bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Snail Upregulates Transcription of FN, LEF, COX2, and COL1A1 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A General Model Established for Snail to Transactivate Mesenchymal Genes
Authors: Ly Tam Minh , Chen Yen-Cheng , Lee Ming-Che , Hu Chi-Tan , Cheng Chuan-Chu , Chang Hsin-Hou , You Ren-In , Wu Wen-Sheng
Published: August 2021

SNA is one of the essential EMT transcriptional factors capable of suppressing epithelial maker while upregulating mesenchymal markers. However, the mechanisms for SNA to transactivate mesenchymal markers was not well elucidated. Recently, we demonstrated that SNA collaborates with EGR1 and SP1 to directly upregulate MMP9 and ZEB1. Remarkably, a SNA-binding motif (TCACA) upstream of EGR/SP1 overlapping region on promoters was identified. Herein, we examined whether four other mesenchymal markers, lymphoid enhancer-binding factor (LEF), fibronectin (FN), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), and collagen type alpha I (COL1A1) are upregulated by SNA in a similar fashion. Expectedly, SNA is essential for expression of these mesenchymal genes. By deletion mapping and site directed mutagenesis coupled with dual luciferase promoter assay, SNA-binding motif and EGR1/SP1 overlapping region are required for TPA-induced transcription of LEF, FN, COX2 and COL1A1. Consistently, TPA induced binding of SNA and EGR1/SP1 on relevant promoter regions of these mesenchymal genes using ChIP and EMSA. Thus far, we found six of the mesenchymal genes are transcriptionally upregulated by SNA in the same fashion. Moreover, comprehensive screening revealed similar sequence architectures on promoter regions of other SNA-upregulated mesenchymal markers, suggesting that a general model for SNA-upregulated mesenchymal genes can be established.
Metavariables Resuming Host Immune Features and Nodal Involvement Are Associated with Oncological Outcomes in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Missale Francesco , Bugatti Mattia , Mattavelli Davide , Lonardi Silvia , Lombardi Davide , Nicolai Piero , Piazza Cesare , Battocchio Simonetta , Bozzola Anna Maria , Calza Stefano , Vermi William
Published: August 2021

Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common head and neck cancer characterized by a poor prognosis associated with locoregional or distant failure. Among the predictors of prognosis, a dense infiltration of adaptive immune cells is protective and associated with improved clinical outcomes. However, few tools are available to integrate immune contexture variables into clinical settings. By using digital microscopy analysis of a large retrospective OSCC cohort (n = 182), we explored the clinical significance of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T-cells. To this end, CD8+ T-cells counts were combined with well-established clinical variables and peripheral blood immune cell parameters. Through variable clustering, five metavariables (MV) were obtained and included descriptors of nodal (NODALMV) and primary tumor (TUMORMV) involvement, the frequency of myeloid (MYELOIDMV) or lymphoid (LYMPHOIDMV) peripheral blood immune cell populations, and the density of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T-cells (TI-CD8MV). The clinical relevance of the MV was evaluated in the multivariable survival models. The NODALMV was significantly associated with all tested outcomes (p < 0.001), the LYMPHOIDMV showed a significant association with the overall, disease-specific and distant recurrence-free survival (p < 0.05) and the MYELOIDMV with the locoregional control only (p < 0.001). Finally, TI-CD8MV was associated with distant recurrence-free survival (p = 0.029). Notably, the performance in terms of survival prediction of the combined effect of NODALMV and immune metavariables (LYMPHOIDMV, MYELOIDMV and TI-CD8MV) was superior to the TNM stage for most of the outcomes analyzed. These findings indicate that the analysis of the baseline host immune features are promising tools to complement clinical features, in stratifying the risk of recurrences.
Enhanced Milieu Teaching with Phonological Emphasis: A Pilot Telepractice Parent Training Study for Toddlers with Clefts
Authors: Philp Jennifer , Ellis Paige K. , Scherer Nancy J. , Lien Kari M.
Published: August 2021

Objective: the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of training caregivers to use intervention strategies from the Enhanced Milieu Teaching with Phonological Emphasis (EMT + PE) program, delivered via telepractice, and to examine the effects on child speech and language outcomes for children with repaired cleft lip +/− palate (CL/P). Design: A multiple baseline within subject design across parent behaviors was replicated across three participating dyads. A pre–post intervention comparison was provided with a non-cleft twin. Participants: Three mother-child dyads participated in this study. Children ranged in age from 21 to 27 months at the beginning of the study and all had a diagnosis of CL/P. A noncleft twin without CL/P was assessed pre- and post-intervention to provide a normative comparison. Results: Parents demonstrated a positive intervention effect by substantially increasing their use of EMT + PE intervention strategies during telepractice intervention sessions (Tau 0.675 to 1.1333). Following the conclusion of intervention, parents were able to maintain their use of strategies once direct coaching had been discontinued. Children demonstrated increased talking rate, improved speech production and expanded expressive vocabulary measures over the course of intervention. Speech and language development of a child without cleft palate was provided as a comparison. Conclusions: Parents were trained through telepractice to effectively deliver EMT + PE speech and language facilitation strategies that resulted in increased language and speech outcomes for their children with CL/P.
Production and Characterization of Al-Si Coatings Fabricated by Mechanical Alloying Method on Inconel 625 Superalloy Substrates
Authors: Köktaş Serhan , Önay Ali , Kılınç Ahmet
Published: August 2021

