bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fructose Consumption Affects Glucocorticoid Signaling in the Liver of Young Female Rats
Authors: Elaković Ivana , Kovačević Sanja , Vojnović Milutinović Danijela , Nikolić-Kokić Aleksandra , Glban Alhadi M. , Spasić Mihajlo , Tappy Luc , Djordjevic Ana , Matić Gordana , Brkljačić Jelena
Published: November 2020

The effects of early-life fructose consumption on hepatic signaling pathways and their relation to the development of metabolic disorders in later life are not fully understood. To investigate whether fructose overconsumption at a young age induces alterations in glucocorticoid signaling that might contribute to development of metabolic disturbances, we analysed glucocorticoid receptor hormone-binding parameters and expression of its target genes involved in gluconeogenesis (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose-6-phosphatase) and lipid metabolism (lipin-1), as well as redox and inflammatory status in the liver of female rats subjected to a fructose-rich diet immediately after weaning. The fructose diet increased hepatic corticosterone concentration, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 level, glucocorticoid receptor protein level and hormone-binding activity, as well as lipin-1 level. The expression of glucose-6-phosphatase was reduced in fructose-fed rats, while phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase remained unaltered. The fructose-rich diet increased the level of fructose transporter GLUT2, while the expression of fructolytic enzymes fructokinase and aldolase B remained unaltered. The diet also affected pro-inflammatory pathways, but had no effect on the antioxidant defence system. In conclusion, a fructose-rich diet applied immediately after weaning promoted lipogenesis and enhanced hepatic glucocorticoid signaling, possibly to protect against inflammatory damage, but without an effect on gluconeogenesis and antioxidant enzymes. Yet, prolonged treatment might ultimately lead to more pronounced metabolic disturbances.
Physiopathology of Lifestyle Interventions in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
Authors: Carneros David , López-Lluch Guillermo , Bustos Matilde
Published: November 2020

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major health problem, and its prevalence has increased in recent years. Diet and exercise interventions are the first-line treatment options, with weight loss via a hypocaloric diet being the most important therapeutic target in NAFLD. However, most NAFLD patients are not able to achieve such weight loss. Therefore, the requisite is the investigation of other effective therapeutic approaches. This review summarizes research on understanding complex pathophysiology underlying dietary approaches and exercise interventions with the potential to prevent and treat NAFLD.
Pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Cambess)-Loaded Nanoemulsion, Orally Delivered, Modulates Inflammation in LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice
Authors: de Sá Coutinho Diego , Pires Jader , Gomes Hyago , Raffin Pohlmann Adriana , Stanisçuaski Guterres Sílvia , Rodrigues e Silva Patrícia Machado , Martins Marco Aurelio , Ferrarini Stela Regina , Bernardi Andressa
Published: November 2020

Pequi is a Brazilian fruit used in folk medicine for pulmonary diseases treatment, but its oil presents bioavailability limitations. The use of nanocarriers can overcome this limitation. We developed nanoemulsions containing pequi oil (pequi-NE) and evaluated their effects in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury model. Free pequi oil or pequi-NE (20 mg/kg) was orally administered to A/J mice 16 and 4 h prior to intranasal LPS exposure, and the analyses were performed 24 h after LPS provocation. The physicochemical results revealed that pequi-NE comprised particles with mean diameter of 174–223 nm, low polydispersity index (0.11 ± 0.01), zeta potential of −7.13 ± 0.08 mV, and pH of 5.83 ± 0.12. In vivo evaluation showed that free pequi oil pretreatment reduced the influx of inflammatory cells into bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF), while pequi-NE completely abolished leukocyte accumulation. Moreover, pequi-NE, but not free pequi oil, reduced myeloperoxidase (MPO), TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, MCP-1, and KC levels. Similar anti-inflammatory effects were observed when LPS-exposed animals were pre-treated with the nanoemulsion containing pequi or oleic acid. These results suggest that the use of nanoemulsions as carriers enhances the anti-inflammatory properties of oleic acid-containing pequi oil. Moreover, pequi’s beneficial effect is likely due its high levels of oleic acid.
Polychemotherapy with Curcumin and Doxorubicin via Biological Nanoplatforms: Enhancing Antitumor Activity
Authors: Ashrafizadeh Milad , Zarrabi Ali , Hashemi Farid , Zabolian Amirhossein , Saleki Hossein , Bagherian Morteza , Azami Negar , Bejandi Atefe Kazemzade , Hushmandi Kiavash , Ang Hui Li , Makvandi Pooyan , Khan Haroon , Kumar Alan Prem
Published: November 2020

