bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
OPTIMALISASI POSISI JANIN MELALUI PRENATAL YOGA TERHADAP OUTPUT PERSALINAN DI PUSKESMAS WILAYAH KOTA CIREBON
Authors: Nurasih Nurasih , Nurrochmi Endang
Published: November 2020

In Indonesia, Yoga is currently one of the most popular sports, not only for the general public but also for pregnant women. Many benefits can be obtained from prenatal yoga including the mother feeling comfortable and relaxed throughout pregnancy and during childbirth, training the pelvic floor muscles and perineum, keeping the body's muscles relaxed, balanced during childbirth, reducing stress, increasing and improving oxygen circulation to the body and fetus. . This study aims to determine the effect of prenatal yoga on optimizing fetal position on third trimester Primigravida maternal delivery output at Puskesmas Cirebon City. This research is a quasi-experimental research pre post control group design and only post control group design with T test and Chi Square test. Paired T Test results of the intervention group (mean difference = 3.111, P value = 0.000, control group (mean difference = 0.833, P value = 0.318). Independent T Test results obtained (average difference = -1.944, P value = 0.024), Chi Square test obtained a value of P = 0.73. There is a difference in the average anxiety before and after the intervention in the intervention group, there is no difference in average anxiety before and after the intervention in the control group. There is a difference in the average anxiety between the intervention and control groups. There is a difference in mean Long I stage between the intervention and control groups There was no effect of prenatal yoga on the type of labor.
Food allergies and food-induced anaphylaxis: role of cofactors
Authors: shin Meeyong
Published: November 2020

Food allergies and food-induced anaphylaxis are important health problems. Several cofactors modulating the onset of anaphylaxis have been identified. In the presence of cofactors, allergic reactions may be induced at lower doses of food allergens and/or become severe. Exercise and concomitant infections are well-documented cofactors of anaphylaxis in children. Other factors such as consumption of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, alcohol ingestion, and stress have been reported. Cofactors reportedly play a role in approximately 30% of anaphylactic reactions in adults and 14%–18.3% in children. Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA) is the best-studied model of cofactor-induced anaphylaxis. Wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis, the most common FDEIA condition, has been studied the most. The mechanisms of action of cofactors have not yet been fully identified. This review aims to educate clinicians on recent developments in the role of cofactors and highlight the importance of recognizing cofactors in food allergies and food-induced anaphylaxis.
From the Campbell Case to a Recent Ruling of the Constitutional Court of South Africa: Is There Any Hope to Revive the Tribunal of the Southern African Development Community?
Authors: Mussi Francesca
Published: November 2020

This article provides a critical analysis of the judgments delivered by the Regional High Court of Pretoria in the case Law Society of South Africa et al. v. President of the Republic of South Africa, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, the Minister of International Relations and Co-operation and the Constitutional Court of South Africa in Law Society of South Africa and Others v. President of the Republic of South Africa and Others in order to investigate to what extent they can contribute to discuss the revival of the SADC Tribunal with all its original powers. After providing an overview of the SADC Tribunal's legal structure and the judgment delivered in 2008 in the Mike Campbell v. Zimbabwe case, the present contribution will consider the legal reasoning of the Regional High Court of Pretoria and the Constitutional Court of South Africa respectively. It will also develop some considerations of the role played by civil society groups in other SADC member states.
Quantitative determination of drugs for therapy of COVID-19 in serum and plasma using liquid chromatography ― mass-spectrometry
Authors: Farmakovsky D. A.
Published: November 2020

There was developed a method for quantitation of the drugs which could be effective for COVID-19 treatment. Using tandem liquid mass-spectrometry it is possible to simultaneously quantify with high accuracy and precision up to 9 medicines in human plasma. This method could be used for new drug development as well as for clinical trials and therapeutic drug monitoring in real clinical practice.
Canonical Validation of a Modeling Strategy for Carbon Monoxide Emissions in Staged Operation of Gas Turbine Combustors
Authors: Klarmann Noah , Sattelmayer Thomas
Published: November 2020

Canonical validation of a holistic modeling strategy for the prediction of CO emissions in staged operation of gas turbine combustors is subject of this study. Results from various validation cases are presented. Focus is on operating conditions that can be considered typical for modern, flexible gas turbines that meet the requirements of the upcoming new energy age. Reducing load in gas turbines is usually achieved by redistributing fuel referred to as fuel staging. Fuel-staged operation may lead to various mechanism like strong interaction of the flame with secondary air leading to quenching and elevated CO emissions and is - due to technical relevance - stressed in this work. In the recent past, our group published a new modeling strategy for the precise prediction of heat release distributions as well as CO emissions. An extension to the CO modeling strategy that is of high relevance for the introduced validation cases is addressed by this work. The first part of this study presents relevant aspects of the overall modelling strategy. Furthermore, a validation of the models is shown to demonstrate the ability of precisely predicting CO in two different multi-burner cases. Both validation cases feature a silo combustion chamber with 37 burners. The burner groups are switched off at partial load leading to intense interactions between hot and cold burners. Major improvement in comparison to CO predictions from the flamelet-based combustion model can be achieved as the modeling strategy is demonstrated to be capable of predicting global CO emissions accurately. Furthermore, the model’s precision in fuel staging scenarios are demonstrated and discussed.
Possible Causes and the Molecular Basis of Hydrogen Cyanogenesis Production in Cassava
Authors: Josphert N Kimatu
Published: November 2020

