bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of a Perception of Objectification in the Workplace Short Scale (POWS)
Authors: Crone Lola , Brunel Lionel , Auzoult Laurent
Published: June 2021

An increasing number of studies focus on the phenomenon of objectification in the workplace. This phenomenon reflects a process of subjection of the employee, where he is considered as an object, a mean (utilitarian) or reduced to one of his attributes. Previous studies have shown that objectification can have consequences on the workplace health or performance. Field studies are based on objectification measures based on tools whose psychometric qualities are unclear. Based on a previous workplace objectification measurement scale, we conducted a study with the aim of devising a new parsimonious scale. We present three studies which aim to validate this new scale. In the first study, an EFA and a CFA were performed in order to construct a scale and verify its structure validity. We obtained a 10-item scale reporting two factors labeled “Instrumental value” and “Powerfulness.” The psychometric qualities of this scale were satisfactory, i.e., showed good internal reliability and good structural validity. In a second study, we tested the convergent and divergent validity of the scale. We observe that POWS is adequately correlated with dehumanization indicators. Finally, in a third study, we found that only powerfulness was associated with negative consequences for occupational health. This suggests that objectification is a process of social perception that contributes either to the devaluation of social agents in the workplace or to normal functioning at work.
A Norm-Based Conditional Process Model of the Negative Impact of Optimistic Bias on Self-Protection Behaviors During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Three Chinese Cities
Authors: Chen Sijing , Liu Jianwei , Hu Huamin
Published: June 2021

Data were collected from 896 participants in three Chinese cities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to varying degrees through an online survey platform. A conditional process model was then proposed for the impact of optimistic bias on self-protection behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of social norms. Statistical analysis demonstrates that optimistic bias has a negative impact on self-protection behaviors through message acceptance. Perceived social norms moderate this relationship in the following ways: (1) The higher the perceptions of social norms, the smaller the negative impact of optimistic bias on message acceptance, and the smaller the positive impact of message acceptance on self-protection behaviors. (2) Within a certain range, the higher the perceptions of social norms, the smaller the negative impact, both direct and indirect, of optimistic bias on self-protection behaviors. (3) The direct and indirect effects of optimistic bias on self-protection behaviors become insignificant when perceptions of social norms are very strong. Comparing the data of the three cities shows that higher risk is associated with a stronger role of social norms in moderating the relationship between optimistic bias and self-protection behaviors. The above results suggest that there may be both internal (optimistic bias) and external (social norms) reference points in individual decision-making regarding health behaviors. The theoretical and practical significance of the dual reference points are discussed.
Identifying the ‘Active Ingredients' of an Effective Psychological Intervention to Reduce Fear of Cancer Recurrence: A Process Evaluation
Authors: Kan Janice M. , Dieng Mbathio , Butow Phyllis N. , Mireskandari Shab , Tesson Stephanie , Menzies Scott W. , Costa Daniel S. J. , Morton Rachael L. , Mann Graham J. , Cust Anne E. , Kasparian Nadine A.
Published: June 2021

Purpose: Psychological interventions targeting fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) are effective in reducing fear and distress. Process evaluations are an important, yet scarce adjunct to published intervention trials, despite their utility in guiding the interpretation of study outcomes and optimizing intervention design for broader implementation. Accordingly, this paper reports the findings of a process evaluation conducted alongside a randomized controlled trial of a psychological intervention for melanoma patients.

Methods: Men and women with a history of Stage 0–II melanoma at high-risk of developing new primary disease were recruited via High Risk Melanoma Clinics across Sydney, Australia and randomly allocated to receive the psychological intervention (n = 80) or usual care (n = 84). Intervention participants received a tailored psycho-educational resource and three individual psychotherapeutic sessions delivered via telehealth. Qualitative and quantitative data on intervention context, processes, and delivery (reach, dose, and fidelity), and mechanisms of impact (participant responses, moderators of outcome) were collected from a range of sources, including participant surveys, psychotherapeutic session audio-recordings, and clinical records.

Results: Almost all participants reported using the psycho-educational resource (97%), received all intended psychotherapy sessions (96%), and reported high satisfaction with both intervention components. Over 80% of participants would recommend the intervention to others, and a small proportion (4%) found discussion of melanoma-related experiences confronting. Perceived benefits included enhanced doctor-patient communication, talking more openly with family members about melanoma, and improved coping. Of potential moderators, only higher FCR severity at baseline (pre-intervention) was associated with greater reductions in FCR severity (primary outcome) at 6-month follow-up (primary endpoint).

