bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Living with Infection Risk and Job Insecurity during COVID-19: The Relationship of Organizational Support, Organizational Commitment, and Turnover Intention
Authors: Yılmaz Yusuf , Üngüren Engin , Tekin Ömer Akgün , Kaçmaz Yaşar Yiğit
Published: July 2022

The COVID-19 outbreak caused a stressful process for hospitality employees in terms of both being infected and experiencing the risk of losing their jobs. Stressful working conditions increase employees’ turnover intentions (TI). This study aims to analyze the relationship among perceived organizational support (POS), organizational commitment (OC), and turnover intention (TI) within the context of employees’ infection status and perceived job insecurity (JI). In this context, the study tests a moderated mediation research model. Having adopted a quantitative research method, data were acquired from 490 respondents who work at five-star accommodation companies in Alanya, Turkey. Findings show that the impact of POS on OC and IT differ according to employees’ infection status during the COVID-19 outbreak and their perceived JI. The findings of the study reveal empirical results in understanding employee attitudes toward companies alongside perceived job insecurity for those who are infected as well as for those who are not. Moreover, the study presents theoretical and practical contributions to reduce the negative impact of job insecurity and risk of infection on turnover intentions, which have been considered to be main sources of stress throughout the pandemic.
Prevalence of Health-Risk Behaviors and Mental Well-Being of ASEAN University Students in COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Rahman Hanif Abdul , Amornsriwatanakul Areekul , Abdul-Mumin Khadizah H. , Agustiningsih Denny , Chaiyasong Surasak , Chia Michael , Chupradit Supat , Huy Le Quang , Ivanovitch Katiya , Nurmala Ira , Majid Hazreen B. Abdul , Nazan Ahmad Iqmer Nashriq Mohd , Rodjarkpai Yuvadee , de la Cruz Ma. Henrietta Teresa O. , Mahmudiono Trias , Sriboonma Krissachai , Sudnongbua Supaporn , Vidiawati Dhanasari , Wattanapisit Apichai , Charoenwattana Sukanya , Cahyani Nani , Car Josip , Ho Moon-Ho Ringo , Rosenberg Michael
Published: July 2022

The prevalence of epidemiological health-risk behaviors and mental well-being in the COVID-19 pandemic, stratified by sociodemographic factors in Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) university students, were examined in the research. Data were collected in March–June 2021 via an online survey from 15,366 university students from 17 universities in seven ASEAN countries. Analyzed data comprised results on physical activity, health-related behaviors, mental well-being, and sociodemographic information. A large proportion of university students consumed sugar-sweetened beverages (82.0%; 95%CI: 81.4, 82.6) and snacks/fast food daily (65.2%; 95%CI: 64.4, 66.0). About half (52.2%; 95%CI: 51.4, 53.0) consumed less than the recommended daily amounts of fruit/vegetable and had high salt intake (54%; 95%CI: 53.3, 54.8). Physical inactivity was estimated at 39.7% (95%CI: 38.9, 40.5). A minority (16.7%; 95%CI: 16.1, 17.3) had low mental well-being, smoked (8.9%; 95%CI: 8.4, 9.3), and drank alcohol (13.4%; 95%CI: 12.8, 13.9). Country and body mass index had a significant correlation with many health-risk behaviors and mental well-being. The research provided important baseline data for guidance and for the monitoring of health outcomes among ASEAN university students and concludes that healthy diet, physical activity, and mental well-being should be key priority health areas for promotion among university students.
Assessment of the Feasibility of a Future Integrated Larger-Scale Epidemiological Study to Evaluate Health Risks of Air Pollution Episodes in Children
Authors: Nauwelaerts Sarah J. D. , De Cremer Koen , Bustos Sierra Natalia , Gand Mathieu , Van Geel Dirk , Delvoye Maud , Vandermassen Els , Vercauteren Jordy , Stroobants Christophe , Bernard Alfred , Saenen Nelly D. , Nawrot Tim S. , Roosens Nancy H. C. , De Keersmaecker Sigrid C. J.
Published: July 2022

Air pollution exposure can lead to exacerbation of respiratory disorders in children. Using sensitive biomarkers helps to assess the impact of air pollution on children’s respiratory health and combining protein, genetic and epigenetic biomarkers gives insights on their interrelatedness. Most studies do not contain such an integrated approach and investigate these biomarkers individually in blood, although its collection in children is challenging. Our study aimed at assessing the feasibility of conducting future integrated larger-scale studies evaluating respiratory health risks of air pollution episodes in children, based on a qualitative analysis of the technical and logistic aspects of a small-scale field study involving 42 children. This included the preparation, collection and storage of non-invasive samples (urine, saliva), the measurement of general and respiratory health parameters and the measurement of specific biomarkers (genetic, protein, epigenetic) of respiratory health and air pollution exposure. Bottlenecks were identified and modifications were proposed to expand this integrated study to a higher number of children, time points and locations. This would allow for non-invasive assessment of the impact of air pollution exposure on the respiratory health of children in future larger-scale studies, which is critical for the development of policies or measures at the population level.
Enhancing the Accuracy of Land Cover Classification by Airborne LiDAR Data and WorldView-2 Satellite Imagery
Authors: Wei Chun-Ta , Tsai Ming-Da , Chang Yu-Lung , Wang Ming-Chih Jason
Published: July 2022

