bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gaussian Mixture Models for Detecting Sleep Apnea Events Using Single Oronasal Airflow Record
Authors: ElMoaqet Hisham , Kim Jungyoon , Tilbury Dawn , Ramachandran Satya Krishna , Ryalat Mutaz , Chu Chao-Hsien
Published: November 2020

Sleep apnea is a common sleep-related disorder that significantly affects the population. It is characterized by repeated breathing interruption during sleep. Such events can induce hypoxia, which is a risk factor for multiple cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Polysomnography, the gold standard, is expensive, inaccessible, uncomfortable and an expert technician is needed to score sleep-related events. To address these limitations, many previous studies have proposed and implemented automatic scoring processes based on fewer sensors and machine learning classification algorithms. However, alternative device technologies developed for both home and hospital still have limited diagnostic accuracy for detecting apnea events even though many of the previous investigational algorithms are based on multiple physiological channel inputs. In this paper, we propose a new probabilistic algorithm based on (only) oronasal respiration signal for automated detection of apnea events during sleep. The proposed model leverages AASM recommendations for characterizing apnea events with respect to dynamic changes in the local respiratory airflow baseline. Unlike classical threshold-based classification models, we use a Gaussian mixture probability model for detecting sleep apnea based on the posterior probabilities of the respective events. Our results show significant improvement in the ability to detect sleep apnea events compared to a rule-based classifier that uses the same classification features and also compared to two previously published studies for automated apnea detection using the same respiratory flow signal. We use 96 sleep patients with different apnea severity levels as reflected by their Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) levels. The performance was not only analyzed over obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) but also over other types of sleep apnea events including central and mixed sleep apnea (CSA, MSA). Also the performance was comprehensively analyzed and evaluated over patients with varying disease severity conditions, where it achieved an overall performance of TPR=88.5%, TNR=82.5%, and AUC=86.7%. The proposed approach contributes a new probabilistic framework for detecting sleep apnea events using a single airflow record with an improved capability to generalize over different apnea severity conditions
Compact Spatial Pyramid Pooling Deep Convolutional Neural Network Based Hand Gestures Decoder
Authors: Ashiquzzaman Akm , Lee Hyunmin , Kim Kwangki , Kim Hye-Young , Park Jaehyung , Kim Jinsul
Published: November 2020

Current deep learning convolutional neural network (DCNN) -based hand gesture detectors with acute precision demand incredibly high-performance computing power. Although DCNN-based detectors are capable of accurate classification, the sheer computing power needed for this form of classification makes it very difficult to run with lower computational power in remote environments. Moreover, classical DCNN architectures have a fixed number of input dimensions, which forces preprocessing, thus making it impractical for real-world applications. In this research, a practical DCNN with an optimized architecture is proposed with DCNN filter/node pruning, and spatial pyramid pooling (SPP) is introduced in order to make the model input dimension-invariant. This compact SPP-DCNN module uses 65% fewer parameters than traditional classifiers and operates almost 3× faster than classical models. Moreover, the new improved proposed algorithm, which decodes gestures or sign language finger-spelling from videos, gave a benchmark highest accuracy with the fastest processing speed. This proposed method paves the way for various practical and applied hand gesture input-based human-computer interaction (HCI) applications.
Antibacterial Effect of an Active Absorbent Pad on Fresh Beef Meat during the Shelf-Life: Preliminary Results
Authors: Castrica Marta , Miraglia Dino , Menchetti Laura , Branciari Raffaella , Ranucci David , Balzaretti Claudia M.
Published: November 2020

Nowadays, active packaging plays a key role in the food sector, improving the safety and quality of food and, at the same time, extending its shelf life. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy that an active absorbent pad has in limiting microbial growth during the shelf-life of fresh bovine meat. The experiment was carried out on 50 slices of eye of round (semitendinosus muscle) of an adult bovine, packaged in two different packs, one containing the conventional pad (C: Control group) and the other containing the active pad (PAD group). The analyses, performed at 0, 3 and 6 days of refrigeration storage (4 °C), concerned the pH, color, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN) and microbiological parameters. The packaging with the active pad had no noticeable effect on the pH, but with regard to the color coordinates, the meat at day 6 was lighter than the control group (p < 0.01). The innovative pad was able to delay the growth of all the microorganisms investigated, but only at day 3 (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001) compared to the control group. Furthermore, the TVBN values were lower than the control ones at both the third (p = 0.036) and sixth (p < 0.01) day of analysis. All samples were negative for coagulase positive staphylococci, L. monocytogenes, and Salmonella spp. In conclusion, following a preliminary examination, the packaging with the active pad was potentially effective in delaying microbial growth and it positively affected the color and TVBN of beef meat.
A Crack Characterization Method for Reinforced Concrete Beams Using an Acoustic Emission Technique
Authors: Habib Md Arafat , Kim Cheol Hong , Kim Jong-Myon
Published: November 2020

