bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impactos psicológicos e no processo de aprendizagem de alunos do Ensino Fundamental I durante a pandemia do COVID-19
Authors: Gomes Cassia Amélia , Moraes Nelson Russo de , Azevedo Ana D'Arc Martins de , Quiqueto Ana Maria Barbosa , Martins Valquiria Cristina , Campos Alexandre de Castro
Published: January 2022

O estudo objetivou a identificação de possíveis impactos psicológicos e no processo de aprendizagem de alunos do ensino fundamental I durante a pandemia do COVID-19, bem como a categorização e discussão de tais impactos. Além disso, a identificação de fatores de proteção que podem contribuir para amenizar os impactos e de risco que podem contribuir para potencializar. Trata-se de uma pesquisa bibliográfica, exploratória e qualitativa, visto que buscou o aprofundamento sobre os impactos psicológicos e do processo de aprendizagem durante a pandemia, bem como o conhecimento, a análise e o levantamento das contribuições teóricas existentes a respeito do tema. O estudo utilizou-se de pesquisas recentes a respeito das consequências do isolamento social e da suspensão das aulas presenciais para a criança, sendo esta a população mais afetada devido a sua vulnerabilidade. Ainda, materiais a respeito da importância da interação da criança com grupo de pares para que haja aprendizagem, conforme a teoria sócio-interacionista de Vygotsky. Percebe-se, então, que é preciso criar um ambiente com a predominância de fatores protetivos, de modo a prevenir os possíveis impactos psicológicos e no processo de aprendizagem.
The home office and the ergonomic impacts resulting from the pandemic in an academic community of a Brazilian educational institution
Authors: Almeida Filho Roberto Revoredo de , Oliveira Sabrina Santiago , Vasconcelos Bianca Maria
Published: January 2022

In the current scenario of public health crisis, the work environment has become the Home Office. The present article has the objective of performing a case study, in the form of an opinion survey, about the ergonomics of the academic community of a higher education institution that started to work in a home office regime, aiming to study the impacts related to the transition from work outside the home to the home office due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The present work consists of a descriptive research of the case study type using a form, whose data were treated quantitatively and qualitatively. The methodology of this study was divided into the following steps. The first stage consisted of the literature review, whose objective was to find documents and scientific productions relevant to the topic discussed in this article. Then, a Google Forms form was created, to be directed to the academic community (teachers and administrative technicians) of the Polytechnic School of Pernambuco - POLI/UPE. After completing the application of the form, the information collected was treated according to the Bardin Method. Among the employees of the analyzed EI, 88% reported complaining of pain in at least one part of the body while working in the home office model, even though 55% of them previously considered that the ergonomic conditions of their respective workstations were "good or excellent". Among the complaints, neck pain (64.4% of the cases), stand out.
Perfil epidemiológico dos casos de dengue no estado de Pernambuco, Brasil
Authors: Lima Filho Carlos Antonio de , Lima Anderson Emanuel da Silva , Arcanjo Rúbia Maria Golberto , Silva Daniela de Lira , Jesus Geovanna Figueirêdo de , Albuquerque Amanda Oliveira Bernardino Cavalcanti de , Silva Aline Papin Roedas da , Silva Matheus Vinicius Barbosa da
Published: January 2022

Objetivo: avaliar o perfil epidemiológico da dengue no estado de Pernambuco no período de 2015 a 2020. Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo retrospectivo, descritivo com abordagem qualitativa sobre o perfil epidemiológicos dos casos de dengue no estado de Pernambuco no período de 2015 a 2020. A coleta de dados foi realizada no Sistema de Notificação de Agravo de Notificação (SINAN), vinculado ao Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde (DATASUS), com a coleta de dados sendo realizada em janeiro de 2022. Resultados: No período estudado foram notificados 252.695 casos de dengue, sendo que a maioria foi no público feminino (59%), de faixa etária dos 20-39 (36,08%), de raça parda (40,5%), com uma alta prevalência dos menos escolarizados. A maioria dos casos foram de dengue clássica diagnosticado por métodos clínicos-epidemiológicos evoluindo para cura, sendo que o sorotipo mais prevalente ainda se apresenta desconhecidos, com maior número nos meses mais quente. Conclusão: Ficou em evidência que a dengue ainda é bem prevalente no estado de Pernambuco, a subnotificação é possíveis erros no momento da notificação é um grande desafio apresentado, o que pode dificultar ações de combate a doença.
Meaning in the Face of Death: Implications for Existential Counseling
Authors: Marseille Andre
Published: January 2022

In the last three years, I lost my father, uncle and mentor, perhaps the three most important men in my life. Though I was saddened by their departure, I accept that death is part of the life cycle and that life is a series of linear ‘tick-tocs’ towards an inevitable death. I have grown comfortable with that. I owe this understanding and comfort to my 18-year relationship with my recently departed mentor Dr. Clemmont Vontress, the father of cross-cultural counseling and an existentialist. As I mourn his passing, I am reminded that death is a reminder of our need to make the most of our fragile existence. Frankl reasoned that accepting death was a natural part of the life cycle and that one should find meaning in their existence with the finite time they do have. It is this view which makes a person fundamentally questioned by life itself. Frankl [1] called this view a “Copernican turn.”
Orientation, Parent Engagement, Tutoring, Summer Programs, and College Support: How a City is Helping Immigrant Students
Authors: Evans Kerri , Coney Anna , Musa Amina
Published: January 2022

