bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
pT1 Colorectal Cancer Detected in a Colorectal Cancer Mass Screening Program: Treatment and Factors Associated with Residual and Extraluminal Disease
Authors: Cubiella Joaquín , González Antía , Almazán Raquel , Rodríguez-Camacho Elena , Fontenla Rodiles Juana , Domínguez Ferreiro Carmen , Tejido Sandoval Coral , Sánchez Gómez Cristina , de Vicente Bielza Natalia , Lorenzo Isabel , Zubizarreta Raquel
Published: September 2020

The aim of this study is to describe the treatment of pT1 colorectal cancer (CRC) in a mass screening program, the surgery-related complications and the factors associated with residual disease after endoscopic resection and extraluminal disease after surgery. We included in this retrospective analysis all the pT1 CRC detected in the Galician CRC screening program between May 2013 and June 2019. We determined which variables were independently associated with the outcomes of the study through a multivariable logistic regression analysis. We included 370–354 pT1 N0(X), 16 pT1N1- out of the 971 CRC detected; 277 (74.9%) were resected endoscopically and 162 (43.8%) were not referred to surgery. There were surgical complications in 30.7% and 16.3% of the patients during hospitalization and after discharge. Residual disease was detected in 12 (4.3%) after endoscopic resection and extraluminal disease in 18 (8.6%) patients after surgery. The variables independently associated with initial endoscopic resection were a pedunculated morphology (OR 33.1, 95% CI 4.3–254), a diameter ≥ 20 mm (OR 3.94, 95% CI 1.39–11.18) and a Site–Morphology–Size–Access score < 9 (OR 428, 95% CI 42–4263). The variables related with surgery rescue were a piecemeal resection (OR 4.48, 95% CI 1.48–13.6), an infiltrated/nonevaluable resection border (OR 7.44, 95% CI 2.12–26.0), a non-well-differentiated histology (OR 4.76, 95% CI 1.07–20.0), vascular infiltration (OR 8.24, 95% CI 2.72–25.0) and a Haggitt 4 infiltration of the submucosa (OR 5.68, 95% CI 2.62–12.3). Residual disease after endoscopic resection was associated with an infiltrated/nonevaluable resection border (OR 34.9, 95% CI 4.08–298), a non-well-differentiated histology (OR 6.67, 95% CI 1.05–50.0), and the vascular infiltration of the submucosa (OR 7.61, 95% CI 1.55–37.4). The variables related with extraluminal disease after surgical resection were no endoscopic resection (OR 4.34, 95% CI 1.26–14.28), a non-well-differentiated histology (OR 4.35, 95% CI 1.39–14.29) and the lymphatic infiltration of the submucosa (OR 4.8, 95% CI 1.32–17.8). In a CRC screening program, although most of pT1 CRC are candidates for endoscopic treatment, surgery is a safe procedure. We have defined some easy to evaluate variables that can be used in the decision-making process.
Gut Microbiome Associated with the Psychoneurological Symptom Cluster in Patients with Head and Neck Cancers
Authors: Bai Jinbing , Bruner Deborah Watkins , Fedirko Veronika , Beitler Jonathan J. , Zhou Chao , Gu Jianlei , Zhao Hongyu , Lin I-Hsin , Chico Cynthia E. , Higgins Kristin A. , Shin Dong M. , Saba Nabil F. , Miller Andrew H. , Xiao Canhua
Published: September 2020

Cancer patients experience a cluster of co-occurring psychoneurological symptoms (PNS) related to cancer treatments. The gut microbiome may affect severity of the PNS via neural, immune, and endocrine signaling pathways. However, the link between the gut microbiome and PNS has not been well investigated in cancer patients, including those with head and neck cancers (HNCs). This pilot study enrolled 13 patients with HNCs, who reported PNS using the Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAEs). Stool specimens were collected to analyze patients’ gut microbiome. All data were collected pre- and post-radiation therapy (RT). Associations between the bacterial abundances and the PNS clusters were analyzed using the linear discriminant analysis effect size; functional pathway analyses of 16S rRNA V3-V4 bacterial communities were conducted using Tax4fun. The high PNS cluster had a greater decrease in microbial evenness than the low PNS cluster from pre- to post-RT. The high and low PNS clusters showed significant differences using weighted UniFrac distance. Those individuals with the high PNS cluster were more likely to have higher abundances in phylum Bacteroidetes, order Bacteroidales, class Bacteroidia, and four genera (Ruminiclostridium9, Tyzzerella, Eubacterium_fissicatena, and DTU089), while the low PNS cluster had higher abundances in family Acidaminococcaceae and three genera (Lactococcus, Phascolarctobacterium, and Desulfovibrio). Both glycan metabolism (Lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis) and vitamin metabolism (folate biosynthesis and lipoic acid metabolism) were significantly different between the high and low PNS clusters pre- and post-RT. Our preliminary data suggest that the diversity and abundance of the gut microbiome play a potential role in developing PNS among cancer patients.
Glucose Metabolism Quantified by SUVmax on Baseline FDG-PET/CT Predicts Survival in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Patients: Combined Harmonized Analysis of Two Prospective Phase III Trials
Authors: Michaud-Robert Anne-Victoire , Zamagni Elena , Carlier Thomas , Bailly Clément , Jamet Bastien , Touzeau Cyrille , Moreau Philippe , Kraeber-Bodere Françoise , Nanni Cristina , Bodet-Milin Caroline
Published: September 2020

