bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Safety and Feasibility of Laparoscopic Surgery for Very Low Rectal Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis Based on a Single Center’s Experience
Authors: Chung Hyuk-Jun , Kim Jun-Gi , Kim Hyung-Jin , Cho Hyeon-Min , Kye Bong-Hyeon
Published: November 2021

In this work we intend to validate the long-term oncologic outcomes for very low rectal cancer over the past 20 years and to determine whether laparoscopic procedures are useful options for very low rectal cancer. A total of 327 patients, who electively underwent laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery for a lesion within 5 cm from the anal verge, were enrolled in this study and their long-term outcomes were reviewed retrospectively. Of 327 patients, 70 patients underwent laparoscopic low anterior resection (LAR), 164 underwent laparoscopic abdominal transanal proctosigmoidocolectomy with coloanal anastomosis (LATA), and 93 underwent laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection (APR). The conversion rate was 1.22% (4/327). The overall postoperative morbidity rate was 26.30% (86/327). The 5-year disease free survival (DFS), 5-year overall survival (OS), and 3-year local recurrence (LR) were 64.3%, 79.7%, and 9.2%, respectively. The CRM involvement was a significant independent factor for DFS (p = 0.018) and OS (p = 0.042) in multivariate analysis. Laparoscopic APR showed poorer 5-year DFS (47.8%), 5-year OS (64.0%), and 3-year LR (17.6%) than laparoscopic LAR (74.1%, 86.4%, 1.9%) and laparoscopic LATA (69.2%, 83.6%, 9.2%). Laparoscopic procedures for very low rectal cancer including LAR, LATA, and APR could be good surgical options in selective patients with very low rectal cancer.
Antibody-Based Immunotoxins for Colorectal Cancer Therapy
Authors: Sanz Laura , Ibáñez-Pérez Raquel , Guerrero-Ochoa Patricia , Lacadena Javier , Anel Alberto
Published: November 2021

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are included among the treatment options for advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). However, while these mAbs effectively target cancer cells, they may have limited clinical activity. A strategy to improve their therapeutic potential is arming them with a toxic payload. Immunotoxins (ITX) combining the cell-killing ability of a toxin with the specificity of a mAb constitute a promising strategy for CRC therapy. However, several important challenges in optimizing ITX remain, including suboptimal pharmacokinetics and especially the immunogenicity of the toxin moiety. Nonetheless, ongoing research is working to solve these limitations and expand CRC patients’ therapeutic armory. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of targets and toxins employed in the design of ITX for CRC and highlight a wide selection of ITX tested in CRC patients as well as preclinical candidates.
Sports and Children with Hemophilia: Current Trends
Authors: Moretti Lorenzo , Bizzoca Davide , Buono Claudio , Ladogana Teresa , Albano Federica , Moretti Biagio
Published: November 2021

Hemophilia is a sex-linked recessive disorder characterized by a lack of blood factors necessary for clotting. This review aims to investigate the benefits of sports activities in children with hemophilia in terms of both physical and psychological wellness. Sports activity is necessary for children with hemophilia to preserve joints’ range of motion, reduce joint bleeding, improve muscle mass and strength, enhance proprioception and prevent secondary chronic diseases. In the past, high-impact sports were usually forbidden in children with hemophilia because of their high bleeding risk. Recent studies, however, have shown that prophylaxis therapy can allow a hemophilic child to take part in vigorous activities or high-impact sports. The benefits of sports activity in children with hemophilia are expressed by a better muscular trophism and an improved bone mineral density. Moreover, physical activity has a positive impact on children’s psychosocial well-being. Due to prophylaxis therapy, the quality of life of children with hemophilia is similar to their peers, and this has allowed an improvement in sports participation, including team sports.
Modulo Periodic Poisson Stable Solutions of Quasilinear Differential Equations
Authors: Akhmet Marat , Tleubergenova Madina , Zhamanshin Akylbek
Published: November 2021

In this paper, modulo periodic Poisson stable functions have been newly introduced. Quasilinear differential equations with modulo periodic Poisson stable coefficients are under investigation. The existence and uniqueness of asymptotically stable modulo periodic Poisson stable solutions have been proved. Numerical simulations, which illustrate the theoretical results are provided.
Bert-Enhanced Text Graph Neural Network for Classification
Authors: Yang Yiping , Cui Xiaohui
Published: November 2021

Text classification is a fundamental research direction, aims to assign tags to text units. Recently, graph neural networks (GNN) have exhibited some excellent properties in textual information processing. Furthermore, the pre-trained language model also realized promising effects in many tasks. However, many text processing methods cannot model a single text unit’s structure or ignore the semantic features. To solve these problems and comprehensively utilize the text’s structure information and semantic information, we propose a Bert-Enhanced text Graph Neural Network model (BEGNN). For each text, we construct a text graph separately according to the co-occurrence relationship of words and use GNN to extract text features. Moreover, we employ Bert to extract semantic features. The former part can take into account the structural information, and the latter can focus on modeling the semantic information. Finally, we interact and aggregate these two features of different granularity to get a more effective representation. Experiments on standard datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of BEGNN.
Target Classification Method of Tactile Perception Data with Deep Learning
Authors: Zhang Xingxing , Li Shaobo , Yang Jing , Bai Qiang , Wang Yang , Shen Mingming , Pu Ruiqiang , Song Qisong
Published: November 2021

