bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Naringenin Nano-Delivery Systems and Their Therapeutic Applications
Authors: Bhia Mohammed , Motallebi Mahzad , Abadi Banafshe , Zarepour Atefeh , Pereira-Silva Miguel , Saremnejad Farinaz , Santos Ana Cláudia , Zarrabi Ali , Melero Ana , Jafari Seid Mahdi , Shakibaei Mehdi
Published: February 2021

Naringenin (NRG) is a polyphenolic phytochemical belonging to the class of flavanones and is widely distributed in citrus fruits and some other fruits such as bergamot, tomatoes, cocoa, and cherries. NRG presents several interesting pharmacological properties, such as anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the therapeutic potential of NRG is hampered due to its hydrophobic nature, which leads to poor bioavailability. Here, we review a wide range of nanocarriers that have been used as delivery systems for NRG, including polymeric nanoparticles, micelles, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), nanosuspensions, and nanoemulsions. These nanomedicine formulations of NRG have been applied as a potential treatment for several diseases, using a wide range of in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models and different routes of administration. From this review, it can be concluded that NRG is a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of various diseases such as cancer, neurological disorders, liver diseases, ocular disorders, inflammatory diseases, skin diseases, and diabetes when formulated in the appropriate nanocarriers.
Acceptability of a Sublingual Drug Formulation for Respiratory Tract Infections in Children Aged 3 to 5 Years
Authors: Emeryk Andrzej , Vallet Thibault , Wawryk-Gawda Ewelina , Jędrzejewski Arkadiusz , Durmont Frederic , Ruiz Fabrice
Published: February 2021

In pediatrics, acceptability has emerged as a key factor for compliance, and consequently for treatment safety and efficacy. Polyvalent mechanical bacterial lysate (PMBL) in 50-mg sublingual tablets is indicated in children and adults for the prophylaxis of recurrent respiratory tract infections. This medication may be prescribed in children over 3 years of age; the appropriateness of this sublingual formulation should thus be demonstrated amongst young children. Using a multivariate approach integrating the many aspects of acceptability, standardized observer reports were collected for medication intake over the course of treatment (days 1, 2, and 10) in 37 patients aged 3 to 5 years, and then analyzed in an intelligible model: the acceptability reference framework. According to this multidimensional model, 50-mg PMBL sublingual tablets were classified as “positively accepted” in children aged 3 to 5 years on all three days of evaluation. As the acceptability evaluation should be relative, we demonstrated that there was no significant difference between the acceptability of these sublingual tablets and a score reflecting the average acceptability of oral/buccal medicines in preschoolers. These results highlight that sublingual formulations could be appropriate for use in preschoolers.
Determination of Optic Axes by Corneal Topography among Italian, Brazilian, and Chinese Populations
Authors: Lopes Bernardo T. , Eliasy Ashkan , Elhalwagy Mohamed , Vinciguerra Riccardo , Bao Fangjun , Vinciguerra Paolo , Ambrósio Renato , Elsheikh Ahmed , Abass Ahmed
Published: February 2021

This study aims to describe a new universal method to identify the relative three-dimensional directions of visual, pupillary, and optical axes of the eye and the angles between them using topography elevation data. The method was validated in a large clinical cohort, and ethnical differences were recorded. Topography elevation data were collected from 1992 normal eyes of 966 healthy participants in Italy, Brazil, and China. The three main axes were defined as follows: optical axis (OA) was defined as the optimal path of light that passes through the ocular system without refraction. The pupillary axis (PA) line was defined using X and Y coordinates of the pupil centre with the chamber depth, in addition to the centre of a sphere fitted to the central 3 mm diameter of the cornea. The visual axis (VA) was taken by its best approximation, the coaxially sighted corneal light reflex. The alpha angle was measured between the VA and OA, and the kappa angle between the VA and PA. The average values of kappa and alpha angles were 3.41 ± 2.84 and 6.04 ± 2.43 in the Italian population, 2.6 ± 1.53 and 5.87 ± 2.3 in the Brazilian population, and 2.09 ± 1.22 and 3.85 ± 1.48 in the Chinese population.
Are Methanol-Derived Foliar Methyl Acetate Emissions a Tracer of Acetate-Mediated Drought Survival in Plants?
Authors: Dewhirst Rebecca A. , Lei Joseph , Afseth Cassandra A. , Castanha Cristina , Wistrom Christina M. , Mortimer Jenny C. , Jardine Kolby J.
Published: February 2021

Upregulation of acetate fermentation in plants has recently been described as an evolutionarily conserved drought survival strategy, with the amount of acetate produced directly correlating to survival. However, destructive measurements are required to evaluate acetate-linked drought responses, limiting the temporal and spatial scales that can be studied. Here, 13C-labeling studies with poplar (Populus trichocarpa) branches confirmed that methyl acetate is produced in plants from the acetate-linked acetylation of methanol. Methyl acetate emissions from detached leaves were strongly stimulated during desiccation, with total emissions decreasing with the leaf developmental stage. In addition, diurnal methyl acetate emissions from whole physiologically active poplar branches increased as a function of temperature, and light-dark transitions resulted in significant emission bursts lasting several hours. During experimental drought treatments of potted poplar saplings, light-dark methyl acetate emission bursts were eliminated while strong enhancements in methyl acetate emissions lasting > 6 days were observed with their initiation coinciding with the suppression of transpiration and photosynthesis. The results suggest that methyl acetate emissions represent a novel non-invasive tracer of acetate-mediated temperature and drought survival response in plants. The findings may have important implications for the future understanding of acetate-mediated drought responses to transcription, cellular metabolism, and hormone signaling, as well as its associated changes in carbon cycling and water use from individual plants to whole ecosystems.
Assessing the Involvement of Selected Phenotypes of Pseudomonas simiae PICF7 in Olive Root Colonization and Biological Control of Verticillium dahliae
Authors: Montes-Osuna Nuria , Gómez-Lama Cabanás Carmen , Valverde-Corredor Antonio , Berendsen Roeland L. , Prieto Pilar , Mercado-Blanco Jesús
Published: February 2021

