bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Vaccine Hesitancy in Central Texas Immediately Prior to COVID-19 Vaccine Availability
Authors: Litaker John R. , Tamez Naomi , Lopez Bray Carlos , Durkalski Wesley , Taylor Richard
Published: December 2021

Vaccine-induced herd immunity remains the best opportunity for ending the COVID-19 pandemic. However, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is a real concern. In this paper, we report on vaccine hesitancy in Central Texas immediately prior to the release of the two mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in late December 2020. A total of 1648 individuals 18 years or older with health insurance living in Central Texas completed a survey on sociodemographic factors and plans to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine. Of the respondents, 64.1% planned to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine. Logistic regression identified the following sociodemographic factors associated with vaccine hesitancy: Black or African American race (POR: 0.351, p < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.211, 0.584), female sex (POR: 0.650, p < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.518, 0.816), age of 35–49 years old (POR: 0.689, p = 0.004, 95% CI: 0.534, 0.890), annual household income of less than US$10,000 (POR: 0.565, p = 0.041, 95% CI: 0.327, 0.976), a high school education or less (POR: 0.565, p = 0.001, 95% CI: 0.401, 0.795), and a high school education but less than a 4-year college degree (POR: 0.572, p < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.442, 0.739). Real-world evidence provided by individuals on plans to get vaccinated can reveal COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy associated heterogeneity.
Bridging the Digital Divide for Rural Older Adults by Family Intergenerational Learning: A Classroom Case in a Rural Primary School in China
Authors: Cheng Hao , Lyu Keyi , Li Jiacheng , Shiu Hoiyan
Published: December 2021

Rural older adults often feel disconnected from the ever-expanding digital world. To bridge the digital divide, researchers have investigated the effectiveness of formal education and training offered by various social institutions. However, existing research highlights a critical shortcoming in these approaches: a lack of attention paid to rural older adults’ individual needs and interests. Based on the theories of post-metaphorical culture, endogenous development, home-school cooperation, and technology adoption and acceptance, this study implements a family intergenerational learning (FIL) project. FIL characterizes learning between grandparents and grandchildren within the household, suggesting a more practical and individualized strategy to help rural older adults gain digital literacy. By conducting a three-month FIL Project in a rural primary school class in China, the study employs a qualitative method to analyze learning records and interviews from 10 sets of participating grandparents and grandchildren. The analysis renders two critical findings on the effectiveness of the FIL Project for rural older adults. First, FIL can help rural older adults adapt into the digital world by (1) gaining knowledge about digital society, (2) improving their digital skills, (3) changing their lifestyles, and (4) understanding the integration between technology and society. Second, among grandchildren, FIL can cultivate an awareness of lifelong learning and their moral obligations to their grandparents. By illustrating this specific case, this study puts forward a new approach to help the older adults overcome the digital divide in rural areas.
Analysis of Factors Associated with the Risk of Suicide in a Brazilian Capital: Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Mendes Marcos Vinicius de Carvalho , Santos Solange Laurentino dos , Castro Claudia Cristina Lima de , Furtado Betise Mery Alencar Sousa Macau , Costa Heitor Victor Veiga da , Ceballos Albanita Gomes da Costa de , Galvão Pauliana Valéria Machado , Bonfim Cristine Vieira do
Published: December 2021

Suicide and suicide attempts are considered global health problems. With regard to the main causes of unnatural deaths, Brazil ranks as the eighth country with the highest absolute number of suicides. The aim of this study was to analyze the factors associated with the risk of suicide in a metropolitan city in Brazil. This was a cross-sectional study carried out in Recife, in the northeast region of Brazil. Epidemiological surveillance was conducted on the information systems regarding attempted suicide, suicide, and undetermined deaths in the period from 2007 to 2017. A record linkage between the information systems was performed. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and logistic regression were performed with an adopted a significance level of 5%. In the city of Recife, there were 4495 suicide attempts in the period, and the most frequent suicide attempts were by single females, aged between 20 and 39 years old, and who used either medication or poison to die by suicide. A total of 141 individuals died by suicide, and exogenous intoxication was the most common method. Knowing the common characteristics and associated factors of those who attempt and die by suicide is key for the development of prevention policies and intervention strategies for suicide.
Dietary Acid Load, Serum Polychlorinated Biphenyl Levels, and Mortality Following Breast Cancer in the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project
Authors: Chronister Briana N. C. , Wu Tianying , Santella Regina M. , Neugut Alfred I. , Wolff Mary S. , Chen Jia , Teitelbaum Susan L. , Parada Humberto
Published: December 2021

