bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tailored Magnetic Multicore Nanoparticles for Use as Blood Pool MPI Tracers
Authors: Kratz Harald , Mohtashamdolatshahi Azadeh , Eberbeck Dietmar , Kosch Olaf , Wiekhorst Frank , Taupitz Matthias , Hamm Bernd , Stolzenburg Nicola , Schnorr Jörg
Published: June 2021

For the preclinical development of magnetic particle imaging (MPI) in general, and the exploration of possible new clinical applications of MPI in particular, tailored MPI tracers with surface properties optimized for the intended use are needed. Here we present the synthesis of magnetic multicore particles (MCPs) modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) for use as blood pool MPI tracers. To achieve the stealth effect the carboxylic groups of the parent MCP were activated and coupled with pegylated amines (mPEG-amines) with different PEG-chain lengths from 2 to 20 kDa. The resulting MCP-PEG variants with PEG-chain lengths of 10 kDa (MCP-PEG10K after one pegylation step and MCP-PEG10K2 after a second pegylation step) formed stable dispersions and showed strong evidence of a successful reaction of MCP and MCP-PEG10K with mPEG-amine with 10 kDa, while maintaining their magnetic properties. In rats, the mean blood half-lives, surprisingly, were 2 and 62 min, respectively, and therefore, for MCP-PEG10K2, dramatically extended compared to the parent MCP, presumably due to the higher PEG density on the particle surface, which may lead to a lower phagocytosis rate. Because of their significantly extended blood half-life, MCP-PEG10K2 are very promising as blood pool tracers for future in vivo cardiovascular MPI.
Triboelectric Energy Harvester Based on Stainless Steel/MoS2 and PET/ITO/PDMS for Potential Smart Healthcare Devices
Authors: Gallardo-Vega Carlos , López-Lagunes Octavio , Nava-Galindo Omar I. , De León Arxel , Romero-García Jorge , Aguilera-Cortés Luz Antonio , Martínez-Castillo Jaime , Herrera-May Agustín L.
Published: June 2021

The smart healthcare devices connected with the internet of things (IoT) for medical services can obtain physiological data of risk patients and communicate these data in real-time to doctors and hospitals. These devices require power sources with a sufficient lifetime to supply them energy, limiting the conventional electrochemical batteries. Additionally, these batteries may contain toxic materials that damage the health of patients and environment. An alternative solution to gradually substitute these electrochemical batteries is the development of triboelectric energy harvesters (TEHs), which can convert the kinetic energy of ambient into electrical energy. Here, we present the fabrication of a TEH formed by a stainless steel substrate (25 mm × 15 mm) coated with a molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) film as top element and a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film deposited on indium tin oxide coated polyethylene terephthalate substrate (PET/ITO). This TEH has a generated maximum voltage of 2.3 V and maximum output power of 112.55 μW using a load resistance of 47 kΩ and a mechanical vibration to 59.7 Hz. The proposed TEH could be used to power potential smart healthcare devices.
Enhancing Behavior Change Skills in Health Extension Workers in Ethiopia: Evaluation of an Intervention to Improve Maternal and Infant Nutrition
Authors: Swanson Vivien , Hart Joanne , Byrne-Davis Lucie , Merritt Rowena , Maltinsky Wendy
Published: June 2021

Maternal and infant nutrition are problematic in areas of Ethiopia. Health extension workers (HEWs) work in Ethiopia’s primary health care system, increasing potential health service coverage, particularly for women and children, providing an opportunity for health improvement. Their roles include improving maternal and infant nutrition, disease prevention, and health education. Supporting HEWs’ practice with ‘non-clinical’ skills in behavior change and health communication can improve effectiveness. This intervention study adapted and delivered a UK-developed training intervention for Health Extension Workers (HEWs) working with the United Nations World Food Programme in Ethiopia. The intervention included communication and behavioral training adapted with local contextual information. Mixed methods evaluation focused on participants’ reaction to training, knowledge, behavior change, and skills use. Overall, 98 HEWs were trained. The intervention was positively received by HEWs. Pre-post evaluations of communication and behavior change skills found a positive impact on HEW skills, knowledge, and motivation to use skills (all p < 0.001) to change women’s nutritional behavior, also demonstrated in role-play scenarios. The study offered substantial learning about intervention delivery. Appropriate cultural adaptation and careful consideration of assessment of psychological constructs are crucial for future delivery.
Lipoic Acid Exacerbates Oxidative Stress and Lipid Accumulation in the Liver of Wistar Rats Fed a Hypercaloric Choline-Deficient Diet
Authors: Kravchenko Lidia V. , Aksenov Ilya V. , Nikitin Nikolay S. , Guseva Galina V. , Avrenyeva Ludmila I. , Trusov Nikita V. , Balakina Anastasia S. , Tutelyan Victor A.
Published: June 2021

