bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Space-Time Variation and Spatial Differentiation of COVID-19 Confirmed Cases in Hubei Province Based on Extended GWR
Authors: Liu Yanwen , He Zongyi , Zhou Xia
Published: September 2020

Clarifying the regional transmission mechanism of COVID-19 has practical significance for effective protection. Taking 103 county-level regions of Hubei Province as an example, and taking the fastest-spreading stage of COVID-19, which lasted from 29 January 2020, to 29 February 2020, as the research period, we systematically analyzed the population migration, spatio-temporal variation pattern of COVID-19, with emphasis on the spatio-temporal differences and scale effects of related factors by using the daily sliding, time-ordered data analysis method, combined with extended geographically weighted regression (GWR). The results state that: Population migration plays a two-way role in COVID-19 variation. The emigrants’ and immigrants’ population of Wuhan city accounted for 3.70% and 73.05% of the total migrants’ population respectively; the restriction measures were not only effective in controlling the emigrants, but also effective in preventing immigrants. COVID-19 has significant spatial autocorrelation, and spatio-temporal differentiation has an effect on COVID-19. Different factors have different degrees of effect on COVID-19, and similar factors show different scale effects. Generally, the pattern of spatial differentiation is a transitional pattern of parallel bands from east to west, and also an epitaxial radiation pattern centered in the Wuhan 1 + 8 urban circle. This paper is helpful to understand the spatio-temporal evolution of COVID-19 in Hubei Province, so as to provide a reference for similar epidemic prevention.
Examining Hotspots of Traffic Collisions and their Spatial Relationships with Land Use: A GIS-Based Geographically Weighted Regression Approach for Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Rahman Muhammad Tauhidur , Jamal Arshad , Al-Ahmadi Hassan M.
Published: September 2020

Examining the relationships between vehicle crash patterns and urban land use is fundamental to improving crash predictions, creating guidance, and comprehensive policy recommendations to avoid crash occurrences and mitigate their severities. In the existing literature, statistical models are frequently used to quantify the association between crash outcomes and available explanatory variables. However, they are unable to capture the latent spatial heterogeneity accurately. Further, the vast majority of previous studies have focused on detailed spatial analysis of crashes from an aggregated viewpoint without considering the attributes of the built environment and land use. This study first uses geographic information systems (GIS) to examine crash hotspots based on two severity groups, seven prevailing crash causes, and three predominant crash types in the City of Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). GIS-based geographically weighted regression (GWR) analysis technique was then utilized to uncover the spatial relationships of traffic collisions with population densities and relate it to the land use of each neighborhood. Results showed that Fatal and Injury (FI) crashes were mostly located in residential neighborhoods and near public facilities having low to medium population densities on highways with relatively higher speed limits. Distribution of hotspots and GWR-based analysis for crash causes showed that crashes due to “sudden lane deviation” accounted for the highest proportion of crashes that were concentrated mainly in the Central Business District (CBD) of the study area. Similarly, hotspots and GWR analysis for crash types revealed that “collisions between motor vehicles” constitute a significant proportion of the total crashes, with epicenters mostly stationed in high-density residential neighborhoods. The outcomes of this study could provide analysts and practitioners with crucial insights to understand the complex inter-relationships between traffic safety and land use. It can provide useful guidance to policymakers for better planning and effective management strategies to enhance safety at zonal levels.
Spatial Analysis of Settlement Structures to Identify Pattern Formation Mechanisms in Inter-Urban Systems
Authors: Henn Katharina , Friesen John , Hartig Jakob , Pelz Peter F.
Published: September 2020

Dissipative structures known from non-equilibrium thermodynamics can form patterns. Cities are regarded as open, dissipative structures due to their self-organisation and thus in theory are also capable of pattern formation. In a first step to understand similarities between nonlinear pattern formation and inter-urban systems, we investigate how inter-urban structures are arranged. We use data from the Global Urban Footprint to identify spatial regularities in seven regions (Argentina, China, Egypt, France, India, Ghana and USA) and to quantitatively describe settlement patterns by number of objects and density. We find that small areas of the examined data sets show a regular arrangement, the density and number of settlements differ widely between the different regions and the portion of regular areas within this regions strongly correlates with these two parameters. The results can be used to develop mathematical models that describe inter-urban pattern formation on the one hand and to investigate to what extent the respective settlement patterns are related to infrastructural, economic or political boundary conditions on the other.
The Bladder EpiCheck Test as a Non-Invasive Tool Based on the Identification of DNA Methylation in Bladder Cancer Cells in the Urine: A Review of Published Evidence
Authors: Mancini Mariangela , Righetto Marialaura , Zumerle Sara , Montopoli Monica , Zattoni Filiberto
Published: September 2020