Inconel superalloys are used substantially in high-temperature environments. However, these alloys suffer from corrosion and wear. Attempts to overcome these drawbacks involve coating the metal with different techniques and materials. In this study, a new method with increasing potential was utilized. Using the mechanical alloying process in a planetary ball mill vial, alloying and the Al-Si coatings were concurrently achieved on Inconel 625 substrates. Different process control agent (PCA) ratios, milling ball diameters, and milling times were used to improve coating properties. Macro and microstructure, morphology, microhardness, and roughness values of samples were evaluated and compared. Additionally, crystallographic and cross-sectional properties were investigated in order to optimize the processing conditions. The results indicated that increasing the diameter of the grinding ball enhanced the hardness and thickness of these coatings and increased the roughness values. Longer processing time also enhanced the thickness with mechanical values. However, under these conditions, coating homogeneity decreased, and incompatible regions were formed on the coatings. PCA content brought a refined grain structure, hence showed better mechanical properties. On the other hand, processing time should be increased to get a denser and thicker protective layer against the operational conditions.
A Multi-Electron Transporting Layer for Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Hongsith Kritsada , Yarangsi Vasan , Sucharitakul Sukrit , Phadungdhitidhada Surachet , Ngamjarurojana Athipong , Choopun Supab
Published: August 2021

In this work, a multi-electron transporting layer (ETL) for efficient perovskite solar cells is investigated. The multi-ETL consists of five conditions including SnO2, SnO2/SnOx, TiO2, TiO2/SnO2, and TiO2/SnO2/SnOx. The best performance of PSC devices is found in the SnO2/SnOx double-layer and exhibits a power conversion efficiency equal to 18.39% higher than the device with a TiO2 single-layer of 14.57%. This enhancement in efficiency can be attributed to a decrease in charge transport resistance (Rct) and an increase in charge recombination resistance (Rrec). In addition, Rct and Rrec can be used to explain the comparable power conversion efficiency (PCE) between a PSC with a SnO2/SnOx double-layer and a PSC with a triple-layer, which is due to the compensation effect of Rct and Rrec parameters. Therefore, Rct and Rrec are good parameters to explain the efficiency enhancement in PSC. Thus, the Rct and Rrec from the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique is an easy and alternative way to obtain information to understand and characterize the multi-ETL on PSC.
Ca-Doped ZnO:Al Thin Films: Synthesis and Characterization
Authors: Istrate Anca-Ionela , Mihalache Iuliana , Romanitan Cosmin , Tutunaru Oana , Vulpe Silviu , Nastase Florin , Veca Lucia Monica
Published: August 2021

We unveiled the effect of doping on the morpho-structural and opto/electrical properties of Ca-doped ZnO:Al thin films obtained by RF magnetron sputtering. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed to reveal the surface morphology, while the composition and crystal structure were investigated by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The correlation between the microstructure and the electrical conductivity identifies an increase in electrical conductivity up to 145 × 10−3 Ω−1·m−1 at 5 wt.% Ca doping level with the decrease in the grain size. Furthermore, the presence of Ca dopant triggers the occurrence of the emission peak at 430 nm and an increase of the green emission peak in PL spectra. Corroborating the electrical measurements with X-ray diffraction and optical measurements, one can infer that the electrical conductivity is dominated by intrinsic defects developed during deposition and by the existence of dopants.
Assembly and Transport Properties of Nanoscale Biopolyelectrolyte Multilayers
Authors: Park Jaebum , McShane Michael J.
Published: August 2021

Nanoscale coatings are attractive for managing the biological/material interface as well as for transport control in medical device applications. Construction of biologically derived and mimicking polyelectrolyte multilayers (BioPEMs) and their chemically crosslinked derivatives was evaluated at the nanometer scale and the glucose mass transfer properties were characterized in a physiological environment. Glucose diffusivity through all the BioPEMs was found to be three to four orders of magnitude lower than that of bare substrate. In contrast, permeation rates (dC/dt) were significantly higher than when compared to films comprising the same number of bilayers of synthetic materials—poly(acrylic acid)/poly(allylamine hydrochloride). Crosslinked BioPEMs exhibited decreased diffusivity of glucose up to 51% compared to native BioPEMs. These findings provide fundamental insight into the transport properties of BioPEM coatings that may be useful in maximizing biomimetic properties while also controlling permeation of small molecules in applications such as sensors, filtration, and drug delivery systems.
Comprehensive Data Collection Device for Plasma Equipment Intelligence Studies
Authors: Kim Yong-Hyun , Cho Ji-Ho , Kim Jong-Sik , Park Jong-Bae , Kim Dae-Chul , Kim Young-Woo
Published: August 2021

