bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the Evaluation of Mesh Resolution for Large-Eddy Simulation of Internal Flows Using Openfoam
Authors: Seifollahi Moghadam Zahra , Guibault François , Garon André
Published: January 2021

The central aim of this paper is to use OpenFOAM for the assessment of mesh resolution requirements for large-eddy simulation (LES) of flows similar to the ones which occur inside the draft-tube of hydraulic turbines at off-design operating conditions. The importance of this study is related to the fact that hydraulic turbines often need to be operated over an extended range of operating conditions, which makes the investigation of fluctuating stresses crucial. Scale-resolving simulation (SRS) approaches, such as LES and detached-eddy simulation (DES), have received more interests in the recent decade for understanding and mitigating unsteady operational behavior of hydro turbines. This interest is due to their ability to resolve a larger part of turbulent flows. However, verification studies in LES are very challenging, since errors in numerical discretization, but also subgrid-scale (SGS) models, are both influenced by grid resolution. A comprehensive examination of the literature shows that SRS for different operating conditions of hydraulic turbines is still quite limited and that there is no consensus on mesh resolution requirement for SRS studies. Therefore, the goal of this research is to develop a reliable framework for the validation and verification of SRS, especially LES, so that it can be applied for the investigation of flow phenomena inside hydraulic turbine draft-tube and runner at their off-design operating conditions. Two academic test cases are considered in this research, a turbulent channel flow and a case of sudden expansion. The sudden expansion test case resembles the flow inside the draft-tube of hydraulic turbines at part load. In this study, we concentrate on these academic test cases, but it is expected that hydraulic turbine flow simulations will eventually benefit from the results of the current research. The results show that two-point autocorrelation is more sensitive to mesh resolution than energy spectra. In addition, for the case of sudden expansion, the mesh resolution has a tremendous effect on the results, and, so far, we have not capture an asymptotic converging behavior in the results of Root Mean Square (RMS) of velocity fluctuations and two-point autocorrelation. This case, which represents complex flow behavior, needs further mesh resolution studies.
Aglaomorpha quercifolia (L.) Hovenkamp & S. Linds a Wild Fern Used in Timorese Cuisine
Authors: Costa Hermenegildo R. , Simão Inês , Silva Helena , Silveira Paulo , Silva Artur M. S. , Pinto Diana C. G. A.
Published: January 2021

Aglaomorpha quercifolia (L.) Hovenkamp & S. Linds is an extensively used species in traditional medicinal systems in several areas of the world due to some important medicinal properties such as antioxidant, antibacterial, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory activities. In East Timor, different parts of this fern are used either as remedies or as food. The ingestion of a broth made from its rhizome improves lactation, and young fronds of this fern are boiled and eaten with rice by the locals. Nevertheless, its chemical profile is far from being established. The present work aims to establish the chemical profile of both rhizomes and leaves n-hexane extracts by Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed the leaves richness in fatty acids with interesting nutritional values (ω−6/ω−3 = 0.68, AI = 0.59, TI = 0.30), being linolenic acid (253.71 ± 0.93 mg/g dry leaves) and palmitic acid (237.27 ± 0.59 mg/g dry leaves) the significant compounds in the extract. Whereas the rhizome extract is mostly rich in terpenoids, such as steroid, cycloartane, and hopanoid derivatives, being hop-16-ene (166.45 ± 0.53 mg/g dry rhizome) and β-sitosterol (50.76 ± 0.11 mg/g dry rhizome) the major compounds. Several compounds are reported for the first time in the species, and the data herein reported contributes to confirming the species nutritional value.
Optical Screening Methods for Pesticide Residue Detection in Food Matrices: Advances and Emerging Analytical Trends
Authors: Tsagkaris Aristeidis S. , Pulkrabova Jana , Hajslova Jana
Published: January 2021

Pesticides have been extensively used in agriculture to protect crops and enhance their yields, indicating the need to monitor for their toxic residues in foodstuff. To achieve that, chromatographic methods coupled to mass spectrometry is the common analytical approach, combining low limits of detection, wide linear ranges, and high accuracy. However, these methods are also quite expensive, time-consuming, and require highly skilled personnel, indicating the need to seek for alternatives providing simple, low-cost, rapid, and on-site results. In this study, we critically review the available screening methods for pesticide residues on the basis of optical detection during the period 2016–2020. Optical biosensors are commonly miniaturized analytical platforms introducing the point-of-care (POC) era in the field. Various optical detection principles have been utilized, namely, colorimetry, fluorescence (FL), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Nanomaterials can significantly enhance optical detection performance and handheld platforms, for example, handheld SERS devices can revolutionize testing. The hyphenation of optical assays to smartphones is also underlined as it enables unprecedented features such as one-click results using smartphone apps or online result communication. All in all, despite being in an early stage facing several challenges, i.e., long sample preparation protocols or interphone variation results, such POC diagnostics pave a new road into the food safety field in which analysis cost will be reduced and a more intensive testing will be achieved.
Bioactive Ingredients and Medicinal Values of Grifola frondosa (Maitake)
Authors: Wu Jian-Yong , Siu Ka-Chai , Geng Ping
Published: January 2021

