bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Challenges and Controversies in COVID-19: Masking the General Population may Attenuate This Pandemic's Outbreak
Authors: Johansson Björn
Published: September 2021

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, spreads i. a., by respiratory droplets. The use of masks in preventing spread is controversial; masks are considered useless by many, while being mandated in some locations. Here, the effect of masking the general population on a COVID-19-like epidemic is estimated by computer simulation using three separate types of software. The main questions are whether mask use by the general population can limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in a country and how to identify opportunities when mask use is cost-effective and safe. To address these questions, the protective effects of different types of masks, the side-effects of masks, and avenues for improvements of masks and masking are addressed. Main results: (i) Any type of mask, even simple home-made ones, may be of value, even if the protective effect of each mask (here dubbed “one mask-protection”) is low. Strict adherence to mask use does not appear to be critical but increasing one mask-protection to >50% was found to be advantageous. (ii) Masks do seem to reduce the number of new cases even if introduced at a late stage in an epidemic, but early implementation helps reduce the cumulative and total number of cases. (iii) The simulations suggest that it might be possible to eliminate a COVID-19 outbreak by widespread mask use during a limited period. There is a brief discussion of why the reported effect size of masking varies widely, and is expected to do so, because of different filtration abilities of different masks, differences in compliance and fitting, other routes of transmission, pre-existing immunity, and because a system of interconnected, disease-prone individuals has non-linear properties. A software solution to visualize infection spread is presented. The results from these simulations are encouraging, but do not necessarily represent the real-life situation, so it is suggested that clinical trials of masks are now carried out while continuously monitoring effects and side-effects. As mask use is not without risks and costs, it is suggested that governments and scientists have an important role in advising the public about the sensible use of masks.
Vaccination Diffusion and Incentive: Empirical Analysis of the US State of Michigan
Authors: Kim Hwang , Rao Vithala R.
Published: September 2021

Vaccination is the only way to reach herd immunity and help people return to normal life. However, vaccination rollouts may not be as fast as expected in some regions due to individuals' vaccination hesitation. For this reason, in Detroit, Michigan, the city government has offered a $50 prepaid card to people who entice city residents to visit vaccination sites. This study examined vaccination rates in the US using Detroit, Michigan, as the setting. It sought to address two issues. First, we analyzed the vaccination diffusion process to predict whether any region would reach a vaccination completion level that ensures herd immunity. Second, we examined a natural experiment involving a vaccination incentive scheme in Detroit and discovered its causal inference. We collected weekly vaccination data and demographic Census data from the state of Michigan and employed the Bass model to study vaccination diffusion. Also, we used a synthetic control method to evaluate the causal inference of a vaccination incentive scheme utilized in Detroit. The results showed that many Michigan counties—as well as the city of Detroit—would not reach herd immunity given the progress of vaccination efforts. Also, we found that Detroit's incentive scheme indeed increased the weekly vaccination rate by 44.19% for the first dose (from 0.86 to 1.25%) but was ineffective in augmenting the rate of the second dose. The implications are valuable for policy makers to implement vaccination incentive schemes to boost vaccination rates in geographical areas where such rates remain inadequate for achieving herd immunity.
A Multi-Epitope Fusion Protein-Based p-ELISA Method for Diagnosing Bovine and Goat Brucellosis
Authors: Yin Dehui , Bai Qiongqiong , Wu Xiling , Li Han , Shao Jihong , Sun Mingjun , Zhang Jinpeng
Published: September 2021

In recent years, the incidence of brucellosis has increased annually, causing tremendous economic losses to animal husbandry in a lot of countries. Therefore, developing rapid, sensitive, and specific diagnostic techniques is critical to control the spread of brucellosis. In this study, bioinformatics technology was used to predict the B cell epitopes of the main outer membrane proteins of Brucella, and the diagnostic efficacy of each epitope was verified by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA). Then, a fusion protein containing 22 verified epitopes was prokaryotically expressed and used as an antigen in paper-based ELISA (p-ELISA) for serodiagnosis of brucellosis. The multi-epitope-based p-ELISA was evaluated using a collection of brucellosis-positive and -negative sera collected from bovine and goat, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the sensitivity and specificity of detection-ELISA in diagnosing goat brucellosis were 98.85 and 98.51%. The positive and the negative predictive values were 99.29 and 98.15%, respectively. In diagnosing bovine brucellosis, the sensitivity and specificity of this method were 97.85 and 96.61%, with the positive and negative predictive values being identified as 98.28 and 97.33%, respectively. This study demonstrated that the B cell epitopes contained in major antigenic proteins of Brucella can be a very useful antigen source in developing a highly sensitive and specific method for serodiagnosis of brucellosis.
Occurrence of Colibacillosis in Broilers and Its Relationship With Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) Population Structure and Molecular Characteristics
Authors: Apostolakos Ilias , Laconi Andrea , Mughini-Gras Lapo , Yapicier Özlem Şahan , Piccirillo Alessandra
Published: September 2021

