bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Directional terahertz beam generation under interaction of an intense femtosecond laser pulse with a cluster jet
Authors: Balakin Alexei V. , Gildenburg Vladimir B. , Gordienko Vyacheslav M. , Kuzechkin Nikolay A. , Semenov Timur A. , Solyankin Petr M. , Pavlichenko Ivan A. , Zhu Yiming , Shkurinov Alexander P.
Published: October 2021

A supersonic jet consisting of atomic clusters of noble gases under interaction with high-power femtosecond radiation allows control of the radiation pattern and efficiency of generation of terahertz (THz) radiation. The laser filament formed in this jet is spatially defined by the shape of the jet. The concentration, spatial distribution, and size of the clusters influence the propagation of the femtosecond laser pulse in it and the formation of a THz pulse. We show that a specially formed cluster jet allows the shaping of THz radiation with a high degree of directionality and increase its intensity by more than 10 times.
Flat-top THz directional diagram of a DC-biased filament
Authors: Nikolaeva I. A. , Shipilo D. E. , Pushkarev D. V. , Rizaev G. E. , Mokrousova D. V. , Koribut A. V. , Grudtsyn Y. V. , Panov N. A. , Seleznev L. V. , Liu W. , Ionin A. A. , Kosareva O. G.
Published: October 2021

In the experiment, the laser pulse (744 nm, 0.5 mJ, 90 fs) focused into the air gap between the plane electrodes biased by a 10 kV/cm field (DC-biased filament) produced terahertz (THz) radiation. At the selected frequencies of

ν
=
0.3

, 0.5, 1 THz, a wide flat-top angular distribution was measured by a bolometer rotating in the plane of the electrodes. The simulations based on the unidirectional pulse propagation equation with fine 0.01 THz resolution and 3 PHz frequency domain showed the transition of the THz directional diagram from the flat-top at

ν
≲
1

T
H
z

to the conical one at

ν
>
8

T
H
z

due to the destructive interference of THz waves from the ionization front propagating with the superluminal velocity. Refraction on the plasma is not the major factor in ring formation.
Burst-mode 100  kHz N2 ps-CARS flame thermometry with concurrent nonresonant background referencing
Authors: Lauriola Daniel K. , Hsu Paul S. , Jiang Naibo , Slipchenko Mikhail N. , Meyer Terrence R. , Roy Sukesh
Published: October 2021

A burst-mode nitrogen (

N

2

) picosecond vibrational coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (ps-VCARS) system is presented for accurate flame thermometry at 100 kHz repetition rate. A frequency-tripled ps burst-mode laser is used to pump a custom optical parametric generator/amplifier to produce 607 nm broadband Stokes pulses with

120

c
m

−
1

bandwidth, along with a narrowband 532 nm pump/probe beam. A simultaneous shot-to-shot nonresonant background (NRB) measurement is implemented to account for Stokes spectral profile and beam overlap fluctuations. The 100 kHz ps-VCARS data are benchmarked in a near-adiabatic

C
H

4

/

a
i
r

Hencken calibration flame with an accuracy of 1.5% and precision of 4.7% up to peak flame temperatures. The use of

N

2

VCARS and simultaneous NRB measurements enables high-speed thermometry for a wide range of fuels and combustion applications.
High-peak-power structured beams by an Nd:YAG/Cr4+:YAG laser in a near-hemispherical cavity
Authors: Tuan P.-H. , Cheng Y.-Z. , Tsai W.-C. , Cheng K.-T.
Published: October 2021

An

N
d

:

Y
A
G

/

C
r

4
+

:

Y
A
G

passively

Q

-switched (PQS) laser in a near-hemispherical cavity is exploited to generate high-order structured pulsed fields. Under tightly focused on-axis pumping, radial-order Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) modes with controllable mode orders by the input pump power are realized to exhibit quite stable temporal behavior. The pulse repetition rates of radial-LG modes can reach up to 78 kHz with an average output power of 0.57 W and peak power beyond 300 W under a 5-W pump level. Furthermore, by introducing 1D off-axis pumping into the PQS laser, various structured pulsed fields with transverse morphologies as high-order Ince–Gaussian (IG) modes are further created. With clean and well-defined beam structures, the IG pulsed fields can be nicely reconstructed by the resonant modes of the inhomogeneous Helmholtz equation for spherical cavities. More importantly, these high-order PQS IG modes reveal highly regular pulse trains with the maximum pulse repetition rate beyond 20 kHz and overall peak power higher than 1.5 kW.
Pathogenic BCL11A variants provide insights into the mechanisms of human fetal hemoglobin silencing
Authors: Shen Yong , Li Rick , Teichert Kristian , Montbleau Kara E. , Verboon Jeffrey M. , Voit Richard A. , Sankaran Vijay G.
Published: October 2021

Increased production of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) can ameliorate the severity of sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia. BCL11A has been identified as a key regulator of HbF silencing, although its precise mechanisms of action remain incompletely understood. Recent studies have identified pathogenic mutations that cause heterozygous loss-of-function of BCL11A and result in a distinct neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by persistent HbF expression. While the majority of cases have deletions or null mutations causing haploinsufficiency of BCL11A, several missense variants have also been identified. Here, we perform functional studies on these variants to uncover specific liabilities for BCL11A’s function in HbF silencing. We find several mutations in an N-terminal C2HC zinc finger that increase proteasomal degradation of BCL11A. We also identify a distinct C-terminal missense variant in the fifth zinc finger domain that we demonstrate causes loss-of-function through disruption of DNA binding. Our analysis of missense variants causing loss-of-functionin vivoilluminates mechanisms by which BCL11A silences HbF and also suggests potential therapeutic avenues for HbF induction to treat sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia.
BMP pathway regulation of insulin signaling components promotes lipid storage in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Clark James F. , Ciccarelli Emma J. , Kayastha Peter , Ranepura Gehan , Yamamoto Katerina K. , Hasan Muhammad S. , Madaan Uday , Meléndez Alicia , Savage-Dunn Cathy
Published: October 2021