Cassava (Manihot esculenta), is a major source of carbohydrates after rice and maize providing a basic diet to over half a billion people. It is an annual crop belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. It produces edible root tubers which form the staple food for inhabitants in the developing world mainly in the tropical and subtropical countries. It is a very drought tolerant crop which is classified as either bitter or sweet cassava. However, it produces Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) which is toxic. This ant nutritional component can cause partial paralysis and have been known to kill and wipe out families in Africa. It is surprising that farmers seem to prefer the bitter varieties as they are starchier, deter pests and wild animals. There have not been adequate studies to evaluate the causes and molecular basis of the production of Hydrogen cyanide by cassava. Observations of feeding patterns of porcupines on cassava roots, defense mechanisms in cassava and macro level results on cassava metabolism were hereby used to explain the molecular epigenetic link of cyanogenesis of cassava. The results explain the exogenous release and its subsequent removal of HCN during cassava processing. It shall form the basis for the selection and improvement of cassava products for food security.
Is the “Minimally Conscious State” Patient Minimally Self-Aware?
Authors: Picolas Constantinos
Published: November 2020

Patients in a Minimally Conscious State (MCS) constitute a subgroup of awareness impaired patients who show minimal signs of awareness as opposed to patients in a Vegetative State who do not exhibit any such signs. While the empirical literature is rich in studies investigating either overt or covert signs of awareness in such patients the question of self-awareness has only scarcely been addressed. Even in the occasion where self-awareness is concerned, it is only higher-order or reflective self-awareness that is the target of such investigations. In the first part of this paper, I briefly review the relevant clinical neuroscience literature to demonstrate that the conception of self-awareness at play in such studies is indeed that of reflective self-awareness. In the second part, I present the philosophical notion of pre-reflective (or minimal) self-awareness. This is shown to primarily refer to the implicit awareness of our embodied subjectivity which essentially permeates all our experiences. As discussed, this minimal self-awareness is not specifically addressed when clinically or experimentally assessing patients in MCS. My suggestion is that neuroimaging studies targeting minimal self-awareness as in First-Person Perspective-taking paradigms could be used with MCS patients to shed light on the question of whether those individuals are minimally self-aware even in the case where they lack self-reflective abilities. Empirical evidence of this kind could have important theoretical implications for the discussion about the notion of self-awareness but also potential medical and social/legal implications for awareness impaired patients’ management.
Private Label and Macroeconomic Indicators: Europe and USA
Authors: Gil-Cordero Eloy , Rondán-Cataluña Francisco Javier , Sigüenza-Morales Daniel
Published: November 2020

In this study, we have analyzed the impact and evolution of some of the most important macroeconomic indices on the market share and value of private brands. The originality and objective of this work is the linkage of macroeconomic variables in European countries and the USA with the evolution of private labels in these countries. A sample of 19 European countries and all states within the USA has been collected over a 10-year period, including data on private labels and macroeconomic indices. The analysis of the panel data has been applied using the SPSS software through the Ljung–Box test. The most significant data from the sample study is that for GDP; we advised national brand managers to make a special communication effort in nations that offer a lower GDP within Europe for their volume and in value for the US. On the other hand, it was found that when the unemployment rate increases, the value of private label market share decreases for the US, but increases for Europe, in addition to other findings that will help organizations make different business decisions.
Effects of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer Application on Growth, Yield, and Grain Quality of Rice
Authors: Kakar Kifayatullah , Xuan Tran Dang , Noori Zubair , Aryan Shafiqullah , Gulab Gulbuddin
Published: November 2020

Nutrient management and fertilizer application are influential elements for high yield and preferred grain quality. Negligible information is available regarding fertilizer application in the paddy fields in Afghanistan. This research elucidates the efficacy of different fertilizers’ application on growth attributes, yield potential, and grain quality of rice. The treatments included the traditional application rate of nitrogen and phosphorus (RD), animal manure (AM), animal manure with 50% nitrogen and phosphorus of the traditional application rate (AMRD), sawdust (SD), and sawdust with 50% nitrogen and phosphorus of the traditional application rate (SDRD). Growth parameters, grain yield and its components, physicochemical properties, and morphological observation using scanning electron microscopy were recorded. The results revealed that the greatest panicle number, spikelet number, and grain yield were recorded in AMRD and SDRD treatments. Both AMRD and SDRD treatments increased the percentage of protein, amylose, and lipid contents, as well as the percentage of perfect grain compared to the RD treatment. Rice grain in RD treatment had very few protein bodies and their traces (pits), as well as the formation of amyloplasts and starch granules, were normal. However, AMRD and SDRD increased the number of protein bodies and their pits in the rice endosperm. The shapes of the amyloplasts were round and polyhedral with diverse sizes. Starch granules were polygonal with sharply defined edges. This research encourages farmers to adopt the combined application of manures and fertilizers to decrease the dependence on inorganic fertilizers.
Analyses of Work Efficiency of a Strawberry-Harvesting Robot in an Automated Greenhouse
Authors: Woo Seungmin , Uyeh Daniel Dooyum , Kim Junhee , Kim Yeongsu , Kang Seokho , Kim Kyoung Chul , Lee Si Young , Ha Yushin , Lee Won Suk
Published: November 2020