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently estimated as the most prevalent chronic liver disease in all age groups. An increasing body of evidence obtained in experimental and clinical data indicates that oxidative stress is the most important pathogenic factor in the development of NAFLD. The study aimed to investigate the impact of α-lipoic acid (LA), widely used as an antioxidant, on the effects of a hypercaloric choline-deficient diet. Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control diet (C); hypercaloric choline-deficient diet (HCCD), and hypercaloric choline-deficient diet with α-lipoic acid (HCCD+LA). Supplementation of HCCD with LA for eight weeks led to a decrease in visceral adipose tissue/body weight ratio, the activity of liver glutathione peroxidase and paraoxonase-1, plasma, and liver total antioxidant activity, as well as an increase in liver/body weight ratio, liver total lipid and triglyceride content, and liver transaminase activities compared to the HCCD group without LA. In conclusion, our study shows that α-lipoic acid detains obesity development but exacerbates the severity of diet-induced oxidative stress and lipid accumulation in the liver of male Wistar rats fed a hypercaloric choline-deficient diet.
Differences in the Effects of Anthocyanin Supplementation on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism According to the Structure of the Main Anthocyanin: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Araki Risa , Yada Akira , Ueda Hirotsugu , Tominaga Kenichi , Isoda Hiroko
Published: June 2021

The effectiveness of anthocyanins may differ according to their chemical structures; however, randomized clinical controlled trials (RCTs) or meta-analyses that examine the consequences of these structural differences have not been reported yet. In this meta-analysis, anthocyanins in test foods of 18 selected RCTs were categorized into three types: cyanidin-, delphinidin-, and malvidin-based. Delphinidin-based anthocyanins demonstrated significant effects on triglycerides (mean difference (MD): −0.24, p < 0.01), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (MD: −0.28, p < 0.001), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (MD: 0.11, p < 0.01), whereas no significant effects were observed for cyanidin- and malvidin-based anthocyanins. Although non-significant, favorable effects on total cholesterol (TC) and HDL-C were observed for cyanidin- and malvidin-based anthocyanins, respectively (both p < 0.1). The ascending order of effectiveness on TC and LDL-C was delphinidin-, cyanidin-, and malvidin-based anthocyanins, and the differences among the three groups were significant (both p < 0.05). We could not confirm the significant effects of each main anthocyanin on glucose metabolism; however, insulin resistance index changed positively and negatively with cyanidin- and delphinidin-based anthocyanins, respectively. Therefore, foods containing mainly unmethylated anthocyanins, especially with large numbers of OH groups, may improve glucose and lipid metabolism more effectively than those containing methylated anthocyanins.
How Do Dieticians on Instagram Teach? The Potential of the Kirkpatrick Model in the Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Nutritional Education in Social Media
Authors: Zielińska-Tomczak Łucja , Przymuszała Piotr , Tomczak Szymon , Krzyśko-Pieczka Izabela , Marciniak Ryszard , Cerbin-Koczorowska Magdalena
Published: June 2021

The growing popularity of health education on social media indicates the need for its appropriate evaluation. This paper aims to present the potential of the Kirkpatrick Model (KM) with New World Kirkpatrick Model (NWKM) additions to evaluate the nutritional education provided by dieticians via Instagram. Instagram profiles of ten dieticians providing nutritional education for their followers were analyzed in March and April 2021. The study sample included profiles of both macro- and micro-influencers. The analyzed quantitative data included Instagram Engagement Rate and the number of likes and comments per post. The qualitative analysis of the comments was performed following the theoretical framework provided by the KM and NWKM. Collected data showed followers’ satisfaction, commitment, and relevance of the presented content, fulfilling the Level 1 of NWKM. Level 2 of NWKM was represented by 4 out of 5 dimensions (knowledge, attitude, confidence, commitment). No comments were found only for skills. Both Levels 3 (Behavior) and 4 (Results) of the KM were met. However, the use of the NWKM for them seems limited. The KM can be used to evaluate nutritional education on social media. The NWKM additions seem applicable mostly for Levels 1 and 2.
Polysaccharides with Antitumor Effect in Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review of Non-Clinical Studies
Authors: Corso Claudia Rita , Mulinari Turin de Oliveira Natalia , Moura Cordeiro Leonardo , Sauruk da Silva Karien , da Silva Soczek Suzany Hellen , Frota Rossato Virgilio , Fernandes Elizabeth Soares , Maria-Ferreira Daniele
Published: June 2021

Purpose: To review the effects of polysaccharides and their proposed mechanisms of action in breast cancer experimental models. Data sources, selection, and extraction: Articles were selected by using PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Medline, assessed from 1 May 2019 to 1 July 2020. The systematic review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (Prospero) under the number CRD42020169103. Results: Most of the studies explore algae polysaccharides (43.2%), followed by mushrooms (13.5%), plants (13.5%), fruits (10.8%), fungus (2.7%), bacteria, (2.7%), and sea animals (2.7%). A total of 8.1% investigated only in vitro models, 62.1% evaluated only in vivo models, and 29.7% evaluated in vitro and in vivo models. The mechanism of action involves apoptosis, inhibition of cellular proliferation, angiogenesis, and antimetastatic effects through multiple pathways. Conclusions: Findings included here support further investigations on the anti-tumor effect of polysaccharides. Some polysaccharides, such as fucoidan and β-glucans, deserve detailed and structured studies aiming at translational research on breast tumors, since they are already used in the clinical practice of other proposals of human health.
Brief Report: Hispanic Patients’ Trajectory of Cancer Symptom Burden, Depression, Anxiety, and Quality of Life
Authors: Castro-Figueroa Eida M. , Torres-Blasco Normarie , Rosal Milagros C. , Jiménez Julio C. , Castro-Rodríguez Wallesca P. , González-Lorenzo Marilis , Vélez-Cortés Héctor , Toro-Bahamonde Alia , Costas-Muñiz Rosario , Armaiz-Peña Guillermo N. , Jim Heather
Published: June 2021

