bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring Pediatric Tele-Rheumatology Practices During COVID-19: A Survey of the PRCOIN Network
Authors: Goh Y. Ingrid , Bullock Danielle R. , Taylor Janalee , Pooni Rajdeep , Lee Tzielan C. , Vora Sheetal S. , Yildirim-Toruner Cagri , Morgan Esi M. , Pan Nancy , Harris Julia G. , Warmin Andrew , Wiegand Kendra , Burnham Jon M. , Barbar-Smiley Fatima
Published: March 2021

Healthcare providers were rapidly forced to modify the way they practiced medicine during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Many providers transitioned from seeing their patients in person to virtually using telemedicine platforms with limited training and experience using this medium. In pediatric rheumatology, this was further complicated as musculoskeletal exams typically require hands-on assessment of patients. The objective of this study was to examine the adoption of telemedicine into pediatric rheumatology practices, to assess its benefits and challenges, and to gather opinions on its continued use. A survey was sent to the lead representatives of each Pediatric Rheumatology Care and Outcomes Improvement Network (PR-COIN) site to collect data about their center's experience with telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were thematically analyzed. Responses were received from the majority [19/21 (90%)] of PR-COIN sites. All respondents reported transitioning from in-person to primarily virtual patient visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. All centers reported seeing both new consultations and follow-up patients over telemedicine. Most centers reported using both audio and video conferencing systems to conduct their telemedicine visits. The majority of respondents [13/19 (68%)] indicated that at least 50% of their site's providers consistently used pediatric Gait Arms Legs and Spine (pGALS) to perform active joint count assessments over telemedicine. Over half of the centers [11/19 (58%)] reported collecting patient-reported outcomes (PROs), but the rate of reliably documenting clinical components varied. A few sites [7/19 (37%)] reported performing research-related activity during telemedicine visits. All centers thought that telemedicine visits were able to meet providers' needs and support their continued use when the pandemic ends. Benefits reported with telemedicine visits included convenience and continuity of care for families. Conversely, challenges included limited ability to perform physical exams and varying access to technology. Pediatric rheumatology providers were able to transition to conducting virtual visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare providers recognize how telemedicine can enhance their practice, but challenges need to be overcome in order to ensure equitable, sustainable delivery of quality and patient-centered care.
Study on Acute Toxicity of Amiodarone New Complexes With Cyclodextrin
Authors: Ghiciuc Cristina Mihaela , Shleghm Maytham Razaq , Vasile Cornelia , Tantaru Gladiola , Creteanu Andreea , Ochiuz Lacramioara
Published: March 2021

Amiodarone low solubility and high permeability is the limiting step for its bioavailability, therefore new formulations are needed to improve the solubility of amiodarone either to increase its oral bioavailability or to reduce its toxic effects. Complexation of amiodarone with cyclodextrin results in improved dissolution rate, solubility, and allows for a more controlled drug release. We characterized the acute toxicity of a new amiodarone 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin complex (AMD/HP-β-CD) as powdered form and as a matrix based on Kollidon® and chitosan, administered intraperitoneally in laboratory animals. There were developed two formulations of matrix: one containing only pure AMD as a control sample (Fc) and one containing the inclusion complex with the optimal solubility (F). AMD was equitoxic with HP-β-CD after intraperitoneal administration (289.4 mg/kg for AMD and 298.3 mg/kg for AMD/HP-β-CD), with corresponding histopathological changes. The matrix based formulations presented higher LD50 values for acute toxicity, of 347.5 mg/kg for Fc and 455.6 mg/kg for F10, conducting to the idea of a safer administration because KOL and CHT matrix modified the solubility and controlled the AMD release. The LD50 is 1.5 higher for AMD/HP-β-CD included in a KOL and CHT based matrix compared to the pure AMD, administered intraperitoneally.
Proteomic Analysis of Fusarium oxysporum-Induced Mechanism in Grafted Watermelon Seedlings
Authors: Zhang Man , Xu Jinhua , Ren Runsheng , Liu Guang , Yao Xiefeng , Lou Lina , Xu Jian , Yang Xingping
Published: March 2021

Grafting can improve the resistance of watermelon to soil-borne diseases. However, the molecular mechanism of defense response is not completely understood. Herein, we used a proteomic approach to investigate the molecular basis involved in grafted watermelon leaf defense against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. niveum (FON) infection. The bottle gourd rootstock-grafted (RG) watermelon seedlings were highly resistant to FON compared with self-grafted (SG) watermelon plants, with a disease incidence of 3.4 and 89%, respectively. Meanwhile, grafting significantly induced the activity of pathogenesis-related proteases under FON challenge. Proteins extracted from leaves of RG and SG under FON inoculation were analyzed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Thirty-nine differentially accumulated proteins (DAPs) were identified and classified into 10 functional groups. Accordingly, protein biosynthetic and stress- and defense-related proteins play crucial roles in the enhancement of disease resistance of RG watermelon seedlings, compared with that of SG watermelon seedlings. Proteins involved in signal transduction positively regulated the defense process. Carbohydrate and energy metabolism and photosystem contributed to energy production in RG watermelon seedlings under FON infection. The disease resistance of RG watermelon seedlings may also be related to the improved scavenging capacity of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The expression profile of 10 randomly selected proteins was measured using quantitative real-time PCR, among which, 7 was consistent with the results of the proteomic analysis. The functional implications of these proteins in regulating grafted watermelon response against F. oxysporum are discussed.
Dissecting Quantitative Trait Loci for Spot Blotch Resistance in South Asia Using Two Wheat Recombinant Inbred Line Populations
Authors: Roy Chandan , Gahtyari Navin C. , He Xinyao , Mishra Vinod K. , Chand Ramesh , Joshi Arun K. , Singh Pawan K.
Published: March 2021

