bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Assessment of the In Vitro Corrosion Resistance of Biomimetic ACP Coatings Electrodeposited from an Acetate Bath
Authors: Osak Patrycja , Maszybrocka Joanna , Kubisztal Julian , Ratajczak Patryk , Łosiewicz Bożena
Published: February 2021

Calcium phosphate coatings are able to improve the osseointegration process due to their chemical composition, which is similar to that of bone tissues. In this work, to increase the long-term corrosion resistance and to improve the osseointegration process of commercially pure titanium Grade 4 (CpTi G4), biomimetic amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) coatings were electrodeposited for the first time from an acetate bath with a pH level of 7.0 and a Ca:P ratio of 1.67. ACP coatings were obtained on CpTi G4 substrate subjected to sandblasting and autoclaving using electrochemically assisted deposition at a potential of −3 V relative to the open circuit potential for 30 min at room temperature. SEM, EDS, 2D roughness profiles, amplitude-sensitive eddy current method, and Kelvin scanning probe were used for the surface characterization of the biomaterial under study. In vitro corrosion resistance tests were conducted for 21 days in artificial saliva using open circuit potential, polarization curves, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. The passive-transpassive behavior was revealed for the obtained ACP coatings. The long-term corrosion resistance test showed a deterioration of the protective properties for CpTi G4 uncoated and coated with ACP with immersion time. The mechanism and kinetics of the pitting corrosion on the CpTi G4|TiO2|ACP coating system are discussed in detail.
4,5,6-Trichloropyrimidine-2-carboxamide
Authors: Kalogirou Andreas S. , Koutentis Panayiotis A.
Published: February 2021

Reaction of 4,5,6-trichloropyrimidine-2-carbonitrile (1) with concentrated sulfuric acid at ca. 20 °C gave 4,5,6-trichloropyrimidine-2-carboxamide (5) in 91% yield. The new compound was fully characterized by IR, MALDI-TOF, NMR and elemental analysis.
Thermo-Mechanical Modeling of Wire-Fed Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Sikan Fatih , Wanjara Priti , Gholipour Javad , Kumar Amit , Brochu Mathieu
Published: February 2021

The primary objective of this research was to develop a finite element model specifically designed for electron beam additive manufacturing (EBAM) of Ti-6Al-4V to understand metallurgical and mechanical aspects of the process. Multiple single-layer and 10-layer build Ti-6Al-4V samples were fabricated to validate the simulation results and ensure the reliability of the developed model. Thin wall plates of 3 mm thickness were used as substrates. Thermocouple measurements were recorded to validate the simulated thermal cycles. Predicted and measured temperatures, residual stresses, and distortion profiles showed that the model is quite reliable. The thermal predictions of the model, when validated experimentally, gave a low average error of 3.7%. The model proved to be extremely successful for predicting the cooling rates, grain morphology, and the microstructure. The maximum deviations observed in the mechanical predictions of the model were as low as 100 MPa in residual stresses and 0.05 mm in distortion. Tensile residual stresses were observed in the deposit and the heat-affected zone, while compressive stresses were observed in the core of the substrate. The highest tensile residual stress observed in the deposit was approximately 1.0 σys (yield strength). The highest distortion on the substrate was approximately 0.2 mm.
Effect of High-Dispersible Graphene on the Strength and Durability of Cement Mortars
Authors: Qi Xiaoqiang , Zhang Sulei , Wang Tengteng , Guo Siyao , Ren Rui
Published: February 2021

Graphene’s outstanding properties make it a potential material for reinforced cementitious composites. However, its shortcomings, such as easy agglomeration and poor dispersion, severely restrict its application in cementitious materials. In this paper, a highly dispersible graphene (TiO2-RGO) with better dispersibility compared with graphene oxide (GO) is obtained through improvement of the graphene preparation method. In this study, both GO and TiO2-RGO can improve the pore size distribution of cement mortars. According to the results of the mercury intrusion porosity (MIP) test, the porosity of cement mortar mixed with GO and TiO2-RGO was reduced by 26% and 40%, respectively, relative to ordinary cement mortar specimens. However, the TiO2-RGO cement mortars showed better pore size distribution and porosity than GO cement mortars. Comparative tests on the strength and durability of ordinary cement mortars, GO cement mortars, and TiO2-RGO cement mortars were conducted, and it was found that with the same amount of TiO2-RGO and GO, the TiO2-RGO cement mortars have nearly twice the strength of GO cement mortars. In addition, it has far higher durability, such as impermeability and chloride ion penetration resistance, than GO cement mortars. These results indicate that TiO2-RGO prepared by titanium dioxide (TiO2) intercalation can better improve the strength and durability performance of cement mortars compared to GO.
Performance Assessment of Asphalt Mixture Produced with a Bio-Based Binder
Authors: Gaudenzi Elena , Canestrari Francesco , Lu Xiaohu , Cardone Fabrizio
Published: February 2021

