bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mitochondrial RNA processing defect caused by a SUPV3L1 mutation in two siblings with a novel neurodegenerative syndrome
Authors: van Esveld Selma L. , Rodenburg Richard J. , Al‐Murshedi Fathiya , Al‐Ajmi Eiman , Al‐Zuhaibi Sana , Huynen Martijn A. , Spelbrink Johannes N. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractSUPV3L1 encodes a helicase that is mainly localized in the mitochondria. It has been shown in vitro to possess both double‐stranded RNA and DNA unwinding activity that is ATP‐dependent. Here we report the first two patients for this gene who presented with a homozygous preliminary stop codon resulting in a C‐terminal truncation of the SUPV3L1 protein. They presented with a characteristic phenotype of neurodegenerative nature with progressive spastic paraparesis, growth restriction, hypopigmentation, and predisposition to autoimmune disease. Ophthalmological examination showed severe photophobia with corneal erosions, optic atrophy, and pigmentary retinopathy, while neuroimaging showed atrophy of the optic chiasm and the pons with calcification of putamina, with intermittent and mild elevation of lactate. We show that the amino acids that are eliminated by the preliminary stop codon are highly conserved and are predicted to form an amphipathic helix. To investigate if the mutation causes mitochondrial dysfunction, we examined fibroblasts of the proband. We observed very low expression of the truncated protein, a reduction in the mature ND6 mRNA species as well as the accumulation of double‐stranded RNA. Lentiviral complementation with the full‐length SUPV3L1 cDNA partly restored the observed RNA phenotypes, supporting that the SUPV3L1 mutation in these patients is pathogenic and the cause of the disease.
Environmental lead reduces the resilience of bald eagle populations
Authors: Hanley Brenda J. , Dhondt André A. , Forzán María J. , Bunting Elizabeth M. , Pokras Mark A. , Hynes Kevin P. , Dominguez‐Villegas Ernesto , Schuler Krysten L. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractBald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) are considered a recovery success in the United States after rebounding from near extirpation due to widespread use of the insecticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) in the twentieth century. Although abundances of bald eagles have increased since DDT was banned, other contaminants have remained in the environment with unknown influence on eagle population trends. Ingestion of spent lead (Pb) ammunition, the source of Pb most available to eagles and other scavengers in the United States, is known to kill individual eagles, but the influence of the contaminant on overall population dynamics remains unclear, resulting in longstanding controversy over the continued legality of the use of Pb in terrestrial hunting ammunition. We hypothesized that mortalities from the ingestion of Pb reduced the long‐term growth rate and resiliency of bald eagles in the northeast United States over the last 3 decades. We used Holling's definition of resilience (the ability of a system to absorb changes of state variables, driving variables, and parameters and still persist) to quantify how reduction in survival from Pb‐associated mortalities reduced the likelihood of population persistence. We used a population matrix model and necropsy records gathered between 1990 and 2018 from a 7‐state area to compare population dynamics under current versus hypothetical Pb‐reduced and Pb‐free scenarios. Despite a robust increase in eagle abundances in the northeast United States over that period, we estimated that deaths arising from ingestion of Pb was associated with a 4.2% (females) and 6.3% (males) reduction in the asymptotic long‐term growth rate (lambda). Comparison between real (current) and counterfactual (Pb‐reduced and Pb‐free) population dynamics indicated that the deaths from acute Pb poisoning were additive because the mortality events were associated with marked reduction in annual survival performance of hatchlings and reproductive females. These shifts in survival performance were further associated with a reduction in resilience for hatchling (95.4%) and breeding (81.6%) female eagles. Counterintuitively, the current conditions produced an increase in resilience (68.9%) for immature and non‐breeding female eagles over hypothetical Pb‐free conditions, suggesting that the population of eagles in the northeast United States reorganized (in a population dynamics sense) to ensure population expansion despite additive mortalities associated with Pb. This study can be used by state and federal wildlife managers or non‐governmental organizations to inform policy surrounding the use of lead ammunition or to educate hunters on the population‐scale effects of their ammunition choices.
Voice emotion recognition by Mandarin‐speaking pediatric cochlear implant users in Taiwan
Authors: Lin Yung‐Song , Wu Che‐Ming , Limb Charles J. , Lu Hui‐Ping , Feng I. Jung , Peng Shu‐Chen , Deroche Mickael L. D. , Chatterjee Monita 
Published: January 2022