Dietary acid load (DAL) may be associated with all-cause mortality (ACM) and breast cancer-specific mortality (BCM), and these associations may be modified by serum polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels. Participants included 519 women diagnosed with first primary in situ or invasive breast cancer in 1996/1997 with available lipid-corrected PCB data. After a median of 17 years, there were 217 deaths (73 BCM). Potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net endogenous acid production (NEAP) scores calculated from a baseline food frequency questionnaire estimated DAL. Cox regression estimated covariate-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between PRAL and NEAP with mortality. We evaluated effect measure modification by total serum PCB levels (>median vs. ≤median). PRAL quartile 4 versus quartile 1 was associated with an ACM HR of 1.31 (95%CI = 0.90–1.92). In the upper median of PCBs, ACM HRs were 1.43 (95%CI = 0.96–2.11) and 1.40 (95%CI = 0.94–2.07) for PRAL and NEAP upper medians, respectively. In the lower median of PCBs, the upper median of NEAP was inversely associated with BCM (HR = 0.40, 95%CI = 0.19–0.85). DAL may be associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality following breast cancer among women with high total serum PCB levels, but inversely associated with breast cancer mortality among women with low PCB levels.
Signatures of Cholera Outbreak during the Yemeni Civil War, 2016–2019
Authors: Simpson Ryan , Babool Sofia , Tarnas Maia , Kaminski Paulina , Hartwick Meghan , Naumova Elena
Published: December 2021

The Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) created a strategy for early outbreak detection, hotspot identification, and resource mobilization coordination in response to the Yemeni cholera epidemic. This strategy requires a systematic approach for defining and classifying outbreak signatures, or the profile of an epidemic curve and its features. We used publicly available data to quantify outbreak features of the ongoing cholera epidemic in Yemen and clustered governorates using an adaptive time series methodology. We characterized outbreak signatures and identified clusters using a weekly time series of cholera rates in 20 Yemeni governorates and nationally from 4 September 2016 through 29 December 2019 as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). We quantified critical points and periods using Kolmogorov–Zurbenko adaptive filter methodology. We assigned governorates into six clusters sharing similar outbreak signatures, according to similarities in critical points, critical periods, and the magnitude of peak rates. We identified four national outbreak waves beginning on 12 September 2016, 6 March 2017, 28 May 2018, and 28 January 2019. Among six identified clusters, we classified a core regional hotspot in Sana’a, Sana’a City, and Al-Hudaydah—the expected origin of the national outbreak. The five additional clusters differed in Wave 2 and Wave 3 peak frequency, timing, magnitude, and geographic location. As of 29 December 2019, no governorates had returned to pre-Wave 1 levels. The detected similarity in outbreak signatures suggests potentially shared environmental and human-made drivers of infection; the heterogeneity in outbreak signatures implies the potential traveling waves outwards from the core regional hotspot that could be governed by factors that deserve further investigation.
TMT-Based Quantitative Proteomics Reveals Cochlear Protein Profile Alterations in Mice with Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Authors: Miao Long , Zhang Juan , Yin Lihong , Pu Yuepu
Published: December 2021

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a global occupational disease affecting health. To date, genetic polymorphism studies on NIHL have been performed extensively. However, the proteomic profiles in the cochleae of mice suffering noise damage remain unclear. The goal of this current study was to perform a comprehensive investigation on characterizing protein expression changes in the cochlea based on a mouse model of NIHL using tandem mass tag (TMT)-labeling quantitative proteomics, and to reveal the potential biomarkers and pathogenesis of NIHL. Male C57BL/6J mice were exposed to noise at 120 dB SPL for 4 h to construct the NIHL mouse model. The levels of MDA and SOD, and the production of proinflammatory cytokines including TNF-α and IL-6 in the mice cochleae, were determined using chemical colorimetrical and ELISA kits. Moreover, differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were validated using Western blotting. The mouse model showed that the ABR thresholds at frequencies of 4, 8, 12, 16, 24 and 32 kHz were significantly increased, and outer hair cells (HCs) showed a distinct loss in the noise-exposed mice. Proteomics analysis revealed that 221 DEPs were associated with NIHL. Bioinformatics analysis showed that a set of key inflammation and autophagy-related DEPs (ITGA1, KNG1, CFI, FGF1, AKT2 and ATG5) were enriched in PI3K/AKT, ECM-receptor interaction, and focal adhesion pathways. The results revealed that the MDA level was significantly increased, but the activity of SOD decreased in noise-exposed mice compared to the control mice. Moreover, TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly increased in the noise-exposed mice. Western blotting revealed that the expression levels of ITGA1, KNG1, and CFI were upregulated, but FGF1, AKT2, and ATG5 were significantly downregulated in noise-exposed mice. This study provides new scientific clues about the future biomarkers and pathogenesis studies underlying NIHL. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the validated DEPs may be valuable biomarkers of NIHL, and inflammation and autophagy may be pivotal mechanisms that underlie NIHL.
Impact of Health Literacy on the Progression of Frailty after 4 Years among Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: Yoshizawa Yasuyo , Tanaka Tomoki , Takahashi Kyo , Fujisaki-Sueda-Sakai Mahiro , Son Bo-kyung , Iijima Katsuya
Published: December 2021

