bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Relief on the Density of Light-Forest Trees within the Small-Dry-Valley Network of Uplands in the Forest-Steppe Zone of Eastern Europe
Authors: Ukrainskiy Pavel , Terekhin Edgar , Gusarov Artyom , Zelenskaya Eugenia , Lisetskii Fedor
Published: October 2020

An active process of the invasion of woody vegetation, resulting in the formation of light forests, has been observed in predominantly herbaceous small dry valleys of the forest-steppe uplands of the East European Plain over the past two decades. This paper investigates the spatial features of the density of trees in such light forests and its relationship with relief parameters. The Belgorod Region, one of the administrative regions of European Russia, was chosen as a reference for the forest-steppe zone of the plain. The correlation between some relief characteristics (the height, slope, slope exposure cosine, topographic position index, morphometric protection index, terrain ruggedness index, and width and depth of small dry valleys) and the density of light-forest trees was estimated. The assessment was carried out at the local, subregional and regional levels of generalization. The relief influence on the density of trees in the small dry valley network is manifested both through the differentiation of moisture within the territory under study and the formation of various conditions for fixing tree seedlings in the soil. This influence on subregional and regional trends in the density is greater than on local trends. The results obtained are important for the management of herbaceous small-dry-valley ecosystems within the forest-steppe uplands in Eastern Europe.
An Efficient Row Key Encoding Method with ASCII Code for Storing Geospatial Big Data in HBase
Authors: Xiong Quan , Zhang Xiaodong , Liu Wei , Ye Sijing , Du Zhenbo , Liu Diyou , Zhu Dehai , Liu Zhe , Yao Xiaochuang
Published: October 2020

Recently, increasing amounts of multi-source geospatial data (raster data of satellites and textual data of meteorological stations) have been generated, which can play a cooperative and important role in many research works. Efficiently storing, organizing and managing these data is essential for their subsequent application. HBase, as a distributed storage database, is increasingly popular for the storage of unstructured data. The design of the row key of HBase is crucial to improving its efficiency, but large numbers of researchers in the geospatial area do not conduct much research on this topic. According the HBase Official Reference Guide, row keys should be kept as short as is reasonable while remaining useful for the required data access. In this paper, we propose a new row key encoding method instead of conventional stereotypes. We adopted an existing hierarchical spatio-temporal grid framework as the row key of the HBase to manage these geospatial data, with the difference that we utilized the obscure but short American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) to achieve the structure of the grid rather than the original grid code, which can be easily understood by humans but is very long. In order to demonstrate the advantage of the proposed method, we stored the daily meteorological data of 831 meteorological stations in China from 1985 to 2019 in HBase; the experimental result showed that the proposed method can not only maintain an equivalent query speed but can shorten the row key and save storage resources by 20.69% compared with the original grid codes. Meanwhile, we also utilized GF-1 imagery to test whether these improved row keys could support the storage and querying of raster data. We downloaded and stored a part of the GF-1 imagery in Henan province, China from 2017 to 2018; the total data volume reached about 500 GB. Then, we succeeded in calculating the daily normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) value in Henan province from 2017 to 2018 within 54 min. Therefore, the experiment demonstrated that the improved row keys can also be applied to store raster data when using HBase.
Indoor Positioning Method Using WiFi RTT Based on LOS Identification and Range Calibration
Authors: Cao Hongji , Wang Yunjia , Bi Jingxue , Xu Shenglei , Si Minghao , Qi Hongxia
Published: October 2020

WiFi-based indoor positioning methods have attracted extensive attention due to the wide installation of WiFi access points (APs). Recently, the WiFi standard was modified and introduced into a new two-way approach based on round trip time (RTT) measurement, which brings some changes for indoor positioning based on WiFi. In this work, we propose a WiFi RTT positioning method based on line of sight (LOS) identification and range calibration. Given the complexity of the indoor environment, we design a non-line of sight (NLOS) and LOS identification algorithm based on scenario recognition. The positioning scenario is recognized to assist NLOS and LOS distances identification, and gaussian process regression (GPR) is utilized to construct the scenario recognition model. Meanwhile, the calibration model for LOS distance is presented to correct the measuring distance and the scenario information is utilized to constrain the estimated position. When there is a positioning request, the positioning scenario is identified with the scenario recognition model, and LOS measuring distance is obtained based on the recognized scenario. The LOS range measurements are first calibrated and then utilized to estimate the position of the smartphone. Finally, the positioning scenario is used to constrain the estimation location to avoid it beyond the scenario. The experimental results show that the positioning effect of the proposed method is far better than that of the Least Squares (LS) algorithm, achieving a mean error (ME) of 0.862 m and root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 0.989 m.
Fostering Programming Practice through Games
Authors: Paiva José Carlos , Leal José Paulo , Queirós Ricardo
Published: October 2020

