bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Workplace Stress, Presenteeism, Absenteeism, and Resilience Amongst University Staff and Students in the COVID-19 Lockdown
Authors: Van Der Feltz-Cornelis Christina Maria , Varley D. , Allgar Victoria L. , de Beurs Edwin
Published: November 2020

Background: This study explored how the COVID-19 outbreak and arrangements such as remote working and furlough affect work or study stress levels and functioning in staff and students at the University of York, UK.

Methods: An invitation to participate in an online survey was sent to all University of York staff and students in May-June 2020. We measured stress levels [VAS-scale, Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ)], mental health [anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9)], physical health (PHQ-15, chronic medical conditions checklist), presenteeism, and absenteeism levels (iPCQ). We explored demographic and other characteristics as factors which may contribute to resilience and vulnerability for the impact of COVID-19 on stress.

Results: One thousand and fifty five staff and nine hundred and twenty five students completed the survey. Ninety-eight per cent of staff and seventy-eight per cent of students worked or studied remotely. 7% of staff and 10% of students reported sickness absence. 26% of staff and 40% of the students experienced presenteeism. 22–24% of staff reported clinical-level anxiety and depression scores, and 37.2 and 46.5% of students. Staff experienced high stress levels due to COVID-19 (66.2%, labeled vulnerable) and 33.8% experienced low stress levels (labeled resilient). Students were 71.7% resilient vs. 28.3% non-resilient. Predictors of vulnerability in staff were having children [OR = 2.23; CI (95) = 1.63–3.04] and social isolation [OR = 1.97; CI (95) = 1.39–2.79] and in students, being female [OR = 1.62; CI (95) = 1.14–2.28], having children [OR = 2.04; CI (95) = 1.11–3.72], and social isolation [OR = 1.78; CI (95) = 1.25–2.52]. Resilience was predicted by exercise in staff [OR = 0.83; CI (95) = 0.73–0.94] and in students [OR = 0.85; CI (95) = 0.75–0.97].

Discussion: University staff and students reported high psychological distress, presenteeism and absenteeism. However, 33.8% of staff and 71.7% of the students were resilient. Amongst others, female gender, having children, and having to self-isolate contributed to vulnerability. Exercise contributed to resilience.

Conclusion: Resilience occurred much more often in students than in staff, although psychological distress was much higher in students. This suggests that predictors of resilience may differ from psychological distress per se. Hence, interventions to improve resilience should not only address psychological distress but may also address other factors.
Neurophysiologic Characterization of Resting State Connectivity Abnormalities in Schizophrenia Patients
Authors: Koshiyama Daisuke , Miyakoshi Makoto , Tanaka-Koshiyama Kumiko , Joshi Yash B. , Molina Juan L. , Sprock Joyce , Braff David L. , Light Gregory A.
Published: November 2020

Background: Patients with schizophrenia show abnormal spontaneous oscillatory activity in scalp-level electroencephalographic (EEG) responses across multiple frequency bands. While oscillations play an essential role in the transmission of information across neural networks, few studies have assessed the frequency-specific dynamics across cortical source networks at rest. Identification of the neural sources and their dynamic interactions may improve our understanding of core pathophysiologic abnormalities associated with the neuropsychiatric disorders.

Methods: A novel multivector autoregressive modeling approach for assessing effective connectivity among cortical sources was developed and applied to resting-state EEG recordings obtained from n = 139 schizophrenia patients and n = 126 healthy comparison subjects.

Results: Two primary abnormalities in resting-state networks were detected in schizophrenia patients. The first network involved the middle frontal and fusiform gyri and a region near the calcarine sulcus. The second network involved the cingulate gyrus and the Rolandic operculum (a region that includes the auditory cortex).

Conclusions: Schizophrenia patients show widespread patterns of hyper-connectivity across a distributed network of the frontal, temporal, and occipital brain regions. Results highlight a novel approach for characterizing alterations in connectivity in the neuropsychiatric patient populations. Further mechanistic characterization of network functioning is needed to clarify the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric and neurological diseases.
Social Prescribing—An Effort to Apply a Common Knowledge: Impelling Forces and Challenges
Authors: Islam M. Mofizul
Published: November 2020

In recent times, social prescribing has been introduced in some countries, and substantially in the U.K. The objective of this scheme is to offer non-medical care mainly to primary care patients. Although the idea of this scheme is not new, its formalization is. Using a narrative synthesis of peer-reviewed and gray literature, this article discusses the social prescribing scheme, some of its compelling aspects and challenges in offering non-medical care, particularly regarding referrals being made from primary care settings. The social prescribing scheme has several impelling forces that include its potential to turn primary care to primary healthcare, tackle social determinants of health and social needs, improve wellbeing and physical health, offer person-centered care, strengthen preventive care, and bridge healthcare organizations with the third sector. This scheme also faces several challenges including service standards and boundaries, sustainability, availability of appropriate services, low engagement of clients and insufficient evidence. While this scheme lacks validated evidence, it is theoretically compelling. Given that the demand for non-medical care is growing in most societies and that the usefulness of non-medical care is gaining prominence, social prescribing is likely to continue to proliferate.
Addressing the Covid-19 Burden on Medical Education and Training: The Role of Telemedicine and Tele-Education During and Beyond the Pandemic
Authors: Sharma Divyansh , Bhaskar Sonu
Published: November 2020

