bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of mutations in BRCA and MMR genes in patients affected with hereditary endometrial cancer
Authors: Vietri Maria Teresa , D’Elia Giovanna , Caliendo Gemma , Casamassimi Amelia , Federico Alessandro , Passariello Luana , Cioffi Michele , Molinari Anna Maria 
Published: January 2021

AbstractEndometrial cancer (EC) is the fifth most common cancer in women from developed countries, accounting for 4.8% of new cases and 2.1% of deaths. The genetic basis for the familial risk of endometrial cancer has not been completely defined. Mostly, hereditary EC is part of two syndromes as Lynch syndrome (LS) and Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer syndrome (HBOC). LS is the prototypical hereditary cancer syndrome in EC and accounts for 2–6% of all endometrial cancers. This disease is caused by autosomal dominant mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes. Patients carrying a germline mutation in one of the MMR genes have a cumulative lifetime risk to develop EC of 20–70%. HBOC is an autosomal dominantly inherited disease, which mostly predisposes to breast and ovarian cancers, but it can be also associated with other malignancies. HBOC results from germline mutations in BRCA1/2 genes. The aim of this study was to determine the mutational status of a cohort of 40 EC patients, 19 belonging to families with LS and 21 to HBOC. Mutation analysis of MLH1, MSH2, BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes showed pathogenic variants in 17/40 (42.5%) patients. Out of 19 patients belonging to LS families, 8 (42.1%) showed a pathogenic variant. Out of 21 patients belonging to HBOC families, 9 (42.8%) showed a pathogenic variant. 1/21 (4.8%) patient report 1 variant of unknown significance (UV), c.599 C > T (p.T200I), in BRCA2. Moreover, in 1/21 (4.8%) patient we identified a novel missense variant in BRCA2, c.9541A > T (p.Met3181Leu). Mutational analysis was extended to family members, both healthy and cancer affected, of mutated patients; all the tested relatives affected with cancer displayed the pathogenic variant. Our data suggest that patients with hereditary EC have a high percentage of mutations in the LS and HBOC main susceptibility genes; therefore, the surveillance for EC, already indicated in LS patients, should also be recommended for patients with HBOC.
Adiponectin in Cerebrospinal Fluid from Patients Affected by Multiple Sclerosis Is Correlated with the Progression and Severity of Disease
Authors: Signoriello Elisabetta , Mallardo Marta , Nigro Ersilia , Polito Rita , Casertano Sara , Di Pietro Andrea , Coletta Marcella , Monaco Maria Ludovica , Rossi Fabiana , Lus Giacomo , Daniele Aurora 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAdiponectin exerts relevant actions in immunity and is modulated in several disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). In this study, we characterized adiponectin expression and profiles in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from MS patients to investigate its potential relationship with the severity and progression of the disease. Total adiponectin in CSF was measured by ELISA in 66 unrelated CSF MS patients and compared with 24 age- and sex-matched controls. Adiponectin oligomer profiles were analysed by Western blotting and FPLC chromatography. Total CSF adiponectin was significantly increased in MS patients compared with controls (9.91 ng/mL vs 6.02 ng/mL) (p < 0.001). Interestingly, CSF adiponectin positively correlated with CSF IgG, and CSF/serum albumin directly correlated with CSF/serum adiponectin. Our data demonstrated that CSF adiponectin predicts a worse prognosis: patients with the progressive form of MS had higher levels compared with the relapsing remitting form; patients with higher EDSS at baseline and a higher MS severity score at 4.5-year follow-up had significantly elevated adiponectin levels with respect to patients with a less severe phenotype. Finally, the adiponectin oligomerization profile was altered in CSF from MS patients, with a significant increase in HMW and MMW. The correlation of CSF adiponectin with the severity and prognosis of MS disease confirmed the role of this adipokine in the inflammatory/immune processes of MS and suggested its use as a complementary tool to assess the severity, progression and prognosis of the disease. Further studies on larger MS cohorts are needed to clarify the contribution of adiponectin to the etiopathogenesis of MS.
