bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rhipicephalus sanguineus Complex in the Americas: Systematic, Genetic Diversity, and Geographic Insights
Authors: Sánchez-Montes Sokani , Salceda-Sánchez Beatriz , Bermúdez Sergio E. , Aguilar-Tipacamú Gabriela , Ballados-González Gerardo G. , Huerta Herón , Aguilar-Domínguez Mariel , Mora Jesús Delgado-de la , Licona-Enríquez Jesús D. , Mora David Delgado-de la , López-Pérez Andrés M. , Torres-Castro Marco A. , Alcántara-Rodríguez Virginia , Becker Ingeborg , Colunga-Salas Pablo
Published: September 2021

The Rhipicephalus sanguineus group encompasses at least 12 validated species of Palearctic and Afrotropical hard ticks, which are relevant in veterinary medicine and public health. The taxonomy of R. sanguineus s.s., has been particularly intensely debated, due to its wide geographic distribution, morphological variants, parasite-host associations, and its capacity and vectorial competence for the transmission of several pathogens. By sequencing mitochondrial markers, it was possible to identify the existence of multiple lineages, among which the Tropical and the Temperate lineages stand out, particularly in America. However, the northern limit between these lineages is not clear due to the lack of extensive sampling across Mexico. For this reason, the aim of the present study was to determine the genetic diversity and structure of the R. sanguineus group in Mexico and to compare it with the populations reported in the Americas, in order to propose the northern limit of the R. sanguineus Tropical lineage and the potential regions of sympatry with R. sanguineus s.s. The findings of this study now confirm the presence of R. sanguineus s.s. in Mexico, showing a subtle genetic structure and high genetic diversity throughout its distribution in the Americas. In contrast, the Tropical lineage seems to be genetically less diverse in its overall distribution in the Americas. The genetic diversity of these two independent lineages could have important epidemiological implications in the transmission of tick pathogens.
Association of Fungi and Archaea of the Gut Microbiota with Crohn’s Disease in Pediatric Patients—Pilot Study
Authors: Krawczyk Agnieszka , Salamon Dominika , Kowalska-Duplaga Kinga , Bogiel Tomasz , Gosiewski Tomasz
Published: September 2021

The composition of bacteria is often altered in Crohn’s disease (CD), but its connection to the disease is not fully understood. Gut archaea and fungi have recently been suggested to play a role as well. In our study, the presence and number of selected species of fungi and archaea in pediatric patients with CD and healthy controls were evaluated. Stool samples were collected from children with active CD (n = 54), non-active CD (n = 37) and control subjects (n = 33). The prevalence and the number of selected microorganisms were assessed by real-time PCR. The prevalence of Candida tropicalis was significantly increased in active CD compared to non-active CD and the control group (p = 0.011 and p = 0.036, respectively). The number of Malassezia spp. cells was significantly lower in patients with active CD compared to the control group, but in non-active CD, a significant increase was observed (p = 0.005 and p = 0.020, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences in the colonization by archaea. The obtained results indicate possible correlations with the course of the CD; however, further studies of the entire archeobiome and the mycobiome are necessary in order to receive a complete picture.
Neuroendocrine Tumors: Clinical, Histological and Immunohistochemical Perspectives and Case Report—Mature Teratoma in a 16-Year-Old Girl
Authors: Sowińska-Przepiera Elżbieta , Starzyński Dariusz , Syrenicz Anhelli , Dziuba Ireneusz , Wiszniewska Barbara , Rzeszotek Sylwia
Published: September 2021

A mature teratoma is a germinal neoplasm that differentiates from embryonic multipotent cells into three germ layers. There may also be glandular tissue. The literature describes a total of 658 cases of ovarian neuroendocrine neoplasms, mainly in women over 40 years of age. The authors, together with a systemic review, present a case of a 16-year-old girl diagnosed with and treated for a neuroendocrine tumor. Case description: A 16-year-old girl visited the Paediatric Gynaecology Outpatient Clinic because of abdominal pains that intensified during menstruation. Standard painkillers and diastolic drugs were ineffective. An ultrasound examination revealed a large tumor with a heterogeneous structure in her right ovary. A sparing operation was carried out. During laparotomy, the lesion was enucleated, leaving healthy tissue. Histopathological examination revealed the typical features of teratoma, as well as the coexistence of a G1 neuroendocrine tumor. Immunohistochemical examination (IHC) showed the presence of markers characteristic for this type of tumor. The patient requires constant monitoring in the Endocrinology and Oncological Gynaecology Clinic. Conclusion: Tissue of neuroendocrine neoplasm within a teratoma is rare in this age group of patients; thus, there are currently no standards for long-term follow-up. This case adds to the body of evidence and demonstrates a possible good prognosis with non-aggressive behavior in G1 neuroendocrine tumors and teratomas in young patients.
Overexpression of 7-hydroxymethyl Chlorophyll a Reductase from Cucumber in Tobacco Accelerates Dark-Induced Chlorophyll Degradation
Authors: Liu Weikang , Chen Guangling , Chen Jiaqi , Jahan Mohammad Shah , Guo Shirong , Wang Yu , Sun Jin
Published: September 2021

