bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Options for Care of Elderly Inpatients With Chronic Diseases: Analysis of Distribution and Factors Influencing Use of Care in Shanghai, China
Authors: Shi Jianwei , Chen Ning , Liu Nana , Yang Yan , Yu Dehua , Jin Hua , Luo Li , Gong Xin , Liu Qian , Chen Chen , Yu Wenya , Wang Zhaoxin
Published: April 2021

Background: China's ability to provide sufficient healthcare for an elderly population with chronic diseases has become a challenge because of poor utilization of different levels of medical institutions. We aimed to explore the characteristics and factors influencing patient choices and the resulting utilization of different levels of public medical institutions among elderly inpatients with chronic diseases.

Methods: Data were collected from the Information Center of the Health and Family Planning Commission of Pudong New Area in Shanghai from 2013 to 2016. A cross-sectional study using multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to find the factors influencing use of care. Records of patients were identified from electronic health records from public medical institutions.

Results: There were 95,445 elderly inpatients with chronic diseases in public medical institutions, 17.78% in community health centers, 68.44% in secondary hospitals, and 13.78% in tertiary hospitals. Compared with those over 80 years old, the 60–69 age group showed a preference for secondary hospitals (OR = 2.980, P < 0.001) and tertiary hospitals (OR = 4.497, P < 0.001), a trend also observed in the 70–79 age group (OR = 1.353, P < 0.001; OR = 1.673, P < 0.001). Compared with those using urban employee basic medical insurance, inpatients using urban resident basic medical insurance were less likely to visit secondary hospitals than community health centers (OR = 0.237, P < 0.001) or tertiary hospitals (OR = 0.293, P < 0.001). Compared with those inpatients who were married, inpatients who were widowed were less likely to go to secondary hospitals (OR = 0.391, P < 0.001) or tertiary hospitals (OR = 0.045, P < 0.001) than community health centers.

Conclusions: The utilization of different levels of medical institutions by elderly people is not well-suited to the respective functions of these medical institutions. Most care services should be provided by community health centers, but our findings indicate that elderly people are more inclined to seek inpatient care at secondary hospitals and tertiary hospitals with some variation based on the patients' sex, age, medical insurance, expenses, and expected length of stay.
Global Healthcare Resource Efficiency in the Management of COVID-19 Death and Infection Prevalence Rates
Authors: Breitenbach Marthinus C. , Ngobeni Victor , Aye Goodness C.
Published: April 2021

The scale of impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on society and the economy globally provides a strong incentive to thoroughly analyze the efficiency of healthcare systems in dealing with the current pandemic and to obtain lessons to prepare healthcare systems to be better prepared for future pandemics. In the absence of a proven vaccine or cure, non-pharmaceutical interventions including social distancing, testing and contact tracing, isolation, and wearing of masks are essential in the fight against the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. We use data envelopment analysis and data compiled from Worldometers and The World Bank to analyze how efficient the use of resources were to stabilize the rate of infections and minimize death rates in the top 36 countries that represented 90% of global infections and deaths out of 220 countries as of November 11, 2020. This is the first paper to model the technical efficiency of countries in managing the COVID-19 pandemic by modeling death rates and infection rates as undesirable outputs using the approach developed by You and Yan. We find that the average efficiency of global healthcare systems in managing the pandemic is very low, with only six efficient systems out of a total of 36 under the variable returns to scale assumption. This finding suggests that, holding constant the size of their healthcare systems (because countries cannot alter the size of a healthcare system in the short run), most of the sample countries showed low levels of efficiency during this time of managing the pandemic; instead it is suspected that most countries literally “threw” resources at fighting the pandemic, thereby probably raising inefficiency through wasted resource use.
Prevalence of Dental Caries and Associated Factors in East Africa, 2000–2020: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Teshome Amare , Muche Abebe , Girma Biruk
Published: April 2021

Background:Dental caries affects mastication, growth and development, and school attendance and has a long-term psychological effect on affected individuals. In developing countries, the prevalence of dental caries is increasing due to the growing consumption of sugary foods, poor tooth brushing habits, and a low level of awareness about dental caries. Even if there was a high prevalence of dental caries in sub-Saharan Africa, there is a paucity of data on the prevalence of dental caries in East Africa. Hence, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of dental caries and associated factors in East Africa.

Methods:A systematic search of articles was conducted in MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar using all the synonyms of dental caries in published literature (until December 2020) in East Africa. Important data were extracted using a standardized data extraction form prepared in Excel. Stata software (version 14.0) was used to calculate the pooled prevalence of dental caries. Besides, subgroup analysis was done based on country and dentition type. Moreover, associated factors of dental caries were assessed and the overall effect was presented in the form of odds ratios. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute reviewers' manual.

