bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hypoxia and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Pregnancy Complications
Authors: Hu Xiang-Qun , Zhang Lubo
Published: March 2021

Hypoxia is a common and severe stress to an organism’s homeostatic mechanisms, and hypoxia during gestation is associated with significantly increased incidence of maternal complications of preeclampsia, adversely impacting on the fetal development and subsequent risk for cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Human and animal studies have revealed a causative role of increased uterine vascular resistance and placental hypoxia in preeclampsia and fetal/intrauterine growth restriction (FGR/IUGR) associated with gestational hypoxia. Gestational hypoxia has a major effect on mitochondria of uteroplacental cells to overproduce reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to oxidative stress. Excess mitochondrial ROS in turn cause uteroplacental dysfunction by damaging cellular macromolecules, which underlies the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and FGR. In this article, we review the current understanding of hypoxia-induced mitochondrial ROS and their role in placental dysfunction and the pathogenesis of pregnancy complications. In addition, therapeutic approaches selectively targeting mitochondrial ROS in the placental cells are discussed.
Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Livestock Houses Based on Electronic Nose
Authors: Weng Xiaohui , Kong Cheng , Jin Hongyang , Chen Dongxue , Li Chunguang , Li Yinwu , Ren Lili , Xiao Yingkui , Chang Zhiyong
Published: March 2021

The composition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in large-scale livestock farms is complex, which seriously affects the health of livestock and is difficult to evaluate. In order to quickly analyze the pollution degree of VOCs in livestock farms, electronic nose technology was used in this study to detect and analyze the gases in pig and chicken houses, respectively. Firstly, the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and electronic nose were used to analyze the VOCs in the pig and chicken houses at different time and locations. The types and relative contents of VOCs were obtained from different livestock farms by GC–MS analysis. The sensor array response of the electronic nose showed similar results. In addition, linear discriminant analysis (LDA), K nearest neighbor (KNN) and support vector machine (SVM) analyses were performed on the electrical signal that was generated by the sensors of electronic nose, respectively. Finally, the classification rate of different odor sources in livestock farms was the highest (>85%), which indicates that SVM is a more effective method suitable for volatile gases recognition in livestock farms. The results have shown that the developed electronic nose sensor is a promising and feasible instrument for characterizing volatile odors in livestock farms.
Effects of Torso Pitch Motion on Energy Efficiency of Biped Robot Walking
Authors: Li Long , Xie Zhongqu , Luo Xiang , Li Juanjuan
Published: March 2021

Gait pattern generation has an important influence on the walking quality of biped robots. In most gait pattern generation methods, it is usually assumed that the torso keeps vertical during walking. It is very intuitive and simple. However, it may not be the most efficient. In this paper, we propose a gait pattern with torso pitch motion (TPM) during walking. We also present a gait pattern with torso keeping vertical (TKV) to study the effects of TPM on energy efficiency of biped robots. We define the cyclic gait of a five-link biped robot with several gait parameters. The gait parameters are determined by optimization. The optimization criterion is chosen to minimize the energy consumption per unit distance of the biped robot. Under this criterion, the optimal gait performances of TPM and TKV are compared over different step lengths and different gait periods. It is observed that (1) TPM saves more than 12% energy on average compared with TKV, and the main factor of energy-saving in TPM is the reduction of energy consumption of the swing knee in the double support phase and (2) the overall trend of torso motion is leaning forward in double support phase and leaning backward in single support phase, and the amplitude of the torso pitch motion increases as gait period or step length increases.
Multi-Response Optimization of Coagulation and Flocculation of Olive Mill Wastewater: Statistical Approach
Authors: Vuppala Srikanth , Shaik Riyaaz Uddien , Stoller Marco
Published: March 2021

Olive oil production is one of the important industrial sectors within the agro-food framework of the Mediterranean region, economically important to the people working in this sector, although there is also a threat to the environment due to residues. The main wastes of the olive oil extraction process are olive mill wastewater (OMW) and olive husks which also require proper treatment before dismissal. In this research work, the main goal is to introduce grey relational analysis, a technique for multi-response optimization, to the coagulation and flocculation process of OMW to select the optimum coagulant dosage. The coagulation and flocculation process was carried out by adding aluminum sulfate (Alum) to the waste stream in different dosages, starting from 100 to 2000 mg/L. In previous research work, optimization of this process on OMW was briefly discussed, but there is no literature available that reports the optimal coagulant dosage verified through the grey relational analysis method; therefore, this method was applied for selecting the best operating conditions for lowering a combination of multi-responses such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), total phenols and turbidity. From the analysis, the 600 mg/L coagulant dosage appears to be top ranked, which obtained a higher grey relational grade. The implementation of statistical techniques in OMW treatment can enhance the efficiency of this process, which in turn supports the preparation of waste streams for further purification processes in a sustainable way.
Electrochemical Determination of Lead Using A Composite Sensor Obtained from Low-Cost Green Materials:Graphite/Cork
Authors: Silva Iasmin B. , de Araújo Danyelle Medeiros , Vocciante Marco , Ferro Sergio , Martínez-Huitle Carlos A. , Dos Santos Elisama V.
Published: March 2021

