bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Horizontal vs. Vertical Recommendation Zones Evaluation Using Behavior Tracking
Authors: Sulikowski Piotr , Zdziebko Tomasz
Published: December 2020

Recommender systems play a vital role in e-commerce by increasing the likelihood of transactions and improving sales thanks to presenting personal recommendations. Due to the marketing habituation effect, users are less and less responsive to this type of content. Visual recommendation presentation, in particular the recommendation zone layout can influence the effectiveness of a recommendation. This study examines human–computer interactions for vertical, horizonal, and mixed layouts of recommending interfaces of four major e-commerce stores, and is based on our document object model events-based behavior analysis tool. Results from this implicit feedback study are presented and analyzed, showing that vertical recommendation zones attracted more attention than horizontal ones.
Estimation of Particulate Matter Contributions from Desert Outbreaks in Mediterranean Countries (2015–2018) Using the Time Series Clustering Method
Authors: Gómez-Losada Álvaro , Pires José C. M.
Published: December 2020

North African dust intrusions can contribute to exceedances of the European PM10 and PM2.5 limit values and World Health Organisation standards, diminishing air quality, and increased mortality and morbidity at higher concentrations. In this study, the contribution of North African dust in Mediterranean countries was estimated using the time series clustering method. This method combines the non-parametric approach of Hidden Markov Models for studying time series, and the definition of different air pollution profiles (regimes of concentration). Using this approach, PM10 and PM2.5 time series obtained at background monitoring stations from seven countries were analysed from 2015 to 2018. The average characteristic contributions to PM10 were estimated as 11.6 ± 10.3 µg·m−3 (Bosnia and Herzegovina), 8.8 ± 7.5 µg·m−3 (Spain), 7.0 ± 6.2 µg·m−3 (France), 8.1 ± 5.9 µg·m−3 (Croatia), 7.5 ± 5.5 µg·m−3 (Italy), 8.1 ± 7.0 µg·m−3 (Portugal), and 17.0 ± 9.8 µg·m−3 (Turkey). For PM2.5, estimated contributions were 4.1 ± 3.5 µg·m−3 (Spain), 6.0 ± 4.8 µg·m−3 (France), 9.1 ± 6.4 µg·m−3 (Croatia), 5.2 ± 3.8 µg·m−3 (Italy), 6.0 ± 4.4 µg·m−3 (Portugal), and 9.0 ± 5.6 µg·m−3 (Turkey). The observed PM2.5/PM10 ratios were between 0.36 and 0.69, and their seasonal variation was characterised, presenting higher values in colder months. Principal component analysis enabled the association of background sites based on their estimated PM10 and PM2.5 pollution profiles.
Metallomics Analysis for Assessment of Toxic Metal Burdens in Infants/Children and Their Mothers: Early Assessment and Intervention Are Essential
Authors: Yasuda Hiroshi , Tsutsui Toyoharu , Suzuki Katsuhiko
Published: December 2020

Accumulation of toxic metals in infants/children is of serious concern worldwide, from the viewpoint of their harmful effects on the normal growth and development. This metallomics study investigates the extent of toxic metal burdens in infants/children and the relationship to those in their mothers for 77 child/mother pair subjects. For mercury, its geometric mean concentration in infants/children was of similar level to that in their mothers, and a high-significant close correlation was observed between infants/children and their mothers (β = 0.758, r = 0.539, p < 0.0001). A significant but less intimate mother/child relationship was observed for arsenic (β = 0.301, r = 0.433), lead (β = 0.444, r = 0.471) and aluminum (β = 0.379, r = 0.451). Remarkably, the burden levels of lead, cadmium and aluminum in infants/children were approximately three times higher than those in their mothers (p < 0.0001), and the burden levels in some individuals were several tens of times higher than in the mothers. In contrast, some essential metal levels such as zinc, magnesium and calcium in infants/children were significantly lower than those in their mothers, and 29 individuals (37.7%) in the child subjects were estimated to be zinc-deficient. In addition, significant inverse correlations were observed between zinc and lead (r = −0.267, p = 0.019), and magnesium and arsenic (r = −0.514, p < 0.0001). These findings suggest that these toxic metal burdens and essential metal deficiencies in infants/children are of serious concern for their neurodevelopment, indicating that the early assessment and intervention are crucial. It is expected that larger epidemiological and intervention studies will provide a reasonable and essential pathway for intervention of neurodevelopment disorders.
Molecularly Imprinted Polyscopoletin for the Electrochemical Detection of the Chronic Disease Marker Lysozyme
Authors: Di Giulio Tiziano , Mazzotta Elisabetta , Malitesta Cosimino
Published: December 2020