Results:The overall pooled prevalence of dental caries was found to be 45.7% (95% CI = 38.0–53.4). The pooled prevalence was high in Eritrea (65.2%, 95% CI = 49.2–81.1), followed by Sudan (57.8%, 95% CI = 36.0–79.7), and a low prevalence was found in Tanzania (30.7%, 95% CI = 21.5–39.9). Moreover, the subgroup analysis revealed a prevalence of 50% (95% CI = 38.4–62.1) in permanent dentition and 41.3% (95% CI = 33.5–49.2) in mixed dentition. The overall mean decayed, missed, and filled permanent (DMFT) and primary (dmft) teeth were 1.941 (95% CI = 1.561–2.322) and 2.237 (95% CI = 1.293–3.181), respectively. High DMFT scores were reported in Sudan (3.146, 95% CI = 1.050–5.242) and Uganda (2.876, 95% CI = 2.186–3.565). Being female (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.24–1.46) and having poor tooth brushing habit (OR = 1.967, 95% CI = 1.67–2.33) were independent risk factors of dental caries.

Conclusion:The overall prevalence of dental caries was comparatively high. Being female and poor oral health practice were independent risk factors of dental caries. The Ministry of Health of the member countries, along with dental associations of each country, ought to offer due attention to strengthen the oral health program in schools and primary health care centers and the implementation of school water fluoridation.
Will Innovation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Improve Perceived Health?
Authors: Li Zejun , Li Xue
Published: April 2021

By taking 22 OECD countries from 2010 to 2017 as sample, we study the effect of pharmaceutical manufacturing innovation on perceived health by using the panel Tobit model from the entire sample and sub-samples, respectively, as well as analyze their transmission channels by adding moderating effect. Based on the above, we get the following results: first, the pharmaceutical manufacturing innovation 4 years ago has a positive influence on perceived health, which means the improvement of perceived health is closely related to pharmaceutical manufacturing innovation 4 years ago. Second, pharmaceutical manufacturing innovation has a heterogeneous impact on perceived health, which, including the size and direction of the impact effect, is mainly reflected in different pharmaceutical manufacturing innovation levels, population aging degrees, and education levels. Third, income level can positively regulate the impact of pharmaceutical manufacturing innovation on perceived health.
Age and CMV-Infection Jointly Affect the EBV-Specific CD8+ T-Cell Repertoire
Authors: Lanfermeijer Josien , de Greef Peter C. , Hendriks Marion , Vos Martijn , van Beek Josine , Borghans José A. M. , van Baarle Debbie
Published: April 2021

CD8+ T cells play an important role in protection against viral infections. With age, changes in the T-cell pool occur, leading to diminished responses against both new and recurring infections in older adults. This is thought to be due to a decrease in both T-cell numbers and T-cell receptor (TCR) diversity. Latent infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) is assumed to contribute to this age-associated decline of the immune system. The observation that the level of TCR diversity in the total memory T-cell pool stays relatively stable during aging is remarkable in light of the constant input of new antigen-specific memory T cells. What happens with the diversity of the individual antigen-specific T-cell repertoires in the memory pool remains largely unknown. Here we studied the effect of aging on the phenotype and repertoire diversity of CMV-specific and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific CD8+ T cells, as well as the separate effects of aging and CMV-infection on the EBV-specific T-cell repertoire. Antigen-specific T cells against both persistent viruses showed an age-related increase in the expression of markers associated with a more differentiated phenotype, including KLRG-1, an increase in the fraction of terminally differentiated T cells, and a decrease in the diversity of the T-cell repertoire. Not only age, but also CMV infection was associated with a decreased diversity of the EBV-specific T-cell repertoire. This suggests that both CMV infection and age can impact the T-cell repertoire against other antigens.
Brainless Walking: Animal Gaits Emerge From an Actuator Characteristic
Authors: Masuda Yoichi , Naniwa Keisuke , Ishikawa Masato , Osuka Koichi
Published: April 2021

In this study, we discovered a phenomenon in which a quadruped robot without any sensors or microprocessor can autonomously generate the various gait patterns of animals using actuator characteristics and select the gaits according to the speed. The robot has one DC motor on each limb and a slider-crank mechanism connected to the motor shaft. Since each motor is directly connected to a power supply, the robot only moves its foot on an elliptical trajectory under a constant voltage. Although this robot does not have any computational equipment such as sensors or microprocessors, when we applied a voltage to the motor, each limb begins to adjust its gait autonomously and finally converged to a steady gait pattern. Furthermore, by raising the input voltage from the power supply, the gait changed from a pace to a half-bound, according to the speed, and also we observed various gait patterns, such as a bound or a rotary gallop. We investigated the convergence property of the gaits for several initial states and input voltages and have described detailed experimental results of each gait observed.
Novel Energy System Design Workflow for Zero-Carbon Energy District Development
Authors: Samadzadegan Bahador , Samareh Abolhassani Soroush , Dabirian Sanam , Ranjbar Saeed , Rasoulian Hadise , Sanei Azin , Eicker Ursula
Published: April 2021