Nowadays, the growing energy costs and pressing worldwide demand for petroleum-based products create a strong need to develop alternative binders deriving from green and renewable sources. Bio-binders (or bitumen added to bio-based materials) can potentially be a viable alternative for the production of bituminous mixture, promoting the circular economy as well as environmental sustainability principles without reducing the overall performance of the mixture. In this context, the current study focuses on evaluation of the effects of a bio-binder on the mechanical response of asphalt concrete (AC) produced with it. In particular, a 10% bio-oil deriving from a by-product of the paper industry has been blended with a conventional 50/70 penetration grade bitumen to obtain the bio-binder. Moreover, plain bitumen having the same consistency was chosen to produce a reference AC. Two dense-graded AC wearing courses were prepared in the laboratory according to Italian technical specifications. A mechanical characterization in terms of indirect tensile strength, indirect tensile stiffness modulus, fatigue response and permanent deformation resistance was performed on gyratory compacted specimens using both conventional and performance tests. In addition, aging and water sensitivity of the AC specimens were evaluated. Overall results highlight that the AC produced with the bio-binder did not show reduced mechanical properties and it was comparable to the reference AC regardless of aging and water conditioning. This highly encourages the use of bio-binder as a viable alternative in asphalt technology.
On Correspondence between Selective CPS Transformation and Selective Double Negation Translation
Authors: Im Hyeonseung
Published: February 2021

A double negation translation (DNT) embeds classical logic into intuitionistic logic. Such translations correspond to continuation passing style (CPS) transformations in programming languages via the Curry-Howard isomorphism. A selective CPS transformation uses a type and effect system to selectively translate only nontrivial expressions possibly with computational effects into CPS functions. In this paper, we review the conventional call-by-value (CBV) CPS transformation and its corresponding DNT, and provide a logical account of a CBV selective CPS transformation by defining a selective DNT via the Curry-Howard isomorphism. By using an annotated proof system derived from the corresponding type and effect system, our selective DNT translates classical proofs into equivalent intuitionistic proofs, which are smaller than those obtained by the usual DNTs. We believe that our work can serve as a reference point for further study on the Curry-Howard isomorphism between CPS transformations and DNTs.
An Epidemic Grid Model to Address the Spread of Covid-19: A Comparison between Italy, Germany and France
Authors: Signes-Pont Maria Teresa , Cortés-Plana José Juan , Mora-Mora Higinio
Published: February 2021

This paper presents a discrete compartmental Susceptible–Exposed–Infected–Recovered/Dead (SEIR/D) model to address the expansion of Covid-19. This model is based on a grid. As time passes, the status of the cells updates by means of binary rules following a neighborhood and a delay pattern. This model has already been analyzed in previous works and successfully compared with the corresponding continuous models solved by ordinary differential equations (ODE), with the intention of finding the homologous parameters between both approaches. Thus, it has been possible to prove that the combination neighborhood-update rule is responsible for the rate of expansion and recovering/death of the disease. The delays (between Susceptible and Asymptomatic, Asymptomatic and Infected, Infected and Recovered/Dead) may have a crucial impact on both height and timing of the peak of Infected and the Recovery/Death rate. This theoretical model has been successfully tested in the case of the dissemination of information through mobile social networks and in the case of plant pests.
Rare Anatomic Variation: The Hepatosplenomesentericophrenic Trunk
Authors: Hogea Bogdan Gheorghe , Rusu Mugurel Constantin , Jianu Adelina Maria , Manta Bogdan Adrian , Ilie Adrian Cosmin
Published: February 2021

The rare anatomic variants of the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery include the hepatosplenic, hepatosplenomesenteric (HSMT), celiacomesenteric, hepatomesenteric and gastrosplenic trunks. We report a 72-year-old female patient whose computed tomography angiograms indicated a rare anatomic feature whereby the right inferior phrenic artery was inserted in the origin of an HSMT, thus modifying it into a hepatosplenomesentericophrenic trunk (HSMPT). Above the HSMPT, the insertion of the left inferior phrenic artery in the origin of the left gastric artery determined a left gastrophrenic trunk (GPT). Proper identification of this type of rare anatomic variant is of utmost importance prior to different surgical procedures. For example, an HSMT origin of the right inferior phrenic artery is surgically relevant if this artery is an extrinsic pedicle of a hepatocellular carcinoma and is used for embolization of the tumor.
Methyl Potassium Siliconate and Siloxane Inhibit the Formation of Multispecies Biofilms on Ceramic Roof Tiles: Efficiency and Comparison of Two Common Water Repellents
Authors: Romani Mattea , Carrion Claire , Fernandez Frédéric , Lebaron Philippe , Lami Raphaël
Published: February 2021

Ceramic roof tiles are widespread marketed building materials, rapidly colonized by microorganisms that form multispecies biofilms on their surface and play crucial roles in biodeterioration processes. Coating tiles with water repellents is a pervasive industrial strategy employed to prevent liquid water penetration and slow biodeterioration. Very few studies have examined the links between the characteristics of water-repellent coatings and biofilm colonization patterns. Our work aims to compare the effects of coating tiles with two common water repellents (siliconate and siloxane) on the growth of colonizing microbes. We combined in situ exposure of tiles for over six years and macroscopic and microscopic observations with in vitro biotests, relying on the use of algal and fungal models. Our data showed that (1) tiles coated with water repellents were macroscopically less colonized by lichens (2) a significant fungal biofilm development at the microscopic scale (3) water repellents had very contrasting effects on our model strains. These data reinforce the great interest for industry to conduct more studies linking the nature of the water repellents with the composition of colonizing multispecies biofilms. The long-term objective is to improve the available water repellents and better adapt their selection to the nature of microbial colonization.
HBcAb Positivity Is a Risk Factor for an Increased Detectability of HIV RNA after Switching to a Two-Drug Regimen Lamivudine-Based (2DR-3TC-Based) Treatment: Analysis of a Multicenter Italian Cohort
Authors: Malagnino Vincenzo , Teti Elisabetta , Compagno Mirko , Coppola Luigi , Salpini Romina , Svicher Valentina , Basso Monica , Battagin Giuliana , Panese Sandro , Rossi Maria Cristina , Scaggiante Renzo , Zago Daniela , Iannetta Marco , Parisi Saverio Giuseppe , Andreoni Massimo , Sarmati Loredana
Published: February 2021