Recently, there has been a great effort to develop tests based on non-invasive urinary biomarkers (NMIBCs). These tests are based on the fact that NMIBCs are heterogeneous at the molecular level and can be divided into different molecular groups useful to predict prognosis and response to treatment. The assessment of epigenetic alterations, such as DNA methylation, represents a promising cancer biomarker. DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification that affects gene expression without modifying the DNA sequence. Several studies have highlighted the presence of methylated loci in the context of bladder cancer, indicating its potential application as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. One of the novel assays based on a DNA methylation profile, the Bladder EpiCheck, analyzes DNA from spontaneous urine, detecting disease-specific DNA methylation patterns in bladder cancer patients. This test, due to its non-invasive nature and highly promising performance could, in future, become an invaluable tool in the follow-up of bladder cancer patients. Potential new applications could include diagnosis and surveillance of upper-tract disease, for the replacement of invasive testing and ureteroscopy.
Neuroinflammation-Associated Alterations of the Brain as Potential Neural Biomarkers in Anxiety Disorders
Authors: Won Eunsoo , Kim Yong-Ku
Published: September 2020

Stress-induced changes in the immune system, which lead to neuroinflammation and consequent brain alterations, have been suggested as possible neurobiological substrates of anxiety disorders, with previous literature predominantly focusing on panic disorder, agoraphobia, and generalized anxiety disorder, among the anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders have frequently been associated with chronic stress, with chronically stressful situations being reported to precipitate the onset of anxiety disorders. Also, chronic stress has been reported to lead to hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and autonomic nervous system disruption, which may in turn induce systemic proinflammatory conditions. Preliminary evidence suggests anxiety disorders are also associated with increased inflammation. Systemic inflammation can access the brain, and enhance pro-inflammatory cytokine levels that have been shown to precipitate direct and indirect neurotoxic effects. Prefrontal and limbic structures are widely reported to be influenced by neuroinflammatory conditions. In concordance with these findings, various imaging studies on panic disorder, agoraphobia, and generalized anxiety disorder have reported alterations in structure, function, and connectivity of prefrontal and limbic structures. Further research is needed on the use of inflammatory markers and brain imaging in the early diagnosis of anxiety disorders, along with the possible efficacy of anti-inflammatory interventions on the prevention and treatment of anxiety disorders.
Splicing Enhancers at Intron–Exon Borders Participate in Acceptor Splice Sites Recognition
Authors: Kováčová Tatiana , Souček Přemysl , Hujová Pavla , Freiberger Tomáš , Grodecká Lucie
Published: September 2020

Acceptor splice site recognition (3′ splice site: 3′ss) is a fundamental step in precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) splicing. Generally, the U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) auxiliary factor (U2AF) heterodimer recognizes the 3′ss, of which U2AF35 has a dual function: (i) It binds to the intron–exon border of some 3′ss and (ii) mediates enhancer-binding splicing activators’ interactions with the spliceosome. Alternative mechanisms for 3′ss recognition have been suggested, yet they are still not thoroughly understood. Here, we analyzed 3′ss recognition where the intron–exon border is bound by a ubiquitous splicing regulator SRSF1. Using the minigene analysis of two model exons and their mutants, BRCA2 exon 12 and VARS2 exon 17, we showed that the exon inclusion correlated much better with the predicted SRSF1 affinity than 3′ss quality, which were assessed using the Catalog of Inferred Sequence Binding Preferences of RNA binding proteins (CISBP-RNA) database and maximum entropy algorithm (MaxEnt) predictor and the U2AF35 consensus matrix, respectively. RNA affinity purification proved SRSF1 binding to the model 3′ss. On the other hand, knockdown experiments revealed that U2AF35 also plays a role in these exons’ inclusion. Most probably, both factors stochastically bind the 3′ss, supporting exon recognition, more apparently in VARS2 exon 17. Identifying splicing activators as 3′ss recognition factors is crucial for both a basic understanding of splicing regulation and human genetic diagnostics when assessing variants’ effects on splicing.
The Antihypertensive Effect of Quercetin in Young Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats; Role of Arachidonic Acid Metabolism
Authors: Elbarbry Fawzy , Abdelkawy Khaled , Moshirian Nicholas , Abdel-Megied Ahmed M.
Published: September 2020

Hypertension affects almost 50% of the adult American population. Metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA) in the kidney play an important role in blood pressure regulation. The present study investigates the blood pressure-lowering potential of quercetin (QR), a naturally occurring polyphenol, and examines its correlation to the modulation of AA metabolism. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were randomly divided into four groups. Treatment groups were administered QR in drinking water at concentrations of 10, 30, and 60 mg/L. Blood pressure was monitored at seven-day intervals. After a total of seven weeks of treatment, rats were killed and kidney tissues were collected to examine the activity of the two major enzymes involved in AA metabolism in the kidney, namely cytochrome P450 (CYP)4A and soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). Medium- and high-dose QR resisted the rise in blood pressure observed in the untreated SHR and significantly inhibited the activity of the CYP4A enzyme in renal cortical microsomes. The activity of the sEH enzyme in renal cortical cytosols was significantly inhibited only by the high QR dose. Our data not only demonstrate the antihypertensive effect of QR, but also provide a novel mechanism for its underlying cardioprotective properties.
FACS-Based Proteomics Enables Profiling of Proteins in Rare Cell Populations
Authors: Maes Evelyne , Cools Nathalie , Willems Hanny , Baggerman Geert
Published: September 2020

