bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Keratinocyte and Fibroblast Wound Healing In Vitro Is Repressed by Non-Optimal Conditions but the Reparative Potential Can Be Improved by Water-Filtered Infrared A
Authors: Wiegand Cornelia , Hipler Uta-Christina , Elsner Peter , Tittelbach Jörg
Published: December 2021

It is a general goal to improve wound healing, especially of chronic wounds. As light therapy has gained increasing attention, the positive influence on healing progression of water-filtered infrared A (wIRA), a special form of thermal radiation, has been investigated and compared to the detrimental effects of UV-B irradiation on wound closure in vitro. Models of keratinocyte and fibroblast scratches help to elucidate effects on epithelial and dermal healing. This study further used the simulation of non-optimal settings such as S. aureus infection, chronic inflammation, and anti-inflammatory conditions to determine how these affect scratch wound progression and whether wIRA treatment can improve healing. Gene expression analysis for cytokines (IL1A, IL6, CXCL8), growth (TGFB1, PDGFC) and transcription factors (NFKB1, TP53), heat shock proteins (HSP90AA1, HSPA1A, HSPD1), keratinocyte desmogleins (DSG1, DSG3), and fibroblast collagen (COL1A1, COL3A1) was performed. Keratinocyte and fibroblast wound healing under non-optimal conditions was found to be distinctly reduced in vitro. wIRA treatment could counteract the inflammatory response in infected keratinocytes as well as under chronic inflammatory conditions by decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression and improve wound healing. In contrast, in the anti-inflammatory setting, wIRA radiation could re-initiate the acute inflammatory response necessary after injury to stimulate the regenerative processes and advance scratch closure.
Effects of Renal Denervation on the Enhanced Renal Vascular Responsiveness to Angiotensin II in High-Output Heart Failure: Angiotensin II Receptor Binding Assessment and Functional Studies in Ren-2 Transgenic Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Honetschlägerová Zuzana , Hejnová Lucie , Novotný Jiří , Marek Aleš , Červenka Luděk
Published: December 2021

Detailed mechanism(s) of the beneficial effects of renal denervation (RDN) on the course of heart failure (HF) remain unclear. The study aimed to evaluate renal vascular responsiveness to angiotensin II (ANG II) and to characterize ANG II type 1 (AT1) and type 2 (AT2) receptors in the kidney of Ren-2 transgenic rats (TGR), a model of ANG II-dependent hypertension. HF was induced by volume overload using aorto-caval fistula (ACF). The studies were performed two weeks after RDN (three weeks after the creation of ACF), i.e., when non-denervated ACF TGR enter the decompensation phase of HF whereas those after RDN are still in the compensation phase. We found that ACF TGR showed lower renal blood flow (RBF) and its exaggerated response to intrarenal ANG II (8 ng); RDN further augmented this responsiveness. We found that all ANG II receptors in the kidney cortex were of the AT1 subtype. ANG II receptor binding characteristics in the renal cortex did not significantly differ between experimental groups, hence AT1 alterations are not responsible for renal vascular hyperresponsiveness to ANG II in ACF TGR, denervated or not. In conclusion, maintained renal AT1 receptor binding combined with elevated ANG II levels and renal vascular hyperresponsiveness to ANG II in ACF TGR influence renal hemodynamics and tubular reabsorption and lead to renal dysfunction in the high-output HF model. Since RDN did not attenuate the RBF decrease and enhanced renal vascular responsiveness to ANG II, the beneficial actions of RDN on HF-related mortality are probably not dominantly mediated by renal mechanism(s).
Paper-Based Test for Rapid On-Site Screening of SARS-CoV-2 in Clinical Samples
Authors: Ren Wen , Irudayaraj Joseph
Published: December 2021

Detection methods for monitoring infectious pathogens has never been more important given the need to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Herein we propose a highly sensitive magnetic-focus-enhanced lateral flow assay (mLFA) for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. The proposed mLFA is simple and requires only lateral flow strips and a reusable magnet to detect very low concentrations of the virus particles. The magnetic focus enhancement is achieved by focusing the SARS-CoV-2 conjugated magnetic probes in the sample placed in the lateral flow (LF) strips for improved capture efficiency, while horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was used to catalyze the colorimetric reaction for the amplification of the colorimetric signal. With the magnetic focus enhancement and HRP-based amplification, the mLFA could yield a highly sensitive technology for the recognition of SARS-CoV-2. The developed methods could detect as low as 400 PFU/mL of SARS-CoV-2 in PBS buffer based on the visible blue dots on the LF strips. The mLFA could recognize 1200 PFU/mL of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva samples. With clinical nasal swab samples, the proposed mLFA could achieve 66.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity.
A Pencil-Lead Immunosensor for the Rapid Electrochemical Measurement of Anti-Diphtheria Toxin Antibodies
Authors: Ameku Wilson A. , Ataide Vanessa N. , Costa Eric T. , Gomes Larissa R. , Napoleão-Pêgo Paloma , William Provance David , Paixão Thiago R. L. C. , Salles Maiara O. , De-Simone Salvatore Giovanni
Published: December 2021

Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease, yet immunization can wane over time to non-protective levels. We have developed a low-cost, miniaturized electroanalytical biosensor to quantify anti-diphtheria toxin (DTx) immunoglobulin G (anti-DTx IgG) antibody to minimize the risk for localized outbreaks. Two epitopes specific to DTx and recognized by antibodies generated post-vaccination were selected to create a bi-epitope peptide, biEP, by synthesizing the epitopes in tandem. The biEP peptide was conjugated to the surface of a pencil-lead electrode (PLE) integrated into a portable electrode holder. Captured anti-DTx IgG was measured by square wave voltammetry from the generation of hydroquinone (HQ) from the resulting immunocomplex. The performance of the biEP reagent presented high selectivity and specificity for DTx. Under the optimized working conditions, a logarithmic calibration curve showed good linearity over the concentration range of 10−5–10−1 IU mL−1 and achieved a limit of detection of 5 × 10−6 IU mL−1. The final device proved suitable for interrogating the immunity level against DTx in actual serum samples. Results showed good agreement with those obtained from a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, the flexibility for conjugating other capture molecules to PLEs suggests that this technology could be easily adapted to the diagnoses of other pathogens.
SERSNet: Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Based Biomolecule Detection Using Deep Neural Network
Authors: Park Seongyong , Lee Jaeseok , Khan Shujaat , Wahab Abdul , Kim Minseok
Published: December 2021

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)-based biomolecule detection has been a challenge due to large variations in signal intensity, spectral profile, and nonlinearity. Recent advances in machine learning offer great opportunities to address these issues. However, well-documented procedures for model development and evaluation, as well as benchmark datasets, are lacking. Towards this end, we provide the SERS spectral benchmark dataset of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) for a molecule detection task and evaluate the classification performance of several machine learning models. We also perform a comparative study to find the best combination between the preprocessing methods and the machine learning models. Our best model, coined as the SERSNet, robustly identifies R6G molecule with excellent independent test performance. In particular, SERSNet shows 95.9% balanced accuracy for the cross-batch testing task.
Should Zoo Food Be Chopped for Captive Turacos?
Authors: Griffin Beth , Brereton James Edward
Published: December 2021

It is common practice for keepers in zoological collections to provide animals in their care with food that is chopped into small pieces. Anecdotally, it has been suggested that chopped food reduces wastage and reduces aggression from group-housed animals. However, there is limited empirical evidence to support these suggestions. To investigate the effects of food condition (chopped or whole food), a study was undertaken on White-cheeked Turacos (Tauraco leucotis) and Fischer’s Turacos (Tauraco fischeri) at two zoological collections in the United Kingdom. This study investigated the effect of food condition on turaco behaviour, the amount of food eaten, and also the amount of time that keepers required to prepare the diet. There was no significant impact on the amount of food eaten as a result of providing whole food. For Fischer’s Turacos, the whole-food condition significantly increased the prevalence of feeding and foraging behaviour, whilst significantly reducing preening. For White-cheeked Turacos, only feeding and foraging was affected by food condition: no other behaviours were significantly affected by chopped or whole food. Keepers on average saved 151 s per meal when preparing whole-food diets. Overall, this study suggests that changing food presentation from chopped to whole has a limited impact on food intake and behaviour. Providing whole-food items may also save valuable keeper time. Future studies should investigate the impact of feeding whole-food items to a wider range of zoo-housed species.
Efficiency of Managerial Work and Performance of Managers: Time Management Point of View
Authors: Lušňáková Zuzana , Dicsérová Silvia , Šajbidorová Mária
Published: December 2021

Appropriate time management allows individuals to achieve work and personal goals, plan tasks, set priorities, eliminate disruptive effects, and increase work efficiency and productivity. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of managerial work and the performance of managers of food companies in the V4 countries (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland) from the perspective of time management principles, point out the shortcomings and reserves that can ensure time management, and propose solutions to improve business practice. We set five research assumptions in order to evaluate the situation comprehensively. A survey carried out from September 2020 to January 2021 involved 1588 managers working at various levels of management. Statistical methods and tests were used for data processing and their subsequent evaluation. The data were processed using Microsoft Excel 2016, the statistical software SAS Enterprise Guide 7.1, and XLSTAT. The analysis showed that three-quarters of managers are aware of the value of their time. More than half of the managers involved try to regularly review their agenda in order to identify gaps in the use of time and to avoid repeating unproductive practices. Only half of the managers make arrangements not to think about work in their free time. The managers spend the most time in their work dealing with administration. Intensifying the implementation of ICT (information and communication technologies) in the work of the manager has the effect of increasing the efficiency of the division and use of working time of managers. Based on our findings, we consider the goal orientation, positive motivation, systematic training, and development of managers as a key prerequisite for efficiency of managerial work and performance of managers and their effective time management.
Robot-Inclusive False Ceiling Design Guidelines
Authors: Yeo Matthew , Samarakoon S. , Ng Qi , Ng Yi , Muthugala M. , Elara Mohan , Yeong Raymond
Published: December 2021