One in four children in U.S. schools are part of an immigrant family, and we need to ensure that there are enough, and culturally sensitive services available to meet their needs and help them succeed educationally. Using a qualitative document analysis framework, the authors deductively coded more than 110 websites to assess the services available to immigrant students in a city in a Mid-Atlantic state of the United States. The results indicate that services included English as a second language services (n=33), tutoring (n=23), parent engagement activities (n=11), summer programs (n=11), college access programs (n=10), and orientation programs (n=9). Together the agencies and schools offer many programs that are reminiscent of collective impact models. We provide recommendations for future research and practice.
A Novel β-Glucosidase From Chryseobacterium scophthalmum 1433 for Efficient Rubusoside Production From Stevioside
Authors: Yan Zhenxin , Cao Xueting , Yang Xiao , Yang Shida , Xu Li , Jiang Xukai , Xiao Min
Published: January 2022

Graphical Abstract

As a natural sweetening and solubilizing agent, rubusoside has great potential in the application of healthy beverages and pharmaceuticals. A novel β-glucosidase CsBGL obtained here from Chryseobacterium scophthalmum 1433 through screening of the environmental microorganisms could specifically hydrolyze the C-13- or/and C-19-linked sophorese of steviol glycosides, but not the C-13- or/and C-19-linked Glcβ1-2[Glcβ1-3]Glc trisaccharide and Glcβ1-monosaccharide of steviol glycosides, and thus could be a promising biocatalyst for efficient rubusoside production from stevioside.
Enrichment of Glial Cells From Human Post-mortem Tissue for Transcriptome and Proteome Analysis Using Immunopanning
Authors: Nolle Anna , van Dijken Irene , Waelti Ciril M. , Calini Daniela , Bryois Julien , Lezan Emmanuelle , Golling Sabrina , Augustin Angelique , Foo Lynette , Hoozemans Jeroen J. M.
Published: January 2022

Graphical Abstract

Schematic overview of the protocol for human glial-cell enrichment.
Calibration of an Adaptive Genetic Algorithm for Modeling Opinion Diffusion
Authors: Johnson Kara Layne , Carnegie  Nicole Bohme
Published: January 2022

Genetic algorithms mimic the process of natural selection in order to solve optimization problems with minimal assumptions and perform well when the objective function has local optima on the search space. These algorithms treat potential solutions to the optimization problem as chromosomes, consisting of genes which undergo biologically-inspired operators to identify a better solution. Hyperparameters or control parameters determine the way these operators are implemented. We created a genetic algorithm in order to fit a DeGroot opinion diffusion model using limited data, making use of selection, blending, crossover, mutation, and survival operators. We adapted the algorithm from a genetic algorithm for design of mixture experiments, but the new algorithm required substantial changes due to model assumptions and the large parameter space relative to the design space. In addition to introducing new hyperparameters, these changes mean the hyperparameter values suggested for the original algorithm cannot be expected to result in optimal performance. To make the algorithm for modeling opinion diffusion more accessible to researchers, we conduct a simulation study investigating hyperparameter values. We find the algorithm is robust to the values selected for most hyperparameters and provide suggestions for initial, if not default, values and recommendations for adjustments based on algorithm output.
Determinant Factors of SDG Disclosure in the University Context
Authors: De Iorio Serena , Zampone Giovanni , Piccolo Anna
Published: January 2022

Universities are expected to have a leading role in the advancement, promotion, and achievement of the 2030 UN Agenda, embedding the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across their four dimensions (teaching, research, campus operations and governance, and community outreach) and in their reporting cycles from a whole-institution perspective. In this landscape, academics and practitioners have started to assess universities’ commitment toward the global goals. Nonetheless, research on university SDG disclosure is still in its infancy, being limited to descriptive studies, single case studies, or national contexts. This paper aims to analyse SDG disclosure in the university context from a cross-country perspective. Specifically, it investigates the internal and external factors affecting the universities’ disclosure choices through an OLS regression technique based on multiple and complementary theoretical frameworks (i.e., legitimacy theory, stakeholder theory, and institutional theory). Starting from the Times Higher Education (THE) world university ranking, the sample comprises 844 universities in 81 countries observed over the course of 2021. The empirical findings show a significant and positive impact of the institutional macro-context, university size, age, and diversity on SDG disclosure. The results aim to contribute to the debate by the academic community and policy makers on the universities’ commitment to fostering the awareness, collaboration, measurement, and achievement of SDGs.
Acknowledgment to Reviewers of Aerospace in 2021
Authors:   Aerospace Editorial Office
Published: January 2022