This study aims at characterizing crack types for reinforced concrete beams through the use of acoustic emission burst (AEB) features. The study includes developing a solid crack assessment indicator (CAI) accompanied by a crack detection method using the k-nearest neighbor (k-NN) algorithm that can successfully distinguish among the normal condition, micro-cracks, and macro-cracks (fractures) of concrete beam test specimens. Reinforced concrete (RC) beams undergo a three-point bending test, from which acoustic emission (AE) signals are recorded for further processing. From the recorded AE signals, crucial AEB features like the rise time, decay time, peak amplitude, AE energy, AE counts, etc. are extracted. The Boruta-Mahalanobis system (BMS) is utilized to fuse these features to provide us with a comprehensive and reliable CAI. The noise from the CAI is removed using the cumulative sum (CUMSUM) algorithm, and the final CAI plot is used to classify the three different conditions: normal, micro-cracks, and fractures using k-NN. The proposed method not only for the first time uses the entire time history to create a reliable CAI, but it can meticulously distinguish between micro-cracks and fractures, which previous works failed to deal with in a precise manner. Results obtained from the experiments display that the CAI built upon AEB features and BMS can detect cracks occurring in early stages, along with the gradually increasing damage in the beams. It also soundly outperforms the existing method by achieving an accuracy (classification) of 99.61%, which is 17.61% higher than the previously conducted research.
Stability Control for Vehicle Dynamic Management with Multi-Objective Fuzzy Continuous Damping Control
Authors: Zhang Xu , Song Chuanxue , Song Shixin , Cao Jingwei , Peng Silun , Qi Chunyang , Xiao Feng , Wang Da
Published: November 2020

Vehicle dynamic management (VDM) is a vehicle chassis integrated control system based on electronic stability program (ESP) and continuous damping control (CDC) that has been developed in recent years. In this work, the ideal yaw angle rate and sideslip angle of the mass center are calculated deriving an ideal monorail model with two degrees of freedom. Then, a direct yaw moment proportional-integral-differential control strategy for ESP is proposed as the foundation of VDM. In addition, a multi-objective fuzzy continuous damping control (MFCDC) is proposed to achieve comfort, handling stability, and rollover prevention. The effect of the MFCDC strategy is analyzed and verified through a sine wave steer input test, double line change test, and fishhook test. The results indicate that MFCDC-ESP has a significant advantage in preventing rollover. MFCDC-ESP can maintain the optimized distribution of damping force through its own compensation under possible instability and predict the critical stable state to some extent. MFCDC-ESP exhibits strong real-time sensitivity to the control state of the damping force of each wheel. Hence, it can ensure the comfort of passengers under good driving conditions and exert strong adaptability and control effects under extreme working conditions.
Droplet Digital PCR Analysis of Liquid Biopsy Samples Unveils the Diagnostic Role of hsa-miR-133a-3p and hsa-miR-375-3p in Oral Cancer
Authors: Crimi Salvatore , Falzone Luca , Gattuso Giuseppe , Grillo Caterina Maria , Candido Saverio , Bianchi Alberto , Libra Massimo
Published: November 2020

Despite the availability of screening programs, oral cancer deaths are increasing due to the lack of diagnostic biomarkers leading to late diagnosis and a poor prognosis. Therefore, there is an urgent need to discover novel effective biomarkers for this tumor. On these bases, the aim of this study was to validate the diagnostic potential of microRNAs (miRNAs) through the analysis of liquid biopsy samples obtained from ten oral cancer patients and ten healthy controls. The expression of four selected miRNAs was evaluated by using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) in a pilot cohort of ten oral cancer patients and ten healthy donors. Bioinformatics analyses were performed to assess the functional role of these miRNAs. The expression levels of the predicted down-regulated hsa-miR-133a-3p and hsa-miR-375-3p were significantly reduced in oral cancer patients compared to normal individuals while no significant results were obtained for the up-regulated hsa-miR-503-5p and hsa-miR-196a-5p. ROC analysis confirmed the high sensitivity and specificity of hsa-miR-375-3p and hsa-miR-133a-3p. Therefore, both miRNAs are significantly down-regulated in cancer patients and can be used as biomarkers for the early diagnosis of oral cancer. The analysis of circulating miRNAs in a larger series of patients is mandatory to confirm the results obtained in this pilot study.
Photoacoustic and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Hybrid Manganese Dioxide-Coated Ultra-Small NaGdF4 Nanoparticles for Spatiotemporal Modulation of Hypoxia in Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Rich Laurie J. , Damasco Jossana A. , Bulmahn Julia C. , Kutscher Hilliard L. , Prasad Paras N. , Seshadri Mukund
Published: November 2020

There is widespread interest in developing agents to modify tumor hypoxia in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Here, we report on the synthesis, characterization, and potential utility of ultra-small NaYF4:Nd3+/NaGdF4 nanocrystals coated with manganese dioxide (usNP-MnO2) for spatiotemporal modulation of hypoxia in HNSCC. Using a dual modality imaging approach, we first visualized the release of Mn2+ using T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and modulation of oxygen saturation (%sO2) using photoacoustic imaging (PAI) in vascular channel phantoms. Combined MRI and PAI performed in patient-derived HNSCC xenografts following local and systemic delivery of the hybrid nanoparticles enabled mapping of intratumoral nanoparticle accumulation (based on T1 contrast enhancement) and improvement in tumor oxygenation (increased %sO2) within the tumor microenvironment. Our results demonstrate the potential of hybrid nanoparticles for the modulation of tumor hypoxia in head and neck cancer. Our findings also highlight the potential of combined MRI-PAI for simultaneous mapping nanoparticle delivery and oxygenation changes in tumors. Such imaging methods could be valuable in the precise selection of patients that are likely to benefit from hypoxia-modifying nanotherapies.
Orally Administered 5-aminolevulinic Acid for Isolation and Characterization of Circulating Tumor-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Glioblastoma Patients
Authors: Maas Sybren L. N. , van Solinge Thomas S. , Schnoor Rosalie , Yekula Anudeep , Senders Joeky T. , de Vrij Jeroen , Robe Pierre , Carter Bob S. , Balaj Leonora , Arkesteijn Ger J. A. , Nolte-’t Hoen Esther N. M. , Broekman Marike L. D.
Published: November 2020