Pseudomonas simiae PICF7 is an indigenous inhabitant of the olive (Olea europaea L.) rhizosphere/root endosphere and an effective biocontrol agent against Verticillium wilt of olive (VWO), caused by the soil-borne fungus Verticillium dahliae. This study aimed to evaluate the potential involvement of selected phenotypes of strain PICF7 in root colonization ability and VWO biocontrol. Therefore, a random transposon-insertion mutant bank of P. simiae PICF7 was screened for the loss of phenotypes likely involved in rhizosphere/soil persistence (copper resistance), root colonization (biofilm formation) and plant growth promotion (phytase activity). Transposon insertions in genes putatively coding for the transcriptional regulator CusR or the chemotaxis protein CheV were found to affect copper resistance, whereas an insertion in fleQ gene putatively encoding a flagellar regulatory protein hampered the ability to form a biofilm. However, these mutants displayed the same antagonistic effect against V. dahliae as the parental strain. Remarkably, two mutants impaired in biofilm formation were never found inside olive roots, whereas their ability to colonize the root exterior and to control VWO remained unaffected. Endophytic colonization of olive roots was unaltered in mutants impaired in copper resistance and phytase production. Results demonstrated that the phenotypes studied were irrelevant for VWO biocontrol.
Thermal Decomposition Mechanism of GIS Basin Insulator and Kinetic Parameters-Based Lifetime Prediction Methodology
Authors: Ren Peng , Li Qingmin , Liu Honglei , Li Yunpeng , Peng Peng , Xue Naifan
Published: February 2021

To reliably detect the latent defects and accurately evaluate the remaining life of gas insulated switchgear (GIS) basin insulators, more effective detection and characterization methods need to be explored. The study of pyrolysis kinetic parameters based on the intrinsic characteristics of materials provides a new way to solve this problem. First, an integral expression model of the reaction mechanism function with four parameters is proposed in this paper, which can represent various existing reaction mechanism functions with better universality and more application fields. Then, on the basis of the temperature transformation equation, an improved method for calculating the activation energy is presented, which shows higher computational accuracy than the existing methods. Further, based on a non-isothermal kinetic equation, the structure of the experimental function is given. It is a method for solving the pyrolysis reaction mechanism function of insulating materials, which can also be used to calculate the pre-exponential factor simultaneously. The thermogravimetric analysis experiment is carried out on a certain basin insulator sample at different heating rates. The pyrolysis kinetic state parameters, including the activation energy, reaction mechanism function and pre-exponential factor of the basin insulator, are calculated. Finally, the life prediction method of basin insulators is established, and the key factors affecting the life of insulators are discussed.
Free-Radical Photopolymerization of Acrylonitrile Grafted onto Epoxidized Natural Rubber
Authors: Whba Rawdah , Su’ait Mohd Sukor , Tian Khoon Lee , Ibrahim Salmiah , Mohamed Nor Sabirin , Ahmad Azizan
Published: February 2021

The exploitation of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) in electrochemical applications is approaching its limits because of its poor thermo-mechanical properties. These properties could be improved by chemical and/or physical modification, including grafting and/or crosslinking techniques. In this work, acrylonitrile (ACN) has been successfully grafted onto ENR- 25 by a radical photopolymerization technique. The effect of (ACN to ENR) mole ratios on chemical structure and interaction, thermo-mechanical behaviour and that related to the viscoelastic properties of the polymer was investigated. The existence of the –C≡N functional group at the end-product of ACN-g-ENR is confirmed by infrared (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses. An enhanced grafting efficiency (~57%) was obtained after ACN was grafted onto the isoprene unit of ENR- 25 and showing a significant improvement in thermal stability and dielectric properties. The viscoelastic behaviour of the sample analysis showed an increase of storage modulus up to 150 × 103 MPa and the temperature of glass transition (Tg) was between −40 and 10 °C. The loss modulus, relaxation process, and tan delta were also described. Overall, the ACN-g-ENR shows a distinctive improvement in characteristics compared to ENR and can be widely used in many applications where natural rubber is used but improved thermal and mechanical properties are required. Likewise, it may also be used in electronic applications, for example, as a polymer electrolyte in batteries or supercapacitor.
The EU Training Network for Resource Recovery through Enhanced Landfill Mining—A Review
Authors: Vollprecht Daniel , Machiels Lieven , Jones Peter Tom
Published: February 2021