The purpose of this study was to develop an inexpensive, simple, and highly selective cork-modified carbon paste electrode for the determination of Pb(II) by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) and square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). Among the cork–graphite electrodes investigated, the one containing 70% w/w carbon showed the highest sensitivity for the determination of Pb(II) in aqueous solutions. Under SWASV conditions, its linear range and relative standard deviation are equal to 1–25 µM and 1.4%, respectively; the limit of detection complies with the value recommended by the World Health Organization. To optimize the operating conditions, the selectivity and accuracy of the analysis were further investigated by SWASV in acidic media. Finally, the electrode was successfully applied for the determination of Pb(II) in natural water samples, proving to be a sensitive electrochemical sensor that meets the stringent environmental control requirements.
The Importance of Atmospheric Microbial Contamination Control in Dental Offices: Raised Awareness Caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic
Authors: Manea Avram , Crisan Diana , Baciut Grigore , Baciut Mihaela , Bran Simion , Armencea Gabriel , Crisan Maria , Colosi Horatiu , Colosi Ioana , Vodnar Dan , Aghiorghiesei Alexandra , Aghiorghiesei Ovidiu , Onisor Florin , Dinu Cristian
Published: March 2021

Background: In the context of the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic that started in 2020, more attention is being paid to the air quality in medical offices. The medical, economic and social implications of this crisis are unprecedented. Dental offices, particularly, were significantly affected by this pandemic due to the high exposure of dental workers, limited availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) and serious financial problems. Methods: Four different procedures were compared regarding their effectiveness in air contamination reduction, both from a biological point of view and from a management point of view: Fogging, Ultraviolet C (UVC) lamps, UVC air circulation units and natural ventilation. A total of 56 Petri dishes were used to evaluate air contamination. Results: All four procedures offered good results but the decontamination time and overall effect varied depending on the chosen method. Fogging was the only method that managed to remove all the identifiable pathogens. Conclusions: Fogging proved to be superior from a medical point of view, while the UVC air circulation unit proved to be more efficient from a management point of view.
Effect of Process Parameters on Mode Conversion in Submicron Tapered Silicon Ridge Waveguides
Authors: Mohammed Zakriya , Paredes Bruna , Rasras Mahmoud
Published: March 2021

The modal property and light propagation in tapered silicon ridge waveguides with different ridge heights are investigated for a silicon on insulator (SOI) platform with a 500 nm silicon (Si) thickness. Mode conversion between the transverse magnetic (TM) fundamental and higher-order transverse electric (TE) modes occurs when light is propagated in a waveguide taper. Such a conversion is due to mode hybridization resulting from the vertical asymmetry of the cross-section in the ridge waveguides. The influence of angled sidewalls and asymmetric cladding on mode conversion is also studied. It is shown that a very long taper length (adiabatic) is required for a complete conversion to take place. Conversely, such mode conversion could be suppressed by designing a short non-adiabatic taper. Our results show that significant improvement in performance metrics can be achieved by considering process parameters’ effect on mode conversion. With an optimum selection of the etching depth and accounting asymmetries due to angled sidewalls and cladding, we demonstrate an 84.7% reduction in taper length (adiabatic) for mode conversion and a 97% efficiency TM preserving taper (ultra-short). The analysis is essential for applications such as compact polarizers, polarization splitters/rotators, and tapers for TM devices.
A Research Study on Protocol Stack of Space-Based Optical Backbone Network
Authors: Zhang Yu , Yuan Yabo , Guo Bingli , Luo Qingsong , Zhao Bingfeng , Zhou Wei , Jiang Mingyi , Wang Yixiang , Fu Mingjiang , Liu Yiting , Wang Bo , Huang Shanguo
Published: March 2021

Facing the growing high data rate and large communication capacity demands, optical communications are widely recognized to be used to implement satellite communications. For a space-based optical backbone network, an appropriately designed protocol stack is important. In this paper, we proposed a protocol stack that is suitable for a space-based optical backbone network. Following this, we then used software to simulate this stack, built a hardware platform to test it, and finally, analyzed the results. The results showed that the proposed protocol stack was well designed to provide efficient control and management of the space-based optical backbone network. It could improve management efficiency by collecting resources and automatically calculating and building route paths. It could also facilitate data forwarding in intermediate satellite nodes with limited source and power, by using an advanced orbiting systems (AOS) frame switching scheme to avoid unnecessary processes, such as unpacking, upper-layer processing and repacking for passing services. The protocol stack could also support the use of unidirectional links to improve the link resource utilization. Finally, it could also provide transparent transmission for different kinds of services.
Clustering of a Health Dataset Using Diagnosis Co-Occurrences
Authors: Wartelle Adrien , Mourad-Chehade Farah , Yalaoui Farouk , Chrusciel Jan , Laplanche David , Sanchez Stéphane
Published: March 2021