A small number of peptide growth factor ligands are used repeatedly in development and homeostasis to drive programs of cell differentiation and function. Cells and tissues must integrate inputs from these diverse signals correctly, while failure to do so leads to pathology, reduced fitness, or death. Previous work using the nematodeC.elegansidentified an interaction between the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and insulin/IGF-1-like signaling (IIS) pathways in the regulation of lipid homeostasis. The molecular components required for this interaction, however, were not fully understood. Here we report that INS-4, one of 40 insulin-like peptides (ILPs), is regulated by BMP signaling to modulate fat accumulation. Furthermore, we find that the IIS transcription factor DAF-16/FoxO, but not SKN-1/Nrf, acts downstream of BMP signaling in lipid homeostasis. Interestingly, BMP activity alters sensitivity of these two transcription factors to IIS-promoted cytoplasmic retention in opposite ways. Finally, we probe the extent of BMP and IIS interactions by testing additional IIS functions including dauer formation, aging, and autophagy induction. Coupled with our previous work and that of other groups, we conclude that BMP and IIS pathways have at least three modes of interaction: independent, epistatic, and antagonistic. The molecular interactions we identify provide new insight into mechanisms of signaling crosstalk and potential therapeutic targets for IIS-related pathologies such as diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
Regulation of innate immune responses in macrophages differentiated in the presence of vitamin D and infected with dengue virus 2
Authors: Castillo Jorge Andrés , Giraldo Diana M. , Hernandez Juan C. , Smit Jolanda M. , Rodenhuis-Zybert Izabela A. , Urcuqui-Inchima Silvio
Published: October 2021

A dysregulated or exacerbated inflammatory response is thought to be the key driver of the pathogenesis of severe disease caused by the mosquito-borne dengue virus (DENV). Compounds that restrict virus replication and modulate the inflammatory response could thus serve as promising therapeutics mitigating the disease pathogenesis. We and others have previously shown that macrophages, which are important cellular targets for DENV replication, differentiated in the presence of bioactive vitamin D (VitD3) are less permissive to viral replication, and produce lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, we here evaluated the extent and kinetics of innate immune responses of DENV-2 infected monocytes differentiated into macrophages in the presence (D3-MDMs) or absence of VitD3 (MDMs). We found that D3-MDMs expressed lower levels of RIG I, Toll-like receptor (TLR)3, and TLR7, as well as higher levels of SOCS-1 in response to DENV-2 infection. D3-MDMs produced lower levels of reactive oxygen species, related to a lower expression of TLR9. Moreover, although VitD3 treatment did not modulate either the expression of IFN-α or IFN-β, higher expression of protein kinase R (PKR) and 2′-5′-oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (OAS1) mRNA were found in D3-MDMs. Importantly, the observed effects were independent of reduced infection, highlighting the intrinsic differences between D3-MDMs and MDMs. Taken together, our results suggest that differentiation of MDMs in the presence of VitD3 modulates innate immunity in responses to DENV-2 infection.
Larval ecology and bionomics of Anopheles funestus in highland and lowland sites in western Kenya
Authors: Debrah Isaiah , Afrane Yaw A. , Amoah Linda E. , Ochwedo Kevin O. , Mukabana Wolfgang R. , Zhong Daibin , Zhou Guofa , Lee Ming‑Chieh , Onyango Shirley A. , Magomere Edwin O. , Atieli Harrysone , Githeko Andrew K. , Yan Guiyun
Published: October 2021

Background

An. funestus is a major Afrotropical vector of human malaria. This study sought to investigate the larval ecology, sporozoite infection rates and blood meal sources of An. funestus in western Kenya.

Methods

Larval surveys were carried out in Bungoma (Highland) and Kombewa (lowland) of western Kenya. Aquatic habitats were identified, characterized, georeferenced and carefully examined for mosquito larvae and predators. Indoor resting mosquitoes were sampled using pyrethrum spray catches. Adults and larvae were morphologically and molecularly identified to species. Sporozoite infections and blood meal sources were detected using real-time PCR and ELISA respectively.

Results

Of the 151 aquatic habitats assessed, 62/80 (78%) in Bungoma and 58/71(82%) in Kombewa were positive for mosquito larvae. Of the 3,193 larvae sampled, An. funestus larvae constitute 38% (1224/3193). Bungoma recorded a higher number of An. funestus larvae (85%, 95%, CI, 8.722–17.15) than Kombewa (15%, 95%, CI, 1.33–3.91). Molecular identification of larvae showed that 89% (n = 80) were An. funestus. Approximately 59%, 35% and 5% of An. funestus larvae co-existed with An. gambiae s.l, Culex spp and An. coustani in the same habitats respectively. Of 1,221 An. funestus s.l adults sampled, molecular identifications revealed that An. funestus constituted 87% (n = 201) and 88% (n = 179) in Bungoma and Kombewa, respectively. The Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite rate of An. funestus in Bungoma and Kombewa was 2% (3/174) and 1% (2/157), respectively, and the human blood index of An. funestus was 84% (48/57) and 89% (39/44) and for Bungoma and Kombewa, respectively.