Grifola frondosa (G. frondosa), generally known as hen-of-the-woods or maitake in Japanese and hui-shu-hua in Chinese, is an edible mushroom with both nutritional and medicinal properties. This review provides an up-to-date and comprehensive summary of research findings on its bioactive constituents, potential health benefits and major structural characteristics. Since the discovery of the D-fraction more than three decades ago, many other polysaccharides, including β-glucans and heteroglycans, have been extracted from the G. frondosa fruiting body and fungal mycelium, which have shown significant antitumor and immunomodulatory activities. Another class of bioactive macromolecules in G. frondosa is composed of proteins and glycoproteins, which have shown antitumor, immunomodulation, antioxidant and other activities. A number of small organic molecules such as sterols and phenolic compounds have also been isolated from the fungus and have shown various bioactivities. It can be concluded that the G. frondosa mushroom provides a diverse array of bioactive molecules that are potentially valuable for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications. More investigation is needed to establish the structure–bioactivity relationship of G. frondosa and to elucidate the mechanisms of action behind its various bioactive and pharmacological effects.
Non-Invasive Assessment of Pulmonary Vasculopathy
Authors: Ponz Ines , Nuche Jorge , Sanchez Sanchez Violeta , Sanchez-Gonzalez Javier , Blazquez-Bermejo Zorba , Caravaca Perez Pedro , Garcia-Cosio Carmena Maria Dolores , de Juan Baguda Javier S. , Rodríguez Chaverri Adriana Rodríguez , Sarnago Cebada Fernando , Arribas Ynsaurriaga Fernando , Ibañez Borja , Delgado Jiménez Juan F.
Published: January 2021

Right heart catheterization remains necessary for the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension and, therefore, for the prognostic evaluation of patients with chronic heart failure. The non-invaSive Assessment of Pulmonary vasculoPathy in Heart failure (SAPPHIRE) study was designed to assess the feasibility and prognostic relevance of a non-invasive evaluation of the pulmonary artery vasculature in patients with heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. Patients will undergo a right heart catheterization, cardiac resonance imaging, and a pulmonary function test in order to identify structural and functional parameters allowing the identification of combined pre- and postcapillary pulmonary hypertension, and correlate these findings with the hemodynamic data.
The Early Stage of COVID-19 Outbreak in Greece: A Review of the National Response and the Socioeconomic Impact
Authors: Kousi Timokleia , Mitsi Lefkothea-Christina , Simos Jean
Published: January 2021

Greece is a European-Union country, of around 10 million people, located in the southeast part of Europe. The economy is recovering from a long period of deep recession, due to the economic crisis that started in 2008. The economic problems greatly influenced the structure and resources of the healthcare system of the country. In addition to the economic challenges, the country has been facing a refugee crisis, characterized by many overcrowded hotspots and tensions with neighboring Turkey. The COVID-19 outbreak arrived in Greece on 26 February 2020, at the time that Athens had declared a state of emergency at the Greek/Turkish border. From this point in time the government enforced a series of measurements, aiming to contain the epidemic and avoid the collapse of the healthcare system. The vast majority of the general population complied to the measures and consequently Greece’s death toll was low. The impacts of the outbreak are expected to be, as everywhere worldwide, multifaceted and to affect many parts of the economic, social and political life of the country.
KRAS Promoter G-Quadruplexes from Sequences of Different Length: A Physicochemical Study
Authors: D’Aria Federica , Pagano Bruno , Petraccone Luigi , Giancola Concetta
Published: January 2021

DNA G-quadruplexes (G4s) form in relevant genomic regions and intervene in several biological processes, including the modulation of oncogenes expression, and are potential anticancer drug targets. The human KRAS proto-oncogene promoter region contains guanine-rich sequences able to fold into G4 structures. Here, by using circular dichroism and differential scanning calorimetry as complementary physicochemical methodologies, we compared the thermodynamic stability of the G4s formed by a shorter and a longer version of the KRAS promoter sequence, namely 5′-AGGGCGGTGTGGGAATAGGGAA-3′ (KRAS 22RT) and 5′-AGGGCGGTGTGGGAAGAGGGAAGAGGGGGAGG-3′ (KRAS 32R). Our results show that the unfolding mechanism of KRAS 32R is more complex than that of KRAS 22RT. The different thermodynamic stability is discussed based on the recently determined NMR structures. The binding properties of TMPyP4 and BRACO-19, two well-known G4-targeting anticancer compounds, to the KRAS G4s were also investigated. The present physicochemical study aims to help in choosing the best G4 target for potential anticancer drugs.
Intracerebroventricular Treatment with 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin Decreased Cerebellar and Hepatic Glycoprotein Nonmetastatic Melanoma Protein B (GPNMB) Expression in Niemann–Pick Disease Type C Model Mice
Authors: Fukaura Madoka , Ishitsuka Yoichi , Shirakawa Seiichi , Ushihama Naoki , Yamada Yusei , Kondo Yuki , Takeo Toru , Nakagata Naomi , Motoyama Keiichi , Higashi Taishi , Arima Hidetoshi , Kurauchi Yuki , Seki Takahiro , Katsuki Hiroshi , Higaki Katsumi , Matsuo Muneaki , Irie Tetsumi
Published: January 2021