Protected cultivation systems such as greenhouses are becoming increasingly popular globally and have been adopted because of unpredictable climatic conditions and their ability to easily control micro- and macroenvironments. However, limitations such as hazardous work environments and shortages in labor are major concerns for agricultural production using these structures. This has led to the development and adoption of robotic systems. For the efficient use of robots in protected cultivation systems, we formulate the work efficiency problem and model a three-dimensional standard strawberry greenhouse to analyze the effectiveness of a strawberry-harvesting robot compared to different levels of human workforce (experienced, average, and beginner). Simulations are conducted using Quest software to compare the efficiency of different scenarios of robotics to humans. Different methods of improvement from battery capacity and charge rate to harvesting speed are investigated and optimal conditions are recommended. The average hourly production of the robot is about five times lower than that of skilled workers. However, robots are more productive due to their ability to work around the clock. Comparative analyses show that a reduction in harvesting time per strawberry from 3 to 1 s would result in an increase in daily production from 347.93 to 1021.30 kg. This would lead to a five-fold increase in comparison to present daily production. A 10% improvement in battery charge time would result in the battery capacity gaining two extra hours from the current 10 h and would cut the current 2 h needed for charge to 1 h. This paper proposes an operation process and suggestions for changes needed for improving the work efficiency of robots in a greenhouse. This could be extended to other crops and greenhouses.
Climate Change Impacts on Irrigation Requirements of Preserved Forage for Horses under Mediterranean Conditions
Authors: Soares Daniela , Rolim João , Fradinho Maria João , Paço Teresa Afonso do
Published: November 2020

Pasture and forage production occupies a large part of the utilized agricultural area in Portugal, a country prone to the effects of climate change. This study aims at evaluating the impacts of climate change on forage irrigation requirements and at defining and assessing different adaptation measures. A second objective focuses on evaluating the impacts on water deficit of rainfed forages. This study was performed in a Lusitano horse stud farm located in Azambuja Municipality, Portugal. The climate change impacts on the crop irrigation requirements and crop water deficit were simulated using the soil water balance model, ISAREG. The reference period considered was 1971–2000 and the climate scenarios were the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5 (2071–2100). The results show that the adaptation measure aiming at maximum production (several cuts) will increase the irrigation requirements in the different climate change scenarios between 38.4% and 67.1%. The adaptation measure aiming at reducing the water consumption (only one cut) will lead to a reduction in irrigation requirements in the different climate change scenarios, ranging between −31.1% and −64.0%. In rainfed conditions, the water deficit is substantially aggravated in the climate change scenarios.
Comparative Study on Protein Quality and Rheological Behavior of Different Wheat Species
Authors: Tran Khoa Dang , Konvalina Petr , Capouchova Ivana , Janovska Dagmar , Lacko-Bartosova Magdalena , Kopecky Marek , Tran Phuong Xuan Thi
Published: November 2020

The quantity and quality of protein and the rheological traits of wheat are crucial for processing flour in the baking industry, but there are few comparisons in the literature between old and modern wheat species. To help fill this gap, the baking quality characterization, gluten content, protein fraction composition, high molecular weight glutenin subunits, and rheological properties of ancient and modern wheat were determined and compared. These varieties were collected by the gene bank of the Crop Research Institute in Prague-Ruzyne and were grown in organically certified research areas in the Czech Republic. Results revealed differences in protein content and composition between varieties with different ploidy levels, as well as differences in development time and stability between einkorn and bread wheat varieties. Based on the proximity of their positions to the parameter quality in the principal components analysis, such as gluten content, gluten index (GI), Zeleny test, stability, dough development time (C1) and gliadin, the baking performances of cultivars were identified.
Impact of Linseed Variety, Location and Production Year on Seed Yield, Oil Content and Its Composition
Authors: Čeh Barbara , Štraus Saša , Hladnik Aleš , Kušar Anita
Published: November 2020

Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) is a traditional oilseed crop in Europe that represents a valuable alternative for cropping systems because of the high quality of the seed oil, which is being increasingly appreciated by consumers, food, cosmetic and ecomaterials industries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of linseed variety and year of production in relation to weather conditions on seed yields, oil content and its quality, with a focus on human nutrition value, through a field study carried at four different locations in Slovenia. Six early French linseed varieties were studied: Recital, Niagara, Princess, Altess, Comtess and Duchess. The seed yield was significantly affected by the year of production (413 kg/ha higher in 2012 compared to 2013), the location and the variety. The environmental factors that negatively affect seed yield are high temperatures in summer, water shortage and wet and cold soil in spring. The highest seed yield was reached at mid-heavy soil (1907 kg/ha) in the region with higher precipitation amount, while the lowest on light soil (1052 kg/ha) in the region with a lower precipitation amount. Comtess and Altess varieties, followed by Duchess, would be recommendable for Slovenian environmental conditions. Comtess variety gave the significantly highest oil yield. There were no significant differences in oil content between varieties. The content of α-linolenic acid was highly related to genetic and environmental factors. The ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids was recognized as favorable for human health for all studied varieties. The content of α-linolenic acid in seeds from the Altess, Comtess and Duchess varieties exceeded the averages of 2012 and 2013, at 50.3% and 51.6%, respectively. The omega-3:omega-6 ratio ranged from 3:1 to 4:1 among varieties.
High Prevalence of blaCTX-M-15 Gene among Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli Isolates Causing Extraintestinal Infections in Bangladesh
Authors: Mazumder Razib , Abdullah Ahmed , Ahmed Dilruba , Hussain Arif
Published: November 2020

