefano , Guarino Francesco
Published: March 2022

The salinization of cultivable soils is a major issue that humankind will soon have to face [...]
Competing Miners: A Synergetic Solution for Combining Blockchain and Edge Computing in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Networks
Authors: Nilsen Jacob Mathias , Park Jun-Hyun , Yun Sangseok , Kang Jae-Mo , Jung Heechul
Published: March 2022

Edge computing (EC) is very useful and particularly promising for many practical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications. Integrating the blockchain to this technology strengthens privacy protection and data integrity and also prevents data from being easily leaked. However, the required operations in the blockchain are computationally heavy because a blockchain requires devices to solve a complicated proof-of-work (PoW) puzzle to add new data (i.e., a block) to the blockchain. Solving a PoW requires substantial amounts of time and energy, which are big concerns for UAVs. In this article, we suggest a synergetic solution to address this issue based on multiple competing miners in a blockchain. Specifically, we present two novel frameworks for combining the blockchain and EC to effectively overcome several critical limitations when applying the blockchain to UAV and EC tasks, respectively. The goal of both of these proposed frameworks is to reduce both the time spent on mining and the energy consumption for the EC. We first look at the fundamentals of the blockchain with competing miners. Then, our proposed frameworks are described with experimental results, through which important insights are drawn. We finally discuss application scenarios for our proposed frameworks, the related technical challenges, and future research directions.
The Anti-Cancer Effects of Red-Pigmented Foods: Biomarker Modulation and Mechanisms Underlying Cancer Progression
Authors: Chung Min-Yu , Hwang Jin-Taek , Lee Jangho , Choi Hyo-Kyoung
Published: March 2022

Cancer is one the most malignant diseases that is a leading cause of death worldwide. Vegetables and fruits contain beneficial nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, folates, dietary fibers, and various natural bioactive compounds. These can prevent the pathological processes of many cancers and reduce cancer related mortality. Specifically, the anti-cancer effect of vegetables and fruits is largely attributable to the natural bioactive compounds present within them. A lot of bioactive compounds have very specific colors with pigments and the action of them in the human body varies by their color. Red-pigmented foods, such as apples, oranges, tomatoes, cherries, grapes, berries, and red wine, have been widely reported to elicit beneficial effects and have been investigated for their anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative properties, as well as anti-cancer effect. Most of the anti-cancer effects of bioactive compounds in red-pigmented foods arise from the suppression of cancer cell invasion and metastasis, as well as the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. In this review, we assessed publications from the last 10 years and identified 10 bioactive compounds commonly studied in red-pigmented foods: lycopene, anthocyanin, β-carotene, pectin, betaine, rutin, ursolic acid, kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin. We focused on the mechanisms and targets underlying the anti-cancer effect of the compounds and provided rationale for further investigation of the compounds to develop more potent anti-cancer treatment methods.
The Chef’s Choice: System for Allergen and Style Classification in Recipes
Authors: Roither Andreas , Kurz Marc , Sonnleitner Erik
Published: March 2022

Allergens in food items can be dangerous for individuals affected by food allergens. Considering how many different ingredients and food items exists, it is hard to keep track of which food items contain relevant allergens. Food businesses in the EU are required to label foods with information about the 14 major food allergens defined by the EU legislation. This improves the situation for affected individuals. Nevertheless, more changes are necessary to provide reasonable protection for people with severe allergic reactions. Recipe websites and online content is usually not labelled with allergens. In addition, the 14 main allergen categories consist of a variety of different ingredients that are not always easy to remember. Scanning websites and recipes for specific allergens can consume a fair amount of time if the reader wants to make sure no allergen is missed. In this article, a dataset is processed and used for machine learning to classify cuisine style and allergens. The dataset used contains labelling for the 14 major allergen categories. Furthermore, a system is proposed that informs the user about style and allergens in a recipe with the help of a browser add-on. To measure the performance of the proposed system, a user study is conducted where participants label recipes with food allergens. A comparison between human and system performance as well as the time needed to read and label recipes concludes this article.
Effects of the Sn4+ Substitution and the Sintering Additives on the Sintering Behavior and Electrical Properties of PLZT
Authors: Choi Jeoung-Sik , Kim Dong-Chul , Shin Hyo-Soon , Yeo Dong-Hun , Lee Joon-Hyung
Published: March 2022