Health literacy (HL) promotes healthy lifestyle behaviors among older adults, and its relationship with frailty remains unclear. This study examined whether HL is a predictor of frailty progression among community-dwelling older adults. Data from two surveys conducted in 2012 and 2016 involving older residents (mean age, 71.6 ± 4.6 years) of Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan were used. Only healthy individuals without frailty and cognitive impairments participated in the 2012 assessment, where the Kihon Checklist (KCL), HL, and other variables were assessed. Logistic and multiple logistic analyses were used to assess the effects of HL and other factors on frailty between the ‘high HL’ vs. ‘low HL’ groups in 2012 and between the ‘robust’ vs. ‘frailty-progressing’ groups in 2016. Of the 621 robust participants, 154 (25.4%) had progression of frailty in 2016, which was significantly associated with advanced age, higher KCL score, lower HL, poor mental health, and lack of social support. Furthermore, low HL was a predictor of frailty progression. Low HL may be associated with frailty progression. The obtained results suggest that increased health literacy should be effective in preventing frailty for community-dwelling older residents.
Defining Antibody Seroprevalence and Duration of Humoral Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Infection and/or Vaccination in a Greek Community
Authors: Kotsiou Ourania S. , Papagiannis Dimitrios , Fradelos Evangelos C. , Siachpazidou Dimitra I. , Perlepe Garifallia , Miziou Angeliki , Kyritsis Athanasios , Vavougios George D. , Kalantzis Georgios , Gourgoulianis Konstantinos I.
Published: December 2021

Background: In this work, we aimed to evaluate antibody-response longevity to SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or vaccination in one of the Greek communities that was worst hit by the pandemic, Deskati, five months after a previous serosurveillance and nine months after the pandemic wave initiation (October 2020). Methods: The SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quant method (Architect, Abbott, IL, USA) was used for antibody testing. Results: A total of 69 subjects, who previously tested positive or negative for COVID-19 antibodies, participated in the study. We found that 48% of participants turned positive due to vaccination. 27% of participants were both previously infected and vaccinated. However, all previously infected participants retained antibodies to the virus, irrespective of their vaccination status. The antibody titers were significantly higher in previously infected participants that had been vaccinated than those who were unvaccinated and in those that had been previously hospitalized for COVID-19 than those with mild disease. Conclusions: Antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection were maintained nine months after the pandemic. Vaccination alone had generated an immune response in almost half of the population. Higher antibody titers were found in the case of vaccination in previously infected subjects and especially in those with severe disease leading to hospitalization.
Serverless Geospatial Data Processing Workflow System Design
Authors: Pakdil Mete Ercan , Çelik Rahmi Nurhan
Published: December 2021

Geospatial data and related technologies have become an increasingly important aspect of data analysis processes, with their prominent role in most of them. Serverless paradigm have become the most popular and frequently used technology within cloud computing. This paper reviews the serverless paradigm and examines how it could be leveraged for geospatial data processes by using open standards in the geospatial community. We propose a system design and architecture to handle complex geospatial data processing jobs with minimum human intervention and resource consumption using serverless technologies. In order to define and execute workflows in the system, we also propose new models for both workflow and task definitions models. Moreover, the proposed system has new Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Application Programming Interface (API) Processes specification-based web services to provide interoperability with other geospatial applications with the anticipation that it will be more commonly used in the future. We implemented the proposed system on one of the public cloud providers as a proof of concept and evaluated it with sample geospatial workflows and cloud architecture best practices.
The Evaluation of Temporal and Spatial Trends of Global Warming and Extreme Ocean Surface Temperatures: A Case Study of Canada
Authors: Wang Yameng , Sarkar Apurbo , Hasan Ahmed Khairul , Tian Yingdong , Wu Qian , Hossain Md. Shakhawat , Wei Feng
Published: December 2021

In recent years, extreme weather has frequently occurred worldwide and caused significant disasters, including large-scale forest fires, rare heat waves, heavy rains, floods, and tornadoes. Those have caused unprecedented losses of human lives and property in some countries, affecting the livelihoods of many people. Climate change and natural disasters are the two hotspots of scientific research today, and there is a certain degree of correlation between the two. Although countries worldwide have long known about climate change and its threats to human existence and have been discussing countermeasures, they have still not been able to carry out concerted and practical actions. The study takes Canada as an example, and selects six representative provinces to evaluate the temporal change characteristics of extreme temperature at different sites. We use MATLAB software to perform multiple linear regression, linear fitting methods, and Pearson correlation analysis to analyze spatial changes and time-space trends. The method studies the relationship between the emergence of extreme weather and climate change and uses the evolutionary game theory to explore whether there is any contradiction between global warming and extreme local cold. The study found: (i) The maximum temperature of most provinces in Canada will be constantly higher, and the minimum temperature will be lower. Generally speaking, the average temperature of each year is slowly decreasing. (ii) The average temperature data of British Columbia (Eastern Pacific) and Quebec (West Atlantic) show that ocean temperature has a specific effect on land temperature in surrounding areas. (iii) Pearson correlation analysis shows that the emergence of extreme weather is closely related to climate change. (iv) The evolution path of the two-party game shows that global warming and the occurrence of extreme local cold are not contradictory. Under the conditions, there is a certain degree of synchronization between the two, interacting and influencing each other.
Development of a 3D WebGIS Application for the Visualization of Seismic Risk on Infrastructural Work
Authors: Mazzei Mauro , Quaroni Davide
Published: December 2021