In order to improve the accuracy of manipulator operation, it is necessary to install a tactile sensor on the manipulator to obtain tactile information and accurately classify a target. However, with the increase in the uncertainty and complexity of tactile sensing data characteristics, and the continuous development of tactile sensors, typical machine-learning algorithms often cannot solve the problem of target classification of pure tactile data. Here, we propose a new model by combining a convolutional neural network and a residual network, named ResNet10-v1. We optimized the convolutional kernel, hyperparameters, and loss function of the model, and further improved the accuracy of target classification through the K-means clustering method. We verified the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method through a large number of experiments. We expect to further improve the generalization ability of this method and provide an important reference for the research in the field of tactile perception classification.
Views from the Inside: Roles of Deputy Directors in Early Childhood Education in Finland
Authors: Halttunen Leena , Waniganayake Manjula
Published: November 2021

This study explored the perceptions of deputy directors about their leadership in Early Childhood Education (ECE) centres in Finland. Our aim was to look beyond task distribution and understand how deputy directors enacted leadership with their colleagues. Six deputy directors employed in one municipality in Finland participated in this study. Interviewed individually, the participants discussed how they themselves perceived being in a leadership position and what their leadership looked like in practice. The emphasis they placed on the various relationships highlight the importance of paying attention to the relational dynamics amongst staff within a centre, taking into account both formal and informal authority. Given the increasing global interest in understanding leadership enactment within ECE centres, and its connection with quality service provision, knowledge of the positional leadership roles of deputy directors is of importance to the ECE sector. This is one of the first studies dedicated to exploring the work of ECE deputy directors.
Online Learning of Oil Leak Anomalies in Wind Turbines with Block-Based Binary Reservoir
Authors: Cardoni Matteo , Pau Danilo Pietro , Falaschetti Laura , Turchetti Claudio , Lattuada Marco
Published: November 2021

The focus of this work is to design a deeply quantized anomaly detector of oil leaks that may happen at the junction between the wind turbine high-speed shaft and the external bracket of the power generator. We propose a block-based binary shallow echo state network (BBS-ESN) architecture belonging to the reservoir computing (RC) category and, as we believe, it also extends the extreme learning machines (ELM) domain. Furthermore, BBS-ESN performs binary block-based online training using fixed and minimal computational complexity to achieve low power consumption and deployability on an off-the-shelf micro-controller (MCU). This has been achieved through binarization of the images and 1-bit quantization of the network weights and activations. 3D rendering has been used to generate a novel publicly available dataset of photo-realistic images similar to those potentially acquired by image sensors on the field while monitoring the junction, without and with oil leaks. Extensive experimentation has been conducted using a STM32H743ZI2 MCU running at 480 MHz and the results achieved show an accurate identification of anomalies, with a reduced computational cost per image and memory occupancy. Based on the obtained results, we conclude that BBS-ESN is feasible on off-the-shelf 32 bit MCUs. Moreover, the solution is also scalable in the number of image cameras to be deployed and to achieve accurate and fast oil leak detections from different viewpoints.
A Multi-Beam Satellite Cooperative Transmission Scheme Based on Resources Optimization and Packets Segmentation
Authors: Deng Zhongliang , Yu Xiaoyi , Lin Wenliang , Wang Ke , Liu Hao , Gu Lei , Liu Yang , Ma Xiaojuan
Published: November 2021

Multi-beam satellite communication systems are promising architectures in the future. A packet is transmitted by multi-satellite and multi-beam cooperatively, which can provide efficient spectrum utilization, improve system throughput, and guarantee Quality of Services (QoS). In multi-beam satellite communication systems, multi-layer and multi-dimensional radio resources change dynamically, which leads to the discontinuity of optimal resources and the lack of mapping balance between packets and radio resources. To deal with these problems, we propose a cross-layer and cross-dimension radio resources optimization model based on the weighted discrete firefly algorithm and an adaptive packet segmentation scheme based on the irregular gradient algorithm. The cross-layer and cross-dimension radio resources optimization model based on the weighted discrete firefly algorithm simulates cross-layer and cross-dimension optimization for the high-dynamic and multi-dimensional radio resources by considering the channel state information (CSI) and QoS in the multi-beam satellite communication system. The optimal resources are taken as the weight of irregular gradient algorithm to segment packets and map packets to radio resources, which can realize the mapping balance between packets and radio resources and ensure the efficiency and reliability of communication. The simulations show that the new transmission scheme improves the normalized system throughput and user satisfaction index by 18.7% and 6.2%, respectively.
Novel Electrical Modeling, Design and Comparative Control Techniques for Wireless Electric Vehicle Battery Charging
Authors: El-Shahat Adel , Ayisire Erhuvwu
Published: November 2021