Niemann–Pick disease type C (NPC) is a recessive hereditary disease caused by mutation of the NPC1 or NPC2 gene. It is characterized by abnormality of cellular cholesterol trafficking with severe neuronal and hepatic injury. In this study, we investigated the potential of glycoprotein nonmetastatic melanoma protein B (GPNMB) to act as a biomarker reflecting the therapeutic effect of 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) in an NPC mouse model. We measured serum, brain, and liver expression levels of GPNMB, and evaluated their therapeutic effects on NPC manifestations in the brain and liver after the intracerebroventricular administration of HP-β-CD in Npc1 gene-deficient (Npc1−/−) mice. Intracerebroventricular HP-β-CD inhibited cerebellar Purkinje cell damage in Npc1−/− mice and significantly reduced serum and cerebellar GPNMB levels. Interestingly, we also observed that the intracerebral administration significantly reduced hepatic GPNMB expression and elevated serum ALT in Npc1−/− mice. Repeated doses of intracerebroventricular HP-β-CD (30 mg/kg, started at 4 weeks of age and repeated every 2 weeks) drastically extended the lifespan of Npc1−/− mice compared with saline treatment. In summary, our results suggest that GPNMB level in serum is a potential biomarker for evaluating the attenuation of NPC pathophysiology by intracerebroventricular HP-β-CD treatment.
RNA-Seq Provides New Insights into the Molecular Events Involved in “Ball-Skin versus Bladder Effect” on Fruit Cracking in Litchi
Authors: Wang Jun , Wu Xiao Fang , Tang Yong , Li Jian Guo , Zhao Ming Lei
Published: January 2021

Fruit cracking is a disorder of fruit development in response to internal or external cues, which causes a loss in the economic value of fruit. Therefore, exploring the mechanism underlying fruit cracking is of great significance to increase the economic yield of fruit trees. However, the molecular mechanism underlying fruit cracking is still poorly understood. Litchi, as an important tropical and subtropical fruit crop, contributes significantly to the gross agricultural product in Southeast Asia. One important agricultural concern in the litchi industry is that some famous varieties with high economic value such as ‘Nuomici’ are susceptible to fruit cracking. Here, the cracking-susceptible cultivar ‘Nuomici’ and cracking-resistant cultivar ‘Huaizhi’ were selected, and the samples including pericarp and aril during fruit development and cracking were collected for RNA-Seq analysis. Based on weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and the “ball-skin versus bladder effect” theory (fruit cracking occurs upon the aril expanding pressure exceeds the pericarp strength), it was found that seven co-expression modules genes (1733 candidate genes) were closely associated with fruit cracking in ‘Nuomici’. Importantly, we propose that the low expression level of genes related to plant hormones (Auxin, Gibberellins, Ethylene), transcription factors, calcium transport and signaling, and lipid synthesis might decrease the mechanical strength of pericarp in ‘Nuomici’, while high expression level of genes associated with plant hormones (Auxin and abscisic acid), transcription factors, starch/sucrose metabolism, and sugar/water transport might increase the aril expanding pressure, thereby resulting in fruit cracking in ‘Nuomici’. In conclusion, our results provide comprehensive molecular events involved in the “ball-skin versus bladder effect” on fruit cracking in litchi.
Delivery of the Radionuclide 131I Using Cationic Fusogenic Liposomes as Nanocarriers
Authors: Kolašinac Rejhana , Bier Dirk , Schmitt Laura , Yabluchanskiy Andriy , Neumaier Bernd , Merkel Rudolf , Csiszár Agnes
Published: January 2021

Liposomes are highly biocompatible and versatile drug carriers with an increasing number of applications in the field of nuclear medicine and diagnostics. So far, only negatively charged liposomes with intercalated radiometals, e.g., 64Cu, 99mTc, have been reported. However, the process of cellular uptake of liposomes by endocytosis is rather slow. Cellular uptake can be accelerated by recently developed cationic liposomes, which exhibit extraordinarily high membrane fusion ability. The aim of the present study was the development of the formulation and the characterization of such cationic fusogenic liposomes with intercalated radioactive [131I]I− for potential use in therapeutic applications. The epithelial human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 was used as a model for invasive cancer cells and cellular uptake of [131I]I− was monitored in vitro. Delivery efficiencies of cationic and neutral liposomes were compared with uptake of free iodide. The best cargo delivery efficiency (~10%) was achieved using cationic fusogenic liposomes due to their special delivery pathway of membrane fusion. Additionally, human blood cells were also incubated with cationic control liposomes and free [131I]I−. In these cases, iodide delivery efficiencies remained below 3%.
Neutron Imaging Using a Fine-Grained Nuclear Emulsion
Authors: Hirota Katsuya , Ariga Tomoko , Hino Masahiro , Ichikawa Go , Kawasaki Shinsuke , Kitaguchi Masaaki , Mishima Kenji , Muto Naoto , Naganawa Naotaka , Shimizu Hirohiko M.
Published: January 2021

