bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of PVA/PVAc Based Polymer Coating on Dust Reduction in Playground
Authors: Jeon In Kyu , Qudoos Abdul , Lee Hyunseok , Kim Hong Gi
Published: April 2021

Dust exposure is a serious threat to human health due to dermal contact, inhalation, and ingestion. Children are more vulnerable to dust than adults as a result of high rates of unintentional, or deliberate, ingestion and inhalation of dust. In this study, dust reduction in the playground due to coating of the soil particles with a PVA/PVAc-based solution was investigated. Soil particles were coated with varying amounts of coating solution and the samples were examined for various parameters e.g., specific density, moisture content, liquid and plastic limits, permeability, dust generation due to wind effect and human activity. The results demonstrated that coated soil samples showed improved permeability characteristics and reduced dust generation. These characteristics were improved by increased content of coating solution.
Augmentation Index Is Inversely Associated with Skeletal Muscle Mass, Muscle Strength, and Anaerobic Power in Young Male Adults: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Lee Dongmin , Byun Kyengho , Hwang Moon-Hyon , Lee Sewon
Published: April 2021

Arterial stiffness is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Previous studies have shown that there is a negative correlation between arterial stiffness and variables such as skeletal muscle mass, muscular strength, and anaerobic power in older individuals. However, little research has been undertaken on relationships in healthy young adults. This study presents a preliminary research that investigates the association between arterial stiffness and muscular factors in healthy male college students. Twenty-three healthy young males (23.9 ± 0.5 years) participated in the study. The participants visited the laboratory, and variables including body composition, blood pressure, arterial stiffness, blood parameters, grip strength, and anaerobic power were measured. Measurements of augmentation index (AIx) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were performed to determine arterial stiffness. There were significant positive correlations among skeletal muscle mass, muscle strength, and anaerobic power in healthy young adult males. AIx was negatively associated with a skeletal muscle mass (r = −0.785, p < 0.01), muscular strength (r = −0.500, p < 0.05), and anaerobic power (r = −0.469, p < 0.05), respectively. Likewise, AIx@75 corrected with a heart rate of 75 was negatively associated with skeletal muscle mass (r = −0.738, p < 0.01), muscular strength (r = −0.461, p < 0.05), and anaerobic power (r = −0.420, p < 0.05) respectively. However, the baPWV showed no correlation with all muscular factors. Our findings suggest that maintaining high levels of skeletal muscle mass, muscular strength, and anaerobic power from relatively young age may lower AIx.
Viscous Vortex Particle Method Coupling with Computational Structural Dynamics for Rotor Comprehensive Analysis
Authors: Zhu Wenguo , Morandini Marco , Li Shu
Published: April 2021

A panel/vortex particle hybrid method is coupled with a computational structure dynamics code to predict helicopter rotor loads. The rotor blade surfaces and near wakes are modeled by the panel method, while the far wake is modeled by resorting to the vortex particles method. A fast summation method is introduced to accelerate the evolution of particle–particle-induced velocity and its derivative as well as panel–particle interactions. The developed vortex particle method code is coupled with the multibody code MBDyn to predict the rotor airloads. Numerical validations are carried, out and the results are compared with the experiments and simulation results in the literature.
Different ISO Standards’ Wear Kinematic Profiles Change the TKA Inlay Load
Authors: Bauer Leandra , Kistler Manuel , Steinbrück Arnd , Ingr Katrin , Müller Peter E. , Jansson Volkmar , Schröder Christian , Woiczinski Matthias
Published: April 2021

Wear is an important factor in the long-term success of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Therefore, wear testing methods have become standard in implant research and development. In the EU, these are based on two simulation concepts, which are defined in standards ISO 14243-1 and 14243-3, differentiated by the control mode—force-controlled or displacement-controlled. The aim of this study was to compare the mechanical stresses within the different ISO concepts using a finite element model (the newest displacement-controlled norm from 2014 compared with force-controlled). The in silico model showed strong correlation with the experimental data (r > 0.8). The adapted force-controlled ISO showed higher mechanical stress during the gait cycle, which also might lead to higher wear rates (14243-1 (2009): 11.15 MPa, 10.15 MPa and 9.16 MPa). The displacement-controlled ISO led to higher mechanical stress because of the constraint at the end of the stance phase (14243-3: 20.59 MPa and 17.19 MPa). Future studies should analyse different inlay designs within the same ISO standards to guarantee comparability.
Float Current Analysis for Fast Calendar Aging Assessment of 18650 Li(NiCoAl)O2/Graphite Cells
Authors: Theiler Michael , Endisch Christian , Lewerenz Meinert
Published: April 2021

