bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interconvertible Hydrochlorothiazide–Caffeine Multicomponent Pharmaceutical Materials: A Solvent Issue
Authors: Verdugo-Escamilla Cristóbal , Alarcón-Payer Carolina , Frontera Antonio , Acebedo-Martínez Francisco Javier , Domínguez-Martín Alicia , Gómez-Morales Jaime , Choquesillo-Lazarte Duane
Published: November 2020

The design of new multicomponent pharmaceutical materials that involve different active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), e.g., drug-drug cocrystals, is a novel and interesting approach to address new therapeutic challenges. In this work, the hydrochlorothiazide-caffeine (HCT–CAF) codrug and its methanol solvate have been synthesized by mechanochemical methods and thoroughly characterized in the solid state by powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction, respectively, as well as differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analyses and infrared spectroscopy. In addition, solubility and stability studies have also been performed looking for improved physicochemical properties of the codrug. Interestingly, the two reported structures show great similarity, which allows conversion between them. The desolvated HCT–CAF cocrystal shows great stability at 24 h and an enhancement of solubility with respect to the reference HCT API. Furthermore, the contribution of intermolecular forces on the improved physicochemical properties was evaluated by computational methods showing strong and diverse H-bond and π–π stacking interactions.
Synthesis and Crystal Structure of the Short LnSb2O4Br Series (Ln = Eu–Tb) and Luminescence Properties of Eu3+-Doped Samples
Authors: Goerigk Felix C. , Paterlini Veronica , Dorn Katharina V. , Mudring Anja-Verena , Schleid Thomas
Published: November 2020

Pale yellow crystals of LnSb2O4Br (Ln = Eu–Tb) were synthesized via high temperature solid-state reactions from antimony sesquioxide, the respective lanthanoid sesquioxides and tribromides. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies revealed a layered structure in the monoclinic space group P21/c. In contrast to hitherto reported quaternary lanthanoid(III) halide oxoantimonates(III), in LnSb2O4Br the lanthanoid(III) cations are exclusively coordinated by oxygen atoms in the form of square hemiprisms. These [LnO8]13− polyhedra form layers parallel to (100) by sharing common edges. All antimony(III) cations are coordinated by three oxygen atoms forming ψ1-tetrahedral [SbO3]3− units, which have oxygen atoms in common building up meandering strands along [001] according to {[SbO2/2vO1/1t]–}∞1 (v = vertex-sharing, t = terminal). The bromide anions are located between two layers of these parallel running oxoantimonate(III) strands and have no bonding contacts with the Ln3+ cations. Since Sb3+ is known to be an efficient sensitizer for Ln3+ emission, photoluminescence studies were carried out to characterize the optical properties and assess their suitability as light phosphors. Indeed, for both, GdSb2O4Br and TbSb2O4Br doped with about 1.0–1.5 at-% Eu3+ efficient sensitization of the Eu3+ emission could be detected. For TbSb2O4Br, in addition, a remarkably high energy transfer from Tb3+ to Eu3+ could be detected that leads to a substantially increased Eu3+ emission intensity, rendering it an efficient red light emitting material.
The First In Situ Observation of the Ram’s Horn Squid Spirula spirula Turns “Common Knowledge” Upside Down
Authors: Lindsay Dhugal , Hunt James , McNeil Mardi , Beaman Robin , Vecchione Michael
Published: November 2020

The ram’s horn squid Spirula spirula (Linnaeus, 1758) is the only extant cephalopod with an internal calcareous, chambered shell that is coiled, making it the sole living representative of the once speciose order Spirulida [...]
Data Employed in the Construction of a Composite Protein Database for Proteogenomic Analyses of Cephalopods Salivary Apparatus
Authors: Almeida Daniela , Domínguez-Pérez Dany , Matos Ana , Agüero-Chapin Guillermin , Castaño Yuselis , Vasconcelos Vitor , Campos Alexandre , Antunes Agostinho
Published: November 2020

Here we provide all datasets and details applied in the construction of a composite protein database required for the proteogenomic analyses of the article “Putative Antimicrobial Peptides of the Posterior Salivary Glands from the Cephalopod Octopus vulgaris Revealed by Exploring a Composite Protein Database”. All data, subdivided into six datasets, are deposited at the Mendeley Data repository as follows. Dataset_1 provides our composite database “All_Databases_5950827_sequences.fasta” derived from six smaller databases composed of (i) protein sequences retrieved from public databases related to cephalopods’ salivary glands, (ii) proteins identified with Proteome Discoverer software using our original data obtained by shotgun proteomic analyses of posterior salivary glands (PSGs) from three Octopus vulgaris specimens (provided as Dataset_2) and (iii) a non-redundant antimicrobial peptide (AMP) database. Dataset_3 includes the transcripts obtained by de novo assembly of 16 transcriptomes from cephalopods’ PSGs using CLC Genomics Workbench. Dataset_4 provides the proteins predicted by the TransDecoder tool from the de novo assembly of 16 transcriptomes of cephalopods’ PSGs. Further details about database construction, as well as the scripts and command lines used to construct them, are deposited within Dataset_5 and Dataset_6. The data provided in this article will assist in unravelling the role of cephalopods’ PSGs in feeding strategies, toxins and AMP production.
The Effects of Structural Breaks on Energy Resources in the Long Run. Evidence from the Last Two Oil Price Crashes before COVID-19
Authors: Cansado-Bravo Pablo , Rodríguez-Monroy Carlos
Published: November 2020