In this paper we describe the potentialities of a tool for the visualization of experimental results directly on a three-dimensional model. The case study concerns the visualization of the results of a dynamic finite element analysis (FEA/FEM) applied to the calculation of seismic risk on works belonging to the Italian infrastructural heritage, specifically bridges, viaducts and overpasses. The project is based on finite element analysis performed on an exemplary set of eight structures located on the Italian territory, performed by means of the open-source software framework OpenSees, according to the guidelines indicated in the Technical Standards for Construction NTC08. The application created for this project is classifiable as a webGIS, since all data are georeferenced and visualized on a map through an application executed through a browser. The graphical interface displays the interested works on the map of the Italian territory and allows to select them by mouse click. Following the selection, a 3D rendering of the model of the work and the surrounding terrain is shown, in which the results of the analysis are represented using color gradients directly on the three-dimensional model. The necessary tools are present for the selection of the type of result and for the animation in real time of the response of the work to the seismic action. The 3D representation is freely navigable by the user due to intuitive tools of panning, rotation and zoom through mouse and keyboard. The application takes advantage of HTML5, CSS and Javascript to show graphical features such as Cartesian diagrams of accelerograms used in modal analysis.
Cancer-Homing CAR-T Cells and Endogenous Immune Population Dynamics
Authors: Guerra Emanuela , Di Pietro Roberta , Basile Mariangela , Trerotola Marco , Alberti Saverio
Published: December 2021

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapy is based on patient blood-derived T cells and natural killer cells, which are engineered in vitro to recognize a target antigen in cancer cells. Most CAR-T recognize target antigens through immunoglobulin antigen-binding regions. Hence, CAR-T cells do not require the major histocompatibility complex presentation of a target peptide. CAR-T therapy has been tremendously successful in the treatment of leukemias. On the other hand, the clinical efficacy of CAR-T cells is rarely detected against solid tumors. CAR-T-cell therapy of cancer faces many hurdles, starting from the administration of engineered cells, wherein CAR-T cells must encounter the correct chemotactic signals to traffic to the tumor in sufficient numbers. Additional obstacles arise from the hostile environment that cancers provide to CAR-T cells. Intense efforts have gone into tackling these pitfalls. However, we argue that some CAR-engineering strategies may risk missing the bigger picture, i.e., that a successful CAR-T-cell therapy must efficiently intertwine with the complex and heterogeneous responses that the body has already mounted against the tumor. Recent findings lend support to this model.
Investigation of Chemical Constituents of Eranthis longistipitata (Ranunculaceae): Coumarins and Furochromones
Authors: Erst Andrey S. , Chernonosov Alexander A. , Petrova Natalia V. , Kulikovskiy Maxim S. , Maltseva Svetlana Yu. , Wang Wei , Kostikova Vera A.
Published: December 2021

Aqueous-ethanol extracts (70%) from the leaves of Eranthis longistipitata Regel. (Ranunculaceae Juss.)—collected from natural populations of Kyrgyzstan—were studied by liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). There was no variation of the metabolic profiles among plants that were collected from different populations. More than 160 compounds were found in the leaves, of which 72 were identified to the class level and 58 to the individual-compound level. The class of flavonoids proved to be the most widely represented (19 compounds), including six aglycones [quercetin, kaempferol, aromadendrin, 6-methoxytaxifolin, phloretin, and (+)-catechin] and mono- and diglycosides (the other 13 compounds). In the analyzed samples of E. longistipitata, 14 fatty acid–related compounds were identified, but coumarins and furochromones that were found in E. longistipitata were the most interesting result; furochromones khelloside, khellin, visnagin, and cimifugin were found in E. longistipitata for the first time. Coumarins 5,7-dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin, scoparone, fraxetin, and luvangetin and furochromones methoxsalen, 5-O-methylvisammioside, and visamminol-3′-O-glucoside were detected for the first time in the genus Eranthis Salisb. For all the above compounds, the structural formulas are given. Furthermore, detailed information (with structural formulas) is provided on the diversity of chromones and furochromones in other representatives of Eranthis. The presence of chromones in plants of the genus Eranthis confirms its closeness to the genus Actaea L. because chromones are synthesized by normal physiological processes only in these members of the Ranunculaceae family.
Synthesis of Dolichols in Candida albicans Is Co-Regulated with Elongation of Fatty Acids
Authors: Janik Anna , Perlińska-Lenart Urszula , Gawarecka Katarzyna , Augustyniak Justyna , Bratek-Gerej Ewelina , Bernat Przemysław , Piłsyk Sebastian , Skalmowska Patrycja , Palamarczyk Grażyna , Swiezewska Ewa , Kruszewska Joanna S.
Published: December 2021