Herein we report the electropolymerization of a scopoletin based molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for the detection of lysozyme (Lyz), an enzymatic marker of several diseases in mammalian species. Two different approaches have been used for the imprinting of lysozyme based, respectively, on the use of a monomer-template mixture and on the covalent immobilization of the enzyme prior to polymer synthesis. In the latter case, a multi-step protocol has been exploited with preliminary functionalization of gold electrode with amino groups, via 4-aminothiophenol, followed by reaction with glutaraldehyde, to provide a suitable linker for lysozyme. Each step of surface electrode modification has been followed by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, which has been also employed to test the electrochemical responses of the developed MIP. The sensors show good selectivity to Lyz and detect the enzyme at concentrations up to 292 mg/L (20 μM), but with different performances, depending on the used imprinting approach. An imprinting factor equal to 7.1 and 2.5 and a limit of detection of 0.9 mg/L (62 nM) and 2.1 mg/L (141 nM) have been estimated for MIPs prepared with and without enzyme immobilization, respectively. Competitive rebinding experiment results show that this sensing material is selective for Lyz determination. Tests were performed using synthetic saliva to evaluate the potential application of the sensors in real matrices for clinical purposes.
Tinnitus and Metacognitive Beliefs—Results of a Cross-Sectional Observational Study
Authors: Natalini Eleonora , Fioretti Alessandra , Riedl David , Moschen Roland , Eibenstein Alberto
Published: December 2020

Recent research has highlighted the role of metacognitions as a moderator for psychological distress in patients with chronic diseases. The present study investigates the role of metacognitions and worry in the association between tinnitus distress, anxiety, and depression. A cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of tinnitus-outpatients who completed the Tinnitus-Handicap Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Metacognition Questionnaire-30, Penn-State-Worry-Questionnaire. Associations of metacognitions, worries, tinnitus distress, anxiety and depression were investigated using structural equation models (SEMs). A sample of n = 107 patients was included in the study. In the first SEM, tinnitus distress significantly predicted depression (β = 0.68, p < 0.001) and anxiety (β = 0.47, p < 0.001). In the second model, worries and meta-cognitions were added as moderators. The explained variance substantially increased for depression (46 to 53%) and anxiety (22 to 35%) and the association of tinnitus distress with depression (β = 0.57, p < 0.001) and anxiety was weakened (β = 0.32, p < 0.001). Negative beliefs significantly predicted worries (β = 0.51, p < 0.001) and explained 41% of its variance. A good model fit for the final model was found (comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.98; (Tucker Lewis index) TLI = 0.96; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.067). Anxiety and depression in tinnitus patients might be influenced by worries, which is mainly predicted by negative beliefs about uncontrollability and danger of worries. Thus, psychotherapeutic approaches focused on alterations of metacognitions in patients with tinnitus should be investigated in future studies.3 (List three to ten pertinent keywords specific to the article yet reasonably common within the subject discipline.)
The Moderating Effect of Comfort from Companion Animals and Social Support on the Relationship between Microaggressions and Mental Health in LGBTQ+ Emerging Adults
Authors: Matijczak Angela , McDonald Shelby E. , Tomlinson Camie A. , Murphy Jennifer L. , O’Connor Kelly
Published: December 2020

LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual/gender minority identities) individuals frequently report exposure to microaggressions, which are associated with deleterious mental health outcomes. Social support from humans has been found to be an important protective factor for LGBTQ+ emerging adults. However, an underexplored area of research is the protective role of interactions with companion animals for this population. We conducted simple and multiple moderation analyses to explore whether and to what extent emotional comfort from companion animals and human social support moderated the relationship between LGBTQ-related microaggressions and depressive and anxiety symptoms. Our sample included 134 LGBTQ+ emerging adults (mean age of 19.31). We found that social support moderated the relationship between microaggressions and depressive symptoms. The relationship between microaggressions and depressive symptoms was not significant at high levels of social support, indicating the protective nature of human social support. Comfort from companion animals also moderated the relationship between interpersonal microaggressions and depressive symptoms. For participants with high or medium levels of emotional comfort from companion animals, interpersonal microaggressions were positively associated with depressive symptoms. Our results highlight the need to further investigate the complex role of relationships with companion animals on mental health outcomes for LGBTQ+ emerging adults.
Citric Acid Derived Carbon Dots, the Challenge of Understanding the Synthesis-Structure Relationship
Authors: Ren Junkai , Malfatti Luca , Innocenzi Plinio
Published: December 2020

Carbon dots (CDs) are highly-emissive nanoparticles obtained through fast and cheap syntheses. The understanding of CDs’ luminescence, however, is still far from being comprehensive. The intense photoluminescence can have different origins: molecular mechanisms, oxidation of polyaromatic graphene-like layers, and core-shell interactions of carbonaceous nanoparticles. The citric acid (CA) is one of the most common precursors for CD preparation because of its high biocompatibility, and this review is mainly focused on CA-based CDs. The different parameters that control the synthesis, such as the temperature, the reaction time, and the choice of solvents, were critically described. Particular attention was devoted to the CDs’ optical properties, such as tunable emission and quantum yields, in light of functional applications. The survey of the literature allowed correlating the preparation methods with the structures and the properties of CA-based CDs. Some basic rules to fabricate highly luminescent nanoparticles were selected by the metanalysis of the current literature in the field. In some cases, these findings can be generalized to other types of CDs prepared via liquid phase.
HER2 Status in High-Risk Endometrial Cancers (PORTEC-3): Relationship with Histotype, Molecular Classification, and Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Vermij Lisa , Horeweg Nanda , Leon-Castillo Alicia , Rutten Tessa A. , Mileshkin Linda R. , Mackay Helen J. , Leary Alexandra , Powell Melanie E. , Singh Naveena , Crosbie Emma J. , Smit Vincent T.H.B.M. , Creutzberg Carien L. , Bosse Tjalling
Published: December 2020

