bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
REPRESENTASI CYBER SOCIETY DALAM FILM “SEARCHING”
Authors: Kharisma Rikha Ayu Minda , Zulfiningrum Rahmawati
Published: October 2020

AbstrakMasyarakat  cyber merupakan  salah satu bentuk penciptaan  budaya baru yang disebabkan  oleh perkembangan  teknologi informasi dan komunikasi. Teknologi saat ini memiliki banyak manfaat untuk membantu masyarakat dalam menyelesaikan  aktivitas  rutinnya,  dimana  digitalisasi  telah  terjadi  di  berbagai bidang dan menjadi kebiasaan baru masyarakat. Searching, salah satu film yang diproduksi tahun 2018 ini mengisahkan fenomena teknologi. Film tersebut menggambarkan bahwa menemukan orang hilang dengan rekam jejak digital adalah mungkin dan bisa menjadi jalan keluarnya. Lebih jauh, film ini tidak hanya menampilkan dampak positif dari teknologi tetapi juga menyuguhkan sisi negatifnya.  Penelitian  ini bertujuan  untuk mengetahui representasi  masyarakat cyber dalam film Searching. Peneliti menggunakan  metode penelitian deskriptif kualitatif dengan model analisis semiotika Roland Barthes. Teori dalam penelitian ini menggunakan  Teori Representasi  Stuart  Hall. Hasil penelitian  menunjukkan bahwa terdapat lima representasi  dari masyarakat cyber. Pertama,  komunikasi yang menggunakan  media aplikasi. Kedua, menciptakan  identitas baru di dunia maya.   Ketiga,   menggunakan  website   untuk   mencari   informasi.   Keempat, kebebasan berpendapat di dunia maya, dan yang terakhir adalah kecanduan internet. Masyarakat  perlu meningkatkan  kesadaran  akan dampak penggunaan teknologi agar bisa hidup bijak di era digital.  Kata kunci: Film searching, Masyarakat cyber, Representasi, Semiotika, Teknologi AbstractThe cyber society is a form of creating a new culture caused by the development of information and communication technology. Nowadays, technology bring the advantages to help people accomplished  their routine activities, where digitalization  has  occurred  in  various  fields  and  has  become a new  habit  for society. Searching, one of the movies that produce in 2018 is portray the phenomenon  of technology.  The film described  that finding the missing people with a digital track record is possible and could be the way out. Furthermore, this film not only show the positive impact of technology but also state the negative side. This study aims to determine the representations of cyber society in film title Searching. The researcher uses qualitative descriptive method research with semiotics of Roland  Barthes  analysis  model.  The theory  in  this  study uses the theory  representation  of  Stuart  Hall.  The  results  showed  that  there  are  five representations of cyber society. First, communication  using media applications. Second,  creating  a new  identity  in cyberspace.  Third,  use  the  website  to  find information.  Fourth,  freedom  of speech  in cyberspace,  and the last is internet addiction.   The  public  needs  to  increase  the  awareness  for  the  impacts  of technology uses in order to live wisely in the digital era.Keywords: Cyber society, Representation, Searching movie, Semiotic, Technology
Temperature proximal-to-distal dorsal hand gradient as a thermography signs of altered glucose metabolism. Variations and perspective to use
Authors: Dolgov I. M. , Volovik M. G.
Published: October 2020

Aim. To evaluate the temperature proximal-to-distal dorsalhand gradient (PDG) in patients with altered glucose metabolism.

Methods. Analyzed 120 patients with altered glucose metabolism, divided to three groups: group 1 — abnormal glucose tolerance test (R73) and type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications (E11.9) — 50 pts, 30 m/20 f, mean age 61,5 ± 11,1), group 2 — Type 1 diabetes mellitus [Е10] — 25 pts, 7 m/18 f, mean age 44,4 ± 13,1); group 3 — type 2 diabetes mellitus with multiple complications [Е11.7] and type 2 diabetes mellitus with unspecified complications [Е11.8] — 45 pts, 14 m /31 f., mean age 62,2 ± 10,8). Thermal images were shoot by Russian made thermography camera TVS–300med, 388 x 360 pix, sensitivity 0,03℃. PDG calculated as a difference between mean temp of proximal and distal phalanges of 2–5 fingers and estimated for right or left hand separately.

Results. Two thermography signs were observed: «inverted» PDG, when temperature of distal phalanges is higher than proximal and founded more often in group 1 and «false normal», when temperature of proximal phalanges is higher than distal, and name in this manner, because founded more often in «complicated» groups 2 and 3. Analysis confirmed that group 1 and group 3 pts significantly differed in mean PDG value (p<0,05).

