bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Imbalance Fault Classification Based on VMD Denoising and S-LDA for Variable-Speed Marine Current Turbine
Authors: Wei Jiajia , Xie Tao , Shi Ming , He Qianqian , Wang Tianzhen , Amirat Yassine
Published: February 2021

Marine current energy as a kind of renewable energy has gradually attracted more and more attention from many countries. However, the blade imbalance fault of marine current turbines (MCTs) will have an effect on the power production efficiency and cause damage to the MCT system. It is hard to classify the severity of an MCT blade imbalance fault under the condition of the current instability and seafloor noise. This paper proposes a fault classification method based on the combination of variational mode decomposition denoising (VMD denoising) and screening linear discriminant analysis (S-LDA). The proposed method consists of three parts. Firstly, phase demodulation of the collected stator current signal is performed by the Hilbert transform (HT) method. Then, the obtained demodulation signal is denoised by variational mode decomposition denoising (VMD denoising), and the denoised signal is analyzed by power spectral density (PSD). Finally, S-LDA is employed on the power signal to determine the severities of fault classification. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by experimental results under different severities of blade imbalance fault. The stator current signatures of experiments with different severities of blade imbalance fault are used to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The fault classification accuracy is 92.04% based on the proposed method. Moreover, the experimental results verify that the influence of velocity fluctuation on fault classification can be eliminated.
Cannabis Use Induces Distinctive Proteomic Alterations in Olfactory Neuroepithelial Cells of Schizophrenia Patients
Authors: Barrera-Conde Marta , Ausin Karina , Lachén-Montes Mercedes , Fernández-Irigoyen Joaquín , Galindo Liliana , Cuenca-Royo Aida , Fernández-Avilés Cristina , Pérez Víctor , de la Torre Rafael , Santamaría Enrique , Robledo Patricia
Published: February 2021

A close epidemiological link has been reported between cannabis use and schizophrenia (SCZ). However, biochemical markers in living humans related to the impact of cannabis in this disease are still missing. Olfactory neuroepithelium (ON) cells express neural features and offer a unique advantage to study biomarkers of psychiatric diseases. The aim of our study was to find exclusively deregulated proteins in ON cells of SCZ patients with and without a history of cannabis use. Thus, we compared the proteomic profiles of SCZ non-cannabis users (SCZ/nc) and SCZ cannabis users (SCZ/c) with control subjects non-cannabis users (C/nc) and control cannabis users (C/c). The results revealed that the main cascades affected in SCZ/nc were cell cycle, DNA replication, signal transduction and protein localization. Conversely, cannabis use in SCZ patients induced specific alterations in metabolism of RNA and metabolism of proteins. The levels of targeted proteins in each population were then correlated with cognitive performance and clinical scores. In SCZ/c, the expression levels of 2 proteins involved in the metabolism of RNA (MTREX and ZNF326) correlated with several cognitive markers and clinical signs. Moreover, use duration of cannabis negatively correlated with ZNF326 expression. These findings indicate that RNA-related proteins might be relevant to understand the influence of cannabis use on SCZ.
Rare Variants Associated with Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy: Reclassification Five Years Later
Authors: Vallverdú-Prats Marta , Alcalde Mireia , Sarquella-Brugada Georgia , Cesar Sergi , Arbelo Elena , Fernandez-Falgueras Anna , Coll Mónica , Pérez-Serra Alexandra , Puigmulé Marta , Iglesias Anna , Fiol Victoria , Ferrer-Costa Carles , del Olmo Bernat , Picó Ferran , Lopez Laura , Jordà Paloma , García-Álvarez Ana , Tirón de Llano Coloma , Toro Rocío , Grassi Simone , Oliva Antonio , Brugada Josep , Brugada Ramon , Campuzano Oscar
Published: February 2021

Genetic interpretation of rare variants associated with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is essential due to their diagnostic implications. New data may relabel previous variant classifications, but how often reanalysis is necessary remains undefined. Five years ago, 39 rare ACM-related variants were identified in patients with features of cardiomyopathy. These variants were classified following the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics’ guidelines. In the present study, we reevaluated these rare variants including novel available data. All cases carried one rare variant classified as being of ambiguous significance (82.05%) or likely pathogenic (17.95%) in 2016. In our comprehensive reanalysis, the classification of 30.77% of these variants changed, mainly due to updated global frequencies. As in 2016, nowadays most variants were classified as having an uncertain role (64.1%), but the proportion of variants with an uncertain role was significantly decreased (17.95%). The percentage of rare variants classified as potentially deleterious increased from 17.95% to 23.07%. Moreover, 83.33% of reclassified variants gained certainty. We propose that periodic genetic reanalysis of all rare variants associated with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy should be undertaken at least once every five years. Defining the roles of rare variants may help clinicians obtain a definite diagnosis.
Multielement Contamination of Land in the Margin of Highways
Authors: Alexakis Dimitrios E.
Published: February 2021