Loss of motivation is one of the most prominent concerns in programming education as it negatively impacts time dedicated to practice, which is crucial for novice programmers. Of the distinct techniques introduced in the literature to engage students, gamification, is likely the most widely explored and fruitful. Game elements that intrinsically motivate students, such as graphical feedback and game-thinking, reveal more reliable long-term positive effects, but those involve significant development effort. This paper proposes a game-based assessment environment for programming challenges, built on top of a specialized framework, in which students develop a program to control the player, henceforth called Software Agent (SA). During the coding phase, students can resort to the graphical feedback demonstrating how the game unfolds to improve their programs and complete the proposed tasks. This environment also promotes competition through competitive evaluation and tournaments among SAs, optionally organized at the end by the teacher. Moreover, the validation of the effectiveness of Asura in increasing undergraduate students’ motivation and, consequently, the practice of programming is reported.
Effect of Elapsed Time after Mixing on the Strength Properties of Lime–Iron Ore Tailings Treated Black Cotton Soil as a Road Construction Material
Authors: Babatunde Annafi Qaudri , Oshioname Eberemu Adrian , Paul Yohanna , Junwolo Osinubi Kolawole
Published: October 2020

The study evaluated the effect of elapsed time after mixing on the strength properties of lime and iron ore tailings (IOT) treated black cotton soil (BCS) (an expansive tropical black clay) as road construction material. BCS was treated with 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8% lime and 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10% IOT content by dry weight of soil. Tests carried out include Atterberg limits, compaction, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), California bearing ratio (CBR) (unsoaked condition), and microstructure of specimens. Statistical analysis was done using MINI-TAB software. Results show that the liquid limit (LL) of BCS–lime–IOT mixtures decreased with increase in lime and IOT content. The LL values of all the treated BCS increased between 0 and 1 h elapsed time after mixing. On the other hand, the plastic limit (PL) of BCS decreased with increase in lime and IOT content while the plasticity index (PI) decreased from 27.7 to 22.9% for 0% lime/0% IOT content and from 30.6 to 26.6% for 0% lime/10% IOT content. Maximum dry density (MDD) of BCS increased while optimum moisture content (OMC) decreased with higher IOT content. The natural BCS recorded OMC value of 25.6% decreased to 15.2% for 8% lime/10% IOT treatment. The strength (i.e., UCS and CBR values) increased with increase in lime/IOT contents between 0 and 2 h elapsed time after mixing. Peak values were recorded for 8% lime/8% IOT treatment for all lime content considered. Regression analysis shows a strong relationship between the strength properties and the soil parameters. An optimal 8% lime/8% IOT treatment of BCS for elapsed time after mixing not exceeding 2 h was established and is recommended as sub-base material for low-trafficked roads.
Effect of Collection Month, Visible Light, and Air Movement on the Attraction of Male Agriotes obscurus L. (Coleoptera: Elateridae) Click Beetles to Female Sex Pheromone
Authors: Leung Joyce P. S. , Cory Jenny S. , Kabaluk J. Todd , Janmaat Alida F.
Published: October 2020

Elaterid female sex pheromone, while currently used for monitoring the adult life stage (click beetle), has only recently been explored as a potential management tool. Consequently, there is little understanding of how abiotic and biotic conditions influence the response of click beetles to the pheromone. We examined whether the response of male Agriotes obscurus L. (Coleoptera: Elateridae) beetles to a cellulose-based formulation of female sex pheromone (‘pheromone granules’) is influenced by air movement, presence of visible light, and month of beetle collection. In addition, we investigated the distance from which beetles were attracted to the pheromone granules. Click beetle response was determined by measuring movement parameters in free-walking arena experiments. The response to pheromone was not affected by the presence or absence of visible light. We found that beetles collected earlier in the season had increased activity and interaction with pheromone under moving air conditions, compared to beetles collected later. When controlling for storage time, we confirmed that individuals collected in May were less active than beetles collected in March and April. In the field, beetles were recaptured from up to 14 m away from a pheromone granule source, with over 50% being recovered within 4.4 h from a distance of 7 m or less. Understanding how abiotic and biotic factors affect pest response to pheromone can lead to more effective and novel uses of pheromone-based management strategies.
Scalable Carbon Nanotube/Platinum Nanoparticle Composite Inks from Salt Templates for Oxygen Reduction Reaction Electrocatalysis for PEM Fuel Cells
Authors: Nagelli Enoch A. , Burpo F. John , Marbach Delaney A. , Romero Aaron N. , Rabbia Daniel J. , Mahr Hugh W. , Jaskot Mark H. , Murray Asia N. , Chu Deryn D.
Published: October 2020

