bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential Environmental and Human Health Risks Caused by Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (ARB), Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs) and Emerging Contaminants (ECs) from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Landfill
Authors: Anand Uttpal , Reddy Bhaskar , Singh Vipin Kumar , Singh Amit Kishore , Kesari Kavindra Kumar , Tripathi Pooja , Kumar Pradeep , Tripathi Vijay , Simal-Gandara Jesus
Published: April 2021

The disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) directly at landfills or open dump areas, without segregation and treatment, is a significant concern due to its hazardous contents of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and metal resistance genes (MGEs). The released leachate from landfills greatly effects the soil physicochemical, biological, and groundwater properties associated with agricultural activity and human health. The abundance of ARB, ARGs, and MGEs have been reported worldwide, including MSW landfill sites, animal husbandry, wastewater, groundwater, soil, and aerosol. This review elucidates the occurrence and abundance of ARB, ARGs, and MRGs, which are regarded as emerging contaminants (ECs). Recently, ECs have received global attention because of their prevalence in leachate as a substantial threat to environmental and public health, including an economic burden for developing nations. The present review exclusively discusses the demands to develop a novel eco-friendly management strategy to combat these global issues. This review also gives an intrinsic discussion about the insights of different aspects of environmental and public health concerns caused due to massive leachate generation, the abundance of antibiotics resistance (AR), and the effects of released leachate on the various environmental reservoirs and human health. Furthermore, the current review throws light on the source and fate of different ECs of landfill leachate and their possible impact on the nearby environments (groundwater, surface water, and soil) affecting human health. The present review strongly suggests the demand for future research focuses on the advancement of the removal efficiency of contaminants with the improvement of relevant landfill management to reduce the potential effects of disposable waste. We propose the necessity of the identification and monitoring of potential environmental and human health risks associated with landfill leachate contaminants.
Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Phenolic Compounds in Fruit of the Genus Rosa L.
Authors: Liaudanskas Mindaugas , Noreikienė Irena , Zymonė Kristina , Juodytė Rugilė , Žvikas Vaidotas , Janulis Valdimaras
Published: April 2021

We investigated the qualitative and quantitative composition of phenolic compounds in the fruit of Rosa L. cultivars grown in Lithuania. The highest total content of phenolic compounds (50.13 ± 4.17 mg GAE/g, p < 0.05) was determined in fruit samples of Rosa pimpinellifolia L. cultivar “Single Cherry”. The highest levels of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives were determined in fruit samples of Rosa rugosa Thunb. cultivars “Dart’s Defender” and “Adam Chodun”. The highest flavonoid content was determined in fruit samples of Rosa multiflora Thunb. cultivar “Nana” and R. multiflora species. The strongest antioxidant activity evaluated by applying DPPH and FRAP assays was determined in fruit extracts of R. pimpinellifolia cultivar “Single Cherry” and R. rugosa cultivar “Adam Chodun”. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds in Rosa L. fruit was performed by applying UHPLC. The following phenolic compounds were identified in fruit samples: caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, quercitrin, (+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin, (−)-epicatechin gallate, rutin, phloridzin, and kaempferol-3-O-glycoside. A strong correlation was determined between the total amount of phenolic compounds determined in extracts of the fruit samples of Rosa L. cultivars and the radical scavenging and reducing activity of their extracts in vitro (R = 0.767 and 0.727, respectively, p < 0.05).
Graphene Deposition on Glass Fibers by Triboelectrification
Authors: Mahmood Haroon , Simonini Laura , Dorigato Andrea , Pegoretti Alessandro
Published: April 2021

In this work, a novel nanomaterial deposition technique involving the triboelectrification (TE) of glass fibers (GF) to create attractive charges on their surface was investigated. Through TE, continuous GF were positively charged thus, attracting negatively charged graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles dispersed in a solution. The electrical charges on the glass fibers surface increased with the intensity of the TE process. The deposited GO coating was then chemically treated to obtain reduced graphene oxide (rGO) on the surface of GFs. The amount of coating obtained increased with the GO solution concentration used during the deposition process, as revealed by FESEM analysis. However, the same increment could not be noticed as a function of the intensity of the process. Both uncoated and coated GF were used to obtain single fiber microcomposites by using a bicomponent epoxy matrix. The fiber/matrix interfacial shear strength was evaluated through micro debonding tests, which revealed an increment of fiber/matrix adhesion up to 45% for rGO coated GF in comparison to the uncoated ones. A slight improvement in the electrical conductivity of rGO coated fibers through TE compared to conventional dip coating was also observed in terms of volumetric resistivity by a four-point probe setup.
Potential Use of Residual Sawdust of Eucalyptus globulus Labill in Pb (II) Adsorption: Modelling of the Kinetics and Equilibrium
Authors: Tejada-Tovar Candelaria , Villabona-Ortíz Angel , Ortega-Toro Rodrigo , Mancilla-Bonilla Humberto , Espinoza-León Fran
Published: April 2021

