bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Measurement Reliability for the IPN Test in Cardiac Patients
Authors: Oleksy Łukasz , Skiba Agnieszka , Sulowska Iwona , Trębowicz Marcin , Rukasz Bartosz , Stolarczyk Artur , Zyznawska Joanna , Mika Anna
Published: May 2020

Cardiological diagnostics use maximal and submaximal tests with increasing load. Maximal stress tests are currently considered the gold standard. The Institut für Prävention und Nachsorge, Cologne (IPN) test may be an alternative when maximal patient load is not indicated. The universality of the test is well-documented in sport, but the reliability of this test is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess between-trial and between-day reliability for parameters assessed by the IPN stress test in cardiological patients.: In a study of 24 patients aged 39 to 79 years with cardiovascular diseases, the IPN cycle ergometer short test was performed (submaximal performance test). The reliability of heart rate, systolic and diastolic pressure, absolute power at submaximal load, relative performance at submaximal load and target heart rate were assessed. Good (Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) values ranged from 0.832 to 0.894) and excellent (ICC values ranged from 0.904 to 0.969) between-trial reliability was noted. Between-day reliability was good (ICC values from 0.777 to 0.895) and excellent (ICC values from 0.922 to 0.950). The obtained results suggest that the IPN test may be a reliable tool for use in the assessment of cardiological patients, avoiding the implementation of maximal efforts when excessive patient load is not recommended.
Biomechanical and Clinical Effect of Patient-Specific or Customized Knee Implants: A Review
Authors: Lee Jin-Ah , Koh Yong-Gon , Kang Kyoung-Tak
Published: May 2020

(1) Background: Although knee arthroplasty or knee replacement is already an effective clinical treatment, it continues to undergo clinical and biomechanical improvements. For an increasing number of conditions, prosthesis based on an individual patient’s anatomy is a promising treatment. The aims of this review were to evaluate the clinical and biomechanical efficacy of patient-specific knee prosthesis, explore its future direction, and summarize any published comparative studies. (2) Methods: We searched the PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus databases for articles published prior to 1 February 2020, with the keywords “customized knee prosthesis” and “patient-specific knee prosthesis”. We excluded patient-specific instrument techniques. (3) Results: Fifty-seven articles met the inclusion criteria. In general, clinical improvement was greater with a patient-specific knee prosthesis than with a conventional knee prosthesis. In addition, patient-specific prosthesis showed improved biomechanical effect than conventional prosthesis. However, in one study, patient-specific unicompartmental knee arthroplasty showed a relatively high rate of aseptic loosening, particularly femoral component loosening, in the short- to medium-term follow-up. (4) Conclusions: A patient-specific prosthesis provides a more accurate resection and fit of components, yields significant postoperative improvements, and exhibits a high level of patient satisfaction over the short to medium term compared with a conventional prosthesis. However, the tibial insert design of the current patient-specific knee prosthesis does not follow the tibial plateau curvature.
Turtles All the Way Down: From g to Mitochondrial Functioning
Authors: Stankov Lazar
Published: May 2020

Geary (2018, 2019) theorizes that the efficiency of mitochondrial functioning is the fundamental biological mechanism that affects the organism as a whole and is common to all brain and cognitive processes [...]
Green Ceramic Machining: Influence of the Cutting Speed and the Binder Percentage on the Y-TZP Behavior
Authors: Demarbaix Anthonin , Ducobu François , Preux Nicolas , Petit Fabrice , Rivière-Lorphèvre Edouard
Published: May 2020

The demand for inert bioceramics is always increasing in the dental field. Yttrium oxide tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (Y-TZP) are oxide ceramics which are currently used because of their interesting mechanical properties due to a toughening transformation. Industrially speaking, machining of the ceramic before sintering (green body) is very common because it allows a better productivity and it reduces crack probability during the sintering process. The goal of this paper is to determine the behavior of green ceramic during the machining operation. This study is carried out on several blanks with different binder percentages. The specific cutting energy (SCE) and the surface quality (Ra and Rz) are determined for several cutting speeds. The SCE follows a logarithmic evolution when the cutting speed increases. Despite this increase, the Ra are relatively stable whatever the cutting speed and the binder percentage. At a low cutting speed, a higher Rz value is observed caused by pullout of material. The increase of cutting speed allows to stabilize the Rz value whatever the binder percentage. This study shows that the green ceramic has a pseudo-plastic behavior whose machinability depends mainly on the interaction between the material and the cutting edge of the tool, so unlike pre-sintered ceramic or metallic part cutting speed has a low influence on the quality of the machined part.
Prediction of Shoreline Evolution. Reliability of a General Model for the Mixed Beach Case
Authors: Tomasicchio Giuseppe R. , Francone Antonio , Simmonds David J. , D’Alessandro Felice , Frega Ferdinando
Published: May 2020

In the present paper, after a sensitivity analysis, the calibration and verification of a novel morphodynamic model have been conducted based on a high-quality field experiment data base. The morphodynamic model includes a general formula to predict longshore transport and associated coastal morphology over short- and long-term time scales. With respect to the majority of the existing one-line models, which address sandy coastline evolution, the proposed General Shoreline beach model (GSb) is suitable for estimation of shoreline change at a coastal mound made of non-cohesive sediment grains/units as sand, gravel, cobbles, shingle and rock. In order to verify the reliability of the GSb model, a comparison between observed and calculated shorelines in the presence of a temporary groyne deployed at a mixed beach has been performed. The results show that GSb gives a good agreement between observations and predictions, well reproducing the coastal evolution.
Estimation of the Mechanical Recovery Potential of Spilled Oil at Sea Considering the Spatial Thickness Distribution
Authors: Choe Yunseon , Kim Hyeonuk , Huh Cheol , Kim Choong-Ki , Cho Meang-Ik , Choi Hyuek-Jin
Published: May 2020