The spatial distribution of potentially toxic elements in land near a heavily loaded highway in the West Attica region (Greece) is discussed. This study aimed to investigate the extent of soil contamination with trace elements on land in the margin of highways. The concentration of thirty-five elements in topsoil, car ash, and road sediment bulk samples was determined. Statistical and spatial analysis was applied for evaluating the geochemical dispersion of the examined elements. Geo-accumulation index was estimated. Elements content were compared to criteria and screening values established by the literature. The concentration of As, Cu, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, and Zn in topsoil appeared to be influenced by traffic emissions. It is found that engine exhaust, tyre wear, and brake lining contribute to the As, Ba, Cu, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, and Zn content recorded in topsoil in the margin of highways. The bulk sample of road sediment is moderately contaminated to extremely contaminated with Cu, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, and Zn. Comparison of elements content in topsoil with screening values revealed that Al, As, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Sb, V, and Zn pose a potential risk for plants.
An Ecological Service System Based Study on Suburban Rural Landscape Multifunction
Authors: Zheng Jie , Na Lisha , Liu Binglin , Zhang Tiantian , Wang Hao
Published: February 2021

Suburban rural landscape multifunction has received increasing attention from scholars due to its high demand and impact on main urban areas. However, few studies have been focused on suburban rural landscape multifunction because of data constraints. The present study quantified the four landscape services based on ecological service system, i.e., regulating function (RF), provision function (PF), culture function (CF), and support function (SF), determined the interaction through the Spearman correlation coefficient, and ultimately identified the landscape multifunction hotspots and dominant functions through overlay analysis. The result indicated that suburban rural communities have exhibited the characteristics of regional multifunction, and the landscape multifunction hotspots accounted for 64.2%; it should be particularly noted that, among single-function, dual-function, and multifunction hotspots, both support function, and culture function was dominant, while only one case was found in which the regulating function was dominant. Furthermore, all landscape functions other than SF-CF exhibited certain correlations. The study suggests that planning and management should be performed in future in combination with landscape multifunction to ensure the sustainable development of suburban rural communities.
Adhesion, Friction and Lubrication of Viscoelastic Materials
Authors: Carbone Giuseppe , Bottiglione Francesco
Published: February 2021

The mechanical behavior of viscoelastic materials is a key factor of many physical phenomena occurring at the interface of contacting bodies [...]
Geometric Design and Prototyping of a (2-RRU)-URR Parallel Mechanism for Thumb Rehabilitation Therapy
Authors: Choi Woo-hyeok , Takeda Yukio
Published: February 2021

In this paper, the geometrical design of a (2-RRU)-URR (where R and U stand for the revolute and universal joints, respectively) parallel mechanism was demonstrated for thumb rehabilitation therapy. This paper consists of two parts: the design procedure for the development of a thumb rehabilitation device and the user experiment with the prototype. Because the hand generally has a limited working area, the design of the hand attachment parts and the placement of the actuators requires careful consideration of the various factors. Along with the kinematic requirements of the device, the interaction between the mechanism and the fingers must be considered. The proposed mechanism has three actuators placed in the hand attachment. When the mechanism is attached to the hand, there is the possibility of collisions between the fingers of the user and the mechanism. Two design candidates were devised while considering the limited working area of the hand and the need to avoid collisions. Due to the dependency of the workspace on the placement of the actuators, a comparison of the workspace of the two candidate designs and the target workspace was carried out. The target workspace was determined through the use of thumb trajectory measurement data. A prototype was manufactured using 3D printed plastic and aluminum materials. To confirm the practical performance of the prototype, user experiments were conducted in which a comparison between the thumb measurement data and the controlled trajectory of each person was done. Motion in two directions, specifically, adduction–abduction and flexion–extension were performed. The results showed that the controlled trajectory of flexion–extension were closely matched to the thumb measurement trajectory. Finally, the experimental results are discussed.
On a Semilinear Parabolic Problem with Four-Point Boundary Conditions
Authors: Slodička Marián
Published: February 2021

This paper studies a semilinear parabolic equation in 1D along with nonlocal boundary conditions. The value at each boundary point is associated with the value at an interior point of the domain, which is known as a four-point boundary condition. First, the solvability of a steady-state problem is addressed and a constructive algorithm for finding a solution is proposed. Combining this schema with the semi-discretization in time, a constructive algorithm for approximation of a solution to a transient problem is developed. The well-posedness of the problem is shown using the semigroup theory in C-spaces. Numerical experiments support the theoretical algorithms.
Performance Evaluation of Fishery Enterprises Using Data Envelopment Analysis—A Malmquist Model
Authors: Wang Chia-Nan , Nguyen Thi-Ly , Dang Thanh-Tuan , Bui Thi-Hong
Published: February 2021