The course of events since 2014, including the worldwide pandemic of a coronavirus disease, have shown that oil market fundamentals have not always been clearly anticipated and that additional external factors, rather than those related to supply and demand, do play important roles in signaling future price changes. Within that complex setting, this study examined the influences of structural breaks on the long-term properties of Brent crude oil, gasoil, low-sulfur fuel oil, natural gas, and coal over the period 2002–2018. In an effort to assess the impacts of these structural changes, we identified time points at which structural break changes occurred and unit root properties using a representative variety of unit root testing alternatives. From the estimation results, we observed that only fuel oil and national balancing point (NBP) prices show evidence of mean-reverting behavior, suggesting that shocks to these two markets are short-lived when allowing for structural breaks. Although the idea of market forces bringing the non-renewable markets to their equilibrium in the long run makes the role of policy-making more challenging, it highlights the importance of the policy mix in the transition to a low-carbon energy system.
Can Melatonin Be a Potential “Silver Bullet” in Treating COVID-19 Patients?
Authors: Cardinali Daniel P. , Brown Gregory M. , Pandi-Perumal Seithikurippu R.
Published: November 2020

The therapeutic potential of melatonin as a chronobiotic cytoprotective agent to counteract the consequences of COVID-19 infections has been advocated. Because of its wide-ranging effects as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory compound, melatonin could be unique in impairing the consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, indirect evidence points out to a possible antiviral action of melatonin by interfering with SARS-CoV-2/angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 association. Melatonin is also an effective chronobiotic agent to reverse the circadian disruption of social isolation and to control delirium in severely affected patients. As a cytoprotector, melatonin serves to combat several comorbidities such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and ischemic and non-ischemic cardiovascular diseases, which aggravate COVID-19 disease. In view of evidence on the occurrence of neurological sequels in COVID-19-infected patients, another putative application of melatonin emerges based on its neuroprotective properties. Since melatonin is an effective means to control cognitive decay in minimal cognitive impairment, its therapeutic significance for the neurological sequels of SARS-CoV-2 infection should be considered. Finally, yet importantly, exogenous melatonin can be an adjuvant capable of augmenting the efficacy of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. We discuss in this review the experimental evidence suggesting that melatonin is a potential “silver bullet” in the COVID 19 pandemic.
Dynamical Analysis of a New Chaotic Fractional Discrete-Time System and Its Control
Authors: Almatroud A. Othman , Khennaoui Amina-Aicha , Ouannas Adel , Grassi Giuseppe , Al-sawalha M. Mossa , Gasri Ahlem
Published: November 2020

This article proposes a new fractional-order discrete-time chaotic system, without equilibria, included two quadratic nonlinearities terms. The dynamics of this system were experimentally investigated via bifurcation diagrams and largest Lyapunov exponent. Besides, some chaotic tests such as the 0–1 test and approximate entropy (ApEn) were included to detect the performance of our numerical results. Furthermore, a valid control method of stabilization is introduced to regulate the proposed system in such a way as to force all its states to adaptively tend toward the equilibrium point at zero. All theoretical findings in this work have been verified numerically using MATLAB software package.
On the Electromagnetic Field of an Overhead Line Current Source
Authors: Parise Mauro
Published: November 2020

This work presents an analytical series-form solution for the time-harmonic electromagnetic (EM) field components produced by an overhead current line source. The solution arises from casting the integral term of the complete representation for the generated axial electric field into a form where the non-analytic part of the integrand is expanded into a power series of the vertical propagation coefficient in the air space. This makes it possible to express the electric field as a sum of derivatives of the Sommerfeld integral describing the primary field, whose explicit form is known. As a result, the electric field is given as a sum of cylindrical Hankel functions, with coefficients depending on the position of the field point relative to the line source and its ideal image. Analogous explicit expressions for the magnetic field components are obtained by applying Faraday’s law. The results from numerical simulations show that the derived analytical solution offers advantages in terms of time cost with respect to conventional numerical schemes used for computing Sommerfeld-type integrals.
Estimation of Battery Separator Area, Cell Thickness and Diffusion Coefficient Based on Non-Ideal Liquid-Phase Diffusion Modeling
Authors: Csomós Bence , Fodor Dénes , Vajda István
Published: November 2020