Platinum nanoparticles supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were synthesized by the chemical reduction of Magnus’s salt templates formed by the electrostatic stacking of oppositely charged platinum coordinated ions. The Magnus’s salt templated synthesis of platinum macrotubes, previously demonstrated, results in sidewalls made up of individual textured nanoparticles 100 nm in diameter and comprised of 5 nm diameter fibrils. Here we demonstrate a new platform method that utilizes the individual nanoparticles that make up the platinum macrotubes formed from salt templates and subsequently disperse them through a CNT network by ultrasonication to develop an electrocatalyst nanocomposite for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) critical for the development of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell applications. The structural morphology and composition of the nanocomposite catalysts was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy to confirm the presence of platinum nanoparticles throughout the CNT network of the nanocomposite. The electrocatalytic activity of the nanocomposite inks was verified with cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) for ORR. Furthermore, this all aqueous-based and scalable approach for the synthesis and dispersion of platinum nanoparticles with CNTs can lead to a new formulation process for the production of electrocatalytic nanocomposite inks for PEM fuel cells using the nanoparticles that form within salt templates after chemical reduction.
Latin American Genes: The Great Forgotten in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Díaz-Peña Roberto , Quiñones Luis A. , Castro-Santos Patricia , Durán Josefina , Lucia Alejandro
Published: October 2020

The successful implementation of personalized medicine will rely on the integration of information obtained at the level of populations with the specific biological, genetic, and clinical characteristics of an individual. However, because genome-wide association studies tend to focus on populations of European descent, there is a wide gap to bridge between Caucasian and non-Caucasian populations before personalized medicine can be fully implemented, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is not an exception. In this review, we discuss advances in our understanding of genetic determinants of RA risk among global populations, with a focus on the Latin American population. Geographically restricted genetic diversity may have important implications for health and disease that will remain unknown until genetic association studies have been extended to include Latin American and other currently under-represented ancestries. The next few years will witness many breakthroughs in personalized medicine, including applications for common diseases and risk stratification instruments for targeted prevention/intervention strategies. Not all of these applications may be extrapolated from the Caucasian experience to Latin American or other under-represented populations.
Offshore Processing Arrangements: Effect on Treaty Ratifications of Receiving States
Authors: Fourer Margarita , Dietrich Jones Natalie , Ciftci Yusuf
Published: October 2020

This article examines offshore processing arrangements of four different time-periods and geo-political regions—the Safe Havens of the United States with Jamaica and the Turks and Caicos Islands; the 2001 and 2012 Pacific Solutions of Australia with Nauru and Papua New Guinea; and the EU–Turkey deal. In examining these arrangements, the article attempts to ascertain whether each of these arrangements had an impact on the ratification of refugee and human rights-related treaties by the states receiving the asylum seekers and refugees for processing and/or settlement. It does so by first assessing the contents of the offshore processing agreements for refugee and human rights clauses and obligations. The article then looks at the general patterns of treaty ratification of each receiving state, prior to its entering into offshore processing arrangements. After the general patterns of treaty ratifications of each state are established, the article goes on to investigate whether offshore processing arrangements had any effect on these patterns. This is based on the analysis of the contents of the agreements, together with an examination of the timing of the refugee and human rights treaty ratifications of the receiving state, at the time of the arrangements. The article finds that the effect, although minimal, is quite nuanced.
Effect of Sintering Temperature on the Properties of Highly Electrical Resistive SiC Ceramics as a Function of Y2O3-Er2O3 Additions
Authors: Ge Sheng , Yao Xiumin , Liu Yingying , Duan Hang , Huang Zhengren , Liu Xuejian
Published: October 2020

Silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics with Y2O3-Er2O3 as sintering additives were prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The effects of sintering temperatures and Y2O3-Er2O3 contents on the microstructure, thermal conductivity, electrical, and mechanical properties were investigated. The increasing of sintering temperatures promoted the densification of SiC ceramics, thus increasing the thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity. With the increase of the sintering additive contents, the electrical resistivity increased due to the formation of the electrical insulating network; and the thermal conductivity first increased and then decreased, which was related to the content and distribution of the secondary phase among the SiC grains. The SiC ceramics sintered at 2000 °C with 9 wt.% Y2O3-Er2O3 exhibited higher electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity, which were 4.28 × 109 Ω·cm and 96.68 W/m·K, respectively.
Membrane Removal of Emerging Contaminants from Water: Which Kind of Membranes Should We Use?
Authors: Kárászová Magda , Bourassi Mahdi , Gaálová Jana
Published: October 2020

Membrane technologies are nowadays widely used; especially various types of filtration or reverse osmosis in households, desalination plants, pharmaceutical applications etc. Facing water pollution, they are also applied to eliminate emerging contaminants from water. Incomplete knowledge directs the composition of membranes towards more and more dense materials known for their higher selectivity compared to porous constituents. This paper evaluates advantages and disadvantages of well-known membrane materials that separate on the basis of particle size, usually exposed to a large amount of water, versus dense hydrophobic membranes with target transport of emerging contaminants through a selective barrier. In addition, the authors present several membrane processes employing the second type of membrane.
Advanced Process Simulation of Low Pressure Die Cast A356 Aluminum Automotive Wheels—Part II Modeling Methodology and Validation
Authors: Ou Jun , Wei Chunying , Cockcroft Steve , Maijer Daan , Zhu Lin , A Lateng , Li Changhai , Zhu Zhihua
Published: October 2020

