bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pulmonary Rehabilitation Reduces Subjective Fatigue in COPD: A Responder Analysis
Authors: Van Herck Maarten , Antons Jeanine , Vercoulen Jan H. , Goërtz Yvonne M. J. , Ebadi Zjala , Burtin Chris , Janssen Daisy J. A. , Thong Melissa S. Y. , Otker Jacqueline , Coors Arnold , Sprangers Mirjam A. G. , Muris Jean W. M. , Prins Judith B. , Spruit Martijn A. , Peters Jeannette B.
Published: August 2019

To date, it remains unknown which patients report a clinically-relevant improvement in fatigue following pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). The purpose of this study was to identify and characterize these responders. Demographics, lung function, anxiety (anxiety subscale of the 90-item symptom checklist (SCL-90-A)), depression (Beck depression inventory for primary care (BDI-PC)), exercise tolerance (six-minute walking distance test (6MWD)), and health status (Nijmegen clinical screening instrument (NCSI)) were assessed before and after a 12-week PR programme. Fatigue was assessed using the checklist individual strength (CIS)-Fatigue. Patients with a decline ≥ 10 points (minimally clinically important difference, MCID) on the CIS-Fatigue were defined as responders. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients (n = 446, 61 ± 9 years, 53% male, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) 43% ± 18% predicted, 75% severe fatigue) were included. Mean change in fatigue after PR was 10 ± 12 points (p < 0.01) and exceeded the MCID. In total, 56% were identified as fatigue responders. Baseline CIS-Fatigue (45 ± 7 vs. 38 ± 9 points, respectively, p < 0.001) and health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL; p < 0.001) were different between responders and non-responders. No differences were found in demographics, baseline anxiety, depression, lung function, 6MWD, and dyspnoea (p-values > 0.01). Responders on fatigue reported a greater improvement in anxiety, depression, 6MWD, dyspnoea (all p-values < 0.001), and most health status parameters. PR reduces fatigue in COPD. Responders on fatigue have worse fatigue and HRQoL scores at baseline, and are also likely to be responders on other outcomes of PR.
Does the Implementation of a Quality Improvement Care Bundle Reduce the Incidence of Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Undergoing Emergency Laparotomy?
Authors: Doyle James F. , Sarnowski Alexander , Saadat Farzad , Samuels Theophilus L. , Huddart Sam , Quiney Nial , Dickinson Matthew C. , McCormick Bruce , deBrunner Robert , Preece Jeremy , Swart Michael , Peden Carol J. , Richards Sarah , Forni Lui G.
Published: August 2019

Purpose: Previous work has demonstrated a survival improvement following the introduction of an enhanced recovery protocol in patients undergoing emergency laparotomy (the emergency laparotomy pathway quality improvement care (ELPQuiC) bundle). Implementation of this bundle increased the use of intra-operative goal directed fluid therapy and ICU admission, both evidence-based strategies recommended to improve kidney outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine if the observed mortality benefit could be explained by a difference in the incidence of AKI pre- and post-implementation of the protocol. Method: The primary outcome was the incidence of AKI in the pre- and post-ELPQuiC bundle patient population in four acute trusts in the United Kingdom. Secondary outcomes included the KDIGO stage specific incidence of AKI. Serum creatinine values were obtained retrospectively at baseline, in the post-operative period and the maximum recorded creatinine between day 1 and day 30 were obtained. Results: A total of 303 patients pre-ELPQuiC bundle and 426 patients post-ELPQuiC bundle implementation were identified across the four centres. The overall AKI incidence was 18.4% in the pre-bundle group versus 19.8% in the post bundle group p = 0.653. No significant differences were observed between the groups. Conclusions: Despite this multi-centre cohort study demonstrating an overall survival benefit, implementation of the quality improvement care bundle did not affect the incidence of AKI.
Effects of Active Video Games on Children’s Psychosocial Beliefs and School Day Energy Expenditure
Authors: Gao Zan , Pope Zachary C. , Lee Jung Eun , Quan Minghui
Published: August 2019

Purpose: Examine the effects of active video games (AVGs) on children’s school-day energy expenditure (EE) and physical activity (PA)-related self-efficacy, social support, and outcome expectancy over 9 months. Method: Participants were 81 fourth grade students ( X ¯ age = 9.23 years, SD = 0.62; 39 girls) from two urban Minnesota elementary schools. A once-weekly 50 min AVG intervention was implemented in the intervention school for 9 months in 2014–2015 while the control school continued regular recess. Children’s school-day EE (daily caloric expenditure) and mean daily metabolic equivalent (MET) values were estimated via accelerometry whereas self-efficacy, social support, and outcome expectancy were assessed with psychometrically-validated questionnaires. All measures were completed at baseline and at the 4th and 9th months. Results: We observed significant interaction effects for daily caloric expenditure, F(1, 58) = 15.8, p < 0.01, mean daily MET values, F(1, 58) = 11.3, p < 0.01, and outcome expectancy, F(1, 58) = 4.5, p < 0.05. Specifically, intervention children had greater increases in daily caloric expenditure (91 kilocalorie/day post-intervention group difference), with control children decreasing daily caloric expenditure over time. We observed identical trends for mean daily MET values (0.35 METs/day post-intervention group difference). Interestingly, we observed outcome expectancy to increase in the control children, but decrease among intervention children, at post-intervention (1.35 group difference). Finally, we observed a marginally significant interaction effect for social support, F(1, 58) = 3.104, p = 0.08, with an increase and decrease seen in the intervention and control children, respectively. We observed no interaction or main effects for self-efficacy. Discussion: Observations suggested an AVG intervention contributed to longitudinal increases in school-day EE and social support compared to the control condition. Future research should examine how self-efficacy and outcome expectancy might be promoted during school-based AVG interventions.
Mechanical Performance Assessment of Internally-Defected Materials Manufactured Using Additive Manufacturing Technology
Authors: Ismail Mourad Abdel-Hamid , Idrisi Amir , Christy John , Thekkuden Dinu , Al Jassmi Hamad , Ghazal Abdallah , Syam Mahmmoud , Ali Ahmed Al Qadi Omar
Published: August 2019