HER2 status has not been investigated in the context of the molecular endometrial cancer (EC) classification. Here, we aimed to determine the clinicopathological features and prognostic significance of the HER2 status in the molecularly classified PORTEC-3 trial population of patients with high-risk EC (HREC). HER2 testing was performed on tumor tissues of 407 molecularly classified HREC. HER2 status was determined by HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC; all cases) and subsequent HER2 dual in situ hybridization for cases with any (in) complete moderate to strong membranous HER2 IHC expression. The Χ2 test and Spearman’s Rho correlation coefficient were used to compare clinicopathological and molecular features. The Kaplan–Meier method, log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards models were used for survival analysis. We identified 24 (5.9%) HER2-positive EC of various histological subtypes including serous (n = 9, 37.5%), endometrioid (n = 6, 25.0%), and clear cell (n = 5, 20.8%). HER2 positivity was highly associated with the p53-abnormal subgroup (p53abn, 23/24 cases; p < 0.0001). The correlation between p53abn and the HER2 status (ρ = 0.438; p < 0.0001) was significantly stronger (p < 0.0001) than between serous histology and the HER2 status (ρ = 0.154; p = 0.002). HER2 status did not have independent prognostic value for survival after correction for the molecular classification. Our study strongly suggests that molecular subclass-directed HER2 testing is superior to histotype-directed testing. This insight will be relevant for future trials targeting HER2.
Description of Transport Tunnel in Haloalkane Dehalogenase Variant LinB D147C+L177C from Sphingobium japonicum
Authors: Iermak Iuliia , Degtjarik Oksana , Havlickova Petra , Kuty Michal , Chaloupkova Radka , Damborsky Jiri , Prudnikova Tatyana , Kuta Smatanova Ivana
Published: December 2020

The activity of enzymes with active sites buried inside their protein core highly depends on the efficient transport of substrates and products between the active site and the bulk solvent. The engineering of access tunnels in order to increase or decrease catalytic activity and specificity in a rational way is a challenging task. Here, we describe a combined experimental and computational approach to characterize the structural basis of altered activity in the haloalkane dehalogenase LinB D147C+L177C variant. While the overall protein fold is similar to the wild type enzyme and the other LinB variants, the access tunnels have been altered by introduced cysteines that were expected to form a disulfide bond. Surprisingly, the mutations have allowed several conformations of the amino acid chain in their vicinity, interfering with the structural analysis of the mutant by X-ray crystallography. The duration required for the growing of protein crystals changed from days to 1.5 years by introducing the substitutions. The haloalkane dehalogenase LinB D147C+L177C variant crystal structure was solved to 1.15 Å resolution, characterized and deposited to Protein Data Bank under PDB ID 6s06.
Bis-NHC–Ag/Pd(OAc)2 Catalytic System Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenation Reaction
Authors: Chen Hui-Ju , Chiu Chien-Cheng , Wang Tsui , Lee Dong-Sheng , Lu Ta-Jung
Published: December 2020

The bis-NHC–Ag/Pd(OAc)2 catalytic system (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene), a combination of bis-NHC–Ag complex and Pd(OAc)2, was found to be a smart catalyst in the Pd-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of various functionalized arenes and internal/terminal alkynes. The catalytic system demonstrated high efficiency for the reduction of a wide range of various functional groups such as carbonyls, alkynes, olefins, and nitro groups in good to excellent yields and high chemoselectivity for the reduction of functional groups. In addition, the protocol was successfully exploited to stereoselectivity for the transformation of alkynes to alkenes in aqueous media under air. This methodology successfully provided an alternative useful protocol for reducing various functional groups and a simple operational protocol for transfer hydrogenation.
Ru/Ce/Ni Metal Foams as Structured Catalysts for the Methanation of CO2
Authors: Cimino Stefano , Cepollaro Elisabetta Maria , Lisi Luciana , Fasolin Stefano , Musiani Marco , Vázquez-Gómez Lourdes
Published: December 2020

The development of highly conductive structured catalysts with enhanced mass- and heat-transfer features is required for the intensification of the strongly exothermic catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 in which large temperature gradients should be avoided to prevent catalyst deactivation and to control selectivity. Therefore, in this work we set out to investigate the preparation of novel structured catalysts obtained from a commercial open cell Ni foam with high pore density (75 ppi) onto which a CeO2 layer was deposited via electroprecipitation, and, eventually, Ru was added by impregnation. Composite Ru/Ce/Ni foam catalysts, as well as simpler binary Ru/Ni and Ce/Ni catalysts were characterized by SEM-EDX, XRD, cyclic voltammetry, N2 physisorption, H2-temperature programmed reduction (TPR), and their CO2 methanation activity was assessed at atmospheric pressure in a fixed bed flow reactor via temperature programmed tests in the range from 200 to 450 °C. Thin porous CeO2 layers, uniformly deposited on the struts of the Ni foams, produced active catalytic sites for the hydrogenation of CO2 at the interface between the metal and the oxide. The methanation activity was further boosted by the dispersion of Ru within the pores of the CeO2 layer, whereas the direct deposition of Ru on Ni, by either impregnation or pulsed electrodeposition methods, was much less effective.
The Inflammatory Cytokine IL-3 Hampers Cardioprotection Mediated by Endothelial Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Possibly via Their Protein Cargo
Authors: Penna Claudia , Femminò Saveria , Tapparo Marta , Lopatina Tatiana , Fladmark Kari Espolin , Ravera Francesco , Comità Stefano , Alloatti Giuseppe , Giusti Ilaria , Dolo Vincenza , Camussi Giovanni , Pagliaro Pasquale , Brizzi Maria Felice
Published: December 2020

