bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Effects of the Application of Glauconitic Fertilizer on Oat Development: A Two-Year Field-Based Investigation
Authors: Rudmin Maxim , Banerjee Santanu , Makarov Boris
Published: June 2020

This study explores the fertilizer potential of glauconitic soil by monitoring its impact on the growth of plants during the second growing season after application. Our study documents a higher growth of oats (Avena sativa) in glauconitic amended soil compared to that recorded with the control sample at the end of a 97-day-long experiment. Concentrations of nutrients (K, P, ammonium, Ca, Mg) and pH of the soil increase sharply in the first growing season and mildly thereafter, after an initial concentration of 200 g·m−2 glauconite (equivalent to 2 t·ha−1). The pH of the glauconitic-amended soil increases from an initial 6.0 to 6.34 during the second season. Organic matter and nitrates decrease in the soil mixture at the end of the second growing season, while the exchangeable ammonium increases. Organic acids promote the mobility and bioavailability of nutrients in the soil. Glauconitic soil is particularly effective for weakly acidic soils with a low moisture content. The steady increase in total yield and plant height, and the slow-release of nutrients during the second growing season indicates that glauconitic soil can be an effective and eco-friendly fertilizer.
Determination of Dairy Cattle Euthanasia Criteria and Analysis of Barriers to Humane Euthanasia in the United States: The Veterinarian Perspective
Authors: Wagner Brooklyn K. , Cramer Mary Caitlin , Fowler Heather N. , Varnell Hannah L. , Dietsch Alia M. , Proudfoot Kathryn L. , Shearer Jan , Correa Maria , Pairis-Garcia Monique D.
Published: June 2020

When dairy cattle become ill or injured to the extent that recovery is unlikely or impossible, on-farm euthanasia should be used as a tool to eliminate pain and suffering. Our study aimed to identify decision-making criteria and the most common factors considered by veterinarians when making and carrying out euthanasia decisions. Dairy cattle veterinarians were recruited to participate in an online survey (Part I, 61 surveys collected) or in one of three focus groups (Part II, 4–10 veterinarians/group, n = 22). Part I (survey): Surveyed veterinarians varied regarding health condition management and demonstrated a strong proclivity to treat compromised cattle, mirroring trends amongst dairy producers identified in previous research. Sixty percent of respondents indicated that most facilities for which they serve as the primary veterinarian have a written euthanasia protocol in place. Part II (focus groups): Three main themes about euthanasia decision-making (logistical, animal, and human) were identified from focus group discussions. Discussions focused primarily on logistical factors such as financial considerations and client/public perceptions. Development of specific standards for euthanasia, alongside interactive training programs for dairy veterinarians and producers are vital next steps to improving cattle welfare and consistency in euthanasia decision-making across the United States dairy industry.
Phytochemical Compositions and Biological Activities of Essential Oils from the Leaves, Rhizomes and Whole Plant of Hornstedtia bella Škorničk
Authors: Donadu Matthew Gavino , Trong Le Nhan , Viet Ho Duc , Quoc Doan Tuan , Tuan Le Anh , Raal Ain , Usai Marianna , Marchetti Mauro , Sanna Giuseppina , Madeddu Silvia , Rappelli Paola , Diaz Nicia , Molicotti Paola , Carta Antonio , Piras Sandra , Usai Donatella , Thi Nguyen Hoai , Cappuccinelli Piero , Zanetti Stefania
Published: June 2020

The rapid emergence of drug-resistant strains and novel viruses have motivated the search for new anti-infectious agents. In this study, the chemical compositions and cytotoxicity, as well as the antibacterial, antifungal, antitrichomonas, and antiviral activities of essential oils from the leaves, rhizomes, and whole plant of Hornstedtia bella were investigated. The GC/MS analysis showed that β-pinene, E-β-caryophyllene, and α-humulene were found at high concentrations in the essential oils. The essential oils exhibited (i) inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum lethal concentration (MLC) values from 1 to 4% (v/v); (ii) MIC and MLC values from 2 to 16% (v/v) in Candida tropicalis and Candida parapsilosis; (iii) MIC and MLC values from 4 to 16% in Enterococcus faecalis; and (iv) MIC and MLC values from 8 to greater than or equal to 16% (v/v) in the remaining strains, including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Candida albicans, and Candida glabrata. In antitrichomonas activity, the leaves and whole-plant oils of Hornstedtia bella possessed IC50, IC90, and MLC values of 0.008%, 0.016%, and 0.03% (v/v), respectively, whilst those of rhizomes oil had in turn, 0.004%, 0.008%, and 0.016% (v/v).Besides, the leaf oil showed a weak cytotoxicity against Vero 76 and MRC-5; meanwhile, rhizomes and whole-plant oils did not exert any toxic effects on cell monolayers. Finally, these oils were not active against EV-A71.
Breast Abscesses Caused by Anaerobic Microorganisms: Clinical and Microbiological Characteristics
Authors: Cobo Fernando , Guillot Vicente , Navarro-Marí José María
Published: June 2020