In Vietnam, fishing is a crucial source of nutrition and employment, which not only affects the development of the domestic economy but is also closely related to exports, heavily influencing the economy and foreign exchange. However, the Vietnamese fishery sector has been facing many challenges in innovating production technology, improving product quality, and expanding markets. Hence, the fishery enterprises need to find solutions to increase labor productivity and enhance competitiveness while minimizing difficulties. This study implemented a performance evaluation from 2015 to 2018 of 17 fishery businesses, in decision making units (DMUs), in Vietnam by applying data envelopment analysis, namely the Malmquist model. The objective of the paper is to provide a general overview of the fishery sector in Vietnam through technical efficiency, technological progress, and the total factor productivity in the four-year period. The variables used in the model include total assets, equity, total liabilities, cost of sales, revenue, and profit. The results of the paper show that Investment Commerce Fisheries Corporation (DMU10) and Hoang Long Group (DMU8) exhibited the best performances. This paper offers a valuable reference to improve the business efficiency of Vietnamese fishery enterprises and could be a useful reference for related industries.
Global Optimization for Automatic Model Points Selection in Life Insurance Portfolios
Authors: Ferreiro Ana M. , Ferri Enrico , García José A. , Vázquez Carlos
Published: February 2021

Starting from an original portfolio of life insurance policies, in this article we propose a methodology to select model points portfolios that reproduce the original one, preserving its market risk under a certain measure. In order to achieve this goal, we first define an appropriate risk functional that measures the market risk associated to the interest rates evolution. Although other alternative interest rate models could be considered, we have chosen the LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate) market model. Once we have selected the proper risk functional, the problem of finding the model points of the replicating portfolio is formulated as a problem of minimizing the distance between the original and the target model points portfolios, under the measure given by the proposed risk functional. In this way, a high-dimensional global optimization problem arises and a suitable hybrid global optimization algorithm is proposed for the efficient solution of this problem. Some examples illustrate the performance of a parallel multi-CPU implementation for the evaluation of the risk functional, as well as the efficiency of the hybrid Basin Hopping optimization algorithm to obtain the model points portfolio.
Risk Evaluation of Electric Power Grid Investment in China Employing a Hybrid Novel MCDM Method
Authors: Duan Yana , Sun Yang , Zhang Yu , Fan Xiaoqi , Dong Qinghuan , Guo Sen
Published: February 2021

Socio-economic development is undergoing changes in China, such as the recently proposed carbon peak and carbon neutral targets, new infrastructure development strategy and the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Meanwhile, the new-round marketization reform of the electricity industry has been ongoing in China since 2015. Therefore, it is urgent to evaluate the risk of electric power grid investment in China under new socio-economic development situation, which can help the investors manage risk and reduce risk loss. In this paper, a hybrid novel multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) method combining the latest group MCDM method, namely, Bayesian best–worst method (BBWM) and improved matter-element extension model (IMEEM) is proposed for risk evaluation of electric power grid investment in China under new socio-economic development situation. The BBWM is used for the weights’ determination of electric power grid investment risk criteria, and the IMEEM is employed to rank risk grade of electric power grid investment. The risk evaluation index system of electric power grid investment is built, including economic, social, environmental, technical and marketable risks. The risk of electric power grid investment under new socio-economic development situation in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China is empirically evaluated by using the proposed MCDM method, and the results indicate that it belongs to “Medium” grade, but closer to “High” grade. The main contributions of this paper include: (1) it proposes a hybrid novel MCDM method combining the BBWM and IMEEM for risk evaluation of electric power grid investment; and (2) it provides a new view for risk evaluation of electric power grid investment including economic, social, environmental, technical and marketable risks. The proposed hybrid novel MCDM method for the risk evaluation of electric power grid investment is effective and practical.
(ω,c)-Periodic Mild Solutions to Non-Autonomous Abstract Differential Equations
Authors: Abadias Luciano , Alvarez Edgardo , Grau Rogelio
Published: February 2021

We investigate the semi-linear, non-autonomous, first-order abstract differential equation x′(t)=A(t)x(t)+f(t,x(t),φ[α(t,x(t))]),t∈R. We obtain results on existence and uniqueness of (ω,c)-periodic (second-kind periodic) mild solutions, assuming that A(t) satisfies the so-called Acquistapace–Terreni conditions and the homogeneous associated problem has an integrable dichotomy. A new composition theorem and further regularity theorems are given.
Review of the Lineal Complexity Calculation through Binomial Decomposition-Based Algorithms
Authors: Martin-Navarro Jose Luis , Fúster-Sabater Amparo
Published: February 2021

The ubiquity of smart devices and IoT are the main forces behind the development of cryptographic primitives that preserve the security of this devices, with the resources constraints they face. In this sense, the development of lightweight cryptographic algorithms, where PRNGs are an essential part of them, provides security to all these interconnected devices. In this work, a family of sequence generators with hard characteristics to be analyzed by standard methods is described. Moreover, we introduce an innovative technique for sequence decomposition that allows one to extract useful information on the sequences under study. In addition, diverse algorithms to evaluate the strength of such binary sequences have been introduced and analyzed to show which performs better.
Fuzzy Governance Model
Authors: Mancilla-Rendón Enriqueta , Lozano Carmen , Torres-Esteva Enrique
Published: February 2021