Conclusion. Our results show that thermography examination pointed out variety of dorsal hand signs for altered glucose metabolism and significant difference in mean PDG value for group 1 and 3. Therefore infrared thermography could be suggested as an objective tool for screening and monitoring of disease.
Oncology and Pharmacogenomics Insights in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: An Integrative Analysis
Authors: Yumiceba Verónica , López-Cortés Andrés , Pérez-Villa Andy , Yumiseba Iván , Guerrero Santiago , García-Cárdenas Jennyfer M. , Armendáriz-Castillo Isaac , Guevara-Ramírez Patricia , Leone Paola E. , Zambrano Ana Karina , Paz-y-Miño César
Published: October 2020

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous endocrine disorder characterized by hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, and polycystic ovaries. Epidemiological findings revealed that women with PCOS are prone to develop certain cancer types due to their shared metabolic and endocrine abnormalities. However, the mechanism that relates PCOS and oncogenesis has not been addressed. Herein, in this review article the genomic status, transcriptional and protein profiles of 264 strongly PCOS related genes (PRG) were evaluated in endometrial cancer (EC), ovarian cancer (OV) and breast cancer (BC) exploring oncogenic databases. The genomic alterations of PRG were significantly higher when compared with a set of non-diseases genes in all cancer types.PTENhad the highest number of mutations in EC,TP53, in OC, andFSHR, in BC. Based on clinical data, women older than 50 years and Black or African American females carried the highest ratio of genomic alterations among all cancer types. The most altered signaling pathways were p53 in EC and OC, while Fc epsilon RI in BC. After evaluating PRG in normal and cancer tissue, downregulation of the differentially expressed genes was a common feature. Less than 30 proteins were up and downregulated in all cancer contexts. We identified 36 highly altered genes, among them 10 were shared between the three cancer types analyzed, which are involved in the cell proliferation regulation, response to hormone and to endogenous stimulus. Despite limited PCOS pharmacogenomics studies, 10 SNPs are reported to be associated with drug response. All were missense mutations, except for rs8111699, an intronic variant characterized as a regulatory element and presumably binding site for transcription factors. In conclusion,in silicoanalysis revealed key genes that might participate in PCOS and oncogenesis, which could aid in early cancer diagnosis. Pharmacogenomics efforts have implicated SNPs in drug response, yet still remain to be found.
RETRACTED: OGT-Mediated KEAP1 Glycosylation Accelerates NRF2 Degradation Leading to High Phosphate-Induced Vascular Calcification in Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Xu Tian-Hua , Du Yinke , Sheng Zitong , Li Yue , Qiu Xiaobo , Tian Binyao , Yao Li
Published: October 2020

Unraveling the complex regulatory pathways that mediate the effects of phosphate on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) may provide novel targets and therapies to limit the destructive effects of vascular calcification (VC) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Our previous studies have highlighted several signaling networks associated with VSMC autophagy, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Thereafter, the current study was performed to characterize the functional relevance of O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) transferase (OGT) in high phosphate-induced VC in CKD settings. We generated VC models in 5/6 nephrectomized rats in vivo and VSMC calcification models in vitro. Artificial modulation of OGT (knockdown and overexpression) was performed to explore the role of OGT in VSMC autophagy and VC in thoracic aorta, and in vivo experiments were used to substantiate in vitro findings. Mechanistically, co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay was performed to examine interaction between OGT and kelch like ECH associated protein 1 (KEAP1), and in vivo ubiquitination assay was performed to examine ubiquitination extent of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2). OGT was highly expressed in high phosphate-induced 5/6 nephrectomized rats and VSMCs. OGT silencing was shown to suppress high phosphate-induced calcification of VSMCs. OGT enhances KEAP1 glycosylation and thereby results in degradation and ubiquitination of NRF2, concurrently inhibiting VSMC autophagy to promote VSMC calcification in 5/6 nephrectomized rats. OGT inhibits VSMC autophagy through the KEAP1/NRF2 axis and thus accelerates high phosphate-induced VC in CKD.
Salud mental, experiencias negativas en la infancia y su impacto sobre la experiencia onirica
Authors: Parra Alejandro , Damián Silguero Víctor Hugo
Published: October 2020

Los sueños perturbadores son sueños vívidos caracterizados por emociones negativas intensas, y se encuentran entre los síntomas más frecuentes de las víctimas de trauma. Sus trastornos relacionados pueden persistir durante años e incluso décadas después del episodio traumático. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar si individuos que presentan más frecuentemente pesadillas o sueños de angustia han pasado por experiencias traumáticas en su infancia y su relación con rasgos psicopatológicos actuales. Se administraron tres instrumentos a una muestra de 446 adultos de la población general: el Cuestionario de Sueños, el Cuestionario de Experiencias Negativas en la Niñez; y una versión abreviada del Symptoms Assesment. El resultado muestra que los participantes presenta contenidos de sueños específicos, tales como a oír voces/músicas en sueños (88%), sueños lúcidos (79%), terror nocturno (64%), presencias malignas/demoníacas (61%), y sueños que repiten un evento traumático (40%). Los resultados también mostraron una correlación entre la frecuencia de experiencias oníricas y el maltrato parental (abuso emocional, sexual y físico) y una correlación positiva y significativa entre el recuerdo del sueño con propensión a síntomas de vulnerabilidad en salud mental, lo cual confirmó las dos hipótesis principales. Además, una diferencia de género mostró que los varones tendieron a tener mayor recuerdo del sueño en comparación con las mujeres, y las mujeres tendieron a mostrar sueños predominantemente más auditivos y terrores nocturnos en comparación con los varones.
Effect of Seed Priming with Potassium Nitrate on the Performance of Tomato
Authors: Moaaz Ali Muhammad , Javed Talha , Mauro Rosario Paolo , Shabbir Rubab , Afzal Irfan , Yousef Ahmed Fathy
Published: October 2020