Dynamic wireless power systems are an effective way to supply electric vehicles (EVs) with the required power while moving and to overcome the problems of low mileage and extensive charging times. This paper targets modeling and control for future dynamic wireless charging using magnetic resonance coupling because of the latter’s efficiency. We present a 3D model of transmitter and receiver coils for EV charging with magnetic resonance wireless power developed using ANSYS Maxwell. This model was incorporated into the physical design of the magnetic resonance coupling using ANSYS Simplorer in order to optimize the power. The estimated efficiency was around 92.1%. The transient analysis of the proposed circuit was investigated. A closed-loop three-level cascaded PI controller- was utilized for wireless charging of an EV battery. The controller was designed to eliminate the voltage variation resulting from the variation in the space existing between coils. A single-level PI controller was used to benchmark the proposed system’s performance. Furthermore, solar-powered wireless power transfer with a maximum power point tracker was used to simulate the wireless charging of an electric vehicle. The simulation results indicated that the EV battery could be charged with a regulated power of 12 V and 5 A through wireless power transfer. Fuzzy logic and neuro-fuzzy controllers were employed for more robustness in the performance of the output. The neuro-fuzzy controller showed the best performance in comparison with the other designs. All the proposed systems were checked and validated using the OPAL Real-Time simulator. The stability analysis of the DC–DC converter inside the closed-loop system was investigated.
Thermodynamic and Transport Properties of Biomass-Derived Furfural, Furfuryl Alcohol and Their Mixtures
Authors: Simić Zoran , Kijevčanin Mirjana , Radović Ivona , Grilc Miha , Ivaniš Gorica
Published: November 2021

The limited reserves and well-known disadvantages of using fossil energy sources have increased the need for appropriate renewable substitutes in the production of various chemicals and materials. Biomass has been shown to be worthy of attention since it can be converted to biofuels and value-added chemicals relatively easily. The design of biomass valorisation process requires knowledge on the thermodynamic behaviour of the biomass-derived compounds, such as furfural and furfuryl alcohol. The thermodynamic and transport properties of the binary system furfural + furfuryl alcohol were studied at various temperatures and pressures. Density, speed of sound and refractive index were measured in the temperature range T = (288.15–345.15) K and viscosity was measured at temperatures up to 373.15 K, all at atmospheric pressure. Further, the density of pure components was obtained in the temperature range (293.15–413.15) K for furfural and (293.15–373.15) K for furfuryl alcohol at pressures up to 60.0 MPa. The obtained density values were correlated using the modified Tammann–Tait equation with an average absolute deviation lower than 0.009% for furfural and furfuryl alcohol. The optimised parameters were used for the calculation of the isothermal compressibility, the isobaric thermal expansivity, the internal pressure and the isobaric and isochoric specific heat capacities. The reported data are a valuable source of information for the further application of the investigated compounds.
Bioactive Compounds and Biological Activities of Sorghum Grains
Authors: Li Zhenhua , Zhao Xiaoyan , Zhang Xiaowei , Liu Hongkai
Published: November 2021

Sorghum is the fifth most commonly used cereal worldwide and is a rich source of many bioactive compounds. We summarized phenolic compounds and carotenoids, vitamin E, amines, and phytosterols in sorghum grains. Recently, with the development of detection technology, new bioactive compounds such as formononetin, glycitein, and ononin have been detected. In addition, multiple in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that sorghum grains have extensive bio-logical activities, such as antioxidative, anticancer, antidiabetic, antiinflammatory, and antiobesity properties. Finally, with the establishment of sorghum phenolic compounds database, the bound phenolics and their biological activities and the mechanisms of biological activities of sorghum bioactive compounds using clinical trials may be researched.
Short- and Midterm Comparison of Platelet-Rich Plasma with Hyaluronic Acid versus Leucocyte and Platelet-Rich Plasma on Pain and Function to Treat Hip Osteoarthritis. A Retrospective Study
Authors: Palco Michelangelo , Rizzo Paolo , Basile Giorgio Carmelo , Alito Angelo , Bruschetta Daniele , Accorinti Maria , Restuccia Roberto , Leonetti Danilo
Published: November 2021

Hip osteoarthritis (HOA) leads to pain and reduced function. The use of intra-articular injections based on corticosteroids, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), or hyaluronic acid (HA) is becoming a common symptomatic therapy for HOA. For the first time, we compare the effectiveness of plasma with a high concentration of platelets and leukocytes (L-PRP) with PRP+HA in patients with mild to moderate HOA. A total of 26 patients in each group were administered with either L-PRP or PRP+HA. Outcomes were evaluated at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year after the injection. The mean visual analog scale (VAS) and Harris hip score (HHS) within and between groups among different time points were compared using repeated measures ANCOVA (age set as a covariate). Both treatments were effective in reducing VAS, but not in significantly increasing HHS. In the group treated with L-PRP, VAS showed interaction between time and treatment (in favor of L-PRP). Pairwise comparison for treatment and time point evidenced a significant difference at 1-year follow-up between L-PRP and PRP-HA. Outcomes support the idea that both treatments may be effective in reducing pain, with maximal pain reduction achieved after 3 months. L-PRP showed better results in reducing VAS over time. Both treatments are effective at reducing pain in the short to medium term. L-PRP could be the treatment of choice due to a more marked effect over time. Nevertheless, further research is needed to better describe the clinical outcome of these formulations.
Assessing the Impact of Unfolding Case Study Scenarios during High-Fidelity Pediatric Simulation among Undergraduate Nursing Students
Authors: Munn Allison C. , Lay Beth , Phillips Tiffany A. , George Tracy P.
Published: November 2021