This article aims to analyze the functions of corporate governance agents as a key part of the study and evaluation of the internal control by the independent auditor to propose a governance fuzzy model based on legality. This is a descriptive–hermeneutical study based on mercantile-securities law, the code of best practice of corporate governance, and auditing standards. The research design is cross-sectional and uses fuzzy logic theory as an alternative tool in contrast to classical mathematical models. The results suggest that corporate governance agents strongly influence the application of a management system. Evidence is given regarding the positive relationship between the functions of corporate governance agents as a management system. Additionally, the importance of an internal control management system as an inherent mechanism for governance is proven. The scientific value of this work lies in showing how the interaction between the application of mathematical models based on fuzzy set theory and the qualitative attributes of internal control policies and practices. It is a tool to evaluate governance as a management system for decision making. This work emphasizes that a model based on fuzzy sets is useful to evaluate a management system of internal control policies and procedures necessary to improve corporate governance.
Hypercycle Systems of 5-Cycles in Complete 3-Uniform Hypergraphs
Authors: Keszler Anita , Tuza Zsolt
Published: February 2021

In this paper, we consider the problem of constructing hypercycle systems of 5-cycles in complete 3-uniform hypergraphs. A hypercycle system C(r,k,v) of order v is a collection of r-uniform k-cycles on a v-element vertex set, such that each r-element subset is an edge in precisely one of those k-cycles. We present cyclic hypercycle systems C(3,5,v) of orders v=25,26,31,35,37,41,46,47,55,56, a highly symmetric construction for v=40, and cyclic 2-split constructions of orders 32,40,50,52. As a consequence, all orders v≤60 permitted by the divisibility conditions admit a C(3,5,v) system. New recursive constructions are also introduced.
COVID-19 Spatial Diffusion: A Markovian Agent-Based Model
Authors: Gribaudo Marco , Iacono Mauro , Manini Daniele
Published: February 2021

We applied a flexible modeling technique capable of representing dynamics of large populations interacting in space and time, namely Markovian Agents, to study the evolution of COVID-19 in Italy. Our purpose was to show that this modeling approach, that is based on mean field analysis models, provides good performances in describing the diffusion of phenomena, like COVID-19. The paper describes the application of this modeling approach to the Italian scenario and results are validated against real data available about the Italian official documentation of the diffusion of COVID-19. The model of each agent is organized similarly to what largely established in literature in the Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (SIR) family of approaches. Results match the main events taken by the Italian government and their effects.
Secondary Metabolites from the Marine Sponges of the Genus Petrosia: A Literature Review of 43 Years of Research
Authors: Lee Yeon-Ju , Cho Yeonwoo , Tran Huynh Nguyen Khanh
Published: February 2021

Sponges are prolific sources of various natural products that have provided the chemical scaffolds for new drugs. The sponges of the genus Petrosia inhabit various regions and contain a variety of biologically active natural products such as polyacetylenes, sterols, meroterpenoids, and alkaloids. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the chemical structures and biological activities of Petrosia metabolites covering a period of more than four decades (between 1978 and 2020). It is also described in this review that the major groups of metabolites from members of the genus Petrosia differed with latitude. The polyacetylenes were identified to be the most predominant metabolites in Petrosia sponges in temperate regions, while tropical Petrosia species were sources of a greater variety of metabolites, such as meroterpenoids, sterols, polyacetylenes, and alkaloids.
Characterization of Molecular Species and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Purified Phospholipids from Antarctic Krill Oil
Authors: Zhou Li , Wu Xing , Yang Fu , Zhang Minghao , Huang Rong , Liu Jikai
Published: February 2021

The phospholipids (PLs) from Antarctic krill oil were purified (>97.2%) using adsorption column chromatography. Forty-nine PL molecular species were characterized by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS). Most of molecular species contained eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, 22:5), and arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4). Notably, a special species PC (20:5/22:6) (1298.17 nmol/g) and many ether PLs were detected. The Antarctic krill PL liposome (IC50 = 0.108 mg/mL) showed better anti-inflammatory activity than crude Antarctic krill oil (IC50 = 0.446 mg/mL). It could block NF-κB signaling pathway via suppression of IκB-α degradation and p65 activation and dose-dependently reduce the cellular content of inflammatory mediators including nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and inflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, it can suppress carrageenan-induced mouse paw swelling. Results from the present study could provide a reference for better evaluation of nutritional and medicinal values of Antarctic krill oil.
Oceanapiside, a Marine Natural Product, Targets the Sphingolipid Pathway of Fluconazole-Resistant Candida glabrata
Authors: Dalisay Doralyn S. , Rogers Evan W. , Molinski Tadeusz F.
Published: February 2021