This manuscript presents an advanced modeling methodology developed to accurately simulate the temperature field evolution in the die and wheel in an industrial low-pressure die casting (LPDC) machine employed in the production of A356 automotive wheels. The model was developed in the commercial casting simulation platform ProCAST for a production die operating under production conditions. Key elements in the development of the model included the definition of the resistance to heat transfer across the die/casting interfaces and die/water-cooling channel interfaces. To examine the robustness of the modeling methodology, the model was applied to simulate production and non-production process conditions for a die cooled by a combination of water and air-cooling (Die-A), and to a second die for a different wheel geometry (Die-B) utilizing only water cooling for production conditions. In each case, the model predictions with respect to in-die and in-wheel temperature evolution were compared to industrially derived thermocouple (TC) data, and were found to be in good agreement. Once tuned to the process conditions for Die-A operating under production conditions, no further tuning of the die/casting interface resistance was applied. Additionally, the model results, in terms of the prediction of pockets of solid encapsulated liquid, were used to compare to x-ray images of wheels. This comparison indicated that the model was able to predict clusters of porosity associated with encapsulated liquid with an equivalent radius of ~27 mm.
Effects of Casting Conditions for Reduced Pressure Test on Melt Quality of Al-Si Alloy
Authors: Jang Ho Sung , Kang Ho Jung , Park Jin Young , Choi Yoon Suk , Shin Sunmi
Published: October 2020

The present study investigated the effect of the casting conditions for the reduced pressure test (RPT) on the melt quality of Al-Si alloy. The casting conditions considered in RPT were the atmospheric exposure during melting, sampling method, and mold pre-heating temperature. Density Index (DI) was measured to quantify the melt quality of the Al-Si alloy casted with the different casting conditions for the RPT. The sample with blocking atmospheric exposure during melting was 5.6% lower in DI than the one without blocking. DI showed a 1.9% gap between scooping-out and pouring sampling methods. Increasing mold pre-heating temperature from 100 °C to 250 °C increased the DI of the alloy from 8.5% to 18.7%. On the other hand, when the mold pre-heating temperature was 350 °C, the DI of the alloy dropped sharply to 0.9%. The melt quality of the alloys was analyzed by measuring the pores and microstructure and simulating the solidification of the samples. It was presumed that the oxides and inclusions in the molten alloys caused the difference in DI according to the atmospheric exposure and the sampling method. The difference in DI according to the mold pre-heating temperature could be understood by calculating the solidification starting time and hydrogen diffusion coefficient during the solidification of the alloys in RPT.
InAs/InAsSb Type-II Strained-Layer Superlattice Infrared Photodetectors
Authors: Ting David Z. , Rafol Sir B. , Khoshakhlagh Arezou , Soibel Alexander , Keo Sam A. , Fisher Anita M. , Pepper Brian J. , Hill Cory J. , Gunapala Sarath D.
Published: October 2020

The InAs/InAsSb (Gallium-free) type-II strained-layer superlattice (T2SLS) has emerged in the last decade as a viable infrared detector material with a continuously adjustable band gap capable of accommodating detector cutoff wavelengths ranging from 4 to 15 µm and beyond. When coupled with the unipolar barrier infrared detector architecture, the InAs/InAsSb T2SLS mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) focal plane array (FPA) has demonstrated a significantly higher operating temperature than InSb FPA, a major incumbent technology. In this brief review paper, we describe the emergence of the InAs/InAsSb T2SLS infrared photodetector technology, point out its advantages and disadvantages, and survey its recent development.
Evidence for Biogenic Silica Occurrence in the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Shale in Southeastern Chongqing, China
Authors: Liang Yutao , Zhang Jinchuan , Liu Yang , Tang Xuan , Li Zhen , Ding Jianghui , Wang Yang , Yang Sen
Published: October 2020

The gas shale in the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation contains a considerable amount of biogenic silica. Various originated silicas in shale, derived from different depositional environment, are commonly associated with different degrees of organic matter enrichment, resulting in different mechanical and physical properties of shale reservoirs. Thin section identification, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), total organic carbon (TOC) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy were used to investigate the Lower Silurian Longmaxi shale from Well Yuye 1 in southeastern Chongqing, China to obtain a better understanding of the origin of silica in the Longmaxi Shale. The results show ubiquitous cryptocrystalline silicas with poorly crystalline morphology, which differs from that of the detrital silica, authigenic silica, and hydrothermal silica, proving that the cryptocrystalline silicas may have a biogenic origin. Major element and mineral composition analysis indicate no correlations between K2O/Al2O3 and SiO2/Al2O3 and between illite and SiO2, and negative correlations between TiO2 and SiO2/Al2O3, between illite and quartz and excess Si, and between Al2O3 and excess Si, and all samples being located in the area of non-hydrothermal origin in the Al-Fe-Mn diagram, excluding silicas of terrigenous detrital origin, clay mineral transformed origin, and hydrothermal origin. Moreover, the fact that almost all samples plot above the illite Si/Al line in the cross-plot of Si versus Al and the mean values of Al/(Al + Fe + Mn) and Si/(Si + Al + Fe + Ca) are close to the values of biogenic silica prove that the silicas are primarily of biogenic origin. Positive correlations between TOC and quartz and excess Si and numerous siliceous organisms are observed, indicating that the silicas are associated with siliceous organisms. The postmortem siliceous organisms underwent silica diagenesis via a dissolution-precipitation mechanism following the sequence of opal-A → opal-CT → cryptocrystalline biogenic silica as the burial depth and temperature increased.
Recent Materials Developed for Dispersive Solid Phase Extraction
Authors: Ścigalski Piotr , Kosobucki Przemysław
Published: October 2020

