bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Optimal Tetralogy of Fallot Repair Using Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Zhang Guangming , Mao Yujie , Li Mingliang , Peng Li , Ling Yunfei , Zhou Xiaobo
Published: February 2021

Background

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a type of congenital cardiac disease with pulmonary artery (PA) stenosis being the most common defect. Repair surgery needs an appropriate patch to enlarge the narrowed artery from the right ventricular (RV) to the PA.

Methods

In this work, we proposed a generative adversarial networks (GANs) based method to optimize the patch size, shape, and location. Firstly, we built the 3D PA of patients by segmentation from cardiac computed tomography angiography. After that, normal and stenotic areas of each PA were detected and labeled into two sub-images groups. Then a GAN was trained based on these sub-images. Finally, an optimal prediction model was utilized to repair the PA with patch augmentation in the new patient.

Results

The fivefold cross-validation (CV) was performed for optimal patch prediction based on GANs in the repair of TOF and the CV accuracy was 93.33%, followed by the clinical outcome. This showed that the GAN model has a significant advantage in finding the best balance point of patch optimization.

Conclusion

This approach has the potential to reduce the intraoperative misjudgment rate, thereby providing a detailed surgical plan in patients with TOF.
Integrated Assessment of Nickel Electroplating Industrial Wastewater Effluent as a Renewable Resource of Irrigation Water Using a Hydroponic Cultivation System
Authors: Chow Y. N. , Lee L. K. , Zakaria N. A. , Foo K. Y.
Published: February 2021

Nickel, a micronutrient essential for plant growth and development, has been recognized as a metallic pollutant in wastewater. The concentration of nickel ions in the water course, exceeding the maximum tolerable limit, has called for an alarming attention, due to the bioaccumulative entry in the water–plant–human food chain, leaving a burden of deteriorative effects on visible characteristics, physiological processes, and oxidative stress response in plants. In this work, the renewable utilization of nickel electroplating industrial wastewater effluent (0, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100%) as a viable source of irrigation water was evaluated using a hydroponic cultivation system, by adopting Lablab purpureus and Brassica chinensis as the plant models, in relation to the physical growth, physiological and morphological characteristics, photosynthetic pigments, proline, and oxidative responses. The elongation of roots and shoots in L. purpureus and B. chinensis was significantly inhibited beyond 25 and 5% of industrial wastewater. The chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents, accompanied by alterations in the morphologies of xylem, phloem, and distortion of stomata, were recorded in the industrial wastewater-irrigated groups, with pronounced toxicity effects detected in B. chinensis. Excessive proline accumulation was recorded in the treated plant models. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) scavenging activities were drastically altered, with a profound upregulation effect in the POD activity in L. purpureus and both POD and APX in B. chinensis, predicting the nickel-induced oxidative stress. Conclusively, the diluted industrial wastewater effluent up to the optimum concentrations of 5 and 25%, respectively, could be feasibly reused as a renewable resource for B. chinensis and L. purpureus irrigation, verified by the minimal or negligible phytotoxic implications in the plant models. The current findings have shed light on the interruption of nickel-contaminated industrial wastewater effluent irrigation practice on the physical and biochemical features of food crops and highlighted the possibility of nutrient recycling via wastewater reuse in a sustainable soilless cultivation.
Social Support and Cognition: A Systematic Review
Authors: Costa-Cordella Stefanella , Arevalo-Romero Camilo , Parada Francisco J. , Rossi Alejandra
Published: February 2021

Although the influence of social support in health is a widely acknowledged factor, there is a significant gap in the understanding of its role on cognition. The purpose of this systematic review was, therefore, to determine the state-of-the-art on the literature testing the association between social support and cognition. Using six databases (WoS, PubMed, ProQuest, PsycINFO, Scopus and EBSCOhost), we identified 22 articles published between 1999 and 2019 involving an empirical quantitative focus which meet the inclusion criteria. Data extraction was performed following PRISMA recommendations. To summarize the extracted data, we used a narrative synthesis approach. Despite limitations, there is overall preliminary evidence of a relevant positive association between social support and cognition. Our results demonstrate there is enough information for an outbreak of experimental research in the area and an expansion of this body of knowledge. We argue that the present evidence lays the foundations for a more comprehensive theoretical model, one that corresponds with the complexity of the topic and possibly considers models derived from social interaction and active inference theories.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Professional Development Training on Autism and Culturally Responsive Practice for Educators and Practitioners in Ethiopia
Authors: Zeleke Waganesh A. , Hughes Tammy L. , Kanyongo Gibbs
Published: February 2021