Simulation helps to prepare prelicensure nursing students for practice by providing opportunities to perform clinical skills and make decisions in a safe environment. The integration of nursing knowledge, skills, and decision-making abilities during simulated unfolding case-study scenarios may enhance student self-confidence and foster clinical judgement skills. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of simulation using unfolding case-study scenarios on undergraduate nursing students’ self-confidence in pediatric nursing knowledge, skills, and clinical judgment/decision-making abilities. This mixed methods study included a pre- and post-survey design to evaluate undergraduate nursing students’ confidence in pediatric nursing knowledge, skills, and decision-making abilities after participation in both an instructor-led (guided) and a student-led (decision-making) simulation involving unfolding case-study scenarios. Friedman’s ANOVA analyses revealed that all 16-items demonstrated statistically significant differences between the three measured responses (pre-simulation and both post-simulation surveys). Post-hoc Wilcoxon signed-rank tests revealed statistically significant differences in student ratings pre-simulation and post-instructor-led (guided) experience for all 16-scored items. The qualitative themes identified were perception of experience, pediatric nursing care, assimilation of knowledge, and critical thinking. Unfolding case-study simulation experiences positively impact the learning, self-confidence, and clinical judgement of undergraduate nursing students.
Analysis of Factors Affecting Post-Stroke Fatigue: An Observational, Cross-Sectional, Retrospective Chart Review Study
Authors: Kwon Seungwon , Jin Chul , Cho Seung-Yeon , Park Seong-Uk , Jung Woo-Sang , Moon Sang-Kwan , Park Jung-Mi , Ko Chang-Nam , Cho Ki-Ho
Published: November 2021

Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is one of the most common emotional and mood disorders in stroke survivors. Several studies have suggested associations between PSF and various factors. However, they describe conflicting results. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the factors affecting PSF. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 178 hospitalized stroke patients. The collected data were compared between the PSF and control groups. To evaluate the association between factors and PSF, regression analysis was conducted. A total of 96 patients (53.9%) were assigned to the PSF group, and 82 patients were assigned to the control group. Age, neurological deficits, cognitive dysfunction, degree of depression, hs-CRP, and ESR differed significantly between the two groups. For both types of stroke, multiple linear regression analyses showed that degree of depression and degree of inflammation were significantly associated with PSF. Through subgroup analysis, multiple linear regression analyses showed that the degree of depression in ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in hemorrhagic stroke had a significant association with PSF. In conclusion, post-stroke depression and degree of inflammation could be clinically significant predictors of PSF in all types of stroke patients. However, larger, prospective studies are required to obtain more concrete results.
Flowering Biology of Rhododendron pulchrum
Authors: Qiu Jie , Gao Chao , Wei Hongli , Wang Biao , Hu Yang , Guo Zhiyan , Long Li , Yang Lu , Li Huie
Published: November 2021

To study the flowering biology of Rhododendron pulchrum, we used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and paraffin sectioning to observe the microstructures of its floral organs, a methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetric assay to detect pollen viability in different periods, continuous observations to study flowering phenology, and artificial pollination and a benzidine-hydrogen peroxide method to determine stigma receptivity. R. pulchrum exhibited a centralized flowering phenology. The protogynous stigmas of R. pulchrum were able to receive pollen before flowering. The pollen grains of R. pulchrum fused into tetrads, the average ratio of the polar axis length to the equatorial axis length (P/E) was 1.05, and the pollen viability was highest in the initial flowering period, reaching 88.98%. The pollen/ovule (P/O) ratio was 266–328, and the outcrossing index (OCI) was 4; the vitality of R. pulchrum pollen remained high in the initial flowering and blooming periods. Compared with the lifespan of a single flower, pollen vitality remained high for most of the experimental period, thereby improving male fitness. The P/O ratio suggests that R. pulchrum may have a facultative outcrossing breeding system. The OCI estimation suggests that R. pulchrum is partially self-compatible, most likely requiring pollinators to complete pollination.
Results of Proficiency Testing for Trichinella in Poland, 2015–2019
Authors: Różycki Mirosław , Korpysa-Dzirba Weronika , Bełcik Aneta , Bilska-Zając Ewa , Karamon Jacek , Sroka Jacek , Zdybel Jolanta , Cencek Tomasz
Published: November 2021