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the presence of anti-hepatitis B (HBV) c antibodies (HBcAb positivity) could influence the control of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) viremia in patients living with HIV (PLWH) who switch a to two-drug antiretroviral therapy (2DR) containing lamivudine (3TC) (2DR-3TC). A retrospective observational multicenter study was conducted on 166 PLWH switching to the 2DR-3TC-based regimen: 58 HBcAb-positive and 108 HBcAb-negative patients. The HBcAb-positive PLWH group demonstrated a significantly higher percentage of subjects with very low-level viremia at all time points after switching (6th month: <31% vs. 17.6%, p = 0.047; 12th month 34% vs. 27.5%, p = 0.001; 24th month 37% vs. 34.2, p = 0.003 of the HBcAb-positive and HBcAb-negative groups, respectively) and a higher percentage of subjects with detectable HIV RNA greater than 20 copies/mL 12 and 24 months after switching (12 months 32% vs. 11%, p = 0.001; 24 months 37% vs. 13.9%, p = 0.003 of the HBcAb-positive and HBcAb-negative groups, respectively). Logistic regression analysis showed that an increase in age of ten years (OR 2.48 (95% CI 1.58–3.89), p < 0.0001) and the presence of HBcAb positivity (OR 2.7 (5% CI 1.05–6.9), p = 0.038) increased the risk of detectability of HIV RNA by nearly three-fold after switching to 2DR-3TC.
A Systematic Review of Campylobacter jejuni Vaccine Candidates for Chickens
Authors: Pumtang-on Pongthorn , Mahony Timothy J. , Hill Rodney A. , Vanniasinkam Thiru
Published: February 2021

Campylobacter jejuni infection linked to the consumption of contaminated poultry products is one of the leading causes of human enteric illness worldwide. Vaccination of chickens is one of the potential strategies that could be used to control C. jejuni colonization. To date, various C. jejuni vaccines using potential antigens have been evaluated, but a challenge in identifying the most effective formulation is the wide variability in vaccine efficacies reported. A systematic review was undertaken to compare C. jejuni vaccine studies. Based upon specific selection criteria eligible papers were identified and included in the analysis. Vaccine efficacy reported from different C. jejuni antigens, vaccine types, and vaccination regimens reported in these papers were reviewed. Our analysis shows that total outer membrane proteins and cysteine ABC transporter substrate-binding protein were among the most efficacious vaccine antigen candidates reported. This review also highlights the importance of the need for increased consistency in the way C. jejuni vaccine studies in poultry are designed and reported in order to be able to undertake a robust comparison of C. jejuni vaccine candidates.
Mobile Colistin Resistance Gene mcr-1 Detected on an IncI2 Plasmid in Salmonella Typhimurium Sequence Type 19 from a Healthy Pig in South Korea
Authors: Moon Dong Chan , Kim Su-Jeong , Mechesso Abraham Fikru , Kang Hee Young , Song Hyun-Ju , Choi Ji-Hyun , Yoon Soon-Seek , Lim Suk-Kyung
Published: February 2021

Colistin is considered the last resort for the treatment of multi-drug resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. We studied colistin resistance and the mcr-1 gene carriage in Salmonella isolates recovered from food animals in South Korea between 2010 and 2018. Colistin resistance was found in 277 isolates, predominantly in Salmonella Enteritidis (57.1%) and Salmonella Gallinarum (41.9%). However, the mcr-1 gene was identified in only one colistin-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium (MIC = 16 µg/mL) isolated from a healthy pig. The mcr-1 carrying isolate presented additional resistance to multiple antimicrobials. The strain belonged to sequence type (ST)19 and carried various virulence factor genes that are associated with adhesion and invasion of Salmonella into intestinal epithelial cells, as well as its survival in macrophages. The mcr-1 gene was identified on an IncI2 plasmid and it was also transferred to the E. coli J53 recipient strain. The mcr-1-carrying plasmid (pK18JST013) in this study was closely related to that previously reported in S. Indiana (pCFSA664-3) from chicken in China. This is the first report of mcr-1 carrying S. Typhimurium in South Korea. The finding indicates the importance of regular screening for the presence of the mcr-1 gene in S. Typhimurium in food animals to prevent the spread to humans.
Induction and Genome Analysis of HY01, a Newly Reported Prophage from an Emerging Shrimp Pathogen Vibrio campbellii
Authors: Nuidate Taiyeebah , Kuaphiriyakul Aphiwat , Surachat Komwit , Mittraparp-arthorn Pimonsri
Published: February 2021