Background: In glioblastoma (GB), tissue is required for accurate diagnosis and subtyping. Tissue can be obtained through resection or (stereotactic) biopsy, but these invasive procedures provide risks for patients. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small, cell-derived vesicles that contain miRNAs, proteins, and lipids, and possible candidates for liquid biopsies. GB-derived EVs can be found in the blood of patients, but it is difficult to distinguish them from circulating non-tumor EVs. 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is orally administered to GB patients to facilitate tumor visualization and maximal resection, as it is metabolized to fluorescent protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) that accumulates in glioma cells. In this study, we assessed whether PpIX accumulates in GB-derived EVs and whether these EVs could be isolated and characterized to enable a liquid biopsy in GB. Methods: EVs were isolated from the conditioned media of U87 cells treated with 5-ALA by differential ultracentrifugation. Blood samples were collected and processed from healthy controls and patients undergoing 5-ALA guided surgery for GB. High-resolution flow cytometry (hFC) enabled detection and sorting of PpIX-positive EVs, which were subsequently analyzed by digital droplet PCR (ddPCR). Results: PpIX-positive EVs could be detected in conditioned cell culture media as well as in patient samples after administration of 5-ALA. By using hFC, we could sort the PpIX-positive EVs for further analysis with ddPCR, which indicated the presence of EVs and GB-associated miRNAs. Conclusion: GB-derived EVs can be isolated from the plasma of GB patients by using 5-ALA induced fluorescence. Although many challenges remain, our findings show new possibilities for the development of blood-based liquid biopsies in GB patients.
Cell Biology of Viral Infections
Authors: Lozach Pierre-Yves
Published: November 2020

Viruses exhibit an elegant simplicity, as they are so basic, but so frightening. Although only a few are life threatening, they have substantial implications for human health and the economy, as exemplified by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Viruses are rather small infectious agents found in all types of life forms, from animals and plants to prokaryotes and archaebacteria. They are obligate intracellular parasites, and as such, subvert many molecular and cellular processes of the host cell to ensure their own replication, amplification, and subsequent spread. This special issue addresses the cell biology of viral infections based on a collection of original research articles, communications, opinions, and reviews on various aspects of virus-host cell interactions. Together, these articles not only provide a glance into the latest research on the cell biology of viral infections, but also include novel technological developments.
Angiotensin II-Induced Cardiovascular Fibrosis Is Attenuated by NO-Sensitive Guanylyl Cyclase1
Authors: Broekmans Kathrin , Giesen Jan , Menges Lukas , Koesling Doris , Russwurm Michael
Published: November 2020

In the NO/cGMP signaling cascade, relevant in the cardiovascular system, two NO-sensitive guanylyl cyclase (NO-GC) isoforms are responsible for NO-dependent cGMP generation. Here, the impact of the major NO-GC isoform, NO-GC1, on fibrosis development in the cardiovascular system was studied in NO-GC1-deficient mice treated with AngiotensinII (AngII), known to induce vascular and cardiac remodeling. Morphometric analysis of NO-GC1 KO’s aortae demonstrated an enhanced increase of perivascular area after AngII treatment accompanied by a higher aortic collagen1 mRNA content. Increased perivascular fibrosis also occurred in cardiac vessels of AngII-treated NO-GC1 KO mice. In line, AngII-induced interstitial fibrosis was 32% more pronounced in NO-GC1 KO than in WT myocardia associated with a higher cardiac Col1 and other fibrotic marker protein content. In sum, increased perivascular and cardiac interstitial fibrosis together with the enhanced collagen1 mRNA content in AngII-treated NO-GC1-deficient mice represent an exciting manifestation of antifibrotic properties of cGMP formed by NO-GC1, a finding with great pharmaco-therapeutic implications.
Diagnostic Performance of Biomarkers Urinary KIM-1 and YKL-40 for Early Diabetic Nephropathy, in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kapoula Georgia V. , Kontou Panagiota I. , Bagos Pantelis G.
Published: November 2020