Background: Anxiety and depression symptoms are known to increase cancer symptom burden, yet little is known about the longitudinal integrations of these among Hispanic/Latinx patients. The goal of this study was to explore the trajectory and longitudinal interactions among anxiety and depression, cancer symptom burden, and health-related quality of life in Hispanic/Latinx cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: Baseline behavioral assessments were performed before starting chemotherapy. Follow-up behavioral assessments were performed at 3, 6, and 9 months after starting chemotherapy. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Fisher’s exact tests, and Mann–Whitney tests explored associations among outcome variables. Adjusted multilevel mixed-effects linear regression models were also used to evaluate the association between HADS scores, follow-up visits, FACT—G scale, MDASI scale, and sociodemographic variables. Results: Increased cancer symptom burden was significantly related to changes in anxiety symptoms’ scores (adjusted β^ = 0.11 [95% CI: 0.02, 0.19]. Increased quality of life was significantly associated with decreased depression and anxiety symptoms (adjusted β^ = −0.33; 95% CI: −0.47, −0.18, and 0.38 adjusted β^= −0.38; 95% CI: −0.55, −0.20, respectively). Conclusions: Findings highlight the need to conduct periodic mental health screenings among cancer patients initiating cancer treatment.
Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Suicidal Behavior in People with Alcohol Consumption
Authors: Alvarado-Esquivel Cosme , Estrada-Martínez Sergio , Pérez-Álamos Alma Rosa , Beristain-García Isabel , Alvarado-Félix Ángel Osvaldo , Alvarado-Félix Gustavo Alexis , Sifuentes-Álvarez Antonio
Published: June 2021

We determined the association between T. gondii infection and suicidal behavior in people with alcohol consumption. One-thousand four-hundred and twenty-three people with alcohol consumption were screened for suicidal behavior and tested for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 34 of 224 (15.2%) individuals with suicidal ideation and in 118 (9.8%) of 1199 individuals without suicidal ideation (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.08–2.47; p = 0.01). Seropositivity to T. gondii was associated with suicidal ideation in women (OR: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.33–3.78; p = 0.001) and in individuals aged ≤30 years (OR: 2.68; 95% CI: 1.22–5.87; p = 0.01) and >50 years (OR: 2.85; 95% CI: 1.19–6.77; p = 0.01). Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 17 of 136 (12.5%) individuals with suicide attempts and in 135 (10.5%) of 1287 individuals without suicide attempts (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 0.71–2.08; p = 0.47). Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was associated with suicide attempts in women (OR: 1.88; 95% CI: 0.99–3.55; p = 0.04). No association between anti-T. gondii IgM and suicidal ideation or suicide attempts was found. Results suggest that T. gondii infection is associated with suicidal behavior in people with alcohol consumption.
Developing Grit, Motivation, and Resilience: To Give Up on Giving In
Authors: Whitfield Karen M. , Wilby Kyle John
Published: June 2021

Developing grit, motivation, and resilience within the pharmacy workforce has become a topic of increasing interest, heightened by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Even prior to the global pandemic, the health care field has been associated with a rapidly changing, challenging, and pressured work environment that can often lead to stress and burnout. Developing resilience in health care workers has been identified as a strategy to combat burnout by improving their ability to thrive in stressful situations, thus enhancing physical and mental well-being. In this commentary, we consider the use of a resilience framework that encompasses the overlapping attributes of emotional balance and physical and mental strength to develop resilience. The importance of finding purpose and meaning is also explored within the framework, as well as the association between grit, motivation, autonomy, mastery, and connection. Practical strategies and reflections are outlined to challenge, inspire, and motivate the development of grit and resilience, in order to combat the challenges faced by pharmacists in a constantly changing health care system.
Multiscale Laser Written Photonic Structures in Bulk Chalcogenide Glasses for Infrared Light Transport and Extraction
Authors: D’Amico Ciro , Martin Guillermo , Troles Johann , Cheng Guanghua , Stoian Razvan
Published: June 2021

Direct ultrafast laser processing is nowadays considered the most flexible technique allowing to generate complex 3D optical functions in bulk glasses. The fact that the built-in optical element is embedded in the material brings several advantages in terms of prototype stability and lifetime, but equally in terms of complexity and number of possible applications, due to the 3D design. The generated optical functions, and in particular the single mode character of the light guiding element alongside the accessibility toward different spectral windows, depend on the refractive index contrast that can be achieved within the material transparency window and on the characteristic dimensions of the optical modification. In particular, the accessibility to the infrared and mid-infrared spectral domains, and to the relevant applications in sensing and imaging, requires increasing the cross-section of the guiding element in order to obtain the desired normalized frequency. Moreover, efficient signal extraction from the transported light requires nanometer size void-like index structures. All this demands a thorough knowledge and an optimal control of the material response within the interaction with the ultrafast laser pulse. We present here an overview of some recent results concerning large-mode-area light transport and extraction in sulfur-based chalcogenide mid-infrared glasses, putting emphasis on the study of the glass response to ultrafast lasers. We then demonstrate the utilization of the achieved optimized local index modifications for building efficient and compact embedded spectrometers (linear optical functions) and saturable absorbers (nonlinear optical functions) for integrated photonic applications in the infrared and mid-infrared spectral ranges.
Effective Corrosion Inhibition of Carbon Steel in Hydrochloric Acid by Dopamine-Produced Carbon Dots
Authors: Cui Mingjun , Yu Yue , Zheng Yuxuan
Published: June 2021