Assessing the health profiles of populations is a crucial task to create a coherent healthcare offer. Emergency Departments (EDs) are at the core of the healthcare system and could benefit from this evaluation via an improved understanding of the healthcare needs of their population. This paper proposes a novel hierarchical agglomerative clustering algorithm based on multimorbidity analysis. The proposed approach constructs the clustering dendrogram by introducing new quality indicators based on the relative risk of co-occurrences of patient diagnoses. This algorithm enables the detection of multimorbidity patterns by merging similar patient profiles according to their common diagnoses. The multimorbidity approach has been applied to the data of the largest ED of the Aube Department (Eastern France) to cluster its patient visits. Among the 120,718 visits identified during a 24-month period, 16 clusters were identified, accounting for 94.8% of the visits, with the five most prevalent clusters representing 63.0% of them. The new quality indicators show a coherent and good clustering solution with a cluster membership of 1.81 based on a cluster compactness of 1.40 and a cluster separation of 0.77. Compared to the literature, the proposed approach is appropriate for the discovery of multimorbidity patterns and could help to develop better clustering algorithms for more diverse healthcare datasets.
Towards Machine Learning for Error Compensation in Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Omairi Amzar , Ismail Zool Hilmi
Published: March 2021

Additive Manufacturing (AM) of three-dimensional objects is now being progressively realised with its ad-hoc approach with minimal material wastage (lean manufacturing) being one of its benefit by default. It could also be considered as an evolutional paradigm in the manufacturing industry with its long list of application as of late. Artificial Intelligence is currently finding its usefulness in predictive modelling to provide intelligent, efficient, customisable, high-quality and sustainable-oriented production process. This paper presents a comprehensive survey on commonly used predictive models based on heuristic algorithms and discusses their applications toward making AM “smart”. This paper summarises AM’s current trend, future opportunity, gaps, and requirements together with recommendations for technology and research for inter-industry collaboration, educational training and technology transfer in the AI perspective in-line with the Industry 4.0 developmental process. Moreover, machine learning algorithms are presented for detecting product defects in the cyber-physical system of additive manufacturing. Based on reviews on various applications, printability with multi-indicators, reduction of design complexity threshold, acceleration of prefabrication, real-time control, enhancement of security and defect detection for customised designs are seen of as prospective opportunities for further research.
Machine Learning-Based Identification of the Strongest Predictive Variables of Winning and Losing in Belgian Professional Soccer
Authors: Geurkink Youri , Boone Jan , Verstockt Steven , Bourgois Jan G.
Published: March 2021

This study aimed to identify the strongest predictive variables of winning and losing in the highest Belgian soccer division. A predictive machine learning model based on a broad range of variables (n = 100) was constructed, using a dataset consisting of 576 games. To avoid multicollinearity and reduce dimensionality, Variance Inflation Factor (threshold of 5) and BorutaShap were respectively applied. A total of 13 variables remained and were used to predict winning or losing using Extreme Gradient Boosting. TreeExplainer was applied to determine feature importance on a global and local level. The model showed an accuracy of 89.6% ± 3.1% (precision: 88.9%; recall: 90.1%, f1-score: 89.5%), correctly classifying 516 out of 576 games. Shots on target from the attacking penalty box showed to be the best predictor. Several physical indicators are amongst the best predictors, as well as contextual variables such as ELO -ratings, added transfers value of the benched players and match location. The results show the added value of the inclusion of a broad spectrum of variables when predicting and evaluating game outcomes. Similar modelling approaches can be used by clubs to identify the strongest predictive variables for their leagues, and evaluate and improve their current quantitative analyses.
A Graphene-Assembled Film Based MIMO Antenna Array with High Isolation for 5G Wireless Communication
Authors: Song Rongguo , Chen Xiaoxiao , Jiang Shaoqiu , Hu Zelong , Liu Tianye , Calatayud David , Mao Boyang , He Daping
Published: March 2021

With the development of 5G, Internet of Things, and smart home technologies, miniaturized and compact multi-antenna systems and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna arrays have attracted increasing attention. Reducing the coupling between antenna elements is essential to improving the performance of such MIMO antenna system. In this work, we proposed a graphene-assembled, as an alternative material rather than metal, film-based MIMO antenna array with high isolation for 5G application. The isolation of the antenna element is improved by a graphene assembly film (GAF) frequency selective surface and isolation strip. It is shown that the GAF antenna element operated at 3.5 GHz has the realized gain of 2.87 dBi. The addition of the decoupling structure improves the isolation of the MIMO antenna array to more than 10 dB and corrects the antenna radiation pattern and operating frequency. The isolation between antenna elements with an interval of 0.4λ is above 25 dB. All experimental results show that the GAF antenna and decoupling structure are efficient devices for 5G mobile communication.
An Optimization Study to Evaluate the Impact of the Supercritical CO2 Brayton Cycle’s Components on Its Overall Performance
Authors: Alawadhi Khaled , Alfalah Abdullah , Bader Bashar , Alhouli Yousef , Murad Ahmed
Published: March 2021