Rigorous peer-reviews are the basis of high-quality academic publishing [...]
Using Next-Generation Sequencing Technology to Explore Genetic Pathways in Endophytic Fungi in the Syntheses of Plant Bioactive Metabolites
Authors: Bielecka Monika , Pencakowski Bartosz , Nicoletti Rosario
Published: January 2022

Recent investigations carried out all over the world have disclosed the capacity of a multitude of endophytic fungal species/strains to produce bioactive compounds which are the same or structurally related to those synthesized by their host plants. This intriguing phenomenon has implemented huge research activity aimed at ascertaining the nature of the biological processes underlying this convergence, as well as to characterize the genetic bases of the biosynthetic schemes. Insights on these basic issues may support the biotechnological exploitation of wild strains, and their eventual improvement through genome editing. Aspects concerning the use of next generation sequencing technologies for the comparative elucidation of the biosynthetic pathways operating in endophytic fungi and their host plants are reviewed in this paper in view of applicative perspectives. Our literature search yielded 21 references dealing with at least 26 strains which have been the subject of experimental activities involving massively parallel genome and transcriptome sequencing methods in the last eight years.
Acknowledgment to Reviewers of Agriculture in 2021
Authors:   Agriculture Editorial Office
Published: January 2022

Rigorous peer-reviews are the basis of high-quality academic publishing [...]
Combination of Potassium Phosphite and Reduced Doses of Fungicides Encourages Protection against Phytophthora infestans in Potatoes
Authors: Najdabbasi Neda , Mirmajlessi Seyed Mahyar , Dewitte Kevin , Mänd Marika , Landschoot Sofie , Haesaert Geert
Published: January 2022

Late blight caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans is considered the biggest threat to potato farming worldwide. For susceptible cultivars, the disease is often managed by frequent applications of fungicides to reduce yield loss. The use of bio-based compounds that interfere with biologically active systems is an innovative strategy for improving disease management. In the present work, the control of P. infestans infection on potatoes by potassium phosphite (KPhi) combined with recommended and reduced doses of active ingredients (Ais) from different fungicides was evaluated. The protective effects of different combinations were initially assessed in vivo and subsequently compared with a greenhouse screening. The active ingredients cyazofamid (CFD) and mancozeb (MCB), used at recommended and reduced doses, were less effective at reducing P. infestans infections than when combined with KPhi. In greenhouse trials, CFD, mandipropamid (MPD) and MCB at recommended doses were the most effective treatments when combined with KPhi; meanwhile, the combination of KPhi with azoxystrobin (AZ), benthiavalicarb-isopropyl/mancozeb (ISO/MCB), and CFD at reduced doses exhibited strong protective activity compared to other similar combinations. This decreased the severity of infection by P. infestans up to ~89%. Greenhouse experiments also demonstrated that a combination of KPhi and CFD at both doses caused the highest reduction in disease severity (up to ~90%) within 35 days of infection. In microplot experiments, KPhi delayed the progression of late blight in susceptible potato varieties; therefore, in the combined treatments AUDPC values were significantly lower than those obtained after applications with CFD doses, providing sufficient protection against late blight. Our data suggest that optimizing the formulation with addition of KPhi could result in a lower recommended dose. This would result in a reduction of the active compounds of the fungicides in potato farming. Furthermore, the impact of KPhi on late blight development makes it a potential component for incorporation into an integrated pest management system.
Integrating Crop-Livestock System Practices in Forage and Grain-Based Rotations in Northern Germany: Potentials for Soil Carbon Sequestration
Authors: De Los Rios Josue , Poyda Arne , Reinsch Thorsten , Kluß Christof , Taube Friedhelm , Loges Ralf
Published: January 2022

Integrating leys, cover crops, and animal manures constitute promising avenues to reach annual soil organic carbon changes (ΔSOC) >0.4% in forage and grain-based crop rotations, rates required to offset the increasing C emissions from fossil fuels (“4 per mille” initiative). How these practices and rotations perform in reaching this aim was object of analysis in this paper. Five cropping systems (CS), including three three-year forage and grain-based crop rotations containing annual grass-clover leys (FR and MR) or cover crops (GR), and two contrasting controls (continuous silage maize (CM), and permanent grassland (PG)) were compared for their impact on SOC stocks over eight years (2010–2018). The CS were unfertilized (N0) or fertilized using cattle slurry (N1) at a rate of 240 kg N ha−1 yr−1 applied in the non-leguminous crops. The ΔSOC of the top 30 cm soil layer and the annual carbon inputs (Cin) from slurry applications and plant residues were estimated, their relationship established, and the slurry-induced C retention coefficient was determined. The FR and MR SOC stocks remained stable at N1, while the GR and CM SOC decreased over time by tendency even at N1. Only the PG reached ΔSOC >0.4%. Differences in ΔSOC between CS and N rates were highly associated with the system-specific increase in belowground Cin, induced by slurry applications. Slurry-induced C retention coefficients differed strongly between CS: CM (3%) followed by GR (12%), and by FR and MR (20–15%), and lastly by PG (24%). Promoting belowground carbon inputs was identified as an efficient way to reach significant increases in ΔSOC. We conclude that a ley in only one out of three years is not sufficient to significantly increase SOC stocks in arable crop rotations of the study region.
The Impact of the Animal Housing System on Immune Cell Composition and Function in the Blood of Dromedary Camels
Authors: Hussen Jamal , Al-Sukruwah Mohammed Ali
Published: January 2022