Solid phase extraction (SPE) is an analytical procedure developed with the purpose of separating a target analyte from a complex sample matrix prior to quantitative or qualitative determination. The purpose of such treatment is twofold: elimination of matrix constituents that could interfere with the detection process or even damage analytical equipment as well as enriching the analyte in the sample so that it is readily available for detection. Dispersive solid phase extraction (dSPE) is a recent development of the standard SPE technique that is attracting growing attention due to its remarkable simplicity, short extraction time and low requirement for solvent expenditure, accompanied by high effectiveness and wide applicability. This review aims to thoroughly survey recently conducted analytical studies focusing on methods utilizing novel, interesting nanomaterials as dSPE sorbents, as well as known materials that have been only recently successfully applied in dSPE techniques, and evaluate their performance and suitability based on comparison with previously reported analytical procedures.
Benzobicyclo[3.2.1]octene Derivatives as a New Class of Cholinesterase Inhibitors
Authors: Čadež Tena , Grgičević Ana , Ahmetović Ramiza , Barić Danijela , Hrvat Nikolina Maček , Kovarik Zrinka , Škorić Irena
Published: October 2020

A library of amine, oxime, ether, epoxy and acyl derivatives of the benzobicyclo[3.2.1]octene were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of both human acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). The majority of the tested compounds exhibited higher selectivity for BChE. Structural adjustment for AChE seems to have been achieved by acylation, and the furan ring opening of furo-benzobicyclo[3.2.1]octadiene results for compound 51 with the highest AChE affinity (IC50 = 8.3 µM). Interestingly, its analogue, an oxime ether with a benzobicyclo[3.2.1]-skeleton, compound 32 was one of the most potent BChE inhibitors in this study (IC50 = 31 µM), but not as potent as endo-43, an ether derivative of the benzobicyclo[3.2.1]octene with an additional phenyl substituent (IC50 = 17 µM). Therefore, we identified several cholinesterase inhibitors with a potential for further development as potential drugs for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Design of Metal-Organic Framework Templated Materials Using High-Throughput Computational Screening
Authors: Ahmad Momin , Luo Yi , Wöll Christof , Tsotsalas Manuel , Schug Alexander
Published: October 2020

The ability to crosslink Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) has recently been discovered as a flexible approach towards synthesizing MOF-templated “ideal network polymers”. Crosslinking MOFs with rigid cross-linkers would allow the synthesis of crystalline Covalent-Organic Frameworks (COFs) of so far unprecedented flexibility in network topologies, far exceeding the conventional direct COF synthesis approach. However, to date only flexible cross-linkers were used in the MOF crosslinking approach, since a rigid cross-linker would require an ideal fit between the MOF structure and the cross-linker, which is experimentally extremely challenging, making in silico design mandatory. Here, we present an effective geometric method to find an ideal MOF cross-linker pair by employing a high-throughput screening approach. The algorithm considers distances, angles, and arbitrary rotations to optimally match the cross-linker inside the MOF structures. In a second, independent step, using Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations we quantitatively confirmed all matches provided by the screening. Our approach thus provides a robust and powerful method to identify ideal MOF/Cross-linker combinations, which helped to identify several MOF-to-COF candidate structures by starting from suitable libraries. The algorithms presented here can be extended to other advanced network structures, such as mechanically interlocked materials or molecular weaving and knots.
Liquid-Chromatographic Methods for Carboxylic Acids in Biological Samples
Authors: Fujiwara Takuya , Inoue Ryoto , Ohtawa Takuma , Tsunoda Makoto
Published: October 2020

Carboxyl-bearing low-molecular-weight compounds such as keto acids, fatty acids, and other organic acids are involved in a myriad of metabolic pathways owing to their high polarity and solubility in biological fluids. Various disease areas such as cancer, myeloid leukemia, heart disease, liver disease, and lifestyle diseases (obesity and diabetes) were found to be related to certain metabolic pathways and changes in the concentrations of the compounds involved in those pathways. Therefore, the quantification of such compounds provides useful information pertaining to diagnosis, pathological conditions, and disease mechanisms, spurring the development of numerous analytical methods for this purpose. This review article addresses analytical methods for the quantification of carboxylic acids, which were classified into fatty acids, tricarboxylic acid cycle and glycolysis-related compounds, amino acid metabolites, perfluorinated carboxylic acids, α-keto acids and their metabolites, thiazole-containing carboxylic acids, and miscellaneous, in biological samples from 2000 to date. Methods involving liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet, fluorescence, mass spectrometry, and electrochemical detection were summarized.
Renewable Polysaccharides Micro/Nanostructures for Food and Cosmetic Applications
Authors: Massironi Alessio , Morelli Andrea , Puppi Dario , Chiellini Federica
Published: October 2020