Medical students are the future of sustainable health systems that are severely under pressure during COVID-19. The disruption in medical education and training has adversely impacted traditional medical education and medical students and is likely to have long-term implications beyond COVID-19. In this article, we present a comprehensive analysis of the existing structural and systemic challenges applicable to medical students and teaching/training programs and the impact of COVID-19 on medical students and education. Use of technologies such as telemedicine or remote education platforms can minimize increased mental health risks to this population. An overview of challenges during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic are also discussed, and targeted recommendations to address acute and systemic issues in medical education and training are presented. During the transition from conventional in-person or classroom teaching to tele-delivery of educational programs, medical students have to navigate various social, economic and cultural factors which interfere with their personal and academic lives. This is especially relevant for those from vulnerable, underprivileged or minority backgrounds. Students from vulnerable backgrounds are influenced by environmental factors such as unemployment of themselves and family members, lack of or inequity in provision and access to educational technologies and remote delivery-platforms, and increased levels of mental health stressors due to prolonged isolation and self-quarantine measures. Technologies for remote education and training delivery as well as sustenance and increased delivery of general well-being and mental health services to medical students, especially to those at high-risk, are pivotal to our response to COVID-19 and beyond.
Modeling Task Uncertainty for Safe Meta-Imitation Learning
Authors: Matsushima Tatsuya , Kondo Naruya , Iwasawa Yusuke , Nasuno Kaoru , Matsuo Yutaka
Published: November 2020

To endow robots with the flexibility to perform a wide range of tasks in diverse and complex environments, learning their controller from experience data is a promising approach. In particular, some recent meta-learning methods are shown to solve novel tasks by leveraging their experience of performing other tasks during training. Although studies around meta-learning of robot control have worked on improving the performance, the safety issue has not been fully explored, which is also an important consideration in the deployment. In this paper, we firstly relate uncertainty on task inference with the safety in meta-learning of visual imitation, and then propose a novel framework for estimating the task uncertainty through probabilistic inference in the task-embedding space, called PETNet. We validate PETNet with a manipulation task with a simulated robot arm in terms of the task performance and uncertainty evaluation on task inference. Following the standard benchmark procedure in meta-imitation learning, we show PETNet can achieve the same or higher level of performance (success rate of novel tasks at meta-test time) as previous methods. In addition, by testing PETNet with semantically inappropriate or synthesized out-of-distribution demonstrations, PETNet shows the ability to capture the uncertainty about the tasks inherent in the given demonstrations, which allows the robot to identify situations where the controller might not perform properly. These results illustrate our proposal takes a significant step forward to the safe deployment of robot learning systems into diverse tasks and environments.
From the Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Turnstiles of Urban Water and District Heating Networks
Authors: Gruber-Glatzl Wolfgang , Brunner Christoph , Meitz Sarah , Schnitzer Hans
Published: November 2020

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are among the largest energy consumers in municipalities and cause high operating costs. At the same time, many WWTPs produce biogas and have immense untapped potential for the integration of heat pumps (HP). District heating operators are looking for new possibilities to diversify their heat production portfolio and to provide cheap and clean heat to their customers. In our work, we investigate the case study of the WWTP Gleisdorf (Austria) and propose a combination of biogas utilization and heat pump integration to deliver heat for all internal thermal processes as well as to a 1,000 m heat connection line (HCL) toward the district heating network. The net annual costs of different scenarios were calculated for economic comparison. Negative net annual costs mean net annual savings. The reference scenario (biogas combined heat and power, no HCL, no HP; net annual costs of −51,000 €/year) is compared with three different heat pump integration options (HP-IO). The HP-IOs are considering different hydraulic connections, flow temperatures, and heat exchanger placement. The HP-IO-1 focuses on the low-temperature internal demands, but proves to be too limited to balance out the high cost of the HCL. HP-IO-2 operates at higher temperatures (75°C) leading to the lowest efficiency, but ultimately achieving the lowest net annual costs (−57,700 €/years with a 750 kWth HP). HP-IO-3 uses a serial heating concept trying to take advantage of lower flow temperatures while also delivering heat to the district heating network. At 300–400 kWth this leads to net annual costs of −50,100 €/years. The price ratio of 0.5 (40 €/MWh selling price of heat to 80 €/MWh purchasing price of electricity) are varied to analyze the sensitivity of the results. HPs already play an increasing role in the district heating sector, using sewage water as a heat source. The combined analysis of biogas utilization, HP integration options and the thermal as well as electrical demands of WWTP and district heating networks allow the determination of the most viable option.
Star Light, Star Bright… Let’s Build a House on the Moon Tonight!
Authors: Jagoda Jeneé A. , Hoisington Andrew J. , Schuldt Steven J.
Published: November 2020