The objectives of this study were to report the antimicrobial susceptibility of 35 clinically significant anaerobic bacteria isolated from breast abscesses between March 2017 and February 2020 in a tertiary hospital in Granada (Spain) and to describe key clinical features of the patients. Species identification was performed mainly by MALDI-TOF MS. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were carried out against benzylpenicillin, amoxicillin–clavulanic acid, imipenem, moxifloxacin, clindamycin, metronidazole, and piperacillin–tazobactam using the gradient diffusion technique and European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing EUCAST breakpoints (except for moxifloxacin). The most frequent anaerobes were Finegoldia magna (31.4%; n = 11), Actinomyces spp. (17.1%; n = 6), Propionibacterium spp. (17.1%; n = 6), and Prevotella spp. (14.2%; n = 5). Imipenem, amoxicillin–clavulanic acid, and piperacillin–tazobactam were universally active against all genera tested. High overall resistance rates to clindamycin were observed, especially for Gram-positive anaerobic cocci (56.2%) and Gram-positive anaerobic bacilli (38.4%). High resistance rates to metronidazole were also observed for Gram-positive (76.9%) and Gram-negative anaerobic bacilli (50%). High resistance rates to moxifloxacin were found for Gram-negative anaerobic bacilli (50%) and Gram-positive anaerobic cocci (31.2%). No breast abscess cases of Bacteroides spp. were detected. Routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing for anaerobes in breast abscesses may contribute to allow empirical therapies to be selected in accordance with local data on resistant strains.
Antibiotic Resistance in Nosocomial Bacteria Isolated from Infected Wounds of Hospitalized Patients in Czech Republic
Authors: Kolar Milan , Cermak Pavel , Hobzova Lenka , Bogdanova Katerina , Neradova Katerina , Mlynarcik Patrik , Bostik Pavel
Published: June 2020

Hospitalized patients with wounds face an increased risk of infection with multi-drug-resistant nosocomial bacteria. In this study, samples from almost 10,000 patients from big hospitals in Czech Republic with infected wounds were analyzed for the presence of bacterial pathogens. In 7693 patients (78.8%), bacterial etiological agents were identified. Members of the Enterobacterales (37.1%) and Staphyloccus aureus (21.1%) were the most prevalent pathogens. Staphyloccus aureus showed methicillin resistance in 8.6%. Almost half of the Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were ESBL-positive and 25.6% of the Enterobacter spp. isolates were AmpC-positive. The third most prevalent Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed resistance to 19–32% of the antipseudomonal antibiotics tested. Based on the results, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ampicillin/sulbactam or piperacillin/tazobactam combined with gentamicin can be recommended for antibiotic treatment of infected wounds. Once the etiological agent is identified, the therapy should be adjusted according to the species and its resistance.
An Intelligent Approach for Contact Pressure Optimization of PEM Fuel Cell Gas Diffusion Layers
Authors: Qiu Yongbo , Wu Peng , Miao Tianwei , Liang Jinqiao , Jiao Kui , Li Tao , Lin Jiewei , Zhang Junhong
Published: June 2020

The compression of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) greatly affects the electrochemical performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) by means of both the equivalent value and distribution of contact pressure, which depends on the packing manner of the fuel cell. This work develops an intelligent approach for improving the uniformity and equivalent magnitude of contact pressure on GDLs through optimizing the clamping forces and positions on end plates. A finite element (FE) model of a full-size single fuel cell is developed and correlated against a direct measurement of pressure between the GDL and a bipolar plate. Datasets generated by FE simulations based on the optimal Latin hypercube design are used as a driving force for the training of a radial basis function neural network, so-called the agent model. Once the agent model is validated, iterations for optimization of contact pressure on GDLs are carried out without using the complicated physical model anymore. Optimal design of clamping force and position combination is achieved in terms of better contact pressure, with the designed equivalent magnitude and more uniform distribution. Results indicate the proposed agent-based intelligent optimization approach is available for the packing design of fuel cells, stacks in particular, with significantly higher efficiency.
Prediction of Opinion Keywords and Their Sentiment Strength Score Using Latent Space Learning Methods
Authors: García-Cuesta Esteban , Gómez-Vergel Daniel , Gracia-Expósito Luis , López-López Jose M. , Vela-Pérez María
Published: June 2020

Most item-shopping websites give people the opportunity to express their thoughts and opinions on items available for purchasing. This information often includes both ratings and text reviews expressing somehow their tastes and can be used to predict their future opinions on items not yet reviewed. Whereas most recommendation systems have focused exclusively on ranking the items based on rating predictions or user-modeling approaches, we propose an adapted recommendation system based on the prediction of opinion keywords assigned to different item characteristics and their sentiment strength scores. This proposal makes use of natural language processing (NLP) tools for analyzing the text reviews and is based on the assumption that there exist common user tastes which can be represented by latent review topics models. This approach has two main advantages: is able to predict interpretable textual keywords and its associated sentiment (positive/negative) which will help to elaborate a more precise recommendation and justify it, and allows the use of different dictionary sizes to balance performance and user opinion interpretability. To prove the feasibility of the adapted recommendation system, we have tested the capabilities of our method to predict the sentiment strength score of item characteristics not previously reviewed. The experimental results have been performed with real datasets and the obtained F1 score ranges from 66% to 77% depending on the dataset used. Moreover, the results show that the method can generalize well and can be applied to combined domain independent datasets.
Investigation of the Effects of Charging Processes on Lithium-Ion Cells with SiC Anodes at Low Temperatures
Authors: Bednorz Ralph , Gewald Tanja
Published: June 2020