Background: The dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) is an important livestock animal of desert and semi-desert ecosystems. In recent years, several elements of the camel immune system have been characterized. Stress and excitement induced by animal housing represent the most important environmental factors with potential modulatory effects on the immune system. The present study evaluated the impacts of a restricted-housing system on some phenotypic and functional properties of blood leukocytes in dromedary camels. Methods: Immunofluorescence and flow cytometry were used to comparatively analyze samples collected from camels during a free-ranging time and samples collected from the same camels during movement-restricted housing. Results: In comparison to blood samples collected from the camels during the free-ranging time, samples from movement-restricted camels showed elevated serum myeloperoxidase activity, a significant shape-change in their neutrophils, and higher reactive oxygen species content in their monocytes and neutrophils, indicating increased cellular oxidative stress under movement-restricted housing. The leukogram pattern of the camels under restricted housing was characterized by leukocytosis with increased numbers of neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes, resembling an excitement leukogram pattern. Within the lymphocyte population, only the helper T cells and B cells were expanded in animals under restricted housing. The upregulation of CD163 together with the downregulation of MHC-II on monocytes from excited camels indicate a modulatory potential of animal excitement to polarize monocytes toward an anti-inflammatory phenotype. Functional analysis of bacterial phagocytosis indicates an impaired antibacterial function of phagocytes in excited camels. The downregulation of several cell adhesion molecules on leukocytes from excited camels suggests a role for impaired cell adhesion and tissue migration and leukocyte retention in blood in the observed leukocytosis in animals under excitement. Conclusions: The present study identified significant changes in blood immune cell composition, phenotype, and function in dromedary camels under restricted-housing conditions. The observed changes in leukocyte composition suggest the development of an excitement leukogram pattern in camels under movement-restricted housing. To evaluate the clinical relevance of the observed changes in immune cell phenotype and function for the immune competence of camels under restricted housing, further studies are required.
Influences of Dietary Supplementation with Maca (Lepidium meyenii) on Performance, Parameters of Growth Curve and Carcass Characteristics in Japanese Quail
Authors: Turgud Firdevs Korkmaz , Narinç Doğan
Published: January 2022

Maca plant contains rich nutrients and in addition, it has various bioactive substances (N-benzyl-palmitamide, benzyl isothiocyanate, glucosinolates and phenolics). It is used to improve reproductive properties and has antioxidant effects for both humans and animals. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of adding maca plant powder to the ration at different levels on growth, slaughter carcass, partial egg production and some reproductive characteristics in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). The experimental groups were formed by adding 0% (control), 0.05% and 0.1% maca powder to the diet, and a total of 300 birds were used. Growth (weekly body weights, parameters of Gompertz growth function), feed efficiency and carcass characteristics of quails in the 42-day fattening trial were determined. Reproductive characteristics were measured up to 22 weeks of age. Addition of maca powder to the diet increased the feed consumption (p < 0.05) but did not affect body weights at 35 and 42 days of age, β0 and β1 parameters or point of inflection weight of the Gompertz model, carcass traits, partial egg production or fertility. It may be advisable to add 0.1% maca powder to the diets of breeders. Besides, maca powder reduced embryonic deaths and improved chick quality (both p < 0.05). It is thought that different results for reproductive traits can be obtained if maca powder is used for a longer period in the diets of breeder quail flocks.
Factors Associated with Mortality of Lambs Born to Ewe Hoggets
Authors: Ridler Anne L. , Flay Kate J. , Kenyon Paul R. , Blair Hugh T. , Corner-Thomas Rene A. , Pettigrew Emma J.
Published: January 2022

The reproductive performance of ewe hoggets is poorer than that of mature-age ewes due to production of fewer lambs with poorer survival. Scant data are available on the risk factors for, and causes of, the mortality for lambs born to ewe hoggets, the impact of ewe deaths on lamb loss, and the causes of death for lambs born to ewe hoggets vs. mature-age ewes lambing in the same circumstances. In this study, 297 lambs born to 1142 ewe hoggets were necropsied along with 273 lambs born to 1050 mature-age ewes. Low lamb birthweight, multiple litter size, and increasing ewe hogget average daily gain from breeding to late pregnancy were risk factors for lamb mortality. The most common cause of mortality for lambs born to ewe hoggets was stillbirth and the risk factors for stillbirth were similar to those for lamb mortality generally. Approximately 11% of ewe hoggets’ lamb deaths were due to the death of the dam. Causes of mortality differed between lambs born to ewe hoggets vs. those born to mature-age ewes. Management practices to increase ewe hogget lambs’ birthweights (particularly those from multiple litters) and supervision of ewe hoggets at lambing time are recommended.
Compound Probiotics Improve the Diarrhea Rate and Intestinal Microbiota of Newborn Calves
Authors: Liu Bo , Wang Chunjie , Huasai Simujide , Han Aricha , Zhang Jian , He Lina , Aorigele Chen
Published: January 2022