The aim of this work is to present a fast and in situ diffusion modeling technique to extract essential electrochemical parameters from liquid-phase diffusion which can be used to implement a realistic battery in a pseudo-2D finite element modeling environment. A generalized Warburg element was used within an extended Randles equivalent circuit to obtain an appropriate fit on non-ideal diffusion impedance. Based on the calculation method presented in this paper, the values of diffusion-related parameters such as the cross-sectional area of the separator Asep, cell thickness Lcell as well as liquid-phase and solid-phase diffusion coefficients Dl and Ds were derived, successfully. A characteristic cell which allowed the exchange current density i0 and reaction rate constant k0 to be calculated was also established. The experimental data was measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), resistivity measurement and the galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT). The results show that our hypothesis to extract essential electrochemical parameters from the tail part of diffusion impedance is correct. The applicability of our concept is confirmed by the prosperous validation results produced by computed tomography (CT) and battery dynamics simulation in finite-element environment. Due to the inherent limitations of the pseudo-2D Doyle-Fuller-Newman (DFN) model, our technique is accordingly valid within the current range of 0–1 C.
Lessons from Implementing a Metropolitan Electric Bike Sharing System
Authors: Bieliński Tomasz , Dopierała Łukasz , Tarkowski Maciej , Ważna Agnieszka
Published: November 2020

Electrically assisted bicycles are anticipated to become an effective tool to limit not only the use of cars in cities but also their negative impact on health, the environment, and passenger transportation in cities. In this paper, we examine the effects of implementing the first fully electric bike (e-bike) sharing system in the Metropolitan Area of Gdańsk–Gdynia–Sopot in Northern Poland, where no other bike sharing system had been introduced before. The aims of this article were to determine the impact of the new e-bike sharing system on the modal choice of citizens, identify barriers to its usage, and find differences between the usage of the system in the core of the metropolitan area and in the suburbs. We used two primary data sets: the survey data collected using the computer-assisted personal interviewing technique (CAPI technique) and the data automatically acquired from the website that monitored the system activities. We performed the analysis by using nonparametric tests and correspondence analysis. We found no evidence suggesting that e-bike sharing can replace large number of private car trips, but we found it likely to be competitive to carsharing, moped, and taxi services. E-bike sharing competes also with public transportation services, but it is also used as the first/last mile of the transportation supplementing public transport system. The major barrier to using this system in central cities of the metropolitan area was the lack of available public bikes, and possession of private bicycles, whereas for residents of the suburbs, the obstacles were the need to transport children, the high price of the bicycle rental/subscription, and the long distance to the docking stations.
Experimental Research of Shale Pellet Swelling in Nano-Based Drilling Muds
Authors: Pašić Borivoje , Gaurina-Međimurec Nediljka , Mijić Petar , Medved Igor
Published: November 2020

The drilling of clay-rich formations, such as shale, is an extremely demanding technical and technological process. Shale consists of mixed clay minerals in different ratios and in contact with water from drilling mud. It tends to swell and cause different wellbore instability problems. Usually, the petroleum industry uses various types of salt and/or polymers as shale hydration inhibitors. The aim of this research was to determine whether nanoparticles can be used as shale swelling inhibitors because due to their small size they can enter the shale nanopores, plug them and stop further penetration of mud filtrate into the shale formation. Swelling of bentonite-calcium carbonate pellets after 2 and 24 h in water and drilling mud (water, bentonite, PAC and NaOH) without nanoparticles and with addition of TiO2 (0.5, 1 and 1.5 wt%) and SiO2 (0.5, 1 and 1.5 wt%) nanoparticles was measured using a linear swell meter. Additionally, granulometric analyses of bentonite as well as the zeta potential of tested muds containing nanoparticles were performed. Based on the laboratory research, it can generally be concluded that the addition of SiO2 and TiO2 nanoparticles in water and base drilling mud reduces the swelling of pellets up to 40.06%.
Choice of the Optimal Design and Operation of Multi-Energy Conversion Systems in a Prosecco Wine Cellar
Authors: Pivetta Davide , Rech Sergio , Lazzaretto Andrea
Published: November 2020

Despite the high energy consumption of wine making processes, little efforts have been spent so far, both at the industrial and scientific level, to search for alternative energy systems in wine cellars. In fact, almost all the existing cellars take electricity from the grid and burn natural gas or other fossil fuels to fulfil their energy demands. This paper analyses the energy demands of a real Prosecco wine cellar in the North East of Italy, which can be considered as a “reference” cellar for dimensions and wine production. The goal is to find the best energy conversion system in terms of maximum profits, efficiency and share of renewable energy utilization. Four alternative design configurations are proposed, and each one optimized considering the three objectives. Results show that a 35% gain in the maximum profits is obtained by including a natural gas fueled CHP internal combustion engine and an absorption chiller. This configuration is also the best one to achieve the maximum efficiency (61%), resulting in 18% reduction of primary energy consumption. Conversely, the utilization of a biomass boiler and an absorption chiller allows maximizing the share of renewable energy consumption, which is about 35% considering the existing availability of biomass from pruning harvesting and the relative limited surface available for photovoltaic generation. This option may become economically interesting when the price of natural gas increases of at least 50%.
Robust Control of Shunt Active Power Filters: A Dynamical Model-Based Approach with Verified Controllability
Authors: Urrea-Quintero Jorge-Humberto , Muñoz-Galeano Nicolás , López-Lezama Jesús M.
Published: November 2020

