bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) Seed Soaking, Germination, and Fatty Acid Behavior at Different Temperatures
Authors: Cabrera-Santos Daniel , Ordoñez-Salanueva Cesar A. , Sampayo-Maldonado Salvador , Campos Jorge E. , Orozco-Segovia Alma , Flores-Ortiz Cesar M.
Published: May 2021

The temperature reduces the viability and seed vigor; however, the effect of temperature on imbibition and fatty acid profile has not been studied. Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seeds have a substantial quantity of oil, making them a potential study model for fatty acid metabolism. Therefore, we explore the effect of temperature (10, 20, and 30 °C) on chia seed imbibition, germination, and fatty acid profile by GC-MS. Imbibition FI occurs within the first hour in all the treatments; while FII and FIIend elapse with an hour of difference at 20 °C and 30 °C. The highest viability and germination rate were observed at 30 °C; while the highest concentrations of all fatty acids, except oleic acid, were observed at 20 °C. Maximum fatty acid concentrations were detected at FI and FIIend; while at 30 °C, different patterns for saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and three linolenic acid isomers were observed. A shorter FII is associated with earlier germination; the increase in concentration in fatty acids after 3 h and a negative correlation between linoleic and linolenic acid observed at 20 °C were related to a higher germination efficiency. At 30 °C, isomer formation is related to homeoviscous cell membrane adaptation.
Evaluation of a Biocide Used in the Biological Isolation and Containment Unit of a Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Authors: Geraldes Catarina , Verdial Cláudia , Cunha Eva , Almeida Virgílio , Tavares Luís , Oliveira Manuela , Gil Solange
Published: May 2021

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are a rising problem worldwide, and the best way of coping with them is through infection tracking and surveillance systems, combined with prevention strategies, namely efficient disinfection protocols, that employ various biocides. However, increasing reports about reductions in biocide susceptibility and the development of cross-resistance to antimicrobials emphasize the need for identifying the factors influencing biocide efficiency. In this study, 29 bacterial isolates (n = 3 E. coli, n = 2 Pseudomonas spp., n = 23 Enterococcus spp., and n = 1 Staphylococcus pseudintermedius), obtained from environmental samples collected from the Biological Isolation and Containment Unit (BICU), of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, were tested in order to determine their antimicrobial susceptibility to various antibiotics. Thirteen of these isolates were further selected in order to determine their antimicrobial susceptibility to Virkon™ S, with and without the presence of organic matter. Afterward, seven of these isolates were incubated in the presence of sub-lethal concentrations of this formulation and, subsequently, new susceptibility profiles were determined. Fourteen of the 29 isolates (48.3%) were classified as multidrug resistant, all previously identified as enterococci. Concerning Virkon™ S’s susceptibility, the Minimal Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of this biocide regarding all isolates was at least eight times lower than the concentration regularly used, when no organic matter was present. However, when organic matter was added, MBC values rose up to 23 times. After exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of Virkon™ S, four enterococci presented a phenotypical change regarding antimicrobial susceptibility towards gentamicin. Virkon™ S also resulted in higher MBC values, up to 1.5 times, in the presence of low concentrations of organic matter, but no rise in these values was observed in assays without interfering substance. Virkon™ S seemed to be an efficient formulation in eliminating all bacteria isolates isolated from the BICU. However, organic matter could represent a hindrance to this ability, which emphasizes the importance of sanitization before disinfection procedures. The changes seen in antimicrobial susceptibility could be explained by a general stress-induced response promoted by the sub-lethal levels of Virkon™ S. Additionally, when no organic matter was present, a decrease in susceptibility to this biocide seemed to be non-existent.
N-acetyl-L-cysteine Improves the Developmental Competence of Bovine Oocytes and Embryos Cultured In Vitro by Attenuating Oxidative Damage and Apoptosis
Authors: Sun Wu-Sheng , Jang Hoon , Park Mi-Ryung , Oh Keon Bong , Lee Haesun , Hwang Seongsoo , Xu Li-Jie , Hwang In-Sul , Lee Jeong-Woong
Published: May 2021

Oxidative stress has been suggested to negatively affect oocyte and embryo quality and developmental competence, resulting in failure to reach full term. In this study, we investigated the effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a cell-permeating antioxidant, on developmental competence and the quality of oocytes and embryos upon supplementation (0.1–10 mM) in maturation and culture medium in vitro using slaughterhouse-derived oocytes and embryos. The results show that treating oocytes with 1.0 mM NAC for 8 h during in vitro maturation attenuated the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) (p < 0.05) and upregulated intracellular glutathione levels (p < 0.01) in oocytes. Interestingly, we found that NAC affects early embryonic development, not only in a dose-dependent, but also in a stage-specific, manner. Significantly (p < 0.05) decreased cleavage rates (90.25% vs. 81.46%) were observed during the early stage (days 0–2), while significantly (p < 0.05) increased developmental rates (38.20% vs. 44.46%) were observed during the later stage (from day 3) of embryonic development. In particular, NAC supplementation decreased the proportion of apoptotic blastomeres significantly (p < 0.05), resulting in enhanced hatching capability and developmental rates during the in vitro culture of embryos. Taken together, our results suggest that NAC supplementation has beneficial effects on bovine oocytes and embryos through the prevention of apoptosis and the elimination of oxygen free radicals during maturation and culture in vitro.
Environmental Footprint Assessment of a Cleanup at Hypothetical Contaminated Site
Authors: Khan Muhammad Azhar Ali , Qadir Zakria , Asad Muhammad , Kouzani Abbas Z. , Parvez Mahmud M. A.
Published: May 2021