The Full Waveform LiDAR system has been developed and used commercially all over the world. It acts to record the complete time of a laser pulse and has a high-resolution sampling interval compared to the traditional multiple-echo LiDAR, which only provides signals within a single target range. This study area mainly collects data from Riegl LMS-Q680i Full Waveform LiDAR and WorldView-2 satellite imagery, which focuses on buildings, vegetation, grassland, asphalt roads and other ground types as the surface objects. The amplitude and pulse width are selected as waveform basic parameters. The parameter of topography is slope, and the height classification parameters of the test ground are 0–0.5 m, 0.5–2.5 m, and 2.5 m. To eliminate noise, the neighborhood average is applied on the LiDAR parameter values and analyzed as the classification accuracy comparison. This survey uses Decision Tree as the classification method. Comparing the data between neighborhood average and non-neighborhood average, the data classification accuracy improves by 7%, and Kappa improves by 5.92%. NDVI image data are utilized to distinguish the artificial from natural ground. The results show that the neighborhood average with previous data can improve the classification accuracy by 5%, and Kappa improves by 4.25%. By adding NIR-2 of WorldView-2 satellite imagery to the neighborhood average analysis, the overall classification accuracy is improved by 2%, and the Kappa value by 1.21%. This article shows that utilizing the analysis of neighborhood average and image parameters can effectively improve the classification accuracy of land covers.
Assessing Park Accessibility Based on a Dynamic Huff Two-Step Floating Catchment Area Method and Map Service API
Authors: Wang Huimin , Wei Xiaojian , Ao Weixuan
Published: July 2022

Park green space (PGS) is an important part of urban ecosystem and green infrastructure, and the ease of access to PGS is closely related to the health of residents. A growing number of studies have attempted to identify accessibility disparities, but results have varied because of the travel mode choice and the measurement method. This study proposes a dynamic Huff two-step floating catchment area (H2SFCA) method based on map service API (Application Programming Interface) to assess the accessibility of PGS, with the Gini coefficient and bivariate local Moran’s I used to analyze accessibility equity. Results show that: (1) driving and biking modes have more significant spatiotemporal compression effects than dynamic modes, public transit, and walking mode. (2) The accessibility values and spatial patterns vary significantly by travel mode. The PGS availability pattern at the local level is more uneven than the distribution of accessibility at the regional level. In comparison with dynamic travel modes, the accessibility values for the single travel mode are more likely to be overestimated or underestimated. (3) The PGS accessibility by the dynamic modes generally has better spatial equity and residents can select suitable travel tools to acquire more equitable park services. In addition, there is a significant accessibility difference between dynamic driving-based mode and dynamic transit-based mode in four subdistricts, which are mainly located in the south of Tianhe District. The public transport facilities linking parks in these areas need to be optimized. This study further improves the accessibility evaluation method, with the findings conducive to the implementation of refined PGS planning and management.
Terrain Segmentation Using a U-Net for Improved Relief Shading
Authors: Farmakis-Serebryakova Marianna , Heitzler Magnus , Hurni Lorenz
Published: July 2022

Since landforms composing land surface vary in their properties and appearance, their shaded reliefs also present different visual impression of the terrain. In this work, we adapt a U-Net so that it can recognize a selection of landforms and can segment terrain. We test the efficiency of 10 separate models and apply an ensemble approach, where all the models are combined to potentially outperform single models. Our algorithm works particularly well for block mountains, Prealps, valleys, and hills, delivering average precision and f1 values above 60%. Segmenting plateaus and folded mountains is more challenging, and their precision values are rather scattered due to smaller areas available for training. Mountains formed by erosion processes are the least recognized landform of all because of their similarities with other landforms. The highest accuracy of one of the 10 models is 65%, while the accuracy of the ensemble is 61%. We apply relief shading techniques that were found to be efficient regarding specific landforms within corresponding segmented areas and blend them together. Finally, we test the trained model with the best accuracy on other mountainous areas around the world, and it proves to work in other regions beyond the training area.
Tissue Adhesives in Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery—Application of Silk Fibroin-Based Biomaterials
Authors: Smeets Ralf , Tauer Nathalie , Vollkommer Tobias , Gosau Martin , Henningsen Anders , Hartjen Philip , Früh Leonie , Beikler Thomas , Stürmer Ewa K. , Rutkowski Rico , Grust Audrey Laure Céline , Fuest Sandra , Gaudin Robert , Aavani Farzaneh
Published: July 2022