Understanding disease pathology often does not require an overall proteomic analysis of clinical samples but rather the analysis of different, often rare, subpopulations of cells in a heterogeneous mixture of cell types. For the isolation of pre-specified cellular subtypes, fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) is commonly used for its ability to isolate the required cell populations with high purity, even of scarce cell types. The proteomic analysis of a limited number of FACS-sorted cells, however, is very challenging as both sample preparation inefficiencies and limits in terms of instrument sensitivity are present. In this study, we used CD14+CD15+ immune cells sorted out of peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from whole blood to improve and evaluate FACS-based proteomics. To optimize both the protein extraction protocol and the mass spectrometry (MS) data acquisition method, PBMCs as well as commercialized HeLa digest were used. To reflect the limited number of sorted cells in some clinical samples, different numbers of sorted cells (1000, 5000, 10,000, or 50,000) were used. This allowed comparing protein profiles across samples with limited protein material and provided further insights in the benefits and limitations of using a very limited numbers of cells.
Relevance of Porcine Stroke Models to Bridge the Gap from Pre-Clinical Findings to Clinical Implementation
Authors: Melià-Sorolla Marc , Castaño Carlos , DeGregorio-Rocasolano Núria , Rodríguez-Esparragoza Luis , Dávalos Antoni , Martí-Sistac Octavi , Gasull Teresa
Published: September 2020

In the search of animal stroke models providing translational advantages for biomedical research, pigs are large mammals with interesting brain characteristics and wide social acceptance. Compared to rodents, pigs have human-like highly gyrencephalic brains. In addition, increasingly through phylogeny, animals have more sophisticated white matter connectivity; thus, ratios of white-to-gray matter in humans and pigs are higher than in rodents. Swine models provide the opportunity to study the effect of stroke with emphasis on white matter damage and neuroanatomical changes in connectivity, and their pathophysiological correlate. In addition, the subarachnoid space surrounding the swine brain resembles that of humans. This allows the accumulation of blood and clots in subarachnoid hemorrhage models mimicking the clinical condition. The clot accumulation has been reported to mediate pathological mechanisms known to contribute to infarct progression and final damage in stroke patients. Importantly, swine allows trustworthy tracking of brain damage evolution using the same non-invasive multimodal imaging sequences used in the clinical practice. Moreover, several models of comorbidities and pathologies usually found in stroke patients have recently been established in swine. We review here ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke models reported so far in pigs. The advantages and limitations of each model are also discussed.
Cerebral Vasodilator Property of Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Inhibitor (PJ34) in the Neonatal and Adult Mouse Is Mediated by the Nitric Oxide Pathway
Authors: Bonnin Philippe , Charriaut-Marlangue Christiane , Pansiot Julien , Boutigny Alexandre , Launay Jean-Marie , Besson Valérie C.
Published: September 2020

The poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor PJ34 has been reported to improve endothelial dysfunction in the peripheral system. We addressed the role of PJ34 on the vascular tone and vasoreactivity during development in the mouse brain. Blood flows were measured in the basilar trunk using ultrasonography. Cerebral vasoreactivity or vasodilation reserve was estimated as a percentage increase in mean blood flow velocities (mBFV) recorded under normoxia-hypercapnia in control and after PJ34 administration. Non-selective and selective eNOS and nNOS inhibitors were used to evaluate the role of NO-pathway into the hemodynamic effects of PJ34. PJ34 increased mBFVs from 15.8 ± 1.6 to 19.1 ± 1.9 cm/s (p = 0.0043) in neonatal, from 14.6 ± 1.4 to 16.1 ± 0.9 cm/s (p = 0.0049) in adult, and from 15.7 ± 1.7 to 17.5 ± 2.0 cm/s (p = 0.0024) in aged mice 48 h after administration. These PJ34 values were similar to those measured in age-matched control mice under normoxia-hypercapnia. This recruitment was mediated through the activation of constitutive NO synthases in both the neonatal (38.2 ± 6.7 nmol/min/mg protein) and adult (31.5 ± 4.4 nmol/min/mg protein) brain, as compared to age-matched control brain (6.9 ± 0.4 and 6.3 ± 0.7 nmol/min/mg protein), respectively. In addition, quite selective eNOS inhibitor was able to inhibit the recruitment. PJ34 by itself is able to increase cerebral blood flow through the NO-pathway activation at least over 48 h after a single administration.
The Impact of Insertion Sequences on O-Serotype Phenotype and Its O-Locus-Based Prediction in Klebsiella pneumoniae O2 and O1
Authors: Artyszuk Daria , Izdebski Radosław , Maciejewska Anna , Kaszowska Marta , Herud Aleksandra , Szijártó Valeria , Gniadkowski Marek , Lukasiewicz Jolanta
Published: September 2020

