bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ensemble Methods for Jump-Diffusion Models of Power Prices
Authors: Mari Carlo , Baldassari Cristiano
Published: April 2021

We propose a machine learning-based methodology which makes use of ensemble methods with the aims (i) of treating missing data in time series with irregular observation times and detecting anomalies in the observed time behavior; (ii) of defining suitable models of the system dynamics. We applied this methodology to US wholesale electricity price time series that are characterized by missing data, high and stochastic volatility, jumps and pronounced spikes. For missing data, we provide a repair approach based on the missForest algorithm, an imputation algorithm which is completely agnostic about the data distribution. To identify anomalies, i.e., turbulent movements of power prices in which jumps and spikes are observed, we took into account the no-gap reconstructed electricity price time series, and then we detected anomalous regions using the isolation forest algorithm, an anomaly detection method that isolates anomalies instead of profiling normal data points as in the most common techniques. After removing anomalies, the additional gaps will be newly filled by the missForest imputation algorithm. In this way, a complete and clean time series describing the stable dynamics of power prices can be obtained. The decoupling between the stable motion and the turbulent motion allows us to define suitable jump-diffusion models of power prices and to provide an estimation procedure that uses the full information contained in both the stable and the turbulent dynamics.
It Is Still Possible to Achieve the Paris Climate Agreement: Regional, Sectoral, and Land-Use Pathways
Authors: Teske Sven , Pregger Thomas , Simon Sonja , Naegler Tobias , Pagenkopf Johannes , Deniz Özcan , van den Adel Bent , Dooley Kate , Meinshausen Malte
Published: April 2021

It is still possible to comply with the Paris Climate Agreement to maintain a global temperature ‘well below +2.0 °C’ above pre-industrial levels. We present two global non-overshoot pathways (+2.0 °C and +1.5 °C) with regional decarbonization targets for the four primary energy sectors—power, heating, transportation, and industry—in 5-year steps to 2050. We use normative scenarios to illustrate the effects of efficiency measures and renewable energy use, describe the roles of increased electrification of the final energy demand and synthetic fuels, and quantify the resulting electricity load increases for 72 sub-regions. Non-energy scenarios include a phase-out of net emissions from agriculture, forestry, and other land uses, reductions in non-carbon greenhouse gases, and land restoration to scale up atmospheric CO2 removal, estimated at −377 Gt CO2 to 2100. An estimate of the COVID-19 effects on the global energy demand is included and a sensitivity analysis describes the impacts if implementation is delayed by 5, 7, or 10 years, which would significantly reduce the likelihood of achieving the 1.5 °C goal. The analysis applies a model network consisting of energy system, power system, transport, land-use, and climate models.
Axial Flux PM In-Wheel Motor for Electric Vehicles: 3D Multiphysics Analysis
Authors: Credo Andrea , Tursini Marco , Villani Marco , Di Lodovico Claudia , Orlando Michele , Frattari Federico
Published: April 2021

The Axial Flux Permanent Magnet (AFPM) motor represents a valid alternative to the traditional radial flux motor due to its compact structure; it is suitable for in-wheel applications so that the transmission gear can be suppressed. The modeling of the motor is a purely Three-Dimensional (3D) problem and the use of 3D finite element tools allows the attainment of accurate results taking also into account the effects of the end-windings. Moreover, a 3D multiphysics analysis is essential to evaluate not only the motor performance and its thermal behavior, but also the electromagnetic forces acting on the surfaces of the stator teeth and of the magnets that face the air gap. Moreover, as the vehicle’s motors often work in variable-speed conditions, the prediction of vibrations and noise for electric motors over a wide speed range is usually necessary. The paper presents a double-sided AFPM motor for a small pure electric vehicle; the basic drive architecture includes four axial flux motors installed directly inside the vehicle’s wheels. The aim is to propose advanced and integrated electromagnetic, vibroacoustic and thermal analyses that allow the investigation of the axial flux motor behavior in a detailed and exhaustive way.
A Multiple-Grid Lattice Boltzmann Method for Natural Convection under Low and High Prandtl Numbers
Authors: Nabavizadeh Seyed Amin , Barua Himel , Eshraghi Mohsen , Felicelli Sergio D.
Published: April 2021

A multi-distribution lattice Boltzmann Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook (BGK) model with a multiple-grid lattice Boltzmann (MGLB) model is proposed to efficiently simulate natural convection over a wide range of Prandtl numbers. In this method, different grid sizes and time steps for heat transfer and fluid flow equations are chosen. The model is validated against natural convection in a square cavity, since extensive benchmark solutions are available for that problem. The proposed method can resolve the computational difficulty in simulating problems with very different time scales, in particular, when using extremely low or high Prandtl numbers. The technique can also enhance computational speed and stability while keeping the simplicity of the BGK method. Compared with the conventional lattice Boltzmann method, the simulation time can be reduced up to one-tenth of the time while maintaining the accuracy in an acceptable range. The proposed model can be extended to other lattice Boltzmann collision models and three-dimensional cases, making it a great candidate for large-scale simulations.
Effect of Sea Buckthorn on Plasma Glucose in Individuals with Impaired Glucose Regulation: A Two-Stage Randomized Crossover Intervention Study
Authors: Ren Zhongxia , Gong Huiting , Zhao Ai , Zhang Jian , Yang Chenlu , Wang Peiyu , Zhang Yumei
Published: April 2021