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a well-known chemotherapeutic agent extensively applied in the field of cancer therapy. However, similar to other chemotherapeutic agents such as cisplatin, paclitaxel, docetaxel, etoposide and oxaliplatin, cancer cells are able to obtain chemoresistance that limits DOX efficacy. In respect to dose-dependent side effect of DOX, enhancing its dosage is not recommended for effective cancer chemotherapy. Therefore, different strategies have been considered for reversing DOX resistance and diminishing its side effects. Phytochemical are potential candidates in this case due to their great pharmacological activities. Curcumin is a potential antitumor phytochemical isolated from Curcuma longa with capacity of suppressing cancer metastasis and proliferation and affecting molecular pathways. Experiments have demonstrated the potential of curcumin for inhibiting chemoresistance by downregulating oncogene pathways such as MMP-2, TGF-β, EMT, PI3K/Akt, NF-κB and AP-1. Furthermore, coadministration of curcumin and DOX potentiates apoptosis induction in cancer cells. In light of this, nanoplatforms have been employed for codelivery of curcumin and DOX. This results in promoting the bioavailability and internalization of the aforementioned active compounds in cancer cells and, consequently, enhancing their antitumor activity. Noteworthy, curcumin has been applied for reducing adverse effects of DOX on normal cells and tissues via reducing inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis. The current review highlights the anticancer mechanism, side effects and codelivery of curcumin and DOX via nanovehicles.
Preparation and Performance of Cement Mortar Reinforced by Modified Bamboo Fibers
Authors: Ban Yang , Zhi Wei , Fei Mingen , Liu Wendi , Yu Demei , Fu Tengfei , Qiu Renhui
Published: November 2020

This study aims to prepare bamboo-fiber-reinforced cement composites and provide a solution to the issue of poor interfacial adhesion between bamboo fibers and cement matrix. The original bamboo fibers were modified by three moderately low-cost and easy-to-handle treatments including glycerol, aluminate ester, and silane treatments. The performance of the modified bamboo-fiber-reinforced cement composites was evaluated by a series of mechanical and durability tests, including flexural and compressive strength, water absorption, chloride ion penetration, drying shrinkage, freeze–thaw resistance, and carbonization. In addition, the microstructures of composites were characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that the composites reinforced with glycerol-modified bamboo fibers had 14% increased flexural strength and comparable compressive strength. From durability perspectives, all treatments showed similar performance in drying shrinkage, whereas aluminate ester treatment was the most effective in terms of impermeability, chloride resistance, freeze–thaw resistance, and carbonization. The results could provide insights to efficient and effective natural fiber treatment to enable better performance of natural-fiber-reinforced cement-based materials.
Analysis and Economic Evaluation of the Use of Recycled Polyamide Powder in Masonry Mortars
Authors: Salas Miguel A. , Pérez-Acebo Heriberto , Calderón Verónica , Gonzalo-Orden Hernán
Published: November 2020

Due to the considerable amount of waste plastics and polymers that are produced annually, the introduction of these waste products in construction materials is becoming a recurrent solution to recycle them. Among polymers, polyamide represents an important proportion of polymer waste. In this study, sustainable and lightweight mortars were designed and elaborated, substituting the aggregates by polyamide powder waste. Mortars were produced with various dosages of cement/aggregates, and the polyamide substitutions were 25, 50, 75, and 100% of the aggregates. The aim of this paper is to determine the density and the compressive strength of the manufactured mortars to observe the feasibility for being employed as masonry or rendering and plastering mortars. Results showed that with increasing polymer substitution, lower densities were achieved, ranging from 1850 to 790 kg/m3 in modified mortars. Mortars with densities below 1300 kg/m3 are cataloged as lightweight mortars. Furthermore, compressive strength also decreased with more polyamide substitution. Obtained values in recycled mortars were between 15.77 and 2.10 MPa, but the majority of the values (eight out of 12) were over 5 MPa. Additionally, an economic evaluation was performed, and it was observed that the use of waste polyamide implies an important cost reduction, apart from the advantage of not having to manage this waste material. Consequently, not only the mechanical properties of the new recycled materials were verified as well as its economic viability.
Improving the Imazapyr Degradation by Photocatalytic Ozonation: A Comparative Study with Different Oxidative Chemical Processes
Authors: Bougarrani Salma , Baicha Zakarya , Latrach Lahbib , Mahi Mohammed El , Hernandez Fernandez Francisco José
Published: November 2020

The degradation of imazapyr (C13H15N3O3), an active element in the aqueous solution of commercial herbicide, was investigated. This study was the first to evaluate in a comprehensive manner the efficiency of advanced oxidation processes for imazapyr degradation. Results showed that Imazapyr degradation is significantly affected by operational conditions such as TiO2 concentration, ozone concentration, initial concentration of imazapyr and pH. The kinetics of Imazapyr consumption was the first order with respect to Imazapyr concentration and zero order with respect to ozone concentration with a constant rate of 0.247 min−1 and 0.128 min−1 for photocatalytic ozonation and heterogeneous photocatalysis, while it was the first order with respect to Imazapyr and the first order with respect to ozone concentrations when only ozone was used with a constant rate of 0.053 mol L−1 min−1 at pH 7. The results revealed that more than 90 percent of the removal efficiency representing the elimination of imazapyr was held up to 7 μM. Further increase in the concentration of imazapyr leads to a drop in the removal efficiency, however the total imazapyr degradation was reached in 20 min utilizing photocatalytic ozonation for 5 μM of Imazapyr in the presence of 100 mg L−1 of TiO2, 10 mg L−1 of ozone at pH 7. Photocatalytic ozonation and heterogeneous photocatalysis utilizing TiO2 as a semiconductor process appeared possible and well suited for the treatment of organic contaminants such as imazapyr herbicides, although at certain dosages of pH and common time for wastewater treatment, imazapyr was not degraded with ozonation on its own. The association of two oxidation processes, ozonation and photocatalysis, has improved oxidation efficiencies for water treatment under optimal conditions, leading to the development of non-selective hydroxyl and more reactive radicals in the oxidation medium, as well as the resulting synergistic effects between photocatalysis and ozonation that react more rapidly with imazapyr herbicide.
3D Reconstruction of Power Lines Using UAV Images to Monitor Corridor Clearance
Authors: Pastucha Elżbieta , Puniach Edyta , Ścisłowicz Agnieszka , Ćwiąkała Paweł , Niewiem Witold , Wiącek Paweł
Published: November 2020