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a nosocomial pathogen, pointed out by the World Helth Organisation (WHO) as “critical” regarding the highly limited options of treatment. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, O-antigen) and capsular polysaccharide (K-antigen) are its virulence factors and surface antigens, determining O- and K-serotypes and encoded by O- or K-loci. They are promising targets for antibody-based therapies (vaccines and passive immunization) as an alternative to antibiotics. To make such immunotherapy effective, knowledge about O/K-antigen structures, drift, and distribution among clinical isolates is needed. At present, the structural analysis of O-antigens is efficiently supported by bioinformatics. O- and K-loci-based genotyping by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or whole genome sequencing WGS has been proposed as a diagnostic tool, including the Kaptive tool available in the public domain. We analyzed discrepancies for O2 serotyping between Kaptive-based predictions (O2 variant 2 serotype) and the actual phenotype (O2 variant 1) for two K. pneumoniae clinical isolates. Identified length discrepancies from the reference O-locus resulted from insertion sequences (ISs) within rfb regions of the O-loci. In silico analysis of 8130 O1 and O2 genomes available in public databases indicated a broader distribution of ISs in rfbs that may influence the actual O-antigen structure. Our results show that current high-throughput genotyping algorithms need to be further refined to consider the effects of ISs on the LPS O-serotype.
An Update on Vitamin D Metabolism
Authors: Saponaro Federica , Saba Alessandro , Zucchi Riccardo
Published: September 2020

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone classically involved in the calcium metabolism and bone homeostasis. Recently, new and interesting aspects of vitamin D metabolism has been elucidated, namely the special role of the skin, the metabolic control of liver hydroxylase CYP2R1, the specificity of 1α-hydroxylase in different tissues and cell types and the genomic, non-genomic and epigenomic effects of vitamin D receptor, which will be addressed in the present review. Moreover, in the last decades, several extraskeletal effects which can be attributed to vitamin D have been shown. These beneficial effects will be here summarized, focusing on the immune system and cardiovascular system.
Research Progress on the Roles of Cytokinin in Plant Response to Stress
Authors: Liu Yun , Zhang Mingjing , Meng Zhe , Wang Baoshan , Chen Min
Published: September 2020

Cytokinins promote plant growth and development under normal plant growth conditions and also play an important role in plant resistance to stress. Understanding the working mechanisms of cytokinins under adverse conditions will help to make full use of cytokinins in agriculture to increase production and efficiency of land use. In this article, we review the progress that has been made in cytokinin research in plant response to stress and propose its future application prospects.
Absorption and Emission Spectroscopic Investigation of the Thermal Dynamics of the Archaerhodopsin 3 Based Fluorescent Voltage Sensor Archon2
Authors: Penzkofer Alfons , Silapetere Arita , Hegemann Peter
Published: September 2020

Archon2 is a fluorescent voltage sensor derived from Archaerhodopsin 3 (Arch) of Halorubrum sodomense using robotic multidimensional directed evolution approach. Here we report absorption and emission spectroscopic studies of Archon2 in Tris buffer at pH 8. Absorption cross-section spectra, fluorescence quantum distributions, fluorescence quantum yields, and fluorescence excitation spectra were determined. The thermal stability of Archon2 was studied by long-time attenuation coefficient measurements at room temperature (21 ± 1 °C) and at refrigerator temperature (3 ± 1 °C). The apparent melting temperature was determined by stepwise sample heating up and cooling down (obtained apparent melting temperature: 63 ± 3 °C). In the protein melting process protonated retinal Schiff base (PRSB) with absorption maximum at 586 nm converted to de-protonated retinal Schiff base (RSB) with absorption maximum at 380 nm. Storage of Archon2 at room temperature and refrigerator temperature caused absorption coefficient decrease because of partial protein clustering to aggregates at condensation nuclei and sedimentation. At room temperature an onset of light scattering was observed after two days because of the beginning of protein unfolding. During the period of observation (18 days at 21 °C, 22 days at 3 °C) no change of retinal isomer composition was observed indicating a high potential energy barrier of S0 ground-state isomerization.
Biology and Prevalence in Northern Italy of Verrallia aucta (Diptera, Pipunculidae), a Parasitoid of Philaenus spumarius (Hemiptera, Aphrophoridae), the Main Vector of Xylella fastidiosa in Europe
Authors: Molinatto Giulia , Demichelis Stefano , Bodino Nicola , Giorgini Massimo , Mori Nicola , Bosco Domenico
Published: September 2020

The meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius (L.) (Hemiptera Aphrophoridae), the main vector of Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al. in Europe, has few known natural enemies. The endoparasitoid Verrallia aucta (Fallén) (Diptera, Pipunculidae) was first noticed a long time ago but very little is known about its biology and prevalence. In this study, the presence and prevalence of V. aucta were investigated in different regions of northern Italy, both in plain–foothill and montane zones. Parasitic larvae were identified by the dissection of spittlebug adults, P. spumarius and Neophilaenus campestris (Fallén), and by a new species-specific molecular tool targeting the ITS2 and COI genomic regions, developed in this work. A small-scale rearing was set up to gain information on the life cycle of V. aucta on its main host P. spumarius. During the four-year investigation (2016–2019) the pipunculid parasitoid displayed low prevalence, reaching a maximum parasitization rate of 17.5% (calculated over the adult spittlebug season) in vineyards of the Piemonte region. Over the whole period, no significant difference in the prevalence was found between male and female spittlebugs. Collected data and rearing observations suggest that V. aucta is monovoltine and synchronous with P. spumarius, laying eggs in newly emerged adults, developing as an endoparasitoid through two larval stages during the whole summer, and overwintering as a pupa in the soil.
Peripapillary Retinal Vascular Involvement in Early Post-COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Savastano Alfonso , Crincoli Emanuele , Savastano Maria , Younis Saad , Gambini Gloria , De Vico Umberto , Cozzupoli Grazia , Culiersi Carola , Rizzo Stanislao ,   Gemelli Against COVID-19 Post-Acute Care Study Group
Published: September 2020