Recovery modeling and countermeasures for oil spilled at sea have been extensively researched, but research remains insufficient on recovery potential estimation methods. It is required to access the mechanical recovery potential by considering the relationship between oil behavior, environmental conditions, and the performance of clean-up activities. Two response-planning models were developed in this study. One is a spatially uniform recovery model for estimating recovery potential that reflects weathering, oil properties, and equipment efficiency. The other is a spatially nonuniform recovery model that considers not only the above characteristics but also local thickness reduction by skimming. A comparison between the two models and an analysis of their effects on response was carried out through the calculation using an accident scenario. It is possible to analyze the effect of the thin slicks, natural dissipation, and the quantification of deployable skimming systems with the spatially nonuniform recovery model. Finally, we analyzed interrelationships among residual oil volume on the sea, response time, and the number of skimming systems.
Comparison of Five TRIzol-Based Protein Preparation Methods for 2-DE Production From Challenging Marine Dinoflagellate Samples: A Case Study on Two Benthic Prorocentrum Species
Authors: Lee Thomas Chun-Hung , Lai Kaze King-Yip , Kwok Celia Sze-Nga , Xu Steven Jing-Liang , Lee Fred Wang-Fat
Published: May 2020

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) is a major element of conventional gel-based proteomics, which resolves complex protein mixtures. Protein extraction with the removal of interfering substances from the sample remains the key to producing high-quality 2-DE profiles. Marine dinoflagellates contain large endogenous amounts of salts, nucleic acids, polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, pigments, and other interfering compounds. These substances are detrimental to the quality of gel images. Protein preparation using TRIzol reagent is a promising method for producing high-quality 2-DE profiles for dinoflagellate samples. In addition to its remarkable performance, the TRIzol method’s several advantages have made it a popular and widely used method in the field of 2-DE sample preparation. Nonetheless, the quality of 2-DE of samples from certain dinoflagellate species is not as high as previously reported when the same TRIzol protocol is applied. Therefore, modifications to the original TRIzol method are required to remove interfering substances from those challenging dinoflagellate samples. In this study, the original TRIzol method and four modified methods, namely the aliquot TRIzol method, re-TRIzol method, TRIzol method with a commercial clean-up kit, and TRIzol method with trichloroacetic acid/acetone precipitation, were compared. Performance of these five methods in terms of protein yield, background signal, and resolution and number of protein spots was investigated on samples from two benthic Prorocentrum species: P. lima and P. hoffmannianum. Our results demonstrated that high-quality 2-DE could be achieved from P. lima samples prepared using both the original TRIzol method and the TRIzol method with a commercial clean-up kit. However, the original TRIzol method failed to produce high-quality 2-DE profiles for P. hoffmannianum samples. Among the four modified TRIzol methods, only the TRIzol method with a commercial clean-up kit could yield substantially improved high-quality 2-DE profiles for P. hoffmannianum samples. This combination of the conventional TRIzol method with a commercial clean-up kit potentially represents a promising protein extraction methodology for obtaining high-quality 2-DE profiles for difficult dinoflagellate samples.
Improving Nutritive Value of Purple Field Corn Residue and Rice Straw by Culturing with White-Rot Fungi
Authors: Khonkhaeng Benjamad , Cherdthong Anusorn
Published: May 2020

It was hypothesized that white-rot fungus fermented with rice straw and purple field corn improves nutrient utilization via enhanced digestibility and lowers methane (CH4) production due to the effects of the lovastatin compound. The aim of the current experiment was to investigate the effect of inoculation of two fungi belonging to white-rot fungus type on feed value and ruminal fermentation characteristic. The experiment was carried out according to a completely randomized 3 × 3 factorial design: three roughage sources (rice straw, purple corn stover, and purple corn field cob) for three inoculation methods (untreated, P. ostreatus treated, and V. volvacea treated). The two fungi increased concentration of lovastatin when compared to the untreated, and P. ostreatus had higher lovastatin production potential than V. volvacea (p < 0.05). The yield of lovastatin was obtained from rice straw fermentation with P. ostreatus. The monomeric anthocyanin content (MAC) in untreated purple field corn cobs was higher than in the fermentation groups. Ruminal fermentation gas production from soluble fractions ranged from −2.47 to 1.14 and differed among the treatments (p < 0.01). In comparison to all treatments, the gas production rate for the insoluble fraction was significantly highest (p < 0.01) in treatment alone, in which purple field corn stover was fermented with P. ostreatus and V. volvacea. There was significant interaction in in vitro dry matter digestibility at 12 h of incubation. Purple field corn cob had a higher significant effect on in vitro DM digestibility at 12 and 24 h after incubation when compared to that of other groups. Moreover, current research has found that roughage fermented with P. ostreatus and V. volvacea increased in vitro DM digestibility at 24 h after incubation. Fermenting roughage with fungi did not affect rumen pH, which ranged from 6.60 to 6.91 (p > 0.05), while P. ostreatus resulted in increased levels of ruminal ammonia-nitrogen concentrations. Propionic acid increased in all roughages fermented with P. ostreatus or V. volvacea after 8 h of ruminal fermentation testing. The two fungi fermented as substrate treatments had significantly lower (p < 0.05) CH4 production. Based on the improved rumen DM digestibility and reduced CH4 production, P. ostreatus and V. volvacea could be utilized for enhancing feeding efficiency of roughage.
Wise Management of Ovarian Cancer: On the Cutting Edge
Authors: Boussios Stergios , Mikropoulos Christos , Samartzis Eleftherios , Karihtala Peeter , Moschetta Michele , Sheriff Matin , Karathanasi Afroditi , Sadauskaite Agne , Rassy Elie , Pavlidis Nicholas
Published: May 2020