The growing urban population globally leads to higher greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and stress on the electricity networks for meeting the increasing demand. In the early urban design stages, the optimization of the urban morphology and building physics characteristics can reduce energy demand. Local generation using renewable energy resources is also a viable option to reduce emissions and improve grid reliability. Notwithstanding, energy simulation and environmental impact assessment of urban building design strategies are usually not done until the execution planning stage. To address this research gap, a novel framework for designing energy systems for zero-carbon districts is developed. An urban building energy model is integrated with an urban energy system model in this framework. Dynamic prediction of heating and cooling demand and automatic sizing of different energy system configurations based on the calculated demands are the framework's primary capabilities. The workability of the framework has been tested on a case study for an urban area in Montreal to design and compare two different renewable energy systems comprising photovoltaic panels (PV), air-source, and ground source heat pumps. The case study results show that the urban building energy model could successfully predict the heating and cooling demands in multiple spatiotemporal resolutions, while the urban energy system model provides system solutions for achieving a zero-carbon or positive energy district.
The Use of Embedded Context-Sensitive Attractors for Clinical Walking Test Guidance in Virtual Reality
Authors: Croucher Charlotte , Powell Wendy , Dicks Matt , Stevens Brett , Powell Vaughan
Published: April 2021

Virtual reality is increasingly used in rehabilitation and can provide additional motivation when working toward therapeutic goals. However, a particular problem for patients regards their ability to plan routes in unfamiliar environments. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore how visual cues, namely embedded context-sensitive attractors, can guide attention and walking direction in VR, for clinical walking interventions. This study was designed using a butterfly as the embedded context-sensitive attractor, to guide participant locomotion around the clinical figure of eight walk test, to limit the use of verbal instructions. We investigated the effect of varying the number of attractors for figure of eight path following, and whether there are any negative impacts on perceived autonomy or workload. A total of 24 participants took part in the study and completed six attractor conditions in a counterbalanced order. They also experienced a control VE (no attractors) at the beginning and end of the protocol. Each VE condition lasted a duration of 1 min and manipulated the number of attractors to either singular or multiple alongside, the placement of turning markers (virtual trees) used to represent the cones used in clinical settings for the figure of eight walk test. Results suggested that embedded context-sensitive attractors can be used to guide walking direction, following a figure of eight in VR without impacting perceived autonomy, and workload. However, there appears to be a saturation point, with regards to effectiveness of attractors. Too few objects in a VE may reduce feelings of intrinsic motivation, and too many objects in a VE may reduce the effectiveness of attractors for guiding individuals along a figure of eight path. We conclude by indicating future research directions, for attractors and their use as a guide for walking direction.
Essential Oil Profile Diversity in Cardamom Accessions From Southern India
Authors: Ashokkumar Kaliyaperumal , Vellaikumar Sampathrajan , Murugan Muthusamy , Dhanya M. K. , Ariharasutharsan Gunasekaran , Aiswarya Shaji , Akilan Manoharan , Warkentin Thomas D. , Karthikeyan Adhimoolam
Published: April 2021

The essential oil of cardamom capsules is a high-value ingredient in foods, beverages, perfumery, and traditional medicines. It is responsible for the characteristic aroma of cardamom. The present study aimed to evaluate essential oil yield and chemical constituents of 22 diverse accessions of cardamom. A total of 20 g of the cured capsules were hydrodistilled in a Clevenger apparatus for 3 h in three replications. The amount of essential oil yield ranged from 4.5 to 9.5%, indicating a substantial variation in this feature among the accessions. The GC/MS analysis results discovered 24 constituents that constituted 98.1–100% of total essential oil. The main fractions were found to be oxygenated monoterpenes (40.7–66.7%), monoterpene hydrocarbons (23.1–58.6%), and sesquiterpenes (0.1–2.0%). Among the monoterpenoids, the predominant constituents were α-terpinyl acetate (29.9–61.3%) followed by 1,8-cineole (15.2–49.4%), α-terpineol (0.83–13.2%), β-linalool (0.44–11.0%), and sabinene (1.9–4.9%). Two sesquiterpene constituents, cardinen and nerolidol and p-cresol (a phenol derivative) were also identified. The compositional data were subjected to euclidean-distance-based similarity analysis, which showed two major clusters. The major constituents of cardamom essential oil (CEO) are 1,8-cineole, α-terpinyl acetate, sabinene, and β-linalool that can be used in food, aroma, and pharmaceutical applications.
Feeding Cannabidiol (CBD)-Containing Treats Did Not Affect Canine Daily Voluntary Activity
Authors: Morris Elizabeth M. , Kitts-Morgan Susanna E. , Spangler Dawn M. , Gebert Jessica , Vanzant Eric S. , McLeod Kyle R. , Harmon David L.
Published: April 2021