The biological relevance of extracellular vesicles (EV) released in an ischemia/reperfusion setting is still unclear. We hypothesized that the inflammatory microenvironment prevents cardioprotection mediated by endothelial cell (EC)-derived extracellular vesicles. The effects of naïve EC-derived EV (eEV) or eEV released in response to interleukin-3 (IL-3) (eEV-IL-3) were evaluated in cardiomyoblasts (H9c2) and rat hearts. In transwell assay, eEV protected the H9c2 exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) more efficiently than eEV-IL-3. Conversely, only eEV directly protected H9c2 cells to H/R-induced damage. Consistent with this latter observation, eEV, but not eEV-IL-3, exerted beneficial effects in the whole heart. Protein profiles of eEV and eEV-IL-3, established using label-free mass spectrometry, demonstrated that IL-3 drives changes in eEV-IL-3 protein cargo. Gene ontology analysis revealed that both eEV and eEV-IL-3 were equipped with full cardioprotective machinery, including the Nitric Oxide Signaling in the Cardiovascular System. eEV-IL-3 were also enriched in the endothelial-nitric oxide-synthase (eNOS)-antagonist caveolin-1 and proteins related to the inflammatory response. In vitro and ex vivo experiments demonstrated that a functional Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase (MEK1/2)/eNOS/guanylyl-cyclase (GC) pathway is required for eEV-mediated cardioprotection. Consistently, eEV were found enriched in MEK1/2 and able to induce the expression of B-cell-lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and the phosphorylation of eNOS in vitro. We conclude that an inflammatory microenvironment containing IL-3 changes the eEV cargo and impairs eEV cardioprotective action.
Generation of CSF1-Independent Ramified Microglia-Like Cells from Leptomeninges In Vitro
Authors: Tanaka Junya , Takahashi Hisaaki , Yano Hajime , Nakanishi Hiroshi
Published: December 2020

Although del Río-Hortega originally reported that leptomeningeal cells are the source of ramified microglia in the developing brain, recent views do not seem to pay much attention to this notion. In this study, in vitro experiments were conducted to determine whether leptomeninges generate ramified microglia. The leptomeninges of neonatal rats containing Iba1+ macrophages were peeled off the brain surface. Leptomeningeal macrophages strongly expressed CD68 and CD163, but microglia in the brain parenchyma did not. Leptomeningeal macrophages expressed epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as revealed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining. Cells obtained from the peeled-off leptomeninges were cultured in a serum-free medium containing EGF, resulting in the formation of large cell aggregates in which many proliferating macrophages were present. In contrast, colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1) did not enhance the generation of Iba1+ cells from the leptomeningeal culture. The cell aggregates generated ramified Iba1+ cells in the presence of serum, which express CD68 and CD163 at much lower levels than primary microglia isolated from a mixed glial culture. Therefore, the leptomeningeal-derived cells resembled parenchymal microglia better than primary microglia. This study suggests that microglial progenitors expressing EGFR reside in the leptomeninges and that there is a population of microglia-like cells that grow independently of CSF1.
Adipose-Derived Stem Cells from Obese Donors Polarize Macrophages and Microglia toward a Pro-Inflammatory Phenotype
Authors: Harrison Mark A. A. , Wise Rachel M. , Benjamin Brooke P. , Hochreiner Emily M. , Mohiuddin Omair A. , Bunnell Bruce A.
Published: December 2020

Macrophages and microglia represent the primary phagocytes and first line of defense in the peripheral and central immune systems. They activate and polarize into a spectrum of pro- and anti-inflammatory phenotypes in response to various stimuli. This activation is tightly regulated to balance the appropriate immune response with tissue repair and homeostasis. Disruption of this balance results in inflammatory disease states and tissue damage. Adipose stem cells (ASCs) have great therapeutic potential because of the potent immunomodulatory capabilities which induce the polarization of microglia and macrophages to the anti-inflammatory, M2, phenotype. In this study, we examined the effects of donor heterogeneity on ASC function. Specifically, we investigated the impact of donor obesity on ASC stemness and immunomodulatory abilities. Our findings revealed that ASCs from obese donors (ObASCs) exhibited reduced stem cell characteristics when compared to ASCs from lean donors (LnASCs). We also found that ObASCs promote a pro-inflammatory phenotype in murine macrophage and microglial cells, as indicated by the upregulated expression of pro-inflammatory genes, increased nitric oxide pathway activity, and impaired phagocytosis and migration. These findings highlight the importance of considering individual donor characteristics such as obesity when selecting donors and cells for use in ASC therapeutic applications and regenerative medicine.
Evaluation of Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Pediatric Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis
Authors: Jang Yoon Young , Ahn Ji Young
Published: December 2020