Float currents are steady-state self-discharge currents after a transient phase—caused by anode overhang, polarization, etc.—is accomplished. The float current is measured in this study with a standard test bench for five 18650 cells (Samsung 25R) at potentiostatic conditions while the temperature is changed in 5 K steps from 5 °C to 60 °C. The entire test is performed in about 100 days resulting in 12 measurement points per cell potential for an Arrhenius representation. The float current follows the Arrhenius law with an activation energy of about 60 kJ/mol. The capacity loss measured at reference condition shows a high correlation to the results of float currents analysis. In contrast to classical calendar aging tests, the performed float current analysis enables determining the aging rate with high precision down to at least 10 °C. Returning from higher temperatures to 30 °C reference temperature shows reducing float currents at 30 °C for increasing temperature steps that may originate from an hysteresis effect that has to be investigated in future publications.
Polymerizable Matrix Metalloproteinases’ Inhibitors with Potential Application for Dental Restorations
Authors: Laronha Helena , Carpinteiro Inês , Portugal Jaime , Azul Ana , Polido Mário , Petrova Krasimira T. , Salema-Oom Madalena , Barahona Isabel , Caldeira Jorge
Published: April 2021

Collagen cleavage by matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) is considered a major cause of dental resins long term failure. Most MMP inhibitors display significant toxicity and are unsuitable for dental resins’ applications. Here we report a study of a new class of inhibitors that display the unique property of being co-polymerizable with other vinyl compounds present in commercial dental resins, limiting their release and potential toxicity. Computational affinity towards the active site of different MMP-1; -2; -8; -9 and -13 of several compounds showed interesting properties and were synthesized. These free compounds were tested concerning their toxicity upon contact with two different cell types, with no substantial decrease in cell viability at high concentrations. Even so, compound’s safety can be further improved upon copolymerization with commercial dental resins, limiting their release.
Single-Cell RNA Sequencing in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Ma Shi-Xun , Lim Su Bin
Published: April 2021

Single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (sc/snRNA-seq) technologies have enhanced the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease (PD). Nonetheless, their application in PD has been limited due mainly to the technical challenges resulting from the scarcity of postmortem brain tissue and low quality associated with RNA degradation. Despite such challenges, recent advances in animals and human in vitro models that recapitulate features of PD along with sequencing assays have fueled studies aiming to obtain an unbiased and global view of cellular composition and phenotype of PD at the single-cell resolution. Here, we reviewed recent sc/snRNA-seq efforts that have successfully characterized diverse cell-type populations and identified cell type-specific disease associations in PD. We also examined how these studies have employed computational and analytical tools to analyze and interpret the rich information derived from sc/snRNA-seq. Finally, we highlighted important limitations and emerging technologies for addressing key technical challenges currently limiting the integration of new findings into clinical practice.
What Is the Knowledge of Evacuation Procedures in Road Tunnels? Survey Results of Users in Poland
Authors: Schmidt-Polończyk Natalia , Wąs Jarosław , Porzycki Jakub
Published: April 2021

This paper presents a preliminary assessment of road tunnel safety issues among respondents—specifically, real and potential users of road tunnels. We recruited a group of respondents to study their knowledge of evacuation procedures and awareness of safety issues in road tunnels. We conducted surveys with 504 participants, 12.7% of whom had previously participated in real-scale evacuation experiments in a road tunnel. Analysis of respondents’ answers reveals that their knowledge of safety procedures is unfortunately not sufficient. On average, the respondents selected the most recommended answer for approximately 5.35 out of 15 questions. Only 16% of respondents correctly answered more than 50% of the survey questions; moreover, no respondent provided the correct answers for 12 or more questions. Interestingly, most respondents were convinced that they had a better knowledge of road tunnel safety issues than was actually the case. The results of the survey demonstrate a significant educational role of evacuation exercises. Individuals who have participated in an evacuation have better knowledge, allowing them to apply the correct rules of road tunnel safety procedures. Various aspects addressed in this paper can be taken into consideration in an information campaign regarding safety in road tunnels during a fire.
Quality of Emulsions Containing Fat Blends Modified by Enzymatic Catalysis
Authors: Kowalska Małgorzata , Woźniak Magdalena , Zbikowska Anna , Ivanišová Eva , Molik Artur
Published: April 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the enzymatic modification of muton tallow and hemp seed oil fat blends. An attempt of application of these fat blends as fat phases in emulsion systems with various amount of carboxymethylcellulose was made. Fat blends before and after enzymatic catalysis were assessed in the context of polar and non-polar fractions content, antioxidant activity, oxidative stability and texture. Emulsions were investigated in the terms of their stability, color, microstructure, droplets diameter, and viscosity. The study revealed that emulsions containing as a fat phases modified blends with greater share of mutton tallow showed more favorable properties, and greater stability. The presented emulsions are a model dispersion system, after adjustment of the additives they could be used as chemical, food or cosmetic products.
The Effects of Warfarin and Direct Oral Anticoagulants on Systemic Vascular Calcification: A Review
Authors: Elango Kalaimani , Javaid Awad , Khetarpal Banveet K. , Ramalingam Sathishkumar , Kolandaivel Krishna Prasad , Gunasekaran Kulothungan , Ahsan Chowdhury
Published: April 2021