The rising environmental problems due to fossil fuels’ consumption have pushed researchers and technologists to develop sustainable power systems. Due to properties such as abundance and nontoxicity of the working fluid, the supercritical carbon (sCO2) dioxide Brayton cycle is considered one of the most promising technologies among the various sustainable power systems. In the current study, a mathematical model has been developed and coded in Matlab for the recompression of the supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle sCO2-BC. The real gas properties of supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) were incorporated into the program by pairing the NIST’s Refporp with Matlab© through a subroutine. The impacts of the various designs of the cycle’s individual components have been investigated on the performance of sCO2−BC. The impact of various sedative cycle parameters, i.e., compressor’s inlet temperature (T1), and pressure (P1), cycle pressure ratio (Pr), and split mass fraction (x), on the cycle’s performance (ηcyc) were studied and highlighted. Moreover, an optimization study using the genetic algorithm was carried out to find the abovementioned cycle’s optimized values that maximize the cycle’s per-formance under provided design constraints and boundaries.
Time Series Clustering of Online Gambling Activities for Addicted Users’ Detection
Authors: Peres Fernando , Fallacara Enrico , Manzoni Luca , Castelli Mauro , Popovič Aleš , Rodrigues Miguel , Estevens Pedro
Published: March 2021

Ever since the worldwide demand for gambling services started to spread, its expansion has continued steadily. To wit, online gambling is a major industry in every European country, generating billions of Euros in revenue for commercial actors and governments alike. Despite such evidently beneficial effects, online gambling is ultimately a vast social experiment with potentially disastrous social and personal consequences that could result in an overall deterioration of social and familial relationships. Despite the relevance of this problem in society, there is a lack of tools for characterizing the behavior of online gamblers based on the data that are collected daily by betting platforms. This paper uses a time series clustering algorithm that can help decision-makers in identifying behaviors associated with potential pathological gamblers. In particular, experimental results obtained by analyzing sports event bets and black jack data demonstrate the suitability of the proposed method in detecting critical (i.e., pathological) players. This algorithm is the first component of a system developed in collaboration with the Portuguese authority for the control of betting activities.
The Indirect Impact of Surface Vegetation Improvement on the Climate Response of Sand-Dust Events in Northern China
Authors: Zhou Chaowei , Feng Xiaoming , Huang Yichu , Wang Xiaofeng , Zhang Xinrong
Published: March 2021

Extensive ecosystem restoration is increasingly seen as an essential practice to mitigate climate change and protect the ecological environment. However, the indirect impact of surface vegetation improvement on the regional climate, such as the climate effect of sand-dust events reduction, has never been evaluated. Here, we estimated the feedback of temperature and precipitation on the change of sand-dust events, arising from the vegetation growth with ecological restoration, using a simple theoretical framework with a series of scenario simulations based on a regional climate model (RegCM). The results showed that revegetation reduced dust emissions, with a contribution rate of approximately 40.15%. With the combined influence of ecological restoration and climate change, the cooling effect of sand-dust events strengthened with the increase in the intensity of sand-dust events, which is mainly caused by the strong absorption of shortwave radiation by the atmosphere. The response of precipitation was uncertain because of tropospheric circulation feedback and shortwave radiation absorption. Our results also indicate that changes in sand-dust events caused by vegetation restoration play important roles in shaping the future climate near the arid and semi-arid regions of northern China. The climatic effects of sand-dust events should be included in assessing ecological restoration impacts to promote sustainable development and enhance our understanding of climate change.
The Effect of Non-Compliance of Diesel Vehicle Emissions with Euro Limits on Mortality in the City of Milan
Authors: Crosignani Paolo , Nanni Alessandro , Pepe Nicola , Pozzi Cristina , Silibello Camillo , Poggio Andrea , Conte Marianna
Published: March 2021