False ceilings are often utilised in residential and commercial spaces as a way to contain and conceal necessary but unattractive building infrastructure, including mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services. Concealing such elements has made it difficult to perform periodic inspection safely for maintenance. To complement this, there have been increasing research interests in mobile robots in recent years that are capable of accessing hard-to-reach locations, thus allowing workers to perform inspections remotely. However, current initiatives are met with challenges arising from unstructured site conditions that hamper the robot’s productivity for false ceiling inspection. The paper adopts a top-down approach known as “Design for Robots”, taking into account four robot-inclusive design principles: activity, accessibility, safety, observability. Falcon, a class of inspection robots, was used as a benchmark to identify spatial constraints according to the four principles. Following this, a list of false ceiling design guidelines for each category are proposed.
The Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Dynamic Site Layout Planning in Large-Scale Construction Projects
Authors: Hammad Ahmed , da Costa Bruno , Soares Carlos , Haddad Assed
Published: December 2021

Construction sites are increasingly complex, and their layout have an impact on productivity, safety, and efficiency of construction operations. Dynamic site layout planning (DSLP) considers the adjustment of construction facilities on-site, on an evolving basis, allowing the relocation of temporary facilities according to the stages of the project. The main objective of this study is to develop a framework for integrating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and their capacity for effective photogrammetry with site layout planning optimisation and Building Information Modelling (BIM) for automating site layout planning in large construction projects. The mathematical model proposed is based on a mixed integer programming (MIP) model, which was employed to validate the framework on a realistic case study provided by an industry partner. Allocation constraints were formulated to ensure the placement of the facilities in feasible regions. Using information from the UAV, several parameters could be considered, including proximity to access ways, distances between the facilities, and suitability of locations. Based on the proposed framework, a layout was developed for each stage of the project, adapting the location of temporary facilities according to current progress on-site. As a result, the use of space was optimised, and internal transport costs were progressively reduced.
Prediction of the Near-Infrared Absorption Spectrum of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Using a Bayesian Regularized Back Propagation Neural Network Model
Authors: Onishi Takao , Matsukawa Yuji , Yamazaki Yuto , Miyashiro Daisuke
Published: December 2021

DNA-wrapped single-walled carbon nanotubes (DNA-SWCNTs) in stable dispersion are expected to be used as biosensors in the future, because they have the property of absorption of light in the near infrared (NIR) region, which is safe for the human body. However, this practical application requires the understanding of the DNA-SWCNTs’ detailed response characteristics. The purpose of this study is to predict, in detail, the response characteristics of the absorption spectra that result when the antioxidant catechin is added to oxidized DNA-SWCNTs, from a small amount of experimental data. Therefore, in the present study, we predicted the characteristics of the absorption spectra of DNA-SWCNTs using the Bayesian regularization backpropagation neural network (BRBPNN) model. The BRBPNN model was trained with the catechin concentration and initial absorption peaks as inputs and the absorption spectra after catechin addition as outputs. The accuracy of the predicted absorption peaks and wavelengths after the addition of catechin, as predicted by the BRBPNN model, was within 1% of the error of the experimental data. By inputting the catechin concentrations under hundreds of conditions into this BRBPNN model, we were able to obtain detailed prediction curves for the absorption peaks. This method has the potential to help to reduce the experimental costs and improve the efficiency of investigating the properties of high-cost materials such as SWCNTs.
Synthesis of Brominated Alkanes via Heterogeneous Catalytic Distillation over Al2O3/SO42−/ZrO2
Authors: Yang Su , Guo Xiaoxuan , Pan Xiaomei , Gu Liuyu , Liu Xueping , Gao Lijing , Xiao Guomin
Published: December 2021

Concentrated sulfuric acid is generally used as a catalyst for producing brominated alkanes in traditional methods, but is highly corrosive and difficult to separate. This work reports the preparation of bromopropane from n-propanol based on a reactive distillation strategy combined with alumina-modified sulfated zirconia (Al2O3/SO42−/ZrO2) as a heterogenous catalyst. As expected, under the optimum reaction conditions (110 °C), the yield of bromopropane was 96.18% without side reactions due to the reactive distillation strategy. Meanwhile, the microscopic morphology and performance of Al2O3/SO42−/ZrO2 were evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunner–Emmet–Teller (BET), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR), and other characterization methods. The results confirmed that the morphology of zirconia sulfate is effectively regulated by the modification method of alumina, and more edges and angles provide more catalytic acid sites for the reaction. Furthermore, Al2O3/SO42−/ZrO2 exhibited high stability and remarkable reusability due to the strong chemical bond Zr–Al–Zr. This work provides a practical method for the preparation of bromopropane and can be further extended to the preparation of other bromoalkanes.
Prophylactic and Therapeutic Effects of Oral Immunotherapy on Birch Pollen-Induced Allergic Conjunctivitis in Mice with a Rice-Based Edible Vaccine Expressing a Hypoallergenic Birch Pollen Allergen
Authors: Ishida Waka , Kishimoto Tatsuma , Takaiwa Fumio , Fukuda Ken
Published: December 2021