Sea buckthorn (SB) has been indicated to have hypoglycemic potential, but its effects on glucose in people with impaired glucose regulation (IGR) are still unclear. This work presents a randomized, double-blinded, two-way crossover study. A total of 38 subjects with IGR completed the intervention of consuming sea buckthorn fruit puree (SBFP, 90 mL/day, five weeks), washing out (four weeks), and then consuming placebo (90 mL/day, five weeks) or in reverse order. In our methodology, a unified questionnaire was used to gather information on physical activity and dietary intakes, and physical examinations were performed to measure blood pressure, height, and weight. Fasting blood samples were collected to detect the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycated serum protein (GSP). To calculate the area under the curve of 2 h postprandial plasma glucose (2 h PG-AUC), blood samples at t = 30, 60, and 120 min were also collected and analyzed. Effects of the intervention were evaluated by paired-sample Wilcoxon test and mixed model analyses. Our results show that the FPG in subjects with IGR decreased by a median reduction of 0.14 mmol/L after five weeks’ consumption of SBFP, but increased by a median of 0.07 mmol/L after placebo intervention, and the comparison of these two interventions was statistically significant (p = 0.045). During the wash-out period, a similar difference was observed as the FPG decreased in the group that received SBFP intervention first, but increased in another group (p = 0.043). Both SBFP and placebo significantly raised GSP during the intervention period, but lowered it in the wash-out period (p < 0.05), while no significant difference was found between the two interventions. The 2 h PG-AUC remained relatively stable throughout the study. Our results indicated that consumption of SBFP for five weeks showed a slight downward trend on FPG in subjects with IGR.
Wearable Devices for Physical Activity and Healthcare Monitoring in Elderly People: A Critical Review
Authors: Teixeira Eduardo , Fonseca Hélder , Diniz-Sousa Florêncio , Veras Lucas , Boppre Giorjines , Oliveira José , Pinto Diogo , Alves Alberto Jorge , Barbosa Ana , Mendes Romeu , Marques-Aleixo Inês
Published: April 2021

The availability of wearable devices (WDs) to collect biometric information and their use during activities of daily living is significantly increasing in the general population. These small electronic devices, which record fitness and health-related outcomes, have been broadly utilized in industries such as medicine, healthcare, and fitness. Since they are simple to use and progressively cheaper, they have also been used for numerous research purposes. However, despite their increasing popularity, most of these WDs do not accurately measure the proclaimed outcomes. In fact, research is equivocal about whether they are valid and reliable methods to specifically evaluate physical activity and health-related outcomes in older adults, since they are mostly designed and produced considering younger subjects’ physical and mental characteristics. Additionally, their constant evolution through continuous upgrades and redesigned versions, suggests the need for constant up-to-date reviews and research. Accordingly, this article aims to scrutinize the state-of-the-art scientific evidence about the usefulness of WDs, specifically on older adults, to monitor physical activity and health-related outcomes. This critical review not only aims to inform older consumers but also aid researchers in study design when selecting physical activity and healthcare monitoring devices for elderly people.
Economic Evaluation of Emotional and Personal Support in the Health Care of Women with Disabilities
Authors: Vargas-Vargas Manuel , Meseguer-Santamaría María-Leticia , Sánchez-Alberola Francisco
Published: April 2021

It is generally accepted that people with disabilities make greater use of health services. Moreover, certain social circumstances alter the intensity of such use. This manuscript seeks to analyze the existing differences in the use of healthcare among women with and without disabilities, to study the impact of emotional and personal support (EPS) on such use and to assess the reduction of the economic cost that this factor entails. Data from the Spanish National Health Survey (SNHS-2017) and updated unit costs of health services have been used to estimate the differences in use attributable to disability and the economic impact of emotional and personal support. The empirical results show an association between disability and perceived EPS, the latter being less common among Spanish women with disabilities. In addition, within this group, EPS significantly influences the levels of use of health services. Finally, the net effect of a perceived EPS increase would translate into a reduction in the economic costs of health care for women with disabilities.
Person-Centered Health Promotion: Learning from 10 Years of Practice within Long Term Conditions
Authors: Downey John , Bloxham Saul , Jane Ben , Layden Joseph D. , Vaughan Sam
Published: April 2021

