bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determination of Oxidized Lipids in Commonly Consumed Foods and a Preliminary Analysis of Their Binding Affinity to PPARγ
Authors: Skinner Joanna , Arora Payal , McMath Nicole , Penumetcha Meera
Published: July 2021

Foods rich in poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are vulnerable to oxidation. While it is well established that endogenously derived oxidized lipids are ligands of the transcription factor PPARγ, the binding ability of diet-derived oxidized lipids is unknown. Our two-fold objective was to determine the oxidized lipid content and PPARγ binding ability of commonly consumed foods. Extracted food lipids were assayed for the peroxide value, conjugated dienes, and aldehydes, and PPARγ binding was assessed by an in vitro PPARγ ligand screening assay. Oxidized lipids were present in all foods tested at the time of purchase, and oxidation did not increase during storage. The peroxide values for walnuts, sunflower seeds, and flax meal were significantly lower at the end of three months as compared to the day of purchase (peroxide value: 1.26 ± 0.13 vs. 2.32 ± 0.4; 1.65 ± 0.23 vs. 2.08 ± 0.09; 3.07 ± 0.22 vs. 9.94 ± 0.75 mEq/kg fat, p ≤ 0.05, respectively). Lipids extracted from French fries had the highest binding affinity (50.87 ± 11.76%) to PPARγ compared to other foods. Our work demonstrates that oxidized lipids are present in commonly consumed foods when purchased, and for the first time demonstrates that some contain ligands of PPARγ.
Ultrasound Processing of Vinegar: Modelling the Impact on Bioactives and Other Quality Factors
Authors: Yıkmış Seydi , Aksu Filiz , Altunatmaz Sema Sandıkçı , Çöl Başak Gökçe
Published: July 2021

In recent years, non-thermal technology has been used for the enrichment of ultrasound bioactive components. For this purpose, it was applied to tomato vinegar and modeled with response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN). At the end of the RSM, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (68.64%), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (62.47%), total flavonoid content (2.44 mg CE/mL), total phenolic content (12.22 mg GAE/mL), total ascorbic acid content (2.53 mg/100 mL) and total lycopene (5.44 μg/mL) were determined. The ANN model has higher prediction accuracy than RSM. The microstructure, microbiological properties, sensory analysis, ACE (angiotensin-converting–enzyme) inhibitor and antidiabetic effects of the ultrasound-treated tomato vinegar (UTV) (8.9 min and 74.5 amplitude), traditional tomato vinegar (TTV) and pasteurized tomato vinegar (PTV) samples were then evaluated. UTV was generally appreciated by the panelists. It was determined that the microbiological properties were affected by the ultrasound treatment. UTV was found to have more effective ACE inhibitor and antidiabetic properties than other vinegar samples. As a result, the bioactive components of tomato vinegar were enriched with ultrasound treatment and positive effects on health were determined.
Gas-Diffusion Microextraction (GDME) Combined with Derivatization for Assessing Beer Staling Aldehydes: Validation and Application
Authors: Ferreira Inês M. , Carvalho Daniel O. , da Silva Marco Gomes , Guido Luís Ferreira
Published: July 2021

In this work, a gas-diffusion microextraction (GDME) methodology was optimized and validated for the analysis of selected staling aldehydes (furfural (FURF), 2-methylpropanal (2-MP), 2-methylbutanal (2-MB), 3-methylbutanal (3-MB), and acetaldehyde (ACET)) during natural and forced aging of beer. The methodology was optimized considering time, temperature of extraction, and derivatizing agent. Using 4-hydrazinobenzoic acid (HBA) as a derivatizing agent, the performance of the method was evaluated by assessing several parameters such as detection limits (ranging from 1.2 to 1857.7 µg/L for 2-MB and ACET, respectively), quantification limits (ranging from 3.9 to 6192.4 µg/L for 2-MB and ACET, respectively), recoveries (higher than 96%), intraday and interday precisions (lower than 3.4 and 9.2%, respectively), and linearity (r2 ≥ 0.995). During beer aging, higher content of Strecker aldehydes and FURF were found, while no significant variations in ACET levels were observed. In general, the aldehydes content assessed for beers stored at 37 ± 1 °C for 7 and 14 days mimics that observed for beers stored at 20 ± 2 °C for 3 and 6 months, respectively. Lower temperatures of storage (4 ± 1 °C) delayed the development of staling aldehydes. Based on PCA analysis, the content of staling aldehydes and beer color were responsible for 91.39% of the variance among the analyzed samples, and it was demonstrated that these are key parameters to discriminate fresh from aged beers. The results herein presented showed that the proposed analytic methodology is a valuable strategy for the characterization and quantification of important staling aldehydes in beer with a potential application in the quality control of beer during storage.
Numerical Solution of Fractional Elliptic Problems with Inhomogeneous Boundary Conditions
Authors: Maros Gábor , Izsák Ferenc
Published: July 2021