We investigated the prophylactic and therapeutic effects of the oral administration of transgenic rice seeds expressing a hypoallergenic Bet v 1 derivative of allergic birch pollen conjunctivitis in mice. Transgenic rice seed depositing a chimeric molecule called TPC7 (tree pollen chimera 7) created by DNA shuffling of Bet v 1 family sequences from birch, alder and hazel in protein bodies of endosperm was generated. BALB/c mice were sensitized to birch pollen in alum and challenged with pollen in eyedrops. They were fed TPC7 transgenic or non-transgenic (control) rice seeds for 14 d before sensitization (prophylactic protocol) or 17 d after sensitization (therapeutic protocol). The clinical score and number of conjunctival eosinophils were significantly lower in TPC7-fed mice than in the control mice based on both the prophylactic and therapeutic protocols. Serum concentration of allergen-specific IgE did not differ between TPC7-fed and control groups in either protocol. Prophylactic administration of TPC7 downregulated the production of IL-4 and IFN-γ, whereas therapeutic administration of TPC7 upregulated the production of IFN-γ by allergen-stimulated splenocytes. Prophylactic or therapeutic oral administration of transgenic rice expressing TPC7 suppressed birch pollen-induced allergic conjunctivitis in mice. Feeding transgenic rice is a potentially effective approach as an allergen-specific immunotherapy for allergic conjunctivitis.
p38 Mediates Resistance to FGFR Inhibition in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Zarczynska Izabela , Gorska-Arcisz Monika , Cortez Alexander Jorge , Kujawa Katarzyna Aleksandra , Wilk Agata Małgorzata , Skladanowski Andrzej Cezary , Stanczak Aleksandra , Skupinska Monika , Wieczorek Maciej , Lisowska Katarzyna Marta , Sadej Rafal , Kitowska Kamila
Published: December 2021

FGFR signalling is one of the most prominent pathways involved in cell growth and development as well as cancer progression. FGFR1 amplification occurs in approximately 20% of all squamous cell lung carcinomas (SCC), a predominant subtype of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), indicating FGFR as a potential target for the new anti-cancer treatment. However, acquired resistance to this type of therapies remains a serious clinical challenge. Here, we investigated the NSCLC cell lines response and potential mechanism of acquired resistance to novel selective FGFR inhibitor CPL304110. We found that despite significant genomic differences between CPL304110-sensitive cell lines, their resistant variants were characterised by upregulated p38 expression/phosphorylation, as well as enhanced expression of genes involved in MAPK signalling. We revealed that p38 inhibition restored sensitivity to CPL304110 in these cells. Moreover, the overexpression of this kinase in parental cells led to impaired response to FGFR inhibition, thus confirming that p38 MAPK is a driver of resistance to a novel FGFR inhibitor. Taken together, our results provide an insight into the potential direction for NSCLC targeted therapy.
Strategies to Increase Prediction Accuracy in Genomic Selection of Complex Traits in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)
Authors: Medina Cesar A. , Kaur Harpreet , Ray Ian , Yu Long-Xi
Published: December 2021

Agronomic traits such as biomass yield and abiotic stress tolerance are genetically complex and challenging to improve through conventional breeding approaches. Genomic selection (GS) is an alternative approach in which genome-wide markers are used to determine the genomic estimated breeding value (GEBV) of individuals in a population. In alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), previous results indicated that low to moderate prediction accuracy values (<70%) were obtained in complex traits, such as yield and abiotic stress resistance. There is a need to increase the prediction value in order to employ GS in breeding programs. In this paper we reviewed different statistic models and their applications in polyploid crops, such as alfalfa and potato. Specifically, we used empirical data affiliated with alfalfa yield under salt stress to investigate approaches that use DNA marker importance values derived from machine learning models, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of marker-trait association scores based on different GWASpoly models, in weighted GBLUP analyses. This approach increased prediction accuracies from 50% to more than 80% for alfalfa yield under salt stress. Finally, we expended the weighted GBLUP approach to potato and analyzed 13 phenotypic traits and obtained similar results. This is the first report on alfalfa to use variable importance and GWAS-assisted approaches to increase the prediction accuracy of GS, thus helping to select superior alfalfa lines based on their GEBVs.
Design of Magnesia–Spinel Bricks for Improved Coating Adherence in Cement Rotary Kilns
Authors: Pacheco Graziella Rajão Cota , Gonçalves Geraldo Eduardo , Lins Vanessa de Freitas Cunha
Published: December 2021

It is well known that doloma bricks present better coating adherence than magnesia–spinel bricks when applied in cement rotary kilns, which is related to the different coating formation mechanism. The coating has an essential role in prolonged operation by protecting the refractory lining; thus, it is important to improve its adherence on magnesia–spinel refractories. The objective of this investigation is to study different compositions of magnesia–spinel bricks, achieved by varying additives used (calcined alumina, limestone, hematite and zirconia) and firing temperature (1500 °C and 1700 °C), to enhance the coating adherence measured by the sandwich test. The results have pointed out that the use of higher firing temperature contributes positively to physical adherence due to well-sintered refractory structure and elevated permeability, attaining coating strength superior to 2 MPa. For the chemical adherence, the addition of 2 wt.% of limestone increased the coating strength to 3 MPa, but resulted in a drop in hot properties. In this context, the most suitable approach to improve adherence of clinker coating and maintain hot properties in suitable levels is to increase the firing temperature.
Phosphorous Determination in Biochar-Based Fertilizers by Spark Discharge-Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
Authors: Dib Samia Rodrigues , Senesi Giorgio Saverio , Gomes Neto Jose Anchieta , Ribeiro Clovis Augusto , Ferreira Edilene Cristina
Published: December 2021