The seed industry and farmers have challenges, which include the production of poor quality and non-certified tomato seed, which ultimately results in decreased crop production. The issue carefully demands pre-sowing treatments using exogenous chemical plant growth-promoting substances. Therefore, to mitigate the above-stated problem, a series of experiments were conducted to improve the quality of tomato seeds (two cultivars, i.e., “Sundar” and “Ahmar”) and to enhance the stand establishment, vigor, physiological, and biochemical attributes under growth chamber and greenhouse conditions by using potassium nitrate (KNO3) as a seed priming agent. Seeds were imbibed in 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0, and 1.25 KNO3 (weight/volume) for 24 h and then dried before experiments. The results of growth chamber and greenhouse screening show that experimental units receiving tomato seeds primed with 0.75% KNO3 in both cultivars performed better as compared to other concentrations and nonprimed control. Significant increase in final emergence (%), mean emergence time, and physiological attributes were observed with 0.75% KNO3. Collectively, the improved performance of tomato due to seed priming with 0.75% KNO3 was linked with higher activities of total soluble sugars and phenolics under growth chamber and greenhouse screening.
Feasibility of Moderate Deficit Irrigation as a Water Conservation Tool in California’s Low Desert Alfalfa
Authors: Montazar Ali , Bachie Oli , Corwin Dennis , Putnam Daniel
Published: October 2020

Irrigation management practices that reduce water use with acceptable impacts on yield are important strategies to cope with diminished water supplies and generate new sources of water to transfer for other agricultural uses, and urban and environmental demands. This study was intended to assess the effects of moderate water deficits, with the goal of maintaining robust alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) yields, while conserving on-farm water. Data collection and analysis were conducted at four commercial fields over an 18-month period in the Palo Verde Valley, California, from 2018–2020. A range of deficit irrigation strategies, applying 12.5–33% less irrigation water than farmers’ normal irrigation practices was evaluated, by eliminating one to three irrigation events during selected summer periods. The cumulative actual evapotranspiration measured using the residual of energy balance method across the experimental sites, ranged between 2,031 mm and 2.202 mm, over a 517-day period. An average of 1.7 and 1.0 Mg ha−1 dry matter yield reduction was observed under 33% and 22% less applied water, respectively, when compared to the farmers’ normal irrigation practice in silty loam soils. The mean dry matter yield decline varied from 0.4 to 0.9 Mg ha−1 in a clay soil and from 0.3 to 1.0 Mg ha−1 in a sandy loam soil, when irrigation water supply was reduced to 12.5% and 25% of normal irrigation levels, respectively. A wide range of conserved water (83 to 314 mm) was achieved following the deficit irrigation strategies. Salinity assessment indicated that salt buildup could be managed with subsequent normal irrigation practices, following deficit irrigations. Continuous soil moisture sensing verified that soil moisture was moderately depleted under deficit irrigation regimes, suggesting that farmers might confidently refill the soil profile following normal practices. Stand density was not affected by these moderate water deficits. The proposed deficit irrigation strategies could provide a reliable amount of water and sustain the economic viability of alfalfa production. However, data from multiple seasons are required to fully understand the effectiveness as a water conservation tool and the long-term impacts on the resilience of agricultural systems.
Severe Drought in the Spring of 2020 in Poland—More of the Same?
Authors: Pińskwar Iwona , Choryński Adam , Kundzewicz Zbigniew W.
Published: October 2020

Two consecutive dry years, 2018 and 2019, a warm winter in 2019/20, and a very dry spring in 2020 led to the development of severe drought in Poland. In this paper, changes in the Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) for the interval from 1971 to the end of May 2020 are examined. The values of SPEI (based on 12, 24 and 30 month windows, i.e., SPEI 12, SPEI 24 and SPEI 30) were calculated with the help of the Penman–Monteith equation. Changes in soil moisture contents were also examined from January 2000 to May 2020, based on data from the NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center, presenting increasing water shortages in a central belt of Poland. The study showed that the 2020 spring drought was among the most severe events in the analyzed period and presented decreasing trends of SPEI at most stations located in central Poland. This study also determined changes in soil moisture contents from January 2000 to May 2020 that indicate a decreasing tendency. Cumulative water shortages from year to year led to the development of severe drought in the spring of 2020, as reflected in very low SPEI values and low soil moisture.
Is It Possible to Replace Part of the Mineral Nitrogen Dose in Maize for Grain by Using Growth Activators and Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria?
Authors: Artyszak Arkadiusz , Gozdowski Dariusz
Published: October 2020

The European Green Deal presented by the European Commission aims to reduce nutrient losses by at least 50% while preventing the deterioration of soil fertility and reducing the use of fertilizers by at least 20% by 2030. Farmers in the EU must prepare for this. Studies carried out in several locations in Poland in 2017–2019 tested the possibility of replacing 30–40% of the dose of mineral nitrogen by Penergetic (K + P) growth activators alone and in combination with Azoter containing plant growth promoting rhizobacteria in the cultivation of maize for grain. It was confirmed that the two combinations allowed a higher yield of maize grain by 2.9% and 8.8%, respectively, compared to the full nitrogen dose. Positive changes in the content of some assimilable macro- and microelements and soil organic carbon (SOC), and an increase in soil pH, were also observed.
Data Lifecycle Management in Precision Agriculture Supported by Information and Communication Technology
Authors: Demestichas Konstantinos , Daskalakis Emmanouil
Published: October 2020