This paper presents the robust control of Three-Leg Split-Capacitor Shunt Active Power Filters (TLSC SAPFs) by means of structured H∞ controllers for reactive, unbalanced, and harmonic compensation and the DC-link bus voltage regulation. Robust controller synthesis is performed based on the TLSC SAPF dynamical model including power losses in passive elements. Before the control implementation, a systematic procedure for the nonlinear controllability verification of the converter and its quantification using the set-theoretic approach is presented. Controllability verification serves to accurately design the SAPF’s operation region. Thus, a Voltage Oriented Control (VOC) structure is implemented by using two different approaches to determine the PI controller parameters: (1) the traditional Pole-Placement method (PP-PI) and (2) the H∞-PI structured synthesis approach, which leads to PI robust controllers. From the latter approach, two sets of parameters are obtained. The first set considers the nominal model (H∞-PI), and the second one explicitly accounts for the model parametric uncertainties (H∞-uPI). An optimization procedure is presented for obtaining the optimal H∞-PI and H∞-uPI controller parameters where four complementary constrains are defined to establish a trade-off between the controllers performance and robustness. The enforcement of constraints is later evaluated for each of three PI controllers obtained. This work aims to establish a common ground for the comparison of robust control strategies applied to TLSC APFs; therefore, the TLSC SAPF compensation performance is measured and compared with the performance indices: integral of the absolute error (IAE), integral of the time-weighted absolute error (ITAE), integral of the absolute control action (IUA), and maximum sensitivity (Ms).
Production of Biosolids by Autothermal Thermophilic Aerobic Digestion (ATAD) from a Municipal Sewage Sludge: The Polish Case Study
Authors: Bartkowska Izabela , Biedka Paweł , Tałałaj Izabela Anna
Published: November 2020

This manuscript analyzed the process of autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion (ATAD) used in installations of municipal sewage treatment plants in Poland. Additionally, solutions for sludge management and the parameters of operating installations were presented. Attention was also put to the energy consumption of the process, where the energy consumption for 1 m3 of sludge treated was between 18.4 and 27.79 kWh. The amount of sewage flowing into the analyzed plants was between 1500 and 14,000 m3/d. On the basis of research carried out in the years 2003–2019 in the selected plants, the characteristics of sludge after the ATAD process were presented. The parameters that determine the usefulness of the sludge as an organic fertilizer were indicated above all. The content of total nitrogen, which was from 2.4 to 8.1% of dry matter, ammonium nitrogen, which was from 0.8 to 1.8% of dry matter, and total phosphorus, which was from 1.1 to 4.2% of dry matter, recommended using sludge for fertilization. It was also pointed out that sewage sludge should be regularly tested for the dynamics of changes in chemical composition and biological parameters. These are the factors that increase risk and limit the use of sludge for fertilization.
Recent Progress in Hydrogen Flammability Prediction for the Safe Energy Systems
Authors: Jeon Joongoo , Kim Sung Joong
Published: November 2020

Many countries consider hydrogen as a promising energy source to resolve the energy challenges over the global climate change. However, the potential of hydrogen explosions remains a technical issue to embrace hydrogen as an alternate solution since the Hindenburg disaster occurred in 1937. To ascertain safe hydrogen energy systems including production, storage, and transportation, securing the knowledge concerning hydrogen flammability is essential. In this paper, we addressed a comprehensive review of the studies related to predicting hydrogen flammability by dividing them into three types: experimental, numerical, and analytical. While the earlier experimental studies had focused only on measuring limit concentration, recent studies clarified the extinction mechanism of a hydrogen flame. In numerical studies, the continued advances in computer performance enabled even multi-dimensional stretched flame analysis following one-dimensional planar flame analysis. The different extinction mechanisms depending on the Lewis number of each fuel type could be observed by these advanced simulations. Finally, historical attempts to predict the limit concentration by analytical modeling of flammability characteristics were discussed. Developing an accurate model to predict the flammability limit of various hydrogen mixtures is our remaining issue.
Comparison of Wind Lidar Data and Numerical Simulations of the Low-Level Jet at a Grassland Site
Authors: Ziemann Astrid , Galvez Arboleda André , Lampert Astrid
Published: November 2020

For the increasing importance of the wind energy branch, exact wind climatologies at the operation altitudes are essential. As wind turbines of increasing hub height are erected, the rotors are located at an altitude interval influenced by the phenomenon of low-level jet (LLJ). The main objective of the study is to assess if and how numerical simulations can represent the development especially of nocturnal LLJs in comparison to measurements. In this article, the microscale numerical model HIRVAC2D is used for a range of parameters. The simulated results for properties of the LLJ are compared to lidar data at an altitude range of 40 m to 500 m at the study site Braunschweig in the North German Plain, a grassland location that may be representative for a large area. Similarities and differences of the occurrence, height and maximum wind speed of the nocturnal LLJ are discussed using two different criteria to define a LLJ. The analysis of the lidar data set for the grassland site revealed for the first time increasing height of the LLJ with increasing wind speed during the summer months June to August 2013. The comparison of measurements and simulation data shows that boundary (and inital) conditions have to be adapted in model simulations to provide realistic LLJ properties. It was found that land use and vegetation parameters are important for practical LLJ prognosis, both for wind climatologies and nowcasting.
Comparative Studying of Leaf Trichomes, Teeth and Glands in Populus nigra L., Populus deltoides W. Bartram ex Marshall and Their Hybrids
Authors: Feodorova Tatiana A. , Alexandrov Oleg S.
Published: November 2020

