bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Helicopter Emergency Breathing Apparatus on Egress Performance
Authors: King Michael , Sanli Elizabeth , Mugford Kaitlin , Martina Stefanie , Brown Robert , Carnahan Heather
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND: Emergency helicopter landing at sea is dangerous. Specialized training, known as helicopter underwater escape training (HUET), prepares occupants to quickly exit the helicopter, which often inverts and sinks. In most jurisdictions, helicopter occupants are equipped
with a helicopter underwater egress breathing apparatus (HUEBA) to provide sufficient air for escape. HUET trainees report that the HUEBA is easy to use, but it is well known that learners are often overconfident in their judgement of learning. To better understand how the HUEBA affects HUET
sequence performance, we investigated whether using the HUEBA influences the sequence movement time and number of errors.METHODS: Twelve participants (7 men and 5 women, mean age 25.33 9.57 SD) with no prior experience with HUET performed consecutive trials of the HUET sequence,
5 with the HUEBA and 5 without the HUEBA. Video of each trial recorded the total movement time and enabled movement time analyses of each component of the sequence: crossing arms, tucking the head, pushing the window, inserting the regulator, and releasing the seatbelt. These recordings were
also used to score performance errors according to a checklist.RESULTS: Analyses revealed that using a HUEBA increased the total movement time and time to release the seatbelt by 0.36 and 0.39 s, respectively, in comparison to without the HUEBA.DISCUSSION: Our study illustrates
that using the HUEBA during the HUET sequence increases total movement time and time to release the seatbelt. However, this difference is marginal and unlikely to have practical significance during underwater escape.King M, Sanli E, Mugford K, Martina S, Brown R, Carnahan H. Evaluation
of the helicopter emergency breathing apparatus on egress performance. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(12):962965.
Heart Rate Reactivity to Mental Stress in Athlete and Non-Athlete Children
Authors: Ábel Krisztina , Szabó Attila Rausz , Szabo Attila
Published: November 2020

Background. Research suggests that exercise training and/or physical fitness may be associated with lower heart rate reactivity and faster recovery from psychosocial stress. This relationship was rarely studied in children despite the potential protective role of physical activity in stress that may start in early life stages.

Methods. In this laboratory investigation we examined 18 athlete and non-athlete children before, during and following exposure to mental stress which consisted of the Stroop Color Word Task and a mental arithmetic task, both distracted by classical music, in a counterbalanced research design.

Results. The results based on absolute heart rate measures suggested that athletes exhibited lower heart rates in the stress-anticipation period as well as during the stress period than non-athletes. However, based on relative measures these differences vanished. The two groups of children did not differ in perceived arousal, perceived stressfulness of the mental tasks, and the self-reported feeling states before and after stress. Further, they did not differ in their performance on the two stress-eliciting active-coping tasks as indicated by the number of correct answers.

Conclusion. These results appear to suggest that athletic status in children is unrelated to heart rate reactivity and other subjective psychological experiences before, during and after acute psychosocial stress. 

Keywords: adolescent, exercise, fitness, physical activity, relative measures.
The Benefit Assessment of the Physiotherapy Sessions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Draudvilienė Lina , Sosunkevič Sergej , Daniusevičiūtė-Brazaitė Laura , Burkauskienė Aušra , Draudvila Justas
Published: November 2020

Background. Children with autism disorder show atypical preference for non-social stimuli. Therefore, the deficits of social communication and social interest are primary and usually named features for the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The main idea of the present work was to show that the physiotherapy sessions (PS) were some of the ways that could improve the physical condition of children with ADS. Moreover, the application of such programs increased self-esteem, communication skills and permitted a better adaptation and integration within society.

Methods. Eleven children attending kindergarten for children with special needs participated in this investigation. The inclusion criteria were a clinical diagnosis of ASD. All participants had F 84.0 code in their cases and were specified for grade II autism disorder according to the American Psychiatric Association (2014). The investigation process consisted of four stages: the initial testing, the application of the physiotherapy program (PS), the post-application testing and the analysis, interpretation and comparison of obtained results. The investigation process was applied for six weeks.

Results. After PS applications, the children’s balance improved by 21.32%, coordination – 23.36%, physical and functional abilities such as speed (13.18%) and explosive leg strength (37.14%).

Conclusions. The physiotherapy sessions improved the physical condition of children with ADS: balance, coordination, functional abilities and the explosive leg strength. The capability to do physical exercises in a group, at home or in individual sessions with specialist improved as well.

Keywords:  pre-school children, individual physiotherapy program, social skills.
The Importance of Physical Activity in the Interaction of Motor and Cognitive Functions in Elderly People
Authors: Česnaitienė Vida Janina , Ossowski Zbigniew , Karanauskienė Diana , Auškalnyte Gabrielė , Grigėnaitytė Ema , Katkutė Gintarė , Sheoran Samrat , Mickevičius Vaidas
Published: November 2020

Background. It is predicted that in 2060, the number of elderly people in Lithuania (62 and over years of age) will be 31.2% (Tamutienė & Naujanienė, 2013). The maintenance of stable posture requires particular attention because it gets more difficult to sustain it while doing multiple moves at the same time when you are getting older (Woo, Davids, Liukkonen, Chow, & Jaakkola, 2017). The aim of the study was to determine the importance of physical activity for the interplay of motor and cognitive functions in elderly people.