Tissue adhesives have been successfully used in various kind of surgeries such as oral and maxillofacial surgery for some time. They serve as a substitute for suturing of tissues and shorten treatment time. Besides synthetic-based adhesives, a number of biological-based formulations are finding their way into research and clinical application. In natural adhesives, proteins play a crucial role, mediating adhesion and cohesion at the same time. Silk fibroin, as a natural biomaterial, represents an interesting alternative to conventional medical adhesives. Here, the most commonly used bioadhesives as well as the potential of silk fibroin as natural adhesives will be discussed.
Nematic-to-Isotropic Phase Transition in Poly(L-Lactide) with Addition of Cyclodextrin during Abiotic Degradation Study
Authors: Rydz Joanna , Duale Khadar , Janeczek Henryk , Sikorska Wanda , Marcinkowski Andrzej , Musioł Marta , Godzierz Marcin , Kordyka Aleksandra , Sobota Michał , Peptu Cristian , Koseva Neli , Kowalczuk Marek
Published: July 2022

Poly(L-lactide) is capable of self-assembly into a nematic mesophase under the influence of temperature and mechanical stresses. Therefore, subsequent poly(L-lactide) films were obtained and characterized, showing nematic liquid crystal properties both before and after degradation. Herein, we present that, by introducing β-cyclodextrin into the polymer matrix, it is possible to obtain a chiral nematic mesophase during pressing, regardless of temperature and time. The obtained poly(L-lactide) films exhibiting liquid crystal properties were subjected to degradation tests and the influence of degradation on these properties was determined. Thermotropic phase behavior was investigated using polarized optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry. The degradation process demonstrated an influence on the liquid crystal properties of pressed polymer films. The colored planar texture of the chiral nematic mesophase, which was not observed prior to degradation in films without the addition of β-cyclodextrin, appeared after incubation in water as a result of the entrapment of degradation products in the polymer matrix. These unusual tailor-made properties, obtained in liquid crystals in (bio)degradable polymers using a simple method, demonstrate the potential for advanced photonic applications.
Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Mulberry Leaf Flavonoids In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Lin Ziwei , Gan Tiantian , Huang Yanzhen , Bao Lijun , Liu Shuang , Cui Xiaopeng , Wang Hexin , Jiao Feng , Zhang Minjuan , Su Chao , Qian Yonghua
Published: July 2022

Mulberry (Morus alba L.) is a flowering tree traditionally used in Chinese herbal medicine. Mulberry leaf flavonoids (MLFs) have been reported to exert important anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The purpose of this study was to select the MLF with the best anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities from MLFs eluted by different ethanol concentrations (30%, 50%, and 75%) and explore its pharmacological properties. Three types of MLFs inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. All MLFs boosted the antioxidative capacity by decreasing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the scavenging of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals and improving the metal ion chelating activity and reducing power. The results revealed that the MLFs eluted by 30% ethanol exhibited the best anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities. A nontargeted metabolomic analysis was used to analyze 24 types of differential flavonoids between the MLFs. Quercetin, kaempferol, and their derivatives in 30%MLF were more abundant than the other two MLFs. Furthermore, we evaluated the pharmacological activities of 30%MLF in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) mice. The 30%MLF could alleviate the clinical symptoms, reduce the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, and inhibit the activation of the inflammatory pathway in DSS-induced colitis mice. This study will provide valuable information for the development of MLFs eluted by 30% ethanol as a functional food.
Surface Motility Regulation of Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 by Plant Flavonoids and the NodD1, TtsI, NolR, and MucR1 Symbiotic Bacterial Regulators
Authors: Alías-Villegas Cynthia , Fuentes-Romero Francisco , Cuéllar Virginia , Navarro-Gómez Pilar , Soto María J. , Vinardell José-María , Acosta-Jurado Sebastián
Published: July 2022

Bacteria can spread on surfaces to colonize new environments and access more resources. Rhizobia, a group of α- and β-Proteobacteria, establish nitrogen-fixing symbioses with legumes that rely on a complex signal interchange between the partners. Flavonoids exuded by plant roots and the bacterial transcriptional activator NodD control the transcription of different rhizobial genes (the so-called nod regulon) and, together with additional bacterial regulatory proteins (such as TtsI, MucR or NolR), influence the production of different rhizobial molecular signals. In Sinorhizobium fredii HH103, flavonoids and NodD have a negative effect on exopolysaccharide production and biofilm production. Since biofilm formation and motility are often inversely regulated, we have analysed whether flavonoids may influence the translocation of S. fredii HH103 on surfaces. We show that the presence of nod gene-inducing flavonoids does not affect swimming but promotes a mode of surface translocation, which involves both flagella-dependent and -independent mechanisms. This surface motility is regulated in a flavonoid-NodD1-TtsI-dependent manner, relies on the assembly of the symbiotic type 3 secretion system (T3SS), and involves the participation of additional modulators of the nod regulon (NolR and MucR1). To our knowledge, this is the first evidence indicating the participation of T3SS in surface motility in a plant-interacting bacterium. Interestingly, flavonoids acting as nod-gene inducers also participate in the inverse regulation of surface motility and biofilm formation, which could contribute to a more efficient plant colonisation.
Identification of Multiple Domains of Entamoeba histolytica Intermediate Subunit Lectin-1 with Hemolytic and Cytotoxic Activities
Authors: Kato Kentaro , Tachibana Hiroshi
Published: July 2022