7-hydroxymethyl chlorophyll (Chl) a reductase (HCAR) plays critical roles in the Chl cycle and degradation during leaf senescence, however, its function in horticultural crops remains unknown. Here, we identified an HCAR gene (CsHCAR) from cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) and investigated its roles in response to dark-induced Chl degradation. CsHCAR encoded 459 amino acids, which were orthologous to Arabidopsis HCAR, had the conserved domains, and localized in the chloroplast. Gene expression analysis showed that CsHCAR expression was the highest in senescent leaves and was responsive to different stresses and phytohormone treatments. Overexpression of CsHCAR in tobacco accelerated dark-induced Chl degradation through enhancing the expression of Chl catabolic genes. After 10 d of darkness treatment, the biomass of CsHCAR overexpression plants was reduced. Furthermore, the value of net photosynthetic rate, maximum quantum yield of photosystem II, and effective quantum yield of photosystem II in CsHCAR overexpression plants was significantly reduced in comparison to that in wild-type (WT) plants. The photosynthetic protein content, including Lhcb1, Lhcb2, Lhcb4, RbcS, and RbcL in CsHCAR overexpression plants exhibited a lower level as compared to that observed in WT plants. In addition, the expression of genes encoding these proteins in CsHCAR overexpression plants was significantly lower than that in WT plants. Moreover, CsHCAR overexpression plants inhibited the dark-induced accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These results indicate that CsHCAR affects the stability of photosynthetic proteins in chloroplasts, positively regulates Chl degradation, and plays an important role in maintaining ROS homeostasis in leaves.
Experimental Evaluation of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils as Novel Feedstocks for Steam-Cracking Process
Authors: Karaba Adam , Patera Jan , Ruskayova Petra Dvorakova , Carmona Héctor de Paz , Zamostny Petr
Published: September 2021

Hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVOs) are currently a popular renewable energy source, frequently blended into a Diesel-fuel. In the paper, HVO potential as feedstock for the steam-cracking process was investigated, since HVOs promise high yields of monomers for producing green polymers and other chemicals. Prepared HVO samples of different oil sources were studied experimentally, using pyrolysis gas chromatography to estimate their product yields in the steam-cracking process and compare them to traditional feedstocks. At 800 °C, HVOs provided significantly elevated ethylene yield, higher yield of propylene and C4 olefins, and lower oil yield than both atmospheric gas oil and hydrocracked vacuum distillate used as reference traditional feedstocks. The HVO preparation process was found to influence the distribution of steam-cracking products more than the vegetable oil used for the HVO preparation. Furthermore, pyrolysis of HVO/traditional feedstock blends was performed at different blending ratios. It provided information about the product yield dependence on blending ratio for future process design considerations. It revealed that some product yields exhibit non-linear dependence on the blending ratio, and therefore, their yields cannot be predicted by the simple principle of additivity.
Oil Recovery from Fractionated Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS) Using Enzymes
Authors: Huda Md. Sanaul , Nahar Nurun , Monono Ewumbua , Regmi Sagar
Published: September 2021

Oil recovered from dried distillers grain with solubles (DDGS) can be a high-value product over animal feed to provide an additional profit to ethanol plants currently operating at slim profit margins. Fractionations of DDGS and enzymatic hydrolysis were considered in this study to improve the oil recovery from DDGS. A combination of sieving and then air aspiration was used to separate the original DDGS into three different fractions: light, medium, and heavy. The heavier fraction had up to 24% increased oil content compared to the original DDGS. Commercial enzymes, protease, cellulase, and hemicellulase were tested separately and in combinations at 55 °C for 3 h at 130 rpm to determine their effect on oil recovery from the original and fractionated DDGS. Oil recovery was significantly improved (around 20%) following enzyme hydrolysis of the sieved aspirated heavy fractions of DDGS compared to the original DDGS. More than 90% of oil recovery was achieved by using a combination of cellulase and protease enzymes. Increasing the temperature above 55 °C without any enzyme did not impact oil recovery using the heavy-fraction DDGS. Overall, fractionation and enzymatic hydrolysis showed promise to increase oil recovery from DDGS without any current ethanol plant design changes.
Chemical Characterization of the Lichen-Symbiont Microalga Asterochloris erici and Study of Its Cytostatic Effect on the L929 Murine Fibrosarcoma Cell Line
Authors: Matesanz M. Concepción , Villa-Carvajal Mercedes , Linares Javier , Morante-Zarcero Sonia , Sierra Isabel , Barreno Eva , Catalá Myriam , Portolés M. Teresa
Published: September 2021