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a non-invasive test for evaluating the degree of airway inflammation and for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of asthma. We attempted to measure FeNO levels in Korean children with asthma and determine its cutoff value for diagnosing asthma. We enrolled 176 children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 18 years, who visited for the evaluation of chronic cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing. Among them, 138 patients who underwent skin prick tests or inhalation Immuno CAP (UniCAP; Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden) tests for allergy testing together with a pulmonary function test were included. FeNO was measured using a NIOX MINO (Aerocrine AB, Solna, Sweden) instrument according to the American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society (ATS/ERS) guidelines. There were 29 patients with asthma, 43 with rhinitis, and 38 with asthma and allergic rhinitis. In the asthma group, FeNO levels significantly correlated with total immunoglobulin E (r = 0.572, p < 0.001), but did not show significant correlation with pulmonary function test parameters (forced vital capacity—FVC, forced expiratory volume in one second—FEV1, FEV1/FVC) or PC20 (provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in FEV1). The FeNO cutoff values obtained in the asthma and asthma rhinitis groups were 16.5 ppb and 18.5 ppb, respectively. Hence, we provide a FeNO cutoff value according to the presence or absence of rhinitis in pediatric patients with asthma.
Testing and Evaluation of Anchor Channels under Fatigue Loading
Authors: Fröhlich Thilo , Lotze Dieter
Published: December 2020

Cast-in anchor channels are used to connect steel components to concrete structures e.g., for elevators, cranes or machines, where repeated load cycles require verification against fatigue failure. The fatigue resistance of anchor channels may be determined by tests according to the interactive method, which provides a complete description of the S/N curve from one to infinite load cycles according to the current assessment document. This procedure differs from conventional fatigue concepts, which do not consider loads that are part of low cycle fatigue, but also question the general existence of an endurance limit. An alternative approach presented in this paper is based on the assumption that the S/N curve can be approximated by a bilinear function. The procedure for the evaluation of fatigue tests on anchor channels embedded in concrete is described. A comparison with the current qualification criteria is given by a test example to discuss the applicability of the proposed method.
Influence of Volume Fraction of Long-Period Stacking Ordered Structure Phase on the Deformation Processes during Cyclic Deformation of Mg-Y-Zn Alloys
Authors: Drozdenko Daria , Farkas Gergely , Šimko Pavol , Fekete Klaudia , Čapek Jan , Garcés Gerardo , Ma Dong , An Ke , Máthis Kristián
Published: December 2020

Deformation mechanisms in extruded Mg-Y-Zn alloys with different volume fractions of the long-period stacking ordered (LPSO) structure have been investigated during cyclic loading, i.e., compression followed by unloading and reverse tensile loading. Electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) and in situ neutron diffraction (ND) techniques are used to determine strain path dependence of the deformation mechanisms. The twinning-detwinning mechanism operated in the α-Mg phase is of key importance for the subsequent hardening behavior of alloys with complex microstructures, consisting of α-Mg and LPSO phases. Besides the detailed analysis of the lattice strain development as a function of the applied stress, the dislocation density evolution in particular alloys is determined.
Multivariate Analysis Applications in X-ray Diffraction
Authors: Guccione Pietro , Lopresti Mattia , Milanesio Marco , Caliandro Rocco
Published: December 2020

Multivariate analysis (MA) is becoming a fundamental tool for processing in an efficient way the large amount of data collected in X-ray diffraction experiments. Multi-wedge data collections can increase the data quality in case of tiny protein crystals; in situ or operando setups allow investigating changes on powder samples occurring during repeated fast measurements; pump and probe experiments at X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) sources supply structural characterization of fast photo-excitation processes. In all these cases, MA can facilitate the extraction of relevant information hidden in data, disclosing the possibility of automatic data processing even in absence of a priori structural knowledge. MA methods recently used in the field of X-ray diffraction are here reviewed and described, giving hints about theoretical background and possible applications. The use of MA in the framework of the modulated enhanced diffraction technique is described in detail.
Point of Care Diagnostics in the Age of COVID-19
Authors: Rezaei Meysam , Razavi Bazaz Sajad , Zhand Sareh , Sayyadi Nima , Jin Dayong , Stewart Martin P. , Ebrahimi Warkiani Majid
Published: December 2020

The recent outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its associated serious respiratory disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), poses a major threat to global public health. Owing to the lack of vaccine and effective treatments, many countries have been overwhelmed with an exponential spread of the virus and surge in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Current standard diagnostic methods are inadequate for widespread testing as they suffer from prolonged turn-around times (>12 h) and mostly rely on high-biosafety-level laboratories and well-trained technicians. Point-of-care (POC) tests have the potential to vastly improve healthcare in several ways, ranging from enabling earlier detection and easier monitoring of disease to reaching remote populations. In recent years, the field of POC diagnostics has improved markedly with the advent of micro- and nanotechnologies. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, POC technologies have been rapidly innovated to address key limitations faced in existing standard diagnostic methods. This review summarizes and compares the latest available POC immunoassay, nucleic acid-based and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats- (CRISPR)-mediated tests for SARS-CoV-2 detection that we anticipate aiding healthcare facilities to control virus infection and prevent subsequent spread.
In-Series U-Net Network to 3D Tumor Image Reconstruction for Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recognition
Authors: Chen Wen-Fan , Ou Hsin-You , Liu Keng-Hao , Li Zhi-Yun , Liao Chien-Chang , Wang Shao-Yu , Huang Wen , Cheng Yu-Fan , Pan Cheng-Tang
Published: December 2020