The worldwide diffusion of nanotechnologies into products nowadays has completely revolutionized human life, providing novel comfort and benefits. Their inclusion in food and cosmetic has a heavy impact over the market, allowing the development of higher value products with enhanced properties. Natural origin polymers and in particular polysaccharides represent a versatile platform of materials for the development of micro/nanostructured additives for food and cosmetic products due to their chemical versatility, biocompatibility, and abundance. Here, we review the current applications of polysaccharides-based micro/nanostructures, taking into consideration the precursors’ production, isolation, and extraction methods and highlighting the advantages, possible drawbacks, and market diffusion.
New Chemical Probe Targeting Bacterial NAD Kinase
Authors: Clément David A. , Leseigneur Clarisse , Gelin Muriel , Coelho Dylan , Huteau Valérie , Lionne Corinne , Labesse Gilles , Dussurget Olivier , Pochet Sylvie
Published: October 2020

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) kinases are essential and ubiquitous enzymes involved in the tight regulation of NAD/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) levels in many metabolic pathways. Consequently, they represent promising therapeutic targets in cancer and antibacterial treatments. We previously reported diadenosine derivatives as NAD kinase inhibitors with bactericidal activities on Staphylococcus aureus. Among them, one compound (namely NKI1) was found effective in vivo in a mouse infection model. With the aim to gain detailed knowledge about the selectivity and mechanism of action of this lead compound, we planned to develop a chemical probe that could be used in affinity-based chemoproteomic approaches. Here, we describe the first functionalized chemical probe targeting a bacterial NAD kinase. Aminoalkyl functional groups were introduced on NKI1 for further covalent coupling to an activated SepharoseTM matrix. Inhibitory properties of functionalized NKI1 derivatives together with X-ray characterization of their complexes with the NAD kinase led to identify candidate compounds that are amenable to covalent coupling to a matrix.
Thermal Degradation Kinetics and pH-Rate Profiles of Iriflophenone 3,5-C-β-d-diglucoside, Iriflophenone 3-C-β-d-Glucoside and Mangiferin in Aquilaria crassna Leaf Extract
Authors: Wongwad Eakkaluk , Ingkaninan Kornkanok , Wisuitiprot Wudtichai , Sritularak Boonchoo , Waranuch Neti
Published: October 2020

The health benefits of the Aquilaria crassna Pierre ex Lecomte leaf extract (AE) make it very useful as an ingredient in food and pharmaceutical products. Iriflophenone 3,5-C-β-d-diglucoside (1), iriflophenone 3-C-β-d-glucoside (2) and mangiferin (3) are bioactive compounds of AE. We assessed the stability of AE by investigating the thermal degradation kinetics and shelf-life (t90%) of compounds 1, 2 and 3 using Arrhenius plot models and studied their pH-rate profiles. The results demonstrate that 1 and 2 were degraded, following a first-order kinetic reaction. The degradation of 3 followed first-order reaction kinetics when present in a solution and second-order reaction kinetics in the dried powder form of the extract. According to the first-order kinetic model, the predicted shelf-life (t90%) of the extract at 25 °C in dried form for compound 1 was 989 days with activation energy 129.86 kJ·mol−1, and for 2 it was 248 days with activation energy 110.57 kJ·mol−1, while in the extract solution, the predicted shelf-life of compounds 1–3 was 189, 13 and 75 days with activation energies 86.83, 51.49 and 65.28 kJ·mol−1, respectively. In addition, the pH-rate profiles of 1–3 indicated that they were stable in neutral to acidic environments.
Recent Advances in Palladium-Catalyzed Isocyanide Insertions
Authors: Collet Jurriën W. , Roose Thomas R. , Weijers Bram , Maes Bert U. W. , Ruijter Eelco , Orru Romano V. A.
Published: October 2020

Isocyanides have long been known as versatile chemical reagents in organic synthesis. Their ambivalent nature also allows them to function as a CO-substitute in palladium-catalyzed cross couplings. Over the past decades, isocyanides have emerged as practical and versatile C1 building blocks, whose inherent N-substitution allows for the rapid incorporation of nitrogeneous fragments in a wide variety of products. Recent developments in palladium catalyzed isocyanide insertion reactions have significantly expanded the scope and applicability of these imidoylative cross-couplings. This review highlights the advances made in this field over the past eight years.
Study Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial of Home Modification to Prevent Home Fall Injuries in Houses with Māori Occupants
Authors: Keall Michael , Tupara Hope , Pierse Nevil , Wilkie Marg , Baker Michael , Howden-Chapman Philippa , Cunningham Chris
Published: October 2020