Lithium-ion cells with a silicon-graphite (SiC) anode and a nickel-rich cathode are potential candidates for use in electric vehicles (EVs) as this material combination offers high energy densities and low costs. Another desired cell specification that results from an intended short charging time for EVs is the robustness against high charge rates. However, high charge rates can lead to the critical aging mechanism of lithium plating, especially at low temperatures. Investigating this issue, this paper presents a test series on cyclic aging with varying charge rates from 0.2C to 1.5C at ambient temperatures of 0 °C and 10 °C applied to a nickel-rich SiC cell candidate. The resulting effects on cell aging are analyzed with a stripping method, whereby reversible lithium plating can be detected, and a differential voltage analysis (DVA), whereby the overall loss of capacity can be attributed to changes in individual characteristic capacities. The results indicate a degradation sensitivity of SiC anodes at elevated charge rates, evidenced by the loss in the silicon-related characteristic capacity, and question the aging robustness of this material combination.
Systemic Inflammation and Activation of Haemostasis Predict Poor Prognosis and Response to Chemotherapy in Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer
Authors: Moik Florian , Zöchbauer-Müller Sabine , Posch Florian , Pabinger Ingrid , Ay Cihan
Published: June 2020

Systemic inflammation and activation of haemostasis are common in patients with lung cancer. Both conditions support tumour growth and metastasis. Therefore, inflammatory and haemostatic biomarkers might be useful for prediction of survival and therapy response. Patients with unresectable/metastatic lung cancer initiating 1st-line chemotherapy (n = 277, 83% non-small cell lung cancer) were followed in a prospective observational cohort study. A comprehensive panel of haemostatic biomarkers (D-dimer, prothrombin fragment 1+2, soluble P-selectin, fibrinogen, coagulation factor VIII, peak thrombin generation), blood count parameters (haemoglobin, leucocytes, thrombocytes) and inflammatory markers (neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte-monocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein) were measured at baseline. We assessed the association of biomarkers with mortality, progression-free-survival (PFS) and disease-control-rate (DCR). A biomarker-based prognostic model was derived. Selected inflammatory and haemostatic biomarkers were strong and independent predictors of mortality and therapy response. The strongest predictors (D-dimer, LMR, CRP) were incorporated in a unified biomarker-based prognostic model (1-year overall-survival (OS) by risk-quartiles: 79%, 69%, 51%, 24%; 2-year-OS: 53%, 36%, 23%, 8%; log-rank p < 0.001). The biomarker-based model further predicted shorter PFS and lower DCR. In conclusion, inflammatory and haemostatic biomarkers predict poor prognosis and treatment-response in patients with advanced lung cancer. A biomarker-based prognostic score efficiently predicts mortality and disease progression beyond clinical characteristics.
Cellular Plasticity and Tumor Microenvironment in Gliomas: The Struggle to Hit a Moving Target
Authors: Gargini Ricardo , Segura-Collar Berta , Sánchez-Gómez Pilar
Published: June 2020

Brain tumors encompass a diverse group of neoplasias arising from different cell lineages. Tumors of glial origin have been the subject of intense research because of their rapid and fatal progression. From a clinical point of view, complete surgical resection of gliomas is highly difficult. Moreover, the remaining tumor cells are resistant to traditional therapies such as radio- or chemotherapy and tumors always recur. Here we have revised the new genetic and epigenetic classification of gliomas and the description of the different transcriptional subtypes. In order to understand the progression of the different gliomas we have focused on the interaction of the plastic tumor cells with their vasculature-rich microenvironment and with their distinct immune system. We believe that a comprehensive characterization of the glioma microenvironment will shed some light into why these tumors behave differently from other cancers. Furthermore, a novel classification of gliomas that could integrate the genetic background and the cellular ecosystems could have profound implications in the efficiency of current therapies as well as in the development of new treatments.
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Receptors and the Motility of Schwann Cell(-Like) Phenotypes
Authors: Ouasti Sihem , Faroni Alessandro , Kingham Paul J. , Ghibaudi Matilde , Reid Adam J. , Tirelli Nicola
Published: June 2020

The cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) and the hyaluronan-mediated motility receptor (RHAMM), also known as CD168, are perhaps the most studied receptors for hyaluronic acid (HA); among their various functions, both are known to play a role in the motility of a number of cell types. In peripheral nerve regeneration, the stimulation of glial cell motility has potential to lead to better therapeutic outcomes, thus this study aimed to ascertain the presence of these receptors in Schwann cells (rat adult aSCs and neonatal nSCs) and to confirm their influence on motility. We included also a Schwann-like phenotype (dAD-MSCs) derived from adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (uAD-MSCs), as a possible basis for an autologous cell therapy. CD44 was expressed similarly in all cell types. Interestingly, uAD-MSCs were RHAMM(low), whereas both Schwann cells and dASCs turned out to be similarly RHAMM(high), and indeed antibody blockage of RHAMM effectively immobilized (in vitro scratch wound assay) all the RHAMM(high) Schwann(-like) types, but not the RHAMM(low) uAD-MSCs. Blocking CD44, on the other hand, affected considerably more uAD-MSCs than the Schwann(-like) cells, while the combined blockage of the two receptors immobilized all cells. The results therefore indicate that Schwann-like cells have a specifically RHAMM-sensitive motility, where the motility of precursor cells such as uAD-MSCs is CD44- but not RHAMM-sensitive; our data also suggest that CD44 and RHAMM may be using complementary motility-controlling circuits.
CDK12: A Potent Target and Biomarker for Human Cancer Therapy
Authors: Liang Shujing , Hu Lifang , Wu Zixiang , Chen Zhihao , Liu Shuyu , Xu Xia , Qian Airong
Published: June 2020

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are a group of serine/threonine protein kinases and play crucial roles in various cellular processes by regulating cell cycle and gene transcription. Cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) is an important transcription-associated CDK. It shows versatile roles in regulating gene transcription, RNA splicing, translation, DNA damage response (DDR), cell cycle progression and cell proliferation. Recently, increasing evidence demonstrates the important role of CDK12 in various human cancers, illustrating it as both a biomarker of cancer and a potential target for cancer therapy. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of CDK12, and review the research advances of CDK12′s biological functions, especially its role in human cancers and as a potential target and biomarker for cancer therapy.
Rab27a Contributes to the Processing of Inflammatory Pain in Mice
Authors: Gross Tilman , Wack Gesine , Syhr Katharina M. J. , Tolmachova Tanya , Seabra Miguel C. , Geisslinger Gerd , Niederberger Ellen , Schmidtko Achim , Kallenborn-Gerhardt Wiebke
Published: June 2020

Tissue injury and inflammation may result in chronic pain, a severe debilitating disease that is associated with great impairment of quality of life. An increasing body of evidence indicates that members of the Rab family of small GTPases contribute to pain processing; however, their specific functions remain poorly understood. Here, we found using immunofluorescence staining and in situ hybridization that the small GTPase Rab27a is highly expressed in sensory neurons and in the superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord of mice. Rab27a mutant mice, which carry a single-nucleotide missense mutation of Rab27a leading to the expression of a nonfunctional protein, show reduced mechanical hyperalgesia and spontaneous pain behavior in inflammatory pain models, while their responses to acute noxious mechanical and thermal stimuli is not affected. Our study uncovers a previously unrecognized function of Rab27a in the processing of persistent inflammatory pain in mice.
Step by Step Derivation of the Optimum Multistage Compression Ratio and an Application Case
Authors: López-Paniagua Ignacio , Rodríguez-Martín Javier , Sánchez-Orgaz Susana , Roncal-Casano Juan José
Published: June 2020

The optimum pressure ratio for the stages of a multistage compression process is calculated with a well known formula that assigns an equal ratio for all stages, based on the hypotheses that all isentropic efficiencies are also equal. Although the derivation of this formula for two stages is relatively easy to find, it is more difficult to find for any number of stages, and the examples that are found in the literature employ complex mathematical methods. The case when the stages have different isentropic efficiencies is only treated numerically. Here, a step by step derivation of the general formula and of the formula for different stage efficiencies are carried out using Lagrange multipliers. A main objective has been to maintain the engineering considerations explicitly, so that the hypotheses and reasoning are clear throughout, and will enable the readers to generalise or adapt the methodology to specific problems. As the actual design of multistage compression processes frequently meet engineering restrictions, a practical example has been developed where the previous formulae have been applied to the design of a multistage compression plant with reciprocating compressors. Special attention has been put into engineering considerations.
The Influence of an Additional Sensor on the Microprocessor Temperature
Authors: De Mey Gilbert , Kos Andrzej
Published: June 2020

This paper deals with the problem of inserting a temperature sensor in the neighbourhood of a chip to monitor the junction temperature. If the sensor is not in the middle of the heat source, the recorded temperature can be quite different from the chip temperature we are mainly interested in. For the steady state temperature, it is rather easy to introduce a correction factor. For the transient behaviour of the temperature, there is a tremendous difference between the chip and the sensor temperature, which cannot be neglected if the temperature is used as a parameter to change, for example, the clock frequency in order to improve the throughput.
High-Resolution CFD and In-Situ Monitoring Based Validation of an Industrial Passive Air Conduction System (PACS)
Authors: Katona Ádám László , Xuan Huang , Elhadad Sara , Kistelegdi István , Háber István
Published: June 2020