In this study, various diagnostic tools were constructed and plasma factors measured to evaluate the intelligence of plasma process equipment. We used an ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma) reactor with a radio frequency (RF) power of 13.56 MHz, a power of 400 to 800 W, and a pressure of 10 to 30 mTorr. Plasma parameters such as electron density (ne), electron temperature (Te), plasma potential (Vp), and floating potential (Vf) were measured using several instruments (VI probe and mass/energy analyzer, etc.) and subsequently analyzed. Regression analysis was performed to correlate the measured data with the plasma parameters. As a result, the plasma density (ne) and temperature (Te) were observed to be in good agreement with the non-invasive measurement results. In particular, the VI probes were highly correlated with almost all the measured plasma parameters. Therefore, the results of this study provide a basis for the estimation of plasma parameters using non-invasive measurement techniques.
Comparative Study on Transmission Performance of Manganese Phosphate Coated Gears
Authors: Li Guangxin , Chen Yong , Zang Libin , Liu Rui , Ju Dongying , Wu Yimin , Tan Yanjun
Published: August 2021

As an important part of transmission systems, coatings can improve the physical properties of gear surface. It is meaningful to research the effect of coating on the transmission performance of gears. In this paper, eight-degree-of-freedom dynamic response model of helical cylindrical gear is established considering friction, and the influence of friction factors on dynamic response is explored. The tribological properties and lubrication characteristics of the coating are investigated and compared with uncoated. The transmission performances of manganese phosphate conversion coated gears are studied experimentally. The results show that the coefficients of friction of Mn–P[C] coatings are reduced by 19%, the average amplitude and root mean square of vibration acceleration are obviously decreased, and the transmission efficiency is improved. The manganese phosphate conversion coating is beneficial to the transmission performance of gears.
Comparison of the Growth and Thermal Properties of Nonwoven Polymers after Atomic Layer Deposition and Vapor Phase Infiltration
Authors: Keskiväli Laura , Heikkilä Pirjo , Kenttä Eija , Virtanen Tommi , Rautkoski Hille , Pasanen Antti , Vähä-Nissi Mika , Putkonen Matti
Published: August 2021

The growth mechanism of Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) on polymeric surfaces differs from growth on inorganic solid substrates, such as silicon wafer or glass. In this paper, we report the growth experiments of Al2O3 and ZnO on nonwoven poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), polyethersulphone (PES) and cellulose acetate (CA) fibres. Material growth in both ALD and infiltration mode was studied. The structures were examined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM), scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), attenuated total reflectance-fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and 27Al nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Furthermore, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis were used to explore the effect of ALD deposition on the thermal properties of the CA polymer. According to the SEM, STEM and ATR-FTIR analysis, the growth of Al2O3 was more uniform than ZnO on each of the polymers studied. In addition, according to ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, the infiltration resulted in interactions between the polymers and the ALD precursors. Thermal analysis (TGA/DSC) revealed a slower depolymerization process and better thermal resistance upon heating both in ALD-coated and infiltrated fibres, more pronounced on the latter type of structures, as seen from smaller endothermic peaks on TA.
Fine-Grained Cross-Modal Retrieval for Cultural Items with Focal Attention and Hierarchical Encodings
Authors: Sheng Shurong , Laenen Katrien , Van Gool Luc , Moens Marie-Francine
Published: August 2021

In this paper, we target the tasks of fine-grained image–text alignment and cross-modal retrieval in the cultural heritage domain as follows: (1) given an image fragment of an artwork, we retrieve the noun phrases that describe it; (2) given a noun phrase artifact attribute, we retrieve the corresponding image fragment it specifies. To this end, we propose a weakly supervised alignment model where the correspondence between the input training visual and textual fragments is not known but their corresponding units that refer to the same artwork are treated as a positive pair. The model exploits the latent alignment between fragments across modalities using attention mechanisms by first projecting them into a shared common semantic space; the model is then trained by increasing the image–text similarity of the positive pair in the common space. During this process, we encode the inputs of our model with hierarchical encodings and remove irrelevant fragments with different indicator functions. We also study techniques to augment the limited training data with synthetic relevant textual fragments and transformed image fragments. The model is later fine-tuned by a limited set of small-scale image–text fragment pairs. We rank the test image fragments and noun phrases by their intermodal similarity in the learned common space. Extensive experiments demonstrate that our proposed models outperform two state-of-the-art methods adapted to fine-grained cross-modal retrieval of cultural items for two benchmark datasets.
More Plausible Models of Body Ownership Could Benefit Virtual Reality Applications
Authors: Schubert Moritz , Endres Dominik
Published: August 2021

Embodiment of an avatar is important in many seated VR applications. We investigate a Bayesian Causal Inference model of body ownership. According to the model, when available sensory signals (e.g., tactile and visual signals) are attributed to a single object (e.g., a rubber hand), the object is incorporated into the body. The model uses normal distributions with astronomically large standard deviations as priors for the sensory input. We criticize the model for its choice of parameter values and hold that a model trying to describe human cognition should employ parameter values that are psychologically plausible, i.e., in line with human expectations. By systematically varying the values of all relevant parameters we arrive at the conclusion that such quantitative modifications of the model cannot overcome the model’s dependence on implausibly large standard deviations. We posit that the model needs a qualitative revision through the inclusion of additional sensory modalities.
Structural Phase Transition and Related Thermoelectric Properties in Sn Doped AgBiSe2
Authors: Liu Xiao-Cun , Pan Ming-Yan
Published: August 2021