Protein glycosylation requires dolichyl phosphate as a carbohydrate carrier. Dolichols are α-saturated polyprenols, and their saturation in S. cerevisiae is catalyzed by polyprenyl reductase Dfg10 together with some other unknown enzymes. The aim of this study was to identify such enzymes in Candida. The Dfg10 polyprenyl reductase from S. cerevisiae comprises a C-terminal 3-oxo-5-alpha-steroid 4-dehydrogenase domain. Alignment analysis revealed such a domain in two ORFs (orf19.209 and orf19.3293) from C. albicans, which were similar, respectively, to Dfg10 polyprenyl reductase and Tsc13 enoyl-transferase from S. cerevisiae. Deletion of orf19.209 in Candida impaired saturation of polyprenols. The Tsc13 homologue turned out not to be capable of saturating polyprenols, but limiting its expression reduce the cellular level of dolichols and polyprenols. This reduction was not due to a decreased expression of genes encoding cis-prenyltransferases from the dolichol branch but to a lower expression of genes encoding enzymes of the early stages of the mevalonate pathway. Despite the resulting lower consumption of acetyl-CoA, the sole precursor of the mevalonate pathway, it was not redirected towards fatty acid synthesis or elongation. Lowering the expression of TSC13 decreased the expression of the ACC1 gene encoding acetyl-CoA carboxylase, the key regulatory enzyme of fatty acid synthesis and elongation.
Proteolytic Profiling of Streptococcal Pyrogenic Exotoxin B (SpeB) by Complementary HPLC-MS Approaches
Authors: Blöchl Constantin , Holzner Christoph , Luciano Michela , Bauer Renate , Horejs-Hoeck Jutta , Eckhard Ulrich , Brandstetter Hans , Huber Christian G.
Published: December 2021

Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B (SpeB) is a cysteine protease expressed during group A streptococcal infection that represents a major virulence factor. Although subject to several studies, its role during infection is still under debate, and its proteolytic properties remain insufficiently characterized. Here, we revisited this protease through a set of complementary approaches relying on state of-the-art HPLC-MS methods. After conceiving an efficient protocol to recombinantly express SpeB, the zymogen of the protease and its activation were characterized. Employing proteome-derived peptide libraries, a strong preference for hydrophobic and aromatic residues at P2 alongside negatively charged amino acids at P3′ to P6′ was revealed. To identify relevant in vivo substrates, native proteins were obtained from monocytic secretome and plasma to assess their cleavage under physiological conditions. Besides corroborating our findings concerning specificity, more than 200 cleaved proteins were identified, including proteins of the extracellular matrix, proteins of the immune system, and proteins involved in inflammation. Finally, the cleavage of IgG subclasses was studied in detail. This study precisely depicts the proteolytic properties of SpeB and provides a library of potential host substrates, including their exact cleavage positions, as a valuable source for further research to unravel the role of SpeB during streptococcal infection.
We Should Improve Personalization of Management in Patients with a Diagnosis of Schizophrenia
Authors: Tortorella Alfonso
Published: December 2021

The current management of patients with schizophrenia is marked by a lack of personalization. After the diagnosis is made, a second-generation antipsychotic is usually prescribed based on the current clinician’s preferences, sometimes accompanied by a psychosocial intervention which is typically not evidence-based and not targeted to the specific needs of the individual patient. In this opinion paper, some steps are outlined that could be taken in order to address this lack of personalization. A special emphasis is laid on the clinical characterization of the patient who has received a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Considerations are put forward concerning the assessment of the negative dimension in ordinary clinical practice, which is often neglected; the evaluation of cognitive functioning using a simple test battery which requires limited professional training and takes no more than 15 min to administer; the evaluation of social functioning using a validated instrument focusing on personal care skills, interpersonal relationships, social acceptability, activities, and work skills; and the assessment of the unmet needs of the person (including practical, social, and emotional needs, and existential or personal recovery). The implications of the assessment of these domains for the formulation of the management plan are discussed.
Date of Admission during COVID-19 Pandemic Impacted Patient Outcomes in Addition to the Higher Efficacy of Tocilizumab Plus High-Dose Corticosteroid Therapy Compared to Tocilizumab Alone
Authors: Belhassen-García Moncef , Sánchez-Puente Antonio , Dorado-Díaz Pedro-Ignacio , López-Bernús Amparo , Sampedro-Gómez Jesús , Azibeiro-Melchor Raúl , Marcano-Millán Edgard , Rodríguez-Alonso Beatriz , Sánchez-Barrado María-Elisa , Hernández-García Ignacio , Madruga Ignacio , Hernández-Pérez Guillermo , Carbonell Cristina , García-Aparicio Judit , Burgos Laura , López-Sánchez Eugenia , Reina Carlos , Ramón Ana-María , Cestero-Ramírez Laura , Boumhir Fátima , Encinas-Sánchez Daniel , Sánchez-Ledesma María , Herráez Jacinto , Araoz Patricia , Sánchez-Crespo María-José , Rodríguez-Rodríguez Sandra , Rodríguez-Gude Ana-Elisa , Sánchez-Hernández Miguel-Vicente , Borrás Rafael , Sagredo-Meneses Víctor , Sánchez Pedro-Luis , Marcos Miguel , Martín-Oterino José-Ángel
Published: December 2021