Oceanapiside (OPS), a marine natural product with a novel bifunctional sphingolipid structure, is fungicidal against fluconazole-resistant Candida glabrata at 10 μg/mL (15.4 μM). The fungicidal effect was observed at 3 to 4 h after exposure to cells. Cytological and morphological studies revealed that OPS affects the budding patterns of treated yeast cells with a significant increase in the number of cells with single small buds. In addition, this budding morphology was found to be sensitive in the presence of OPS. Moreover, the number of cells with single medium-sized buds and cells with single large buds were decreased significantly, indicating that fewer cells were transformed to these budding patterns, suggestive of inhibition of polarized growth. OPS was also observed to disrupt the organized actin assembly in C. glabrata, which correlates with inhibition of budding and polarized growth. It was also demonstrated that phytosphingosine (PHS) reversed the antifungal activity of oceanapiside. We quantified the amount of long chain-bases (LCBs) and phytoceramide from the crude extracts of treated cells using LC-ESI-MS. PHS concentration was elevated in extracts of cells treated with OPS when compared with cells treated with miconazole and amphotericin B. Elevated levels of PHS in OPS-treated cells confirms that OPS affects the pathway at a step downstream of PHS synthesis. These results also demonstrated that OPS has a mechanism of action different to those of miconazole and amphotericin B and interdicts fungal sphingolipid metabolism by specifically inhibiting the step converting PHS to phytoceramide.
Catheter Ablation of Life-Threatening Ventricular Arrhythmias in Athletes
Authors: Tarantino Nicola , Della Rocca Domenico , De Leon De La Cruz Nicole , Manheimer Eric , Magnocavallo Michele , Lavalle Carlo , Gianni Carola , Mohanty Sanghamitra , Trivedi Chintan , Al-Ahmad Amin , Horton Rodney , Bassiouny Mohamed , Burkhardt J. , Gallinghouse G. , Forleo Giovanni , Di Biase Luigi , Natale Andrea
Published: February 2021

A recent surveillance analysis indicates that cardiac arrest/death occurs in ≈1:50,000 professional or semi-professional athletes, and the most common cause is attributable to life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). It is critically important to diagnose any inherited/acquired cardiac disease, including coronary artery disease, since it frequently represents the arrhythmogenic substrate in a substantial part of the athletes presenting with major VAs. New insights indicate that athletes develop a specific electro-anatomical remodeling, with peculiar anatomic distribution and VAs patterns. However, because of the scarcity of clinical data concerning the natural history of VAs in sports performers, there are no dedicated recommendations for VA ablation. The treatment remains at the mercy of several individual factors, including the type of VA, the athlete’s age, and the operator’s expertise. With the present review, we aimed to illustrate the prevalence, electrocardiographic (ECG) features, and imaging correlations of the most common VAs in athletes, focusing on etiology, outcomes, and sports eligibility after catheter ablation.
The Prevalence of Ureaplasma Urealyticum and Mycoplasma Hominis Infections in Infertile Patients in the Northeast Region of Romania
Authors: Doroftei Bogdan , Ilie Ovidiu-Dumitru , Armeanu Theodora , Anton Emil , Scripcariu Ioana , Maftei Radu
Published: February 2021

Background and objectives: Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) and Mycoplasma hominis (MH) are two commensal microorganisms that form the urogenital microbiota. Under a state of dysbiosis, both bacteria cause intrauterine infection. Material and methods: Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to analyze the prevalence of UU and MH among four hundred and eleven infertile women. Results: Women between thirty and thirty-five years old were the most affected group, followed by those that were 25 and 30 years old, respectively. Cumulatively, the prevalence of single UU and MH, and coinfection, was 28.46% (n = 117), (n = 2) 0.48%, and 2.91% (n = 12), respectively, with an overall detection rate of 31.87% (n = 131). To assess the associated drug susceptibility, endocervical samples were unequally sent to Regina Maria (n = 281) and Synevo (n = 130) laboratories for further analyses. Pristinamycin (100% vs. 100%) and Josamycin (100% vs. 98.00%) were the most efficient antibiotics in eradicating UU and MH, several others also displaying a high efficiency, among which can be mentioned Doxycycline (98.23%), Minocycline (96.00%), Tetracycline (96.48% vs. 68.00%), and Erythromycin (70.17% vs. 92.00%). Based on antibiograms, Clarithromycin (88.00%), Roxithromycin (88.00%), Levofloxacin (82.00%), and Azithromycin (78.94%) can be further used in treating such infections. On the other hand, Clindamycin (4.00%) and Ciprofloxacin (12.27% vs. 2.00%) are no longer viable because both UU and MH display an intermediate response towards gained resistance. Interestingly, the efficiency of Ofloxacin (22.79% vs. 60.00%) was conflicting, this possibly suggesting a transient stage to a gradual adaptability of these microorganisms to Ofloxacin. Conclusions: The most susceptible age groups in each case were women that were between twenty and forty years old. It can be concluded that four antibiotics can be safely used for treating UU, MH, or dual infections whose efficiency was over 95%.
Impact of Forward Osmosis Operating Pressure on Deformation, Efficiency and Concentration Polarisation with Novel Links to CFD
Authors: Charlton Alexander J. , Blandin Gaetan , Leslie Greg , Le-Clech Pierre
Published: February 2021