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the fifth leading cause of cancer mortality among women. Two-thirds of patients present at advanced stage at diagnosis, and the estimated 5 year survival rate is 20–40%. This heterogeneous group of malignancies has distinguishable etiology and molecular biology. Initially, single-gene sequencing was performed to identify germline DNA variations associated with EOC. However, hereditary EOC syndrome can be explained by germline pathogenic variants (gPVs) in several genes. In this regard, next-generation sequencing (NGS) changed clinical diagnostic testing, allowing assessment of multiple genes simultaneously in a faster and cheaper manner than sequential single gene analysis. As we move into the era of personalized medicine, there is evidence that poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors exploit homologous recombination (HR) deficiency, especially in breast cancer gene 1 and 2 (BRCA1/2) mutation carriers. Furthermore, extensive preclinical data supported the development of aurora kinase (AURK) inhibitors in specific tumor types, including EOC. Their efficacy may be optimized in combination with chemotherapeutic or other molecular agents. The efficacy of metformin in ovarian cancer prevention is under investigation. Certain mutations, such as ARID1A mutations, and alterations in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mTOR pathway, which are specific in ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) and endometrioid ovarian carcinoma (EnOC), may offer additional therapeutic targets in these clinical entities. Malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCTs) are rare and randomized trials are extremely challenging for the improvement of the existing management and development of novel strategies. This review attempts to offer an overview of the main aspects of ovarian cancer, catapulted from the molecular mechanisms to therapeutic considerations.
n-Ary Cartesian Composition of Multiautomata with Internal Link for Autonomous Control of Lane Shifting
Authors: Křehlík Štěpán
Published: May 2020

In this paper, which is based on a real-life motivation, we present an algebraic theory of automata and multi-automata. We combine these (multi-)automata using the products introduced by W. Dörfler, where we work with the cartesian composition and we define the internal links among multiautomata by means of the internal links’ matrix. We used the obtained product of n-ary multi-automata as a system that models and controls certain traffic situations (lane shifting) for autonomous vehicles.
Assessment of Chip Breakability during Turning of Stainless Steels Based on Weight Distributions of Chips
Authors: Du Hongying , Karasev Andrey , Björk Thomas , Lövquist Simon , Jönsson Pär G.
Published: May 2020

Currently, the available evaluation methods for determining the chip breakability in the industry are mainly based on subjective visual assessment of the chip formation by an operator during machining or on chips that were collected after the tests. However, in many cases, these methods cannot give us accurate quantitative differences for evaluation of the chip breakability of similar steel grades and similar sets of machining parameters. Thus, more sensitive methods are required to obtain more detailed information. In this study, a new method for the objective assessment of chip breakability based on quantitative determination of the weight distribution of chips (WDC) was tested and applied during machining of stainless steels without Ca treatment (316L) and with Ca treatment (316L + Ca). The obtained results show great consistencies and the reliability of this method. By using the WDC method, significant quantitative differences were obtained by the evaluation of chips, which were collected during the machining process of these two similar grades of steel at various cutting parameters, while, visually, these chips look very similar. More specifically, it was found that the Ca treatment of steel can improve the chip breakability of 316L + Ca steel in 80% of cutting trials, since a fraction of small light chips (Type I) from this steel increased and a fraction of large heavy chips (Type III) decreased accordingly. Moreover, the WDCs that were obtained at different cutting parameters were determined and compared in this study. The obtained results can be used for the optimization of chip breakability of each steel at different cutting parameters. The positive effect of Ca treatment of stainless steel was discussed in this study based on consideration of the modification of different non-metallic inclusions and their effect on the chip breakability during machining.
Alterations in Tissue Metabolite Profiles with Amifostine-Prophylaxed Mice Exposed to Gamma Radiation
Authors: Cheema Amrita K. , Li Yaoxiang , Girgis Michael , Jayatilake Meth , Fatanmi Oluseyi O. , Wise Stephen Y. , Seed Thomas M. , Singh Vijay K.
Published: May 2020

Acute exposure to high-dose ionizing irradiation has the potential to severely injure the hematopoietic system and its capacity to produce vital blood cells that innately serve to ward off infections and excessive bleeding. Developing a medical radiation countermeasure that can protect individuals from the damaging effects of irradiation remains a significant, unmet need and an area of great public health interest and concern. Despite significant advancements in the field of radiation countermeasure development to find a nontoxic and effective prophylactic agent for acute radiation syndrome, no such drug has yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. This study focuses on examining the metabolic corrections elicited by amifostine, a potent radioprotector, on tissues of vital body organs, such as the heart, spleen, and kidney. Our findings indicate that prophylaxis with this drug offers significant protection against potentially lethal radiation injury, in part, by correction of radiation-induced metabolic pathway perturbations.
Microbial Consortiums of Hydrogenotrophic Methanogenic Mixed Cultures in Lab-Scale Ex-Situ Biogas Upgrading Systems under Different Conditions of Temperature, pH and CO
Authors: Xu Jun , Bu Fan , Zhu Wenzhe , Luo Gang , Xie Li
Published: May 2020