The numerical solution of fractional-order elliptic problems is investigated in bounded domains. According to real-life situations, we assumed inhomogeneous boundary terms, while the underlying equations contain the full-space fractional Laplacian operator. The basis of the convergence analysis for a lower-order boundary element approximation is the theory for the corresponding continuous problem. In particular, we need continuity results for Riesz potentials and the fractional-order extension of the theory for boundary integral equations with the Laplacian operator. Accordingly, the convergence is stated in fractional-order Sobolev norms. The results were confirmed in a numerical experiment.
Extension of Energy and Transport Scenario Modelling to Include a Life Cycle Perspective
Authors: Pichlmaier Simon , Kult Michael , Wagner Ulrich
Published: July 2021

The paper outlines the methodology for the extension of the assessment of transport scenarios to include a life cycle perspective. When considering greenhouse gas emissions in the operational phase, the inclusion of the upstream chain increases emissions in conventional systems by only 17% to 19%. In transport systems that utilise a large share of electricity generated predominantly from renewable energies without direct emissions, this value can rise sharply. In the present case, up to 304%. The emissions currently associated with the production of the transport fleet correspond to 56 Mt CO2e and thus 22% of total emissions. In most scenarios, however, this value decreases more slowly than the operational emissions. This increases the share of emissions caused by production. Thus, the inclusion of life cycle emissions is an important component for assessing sustainability.
Intentions versus Outcomes: Cooperation and Fairness in a Sequential Prisoner’s Dilemma with Nature
Authors: Ridinger Garret
Published: July 2021

This paper investigates the importance of concerns about intentions and outcomes in a sequential prisoner’s dilemma game with nature. In the game, there is a chance that the first mover’s choice is reversed. This allows the separation of intended actions from the resulting outcomes. Equilibrium predictions from theoretical models of fairness are tested experimentally by varying the chance the first mover’s choice is reversed and whether the second mover observes the first mover’s choice. The results show that second mover cooperation is higher when the first mover has little control over their choice and when the second mover is not told what the first mover chose. While subject behavior is consistent with concerns for both intentions and outcomes, the results indicate that these concerns work in ways not predicted by current theoretical models. In addition, I find that psychometric measures of empathic concern and perspective taking are correlated with second mover cooperation and provide potential explanations for the experimental results.
Reconstructing the Snow Avalanche of Coll de Pal 2018 (SE Pyrenees)
Authors: Sanz-Ramos Marcos , Andrade Carlos A. , Oller Pere , Furdada Glòria , Bladé Ernest , Martínez-Gomariz Eduardo
Published: July 2021

Developments in mountain areas prone to natural hazards produce undesired impacts and damages. Thus, disaster assessment is mandatory to understand the physics of dangerous events and to make decisions to prevent hazardous situations. This work focusses on the practical implementation of methods and tools to assess a snow avalanche that affected a road at the Coll de Pal in 2018 (SE Pyrenees). This is a quite common situation in mountain roads and the assessment has to focus specially in the avalanche–road interaction, on the return periods considered and on the dynamics of the phenomena. This assessment presents the field recognition, snow and weather characterization and numerical modelling of the avalanche. Field campaigns revealed evidences of the avalanche triggering, runout trajectory and general behavior. An unstable situation of the snowpack due to a relatively large snowfall fallen some days before over a previous snowpack with weak layers, caused the avalanche triggering when an additional load was added by a strong wind-drift episode. A medium size (<2500 m3) soft slab avalanche, corresponding to a return period of 15–20 years, occurred and crossed the road of the Coll de Pal pass. The event was reproduced numerically by means of the 2D-SWE based numerical tool Iber aiming to analyze the avalanche behavior. Results of the simulation corresponded with the observations (runout trajectory and snow deposit); thus, relevant information about the avalanche dynamics could be obtained. Identified differences probably come from the terrain elevation data, which represent “snow free” topography and do not consider the snowpack on the terrain.
Enhancement of Anticipatory Postural Adjustments by Virtual Reality in Older Adults with Cognitive and Motor Deficits: A Randomised Trial
Authors: Bourrelier Julien , Fautrelle Lilian , Haratyk Etienne , Manckoundia Patrick , Mérienne Frédéric , Mourey France , Kubicki Alexandre
Published: July 2021

Background: Postural activities involved in balance control integrate the anticipatory postural adjustments (APA) that stabilize balance and posture, facilitating arm movements and walking initiation and allowing an optimal coordination between posture and movement. Several studies reported the significant benefits of virtual reality (VR) exercises in frail older adults to decrease the anxiety of falling and to induce improvements in behavioural and cognitive abilities in rehabilitation processes. The aim of this study was thus to test the efficiency of a VR system on the enhancement of the APA period, compared to the use of a Nintendo Wii system. Methods: Frail older adults (n = 37) were included in this study who were randomized and divided into a VR exercises group (VR group) or a control group using the Nintendo Wii system (CTRL group). Finally, 22 patients were included in the data treatment. APA were studied through muscular activation timings measured with electromyographic activities. The functional reach test, the gait speed, and the time up and go were also evaluated before and after a 3-week training phase. Results and discussion: As the main results, the training phase with VR improved the APA and the functional reach test score along the antero-posterior axis. Together, these results highlight the ability of a VR training phase to induce neuromuscular adaptations during the APA period in frail older adults. Then, it underlines the effective transfer from learning carried out during the VR training movements to control balance abilities in a more daily life context.
Assessing the Effects of Vineyard Soil Management on Downy and Powdery Mildew Development
Authors: Fernandes de Oliveira Ana , Serra Salvatorica , Ligios Virna , Satta Daniela , Nieddu Giovanni
Published: July 2021