Vibrio campbellii is an emerging aquaculture pathogen that causes luminous vibriosis in farmed shrimp. Although prophages in various aquaculture pathogens have been widely reported, there is still limited knowledge regarding prophages in the genome of pathogenic V. campbellii. Here, we describe the full-genome sequence of a prophage named HY01, induced from the emerging shrimp pathogen V. campbellii HY01. The phage HY01 was induced by mitomycin C and was morphologically characterized as long tailed phage. V. campbellii phage HY01 is composed of 41,772 bp of dsDNA with a G+C content of 47.45%. A total of 60 open reading frames (ORFs) were identified, of which 31 could be predicted for their biological functions. Twenty seven out of 31 predicted protein coding regions were matched with several encoded proteins of various Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Vibrionaceae, and other phages of Gram-negative bacteria. Interestingly, the comparative genome analysis revealed that the phage HY01 was only distantly related to Vibrio phage Va_PF430-3_p42 of fish pathogen V. anguillarum but differed in genomic size and gene organization. The phylogenetic tree placed the phage together with Siphoviridae family. Additionally, a survey of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) spacers revealed two matching sequences between phage HY01 genome and viral spacer sequence of Vibrio spp. The spacer results combined with the synteny results suggest that the evolution of V. campbellii phage HY01 is driven by the horizontal genetic exchange between bacterial families belonging to the class of Gammaproteobacteria.
Prevalence of Strongyloidiasis in a Cohort of Migrants in Italy and Accuracy of a Novel ELISA Assay for S. stercoralis Infection, a Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Buonfrate Dora , Marrone Rosalia , Silva Ronaldo , Mirisola Concetta , Ragusa Andrea , Mistretta Manuela , Perandin Francesca , Bisoffi Zeno
Published: February 2021

Strongyloides stercoralis infection is a life-threatening neglected tropical disease. Diagnostic issues have caused an underestimation of its global burden. The choice of appropriate diagnostic tests for the screening of populations at risk of the infection, such as migrants from endemic countries, is of paramount importance. From November 2017 to July 2018, all migrants presenting to the National Institute for Health Migration and Poverty (INMP) in Rome, Italy were offered screening tests for S. stercoralis infection. The study objective was to estimate the prevalence of strongyloidiasis in the study population and the accuracy of a novel ELISA assay. The following tests were carried out at the IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria hospital in Negrar, Verona: stool microscopy, real-time PCR for S. stercoralis, in-house immunofluorescence test (IFAT), a commercial ELISA assay (Bordier ELISA), and a novel ELISA assay (Euroimmun ELISA). A latent class analysis (LCA) model set up with test results, clinical variables, and eosinophilia indicated a prevalence around 7.5%, in line with previous findings. The sensitivity and the specificity of Euroimmun ELISA were 90.6% (95% CI 80.5–100) and 87.7% (95CI 84.5–91.0); these results indicate that the novel ELISA assay would be suitable for screening of migrants from endemic countries.
Modulation of IGF2 Expression in the Murine Thymus and Thymic Epithelial Cells Following Coxsackievirus-B4 Infection
Authors: Michaux Hélène , Halouani Aymen , Trussart Charlotte , Renard Chantal , Jaïdane Hela , Martens Henri , Geenen Vincent , Hober Didier
Published: February 2021

Coxsackievirus B4 (CV-B4) can infect human and murine thymic epithelial cells (TECs). In a murine TEC cell line, CV-B4 can downregulate the transcription of the insulin-like growth factor 2 (Igf2) gene coding for the self-peptide of the insulin family. In this study, we show that CV-B4 infections of a murine TEC cell line decreased Igf2 P3 promoter activity by targeting a region near the transcription start site; however, the stability of Igf2 transcripts remained unchanged, indicating a regulation of Igf2 transcription. Furthermore, CV-B4 infections decreased STAT3 phosphorylation in vitro. We also showed that mice infected with CV-B4 had an altered expression of Igf2 isoforms as detected in TECs, followed by a decrease in the pro-IGF2 precursor in the thymus. Our study sheds new light on the intrathymic regulation of Igf2 transcription during CV-B4 infections and supports the hypothesis that a viral infection can disrupt central self-tolerance to insulin by decreasing Igf2 transcription in the thymic epithelium.
Phenotypic and Genetic Determination of Biofilm Formation in Heat Resistant Escherichia coli Possessing the Locus of Heat Resistance
Authors: Ma Angela , Neumann Norman , Chui Linda
Published: February 2021