We evaluated the effects of probiotic compounds on the composition of the gut microbiota. Forty newborn calves were random allocated to the lactic acid bacteria + yeast group (LS group), lactic acid bacteria group (L group), yeast group (S group), and control group (D group). Probiotics containing Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Kluyveromyces marxianus were fed to calves in the three treatment groups for 15 days. The feeding process lasted 15 days. Fecal samples were collected from all calves at the end of the trial and analyzed using high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing. Totals of 1,029,260 high-quality reads and 420,010,128 bp of sequences were obtained. Among the four groups, the alpha diversity of gut microbes was significantly higher in newborn cattle in the LS group than in those in the L, S, and D groups. Overall, the dominant phyla were Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, whereas Bifidobacterium was the most abundant phylum in the gut of cattle in the LS group. Newborn calves from the compound probiotic groups had closely clustered gut bacterial communities and had lower rates of diarrhea. Overall, compound probiotics regulated the intestinal microbiota community structure of newborn calves and improved intestinal health. New information relevant to the prevention of diarrhea is provided by our research in newborn calves.
Dynamic Gene Clusters Mediating Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Clinical Isolates
Authors: Selim Samy , Faried Osama Ahmed , Almuhayawi Mohamed S. , Mohammed Osama A. , Saleh Fayez M. , Warrad Mona
Published: January 2022

Acinetobacter baumanni (A. baumannii), a nonfermenting Gram-negative bacterium, has recently been associated with a broad range of nosocomial infections. To gain more meaningful insight into the problem of nosocomial illnesses caused by the multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii, as well as the factors that increase the risk of catching these infections, this investigation included a total of 86 clinical A. baumannii infections. Repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP)-PCR was used to investigate imipenem-resistant A. baumannii isolates for dynamic gene clusters causing carbapenem resistance. Four distinct A. baumannii lineages were found in the REP-PCR-DNA fingerprints of all isolates, with 95% of the samples coming from two dominant lineages. Imipenem, amikacin, and ciprofloxacin were less effective against genotype (A) isolates because of enhanced antibiotic tolerance. Lastly, to gain more insight into the mode of action of imipenem, we explored the binding affinity of imipenem toward different Acinetobacter baumannii OXA beta-lactamase class enzymes.
Simultaneous Hydrolysis of Ellagitannins and Extraction of Ellagic Acid from Defatted Raspberry Seeds Using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES)
Authors: Teslić Nemanja , Santos Filipa , Oliveira Filipe , Stupar Alena , Pojić Milica , Mandić Anamarija , Pavlić Branimir , Kljakić Aleksandra Cvetanović , Duarte Ana Rita C. , Paiva Alexandre , Mišan Aleksandra
Published: January 2022

Defatted raspberry seeds were used as an alternative source of antioxidants and ellagic acid (EA) extracted using Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES). In the preliminary study, the best NADES combination (citric acid-betaine) and the most influential variables (temperature, time, and NADES/plant ratio) were selected for the further optimization process. All samples were analyzed in terms of total polyphenol, EA content, and antioxidant activity. Two sets of optimal conditions were generated by response surface methodology. The first set (Opt1) was designed for higher conversion of ellagitannins to EA while the latter set (Opt2) for higher EA content/100 g extract. Opt1 and Opt2 had higher values for all investigated responses compared to 80% ethanolic extract but had a lower conversion rate of ellagitannins to EA compared to acidified methanol extract. The third set of parameters (Opt3) selected beyond the initial experimental domain was used to obtain a sample with the highest EA content/100 g extract. Due to their nature, NADES extracts are ready to use and could have various technological roles in products since they are antioxidants, acidifiers, and colorants. NADES raspberry extracts exhibited higher anti-proliferative activity compared to ethanolic extracts in terms of EC50 values. However, the main contributor of anti-cancer activity in NADES raspberry extracts were individual NADES compounds and/or their newly formed NADES structure.
Therapeutic Effects of Bee Bread on Obesity-Induced Testicular-Derived Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis in High-Fat Diet Obese Rat Model
Authors: Suleiman Joseph Bagi , Mohamed Mahaneem , Abu Bakar Ainul Bahiyah , Zakaria Zaida , Othman Zaidatul Akmal , Nna Victor Udo
Published: January 2022