Conclusion

Man-made ponds had the highest abundance of An. funestus larvae. Multiple regression and principal component analyses identified the distance to the nearest house as the key environmental factor associated with the abundance of An. funestus larvae in aquatic habitats. This study serves as a guide for the control of An. funestus and other mosquito species to complement existing vector control strategies.
A retrospective multicenter comparison of conditional cancer-specific survival between laparoscopic and open radical nephroureterectomy in locally advanced upper tract urothelial carcinoma
Authors: Kim Sung Han , Song Mi Kyung , Ku Ja Hyeon , Kang Seok Ho , Jeong Byong Chang , Hong Bumsik , Seo Ho Kyung
Published: October 2021

Background

Upper urinary tract urothelial carcinomas are relatively rare and have a cancer-specific survival rate of 20%–30%. The current gold standard treatment for nonmetastatic high-grade urinary tract urothelial carcinoma is radical nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff resection.

Objective

This study aimed to compare conditional cancer-specific survival between open radical nephroureterectomy and laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy in patients with nonmetastatic stage pT3-4 or TxN(+) locally advanced urinary tract urothelial carcinoma from five tertiary centers.

Methods

The medical records of 723 patients were retrospectively reviewed. The patients had locally advanced and nodal staged tumors and had undergone open radical nephroureterectomy (n = 388) or laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (n = 260) at five tertiary Korean institutions from January 2000 and December 2012. To control for heterogenic baseline differences between the two modalities, propensity score matching and subgroup analysis were conducted. Conditional survival analysis was also conducted to determine survival outcome and to overcome differences in follow-up duration between the groups.

Results

During the median 50.8-month follow up, 255 deaths occurred. In univariate analysis, significant factors affecting cancer-specific survival (e.g., age, history of bladder cancer, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, pathological N stage, and presence of lymphovascular invasion and carcinoma in situ) differed in each subsequent year. The cancer-specific survival between patients treated with open radical nephroureterectomy and laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy was not different between patients with and without a history of bladder cancer. After adjusting baseline differences between the two groups by using propensity score matching, both groups still had no significant differences in cancer-specific survival.

Conclusion

The two surgical modalities showed no significant differences in the 5-year cancer-specific survival in patients with locally advanced urinary tract urothelial carcinoma.
Non-clinical assessment of lubrication and free radical scavenging of an innovative non-animal carboxymethyl chitosan biomaterial for viscosupplementation: An in-vitro and ex-vivo study
Authors: Vandeweerd Jean-Michel , Innocenti Bernado , Rocasalbas Guillem , Gautier Sandrine Emilia , Douette Pierre , Hermitte Laurence , Hontoir Fanny , Chausson Mickael
Published: October 2021

Objective

Lubrication and free radical scavenging are key features of biomaterials used for viscosupplementation (VS) of joints affected by osteoarthritis (OA). The objective of this study was to describe the non-clinical performance characterization of KiOmedine® CM-Chitosan, a non-animal carboxymethyl chitosan, in order to assess its intended action in VS and to compare it to existing viscosupplements based on crosslinked hyaluronan (HA) formulations.

Method

The lubrication capacity of the tested viscosupplements (VS) was evaluated in-vitro and ex-vivo. In-vitro, the coefficient of friction (COF) was measured using a novel tribological system. Meanwhile, an ex-vivo biomechanical model in ovine hindlimbs was developed to assess the recovery of join mobility after an intra-articular (IA) injection. Free radical scavenging capacity of HA and KiOmedine® CM-Chitosan formulations was evaluated using the Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) assay.

Results

In the in-vitro tribological model, KiOmedine® CM-Chitosan showed high lubrication capacity with a significant COF reduction than crosslinked HA formulations. In the ex-vivo model, the lubrication effect of KiOmedine® CM-Chitosan following an IA injection in the injured knee was proven again by a COF reduction. The recovery of joint motion was optimal with an IA injection of 3 ml of KiOmedine® CM-Chitosan, which was significantly better than the crosslinked HA formulation at the same volume. In the in-vitro TEAC assay, KiOmedine® CM-Chitosan showed a significantly higher free radical scavenging capacity than HA formulations.

Conclusion

Overall, the results provide a first insight into the mechanism of action in terms of lubrication and free radical scavenging for the use of KiOmedine® CM-Chitosan as a VS treatment of OA. KiOmedine® CM-Chitosan demonstrated a higher capacity to scavenge free radicals, and it showed a higher recovery of mobility after a knee lesion than crosslinked HA formulations. This difference could be explained by the difference in chemical structure between KiOmedine® CM-Chitosan and HA and their formulations.
Structural and functional characterization of Mpp75Aa1.1, a putative beta-pore forming protein from Brevibacillus laterosporus active against the western corn rootworm
Authors: Kouadio Jean-Louis , Duff Stephen , Aikins Michael , Zheng Meiying , Rydel Timothy , Chen Danqi , Bretsnyder Eric , Xia Chunsheng , Zhang Jun , Milligan Jason , Evdokimov Artem , Nageotte Jeffrey , Yin Yong , Moar William , Giddings Kara , Park Yoonseong , Jerga Agoston , Haas Jeffrey
Published: October 2021