Despite the effectiveness of thermal inactivation processes, Escherichiacoli biofilms continue to be a persistent source of contamination in food processing environments. E. coli strains possessing the locus of heat resistance are a novel food safety threat and raises the question of whether these strains can also form biofilms. The objectives of this study were to determine biofilm formation in heat resistant E. coli isolates from clinical and environmental origins using an in-house, two-component apparatus and to characterize biofilm formation-associated genes in the isolates using whole genome sequencing. Optimal conditions for biofilm formation in each of the heat resistant isolates were determined by manipulating inoculum size, nutrient concentration, and temperature conditions. Biofilm formation in the heat resistant isolates was detected at temperatures of 24 °C and 37 °C but not at 4 °C. Furthermore, biofilm formation was observed in all environmental isolates but only one clinical isolate despite shared profiles in biofilm formation-associated genes encoded by the isolates from both sources. The circulation of heat resistant E. coli isolates with multi-stress tolerance capabilities in environments related to food processing signify that such strains may be a serious food safety and public health risk.
AGREEing on Nutritional Management of Patients with CKD—A Quality Appraisal of the Available Guidelines
Authors: Bakaloudi Dimitra Rafailia , Chrysoula Lydia , Poulia Kalliopi Anna , Dounousi Evangelia , Liakopoulos Vassilios , Chourdakis Michail
Published: February 2021

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important public health issue with increasing prevalence worldwide. Several clinical practice guidelines have been recently published regarding the nutritional management of CKD patients. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the quality of the published guidelines and provide recommendation for future updates. PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar were searched for relevant guidelines and 11 clinical practice guidelines were finally included. Guidelines developed by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral nutrition (ASPEN), the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA), the German Society for Nutritional Medicine (DGEM), the European Best Practice Guidelines (EBPG), the European Dialysis and Transplantation Nurses Association-European Renal Care Association (EDTNA-ERCA), the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN), the Andalusian Group for Nutrition Reflection and Investigation (GARIN) group, the National Kidney foundation-Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI), the Italian Society of Nephrology-Association of Dieticians-Italian Association of Hemodialysis, Dialysis and Transplant (SIN-ANDID-ANED), and the Renal Association were assessed using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II tool. Guidelines by KDOQI, ESPEN, and DAA were of moderate quality and the rest of them were low-quality guidelines. Our study demonstrates gaps related to the development of guidelines and therefore greater emphasis on methodological approaches is recommended. AGREE II tool can be useful to improve quality of guidelines.
Pharmaceutical Discharge Management: Implementation in Swiss Hospitals Compared to International Guidelines
Authors: Studer Helene , Boeni Fabienne , Hersberger Kurt E. , Lampert Markus L.
Published: February 2021

Readmissions to the hospital are frequent after hospital discharge. Pharmacist-led interventions have been shown to reduce readmissions. The objective of this study was to describe pharmacist-led interventions to support patients’ medication management at hospital discharge in Switzerland and to compare them to international guidelines. We conducted a national online survey among chief hospital pharmacists focusing on medication management at hospital discharge. To put our findings in perspective, Cochrane reviews and guidelines were searched for summarised evidence and recommendations on interventions. Based on answers in the survey, hospitals with implemented models to support patients at discharge were selected for in-depth interviews. In semi-structured interviews, they were asked to describe pharmacists’ involvement in the patients’ pathway throughout the hospital stay. In Swiss hospitals (n = 44 survey participants), interventions to support patients at discharge were frequently implemented, mostly “patient education” (n = 40) and “communication to primary care provider” (n = 34). These interventions were commonly recommended in guidelines. Overall, pharmacists were rarely involved in the interventions on a regular basis. When pharmacists were involved, the services were provided by hospital pharmacies or collaborating community pharmacies. In conclusion, interventions recommended in guidelines were frequently implemented in Swiss hospitals, however pharmacists were rarely involved.
And That’s Not All: (Sur)Faces of Justice in Philosophy of Education
Authors: Papastephanou Marianna
Published: February 2021

Adjectives such as “environmental”, “social”, “cosmopolitan”, “relational”, “distributive”, etc. reflect how scholars discern the many faces of justice and put several claims to, and claimants of, justice in perspective. They have also helped related research to focus on some surfaces of justice, that is, on spaces that invite justice, localities and formations, such as the state, social policies, social institutions, etc. within which ethical-political challenges unravel. Diverse philosophical perspectives enable context-specific explorations of (sur)faces of justice. However, I argue, there is more to the concept of justice than what perspectives (considered alone or in their sum total) allow us to view. To theorize how this surplus may be more discernible through stereoscopic rather than perspectival optics I first describe how educational-philosophical perspectives, old and new, discuss just education or education for justice; and then I critique the very notion of perspective on which scholarly work relies. Despite their merits, perspectival framings of justice fail to address the interconnectivity of various (sur)faces of justice.
A “Strong” Approach to Sustainability Literacy: Embodied Ecology and Media
Authors: Campbell Cary , Lacković Nataša , Olteanu Alin
Published: February 2021

This article outlines a “strong” theoretical approach to sustainability literacy, building on an earlier definition of strong and weak environmental literacy (Stables and Bishop 2001). The argument builds upon a specific semiotic approach to educational philosophy (sometimes called edusemiotics), to which these authors have been contributing. Here, we highlight how a view of learning that centers on embodied and multimodal communication invites bridging biosemiotics with critical media literacy, in pursuit of a strong, integrated sustainability literacy. The need for such a construal of literacy can be observed in recent scholarship on embodied cognition, education, media and bio/eco-semiotics. By (1) construing the environment as semiosic (Umwelt), and (2) replacing the notion of text with model, we develop a theory of literacy that understands learning as embodied/environmental in/across any mediality. As such, digital and multimedia learning are deemed to rest on environmental and embodied affordances. The notions of semiotic resources and affordances are also defined from these perspectives. We propose that a biosemiotics-informed approach to literacy, connecting both eco- and critical-media literacy, accompanies a much broader scope of meaning-making than has been the case in literacy studies so far.
Recapitulation of the Function and Role of ROS Generated in Response to Heat Stress in Plants
Authors: Medina Emily , Kim Su-Hwa , Yun Miriam , Choi Won-Gyu
Published: February 2021