Conclusions: Findings support the acceptability and feasibility of a psychological intervention to reduce FCR amongst individuals at high risk of developing another melanoma. Implementation into routine melanoma care is an imperative next step, with FCR screening recommended to identify those most likely to derive the greatest psychological benefit.
How Does Dualistic Passion Fuel Academic Thriving? A Joint Moderated–Mediating Model
Authors: Zhou Jie
Published: June 2021

Based on the dualistic model of passion, this study developed a joint moderated–mediating model to investigate the mechanism of dualistic passion on academic thriving. We surveyed 960 Chinese university students with a questionnaire. The results showed that harmonious and obsessive passion positively predicted academic thriving, with the effect of harmonious passion being stronger. Academic personal best goal mediated these relationships. Moreover, threat stress appraisal and academic workload jointly moderated the direct effects of harmonious passion on academic personal best goal and obsessive passion on academic personal best goal, and the first stage of the mediating effects of academic personal best goal between harmonious passion and academic thriving as well as obsessive passion and academic thriving. Specifically, for low–threat stress appraisal and academic workload, the direct effect of harmonious passion on academic personal best goal and the mediating effect of academic personal best goal were stronger. Meanwhile, for high–threat stress appraisal and academic workload, the same applied for obsessive passion. These findings provide important implications for educational practice by highlighting an underlying mechanism of how and when dualistic passion, particularly for obsessive passion, can initiate and maintain academic thriving.
Preschool Teachers’ Technology Acceptance During the COVID-19: An Adapted Technology Acceptance Model
Authors: Hong Xiumin , Zhang Mingzhu , Liu Qianqian
Published: June 2021

Online education has become a major reaction to the COVID-19 epidemic, which requires preschool teachers to quickly adapt to online education and accept educational technology. In this emergency background, research on the preschool teachers’ technology acceptance provides clues to improve preschool teachers’ intention to use educational technology. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is widely used to examine the process of individuals’ technology acceptance in the previous literature. Therefore, this study seeks to examine preschool teachers’ technology acceptance with the adapted TAM and their determinant factors. The proposed model was empirically validated by using survey data from 1,568 preschool teachers during the COVID-19. Results indicate that preschool teachers’ behavioral intention was moderate to high level. Perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are direct significant predictors of preschool teachers’ behavioral intention. Perceived usefulness is affected by perceived ease of use and job relevance. Computer self-efficacy and perceptions of external control are the positive factors toward perceived ease of use. Our findings present powerful evidence for the applicability of the adapted TAM in a sample of Chinese preschool teachers under emergency circumstances. These results highlighted some potential avenues for interventions aimed at improving preschool teachers’ acceptance toward educational technology.
Profiles of Depressive Symptoms Among Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Women During the COVID-19 Outbreak in Mexico: A Latent Class Analysis
Authors: Cerecero-Garcia Diego , Vermandere Heleen , Bojorquez Ietza , Gómez-Castro José , Arturo Sánchez-Ochoa José , Martínez-Dávalos Araczy , Huerta-Icelo Ivonne , Bautista-Arredondo Sergio
Published: June 2021

The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on mental health among HIV high-risk populations is not known. We assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms (DS) and explore the association with characteristics related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted an online survey among 881 men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) assessing the presence of DS using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10); results were compared with previously self-reported DS and national data. We applied latent class analysis (LCA) to identify classes of participants with similar COVID-19 related characteristics. The overall prevalence of significant DS was 53.3%. By LCA posterior probabilities we identified three classes: (1) minimal impact of COVID-19 (54.1%), (2) objective risk for COVID-19 (41.5%), and (3) anxiety and economic stress caused by COVID-19 (4.4%). Multivariate logistic regression showed that compared with those in class one, the odds to have significant DS were almost five times higher for those in class three. Our findings suggest high levels of depression among MSM and TGW in Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlight the need for the provision of targeted psychological interventions to minimize the impacts of COVID-19 on the mental health.
Organizational Readiness for Community Health Worker Workforce Integration Among Medicaid Contracted Health Plans and Provider Networks: An Arizona Case Study
Authors: Sabo Samantha , Wexler Nancy , O'Meara Louisa , Dreifuss Heather , Soto Yanitza , Redondo Floribella , Carter Heather , Guernsey de Zapien Jill , Ingram Maia
Published: June 2021

Understanding and building organizational capacity for system change and the integration of the Community Health Worker (CHW) workforce within the health scare sector requires a supportive organizational culture among sector leaders and providers. The aim of this mixed-methods study was to assess organizational readiness for CHW workforce integration into Arizona Medicaid health systems and care teams. This collaborative effort was in direct response to emergent state and national CHW workforce policy opportunities, and the shifting health care landscape in Arizona – which merged behavior and physical health. Specifically, and in collaboration with a broad-based, statewide CHW workforce coalition, led by the CHW professional association, we assessed 245 licensed health care professionals with experience working with CHWs and 16 Medicaid-contracted health plan leadership. Our goal was to generate a baseline understanding of the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs these stakeholders held about the integration of CHWs into systems and teams. Our findings demonstrate a high level of organizational readiness and action toward integration of CHWs within the Arizona health care system and care teams. CHWs have emerged as a health care workforce able to enhance the patient experience of care, improve population health, reduce cost of care, and improve the experience of providing care among clinicians and staff.
Parent Perceptions of Changes in Child Physical Activity During COVID-19 Stay-At-Home Orders
Authors: Eyler Amy A. , Schmidt Laurel , Kepper Maura , Mazzucca Stephanie , Gilbert Amanda , Beck Alan
Published: June 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore parent perceptions of changes in child physical activity during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Setting: The research team used social media, relevant organizations, and neighborhood groups to distribute the survey link in May and June of 2020.