Spot blotch (SB) disease causes significant yield loss in wheat production in the warm and humid regions of the eastern Gangetic plains (EGP) of South Asia (SA). Most of the cultivated varieties in the eastern part of SA are affected by SB under favorable climatic conditions. To understand the nature of SB resistance and map the underlying resistant loci effective in SA, two bi-parental mapping populations were evaluated for 3 years, i.e., 2013–2015 for the BARTAI × CIANO T79 population (denoted as BC) and 2014–2016 for the CASCABEL × CIANO T79 population (CC), at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. DArTSeq genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) platform was used for genotyping of the populations. Distribution of disease reaction of genotypes in both populations was continuous, revealing the quantitative nature of resistance. Significant “genotype,” “year,” and “genotype × year” interactions for SB were observed. Linkage map with the genome coverage of 8,598.3 and 9,024.7 cM in the BC and CC population, respectively, was observed. Two quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected on chromosomes 1A and 4D in the BC population with an average contribution of 4.01 and 12.23% of the total phenotypic variation (PV), respectively. Seven stable QTLs were detected on chromosomes 1B, 5A, 5B, 6A, 7A, and 7B in the CC population explaining 2.89–10.32% of PV and collectively 39.91% of the total PV. The QTL detected at the distal end of 5A chromosome contributed 10.32% of the total PV. The QTLs on 6A and 7B in CC could be new, and the one on 5B may represent the Sb2 gene. These QTLs could be used in SB resistance cultivar development for SA.
Leveling the Playing Field: A New Proposed Method to Address Relative Age- and Maturity-Related Bias in Soccer
Authors: Helsen Werner F. , Thomis Martine , Starkes Janet L. , Vrijens Sander , Ooms Gerrit , MacMaster Calum , Towlson Chris
Published: March 2021

Despite various solutions proposed to solve the relative age effect (RAE), it is still a major problem confounding talent identification and selection processes. In the first phase, we sampled 302 under 7–21 academy soccer players from two Belgian professional soccer clubs to explore the potential of a new approach to solve the inequalities resulting from relative age- and maturity-related bias. This approach allocates players into four discrete quartile groups based on the midway point of their chronological and estimated developmental (ED) birth dates (calculated using the growth curves for stature of Belgian youth). With the use of chi square analyses, a RAE was found (p < 0.01) for the overall sample (Q1 = 41.4% vs. Q4 = 14.9%) that completely disappeared after reallocation (Q1 = 26.5%; Q2 = 21.9%; Q3 = 27.5%; Q4 = 24.2%). According to the new allocation method, the stature difference was reduced, on average, by 11.6 cm (from 24.0 ± 9.9 to 12.4 ± 3.4 cm, d = 1.57). Body mass difference between the two methods was 1.9 kg (20.1 ± 11.3–18.2 ± 13.1 kg, respectively, d = 0.15). The new method created a maximum chronological age difference of 1.9 vs. 0.8 years for the current method. With the use of this method, 47% of the players would be reallocated. Twenty-three percent would be moved up one age category, and 21% would be moved down. In the second phase, we also examined 80 UK academy soccer players to explore if reallocating players reduces the within-playing group variation of somatic and physical fitness characteristics. The percentage coefficient of variation (%CV) was reduced (0.2–10.1%) in 15 out of 20 metrics across U11–U16 age categories, with the U13 age category demonstrating the largest reductions (0.9–10.1%) in CV. The U12 and U13 age categories and associated reallocation groupings showed trivial to small (ES = 0.0–0.5) between-method differences and trivial to moderate (ES = 0.0–1.1) differences within the U14–U16 age categories. A reduction in RAE may lead to fewer dropouts and thus a larger player pool, which benefits, in turn, talent identification, selection, and development.
Case Report: Successful DaVinci-Assisted Major Liver Resection for Alveolar Echinococcosis
Authors: Golriz Mohammad , Flossmann Viktoria , Ramouz Ali , Majlesara Ali , Kulu Yakup , Stojkovic Marija , Mehrabi Arianeb
Published: March 2021

We report a case of successful robot-assisted major liver resection in a patient with liver alveolar echinococcosis (AE). A 62-year-old male patient was incidentally diagnosed with a large infiltrative lesion in the right liver lobe suspicious for AE. A radical surgical resection as a right-sided hemihepatectomy was indicated. The operation was carried out via a robotic-assisted procedure using the DaVinci Xi Surgical System. The tumor measured 12.4 × 8.8 cm and was successfully resected through a suprapubic incision of 13 cm. The patient was free of pain after the second post-operative day. A fluid collection near the resection plate was easily drained without bile leakage. The patient had no surgical complications. Radical resection is inevitable for adequate curative therapy of AE and provides clear margins. Robotic surgery is a relatively new and safe option for curative resection of AE lesions, with remarkable advantages for patients and surgeons.
Above and Belowground Relative Yield Total of Clover–Ryegrass Mixtures Exceed One in Wet and Dry Years
Authors: Dirks Inga , Streit Juliane , Meinen Catharina
Published: March 2021