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli (E. coli) clonal lineages with high virulence potential is alarming. Lack of sufficient data on molecular epidemiology of such pathogens from countries with high infection burden, such as Bangladesh, hinders management and infection control measures. In this study, we assessed the population structure, virulence potential and antimicrobial susceptibility of clinical E. coli isolates from Dhaka, Bangladesh. A high prevalence of MDR (69%) and extended-spectrum β-lactamase production (ESBL) (51%) was found. Most E. coli isolates were susceptible to amikacin (95%), meropenem (94%) and nitrofurantoin (89%) antibiotics. A high prevalence of ST131 (22%) and ST95 (9%) followed by ST69 (4%) and ST73 (3%) was observed. Phylogroups B2 (46%), B1 (16%), D (10%) and F (9%) were prominent. blaCTX-M-15 (52%) and blaNDM-1 (5%) were the most prevalent ESBL and carbapenem resistance genes, respectively. Moreover, the predominant pathotype identified was extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) (41%) followed by enteric pathogens (11%). In conclusion, our results suggest the transmission of clonal E. coli groups amidst diverse E. coli population that are associated with high virulence potential and MDR phenotype. This is of high concern and mandates more efforts towards molecular surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in clinically significant pathogens.
Towards the Identification of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Causing Urinary Tract Infections Using Volatile Organic Compounds Analysis—A Pilot Study
Authors: Hewett Keith , Drabińska Natalia , White Paul , Avison Matthew B. , Persad Raj , Ratcliffe Norman , Costello Ben de Lacy
Published: November 2020

Antibiotic resistance is an unprecedented threat to modern medicine. The analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from bacteria potentially offers a rapid way to determine antibiotic susceptibility in bacteria. This study aimed to find the optimal conditions to obtain the maximum number of VOCs detected which next allowed the assessment of differences in VOC profiles between susceptible and resistant isolates of Escherichia coli causing urinary tract infections. The analysis of VOCs in the headspace above the bacterial cultures allowed the distinguishing of resistant and susceptible bacteria based on the abundance of six VOCs with 85.7% overall accuracy. The results of this preliminary study are promising, and with development could lead to a practical, faster diagnostic method for use in routine microbiology.
Bacteriophage Therapy for Clinical Biofilm Infections: Parameters That Influence Treatment Protocols and Current Treatment Approaches
Authors: Doub James B.
Published: November 2020

Biofilm infections are extremely difficult to treat, which is secondary to the inability of conventional antibiotics to eradicate biofilms. Consequently, current definitive treatment of biofilm infections requires complete removal of the infected hardware. This causes significant morbidity and mortality to patients and therefore novel therapeutics are needed to cure these infections without removal of the infected hardware. Bacteriophages have intrinsic properties that could be advantageous in the treatment of clinical biofilm infections, but limited knowledge is known about the proper use of bacteriophage therapy in vivo. Currently titers and duration of bacteriophage therapy are the main parameters that are evaluated when devising bacteriophage protocols. Herein, several other important parameters are discussed which if standardized could allow for more effective and reproducible treatment protocols to be formulated. In addition, these parameters are correlated with the current clinical approaches being evaluated in the treatment of clinical biofilm infections.
A Review on the Use of Antimicrobial Peptides to Combat Porcine Viruses
Authors: Pen Guihong , Yang Na , Teng Da , Mao Ruoyu , Hao Ya , Wang Jianhua
Published: November 2020

Viral infectious diseases pose a serious threat to animal husbandry, especially in the pig industry. With the rapid, continuous variation of viruses, a series of therapeutic measures, including vaccines, have quickly lost their efficacy, leading to great losses for animal husbandry. Therefore, it is urgent to find new drugs with more stable and effective antiviral activity. Recently, it has been reported that antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have great potential for development and application in animal husbandry because of their significant antibacterial and antiviral activity, and the antiviral ability of AMPs has become a research hotspot. This article aims to review the research situation of AMPs used to combat viruses in swine production of animal husbandry, clarify the mechanism of action of AMPs on viruses and raise some questions, and explore the future potential of AMPs in animal husbandry.
Detection of Low-Level Fosfomycin-Resistant Variants by Decreasing Glucose-6-Phosphate Concentration in Fosfomycin Susceptibility Determination
Authors: Martín-Gutiérrez Guillermo , Docobo-Pérez Fernando , Rodríguez-Martínez Jose Manuel , Pascual Alvaro , Blázquez Jesús , Rodriguez-Beltrán Jeronimo
Published: November 2020