Advantages of vineyard cover crops include soil conservation, nutrient and water cycling, and a better growth–yield balance. They naturally promote agro-system biological multifunctionality, soil biocenosis, and biological pest control. However, for the role of cover crops on disease control, there is still a lack of information. We performed a systematic evaluation of the soil management effects on the development of two main pathogens: Plasmopara viticola and Erysiphe necator. Conventional soil tillage was compared to grass and legume cover crops during a three-season trial in the Nurra wine region (Sardinia, Italy). Disease and grapevine development were assessed in relation to the weather, leaf area growth, leaf nitrogen, canopy density, and favorable microclimatic conditions for each disease, to weight their importance on disease susceptibility in each treatment. Higher infection percentages were observed in plots subjected to soil tillage. Disease development was better understood in relation to leaf area, leaf nitrogen, and canopy density. The main role of weather conditions on downy mildew infections was ascertained, yet high canopy sunlight levels reduced disease spread under grass cover. For powdery mildew, leaf nitrogen had a crucial role in disease development under soil tillage, and canopy light and hygrothermal conditions had the most relevant function on disease development in cover-cropped vineyards.
Quo Vadis Lakes Azuei and Enriquillo: A Future Outlook for Two of the Caribbean Basin’s Largest Lakes
Authors: Moknatian Mahrokh , Piasecki Michael
Published: July 2021

Lakes Azuei (LA) and Enriquillo (LE) on Hispaniola Island started expanding in 2005 and continued to do so until 2016. After inundating large swaths of arable land, submerging a small community, and threatening to swallow a significant trade route between the Dominican Republic and Haiti; worries persisted at how far this seemingly unstoppable expansion would go. The paper outlines the approach to a look forward to answer this question vis-à-vis climate change scenarios developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It uses numerical representations of the two lakes, and it examines how the lakes might evolve, deploying three different forcing mechanisms: that of weather and drift due to climate change, that of extreme events, such as hurricanes, and that of anthropogenic impacts, such as unintended water transfers between adjacent watersheds. Runs are executed Monte Carlo style using 11 different forcing combinations, each with a thousand instances of results generated by varying the numerous parameters that define the numerical models. The results are necessarily not precise and vary significantly as the forecast horizon expands, creating expanding envelopes of outcomes. Although some outcomes suggest a continued rise of the lake levels, most scenarios yield a reduction and recession of the lake waters.
Using Influenza Vaccination Location Data from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to Expand COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage
Authors: Fonzi Victoria , Thapa Kiran , Luitel Kishor , Padilla Heather , Harris Curt , Khan M. Mahmud , Nowak Glen , Rajbhandari-Thapa Janani
Published: July 2021

Effective COVID-19 vaccine distribution requires prioritizing locations that are accessible to high-risk target populations. However, little is known about the vaccination location preferences of individuals with underlying chronic conditions. Using data from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), we grouped 162,744 respondents into high-risk and low-risk groups for COVID-19 and analyzed the odds of previous influenza vaccination at doctor’s offices, health departments, community settings, stores, or hospitals. Individuals at high risk for severe COVID-19 were more likely to be vaccinated in doctor’s offices and stores and less likely to be vaccinated in community settings.
mHealth for the Monitoring of Brace Compliance and Wellbeing in Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis: Study Protocol for a Feasibility Study
Authors: Martínez-Borba Verónica , Suso-Ribera Carlos , Díaz-García Amanda , Salat-Batlle Judith , Castilla Diana , Zaragoza Irene , García-Palacios Azucena , Sánchez-Raya Judit
Published: July 2021

Attempts to optimize monitoring of brace adherence prescribed to adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (IS) have generally relied on sensors. Sensors, however, are intrusive and do not allow the assessment of psychological and physical consequences of brace use that might underlie poor adherence. Mobile applications have emerged as alternatives to monitor brace compliance. However, the feasibility and utility of these app-based systems to assess key psychological and physical domains associated with non-adherence remain unexplored. This feasibility study aims to test the usability, acceptability, and clinical utility of an app-based system that monitors brace use and related psychological and physical factors. Forty adolescents with IS daily respond to the app for 90 days. The patient responses may generate clinical alarms (e.g., brace non-adherence, discomfort, or distress) that will be sent daily to the medical team. Primary outcomes will be app usability, acceptability, and response rates. Secondary outcomes will include brace adherence, the number of side effects reported, number and type of clinical alarms, stress, quality of life, perceived health status, and mood. If accepted by patients and clinicians, apps may allow rapid detection and response to undesired events in adolescents undergoing brace treatment.
The Correlation between Chinese Written Vocabulary Size and Cognitive, Emotional and Behavioral Factors in Primary School Students
Authors: Pan Ning , Guo Yangfeng , Ma Jingwen , Fan Xiaoxuan , Yin Zhixin , Xu Xiaoyu , Cai Lei , Zhang Yue , Li Xiuhong
Published: July 2021