There is a lack of prediction markers for early diabetic nephropathy (DN) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the performance of two promising biomarkers, urinary kidney injury molecule 1 (uKIM-1) and Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (YKL-40) in the diagnosis of early diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients. A comprehensive search was performed on PubMed by two reviewers until May 2020. For each study, a 2 × 2 contingency table was formulated. Sensitivity, specificity, and other estimates of accuracy were calculated using the bivariate random effects model. The hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curve hsROC) was used to pool data and evaluate the area under curve (AUC). The sources of heterogeneity were explored by sensitivity analysis. Publication bias was assessed using Deek’s test. The meta-analysis enrolled 14 studies involving 598 healthy individuals, 765 T2DM patients with normoalbuminuria, 549 T2DM patients with microalbuminuria, and 551 T2DM patients with macroalbuminuria, in total for both biomarkers. The AUC of uKIM-1 and YKL-40 for T2DM patients with normoalbuminuria, was 0.85 (95%CI; 0.82–0.88) and 0.91 (95%CI; 0.88–0.93), respectively. The results of this meta-analysis suggest that both uKIM-1 and YKL-40 can be considered as valuable biomarkers for the early detection of DN in T2DM patients with the latter showing slightly better performance than the former.
Complications of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Extrahepatic Organs
Authors: Tomeno Wataru , Imajo Kento , Takayanagi Takuya , Ebisawa Yu , Seita Kosuke , Takimoto Tsuneyuki , Honda Kanami , Kobayashi Takashi , Nogami Asako , Kato Takayuki , Honda Yasushi , Kessoku Takaomi , Ogawa Yuji , Kirikoshi Hiroyuki , Sakamoto Yasunari , Yoneda Masato , Saito Satoru , Nakajima Atsushi
Published: November 2020

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now recognized as the most common chronic liver disease worldwide, along with the concurrent epidemics of metabolic syndrome and obesity. Patients with NAFLD have increased risks of end-stage liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver-related mortality. However, the largest cause of death among patients with NAFLD is cardiovascular disease followed by extrahepatic malignancies, whereas liver-related mortality is only the third cause of death. Extrahepatic complications of NAFLD include chronic kidney disease, extrahepatic malignancies (such as colorectal cancer), psychological dysfunction, gastroesophageal reflux disease, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, periodontitis, hypothyroidism, growth hormone deficiency, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. The objective of this narrative review was to summarize recent evidences about extrahepatic complications of NAFLD, with focus on the prevalent/incident risk of such diseases in patients with NAFLD. To date, an appropriate screening method for extrahepatic complications has not yet been determined. Collaborative care with respective experts seems to be necessary for patient management because extrahepatic complications can occur across multiple organs. Further studies are needed to reveal risk profiles at baseline and to determine an appropriate screening method for extrahepatic diseases.
Assessment of Therapeutic Response in Pyogenic Vertebral Osteomyelitis Using 18F-FDG-PET/MRI
Authors: Jeon Ikchan , Kong Eunjung , Kim Sang Woo , Cho Ihn Ho , Hong Cheol Pyo
Published: November 2020

Purpose: There is still no definite method to determine therapeutic response in pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis (PVO). We analyzed the value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) for assessing therapeutic response in PVO. Methods: This retrospective study included 53 patients (32 men and 21 women) with lumbar PVO. The results of clinical assessments for therapeutic response were divided into “Cured” (group C) and “Non-cured” (group NC). The differences in clinical and radiological features of PVO lesions between the two groups were analyzed using clinical data and simultaneous FDG-PET/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) obtained at each clinical assessment. Results: Clinical assessments and FDG-PET/MRIs were performed at 41.89 ± 16.08 (21–91) days of parenteral antibiotic therapy. There were 39 patients in group C and 14 in group NC. Diagnostic accuracies (DAs) of FDG uptake intensity-based interpretation and C-reactive protein (CRP) for residual PVO were as follows (p < 0.01): 84.9% of the maximum standardized uptake value of PVO lesion (PvoSUVmax), 86.8% of ΔPvoSUVmax−NmlSUVmax (SUVmax of normal vertebra), 86.8% of ΔPvoSUVmax−NmlSUVmean (SUVmean of normal vertebra), and 71.7% of CRP. DAs were better (92.5–94.3%) when applying FDG uptake intensity-based interpretation and CRP together. Under the FDG uptake distribution-based interpretation, FDG uptake was significantly limited to intervertebral structures in group C (p = 0.026). Conclusion: The interpretations of intensity and distribution of FDG uptake on FDG-PET are useful for detecting residual PVO in the assessment of therapeutic response of PVO. The combination of FDG-PET and CRP is expected to increase DA for detecting residual PVO.
An Array-Type System Applied to Complex Surfaces in Nuclear Pollution Detection
Authors: Chu Hongyu , Chang Zhiyuan , Shao Yanhua , Zhang Xiaoqiang , Lloret Jaime
Published: November 2020