On July 20, 1969, astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon. Over the next 3 years, 11 others followed in his footsteps. However, astronauts have not returned to the moon in nearly 50 years. Since then, scientists have talked about sending people back to the moon or even to Mars. Some scientists want to establish permanent colonies in space in case resources ever run out on Earth. But how do you build places to live and work in an area with no construction materials, equipment, or workforce? One promising solution may be three-dimensional printing.
Manipulable Object and Human Contact: Preference and Modulation of Emotional States in Weaned Pigs
Authors: Villain Avelyne S. , Lanthony Mathilde , Guérin Carole , Tallet Céline
Published: November 2020

Enriching the life of farm animals is a legal obligation in intensive farming conditions in the European Union, though not worldwide. In pigs, manipulable materials are mandatory when no bedding is available. Like manipulable objects, positive human interactions might also be considered as enrichment, as they provide the animals with opportunities to interact, increase their activity and lead to positive emotional states. In this study, we investigated how weaned pigs perceived an inanimate manipulable object and a familiar human. After a similar (in length, frequency, and procedure) familiarization to both stimuli, 24 weaned pigs were tested for a potential preference for one of the stimuli and submitted to isolation/reunion tests to evaluate the emotional value of the stimuli. We hypothesized that being reunited with a stimulus would attenuate the stress of social isolation and promote a positive state, especially if the stimulus had a positive emotional value for pigs. Although our behavioral data showed no evidence that pigs spent more time close to, or in contact with, one of the stimuli during a choice test, pigs more often approached the human and were observed lying down only near the human. Using behavioral and bioacoustic data from isolation/reunion tests, we showed that a reunion with the human decreased the time spent in an attentive state and mobility of pigs to a greater extent than a reunion with the object, or isolation. Vocalizations differed between reunions with the object and the human, and were different from those during isolation. The human and object presence led to higher frequency range and more noisy grunts, but only the human led to the production of positive shorter grunts, usually associated with positive situations. In conclusion, pigs seemed to be in a more positive emotional state, or be reassured, in the presence of a familiar human compared to the object after a short period of social isolation. This confirms the potential need for positive pseudo-social interactions with a human to enrich the pigs' environment, at least in or after potentially stressful situations.
Farmscape Composition and Livelihood Sustainability in Deforested Landscapes of Colombian Amazonia
Authors: Pérez Marulanda Lisset , Lavelle Patrick , Rudbeck Jepsen Martin , Castro-Nunez Augusto , Francesconi Wendy , Camilo Karen , Vanegas-Cubillos Martha , Antonio Romero Miguel , Suárez Juan Carlos , Solarte Antonio , Quintero Marcela
Published: November 2020

In this article, we operationalized a sustainability framing based on the Sustainable Rural Livelihood Resources Framework (SLF), which consists of five capitals—human, physical, social, financial, and natural. We proposed a sustainability index (SI) for two landscapes dominated by two agricultural systems: cattle ranching and small-scale family agriculture. Farm variables within each capital were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis. Key variables were identified and index values were calculated for each capital. These were combined through a set of simultaneous equations to estimate farm-specific capitals and SI from the observed farm variables. Principal component and cluster analyses were used to group the farms according to their index scores and to further compare their characteristics. Furthermore, with the purpose of comparing the index scoring with an independent metric, a landscape indicator, which comes from a continuous forest, was calculated. From the results, the capitals that contributed to a higher SI score the most were financial and physical. As cattle ranching was associated with higher economic returns and infrastructure investments, this livelihood was identified as the most sustainable. Yet, cattle ranching has been a deforestation driver in the region. These results are attributed to the current conceptual framework design, which gives greater weight to material and economic variables; therefore, it generates a weak sustainability measure. Although the framework allowed us to identify land-use alternatives that could improve SI scores (i.e., silvopastoral systems), corrections to the proposed framework and methodological approach will need to include additional environmental benefits currently unaccounted for. Farmers that use their farms for conservation purposes should be recognized and compensated. An improved environmentally focused SI operational framework could help to endorse and promote sustainable livelihoods and to generate a strong sustainability measure.
Tef (Eragrostis tef Trotter) Responses to Nitrogen Fertigation under Semi-Arid Mediterranean Climate
Authors: Gashu Kelem , Halpern Moshe , Zipori Isaac , Bustan Amnon , Saranga Yehoshua , Yermiyahu Uri
Published: November 2020

Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter (tef) is a small annual grain, panicle-bearing, C4 cereal crop native to Ethiopia, where it is a major staple food. The objectives of the present study were to characterize the responses of two tef genotypes to escalating nitrogen (N) levels in terms of shoot, root, and grain biomass production, N concentration and uptake, and to determine an optimum N range at which tef performance is maximized. The N was applied in the irrigation water (Fertigation) in order to provide a consistent concentration of N in the root zone. A second goal was to test the feasibility of growing tef in the hot, arid conditions of the Northern Negev Desert. Two experiments were carried out in the Gilat Research Station (Negev region, Israel), each testing two different genotypes of tef (405B and 406W), and each including five replicates for each treatment. In the winter of 2015–2016, tef plants were grown in perlite filled pots in a walk-in plastic-covered tunnel. Five different N treatments were applied through fertigation, meaning the fertilizer was applied with the irrigation water (10, 20, 40, 80, 120 mg L−1). All other nutrients were applied at the same sufficient rate. In the summer of 2016, tef plots were sown in open-field and applied with four different rates of N fertilization (0, 30, 60, 120 mg L−1). Biomass of the different plant parts, SPAD values, N, P and K concentration, and the lodging index were recorded in each experiment. The harvest index was also calculated. Optimum N fertigation concentration in both experiments was between 40 and 80 mg L−1, under which the time to flowering was decreased, and yield and grain protein concentration were optimized. Underfertilization caused a decrease in overall plant growth, whereas overfertilization caused an increase in vegetative growth at the expense of grain yield. Potassium uptake increased along with increased N availability, whereas P uptake did not. The fertilization rate will always need to take into account local soil and climate conditions. The field experiment also pointed to low harvest index as a major limitation on tef cultivation in the Northern Negev.
Assessing the Effect of Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex A. Juss.) Muell. Arg.) Leaf Chemical Composition on Some Soil Properties of Differently Aged Rubber Tree Plantations
Authors: Puttaso Porntip , Namanusart Weravart , Thumanu Kanjana , Kamolmanit Bhanudacha , Brauman Alain , Lawongsa Phrueksa
Published: November 2020

Leaf litter plays a major role in carbon and nutrient cycling, as well as in fueling food webs. The chemical composition of a leaf may directly and indirectly influence decomposition rates by influencing rates of biological reactions and by influencing the accumulation of soil organic carbon content, respectively. This study aimed to assess the impact of the chemical composition of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex A. Juss.) Muell. Arg.) leaves on various soil properties of different ages of rubber (4–5, 11–12, and 22–23 year-old). Synchrotron-based Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (Sr-FTIR) was utilized for analyzing the chemical composition of plant leaves. The Sr-FTIR bands illustrated that the epidermis of rubber leaves from 4–5-year-old trees was found to contain a high quantity of polysaccharides while mesophyll from 22–23-year-old trees had a large number of polysaccharides. The change in soil properties in the older rubber plantation could be attributed to its chemical composition. The change in soil properties across all tree ages, i.e., increased litter and organic carbon content, was a relatively strong driver of soil biota evolution. The aliphatic of C-H in the leaves showed high correlation with soil organic carbon (SOC) and permanganate-oxidizable C (POXC) from 22–23 year-old trees. This study shows the differences in the organic chemical composition of leaves that are consequential to soil organic carbon.
Carbon Footprint and Life-Cycle Costs of Maize Production in Conventional and Non-Inversion Tillage Systems
Authors: Holka Małgorzata , Bieńkowski Jerzy
Published: November 2020

Given the problem of climate change and the requirements laid down by the European Union in the field of gradual decarbonization of production, it is necessary to implement solutions of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into agricultural practice. This research paper aimed to evaluate the carbon footprint and life-cycle costs of grain maize production in various tillage systems. The material for the analyses was data from 2015–2017 collected on 15 farms located in the Wielkopolska region (Poland) and growing maize for grain in three tillage systems: conventional, reduced, and no-tillage. The life-cycle assessment and life-cycle costing methodologies were applied to assess the GHG emissions and costs associated with the grain maize production in the stages from “cradle-to-farm gate”, i.e., from obtaining raw materials and producing means for agricultural production, through the processes of maize cultivation to grain harvesting. The calculated values of the carbon footprint indicator for maize production in conventional, reduced, and no-tillage systems were 2347.4, 2353.4, and 1868.7 CO2 eq. ha−1, respectively. The largest source of GHG emissions was the use of nitrogen fertilizers. Non-inversion tillage with cover crops and leaving a large amount of crop residues in the field increased the sequestration of organic carbon and contributed to a significant reduction of the carbon footprint in maize production. The conventional tillage system demonstrated the highest overall life-cycle costs per hectare.
Nitrogen and Potassium Fertilisation Influences Growth, Rhizosphere Carboxylate Exudation and Mycorrhizal Colonisation in Temperate Perennial Pasture Grasses
Authors: Tshewang Sangay , Rengel Zed , Siddique Kadambot H. M. , Solaiman Zakaria M.
Published: November 2020