Cancer is one of the common diseases. Quantitative biomarkers extracted from standard-of-care computed tomography (CT) scan can create a robust clinical decision tool for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). According to the current clinical methods, the situation usually accounts for high expenditure of time and resources. To improve the current clinical diagnosis and therapeutic procedure, this paper proposes a deep learning-based approach, called Successive Encoder-Decoder (SED), to assist in the automatic interpretation of liver lesion/tumor segmentation through CT images. The SED framework consists of two different encoder-decoder networks connected in series. The first network aims to remove unwanted voxels and organs and to extract liver locations from CT images. The second network uses the results of the first network to further segment the lesions. For practical purpose, the predicted lesions on individual CTs were extracted and reconstructed on 3D images. The experiments conducted on 4300 CT images and LiTS dataset demonstrate that the liver segmentation and the tumor prediction achieved 0.92 and 0.75 in Dice score, respectively, by as-proposed SED method.
Deportalization, Venous Congestion, Venous Deprivation: Serial Measurements of Volumes and Functions on Morphofunctional 99mTc-Mebrofenin SPECT-CT
Authors: Piron Lauranne , Deshayes Emmanuel , Cassinotto Christophe , Quenet François , Panaro Fabrizio , Hermida Margaux , Allimant Carole , Assenat Eric , Pageaux Georges-Philippe , Molinari Nicolas , Guiu Boris
Published: December 2020

The objective was to assess the changes in regional volumes and functions under venous-impaired vascular conditions following liver preparation. Twelve patients underwent right portal vein embolization (PVE) (n = 5) or extended liver venous deprivation (eLVD, i.e., portal and right and middle hepatic veins embolization) (n = 7). Volume and function measurements of deportalized liver, venous-deprived liver and congestive liver were performed before and after PVE/eLVD at days 7, 14 and 21 using 99mTc-mebrofenin hepatobiliary scintigraphy with single-photon emission computed tomography and computed tomography (99mTc-mebrofenin SPECT-CT). Volume and function progressed independently in the deportalized liver (p = 0.47) with an early decrease in function (median −18.2% (IQR, −19.4–−14.5) at day 7) followed by a decrease in volume (−19.3% (−22.6–−14.4) at day 21). Volume and function progressed independently in the venous deprived liver (p = 0.80) with a marked and early decrease in function (−41.1% (−52.0–−12.9) at day 7) but minimal changes in volume (−4.7% (−10.4–+3.9) at day 21). Volume and function progressed independently in the congestive liver (p = 0.21) with a gradual increase in volume (+43.2% (+38.3–+51.2) at day 21) that preceded a late and moderate increase in function at day 21 (+34.8% (−8.3–+46.6)), concomitantly to the disappearance of hypoattenuated congestive areas in segment IV (S4) on CT, initially observed in 6/7 patients after eLVD and represented 35.3% (22.2–46.4) of whole S4 volume. Liver volume and function progress independently whatever the vascular condition. Hepatic congestion from outflow obstruction drives volume increase but results in early impaired function.
Analysis of Online Classes in Physical Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Yu Jieun , Jee Yongseok
Published: December 2020

Background and objectives: This study analyzed the effectiveness of the online practical classes (OPC) in physical education (PE) in compliance with the ADDIE model during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: Participants had no prior experience in OPC and total 75 participants were enrolled in this study. This study selected 15 universities in consideration of regional equality and randomly selected two professors and three students from each university. Results: (1) The learning interventions were not feasible for team projects. (2) In the implementation phase, most learners felt that errors persisted. (3) In the evaluation phase, educators reported unenthusiastic involvement of students and the learners were merely submitting assignments. (4) An appropriate level of the effectiveness through OPC showed significantly different between educators and learners. Conclusions: The findings indicate that timely and quality feedback should be provided for the successful execution of OPC in PE; the educators should prepare ahead and reduce technical errors and motivate learners continuously. Lastly, to prepare for the new normal after COVID-19, universities should provide enough time for educators to make OPC-videos and teach students in real time to ensure consistent feedback.
Impact of Unreliable Content on Social Media Users during COVID-19 and Stance Detection System
Authors: Wani Mudasir Ahmad , Agarwal Nancy , Bours Patrick
Published: December 2020