The western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, is a major corn pest of significant economic importance in the United States. The continuous need to control this corn maize pest and the development of field-evolved resistance toward all existing transgenic maize (Zea mays L.) expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal proteins against WCR has prompted the development of new insect-protected crops expressing distinct structural classes of insecticidal proteins. In this current study, we describe the crystal structure and functional characterization of Mpp75Aa1.1, which represents the first corn rootworm (CRW) active insecticidal protein member of the ETX_MTX2 sub-family of beta-pore forming proteins (β-PFPs), and provides new and effective protection against WCR feeding. The Mpp75Aa1.1 crystal structure was solved at 1.94 Å resolution. The Mpp75Aa1.1 is processed at its carboxyl-terminus by WCR midgut proteases, forms an oligomer, and specifically interacts with putative membrane-associated binding partners on the midgut apical microvilli to cause cellular tissue damage resulting in insect death. Alanine substitution of the surface-exposed amino acids W206, Y212, and G217 within the Mpp75Aa1.1 putative receptor binding domain I demonstrates that at least these three amino acids are required for WCR activity. The distinctive spatial arrangement of these amino acids suggests that they are part of a receptor binding epitope, which may be unique to Mpp75Aa1.1 and not present in other ETX_MTX2 proteins that do not have WCR activity. Overall, this work establishes that Mpp75Aa1.1 shares a mode of action consistent with traditional WCR-active Bt proteins despite significant structural differences.
Comparative genomic mapping reveals mechanisms of chromosome diversification in Rhipidomys species (Rodentia, Thomasomyini) and syntenic relationship between species of Sigmodontinae
Authors: Paixão Vergiana dos Santos , Suárez Pablo , Oliveira da Silva Willam , Geise Lena , Ferguson-Smith Malcolm Andrew , O’Brien Patricia Caroline Mary , Mendes-Oliveira Ana Cristina , Rossi Rogério Vieira , Pieczarka Julio Cesar , Nagamachi Cleusa Yoshiko
Published: October 2021

Rhipidomys (Sigmodontinae, Thomasomyini) has 25 recognized species, with a wide distribution ranging from eastern Panama to northern Argentina. Cytogenetic data has been described for 13 species with 12 of them having 2n = 44 with a high level of autosomal fundamental number (FN) variation, ranging from 46 to 80, assigned to pericentric inversions. The species are grouped in groups with low FN (46–52) and high FN (72–80). In this work the karyotypes of Rhipidomys emiliae (2n = 44, FN = 50) and Rhipidomys mastacalis (2n = 44, FN = 74), were studied by classical cytogenetics and by fluorescence in situ hybridization using telomeric and whole chromosome probes (chromosome painting) of Hylaeamys megacephalus (HME). Chromosome painting revealed homology between 36 segments of REM and 37 of RMA. We tested the hypothesis that pericentric inversions are the predominant chromosomal rearrangements responsible for karyotypic divergence between these species, as proposed in literature. Our results show that the genomic diversification between the karyotypes of the two species resulted from translocations, centromeric repositioning and pericentric inversions. The chromosomal evolution in Rhipidomys was associated with karyotypical orthoselection. The HME probes revealed that seven syntenic probably ancestral blocks for Sigmodontinae are present in Rhipidomys. An additional syntenic block described here is suggested as part of the subfamily ancestral karyotype. We also define five synapomorphies that can be used as chromosomal signatures for Rhipidomys.
Concept and performance evaluation of two 3 GHz buncher units optimizing the dose rate of a novel preclinical proton minibeam irradiation facility
Authors: Mayerhofer Michael , Bergmaier Andreas , Datzmann Gerd , Hagn Hermann , Helm Ricardo , Mitteneder Johannes , Schubert Ralf , Picardi Luigi , Nenzi Paolo , Ronsivalle Concetta , Wirth Hans-Friedrich , Dollinger Günther
Published: October 2021

To demonstrate the large potential of proton minibeam radiotherapy (pMBRT) as a new method to treat tumor diseases, a preclinical proton minibeam radiation facility was designed. It is based on a tandem Van-de-Graaff accelerator providing a 16 MeV proton beam and a 3 GHz linac post-accelerator (designs: AVO-ADAM S.A, Geneva, Switzerland and ENEA, Frascati, Italy). To enhance the transmission of the tandem beam through the post-accelerator by a factor of 3, two drift tube buncher units were designed and constructed: A brazed 5-gap structure (adapted SCDTL tank of the TOP-IMPLART project (ENEA)) and a non-brazed low budget 4-gap structure. Both are made of copper. The performance of the two differently manufactured units was evaluated using a 16 MeV tandem accelerator beam and a Q3D magnetic spectrograph. Both buncher units achieve the required summed voltage amplitude of 42 kV and amplitude stability at a power feed of less than 800 W.
Pupil responses to implied motion in figurative and abstract paintings
Authors: Castellotti Serena , Scipioni Lisa , Mastandrea Stefano , Del Viva Maria Michela
Published: October 2021

Motion can be perceived in static images, such as photos and figurative paintings, representing realistic subjects in motion, with or without directional information (e.g., motion blur or speed lines). Motion impression can be achieved even in non-realistic static images such as motion illusions and abstract paintings. It has been shown that visual motion processing affects the diameter of the pupil, responding differently to real, illusory, and implied motion in photographs (IM). It has been suggested that these different effects might be due to top-down modulations from different cortical areas underlying their processing. It is worthwhile to investigate pupillary response to figurative paintings, since they require an even higher level of interpretation than photos representing the same kind of subjects, given the complexity of cognitive processes involved in the aesthetic experience. Also, pupil responses to abstract paintings allows to study the effect of IM perception in representations devoid of real-life motion cues. We measured pupil responses to IM in figurative and abstract artworks depicting static and dynamic scenes, as rated by a large group of individuals not participating in the following experiment. Since the pupillary response is modulated by the subjective image interpretation, a motion rating test has been used to correct individual pupil data according to whether participants actually perceived the presence of motion in the paintings. Pupil responses to movies showing figurative and abstract subjects, and to motion illusions were also measured, to compare real and illusory motion with painted IM. Movies, both figurative and abstract, elicit the largest pupillary dilation of all static stimuli, whereas motion illusions cause the smallest pupil size, as previously shown. Interestingly, pupil responses to IM depend on the paintings’ style. Figurative paintings depicting moving subjects cause more dilation than those representing static figures, and pupil size increases with the strength of IM, as already found with realistic photos. The opposite effect is obtained with abstract artworks. Abstract paintings depicting motion produce less dilation than those depicting stillness. In any case, these results reflect the individual subjective perception of dynamism, as the very same paintings can induce opposite responses in observer which interpreted it as static or dynamic. Overall, our data show that pupil size depends on high-level interpretation of motion in paintings, even when they do not represent real-world scenes. Our findings further suggest that the pupil is modulated by multiple top-down cortical mechanisms, involving the processing of motion, attention, memory, imagination, and other cognitive functions necessary for enjoying a complete aesthetic experience.
Differential pathogenesis of closely related 2018 Nigerian outbreak clade III Lassa virus isolates
Authors: Stein Derek R. , Warner Bryce M. , Audet Jonathan , Soule Geoff , Siragam Vinayakumar , Sroga Patrycja , Griffin Bryan D. , Leung Anders , Grolla Allen , Tierney Kevin , Albietz Alix , Kobasa Darwyn , Musa Abdulmajid S. , Ahmad Adama , Akinpelu Afolabi M. , Mba Nwando , Rosenke Rebecca , Scott Dana P. , Saturday Greg , Ihekweazu Chikwe , Safronetz David
Published: October 2021