Radioactive pollution detection plays a key role in nuclear technology application. In this paper, an array-type of nuclear pollution detection system is designed for the detection scenario of complex surfaces. Firstly, to get the three-dimensional point cloud of the surface, a complex surface was modeled based on the geometric ranging model of a two-dimensional laser profilometer and the motion model of a two-degree-of-freedom displacement platform. Secondly, an ‘S’ type scanning scheme of profilometer was developed to overcome the problem of limited scanning area of the profilometer. Thirdly, Euclidean distance weighted median filtering was used to solve the impulsive noise that may occur during the point cloud acquisition process. Finally, the 3D point cloud information of the complex surface was used for controlling the movement of the 6 × 6 array channel pollution detector to complete the α and β particle measurement tasks. A mechanical platform was constructed for experiments, the results are as follows. The working range of this system is from −5 cm to 5 cm in elevation difference of surfaces, and the accuracy is 12 μm in surface height measuring. It takes 26.13 s to perform a detection task including surface scanning and the detector moving, and scanning accuracy is 0.35 × 0.35 mm2. The maximum control error of the surface contamination detector is 0.4 mm. Specifically, the detection area of the system reaches 240 × 240 mm2. The results show that the system acquires three-dimensional terrain information, and realizes control over the movement of the pollution detector accurately and then completes the detection of α and β particles effectively.
Modelling, Investigation, and Feasibility of Stratospheric Broadband mm-Wave 5G and beyond Networks for Aviation
Authors: Albagory Yasser
Published: November 2020

Recent advances in communication systems provide an enabling technology for aircraft connection and safety. A promising communication system that uses stratospheric platforms provides an efficient and improved communication performance and can be an efficient solution for establishing communication networks for aviation. Therefore, in this paper, a novel communication network based on stratospheric basestation (SB) is proposed to provide fifth-generation (5G) and beyond services for civil aviation aircrafts to improve global flight connectivity, control, and safety. The proposed aircraft–SB network is demonstrated, and its coverage geometry is modelled and investigated. As the 5G and beyond networks use millimeter wave frequency bands (mm-wave), the performance of different atmospheric losses including gaseous absorption, rain, and fog/cloud is analyzed to investigate the system’s practical feasibility at different 5G proposed frequencies ranging from 3.5 to 66 GHz through a flight model including three distinct stages which are takeoff/landing, climbing/descending, and cruise stages. Also, handover scenarios in the proposed aircraft–SB network are investigated and analyzed at the proposed 5G frequencies. In addition, the aircraft–SB 5G network is compared to the most recent low-Earth orbit (LEO) Internet satellites where the proposed system is expected to provide low latency, less atmospheric attenuation, longer aircraft–SB link duration, and very low handover rate.
Smart Grid Virtualisation for Grid-Based Routing
Authors: Veichtlbauer Armin , Heinisch Alexander , von Tüllenburg Ferdinand von , Dorfinger Peter , Langthaler Oliver , Pache Ulrich
Published: November 2020

Due to changed power consumption patterns, technological advance and deregulation, the appearance of the power grid in the low and medium voltage segment has changed. The spread of heating and cooling with electrical energy and an increase of electric vehicles as well as the broad rollout of photovoltaic systems has a major impact on the peak power demand of modern households and the volatility smart grids have to face. Thus, besides the load impact of the growing population of electric vehicles, modern households are not only consumers of electrical power, but also power producers, so called prosumers. The rising number of prosumers and the limitations of grid capacities lead to an increasingly distributed system of heterogeneous components, which have to be managed and operated with locality and scalability in mind. Virtualisation technologies, particularly known as state of the art in data centre computing, can lead to a paradigm shift needed to meet the growing demands of this evolution. A key issue here is to forward data to the correct data sinks, where data are required in order to keep the grid balanced. This routing process has to be able to react on grid changes in a timely manner, i.e., it must be based on the instantaneous state of the grid. In this paper, we propose a solution based on virtualising the communication infrastructure in the low and medium voltage grid. We evaluate two different approaches. The first approach is based on SDN; an ONOS SDN controller is used to change the behaviour of the communication infrastructure according to information provided by components of the power grid. The second approach uses Coaty and a Mosquitto MQTT broker to deliver messages to the desired endpoint, again based on information from the power grid.
The Complete Plastid Genome of Artocarpus camansi: A High Degree of Conservation of the Plastome Structure in the Family Moraceae
Authors: Souza Ueric José Borges de , Vitorino Luciana Cristina , Bessa Layara Alexandre , Silva Fabiano Guimarães
Published: November 2020

Understanding the plastid genome is extremely important for the interpretation of the genetic mechanisms associated with essential physiological and metabolic functions, the identification of possible marker regions for phylogenetic or phylogeographic analyses, and the elucidation of the modes through which natural selection operates in different regions of this genome. In the present study, we assembled the plastid genome of Artocarpus camansi, compared its repetitive structures with Artocarpus heterophyllus, and searched for evidence of synteny within the family Moraceae. We also constructed a phylogeny based on 56 chloroplast genes to assess the relationships among three families of the order Rosales, that is, the Moraceae, Rhamnaceae, and Cannabaceae. The plastid genome of A. camansi has 160,096 bp, and presents the typical circular quadripartite structure of the Angiosperms, comprising a large single copy (LSC) of 88,745 bp and a small single copy (SSC) of 19,883 bp, separated by a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions each with a length of 25,734 bp. The total GC content was 36.0%, which is very similar to Artocarpus heterophyllus (36.1%) and other moraceous species. A total of 23,068 codons and 80 SSRs were identified in the A. camansi plastid genome, with the majority of the SSRs being mononucleotide (70.0%). A total of 50 repeat structures were observed in the A. camansi plastid genome, in contrast with 61 repeats in A. heterophyllus. A purifying selection signal was found in 70 of the 79 protein-coding genes, indicating that they have all been highly conserved throughout the evolutionary history of the genus. The comparative analysis of the structural characteristics of the chloroplast among different moraceous species found a high degree of similarity in the sequences, which indicates a highly conserved evolutionary model in these plastid genomes. The phylogenetic analysis also recovered a high degree of similarity between the chloroplast genes of A. camansi and A. heterophyllus, and reconfirmed the hypothesis of the intense conservation of the plastome in the family Moraceae.
Preliminary Findings on CTG Expansion Determination in Different Tissues from Patients with Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1
Authors: Ballester-Lopez Alfonsina , Koehorst Emma , Linares-Pardo Ian , Núñez-Manchón Judit , Almendrote Miriam , Lucente Giuseppe , Arbex Andrea , Puente Carles Puente , Lucia Alejandro , Monckton Darren G. , Cumming Sarah A. , Pintos-Morell Guillem , Coll-Cantí Jaume , Ramos-Fransi Alba , Martínez-Piñeiro Alicia , Nogales-Gadea Gisela
Published: November 2020

Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is characterized by a high genetic and clinical variability. Determination of the genetic variability in DM1 might help to determine whether there is an association between CTG (Cytosine-Thymine-Guanine) expansion and the clinical manifestations of this condition. We studied the variability of the CTG expansion (progenitor, mode, and longest allele, respectively, and genetic instability) in three tissues (blood, muscle, and tissue) from eight patients with DM1. We also studied the association of genetic data with the patients’ clinical characteristics. Although genetic instability was confirmed in all the tissues that we studied, our results suggest that CTG expansion is larger in muscle and skin cells compared with peripheral blood leukocytes. While keeping in mind that more research is needed in larger cohorts, we have provided preliminary evidence suggesting that the estimated progenitor CTG size in muscle could be potentially used as an indicator of age of disease onset and muscle function impairment.
Duplicated dnmt3aa and dnmt3ab DNA Methyltransferase Genes Play Essential and Non-Overlapped Functions on Modulating Behavioral Control in Zebrafish
Authors: Lai Yu-Heng , Audira Gilbert , Liang Sung-Tzu , Siregar Petrus , Suryanto Michael Edbert , Lin Huan-Chau , Villalobos Omar , Villaflores Oliver B. , Hao Erwei , Lim Ken-Hong , Hsiao Chung-Der
Published: November 2020

DNA methylation plays several roles in regulating neuronal proliferation, differentiation, and physiological functions. The major de novo methyltransferase, DNMT3, controls the DNA methylation pattern in neurons according to environmental stimulations and behavioral regulations. Previous studies demonstrated that knockout of Dnmt3 induced mouse anxiety; however, controversial results showed that activation of Dnmt3 causes anxiolytic behavior. Thus, an alternative animal model to clarify Dnmt3 on modulating behavior is crucial. Therefore, we aimed to establish a zebrafish (Danio rerio) model to clarify the function of dnmt3 on fish behavior by behavioral endpoint analyses. We evaluated the behaviors of the wild type, dnmt3aa, and dnmt3ab knockout (KO) fish by the novel tank, mirror biting, predator avoidance, social interaction, shoaling, circadian rhythm locomotor activity, color preference, and short-term memory tests. The results indicated that the dnmt3aa KO fish possessed abnormal exploratory behaviors and less fear response to the predator. On the other hand, dnmt3ab KO fish displayed less aggression, fear response to the predator, and interests to interact with their conspecifics, loosen shoaling formation, and dysregulated color preference index ranking. Furthermore, both knockout fishes showed higher locomotion activity during the night cycle, which is a sign of anxiety. However, changes in some neurotransmitter levels were observed in the mutant fishes. Lastly, whole-genome DNA methylation sequencing demonstrates a potential network of Dnmt3a proteins that is responsive to behavioral alterations. To sum up, the results suggested that the dnmt3aa KO or dnmt3ab KO fish display anxiety symptoms, which supported the idea that Dnmt3 modulates the function involved in emotional control, social interaction, and cognition.
The New Seismotectonic Atlas of Greece (v1.0) and Its Implementation
Authors: Kassaras Ioannis , Kapetanidis Vasilis , Ganas Athanassios , Tzanis Andreas , Kosma Chrysanthi , Karakonstantis Andreas , Valkaniotis Sotirios , Chailas Stylianos , Kouskouna Vasiliki , Papadimitriou Panayotis
Published: November 2020

Knowledge and visualization of the present-day relationship between earthquakes, active tectonics and crustal deformation is a key to understanding geodynamic processes, and is also essential for risk mitigation and the management of geo-reservoirs for energy and waste. The study of the complexity of the Greek tectonics has been the subject of intense efforts of our working group, employing multidisciplinary methodologies that include detailed geological mapping, geophysical and seismological data processing using innovative methods and geodetic data processing, involved in surveying at various scales. The data and results from these studies are merged with existing or updated datasets to compose the new Seismotectonic Atlas of Greece. The main objective of the Atlas is to harmonize and integrate the most recent seismological, geological, tectonic, geophysical and geodetic data in an interactive, online GIS environment. To demonstrate the wealth of information available in the end product, herein, we present thematic layers of important seismotectonic and geophysical content, which facilitates the comprehensive visualization and first order insight into seismic and other risks of the Greek territories. The future prospect of the Atlas is the incorporation of tools and algorithms for joint analysis and appraisal of these datasets, so as to enable rapid seismotectonic analysis and scenario-based seismic risk assessment.
Use of Acupuncture for the Treatment of Sports-Related Injuries in Athletes: A Systematic Review of Case Reports
Authors: Lee Ji-Won , Lee Jun-Hwan , Kim Song-Yi
Published: November 2020

