bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impacts of Gut Microbiota on the Immune System and Fecal Microbiota Transplantation as a Re-Emerging Therapy for Autoimmune Diseases
Authors: Beyi Ashenafi Feyisa , Wannemuehler Michael , Plummer Paul J.
Published: August 2022

The enormous and diverse population of microorganisms residing in the digestive tracts of humans and animals influence the development, regulation, and function of the immune system. Recently, the understanding of the association between autoimmune diseases and gut microbiota has been improved due to the innovation of high-throughput sequencing technologies with high resolutions. Several studies have reported perturbation of gut microbiota as one of the factors playing a role in the pathogenesis of many diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, recurrent diarrhea due to Clostridioides difficile infections. Restoration of healthy gut microbiota by transferring fecal material from a healthy donor to a sick recipient, called fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), has resolved or improved symptoms of autoimmune diseases. This (re)emerging therapy was approved for the treatment of drug-resistant recurrent C. difficile infections in 2013 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Numerous human and animal studies have demonstrated FMT has the potential as the next generation therapy to control autoimmune and other health problems. Alas, this new therapeutic method has limitations, including the risk of transferring antibiotic-resistant pathogens or transmission of genes from donors to recipients and/or exacerbating the conditions in some patients. Therefore, continued research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which gut microbiota is involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and to improve the efficacy and optimize the preparation of FMT for different disease conditions, and to tailor FMT to meet the needs in both humans and animals. The prospect of FMT therapy includes shifting from the current practice of using the whole fecal materials to the more aesthetic transfer of selective microbial consortia assembled in vitro or using their metabolic products.
Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus Pandemic on Patients with Bronchiectasis: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Martínez-Vergara Adrián , Girón Moreno Rosa Mª , Olveira Casilda , Victoria Girón María , Peláez Adrián , Ancochea Julio , Oscullo Grace , Martínez-García Miguel Ángel
Published: August 2022

Background: Infection by SARS-CoV-2 has unquestionably had an impact on the health of patients with chronic respiratory airway diseases, such as COPD and asthma, but little information is available about its impact on patients with bronchiectasis. The objective of the present study was to analyze the effect of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the state of health, characteristics, and clinical severity (including the number and severity of exacerbations) of patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. Methods: This study was multicenter, observational, and ambispective (with data collected before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic), and included 150 patients diagnosed with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. Results: A significant drop was observed in the number and severity of the exacerbations (57% in all exacerbations and 50% in severe exacerbations) in the E-FACED and BSI multidimensional scores, in the pandemic, compared with the pre-pandemic period. There was also a drop in the percentage of sputum samples positive for pathogenic microorganisms in general (from 58% to 44.7%) and, more specifically, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (from 23.3% to 13.3%) and Haemophilus influenzae (from 21.3% to 14%). Conclusions: During the SARS-CoV-2 period, a significant reduction was observed in the exacerbations, severity, and isolations of pathogenic microorganisms in patients with bronchiectasis.
Microbial Resistance to Carbapenems in Effluents from Gynaecological, Paediatric and Surgical Hospital Units
Authors: Loumame El hassan , Tounsi Abdessamad , Amir Soumia , Soraa Nabila , Ouazzani Naaila
Published: August 2022

The aim of this work is to identify and count antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in hospital effluents (HEs) of 2 units of the University Hospital Mohamed VI the Mother and Child Hospital (MCH) and the Ar-razi Surgical Hospital (ArzH), and to compare the two hospital units in terms of ARMs and seasonal variation. Each HE was sampled during 2016 and 2017. After identification of the pathogenic strains and determination of AMR, the results were reported for 24 ABs, including 3 carbapenems (CBP), and their consumption rates. The Predicted environmental concentration (PEC) rate of carbapenems in the HE of the study sites is calculated. A comparative analysis of the AMR of the isolated bacterial species was performed and related to the evolution of PEC in HEs. In the ArzH effluents:15 strains isolated, 7 are carbanepenem-resistant Enterobacteria (CRE) and are resistant to at least one of the 3 carbapenems tested. ArzH and MCH effluents respectively show some similarities: 26.87% and 28.57% of isolated bacteria are resistant to ertapenem while 43.48% and 57.14% are resistant to meropenem. However, for imipenem, the MCH effluent has a higher percentage of bacterial antibiotic resistance than ArzH. In addition, the percentage of resistance in each hospital unit effluent is mainly in relation with the increasing antibiotic consumption and predicted environmental values PEC for very antibiotic in each unit in the same period.
Association between Seminal Oxidation-Reduction Potential and Sperm DNA Fragmentation—A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Panner Selvam Manesh Kumar , Baskaran Saradha , O’Connell Samantha , Almajed Wael , Hellstrom Wayne J. G. , Sikka Suresh C.
Published: August 2022