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) causes colibacillosis, the disease with the highest economic loss for the broiler industry. However, studies focusing on the prevalence and population structure of APEC in the broiler production pyramid are scarce. Here, we used genotyping and serotyping data to elucidate the APEC population structure and its changes in different broiler production stages along with whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in a subset of APEC isolates to determine transmission patterns amongst dominant APEC sequence types (STs) and characterize them in detail. Comparison of genotypes encountered in both APEC and avian fecal E. coli (AFEC) provided further insights. Overall, APEC-related mortality, as the proportion of the total sampled mortality in the broiler production, was high (35%), while phylogroup C and serogroup O78 were predominant amongst APEC isolates. We found a low (34.0%) and high (53.3%) incidence of colibacillosis in chicks and end-cycle broilers, respectively, which may be related to a shift in APEC genotypes, suggesting a trend from commensalism to pathogenicity across different broiler production stages. Despite considerable APEC genotypic diversity, there was substantial genotype overlap (40.9%, overall) over the production stages and convergence of STs to the four clusters. Within these clusters, WGS data provided evidence of clonal transmission events and revealed an enriched virulence and resistance APEC repertoire. More specifically, sequenced APEC were assigned to defined pathotypes based on their virulence gene content while the majority (86%) was genotypically multi-drug resistant. Interestingly, WGS-based phylogeny showed that a subset of APEC, which are cephalosporin-resistant, may originate directly from cephalosporin-resistant AFEC. Finally, exploration of the APEC plasmidome indicated that the small fraction of the APEC virulome carried by IncF plasmids is pivotal for the manifestation of the APEC pathotype; thus, plasmid exchange can promote pathogenicity in strains that are at the edge of the commensal and pathogenic states.
Fodder Galega—A Versatile Plant
Authors: Żarczyński Piotr Jarosław , Sienkiewicz Stanisław , Wierzbowska Jadwiga , Krzebietke Sławomir Józef
Published: September 2021

Fodder galega is a perennial, wintering plant, which in recent years has been gaining popularity, mainly because of its useful characteristics. Many researchers have noted its large yield potential and exceptional adaptability to various environmental conditions. The purpose of this study was to collect the most up-to-date knowledge about this valuable plant, a member of the Fabaceae family. Green fodder, especially that made from young plants, possesses very good biochemical parameters which allow it to be used in the nutrition of animals including poultry. Plantations of fodder galega can be set up on highly diverse soils, and in all systems of management. The yielding potential of this plant is appreciated on all farms: organic, extensive and conventional ones. Many scientific studies have demonstrated the usefulness of fodder galega for the protection of farmland that is periodically excluded from farming. In recent years, reports have been published suggesting the high potential of this plant for the acquisition of inexpensive energy from its biomass. Moreover, many scholars have emphasised the medicinal applications of fodder galega. The advantages of the cultivation of fodder galega are (1) its low nutritional requirements; (2) a lack of threats from the specialised pests; and (3) its positive effect on soil fertility. It is recommended that areas having undergone several years of fodder galega cultivation act as very good forecrop for plants with high nutritional requirements.
Combined Use of Charcoal, Sago Bark Ash, and Urea Mitigate Soil Acidity and Aluminium Toxicity
Authors: Hamidi Nur Hidayah , Ahmed Osumanu Haruna , Omar Latifah , Ch'ng Huck Ywih
Published: September 2021

Highly weathered tropical acidic soils are characterized by low pH, low organic matter, and aluminium and iron toxicity. These factors pose a challenge to achieving sustainable agriculture. The continued increase in the human population with the accompanied increasing food demand have negatively impacted the global N cycle partly because of excessive use N fertilizers particularly urea which is commonly used in agriculture. Ammonia volatilization from urea as an example, negatives the environmental quality. This study focuses on soil-N availability, pH, exchangeable acidity, Al3+, and H+ of a highly weathered acid soils (Bekenu series) through the combined use of charcoal, sago bark ash, and urea. To this end, an incubation study was conducted for 90 days through the combined use of charcoal, sago bark ash, and urea to determine if this approach could improve soil N availability and pH at the same time reducing exchangeable acidity, and Al3+, and H+ toxicity. The amount of urea used was fixed at 100% as the recommended rate. Charcoal and sago bark ash were varied by 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%, respectively of the recommended rate. Selected soil physico-chemical properties were determined using standard procedures. This study revealed that combined use of charcoal, sago bark ash, and urea increased soil pH and base cations simultaneously the approach also reduced exchangeable acidity, exchangeable Al3+, and exchangeable H+. There were no significant differences in soil total N, exchangeable NH4+, and available NO3− for the combined use of charcoal, sago bark ash, and urea and urea alone because of the acid neutralizing effect of the amendments. Apart from the sago bark ash’s liming effect, the high affinity of the functional groups of the charcoal for Al3+ might have impeded Al3+ from undergoing hydrolysis to produce more H+ because a complete one mole of Al3+ hydrolysis produces three moles of H+. Thus, the combined use of charcoal and sago bark ash can mitigate soil acidity and aluminium toxicity, although this approach has minimal effect on-N.
Soil Nitrogen Sorption Using Charcoal and Wood Ash
Authors: Hamidi Nur Hidayah , Ahmed Osumanu Haruna , Omar Latifah , Ch’ng Huck Ywih
Published: September 2021

