bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainable Production of Pulque and Maguey in Mexico: Current Situation and Perspectives
Authors: Valdivieso Solís Dulce Gabriela , Vargas Escamilla Carlota Amadea , Mondragón Contreras Nayeli , Galván Valle Gustavo Adolfo , Gilés-Gómez Martha , Bolívar Francisco , Escalante Adelfo
Published: July 2021

Pulqueis a traditional Mexican fermented, non-distilled alcoholic beverage produced by fermenting the fresh sap (aguamiel) extracted from severalAgave(maguey) species cultivated for pulque production (mainlyA. salmiana). This beverage was produced and consumed since Pre-Hispanic times by Mesoamerican civilizations, mainly in the Mexican Central Plateau, and is one of the essential alcoholic beverages produced and consumed during several centuries in Mexico. By 2019, annual pulque production was reported in 171,482 billion liters. Nevertheless, traditional pulque production faces several significant limitations, including the disappearance of large agave plantations and the extent of time required (at least 5 years) to complete the plant maturation for aguamiel extraction; traditional production practices; and the lack of an efficient stabilization process of the fermented product resulting in low shelf life. In opposition, successful examples of sustainable cultivation of maguey species for aguamiel extraction and the fermentation process's industrialization resulted in high-quality pulque production, with international exportation certification. In this contribution, we present a review of the most relevant aspects of the history and commercial relevance of pulque, the causes that resulted in its production debacle during the first half of the twentieth century, the current situation of its traditional production, and the successful efforts of industrial production of the beverage. We describe recent results on the analysis of the physicochemical characteristics of aguamiel and on the microbiology of the beverage explored by metagenomic techniques that can be proposed as a baseline to redefine the quality criteria of the beverage and to define for the first time a microbiological core to optimize its production. We describe the relevance of maguey species for aguamiel production as a fundamental element of agroforestry and the relevance of its sustainable production, in four sustainable plantation models to maintain a stable plant population to ensure the continuous extraction of aguamiel and pulque production. Finally, we describe some successful examples of beverage industrialization and potential applications of several microorganisms isolated from aguamiel, pulque, aguamiel concentrates, and the maguey to produce high-value bioactive products.
Renal Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in Healthy Dogs: Reproducibility, Test-Retest Repeatability, and Selection of the Optimal b-value Combination
Authors: Lee Sang-Kwon , Lee Juryeoung , Jang Seolyn , Lee Eunji , Jeon Chang-Yeop , Lim Kyung-Seoub , Jin Yeung Bae , Choi Jihye
Published: July 2021

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) magnetic resonance imaging can evaluate alterations in the microstructure of the kidney. The purpose of this study was to assess the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and the intravoxel incoherent motion model (IVIM) parameters of a normal kidney in healthy dogs, to evaluate the effect of b-value combinations on the ADC value, and the reproducibility and test-retest repeatability in monoexponential and IVIM analysis. In this experimental study, the ADC, pure diffusion coefficient (D), pseudodiffusion coefficient (D*), and perfusion fraction (fp) were measured from both kidneys in nine healthy beagles using nine b-values (b = 0, 50, 70, 100, 150, 200, 500, 800, and 1,000 s/mm2) twice with a 1-week interval between measurements. Interobserver and intraobserver reproducibility, and test-retest repeatability of the measurements were calculated. ADC values were measured using 10 different b-value combinations consisting of three b-values each, and were compared to the ADC obtained from nine b-values. All the ADC, D, D*, and fp values measured from the renal cortex, medulla, and the entire kidney had excellent interobserver and intraobserver reproducibility, and test-retest repeatability. The ADC obtained from a b-value combination of 0, 100, and 800 s/mm2 had the highest intraclass correlation coefficient with the ADC from nine b-values. The results of this study indicated that DWI MRI using multiple b-values is feasible for the measurement of ADC and IVIM parameters with high reproducibility and repeatability in the kidneys of healthy dogs. A combination of b = 0, 100, and 800 s/mm2 can be used for ADC measurements when multiple b-values are not available in dogs.
Retrospective Evaluation of Acute Kidney Injury After Zoledronic Acid Administration to Dogs With Malignant Osteolysis
Authors: Vidal Sarah A. , Skorupski Katherine A. , Willcox Jennifer L. , Palm Carrie A. , Burton Jenna H.
Published: July 2021