Seminal oxidative stress and sperm DNA damage are potential etiologies of male factor infertility. The present study aims to evaluate the relationship between oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), a measure of oxidative stress, and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of relevant clinical data. A literature search was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The COVIDENCE tool was used to screen and identify studies evaluating seminal ORP and SDF. Studies (n = 7) that measured seminal ORP and SDF of 3491 semen samples were included in the analysis. The fixed-effects model revealed a significant pooled correlation coefficient (r = 0.24; p < 0.001) between seminal ORP and SDF. Furthermore, subgroup analyses indicated that the pooled correlation coefficient between ORP and sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) assay was less than other SDF assays (0.23 vs. 0.29). There was a moderate level of heterogeneity (I2 = 42.27%) among the studies, indicating a lack of publication bias. This is the first meta-analysis to reveal a positive correlation between seminal ORP and SDF. Furthermore, this study indicates the role of oxidative stress in the development of sperm DNA damage and thus warrants prospectively exploring the clinical value of these sperm function tests.
Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion Mitigation via Geraniol: The Role of Nrf-2/HO-1/NQO-1 and TLR2,4/MYD88/NFκB Pathway
Authors: Mohamed Maged E. , Elmorsy Mohammad A. , Younis Nancy S.
Published: August 2022

Background: Renal ischemia/reperfusion injury is a clinically recurrent event during kidney transplantation. Geraniol is a natural monoterpene essential oil component. This study aimed to inspect geraniol’s reno-protective actions against renal I/R injury with further analysis of embedded mechanisms of action through scrutinizing the Nrf-2/HO-1/NQO-1 and TLR2,4/MYD88/NFκB signaling pathways. Methods: Wistar male rats were randomized into five groups: Sham, Sham + geraniol, Renal I/R, and two Renal I/R + geraniol groups representing two doses of geraniol (100 and 200 mg/kg) for 14 days before the renal I/R. Renal I/R was surgically induced by occluding both left and right renal pedicles for 45 min, followed by reperfusion for 24 h. A docking study was performed to anticipate the expected affinity of geraniol towards three protein targets: hTLR4/MD2, hTLR2, and hNrf2/Keap1. Results: Renal I/R rats experienced severely compromised renal functions, histological alteration, oxidative stress status, escalated Nrf-2/HO-1/NQO-1, and amplified TLR2,4/MYD88/NFκB. Geraniol administration ameliorated renal function, alleviated histological changes, and enhanced Nrf-2/HO-1/NQO-1 with a subsequent intensification of antioxidant enzyme activities. Geraniol declined TLR2,4/MYD88/NFκB with subsequent TNF-α, IFN-γ, MCP-1 drop, Bax, caspase-3, and caspase-9 reduction IL-10 and Bcl-2 augmentation. Geraniol exhibited good fitting in the binding sites of the three in silico examined targets. Conclusions: Geraniol might protect against renal I/R via the inhibition of the TLR2,4/MYD88/NFκB pathway, mediating anti-inflammation and activation of the Nrf2 pathway, intervening in antioxidative activities.
Empirical Correlation between Standard Penetration Resistance (SPT-N) and Shear Wave Velocity (Vs) for Soils in Metro Manila, Philippines
Authors: Daag Arturo S. , Halasan Oliver Paul C. , Magnaye Arielle Anne T. , Grutas Rhommel N. , Solidum Renato U.
Published: August 2022

The measurement of the shear wave velocities (Vs) of soils is an important aspect of geotechnical and earthquake engineering, due to its direct relation to the shear modulus (G), which in turn influences the stress–strain behavior of geomaterials. Vs can be directly measured or estimated using a variety of onsite tests or in a laboratory. Methods such as downhole PS logging require boreholes and may not be logistically and economically feasible in all situations. Many researchers have estimated Vs from other geotechnical parameters, such as standard penetration test resistance (SPT-N), by means of empirical correlations. This paper aimed to contribute to this subject by developing an empirical relationship between Vs and SPT-N. Data from twenty sites in Metro Manila were obtained from geotechnical investigation reports. Vs profiles of the same sites were also acquired using the refraction microtremor method. New empirical relationships were developed for all, sandy, and clayey soil types, using a non-linear regression method that is applicable for Metro Manila soils. Statistical evaluation and comparison of the proposed correlations with other previous works suggested the viability of the empirical model.
Liquefaction Potential and Vs30 Structure in the Middle-Chelif Basin, Northwestern Algeria, by Ambient Vibration Data Inversion
Authors: Issaadi Abdelouahab , Saadi Ahmed , Semmane Fethi , Yelles-Chaouche Abdelkrim , Galiana-Merino Juan José
Published: August 2022

The Middle-Chelif basin, in northwestern Algeria, is located in a seismically active region. In its western part lies the El-Asnam fault, a thrust fault responsible for several strong earthquakes. The most important being the El-Asnam earthquake (Ms = 7.3) of 1980. In the present study, ambient vibration data with single-station and array techniques were used to investigate the dynamic properties of the ground and to estimate the Vs30 structure in the main cities of the basin. Soil resonance frequencies vary from 1.2 to 8.3 Hz with a maximum amplitude of 8.7 in. Collapsing behavior has also been demonstrated west of the city of El-Attaf, reflecting a strong potential for liquefaction. A Vs30 variation map and a soil classification for each city were obtained mainly by inversion of the HVSR and Rayleigh wave dispersion curves. Finally, an empirical prediction law of Vs30 for the Middle-Chelif basin was proposed.
On Predictive Maintenance in Industry 4.0: Overview, Models, and Challenges
Authors: Achouch Mounia , Dimitrova Mariya , Ziane Khaled , Sattarpanah Karganroudi Sasan , Dhouib Rizck , Ibrahim Hussein , Adda Mehdi
Published: August 2022