Mutations that confer low-level fosfomycin resistance (LLFR) but not clinical resistance in Escherichia coli are increasingly reported. LLFR strains can become clinically resistant under urinary tract physiological conditions or may act as gateways for highly resistant subpopulations by the selection of additional LLFR mutations. Nevertheless, most LLFR strains are impossible to detect under routine fosfomycin susceptibility determinations. Here, we have explored the possibility of detecting LLFR variants by reducing glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) concentration in fosfomycin susceptibility testing for E. coli strains. As a proof of concept, fosfomycin minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and disk diffusion susceptibility tests were performed for E. coli strain BW25113 and 10 isogenic derivatives carrying the most prevalent LLFR chromosomal mutations (∆uhpT, ∆glpT, ∆cyaA, and ∆ptsI) and their double combinations. Whereas standard G6P concentrations detected only ∆uhpT single and double variants, assays with reduced G6P detected all LLFR variants. In addition, G6P levels were determined to be ≤5 µg/mL in urine samples from 30 patients with urinary tract infection (UTI) caused by E. coli and 10 healthy volunteers, suggesting that most bacterial cells in uncomplicated UTIs are facing fosfomycin under low G6P concentration. Reducing G6P allows for the detection of LLFR variants, which may suppose a risk for future resistance development, especially in UTIs.
N-Acetylcysteine as Modulator of the Essential Trace Elements Copper and Zinc
Authors: Wolfram Theresa , Schwarz Maria , Reuß Michaela , Lossow Kristina , Ost Mario , Klaus Susanne , Schwerdtle Tanja , Kipp Anna P.
Published: November 2020

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a frequently prescribed drug and known for its metal chelating capability. However, to date it is not well characterized whether NAC intake affects the homeostasis of essential trace elements. As a precursor of glutathione (GSH), NAC also has the potential to modulate the cellular redox homeostasis. Thus, we aimed to analyze effects of acute and chronic NAC treatment on the homeostasis of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) and on the activity of the redox-sensitive transcription factor Nrf2. Cells were exposed to 1 mM NAC and were co-treated with 50 μM Cu or Zn. We showed that NAC treatment reduced the cellular concentration of Zn and Cu. In addition, NAC inhibited the Zn-induced Nrf2 activation and limited the concomitant upregulation of cellular GSH concentrations. In contrast, mice chronically received NAC via drinking water (1 g NAC/100 mL). Cu and Zn concentrations were decreased in liver and spleen. In the duodenum, NQO1, TXNRD, and SOD activities were upregulated by NAC. All of them can be induced by Nrf2, thus indicating a putative Nrf2 activation. Overall, NAC modulates the homeostasis of Cu and Zn both in vitro and in vivo and accordingly affects the cellular redox balance.
Wingate Test, When Time and Overdue Fatigue Matter: Validity and Sensitivity of Two Time-Shortened Versions
Authors: Hernández-Belmonte Alejandro , Buendía-Romero Ángel , Martínez-Cava Alejandro , Courel-Ibáñez Javier , Mora-Rodríguez Ricardo , Pallarés Jesús G.
Published: November 2020

This study aimed to analyze the validity and sensitivity of two time-shortened Wingate anaerobic tests (WAnTs), by means of three phases. In Phase A, 40 participants performed a traditional 30 s WAnT, whereas the first 15 s (WAnT15) and 20 s (WAnT20) were used to elaborate two predictive models. In Phase B, another 30 s WAnT was performed by 15 different volunteers to examine the error of these models (cross-validation). Finally, in Phase C, a 30 s WAnT was registered before and after a 10-week velocity-based training conducted by 22 different participants (training group, TRAIN = 11; control group that fully refrained from any type of training, CONTROL = 11). Power changes (in Watts, W) after this training intervention were used to interpret the sensitivity of the time-shortened WAnT. Adjusted coefficient of determination (R2) was reported for each regression model, whereas the cross-validation analysis included the smallest detectable change (SDC) and bias. Close relationships were found between the traditional 30 s WAnT and both the WAnT15 (R2 = 0.98) and WAnT20 (R2 = 0.99). Cross-validation analysis showed a lower error and bias for WAnT20 (SDC = 9.3 W, bias = −0.1 W) compared to WAnT15 (SDC = 22.2 W, bias = 1.8 W). Lastly, sensitivity to identify individual changes was higher for WAnT20 (TRAIN = 11/11 subjects, CONTROL = 9/11 subjects) than for WAnT15 (TRAIN = 4/11 subjects, CONTROL = 2/11 subjects). These findings suggest that the WAnT20 could become a valid and sensitive protocol to replace the traditional 30 s WAnT.
Finding Potential Propagators and Customers in Location-Based Social Networks: An Embedding-Based Approach
Authors: Chen Yi-Chun , Li Cheng-Te
Published: November 2020