Written vocabulary size plays a key role in children’s reading development. We aim to study the relationship between Chinese written vocabulary size and cognitive, emotional, and behavioral factors in primary school students. Using stratified cluster sampling, 1162 pupils from Grade 2~5 in Guangzhou were investigated. Chinese written vocabulary size, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral factors were assessed by the Chinese written vocabulary size assessment scale, the dyslexia checklist for Chinese children (DCCC) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), respectively. The scores of visual word recognition deficit (β = −3.32, 95% CI: −5.98, −0.66) and meaning comprehension deficit (β = −6.52, 95% CI: −9.39, −3.64) were negatively associated with Chinese written vocabulary size; the score of visual word recognition deficit (odds ratio (OR) = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.07) was the related factor of a delay in written vocabulary size. The score of meaning comprehension deficit was negatively associated with boys’ Chinese written vocabulary size, while the score of auditory word recognition deficit was negatively associated with girls’ Chinese written vocabulary size. The related factor of a delay in written vocabulary size was spelling deficit in boys and visual word recognition deficit in girls. There is a significant correlation between Chinese written vocabulary size and cognitive factors, but not emotional and behavioral factors in primary school students and these correlations are different when considering gender.
Infectivity Upsurge by COVID-19 Viral Variants in Japan: Evidence from Deep Learning Modeling
Authors: Rashed Essam A. , Hirata Akimasa
Published: July 2021

The significant health and economic effects of COVID-19 emphasize the requirement for reliable forecasting models to avoid the sudden collapse of healthcare facilities with overloaded hospitals. Several forecasting models have been developed based on the data acquired within the early stages of the virus spread. However, with the recent emergence of new virus variants, it is unclear how the new strains could influence the efficiency of forecasting using models adopted using earlier data. In this study, we analyzed daily positive cases (DPC) data using a machine learning model to understand the effect of new viral variants on morbidity rates. A deep learning model that considers several environmental and mobility factors was used to forecast DPC in six districts of Japan. From machine learning predictions with training data since the early days of COVID-19, high-quality estimation has been achieved for data obtained earlier than March 2021. However, a significant upsurge was observed in some districts after the discovery of the new COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 (Alpha). An average increase of 20–40% in DPC was observed after the emergence of the Alpha variant and an increase of up to 20% has been recognized in the effective reproduction number. Approximately four weeks was needed for the machine learning model to adjust the forecasting error caused by the new variants. The comparison between machine-learning predictions and reported values demonstrated that the emergence of new virus variants should be considered within COVID-19 forecasting models. This study presents an easy yet efficient way to quantify the change caused by new viral variants with potential usefulness for global data analysis.
Exploring How Exposure to Truth and State-Sponsored Anti-Tobacco Media Campaigns Affect Smoking Disparities among Young Adults Using a National Longitudinal Dataset, 2002–2017
Authors: Colston David C. , Xie Yanmei , Thrasher James F. , Emery Sherry , Patrick Megan E. , Titus Andrea R. , Elliott Michael R. , Fleischer Nancy L.
Published: July 2021

Background. Little is known regarding long-term impacts of anti-tobacco media campaigns on youth smoking and related disparities in the United States. Methods. We examined longitudinal cohort data from Monitoring the Future (MTF) between 2000 and 2017 in modified Poisson regression models to understand the long-term impacts of televised Truth and state-sponsored ad campaign exposure at baseline (age 18) on first cigarette and daily smoking initiation 1 to 2 years later (at modal ages 19/20). We also used additive interactions to test for potential effect modification between campaign exposure and smoking outcomes by sex, race/ethnicity, and parental educational attainment. Results. We found no evidence for baseline media campaign exposure to be associated with first cigarette or daily smoking initiation at modal age 19/20. Further, results showed no evidence for effect modification between campaign exposure and first cigarette or daily smoking initiation. Conclusions. We found no evidence that baseline Truth and state-sponsored ad exposure was associated with first cigarette or daily smoking initiation at follow up, nor did we find any evidence for effect modification by sex, race/ethnicity, or parental education. We hypothesize that anti-tobacco media campaigns might have had a short-term impact on smoking behaviors, though these effects were not sustained long term.
The Level of Zinc, Copper and Antioxidant Status in the Blood Serum of Women with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Authors: Szczepanik Joanna , Podgórski Tomasz , Domaszewska Katarzyna
Published: July 2021