Assessment of the mechanical performance of internally-defected components or struc-tures is of crucial importance to many industrial fields such as aerospace, automobile, marine, construction etc. Most of the studies available in the literature include only analytical or numerical solutions, due to difficulty in the manufacturing of a testing sample with a specific internal defect geometry for experimental evaluations. In this study, Fusion Deposition Modeling (FDM) was utilized in the 3D-printing of Polylactic Acid (PLA) samples with internal cracks, aiming to assess their impact on the samples’ mechanical performance. The defect geometry, orientation, location along the sample gauge length and the influence of the process parameters, such as the infill percentage and the material color, were investigated. The influence of the internal defects is more pronounced for a 100% infill rate if compared with a 50% infill rate as a consequence of the porosity. A maximum drop of ~14% in the peak load of defect-free samples was recorded due to the presence of the internal defect. Moreover, the additive color to the PLA material might contribute to the material strength. Generally, the findings of this work could open another door for utilizing the additive manufacturing in many research areas, with potential industrial applications relevant to the assessment of internally-defected materials.
Cohen Macaulay Bipartite Graphs and Regular Element on the Powers of Bipartite Edge Ideals
Authors: Banerjee Arindam , Mukundan Vivek
Published: August 2019

In this article, we discuss new characterizations of Cohen-Macaulay bipartite edge ideals. For arbitrary bipartite edge ideals I ( G ) , we also discuss methods to recognize regular elements on I ( G ) s for all s ≥ 1 in terms of the combinatorics of the graph G.
Similar Allergenicity to Different Artemisia Species Is a Consequence of Highly Cross-Reactive Art v 1-Like Molecules
Authors: Pablos Isabel , Egger Matthias , Vejvar Eva , Reichl Victoria , Briza Peter , Zennaro Danila , Rafaiani Chiara , Pickl Winfried , Bohle Barbara , Mari Adriano , Ferreira Fatima , Gadermaier Gabriele
Published: August 2019

Background and objectives: Pollens of weeds are relevant elicitors of type I allergies. While many Artemisia species occur worldwide, allergy research so far has only focused on Artemisia vulgaris. We aimed to characterize other prevalent Artemisia species regarding their allergen profiles. Materials and Methods: Aqueous extracts of pollen from seven Artemisia species were characterized by gel electrophoresis and ELISA using sera from mugwort pollen-allergic patients (n = 11). The cDNA sequences of defensin–proline-linked proteins (DPLPs) were obtained, and purified proteins were tested in a competition ELISA, in rat basophil mediator release assays, and for activation of Jurkat T cells transduced with an Art v 1-specific TCR. IgE cross-reactivity to other allergens was evaluated using ImmunoCAP and ISAC. Results: The protein patterns of Artemisia spp. pollen extracts were similar in gel electrophoresis, with a major band at 24 kDa corresponding to DPLPs, like the previously identified Art v 1. Natural Art v 1 potently inhibited IgE binding to immobilized pollen extracts. Six novel Art v 1 homologs with high sequence identity and equivalent IgE reactivity were identified and termed Art ab 1, Art an 1, Art c 1, Art f 1, Art l 1, and Art t 1. All proteins triggered mediator release and cross-reacted at the T cell level. The Artemisia extracts contained additional IgE cross-reactive molecules from the nonspecific lipid transfer protein, pectate lyase, profilin, and polcalcin family. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that DPLPs in various Artemisia species have high allergenic potential. Therefore, related Artemisia species need to be considered to be allergen elicitors, especially due to the consideration of potential geographic expansion due to climatic changes.
Self-Prescribed Dietary Restrictions are Common in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients and Are Associated with Low Bone Mineralization
Authors: Larussa Tiziana , Suraci Evelina , Marasco Raffaella , Imeneo Maria , Abenavoli Ludovico , Luzza Francesco
Published: August 2019