Nigeria continues to experience ever increasing annual outbreaks of Lassa fever (LF). The World Health Organization has recently declared Lassa virus (LASV) as a priority pathogen for accelerated research leading to a renewed international effort to develop relevant animal models of disease and effective countermeasures to reduce LF morbidity and mortality in endemic West African countries. A limiting factor in evaluating medical countermeasures against LF is a lack of well characterized animal models outside of those based on infection with LASV strain Josiah originating form Sierra Leone, circa 1976. Here we genetically characterize five recent LASV isolates collected from the 2018 outbreak in Nigeria. Three isolates were further evaluated in vivo and despite being closely related and from the same spatial / geographic region of Nigeria, only one of the three isolates proved lethal in strain 13 guinea pigs and non-human primates (NHP). Additionally, this isolate exhibited atypical pathogenesis characteristics in the NHP model, most notably respiratory failure, not commonly described in hemorrhagic cases of LF. These results suggest that there is considerable phenotypic heterogeneity in LASV infections in Nigeria, which leads to a multitude of pathogenesis characteristics that could account for differences between subclinical and lethal LF infections. Most importantly, the development of disease models using currently circulating LASV strains in West Africa are critical for the evaluation of potential vaccines and medical countermeasures.
In ovo inhibition of avian pox virus replication by mangosteen rind and red ginger ethanolic extracts
Authors: Nur'aini Annisaa' Lu'lu , Hartati Sri , Untari Tri
Published: October 2021

Background and Aim: Avian pox is a contagious disease caused by the avian pox virus (APV). Mangostin and γ-mangostin in mangosteen rind (MR) and gingerol in red ginger (RG) exhibit antiviral activity. In this study, we evaluated the effect of MR and RG ethanolic extracts on APV based on pock lesions on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of specific pathogen-free (SPF) embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs).

Materials and Methods: Three APVs from chicken isolates (C1, C2, and C3), one APV from a pigeon isolate (P), 1.5% and 3% MR ethanolic extract, 5% and 10% RG ethanolic extract, and a combination of 1.5% MR and 5% RG at 0.1 mL/ egg were inoculated in ovo (7th day incubation, chorioallantoic route) in SPF ECEs. A control group inoculated in ovo with APV alone was also established. Each treatment consisted of three replicates. Parameters including embryo survival, CAM lesions, and average number of pock lesions were determined.

Results: In ovo inoculation of MR and RG ethanolic extracts was not harmful to the ECEs and did not induce CAM lesions. The average number of pock lesions in the control group (C1, C2, C3, and P) was 35, 14, 10, and 17, respectively, whereas in all treatment groups, the number was 0, except in the 5% RG group of C1, which had a value of 10.

Conclusion: In ovo inoculation of 1.5% and 3% MR, 5% and 10% RG, and the combination of 1.5% MR plus 5% RG ethanolic extract s at 0.1 mL/egg inhibit APV by reducing the number of pock lesions on the CAM of the ECE.
Avaliação dos Cerrados de Minas Gerais e indicação de áreas potenciais para preservação
Authors: Lima Samuel do Carmo , Rosa Roberto , Baccaro Claudete Aparecida Dellevedove , Guimarães Regina Maia , Das Chagas Ivo
Published: October 2021

Avaliação dos Cerrados de Minas Gerais e indicação de áreas potenciais para preservação
Avaliação da metodologia utilizada para elaboração de carta de risco potencial a erosão acelerada – área de São Pedro, São Paulo, Brasil
Authors: Pejon Osni José , Zuquette Lázaro Valentin
Published: October 2021

Avaliação da metodologia utilizada para elaboração de carta de risco potencial a erosão acelerada – área de São Pedro, São Paulo, Brasil
Interação sociedade-natureza e luta ecológica - um caso catalano: a mata do Setor Universitário
Authors: Stacciarini José Henrique Rodrigues
Published: October 2021

Interação sociedade-natureza e luta ecológica - um caso catalano: a mata do Setor Universitário
Radioatividade natural em solos canavieiros do estado de São Paulo
Authors: Fernandes Elisabete A. de Nadal , Ferraz Epaminondas S. B. , Oliveira Helder de
Published: October 2021

Radioatividade natural em solos canavieiros do estado de São Paulo
A produção de resíduos sólidos urbanos em Uberlândia-MG
Authors: Cleps Jr João , Gumiero Geisa Daise
Published: October 2021

A produção de resíduos sólidos urbanos em Uberlândia-MG
A Geografia e a sociedade
Authors: Andrade Manuel Correia de
Published: October 2021

A Geografia e a sociedade
Educação ambiental e reconstrução da cidadania
Authors: Bortolozzi Alêudi , Perez Filho Archimedes
Published: October 2021