Biochar-based fertilizers are a new attractive alternative to P supplementation for crops, as they can gradually release the nutrient, avoiding losses and improving soil quality. In this regard, the evaluation of the P amount in biochar-based fertilizers is extremely important for their quality control. Analytical techniques that require sample solubilization are not very efficient for this task, as biochar is difficult to solubilize. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a promising technique to respond to this demand, as it enables a direct analysis of solid samples, avoiding the complicated process of sample solubilization. In this work, a novel method based on spark discharge (SD) coupled to LIBS was evaluated for P determination in biochar-based fertilizers prepared from three different biomasses. To overcome calibration problems in LIBS analysis, a matrix-matching procedure accomplished by the addition of eucalyptus biochar to calibration standards was used in experiments. This procedure minimized matrix effects and allowed us to achieve a satisfactory accuracy even when applied to similar but different matrices. Furthermore, the developed method is simple, fast, direct, does not generate post-analysis residues and appears appropriate for the quality control of sustainable biochar-based fertilizers and other biochar products.
Kidney Tubular Damage Secondary to Deferasirox: Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Scoglio Martin , Cappellini Maria Domenica , D’Angelo Emanuela , Bianchetti Mario G. , Lava Sebastiano A. G. , Agostoni Carlo , Milani Gregorio P.
Published: December 2021

Deferasirox is a first-line therapy for iron overload that can sometimes cause kidney damage. To better define the pattern of tubular damage, a systematic literature review was conducted on the United States National Library of Medicine, Excerpta Medica, and Web of Science databases. Twenty-three reports describing 57 individual cases could be included. The majority (n = 35) of the 57 patients were ≤18 years of age and affected by thalassemia (n = 46). Abnormal urinary findings were noted in 54, electrolyte or acid–base abnormalities in 46, and acute kidney injury in 9 patients. Latent tubular damage was diagnosed in 11 (19%), overt kidney tubular damage in 37 (65%), and an acute kidney injury in the remaining nine (16%) patients. Out of the 117 acid–base and electrolyte disorders reported in 48 patients, normal-gap metabolic acidosis and hypophosphatemia were the most frequent. Further abnormalities were, in decreasing order of frequency, hypokalemia, hypouricemia, hypocalcemia, and hyponatremia. Out of the 81 abnormal urinary findings, renal glucosuria was the most frequent, followed by tubular proteinuria, total proteinuria, and aminoaciduria. In conclusion, a proximal tubulopathy pattern may be observed on treatment with deferasirox. Since deferasirox-associated kidney damage is dose-dependent, physicians should prescribe the lowest efficacious dose.
Do Invasive Mammal Eradications from Islands Support Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation?
Authors: Kappes Peter J. , Benkwitt Cassandra E. , Spatz Dena R. , Wolf Coral A. , Will David J. , Holmes Nick D.
Published: December 2021

Climate change represents a planetary emergency that is exacerbating the loss of native biodiversity. In response, efforts promoting climate change adaptation strategies that improve ecosystem resilience and/or mitigate climate impacts are paramount. Invasive Alien Species are a key threat to islands globally, where strategies such as preventing establishment (biosecurity), and eradication, especially invasive mammals, have proven effective for reducing native biodiversity loss and can also advance ecosystem resilience and create refugia for native species at risk from climate change. Furthermore, there is growing evidence that successful eradications may also contribute to mitigating climate change. Given the cross-sector potential for eradications to reduce climate impacts alongside native biodiversity conservation, we sought to understand when conservation managers and funders explicitly sought to use or fund the eradication of invasive mammals from islands to achieve positive climate outcomes. To provide context, we first summarized available literature of the synergistic relationship between invasive species and climate change, including case studies where invasive mammal eradications served to meet climate adaptation or mitigation solutions. Second, we conducted a systematic review of the literature and eradication-related conference proceedings to identify when these synergistic effects of climate and invasive species were explicitly addressed through eradication practices. Third, we reviewed projects from four large funding entities known to support climate change solutions and/or native biodiversity conservation efforts and identified when eradications were funded in a climate change context. The combined results of our case study summary paired with systematic reviews found that, although eradicating invasive mammals from islands is an effective climate adaptation strategy, island eradications are poorly represented within the climate change adaptation and mitigation funding framework. We believe this is a lost opportunity and encourage eradication practitioners and funders of climate change adaptation to leverage this extremely effective nature-based tool into positive conservation and climate resilience solutions.
Influence of Geomagnetic Disturbances at Different Times of Day on Locomotor Activity in Zebrafish (Danio Rerio)
Authors: Krylov Viacheslav V.
Published: December 2021

The influence of magnetic fields and natural geomagnetic storms on biological circadian rhythms are actively studied. This study reveals an impact of local natural perturbations in the geomagnetic field that occurred at different times of the day on circadian patterns of locomotor activity of zebrafish. A decrease in zebrafish swimming speed was observed during the geomagnetic disturbances before or after the fluctuations of diurnal geomagnetic variation. However, if the geomagnetic perturbations coincided with the fluctuations of diurnal geomagnetic variation, the decrease in zebrafish swimming speed was insignificant. This result suggests that the biological effects of geomagnetic disturbances may depend on synchronization with the diurnal geomagnetic variation. It implies that the previously published correlations between geomagnetic activity and medical or biological parameters could result from a disruption in circadian biorhythms.
Dense Phases of γ-Gliadins in Confined Geometries
Authors: Banc Amélie , Navailles Laurence , Leng Jacques , Renard Denis
Published: December 2021