Methods. Evaluation of static equilibrium by posturographic method, evaluation of cognitive functions, statistical analysis.

Results. The results of the physically active and inactive research subjects were statistically significant (p = .043) in memory task with the eyes closed and in a simple position. A statistically significant difference in the sway velocity (Vsc) between the physical activity groups with eyes closed in simple position was also observed (p = .044). Double task with eyes closed resulted in worse balance performance.

Conclusions. 1. Physical activity did not affect the motor function of the elderly. There were no differences between the physically active and inactive subjects in the assessed behavioral indices. 2. Physical activity did not affect the cognitive functions of the elderly. All elderly subjects were equally mistaken in their cognitive memory task. 3. The motor functions of the physically active elderly are controlled statistically significantly better when performing additional cognitive tasks than those of the physically inactive ones.

Keywords: balance, elderly, physical activity.
Duygu Asena’nın “Kadının Adı Yok” Romanı Üzerinde Bir İnceleme | An Analysis of Duygu Asena's Novel "Woman Has No Name"
Authors: KAPUKAYA Zeliha
Published: November 2020

Kadının Adı Yok Romanı, Türk Toplumunda kadının bireysel ve toplumsal hayatta karşılaştığı sorunları ele almaktadır. Türkiye’de feminizmin basın dünyasında ve popüler kültürde yaygınlaşmasında etkisi olan isimlerden Duygu Asena, eserinde kadın meselesini daha çok feminist hareketin kullandığı çerçevede işlemektedir. Roman, Türkiye’de 70’li yıllardan itibaren gündeme gelen feminizm hareketinin etkisiyle eşitlik, cinsellik, görünürlük ve bütünüyle özgürlük gibi somutlaşmış kavramların içinde kadının sesini geniş kitlelere duyurmayı başarmıştır. Eserin edebî değerinden çok kahramanının özgürlükçü rolü dikkat çekmiş; kitapta anlatılan içeriğin fazlasıyla gerçekliği, verdiği mesajların geniş toplumsal kitlelere net bir şekilde ulaşıp karşılık bulması kitabın başarısı olarak görülmüştür. Bu makalenin amacı edebiyat çevrelerince edebî değeri olmadığı gerekçesiyle ele alınmamış, önyargı ile yaklaşılmış Kadının Adı Yok romanını incelemektedir. Yazılış amacına fazlasıyla ulaşmış olan roman; kurgu, dil, üslup vb. bakımından olmasa da tematik açıdan kadın meselesini etraflıca ve cesur bir yaklaşımla ele almaktadır. Bu nedenle içerik yönüyle öncü bir eserdir. Toplumsal bellekte böylesine iz bırakmış ve dönemin sosyo-kültürel şartlarını gerçekçi bir şekilde yansıtmış olan Kadının Adı Yok Romanı Türkiye’de kadın hareketini anlamak açısından değer arz etmektedir.
Духовное влияние советского строя на иерархов и духовенство в 1960-е—1980-е годы (SPIRITUAL INFLUENCE OF THE SOVIET SYSTEM ON HIERARCHS AND CLERGY IN THE 1960-s – 1980-s)
Authors: Кириченко (Kirichenko) Олег Викторович (Oleg V.)
Published: November 2020

Статья посвящена малоизученному явлению – церковному инакомыслию, которое было порождено влиянием «советской духовности» не только на общество, но и на Церковь. Автор ставит проблему инакомыслия и диссидентства как явлений, выросших в недрах высшей советской номенклатуры и потом уже распространившихся на низшие слои, затронувшие и церковную среду. Апелляция к Западу, как к третейскому судье, была закономерным явлением советской действительности, что требует научной проработки и объяснения.
The article is devoted to a little-studied phenomenon – church dissent, which was generated by the influence of "Soviet spirituality" not only on society, but also on the Church. The author poses the problem of dissent and dissidentism as phenomena that grew up in the the higher Soviet nomenclature and then spread to the lower layers, affecting the church environment. An appeal to the West as an arbitrator was a natural phenomenon of Soviet reality, which requires scientific study and explanation.
On the Relation Between Smooth Variable Structure and Adaptive Kalman Filter
Authors: Spiller Mark , Söffker Dirk
Published: November 2020

This article is addressed to the topic of robust state estimation of uncertain nonlinear systems. In particular, the smooth variable structure filter (SVSF) and its relation to the Kalman filter is studied. An adaptive Kalman filter is obtained from the SVSF approach by replacing the gain of the original filter. Boundedness of the estimation error of the adaptive filter is proven. The SVSF approach and the adaptive Kalman filter achieve improved robustness against model uncertainties if filter parameters are suitably optimized. Therefore, a parameter optimization process is developed and the estimation performance is studied.
Synergistic Therapy of Celecoxib-Loaded Magnetism-Responsive Hydrogel for Tendon Tissue Injuries
Authors: Wang Jingxin , Wang Likang , Gao Yueming , Zhang Zhao , Huang Xiaofeng , Han Tong , Liu Biyuan , Zhang Yujie , Li Yilan , Zhang Lining
Published: November 2020