Background: Multiple myeloma is a hematological neoplasm characterized by a clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow, and is associated with high morbidity and mortality and variable survival. Positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography using 18F-deoxyfluoroglucose (FDG-PET/CT) is a promising technique for initial staging of symptomatic multiple myeloma patients. The objective of this study was to assess the prognostic value of this technique at baseline in symptomatic multiple myeloma patients included in two large European prospective studies (French and Italian). Methods: We retrospectively performed a combined harmonized analysis of 227 newly diagnosed transplant eligible multiple myeloma patients from two separate phase III trials. All images were centrally reviewed and analyzed using visual criteria and maximal standardized uptake value. An ad-hoc approach (called modified Combat) was applied to harmonize the data and then remove the “country effect” in order to strengthen the reliability of the final conclusions. Results: Using a multivariate analysis including treatment arm, R-ISS score, presence of extra-medullary disease and bone SUVmax, only bone SUVmax (p = 0.016) was an independent prognosis factor with an OS threshold of 7.1. For PFS, treatment arm and presence of extra-medullary disease were both independent prognosis biomarkers (p = 0.022 and 0.006 respectively). Conclusions: Our results show that bone SUVmax is a simple and reliable biomarker to analyze FDG-PET/CT at baseline that strongly correlates with a poorer prognosis for MM patients.
Retrospective Analysis of Patients with Signet Ring Subtype of Colorectal Cancer with Peritoneal Metastasis Treated with CRS & HIPEC
Authors: Prabhu Aruna , Brandl Andreas , Wakama Satoshi , Sako Shouzou , Ishibashi Haruaki , Mizumoto Akiyoshi , Takao Nobuyuki , Noguchi Kousuke , Motoi Shunsuke , Ichinose Masumi , Liu Yang , Yonemura Yutaka
Published: September 2020

Signet ring cell subtype (SRC) of colorectal cancer (CRC) is a rare subtype and occurs in approximately 1% of all patients with CRC. Patients with peritoneal metastasis (PM) of SRC have a poor prognosis, and this subtype is frequently considered as a contra-indication for extensive surgical treatment. This retrospective study from two dedicated peritoneal surface malignancy centers in Japan included all patients treated with CRS ± hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) between July 1994 and December 2017 from a prospectively maintained database. Preoperative, operative, and postoperative parameters were recorded, including complication rates and follow-up. Sixty of the 320 patients treated with CRS due to CRC were diagnosed with SRC subtype. The mean age of the patients was 51.4 years, and the mean peritoneal carcinomatosis index (PCI) was 13.1. Complete cytoreduction was achieved in 61.7% of cases. The postoperative morbidity rate was 25% and the mortality rate was 1.7%. The median overall survival (OS) was 14.4 months. Cox regression analysis revealed small bowel PCI > 2 (hazard ratio (HR) 6.5; p = 0.008) as the most important factor for OS. With accurate patient selection (e.g., PCI ≤ 12 or small bowel PCI ≤ 2), even patients with PM of CRC with SRC subtype may benefit from CRS and HIPEC, with median OS from 17.8 to 20.8 months and 5-year OS of 11.6%.
Orbital and Eyelid B-Cell Lymphoma: A Multicenter Retrospective Study
Authors: Savino Gustavo , Midena Giulia , Blasi Maria Antonietta , Battendieri Remo , Grimaldi Gabriela , Maceroni Martina , Tranfa Fausto , Napolitano Pasquale , Lanni Vittoria , Iuliano Adriana
Published: September 2020

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze patients diagnosed, staged and treated for orbital and eyelid B-cell lymphoma (OEL). Methods: One hundred and forty-one cases of OEL were included in this study. Primary endpoints were to analyze the histopathologic findings, the main risk factors and the type of treatment and to correlate them with recurrence of OEL. The secondary endpoint was to determine the progression-free survival (PFS) time. Results: Extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma was the most frequent subtype (66%), followed by small lymphocytic lymphoma (12.7%), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (9.2%), follicular lymphoma (6.6%), mantle cell lymphoma (4.3%) and Burkitt lymphoma (1.2%). The probability of relapse was influenced by the histopathologic subtype DLBCL (OR = 7.7, 95% CI 1.8–32.3) and treatment with chemotherapy (OR = 14.9, 95% CI 2.6–83.7). Multivariate analysis showed that the histopathologic subtype DLBCL and chemotherapy treatment retained statistical significance for a poorer PFS, with hazard ratios of 8.581 (p = 0.0112) and 9.239 (p = 0.0094), respectively. Conclusions: Five lymphoma subtypes were found in patients with OEL. The histopathologic subtype and the type of treatment were found to be the main factors influencing treatment outcome.
Pulsed Waterjet Roughening of Cast Iron and Aluminum Alloy for Automotive Engine Remanufacturing with Plasma Transferred Wire Arc Coating
Authors: O’Neil Nicholas , Kabir Abu Syed
Published: September 2020