This study examines the effect of professional development training on educators' and practitioners' knowledge of Autism and the use of culturally responsive practices. Using a single group, pre-post design, data was gathered from 34 educators and health professionals (i.e., teachers, counselors, psychologists, therapists, therapeutic care workers, social workers, and nurses) in Ethiopia. A week-long training covering ASDs and culturally responsive evidence-based training was provided to participants. Results showed significant improvement in participants' knowledge about ASD symptoms, nature, characteristics, as well as intervention selection. Participants' use of culturally informed approaches, in their area of professional service, showed a high level of participants' knowledge and low-level use of culturally responsive practices, policies, and procedures. Recommendations for addressing cultural factors impacting the diagnosis and treatment-seeking approaches to ASD in Africa are provided.
Elevated Brain Glutamate Levels in Bipolar Disorder and Pyruvate Carboxylase-Mediated Anaplerosis
Authors: Shen Jun , Tomar Jyoti Singh
Published: February 2021

In vivo1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies have found elevated brain glutamate or glutamate + glutamine levels in bipolar disorder with surprisingly high reproducibility. We propose that the elevated glutamate levels in bipolar disorder can be explained by increased pyruvate carboxylase-mediated anaplerosis in brain. Multiple independent lines of evidence supporting increased pyruvate carboxylase-mediated anaplerosis as a common mechanism underlying glutamatergic hyperactivity in bipolar disorder and the positive association between bipolar disorder and obesity are also described.
Static Rest Frame to Improve Postural Stability in Virtual and Augmented Reality
Authors: Shahnewaz Ferdous Sharif Mohammad , Chowdhury Tanvir Irfan , Arafat Imtiaz Muhammad , Quarles John
Published: February 2021

Many users have shown increased postural instability while using Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs) as HMDs block their real-world vision. People with balance impairments are especially more affected by this as they depend more on their visual cues to maintain their balance. In addition, balance is a good indication of cybersickness according to postural instability theory. In this research, we have investigated how to use additional visual cues to improve postural stability. Through conducting one user study in Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), we have studied the effect of a Static Rest Frame (SRF) on postural stability in persons with balance impairments due to Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Results indicate that an SRF significantly improves postural stability in VR and AR for users with MS. Based on these results, we propose guidelines for designing more accessible VR and AR systems for persons with balance impairments.
Modeling the Impact of Riparian Hollows on River Corridor Nitrogen Exports
Authors: Rogers D. Brian , Newcomer Michelle E. , Raberg Jonathan H. , Dwivedi Dipankar , Steefel Carl , Bouskill Nicholas , Nico Peter , Faybishenko Boris , Fox Patricia , Conrad Mark , Bill Markus , Brodie Eoin , Arora Bhavna , Dafflon Baptiste , Williams Kenneth H. , Hubbard Susan S.
Published: February 2021

Recent studies in snowmelt-dominated catchments have documented changes in nitrogen (N) retention over time, such as declines in watershed exports of N, though there is a limited understanding of the controlling processes driving these trends. Working in the mountainous headwater East River Colorado watershed, we explored the effects of riparian hollows as N-cycling hotspots and as important small-scale controls on observed watershed trends. Using a modeling-based approach informed by remote sensing and in situ observations, we simulated the N-retention capacity of riparian hollows with seasonal and yearly hydrobiogeochemical perturbations imposed as drivers. We then implemented a scaling approach to quantify the relative contribution of riparian hollows to the total river corridor N budget. We found that riparian hollows primarily serve as N sinks, with N-transformation rates significantly limited by periods of enhanced groundwater upwelling and promoted at the onset of rainfall events. Given these observed hydrologic controls, we expect that the nitrate (NO3-) sink capacity of riparian hollows will increase in magnitude with future climatic perturbations, specifically the shift to more frequent rainfall events and fewer snowmelt events, as projected for many mountainous headwater catchments. Our current estimates suggest that while riparian hollows provision ~5–20% of NO3- to the river network, they functionally act as inhibitors to upland NO3- reaching the stream. Our work linking transient hydrological conditions to numerical biogeochemical simulations is an important step in assessing N-retaining features relative to the watershed N budget and better understanding the role of small-scale features within watersheds.
Extreme Drought in the Brazilian Pantanal in 2019–2020: Characterization, Causes, and Impacts
Authors: Marengo Jose A. , Cunha Ana P. , Cuartas Luz Adriana , Deusdará Leal Karinne R. , Broedel Elisangela , Seluchi Marcelo E. , Michelin Camila Miranda , De Praga Baião Cheila Flávia , Chuchón Angulo Eleazar , Almeida Elton K. , Kazmierczak Marcos L. , Mateus Nelson Pedro António , Silva Rodrigo C. , Bender Fabiani
Published: February 2021