Educação ambiental e reconstrução da cidadania
A urbanização nas áreas de Cerrado: algumas notas
Authors: Correa Roberto Lobato
Published: October 2021

A urbanização nas áreas de Cerrado: algumas notas
Os camelôs e os ambulantes: sua atuação na área central e seus impactos sócio-ambiental/Uberlândia
Authors: Bertolucci Fábio Luiz
Published: October 2021

Os camelôs e os ambulantes: sua atuação na área central e seus impactos sócio-ambiental/Uberlândia
Educação ambiental: uma proposta para o bairro Saraiva - Uberlândia
Authors: Colesanti Marlene Terezinha Muno
Published: October 2021

Educação ambiental: uma proposta para o bairro Saraiva - Uberlândia
As monitorias no Departamento de Geografia
Authors: Borges Ronan Eustáquio , Santos Adriano Rodrigues dos
Published: October 2021

As monitorias no Departamento de Geografia
Uma proposta de estudo: um bairro "nobre" na periferia urbana de Uberlândia
Authors: Ramires Júlio César de Lima , Silva Dalvani Ferreira da
Published: October 2021

Uma proposta de estudo: um bairro "nobre" na periferia urbana de Uberlândia
Proposta metodológica para intrepretação de mapas corológicos: o exemplo da região sul do mapa "Fauna ameaçada de extermínio" (IBGE, 1992)
Authors: Viadana Adler Guilherme
Published: October 2021

Proposta metodológica para intrepretação de mapas corológicos: o exemplo da região sul do mapa "Fauna ameaçada de extermínio" (IBGE, 1992)
Degradación ambiental, agricultura y decisiones productivas. Un estudio de un área de la pampa argentina
Authors: Fernández Guillermina , Guerrero Marcela , Jacinto Guillermina , Nogar Graciela , Valenzuela Silvia , Posada Marcelo
Published: October 2021

Degradación ambiental, agricultura y decisiones productivas. Un estudio de un área de la pampa argentina
A fragmentação do espaço urbano e o processo de favelização de Uberlândia
Authors: Bessa Kelly Cristine F. O. , Soares Beatriz Ribeiro
Published: October 2021

A fragmentação do espaço urbano e o processo de favelização de Uberlândia
El pesimismo de Schopenhauer en Borges: una herencia cristiana en común.
Authors: Plante Claudia
Published: October 2021

Este trabajo tiene como objetivo demostrar que el pesimismo de Schopenhauer, muy difundido en la obra de Borges, es de raigambre profundamente cristiana. Tras evidenciar las semejanzas entre las ideas cristianas y schopenhauerianas, se analizará en qué medida Borges las integra a su obra o se distancia de ellas.
La relectura contemporánea de un clásico italiano: Leopardi en las publicaciones periódicas catalanas después de la Gran Guerra.
Authors: Camps Assumpta
Published: October 2021

En el presente artículo estudiaremos un capítulo de la recepción de los Canti de G. Leopardi en España en la primera mitad del siglo XX, en concreto, las traducciones al catalán que se publicaron en la prensa periódica en los años comprendidos entre la Gran Guerra y la Guerra Civil española. Para ello, nos centraremos en el análisis detallado de las traducciones realizadas por J.Mª Garganta para «La Nova Revista», con el fin de ver la lectura que nos ofrece de Leopardi.
Adquisición de datos real-time sobre equipo de protección eléctrica
Authors: Castillo-Méndez Robinson , Urquijo-Mendoza Edgar Mauricio
Published: October 2021

Los sistemas de control empleados en las redes de distribución de energía eléctrica se encuentran en constante evolución; sin embargo, este tipo de sistemas de distribución también presentan constantes desafíos para los operadores, por esto resulta relevante el diseño de controladores de alto desempeño que aumenten las características de robustez, eficiencia y seguridad en las aplicaciones orientadas a tales sistemas. En Colombia, el nivel de generación de nuevo conocimiento en relación al análisis, diagnóstico, diseño y control de estos sistemas actualmente es reducido. Por lo anterior, el grupo de investigación GICS del CEET (Centro de Electricidad, Electrónica y Telecomunicaciones) y la empresa ATA ELECTRIC S.A.S. en el marco de la ejecución de un proyecto conjunto de investigación aplicada, se ha propuesto una metodología para validar la implementación de un sistema que permita mejorar el desempeño en redes de distribución de energía eléctrica, implementando en primera instancia elementos básicos de medición de variables sobre un reconectador eléctrico. Se utiliza una herramienta de adquisición de datos en tiempo real, cuyos resultados son plausibles al realizar variaciones en la carga diseñada enfocadas a la medición de sobre corriente.
Articulación para centros de apoyo y desarrollo educativo profesional (CADEP)
Authors: Guevara-Bolaños Juan Carlos , Cavanzo-Nisso Gloria Andrea , Pérez-Pereira Miguel Ricardo
Published: October 2021

En el presente artículo se describe el proceso seguido para el diseño de un modelo educativo de articulación elaborado en cuatro etapas: diseño del marco de trabajo, modelo de integración interna, modelo de articulación externa y diseño del modelo de articulación. El modelo permite soportar el funcionamiento de centros de apoyo y desarrollo educativo profesional (CADEP). Estos centros tienen la función de apoyar, cultivar, adaptar, comunicar, innovar y acoger las experiencias, recursos, equipos, problemas, y soluciones que requieren las universidades para el fomento profesional de todos sus miembros; esperando que su gestión permita la disminución de la deserción estudiantil, la modernización permanente de sus estructuras organizativas, y el respeto por el otro y sus diferencias dentro de contexto de una educación con todos.
Metodología diseño de secadores híbridos solar- biomasa para frutas
Authors: Rachen-Soler Maickol Eduardo , Rúa-Ramírez Edwin Blasnilo , León-Medina Jersson Xavier , Torres-Díaz Edwin
Published: October 2021