Optimisation of potassium (K) use efficiency in pastures on sandy soil is challenging. We characterised growth response, root carboxylate exudation and mycorrhizal colonisation in three perennial pasture grasses: tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L.), veldt grass (Ehrharta calycina Sm.) and tall wheatgrass (Thinopyrum ponticum L.) in two glasshouse experiments with: (1) four K rates (0, 40, 80 and 120 mg K kg-1 soil), and (2) four N and K treatments (no N and K (–N–K), 81 mg N kg-1 soil but no K, 80 mg K kg-1 soil but no N, and N at 81 and K at 80 mg kg-1 soil (+N+K)) in low-K sandy soil. Veldt grass had the highest shoot dry weight and shoot P content, but the lowest mycorrhizal colonisation. Potassium fertilisation had no significant impact on exudation of citrate and oxalate. The K0 plants had significantly lower exudation of acetate and total carboxylates than K40 plants. The +N+K plants had maximum shoot growth at both harvests (30 and 60 days after sowing (DAS)) and highest N and K shoot contents at 60 DAS. The –N–K plants exuded maximum amounts of citrate and malate at 30 DAS, but at 60 DAS tall fescue had the highest rhizosphere concentrations of citrate and malate in the +N+K treatment. At 60 DAS, mycorrhizal colonisation was significantly lower with than without N and K fertilisation. We concluded that pasture grasses could yield well even in inherently low-K soil without external K fertilisation and mycorrhizal symbiosis. However, the +N+K plants had the highest yield and root carboxylate exudation.
Effects of Maternal Supplementation with an Injectable Trace Mineral Containing Copper, Manganese, Zinc, and Selenium on Subsequent Steer Finishing Phase Performance and Carcass Characteristics
Authors: Shao Taoqi , Brattain Rebecca S. , Shike Daniel W.
Published: November 2020

The objective of this study was to investigate effects of maternal supplementation with an injectable trace mineral (Cu, Mn, Zn, and Se) on subsequent steer performance during the finishing phase. Seventy-six Angus cross steers (initial body weight 249 ± 41.5 kg) from dams administered either an injectable trace mineral (TM; Multimin 90) or sterilized physiological saline (CON) during prepartum stage were used. Individual feed intake during the finishing phase were recorded with GrowSafe feed bunks. Blood and liver biopsy samples were collected to evaluate trace mineral status. Steers were slaughtered at 413 ± 26 days of age and carcass data were obtained at a commercial abattoir. Growth performance or mineral status of the steers during the finishing phase was not affected (p ≥ 0.14) by maternal treatments. Carcass characteristics were not different (p ≥ 0.18), except steers from TM dams had greater (p = 0.05) percentage of carcasses graded as Choice or greater. In conclusion, maternal supplementation of an injectable trace mineral increased the percentage of carcasses graded as Choice or greater, other than that, maternal supplementation had limited influence on finishing phase growth performance, trace mineral status, or carcass characteristics of the subsequent steer progeny.
Molecular Epidemiology of Antibiotic-Resistant Escherichia coli from Farm-to-Fork in Intensive Poultry Production in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Authors: McIver Katherine S. , Amoako Daniel Gyamfi , Abia Akebe Luther King , Bester Linda A. , Chenia Hafizah Y. , Essack Sabiha Y.
Published: November 2020

The increased use of antibiotics in food animals has resulted in the selection of drug-resistant bacteria across the farm-to-fork continuum. This study aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli from intensively produced poultry in the uMgungundlovu District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Samples were collected weekly between August and September 2017 from hatching to final retail products. E. coli was isolated on eosin methylene blue agar, identified biochemically, and confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Susceptibility to 19 antibiotics was ascertained by the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. PCR was used to test for resistance genes. The clonal similarity was investigated using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR). In total, 266 E. coli isolates were obtained from all the samples, with 67.3% being non-susceptible to at least one antibiotic tested and 6.7% multidrug resistant. The highest non-susceptibility was to ampicillin (48.1%) and the lowest non-susceptibility to ceftriaxone and azithromycin (0.8%). Significant non-susceptibility was observed to tetracycline (27.4%), nalidixic acid (20.3%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (13.9%), and chloramphenicol (11.7%) which have homologues used in the poultry industry. The most frequently observed resistance genes were blaCTX-M (100%), sul1 (80%), tetA (77%), and tetB (71%). ERIC-PCR grouped isolates into 27 clusters suggesting the spread of diverse clones across the farm-to-fork continuum. This reiterates the role of intensive poultry farming as a reservoir and a potential vehicle for the transmission of antibiotic resistance, with potentially severe public health implications, thus, requiring prompt and careful mitigation measures to protect human and environmental health.
Gallic Acid-Laminarin Conjugate Is a Better Antioxidant than Sulfated or Carboxylated Laminarin
Authors: Fernandes-Negreiros Marília Medeiros , Batista Lucas Alighieri Neves Costa , Silva Viana Rony Lucas , Araujo Sabry Diego , Paiva Almino Afonso Oliveira , Paiva Weslley Souza , Machado Raynara Iusk Araujo , Sousa Junior Francimar Lopes de , de Lima Pontes Daniel , Vitoriano Jussier de Oliveira , Alves Junior Clodomiro , Lanzi Sassaki Guilherme , Rocha Hugo Alexandre Oliveira
Published: November 2020