In this study, hydrogenotrophic methanogenic mixed cultures taken from 13 lab-scale ex-situ biogas upgrading systems under different temperature (20–70 °C), pH (6.0–8.5), and CO (0–10%, v/v) variables were systematically investigated. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to identify the microbial consortia, and statistical analyses were conducted to reveal the microbial diversity, the core functional microbes, and their correlative relationships with tested variables. Overall, bacterial community was more complex than the archaea community in all mixed cultures. Hydrogenotrophic methanogens Methanothermobacter, Methanobacterium, and Methanomassiliicoccus, and putative syntrophic acetate-oxidizing bacterium Coprothermobacter and Caldanaerobacter were found to predominate, but the core functional microbes varied under different conditions. Multivariable sensitivity analysis indicated that temperature (p < 0.01) was the crucial variable to determine the microbial consortium structures in hydrogenotrophic methanogenic mixed cultures. pH (0.01 < p < 0.05) significantly interfered with the relative abundance of dominant archaea. Although CO did not affect community (p > 0.1), some potential CO-utilizing syntrophic metabolisms might be enhanced. Understanding of microbial consortia in the hydrogenotrophic methanogenic mixed cultures related to environmental variables was a great advance to reveal the microbial ecology in microbial biogas upgrading process.
Comparative Genomics of the Rhodococcus Genus Shows Wide Distribution of Biodegradation Traits
Authors: Garrido-Sanz Daniel , Redondo-Nieto Miguel , Martín Marta , Rivilla Rafael
Published: May 2020

The genus Rhodococcus exhibits great potential for bioremediation applications due to its huge metabolic diversity, including biotransformation of aromatic and aliphatic compounds. Comparative genomic studies of this genus are limited to a small number of genomes, while the high number of sequenced strains to date could provide more information about the Rhodococcus diversity. Phylogenomic analysis of 327 Rhodococcus genomes and clustering of intergenomic distances identified 42 phylogenomic groups and 83 species-level clusters. Rarefaction models show that these numbers are likely to increase as new Rhodococcus strains are sequenced. The Rhodococcus genus possesses a small “hard” core genome consisting of 381 orthologous groups (OGs), while a “soft” core genome of 1253 OGs is reached with 99.16% of the genomes. Models of sequentially randomly added genomes show that a small number of genomes are enough to explain most of the shared diversity of the Rhodococcus strains, while the “open” pangenome and strain-specific genome evidence that the diversity of the genus will increase, as new genomes still add more OGs to the whole genomic set. Most rhodococci possess genes involved in the degradation of aliphatic and aromatic compounds, while short-chain alkane degradation is restricted to a certain number of groups, among which a specific particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO) is only found in Rhodococcus sp. WAY2. The analysis of Rieske 2Fe-2S dioxygenases among rhodococci genomes revealed that most of these enzymes remain uncharacterized.
Richardsite, Zn2CuGaS4, A New Gallium-Essential Member of the Stannite Group from the Gem Mines near Merelani, Tanzania
Authors: Bindi Luca , Jaszczak John A.
Published: May 2020

The new mineral richardsite occurs as overgrowths of small (50–400 μm) dark gray, disphenoidal crystals with no evident twinning, but epitaxically oriented on wurtzite–sphalerite crystals from the gem mines near Merelani, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania. Associated minerals also include graphite, diopside, and Ge,Ga-rich wurtzite. It is brittle, dark gray in color, and has a metallic luster. It appears dark bluish gray in reflected plane-polarized light, and is moderately bireflectant. It is distinctly anisotropic with violet to light-blue rotation tints with crossed polarizers. Reflectance percentages for Rmin and Rmax in air at the respective wavelengths are 23.5, 25.0 (471.1 nm); 27.4, 28.9 (548.3 nm); 28.1, 29.4 (586.6 nm); 27.7, 28.9 (652.3 nm). Richardsite does not show pleochroism, internal reflections, or optical indications of growth zonation. Electron microprobe analyses determine an empirical formula, based on 8 apfu, as (Zn1.975Cu0.995Ga0.995Fe0.025Mn0.010Ge0.005Sn0.005)Σ4.010S3.990, while its simplified formula is (Zn,Cu)2(Cu,Fe,Mn)(Ga,Ge,Sn)S4, and the ideal formula is Zn2CuGaS4. The crystal structure of richardsite was investigated using single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction. It is tetragonal, with a = 5.3626(2) Å, c = 10.5873(5) Å, V = 304.46(2) Å3, Z = 2, and a calculated density of 4.278 g·cm−3. The four most intense X-ray powder diffraction lines [d in Å (I/I0)] are 3.084 (100); 1.882 (40); 1.989 (20); 1.614 (20). The refined crystal structure (R1 = 0.0284 for 655 reflections) and obtained chemical formula indicate that richardsite is a new member of the stannite group with space group I 4 ¯ 2 m . Its structure consists of a ccp array of sulfur atoms tetrahedrally bonded with metal atoms occupying one-half of the ccp tetrahedral voids. The ordering of the metal atoms leads to a sphalerite(sph)-derivative tetragonal unit-cell, with a ≈ asph and c ≈ 2asph. The packing of S atoms slightly deviates from the ideal, mainly due to the presence of Ga. Using 632.8-nm wavelength laser excitation, the most intense Raman response is a narrow peak at 309 cm−1, with other relatively strong bands at 276, 350, and 366 cm−1, and broader and weaker bands at 172, 676, and 722 cm−1. Richardsite is named in honor of Dr. R. Peter Richards in recognition of his extensive research and writing on topics related to understanding the genesis of the morphology of minerals. Its status as a new mineral and its name have been approved by the Commission of New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification of the International Mineralogical Association (No. 2019-136).
Enhanced Photocatalytic Properties of PET Filaments Coated with Ag-N Co-Doped TiO2 Nanoparticles Sensitized with Disperse Blue Dyes
Authors: Zhang Hui , Tang Qi , Li Qingshan , Song Qingwen , Wu Hailiang , Mao Ningtao
Published: May 2020