Contaminated site management is currently a critical problem area all over the world, which opens a wide discussion in the areas of policy, research and practice at national and international levels. Conventional site management and remediation techniques are often aimed at reducing the contaminant levels to an acceptable level in a short period of time at low cost. Owing to the fact that the conventional approach may not be sustainable as it overlooks many ancillary environmental effects, there is an immense need of “sustainable” or “green” approaches. Green approaches address environmental, social and economic impacts throughout the remediation process and are capable of conserving the natural resources and protecting air, water and soil quality through reduced emissions and other waste burdens. This paper presents a methodology to quantify the environmental footprint of a cleanup for a hypothetical contaminated site by using the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Spreadsheet for Environmental Footprint Assessment (SEFA). The hypothetical contaminated site is selected from a metropolitan city of Pakistan and the environmental footprint of the cleanup is analyzed under three different scenarios: cleanup without any renewable energy sources at all, cleanup with a small share of renewable energy sources, and cleanup with a large share of renewable energy sources. It is concluded that integration of renewable energy sources into the remedial system design is a promising idea which can reduce CO2, NOx, SOx, PM and HAP emissions up to 68%.
Life Cycle Assessment of Bridges Using Bayesian Networks and Fuzzy Mathematics
Authors: Zhou Zhi-Wu , Alcalá Julián , Kripka Moacir , Yepes Víctor
Published: May 2021

At present, reducing the impact of the construction industry on the environment is the key to achieving sustainable development. Countries all over the world are using software systems for bridge environmental impact assessment. However, due to the complexity and discreteness of environmental factors in the construction industry, they are difficult to update and determine quickly, and there is a phenomenon of data missing in the database. Most of the lost data are optimized by Monte Carlo simulation, which greatly reduces the reliability and accuracy of the research results. This paper uses Bayesian advanced fuzzy mathematics theory to solve this problem. In the research, a Bayesian fuzzy mathematics evaluation and a multi-level sensitivity priority discrimination model are established, and the weights and membership degrees of influencing factors were defined to achieve comprehensive coverage of influencing factors. With the support of theoretical modelling, software analysis and fuzzy mathematics theory are used to comprehensively evaluate all the influencing factors of the five influencing stages in the entire life cycle of the bridge structure. The results show that the material manufacturing, maintenance, and operation of the bridge still produce environmental pollution; the main source of the emissions exceeds 53% of the total emissions. The effective impact factor reaches 3.01. At the end of the article, a big data sensitivity model was established. Through big data innovation and optimization analysis, traffic pollution emissions were reduced by 330 tonnes. Modeling of the comprehensive research model; application; clearly confirms the effectiveness and practicality of the Bayesian network fuzzy number comprehensive evaluation model in dealing with uncertain factors in the evaluation of the sustainable development of the construction industry. The research results have made important contributions to the realization of the sustainable development goals of the construction industry.
Conjoining Wymore’s Systems Theoretic Framework and the DEVS Modeling Formalism: Toward Scientific Foundations for MBSE
Authors: Wach Paul , Zeigler Bernard P. , Salado Alejandro
Published: May 2021

The objective of this research article is to re-introduce some of the concepts provided by A. Wayne Wymore in his mathematical theory of Model-Based Systems Engineering, discuss why his framework might have not been adopted, and define a potential path to modernize the framework for practical application in the digital age. The dense mathematical theory has never been converted to a practical form. We propose a path to modernization by creating a metamodel of Wymore’s mathematical theory of MBSE. This enables explaining the concepts in simple to understand terms and shows the internal consistency provided by the theory. Furthermore, the metamodel allows for conversion of the theory into software application, for which we show some initial results that open the research to the art of the possible. In recognition of limitation of the theory, we make the case for a merger of the theoretical framework with the enhanced formalism of Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS). This will establish a path toward the scientific foundations for MBSE to enable future implementations of the complementary pairing and their empirical results.
The Emergence of an Auction Category: Iranian Art at Christie’s Dubai, 2006–2016
Authors: Sreberny-Mohammadi Leili
Published: May 2021