Background and objectives: Despite the serious concerns of patients about the role of food in triggering or ameliorating their intestinal disease, there are few studies dealing with patients’ beliefs and practices regarding diet in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to investigate how the disease affected the dietary habits of patients with IBD, and to assess if patients’ food restrictions were responsible for low bone mineralization. Materials and Methods: For this study, 90 consecutive patients referred for IBD were interviewed regarding their dietary habits. Demographic features and clinical characteristics potentially associated with the dietary habits were collected. A validated and self-administered survey questionnaire dealing with dietary habits and patients’ beliefs and perceptions regarding food was analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed in order to identify risk factors for dietary restrictions among participants and to evaluate the relationship between dietary restrictions and low bone mineral density (BMD). Results: Among the 63 (70%) patients who claimed a self-prescribed dietary restriction, 84% avoided dairy products. Significant risk factors (adjusted odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI)) for the dietary restrictions were a younger age (p = 0.02), a higher level of education (p = 0.007), and a higher visceral sensitivity index (p = 0.009). Most (80%) of the patients displayed an inadequate calcium intake, and an abnormal result at dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan accounting for low BMD was reported in 46 (51%) of them. Dietary restrictions (p = 0.03), and in particular avoiding dairy products (p = 0.001), were significant risk factors for a low BMD, along with female gender (p = 0.001), smoking (p = 0.04), and steroid abuse (p = 0.03). Almost all (86%) patients changed their diet after IBD diagnosis, as 8% believed that foods could have been a trigger for IBD and 37% that a proper diet was more important than drugs in controlling disease. Although 61% of the patients claimed to have received nutritional advice, 78% of the participants showed interest in receiving more. Conclusions: Dietary habits of IBD patients should be investigated by healthcare professionals as part of the routine visit. Clinicians are invited to provide nutritional recommendations to these patients in order to avoid unnecessary self-prescribed dietary restrictions.
Venous Thromboembolism Recurrence in Latvian Population: Single University Hospital Data
Authors: Ģībietis Valdis , Kigitoviča Dana , Strautmane Sintija , Meilande Kitija , Kalējs Verners Roberts , Zaičenko Anastasija , Maķe Kristīne , Lejnieks Aivars , Skride Andris
Published: August 2019

Background and objectives: Recurrence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after a primary event is common; however, no sufficient risk scores have been widely introduced in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to assess the risk factors for VTE recurrences, as well as the effect of treatment strategies on the recurrence rate in a single-center patient cohort. Materials and Methods: The prospective cohort study included consecutive patients in a single center from June 2014 till June 2018 presenting with acute VTE confirmed by imaging tests. All patients were followed up for at least one year or till death. Statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics 23 and Stata 13. Competing risk of death was considered. Results: A total of 219 eligible patients were identified during the study period. Pulmonary embolism with or without deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was present in 95.9% (n = 210), isolated DVT was present in 4.1% (n = 9) of patients. The total number of documented recurrences was 13 (5.9%). Incidence rate was 5.6 per 100 person-years. Recurrent VTE predicted significantly higher mortality rate (hazard ratio (HR) 6.64 [95% CI 2.61–16.93]). In univariate analysis, active cancer was associated with higher recurrence rate (p = 0.036). In competing-risks regression model (with death as the competing risk), active cancer (subdistribution hazard ratio (SHR) 2.11 (95% CI 0.58–7.76)) did not retain statistical significance for VTE recurrence. Discontinuation and duration of anticoagulant treatment (≤6 or >6 months), and drug class in acute or long-term therapy (parenteral, vitamin K antagonist (VKA), direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC)) were not associated with recurrences (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Patients who experienced recurrent VTE had 6.6-fold higher mortality rate than patients with no recurrences. The presence of active cancer was not a statistically significant risk factor for recurrence when taking into account the competing risk of death. Duration and drug class of anticoagulation did not seem to impact recurrence rate.
A Theoretical Study on the Electronic Structure and Floatability of Rare Earth Elements (La, Ce, Nd and Y) Bearing Fluorapatite
Authors: Wang Xianchen , Zhang Qin , Mao Song , Cheng Wei
Published: August 2019

Calcium atoms are often replaced by rare earth elements (REEs) in the lattice of fluorapatite (Ca10F2(PO4)6), making the phosphate ore an important potential rare earth resource. In this paper, the electronic properties of REEs (La, Ce, Nd and Y) bearing fluorapatite crystals have been investigated by density functional theory. Results of calculation indicated that the existence of REEs increased the cell parameters of fluorapatite in varying degrees. The REEs substitution made the Fermi level of fluorapatite to move to higher energy levels, making it easier to accept electrons. Except for Y, all the other REEs (La, Ce and Nd) showed that the electronic state mainly exists in the valence band. The Fermi level of REEs were mainly contributed by La5d, Ce4f, Nd4f and Y4d, respectively. The Mulliken values of REE–F and REE–O bonds in REEs-bearing fluorapatites were larger than those of Ca–F and Ca–O bonds in the perfect crystal, and the values of Y–F and Y–O bonds were the largest. The results of interaction between fluorapatite and oleic acid by frontier molecular orbital analysis suggested that the substitution of REEs can improve the reactivity of fluorapatite with oleic acid.
A Mass Spectrometry-Based Study Shows that Volatiles Emitted by Arthrobacter agilis UMCV2 Increase the Content of Brassinosteroids in Medicago truncatula in Response to Iron Deficiency Stress
Authors: Flores-Cortez Idolina , Winkler Robert , Ramírez-Ordorica Arturo , Elizarraraz-Anaya Ma. Isabel Cristina , Carrillo-Rayas María Teresa , Valencia-Cantero Eduardo , Macías-Rodríguez Lourdes
Published: August 2019