Trichinellosis is a zoonotic meat-borne disease caused by the nematodes of the genus Trichinella. Meat containing live Trichinella larvae is a source of infection. The examination of meat for Trichinella was introduced in 1869, but the digestion method for this did not appear in Poland until the late 1970s. Nowadays, the meat of all food animals susceptible to Trichinella spp. is examined in the frame of official post mortem control with the digestion method. The majority of laboratories in Poland meet the requirements of the ISO/IEC 17025 Standard (352 field laboratories). Laboratory personnel participate in quality control programs. This paper presents the results of proficiency tests (PTs) organized within 2015–2019 in Poland. Over this period, the laboratories examined 7580 samples (contamination levels: zero, one, three, and five larvae). Each laboratory was provided with a set of samples (one negative and three positive). Over 95% of the samples were considered correct in qualitative assessments, though the results of the quantitative evaluations were slightly lower, with 89% of samples being considered correct. Based on a sample evaluation, 88% of laboratories passed the PT comparison. A slight decrease was observed in the examination of samples spiked with five larvae, and great progress was achieved in samples containing three larvae. Low levels of sample contamination are sought after in laboratories but may make evaluations difficult. For this reason, we must consider increasing the number of larvae added to the samples in the next PTs.
Oral Mucosa and Nails in Genodermatoses: A Diagnostic Challenge
Authors: Cantile Tiziana , Coppola Noemi , Caponio Vito Carlo Alberto , Russo Daniela , Bucci Paolo , Spagnuolo Gianrico , Mignogna Michele Davide , Leuci Stefania
Published: November 2021

Genodermatoses represent a group of uncommon, hereditary, single-gene skin disorders, characterized by multisystem involvement, heterogeneous clinical manifestations and different degrees of morbidity and mortality. Some genodermatoses may have oral mucosa and nail involvement, since the oral cavity and cutaneous organ system, including nails, share a close embryologic origin. Nail disorders can manifest with nail hypoplasia or nail hypertrophy. Clinical pictures of affected oral mucosa can be extremely heterogeneous, ranging from asymptomatic papules to painful blisters, leukokeratosis, oral papillomas and fibromas to oral potentially malignant disorders and cancerous lesions. Oral mucosa and nails pathological features may occur synchronously or not and are usually associated with other systemic and skin manifestations. In some cases, oral mucosa and nails diseases may be distinct and constitute the principal sign of the genetic disorder, in other cases they represent only a part of the puzzle for the confirmation of the diagnosis. Continued awareness of the correlation between oral mucosa and nails findings can help physicians to diagnose genodermatosis in a timely manner, allowing more effective clinical management and prevention and/or early detection of complications. This article provides an overview of all specific genodermatoses affecting both oral mucosa and nails. Moreover, the correlation between teeth and nails is summarized in tabular form.
Arginase Gene Polymorphism Increases Risk of Diabetic Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients
Authors: Buraczynska Monika , Zakrocka Izabela
Published: November 2021

Studies have demonstrated that polymorphic variants of arginase 1 gene (ARG1) are involved in human diseases, such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Our study aimed to investigate the association between ARG1 rs2781666 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients. Polymorphism was genotyped in 740 T2DM patients and 400 healthy individuals. A significant difference in the genotype distribution was observed between the patients and the controls. The T allele and TT genotype were associated with an increased risk of T2DM (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.14–1.72, p = 0.001 and OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.23–3.80, p = 0.007, respectively). When the T2DM subjects were stratified into DR+ and DR− subgroups, the T allele and TT genotype frequencies were significantly higher in the DR+ group compared to the DR− group, demonstrating OR 1.68 (1.33–2.12), p < 0.0001 and OR 2.39 (1.36–4.18), p = 0.002, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the interaction between the ARG1 genotypes and other risk factors. Only ARG1 rs2781666 SNP was a significant risk predictor of DR (p = 0.003). In conclusion, this is the first report discussing the effect of ARG1 polymorphism on the microvascular complications that are associated with diabetes. Our findings demonstrate that ARG1 rs2781666 SNP is significantly associated with an increased susceptibility to DR in T2DM patients.
3D Numerical Study of the Impact of Macro-Roughnesses on a Tidal Turbine, on Its Performance and Hydrodynamic Wake
Authors: Robin Ilan , Bennis Anne-Claire , Dauvin Jean-Claude
Published: November 2021

Biofouling is an important factor to consider when calculating the energetic efficiency of tidal farms. Despite the fact that biofouling effects have been widely investigated in the past for naval applications, very few studies concern tidal turbines. This paper proposes a numerical approach to assess the impact of biofouling on tidal turbines, which is efficient for testing many configurations. Two turbulence models are tested (RANS k-ω SST and LES Smagorinsky) for the motionless blade case to validate them. Then we chose to use the Smagorinsky model for the case of a complete tidal turbine rotor with realistically fouled blades. The pressure coefficient is strongly affected by the barnacle in the motionless blade case and the power coefficient is slightly degraded in the complete rotor case. Motionless blade cases do not represent the real biofouling behaviour for two reasons. First, sessile species settle in the down flow part of the chord where their impact is less important. Then, the surrounding turbulence provoked by the blades rotation in the rotor case reduces the impact of biofouling. In the wake, biofouling generates small vortexes that propagate into the larger ones, causing them to spread their energy.
Investigation of the Dynamic Characteristics of an Eccentric Annular Seal on the Basis of a Transient CFD Method with Three Whirl Models
Authors: Li Fengqin , Zhai Lulu , Cui Baoling , Guo Jia , Chen Guoyou
Published: November 2021