A neutron detector using a fine-grained nuclear emulsion has a sub-micron spatial resolution and thus has potential to be applied as high-resolution neutron imaging. In this paper, we present two approaches to applying the emulsion detectors for neutron imaging. One is using a track analysis to derive the reaction points for high resolution. From an image obtained with a 9 μm pitch Gd grating with cold neutrons, periodic peak with a standard deviation of 1.3 μm was observed. The other is an approach without a track analysis for high-density irradiation. An internal structure of a crystal oscillator chip, with a scale of approximately 30 μm, was able to be observed after an image analysis.
When Figurative Language Goes off the Rails and under the Bus: Fluid Intelligence, Openness to Experience, and the Production of Poor Metaphors
Authors: Silvia Paul J. , Beaty Roger E.
Published: January 2021

The present research examined the varieties of poor metaphors to gain insight into the cognitive processes involved in generating creative ones. Drawing upon data from two published studies as well as a new sample, adults’ open-ended responses to different metaphor prompts were categorized. Poor metaphors fell into two broad clusters. Non-metaphors—responses that failed to meet the basic task requirements—consisted of “adjective slips” (describing the topic adjectivally instead of figuratively), “wayward attributes” (attributing the wrong property to the topic), and “off-topic idioms” (describing the wrong topic). Bad metaphors—real metaphors that were unanimously judged as uncreative—consisted of “exemplary exemplars” (vehicles that lacked semantic distance and thus seemed trite) and “retrieved clichés” (pulling a dead metaphor from memory). Overall, people higher in fluid intelligence (Gf) were more likely to generate a real metaphor, and their metaphor was less likely to be a bad one. People higher in Openness to Experience, in contrast, were more likely to generate real metaphors but not more or less likely to generate bad ones. Scraping the bottom of the response barrel suggests that creative metaphor production is a particularly complex form of creative thought.
Potentials of Vitrified and Elastic Bonded Fine Grinding Worms in Continuous Generating Gear Grinding
Authors: Schrank Maximilian , Brimmers Jens , Bergs Thomas
Published: January 2021

Continuous generating gear grinding with vitrified grinding worms is an established process for the hard finishing of gears for high-performance transmissions. Due to the increasing requirements for gears in terms of power density, the required surface roughness is continuously decreasing. In order to meet the required tooth flank roughness, common manufacturing processes are polish grinding with elastic bonded grinding tools and fine grinding with vitrified grinding tools. The process behavior and potential of the different bonds for producing super fine surfaces in generating gear grinding have not been sufficiently scientifically investigated yet. Therefore, the objective of this report is to evaluate these potentials. Part of the investigations are the generating gear grinding process with elastic bonded, as well as vitrified grinding worms with comparable grit sizes. The potential of the different tool specifications is empirically investigated independent of the grain size, focusing on the influence of the bond. One result of the investigations was that the tooth flank roughness could be reduced to nearly the same values with the polish and the fine grinding tool. Furthermore, a dependence of the roughness on the selected grinding parameters could not be determined. However, it was found out that the profile line after polish grinding is significantly dependent on the process strategy used.
Optimization of Thin Walls with Sharp Corners in SS316L and IN718 Alloys Manufactured with Laser Metal Deposition
Authors: Pereira Juan Carlos , Borovkov Herman , Zubiri Fidel , Guerra Mari Carmen , Caminos Josu
Published: January 2021

In this work, the manufacture of thin walls with sharp corners has been optimized by adjusting the limits of a 3-axis cartesian kinematics through data recorded and analyzed off-line, such as axis speed, acceleration and the positioning of the X and Y axes. The study was carried out with two powder materials (SS316L and IN718) using the directed energy deposition process with laser. Thin walls were obtained with 1 mm thickness and only one bead per layer and straight/sharp corners at 90°. After adjusting the in-position parameter G502 for positioning precision on the FAGOR 8070 CNC system, it has been possible to obtain walls with minimal accumulation of material in the corner, and with practically constant layer thickness and height, with a radii of internal curvature between 0.11 and 0.24 mm for two different precision configuration. The best results have been obtained by identifying the correct balance between the decrease in programmed speed and the precision in the positioning to reach the point defined as wall corner, with speed reductions of 29% for a programmed speed of 20 mm/s and 61% for a speed of 40 mm/s. The walls show minimal defects such as residual porosities, and the microstructure is adequate.
Transfer Learning for Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) of Marine Air Compressors
Authors: Gribbestad Magnus , Hassan Muhammad Umair , Hameed Ibrahim A.
Published: January 2021

Prognostics is an engineering discipline focused on predicting the time at which a system or a component will no longer perform its intended function. Due to the requirements of system safety and reliability, the correct diagnosis or prognosis of abnormal condition plays a vital role in the maintenance of industrial systems. It is expected that new requirements in regard to autonomous ships will push suppliers of maritime equipment to provide more insight into the conditions of their systems. One of the stated challenges with these systems is having enough run-to-failure examples to build accurate-enough prognostic models. Due to the scarcity of enough reliable data, transfer learning is established as a successful approach to improve and reduce the need to labelled examples. Transfer learning has shown excellent capabilities in image classification problems. Little work has been done to explore and exploit the use of transfer learning in prognostics. In this paper, various deep learning models are used to predict the remaining useful life (RUL) of air compressors. Here, transfer learning is applied by building a separate prognostics model trained on turbofan engines. It has been found that several of the explored transfer learning architectures were able to improve the predictions on air compressors. The research results suggest transfer learning as a promising research field towards more accurate and reliable prognostics.
Fungi Recorded on Folivorous Lepidoptera: High Diversity Despite Moderate Prevalence
Authors: Gielen Robin , Meister Hendrik , Tammaru Toomas , Põldmaa Kadri
Published: January 2021