Warfarin has been utilized for decades as an effective anticoagulant in patients with a history of strong risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Established adverse effects include bleeding, skin necrosis, teratogenicity during pregnancy, cholesterol embolization, and nephropathy. One of the lesser-known long-term side effects of warfarin is an increase in systemic arterial calcification. This is significant due to the association between vascular calcification and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have gained prominence in recent years, as they require less frequent monitoring and have a superior side effect profile to warfarin, specifically in relation to major bleeding. The cost and lack of data for DOACs in some disease processes have precluded universal use. Within the last four years, retrospective cohort studies, observational studies, and randomized trials have shown, through different imaging modalities, that multiple DOACs are associated with slower progression of vascular calcification than warfarin. This review highlights the pathophysiology and mechanisms behind vascular calcification due to warfarin and compares the effect of warfarin and DOACs on systemic vasculature.
Increased HERV-K(HML-2) Transcript Levels Correlate with Clinical Parameters of Liver Damage in Hepatitis C Patients
Authors: Weber Melanie , Padmanabhan Nair Vidya , Bauer Tanja , Sprinzl Martin F. , Protzer Ulrike , Vincendeau Michelle
Published: April 2021

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is closely associated with a plethora of diseases, including cancers and autoimmune disorders. However, the distinct triggers and cellular networks leading to such HCV-derived diseases are poorly understood. Around 8% of the human genome consists of human endogenous retroviruses. They are usually silenced but can be reactivated by environmental conditions, including viral infections. Our current understanding indicates that the activation of one specific family—namely, HERV-K(HML-2)—is linked to distinct pathologies, including cancer and autoimmunity. In this study, we analyzed the transcription levels of HERV-K(HML-2) in 42 HCV-infected patients receiving direct-acting antiviral therapies. Samples from the start of treatment until 12 weeks post-treatment were investigated. Our results show increased HERV-K(HML-2) transcript levels in patients with HCV-derived liver cirrhosis throughout the observation period. Several clinical parameters specifying poor liver function are positively correlated with HERV-K(HML-2) expression. Of note, patients without a sustained viral clearance showed a drastic increase in HERV-K(HML-2) transcript levels. Together, our data suggest that increased HERV-K(HML-2) expression is correlated with reduced liver function as well as therapy success in HCV-infected patients.
Chronic–Progressive Dopaminergic Deficiency Does Not Induce Midbrain Neurogenesis
Authors: Fauser Mareike , Pan-Montojo Francisco , Richter Christian , Kahle Philipp J. , Schwarz Sigrid C. , Schwarz Johannes , Storch Alexander , Hermann Andreas
Published: April 2021

Background: Consecutive adult neurogenesis is a well-known phenomenon in the ventricular–subventricular zone of the lateral wall of the lateral ventricles (V–SVZ) and has been controversially discussed in so-called “non-neurogenic” brain areas such as the periventricular regions (PVRs) of the aqueduct and the fourth ventricle. Dopamine is a known modulator of adult neural stem cell (aNSC) proliferation and dopaminergic neurogenesis in the olfactory bulb, though a possible interplay between local dopaminergic neurodegeneration and induction of aNSC proliferation in mid/hindbrain PVRs is currently enigmatic. Objective/Hypothesis: To analyze the influence of chronic–progressive dopaminergic neurodegeneration on both consecutive adult neurogenesis in the PVRs of the V–SVZ and mid/hindbrain aNSCs in two mechanistically different transgenic animal models of Parkinson´s disease (PD). Methods: We used Thy1-m[A30P]h α synuclein mice and Leu9′Ser hypersensitive α4* nAChR mice to assess the influence of midbrain dopaminergic neuronal loss on neurogenic activity in the PVRs of the V–SVZ, the aqueduct and the fourth ventricle. Results: In both animal models, overall proliferative activity in the V–SVZ was not altered, though the proportion of B2/activated B1 cells on all proliferating cells was reduced in the V–SVZ in Leu9′Ser hypersensitive α4* nAChR mice. Putative aNSCs in the mid/hindbrain PVRs are known to be quiescent in vivo in healthy controls, and dopaminergic deficiency did not induce proliferative activity in these regions in both disease models. Conclusions: Our data do not support an activation of endogenous aNSCs in mid/hindbrain PVRs after local dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Spontaneous endogenous regeneration of dopaminergic cell loss through resident aNSCs is therefore unlikely.
γ-Tubulin Complexes and Fibrillar Arrays: Two Conserved High Molecular Forms with Many Cellular Functions
Authors: Chumová Jana , Kourová Hana , Trögelová Lucie , Daniel Geoffrey , Binarová Pavla
Published: April 2021

Higher plants represent a large group of eukaryotes where centrosomes are absent. The functions of γ-tubulin small complexes (γ-TuSCs) and γ-tubulin ring complexes (γ-TuRCs) in metazoans and fungi in microtubule nucleation are well established and the majority of components found in the complexes are present in plants. However, plant microtubules are also nucleated in a γ-tubulin-dependent but γ-TuRC-independent manner. There is growing evidence that γ-tubulin is a microtubule nucleator without being complexed in γ-TuRC. Fibrillar arrays of γ-tubulin were demonstrated in plant and animal cells and the ability of γ-tubulin to assemble into linear oligomers/polymers was confirmed in vitro for both native and recombinant γ-tubulin. The functions of γ-tubulin as a template for microtubule nucleation or in promoting spontaneous nucleation is outlined. Higher plants represent an excellent model for studies on the role of γ-tubulin in nucleation due to their acentrosomal nature and high abundancy and conservation of γ-tubulin including its intrinsic ability to assemble filaments. The defining scaffolding or sequestration functions of plant γ-tubulin in microtubule organization or in nuclear processes will help our understanding of its cellular roles in eukaryotes.
High Dietary Phosphate Exacerbates and Acts Independently of Low Autophagy Activity in Pathological Cardiac Remodeling and Dysfunction
Authors: Shi Mingjun , Shepard Sierra , Zhou Zhiyong , Maique Jenny , Seli Olivia , Moe Orson W. , Hu Ming Chang
Published: April 2021