Forward osmosis (FO) modules currently suffer from performance efficiency limitations due to concentration polarisation (CP), as well as pressure drops during operation. There are incentives to further reduce CP effects, as well as optimise spacer design for pressure drop improvements and mechanical support. In this study, the effects of applying transmembrane pressure (TMP) on FO membrane deformation and the subsequent impact on module performance was investigated by comparing experimental data to 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations for three commercial FO modules. At a TMP of 1.5 bar the occlusion of the draw-channel induced by longitudinal pressure hydraulic drop was comparable for the Toray (16%) and HTI modules (12%); however, the hydraulic perimeter of the Profiera module was reduced by 46%. CFD simulation of the occluded channels indicated that a change in hydraulic perimeter due to a 62% increase in shear strain resulted in a 31% increase in the Reynolds number. This reduction in channel dimensions enhanced osmotic efficiency by reducing CP via improved draw-channel hydrodynamics, which significantly disrupted the external concentration polarization (ECP) layer. Furthermore, simulations indicated that the Reynolds number experienced only modest increases with applied TMP and that shear strain at the membrane surface was found to be the most important factor when predicting flux performance enhancement, which varied between the different modules. This work suggests that a numerical approach to assess the effects of draw-spacers on pressure drop and CP can optimize and reduce investment in the design and validation of FO module designs.
The Effect of Kefir Supplementation on Improving Human Endurance Exercise Performance and Antifatigue
Authors: Lee Mon-Chien , Jhang Wei-Lun , Lee Chia-Chia , Kan Nai-Wen , Hsu Yi-Ju , Ho Chin-Shan , Chang Chun-Hao , Cheng Yi-Chen , Lin Jin-Seng , Huang Chi-Chang
Published: February 2021

Kefir is an acidic, carbonated, and fermented dairy product produced by fermenting milk with kefir grains. The Lactobacillus species constitutes an important part of kefir grains. In a previous animal study, kefir effectively improved exercise performance and had anti-fatigue effects. The purpose of this research was to explore the benefits of applying kefir to improve exercise performance, reduce fatigue, and improve physiological adaptability in humans. The test used a double-blind crossover design and supplementation for 28 days. Sixteen 20–30 year-old subjects were divided into two groups in a balanced order according to each individual’s initial maximal oxygen uptake and were assigned to receive a placebo (equal flavor, equal calories, 20 g/day) or SYNKEFIR™ (20 g/day) every morning. After the intervention, there were 28 days of wash-out, during which time the subjects did not receive further interventions. After supplementation with SYNKEFIR™, the exercise time to exhaustion was significantly greater than that before ingestion (p = 0.0001) and higher than that in the Placebo group by 1.29-fold (p = 0.0004). In addition, compared with the Placebo group, the SYNKEFIR™ administration group had significantly lower lactate levels in the exercise and recovery (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in the changes in the gut microbiota. Although no significant changes in body composition were found, SYNKEFIR™ did not cause adverse reactions or harm to the participants’ bodies. In summary, 28 days of supplementation with SYNKEFIR™ significantly improved exercise performance, reduced the production of lactic acid after exercise, and accelerated recovery while also not causing any adverse reactions.
Thermal Analysis of Heat Transfer from Catheters and Implantable Devices to the Blood Flow
Authors: Zangooei Hossein , Mirbozorgi Seyed Ali , Mirbozorgi Seyedabdollah
Published: February 2021

Implantable devices, ultrasound imaging catheters, and ablation catheters (such as renal denervation catheters) are biomedical instruments that generate heat in the body. The generated heat can be harmful if the body temperature exceeds the limit of almost 315 K. This paper presents a heat-transfer model and analysis, to evaluate the temperature rise in human blood due to the power loss of medical catheters and implantable devices. The dynamic of the heat transfer is modeled for the blood vessel, at different blood flow velocities. The physics and governing equations of the heat transfer from the implanted energy source to the blood and temperature rise are expressed by developing a Non-Newtonian Carreau–Yasuda fluid model. We used a Finite Element method to solve the governing equations of the established model, considering the boundary conditions and average blood flow velocities of 0–1.4 m/s for the flow of the blood passing over the implanted power source. The results revealed a maximum allowable heat flux of 7500 and 15,000 W/m2 for the blood flow velocities of 0 and 1.4 m/s, respectively. The rise of temperature around the implant or tip of the catheter is slower and disappeared gradually with the blood flow, which allows a higher level of heat flux to be generated. The results of this analysis are concluded in the equation/correlation T=310+H3000(1+e−7V), to estimate and predict the temperature changes as a function of heat flux, H, and the blood flow velocity, V, at the implant/catheter location.
Hollow-Core Fiber-Tip Interferometric High-Temperature Sensor Operating at 1100 °C with High Linearity
Authors: Zhang Zhe , Xu Baijie , Zhou Min , Bao Weijia , Xu Xizhen , Wang Ying , He Jun , Wang Yiping
Published: February 2021

Over decades, fiber-optic temperature sensors based on conventional single-mode fibers (SMF) have been demonstrated with either high linearity and stability in a limited temperature region or poor linearity and thermal hysteresis in a high-temperature measurement range. For high-temperature measurements, isothermal annealing is typically necessary for the fiber-optic sensors, aiming at releasing the residual stress, eliminating the thermal hysteresis and, thus, improving the high-temperature measurement linearity and stability. In this article, an annealing-free fiber-optic high-temperature (1100 °C) sensor based on a diaphragm-free hollow-core fiber (HCF) Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The proposed sensor exhibits an excellent thermal stability and linearity (R2 > 0.99 in a 100–1100 °C range) without the need for high-temperature annealing. The proposed sensor is extremely simple in preparation, and the annealing-free property can reduce the cost of sensor production significantly, which is promising in mass production and industry applications.
In Vitro Newly Isolated Environmental Phage Activity against Biofilms Preformed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Patients with Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Fiscarelli Ersilia Vita , Rossitto Martina , Rosati Paola , Essa Nour , Crocetta Valentina , Di Giulio Andrea , Lupetti Veronica , Di Bonaventura Giovanni , Pompilio Arianna
Published: February 2021