The “European Union Training Network for Resource Recovery Through Enhanced Landfill Mining (NEW-MINE)” was a European research project conducted between 2016 and 2020 to investigate the exploration of and resource recovery from landfills as well as the processing of the excavated waste and the valorization of the obtained waste fractions using thermochemical processes. This project yielded more than 40 publications ranging from geophysics via mechanical process engineering to ceramics, which have not yet been discussed coherently in a review publication. This article summarizes and links the NEW-MINE publications and discusses their practical applicability in waste management systems. Within the NEW-MINE project in a first step concentrates of specific materials (e.g., metals, combustibles, inert materials) were produced which might be used as secondary raw materials. In a second step, recycled products (e.g., inorganic polymers, functional glass-ceramics) were produced from these concentrates at the lab scale. However, even if secondary raw materials or recycled products could be produced at a large scale, it remains unclear if they can compete with primary raw materials or products from primary raw materials. Given the ambitions of transition towards a more circular economy, economic incentives are required to make secondary raw materials or recycled products from enhanced landfill mining (ELFM) competitive in the market.
Promotional Effects of Rare-Earth Praseodymium (Pr) Modification over MCM-41 for Methyl Mercaptan Catalytic Decomposition
Authors: Cao Xiaohua , Lu Jichang , Zhao Yutong , Tian Rui , Zhang Wenjun , He Dedong , Luo Yongming
Published: February 2021

Praseodymium (Pr)-promoted MCM-41 catalyst was investigated for the catalytic decomposition of methyl mercaptan (CH3SH). Various characterization techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption–desorption, temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia (NH3-TPD) and carbon dioxide (CO2-TPD), hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), were carried out to analyze the physicochemical properties of material. XPS characterization results showed that praseodymium was presented on the modified catalyst in the form of praseodymium oxide species, which can react with coke deposit to prolong the catalytic stability until 120 h. Meanwhile, the strong acid sites were proved to be the main active center over the 10% Pr/MCM-41 catalyst by NH3-TPD results during the catalytic elimination of methyl mercaptan. The possible reaction mechanism was proposed by analyzing the product distribution results. The final products were mainly small-molecule products, such as methane (CH4) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Dimethyl sulfide (CH3SCH3) was a reaction intermediate during the reaction. Therefore, this work contributes to the understanding of the reaction process of catalytic decomposition methyl mercaptan and the design of anti-carbon deposition catalysts.
Landsat 8 OLI Broadband Albedo Validation in Antarctica and Greenland
Authors: Traversa Giacomo , Fugazza Davide , Senese Antonella , Frezzotti Massimo
Published: February 2021

The albedo is a fundamental component of the processes that govern the energy budget, and particularly important in the context of climate change. However, a satellite-based high-resolution (30 m) albedo product which can be used in the polar regions up to 82.5° latitude during the summer seasons is lacking. To cover this gap, in this study we calculate satellite-based broadband albedo from Landsat 8 OLI and validate it against broadband albedo measurements from in situ stations located on the Antarctic and Greenland icesheets. The model to derive the albedo from raw satellite data includes an atmospheric and topographic correction and conversion from narrow-band to broadband albedo, and at each step different options were taken into account, in order to provide the best combination of corrections. Results, after being cleaned from anomalous data, show a good agreement with in situ albedo measurements, with a mean absolute error between in situ and satellite albedo of 0.021, a root mean square error of 0.026, a standard deviation of 0.015, a correlation coefficient of 0.995 (p < 0.01) and a bias estimate of −0.005. Considering the structure of the model, it could be applied to data from previous sensors of the Landsat family and help construct a record to analyze albedo variations in the polar regions.
Development of a Wearable Mouth Guard Device for Monitoring Teeth Clenching during Exercise
Authors: Kinjo Rio , Wada Takahiro , Churei Hiroshi , Ohmi Takehiro , Hayashi Kairi , Yagishita Kazuyoshi , Uo Motohiro , Ueno Toshiaki
Published: February 2021

Teeth clenching during exercise is important for sports performance and health. Recently, several mouth guard (MG)-type wearable devices for exercise were studied because they do not disrupt the exercise. In this study, we developed a wearable MG device with force sensors on both sides of the maxillary first molars to monitor teeth clenching. The force sensor output increased linearly up to 70 N. In four simple occlusion tests, the trends exhibited by the outputs of the MG sensor were consistent with those of an electromyogram (EMG), and the MG device featured sufficient temporal resolution to measure the timing of teeth clenching. When the jaw moved, the MG sensor outputs depended on the sensor position. The MG sensor output from the teeth-grinding test agreed with the video-motion analysis results. It was comparatively difficult to use the EMG because it contained a significant noise level. Finally, the usefulness of the MG sensor was confirmed through an exercise tolerance test. This study indicated that the developed wearable MG device is useful for monitoring clenching timing and duration, and the degree of clenching during exercise, which can contribute to explaining the relationship between teeth clenching and sports performance.
A Contact-Mode Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Energy Harvesting from Marine Pipe Vibrations
Authors: Li Rui , Zhang He , Wang Li , Liu Guohua
Published: February 2021