This study utilized the high-pressure pulsed waterjet process and paired it with the plasma transferred wire arc technology to develop a novel technique to remanufacture damaged engine cylinder bores. The objective of this research was to eliminate the need for expensive bond-coats such as Ni-Al by optimizing the surface roughness profile of the substrate to provide acceptable mechanical bonding between the coating and the substrate. In this study, a high chrome stainless steel wire (Metcoloy #2) was plasma spray coated on a wide range of pulsed waterjet roughened surface profiles generated on grey cast iron and cast aluminum A380 alloy, the two most common engine materials. The pulsed waterjet greatly increased the adhesion strength between the substrates and the Metcoloy #2 coating. The increase in adhesion strength is a result of the formation of favorable mechanical anchoring points. Optimal pulsed waterjet parameters were determined to avoid the production of a copious roughness profile which resulted in a coating that mirrored the roughened surface profile. Additionally, if the roughness profile produced by the pulsed waterjet was insignificant the coating was removed in its entirety during detachment-based failure.
Incomplete Information Management Using an Improved Belief Entropy in Dempster-Shafer Evidence Theory
Authors: Yang Bin , Gan Dingyi , Tang Yongchuan , Lei Yan
Published: September 2020

Quantifying uncertainty is a hot topic for uncertain information processing in the framework of evidence theory, but there is limited research on belief entropy in the open world assumption. In this paper, an uncertainty measurement method that is based on Deng entropy, named Open Deng entropy (ODE), is proposed. In the open world assumption, the frame of discernment (FOD) may be incomplete, and ODE can reasonably and effectively quantify uncertain incomplete information. On the basis of Deng entropy, the ODE adopts the mass value of the empty set, the cardinality of FOD, and the natural constant e to construct a new uncertainty factor for modeling the uncertainty in the FOD. Numerical example shows that, in the closed world assumption, ODE can be degenerated to Deng entropy. An ODE-based information fusion method for sensor data fusion is proposed in uncertain environments. By applying it to the sensor data fusion experiment, the rationality and effectiveness of ODE and its application in uncertain information fusion are verified.
Exploring the Possibility of a Recovery of Physics Process Properties from a Neural Network Model
Authors: Jercic Marko , Poljak Nikola
Published: September 2020

The application of machine learning methods to particle physics often does not provide enough understanding of the underlying physics. An interpretable model which provides a way to improve our knowledge of the mechanism governing a physical system directly from the data can be very useful. In this paper, we introduce a simple artificial physical generator based on the Quantum chromodynamical (QCD) fragmentation process. The data simulated from the generator are then passed to a neural network model which we base only on the partial knowledge of the generator. We aimed to see if the interpretation of the generated data can provide the probability distributions of basic processes of such a physical system. This way, some of the information we omitted from the network model on purpose is recovered. We believe this approach can be beneficial in the analysis of real QCD processes.
A Thematic Network-Based Methodology for the Research Trend Identification in Building Energy Management
Authors: Ding Zhikun , Liu Rongsheng , Li Zongjie , Fan Cheng
Published: September 2020

The rapid increase in the number of online resources and academic articles has created great challenges for researchers and practitioners to efficiently grasp the status quo of building energy-related research. Rather than relying on manual inspections, advanced data analytics (such as text mining) can be used to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness in literature reviews. This article proposes a text mining-based approach for the automatic identification of major research trends in the field of building energy management. In total, 5712 articles (from 1972 to 2019) are analyzed. The word2vec model is used to optimize the latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) results, and social networks are adopted to visualize the inter-topic relationships. The results are presented using the Gephi visualization platform. Based on inter-topic relevance and topic evolutions, in-depth analysis has been conducted to reveal research trends and hot topics in the field of building energy management. The research results indicate that heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) is one of the most essential topics. The thermal environment, indoor illumination, and residential building occupant behaviors are important factors affecting building energy consumption. In addition, building energy-saving renovations, green buildings, and intelligent buildings are research hotspots, and potential future directions. The method developed in this article serves as an effective alternative for researchers and practitioners to extract useful insights from massive text data. It provides a prototype for the automatic identification of research trends based on text mining techniques.
Detailed Recognition of Seismogenic Structures Activated during Underground Coal Mining: A Case Study from Bobrek Mine, Poland
Authors: Leśniak Andrzej , Śledź Elżbieta , Mirek Katarzyna
Published: September 2020

