bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
First-order agent-based models of emergent behaviour of Dictyostelium discoideum and their inspiration for swarm robotics
Authors: Parhizkar Mohammad , Di Marzo Serugendo Giovanna , Nitschke Jahn , Hellequin Louis , Wade Assane , Soldati Thierry 
Published: October 2020

AbstractCollective behaviour in nature provides a source of inspiration to engineer artificial collective adaptive systems, due to their mechanisms favouring adaptation to environmental changes and enabling complex emergent behaviour to arise from a relatively simple behaviour of individual entities. As part of our ongoing research, we study the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum to derive agent-based models and mechanisms that we can then exploit in artificial systems, in particular in swarm robotics. In this paper, we present a selection of agent-based models of the aggregation phase of D. discoideum, their corresponding biological illustrations and how we used them as an inspiration for transposing this behaviour into swarms of Kilobots. We focus on the stream-breaking phenomenon occurring during the aggregation phase of the life cycle of D. discoideum. Results show that the breakup of aggregation streams depends on cell density, motility, motive force and the concentration of cAMP and CF. The breakup also comes with the appearance of late centres. Our computational results show similar behaviour to our biological experiments, using Ax2(ka) strain. For swarm robotics experiments, we focus on signalling and aggregation towards a centre.
Eye movements to absent objects during mental imagery and visual memory in immersive virtual reality
Authors: Chiquet Sandra , Martarelli Corinna S. , Mast Fred W. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe role of eye movements in mental imagery and visual memory is typically investigated by presenting stimuli or scenes on a two-dimensional (2D) computer screen. When questioned about objects that had previously been presented on-screen, people gaze back to the location of the stimuli, even though those regions are blank during retrieval. It remains unclear whether this behavior is limited to a highly controlled experimental setting using 2D screens or whether it also occurs in a more naturalistic setting. The present study aims to overcome this shortcoming. Three-dimensional (3D) objects were presented along a circular path in an immersive virtual room. During retrieval, participants were given two tasks: to visualize the objects, which they had encoded before, and to evaluate a statement about visual details of the object. We observed longer fixation duration in the area, on which the object was previously displayed, when compared to other possible target locations. However, in 89% of the time, participants fixated none of the predefined areas. On the one hand, this shows that looking at nothing may be overestimated in 2D screen-based paradigm, on the other hand, the looking at nothing effect was still present in the 3D immersive virtual reality setting, and thus it extends external validity of previous findings. Eye movements during retrieval reinstate spatial information of previously inspected stimuli.
Distribution of erosions in hands and feet at the time for the diagnosis of RA and during 8-year follow-up
Authors: Andersson Maria L. , Svensson B. , Forslind K. 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
Joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is usually evaluated by radiographs of both hands and feet, while the inflammatory status mostly is evaluated by DAS28 which, however, does not include the feet.

Objectives
To investigate the distribution of erosions in hands and feet in early RA over 8 years and its potential clinical implications. Furthermore, the group of patients never showing erosions has been addressed.

Methods
This study comprises 1041 patients from the BARFOT study of patients with early RA. Radiographs of hands and feet were performed at baseline, 1, 2, 5, and 8 years and evaluated by the Sharp van der Heijde scoring (SHS) method (32 joints in the hands and 12 in the feet). Disease activity was measured by DAS28, SR, CRP, and function with HAQ.

Results
In the feet, there were significantly more eroded joints in percent of examined joints than in the hands at all time points. Patients with erosions only in the feet were younger, more often seropositive and smokers. They had significantly lower baseline DAS28, than the patients with erosions only in the hands. The patients without erosions over time were, at diagnosis, significantly younger and less frequently seropositive compared with patients having erosions.

Conclusions
This study highlights the importance of evaluating the feet in patients with RA, both with clinical examinations and with imaging and lends support to the notion that seropositivity and smoking are risk factors for erosive disease. Further studies of patients with nonerosive disease are needed.

Key Points:• Foot problems are common in RA• This study emphasizes the limitations of DAS28 and Sharp van der Heijde score as regards evaluating disease activity and radiographic damage• This study highlights the importance of evaluating the feet in patients with RA with clinical examinations and imaging• This study also points out the need of further studies of patients with non-erosive RA.
Beiräte als Instrument einer Ernährungswende – Die Etablierung von Ernährungsräten
in Deutschland
Authors: Sieveking Annelie , Schomerus Thomas 
Published: October 2020