The binary phase diagram of γ-gliadin, a wheat storage protein, in water was explored thanks to the microevaporator, an original PDMS microfluidic device. This protein, usually qualified as insoluble in aqueous environments, displayed a partial solubility in water. Two liquid phases, a very dilute and a dense phase, were identified after a few hours of accumulation time in the microevaporator. This liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) was further characterized through in situ micro-Raman spectroscopy of the dilute and dense protein phases. Micro-Raman spectroscopy showed a specific orientation of phenylalanine residues perpendicular to the PDMS surfaces only for the diluted phase. This orientation was ascribed to the protein adsorption at interfaces, which would act as nuclei for the growth of dense phase in bulk. This study, thanks to the use of both aqueous solvent and a microevaporator, would provide some evidence for a possible physicochemical origin of the gliadin assembly in the endoplasmic reticulum of albumen cells, leading to the formation of dense phases called protein bodies. The microfluidic tool could be used also in food science to probe protein–protein interactions in order to build up phase diagrams.
Reliability of the Ginzburg–Landau Theory in the BCS-BEC Crossover by Including Gaussian Fluctuations for 3D Attractive Fermions
Authors: Pascucci Filippo , Perali Andrea , Salasnich Luca
Published: December 2021

We calculate the parameters of the Ginzburg–Landau (GL) equation of a three-dimensional attractive Fermi gas around the superfluid critical temperature. We compare different levels of approximation throughout the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS) to the Bose–Einstein Condensate (BEC) regime. We show that the inclusion of Gaussian fluctuations strongly modifies the values of the Ginzburg–Landau parameters approaching the BEC regime of the crossover. We investigate the reliability of the Ginzburg–Landau theory, with fluctuations, studying the behavior of the coherence length and of the critical rotational frequencies throughout the BCS-BEC crossover. The effect of the Gaussian fluctuations gives qualitative correct trends of the considered physical quantities from the BCS regime up to the unitary limit of the BCS-BEC crossover. Approaching the BEC regime, the Ginzburg–Landau equation with the inclusion of Gaussian fluctuations turns out to be unreliable.
Prevalence of Lung Metastases among 19,321 Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients in Eight Countries of Europe and Asia
Authors: Jördens Markus S. , Labuhn Simon , Luedde Tom , Hoyer Laura , Kostev Karel , Loosen Sven H. , Roderburg Christoph
Published: December 2021

Background: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the Western world, and is responsible for about 10% of annual cancer-related deaths. Especially for UICC stage IV, the probability of survival is significantly reduced. Little is known about risk factors for specific metastatic patterns of colorectal cancer that may also influence patients’ overall survival. Methods: We used data from the IQVIA oncology dynamics (OD) database to determine the prevalence of pulmonary metastases in 19,321 patients with UICC stage IV colorectal cancer in eight European and Asian countries. Results: In total, 6132 of 19,321 (31.7%) study patients had lung metastases, with a higher prevalence among patients with rectal (37.5%) than colon (30.1%) cancer. When compared to China as the country with the lowest lung metastases prevalence, the odds for lung metastases were highest in UK (OR: 2.02, 95%CI: 1.80–2.28), followed by Italy (OR: 1.86, 95%CI: 1.52–2.27), Spain (OR: 1.85, 95%CI: 1.64–2.09), and Germany (OR: 1.47, 95%CI: 1.26–1.71). Conclusion: The prevalence of pulmonary metastases in UICC stage IV colorectal cancer varies widely among the different analyzed countries. Although the present data are purely descriptive, a possible combination of ethnic, environmental, and health care system-associated differences could be discussed as the underlying cause. Further studies are needed to investigate the reasons for differences in the prevalence of lung metastases.
Association of Feed Efficiency, Feeding Rate, and Behaviour with the Milk Performance of Dairy Cows
Authors: Krpálková Lenka , O’Mahony Niall , Carvalho Anderson , Campbell Sean , Corkery Gerard , Broderick Eilish , Riordan Daniel , Walsh Joseph
Published: December 2021