In the era of the fourth industrial revolution, several concepts have arisen in parallel with this new revolution, such as predictive maintenance, which today plays a key role in sustainable manufacturing and production systems by introducing a digital version of machine maintenance. The data extracted from production processes have increased exponentially due to the proliferation of sensing technologies. Even if Maintenance 4.0 faces organizational, financial, or even data source and machine repair challenges, it remains a strong point for the companies that use it. Indeed, it allows for minimizing machine downtime and associated costs, maximizing the life cycle of the machine, and improving the quality and cadence of production. This approach is generally characterized by a very precise workflow, starting with project understanding and data collection and ending with the decision-making phase. This paper presents an exhaustive literature review of methods and applied tools for intelligent predictive maintenance models in Industry 4.0 by identifying and categorizing the life cycle of maintenance projects and the challenges encountered, and presents the models associated with this type of maintenance: condition-based maintenance (CBM), prognostics and health management (PHM), and remaining useful life (RUL). Finally, a novel applied industrial workflow of predictive maintenance is presented including the decision support phase wherein a recommendation for a predictive maintenance platform is presented. This platform ensures the management and fluid data communication between equipment throughout their life cycle in the context of smart maintenance.
A Smart Modular IoT Sensing Device for Enhancing Sensory Feedbacks in Surgical Robotics
Authors: Rosa Mafalda , Liu Rongrong , Pitruzzello Giorgio , Tortora Giuseppe
Published: August 2022

This paper proposes a device of sensing that could be integrated into the instruments of any surgical robot. Despite advances in robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery, the tools currently supplied to surgical robots have limited functions, due to the absence of sensorization. With this motivation, we present a preliminary work based on the design, development, and early stages of experimentation with smart and multifunctional devices of sensing for surgical tools. The proposed device of sensing has a proximity sensor, colorimetric sensor, and BLE connection for different surgical instruments to connect to each other. The proximity feedback allows the surgeon to know the distance of the instrument from a particular tissue, to operate in conditions of greater safety. With the colorimetric feedback, on the other hand, we intend to proceed to the identification of specific tissue areas with characteristics that are not typical of the physiological tissue. The results show that the device is promising and can be further developed for multiple clinical needs in robotic procedures. This system can effectively increase the functionality of surgical instruments by overcoming the sensing limitations introduced by using robots in laparoscopic surgery.
Compatibility Improvement of Interrelated Items in Exchange Files—A General Method for Supporting the Data Integrity of Digital Twins
Authors: Mohr Johannes , Kleinschrodt Claudia , Tremmel Stephan , Rieg Frank
Published: August 2022

Stakeholders in the industry are increasingly using digital twins to take advantage of continuous digitization. The widely used methods for transferring partial models of digital twins within various heterogeneous systems rely on standardized, neutral file-based exchange. However, using differently implemented routines in the pre- and postprocessors of the systems engaged during data transmission leads to compatibility problems. Complete information transfer is not guaranteed, although potentially all information is available in the individual exchange file. To utilize the full potential of digital twins, this paper presents a method for directly adapting the content stored in an exchange file to systematically achieve compatibility. In the first step, we define a general structure to specify interrelated, nonconforming objects that are stored in the exchange file. We present five conditions that specify a compatibility problem in the following steps. On this basis, the applicant can solve various exchange problems for the indicated scenario in the third step. After explaining the approach in general terms, we demonstrate its generality by discussing two diverging use cases based on the exchange formats STEP and INP. We implemented the method in software terms, and the implementation indicates that this method can fix compatibility problems in an automated way.
Suggestions of Principles to Reduce the Deviation of Steep Slope Evaluation Results through On-Site Evaluation
Authors: Lee Jae-Joon , Jeong Woo-Song , Song Moon-Soo , Yum Sang-Guk , Kim Ji-Sung
Published: August 2022

Geup Kyung Sa Ji (GGSJ) is the term used to refer to steep slopes managed by the Ministry of Interior and Safety (MOIS). The MOIS is a government agency of South Korea in charge of administration and safety, with evaluations and management carried out by local governments. There are 16,071 GGSJs as of March 2022. However, it is difficult to determine whether the evaluation results for these GGSJs are reliable and whether data are managed efficiently. Unlike the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Forest Service, there are personnel in charge of the relevant administration and welfare operations who are not experts in GGSJs. Therefore, a method for evaluating the currently managed steep slopes and the problems that arise in the process must be identified through evaluation by experts and non-experts in the field. Additionally, methods to increase the consistency and reliability of evaluation results must be determined. This study proposes methods designed to solve the problem of differences in evaluation results caused by the diversity of perspectives on the evaluation of GGSJs and which can be used in the assessment of complex slopes. This study aims to increase the efficiency and consistency of evaluation results in the integrated management of GGSJs to build trust among management staff.
A Novel Voltage Regulation Strategy for Distribution Networks by Coordinating Control of OLTC and Air Conditioners
Authors: Cui Jiadong , Liu Yongxin , Qin Huibin , Hua Yongzhu , Zheng Liang
Published: August 2022