The Pantanal region in South America is one of the world's largest wetlands. Since 2019, the Pantanal has suffered a prolonged drought that has spelled disaster for the region, and subsequent fires have engulfed hundreds of thousands of hectares. The lack of rainfall during the summers of 2019 and 2020 was caused by reduced transport of warm and humid summer air from Amazonia into the Pantanal. Instead, a predominance of warmer and drier air masses from subtropical latitudes contributed to a scarcity of summer rainfall at the peak of the monsoon season. This led to prolonged extreme drought conditions across the region. This drought had severe impacts on the hydrology of the Pantanal. Hydrometric levels fell all along the Paraguay River. In 2020, river levels reached extremely low values, and in some sections of this river, transportation had to be restricted. Very low river levels affected the mobility of people and shipping of soybeans and minerals to the Atlantic Ocean by the Hidrovia -Paraná-Paraguai (Paraná-Paraguay Waterway). This study is directed to better understand the hydroclimatic aspects of the current drought in the Brazilian Pantanal and their impacts on natural and human systems. As a consequence of the drought, fires spread and affected natural biodiversity as well as the agribusiness and cattle ranching sectors. While fires had serious socioecological and economic consequences, we do not intend to investigate the effect of the downstream low-level waters on the Pantanal ecosystems or the drought in the risk of fire.
Vegetation Options for Increasing Resilience in Pastoral Hill Country
Authors: Tozer Katherine , Douglas Grant , Dodd Mike , Müller Karin
Published: February 2021

Steep, uncultivable hill country below 1,000 m comprises about 40% of New Zealand's land surface area. Hill country farmers require options to increase the resilience of their farms to climatic and economic extremes while addressing soil conservation and water quality issues. We profile and discuss two options that can assist in transforming hill country. The first comprises a simple approach to grazing management in hill country pastures to increase pasture resilience and the second approach focuses on including selected forage shrubs (and trees) to create grazed pasture-shrublands. Deferred grazing, the cessation of grazing from flowering until seed dispersal of the desirable species in a pasture, is an old practice which has novel applications to improve resilience of hill country farming systems. We draw on current research and practitioner experience to demonstrate the impact of deferred grazing on the resilience of the deferred pasture and the farm system. We propose that deferred grazing will: (i) increase resilience of a pasture by enabling it to better recover from biotic and abiotic stresses and (ii) reduce the risk of nutrient and sediment losses in hill country by increasing ground cover, rooting depth and soil structural stability. Introducing woody forage shrubs into hill country pastures is another option that can improve farm profitability and resilience to current and future economic and climatic variabilities. The extensive root networks of shrubs can increase soil structural stability and reduce the risk of soil erosion. In addition, shrubs can supply many other ecosystem services, such as forage and shelter for livestock. In this paper, we discuss: (i) the potential benefits of a grazed pasture-shrubland at farm, landscape and national scales; (ii) candidate woody exotic and indigenous forage species; and (iii) priorities for research.
Trends in Varietal Diversity of Main Staple Crops in Asia and Africa and Implications for Sustainable Food Systems
Authors: Gatto Marcel , de Haan Stef , Laborte Alice , Bonierbale Merideth , Labarta Ricardo , Hareau Guy
Published: February 2021

Crop species and varietal diversity on farm have the potential to trigger multiple regulating and provisioning ecosystem services. The latter is commonly assessed through targeted studies covering a select number of geographies and crop species, precluding comparisons across crops and at scale. This study draws on a large dataset on the varietal release dynamics for 11 major food crops in 44 countries of Asia and Africa to assess trends in diversity across crops and regions with a 50-year perspective. Our results show an increasing reduction of crop varietal diversity linked to the spatial displacement of traditional landraces. This trend occurs at a faster rate in Asia than in Africa. So-called mega varieties tend to increasingly dominate agricultural landscapes, adding to spatial homogeneity. We further found a negative association between varietal richness and its relative abundance, challenging the relationship between crop improvement and varietal diversity. Our results show that among cereal, pulse, and root and tuber crops, varietal diversity is lowest for cereals in Asia and highest for root and tubers in Africa. The analysis contributes new information useful to prioritize crops for which increasing varietal diversity may lead to more sustainable food systems.
Autophagy Plays a Role in the CUL4A-Related Poor Prognosis of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Weng Shao-Wen , Liu Ting-Ting , Eng Hock-Liew , You Huey-Ling , Huang Wan-Ting
Published: February 2021

CUL4A regulate the termination of autophagy in a physical process. However, the relationship between CUL4A and autophagy in cancer is unclear. We retrospectively investigated 99 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) cases. Whole sections were used for immunohistochemical analysis for p62, and LC3B expression. Q-score was defined as the sum of the labeling intensity and proportion. The cut-off point for immunoreactivity was set. CUL4A was overexpressed in cell lines and autophagy reflux was compared after manipulation. The iCCA cases with CUL4A overexpression had significantly higher prevalence of intact activated autophagy (42.4 vs. 15.2%; p = 0.003), which was significantly associated with advance tumor stage (34.1% vs. 15.4%; p = 0.032), less extensive necrosis (8.3 vs. 49.3%; p < 0.001), and shortened disease-free survival (mean, 19.6 vs. 65.5 months, p = 0.015). In vitro, iCCA cells with CUL4A overexpression significantly increased LC3II level as compared to the cells under basal condition. Although both cell types showed intact autophagy with increased LC3II expression after bafilomycin A1 treatment, the accumulation of LC3II was higher in CUL4A-overexpressing cells. CUL4A overexpression increased the proliferation of cells as compared with control cells. After treatment with bafilomycin A1, proliferation was inhibited in both cell types, but the effects were more prominent in the cells overexpressing CUL4A. CUL4A promotes autophagy, and exhibits significantly higher autophagic flux which affects the proliferation of iCCA cells; these effects correlated with advance tumor stage and poor prognosis. Thus, targeting autophagy may be potentially therapeutic in iCCA.
Equine Discomfort Ethogram
Authors: Torcivia Catherine , McDonnell Sue
Published: February 2021