The knowledge about the diversity and ecological role of entomopathogenic fungi is primarily based on agroecosystems whereas information derived from natural insect populations is much more limited. To contribute to filling this gap, we recorded the prevalence of fungal infections in laboratory rearing experiments with five species of Lepidoptera, and in a field rearing experiment including one of these moths. The diversity of detected fungi was found to be high; we isolated 25 species of fungi from insects that had died in the course of these experiments. Six species belonged to the family Cordycipitaceae known to include unambiguous insect pathogens. The trophic niche of the representatives of other taxa is less clear and requires further studies. Regarding the most abundant species, Cordyceps farinosa, in which this question could be addressed, there was no indication of specialization on particular insect hosts, whereas several of the less common species may have been recorded from lepidopteran hosts for the first time. Across the subsets of the data, the prevalence of fungal infections generally remained below 5%. Our results are thus consistent with the idea that entomopathogenic fungi are always present in insect populations but rarely reach epizootic levels. The detected species richness shows that much is to be gained from mapping the diversity of fungal species associated with folivorous insects in natural populations.
Inelastic Deformable Image Registration (i-DIR): Capturing Sliding Motion through Automatic Detection of Discontinuities
Authors: Andrade Carlos I. , Hurtado Daniel E.
Published: January 2021

Deformable image registration (DIR) is an image-analysis method with a broad range of applications in biomedical sciences. Current applications of DIR on computed-tomography (CT) images of the lung and other organs under deformation suffer from large errors and artifacts due to the inability of standard DIR methods to capture sliding between interfaces, as standard transformation models cannot adequately handle discontinuities. In this work, we aim at creating a novel inelastic deformable image registration (i-DIR) method that automatically detects sliding surfaces and that is capable of handling sliding discontinuous motion. Our method relies on the introduction of an inelastic regularization term in the DIR formulation, where sliding is characterized as an inelastic shear strain. We validate the i-DIR by studying synthetic image datasets with strong sliding motion, and compare its results against two other elastic DIR formulations using landmark analysis. Further, we demonstrate the applicability of the i-DIR method to medical CT images by registering lung CT images. Our results show that the i-DIR method delivers accurate estimates of a local lung strain that are similar to fields reported in the literature, and that do not exhibit spurious oscillatory patterns typically observed in elastic DIR methods. We conclude that the i-DIR method automatically locates regions of sliding that arise in the dorsal pleural cavity, delivering significantly smaller errors than traditional elastic DIR methods.
Kähler–Einstein Metrics on Smooth Fano Symmetric Varieties with Picard Number One
Authors: Lee Jae-Hyouk , Park Kyeong-Dong , Yoo Sungmin
Published: January 2021

Symmetric varieties are normal equivarient open embeddings of symmetric homogeneous spaces, and they are interesting examples of spherical varieties. We prove that all smooth Fano symmetric varieties with Picard number one admit Kähler–Einstein metrics by using a combinatorial criterion for K-stability of Fano spherical varieties obtained by Delcroix. For this purpose, we present their algebraic moment polytopes and compute the barycenter of each moment polytope with respect to the Duistermaat–Heckman measure.
Pectobacterium brasiliense: Genomics, Host Range and Disease Management
Authors: Oulghazi Said , Sarfraz Sohaib , Zaczek-Moczydłowska Maja A. , Khayi Slimane , Ed-Dra Abdelaziz , Lekbach Yassir , Campbell Katrina , Novungayo Moleleki Lucy , O’Hanlon Richard , Faure Denis
Published: January 2021

Pectobacterium brasiliense (Pbr) is considered as one of the most virulent species among the Pectobacteriaceae. This species has a broad host range within horticulture crops and is well distributed elsewhere. It has been found to be pathogenic not only in the field causing blackleg and soft rot of potato, but it is also transmitted via storage causing soft rot of other vegetables. Genomic analysis and other cost-effective molecular detection methods such as a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) are essential to investigate the ecology and pathogenesis of the Pbr. The lack of fast, field deployable point-of-care testing (POCT) methods, specific control strategies and current limited genomic knowledge make management of this species difficult. Thus far, no comprehensive review exists about Pbr, however there is an intense need to research the biology, detection, pathogenicity and management of Pbr, not only because of its fast distribution across Europe and other countries but also due to its increased survival to various climatic conditions. This review outlines the information available in peer-reviewed literature regarding host range, detection methods, genomics, geographical distribution, nomenclature and taxonomical evolution along with some of the possible management and control strategies. In summary, the conclusions and a further directions highlight the management of this species.
The Maillard Reaction as Source of Meat Flavor Compounds in Dry Cured Meat Model Systems under Mild Temperature Conditions
Authors: Li Lei , Belloch Carmela , Flores Mónica
Published: January 2021