Regular power line inspections are essential to ensure the reliability of electricity supply. The inspections of overground power submission lines include corridor clearance monitoring and fault identification. The power lines corridor is a three-dimensional space around power cables defined by a set distance. Any obstacles breaching this space should be detected, as they potentially threaten the safety of the infrastructure. Corridor clearance monitoring is usually performed either by a labor-intensive total station survey (TS), terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), or expensive airborne laser scanning (ALS) from a plane or a helicopter. This paper proposes a method that uses unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) images to monitor corridor clearance. To maintain the adequate accuracy of the relative position of wires in regard to surrounding obstacles, the same data were used both to reconstruct a point cloud representation of a digital surface model (DSM) and a 3D power line. The proposed algorithm detects power lines in a series of images using decorrelation stretch for initial image processing, the modified Prewitt filter for edge enhancement, random sample consensus (RANSAC) with additional parameters for line fitting, and epipolar geometry for 3D reconstruction. DSM points intruding into the corridor are then detected by calculating the spatial distance between a reconstructed power line and the DSM point cloud representation. Problematic objects are localized by segmenting points into voxels and then subsequent clusterization. The processing results were compared to the results of two verification methods—TS and TLS. The comparison results show that the proposed method can be used to survey power lines with an accuracy consistent with that of classical measurements.
Identification before-after Forest Fire and Prediction of Mangrove Forest Based on Markov-Cellular Automata in Part of Sembilang National Park, Banyuasin, South Sumatra, Indonesia
Authors: Darmawan Soni , Sari Dewi Kania , Wikantika Ketut , Tridawati Anggun , Hernawati Rika , Sedu Maria Kurniawati
Published: November 2020

In 1997, the worst forest fire in Indonesia occurred and hit mangrove forest areas including in Sembilang National Park Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra. Therefore, the Indonesian government keeps in trying to rehabilitate the mangrove forest in Sembilang National Park. This study aimed to identify the mangrove forest changing and to predict on the future year. The situations before and after forest fire were analyzed. This study applied an integrated Markov Chain and Cellular Automata model to identify mangrove forest change in the interval years of 1989–2015 and predict it in 2028. Remote sensing technology is used based on Landsat satellite imagery (1989, 1998, 2002, and 2015). The results showed mangrove forest has decreased around 9.6% from 1989 to 1998 due to forest fire, and has increased by 8.4% between 1998 and 2002, and 2.3% in 2002–2015. Other results show that mangroves area has continued to increase from 2015 to 2028 by 27.4% to 31% (7974.8 ha). It shows that the mangrove ecosystem is periodically changing due to good management by the Indonesian government.
Spatial and Temporal Changes in Surface Water Area of Sri Lanka over a 30-Year Period
Authors: Somasundaram Deepakrishna , Zhang Fangfang , Ediriweera Sisira , Wang Shenglei , Li Junsheng , Zhang Bing
Published: November 2020

Sri Lanka contains a large number of natural and man-made water bodies, which play an essential role in irrigation and domestic use. The island has recently been identified as a global hotspot of climate change extremes. However, the extent, spatial distribution, and the impact of climate and anthropogenic activities on these water bodies have remained unknown. We investigated the distribution, spatial and temporal changes, and the impacts of climatic and anthropogenic drivers on water dynamics in Dry, Intermediate, and Wet zones of the island. We used Landsat 5 and Landsat 8 images to generate per-pixel seasonal and annual water occurrence frequency maps for the period of 1988–2019. The results of the study demonstrated high inter- and intra-annual variations in water with a rapid increase. Further, results showed strong zonal differences in water dynamics, with most dramatic variations in the Dry zone. Our results revealed that 1607.73 km2 of the land area of the island is covered by water bodies, among this 882.01 km2 (54.86%) is permanent and 725.72 km2 (45.14%) is seasonal water area. Total inland seasonal water increased with a dramatic annual growth rate of 7.06 ± 1.97 km2 compared to that of permanent water (4.47 ± 2.08 km2/year). Sri Lanka has the highest permanent water area during December–February (1045.97 km2), and drops to the lowest in May–September (761.92 km2) when the seasonal water (846.46 km2) is higher than permanent water. The surface water area was positively related to both precipitation and Gross Domestic Product, while negatively related to the temperature. Findings of our study provide important insights into possible spatiotemporal changes in surface water availability in Sri Lanka under certain climate change and anthropogenic activities.
Correction: Gharehchahi, S.; James, W.H.M.; Bhardwaj, A.; Jensen, J.L.R.; Sam, L.; Ballinger, T.J.; Butler, D.R. Glacier Ice Thickness Estimation and Future Lake Formation in Swiss Southwestern Alps—The Upper Rhône Catchment: A VOLTA Application. Remote Sens. 2020, 12, 3443
Authors: Gharehchahi Saeideh , James William H. M. , Bhardwaj Anshuman , Jensen Jennifer L. R. , Sam Lydia , Ballinger Thomas J. , Butler David R.
Published: November 2020