Zusammenfassung
Deutschlandweit sind Ernährungsräte im Kommen. Diese im angelsächsischen Raum als
“food policy councils” bekannten Gremien sind überwiegend zivilgesellschaftlich initiiert
und versuchen z.B. durch Öffentlichkeitsarbeit oder Forderungen an Politik und Verwaltung eine Ernährungswende
voranzubringen. Der Beitrag untersucht die Möglichkeiten einer stärkeren rechtlichen Verankerung
dieser Gremien.
miR-491-3p is Downregulated in Retinoblastoma and Inhibit Tumor Cells Growth and Metastasis by Targeting SNN
Authors: Hu Yang , Zhao Ming , Li Li , Ding Jie , Gui Yu-Min , Wei Tan-Wei 
Published: October 2020

AbstractRetinoblastoma (Rb) is the most common pediatric malignant tumor of the eyes. Previous studies demonstrated that miR-491-3p is downregulated in various cancers. However, its function in Rb remains unknown. A total of 15 pairs of primary Rb tissues and adjacent noncancerous tissues were collected. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to investigate the expression profiles of miR-491-3p. qRT-PCR, western blotting and in situ immunocytochemistry were performed to investigate the expression profiles of epithelial–mesenchymal transition-related proteins (E-cadherin, Vimentin and N-cadherin) in Rb tissues and Rb cell lines as well as cell morphology. Cell proliferation was estimated by MTS and colony formation assays. Apoptosis was determined by FACS, cell migration and invasion were analyzed using transwell chambers. MiR-491-3p’s target genes were predicted using target gene prediction databases. The interplay between miR-491-3p and SNN was evaluated through dual luciferase reporter gene assay. MiR-491-3p was significantly downregulated in mixed collection of 15 pairs of Rb tissues and Rb cell lines. Overexpression of miR-491-3p enhanced apoptosis, and significantly suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion of Rb cells. In contrast, the present of miR-491-3p inhibitor showed reversed results which apoptosis decreased, while cell proliferation of ARPE-19 cells increased. In addition, miR-491-3p increased the expression of E-cadherin, and dramatically decreased the expression of Vimentin and N-cadherin in Rb tissues and Rb cell lines, noticeable changes in morphology, too, as cells became less cohesive and more adhering. We found out that SNN was the pairing target of miR-491-3p and result showed that miR-491-3p and SNN interacted with each other. We also found out that the effects of miR-491-3p were in Rb cells were almost entirely canceled out at the overexpression of SNN. Our findings collectively suggest that miR-491-3p is an important tumor suppressor in Rb, which inhibits tumor growth and metastasis in Rb. These implicate it may be explored as a new therapeutic target in Rb.
From Pandemic to Progression: An Educational Framework for the Implementation of Virtual Mental Healthcare for Children and Youth as a Response to COVID-19
Authors: Doan Bridget T. , Yang Yue Bo , Romanchych Erin , Grewal Seena , Monga Suneeta , Pignatiello Tony , Bryden Pier , Kulkarni Chetana 
Published: October 2020

AbstractCOVID-19 restrictions have necessitated child/youth mental health providers to shift towards virtually delivering services to patients’ homes rather than hospitals and community mental health clinics. There is scant guidance available for clinicians on how to address unique considerations for the virtual mental healthcare of children and youth as clinicians rapidly shift their practices away from in-person care in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, we bridge this gap by discussing a six-pillar framework developed at Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, for delivering direct to patient virtual mental healthcare to children, youth and their families. We also offer a discussion of the advantages, disadvantages, and future implications of such services.
A fusion of salient and convolutional features applying healthy templates for MRI brain tumor segmentation
Authors: Takács Petra , Kovács Levente , Manno-Kovacs Andrea 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThis paper proposes an improved brain tumor segmentation method based on visual saliency features on MRI image volumes. The proposed method introduces a novel combination of multiple MRI modalities used as pseudo-color channels for highlighting the potential tumors. The novel pseudo-color model incorporates healthy templates generated from the MRI slices without tumors. The constructed healthy templates are also used during the training of neural network models. Based on a saliency map built using the pseudo-color templates, combination models are proposed, fusing the saliency map with convolutional neural networks’ prediction maps to improve predictions and to reduce the networks’ eventual overfitting which may result in weaker predictions for previously unseen cases. By introducing the combination technique for deep learning techniques and saliency-based, handcrafted feature models, the fusion approach shows good abstraction capabilities and it is able to handle diverse cases that the networks were less trained for. The proposed methods were tested on the BRATS2015 and BRATS2018 databases, and the quantitative results show that hybrid models (including both trained and handcrafted features) can be promising alternatives for reaching higher segmentation performance. Moreover, healthy templates can provide additional information for the training process, enhancing the prediction performance of neural network models.
Transformation of silver nanoparticles released from skin cream and mouth spray in artificial sweat and saliva solutions: particle size, dissolution, and surface area
Authors: Hedberg Jonas , Eriksson Madeleine , Kesraoui Amina , Norén Alexander , Odnevall Wallinder Inger 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe use of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in consumer products can result in diffuse environmental dispersion of both NPs and ionic silver. This study investigated the transformation of Ag NPs present in two consumer products (skin cream, mouth spray) in terms of release of Ag NPs and ionic silver and changes in particle size in artificial sweat and saliva solutions. Large differences in silver release were observed with the smaller sized Ag NPs in mouth spray releasing more silver compared with the Ag NPs of the skin cream. Substantial particle agglomeration took place in both artificial sweat and saliva, forming large-sized agglomerates (> 100 nm). The amount of dissolved silver in solution after 24 h was less than 10% of the total amount of Ag NPs for both products. The results show that the Ag NPs of these consumer products will largely remain as NPs even after 24 h of skin or saliva contact. The use of normalization by geometric surface area of the particles was tested as a way to compare dissolution for Ag NPs of different characteristics, including pristine, bare, as well as PVP-capped Ag NPs. Normalization of silver dissolution with the geometric surface area was shown promising, but more extensive studies are required to unambiguously conclude whether it is a way forward to enable grouping of the dissolution behavior of Ag NPs released from consumer products.
Triclosan exposure and in vitro fertilization treatment outcomes in women undergoing in vitro fertilization
Authors: Radwan Paweł , Wielgomas Bartosz , Radwan Michał , Krasiński Rafał , Klimowska Anna , Zajdel Radosław , Kaleta Dorota , Jurewicz Joanna 
Published: October 2020