Tendon tissue injury is very common and always associated with pain, tissue swelling and even malformation if not treated on time. Traditional therapeutic strategies, such as cryotherapy, electrical therapy, ultrasound therapy and anti-inflammatory drug, are still unsatisfying. In this work, a synergistic therapy, based on the combination of celecoxib drug and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) regimens, was developed for the treatment of tendon injury. This celecoxib-loaded magnetism-responsive hydrogel dressing (gelatin/Fe3O4/celecoxib) showed good biocompatibility and coordinated drug release behavior under the PEMF, which could effectively reduce the inflammatory reaction of macrophage cells with the incremental proportion of M2 macrophages at the injury site. CatWalk gait analysis further verified this synergistic effect of combination therapy for achieving the outstanding recovery of the injured tendon tissue. Thus, this magnetism-responsive hydrogel may represent a promising alternative strategy in clinics for promoting tendon healing.
Transcriptome Reprogramming of CD11b+ Bone Marrow Cells by Pancreatic Cancer Extracellular Vesicles
Authors: Maia Joana , Otake Andreia Hanada , Poças Juliana , Carvalho Ana Sofia , Beck Hans Christian , Magalhães Ana , Matthiesen Rune , Strano Moraes Maria Carolina , Costa-Silva Bruno
Published: November 2020

Pancreatic cancers (PC) are highly metastatic with poor prognosis, mainly due to delayed detection. We previously showed that PC-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) act on macrophages residing in the liver, eliciting extracellular matrix remodeling in this organ and marked hepatic accumulation of CD11b+ bone marrow (BM) cells, which support PC liver metastasis. We here show that PC-EVs also bind to CD11b+ BM cells and induce the expansion of this cell population. Transcriptomic characterization of these cells shows that PC-EVs upregulate IgG and IgA genes, which have been linked to the presence of monocytes/macrophages in tumor microenvironments. We also report here the transcriptional downregulation of genes linked to monocyte/macrophage activation, trafficking, and expression of inflammatory molecules. Together, these results show for the first time the existence of a PC–BM communication axis mediated by EVs with a potential role in PC tumor microenvironments.
Obesity-Related Fatty Acid and Cholesterol Metabolism in Cancer-Associated Host Cells
Authors: Ye Ying , Sun Xiaoting , Lu Yongtian
Published: November 2020

Obesity-derived disturbances in fatty acid and cholesterol metabolism are linked to numerous diseases, including various types of malignancy. In tumor cells, metabolic alterations have been long recognized and intensively studied. However, metabolic changes in host cells in the tumor microenvironment and their contribution to tumor development have been largely overlooked. During the last decade, research advances show that fatty acid oxidation, cholesterol metabolism, and lipid accumulation play critical roles in cancer-associated host cells such as endothelial cells, lymph endothelial cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, tumor-associated myeloid cells, and tumor-associated lymphocytes. In addition to anti-angiogenic therapies and immunotherapy that have been practiced in the clinic, metabolic regulation is considered another promising cancer therapy targeting non-tumor host cells. Understanding the obesity-associated metabolism changes in cancer-associated host cells may ultimately be translated into therapeutic options that benefit cancer patients. In this mini-review, we briefly summarize the lipid metabolism associated with obesity and its role in host cells in the tumor microenvironment. We also discuss the current understanding of the molecular pathways involved and future perspectives to benefit from this metabolic complexity.
Fecal and Serum Metabolomic Signatures and Microbial Community Profiling of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis Mice Model
Authors: Wen Kaicheng , Tao Lin , Tao Zhengbo , Meng Yan , Zhou Siming , Chen Jianhua , Yang Keda , Da Wacili , Zhu Yue
Published: November 2020

Background

Multiple studies have shown that an imbalance in the intestinal microbiota is related to bone metabolism, but the role of the intestinal microbiota in postmenopausal osteoporosis remains to be elucidated. We explored the effect of the intestinal microbiota on osteoporosis.

Methods

We constructed a postmenopausal osteoporosis mouse model, and Micro CT was used to observe changes in bone structure. Then, we identified the abundance of intestinal microbiota by 16S RNA sequencing and found that the ratio of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes increased significantly. UHPLC-MS analysis was further used to analyze changes in metabolites in feces and serum.

Results

We identified 53 upregulated and 61 downregulated metabolites in feces and 2 upregulated and 22 downregulated metabolites in serum under OP conditions, and interestedly, one group of bile acids showed significant differences in the OP and control groups. Network analysis also found that these bile acids had a strong relationship with the same family, Eggerthellaceae. Random forest analysis confirmed the effectiveness of the serum and fecal models in distinguishing the OP group from the control group.