The high penetration of photovoltaic (PV) systems in low-voltage distribution networks relieves the pressure of energy shortages. However, the severe intermittency and variability in the output of PVs also bring a series of voltage quality problems, such as over-voltage, under-voltage, and voltage fluctuations. In this paper, a novel voltage control strategy based on air conditioners (ACs) and an on-load-tap-changer (OLTC) is proposed. By regulating the operating power of the ACs, voltage regulation powers are provided for the distribution network during the regulation time delays of the OLTC, which can effectively avoid the occurrence of regulation lag by the OLTC. The thermal model and electrical model are established to evaluate the operating performance of voltage regulation potential of the ACs. Furthermore, the voltage regulation strategy is formulated based on the regulation potential of the ACs, which it can make full use of. The effectiveness of the proposed voltage control strategy is illustrated in numerical studies.
Extraction of Essential Oils from Plants by Hydrodistillation with Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) Pre-Treatment
Authors: Barros Maria , Redondo Luís , Rego Duarte , Serra Cesleste , Miloudi Kadour
Published: August 2022

Essential oils, EOs, are concentrated liquids with complex mixtures of volatile organic compounds that can be extracted from different plant materials. EOs have been used by humans throughout history due to their natural properties: from pleasant fragrances, to anti-bacterial/fungal activities. This work presents the impact of pulsed electric fields, PEF, application as a pre-treatment for the extraction of EOs from eucalyptus, rosemary, and thyme leaves. The initial PEF pre-treatment was first applied to eucalyptus and rosemary leaves two weeks after harvesting, with a 2 kV/cm electric field and a specific energy of approximately 10 kJ/kg, followed by EO extraction by hydrodistillation, HD, with distillation times of 30 and 60 min. The best results were obtained for PEF pre-treated samples and 30 min HD, exhibiting an increasing trend in the average extraction yield of approximately 17% and 11% for eucalyptus and rosemary, respectively, in comparison with no PEF applied. The composition of the EOs extracted from eucalyptus was analyzed for their total phenolic content, TPC, where PEF pre-treated samples showed a higher polyphenol extraction, reaching 30% for 30 min HD. Finally, the optimization of the PEF pre-treatment was also studied, for maximizing the quantity of EO extracted from dry thyme leaves, while aiming for a minimization of energy consumption, for different distillation times. For this study it was observed that, for this plant material, an electric field of 1 kV/cm with 0.4 kJ/kg and an HD time of 30 min, after PEF application, was able to achieve an extraction yield up to 40% higher than the conventional method.
Application of Biofluorescent Particle Counters for Real-Time Bioburden Control in Aseptic Cleanroom Manufacturing
Authors: Behrens Detlef , Schaefer Jens , Keck Cornelia M. , Runkel Frank E.
Published: August 2022

This experimental study examines the use of a real time viable particle counter in pharmaceutical cleanroom operations under ISO class 8/Annex 1 Class C ‘in operation’ conditions. The used measuring system, a Biofluorescent Particle Counter (BFPC), continuously detected particles >1.0 µm as well as microbe carrying (viable) particles (MCPs). In addition, classic air samplers for the evaluation of Colony Forming Units (CFU) were installed to enable a comparison of counter-provided values with classic, agar-based methods of microbial air sampling required by regulatory guidelines. A test room comparable to typical cleanrooms in the pharmaceutical industry was operated under three different air change rates (ACR). At these ACRs, the operators wore three different garments. With test repetition, 18 experiments were conducted simulating different pharmaceutical process conditions. The results show correlations of measured particles to MCPs and MCPs to CFUs. Furthermore, albeit an industry-wide used and regulatory accepted minimum ARC value of 20 h−1, the study results indicate that an ACR of 10 h−1 is capable of keeping cleanrooms within regulatory limits for particles and CFUs, and thus provides the opportunity to save energy for cleanroom operations. The implementation of real time viable particle counters can be used to achieve a quality advantage for ISO class 8 cleanrooms for a continuous, documented control of the cleanroom status, and thus enable a reduction of ACRs with the aim of energy saving. Further long-term studies should validate this.
Land Cover Mapping Using GIS and Remote Sensing Databases for Al Baha Region Saudi Arabia
Authors: Shrahily Raid Yahia , Alsharif Mohammad Ambarak , Mobarak Babikir Ahmed , Alzandi Abdulrhman Ali
Published: August 2022