In rock mass disturbed by mining activity, distortions in the stress balance may lead to seismic energy being emitted in reactivated seismogenic structures. One way of increasing the imaging resolution of these seismically active structures is through relocation, which itself can be achieved using the cloud collapsing method. This method partially eliminates perturbations in the location of seismic energy sources concerning the actual positions of these sources. It enables events to be grouped into spatially ordered structures that may correspond to actual tectonic structures, such as fractures, fissures, or faults. We present the results of applying the collapsing method in mining seismology using a cloud of located events recorded during mining activity at one of the coalfaces in the Bobrek hard coal mine. The relocation procedure was applied to all the foci of events recorded during mining activity on face 3/503 between April 2009 and July 2010. In the relocated point cloud, two types of the linear structure responsible for generating events are automatically distinguished using the HDBSCAN algorithm: structures directly related to mining activity and structures associated with local tectonics. The location of the separated structures of the first type corresponds to the range of coalface 3/503 and the shafts delimiting earlier mined seams 507 and 509 located below. The isolated structures of the second type, with almost vertical orientation, are associated with existing zones of discontinuity that become seismically active as a result of mining activity. The identified structures lie near the biggest events recorded, which is evidence that these structures may correspond to real discontinuity zones.
Optimization of Voltage Unbalance Compensation by Smart Inverter
Authors: Shigenobu Ryuto , Nakadomari Akito , Hong Ying-Yi , Mandal Paras , Takahashi Hiroshi , Senjyu Tomonobu
Published: September 2020

This paper presents a compensation method for unbalanced voltage through active and reactive power control by utilizing a smart inverter that improves the voltage unbalance index and detects an unbalanced state of voltage magnitude and phase, and thus enhances power quality by minimizing the voltage imbalance. First of all, this paper presents an analysis of a mathematical approach, which demonstrates that the conventional voltage unbalanced factor (VUF) using the symmetrical component cannot correctly detect the imbalanced state from index equations; and by only minimizing the VUF value, it cannot establish a balanced condition for an unbalanced state of the voltage profile. This paper further discusses that intermittent photovoltaic (PV) output power and diversified load demand lead to an unexpected voltage imbalance. Therefore, considering the complexity of unbalanced voltage conditions, a specific load and an PV profile were extracted from big data and applied to the distribution system model. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme was verified by comparing VUF indices and controlling the active and reactive power of a smart inverter through a numerical simulation.
A Photovoltaic-Fed Z-Source Inverter Motor Drive with Fault-Tolerant Capability for Rural Irrigation
Authors: Sharma Vivek , Hossain M. J. , Ali S. M. Nawazish , Kashif Muhammad
Published: September 2020

In recent years, photovoltaic (PV) systems have emerged as economical solutions for irrigation systems in rural areas. However, they are characterized by low voltage output and less reliable configurations. To address this issue in this paper, a promising inverter configuration called Impedance (Z)-source inverter (ZSI) is designed and implemented to obtain high voltage output with single-stage power conversion, particularly suitable for irrigation application. An improved and efficient modulation scheme and design specifications of the network parameters are derived. Additionally, a suitable fault-tolerant strategy is developed and implemented to improve reliability and efficiency. It incorporates an additional redundant leg with an improved control strategy to facilitate the fault-tolerant operation. The proposed fault-tolerant circuit is designed to handle switch failures of the inverter modules due to the open-circuit and short-circuit faults. The relevant simulation and experimental results under normal, faulty and post-fault operation are presented. The post-fault operation characteristics are identical to the normal operation. The motor performance characteristics such as load current, torque, harmonic spectrum, and efficiency are thoroughly analysed to prove the suitability of the proposed system for irrigation applications. This study provides an efficient and economical solution for rural irrigation utilized in developing countries, for example, India.
Two-Stage Fuzzy Logic Inference Algorithm for Maximizing the Quality of Performance under the Operational Constraints of Power Grid in Electric Vehicle Parking Lots
Authors: Hussain Shahid , Lee Ki-Beom , A. Ahmed Mohamed , Hayes Barry , Kim Young-Chon
Published: September 2020

The widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) has entailed the need for the parking lot operators to satisfy the charging and discharging requirements of all the EV owners during their parking duration. Meanwhile, the operational constraints of the power grids limit the amount of simultaneous charging and discharging of all EVs. This affects the EV owner’s quality of experience (QoE) and thereby reducing the quality of performance (QoP) for the parking lot operators. The QoE represents a certain percentage of the EV battery required for its next trip distance; whereas, the QoP refers to the ratio of EVs with satisfied QoE to the total number of EVs during the operational hours of the parking lot. This paper proposes a two-stage fuzzy logic inference based algorithm (TSFLIA) to schedule the charging and discharging operations of EVs in such a way that maximizes the QoP for the parking lot operators under the operational constraints of the power grid. The first stage fuzzy inference system (FIS) of TSFLIA is modeled based on the real-time arrival and departure probability density functions in order to calculate the aggregated charging and discharging energies of EVs according to their next trip distances. The second stage FIS evaluates several dynamic and uncertain input parameters from the electric grid and from EVs to distribute the aggregated energy among the EVs by controlling their charging and discharging operations through preference variables. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm are demonstrated through the IEEE 34-node distribution system.
Natural Fractures in Carbonate Basement Reservoirs of the Jizhong Sub-Basin, Bohai Bay Basin, China: Key Aspects Favoring Oil Production
Authors: Liu Guoping , Zeng Lianbo , Han Chunyuan , Ostadhassan Mehdi , Lyu Wenya , Wang Qiqi , Zhu Jiangwei , Hou Fengxiang
Published: September 2020