Conclusions

These results indicated that changes in the gut microbiota and metabolites in feces and serum were responsible for the occurrence and development of postmenopausal osteoporosis. The gut microbiota is a vital inducer of osteoporosis and could regulate the pathogenesis process through the “microbiota-gut-metabolite-bone” axis, and some components of this axis are potential biomarkers, providing a new entry point for the future study on the pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Cognitive Style and Information Visualization—Modeling Users Through Eye Gaze Data
Authors: Steichen Ben , Fu Bo
Published: November 2020

Information visualizations can be regarded as one of the most powerful cognitive tools to significantly amplify human cognition. However, traditional information visualization systems have been designed in a manner that does not consider individual user differences, even though human cognitive abilities and styles have been shown to differ significantly. In order to address this research gap, novel adaptive systems need to be developed that are able to (1) infer individual user characteristics and (2) provide an adaptation mechanism to personalize the system to the inferred characteristic. This paper presents a first step toward this goal by investigating the extent to which a user's cognitive style can be inferred from their behavior with an information visualization system. In particular, this paper presents a series of experiments that utilize features calculated from user eye gaze data in order to infer a user's cognitive style. Several different data and feature sets are presented, and results overall show that a user's eye gaze data can be used successfully to infer a user's cognitive style during information visualization usage.
Implementation and Transfer of Predictive Analytics for Smart Maintenance: A Case Study
Authors: von Enzberg Sebastian , Naskos Athanasios , Metaxa Ifigeneia , Köchling Daniel , Kühn Arno
Published: November 2020

Smart maintenance offers a promising potential to increase efficiency of the maintenance process, leading to a reduction of machine downtime and thus an overall productivity increase in industrial manufacturing. By applying fault detection and prediction algorithms to machine and sensor data, maintenance measures (i.e., planning of human resources, materials and spare parts) can be better planned and thus machine stoppage can be prevented. While many examples of Predictive Maintenance (PdM) have been proven successful and commercial solutions are offered by machine and part manufacturers, wide-spread implementation of Smart Maintenance solutions and processes in industrial production is still not observed. In this work, we present a case study motivated by a typical maintenance activity in an industrial plant. The paper focuses on the crucial aspects of each phase of the PdM implementation and deployment process, toward the holistic integration of the solution within a company. A concept is derived for the model transfer to a different factory. This is illustrated by practical examples from a lighthouse factory within the BOOST 4.0 project. The quantitative impact of the deployed solutions is described. Based on empirical results, best practices are derived in the domain and data understanding, the implementation, integration and model transfer phases.
Current Devices in Mitral Valve Replacement and Their Potential Complications
Authors: Gheorghe Livia , Brouwer Jorn , Wang Dee Dee , Wunderlich Nina , Rana Bushra , Rensing Benno , Eefting Frank , Timmers Leo , Swaans Martin
Published: November 2020

Mitral regurgitation is one of the most prevalent valvulopathies worldwide, and its surgical treatment is not feasible in all cases. The elderly and frail with several comorbidities and left ventricular dysfunction are often managed conservatively. Percutaneous treatment (repair or replacement) of the mitral valve has emerged as a potential option for those patients who are at a high risk for surgery. Mitral valve repair with the Mitraclip device proved both increased safety and mortality reduction in patients with severe mitral regurgitation. On the other hand, in the last decade, percutaneous mitral replacement opened new frontiers in the field of cardiac structural interventions. There are few mitral devices; some are in the early phase of development and some are waiting for CE mark of approval. The evolution of these devices was more complicated compared to the aortic technology due to the native mitral valve's complexity and access. This review aims to provide an overview of the current devices, their specific features, and their potential complications.
Estimation of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Risk Prediction Score Model From a Derivation and Validation Study
Authors: Zhao Xiaoxiao , Liu Chen , Zhou Peng , Sheng Zhaoxue , Li Jiannan , Zhou Jinying , Chen Runzhen , Wang Ying , Chen Yi , Song Li , Zhao Hanjun , Yan Hongbing
Published: November 2020

Background: The population with myocardial infarction (MI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is growing, but validated models to guide their clinical management are lacking. This study aimed to develop and validate prognostic models to predict major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with MI undergoing PPCI.

Methods and Results: Models were developed in 4,151 patients with MI who underwent PPCI in Fuwai Hospital between January 2010 and June 2017, with a median follow-up of 698 days during which 544 MACEs occurred. The predictors included in the models were age, a history of diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, coronary artery bypass grafting, the Killip classification, ejection fraction at admission, the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level, the estimated glomerular filtration rate, the d-dimer level, multivessel lesions, and the culprit vessel. The models had good calibration and discrimination in the derivation and internal validation with C-indexes of 0.74 and 0.60, respectively, for predicting MACEs. The new prediction model and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) risk score model were compared using the receiver operating characteristic curve. The areas under the curve of the new prediction model and TIMI risk score model were 0.806 and 0.782, respectively (difference between areas = 0.024 < 0.05; z statistic, 1.718).

Conclusion: The new prediction model could be used in clinical practice to support risk stratification as recommended in clinical guidelines.
Study on the Relationship Between Orthostatic Hypotension and Heart Rate Variability, Pulse Wave Velocity Index, and Frailty Index in the Elderly: A Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Li Lun , Li Huanhuan , He Li , Chen Hongyan , Li Yunqiao
Published: November 2020

Background: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a common disease of the elderly. It is generally believed that the pathogenesis of OH is related to the impairment of autonomic nerve function and the decreased vascular capacity regulation. This study aims to explore the relationship between OH and heart rate variability (HRV) parameters, which reflects autonomic nerve function; ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI), which reflects the degree of vascular stenosis; pulse wave velocity (PWV) index, which reflects vascular stiffness; and frailty index (FI), which reflects the overall health status of the elderly.