(Pb, La)(Zr, Ti)O3 (PLZT) with antiferroelectric properties can be applied as a capacitor whose capacitance increases in a high electric field. From this, we obtained a high sintering density at 950 °C by adding low-temperature sintering additives, 8.0 wt% of PbO and 2.5 wt% of ZnO, simultaneously to a (Pb0.88, La0.12)(Zr0.86, Ti0.14)O3 composition. The change in electrical characteristics was confirmed in terms of Sn4+ substitution, resulting in no change in the sintering density by Sn4+ substitution. However, as the amount of Sn4+ substitution increases, the dielectric constant gradually decreases from 1300 to 700, and the grain size decreases from about 4 to 1 µm in terms of microstructure. In the crystal structure analysis, the general formation of a single perovskite structure was confirmed. The results of the hysteresis curve measurement revealed that the breakdown electric field increases from 4 to 9 kV·mm−1 as the amount of Sn4+ substitution gradually increases. However, polarization decreases in the same way as the permittivity trend. The composition exhibits excellent electrical properties when the ratio of Sn4+ is 0.4: a high energy storage density of 3.5 J·cm−3, energy efficiency of 80%, and breakdown electric field of about 8.5 kV·mm−1.
Aerodynamic Behavior and Impact on Driving Safety of Spalling Blocks Comprising High-Speed-Railway Tunnel Lining
Authors: Shi Cheng-Hua , Wang Ang , Sun Xiao-He , Yang Wei-Chao
Published: March 2022

The lining of operating high-speed-railway tunnels suffers from cracks, the peeling of material, and other deteriorations and defects, all of which seriously affect driving safety. However, the trajectory of a falling block from the tunnel lining in a tunnel train wind environment and its impact on driving safety are unknown. To study the movement of falling blocks under a coupling effect of tunnel train wind and the local flow field of the falling blocks, a three-dimensional gas–solid-coupling numerical calculation model of spalling blocks–train–tunnel–air was established using FLUENT software The aerodynamic evolution mechanism governing the spalling blocks of the lining was analyzed, and we found that the falling process of a spalling block is affected by the coupling of its own characteristics and transient train wind. Train wind directly induced the horizontal motion of falling blocks, generated curves and eddy currents, and changed the motion state of spalled blocks. Furthermore, by comprehensively considering the motion trajectories of flaky and blocky blocks at different positions, the impact of spalling blocks on driving safety was obtained. The dangerous area of spalling blocks was approximately 5.5 m above the ground, which must be paid attention to. Our results provide guidance for the operation and maintenance of high-speed-railway tunnels.
Studies to Overcome Brain–Computer Interface Challenges
Authors: Choi Woo-Sung , Yeom Hong-Gi
Published: March 2022