Grassland mixtures hold the potential for increasing biomass and productivity. In a field experiment, monocultures and mixtures of eight white clover (Trifolium repens L.) genotypes and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) were analyzed over three years (2015, 2016, and 2018) for their species-specific aboveground and belowground biomass. Roots were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to identify species-specific root mass, vertical distribution, and belowground relative yield total (RYT). Aboveground biomass decreased strongly from 2015 to 2018. Aboveground and belowground RYT were always significantly higher than one. Aboveground biomass overyielded in 2016 and 2018 compared to monocultures. Monocultures of perennial ryegrass displayed a significantly higher proportion of roots in shallow soil layers than white clover in two of the three examined years. In mixtures, these differences in vertical root distribution between both species were not present and perennial ryegrass, and white clover occupied similar vertical niches in 2015 and 2016. Interestingly, in the dry year 2018, white clover had a higher proportion of roots in shallow soil layers than perennial ryegrass in mixtures.
Water as a Solvent of Election for Obtaining Oleuropein-Rich Extracts from Olive (Olea europaea) Leaves
Authors: Monteleone Julieta Ines , Sperlinga Elisa , Siracusa Laura , Spagna Giovanni , Parafati Lucia , Todaro Aldo , Palmeri Rosa
Published: March 2021

Leaves from Olea europaea represent one of the main by-products of the olive oil industry, containing a plethora of bioactive compounds with several promising activities for human health. An organic solvent-free extraction method was developed for the recovery of olive leaf phenols, which obtained an extract containing oleuropein in high amounts. A comparison of various extraction media is reported, together with the total phenolic content, DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) content, ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity), and polyphenol oxidase activity of the corresponding extracts. The polyphenol profiles and content of the most representative extracts have also been studied. Extraction solvent and temperature significantly influenced the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the extracts, with hot water representing the solvent of election for the extraction of bioactive compounds from this matrix. All the extracts obtained showed reasonably high total phenol content (TPC) and good DPPH radical scavenging activity; among them, the water extract is characterized by desirable traits and could be used for many industrial applications and human consumption.
Effects of Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilization on Seed Yield, Yield Components, and Water Use Efficiency of Cleistogenes songorica
Authors: Tao Qibo , Bai Mengjie , Jia Cunzhi , Han Yunhua , Wang Yanrong
Published: March 2021

Irrigation and nitrogen (N) are two crucial factors affecting perennial grass seed production. To investigate the effects of irrigation and N rate on seed yield (SY), yield components, and water use efficiency (WUE) of Cleistogenes songorica (Roshevitz) Ohwi, an ecologically significant perennial grass, a four-year (2016–2019) field trial was conducted in an arid region of northwestern China. Two irrigation regimes (I1 treatment: irrigation at tillering stage; I2 treatment: irrigation at tillering, spikelet initiation, and early flowering stages) and four N rates (0, 60, 120, 180 kg ha−1) were arranged. Increasing amounts of both irrigation and N improved SY, evapotranspiration, WUE, and related yield components like fertile tillers m−2 (FTSM) and seeds spikelet−1. Meanwhile, no significant difference was observed between 120 and 180 kg N ha−1 treatments for most variables. The highest SY and WUE was obtained with treatment combination of I2 plus 120 kg N ha−1 with four-year average values of 507.3 kg ha−1 and 1.8 kg ha−1 mm−1, respectively. Path coefficient and contribution analysis indicated that FTSM was the most important yield component for SY, with direct path coefficient and contribution coefficient of 0.626 and 0.592. Overall, we recommend I2 treatment (three irrigations) together with 120 kg N ha−1 to both increase SY and WUE, especially in arid regions. Future agronomic managements and breeding programs for seed should mainly focus on FTSM. This study will enable grass seed producers, plant breeders, and government program directors to more effectively target higher SY of C. songorica.
Neurotherapeutic Effect of Inula britannica var. Chinensis against H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Cortical Neurons
Authors: Hong Jin Young , Kim Hyunseong , Lee Junseon , Jeon Wan-Jin , Baek Seung Ho , Ha In-Hyuk
Published: March 2021

Inula britannica var. chinensis (IBC) has been used as a traditional medicinal herb to treat inflammatory diseases. Although its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects have been reported, whether IBC exerts neuroprotective effects and the related mechanisms in cortical neurons remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of different concentrations of IBC extract (5, 10, and 20 µg/mL) on cortical neurons using a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced injury model. Our results demonstrate that IBC can effectively enhance neuronal viability under in vitro-modeled reaction oxygen species (ROS)-generating conditions by inhibiting mitochondrial ROS production and increasing adenosine triphosphate level in H2O2-treated neurons. Additionally, we confirmed that neuronal death was attenuated by improving the mitochondrial membrane potential status and regulating the expression of cytochrome c, a protein related to cell death. Furthermore, IBC increased the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor. Furthermore, IBC inhibited the loss and induced the production of synaptophysin, a major synaptic vesicle protein. This study is the first to demonstrate that IBC exerts its neuroprotective effect by reducing mitochondria-associated oxidative stress and improving mitochondrial dysfunction.
A Comparative Study of the Antioxidative Effects of Helichrysum italicum and Helichrysum arenarium Infusions
Authors: Kramberger Katja , Jenko Pražnikar Zala , Baruca Arbeiter Alenka , Petelin Ana , Bandelj Dunja , Kenig Saša
Published: March 2021

Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench (abbrev. as HA) has a long tradition in European ethnomedicine and its inflorescences are approved as a herbal medicinal product. In the Mediterranean part of Europe, Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don (abbrev. as HI) is more common. Since infusions from both plants are traditionally used, we aimed to compare their antioxidative potential using in vitro assays. Two morphologically distinct HI plants, HIa and HIb, were compared to a commercially available HA product. Genetic analysis using microsatellites confirmed a clear differentiation between HI and HA and suggested that HIb was a hybrid resulting from spontaneous hybridization from unknown HI subspecies. High-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis showed the highest amounts of hydroxycinnamic acids and total arzanol derivatives in HIa, whereas HIb was richest in monohydroxybenzoic acids, caffeic acids, and coumarins, and HA contained the highest amounts of flavonoids, especially flavanones. HIa exhibited the highest radical scavenging activity; it was more efficient in protecting different cell lines from induced oxidative stress and in inducing oxidative stress-related genes superoxide dismutase 1, catalase, and glutathione reductase 1. The antioxidative potential of HI was not only dependent on the morphological type of the plant but also on the harvest date, revealing important information for obtaining the best possible product. Considering the superior properties of HI compared to HA, the evaluation of HI as a medicinal plant could be recommended.
Vibration-Based Locomotion of an Amphibious Robot
Authors: Cocuzza Silvio , Doria Alberto , Reis Murat
Published: March 2021

In this research, an innovative robot is presented that can move both on land and water thanks to a vibration-based locomotion mechanism. The robot consists of a U-shaped beam made of spring steel, two low-density feet that allow it to stand on the water surface without sinking, and a micro-DC motor with eccentric mass, which excites vibrations. The robot exhibits stable terrestrial and aquatic locomotion based on the synchronization between body vibrations and the centrifugal force due to the eccentric mass. On the one hand, in aquatic locomotion, the robot advances thanks to floating oscillations and the asymmetric shape of the floating feet. On the other hand, the terrestrial locomotion, which has already been demonstrated for a similar robot, exploits the modes of vibration of the elastic beam. In this study, the effect of different excitation frequencies on the locomotion speed in water is examined by means of experimental tests and a numerical model. A good agreement between experimental and numerical results is found. The maximum locomotion speed takes place when the floating modes of vibration are excited.
Effect of Shrinking and No Shrinking Dentine and Enamel Replacing Materials in Posterior Restoration: A 3D-FEA Study
Authors: Ausiello Pietro , Dal Piva Amanda Maria de Oliveira , Borges Alexandre Luiz Souto , Lanzotti Antonio , Zamparini Fausto , Epifania Ettore , Mendes Tribst João Paulo
Published: March 2021

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of shrinking and no shrinking dental filling materials combination in posterior restorations under the combined effects of polymerization shrinkage and occlusal load by means of 3D Finite Elements Analysis. Six computer-generated and restored class I or class II cavities models of a lower molar were designed in the CAD software and evaluated according to the cavity and restorative procedure. Different shrinking and no shrinking adhesive materials combination with diverse Young’s modulus were considered. A food bolus was modeled on the occlusal surface replicating the chewing load using static linear analyses Polymerization shrinkage was simulated for the shrinking different restorative materials. The maximum principal stress was selected as analysis criteria. All models exhibited higher stresses along the dentine restoration interfaces with different magnitude and a similar stress trend along enamel restoration interface. Stress values up to 22 MPa and 19 MPa were recorded in the enamel and restoration, respectively. The use of elastic not shrinking material layer in combination with bulk fill composite reduced the stress magnitude in dentine and enamel to replace dental tissues. Class I and class II posterior cavities adhesively restored with shrinking filling material’s combination showed the most unfavorable stress concentrations and the multilayer technique is a promising restorative alternative in posterior adhesive restorations when deep dentin and enamel volumes are missing.
Design and Management of Manufacturing Systems
Authors: Gola Arkadiusz
Published: March 2021

Although the design and management of manufacturing systems have been explored in the literature for many years now, they still remain topical problems in current scientific research [...]
Neuroprotective Effect of Membrane-Free Stem Cell Extract against Amyloid Beta 25–35-Induced Neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y Cells
Authors: Park Hye Sook , Pang Qi Qi , Kim Young Sil , Kim Ji Hyun , Cho Eun Ju
Published: March 2021