Iron is an essential plant micronutrient. It is a component of numerous proteins and participates in cell redox reactions; iron deficiency results in a reduction in nutritional quality and crop yields. Volatiles from the rhizobacterium Arthrobacter agilis UMCV2 induce iron acquisition mechanisms in plants. However, it is not known whether microbial volatiles modulate other metabolic plant stress responses to reduce the negative effect of iron deficiency. Mass spectrometry has great potential to analyze metabolite alterations in plants exposed to biotic and abiotic factors. Direct liquid introduction-electrospray-mass spectrometry was used to study the metabolite profile in Medicago truncatula due to iron deficiency, and in response to microbial volatiles. The putatively identified compounds belonged to different classes, including pigments, terpenes, flavonoids, and brassinosteroids, which have been associated with defense responses against abiotic stress. Notably, the levels of these compounds increased in the presence of the rhizobacterium. In particular, the analysis of brassinolide by gas chromatography in tandem with mass spectrometry showed that the phytohormone increased ten times in plants grown under iron-deficient growth conditions and exposed to microbial volatiles. In this mass spectrometry-based study, we provide new evidence on the role of A. agilis UMCV2 in the modulation of certain compounds involved in stress tolerance in M. truncatula.
Modeling Solid State Stability for Speciation: A Ten-Year Long Study
Authors: Risoluti Roberta , Gullifa Giuseppina , Carcassi Elena , Buiarelli Francesca , Wo Li W. , Materazzi Stefano
Published: August 2019

Speciation studies are based on fundamental models that relate the properties of biomimetic coordination compounds to the stability of the complexes. In addition to the classic approach based on solution studies, solid state properties have been recently proposed as supporting tools to understand the bioavailability of the involved metal. A ten-year long systematic study of several different complexes of imidazole substituted ligands with transition metal ions led our group to the definition of a model based on experimental evidences. This model revealed to be a useful tool to predict the stability of such coordination complexes and is based on the induced behavior under thermal stress. Several different solid state complexes were characterized by Thermally Induced Evolved Gas Analysis by Mass Spectrometry (TI-EGA-MS). This hyphenated technique provides fundamental information to determine the solid state properties and to create a model that relates stability to coordination. In this research, the model resulting from our ten-year long systematic study of complexes of transition metal ions with imidazole substituted ligands is described. In view of a systematic addition of information, new complexes of Cu(II), Zn(II), or Cd(II) with 2-propyl-4,5-imidazoledicarboxylic acid were precipitated, characterized, and studied by means of Thermally Induced Evolved Gas Analysis performed by mass spectrometry (TI-EGA-MS). The hyphenated approach was applied to enrich the information related to thermally induced steps, to confirm the supposed decomposition mechanism, and to determine the thermal stability of the studied complexes. Results, again, allowed supporting the theory that only two main characteristic and common thermally induced decomposition behaviors join the imidazole substituted complexes studied by our group. These two behaviors could be considered as typical trends and the model allowed to predict coordination behavior and to provide speciation information.
Rapid Characterization of Chemical Components in Edible Mushroom Sparassis crispa by UPLC-Orbitrap MS Analysis and Potential Inhibitory Effects on Allergic Rhinitis
Authors: Wang Zhixin , Liu Jingyu , Zhong Xiangjian , Li Jinjie , Wang Xin , Ji Linlin , Shang Xiaoya
Published: August 2019

Sparassis crispa is a kind of edible fungus widely grows in the north temperate zone, which shows various medicinal properties. Due to the complexity of chemical constitutes of this species, few investigations have acquired a comprehensive configuration for the chemical profile of it. In this study, a strategy based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) combined with Orbitrap mass spectrometer (MS) was established for rapidly characterizing various chemical components in S. crispa. Through the summarized MS/MS fragmentation patterns of reference compounds and systematic identification strategy, a total of 110 components attributed to six categories were identified for the first time. Moreover, allergic rhinitis (AR) is a worldwide inflammatory disease seriously affecting human health, and the development of drugs to treat AR has been a topic of interest. It has been reported that the extracts of S. crispa showed obvious inhibitory effects on degranulation of mast cell- and allergen-induced IgE and proinflammatory mediators, but the active components and specific mechanism were still not clear. Src family kinases (SFKs) participate in the initial stage of allergy occurrence, which are considered the targets of AR treatment. Herein, on the basis of that self-built chemical database, virtual screening was applied to predict the potential SFKs inhibitors in S. crispa, using known crystal structures of Hck, Lyn, Fyn, and Syk as receptors, followed by the anti-inflammatory activity evaluation for screened hits by intracellular calcium mobilization assay. As results, sparoside A was directly confirmed to have strong anti-inflammatory activity with an IC50 value of 5.06 ± 0.60 μM. This study provides a useful elucidation for the chemical composition of S. crispa, and demonstrated its potential inhibitory effects on AR, which could promote the research and development of effective agents from natural resources.
Eosin Removal by Cetyl Trimethylammonium-Cloisites: Influence of the Surfactant Solution Type and Regeneration Properties
Authors: Kooli Fethi , Rakass Souad , Liu Yan , Abboudi Mostafa , Oudghiri Hassani Hicham , Muhammad Ibrahim Sheikh , Al Wadaani Fahd , Al-Faze Rawan
Published: August 2019