AgBiSe2, which exhibits complex structural phase transition behavior, has recently been considered as a potential thermoelectric material due to its intrinsically low thermal conductivity. In this work, we investigate the crystal structure of Sn-doped AgBiSe2 through powder X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry measurements. A stable cubic Ag1−x/2Bi1−x/2SnxSe2 phase can be obtained at room temperature when the value of x is larger than 0.2. In addition, the thermoelectric properties of Ag1−x/2Bi1−x/2SnxSe2 (x = 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35) are investigated, revealing that Ag1−x/2Bi1−x/2SnxSe2 compounds are intrinsic semiconductors with a low lattice thermal conductivity. This work provides new insights into the crystal structure adjustment of AgBiSe2 and shows that Ag1−x/2Bi1−x/2SnxSe2 is a potentially lead-free thermoelectric material candidate.
Polymer-Stabilized Blue Phase and Its Application to a 1.5 µm Band Wavelength Selective Filter
Authors: Fukushima Seiji , Tokunaga Kakeru , Morishita Takuya , Higuchi Hiroki , Okumura Yasushi , Kikuchi Hirotsugu , Tazawa Hidehisa
Published: August 2021

The use of polymer-stabilized blue phase (PSBP) including a tolane-type liquid crystal was investigated to develop a voltage-controlled wavelength selective filter for wavelength-division-multiplexing optical fiber network. It was found that the tolane-type liquid crystal introduction can increase both a blue-phase temperature range and a Kerr coefficient. A Fabry–Perot etalon filled with PSBP functioned as a wavelength selective filter, as expected. The tuning wavelength range was 62 nm although peak transmission was not as high as expected. Numerical analysis suggested that light absorption in transparent electrodes may cause the issue. Minor change to the etalon structure will result in improved performance.
Performance Test for Sulfate Resistance of Concrete by Tensile Strength Measurements: Determination of Test Criteria
Authors: Haufe Johannes , Vollpracht Anya , Matschei Thomas
Published: August 2021

The European standard EN 206-1 contains descriptive requirements for concrete to withstand sulfate attack in the field. This approach limits the use of feasible concrete mixtures that don’t comply with these requirements. A performance approach based on the residual tensile strength of concrete briquet specimen according to ASTM C307 after storage in sodium sulfate solution close to field conditions is suggested by the authors. The newly developed test method is verified on a variety of 23 binders. Threshold values for the determination of the sulfate resistance of concrete after nine months of storage in 6000 mg SO42−/L sulfate solution at 5 °C are proposed. A first repeatability test as well as thermodynamic calculations prove the suitability of the method to test the performance of concrete during sulfate attack under practical conditions.
On Sampling Discrete Orientations from XRD for Texture Representation in Aggregates with Varying Grain Size
Authors: Vuppala Aditya , Krämer Alexander , Lohmar Johannes
Published: August 2021

The amount of orientation difference of crystallites, i.e., the texture in a metallic polycrystal governs, plastic anisotropy, electrical and magnetic properties of the material. For simulating the microstructure and texture evolution during forming processes, representative volume elements (RVEs) often generated based on experimental measurements are commonly used. While the grain size and morphology of polycrystals are often determined via light-optical microscopy, their texture is conventionally analyzed through diffraction experiments. Data from these different experiments must be correlated such that a representative set of sampled orientations is assigned to the grains in the RVE. Here, the concept Texture Sampling through Orientation Optimization (TSOO) is introduced, where based on the intensity the required number of orientations is first assigned to the grains of the RVE directly. Then the Bunge–Euler angles of all orientations are optimized in turn with respect to the experimental measurements. As orientations are assigned to grains of variable size during optimization, the compatibility between inhomogeneity in the microstructure and texture is inherently addressed. This method was tested for different microstructures of non-oriented electrical steels and showed good accuracy for homogenous and inhomogeneous grain size distributions.
The Fluidization Effect of a Bilayer Membrane on a Fatty Acid Vesicle by a Detergent
Authors: Taguchi Shogo , Kimura Yuta , Tachibana Yasuaki , Yamamoto Takuji , Maeda Kouji
Published: August 2021

A bicelle, which is a bilayer molecular assembly, can be prepared by fluidizing a vesicle in the presence of a detergent. We investigated the effect of two different detergents, 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-2-hydroxypropane sulfonate (CHAPSO) and Triton X-100 (TX), on the formation of a bicelle from a vesicle containing oleic acid (OA) and the detergent molecules. The fluidization effect of the detergent was evaluated using the membrane packing density, which we measured using the fluorescent probe method with Laurdan, in conjunction with transmission electron microscopy to examine the morphology of the prepared bilayer molecular assemblies. As a result, it was discovered that the OA/CHAPSO system could form a heterogeneous phase with the highest packing density, implying that CHAPSO was the better detergent for a bicelle preparation, whereas the OA/TX system formed a disordered phase with the lowest packing density.
Electrochemical Corrosion Behavior of Laser Welded 2205 Duplex Stainless-Steel in Artificial Seawater Environment under Different Acidity and Alkalinity Conditions
Authors: Abdo Hany S. , Seikh Asiful H. , Abdus Samad Ubair , Fouly Ahmed , Mohammed Jabair Ali
Published: August 2021

