bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cross-Sectional Study of the Prevalence of Cobalamin Deficiency and Vitamin B12 Supplementation Habits among Vegetarian and Vegan Children in the Czech Republic
Authors: Světnička Martin , Sigal Anat , Selinger Eliška , Heniková Marina , El-Lababidi Eva , Gojda Jan
Published: January 2022

Vegetarian (VG) and vegan (VN) diets in childhood are of growing interest due to their perceived health and environmental benefits. Concerns remain due to the possible disruption of healthy growth and development of children because of the scarcity of evidence-based studies. Among the nutrients of special concern is vitamin B12. Therefore, the Czech Vegan Children Study (CAROTS) decided to examine the relationship between B12 metabolism parameters and B12 intake through diet and supplementation. We analyzed laboratory parameters within n = 79 VG, n = 69 VN, and n = 52 omnivores (OM) children (0–18 years old). There were no significant differences in levels of holotranscobalamin (aB12), folate, homocysteine (hcys), or mean corpuscular volume. However, there was a significant difference in levels of cyanocobalamin (B12) (p = 0.018), even though we identified only n = 1 VG and n = 2 VN children as B12 deficient. On the other hand, we identified n = 35 VG, n = 28 VN, and n = 9 OM children with vitamin B12 hypervitaminosis (p = 0.004). This finding was related to a high prevalence of over-supplementation in the group (mean dose for VG 178.19 ± 238.5 µg per day; VN 278.35 ± 394.63 µg per day). Additionally, we found a significant (p < 0.05) difference between B12, aB12, and hcys levels of supplemented vs. non-supplemented VG/VN children. This can show that the intake of vitamin B12 via diet in the VG group might not be sufficient. Secondly, we analyzed a relation between supplement use in pregnancy and breastfeeding and its impact on vitamin B12 levels of children aged 0–3 years. Out of n = 46 mothers, only n = 3 (e.g., 6.5%) were not supplemented at all. We have not identified any clinical manifestation of B12 deficiency and only n = 1 child with low serum cobalamin, a child who did not receive vitamin B12 supplementation and whose mother took only low doses of vitamin B12 (25/µg/day).To conclude, we did not observe any life-threatening or severe consequences of laboratory-stated vitamin B12 deficiency; thus, our group was well supplemented. On the other hand, we have identified many subjects with vitamin B12 hypervitaminosis of unknown impact on their health. Further research and new guidelines for B12 supplementation among VG and VN children are needed.
Effect of Continuous Ingestion of 2 g of Medium-Chain Triglycerides on Substrate Metabolism during Low-Intensity Physical Activity
Authors: Tsujino Shougo , Nosaka Naohisa , Sadamitsu Shohei , Kato Kazuhiko
Published: January 2022

Increasing fat burning during physical activity is thought to be an effective strategy for maintaining health and preventing lifestyle-related diseases, such as obesity and diabetes. In recent years, medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) have gained attention as a dietary component for increasing fat-burning. However, this fat-burning effect has been unclear in people with high body mass index (BMI). Therefore, we aimed to clarify the effects of 2 g of daily ingestion of MCTs over 2 weeks on substrate oxidation during low-intensity physical activity in sedentary (i.e., with no exercise habit) subjects with a BMI from 25 (kg/m2) to less than 30, which is classified as obese in Japan. A placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, crossover study with a 2-week washout period was conducted. The rate of fat oxidation as well as the respiratory exchange ratio (RER) during exercise (with a cycle ergometer at a 20-watt load) were measured with a human calorimeter. MCTs ingestion significantly increased fat oxidation during physical activity and decreased RER compared to long-chain triglycerides ingestion. In conclusion, we suggest that daily ingestion of 2 g of MCTs for 2 weeks increases fat burning during daily physical activities in sedentary persons with a BMI ranging from 25 to less than 30.
Age-Dependent Invasion of Pseudorabies Virus into Porcine Central Nervous System via Maxillary Nerve
Authors: Papageorgiou Konstantinos , Grivas Ioannis , Chiotelli Maria , Theodoridis Alexandros , Panteris Emmanuel , Papadopoulos Dimitris , Petridou Evanthia , Papaioannou Nikolaos , Nauwynck Hans , Kritas Spyridon K.
Published: January 2022

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is the causative agent for Aujeszky’s disease, a disease that mainly affects pigs and incidentally other domestic and wild animals. While PRV is almost always fatal, causing neurological disease independently of the age in non-porcine species, the development of neurological manifestation in its host species, the pig, highly depends on the age. In this study, an attempt was made to investigate the effect of nerve development on the outcome of virus infection and the effect of virus infection on the structure of nerves in piglets of various ages. For that reason, 42 pigs at the age of one (n = 14), three (n = 14) and five (n = 14) weeks were inoculated with 107 TCID50 of PRV Kaplan strain and euthanized at one- or four-days post inoculation (DPI). The tissues of the trigeminal nervous pathway were collected and examined for virus replication (titration) in cell cultures for nerve morphology by light and transmission electron microscopy, and for viral antigen visualization by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that as the age of the pig increases, virus titers and clinical manifestations reduced, while, at the same time, myelin and axon development ceased. Following infection, the nerve structure was disrupted at all ages examined, being more prominent in one-week-old pigs compared to five-week-old pigs. In conclusion, the age-dependent PRV neuroinvasion in pigs seems to correlate with the morphological changes of neurons.
Molecular Survey and Spatial Distribution of Rickettsia spp. in Ticks Infesting Free-Ranging Wild Animals in Pakistan (2017–2021)
Authors: Ali Abid , Shehla Shehla , Zahid Hafsa , Ullah Farman , Zeb Ismail , Ahmed Haroon , da Silva Vaz Itabajara , Tanaka Tetsuya
Published: January 2022