The effect of the counteranion of hexadecyltrimethylammonium salts on the physico-chemical properties of organoclays was investigated, using a selected natural clay mineral with a cation exchange capacity of 95 meq/100 g. The uptake amount of C16 cations was dependent on the hexadecyltrimethylammonium (C16) salt solution used, the organoclay prepared from C16Br salt solution exhibited a value of 1. 05 mmole/g higher than those prepared from C16Cl and C16OH salt solutions. The basal spacing of these organoclays was in the range of 1.81 nm to 2.10 nm, indicating a similar orientation of the intercalated surfactants, and could indicated that the excess amount of surfactants, above the cation exchange capacity of 0.95 meq/g could be adsorbed on the external surface of the clay mineral sheets. These organoclays were found to be stable in neutral, acidic, and basic media. The thermal stability of these organoclays was carried out using thermogravimetric analysis and in-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The decomposition of the surfactant occurred at a maximum temperature of 240 °C, accompanied with a decrease of the basal spacing value close to 1.42 nm. The application of these organoclays was investigated to remove an acidic dye, eosin. The removal amount was related to the initial used concentrations, the amount of the surfactants contents, and to the preheated temperatures of the organoclays. The removal was found to be endothermic process with a maximum amount of 55 mg of eosin/g of organoclay. The value decreased to 25 mg/g, when the intercalated surfactants were decomposed. The reuse of these organoclays was limited to four regeneration recycles with a reduction of 20 to 30%. However, noticeable reduction between 35% to 50% of the initial efficiency, was achieved after the fifth cycle, depending of the used organoclays.
One Pot and Metal-Free Approach to 3-(2-Hydroxybenzoyl)-1-aza-anthraquinones
Authors: Yuan Jiaqi , He Qian , Song Shanshan , Zhang Xiaofei , Miao Zehong , Yang Chunhao
Published: August 2019

Herein, a direct strategy to synthesize 3-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)-1-aza-anthraquinones with excellent efficiency, mild conditions, and benign functional group compatibility was reported. A variety of 3-formylchromone compounds were employed as compatible substrates and this protocol gave the 3-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)-1-aza-anthraquinone derivatives in good to excellent yields without inert gas and expensive transition metal catalysts. Some compounds displayed good anti-proliferative activities.
Self-Assembly of Covalently Linked Porphyrin Dimers at the Solid–Liquid Interface
Authors: Habets Thomas , Lensen Dennis , Speller Sylvia , Elemans Johannes A.A.W.
Published: August 2019

The synthesis and surface self-assembly behavior of two types of metal-porphyrin dimers is described. The first dimer type consists of two porphyrins linked via a rigid conjugated spacer, and the second type has an alkyne linker, which allows rotation of the porphyrin moieties with respect to each other. The conjugated dimers were equipped with two copper or two manganese centers, while the flexible dimers allowed a modular built-up that also made the incorporation of two different metal centers possible. The self-assembly of the new porphyrin dimers at a solid–liquid interface was investigated at the single-molecule scale using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). All dimers formed monolayers, of which the stability and the internal degree of ordering of the molecules depended on the metal centers in the porphyrins. While in all monolayers the dimers were oriented coplanar with respect to the underlying surface (‘face-on’), the flexible dimer containing a manganese and a copper center could be induced, via the application of a voltage pulse in the STM setup, to self-assemble into monolayers in which the porphyrin dimers adopted a non-common perpendicular (‘edge-on’) geometry with respect to the surface.
Bacterial Inactivation on Concrete Plates Loaded with Modified TiO2 Photocatalysts under Visible Light Irradiation
Authors: Janus Magdalena , Kusiak-Nejman Ewelina , Rokicka-Konieczna Paulina , Markowska-Szczupak Agata , Zając Kamila , Morawski Antoni W.
Published: August 2019

The antibacterial activity of concrete plates loaded with various titania photocatalysts was investigated. The target in bacteria testing was Escherichia coli K12. The presence of photocatalysts in the concrete matrix at a dose of 10 wt.% improved the antibacterial properties, which became significant depending on the type of the added photocatalyst. Total inactivation of E. coli irradiated under artificial solar light was observed on the concrete plates loaded with the following photocatalysts: TiO2/N,CMeOH-300, TiO2/N,CEtOH-100, TiO2/N,CisoPrOH-100 and TiO2/N-300. The modified Hom disinfection kinetic model was found as a best-fit model for the obtained results. The presence of nitrogen and carbon in the photocatalysts structure, as well as crystallite size, surface area and porosity, contributed to the increase of antibacterial properties of concrete plates.
Madeira Wine Volatile Profile. A Platform to Establish Madeira Wine Aroma Descriptors
Authors: Perestrelo Rosa , Silva Catarina , Câmara José S.
Published: August 2019

In the present study we aimed to investigate the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that may potentially be responsible for specific descriptors of Madeira wine providing details about Madeira wine aroma notes at molecular level. Moreover, the wine aroma profile, based on the obtained data, will be a starting point to evaluate the impact of grape variety (Malvasia, Bual, Sercial, Verdelho and Tinta Negra), type (sweet, medium sweet, dry and medium dry), and age (from 3 to 20 years old) on Madeira wine sensorial properties. Firstly, a comprehensive and in-depth Madeira wine volatile profiling was carried out using headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS–SPME/GC–qMS). Secondly, a relation among the varietal, fermentative and aging aroma compounds, and their aroma descriptors with the Madeira wine sensorial properties was assessed. A total of 82 VOCs, belonging to different chemical families were identified, namely 21 esters, 13 higher alcohols, ten terpenic compounds, nine fatty acids, seven furanic compounds, seven norisoprenoids, six lactones, four acetals, four volatile phenols and one sulphur compound. From a sensorial point of view, during the aging process the wine lost its freshness and fruitiness odor related to the presence of some varietal and fermentative compounds, whereas other descriptors such as caramel, dried fruits, spicy, toasty and woody, arose during ageing. The Maillard reaction and diffusion from the oak were the most important pathways related with these descriptors. A relationship-based approach was used to explore the impact of grape variety, wine type, and age on Madeira wine sensorial properties based on shared number of VOCs and their odors.
Se Nanoparticles Induce Changes in the Growth, Antioxidant Responses, and Fruit Quality of Tomato Developed under NaCl Stress
Authors: Morales-Espinoza Mónica Carolina , Cadenas-Pliego Gregorio , Pérez-Alvarez Marissa , Hernández-Fuentes Alma Delia , Cabrera de la Fuente Marcelino , Benavides-Mendoza Adalberto , Valdés-Reyna Jesús , Juárez-Maldonado Antonio
Published: August 2019