The electrochemical corrosion behavior of laser welded 2205 duplex stainless-steel in artificial seawater environment (3.5% NaCl solutions) with different acidity and alkalinity conditions (different pH values) was investigated using different techniques. Namely, capacitance measurements (Mott–Schottky approach), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization measurements. The formation of pitting corrosion on the exposure surfaces of the tested duplex stainless-steel samples was investigated and confirmed by characterizing the surface morphology using field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). Based on the obtained results, a proportional relation has been found between pH value of the solution medium and the generated film resistance due to the processes of charge transfer, which directly affecting the pitting formation and its specifications. Since the film layer composition created on the duplex stainless-steel surface is changes depending on the pH value, it was found that different bilayer structure type was generated according to the acidity or alkalinity level. The presented bilayer is almost composed from metal oxides, such as iron oxide and chromium oxide, as confirmed by Raman Spectroscopy technique. As the pits size and its quantity increased with decreasing pH value, it can be concluded that the corrosion resistance property of the laser welded 2205 duplex stainless-steel sample is improved on the alkalinity direction of the solution. Vice versa, higher acidic solution has more ability for corrosion.
Assessing the Cultivability of Bacteria and Fungi from Arable Crop Residues Using Metabarcoding Data as a Reference
Authors: Laval Valérie , Kerdraon Lydie , Barret Matthieu , Liabot Anne-Lise , Marais Coralie , Boudier Benjamin , Balesdent Marie-Hélène , Fischer-Le Saux Marion , Suffert Frédéric
Published: August 2021

This study combined culture-dependent (strain isolation plus molecular identification) and culture-independent (metabarcoding) approaches to characterize the diversity of microbiota on wheat and oilseed rape residues. The goal was to develop a methodology to culture microorganisms with the aim of being able to establish synthetic crop residue microbial communities for further study, i.e., testing potential interactions within these communities and characterizing groups of beneficial taxa that could be used as biological control agents against plant pathogens. We generated community-based culture collections. We adapted the isolation strategy to the potential differences in the spatial and temporal distribution of diversity between bacteria and fungi. We performed (i) a high-throughput isolation from few samples with no a priori for bacteria and (ii) a low-throughput isolation from several samples with a priori—i.e., morphotype selection—for fungi. Although isolation using a single medium did not allow us to characterize the microbiome as precisely as metabarcoding, the bacterial diversity (158 ASVs, 36 genera) was relatively higher than the fungal diversity (131 ASVs, 17 genera) known to be limited by competition for growth on non-selective solid media. Isolation and metabarcoding provided consistent and complementary information: they revealed several common but also specific ASVs, leading to close microbial community profiles of the most abundant fungal and bacterial taxa in residues. Finally, by empirically comparing the different profiles, we assessed the cultivability of the most abundant fungal and bacterial taxa obtained in metabarcoding.
Community Ecology, Macro-Ecological Patterns, and Conservation of Tropical Beetles: An Introduction
Authors: Luiselli Luca , Amori Giovanni
Published: August 2021

Tropical regions host a large variety of animal species, representing the richest concentrations of biological diversity across the Earth [...]
TRIPOD—A Treadmill Walking Dataset with IMU, Pressure-Distribution and Photoelectric Data for Gait Analysis
Authors: Trautmann Justin , Zhou Lin , Brahms Clemens Markus , Tunca Can , Ersoy Cem , Granacher Urs , Arnrich Bert
Published: August 2021

Inertial measurement units (IMUs) enable easy to operate and low-cost data recording for gait analysis. When combined with treadmill walking, a large number of steps can be collected in a controlled environment without the need of a dedicated gait analysis laboratory. In order to evaluate existing and novel IMU-based gait analysis algorithms for treadmill walking, a reference dataset that includes IMU data as well as reliable ground truth measurements for multiple participants and walking speeds is needed. This article provides a reference dataset consisting of 15 healthy young adults who walked on a treadmill at three different speeds. Data were acquired using seven IMUs placed on the lower body, two different reference systems (Zebris FDMT-HQ and OptoGait), and two RGB cameras. Additionally, in order to validate an existing IMU-based gait analysis algorithm using the dataset, an adaptable modular data analysis pipeline was built. Our results show agreement between the pressure-sensitive Zebris and the photoelectric OptoGait system (r = 0.99), demonstrating the quality of our reference data. As a use case, the performance of an algorithm originally designed for overground walking was tested on treadmill data using the data pipeline. The accuracy of stride length and stride time estimations was comparable to that reported in other studies with overground data, indicating that the algorithm is equally applicable to treadmill data. The Python source code of the data pipeline is publicly available, and the dataset will be provided by the authors upon request, enabling future evaluations of IMU gait analysis algorithms without the need of recording new data.
Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Virus in the Middle Ear of Deceased COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Jeican Ionuț Isaia , Aluaș Maria , Lazăr Mihaela , Barbu-Tudoran Lucian , Gheban Dan , Inișca Patricia , Albu Camelia , Tripon Septimiu , Albu Silviu , Siserman Costel , Vica Mihaela Laura , Muntean Monica , Opincariu Iulian , Junie Lia Monica
Published: August 2021