Amyloid beta (Aβ) produced by the amyloidogenic pathway induces neurotoxicity, and its accumulation is a well-known cause of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this study, the protective effect of membrane-free stem cell extract (MFSCE) derived from adipose tissue against Aβ25–35-induced neurotoxicity in the neuronal cells was investigated. Treatment with MFSCE increased cell viability and decreased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release in a dose-dependent manner, compared with the Aβ25–35-induced group. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was significantly increased in neuronal cells induced by Aβ25–35, whereas MFSCE treatment dose-dependently reduced ROS production. Treatment with MFSCE attenuated neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis by downregulating inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and B-cell lymphoma 2-associated X protein in treated SH-SY5Y cells induced by Aβ25–35. Furthermore, MFSCE significantly downregulated the expression of the amyloidogenic pathway-related proteins, such as amyloid precursor protein, β-secretase, preselin-1, and preselin-2. Therefore, this study indicated a neuroprotective effect of MFSCE against neurotoxicity induced by Aβ25–35, suggesting that it is a useful strategy for the treatment of AD.
Towards Bio-Hybrid Energy Harvesting in the Real-World: Pushing the Boundaries of Technologies and Strategies Using Bio-Electrochemical and Bio-Mechanical Processes
Authors: Afroz Abanti Shama , Romano Donato , Inglese Francesco , Stefanini Cesare
Published: March 2021

Sustainable, green energy harvesting has gained a considerable amount of attention over the last few decades and within its vast field of resources, bio-energy harvesters have become promising. These bio-energy harvesters appear in a wide variety and function either by directly generating energy with mechanisms similar to living organisms or indirectly by extracting energy from living organisms. Presently this new generation of energy harvesters is fueling various low-power electronic devices while being extensively researched for large-scale applications. In this review we concentrate on recent progresses of the three promising bio-energy harvesters: microbial fuel cells, enzyme-based fuel cells and biomechanical energy harvesters. All three of these technologies are already extensively being used in small-scale applications. While microbial fuel cells hold immense potential in industrial-scale energy production, both enzyme-based fuel cells and biomechanical energy harvesters show promises of becoming independent and natural power sources for wearable and implantable devices for many living organisms including humans. Herein, we summarize the basic principles of these bio-energy harvesting technologies, outline their recent advancements and estimate the near future research trends.
Fuzzy Relations Matrixes of Damages and Technical Wear Related to Apartment Houses
Authors: Konior Jarosław , Stachoń Tomasz
Published: March 2021

The research presented in this article was conducted on a representative and purposefully selected sample of 102 residential buildings that were erected in the second half of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in the downtown district of Wroclaw (Poland). The degree of the technical wear of an old residential building is determined by the conditions of its maintenance and operation. The diagnosis of the impact of the maintenance of residential buildings on the degree of their technical wear was carried out using quantitative methods in the categories of fuzzy sets and also by using the authors’ own models created in fuzzy conditions. It was proved that the expression of the operational state of a building, considered as the process that plays the greatest role in its accelerated destruction, is mechanical damage to the internal structure of its elements. This damage is determined in the categories of fuzzy sets and has a high frequency and a cumulative effect of occurrence, which are characteristic for buildings in satisfactory and average maintenance conditions. The use of simple operations in fuzzy set calculus enabled the impact of elementary damage that occurs with a specific frequency, as well as the measure of its correlation on the observed technical wear of building elements to be considered. As a result, it was possible to identify the elementary damage that determines the degree of the technical wear of a building element. For each of the selected building elements, the maximal and minimal fuzzy relational equations (damage and technical wear) were determined. Their solutions were given in the form of clear relational matrixes that constitute big data arrays. They define the domain and range of the maximal and minimal fuzzy relations, the height of the fuzzy relations, their differences, and the place of their occurrence between the maximal and minimal dependencies.
Sulfuric Acid Resistance of CNT-Cementitious Composites
Authors: Lee Gun-Cheol , Kim Youngmin , Seo Soo-Yeon , Yun Hyun-Do , Hong Seongwon
Published: March 2021

This study analyzed changes in the durability characteristics of cement mortar incorporating carbon nanotube (CNT) and the electrical properties subjected to deterioration induced by sulfate attack. Powder types of multi-walled or single-walled CNTs were used and added to the composites with 1.0% and 2.0% mass fraction, and the specimens were immersed in 5% and 10% sulfuric acid solutions to investigate the durability of CNT cementitious composites. Although mechanical performance decreased due to relatively large pores (370–80 μm) caused by CNTs, specimens incorporating CNTs exhibited enhanced resistance to sulfuric acid as CNTs, which offered strong resistance to acid corrosion, and prevented contact between the cement hydrate and the sulfuric acid solution. Therefore, it is expected that self-sensing performance was exhibited because there were no significant differences in the electrical properties of cement mortar subjected to the deterioration by sulfate attack.
An Inspection of IFC Models from Practice
Authors: Noardo Francesca , Arroyo Ohori Ken , Krijnen Thomas , Stoter Jantien
Published: March 2021

Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) is a complete, wide and complex open standard data model to represent Building Information Models. Big efforts are being made by the standardization organization buildingSMART, to develop and maintain this standard in collaboration with researchers, companies and institutions. However, when trying to use IFC models from practice for automatic analysis, some issues emerge, as a consequence of a misalignment between what is prescribed by, or available in, the standard with the data sets that are produced in practice. In this study, a sample of models produced by practitioners for aims different from their explicit use within automatic processing tools is inspected and analyzed. The aim is to find common patterns in data set from practice and their possible discrepancies with the standard, in order to find ways to address such discrepancies in a next step. In particular, it is noticeable that the overall quality of the models requires specific additional care by the modellers before relying on them for automatic analysis, and a high level of variability is present concerning the storage of some relevant information (such as georeferencing).
Plasma-Activated Water Modulates Root Hair Cell Density via Root Developmental Genes in Arabidopsis thaliana L.
Authors: Ka Dong Hyeun , Priatama Ryza Aditya , Park Joo Young , Park Soon Ju , Kim Seong Bong , Lee In Ah , Lee Young Koung
Published: March 2021

Low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma technology has been used in agriculture and plant science by direct and indirect treatment of bio-samples. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms affected by plasma-activated water (PAW) are largely unexplored. In this study, PAW generated from a surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) device was used for plant development. Physicochemical analysis was performed to confirm the PAW properties that correlated with the plasma treatment time. Arabidopsis thaliana L. was utilized to study the effect of the PAW treatment in the early developmental stage. The plasma-activated water samples are denoted as PAW5 time in minutes (min), PAW7 min, PAW12 min, PAW19 min and PAW40 min with the plasma treatment time. Seedlings grown in the PAW5, PAW7 and PAW12 had increased root lengths while the root lengths were decreased in the PAW19 and PAW40. In the cellular level observation, the PAW treatment specifically increased the root hair numbers per unit of the root but suppressed the root hair length in the PAW, indicating that PAW mainly modulates the root hair cell density in the root. Furthermore, we found that the root hair density and length at PAW5 in maximal observed conditions were positively regulated by root developmental-related genes including COBRA-LIKE9 (COBL9), XYLOGLUCAN ENDOTRANSGLUCOSYLASE/HYDROLASE9 (XTH9), XTH17, AUXIN1 (AUX1) and LIKE-AUXIN (LAX3).
A Phase Angle-Modulated Bat Algorithm with Application to Antenna Topology Optimization
Authors: Dong Jian , Wang Zhiyu , Mo Jinjun
Published: March 2021

This paper proposes a phase angle-modulated bat algorithm (P-AMBA) for high-dimensional binary optimization. The idea was to reduce the optimization time by introducing angle modulation technology to reduce the optimization dimensions. Different from the original angle-modulated bat algorithm (AMBA), the control of the trigonometric generating function cosine wave is by introducing new parameters, thereby improving the perturbation ability of the function curve near the x-axis. P-AMBA can explore more 0/1 solutions, and it has advantages in optimizing convergence speed and global search capabilities. The numerical results of the 0–1 knapsack problem tests show that P-AMBA is superior to the contrast algorithms on optimization ability and optimization time. Finally, the experimental result of a compact dual-band planar monopole antenna design showed the effectiveness of P-AMBA in engineering applications.
Mechanical and Electrical Properties of DNA Hydrogel-Based Composites Containing Self-Assembled Three-Dimensional Nanocircuits
Authors: Gao Ming , Krissanaprasit Abhichart , Miles Austin , Hsiao Lilian C. , LaBean Thomas H.
Published: March 2021

Molecular self-assembly of DNA has been developed as an effective construction strategy for building complex materials. Among them, DNA hydrogels are known for their simple fabrication process and their tunable properties. In this study, we have engineered, built, and characterized a variety of pure DNA hydrogels using DNA tile-based crosslinkers and different sizes of linear DNA spacers, as well as DNA hydrogel/nanomaterial composites using DNA/nanomaterial conjugates with carbon nanotubes and gold nanoparticles as crosslinkers. We demonstrate the ability of this system to self-assemble into three-dimensional percolating networks when carbon nanotubes and gold nanoparticles are incorporated into the DNA hydrogel. These hydrogel composites showed interesting non-linear electrical properties. We also demonstrate the tuning of rheological properties of hydrogel-based composites using different types of crosslinkers and spacers. The viscoelasticity of DNA hydrogels is shown to dramatically increase by the use of a combination of interlocking DNA tiles and DNA/carbon nanotube crosslinkers. Finally, we present measurements and discuss electrically conductive nanomaterials for applications in nanoelectronics.
Body Size, Not Personality, Explains Both Male Mating Success and Sexual Cannibalism in a Widow Spider
Authors: Golobinek Rok , Gregorič Matjaž , Kralj-Fišer Simona
Published: March 2021