El artículo presenta los resultados del proyecto que tuvo como objetivo crear una alternativa de solución al desperdicio de fruta, asunto que se vive a nivel mundial, y al de emisiones de CO2 por causa de combustibles fósiles que actualmente se queman. Por lo anterior, se realiza una metodología para el diseño y construcción de un secador hibrido solar­biomasa planteándose una simulación con herramientas computacionales utilizando métodos numéricos, y dinámica computacional de fluidos ­CFD (computational fluid dynamics).  Como perspectiva de investigación se proponen comparaciones de los perfiles de velocidad y temperatura con y sin producto de secado simulados, contra mediciones experimentales.
Editorial - Edición especial 2018-1
Authors: Pacheco-García Robinson
Published: October 2021

Editorial - Edición especial 2018-1
Masmédiá na Slovensku a ich úloha pri formovaní (po)vedomia o environmentálnych problémoch a podpore kritického myslenia
Authors: Huba Mikuláš
Published: October 2021

Napriek rozmachu sociálnych sietí prostriedky masovej komunikácie (masmédiá) naďalej zohrávajú dôležitú a nezastupiteľnú úlohu v spoločnosti. Od šírenia informácií, cez formovanie verejného povedomia až po relax a zábavu- V príspevku sme sa zamerali na úlohu, ktorú v uplynulých 30 rokoch zohrali a zohrávajú médiá na Slovensku pri formovaní (po)vedomia o environmentálnych problémoch a pri podpore kritického myslenia. Všímame si pritom zmeny, ktorými masmédiá prešli od porevolučného obdobia začiatkom 90-tych rokov minulého storočia cez rôzne vývojové až po súčasnosť. Bližšie si všímame niektoré environmentálne kauza a ich aktérov, ako aj postoj kľúčových elektronických a printových médií k nim. Hľadáme odpoveď na otázku, ktoré environmentálne relevantné témy dominovali a dominujú v našom mediálnom priestore? Mapujeme vznik, fungovanie a zväčša i predčasný zánik environmentálne orientovaných médií, relácií a pod. Pýtame sa, čo sa stalo s ich protagonistami, resp., kto ich nahradil a kto je dnes reálnym či potenciálnym nositeľom tých tém v slovenských médiách. Prinášame výsledky niektorých aktuálnych výskumov. Snažíme sa identifikovať hlavné problémy, prekážky a nedostatky, ktoré bránili a bránia tomu, aby si médiá plnili svoju úlohu v tejto oblasti efektívnejšie a navrhujeme niektoré opatrenia či riešenia.

Napriek rozmachu sociálnych sietí prostriedky masovej komunikácie (masmédiá) naďalej zohrávajú dôležitú a nezastupiteľnú úlohu v spoločnosti. Od šírenia informácií, cez formovanie verejného povedomia až po relax a zábavu- V príspevku sme sa zamerali na úlohu, ktorú v uplynulých 30 rokoch zohrali a zohrávajú médiá na Slovensku pri formovaní (po)vedomia o environmentálnych problémoch a pri podpore kritického myslenia. Všímame si pritom zmeny, ktorými masmédiá prešli od porevolučného obdobia začiatkom 90-tych rokov minulého storočia cez rôzne vývojové až po súčasnosť. Bližšie si všímame niektoré environmentálne kauza a ich aktérov, ako aj postoj kľúčových elektronických a printových médií k nim. Hľadáme odpoveď na otázku, ktoré environmentálne relevantné témy dominovali a dominujú v našom mediálnom priestore? Mapujeme vznik, fungovanie a zväčša i predčasný zánik environmentálne orientovaných médií, relácií a pod. Pýtame sa, čo sa stalo s ich protagonistami, resp., kto ich nahradil a kto je dnes reálnym či potenciálnym nositeľom tých tém v slovenských médiách. Prinášame výsledky niektorých aktuálnych výskumov. Snažíme sa identifikovať hlavné problémy, prekážky a nedostatky, ktoré bránili a bránia tomu, aby si médiá plnili svoju úlohu v tejto oblasti efektívnejšie a navrhujeme niektoré opatrenia či riešenia.
Defense Law as the Foundation of the State Defense System in the Republic of Poland
Authors: Kamiński Mariusz Antoni
Published: October 2021

The article presents an analysis of defense law in the legal system of the Republic of Poland in the context of its importance for the defense of the state. The author discusses the role of the state defense system in ensuring national security and presents defense law as a foundation for effective organization of this system. Moreover, the author analyzes the subject matter of defense law and points out the difficulties in its proper organization. The key issues discussed in the article are the need for defense law reforms and indication of the proposals as to the direction in which changes in this field of law should go.
The Settlement of the Bidding Contest for a Public Task Implemented by Non-Governmental Organisations and Public Benefit Entities Without the Possibility of Initiating an Appeal Procedure
Authors: Biniasz-Celka Danuta
Published: October 2021

The paper focuses on the financial cooperation of public administration bodies with public benefit organisations (PBOs) in the form of delegation or commissioning statutory public tasks. As a result of cooperation, a contract is concluded, which is preceded by an open bidding contest procedure. Nevertheless, there is no provision in the contest procedure which would constitute a substantive law basis for issuing an administrative decision or taking other actions referred to in art. 3(2)(4) of the Act of 30 August 2002 on the Administrative Court Procedure by a public administration body or an appointed contest committee.
On the domain of difference double sequence spaces of arbitrary orders
Authors: Samantaray S. , Baliarsingh Pinakadhar , Nayak L.
Published: October 2021