Quantitative Evaluation of a Telerobotic System for Vascular Ultrasound Measurement on a Short Arm Human Centrifuge
Authors: Frett Timo , Petrat Guido , Arz Michael , Leguy Carole 
Published: January 2021

AbstractArtificial Gravity generated by Short Arm Human Centrifuges is a promising multi-system countermeasure for physiological deconditioning during long duration space flights. To allow a continuous assessment of cardiovascular hemodynamics during centrifugation, a telerobotic robotic system holding an ultrasound probe has been installed on a Short Arm Human Centrifuge. A feasibility study was conducted to define the use capabilities and limitations of such a novel method. The objective of this study is to estimate the reproducibility and precision of remotely controlled vascular ultrasound assessment under centrifugation by assessing peripheral vascular diameter and wall distension. Four repeated centrifugation runs of 5 min, with 2.4 g at feet level, were performed including a 15 min rest between each run for a group of eight healthy male volunteers. Vascular diameter and distention were assessed for the common carotid artery (CCA) and the femoral artery (FA) by ultrasound imaging using a 10 MHz linear array probe (Mylab1, Esaote). Ultrasound measurements were consecutively performed: a) by an expert user in hand-held mode in standing as well as supine position, b) using the telerobotic arm without centrifugation as baseline and c) using the telerobotic arm during centrifugation. Vascular responses were compared between baseline and under centrifugation. Inter-, intra-registration and group variability have been assessed for hand-held and remotely controlled examination. The results show that intra-registration variability, σh , was always smaller than inter-registration variability, σm, that is in turned smaller than the inter-subject variability σg (σh < σm < σg). Centrifugation caused no significant changes in CCA diameter but a lower carotid distension compared to manual and robotic ultrasound in supine position (p < 0.05). Femoral diameter was significantly decreased in hypergravity compared to robotic sonography without centrifugation. A good reproducibility and precision of the remotely controlled vascular ultrasound assessment under centrifugation could be demonstrated. In conclusion, arterial wall dynamics can be precisely assessed for the CCA and femoral artery during centrifugation using a telerobotic ultrasound measurement system. Potential improvements to further enhance reproducibility and safety of the system are discussed.
The Payload Development and the Experiments for Studying Thermocapillary Convection in TG-2 Liquid Bridge
Authors: Duan Li , Kang Qi , Zhang Jianquan , Li Xiang , Hu Liang , Zhou Bin , Li Lujun , Wu Di , Wang Jia , Zhang Pu 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe development of space experiment payload for studying thermocapillary convection in the liquid bridge with large Pr number on TG-2 space laboratory as well as the experiments are presented in detail in this paper, and the objectives of the space experiments are confirmed. The functions of the payload are analyzed, and the technical and engineering specifications are determined. Detailed designs and experimental verifications are performed on the structure of liquid bridge columns, the method of bubble removing in the liquid, the bridge cleaning system, the accurate control of aspect ratio and volume ratio, and the high-sensitivity measurement of fluid temperature. Matching experiments on the ground according to space experiment properties are carried out, 5cSt silicone oil is selected as the fluid medium in space experiments. And the states of liquid bridge and temperature oscillation signals obtained from space experiments are presented at the end of this paper. Specific summarizations and discussions to the experiment project on fluid science in space are conducted in this paper, which will provide a useful reference for scientists participating space experimental research in the future.
Smooth functorial field theories from B-fields and D-branes
Authors: Bunk Severin , Waldorf Konrad 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIn the Lagrangian approach to 2-dimensional sigma models, B-fields and D-branes contribute topological terms to the action of worldsheets of both open and closed strings. We show that these terms naturally fit into a 2-dimensional, smooth open-closed functorial field theory (FFT) in the sense of Atiyah, Segal, and Stolz–Teichner. We give a detailed construction of this smooth FFT, based on the definition of a suitable smooth bordism category. In this bordism category, all manifolds are equipped with a smooth map to a spacetime target manifold. Further, the object manifolds are allowed to have boundaries; these are the endpoints of open strings stretched between D-branes. The values of our FFT are obtained from the B-field and its D-branes via transgression. Our construction generalises work of Bunke–Turner–Willerton to include open strings. At the same time, it generalises work of Moore–Segal about open-closed TQFTs to include target spaces. We provide a number of further features of our FFT: we show that it depends functorially on the B-field and the D-branes, we show that it is thin homotopy invariant, and we show that it comes equipped with a positive reflection structure in the sense of Freed–Hopkins. Finally, we describe how our construction is related to the classification of open-closed TQFTs obtained by Lauda–Pfeiffer.
Numerical simulation of coal wall cutting and lump coal formation in a fully mechanized mining face
Authors: Yuan Yong , Wang Shengzhi , Wang Wenmiao , Zhu Cheng 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIt is difficult to accurately calculate the lump coal rate in a fully mechanized mining face. Therefore, a numerical simulation of the coal wall cutting process, which revealed the crack expansion, development, evolution in the coal body and the corresponding lump coal formation mechanism, was performed in PFC2D. Moreover, a correlation was established between the cutting force and lump coal formation, and a statistical analysis method was proposed to determine the lump coal rate. The following conclusions are drawn from the results: (1) Based on a soft ball model, a coal wall cutting model is established. By setting the roller parameters based on linear bonding and simulating the roller cutting process of the coal body, the coal wall cutting process is effectively simulated, and accurate lump coal rate statistics are provided. (2) Under the cutting stress, the coal body in the working face underwent three stages—microfracture generation, fracture expansion, and fracture penetration—to form lump coal, in which the fracture direction is orthogonal to the cutting pressure chain. Within a certain range from the roller, as the cutting depth of the roller increased, the number of new fractures in the coal body first increases and then stabilizes. (3) Under the cutting stress, the fractured coal body is locally compressed, thereby forming a compact core. The formation and destruction of the compact core causes fluctuations in the cutting force. The fluctuation amplitude is positively related to the coal mass. (4) Because the simulation does not consider secondary damage in the coal, the simulated lump coal rate is larger than the actual lump coal rate in the working face; this deviation is mainly concentrated in large lump coal with a diameter greater than 300 mm.