Subjects: A convenience sample of parents of children aged 5–12.

Measures: Survey to assess parental perceptions of changes in children's physical activity before and during stay-at-home orders, and environmental and social barriers to physical activity.

Analysis: Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics, bivariate comparisons, and multinomial-logistic regression models with covariates of environmental factors, social factors, and frequency of factors as barriers on association with perceived physical activity change.

Results: Data from 245 parents were analyzed. A majority (63.7%) of parents reported a decrease in children's physical activity during stay-at-home orders. More parents indicated social barriers (e.g., lack of access to playmates) than environmental barriers (e.g., lack of access to neighborhood play spaces) to children's physical activity. In multivariate analyses, the odds of parents reporting decreased physical activity was greater for those reporting lack of playmates (OR = 4.72; 95% CI: 1.99–11.17) and lack of adult supervision (OR = 11.82; 95% CI: 2.48–56.28) as barriers. No environmental barriers were significantly associated with decreased children's physical activity.

Conclusion: The unique aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic provide a natural experiment for developing social and environmental strategies to improve children's overall physical activity. Assessing parental perceptions is a way to inform these future efforts.
Just “Like Coffee” or Neuroenhancement by Stimulants?
Authors: Franke Andreas G. , Koller Gabriele , Krause Daniela , Proebstl Lisa , Kamp Felicia , Pogarell Oliver , Jebrini Tarek , Manz Kirsi , Chrobok Agnieszka I. , Soyka Michael
Published: June 2021

Introduction: Pharmacological neuroenhancement (PN) is a topic of increasing importance and prevalence among students. However, there is a lack of differentiating PN substances, according to their psychoactive effects. In particular, there is a lack of data about PN by caffeinated drinks, even if coffee is a common and broadly used Neuroenhancer because of its cognitively enhancing effects regarding wakefulness, alertness and concentration.

Materials and Methods: A web-survey was developed for German students and alumni about the non-medical use of caffeine for PN contained questions about coffee, caffeinated drinks and energy drinks, caffeine pills and methylxanthine tea regarding frequency and further contextual factors.

Results: Six hundred and eighty-three participants completed the survey. Nearly all participants knew about PN (97.7%). 88.1% admitted using some over-the-counter substances. For PN purposes, coffee was used by 72.9% followed by energy drinks (68.2%) and cola drinks (62.4%). Methylxanthine containing tea was used for PN purposes, too (black tea 52.3%, green tea 51.7%). 1.8% admitted using illegal substances or prescription drugs, too.

Discussion: Using legal methylxanthine containing drinks for PN seems to be extremely common with coffee and energy drinks being the preferred substances, while illegal and prescription drugs are only minimally used. Further studies should investigate the awareness of methylxanthine containing drinks as well as its character to be a flavoring drink or a neuroenhancer.
Reimagining Innovation Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights From the WISH Innovation Programme
Authors: El Akoum Maha , El Achi Mahmoud
Published: June 2021

The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) hosts two innovation competitions as part of its biennial healthcare conference. During the COVID-19 pandemic, WISH received more than 350 applications for both competitions, of which 31 were shortlisted to showcase at the WISH 2020 virtual summit. Of the 31 showcasing innovations, 11 (35.5%) had suggested an alternative use to their innovation as a contribution to the global fight against COVID-19. As such, this article explores the apparent and urgent need for the repurposing of healthcare innovations to reduce the costs and time associated with the conventional approach, in order to best respond to the demands of the global pandemic.
Predicting Cervical Cancer Outcomes: Statistics, Images, and Machine Learning
Authors: Luo Wei
Published: June 2021

Cervical cancer is a very common and severe disease in women worldwide. Accurate prediction of its clinical outcomes will help adjust or optimize the treatment of cervical cancer and benefit the patients. Statistical models, various types of medical images, and machine learning have been used for outcome prediction and obtained promising results. Compared to conventional statistical models, machine learning has demonstrated advantages in dealing with the complexity in large-scale data and discovering prognostic factors. It has great potential in clinical application and improving cervical cancer management. However, the limitations of prediction studies and prediction models including simplification, insufficient data, overfitting and lack of interpretability, indicate that more work is needed to make clinical outcome prediction more accurate, more reliable, and more practical for clinical use.
A United States Fair Lending Perspective on Machine Learning
Authors: Hall Patrick , Cox Benjamin , Dickerson Steven , Ravi Kannan Arjun , Kulkarni Raghu , Schmidt Nicholas
Published: June 2021

The use of machine learning (ML) has become more widespread in many areas of consumer financial services, including credit underwriting and pricing of loans. ML’s ability to automatically learn nonlinearities and interactions in training data is perceived to facilitate faster and more accurate credit decisions, and ML is now a viable challenger to traditional credit modeling methodologies. In this mini review, we further the discussion of ML in consumer finance by proposing uniform definitions of key ML and legal concepts related to discrimination and interpretability. We use the United States legal and regulatory environment as a foundation to add critical context to the broader discussion of relevant, substantial, and novel ML methodologies in credit underwriting, and we review numerous strategies to mitigate the many potential adverse implications of ML in consumer finance.
Motivation for Rehabilitation in Patients With Subacute Stroke: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Yoshida Taiki , Otaka Yohei , Osu Rieko , Kumagai Masashi , Kitamura Shin , Yaeda Jun
Published: June 2021

Background:Motivation is essential for patients with subacute stroke undergoing intensive rehabilitation. Although it is known that motivation induces behavioral changes toward rehabilitation, detailed description has been lacking. Motivation can be intrinsic or extrinsic; however, it is unclear which type of factors mainly motivates patients' daily rehabilitation.