Background: The evidence for the efficacy of glucocorticoids combined with tocilizumab (TCZ) in COVID-19 comes from observational studies or subgroup analysis. Our aim was to compare outcomes between hospitalized COVID-19 patients who received high-dose corticosteroid pulse therapy and TCZ and those who received TCZ. Methods: A retrospective single-center study was performed on consecutive hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 between 1 March and 23 April 2020. Patients treated with either TCZ (400–600 mg, one to two doses) and methylprednisolone pulses (MPD-TCZ group) or TCZ alone were analyzed for the occurrence of a combined endpoint of death and need for invasive mechanical ventilation during admission. The independence of both treatment groups was tested using machine learning classifiers, and relevant variables that were potentially different between the groups were measured through a mean decrease accuracy algorithm. Results: An earlier date of admission was significantly associated with worse outcomes regardless of treatment type. Twenty patients died (27.0%) in the TCZ group, and 33 (44.6%) died or required intubation (n = 74), whereas in the MPD-TCZ group, 15 (11.0%) patients died and 29 (21.3%) patients reached the combined endpoint (n = 136; p = 0.006 and p < 0.001, respectively). Machine learning methodology using a random forest classifier confirmed significant differences between the treatment groups. Conclusions: MPD and TCZ improved outcomes (death and invasive mechanical ventilation) among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, but confounding variables such as the date of admission during the COVID-19 pandemic should be considered in observational studies.
The Fission Yeast Cell Integrity Pathway: A Functional Hub for Cell Survival upon Stress and Beyond
Authors: Cansado José , Soto Teresa , Franco Alejandro , Vicente-Soler Jero , Madrid Marisa
Published: December 2021

The survival of eukaryotic organisms during environmental changes is largely dependent on the adaptive responses elicited by signal transduction cascades, including those regulated by the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathways. The Cell Integrity Pathway (CIP), one of the three MAPK pathways found in the simple eukaryote fission of yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, shows strong homology with mammalian Extracellular signal-Regulated Kinases (ERKs). Remarkably, studies over the last few decades have gradually positioned the CIP as a multi-faceted pathway that impacts multiple functional aspects of the fission yeast life cycle during unperturbed growth and in response to stress. They include the control of mRNA-stability through RNA binding proteins, regulation of calcium homeostasis, and modulation of cell wall integrity and cytokinesis. Moreover, distinct evidence has disclosed the existence of sophisticated interplay between the CIP and other environmentally regulated pathways, including Stress-Activated MAP Kinase signaling (SAPK) and the Target of Rapamycin (TOR). In this review we present a current overview of the organization and underlying regulatory mechanisms of the CIP in S. pombe, describe its most prominent functions, and discuss possible targets of and roles for this pathway. The evolutionary conservation of CIP signaling in the dimorphic fission yeast S. japonicus will also be addressed.
Content Analysis of Passengers’ Perceptions of Airport Service Quality: The Case of Honolulu International Airport
Authors: Bae Wonmi , Chi Junwook
Published: December 2021

This paper explores passengers’ perceptions toward airport service quality through a content analysis. Using 1341 review comments posted on the Skytrax website, we identify satisfiers, dissatisfiers, and performance factors that determine passengers’ experiences at the Honolulu International Airport and the world’s leading airports (Singapore Changi Airport, Haneda Airport, Incheon International Airport, Hamad International Airport, and Hong Kong International Airport). The results show that the Honolulu International Airport needs to improve cleanliness of the facilities, signage, and staff courtesy. A context-specific examination reveals that security, check, flight, line, and staff are the most frequently occurring words used by dissatisfied passengers. The most common words mentioned by satisfied users of the world’s leading airports include staff, terminal, clean, time, immigration, and free. These findings provide suggestions and implications concerning customers’ perspectives and may help airport managers enhance airport service quality and renovate airport facilities.
Fractal Characteristic Evolution of Coastal Settlement Land Use: A Case of Xiamen, China
Authors: Yu Xiaojian , Zhao Zhiqing
Published: December 2021

Coastal settlements in urban areas show certain degrees of spatial complexity. Understanding the evolution law of fractal settlements is practically important for marine engineering and urban planning. In this paper, we investigate the fractal evolution of coastal settlement land use based on fractal theory. The fractal dimensions of the land uses for three typically coastal settlements in Xiamen city, China, are obtained to quantify their spatial complexity. The results reveal the fractal characteristics and regional differences of the coastal settlements. Furthermore, nonlinear modeling is applied to describe the fractal dimension evolution of the coastal settlement land uses from 2000 to 2018. Three settlements in rapid urbanization show different nonlinear evolution equations of the fractal dimension due to their different land uses. This study might provide a theoretical basis for understanding the fractal characteristic evolution of coastal settlements in urban areas and show its potential application in urban geography.
2-(4-(Dimethylamino)phenyl)-3,3-difluoro-4,6-diphenyl-3,4-dihydro-1,2,4,5,3-tetrazaborinin-2-ium-3-ide
Authors: Lupanova Ida A. , Konshina Dzhamilya N. , Elkov Nikita A. , Konshin Valery V.
Published: December 2021