Religious education for ecological sustainability: an initial reality check using the example of everyday decision-making
Authors: Altmeyer Stefan 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThere is a widely accepted consensus that religious education, together with all other school subjects, should contribute to the goals of education for sustainable development. As a result, theoretical models have been developed to profile what the specific contributions of religious education might be. However, the question whether religious education can achieve the intended goals has not yet been researched in more detail. More fundamentally, to be able to formulate realistic goals involves the clarification of students’ predispositions. In the light of these questions, the author focuses on an ecological sustainability dilemma, the so-called poplar dilemma, and asks how students react to this conflictive situation and what roles religious orientations play in their responses. Analysis of the responses of a sample of more than 1100, 14- to 16-year-old students at secondary schools in Germany and Austria led to the conclusion that over-reaching, action-changing environmental sustainability goals are probably beyond the reach of religious education as a single subject. Nevertheless, it becomes clear that ecological issues are regarded by many as religious and spiritual questions and can therefore be addressed in a focused way through religious education. The idea of religious stewardship, which implies taking responsibility and addresses both religious and non-religious students, could be particularly promising. Religious education could develop a characteristic profile as an area in which translation between different motivations for engaging in religious stewardship occurs, and where commitments to taking responsibility are sought.
Towards Post-Pandemic Sustainable and Ethical Food Systems
Authors: Kaiser Matthias , Goldson Stephen , Buklijas Tatjana , Gluckman Peter , Allen Kristiann , Bardsley Anne , Lam Mimi E. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe current global COVID-19 pandemic has led to a deep and multidimensional crisis across all sectors of society. As countries contemplate their mobility and social-distancing policy restrictions, we have a unique opportunity to re-imagine the deliberative frameworks and value priorities in our food systems. Pre-pandemic food systems at global, national, regional and local scales already needed revision to chart a common vision for sustainable and ethical food futures. Re-orientation is also needed by the relevant sciences, traditionally siloed in their disciplines and without adequate attention paid to how the food system problem is variously framed by diverse stakeholders according to their values. From the transdisciplinary perspective of food ethics, we argue that a post-pandemic scheme focused on bottom-up, regional, cross-sectoral and non-partisan deliberation may provide the re-orientation and benchmarks needed for not only more sustainable, but also more ethical food futures.
Impact of MTA blend % in melt spinning process and polyester properties
Authors: Rao Puli Nageswar , Sabavath G. K. , Paul S. N. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIn Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) processing the raw materials are purified terephthalic acid (PTA), moderately purified terephthalic acid (MTA), monoehalene glycol (MEG). The processing of PTA is very difficult and costly. For reducing PTA percent we are using different percentages of MTA blend in PET processing. MTA affected the properties of polyester and melt spinning process. The properties such as elongation, tenacity, molecular chain length, b-color and IV, thermal properties, % carboxyl groups will change with MTA percentage. MTA percentage also affects fiber breakage percentage s, the melting point of PET. FTIR results show a change in chemical composition. Particle size, 4-CBA content of MTA affects the properties of the fiber.
Application of new series connection scheme of vortex tubes in seawater desalination unit using new vortex generators
Authors: Shmroukh Ahmed N. , Serageldin Ahmed A. , Abdal-hay Abdalla , Elreedy Ahmed , Radwan Ali 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIn this work, an experimental study on new series connection of two Ranque-Hilsch vortex tubes with new vortex generator materials, potential in seawater desalination was implemented, this combined modification has not been studied in open literature. Polycarbonate and Polyamide-Nylon 6 were tested and compared as new vortex generator materials that enhance the heat transfer between the two air streams inside the vortex tube. Moreover, using new seawater preheater by utilizing the waste heat in the exit air stream from the last vortex tube in the arrangement. The results revealed that the hot fraction of both arrangements should be kept at 0.5 for optimum vortex tubes series connection performance. Moreover, the modified series arrangement with Polycarbonate generator had higher evaporator main hot temperature and lower condenser main cold temperature than that of the modified series arrangement with Polyamide-Nylon 6 generator. Furthermore, the desalinated water percentage of Polycarbonate generator connection and Polyamide-Nylon 6 generator connection were reached about 94% and 89%, respectively. Therefore, the modified series hot connection of Ranque-Hilsch vortex tubes with Polycarbonate based vortex generator is recommended for use in seawater desalination applications.