Methods: From January to September 2018, 24-h HOLTER monitoring, PWV, and ABI were performed in 108 elderly patients with OH and 64 elderly patients who underwent physical examination in our hospital. Analysis software was used to record the subject's standard deviation of the cardiac cycle (SDNN), the standard deviation of the 5-min average cardiac cycle (SDANN), the square root of the average square sum of consecutive n-interval differences (rMSSD), the percentage of the number of adjacent cardiac interval differences >50 ms (pNN50), low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), very low frequency (VLF), and low frequency/high frequency ratio (LF/HF). Then, FI was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively in the form of a scale.

Results: There was no statistical difference between the two groups on the basis of age, sex, body mass index (BMI), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), resting heart rate, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, long-term medication, etc. There were significant differences in PWV, SDNN, LF, VLF, and LF/HF between the two groups (P < 0.05). The risk factor of OH in the qualitative (P = 0.04) and quantitative (P = 0.007) index FI was higher in the OH group than in the control group. The risk factors of OH were PWV, SDNN, VLF, LF/HF, and FI, where FI was positively correlated and LF/HF was negatively correlated.

Conclusions: The pathogenesis of OH is related to vascular stiffness, imbalance of autonomic nerve regulation, and its comprehensive health status in the elderly. However, arteriosclerosis has not been confirmed as an independent risk factor.

Clinical Trial Registration: Retrospectively registered, http://www.chictr.org.cn.
CLUE: A Fast Parallel Clustering Algorithm for High Granularity Calorimeters in High-Energy Physics
Authors: Rovere Marco , Chen Ziheng , Di Pilato Antonio , Pantaleo Felice , Seez Chris
Published: November 2020

One of the challenges of high granularity calorimeters, such as that to be built to cover the endcap region in the CMS Phase-2 Upgrade for HL-LHC, is that the large number of channels causes a surge in the computing load when clustering numerous digitized energy deposits (hits) in the reconstruction stage. In this article, we propose a fast and fully parallelizable density-based clustering algorithm, optimized for high-occupancy scenarios, where the number of clusters is much larger than the average number of hits in a cluster. The algorithm uses a grid spatial index for fast querying of neighbors and its timing scales linearly with the number of hits within the range considered. We also show a comparison of the performance on CPU and GPU implementations, demonstrating the power of algorithmic parallelization in the coming era of heterogeneous computing in high-energy physics.
Evaluating the Performance of Balance Physiotherapy Exercises Using a Sensory Platform: The Basis for a Persuasive Balance Rehabilitation Virtual Coaching System
Authors: Tsakanikas Vassilios D. , Gatsios Dimitrios , Dimopoulos Dimitrios , Pardalis Athanasios , Pavlou Marousa , Liston Matthew B. , Fotiadis Dimitrios I.
Published: November 2020

Rehabilitation programs play an important role in improving the quality of life of patients with balance disorders. Such programs are usually executed in a home environment, due to lack of resources. This procedure usually results in poorly performed exercises or even complete drop outs from the programs, as the patients lack guidance and motivation. This paper introduces a novel system for managing balance disorders in a home environment using a virtual coach for guidance, instruction, and inducement. The proposed system comprises sensing devices, augmented reality technology, and intelligent inference agents, which capture, recognize, and evaluate a patient's performance during the execution of exercises. More specifically, this work presents a home-based motion capture and assessment module, which utilizes a sensory platform to recognize an exercise performed by a patient and assess it. The sensory platform comprises IMU sensors (Mbientlab MMR© 9axis), pressure insoles (Moticon©), and a depth RGB camera (Intel D415©). This module is designed to deliver messages both during the performance of the exercise, delivering personalized notifications and alerts to the patient, and after the end of the exercise, scoring the overall performance of the patient. A set of proof of concept validation studies has been deployed, aiming to assess the accuracy of the different components for the sub-modules of the motion capture and assessment module. More specifically, Euler angle calculation algorithm in 2D (R2 = 0.99) and in 3D (R2 = 0.82 in yaw plane and R2 = 0.91 for the pitch plane), as well as head turns speed (R2 = 0.96), showed good correlation between the calculated and ground truth values provided by experts' annotations. The posture assessment algorithm resulted to accuracy = 0.83, while the gait metrics were validated against two well-established gait analysis systems (R2 = 0.78 for double support, R2 = 0.71 for single support, R2 = 0.80 for step time, R2 = 0.75 for stride time (WinTrack©), R2 = 0.82 for cadence, and R2 = 0.79 for stride time (RehaGait©). Validation results provided evidence that the proposed system can accurately capture and assess a physiotherapy exercise within the balance disorders context, thus providing a robust basis for the virtual coaching ecosystem and thereby improve a patient's commitment to rehabilitation programs while enhancing the quality of the performed exercises. In summary, virtual coaching can improve the quality of the home-based rehabilitation programs as long as it is combined with accurate motion capture and assessment modules, which provides to the virtual coach the capacity to tailor the interaction with the patient and deliver personalized experience.
The Relationship Between Attitudes Toward Inclusion, Beliefs About Teaching and Learning, and Subsequent Automatic Evaluations Amongst Student Teachers
Authors: Börnert-Ringleb Moritz , Westphal Andrea , Zaruba Nicole , Gutmann Franziska , Vock Miriam
Published: November 2020