High phosphate contributes to uremic cardiomyopathy. Abnormal autophagy is associated with the development and progression of heart disease. What is unknown is the effects of phosphate on autophagy and whether the ill effects of phosphate on cardiomyocytes are mediated by low autophagy. High (2.0% w/w)-phosphate diet reduced LC3 puncta in cardiomyocytes and ratio of LC3 II/I and increased p62 protein, indicating that autophagy activity was suppressed. Mice with cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of autophagy-related protein 5 (H-atg5−/−) had reduced autophagy only in the heart, developed cardiac dysfunction with hypertrophy and fibrosis, and had a short lifespan. When H-atg5−/− mice were fed a high-phosphate diet, they developed more apoptosis in cardiomyocytes, more severe cardiac remodeling, and shorter lifespan than normal phosphate-fed H-atg5−/− mice, indicating that cardiac phosphotoxicity is imparted independently of atg5. In conclusion, although high phosphate suppresses autophagy, high phosphate and low autophagy independently trigger and additionally amplify cardiac remodeling and dysfunction.
Sir4 Deficiency Reverses Cell Senescence by Sub-Telomere Recombination
Authors: Liu Jun , Hong Xiaojing , Wang Lihui , Liang Chao-Ya , Liu Jun-Ping
Published: April 2021

Telomere shortening results in cellular senescence and the regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report that the sub-telomere regions facilitate telomere lengthening by homologous recombination, thereby attenuating senescence in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The telomere protein complex Sir3/4 represses, whereas Rif1 promotes, the sub-telomere Y′ element recombination. Genetic disruption of SIR4 increases Y′ element abundance and rescues telomere-shortening-induced senescence in a Rad51-dependent manner, indicating a sub-telomere regulatory switch in regulating organismal senescence by DNA recombination. Inhibition of the sub-telomere recombination requires Sir4 binding to perinuclear protein Mps3 for telomere perinuclear localization and transcriptional repression of the telomeric repeat-containing RNA TERRA. Furthermore, Sir4 repression of Y′ element recombination is negatively regulated by Rif1 that mediates senescence-evasion induced by Sir4 deficiency. Thus, our results demonstrate a dual opposing control mechanism of sub-telomeric Y′ element recombination by Sir3/4 and Rif1 in the regulation of telomere shortening and cell senescence.
Effect of Hydrocortisone on Angiotensinogen (AGT) Mutation–Causing Autosomal Recessive Renal Tubular Dysgenesis
Authors: Tseng Min-Hua , Huang Shih-Ming , Konrad Martin , Huang Jing-Long , Shaw Steven W. , Tian Ya-Chung , Chueh Ho-Yen , Fan Wen-Lang , Wu Tai-Wei , Ding Jhao-Jhuang , Chiang Ming-Chou , Lin Shih-Hua
Published: April 2021

We has identified a founder homozygous E3_E4 del: 2870 bp deletion + 9 bp insertion in AGT gene encoding angiotensinogen responsible for autosomal recessive renal tubular dysgenesis (ARRTD) with nearly-fatal outcome. High-dose hydrocortisone therapy successfully rescued one patient with an increased serum Angiotensinogen (AGT), Ang I, and Ang II levels. The pathogenesis of ARRTD caused by this AGT mutation and the potential therapeutic effect of hydrocortisone were examined by in vitro functional studies. The expression of this truncated AGT protein was relatively low with a dose-dependent manner. This truncated mutation diminished the interaction between mutant AGT and renin. The truncated AGT also altered the glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-dependent transactivation, indicating that AGT may affect the development of proximal convoluted tubule by alteration of glucocorticoid-dependent transactivation. In hepatocytes, hydrocortisone increased the AGT level by accentuating the stability of mutant AGT and increasing its binding with renin. Therefore, hydrocortisone may exert the therapeutic effect through the enhanced stability and interaction with renin of truncated AGT in patients carrying this AGT mutation.
Antenatal Corticosteroids: Extending the Practice for Late-Preterm and Scheduled Early-Term Deliveries?
Authors: Htun Zeyar T. , Hairston Jacqueline C. , Gyamfi-Bannerman Cynthia , Marasch Jaime , Duarte Ribeiro Ana Paula
Published: April 2021