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]
Wildfire-Detection Method Using DenseNet and CycleGAN Data Augmentation-Based Remote Camera Imagery
Authors: Park Minsoo , Tran Dai Quoc , Jung Daekyo , Park Seunghee
Published: November 2020

To minimize the damage caused by wildfires, a deep learning-based wildfire-detection technology that extracts features and patterns from surveillance camera images was developed. However, many studies related to wildfire-image classification based on deep learning have highlighted the problem of data imbalance between wildfire-image data and forest-image data. This data imbalance causes model performance degradation. In this study, wildfire images were generated using a cycle-consistent generative adversarial network (CycleGAN) to eliminate data imbalances. In addition, a densely-connected-convolutional-networks-based (DenseNet-based) framework was proposed and its performance was compared with pre-trained models. While training with a train set containing an image generated by a GAN in the proposed DenseNet-based model, the best performance result value was realized among the models with an accuracy of 98.27% and an F1 score of 98.16, obtained using the test dataset. Finally, this trained model was applied to high-quality drone images of wildfires. The experimental results showed that the proposed framework demonstrated high wildfire-detection accuracy.
Collaboration and Sustainability: Making Science Useful, Making Useful Science
Authors: Hackett Edward J.
Published: November 2020

Collaboration is essential to produce the distinctive forms of science and technology—knowledge and know-how—required to meet sustainability challenges. What might be the form of that collaboration? One-shot or transient collaboration is giving way to richer, deeper, continual integration of knowledge, power, and diverse ethics and values (ethos), and these, in turn, confront leaders and analysts with new challenges.
Dynamic Impacts of Economic Growth and Forested Area on Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Malaysia
Authors: Begum Rawshan Ara , Raihan Asif , Said Mohd Nizam Mohd
Published: November 2020

This study measures the relationship and dynamic impacts of economic growth and forested area on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Malaysia. Time series data over the period of 1990 to 2016 were used by employing the dynamic ordinary least squared (DOLS) approach. The results of DOLS estimation indicate that the coefficient of economic growth is positive and significant with CO2 emissions, meaning that RM1 million increase in gross domestic product (GDP) is associated with an increase in CO2 emissions of 0.931 kilo tons. Instead, the long-run coefficient of forested area found negative and significant, which implies that declining one hectare of forested area (i.e., deforestation) has an impact of three kilo tons of CO2 emissions rise in Malaysia. Our study findings indicate that economic growth and deforested area have an adverse effect on Malaysia’s carbon emissions where GDP growth fosters carbon emissions at a faster rate. Thus, the effective implementation of policy measures and economic instruments including afforestation and reforestation, forest conservation, sustainable forest management, REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation plus) mechanism and other emission reduction mechanisms inter alia could be useful for reducing carbon emissions while decreasing deforestation and maintaining the long-term economic growth in Malaysia.
Modern Circular Economy: Corporate Strategy, Supply Chain, and Industrial Symbiosis
Authors: Maranesi Cristina , De Giovanni Pietro
Published: November 2020

This paper analyses the firms’ chances to consider circular economy as a part of the corporate strategy. The analysis of four Italian firms engaged in circular economy programs allows us to detect its connections with the corporate strategy, the real activities involved, the supply chain network ensuring circularity, the industrial symbiosis, as well as the links with performance. Our findings highlight that circular economy is a true business lever when the corporate strategy complements and supports its development. This allows firms to achieve high level targets that go beyond the traditional targets of social, environmental, and economic performance, and include circular supply chain, eco-innovations, and industrial symbiosis.
Using Recycled Aggregates from Construction and Demolition Waste in Unbound Layers of Pavements
Authors: Pourkhorshidi Sajjad , Sangiorgi Cesare , Torreggiani Daniele , Tassinari Patrizia
Published: November 2020

Pavements are an expensive part of transportation infrastructures, as their construction and maintenance require large amounts of resources and materials every year and all over the world. A sustainable solution for considering environmental concerns about roads and pavements, in general, is utilizing recycled materials for their construction. This has been shown to lower the carbon footprint of the construction sector and to result in natural resource conservation, in reduction of harmful emissions and in minimization of overall costs for pavement construction and maintenance. One of the main groups of recycled materials which has attracted much attention since the end of the last century is construction and demolition waste aggregates (CDW). This paper reviews the completed studies referring to the use of the construction and demolition waste aggregates in unbound layers of pavements and compare the in-hand results from various engineering assessments of these aggregates and mixes. A number of tests and evaluations are applied in order to enhance the required quality and durability of the pavements under given traffic volumes traffic loads and climate actions. Today, unbound recycled aggregates (RA) are mainly used in the lower layers, such as subgrade, capping, sub-base and base, but in rural roads they can be adopted also for bound layers, towards the surface of the structure and may be constituents of bound layers and of novel surfacing applications.
Integrating Spatial Valuation of Ecosystem Services into Protected Area Management: A Case Study of the Cangshan Nature Reserve in Dali, China
Authors: Xia Juyi , Cao Ming , Xiao Wen , Li Yanpeng , Fu Gang , Wang Wei , Li Junsheng
Published: November 2020