Teachers' attitudes toward inclusion are frequently cited as being an important predictor of how successfully a given inclusive school system is implemented. At the same time, beliefs about the nature of teaching and learning are discussed as a possible predictor of attitudes toward inclusion. However, more recent research emphasizes the need of considering implicit processes, such as automatic evaluations, when describing attitudes and beliefs. Previous evidence on the association of attitudes toward inclusion and beliefs about teaching and learning is solely based on explicit reports. Therefore, this study aims to examine the relationship between attitudes toward inclusion, beliefs about teaching and learning, and the subsequent automatic evaluations of pre-service teachers (N = 197). The results revealed differences between pre-service teachers' explicit attitudes/beliefs and their subsequent automatic evaluations. Differences in the relationship between attitudes toward inclusion and beliefs about teaching and learning occur when teachers focus either on explicit measures or automatic evaluations. These differences might be due to different facets of the same attitude object being represented. Relying solely on either explicit measures or automatic evaluations at the exclusion of the other might lead to erroneous assumptions about the relation of attitudes toward inclusion and beliefs about teaching and learning.
miRNA-Mediated Immune Regulation in Islet Autoimmunity and Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Scherm Martin G. , Daniel Carolin
Published: November 2020

The important role of microRNAs as major modulators of various physiological processes, including immune regulation and homeostasis, has been increasingly recognized. Consequently, aberrant miRNA expression contributes to the defective regulation of T cell development, differentiation, and function. This can result in immune activation and impaired tolerance mechanisms, which exert a cardinal function for the onset of islet autoimmunity and the progression to T1D. The specific impact of miRNAs for immune regulation and how miRNAs and their downstream targets are involved in the pathogenesis of islet autoimmunity and T1D has been investigated recently. These studies revealed that increased expression of individual miRNAs is involved in several layers of tolerance impairments, such as inefficient Treg induction and Treg instability. The targeted modulation of miRNAs using specific inhibitors, resulting in improved immune homeostasis, as well as improved methods for the targeting of miRNAs, suggest that miRNAs, especially in T cells, are a promising target for the reestablishment of immune tolerance.
Beyond Sugar and Ethanol Production: Value Generation Opportunities Through Sugarcane Residues
Authors: Formann Steffi , Hahn Alena , Janke Leandro , Stinner Walter , Sträuber Heike , Logroño Washington , Nikolausz Marcell
Published: November 2020

Sugarcane is the most produced agricultural commodity in tropical and subtropical regions, where it is primarily used for the production of sugar and ethanol. The latter is mostly used to produce alcoholic beverages as well as low carbon biofuel. Despite well-established production chains, their respective residues and by-products present unexploited potentials for further product portfolio diversification. These fully or partially untapped product streams are a) sugarcane trash or straw that usually remain on the fields after mechanized harvest, b) ashes derived from bagasse combustion in cogeneration plants, c) filter cake from clarification of the sugarcane juice, d) vinasse which is the liquid residue after distillation of ethanol, and e) biogenic CO2 emitted during bagasse combustion and ethanol fermentation. The development of innovative cascading processes using these residual biomass fractions could significantly reduce final disposal costs, improve the energy output, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and extend the product portfolio of sugarcane mills. This study reviews not only the state-of-the-art sugarcane biorefinery concepts, but also proposes innovative ways for further valorizing residual biomass. This study is therefore structured in four main areas, namely: i) Cascading use of organic residues for carboxylates, bioplastic, and bio-fertilizer production, ii) recovery of unexploited organic residues via anaerobic digestion to produce biogas, iii) valorization of biogenic CO2 sources, and iv) recovery of silicon from bagasse ashes.
Research on Time-Dependent Component Importance Measures Considering State Duration and Common Cause Failure
Authors: Xu Anqi , Zhang Zhijian , Zhang Huazhi , Wang He , Zhang Min , Chen Sijuan , Ma Yingfei , Dong Xiaomeng
Published: November 2020

Unlike the current risk monitors, Real-time Online Risk Monitoring and Management Technology is characterized by time-dependent modeling on the state duration of components. Given the real-time plant configuration, it eventually provides the time-dependent risk level and importance measures for operation and maintenance management. This paper focuses on the assessment method of time-dependent importance measures and its risk-informed applications in real-time online risk monitoring and management technology, including Fussell-Vesely (FV), risk achievement worth (RAW), and risk reduction worth (RRW). In this study, the values of component importance have been investigated with a time-dependent risk quantification model, as well as the common cause failure treatment model. Here three options of common cause failure treatment have been developed, assuming that the unavailability of a component could be due to an independent factor (Option 1), a common cause factor (Option 2), or an unconfirmed cause (Option 3). In the special case of “what if a component is out-of-service” of the RAW numerator, a hybrid method for the RAW evaluation is presented resulting in a balanced and reasonable RAW value. A simple case study was demonstrated. The results showed that the absolute values and ranking order of time-dependent importance not only reflected the effect of the cumulative state duration of component on risk, but also comprehensively accounted for all possible situations of component unavailability. Moreover, time-dependent importance measures improved and provided novel insights for online configuration management, 1) ranking SSCs/events/human actions for controlling increased risk and optimizing near–term plans; and 2) exempting or limiting temporary configurations during online operation.
A Variant in the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Alpha 3 Subunit Gene Is Associated With Hypertension Risks in Hypogonadic Patients
Authors: Wu Tao , Wang Yujia , Shi Wei , Zhang Bi-Qi , Raelson John , Yao Yu-Mei , Wu Huan-Dong , Xu Zao-Xian , Marois-Blanchet Francois-Christophe , Ledoux Jonathan , Blunck Rikard , Sheng Jian-Zhong , Hu Shen-Jiang , Luo Hongyu , Wu Jiangping
Published: November 2020