Identification of the associations of cow feed efficiency with feeding behaviour and milk production is important for supporting recommendations of strategies that optimise milk yield. The objective of this study was to identify associations between measures of feed efficiency, feed intake, feeding rate, rumination time, feeding time, and milk production using data collected from 26 dairy cows during a 3 month period in 2018. Cows averaged (mean ± standard deviation) 2.2 ± 1.7 lactations, 128 ± 40 days in milk, 27.5 ± 5.5 kg/day milk, 1.95 ± 0.69 kg feed/1 kg milk—the measure used to express feed conversion ratio (FCR), 575 ± 72 min/day rumination time, and 264 ± 67 min/day feeding time during the observation period. The coefficient of variation for rumination time (min/d) was 12.5%. A mixed linear model was selected for analyses. The most feed inefficient cows with the highest FCR (≥2.6 kg feed/1 kg milk) showed the lowest milk yield (24.8 kg/day), highest feed intake (78.8 kg), highest feeding rate (0.26 kg/min) and BCS (3.35 point). However, the relative milk yield (milk yield per 100 kg of body weight) was the highest (4.01 kg/day) in the most efficient group with the lowest FCR (≤1.4 kg feed/1 kg milk). Our study showed that the most efficient cows with the lowest FCR (≤1.4 kg feed/1 kg milk) had the highest rumination time (597 min/day; p < 0.05), feeding time (298 min/day; p < 0.05), rumination/activity ratio (4.39; p < 0.05) and rumination/feeding ratio (2.04; p < 0.05). Less active cows (activity time 164 min/day; p < 0.05) were the most efficient cows with the lowest FCR (≤1.4 kg feed/1 kg milk). The behavioural differences observed in this study provide new insight into the association of feed behaviour and feed efficiency with milk performance. Incorporating feeding behaviour into the dry matter intake model can improve its accuracy in the future and benefit breeding programmes.
Assistive Devices: Technology Development for the Visually Impaired
Authors: Beingolea Jorge Rodolfo , Zea-Vargas Miguel A. , Huallpa Renato , Vilca Xiomara , Bolivar Renzo , Rendulich Jorge
Published: December 2021

Technology has been contributing significantly to the development of assistive devices for disabled persons (DPs). Many of these devices aim to assist people who are blind or visually impaired, providing them with friendlier ways to interact with their surroundings (obstacles, objects, and navigation). However, the high cost of these devices makes it difficult for DPs to purchase them. The development of an assistive device kit to be used by the visually impaired in controlled environments (indoor) or urban spaces (outdoor) is presented in this work with a didactic and detailed approach. This low-cost kit (USD 50 per device) consists of a Smart Cane, Smart Cap, and Smart Glove. The methodology addressed aims to support and encourage the reproduction, customization, and manufacture of new assistive devices with low cost and wide applicability. The devices are functional, benefit usability, and, due to the characteristics of the project and the materials used in their construction, do not impact the ergonomics of the visually impaired or disabled person who may use these devices. The devices that integrate the assistive kit can be used independently or combined. In addition to having detection, fall-control, navigation, and real-time tracking functions, they are independent of additional local infrastructure for their use.
Impact of the Nucleic Acid Extraction Method and the RT-qPCR Assay on SARS-CoV-2 Detection in Low-Viral Samples
Authors: Komiazyk Magdalena , Walory Jarosław , Kozinska Aleksandra , Wasko Izabela , Baraniak Anna
Published: December 2021

COVID-19 was initially reported in China at the end of 2019 and soon thereafter, in March 2020, the WHO declared it a pandemic. Until October 2021, over 240 million COVID-19 cases were recorded, with 4.9 mln deaths. In order to stop the spread of this disease, it is crucial to monitor and detect any infected person. The etiologic agent of COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. The gold standard for the detection of the virus is the RT-qPCR method. This study evaluated two RNA extraction methods and four commercial RT-qPCR assays routinely used in diagnostic laboratories for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in human specimens from the upper respiratory tract. We analyzed a panel of 70 clinical samples with varying RNA loads. Our study demonstrated the significant impact of the diagnostic methods selected by the laboratory on the SARS-CoV-2 detection in clinical specimens with low viral loads.
Diagnostic Value of CEUS LI-RADS Version 2017 in Differentiating AFP-Negative Hepatocellular Carcinoma from Other Primary Malignancies of the Liver
Authors: Wang Peihua , Nie Fang , Dong Tiantian , Yang Dan , Liu Ting , Wang Guojuan
Published: December 2021

Purpose: To explore the diagnostic value of Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2017 (CEUS LI-RADS v2017) in differentiating alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-negative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from other primary malignancies (OM) of the liver. Methods: The data of 99 patients with primary liver malignant tumors confirmed by surgical pathology and AFP-negative from January 2018 to January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, and the lesions were divided into 61 cases in the AFP-negative HCC group and 38 cases in the OM group according to the pathological findings, the CEUS features of the lesions were analyzed and the lesions were classified according to the CEUS LI-RADS v2017. Comparison of CEUS features between the two groups was performed using the χ2 test. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and coincidence rate of CEUS LI-RADS v2017 for the diagnosis of AFP-negative HCC and OM were calculated using pathological findings as the gold standard. Results: The differences in features of arterial phase enhancement and wash-out between the HCC and OM groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The sensitivity of diagnosing HCC by LR-5 was 62.3% and the specificity was 92.1%. The sensitivity of diagnosing OM by LR-M was 92.1% and the specificity was 83.6%. Conclusions: When AFP is negative in patients with intrahepatic focal lesions, LR-5 has high specificity but low sensitivity in the diagnosis of HCC, and LR-M has high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of OM. CEUS LI-RADS is a tool to differentiate AFP-negative HCC and OM effectively.
Empirical Frequentist Coverage of Deep Learning Uncertainty Quantification Procedures
Authors: Kompa Benjamin , Snoek Jasper , Beam Andrew L.
Published: December 2021