Zoledronic acid (ZOL) is an intravenous bisphosphonate indicated for the use of hypercalcemia of malignancy and management of bony metastases. Its therapeutic effect lies in the targeting of malignant osteoclasts; however, administration can be associated with renal toxicity. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the frequency and severity of acute kidney injury (AKI) following ZOL administration in a cohort of cancer-bearing dogs. A pharmacy search was conducted to identify dogs that received a dose of ZOL between June 2016 and July 2019. Inclusion criteria included baseline and post-treatment chemistry panels. Medical records were reviewed to obtain clinical data including signalment, dose, dosage, number of treatments administered, and changes in renal function. Forty-four dogs met the inclusion criteria. Median number of doses administered was three [interquartile range (IQR), 2–5]. The median highest creatinine value occurred after a median of one dose (IQR, 1–2 doses) compared with the median highest value of blood urea nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which occurred after a median of two doses (IQR, 1–3). Six (13.6%) dogs developed an AKI, and one dog (2.3%) had progression of an existing azotemia after treatment with ZOL was initiated. Two dogs (4.5%) had ZOL treatment discontinued secondary to development of azotemia. Use of concurrent administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or anesthesia did not significantly increase the risk of AKI in this cohort of dogs. Acute kidney injury is observed infrequently in cancer-bearing dogs treated with ZOL and is generally mild to moderate in severity; discontinuation of ZOL due to AKI is uncommon.
Clinicopathological Features and Survival of Signet-Ring Cell Carcinoma and Mucinous Adenocarcinoma of Right Colon, Left Colon, and Rectum
Authors: Zhu Lili , Ling Chunrun , Xu Tao , Zhang Jinglin , Zhang Yujie , Liu Yingjie , Fang Chao , Yang Lie , Zhuang Wen , Wang Rui , Ping Jie , Wang Mojin
Published: July 2021

Histological subtype plays an important role in the different clinical characteristics and survival outcomes of patients with colorectal carcinoma (CRC). However, in previous studies, the influences of tumor locations and tumor stages have not been strictly controlled. This study focused on the assessment of the prognostic value of each histological subtype in different tumor locations and tumor stages of CRC. We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (1973–2011) to analyze 818,229 CRC patients with different clinical and pathological features, and analyzed the prognostic value of each histological subtype. Under the condition of stratification by tumor stage, signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) presented the worst survival in each stage of right colon cancer (stage I, log-rank, p = 0.002, stages II, III, and IV, log-rank, p < 0.001), rectal cancer (RC) (log-rank, p < 0.001), and in stages II, III, and IV of left colon cancer (log-rank, p < 0.001). Multivariate survival analysis suggested SRCC subtype, male gender, age ≥ 70 years, tumor size ≥ 5 cm, stage progression, and poor differentiation were all significant factors worsening survival in CRC (p < 0.001, respectively). Mucinous adenocarcinoma (MC) histological subtype proved to be an independent protective factor for the prognosis of right colon cancer (p = 0.003). Overall, in our study, the results suggested SRCC had the worst survival among the three histological subtypes of CRC. MC was associated with favorable prognosis in right colon cancer but not with other tumor locations.
Soil Vulnerability Indicators to Degradation by Wildfires in Torres del Paine National Park (Patagonia, Chile)
Authors: Mataix-Solera Jorge , Arellano Eduardo C. , Jaña Jorge E. , Olivares Luis , Guardiola José , Arcenegui Victoria , García-Carmona Minerva , García-Franco Noelia , Valenzuela Patricio
Published: July 2021

Wildfires are a common phenomenon globally, nonetheless some ecosystems are more adapted than others. In this work, we show results of a study conducted in Torres del Paine National Park (Chile) that suffered a big forest fire in 2011, affecting 17,666 ha. The Park is located in the transitional forest-steppe zone whose annual rainfall varies between 300 and 1,500 mm. Plant communities goes from Patagonian steppe, pre-Andean scrub to Magellanic forest. Based on vegetation community and trying to cover all representative sectors affected by the fire, 5 areas of the park were sampled in 2019 following the transects where a vegetation recovery study has been monitored since the fire occurred. Soil parameters used to evaluate were: texture, soil water repellency (WR), organic matter (OM), and aggregation, including total content of macroaggregates (TCA) and their stability (AS). The results showed high values of OM, however three of the 5 areas showed statistically lower values of OM in burned samples. WR was present (from slight to severe) in the 75% of the samples, and without differences between burned and unburned. The correlations analyses indicated that WR is more related with the OM type than with quantity, since better correlations were obtained when only samples from the same area were included in the analyses. The results of aggregation indicated that soils have a poor structural development. The TCA varies from 16 to 50%, and the AS is not very high (average of 66%), being the highest in the area with lowest TCA and more affected by the fire and erosion processes. This suggests that the higher values of AS are a consequence of the destruction and loss of the less resistant fraction after the fire. The combination of the high sand content (low specific surface area) and high OM make them very susceptible to develop WR. Since these soils have a scarce development with a poor structure, the combination of the WR and the poor soil structure make them very vulnerable to erosion processes after the fire. Measures to protect the soils or accelerate the recovery are recommended in these areas when new human caused wildfires could occur.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Economic Prospects and Historical Background
Authors: Kromják Laura
Published: July 2021

The essay discusses the socio-political challenges for the economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its foreign trade in goods and services, including the Hungarian relation. The study uses descriptive tools and secondary data. Wedged in between Croatia and Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s economy is inextricably linked to the dramatic events of the past and the still unresolved social and political conflicts. Within Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina was a member state with significant export potential, but the war and ethnicisation have devastated the economy. The state administration of the Dayton system is expensive, and the foundations for capital flows, privatisation and European convergence are developing slowly. Capital flows, the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) and international aid play an important role in balancing the foreign exchange balance. A significant item reducing the negative current account balance is the amount of remittances, which is six times higher than FDI. Remittances have become the largest source of external financing, increasing dependency and exacerbating the vulnerability of the economy.
Procyclical Effects of IFRS 9 – Illustrated by a Simulation on the Hungarian Banking System
Authors: Szigel Gábor
Published: July 2021