New resources of food, pharmaceuticals or biotechnological products are needed. The huge biodiversity of aero-terrestrial lichen-symbiont microalgae belonging to the Chlorophyta group remains unexplored despite they present interesting features such as extreme stress tolerance and growth in water shortage. Appropriateness for human consumption demands the demonstration of the absence of toxic effects. In vitro biocompatibility of crude homogenates of axenic microalga Asterochloris erici, isolated from the lichen Cladonia cristatella, was analyzed after treatment of cultured L929 fibroblasts with different concentrations of microalgal homogenates. The microalgal protein content (37%) was similar to spirulina or soybean. Antioxidant capacity (10.6 ± 0.6 µmol TE/g WW) or phenolic content (7.5 ± 0.5 mg GAE/g DW) were high compared to Chlorella. The results show that crude homogenates of A. erici do not induce cytotoxicity but seem to have some cytostatic effect inducing slight cell cycle alterations and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) increase at the highest concentration. Carotenoid analysis demonstrates high contents of lutein (1211 µg/g microalga DW), a xanthophyll with antioxidant and cytostatic properties in vivo and high commercial added value. These findings confirm that Asterochloris erici can be suitable for the development of alimentary or pharmaceutical applications and further in vivo animal testing. The cytostatic effects should be further investigated for antitumor agents.
Microwave Drying Characteristics and Drying Quality Analysis of Corn in China
Authors: Liu Haili , Liu Haoyu , Liu Heyun , Zhang Xu , Hong Qingchao , Chen Wang , Zeng Xi
Published: September 2021

To identify the microwave drying characteristics of corn, microwave drying tests were conducted on corn. By taking the moisture content, drying rate, and drying temperature as indices, this research revealed the effects of different microwave powers and loads on the microwave drying characteristics of corn. Moreover, energy consumption and quality of dried corn were analysed under different drying conditions. The results demonstrate that microwave drying has significant energy-saving effects. The energy consumption by microwave drying is less than 0.3 times that used by electrothermal drying under the same load. Both microwave power and load exert significant influences on drying characteristics. Higher microwave power results in a greater average drying rate, wherein shorter periods of time are required to reach the maximum drying rate and higher temperatures of the corn. However, the load shows the opposite tendency. The smaller the load, the higher the temperature of the corn in the early stage of drying. However, as drying continues, the temperature curve changes significantly, and the temperature rises with the increase in load in the later stage of drying. In consideration of energy consumption and dried quality, the load of corn should be increased as appropriate, and the microwave intensity should be limited to no higher than 0.7 W/g in the experiment.
Bisphenol A Effects in Aqueous Environment on Lemna minor
Authors: Pop Cristian-Emilian , Draga Sorin , Măciucă Roxana , Niță Roxana , Crăciun Nicolae , Wolff Robert
Published: September 2021

The link between different plastic waste pollutants and their impact on the natural aquatic environment and food chain remains a constant and growing issue. Bisphenol A (BPA), a known endocrine disruptor produced in large quantities primarily in the industry of polycarbonate plastics, can accumulate in vegetal and animal tissue, thus magnifying through trophic levels. In this study we exposed viable specimens of the aquatic plant Lemna minor under controlled conditions to 50, 100 and 200 ppm BPA levels in order to partially observe the toxic effects of BPA. Colonies ceased to form during the exposure and chlorosis was present especially in the 100 ppm group. Interestingly enough, a high density formation of non-fermenting bacteria as well as coliforms was also observed in the BPA exposed cultures but not in the control groups. The levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA) in the vegetal tissue indicated cellular insults and severe damage, results that were correlated with the HPLC BPA determined concentrations of 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.4%.
Partitional Clustering-Hybridized Neuro-Fuzzy Classification Evolved through Parallel Evolutionary Computing and Applied to Energy Decomposition for Demand-Side Management in a Smart Home
Authors: Hu Yu-Chen , Lin Yu-Hsiu , Gururaj Harinahalli Lokesh
Published: September 2021

The key advantage of smart meters over rotating-disc meters is their ability to transmit electric energy consumption data to power utilities’ remote data centers. Besides enabling the automated collection of consumers’ electric energy consumption data for billing purposes, data gathered by smart meters and analyzed through Artificial Intelligence (AI) make the realization of consumer-centric use cases possible. A smart meter installed in a domestic sector of an electrical grid and used for the realization of consumer-centric use cases is located at the entry point of a household/building’s electrical grid connection and can gather composite/circuit-level electric energy consumption data. However, it is not able to decompose its measured circuit-level electric energy consumption into appliance-level electric energy consumption. In this research, we present an AI model, a neuro-fuzzy classifier integrated with partitional clustering and metaheuristically optimized through parallel-computing-accelerated evolutionary computing, that performs energy decomposition on smart meter data in residential demand-side management, where a publicly available UK-DALE (UK Domestic Appliance-Level Electricity) dataset is used to experimentally test the presented model to classify the On/Off status of monitored electrical appliances. As shown in this research, the presented AI model is effective at providing energy decomposition for domestic consumers. Further, energy decomposition can be provided for industrial as well as commercial consumers.
Characteristics of the Polishing Effects for the Stainless Tubes in Magnetic Finishing with Gel Abrasive
Authors: Cheng Ken-Chuan , Chen Kuan-Yu , Tsui Hai-Ping , Wang A-Cheng
Published: September 2021

Magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF) is a fast, high efficiency and high-precision polishing method on the surface machining of the metals. Furthermore, MAF also can be utilized to polish the stainless tubes in industrial applications; however, stainless tubes are often a non-magnetic material that makes it difficult for the magnetic field line to penetrate into the stainless tubes, thus reducing the magnetic forces in the inner tubes polishing. That is why stainless tubes are not easy to finish using traditional MAF. Therefore, magnetic finishing with gel abrasive (MFGA) applies gels mixed with steel grit and abrasives that were developed to improve the polishing efficiency and surface uniformity of the steel elements. In this study, a guar gum or silicone gel mixed with steel grit and silicon carbides are used as the magnetic abrasive gel to polish the stainless inner tubes. A DC motor was used to control the rotation speed of the chuck and an AC induction motor connected with an eccentric cam to produce the reciprocating motion of the workpiece were utilized to finish the inner surface of stainless tubes in the polishing process. The parameters of abrasive concentration, abrasive particle sizes, rotation speeds of motor and electric currents were used to investigate the surface roughness and the removal of materials from the stainless tubes. The experimental results showed that since guar gum had better fluidity than the silicone gel did, guar gum created excellent polishing efficiency in MFGA. Furthermore, the surface roughness of the stainless tube decreased from 0.646 μm Ra to below 0.056 μm Ra after processing for 30 min with the parameters of current 3A, gel abrasive with guar gum, rotational speed 1300 rpm and vibration frequency 4 Hz.
A “Liturgical Mysticism of Open Eyes”: Johann Baptist Metz, Caryll Houselander, and Pandemic Liturgy
Authors: Slaubaugh Samantha
Published: September 2021

The German theologian Johann Baptist Metz (1928–2019) called for a spirituality that sees more suffering, not less, the more liberated it is; he has described this as a “mysticism of open eyes.” This theological vision involves all people, living and dead, becoming free to stand as subjects before God. Caryll Houselander (1901–1954), an English author, developed a liturgically infused mysticism focused on seeing Christ in each person. Her vision of Christ in others was rooted in creatively portraying the particularities of human life in the great “rhythm” of the Christ-life lived in the Mystical Body and expressed in the liturgy. This article proposes that juxtaposing these two authors reveals a “liturgical mysticism of open eyes,” playing off Metz’s initial phrasing. The work of Metz and Houselander together presents a fruitful liturgical theology for Christian communities during and in response to the pandemic as they engage questions of suffering, justice, and responsibility. By rooting our decisions about liturgical and social lives in a “liturgical mysticism of open eyes,” the church may remain rooted to a liturgical spirituality, while also recognizing and being open to the suffering of individuals and communities while liturgies are altered, moved online, or postponed altogether.
The Limiting of the Impact of Proxy Culture Wars by Religious Sensitivity: The Fight of Neo-Pentecostal Churches against LGBTQ Rights Organizations over Uganda’s Future
Authors: Palecek Martin , Tazlar Tomas
Published: September 2021

It has been argued recently that Uganda’s sexual law should be interpreted as a part of gender power struggles, rather than in the original neo-colonial interpretation or as a result of structural changes and President Museveni’s pragmatic policy. Based on our intensive fieldwork during the dry season in 2017, we argue that an understanding of this development as a combination of the US proxy culture wars–US cultural wars being fought worldwide-interacting with local religious sensitivity is more plausible. The “sexual law” is a product of the clash between conservatives and progressivists over Uganda’s future. The Neo-Pentecostals—typically supported by conservative circles from the USA and Canada—stand against the influence of secular NGOs—mostly connected with the LGBTQ and progressivist circles from the USA and EU. However, the effect of international influence is limited due to religious sensitivity, shaped by local tradition. Uganda’s people are not passive victims of any kind. They take an active part in the global contest between cultural progressivists and conservatives.
How Much We Gain by Surplus-Dependent Premiums—Asymptotic Analysis of Ruin Probability
Authors: Wang Jing , Palmowski Zbigniew , Constantinescu Corina
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we generate boundary value problems for ruin probabilities of surplus-dependent premium risk processes, under a renewal case scenario, Erlang (2) claim arrivals, and a hypoexponential claims scenario, Erlang (2) claim sizes. Applying the approximation theory of solutions of linear ordinary differential equations, we derive the asymptotics of the ruin probabilities when the initial reserve tends to infinity. When considering premiums that are linearly dependent on reserves, representing, for instance, returns on risk-free investments of the insurance capital, we firstly derive explicit solutions of the ordinary differential equations under considerations, in terms of special mathematical functions and integrals, from which we can further determine their asymptotics. This allows us to recover the ruin probabilities obtained for general premiums dependent on reserves. We compare them with the asymptotics of the equivalent ruin probabilities when the premium rate is fixed over time, to measure the gain generated by this additional mechanism of binding the premium rates with the amount of reserve owned by the insurance company.
Overdue Debts and Financial Exclusion
Authors: Berlinger Edina , Dobránszky-Bartus Katalin , Molnár György
Published: September 2021