Growing public interest in the use of cannabidiol (CBD) for companion animals has amplified the need to elucidate potential impacts. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the influence of CBD on the daily activity of adult dogs. Twenty-four dogs (18.0 ± 3.4 kg, 9 months−4 years old) of various mixed breeds were utilized in a randomized complete block design with treatments targeted at 0 and 2.5 mg (LOW) and at 5.0 mg (HIGH) CBD/kg body weight (BW) per day split between two treats administered after twice-daily exercise (0700–0900 and 1,700–1,900 h). Four hours each day [1,000–1,200 h (a.m.) and 1,330–1,530 h (p.m.)] were designated as times when no people entered the kennels, with 2 h designated as Quiet time and the other 2 h as Music time, when calming music played over speakers. Quiet and Music sessions were randomly allotted to daily a.m. or p.m. times. Activity monitors were fitted to dogs' collars for continuous collection of activity data. Data were collected over a 14-day baseline period to establish the activity patterns and block dogs by activity level (high or low) before randomly assigning dogs within each block to treatments. After 7 days of treatment acclimation, activity data were collected for 14 days. Data were examined for differences using the MIXED procedure in SAS including effects of treatment, day, session (Quiet or Music), time of day (a.m. or p.m.), and accompanying interactions. CBD (LOW and HIGH) did not alter the total daily activity points (P = 0.985) or activity duration (P = 0.882). CBD tended (P = 0.071) to reduce total daily scratching compared with the control. Dogs were more active in p.m. sessions than in a.m. sessions (P < 0.001). During the p.m. session, dogs receiving HIGH tended (P = 0.091) to be less active than the control (CON). During the a.m. and p.m. sessions, CBD reduced scratching compared with CON (P = 0.030). CBD did not affect the activity duration during exercise periods (P = 0.143). These results indicate that, when supplemented with up to 4.5 mg CBD/kg BW/day, CBD does not impact the daily activity of adult dogs, but may exert an antipruritic effect.
Interval Extended Kalman Filter—Application to Underwater Localization and Control
Authors: Louédec Morgan , Jaulin Luc
Published: April 2021

The extended Kalman filter has been shown to be a precise method for nonlinear state estimation and is the facto standard in navigation systems. However, if the initial estimated state is far from the true one, the filter may diverge, mainly due to an inconsistent linearization. Moreover, interval filters guarantee a robust and reliable, yet unprecise and discontinuous localization. This paper proposes to choose a point estimated by an interval method, as a linearization point of the extended Kalman filter. We will show that this combination allows us to get a higher level of integrity of the extended Kalman filter.
Comparison of Different Image Processing Methods for Segregation of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Seeds Infected by Aflatoxin-Producing Fungi
Authors: Ziyaee Peyman , Farzand Ahmadi Vahid , Bazyar Pourya , Cavallo Eugenio
Published: April 2021

Fungi such as Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus are molds infecting food and animal feed, are responsible for aflatoxin contamination, and cause a significant problem for human and animal health. The detection of aflatoxin and aflatoxigenic fungi on raw material is a major concern to protect health, secure food and feed, and preserve their value. The effectiveness of image processing, combined with computational techniques, has been investigated to detect and segregate peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) seeds infected with an aflatoxin producing fungus. After inoculation with Aspergillus flavus, images of peanuts seeds were taken using various lighting sources (LED, UV, and fluorescent lights) on two backgrounds (black and white) at 0, 48, and 72 h after inoculation. Images were post-processed with three different machine learning tools: the artificial neural network (ANN), the support vector machine (SVM), and the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) to detect the Aspergillus flavus growth on peanuts. The results of the study show that the combination of LED light and a white background with ANN had 99.7% accuracy in detecting fungal growth on peanuts 72 h from infection with Aspergillus. Additionally, UV lights and a black background with ANFIS achieve 99.9% accuracy in detecting fungal growth on peanuts 48 h after their infection with Aspergillus.
Effect of the Degree of Soil Contamination with Heavy Metals on Their Mobility in the Soil Profile in a Microplot Experiment
Authors: Pikuła Dorota , Stępień Wojciech
Published: April 2021

Adjusting Polish law to EU standards, many studies were started in the 1990s on the harmfulness of presumably contaminating elements (PCE) to the environment and the quality of plants intended produced for food purposes. For this reason, in 1987, a unique microplate experiment was established on natural soils artificially contaminated with copper, zinc, lead and cadmium oxides (up to the pollution level of class I, II and III). The soils were diversified in terms of pH (through liming), organic matter content (through the addition of brown coal) and the grain size composition of the humus level (Ap) (strong clay sand and light silt clay). After 14 years from the introduction of different rates of metals into the top layer (0–30 cm) of the two soils studied, relatively large movement of heavy metals in the soil profile occurred. The amount of leached metals depended mainly on the rate of a given element. The more contaminated was the soil was, the heavier the metals that leached to lower genetic levels of soil. Contaminated soils always had a higher concentration of individual metals in Et than in Bt level. The content of the tested metals in the Et layer was determined in HCl (1 mol·dm−3) and compared to the humus level. Only at the soil depth below 50 cm (Bt), the content of the studied metals’ forms was much lower than in the surface levels. The calculated mobility coefficients of the tested metals determined in 1 M HCl indicate a larger movement of the tested metals in lighter soils than in medium soils. The highest displacement coefficients were obtained for cadmium, while the lowest were for lead. An increase in mobility was obtained alongside an increase in soil contamination with the heavy metals studied. By analyzing the mobility coefficients (heavy metal increase in the Bt and Et layers), they can be ranked in the following decreasing sequence: on light soils: Cd > Cu > Zn > Pb and on medium soils: Cd > Zn > Pb > Cu.
Monitoring the Spatial Variability of Knapweed (Centaurea diluta Aiton) in Wheat Crops Using Geostatistics and UAV Imagery: Probability Maps for Risk Assessment in Site-Specific Control
Authors: Jurado-Expósito Montserrat , López-Granados Francisca , Jiménez-Brenes Francisco Manuel , Torres-Sánchez Jorge
Published: April 2021