Land cover assessment plays a vital role in both current and future planning and use of natural resources for sustainable development for any country. For the good practice of the vision 2030 in Al Baha region (south-western Saudi Arabia), land cover was assessed, classified, and analyzed using remote sensing databases and time series analysis combined with spatial analysis in geographic information system (GIS) based on high-resolution Landsat 8 OLI, Sentinel-2 satellite imagery between the period of study 2017/2018 and 2021/2022. Based on both an accuracy assessment and kappa test, the results indicate that Esri Sentinel-2 imagery gives the highest performance compared to Landsat 8 OLI with accuracy and kappa test equal to 87% and 84%, respectively. On the other hand, the land cover classification revealed that the large area of water bodies is localized on Alaqiq (1.45 km2), Baljurish (0.94 km2), and Elmelkhwah (1.57 km2). Furthermore, the built area of the Al Baha region between 2017 and 2021 was estimated to increase by 144 km2 (from 516.5 to 661.07 km2), which is especially significant for the Qelwah district (from 16.97 to 44.16 km2) which demonstrated a decrease in bare ground area of approximately 320 km2. The crop lands have been increased by 162.74% in the 2017–2021 period from 10.39 km2 to 16.90 km2, particularly at Qelwah and Elmelkhwah. Finally, the results obtained by this research can help decision-makers and managers for better natural resources management in the Al Baha region.
State Merging and Splitting Strategies for Finite State Machines Implemented in FPGA
Authors: Klimowicz Adam , Salauyou Valery
Published: August 2022

Different strategies for the combination of merging and splitting transformation procedures for incompletely specified finite state machines implemented on field-programmable logic devices are offered. In these methods, such optimization criteria as the speed of operation, power consumption and implementation cost are considered already in the early phase of finite state machine synthesis. The methods also take into account the technological features of programmable logic devices and the state assignment method. The transformation quality ratio is calculated on the base of estimations of consumed power, critical path delay and number of utilized logic cells. The user is also able to choose the order of merging and splitting procedures and the direction of the optimization by setting weights for each criterion. The methods of the estimation of optimization criteria values are described, and the experimental results are also discussed.
SARS-CoV-2 Viroporins: A Multi-Omics Insight from Nucleotides to Amino Acids
Authors: Sarkar Manish , Etheimer Paul , Hannothiaux Victor , Saha Soham
Published: August 2022

COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2 which has so far affected more than 500 million people worldwide and killed over 6 million as of 1 May 2022. The approved emergency-use vaccines were lifesaving in such a devastating pandemic. Inflammation-related pathways have been well documented to be upregulated in the case of SARS-CoV-2 in rodents, non-human primates and human samples. We reanalysed a previously published dataset to understand if certain molecular components of inflammation could be higher in infected samples. Mechanistically, viroporins are important players in the life cycle of SARS-CoV-2 and are primary to its pathogenesis. We studied the two prominent viroporins of SARS-CoV-2 (i) Orf3a and (ii) envelope (E) protein from a sequence and structural point of view. Orf3a is a cation-selective viral ion channel which has been shown to disrupt the endosomal pathways. E protein is one of the most conserved proteins among the SARS-CoV proteome which affects the ERGIC-related pathways. The aqueous medium through the viroporins mediates the non-selective translocation of cations, affecting ionic homeostasis in the host cellular compartments. We hypothesize a possible mechanistic approach whereby the ionic imbalance caused by viroporin action could potentially be one of the major pathogenic drivers leading to the increased inflammatory response in the host cell. Our results shed light into the transcriptomic, genomic and structural proteomics aspects of widely studied SARS-CoV-2 viroporins, which can be potentially leveraged for the development of antiviral therapeutics.
Occupational Microbial Risk among Embalmers
Authors: Wingert Loïc , Debia Maximilien , Hallé Stéphane , Marchand Geneviève
Published: August 2022

Embalmers are exposed to many pathogens present in bodily fluids. However, the risk posed by these pathogens has yet to be defined in terms of the nature of the hazard and the intensity of the exposure. The objective of this project was to monitor the exposure of embalmers to biological particles in real time and to characterize the microbiota found in the air during embalming activities in three thanatopraxy laboratories. An innovative approach, using a laser-induced fluorescence aerosol spectrometer (WIBS-NEO), made it possible to measure the concentrations and particle size distributions of the aerosols (biological and non-biological) emitted during embalming. At the same time, an Andersen impactor was used to sample the culturable microbiota present in the air and perform its characterization. The preferential aerosolization of the biological (fluorescent) fraction during embalming procedures, which was compared to the non-biological (non-fluorescent) fraction, showed that most of the tasks performed by the embalmer are likely to lead to microbial exposure via bioaerosols. The concentrations measured represented the equivalent of 2000 to 10,000 biological particles inhaled per minute. Although Mycobacterium tuberculosis was not identified in the air during this study, the presence of Streptococcus pneumoniae in some of the samples demonstrated that if a pathogen is present in the lungs of the deceased it can be aerosolized and inhaled by the embalmers. The size distribution showed that embalmers are exposed to a high proportion of small particles in the aerosols produced during their work. Thus, the respirable/total ratios calculated are between 58% and 78%. Finally, the detection of airborne Enterobacter, Serratia, Leclercia, and Hafnia tended to demonstrate the aerosolization of intestinal bacteria and their possible inhalation or ingestion. Due to the difficulty of identifying the presence of pathogenic agents before embalming, the presence of faecal bacteria in the air, the proximity of the embalmer to the body, and the limitations associated with the dilution of contaminants by general ventilation in the near field, local ventilation must be provided. Otherwise, minimally, a fitted N95-type respirator should be recommended.
Accuracy Assessment of a Satellite-Based Rain Estimation Algorithm Using a Network of Meteorological Stations over Epirus Region, Greece
Authors: Kolios Stavros , Hatzianastassiou Nikos , Lolis Christos J. , Bartzokas Aristides
Published: August 2022