Rickettsia spp. associated with ticks infesting wild animals have been mostly neglected in several countries, including Pakistan. To address this knowledge gap, ticks were collected during 2017 to 2021 from wild animals including cats (Felis chaus), Indian hedgehogs (Paraechinus micropus), and wild boars (Sus scrofa). The collected ticks were morpho-molecularly identified and screened for the detection of Rickettsia spp. Morphologically identified ticks were categorized into four species of the genus Rhipicephalus: Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides, Rh. turanicus, Rh. sanguineus sensu lato (s.l), and Rh. microplus. Among 53 wild animals examined, 31 were infested by 531 ticks, an overall prevalence of 58.4%. Adult female ticks were predominant (242 out of 513 ticks collected, corresponding to 46%) in comparison with males (172, 32%), nymphs (80, 15%) and larvae (37, 7%). The most prevalent tick species was Rh. turanicus (266, 50%), followed by Rh. microplus (123, 23%), Rh. sanguineus (106, 20%), and Rh. haemaphysaloides (36, 7%). Among the screened wild animals, wild boars were the most highly infested, with 268 ticks being collected from these animals (50.4%), followed by cats (145, 27.3%) and hedgehogs (118, 22.3%). Tick species Rh. haemaphysaloides, Rh. turanicus, and Rh. sanguineus were found on wild boars, Rh. haemaphysaloides, and Rh. microplus on cats, and Rh. turanicus on hedgehogs. In a phylogenetic analysis, mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase 1 (cox1) sequences obtained from a subsample (120) of the collected ticks clustered with sequences from Bangladesh, China, India, Iran, Myanmar, and Pakistan, while 16S ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA) sequences clustered with sequences reported from Afghanistan, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Romania, Serbia, and Taiwan. Among Rickettsia infected ticks (10/120, 8.3%), Rh. turanicus (7/10, 70%), and Rh. haemaphysaloides (3/10, 30%) were found infesting wild boars in the districts Mardan and Charsadda. The obtained rickettsial gltA gene sequences showed 99% and ompA gene sequences showed 100% identity with Rickettsia massiliae, and the phylogenetic tree shows ompA clustered with the same species reported from France, Greece, Spain, and USA. This study emphasizes the need for effective surveillance and control programs in the region to prevent health risks due to tick-borne pathogens, and that healthy infested wild animals may play a role in the spread of these parasites.
In Vivo Quantification of the Effectiveness of Topical Low-Dose Photodynamic Therapy in Wound Healing Using Two-Photon Microscopy
Authors: Zuhayri Hala , Nikolaev Viktor V. , Knyazkova Anastasia I. , Lepekhina Tatiana B. , Krivova Natalya A. , Tuchin Valery V. , Kistenev Yury V.
Published: January 2022

The effect of low-dose photodynamic therapy on in vivo wound healing with topical application of 5-aminolevulinic acid and methylene blue was investigated using an animal model for two laser radiation doses (1 and 4 J/cm2). A second-harmonic-generation-to-auto-fluorescence aging index of the dermis (SAAID) was analyzed by two-photon microscopy. SAAID measured at 60–80 μm depths was shown to be a suitable quantitative parameter to monitor wound healing. A comparison of SAAID in healthy and wound tissues during phototherapy showed that both light doses were effective for wound healing; however, healing was better at a dose of 4 J/cm2.
Population Pharmacokinetics of Amikacin in Patients on Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Authors: Pressiat Claire , Kudela Agathe , De Roux Quentin , Khoudour Nihel , Alessandri Claire , Haouache Hakim , Vodovar Dominique , Woerther Paul-Louis , Hutin Alice , Ghaleh Bijan , Hulin Anne , Mongardon Nicolas
Published: January 2022

Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO) support leads to complex pharmacokinetic alterations, whereas adequate drug dosing is paramount for efficacy and absence of toxicity in critically ill patients. Amikacin is a major antibiotic used in nosocomial sepsis, especially for these patients. We aimed to describe amikacin pharmacokinetics on V-A ECMO support and to determine relevant variables to improve its dosing. All critically ill patients requiring empirical antimicrobial therapy, including amikacin for nosocomial sepsis supported or not by V-A ECMO, were included in a prospective population pharmacokinetic study. This population pharmacokinetic analysis was built with a dedicated software, and Monte Carlo simulations were performed to identify doses achieving therapeutic plasma concentrations. Thirty-nine patients were included (control n = 15, V-A ECMO n = 24); 215 plasma assays were performed and used for the modeling process. Patients received 29 (24–33) and 32 (30–35) mg/kg of amikacin in control and ECMO groups, respectively. Data were best described by a two-compartment model with first-order elimination. Inter-individual variabilities were observed on clearance, central compartment volume (V1), and peripherical compartment volume (V2). Three significant covariates explained these variabilities: Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) stage on amikacin clearance, total body weight on V1, and ECMO support on V2. Our simulations showed that the adequate dosage of amikacin was 40 mg/kg in KDIGO stage 0 patients, while 25 mg/kg in KDIGO stage 3 patients was relevant. V-A ECMO support had only a secondary impact on amikacin pharmacokinetics, as compared to acute kidney injury.
Shell-Sheddable Micelles Based on Poly(ethylene glycol)-hydrazone-poly[R,S]-3-hydroxybutyrate Copolymer Loaded with 8-Hydroxyquinoline Glycoconjugates as a Dual Tumor-Targeting Drug Delivery System
Authors: Domiński Adrian , Domińska Monika , Skonieczna Magdalena , Pastuch-Gawołek Gabriela , Kurcok Piotr
Published: January 2022