The role of agriculture in environmental degradation and climate change has been at the center of a long-lasting and controversial debate. This situation combined with the expected growth in crop demand and the increasing prices of fertilizers and pesticides has made the need for a more resource-efficient and environmentally sustainable agriculture more evident than ever. Precision agriculture (PA), as a relatively new farming management concept, aims to improve crop performance as well as to reduce the environmental footprint by utilizing information about the temporal and the spatial variability of crops. Information and communication technology (ICT) systems have influenced and shaped every part of modern life, and PA is no exception. The current paper conducts a literature review of prominent ICT solutions, focusing on their role in supporting different phases of the lifecycle of PA-related data. In addition to this, a data lifecycle model was developed as part of a novel categorization approach for the analyzed solutions.
RETRACTED: Wang et al. Effects of the Application of Biochar in Four Typical Agricultural Soils in China. Agronomy 2020, 10, 351
Authors: Wang Huanhuan , Ren Tianbao , Feng Yuqing , Liu Kouzhu , Feng Huilin , Liu Guoshun , Shi Hongzhi
Published: October 2020

The authors retract their recent published article [...]
Administering an Appeasing Substance to Gir × Holstein Female Dairy Calves on Pre-Weaning Performance and Disease Incidence
Authors: Angeli Beatriz , Cappellozza Bruno , Moraes Vasconcelos José Luiz , Cooke Reinaldo Fernandes
Published: October 2020

(1) Background: Ruminants often face stressful situations throughout their productive lives. More specifically, pre-weaning dairy calves are exposed to novel environments, feedstuffs, and pathogens that affect their health and performance. Hence, alternatives that reduce stress and promote growth of pre-weaning dairy calves are warranted. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of biweekly bovine appeasing substance (BAS) administration on performance and disease incidence in dairy Gir × Holstein female calves prior to weaning. (2) Methods: At birth, 140 female Gir × Holstein calves were randomly assigned to receive BAS (SecureCattle; (IRSEA Group, Quartier Salignan, France; n = 70) or placebo (BAS carrier, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether; CON; n = 70) biweekly until weaning (70 days of age). Calves were allocated into individual housing at random, with no physical contact between treatments to avoid cross-contamination. Experimental treatments (5 mL) were applied topically to the nuchal skin area of each calf. Throughout the experimental period, all animals were observed daily for medical conditions (diarrhea, pneumonia, and others), medical/pharmacological interventions were recorded, and the costs related to these procedures were analyzed. Concurrently with treatment application, calves were individually weighed, and data were analyzed using animal as the experimental unit. (3) Results: Treatment × day and treatment × period (14-day interval) interactions were observed for body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG; p ≤ 0.05), respectively. Calves receiving BAS had greater BW at weaning (p = 0.02) and tended to have a greater BW on day 56 (p = 0.06). Similarly, ADG was greater for BAS from days 42 to 56 (p = 0.04) and tended to be greater from days 56 to weaning (p = 0.10). No differences were observed on the overall occurrence of diseases (p = 0.92), whereas the most common observed diseases were diarrhea and pneumonia. The incidence and mean age at which animals were detected with these diseases did not differ (p ≥ 0.46). Nonetheless, CON calves detected with disease had a reduced ADG vs. BAS-administered counterparts (p < 0.01). No differences were observed between disease-diagnosed BAS vs. healthy CON, but healthy BAS had a greater ADG vs. healthy CON (p = 0.03). A treatment effect was observed for the cost per head of each pharmacological intervention (p = 0.05). (4) Conclusions: In summary, BAS administration at a 14-day interval improved performance and reduced the costs of pharmacological interventions of pre-weaning Gir × Holstein dairy calves.
The Relevance of Caseous Lymphadenitis as a Cause of Culling in Adult Sheep
Authors: Ruiz Héctor , Ferrer Luis Miguel , Ramos Juan José , Baselga Cristina , Alzuguren Oihane , Tejedor María Teresa , de Miguel Ricardo , Lacasta Delia
Published: October 2020

Four hundred and ninety-eight culled sheep received at the Ruminant Clinical Service of the Veterinary Faculty of Zaragoza, Spain, were examined in life and after humanitarian sacrifice in order to reach the final diagnosis of the cause of culling and to evaluate the presence of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) lesions. One hundred and forty-seven of the 498 studied animals (29.52%) showed CLA compatible lesions that were subsequently confirmed by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis isolation. One hundred and seven of the 147 CLA affected animals presenting the visceral clinical form of the disease (72.79%), while only 32 animals were affected by the superficial form (21.77%). In addition, eight animals were found to be affected in both the visceral and the superficial presentations (5.44%). Eighty-four of the 147 CLA-affected animals (57.14%) did not show any concurrent disease, considering, in this case, CLA the main cause of culling (84/498: 16.87%). In the superficial presentation, the retropharyngeal lymph node, as a sole lesion, was the most frequently affected (13/32: 40.63%). Further, in the visceral form of the disease, 85.06% of the affected animals had the lesions located in the respiratory system (91/107: 85.06%). CLA was revealed as an important cause of culling in sheep production.
Influence of Age and Immunostimulation on the Level of Toll-Like Receptor Gene (TLR3, 4, and 7) Expression in Foals
Authors: Migdał Anna , Migdał Łukasz , Oczkowicz Maria , Okólski Adam , Chełmońska-Soyta Anna
Published: October 2020