This paper reviews the use of charcoal and wood ash in acid soils as adsorbents to improve N availability at the same time improving their soil fertility and crop productivity. Soil acidification poses a major challenge in agricultural sustainability and it is serious in highly weathered soils such as Ultisols and Oxisols which are noted for nutrient deficiency and Al and Fe ions toxicities. Understanding sorption mechanisms and isotherms is important for the improvement of soil N availability particularly inorganic N. However, understanding the sorption mechanisms in relation to charcoal and wood ash as absorbents in the literature is difficult because the soil amendments vary depending on their raw materials or sources of origin. Therefore, one of the objectives of this review is to provide recent research findings and theory development on the role of charcoal and wood ash in agriculture. Furthermore, this review focuses on how charcoal and wood ash improve N availability through physical, chemical and biological processes in mineral acidic soils. Balanced application and good understanding of the role of charcoal and wood ash as soil amendments have potential benefits to improve N availability and crop productivity.
Estimation of the Remaining Value for Grape Harvesters Based on Second-Hand European Market Online Data
Authors: da Costa Neto Wilson Valente , Elorza Pilar Barreiro
Published: September 2021

Assessing the remaining value (RV) of agricultural machines is essential to compute the depreciation costs, especially in the second-hand market, although previous scientific studies have employed the scrap value as an estimate of RV (10 years of life). Since Brazil, a developing country, is at the very first steps of the process of grape harvest mechanization, it is likely that second-hand grape harvesters will be mainly machines that will be imported and employed for this task. ASABE has developed a methodology to evaluate RV based on an experimental formula that takes into account the auction value, the age and the intensity of annual use. Our work adjusted the RV coefficients for grape harvesters based on the online European market (Spain and France) considering 1290 visited reporting brands, models, ages, hours of use and sale value, refined to 89 unique records. For self-propelled grape harvesters, two types of ownership were identified based on the normal distribution of annual use intensity: private owners (22) and farm service providers (6), with an average RV of 28% and 40% of auction value, respectively. For trailed harvesters, the average RV for a machine age shorter than 13.5 years was 36% of the auction value compared to 12.5% for a life of more than 24 years. The performance of the RV models (R2) based on the formulation of ASABE (American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers) amounted to 0.86 and 0.85 for self-propelled and trailed harvesters.
Using Remote Sensing and an Unmanned Aerial System for Weed Management in Agricultural Crops: A Review
Authors: Roslim Muhammad Huzaifah Mohd , Juraimi Abdul Shukor , Che’Ya Nik Norasma , Sulaiman Nursyazyla , Manaf Muhammad Noor Hazwan Abd , Ramli Zaid , Motmainna Mst.
Published: September 2021

Weeds are unwanted plants that can reduce crop yields by competing for water, nutrients, light, space, and carbon dioxide, which need to be controlled to meet future food production requirements. The integration of drones, artificial intelligence, and various sensors, which include hyperspectral, multi-spectral, and RGB (red-green-blue), ensure the possibility of a better outcome in managing weed problems. Most of the major or minor challenges caused by weed infestation can be faced by implementing remote sensing systems in various agricultural tasks. It is a multi-disciplinary science that includes spectroscopy, optics, computer, photography, satellite launching, electronics, communication, and several other fields. Future challenges, including food security, sustainability, supply and demand, climate change, and herbicide resistance, can also be overcome by those technologies based on machine learning approaches. This review provides an overview of the potential and practical use of unmanned aerial vehicle and remote sensing techniques in weed management practices and discusses how they overcome future challenges.
Exploitative Competition between Mountain Hare and Moose—Qualitative Effects on Hare Winter Forage?
Authors: Pedersen Simen , Pedersen Hans Chr.
Published: September 2021

Mountain hares (Lepus timidus) in Scandinavia are classified as Near Threatened in the Norwegian and Swedish Redlists. This is due to a possible population decline witnessed during the last decades in Scandinavia. Competition between large herbivores and mountain hares is one of several hypotheses that has been put forward to explain this decline. In a cafeteria trial we investigate the effects of previous moose (Alces alces) winter browsing on the food selection (i.e., biomass consumed, bites per minute and bitediameter) of downy birch (Betula pubescens) and goat willow (Salix caprea) by captive mountain hares. We find that mountain hares do not differentiate among previous browsing levels of downy birch, but have larger bite diameters of goat willow earlier browsed by moose, compared to non-browsed plants. Thus, effects of moose on mountain hare winter food quality seem to be limited. We highlight the need for studies focusing on (1) qualitative effects of moose browsing using wild mountain hares in a natural experimental design, and (2) quantitative effects of moose browsing on available mountain hare forage at a landscape scale during winter.
Professional Quality of Life in Research Involving Laboratory Animals
Authors: Goñi-Balentziaga Olatz , Vila Sergi , Ortega-Saez Iván , Vegas Oscar , Azkona Garikoitz
Published: September 2021