In natural ecosystems, plants are constantly exposed to changes in their surroundings as they grow, caused by a lifestyle that requires them to live where their seeds fall. Thus, plants strive to adapt and respond to changes in their exposed environment that change every moment. Heat stress that naturally occurs when plants grow in the summer or a tropical area adversely affects plants’ growth and poses a risk to plant development. When plants are subjected to heat stress, they recognize heat stress and respond using highly complex intracellular signaling systems such as reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS was previously considered a byproduct that impairs plant growth. However, in recent studies, ROS gained attention for its function as a signaling molecule when plants respond to environmental stresses such as heat stress. In particular, ROS, produced in response to heat stress in various plant cell compartments such as mitochondria and chloroplasts, plays a crucial role as a signaling molecule that promotes plant growth and triggers subsequent downstream reactions. Therefore, this review aims to address the latest research trends and understandings, focusing on the function and role of ROS in responding and adapting plants to heat stress.
The Interplay between Drug and Sorbitol Contents Determines the Mechanical and Swelling Properties of Potential Rice Starch Films for Buccal Drug Delivery
Authors: Alrimawi Bilal Harieth , Chan May Yee , Ooi Xin Yue , Chan Siok-Yee , Goh Choon Fu
Published: February 2021

Rice starch is a promising biomaterial for thin film development in buccal drug delivery, but the plasticisation and antiplasticisation phenomena from both plasticisers and drugs on the performance of rice starch films are not well understood. This study aims to elucidate the competing effects of sorbitol (plasticiser) and drug (antiplasticiser) on the physicochemical characteristics of rice starch films containing low paracetamol content. Rice starch films were prepared with different sorbitol (10, 20 and 30% w/w) and paracetamol contents (0, 1 and 2% w/w) using the film casting method and were characterised especially for drug release, swelling and mechanical properties. Sorbitol showed a typical plasticising effect on the control rice starch films by increasing film flexibility and by reducing swelling behaviour. The presence of drugs, however, modified both the mechanical and swelling properties by exerting an antiplasticisation effect. This antiplasticisation action was found to be significant at a low sorbitol level or a high drug content. FTIR investigations supported the antiplasticisation action of paracetamol through the disturbance of sorbitol–starch interactions. Despite this difference, an immediate drug release was generally obtained. This study highlights the interplay between plasticiser and drug in influencing the mechanical and swelling characteristics of rice starch films at varying concentrations.
α-Cellulose Fibers of Paper-Waste Origin Surface-Modified with Fe3O4 and Thiolated-Chitosan for Efficacious Immobilization of Laccase
Authors: Ghodake Gajanan S. , Shinde Surendra K. , Saratale Ganesh D. , Saratale Rijuta G. , Kim Min , Jee Seung-Cheol , Kim Dae-Young , Sung Jung-Suk , Kadam Avinash A.
Published: February 2021

The utilization of waste-paper-biomass for extraction of important α-cellulose biopolymer, and modification of extracted α-cellulose for application in enzyme immobilization can be extremely vital for green circular bio-economy. Thus, in this study, α-cellulose fibers were super-magnetized (Fe3O4), grafted with chitosan (CTNs), and thiol (-SH) modified for laccase immobilization. The developed material was characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), HR-TEM energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (HR-TEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analyses. Laccase immobilized on α-Cellulose-Fe3O4-CTNs (α-Cellulose-Fe3O4-CTNs-Laccase) gave significant activity recovery (99.16%) and laccase loading potential (169.36 mg/g). The α-Cellulose-Fe3O4-CTNs-Laccase displayed excellent stabilities for temperature, pH, and storage time. The α-Cellulose-Fe3O4-CTNs-Laccase applied in repeated cycles shown remarkable consistency of activity retention for 10 cycles. After the 10th cycle, α-Cellulose-Fe3O4-CTNs possessed 80.65% relative activity. Furthermore, α-Cellulose-Fe3O4-CTNs-Laccase shown excellent degradation of pharmaceutical contaminant sulfamethoxazole (SMX). The SMX degradation by α-Cellulose-Fe3O4-CTNs-Laccase was found optimum at incubation time (20 h), pH (3), temperatures (30 °C), and shaking conditions (200 rpm). Finally, α-Cellulose-Fe3O4-CTNs-Laccase gave repeated degradation of SMX. Thus, this study presents a novel, waste-derived, highly capable, and super-magnetic nanocomposite for enzyme immobilization applications.
Overview and Update on Methods for Cargo Loading into Extracellular Vesicles
Authors: Han Yohan , Jones Timothy W. , Dutta Saugata , Zhu Yin , Wang Xiaoyun , Narayanan S. Priya , Fagan Susan C. , Zhang Duo
Published: February 2021