The raw sawdust of Eucalyptusglobulus Labill was studied as an alternative of residual biomaterial for the adsorption of lead (II) in wastewater, evaluating the effect of pH (3, 4, 5, and 6) in a batch system. From the characterization of the biomaterial, it was found that the biomass has a low ash content, and from the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) microphotographs that it presents a porous morphology with diverse texture and presence of fiber fragments, which describe the heterogeneity of the material. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum showed the presence of functional groups of NHR, OH, COOH, and hydrocarbons, which are part of the structure of lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin. From the adsorption experiments, it was obtained that the optimal value of pH 6, reaching a removal percentage of 96% and an adsorption capacity of 4.80 mg/g. The model that better adjusted the kinetics results was the pseudo-second-order model and the Langmuir and Freundlich isothermal models described the adsorption equilibrium; it was found that in the system prevails chemisorption, supported in ion exchange by Pb (II) and the biomass’ functional groups. From the results, eucalyptus sawdust is suggested as a low-cost adsorbent for Pb (II) bioadsorption present in solution.
Towards Predicting Student’s Dropout in University Courses Using Different Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Kabathova Janka , Drlik Martin
Published: April 2021

Early and precisely predicting the students’ dropout based on available educational data belongs to the widespread research topic of the learning analytics research field. Despite the amount of already realized research, the progress is not significant and persists on all educational data levels. Even though various features have already been researched, there is still an open question, which features can be considered appropriate for different machine learning classifiers applied to the typical scarce set of educational data at the e-learning course level. Therefore, the main goal of the research is to emphasize the importance of the data understanding, data gathering phase, stress the limitations of the available datasets of educational data, compare the performance of several machine learning classifiers, and show that also a limited set of features, which are available for teachers in the e-learning course, can predict student’s dropout with sufficient accuracy if the performance metrics are thoroughly considered. The data collected from four academic years were analyzed. The features selected in this study proved to be applicable in predicting course completers and non-completers. The prediction accuracy varied between 77 and 93% on unseen data from the next academic year. In addition to the frequently used performance metrics, the comparison of machine learning classifiers homogeneity was analyzed to overcome the impact of the limited size of the dataset on obtained high values of performance metrics. The results showed that several machine learning algorithms could be successfully applied to a scarce dataset of educational data. Simultaneously, classification performance metrics should be thoroughly considered before deciding to deploy the best performance classification model to predict potential dropout cases and design beneficial intervention mechanisms.
Enhanced Bit Repair IP Fast Reroute Mechanism for Rapid Network Recovery
Authors: Papan Jozef , Segec Pavel , Kvet Michal
Published: April 2021

The massive development of virtualized infrastructures, Internet of Things (IoT), and Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) in recent years has led to an increase in quality requirements for the management and reliability of underlay communication networks. Existing converged networks must therefore guarantee specific quantitative and qualitative parameters of different network communication services to meet customer requirements. However, the quality of the services operated is very negatively affected by an unpredictable failure of a communication link or a network node. In such situations, communication is typically interrupted for a period that is difficult to predict, and which can lead to significant financial losses and other negative effects. Internet Protocol Fast Reroute (IP FRR) technology was developed for these reasons. The paper presents the proposal of the new Enhanced Bit Repair (EB-REP) IP FRR mechanism, which offers significant improvements over its predecessor, the B-REP mechanism. The B-REP offers protection against a single failure and only for selected critical IP flows. The EB-REP provides advanced protection against multiple failures in a protected network domain and the protection can be provided for all network flows. The EB-REP calculates alternative paths in advance based on link metrics, but also allows the construction of alternative paths independently of them. The construction of alternative FRR paths uses a standardized tunneling approach via a unique field Bit-String. Thanks to these features, EB-REP is an advanced contribution to solving IP FRR-related problems, which enables the use of EB-REP in many network deployments, but especially in network solutions that require reliable data transmission.
Applying Material Flow Cost Accounting and Two-Dimensional, Irregularly Shaped Cutting Stock Problems in the Lingerie Manufacturing Industry
Authors: Dechampai Darat , Homrossukon Samerjit , Wongthatsanekorn Wuthichai , Ekkachai Kittipong
Published: April 2021