Uncertainty quantification for complex deep learning models is increasingly important as these techniques see growing use in high-stakes, real-world settings. Currently, the quality of a model’s uncertainty is evaluated using point-prediction metrics, such as the negative log-likelihood (NLL), expected calibration error (ECE) or the Brier score on held-out data. Marginal coverage of prediction intervals or sets, a well-known concept in the statistical literature, is an intuitive alternative to these metrics but has yet to be systematically studied for many popular uncertainty quantification techniques for deep learning models. With marginal coverage and the complementary notion of the width of a prediction interval, downstream users of deployed machine learning models can better understand uncertainty quantification both on a global dataset level and on a per-sample basis. In this study, we provide the first large-scale evaluation of the empirical frequentist coverage properties of well-known uncertainty quantification techniques on a suite of regression and classification tasks. We find that, in general, some methods do achieve desirable coverage properties on in distribution samples, but that coverage is not maintained on out-of-distribution data. Our results demonstrate the failings of current uncertainty quantification techniques as dataset shift increases and reinforce coverage as an important metric in developing models for real-world applications.
Multiscale Entropy Analysis of Short Signals: The Robustness of Fuzzy Entropy-Based Variants Compared to Full-Length Long Signals
Authors: Borin Airton , Humeau-Heurtier Anne , Virgílio Silva Luiz , Murta Luiz
Published: December 2021

Multiscale entropy (MSE) analysis is a fundamental approach to access the complexity of a time series by estimating its information creation over a range of temporal scales. However, MSE may not be accurate or valid for short time series. This is why previous studies applied different kinds of algorithm derivations to short-term time series. However, no study has systematically analyzed and compared their reliabilities. This study compares the MSE algorithm variations adapted to short time series on both human and rat heart rate variability (HRV) time series using long-term MSE as reference. The most used variations of MSE are studied: composite MSE (CMSE), refined composite MSE (RCMSE), modified MSE (MMSE), and their fuzzy versions. We also analyze the errors in MSE estimations for a range of incorporated fuzzy exponents. The results show that fuzzy MSE versions—as a function of time series length—present minimal errors compared to the non-fuzzy algorithms. The traditional multiscale entropy algorithm with fuzzy counting (MFE) has similar accuracy to alternative algorithms with better computing performance. For the best accuracy, the findings suggest different fuzzy exponents according to the time series length.
Children’s Health Capital Investment: Effects of U.S. Infant Breastfeeding on Teenage Obesity
Authors: Okunade Albert , Osmani Ahmad Reshad , Ayangbayi Toluwalope , Okunade Adeyinka Kevin
Published: December 2021

Obesity, as a health and social problem with rising prevalence and soaring economic cost, is increasingly drawing scholarly and public policy attention. While many studies have suggested that infant breastfeeding protects against childhood obesity, empirical evidence on this causal relationship is fragile. Using the health capital development theory, this study exploited multiple data sources from the U.S. and a three-way error components model (ECM) with a jackknife resampling plan to estimate the effect of in-hospital breastfeeding initiation and breastfeeding for durations of 3, 6, and 12 months on the prevalence of obesity during teenage years. The main finding was that a 1% rise in the in-hospital breastfeeding initiation rate reduces the teenage obesity prevalence rate by 1.7% (9.6% of a standard deviation). The magnitude of this effect declines as the infant breastfeeding duration lengthens—e.g., the 12-month infant breastfeeding duration rate is associated with a 0.53% (3.7% of a standard deviation) reduction in obesity prevalence in the teenage years (9th to 12th grades). The study findings agree with both the behavioral and physiological theories on the long-term effects of breastfeeding, and have timely implications for public policies promoting infant breastfeeding to reduce the economic burden of teenage and later adult-stage obesity prevalence rates.
Unveiling Entrepreneurial Ecosystems’ Transformation: A GEM Based Portrait
Authors: Pita Mariana , Costa Joana , Moreira António Carrizo
Published: December 2021

Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (EEs) have attracted the attention of academics, practitioners, and policymakers, that attempt to unlock ‘a winning recipe’ considering the different EEs pillars in order to ignite entrepreneurship at large. Therefore, understanding the degree of influence of each pillar on Entrepreneurial Initiative (EI) is helpful in framing more effective policies towards entrepreneurship. This study aims to bring a new facet to entrepreneurship research, specifically on decomposing the transformation of EEs and the influence of EEs pillars on EI. The transformation of EEs is shown by a balanced panel approach based on the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) dataset over 8 years (2010–2017), comprising 18 countries. The study has several implications for entrepreneurship theory and practice as well as public policy since discusses three main issues, mainly supported by empirical results. First, the results show an unbalanced influence of EEs pillars on EI. Second, results also show the ineffectiveness of institutions in encouraging the desire to act entrepreneurially. Third, entrepreneurship needs to be part of the acculturation process evidencing the importance of collective normative. Therefore, providing the instruments and structures is not enough to encourage individuals to start an entrepreneurial journey. Generally, the results reveal that contextual determinants are significant in fostering entrepreneurial propensity to start a business. But the impact of the nine pillars is not equalized, revealing a fragmented influence with funding measures, R&D transfer, and cultural and social norms discouraging entrepreneurial initiative. Overall, the study contributes to the understanding of a multidimensional perspective on EEs and points future policy directions to overcome the lack of entrepreneurship and amend flawed entrepreneurship policies.