Many annular seals suffer eccentricity because of rotor–stator misalignment or the deflection of a flexible rotor, which has a strong influence on the vibration characteristics and stability of rotating machines. In this article, a transient CFD method based on three whirl models is employed to research the dynamic characteristics of annular seals at various static eccentricities. The influence of the whirl amplitude on the dynamic characteristics of eccentric annular seals are also explored. The results of the transient CFD method are compared with the bulk flow model results and the experimental results. It is shown that the transient CFD method possesses high prediction precision for direct damping, with a maximum error of 25%. Negative kyx increases by 166% when the static eccentricity ratio is increased from 0 to 0.5. The dynamic characteristics of the annular seal operating at high static eccentric ratio are sensitive to whirl amplitude, and the model with an amplitude of 1% Cr has great advantages for the prediction of direct virtual-mass, while the model with an amplitude of 10% Cr has great advantages for the prediction of cross-coupled damping.
Quantitative Relationships between the Tidal Current Limit, Tidal Level Limit and River Discharge in the Changjiang River Estuary
Authors: Hou Chengcheng , Zhu Jianrong , Huang Ju , Cheng Xinyue
Published: November 2021

Estuaries are areas where runoff and tide interact. Tidal waves propagate upstream from river mouths and produce tidal currents and tidal level variations along rivers. Based on the hydrological frequency analysis of river discharge in the dry season and flood season at the Datong hydrological station over the past 70 years, a three-dimensional estuary numerical model was used to produce the quantitative relationships between the tidal current limit, tidal level limit and river discharge in the Changjiang River estuary. The positions of tidal current limit and tidal level limit depend not only on river discharge but also on river topography. When river discharge varies from a hydrological frequency of 95% to 5%, the relationship between the tidal current limit and river discharge is y=2×10−13x3+3 × 10−8x2− 0.0074x+359.35 in the flood season, with a variation range of 90 km, and y=−4×10−10x3−1 × 10−5x2−0.1937x − 1232.9 in the dry season, with a variation range of 200 km. The relationship between the tidal level limit and river discharge is y=6×10−8x2−0.0096x+775.94 in the flood season, with a variation range of 127 km, and y=0.3428x2−17.9x+777.55 in the dry season, with a variation range of 83 km, which is located far upstream of the Datong hydrological station.
Entomopathogenic Fungi Biodiversity in the Soil of Three Provinces Located in Southwest China and First Approach to Evaluate Their Biocontrol Potential
Authors: Chen Wei , Xie Weiwen , Cai Wei , Thaochan Narit , Hu Qiongbo
Published: November 2021

Entomopathogenic fungi (EF), who represent active agents to control insect natural populations, usually persist in terrestrial habitats. Southwest area in China has various climate conditions and abundant plant biodiversity (crop, forest, grassy, orchard and arable areas). Nevertheless, the potential of soil-inhabitant EF as insect pest biocontrol agents, is unknown. In this study, first the EF biodiversity from soil of three provinces (Guizhou, Sichuan, and Yunnan) was surveyed. Then, the virulence of 29 isolated strains against Bemesia tabaci and Spodoptera litura was assessed. After analyzing 212 soil samples, 497 isolated fungi were identified. Out of them, 490 isolates were classified in 45 species of 24 genera, whereas the other seven isolates, belonging to Paecilomyces and Purpureocillium genera, were not identified under species level. Furthermore, the EF biodiversity from soil of Sichuan, Yunan, and Guizhou areas, analyzed by Shannon Wiener Index (SWI) was rated at 2.98, 1.89, and 2.14, while SWIs-biodiversity in crop, forest, grassy, orchard and arable areas was rated at 2.88, 2.74, 3.05, 2.39, and 2.47. SWI data suggested that soil from Sichuan area and grassy had higher EF biodiversity compared with other analyzed provinces and areas. Virulence bioassay results indicated that, out of the 29 isolates tested, 24 were pathogenic against B. tabaci and S. litura, resulting in mortality rates >10%. In conclusion, this study reports the EF distribution and biodiversity in soil from three provinces located at Southwest China, whereas their potential use as a tool for the B. tabaci and S. litura biocontrol must be further investigated.
Does Rural Production–Living–Ecological Spaces Have a Preference for Regional Endowments? A Case of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, China
Authors: Zeng Peng , Wu Sihui , Sun Zongyao , Zhu Yujia , Chen Yuqi , Qiao Zhi , Cai Liangwa
Published: November 2021

Production–Living–Ecological Space (PLES) is the functional projection of sustainable development in territory spatial planning. Its rational layout has become the most important task for developing countries to enhance ecological awareness and achieve sustainable goals. This study took the rural areas of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) as an example to analyze the relationship by means of quantitative cumulation between regional endowments (natural factors, location and facilities) and PLES to figure out the preference mechanism. The Boosted Regression Tree model (BRT) was used to obtain the contribution rate of factors and the internal marginal effect between 1980~2018. Our conclusions are as follows: Living space (LS) enjoyed the highest advantage of regional endowment level, followed by production space (PS). Except for the distance to water, other indicators were significantly different in the PLES, and the suitable range of various types was expanded from LS to PS and ecological space (ES). During the transfer, elevation had a universal effect. The process of increasing naturalness was affected by the distance of high-level urban areas, which verified the continuous effect of Chinese ecological civilization. This study clarified the selectivity of regional endowments to PLES, which will greatly guide the direction of regional territory spatial planning and the next step of regional sustainable development.
Structure, Activity and Function of the PRMT2 Protein Arginine Methyltransferase
Authors: Cura Vincent , Cavarelli Jean
Published: November 2021