Many workers contribute to the success of animal welfare and study outcomes in biomedical research. However, the professional quality of life (ProQoL) of those who work with laboratory animals has not been explored in Spain. To this end, we adapted the ProQoL scale to the Spanish population working with laboratory animals. Participants were contacted by email and asked to complete an anonymous on-line questionnaire. The study comprised a total of 498 participants, 12.4% welfare officers/veterinarians, 19.5% caretaker/technicians, 13.9% principal investigators, 20.7% investigators, 13.6% research technicians, and 19.9% PhD students. The adapted scale revealed very good reliability and internal validity, providing information about two different subscales, compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue. Animal-facility personnel showed higher total ProQoL and compassion-satisfaction scores than researchers; PhD students showed the lowest scores. Thus, our results indicate that job category is a contributing factor in perceived professional quality of life. We observed that compassion satisfaction is negatively associated with the perceived animal stress/pain. Participants reporting poorer compassion satisfaction also reported lower social-support scores. Overall, our ProQoL scale is a useful tool for analyzing the professional quality of life in the Spanish population, and may help to design future interventions to improve workplace wellbeing in Spain and other Spanish-speaking populations.
Editorial: Antibiotics Special Issue on the Use of Antibiotics in Primary Care
Authors: Cordoba Gloria
Published: September 2021

For many decades, the importance of increasing knowledge on the rational use of antibiotics has not been given the priority it deserves [...]
The Potential of Probiotics to Eradicate Gut Carriage of Pathogenic or Antimicrobial-Resistant Enterobacterales
Authors: Hung Yuan-Pin , Lee Ching-Chi , Lee Jen-Chieh , Tsai Pei-Jane , Hsueh Po-Ren , Ko Wen-Chien
Published: September 2021

Probiotic supplements have been used to decrease the gut carriage of antimicrobial-resistant Enterobacterales through changes in the microbiota and metabolomes, nutrition competition, and the secretion of antimicrobial proteins. Many probiotics have shown Enterobacterales-inhibiting effects ex vivo and in vivo. In livestock, probiotics have been widely used to eradicate colon or environmental antimicrobial-resistant Enterobacterales colonization with promising efficacy for many years by oral supplementation, in ovo use, or as environmental disinfectants. In humans, probiotics have been used as oral supplements for infants to decease potential gut pathogenic Enterobacterales, and probiotic mixtures, especially, have exhibited positive results. In contrast to the beneficial effects in infants, for adults, probiotic supplements might decrease potentially pathogenic Enterobacterales, but they fail to completely eradicate them in the gut. However, there are several ways to improve the effects of probiotics, including the discovery of probiotics with gut-protection ability and antimicrobial effects, the modification of delivery methods, and the discovery of engineered probiotics. The search for multifunctional probiotics and synbiotics could render the eradication of “bad” Enterobacterales in the human gut via probiotic administration achievable in the future.
Metabolites with Antioxidant Activity from Marine Macroalgae
Authors: Tziveleka Leto-Aikaterini , Tammam Mohamed A. , Tzakou Olga , Roussis Vassilios , Ioannou Efstathia
Published: September 2021

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) attack biological molecules, such as lipids, proteins, enzymes, DNA, and RNA, causing cellular and tissue damage. Hence, the disturbance of cellular antioxidant homeostasis can lead to oxidative stress and the onset of a plethora of diseases. Macroalgae, growing in stressful conditions under intense exposure to UV radiation, have developed protective mechanisms and have been recognized as an important source of secondary metabolites and macromolecules with antioxidant activity. In parallel, the fact that many algae can be cultivated in coastal areas ensures the provision of sufficient quantities of fine chemicals and biopolymers for commercial utilization, rendering them a viable source of antioxidants. This review focuses on the progress made concerning the discovery of antioxidant compounds derived from marine macroalgae, covering the literature up to December 2020. The present report presents the antioxidant potential and biogenetic origin of 301 macroalgal metabolites, categorized according to their chemical classes, highlighting the mechanisms of antioxidative action when known.
Extraction of ADP-Heptose and Kdo2-Lipid A from E. coli Deficient in the Heptosyltransferase I Gene
Authors: Milicaj Jozafina , Castro Colleen D. , Jaunbocus Nadiya , Taylor Erika A.
Published: September 2021