Diesel exhaust is hazardous to human health. In time, this has led the EU to impose on manufacturers lower and lower emission standards. These limits are very challenging in particular for nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted by diesel-fueled vehicles. For the town of Milan (Italy), we used a complex modeling system that takes into account the NOx emissions from vehicular traffic and other urban sources, as well as their dispersion and chemical transformations in the atmosphere related to meteorological parameters. The traffic emissions in the Milan urban area were estimated using the geometric and structural characteristics of the road network, whereas the traffic flows were provided by the Environment and Territory Mobility Agency. Car emissions were estimated by the official European method COPERT 5. The nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations were estimated under two scenarios: the actual scenario with real emissions and the Diesel Emission Standards Compliance (DESC) scenario. Using a recent meta-analysis, limited to European studies, we evaluated the relationship between NO2 concentrations and natural mortality. For the actual scenario, the NO2 annual concentration mean was 44.3 µg/m3, whereas under the DESC hypothetical scenario, this would have been of 37.7 µg/m3. This “extra” exposure of 6.6 µg/m3 of NO2 leads to a yearly excess of 574 “natural” deaths. Diesel emissions are very difficult to limit and are harmful for exposed people. This suggests that specific policies, including traffic limitations, need to be developed and enforced in urban environments.
Potential Source Contribution Function Analysis of High Latitude Dust Sources over the Arctic: Preliminary Results and Prospects
Authors: Crocchianti Stefano , Moroni Beatrice , Waldhauserová Pavla Dagsson , Becagli Silvia , Severi Mirko , Traversi Rita , Cappelletti David
Published: March 2021

The results of a preliminary investigation of the dust sources in the Arctic based on their geochemical properties by potential source contribution function (PSCF) analysis are presented in this paper. For this purpose, we considered one year of aerosol geochemical data from Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, and a short list of chemical elements (i.e., Al, Fe, Mn, Ti, Cr, V, Ni, Cu, and Zn) variably related to the dust fraction. Based on PSCF analysis: (i) four different dust source areas (i.e., Eurasia, Greenland, Arctic-Alaska, and Iceland) were characterized by distinguishing geochemical ranges and seasonal occurrence; and (ii) a series of typical dust days from the distinct source areas were identified based on the corresponding back trajectory patterns. Icelandic dust samples revealed peculiar but very variable characteristics in relation to their geographical source regions marked by air mass back trajectories. The comparison between pure and mixed Icelandic dust samples (i.e., aerosols containing Icelandic dust along with natural and/or anthropogenic components) revealed the occurrence of different mixing situations. Comparison with Icelandic soils proved the existence of dilution effects related to the emission and the transport processes.
Spatial–Temporal Distribution of Tropospheric Specific Humidity in the Arid Region of Northwest China
Authors: Zhang Hao , Sun Meiping , Yao Xiaojun , Wang Zhilan , Zhang Lei
Published: March 2021

Based on the atmospheric temperature and dew point temperature difference series of mandatory levels in the arid region of northwest China, we calculated the specific humidity of stations at 200, 300, 400, 500, 700, and 850 hPa and analyzed the spatial and temporal distribution. The specific humidity of radiosonde is compared with two sets of reanalysis data (ERA-interim from European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts and Modern Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications: MERRA-2). The annual specific humidity and summer specific humidity show a positive trend in the vertical atmospheric levels during the period 1958–2018. Taking the middle of the 1980s and 2002 as boundaries, the selected levels show the trend of “declining-gentle rising-fluctuation rising”. The maximum specific humidity is observed at the level of 850–700 hPa during the warm months of the year, and the most vertical expansion in specific humidity is in July. In terms of spatial distribution, the specific humidity is greatly influenced by the topography and underlying surface at lower levels. The characteristics of spatial distribution of the trend are well described by the two sets of reanalysis data in the middle and upper levels, but there are some deficiencies in depicting the trend in the lower levels.
Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic Lockdown on Atmospheric Nanoparticle Concentrations in Two Sites of Southern Italy
Authors: Dinoi Adelaide , Gulli Daniel , Ammoscato Ivano , Calidonna Claudia R. , Contini Daniele
Published: March 2021

During the new coronavirus infection outbreak, the application of strict containment measures entailed a decrease in most human activities, with the consequent reduction of anthropogenic emissions into the atmosphere. In this study, the impact of lockdown on atmospheric particle number concentrations and size distributions is investigated in two different sites of Southern Italy: Lecce and Lamezia Terme, regional stations of the GAW/ACTRIS networks. The effects of restrictions are quantified by comparing submicron particle concentrations, in the size range from 10 nm to 800 nm, measured during the lockdown period and in the same period of previous years, from 2015 to 2019, considering three time intervals: prelockdown, lockdown and postlockdown. Different percentage reductions in total particle number concentrations are observed, −19% and −23% in Lecce and −7% and −4% in Lamezia Terme during lockdown and postlockdown, respectively, with several variations in each subclass of particles. From the comparison, no significant variations of meteorological factors are observed except a reduction of rainfall in 2020, which might explain the higher levels of particle concentrations measured during prelockdown at both stations. In general, the results demonstrate an improvement of air quality, more conspicuous in Lecce than in Lamezia Terme, during the lockdown, with a differed reduction in the concentration of submicronic particles that depends on the different types of sources, their distance from observational sites and local meteorology.
Inline Monitoring of Battery Electrode Lamination Processes Based on Acoustic Measurements
Authors: Leithoff Ruben , Dilger Nikolas , Duckhorn Frank , Blume Stefan , Lembcke Dario , Tschöpe Constanze , Herrmann Christoph , Dröder Klaus
Published: March 2021