In present study, novel nitrogen doped carbon dots (NCDs) are synthesized using a green material—dopamine—as a precursor and studied as corrosion inhibitors for Q235 carbon steel in 1 M HCl solution. According to the electrochemical results, it is found that NCDs acting as a mixed-type corrosion inhibitor can effectively retard the acid corrosion of carbon steel, and their inhibition efficiency increases with the concentration increasing from 50 to 400 ppm. The highest inhibition efficiency is 96.1% in the presence of 400 ppm NCDs at room temperature. Additionally, the adsorption of NCDs obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. In addition, weight loss results show that the inhibition efficiency in the presence of 400 ppm NCDs increases with prolonged exposure time and rising temperature (298–328 K), owing to the strong adsorption of NCDs on the steel surface, and the η value is 92.2% at 60 h of immersion and 86.2%, 89.1%, 90.6% and 92.9% at 298, 308, 318 and 328 K, respectively. Surface analysis by scanning electron microscope (SEM), laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) further proves the formation of a protective NCD film on the steel surface.
A Multi-Rheology Design Method of Sheeting Polymer Extrusion Dies Based on Flow Network and the Winter–Fritz Design Equation
Authors: Razeghiyadaki Amin , Wei Dongming , Perveen Asma , Zhang Dichuan
Published: June 2021

In the polymer sheet processing industry, the primary objective when designing a coat-hanger die is to achieve a uniform velocity distribution at the exit of the extrusion die outlet. This velocity distribution depends on the internal flow channels of the die, rheological parameters and extrusion process conditions. As a result, coat-hanger dies are often designed for each polymer based on its individual rheological data and other conditions. A multi-rheology method based on a flow network model and the Winter–Fritz equation is proposed and implemented for the calculation, design and optimization of flat sheeting polymer extrusion dies. This method provides a fast and accurate algorithm to obtain die design geometries with constant wall-shear rates and optimal outlet velocity distributions. The geometric design when complemented and validated with fluid flow simulations could be applied for multi-rheological fluid models such as the power-law, Carreau–Yasuda and Cross. This method is applied to sheet dies with both circular- and rectangular-shaped manifolds for several rheological fluids. The designed geometrical parameters are obtained, and the associated fluid simulations are performed to demonstrate its favorable applicability without being limited to only the power-law rheology. The two such designed dies exhibit 32.9 and 21.5 percent improvement in flow uniformity compared to the previous methods for dies with circular and rectangular manifolds, respectively.
Effect of Yerba Mate and Silk Fibroin Nanoparticles on the Migration Properties in Ethanolic Food Simulants and Composting Disintegrability of Recycled PLA Nanocomposites
Authors: Beltrán Freddys R. , Arrieta Marina P. , Elena Antón Diego , Lozano-Pérez Antonio A. , Cenis José L. , Gaspar Gerald , de la Orden María U. , Martínez Urreaga Joaquín
Published: June 2021

The main objective of the present research is to study the effect of the incorporation of low amounts of silk fibroin nanoparticles (SFNs) and yerba mate nanoparticles (YMNs) on the migration phenomenon into ethanolic food simulants as well as on the disintegrability under composting conditions of mechanically recycled polylactic acid (PLA). Recycled PLA was obtained under simulated recycling conditions by melt processing virgin PLA into films and further subjecting them to an accelerated aging process, which involved photochemical, thermal, and hydrothermal aging steps followed by an intense washing step. SFNs were extracted from Bombyx mori cocoons and YMNs from yerba mate waste. Then, recycled PLA was melted, reprocessed, and reinforced with either 1%wt. of SFNs or YMNs, by melt extrusion, and further processed into films by compression molding. The obtained nanocomposites were exposed to ethanolic food simulants (ethanol 10% v/v, simulant A and ethanol 50% v/v, simulant D1) and the structural, thermal, and mechanical properties were studied before and after the exposure to the food simulants. The migration levels in both food simulants were below the overall migration limits required for food contact materials. The materials were disintegrated under simulated composting conditions at the laboratory scale level and it was observed that the nanoparticles delayed the disintegration rate of the recycled PLA matrix, but nanocomposites were fully disintegrated in less than one month.
Development of CO2-Selective Polyimide-Based Gas Separation Membranes Using Crown Ether and Polydimethylsiloxane
Authors: Kim Dongyoung , Hossain Iqubal , Husna Asmaul , Kim Tae-Hyun
Published: June 2021