Worldwide, injuries due to falls in the home impose a substantial burden and merit considerable effort to find effective prevention measures. The current study is one of very few randomized controlled trials that assess the effectiveness of home modification for preventing falls. It is the first carried out with a minority or indigenous community and focused on reducing inequities. Just over 250 households in Aotearoa, New Zealand, with Māori occupants were recruited in two strata, 150 from the Wellington region and 100 from the Taranaki region. These were randomly allocated to equally sized treatment and control groups within the respective regions, the treatment group receiving a package of home modifications designed to prevent falls at the start of the study, and the control group receiving the package at the end of the study. Injury data came from the Accident Compensation Corporation, a state-owned no-fault injury insurer. This provided coverage of virtually all unintentional injuries requiring medical treatment. Matched injury claims were made available for analysis once all identifying fields had been removed. These data will be pooled with data for Māori households from the already-conducted Home Injury Prevention Intervention (HIPI) study, which tested an identical intervention on the general population. In the analysis, the primary outcome measure will be fall injury rates over time, comparing treatment and control households, adjusting for the stratum and prior falls in the household. A secondary measure will be the rates of specific injuries, which are most likely to be prevented by the package of modifications tested. We anticipate that the findings will provide robust evidence for effective injury prevention measures that can reduce an important contributor to health inequities for indigenous populations such as the Māori.
Metal Nanoparticle Film Deposition by Femtosecond Laser Ablation at Atmospheric Pressure
Authors: Donnelly Tony , O’Connell Gearoid , Lunney James G.
Published: October 2020

Nanoparticle gold films were deposited using femtosecond laser ablation in argon at atmospheric pressure in an arrangement where a flat Au target was irradiated through a transparent substrate in close proximity. Spatially extended films were made by rastering the target and substrate assembly together in the laser beam. Fast imaging clearly showed pronounced narrowing of the ablation plume, which can be understood in terms of laser induced multiphoton ionisation and heating of the gas near the ablation site. Deposition was possible for target-substrate separation up to 2 mm. The equivalent thickness of the nanoparticle film was controlled in the range 0.4–28 nm by changing the target-substrate separation and the shot-to-shot spacing of ablation spot raster. The mean Feret diameter varied in the range 14–40 nm depending on the deposition conditions, and all the films showed a surface plasmon resonance at about 525 nm, which was nearly independent of the equivalent thickness. The technique can readily be applied to other materials for the fabrication of nanoparticulate films at atmospheric pressure.
A Review of Nutrition Support Guidelines for Individuals with or Recovering from COVID-19 in the Community
Authors: Cawood Abbie L. , Walters Emily R. , Smith Trevor R. , Sipaul Rachel H. , Stratton Rebecca J.
Published: October 2020

COVID-19 negatively impacts nutritional status and as such identification of nutritional risk and consideration of the need for nutrition support should be fundamental in this patient group. In recent months, clinical nutrition professional organisations across the world have published nutrition support recommendations for health care professionals. This review summarises key themes of those publications linked to nutrition support of adults with or recovering from COVID-19 outside of hospital. Using our search criteria, 15 publications were identified from electronic databases and websites of clinical nutrition professional organisations, worldwide up to 19th June 2020. The key themes across these publications included the importance in the community setting of: (i) screening for malnutrition, which can be achieved by remote consultation; (ii) care plans with appropriate nutrition support, which may include food based strategies, oral nutritional supplements and referral to a dietitian; (iii) continuity of nutritional care between settings including rapid communication at discharge of malnutrition risk and requirements for ongoing nutrition support. These themes, and indeed the importance of nutritional care, are fundamental and should be integrated into pathways for the rehabilitation of patients recovering from COVID-19.
Transstadial Transmission from Nymph to Adult of Coxiella burnetii by Naturally Infected Hyalomma lusitanicum
Authors: González Julia , González Marta G. , Valcárcel Félix , Sánchez María , Martín-Hernández Raquel , Tercero José M. , Olmeda A. Sonia
Published: October 2020

Coxiella burnetii (Derrick) Philip, the causative agent of Q fever, is mainly transmitted by aerosols, but ticks can also be a source of infection. Transstadial and transovarial transmission of C. burnetii by Hyalomma lusitanicum (Koch) has been suggested. There is a close relationship between this tick species, wild animals and C. burnetii but the transmission in a natural environment has not been demonstrated. In this study, we collected 80 engorged nymphs of H. lusitanicum from red deer and wild rabbits. They moult to adults under laboratory conditions and we feed them artificially through silicone membranes after a preconditioning period. C. burnetii DNA was tested in ticks, blood and faeces samples using real-time PCR. The pathogen was found in 36.2% of fed adults, demonstrating that transstadial transmission from nymph to adult occurs in nature. The presence of DNA in the 60.0% of blood samples after artificial feeding confirms that adults transmit the bacteria during feeding. Further studies are needed about co-feeding and other possible transmission routes to define the role of this tick species in the cycle of C. burnetii.
Oral Treatment of Central Serous Chorioretinopathy Patients Using Propranolol Tablets
Authors: Chen Li-Chai , Ma Jui-Wen , Shieh Po-Chuen , Horng Chi-Ting
Published: October 2020