AbstractObjectivesTo explore the effects of obligatory lexical tone learning on speech emotion recognition and the cross‐culture differences between United States and Taiwan for speech emotion understanding in children with cochlear implant.MethodsThis cohort study enrolled 60 cochlear‐implanted (cCI) Mandarin‐speaking, school‐aged children who underwent cochlear implantation before 5 years of age and 53 normal‐hearing children (cNH) in Taiwan. The emotion recognition and the sensitivity of fundamental frequency (F0) changes for those school‐aged cNH and cCI (6–17 years old) were examined in a tertiary referred center.ResultsThe mean emotion recognition score of the cNH group was significantly better than the cCI. Female speakers' vocal emotions are more easily to be recognized than male speakers' emotion. There was a significant effect of age at test on voice recognition performance. The average score of cCI with full‐spectrum speech was close to the average score of cNH with eight‐channel narrowband vocoder speech. The average performance of voice emotion recognition across speakers for cCI could be predicted by their sensitivity to changes in F0.ConclusionsBetter pitch discrimination ability comes with better voice emotion recognition for Mandarin‐speaking cCI. Besides the F0 cues, cCI are likely to adapt their voice emotion recognition by relying more on secondary cues such as intensity and duration. Although cross‐culture differences exist for the acoustic features of voice emotion, Mandarin‐speaking cCI and their English‐speaking cCI peer expressed a positive effect for age at test on emotion recognition, suggesting the learning effect and brain plasticity. Therefore, further device/processor development to improve presentation of pitch information and more rehabilitative efforts are needed to improve the transmission and perception of voice emotion in Mandarin.Level of evidence3.
Patient‐Specific Bioimplants and Reconstruction Plates for Mandibular Defects: Production Workflow and In Vivo Large Animal Model Study
Authors: Dienel Kasper , Abu‐Shahba Ahmed , Kornilov Roman , Björkstrand Roy , van Bochove Bas , Snäll Johanna , Wilkman Tommy , Mesimäki Karri , Meller Anna , Lindén Jere , Lappalainen Anu , Partanen Jouni , Seppänen‐Kaijansinkko Riitta , Seppälä Jukka , Mannerström Bettina 
Published: January 2022

AbstractA major challenge with extensive craniomaxillofacial bone reconstruction is the limited donor‐site availability to reconstruct defects predictably and accurately according to the anatomical shape of the patient. Here, patient‐specific composite bioimplants, consisting of cross‐linked poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) networks and β‐tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP), are tested in vivo in twelve Göttingen minipigs in a large mandibular continuity defect model. The 25 mm defects are supported by patient‐specific titanium reconstruction plates and receive either osteoconductive composite bioimplants (PTMC+TCP), neat polymer network bioimplants (PTMC), autologous bone segments (positive control), or are left empty (negative control). Postoperatively, defects treated with bioimplants show evident ossification at 24 weeks. Histopathologic evaluation reveals that neat PTMC bioimplant surfaces are largely covered with fibrous tissue, while in the PTMC+TCP bioimplants, bone attached directly to the implant surface shows good osteoconduction and histological signs of osteoinductivity. However, PTMC+TCP bioimplants are associated with high incidence of necrosis and infection, possibly due to rapid resorption and/or particle size of the used β‐TCP. The study highlights the importance of testing bone regeneration implants in a clinically relevant large animal model and at the in situ reconstruction site, since results on small animal models and studies in nonloadbearing areas do not translate directly.
Facile Preparation of Fluorine‐Free, Heat‐Resisting, Breathable, and Waterproof Nanofibrous Membranes from Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity
Authors: Ren Hao , Lu Mingchen , Tang Qingquan , Yin Xianze , Wang Luoxin , Wang Hua 
Published: January 2022

AbstractWaterproof and breathable membranes (WBMs) are widely applied in garment, electronics, and aerospace, however, it is challenging to fabricate WBMs by a facile and successive strategy with excellent comprehensive properties, including environmental friendliness, heat‐resistance, waterproofness, breathability, and mechanical properties. Herein, a straightforward method is developed to fabricate large‐sized WBMs with outstanding integrated performance by direct electrospinning of original polymerization solution from polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs). As‐prepared nanofibrous WBMs perform comprehensive properties with the absence of fluorine, average nanofiber diameters of 278 nm, waterproofness of 88.7 kPa, breathability of 11.2 kg m−2 d−1, tensile strength of 4.2 MPa, and heat‐resistance of 200 °C, which are superior to most of that reported fluorine‐free WBMs. Most significantly, the avoidance of tedious and intermittent fabrication procedures to prepare high‐performant WBMs allows the achievement of the successive production, and the high heat‐resistance meets the requirement of harsh service conditions. This work not only confirms that PIMs can be a good candidate for preparing high‐performant WBMs, but also paves a new version for fabricating environmental benign WBMs in a facile and successive approach.
Surfaces close to the Severi lines
Authors: Conti Federico 
Published: January 2022