Galactose and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-inhibitable lectin of Entamoeba histolytica have roles in the pathogenicity of intestinal amoebiasis. Igl1, the intermediate subunit lectin-1 of E. histolytica, has been shown to have both hemolytic and cytotoxic activities that reside in the C-terminus of the protein. To identify the amino acid regions responsible for these activities, recombinant proteins were prepared and used in hemolytic and cytotoxic assays. The results revealed that Igl1 has multiple domains with hemolytic and cytotoxic activities and that amino acids 787-846, 968-1028 and 1029-1088 are involved in these activities. The hemolytic activities of the fragments were partly inhibited by mannose, galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine, and glucose showed lower or negligible inhibitory effects for the activities. This is the first report of a protozoan protein with hemolytic and cytotoxic activities in multiple domains.
Current Therapeutics for COVID-19, What We Know about the Molecular Mechanism and Efficacy of Treatments for This Novel Virus
Authors: Narayanan Divya , Parimon Tanyalak
Published: July 2022

Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Though previous coronaviruses have caused substantial epidemics in recent years, effective therapies remained limited at the start of the Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. The emergence and rapid spread throughout the globe of the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus necessitated a rapid development of therapeutics. Given the multitude of therapies that have emerged over the last two years and the evolution of data surrounding the efficacy of these therapies, we aim to provide an update on the major clinical trials that influenced clinical utilization of various COVID-19 therapeutics. This review focuses on currently used therapies in the United States and discusses the molecular mechanisms by which these therapies target the SARS-CoV-2 virus or the COVID-19 disease process. PubMed and EMBASE were used to find trials assessing the efficacy of various COVID-19 therapies. The keywords SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, and the names of the various therapies included in this review were searched in different combinations to find large-scale randomized controlled trials performed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Multiple therapeutic options are currently approved for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 and prevention of severe disease in high-risk individuals in both in the inpatient and outpatient settings. In severe disease, a combination of antiviral and immunomodulatory treatments is currently recommended for treatment. Additionally, anti-viral agents have shown promise in preventing severe disease and hospitalization for those in the outpatient setting. More recently, current therapeutic approaches are directed toward early treatment with monoclonal antibodies directed against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Despite this, no treatment to date serves as a definitive cure and vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus remain our best defense to prevent further morbidity and mortality.
Potential COVID-19 Therapies from Computational Repurposing of Drugs and Natural Products against the SARS-CoV-2 Helicase
Authors: Piplani Sakshi , Singh Puneet , Winkler David A. , Petrovsky Nikolai
Published: July 2022

Repurposing of existing drugs is a rapid way to find potential new treatments for SARS-CoV-2. Here, we applied a virtual screening approach using Autodock Vina and molecular dynamic simulation in tandem to screen and calculate binding energies of repurposed drugs against the SARS-CoV-2 helicase protein (non-structural protein nsp13). Amongst the top hits from our study were antivirals, antihistamines, and antipsychotics, plus a range of other drugs. Approximately 30% of our top 87 hits had published evidence indicating in vivo or in vitro SARS-CoV-2 activity. Top hits not previously reported to have SARS-CoV-2 activity included the antiviral agents, cabotegravir and RSV-604; the NK1 antagonist, aprepitant; the trypanocidal drug, aminoquinuride; the analgesic, antrafenine; the anticancer intercalator, epirubicin; the antihistamine, fexofenadine; and the anticoagulant, dicoumarol. These hits from our in silico SARS-CoV-2 helicase screen warrant further testing as potential COVID-19 treatments.
Ensuring Global Food Security by Improving Protein Content in Major Grain Legumes Using Breeding and ‘Omics’ Tools
Authors: Jha Uday C. , Nayyar Harsh , Parida Swarup K. , Deshmukh Rupesh , von Wettberg Eric J. B. , Siddique Kadambot H. M.
Published: July 2022

Grain legumes are a rich source of dietary protein for millions of people globally and thus a key driver for securing global food security. Legume plant-based ‘dietary protein’ biofortification is an economic strategy for alleviating the menace of rising malnutrition-related problems and hidden hunger. Malnutrition from protein deficiency is predominant in human populations with an insufficient daily intake of animal protein/dietary protein due to economic limitations, especially in developing countries. Therefore, enhancing grain legume protein content will help eradicate protein-related malnutrition problems in low-income and underprivileged countries. Here, we review the exploitable genetic variability for grain protein content in various major grain legumes for improving the protein content of high-yielding, low-protein genotypes. We highlight classical genetics-based inheritance of protein content in various legumes and discuss advances in molecular marker technology that have enabled us to underpin various quantitative trait loci controlling seed protein content (SPC) in biparental-based mapping populations and genome-wide association studies. We also review the progress of functional genomics in deciphering the underlying candidate gene(s) controlling SPC in various grain legumes and the role of proteomics and metabolomics in shedding light on the accumulation of various novel proteins and metabolites in high-protein legume genotypes. Lastly, we detail the scope of genomic selection, high-throughput phenotyping, emerging genome editing tools, and speed breeding protocols for enhancing SPC in grain legumes to achieve legume-based dietary protein security and thus reduce the global hunger risk.
Effect of Haloperidol and Olanzapine on Hippocampal Cells’ Proliferation in Animal Model of Schizophrenia
Authors: Osacka Jana , Kiss Alexander , Bacova Zuzana , Tillinger Andrej
Published: July 2022