Reaction of 1-(4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)-3,5-diphenylformazane with boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (5 equiv) in the presence of triethylamine (3 equiv) in toluene medium gave “boratetrazine”—2-(4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)-3,3-difluoro-4,6-diphenyl-3,4-dihydro -1,2,4,5,3-tetrazaborinin-2-ium-3-ide in a 58% yield.
General-Purpose and Scalable Internal-Combustion Engine Model for Energy-Efficiency Studies
Authors: Laurén Mika , Goswami Giota , Tupitsina Anna , Jaiswal Suraj , Lindh Tuomo , Sopanen Jussi
Published: December 2021

Hybrid powertrains that combine electric machines and internal-combustion engines offer substantial opportunities to increase the energy efficiency and minimize the exhaust emissions of vehicles and nonroad working machines. Due to the wide range of applications of such powertrains, simulation tools are used to evaluate and compare the energy efficiency of hybrid powertrains for application-specific working cycles in virtual environments. Therefore, the accurate modeling of the powertrain components of a hybrid system is important. This paper presents an agile calculation tool that can generate realistic fuel consumption data of a scalable diesel engine. This method utilizes a simple efficiency model of the combustion and crank train friction model to generate the fuel consumption map in the operating area of a typical diesel engine. The model parameters are calibrated to produce accurate fuel consumption data in the initial phase of system-level simulations. The proposed method is also validated by using three real engine datasets, and the comparison of results is presented.
A Numerical Method for Computing Double Integrals with Variable Upper Limits
Authors: Chernukha Olha , Bilushchak Yurii , Shakhovska Natalya , Kulhánek Rastislav
Published: December 2021

We propose and justify a numerical method for computing the double integral with variable upper limits that leads to the variableness of the region of integration. Imposition of simple variables as functions for upper limits provides the form of triangles of integration region and variable in the external limit of integral leads to a continuous set of similar triangles. A variable grid is overlaid on the integration region. We consider three cases of changes of the grid for the division of the integration region into elementary volumes. The first is only the size of the imposed grid changes with the change of variable of the external upper limit. The second case is the number of division elements changes with the change of the external upper limit variable. In the third case, the grid size and the number of division elements change after fixing their multiplication. In these cases, the formulas for computing double integrals are obtained based on the application of cubatures in the internal region of integration and performing triangulation division along the variable boundary. The error of the method is determined by expanding the double integral into the Taylor series using Barrow’s theorem. Test of efficiency and reliability of the obtained formulas of the numerical method for three cases of ways of the division of integration region is carried out on examples of the double integration of sufficiently simple functions. Analysis of the obtained results shows that the smallest absolute and relative errors are obtained in the case of an increase of the number of division elements changes when the increase of variable of the external upper limit and the grid size is fixed.
A New Relativistic Model for Polyatomic Gases Interacting with an Electromagnetic Field
Authors: Pennisi Sebastiano , Tchame Rita Enoh , Obounou Marcel
Published: December 2021

Maxwell’s equations in materials are studied jointly with Euler equations using new knowledge recently appeared in the literature for polyatomic gases. For this purpose, a supplementary conservation law is imposed; one of the results is a restriction on the law linking the magnetic field in empty space and the electric field in materials to the densities of the 4-Lorentz force να and its dual μα: These are the derivatives of a scalar function with respect to να and μα, respectively. Obviously, two of Maxwell’s equations are not evolutive (Gauss’s magnetic and electric laws); to simplify this mathematical problem, a new symmetric hyperbolic set of equations is here presented which uses unconstrained variables and the solutions of the new set of equations, with initial conditions satisfying the constraints, restore the previous constrained set. This is also useful because it allows to maintain an overt covariance that would be lost if the constraints were considered from the beginning. This is also useful because in this way the whole set of equations becomes a symmetric hyperbolic system as usually in Extended Thermodynamics.
Robust Finite-Time Control Algorithm Based on Dynamic Sliding Mode for Satellite Attitude Maneuver
Authors: Li You , Liang Haizhao
Published: December 2021

Robust finite-time control algorithms for satellite attitude maneuvers are proposed in this paper. The standard sliding mode is modified, hence the inherent robustness could be maintained, and this fixed sliding mode is modified to dynamic, therefore the finite-time stability could be achieved. First, the finite -time sliding mode based on attitude quaternion is proposed and the loose finite-time stability is achieved by enlarging the sliding mode parameter. In order to get the strict finite-time stability, a sliding mode based on the Euler axis is then given. The fixed norm property of the Euler axis is used, and a sliding mode parameter without singularity issue is achieved. System performance near the equilibrium point is largely improved by the proposed sliding modes. The singularity issue of finite-time control is solved by the property of rotation around a fixed axis. System finite-time stability and robustness are analyzed by the Lyapunov method. The superiority of proposed controllers and system robustness to some typical perturbations such as disturbance torque, model uncertainty and actuator error are demonstrated by simulation results.
Stress Rupture Life Prediction Method for Notched Specimens Based on Minimum Average Von Mises Equivalent Stress
Authors: Ji Dawei , Hu Xianming , Zhao Zuopeng , Jia Xu , Hu Xuteng , Song Yingdong
Published: December 2021