The textiles and garment industry plays an important role in Thailand’s economic growth, despite facing competition in product quality and rising production costs. Meeting diverse consumer needs and satisfaction has become increasingly difficult, as environmental issues become a major concern for firms internationally. Entrepreneurs require sophisticated strategic management techniques to maintain organizational productivity. Growing industries generate material losses, while negatively impacting the environment. Companies may account for their waste, but in reality, actual productivity is much lower, since hidden wastes are mostly unaccounted for and unquantified. A key barrier to reducing waste is that potential cost savings by revising waste management processes are not calculated. To solve this problem, material flow cost accounting (MFCA) was introduced to reduce negative product costs in a ladies’ lingerie company by identifying and evaluating the quantity and cost of concealed material waste. An effective meta-heuristic called the Two-Dimensional Cutting Stock Problem—Tabu Search algorithm (2DCSP-TS) was then proposed based on the idea of finding a layout that minimized a bin length. The multi-phase arrangement strategy embedded in it can obtain near-optimal conditions for solving realistic-sized problems. To illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods, numerical experimental results were compared with those of the current practice. From the numerical experiments, it was found that the proposed technique is an efficient method for reducing negative product costs.
Monte-Carlo-Based Estimation of the X-ray Energy Spectrum for CT Artifact Reduction
Authors: Nazemi Ehsan , Six Nathanaël , Iuso Domenico , De Samber Björn , Sijbers Jan , De Beenhouwer Jan
Published: April 2021

Beam hardening and scattering effects can seriously degrade image quality in polychromatic X-ray CT imaging. In recent years, polychromatic image reconstruction techniques and scatter estimation using Monte Carlo simulation have been developed to compensate for beam hardening and scattering CT artifacts, respectively. Both techniques require knowledge of the X-ray tube energy spectrum. In this work, Monte Carlo simulations were used to calculate the X-ray energy spectrum of FleXCT, a novel prototype industrial micro-CT scanner, enabling beam hardening and scatter reduction for CT experiments. Both source and detector were completely modeled by Monte Carlo simulation. In order to validate the energy spectra obtained via Monte Carlo simulation, they were compared with energy spectra obtained via a second method. Here, energy spectra were calculated from empirical measurements using a step wedge sample, in combination with the Maximum Likelihood Expectation Maximization (MLEM) method. Good correlation was achieved between both approaches, confirming the correct modeling of the FleXCT system by Monte Carlo simulation. After validation of the modeled FleXCT system through comparing the X-ray spectra for different tube voltages inside the detector, we calculated the X-ray spectrum of the FleXCT X-ray tube, independent of the flat panel detector response, which is a prerequisite for beam hardening and scattering CT artifacts.
Estimation of the Abduction/Adduction Movement of the Metacarpophalangeal Joint of the Thumb
Authors: Jarque-Bou Néstor J. , Vergara Margarita , Sancho-Bru Joaquín L.
Published: April 2021

Thumb opposition is essential for grasping, and involves the flexion and abduction of the carpometacarpal and metacarpophalangeal joints of the thumb. The high number of degrees of freedom of the thumb in a fairly small space makes the in vivo recording of its kinematics a challenging task. For this reason, along with the very limited independence of the abduction movement of the metacarpophalangeal joint, many devices do not implement sensors to measure such movement, which may lead to important implications in terms of the accuracy of thumb models. The aims of this work are to examine the correlation between thumb joints and to obtain an equation that allows thumb metacarpophalangeal abduction/adduction movement to be estimated from the other joint motions of the thumb, during the commonest grasps used during activities of daily living and in free movement. The correlation analysis shows that metacarpophalangeal abduction/adduction movement can be expressed mainly from carpometacarpal joint movements. The model thus obtained presents a low estimation error (6.29°), with no significant differences between grasps. The results could benefit most fields that do not typically include this joint movement, such as virtual reality, teleoperation, 3D modeling, prostheses, and exoskeletons.
Wide World of Beverage Research: Reviews of Current Topics
Authors: Del Caro Alessandra
Published: April 2021

In 2015, the journal Beverages (ISSN 2306-5710) was launched to provide insight into the beverage industry [...]
Curcuma amarissima Extract Activates Growth and Survival Signal Transduction Networks to Stimulate Proliferation of Human Keratinocyte
Authors: Nimlamool Wutigri , Potikanond Saranyapin , Ruttanapattanakul Jirapak , Wikan Nitwara , Okonogi Siriporn , Jantrapirom Salinee , Pitchakarn Pornsiri , Karinchai Jirarat
Published: April 2021

Many medicinal plants have been used to treat wounds. Here, we revealed the potential wound healing effects of Curcuma amarissima (CA). Our cell viability assay showed that CA extract increased the viability of HaCaT cells that were cultured in the absence of serum. This increase in cell viability was proved to be associated with the pharmacological activities of CA extract in inducing cell proliferation. To further define possible molecular mechanisms of action, we performed Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence study, and our data demonstrated that CA extract rapidly induced ERK1/2 and Akt activation. Consistently, CA extract accelerated cell migration, resulting in rapid healing of wounded human keratinocyte monolayer. Specifically, the CA-induced increase of cell monolayer wound healing was blocked by the MEK inhibitor (U0126) or the PI3K inhibitor (LY294002). Moreover, CA extract induced the expression of Mcl-1, which is an anti-apoptotic protein, supporting that CA extract enhances human keratinocyte survival. Taken together, our study provided convincing evidence that Curcuma amarissima can promote proliferation and survival of human keratinocyte through stimulating the MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling cascades. These promising data emphasize the possibility to develop this plant as a wound healing agent for the potential application in regenerative medicine.
Sphingosine Promotes Embryo Biomass in Upland Cotton: A Biochemical and Transcriptomic Analysis
Authors: Wang Li , Suo Xiaodong , Liu Yujie , Liu Chen , Luo Ming
Published: April 2021