A series of CO2-selective polyimides (CE-PDMS-PI-x) was synthesized by copolymerizing crown ether diamine (trans-diamino-DB18C6) and PDMS-diamine with 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) di-phthalic anhydride (6FDA) through the polycondensation reaction. The structural characteristics of the copolymers and corresponding membranes were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The effect of PDMS loading on the CE-PDMS-PI-x copolymers was further analyzed and a very good structure–property relationship was found. A well-distributed soft PDMS unit played a key role in the membrane’s morphology, in which improved CO2-separation performance was observed at a low PDMS content (5 wt %). In contrast, the fine-grained phase separation adversely affected the separation behavior at a certain level of PDMS loading, and the PDMS was found to provide a flexible gas-diffusion path, affecting only the permeability without changing the selective gas-separation performance for the copolymers with a PDMS content of 20% or above.
In-Situ One-Step Direct Loading of Agents in Poly(acrylic acid) Coating Deposited by Aerosol-Assisted Open-Air Plasma
Authors: Morand Gabriel , Chevallier Pascale , Guyon Cédric , Tatoulian Michael , Mantovani Diego
Published: June 2021

In biomaterials and biotechnology, coatings loaded with bioactive agents are used to trigger biological responses by acting as drug release platforms and modulating surface properties. In this work, direct deposition of poly(acrylic acid) coatings containing various agents, such as dyes, fluorescent molecules, was achieved by aerosol-assisted open-air plasma. Using an original precursors injection strategy, an acrylic acid aerosol was loaded with an aqueous aerosol and deposited on silicon wafers. Results clearly showed that agents dissolved in the aqueous aerosol were successfully entrapped in the final coating. The effect of aerosols concentration, flow rate, and treatment time, on the coating morphology and the amount of entrapped agents, was also investigated. It was demonstrated that this process has the potential to entrap a tunable amount of any sensible water-soluble agent without altering its activity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the loading of an aqueous aerosol in coatings deposited by plasma from a liquid aerosol precursor is reported. This innovative approach complements plasma deposition of coatings loaded with bioactive agents from aqueous aerosols with the use of non-volatile liquid precursors.
Application of Analytical Methods for the Comprehensive Analysis of Oleogels—A Review
Authors: Pușcaș Andreea , Mureșan Vlad , Muste Sevastița
Published: June 2021

Numerous empirical studies have already been conducted on the innovative fat-replacing system defined as oleogel, creating a real urge for setting up a framework for future research, rather than conducting studies with arbitrary methods. This study re-evaluates the utility of some analyses and states some conclusions in order to eliminate the reluctance of food processors and consumers towards the utilization of oleogels as ingredients. The review presents extensively the methods applied for the characterization of various oleogels, while highlighting their addressability or inconveniences. The discussed methods were documented from the research published in the last five years. A classification of the methods is proposed based on their aims or the utility of the results, which either describe the nano-structure and the network formation, the quality of the resulting oleogel or its suitability as food ingredient or other edible purposes. The general conclusions drawn for some classes of oleogels were also revisited, in order to ease the understanding of the oleogel behaviour, to encourage innovative research approaches and to stimulate the progress in the state of art of knowledge.
Numerical Study on Application Conditions of Equivalent Continuum Method for Modeling Heat Transfer in Fractured Geothermal Reservoirs
Authors: Zeng Yuchao , Sun Fangdi , Zhai Haizhen
Published: June 2021

The equivalent continuum method an effective approach for modeling heat transfer in fractured geothermal reservoirs. However, presently there is a lack of systematical and profound study on application conditions of the equivalent porous media (EPM) method. In this study, we numerically investigated the application conditions of the EPM method based on geological data of Yangbajing geothermal field. The results indicate that when fracture spacing is within 3–25 m, the results of the EPM method are basically in the same levels as those of the MINC method. However, when the fracture spacing is within 25–300 m, differences of the EPM method from the MINC method increase with the fracture spacing, so when the fracture spacing is within 25–300 m, it is unreasonable to adopt the EPM method to simulate the fractured reservoirs. With the fracture spacing increasing within 25–300 m, the system production temperature and electric power will gradually decrease; the injection pressure, reservoir impedance and pump power will gradually increase; and the energy efficiency will gradually decrease.
Latter-Day Saint Liturgy: The Administration of the Body and Blood of Jesus
Authors: Faulconer James E.
Published: June 2021

Latter-day Saint (“Mormon”) liturgy opens its participants to a world undefined by a stark border between the transcendent and immanent, with an emphasis on embodiment and relationality. The formal rites of the temple, and in particular that part of the rite called “the endowment”, act as a frame that erases the immanent–transcendent border. Within that frame, the more informal liturgy of the weekly administration of the blood and body of Christ, known as “the sacrament”, transforms otherwise mundane acts of living into acts of worship that sanctify life as a whole. I take a phenomenological approach, hoping that doing so will deepen interpretations that a more textually based approach might miss. Drawing on the works of Robert Orsi, Edward S. Casey, Paul Moyaert, and Nicola King, I argue that the Latter-day Saint sacrament is not merely a ritualized sign of Christ’s sacrifice. Instead, through the sacrament, Christ perdures with its participants in an act of communal memorialization by which church members incarnate the coming of the divine community of love and fellow suffering. Participants inhabit a hermeneutically transformed world as covenant children born again into the family of God.
Regulation of TREM1-Mediated Inflammation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Rai Vikrant , Agrawal Devendra K.
Published: June 2021