AbstractTriclosan (TCS) is a widespread environmental endocrine-disrupting chemical. Animal and in vitro studies suggested that triclosan may affect homesostasis of sex and thyroid hormones and impact on reproduction. Due to limited data derived from human epidemiological studies, this study was performed to examine the association between urinary concentration of triclosan and in vitro reproductive outcomes (methaphase II (MII) oocyte yield, top quality embryo, fertilization rate, implantation rate, and clinical pregnancy) among women from infertility clinic. The study participants were enrolled in an Infertility Center in Poland. A total of 450 women aged 25–45 (n = 674 IVF cycles) provided urine samples. The urinary concentrations of triclosan were evaluated using validated gas chromatography ion-tap mass spectrometry method. Clinical outcomes of IVF treatment were abstracted from patients electronic chart records. Triclosan was detected in urine of 82% of women with geometric mean 2.56 ± 6.13 ng/mL. Urinary concentrations of triclosan were associated with decrease implantation rate (p = 0.03). There were no association between other examined IVF outcomes: MII oocytes, embryo quality, fertilization rate, and exposure to triclosan. As this is one of the first study on this topic, studies among larger and more diverse population are needed to confirm the results.
Teaching with digital technology
Authors: Clark-Wilson Alison , Robutti Ornella , Thomas Mike 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn this survey paper, we describe the state of the field of research on teaching mathematics with technology with an emphasis on the secondary school phase. We synthesize themes, questions, results and perspectives emphasized in the articles that appear in this issue alongside the relevant foundations of these ideas within the key journal articles, handbooks and conference papers. Our aim is to give an overview of the field that provides opportunities for readers to gain deeper insights into theoretical, methodological, practical and societal challenges that concern teaching mathematics with technology in its broadest sense. Although this collection of articles was developed prior to the global coronavirus pandemic, we have taken the opportunity to survey the contributing authors to provide some country perspectives on the impact the pandemic has had on mathematics teaching with technology in the period January–July 2020. We conclude the survey paper by identifying some areas for future research in this increasingly relevant topic.
User-centered approach for design and development of industrial workplace
Authors: Panariello Dario , Grazioso Stanislao , Caporaso Teodorico , Di Gironimo Giuseppe , Lanzotti Antonio 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn this paper, we propose a user-centered approach for the design of ergonomic workplaces. The method is based on the evaluation of subjective opinions and objective measures from the worker, while performing the industrial tasks. The ergonomic design of industrial workplaces will have impact in reducing the musculoskeletal disorders of workers.
A graph-based approach and an interactive tool for preliminary digital prototyping
Authors: Vitolo Ferdinando , Patalano Stanislao , Lanzotti Antonio 
Published: October 2020

AbstractDesign process is usually based on past experiences and best practises which compose the company know-how. The challenge is to identify common patterns in the design solutions generated for different design problems. The present paper focuses on the identification of product patterns by using a graph-based approach. It deals with the designing of automotive gearboxes and with the development of an approach and a software tool aimed to support preliminary design and CAD modelling activities in gearbox designing. The approach is applied to two different architectures of manual transverse gearboxes characterized by two and three shafts. It aims at the identification of common design features through the detection of the directed graphs matching. A Matlab software tool for gearbox preliminary design is implemented according to the detected common features. The proposed approach and the developed software tool provide an effective way to keep and re-use company know-how, especially in the context of large automotive companies.
Effects of Dietary Zn/Se and α-Tocopherol Supplementation on Metabolic Milieu, Haemogram and Semen Traits of Breeding Stallions
Authors: Cappai Maria Grazia , Taras Andrea , Cossu Ignazio , Cherchi Raffaele , Dimauro Corrado , Accioni Francesca , Boatto Gianpiero , Deroma Mario , Spanu Emanuela , Gatta Domenico , Dall’Aglio Cecilia , Pinna Walter 
Published: October 2020