Nanotechnology represents an opportunity to improve the use of elements in agriculture. Selenium is an element that is beneficial to plants and essential to the human diet. The size of nanoparticles gives them characteristics that can enhance the benefits that selenium provides to plants. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of selenium nanoparticles on the growth, antioxidant responses, and fruit quality of tomato developed under NaCl stress. Four doses of selenium nanoparticles (1, 5, 10, and 20 mg L−1) under NaCl stress, only NaCl, and a control were evaluated. The results showed that the impact of salinity on the growth of the tomato crop can be reduced with the application of selenium nanoparticles. However, the amount of both enzymatic and non-enzymatic compounds significantly increased in the leaves and fruits of tomato. The results suggest that the application of selenium nanoparticles generated a positive effect against salinity in the tomato crop; moreover, it had a positive impact on the content of beneficial biocompounds for human health in tomato fruits.
Molecular Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of 2-Hydroxy-3-Chrysino Dithiocarbamate Derivatives
Authors: Ramesh Pulabala , Srinivasa Rao Vankadari , Hong Yi-An , Reddy P. Muralidhar , Hu Anren
Published: August 2019

A series of 2-hydroxy-3-chrysino dithiocarbamate derivatives (3a–k) were designed, synthesized, and characterized for their structure determination by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS (ESI) spectral data. They were screened for their in vitro biological activities against a panel of selected bacterial and fungal strains. These antimicrobial studies indicate that some of the analogues manifested significant activity compared to standard drugs. Among the synthetic analogues (3a–k), compounds 3d, 3f, and 3j exhibited very good antibacterial activity and compounds 3d, 3f, and 3h showed very good antifungal activity compared to the standard drugs penicillin and itrazole, respectively. The compounds 3e, 3g, and 3h showed moderate antibacterial activity and the compounds 3j and 3k showed moderate antifungal activity. Molecular docking studies were performed and the experimental antimicrobial screening results were also correlated with the binding energy values obtained by molecular docking. The synthesized chrysin analogues (3a–k) have obeyed Lipinski’s “rule of five” and have drug-likeness.
Fabrication, Characterization, and Properties of Poly (Ethylene-Co-Vinyl Acetate) Composite Thin Films Doped with Piezoelectric Nanofillers
Authors: Mariotti Giulia , Vannozzi Lorenzo
Published: August 2019

Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) is a copolymer comprehending the semi-crystalline polyethylene and amorphous vinyl acetate phases, which potentially allow the fabrication of tunable materials. This paper aims at describing the fabrication and characterization of nanocomposite thin films made of polyethylene vinyl acetate, at different polymer concentration and vinyl acetate content, doped with piezoelectric nanomaterials, namely zinc oxide and barium titanate. These membranes are prepared by solvent casting, achieving a thickness in the order of 100–200 µm. The nanocomposites are characterized in terms of morphological, mechanical, and chemical properties. Analysis of the nanocomposites shows the nanofillers to be homogeneously dispersed in EVA matrix at different vinyl acetate content. Their influence is also noted in the mechanical behavior of thin films, which elastic modulus ranged from about 2 to 25 MPa, while keeping an elongation break from 600% to 1500% and tensile strength from 2 up to 13 MPa. At the same time, doped nanocomposite materials increase their crystallinity degree than the bare ones. The radiopacity provided by the addition of the dopant agents is proven. Finally, the direct piezoelectricity of nanocomposites membranes is demonstrated, showing higher voltage outputs (up to 2.5 V) for stiffer doped matrices. These results show the potentialities provided by the addition of piezoelectric nanomaterials towards mechanical reinforcement of EVA-based matrices while introducing radiopaque properties and responsiveness to mechanical stimuli.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prevalence of Coeliac Disease in Women with Infertility
Authors: Castaño Mercedes , Gómez-Gordo Rubén , Cuevas David , Núñez Concepción
Published: August 2019