The enzymes involved in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis, including Heptosyltransferase I (HepI), are critical for maintaining the integrity of the bacterial cell wall, and therefore these LPS biosynthetic enzymes are validated targets for drug discovery to treat Gram-negative bacterial infections. Enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) utilize substrates that are synthetically complex, with numerous stereocenters and site-specific glycosylation patterns. Due to the relatively complex substrate structures, characterization of these enzymes has necessitated strategies to generate bacterial cells with gene disruptions to enable the extraction of these substrates from large scale bacterial growths. Like many LPS biosynthetic enzymes, Heptosyltransferase I binds two substrates: the sugar acceptor substrate, Kdo2-Lipid A, and the sugar donor substrate, ADP-l-glycero-d-manno-heptose (ADPH). HepI characterization experiments require copious amounts of Kdo2-Lipid A and ADPH, and unsuccessful extractions of these two substrates can lead to serious delays in collection of data. While there are papers and theses with protocols for extraction of these substrates, they are often missing small details essential to the success of the extraction. Herein detailed protocols are given for extraction of ADPH and Kdo2-Lipid A (KLA) from E. coli, which have had proven success in the Taylor lab. Key steps in the extraction of ADPH are clearing the extract through ultracentrifugation and keeping all water that touches anything in the extraction, including filters, at a pH of 8.0. Key steps in the extraction of KLA are properly lysing the dried down cells before starting the extraction, maximizing yield by allowing precipitate to form overnight, appropriately washing the pellet with phenol and dissolving the KLA in 1% TEA using visual cues, rather than a specific volume. These protocols led to increased yield and a higher success rate of extractions thereby enabling the characterization of HepI.
Comparison of Marginal Integrity and Surface Roughness of Selective Laser Melting, CAD-CAM and Digital Light Processing Manufactured Co-Cr Alloy Copings
Authors: Alqahtani Abdulaziz S. , AlFadda Abdullah M. , Eldesouky Malek , Alnuwaiser Mazen K. , Al-Saleh Samar , Alresayes Saad , Alshahrani Abdullah , Vohra Fahim , Abduljabbar Tariq
Published: September 2021

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the influence of fabrication techniques on the surface micro-roughness (Ra) and marginal misfit of cobalt chromium (CoCr) copings. A mandibular first molar was prepared for a metal ceramic crown. Forty metal copings were prepared and divided into groups (n = 10). Group 1, Casting-Lost wax technique (Cast-LWT), Group 2, CAD-CAM, Group 3, Selective laser melting (SLM), and Group 4, Digital light processing-Cast (DLP-Cast). Ra was measured using laser profilometry and marginal misfit was analyzed with Micro-CT. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey multiple comparison, and correlation coefficient tests were applied (p < 0.05). SLM technique showed the highest Ra (2.251 ± 0.310 μm) and the Cast-LWT group presented the lowest Ra (1.055 ± 0.184 μm). CAD-CAM copings showed statistically lower Ra compared with SLM samples (p = 0.028), but comparable Ra to DLP-Cast (p > 0.05). CoCr copings fabricated from the DLP-Cast technique demonstrated the highest marginal misfit (147.746 ± 30.306 μm) and the lowest misfit was established by SLM copings (27.193 ± 8.519 μm). The SLM technique displayed lower marginal misfit than DLP-Cast and CAD-CAM (p = 0.001), but comparable misfit to Cast-LWT copings. Ra influenced the marginal misfit in CAD-CAM, SLM, and DLP-Cast technique-fabricated copings. (p < 0.01). Marginal misfit and Ra of CoCr copings are contingent on the different fabrication techniques.
Design of an Integrated Sub-6 GHz and mmWave MIMO Antenna for 5G Handheld Devices
Authors: Khalid Hassan , Awan Wahaj Abbas , Hussain Musa , Fatima Adeela , Ali Mudassir , Hussain Niamat , Khan Salahuddin , Alibakhshikenari Mohammad , Limiti Ernesto
Published: September 2021

The reported work demonstrates the design and realization of an integrated mid-band (sub-6 GHz) and mmWave multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) antenna for 5G handheld devices. The proposed prototype consists of the two-port MIMO configuration of the mid-band antenna placed at the top and bottom of the substrate, while the 4-port mmWave MIMO antenna is placed sideways. The MIMO configuration at the top and bottom consists of a two-element array to achieve high gain at the mid-band spectrum, while the antennas placed sideways are optimized to cover the 5G-mmWave band spectrum. The overall dimensions of the board were selected the same as the of smartphones, i.e., 151 mm × 72 mm. The mid-band antenna has an operational bandwidth of 2.73 GHz, whereas the mmWave antenna has an impedance bandwidth of 3.85 GHz with a peak gain of 5.29 and 8.57 dBi, respectively. Furthermore, the design is analyzed for the various MIMO performance parameters; it was found that the proposed antennas offer high performance in terms of envelop correlation coefficient (ECC), diversity gain (DG), mean effective gain (MEG) and channel capacity loss (CCL) within operational range. A fabricated prototype was tested and measured results show strong agreement with predicted results. Moreover, the proposed work is compared with state-of-the-art work for the same applications to demonstrate its potential for targeted application.
Gaussian Process Model-Based Performance Uncertainty Quantification of a Typical Turboshaft Engine
Authors: Liu Xuejun , Tang Hailong , Zhang Xin , Chen Min
Published: September 2021

The gas turbine engine is a widely used thermodynamic system for aircraft. The demand for quantifying the uncertainty of engine performance is increasing due to the expectation of reliable engine performance design. In this paper, a fast, accurate, and robust uncertainty quantification method is proposed to investigate the impact of component performance uncertainty on the performance of a classical turboshaft engine. The Gaussian process model is firstly utilized to accurately approximate the relationships between inputs and outputs of the engine performance simulation model. Latin hypercube sampling is subsequently employed to perform uncertainty analysis of the engine performance. The accuracy, robustness, and convergence rate of the proposed method are validated by comparing with the Monte Carlo sampling method. Two main scenarios are investigated, where uncertain parameters are considered to be mutually independent and partially correlated, respectively. Finally, the variance-based sensitivity analysis is used to determine the main contributors to the engine performance uncertainty. Both approximation and sampling errors are explained in the uncertainty quantification to give more accurate results. The final results yield new insights about the engine performance uncertainty and the important component performance parameters.
Tensile Creep of Cement and Concrete Composites: Monitoring by Means of 2D-Digital Image Correlation
Authors: Sprince Andina , Kozlovskis Tomass , Gailitis Rihards , Valivonis Juozas , Korniejenko Kinga , Castel Arnaud
Published: September 2021