The study concerns the quantitative evaluation of a satellite-based rain rate (RR) estimation algorithm using measurements from a network of ground-based meteorological stations across the Epirus Region, Greece, an area that receives among the maximum precipitation amounts over the country. The utilized version of the rain estimation algorithm uses the Meteosat-11 Brightness Temperature in five spectral regions ranging from 6.0 to 12.0 μm (channels 5–7, 9 and 10) to estimate the rain intensity on a pixel basis, after discriminating the rain/non-rain pixels with a simple thresholding method. The rain recordings of the meteorological stations’ network were spatiotemporally correlated with the satellite-based rain estimations, leading to a dataset of 2586 pairs of matched values. A statistical analysis of these pairs of values was conducted, revealing a Mean Error (ME) of −0.13 mm/h and a correlation coefficient (CC) of 0.52. The optimal computed Probability of False Detection (POFD), Probability of Detection (POD), the False Alarm Ratio (FAR) and the bias score (BIAS) are equal to 0.32, 0.88, 0.12 and 0.94, respectively. The study of the extreme values of the RR (the highest 10%) also shows satisfactory results (i.e., ME of 1.92 mm/h and CC of 0.75). The evaluation statistics are promising for operationally using this algorithm for rain estimation on a real-time basis.
Spatiotemporal Changes in Precipitation during the Summer Maize Growing Season in the North China Plain and Analysis of Its Causes
Authors: Wang Wei , Tang Shinan , Han Hongbao , Xu Yiting
Published: August 2022

The North China Plain is an important summer maize production region in China. Investigating spatiotemporal variation patterns of precipitation during the summer maize growing season will guide the prevention of droughts and floods and ensure food production. Daily precipitation data during the summer maize growing season in the North China Plain from 1960–2020 were used to analyze spatiotemporal changes in precipitation, examine the migration patterns of precipitation barycenters, and quantitatively analyze the effects of ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation) warm and cold events on precipitation variation characteristics. Results revealed that in the past 61 years, precipitation showed an insignificant decreasing trend; however, there were considerable differences detected in the spatial distribution layouts of precipitation between different developmental stages. The precipitation distribution layout during the sowing–jointing stage was mainly “North–South”, the zero contour was near 36° N, and the other developmental stages were mainly “global” with phases that were the opposite of one another. Moreover, the precipitation barycenter during the jointing–flowering stage showed a significant southward migration. Precipitation during the three developmental stages negatively correlated with warm events, precipitation during the flowering–maturation stage positively correlated with cold events, the relationship between precipitation changes during warm and cold events and the intensity of warm and cold events was not significant, and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) was the main climatic factor that affected precipitation changes during the summer maize-growing season in the North China Plain.
Weather Radar Nowcasting for Extreme Precipitation Prediction Based on the Temporal and Spatial Generative Adversarial Network
Authors: Chen Xunlai , Wang Mingjie , Wang Shuxin , Chen Yuanzhao , Wang Rui , Zhao Chunyang , Hu Xiao
Published: August 2022

Since strong convective weather is closely related to heavy precipitation, the nowcasting of convective weather, especially the nowcasting based on weather radar data, plays an essential role in meteorological operations for disaster prevention and mitigation. The traditional optical flow method and cross-correlation method have a low forecast accuracy and a short forecast leading time, while deep learning methods show remarkable advantages in nowcasting. However, most of the current forecasting methods based on deep learning suffer from the drawback that the forecast results become increasingly blurred as the forecast time increases. In this study, a weather radar nowcasting method based on the Temporal and Spatial Generative Adversarial Network (TSGAN) is proposed, which can obtain accurate forecast results, especially in terms of spatial details, by extracting spatial-temporal features, combining attention mechanisms and using a dual-scale generator and a multi-scale discriminator. The case studies on the forecast results of strong convective weather demonstrate that the GAN method performs well in terms of forecast accuracy and spatial detail representation compared with traditional optical flow methods and popular deep learning methods. Therefore, the GAN method proposed in this study can provide strong decision support for forecasting heavy precipitation processes. At present, the proposed method has been successfully applied to the actual weather forecasting business system.
Nonlinear Dynamics in Isotropic and Anisotropic Magneto-Optical Traps
Authors: Haas Fernando , Soares Luiz Gustavo Ferreira
Published: August 2022