Assessing the spatial distribution of weeds within a field is a key step to the success of site-specific weed management strategies. Centaurea diluta (knapweed) is an emerging weed that is causing a major agronomic problem in southern and central Spain because of its large size, the difficulty of controlling it, and its high competitive ability. The main objectives of this study were to examine the spatial variability of C. diluta density in two wheat fields by multivariate geostatistical methods using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery as secondary information and to delineate potential control zones for site-specific treatments based on occurrence probability maps of weed infestation. The primary variable was obtained by grid weed density field samplings, and the secondary variables were derived from UAV imagery acquired the same day as the weed field surveys. Kriging and cokriging with UAV-derived variables that displayed a strong correlation with weed density were used to compare C. diluta density mapping performance. The accuracy of the predictions was assessed by cross-validation. Cokriging with UAV-derived secondary variables generated more accurate weed density maps with a lower RMSE compare with kriging and cokriging with RVI, NDVI, ExR, and ExR(2) (the best methods for the prediction of knapweed density). Cokriged estimates were used to generate probability maps for risk assessment when implementing site-specific weed control by indicator kriging. This multivariate geostatistical approach enabled the delineation of winter wheat fields into two zones for different prescription treatments according to the C. diluta density and the economic threshold.
Rice Farming in Central Java, Indonesia—Adoption of Sustainable Farming Practices, Impacts and Implications
Authors: Connor Melanie , de Guia Annalyn H. , Pustika Arlyna Budi , Sudarmaji  , Kobarsih Mahargono , Hellin Jon
Published: April 2021

Farmer adoption of sustainable rice farming technologies and practices is critical for climate change adaptation and mitigation. Often adoption is investigated in isolation focusing on factors influencing farmer decision making and overlooking the effects of technology adoption on farmers’ livelihoods and perceptions of change. Therefore, the present study investigated technology adoption and its effects on farmers with a special focus on additional revenue allocation and perception of social, economic and environmental change. Using a digital survey platform, 153 farmers (21.6% female) were interviewed in three sub-districts of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. On average, farmers adopted two technologies or practices, adopted high-yielding rice varieties, and increased their revenue from US$105 to US$122 per hectare per season. Barriers to adoption included time constraints, unsuitability for field conditions and incompatibility with cropping systems. Farmers invested the extra income in farming business and improved diets. Furthermore, farmers perceived changes in social and human capital and also poverty reduction due to technology adoption. This study highlights the importance of including an analysis of social impact in agricultural research.
Photodynamic Therapy for the Treatment of Infected Leg Ulcers—A Pilot Study
Authors: Krupka Magdalena , Bożek Andrzej , Bartusik-Aebisher Dorota , Cieślar Grzegorz , Kawczyk-Krupka Aleksandra
Published: April 2021

Chronic and infected leg ulcers (LUs) are painful, debilitating, resistant to antibiotics, and immensely reduce a patient’s quality of life. The purpose of our study was to demonstrate the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of infected chronic LUs. Patients were randomized into two experimental groups: the first group received 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) (10 patients), and the second group of 10 patients received local octenidine dihydrochloride (Octenilin gel) exposed to a placebo light source with an inserted filter that mimiced red light. In the PDT group, we used 20% ALA topically applied for 4 hrs and irradiation from a Diomed laser source with a wavelength of 630 nm at a fluency of 80 J/cm2. ALA-PDT was performed 10 times during a 14-day hospitalization in 10 patients of both sexes aged 40–85 years with chronic leg ulcers. Treatments were carried out at 3-week intervals for 3–5 cycles. At 8-month follow-up with the PDT group, complete remission (CR) was obtained in four patients (40%), partial response (>50% reduction in ulcer diameter) in four patients (40%), and no response in two patients (20%) who additionally developed deterioration of the local condition with swelling, erythema, and inflammation. To assess the degree of pain during the trials, we used a numeric rating scale (NRS). From the preliminary results obtained, we concluded that PDT can be used to treat leg ulcers as a minimally invasive and effective method with no serious side effects, although further studies on a larger group of patients with LUs are warranted.
Antibacterial Potential by Rupture Membrane and Antioxidant Capacity of Purified Phenolic Fractions of Persea americana Leaf Extract
Authors: Solís-Salas Laura María , Sierra-Rivera Crystel Aleyvick , Cobos-Puc Luis Enrique , Ascacio-Valdés Juan Alberto , Silva-Belmares Sonia Yesenia
Published: April 2021