Characterization and mapping of hematite ore mineral classes using hyperspectral remote sensing technique: a case study from Bailadila iron ore mining region
Authors: Shaik Ibrahim , Begum S. K. , Nagamani P. V. , Kayet Narayan 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe study demonstrates a methodology for mapping various hematite ore classes based on their reflectance and absorption spectra, using Hyperion satellite imagery. Substantial validation is carried out, using the spectral feature fitting technique, with the field spectra measured over the Bailadila hill range in Chhattisgarh State in India. The results of the study showed a good correlation between the concentration of iron oxide with the depth of the near-infrared absorption feature (R2 = 0.843) and the width of the near-infrared absorption feature (R2 = 0.812) through different empirical models, with a root-mean-square error (RMSE) between < 0.317 and < 0.409. The overall accuracy of the study is 88.2% with a Kappa coefficient value of 0.81. Geochemical analysis and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) of field ore samples are performed to ensure different classes of hematite ore minerals. Results showed a high content of Fe > 60 wt% in most of the hematite ore samples, except banded hematite quartzite (BHQ) (< 47 wt%).
Petroleum pipeline monitoring using an internet of things (IoT) platform
Authors: Aba E. N. , Olugboji O. A. , Nasir A. , Olutoye M. A. , Adedipe O. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIn this study, we present the use of an internet of things (IoT) analytics platform service to mimic real-time pipeline monitoring and determine the location of damage on a pipeline. Pressure pulses, based on the principle of vibration in pipes are used for pipeline monitoring in this study. The principle of time delay between pulse arrivals at sensor positions is also adopted in this study. An Arduino and a Wi-Fi module were combined, programmed and used to produce a wireless communication device which communicates with the ThingSpeak internet of things (IoT) analytics platform. A total of five channels were created on the platform to collect data from the five sensors that were used in the experimental test rig that made use of wireless communication device. Signal data was collected once every 15 s and all the channels were updated every 2 min. ThingSpeak provided instant visualizations of data posted by the wireless communication device. Online analysis and processing of the data was performed as it came in. A second test rig was built that made use of a data logger for processing of data. The measured velocity of pulse propagation using the data logger and air as transport fluid was 355 m/s. The computed estimates of event location for the 50 measurements taken ranged between 4.243 m and 4.246 m. This had a scatter of just 3 mm against the actual measured event location of 4.23 m. The experimental results obtained showed that the performance of the wireless communication device compared satisfactorily with the data logger and is capable of detecting the location of damage on real pipelines when used for real time monitoring.Using this communication device and an analytics platform, real-time monitoring of pipelines can be carried out from any location in the world on any internet-enabled device.
Reducing enteric methane production from buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) by garlic oil supplementation in in vitro rumen fermentation system
Authors: Dey Avijit , Paul Shyam Sundar , Lailer Puran Chand , Dahiya Satbir Singh 
Published: January 2021

AbstractEnteric methane production contributes significantly to the greenhouse gas emission globally. Although, buffaloes are integral part of livestock production in Asian countries, contributing milk, meat and draft power, the contribution of enteric methane to environmental pollution attracts attention. The present study investigated the efficacy of garlic (Allium sativum) oil in reducing enteric methane production from buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) by in vitro rumen fermentation. Garlic oil (GOL) was tested at four concentrations [0 (Control), 33.33 µl (GOL-1), 83.33 µl (GOL-2) and 166.66 µl (GOL-3) per litre of buffered rumen fluid] in 100-ml graduated glass syringes and incubated at 39℃ for 24 h for in vitro rumen fermentation study. Supplementation of GOL-1 increased (p < 0.05) total gas production in comparison with GOL-3; however, it remained comparable (p > 0.05) with control and GOL-2. Graded doses of garlic oil inclusions reduced (p < 0.001) methane concentration (%) in total gas and total methane production (ml/g DM), irrespective of concentrations. The feed degradability, volatile fatty acids and microbial biomass production (MBP) were not affected (p > 0.05) by GOL-1, but these tended to decrease in GOL-2 with marked reduction (p < 0.01) in GOL-3. The decrease (p < 0.01) in NH3–N concentration in fermentation fluid in the presence of garlic oil, irrespective of concentration, suggests reduced deamination by inhibiting rumen proteolytic bacterial population. The activities of ruminal fibrolytic enzymes (CMCase, xylanase, β-glucosidase, acetyl esterase) were not affected by lower dose (GOL-1) of garlic oil; however, reduction (p < 0.05) of these enzymes activity in rumen liquor was evident at higher doses (GOL-2 and GOL-3) of supplementation. This study shows positive impact of garlic oil supplementation at low dose (33.33 µl/l of rumen fluid) in reducing enteric methane production, thereby, abatement of environmental pollution without affecting feed digestibility.