In the scenarios of location-based social networks (LBSN), the goal of location promotion is to find information propagators to promote a specific point-of-interest (POI). While existing studies mainly focus on accurately recommending POIs for users, less effort is made for identifying propagators in LBSN. In this work, we propose and tackle two novel tasks, Targeted Propagator Discovery (TPD) and Targeted Customer Discovery (TCD), in the context of Location Promotion. Given a target POI l to be promoted, TPD aims at finding a set of influential users, who can generate more users to visit l in the future, and TCD is to find a set of potential users, who will visit l in the future. To deal with TPD and TCD, we propose a novel graph embedding method, LBSN2vec. The main idea is to jointly learn a low dimensional feature representation for each user and each location in an LBSN. Equipped with learned embedding vectors, we propose two similarity-based measures, Influential and Visiting scores, to find potential targeted propagators and customers. Experiments conducted on a large-scale Instagram LBSN dataset exhibit that LBSN2vec and its variant can significantly outperform well-known network embedding methods in both tasks.
Atomicity Violation in Multithreaded Applications and Its Detection in Static Code Analysis Process
Authors: Giebas Damian , Wojszczyk Rafał
Published: November 2020

This paper is a contribution to the field of research dealing with the parallel computing, which is used in multithreaded applications. The paper discusses the characteristics of atomicity violation in multithreaded applications and develops a new definition of atomicity violation based on previously defined relationships between operations, that can be used to atomicity violation detection. A method of detection of conflicts causing atomicity violation was also developed using the source code model of multithreaded applications that predicts errors in the software.
Evaluation of Workability and Mechanical Properties of Bottom Ash Aggregate Concrete
Authors: Kim Yong-Hyok , Kim Hak-Young , Yang Keun-Hyeok , Ha Jung-Soo
Published: November 2020

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the workability and mechanical properties of concrete containing bottom ash, which is an industrial byproduct, as an aggregate. Twelve concrete mixtures, including concrete containing bottom ash aggregate (CCBA), are classified into three groups of W/C 0.45, 0.375, and 0.3 according to the target strength. Each group includes four mixtures in which natural aggregate and bottom ash are applied as fine and coarse aggregates according to particular ratios. On the basis of the test results, a reliable model to predict the 28-day compressive strength of CCBA is proposed by applying regression analysis. The proposed model points out that when applying bottom ash as aggregate, the concrete density is lowered, and W/C should be reduced to offset the lowered compressive strength. As a result of comparing experimental values with the existing design code models, it is found that while the fib model accurately predicts compressive strength development and tensile resistance capacity in general, the ACI 318 code overestimates the elastic modulus at the oven-dried density (ρc) range of 1840 kg/m3 and above. Accurate prediction of the mechanical properties of CCBA requires the measurement of additional experimental data that consider W/C and ρc as important parameters.
Limited Power Point Tracking for a Small-Scale Wind Turbine Intended to Be Integrated in a DC Microgrid
Authors: Aourir Jamila , Locment Fabrice
Published: November 2020

Limited power point tracking (LPPT) is emerging as a new technology for power management controllers for small-scale wind turbines (SSWTs) thanks to its advantages in terms of operation flexibility, economy and system security. LPPT operates in such a way that power requested by the user can be extracted from the wind turbine while respecting constraints. However, operating in LPPT mode still requires a deep understanding to obtain a compromise between minimizing power oscillations and transient response. For that, three LPPT power control strategies for an SSWT intended to be integrated in a direct current (DC) urban microgrid are investigated. These methods concern perturb and observe (P&O) with fixed step size, P&O based on Newton’s method and P&O based on the fuzzy logic (FL) technique. The experimental results highlight that all methods function correctly and reach the limited power point (LPP). The FL method improves dynamic performances with more steady oscillations around LPP compared to fixed step size and Newton’s methods. The sudden variation of wind velocity and power lead us to conclude that the FL method ensures a good balance between reducing oscillation of wind turbine (WT) output power around the operating point and convergence of rising time toward LPP.
Application of Proteomic Technologies to Assess the Quality of Raw Pork and Pork Products: An Overview from Farm-To-Fork
Authors: López-Pedrouso María , Lorenzo José , Gagaoua Mohammed , Franco Daniel
Published: November 2020

The quality assurance of pork meat and products includes the study of factors prior to slaughter such as handling practices, diet and castration, and others during the post-mortem period such as aging, storage, and cooking. The development over the last two decades of high-throughput techniques such as proteomics offer great opportunities to examine the molecular mechanisms and study a priori the proteins in the living pigs and main post-mortem changes and post-translational modifications during the conversion of the muscle into the meat. When the most traditional crossbreeding and rearing strategies to improve pork quality were assessed, the main findings indicate that metabolic pathways early post-mortem were affected. Among the factors, it is well documented that pre-slaughter stress provokes substantial changes in the pork proteome that led to defective meat, and consequently, novel protein biomarkers should be identified and validated. Additionally, modifications in pork proteins had a strong effect on the sensory attributes due to the impact of processing, either physical or chemical. Maillard compounds and protein oxidation should be monitored in order to control proteolysis and volatile compounds. Beyond this, the search of bioactive peptides is becoming a paramount goal of the food and nutraceutical industry. In this regard, peptidomics is a major tool to identify and quantify these peptides with beneficial effects for human health.
Emerging Roles of Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
Authors: Furuta Kunimaro , Guo Qianqian , Hirsova Petra , Ibrahim Samar H.
Published: November 2020