Natural driven ventilation is a widely used technique in hot and arid climate, but it is rarely known that it can lead to significant energy saving in a moderate climate too. In this paper, an existing building is presented that was designed with a passive air conduction system (PACS), where wind and buoyancy effects induce air to be exchanged without external energy needs. The aim is to show that the design methodology, using numerical simulation to give accurate results, is able to use them in further developments. Due to this design process, the specific building possesses numerous special properties, including airflow accelerating elements, solar-heated “chimneys”, and the indoor heat sources coming from the industrial technology. As the building has been constructed and was equipped with around 750 sensors (integrated and manual), it is possible to analyze the ongoing physical phenomenon in a highly detailed way and to collect the experienced dataset for further investigations. The current study carries out a complex validation of the design and the used numerical methods to give general design rules for further PACS design and support following investigations, e.g., occupant comfort prediction or latent heat storage calculation. The experiences showed that the developed computational fluid dynamics technique gives a below 99% accuracy in the velocity and the temperature field, and approximately 85% accuracy in the volume flow values, resulting in a good prediction for aerodynamic characterization of buildings, i.e., passive ventilation air exchange rate.
Improvement of Extracted Power of Pole Mounted Solar Panels by Effective Cooling Using Aluminum Heat Sink under Hot Weather and Variable Wind Speed Conditions
Authors: Hassan Youssef , Orabi Mohamed , Alshreef Abdulaziz , M. Al-Rabghi Omar , Habeebullah Badr A. , El Aroudi Abdelali , A. Ismeil Mohamed
Published: June 2020

The increase in operating temperature of PV generators leads to degradation of their performance. These adverse effects of high temperatures are considered as one of the most important problems that solar panel operation faces in hot weather areas. A lot of research has been undertaken to study this aspect and find ways of limiting the harm caused by such high temperatures. To overcome this harm and to maintain the operating temperature of the PV cells within the optimum range specified by manufacturers, cooling the solar panels often becomes indispensable. This paper discusses the heat transfer through the solar panel layers and studies the effect of high temperature on the solar panel performance in a hot desert environment. It also presents the development of a new solar panel structure viz. by installing an aluminum heat sink to reduce the effect of temperature rise and thus improve the solar panel performance. The study focuses on a pole-mounted solar panel for a street lighting apparatus in extremely hot desert conditions with fluctuating wind speeds. It will be shown that adding an aluminum heat sink to the solar panel bottom mitigates the effect of increased temperature and hence modifies the solar panel operating point by increasing both the efficiency and the lifetime. The solar cell temperature is decreased by 16.4% as a result of the aluminum heat sink installation on the solar panel back sheet and consequently, the accumulated energy produced by the the solar panel is increased by 13.23% per day.
Performance Evaluation of Control Methods for PV-Integrated Shading Devices
Authors: Jung Sung Kwon , Kim Youngchul , Moon Jin Woo
Published: June 2020

This study aimed to develop a building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) device and optimal control methods that increase the photovoltaic (PV) efficiency and visual comfort of the indoor space. A louver-type PV-integrated shading device was suggested and an artificial neural networks (ANN) model was developed to predict PV electricity output, work plane illuminance, and daylight glare index (DGI). The slat tilt angle of the shading device was controlled to maximize PV electricity output based on three different strategies: one without visual comfort constraints, and the other two with visual comfort constraints: work plane illuminance and DGI. Optimal tilt angle was calculated using predictions of the ANN. Experiments were conducted to verify the system modeling and to evaluate the performance of the shading device. Experiment results revealed that the ANN model successfully predicted the PV output, work plane illuminance, and DGI. The PV-integrated shading device was more efficient in producing electricity than the conventional wall-mount PV systems, the control method without visual comfort constraints was most efficient in generating electricity than the other two with such constraints, and excluding the constraints resulted in less comfortable visual environment and reduced energy benefit. From the results analysis, it can be concluded that based on the accurate predictions, the PV-integrated shading device controlled using the proposed methods produced more electricity compared to the wall-mount counterpart.
Potential Effects of Climate Change on the Geographic Distribution of the Endangered Plant Species Manihot walkerae
Authors: Garza Gisel , Rivera Armida , Venegas Barrera Crystian Sadiel , Martinez-Ávalos José Guadalupe , Dale Jon , Feria Arroyo Teresa Patricia
Published: June 2020

Walker’s Manihot, Manihot walkerae, is an endangered plant that is endemic to the Tamaulipan thornscrub ecoregion of extreme southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. M. walkerae populations are highly fragmented and are found on both protected public lands and private property. Habitat loss and competition by invasive species are the most detrimental threats for M. walkerae; however, the effect of climate change on M. walkerae’s geographic distribution remains unexplored and could result in further range restrictions. Our objectives are to evaluate the potential effects of climate change on the distribution of M. walkerae and assess the usefulness of natural protected areas in future conservation. We predict current and future geographic distribution for M. walkerae (years 2050 and 2070) using three different general circulation models (CM3, CMIP5, and HADGEM) and two climate change scenarios (RCP 4.5 and 8.5). A total of nineteen spatially rarefied occurrences for M. walkerae and ten non-highly correlated bioclimatic variables were inputted to the maximum entropy algorithm (MaxEnt) to produce twenty replicates per scenario. The area under the curve (AUC) value for the consensus model was higher than 0.90 and the partial ROC value was higher than 1.80, indicating a high predictive ability. The potential reduction in geographic distribution for M. walkerae by the effect of climate change was variable throughout the models, but collectively they predict a restriction in distribution. The most severe reductions were 9% for the year 2050 with the CM3 model at an 8.5 RCP, and 14% for the year 2070 with the CMIP5 model at the 4.5 RCP. The future geographic distribution of M. walkerae was overlapped with protected lands in the U.S. and Mexico in order to identify areas that could be suitable for future conservation efforts. In the U.S. there are several protected areas that are potentially suitable for M. walkerae, whereas in Mexico no protected areas exist within M. walkerae suitable habitat.
Chronosequence of Fuel Loading and Fuel Depth Following Forest Rehabilitation Frill Treatment of Tanoak to Release Douglas-Fir: A Case Study from Northern California
Authors: Krieger Raven M. , Wall Brian E. , Kidd Cody W. , Berrill John-Pascal
Published: June 2020