Purpose:This study aimed to examine the factors influencing patients' motivation and to explore the behavioral changes induced by motivation, especially age-related differences.

Method:Twenty participants (mean age 65.8 years [standard deviation 13.7]) who had a subacute stroke and underwent rehabilitation at a convalescent hospital were recruited using convenience sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted by an occupational therapist with an interview topic guide regarding factors influencing motivation and how it affects behavioral change. Interviews were recorded, transcribed to text, and analyzed by three occupational therapists using thematic analysis. The participants were divided into two groups: aged patients (aged ≥ 65 years) and middle-aged patients (aged < 65 years), and data were analyzed according to the groups. This study was conducted according to the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research.

Results:Seven core categories were identified as factors influencing patients' motivation: patients' goals, experiences of success and failure, physical condition and cognitive function, resilience, influence of rehabilitation professionals, relationships between patients, and patients' supporters. The first four and last three core categories were further classified as personal and social-relationship factors, respectively. The categories related to intrinsic motivation such as enjoyment of rehabilitation itself were not derived. In both age-groups, motivation affected the frequency of self-training and activity in daily lives. In some aged patients, however, high motivation restrained their self-training to conserve their physical strength for rehabilitation by professionals. Some aged patients do not express their high motivation through their facial expressions and conversations compared to middle-aged patients; therefore, motivation is not always observable in aged patients.

Conclusions:Interventions tailored to extrinsic factors are important for maintaining patients' motivation. Observational evaluation may lead to mislabeling of their motivation, especially for aged patients. Rehabilitation professionals should use validated evaluation scales or patients' narratives to assess patients' motivation.
Integrating Electric Vehicles to Achieve Sustainable Energy as a Service Business Model in Smart Cities
Authors: Anthony Jnr. Bokolo
Published: June 2021

The digitalization of the power grid to smart grid provides value added services to the prosumers and other stakeholders involved in the energy market, and possibly disrupts existing electricity services in smart cities. The use of Electric Vehicles (EVs) do not only challenge the sustainability of the smart grid but also promote and stimulate its upgrading. Undeniably, EVs can actively promote the development of the smart grid via two-way communications by deploying Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and Grid-to-Vehicle (G2V). EVs have environmental benefits as compared to hybrids or even internal combustion engine vehicle as they can help minimize noise levels, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. The integration of EVs could bring substantial changes for the society not only in providing transportation services but also shifting economies from petroleum and reducing the carbon dioxide (CO2) emission from the transportation sector. Therefore, this study employs secondary data from the literature to explore how EVs can achieve sustainable energy as a service business model in smart cities. Findings from this study suggest that EVs are major assets for a sustainable energy future as EV batteries offers an untapped opportunity to store electricity from renewable energy sources. Implications from this study discusses the issues and recommendations for EVs integration in smart cities.
Analysis and Prediction of Carsharing Demand Based on Data Mining Methods
Authors: Wang Chunxia , Bi Jun , Sai Qiuyue , Yuan Zun
Published: June 2021

With the development of the sharing economy, carsharing is a major achievement in the current mode of transportation in sharing economies. Carsharing can effectively alleviate traffic congestion and reduce the travel cost of residents. However, due to the randomness of users’ travel demand, carsharing operators are faced with problems, such as imbalance in vehicle demand at stations. Therefore, scientific prediction of users’ travel demand is important to ensure the efficient operation of carsharing. The main purpose of this study is to use gradient boosting decision tree to predict the travel demand of station-based carsharing users. The case study is conducted in Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, China. To improve the accuracy, gradient boosting decision tree is designed to predict the demands of users at different stations at various times based on the actual operating data of carsharing. The prediction results are compared with results of the autoregressive integrated moving average. The conclusion shows that gradient boosting decision tree has higher prediction accuracy. This study can provide a reference value for user demand prediction in practical application.
A Robust Noise-Free Linear Control Design for Robot Manipulator with Uncertain System Parameters
Authors: Yeh Yi-Liang
Published: June 2021

In robot control, the sliding mode control is known for its robustness against external disturbances and system uncertainties. However, it has the disadvantage of control chattering, which can damage the actuator and degrade system performance. With a new stability proof, this paper presents an alternative simple linear feedback control that can cope with large system uncertainties and suppress large external disturbances, doing so as effectively as sliding mode control does. The advantage of using linear control is that the control law is simple and control chattering can be avoided. Moreover, a noise-free control scheme is proposed as an improvement of the feedback control; the modified design preserves the advantages of linear control and generates a chattering-free control signal even in a noisy environment.
Ergot Alkaloid Contents in Hybrid Rye are Reduced by Breeding
Authors: Miedaner Thomas , Kodisch Anna , Raditschnig Armin , Eifler Jakob
Published: June 2021