The development of selective delivery of anticancer drugs into tumor tissues to avoid systemic toxicity is a crucial challenge in cancer therapy. In this context, we evaluated the efficacy of a combination of nanocarrier pH-sensitivity and glycoconjugation of encapsulated drugs, since both vectors take advantage of the tumor-specific Warburg effect. Herein, we synthesized biodegradable diblock copolymer, a poly(ethylene glycol)-hydrazone linkage-poly[R,S]-3-hydroxybutyrate, which could further self-assemble into micelles with a diameter of ~55 nm. The hydrazone bond was incorporated between two copolymer blocks under an acidic pH, causing the shell-shedding of micelles which results in the drug’s release. The micelles were stable at pH 7.4, but decompose in acidic pH, as stated by DLS studies. The copolymer was used as a nanocarrier for 8-hydroxyquinoline glucose and galactose conjugates as well as doxorubicin, and exhibited pH-dependent drug release behavior. In vitro cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and life cycle assays studies of blank and drug-loaded micelles were performed on Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts-Neonatal (NHDF-Neo), colon carcinoma (HCT-116), and breast cancer (MCF-7) for 24, 48, and 72 h. A lack of toxicity of blank micelles was demonstrated, whereas the glycoconjugates-loaded micelles revealed enhanced selectivity to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. The strategy of combining pH-responsive nanocarriers with glycoconjugation of the drug molecule provides an alternative to the modus operandi of designing multi-stimuli nanocarriers to increase the selectivity of anticancer therapy.
In Vitro Methodologies for Evaluating Colon-Targeted Pharmaceutical Products and Industry Perspectives for Their Applications
Authors: García Mauricio A. , Varum Felipe , Al-Gousous Jozef , Hofmann Michael , Page Susanne , Langguth Peter
Published: January 2022

Several locally acting colon-targeted products to treat colonic diseases have been recently developed and marketed, taking advantage of gastrointestinal physiology to target delivery. Main mechanisms involve pH-dependent, time-controlled and/or enzymatic-triggered release. With site of action located before systemic circulation and troublesome colonic sampling, there is room for the introduction of meaningful in vitro methods for development, quality control (QC) and regulatory applications of these formulations. A one-size-fits-all method seems unrealistic, as the selection of experimental conditions should resemble the physiological features exploited to trigger the release. This article reviews the state of the art for bio-predictive dissolution testing of colon-targeted products. Compendial methods overlook physiological aspects, such as buffer molarity and fluid composition. These are critical for pH-dependent products and time-controlled systems containing ionizable drugs. Moreover, meaningful methods for enzymatic-triggered products including either bacteria or enzymes are completely ignored by pharmacopeias. Bio-predictive testing may accelerate the development of successful products, although this may require complex methodologies. However, for high-throughput routine testing (e.g., QC), simplified methods can be used where balance is struck between simplicity, robustness and transferability on one side and bio-predictivity on the other. Ultimately, bio-predictive methods can occupy a special niche in terms of supplementing plasma concentration data for regulatory approval.
Targeted Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery Systems to Restore Docetaxel Sensitivity in Resistant Tumors
Authors: Campani Virginia , Salaroglio Iris Chiara , Nele Valeria , Kopecka Joanna , Bernkop-Schnürch Andreas , Riganti Chiara , De Rosa Giuseppe
Published: January 2022

The use of chemotherapeutic agents such as docetaxel (DTX) in anticancer therapy is often correlated to side effects and the occurrence of drug resistance, which substantially impair the efficacy of the drug. Here, we demonstrate that self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) coated with enoxaparin (Enox) are a promising strategy to deliver DTX in resistant tumors. DTX partition studies between the SEDDS pre-concentrate and the release medium (water) suggest that the drug is well retained within the SEDDS upon dilution in the release medium. All SEDDS formulations show droplets with a mean diameter between 110 and 145 nm following dilution in saline and negligible hemolytic activity; the droplet size remains unchanged upon sterilization. Enox-coated SEDDS containing DTX exhibit an enhanced inhibition of cell growth compared to the control on cells of different solid tumors characterized by high levels of FGFR, which is due to an increased DTX internalization mediated by Enox. Moreover, only Enox-coated SEDDS are able to restore the sensitivity to DTX in resistant cells expressing MRP1 and BCRP by inhibiting the activity of these two main efflux transporters for DTX. The efficacy and safety of these formulations is also confirmed in vivo in resistant non-small cell lung cancer xenografts.
Comparison of the Capabilities of Spectroscopic and Quantitative Video Analysis of Fluorescence for the Diagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy Control of Cholangiocellular Cancer
Authors: Yakovlev Dmitry , Shiryaev Artem , Farrakhova Dina , Savelieva Tatiana , Efendiev Kanamat , Loshchenov Maxim , Zhemerikin Gleb , Amouroux Marine , Daul Christian , Blondel Walter , Reshetov Igor , Loschenov Victor
Published: January 2022