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has become a growing public health problem worldwide, yet its pathophysiology remains unclear. Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC) have unique morphology and function, and play a critical role in liver homeostasis. Emerging literature implicates LSEC in many pathological processes in the liver, including metabolic dysregulation, inflammation, angiogenesis, and carcinogenesis. In this review, we highlight the current knowledge of the role of LSEC in each of the progressive phases of NASH pathophysiology (steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma). We discuss processes that have important roles in NASH progression including the detrimental transformation of LSEC called “capillarization”, production of inflammatory and profibrogenic mediators by LSEC as well as LSEC-mediated angiogenesis. The current review has a special emphasis on LSEC adhesion molecules, and their key role in the inflammatory response in NASH. Moreover, we discuss the pathogenic role of extracellular vesicles and their bioactive cargos in liver intercellular communication, inflammation, and fibrosis. Finally, we highlight LSEC-adhesion molecules and derived bioactive product as potential therapeutic targets for human NASH.
AAPH or Peroxynitrite-Induced Biorelevant Oxidation of Methyl Caffeate Yields a Potent Antitumor Metabolite
Authors: Fási Laura , Latif Ahmed Dhahir , Zupkó István , Lévai Sándor , Dékány Miklós , Béni Zoltán , Könczöl Árpád , Balogh György Tibor , Hunyadi Attila
Published: November 2020

Hydroxycinnamic acids represent a versatile group of dietary plant antioxidants. Oxidation of methyl-p-coumarate (pcm) and methyl caffeate (cm) was previously found to yield potent antitumor metabolites. Here, we report the formation of potentially bioactive products of pcm and cm oxidized with peroxynitrite (ONOO¯), a biologically relevant reactive nitrogen species (RNS), or with α,α′-azodiisobutyramidine dihydrochloride (AAPH) as a chemical model for reactive oxygen species (ROS). A continuous flow system was developed to achieve reproducible in situ ONOO¯ formation. Reaction mixtures were tested for their cytotoxic effect on HeLa, SiHa, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The reaction of pcm with ONOO¯ produced two fragments, an o-nitrophenol derivative, and a new chlorinated compound. Bioactivity-guided isolation from the reaction mixture of cm with AAPH produced two dimerization products, including a dihydrobenzofuran lignan that exerted strong antitumor activity in vitro, and has potent in vivo antimetastatic activity which was previously reported. This compound was also detected from the reaction between cm and ONOO¯. Our results demonstrate the ROS/RNS dependent formation of chemically stable metabolites, including a potent antitumor agent (5), from hydroxycinnamic acids. This suggests that diversity-oriented synthesis using ROS/RNS to obtain oxidized antioxidant metabolite mixtures may serve as a valid natural product-based drug discovery strategy.
The Role of Electronic Noses in Phenotyping Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Scarlata Simone , Finamore Panaiotis , Meszaros Martina , Dragonieri Silvano , Bikov Andras
Published: November 2020

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common progressive disorder of the respiratory system which is currently the third leading cause of death worldwide. Exhaled breath analysis is a non-invasive method to study lung diseases, and electronic noses have been extensively used in breath research. Studies with electronic noses have proved that the pattern of exhaled volatile organic compounds is different in COPD. More recent investigations have reported that electronic noses could potentially distinguish different endotypes (i.e., neutrophilic vs. eosinophilic) and are able to detect microorganisms in the airways responsible for exacerbations. This article will review the published literature on electronic noses and COPD and help in identifying methodological, physiological, and disease-related factors which could affect the results.
RNF6 as an Oncogene and Potential Therapeutic Target—A Review
Authors: Zapolnik Paweł , Pyrkosz Antoni
Published: November 2020

The RNF6 gene encodes Ring Finger Protein 6 (RNF6), which functions as a ubiquitin ligase. Its functions are not entirely known, but research shows that it is involved in human cancer development. Initially, this gene was considered to be a tumor suppressor. Numerous statistical analyses on cell lines and animals indicate, however, that RNF6 functions as an oncogene, involved in signaling pathways, including SHP1/STAT3, AKT/mTOR, Wnt/β-catenin, or ERα/Bcl-xL. Due to this fact, it has become a potential prognostic factor and therapeutic target. Studies in tumor cells and model organisms using inhibitors such as total saponins from Paris forrestii (TSPf), ellagic acid, or microRNA molecules show the effectiveness of inhibiting RNF6, and through it, the pathways of tumor cell proliferation. The results of the currently available studies are promising, but the function of RNF6 is not fully understood. More research is needed to assess the role of RNF6 and to check the safety and efficacy of inhibitors.
Clinical Characterization of Oculomotricity in Children with and without Specific Learning Disorders
Authors: Bilbao Carmen , Piñero David P.
Published: November 2020