We examine the impact of overdue debts in small villages in one of Hungary’s most disadvantaged regions. We find that a significant number of debtors with overdue debts permanently escape from debt collectors. Accordingly, in our sample, overdue debts reduce the likelihood of declared work by 14 percentage points on average. The lack of declared work alone reduces the probability of opening a bank account by 21 percentage points, and overdue debts further reduce it by 9 percentage points. The negative effect of overdue debts on health is almost as large as the positive effect of a high school diploma. In addition, the health-destroying effect extends not only to the debtor but to all members of the household. Therefore, overdue debts create a poverty trap mechanism exacerbating financial exclusion, hence resulting in significant losses for both the individual and society. We recommend paying more attention to smoothing credit cycles and resolving non-performing debt obligations.
COVID-19 Interruptions and SMEs Heterogeneity: Evidence from Poland
Authors: Wieczorek-Kosmala Monika , Błach Joanna , Doś Anna
Published: September 2021

This study contributes to the emerging stream of the literature on the COVID-19-related risks and their impact on businesses’ performance. The growing evidence within is, however, missing the uniqueness of country-level settings, as well as lacking the voice of SMEs solely. The extant literature provides some evidence on SMEs’ vulnerabilities to the crisis, but it commonly compares SMEs with large firms. To cover this gap, the main aim of this study is to analyze the perception of COVID-19 interruptions by various groups of Polish SMEs. Thus, this work adds primarily by revising the perceptions of COVID-19 risks, given the heterogeneity of SMEs if we consider their size, age, legal form of organization and status of a family firm. Based on the survey results on SMEs operating in Poland, we employ ANOVA and k-means ranks to provide strong evidence that COVID-19’s impact was perceived as more interruptive by micro and very young firms, as well as by the firms that perform as sole proprietorships. We have also found evidence that family firms do not differ from non-family ones in the perceptions of COVID-19 impacts.
A Case Study on Improving the Software Dependability of a ROS Path Planner for Steep Slope Vineyards
Authors: Santos Luís Carlos , Santos André , Santos Filipe Neves , Valente António
Published: September 2021

Software for robotic systems is becoming progressively more complex despite the existence of established software ecosystems like ROS, as the problems we delegate to robots become more and more challenging. Ensuring that the software works as intended is a crucial (but not trivial) task, although proper quality assurance processes are rarely seen in the open-source robotics community. This paper explains how we analyzed and improved a specialized path planner for steep-slope vineyards regarding its software dependability. The analysis revealed previously unknown bugs in the system, with a relatively low property specification effort. We argue that the benefits of similar quality assurance processes far outweigh the costs and should be more widespread in the robotics domain.
Cylindabot: Transformable Wheg Robot Traversing Stepped and Sloped Environments
Authors: Woolley Robert , Timmis Jon , Tyrrell Andy M.
Published: September 2021

The ability of an autonomous robot to adapt to different terrain affords the flexibility to move successfully in a range of environments. This paper proposes the Cylindabot, a transformable Wheg robot that can move with two large wheels, each of which can rotate out, producing three legs. This ability to change its mode of locomotion allows for specialised performance. The Cylindabot has been tested in simulation and on a physical robot on steps and slopes as an indication of its efficacy in different environments. These experiments show that such robots are capable of climbing up to a 32 degree slope and a step 1.43 times their initial height. Theoretical limits are devised that match the results, and a comparison with existing Wheg platforms is made.
A Highly Selective Economical Sensor for 4-Nitrophenol
Authors: Le Thuy , Khan Yusuf , Speller Nicholas , Bashiru Mujeebat , Macchi Samantha , Warner Isiah , Siraj Noureen
Published: September 2021

Herein, an inexpensive commercially available sensor is presented for the detection of 4-nitrophenol (4NP) pollutant. Sodium fluorescein (NaFl) is used as a sensor to detect trace amounts of 4NP in acetonitrile (MeCN). The photophysical properties of NaFl were studied in two different solvents, MeCN (aprotic) and water (protic), with varying concentrations of different nitroaromatics using UV-visible absorption and fluorescence spectrophotometry. In an aqueous medium, photophysical properties of NaFl did not change in the presence of nitroaromatics. However, examination of the photodynamics in MeCN demonstrated that NaFl is extremely sensitive to 4NP (limit of detection: 0.29 µg/mL). This extreme specificity of NaFl towards 4NP when dissolved in MeCN, as compared to other nitroaromatics, is attributed to hydrogen bonding of 4NP with NaFl in the absence of water, resulting in both static and dynamic quenching processes. Thus, NaFl is demonstrated as a simple, inexpensive, sensitive, and robust optical turn off sensor for 4NP.
A Novel Shuffled Frog-Leaping Algorithm for Unrelated Parallel Machine Scheduling with Deteriorating Maintenance and Setup Time
Authors: Lei Deming , Yi Tian
Published: September 2021

Unrelated parallel machine scheduling problems (UPMSP) with various processing constraints have been considered fully; however, a UPMSP with deteriorating preventive maintenance (PM) and sequence-dependent setup time (SDST) is seldom considered. In this study, a new differentiated shuffled frog-leaping algorithm (DSFLA) is presented to solve the problem with makespan minimization. The whole search procedure consists of two phases. In the second phase, quality evaluation is done on each memeplex, then the differentiated search processes are implemented between good memeplexes and other ones, and a new population shuffling is proposed. We conducted a number of experiments. The computational results show that the main strategies of DSFLA were effective and reasonable and DSFLA was very competitive at solving UPMSP with deteriorating PM and SDST.
Recent Efforts in Modeling and Simulation of Textiles
Authors: Orlik Julia , Krier Maxime , Neusius David , Pietsch Kathrin , Sivak Olena , Steiner Konrad
Published: September 2021