The enormous library of pharmaceutical compounds presents endless research avenues. However, several factors limit the therapeutic potential of these drugs, such as drug resistance, stability, off-target toxicity, and inadequate delivery to the site of action. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer-delimited particles and are naturally released from cells. Growing evidence shows that EVs have great potential to serve as effective drug carriers. Since EVs can not only transfer biological information, but also effectively deliver hydrophobic drugs into cells, the application of EVs as a novel drug delivery system has attracted considerable scientific interest. Recently, EVs loaded with siRNA, miRNA, mRNA, CRISPR/Cas9, proteins, or therapeutic drugs show improved delivery efficiency and drug effect. In this review, we summarize the methods used for the cargo loading into EVs, including siRNA, miRNA, mRNA, CRISPR/Cas9, proteins, and therapeutic drugs. Furthermore, we also include the recent advance in engineered EVs for drug delivery. Finally, both advantages and challenges of EVs as a new drug delivery system are discussed. Here, we encourage researchers to further develop convenient and reliable loading methods for the potential clinical applications of EVs as drug carriers in the future.
A Case Report of Primordial Odontogenic Tumor That Required Distinction from a Dentigerous Cyst
Authors: Ono Sawako , Kawai Hotaka , Sukegawa Shintaro , Takabatake Kiyofumi , Nakano Keisuke , Nagatsuka Hitoshi , Yoshino Tadashi
Published: February 2021

Primordial odontogenic tumor (POT) is a rare odontogenic tumor characterized by a variably cellular loose fibrous tissue with areas similar to the dental papilla and covered by cuboidal to columnar epithelium. We herein report a case of POT in a 14-year-old boy. Computed tomography (CT) exhibited a round cavity with a defined cortical border circumscribing the tooth of the second molar. However, the gross finding was a solid mass, not a cyst. Histologically, the tumor consisted of dental papillalike myxoid connective tissue covered by columnar epithelium. Therefore, although the clinical diagnosis was dentigerous cyst (DC), we diagnosed POT based on histologic findings. Clinical findings of POT resemble DC, but the clinical behavior of POT is different to DC, such as cortical expansion and root resorption of teeth. Therefore, histological differentiation of POT from DC is critical for accurate diagnosis.
Cardless Banking System in Malaysia: An Extended TAM
Authors: Ali Qaisar , Parveen Shazia , Yaacob Hakimah , Zaini Zaki
Published: February 2021

The main objective of this study is to analyse consumers’ behavioural intentions to use cardless banking technology in Malaysia. The intentions to use this technology are evaluated through an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) framework. The data were collected from 447 Maybank and Hong Leong Bank customers in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. The results show that self-efficacy (SE) had a positive impact on the perceived ease of use (PEOU), while perceived risk (PR) had a negative impact on perceived usefulness (PU) and intention to use (IU) cardless banking. Next, the perceived ease of use (PEOU) had a positive impact on perceived usefulness (PU). The results further support the idea that perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEOU) had the strongest impacts on intention to use (IU). The practical implications of this study suggest that developers of cardless banking technology should introduce secure, less complicated, and easily accessible technology to improve consumers’ intentions to use. The perceived usefulness of this technology can be improved through promotional strategies and consumer training. Theoretically, this study has successfully extended TAM in the context of cardless banking technology in Malaysia. Moreover, this study will assist bankers in designing effective marketing strategies to attract more customers, which will add significant value to the overall business of the banking industry.
Deep Fully Convolutional Embedding Networks for Hyperspectral Images Dimensionality Reduction
Authors: Li Na , Zhou Deyun , Shi Jiao , Zhang Mingyang , Wu Tao , Gong Maoguo
Published: February 2021

Due to the superior spatial–spectral extraction capability of the convolutional neural network (CNN), CNN shows great potential in dimensionality reduction (DR) of hyperspectral images (HSIs). However, most CNN-based methods are supervised while the class labels of HSIs are limited and difficult to obtain. While a few unsupervised CNN-based methods have been proposed recently, they always focus on data reconstruction and are lacking in the exploration of discriminability which is usually the primary goal of DR. To address these issues, we propose a deep fully convolutional embedding network (DFCEN), which not only considers data reconstruction but also introduces the specific learning task of enhancing feature discriminability. DFCEN has an end-to-end symmetric network structure that is the key for unsupervised learning. Moreover, a novel objective function containing two terms—the reconstruction term and the embedding term of a specific task—is established to supervise the learning of DFCEN towards improving the completeness and discriminability of low-dimensional data. In particular, the specific task is designed to explore and preserve relationships among samples in HSIs. Besides, due to the limited training samples, inherent complexity and the presence of noise in HSIs, a preprocessing where a few noise spectral bands are removed is adopted to improve the effectiveness of unsupervised DFCEN. Experimental results on three well-known hyperspectral datasets and two classifiers illustrate that the low dimensional features of DFCEN are highly separable and DFCEN has promising classification performance compared with other DR methods.
Enhanced Accuracy of Airborne Volcanic Ash Detection Using the GEOKOMPSAT-2A Satellite
Authors: Ahn Soi , Jee Joon-Bum , Lee Kyu-Tae , Oh Hyun-Jong
Published: February 2021