Sphingolipids are essential membrane components and signal molecules, but their regulatory role in cotton embryo growth is largely unclear. In this study, we evaluated the effects of treatment with the sphingolipid synthesis inhibitor fumonisin B1 (FB1), the serine palmityl transferase (SPT) inhibitor myriocin, the SPT sphingolipid product DHS (d18:0 dihydrosphingosine), and the post-hydroxylation DHS product PHS (t18:0 phytosphingosine) on embryo growth in culture, and performed comparative transcriptomic analysis on control and PHS-treated samples. We found that FB1 could inhibit cotton embryo development. At the five-day ovule/embryo developmental stage, PHS was the most abundant sphingolipid. An SPT enzyme inhibitor reduced the fresh weight of embryos, while PHS had the opposite effect. The transcriptomic analysis identified 2769 differentially expressed genes (1983 upregulated and 786 downregulated) in the PHS samples. A large number of transcription factors were highly upregulated, such as zinc finger, MYB, NAC, bHLH, WRKY, MADS, and GRF in PHS-treated samples compared to controls. The lipid metabolism and plant hormone (auxin, brassinosteroid, and zeatin) related genes were also altered. Our findings provide target metabolites and genes for cotton seed improvement.
Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Inactivation in NASH-Fibrosis—Roles as Putative Treatment Targets?
Authors: Zisser Alexandra , Ipsen David H. , Tveden-Nyborg Pernille
Published: April 2021

Hepatic fibrosis is the primary predictor of mortality in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In this process, the activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) constitute the principal cells responsible for the deposition of a fibrous extracellular matrix, thereby driving the hepatic scarring. HSC activation, migration, and proliferation are controlled by a complex signaling network involving growth factors, lipotoxicity, inflammation, and cellular stress. Conversely, the clearance of activated HSCs is a prerequisite for the resolution of the extracellular fibrosis. Hence, pathways regulating the fate of the HSCs may represent attractive therapeutic targets for the treatment and prevention of NASH-associated hepatic fibrosis. However, the development of anti-fibrotic drugs for NASH patients has not yet resulted in clinically approved therapeutics, underscoring the complex biology and challenges involved when targeting the intricate cellular signaling mechanisms. This narrative review investigated the mechanisms of activation and inactivation of HSCs with a focus on NASH-associated hepatic fibrosis. Presenting an updated overview, this review highlights key cellular pathways with potential value for the development of future treatment modalities.
NHS-Functionalized THP Derivative for Efficient Synthesis of Kit-Based Precursors for 68Ga Labeled PET Probes
Authors: Floresta Giuseppe , Keeling George P. , Memdouh Siham , Meszaros Levente K. , de Rosales Rafael T. M. , Abbate Vincenzo
Published: April 2021

Hexadentate tris(3,4-hydroxypyridinone) ligands (THP) complex Fe3+ at very low iron concentrations and their high affinities for oxophilic trivalent metal ions have led to their development for new applications as bifunctional chelators for the radiometal gallium-68 (68Ga). THP-peptide bioconjugates rapidly and quantitatively complex 68Ga at room temperature, neutral pH, and micromolar ligand concentrations, making them amenable to kit-based radiosynthesis of 68Ga PET radiopharmaceuticals. With the aim to produce an N-hydroxysuccinimide-(NHS)-THP reagent for kit-based 68Ga-labeling and PET imaging, THP-derivatives were designed and synthesized to exploit the advantages of NHS chemistry for coupling with peptides, proteins, and antibodies. The more stable five-carbon atoms linker product was selected for a proof-of-concept conjugation and radiolabeling study with an anti-programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) camelid single domain antibody (sdAb) under mild conditions and further evaluated for site-specific amide bond formation with a synthesized glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) targeting peptide using solid-phase synthesis. The obtained THP-GLP-1 conjugate was tested for its 68Ga chelating ability, demonstrating to be a promising candidate for the detection and monitoring of GLP-1 aberrant malignancies. The obtained sdAb-THP conjugate was radiolabeled with 68Ga under mild conditions, providing sufficient labeling yields after 5 min, demonstrating that the novel NHS-THP bifunctional chelator can be widely used to easily conjugate the THP moiety to different targeting molecules (e.g., antibodies, anticalins, or peptides) under mild conditions, paving the way to the synthesis of different imaging probes with all the advantages of THP radiochemistry.
The Integrated Effects of Brivaracetam, a Selective Analog of Levetiracetam, on Ionic Currents and Neuronal Excitability
Authors: Hung Te-Yu , Wu Sheng-Nan , Huang Chin-Wei
Published: April 2021