In this study, the effects of disperse blue dye-sensitization on the photocatalytic properties of the Ag-N co-doped TiO2 nanoparticles loaded on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) filaments are investigated under visible light irradiation. The microstructure and photocatalytic properties of the as-synthesized TiO2 nanocomposites, as well as the as-prepared PET filaments, are systematically characterized. The photocatalytic performance of the PET filaments coated with the Ag-N co-doped TiO2 nanoparticles sensitized with disperse blue dyes is evaluated via its capacity of photo-degrading methyl orange (MO) dyes under visible light irradiation. It is found that the holes are the predominant reactive radical species and the hydroxyl and superoxide radicals play a subordinate role in the photocatalytic reaction process. The reaction rate constant of the photocatalytic composite filaments is nearly 4.0 times higher than that of the PET filaments loaded solely with TiO2 nanoparticles. The resultant photocatalytic composite filaments are evident to be capable of repeatedly photo-degrading MO dyes without losing its photocatalytic activity significantly.
Engineering Core-Shell Structures of Magnetic Ferrite Nanoparticles for High Hyperthermia Performance
Authors: Darwish Mohamed S. A. , Kim Hohyeon , Lee Hwangjae , Ryu Chiseon , Young Lee Jae , Yoon Jungwon
Published: May 2020

Magnetic ferrite nanoparticles (MFNs) with high heating efficiency are highly desirable for hyperthermia applications. As conventional MFNs usually show low heating efficiency with a lower specific loss power (SLP), extensive efforts to enhance the SLP of MFNs have been made by varying the particle compositions, sizes, and structures. In this study, we attempted to increase the SLP values by creating core-shell structures of MFNs. Accordingly, first we synthesized three different types of core ferrite nanoparticle of magnetite (mag), cobalt ferrite (cf) and zinc cobalt ferrite (zcf). Secondly, we synthesized eight bi-magnetic core-shell structured MFNs; Fe3O4@CoFe2O4 (mag@cf1, mag@cf2), CoFe2O4@Fe3O4 (cf@mag1, cf@mag2), Fe3O4@ZnCoFe2O4 (mag@zcf1, mag@zcf2), and ZnCoFe2O4@Fe3O4 (zcf@mag1, zcf@mag2), using a modified controlled co-precipitation process. SLP values of the prepared core-shell MFNs were investigated with respect to their compositions and core/shell dimensions while varying the applied magnetic field strength. Hyperthermia properties of the prepared core-shell MFNs were further compared to commercial magnetic nanoparticles under the safe limits of magnetic field parameters (<5 × 109 A/(m·s)). As a result, the highest SLP value (379.2 W/gmetal) was obtained for mag@zcf1, with a magnetic field strength of 50 kA/m and frequency of 97 kHz. On the other hand, the lowest SLP value (1.7 W/gmetal) was obtained for cf@mag1, with a magnetic field strength of 40 kA/m and frequency of 97 kHz. We also found that magnetic properties and thickness of the shell play critical roles in heating efficiency and hyperthermia performance. In conclusion, we successfully enhanced the SLP of MFNs by engineering their compositions and dimensions.
Microbiological and Histological Analysis for the Evaluation of Farmed Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) Health Status, in Coastal Areas of Italy
Authors: Battistini Roberta , Varello Katia , Listorti Valeria , Zambon Michela , Arcangeli Giuseppe , Bozzetta Elena , Francese Danila Raffaella , Ercolini Carlo , Serracca Laura
Published: May 2020

Shellfish farming is a relevant economic activity in Italy. The Gulf of La Spezia is one of the major production areas for mussels: the area is characterized by the presence of numerous human activities that could harm the quality of seawater. Additionally, the presence of potentially pathogenic microorganisms may influence the health status of animals, which must be constantly monitored. To have a clear view of the health conditions of the mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) farmed in this area, microbiological, parasitological, and histological analyses were performed. The study was conducted from November 2016 to October 2017. Overall, despite the presence of potentially pathogenic microorganisms for mussels, abnormal mortality rates were not reported during the monitoring period and the histological examination revealed no significant lesions. Our study confirms that studying different aspects together is a useful tool for assessing the health conditions of mussels and points out the importance of adverse environmental conditions for the expression of the pathogenicity of microorganisms.
Patatin-Related Phospholipase pPLAIIIγ Involved in Osmotic and Salt Tolerance in Arabidopsis
Authors: Li Jianwu , Li Maoyin , Yao Shuaibing , Cai Guangqin , Wang Xuemin
Published: May 2020