Given the importance of protected areas (PAs) in promoting the balance between conservation and sustainable development, it is crucial for planners and decision-makers to focus attention on the core areas that are of priority to PAs. However, few studies have addressed the balance between ecosystem service provision in PAs and regional development demands based on spatial valuation data. Herein, we present an integrated approach using the Cangshan Nature Reserve as a case study with the aim of identifying the core conservation areas of the reserve—the only national nature reserve in the 18-creek watershed of Cangshan—under different urbanization scenarios. The results show that the overall farmland in the watershed decreased and the architectural area increased, but the land use in the nature reserve remained stable from 1995 to 2035. With the increase in demand for water in the watershed, at least 24.3% of the Cangshan Nature Reserve should be designated as core conservation area to ensure the maintenance of sufficient water quantity and quality. This study can be used as a reference for the sustainable management of PAs based on our example of balancing ecosystem service provision and demand in a single watershed.
Monitoring Wild Coffee Using Ground Survey and Satellite Observation in Community-Managed Forest in Sheko, South-West Ethiopia
Authors: Hwang Byongjun , Wood Adrian , Snell Matthew , Fantaye Desyalew , Belayneh Endale , Mekuria Bizuneh
Published: November 2020

Preserving wild coffee in the natural forest, especially in southwest Ethiopia, is important for maintaining the genetic diversity of Arabica coffee and sustaining coffee production. To monitor the changes in wild coffee in the natural forest, we conducted an in situ baseline survey in 2015, and 30 of those survey sites were re-visited in 2019. Those surveys involved counting the number of mature mother trees, saplings and seedlings, as well as recording details of the sites, including disturbance, accessibility and forest conditions. Satellite imagery was combined with the site-specific in situ survey data to provide evidence of the forest condition around the study sites and therefore help more fully explore the causes for the changes in the wild coffee stock. The results show that, overall, the population of mother coffee trees was maintained during the 4-year period, and a slight increase in saplings occurred. Closer examination reveals considerable variations between sites, with some equally accessible sites showing a sharp decline in the number of mother trees while others show consistent increases. This study demonstrates the importance of systematic surveys, especially for the areas where forest cover and wild coffee plants are highly variable, and this may help explore community-specific approaches in managing wild coffee in the forest.
Cognitive Component of the Image of a Rural Tourism Destination as a Sustainable Development Potential
Authors: Leković Ksenija , Tomić Slavica , Marić Dražen , Ćurčić Nikola V.
Published: November 2020

Sustainable tourism should maintain a high level of tourist satisfaction, so identifying components of tourism destination image plays an important role in destination management and marketing. This study aims to explore issues related to the image of a rural tourism destination, with the focus on the cognitive component. It also aims to analyze three dimensions of the cognitive component: functional, mixed, and psychological. Furthermore, this study gives the answer to the question of which dimension of the cognitive component makes the most significant impact on the general image of a rural tourism destination. The sample comprised 562 respondents. Data analysis included exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structural equation modeling (SEM). The results indicate the existence of three dimensions of the cognitive component, and it can be concluded that the psychological dimension of the cognitive component has the most significant impact on the general image of a rural tourism destination.
Sustainable Ceramic Materials Manufactured from Ceramic Formulations Containing Quartzite and Scheelite Tailings
Authors: Fernandes Jucielle Veras , Guedes Danyelle Garcia , da Costa Fabiana Pereira , Rodrigues Alisson Mendes , Neves Gelmires de Araújo , Menezes Romualdo Rodrigues , Santana Lisiane Navarro de Lima
Published: November 2020

In this study, we develop ceramic formulations based on quartzite and scheelite tailings collected from mining companies in the northeast of Brazil (Rio Grande do Norte State). New ceramic samples (27 wt% of kaolin, 29 wt% of plastic clay, 11 wt% of quartzite tailing, and 0–8 wt% scheelite tailing) were uniaxially pressed in two steps (20 MPa and 50 Mpa for 20 s); dried at 110 °C for 24 h; and sintered at 1150 °C, 1200 °C, and 1250 °C. The main mineralogical phases (mullite, quartz, calcite, and anorthite) of the sintered samples were identified using X-ray diffraction (XRD). After evaluation of the physical-mechanical properties (water absorption, linear shrinkage, apparent porosity, and flexural strength), it was observed that the incorporation of scheelite tailing by up to 8 wt% did not significantly alter the properties of samples sintered at all temperatures. Our results indicate that the new ceramics formulations developed have strong potentials in manufacturing sustainable materials such as ceramic tiles and porcelain stoneware.
Improved Production of Kynurenic Acid by Yarrowia lipolytica in Media Containing Different Honeys
Authors: Wróbel-Kwiatkowska Magdalena , Turski Waldemar , Juszczyk Piotr , Kita Agnieszka , Rymowicz Waldemar
Published: November 2020

Y. lipolytica remains a nonpathogenic, unconventional yeast, which can be applied for the production of bioactive compounds. Our previous study confirmed the ability of yeast Yarrowia lipolytica to produce kynurenic acid (KYNA). Here, we investigated the effectiveness of KYNA production in cultures cultivated in medium containing honey of various origin, used as a source of carbon and energy. It was evidenced that the highest content of KYNA in culture broth (68 mg/L) and yeast biomass (542 mg/kg) was obtained when chestnut honey was used. The content of lipids and amino acids composition in yeast biomass producing KYNA was also determined. It was found that the composition of both amino acids and lipids in yeast biomass depended on the honey type used as a component of the medium. This finding revealed that supplementation of medium broth with honey may significantly affect the nutritional value of yeast biomass. The practical applicability of this finding requires further study.
A Critical Review of Sensors for the Continuous Monitoring of Smart and Sustainable Railway Infrastructures
Authors: Castillo-Mingorance Juan Manuel , Sol-Sánchez Miguel , Moreno-Navarro Fernando , Rubio-Gámez María Carmen
Published: November 2020