Analysis of natural fractures is essential for understanding the heterogeneity of basement reservoirs with carbonate rocks since natural fractures significantly control key attributes such as porosity and permeability. Based on the observations and analyses of outcrops, cores, borehole image logs, and thin sections from the Mesoproterozoic to Lower Paleozoic in the Jizhong Sub-Basin, natural fractures are found to be abundant in genetic types (tectonic, pressure-solution, and dissolution) in these reservoirs. Tectonic fractures are dominant in such reservoirs, and lithology, mechanical stratigraphy, and faults are major influencing factors for the development of fractures. Dolostones with higher dolomite content are more likely to have tectonic fractures than limestones with higher calcite content. Most tectonic fractures are developed inside mechanical units and terminate at the unit interface at nearly perpendicular or high angles. Also, where a thinner mechanical unit is observed, tectonic fractures are more frequent with a small height. Furthermore, the dominant direction of tectonic fractures is sub-parallel to the fault direction or oblique at a small angle. In addition, integrating diverse characteristics of opening-mode fractures and well-testing data with oil production shows that, in perforated intervals where dolostone and limestone are interstratified or dolostone is the main lithologic composition, fractures are developed well, and the oil production is higher. Moreover, fractures with a larger dip angle have bigger apertures and contribute more to oil production. Collectively, this investigation provides a future reference for understanding the importance of natural fractures and their impact on oil production in the carbonate basement reservoirs.
A Two-Stage DSS to Evaluate Optimal Locations for Bioenergy Facilities
Authors: Van Holsbeeck Sam , Ezzati Sättar , Röser Dominik , Brown Mark
Published: September 2020

Research Highlights: A set of 128 potential bioenergy facility locations is established and evaluated based on the transport cost to select optimal locations. Background and Objectives: The identification of optimal facility locations to process recovered forest biomass is an important decision in designing a bioenergy supply chain at the strategic planning level. The result of this analysis can affect supply chain costs and the overall efficiency of the network, due to the low density and dispersed nature of forest biomass and the high costs associated with its logistics operations. In this study, we develop a two-stage decision support system to identify the optimal site locations for forest biomass conversion based on biomass availability, transport distance and cost. Materials and Methods: In the first stage, a GIS-based analysis is designed to identify strategic locations of potential bioenergy sites. The second stage evaluates the most cost-effective locations individually using a transportation cost model, based on the results from stage one. The sensitivity of inputs, such as maximum allowable transport cost, the distance of transport and their relations to the profit balance, and changes in fuel price are tested. The method is applied to a real case study in the state of Queensland, Australia. Results and Conclusions: The GIS analysis resulted in 128 strategic candidate locations being suggested for bioenergy conversion sites. The logistics analysis estimated the optimal cost and transportation distance of each one of the locations and ranked them according to the overall performance between capacities of 5 and 100 MW.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects and Their Correlation with Microbial Community of Shindari, a Traditional Jeju Beverage
Authors: Hyun Su Bin , Hyun Chang-Gu
Published: September 2020

In this study, we investigated the microbial community and its correlation with anti-inflammatory effects during the fermentation procedure of shindari. Since shindari is traditionally manufactured through a fermentation process of 3–4 days in summer or 5–6 days in winter, the shindari materials applied in this study were fermented for 1, 3, and 5 days, respectively. Microbial community structure in the shindari manufacturing process was analyzed by Illumina MiSeq sequencing. Results revealed different fermentation time had different influences on the community structure and microbial diversity in the shindari process. Ultimately, we found that pathogenic bacteria such as Enterococcus durans (9.3%) and Enterobacter asburiae (4.5%) dominate the shindari fermented for 1 day, while samples with a fermentation period of more than 3 days occupied lactic acid bacteria such as Pediococcus sp. (97.1%). In addition, to study the relationship between fermentation period and anti-inflammatory effect in the shindari manufacturing process, we applied RAW264.7 cells, a classic cell model for inflammation studies. First, we prepared an ethyl acetate extract of shindari fermented for 1 (S1), 3 (S3), or 5 days (S5), and then it was confirmed that all of these extracts inhibited the nitric oxide (NO) production in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, these inhibitory effects were correlated with the suppressive effect of shindari extracts against overexpression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Furthermore, S3 and S5 also inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6. Overall, the anti-inflammatory effect of S3 was suggested to be mediated through the negative regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling (MAPKs) and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signaling pathways.
A Novel Weissella cibaria Strain UTNGt21O Isolated from Wild Solanum quitoense Fruit: Genome Sequence and Characterization of a Peptide with Highly Inhibitory Potential toward Gram-Negative Bacteria
Authors: Tenea Gabriela N. , Hurtado Pamela , Ortega Clara
Published: September 2020