Respiratory distress in late-preterm and early term infants generally may warrant admission to a special care nursery or an intensive care unit. In particular, respiratory distress syndrome and transient tachypnea of the newborn are the two most common respiratory morbidities. Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) facilitate surfactant production and lung fluid resorption. The use of ACS has been proven to be beneficial for preterm infants delivered at less than 34 weeks’ gestation. Literature suggests that the benefits of giving antenatal corticosteroids may extend to late-preterm and early term infants as well. This review discusses the short-term benefits of ACS administration in reducing respiratory morbidities, in addition to potential long term adverse effects. An update on the current practices of ACS use in pregnancies greater than 34 weeks’ gestation and considerations of possibly extending versus restricting this practice to certain settings will also be provided.
Diffusion Aluminide Coatings for Hot Corrosion and Oxidation Protection of Nickel-Based Superalloys: Effect of Fluoride-Based Activator Salts
Authors: Genova Virgilio , Paglia Laura , Pulci Giovanni , Bartuli Cecilia , Marra Francesco
Published: April 2021

The influence of two different fluoride-based activator salts (NH4F and AlF3) was studied for diffusion aluminide coatings obtained via pack cementation on a Ni-based superalloy (René 108DS). The resistance to oxidation and hot corrosion was assessed as a function of the concentration of activator salts used during the synthesis process by means of pack cementation. Two different concentrations were selected for activator salts (respecting the equimolarity of fluoride in the synthesis) and the obtained diffusion coatings were compared in terms of morphology, thickness and composition, as well as in terms of microstructural evolution after high temperature exposure. Isothermal oxidation tests were conducted at 1050 °C in air for 100 h in a tubular furnace. The oxidation kinetics were evaluated by measuring the weight variation with exposure time. The microstructural evolution induced by the high temperature exposure was investigated by SEM microscopy, EDS analysis and X-ray diffraction. Results showed that the coatings obtained with AlF3 activator salt are thicker than those obtained using NH4F as a consequence of different growth mechanism during pack-cementation. Despite this evidence, it was found that the NH4F coatings show a better oxidation resistance, both in terms of total mass gain and of quality of the microstructure of the thermally grown oxide. On the other hand, coatings produced with high concentration of AlF3 exhibited a better resistance in hot corrosion conditions, showing negligible mass variations after 200 h of high temperature exposure to aggressive NaCl and Na2SO4 salts.
Glycomic-Based Biomarkers for Ovarian Cancer: Advances and Challenges
Authors: Wanyama Francis Mugeni , Blanchard Véronique
Published: April 2021

Ovarian cancer remains one of the most common causes of death among gynecological malignancies afflicting women worldwide. Among the gynecological cancers, cervical and endometrial cancers confer the greatest burden to the developing and the developed world, respectively; however, the overall survival rates for patients with ovarian cancer are worse than the two aforementioned. The majority of patients with ovarian cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage when cancer has metastasized to different body sites and the cure rates, including the five-year survival, are significantly diminished. The delay in diagnosis is due to the absence of or unspecific symptoms at the initial stages of cancer as well as a lack of effective screening and diagnostic biomarkers that can detect cancer at the early stages. This, therefore, provides an imperative to prospect for new biomarkers that will provide early diagnostic strategies allowing timely mitigative interventions. Glycosylation is a protein post-translational modification that is modified in cancer patients. In the current review, we document the state-of-the-art of blood-based glycomic biomarkers for early diagnosis of ovarian cancer and the technologies currently used in this endeavor.
Electrophysiological Correlates of Virtual-Reality Applications in the Rehabilitation Setting: New Perspectives for Stroke Patients
Authors: Arcuri Francesco , Porcaro Camillo , Ciancarelli Irene , Tonin Paolo , Cerasa Antonio
Published: April 2021

Here we reviewed the last evidence on the application of electroencephalography (EEG) as a non-invasive and portable neuroimaging method useful to extract hallmarks of neuroplasticity induced by virtual reality (VR) rehabilitation approaches in stroke patients. In the neurorehabilitation context, VR training has been used extensively to hamper the effects of motor treatments on the stroke’s brain. The concept underlying VR therapy is to improve brain plasticity by engaging users in multisensory training. In this narrative review, we present the key concepts of VR protocols applied to the rehabilitation of stroke patients and critically discuss challenges of EEG signal when applied as endophenotype to extract neurophysiological markers. When VR technology was applied to magnify the effects of treatments on motor recovery, significant EEG-related neural improvements were detected in the primary motor circuit either in terms of power spectral density or as time-frequency domains.
Real-Time Face Mask Detection Method Based on YOLOv3
Authors: Jiang Xinbei , Gao Tianhan , Zhu Zichen , Zhao Yukang
Published: April 2021

The rapid outbreak of COVID-19 has caused serious harm and infected tens of millions of people worldwide. Since there is no specific treatment, wearing masks has become an effective method to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and is required in most public areas, which has also led to a growing demand for automatic real-time mask detection services to replace manual reminding. However, few studies on face mask detection are being conducted. It is urgent to improve the performance of mask detectors. In this paper, we proposed the Properly Wearing Masked Face Detection Dataset (PWMFD), which included 9205 images of mask wearing samples with three categories. Moreover, we proposed Squeeze and Excitation (SE)-YOLOv3, a mask detector with relatively balanced effectiveness and efficiency. We integrated the attention mechanism by introducing the SE block into Darknet53 to obtain the relationships among channels so that the network can focus more on the important feature. We adopted GIoUloss, which can better describe the spatial difference between predicted and ground truth boxes to improve the stability of bounding box regression. Focal loss was utilized for solving the extreme foreground-background class imbalance. Besides, we performed corresponding image augmentation techniques to further improve the robustness of the model on the specific task. Experimental results showed that SE-YOLOv3 outperformed YOLOv3 and other state-of-the-art detectors on PWMFD and achieved a higher 8.6% mAP compared to YOLOv3 while having a comparable detection speed.
High-Frequency Instabilities of a Boussinesq–Whitham System: A Perturbative Approach
Authors: Creedon Ryan , Deconinck Bernard , Trichtchenko Olga
Published: April 2021