The utilization of person-centered care is highlighted as essential for health promotion, yet implementation has been inconsistent and multiple issues remain. There is a dearth of applied research exploring the facets of successful implementation. In this paper, a person-centered wellbeing program spanning various groups is discussed, outlining the central principles that have allowed for successful outcomes. Ten years of pragmatic pre–post service evaluation have shown consistent improvement in measures of functional capacity and wellbeing. The method for this paper is a reflective exploration of the theory and practices that can explain the continual improvement the clinics have achieved over 10 years. Core principles relate to connecting with people, connecting through groups, and connecting with self. The operationalization and theoretical explanation of these principles is outlined. The discussion of these principles posits essential factors to prioritize to advance the implementation of person-centered care in health promotion for long-term conditions.
Our Vulnerable Dark Side—Two Laboratory Approaches
Authors: Lämmle Lena , Ziegler Matthias
Published: April 2021

The Dark Triad of personality has been associated with aggression against others as a reaction to perceived provocations. However, previous work has also shown that such responsive aggression even occurs if it means harming oneself. The first of two laboratory studies aimed to investigate whether this relation between the Dark Triad and self-harming behavior also occurs in situations where no others are affected but self-harm is likely. The second laboratory study considered two different settings in a within-participants design in order to analyze the stability of self-harming behavior and to what extent the Dark Triad constructs influence this behavior. The sample for study 1 consisted of 151 students (45.7% female) with a mean age of 21.40 years (SD = 2.19); the sample for study 2 consisted of 251 students (76.0% female) with a mean age of 22.21 years (SD = 3.90). Aside from the Dark Triad’s common core, depending on how self-harm was triggered (ego-threat (mainly narcissism), being alone with one’s own thoughts (mainly psychopathy), or reward condition (mainly Machiavellianism)), the Dark Triad traits differed in their responsiveness but were stable over the last two conditions, thereby suggesting a vulnerable side of the Dark Triad.
Telling Our Stories: Resilience during Resettlement for African Skilled Migrants in Australia
Authors: Mwanri Lillian , Anderson Leticia , Gatwiri Kathomi
Published: April 2021

Background: Emigration to Australia by people from Africa has grown steadily in the past two decades, with skilled migration an increasingly significant component of migration streams. Challenges to resettlement in Australia by African migrants have been identified, including difficulties securing employment, experiences of racism, discrimination and social isolation. These challenges can negatively impact resettlement outcomes, including health and wellbeing. There has been limited research that has examined protective and resilience factors that help highly skilled African migrants mitigate the aforementioned challenges in Australia. This paper discusses how individual and community resilience factors supported successful resettlement Africans in Australia. The paper is contextualised within a larger study which sought to investigate how belonging and identity inform Afrodiasporic experiences of Africans in Australia. Methods: A qualitative inquiry was conducted with twenty-seven (n = 27) skilled African migrants based in South Australia, using face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Participants were not directly questioned about ‘resilience,’ but were encouraged to reflect critically on how they navigated the transition to living in Australia, and to identify factors that facilitated a successful resettlement. Results: The study findings revealed a mixture of settlement experiences for participants. Resettlement challenges were observed as barriers to fully meeting expectations of emigration. However, there were significant protective factors reported that supported resilience, including participants’ capacities for excellence and willingness to work hard; the social capital vested in community and family support networks; and African religious and cultural values and traditions. Many participants emphasised their pride in their contributions to Australian society as well as their desire to contribute to changing narratives of what it means to be African in Australia. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that despite challenges, skilled African migrants’ resilience, ambition and determination were significant enablers to a healthy resettlement in Australia, contributing effectively to social, economic and cultural expectations, and subsequently meeting most of their own migration intentions. These findings suggest that resilience factors identified in the study are key elements of integration.
Validation of the Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Activities-Revised Scale in Chinese Adults
Authors: Li Wenjie , Zhang Linting , Jia Ning , Kong Feng
Published: April 2021

The Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Activities-Revised scale (HEMA-R) is one of the most extensively used instruments to assess how people pursue well-being. The main aims of the present research were to translate HEMA-R into Chinese and test its construct and predictive validity as well as measurement invariance across gender. In Study 1, we conducted confirmatory factor analysis with data containing 1090 Chinese undergraduates, and replicated the two-factor model which has been found in other studies. Furthermore, the measurement invariance across gender was supported throughout the multi-group confirmatory factor analysis. Study 2 replicated these results and further found the HEMA-R had satisfactory predictive validity in measures of well-being, social support and smartphone addiction. All the findings indicate that the HEMA-R is reliable and valid to measure hedonic and eudaimonic motives, and it could be applied generally across gender in Chinese adults.
Semantics of Voids within Data: Ignorance-Aware Machine Learning
Authors: Terziyan Vagan , Nikulin Anton
Published: April 2021