The expansion of the British auction houses Christie’s, Sotheby’s and Bonhams to markets in the Middle East has played a crucial role in building an international market for art from the region. They have also been essential in providing an international platform for the sale of art from Iran, a country whose economy is otherwise isolated from global markets. In this paper, I address the growth of the market for Iranian art specifically via Christie’s auctions in Dubai. Through close analysis of auction catalogs, ethnographic data drawn from live auctions and interviews with key staff members, I document the emergence of Iranian art into the international arena and the solidification of both Iranian and Middle Eastern art as a distinct category of sales. In particular, I explore the notion of “seeing with the other eye”, a way that auction specialists nudge local collectors into the arena of “international” taste. Through analysis of the particular tropes used to narrate artist biographies in auction catalogs, I demonstrate how artists are painted as interpreters and translators of “local” and “global” aesthetic registers.
SARS-CoV-2: One Year in the Pandemic. What Have We Learned, the New Vaccine Era and the Threat of SARS-CoV-2 Variants
Authors: Scialo Filippo , Vitale Maria , Daniele Aurora , Nigro Ersilia , Perrotta Fabio , Gelzo Monica , Iadevaia Carlo , Cerqua Francesco Saverio , Costigliola Adriano , Allocca Valentino , Amato Felice , Pastore Lucio , Castaldo Giuseppe , Bianco Andrea
Published: May 2021

Since the beginning of 2020, the new pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 and named coronavirus disease 19 (COVID 19) has changed our socio-economic life. In just a few months, SARS-CoV-2 was able to spread worldwide at an unprecedented speed, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths, especially among the weakest part of the population. Indeed, especially at the beginning of this pandemic, many reports highlighted how people, suffering from other pathologies, such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, are more at risk of severe outcomes if infected. Although this pandemic has put the entire academic world to the test, it has also been a year of intense research and many important contributions have advanced our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 origin, its molecular structure and its mechanism of infection. Unfortunately, despite this great effort, we are still a long way from fully understanding how SARS-CoV-2 dysregulates organismal physiology and whether the current vaccines will be able to protect us from possible future pandemics. Here, we discuss the knowledge we have gained during this year and which questions future research should address.
The Neurological Basis of Developmental Dyslexia and Related Disorders: A Reappraisal of the Temporal Hypothesis, Twenty Years on
Authors: Habib Michel
Published: May 2021

In a now-classic article published a couple of decades ago (Brain, 2000; 123: 2373–2399), I proposed an “extended temporal processing deficit hypothesis of dyslexia”, suggesting that a deficit in temporal processing could explain not only language-related peculiarities usually noticed in dyslexic children, but also a wider range of symptoms related to impaired processing of time in general. In the present review paper, I will revisit this “historical” hypothesis both in the light of a new clinical perspective, including the central yet poorly explained notion of comorbidity, and also taking a new look at the most recent experimental work, mainly focusing on brain imaging data. First, consistent with daily clinical practice, I propose to distinguish three groups of children who fail to learn to read, of fairly equal occurrence, who share the same initial presentation (difficulty in mastering the rules of grapheme–phoneme correspondence) but with differing associated signs and/or comorbid conditions (language disorders in the first group, attentional deficits in the second one, and motor coordination problems in the last one), thus suggesting, at least in part, potentially different triggering mechanisms. It is then suggested, in the light of brain imaging information available to date, that the three main clinical presentations/associations of cognitive impairments that compromise reading skills acquisition correspond to three distinct patterns of miswiring or “disconnectivity” in specific brain networks which have in common their involvement in the process of learning and their heavy reliance on temporal features of information processing. With reference to the classic temporal processing deficit of dyslexia and to recent evidence of an inability of the dyslexic brain to achieve adequate coupling of oscillatory brain activity to the temporal features of external events, a general model is proposed according to which a common mechanism of temporal uncoupling between various disconnected—and/or mis-wired—processors may account for distinct forms of specific learning disorders, with reading impairment being a more or less constant feature. Finally, the potential therapeutic implications of such a view are considered, with special emphasis on methods seeking to enhance cross-modal connectivity between separate brain systems, including those using rhythmic and musical training in dyslexic patients.
New Pathological and Clinical Insights in Endometrial Cancer in View of the Updated ESGO/ESTRO/ESP Guidelines
Authors: Santoro Angela , Angelico Giuseppe , Travaglino Antonio , Inzani Frediano , Arciuolo Damiano , Valente Michele , D’Alessandris Nicoletta , Scaglione Giulia , Fiorentino Vincenzo , Raffone Antonio , Zannoni Gian Franco
Published: May 2021

Endometrial carcinoma represents the most common gynecological cancer in Europe and the USA. Histopathological classification based on tumor morphology and tumor grade has played a crucial role in the management of endometrial carcinoma, allowing a prognostic stratification into distinct risk categories, and guiding surgical and adjuvant therapy. In 2013, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Research Network reported a large scale molecular analysis of 373 endometrial carcinomas which demonstrated four categories with distinct clinical, pathologic, and molecular features: POLE/ultramutated (7% of cases) microsatellite instability (MSI)/hypermutated (28%), copy-number low/endometrioid (39%), and copy-number high/serous-like (26%). In the present article, we report a detailed histological and molecular review of all endometrial carcinoma histotypes in light of the current ESGO/ESTRO/ESP guidelines. In particular, we focus on the distribution and prognostic value of the TCGA groups in each histotype.
Dynein Light Chain Protein Tctex1: A Novel Prognostic Marker and Molecular Mediator in Glioblastoma
Authors: Dumitru Claudia Alexandra , Brouwer Eileen , Stelzer Tamina , Nocerino Salvatore , Rading Sebastian , Wilkens Ludwig , Sandalcioglu Ibrahim Erol , Karsak Meliha
Published: May 2021