A novel Weissella cibaria strain UTNGt21O from the fruit of the Solanum quitoense (naranjilla) shrub produces a peptide that inhibits the growth of both Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica ATCC51741 and Escherichia coli ATCC25922 at different stages. A total of 31 contigs were assembled, with a total length of 1,924,087 bases, 20 contig hits match the core genome of different groups within Weissella, while for 11 contigs no match was found in the database. The GT content was 39.53% and the genome repeats sequences constitute around 186,760 bases of the assembly. The UTNGt21O matches the W. cibaria genome with 83% identity and no gaps (0). The sequencing data were deposited in the NCBI Database (BioProject accessions: PRJNA639289). The antibacterial activity and interaction mechanism of the peptide UTNGt21O on target bacteria were investigated by analyzing the growth, integrity, and morphology of the bacterial cells following treatment with different concentrations (1×, 1.5× and 2× MIC) of the peptide applied alone or in combination with chelating agent ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) at 20 mM. The results indicated a bacteriolytic effect at both early and late target growth at 3 h of incubation and total cell death at 6 h when EDTA was co-inoculated with the peptide. Based on BAGEL 4 (Bacteriocin Genome Mining Tool) a putative bacteriocin having 33.4% sequence similarity to enterolysin A was detected within the contig 12. The interaction between the peptide UTNGt21O and the target strains caused permeability in a dose-, time- response manner, with Salmonella (3200 AU/mL) more susceptible than E. coli (6400 AU/mL). The results indicated that UTNGt21O may damage the integrity of the cell target, leading to release of cytoplasmic components followed by cell death. Differences in membrane shape changes in target cells treated with different doses of peptide were observed by transmission electronic microscopy (TEM). Spheroplasts with spherical shapes were detected in Salmonella while larger shaped spheroplasts with thicker and deformed membranes along with filamentous cells were observed in E. coli upon the treatment with the UTNGt21O peptide. These results indicate the promising potential of the putative bacteriocin released by the novel W. cibaria strain UTNGt21O to be further tested as a new antimicrobial substance.
Advances on the Valorisation and Functionalization of By-Products and Wastes from Cereal-Based Processing Industry
Authors: Skendi Adriana , Zinoviadou Kyriaki G. , Papageorgiou Maria , Rocha João M.
Published: September 2020

Cereals have been one of the major food resources for human diets and animal feed for thousands of years, and a large quantity of by-products is generated throughout the entire processing food chain, from farm to fork. These by-products mostly consist of the germ and outer layers (bran) derived from dry and wet milling of the grains, of the brewers’ spent grain generated in the brewing industry, or comprise other types obtained from the breadmaking and starch production industries. Cereal processing by-products are an excellent low-cost source of various compounds such as dietary fibres, proteins, carbohydrates and sugars, minerals and antioxidants (such as polyphenols and vitamins), among others. Often, they are downgraded and end up as waste or, in the best case, are used as animal feed or fertilizers. With the increase in world population coupled with the growing awareness about environmental sustainability and healthy life-styles and well-being, the interest of the industry and the global market to provide novel, sustainable and innovative solutions for the management of cereal-based by-products is also growing rapidly. In that respect, these promising materials can be valorised by applying various biotechnological techniques, thus leading to numerous economic and environmental advantages as well as important opportunities towards new product development (NPD) in the food and feed industry and other types such as chemical, packaging, nutraceutical (dietary supplements and food additives), cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. This review aims at giving a scientific overview of the potential and the latest advances on the valorisation of cereal-based by-products and wastes. We intended it to be a reference document for scientists, technicians and all those chasing new research topics and opportunities to explore cereal-based by-products through a circular economy approach.
Creation and Acceptability of a Fragrance with a Characteristic Tawny Port Wine-Like Aroma
Authors: Vilela Alice , Ferreira Rita , Nunes Fernando , Correia Elisete
Published: September 2020

Port wine, the ultimate expression of the Demarcated Douro Region’s (DDR’s) history, cultural heritage experience, and art, was born on the slopes of the Douro river valley. One of the categories of port wine that is much appreciated by consumers is tawny port wine. This category of wine is aged in oak barrels and is characterized by oxidative aromas. Thus, the objective of the present work was to develop a tawny port wine-like fragrance, the first according to the literature. First, a group of 50 consumers in an informal environment and using two samples of tawny port wine (13 and over 40 years of aging in wood, respectively) was asked about the pleasantness of the aromas and the possible use of a tawny port wine-like fragrance. More than 80% of the group stated that they would use the fragrance as an air freshener (scent marketing in restaurants) or even in personal-use products. Then, a sensory panel of 12 participants (3 men and 9 women) was trained, and using tawny port wines of various brands and ages, the panel selected six descriptors to aromatically describe this type of wine. For the descriptors, seven aromatic chemical compounds were appointed and fragrances were developed with contributions from the panel. After several sessions with the sensory panel, three fragrances were selected, created with only three of the aromatic compounds initially used: benzaldehyde, sotolon, and vanillin. Afterward, the levels of consumer acceptability (150 individuals) for the three developed fragrances were studied and the optimization of their sensory characteristics was evaluated using a “just about right” (JAR) scale. It was found that male individuals assigned higher ratings and preferred fragrance 5.1, which was a statistically significant result (p < 0.001). Regarding age, Tukey’s test showed significant differences in responses to fragrance 5.3 between young adults and middle-aged adults (p = 0.018). Young adults gave higher scores for this fragrance. Additionally, consumers considered that the intensity of the tawny port wine aroma was ideal in the three fragrances, however, the fragrance color was not very intense. The use of the three compounds (benzaldehyde, sotolon, and vanillin) seems to be enough to obtain a tawny port wine-like fragrance.
Antioxidant Capacity of Tempura Deep-Fried Products Prepared Using Barley, Buckwheat, and Job’s Tears Flours
Authors: Taniguchi Asuka , Kyogoku Nami , Kimura Hiroko , Kondo Tsubasa , Nagao Keiko , Kobayashi Rie
Published: September 2020