Obesity is a debilitating disorder with a variety of problems including oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. The aim of our study was to investigate the therapeutic role of bee bread on oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation in the testis of obese rats. Thirty-two adult male Sprague Dawley rats, with weights between 230–300 g, were distributed into four groups (n = 8/group), namely normal control (C), obese (Ob), obese + BB or obese + OR [high-fat diet (HFD) for 6 weeks then HFD plus bee bread or orlistat for another 6 weeks] groups. Bee bread (0.5 g/kg) or orlistat (10 mg/kg/day) was diluted with distilled water and administered daily for 6 weeks by oral gavage. There were significant decreases in the activities of antioxidant enzymes [glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR)], glutathione (GSH)] and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels and mRNA expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2), superoxide dismutase (Sod), catalase (Cat) and glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) in the obese group relative to the control group. Meanwhile, the mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory markers, namely: inducible nitric oxide synthase (Inos), nuclear factor kappa B (Nf-κβ), tumour necrotic factor α (Tnf-α) and interleukin 1β (Il-1β) were significantly increased while interleukin (Il-10) was decreased in the obese group relative to the control group. Further, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunoexpressions decreased while cleaved caspase-3 immunohistochemical staining increased significantly in the obese group, in addition to increases in the mRNA levels of p53, Bax, Caspases-8, 9 and 3, relative to the control group. Treatment with bee bread showed increases in antioxidant enzymes and PCNA immunoexpression, as well as decreases in inflammation and apoptosis markers in the testes. This study has shown that bee bread has therapeutic effects against oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis in the testis of HFD-induced obese male rats, thereby suggesting its role as a natural supplement capable of treating obesity-induced male reproductive impairment.
Circadian Clocks, Redox Homeostasis, and Exercise: Time to Connect the Dots?
Authors: McClean Conor , Davison Gareth W.
Published: January 2022

Compelling research has documented how the circadian system is essential for the maintenance of several key biological processes including homeostasis, cardiovascular control, and glucose metabolism. Circadian clock disruptions, or losses of rhythmicity, have been implicated in the development of several diseases, premature ageing, and are regarded as health risks. Redox reactions involving reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) regulate several physiological functions such as cell signalling and the immune response. However, oxidative stress is associated with the pathological effects of RONS, resulting in a loss of cell signalling and damaging modifications to important molecules such as DNA. Direct connections have been established between circadian rhythms and oxidative stress on the basis that disruptions to circadian rhythms can affect redox biology, and vice versa, in a bi-directional relationship. For instance, the expression and activity of several key antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx, and CAT) appear to follow circadian patterns. Consequently, the ability to unravel these interactions has opened an exciting area of redox biology. Exercise exerts numerous benefits to health and, as a potent environmental cue, has the capacity to adjust disrupted circadian systems. In fact, the response to a given exercise stimulus may also exhibit circadian variation. At the same time, the relationship between exercise, RONS, and oxidative stress has also been scrutinised, whereby it is clear that exercise-induced RONS can elicit both helpful and potentially harmful health effects that are dependent on the type, intensity, and duration of exercise. To date, it appears that the emerging interface between circadian rhythmicity and oxidative stress/redox metabolism has not been explored in relation to exercise. This review aims to summarise the evidence supporting the conceptual link between the circadian clock, oxidative stress/redox homeostasis, and exercise stimuli. We believe carefully designed investigations of this nexus are required, which could be harnessed to tackle theories concerned with, for example, the existence of an optimal time to exercise to accrue physiological benefits.
Efficient 2-Step Enzymatic Cascade for the Bioconversion of Oleuropein into Hydroxytyrosol
Authors: Catinella Giorgia , Donzella Silvia , Borgonovo Gigliola , Dallavalle Sabrina , Contente Martina Letizia , Pinto Andrea
Published: January 2022

Among the plant bioactive components, oleuropein (OLE) is the most abundant phenolic compound in all parts of olive trees (Olea europaea L.), particularly concentrated in olive leaves. It has been shown to present various remarkable biological actions, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory ones. On the other hand, hydroxytyrosol (HT), the main degradation product of OLE, is considered one of the most powerful antioxidant agents, with higher beneficial properties than the OLE parent compound. In this work, oleuropein was efficiently transformed into hydroxytyrosol using a 2-step biotransformation involving a thermo-halophilic β-glucosidase from Alicyclobacillus herbarius (Ahe), which gave the corresponding aglycone with complete conversion (>99%) and rapid reaction times (30 min), and an acyltransferase from Mycobacterium smegmatis (MsAcT), here employed for the first time for its hydrolytic activity. After cascade completion, hydroxytyrosol was obtained in excellent yield (>99% m.c., 96% isolated yield) in 24 h. Starting from a natural substrate and employing enzymatic approaches, the final hydroxytyrosol can be claimed and commercialized as natural too, thus increasing its market value.
Serum Trace Elements Concentrations in Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome
Authors: Jiménez-Jiménez Félix Javier , Ayuso Pedro , Alonso-Navarro Hortensia , Calleja Marisol , Díez-Fairén Mónica , Álvarez Ignacio , Pastor Pau , Plaza-Nieto José Francisco , Navarro-Muñoz Santiago , Turpín-Fenoll Laura , Millán-Pascual Jorge , Recio-Bermejo Marta , García-Ruiz Rafael , García-Albea Esteban , Agúndez José A. G. , García-Martín Elena
Published: January 2022