Due to the energy transition and the growth of electromobility, the demand for lithium-ion batteries has increased in recent years. Great demands are being placed on the quality of battery cells and their electrochemical properties. Therefore, the understanding of interactions between products and processes and the implementation of quality management measures are essential factors that requires inline capable process monitoring. In battery cell lamination processes, a typical problem source of quality issues can be seen in missing or misaligned components (anodes, cathodes and separators). An automatic detection of missing or misaligned components, however, has not been established thus far. In this study, acoustic measurements to detect components in battery cell lamination were applied. Although the use of acoustic measurement methods for process monitoring has already proven its usefulness in various fields of application, it has not yet been applied to battery cell production. While laminating battery electrodes and separators, acoustic emissions were recorded. Signal analysis and machine learning techniques were used to acoustically distinguish the individual components that have been processed. This way, the detection of components with a balanced accuracy of up to 83% was possible, proving the feasibility of the concept as an inline capable monitoring system.
A Network-Based Analysis of a Worksite Canteen Dataset
Authors: Carchiolo Vincenza , Grassia Marco , Longheu Alessandro , Malgeri Michele , Mangioni Giuseppe
Published: March 2021

The provision of wellness in workplaces gained interest in recent decades. A factor that contributes significantly to workers’ health is their diet, especially when provided by canteen services. The assessment of such a service involves questions as food cost, its sustainability, quality, nutritional facts and variety, as well as employees’ health and disease prevention, productivity increase, economic convenience vs. eating satisfaction when using canteen services. Even if food habits have already been studied using traditional statistical approaches, here we adopt an approach based on Network Science that allows us to deeply study, for instance, the interconnections among people, company and meals and that can be easily used for further analysis. In particular, this work concerns a multi-company dataset of workers and dishes they chose at a canteen worksite. We study eating habits and health consequences, also considering the presence of different companies and the corresponding contact network among workers. The macro-nutrient content and caloric values assessment is carried out both for dishes and for employees, in order to establish when food is balanced and healthy. Moreover, network analysis lets us discover hidden correlations among people and the environment, as communities that cannot be usually inferred with traditional or methods since they are not known a priori. Finally, we represent the dataset as a tripartite network to investigate relationships between companies, people, and dishes. In particular, the so-called network projections can be extracted, each one being a network among specific kind of nodes; further community analysis tools will provide hidden information about people and their food habits. In summary, the contribution of the paper is twofold: it provides a study of a real dataset spanning over several years that gives a new interesting point of view on food habits and healthcare, and it also proposes a new approach based on Network Science. Results prove that this kind of analysis can provide significant information that complements other traditional methodologies.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Concentrates Subtoxic Copper onto Cell Wall from Solid Media Containing Reducing Sugars as Carbon Source
Authors: Ruta Lavinia L. , Farcasanu Ileana C.
Published: March 2021

Copper is essential for life, but it can be deleterious in concentrations that surpass the physiological limits. Copper pollution is related to widespread human activities, such as viticulture and wine production. To unravel aspects of how organisms cope with copper insults, we used Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model for adaptation to high but subtoxic concentrations of copper. We found that S. cerevisiae cells could tolerate high copper concentration by forming deposits on the cell wall and that the copper-containing deposits accumulated predominantly when cells were grown statically on media prepared with reducing sugars (glucose, galactose) as sole carbon source, but not on media containing nonreducing carbon sources, such as glycerol or lactate. Exposing cells to copper in liquid media under strong agitation prevented the formation of copper-containing deposits at the cell wall. Disruption of low-affinity copper intake through the plasma membrane increased the potential of the cell to form copper deposits on the cell surface. These results imply that biotechnology problems caused by high copper concentration can be tackled by selecting yeast strains and conditions to allow the removal of excess copper from various contaminated sites in the forms of solid deposits which do not penetrate the cell.
A Comparative Analysis of Aquatic and Polyethylene-Associated Antibiotic-Resistant Microbiota in the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Sucato Arianna , Vecchioni Luca , Savoca Dario , Presentato Alessandro , Arculeo Marco , Alduina Rosa
Published: March 2021

In this study, we evaluated the microbiome and the resistome profile of water and fragments of polyethylene (PE) waste collected at the same time from a stream and the seawater in a coastal area of Northwestern Sicily. Although a core microbiome was determined by sequencing of the V3–V4 region of the bacterial 16S rDNA gene, quantitative differences were found among the microbial communities on PE waste and the corresponding water samples. Our findings indicated that PE waste contains a more abundant and increased core microbiome diversity than the corresponding water samples. Moreover, PCR analysis of specific antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) showed that PE waste harbors more ARGs than the water samples. Thus, PE waste could act as a carrier of antibiotic-resistant microbiota, representing an increased danger for the marine environment and living organisms, as well.
Circulating Extracellular Vesicles As Biomarkers and Drug Delivery Vehicles in Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: de Freitas Renata Caroline Costa , Hirata Rosario Dominguez Crespo , Hirata Mario Hiroyuki , Aikawa Elena
Published: March 2021