The abundant dissemination of misinformation regarding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents another unprecedented issue to the world, along with the health crisis. Online social network (OSN) platforms intensify this problem by allowing their users to easily distort and fabricate the information and disseminate it farther and rapidly. In this paper, we study the impact of misinformation associated with a religious inflection on the psychology and behavior of the OSN users. The article presents a detailed study to understand the reaction of social media users when exposed to unverified content related to the Islamic community during the COVID-19 lockdown period in India. The analysis was carried out on Twitter users where the data were collected using three scraping packages, Tweepy, Selenium, and Beautiful Soup, to cover more users affected by this misinformation. A labeled dataset is prepared where each tweet is assigned one of the four reaction polarities, namely, E (endorse), D (deny), Q (question), and N (neutral). Analysis of collected data was carried out in five phases where we investigate the engagement of E, D, Q, and N users, tone of the tweets, and the consequence upon repeated exposure of such information. The evidence demonstrates that the circulation of such content during the pandemic and lockdown phase had made people more vulnerable in perceiving the unreliable tweets as fact. It was also observed that people absorbed the negativity of the online content, which induced a feeling of hatred, anger, distress, and fear among them. People with similar mindset form online groups and express their negative attitude to other groups based on their opinions, indicating the strong signals of social unrest and public tensions in society. The paper also presents a deep learning-based stance detection model as one of the automated mechanisms for tracking the news on Twitter as being potentially false. Stance classifier aims to predict the attitude of a tweet towards a news headline and thereby assists in determining the veracity of news by monitoring the distribution of different reactions of the users towards it. The proposed model, employing deep learning (convolutional neural network(CNN)) and sentence embedding (bidirectional encoder representations from transformers(BERT)) techniques, outperforms the existing systems. The performance is evaluated on the benchmark SemEval stance dataset. Furthermore, a newly annotated dataset is prepared and released with this study to help the research of this domain.
A Simulation Framework for Developing Autonomous Drone Navigation Systems
Authors: Casado Rafael , Bermúdez Aurelio
Published: December 2020

Unmanned aerial vehicles are gaining popularity in an ever-increasing range of applications, mainly because they are able to navigate autonomously. In this work, we describe a simulation framework that can help engineering students who are starting out in the field of aerial robotics to acquire the necessary competences and skills for the development of autonomous drone navigation systems. In our framework, drone behavior is defined in a graphical way, by means of very intuitive state machines, whereas low-level control details have been abstracted. We show how the framework can be used to develop a navigation system proposal according to the rules of the “ESII Drone Challenge” student competition. We also show how the proposal can be evaluated in different test scenarios.
Ultra-Wideband MIMO Array for Penetrating Lunar Regolith Structures on the Chang’e-5 Lander
Authors: Lu Wei , Li Yuxi , Ji Yicai , Tang Chuanjun , Zhou Bin , Fang Guangyou
Published: December 2020

The Chang’e-5 lunar exploration mission of China is equipped with a Lunar Regolith Penetrating Radar (LRPR) for measuring the thickness and structures of the lunar regolith in the landing area. Since the LRPR is stationary, an ultra-wideband multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) array is designed as a replacement for conventional mobile subsurface probing systems. The MIMO array, with 12 antenna elements and a switch matrix, operates in the frequency band from 1.0 to 4.75 GHz. In this work, the design and layout of the antenna elements were optimized with respect to the lander. To this end, the antenna elements were designed as miniaturized Vivaldi antennas with quarter elliptical slots (i.e., quarter elliptical slotted antenna, or QESA). QESAs are significantly small while being able to mitigate the impact of the lander on antenna electrical performances. QESAs also have a wide operating bandwidth, flat gain, and excellent time domain characteristics. In addition, a high-temperature resistant ultra-light radome with high transmissivity is designed to protect the external antenna array. After calibration, the MIMO array is used to detect targets embedded in volcanic ash. The detection depth reaches 2.5 m, and the detection effect is good.
A Public Platform for Virtual IoT-Based Monitoring and Tracking of COVID-19
Authors: Jung Younchan , Agulto Ronnel
Published: December 2020

The world is developing an app that alerts my smartphone when a COVID-19 (COrona VIrus Disease 19) confirmed case comes near me. However, regardless of what will be put to practical use first, the COVID-19 tracking system should satisfy the issues of legalization of location tracking and scalability as a public platform used by the world. Additional problems need solutions related to real-time authentication for information gathering, blind naming and privacy of tracked persons, and quality of service on the Query/Reply procedure. This paper proposes the Software-Defined Networking Controller-centric global public platform to monitor and track information for the COVID-19 relevant people and provide real-time information disclosure services to world-wide Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCs) and regular users. The CDC manages a list of people who needs to be monitored related to the COVID-19 and forcibly installs COVID-19 virtual Internet of Things (vIoT) nodes in the form of applications on their smartphones. In addition to these nodes, the vIoT support nodes also engage as information providers to improve the quality of information services. The design of our platform aims to ensure confidentiality and authentication services giving individually different secret keys. In addition, our platform meets system scalability and reduces Query/Reply latency, where the platform accommodates a large number of world-wide CDCs and persons in control per CDC.
Assisted Migration Field Tests in Canada and Mexico: Lessons, Limitations, and Challenges
Authors: Sáenz-Romero Cuauhtémoc , O'Neill Greg , Aitken Sally N. , Lindig-Cisneros Roberto
Published: December 2020