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of Tctex1 (DYNLT1, dynein light chain-1) in the pathophysiology of glioblastoma (GBM). To this end, we performed immunohistochemical analyses on tissues from GBM patients (n = 202). Tctex1 was additionally overexpressed in two different GBM cell lines, which were then evaluated in regard to their proliferative and invasive properties. We found that Tctex1 levels were significantly higher in GBM compared to healthy adjacent brain tissues. Furthermore, high Tctex1 expression was significantly associated with the short overall- (p = 0.002, log-rank) and progression-free (p = 0.028, log-rank) survival of GBM patients and was an independent predictor of poor overall survival in multivariate Cox-regression models. In vitro, Tctex1 promoted the metabolic activity, anchorage-independent growth and proliferation of GBM cells. This phenomenon was previously shown to occur via the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (phospho-RB). Here, we found a direct and significant correlation between the levels of Tctex1 and phospho-RB (Ser807/801) in tissues from GBM patients (p = 0.007, Rho = 0.284, Spearman’s rank). Finally, Tctex1 enhanced the invasiveness of GBM cells and the release of pro-invasive matrix metalloprotease 2 (MMP2). These findings indicate that Tctex1 promotes GBM progression and therefore might be a useful therapeutic target in this type of cancer.
Immune Monitoring in Melanoma and Urothelial Cancer Patients Treated with Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy and SBRT Discloses Tumor Specific Immune Signatures
Authors: Meireson Annabel , Tavernier Simon J. , Van Gassen Sofie , Sundahl Nora , Demeyer Annelies , Spaas Mathieu , Kruse Vibeke , Ferdinande Liesbeth , Van Dorpe Jo , Hennart Benjamin , Allorge Delphine , Haerynck Filomeen , Decaestecker Karel , Rottey Sylvie , Saeys Yvan , Ost Piet , Brochez Lieve
Published: May 2021

(1) Background: Blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway has revolutionized the oncology field in the last decade. However, the proportion of patients experiencing a durable response is still limited. In the current study, we performed an extensive immune monitoring in patients with stage III/IV melanoma and stage IV UC who received anti-PD-1 immunotherapy with SBRT. (2) Methods: In total 145 blood samples from 38 patients, collected at fixed time points before and during treatment, were phenotyped via high-parameter flow cytometry, luminex assay and UPLC-MS/MS. (3) Results: Baseline systemic immunity in melanoma and UC patients was different with a more prominent myeloid compartment and a higher neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in UC. Proliferation (Ki67+) of CD8+ T-cells and of the PD-1+/PD-L1+ CD8+ subset at baseline correlated with progression free survival in melanoma. In contrast a higher frequency of PD-1/PD-L1 expressing non-proliferating (Ki67−) CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells before treatment was associated with worse outcome in melanoma. In UC, the expansion of Ki67+ CD8+ T-cells and of the PD-L1+ subset relative to tumor burden correlated with clinical outcome. (4) Conclusion: This study reveals a clearly different immune landscape in melanoma and UC at baseline, which may impact immunotherapy response. Signatures of proliferation in the CD8+ T-cell compartment prior to and early after anti-PD-1 initiation were positively correlated with clinical outcome in both cohorts. PD-1/PD-L1 expression on circulating immune cell subsets seems of clinical relevance in the melanoma cohort.
Data Driven Mathematical Model of FOLFIRI Treatment for Colon Cancer
Authors: Budithi Aparajita , Su Sumeyye , Kirshtein Arkadz , Shahriyari Leili
Published: May 2021

Many colon cancer patients show resistance to their treatments. Therefore, it is important to consider unique characteristic of each tumor to find the best treatment options for each patient. In this study, we develop a data driven mathematical model for interaction between the tumor microenvironment and FOLFIRI drug agents in colon cancer. Patients are divided into five distinct clusters based on their estimated immune cell fractions obtained from their primary tumors’ gene expression data. We then analyze the effects of drugs on cancer cells and immune cells in each group, and we observe different responses to the FOLFIRI drugs between patients in different immune groups. For instance, patients in cluster 3 with the highest T-reg/T-helper ratio respond better to the FOLFIRI treatment, while patients in cluster 2 with the lowest T-reg/T-helper ratio resist the treatment. Moreover, we use ROC curve to validate the model using the tumor status of the patients at their follow up, and the model predicts well for the earlier follow up days.
Mechanisms of Immune Escape and Resistance to Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapies in Mismatch Repair Deficient Metastatic Colorectal Cancers
Authors: Amodio Vito , Mauri Gianluca , Reilly Nicole M. , Sartore-Bianchi Andrea , Siena Salvatore , Bardelli Alberto , Germano Giovanni
Published: May 2021