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), accounting for more than 90% of cases of primary liver cancer, is the third most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Chronic inflammation precedes the development of cirrhosis and HCC. TREM (triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell)-1 is an inflammatory marker and amplifier of inflammation that signals through PI3K and ERK1/2 to activate transcription factors, resulting in increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, causing chronic inflammation and predisposing the liver to carcinogenesis. Thus, targeting TREM-1 in HCC might be a potential therapeutic target. A low level of vitamin D has been associated with chronic inflammation and poor prognosis in HCC. Thus, we evaluated the effect of vitamin D on TREM-1 expression in the HCC cell line. Additionally, the effects of high mobility group box-1, lipopolysaccharide, and transcription factor PU.1 on the expression of TREM-1 in normal liver cells and HCC cells have been investigated in the presence and absence of vitamin D. The results showed increased expression of TREM-1 in HCC cells and with IL-6, TNF-α, LPS, and rHMGB-1 and decreased expression with calcitriol. Calcitriol also attenuated the effect of IL-6, TNF-α, LPS, and rHMGB-1 on TREM-1. Calcitriol treatment attenuated the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells. These results (in vitro) provide molecular and biochemical evidence that calcitriol significantly attenuates the expression of mediators of inflammation, and thus might be used therapeutically together with conventional treatment to delay the progression of HCC. Additionally, the negative regulation of TREM-1 by PU.1 suggests PU.1 as a potential therapeutic target.
A Finite Mixture Modelling Perspective for Combining Experts’ Opinions with an Application to Quantile-Based Risk Measures
Authors: Makariou Despoina , Barrieu Pauline , Tzougas George
Published: June 2021

The key purpose of this paper is to present an alternative viewpoint for combining expert opinions based on finite mixture models. Moreover, we consider that the components of the mixture are not necessarily assumed to be from the same parametric family. This approach can enable the agent to make informed decisions about the uncertain quantity of interest in a flexible manner that accounts for multiple sources of heterogeneity involved in the opinions expressed by the experts in terms of the parametric family, the parameters of each component density, and also the mixing weights. Finally, the proposed models are employed for numerically computing quantile-based risk measures in a collective decision-making context.
Multiscale Information Fusion for Hyperspectral Image Classification Based on Hybrid 2D-3D CNN
Authors: Gong Hang , Li Qiuxia , Li Chunlai , Dai Haishan , He Zhiping , Wang Wenjing , Li Haoyang , Han Feng , Tuniyazi Abudusalamu , Mu Tingkui
Published: June 2021

Hyperspectral images are widely used for classification due to its rich spectral information along with spatial information. To process the high dimensionality and high nonlinearity of hyperspectral images, deep learning methods based on convolutional neural network (CNN) are widely used in hyperspectral classification applications. However, most CNN structures are stacked vertically in addition to using a onefold size of convolutional kernels or pooling layers, which cannot fully mine the multiscale information on the hyperspectral images. When such networks meet the practical challenge of a limited labeled hyperspectral image dataset—i.e., “small sample problem”—the classification accuracy and generalization ability would be limited. In this paper, to tackle the small sample problem, we apply the semantic segmentation function to the pixel-level hyperspectral classification due to their comparability. A lightweight, multiscale squeeze-and-excitation pyramid pooling network (MSPN) is proposed. It consists of a multiscale 3D CNN module, a squeezing and excitation module, and a pyramid pooling module with 2D CNN. Such a hybrid 2D-3D-CNN MSPN framework can learn and fuse deeper hierarchical spatial–spectral features with fewer training samples. The proposed MSPN was tested on three publicly available hyperspectral classification datasets: Indian Pine, Salinas, and Pavia University. Using 5%, 0.5%, and 0.5% training samples of the three datasets, the classification accuracies of the MSPN were 96.09%, 97%, and 96.56%, respectively. In addition, we also selected the latest dataset with higher spatial resolution, named WHU-Hi-LongKou, as the challenge object. Using only 0.1% of the training samples, we could achieve a 97.31% classification accuracy, which is far superior to the state-of-the-art hyperspectral classification methods.
Leaderboard Positions and Stress—Experimental Investigations into an Element of Gamification
Authors: Schlömmer Marc , Spieß Teresa , Schlögl Stephan
Published: June 2021

Gamification, i.e., the use of game elements in non-game contexts, aims to increase peoples’ motivation and productivity in professional settings. While previous work has shown both positive as well as negative effects of gamification, there have been barely any studies so far that investigate the impact different gamification elements may have on perceived stress. The aim of the experimental study presented in this paper was thus to explore the relationship between (1) leaderboards, a gamification element which exchanges and compares results, (2) heart rate variability (HRV), used as a relatively objective measure for stress, and (3) task performance. We used a coordinative smartphone game, a manipulated web-based leaderboard, and a heart rate monitor (chest strap) to investigate respective effects. A total of n = 34 test subjects participated in the experiment. They were split into two equally sized groups so as to measure the effect of the manipulated leaderboard positions. Results show no significant relationship between the measured HRV and leaderboard positions. Neither did we find a significant link between the measured HRV and subjects’ task performance. We may thus argue that our experiment did not yield sufficient evidence to support the assumption that leaderboard positions increase perceived stress and that such may negatively influence task performance.
Analysis of Pedestrian–Motor Vehicle Crashes in San Antonio, Texas
Authors: Billah Khondoker , Sharif Hatim O. , Dessouky Samer
Published: June 2021