Cholangiocellular cancer (CCC) is a malignant neoplasm of the hepatobiliary system that is difficult to diagnose and treat. Currently, the most effective treatment of CCC is demonstrated under the control by fluorescent diagnosis. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has also shown good results in the treatment of this disease, and fluorescence analysis of the photosensitizer is a good approach to control PDT. This article presents the results of a comparison of spectroscopic and quantitative video-fluorescent analysis of chlorin e6 photosensitizer fluorescence in vivo during cholangiocellular cancer surgery. Spectroscopic analysis provides accurate information about the concentration of the photosensitizer in the tumor, while the video-fluorescence method is convenient for visualizing tumor margins. A direct correlation is shown between these two methods when comparing the fluorescence signals before and after PDT. The applied paired Student’s t-test shows a significant difference between fluorescence signal before and after PDT in both diagnostic methods. In this regard, video-fluorescence navigation is not inferior in accuracy, sensitivity, or efficiency to spectroscopic methods.
Active Optics—Advances of Cycloid-like Variable Curvature Mirrors for the VLTI Array
Authors: Lemaitre Gerard Rene , Vola Pascal , Lanzoni Patrick , Mazzanti Silvio , Dérie Frederic J. , Gonté Frederic Y.
Published: January 2022

Elasticity theory and active optics led us to the discovery of three geometrical configurations of variable curvature mirrors (VCMs) that are either cycloid-like or tulip-like thickness distributions. Cycloid-like VCMs are generated by a uniform load—air pressure—applied over the mirror rear surface, and reacts without any bending moment along its circular contour. This particular VCM configuration is of practical interest because it smoothly generates accurate optical curvatures, varying from plane at rest to spherical curvatures up to f/2.9 over 16-mm aperture under 6.5-bar air pressure. Starting from the thin plate theory of elasticity and modeling with NASTRAN finite element analysis, one shows that 3-D optimizations—using a non-linear static flexural option—provide an accurate cycloid-like thickness distribution. VCM elasticity modeling in quenched stainless steel–chromium substrates allows the obtaining of diffraction-limited optical surfaces: Rayleigh’s criterion is achieved over a zoom range from flat to f/3.6 over 13-mm clear aperture up to 6-bar loading. These VCMs were originally developed and built at the Marseille Observatory in 1975 and implemented as a cat’s-eye mirror of IR Fourier-transform interferometers for laboratory recording of fast events in gas molecular spectroscopy. Later, for high-angular resolution astronomy with the ESO VLTI array—an interferometer made of 8 m Unit Telescopes (UTs) and 1.8 m Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs)—such VCMs were inevitable components to provide in a 3″ co-phased field-of-view since 1998. They were implemented (1) as cat’s eye mirrors of the height delay-lines beam recombination lab and (2) as ATs mirror-pair for output pupil conjugation of the movable x–y baseline. From the ESO-AMU approved convention of making 10 VCM spares up to 2024, the present modeling should provide a diffraction-limited extended field-of-view. It is pure coincidence that present results from modeling with an outer collarette are identical to results from analytic theory without collarette.
Prediction of South American Leaf Blight and Disease-Induced Photosynthetic Changes in Rubber Tree, Using Machine Learning Techniques on Leaf Hyperspectral Reflectance
Authors: Sterling Armando , Di Rienzo Julio A.
Published: January 2022

The efficiency of visible and near-infrared (VIS/NIR) sensors and predictive modeling for detecting and classifying South American Leaf Blight (SALB) (Pseudocercospora ulei) in rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) has been poorly explored. Furthermore, the performance of VIS/NIR analysis combined with machine learning (ML) algorithms for predicting photosynthetic alterations caused by SALB is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to detect and classify the SALB levels, as well as to predict, for the first time, disease-induced photosynthetic changes in rubber trees. Leaf hyperspectral reflectance combined with five ML techniques (random forest (RF), boosted regression tree (BRT), bagged classification and regression trees (BCART), artificial neural network (ANN), and support vector machine (SVM)) were used. The RF, ANN, and BCART models achieved the best performance for classifying the SALB levels on the training dataset (accuracies of 98.0 to 99.8%), with 10-fold cross-validation repeated five times, and test dataset (accuracies of 97.1 to 100%). The ANN and RF models were better at predicting leaf gas exchange-related traits such as net CO2 assimilation rate (A) and extrinsic water use efficiency (WUEe) in the training (R2 ranged from 0.97 to 0.99) and testing (R2 ranged from 0.96 to 0.99) phases. In comparison, lower performances (R2 ranged from 0.24 to 0.52) were evidenced for the photochemical traits. This research provides a basis for future designs of a remote monitoring system based on early detection and accurate diagnosis of biotic stress caused by SALB, which is fundamental for more effective rubber crop protection.
Genome Size of Life Forms of Araceae—A New Piece in the C-Value Puzzle
Authors: Kocjan Domen , Dolenc Koce Jasna , Etl Florian , Dermastia Marina
Published: January 2022