Purpose: To evaluate the pharmacological effects of propranolol treatment of patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) over 4 months. Results: Among the 89 male and 31 female patients, the mean BCVA decreased to 0.42 ± 0.08 logMAR during CSCR attacks. Oral propranolol showed good effectiveness in reducing CSCR signs after at least 4 months of treatment. The final BCVA of the patients in groups 1 and 2 was 0.09 ± 0.01 and 0.19 ± 0.03 logMAR, respectively (p < 0.05). Moreover, the mean complete remission time in groups 1 and 2 was 1.9 and 3.5 months, respectively (p < 0.05), while the “success” rate in groups 1 and 2 was 95.0% (57/60) and 78.3% (47/60), respectively (p < 0.05). The recurrence rate in groups 1 and 2 was 5.3% (3/57) and 25.5% (12/47) after a further 5 months of follow-up, respectively (p < 0.05). Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty patients were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups that both underwent a visual acuity test and optical coherence tomography (OCT) scanning, between April and December 2017. The 60 patients in group 1 were requested to take propranolol for 4 months, while the other 60 subjects (group 2) received placebo therapy during the same period. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of every volunteer and an OCT image of each patient were checked and recorded at the beginning of the study and each week thereafter. If the signs of CSCR disappeared completely from the OCT scans, the case was considered a “success” and treatment stopped at once. However, the “success” subjects were further evaluated in follow-ups throughout the next 5 months to determine the rate of recurrence in groups 1 and 2. The time of total complete remission of CSCR from the OCT scans was also measured in groups 1 and 2. Conclusion: CSCR patients revealed an excellent prognosis and success rate of 95.0% after taking propranolol. The treatment was able to enhance subretinal fluid (SRF) absorption, shorten the time to total complete remission, and significantly decrease CSCR recurrence. As such, we suggest that taking propranolol may be an alternative and viable choice for CSCR patients, given that the new method was shown to be safe, cheap, effective, well tolerated and convenient.
Protecting the Herd: Why Pharmacists Matter in Mass Vaccination
Authors: Lee Lois , Peterson Gregory M. , Naunton Mark , Jackson Shane , Bushell Mary
Published: October 2020

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing. The unprecedented challenges worldwide implore the urgent development of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. Globally, pharmacists have been delivering important public health services as part of the COVID-19 response. It remains to be seen what role they will play once a vaccine is available. This review examines herd immunity and the potential role of the pharmacy profession in mass vaccination against COVID-19, particularly within the Australian context. Aim: A literature review was conducted to review the global development of COVID-19 vaccines, and the Australian healthcare workforce capability and existing policy for mass vaccination and the potential role of the pharmacist. Method: ScienceDirect, Scopus, The National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), Wiley Online Library, PubMed, and Google Scholar were used to search for relevant literature using keywords COVID-19, vaccines, immunisation, herd immunity, pandemic, pharmacist and Australian healthcare. Results: A large portion of the literature was journal articles, and information from governmental and international bodies such as the World Health Organisation were often referenced. Over 20 million Australians need to be immunised through vaccination or acquire immunity through natural infection for the country to achieve herd immunity for COVID-19. When examining state and territory pandemic plans, pharmacists are underutilised. Modifying legislation to allow pharmacists to administer approved COVID-19 vaccines will enable a trained and skilled workforce to be deployed to increase the rate of mass vaccination. Conclusion: In preparation for a successful COVID-19 vaccine, the Australian Government must consider various elements in their vaccination policy. This includes the estimated herd immunity threshold, methods of vaccine delivery, vaccine clinic locations, staffing arrangements and training, and strategies for vaccine prioritisation. Pharmacists can and should play a key role in the roll out of mass COVID-19 vaccination.
Ethical Aspects of BCI Technology: What Is the State of the Art?
Authors: Coin Allen , Mulder Megan , Dubljević Veljko
Published: October 2020

Brain–Computer Interface (BCI) technology is a promising research area in many domains. Brain activity can be interpreted through both invasive and non-invasive monitoring devices, allowing for novel, therapeutic solutions for individuals with disabilities and for other non-medical applications. However, a number of ethical issues have been identified from the use of BCI technology. In this paper, we review the academic discussion of the ethical implications of BCI technology in the last five years. We conclude that some emerging applications of BCI technology—including commercial ventures that seek to meld human intelligence with AI—present new and unique ethical concerns. Further, we seek to understand how academic literature on the topic of BCIs addresses these novel concerns. Similar to prior work, we use a limited sample to identify trends and areas of concern or debate among researchers and ethicists. From our analysis, we identify two key areas of BCI ethics that warrant further research: the physical and psychological effects of BCI technology. Additionally, questions of BCI policy have not yet become a frequent point of discussion in the relevant literature on BCI ethics, and we argue this should be addressed in future work. We provide guiding questions that will help ethicists and policy makers grapple with the most important issues associated with BCI technology.