The aim of this study was to analyze selected indicators of oxidative stress. The study subjects consisted of 42 women with Hashimoto’s disease and a control group of 30 healthy women. The concentration of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in the serum was determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) and the total antioxidative potential by the Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP) method. In addition, an assessment of concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and total phenolics was carried out. Our research showed a significant difference in TBARS concentration (p < 0.0001 (ES: 0.92)) without significant differences in Zn, Cu, FRAP and total phenolics concentrations. Analysis of the correlation of the obtained results of biochemical tests for both groups showed a highly significant dependence of FRAP and total phenolics concentration in the blood of the examined women (r = 0.5283, p = 0.0003). The obtained results indicate no differences in Cu, Zn, and FRAP concentrations in the blood between two analyzed groups and a significantly higher concentration of TBARS in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis women. The concentration of total phenolics significantly influences the value of the FRAP.
Evaluation of Emergency First Response’s Competency in Undergraduate College Students: Enhancing Sustainable Medical Education in the Community for Work Occupational Safety
Authors: Dieck-Assad Graciano , González Peña Omar Israel , Rodríguez-Delgado José Manuel
Published: July 2021

Worldwide, people’s quality of health has been decreasing due to bad eating habits that have generated an increase in diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, overweight, as well as an increase in hours of the daily workday and stress. This situation can generate sudden illness and work accidents where the need to have knowledge in emergency first response (EFR) is necessary for all. Unfortunately, workshops and courses to certify EFR individuals are usually taught only to healthcare professionals. Therefore, to address this need a EFR project has been developed at the Tecnológico de Monterrey (TEC) which consists of a multidisciplinary challenge to train, certify, and evaluate students’ competency as “emergency first responders” in medical emergencies and healthcare awareness. This EFR project has been performed for one week, every year since 2015, and constitutes a joint venture among academic departments, faculty, and industrial/government institutions, which work together in multidisciplinary projects, providing a source of innovative proposals. The EFR project at TEC has provided instruction and certification for 966 students between 2015 to 2019 and this study has analyzed results considering a sample size of 197 participants. The combination of exam evaluation, medical emergency skills verification, and project proposal results indicate that most students reach skill levels between 2 and 3 in EFR competency after successfully completing the program, regardless of their year of study or the undergraduate program they are enrolled on. This evaluation emphasizes the compromise of the institution and its students in preparation for new living under sanitary conditions for pandemic conditions such as COVID-19.
Gender Differences in Psychosocial Outcomes of Hair Loss Resulting from Childhood Irradiation for Tinea Capitis
Authors: Hoffer Liat , Achdut Netta , Shvarts Shifra , Segal-Engelchin Dorit
Published: July 2021

Recent studies have linked hair loss due to childhood irradiation for tinea capitis, a fungal infection of the scalp, to adverse psychosocial and health outcomes in women. However, no study to date has examined gender differences in the outcomes of this type of hair loss. The current study aimed to investigate gender differences in health and psychosocial outcomes of hair loss resulting from childhood irradiation for tinea capitis, and to identify the risk factors associated with depression in both men and women. Medical records held at the archives of the Israel National Center for Compensation of Scalp Ringworm Victims were retrospectively reviewed for 217 women and 105 men who received maximum disability compensation due to severe hair loss resulting from irradiation for tinea capitis. We found that women were at increased risk of developing psychosocial symptoms, including depression. Gender emerged as a significant predictor of depression, distinct from other predictors, such as marital status, age at radiation, exposure to verbal and physical bullying, low self-esteem, social anxiety, and physical health problems. Thus, the psychosocial needs of patients, particularly female patients, who were irradiated for tinea capitis during childhood need to be taken into account by the healthcare professionals treating them.
An Overview of Physical, Microbiological and Immune Barriers of Oral Mucosa
Authors: Şenel Sevda
Published: July 2021

The oral mucosa, which is the lining tissue of the oral cavity, is a gateway to the body and it offers first-line protection against potential pathogens, exogenous chemicals, airborne allergens, etc. by means of its physical and microbiological-immune barrier functions. For this reason, oral mucosa is considered as a mirror to the health of the individual as well as a guard or early warning system. It is organized in two main components: a physical barrier, which consists of stratified epithelial cells and cell–cell junctions, and a microbiological-immune barrier that keeps the internal environment in a condition of homeostasis. Different factors, including microorganism, saliva, proteins and immune components, have been considered to play a critical role in disruption of oral epithelial barrier. Altered mucosal structure and barrier functions results in oral pathologies as well as systemic diseases. About 700 kinds of microorganisms exist in the human mouth, constituting the oral microbiota, which plays a significant role on the induction, training and function of the host immune system. The immune system maintains the symbiotic relationship of the host with this microbiota. Crosstalk between the oral microbiota and immune system includes various interactions in homeostasis and disease. In this review, after reviewing briefly the physical barriers of oral mucosa, the fundamentals of oral microbiome and oral mucosal immunity in regard to their barrier properties will be addressed. Furthermore, their importance in development of new diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic strategies for certain diseases as well as in the application for personalized medicine will be discussed.
Recombinant Baculovirus: A Flexible Drug Screening Platform for Chikungunya Virus
Authors: Varikkodan Muhammed Muhsin , Chen Chun-Chung , Wu Tzong-Yuan
Published: July 2021