Aberrant neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and hippocampus (HIP) contributes to schizophrenia pathogenesis. Haloperidol (HAL) and olanzapine (OLA), commonly prescribed antipsychotics for schizophrenia treatment, affect neurogenesis too. The effect of HAL and OLA on an mHippoE-2 cell line was studied in vitro where we measured the cell number and projection length. In vivo, we studied the gene expression of DCX, Sox2, BDNF, and NeuN in the SVZ and HIP in an MK-801-induced animal schizophrenia model. Cells were incubated with HAL, OLA, and MK-801 for 24, 48, and 72 h. Animals were injected for 6 days with saline or MK801 (0.5 mg/kg), and from the 7th day with either vehicle HAL (1 mg/kg) or OLA (2 mg/kg), for the next 7 days. In vitro, HAL and OLA dose/time-dependently suppressed cells’ proliferation and shortened their projection length. HAL/OLA co-treatment with MK-801 for 24 h reversed HAL’s/OLA’s inhibitory effect. In vivo, HAL and OLA suppressed DCX and NeuN genes’ expression in the HIP and SVZ. MK-801 decreased DCX and NeuN genes’ expression in the HIP and OLA prevented this effect. The data suggest that subchronic HAL/OLA treatment can inhibit DCX and NeuN expression. In an MK-801 schizophrenia model, OLA reversed the MK-801 inhibitory effect on DCX and NeuN and HAL reversed the effect on DCX expression; however, only in the HIP.
Laboratory Rat Thrombi Lose One-Third of Their Stiffness When Exposed to Large Oscillating Shear Stress Amplitudes: Contrasting Behavior to Human Clots
Authors: Windberger Ursula , Glanz Veronika , Ploszczanski Leon
Published: July 2022

Rats impress by their high platelet count resulting in hypercoagulability, which protects the animals from severe bleeding. However, platelets also import numerous stiff junction points into the fibrous system of a clot, also enhancing the pre-stress of the fibrin fibers, which lowers their deformability. Clot deformation is clinically important since large strains are present in the arterial tree (caused by the propagation of pressure and pulse waves), and a clot is considered “safe” when it can deform over a long range of strain amplitudes. We tested clot formation and the behavior of fully formed blood clots of laboratory rats at large sinusoidal shear stress amplitudes by rheometry and compared outcomes to human reference data. We found that fiber density (by scanning electron microscopy) and clot stiffness (by rheometry) was pronounced compared to humans and differed with sexual dimorphism and with rat strain. Using our large amplitude oscillation (LAOS) protocol, we detected that rat clots yielded with a frustrated attempt to stiffen instead of showing the macroscopic stiffening response that is typical for human clots. We attribute this behavior to the appearance of multiple microfractures until, finally, a few leading fibers uptake the load. Rat clots also failed to align fibers in shear direction to initiate affine deformation. The rat clot phenotype differs substantially from the human one, which must be considered in research and toxicological testing. If microfractures in the fiber meshwork are concentrated in vivo, parts of a clot may break off and be washed away. However, homogenously distributed microfractures may open pores and allow the penetration of plasminogen activators. What occurs in the rat vasculature depends on the on-site clot composition.
Sequential Normalization: Embracing Smaller Sample Sizes for Normalization
Authors: Dimitriou Neofytos , Arandjelović Ognjen
Published: July 2022

Normalization as a layer within neural networks has over the years demonstrated its effectiveness in neural network optimization across a wide range of different tasks, with one of the most successful approaches being that of batch normalization. The consensus is that better estimates of the BatchNorm normalization statistics (μ and σ2) in each mini-batch result in better optimization. In this work, we challenge this belief and experiment with a new variant of BatchNorm known as GhostNorm that, despite independently normalizing batches within the mini-batches, i.e., μ and σ2 are independently computed and applied to groups of samples in each mini-batch, outperforms BatchNorm consistently. Next, we introduce sequential normalization (SeqNorm), the sequential application of the above type of normalization across two dimensions of the input, and find that models trained with SeqNorm consistently outperform models trained with BatchNorm or GhostNorm on multiple image classification data sets. Our contributions are as follows: (i) we uncover a source of regularization that is unique to GhostNorm, and not simply an extension from BatchNorm, and illustrate its effects on the loss landscape, (ii) we introduce sequential normalization (SeqNorm) a new normalization layer that improves the regularization effects of GhostNorm, (iii) we compare both GhostNorm and SeqNorm against BatchNorm alone as well as with other regularization techniques, (iv) for both GhostNorm and SeqNorm models, we train models whose performance is consistently better than our baselines, including ones with BatchNorm, on the standard image classification data sets of CIFAR–10, CIFAR-100, and ImageNet ((+0.2%, +0.7%, +0.4%), and (+0.3%, +1.7%, +1.1%) for GhostNorm and SeqNorm, respectively).
Two-Photon Fluorescence in Red and Violet Conjugated Polymer Microspheres
Authors: Zhi Yanyan , Feng Ziwei , Mehreen Tanisha , Liu Xiaoyuan , Gardner Kirsty , Li Xiangping , Guan Bai-Ou , Zhang Lijuan , Vagin Sergey I. , Rieger Bernhard , Meldrum Alkiviathes
Published: July 2022