Flavor is amongst the major personal satisfaction indicators for meat products. The aroma of dry cured meat products is generated under specific conditions such as long ripening periods and mild temperatures. In these conditions, the contribution of Maillard reactions to the generation of the dry cured flavor is unknown. The main purpose of this study was to examine mild curing conditions such as temperature, pH and aw for the generation of volatile compounds responsible for the cured meat aroma in model systems simulating dry fermented sausages. The different conditions were tested in model systems resembling dry fermented sausages at different stages of production. Three conditions of model system, labeled initial (I), 1st drying (1D) and 2nd drying (2D) and containing different concentrations of amino acid and curing additives, as well as different pH and aw values, were incubated at different temperatures. Changes in the profile of the volatile compounds were investigated by solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (SPME-GS-MS) as well as the amino acid content. Seventeen volatile compounds were identified and quantified in the model systems. A significant production of branched chain volatile compounds, sulfur, furans, pyrazines and heterocyclic volatile compounds were detected in the model systems. At the drying stages, temperature was the main factor affecting volatile production, followed by amino acid concentration and aw. This research demonstrates that at the mild curing conditions used to produce dry cured meat product volatile compounds are generated via the Maillard reaction from free amino acids. Moreover, in these conditions aw plays an important role promoting formation of flavor compounds.
Calcium-Dependent Translocation of S100B Is Facilitated by Neurocalcin Delta
Authors: Zhang Jingyi , Krishnan Anuradha , Wu Hao , Venkataraman Venkat
Published: January 2021

S100B is a calcium-binding protein that governs calcium-mediated responses in a variety of cells—especially neuronal and glial cells. It is also extensively investigated as a potential biomarker for several disease conditions, especially neurodegenerative ones. In order to establish S100B as a viable pharmaceutical target, it is critical to understand its mechanistic role in signaling pathways and its interacting partners. In this report, we provide evidence to support a calcium-regulated interaction between S100B and the neuronal calcium sensor protein, neurocalcin delta both in vitro and in living cells. Membrane overlay assays were used to test the interaction between purified proteins in vitro and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays, for interactions in living cells. Added calcium is essential for interaction in vitro; however, in living cells, calcium elevation causes translocation of the NCALD-S100B complex to the membrane-rich, perinuclear trans-Golgi network in COS7 cells, suggesting that the response is independent of specialized structures/molecules found in neuronal/glial cells. Similar results are also observed with hippocalcin, a closely related paralog; however, the interaction appears less robust in vitro. The N-terminal region of NCALD and HPCA appear to be critical for interaction with S100B based on in vitro experiments. The possible physiological significance of this interaction is discussed.
Evaluation of Wound-Healing and Antioxidant Effects of Marantodes pumilum (Blume) Kuntze in an Excision Wound Model
Authors: Ahmad Shihab Uddin , Binti Aladdin Nor-Ashila , Jamal Jamia Azdina , Shuid Ahmad Nazrun , Mohamed Isa Naina
Published: January 2021

Marantodes pumilum (MP) is a great source of herbal medicine used traditionally by both men and women for various purposes. MP may have potential wound-healing effects due to its diverse biological properties. An extensive study was conducted in a normal male rat model for determining the effects of MP var. pumila (MPvp) and var. alata (MPva) on the wound healing process. Here, 126 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into seven groups as follows: sham-operated (SH), vehicle dressing (VD), flavine dressing (FD), MPvp leaves (PL), MPvp roots (PR), MPva leaves (AL), and MPva roots (AR). The parameters studied were the percentage of wound contraction, histomorphology study by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson–Goldner trichrome (MGT), and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. In addition, the levels of enzymatic antioxidants and malondialdehyde were also measured in the wound tissue homogenates. Wounds treated with extracts (PL, PR, AL, and AR) showed significantly faster healing (p < 0.05) compared to untreated and control groups (SH, VD, and FD). Histological analysis among MP-treated groups revealed better re-epithelialization, higher collagen deposition, enhanced fibronectin content and fibroblast cells, and higher fiber transformation from collagen-III to collagen-I, accompanied with a significant surge in enzymatic antioxidant activities and a decline in lipid peroxidation. MP has antioxidant effects that may enhance wound healing in the rat model.
Thermal Stability of Amorphous Solid Dispersions
Authors: Jelić Dijana
Published: January 2021

Amorphous solid dispersion drug delivery systems (ASD DDS) were proved to be efficient for the enhancement of solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. One of the major keys for successful preparation of ASD is the selection of appropriate excipients, mostly polymers, which have a crucial role in improving drug solubility and its physical stability. Even though, excipients should be chemically inert, there is some evidence that polymers can affect the thermal stability of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). The thermal stability of a drug is closely related to the shelf-life of pharmaceutical products and therefore it is a matter of high pharmaceutical relevance. An overview of thermal stability of amorphous solids is provided in this paper. Evaluation of thermal stability of amorphous solid dispersion is perceived from the physicochemical perspective, from a kinetic (motions) and thermodynamic (energy) point of view, focusing on activation energy and fragility, as well all other relevant parameters for ASD design, with a glance on computational kinetic analysis of solid-state decomposition.
Population-Based Parameter Identification for Dynamical Models of Biological Networks with an Application to Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Weglarz-Tomczak Ewelina , Tomczak Jakub M. , Eiben Agoston E. , Brul Stanley
Published: January 2021