Contamination by ergot caused by the phytopathogenic fungus Claviceps purpurea is a constant threat to the whole rye value chain. Ergot alkaloids (EA) produced within the fungal sclerotia are toxic for humans and animals and are subjected to strict regulations in human food. Our main objective was to analyze whether less susceptible rye cultivars with a lower content of sclerotia also contain fewer ergot alkaloids (EA). We analyzed 15 factorial single crosses in multi-environmental trials with artificial inoculation for their ergot severity, the content of twelve EAs by HPLC, and the total ergot content by ELISA. The genotypes displayed a wide range of pollen shedding from fully sterile to fully fertile, of ergot severity expressed as percentage of sclerotia relative to the harvest (0.22–11.47%), and of EA contents when analyzed by HPLC (0.57–45.27 mg/kg. Entry-mean heritabilities were high throughout (0.87–0.98). The factorial analysis yielded a preponderance of male general combining ability (GCA) variances, the estimates for the females were smaller, although significant. EA contents measured by ELISA were, on average, seven times larger. The correlation between ergot severity and EA contents determined by HPLC was r = 0.98 (p ≤ 0.01) and only somewhat lower when analyzed by ELISA. In conclusion, less ergot prone rye genotypes also support lower EA contents.
Design and Experiment of Row-Controlled Fertilizing–Weeding Machine for Rice Cultivation
Authors: Shi Yangjie , Xi Xiaobo , Gan Hao , Shan Xiang , Zhang Yifu , Shen Hui , Zhang Ruihong
Published: June 2021

Current approaches to topdressing and weeding operations for rice cultivation present several disadvantages, such as poor precision, low efficiency, serious environmental pollution, and so on. This paper presents a row-controlled fertilizing–weeding machine to improve the precision of fertilizing and weeding operations and to reduce the heavy pollution associated with rice cultivation. A proportional–integral–derivative algorithm was adopted to realize accurate fertilization control, and an automatic driving system for agricultural machinery based on BeiDou navigation was used for accurate row-controlled operation. Accuracy testing and field experiments were carried out. The results show that the fertilization control system can stabilize the speed to within 0.55 s of the desired speed with a standard deviation of around 0.32 r·min−1. The row-controlled operation ensures the lateral deviation is within ± 5 cm at operating speeds below 5 km·h−1. The high uniformity and accuracy of fertilization meet agronomic requirements and rice cultivation standards, and the weeding performance is acceptable at working speeds below 5 km·h−1.
Detection of Genomic Regions with Pleiotropic Effects for Growth and Carcass Quality Traits in the Rubia Gallega Cattle Breed
Authors: Martinez-Castillero Maria , Then Carlos , Altarriba Juan , Srihi Houssemeddine , López-Carbonell David , Díaz Clara , Martinez Paulino , Hermida Miguel , Varona Luis
Published: June 2021

The breeding scheme in the Rubia Gallega cattle population is based upon traits measured in farms and slaughterhouses. In recent years, genomic evaluation has been implemented by using a ssGBLUP (single-step Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Prediction). This procedure can reparameterized to perform ssGWAS (single-step Genome Wide Association Studies) by backsolving the SNP (single nucleotide polymorphisms) effects. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify genomic regions associated with the genetic variability in growth and carcass quality traits. We implemented a ssGBLUP by using a database that included records for Birth Weight (BW-327,350 records-), Weaning Weight (WW-83,818-), Cold Carcass Weight (CCW-91,621-), Fatness (FAT-91,475-) and Conformation (CON-91,609-). The pedigree included 464,373 individuals, 2449 of which were genotyped. After a process of filtering, we ended up using 43,211 SNP markers. We used the GBLUP and SNPBLUP model equivalences to obtain the effects of the SNPs and then calculated the percentage of variance explained by the regions of the genome between 1 Mb. We identified 7 regions of the genome for CCW; 8 regions for BW, WW, FAT and 9 regions for CON, which explained the percentage of variance above 0.5%. Furthermore, a number of the genome regions had pleiotropic effects, located at: BTA1 (131–132 Mb), BTA2 (1–11 Mb), BTA3 (32–33 Mb), BTA6 (36–38 Mb), BTA16 (24–26 Mb), and BTA 21 (56–57 Mb). These regions contain, amongst others, the following candidate genes: NCK1, MSTN, KCNA3, LCORL, NCAPG, and RIN3.
Evaluation of Tannin Extracts, Leonardite and Tributyrin Supplementation on Diarrhoea Incidence and Gut Microbiota of Weaned Piglets
Authors: Dell’Anno Matteo , Reggi Serena , Caprarulo Valentina , Hejna Monika , Sgoifo Rossi Carlo , Callegari Maria , Baldi Antonella , Rossi Luciana
Published: June 2021