The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms leading to the identification of pathogens by congenital immune receptors in foals up to 60 days of age. The study was conducted on 16 foal Polish Pony Horses (Polish Konik) divided into two study groups: control (n = 9) and experimental (n = 7). Foals from the experimental group received an intramuscular duplicate injection of 5 mL of Biotropina (Biowet) at 35 and 40 days of age. The RNA isolated from venous blood was used to evaluate the expression of theTLR3, TLR4, and TLR7 genes using RT-PCR. The results of the experiment demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the level of TLR3 gene expression and a decrease in the level ofTLR4 gene expression with foal aging. The level of TLR7 gene expression did not show age dependence. Immunostimulation with Biotropina had a significant impact on the level of the genes’ expression for Toll-like receptors. It increased the level of TLR4 expression and decreased TLR3 expression. Thus, it was concluded that the expression of theTLR3 and TLR4genes in peripheral blood cells is dependent on age. This experiment demonstrated a strong negative correlation between TLR3 and TLR4 gene expression.
Complement System: Promoter or Suppressor of Cancer Progression?
Authors: Revel Margot , Daugan Marie , Sautés-Fridman Catherine , Fridman Wolf , Roumenina Lubka
Published: October 2020

Constituent of innate immunity, complement is present in the tumor microenvironment. The functions of complement include clearance of pathogens and maintenance of homeostasis, and as such could contribute to an anti-tumoral role in the context of certain cancers. However, multiple lines of evidence show that in many cancers, complement has pro-tumoral actions. The large number of complement molecules (over 30), the diversity of their functions (related or not to the complement cascade), and the variety of cancer types make the complement-cancer topic a very complex matter that has just started to be unraveled. With this review we highlight the context-dependent role of complement in cancer. Recent studies revealed that depending of the cancer type, complement can be pro or anti-tumoral and, even for the same type of cancer, different models presented opposite effects. We aim to clarify the current knowledge of the role of complement in human cancers and the insights from mouse models. Using our classification of human cancers based on the prognostic impact of the overexpression of complement genes, we emphasize the strong potential for therapeutic targeting the complement system in selected subgroups of cancer patients.
Characterization and Therapeutic Potential of Bacteriophage-Encoded Polysaccharide Depolymerases with β Galactosidase Activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae K57 Capsular Type
Authors: V. Volozhantsev Nikolay , M. Shpirt Anna , I. Borzilov Alexander , V. Komisarova Ekaterina , M. Krasilnikova Valentina , S. Shashkov Alexander , V. Verevkin Vladimir , A. Knirel Yuriy
Published: October 2020

Bacteriophages and phage enzymes are considered as possible alternatives to antibiotics in the treatment of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Due to the ability to cleave the capsular polysaccharides (CPS), one of the main virulence factors of Klebsiella pneumoniae, phage depolymerases, has potential in the treatment of K. pneumoniae infections. Here, we characterized in vivo two novel phage-encoded polysaccharide depolymerases as therapeutics against clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae. The depolymerases Dep_kpv79 and Dep_kpv767 encoded by Klebsiella phages KpV79 (Myoviridae; Jedunavirus) and KpV767 (Autographiviridae, Studiervirinae, Przondovirus), respectively, were identified as specific β-galactosidases that cleave the K. pneumoniae K57 type CPS by the hydrolytic mechanism. They were found to be highly effective at combating sepsis and hip infection caused by K. pneumoniae in lethal mouse models. Here, 80–100% of animals were protected against death by a single dose (e.g., 50 μg/mouse) of the enzyme injected 0.5 h after infection by K. pneumoniae strains of the K57 capsular type. The therapeutic effect of the depolymerases is because they strip the capsule and expose the underlying bacterium to the immune attack such as complement-mediated killing. These data provide one more confirmation that phage polysaccharide depolymerases represent a promising tool for antimicrobial therapy.
Short- vs. Long-Course Antibiotic Treatment for Acute Streptococcal Pharyngitis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Holm Anna Engell , Llor Carl , Bjerrum Lars , Cordoba Gloria
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effectiveness of short courses of antibiotic therapy for patients with acute streptococcal pharyngitis. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials comparing short-course antibiotic therapy (≤5 days) with long-course antibiotic therapy (≥7 days) for patients with streptococcal pharyngitis were included. Two primary outcomes: early clinical cure and early bacterial eradication. RESULTS: Fifty randomized clinical trials were included. Overall, short-course antibiotic treatment was as effective as long-course antibiotic treatment for early clinical cure (odds ratio (OR) 0.85; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79 to 1.15). Subgroup analysis showed that short-course penicillin was less effective for early clinical cure (OR 0.43; 95% CI, 0.23 to 0.82) and bacteriological eradication (OR 0.34; 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.61) in comparison to long-course penicillin. Short-course macrolides were equally effective, compared to long-course penicillin. Finally, short-course cephalosporin was more effective for early clinical cure (OR 1.48; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.96) and early microbiological cure (OR 1.60; 95% CI, 1.13 to 2.27) in comparison to long-course penicillin. In total, 1211 (17.7%) participants assigned to short-course antibiotic therapy, and 893 (12.3%) cases assigned to long-course, developed adverse events (OR 1.35; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.68). CONCLUSIONS: Macrolides and cephalosporins belong to the list of “Highest Priority Critically Important Antimicrobials”; hence, long-course penicillin V should remain as the first line antibiotic for the management of patients with streptococcal pharyngitis as far as the benefits of using these two types of antibiotics do not outweigh the harms of their unnecessary use.
A Mechanistic Review of β-Carotene, Lutein, and Zeaxanthin in Eye Health and Disease
Authors: Johra Fatima Tuj , Bepari Asim Kumar , Bristy Anika Tabassum , Reza Hasan Mahmud
Published: October 2020