We analyze the spectral stability of small-amplitude, periodic, traveling-wave solutions of a Boussinesq–Whitham system. These solutions are shown numerically to exhibit high-frequency instabilities when subject to bounded perturbations on the real line. We use a formal perturbation method to estimate the asymptotic behavior of these instabilities in the small-amplitude regime. We compare these asymptotic results with direct numerical computations.
Tailor-Made Immunochromatographic Test for the Detection of Multiple 17α-Methylated Anabolics in Dietary Supplements
Authors: Holubová Barbora , Kubešová Pavla , Huml Lukáš , Vlach Miroslav , Lapčík Oldřich , Jurášek Michal , Fukal Ladislav
Published: April 2021

In recent years, the undeclared presence of various anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) in commercial supplements has been confirmed. This fact can be a potential threat to all athletes using these supplements, and therefore, there is of increased interest in the implementation of rapid methods for the detection of AAS. The presented study describes the development of an immunostrip test for the detection of multiple 17α-methylated AAS based on direct and indirect competitive principle using gold nanoparticles as a label. As a capture reagent on test lines conjugated stanazolol to rabbit serum albumin (RSA/ST-3) was used, the intensity of color formed in the test line of the AAS-positive sample was visually distinguishable from that of negative sample within 10 min. The optimized closed direct and indirect format of the test provided a similar visual detection limit (0.7 and 0.9 ng/mL, respectively). The most commonly orally abused AAS (17α-methyltestosterone, methandienone, methyldihydrotestosterone, oxandrolone and oxymetholone) showed a strong cross-reaction. Developed immunostrips were successfully applied to analysis of artificially contaminated dietary supplements with 17α-methylated AASs. The developed immunostrips offer potential as a useful user-friendly method for capturing suspicious dietary supplement samples with different contents of AAS at levels far below the usually used concentrations of AAS.
Carbon Dioxide Pretreatment and Cold Storage Synergistically Delay Tomato Ripening through Transcriptional Change in Ethylene-Related Genes and Respiration-Related Metabolism
Authors: Park Me-Hea , Kim Sun-Ju , Lee Jung-Soo , Hong Yoon-Pyo , Chae Seung-Hun , Ku Kang-Mo
Published: April 2021

The effects of CO2 pretreatment before cold storage on tomato quality were investigated using physicochemical and transcriptome changes. Harvested tomatoes were treated with 30% or 60% CO2 for 3 h before storage at 4 °C for 14 d (cold storage), followed by transfer to 20 °C for 8 d (ambient conditions). The CO2-treated fruits were firmer with a better appearance than untreated fruits, even after being transferred from 4 °C storage to 20 °C for 8 d. CO2 pretreatment coupled with cold storage synergistically delayed tomato ripening by reducing respiration and lowering lycopene production. The tomatoes treated with 30% and 60% CO2 had fewer pits than untreated fruits after cold storage, even after being transferred to ambient conditions. Moreover, the 60% CO2 treatment significantly suppressed the decay rate. Transcriptome and metabolome functional enrichment analyses commonly showed the involvement of CO2-responsive genes or metabolites in sucrose and starch metabolism, as well as biosynthesis of secondary metabolites—in particular, glycolysis reduction. The most frequently detected domain was the ethylene-responsive factor. These results indicate that altered ethylene biosynthesis and ethylene signaling, via ethylene-responsive transcription factors and respiration-related pathways, appear to control CO2-induced fruit quality.
Fish Oil Microcapsules as Omega-3 Enrichment Strategy: Changes in Volatile Compounds of Meat Products during Storage and Cooking
Authors: Solomando Juan Carlos , Antequera Teresa , Martín Alberto , Perez-Palacios Trinidad
Published: April 2021

This work aims to analyze the effects of processing and storage on the volatile compound profile of different meat products enriched in ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Monolayered (Mo) and multilayered (Mu) microcapsules of fish oil were tested. The profiles of volatile compounds were analyzed by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The enrichment with Mo significantly increases the abundance of volatile compounds from lipid oxidation and markers of ω-3 PUFA oxidation, which may be related to the multilayer structure of chitosan–maltodextrin in Mu that achieves greater fish oil protection than the simple coating of maltodextrin in Mo. Besides, the changes in volatile compounds during storage depends on the type of fish oil microcapsules and the meat products, having an increased abundance of ω-3 PUFA oxidation markers in dry-cured sausages added with Mo. However, the enrichment of these meat products with Mo and Mu does not modify the usual variations in the volatile compound profile during culinary cooking. Thus, the addition of multilayer fish oil microcapsules may be a suitable option for enrichment of meat products in ω-3 PUFA without modifying the abundance of volatile compounds, including oxidation markers.
Comparison of Morphological and Physicochemical Properties of a Floury Rice Variety upon Pre-Harvest Sprouting
Authors: Han Chae-Min , Shin Jong-Hee , Kwon Jung-Bae , Kim Jong-Soo , Won Jong-Gun , Kim Jong-Sang
Published: April 2021