We investigate the two-photon fluorescence (TPF) of conjugated polymer (CP) microspheres with diameters up to tens of micrometers. Two polymers, emitting in either the violet or red, were first synthesized and characterized in terms of their one-photon fluorescence and three-dimensional internal microstructure. Under femtosecond infrared excitation, both types of microspheres showed a strong TPF, which was investigated by the excitation intensity dependence, emission spectroscopy, time-resolved luminescence, and photobleaching dynamics. While the violet-fluorescent microspheres performed similarly compared to dye-doped polystyrene counterparts emitting at a similar wavelength, the red-fluorescent microspheres showed a two-orders-of-magnitude stronger TPF. This excellent performance is attributed to enhanced hyperpolarizability associated with intermolecular interactions in the polymer solid, indicating a route toward designed CP microspheres that could outperform currently-available microparticles for sensing or imaging applications involving two-photon fluorescence.
Geographical Distribution of Three Forest Invasive Beetle Species in Romania
Authors: Olenici Nicolai , Duduman Mihai-Leonard , Popa Ionel , Isaia Gabriela , Paraschiv Marius
Published: July 2022

Ips duplicatus (Sahlberg, 1836), Xylosandrus germanus (Blandford, 1894) and Neoclytus acuminatus (Fabricius, 1775) are invasive species reported in Romania, but their current distribution is poorly known. The research aim was to provide new information on this issue. A survey was conducted over the period 2015–2017 in 82 locations, using flight-interception traps and bottle traps, baited with different attractants. Data obtained in our other unpublished studies were also taken into account. A total of 35,136 I. duplicatus beetles were collected in 30 survey locations. The highest captures were in the log yards of some factories processing logs of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.). Considering all known records so far, most of these are in the eastern part of Romania, where an outbreak took place during the years 2005–2014, mainly in spruce stands growing outside their natural range. During the survey, 4259 specimens of X. germanus were collected in 35 locations, but in our other studies the species was found in 13 additional places. It was collected at altitudes of 18–1200 m, and the largest catches were from beech stands, growing at 450–950 m. N. acuminatus was found in only six locations, in the western and southern parts of the country, at low altitudes, in tree stands composed of Fraxinus excelsior L., Quercus spp. and other broadleaf species, as well as in broadleaf log yards. The results suggest that I. duplicatus is established in most parts of the Norway spruce’s range, X. germanus is still spreading in the country, with some areas having quite high populations, while N. acuminatus is present only in the warmest regions of the country.
Th17/Regulatory T-Cell Imbalance and Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Sepsis
Authors: Zhou Xiao , Yao Jingyi , Lin Jin , Liu Jingfeng , Dong Lei , Duan Meili
Published: July 2022

To analyze the predictive value of the Th17/Treg ratio for renal injury in sepsis patients, a prospective observational study was conducted. Adult patients with sepsis were enrolled and divided into a sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (SAKI) group and a sepsis-without-AKI group. Logistic regression was used to analyze the independent predictors of SAKI, and the ROC curve was plotted to evaluate the predictive value of the Th17/Treg ratio for renal injury in patients with sepsis. A total of 124 patients were enrolled in this study, including 60 cases (48.39%) of SAKI. Patients who developed sepsis-induced acute kidney injury had a higher Th17/Treg ratio level compared to patients without it (0.11 [0.07, 0.28] versus 0.06 [0.05, 0.16], p < 0.05, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the Th17/Treg ratio to predict sepsis-induced acute kidney injury was 0.669 (95% CI 0.574–0.763, p < 0.05). The Th17/Treg ratio was associated with SAKI (OR 1.15, 95%CI [1.06–1.24], p < 0.05, non-adjusted and R 1.12, 95%CI [1.00–1.25], p < 0.05, adjusted). The use of the Th17/Treg ratio improved the prediction performance of the prediction model of NAGL. The median Th17/Treg ratio significantly increased with the stratified KDIGO stage (p < 0.05). Th17/Treg imbalance was associated with occurrence of acute kidney injury and AKI severity in patients with sepsis. The Th17/Treg ratio could be a potential predictive marker of sepsis-induced acute kidney injury.
Viscoelastic Hemostatic Assays for Orthopedic Trauma and Elective Procedures
Authors: Mamczak Christiaan N. , Speybroeck Jacob , Stillson John E. , Dynako Joseph , Piscoya Andres , Peck Ethan E. , Aboukhaled Michael , Cancel Emily , McDonald Michael , Garcia Diego , Lovejoy John , Lubin Stephanie , Stanton Robert , Kutcher Matthew E.
Published: July 2022