AbstractLet X be a surface of general type with maximal Albanese dimension: if , one has . We give a complete classification of surfaces for which equality holds for : these are surfaces whose canonical model is a double cover of a product elliptic surface branched over an ample divisor with at most negligible singularities which intersects the elliptic fibre twice.We also prove, in the same hypothesis, that a surface X with satisfies and we give a characterization of surfaces for which the equality holds. These are surfaces whose canonical model is a double cover of an isotrivial smooth elliptic surface branched over an ample divisor with at most negligible singularities whose intersection with the elliptic fibre is 4.
Are parturition scars truly signs of birth? The estimation of parity in a well‐documented modern sample
Authors: Waltenberger Lukas , Rebay‐Salisbury Katharina , Mitteroecker Philipp 
Published: January 2022

AbstractParturition scars have been frequently studied in the last decades, but their association with pregnancy and birth is still controversial. Other biomechanical, biometric, and lifestyle factors are also likely to influence the development of pelvic features. Most previous studies of pelvic features were based on skeletal collections with no reliable information on parity or even sex and thus were unable to disentangle these factors. Here, we study the association of pelvic features with birth and other body variables (age, stature, weight, osteoarthritis, and centrum–collum–diaphyseal angle) using multiple regression and path modeling in a modern sample of female individuals from New Mexico (USA) with detailed background information (n = 150). We also explored the utility of pelvic features to predict the number of births. To this end, we scored the expression of the preauricular sulcus, sacral preauricular extension, extended pubic tubercle, exostosis at the pectineal line, dorsal, and ventral pubic pitting using CT scans from the New Mexico Decedent Image Database. Quantitative measurements of pelvic features were then used as predictors of parity. Overall, the regression models accounted only for relatively small fractions of variance in pelvic feature expression. The only feature significantly associated with the number of births was dorsal pubic pitting (R2 = 0.2372), whereas the expression of most pelvic features increased with age, independent of parity. Presumably, the development of dorsal pubic pitting is affected both by biomechanical stress and the increased hormonal secretion during pregnancy and birth. The individual prediction of parity based on pelvic features is too imprecise for forensic or archeological applications. However, using a size score of dorsal pubic pitting allowed us to estimate the mean parity in groups of individuals relatively well. Hence, pelvic features may still be used to compare average parity across recent or historic populations.
The role of neurological soft signs in different mathematical skills in second and third grade children
Authors: Cai Dan , Wang Xingsong , Kong Li 
Published: January 2022

AbstractNeurological soft signs (NSSs) are subtle motor and sensory deficits, and are associated with poor cognitive abilities. Although cognitive ability has been found to be a significant predictor for academic performance in children, it remains unclear whether NSSs could contribute to academic abilities such as mathematical skills, and its contribution varies according to grade level. Therefore, in this cross‐sectional study, we examined the relationships between NSSs and different mathematical skills (calculation fluency, numerical operations, and mathematical problem‐solving) in 105 Chinese children (Mean age = 7.76 years, SD age = 0.67 years; 52 from second grade, 53 from third grade; 56 boys and 49 girls) recruited from a primary public school located in Shanghai. The results of regression analyses revealed that NSSs significantly predicted calculation fluency (β = −.32, p < .050), numerical operations (β = −.38, p < .050), and mathematical problem‐solving (β = −0.40, p < .010) in second but not third grade, even controlling for cognitive processes. Our results implicate that NSSs could be a potential predictor for mathematical skills in the early years of primary school.
Augmented / virtual / mixed reality systems optical terminology
Authors: Resnik Olga , Arazi Yosi , Kaganovitz Yoni , Levy‐Beeri Assaf 
Published: January 2022

AbstractIn this part of our tutorial, we attempt to explain and cover several most important non‐imaging parameters that form the complementary part of the base requirements list for an XR system specification. The non‐imaging part of the system specification is often treated with less attention, and in many cases is the reason for dissatisfactory system performances. In our extensive experience, we found that this part is critical when designing an XR system, since the non‐imaging parameters have very high impact on the visual image perception and ultimately the user experience. Taking them into consideration from early design stages on can make the difference between the mediocre performances product and the product that produces the ‘wow effect’.
Dye‐sensitized solar cells as promising candidates for underwater photovoltaic applications
Authors: Enaganti Prasanth K. , Soman Suraj , Devan Sabu S. , Pradhan Sourava Chandra , Srivastava Alok Kumar , Pearce Joshua M. , Goel Sanket 
Published: January 2022