In this study, a technique facilitating the enhanced detection of airborne volcanic ash (VA) has been developed, which is based on the use of visible (VIS), near-infrared (NIR), and infrared (IR) bands by meteorological satellite systems. Channels with NIR and IR bands centered at ~3.8, 7.3, 8.7, 10.5, and 12.3 μm are utilized, which enhances the accuracy of VA detection. The technique is based on two-band brightness temperature differences (BTDs), two-band brightness temperature ratios (BTRs), and background image BTDs. The physical effects of the observed BTDs and BTRs, which can be used to distinguish VA from meteorological clouds based on absorption differences, depend on the channel and time of day. The Advanced Meteorological Imager onboard the GEOKOMPSAT-2A (GK-2A) satellite has several advantages, including the day- and nighttime detection of land and ocean. Based on the GK-2A data on several volcanic eruptions, multispectral data are more sensitive to volcanic clouds than ice and water clouds, ensuring the detection of VA. They can also be used as an input to provide detailed information about volcanoes, such as the height of the VA layer and VA mass. The GK-2A was optimized, and an improved ash algorithm was established by focusing on the volcanic eruptions that occurred in 2020. In particular, the 3.8 μm band was utilized, the threshold was changed by division between day and night, and efforts were made to reduce the effects of clouds and the discontinuity between land and ocean. The GK-2A imagery was used to study volcanic clouds related to the eruptions of Taal, Philippines, on 12 January and Nishinoshima, Japan, from 30 July–2 August to demonstrate the applicability of this product during volcanic events. The improved VA product of GK-2A provides vital information, helping forecasters to locate VA as well as guidance for the aviation industry in preventing dangerous and expensive interactions between aircrafts and VA.
Early Detection of Fluid Retention in Patients with Advanced Heart Failure: A Review of a Novel Multisensory Algorithm, HeartLogicTM
Authors: Feijen Michelle , Egorova Anastasia D. , Beeres Saskia L. M. A. , Treskes Roderick W.
Published: February 2021

Heart failure (HF) hospitalisations due to decompensation are associated with shorter life expectancy and lower quality of life. These hospitalisations pose a significant burden on the patients, doctors and healthcare resources. Early detection of an upcoming episode of decompensation may facilitate timely optimisation of the ambulatory medical treatment and thereby prevent heart-failure-related hospitalisations. The HeartLogicTM algorithm combines data from five sensors of cardiac implantable electronic devices into a cumulative index value. It has been developed for early detection of fluid retention in heart failure patients. This review aims to provide an overview of the current literature and experience with the HeartLogicTM algorithm, illustrate how the index can be implemented in daily clinical practice and discuss ongoing studies and potential future developments of interest.
An Efficient Conformal Stacked Antenna Array Design and 3D-Beamforming for UAV and Space Vehicle Communications
Authors: Albagory Yasser
Published: February 2021

In this paper, a new conformal array structure and beamforming technique are proposed to provide efficient communication performance for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and space vehicles. The proposed array is formed by conformally stacking cylindrical, conical, and concentric circular (CSC4) arrays which are all coaxially aligned with the same axis of the conformed body and with uniform interelement spacing. The array elements are then fed by a weighting vector that has an adaptive cosine tapered profile where the maximum amplitude coefficient is oriented with the mainlobe direction to improve the scanning capabilities of the array and increase the array effective area. In addition, for very large, conformed body structures such as space vehicles, a frontal mainlobe-oriented partial CSC4 array beamforming technique is proposed to efficiently utilize the large CSC4 structure, reduce the processing requirements for mainlobe electronic steering, and to provide very low sidelobe levels with reduced backlobe levels. Simulation results show that the proposed CSC4 design can provide wide scanning angles of up to ±70° angular range in the θ-direction with only ±1° change in the beamwidth, without increasing array size and with achievable sidelobe level of −45 dB and backlobe levels less than −10 dB.
Identification of Long-Term Behavior of Natural Circulation Loops: A Thresholdless Approach from an Initial Response
Authors: Bhattacharya Chandrachur , Saha Ritabrata , Mukhopadhyay Achintya , Ray Asok
Published: February 2021

Natural circulation loop (NCL) systems are buoyancy-driven heat exchangers that are used in various industrial applications. The concept of passive heat exchange in NCL systems is attractive, because there is no need for an externally driven equipment (e.g., a pump) to maintain the fluid circulation. However, relying on buoyancy as the sole driving force may lead to several potential difficulties, one of which is generation of (possibly) time-varying nonlinearities in the dynamical system, where a difference in the time scales of heat transfer and fluid flow causes the flow to change from a steady-state regime to either an oscillatory regime or a flow-reversal regime, both of which are undesirable. In this paper, an algorithm is developed using tools of symbolic time-series analysis (e.g., probabilistic finite state automata (PFSA)) for the purpose of identifying selected regimes of operation in NCL systems using only data from the early transient operation, where the underlying principle is built upon the concept of pattern classification from measurements of fluid-flow dynamics. The proposed method is shown to be capable of identifying the current regime of operation from the initial time response under a given set of operational parameters. The efficacy of regime classification is demonstrated by testing on two datasets, generated from numerical simulation of a MATLAB SimuLink model that has previously been validated with experimental data. The results of the proposed PFSA-based classification are compared with those of a hidden Markov model (HMM) that serves as the baseline.