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in and need for a comprehensive ethogram of discomfort behavior of horses, particularly for use in recognizing physical discomfort in domestically managed horses. A clear understanding of the physical discomfort behavior of horses among caretakers, trainers, and professional health care personnel is important to animal welfare and caretaker safety. This is particularly relevant to pain management for hospitalized equine patients. Various pain scale rubrics have been published, typically incorporating only a few classically cited pain behaviors that, in many cases, are specific to a particular body system, anatomic location, or disease condition. A consistent challenge in using these rubrics in practice, and especially in research, is difficulty interpreting behaviors listed in various rubrics. The objective of this equine discomfort ethogram is to describe a relatively comprehensive catalog of behaviors associated with discomfort of various degrees and sources, with the goal of improving understanding and clarity of communication regarding equine discomfort and pain. An inventory of discomfort-related behaviors observed in horses has been compiled over 35 years of equine behavior research and clinical consulting to medical and surgical services at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s equine hospital. This research and clinical work included systematic evaluation of thousands of hours of video-recordings, including many hundreds of normal, healthy horses, as well as hospitalized patients with various complaints and/or known medical, neurologic, or orthopedic conditions. Each of 73 ethogram entries is named, defined, and accompanied by a line drawing illustration. Links to online video recorded examples are provided, illustrating each behavior in one or more hospitalized equine patients. This ethogram, unambiguously describing equine discomfort behaviors, should advance welfare of horses by improving recognition of physical discomfort, whether for pain management of hospitalized horses or in routine husbandry.
Analysis of the Transient Behaviour in the Numerical Solution of Volterra Integral Equations
Authors: Messina Eleonora , Vecchio Antonia
Published: February 2021

In this paper, the asymptotic behaviour of the numerical solution to the Volterra integral equations is studied. In particular, a technique based on an appropriate splitting of the kernel is introduced, which allows one to obtain vanishing asymptotic (transient) behaviour in the numerical solution, consistently with the properties of the analytical solution, without having to operate restrictions on the integration steplength.
The Potential of the SP System in Machine Learning and Data Analysis for Image Processing
Authors: Wolff J. Gerard
Published: February 2021

This paper aims to describe how pattern recognition and scene analysis may with advantage be viewed from the perspective of the SP system (meaning the SP theory of intelligence and its realisation in the SP computer model (SPCM), both described in an appendix), and the strengths and potential of the system in those areas. In keeping with evidence for the importance of information compression (IC) in human learning, perception, and cognition, IC is central in the structure and workings of the SPCM. Most of that IC is achieved via the powerful concept of SP-multiple-alignment, which is largely responsible for the AI-related versatility of the system. With examples from the SPCM, the paper describes: how syntactic parsing and pattern recognition may be achieved, with corresponding potential for visual parsing and scene analysis; how those processes are robust in the face of errors in input data; how in keeping with what people do, the SP system can “see” things in its data that are not objectively present; the system can recognise things at multiple levels of abstraction and via part-whole hierarchies, and via an integration of the two; the system also has potential for the creation of a 3D construct from pictures of a 3D object from different viewpoints, and for the recognition of 3D entities.
Proteolytic Cleavages in the VEGF Family: Generating Diversity among Angiogenic VEGFs, Essential for the Activation of Lymphangiogenic VEGFs
Authors: Künnapuu Jaana , Bokharaie Honey , Jeltsch Michael
Published: February 2021

Specific proteolytic cleavages turn on, modify, or turn off the activity of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs). Proteolysis is most prominent among the lymph­angiogenic VEGF-C and VEGF-D, which are synthesized as precursors that need to undergo enzymatic removal of their C- and N-terminal propeptides before they can activate their receptors. At least five different proteases mediate the activating cleavage of VEGF-C: plasmin, ADAMTS3, prostate-specific antigen, cathepsin D, and thrombin. All of these proteases except for ADAMTS3 can also activate VEGF-D. Processing by different proteases results in distinct forms of the “mature” growth factors, which differ in affinity and receptor activation potential. The “default” VEGF-C-activating enzyme ADAMTS3 does not activate VEGF-D, and therefore, VEGF-C and VEGF-D do function in different contexts. VEGF-C itself is also regulated in different contexts by distinct proteases. During embryonic development, ADAMTS3 activates VEGF-C. The other activating proteases are likely important for non-developmental lymphangiogenesis during, e.g., tissue regeneration, inflammation, immune response, and pathological tumor-associated lymphangiogenesis. The better we understand these events at the molecular level, the greater our chances of developing successful therapies targeting VEGF-C and VEGF-D for diseases involving the lymphatics such as lymphedema or cancer.
The Overall Efficacy and Outcomes of Metronomic Tegafur-Uracil Chemotherapy on Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Real-World Cohort Experience
Authors: Yeh Tsung-Jang , Chan Leong-Perng , Tsai Hui-Ting , Hsu Chin-Mu , Cho Shih-Feng , Pan Mei-Ren , Liu Yi-Chang , Huang Chih-Jen , Wu Che-Wei , Du Jeng-Shiun , Wang Hui-Ching
Published: February 2021