The genome size of an organism is an important trait that has predictive values applicable to various scientific fields, including ecology. The main source of plant C-values is the Plant DNA C-values database of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, which currently contains 12,273 estimates. However, it covers only 2.9% of known angiosperm species and has gaps in the life form and geographic distribution of plants. Only 4.5% of C-value estimates come from researchers in Central and South America. This study provides 41 new C-values for the aroid family (Araceae), collected in the Piedras Blancas National Park area in southern Costa Rica, including terrestrial, epiphytic and aquatic life forms. Data from our study are combined with C-value entries in the RBGK database for Araceae. The analysis reveals a wider range of C-values for terrestrial aroids, consistent with other terrestrial plants, a trend toward slightly lower C-values for epiphytic forms, which is more consistent for obligate epiphytes, and comparatively low C-values for aquatic aroids.
Recent Advances and Future Challenges in the Additive Manufacturing of Hydrogels
Authors: Danek Chris
Published: January 2022

The emergence of additive manufacturing, otherwise known as 3D printing, was predated by significant advances in the understanding and controlled engineering of hydrogels [...]
Synthesis and Characterisation of ASA-PEEK Composites for Fused Filament Fabrication
Authors: Palacios-Ibáñez Belén , Relinque José J. , Moreno-Sánchez Daniel , de León Alberto S. , Delgado Francisco J. , Escobar-Galindo Ramón , Molina Sergio I.
Published: January 2022

In this paper, a series of polymer composites made from acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate (ASA) and poly (ether ether ketone) (PEEK) were manufactured. ASA acts as a polymer matrix while PEEK is loaded in the form of micro-particles that act as a reinforcing filler. The composites were compounded by single screw extrusion and then, different specimens were manufactured either via injection moulding (IM) or fused filament fabrication (FFF). Two different types of PEEK (commercial and reused) in different concentrations (3 and 6 wt.%) were tested and their influence in the mechanical, structural, and thermal properties were studied. It was observed that reused PEEK enhanced the stiffness and tensile strength and thermal stability of the composites both, for injected and printed specimens. This evidences the suitability of these composites as potential candidates as novel materials with enhanced properties following an approach of circular economy.
The Effect of Sterilization on the Characteristics of Silk Fibroin Nanoparticles
Authors: Asensio Ruiz María Alejandra , Fuster Marta G. , Martínez Martínez Teresa , Montalbán Mercedes G. , Cenis José Luis , Víllora Gloria , Lozano-Pérez Antonio Abel
Published: January 2022

In recent years, silk fibroin nanoparticles (SFNs) have been consolidated as drug delivery systems (DDSs) with multiple applications in personalized medicine. The design of a simple, inexpensive, and scalable preparation method is an objective pursued by many research groups. When the objective is to produce nanoparticles suitable for biomedical uses, their sterility is essential. To achieve sufficient control of all the crucial stages in the process and knowledge of their implications for the final characteristics of the nanoparticles, the present work focused on the final stage of sterilization. In this work, the sterilization of SFNs was studied by comparing the effect of different available treatments on the characteristics of the nanoparticles. Two different sterilization methods, gamma irradiation and autoclaving, were tested, and optimal conditions were identified to achieve the sterilization of SFNs by gamma irradiation. The minimum irradiation dose to achieve sterilization of the nanoparticle suspension without changes in the nanoparticle size, polydispersity, or Z-potential was determined to be 5 kiloGrays (kGy). These simple and safe methods were successfully implemented for the sterilization of SFNs in aqueous suspension and facilitate the application of these nanoparticles in medicine.
Design of Experiments for Modeling of Fermentation Process Characterization in Biological Drug Production
Authors: Hsueh Kuang-Lung , Lin Tzung-Yi , Lee Meng-Tse (Gabriel) , Hsiao Ya-Yun , Gu Yesong
Published: January 2022

Biological products are increasingly important, and therefore the industry has begun to adopt quality by design, as recommended by the ICH and the U.S. FDA. Smaller companies, however, have faced difficulties in employing full-scale experiments or the quality by design strategy. Thus, this study provides an alternative way to build a model from existing data with experimental software that does not require full-scale experiments. This empirical study hopes to provide a practical way to improve the efficiency of smaller biopharmaceutical companies and researchers. Moreover, the models provided here can be applied to process characterization in recombinant protein production.
Development and Evaluation of Hydrogel Wound Dressings Loaded with Herbal Extracts
Authors: Gavan Alexandru , Colobatiu Liora , Hanganu Daniela , Bogdan Catalina , Olah Neli , Achim Marcela , Mirel Simona
Published: January 2022