Assisted migration of forest tree populations through reforestation and restoration is a climate change adaptation strategy under consideration in many jurisdictions. Matching climates in which seed sources evolved with near future climates projected for plantation sites should help reduce maladaptation and increase plantation health and productivity. For threatened tree species, assisted migration outside of the species range could help avert extinction. Here, we examine lessons, limitations, and challenges of assisted migration through the lens of three assisted migration field trials of conifers in Canada and Mexico: Pinus albicaulis Engelm., an endangered subalpine tree species in the mountains of western North America; the Picea glauca (Moench) Voss × P. engelmannii Parry ex Engelm hybrid complex, of great economic and ecological importance in western Canada, and Abies religiosa (Kunth) Schltdl. & Cham., a tree species that provides overwintering sites for the monarch butterfly. We conclude that: (a) negative impacts of climate change on productivity of Picea glauca × P. engelmannii may be mitigated by planting seed sources from locations that are 3 °C mean coldest month temperature warmer than the plantation; (b) it is possible to establish Pinus albicaulis outside of its current natural distribution at sites that have climates that are within the species’ modelled historic climatic niche, although developing disease-resistant trees through selective breeding is a higher priority in the short term; (c) Abies religiosa performs well when moved 400 m upward in elevation and local shrubs (such as Baccharis conferta Kunth) are used as nurse plants; (d) new assisted migration field trials that contain populations from a wide range of climates tested in multiple disparate climates are needed, despite the costs; and (e) where naturalization of a migrated tree species in recipient ecosystem is viewed as undesirable, the invasive potential of the tree species should be assessed prior to large scale establishment, and stands should be monitored regularly following establishment.
Divergent Adaptation Strategies of Vascular Facultative Epiphytes to Bark and Soil Habitats: Insights from Stoichiometry
Authors: Zhang Tingting , Liu Wenyao , Hu Tao , Tang Dandan , Mo Yuxuan , Wu Yi
Published: December 2020

Understanding the stoichiometric traits of plants is critical for studying their ecological adaptation strategies. Facultative epiphytes (which can also live on the ground) are an important component of epiphytic flora of montane forest ecosystems. However, a key gap persists in our understanding how facultative epiphytes can adapt different nutritional conditions of ground and canopy habitats? To study adaptive strategies of facultative epiphytes and the characteristics of the content and stoichiometric homeostasis of C, N, and P elements, we conducted a field experiment and a greenhouse N and P additions cultivation experiment. We found that epiphytic individuals of facultative epiphytes showed lower C:N and C:P ratios, higher variation in elemental composition, and more pronounced N limitation than terrestrial individuals. Moreover, facultative epiphytes showed strong control over the elemental composition of leaves, and their stoichiometric homeostasis of leaves and stems were stronger than roots. Furthermore, the homeostasis of facultative epiphytes decreased in the order N > P. Our results indicated that epiphytic and terrestrial individuals of facultative epiphytes have difference in nutrient limitation, and they use plastic strategies in different habitats. Epiphytic individuals survive in the intermittent habitat through luxury consumption of nutrient while terrestrial individuals were relatively conservative nutrient users. Furthermore, our results implied that facultative epiphytes maintain stable metabolic leaf activity via variable element concentrations of roots to adapt to highly heterogeneous forest habitats.
Estimating Wind Damage in Forested Areas Due to Tornadoes
Authors: Mansour Mohamed A. , Rhee Daniel M. , Newson Timothy , Peterson Chris , Lombardo Franklin T.
Published: December 2020

Research Highlights: Simulations of treefall patterns during tornado events have been conducted, enabling the coupled effects of tornado characteristics, tree properties and soil conditions to be assessed for the first time. Background and Objectives: Treefall patterns and forest damage assessed in post-storm surveys are dependent on the interaction between topography, biology and meteorology, which makes identification of characteristic behavior challenging. Much of our knowledge of tree damage during extreme winds is based on synoptic storms. Better characterization of tree damage will provide more knowledge of tornado impacts on forests, as well as their ecological significance. Materials and Methods: a numerical method based on a Rankine vortex model coupled with two mechanistic tree models for critical wind velocity for stem break and windthrow was used to simulate tornadic tree damage. To calibrate the models, a treefall analysis of the Alonsa tornado was used. Parametric study was conducted to assess induced tornadic tree failure patterns for uprooting on saturated and unsaturated soils and stem break with different knot factors. Results: A power law relationship between failure bending moments and diameter at breast height (DBH) for the hardwood species provided the best correlation. Observed failure distributions of stem break and windthrow along the tornado track were fitted to lognormal distributions and the mean of the critical wind speeds for windthrow were found to be higher than that for stem break. Relationships between critical wind speed and tree size were negatively correlated for windthrow and positively correlated for stem break. Higher soil moisture contents and lower knot factors reduced the critical wind speeds. The simulations show varying tree fall patterns displaying forward and backward convergence, different tornado damage widths and asymmetry of the tracks. These variations were controlled by the relative magnitudes of radial and tangential tornado velocities, the ratio between translational speed and maximum rotational wind speed and the mode of failure of the trees. Conclusions: The results show the complexity of predicting tornadic damage in forests, and it is anticipated that this type of simulation will aid risk assessments for insurance companies, emergency managers and forest authorities.