Metronomic chemotherapy inhibits tumor growth by continuous administration of lower-dose chemotherapy. Our study aimed to demonstrate the outcomes of metronomic chemotherapy with tegafur–uracil in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA HNSCC). This was a retrospective study including 240 patients with LA HNSCC. After standard treatment, 96 patients were further treated with metronomic tegafur-uracil, and 144 patients were not. No statistical differences were found between both groups with regard to sex, clinical stage, or primary treatment choice. There were more hypopharyngeal cancers and more patients with poor clinicopathological features, including lymphovascular invasion, extranodal extension, and positive margins in the tegafur–uracil group. The median follow-up duration was 31.16 months. Overall survival (OS) was not reached in the tegafur–uracil group and was 54.1 months in the control group (p = 0.008). The median disease-free survival (DFS) was 54.5 months in the tegafur–uracil group and 34.4 months in the control group (p = 0.03). Neither group reached distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS, p = 0.02). In patients with LA HNSCC, adding tegafur–uracil as metronomic chemotherapy after either curative surgery with adjuvant chemoradiotherapy or definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy significantly improved the OS, DFS, and DMFS with tolerable adverse events.
Recent Advances in Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Suda Kenichi
Published: February 2021

The strategy to use the immune system to fight cancer is not a novel concept; in 1891, Coley reported the treatment of three cases of sarcoma by inoculation with erysipelas [...]
Mind the Gap: Mitochondria and the Endoplasmic Reticulum in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Leal Nuno Santos , Martins Luís Miguel
Published: February 2021

The way organelles are viewed by cell biologists is quickly changing. For many years, these cellular entities were thought to be unique and singular structures that performed specific roles. However, in recent decades, researchers have discovered that organelles are dynamic and form physical contacts. In addition, organelle interactions modulate several vital biological functions, and the dysregulation of these contacts is involved in cell dysfunction and different pathologies, including neurodegenerative diseases. Mitochondria–ER contact sites (MERCS) are among the most extensively studied and understood juxtapositioned interorganelle structures. In this review, we summarise the major biological and ultrastructural dysfunctions of MERCS in neurodegeneration, with a particular focus on Alzheimer’s disease as well as Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. We also propose an updated version of the MERCS hypothesis in Alzheimer’s disease based on new findings. Finally, we discuss the possibility of MERCS being used as possible drug targets to halt cell death and neurodegeneration.
Germline and Somatic Whole-Exome Sequencing Identifies New Candidate Genes Involved in Familial Predisposition to Serrated Polyposis Syndrome
Authors: Soares de Lima Yasmin , Arnau-Collell Coral , Díaz-Gay Marcos , Bonjoch Laia , Franch-Expósito Sebastià , Muñoz Jenifer , Moreira Leticia , Ocaña Teresa , Cuatrecasas Miriam , Herrera-Pariente Cristina , Carballal Sabela , Moreno Lorena , Díaz de Bustamante Aránzazu , Castells Antoni , Bujanda Luis , Cubiella Joaquín , Rodríguez-Alcalde Daniel , Balaguer Francesc , Castellví-Bel Sergi
Published: February 2021

The serrated polyposis syndrome (SPS) is the most common and yet underdiagnosed colorectal polyposis syndrome. It is characterized by multiple and/or large colonic serrated polyps and a higher associated risk for colorectal cancer (CRC). The main objective of this study was to identify new candidate genes involved in the germline predisposition to SPS/CRC. Thirty-nine SPS patients from 16 families (≥2 patients per family) were recruited without alterations in well-known hereditary CRC genes, and germline and somatic whole-exome sequencing were performed. Germline rare variants with plausible pathogenicity, located in genes involved in cancer development, senescence and epigenetic regulation were selected. Somatic mutational profiling and signature analysis was pursued in one sample per family, when possible. After data filtering, ANXA10, ASXL1, CFTR, DOT1L, HIC1, INO80, KLF3, MCM3AP, MCM8, PDLIM2, POLD1, TP53BP1, WNK2 and WRN were highlighted as the more promising candidate genes for SPS germline predisposition with potentially pathogenic variants shared within families. Somatic analysis characterized mutational profiles in advanced serrated polyps/tumors, revealing a high proportion of hypermutated samples, with a prevalence of clock-like mutational signatures in most samples and the presence of DNA mismatch repair-defective signatures in some cases. In conclusion, we identified new candidate genes to be involved in familial SPS. Further functional studies and replication in additional cohorts are required to confirm the selected candidates.
Integrated Multidisciplinary Treatment for Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Wren Anava A. , Maddux Michele H.
Published: February 2021