A brain–computer interface (BCI) is a promising technology that can analyze brain signals and control a robot or computer according to a user’s intention. This paper introduces our studies to overcome the challenges of using BCIs in daily life. There are several methods to implement BCIs, such as sensorimotor rhythms (SMR), P300, and steady-state visually evoked potential (SSVEP). These methods have different pros and cons according to the BCI type. However, all these methods are limited in choice. Controlling the robot arm according to the intention enables BCI users can do various things. We introduced the study predicting three-dimensional arm movement using a non-invasive method. Moreover, the study was described compensating the prediction using an external camera for high accuracy. For daily use, BCI users should be able to turn on or off the BCI system because of the prediction error. The users should also be able to change the BCI mode to the efficient BCI type. The BCI mode can be transformed based on the user state. Our study was explained estimating a user state based on a brain’s functional connectivity and a convolutional neural network (CNN). Additionally, BCI users should be able to do various tasks, such as carrying an object, walking, or talking simultaneously. A multi-function BCI study was described to predict multiple intentions simultaneously through a single classification model. Finally, we suggest our view for the future direction of BCI study. Although there are still many limitations when using BCI in daily life, we hope that our studies will be a foundation for developing a practical BCI system.
Potentially Toxic Metals in the High-Biomass Non-Hyperaccumulating Plant Amaranthus viridis: Human Health Risks and Phytoremediation Potentials
Authors: Yap Chee Kong , Yaacob Aziran , Tan Wen Siang , Al-Mutairi Khalid Awadh , Cheng Wan Hee , Wong Koe Wei , Berandah Edward Franklin , Ismail Mohamad Saupi , You Chen-Feng , Chew Weiyun , Nulit Rosimah , Ibrahim Mohd Hafiz , Amin Bintal , Sharifinia Moslem
Published: March 2022

Human health risk and phytoremediation of potentially toxic metals (PTMs) in the edible vegetables have been widely discussed recently. This study aimed to determine the concentrations of four PTMs, namely Cd, Fe, Ni, and Zn) in Amaranthus viridis (leaves, stems, and roots) collected from 11 sampling sites in Peninsular Malaysia and to assess their human health risk (HHR). In general, the metal levels followed the order: roots > stems > leaves. The metal concentrations (µg/g) in the leaves of A. viridis ranged from 0.45 to 2.18 dry weight (dw) (0.05–0.26 wet weight (ww)), 74.8 to 535 dw (8.97–64.2 ww), 2.02 to 7.45 dw (0.24–0.89 ww), and 65.2 to 521 dw (7.83–62.6 ww), for Cd, Fe, Ni, and Zn, respectively. The positive relationships between the metals, the plant parts, and the geochemical factions of their habitat topsoils indicated the potential of A. viridis as a good biomonitor of Cd, Fe, and Ni pollution. With most of the values of the bioconcentration factor (BCF) > 1.0 and the transfer factor (TF) > 1.0, A. viridis was a very promising phytoextraction agent of Ni and Zn. Additionally, with most of the values of BCF > 1.0 and TF < 1.0, A. viridis was a very promising phytostabiliser of Cd and Fe. With respect to HHR, the target hazard quotients (THQ) for Cd, Fe, Pb, and Zn in the leaves of A. viridis were all below 1.00, indicating there were no non-carcinogenic risks of the four metals to consumers, including children and adults. Nevertheless, routine monitoring of PTMs in Amaranthus farms is much needed.
Free d-Amino Acids in Salivary Gland in Rat
Authors: Yoshikawa Masanobu , Kan Takugi , Shirose Kosuke , Watanabe Mariko , Matsuda Mitsumasa , Ito Kenji , Kawaguchi Mitsuru
Published: March 2022

Free d-amino acids, which are enantiomers of l-amino acids, are found in mammals, including humans, and play an important role in a range of physiological functions in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues. Several d-amino acids have been observed in saliva, but their origin and the enzymes involved in their metabolism and catabolism remain to be clarified. In the present study, large amounts of d-aspartic acid and small amounts of d-serine and d-alanine were detected in all three major salivary glands in rat. No other d-enantiomers were detected. Protein expression of d-amino acid oxidase and d-aspartate oxidase, the enzymes responsible for the oxidative deamination of neutral and dicarboxylic d-amino acids, respectively, were detected in all three types of salivary gland. Furthermore, protein expression of the d-serine metabolic enzyme, serine racemase, in parotid glands amounted to approximately 40% of that observed in the cerebral cortex. The N-methyl-d-aspartic acid subunit proteins NR1 and NR2D were detected in all three major salivary glands. The results of the present study suggest that d-amino acids play a physiological role in a range of endocrine and exocrine function in salivary glands.
A Systematic Review of Oral Biopsies, Sample Types, and Detection Techniques Applied in Relation to Oral Cancer Detection
Authors: Yang Guanghuan , Wei Luqi , Thong Benjamin K. S. , Fu Yuanyuan , Cheong Io Hong , Kozlakidis Zisis , Li Xue , Wang Hui , Li Xiaoguang
Published: March 2022