There is concern that forest management activities such as chemical thinning may increase hazardous fuel loading and therefore increase risk of stand-replacing wildfire. Chemical thinning, often accomplished by frill treatment of unwanted trees, leaves trees standing dead for a time before they fall and become surface fuels. In coastal northern California, frill treatment is used as a forest rehabilitation treatment that removes tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus) to release merchantable conifers from excessive competition. We studied fuel bed depth and fuel loading after frill treatment of tanoak along a 16-year chronosequence that substituted space for time. The total depth of fuel bed was separated into woody fuels, litter, and duff. The height of each layer was variable and greatest on average in post-treatment year 5 after treated tanoak had begun to break apart and fall. Initially, the evergreen tanoak trees retained their foliage for at least a year after treatment. Five years after treatment, many tanoak had fallen and transitioned to become fine- and coarse woody debris. After 11 years, the larger pieces of down wood were mostly classified as rotten. After 16 years, the fuel loading appeared roughly equivalent to pre-treatment levels, however we did not explicitly test for differences due to potential confounding between time and multiple factors such as inter-annual climate variations and site attributes. Nevertheless, our data provide some insight into changes in surface fuel characteristics due to rehabilitation treatments. These data can be used as inputs for fire behavior modeling to generate indicative predictions of fire effects such as fire severity and how these change over time since treatment.
Development of a Passive Spore Sampler for Capture Enhancement of Airborne Crop Pathogens
Authors: Blackall James L. , Wang Jie , Nabawy Mostafa R. A. , Quinn Mark K. , Grieve Bruce D.
Published: June 2020

Yellow rust spores currently blight commercial and domestic wheat production in areas of East Africa such as Ethiopia. Yellow rust is a hazard to crops which appears asymptomatic for a time, but inevitably causes significant losses in yield once symptoms of infection manifest themselves to the point where they can be readily observed by the naked eye. Regionally recurrent losses of up to 5% are common and reach as high as 25% in rare cases. Historically, spore sampling has been undertaken by large, cumbersome devices that require heavy power supplies and significant expertise to reliably operate. Moreover, tools for the design and development of such devices are currently limited. This paper, therefore, proposes design and testing processes to develop a spore sampling device that is compact, passive (requires no power to operate), and can better direct spores onto a biomimetic sensor platform enhancing the capture and detection of pathogens. This represents a novel design context for fluidic devices. Performance of the device has been simulated using Lagrangian particle tracking embedded into computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, demonstrating significant improvements across a range of spore Stokes numbers. Experimental validation of numerical simulations was performed using wind tunnel testing and practical performance such as weathervaning was demonstrated. Results show that that the developed sampler is capable of enhancing the probability of yellow rust spores interacting with an internal sensor by a factor of between 20 and 25; demonstrating the effectiveness of the developed design.
Improving the Quality Characteristics and Shelf Life of Meat and Growth Performance in Goose Fed Diets Supplemented with Vitamin E
Authors: Nemati Zabihollah , Alirezalu Kazem , Besharati Maghsoud , Amirdahri Saeid , Franco Daniel , Lorenzo José M.
Published: June 2020

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of dietary vitamin E on growth performance, cellular immunity, carcass characteristics, and meat quality in geese. Sixty-four one-day-old male geese were selected from 1200 goose chicks with the same average body weight (92.5 ± 2.5 g) and subjected to two treatments (basal diet or control and basal diet plus 120 mg/kg vitamin E supplement) with 4 replicates (8 geese per replicate) for 8 weeks. After slaughter, goose meat was aerobically packed in polyethylene packages and stored at 4 °C for 9 days. The results showed that vitamin E supplementation improved the growth performance, carcass yield percentage, and immune response of goose (p < 0.05). The addition of vitamin E in the diet significantly increased the protein and fat content of goose meat but decreased the moisture and ash content with respect to those obtained from the control diet. During storage, meat from the vitamin E treatment showed higher phenolic content and lower thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs) and total volatile nitrogen (TVB-N) values than those from the control treatment. Vitamin E supplementation increased the saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in goose meat. However, goose meat supplemented with vitamin E displayed a significantly (p < 0.05) higher PUFA/SFA ratio than those of the control group. Based on the results, it was concluded that vitamin E could be used to improve the growth performance of goose, the meat composition in terms of the protein and fat content, the nutritional value in terms of the fatty acid composition, and the shelf life.
Rapid Pasteurization of Apple Juice Using a New Ultrasonic Reactor
Authors: Baboli Zahra Moaddabdoost , Williams Leonard , Chen Guibing
Published: June 2020