In many textiles and fiber structures, the behavior of the material is determined by the structural arrangements of the fibers, their thickness and cross-section, as well as their material properties. Textiles are thin plates made of thin long yarns in frictional contact with each other that are connected via a rule defined by a looping diagram. The yarns themselves are stretchable or non-stretchable. All these structural parameters of a textile define its macroscopic behavior. Its folding is determined by all these parameters and the kind of the boundary fixation or loading direction. The next influencing characteristic is the value of the loading. The same textile can behave similar to a shell and work just for bending, or behave as a membrane with large tension deformations under different magnitudes of the loading forces. In our research, bounds on the loading and frictional parameters for both types of behavior are found. Additionally, algorithms for the computation of effective textile properties based on the structural information are proposed. Further focus of our research is the nature of folding, induced by pre-strain in yarns and some in-plane restriction of the textile movements, or by the local knitting or weaving pattern and the yarn’s cross-sections. Further investigations concern different applications with spacer fabrics. Structural parameters influencing the macroscopic fabric behavior are investigated and a way for optimization is proposed. An overview of our published mathematical and numerical papers with developed algorithms is given and our numerical tools based on these theoretical results are demonstrated.
Role of NKT Cells during Viral Infection and the Development of NKT Cell-Based Nanovaccines
Authors: Khan Masood Alam , Khan Arif
Published: September 2021

Natural killer T (NKT) cells, a small population of T cells, are capable of influencing a wide range of the immune cells, including T cells, B cells, dendritic cells and macrophages. In the present review, the antiviral role of the NKT cells and the strategies of viruses to evade the functioning of NKT cell have been illustrated. The nanoparticle-based formulations have superior immunoadjuvant potential by facilitating the efficient antigen processing and presentation that favorably elicits the antigen-specific immune response. Finally, the immunoadjuvant potential of the NKT cell ligand was explored in the development of antiviral vaccines. The use of an NKT cell-activating nanoparticle-based vaccine delivery system was supported in order to avoid the NKT cell anergy. The results from the animal and preclinical studies demonstrated that nanoparticle-incorporated NKT cell ligands may have potential implications as an immunoadjuvant in the formulation of an effective antiviral vaccine that is capable of eliciting the antigen-specific activation of the cell-mediated and humoral immune responses.
Compulsory Vaccination for Healthcare Workers in Italy for the Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Frati Paola , La Russa Raffaele , Di Fazio Nicola , Del Fante Zoe , Delogu Giuseppe , Fineschi Vittorio
Published: September 2021

The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) judgement no. 116(2021) of 8 April 2021 establishes the principle of mandatory vaccination, indicating the criteria that national legislation must comply with, following the principle of non-interference in the private life of the individual. Vaccination for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection appears to be an essential requirement for providing healthcare assistance. The European experience with compulsory vaccinations, offers a composite panorama, as the strategy of some European countries is to make vaccinations compulsory, including financial penalties for non-compliance. As in other countries, there is a clear need for Italy to impose compulsory vaccination for healthcare workers, in response to a pressing social need to protect individual and public health, and above all as a defense for vulnerable subjects or patients, for whom health workers have a specific position of guarantee and trust. The Italian Republic provided for mandatory vaccinations for health professionals by Decree-Law of 1 April 2021 no. 44, to guarantee public health and adequate safety conditions. As stated by ECHR, the Italian State, despite having initially opted for recommendation as regards to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, had to adopt the mandatory system to achieve the highest possible degree of vaccination coverage among health professionals to guarantee the safety of treatments and protection of patients’ health. We present the Italian situation on vaccine hesitation in healthcare workers, with updated epidemiological data as well as the doctrinaire, social, and political debate that is raging in Italy and Europe.
Towards a Prophylactic Vaccine for the Prevention of HCMV Infection
Authors: Ligat Gaëtan , Alain Sophie , Hantz Sébastien
Published: September 2021

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) or human herpesvirus 5, is a ubiquitous human herpesvirus, which can cause severe disease in immunocompromised patients (AIDS patients and solid organ transplant or hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients) [...]
Is the Immunization of Pregnant Women against COVID-19 Justified?
Authors: Principi Nicola , Esposito Susanna
Published: September 2021