The present research focused on evaluating the antibacterial effect and the mechanism of action of partially purified fractions of an extract of Persea americana. Furthermore, both its antioxidant capacity and composition were evaluated. The extract was fractionated by vacuum liquid chromatography. The antimicrobial effect against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Escherichia coli (ATCC 11229), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442), and Salmonella choleraesuis (ATCC 1070) was analyzed by microdilution and the mechanism of action by the Sytox green method. The antioxidant capacity was determined by DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS techniques and the composition by Rp-HPLC-MS. All fractions showed a concentration-dependent antibacterial effect. Fractions F3, F4, and F5 (1000 µg/mL) showed a better antibacterial effect than the extract against the bacteria mentioned. The F3 fraction showed inhibition of 95.43 ± 3.04% on S. aureus, F4 showed 93.30 ± 0.52% on E. coli, and F5 showed 88.63 ± 1.15% on S. choleraesuis and 86.46 ± 3.20% on P. aeruginosa. The most susceptible strain to the treatment with the extract was S. aureus. Therefore, in this strain, the bacterial membrane damage induced by the extract and fractions was evidenced by light fluorescence microscopy. Furthermore, the extract had better antioxidant action than each fraction. Finally, sinensitin was detected in F3 and cinnamoyl glucose, caffeoyl tartaric acid, and cyanidin 3-O-(6′′-malonyl-3′′-glucosyl-glucoside) were detected in F4; esculin and kaempferide, detected in F5, could be associated with the antibacterial and antioxidant effect.
Dietary Phenolic Acids and Their Major Food Sources Are Associated with Cognitive Status in Older Italian Adults
Authors: Godos Justyna , Caraci Filippo , Micek Agnieszka , Castellano Sabrina , D’Amico Emanuele , Paladino Nadia , Ferri Raffaele , Galvano Fabio , Grosso Giuseppe
Published: April 2021

Background: Life expectancy is increasing along with the rising prevalence of cognitive disorders. Among the factors that may contribute to their prevalence, modifiable risk factors such as diet may be of primary importance. Unarguably, plant-based diets rich in bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, showed their potential in decreasing risk of neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to investigate whether exposure to components of plant-based diets, namely phenolic acids, may affect cognitive status in older Italian adults. Methods: The demographic, lifestyle and dietary habits of a sample of individuals living in southern Italy were analyzed. Dietary intake was assessed through food frequency questionnaires (FFQs). Data on the phenolic acids content in foods were estimated using the Phenol-Explorer database. Cognitive status was evaluated using The Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess the associations. Results: The mean intake of phenolic acids was 346.6 mg/d. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, individuals in the highest quartile of total phenolic acid intake were less likely to have impaired cognitive status (OR = 0.36 (95% CI: 0.14, 0.92)); similarly, the analysis for subclasses of phenolic acids showed the beneficial effect toward cognitive status of greater intake of hydroxycinnamic acids (OR = 0.35 (95% CI: 0.13, 0.91)). Among individual compounds, only higher intake of caffeic acid was inversely associated with impaired cognitive status (OR = 0.32 (95% CI: 0.11, 0.93)); notably, the association with ferulic acid intake was significant only when adjusting for background characteristics, and not for adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Conclusions: This study revealed that greater intakes of dietary phenolic acids were significantly inversely associated with impaired cognition, emphasizing the possible role of phenolic acids in the prevention of cognitive disorders.
Glutathione S-Transferases in Cancer
Authors: Singh Rahul Raj , Reindl Katie M.
Published: April 2021

In humans, the glutathione S-transferases (GST) protein family is composed of seven members that present remarkable structural similarity and some degree of overlapping functionalities. GST proteins are crucial antioxidant enzymes that regulate stress-induced signaling pathways. Interestingly, overactive GST proteins are a frequent feature of many human cancers. Recent evidence has revealed that the biology of most GST proteins is complex and multifaceted and that these proteins actively participate in tumorigenic processes such as cell survival, cell proliferation, and drug resistance. Structural and pharmacological studies have identified various GST inhibitors, and these molecules have progressed to clinical trials for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. In this review, we discuss recent findings in GST protein biology and their roles in cancer development, their contribution in chemoresistance, and the development of GST inhibitors for cancer treatment.
Potential Use of Amla (Phyllanthus emblica L.) Fruit Extract to Protect Skin Keratinocytes from Inflammation and Apoptosis after UVB Irradiation
Authors: Kunchana Khwandow , Jarisarapurin Wattanased , Chularojmontri Linda , Wattanapitayakul Suvara K.
Published: April 2021

Ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure is the primary risk factor for the deadliest type of skin cancer—melanoma. Incorporating natural antioxidants in skin protection products is currently a favored research theme. For this study, we selected Phyllanthus emblica L. fruit extract (PE) to assess its potential use in dermal protection against UVB-induced keratinocyte inflammation and apoptosis. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to investigate PE’s phytochemical constituents (ascorbic acid, ellagic acid, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, and quercetin), while ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), total ROS, OH•, O2•−, and H2O2-scavenging activities were used to determine the antioxidant properties. PE significantly increased the cell viability (MTT assay) and reduced apoptosis (Hoechst staining) in HaCaT cells exposed to UVB (40 mJ/cm2). PE abolished oxidative stress by reducing the production of intracellular ROS, O2•− and H2O2 production. Catalase activity (but not superoxide dismutase or glutathione peroxidase activity) was enhanced in keratinocytes incubated with PE prior to UVB exposure. Western blot analysis suggested that PE inhibited cytochrome c release and inhibited the dysregulation of PI3K/Akt without any impact on p38 activation. PE attenuated the inflammatory response to UVB irradiation by inhibiting AP-1, NF-κB, and the mediator PGE2. Thus, PE is a candidate with great potential for use as an active ingredient in skin care products.
Diabetes and Thrombosis: A Central Role for Vascular Oxidative Stress
Authors: Vaidya Aishwarya R. , Wolska Nina , Vara Dina , Mailer Reiner K. , Schröder Katrin , Pula Giordano
Published: April 2021