Poplars from Aigeiros Duby section are very widespread in the world. A range of morphological characters were studied in such species of this section as Populus deltoides Bartram ex Marshall, P. nigra L. and their hybrid P. × canadensis Moench. However, there is little information about micromorphological characters of their leaves. The aim of this work was to study these characters and understand their species-specific potential. Thus, the morphological features, density and distribution of non-glandular trichoms, marginal glandular trichomes (salicoid teeth or coleters), epiglandular trichomes and basilaminar nectaries-glands were ontogenetically examined by both light and scanning electron microscopy in the certified by molecular markers P. deltoides, P. nigra and P. × canadensis samples. Non-glandular trichomes belong to the uni-, multicellular, uniseriate category. Marginal glandular trichomes can be classified as coleter types. Other morphological and anatomical trichome features are discussed with regard to their possible function. In summary, some variations in leaf morphology may be useful for the P. nigra, P. deltoides and their hybrid P. × canadensis species identification. These species differ in shape and number of basilaminar glands, as well as non-glandular trichome types and their distribution on the leaf.
Effects of Fermented Kefir as a Functional Feed Additive in Litopenaeus vannamei Farming
Authors: Choi Woosik , Choi Chi-Won , Son Dang-Bao , Jeong Byeong-Chul , Kim Hee-Chang , Lee Hanki , Suh Joo-Won
Published: November 2020

Litopenaeus vannamei, known as whiteleg shrimp, is susceptible to infection by pathogenic microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria. Therefore, the prevention of infections in this shrimp is important to regulate the outbreaks of pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, we investigated the effects of kefir as a functional feed additive on innate immunity, survival against WSSV (White Spot Syndrome Virus) and productivity of L. vannamei. As a result, the treatment of kefir could upregulate six of seven genes crucial for innate immunity of L. vannamei. Also, the treatment of kefir directly improved the survival rate of L. vannamei against WSSV infection. Finally, in order to determine whether kefir can improve the productivity of shrimp, we carried out field tests in three aquaculture farms in South Korea. The weight of shrimp fed kefir was increased by 120% as well as the length, compared with that of the control group. These results demonstrate that kefir can be utilized as a functional feed additive to improve both innate immunity and productivity of L. vannamei in shrimp farming with no use of antibiotics.
Surveillance of Patulin in Apple, Grapes, Juices and Value-Added Products for Sale in Pakistan
Authors: Hussain Shabbir , Asi Muhammad Rafique , Iqbal Mazhar , Akhtar Muhammad , Imran Muhammad , Ariño Agustín
Published: November 2020

The prime objective of the current study was to investigate the occurrence of mycotoxin patulin (PAT) in apples, grapes and their value added products. PAT was determined by a validated method based on HPLC with UV detector. A total of 381 samples comprising apple and grape fruits (n = 133 each), apple-based products (n = 76, juice, puree, jam) and grape juice (n = 39) were analyzed. PAT was found in 58.9% samples of apple and apple-based products, with a mean of 49.8 µg/kg (maximum 396 µg/kg), while 27.3% samples contained PAT beyond the maximum regulatory limit of 50 µg/kg. The average levels of PAT contamination in apple-derived products was higher in apple juice concentrate, followed by apple puree, apple juice and apple jam. The incidence of PAT in table grapes was 65.1%, with a mean of 53.9 µg/kg (maximum 505 µg/kg), whereas 23.8% exceeded the maximum level. Among the fruit samples, there were differences in PAT contents due to apple variety (6 types) or grape variety (8 types), as well as for sampling location. Our investigations showed the wide PAT occurrence in fruits and derived value-added products affecting consumer product safety, so that the population is chronically exposed to this toxin.
Analysis of Caffeine, Chlorogenic Acid, Trigonelline, and Volatile Compounds in Cold Brew Coffee Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Solid-Phase Microextraction—Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Heo JeongAe , Adhikari Koushik , Choi Kap Seong , Lee Jeehyun
Published: November 2020

This study investigated the non-volatile and volatile compounds in samples of cold brew (CB) coffee, coffee from a coffee shop (CS), ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee, and brewed coffee from a coffee maker (CM). The volatile compounds were identified using headspace solid-phase microextraction with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the samples were treated with high-performance liquid chromatography for the quantification of caffeine, chlorogenic acid, and trigonelline. The results indicate that RTD coffee had the lowest amounts of non-volatile compounds. A total of 36 volatile compounds were semi-quantified; the contents of most volatile compounds in CS and Folgers samples were higher than those in CB and CM samples. The contents of 25 volatile compounds in the CM sample were higher than those in the CB sample. The consumer and instrumental data show that the bitterness intensity was correlated with pyrazines, pyrroles, and guaiacols, whereas the coffeeID intensity was correlated with phenols. Semi-quantification and principal component analysis results show that the extraction method and temperature could influence the volatile compound profiles.
Optimization of the Effect of Pineapple By-Products Enhanced in Bromelain by Hydrostatic Pressure on the Texture and Overall Quality of Silverside Beef Cut
Authors: Santos Diana I. , Fraqueza Maria João , Pissarra Hugo , Saraiva Jorge A. , Vicente António A. , Moldão-Martins Margarida
Published: November 2020