Operating with ignorance is an important concern of geographical information science when the objective is to discover knowledge from the imperfect spatial data. Data mining (driven by knowledge discovery tools) is about processing available (observed, known, and understood) samples of data aiming to build a model (e.g., a classifier) to handle data samples that are not yet observed, known, or understood. These tools traditionally take semantically labeled samples of the available data (known facts) as an input for learning. We want to challenge the indispensability of this approach, and we suggest considering the things the other way around. What if the task would be as follows: how to build a model based on the semantics of our ignorance, i.e., by processing the shape of “voids” within the available data space? Can we improve traditional classification by also modeling the ignorance? In this paper, we provide some algorithms for the discovery and visualization of the ignorance zones in two-dimensional data spaces and design two ignorance-aware smart prototype selection techniques (incremental and adversarial) to improve the performance of the nearest neighbor classifiers. We present experiments with artificial and real datasets to test the concept of the usefulness of ignorance semantics discovery.
Mining Topological Dependencies of Recurrent Congestion in Road Networks
Authors: Tempelmeier Nicolas , Feuerhake Udo , Wage Oskar , Demidova Elena
Published: April 2021

The discovery of spatio-temporal dependencies within urban road networks that cause Recurrent Congestion (RC) patterns is crucial for numerous real-world applications, including urban planning and the scheduling of public transportation services. While most existing studies investigate temporal patterns of RC phenomena, the influence of the road network topology on RC is often overlooked. This article proposes the ST-Discovery algorithm, a novel unsupervised spatio-temporal data mining algorithm that facilitates effective data-driven discovery of RC dependencies induced by the road network topology using real-world traffic data. We factor out regularly reoccurring traffic phenomena, such as rush hours, mainly induced by the daytime, by modelling and systematically exploiting temporal traffic load outliers. We present an algorithm that first constructs connected subgraphs of the road network based on the traffic speed outliers. Second, the algorithm identifies pairs of subgraphs that indicate spatio-temporal correlations in their traffic load behaviour to identify topological dependencies within the road network. Finally, we rank the identified subgraph pairs based on the dependency score determined by our algorithm. Our experimental results demonstrate that ST-Discovery can effectively reveal topological dependencies in urban road networks.
A Potential Role for Fructosamine-3-Kinase in Cataract Treatment
Authors: De Bruyne Sander , van Schie Loes , Himpe Jonas , De Somer Filip , Everaert Inge , Derave Wim , Van den Broecke Caroline , Huizing Manon , Bostan Nezahat , Speeckaert Marijn , Callewaert Nico , Van Aken Elisabeth , Delanghe Joris R.
Published: April 2021

Cataracts are the major cause of blindness worldwide, largely resulting from aging and diabetes mellitus. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been identified as major contributors in cataract formation because they alter lens protein structure and stability and induce covalent cross-linking, aggregation, and insolubilization of lens crystallins. We investigated the potential of the deglycating enzyme fructosamine-3-kinase (FN3K) in the disruption of AGEs in cataractous lenses. Macroscopic changes of equine lenses were evaluated after ex vivo intravitreal FN3K injection. The mechanical properties of an equine lens pair were evaluated after treatment with saline and FN3K. AGE-type autofluorescence (AF) was measured to assess the time-dependent effects of FN3K on glycolaldehyde-induced AGE-modified porcine lens fragments and to evaluate its actions on intact lenses after in vivo intravitreal FN3K injection of murine eyes. A potential immune response after injection was evaluated by analysis of IL-2, TNFα, and IFNγ using an ELISA kit. Dose- and time-dependent AF kinetics were analyzed on pooled human lens fragments. Furthermore, AF measurements and a time-lapse of macroscopic changes were performed on intact cataractous human eye lenses after incubation with an FN3K solution. At last, AF measurements were performed on cataractous human eyes after crossover topical treatment with either saline- or FN3K-containing drops. While the lenses of the equine FN3K-treated eyes appeared to be clear, the saline-treated lenses had a yellowish-brown color. Following FN3K treatment, color restoration could be observed within 30 min. The extension rate of the equine FN3K-treated lens was more than twice the extension rate of the saline-treated lens. FN3K treatment induced significant time-dependent decreases in AGE-related AF values in the AGE-modified porcine lens fragments. Furthermore, in vivo intravitreal FN3K injection of murine eyes significantly reduced AF values of the lenses. Treatment did not provoke a systemic immune response in mice. AF kinetics of FN3K-treated cataractous human lens suspensions revealed dose- and time-dependent decreases. Incubation of cataractous human eye lenses with FN3K resulted in a macroscopic lighter color of the cortex and a decrease in AF values. At last, crossover topical treatment of intact human eyes revealed a decrease in AF values during FN3K treatment, while showing no notable changes with saline. Our study suggests, for the first time, a potential additional role of FN3K as an alternative treatment for AGE-related cataracts.
Pathway from TDP-43-Related Pathology to Neuronal Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration
Authors: Riku Yuichi , Seilhean Danielle , Duyckaerts Charles , Boluda Susana , Iguchi Yohei , Ishigaki Shinsuke , Iwasaki Yasushi , Yoshida Mari , Sobue Gen , Katsuno Masahisa
Published: April 2021