Creep and shrinkage of Cement and Concrete Composites (CCC) are significant properties that need to be considered to use these materials in practice. Many previous scientific studies revealed CCC creep characteristics under sustained compression and shrinkage, using traditional test methods from design standards. Because of the complexity of experimental procedures, CCC creep in tension has not been studied as close. Furthermore, there is no unified standard that proposes applicable testing methods or specific testing apparatus. This study examines the suitability of 2D—Digital Image Correlation (DIC) to observe the creep deformations of specimens under tension. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) mortar with 1% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibres has been investigated in the research. Compact tension (CT) specimens 150 × 150 × 12 mm (with a notch) were used. Creep deformations under sustained uniaxial tension (applied loading corresponding to 60% of the ultimate strength) were measured. DIC images were captured using an entry/mid-level DSLR camera. Results show that DIC is suitable for studying uniaxial tensile creep of cement and concrete composites. Deformation of specimens in tension was similar to that measured using the conventional method (using surface-attached gauges).
BIM Visual Programming Tools Applications in Infrastructure Projects: A State-of-the-Art Review
Authors: Collao Jorge , Lozano-Galant Fidel , Lozano-Galant José Antonio , Turmo Jose
Published: September 2021

The Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodology improves architectural and infrastructure projects by digitizing their processes throughout their life cycle stages, such as design, construction, management, monitoring, and operation. In recent years, the automation of these processes has been favored by the use of visual programming (VP) tools that have replaced conventional programming languages for visual schemes. The use of these tools in architectural projects is becoming increasing popular. However, this is not the case in infrastructure projects, for which the use of VP algorithms remains scarce. The aim of this work is to encourage both scholars and engineers to implement VP tools in infrastructure projects. For this purpose, this work reviews, for the first time in the literature, the state-of-the-art and future research trends of VP tools in infrastructure projects.
Determination of Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activity of Combined LVX and AMP Impregnated in p(HEMA) Hydrogel
Authors: Tarawneh Ola , Alwahsh Wasan , Abul-Futouh Hassan , Al-Samad Luma A. , Hamadneh Lama , Abu Mahfouz Hadeel , Fadhil Abed Abdulqader
Published: September 2021

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are nosocomial infections, causing more than one million cases per year. CAUTIs cause serious health issues; in addition, the cost of replacement of the device constrains the employment of urological devices. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel biomaterials for use in catheters. In this study, poly hydroxyethyl-methacrylate p(HEMA) and drugs-loaded p(HEMA) with ampicillin trihydrate (AMP), levofloxacin (LVX), and drug combinations were prepared using free radical polymerization. The characterization of the dried films included the determination of glass transition temperature (Tg), ultimate tensile strength, elongation percentage, and Young’s modulus. Formulation toxicity, antimicrobial activity, and biofilm-formation ability were tested. Decreases in Tg value, U.T.S., and Young’s modulus, and an increase in elongation percentage were observed in AMP-loaded p(HEMA). Different ratios of drug combinations increased the Tg values. The films exhibited a cell viability higher than 80% on HEK 293 cells. Antimicrobial activity increased when p(HEMA) was loaded with LVX or a combination of LVX and AMP. Biofilm-forming ability reduced after the addition of antimicrobial agents to the films. p(HEMA) impregnated with AMP, LVX, and drug combinations showed significantly increased antimicrobial activity and decreased biofilm-forming ability compared with p(HEMA), in addition to the effects on (HEMA) mechanical properties.
Warm Island Effect in the Lake Region of the Tengger Desert Based on MODIS and Meteorological Station Data
Authors: Meng Nan , Wang Nai’ang , Zhao Liqiang , Niu Zhenmin , Liang Xiaoyan , Yu Xinran , Wen Penghui , Su Xianbao
Published: September 2021

The northeastern part of the Tengger Desert accommodates several lakes. The effect of these lakes on local temperatures is unclear. In this study, the effects of the lakes were investigated using land surface temperature (LST) from MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data from 2003 to 2018 and air temperatures from meteorological stations in 2017. LST and air temperatures are compared between the lake-group region and an area without lakes to the north using statistical methods. Our results show that the lake-group region is found to exhibit a warm island effect in winter on an annual scale and at night on a daily scale. The warm island effect is caused by the differing properties of the land and other surfaces. Groundwater may also be an important heat source. The results of this study will help in understanding the causative factors of warm island effects and other properties of lakes.
Calculations on Matrix Transformations Involving an Infinite Tridiagonal Matrix
Authors: Fares Ali , Ayad Ali , de Malafosse Bruno
Published: September 2021