We briefly review some recent advances in the field of nonlinear dynamics of atomic clouds in magneto-optical traps. A hydrodynamical model in a three-dimensional geometry is applied and analyzed using a variational approach. A Lagrangian density is proposed in the case where thermal and multiple scattering effects are both relevant, where the confinement damping and harmonic potential are both included. For generality, a general polytropic equation of state is assumed. After adopting a Gaussian profile for the fluid density and appropriate spatial dependencies of the scalar potential and potential fluid velocity field, a set of ordinary differential equations is derived. These equations are applied to compare cylindrical and spherical geometry approximations. The results are restricted to potential flows.
Effect of Si-Based Anode Lithiation on Charging Characteristics of All-Solid-State Lithium-Ion Battery
Authors: Rudy Alexander S. , Kurbatov Sergei V. , Mironenko Alexander A. , Naumov Victor V. , Skundin Alexander M. , Egorova Yulia S.
Published: August 2022

The description of the design, manufacturing technology, and test results of thin-film solid-state lithium-ion batteries with a nanocomposite negative electrode Si@O@Al is given herein. This electrochemical system features the hike on the charging curve plateau, which is interpreted as the change from I–V of the Ti-Si@O@Al contact. The latter is due to the change in the type of silicon conductivity during lithiation, as a result of which the ohmic metal-semiconductor contact proves to be biased in the reverse direction, and the charging current is maintained by minority charge carriers. It is shown that the current-conducting component Si@O@Al is formed by a solid solution a-Si(Al), which has a p-type conductivity. The change in the type of conductivity occurs as a result of silicon compensation through lithiation. It was found that Si@O@Al is nonlinear conductor, which can be considered as a percolation cluster formed by amorphous silicon nanoparticles and molecular clusters of silicon dioxide. The height of the Schottky barrier of the Ti|a-Si(Al) contact and the electron affinity of the a-Si(Al) solid solution were estimated.
The Impact of Collaborative Communication on the Physical Distribution Service Quality of Soft Drinks: A Case Study of Beverage Manufacturing Companies in Greece
Authors: Kalogiannidis Stavros , Kalfas Dimitrios , Chatzitheodoridis Fotios
Published: August 2022

This research aimed to use the collaborative communication aspects of information sharing, incentive alignment, and decision synchronization to explain physical distribution service quality in the soft drink demand chain. The research was prompted by a desire to learn more about a topic that has received little attention in Greece while also contributing information about the variables that influence the performance of soft drink distribution networks. Manufacturers in Greece provided the data. The aspects of collaborative communication were significant determinants of the physical distribution service quality. Physical distribution service quality was shown to be significantly predicted by incentive alignment and information sharing, but not by decision synchronization. This research shows that collaborative communication aspects such as information sharing, decision synchronization, and incentive alignment enhance physical distribution service quality in soft drink demand chains. The research used a primary sample of 200 study participants from different drink manufacturing plants around Greece. In our research, we focused on vertical cooperation between manufacturers and distributors and its effect on physical distribution service quality. This is a relatively unexplored topic in the developing world. According to the scholars cited in the literature review, information exchange, incentive alignment, and decision synchronization improve physical distribution service quality in demand chains.
Investigation of Factors Influencing Formation of Nanoemulsion by Spontaneous Emulsification: Impact on Droplet Size, Polydispersity Index, and Stability
Authors: Algahtani Mohammed S. , Ahmad Mohammad Zaki , Ahmad Javed
Published: August 2022

Interest in nanoemulsion technology has increased steadily in recent years for its widespread applications in the delivery of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmeceuticals. Rational selection of the composition and the preparation method is crucial for developing a stable nanoemulsion system with desired physicochemical characteristics. In the present study, we investigate the influence of intricate factors including composition and preparation conditions that affect characteristic parameters and the stability of the nanoemulsion formation prepared by the spontaneous emulsification method. Octanoic acid, capryol 90, and ethyl oleate were selected to represent oil phases of different carbon–chain lengths. We explored the impact of the addition mode of the oil–Smix phase and aqueous phase, vortexing time, Km (surfactant/cosurfactant) ratio, and the replacement of water by buffers of different pH as an aqueous system. The phase behavior study showed that the Smix phase had a significant impact on the nanoemulsifying ability of the nanoemulsions composed of oil phases of varying carbon-chain lengths. The mode of mixing of the oil–Smix phase to the aqueous phase markedly influenced the mean droplet size and size distribution of the nanoemulsions composed of oil phases as capryol 90. Vortexing time also impacted the mean droplet size and the stability of the generated nanoemulsion system depending on the varying carbon-chain length of the oil phase. The replacement of the water phase by aqueous buffers of pH 1.2, 5.5, 6.8, and 7.4 has altered the mean droplet size and size distribution of the nanoemulsion system. Further, the Km ratio also had a significant influence on the formation of the nanoemulsion system. The findings of this investigation are useful in understanding how the formulation composition and process parameters of the spontaneous emulsification technique are responsible for affecting the physicochemical characteristics and stability of the nanoemulsion system composed of oil of varying carbon-chain (C8-C18) length.
Long-Term Dose Optimization of Adalimumab via Dose Spacing in Patients with Psoriasis
Authors: Benzaquen Michael , Munshi Mohammad , Bossart Simon , Feldmeyer Laurence , Emelianov Vladimir , Yawalkar Nikhil , Cazzaniga Simone , Heidemeyer Kristine
Published: August 2022