Transactivation response DNA binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) is known to be a pathologic protein in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). TDP-43 is normally a nuclear protein, but affected neurons of ALS or FTLD patients exhibit mislocalization of nuclear TDP-43 and cytoplasmic inclusions. Basic studies have suggested gain-of-neurotoxicity of aggregated TDP-43 or loss-of-function of intrinsic, nuclear TDP-43. It has also been hypothesized that the aggregated TDP-43 functions as a propagation seed of TDP-43 pathology. However, a mechanistic discrepancy between the TDP-43 pathology and neuronal dysfunctions remains. This article aims to review the observations of TDP-43 pathology in autopsied ALS and FTLD patients and address pathways of neuronal dysfunction related to the neuropathological findings, focusing on impaired clearance of TDP-43 and synaptic alterations in TDP-43-related ALS and FTLD. The former may be relevant to intraneuronal aggregation of TDP-43 and exocytosis of propagation seeds, whereas the latter may be related to neuronal dysfunction induced by TDP-43 pathology. Successful strategies of disease-modifying therapy might arise from further investigation of these subcellular alterations.
The Links between ALS and NF-κB
Authors: Källstig Emma , McCabe Brian D. , Schneider Bernard L.
Published: April 2021

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease wherein motor neuron degeneration leads to muscle weakness, progressive paralysis, and death within 3–5 years of diagnosis. Currently, the cause of ALS is unknown but, as with several neurodegenerative diseases, the potential role of neuroinflammation has become an increasingly popular hypothesis in ALS research. Indeed, upregulation of neuroinflammatory factors have been observed in both ALS patients and animal models. One such factor is the inflammatory inducer NF-κB. Besides its connection to inflammation, NF-κB activity can be linked to several genes associated to familial forms of ALS, and many of the environmental risk factors of the disease stimulate NF-κB activation. Collectively, this has led many to hypothesize that NF-κB proteins may play a role in ALS pathogenesis. In this review, we discuss the genetic and environmental connections between NF-κB and ALS, as well as how this pathway may affect different CNS cell types, and finally how this may lead to motor neuron degeneration.
Is There an Interconnection between Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and Telomere Shortening in Aging?
Authors: Imran Siti A. M. , Yazid Muhammad Dain , Idrus Ruszymah Bt Hj , Maarof Manira , Nordin Abid , Razali Rabiatul Adawiyah , Lokanathan Yogeswaran
Published: April 2021

Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) was first discovered during the transition of cells from the primitive streak during embryogenesis in chicks. It was later discovered that EMT holds greater potential in areas other than the early development of cells and tissues since it also plays a vital role in wound healing and cancer development. EMT can be classified into three types based on physiological functions. EMT type 3, which involves neoplastic development and metastasis, has been the most thoroughly explored. As EMT is often found in cancer stem cells, most research has focused on its association with other factors involving cancer progression, including telomeres. However, as telomeres are also mainly involved in aging, any possible interaction between the two would be worth noting, especially as telomere dysfunction also contributes to cancer and other age-related diseases. Ascertaining the balance between degeneration and cancer development is crucial in cell biology, in which telomeres function as a key regulator between the two extremes. The essential roles that EMT and telomere protection have in aging reveal a potential mutual interaction that has not yet been explored, and which could be used in disease therapy. In this review, the known functions of EMT and telomeres in aging are discussed and their potential interaction in age-related diseases is highlighted.
Fibromyalgia: Pathogenesis, Mechanisms, Diagnosis and Treatment Options Update
Authors: Siracusa Rosalba , Paola Rosanna Di , Cuzzocrea Salvatore , Impellizzeri Daniela
Published: April 2021

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome characterized by chronic and widespread musculoskeletal pain, often accompanied by other symptoms, such as fatigue, intestinal disorders and alterations in sleep and mood. It is estimated that two to eight percent of the world population is affected by fibromyalgia. From a medical point of view, this pathology still presents inexplicable aspects. It is known that fibromyalgia is caused by a central sensitization phenomenon characterized by the dysfunction of neuro-circuits, which involves the perception, transmission and processing of afferent nociceptive stimuli, with the prevalent manifestation of pain at the level of the locomotor system. In recent years, the pathogenesis of fibromyalgia has also been linked to other factors, such as inflammatory, immune, endocrine, genetic and psychosocial factors. A rheumatologist typically makes a diagnosis of fibromyalgia when the patient describes a history of pain spreading in all quadrants of the body for at least three months and when pain is caused by digital pressure in at least 11 out of 18 allogenic points, called tender points. Fibromyalgia does not involve organic damage, and several diagnostic approaches have been developed in recent years, including the analysis of genetic, epigenetic and serological biomarkers. Symptoms often begin after physical or emotional trauma, but in many cases, there appears to be no obvious trigger. Women are more prone to developing the disease than men. Unfortunately, the conventional medical therapies that target this pathology produce limited benefits. They remain largely pharmacological in nature and tend to treat the symptomatic aspects of various disorders reported by the patient. The statistics, however, highlight the fact that 90% of people with fibromyalgia also turn to complementary medicine to manage their symptoms.
Colony Suppression and Possible Colony Elimination of the Subterranean Termites Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes speratus by Discontinuous Soil Treatment Using a Diluent of Fipronil Suspension Concentrate
Authors: Itakura Shuji , Ohdake Johji , Takino Takashi , Umezawa Kiwamu
Published: April 2021