We aimed to estimate the seroprevalence and the prevalence of coeliac disease (CD) in women with reproductive problems. A systematic review of English published articles until June 2019 was performed in PubMed and Scopus using the terms: (infertility and (coeliac disease OR gluten) OR (miscarriage and (coeliac disease OR gluten) OR (abortion and (coeliac disease OR gluten). All articles showing numerical data of anti-transglutaminase type 2 or anti-endomisium antibodies, or intestinal biopsy information were included. The study group comprised women with overall infertility, unexplained infertility, or recurrent spontaneous abortions. Two authors independently performed data extraction using a predefined data sheet. The initial search yielded 310 articles, and 23 were selected for data extraction. After meta-analysis, the pooled seroprevalence was very similar for overall and unexplained infertility, with a pooled proportion of around 1.3%–1.6%. This implies three times higher odds of having CD in infertility when compared to controls. The pooled prevalence could not be accurately calculated due to the small sample sizes. Further studies with increased sample sizes are necessary before giving specific recommendations for CD screening in women with reproductive problems, but current data seem to support a higher risk of CD in these women.
Malnutrition is Associated with Behavioral and Psychiatric Symptoms of Dementia in Older Women with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Early-Stage Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Kimura Ai , Sugimoto Taiki , Kitamori Kazuya , Saji Naoki , Niida Shumpei , Toba Kenji , Sakurai Takashi
Published: August 2019

We examined the nutritional status and its association with behavioral psychiatric symptoms of dementia (BPSD) among 741 memory clinic patients (normal cognition (NC), 152; mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 271; early-stage Alzheimer disease (AD), 318). Nutritional status and BPSD were assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF) and the Dementia Behavior Disturbance Scale (DBD), respectively. Compared to subjects with NC, more subjects with MCI and early-stage AD were at risk of malnutrition (MNA-SF, 8–11: NC, 34.2%; MCI, 47.5%; early-stage AD, 53.8%) and were malnourished (MNA-SF, 0–7: NC, 4.6%; MCI, 5.9%; early-stage AD, 8.2%). Among patients with MCI or early-stage AD, those at risk of/with malnutrition showed higher DBD scores than those well-nourished (12.7 ± 9.0 vs. 9.5 ± 7.3; p < 0.001). Moreover, analysis of covariance adjusting for confounders showed that nutritional status was significantly associated with specific BPSD, including “verbal aggressiveness/emotional disinhibition” (F = 5.87, p = 0.016) and “apathy/memory impairment” (F = 15.38, p < 0.001), which were revealed by factor analysis of DBD. Our results suggest that malnutrition is common among older adults with mild cognitive decline, and possibility that nutritional problems are associated with individual BPSD.
Lifestyle and Metabolic Syndrome: Contribution of the Endocannabinoidome
Authors: Di Marzo Vincenzo , Silvestri Cristoforo
Published: August 2019

Lifestyle is a well-known environmental factor that plays a major role in facilitating the development of metabolic syndrome or eventually exacerbating its consequences. Various lifestyle factors, especially changes in dietary habits, extreme temperatures, unusual light–dark cycles, substance abuse, and other stressful factors, are also established modifiers of the endocannabinoid system and its extended version, the endocannabinoidome. The endocannabinoidome is a complex lipid signaling system composed of a plethora (>100) of fatty acid-derived mediators and their receptors and anabolic and catabolic enzymes (>50 proteins) which are deeply involved in the control of energy metabolism and its pathological deviations. A strong link between the endocannabinoidome and another major player in metabolism and dysmetabolism, the gut microbiome, is also emerging. Here, we review several examples of how lifestyle modifications (westernized diets, lack or presence of certain nutritional factors, physical exercise, and the use of cannabis) can modulate the propensity to develop metabolic syndrome by modifying the crosstalk between the endocannabinoidome and the gut microbiome and, hence, how lifestyle interventions can provide new therapies against cardiometabolic risk by ensuring correct functioning of both these systems.
The Nutraceutical Value of Olive Oil and Its Bioactive Constituents on the Cardiovascular System. Focusing on Main Strategies to Slow Down Its Quality Decay during Production and Storage
Authors: Flori Lorenzo , Donnini Sandra , Calderone Vincenzo , Zinnai Angela , Taglieri Isabella , Venturi Francesca , Testai Lara
Published: August 2019

Cardiovascular diseases represent the principal cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It is well-known that oxidative stress and inflammatory processes are strongly implicated in their pathogenesis; therefore, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agents can represent effective tools. In recent years a large number of scientific reports have pointed out the nutraceutical and nutritional value of extra virgin olive oils (EVOO), strongholds of the Mediterranean diet, endowed with a high nutritional quality and defined as functional foods. In regard to EVOO, it is a food composed of a major saponifiable fraction, represented by oleic acid, and a minor unsaponifiable fraction, including a high number of vitamins, polyphenols, and squalene. Several reports suggest that the beneficial effects of EVOO are linked to the minor components, but recently, further studies have shed light on the health effects of the fatty fraction and the other constituents of the unsaponifiable fraction. In the first part of this review, an analysis of the clinical and preclinical evidence of the cardiovascular beneficial effects of each constituent is carried out. The second part of this review is dedicated to the main operating conditions during production and/or storage that can directly influence the shelf life of olive oil in terms of both nutraceutical properties and sensory quality.
Fish Consumption at One Year of Age Reduces the Risk of Eczema, Asthma and Wheeze at Six Years of Age
Authors: Øien Torbjørn , Schjelvaag Astrid , Storrø Ola , Johnsen Roar , Simpson Melanie
Published: August 2019