Maternal immunization against some infectious diseases can offer significant advantages for women, preventing maternal morbidity and mortality, or for offspring, preventing fetal disease and conferring passive immunity to neonates. Recently, clinical trials specifically to evaluate the immunogenicity, safety, and tolerability of some of the available coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in pregnant and lactating women have been planned, initiated and, in some cases, completed. This paper discusses whether the immunization of pregnant women against COVID-19 is justified and presents knowledge about the immunogenicity and safety of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for these subjects. The results of recent studies indicate that pregnant women are at increased risk of developing severe disease compared with nonpregnant women of the same age. Studies carried out with mRNA vaccines indicate that the immunogenicity, safety and tolerability of these preventive measures in pregnant women are not different from those in nonpregnant women of the same age. Moreover, antibodies are efficiently transferred through the placenta and can be detected in breastmilk, suggesting a potential prevention of infection in the child. All these findings authorize the use of mRNA vaccines in pregnant women to protect both the mother and the child. However, further studies with larger sample size and with follow-up of the pregnant women vaccinated during different periods of pregnancy and their children are needed to better characterize the immune response of pregnant women, to define when these vaccines should be administered to obtain the best protection, and to measure vaccine efficacy against virus variants in both mothers and infants. COVID-19 vaccines based on different technological platforms cannot presently be used, and their role in pregnant women should be clarified.
Pseudo-Anaphylactic Reactions to Pfizer BNT162b2 Vaccine: Report of 3 Cases of Anaphylaxis Post Pfizer BNT162b2 Vaccination
Authors: Lim Xin Rong , Leung Bernard Pui , Ng Carol Yee Leng , Tan Justina Wei Lynn , Chan Grace Yin Lai , Loh Chien Mei , Tan Gwendolyn Li Xuan , Goh Valerie Hui Hian , Wong Lok To , Chua Chong Rui , Tan Sze Chin , Lee Samuel Shang Ming , Howe Hwee Siew , Thong Bernard Yu Hor , Leong Khai Pang
Published: September 2021

Anaphylactic reactions were observed after Singapore’s national coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination programme started in December 2020. We report the clinical and laboratory features of three patients in our institution who developed anaphylactic reactions after receiving the Pifzer BNT162b2 vaccine. IgM and IgG antibodies, but not IgE antibodies to the Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccine, were detected in all subjects. Similarly, mild to high elevated levels of anti-polyethylene glycol (PEG) IgG (1035–19709 U/mL, vs. vaccine-naive < 265 U/mL, vaccine-tolerant < 785 U/mL) and IgM (1682–5310 U/mL, vs. vaccine-naive < 1011 U/mL, vaccine-tolerant < 1007 U/mL) were detected in two out of three patients via commercial ELISA. High levels of serum anaphylatoxin C3a (79.0 ± 6.3 μg/mL, mean ± SD, vs. normal < 10 μg/mL) were observed in all three patients during the acute phase of the reaction, while tryptase levels, a marker of mast cell activation, were not elevated. Finally, one patient with the highest levels of anti-PEG IgG, IgM, and anti-Pfizer BNT162b2 IgG and IgM exhibited an enhanced Th2 cytokine serum profile during an acute reaction, with high levels of IL-4 (45.7 pg/mL, vs. vaccine-naive/tolerant < 2.30 pg/mL), IL-33 (86.4 pg/mL, vs. vaccine-naive/tolerant < 5.51 pg/mL) and IL-10 (22.9 pg/mL, vs. vaccine-naive/tolerant < 12.49 pg/mL) diminishing over time following corticosteroid treatment. Taken together, we propose these cases of anaphylaxis described are driven by a complement activation-related pseudoallergy (CAPRA), rather than classical IgE-mediated mechanisms.
An Intelligent Networked Car-Hailing System Based on the Multi Sensor Fusion and UWB Positioning Technology under Complex Scenes Condition
Authors: Wang Zhi , Zang Liguo , Tang Yiming , Shen Yehui , Wu Zhenxuan
Published: September 2021

In order to solve the problems of difficulty and long times to pick up cars in complex traffic scenes, this paper proposes an intelligent networked car-hailing system in complex scenes based on multi sensor fusion and Ultra-Wide-Band (UWB) technology. UWB positioning technology is adopted in the system, and the positioning data is optimized by the untraceable Kalman filter algorithm. Based on the environment perception technology of multi sensor fusion, such as machine vision and laser radar technology, an anti-collision warning algorithm was proposed in the process of car-hailing, which improved the safety factor of car-hailing. When the owner enters the parking lot, the intelligent vehicle can automatically locate the owner’s position and drive to the owner without human intervention, which provides a new idea for the development of intelligent networked vehicles and effectively improves the navigation accuracy and intelligence of intelligent vehicles.
Research on Driver Status Recognition System of Intelligent Vehicle Terminal Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Xu Yiming , Peng Wei , Wang Li
Published: September 2021

Automobile safety driving technology is a hot topic in today’s society, which is very significant to the social transportation system. Vehicle driving behavior monitoring is the foundation and core of safe driving techniques. The research on existing vehicle safety technology can not only improve the understanding of current safe driving research progress, but also provide reference for future researchers. This paper proposes a state recognition system based on a three-dimensional convolutional neural network, which can identify several improper states frequently encountered by drivers during driving, including drinking, making phone calls, and smoking, and can also issue alarm interventions. The system takes the collected continuous video frame information as the input of the three-dimensional convolutional network, carries out multi-level feature extraction and spatio-temporal information fusion, and identifies the driver state according to the extracted spatio-temporal features. The state is judged by the facial feature points of the video stream, and the design of the video surveillance driver state recognition system is completed. Then, the driver status recognition is improved and optimized, and finally, the actual deployment of the driver status recognition system on the mobile terminal is completed. A large number of experimental results show that the driver status recognition system proposed in this paper has achieved upper identification accuracy.
The use of a feed additive on the base of beekeeping products «Vinivet» in the feeding of juveniles of Steelhead salmon
Authors: Dementiev D. S. , Kalayda M. L. , Zhigin A. V.
Published: September 2021