We assessed the efficacy of a discontinuous soil treatment using a diluent of fipronil suspension concentrate in controlling colonies of Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes speratus. In-ground monitoring stations were installed at Isogi Park and Kindai University, and individual termites inhabiting the stations were collected for four or six years to determine the numbers and locations of colonies present in test areas before and after the discontinuous soil treatment. Microsatellite genotyping indicated that two C. formosanus and two R. speratus colonies in the test area at Isogi Park and five R. speratus colonies in the test area at Kindai University were active and that their territories fluctuated every year. One of the two C. formosanus colonies at Isogi Park and one of the five R. speratus colonies at Kindai University were subjected to discontinuous soil treatments with fipronil and were strongly affected by the treatment at the colony level, resulting in the suppression and possible elimination of colonies. Termite activity of the fipronil-treated colony of C. formosanus was detected within one week after the discontinuous soil treatment and was not found for more than two years (28 months), while termite activity of the fipronil-treated colony of R. speratus was detected within four days and three weeks after the discontinuous soil treatment and was not detected thereafter for three years. Fipronil residue analysis showed that workers of C. formosanus moved at least 28 m and that workers of R. speratus moved 6 m from the treated soil locations for up to three weeks.
Effect of Acute Normobaric Hypoxia Exposure on Executive Functions among Young Physically Active Males
Authors: Chroboczek Maciej , Kostrzewa Maciej , Micielska Katarzyna , Grzywacz Tomasz , Laskowski Radosław
Published: April 2021

Background: On the one hand, hypoxic exposure may result in progressive brain metabolism disturbance, causing subsequent cognitive impairments. On the other hand, it might also enhance neurogenesis and brain vascularization as well as accelerate cerebral blood flow, leading to cognitive function improvement. The aim of this study was to investigate whether progressive stages of normobaric hypoxia (NH) (FIO2 = 13%, FIO2 = 12%, and FIO2 = 11%) differentially affect post-exposure cognitive performance. Methods: Fifteen physically active men (age = 23.1 ± 2.1) participated in the study. The Stroop test (ST) was applied to assess cognitive function. To generate NH conditions, a hypoxic normobaric air generator was used. Results: We observed an executive function impairment (“naming” interference p < 0.05) after NH exposure (FIO2 = 13%). After exposure at FIO2 = 12% and FIO2 = 11%, no changes were observed in the Stroop test. Also, changes in SpO2 during subsequent NH exposure were observed. Conclusions: The current investigation shows that executive functions deteriorate after acute NH exposure and this post-exposure deterioration is not proportional to the normobaric hypoxia stages among young physically active males.
Early Prognostic Indicators of Subsequent Hospitalization in Patients with Mild COVID-19
Authors: Ylescupidez Alyssa , Rips Aaron , Bahnson Henry T. , Speake Cate , Verma Punam , Hocking Anne M. , Buckner Jane H. , Malhotra Uma
Published: April 2021

Comprehensive data on early prognostic indicators in patients with mild COVID-19 remains sparse. In this single center case series, we characterized the initial clinical presentation in 180 patients with mild COVID-19 and defined the earliest predictors of subsequent deterioration and need for hospitalization. Three broad patient phenotypes and four symptom clusters were characterized, differentiated by varying risk for adverse outcomes. Among 14 symptoms assessed, subjective shortness of breath (SOB) most strongly associated with adverse outcomes (odds ratio (OR) 21.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.7–166.4; p < 0.0001). In combination, SOB and number of comorbidities were highly predictive of subsequent hospitalization (area under the curve (AUC) 92%). Additionally, initial lymphopenia (OR 21.0, 95% CI: 2.1–210.1; p = 0.002) and male sex (OR 3.5, 95% CI: 0.9–13.0; p = 0.05) were associated with increased risk of poor outcomes. Patients with known comorbidities, especially multiple, and those presenting with subjective SOB or lymphopenia should receive close monitoring and consideration for preemptive treatment, even when presenting with mild symptoms.
SARS-CoV-2 Renal Impairment in Critical Care: An Observational Study of 42 Cases (Kidney COVID)
Authors: Molina Barragan Antoine-Marie , Pardo Emmanuel , Galichon Pierre , Hantala Nicolas , Gianinazzi Anne-Charlotte , Darrivere Lucie , Tsai Eileen S. , Garnier Marc , Bonnet Francis , Fieux Fabienne , Verdonk Franck
Published: April 2021