The ability of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2′s) to cause multi-organ ischemia and coronavirus-induced posterior segment eye diseases in mammals gave concern about potential sight-threatening ischemia in post coronavirus disease 2019 patients. The radial peripapillary capillary plexus (RPCP) is a sensitive target due to the important role in the vascular supply of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). Eighty patients one month after SARS-CoV-2 infection and 30 healthy patients were selected to undergo structural OCT (optical coherence tomography) and OCTA (optical coherence tomography angiography) exams. Primary outcome was a difference in RPCP perfusion density (RPCP-PD) and RPCP flow index (RPCP-FI). No significant difference was observed in age, sex, intraocular pressure (IOP) and prevalence of myopia. RPCP-PD was lower in post SARS-CoV-2 patients compared to controls. Within the post-COVID-19 group, patients with systemic arterial hypertension had lower RPCP-FI and age was inversely correlated to both RPCP-FI and RPCP-PD. Patients treated with lopinavir + ritonavir or antiplatelet therapy during admission had lower RPCP-FI and RPCP-PD. RNFL average thickness was linearly correlated to RPCP-FI and RPCP-PD within post-COVID-19 group. Future studies will be needed to address the hypothesis of a microvascular retinal impairment in individuals who recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Effect of CYP3A5 on the Once-Daily Tacrolimus Conversion in Stable Liver Transplant Patients
Authors: Kim Jong Man , Ryu Je Ho , Lee Kwang-Woong , Hong Suk Kyun , Yang Kwangho , Choi Gyu-Seong , Kim Young-Ae , Lee Ju-Yeun , Yi Nam-Joon , Kwon Choon Hyuck David , Chu Chong Woo , Suh Kyung-Suk , Joh Jae-Won
Published: September 2020

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A5 polymorphism influences tacrolimus metabolism, but its effect on the drug pharmacokinetics in liver transplant recipients switched to once-daily extended-release formulation remains unknown. The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of CYP3A5 polymorphism on liver function after once-daily tacrolimus conversion in liver transplant patients. A prospective open-label study included 60 stable liver transplant recipients who underwent 1:1 conversion from twice-daily tacrolimus to once-daily tacrolimus. All participants were genotyped for CYP3A5 polymorphism. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT 02882113). Twenty-eight patients were enrolled in the CYP3A5 expressor group and 32 in the non-expressor group. Although there was no statistical difference, incidence of liver dysfunction was higher in the expressor group than in the non-expressor group when converted to once-daily extended-release tacrolimus (p = 0.088). No biopsy-proven acute rejection, graft failure, and mortality were observed in either group. The decrease in dose-adjusted trough level (−42.9% vs. −26.1%) and dose/kg-adjusted trough level of tacrolimus (−40.0% vs. −23.7%) was significantly greater in the expressor group than in the non-expressors after the conversion. A pharmacokinetic analysis was performed in 10 patients and tacrolimus absorption in the non-expressor group was slower than in the expressor group. In line with this observation, the area under the curve for once-daily tacrolimus correlated with trough level (Cmin) in the non-expressors and peak concentration (Cmax) in the expressors. CYP3A5 genotyping in liver transplant recipients leads to prediction of pharmacokinetics after switching from a twice-daily regimen to a once-daily dosage form, which makes it possible to establish an appropriate dose of tacrolimus.
Machine Learning-Based Predictive Modeling of Postpartum Depression
Authors: Shin Dayeon , Lee Kyung Ju , Adeluwa Temidayo , Hur Junguk
Published: September 2020

Postpartum depression is a serious health issue beyond the mental health problems that affect mothers after childbirth. There are no predictive tools available to screen postpartum depression that also allow early interventions. We aimed to develop predictive models for postpartum depression using machine learning (ML) approaches. We performed a retrospective cohort study using data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System 2012–2013 with 28,755 records (3339 postpartum depression and 25,416 normal cases). The imbalance between the two groups was addressed by a balanced resampling using both random down-sampling and the synthetic minority over-sampling technique. Nine different ML algorithms, including random forest (RF), stochastic gradient boosting, support vector machines (SVM), recursive partitioning and regression trees, naïve Bayes, k-nearest neighbor (kNN), logistic regression, and neural network, were employed with 10-fold cross-validation to evaluate the models. The overall classification accuracies of the nine models ranged from 0.650 (kNN) to 0.791 (RF). The RF method achieved the highest area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve (AUC) value of 0.884, followed by SVM, which achieved the second-best performance with an AUC value of 0.864. Predictive modeling developed using ML-approaches may thus be used as a prediction (screening) tool for postpartum depression in future studies.
Resistance Exercise, Electrical Muscle Stimulation, and Whole-Body Vibration in Older Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Šarabon Nejc , Kozinc Žiga , Löfler Stefan , Hofer Christian
Published: September 2020