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract [...]
A Long-Term, Real-Life Parkinson Monitoring Database Combining Unscripted Objective and Subjective Recordings
Authors: Habets Jeroen G. V. , Heijmans Margot , Leentjens Albert F. G. , Simons Claudia J. P. , Temel Yasin , Kuijf Mark L. , Kubben Pieter L. , Herff Christian
Published: February 2021

Accurate real-life monitoring of motor and non-motor symptoms is a challenge in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The unobtrusive capturing of symptoms and their naturalistic fluctuations within or between days can improve evaluation and titration of therapy. First-generation commercial PD motion sensors are promising to augment clinical decision-making in general neurological consultation, but concerns remain regarding their short-term validity, and long-term real-life usability. In addition, tools monitoring real-life subjective experiences of motor and non-motor symptoms are lacking. The dataset presented in this paper constitutes a combination of objective kinematic data and subjective experiential data, recorded parallel to each other in a naturalistic, long-term real-life setting. The objective data consists of accelerometer and gyroscope data, and the subjective data consists of data from ecological momentary assessments. Twenty PD patients were monitored without daily life restrictions for fourteen consecutive days. The two types of data can be used to address hypotheses on naturalistic motor and/or non-motor symptomatology in PD.
Improving Performance Estimation for Design Space Exploration for Convolutional Neural Network Accelerators
Authors: Ferianc Martin , Fan Hongxiang , Manocha Divyansh , Zhou Hongyu , Liu Shuanglong , Niu Xinyu , Luk Wayne
Published: February 2021

Contemporary advances in neural networks (NNs) have demonstrated their potential in different applications such as in image classification, object detection or natural language processing. In particular, reconfigurable accelerators have been widely used for the acceleration of NNs due to their reconfigurability and efficiency in specific application instances. To determine the configuration of the accelerator, it is necessary to conduct design space exploration to optimize the performance. However, the process of design space exploration is time consuming because of the slow performance evaluation for different configurations. Therefore, there is a demand for an accurate and fast performance prediction method to speed up design space exploration. This work introduces a novel method for fast and accurate estimation of different metrics that are of importance when performing design space exploration. The method is based on a Gaussian process regression model parametrised by the features of the accelerator and the target NN to be accelerated. We evaluate the proposed method together with other popular machine learning based methods in estimating the latency and energy consumption of our implemented accelerator on two different hardware platforms targeting convolutional neural networks. We demonstrate improvements in estimation accuracy, without the need for significant implementation effort or tuning.
Forest Conservation and Renewable Energy Consumption: An ARDL Approach
Authors: Ponce Pablo , Del Río-Rama María de la Cruz , Álvarez-García José , Oliveira Cristiana
Published: February 2021

Deforestation shows the constant environmental degradation that occurs worldwide as a result of the growth of economic activity and the increase in population. This research examines the causal link between renewable energy consumption, GDP, GDP2, non-renewable energy price, population growth and forest area in high, middle- and low-income countries. Based on data obtained from World Development Indicators, the autoregressive distributed lag model, with a time series, is used to examine the long-term cointegration relationship between the variables. The results justify the existence of a joint long-term relationship between the variables analysed for the middle-income countries and low-income countries. When the forest area is not at its equilibrium level, the speed of adjustment is slow (0.44% and 8.7%), which is typical of the nature of this natural resource. An increase in the consumption of renewable energy is associated with an increase between 0.04 and 0.02 square kilometres of forest cover, respectively. The research does not show evidence about the equilibrium relationship in the short term. Growth in renewable energy consumption is one of the main drivers for preserving the forest area. Therefore, those responsible for making economic policies must aim their measures towards the use of clean energy.
Transcriptome Analysis for Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr. Seedlings from Different Carbon Sequestration Provenances in Response to Nitrogen Deficiency
Authors: Zhao Xingtang , Yu Lei , Liu Zhang , Liu Jianfei , Ji Xintong , Zhang Xu , Liu Mengqi , Mei Yushuo , Zeng Fansuo , Zhan Yaguang
Published: February 2021