The impact of the IFRS1 9 accounting standard on amplifying procyclical bank behaviour has been hotly debated since the introduction of the standard. This paper contributes to the debate by a unique simulation, in which we estimated, what the losses and capital position of the Hungarian banking system would have been during the 2008–2013 crisis episode if at international level subsequently adopted IFRS 9 had already been in effect at that time. Our results show that IFRS 9 would have led to the recognition of losses, which would have been more concentrated in the beginning of this crisis episode, (but not early enough, in the pre-crisis period). As a result, the banking system’s aggregated capital adequacy ratio would have been more than 20 per cent (2.7 percentage points) lower at the onset of the crisis (end of 2008) than it was in reality (9.1 per cent rather than 11.8 per cent). This could have forced bank owners to undertake capital increases sooner and in larger amounts or to push their banks towards even stronger deleveraging, i.e. towards more procyclical behaviour. Our results are in line with the findings in the literature that the introduction of IFRS 9 increases the procyclicality of banks’ impairments in such a manner that it shifts the recognition of impairments towards beginning of crises (but not towards pre-crisis periods!). Although the procyclical effect of IFRS 9 demonstrated in our simulation is quite large, this is attributable to the special depth and complexity of the 2008 crisis episode in Hungary, which involved a sovereign crisis, a banking crisis and a credit crunch at the same time. Thus, our results suggest that the procyclical impact of IFRS 9 can be more easily managed under ‘normal’ recession circumstances
Project Governance in State-Owned Enterprises: The Case of Major Public Projects’ Governance Arrangements and Quality Assurance Schemes
Authors: Larsen Anne Strand Alfredsen , Volden Gro Holst , Andersen Bjørn
Published: July 2021

Societal development is increasingly undertaken as major public projects in different sectors. Project governance is important for strategically successful outcomes; thus, a broad societal perspective should be kept throughout the governance process. State ownership exists in many forms, and major public projects’ governance arrangements differ. Quality assurance is a recommended part of the arrangements, yet knowledge of them is limited. This study investigates relatively recent governance arrangements in state-owned enterprises in Norway, emphasizing their content and organization of quality assurance. The arrangements are compared with the more established “State Project Model”, a governance arrangement set up by the Ministry of Finance in 2000, including major public projects with budgets exceeding USD 110 million. Through case studies, comprising documents and interviews, and using the State Project Model as a reference frame, differences in the studied arrangements’ comprehensiveness were found. Finding the appropriate level of governance is challenging, yet potential for mutual learning and improvement across different arrangements is revealed. For state-owned enterprises with sectoral policy objectives, the government should ensure that political control is not undermined. This study provides recommendations for further improvement of governance arrangements and adds to the general understanding of state-owned enterprises and major public projects’ front-end phase.
Pelletization of Compost from Different Mixtures with the Addition of Exhausted Extinguishing Powders
Authors: Papandrea Salvatore F. , Cataldo Maria F. , Palma Adriano , Gallucci Francesco , Zimbalatti Giuseppe , Proto Andrea Rosario
Published: July 2021

Today, in Europe, there is still no industrial process to favor the distribution of exhausted extinguishing powders (EEP). Extinguishing powders (EP) are the most common extinguishing agents and are composed of very fine particles (90% is less than 0.250 mm, with at least 40% less than 0.040 mm). Illegal processes of disposal or reuse of EEP are currently taking place throughout Europe. In fact, often maintenance companies illegally dispose of and/or reuse spent extinguishing powders with enormous environmental damage. This is partly due to prohibitive costs, of which a large part is due to transport. The demand for fertilizers is increasing; phosphorus is a key raw material, and a possible solution could be mixing it with compost and other organic biomass and agricultural residues. In general, both compost and EEP powder have a low density and can take up a great deal of storage volume, so thickening this compost would help reduce the required storage capacity. Furthermore, a danger represented by the handling of compost and EEP is the dispersion of dust that can potentially carry pathogens and toxic organic substances which, if inhaled, could cause respiratory problems during distribution and handling. The aim of this study was to produce compost pellets using exhausted EP in different formulations and to observe the quality of different compost pellet products with respect to different factors affecting handling, storage, and distribution. For the first time, the pelletizing of EEP with compost was performed successfully using five different blends, each with different properties. The results showed that qualitative variables could be controlled to optimize production efficiency and improve the quality of the finished product depending on the type of distribution, handling, and storage. The five compost mixes could be applied in different agricultural crops as fertilizer. Furthermore, this use of exhausted EP allows for positive ecological and economic effects, avoiding the disposal costs required by specialized companies.
Conservation of Imprinting and Methylation of MKRN3, MAGEL2 and NDN Genes in Cattle
Authors: Li Junliang , Chen Weina , Li Dongjie , Gu Shukai , Liu Xiaoqian , Dong Yanqiu , Jin Lanjie , Zhang Cui , Li Shijie
Published: July 2021