Structural health monitoring is of great significance to ensure the safety of marine pipes, while powering the required monitoring sensors remains a problem because the ocean environment is not amenable to the traditional ways of providing an external power supply. However, mechanical energy due to the vortex-induced vibration of pipelines may be harvested to power those sensors, which is a convenient, economic and environmentally friendly way. We here exploit a contact-separation mode triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) to create an efficient energy harvester to transform the mechanical energy of vibrating pipes into electrical energy. The TENG device is composed of a tribo-pair of dielectric material films that is connected to a mass-spring base to guarantee the contact-separation motions of the tribo-pair. Experimental tests are conducted to demonstrate the output performance and long-term durability of the TENG device by attaching it to a sample pipe. A theoretical model for the energy harvesting system is developed for predicting the electrical output performance of the device. It is established that the normalized output power depends only on two compound variables with all typical factors taken into consideration simultaneously. The simple scale law is useful to reveal the underlying mechanism of the device and can guideline the optimization of the device based on multi-parameters analyses. The results here may provide references for designing contact-mode TENG energy harvesting devices based on the vibration of marine pipes and similar structures.
An Enhanced Plastic Optical Fiber-Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor with a Double-Sided Polished Structure
Authors: Liu Lian , Deng Shijie , Zheng Jie , Yuan Libo , Deng Hongchang , Teng Chuanxin
Published: February 2021

An enhanced plastic optical fiber (POF)-based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor is proposed by employing a double-sided polished structure. The sensor is fabricated by polishing two sides of the POF symmetrically along with the fiber axis, and a layer of Au film is deposited on each side of the polished region. The SPR can be excited on both polished surfaces with Au film coating, and the number of light reflections will be increased by using this structure. The simulation and experimental results show that the proposed sensor has an enhanced SPR effect. The visibility and full width at half maximum (FWHM) of spectrum can be improved for the high measured refractive index (RI). A sensitivity of 4284.8 nm/RIU is obtained for the double-sided POF-based SPR sensor when the measured liquid RI is 1.42. The proposed SPR sensor is easy fabrication and low cost, which can provide a larger measurement range and action area to the measured samples, and it has potential application prospects in the oil industry and biochemical sensing fields.
Sensors and Measurements for Unmanned Systems: An Overview
Authors: Balestrieri Eulalia , Daponte Pasquale , De Vito Luca , Lamonaca Francesco
Published: February 2021

The advance of technology has enabled the development of unmanned systems/vehicles used in the air, on the ground or on/in the water. The application range for these systems is continuously increasing, and unmanned platforms continue to be the subject of numerous studies and research contributions. This paper deals with the role of sensors and measurements in ensuring that unmanned systems work properly, meet the requirements of the target application, provide and increase their navigation capabilities, and suitably monitor and gain information on several physical quantities in the environment around them. Unmanned system types and the critical environmental factors affecting their performance are discussed. The measurements that these kinds of vehicles can carry out are presented and discussed, while also describing the most frequently used on-board sensor technologies, as well as their advantages and limitations. The paper provides some examples of sensor specifications related to some current applications, as well as describing the recent research contributions in the field.
The Kalimantan Forest Fires: An Actor Analysis Based on Supreme Court Documents in Indonesia
Authors: Purnomo Eko Priyo , Zahra Abitassha Az , Malawani Ajree Ducol , Anand Prathivadi
Published: February 2021

Forest fires in Indonesia are of a local, national, and global concern, which is why the activities of local actors have emerged as a new problem in Indonesia, especially in Kalimantan. The current study employed a network content analysis method to examine the involvement of actors in forest fire cases based on Supreme Court decisions, complemented by several reputable online news sources such as kompas.com, detik.com, and tribun.com. By examining the cases, the actors involved were able to be identified as key actors, contest setters, and subject actors. Key actors, referring to companies and landowners, were found to have high correlations between one another. Moreover, key actors were observed to be involved in providing funds for land clearing or burning, yet they remained legally untouchable. Meanwhile, contest setters—permanent employees—were found to be the most involved in land burning/clearing, and they were often convicted in the Supreme Court rulings as they were merely commoners, farmers, and jobseekers in need of cash. Nevertheless, the subject actors, i.e., jobseekers and farm workers, were seen to have a weak relationship with key actors in the Supreme Court rulings, particularly in terms of forest burning and its operational funding.
Global Analysis of Durable Policies for Free-Flowing River Protections
Authors: Perry Denielle , Harrison Ian , Fernandes Stephannie , Burnham Sarah , Nichols Alana
Published: February 2021

Freshwater ecosystems are poorly represented in global networks of protected areas. This situation underscores an urgent need for the creation, application, and expansion of durable (long-term and enforceable) protection mechanisms for free-flowing rivers that go beyond conventional protected area planning. To address this need, we must first understand where and what types of protections exist that explicitly maintain the free-flowing integrity of rivers, as well as the efficacy of such policy types. Through policy analysis and an in-depth literature review, our study identifies three main policy mechanisms used for such protections: (1) River Conservation Systems; (2) Executive Decrees and Laws; and (3) Rights of Rivers. We found that globally only eight counties have national river conservation systems while seven countries have used executive decrees and similar policies to halt dam construction, and Rights of Rivers movements are quickly growing in importance, relative to other protection types. Despite the current extent of protection policies being insufficient to tackle the freshwater and biodiversity crises facing the world’s rivers, they do provide useful frameworks to guide the creation and expansion of protections. Ultimately, as countries act on global calls for protections, policy mechanisms must be tailored to their individual social and ecological geographies.
Sustainable Aging and Leisure Behaviors: Do Leisure Activities Matter in Aging Well?
Authors: Yoon Hyejin , Huber Lesa , Kim Chulwon
Published: February 2021