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) severely reduces rice grain yield, significantly affects grain quality, and leads to substantial economic loss. In this study, we aimed to characterize the physicochemical properties and processing quality of the Garumi 2 flour rice variety under PHS conditions and compare them with those of the Seolgaeng, Hangaru, Shingil, and Ilpum rice varieties and the Keumkang wheat variety. Analysis of the molecular structure of starch revealed uniform starch granules, increased proportions of short-chain amylopectin in DP 6–12 (51.0–55.3%), and enhanced crystallinity (30.7–35.7%) in rice varieties for flour compared with the Ilpum cooking rice variety. PHS significantly altered the starch structure and gelatinization properties of Garumi 2. It also caused surface pitting and roughness in Garumi 2 starch granules and decreased their crystallinity. Collectively, the findings of this study provide important novel insights into the effects of PHS on the physicochemical properties of Garumi 2 floury rice for flour.
Guava (Psidium guajava L.) Leaves: Nutritional Composition, Phytochemical Profile, and Health-Promoting Bioactivities
Authors: Kumar Manoj , Tomar Maharishi , Amarowicz Ryszard , Saurabh Vivek , Nair M. Sneha , Maheshwari Chirag , Sasi Minnu , Prajapati Uma , Hasan Muzaffar , Singh Surinder , Changan Sushil , Prajapat Rakesh Kumar , Berwal Mukesh K. , Satankar Varsha
Published: April 2021

Psidium guajava (L.) belongs to the Myrtaceae family and it is an important fruit in tropical areas like India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and South America. The leaves of the guava plant have been studied for their health benefits which are attributed to their plethora of phytochemicals, such as quercetin, avicularin, apigenin, guaijaverin, kaempferol, hyperin, myricetin, gallic acid, catechin, epicatechin, chlorogenic acid, epigallocatechin gallate, and caffeic acid. Extracts from guava leaves (GLs) have been studied for their biological activities, including anticancer, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antidiarrheal, antimicrobial, lipid-lowering, and hepatoprotection activities. In the present review, we comprehensively present the nutritional profile and phytochemical profile of GLs. Further, various bioactivities of the GL extracts are also discussed critically. Considering the phytochemical profile and beneficial effects of GLs, they can potentially be used as an ingredient in the development of functional foods and pharmaceuticals. More detailed clinical trials need to be conducted to establish the efficacy of the GL extracts.
Socio-Epidemiological Factors with Negative Impact on Infant Morbidity, Mortality Rates, and the Occurrence of Birth Defects
Authors: Ţarcă Elena , Roșu Solange Tamara , Cojocaru Elena , Trandafir Laura , Luca Alina Costina , Rusu Daniela , Ţarcă Viorel
Published: April 2021

In the last 30–40 years, developed countries in particular, but also developing ones, have seen an increase in life expectancy and a decrease in infant mortality and morbidity rates. These factors are due to an increase in living standards, a decrease in differences between social classes, the increased accessibility of education to women, and the implementation of some public health measures. When certain basic social and medical measures are implemented on a large scale, their benefits are first reflected in lower infant mortality rates, and only in the second stage are such benefits reflected in decreasing neonatal mortality rates and a smaller number of stillbirths. In this study, we review the literature on these factors. We extrapolate and compare this literature with data recorded in our country in the hopes of finding the reasons why Romania ranks first in the European Union in terms of infant mortality rates. We found that lowering the infant morbidity, mortality, and congenital malformation rates is an absolute priority in Romania, which requires the involvement of decision makers in taking effective measures regarding food supplementation or enhancement using folic acid, adequate counselling of couples, monitoring of all pregnancies, setting antenatal diagnosis, implementing optimal delivery management and therapeutic approaches to problematic pregnancies in other hospitals and by involving the population in health education, avoiding occupational or in-home exposure to toxic factors, avoiding drug use, and implementing disease and infection prevention measures for pregnant women.
Dental Care Services for Older Adults in Hong Kong—A Shared Funding, Administration, and Provision Mode
Authors: Yang Stella Xinchen , Leung Katherine Chiu Man , Jiang Chloe Meng , Lo Edward Chin Man
Published: April 2021

Hong Kong has a large and growing population of older adults but their oral health conditions and utilization of dental services are far from optimal. To reduce the financial barriers and to improve the accessibility of dental care services to the older adults, a number of programmes adopting an innovative shared funding, administration, and provision mode have recently been implemented. In this review, an online search on the Hong Kong government websites and the electronic medical literature databases was conducted using keywords such as “dental care,” “dental service,” and “Hong Kong.” Dental care services for older adults in Hong Kong were identified. These programmes include government-funded outreach dental care service provided by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), provision of dentures and related treatments by private and NGO dentists supported by the Community Care Fund, and government healthcare vouchers for private healthcare, including dental, services. This paper presents the details of the operation of these programmes and the initial findings. There is indirect evidence that these public-funded dental care service programmes have gained acceptance and support from the government, the service recipients, and the providers. The experience gained is of great value for the development of appropriate dental care services for the older adults in Hong Kong and worldwide.
Long-Term Dietary and Physical Activity Interventions in the School Setting and Their Effects on BMI in Children Aged 6–12 Years: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials
Authors: Cerrato-Carretero Purificación , Roncero-Martín Raúl , Pedrera-Zamorano Juan D. , López-Espuela Fidel , Puerto-Parejo Luis M. , Sánchez-Fernández Antonio , Canal-Macías María Luz , Moran Jose M. , Lavado-García Jesus M.
Published: April 2021