A 12.4 kDa laminarin (LM) composed of β(1→3)-glucan with β(1→6)-branches was extracted from brown seaweed Lobophora variegata and modified via carboxylation using dielectric barrier discharge (LMC), conjugation with gallic acid (LMG), and sulfation (LMS). Analyses of the chemical composition of LMC, LMG, and LMS yielded 11.7% carboxyl groups, 1.5% gallic acid, and 1.4% sulfate content, respectively. Antioxidant activities of native and modified laminarins were assessed using six different in vitro methods. Sulfation stopped the antioxidant activities of LM. On the other hand, carboxylation improved cooper chelation (1.2 times). LMG was found to be a more efficient antioxidant agent than LM in terms of copper chelation (1.3 times), reducing power (1.3 times), and total antioxidant capacity (80 times). Gallic acid conjugation was further confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy analyses. LMG also did not induce cell death or affect the cell cycle of Madin–Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. On the contrary, LMG protected MDCK cells from H2O2-induced oxidative damage. Taken together, these results show that LMG has the potent antioxidant capacity, and, therefore, potential applications in pharmacological and functional food products.
Optimum Design of Sunken Reinforced Enclosures under Buckling Condition
Authors: Omidi Bidgoli Mostafa , Kashyzadeh Kazem Reza , Rahimian Koloor Seyed Saeid , Petrů Michal , Amiri Nima
Published: November 2020

Increasing the lifetime and improving the performance of structures through redesign and optimization are important, especially in marine structures. In general, there are two main groups of marine structures: onshore and offshore structures. Most marine structures are offshore, and these are divided into two categories: floating or sunken. One of the important parameters in the design of sunken structures is the critical load resulting from the buckling of walls, which can cause damage to the structure. In the present paper, three rectangular aluminum and steel compartments of different conditions and sizes were modeled using design analysis methods. Then, different finite element analyses were performed, and the compartments were optimized to reduce the weight of the structure. Finally, the buckling results of three types of rectangular reinforced compartments were calculated and were compared with each other. The results show that the stresses calculated using the analytical method are in good agreement with the results of the finite element analyses. In addition, the weight of the compartment is reduced by utilizing the reinforced conductors in accordance with the design principles and considering the minimum thickness.
Active Sonar Target Classification with Power-Normalized Cepstral Coefficients and Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Lee Seungwoo , Seo Iksu , Seok Jongwon , Kim Yunsu , Han Dong Seog
Published: November 2020

Detection and classification of unidentified underwater targets maneuvering in complex underwater environments are critical for active sonar systems. In previous studies, many detection methods were applied to separate targets from the clutter using signals that exceed a preset threshold determined by the sonar console operator. This is because the high signal-to-noise ratio target has enough feature vector components to separate. However, in a real environment, the signal-to-noise ratio of the received target does not always exceed the threshold. Therefore, a target detection algorithm for various target signal-to-noise ratio environments is required; strong clutter energy can lead to false detection, while weak target signals reduce the probability of detection. It also uses long pulse repetition intervals for long-range detection and high ambient noise, requiring classification processing for each ping without accumulating pings. In this study, a target classification algorithm is proposed that can be applied to signals in real underwater environments above the noise level without a threshold set by the sonar console operator, and the classification performance of the algorithm is verified. The active sonar for long-range target detection has low-resolution data; thus, feature vector extraction algorithms are required. Feature vectors are extracted from the experimental data using Power-Normalized Cepstral Coefficients for target classification. Feature vectors are also extracted with Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients and compared with the proposed algorithm. A convolutional neural network was employed as the classifier. In addition, the proposed algorithm is to be compared with the result of target classification using a spectrogram and convolutional neural network. Experimental data were obtained using a hull-mounted active sonar system operating on a Korean naval ship in the East Sea of South Korea and a real maneuvering underwater target. From the experimental data with 29 pings, we extracted 361 target and 3351 clutter data. It is difficult to collect real underwater target data from the real sea environment. Therefore, the number of target data was increased using the data augmentation technique. Eighty percent of the data was used for training and the rest was used for testing. Accuracy value curves and classification rate tables are presented for performance analysis and discussion. Results showed that the proposed algorithm has a higher classification rate than Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients without affecting the target classification by the signal level. Additionally, the obtained results showed that target classification is possible within one ping data without any ping accumulation.
Precision Analysis and Design of Rotating Coil Magnetic Measurements System
Authors: Odngam Soontorn , Preecha Chaiyut , Sanwong Prapaiwan , Thongtan Woramet , Srisertpol Jiraphon
Published: November 2020

This research presents the design and construction of measuring instruments for a dipole magnetic field using a rotating coil technique. This technique is a closed-loop speed-control system where a Proportional-Integral (PI) controller works together with the intensity measurement of the magnetic field through the rotating coil. It was used to analyze the impact on the accuracy of the electromagnetic at speed ranges of 60, 90, and 120 rpm. The error estimation in the measurement of the normal dipole and skew dipole magnet caused by the steady-state error of the speed control system and the rotational search coil in whirling motion are demonstrated. Rotating unbalance, shaft coupling, and misalignment from its setup disturbed the performance of the speed control system as a nonlinear system.
Sericin for Tissue Engineering
Authors: Jo You-Young , Kweon HaeYong , Oh Ji-Hyeon
Published: November 2020