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted infectious agent that causes an endemic or epidemic outbreak(s) of Chikungunya fever that is reported in almost all countries. This virus is an intense global threat, due to its high rate of contagion and the lack of effective remedies. In this study, we developed two baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS)-based approaches for the screening of anti-CHIKV drugs in Spodoptera frugiperda insect (Sf21) cells and U-2OS cells. First, structural protein of CHIKV was co-expressed through BEVS and thereby induced cell fusion in Sf21 cells. We used an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) to co-express the green fluorescent protein (EGFP) for identifying these fusion events. The EGFP-positive Sf21 cells fused with each other and with uninfected cells to form syncytia. We identified that ursolic acid has potential anti-CHIKV activity in vitro, by using this approach. Second, BacMam virus-based gene delivery has been successfully applied for the transient expression of non-structural proteins with a subgenomic promoter-EGFP (SP-EGFP) cassette in U-2OS cells to act as an in vitro CHIKV replicon system. Our BacMam-based screening system has identified that the potential effects of baicalin and baicalein phytocompounds can inhibit the replicon activity of CHIKV in U-2OS cells. In conclusion, our results suggested that BEVS can be a potential tool for screening drugs against CHIKV.
Estimating Livestock Grazing Activity in Remote Areas Using Passive Acoustic Monitoring
Authors: Karmiris Ilias , Astaras Christos , Ioannou Konstantinos , Vasiliadis Ioakim , Youlatos Dionisios , Stefanakis Nikolaos , Chatziefthimiou Aspassia D. , Kominos Theodoros , Galanaki Antonia
Published: July 2021

Grazing has long been recognized as an effective means of modifying natural habitats and, by extension, as a wildlife and protected area management tool, in addition to the obvious economic value it has for pastoral communities. A holistic approach to grazing management requires the estimation of grazing timing, frequency, and season length, as well as the overall grazing intensity. However, traditional grazing monitoring methods require frequent field visits, which can be labor intensive and logistically demanding to implement, especially in remote areas. Questionnaire surveys of farmers are also widely used to collect information on grazing parameters, however there can be concerns regarding the reliability of the data collected. To improve the reliability of grazing data collected and decrease the required labor, we tested for the first time whether a novel combination of autonomous recording units and the semi-automated detection algorithms of livestock vocalizations could provide insight on grazing activity at the selected areas of the Greek Rhodope mountain range. Our results confirm the potential of passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) techniques as a cost-efficient method for acquiring high resolution spatiotemporal data on grazing patterns. Additionally, we evaluate the three algorithms that we developed for detecting cattle, sheep/goat, and livestock bell sounds, and make them available to the broader scientific community. We conclude with suggestions on ways that acoustic monitoring can further contribute to managing legal and illegal grazing, and offer a list of priorities for related future research.
Employee Well-Being and Digital Work during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Juchnowicz Marta , Kinowska Hanna
Published: July 2021

The digitalisation of work is resulting in a transformation in the relationship between employees and employers as well as the perception of quality of life. Under the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals whose work could be done with digital tools were directed to work remotely. Performing work duties at a distance from the workplace, colleagues, and supervisors affects the workplace resources available to employees and can have an impact on employee well-being. The main purpose of this paper is to analyse the relationship between remote working and employee well-being. The research hypothesis was that there is a relationship between employee well-being and the level of digitisation of work performed, as measured by the frequency of remote working. This article presents the results of empirical research conducted in January 2021, using the CAWI method, on a representative sample of Polish workers (n = 1000). An exploratory factor analysis and logistic regression were carried out. The results point to the three-dimensional nature of employee well-being, which includes workplace relationships, health, and work–life balance. Based on the results, working exclusively remotely was shown to negatively affect well-being in terms of workplace relationships and work–life balance. There was no statistically significant association between remote working and subjective health assessment. The results have important implications for the management of employee well-being in remote working settings. Originality/value lies in the fact that the article provides practical guidance in planning hybrid work arrangements.
Echocardiography in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Comprehensive Evaluation and Technical Considerations
Authors: Topyła-Putowska Weronika , Tomaszewski Michał , Wysokiński Andrzej , Tomaszewski Andrzej
Published: July 2021