Genomic imprinting is the epigenetic mechanism of transcriptional regulation that involves differential DNA methylation modification. Comparative analysis of imprinted genes between species can help us to investigate the biological significance and regulatory mechanisms of genomic imprinting. MKRN3, MAGEL2 and NDN are three maternally imprinted genes identified in the human PWS/AS imprinted locus. This study aimed to assess the allelic expression of MKRN3, MAGEL2 and NDN and to examine the differentially methylated regions (DMRs) of bovine PWS/AS imprinted domains. An expressed single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based approach was used to investigate the allelic expression of MKRN3, MAGEL2 and NDN genes in bovine adult tissues and placenta. Consistent with the expression in humans and mice, we found that the MKRN3, MAGEL2 and NDN genes exhibit monoallelic expression in bovine somatic tissues and the paternal allele expressed in the bovine placenta. Three DMRs, PWS-IC, MKRN3 and NDN DMR, were identified in the bovine PWS/AS imprinted region by analysis of the DNA methylation status in bovine tissues using the bisulfite sequencing method and were located in the promoter and exon 1 of the SNRPN gene, NDN promoter and 5’ untranslated region (5’UTR) of MKRN3 gene, respectively. The PWS-IC DMR is a primary DMR inherited from the male or female gamete, but NDN and MKRN3 DMR are secondary DMRs that occurred after fertilization by examining the methylation status in gametes.
Effect of Substituting Fish Oil with Camelina Oil on Growth Performance, Fatty Acid Profile, Digestibility, Liver Histology, and Antioxidative Status of Red Seabream (Pagrus major)
Authors: Mzengereza Kumbukani , Ishikawa Manabu , Koshio Shunsuke , Yokoyama Saichiro , Yukun Zhang , Shadrack Ronick S. , Seo Seok , Duy Khoa Tran Nguyen , Moss Amina , Dossou Serge , Basuini Mohammed Fouad El , Dawood Mahmoud A. O.
Published: July 2021

A 56-day feeding trial to evaluate the responses of red seabream (initial weight: 1.8 ± 0.02 g) to the substitution of fish oil (FO) with camelina oil (CO) at different ratios was conducted. The control diet formulated at 46% CP (6F0C) contained only FO without CO; from the second to the fifth diet, the FO was substituted with CO at rates of 5:1 (5F1C), 4:2 (4F2C), 3:3 (3F3C), 2:4 (2F4C), and 0:6 (0F6C). The results of the present study showed that up to full substitution of FO with CO showed no significant effect on growth variables BW = 26.2 g–28.3 g), body weight gain (BWG = 1275.5–1365.3%), specific growth rate (SGR = 4.6–4.7), feed intake (FI = 25.6–27.8), feed conversion ratio (FCR = 1.0–1.1), biometric indices condition factor (CF = 2.2–2.4), hepatosomatic index (HSI = 0.9–1.1), viscerasomatic index (VSI = 7.5–9.5), and survival rates (SR = 82.2–100) with different FO substitution levels with CO. Similarly, there were no significant differences (p < 0.05) found in the whole-body composition except for the crude lipid content, and the highest value was observed in the control group (291 g/kg) compared to the other groups FO5CO1 (232 k/kg), FO4CO2 (212 g/kg), FO2CO4 (232 g/kg) and FO0CO6 (244 g/kg). Blood chemistry levels were not influenced in response to test diets: hematocrit (36–33%), glucose (Glu = 78.3–71.3 mg/dL), total protein (T-pro = 3.1–3.8 g/dL), total cholesterol (T-Chol = 196.0–241 mg/dL), blood urea nitrogen (BUN = 9.0–14.6 mg/dL), total bilirubin (T-Bil = 0.4–0.5 mg/dL), triglyceride (TG = 393.3–497.6 mg/dL), alanine aminotransferase test (ALT = 50–65.5 UL/L), aspartate aminotransferase test (AST = 38–69.3 UL/L). A remarkable modulation was observed in catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in the liver, as CAT and SOD values were lower with the complete FO substitution with CO (0F6C), and the highest values were observed in the control and (4F2C). This study indicates that red seabream may have the ability to maintain LC-PUFAs between tissues and diets, and CO substitution of FO could improve both lipid metabolism and oxidation resistance as well as maintain digestibility. In conclusion, dietary FO can be replaced up to 100% or 95% by CO in the diets of red seabream as long as n-3 HUFA, EPA, and DHA are incorporated at the recommended level.
Modulus of Elasticity for Grain-Supported Carbonates—Determination and Estimation for Preliminary Engineering Purposes
Authors: Briševac Zlatko , Pollak Davor , Maričić Ana , Vlahek Andreja
Published: July 2021

The determination and estimation of elastic behaviour are essential in engineering practise, especially in quarrying, mining, construction, and all engineering professions that perform operations dealing with rock materials. Young’s modulus, or modulus of elasticity, is the most important property describing the deformability of rock material. In this paper, grain-supported carbonates from Croatia are described and their elastic modulus and significant physical and mechanical properties are determined. The analysis of the collected data was performed in the R statistical environment. Estimation models based on multiple linear regression and the regression tree model were created. The methodology of model development and evaluation in R environment is described in detail. According to the more stringent coefficients (RMSECV and adjusted R2) used to evaluate the success of the estimation, simple regression tree models were found to perform well for the preliminary estimation, while more complex models based on Bagging performed very well.
Improvements to Supercomputing Service Availability Based on Data Analysis
Authors: Lee Jae-Kook , Kwon Min-Woo , An Do-Sik , Yoon Junweon , Hong Taeyoung , Woo Joon , Kim Sung-Jun , Li Guohua
Published: July 2021