The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the middle ear reveals the etiopathogenesis of otitis media in COVID-19, as well as an epidemiological risk during otologic examination and surgical procedures in COVID-19 patients. The study included 8 deceased patients with COVID-19. Tissue samples from the middle ear were subjected to virology, histopathology, scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy investigation. Ethmoidal mucosa samples were processed for virology analyses. qPCR resulted positive for 75% of nasal mucosa samples and 50% of middle ear samples. Ct values showed lower viral loads in middle ear samples. A proportion of 66.6% patients with positive results in the nasal mucosa showed positive results in the middle ear, and the subtype analysis of the complete genome sequences indicated B.1.1.7 lineage for all samples. In histopathological and SEM samples, no pathological aspects were identified. TEM revealed on the background of death critical alteration of cellular morphology, suggestive structures resembling SARS-CoV-2, goblet cells and immune cells. SARS-CoV-2 can be present in the middle ear of COVID-19 patients even if there is not clinical evidence of acute otitis media. Otolaryngologists could be particularly exposed to COVID-19 infection.
Spectral CT Hybrid Images in the Diagnostic Evaluation of Hypervascular Abdominal Tumors—Potential Advantages in Clinical Routine
Authors: Auer Timo Alexander , Feldhaus Felix Wilhelm , Büttner Laura , Jonczyk Martin , Fehrenbach Uli , Geisel Dominik , Böning Georg
Published: August 2021

Background: This study aimed to investigate the use of spectral computed tomography (SCT) hybrid images combining virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs) and iodine maps (IMs) as a potentially efficient search series for routine clinical imaging in patients with hypervascular abdominal tumors. Methods: A total of 69 patients with hypervascular abdominal tumors including neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs, n = 48), renal cell carcinoma (RCC, n = 10), and primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, n = 11) were analyzed retrospectively. Two radiological readers (blinded to clinical data) read three CT image sets (1st a reference set with 70 keV; 2nd a 50:50 hybrid 140 keV/40 keV set; 3rd a 50:50 hybrid 140 keV/IM set). They assessed images subjectively by rating several parameters including image contrast, visibility of suspicious lesions, and diagnostic confidence on five-point Likert scales. In addition, reading time was estimated. Results: Median subjective Likert scores were highest for the 1st set, except for image contrast, for which the 2nd set was rated highest. Scores for diagnostic confidence, artifacts, noise, and visibility of suspicious lesions or small structures were significantly higher for the 1st set than for the 2nd or 3rd set (p < 0.001). Regarding image contrast, the 2nd set was rated significantly higher than the 3rd set (p < 0.001), while the median did not differ significantly compared with the 1st set. Agreement between the two readers was high for all sets. Estimated potential reading time was the same for hybrid and reference sets. Conclusions: Hybrid images have the potential to efficiently exploit the additional information provided by SCT in patients with hypervascular abdominal tumors. However, the use of rigid weighting did not significantly improve diagnostic performance in this study.
A Comprehensive Approach for the Diagnosis of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia—Experiences from the First 100 Patients of the PCD-UNIBE Diagnostic Center
Authors: Müller Loretta , Savas Sibel T. , Tschanz Stefan A. , Stokes Andrea , Escher Anaïs , Nussbaumer Mirjam , Bullo Marina , Kuehni Claudia E. , Blanchon Sylvain , Jung Andreas , Regamey Nicolas , Haenni Beat , Schneiter Martin , Ingold Jonas , Kieninger Elisabeth , Casaulta Carmen , Latzin Philipp ,   on behalf of the Swiss PCD Research Group
Published: August 2021

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetic disease characterized by dyskinetic cilia. Respiratory symptoms usually start at birth. The lack of diagnostic gold standard tests is challenging, as PCD diagnostics requires different methods with high expertise. We founded PCD-UNIBE as the first comprehensive PCD diagnostic center in Switzerland. Our diagnostic approach includes nasal brushing and cell culture with analysis of ciliary motility via high-speed-videomicroscopy (HSVM) and immunofluorescence labeling (IF) of structural proteins. Selected patients undergo electron microscopy (TEM) of ciliary ultrastructure and genetics. We report here on the first 100 patients assessed by PCD-UNIBE. All patients received HSVM fresh, IF, and cell culture (success rate of 90%). We repeated the HSVM with cell cultures and conducted TEM in 30 patients and genetics in 31 patients. Results from cell cultures were much clearer compared to fresh samples. For 80 patients, we found no evidence of PCD, 17 were diagnosed with PCD, two remained inconclusive, and one case is ongoing. HSVM was diagnostic in 12, IF in 14, TEM in five and genetics in 11 cases. None of the methods was able to diagnose all 17 PCD cases, highlighting that a comprehensive approach is essential for an accurate diagnosis of PCD.
Metabolic Alterations in Pancreatic Cancer Detected by In Vivo 1H-MR Spectroscopy: Correlation with Normal Pancreas, PET Metabolic Activity, Clinical Stages, and Survival Outcome
Authors: Chang Chih-Kai , Shih Tiffany Ting-Fang , Tien Yu-Wen , Chang Ming-Chu , Chang Yu-Ting , Yang Shih-Hung , Cheng Mei-Fang , Chen Bang-Bin
Published: August 2021