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) represent an effective therapeutic strategy for several different types of solid tumors and are remarkably effective in mismatch repair deficient (MMRd) tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC). The prevalent view is that the elevated and dynamic neoantigen burden associated with the mutator phenotype of MMRd fosters enhanced immune surveillance of these cancers. In addition, recent findings suggest that MMRd tumors have increased cytosolic DNA, which triggers the cGAS STING pathway, leading to interferon-mediated immune response. Unfortunately, approximately 30% of MMRd CRC exhibit primary resistance to CPIs, while a substantial fraction of tumors acquires resistance after an initial benefit. Profiling of clinical samples and preclinical studies suggests that alterations in the Wnt and the JAK-STAT signaling pathways are associated with refractoriness to CPIs. Intriguingly, mutations in the antigen presentation machinery, such as loss of MHC or Beta-2 microglobulin (B2M), are implicated in initial immune evasion but do not impair response to CPIs. In this review, we outline how understanding the mechanistic basis of immune evasion and CPI resistance in MMRd CRC provides the rationale for innovative strategies to increase the subset of patients benefiting from CPIs.
Circulating Biomarkers of CDK4/6 Inhibitors Response in Hormone Receptor Positive and HER2 Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Migliaccio Ilenia , Leo Angela , Galardi Francesca , Guarducci Cristina , Fusco Giulio Maria , Benelli Matteo , Di Leo Angelo , Biganzoli Laura , Malorni Luca
Published: May 2021

CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) and endocrine therapy are the standard treatment for patients with hormone receptor-positive and HER2 negative (HR+/HER2−) metastatic breast cancer. Patients might show intrinsic and acquired resistance, which leads to treatment failure and progression. Circulating biomarkers have the potential advantages of recognizing patients who might not respond to treatment, monitoring treatment effects and identifying markers of acquired resistance during tumor progression with a simple withdrawal of peripheral blood. Genomic alterations on circulating tumor DNA and serum thymidine kinase activity, but also circulating tumor cells, epigenetic or exosome markers are currently being tested as markers of CDK4/6i treatment response, even though none of these have been integrated into clinical practice. In this review, we discuss the recent advancements in the development of circulating biomarkers of CDK4/6i response in patients with HR+/HER2−breast cancer.
The Moringin/α-CD Pretreatment Induces Neuroprotection in an In Vitro Model of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Transcriptomic Study
Authors: Silvestro Serena , Chiricosta Luigi , Gugliandolo Agnese , Iori Renato , Rollin Patrick , Perenzoni Daniele , Mattivi Fulvio , Bramanti Placido , Mazzon Emanuela
Published: May 2021

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and represents the most common form of senile dementia. Autophagy and mitophagy are cellular processes that play a key role in the aggregation of β-amyloid (Aβ) and tau phosphorylation. As a consequence, impairment of these processes leads to the progression of AD. Thus, interest is growing in the search for new natural compounds, such as Moringin (MOR), with neuroprotective, anti-amyloidogenic, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory properties that could be used for AD prevention. However, MOR appears to be poorly soluble and stable in water. To increase its solubility MOR was conjugated with α-cyclodextrin (MOR/α-CD). In this work, it was evaluated if MOR/α-CD pretreatment was able to exert neuroprotective effects in an AD in vitro model through the evaluation of the transcriptional profile by next-generation sequencing (NGS). To induce the AD model, retinoic acid-differentiated SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to Aβ1-42. The MOR/α-CD pretreatment reduced the expression of the genes which encode proteins involved in senescence, autophagy, and mitophagy processes. Additionally, MOR/α-CD was able to induce neuronal remodeling modulating the axon guidance, principally downregulating the Slit/Robo signaling pathway. Noteworthy, MOR/α-CD, modulating these important pathways, may induce neuronal protection against Aβ1-42 toxicity as demonstrated also by the reduction of cleaved caspase 3. These data indicated that MOR/α-CD could attenuate the progression of the disease and promote neuronal repair.
Socio-Economic Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic in the U.S.
Authors: Barlow Jonathan , Vodenska Irena
Published: May 2021

This paper proposes a dynamic cascade model to investigate the systemic risk posed by sector-level industries within the U.S. inter-industry network. We then use this model to study the effect of the disruptions presented by Covid-19 on the U.S. economy. We construct a weighted digraph G = (V,E,W) using the industry-by-industry total requirements table for 2018, provided by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). We impose an initial shock that disrupts the production capacity of one or more industries, and we calculate the propagation of production shortages with a modified Cobb–Douglas production function. For the Covid-19 case, we model the initial shock based on the loss of labor between March and April 2020 as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The industries within the network are assigned a resilience that determines the ability of an industry to absorb input losses, such that if the rate of input loss exceeds the resilience, the industry fails, and its outputs go to zero. We observed a critical resilience, such that, below this critical value, the network experienced a catastrophic cascade resulting in total network collapse. Lastly, we model the economic recovery from June 2020 through March 2021 using BLS data.
Application of System Dynamic Modelling for Evaluation of CO2 Emissions and Expenditure for Captive Power Generation Scenarios in the Cement Industry
Authors: Kunche Akhil , Mielczarek Bożena
Published: May 2021