Real-time and continuous monitoring through smart sensors is considered to be the evolution of traditional track testing, enabling the earlier detection of the main failure modes that degrade railway tracks. Through carrying out preventive maintenance operations, infrastructure resources may be optimized, leading to smarter and more sustainable infrastructure. For this reason, under the larger goal of creating a synergy with various types of sensors for railway tracks, this article presents a critical review on the different, currently available sensors for smart and continuous monitoring. Specifically, the most appropriate monitoring technologies for each of the main railway track failure modes have been assessed and identified, thus deriving the advantages and capacities of each solution. Furthermore, this review presents some of the main experiences carried out to date in literature by using sensor technologies, such as strain gauges, piezoelectric sensors, fiber-optics, geophones and accelerometers. These technologies have proven to offer appropriate characteristics and accuracy for the continuous monitoring of a railway track’s structural state, being capable of measuring different parameters, such as deflections, deformations, stresses or accelerations that would permit the technical tracking of various forms of degradation.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) Landscape Suitability Varies by Wetland Habitats and the Degree of Interface between Wild Waterfowl and Poultry in India
Authors: Walsh Michael G. , Mor Siobhan M. , Hossain Shah
Published: November 2020

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, subtype H5N1, constitutes one of the world’s most important health and economic concerns given the catastrophic impact of epizootics on the poultry industry, the high mortality attending spillover in humans, and its potential as a source subtype for a future pandemic. Nevertheless, we still lack an adequate understanding of HPAI H5N1 epidemiology and infection ecology. The nature of the wild waterfowl–poultry interface, and the sharing of diverse wetland habitat among these birds, currently underscore important knowledge gaps. India has emerged as a global hotspot for HPAI H5N1, while also providing critical wintering habitat for many species of migratory waterfowl and year-round habitat for several resident waterfowl species. The current study sought to examine the extent to which the wild waterfowl–poultry interface, varied wetland habitat, and climate influence HPAI H5N1 epizootics in poultry in India. Using World Organisation for Animal Health reported outbreaks, this study showed that the wild waterfowl–poultry interface and lacustrine, riparian, and coastal marsh wetland systems were strongly associated with landscape suitability, and these relationships varied by scale. Although increasing poultry density was associated with increasing risk, this was only the case in the absence of wild waterfowl habitat, and only at a local scale. In landscapes increasingly shared between wild waterfowl and poultry, suitability was greater among lower density poultry, again at a local scale only. These findings provide further insight into the occurrence of HPAI H5N1 in India and suggest important landscape targets for blocking the waterfowl–poultry interface to interrupt virus transmission and prevent future outbreaks.
Differential Efficacy of Novel Antiviral Substances in 3D and Monolayer Cell Culture
Authors: Koban Robert , Neumann Markus , Nelson Philipp P. , Ellerbrok Heinz
Published: November 2020

Repurposing of approved drugs that target host functions also important for virus replication promises to overcome the shortage of antiviral therapeutics. Mostly, virus biology including initial screening of antivirals is studied in conventional monolayer cells. The biology of these cells differs considerably from infected tissues. 3D culture models with characteristics of human tissues may reflect more realistically the in vivo events during infection. We screened first, second, and third generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-inhibitors with different modes of action and the EGFR-blocking monoclonal antibody cetuximab in a 3D cell culture infection model with primary human keratinocytes and cowpox virus (CPXV) for antiviral activity. Antiviral activity of erlotinib and osimertinib was nearly unaffected by the cultivation method similar to the virus-directed antivirals tecovirimat and cidofovir. In contrast, the host-directed inhibitors afatinib and cetuximab were approx. 100-fold more efficient against CPXV in the 3D infection model, similar to previous results with gefitinib. In summary, inhibition of EGFR-signaling downregulates virus replication comparable to established virus-directed antivirals. However, in contrast to virus-directed inhibitors, in vitro efficacy of host-directed antivirals might be seriously affected by cell cultivation. Results obtained for afatinib and cetuximab suggest that screening of such drugs in standard monolayer culture might underestimate their potential as antivirals.
Por um Novo Renascimento: Leonardo da Vinci como símbolo da cultura humanista e técnico-científica
Authors: Marramao Giacomo , Aranovich Patricia
Published: November 2020

Aula magna na XVIII International Philosophy Olympiad, em Roma, no dia 16 de maio de 2019. Essa aula foi pronunciada diante de jovens filósofos provenientes de oitenta países.