Carotenoids are natural lipid-soluble antioxidants abundantly found as colorful pigments in fruits and vegetables. At least 600 carotenoids occur naturally, although about 20 of them, including β-carotene, α-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, meso-zeaxanthin, and cryptoxanthin, are detectable in the human blood. They have distinct physiological and pathophysiological functions ranging from fetal development to adult homeostasis. β-carotene is a precursor of vitamin A that essentially functions in many biological processes including vision. The human macula lutea and eye lens are rich in lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin, collectively known as macular xanthophylls, which help maintain eye health and prevent ophthalmic diseases. Ocular carotenoids absorb light from the visible region (400–500 nm wavelength), enabling them to protect the retina and lens from potential photochemical damage induced by light exposure. These natural antioxidants also aid in quenching free radicals produced by complex physiological reactions and, consequently, protect the eye from oxidative stress, apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation. This review discusses the protective mechanisms of macular xanthophylls in preventing eye diseases such as cataract, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. Moreover, some preclinical animal studies and some clinical trials are discussed briefly to understand carotenoid safety and efficacy.
The Impact of Internal Insulation on Heat Transport through the Wall: Case Study
Authors: Krause Paweł , Nowoświat Artur , Pawłowski Krzysztof
Published: October 2020

This paper presents a case study on how to improve the energy efficiency of an institutional building of significant heritage value through retrofitting the external wall system. This building is located in Upper Silesia, Poland. Due to the architectural value of the facade, thermal insulation had to be applied from the inside. As part of this publication, basing on the measurements and simulations, the authors present the results involving the improvement of energy efficiency of the insulated wall. On this basis, they also demonstrate the impact of insulation from the inside on the change of humidity inside the room. The tests were carried out both quantitatively by means of heat flux measurement and qualitatively by means of infrared temperature measurement. The research was supported by numerical modeling. The obtained results indicate that the thermal insulation used in the form of mineral insulation boards applied from the inside improves thermal insulation of the wall. Thus, heat losses through the examined envelope were limited. Computer simulations indicated that no condensation may occur under the condition considered.
An Assessment of Smart Factories in Korea: An Exploratory Empirical Investigation
Authors: Ko Minjae , Kim Chul , Lee Seunghoon , Cho Yongju
Published: October 2020

After the Industry 4.0 discussion in Germany in 2011, much attention has been paid to smart factory in Korea. Since 2014, smart factories have been established and expanded in Korea. However, about 80% of them were established at a low level. In this paper, we analyze smart factory statuses in detail through an empirical research on 113 manufacturing companies that have established smart factories in Korea. We build a framework based on the resource-based view (RBV) and IT value creation process and analyze the results of five constructs—manufacturing strategy, organization, system, process, and performance—using basic statistical methodologies to derive the current statuses of manufacturing companies that have established smart factories. Our results show that implementing advanced technologies such as AI technology that can implement semi-finished and finished product quality inspection, manufacturing process optimization and product demand forecast is a challenge, particularly for SMEs. We also find that securing and managing facility data is a difficult problem. In addition, while output and material management ranked high, the utilization of integration systems, which is important when building a smart factory, was found to be extremely low. Lastly, the performance indicator results showed that yield management and defect rate were most important, while job creation through the introduction of smart factories was low. Based on the results of this study, the government may be able to determine effective smart factory policies and provide manufacturing companies with a guide on establishing a smart factory.
Estimation of the Energy Consumption of the Rice and Corn Drying Process in the Equatorial Zone
Authors: Delgado-Plaza Emérita , Quilambaqui Miguel , Peralta-Jaramillo Juan , Apolo Hector , Velázquez-Martí Borja
Published: October 2020