As disease worsens in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) colonizes the lungs, causing pulmonary failure and mortality. Progressively, PA forms typical biofilms, and antibiotic treatments determine multidrug-resistant (MDR) PA strains. To advance new therapies against MDR PA, research has reappraised bacteriophages (phages), viruses naturally infecting bacteria. Because few in vitro studies have tested phages on CF PA biofilms, general reliability remains unclear. This study aimed to test in vitro newly isolated environmental phage activity against PA isolates from patients with CF at Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital (OBG), Rome, Italy. After testing in vitro phage activities, we combined phages with amikacin, meropenem, and tobramycin against CF PA pre-formed biofilms. We also investigated new emerging morphotypes and bacterial regrowth. We obtained 22 newly isolated phages from various environments, including OBG. In about 94% of 32 CF PA isolates tested, these phages showed in vitro PA lysis. Despite poor efficacy against chronic CF PA, five selected-lytic-phages (Φ4_ZP1, Φ9_ZP2, Φ14_OBG, Φ17_OBG, and Φ19_OBG) showed wide host activity. The Φ4_ZP1-meropenem and Φ14_OBG-tobramycin combinations significantly reduced CF PA biofilms (p < 0.001). To advance potential combined phage-antibiotic therapy, we envisage further in vitro test combinations with newly isolated phages, including those from hospital environments, against CF PA biofilms from early and chronic infections.
Plant-Growth Endophytic Bacteria Improve Nutrient Use Efficiency and Modulate Foliar N-Metabolites in Sugarcane Seedling
Authors: Cipriano Matheus Aparecido Pereira , Freitas-Iório Raquel de Paula , Dimitrov Maurício Rocha , de Andrade Sara Adrián López , Kuramae Eiko Eurya , Silveira Adriana Parada Dias da
Published: February 2021

Beneficial plant–microbe interactions lead to physiological and biochemical changes that may result in plant-growth promotion. This study evaluated the effect of the interaction between sugarcane and endophytic bacterial strains on plant physiological and biochemical responses under two levels of nitrogen (N) fertilization. Six strains of endophytic bacteria, previously selected as plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), were used to inoculate sugarcane mini stalks, with and without N fertilization. After 45 days, biomass production; shoot nutrient concentrations; foliar polyamine and free amino acid profiles; activities of nitrate reductase and glutamine synthase; and the relative transcript levels of the GS1, GS2, and SHR5 genes in sugarcane leaves were determined. All six endophytic strains promoted sugarcane growth, increasing shoot and root biomass, plant nutritional status, and the use efficiency of most nutrients. The inoculation-induced changes at the biochemical level altered the foliar free amino acid and polyamine profiles, mainly regarding the relative concentrations of citrulline, putrescine, glycine, alanine, glutamate, glutamine, proline, and aspartate. The transcription of GS1, GS2, and SHR5 was higher in the N fertilized seedlings, and almost not altered by endophytic bacterial strains. The endophytic strains promoted sugarcane seedlings growth mainly by improving nutrient efficiency. This improvement could not be explained by their ability to induce the production of amino acid and polyamine composts, or GS1, GS2, and SHR5, showing that complex interactions may be associated with enhancement of the sugarcane seedlings’ performance by endophytic bacteria. The strains demonstrated biotechnological potential for sugarcane seedling production.
Development of a Well-Characterized Rhesus Macaque Model of Ebola Virus Disease for Support of Product Development
Authors: Alfson Kendra J. , Goez-Gazi Yenny , Gazi Michal , Staples Hilary , Mattix Marc , Ticer Anysha , Klaffke Benjamin , Stanfield Kaylee , Escareno Priscilla , Keiser Patrick , Griffiths Anthony , Chou Ying-Liang , Niemuth Nancy , Meister Gabe T. , Cirimotich Chris M. , Carrion Ricardo
Published: February 2021

Ebola virus (EBOV) is a negative-sense RNA virus that can infect humans and nonhuman primates with severe health consequences. Development of countermeasures requires a thorough understanding of the interaction between host and pathogen, and the course of disease. The goal of this study was to further characterize EBOV disease in a uniformly lethal rhesus macaque model, in order to support development of a well-characterized model following rigorous quality standards. Rhesus macaques were intramuscularly exposed to EBOV and one group was euthanized at predetermined time points to characterize progression of disease. A second group was not scheduled for euthanasia in order to analyze survival, changes in physiology, clinical pathology, terminal pathology, and telemetry kinetics. On day 3, sporadic viremia was observed and pathological evidence was noted in lymph nodes. By day 5, viremia was detected in all EBOV exposed animals and pathological evidence was noted in the liver, spleen, and gastrointestinal tissues. These data support the notion that EBOV infection in rhesus macaques is a rapid systemic disease similar to infection in humans, under a compressed time scale. Biomarkers that correlated with disease progression at the earliest stages of infection were observed thereby identifying potential “trigger-to-treat” for use in therapeutic studies.
Exploring Antibiotic Resistance Diversity in Leuconostoc spp. by a Genome-Based Approach: Focus on the lsaA Gene
Authors: Salvetti Elisa , Campedelli Ilenia , Larini Ilaria , Conedera Giada , Torriani Sandra
Published: February 2021