The effects of the dietary administration of a combination of Quebracho and Chestnut tannins, leonardite and tributyrin were evaluated in weaned piglets. A total of 168 weaned piglets (Landrace × Large White) were randomly allotted to two experimental groups (6 pens/group, 14 piglets/pen). Animals were fed a basal control diet (CTRL) and a treatment diet (MIX) supplemented with 0.75% tannin extracts, 0.25% leonardite and 0.20% tributyrin for 28 days. Individual body weight and feed intake were recorded weekly. Diarrhoea incidence was recorded by a faecal scoring scale (0–3; considering diarrhoea ≥ 2). At 0 and 28 days, faecal samples were obtained from four piglets/pen for microbiological and chemical analyses of faecal microbiota, which were then assessed by V3-V4 region amplification sequencing. At 28 days, blood from two piglets/pen was sampled to evaluate the serum metabolic profile. After 28 days, a reduction in diarrhoea incidence was observed in the MIX compared to CTRL group (p < 0.05). In addition, compared to CTRL, MIX showed a higher lactobacilli:coliform ratio and increased Prevotella and Fibrobacter genera presence (p < 0.01). The serum metabolic profile showed a decreased level of low-density lipoproteins in the treated group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, a combination of tannin extract, leonardite and tributyrin could decrease diarrhoea incidence and modulate the gut microbiota.
Maternal Supplementation with Polyphenols and Omega-3 Fatty Acids during Pregnancy: Prenatal Effects on Growth and Metabolism
Authors: Heras-Molina Ana , Pesántez-Pacheco José Luis , Garcia-Contreras Consolación , Vázquez-Gómez Marta , López Adrián , Benítez Rita , Núñez Yolanda , Astiz Susana , Óvilo Cristina , Isabel Beatriz , González-Bulnes Antonio
Published: June 2021

Maternal supplementation with antioxidants and n-3 PUFAs may be a promising strategy to reduce the risk of intrauterine growth restriction and preterm delivery, which may diminish the appearance of low-birth-neonates. A previous studies showed beneficial outcomes of the combination of hydroxytyrosol and linoleic acid, but there is no data of its prenatal effects. The present study aimed to determine the possible prenatal implications of such maternal supplementation at prenatal stages in swine, a model of IUGR pregnancies. Results showed effects on litter size, with treated sows having larger litters and, therefore, smaller fetuses. However, the brain/head weight ratio showed a positive effect of the treatment in development, as well as in some other major organs like lungs, spleen, or kidneys. On the other hand, treated piglets showed better glycemic and lipidemic profiles, which could explain postnatal effects. However, further research on the implications of the treatment on litter size and prenatal and postnatal development must be done before practical recommendation can be given.
The Potential Role of Bacteriophages in the Treatment of Recalcitrant Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Authors: Uyttebroek Saartje , Onsea Jolien , Metsemakers Willem-Jan , Dupont Lieven , Devolder David , Wagemans Jeroen , Lavigne Rob , Spriet Isabel , Van Gerven Laura
Published: June 2021

Chronic rhinosinusitis is a common condition affecting 5–12% of the general population worldwide. In a limited number of cases, the disease is recalcitrant to medical and surgical interventions, causing a major impact on physical, social and emotional well-being and increasing pressure on healthcare systems. Biofilm formation and dysbiosis caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa play a role in the pathogenesis of recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis. In these cases, a promising treatment alternative is the application of bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect and lyse bacteria. In this review, we appraise the evidence for the use of bacteriophages in the treatment of recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis. Additionally, (dis)advantages of bacteriophages and considerations for implementation of phage therapy in otorhinolaryngology practice will be discussed.
The Synergistic Effect of Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles and Phage ZCSE2 as a Novel Approach to Combat Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella enterica
Authors: Abdelsattar Abdallah S. , Nofal Rana , Makky Salsabil , Safwat Anan , Taha Amera , El-Shibiny Ayman
Published: June 2021

The emergence and evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is considered a public health concern. Salmonella is one of the most common pathogens that cause high mortality and morbidity rates in humans, animals, and poultry annually. In this work, we developed a combination of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with bacteriophage (phage) as an antimicrobial agent to control microbial growth. The synthesized AgNPs with propolis were characterized by testing their color change from transparent to deep brown by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The phage ZCSE2 was found to be stable when combined with AgNPs. Both minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were evaluated for AgNPs, phage, and their combination. The results indicated that MIC and MBC values were equal to 23 µg/mL against Salmonella bacteria at a concentration of 107 CFU/mL. The combination of 0.4× MIC from AgNPs and phage with Multiplicity of Infection (MOI) 0.1 showed an inhibitory effect. This combination of AgNPs and phage offers a prospect of nanoparticles with significantly enhanced antibacterial properties and therapeutic performance.
‘Carbon-Monoxide-Releasing Molecule-2 (CORM-2)’ Is a Misnomer: Ruthenium Toxicity, Not CO Release, Accounts for Its Antimicrobial Effects
Authors: Southam Hannah M. , Williamson Michael P. , Chapman Jonathan A. , Lyon Rhiannon L. , Trevitt Clare R. , Henderson Peter J. F. , Poole Robert K.
Published: June 2021