The current study aimed to develop carbomer based hydrogel dressings, incorporating ethanolic extracts of Rosmarinus officinalis aerial parts, Achillea millefolium and Calendula officinalis flowers. The pharmaceutical properties of the obtained hydrogels, as well as their texture and antimicrobial activity, were further evaluated. Five wound dressing formulations based on carbopol were prepared. The addition of the ethanolic extracts to the formulation slightly lowered the pH of the hydrogels, as expected. The Rosmarinus officinalis aerial parts extract loaded hydrogel proved to be the firmest one. In terms of consistency and viscosity, the behavior of the five hydrogels was relatively similar. Based on the texture analysis, the texture of the hydrogels has been affected to some extent by the addition of the ethanolic extracts, decreasing their consistency, firmness, and adhesiveness. The hydrogel loaded with Rosmarinus officinalis aerial parts extract and the one incorporating the blend of extracts (mixture of the three above-mentioned extracts) proved to have a good antimicrobial activity. The studied hydrogel formulations could serve as a basis for the development of novel wound dressing materials, although more extended in vivo studies would be needed in order to support current results.
The Impact of Religion and Social Support on Self-Reported Happiness in Latin American Immigrants in Spain
Authors: Formoso-Suárez Angélica M. , Saiz Jesús , Chopra Deepak , Mills Paul J.
Published: January 2022

The Latin American immigrant population in Spain is growing year after year. The aim of this study is to describe how religious coping mechanisms, religiosity, acculturation and social support act in the prediction of happiness within the group of Latin American immigrants with Christian beliefs in Spain. Previous studies indicate that religious practice can be a factor that favors the perception of well-being and happiness in people. It is considered that the existence of close sources of support act as a key resource in facing stressful situations. A questionnaire consisting of 36 items was administered to a sample made up of 206 subjects of different Latin American nationalities who were going through a migration process. It was observed that religiosity, social support, religious coping mechanisms and gender were related to the perception of happiness. The results underline the importance of considering religiosity and social support together while intervening to improve the perception of happiness of Latin American immigrants in Spain.
Geoturist Evaluation of Geosites in the Tuchola Forest Biosphere Reserve (N Poland)
Authors: Krawiec Arkadiusz , Wysocki Włodzimierz , Jamorska Izabela , Belzyt Szymon
Published: January 2022

The geotourist evaluation of 32 geosites, including mineral deposits occurrence (1), petrological (12), sedimentological (2), and geomorphological (9), as well as hydrological and hydrogeological (8) sites, located in the area of Tuchola Forest Biosphere Reserve (TFBR), has been carried out. The study aims to provide a qualitative assessment of geodiversity via the evaluation of abiotic nature objects, as well as propose modifications in geotourist valuation criteria, for the purpose of applying it to the areas located in the Central European Plains. The evaluated geosites represent both perfect examples of typical features for the physiography of the TFBR, as a young glacial landscape, e.g., erratic boulders, glaciofluvial landforms, postglacial landforms, and lakes or peatbogs, as well as values proving the uniqueness of the area on both regional and international scales, e.g., disused underground lignite mine “Montania”. High scores of geotourist attractiveness (between 36 and 44 points) have been received by 14 evaluated geosites (1 mineral deposits occurrence geosite, 4 petrological geosites, 1 sedimentological geosite, and 5 geomorphological geosites, as well as 3 hydrological and hydrogeological geosites). The remaining 18 geosites have received a medium score (between 25 and 34 points). Three areas of high concentration of geosites, which overlap with the boundaries of Tuchola, Wdecki, and Zaborski (area of the greatest diversity of highly-ranked geosites) landscape parks, were distinguished. The authors proposed geosites that require improving their accessibility to enhance the geotourist attractiveness, recognized the necessity of marking out geotourist trails in the most attractive and diversified areas, and noticed the influence of extreme weather phenomena (whirwinds) on changes in the geotourist attractiveness of some geosites. It is believed that the results of the conducted evaluation may favorably affect the importance, position, and publicity of the whole area by supplementing the well-recognized biodiversity with the geodiversity presented in the study.
Point Cloud Validation: On the Impact of Laser Scanning Technologies on the Semantic Segmentation for BIM Modeling and Evaluation
Authors: De Geyter Sam , Vermandere Jelle , De Winter Heinder , Bassier Maarten , Vergauwen Maarten
Published: January 2022

Building Information models created from laser scanning inputs are becoming increasingly commonplace, but the automation of the modeling and evaluation is still a subject of ongoing research. Current advancements mainly target the data interpretation steps, i.e., the instance and semantic segmentation by developing advanced deep learning models. However, these steps are highly influenced by the characteristics of the laser scanning technologies themselves, which also impact the reconstruction/evaluation potential. In this work, the impact of different data acquisition techniques and technologies on these procedures is studied. More specifically, we quantify the capacity of static, trolley, backpack, and head-worn mapping solutions and their semantic segmentation results such as for BIM modeling and analyses procedures. For the analysis, international standards and specifications are used wherever possible. From the experiments, the suitability of each platform is established, along with the pros and cons of each system. Overall, this work provides a much needed update on point cloud validation that is needed to further fuel BIM automation.
Effects of Surface Wave Breaking Caused by Internal Solitary Waves in SAR Altimeter: Sentinel-3 Copernicus Products and Advanced New Products
Authors: Santos-Ferreira Adriana M. , da Silva José C. B. , Magalhaes Jorge M. , Amraoui Samira , Moreau Thomas , Maraldi Claire , Boy François , Picot Nicolas , Borde Franck
Published: January 2022