Given any sequence z=znn≥1 of positive real numbers and any set E of complex sequences, we write Ez for the set of all sequences y=ynn≥1 such that y/z=yn/znn≥1∈E; in particular, sz0 denotes the set of all sequences y such that y/z tends to zero. Here, we consider the infinite tridiagonal matrix Br,s,t˜, obtained from the triangle Br,s,t, by deleting its first row. Then we determine the sets of all positive sequences a=ann≥1 such that EaBr,s,t˜⊂Ea, where E=ℓ∞, c0, or c. These results extend some recent results.
Disorders of the Reproductive Health of Cattle as a Response to Exposure to Toxic Metals
Authors: Wrzecińska Marcjanna , Kowalczyk Alicja , Cwynar Przemysław , Czerniawska-Piątkowska Ewa
Published: September 2021

The aim of this review is to comprehensively present disorders of the reproductive system in cattle exposed to contact with toxic metals. Toxic metals are a common environmental pollutant and can come from mines, smelters, fossil fuel combustion, or volcanic eruptions. Metals have the ability to bioaccumulate in living organisms, thus contaminating the food chain and may pose a threat to humans. They accumulate mainly in the liver and kidneys, but also in muscles and fat tissue. Toxic metals such as lead (Pb), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) have a negative impact on the fertility of animals; they can lead to abortions, premature calving, or oocyte dysfunction. Moreover, in the male reproductive system, they disrupt spermatogenesis, and cause apoptosis of sperm and oxidative damage. The main source of exposure of livestock to toxic metals is through the consumption of feed or contaminated water. It is important to monitor the level of heavy metals in animal products to prevent human poisoning. Toxic metal biomonitoring can be performed by testing urine, blood, milk, plasma, or hair. Chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd) are excreted in the urine, while lead can be detected by examining the blood of animals, while in milk, arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) can be detected. Moreover, toxic metals do not biodegrade in the environment. To purify soil and waters, remediation methods, e.g., biological or chemical, should be used.
The Kinetic and Analytical Aspects of Enzyme Competitive Inhibition: Sensing of Tyrosinase Inhibitors
Authors: Attaallah Raouia , Amine Aziz
Published: September 2021

An amperometric biosensor based on tyrosinase, immobilized onto a carbon black paste electrode using glutaraldehyde and BSA was constructed to detect competitive inhibitors. Three inhibitors were used in this study: benzoic acid, sodium azide, and kojic acid, and the obtained values for fifty percent of inhibition (IC50) were 119 µM, 1480 µM, and 30 µM, respectively. The type of inhibition can also be determined from the curve of the degree of inhibition by considering the shift of the inhibition curves. Amperometric experiments were performed with a biosensor polarized at the potential −0.15 V vs. Ag/AgCl and using 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) as an electrolyte. Under optimized conditions, the proposed biosensor showed a linear amperometric response toward catechol detection from 0.5 µM to 38 µM with a detection limit of 0.35 µM (S/N = 3), and its sensitivity was 66.5 mA M−1 cm−2. Moreover, the biosensor exhibited a good storage stability. Conversely, a novel graphical plot for the determination of reversible competitive inhibition was represented for free tyrosinase. The graph consisted of plotting the half-time reaction (t1/2) as a function of the inhibitor concentration at various substrate concentrations. This innovative method relevance was demonstrated in the case of kojic acid using a colorimetric bioassay relying on tyrosinase inhibition. The results showed that the t1/2 provides an extended linear range of tyrosinase inhibitors.
Psychological Drivers of Hotel Guests’ Energy-Saving Behaviours—Empirical Research Based on the Extended Theory of Planned Behaviour
Authors: Wang Qian-Cheng , Xie Ke-Xin , Liu Xuan , Shen Geoffrey Qi Ping , Wei Hsi-Hsien , Liu Tian-Yi
Published: September 2021

The hospitality industry is an important energy consumer and carbon emitter. Behaviour-driven energy conservation is a strategy with great promise to strengthen the energy efficiency of hotel buildings. The aim of this study is to explore the driving psychological factors of hotel guests’ energy-saving intentions and behaviours. This paper constructs two extensions of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) with personal norms, past behaviours, and self-determined motivation to explain the guests’ energy-saving behaviour in hotel buildings. This research compares the explanatory power of the original TPB and two extensions with structural equation modelling. The analysis is based on 530 valid, self-reported data from 827 surveyed hotel guests in Shanghai. The analysis suggests that the extended model gains greater explanatory power in predicting the behaviour patterns by employing the above three additional factors. In addition, self-determined motivation presents a more significant impact than other more developed TPB predictors, such as intention and perceived behaviour control. Aside from that, past behaviour replaces attitude as the most critical predictor of hotel energy-saving intention in the extended models. In addition to the existing interventions in office and residential buildings, the research highlights the role of self-determination in hotel energy conservation and further emphasises the long-term benefit of encouraging pro-environmental behaviours in hotel guests. The findings expand the existing research on pro-environmental behaviours and will contribute to energy-saving behaviour intervention in hotel buildings and policy formulations for sustainable hotel operation and maintenance.
NF-κB and Pancreatic Cancer; Chapter and Verse
Authors: Silke John , O’Reilly Lorraine Ann
Published: September 2021