AbstractHarvesting solar energy using photovoltaic (PV) cells is the simplest, efficient, and reliable approach to power marine electronics. Installing PV above or under water provides cooling and cleaning to sustain the power conversion efficiency. Previous work on commercially available silicon‐based PV quantified the performance of PV with different submerged environments and showed promising results in harvesting available underwater solar energy. Subsequent, theoretical studies point to enormous potential of using wide‐band‐gap PV in underwater conditions. With this motivation, herein for the first time, a dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) employing wide‐bandgap ruthenium sensitizers (1.8 eV) have been tested under submerged conditions. The DSSCs were characterized under submerged conditions up to 20 cm. Four replicates provided data detailing DSSCs potential for underwater PV applications when compared with the previously collected data for monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and amorphous silicon PV. Although the light intensity under water decreases with an increase in depths, the rate of decrease in power output for DSSCs was only 40.68%, which was less than the traditional monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon PV by approximately 20–25%. Also, compared with amorphous silicon PV, DSSCs showed a slightly better performance by 2–3%, clearly displaying the capability of DSSCs to harvest indirect/diffused lights in comparison with the conventional PVs. Compared with the conventional PVs, indigenously fabricated DSSCs showed tremendous relative increase in performance in underwater conditions. Further work is underway to further optimize DSSCs even though it can be concluded that with added advantages of simple fabrication process and cost‐effectiveness, DSSCs have enormous future potential for underwater PV applications.
A review on the role of plasma technology in the nano‐finishing of textile materials with metal and metal oxide nanoparticles
Authors: Radetić Maja , Marković Darka 
Published: January 2022

AbstractNano‐finishing of textiles with metal and metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) is relatively simple, but insufficiently efficient binding between the fibers and NPs poses a big problem because of the poor stability of textile nanocomposites. A good way to overcome this problem is to activate the fibers by plasma. Selection of gas and optimization of plasma processing parameters lead to a generation of new functional groups improving the binding of NPs. Another approach relies on the formation of stable nano‐coatings by magnetron sputtering. Progress has been recently made in plasma‐assisted in situ synthesis of metal NPs where toxic chemical reducing agents were replaced with short plasma treatment. This review paper addresses substantial roles of plasma, which enhance the performance of nano‐finished textiles.
Retracted: Practical implementation of inclusive preschool education in Ukraine
Authors: Kalinina Tetiana S. , Karnaukhova Antonina V. , Mashovets Marina A. , Shvaliuk Tetiana M. , Telna Olha A. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThe right of children with special needs to education is realised through the introduction of inclusive education. Such practice is common in many countries around the world. An inclusive setting in early childhood education protects children from segregation and negative attitudes from others. In Ukraine, in connection with European integration, preschool inclusive education is actively developing. Accordingly, studying of inclusive education and the practice of preschool educational institutions for children with special educational needs in the country is relevant, and determining the specifics of this process became the purpose of this study. Analysis of the legal framework, method of comparative analysis, synthesis and analysis of quantitative indicators, questionnaires, systematisation and generalisation of statistical data were used during the research. A comparison of inclusive preschool education implementation experience in the European Union (EU) and Ukraine was conducted and the main trends in the development and implementation of inclusive education in Ukraine were identified. It was found that membership in the EU has a positive effect on both pre‐primary education in the member states and the practice of inclusive education. This study can be useful for educators and policy makers in Ukraine for developing ways to improve the situation with inclusive education both in preschool educational institutions and in schools, as well as for educators and policy makers from other countries, especially the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, where similar processes are taking place in their educational systems.
Retracted: Higher education institution: Distance learning and modern communicative opportunities
Authors: Grytsenko Iryna , Borysenko Nataliia , Sydorenko Nataliia , Vashchuk Viktoriya , Valuieva Iia 
Published: January 2022

AbstractNew technologies significantly influence the increase in the range of methods and techniques in distance learning. The quality, efficiency and potential of modern communication channels are relevant issues in the current educational paradigm. The authors aimed to evaluate the educational potential of high‐tech means of communication and applications, to reveal their impact on modern communication opportunities during distance learning in the free economic zone. The main methods used during the study were analysis, questionnaire, systematisation and generalisation. The preliminary tests and experiment post‐tests were introduced to determine the technological and communicative readiness of the respondents (42 student‐volunteers). All student‐volunteers passed a test to assess the quantity and quality of high‐tech means of communication in the educational process and a survey on assessing the quality and effectiveness of distance education compared to full‐time education. Questionnaires with the same questions were taken by the students after their training, which involved high‐tech educational tools. The need to attract high‐tech means of communication in the process of distance learning was shown and students’ attitude towards it was improved. It was found that the level of communication skills development during distance learning directly depends on the use of high‐tech technical means. The study proved that high‐tech communication tools that were used in the experimental group should be used in the learning process in terms of distance learning. The effectiveness of the use of communicative opportunities in distance learning in order to identify the frequency of their use was described.