Dehydrated pineapple by-products enriched in bromelain using a hydrostatic pressure treatment (225 MPa, 8.5 min) were added in marinades to improve beef properties. The steaks from the silverside cut (2 ± 0.5 cm thickness and weight 270 ± 50 g), characterized as harder and cheaper, were immersed in marinades that were added to dehydrated and pressurized pineapple by-products that corresponded to a bromelain concentration of 0–20 mg tyrosine, 100 g−1 meat, and 0–24 h time, according to the central composite factorial design matrix. Samples were characterized in terms of marination yield, pH, color, and histology. Subsequently, samples were cooked in a water-bath (80 °C, 15 min), stabilized (4 °C, 24 h), and measured for cooking loss, pH, color, hardness, and histology. Marinades (12–24 h) and bromelain concentration (10–20 mg tyrosine.100 g−1 meat) reduced pH and hardness, increased marination yield, and resulted in a lighter color. Although refrigeration was not an optimal temperature for bromelain activity, meat hardness decreased (41%). Thus, the use of pineapple by-products in brine allowed for the valorization of lower commercial value steak cuts.
An Overview on Cyclic Fatty Acids as Biomarkers of Quality and Authenticity in the Meat Sector
Authors: Lolli Veronica , Zanardi Emanuela , Moloney Aidan P. , Caligiani Augusta
Published: November 2020

A survey was conducted to determine the content of cyclopropane fatty acids (CPFAs) and ω-cyclohexyl fatty acids (CHFAs) by using gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) techniques in various meat samples from different species, including commercial samples and complex and thermally processed products (i.e., Bolognese sauce). The CPFAs concentration (as the sum of two isomers, namely dihydrosterculic acid and lactobacillic acid) in bovine meat fat (ranging between 70 and 465 mg/kg fat) was positively related to a silage-based diet, and therefore, they are potential biomarkers for monitoring the feeding system of cattle. CHFAs, such as 11-cyclohexylundecanoic and 13-cyclohexyltridecanoic acids, were only found in lipid profiles from ruminant species, and a linear trend was observed in their content, together with iso-branched fatty acids (iso-BCFAs) deriving from ruminal fermentation, as a function of bovine meat percentage in both raw and cooked minced meat. Thus, CHFAs are potential biomarkers for the assurance of the meat species and, combined with iso-BCFAs, of the beef/pork ratio even in complex meat matrices. The proposed approaches are valuable novel tools for meat authentication, which is pivotal in the management of meat quality, safety, and traceability.
Hsa-miR-375/RASD1 Signaling May Predict Local Control in Early Breast Cancer
Authors: Zellinger Barbara , Bodenhofer Ulrich , Engländer Immanuela A. , Kronberger Cornelia , Strasser Peter , Grambozov Brane , Fastner Gerd , Stana Markus , Reitsamer Roland , Sotlar Karl , Sedlmayer Felix , Zehentmayr Franz
Published: November 2020

Background: In order to characterize the various subtypes of breast cancer more precisely and improve patients selection for breast conserving therapy (BCT), molecular profiling has gained importance over the past two decades. MicroRNAs, which are small non-coding RNAs, can potentially regulate numerous downstream target molecules and thereby interfere in carcinogenesis and treatment response via multiple pathways. The aim of the current two-phase study was to investigate whether hsa-miR-375-signaling through RASD1 could predict local control (LC) in early breast cancer. Results: The patient and treatment characteristics of 81 individuals were similarly distributed between relapse (n = 27) and control groups (n = 54). In the pilot phase, the primary tumors of 28 patients were analyzed with microarray technology. Of the more than 70,000 genes on the chip, 104 potential hsa-miR-375 target molecules were found to have a lower expression level in relapse patients compared to controls (p-value < 0.2). For RASD1, a hsa-miR-375 binding site was predicted by an in silico search in five mRNA-miRNA databases and mechanistically proven in previous pre-clinical studies. Its expression levels were markedly lower in relapse patients than in controls (p-value of 0.058). In a second phase, this finding could be validated in an independent set of 53 patients using ddPCR. Patients with enhanced levels of hsa-miR-375 compared to RASD1 had a higher probability of local relapse than those with the inverse expression pattern of the two markers (log-rank test, p-value = 0.069). Conclusion: This two-phase study demonstrates that hsa-miR-375/RASD1 signaling is able to predict local control in early breast cancer patients, which—to our knowledge—is the first clinical report on a miR combined with one of its downstream target proteins predicting LC in breast cancer.
Comparative Genomics and Functional Studies of Wheat BED-NLR Loci
Authors: Marchal Clemence ,   10+ Wheat Genome Project, Haberer Georg , Spannagl Manuel , Uauy Cristobal
Published: November 2020