A substantial portion of the gerontological literature has been directed towards the relationship between leisure and aging, particularly with the healthy life of older adults. The concept of leisure conveys varied meanings to persons, including identifying the leisure itself, the activity’s frequency, and its value to the participant. With increased longevity, the concept of aging well and related terms (e.g., “active aging”, “successful aging”, “productive aging”, “positive aging”, “healthy aging”, and “sustainable aging”) have been emerging themes for academic fields related to gerontology, exercise promotion, health care, and leisure activities. Thus, the aging population and human leisure activities must be considered sustainable as sustainability is primarily human-centered. This study explores older adults’ perceptions of leisure and aging well and their leisure behavior at senior welfare centers using qualitative data collection and methodology. Findings suggest that four main themes emerge: unfamiliarity with the concept of leisure and leisure engagement; evolving perceptions of senior centers and leisure benefits; limited physical functioning as a major leisure constraint; perceptions of major factors for aging well. Implications for researchers and policymakers are discussed.
Comparing Physicochemical Properties and Sorption Behaviors of Pyrolysis-Derived and Microwave-Mediated Biochar
Authors: Brickler Colten A. , Wu Yudi , Li Simeng , Anandhi Aavudai , Chen Gang
Published: February 2021

Biochar’s ability to amend and remediate agricultural soil has been a growing interest, though the energy expenses from high-temperature pyrolysis deter the product’s use. Therefore, it is urgent to improve the pyrolysis efficiency while ensuring the quality of produced biochar. The present study utilized three types of feedstock (i.e., switchgrass, biosolid, and water oak leaves) to produce biochar via conventional slow pyrolysis and microwave pyrolysis at different temperature/energy input. The produced biochar was characterized and comprehensively compared in terms of their physiochemical properties (e.g., surface functionality, elemental composition, and thermal stability). It was discovered that microwave-mediated biochar was more resistant to thermal decomposition, indicated by a higher production yield, yet more diverse surface functional groups were preserved than slow pyrolysis-derived biochar. A nutrient (NO3-N) adsorption isotherm study displayed that microwave-mediated biochar exhibited greater adsorption (13.3 mg g−1) than that of slow pyrolysis-derived biochar (3.1 mg g−1), proving its potential for future applications. Results suggested that microwaves pyrolysis is a promising method for biochar production.
Application of the Efros Theorem to the Function Represented by the Inverse Laplace Transform of s−μ exp(−sν)
Authors: Apelblat Alexander , Mainardi Francesco
Published: February 2021

Using a special case of the Efros theorem which was derived by Wlodarski, and operational calculus, it was possible to derive many infinite integrals, finite integrals and integral identities for the function represented by the inverse Laplace transform. The integral identities are mainly in terms of convolution integrals with the Mittag–Leffler and Volterra functions. The integrands of determined integrals include elementary functions (power, exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric and hyperbolic functions) and the error functions, the Mittag–Leffler functions and the Volterra functions. Some properties of the inverse Laplace transform of s−μexp(−sν) with μ≥0 and 0<ν<1 are presented.
Health Monitoring System for Elderly Patients Using Intelligent Task Mapping Mechanism in Closed Loop Healthcare Environment
Authors: Imran  , Iqbal Naeem , Ahmad Shabir , Kim Do Hyeun
Published: February 2021

The ageing population’s problems directly impact countries’ socio-economic structure, as more resources are required to monitor the aged population’s health. The growth in human life expectancy is increasing due to medical technologies and nutritional science innovations. The Internet of Things (IoT) is the connectivity of physical objects called things to the Internet. IoT has a wide range of health monitoring applications based on biomedical sensing devices to monitor health conditions. This paper proposes elderly patients’ health monitoring architecture based on an intelligent task mapping approach for a closed-loop IoT healthcare environment. As a case study, a health monitoring system was developed based on the proposed architecture for elderly patients’ health monitoring in the home, ambulance, and hospital environment. The system detects and notifies deteriorating conditions to the authorities based on biomedical sensors for faster interventions. Wearable biomedical sensors are used for monitoring body temperature, heart rate, blood glucose level, and patient body position. Threshold and machine learning-based approaches were used to detect anomalies in the health sensing data. The proposed architecture’s performance analysis is evaluated in terms of round trip time, reliability, task drop rate, and latency performance metrics. Performance results show that the proposed architecture of the elderly patient health monitoring can provide reliable solutions for critical tasks in IoT environments.
Feed-Based Multi-Mycotoxin Occurrence in Smallholder Dairy Farming Systems of South Africa: The Case of Limpopo and Free State
Authors: Changwa Rumbidzai , De Boevre Marthe , De Saeger Sarah , Njobeh Patrick Berka
Published: February 2021