Brivaracetam (BRV) is recognized as a novel third-generation antiepileptic drug approved for the treatment of epilepsy. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that it has potentially better efficacy and tolerability than its analog, Levetiracetam (LEV). This, however, cannot be explained by their common synaptic vesicle-binding mechanism. Whether BRV can affect different ionic currents and concert these effects to alter neuronal excitability remains unclear. With the aid of patch clamp technology, we found that BRV concentration dependently inhibited the depolarization-induced M-type K+ current (IK(M)), decreased the delayed-rectifier K+ current (IK(DR)), and decreased the hyperpolarization-activated cation current in GH3 neurons. However, it had a concentration-dependent inhibition on voltage-gated Na+ current (INa). Under an inside-out patch configuration, a bath application of BRV increased the open probability of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels. Furthermore, in mHippoE-14 hippocampal neurons, the whole-cell INa was effectively depressed by BRV. In simulated modeling of hippocampal neurons, BRV was observed to reduce the firing of the action potentials (APs) concurrently with decreases in the AP amplitude. In animal models, BRV ameliorated acute seizures in both OD-1 and lithium-pilocarpine epilepsy models. However, LEV had effects in the latter only. Collectively, our study demonstrated BRV’s multiple ionic mechanism in electrically excitable cells and a potential concerted effect on neuronal excitability and hyperexcitability disorders.
Extrusion-Printing of Multi-Channeled Two-Component Hydrogel Constructs from Gelatinous Peptides and Anhydride-Containing Oligomers
Authors: Krieghoff Jan , Rost Johannes , Kohn-Polster Caroline , Müller Benno , Koenig Andreas , Flath Tobias , Schulz-Siegmund Michaela , Schulze Fritz-Peter , Hacker Michael
Published: April 2021

The performance of artificial nerve guidance conduits (NGC) in peripheral nerve regeneration can be improved by providing structures with multiple small channels instead of a single wide lumen. 3D-printing is a strategy to access such multi-channeled structures in a defined and reproducible way. This study explores extrusion-based 3D-printing of two-component hydrogels from a single cartridge printhead into multi-channeled structures under aseptic conditions. The gels are based on a platform of synthetic, anhydride-containing oligomers for cross-linking of gelatinous peptides. Stable constructs with continuous small channels and a variety of footprints and sizes were successfully generated from formulations containing either an organic or inorganic gelation base. The adjustability of the system was investigated by varying the cross-linking oligomer and substituting the gelation bases controlling the cross-linking kinetics. Formulations with organic N‑methyl-piperidin-3-ol and inorganic K2HPO4 yielded hydrogels with comparable properties after manual processing and extrusion-based 3D-printing. The slower reaction kinetics of formulations with K2HPO4 can be beneficial for extending the time frame for printing. The two-component hydrogels displayed both slow hydrolytic and activity-dependent enzymatic degradability. Together with satisfying in vitro cell proliferation data, these results indicate the suitability of our cross-linked hydrogels as multi-channeled NGC for enhanced peripheral nerve regeneration.
The Association between Child and Parent Psychiatric Disorders in Families Exposed to Flood and/or Dioxin
Authors: Lee Min Hyung , Pfefferbaum Betty , Portley Robert , Kotamarti Vinay , Canan Fatih , North Carol S.
Published: April 2021

Associations of disaster mental health sequelae between children and their parents have been demonstrated, but not using full diagnostic assessment. This study examined children and their parents after a series of disasters in 1982 to investigate associations of their psychiatric outcomes. Members of 169 families exposed to floods and/or dioxin or no disaster were assessed in 1986–1987 with structured diagnostic interviews. This vintage dataset collected several decades ago provides new information to this field because of the methodological rigor that is unparalleled in this literature. Disaster-related PTSD and incident postdisaster disorders in children were associated, respectively with disaster-related PTSD and incident postdisaster disorders in the chief caregiver and mother. More flood-only than dioxin-only exposed parents reported great harm by the disaster, but neither children nor parents in these two groups differed in incident psychiatric disorders. Although this study did not determine the direction of causal influences, its findings suggest that clinicians working with disaster-exposed families should work with children and adult members together, as their mental health outcomes may be intertwined.
Bidirectional Seismic Energy Input to an Isotropic Nonlinear One-Mass Two-Degree-of-Freedom System
Authors: Fujii Kenji
Published: April 2021