The application of viscoelastic hemostatic assays (VHAs) (e.g., thromboelastography (TEG) and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM)) in orthopedics is in its relative infancy when compared with other surgical fields. Fortunately, several recent studies describe the emerging use of VHAs to quickly and reliably analyze the real-time coagulation and fibrinolytic status in both orthopedic trauma and elective orthopedic surgery. Trauma-induced coagulopathy—a spectrum of abnormal coagulation phenotypes including clotting factor depletion, inadequate thrombin generation, platelet dysfunction, and dysregulated fibrinolysis—remains a potentially fatal complication in severely injured and/or hemorrhaging patients whose timely diagnosis and management are aided by the use of VHAs. Furthermore, VHAs are an invaluable compliment to common coagulation tests by facilitating the detection of hypercoagulable states commonly associated with orthopedic injury and postoperative status. The use of VHAs to identify hypercoagulability allows for an accurate venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment and monitoring of VTE prophylaxis. Until now, the data have been insufficient to permit an individualized approach with regard to dosing and duration for VTE thromboprophylaxis. By incorporating VHAs into routine practice, orthopedic surgeons will be better equipped to diagnose and treat the complete spectrum of coagulation abnormalities faced by orthopedic patients. This work serves as an educational primer and up-to-date review of the current literature on the use of VHAs in orthopedic surgery.
Nurse-Led Counseling Intervention of Postoperative Home-Based Exercise Training Improves Shoulder Pain, Shoulder Disability, and Quality of Life in Newly Diagnosed Head and Neck Cancer Patients
Authors: Hong Yu-Long , Hsieh Tsung-Cheng , Chen Peir-Rong , Chang Shu-Chuan
Published: July 2022

This randomized controlled trial investigated the effectiveness of the nurse-led counseling intervention (NLCI) of postoperative home-based exercise training (HBET) on functional outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed head and neck cancer (NDHNC). Forty NDHNC patients were randomly and equally divided into the control and intervention groups. Both groups received routine care, and were instructed to undergo a HBET program with 40 min moderate-intensity exercise 3–4 times per day for 12 weeks after their surgery. Only the intervention group received the NLCI with a bedside demonstration, coaching, consultation, and a weekly telephone follow-up. Shoulder pain (SP), shoulder disability (SD), and quality of life (QOL) scores were assessed using questionnaires at 2 weeks presurgery and at several timepoints postsurgery. Over the 12-week study period, all three scores remained relatively stable in the control group. By contrast, the SP, SD, and QOL scores significantly improved in the intervention group. The generalized estimating equation analysis revealed a significant time effect, group effect, and group–time interaction. The analysis of covariance revealed that all three scores significantly improved in the intervention group compared with those in the control group at 12 weeks postsurgery. We concluded that the NLCI of postoperative HBET improved the SP, SD, and QOL of NDHNC patients.
An Updated Review on the Psychoactive, Toxic and Anticancer Properties of Kava
Authors: Soares Rita B. , Dinis-Oliveira Ricardo Jorge , Oliveira Nuno G.
Published: July 2022

Kava (Piper methysticum) has been widely consumed for many years in the South Pacific Islands and displays psychoactive properties, especially soothing and calming effects. This plant has been used in Western countries as a natural anxiolytic in recent decades. Kava has also been used to treat symptoms associated with depression, menopause, insomnia, and convulsions, among others. Along with its putative beneficial health effects, kava has been associated with liver injury and other toxic effects, including skin toxicity in heavy consumers, possibly related to its metabolic profile or interference in the metabolism of other xenobiotics. Kava extracts and kavalactones generally displayed negative results in genetic toxicology assays although there is sufficient evidence for carcinogenicity in experimental animals, most likely through a non-genotoxic mode of action. Nevertheless, the chemotherapeutic/chemopreventive potential of kava against cancer has also been suggested. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have evaluated the effects of flavokavains, kavalactones and/or kava extracts in different cancer models, showing the induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and other antiproliferative effects in several types of cancer, including breast, prostate, bladder, and lung. Overall, in this scoping review, several aspects of kava efficacy and safety are discussed and some pertinent issues related to kava consumption are identified.
Clinically Inspired Skin Lesion Classification through the Detection of Dermoscopic Criteria for Basal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Serrano Carmen , Lazo Manuel , Serrano Amalia , Toledo-Pastrana Tomás , Barros-Tornay Rubén , Acha Begoña
Published: July 2022

Background and Objective. Skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide. One of the most common non-melanoma tumors is basal cell carcinoma (BCC), which accounts for 75% of all skin cancers. There are many benign lesions that can be confused with these types of cancers, leading to unnecessary biopsies. In this paper, a new method to identify the different BCC dermoscopic patterns present in a skin lesion is presented. In addition, this information is applied to classify skin lesions into BCC and non-BCC. Methods. The proposed method combines the information provided by the original dermoscopic image, introduced in a convolutional neural network (CNN), with deep and handcrafted features extracted from color and texture analysis of the image. This color analysis is performed by transforming the image into a uniform color space and into a color appearance model. To demonstrate the validity of the method, a comparison between the classification obtained employing exclusively a CNN with the original image as input and the classification with additional color and texture features is presented. Furthermore, an exhaustive comparison of classification employing different color and texture measures derived from different color spaces is presented. Results. Results show that the classifier with additional color and texture features outperforms a CNN whose input is only the original image. Another important achievement is that a new color cooccurrence matrix, proposed in this paper, improves the results obtained with other texture measures. Finally, sensitivity of 0.99, specificity of 0.94 and accuracy of 0.97 are achieved when lesions are classified into BCC or non-BCC. Conclusions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a methodology to detect all the possible patterns that can be present in a BCC lesion is proposed. This detection leads to a clinically explainable classification into BCC and non-BCC lesions. In this sense, the classification of the proposed tool is based on the detection of the dermoscopic features that dermatologists employ for their diagnosis.
Cuticular Wax Modification by Epichloë Endophyte in Achnatherum inebrians under Different Soil Moisture Availability
Authors: Zhao Zhenrui , Ju Yawen , Kou Mingzhu , Tian Mei , Christensen Michael John , Zhang Xingxu , Nan Zhibiao
Published: July 2022