Cement manufacturing is an emission-intensive process. The cement industry is responsible for 8% of the global CO2 emissions, and produces a ton of cement uses up to 102 kWh of electrical energy, leading to a significant amount of indirect emissions depending on the emission intensity of the electricity source. Captive power generation can be potentially utilised as a mitigation approach to reduce emissions and as well as expenditure on electricity tariffs. In this study, a system dynamic simulation model is built to evaluate the impact of captive power generation on a cement plant’s net emissions and expenditure through electricity use, under different scenarios for carbon-tax, grid emission factor, and electricity tariffs. The model is then utilised to simulate a reference plant under realistic scenarios designed based on the conditions in Germany and United Arab Emirates. Furthermore, the model is utilised to calculate the payback period of investments on captive power plants under different carbon tax scenarios. The study concludes that a carbon tax policy on emissions through electricity utilisation could have an impact on incentivising the use of captive power generation and would lead to fewer emissions and expenditure during the cement plant’s lifetime.
REFOS: A Renewable Energy Multi-Purpose Floating Offshore System
Authors: Konispoliatis Dimitrios N. , Katsaounis Georgios M. , Manolas Dimitrios I. , Soukissian Takvor H. , Polyzos Stylianos , Mazarakos Thomas P. , Voutsinas Spyros G. , Mavrakos Spyridon A.
Published: May 2021

The present paper deals with the development of a multi-purpose floating tension leg platform (TLP) concept suitable for the combined offshore wind and wave energy resources exploitation, taking into account the prevailing environmental conditions at selected locations along the European coastline. The examined Renewable Energy Multi-Purpose Floating Offshore System (REFOS) platform encompasses an array of hydrodynamically interacting oscillating water column (OWC) devices, moored through tensioned tethers as a TLP platform supporting a 10 MW wind turbine (WT). The system consists of a triangular platform supported by cylindrical floaters, with the WT mounted at the deck’s center and the cylindrical OWC devices at its corners. Details of the modelling of the system are discussed and hydro-aero-elastic coupling between the floater; the mooring system; and the WT is presented. The analysis incorporates the solutions of the diffraction; the motion- and the pressure-dependent radiation problems around the moored structure, along with the aerodynamics of the WT into an integrated design approach validated through extensive experimental hydrodynamic scaled-down model tests. The verified theoretical results attest to the importance of the WT loading and the OWC characteristics on the dynamics of the system.
Environmental Impact Evaluation of Current Municipal Solid Waste Treatments in India Using Life Cycle Assessment
Authors: Cheela Venkata , John Michele , Biswas Wahidul , Dubey Brajesh
Published: May 2021

An environmental life cycle assessment was conducted to compare proposed municipal solid waste treatment systems with the existing system in Visakhapatnam, India. Five waste alternative treatment systems, including open dumping of municipal solid waste (S1), landfill without gas recovery [LFWGR] (S2), landfill with gas recovery (S3), anaerobic digestion + LFWGR (S4), and incineration + LFWGR (S5). EASETECHTM was considered for assessment using ReCiPE Midpoint (Heuristic) world environmental impact assessment method. Global warming potential (GWP), terrestrial acidification (TA), freshwater eutrophication (FEW), marine water eutrophication (ME), human toxicity (HTP), terrestrial ecotoxicity (TE), freshwater ecotoxicity (FWT), and marine ecotoxicity (MET) impacts were determined for each option. The existing MSW disposal practice in Visakhapatnam city (baseline scenario, S1) has the highest GWP (1107 kg CO2 eq.), which can potentially be reduced to 68.2%, 81.5%, 98.2%, and 94.5% by alternative waste management scenarios S2, S3, S4 and S5, respectively. Scenario S4, involving the use of anaerobic digestion of food waste and residues dumped in engineered landfill without energy recovery was found to be the option with the highest mitigation potential of most of the impacts, and it contributes to significant environmental benefits in terms of ecological footprints in a low-income country such as India. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to confirm the reasonable legitimacy of data used for the determination of the impacts.
Solar Chimney Applications in Buildings
Authors: Zhang Haihua , Tao Yao , Shi Long
Published: May 2021