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection leads to 5% to 16% hospitalization in intensive care units (ICU) and is associated with 23% to 75% of kidney impairments, including acute kidney injury (AKI). The current work aims to precisely characterize the renal impairment associated to SARS-CoV-2 in ICU patients. Forty-two patients consecutively admitted to the ICU of a French university hospital who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 between 25 March 2020, and 29 April 2020, were included and classified in categories according to their renal function. Complete renal profiles and evolution during ICU stay were fully characterized in 34 patients. Univariate analyses were performed to determine risk factors associated with AKI. In a second step, we conducted a logistic regression model with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analyses to assess major comorbidities as predictors of AKI. Thirty-two patients (94.1%) met diagnostic criteria for intrinsic renal injury with a mixed pattern of tubular and glomerular injuries within the first week of ICU admission, which lasted upon discharge. During their ICU stay, 24 patients (57.1%) presented AKI which was associated with increased mortality (p = 0.007), hemodynamic failure (p = 0.022), and more altered clearance at hospital discharge (p = 0.001). AKI occurrence was associated with lower pH (p = 0.024), higher PaCO2 (CO2 partial pressure in the arterial blood) (p = 0.027), PEEP (positive end-expiratory pressure) (p = 0.027), procalcitonin (p = 0.015), and CRP (C-reactive protein) (p = 0.045) on ICU admission. AKI was found to be independently associated with chronic kidney disease (adjusted OR (odd ratio) 5.97 (2.1–19.69), p = 0.00149). Critical SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with persistent intrinsic renal injury and AKI, which is a risk factor of mortality. Mechanical ventilation settings seem to be a critical factor of kidney impairment.
Risk Stratification after an Acute Coronary Syndrome: Significance of Antithrombotic Therapy
Authors: Brazhnik Victoria A. , Minushkina Larisa O. , Boeva Olga I. , Khasanov Niyaz R. , Kosmacheva Elena D. , Chichkova Marina A. , Zateyshchikov Dmitry A.
Published: April 2021

The impact of the de-escalation strategy of antiplatelet therapy (APT) on the life expectancy after acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) requires an assessment in real clinical practice. Into the Russian multicentral observational trial (ORACLE II ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04068909), 1803 patients with ACS and PCI indications were enrolled. During 12 months of follow-up, 228 all-cause deaths have occurred. The analysis of death predictors was carried out by the classification tree method. Age, an option of antithrombotic therapy, a history of chronic heart failure, and uric acid level had the greatest prognostic value. The death prediction model’s sensitivity was 82.1% in the training cohort and 79.2% in the test cohort. During the observation period, ticagrelor was replaced with clopidogrel (APT de-escalation) in 357 patients. The groups of patients with different antiplatelet therapy options were adjusted for clinical parameters by the pseudorandomization method. The de-escalation group had the lowerest all-cause death rate. The incidence of bleeding and recurrent nonfatal coronary events in the study groups did not differ significantly. Thus, the APT regimen’s advantage of changing from the maximum in the first weeks after ACS to moderate at follow-up has been confirmed. There is an obvious need to study the possibilities of individualizing antiplatelet therapy in patients after acute coronary syndromes.
Preclinical In Vivo Modeling of Pediatric Sarcoma—Promises and Limitations
Authors: Imle Roland , Kommoss Felix K. F. , Banito Ana
Published: April 2021

Pediatric sarcomas are an extremely heterogeneous group of genetically distinct diseases. Despite the increasing knowledge on their molecular makeup in recent years, true therapeutic advancements are largely lacking and prognosis often remains dim, particularly for relapsed and metastasized patients. Since this is largely due to the lack of suitable model systems as a prerequisite to develop and assess novel therapeutics, we here review the available approaches to model sarcoma in vivo. We focused on genetically engineered and patient-derived mouse models, compared strengths and weaknesses, and finally explored possibilities and limitations to utilize these models to advance both biological understanding as well as clinical diagnosis and therapy.
Information Security and Cybersecurity Management: A Case Study with SMEs in Portugal
Authors: Antunes Mário , Maximiano Marisa , Gomes Ricardo , Pinto Daniel
Published: April 2021

Information security plays a key role in enterprises management, as it deals with the confidentiality, privacy, integrity, and availability of one of their most valuable resources: data and information. Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SME) are seen as a blind spot in information security and cybersecurity management, which is mainly due to their size, regional and familiar scope, and financial resources. This paper presents an information security and cybersecurity management project, in which a methodology based on the well-known ISO-27001:2013 standard was designed and implemented in fifty SMEs that were located in the center region of Portugal. The project was conducted by a business association located at the center of Portugal and mainly participated by SMEs. The Polytechnic of Leiria and an IT auditing/consulting team were the other two entities that participated on the project. The characterisation of the participating enterprises, the ISO-27001:2013 based methodology developed and implemented in SMEs, as well as the results obtained in this case study, are depicted and analysed in the paper. The attained results show a clear benefit to the audited and intervened SMEs, being mainly attested by the increasing of their information security management robustness and collaborators’ cyberawareness.
Impact of Breast Size on Dosimetric Indices in Proton Versus X-ray Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer
Authors: Cunningham Lisa , Penfold Scott , Giles Eileen , Le Hien , Short Michala
Published: April 2021

Deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) radiotherapy is a technique used to manage early stage left-sided breast cancer. This study compared dosimetric indices of patient-specific X-ray versus proton therapy DIBH plans to explore differences in target coverage, radiation doses to organs at risk, and the impact of breast size. Radiotherapy plans of sixteen breast cancer patients previously treated with DIBH radiotherapy were re-planned with hybrid inverse-planned intensity modulated X-ray radiotherapy (h-IMRT) and intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT). The total prescribed dose was 40.05 Gy in 15 fractions for all cases. Comparisons between the clinical, h-IMRT, and IMPT evaluated doses to target volumes, organs at risk, and correlations between doses and breast size. Although no differences were observed in target volume coverage between techniques, the h-IMRT and IMPT were able to produce more even dose distributions and IMPT delivered significantly less dose to all organs at risk than both X-ray techniques. A moderate negative correlation was observed between breast size and dose to the target in X-ray techniques, but not IMPT. Both h-IMRT and IMPT produced plans with more homogeneous dose distribution than forward-planned IMRT and IMPT achieved significantly lower doses to organs at risk compared to X-ray techniques.
A Rare Case of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Temporally Associated to the COVID-19 Vaccine Administration
Authors: D’Agostino Vincenzo , Caranci Ferdinando , Negro Alberto , Piscitelli Valeria , Tuccillo Bernardino , Fasano Fabrizio , Sirabella Giovanni , Marano Ines , Granata Vincenza , Grassi Roberta , Pupo Davide , Grassi Roberto
Published: April 2021

Globally, at the time of writing (20 March 2021), 121.759.109 confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported to the WHO, including 2.690.731 deaths. Globally, on 18 March 2021, a total of 364.184.603 vaccine doses have been administered. In Italy, 3.306.711 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 103.855 deaths have been reported to WHO. In Italy, on 9 March 2021, a total of 6.634.450 vaccine doses have been administered. On 15 March 2021, Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) decided to temporarily suspend the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine throughout the country as a precaution, pending the rulings of the European Medicines Agency (EMA). This decision was taken in line with similar measures adopted by other European countries due to the death of vaccinated people. On 18 March 2021, EMA’s safety committee concluded its preliminary review about thromboembolic events in people vaccinated with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca at its extraordinary meeting, confirming the benefits of the vaccine continue to outweigh the risk of side effects, however, the vaccine may be associated with very rare cases of blood clots associated with thrombocytopenia, i.e., low levels of blood platelets with or without bleeding, including rare cases of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). We report the case of a 54-year-old woman who developed disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) with multi-district thrombosis 12 days after the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine administration. A brain computed tomography (CT) scan showed multiple subacute intra-axial hemorrhages in atypical locations, including the right frontal and the temporal lobes. A plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA) of the right coronary artery was performed, without stent implantation, with restoration of distal flow, but with persistence of extensive thrombosis of the vessel. A successive thorax angio-CT added the findings of multiple contrast filling defects with multi-vessel involvement: at the level of the left upper lobe segmental branches, of left interlobar artery, of the right middle lobe segmental branches and of the right interlobar artery. A brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the same day showed the presence of an acute basilar thrombosis associated with the superior sagittal sinus thrombosis. An abdomen angio-CT showed filling defects at the level of left portal branch and at the level of right suprahepatic vein. Bilaterally, it was adrenal hemorrhage and blood in the pelvis. An evaluation of coagulation factors did not show genetic alterations so as the nasopharyngeal swab ruled out a COVID-19 infection. The patient died after 5 days of hospitalization in intensive care.
Determinants of Corporate Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Reporting among Asian Firms
Authors: Abdul Rahman Rashidah , Alsayegh Maha Faisal
Published: April 2021

Departing from previous studies, which have mostly focused on Western countries, our work investigates the determinants of the corporate environment, social and governance (ESG) reporting among Asian firms. Examining Asian public listed firms from 2005 to 2017, our cross-sectional model results indicate that firm characteristics (economic performance, profitability, leverage and size) are found to disclose additional ESG information. The outcome is consistent with the legitimacy theory, which posits that firms provide higher ESG reporting to legitimize and justify the firm’s continuous existence. The findings are important for firms, stakeholders and policymakers. While firms may formulate ways to improve ESG reporting to compete in the international market, the stakeholders may pressure firms to disclose more information on ESG and policymakers to designalegal framework on ESG that suits firms in Asia.