Patatin-related phospholipases (pPLAs) are acyl-hydrolyzing enzymes implicated in various processes, including lipid metabolism, signal transduction, plant growth and stress responses, but the function for many specific pPLAs in plants remains unknown. Here we determine the effect of patatin-related phospholipase A pPLAIIIγ on Arabidopsis response to abiotic stress. Knockout of pPLAIIIγ rendered plants more sensitive whereas overexpression of pPLAIIIγ enhanced plant tolerance to NaCl and drought in seed germination and seedling growth. The pPLAIIIγ-knockout and overexpressing seedlings displayed a lower and higher level of lysolipids and free fatty acids than that of wild-type plants in response to NaCl stress, respectively. These results indicate that pPLAIIIγ acts a positive regulator of salt and osmatic stress tolerance in Arabidopsis.
Reconsidering Ecological Civilization from a Chinese Christian Perspective
Authors: Mok Bryan K. M.
Published: May 2020

As part of the global effort to alleviate the ecological crisis, ecological civilization has become a dominant movement in China due to the state policy. Within this movement, the Chinese culture is said to be highly ecological and is thus an important asset to environmentalism. This paper seeks to offer a critical evaluation of this view by inquiring into its cultural and religious dimension with reference to Confucian and Chinese Christian thought. It argues that the construction of ecological civilization in China cannot rely only on the official discourses but requires a deeper cultural and religious investigation that helps realize the ecological potentials of the Chinese culture. In particular, it contends that the Confucian concepts of qi 氣 and li 理 can open up a way for humanity to attain unity with the cosmos and live in a path in harmony with nature through spiritual cultivation. It also suggests that the Christology and soteriology of Chinese Christian thinkers can strengthen this path of personal and social transformation by addressing the tendency of human beings to conform to selfish desire rather than the well-being of others. Both the Confucian and Chinese Christian worldviews are indispensable to the construction of ecological civilization by offering substantial insights into the cultural and religious dimension of the movement.
Farnesol-Containing Macromolecular Systems for Antibiofilm Strategies
Authors: Nowacka Maria , Kowalewska Anna , Kręgiel Dorota
Published: May 2020

Farnesol is a natural sesquiterpenoid and an interesting quorum-sensing molecule. Its insolubility in water is the biggest obstacle to its application for bacterial biofilm treatments since it compromises the bioavailability. Recently, an increasing interest in farnesol encapsulation or loading in polymeric materials may be noted due to the prolonged action of the active macromolecular systems. In this short review, we present an overview of methods leading to improved interactions between farnesol and microbial biofilms.
Fertilidad del suelo granodiorita, fase inicial de plantación gmelina arbórea y schizolobium parahybum, con carbón vegetal en la amazonia ecuatoriana
Authors: Villamagua Miguel , Valarezo Carlos
Published: May 2020

En un suelo ácido (granodiorita) del ambiente de ladera del sur de la Amazonia Ecuatoriana se instaló un experimento en parcelas subdivididas (2x2x3) para determinar el efecto de biocarbón (0, 3, y 6 t ha-1), cal (5 t ha-1) y nutrientes (N; P, K; Mg y Zn), sobre el crecimiento inicial de pachaco (Schizolobium parahybum Vell. Conc) y melina (Gmelina arbórea Roxb.), y la evolución de las condiciones físico-químicas del suelo, la disponibilidad de nutrientes y el almacenamiento de C. A los dos años se encontró diferencias estadísticas altamente significativas por la fertilización en: altura planta, diámetro basal y diámetro de altura al pecho. En la capa 00 – 25 cm de los tratamientos con fertilización se incrementaron los contenidos totales Ca, Mg, K, Zn. En la capa 25 – 50 cm de los tratamientos fertilizados se incrementaron las concentraciones de Mg y K. El pHH2O en las dos capas en los fertilizados evolucionó de 4,8 a 5,2 y de 4,7 a 4,8, respectivamente; y la acidez cambiable disminuyó. Además, se incrementaron las concentraciones de Ca++ y Mg++; el K+ permaneció bajo. En la capa 00 – 25 cm de los fertilizados se incrementó la disponibilidad de P, Ca, Mg y Zn; el N, K y Cu permanecieron en el rango bajo. En los fertilizados se incrementó el C almacenado en la biomasa aérea y biomasa + capa 00- 50 cm en 17,4 y 25 t ha-1, respectivamente.
EFEK EDUKASI “PAKET HARMONIS” TERHADAP PENGELOLAAN DIRI PEREMPUAN MENOPAUSE DALAM MENGATASI PERUBAHAN MASA MENOPOUSE
Authors: Agustin Marini , Nursanti Irna
Published: May 2020

Menopause merupakan suatu fase yang akan dialami oleh setiap perempuan yang biasanya terjadi diatas umur 40 tahun. Perempuan dikatakan menopause bila siklus menstruasinya telah berhenti selama 1 tahun.  Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui Efek Paket Harmonis terhadap pengelolaan diri perempuan menopause dalam mengatasi perubahan masa menopause  di kota bogor. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kuantitatif dengan metode quasi experiment dengan menggunakan pendekatan pre-post test with control. Pengumpulan data dilakukan secara kuantitatif. Besar sampel 60 responden, yang terdiri dari 30 kelompok intervensi dan 30 kelompok kontrol, yang diambil dengan teknik purposive sampling. Hasil analisis bivariat pada pengelolaan diri (pemantauan diri, pengendalian diri, penghargaan diri)  didapatkan P Value = 0,0000 (P Value < α = 0,005), hasil ini membuktikan bahwa “Paket Harmonis” berpengaruh pada peningkatan pengelolaan diri perempuan menopause kelompok intervensi dalam mengatasi permasalahan masa menopause. Pada kelompok kontrol tidak menunjukkan perubahan yang bermakna dalam  pengelolaan diri perempuan menopause, didapatkan nilai pemantauan diri p Value = 0,234,  pengendalian diri p Value =0,848  dan penghargaan diri p Value = 0,095 dapat disimpulkan pada kelompok kontrol nilai p Value > 0.05 artinya tidak ada perbedaan yang bermakna pada kelompok kontrol. Saran dari peneliti agar penelitian ini dapat dijadikan data dasar untuk dilakukan penelitian lebih lanjut agar dapat memberikan manfaat yang lebih besar pada perempuan menopause.
ME CONVÉM LEMBRAR: TEXTO, OBJETO E PALAVRA NUMA AÇÃO NO AUTO DO MENINO DEUS – BA
Authors: Bassani Tiago Samuel
Published: May 2020