A new ultrasonic reactor was used to rapidly inactivate Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in apple juice. It was found that high pulp content made ultrasound less lethal to S. aureus, while it had no significant effect on E. coli. When the pulp free apple juice was ultrasonically processed, the 5-log reduction time was 35 s for E. coli at 60 °C and 30 s for S. aureus at 62 °C. Ultrasound treatment had no significant effect on antioxidant activity determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, but it significantly increased the total phenolic content. The treatment also resulted in more stable juice with higher uniformity. During 28 d of storage at 4 °C, the total plate count in apple juice ultrasonically treated at 60 °C for 35 s remained around 1.00 log CFU/mL, whereas it was nearly zero for a stronger ultrasound treatment at 62 °C for 30 s. These values were much lower than those in the untreated one, which increased from 3.65 log CFU/mL to 8.36 log CFU/mL during the storage. At the end of the storage, the control and thermally treated apple juice lost almost 70% of antioxidant activity, whereas the ultrasonically treated juice only lost 20–40%.
Wine Quality Drivers: A Case Study on South African Chenin Blanc and Pinotage Wines
Authors: Brand Jeanne , Panzeri Valeria , Buica Astrid
Published: June 2020

The aim of the study was to propose a methodology for the elucidation of sensory and chemical wine quality drivers. The winners of the 2018 Top 10 Chenin Blanc and Top 10 Pinotage challenges and additional lower scoring wines for each cultivar were evaluated. The two sets underwent sensory profiling by Check-All-That-Apply (CATA) and a 20-point quality rating by industry experts in non-competition conditions and chemical fingerprinting by Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Data were submitted to Correspondence Analysis (CA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for sensory and chemistry, respectively, from which the standardised deviates were correlated to quality scores to identify the quality drivers. The results illustrated the possibility to determine positive and negative sensory quality drivers (attributes), while the identification of drivers for chemistry (ions) was challenging due to the number of signals generated by the fingerprinting technique. The configurations of the sensory and chemical spaces were compared, but the similarities were relatively low as measured by Regression Vector (RV) coefficients, 0.437 and 0.505 for Pinotage and Chenin Blanc, respectively. The proposed methodology can also be used to explore the sensory space of wine sample sets with the added dimension of the quality drivers which, in turn, highlight the experts’ opinions on what makes a winning wine.
Do Genes Associated with Dyslexia of Chinese Characters Evolve Neutrally?
Authors: Nishiyama Kumiko V. , Satta Yoko , Gojobori Jun
Published: June 2020

Dyslexia, or reading disability, is found to have a genetic basis, and several related genes have been reported. We investigated whether natural selection has acted on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were reported to be associated with risk/non-risk for the reading disability of Chinese characters. We applied recently developed 2D SFS-based statistics to SNP data of East Asian populations to examine whether there is any sign of selective sweep. While neutrality was not rejected for most SNPs, significant signs of selection were detected for two linkage disequilibrium (LD) regions containing the reported SNPs of GNPTAB and DCDC2. Furthermore, we searched for a selection target site among the SNPs in these LD regions, because a causal site is not necessarily a reported SNP but could instead be a tightly linked site. In both LD regions, we found candidate target sites, which may have an effect on expression regulation and have been selected, although which genes these SNPs affect remains unknown. Because most people were not engaged in reading until recently, it is unlikely that there has been selective pressure on reading ability itself. Consistent with this, our results suggest a possibility of genetic hitchhiking, whereby alleles of the reported SNPs may have increased in frequency together with the selected target, which could have functions for other genes and traits apart from reading ability.
Heat Stress Affects H3K9me3 Level at Human Alpha Satellite DNA Repeats
Authors: Feliciello Isidoro , Sermek Antonio , Pezer Željka , Matulić Maja , Ugarković Đurđica
Published: June 2020

Satellite DNAs are tandemly repeated sequences preferentially assembled into large arrays within constitutive heterochromatin and their transcription is often activated by stress conditions, particularly by heat stress. Bioinformatic analyses of sequenced genomes however reveal single repeats or short arrays of satellite DNAs dispersed in the vicinity of genes within euchromatin. Here, we analyze transcription of a major human alpha satellite DNA upon heat stress and follow the dynamics of “silent” H3K9me3 and “active” H3K4me2/3 histone marks at dispersed euchromatic and tandemly arranged heterochromatic alpha repeats. The results show H3K9me3 enrichment at alpha repeats upon heat stress, which correlates with the dynamics of alpha satellite DNA transcription activation, while no change in H3K4me2/3 level is detected. Spreading of H3K9me3 up to 1–2 kb from the insertion sites of the euchromatic alpha repeats is detected, revealing the alpha repeats as modulators of local chromatin structure. In addition, expression of genes containing alpha repeats within introns as well as of genes closest to the intergenic alpha repeats is downregulated upon heat stress. Further studies are necessary to reveal the possible contribution of H3K9me3 enriched alpha repeats, in particular those located within introns, to the silencing of their associated genes.
Effect of Self-Management Support for Elderly People Post-Stroke: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kristine Stage Pedersen Sedsel , Lillelund Sørensen Susanne , Holm Stabel Henriette , Brunner Iris , Pallesen Hanne
Published: June 2020