Dose spacing (DS) can be useful for optimizing treatment with biologics in psoriasis patients. However, interval prolongation might increase the production of anti-drug antibodies (ADA) and, therefore, reduce the drug’s effectiveness. The long-term effects of DS with adalimumab in psoriatic patients have not been reported. The goal of our study was to evaluate the long-term follow-up of psoriatic patients after adalimumab DS regarding the clinical course and determination of circulating adalimumab, TNFα levels, and anti-adalimumab antibodies. We retrospectively included seven patients treated with adalimumab for moderate-to-severe psoriasis and benefiting from DS from 2010 to 2021. The dose interval of adalimumab was extended to three weeks for all patients and then to four weeks for three of the seven patients. Adalimumab trough levels, TNFα levels, and ADA against adalimumab were measured. For six of the seven patients, absolute PASI values remained below 3 throughout the follow-up period (median = 8.0 years; range: 1.7–11.5) after DS. All the patients were satisfied with the effectiveness of their treatment regime. Within the follow-up period, an average of 63 doses of adalimumab per patient were spared. The median adalimumab trough levels were 4.7 µg/mL (range: 1.9–12.5). TNFα levels remained under 10 pg/mL (undetectable) in all except one patient. ADA against adalimumab remained negative (<10 µg/mL) during the follow-up in all patients. Our data indicate that therapeutic drug monitoring, including the measurement of trough concentrations and ADA, together with the clinical response and patient’s preference, can be helpful for clinical decision making and treatment optimization in psoriasis.
In Vivo Application of Silica-Derived Inks for Bone Tissue Engineering: A 10-Year Systematic Review
Authors: Touya Nicolas , Washio Ayako , Kitamura Chiaki , Naveau Adrien , Tabata Yasuhiko , Devillard Raphaël , Kérourédan Olivia
Published: August 2022

As the need for efficient, sustainable, customizable, handy and affordable substitute materials for bone repair is critical, this systematic review aimed to assess the use and outcomes of silica-derived inks to promote in vivo bone regeneration. An algorithmic selection of articles was performed following the PRISMA guidelines and PICO method. After the initial selection, 51 articles were included. Silicon in ink formulations was mostly found to be in either the native material, but associated with a secondary role, or to be a crucial additive element used to dope an existing material. The inks and materials presented here were essentially extrusion-based 3D-printed (80%), and, overall, the most investigated animal model was the rabbit (65%) with a femoral defect (51%). Quality (ARRIVE 2.0) and risk of bias (SYRCLE) assessments outlined that although a large majority of ARRIVE items were “reported”, most risks of bias were left “unclear” due to a lack of precise information. Almost all studies, despite a broad range of strategies and formulations, reported their silica-derived material to improve bone regeneration. The rising number of publications over the past few years highlights Si as a leverage element for bone tissue engineering to closely consider in the future.
Innovative Hybrid-Alignment Annotation Method for Bioinformatics Identification and Functional Verification of a Novel Nitric Oxide Synthase in Trichomonas vaginalis
Authors: Lin Hung-Che , Shui Hao-Ai , Huang Kuo-Yang , Lin Wei-Zhi , Chang Hsin-Yi , Lee Hwei-Jen , Lin Ying-Chih , Huang Yuahn-Sieh , Chen Guan-Ru , Yang Ya-Ting , Liu Hsiu-Lin , Wu Yi-Syuan , Cheng Chia-Shiang , Ko Ching-Lung , Chang Yu-Tien , Lee Jih-Chin , Lin Chen-Shien , Wang Chih-Hung , Chu Chi-Ming
Published: August 2022

Both the annotation and identification of genes in pathogenic parasites are still challenging. Although, as a survival factor, nitric oxide (NO) has been proven to be synthesized in Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), nitric oxide synthase (NOS) has not yet been annotated in the TV genome. We developed a witness-to-suspect strategy to identify incorrectly annotated genes in TV via the Smith–Waterman and Needleman–Wunsch algorithms through in-depth and repeated alignment of whole coding sequences of TV against thousands of sequences of known proteins from other organisms. A novel NOS of TV (TV NOS), which was annotated as hydrogenase in the NCBI database, was successfully identified; this TV NOS had a high witness-to-suspect ratio and contained all the NOS cofactor-binding motifs (NADPH, tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), heme and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) motifs). To confirm this identification, we performed in silico modeling of the protein structure and cofactor docking, cloned the gene, expressed and purified the protein, performed mass spectrometry analysis, and ultimately performed an assay to measure enzymatic activity. Our data showed that although the predicted structure of the TV NOS protein was not similar to the structure of NOSs of other species, all cofactor-binding motifs could interact with their ligands with high affinities. We clearly showed that the purified protein had high enzymatic activity for generating NO in vitro. This study provides an innovative approach to identify incorrectly annotated genes in TV and highlights a novel NOS that might serve as a virulence factor of TV.