It has been shown that resistance exercise (RT) is one of the most effective approaches to counteract the physical and functional changes associated with aging. This systematic review with meta-analysis compared the effects of RT, whole-body vibration (WBV), and electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) on muscle strength, body composition, and functional performance in older adults. A thorough literature review was conducted, and the analyses were limited to randomized controlled trials. In total, 63 studies were included in the meta-analysis (48 RT, 11 WBV, and 4 EMS). The results showed that RT and WBV are comparably effective for improving muscle strength, while the effects of EMS remains debated. RT interventions also improved some outcome measures related to functional performance, as well as the cross-sectional area of the quadriceps. Muscle mass was not significantly affected by RT. A limitation of the review is the smaller number of WBV and particularly EMS studies. For this reason, the effects of WBV and EMS could not be comprehensively compared to the effect of RT for all outcome measures. For the moment, RT or combinations of RT and WBV or EMS, is probably the most reliable way to improve muscle strength and functional performance, while the best approach to increase muscle mass in older adults remains open to further studies.
Overview of the Side-Effects of FDA- and/or EMA-Approved Targeted Therapies for the Treatment of Hematological Malignancies
Authors: Constantinescu Catalin , Pasca Sergiu , Zimta Alina-Andreea , Tat Tiberiu , Rus Ioana , Teodorescu Patric , Iluta Sabina , Tanase Alina , Colita Anca , Sigurjonsson Olafur , Einsele Hermann , Tomuleasa Ciprian
Published: September 2020

In the last decade there has been tremendous effort in offering better therapeutic management strategies to patients with hematologic malignancies. These efforts have ranged from biological to clinical approaches and resulted in the rapid development of new approaches. The main “problem” that comes with the high influx of newly approved drugs, which not only influences hematologists that frequently work with these drugs but also affects other healthcare professionals that work with hematologists in patient management, including intensive care unit (ICU) physicians, is they have to keep up within their specialty and, in addition, with the side-effects that can occur when encountering hematology-specific therapies. Nonetheless, there are few people that have an in-depth understanding of a specialty outside theirs. Thus, this manuscript offers an overview of the most common side-effects caused by therapies used in hematology nowadays, or that are currently being investigated in clinical trials, with the purpose to serve as an aid to other specialties. Nevertheless, because of the high amount of information on this subject, each chapter will offer an overview of the side-effects of a drug class with each reference of the section being intended as further reading.
Comparative Study of First Order Optimizers for Image Classification Using Convolutional Neural Networks on Histopathology Images
Authors: Kandel Ibrahem , Castelli Mauro , Popovič Aleš
Published: September 2020

The classification of histopathology images requires an experienced physician with years of experience to classify the histopathology images accurately. In this study, an algorithm was developed to assist physicians in classifying histopathology images; the algorithm receives the histopathology image as an input and produces the percentage of cancer presence. The primary classifier used in this algorithm is the convolutional neural network, which is a state-of-the-art classifier used in image classification as it can classify images without relying on the manual selection of features from each image. The main aim of this research is to improve the robustness of the classifier used by comparing six different first-order stochastic gradient-based optimizers to select the best for this particular dataset. The dataset used to train the classifier is the PatchCamelyon public dataset, which consists of 220,025 images to train the classifier; the dataset is composed of 60% positive images and 40% negative images, and 57,458 images to test its performance. The classifier was trained on 80% of the images and validated on the rest of 20% of the images; then, it was tested on the test set. The optimizers were evaluated based on their AUC of the ROC curve. The results show that the adaptative based optimizers achieved the highest results except for AdaGrad that achieved the lowest results.
The Effect of Draft Ratio of Side-By-Side Barges on Fluid Oscillation in Narrow Gap
Authors: Chen Linfeng , Cao Xueshen , Sun Shiyan , Cui Jie
Published: September 2020

In the present study, the effects of the draft ratio of the floating body on the fluid oscillation in the gap are investigated by using the viscous fluid model. Numerical simulations are implemented by coupling wave2Foam and OpenFOAM. The Volume of Fluid (VOF) model is used to capture the free surface waves. It is verified that the numerical results agree well with the experimental and other results. It is firstly found that, within the water depth range investigated in the present study, the depth of the wave tank has a significant effect on the numerical results. As the depth of the wave tank increases, the oscillation amplitude of the narrow-gap fluid largely decreases and the resonant frequency of the fluid oscillation in the narrow gap increases. The results also reveal that the draft ratio of floating bodies has a significant nonlinear influence on the resonant frequency and on the oscillation amplitude of the fluid in the narrow gap. With an increase in the draft of either the floating body on the wave side or the one on the back wave side, the resonant frequency decreases. The increase in the draft of the floating body on the wave side causes an increase in the reflection wave coefficient and leads to a drop in the fluid oscillation amplitude, and the increase in the draft of the floating body on the back wave side triggers a decrease in the reflection wave coefficient and results in an increase in the fluid oscillation amplitude. Meanwhile, the viscous dissipation induced by the fluid viscosity synchronously increases with the oscillation amplitude of the fluid in the increasing gap. Moreover, it is found that the draft ratio mainly affects the horizontal force of the floating body on the back wave side and that the highest calculated force increases with the draft ratio.
Tank-Level Control of Liquefied Natural Gas Carrier Based on Gaussian Function Nonlinear Decoration
Authors: Zhao Zhijian , Zhang Xianku , Li Ze
Published: September 2020