Preventive actions and potential obesity interventions for children are mainly researched throughout the school period, either as part of the school curricula or after regular school hours, via interventions mostly lasting less than 12 months. We aimed to perform a meta-analysis on randomized controlled clinical trials to evaluate the evidence of the efficacy of long-term school-based interventions in the management of childhood obesity in terms of BMI from a dietary and physical activity-based approach. Eleven randomized controlled clinical trials were examined using the random effects model, and the results showed that there were no significant effects associated with physical activity + nutrition intervention in school children aged 6–12 years, with a pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) (95% CI) of −0.00 (−0.05, 0.04). No effects were observed after subgroup analysis based on the intervention length. The findings from our study indicate that long-term school-based interventions on physical activity and dietary habits received by children aged 6–12 years seem to have no effect on BMI. However, the promotion of such interventions should not be discouraged, as they promote additional positive health outcomes for other domains of children’s health.
Project Report on Telemedicine: What We Learned about the Administration and Development of a Binational Digital Infrastructure Project
Authors: Hosten Norbert , Rosenberg Britta , Kram Andrzej
Published: April 2021

This article describes the development of a German–Polish cross-border telemedicine project. Funded by the European Union Interreg Program, a cooperation between several German and Polish hospitals was developed over the course of 16 years, starting in 2002. Subprojects, governance and outcomes are described, and facilitators and barriers are identified. These points are reviewed with regard to their influence on medical, technical, administrative and medico-legal realisation.
Safety and Efficacy of Vaccines during COVID-19 Pandemic in Patients Treated with Biological Drugs in a Dermatological Setting
Authors: Simonetti Oriana , Rizzetto Giulio , Molinelli Elisa , Diotallevi Federico , Radi Giulia , Cirioni Oscar , D’Errico Marcello Mario , Offidani Annamaria
Published: April 2021

The BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 vaccines, consisting of mRNA, have recently become available. The absolute novelty of these vaccines introduces questions about their safety and efficacy, especially in patients who are treated with biological drugs in dermatology. The aim of our review was to provide a broad overview of the current use of all available vaccinations in concomitance with biological therapy and to suggest indications for the new mRNA Covid-19 vaccines. We conducted a narrative review of the literature regarding the indications and safety of the various types of vaccines currently available in dermatological patients treated with biological therapy. The safety and efficacy of administering inactivated vaccines in patients undergoing biological therapy with inhibitors of TNF-α, IL-17, IL-12/23, and IL-4/13 was confirmed. Inactivated vaccines can be administered during therapy with inhibitors of IL-23 and IgE, taking into account that the level of evidence is lower due to the lack of specific studies. Live attenuated vaccines were contraindicated in concomitance with all biological therapies considered, except omalizumab. According to this evidence, we assume that there are currently no contraindications to the administration of the new Covid-19 BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 vaccines during biological therapy with inhibitors of TNF-α, IL-17, IL-12/23, IL-23, and IL-4/13, since these vaccines are comparable to inactivated ones. For patients with chronic urticaria or allergic asthma treated with omalizumab, we currently recommend caution in using the mRNA Covid-19 vaccines (30 min observation). The only contraindications were a previous history of hypersensitivity to the Covid-19 vaccines themself or to their excipients. In conclusion, further randomized clinical trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy of the antibody response in these patients.
Multi-Task Learning-Based Task Scheduling Switcher for a Resource-Constrained IoT System
Authors: Bin Kamilin Mohd Hafizuddin , Bin Ahmadon Mohd Anuaruddin , Yamaguchi Shingo
Published: April 2021

In this journal, we proposed a novel method of using multi-task learning to switch the scheduling algorithm. With multi-task learning to change the scheduling algorithm inside the scheduling framework, the scheduling framework can create a scheduler with the best task execution optimization under the computation deadline. With the changing number of tasks, the number of types of resources taken, and computation deadline, it is hard for a single scheduling algorithm to achieve the best scheduler optimization while avoiding the worst-case time complexity in a resource-constrained Internet of Things (IoT) system due to the trade-off in computation time and optimization in each scheduling algorithm. Furthermore, different hardware specifications affect the scheduler computation time differently, making it hard to rely on Big-O complexity as a reference. With multi-task learning to profile the scheduling algorithm behavior on the hardware used to compute the scheduler, we can identify the best scheduling algorithm. Our benchmark result shows that it can achieve an average of 93.68% of accuracy in meeting the computation deadline, along with 23.41% of average optimization. Based on the results, our method can improve the scheduling of the resource-constrained IoT system.