Pedestrian safety is becoming a global concern and an understanding of the contributing factors to severe pedestrian crashes is crucial. This study analyzed crash data for San Antonio, TX, over a six-year period to understand the effects of pedestrian–vehicle crash-related variables on pedestrian injury severity based on the party at fault and to identify high-risk locations. Bivariate analysis and logistic regression were used to identify the most significant predictors of severe pedestrian crashes. High-risk locations were identified through heat maps and hotspot analysis. A failure to yield the right of way and driver inattention were the primary contributing factors to pedestrian–vehicle crashes. Fatal and incapacitating injury risk increased substantially when the pedestrian was at fault. The strongest predictors of severe pedestrian injury include the lighting condition, the road class, the speed limit, traffic control, collision type, the age of the pedestrian, and the gender of the pedestrian. The downtown area had the highest crash density, but crash severity hotspots were identified outside of the downtown area. Resource allocation to high-risk locations, a reduction in the speed limit, an upgrade of the lighting facilities in high pedestrian activity areas, educational campaigns for targeted audiences, the implementation of more crosswalks, pedestrian refuge islands, raised medians, and the use of leading pedestrian interval and hybrid beacons are recommended.
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Urban Freight—Competition for Space in Densely Populated Cities
Authors: Cruz-Daraviña Paola Andrea , Sánchez-Díaz Iván , Bocarejo Suescún Juan Pablo
Published: June 2021

This paper assesses the effects on urban freight transportation of implementing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems. BRT systems have been widely implemented in Latin American cities in recent decades, with positive results driven by their high capacity and relatively low cost. Implementing BRT strategic corridors has led to changes in land use, and has required some restrictions on other urban traffic, particularly freight. These restrictions have significantly affected the supply of goods to establishments along those corridors, restricting freight operations and urban freight traffic in general. This paper studies the overall effects of BRT system implementation on urban freight using Cali (Colombia) as a representative case study to understand the origin and size of these impacts. Six key criteria were analyzed to assess the impacts of implementing a BRT system: 1. Mobility patterns; 2. environmental impacts; 3. infrastructure; 4. land-use; 5. legislation; and 6. geographic distribution. Observations and semi-structured interviews were used to complement hard data. The results from Cali show that the areas surrounding BRT corridors generate more than 62% of urban freight traffic. This concentration of freight activity has exacerbated the negative effects of restrictions that have accompanied BRT implementation and altered freight mobility and land-use patterns, not only locally but within the city centre, as well as suburban areas. In summary, the results show that post implementation, a significant share of freight-related externalities were amplified and transferred from BRT corridors to other parts of the city and to inter-regional corridors as well.
The Leading Digital Technology Companies and Their Approach to Sustainable Development
Authors: Jones Peter , Wynn Martin
Published: June 2021

The increasingly stellar attraction of the digital technologies and the growing, though not universal, consensus of the need to build a sustainable future, are two powerful trends within society. The aim of this article is to offer an exploratory review of how the leading companies within the digital transformation market have addressed sustainable development. As such, the article’s originality and value lie in offering a review of current corporate thinking within that market. The study adopts an inductive, qualitative approach based on an examination of published company reports, and identifies six major sustainability themes being actively promoted and supported. The article concludes that the current sustainability objectives of the technology companies are driven as much by commercial reality as any altruistic motives, and that support and promotion of the circular economy may offer the best opportunity for digital technologies to meaningfully impact sustainable development.
Field Experiment Effect on Citrus Spider Mite Panonychus citri of Venom from Jellyfish Nemopilema nomurai: The Potential Use of Jellyfish in Agriculture
Authors: Yu Huahua , Li Rongfeng , Wang Xueqin , Yue Yang , Liu Song , Xing Ronge , Li Pengcheng
Published: June 2021

Jellyfish are rich in resources and widely distributed along coastal areas. As a potential approach to respond to jellyfish blooms, the use of jellyfish-derived products is increasing. The citrus spider mite (Panonychus citri) is one of the key citrus pests, negatively impacting the quality and quantity of oranges. Due to the resistance and residue of chemical acaricides, it is important to seek natural substitutes that are environmentally friendly. The field efficacy of the venom from the jellyfish Nemopilema nomurai against P. citri was assayed in a citrus garden. The frozen N. nomurai tentacles were sonicated in different buffers to isolate the venom. The venom isolated by PBS buffer (10 mM, pH 6.0) had the strongest acaricidal activity of the four samples, and the corrected field efficacy 7 days after treatment was up to 95.21%. This study demonstrated that jellyfish has potential use in agriculture.
Infection of Tilapia tilapinevirus in Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), a Globally Vulnerable Fish Species
Authors: Waiyamitra Pitchaporn , Piewbang Chutchai , Techangamsuwan Somporn , Liew Woei Chang , Surachetpong Win
Published: June 2021