Creep tests were carried out on notched plate specimens of nickel-based superalloy GH4169 with different stress concentration coefficients. It was found that the duration of the first stage of the creep curve increases with the increase of stress concentration coefficient, while the fracture ductility decreases with the increase of stress concentration coefficient. To predict the life of notched plate specimens, four constitutive models were used to analyze the stress and strain of the notches. It was found that the average Von Mises equivalent stress (AVES) on the minimum notch section first decreases and then increases with the creep time, resulting in a minimum value. The minimum average Von Mises equivalent stress (MAVES) is considered as the characteristic stress of notched specimens in this paper. The creep life equation is fitted according to the results of creep tests of smooth specimens, and then the predicted life of notched specimens is obtained by substituting the minimum average Von Mises equivalent stress of notched specimens into the creep equation. The prediction results of the four constitutive models are within 2 times the dispersion band, and the three-stage model is within the 1.5 times dispersion band.
Metabolomic Signatures for the Effects of Weight Loss Interventions on Severe Obesity in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Sohn Min-Ji , Chae Woori , Ko Jae-Sung , Cho Joo-Youn , Kim Ji-Eun , Choi Ji-Yeob , Jang Han-Byul , Lee Hye-Ja , Park Sang-Ick , Park Kyung-Hee , van der Spek Peter J. , Moon Jin-Soo
Published: December 2021

Childhood obesity has increased worldwide, and many clinical and public interventions have attempted to reduce morbidity. We aimed to determine the metabolomic signatures associated with weight control interventions in children with obesity. Forty children from the “Intervention for Children and Adolescent Obesity via Activity and Nutrition (ICAAN)” cohort were selected according to intervention responses. Based on changes in body mass index z-scores, 20 were responders and the remaining non-responders. Their serum metabolites were quantitatively analyzed using capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry at baseline and after 6 and 18 months of intervention. After 18 months of intervention, the metabolite cluster changes in the responders and non-responders showed a difference on the heatmap, but significant metabolites were not clear. However, regardless of the responses, 13 and 49 metabolites were significant in the group of children with obesity intervention at 6 months and 18 months post-intervention compared to baseline. In addition, the top five metabolic pathways (D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism; arginine biosynthesis; alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism; TCA cycle (tricarboxylic acid cycle); valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis) including several amino acids in the metabolites of obese children after 18 months were significantly changed. Our study showed significantly different metabolomic profiles based on time post obesity-related intervention. Through this study, we can better understand and predict childhood obesity through metabolite analysis and monitoring.
Assessing the Relationships between Interdigital Geometry Quality and Inkjet Printing Parameters
Authors: Bertolucci Federico , Berdozzi Nicolò , Rebaioli Lara , Patil Trunal , Vertechy Rocco , Fassi Irene
Published: December 2021

Drop on demand (DoD) inkjet printing is a high precision, non-contact, and maskless additive manufacturing technique employed in producing high-precision micrometer-scaled geometries allowing free design manufacturing for flexible devices and printed electronics. A lot of studies exist regarding the ink droplet delivery from the nozzle to the substrate and the jet fluid dynamics, but the literature lacks systematic approaches dealing with the relationship between process parameters and geometrical outcome. This study investigates the influence of the main printing parameters (namely, the spacing between subsequent drops deposited on the substrate, the printing speed, and the nozzle temperature) on the accuracy of a representative geometry consisting of two interdigitated comb-shape electrodes. The study objective was achieved thanks to a proper experimental campaign developed according to Design of Experiments (DoE) methodology. The printing process performance was evaluated by suitable geometrical quantities extracted from the acquired images of the printed samples using a MATLAB algorithm. A drop spacing of 140 µm and 170 µm on the two main directions of the printing plane, with a nozzle temperature of 35 °C, resulted as the most appropriate parameter combination for printing the target geometry. No significant influence of the printing speed on the process outcomes was found, thus choosing the highest speed value within the investigated range can increase productivity.
A Dual-Band High-Gain Subwavelength Cavity Antenna with Artificial Magnetic Conductor Metamaterial Microstructures
Authors: Lu Guang , Yan Fabao , Zhang Kaiyuan , Zhao Yunpeng , Zhang Lei , Shang Ziqian , Diao Chao , Zhou Xiachen
Published: December 2021

This paper presents dual-band high-gain subwavelength cavity antennas with artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) metamaterial microstructures. We developed an AMC metamaterial plate that can be equivalent to mu-negative metamaterials (MNMs) at two frequencies using periodic microstructure unit cells. A cavity antenna was constructed using the dual-band AMC metamaterial plate as the covering layer and utilizing a feed patch antenna with slot loading as the radiation source. The antenna was fabricated with a printed circuit board (PCB) process and measured in an anechoic chamber. The |S11| of the antenna was −26.8 dB and −23.2 dB at 3.75 GHz and 5.66 GHz, respectively, and the realized gain was 15.2 dBi and 18.8 dBi at two resonant frequencies. The thickness of the cavity, a sub-wavelength thickness cavity, was 15 mm, less than one fifth of the long resonant wavelength and less than one third of the short resonant wavelength. This new antenna has the advantages of low profile, light weight, dual-frequency capability, high gain, and easy processing.