Increased brain and serum zinc levels in patients with idiopathic restless legs syndrome (idiopathic RLS or iRLS) were described when compared with controls, suggesting a possible role of zinc in the pathogenesis of this disease. However, serum magnesium, calcium, manganese, iron, and copper levels of RLS patients were similar to controls, suggesting a specific impairment of zinc-dependent metabolism in RLS. The aim of this study is to assess the serum concentrations of trace elements involved in oxidative stress or causing peripheral nerve toxicity in a large series of patients with iRLS and controls. We determined serum levels of iron, copper, manganese, zinc, magnesium, selenium, calcium, aluminium, lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury in 100 patients diagnosed with iRLS and in 110 age- and sex-matched controls using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Serum copper, magnesium, selenium, and calcium concentrations were significantly higher in RLS patients than in controls. These differences were observed both in men and women. There were no major correlations between serum trace metal concentrations and age at onset of RLS or RLS severity, nor was there any association with a family history of RLS or drug response. This study shows an association between increased serum concentrations of copper, magnesium, selenium, and calcium with RLS in a Spanish Caucasian population and does not confirm the previously reported increase in serum zinc concentrations in patients suffering from this disease, suggesting that the different accuracy of the analytical methods used could have influenced the inconsistent results found in the literature.
Influence of Bottleneck on Productivity of Production Processes Controlled by Different Pull Control Mechanisms
Authors: Tošanović Nataša , Štefanić Nedeljko
Published: January 2022

The goal of any lean implementation in production process is achieving better production performances and one of them is productivity. Among many lean principles, pull principle is the most complex to achieve. There are different production control mechanisms for achieving pull and making decision which one to apply can be demanding because sometimes it is not obvious which is the best for specific situation. Many different production parameters influence production process and for one production setting, one control mechanism is the best choice, but for another production setting it might not be. One goal of this study was to research the influence of bottleneck in the production process in regard to achieving better productivity by applying pull principle. Some of the literature considered deals with the topic of bottleneck and pull but focuses only on bottleneck or in addition on one another production parameter and most of the literature studies up to three different pull control mechanisms. One of the objectives of this study was also to fill the research gap in a way to investigate more mechanisms, particularly, according to the literature, those most widely used in various production conditions with emphasis on bottleneck. The advantage of this research is that in addition to the bottleneck, other parameters, namely the number of control cards, variations and processing time are considered. For that reason, simulation experimentation was conducted and as a result regression functions modelling the relationship between productivity and mentioned parameters for four different pull control mechanisms are gained. The analysis showed that the existence of a bottleneck affects the effectiveness of pull mechanisms in terms of productivity.
Sliding-Mode Control of a Photovoltaic System Based on a Flyback Converter for Microinverter Applications
Authors: Ramos-Paja Carlos Andres , Bastidas-Rodriguez Juan David , Saavedra-Montes Andres Julian
Published: January 2022

A method to design a sliding-mode control of a photovoltaic system based on a flyback converter is proposed. First, the photovoltaic system is modeled to design the sliding-mode controller and to select the parameters of a maximum power point tracking algorithm. Then, the detailed design of the sliding-mode controller is presented, which includes the establishment of the sliding surface. The transversality, reachability, and equivalent control tests are also developed. Because the power extraction of the PV system is carried out through a P&O MPPT algorithm, the selection of the perturbation magnitude, the perturbation period, and the maximum switching frequency is integrated into the control design. Additionally, since the derivative of the MPPT output could prevent the achievement of the reachability test, a filter to limit that derivative is also integrated into the design process. The whole method is illustrated in an application example where the data of a BP585 PV module and a real flyback converter are used. Once the parameters were obtained, circuital simulations performed in PSIM validated the intended operation of a PV system composed of a PV module and a flyback converter, which is connected to a source that produces the perturbations of an AC grid.
An Efficient Greedy Randomized Heuristic for the Maximum Coverage Facility Location Problem with Drones in Healthcare
Authors: Al-Rabiaah Sumayah , Hosny Manar , AlMuhaideb Sarab
Published: January 2022

Recently, drones, have been utilized in many real-life applications including healthcare services. For example, providing medical supplies, blood samples, and vaccines to people in remote areas or during emergencies. In this study, the maximum coverage facility location problem with drones (MCFLPD) was studied. The problem is the application of drones in the context of the facility location and routing. It involves selecting the locations of drone launching centers, which maximizes patient service coverage within certain drone range constraints. In this study, a heuristic named the maximum coverage greedy randomized heuristic (MCGRH) is developed. The idea of the algorithm is to first choose some facilities to open at random from among those that can handle the most weight of the patient demands. After that, patients are assigned to the closest opened facility with the capacity to serve them. Finally, drones are assigned to patients based on the least amount of battery consumed between the patient and the facility. Extensive testing of MCGRH indicated that it ranks efficiently alongside other methods in the literature that tried to solve the MCFLPD. It was able to achieve a high coverage of patients (more than 80% on average) within a very fast processing time (less than 1 s on average).
Computational Analysis of a 200 GHz Phased Array Using Lens-Coupled Annular-Slot Antennas
Authors: Li Peizhao , Shi Yu , Deng Yijing , Liu Lei
Published: January 2022