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are composed of a lipid bilayer containing transmembrane and soluble proteins. Subtypes of EVs include ectosomes (microparticles/microvesicles), exosomes, and apoptotic bodies that can be released by various tissues into biological fluids. EV cargo can modulate physiological and pathological processes in recipient cells through near- and long-distance intercellular communication. Recent studies have shown that origin, amount, and internal cargos (nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids) of EVs are variable under different pathological conditions, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The early detection and management of CVD reduce premature morbidity and mortality. Circulating EVs have attracted great interest as a potential biomarker for diagnostics and follow-up of CVD. This review highlights the role of circulating EVs as biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic follow-up of CVD, and also for drug delivery. Despite the great potential of EVs as a tool to study the pathophysiology of CVD, further studies are needed to increase the spectrum of EV-associated applications.
Targeting MMP-Regulation of Inflammation to Increase Metabolic Tolerance to COVID-19 Pathologies: A Hypothesis
Authors: Hardy Eugenio , Fernandez-Patron Carlos
Published: March 2021

Many individuals infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) develop no or only mild symptoms, but some can go on onto develop a spectrum of pathologies including pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, respiratory failure, systemic inflammation, and multiorgan failure. Many pathogens, viral and non-viral, can elicit these pathologies, which justifies reconsidering whether the target of therapeutic approaches to fight pathogen infections should be (a) the pathogen itself, (b) the pathologies elicited by the pathogen interaction with the human host, or (c) a combination of both. While little is known about the immunopathology of SARS-CoV-2, it is well-established that the above-mentioned pathologies are associated with hyper-inflammation, tissue damage, and the perturbation of target organ metabolism. Mounting evidence has shown that these processes are regulated by endoproteinases (particularly, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)). Here, we review what is known about the roles played by MMPs in the development of COVID-19 and postulate a mechanism by which MMPs could influence energy metabolism in target organs, such as the lung. Finally, we discuss the suitability of MMPs as therapeutic targets to increase the metabolic tolerance of the host to damage inflicted by the pathogen infection, with a focus on SARS-CoV-2.
Albumin Urinary Excretion Is Associated with Increased Levels of Urinary Chemokines, Cytokines, and Growth Factors Levels in Humans
Authors: Fellström Bengt , Helmersson-Karlqvist Johanna , Lind Lars , Soveri Inga , Thulin Måns , Ärnlöv Johan , Kultima Kim , Larsson Anders
Published: March 2021

The aim of the present study was to study the associations between urine albumin excretion, and a large number of urinary chemokines, cytokines, and growth factors in a normal population. We selected 90 urine samples from individuals without CVD, diabetes, stroke or kidney disease belonging to the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors Study (41 males and 49 females, all aged 75 years). Urinary cytokine levels were analyzed with two multiplex assays (proximity extension assays) and the cytokine levels were correlated with urine albumin. After adjustment for sex, body mass index (BMI), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), smoking and multiplicity testing, 11 biomarkers remained significantly associated with urine albumin: thrombospondin 2, interleukin 6, interleukin 8, hepatocyte growth factor, matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-12), C-X-C motif chemokine 9, tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 11B, osteoprotegerin, growth-regulated alpha protein, C-X-C motif chemokine 6, oncostatin-M (OSM) and fatty acid-binding protein, intestinal, despite large differences in molecular weights. In this study, we found associations between urinary albumin and both small and large urine proteins. Additional studies are warranted to identify cytokine patterns and potential progression markers in various renal diseases.
Updates in Anticoagulation Therapy Monitoring
Authors: McRae Hannah L. , Militello Leah , Refaai Majed A.
Published: March 2021

In the past six decades, heparin and warfarin were the primary anticoagulants prescribed for treatment and prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism worldwide. This has been accompanied by extensive clinical knowledge regarding dosing, monitoring, and reversal of these anticoagulants, and the resources required to do so have largely been readily available at small and large centers alike. However, with the advent of newer oral and parenteral anticoagulants such as low molecular weight heparins, factor Xa inhibitors, and direct thrombin inhibitors in recent years, new corresponding practice guidelines have also emerged. A notable shift in the need for monitoring and reversal agents has evolved as well. While this has perhaps streamlined the process for physicians and is often desirable for patients, it has also left a knowledge and resource gap in clinical scenarios for which urgent reversal and monitoring is necessary. An overview of the currently available anticoagulants with a focus on the guidelines and available tests for anticoagulant monitoring will be discussed in this article.
Isolation and Characterization of Buccal Fat Pad and Dental Pulp MSCs from the Same Donor
Authors: Genova Tullio , Cavagnetto Davide , Tasinato Fabio , Petrillo Sara , Ruffinatti Federico Alessandro , Mela Luca , Carossa Massimo , Munaron Luca , Roato Ilaria , Mussano Federico
Published: March 2021