Sericin is a 10-to-400 kDa hydrophilic protein with high serine content and is a silk constituent together with fibroin. It is produced in the middle silk gland of the silkworm and encoded by four sericin genes. The molecular weight of sericin and its biological activity vary depending on the extraction method employed. Its chemical structure, in terms of random coil and β-sheet conformations, also differs with the extraction method, thereby extending its applications in various fields. Sericin, which was discarded in the textile industry in the past, is being applied and developed in the biomedical field, owing to its biological properties. In particular, many studies are underway in the field of tissue engineering, evaluating its applicability in burn dressing, drug delivery, bone regeneration, cartilage regeneration, and nerve regeneration.
Pores Evolution of Soft Clay under Loading/Unloading Process
Authors: Zhang Mengyu , Sun Hong , Song Chunyu , Li Yue , Hou Mingxun
Published: November 2020

Loading/unloading tests and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) tests were performed on undisturbed soft clay specimens to study the pore evolution under the loading/unloading process. The results showed that small pores (<0.2 μm) had intrinsic characteristics, and the distribution and the fragmentation fractal dimension of small pores were basically unchanged with pressure, while large pores (>0.6 μm) changed greatly under loading/unloading. The pore-size distribution was mainly influenced by large pores. The microstructure of soft clay before unloading has an influence on the change of the swelling index (Cs) and the pores evolution under unloading. Cs increased as the surface fractal dimension of the pores and the area of large pores decreased, and the fragmentation fractal dimension of the pores increased under the loading process. The variations in fractal dimensions and large pore area increased under unloading. Moreover, the compression index (Cc) changed nonlinearly with the pore evolution under loading. Below 100 kPa, Cc increased slightly with a small increase of the fractal dimensions and large pores area under loading. From 100 kPa to 400 kPa, Cc increased to a peak value of 0.484, and the fractal dimensions and large pore area were the greatest under loading. Above 400 kPa, all of them changed slowly. Based on the evolution of pore fractal characteristics, the loading/unloading process could be divided into three stages: the natural structural stage, the structural adjustment stage, and the new equilibrium stage, which was important to study the loading/unloading properties of soft clay.
Quantitative and Qualitative Identification of Bioactive Compounds in Edible Flowers of Black and Bristly Locust and Their Antioxidant Activity
Authors: Hallmann Ewelina
Published: November 2020

Black and bristly locust flowers are an excellent source of polyphenols, including flavonols, phenolic acids, and anthocyanins. In the present literature, there is a lack of studies showing the quantity and quality of phenolic compounds from different locust flowers. There are a few studies on the status of polyphenols in black locust flowers and their products but not bristly locusts. The aims of this study were to analyze and compare the concentrations of bioactive compounds from Robinia pseudoacacia and Robinia hispida flowers over two years. These two species of plants from six independent locations (parks and green areas) located in Warsaw were assessed in this study. The dry matter and polyphenol contents of the flowers were determined. Black locust flower samples contained significantly more myricetin and luteolin. Only bristly locust flowers contained anthocyanins. Five individual anthocyanins were identified in the pink-colored bristly locust flowers. Pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside were the predominant forms in the pool of total anthocyanins.
A Customizable Analysis Flow in Integrative Multi-Omics
Authors: Lancaster Samuel M. , Sanghi Akshay , Wu Si , Snyder Michael P.
Published: November 2020

The number of researchers using multi-omics is growing. Though still expensive, every year it is cheaper to perform multi-omic studies, often exponentially so. In addition to its increasing accessibility, multi-omics reveals a view of systems biology to an unprecedented depth. Thus, multi-omics can be used to answer a broad range of biological questions in finer resolution than previous methods. We used six omic measurements—four nucleic acid (i.e., genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomics, and metagenomic) and two mass spectrometry (proteomics and metabolomics) based—to highlight an analysis workflow on this type of data, which is often vast. This workflow is not exhaustive of all the omic measurements or analysis methods, but it will provide an experienced or even a novice multi-omic researcher with the tools necessary to analyze their data. This review begins with analyzing a single ome and study design, and then synthesizes best practices in data integration techniques that include machine learning. Furthermore, we delineate methods to validate findings from multi-omic integration. Ultimately, multi-omic integration offers a window into the complexity of molecular interactions and a comprehensive view of systems biology.
The Human Epidermal Basement Membrane: A Shaped and Cell Instructive Platform That Aging Slowly Alters
Authors: Roig-Rosello Eva , Rousselle Patricia
Published: November 2020