Diabetes mellitus is the fifth most common cause of death worldwide. Due to its chronic nature, diabetes is a debilitating disease for the patient and a relevant cost for the national health system. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the most common form of diabetes mellitus (90% of cases) and is characteristically multifactorial, with both genetic and environmental causes. Diabetes patients display a significant increase in the risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to the rest of the population. This is associated with increased blood clotting, which results in circulatory complications and vascular damage. Platelets are circulating cells within the vascular system that contribute to hemostasis. Their increased tendency to activate and form thrombi has been observed in diabetes mellitus patients (i.e., platelet hyperactivity). The oxidative damage of platelets and the function of pro-oxidant enzymes such as the NADPH oxidases appear central to diabetes-dependent platelet hyperactivity. In addition to platelet hyperactivity, endothelial cell damage and alterations of the coagulation response also participate in the vascular damage associated with diabetes. Here, we present an updated interpretation of the molecular mechanisms underlying vascular damage in diabetes, including current therapeutic options for its control.
Diet-Derived Antioxidants and Their Role in Inflammation, Obesity and Gut Microbiota Modulation
Authors: Deledda Andrea , Annunziata Giuseppe , Tenore Gian Carlo , Palmas Vanessa , Manzin Aldo , Velluzzi Fernanda
Published: April 2021

It is generally accepted that gut microbiota, inflammation and obesity are linked to the development of cardiovascular diseases and other chronic/non-communicable pathological conditions, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and ageing-related disorders. In this scenario, oxidative stress plays a pivotal role. Evidence suggests that the global dietary patterns may represent a tool in counteracting oxidative stress, thus preventing the onset of diseases related to oxidative stress. More specifically, dietary patterns based on the regular consumption of fruits and vegetables (i.e., Mediterranean diet) have been licensed by various national nutritional guidelines in many countries for their health-promoting effects. Such patterns, indeed, result in being rich in specific components, such as fiber, minerals, vitamins and antioxidants, whose beneficial effects on human health have been widely reported. This suggests a potential nutraceutical power of specific dietary components. In this manuscript, we summarize the most relevant evidence reporting the impact of dietary antioxidants on gut microbiota composition, inflammation and obesity, and we underline that antioxidants are implicated in a complex interplay between gut microbiota, inflammation and obesity, thus suggesting their possible role in the development and modulation of chronic diseases related to oxidative stress and in the maintenance of wellness. Do all roads lead to Rome?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations: A Systematic Review
Authors: Zinellu Elisabetta , Zinellu Angelo , Fois Alessandro G. , Pau Maria Carmina , Scano Valentina , Piras Barbara , Carru Ciriaco , Pirina Pietro
Published: April 2021

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive disease characterized by a not fully reversible airflow limitation associated with an abnormal inflammatory response. Exacerbations of COPD are of major importance in the acceleration of disease progression, in healthcare costs, and negatively affect the patient’s quality of life. Exacerbations are characterized by a further increase in the airway inflammation likely driven by oxidative stress. In order to deepen the knowledge about this topic, several studies have focused on oxidative stress biomarkers levels. This review summarizes the literature findings about oxidative stress biomarkers in exacerbated COPD patients compared to ones in the stable state. Methods: a systematic search in electronic databases Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar from inception to January 2021, was conducted using the terms: “oxidative stress”, “chronic obstructive pulmonary disease” or “COPD”, “exacerbation”. Results: 23 studies were selected for the systematic review. They showed the presence of an imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant molecules in favor of the former in exacerbation of COPD. Conclusions: future studies using standardized methods in better characterized population are needed. However, this review suggests that targeting oxidative stress could be useful in monitoring the disease progression in COPD patients and especially in those more susceptible to exacerbations.
Experimental Study of Low Temperature Performance of Porous Asphalt Mixture
Authors: Wang Jian , Ng Pui-Lam , Gong Yuhua , Su Han , Du Jinsheng
Published: April 2021

Porous asphalt mixture can be used as a road surface paving material with the remarkable advantage to prevent water accumulation and ponding. However, the performance of porous asphalt mixture in low temperature environment has not been thoroughly investigated, and this forms the subject of research in the present study. The mineral aggregate gradation of porous asphalt mixture was designed based on Bailey method, and the low temperature performance of porous asphalt mixture was studied by means of the low temperature bending test. The factors affecting the low temperature performance of porous asphalt mixture were analyzed through the orthogonal experimental design method, and the effects of porosity, modifier content, aging condition, and test temperature on the low temperature performance of porous asphalt mixture were evaluated. The results showed that the modifier content was the most important factor affecting the low temperature performance of porous asphalt mixture, followed by the test temperature, while the porosity and the aging condition were the least. Among the three performance evaluation indicators, namely the flexural tensile strength, maximum bending strain, and bending stiffness modulus, the maximum bending strain had the highest sensitivity to the porosity. It can be seen from the single factor influence test of porosity that there existed an approximately linear relationship between the maximum bending strain and the porosity of porous asphalt mixture, and the maximum bending strain decreased with increasing porosity. Furthermore, in order to ensure the good working performance of porous asphalt mixture in low temperature environment, the porosity should also satisfy the required limits of the maximum bending strain.
Antagonist Muscle Co-Activation during Kettlebell Single Arm Swing Exercise
Authors: Salem Ahmed , Hassan Amr , Tilp Markus , Akl Abdel-Rahman
Published: April 2021