We report the design, simulation, and analysis of a THz phased array, using lens-coupled annular-slot antennas (ASAs) for potential beyond 5G or 6G wireless communications. For a prototype demonstration, the ASA employed was designed on a high resistivity Si substrate with a radius of 106 μm, and a gap width of 6 um for operation at 200 GHz. In order to achieve higher antenna gain and efficiency, an extended hemispherical silicon lens was also used. To investigate the effect of the silicon lens on the ASA phased array, a 1 × 3 array and 1 × 5 array (the element distance is 0.55λ) were implemented with a silicon lens using different extension lengths. The simulation shows that for a 1 × 3 array, a ±17° scanning angle with an about −10 dB sidelobe level and 11.82 dB gain improvement (compared to the array without lens) can be achieved using a lens radius of 5000 μm and an extension length of 1000 μm. A larger scanning angle of ±31° can also be realized by a 1 × 5 array (using a shorter extension length of 250 μm). The approach of designing a 200 GHz lens-coupled phased array reported here is informative and valuable for the future development of wireless communication technologies.
Diffraction Effects of IEC63034 Standard Micro-Baffle on the Frequency Response Measurements of Microspeakers
Authors: Huang Jie , Gu Jun , Feng Xuelei , Shen Yong
Published: January 2022

This study investigates the diffraction effects of the IEC 63034 standard micro–baffle (SMB) on the frequency response (FR) measurements of microspeakers based on the extended Biot–Tolstoy–Medwin technique. Two different cases with and without the consideration of the backward diffractions of the SMB were investigated, which correspond to different practical measurement conditions of microspeaker drivers and closed-box microspeaker modules. The experimental results obtained were consistent with the theoretical analysis and numerical calculations. Normalized FR curves characterizing the SMB diffraction effects were presented, which can be used to compensate the FRs measured on the SMB to obtain the results measured on an ideal infinite baffle and eliminate the SMB diffraction effects.
Microencapsulation as a Noble Technique for the Application of Bioactive Compounds in the Food Industry: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Mehta Nitin , Kumar Pavan , Verma Akhilesh K. , Umaraw Pramila , Kumar Yogesh , Malav Om Prakash , Sazili Awis Qurni , Domínguez Rubén , Lorenzo José M.
Published: January 2022

The use of natural food ingredients has been increased in recent years due to the negative health implications of synthetic ingredients. Natural bioactive compounds are important for the development of health-oriented functional food products with better quality attributes. The natural bioactive compounds possess different types of bioactivities, e.g., antioxidative, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, and antiobesity activities. The most common method for the development of functional food is the fortification of these bioactive compounds during food product manufacturing. However, many of these natural bioactive compounds are heat-labile and less stable. Therefore, the industry and researchers proposed the microencapsulation of natural bioactive compounds, which may improve the stability of these compounds during processing and storage conditions. It may also help in controlling and sustaining the release of natural compounds in the food product matrices, thus, providing bioactivity for a longer duration. In this regard, several advanced techniques have been explored in recent years for microencapsulation of bioactive compounds, e.g., essential oils, healthy oils, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, flavoring compounds, enzymes, and vitamins. The efficiency of microencapsulation depends on various factors which are related to natural compounds, encapsulating materials, and encapsulation process. This review provides an in-depth discussion on recent advances in microencapsulation processes as well as their application in food systems.
Formal Modeling and Improvement in the Random Path Routing Network Scheme Using Colored Petri Nets
Authors: Farooq Muhammad Shoaib , Idrees Muhammad , Rehman Attique Ur , Khan Muhammad Zubair , Abunadi Ibrahim , Assam Muhammad , Althobaiti Maha M. , Al-Wesabi Fahd N.
Published: January 2022

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have been applied in networking devices, and a new problem has emerged called source-location privacy (SLP) in critical security systems. In wireless sensor networks, hiding the location of the source node from the hackers is known as SLP. The WSNs have limited battery capacity and low computational ability. Many state-of-the-art protocols have been proposed to address the SLP problems and other problems such as limited battery capacity and low computational power. One of the popular protocols is random path routing (RPR), and in random path routing, the system keeps sending the message randomly along all the possible paths from a source node to a sink node irrespective of the path’s distance. The problem arises when the system keeps sending a message via the longest route, resulting because of high battery usage and computational costs. This research paper presents a novel networking model referred to as calculated random path routing (CRPR). CRPR first calculates the top three shortest paths, and then randomly sends a token to any of the top three shortest calculated paths, ensuring the optimal tradeoff between computational cost and SLP. The proposed methodology includes the formal modeling of the CRPR in Colored Petri Nets. We have validated and verified the CRPR, and the results depict the optimal tradeoff.