The test results obtained for reinforced concrete columns by several studies have revealed that the peak displacement and cumulative hysteresis energy are important parameters for evaluating the damage of columns under horizontal bidirectional and unidirectional loading. Therefore, the seismic parameters related to the nonlinear peak displacement and cumulative hysteresis energy with regard to horizontal bidirectional seismic input should be investigated. In this study, the bidirectional seismic input to an isotropic nonlinear one-mass two-degree-of-freedom system was evaluated. First, a dimensionless parameter γ, which controls the low-cycle fatigue effect, was formulated as a function of two energy input parameters (the maximum momentary input energy and total input energy) and a nonlinear system (ductility and normalized hysteresis energy absorption during a half cycle). Then, the maximum momentary input energy and total input energy were evaluated according to the ground motion characteristics (Fourier coefficient of horizontal ground motion components) and system properties. Finally, the nonlinear peak displacement and parameter γ of the nonlinear system were evaluated on the basis of the maximum momentary input energy and total input energy. The results revealed that the nonlinear peak displacement and parameter γ can be properly evaluated using two energy parameters.
Immune Checkpoint Blockade in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: What Role in Early Disease Setting?
Authors: Solinas Cinzia , Fumagalli Debora , Dieci Maria Vittoria
Published: April 2021

The present commentary synthesizes the current evidence on the role of the immune response in HER2-positive breast cancer. It points out the strengths and weaknesses of the findings observed so far, particularly in the early setting, including the clinical significance of scoring tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. A figure proposing research hypotheses for the implementation of immune checkpoint blockade use for patient candidates to neoadjuvant treatment is presented.
Multi-Scale Biosurfactant Production by Bacillus subtilis Using Tuna Fish Waste as Substrate
Authors: Hu Jiheng , Luo Jie , Zhu Zhiwen , Chen Bing , Ye Xudong , Zhu Peng , Zhang Baiyu
Published: April 2021

As one of the most effective biosurfactants reported to date, lipopeptides exhibit attractive surface and biological activities and have the great potential to serve as biocatalysts. Low yield, high cost of production, and purification hinder the large-scale applications of lipopeptides. Utilization of waste materials as low-cost substrates for the growth of biosurfactant producers has emerged as a feasible solution for economical biosurfactant production. In this study, fish peptone was generated through enzyme hydrolyzation of smashed tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis). Biosurfactant (mainly surfactin) production by Bacillus subtilis ATCC 21332 was further evaluated and optimized using the generated fish peptone as a comprehensive substrate. The optimized production conduction was continuously assessed in a 7 L batch-scale and 100 L pilot-scale fermenter, exploring the possibility for a large-scale surfactin production. The results showed that Bacillus subtilis ATCC 21332 could effectively use the fish waste peptones for surfactin production. The highest surfactin productivity achieved in the pilot-scale experiments was 274 mg/L. The experimental results shed light on the further production of surfactins at scales using fish wastes as an economical substrate.
Hyperspectral Imaging to Characterize Table Grapes
Authors: Gabrielli Mario , Lançon-Verdier Vanessa , Picouet Pierre , Maury Chantal
Published: April 2021

Table grape quality is of importance for consumers and thus for producers. Its objective quality is usually determined by destructive methods mainly based on sugar content. This study proposed to evaluate the possibility of hyperspectral imaging to characterize table grapes quality through its sugar (TSS), total flavonoid (TF), and total anthocyanin (TA) contents. Different data pre-treatments (WD, SNV, and 1st and 2nd derivative) and different methods were tested to get the best prediction models: PLS with full spectra and then Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) were realized after selecting the optimal wavelengths thanks to the regression coefficients (β-coefficients) and the Variable Importance in Projection (VIP) scores. All models were good at showing that hyperspectral imaging is a relevant method to predict sugar, total flavonoid, and total anthocyanin contents. The best predictions were obtained from optimal wavelength selection based on β-coefficients for TSS and from VIPs optimal wavelength windows using SNV pre-treatment for total flavonoid and total anthocyanin content. Thus, good prediction models were proposed in order to characterize grapes while reducing the data sets and limit the data storage to enable an industrial use.
Renewable Energy at Home: A Look into Purchasing a Wind Turbine for Home Use—The Cost of Blindly Relying on One Tool in Decision Making
Authors: Ribbing Sheridan , Xydis George
Published: April 2021