The cuticular wax serves as the outermost hydrophobic barrier of plants against nonstomatal water loss and various environmental stresses. An objective of this study was to investigate the contribution of the mutualistic fungal endophyte Epichloë gansuensis to leaf cuticular wax of Achnatherum inebrians under different soil moisture availability. Through a pot experiment and gas chromatography−mass spectrometry (GC−MS) analysis, our results indicated that the hydrocarbons were the dominant components of leaf cuticular wax, and the proportion of alcohols, aldehydes, amines, and ethers varied with the presence or absence of E. gansuensis and different soil moisture availability. Amines and ethers are unique in endophyte-free (EF) A. inebrians plants and endophyte-infected (EI) A. inebrians plants, respectively. By transcriptome analysis, we found a total of 13 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to cuticular biosynthesis, including FabG, desB, SSI2, fadD, BiP, KCS, KAR, FAR, and ABCB1. A model is proposed which provides insights for understanding cuticular wax biosynthesis in the association of A. inebrians plants with E. gansuensis. These results may help guide the functional analyses of candidate genes important for improving the protective layer of cuticular wax of endophyte-symbiotic plants.
Association of High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol, Renal Function, and Metabolic Syndrome: An Assessment of the 2013–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys
Authors: Richardson Kathleen A. , Richardson Luke T. , Bowden Rodney G.
Published: July 2022

Previous findings assessing the relationship between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and kidney function have demonstrated contradictory results including positive, negative, and U-shaped relationships. Many prior studies in this area have been conducted in healthy populations, but few have considered the influence of metabolic health status. In the present study, a cross-sectional analysis was conducted using complex survey sample weighting in the assessment of 6455 subjects from the 2013–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), representative of 94,993,502 United States citizens. Subjects were classified as metabolically healthy or unhealthy and linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the influence of HDL-c on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). HDL-c was found to be negatively associated with eGFR in the metabolically healthy, unhealthy, and combined groups (B = −0.16, p < 0.0001, B = −0.21, p < 0.0001, and B = −0.05, p = 0.0211, respectively). This relationship persisted after adjustment for confounding variables (B = −0.24, p < 0.0001, B = −0.17, p < 0.001, and B = −0.18, p < 0.0001, respectively). The relationship between HDL-c and eGFR was found to be a negative linear association, rather than a U-shaped association, and it persisted in all models tested, despite statistical adjustment for confounding variables. After controlling the samples for outliers, the negative relationship between HDL-c and eGFR was attenuated in the healthy and total groups but remained significant in the MetS group, indicating a stronger relationship between HDL-c and eGFR in those with poorer health.
Homozygous Pro1066Arg MYBPC3 Pathogenic Variant in a 26Mb Region of Homozygosity Associated with Severe Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in a Patient of an Apparent Non-Consanguineous Family
Authors: Rodríguez-López Raquel , García-Planells Javier , Martínez-Matilla Marina , Pérez-García Cristian , García Banacloy Amor , Guzmán Luján Carola , Zomeño Alcalá Otilia , Belchi Navarro Joaquina , Martínez-León Juan , Salguero-Bodes Rafael
Published: July 2022

MYPBC3 and MYH7 are the most frequently mutated genes in patients with hereditary HCM. Homozygous and compound heterozygous genotypes generate the most severe phenotypes. A 35-year-old woman who was a homozygous carrier of the p.(Pro1066Arg) variant in the MYBPC3 gene, developed HCM phenocopy associated with left ventricular noncompaction and various degrees of conduction disease. Her father, a double heterozygote for this variant in MYBPC3 combined with the variant p.(Gly1931Cys) in the MYH7 gene, was affected by HCM. The variant in MYBPC3 in the heterozygosis-produced phenotype was neither in the mother nor in her only sister. Familial segregation analysis showed that the homozygous genotype p.(Pro1066Arg) was located in a region of 26 Mb loss of heterozygosity due to some consanguinity in the parents. These findings describe the pathogenicity of this variant, supporting the hypothesis of cumulative variants in cardiomyopathies, as well as the modulatory effect of the phenotype by other genes such as MYH7. Advancing HPO phenotyping promoted by the Human Phenotype Ontology, the gene–disease correlation, and vice versa, is evidence for the phenotypic heterogeneity of familial heart disease. The progressive establishment of phenotypic characteristics over time also complicates the clinical description.