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare, progressive disease in which there is a persistent, abnormal increase in pulmonary artery pressure. Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension are nonspecific and mainly associated with progressive right ventricular failure. The diagnosis of PAH is a multistep process and often requires the skillful use of several tests. The gold standard for the diagnosis of PAH is hemodynamic testing. Echocardiography currently plays an important role in the diagnostic algorithm of PAH as it is minimally invasive and readily available. Moreover, many echocardiographic parameters are closely related to pulmonary hemodynamics. It allows assessment of the right heart′s structure and function, estimation of the pressure in the right ventricle, right atrium, and pulmonary trunk, and exclusion of other causes of elevated pulmonary bed pressure. Echocardiographic techniques are constantly evolving, and recently, measurements made using new techniques, especially 3D visualization, have become increasingly important. In echocardiographic assessment, it is crucial to know current guidelines and new reports that organize the methodology and allow standardization of the examination. This review aims to discuss the different echocardiographic techniques used to evaluate patients with PAH.
Critical In-Water Habitats for Post-Nesting Sea Turtles from the Southern Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Uribe-Martínez Abigail , Liceaga-Correa María de los Angeles , Cuevas Eduardo
Published: July 2021

Marine turtles are globally endangered species that spend more than 95% of their life cycle in in-water habitats. Nevertheless, most of the conservation, recovery and research efforts have targeted the on-land habitats, due to their easier access, where adult females lay their eggs. Targeting the large knowledge gaps on the in-water critical habitats of turtles, particularly in the Large Marine Ecosystem Gulf of Mexico, is crucial for their conservation and recovery in the long term. We used satellite telemetry to track 85 nesting females from their beaches after they nested to identify their feeding and residency habitats, their migratory corridors and to describe the context for those areas. We delimited major migratory corridors in the southern Gulf of Mexico and West Caribbean and described physical features of internesting and feeding home ranges located mainly around the Yucatan Peninsula and Veracruz, Mexico. We also contributed by describing general aggregation and movement patterns for the four marine turtle species in the Atlantic, expanding the knowledge of the studied species. Several tracked individuals emigrated from the Gulf of Mexico to as far as Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Bahamas. This information is critical for identifying gaps in marine protection and for deciphering the spatial connectivity in large ocean basins, and it provides an opportunity to assess potential impacts on marine turtle populations and their habitats.
Detection of Pneumocystis jirovecii in Patients with Severe COVID-19: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges
Authors: Gerber Victor , Ruch Yvon , Chamaraux-Tran Thiên-Nga , Oulehri Walid , Schneider Francis , Lindner Veronique , Greigert Valentin , Denis Julie , Brunet Julie , Danion François
Published: July 2021

Cases of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) in patients suffering from COVID-19 were described in patients with various comorbidities and outcomes. The diagnosis of PCP in these patients is difficult due to clinical and radiological similarities. We carried out this study in order to better describe potentially at-risk patients and their outcomes. We retrospectively analyzed all patients with a P. jirovecii PCR performed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, tracheal aspirate, or sputum within a month after the COVID-19 diagnosis. Fifty-seven patients with COVID-19 infection were tested for P. jirovecii. Among 57 patients with COVID-19, four patients had a concomitant positive P. jirovecii PCR. These four patients were elderly with a mean age of 78. Two patients were immunocompromised, and the two others presented only diabetes mellitus. Three patients presented an ARDS requiring transfer to the ICU and mechanical ventilation. All patients presented lymphocytopenia. Three patients had probable PCP, and one had proven PCP. All patients died within two months after hospital admission. These co-infections are rare but severe, therefore, PCP should be considered in case of worsening of the condition of patients with severe COVID-19.
Epidemiology of Invasive Fungal Diseases in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Recipients Managed with an Antifungal Diagnostic Driven Approach
Authors: Bergamasco Maria Daniela , Pereira Carlos Alberto P. , Arrais-Rodrigues Celso , Ferreira Diogo B. , Baiocchi Otavio , Kerbauy Fabio , Nucci Marcio , Colombo Arnaldo Lopes
Published: July 2021

Patients with hematologic malignancies and hematopoietic cell transplant recipients (HCT) are at high risk for invasive fungal disease (IFD). The practice of antifungal prophylaxis with mold-active azoles has been challenged recently because of drug–drug interactions with novel targeted therapies. This is a retrospective, single-center cohort study of consecutive cases of proven or probable IFD, diagnosed between 2009 and 2019, in adult hematologic patients and HCT recipients managed with fluconazole prophylaxis and an antifungal diagnostic-driven approach for mold infection. During the study period, 94 cases of IFD occurred among 664 hematologic patients and 316 HCT recipients. The frequency among patients with allogeneic HCT, autologous HCT, acute leukemia and other hematologic malignancies was 8.9%, 1.6%, 17.3%, and 6.4%, respectively. Aspergillosis was the leading IFD (53.2%), followed by fusariosis (18.1%), candidiasis (10.6%), and cryptococcosis (8.5%). The overall 6-week mortality rate was 37.2%, and varied according to the host and the etiology of IFD, from 28% in aspergillosis to 52.9% in fusariosis. Although IFD occurred frequently in our cohort of patients managed with an antifungal diagnostic driven approach, mortality rates were comparable to other studies. In the face of challenges posed by the use of anti-mold prophylaxis, this strategy remains a reasonable alternative.
Brain Atrophy Mediates the Relationship between Misfolded Proteins Deposition and Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Yu Chiun-Chieh , Lu Chia-Yin , Chen Meng-Hsiang , Chen Yueh-Sheng , Lu Cheng-Hsien , Lin Yi-Yun , Chou Kun-Hsien , Lin Wei-Che
Published: July 2021