Drying is considered one of the industrial processes that requires more energy than other processes, being a topic of much interest to the agricultural sector, especially the evaluation of energy consumption for rice and corn dryers. To meet this goal, an overview survey matrix and protocols for temperature measurements of dryers were developed. The study evaluated 49 rice dryers and 14 yellow corn dryers. As a result, it was determined that the oversizing of the fan/extractor and the dryer engine generates a high energy consumption, added to the lack of insulation in the heat ducts. Therefore, the drying productivity index is very low in dryers using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) being 0.14 dollar/quintal for rice and 0.27 dollar/quintal for corn and using biomass reaches 1.4 dollars/quintal. In relation to energy losses, these account for more than 55%. Inadequate energy management in drying processes directly influences the marketing chain of products, the losses of which are caused by fluctuations in the price of rice and corn on the domestic market, with the agricultural sector having to generate an energy efficiency plan.
Proxy Signature-Based Management Model of Sharing Energy Storage in Blockchain Environment
Authors: Wang Yiting , Qiu Weiqiang , Dong Ling , Zhou Wei , Pei You , Yang Li , Nian Heng , Lin Zhenzhi
Published: October 2020

Sharing energy storage (SES) is a novel business model in order to increase the profits and improve the utilization rate of idle energy storage facilities. On the other hand, blockchains can be competently applied in the transaction and operation of SES because of distributed network architecture, traceability and tamper proof. In this paper, a management model of SES based on proxy signatures in the blockchain environment is proposed. Many management models including the principal-agent model are analyzed for SES in terms of benefit, cost, resources, and so on. Moreover, a blockchain framework and a typical transaction process of SES is presented. Finally, a proxy signature mechanism based on the ElGamal algorithm is proposed in order to address the problem that the signature power of nodes cannot be transferred on blockchains. Simulation results show that the proposed proxy signature mechanism can achieve the delegation of digital signature power under the premise of security and reliability, which is suitable for the management model of SES on blockchains.
Research on Microhole Processing Technology Based on the Femtosecond-Laser Spiral Trepanning Method
Authors: Li Fengping , Feng Guang , Yang Xiaojun , Li Xiaogang , Ma Guang , Lu Chengji
Published: October 2020

Microholes have crucial applications in aerospace, the automotive industry, and other industries. In this study, the microhole processing technology based on the femtosecond-laser spiral trepanning method was investigated. By adjusting the spiral scanning path, laser power distribution, and defocusing amount to control laser energy distribution, an inverted cone hole, straight hole, and normal cone hole were obtained finally. The morphology and element of the microhole were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The experimental results of the femtosecond-laser spiral trepanning method could achieve fewer impurities. Finally, the formation mechanisms of different microholes are explained in detail. The method is simpler and more efficient than the traditional microhole processing technology. The femtosecond-laser spiral trepanning method with controllable hole roundness, accuracy, and taper has important practical significance in microhole processing.
The Continuous Intention of Older Adult in Virtual Reality Leisure Activities: Combining Sports Commitment Model and Theory of Planned Behavior
Authors: Jeng Mei-Yuan , Yeh Tsu-Ming , Pai Fan-Yun
Published: October 2020

Digital devices are being increasingly adopted for healthcare purposes. The present study investigates the continuous intention of older adults in virtual reality leisure activities by using a sports commitment model and the theory of planned behavior to develop a new planned behavior model, and by testing the model using a sample of 388 older adults following three months of firsthand experience. The results show that sports commitment has a positive influence on continuance intention, and subjective norms and perceived behavioral control are the strongest predictors of continuous intention in virtual reality leisure activities. Further, the participation of the older adults in virtual reality leisure activities requires strong support from society as well as friends and family in order to produce continued participation. Perceived behavioral control shows that when individuals have more resources and opportunities, they face fewer expected obstacles and have greater continuance intention. In addition, the present study demonstrates that attitude influences behavioral intentions.
Decomposition of Flavonols in the Presence of Saliva
Authors: Rogozinska Malgorzata , Biesaga Magdalena
Published: October 2020

In this study, the LC-MS/MS was applied to explore the stability of four common dietary flavonols, kaempferol, quercetin, isorhamnetin, and myricetin, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and saliva. In addition, the influence of saliva on the representative quercetin glycosides, rutin, quercitrin, hyperoside, and spiraeoside was examined. Our study showed that, regardless of the oxidative agent used, flavonols stability decreases with increasing B-ring substitution. The decomposition of analyzed compounds was based on their splitting by the opening the heterocyclic C-ring and realizing more simple aromatic compounds. The dead-end products corresponded to different benzoic acid derivatives derived from B-ring. Kaempferol, quercetin, isorhamnetin, and myricetin were transformed into 4-hydroxybeznoic acid, protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, and gallic acid, respectively. Additionally, for quercetin and myricetin, two intermediate depsides and 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzoic acid derived from A-ring were detected. All analyzed glycosides were resistant to hydrolysis in the presence of saliva. Based on our data, saliva was proven to be a next oxidative agent which leads to the formation of corresponding phenolic acids. Hence, studies on flavonols’ metabolism should take into consideration that the flavonols decomposition starts in the oral cavity; hence, in subsequent parts of the human digestive tract, they could be present not in their parent form but as phenolic acids. Further analyses of the influence of saliva on flavonols glycosides need to be performed due to the possible interindividual fluctuations.
Robust Deep Speaker Recognition: Learning Latent Representation with Joint Angular Margin Loss
Authors: Chowdhury Labib , Zunair Hasib , Mohammed Nabeel
Published: October 2020