Small-scale wind turbines simulations are not as accurate when it comes to costs as compared to the large-scale wind turbines, where costs are more or less standard. In this paper, an analysis was done on a decision for a wind turbine investment in Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington. It was revealed that a decision taken based only on a software tool could be destructive for the sustainability of a project, since not taking into account specific taxation, net metering, installation, maintenance costs, etc., beyond the optimization that the tool offers, can hide the truth.
Serious Games and the COVID-19 Pandemic in Dental Education: An Integrative Review of the Literature
Authors: Sipiyaruk Kawin , Hatzipanagos Stylianos , Reynolds Patricia A. , Gallagher Jennifer E.
Published: April 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced faculties including dental schools into a ‘new normal’, where the adoption of remote or distance learning is required to minimise the risk of infection. Synchronous learning historically was favoured due to the perceived advantage of ‘real time’ interactions between instructors and learners; these interactions are not always possible in asynchronous settings. However, serious games can overcome this limitation of asynchronous learning. This integrative review explores the literature on serious games in dental education, to construct a conceptual framework of their strengths in this pandemic. Following consideration of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 15 articles on 11 serious games designed for dental education were included in this review. Our investigation points to an increase in the use of serious games since 2018. The findings of the review support the use of serious games in dental education during the recent crisis. Key strengths include positive educational outcomes, enhanced engagement and motivation, interactive asynchronous distance learning, a safe learning environment, and the advantage of stealth assessment. Consequently, the ‘new normal’ in education appears to support a very promising future for serious games, particularly in dental education. A conceptual framework is proposed to inform further research across all education settings and timeframes.
State-of-the-Art Review of the Applicability and Challenges of Microbial-Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) and Enzyme-Induced Calcite Precipitation (EICP) Techniques for Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Applications
Authors: Almajed Abdullah , Lateef Mohammed Abdul , Moghal Arif Ali Baig , Lemboye Kehinde
Published: April 2021

The development of alternatives to soil stabilization through mechanical and chemical stabilization has paved the way for the development of biostabilization methods. Since its development, researchers have used different bacteria species for soil treatment. Soil treatment through bioremediation techniques has been used to understand its effect on strength parameters and contaminant remediation. Using a living organism for binding the soil grains to make the soil mass dense and durable is the basic idea of soil biotreatment. Bacteria and enzymes are commonly utilized in biostabilization, which is a common method to encourage ureolysis, leading to calcite precipitation in the soil mass. Microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP) and enzyme-induced calcite precipitation (EICP) techniques are emerging trends in soil stabilization. Unlike conventional methods, these techniques are environmentally friendly and sustainable. This review determines the challenges, applicability, advantages, and disadvantages of MICP and EICP in soil treatment and their role in the improvement of the geotechnical and geoenvironmental properties of soil. It further elaborates on their probable mechanism in improving the soil properties in the natural and lab environments. Moreover, it looks into the effectiveness of biostabilization as a remediation of soil contamination. This review intends to present a hands-on adoptable treatment method for in situ implementation depending on specific site conditions.
Inter-Observer and Intra-Observer Variations in the Assessment of Epithelial Dysplasia in Oral Lichenoid Diseases
Authors: Zohdy Marwa , Cazzaniga Simone , Nievergelt Helga , Blum Roland , Suter Valérie G. A. , Feldmeyer Laurence , Beltraminelli Helmut
Published: April 2021

Oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral lichenoid lesions (OLL) can both present with histological dysplasia. Despite the presence of WHO-defined criteria for the evaluation of epithelial dysplasia, its assessment is frequently subjective (inter-observer variability). The lack of reproducibility in the evaluation of dysplasia is even more complex in the presence of a lichenoid inflammation. We evaluated dysplasia in 112 oral biopsies with lichenoid inflammation in order to study the inter-observer and the intra-observer variability.
Pretreatment MRI Radiomics Based Response Prediction Model in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer
Authors: Gui Benedetta , Autorino Rosa , Miccò Maura , Nardangeli Alessia , Pesce Adele , Lenkowicz Jacopo , Cusumano Davide , Russo Luca , Persiani Salvatore , Boldrini Luca , Dinapoli Nicola , Macchia Gabriella , Sallustio Giuseppina , Gambacorta Maria Antonietta , Ferrandina Gabriella , Manfredi Riccardo , Valentini Vincenzo , Scambia Giovanni
Published: April 2021

The aim of this study was to create a radiomics model for Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer (LACC) patients to predict pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) analysing T2-weighted 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquired before treatment start. Patients with LACC and an International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage from IB2 to IVA at diagnosis were retrospectively enrolled for this study. All patients underwent NACRT, followed by radical surgery; pCR―assessed on surgical specimen―was defined as absence of any residual tumour. Finally, 1889 features were extracted from MR images; features showing statistical significance in predicting pCR at the univariate analysis were selected following an iterative method, which was ad-hoc developed for this study. Based on this method, 15 different classifiers were trained considering the most significant features selected. Model selection was carried out using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) as target metrics. One hundred eighty-three patients from two institutions were analysed. The model, showing the highest performance with an AUC of 0.80, was the random forest method initialised with default parameters. Radiomics appeared to be a reliable tool in pCR prediction for LACC patients undergoing NACRT, supporting the identification of patient risk groups, which paves treatment pathways tailored according to the predicted outcome.
Influence of Visual Information and Sex on Postural Control in Children Aged 6–12 Years Assessed with Accelerometric Technology
Authors: García-Liñeira Jesús , Leirós-Rodríguez Raquel , Chinchilla-Minguet José Luis , García-Soidán José Luis
Published: April 2021