As the demand for high-performance computing (HPC) resources has increased in the field of computational science, an inevitable consideration is service availability in large cluster systems such as supercomputers. In particular, the factor that most affects availability in supercomputing services is the job scheduler utilized for allocating resources. Consequent to submitting user data through the job scheduler for data analysis, 25.6% of jobs failed because of program errors, scheduler errors, or I/O errors. Based on this analysis, we propose a K-hook method for scheduling to increase the success rate of job submissions and improve the availability of supercomputing services. By applying this method, the job-submission success rate was improved by 15% without negatively affecting users’ waiting time. We also achieved a mean time between interrupts (MTBI) of 24.3 days and maintained average system availability at 97%. As this research was verified on the Nurion supercomputer in a real service environment, the value of the research is expected to be found in significant service improvements.
User Experience in VR Fashion Product Shopping: Focusing on Tangible Interactions
Authors: Kim Jongsun , Ha Jisoo
Published: July 2021

It is necessary to focus on a VR environment centered on a tangible interaction (TI), which provides and interacts with the user experience (UX) with various sensational forms. Therefore, this study attempted to present UX evaluation items for VR fashion product shopping environment through focusing on the TI. In addition, the developed factors were evaluated for validity through empirical experiments and attempted to explore the possibility of using a VR shopping UX evaluation methodology. As a result of factor analysis of items related to VR shopping, six factors were extracted, and each factor was named as intention to use, playfulness, sharpness, telepresence, interactivity, and usability, respectively. As a result of a t-test for the difference in UX between immersive VR and non-immersive VR, it was found that there were significant differences in intention to use, playfulness, sharpness, and telepresence. As a result of performing a multiple regression analysis to analyze the effect of TI on the VR fashion shopping UX, it was found that interaction, playfulness, and telepresence are UX factors that are formed under the influence of TI in an immersive VR. In addition, intention to use, sharpness, telepresence, and usability were found to be factors experienced as an effect of TI in a non-immersive VR.
Experimental Study on Two PCM Macro-Encapsulation Designs in a Thermal Energy Storage Tank
Authors: Vérez David , Borri Emiliano , Crespo Alicia , Mselle Boniface Dominick , de Gracia Álvaro , Zsembinszki Gabriel , Cabeza Luisa F.
Published: July 2021

The use of latent heat thermal energy storage is an effective way to increase the efficiency of energy systems due to its high energy density compared with sensible heat storage systems. The design of the storage material encapsulation is one of the key parameters that critically affect the heat transfer in charging/discharging of the storage system. To fill the gap found in the literature, this paper experimentally investigates the effect of the macro-encapsulation design on the performance of a lab-scale thermal energy storage tank. Two rectangular slabs with the same length and width but different thickness (35 mm and 17 mm) filled with commercial phase change material were used. The results show that using thinner slabs achieved a higher power, leading to a reduction in the charging and discharging time of 14% and 30%, respectively, compared with the thicker slabs. Moreover, the variation of the heat transfer fluid flow rate has a deeper impact on the temperature distribution and the energy charged/released when thicker slabs were used. The macro-encapsulation design did not have a significant impact on the discharging efficiency of the tank, which was around 85% for the operating thresholds considered in this study.
On the Colored and the Set-Theoretical Yang–Baxter Equations
Authors: Iantovics Laszlo Barna , Nichita Florin Felix
Published: July 2021

This paper is related to several articles published in AXIOMS, SCI, etc. The main concepts of the current paper are the colored Yang–Baxter equation and the set-theoretical Yang–Baxter equation. The Euler formula, colagebra structures, and means play an important role in our study. We show that some new solutions for a certain system of equations lead to colored Yang–Baxter operators, which are related to an Euler formula for matrices, and the set-theoretical solutions to the Yang–Baxter equation are related to means. A new coalgebra is obtained and studied.
Hair Growth Stimulation Effect of Centipeda minima Extract: Identification of Active Compounds and Anagen-Activating Signaling Pathways
Authors: Kim Byoung Ha , Lee Myong Jin , Lee Won-Yung , Pyo Jaesung , Shin Myoung-Sook , Hwang Gwi Seo , Shin Dongchul , Kim Chang Eop , Park Eun-Seok , Kang Ki Sung
Published: July 2021