Background: Early identification of the stage of oral cancer development can lead to better treatment outcomes and avoid malignant transformation. Therefore, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview that describes the development of standardized procedures for oral sample collection, characterization, and molecular risk assessment. This can help investigators to choose the appropriate sampling method and downstream analyses for different purposes. Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Using both PubMed and Web of Science databases, four independent authors conducted a literature search between 15 and 21 June 2021. We used key search terms to broaden the search for studies. Non-conforming articles were removed using an EndNote-based and manual approach. Reviewers used a designed form to extract data. Results: This review included a total of 3574 records, after eliminating duplicate articles and excluding papers that did not meet the inclusion criteria. Finally, 202 articles were included in this review. We summarized the sampling methods, biopsy samples, and downstream analysis. The biopsy techniques were classified into tissue and liquid biopsy. The common sequential analysis of tissue biopsy includes histopathological examination such as H&E or IHC to identify various pathogenic features. Meanwhile, liquid samples such as saliva, blood, and urine are analyzed for the purpose of screening to detect mutations in cancer. Commonly used technologies are PCR, RT-PCR, high-throughput sequencing, and metabolomic analysis. Conclusions: Currently, tissue biopsies provide increased diagnostic value compared to liquid biopsy. However, the minimal invasiveness and convenience of liquid biopsy make it a suitable method for mass screening and eventual clinical adoption. The analysis of samples includes histological and molecular analysis. Metabolite analysis is rising but remains scarce.
Sleep, Diet, Physical Activity, and Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Analysis
Authors: Orr Kyanna , Ta Zachary , Shoaf Kimberley , Halliday Tanya M. , Tobin Selene , Baron Kelly Glazer
Published: March 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed routines and habits, raising stress and anxiety levels of individuals worldwide. The goal of this qualitative study was to advance the understanding of how pandemic-related changes affected sleep, diet, physical activity (PA), and stress among adults. We conducted semi-structured, qualitative interviews with 185 participants and selected 33 interviews from a represented sample based on age, race, and gender for coding and analysis of themes. After coding for thematic analysis, results demonstrated four primary themes: sleep, diet, PA, and stress. Sleep sub-themes such as poorer sleep quality were reported by 36% of our participants, and 12% reported increased an frequency of vivid dreams and nightmares. PA was decreased in 52% of our participants, while 33% experienced an increase and 15% experienced no change in PA. Participants also reported having an improved diet, mostly among women. Stress was elevated in 79% of our participants and was more likely to be discussed by women. Many participants reported how stress was involved in precipitating health behavior change, especially for sleep. Increased stress was also linked to elevated anxiety and depression among participants. The results of this qualitative study demonstrate how managing stress could have a beneficial effect on promoting health behaviors and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Impact of Induced Seismicity on the Housing Market: Evidence from Pohang
Authors: Hong Jengei , Jo Hyunjae , Seo Ducksu , You Songhee
Published: March 2022

In this study, we analyze the case of induced seismicity in Pohang, South Korea, in 2017 to investigate the effect of seismic risk perception on the local residential property market. Based on a hedonic pricing model with a difference-in-differences method, we examine the geographic distribution of the effects of unexpected earthquake hazards. Our results indicate an overall reduction in local property values, but the magnitudes of negative externality for housing prices decrease with respect to the distance from the epicenter. In areas within 3 km of the epicenter, the asset value reduced by approximately 20% after an earthquake event, but if the distance from the epicenter was higher than 12 km, the negative effect on the price was not significant. In addition, we examine how the experience of seismic events affect the preference on the anti-seismic building structure. The results show that the market valuation on the anti-seismic system significantly escalated after the earthquake.