We address surface wave breaking caused by oceanic Internal Solitary Waves (ISWs) and how ISWs are manifested in the SAR altimeter onboard Sentinel-3A and -3B satellites by means of their effects in Significant Wave Height (SWH). Two different regions of the ocean are selected, namely the tropical Atlantic Ocean off the Amazon shelf and the Banda Sea in the Indian Ocean, where there are scenes of Sentinel-3 OLCI acquired simultaneously with an along-track SAR mode altimeter, which include signatures of large amplitude ISWs. New data of unfocused SAR (UF-SAR 20 Hz) and fully focused SAR (FF-SAR 160 Hz) modes are analyzed, which are retracked in full range and over a reduced range of bins (truncation carried out dynamically ten gates away from the estimated epoch position). At first order, in scales of 1–3 km, a strong decrease in the normalized radar cross section (NRCS) over the rough part of the ISWs is observed followed by a small increase in the smooth part relative to the unperturbed ocean background. A second order ISW signature, in scales of 20 km, is noted: the SWH is attenuated after the passage of an ISW, considering length scales of about 10 km before and after the ISW crest. The SWH signatures are unique in showing that the surface wave energy does not return to its unperturbed level after the passage of an ISW, admittedly because intense meter-scale wave breaking results in surface wave energy dissipation. Furthermore, Sentinel-2 MSI images are analyzed and provide insights into this same phenomenon: white-capping resulting in a radiance increase at all (visible) wavelengths. Modulation of breaking waves owing to ISWs is demonstrated by estimates of the fraction of breaking waves in the presence of internal waves.
A Long-Time Coherent Integration STAP for GEO Spaceborne-Airborne Bistatic SAR
Authors: Cui Chang , Dong Xichao , Chen Zhiyang , Hu Cheng , Tian Weiming
Published: January 2022

A geosynchronous spaceborne-airborne bistatic synthetic aperture radar (GEO SA-BSAR) system is an important technique to achieve long-time moving target monitoring over a wide area. However, due to special bistatic configuration of GEO SA-BSAR, two major challenges, i.e., severe range migration and space-variant Doppler parameters for moving targets, hinder the moving target indication (MTI) processing. Traditional SAR MTI methods, which do not take the challenges into consideration, will defocus the moving targets, leading to a loss of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). To focus moving targets and estimate motion parameters accurately, long-time coherent integration space-time adaptive processing (LTCI-STAP) is proposed for GEO SA-BSAR MTI in this paper. First, a modified adaptive spatial filtering based on the bistatic signal model is performed to suppress the clutter. Then, an LTCI filter bank is constructed to achieve range migration correction and moving target focusing, which yields the optimal output signal and filtering parameters. Finally, constant false alarm rate (CFAR) detection is carried out to determine the targets, and the space-variant Doppler parameters, solved from the filtering parameters, are used for estimating moving target positions and velocities. Simulations verify the effectiveness of our method.
Variation Characteristics of Multi-Channel Differential Code Biases from New BDS-3 Signal Observations
Authors: Shi Qiqi , Jin Shuanggen
Published: January 2022

A multi-frequency Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) provides greater opportunities for positioning and navigation applications, particularly the BeiDou Global Navigation Satellite System (BDS-3) satellites. However, multi-frequency signals import more pseudorange channels, which introduce more multi-channel Differential Code Biases (DCBs). The satellite and receiver DCBs from the new BDS-3 signals are not clear. In this study, 9 DCB types of the new BDS-3 signals from 30-days Multi-GNSS Experiment (MGEX) observations are estimated and investigated. Compared with the DCB values provided by the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) products, the mean bias and root mean squares (RMS) error of new BDS-3 satellite DCBs are within ±0.20 and 0.30 ns, respectively. The satellite DCBs are mostly within ±0.40 ns with respect to the product of the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR). The four sets of constructed closure errors and their mean values are within ±0.30 ns and ±0.15 ns, respectively. The mean standard deviation (STD) of the estimated satellite DCBs is less than 0.10 ns. In particular, our estimated satellite DCBs are more stable than DCB products provided by CAS and DLR. Unlike satellite DCBs, the receiver DCBs have poor compliance and show an obvious relationship with the geographic latitude when compared to the CAS products. The STDs of our estimated receiver DCBs are less than 1.00 ns. According to different types of receiver DCBs, the distribution of STDs indicates that the coefficient of the ionospheric correction has an influence on the stability of the receiver DCBs under the ionosphere with the same accuracy level. In addition, the type of receiver shows no regular effects on the stability of receiver DCBs.
Revisiting the Past: Replicability of a Historic Long-Term Vegetation Dynamics Assessment in the Era of Big Data Analytics
Authors: Frantz David , Hostert Patrick , Rufin Philippe , Ernst Stefan , Röder Achim , van der Linden Sebastian
Published: January 2022