The performance of postural control is believed to be linked to how children use available sensory stimuli to produce adequate muscular activation. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to thoroughly explore postural stability under normal conditions and without visual information in postural control in children aged 6–12 years during static single-leg support. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 316 children (girls = 158). The analyzed variables were the mean and maximum values obtained in each of the three body axes and their root mean square during two static single-leg support tests: one with eyes open and one with eyes closed. Girls showed lower magnitudes in the recorded accelerations at all ages and in all the variables of both tests. Accelerations during the tests showed progressively lower values from 6 to 12 years of age. The sex had a significant influence on the magnitude obtained in the accelerations recorded during the tests. Improvements in balance with increasing age were greater with visual information than without visual information. The tests of single-leg support showed preferential sensorimotor strategies in boys and girls: boys tend to rely more on visual inputs, and girls process somesthetic information in a preferential way.
Image Statistics Preserving Encrypt-then-Compress Scheme Dedicated for JPEG Compression Standard
Authors: Puchala Dariusz , Stokfiszewski Kamil , Yatsymirskyy Mykhaylo
Published: April 2021

In this paper, the authors analyze in more details an image encryption scheme, proposed by the authors in their earlier work, which preserves input image statistics and can be used in connection with the JPEG compression standard. The image encryption process takes advantage of fast linear transforms parametrized with private keys and is carried out prior to the compression stage in a way that does not alter those statistical characteristics of the input image that are crucial from the point of view of the subsequent compression. This feature makes the encryption process transparent to the compression stage and enables the JPEG algorithm to maintain its full compression capabilities even though it operates on the encrypted image data. The main advantage of the considered approach is the fact that the JPEG algorithm can be used without any modifications as a part of the encrypt-then-compress image processing framework. The paper includes a detailed mathematical model of the examined scheme allowing for theoretical analysis of the impact of the image encryption step on the effectiveness of the compression process. The combinatorial and statistical analysis of the encryption process is also included and it allows to evaluate its cryptographic strength. In addition, the paper considers several practical use-case scenarios with different characteristics of the compression and encryption stages. The final part of the paper contains the additional results of the experimental studies regarding general effectiveness of the presented scheme. The results show that for a wide range of compression ratios the considered scheme performs comparably to the JPEG algorithm alone, that is, without the encryption stage, in terms of the quality measures of reconstructed images. Moreover, the results of statistical analysis as well as those obtained with generally approved quality measures of image cryptographic systems, prove high strength and efficiency of the scheme’s encryption stage.
Financial Factors Determining the Investment Behavior of Lithuanian Business Companies
Authors: Bikas Egidijus , Glinskytė Evelina
Published: April 2021

The article aims to identify and evaluate the financial factors influencing the investment behavior of Lithuanian companies. The article briefly reviews and summarizes previous research that provides detailed evidence of the financial factors that influence a firm’s investment behavior. The study is performed using correlation–regression and factor analysis. Sixteen Lithuanian joint-stock companies, the shares of which are listed on the Nasdaq Baltic stock exchange and whose main activity is not related to financial instruments, were selected for the research. Moreover, 58 companies are listed on the Nasdaq Baltic stock exchange (32 companies on the official list, 26 companies on the additional list). There are only 26 Lithuanian joint-stock companies in both lists. Out of 26 Lithuanian companies listed on this stock exchange, 16 were selected whose activities are not related to financial instruments. The results of the study provided strong evidence that a company’s financial assets have a positive impact on capital and overall profitability, i.e., Lithuanian companies with higher profitability invest in financial instruments more often, while companies with borrowed funds and with higher financial restrictions invest less. The study showed that the performance indicators of Lithuanian companies have a weak impact on the size of the company’s financial assets; therefore, it can be assumed that this is related to cognitive factors and heuristics.
Real-Time Prediction of Capacity Fade and Remaining Useful Life of Lithium-Ion Batteries Based on Charge/Discharge Characteristics
Authors: Lee Chul-Jun , Kim Bo-Kyong , Kwon Mi-Kyeong , Nam Kanghyun , Kang Seok-Won
Published: April 2021

We propose a robust and reliable method based on deep neural networks to estimate the remaining useful life of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles. In general, the degradation of a battery can be predicted by monitoring its internal resistance. However, prediction under battery operation cannot be achieved using conventional methods such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The battery state can be predicted based on the change in the capacity according to the state of health. For the proposed method, a statistical analysis of capacity fade considering the impedance increase according to the degree of deterioration is conducted by applying a deep neural network to diverse data from charge/discharge characteristics. Then, probabilistic predictions based on the capacity fade trends are obtained to improve the prediction accuracy of the remaining useful life using another deep neural network.