Currently, there is a rapid development of commercial salmon farming in Russia, which has grown almost 3 times in terms of production since 2013 and exceeded 116 thousand tons in 2020. In turn, this requires the appropriate development of the feed base and the development of methods for the effective use of fairly expensive fi sh feed. From these positions the involvement of the feed additive “Vinivet”, which is a waste of beekeeping in the feed production for fi sh as a protein additive is relevant. The feed additive “Vinivet” contains bee products such as bee bread and slumgum, a significant complex of vitamins, amino acids, macro- and microelements. The purpose of the work was to assess the influence of the feed additive “Vinivet” on the livability of juveniles, growth rate and feed consumption of rainbow trout of Steelhead salmon breed when growing in a recirculating aquaculture system. For the experiment juveniles with an average juvenile weight of 2,37±0,72 g have been selected, from which the control and 3 experimental groups have been formed. The control group has received a standard starting compound feed as the main diet, the 1st experimental group in addition to the main diet has received the additive “Vinivet” in the amount of 2,5 % of the mass of the main diet, the 2nd experimental group has received 5,0 % of the additive, and the 3rd experimental group in the first week received 2,5 % of the additive, and from the second week of studies the dose of the additive was increased to 5 %. The conducted studies have shown that the inclusion of the feed additive “Vinivet” in the feed when growing juveniles of Steelhead salmon is most advisable by introducing it at the dosage of 2,5 % of the mass of the main diet in the first week of cultivation, followed by the increase in the dose to 5,0 %, which allows achieving the highest fi sh productivity of pools in the recirculating aquaculture system compared to all variants of the experiment and by 24 % compared to the control group.
Features of growth and development of the skeleton in Simmental and crossbred steers during ontogenesis
Authors: Prokhorov I. P. , Pikul A. N. , Lukyanov V. N. , Kalmykova O. A.
Published: September 2021

The results of age-related changes in the morphological composition of carcasses, features of growth and development of the axial and peripheral parts of the skeleton, and their constituent bones, Simmental and crossbred steers have been presented in the paper. The purpose of the research was to study the features of growth and development of the skeleton of Simmental and crossbred steers. The research has been carried out on the basis of the Tula Scientific and Research Institute of Agriculture – a branch of the Federal Research Center “Nemchinovka”. In order to conduct experiments 3 groups of steers have been formed per 15 heads in each with using the method of analogous pairs. Animals of Simmental breed were included in the 1st control group, and in the 2nd and 3rd experimental groups consist of 1/2-blood steers of beef Simmental and Charollais breeds, respectively, obtained from crossbreeding Simmental cows with sires of these beef breeds. The experiment lasted until the 18-month-old of steers. It has been found that the intensity of bone growth in the axial and peripheral parts of the skeleton was due to age-related changes in the absolute and relative bone mass of steers. The intensity of growth of the axial part of the skeleton in the postnatal period increased, and the peripheral decreased. The ribs and spine were characterized by the increased growth rate, while the thoracic and pelvic limbs were characterized by the lower growth rate. The intensity of bone growth in the proximal parts of the limbs exceeded that of the distal parts. Age-related differences in the intensity of growth of the skeletal parts led to changes in the ratio between the linear body size and the features of the steers’ constitution. The value of the long-legness indices in Charolais crossbreds decreased from 65,4 at birth to 53,6 and 46,6 at the age of 6 and 12 months, respectively, while the lengthiness indices on the contrary increased and in these age periods amounted to 93,4, 105,4 and 114,9, respectively.
Improving the efficiency of agricultural business when using automated information systems
Authors: Kovalyev I. L. , Takun A. P. , Efremov A. A. , Takun S. P. , Kostomakhin M. N.
Published: September 2021

Large domestic agricultural organizations and enterprises of the processing industry (as a rule holdings) of different forms of ownership and with different types (directions) of their activities are quite complex organizational systems, with the same complex system of their management. In improving the efficiency of agricultural and processing industry enterprises, the issues of informatization of management processes, the use of information systems and technologies in the management of large agricultural enterprises and agricultural holdings and other corporate structures are particularly relevant and important today. The tasks of forming new methodological approaches and directions in the optimal selection, implementation and maximum effective use of different information technologies and systems in the agricultural sector are relevant. The main and frequently used concepts in the fi eld of automation of functions and management tasks in the agroindustrial complex have been defined in the article. The results of a quantitative analysis of implemented projects for the implementation of IT systems, software products and integrated IT services at agricultural enterprises in Russia have been presented in the article. The groups (by type of technology and system classes) of the most common IT systems used in the management of agricultural enterprises in the territory of the Russian Federation have been identified. The possible prospects and advantages of the introduction of technologies and specialized information management systems as modern effective tools for improving the efficiency of activities and the existing management system at the enterprises of the agro-industrial complex of the Republic of Belarus have been discussed.