A ação descrita neste texto é derivada das pesquisas que desenvolvo atualmente, que tem como o ponto de partida as mortes que são causadas pela violência. Deste modo, ela se preocupa com o fenômeno no território nacional comparado com o cenário de outros países, sobre as quais traço diálogos com o livro de Eduardo Galeano intitulado As veias abertas da América Latina. Junto dela teço uma reflexão sobre a relação entre o texto, o objeto e a palavra numa ação performativa. O texto se desdobra com a descrição da ação amalgamada às reflexões emergidas dela.
CONFLITOS: ANÁLISE DA LINGUAGEM TEATRAL A PARTIR DA TENSÃO ESTABELECIDA ENTRE O PÓS-DRAMÁTICO E O DRAMÁTICO
Authors: Vieira Paulo
Published: May 2020

CONFLITOS: ANÁLISE DA LINGUAGEM TEATRAL A PARTIR DA TENSÃO ESTABELECIDA ENTRE O PÓS-DRAMÁTICO E O DRAMÁTICO
EDITORIAL
Authors: Baptistella Rosana , Novaes Marcus
Published: May 2020

EDITORIAL
ENTRECRUZANDO CORPOS, RAÍZES E MEMÓRIAS: ATRAVESSAMENTOS, EXPERIÊNCIAS E DESLOCAMENTOS NO ENCONTRO COM O OUTRO
Authors: Costa Daniel Santos , Bassani Tiago Samuel
Published: May 2020

Esta é uma narrativa escrita a quatro mãos embasada em uma vivência de deslocamento de territórios. As linhas que seguem no texto são construídas a partir da rememoração de uma experiência obtida com as pessoas, especificamente com Dona Maria da Aroeira, e ainda das memórias guardadas nos nossos corpos. Sobre estas, trazemos detalhes visuais mnemônicos, corporalidades e reminiscências para refletir sobre atravessamentos, experiências e potencialidade de um encontro.
boe to paru – bater os pés
Authors: Cunha Fredyson
Published: May 2020

Uma pesquisa em dança, inicialmente com o povo Bororo e seu Ritual Funerário, ganhou caminhos de pedagogia ao refletir a preparação do corpo do intérprete para a cena, sobretudo no momento do compartilhamento desta experiência com outros corpos e a necessidade de pensar mecanismos e ferramentas que conectassem, em qualquer contexto cultural, nossa ancestralidade aos povos originários e a nós mesmos. Concomitantemente, quando nos referirmos às danças brasileiras, não encontramos as danças e as corporeidades indígenas no lugar de protagonismo em suas manifestações. Estão, nas vezes em que pude investigar, compondo parte de um enredo em outras danças; quando na verdade, sem reducionismos, são as primeiras manifestações dançadas dos primeiros habitantes do Brasil. Danças de matrizes indígenas são, portanto, fundantes do que se pode nomear de brasileiras.
DOS PARANGOLÉS À ERA DIGITAL: O LEITOR NAS ARTES INTERATIVAS
Authors: Tonezzi José , Guimarães Aluizio
Published: May 2020

A partir das características da arte interativa, a reflexão pondera sobre esta manifestação em tempos de relações multimidiáticas, em que equipamentos e programas digitais se impõem na relação humana com o mundo. A partir disto, tratamos de uma possível interação entre a obra de arte digital e o espectador que, na condição de leitor interator, pode também atuar no processo de criação e interferir no resultado da obra. Visando contribuir com os estudos da leitura contemporânea, estipula-se aqui um conjunto de questionamentos sobre a manifestação artística de um futuro breve.
New Advances in Acute Ischemic Stroke Management: Review Article
Authors: Aghamiri Hossein , Paybast Sepideh , Safarpour Lima Behnam , Mansoori Behnam
Published: May 2020

Cerebrovascular disease is the second cause of death and the sixth cause of morbidity worldwide, which will rise to fourth place by 2020. The treatment strategies for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) divided into two groups, including intravenous or intra-arterial thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy. Regarding growing development in the realm of diagnosis and treatment of stroke through state-of-the-art approaches, including emergent thrombectomy, there are new opportunities for investigation in this area. This is while a rough rate of 85% for strokes is occupied by, and the remained is hemorrhagic. Hence, the present study aimed to review recent advances in AIS with a focus on emergent thrombectomy. Here, we first provided the relevant history, and then the recent advances were discussed. The library data collection method was employed so that such databases as Web of Science, PubMed, and Science Direct used for data extraction. The evidence confirms the importance of emergent thrombectomy as all believe the famous statement "time is the brain." However, further investigations are required to find more strong evidence accordingly.
Evaluation of Long-term Outcomes and Prediction of Failure Rate of Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy in Less Than 2 Years Children
Authors: Mohammadi Hasanreza , Sadat Masoud , Khayat Kashani Hamidreza
Published: May 2020