Tradução para o português de Patrícia Aranovich.
História, memória e ficção em textos e contextos africanos: notas sobre Moçambique
Authors: Chaves Rita
Published: November 2020

O presente artigo tem como objetivo discutir a relação entre História, memória e ficção em textos e contextos africanos. Levando em conta que, sobretudo em países identificados com a pressão colonial, o apelo ao testemunho e a diversas formas de narrativa possibilita assomarem-se vozes até então silenciadas, questionar a impenetrabilidade do debate informado pelos autores da dominação e sua conservação do monopólio do discurso e do direcionamento de análise, bem como o poder indiscutível dos documentos como fonte de verdade. Daí a importância da integração de outras narrativas cujos procedimentos são associados ao território da memória e dos seus campos de subjetividade, sem desconsiderar os riscos desse recurso. Portanto, devido ao itinerário histórico de alguns países, a exemplo de Moçambique e Angola, precisam-se de outros modos de lidar com as linhas da memória. O papel da ficção expressa-se como recurso a um instrumento de análise diferente daqueles com que lidamos commais frequência. Nesse sentido, estabelece-se, a partir da literatura, um papel no processo de formação da identidade nacional, de interpretação do país, interferindo no coro que canta a grande narrativa e fornecendo instrumentos que permitem olhá-lo mais profundamente.
Okul Etkililiğinde Performans Değerlendirme ve Örgütsel Adalet Kavramlarının Alan Yazın Çalışmalarıyla İncelenmesi
Authors: TURHAN Esra , SOYTÜRK Şenay , TUNCER Hicran
Published: November 2020

Çağdaş eğitim politikaları okulların etkili olmalarını gerekli kılmaktadır. 21. yy. becerilerinin çeşitliliği okulların etkili olmasını ve çağa ayak uydurmasını zorunlu hale getirmektedir. Öğrencilere değer katan ve fark yaratan okullar etkili okul olarak tanımlanmaktadır. Okulların etkililiği birçok faktörden etkilenebilmektedir. Okul müdürlerinin vizyonları, okulların fiziki şartları, velilerin sosyokültürel seviyeleri vb. kriterler okul etkililiğini doğrudan etkileyebilmektedir. Bu çalışmada okul etkililiğini doğrudan etkileyen öğretmen performans değerlendirme sistemleri ve süreci ile örgütsel adalet kavramları alan yazın çalışmaları ışığında tartışılmaktadır. Öğretmen performansının okul etkililiğinde oldukça kritik bir rol oynadığı alan yazın çalışmalarınca ortaya koyulmuştur. Fakat performans değerlendirme sistemlerinin okul etkililiğine hizmet edebilmesi örgütsel adaletin varlığı ve öğretmenler tarafından algılanması ile mümkün olabilmektedir. Alan yazındaki çalışmalar ışığında örgütsel adalet algısı olmadan performans değerlendirme sistemlerinin istendik sonuçları sağlayamayacağını söylemek mümkündür.
Kodlama Etkinliklerine ve Analitik Düşünme Becerisine Yönelik Sınıf Öğretmenlerinin Görüşlerinin İncelenmesi
Authors: ANILAN Hüseyin , GEZER Burcu
Published: November 2020

Kodlama, belirli görevleri, belirli bir sıraya göre yaptırabilmek için adım adım yazılan komutlar dizisidir. Kodlama eğitimi ile bireyin bir problem durumunu fark etmesi ve ona çözüm üretmesi amaçlanmaktadır. Kodlama etkinlikleri; öğrencilerin üst düzey düşünme, problem çözme, yaratıcı düşünme, bilgi işlemsel düşünme, eleştirel düşünme, algoritmik düşünme ve analitik düşünme gibi becerilerini geliştirmektedir. Analitik düşünme, çözümlemeye dayalı bir düşünme türüdür. Bu çalışmada, kodlama etkinliklerine ve analitik düşünme becerilerine yönelik sınıf öğretmenlerinin görüşlerinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaç doğrultusunda, (a) sınıf öğretmenleri kodlama etkinliklerine derslerinde yer vermekte midir, neden? (b) sınıf öğretmenlerine göre kodlama etkinlikleri hangi becerilerin gelişmesini sağlar? (c) sınıf öğretmenlerine göre kodlama etkinlikleri ve analitik düşünme becerisi arasında nasıl bir ilişki vardır? (d) sınıf öğretmenleri, öğrencilerin analitik düşünme becerisini geliştirmek için ne tür etkinlikler yapmaktadır? sorularına yanıt aranmaya çalışılmıştır. Araştırma nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden durum çalışması deseni benimsenerek yürütülmüştür. Araştırmaya 2019-2020 öğretim yılı güz yarıyılında, Türkiye’nin farklı okullarında görev yapan ve araştımaya katılmaya gönüllü 15 sınıf öğretmeni katılmıştır. Araştırmanın verileri, yapılandırılmış açık uçlu yazılı görüşme formuyla, elektronik ortamda toplanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde betimsel analiz tekniği kullanılmıştır. Araştırmadan elde edilen bulgulara göre, sınıf öğretmenlerinin çoğunun kodlama etkinliklerine derslerinde yer vermediği; sınıf öğretmenlerine göre kodlama etkinlikleriyle problem çözme, yaratıcı ve analitik düşünme gibi becerilerin gelişebileceği; sınıf öğretmenlerine göre kodlama etkinlikleri ile analitik düşünme becerisi arasında uyumlu bir ilişki olduğu; sınıf öğretmenlerinin öğrencilerdeki analitik düşünme becerisini geliştirmek için çeşitli etkinlikler yaptığı sonuçlarına ulaşılmıştır. Bu doğrultuda sınıf öğretmenlerine kodlama eğitimi verilmelidir. Okulların, kodlama eğitimi için gerekli donanıma sahip olması sağlanmalıdır.
Beam dynamics simulation in a linear accelerator for CERN Future Circular Collider
Authors: Kluchevskaia Yulia D. , Polozov Sergey M.
Published: November 2020