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be harvested from different sites in the oral cavity, representing a reservoir of cells useful for regenerative purposes. As direct comparisons between at least two types of MSCs deriving from the same patient are surprisingly rare in scientific literature, we isolated and investigated the osteoinductive potential of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and buccal fat pad stem cells (BFPSCs). MSCs were isolated from the third molar dental pulp and buccal fat pads of 12 patients. The number of viable cells was quantified through manual count. Proliferation and osteodifferentiation assays, flow cytometry analysis of cell phenotypes, and osteocalcin release in vitro were performed. The isolation of BFPSCs and DPSCs was successful in 7 out of 12 (58%) and 3 out of 12 (25%) of retrieved samples, respectively. The yield of cells expressing typical stem cell markers and the level of proliferation were higher in BFPSCs than in DPSCs. Both BFP-SCs and DPSCs differentiated into osteoblast-like cells and were able to release a mineralized matrix. The release of osteocalcin, albeit greater for BFPSCs, did not show any significant difference between BFPSCs and DPSCs. The yield of MSCs depends on their site of origin as well as on the protocol adopted for their isolation. Our data show that BFP is a valuable source for the derivation of MSCs that can be used for regenerative treatments.
Siphon-Controlled Automation on a Lab-on-a-Disc Using Event-Triggered Dissolvable Film Valves
Authors: Henderson Brian D. , Kinahan David J. , Rio Jeanne , Mishra Rohit , King Damien , Torres-Delgado Sarai M. , Mager Dario , Korvink Jan G. , Ducrée Jens
Published: March 2021

Within microfluidic technologies, the centrifugal microfluidic “Lab-on-a-Disc” (LoaD) platform offers great potential for use at the PoC and in low-resource settings due to its robustness and the ability to port and miniaturize ‘wet bench’ laboratory protocols. We present the combination of ‘event-triggered dissolvable film valves’ with a centrifugo-pneumatic siphon structure to enable control and timing, through changes in disc spin-speed, of the release and incubations of eight samples/reagents/wash buffers. Based on these microfluidic techniques, we integrated and automated a chemiluminescent immunoassay for detection of the CVD risk factor marker C-reactive protein displaying a limit of detection (LOD) of 44.87 ng mL−1 and limit of quantitation (LoQ) of 135.87 ng mL−1.
Rapid Detection of Pathogens in Wound Exudate via Nucleic Acid Lateral Flow Immunoassay
Authors: Brunauer Anna , Verboket René D. , Kainz Daniel M. , von Stetten Felix , Früh Susanna M.
Published: March 2021

The rapid detection of pathogens in infected wounds can significantly improve the clinical outcome. Wound exudate, which can be collected in a non-invasive way, offers an attractive sample material for the detection of pathogens at the point-of-care (POC). Here, we report the development of a nucleic acid lateral flow immunoassay for direct detection of isothermally amplified DNA combined with fast sample preparation. The streamlined protocol was evaluated using human wound exudate spiked with the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa that cause severe health issues upon wound colonization. A detection limit of 2.1 × 105 CFU per mL of wound fluid was achieved, and no cross-reaction with other pathogens was observed. Furthermore, we integrated an internal amplification control that excludes false negative results and, in combination with the flow control, ensures the validity of the test result. The paper-based approach with only three simple hands-on steps has a turn-around time of less than 30 min and covers the complete analytical process chain from sample to answer. This newly developed workflow for wound fluid diagnostics has tremendous potential for reliable pathogen POC testing and subsequent target-oriented therapy.
Evaluating the Involving Relationships between Temperament and Motor Coordination in Early Childhood: A Prognostic Measurement
Authors: Sofologi Maria , Koulouri Sophia , Moraitou Despina , Papantoniou Georgia
Published: March 2021

The main aim of the present study was the evaluation of dynamic relationships between dimensions of temperament and motor coordination in 3–7-year-old children in Greece. More specifically, the main objectives of the current study were the test outcomes regarding the psychometric properties (structural validity and internal consistency) of the Greek versions of (a) the Child Behavior Questionnaire—very short format (CBQ—VSF), and (b) the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ). For the purposes of the present study, 231 parents (202 women and 29 men), aged 23–53 years (mean (M) = 36.7 and standard deviation (SD) = 5.4) completed the aforementioned questionnaires. The sample consisted of 231 children (110 girls and 121 boys) aged 3–7 years (M = 4.75 years and SD = 1.30). For the DCDQ, the confirmatory factor analysis revealed three factors consistent with the factors that emerged from the constructs, with strong internal consistency reliability. Furthermore, regarding the CBQ—VSF, which measures the dimensions of temperament, the implementation of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated three factors and satisfactory internal consistency reliability, as well. Finally, path analysis revealed that temperamental effortful control, which mirrors both inhibitory and self-regulatory capacity, has a positive effect on motor coordination.