Ephb6 gene knockout causes hypertension in castrated mice. EPHB6 controls catecholamine secretion by adrenal gland chromaffin cells (AGCCs) in a testosterone-dependent way. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is a ligand-gated Ca2+/Na+ channel, and its opening is the first signaling event leading to catecholamine secretion by AGCCs. There is a possibility that nAChR might be involved in EPHB6 signaling, and thus sequence variants of its subunit genes are associated with hypertension risks. CHRNA3 is the major subunit of nAChR used in human and mouse AGCCs. We conducted a human genetic study to assess the association of CHRNA3 variants with hypertension risks in hypogonadic males. The study cohort included 1,500 hypogonadic Chinese males with (750 patients) or without (750 patients) hypertension. The result revealed that SNV rs3743076 in the fourth intron of CHRNA3 was significantly associated with hypertension risks in the hypogonadic males. We further showed that EPHB6 physically interacted with CHRNA3 in AGCCs, providing a molecular basis for nAChR being in the EPHB6 signaling pathway.
Whole Genome Identification of Potential G-Quadruplexes and Analysis of the G-Quadruplex Binding Domain for SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Zhang Rongxin , Xiao Ke , Gu Yu , Liu Hongde , Sun Xiao
Published: November 2020

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) has become a global public health emergency. G-quadruplex, one of the non-canonical secondary structures, has shown potential antiviral values. However, little is known about the G-quadruplexes of the emerging SARS-CoV-2. Herein, we characterized the potential G-quadruplexes in both positive and negative-sense viral strands. The identified potential G-quadruplexes exhibited similar features to the G-quadruplexes detected in the human transcriptome. Within some bat- and pangolin-related betacoronaviruses, the G-tracts rather than the loops were under heightened selective constraints. We also found that the amino acid sequence similar to SUD (SARS-unique domain) was retained in SARS-CoV-2 but depleted in some other coronaviruses that can infect humans. Further analysis revealed that the amino acid residues related to the binding affinity of G-quadruplexes were conserved among 16,466 SARS-CoV-2 samples. Moreover, the dimer of the SUD-homology structure in SARS-CoV-2 displayed similar electrostatic potential patterns to the SUD dimer from SARS. Considering the potential value of G-quadruplexes to serve as targets in antiviral strategy, our fundamental research could provide new insights for the SARS-CoV-2 drug discovery.
Recent Advances in the Pathophysiology of Fatty Acid Oxidation Defects: Secondary Alterations of Bioenergetics and Mitochondrial Calcium Homeostasis Caused by the Accumulating Fatty Acids
Authors: Amaral Alexandre Umpierrez , Wajner Moacir
Published: November 2020

Deficiencies of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, mitochondrial trifunctional protein, isolated long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, and very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase activities are considered the most frequent fatty acid oxidation defects (FAOD). They are biochemically characterized by the accumulation of medium-chain, long-chain hydroxyl, and long-chain fatty acids and derivatives, respectively, in tissues and biological fluids of the affected patients. Clinical manifestations commonly include hypoglycemia, cardiomyopathy, and recurrent rhabdomyolysis. Although the pathogenesis of these diseases is still poorly understood, energy deprivation secondary to blockage of fatty acid degradation seems to play an important role. However, recent evidence indicates that the predominant fatty acids accumulating in these disorders disrupt mitochondrial functions and are involved in their pathophysiology, possibly explaining the lactic acidosis, mitochondrial morphological alterations, and altered mitochondrial biochemical parameters found in tissues and cultured fibroblasts from some affected patients and also in animal models of these diseases. In this review, we will update the present knowledge on disturbances of mitochondrial bioenergetics, calcium homeostasis, uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation, and mitochondrial permeability transition induction provoked by the major fatty acids accumulating in prevalent FAOD. It is emphasized that further in vivo studies carried out in tissues from affected patients and from animal genetic models of these disorders are necessary to confirm the present evidence mostly achieved from in vitro experiments.
Molecular Analysis of CYP27B1 Mutations in Vitamin D-Dependent Rickets Type 1A: c.590G > A (p.G197D) Missense Mutation Causes a RNA Splicing Error
Authors: Zou Minjing , Guven Ayla , BinEssa Huda A. , Al-Rijjal Roua A. , Meyer Brian F. , Alzahrani Ali S. , Shi Yufei
Published: November 2020

Context

Vitamin D-dependent rickets type 1A (VDDR1A) is a rare autosomal recessively inherited disorder due to loss-of-function mutations in the CYP27B1 gene. CYP27B1 encodes an enzyme of 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1α-hydroxylase for converting inactive 25-OHD to biologically active 1,25-(OH)2D.