Objective: To compare the metabolites of in vivo 1H- MRS in pancreatic cancer with normal pancreas, and correlate these metabolites with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) metabolic activity, clinical stages, and survival outcomes. Methods: The prospective study included 58 patients (mean age 62.7 ± 12.1 years, range 34–81 years; 36 men, 22 women) with pathological proof of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and all of them received 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/MRI before treatment. The single-voxel MRS with a point-resolved selective spectroscopy sequence was used to measure metabolites (creatine, Glx (glutamine and glutamate), N-acetylaspartate (NAA), and lipid) of pancreatic cancer and adjacent normal parenchyma, respectively. FDG-PET parameters included SUVmax, metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG). Non-parametric tests were used to evaluate the differences of MRS metabolites between pancreatic cancer and those in normal pancreas, and their correlation with PET parameters and clinical stages. The correlation with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was measured using the Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazard models. Results: When compared with normal pancreas, the Glx, NAA, and lipid levels were significantly decreased in pancreatic cancer (all p < 0.05). Creatine, Glx, and lipid levels were all inversely correlated with both MTV (rho = −0.405~−0.454) and TLG (rho = −0.331~−0.441). For correlation with clinical stages, lower lipid levels were found in patients with T4 (vs. <T4, p = 0.038) and lower creatine levels were found in N1 (vs. N0, p = 0.019). Regarding survival outcomes, high TNM stage, low creatine, low Glx, and low lipid levels were associated with both poor PFS and OS (all p < 0.05). Additionally, creatine remained an independent factor for PFS and OS after adjusting for age, sex, tumor size, stages, and other metabolites levels. Conclusions: Decreased MRS metabolites in pancreatic cancer were associated with poor survival outcome, and may be used as prognostic image biomarkers for these patients.
Fetal Presentation of Mediastinal Immature Teratoma: Ultrasound, Autopsy and Cytogenetic Findings
Authors: Bonasoni Maria Paola , Comitini Giuseppina , Barbieri Veronica , Palicelli Andrea , Salfi Nunzio , Pilu Gianluigi
Published: August 2021

Teratomas are the most common congenital tumors, occurring along the midline or paraxial sites, or uncommonly, the mediastinum. Teratomas are classified as mature, containing only differentiated tissues from the three germinal layers; and immature, which also present with neuroectodermal elements, ependymal rosettes, and immature mesenchyme. Herein, we describe a new case of fetal mediastinal immature teratoma detected at 21 weeks of gestational age (wga) + 1 day with thorough cytogenetic analysis. Ultrasound (US) showed a solid and cystic mass located in the anterior mediastinum, measuring 1.8 × 1.3 cm with no signs of hydrops. At 22 wga, US showed a mass of 2.4 cm in diameter and moderate pericardial effusions. Although the prenatal risks and available therapeutic strategies were explained to the parents, they opted for termination of pregnancy. Histology showed an immature teratoma, Norris grade 2. Karyotype on the fetus and tumor exhibited a chromosomal asset of 46,XX. The fetal outcome in the case of mediastinal teratoma relies on the development of hydrops due to mass compression of vessels and heart failure. Prenatal US diagnosis and close fetal monitoring are paramount in planning adequate treatment, such as in utero surgery, ex utero intrapartum therapy (EXIT) procedure, and surgical excision after birth.
Oxidative Stress as a Therapeutic Target in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Opportunities and Limitations
Authors: Park Hee Ra , Yang Eun Jin
Published: August 2021

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND) and Lou Gehrig’s disease, is characterized by a loss of the lower motor neurons in the spinal cord and the upper motor neurons in the cerebral cortex. Due to the complex and multifactorial nature of the various risk factors and mechanisms that are related to motor neuronal degeneration, the pathological mechanisms of ALS are not fully understood. Oxidative stress is one of the known causes of ALS pathogenesis. This has been observed in patients as well as in cellular and animal models, and is known to induce mitochondrial dysfunction and the loss of motor neurons. Numerous therapeutic agents have been developed to inhibit oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. In this review, we describe the role of oxidative stress in ALS pathogenesis, and discuss several anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative agents as potential therapeutics for ALS. Although oxidative stress and antioxidant fields are meaningful approaches to delay disease progression and prolong the survival in ALS, it is necessary to investigate various animal models or humans with different subtypes of sporadic and familial ALS.
Comparison of Longitudinal Changes in Refractive Error of Hyperopic Children with or without Refractive Accommodative Esotropia
Authors: Song Ji Eun , Han Hyo Ji , Choi Chul Young , Khoramnia Ramin , Chang Hae Ran , Han So Young
Published: August 2021