Nucleotide-binding leucine-rich-repeat (LRR) receptors (NLRs) with non-canonical integrated domains (NLR-IDs) are widespread in plant genomes. Zinc-finger BED (named after the Drosophila proteins Boundary Element-Associated Factor and DNA Replication-related Element binding Factor, named BED hereafter) are among the most frequently found IDs. Five BED-NLRs conferring resistance against bacterial and fungal pathogens have been characterized. However, it is unknown whether BED-NLRs function in a manner similar to other NLR-IDs. Here, we used chromosome-level assemblies of wheat to explore the Yr7 and Yr5a genomic regions and show that, unlike known NLR-ID loci, there is no evidence for a NLR-partner in their vicinity. Using neighbor-network analyses, we observed that BED domains from BED-NLRs share more similarities with BED domains from single-BED proteins and from BED-containing proteins harboring domains that are conserved in transposases. We identified a nuclear localization signal (NLS) in Yr7, Yr5, and the other characterized BED-NLRs. We thus propose that this is a feature of BED-NLRs that confer resistance to plant pathogens. We show that the NLS was functional in truncated versions of the Yr7 protein when expressed in N. benthamiana. We did not observe cell-death upon the overexpression of Yr7 full-length, truncated, and ‘MHD’ variants in N. benthamiana. This suggests that either this system is not suitable to study BED-NLR signaling or that BED-NLRs require additional components to trigger cell death. These results define novel future directions to further understand the role of BED domains in BED-NLR mediated resistance.
Multiple Self-Healing Squamous Epithelioma (MSSE): A Digenic Trait Associated with Loss of Function Mutations in TGFBR1 and Variants at a Second Linked Locus on the Long Arm of Chromosome 9
Authors: Goudie David
Published: November 2020

MSSE (Ferguson-Smith disease) is a rare familial condition in which multiple skin tumors resembling squamous carcinomas invade locally and then regress spontaneously after several months, leaving disfiguring scars. We review evidence from haplotype studies in MSSE families with common ancestry that the condition is caused by loss of function mutations in TGFBR1 interacting with permissive variants at a second linked locus on the long arm of chromosome 9. The spectrum of TGFBR1 mutations in MSSE and the allelic disorder Loeys Dietz syndrome (characterized by developmental anomalies and thoracic aortic aneurysms) differ. Reports of patients with both MSSE and Loeys Dietz syndrome are consistent with variants at a second locus determining whether self-healing epitheliomas occur in patients with the loss of function mutations found in most MSSE patients or the missense mutations in the intracellular kinase domain of TGFBR1 that characterize Loeys Dietz syndrome.
The Reversion of cg05575921 Methylation in Smoking Cessation: A Potential Tool for Incentivizing Healthy Aging
Authors: Philibert Robert , Mills James A. , Long Jeffrey D. , Salisbury Sue Ellen , Comellas Alejandro , Gerke Alicia , Dawes Kelsey , Vander Weg Mark , Hoffman Eric A.
Published: November 2020

Smoking is the largest preventable cause of mortality and the largest environmental driver of epigenetic aging. Contingency management-based strategies can be used to treat smoking but require objective methods of verifying quitting status. Prior studies have suggested that cg05575921 methylation reverts as a function of smoking cessation, but that it can be used to verify the success of smoking cessation has not been unequivocally demonstrated. To test whether methylation can be used to verify cessation, we determined monthly cg05575921 levels in a group of 67 self-reported smokers undergoing biochemically monitored contingency management-based smoking cessation therapy, as part of a lung imaging protocol. A total of 20 subjects in this protocol completed three months of cotinine verified smoking cessation. In these 20 quitters, the reversion of cg05575921 methylation was dependent on their initial smoking intensity, with methylation levels in the heaviest smokers reverting to an average of 0.12% per day over the 3-month treatment period. In addition, we found suggestive evidence that some individuals may have embellished their smoking history to gain entry to the study. Given the prominent effect of smoking on longevity, we conclude that DNA methylation may be a useful tool for guiding and incentivizing contingency management-based approaches for smoking cessation.
Molecular Mechanism of Slow Vegetative Growth in Populus Tetraploid
Authors: Xu Congping , Zhang Ying , Han Qiang , Kang Xiangyang
Published: November 2020

Tetraploid plants often have altered rates of vegetative growth relative to their diploid progenitors. However, the molecular basis for altered growth rates remains a mystery. This study reports microRNA (miRNA) and gene expression differences in Populus tetraploids and counterpart diploids using RNA and miRNA sequencing. The results showed that there was no significant difference between young leaves in the expression of vegetative growth-related miRNAs. However, as leaves aged, the expression of auxin- and gibberellin-related miRNAs was significantly upregulated, while the expression of senescence-related miRNAs was significantly downregulated. The dose effect enhanced the negative regulation of the target genes with ARFs, GA20ox, GA3ox, and GAMYB being downregulated, and TCP and NAC being upregulated. As a result, the chloroplast degradation of tetraploid leaves was accelerated, the photosynthetic rate was decreased, and the synthesis and decomposition ability of carbohydrate was decreased.
Institutional Diversity in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency
Authors: Yan Jingjing , Zhao Dahai
Published: November 2020