PRMT2 belongs to the protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) family, which catalyzes the arginine methylation of target proteins. As a type I enzyme, PRMT2 produces asymmetric dimethyl arginine and has been shown to have weak methyltransferase activity on histone substrates in vitro, suggesting that its authentic substrates have not yet been found. PRMT2 contains the canonical PRMT methylation core and a unique Src homology 3 domain. Studies have demonstrated its clear implication in many different cellular processes. PRMT2 acts as a coactivator of several nuclear hormone receptors and is known to interact with a multitude of splicing-related proteins. Furthermore, PRMT2 is aberrantly expressed in several cancer types, including breast cancer and glioblastoma. These reports highlight the crucial role played by PRMT2 and the need for a better characterization of its activity and cellular functions.
Visual Sequential Search Test Analysis: An Algorithmic Approach
Authors: D’Inverno Giuseppe Alessio , Brunetti Sara , Sampoli Maria Lucia , Muresanu Dafin Fior , Rufa Alessandra , Bianchini Monica
Published: November 2021

In this work we present an algorithmic approach to the analysis of the Visual Sequential Search Test (VSST) based on the episode matching method. The data set included two groups of patients, one with Parkinson’s disease, and another with chronic pain syndrome, along with a control group. The VSST is an eye-tracking modified version of the Trail Making Test (TMT) which evaluates high order cognitive functions. The episode matching method is traditionally used in bioinformatics applications. Here it is used in a different context which helps us to assign a score to a set of patients, under a specific VSST task to perform. Experimental results provide statistical evidence of the different behaviour among different classes of patients, according to different pathologies.
Stable Low-Grade Degenerative Spondylolisthesis Does Not Compromise Clinical Outcome of Minimally Invasive Tubular Decompression in Patients with Spinal Stenosis
Authors: Khashan Morsi , Salame Khalil , Ofir Dror , Lidar Zvi , Regev Gilad J.
Published: November 2021

Background and Objectives: In recent literature, the routine addition of arthrodesis to decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) with concomitant stable low-grade degenerative spondylolisthesis remains controversial. The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical outcome, complication and re-operation rates following minimally invasive (MIS) tubular decompression without arthrodesis in patients suffering from LSS with or without concomitant stable low-grade degenerative spondylolisthesis. Materials and Methods: This study is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data. Ninety-six consecutive patients who underwent elective MIS lumbar decompression with a mean follow-up of 27.5 months were included in the study. The spondylolisthesis (S) group comprised 53 patients who suffered from LSS with stable degenerative spondylolisthesis, and the control (N) group included 43 patients suffering from LSS without spondylolisthesis. Outcome measures included complications and revision surgery rates. Pre- and post-operative visual analog scale (VAS) for both back and leg pain was analyzed, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used to evaluate functional outcome. Results: The two groups were comparable in most demographic and preoperative variables. VAS for back and leg pain improved significantly following surgery in both groups. Both groups showed significant improvement in their ODI scores, at one and two years postoperatively. The average length of hospital stay was significantly higher in patients with spondylolisthesis (p-value< 0.01). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of post-operative complications rates or re-operation rates. Conclusions: Our results indicate that MIS tubular decompression may be an effective and safe procedure for patients suffering from LSS, with or without degenerative stable spondylolisthesis.
Epidemiological Studies of Pan-Azole Resistant Aspergillus fumigatus Populations Sampled during Tulip Cultivation Show Clonal Expansion with Acquisition of Multi-Fungicide Resistance as Potential Driver
Authors: Fraaije Bart A. , Atkins Sarah L. , Santos Ricardo F. , Hanley Steven J. , West Jonathan S. , Lucas John A.
Published: November 2021

Pan-azole resistant isolates are found in clinical and environmental Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) populations. Azole resistance can evolve in both settings, with Af directly targeted by antifungals in patients and, in the environment, Af unintendedly exposed to fungicides used for material preservation and plant disease control. Resistance to non-azole fungicides, including methyl benzimidazole carbamates (MBCs), quinone outside inhibitors (QoIs) and succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs), has recently been reported. These fungicide groups are not used in medicine but can play an important role in the further spread of pan-azole resistant genotypes. We investigated the multi-fungicide resistance status and the genetic diversity of Af populations sampled from tulip field soils, tulip peel waste and flower compost heaps using fungicide sensitivity testing and a range of genotyping tools, including STRAf typing and sequencing of fungicide resistant alleles. Two major clones were present in the tulip bulb population. Comparisons with clinical isolates and literature data revealed that several common clonal lineages of TR34/L98H and TR46/Y121F/T289A strains that have expanded successfully in the environment have also acquired resistance to MBC, QoI and/or SDHI fungicides. Strains carrying multiple fungicide resistant alleles have a competitive advantage in environments where residues of multiple fungicides belonging to different modes of action are present.
CsrA Regulates Swarming Motility and Carbohydrate and Amino Acid Metabolism in Vibrio alginolyticus
Authors: Liu Bing , Gao Qian , Zhang Xin , Chen Huizhen , Zhang Ying , Sun Yuehong , Yang Shan , Chen Chang
Published: November 2021