A solar chimney is a renewable energy system used to enhance the natural ventilation in a building based on solar and wind energy. It is one of the most representative solar-assisted passive ventilation systems attached to the building envelope. It performs exceptionally in enhancing natural ventilation and improving thermal comfort under certain climate conditions. The ventilation enhancement of solar chimneys has been widely studied numerically and experimentally. The assessment of solar chimney systems based on buoyancy ventilation relies heavily on the natural environment, experimental environment, and performance prediction methods, bringing great difficulties to quantitative analysis and parameterization research. With the increase in volume and complexity of modern building structures, current studies of solar chimneys have not yet obtained a unified design strategy and corresponding guidance. Meanwhile, combining a solar chimney with other passive ventilation systems has attracted much attention. The solar chimney-based integrated passive-assisted ventilation systems prolong the service life of an independent system and strengthen the ventilation ability for indoor cooling and heating. However, the progress is still slow regarding expanded applications and related research of solar chimneys in large volume and multi-layer buildings, and contradictory conclusions appear due to the inherent complexity of the system.
Influence of Various Factors on Caffeine Content in Coffee Brews
Authors: Olechno Ewa , Puścion-Jakubik Anna , Zujko Małgorzata Elżbieta , Socha Katarzyna
Published: May 2021

Coffee brews are one of the most popular drinks. They are consumed for caffeine and its stimulant properties. The study aimed to summarize data on the influence of various factors on caffeine content in brews prepared with different methods. The study was carried out using a literature review from 2010–2020. PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched. Data on caffeine content was collected by analyzing the following factors: the influence of species, brewing time, water temperature, pressure, degree of roast, grinding degree, water type, water/coffee ratio as well as other factors (such as geographical origin). To sum up, converting caffeine content to 1 L of the brew, the highest content is that of brews prepared in an espresso machine (portafilter), with the amount of 7.5 g of a coffee blend (95% Robusta + 5% Arabica), and water (the volume of coffee brew was 25 mL) at a temperature of 92 °C and a pressure of 7 bar, but the highest content in one portion was detected in a brew of 50 g of Robusta coffee poured with 500 mL of cold water (25 °C) and boiled.
Consumer Perspectives on Processing Technologies for Organic Food
Authors: Hüppe Ronja , Zander Katrin
Published: May 2021

Over the last years, consumer demand for natural and healthy convenient food has increased, and with it the demand for organic convenience food. With convenience food, the processing level increases, which consumers are sceptical of. This holds especially for organic consumers who prefer natural, healthy, and sustainable food products. In the literature, consumer preferences are investigated for processed conventional food, but rarely for organic products. Therefore, this study investigates consumers’ knowledge, expectations, and attitudes towards selected processing technologies for organic food. Nine focus groups with 84 organic consumers were conducted, discussing preservation technologies of organic milk and orange juice. Results showed that participants had little knowledge about processing technologies but were interested in their benefits. Organic processing technologies should include fewer processing steps, low environmental impact, while keeping the product as natural as possible. Since consumers want to know benefits but not details of processing, asking consumers for their specific preferences when developing new processing technologies remains challenging. This paper shows how consumers’ benefit and risk perception including their want for naturalness, and scepticism for new technologies shape their evaluation of (organic) food processing technologies. Two consumer groups with different attitudes towards processing could be identified: ’organic traditionalists’ and ‘organic pragmatics’.
In Vitro Antioxidant and Anti-Colon Cancer Activities of Sesamum indicum L. Leaf Extract and Its Major Component, Pedaliin
Authors: Kim Seoyun , Yang Hyi Young , Lee Hwa Jin , Ju Jihyeung
Published: May 2021

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) leaves (SLs) are used as vegetables and traditional medicines in Asian and African countries. We investigated in vitro antioxidant and anti-colon cancer efficacy of ethanol extract of SL (SLE) and its major bioactive component. SLE contained appreciable amount of major classes of antioxidant phytochemicals, such as total polyphenols, total flavonoids, and carotenoids, and correspondingly exhibited antioxidant activities, such as radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). A cell viability assay showed that SLE time- and dose-dependently attenuated the growth of human colon cancer cells, HT29 and HCT116. Flow cytometry analysis showed that SLE increased sub-G1 (in HT29 and HCT116) and G2/M (in HCT116) cell populations, suggesting that the growth inhibition by SLE was due to induction of apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest. Trans-well and wound-healing assays showed that SLE alleviated invasion and migration of HT29 and HCT116 cells in non-cytotoxic conditions. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed that pedaliin (6-hydroxylueolin 7-methyl ether 6-glucoside; pedalitin-6-O-glucoside) was a major constituent of SLE. Moreover, FRAP, growth-inhibitory, anti-invasive, and anti-migratory activities of pedaliin were found. These results demonstrated that SLE possesses in vitro antioxidant and anti-colon cancer activities and that pedaliin is a major component contributing to such activities.
Usefulness of the Modified Videofluoroscopic Dysphagia Scale in Choosing the Feeding Method for Stroke Patients with Dysphagia
Authors: Lee Byung Joo , Eo Hyoshin , Lee Changbae , Park Donghwi
Published: May 2021