Acupuncture is one of the representative complementary and alternative medicine treatments used for various types of pain. This systematic review summarized and analyzed clinical case reports/series utilizing acupuncture for treating sports injuries in athletes, thereby providing the basis for further research to establish clinical evidence on acupuncture treatment in sports medicine. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in Embase including MEDLINE up to 21 August 2019 without language and publication date restrictions. Due to the heterogeneity of each study, explanatory and descriptive analyses were performed. As a result, in each case report/series, it was confirmed that acupuncture was applied for treating various types of sports injuries experienced by athletes. Acupuncture can help relieve short-term pain and recover from dysfunction and has been used as a useful, noninvasive, and conservative modality for managing sports injuries such as lateral meniscus rupture, femoral acetabular impingement, ganglion cysts, and sports hernia. In addition, acupuncture has been suggested as a treatment worth trying for diseases such as yips and delayed onset muscle soreness. The included cases showed some potential of acupuncture in the treatment of various types of sports injuries, beyond pain control in musculoskeletal disorders. However, considering that this review was based on case reports/series, a limited understanding of the clinical value of acupuncture in athletes is required. In the future, more specific research questions and hypotheses should be addressed to generate evidence based on experimental research.
Relationship between Pre-Competition Mental State and Sport Result of Disabled Boccia Athletes
Authors: Koper Magdalena , Nadolska Anna , Urbański Piotr , Wilski Maciej
Published: November 2020

The relationship between sport result and pre-competition mental state of 109 boccia athletes was analyzed. Mental state was described by: athletic identity, self-esteem, self-efficacy for sports, hope for success, fear of failure, anxiety, and expectancy of success. Correlation analyses were made for all four boccia classes (BC1, BC2, BC3, and BC4) and revealed that only athletic identity was associated with sport result in class BC4. Four hierarchical multiple regression models (for BC1, BC2, BC3, and BC4 boccia classes) were created, with sport result as the dependent variable. Only the BC4 model was significant and included athletic identity, anxiety, self-efficacy for sports, and expectancy of success, which explained 49% of variance in sport result. BC4 class results indicate that psychological variables have a potential impact on sport performance in boccia, and the type and level of disability should be taken into account.
Breastfeeding in China: A Review of Changes in the Past Decade
Authors: Li Qing , Tian Jianli , Xu Fenglian , Binns Colin
Published: November 2020

This review summarizes breastfeeding rates in China reported during the decade 2007–2018, a decade on from our previous review published in 2007. Compared with the studies undertaken before 2007 in China, recent studies are more likely to report breastfeeding rates using longer periods of observation, enabling rates to be summarized to six and 12 months postpartum in this review. There appears to have been a modest increase in breastfeeding in China. The mean duration of “any breastfeeding” was 10 months (9 to 11 months in the majority of cities), an increase compared with the previous review in which the mean of “any breastfeeding” duration was 8 months (7 to 9 months in the majority of cities). Using data from cohort studies, the proportion of infants being breastfed at 4 months increased from 78% in the earlier decade to 83% more recently. A second baby is usually breastfed for longer than the first, considering both “any” and “exclusive breastfeeding”. China is a huge country and there is considerable diversity in culture, level of economic development, education and breastfeeding rates in different areas of China, but our review suggests that there has been some improvement in the “any breastfeeding” rate in the most recent decade.
The Transactional Relationship between Parental and Adolescent Depressive Symptoms: The Mediating Effect of Nurturant–Involved Parenting
Authors: Hou Jinqin , Chen Zhiyan , Guo Fei
Published: November 2020

Sameroff’s transactional theory emphasizes a bidirectional process between parents and offspring. The present study explored the reciprocal relationships between parental and adolescent depressive symptoms using a cross-lagged model and examined the mediating effect of nurturant–involved parenting on the relationship between them. Data for the present study were collected from a longitudinal study, and a total of 1644 adolescents and their mothers and fathers participated in the present study. The results revealed a reciprocal relationship between maternal and adolescent depressive symptoms, and the child-driven effect was more robust than the mother-driven effect. Adolescent depressive symptoms significantly predicted paternal depressive symptoms, but not vice versa. In addition, adolescent depressive symptoms indirectly predicted maternal and paternal depressive symptoms by deteriorating nurturant-involved parenting. These findings highlight a child-driven effect on parents’ psychopathology, which may shed light on the mechanism underlying depression transmission between parents and adolescents.
Regional Differences in Ecological Compensation for Cultivated Land Protection: An Analysis of Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
Authors: Wang Kunpeng , Ou Minghao , Wolde Zinabu
Published: November 2020