The purpose of this study was to determine the muscle activation and co-activation of selected muscles during the kettlebell single arm swing exercise. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the muscle co-activation of a kettlebell single arm swing exercise. Nine volunteers participated in the present study (age: 22.6 ± 3.8 years; body mass: 80.4 ± 9.2 kg; height: 175.6 ± 7.5 cm). The electrical muscle activity of eight right agonist/antagonist muscles (AD/PD, ESL/RA, ESI/EO, and GM/RF) were recorded using a surface EMG system (Myon m320RX; Myon, Switzerland) and processed using the integrated EMG to calculate a co-activation index (CoI) for the ascending and descending phases. A significant effect of the ascending and descending phases on the muscles’ CoI was observed. Post hoc analyses showed that the co-activation was significantly higher in the descending phase compared to that in the ascending phase of AD/PD CoI (34.25 ± 18.03% and 24.75 ± 13.03%, p < 0.001), ESL/RA CoI (34.97 ± 17.86% and 24.19 ± 10.32%, p < 0.001), ESI/EO CoI (41.14 ± 10.72% and 30.87 ± 11.26%, p < 0.001), and GM/RF CoI (27.49 ± 12.97% and 34.98 ± 14.97%, p < 0.001). In conclusion, the co-activation of the shoulder muscles varies within the kettlebell single arm swing. The highest level of co-activation was observed in the descending phase of AD/PD and GM/RF CoI, and the lowest level of co-activation was observed during the descending phase, ESL/RA and ESI/EO CoI. In addition, the highest level of co-activation was observed in the ascending phase of ESL/RA and ESI/EO CoI, and the lowest level of co-activation was observed during the ascending phase, AD/PD and GM/RF CoI. The co-activation index could be a useful method for the interpretation of the shoulder and core muscles’ co-activity during a kettlebell single arm swing.
Analysis on High-Power Seaport LED Luminaire with Uniform Light Distribution Based on Optimized Lens and Heatsink
Authors: Kim Jinsheon , Kang Jeungmo , Jang Woojin
Published: April 2021

In the case of light-emitting diode (LED) seaport luminaires, they should be designed in consideration of glare, average illuminance, and overall uniformity. Although it is possible to implement light distribution through auxiliary devices such as reflectors, it means increasing the weight and size of the luminaire, which reduces the feasibility. Considering the special environment of seaport luminaires, which are installed at a height of 30 m or more, it is necessary to reduce the weight of the device, facilitate replacement, and secure a light source with a long life. In this paper, an optimized lens design was investigated to provide uniform light distribution to meet the requirement in the seaport lighting application. Four types of lens were designed and fabricated to verify the uniform light distribution requirement for the seaport lighting application. Using numerical analysis, we optimized the lens that provides the required minimum overall uniformity for the seaport lighting application. A theoretical analysis for the heatsink structure and shape were conducted to reduce the heat from the high-power LED light sources up to 250 W. As a result of these analyses on the heat dissipation characteristics of the high-power LED light source used in the LED seaport luminaire, the heatsink with hexagonal-shape fins shows the best heat dissipation effect. Finally, a prototype LED seaport luminaire with an optimized lens and heat sink was fabricated and tested in a real seaport environment. The light distribution characteristics of this prototype LED seaport luminaire were compared with a commercial high-pressure sodium luminaire and metal halide luminaire.
Reconstructing the Free Energy Profiles Describing the Switching Mechanism of a pH-Dependent DNA Nanodevice from ABMD Simulations
Authors: Romeo Alice , Falconi Mattia , Desideri Alessandro , Iacovelli Federico
Published: April 2021

The pH-responsive behavior of six triple-helix DNA nanoswitches, differing in the number of protonation centers (two or four) and in the length of the linker (5, 15 or 25 bases), connecting the double-helical region to the single-strand triplex-forming region, was characterized at the atomistic level through Adaptively Biased Molecular Dynamics simulations. The reconstruction of the free energy profiles of triplex-forming oligonucleotide unbinding from the double helix identified a different minimum energy path for the three diprotic nanoswitches, depending on the length of the connecting linker and leading to a different per-base unbinding profile. The same analyses carried out on the tetraprotic switches indicated that, in the presence of four protonation centers, the unbinding process occurs independently of the linker length. The simulation data provide an atomistic explanation for previously published experimental results showing, only in the diprotic switch, a two unit increase in the pKa switching mechanism decreasing the linker length from 25 to 5 bases, endorsing the validity of computational methods for the design and refinement of functional DNA nanodevices.