Introduction: The Videofluoroscopic Dysphagia Scale (VDS) is used to predict the long-term prognosis of dysphagia in patients with strokes. However, the inter-rater reliability of the VDS was low in a previous study. To overcome the mentioned limitations of the VDS, the modified version of the VDS (mVDS) was created and clinically applied to evaluate its usefulness in choosing the feeding method for stroke patients with dysphagia. Methods: The videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) data of 56 stroke patients with dysphagia were collected retrospectively. We investigated the presence of aspiration pneumonia and the selected feeding method. We also evaluated the correlations between the mVDS and the selected feeding method, and between the mVDS and the presence of aspiration pneumonia after stroke. Univariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analyses were used in the data analysis. Results: The inter-rater reliability (Cronbach α value) of the total score of the mVDS was 0.886, which was consistent with very good inter-rater reliability. In all patients with dysphagia, the supratentorial stroke subgroup, and the infratentorial stroke subgroup, the mVDS scores were statistically correlated with the feeding method selected (p < 0.05) and the presence of aspiration pneumonia (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The mVDS can be a useful scale for quantifying the severity of dysphagia, and it can be a useful tool in the clinical setting and in studies for interpreting the VFSS findings in stroke patients with dysphagia. Further studies with a greater number of patients and various stroke etiologies are required for more generalized applications of the mVDS.
The Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Stress Vulnerability of Nursing Students According to Labour Market Status
Authors: Simionescu Mihaela , Pellegrini Angelo , Bordea Elena-Nicoleta
Published: May 2021

Nursing has always been a stressful job affecting the physical and mental health of the nurses, but the new medical context of the COVID-19 pandemic has enhanced this issue. The objective of this paper is to study differences between non-employed and employed nursing students in the medical system of Romania before and during the epidemic using matching methods and a sample of 526 nursing students. Stressors and strategies for coping with stress were also identified during the pandemic. The results indicated that employed students were more vulnerable to stress compared to non-employed ones before and during the pandemic. Females registered significantly higher stress scores compared to males in the period of the epidemic. The analysis of the overall sample suggested that gender and environment were significant stress factors during the pandemic, but living conditions were not relevant. The most effective coping strategies against stress for nurses during the COVID-19 crisis were based on self-control and the spiritual dimension, unlike the previous period when other colleagues’ support helped most nurses to overcome difficult working conditions. The implications of this study might help medical management in ensuring a less stressful environment for nurses during the epidemic.
Carbohydrate Restriction with or without Exercise Training Improves Blood Pressure and Insulin Sensitivity in Overweight Women
Authors: Sun Shengyan , Kong Zhaowei , Shi Qingde , Zhang Haifeng , Lei On-Kei , Nie Jinlei
Published: May 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 4-week low-carbohydrate diet (LC) with or without exercise training on cardiometabolic health-related profiles in overweight/obese women. Methods: Fifty overweight/obese Chinese women (age: 22.2 ± 3.3 years, body mass index (BMI): 25.1 ± 3.1 kg·m−2) were randomized to either a LC control group (LC-CON, n = 16), a LC and high-intensity interval training group (LC-HIIT, n = 17), or a LC and moderate-intensity continuous training group (LC-MICT, n = 17). All groups consumed LC for 4 weeks, while the LC-HIIT and LC-MICT groups followed an additional five sessions of HIIT (10 × 6 s cycling sprints and 9 s rest intervals, 2.5 min in total) or MICT (cycling continuously at 50–60% of peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) for 30 min) weekly. Blood pressure, fasting glucose, insulin sensitivity, and several metabolic or appetite regulating hormones were measured before and after intervention. Results: Significant reductions in body weight (− ~2.5 kg, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.772) and BMI (− ~1 unit, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.782) were found in all groups. Systolic blood pressure was reduced by 5–6 mmHg (p < 0.001, η2 = 0.370); fasting insulin, leptin, and ghrelin levels were also significantly decreased (p < 0.05), while insulin sensitivity was improved. However, there were no significant changes in fasting glucose, glucagon, and gastric inhibitory peptide levels. Furthermore, no group differences were found among the three groups, suggesting that extra training (i.e., LC-HIIT and LC-MICT) failed to trigger additional effects on these cardiometabolic profiles. Conclusions: The short-term carbohydrate restriction diet caused significant weight loss and improved blood pressure and insulin sensitivity in the overweight/obese women, although the combination with exercise training had no additional benefits on the examined cardiometabolic profiles. Moreover, the long-term safety and effectiveness of LC needs further study.
Food Environments and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Incidence
Authors: Ton Mimi , Widener Michael J. , James Peter , VoPham Trang
Published: May 2021

Research into the potential impact of the food environment on liver cancer incidence has been limited, though there is evidence showing that specific foods and nutrients may be potential risk or preventive factors. Data on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registries. The county-level food environment was assessed using the Modified Retail Food Environment Index (mRFEI), a continuous score that measures the number of healthy and less healthy food retailers within counties. Poisson regression with robust variance estimation was used to calculate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between mRFEI scores and HCC risk, adjusting for individual- and county-level factors. The county-level food environment was not associated with HCC risk after adjustment for individual-level age at diagnosis, sex, race/ethnicity, year, and SEER registry and county-level measures for health conditions, lifestyle factors, and socioeconomic status (adjusted IRR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.96, 1.01). The county-level food environment, measured using mRFEI scores, was not associated with HCC risk.