A systematic review was undertaken to determine the efficacy of self-management interventions for people with stroke over the age of 65 in relation to psychosocial outcomes. PubMed, Embase, and PsycInfo were searched for randomized controlled clinical trials. Studies were eligible if the included people with stroke had a mean age ≥65 years in both the intervention and control group. Data on psychosocial measurements were extracted and an assessment of methodological quality was undertaken. Due to heterogeneity across the studies, the results were synthesized narratively. Eleven studies were identified. They included different self-management interventions in terms of theoretical rationales, delivery, and content. Seven psychosocial outcomes were identified: i) self-management, ii) self-efficacy, iii) quality of life, iv) depression, v) activities of daily living, vi) active lifestyle, and vii) other measures. Self-management interventions for people with stroke over the age of 65 may be beneficial for self-management, self-efficacy, quality of life, activity of daily living, and other psychosocial outcomes. However, low study quality and heterogeneity of interventions, as well as variation in time of follow-up and outcome measures, limit the possibility of making robust conclusions.
Socioeconomic Effects in Cyberbullying: Global Research Trends in the Educational Context
Authors: López-Meneses Eloy , Vázquez-Cano Esteban , González-Zamar Mariana-Daniela , Abad-Segura Emilio
Published: June 2020

Nowadays, cyberbullying has become a problem of social harassment in numerous educational centres worldwide. New communication technologies have provided the perfect support for the development of this type of harassment in peer relationships, in addition to being linked to broad social and economic circumstances. In this study, the global trends of the socioeconomic implications of cyberbullying in the educational context have been analysed, from 2004 to 2019. Thus, a bibliometric analysis has been applied to 1128 articles, obtaining results of the evolution of scientific activity in this period. The articles are mainly associated with the thematic areas of Social Sciences, Psychology, Medicine and Computer Science. Seven main thematic axes have been detected, highlighting those related to the psychological aspect, adolescence, and the school environment. Likewise, the link of the main authors, institutions, and countries to these lines of research has been detected. The evidence has shown the interest and relevance of this topic at the international level. Future research lines propose different analyses about how certain socioeconomic factors influence this psychological harassment inside and outside the classroom.
The Effect of Strength Training on Vastus Lateralis’ Stiffness: An Ultrasound Quasi-Static Elastography Study
Authors: Santos Rute , Valamatos Maria João , Mil-Homens Pedro , Armada-da-Silva Paulo
Published: June 2020

Ultrasound imaging allows the evaluation of musculoskeletal morphology and function. Ultrasound elastography can also offer semi-quantitative and/or quantitative assessment of tissue stiffness providing relevant information about adaptations of skeletal muscle mechanical properties. In this study we aimed to explore the feasibility of elastography ultrasound imaging in assessing the effect of strength training on vastus lateralis stiffness. Twenty-eight young male adults were separated in a control (n = 9) and strength-training (n = 20) groups. The strength-training group completed 15 weeks of either concentric (n = 10) or eccentric (n = 10) isokinetic training of the knee extensors. Ultrasound scans of the vastus lateralis for quasi-static elastography were collected. All image acquisitions and measurements were done by the same experienced sonographer. After 15 weeks, knee maximal extension isometric torque increased in the strength-training groups. After strength training, there was a decrease in the amount of red pixels in vastus lateralis region of interest [F(1,18) = 25.490; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.586], whereas the amount of green and blue pixels increased F(1,18) = 17.179; p < 0.01; η2 = 0.488; F(1,18) = 6.522; p < 0.05; η2 = 0.266], suggesting higher vastus lateralis stiffness. We conclude that concentric and eccentric strength training increases skeletal muscle stiffness, which can be evaluated by quasi-static elastography. Ultrasound elastography is suitable for non-invasive evaluation of skeletal muscle functional adaptations, which can be of importance for sports medicine and in designing optimal training and rehabilitation programs.
Lead Toxicity and Pollution in Poland
Authors: Charkiewicz Angelika Edyta , Backstrand Jeffrey R.
Published: June 2020

Background: Human exposure to lead can occur in a variety of ways, all of which involve exposure to potentially toxic elements as environmental pollutants. Lead enters the body via ingestion and inhalation from sources such as soil, food, lead dust and lead in products of everyday use and in the workplace. The aim of this review is to describe the toxic effects of lead on the human body from conception to adulthood, and to review the situation regarding lead toxicity in Poland. Results: Pb is very dangerous when it is absorbed and accumulates in the main organs of the body, where it can cause a range of symptoms that vary from person to person, the time of exposure and dose. Lead in adults can cause an increase in blood pressure, slow nerve conduction, fatigue, mood swings, drowsiness, impaired concentration, fertility disorders, decreased sex drive, headaches, constipation and, in severe cases, encephalopathy or death. Conclusions: Exposure to lead in Poland remains an important public health problem. This review will cover the range of lead exposures, from mild to heavy. Public health interventions and policies also are needed to reduce occupational and environmental exposure to this element.