Theory suggests that consistent individual variation in behavior relates to fitness, but few studies have empirically examined the role of personalities in mate choice, male-male competition and reproductive success. We observed the Mediterranean black widow, Latrodectus tredecimguttatus, in the individual and mating context, to test how body size measures and two functionally important aggressive behaviors, i.e., male aggression towards rivals and female voracity towards prey, affect mating behaviors, mating success and sexual cannibalism. We specifically selected voracity towards prey in females to test the “aggressive spillover hypothesis”, suggesting that more voracious females are more sexually cannibalistic. Both females and males exhibit consistent individual differences in the examined aggressive behaviors. While larger males win contests more often and achieve more copulations, neither male nor female size measures correlate to aggression. Female voracity does not correlate with aggression towards mates and sexual cannibalism, rejecting the “spillover hypothesis”. However, occurrence of sexual cannibalism positively relates to longer insertion duration. Furthermore, the smaller the ratio between male and female body length the more likely a female attacked and cannibalized a mate. We show that individual variation in aggression levels plays no direct role in the mating behavior of the Mediterranean black widow. Instead, body size affects male mating success and occurrences of sexual cannibalism in females.
Biodiscovery of Potential Antibacterial Diagnostic Metabolites from the Endolichenic Fungus Xylaria venustula Using LC–MS-Based Metabolomics
Authors: Santiago Krystle Angelique A. , Edrada-Ebel RuAngelie , dela Cruz Thomas Edison E. , Cheow Yuen Lin , Ting Adeline Su Yien
Published: March 2021

Three species of the lichen Usnea (U. baileyi (Stirt.) Zahlbr., U. bismolliuscula Zahlbr. and U. pectinata Stirt.) and nine associated endolichenic fungi (ELF) were evaluated using a metabolomics approach. All investigated lichen crude extracts afforded antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): 0.0625 mg/mL), but none was observed against Escherichia coli, while the ELF extract Xylaria venustula was found to be the most active against S. aureus (MIC: 2.5 mg/mL) and E. coli (MIC: 5 mg/mL). X. venustula was fractionated and tested for to determine its antibacterial activity. Fractions XvFr1 to 5 displayed bioactivities against both test bacteria. Selected crude extracts and fractions were subjected to metabolomics analyses using high-resolution LC–MS. Multivariate analyses showed the presence of five secondary metabolites unique to bioactive fractions XvFr1 to 3, which were identified as responsible for the antibacterial activity of X. venustula. The p-values of these metabolites were at the margin of significance level, with methyl xylariate C (P_60) being the most significant. However, their high variable importance of projection (VIP) scores (>5) suggest these metabolites are potential diagnostic metabolites for X. venustula for “dual” bioactivity against S. aureus and E. coli. The statistical models also showed the distinctiveness of metabolites produced by lichens and ELF, thus supporting our hypotheses of ELF functionality similar to plant endophytes.
RAS Nanoclusters: Dynamic Signaling Platforms Amenable to Therapeutic Intervention
Authors: Van Que N. , Prakash Priyanka , Shrestha Rebika , Balius Trent E. , Turbyville Thomas J. , Stephen Andrew G.
Published: March 2021

RAS proteins are mutated in approximately 20% of all cancers and are generally associated with poor clinical outcomes. RAS proteins are localized to the plasma membrane and function as molecular switches, turned on by partners that receive extracellular mitogenic signals. In the on-state, they activate intracellular signal transduction cascades. Membrane-bound RAS molecules segregate into multimers, known as nanoclusters. These nanoclusters, held together through weak protein–protein and protein–lipid associations, are highly dynamic and respond to cellular input signals and fluctuations in the local lipid environment. Disruption of RAS nanoclusters results in downregulation of RAS-mediated mitogenic signaling. In this review, we discuss the propensity of RAS proteins to display clustering behavior and the interfaces that are associated with these assemblies. Strategies to therapeutically disrupt nanocluster formation or the stabilization of signaling incompetent RAS complexes are discussed.
Improving the Performance of Gd Addition on Catalytic Activity and SO2 Resistance over MnOx/ZSM-5 Catalysts for Low-Temperature NH3-SCR
Authors: Guan Jinkun , Zhou Lusha , Li Weiquan , Hu Die , Wen Jie , Huang Bichun
Published: March 2021

SO2 poisoning is a great challenge for the practical application of Mn-based catalysts in low-temperature selective catalytic reduction (SCR) reactions of NOx with NH3. A series of Gadolinium (Gd)-modified MnOx/ZSM-5 catalysts were synthesized via a citric acid–ethanol dispersion method and evaluated by low-temperature NH3-SCR. Among them, the GdMn/Z-0.3 catalyst with the molar ratio of Gd/Mn of 0.3 presented the highest catalytic activity, in which a 100% NO conversion could be obtained in the temperature range of 120–240 °C. Furthermore, GdMn/Z-0.3 exhibited good SO2 resistance compared with Mn/Z in the presence of 100 ppm SO2. The results of Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), temperature-programmed reduction of H2 (H2-TPR) and temperature-programmed desorption of NH3 (NH3-TPD) illustrated that such catalytic performance was mainly caused by large surface area, abundant Mn4+ and surface chemisorbed oxygen species, strong reducibility and the suitable acidity of the catalyst. The in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectra (DRIFTS) results revealed that the addition of Gd greatly inhibited the reaction between the SO2 and MnOx active sites to form bulk manganese sulfate, thus contributing to high SO2 resistance. Moreover, in situ DRIFTS experiments also shed light on the mechanism of low-temperature SCR reactions over Mn/Z and GdMn/Z-0.3, which both followed the Langmuir–Hinshelwood (L–H) and Eley–Rideal (E–R) mechanism.
Thyroid Hormone Receptor Is Essential for Larval Epithelial Apoptosis and Adult Epithelial Stem Cell Development but Not Adult Intestinal Morphogenesis during Xenopus tropicalis Metamorphosis
Authors: Shibata Yuki , Tanizaki Yuta , Zhang Hongen , Lee Hangnoh , Dasso Mary , Shi Yun-Bo
Published: March 2021