Speaker identification is gaining popularity, with notable applications in security, automation, and authentication. For speaker identification, deep-convolutional-network-based approaches, such as SincNet, are used as an alternative to i-vectors. Convolution performed by parameterized sinc functions in SincNet demonstrated superior results in this area. This system optimizes softmax loss, which is integrated in the classification layer that is responsible for making predictions. Since the nature of this loss is only to increase interclass distance, it is not always an optimal design choice for biometric-authentication tasks such as face and speaker recognition. To overcome the aforementioned issues, this study proposes a family of models that improve upon the state-of-the-art SincNet model. Proposed models AF-SincNet, Ensemble-SincNet, and ALL-SincNet serve as a potential successor to the successful SincNet model. The proposed models are compared on a number of speaker-recognition datasets, such as TIMIT and LibriSpeech, with their own unique challenges. Performance improvements are demonstrated compared to competitive baselines. In interdataset evaluation, the best reported model not only consistently outperformed the baselines and current prior models, but also generalized well on unseen and diverse tasks such as Bengali speaker recognition.
Allergic Rhinitis: Association with Air Pollution and Weather Changes, and Comparison with That of Allergic Conjunctivitis in Taiwan
Authors: Hsieh Shuo-Ping , Hsieh Chia-Jung , Tseng Chun-Chieh , Yiin Lih-Ming
Published: October 2020

Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) and rhinitis (AR) are common allergic diseases that may be environmentally related. We used a systematic sampling cohort database, which was applied in an AC study previously, to examine the association of AR with air pollution and weather changes. A case-crossover design coupled with conditional logistic analysis was implemented in the analysis; we identified 140,365 eligible AR subjects, and matched their diagnoses with environmental monitoring data. Unlike AC, the descriptive statistics indicated that AR occurred the most in adults under 50 years old by age (44.7%), and in winter by season (28.7%) (p < 0.001); similar to AC, AR occurred more in women than to men. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was found to be positively associated with AR (p < 0.001), whereas relative humidity and temperature were negatively related (p < 0.001). We found that the risk of AR increased with descending NO2 levels relative to AC (OR = 0.984, p = 0.003) after adjustment for covariates. It is suggested that AR could be triggered or exacerbated by lower levels of NO2 than is AC. We recommend that AR patients pay extra attention to air pollution and mitigate their allergic problem accordingly.
Poly(ε-Caprolactone) Resorbable Auxetic Designed Knitted Scaffolds for Craniofacial Skeletal Muscle Regeneration
Authors: Deshpande Monica V. , West Andre J. , Bernacki Susan H. , Luan Kun , King Martin W.
Published: October 2020

Craniofacial microsomia is a congenital deformity caused by asymmetric development of the skull (cranium) and face before birth. Current treatments include corrective surgery and replacement of the deformed structure using autograft tissue, which results in donor site morbidity. An alternative therapy can be achieved by developing a resorbable scaffold for skeletal muscle regeneration which will help restore the symmetry and function of the facial muscles and reduce donor site morbidity. Two resorbable weft knitted scaffolds were fabricated using poly(ε-caprolactone) multifilament yarns with unique auxetic design structures possessing negative Poisson’s ratio (NPR). These scaffolds exhibit their NPR elasticity through an increase in total volume as well as no lateral narrowing when stretched longitudinally, which can provide orientated mechanical supports to the cell growth of skeletal muscle regeneration. These scaffolds were evaluated for the required physical properties, mechanical performance and biocompatibility by culturing them with neonatal human dermal fibroblasts so as to determine their cell metabolic activity, cell attachment and proliferation. This study can facilitate the understanding and engineering of textile-based scaffolds for tissues/organs. The work also paves a pathway to emerge the NPR textiles into tissue engineering, which has an extensive potential for biomedical end-uses.
A Novel Biomarker Driving Poor-Prognosis Liver Cancer: Overexpression of the Mitochondrial Calcium Gatekeepers
Authors: Li Chia-Jung , Lin Hung-Yu , Ko Chih-Jan , Lai Ji-Ching , Chu Pei-Yi
Published: October 2020

Several studies have indicated the biological role of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake in cancer pathophysiology; however, its implications in predicting the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are not yet fully understood. Here, we collected tumor specimens and adjacent normal liver tissues from 354 confirmed HCC patients and analyzed the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) responsive element binding protein 1 (CREB), mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU), mitochondrial calcium uptake 1 and 2 (MICU1, MICU2) using bioinformatics, qRT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry (IHC), and their relationship with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis. HCC patients with low CREB/MICU1 and high MCU/MICU2 expression exhibited poor survival rate and prognosis in overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) analyses. Low CREB/MICU1 and low MICU1 alone indicated poor prognosis in stage I/II and III/IV patients, respectively. In the poor differentiation/undifferentiation group, low expression of MICU1 indicated poor clinical outcomes. Low CREB/MICU1 expression suggested poor outcomes in patients with or without hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and poor prognosis in the HCV infection group. In the non- hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection group, low MCU1 indicated a poor prognosis. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that CREB and MICU1 expression showed prognostic significance. This study demonstrates the prognostic significance of CREB, MCU, MICU1, and MICU2, in predicting HCC outcomes. Low CREB/MICU1 and high MCU/MICU2 in HCC tissues are associated with poor prognosis, thus offering a novel perspective in the clinical management for HCC patients.