Centipeda minima (L.) A. Braun & Asch is a well-studied plant in Chinese medicine that is used for the treatment of several diseases. A recent study has revealed the effects of extract of Cetipeda minima (CMX) standardized by brevilin A in inducing hair growth. However, the mechanism of action of CMX in human hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs) has not yet been identified. We aimed to investigate the molecular basis underlying the effect of CMX on hair growth in HFDPCs. CMX induced the proliferation of HFDPCs, and the transcript-level expression of Wnt family member 5a (Wnt5a), frizzled receptor (FZDR), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was upregulated. These results correlated with an increase in the expression of growth-related factors, such as VEGF and IGF-1. Immunoblotting and immunocytochemistry further revealed that the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK was enhanced by CMX in HFDPCs, and β-catenin accumulated significantly in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, CMX substantially induced the expression of Wnt signaling-related proteins, such as GSK phosphorylation and β-catenin. This study supports the hypothesis that CMX promotes hair growth and secretion of growth factors via the Wnt/β-catenin, ERK, and JNK signaling pathways. In addition, computational predictions of drug-likeness, together with ADME property predictions, revealed the satisfactory bioavailability score of CMX compounds, exhibiting high gastrointestinal absorption. We suggest that CMX could be used as a promising treatment for hair regeneration and minimization of hair loss.
Chronic Kidney Disease Induced by Cisplatin, Folic Acid and Renal Ischemia Reperfusion Induces Anemia and Promotes GATA-2 Activation in Mice
Authors: Estrela Gabriel Rufino , Freitas-Lima Leandro Ceotto , Budu Alexandre , Arruda Adriano Cleis de , Perilhão Mauro Sergio , Fock Ricardo Ambrósio , Barrera-Chimal Jonatan , Araújo Ronaldo Carvalho
Published: July 2021

Anemia is a common feature of chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is a process related to erythropoietin deficiency, shortened erythrocyte survival, uremic erythropoiesis inhibitors, and disordered iron homeostasis. Animal models of CKD-induced anemia are missing and would be desirable in order to study anemia mechanisms and facilitate the development of novel therapeutic tools. We induced three different models of CKD in mice and evaluated the development of anemia characteristics. Mice were subjected to unilateral ischemia-reperfusion or received repeated low doses of cisplatin or folic acid to induce nephropathy. Renal function, kidney injury and fibrotic markers were measured to confirm CKD. Moreover, serum hemoglobin, ferritin and erythropoietin were analyzed. Renal mRNA levels of HIF-2α, erythropoietin, hepcidin, GATA-2, and GATA-2 target genes were also determined. All three CKD models presented increased levels of creatinine, urea, and proteinuria. Renal up-regulation of NGAL, KIM-1, and TNF-α mRNA levels was observed. Moreover, the three CKD models developed fibrosis and presented increased fibrotic markers and α-SMA protein levels. CKD induced decreased hemoglobin and ferritin levels and increased erythropoietin levels in the serum. Renal tissue showed decreased erythropoietin and HIF-2α mRNA levels, while an increase in the iron metabolism regulator hepcidin was observed. GATA-2 transcription factor (erythropoietin repressor) mRNA levels were increased in all CKD models, as well as its target genes. We established three models of CKD-induced anemia, regardless of the mechanism and severity of kidney injury.
Association between Blood Pressure, Blood Pressure Variability, and Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Lee Kang-Po , Chang Alice Y. W. , Sung Pi-Shan
Published: July 2021

After stroke, dynamic changes take place from necrotic-apoptotic continuum, inflammatory response to poststroke neurogenesis, and remodeling of the network. These changes and baseline brain pathology such as small vessel disease (SVD) and amyloid burden may be associated with the occurrence of early or late poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) or dementia (PSD), which affect not only stroke victims but also their families and even society. We reviewed the current concepts and understanding of the pathophysiology for PSCI/PSD and identified useful tools for the diagnosis and the prediction of PSCI in serological, CSF, and image characteristics. Then, we untangled their relationships with blood pressure (BP) and blood pressure variability (BPV), important but often overlooked risk factors for PSCI/PSD. Finally, we provided evidence for the modifying effects of BP and BPV on PSCI as well as pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions and life style modification for PSCI/PSD prevention and treatment.
Development of Optimized Vitrification Procedures Using Closed Carrier System to Improve the Survival and Developmental Competence of Vitrified Mouse Oocytes
Authors: Park Jae Kyun , Lee Ju Hee , Park Eun A , Lim Hyunjung J. , Lyu Sang Woo , Lee Woo Sik , Kim Jayeon , Song Haengseok
Published: July 2021

The open carrier system (OC) is used for vitrification due to its high efficiency in preserving female fertility, but concerns remain that it bears possible risks of cross-contamination. Closed carrier systems (CC) could be an alternative to the OC to increase safety. However, the viability and developmental competence of vitrified/warmed (VW) oocytes using the CC were significantly lower than with OC. We aimed to improve the efficiency of the CC. Metaphase II oocytes were collected from mice after superovulation and subjected to in vitro fertilization after vitrification/warming. Increasing the cooling/warming rate and exposure time to cryoprotectants as key parameters for the CC effectively improved the survival rate and developmental competence of VW oocytes. When all the conditions that improved the outcomes were applied to the conventional CC, hereafter named the modified vitrification/warming procedure using CC (mVW-CC), the viability and developmental competence of VW oocytes were significantly improved as compared to those of VW oocytes in the CC. Furthermore, mVW-CC increased the spindle normality of VW oocytes, as well as the cell number of blastocysts developed from VW oocytes. Collectively, our mVW-CC optimized for mouse oocytes can be utilized for humans without concerns regarding possible cross-contamination during vitrification in the future.
Habitual Sleep Duration and the Colonic Mucosa-Associated Gut Microbiota in Humans—A Pilot Study
Authors: Agrawal Ritwick , Ajami Nadim J. , Malhotra Sonal , Chen Liang , White Donna L. , Sharafkhaneh Amir , Hoffman Kristi L. , Graham David Y. , El-Serag Hashem B. , Petrosino Joseph F. , Jiao Li
Published: July 2021