Vibrio alginolyticus, like other vibrio species, is a widely distributed marine bacterium that is able to outcompete other species in variable niches where diverse organic matters are supplied. However, it remains unclear how these cells sense and adjust metabolic flux in response to the changing environment. CsrA is a conserved RNA-binding protein that modulates critical cellular processes such as growth ability, central metabolism, virulence, and the stress response in gamma-proteobacteria. Here, we first characterize the csrA homolog in V. alginolyticus. The results show that CsrA activates swarming but not swimming motility, possibly by enhancing the expression of lateral flagellar associated genes. It is also revealed that CsrA modulates the carbon and nitrogen metabolism of V. alginolyticus, as evidenced by a change in the growth kinetics of various carbon and nitrogen sources when CsrA is altered. Quantitative RT-PCR shows that the transcripts of the genes encoding key enzymes involved in the TCA cycle and amino acid metabolism change significantly, which is probably due to the variation in mRNA stability given by CsrA binding. This may suggest that CsrA plays an important role in sensing and responding to environmental changes.
Relationship between the Biofilm-Forming Capacity and Antimicrobial Resistance in Clinical Acinetobacter baumannii Isolates: Results from a Laboratory-Based In Vitro Study
Authors: Donadu Matthew Gavino , Mazzarello Vittorio , Cappuccinelli Piero , Zanetti Stefania , Madléna Melinda , Nagy Ádám László , Stájer Anette , Burián Katalin , Gajdács Márió
Published: November 2021

The relationship between the multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotype and biofilm-forming capacity has been a topic of extensive interest among biomedical scientists, as these two factors may have significant influence on the outcomes of infections. The aim of the present study was to establish a possible relationship between biofilm-forming capacity and the antibiotic-resistant phenotype in clinical Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) isolates. A total of n = 309 isolates were included in this study. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and the phenotypic detection of resistance determinants were carried out. The capacity of isolates to produce biofilms was assessed using a crystal violet microtiter-plate-based method. Resistance rates were highest for ciprofloxacin (71.19%; n = 220), levofloxacin (n = 68.61%; n = 212), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (n = 66.02%; n = 209); 42.72% (n = 132) of isolates were classified as MDR; 22.65% (n = 70) of tested isolates were positive in the modified Hodge-test; the overexpression of efflux pumps had significant effects on the susceptibilities of meropenem, gentamicin, and ciprofloxacin in 14.24% (n = 44), 6.05% (n = 19), and 27.51% (n = 85), respectively; 9.39% (n = 29), 12.29% (n = 38), 22.97% (n = 71), and 55.35% (n = 170) of isolates were non-biofilm-producing and weak, moderate, and strong biofilm producers, respectively. A numerical, but statistically not significant, difference was identified between the MDR and non-MDR isolates regarding their biofilm-forming capacity (MDR: 0.495 ± 0.309 vs. non-MDR: 0.545 ± 0.283; p = 0.072), and no association was seen between resistance to individual antibiotics and biofilm formation. Based on numerical trends, MER-resistant isolates were the strongest biofilm producers (p = 0.067). Our study emphasizes the need for additional experiments to assess the role biofilms have in the pathogenesis of A. baumannii infections.
Role of Maturation of Lipoproteins in the Pathogenesis of the Infection Caused by Streptococcus suis Serotype 2
Authors: Payen Servane , Roy David , Boa Anaïs , Okura Masatoshi , Auger Jean-Philippe , Segura Mariela , Gottschalk Marcelo
Published: November 2021

Streptococcus suis serotype 2 is an important porcine bacterial pathogen associated with multiple pathologies in piglets. Bacterial lipoproteins (LPPs) have been described as playing important roles in the pathogenesis of the infection of other Gram-positive bacteria as adhesins, pro-inflammatory cell activators and/or virulence factors. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the role of the prolipoprotein diacylglyceryl transferase (Lgt) and lipoprotein signal peptidase (Lsp) enzymes, which are responsible for LPP maturation, on the pathogenesis of the infection caused by two different sequence types (STs) of S. suis serotype 2 strains (virulent ST1 and highly virulent ST7). Through the use of isogenic Δlgt, Δlsp and double Δlgt/Δlsp mutants, it was shown that lack of these enzymes did not influence S. suis adhesion/invasion to porcine respiratory epithelial cells. However, in the absence of the Lsp and/or Lgt, a significant reduction in the capacity of S. suis to activate phagocytic cells and induce pro-inflammatory mediators (in vitro and in vivo) was observed. In general, results obtained with the double mutant did not differ in comparison to single mutants, indicating lack of an additive effect. Finally, our data suggest that these enzymes play a differential role in virulence, depending on the genetic background of the strain and being more important for the highly virulent ST7 strain.