To explore the molecular regulatory mechanism of high-carbon (C) sequestration Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr. (F. mandshurica) provenance and the expression profile of F. mandshurica during nitrogen (N) starvation, the foliage and roots of the annual Wuchang (WC) seedlings with greater C amount and Hailin (HL) seedlings with smaller C amount, which were grown in N-deficient nutrition and complete N, were used for RNA-seq and physiological determination, respectively. One thousand and fifty-seven differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between WC and HL and 8173 DEGs related to N deficiency were identified, respectively. The root of F. mandshurica responded to N deficiency more strongly than foliar. The target genes that responded to N deficiency in roots were mainly regulatory genes (transcription factors, hormones and protein kinases), and their response patterns were upregulated. The growth and N concentration in both WC and HL were reduced by the N deficiency, which might result from the decrease of the leaf Nitrate reductase (NR) and glutamine synthetase (GS) enzyme activity and ABA content, although the root-to-shoot ratio; lateral root number; lignin content; endogenous hormones content (GA, IAA and ZR); root GS and glutamate synthetase activity and transcriptional level of most of the regulatory genes were increased. The C sequestration capacity in WC was greater than that in HL, which related to the higher GS enzymes activity and transcriptional levels of regulatory genes and metabolic genes (terpenes, carbohydrates, and lipid energy). However, the C sequestration advantage of WC was significantly reduced by the N deficiency, which was due to the smaller response to N deficiency compared to HL.
Effects of Energy Cane (Saccharum spp.) Juice on Corn Ethanol (Zea mays) Fermentation Efficiency: Integration towards a More Sustainable Production
Authors: Sica Pietro , Prado Laysa Maciel Lewandowski Meira , Granja Pedro , Carvalho Elias Miguel de , Mattos Eduardo de Castro , Calegari Rubens Perez , Silverio Manuella , Martins Bianca Chaves , Baptista Antonio Sampaio
Published: February 2021

Despite being considered renewable, corn (Zea mays) ethanol still generates much debate over the use of fossil fuels in its production and is considered less sustainable than sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) ethanol. In Brazil, corn ethanol is starting to be produced in the Center-West and is expected to increase with the RenovaBio, a promising policy for biofuels adoption. In this context, energy cane (Saccharum spp.) is a biomass crop with high yields that can provide bagasse to supply the energy demand of the corn ethanol industry and provide juice with about 10% sugar content. However, the effects of introducing its juice in the production process are unknown. For these reasons, the objective of this study was to assess the effects of adding energy cane juice in corn ethanol production. Energy cane juice brings several advantages: (i) It provides sugars that can reduce by almost 50% the amount of corn and enzymes used, (ii) reduces the amount of water needed for ethanol production, and (iii) increases significantly the fermentation efficiency from 86.4% to 90.8% by providing minerals that support yeast growth. Therefore, energy cane can be integrated into the corn ethanol production process, making the fermentation more efficient and the production systems more sustainable.
Simulation of Thermal Radiation and Turbulent Free Convection in an Enclosure with a Glass Wall and a Local Heater
Authors: Miroshnichenko Igor V. , Toilibayev Aidar A. , Sheremet Mikhail A.
Published: February 2021

In this study, a numerical modelling of thermal radiation and turbulent thermogravitational convection in a large-scale chamber containing a thermally-generating element is conducted. The lower border of the cabinet is maintained under adiabatic conditions, while on the other walls the convective boundary conditions (Robin boundary condition) are used. The managing equations with corresponding restrictions are transformed using the stream function–vorticity formulation and then solved by employing a finite difference method. The influence of both the height and wall emissivity of the heated source on fluid motion and the heat transmission in a large-scale chamber is investigated. Our results of the calculations on non-uniform grids with algebraic transformation are in excellent agreement with other available experimental and numerical outcomes for turbulent thermal convection in enclosures. The computations indicate that the average total Nusselt number is enhanced up to 2 times with an increase in the heater height. The results show that the surface emissivity of the heat source has a great influence on the total thermal transference coefficient. Furthermore, a growth of the heater surface emissivity has no significant effect on the flow structure.
Lab-Sophistication: Does Repeated Participation in Laboratory Experiments Affect Pro-Social Behaviour?
Authors: Medda Tiziana , Pelligra Vittorio , Reggiani Tommaso
Published: February 2021

Experimental social scientists working at research-intensive institutions deal inevitably with subjects who have most likely participated in previous experiments. It is an important methodological question to know whether participants that have acquired a high level of lab-sophistication show altered pro-social behavioural patterns. In this paper, we focus both on the potential effect of the subjects’ lab-sophistication, and on the role of the knowledge about the level of lab-sophistication of the other participants. Our main findings show that while lab-sophistication per se does not significantly affect pro-social behaviour, for sophisticated subjects the knowledge about the counterpart’s level of (un)sophistication may systematically alter their choices. This result should induce caution among experimenters about whether, in their settings, information about lab-sophistication can be inferred by the participants, due to the characteristics of the recruitment mechanisms, the management of the experimental sessions or to other contextual clues.
Higher Prevalence of Dementia but No Change in Total Comfort While Dying among Nursing Home Residents with Dementia between 2010 and 2015: Results from Two Retrospective Epidemiological Studies
Authors: Miranda Rose , Smets Tinne , Van Den Noortgate Nele , Deliens Luc , Van den Block Lieve
Published: February 2021