Tempura is a dish of battered and deep-fried foods, and wheat flour is typically used; however, barley, buckwheat, and Job’s tears have an antioxidant capacity. This study investigated whether replacing wheat flour with flours from these three crops in tempura affects the antioxidant capacity and deterioration of frying oil. Radical scavenging activity and polyphenol content of tempura were measured by chemiluminescence-based assay and the Folin–Denis method, respectively. The peroxide value, p-anisidin value, acid value, and polar compound of the oil used in frying were measured as indexes of oil deterioration post-frying due to oxidation. Although the frying oil of barley showed higher p-anisidin value than that of wheat, the oil samples’ deterioration level measured in this study was low. The antioxidant capacity and polyphenol content in the three flours samples were higher than those in wheat sample, with buckwheat producing the greatest values, followed by Job’s tears, and then barley. Thus, deep-fried products prepared using the three flours demonstrated superior antioxidant capacity owing to the abundance of antioxidant components. Therefore, tempura can be enjoyed in a healthier manner by using batter prepared using those flours, and substituting wheat flour with the three flours can increase the antioxidant capacity of deep-fried products.
Composition of Reduced Mechanisms for Ignition of Biodiesel Surrogates
Authors: Pichler Christoffer , Nilsson Elna J. K.
Published: September 2020

Chemical kinetics mechanisms describing Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) biofuel combustion are quite extensive and cannot be implemented in Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations of real engine systems. Using the reduction methodology Ant Colony Reduction (ACR), skeletal reduction followed by optimization has been performed for the C-11 FAME biodiesel components methyl decanoate (MD), methyl 5-decenoate (MDe5), and methyl 9-decenoate (MDe9), and for the alkane n-decane. The aim of the present study was to produce small reduced mechanisms accurately describing ignition of the fuels over a wide range of conditions, and in addition to compare the size and composition of reduced mechanisms constructed from two parent mechanisms of different complexity. Reduction targets were ignition delay times over a wide range of equivalence ratios and pressures, for separate temperature ranges of 600–1100 K (LT) and 1100–1500 K (HT). One of the complex mechanisms was constructed to be simplified by a lumping approach and this one included MD and was also used to perform reduction for the alkane n-decane. The most detailed parent mechanism was used to create reduced mechanisms for all the three methyl esters. The lumped complex mechanisms resulted in more compact reduced mechanisms, 157 reactions for LT of MD, compared to 810 reactions for the more detailed mechanism. MD required the largest fuel breakdown subsets while the unsaturated methyl esters could be described by smaller subsets. All mechanisms had similar subsets for the smallest hydrocarbons and H/O chemistry, independent of the fuel and the choice of parent mechanism. The ACR approach for mechanism reduction created reduced mechanisms with high accuracy for all conditions included in the present study.
Attitudes and Behavior towards Interprofessional Collaboration among Healthcare Professionals in a Large Academic Medical Center
Authors: Ansa Benjamin E. , Zechariah Sunitha , Gates Amy M. , Johnson Stephanie W. , Heboyan Vahé , De Leo Gianluca
Published: September 2020

The increasing rates of comorbidities among patients and the complexity of care have warranted interprofessional collaboration (IPC) as an important component of the healthcare structure. An initial step towards assessing the effectiveness of collaboration requires the exploration of the attitudes and experience of healthcare professionals towards IPC. This online survey aimed to examine the attitudes of healthcare professionals working in a large public academic medical center toward IPC in patient care and the healthcare team, and their behavior and experience regarding IPC. The rankings, according to the perceived importance among the respondents, of the four Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) core competencies (values/ethics, roles/responsibilities, interprofessional communication, teams/teamwork) were assessed. There were strong but varying levels of consensus among healthcare professionals (N = 551) that IPC facilitates efficient patient care, improves patient problem-solving ability, and increases better clinical outcomes for patients. They acknowledged that IPC promotes mutual respect within the healthcare team and providers’ ability to make optimal patient care decisions. However, overall more than 35% of the respondents did not attend multidisciplinary education sessions (grand rounds, seminars, etc.), and about 23% did not participate in bedside patient care rounds. Interprofessional communication was ranked as the most important IPEC core competence. Although the attitude towards IPC among healthcare professionals is strongly positive, many healthcare professionals face challenges in participating in IPC. Institutional policies that facilitate interprofessional learning and interactions for this group of healthcare professionals should be formulated. Online distance learning and interactions, and simulation-enhanced interprofessional education, are options for addressing this barrier. Hospital administrators should facilitate conducive work environments that promote IPC, based on IPEC core competencies, and promote programs that address the challenges of IPC.
Maximum and Minimum Phonatory Glottal Area before and after Treatment for Vocal Nodules
Authors: Hsu Cheng-Ming , Yang Ming-Yu , Fang Tuan-Jen , Wu Ching-Yuan , Tsai Yao-Te , Chang Geng-He , Tsai Ming-Shao
Published: September 2020