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the world’s most lethal cancers. An increase in occurrence, coupled with, presently limited treatment options, necessitates the pursuit of new therapeutic approaches. Many human cancers, including PDAC are initiated by unresolved inflammation. The transcription factor NF-κB coordinates many signals that drive cellular activation and proliferation during immunity but also those involved in inflammation and autophagy which may instigate tumorigenesis. It is not surprising therefore, that activation of canonical and non-canonical NF-κB pathways is increasingly recognized as an important driver of pancreatic injury, progression to tumorigenesis and drug resistance. Paradoxically, NF-κB dysregulation has also been shown to inhibit pancreatic inflammation and pancreatic cancer, depending on the context. A pro-oncogenic or pro-suppressive role for individual components of the NF-κB pathway appears to be cell type, microenvironment and even stage dependent. This review provides an outline of NF-κB signaling, focusing on the role of the various NF-κB family members in the evolving inflammatory PDAC microenvironment. Finally, we discuss pharmacological control of NF-κB to curb inflammation, focussing on novel anti-cancer agents which reinstate the process of cancer cell death, the Smac mimetics and their pre-clinical and early clinical trials.
Evaluation of Surgical Therapy in Advanced Thymic Tumors
Authors: Markowiak Till , Ansari Mohammed Khalid Afeen , Neu Reiner , Schalke Berthold , Marx Alexander , Hofmann Hans-Stefan , Ried Michael
Published: September 2021

A complete resection of thymic tumors is known to be the most important prognostic factor, but it is often difficult to perform, especially in advanced stages. In this study, 73 patients with advanced thymic tumors of UICC stages III and IV who underwent radical resection were examined retrospectively. The primary endpoint was defined as the postoperative resection status. Secondary endpoints included postoperative morbidity, mortality, recurrence/progression-free, and overall survival. In total, 31.5% of patients were assigned to stage IIIa, 9.6% to stage IIIb, 47.9% to stage IVa, and 11% to stage IVb. In stages III a R0 resection was achieved in 53.3% of patients. In stages IV a R0/R1 resection was documented in 76.7% of patients. Surgical revision was necessary in 17.8% of patients. In-hospital mortality was 2.7%. Median recurrence/progression-free interval was 43 months (p = 0.19) with an overall survival of 79 months. The 5-year survival rate was 61.3%, respectively. Median survival after R2 resection was 25 months, significantly shorter than after R0 or R1 resection (115 months; p = 0.004). Advanced thymic tumors can be resected with an acceptable risk of complications and low mortality. In stage III as well as in stage IV the promising survival rates are dependent on the resection-status.
The Tumor Microenvironment-Dependent Transcription Factors AHR and HIF-1α Are Dispensable for Leukemogenesis in the Eµ-TCL1 Mouse Model of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Gonder Susanne , Largeot Anne , Gargiulo Ernesto , Pierson Sandrine , Fernandez Botana Iria , Pagano Giulia , Paggetti Jerome , Moussay Etienne
Published: September 2021

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most frequent leukemia in the elderly and is characterized by the accumulation of mature B lymphocytes in peripheral blood and primary lymphoid organs. In order to proliferate, leukemic cells are highly dependent on complex interactions with their microenvironment in proliferative niches. Not only soluble factors and BCR stimulation are important for their survival and proliferation, but also the activation of transcription factors through different signaling pathways. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α are two transcription factors crucial for cancer development, whose activities are dependent on tumor microenvironment conditions, such as the presence of metabolites from the tryptophan pathway and hypoxia, respectively. In this study, we addressed the potential role of AHR and HIF-1α in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) development in vivo. To this end, we crossed the CLL mouse model Eµ-TCL1 with the corresponding transcription factor-conditional knock-out mice to delete one or both transcription factors in CD19+ B cells only. Despite AHR and HIF-1α being activated in CLL cells, deletion of either or both of them had no impact on CLL progression or survival in vivo, suggesting that these transcription factors are not crucial for leukemogenesis in CLL.
Trial Watch: Adoptive TCR-Engineered T-Cell Immunotherapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Campillo-Davo Diana , Anguille Sébastien , Lion Eva
Published: September 2021

Despite the advent of novel therapies, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains associated with a grim prognosis. This is exemplified by 5-year overall survival rates not exceeding 30%. Even with frontline high-intensity chemotherapy regimens and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the majority of patients with AML will relapse. For these patients, treatment options are few, and novel therapies are urgently needed. Adoptive T-cell therapies represent an attractive therapeutic avenue due to the intrinsic ability of T lymphocytes to recognize tumor cells with high specificity and efficiency. In particular, T-cell therapies focused on introducing T-cell receptors (TCRs) against tumor antigens have achieved objective clinical responses in solid tumors such as synovial sarcoma and melanoma. However, contrary to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells with groundbreaking results in B-cell malignancies, the use of TCR-T cells for hematological malignancies is still in its infancy. In this review, we provide an overview of the status and clinical advances in adoptive TCR-T-cell therapy for the treatment of AML.