The prime objective of this paper is to define a new double
difference operator with arbitrary order via which new classes of
difference double sequences are introduced. Results on topological
structures, dual spaces and four-dimensional matrix mappings
related to the proposed difference double sequence spaces are
discussed. As an application of this work, the proposed operator
is being used to approximate partial derivatives of fractional
orders. Some numerical examples are also given in support of the
validity or the clear visualization of the results obtained.
Quantitative serological evaluation as a valuable tool in the COVID-19 vaccination campaign
Authors: Ferrari Davide , Mangia Alessandra , Spanò Maria Sestina , Zaffarano Lucia , Viganò Marco , Di Resta Chiara , Locatelli Massimo , Ciceri Fabio , De Vecchi Elena
Published: October 2021

Objectives

After exceptional research efforts, several vaccines were developed against SARS-CoV-2 which sustains the pandemic COVID-19. The Comirnaty vaccine showed high efficacy in clinical trials and was the first to be approved for its distribution to the general population. We evaluated the immune response induced by the first vaccine dose in different sex/age groups and subjects with or without naturally present anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Methods

As part of an Italian multicenter project (Covidiagnostix), serum samples from 4,290 health-professionals were serologically tested the day of the first vaccination dose, and 21 days later, using two different instrumentations (Siemens-Healthineers and Roche).

Results

In total, 97% of samples showed the presence of specific antibodies 21 days after the vaccination dose; the percentage of non-responders increased with age in both genders. Remarkably, naturally seropositive individuals showed antibody persistence up to 11 months and an exceptionally higher vaccination response compared to subjects never infected by SARS-CoV-2.

Conclusions

This study highlighted the importance of the serological test i) to identify naturally SARS-CoV-2 seropositive individuals and ii) to evaluate the antibody level elicited by the first vaccination dose. Both tests, highlighted differences in the immune response, when subjects were stratified by sex and age, and between naturally seropositive and seronegative subjects.

The data obtained show how serological tests could play a crucial role in the triage of the population subjected to the vaccination campaign for COVID-19. The definition of suitable instrumentation-specific thresholds is needed to correctly follow eventually acquired post-vaccination immunity in the general population.
New approach for assigning mean oxidation number of carbons to organonitrogen and organosulfur compounds
Authors: Yuen Pong Kau , Lau Cheng Man Diana
Published: October 2021

Organonitrogen and organosulfur compounds are abundant in the natural environment. To understand the biological redox pathways properly, it is important for learners to be able to count the oxidation number of organic carbons. However, the process of counting is not always easy. In addition, organonitrogen and organosulfur molecules are seldom studied. To compensate these problems, this paper explores the bond-dividing method, which can effectively determine the mean oxidation number of carbons of organonitrogen and organosulfur molecules. This method uses the cleavage of carbon-sulfur and carbon-nitrogen bonds to obtain the organic and inorganic fragments. The mean oxidation numbers of carbon atoms, nitrogen atoms, and sulfur atoms can be calculated by the molecular formulas of their fragments. Furthermore, when comparing organosulfur or organonitrogen molecules in a redox conversion, the changes of the mean oxidation numbers of carbon atoms, nitrogen atoms, and sulfur atoms can be used as indicators to identify the redox positions and determine the number of transferred electrons.
Properties of polyurethane foam with fourth-generation blowing agent
Authors: Yakushin Vladimir , Cabulis Ugis , Fridrihsone Velta , Kravchenko Sergey , Pauliks Romass
Published: October 2021

Climate change makes it imperative to use materials with minimum global warming potential. The fourth-generation blowing agent HCFO-1233zd-E is one of them. The use of HCFO allows the production of polyurethane foam with low thermal conductivity. Thermal conductivity, like other foam properties, depends not only on the density but also on the cellular structure of the foam. The cellular structure, in turn, depends on the technological parameters of foam production. A comparison of pouring and spray foams of the same low density has shown that the cellular structure of spray foam consists of cells with much less sizes than pouring foam. Due to the small size of cells, spray foam has a lower radiative constituent in the foam conductivity and, as a result, a lower overall thermal conductivity than pouring foam. The water absorption of spray foam, due to the fine cellular structure, also is lower than that of pouring foam. Pouring foam with bigger cells has higher compressive strength and modulus of elasticity in the foam rise direction. On the contrary, spray foam with a fine cellular structure has higher strength and modulus in the perpendicular direction. The effect of foam aging on thermal conductivity was also studied.
CO2 hydrogenation to dimethyl ether over In2O3 catalysts supported on aluminosilicate halloysite nanotubes
Authors: Pechenkin Alexey , Potemkin Dmitry , Badmaev Sukhe , Smirnova Ekaterina , Cherednichenko Kirill , Vinokurov Vladimir , Glotov Aleksandr
Published: October 2021

This work presents results on CO2 hydrogenation to dimethyl ether (DME) over bifunctional catalysts consisting of In2O3, supported on natural clay halloysite nanotubes (HNT), and HNT modified with Al-MCM-41 silica arrays. The catalysts were characterized by TEM, STEM, EDX-mapping, NH3-TPD, XRD, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, TPO, and H2-TPR techniques. Catalytic properties of In2O3/HNT and In2O3/Al-MCM-41/HNT in the CO2 hydrogenation to DME were investigated in a fixed-bed continuous flow stainless steel reactor at 10–40 atm, in the temperature range of 200–300°C, at GHSV = 12,000 h−1 and molar ratio of H2:CO2 = 3:1. The best catalyst for CO2 hydrogenation was In2O3/Al-MCM-41/HNT that provided DME production rate 0.15 gDME·(gcat·h)−1 with DME selectivity 53% and at 40 bar, GHSV = 12,000 h−1, and T = 250°C. It was shown that In2O3/Al-MCM-41/HNT exhibited stable operation for at least 40 h on stream.