Background: Vocal fold nodules (VFNs) are a challenge for otolaryngologists. Glottal area (GA) waveform analysis is an examination method used for assessing vocal fold vibration and function. However, GA in patients with VFNs has rarely been studied. This study investigated the maximum and minimum GA in VFN patients using modern waveform analysis combining ImageJ software and videostroboscopy. Methods: This study enrolled 42 patients newly diagnosed with VFN, 15 of whom received voice therapy and 27 of whom underwent surgery. Acoustic parameters and maximum phonation time (MPT) were recorded, and patients completed the Chinese Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-C10) before and after treatment. After videostroboscopy examination, the maximum and minimum GAs were calculated using ImageJ software. The GAs of patients with VFNs before and after surgery or voice therapy were analyzed. Results: The MPTs of the patients before and after voice therapy or surgery did not change significantly. VHI-C10 scores decreased after voice therapy but the decrease was nonsignificant (14.0 ± 8.44 vs. 9.40 ± 10.24, p = 0.222); VHI-C10 scores were significantly decreased after surgery (22.53 ± 7.17 vs. 12.75 ± 9.84, p = 0.038). Voice therapy significantly increased the maximum GA (5.58 ± 2.41 vs. 8.65 ± 3.17, p = 0.012) and nonsignificantly decreased the minimum GA (0.60 ± 0.73 vs. 0.21 ± 0.46, p = 0.098). Surgery nonsignificantly increased the maximum GA (6.34 ± 3.82 vs. 8.73 ± 5.57, p = 0.118) and significantly decreased the minimum GA (0.30 ± 0.59 vs. 0.00 ± 0.00, p = 0.036). Conclusion: This study investigated the GA of patients with VFNs who received voice therapy or surgery. The findings indicated that voice therapy significantly increased maximum GA and surgery significantly decreased minimum GA. GA analysis could be applied to evaluate the efficacy of voice therapy, and it may help physicians to develop precise treatment for VFN patients (either by optimizing voice therapy or by performing surgery directly).
Analysis of Groundwater Level Variations Caused by the Changes in Groundwater Withdrawals Using Long Short-Term Memory Network
Authors: Shin Mun-Ju , Moon Soo-Hyoung , Kang Kyung Goo , Moon Duk-Chul , Koh Hyuk-Joon
Published: September 2020

To properly manage the groundwater resources, it is necessary to analyze the impact of groundwater withdrawal on the groundwater level. In this study, a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network was used to evaluate the groundwater level prediction performance and analyze the impact of the change in the amount of groundwater withdrawal from the pumping wells on the change in the groundwater level in the nearby monitoring wells located in Jeju Island, Korea. The Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency between the observed and simulated groundwater level was over 0.97. Therefore, the groundwater prediction performance of LSTM was remarkably high. If the groundwater level is simulated on the assumption that the future withdrawal amount is reduced by 1/3 of the current groundwater withdrawal, the range of the maximum rise of the groundwater level would be 0.06–0.13 m compared to the current condition. In addition, assuming that no groundwater is taken, the range of the maximum increase in the groundwater level would be 0.11–0.38 m more than the current condition. Therefore, the effect of groundwater withdrawal on the groundwater level in this area was exceedingly small. The method and results can be used to develop new groundwater withdrawal sources for the redistribution of groundwater withdrawals.
Work Stress in NHS Employees: A Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Ravalier Jermaine M. , McVicar Andrew , Boichat Charlotte
Published: September 2020

The United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) has a higher-than-average level of stress-related sickness absence of all job sectors in the country. It is important that this is addressed as work stress is damaging to employees and the organisation, and subsequently impacts patient care. The aim of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of working conditions and wellbeing in NHS employees from three employing NHS Trusts through a mixed-methods investigation. First, a cross-sectional organisational survey was completed by 1644 respondents. Questions examined working conditions, stress, psychological wellbeing, job satisfaction, and presenteeism. This was followed by 33 individual semistructured interviews with NHS staff from a variety of clinical and nonclinical roles. Quantitative findings revealed that working conditions were generally positive, although most staff groups had high levels of workload. Regression outcomes demonstrated that a number of working conditions influenced mental wellbeing and stress. Three themes were generated from thematic analysis of the interview data: wellbeing at work, relationships, and communication. These highlight areas which may be contributing to workplace stress. Suggestions are made for practical changes which could improve areas of difficulty. Such changes could improve staff wellbeing and job satisfaction and reduce sickness absence.