Mycotoxin contamination of feed does not only cut across food and feed value chains but compromises animal productivity and health, affecting farmers, traders and consumers alike. To aid in the development of a sustainable strategy for mycotoxin control in animal-based food production systems, this study focused on smallholder farming systems where 77 dairy cattle feed samples were collected from 28 smallholder dairy establishments in the Limpopo and Free State provinces of South Africa between 2018 and 2019. Samples were analyzed using a confirmatory UHPLC–MS/MS (Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) method validated for simultaneous detection of 23 mycotoxins in feeds. Overall, mycotoxins assessed were detected across samples with 86% of samples containing at least one mycotoxin above respective decision limits; up to 66% of samples were found to be contaminated with at least three mycotoxins. Findings demonstrated that deoxynivalenol, sterigmatocystin, alternariol and enniatin B were the most common mycotoxins, while low to marginal detection rates were observed for all other mycotoxins with none of the samples containing fusarenon-X, HT-2-toxin and neosolaniol. Isolated cases of deoxynivalenol (maximum: 2385 µg/kg), aflatoxins (AFB1 (maximum: 30.2 µg/kg)/AFG1 (maximum: 23.1 µg/kg)), and zearalenone (maximum: 1793 µg/kg) in excess of local and European regulatory limits were found. Kruskal–Wallis testing for pairwise comparisons showed commercial feed had significantly higher contamination for deoxynivalenol and its acylated derivatives, ochratoxin A and fumonisins (FB1 and FB2), whereas forages had significantly higher alternariol; in addition to significantly higher fumonisin B1 contamination for Limpopo coupled with significantly higher enniatin B and sterigmatocystin for Free State. Statistically significant Spearman correlations (p < 0.01) were also apparent for ratios for deoxynivalenol/fumonisin B1 (rs = 0.587) and zearalenone/alternariol methylether (rs = 0.544).
Shellfish Toxin Uptake and Depuration in Multiple Atlantic Canadian Molluscan Species: Application to Selection of Sentinel Species in Monitoring Programs
Authors: Rourke Wade A. , Justason Andrew , Martin Jennifer L. , Murphy Cory J.
Published: February 2021

Shellfish toxin monitoring programs often use mussels as the sentinel species to represent risk in other bivalve shellfish species. Studies have examined accumulation and depuration rates in various species, but little information is available to compare multiple species from the same harvest area. A 2-year research project was performed to validate the use of mussels as the sentinel species to represent other relevant eastern Canadian shellfish species (clams, scallops, and oysters). Samples were collected simultaneously from Deadmans Harbour, NB, and were tested for paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) and amnesic shellfish toxin (AST). Phytoplankton was also monitored at this site. Scallops accumulated PSTs and AST sooner, at higher concentrations, and retained toxins longer than mussels. Data from monitoring program samples in Mahone Bay, NS, are presented as a real-world validation of findings. Simultaneous sampling of mussels and scallops showed significant differences between shellfish toxin results in these species. These data suggest more consideration should be given to situations where multiple species are present, especially scallops.
Development of Genome Editing Approaches against Herpes Simplex Virus Infections
Authors: Zhang Isadora , Hsiao Zoe , Liu Fenyong
Published: February 2021

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is a herpesvirus that may cause cold sores or keratitis in healthy or immunocompetent individuals, but can lead to severe and potentially life-threatening complications in immune-immature individuals, such as neonates or immune-compromised patients. Like all other herpesviruses, HSV-1 can engage in lytic infection as well as establish latent infection. Current anti-HSV-1 therapies effectively block viral replication and infection. However, they have little effect on viral latency and cannot completely eliminate viral infection. These issues, along with the emergence of drug-resistant viral strains, pose a need to develop new compounds and novel strategies for the treatment of HSV-1 infection. Genome editing methods represent a promising approach against viral infection by modifying or destroying the genetic material of human viruses. These editing methods include homing endonucleases (HE) and the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated protein (Cas) RNA-guided nuclease system. Recent studies have showed that both HE and CRISPR/Cas systems are effective in inhibiting HSV-1 infection in cultured cells in vitro and in mice in vivo. This review, which focuses on recently published progress, suggests that genome editing approaches could be used for eliminating HSV-1 latent and lytic infection and for treating HSV-1 associated diseases.
Antiviral Cytokine Response in Neuroinvasive and Non-Neuroinvasive West Nile Virus Infection
Authors: Zidovec-Lepej Snjezana , Vilibic-Cavlek Tatjana , Barbic Ljubo , Ilic Maja , Savic Vladimir , Tabain Irena , Ferenc Thomas , Grgic Ivana , Gorenec Lana , Bogdanic Maja , Stevanovic Vladimir , Sabadi Dario , Peric Ljiljana , Potocnik-Hunjadi Tanja , Dvorski Elizabeta , Butigan Tamara , Capak Krunoslav , Listes Eddy , Savini Giovanni
Published: February 2021