Exploring the elements that affect farmers’ willingness to protect cultivated land is the key to improving the ecological compensation mechanism for cultivated land protection. The purpose of this study was to analyze regional differences in ecological compensation for cultivated land protection, and to explore the influence of different external environments on farmers’ willingness to engage in cultivated land protection. Based on the Profitable Spatial Boundary Analysis theory (PSBA), GIS spatial analysis technology was used to analyze regional space differences and assess ecological compensation for urban and rural cultivated land protection at the micro scale. The results show that the willingness of farmers to participate in cultivated land protection is affected by the external environment and the ecological compensation offered. The trend of the comprehensive benefit of cultivated land protection ecological compensation (B) is “Λ” from the first layer to the third layer. The B value of the urban–rural junction area is the highest value. This shows that the external environment is favorable for ecological compensation in this area, which has a positive effect on farmers’ willingness to protect cultivated land. B < 0 in the first and third layer, which has a depressant effect on farmers’ willingness to protect cultivated land. The study results contribute to the understanding of the impact of regional differences in the external environmental on ecological compensation and farmers’ willingness to engage in cultivated land protection.
Correlation between Oral Health-Related Quality of Life and Objectively Measured Oral Health in People with Ehlers–Danlos Syndromes
Authors: Oelerich Ole , Kleinheinz Johannes , Reissmann Daniel R. , Köppe Jeanette , Hanisch Marcel
Published: November 2020

It is a well-known fact that people with Ehlers–Danlos syndromes (EDS) report a worse oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) than the general population. The aim of this study was to examine whether there is a correlation between the subjective OHRQoL and the objectively measured oral health in people with EDS. To determine the subjective OHRQoL, the German version of the 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire was used. Furthermore, all participants in the study were clinically examined, and the measured parameters were recorded using the Physical Oral Health Index (PhOX). Altogether, records of 46 participants were collected. The median (interquartile range (IQR)) of the OHIP-14 was 17 (23) points and the median of the PhOX was 73 (16) points. However, a statistically significant correlation could not be demonstrated (r = −0.240, p = 0.108). In the observed cohort, for participants who reported having pain often or very often, the OHIP score (median = 24, IQR = 18, p < 0.01) was higher than the score of the group given by participants who never or intermittently experienced pain (median = 8, IQR = 18). In conclusion, patients with EDS showed a reduced OHRQoL, although it was not possible to observe an association between the subjective OHRQoL and the objective oral health. However, participants who often or very often suffer from pain in their tooth, mouth, and jaw areas showed a reduced OHRQoL.
The Influence of Maturity Status on Anthropometric Profile and Body Composition of Youth Goalkeepers
Authors: Di Credico Andrea , Gaggi Giulia , Ghinassi Barbara , Mascherini Gabriele , Petri Cristian , Di Giminiani Riccardo , Di Baldassarre Angela , Izzicupo Pascal
Published: November 2020

The anthropometric profile assessment is an important aspect to consider during the growth stages of youth sport practitioners due to its usefulness in controlling maturity status and overall health. We performed an anthropometric profile evaluation in a sample of youth goalkeepers (n = 42) during a training camp, dividing them into three categories based on their years from peak height velocity (YPHV). We also checked if the selection of goalkeepers was associated with the birth quartile. The results showed that most of the participants’ anthropometric parameters followed the normal trend according to the maturation stages. However, several subjects showed an overweight/obese condition and/or high waist circumference. Non-optimal values were found, mostly in the group of goalkeepers around the PHV. In addition, no selection based on birth quartile was seen. Therefore, the anthropometric profile and body composition of youth goalkeepers are physiologically affected by maturity status. However, several subjects were found to be overweight/obese and at cardiometabolic risk, suggesting that children and adolescents, although practicing sport, should pay attention to potentially contributing factors such as the attainment of the recommended levels of physical activity, lowering sedentary time, and adopt a healthy lifestyle.
Human West Nile Meningo-Encephalitis in a Highly Endemic Country: A Complex Epidemiological Analysis on Biotic and Abiotic Risk Factors
Authors: Coroian Mircea , Petrić Mina , Pistol Adriana , Sirbu Anca , Domșa Cristian , Mihalca Andrei Daniel
Published: November 2020

West Nile virus (WNV) is one of the most prevalent mosquito-borne viruses. Although the infection in humans is mostly asymptomatic, 15–20% of cases show flu-like symptoms with fever. In 1% of infections, humans develop severe nervous symptoms and even die, a condition known as West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND). The aim of our study was to analyze the influence of abiotic and biotic factors with the human WNND cases during the period 2015–2019. A database containing all the localities in Romania was developed. Abiotic and biotic predictors were included for each locality: geographic variables, climatic data, and biotic factors. Spatial distribution of the WNND infections was analyzed using directional distribution (DD). The Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was employed to assess the strength of association between the WNND infections and predictors. A model was generated using the random forest ensemble learning method. A total number of 535 human WNND cases were confirmed in 308 localities. The DD showed a south-eastern geographical distribution. Weak correlation was observed between the number of human WNND cases for each year and the predictors. The highest predicted probability was around urbanized patches in the south and southeast. Increased surveillance and control measures of vectors in risk areas should be implemented and educational campaigns should be made available for the general public in order to raise awareness of the disease and inform the population about prophylactic measures.