One of the central elements in systems biology is the interaction between mathematical modeling and measured quantities. Typically, biological phenomena are represented as dynamical systems, and they are further analyzed and comprehended by identifying model parameters using experimental data. However, all model parameters cannot be found by gradient-based optimization methods by fitting the model to the experimental data due to the non-differentiable character of the problem. Here, we present POPI4SB, a Python-based framework for population-based parameter identification of dynamic models in systems biology. The code is built on top of PySCeS that provides an engine to run dynamic simulations. The idea behind the methodology is to provide a set of derivative-free optimization methods that utilize a population of candidate solutions to find a better solution iteratively. Additionally, we propose two surrogate-assisted population-based methods, namely, a combination of a k-nearest-neighbor regressor with the Reversible Differential Evolution and the Evolution of Distribution Algorithm, that speeds up convergence. We present the optimization framework on the example of the well-studied glycolytic pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Retrieving Surface Soil Water Content Using a Soil Texture Adjusted Vegetation Index and Unmanned Aerial System Images
Authors: Gu Haibin , Lin Zhe , Guo Wenxuan , Deb Sanjit
Published: January 2021

Surface soil water content (SWC) is a major determinant of crop production, and accurately retrieving SWC plays a crucial role in effective water management. Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) can acquire images with high temporal and spatial resolutions for SWC monitoring at the field scale. The objective of this study was to develop an algorithm to retrieve SWC by integrating soil texture into a vegetation index derived from UAS multispectral and thermal images. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and surface temperature (Ts) derived from the UAS multispectral and thermal images were employed to construct the temperature vegetation dryness index (TVDI) using the trapezoid model. Soil texture was incorporated into the trapezoid model based on the relationship between soil texture and the lower and upper limits of SWC to form the texture temperature vegetation dryness index (TTVDI). For validation, 128 surface soil samples, 84 in 2019 and 44 in 2020, were collected to determine soil texture and gravimetric SWC. Based on the linear regression models, the TTVDI had better performance in estimating SWC compared to the TVDI, with an increase in R2 (coefficient of determination) by 14.5% and 14.9%, and a decrease in RMSE (root mean square error) by 46.1% and 10.8%, for the 2019 and 2020 samples, respectively. The application of the TTVDI model based on high-resolution multispectral and thermal UAS images has the potential to accurately and timely retrieve SWC at the field scale.
Assessment of Stem Volume on Plots Using Terrestrial Laser Scanner: A Precision Forestry Application
Authors: Panagiotidis Dimitrios , Abdollahnejad Azadeh , Slavík Martin
Published: January 2021

Timber volume is an important asset, not only as an ecological component, but also as a key source of present and future revenues, which requires precise estimates. We used the Trimble TX8 survey-grade terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) to create a detailed 3D point cloud for extracting total tree height and diameter at breast height (1.3 m; DBH). We compared two different methods to accurately estimate total tree heights: the first method was based on a modified version of the local maxima algorithm for treetop detection, “HTTD”, and for the second method we used the centers of stem cross-sections at stump height (30 cm), “HTSP”. DBH was estimated by a computationally robust algebraic circle-fitting algorithm through hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). This study aimed to assess the accuracy of these descriptors for evaluating total stem volume by comparing the results with the reference tree measurements. The difference between the estimated total stem volume from HTTD and measured stems was 2.732 m3 for European oak and 2.971 m3 for Norway spruce; differences between the estimated volume from HTSP and measured stems was 1.228 m3 and 2.006 m3 for European oak and Norway spruce, respectively. The coefficient of determination indicated a strong relationship between the measured and estimated total stem volumes from both height estimation methods with an R2 = 0.89 for HTTD and R2 = 0.87 for HTSP for European oak, and R2 = 0.98 for both HTTD and HTSP for Norway spruce. Our study has demonstrated the feasibility of finer-resolution remote sensing data for semi-automatic stem volumetric modeling of small-scale studies with high accuracy as a potential advancement in precision forestry.
Analysis of Monoclonal Antibodies by Capillary Electrophoresis: Sample Preparation, Separation, and Detection
Authors: Dadouch Meriem , Ladner Yoann , Perrin Catherine
Published: January 2021

Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are dominating the biopharmaceutical field due to the fact of their high specificity in the treatment of diverse diseases. Nevertheless, mAbs are very complex glycoproteins exhibiting several macro- and microheterogeneities that may affect their safety, quality, and efficacy. This complexity is very challenging for mAbs development, formulation, and quality control. To tackle the quality issue, a combination of multiple analytical approaches is necessary. In this perspective, capillary electrophoresis has gained considerable interest over the last decade due to the fact of its complementary features to chromatographic approaches. This review provides an overview of the strategies of mAbs and derivatives analysis by capillary electrophoresis hyphenated to ultraviolet, fluorescence, and mass spectrometry detection. The main sample preparation approaches used for mAb analytical characterization (i.e., intact, middle-up/down, and bottom-up) are detailed. The different electrophoretic modes used as well as integrated analysis approaches (sample preparation and separation) are critically discussed.
Life Cycle Assessment of an Electric Chiller Integrated with a Large District Cooling Plant
Authors: Hampo Chima Cyril , Akmar Ainul Bt , Majid Mohd Amin Abd
Published: January 2021