Data on the immune response to West Nile virus (WNV) are limited. We analyzed the antiviral cytokine response in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of patients with WNV fever and WNV neuroinvasive disease using a multiplex bead-based assay for the simultaneous quantification of 13 human cytokines. The panel included cytokines associated with innate and early pro-inflammatory immune responses (TNF-α/IL-6), Th1 (IL-2/IFN-γ), Th2 (IL-4/IL-5/IL-9/IL-13), Th17 immune response (IL-17A/IL-17F/IL-21/IL-22) and the key anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Elevated levels of IFN-γ were detected in 71.7% of CSF and 22.7% of serum samples (p = 0.003). Expression of IL-2/IL-4/TNF-α and Th1 17 cytokines (IL-17A/IL-17F/IL-21) was detected in the serum but not in the CSF (except one positive CSF sample for IL-17F/IL-4). While IL-6 levels were markedly higher in the CSF compared to serum (CSF median 2036.71, IQR 213.82–6190.50; serum median 24.48, IQR 11.93–49.81; p < 0.001), no difference in the IL-13/IL-9/IL-10/IFN-γ/IL-22 levels in serum/CSF was found. In conclusion, increased concentrations of the key cytokines associated with innate and early acute phase responses (IL-6) and Th1 type immune responses (IFN-γ) were found in the CNS of patients with WNV infection. In contrast, expression of the key T-cell growth factor IL-2, Th17 cytokines, a Th2 cytokine IL-4 and the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α appear to be concentrated mainly in the periphery.
Stream Flow Generation for Simulating Yearly Bed Change at an Ungauged Stream in Monsoon Region
Authors: Lee Woong Hee , Choi Heung Sik , Lee Dongwoo , Choi Byungwoong
Published: February 2021

The stream flow generation method is necessary for predicting yearly bed change at an ungauged stream in Monsoon region where there is no hydrologic and hydraulic information. This study developed the stream flow generation method of daily mean flow for each month over a year for bed change simulation at an ungauged stream. The hydraulic geometries of cross-sections and the corresponding bankfull indicators of the Byeongseong river of 4 km reach were analyzed to estimate the bankfull discharge. The estimated bankfull discharge of the target reach was 77.50 m3/s, and the total annual discharge estimated 3720 m3/s through the correlation equation with the bankfull discharge. The measured total annual discharge of the Byeongseong river was 3887.30 m3/s, which is greater by 167.30 m3/s of 4.3% relative error. The volume and bed changes over a year by the Center for Computational Hydroscience and Engineering Two-Dimension (CCHE2D) model simulated using the measured discharge during 2013 and 2014 coincided with the surveyed in the same period. Estimated total annual discharge was used for the scenarios of stream flow generation. The generated stream flow using the flow apportioned to each month on the basis of the flow percentage in an adjacent stream simulated the river bed most appropriately. The generated stream flow using the flow based on the monthly rainfall percentage of the rainfall station in the target stream basin also simulated river bed well, which is confirmed as an alternative. Quantitatively, the root mean square error (RMSE), mean bias error (MBE), and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) in-depth change of thalweg between the measured and the simulated were found to be 0.25 m, 0.04 m, and 0.44%, respectively. The result of the simulated cross-sectional river bed change for target reach coincided well with the surveyed. The proposed method is highly applicable to generate the stream flow for analyzing the yearly bed change at an ungauged stream in Monsoon region.
Valproate use in women aged 15–44 years: an observational study in general practice
Authors: Beardsley Samantha J , Dostal Isabel , Cole James , Gutierrez Ana , Robson John
Published: February 2021

Background

Valproate is a known teratogen. In April 2018, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) restricted its use in women and banned use in pregnancy, except for epilepsy with no other effective treatment. To date, there is limited information on valproate prescribing within primary care.

Aim

To characterise valproate prescribing to women of childbearing age, recorded advice or GP prescribed contraception, and recorded pregnancies.

Design & setting

A cross-sectional study of patients from all 141 general practices across three clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in East London.

Method

Women aged 15–44 years prescribed valproate between 1 October 2017 and 1 January 2020 were included. Exclusion criteria were early menopause, sterilisation procedures, or hysterectomy. Pseudonymised data on valproate indication, pregnancy, pre-conception, and contraception advice were retrospectively extracted from general practice consultation data. Data were analysed by quarter using univariate statistics.

Results

Of the total 1 042 463 registered patients, 344 women aged 15–44 years were prescribed valproate during the study period; 14 were excluded. There were 10 pregnancies during possible valproate exposure; one was terminated. During the study period, the number of women prescribed valproate significantly decreased (P = 0.003). The pregnancy rate decreased from 9.9/1000 on valproate before the MHRA April 2018 warning, to an average of 2.8/1000 afterwards. Recorded pre-conception and contraception advice increased by 79%, from 24% to 43%, of women prescribed valproate.

Conclusion

With continued pregnancies in women aged 15–44 years prescribed valproate, patient education and foetal outcomes remain ongoing concerns. Further improvements are needed to ensure women make informed reproductive choices and safeguard future pregnancies from valproate exposure.
Vigilancia tecnológica en el núcleo costa oriental del lago de la Universidad del Zulia
Authors: Matos Daniela|
Published: February 2021

En el artículo se describen los objetivos de la implementación de un sistema de vigilancia tecnológica en el Núcleo Costa Oriental del Lago de la Universidad del Zulia. La investigación se catalogó como descriptiva, con un diseño no experimental, transaccional y de campo. Como unidades de análisis fueron tomadas los profesores que dictan clase en el programa de estudios universitarios supervisados (EUS). Se diseñó un cuestionario con 15 ítems. La validez del instrumento se realizó a través del juicio de expertos. La confiabilidad fue determinada mediante la aplicación de la fórmula de Alfa de Crombach obteniendo un valor de 0,90. Los resultados fueron interpretados a través de la media aritmética. Se concluye alta aplicación de cada uno de las objetivos del sistema de vigilancia tecnológica, donde se toman en consideración anticiparse, reducir riesgos, progresar, innovar y cooperar, controlando de esta manera lo que ocurre en su entorno.
Gestión de la innovación en las gerencias de prestación de servicios de la industria petrolera
Authors: Rondón Javier Alberto
Published: February 2021