Background: The study carried out to assess long-term outcomes of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) on less than two years of hydrocephalous children and to determine prognostic factors of ETV success in this population. Methods: our study was a retrospective cohort study carried out on 40 hydrocephalus children who underwent ETV surgery. Clinical data retrieved from patient’s medical records, and we did an active follow-up. We used Kaplan-Meier and life-table approaches to assess 6 months success rate of ETV. We also used multiple cox regression to determine prognostic factors associated with success. Moreover, the ROC curve analysis was used to assess how ETV success score (ETVSS) can predict the possibility of ETV failure. Results: The mean age of patients at surgery time was 7.8 (±7.8) months, and 60% were male. The mean failure time of ETV was 4.5 months, and the most common etiology was aqueduct (27.0%). According to our finding age at surgery time (hazard ratio [HR]=2.2, 95% CI=1.1, 3.4) and birth age (HR=4.4, 95% CI 1.1, 17.2) were the main factors associated with ETV failure. We also observed, statistically lower HR for patients with aqueduct etiology (HR=0.1, 95% CI=0.01, 0.9). Moreover, the area under the ROC curve was estimated at 76.1, illustrating partial validity to predict ETV failure in the study population. Conclusion: According to our findings, ETV could suggest treating Hydrocephaly in young kids with particular attention on over 6-month patients and those who were mature at birth. However, more studies are required to confirm our findings.
A Robust Nonlinear Control Strategy for Unsupported Paraplegic Standing Using Functional Electrical Stimulation: Controller Synthesis and Simulation
Authors: Ruhbakhsh Seyedeh Sakineh , Kobravi Hamid Reza
Published: May 2020

Background: Functional electrical stimulation (FES) applies electrical pulses to paralyzed muscles to restore their function. Closed-loop control of an FES system, incorporating the control strategies, promises to improve the performance of FES systems. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to design a new control strategy applicable to restoring the upright standing in paraplegic patients through FES. The control strategies proposed in the previous works based on controlling the angular joint position and none of them focused on controlling the center of pressure (CoP) dynamics directly. Since the CoP is representative of posture balance dynamics, in this study, the adopted FES based control strategy designed to control the CoP dynamics directly. Methods: In the proposed control strategy, two controllers determine the stimulation intensity of ankle muscles in a manner to restrict the CoP to a specific zone. According to the proposed strategy, until the CoP confined to the stable zone, an adaptive controller is active. When the CoP goes out of the stable zone, the adaptive controller is deactivated. Then, a sliding mode controller is activated instead of the adaptive controller. In this manner, not only the posture balance can be guaranteed, but also the emerged balance dynamics can be similar to the elicited balance dynamics in the healthy subjects. Results: In this study, extended evaluations carried out through the simulation studies. According to the achieved results, the proposed control strategy is not only robust against the external disturbances, but also insensitive to the initial postural conditions. Conclusion: The achieved results prove the acceptable performance of the proposed control strategy
Postpartum Depression Among Women With Previous Infertility in Health Care Centers of Hamadan in 2018
Authors: Matinnia Nasrin , Yazdi-Ravandi Saeid
Published: May 2020

Background: Childbirth is one of the essential goals of the family, so that infertility can cause many problems for the family. Therefore, the aims of the current study were the frequency of postpartum depression and evaluate the relationship between postpartum depression, socio-demographic factors, and quality of marital satisfaction in postpartum women with a history of infertility referring to health centers in Hamadan. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study. The study population consisted of all primiparous women with a history of infertility referring to Hamadan health care centers in 2018, of which 240 randomly selected according to the inclusion criteria for one year. Subjects assessed by demographic and clinical information checklist, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and marital relationship quality scale (Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale; RDAS). All statistical calculations performed by busing chi-square with SPSS-17. Results: 152 out of 240 participants (63.3%) had a degree of depression, of which 57 (23.7%) had mild depression, 63 (26.3%) had moderate depression, and 32 (13.3%) had severe depression. According to the result of the study, marital satisfaction in 23.3% (56), 37.1% (89), and 39.6% (95) were excellent, moderate, and low, respectively — the quality of marital relationships associated significantly with and postpartum depression (χ2=19.3, P<0.001). The results of the study showed that there was a significant relationship between age, occupation, educational level, duration of infertility, and depression (P<0.05), but there was no significant relationship between ethnicity, insurance, and depression (P<0.05). Conclusion: Regarding the results obtained in this study and comparison with existing studies, the infertility problem can cause mental and psychological disorders in women. It seems that marital satisfaction and its relationship with different factors and the proper interventions by health care providers are necessary to prevent postpartum depression in these women.
Diffuse Multifocal Bilateral Dysembryoplastic Neuroepithelial Tumor: A Very Unusual Case Report
Authors: Mohammadi Hassan Reza , Moradi Ehsan , Rahimian Elham , Varlet Pascal , Nilipour Yalda
Published: May 2020

Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT) considered as a benign cortical glioneuronal neoplasm of children or young adults, typically present with drug-resistant focal epilepsy. DNTs are usually located in the temporal lobe but can found in any part of the supratentorial brain cortex. Multifocal DNTs have rarely reported. Here we present an eight years old boy with two years follow up, having a somewhat stable diffuse multinodular DNT of the most significant spatial extent that may have reported, involving cortical and subcortical left temporo-occipital lobe, bilateral basal ganglia and thalamus, presenting with headache, short stature, and behavioral disorder.