We investigated longitudinal changes in the spherical equivalent refractive error (SE) in hyperopic children with or without refractive accommodative esotropia (AccET). A total of 456 patients met the inclusion criteria: 190 (41.7%) in the hyperopic control group and 266 (58.3%) in the AccET group. All patients received at least 3 years of follow-up after spectacle prescription. Subgroups were divided according to age when spectacles were prescribed, presence of amblyopia, or initial SE. Longitudinal changes in SE in children with hyperopia showed a gradual decrease, although SE of younger children with AccET increased over the first 4 years and then decreased thereafter. SE in eye with higher SE was tended to decrease significantly in patient with Acc ET than hyperopic control group (group × time p = 0.015). Amblyopic eyes showed a greater decreased in SE compared with non-amblyopic eyes, but it was not statistically significant (p = 0.07). SE was significantly decreased in children with more hyperopia (≥ 3 D) compared with children with less hyperopia (<3 D) (p = 0.008). Emmetropization of hyperopia was faster in hyperopic patients without AccET and could be affected by the age of the initial spectacles prescription, initial amount of SE, or presence of amblyopia.
The Effect of Teaching–Learning Environments on Student’s Engagement with Lean Mindset
Authors: Khandan Rasoul , Shannon Lucas
Published: August 2021

Lean thinking is a methodology employed initially by manufacturing organizations such as Toyota and New Balance that aims to increase customer value whilst also maintaining a low level of waste. The Lean thinking tools and techniques employed in the manufacturing sector can also be transferred to other sectors and significantly improve the service or product, such as public sector organizations or Higher Education Institutions (HEI). In the current education climate, due to the pandemic (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19), the majority of HEIs have moved to an online or hybrid teaching and learning environment. This has developed the principle that Lean thinking can be deployed in educational methods and techniques to greatly increase the level of student engagement and the efficiency of learning. The following study outlines the key waste sources found in three types of teaching–learning environments (face to face, online and hybrid) and provides practical implications to counter the non-value-added issues. The data for this study were gathered through a questionnaire from final year undergraduate engineering students. The results indicate that online teaching had the greatest effect on student engagement, based on the identification and weighted values of non-value-added issues. The study highlights the key Lean wastes within online, hybrid and face to face teaching, and provides key examples within the stated Lean waste to provide solutions to improve student engagement.
Combining Project Based Learning and Cooperative Learning Strategies in a Geotechnical Engineering Course
Authors: Torrijo Francisco Javier , Garzón-Roca Julio , Cobos Guillermo , Eguibar Miguel Ángel
Published: August 2021

This paper presents the implementation of a learning methodology following a student-centred approach. The methodology is based on the use of project based and cooperative learning and mainly consists of commissioning students to prepare a presentation on a topic of their subject. Students work in groups, and later must deliver a real lecture to their colleagues. The proposed methodology was applied across 7 years and its implementation was monitored via day-to-day observations, annual surveys, the gathering of direct feedback as well as by analysing the students’ academic performance. Results show the ability of the proposed learning methodology to enhance motivation and engagement of students, facilitate the improvement of four soft skills (team-working, practical thinking, effective communication and critical thinking), eliminate absenteeism and facilitate long-term retention of the knowledge and skills acquired in a subject.
Low-Profile Harmonic Transponder for IoT Applications
Authors: Khaliel Maher , Batra Aman , Fawky Abdelfattah , Kaiser Thomas
Published: August 2021

This paper proposes a novel single-layer, low-profile harmonic transponder to be integrated with the printable diodes based on Si particles. The introduced prototype consists of two bowtie dipoles that are directly matched to the harmonic generation element at a fundamental 2.45GHz frequency and also at the corresponding second harmonic 4.9GHz frequency. Therefore, the antennas and T-matching parts can be manufactured as separate inlays using a single layer-substrate. Besides the new prototype, the harmonic conversion loss (CL) is theoretically and experimentally investigated. In this regard, the equivalent circuit is driven and utilized to analyze the CL performance with variations in fundamental frequency and input power. The introduced transponder outperforms the state-of-the-art work from the printability, size, and CL point of views.
A CEEMDAN-Assisted Deep Learning Model for the RUL Estimation of Solenoid Pumps
Authors: Akpudo Ugochukwu Ejike , Hur Jang-Wook
Published: August 2021

This paper develops a data-driven remaining useful life prediction model for solenoid pumps. The model extracts high-level features using stacked autoencoders from decomposed pressure signals (using complementary ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN) algorithm). These high-level features are then received by a recurrent neural network-gated recurrent units (GRUs) for the RUL estimation. The case study presented demonstrates the robustness of the proposed RUL estimation model with extensive empirical validations. Results support the validity of using the CEEMDAN for non-stationary signal decomposition and the accuracy, ease-of-use, and superiority of the proposed DL-based model for solenoid pump failure prognostics.
Direct-Virtio: A New Direct Virtualized I/O Framework for NVMe SSDs
Authors: Kim Sewoog , Park Heekwon , Choi Jongmoo
Published: August 2021

Virtualization is a core technology for cloud computing, server consolidation and multi-platform support. However, there is a concern regarding performance degradation due to the duplicated I/O stacks virtualization environments. In this paper, we propose a new I/O framework, we refer to it as Direct-Virtio, that manipulates storage directly, which makes it feasible to avoid the duplicated overhead. In addition, we devise two novel mechanisms, called vectored I/O and adaptive polling, to process multiple I/O requests collectively and to check I/O completion efficiently. Real implementation-based evaluation shows that our proposal can enhance performance for both micro and macro benchmarks.