Children with specific learning disorders have been associated with oculomotor problems, with their analysis even suggested to be a potential diagnostic tool. A prospective non-randomized comparative study evaluating 59 children (6–13 years old) divided into three groups was conducted: a control group (CG) including 15 healthy emmetropic children; a group of 18 healthy children with oculomotor abnormalities (OAG); and a group of 26 children diagnosed with specific learning disorders (LDG). In all groups, besides a complete eye exam, oculomotricity was characterized with two clinical tests: Northeastern State University College of Optometry’s Oculomotor (NSUCO) and Developmental Eye Movement (DEM) tests. Concerning the NSUCO test, lower ability, precision, and head/body movement associated scorings were obtained for both smooth pursuits and saccades in OAG and LDG when compared to the CG (p < 0.001). Likewise, significantly longer time needed to read the horizontal sheet of the DEM test and a higher DEM ratio were found in OAG and LDG compared to CG (p ≤ 0.003). No differences between LDG and OAG were found in the performance with the two oculomotor tests (p ≥ 0.141). Oculomotor anomalies can be present in children with and without specific learning disorders, and therefore cannot be used as diagnostic criteria of these type of disorders.
Prospective Trial of CPAP in Community-Dwelling Adults with Down Syndrome and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Authors: Hill Elizabeth A , Fairley Donna M , Williams Linda J , Spanò Goffredina , Cooper Sally-Ann , Riha Renata L
Published: November 2020

Adults with Down syndrome (DS) are predisposed to obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), but the effectiveness and acceptability of continuous positive airway pressure treatment (CPAP) in this group has rarely been formally assessed. This study was designed as a pilot randomised, parallel controlled trial for one month, continuing as an uncontrolled cohort study whereby the control group also received the intervention. Symptomatic, community-dwelling DS individuals exhibiting ≥10 apnoeas/hypopneas per hour in bed on a Type 3 home sleep study were invited to participate in this study, with follow-up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months from baseline. Measurements of sleepiness, behaviour, cognitive function and general health were undertaken; the primary outcome was a change in the pictorial Epworth Sleepiness Scale (pESS) score. Twenty-eight participants (19 male) were enrolled: age 28 ± 9 year; body mass index 31.5 ± 7.9 kg/m2; 39.6 ± 32.2 apnoeas/hypopneas per hour in bed; pESS 11 ± 6/24. The pilot randomised controlled trial at one month demonstrated no change between the groups. At 12 months, participant (p = 0.001) pESS and Disruptive (p < 0.0001), Anxiety/Antisocial (p = 0.024), and Depressive (p = 0.008) behaviour scores were reduced compared to baseline. Improvement was noted in verbal (p = 0.001) and nonverbal intelligence scores (p = 0.011). General health scores also improved (p = 0.02). At the end of the trial, 19 participants continued on treatment. Use of CPAP in adults with DS and OSA led to a number of significant, sustained improvements in sleepiness and behavioural/emotional outcomes at 12 months.
Screening of Cognitive Changes in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review
Authors: Paiva Andreia F. , Nolan Adam , Thumser Charlotte , Santos Flávia H.
Published: November 2020

Background and Aims: Screening and assessment of cognitive changes in adults with Intellectual Disabilities (ID), mainly Down Syndrome (DS), is crucial to offer appropriate services to their needs. We present a systematic review of the existing instruments assessing dementia, aiming to support researchers and clinicians’ best practice. Methods: Searches were carried out in the databases Web of Science; PubMed; PsycINFO in March 2019 and updated in October 2020. Studies were selected and examined if they: (1) focused on assessing age-related cognitive changes in persons with ID; (2) included adults and/or older adults; (3) included scales and batteries for cognitive assessment. Results: Forty-eight cross-sectional studies and twenty-seven longitudinal studies were selected representing a total sample of 6451 participants (4650 DS and 1801 with other ID). In those studies, we found 39 scales, questionnaires, and inventories, and 13 batteries for assessing cognitive and behavioural changes in adults with DS and other ID. Conclusion: The most used instrument completed by an informant or carer was the Dementia Questionnaire for Learning Disabilities (DLD), and its previous versions. We discuss the strengths and limitations of the instruments and outline recommendations for future use.
Sensitive Voltammetric Detection of Chloroquine Drug by Applying a Boron-Doped Diamond Electrode
Authors: Oliveira Geiser Gabriel , Azzi Déborah Christine , Silva Tiago Almeida , Oliveira Paulo Roberto de , Fatibello-Filho Orlando , Janegitz Bruno Campos
Published: November 2020

In this research, a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode has been explored to detect the chloroquine drug. The electrochemical performance of BDD electrode towards the irreversible anodic response of chloroquine was investigated by subjecting this electrode to the cathodic (−0.5 A cm−2 by 180 s, generating a predominantly hydrogen-terminated surface) and anodic (+0.5 A cm−2 by 30 s, oxygen-terminated surface) pretreatments. The cathodically pretreated BDD electrode ensured a better-defined anodic peak and higher current intensity. Thus, by applying the cathodically pretreated BDD electrode and square-wave voltammetry (SWV), the analytical curve was linear from 0.01 to 0.25 µmol L−1 (correlation coefficient of 0.994), with sensitivity and limit of detection of 12.2 µA L µmol−1 and 2.0 nmol−1, respectively. This nanomolar limit of detection is the lowest recorded so far with modified and unmodified electrodes.