Important policy developments in dementia and palliative care in nursing homes between 2010 and 2015 in Flanders, Belgium might have influenced which people die in nursing homes and how they die. We aimed to examine differences between 2010 and 2015 in the prevalence and characteristics of residents with dementia in nursing homes in Flanders, and their palliative care service use and comfort in the last week of life. We used two retrospective epidemiological studies, including 198 residents in 2010 and 183 in 2015, who died with dementia in representative samples of nursing homes in Flanders. We found a 15%-point increase in dementia prevalence (p-value < 0.01), with a total of 11%-point decrease in severe to very severe cognitive impairment (p = 0.04). Controlling for residents’ characteristics, in the last week of life, there was an increase in the use of pain assessment (+20%-point; p < 0.03) but no change in total comfort. The higher prevalence of dementia in nursing homes with no change in residents’ total comfort while dying emphasizes an urgent need to better support nursing homes in improving their capacities to provide timely and high-quality palliative care services to more residents dying with dementia.
Serum Free Amino Acid Profiling in Differential Diagnosis of Ovarian Tumors—A Comparative Study with Review of the Literature
Authors: Horala Agnieszka , Plewa Szymon , Derezinski Pawel , Klupczynska Agnieszka , Matysiak Jan , Nowak-Markwitz Ewa , Kokot Zenon J.
Published: February 2021

Proper preoperative ovarian cancer (OC) diagnosis remains challenging. Serum free amino acid (SFAA) profiles were investigated to identify potential novel biomarkers of OC and assess their performance in ovarian tumor differential diagnosis. Serum samples were divided based on the histopathological result: epithelial OC (n = 38), borderline ovarian tumors (n = 6), and benign ovarian tumors (BOTs) (n = 62). SFAA profiles were evaluated using aTRAQ methodology based on high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS). Levels of eleven amino acids significantly differed between OC+borderline and BOTs. The highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC of ROC) (0.787) was obtained for histidine. Cystine and histidine were identified as best single markers for early stage OC/BOT and type I OC. For advanced stage OC, seven amino acids differed significantly between the groups and citrulline obtained the best AUC of 0.807. Between type II OC and BOTs, eight amino acids differed significantly and the highest AUC of 0.798 was achieved by histidine and citrulline (AUC of 0.778). Histidine was identified as a potential new biomarker in differential diagnosis of ovarian tumors. Adding histidine to a multimarker panel together with CA125 and HE4 improved the differential diagnosis between OC and BOTs.
Use of mHealth Technology for Patient-Reported Outcomes in Community-Dwelling Adults with Acquired Brain Injuries: A Scoping Review
Authors: Juengst Shannon B. , Terhorst Lauren , Nabasny Andrew , Wallace Tracey , Weaver Jennifer A. , Osborne Candice L. , Burns Suzanne Perea , Wright Brittany , Wen Pey-Shan , Kew Chung-Lin Novelle , Morris John
Published: February 2021

The purpose of our scoping review was to describe the current use of mHealth technology for long-term assessment of patient-reported outcomes in community-dwelling individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI). Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a scoping review of literature meeting these criteria: (1) civilians or military veterans, all ages; (2) self-reported or caregiver-reported outcomes assessed via mobile device in the community (not exclusively clinic/hospital); (3) published in English; (4) published in 2015–2019. We searched Ovid MEDLINE(R) < 1946 to 16 August 2019, MEDLINE InProcess, EPub, Embase, and PsycINFO databases for articles. Thirteen manuscripts representing 12 distinct studies were organized by type of ABI [traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke] to extract outcomes, mHealth technology used, design, and inclusion of ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Outcomes included post-concussive, depressive, and affective symptoms, fatigue, daily activities, stroke risk factors, and cognitive exertion. Overall, collecting patient-reported outcomes via mHealth was feasible and acceptable in the chronic ABI population. Studies consistently showed advantage for using EMA despite variability in EMA timing/schedules. To ensure best clinical measurement, research on post-ABI outcomes should consider EMA designs (versus single time-point assessments) that provide the best timing schedules for their respective aims and outcomes and that leverage mHealth for data collection.
Oral Health Status and the Impact on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life among the Institutionalized Elderly Population: A Cross-Sectional Study in an Area of Southern Italy
Authors: Bianco Aida , Mazzea Silvia , Fortunato Leonzio , Giudice Amerigo , Papadopoli Rosa , Nobile Carmelo Giuseppe Angelo , Pavia Maria
Published: February 2021

Background: The objectives of this study were to describe the oral health status in the institutionalized geriatric population in an area of southern Italy and to identify the impact of oral health on the Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL). Methods: Data were collected from individuals aged ≥60 years in randomly selected Calabrian long-term care facilities. The dental health status was assessed recording the decayed, missing, or filled dental elements due to the carious lesions (DMFT) index, the presence of visible dental plaque, and the gingival condition. The influence of the dental health status on the self-perceived value of life was assessed using the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). Results: Among the 344 elderly individuals included, 18.4% reported frequent tooth-brushing, and only 39.9% reported the need of dental care. The DMFT index was 26.4. Less than a third of the participants had a GOHAI score of ≤50 which is suggestive of highly compromised OHRQoL. The GOHAI score was significantly better for elderly individuals with no self-perceived need of dental care and with a lower DMFT index. Conclusions: The burden of oral conditions among residents in long-term care facilities was considerable, with a high prevalence of missing teeth and dentures. Strategies targeting care providers are needed.