Results of the beam dynamics simulation in a linear accelerator at full energy 1.5 – 2.0 GeV for an international project – CERN Future Circular Collider (FCCee) are presented. FCC is developing designs for a higher performance particle collider to extend the research currently being conducted at the Large Hadron Collider, once the latter reaches the end of its lifespan. Beam dynamics simulations done using BEAMDULAC-BL code developed in NRNU MEPhI. This code allows taking into account both the quasistatic and high-frequency self-field components.
Chebysev’s Estimate of the Prime Counting Function
Authors: Ghosh Sourangshu
Published: November 2020

In this article we shall discuss about Chebyshev’s estimates of the prime counting function, which was later superseded by the Prime Number Theorem, nonetheless it is significant from both mathematical and historical perspective. Chebyshev’s estimates of the prime counting function forms the basis and motivation for the Prime number theorem derived later by mathematicians.
ANALISIS PENGARUH VISKOSITAS PELUMAS MULTI GRADE TERHADAP KARAKTER PELUMAS
Authors: Salafudin M. , Darmanto Darmanto , Priangkoso Tabah
Published: November 2020

Kontak mekanik antara elemen mesin merupakan sebuah hal yang tidak dapat dihindari. Metode untuk meminimalkan keausan akibat kontak adalah dengan cara memberikan pelumas pada sistem tersebut. Ketahanan viskositas pelumas terhadap temperature sangat dipengaruhi oleh jenis bahan dasar pelumas. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui pengaruh bahan dasar pelumas terhadap umur viskositas. Pada penelitian ini menggunakan jenis pelumas pada suhu kamar cenderung mengalami penurunan yang cukup signifikan sedang pada suhu kerja cenderung stabil, hal ini karena pada temperature kamar viskositas pelumas lebih tinggi sehingga penurunan viskositas yang drastis akan terjadi. Pada suhu kerja viskositas pelumas sudah turun, sehingga kalau terjadi penurunan viskositas tidak terlalu signifikan. Pelumas semi sintetik mempunyai kestabilan viskositas yang lebih baik dibanding pelumas mineral dan semi premium mineral , hal ini karena pelumas semi sintetik secara umum mempunyai sifat kimia yang lebih baik , struktur kimia nyai seragam dibandingkan pelumas mineral dan premium mineral.

Kata kunci: gesekan, pelumas, temperature, viscousity
HUMAN EXPOSURE TO BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE HETEROCYCLIC AROMATIC AMINES ARISING FROM THERMAL PROCESSING OF PROTEIN RICH FOOD
Authors: Janoszka Beata , Nowak Agnieszka , Szumska Magdalena , Śnieżek Ewa , Tyrpień-Golder Krystyna
Published: November 2020

Frequent consumption of thermally processed meat was classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer to directly carcinogenic agents for humans. During the
heat treatment of high protein food, mutagenic and carcinogenic, as well as neurotoxic heterocyclic aromatic amines are formed. Epidemiological studies confirm that exposure to some of these compounds may increase the risk of cancer in humans, especially the colon cancer. Most heterocyclic amines contain fried and grilled meat products, and the lowest content of these compounds can be found in boiled and slightly baked dishes. The use of spices and vegetable additives with antioxidant properties allows to obtain dishes with reduced content of these xenobiotics. An effective way to reduce human exposure to cancerogenic amines may be simultaneous consumption, together with meat dishes, products containing fiber which can adsorb molecules of heterocyclic amines in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as enrichment of the diet in the crucifers plants, as isothiocyanates released from them can inhibit the metabolic activation processes of heterocyclic amines. Raising the public awareness of the formation of mutagenic and carcinogenic compounds, including heterocyclic aromatic amines, during the intensive heat treatment of high protein food, as well as the dissemination of knowledge on the conditions regarding the preparation of dishes with reduced content of such compounds could become one of the components of cancer prevention programs in Poland.
INCOMPARABILITY GRAPH OF THE SPECIAL LATTICE $L^{2^{2}}_n$
Authors: Dabhole A.
Published: November 2020

In the present research paper, we have studied the incomparability graph of the lattice $L^{2^{2}}_n$. In said graphs, we found a dominating set and the order of a graph. We have expressed the cardinality of neighbourhood of an atom making use of an expansion formula. We have also found the largest independent set of the mentioned graph.
SOME FIXED POINT RESULTS IN d-COMPLETE TOPOLOGICAL SPACES
Authors: Rathee S. , Gupta P. , Narayan Mishra V.
Published: November 2020

This paper aims to use T-orbitally lower semi-continuous and $w$-continuous functions in $d$-complete topological spaces to validate some fixed point theorems and extend various known results. The paper also seeks to establish, in the setting of $d$-complete topological spaces, Mizoguchi-Takahashi's type coincidence point theorem for single valued map. The results are supported by illustrative examples.
Encrypting messages with artificial bacterial receptors
Authors: Kishore Prasad Pragati , Lahav-Mankovski Naama , Motiei Leila , Margulies David
Published: November 2020

A method for encrypting messages using engineered bacteria and different fluorescently labeled synthetic receptors is described. We show that the binding of DNA-based artificial receptors to E. coli expressing His-tagged outer membrane protein C (His-OmpC) induces a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the dyes, which results in the generation of a unique fluorescence fingerprint. Because the bacteria continuously divide, the emission pattern generated by the modified bacteria dynamically changes, enabling the system to produce encryption keys that change with time. Thus, this development indicates the potential contribution of live-cell-based encryption systems to the emerging area of information protection at the molecular level.