One of the most important functions of skin is to act as a protective barrier. To fulfill this role, the structural integrity of the skin depends on the dermal-epidermal junction—a complex network of extracellular matrix macromolecules that connect the outer epidermal layer to the underlying dermis. This junction provides both a structural support to keratinocytes and a specific niche that mediates signals influencing their behavior. It displays a distinctive microarchitecture characterized by an undulating pattern, strengthening dermal-epidermal connectivity and crosstalk. The optimal stiffness arising from the overall molecular organization, together with characteristic anchoring complexes, keeps the dermis and epidermis layers extremely well connected and capable of proper epidermal renewal and regeneration. Due to intrinsic and extrinsic factors, a large number of structural and biological changes accompany skin aging. These changes progressively weaken the dermal–epidermal junction substructure and affect its functions, contributing to the gradual decline in overall skin physiology. Most changes involve reduced turnover or altered enzymatic or non-enzymatic post-translational modifications, compromising the mechanical properties of matrix components and cells. This review combines recent and older data on organization of the dermal-epidermal junction, its mechanical properties and role in mechanotransduction, its involvement in regeneration, and its fate during the aging process.
Cannabinoid Receptor Interacting Protein 1a (CRIP1a) in Health and Disease
Authors: Oliver Emily E. , Hughes Erin K. , Puckett Meaghan K. , Chen Rong , Lowther W. Todd , Howlett Allyn C.
Published: November 2020

Endocannabinoid signaling depends upon the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, their endogenous ligands anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol, and intracellular proteins that mediate responses via the C-terminal and other intracellular receptor domains. The CB1 receptor regulates and is regulated by associated G proteins predominantly of the Gi/o subtypes, β-arrestins 1 and 2, and the cannabinoid receptor-interacting protein 1a (CRIP1a). Evidence for a physiological role for CRIP1a is emerging as data regarding the cellular localization and function of CRIP1a are generated. Here we summarize the neuronal distribution and role of CRIP1a in endocannabinoid signaling, as well as discuss investigations linking CRIP1a to development, vision and hearing sensory systems, hippocampus and seizure regulation, and psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia. We also examine the genetic and epigenetic association of CRIP1a within a variety of cancer subtypes. This review provides evidence upon which to base future investigations on the function of CRIP1a in health and disease.
Behavioural and Emotional Changes during COVID-19 Lockdown in an Italian Paediatric Population with Neurologic and Psychiatric Disorders
Authors: Conti Eugenia , Sgandurra Giuseppina , De Nicola Giacomo , Biagioni Tommaso , Boldrini Silvia , Bonaventura Eleonora , Buchignani Bianca , Della Vecchia Stefania , Falcone Francesca , Fedi Caterina , Gazzillo Marisa , Marinella Gemma , Mazzullo Cristina , Micomonaco Jessica , Pantalone Gloria , Salvati Andrea , Sesso Gianluca , Simonelli Valerio , Tolomei Greta , Troiano Irene , Cioni Giovanni , Masi Gabriele , Muratori Filippo , Milone Annarita , Battini Roberta
Published: November 2020

On 11 March 2020, a national lockdown was imposed by the Italian government to contain the spread of COVID19 disease. This is an observational longitudinal study conducted at Fondazione Stella Maris (FSM), Italy to investigate lockdown-related emotional and behavioural changes in paediatric neuropsychiatric population. Families having children (1.5–18 years) with neuropsychiatric disorders referred to FSM have been contacted and proposed to fulfil two online questionnaires (General questionnaire and Child Behaviour Check List (CBCL)) to (i) compare (paired two-sample t-tests) the CBCL scores during lockdown with previous ones, and (ii) investigate the influence (multiple linear regression models) of variables such as age, diagnosis grouping (neurological, neurodevelopmental, emotional, and behavioural disorders) and financial hardship. One hundred and forty-one parents fulfilled the questionnaires. Anxiety and somatic problems increased in 1.5–5 years subpopulation, while obsessive-compulsive, post-traumatic and thought problems increased in 6–18 years subpopulation. In the regression models, younger age in the 1.5–5 years subpopulation resulted as “protective” while financial hardship experienced by families during lockdown was related to psychiatric symptoms increasing in the 6–18 years subpopulation. Some considerations, based on first clinical impressions, are provided in text together with comments in relation to previous and emerging literature on the topic.
HSV-1 Oncolytic Viruses from Bench to Bedside: An Overview of Current Clinical Trials
Authors: Koch Marilin , Lawler Sean , Chiocca E.
Published: November 2020

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) provides a genetic chassis for several oncolytic viruses (OVs) currently in clinical trials. Oncolytic HSV1 (oHSV) have been engineered to reduce neurovirulence and enhance anti-tumor lytic activity and immunogenicity to make them attractive candidates in a range of oncology indications. Successful clinical data resulted in the FDA-approval of the oHSV talimogene laherparepvec (T-Vec) in 2015, and several other variants are currently undergoing clinical assessment and may expand the landscape of future oncologic therapy options. This review offers a detailed overview of the latest results from clinical trials as well as an outlook on newly developed HSV-1 oncolytic variants with improved tumor selectivity, replication, and immunostimulatory capacity and related clinical studies.
Deregulation of Cell Death in Cancer: Recent Highlights
Authors: Carafa Vincenzo , Altucci Lucia
Published: November 2020

The aim of this Special Issue on the deregulation of cell death in cancer is to bring together recent perspectives on the relationship between tumorigenesis and programmed cell death (PCD) [...]