Parkinson’s disease is associated with cognitive decline, misfolded protein deposition and brain atrophy. We herein hypothesized that structural abnormalities may be mediators between plasma misfolded proteins and cognitive functions. Neuropsychological assessments including five domains (attention, executive, speech and language, memory and visuospatial functions), ultra-sensitive immunomagnetic reduction-based immunoassay (IMR) measured misfolded protein levels (phosphorylated-Tau, Amyloidβ-42 and 40, α-synuclein and neurofilament light chain) and auto-segmented brain volumetry using FreeSurfur were performed for 54 Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients and 37 normal participants. Our results revealed that PD patients have higher plasma misfolded protein levels. Phosphorylated-Tau (p-Tau) and Amyloidβ-42 (Aβ-42) were correlated with atrophy of bilateral cerebellum, right caudate nucleus, and right accumbens area (RAA). In mediation analysis, RAA atrophy completely mediated the relationship between p-Tau and digit symbol coding (DSC). RAA and bilateral cerebellar cortex atrophy partially mediated the Aβ-42 and executive function (DSC and abstract thinking) relationship. Our study concluded that, in PD, p-Tau deposition adversely impacts DSC by causing RAA atrophy. Aβ-42 deposition adversely impacts executive functions by causing RAA and bilateral cerebellum atrophy.
Thiophene-3-carbonyl Chloride
Authors: Aitken R. Alan , Slawin Alexandra M. Z.
Published: July 2021

The X-ray structure of the title compound has been determined for the first time. It shows the ring flip disorder common among thiophene-3-carbonyl derivatives and the occurrence of this phenomenon in the structures of such compounds is discussed.
The Effect of Surface Topography Feature Size Density and Distribution on the Results of a Data Processing and Parameters Calculation with a Comparison of Regular Methods
Authors: Podulka Przemysław
Published: July 2021

In this paper, the influence of occurrence of surface texture features on the values of surface topography parameters calculated after the application of various data processing techniques was presented. Different types of surface topographies were considered, as follows: cylinder liners, some with additionally burnished dimples, turned, ground, milled, laser-textured, composite, ceramic, or isotropic in general. The effects of feature size on the areal form removal, noise suppressions, or end-effect reducing in surface texture measurements were studied. The variations of the ISO 25178 standard surface topography parameters were taken into consideration in detail. It was assumed that some of the feature sizes, distributions, and densities have a substantial impact on the values of surface topography parameters calculated after applications of regular (commonly used) algorithms and procedures, defined as basic operations, provided for raw surface texture data obtained directly from the measurement process. In the end, some of the practical applications for receiving the relevant values of surface topography parameters were proposed.
Natural Dyeing of Cellulose and Protein Fibers with the Flower Extract of Spartium junceum L. Plant
Authors: Kovačević Zorana , Sutlović Ana , Matin Ana , Bischof Sandra
Published: July 2021

In this study, the natural dye was extracted from Spartium junceum L. (SJL) flowers and applied on cellulose (cotton) and protein (wool) fabric. Fabrics were pre-mordant with alum prior to the dyeing process. Considering the global requirements on zero waste and green policy, the dyeing process was intended to be as much as possible environmentally friendly but still effective. Therefore, mordant concentration was optimized due to the reduction of the negative impact. The efficiency of the dyeing process was investigated by examination of fabrics’ color characteristics and colorfastness to washing properties. In this paper, we have proved that the extracted dye from Spartium junceum L. is an acidic dye (mordant dye) which is more applicable for the treatment of wool fabrics. In this paper, it was proved that phytochemicals responsible for coloring are part of the flavonoids group. The UV absorption spectra of extracted dye show 4 bands in the region of λmax 224, 268, 308 and 346 nm which are ascribed to bands characteristic for flavonoids. Wool fabric pre-mordant with 3% alum and dyed shows great chromatic (C*) properties where C* value is in a range from 47.76 for unwashed samples to 47.50 for samples after 5 washing cycles and color hue (h°) is in a range 82.13 for unwashed samples to 81.52 for samples after 5 washing cycles. The best result regarding the colorfastness properties is shown by the wool sample treated with 3% alum after 5 washing cycles (total difference in color (Delta E*) = 0.87). These results confirm that metal (Al) from alum mordant make strong chemical bonds with wool substrate and dye since Delta E* values decrease in comparison to Delta E* values of the cotton samples treated the same way. The results revealed it is possible to reduce the concentration of mordant up to 3% and obtain satisfactory results regarding the colorfastness. Nevertheless, future research will go in the direction of replacing synthetic mordant with a more environmentally friendly one.