Carbon monoxide (CO)-releasing molecules (CORMs) are used to deliver CO, a biological ‘gasotransmitter’, in biological chemistry and biomedicine. CORMs kill bacteria in culture and in animal models, but are reportedly benign towards mammalian cells. CORM-2 (tricarbonyldichlororuthenium(II) dimer, Ru2Cl4(CO)6), the first widely used and commercially available CORM, displays numerous pharmacological, biochemical and microbiological activities, generally attributed to CO release. Here, we investigate the basis of its potent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and demonstrate, using three globin CO sensors, that CORM-2 releases negligible CO (<0.1 mol CO per mol CORM-2). A strong negative correlation between viability and cellular ruthenium accumulation implies that ruthenium toxicity underlies biocidal activity. Exogenous amino acids and thiols (especially cysteine, glutathione and N-acetyl cysteine) protected bacteria against inhibition of growth by CORM-2. Bacteria treated with 30 μM CORM-2, with added cysteine and histidine, exhibited no significant loss of viability, but were killed in the absence of these amino acids. Their prevention of toxicity correlates with their CORM-2-binding affinities (Cys, Kd 3 μM; His, Kd 130 μM) as determined by 1H-NMR. Glutathione is proposed to be an important intracellular target of CORM-2, with CORM-2 having a much higher affinity for reduced glutathione (GSH) than oxidised glutathione (GSSG) (GSH, Kd 2 μM; GSSG, Kd 25,000 μM). The toxicity of low, but potent, levels (15 μM) of CORM-2 was accompanied by cell lysis, as judged by the release of cytoplasmic ATP pools. The biological effects of CORM-2 and related CORMs, and the design of biological experiments, must be re-examined in the light of these data.
Ameliorative Effects of Aspergillus awamori against the Initiation of Hepatocarcinogenesis Induced by Diethylnitrosamine in a Rat Model: Regulation of Cyp19 and p53 Gene Expression
Authors: Assar Doaa H. , Mokhbatly Abd-Allah A. , Ghazy Emad W. , Ragab Amany E. , Abou Asa Samah , Abdo Walied , Elbialy Zizy I. , Mohamed Nora Elbialy , El-Far Ali H.
Published: June 2021

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common cancer in humans. Despite advances in its treatment, liver cancer remains one of the most difficult cancers to treat. This study aimed to investigate the ameliorative action and potential mechanism of Aspergillus awamori (ASP) administration against the initiation process of liver carcinogenesis induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) in male Wistar rats. Seventy-two male rats were divided equally into eight groups as follows, Group 1: untreated control; Group 2: DEN (200 mg/kg bw) intra-peritoneally for the initiation of HCC; Groups 3–5: DEN + ASP at a dose of 1, 0.5, and 0.25 mg/kg bw and groups 6–8: ASP at a dose of 1, 0.5, and 0.25 mg/kg bw. Supplementation of A. awamori significantly lightened the adverse impacts induced by DEN via restoring the leukogram to normal, lowering the elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Furthermore, it enhanced the hepatic antioxidant capacity through increasing the reduced glutathione (GSH) level and catalase (CAT) activity with a marked reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) level. In addition, it decreased the positive GST-P foci. Likewise, a significant alteration of DEN-associated hepatocarcinogenesis occurred through inhibiting cytochrome P450 (Cyp19) and activating p53 gene expression. In conclusion, supplementation of A. awamori counteracts the negative effects of DEN, inhibits the early development of GST-P-positive foci and could be used as a new alternative strategy for its chemo-preventive effect in liver cancer. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to report the hepato-protective effect of A. awamori in induced hepatocarcinogenesis.
Oxidative Stress Mediates Vascular Tortuosity
Authors: Fumoto Toshio , Kinoshita Shouhei , Sasaki Takao , Shimamura Norihito , Ohkuma Hiroki
Published: June 2021

Vascular tortuosity is associated with various disorders and is being increasingly detected through advances in imaging techniques. The underlying mechanisms for vascular tortuosity, however, remain unclear. Here, we tested the hypothesis that oxidative stress mediates the generation of tortuous vessels. We used the bilateral common carotid artery (CCA) ligation model to induce vascular tortuosity. Both young and adult rats showed basilar artery tortuous morphological changes one month after bilateral CCA ligation. These tortuous changes were permanent but more pronounced in the adult rats. Microarray and real-time PCR analysis revealed that these tortuous changes were accompanied by the induction of oxidative stress-related genes. Moreover, the indicated model in rabbits showed that tortuous morphological changes to the basilar artery were suppressed by antioxidant treatment. These results are highly suggestive of the significance of oxidative stress in the development of vascular tortuosity. Although further studies will be needed to elucidate the possible mechanisms by which oxidative stress enhances vascular tortuosity, our study also points toward possible prophylaxis and treatment for vascular tortuosity.
Coenzyme Q10 Phytosome Formulation Improves CoQ10 Bioavailability and Mitochondrial Functionality in Cultured Cells
Authors: Rizzardi Nicola , Liparulo Irene , Antonelli Giorgia , Orsini Francesca , Riva Antonella , Bergamini Christian , Fato Romana
Published: June 2021