El estudio tuvo como propósito analizar la gestión de la innovación en las gerencias de prestación de servicios de la industria petrolera región Occidente. Metodológicamente se consideró de tipo descriptiva, bajo un diseño no experimental, transeccional, de campo. La población la conformo las cuatro (04) gerencias de prestación de servicios de la industria petrolera región occidente. Como técnica se empleó la encuesta mediante la aplicación de un cuestionario de 31 ítems con escala de frecuencia. La validación se realizó a través del juicio de cinco (5) expertos, y su confiabilidad a través del coeficiente Alpha de Cronbach, arrojando alta confiabilidad 0,79. Los resultados evidencian una regular gestión de la innovación, ya que existen debilidades en cuanto a las clases de innovaciones, de la misma manera una leve fortaleza en las etapas del sistema de la gestión, asimismo se detectó debilidad en los factores determinante en gestión de la innovación.
Gestión ambiental en las empresas mixtas de un complejo petroquímico de Venezuela
Authors: Fuentes Spooner Lorena Del Carmen , Güere Nava María Alejandra , Alvarado Yajaira
Published: February 2021

La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo analizar la gestión ambiental en las empresas mixtas del complejo petroquímico Ana María Campos del estado Zulia-Venezuela. El estudio fue descriptivo, de campo, univariable y transeccional. La población estuvo conformada por tres empresas con un total de 35 informantes. Se aplicó un cuestionario con cinco alternativas de respuesta, validado mediante el juicio de cinco expertos y con un alto coeficiente de confiabilidad (Alfa de Cronbach=0,94). El análisis de los datos se realizó a través de la media aritmética. Los resultados muestran que las empresas siempre implementan mecanismos para controlar los aspectos ambientales derivados de sus actividades productivas, pero casi nunca llevan a cabo el proceso de gestión ambiental. Se concluye que las empresas objeto de estudio cumplen con la regulación ambiental vigente en cuanto a la ejecución de los estudios ambientales, pero deben elaborar e implementar un sistema de gestión ambiental.
A percepção de voluntários de um projeto de Educação Ambiental sobre bitucas de cigarro em São Paulo
Authors: Goettlicher Natalia Zafra , Conti Diego de Melo , Costa Monica Ferreira da , Ferreira Maurício Lamano
Published: February 2021

A Educação Ambiental (EA) é um importante instrumento de conscientização para minimizar os impactos causados ao meio ambiente, além de ser ferramenta chave na promoção do desenvolvimento sustentável. Este trabalho relata o processo de atuação, influência e percepção de uma ação de EA promovida pelo projeto “Mundo SEM Bitucas” (MSB) e, a partir disso, entender a percepção ambiental dos participantes analisando os seus efeitos em diferentes indivíduos. Para tanto, foi conduzido um estudo de percepção ambiental a partir de método misto com uma amostra de participantes respondentes. A partir desta análise foi possível concluir a influência positiva das atividades do MSB na percepção ambiental dos participantes, além de estimular a consciência crítica para a transformação do conhecimento e construção de práticas sustentáveis.
Ensino de matemática e Educação Ambiental: modelagem com energias renováveis no semiárido brasileiro
Authors: Santos Vanessa Danielle Ferreira Lima dos , Almeida Hevelyn Kelly Samara Leite de , Carvalho Erick Macêdo , Souza Tiago Luiz Santana de , Lima Regina Lúcia Félix de Aguiar , Lima Júnior Claudemiro
Published: February 2021

Considerando a forma dissociada que a Educação Ambiental é abordada nas escolas e a dificuldade dos alunos na compreensão de conteúdos de matemática pelo método tradicional de ensino, este artigo apresenta estratégias de ensino da matemática com temáticas de Educação Ambiental. Essa proposta foi desenvolvida a partir da construção e exploração de três atividades didáticas com aplicação de modelagem matemática para avaliação de fontes energéticas sustentáveis para o semiárido. Como resultado, foi possível abordar conteúdos matemáticos e de Educação Ambiental de modo interdisciplinar, contribuindo para a aprendizagem contextualizada da matemática.
Práticas de Educação Ambiental em uma escola de campo
Authors: Uhde Eliane Marili , Uhde Leonir Terezinha , Bianchi Vidica , Fernandes Sandra Beatriz Vicenci
Published: February 2021

Este trabalho teve como objetivo relatar experiências de educação ambiental em uma escola de campo da rede estadual, dinamizadas por meio da práxis que vincula o cotidiano das pessoas às questões socioambientais e, dessa forma, fortalece os vínculos com a comunidade escolar. Além disso, propõe-se a refletir sobre o alcance de práticas convencionais comumente adotadas na educação ambiental (EA). Assim, apresentam-se práticas de EA desenvolvidas durante o período escolar que mobilizaram os estudantes, os professores e a comunidade local. Conclui-se que, por se tratar de uma escola de campo, a educação ambiental deve ter nexo com a vida no campo, envolvendo a comunidade em sentido amplo e assegurando o vínculo com este contexto.