We examined the association between the colonic adherent microbiota and nocturnal sleep duration in humans. In a cross-sectional study, 63 polyp-free adults underwent a colonoscopy and donated 206 mucosal biopsies. The gut microbiota was profiled using the 16S rRNA gene sequencing targeting the V4 region. The sequence reads were processed using UPARSE and DADA2, respectively. Lifestyle factors, including sleep habits, were obtained using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. We categorized the participants into short sleepers (<6 h per night; n = 16) and normal sleepers (6–8 h per night; n = 47) based on self-reported data. Differences in bacterial biodiversity and the taxonomic relative abundance were compared between short vs. normal sleepers, followed by multivariable analysis. A false discovery rate-adjusted p value (q value) < 0.05 indicated statistical significance. The bacterial community composition differed in short and normal sleepers. The relative abundance of Sutterella was significantly lower (0.38% vs. 1.25%) and that of Pseudomonas was significantly higher (0.14% vs. 0.08%) in short sleepers than in normal sleepers (q values < 0.01). The difference was confirmed in the multivariable analysis. Nocturnal sleep duration was associated with the bacterial community composition and structure in the colonic gut microbiota in adults.
Research on the Thermal Conductivity and Water Resistance of Foamed Phosphogypsum
Authors: Feng Liyu , Jin Kaikai , Wang Hui
Published: July 2021

Phosphogypsum is a kind of solid waste which pollutes the environment without reasonable treatment. The application of phosphogypsum in the field of building materials provides an ideal method to solve this problem. Meanwhile, the phosphogypsum mixed with foam can be used for the thermal insulation of wall materials. This paper aims to study the influence of foam volume and cement content on the thermal conductivity, water resistance coefficient and the mechanical strengths of foamed phosphogypsum. The volume of foam in this study ranged from 0% to 60%. Moreover, the influences of humidity and cement content on the mechanical strengths of phosphogypsum are investigated. Scanning electron microscope and the mercury intrusion porosimetry are used for the microscale research and analysis. Results indicate that the relationships between the parameters (thermal conductivity, water resistance coefficient and mechanical strengths) and foam volume fit well with a negatively correlated linear function. The addition of cement can improve the compactness of phosphogypsum and decrease the diameter and volume of pores. Therefore, the thermal conductivity, water resistance coefficient and mechanical strengths of phosphogypsum are increased by the addition of cement.
Wave Dispersion in One-Dimensional Nonlinear Local Resonance Phononic Crystals with Perturbation Method
Authors: Chen Yan , Li Gen , Sun Rujie , Chen Guoping
Published: July 2021

Nonlinear phononic crystals are receiving increasingly greater attention in the field of sound absorption and vibration reduction. In this paper, we use the perturbation method to investigate elastic wave propagation in one-dimensional discrete local resonance nonlinear phononic crystals. The nonlinear force on the inner resonator is expressed in the form of a linear part plus a cubic nonlinear fluctuation. By combining Bloch wave theory and the perturbation method, the nonlinear dispersion relation is obtained by a first-order approximate analytical solution. The results show that the band’s cut-off frequency is not only affected by the degree of nonlinearity but is closely related to the wave amplitude. In addition, the finite element method is used for comparison and verification. Finally, an application example of a wave filter is provided based on the nonlinear characteristics.
Legionella pneumophila—Epidemiology and Characterization of Clinical Isolates, Slovenia, 2006–2020
Authors: Keše Darja , Obreza Aljoša , Rojko Tereza , Kišek Tjaša Cerar
Published: July 2021

Legionella pneumophila is the causative agent of severe Legionnaires’ disease (LD). Although an increasing number of LD cases have been observed, published data from Slovenia are very limited and data on molecular epidemiology are even scarcer. The present retrospective study (2006–2020) reports the results of the microbiological diagnosis of LD, as well as the epidemiology and characterization of the Legionella clinical isolates. We tested urine samples from 15,540 patients with pneumonia symptoms for L. pneumophila infection by urine antigen test, of which 717 (4.6%) tested positive. Isolation of L. pneumophila was successfully performed from 88 clinical specimens, with 82 (93.2%) being identified as L. pneumophila sg 1 and six (6.8%) as L. pneumophila sg 2–14. Sequence-based typing (SBT) identified 33 different sequence types (STs), the most frequent being ST1 and ST23. Sequence type 1 mainly comprised isolates belonging to the Philadelphia subgroup, and ST23 mostly to Allentown/France. The standard SBT scheme, as well as Dresden phenotyping for L. pneumophila, presented a high diversity among isolates.
Imaging and Biochemical Markers for Osteoarthritis
Authors: Antony Benny , Singh Ambrish
Published: July 2021