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a lipid-soluble molecule with a dual role: it transfers electrons in the mitochondrial transport chain by promoting the transmembrane potential exploited by the ATPase to synthesize ATP and, in its reduced form, is a membrane antioxidant. Since the high CoQ10 hydrophobicity hinders its bioavailability, several formulations have been developed to facilitate its cellular uptake. In this work, we studied the bioenergetic and antioxidant effects in I407 and H9c2 cells of a CoQ10 phytosome formulation (UBIQSOME®, UBQ). We investigated the cellular and mitochondrial content of CoQ10 and its redox state after incubation with UBQ. We studied different bioenergetic parameters, such as oxygen consumption, ATP content and mitochondrial potential. Moreover, we evaluated the effects of CoQ10 incubation on oxidative stress, membrane lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis and highlighted the connection between the intracellular concentration of CoQ10 and its antioxidant potency. Finally, we focused on the cellular mechanism that regulates UBQ internalization. We showed that the cell lines used in this work share the same uptake mechanism for UBQ, although the intestinal cell line was less efficient. Given the limitations of an in vitro model, the latter result supports that intestinal absorption is a critical step for the oral administration of Coenzyme Q10 formulations.
Switching Control Strategy for Oscillating Water Columns Based on Response Amplitude Operators for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines Stabilization
Authors: Aboutalebi Payam , M’zoughi Fares , Martija Itziar , Garrido Izaskun , Garrido Aitor J.
Published: June 2021

In this article, a new strategy for switching control has been proposed with the aim of reducing oscillations in floating offshore wind turbines. Such oscillations lead to a shortage in the system’s efficiency, lifespan and harvesting capability of wind and wave energies. In order to study the decreasing of undesired oscillations in the system, particularly in pitch and top tower fore-aft movements, a square-shaped platform barge equipped with four symmetric oscillating water columns has been considered. The oscillating water columns’ air flux valves allow to operate the air columns so that to control the barge movements caused by oscillatory motion of the waves. In order to design the control scheme, response amplitude operators have been used to evaluate the performance of the system for a range of wave frequency profiles. These response amplitude operators analysis makes it possible to implement a switching control strategy to adequately regulate the valves opening/closing transition. The obtained results show that the proposed controlled oscillating water column-based barge present a better performance compared to the traditional barge one. In the case study with the period of 10 s, the results indicate the significant oscillation reduction for the controlled oscillating water column-based system compared to the standard barge system by 30.8% in pitch angle and 25% in fore-aft displacement.
Vibration Source Signal Separation of Rotating Machinery Equipment and Robot Bearings Based on Low Rank Constraint
Authors: He Zhiyang , Cheng Weidong , Xia Jiqiang , Wen Weigang , Li Meng
Published: June 2021

With the development of industrial robots and other mechanical equipment to a higher degree of automation, mechanical systems have become increasingly complex. This represents a huge challenge for condition monitoring. The separation of vibration source signals plays an important role in condition monitoring and fault diagnosis. The key to the separation method of the vibration source signal is prior knowledge, such as of the statistical features of the vibration source signal, the number of vibration sources, and so forth. However, effective prior knowledge is difficult to obtain in engineering applications. This study found that low rank is a common feature of rotating machinery vibration source signals. To address the problem of the difficulty obtaining the signal feature of a vibration source, the multi-low-rank constrained vibration source signal separation method was proposed. Its advantages and effectiveness have been verified through simulations and experimental tests. Compared with the blind source separation method of independent component analysis (BSS-ICA) and the ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) methods, it obtained better clustering results and higher signal-to-signal ratio (SSR) values.
Multi-Hazard WebGIS Platform for Coastal Regions
Authors: Rocha Miguel , Oliveira Anabela , Freire Paula , Fortunato André B. , Nahon Alphonse , Barros José L. , Azevedo Alberto , Oliveira Filipa S. B. F. , Rogeiro João , Jesus Gonçalo , Martins Ricardo J. , Santos Pedro P. , Tavares Alexandre O. , Oliveira João
Published: June 2021

The combined action of waves, surges and tides can cause flooding, erosion and dune and structure overtopping in many coastal regions. Addressing emergency and risk management in these areas require a combination of targeted campaigns and real-time data that measure all phenomena at stake and can be used to develop comprehensive monitoring platforms. These monitoring platforms can support the development of prediction tools that address all hazards in an integrated way. Herein, we present a methodology focused on multi-hazard coastal alert and risk, and its implementation in a tailored WebGIS platform. The MOSAIC platform offers a one-stop-shop capacity to access in-situ and remote sensing data, and hydrodynamic and morphodynamic predictions, supported by numerical models: SCHISM and XBeach. Information is structured on a local observatory scale, with regional forcings available for the correct interpretation of local hazards effects. This implementation can be further applied and extended to other coastal zones. The MOSAIC platform also provides access to a detailed database of past hazardous events, organized along several risk indicators, for the western coast of Portugal. The combination of features in the platform provides a unique repository of hazard information to support end-users for both emergency and long term risk planning actions.