Tilapia tilapinevirus, or tilapia lake virus (TiLV), is a highly contagious virus found in tilapia and its hybrid species that has been reported worldwide, including in Asia, the Americas, and Africa. In this study, we experimentally challenged Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) with a virulent TiLV strain, VETKU-TV01, at both low (1 × 103 TCID50/mL) and high (1 × 105 TCID50/mL) concentration. After the challenge, the Mozambique tilapia showed pale skin with some hemorrhage and erosion, lethargy, abdominal swelling, congestion around the eye, and exophthalmos; there was a cumulative mortality rate at 48.89% and 77.78% in the groups that received the low and high concentration, respectively. Quantitative PCR and in situ hybridization confirmed the presence of TiLV in the internal organs of moribund fish. Notably, severe histopathological changes, including glycogen depletion, syncytial hepatic cells containing multiple nuclei and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies, and infiltration of melanomacrophage into the spleen, were frequently found in the Mozambique tilapia challenged with high TiLV concentration. Comparatively, the infectivity and pathology of the TiLV infection in Mozambique tilapia and red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) were found to be similar. Our results confirmed the susceptibility of Mozambique tilapia, which has recently been determined to be a vulnerable species, to TiLV infection, expanding knowledge that the virus can cause disease in this fish species.
Common Polymorphisms in the Glycoproteins of Human Cytomegalovirus and Associated Strain-Specific Immunity
Authors: Wang Hsuan-Yuan , Valencia Sarah M. , Pfeifer Susanne P. , Jensen Jeffrey D. , Kowalik Timothy F. , Permar Sallie R.
Published: June 2021

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), one of the most prevalent viruses across the globe, is a common cause of morbidity and mortality for immunocompromised individuals. Recent clinical observations have demonstrated that mixed strain infections are common and may lead to more severe disease progression. This clinical observation illustrates the complexity of the HCMV genome and emphasizes the importance of taking a population-level view of genotypic evolution. Here we review frequently sampled polymorphisms in the glycoproteins of HCMV, comparing the variable regions, and summarizing their corresponding geographic distributions observed to date. The related strain-specific immunity, including neutralization activity and antigen-specific cellular immunity, is also discussed. Given that these glycoproteins are common targets for vaccine design and anti-viral therapies, this observed genetic variation represents an important resource for future efforts to combat HCMV infections.
The Role of the Stem-Loop A RNA Promoter in Flavivirus Replication
Authors: Choi Kyung H.
Published: June 2021

An essential challenge in the lifecycle of RNA viruses is identifying and replicating the viral genome amongst all the RNAs present in the host cell cytoplasm. Yet, how the viral polymerase selectively recognizes and copies the viral RNA genome is poorly understood. In flaviviruses, the 5′-end of the viral RNA genome contains a 70 nucleotide-long stem-loop, called stem-loop A (SLA), which functions as a promoter for genome replication. During replication, flaviviral polymerase NS5 specifically recognizes SLA to both initiate viral RNA synthesis and to methylate the 5′ guanine cap of the nascent RNA. While the sequences of this region vary between different flaviviruses, the three-way junction arrangement of secondary structures is conserved in SLA, suggesting that viruses recognize a common structural feature to replicate the viral genome rather than a particular sequence. To better understand the molecular basis of genome recognition by flaviviruses, we recently determined the crystal structures of flavivirus SLAs from dengue virus (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV). In this review, I will provide an overview of (1) flaviviral genome replication; (2) structures of viral SLA promoters and NS5 polymerases; and (3) and describe our current model of how NS5 polymerases specifically recognize the SLA at the 5′ terminus of the viral genome to initiate RNA synthesis at the 3′ terminus.
Goose Nephritic Astrovirus Infection of Goslings Induces Lymphocyte Apoptosis, Reticular Fiber Destruction, and CD8 T-Cell Depletion in Spleen Tissue
Authors: Ding Rui , Huang Han , Wang Hongyu , Yi Zewen , Qiu Siyu , Lv Yingjun , Bao Endong
Published: June 2021

The emergence of a novel goose nephritic astrovirus (GNAstV) has caused economic losses to the Chinese goose industry. High viral load is found in the spleen of goslings infected with GNAstV, but pathological injuries to the spleen due to GNAstV are largely unknown. In this study, 50 two-day-old goslings were infected orally with GNAstV, and 50 goslings were treated with PBS as control. Spleens were collected at different times following infection to assess damage. GNAstV infection caused visceral gout and urate deposition in joints, and resulted in 16% mortality. GNAstV was found in the lymphocytes and macrophages within the spleen. Lymphocyte loss, especially around the white pulp, and destruction and decline in the number of reticular fibers was observed in GNAstV-infected goslings. Moreover, in GNAstV-infected goslings, ultrahistopathological examination found that splenic lymphocytes exhibited condensed chromatin and apoptotic bodies, and reticular cells displayed damage to plasma membrane integrity and swollen mitochondria. Furthermore, TUNEL staining confirmed apoptosis of lymphocytes, and the mRNA levels of Fas and FasL were significantly increased in the GNAstV-infected goslings. In addition, GNAstV infection reduced the number and protein expression of CD8. In conclusion, GNAstV infection causes lymphocyte depletion, reticular cell necrosis, reticular fiber destruction, lymphocyte apoptosis, and reduction in CD8 levels, which contribute to spleen injury.