Objective

To identify underlying genetic defects in patients with VDDR1A.

Methods

Twelve patients from 7 Turkish and 2 Saudi families were investigated. The coding exons and intron-exon boundaries of the CYP27B1 gene were amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) from peripheral lymphocyte DNA. PCR products were directly sequenced. The consequences of c.590G > A mutation were analyzed by in silico and functional analysis.

Results

CYP27B1 mutations were identified in all the patients. Two novel mutations were identified in two separate families: c.171delG (family 7) and c.398_400dupAAT (family 8). The intra-exon deletion of c.171delG resulted in a frameshift and premature stop codon 20 amino acids downstream from the mutation (p.L58Cfs∗20). The intra-exon duplication of c.398_400dupAAT generated a premature stop codon at the mutation site (p.W134∗). A missense c.590G > A (p.G197D) mutation was found in a patient from family 4 and caused a defect in pre-mRNA splicing. As a result, two populations of transcripts were detected: the majority of them with intron 3 retention (83%), and the minority (17%) being properly spliced transcripts with about 16% of wild-type enzymatic activity. The remaining nine patients from six families carried a previously reported c.1319_1325dupCCCACCC (F443Pfs∗24) mutation. Clinically, all the patients need continued calcitriol treatment, which was consistent with inactivation of 25-hydroxy vitamin D1α-hydroxylase activity.

Conclusion

Two novel frameshift CYP27B1 mutations were identified and predicted to inactivate 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1α-hydroxylase. The loss of enzymatic activity by c.590G > A missense mutation was mainly caused by aberrant pre-mRNA splicing.
Phase I Trial of Fourth-Generation Anti-CD19 Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells Against Relapsed or Refractory B Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas
Authors: Zhou Xuan , Tu Sanfang , Wang Chunsheng , Huang Rui , Deng Lan , Song Chaoyang , Yue Chunyan , He Yanjie , Yang Jilong , Liang Zhao , Wu Anqin , Li Meifang , Zhou Weijun , Du Jingwen , Guo Zhenling , Li Yongqian , Jiao Cheng , Liu Yuchen , Chang Lung-Ji , Li Yuhua
Published: November 2020

Background

The administration of second- or third-generation anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells has remarkably improved the survival of patients with relapsed or refractory B cell malignancies. However, there are limited clinical results from fourth-generation CAR-T cell therapy, and the factors affecting response rate and survival have not been fully determined.

Methods

Lymphoma patients with progression or relapse after intensive treatments, including hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and life expectancy >2 months were enrolled in the study. Peripheral lymphocytes were collected through apheresis, and magnetically selected T cells were lentivirally transduced with a 4th-generation CAR featuring an anti-CD19 CAR and the iCasp9 suicide switch (4SCAR19). The patients received 4SCAR19 T cell infusion after approximately seven days of expansion and a conditioning regimen comprising cyclophosphamide/fludarabine. The efficacy, safety, and risk factors were evaluated.

Results

A total of 21 patients with relapsed/refractory B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma were enrolled and received 4SCAR19 T cell infusions at a median dose of 8.9×105 CAR-T cells/kg. The overall response rate was 67% [95% confidence interval (CI), 43 to 85], with 43% of patients achieving a complete response and 24% having a partial response. The overall and complete response rates were 58 and 33% in the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) group and 78 and 56% in the non-DLBCL group, respectively. The median overall survival was 23.8 months (95% CI, not reached), with a median follow-up of 13.7 months. Factors affecting overall survival were International Prognostic Index (IPI), disease type, and remission status after CAR-T cell treatment. The most common adverse events of grade 3 or 4 during treatment were neutropenia (76%), leukopenia (71%), and thrombocytopenia (29%). The incidence of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) was 14%, and all cases were grade 1. One patient developed grade 3 neurotoxicity. No deaths were attributed to infusion of 4SCAR19 T cells, CRS, or neurotoxicity.

Conclusions

In this study, patients with relapsed or refractory B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma who received 4SCAR19 T cell therapy had durable responses and few of adverse events. The IPI model is suitable for evaluating the prognosis of patients receiving CAR-T cell therapy.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn): ChiCTR-OOC-16007779.
Using AIS to Attempt a Quantitative Evaluation of Unobserved Trawling Activity in the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Ferrà Carmen , Tassetti Anna Nora , Armelloni Enrico Nicola , Galdelli Alessandro , Scarcella Giuseppe , Fabi Gianna
Published: November 2020

In the past decades, the Automatic Identification System (AIS) has been employed in numerous research fields as a valuable tool for, among other things, Maritime Domain Awareness and Maritime Spatial Planning. In contrast, its use in fisheries management is hampered by coverage and transmission gaps. Transmission gaps may be due to technical limitations (e.g., weak signal or interference with other signals) or to deliberate switching off of the system, to conceal fishing activities. In either case such gaps may result in underestimating fishing effort and pressure. This study was undertaken to map and analyze bottom trawler transmission gaps in terms of duration and distance from the harbor with a view to quantifying unobserved fishing and its effects on overall trawling pressure. Here we present the first map of bottom trawler AIS transmission gaps in the Mediterranean Sea and a revised estimate of fishing effort if some gaps are considered as actual fishing.