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis in adults that affects more than 500 million people globally [...]
A Routing Query Algorithm Based on Time-Varying Relationship Group in Opportunistic Social Networks
Authors: Dong Yihan , Chang Liu , Luo Jingwen , Wu Jia
Published: July 2021

With the fast development of IoT and 5G technologies, opportunity social networks composed of portable mobile devices have become a hot research topic in recent years. However, arbitrary node movement in opportunity networks and the absence of end-to-end pathways make node communication unstable. At the same time, the problem of ignoring human social preferences and relying on wrong message relay nodes lead to a low data transmission rate and high network overhead. Based on the above issues, we propose a time-varying relationship groups-based routing query algorithm for mobile opportunity networks (Time-varying Relationship Groups, TVRGs). Firstly, we construct the relationship groups based on the time-varying characteristics according to the intimacy between users. Secondly, we calculate the importance of nodes by their connectivity time and communication frequency. Finally, we find the suitable message relay nodes according to the similarity of node weights and their action trajectories and design the routing query algorithm accordingly. The simulation results show that the algorithm can vastly improve the message query success rate, effectively improve the data transmission efficiency, and reduce the average delay and system overhead compared with the existing routing algorithms.
Optimal Coupler Topology for Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer for Electric Vehicle
Authors: Kadem Karim , Bensetti Mohamed , Le Bihan Yann , Labouré Eric , Debbou Mustapha
Published: July 2021

Recently, the number of electric vehicles (EVs) is increasing due to the decline of oil resources and the rising of greenhouse gas emissions. However, EVs have not received full acceptance by consumers due to the limitations of the stored energy and charging problems. The dynamic or in-motion charging solution has become a suitable choice to solve the battery-related issues. Many researchers and vehicle manufacturers are working to develop an efficient charging system for EVs. In order to improve the efficiency of the dynamic wireless power transfer (DWPT), the electromagnetic coupling coefficient between the two parts of the coupler must be maximized. This paper was dedicated to find the optimal topology of a magnetic coupler with the best coupling factor while taking in consideration the displacement and the misalignment of the EV. The article is introduced by developing a methodology for characterizing the electrical parameters of couplers, followed by a comparative study of different forms of coils suitable for dynamic charging of electric vehicles. The particularity of the proposed study concerned the overall dimensions, or the areas occupied by the windings of the coils remaining the same for all the chosen shapes and corresponding to the surface that is actually available under the EV. Simulation and experimental tests were carried out to validate the proposed study.
Addition of Honey to an Apple and Passion Fruit Mixed Beverage Improves Its Phenolic Compound Profile
Authors: Leite Iris Batista , Magalhães Carolina Duque , Monteiro Mariana , Fialho Eliane
Published: July 2021

The addition of honey to mixed beverages is interesting due to its contribution to the sweet taste, as well as because it is a dietary source of bioactive compounds. In this study, we investigated the chemical composition and sensory acceptance of an apple and passion fruit mixed beverage with added honey. The addition of honey did not produce a noticeable change in instrumental color but led to an increase in total soluble solids contents, and FRAP (20%), TEAC (72%), and DPPH (62%) values. The honey mixed beverages exhibited a better phenolic compound profile with an increase in catechin contents and an enrichment of quercetin when compared to the control mixed beverage, as well presenting good sensory acceptance. In conclusion, our results show that the addition of honey can be an alternative for improving the nutritional and sensorial characteristics of an apple and passion fruit mixed beverage.
Effect of Dietary Seaweed Supplementation in Cows on Milk Macrominerals, Trace Elements and Heavy Metal Concentrations
Authors: Newton Eric E. , Pétursdóttir Ásta H. , Ríkharðsson Gunnar , Beaumal Corentin , Desnica Natasa , Giannakopoulou Konstantina , Juniper Darren , Ray Partha , Stergiadis Sokratis
Published: July 2021

This study investigated the effect of seaweed supplementation in dairy cow diets on milk yield, basic composition, and mineral concentrations. Thirty-seven Icelandic cows were split into three diet treatments: control (CON, no seaweed), low seaweed (LSW, 0.75% concentrate dry matter (DM), 13–40 g/cow/day), and high seaweed (HSW, 1.5% concentrate DM, 26–158 g/cow/day). Cows were fed the same basal diet of grass silage and concentrate for a week, and then were introduced to the assigned experimental diets for 6 weeks. The seaweed mix of 91% Ascophyllum nodosum: 9% Laminaria digitata (DM basis), feed, and milk samples were collected weekly. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed effects model, with diet, week, and their interaction as fixed factors, cow ID as random factor, and the pre-treatment week data as a covariate. When compared with CON milk, LSW and HSW milk had, respectively, less Se (−1.4 and −3.1 μg/kg milk) and more I (+744 and +1649 μg/kg milk), while HSW milk also had less Cu (−11.6 μg/kg milk) and more As (+0.17 μg/kg milk) than CON milk. The minimal changes or concentrations in milk for Se, Cu, and As cannot be associated with any effects on consumer nutrition, but care should be taken when I-rich seaweed is fed to cows to avoid excessive animal I supply and milk I concentrations.