This paper introduces a novel controller into the tank level control of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier. The proposed controller can simplify the design process and save energy output of the controller under the premise of achieving a good control effect of the liquid level of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier tank. Moreover, Gaussian function is adopted to decorate nonlinearly the output of the linear controller designed by using the second-order closed loop gain-shaping algorithm, and then the final controller is obtained. The effectiveness of the controller is verified by simulation experiments on the LNG carrier ‘‘Da-Peng Sun’’ No.2 liquid tank. The simulation results show that the comprehensive control performance index J of the second-order closed loop gain-shaping controller decorated by Gaussian function reduces by 11.8% and 95.3%, respectively, compared with the controller without nonlinear decoration and the linear proportional–integral–differential (PID) controller, meeting the requirement of energy saving and realizing a good control result of the tank level of the LNG carrier.
GP-ARX-Based Structural Damage Detection and Localization under Varying Environmental Conditions
Authors: Tatsis Konstantinos , Dertimanis Vasilis , Ou Yaowen , Chatzi Eleni
Published: September 2020

The representation of structural dynamics in the absence of physics-based models, is often accomplished through the identification of parametric models, such as the autoregressive with exogenous inputs, e.g. ARX models. When the structure is amenable to environmental variations, parameter-varying extensions of the original ARX model can be implemented, allowing for tracking of the operational variability. Yet, the latter occurs in sufficiently longer time-scales (days, weeks, months), as compared to system dynamics. For inferring a “global”, long time-scale varying ARX model, data from a full operational cycle has to typically become available. In addition, when the sensor network comprises multiple nodes, the identification of long time-scale varying, vector ARX models grow in complexity. We address these issues by proposing a distributed framework for structural identification, damage detection and localization. Its main features are: (i) the individual estimation of local, single-input-single-output ARX models at every operational point; (ii) the long time-scale representation of each individual ARX coefficient via a Gaussian process regression, which captures dependency on varying Environmental and Operational Conditions (EOCs); (iii) the establishment of a distributed residual generation algorithm for damage detection, which produces time-series of well-defined stationary statistics, with detected discrepancies used for damage diagnosis; and, (iv) exploitation of ARX-inferred mode shape curvatures, obtained via ARX-inferred global state-space models, of the healthy and damaged states, for damage localization. The method is assessed via application on two numerical case studies of different complexity, with the results confirming its efficacy for diagnostics under varying EOCs.
Public Food Procurement as a Driving Force for Building Local and Agroecological Food Systems: Farmers’ Skepticism in Vega Baja del Jarama, Madrid (Spain)
Authors: Simón-Rojo Marian , Couceiro Andrés , del Valle Julia , Fariña Tojo José
Published: September 2020

In the last decade, efforts to re-localize the food system have been gaining ground in a way that is intended to induce changes in the primary sector, thereby improving its conditions and sustainability. The European Union has identified food as one of the ten key sectors with outstanding potential for an ecological transition, and public procurement of (organic) food as an appropriate policy to foster agricultural development and support small farmers. In this study, we analyze changes in land use and farming dynamics in three municipalities close to the metropolitan area of Madrid (Spain). We also explore how stakeholders and farmers perceive the driving forces of these changes and the potential for public procurement in providing stability for farmers and more specifically, boosting the articulation and consolidation of the emerging agroecological sector in an up-to-date hostile peri-urban environment. Some urban policies and food strategies in nearby cities, such as Madrid, have introduced measures to promote sustainable food in public procurement. The procurement could drive 10% of the total food grown in the Comunidad de Madrid, with large variations in the impact on different food subsectors. However, if public procurement is to be organic, local production has no capacity to meet increases in demand, except for honey and oil. Food procurement would not lead to improved stability and increases in farmers’ incomes if public policies to boost ecological transition are not adopted in parallel. For farmers, economic viability takes precedence over other problems, and although public procurement has been mainstreamed as a valuable tool to support local agriculture, stakeholders do not have high expectations for it. The research shows that farm size and specialization have a strong influence on market orientation, and the agroecological farmers and social movements that support them are primed for innovation adoption and may act as catalysts for the process.
New Eco-Materials Derived from Waste for Emerging Pollutants Adsorption: The Case of Diclofenac
Authors: Fahimi Ario , Zanoletti Alessandra , Federici Stefania , Assi Ahmad , Bilo Fabjola , Depero Laura Eleonora , Bontempi Elza
Published: September 2020