Background: The role of dietary fish and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-PUFAs) in the primary prevention of allergic diseases remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between the consumption of fish and cod liver oil (rich in n-PUFAs) from pregnancy to the first two years of life, and parental reported allergic diseases at six years of age. Methods: We used data from the Prevention of Allergy among Children in Trondheim study and included mother-infant pairs who had submitted questionnaires detailing both maternal or infant diet and allergic disease at six years of age. Results: Eating fish at least once a week at one year of age was associated with a 28%, 40% and 34% reduction in the odds of current eczema, asthma, and wheeze at six years of age. Cod liver oil consumption at least four times per week at one year of age tended to be associated with a lower risk of allergy-related outcomes at six years. We found no consistent associations between allergy-related outcomes and fish or cod liver oil consumption by mothers. Conclusion: The preventive effect of fish consumption is best achieved by increasing dietary fish in the first year of life.
Preparation and Properties of Rubber Blends for High-Damping-Isolation Bearings
Authors: Lei Tuo , Zhang Yong-Wang , Kuang Dong-Liang , Yang Yong-Rui
Published: August 2019

To improve the energy dissipation capacity of rubber isolation bearings, it is important to find a new rubber material with good applicability and high damping properties. Two types of blends were prepared using nitrile rubber (NBR), brominated butyl rubber (BIIR) and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA): NBR/BIIR and NBR/BIIR/EVA. The vulcanization, mechanical and damping properties of the blends were analyzed. The results show that both blends exhibit excellent vulcanization plateaus and mechanical properties. For NBR/BIIR, as the BIIR content increases, the complementary effects of NBR and BIIR afforded by blending are enhanced. Two damping peaks appeared in the tanδ-T curve and shifted toward lower and higher temperatures, respectively, which clearly widened the effective damping temperature range. However, the damping value in the valley of the tanδ-T curve was as low as 0.39. For NBR/BIIR/EVA, the addition of EVA greatly increased damping in the valley of the tanδ-T curve to approximately 0.54. EVA was observed to be the optimal polymer for improving the compatibility of the NBR/BIIR blend. Moreover, hot air thermal aging tests showed that both blends demonstrated good stability.
Additive Manufacturing as an Essential Element in the Teaching of Robotics
Authors: Castelli Kevin , Giberti Hermes
Published: August 2019

This paper aims to describe how additive manufacturing can be useful in enhancing a robotic course, allowing students to focus on all aspects of the multidisciplinary components of this subject. A three-year experience of the course of “robotic system design” is presented to support the validity of the use of this technology in teaching. This course is specifically aimed at Master of Science (MSc) Mechanical Engineering students and therefore requires one to view the subject in all its aspects including those which are not conventionally taken into consideration such as mechanical design, prototyping and the final realization.
Assimilation of Remotely-Sensed LAI into WOFOST Model with the SUBPLEX Algorithm for Improving the Field-Scale Jujube Yield Forecasts
Authors: Bai Tiecheng , Wang Shanggui , Meng Wenbo , Zhang Nannan , Wang Tao , Chen Youqi , Mercatoris Benoit
Published: August 2019

In order to enhance the simulated accuracy of jujube yields at the field scale, this study attempted to employ SUBPLEX algorithm to assimilate remotely sensed leaf area indices (LAI) of four key growth stages into a calibrated World Food Studies (WOFOST) model, and compare the accuracy of assimilation with the usual ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) assimilation. Statistical regression models of LAI and Landsat 8 vegetation indices at different developmental stages were established, showing a validated R2 of 0.770, 0.841, 0.779, and 0.812, and a validated RMSE of 0.061, 0.144, 0.180, and 0.170 m2 m−2 for emergence, fruit filling, white maturity, and red maturity periods. The results showed that both SUBPLEX and EnKF assimilations significantly improved yield estimation performance compared with un-assimilated simulation. The SUBPLEX (R2 = 0.78 and RMSE = 0.64 t ha−1) also showed slightly better yield prediction accuracy compared with EnKF assimilation (R2 = 0.73 and RMSE = 0.71 t ha−1), especially for high-yield and low-yield jujube orchards. SUBPLEX assimilation produced a relative bias error (RBE, %) that was more concentrated near zero, being lower than 10% in 80.1%, and lower than 20% in 96.1% for SUBPLEX, 72.4% and 96.7% for EnKF, respectively. The study provided a new assimilation scheme based on SUBPLEX algorithm to employ remotely sensed data and a crop growth model to improve the field-scale fruit crops yield estimates.
Remote Sensing of Environmental Changes in Cold Regions: Methods, Achievements and Challenges
Authors: Du Jinyang , Watts Jennifer , Jiang Lingmei , Lu Hui , Cheng Xiao , Duguay Claude , Farina Mary , Qiu Yubao , Kim Youngwook , Kimball John , Tarolli Paolo
Published: August 2019

Cold regions, including high-latitude and high-altitude landscapes, are experiencing profound environmental changes driven by global warming. With the advance of earth observation technology, remote sensing has become increasingly important for detecting, monitoring, and understanding environmental changes over vast and remote regions. This paper provides an overview of recent achievements, challenges, and opportunities for land remote sensing of cold regions by (a) summarizing the physical principles and methods in remote sensing of selected key variables related to ice, snow, permafrost, water bodies, and vegetation; (b) highlighting recent environmental nonstationarity occurring in the Arctic, Tibetan Plateau, and Antarctica as detected from satellite observations; (c) discussing the limits of available remote sensing data and approaches for regional monitoring; and (d) exploring new opportunities from next-generation satellite missions and emerging methods for accurate, timely, and multi-scale mapping of cold regions.