Vertebrate postembryonic development is regulated by thyroid hormone (T3). Of particular interest is anuran metamorphosis, which offers several unique advantages for studying the role of T3 and its two nuclear receptor genes, TRα and TRβ, during postembryonic development. We have recently generated TR double knockout (TRDKO) Xenopus tropicalis animals and reported that TR is essential for the completion of metamorphosis. Furthermore, TRDKO tadpoles are stalled at the climax of metamorphosis before eventual death. Here we show that TRDKO intestine lacked larval epithelial cell death and adult stem cell formation/proliferation during natural metamorphosis. Interestingly, TRDKO tadpole intestine had premature formation of adult-like epithelial folds and muscle development. In addition, T3 treatment of premetamorphic TRDKO tadpoles failed to induce any metamorphic changes in the intestine. Furthermore, RNA-seq analysis revealed that TRDKO altered the expression of many genes in biological pathways such as Wnt signaling and the cell cycle that likely underlay the inhibition of larval epithelial cell death and adult stem cell development caused by removing both TR genes. Our data suggest that liganded TR is required for larval epithelial cell degeneration and adult stem cell formation, whereas unliganded TR prevents precocious adult tissue morphogenesis such as smooth-muscle development and epithelial folding.
Impact of Carbon Dioxide on the Non-Catalytic Thermal Decomposition of Methane
Authors: Marquardt Tobias , Wendt Sebastian , Kabelac Stephan
Published: March 2021

Economically and ecologically, the thermal decomposition of methane is a promising process for large scale hydrogen production. In this experimental study, the non-catalytic decomposition of methane in the presence of small amounts of carbon dioxide was analyzed. At large scales, natural gas or biomethane are possible feedstocks for the thermal decomposition and can obtain up to 5% carbon dioxide. Gas recycling can increase the amount of secondary components even further. Experiments were conducted in a packed flow reactor at temperatures from 1250 to 1350 K. The residence time and the amounts of carbon dioxide and hydrogen in the feed were varied. A methane conversion of up to 55.4% and a carbon dioxide conversion of up to 44.1% were observed. At 1300 K the hydrogen yield was 95% for a feed of methane diluted in nitrogen. If carbon dioxide was added to the feed at up to a tenth with regard to the amount of supplied methane, the hydrogen yield was reduced to 85%. Hydrogen in the feed decreases the reaction rate of the methane decomposition and increases the carbon dioxide conversion.
Characterization of Wear and Corrosion Resistance of Stellite 6 Laser Surfaced Alloyed (LSA) with Rhenium
Authors: Smolina Irina , Kobiela Karol
Published: March 2021

This paper presents the method of preparation and study results of the Stellite 6 laser surface alloyed (LSA) with rhenium using na LDF diode laser (4000 W). During this process, a rhenium powder was introduced onto the surface of the Co-based alloy. The possibility of improving wear and corrosion resistance properties is interesting and worth investigating. The selected process parameters: the laser power of 900 W, powder feed rate in the range 1.92–3.83 g/min, and necessarily preheating of the substrate up to 200 °C—allowing to obtain the LSA layers on the Stellite 6 substrate. Depending on the process parameters, it is possible to modify the substrate’s surface layer in terms of rhenium concentration and geometrical characteristics of the laser tracks. It was found that undissolved particles of rhenium in laser-alloyed layers have a non-significant effect on their hardness and abrasion resistance. The laser surface-alloyed corrosion potential is better than the corrosion potential of the Stellite 6 substrate, including reducing resistance to pitting corrosion with a high ability to repassivation.
Comparative Assessment of Sera from Individuals after S-Gene RNA-Based SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination with Spike-Protein-Based and Nucleocapsid-Based Serological Assays
Authors: Dörschug Anja , Frickmann Hagen , Schwanbeck Julian , Yilmaz Elif , Mese Kemal , Hahn Andreas , Groß Uwe , Zautner Andreas E.
Published: March 2021

Due to the beginning of vaccination against COVID-19, serological discrimination between vaccine-associated humoral response and serology-based surveillance of natural SARS-CoV-2 infections as well as breakthrough infections becomes an issue of relevance. Here, we assessed the differentiated effects of the application of an RNA vaccine using SARS-CoV-2 spike protein epitopes on the results of both anti-spike protein–based serology (EUROIMMUN) and anti-nucleocapsid-based serology (VIROTECH). A total of 80 serum samples from vaccinees acquired at different time points after vaccination was assessed. While positive or borderline serological response in the anti-spike protein assay was observed for all samples (90% both IgG and IgA, 6.3% IgA only, 3.8% borderline IgG only), only a single case of a falsely positive IgM was observed for the anti-nucleocapsid assay as expected due to this assay’s specificity. Positive anti-spike protein antibodies were already detectable in the second week after the first dose of vaccination, with higher titers after the second dose of the vaccine. In conclusion, the combined application of anti-spike protein–based serology and anti-nucleocapsid-based serology will provide a useful option for the discrimination of vaccination response and natural infection.