Four-quadrant modeling may offer some constructive insights into the institutional diversity of the emergency responses to COVID-19. This study utilized a typological method to investigate institutional arrangements and the emergency management of epidemic responses in China. The task environment for emergencies was divided into four categories. Targeted policies were assigned to explicit task environments by placing them in one of the four quadrants: public health procedures, medical operation standards, supervisory and regulatory measures, and norms and instructions. Institutional diversity resulted when the very loci of decision-making carried a dominant or subordinate role, providing a hierarchical system for relating the institutional processes needed to address the challenges of institutional fragments.
Explaining Sex Differences in Motorcyclist Riding Behavior: An Application of Multi-Group Structural Equation Modeling
Authors: Uttra Savalee , Laddawan Napat , Ratanavaraha Vatanavongs , Jomnonkwao Sajjakaj
Published: November 2020

Road accidents are caused by humans, vehicles, and road environments. Human attitudes affect behavioral changes and can lead to unsafe riding behavior. The sex of an individual is a key factor that affects their riding behavior. We aimed to use structural equation modeling (SEM) by analyzing the multi-group SEM between men and women and applying the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the locus of control (LC) theory. The data used in the research were collected from all over Thailand, consisting of 1516 motorcycle riders (903 men and 613 women) aged over 20 years. A self-administered questionnaire was designed for data collection of the riding behavior using the Motorcycle Rider Behavior Questionnaire (MRBQ), including traffic errors, control errors, stunt frequency, and safety equipment. We found that riding behaviors between men and women were significantly different in both theories. For men, TPB showed that the main factors that highly influenced motorcycle riding behavior (MRB) were the attitudes based on health motivation (AHM) and perceived behavior control (PC); for women, AHM produced a stronger effect than in men. However, for the subjective norms (SN) factor, we found no direct effect on MRB, but did find an indirect effect through the attitudes based on severity (ASE) in both sexes. Particularly for women, the indirect influence value of the SN factor was higher. For women, the LC showed that internal factors had more influence than external factors. The same was found for men, but the effect in women was significantly stronger. We found that sex significantly affected the MRB. Therefore, policies must be implemented that address each group specifically as their attitudes and behaviors are different.
Measuring Residents’ Perceptions of Corporate Social Responsibility at Small- and Medium-Sized Sports Events
Authors: Sánchez-Sáez Juan Antonio , Segado Segado Francisco , Calabuig-Moreno Ferran , Gallardo Guerrero Ana Mª
Published: November 2020

Due to the increase of sports events in local communities, it has become essential to organize such events in a socially responsible way at the environmental, social, and economic levels. The aim of this research was to develop a measurement tool to help determine the degree of social responsibility perceived by residents at small-medium scale sports events, to guide sports managers towards the design of socially responsible sports events. From the elaboration of a questionnaire developed ad-hoc, the perception of the residents was analyzed (n = 516). The psychometric properties of the tool, composed of 35 items, were analyzed by means of an exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. As main conclusions, we were able to contrast the validity and reliability of the questionnaire on the perception of corporate social responsibility in small-scale sports events, around the dimensions of Sustainable Sports Activity, Social Cohesion, and Well-Being. As a consequence, it allowed us to identify three strategic management areas towards which the organizers of these events should focus special attention if they want to progress towards the achievement of socially responsible sports events.
Mediation Effect of Perceived Fitness on the Relationship between Self-Efficacy and Sport Practice in Spanish Adolescents
Authors: Arribas-Galarraga Silvia , Luis-de Cos Izaskun , Luis-de Cos Gurutze , Urrutia-Gutierrez Saioa
Published: November 2020

There has been a decrease in sports practices among the adolescent population, and several authors have tried to identify variables that can explain this decrease by analyzing psychosocial aspects such as perceived fitness and self-efficacy. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to examine the association of perceived fitness and self-efficacy with sport practices and to determine whether perceived fitness is a mediator of the association between self-efficacy and sport practice in Spanish adolescents. The sample was composed of 882 students between 13 and 17 years old from Gipuzkoa (Spain). A descriptive, correlational and direct/indirect effect approach was used, using the PROCESS macro for Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Among the results obtained, it is highlighted on the one hand, that perceived fitness significantly correlates with both self-efficacy and sport practice, on the other hand, it is confirmed that perceived fitness is a mediator in the relationship between self-efficacy and sports practice. This finding highlights the importance of psychosocial aspects in efforts to increase sports practice.
Female Fertility and Environmental Pollution
Authors: Canipari Rita , De Santis Lucia , Cecconi Sandra
Published: November 2020

A realistic picture of our world shows that it is heavily polluted everywhere. Coastal regions and oceans are polluted by farm fertilizer, manure runoff, sewage and industrial discharges, and large isles of waste plastic are floating around, impacting sea life. Terrestrial ecosystems are contaminated by heavy metals and organic chemicals that can be taken up by and accumulate in crop plants, and water tables are heavily contaminated by untreated industrial discharges. As deadly particulates can drift far, poor air quality has become a significant global problem and one that is not exclusive to major industrialized cities. The consequences are a dramatic impairment of our ecosystem and biodiversity and increases in degenerative or man-made diseases. In this respect, it has been demonstrated that environmental pollution impairs fertility in all mammalian species. The worst consequences are observed for females since the number of germ cells present in the ovary is fixed during fetal life, and the cells are not renewable. This means that any pollutant affecting hormonal homeostasis and/or the reproductive apparatus inevitably harms reproductive performance. This decline will have important social and economic consequences that can no longer be overlooked.