District cooling (DC) systems have recently proven to be more economically and environmentally viable as compared to conventional cooling techniques. In most DC setups, electric centrifugal chillers (ECCs) are installed to provide chilled water (CW) to charge the thermal energy storage (TES) tank or for direct CW supply to the DC network. The operation of these ECC systems consumes most of the electrical power supplied to the entire DC plant; this therefore strengthens the need to conduct a comprehensive environmental assessment in order to quantify the indirect ecological impact resulting from the energy consumed in the ECC system operation. In order to achieve this, a case study was conducted of four ECC systems with a use-life of 25 years installed in a large DC plant in Malaysia. A gate-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was adopted to analyze the environmental performance of the system setup. The result of the study year reveals that April and June account for the highest and lowest environmental impact, respectively. The influence of climatic temperature conditions on the monthly cooling and environmental load distribution was also observed from the results. Finally, in substantiating the study’s investigation, environmental performance based on the composition of two different electricity fuel mixes is discussed and compared. The results revealed a drastic decrease in environmental load as the ratio of non-renewable energy sources decreased in the composition of the mix, thereby reducing the contribution of the overall environmental impact of the ECC systems’ use phase.
Extending the Scope of ALM to Social Investment: Investing in Population Growth to Enhance Sustainability of the Korean National Pension Service
Authors: Choi Woong Bee , Lee Dongyeol , Kim Woo Chang
Published: January 2021

The Korean National Pension Service (NPS) is a partially funded and defined-benefit system. Although the accumulated Fund of the NPS has been increased gradually, this large fund is concerned about depletion in the near future due to the unprecedented aging population and the low fertility rate. In this study, we have developed an asset-liability management (ALM) model that endogenizes variables which were regarded as being exogenous by including them in investable assets. We present the multistage stochastic programming (MSP) formulation incorporating the population structure as a variable that is new to ALM. The optimal portfolio encompassing the investment in raising the fertility rate is obtained. Extending the scope of ALM to social investment is a new approach that has not been attempted in other ALM studies. We demonstrate that socially driven investments can also be a good investment asset in which the NPS should consider to invest.
Tourism Impacts, Tourism-Phobia and Gentrification in Historic Centers: The Cases of Málaga (Spain) and Gdansk (Poland)
Authors: Almeida-García Fernando , Cortés-Macías Rafael , Parzych Krzysztof
Published: January 2021

This study analyzes the role of residents in urban tourist destinations affected by the increase in tourist flows, which have generated various problems such as tourism, gentrification and the emergence of tourism as a threat to residents. The role of residents in tourist destinations has not been analyzed regularly during the development process of destinations. We study two cases of historic centers in European cities, with the aim of comparing tourism problems, which are common to most European urban destinations. This study was conducted by administering surveys amongst residents of these historic centers (378 in Málaga, Spain, and 380 in Gdansk, Poland). These cities show a similar demographic size and urban characteristics. This is the first comparative research on tourism-phobia and gentrification in destinations, a field of analysis that is still not studied much. We develop specific scales to measure gentrification and tourism-phobia; moreover, we study the impact of some tourist problems that affect residents (noise, dirt, occupation of public spaces, etc.), and we show the spatial distribution of tourism-phobia. The same analysis instruments are used for both cities. The results of this study show that the tourism-phobia situation is different in the analyzed destinations. It is more intense in the case of Málaga than in Gdansk. The two historic centers are especially affected by the processes of increased tourist flows and the growth of new forms of tourist accommodation. The research results show that the residents’ annoyance caused by tourism gentrification is more intense than tourism-phobia. Both case studies highlight the residents’ complaints regarding the inadequate management of problems by public stakeholders and control measures.
Decomposition of Water Footprint of Food Consumption in Typical East Chinese Cities
Authors: Huang Ruogu , Li Xiangyang , Liu Yang , Tang Yaohao , Lin Jianyi
Published: January 2021

Water scarcity has put pressure on city development in China. With a particular focus on urban and rural effects, logarithmic mean Divisia index decomposition (LMDI) was used to analyze the water footprint per capita (WFP) of food consumption in five East China cities (Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Qingdao, and Xiamen) from 2008 to 2018. Results show that the WFP of food consumption exhibited an upward tendency among all cities during the research period. Food consumption structure contributed the most to the WFP growth, mainly due to urban and rural residents’ diet shift toward a livestock-rich style. Except in Beijing, the food consumption level mainly inhibited the WFP growth due to the decrease in food consumption level per capita in urban areas. Urbanization had less influence on WFP growth for two megacities (Beijing and Shanghai) due to the strictly controlled urban population inflow policy and more positive effects for other cities. The water footprint intensity effect among cities was mainly due to uneven water-saving efficiency. Meanwhile, Beijing and Tianjin have achieved advancement in water utilization efficiency.