AbstractTrace element status and metabolic milieu are sometimes overlooked in common veterinary clinical practice across animal species. The evaluation of requirements of trace elements, in fact, may be useful to prevent the perturbation of tissue-specific metabolic impair. In particular, essential trace elements in the diet play key roles within sub-cellular metabolic patterns with macro effects at the systemic level, like blood cell stability and semen quality. This effect was studied in breeding stallions, in which semen quality and haemogram are important for reproduction. A case-control feeding trial involved 40 stallions (age: 8–21 years; body weight, BW: 510–531 kg) of one stud centre, allotted to two experimental groups (n = 20 control, CON vs.n = 20 supplemented, SUPPL100), following a matched-pairs approach based on age. Supplemented stallions (SUPPL100) received a mixed mineral and vitamin supplement of Zn/Se and α-tocopherol (α-TOH) (100 g/day stallion) to compound feed, fed as control diet to horses of the control group (CON). Horses resulted deficient in circulating α-TOH and Zn at the start, though clinically healthy. After supplementation, different plasmatic levels of α-TOH, Zn and Se were found between groups. Circulating basophils (BASO) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were affected by the dietary treatment (p < 0.05). Plasmatic Se affected monocyte count, haematocrit, mean cell volume and mean cell haemoglobin concentration. Semen traits were not affected by the dietary treatment per se, except for mobile/progressive sperm cells (%) of stallions aged > 13 years marginal circulating levels of α-TOH (p = 0.04). Ameliorating the micromineral status showed to improve the haemogram of stallions in view of circulating levels of Cu. Semen quality appeared to be strongly dependent on animal effects.
Alcohol intoxication resistance and alcohol dehydrogenase levels differ between the honeybee castes
Authors: Miler Krzysztof , Stec Daniel , Kamińska Alicja , Pardyak Laura , Kuszewska Karolina 
Published: October 2020

AbstractVarious animal models are used in the study of alcoholism, with the honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) among them. Here, we tested the hypothesis that foragers show higher intoxication resistance to alcohol than nurses, an issue thus far not investigated. To this end, we measured the latency to full sedation when exposed to alcohol in foragers, nurses and reverted nurses. In addition, we measured alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) levels in these worker castes. Caste status was confirmed by comparison of the size of their hypopharyngeal glands. We detected high intoxication resistance to alcohol and presence of ADH in foragers. In nurses, we detected significantly lower intoxication resistance to alcohol and no ADH. These between-caste differences cannot be explained by the age difference between castes as in reverted nurses, characterized by similar age to foragers, we detected an intermediate intoxication resistance to alcohol and no ADH. Our results suggest possible natural exposure to alcohol in different castes of workers. As such, we further develop the honeybee as a model in alcoholism-related research and open new research avenues.
Mechanical Properties and Impact Toughness of Molybdenum Alloyed Ductile Iron
Authors: Franzen D. , Pustal B. , Bührig-Polaczek A. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractGrades of high silicon ductile iron offer excellent combinations of static strength and ductility as well as good machinability due to their fully ferritic, solution strengthened matrix. As a result of elevated silicon contents, however, the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature in the Charpy impact test is significantly increased. Thus, minimum required Charpy impact energies cannot be met for many applications by using high silicon ductile iron. Therefore, alloys with lower strength and higher toughness properties are commonly used for many technical applications. The enormous lightweight construction potential of high silicon ductile iron can therefore not be fully exploited. The present investigation pursues the metallurgical approach of partially substituting silicon with molybdenum as an alternative strengthening element in order to improve the toughness properties while maintaining similar static mechanical properties. Molybdenum serves as a carbide-stabilising element in ductile iron, while simultaneously promoting ferrite formation and is therefore regarded to be suitable alloying element. In Charpy impact tests, the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature could be reduced by about 55 °C by reducing the silicon content to 2.95 wt% and adding 0.21 wt% molybdenum compared to a high silicon alloy. Additionally, it was possible to mathematically describe the transition behaviour of the studied alloys using nonlinear regression functions and to achieve a sufficient correlation of empirically determined and calculated data. This present metallurgical concept offers a promising metallurgical tool for further improving the toughness properties of alloyed ductile iron.