Open and analysis-ready data, as well as methodological and technical advancements have resulted in an unprecedented capability for observing the Earth’s land surfaces. Over 10 years ago, Landsat time series analyses were inevitably limited to a few expensive images from carefully selected acquisition dates. Yet, such a static selection may have introduced uncertainties when spatial or inter-annual variability in seasonal vegetation growth were large. As seminal pre-open-data-era papers are still heavily cited, variations of their workflows are still widely used, too. Thus, here we quantitatively assessed the level of agreement between an approach using carefully selected images and a state-of-the-art analysis that uses all available images. We reproduced a representative case study from the year 2003 that for the first time used annual Landsat time series to assess long-term vegetation dynamics in a semi-arid Mediterranean ecosystem in Crete, Greece. We replicated this assessment using all available data paired with a time series method based on land surface phenology metrics. Results differed fundamentally because the volatile timing of statically selected images relative to the phenological cycle introduced systematic uncertainty. We further applied lessons learned to arrive at a more nuanced and information-enriched vegetation dynamics description by decomposing vegetation cover into woody and herbaceous components, followed by a syndrome-based classification of change and trend parameters. This allowed for a more reliable interpretation of vegetation changes and even permitted us to disentangle certain land-use change processes with opposite trajectories in the vegetation components that were not observable when solely analyzing total vegetation cover. The long-term budget of net cover change revealed that vegetation cover of both components has increased at large and that this process was mainly driven by gradual processes. We conclude that study designs based on static image selection strategies should be critically evaluated in the light of current data availability, analytical capabilities, and with regards to the ecosystem under investigation. We recommend using all available data and taking advantage of phenology-based approaches that remove the selection bias and hence reduce uncertainties in results.
Retrieval of Fine-Grained PM2.5 Spatiotemporal Resolution Based on Multiple Machine Learning Models
Authors: Ma Peilong , Tao Fei , Gao Lina , Leng Shaijie , Yang Ke , Zhou Tong
Published: January 2022

Due to the country’s rapid economic growth, the problem of air pollution in China is becoming increasingly serious. In order to achieve a win-win situation for the environment and urban development, the government has issued many policies to strengthen environmental protection. PM2.5 is the primary particulate matter in air pollution, so an accurate estimation of PM2.5 distribution is of great significance. Although previous studies have attempted to retrieve PM2.5 using geostatistical or aerosol remote sensing retrieval methods, the current rough resolution and accuracy remain as limitations of such methods. This paper proposes a fine-grained spatiotemporal PM2.5 retrieval method that comprehensively considers various datasets, such as Landsat 8 satellite images, ground monitoring station data, and socio-economic data, to explore the applicability of different machine learning algorithms in PM2.5 retrieval. Six typical algorithms were used to train the multi-dimensional elements in a series of experiments. The characteristics of retrieval accuracy in different scenarios were clarified mainly according to the validation index, R2. The random forest algorithm was shown to have the best numerical and PM2.5-based air-quality-category accuracy, with a cross-validated R2 of 0.86 and a category retrieval accuracy of 0.83, while both maintained excellent retrieval accuracy and achieved a high spatiotemporal resolution. Based on this retrieval model, we evaluated the PM2.5 distribution characteristics and hourly variation in the sample area, as well as the functions of different input variables in the model. The PM2.5 retrieval method proposed in this paper provides a new model for fine-grained PM2.5 concentration estimation to determine the distribution laws of air pollutants and thereby specify more effective measures to realize the high-quality development of the city.
Integrating DMSP-OLS and NPP-VIIRS Nighttime Light Data to Evaluate Poverty in Southwestern China
Authors: Yong Zhiwei , Li Kun , Xiong Junnan , Cheng Weiming , Wang Zegen , Sun Huaizhang , Ye Chongchong
Published: January 2022

Poverty alleviation is one of the most important tasks facing human social development. It is necessary to make accurate monitoring and evaluations for areas with poverty to improve capability of implementing poverty alleviation policies. Here, this study introduced nighttime light (NTL) data to estimate county-level poverty in southwest China. First, this study used particle swarm optimization-back propagation hybrid algorithm to explore the potential relationship between two NTL data (the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program’s Operational Line Scan System data and the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite data). Then, we integrated two NTL data at the pixel level to establish a consistent time-series of NTL dataset from 2000 to 2019. Next, an actual comprehensive poverty index (ACPI) was employed as an indicator of multidimensional poverty at county level based on 11 socioeconomic and natural variables, and which could be the reference to explore the poverty evaluation using NTL data. Based on the correlation between the ACPI and NTL characteristic variables, a poverty evaluation model was developed to evaluate the poverty situation. The result showed the great matching relationship between DMSP-OLS and NPP-VIIRS data (R2 = 0.84). After calibration, the continuity and comparability of DMSP-OLS data were significantly improved. The integrated NTL data also reflected great consistency with socioeconomic development (r = 0.99). The RMSE between ACPI and the estimated comprehensive poverty index (ECPI) based on the integrated NTL data is approximately 0.19 (R2 = 0.96), which revealed the poverty evaluation model was feasible and reliable. According to the ECPI, we found that the magnitude of poverty eradication increased in southwest China until 2011, but slowed down from 2011 to 2019. Regarding the spatial scale, geographic barriers are a key factor for poverty, with high altitude and mountainous areas typically having a high incidence of poverty. Our approach offers an effective model for evaluation poverty based on the NTL data, which can contribute a more reliable and efficient monitoring of poverty dynamic and a better understanding of socioeconomic development.