Leuconostoc spp. are environmental microorganisms commonly associated with fermented foods. Absence of antibiotic resistance (AR) in bacteria is a critical issue for global food safety. Herein, we updated the occurrence of AR genes in the Leuconostoc genus through in silico analyses of the genomes of 17 type strains. A total of 131 putative AR traits associated with the main clinically relevant antibiotics were detected. We found, for the first time, the lsaA gene in L. fallax ATCC 700006T and L. pseudomesenteroides NCDO 768T. Their amino acid sequences displayed high similarities (59.07% and 52.21%) with LsaA of Enterococcusfaecalis V583, involved in clindamycin (CLI) and quinupristin-dalfopristin (QUD) resistance. This trait has different distribution patterns in Leuconostoc nontype strains—i.e., L. pseudomesenteroides, L. lactis and L. falkenbergense isolates from fermented vegetables, cheeses, and starters. To better explore the role of lsaA, MIC for CLI and QUD were assessed in ATCC 700006T and NCDO 768T; both strains were resistant towards CLI, potentially linking lsaA to their resistant phenotype. Contrarily, NCDO 768T was sensitive towards QUD; however, expression of lsaA increased in presence of this antibiotic, indicating an active involvement of this trait and thus suggesting a revision of the QUD thresholds for this species.
Thermodynamic Impact of Mineral Surfaces on Amino Acid Polymerization: Aspartate Dimerization on Two-Line Ferrihydrite, Anatase, and γ-Alumina
Authors: Kitadai Norio , Nishiuchi Kumiko , Takahagi Wataru
Published: February 2021

The presence of amino acids in diverse extraterrestrial materials has suggested that amino acids are widespread in our solar system, serving as a common class of components for the chemical evolution of life. However, there are a limited number of parameters available for modeling amino acid polymerization at mineral–water interfaces, although the interfacial conditions inevitably exist on astronomical bodies with surface liquid water. Here, we present a set of extended triple-layer model parameters for aspartate (Asp) and aspartyl-aspartate (AspAsp) adsorptions on two-line ferrihydrite, anatase, and γ-alumina determined based on the experimental adsorption data. By combining the parameters with the reported thermodynamic constants for amino acid polymerization in water, we computationally demonstrate how these minerals impact the AspAsp/Asp equilibrium over a wide range of environmental conditions. It was predicted, for example, that two-line ferrihydrite strongly promotes Asp dimerization, leading to the AspAsp/Asp ratio in the adsorbed state up to 41% even from a low Asp concentration (0.1 mM) at pH 4, which is approximately 5 × 107 times higher than that attainable without mineral (8.5 × 10−6%). Our exemplified approach enables us to screen wide environmental settings for abiotic peptide synthesis from a thermodynamic perspective, thereby narrowing down the geochemical situations to be explored for life’s origin on Earth and Earth-like habitable bodies.
Preliminary Study on Gold Recovery from High Grade E-Waste by Thiourea Leaching and Electrowinning
Authors: Ippolito Nicolò Maria , Birloaga Ionela , Ferella Francesco , Centofanti Marcello , Vegliò Francesco
Published: February 2021

The present paper is focused on the extraction of gold from high-grade e-waste, i.e., spent electronic connectors and plates, by leaching and electrowinning. These connectors are usually made up of an alloy covered by a layer of gold; sometimes, in some of them, a plastic part is also present. The applied leaching system consisted of an acid solution of diluted sulfuric acid (0.2 mol/L) with thiourea (20 g/L) as a reagent and ferric sulfate (21.8 g/L) as an oxidant. This system was applied on three different high-grade e-waste, namely: (1) Connectors with the partial gold-plated surface (Au concentration—1139 mg/kg); (2) different types of connectors with some of which with completely gold-plated surface (Au concentration—590 mg/kg); and (3) connectors and plates with the completely gold-plated surface (Au concentration—7900 mg/kg). Gold dissolution yields of 52, 94, and 49% were achieved from the first, second, and third samples, respectively. About 95% of Au recovery was achieved after 1.5 h of electrowinning at a current efficiency of only 4.06% and current consumption of 3.02 kWh/kg of Au from the leach solution of the third sample.
Editorial for Special Issue “Historical Mineral Pigments”
Authors: Cardell Carolina , Pozo-Antonio Jose Santiago
Published: February 2021

The physical–chemical characterization of natural and synthetic historical inorganic and mineral pigments, which may be found embedded in paintings (real or mock-ups), glass, enamel, ceramics, beads, tesserae, etc [...]
Editorial for Special Issue “Accessory Minerals in Silicic Igneous Rocks”
Authors: Förster Hans-Jürgen
Published: February 2021

Although minor in abundance and typically small in size, accessory minerals are of fundamental importance in deciphering the evolutionary history of magmatic–hydrothermal systems [...]