This work proposes new eco-materials for the adsorption of diclofenac (DCF). The large consumption of this nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug combined with the inefficiency of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) leads to its presence in aquatic environments as an emerging pollutant. The adsorption technique is widely used for pharmaceutical removal. Moreover, due to the large effect of commercial adsorbents, in the frame of the Azure Chemistry approach, new sustainable materials are mandatory for removal as emerging pollutants. The work proposes three adsorbents that were obtained from different stabilization methods of fly ash derived from an incinerator plant; the stabilization techniques involved the use of various industrial by-products such as bottom ash, flue gas desulphurization residues, coal fly ash, and silica fume. The best performance, although less than activated carbon, was obtained by COSMOS (COlloidal Silica Medium to Obtain Safe inert: the case of incinerator fly ash), with a removal efficacy of approximately 76% with 15 g/L of material. Several advantages are expected not only from the DCF removal but also from an economic perspective (the newly obtained adsorbents are eco-materials, so they are cheaper in comparison to conventional adsorbents) and in terms of sustainability (no toxic reagents and no heating treatment are involved). This work highlights the adsorption performance of the new eco-materials and their potential use in WWTPs.
Formation of Bifunctional Octasilsesquioxanes via Silylative Coupling and Cross-Metathesis Reaction
Authors: Bołt Małgorzata , Żak Patrycja , Dudziec Beata , Schulmann Anna , Marciniec Bogdan
Published: September 2020

Bifunctional silsesquioxanes create an attractive group of compounds with a wide range of potential applications, and recently they have gained much interest. They are known to be obtained mainly via hydrosilylation, but we disclose novel synthetic protocols based on different but complementary reactions, i.e., cross-metathesis (CM) and silylative coupling (SC). A series of cubic T8 type silsesquioxane derivatives with a broad scope of styryl substituents were synthesized in a one-pot procedure and characterized by spectroscopic and spectrometric methods. All of the new compounds can be obtained in a one-pot manner, which has an attractive impact on the synthetic procedure, as it is economic in terms of the isolation of intermediate products. Additionally, the methodology disclosed here enables the (E)-stereoselective introduction of styrenes derivative to the cubic T8 type core. The presented compounds can be interesting precursors for a further functionalization that may significantly increase the possibility of their application in the design and synthesis of new functional materials.
Failure Analysis of the Tree Column Structures Type AlSi10Mg Alloy Branches Manufactured by Selective Laser Melting
Authors: Bai Peikang , Huo Pengcheng , Kang Taotao , Zhao Zhanyong , Du Wenbo , Liang Minjie , Li Yuxin , Liao Haihong , Liu Yun
Published: September 2020

AlSi10Mg alloy branches were fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM), and the branches were employed to evaluate their effect on the mechanical properties. When the porous branches were compressed along its building direction, the tree column structures-type AlSi10Mg alloy branches collapsed twice, which had typical elastic, shear, collapse, and densification stages. The compressive stress concentration at the interface between the support and the porous body caused the fracture of the tree column structures-type AlSi10Mg alloy branches. The fracture surface indicated that the prepared tree-type branches were distributed with different shapes of dimples, and the Si content inside the dimples was higher than that of the edge. The morphology of the Al-Si eutectic structure formed by SLM and the stress concentration at the Al/Al-Si-eutectic interface affected the fracture morphology and Si content distribution.
Deposition of Copper on Poly(Lactide) Non-Woven Fabrics by Magnetron Sputtering—Fabrication of New Multi-Functional, Antimicrobial Composite Materials
Authors: Kudzin Marcin H. , Mrozińska Zdzisława , Kaczmarek Anna , Lisiak-Kucińska Agnieszka
Published: September 2020

The paper presents the method of synthesis; physico-technical and biological characterization of a new composite material (PLA–Cu0) obtained by sputter deposition of copper on melt-blown poly(lactide) (PLA) non-woven fabrics. The analysis of these biofunctionalized non-woven fabrics included: ultraviolet/visible (UV/VIS) transmittance; scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS); attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy; ability to block UV radiation; filtration parameters (air permeability); and tensile testing. The functionalized non-woven composite materials were subjected to antimicrobial tests against colonies of Gram-negative (Escherichia coli), Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria and antifungal tests against the Chaetomium globosum fungal mould species. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of PLA–Cu0 suggests potential applications as an antimicrobial material.
Influence of the Degradation Medium on Water Uptake, Morphology, and Chemical Structure of Poly(Lactic Acid)-Sisal Bio-Composites
Authors: Moliner Cristina , Finocchio Elisabetta , Arato Elisabetta , Ramis Gianguido , Lagazzo Alberto
Published: September 2020

A series of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(lactic acid)-based bio-composites (sisal PLA) were prepared and studied by spectroscopic and microscopic techniques as such and after immersion at room temperature in different degradation mediums (i.e., distilled and natural sea water and solutions at pH = 2, 6, and 8). In these conditions, some of their macroscopic and microscopic properties were monitored during a period of 30 days. Water absorption increased with the increasing fiber content regardless of the immersion medium. The maximum water absorption was achieved at pH = 8 (~16%), indicating a more severe action of the alkaline mediums on the samples. The diffusivity, D, of PLA decreased with the addition of fibers and acidic mediums showed higher D, indicating higher diffusivity of water through the specimens with respect to those submerged in moderate or alkaline mediums. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis evidenced a weak interaction between the PLA matrix and the sisal fibers. Very limited degradation phenomena occur in our conditions: Despite some changes in the microstructure, the PLA backbone seems to be largely resistant to hydrolysis, almost regardless of the pH value and even at the highest sisal content.