bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Individual and Additive Effects of Insecticide and Mating Disruption in Integrated Management of Navel Orangeworm in Almonds
Authors: Higbee Bradley S. , Burks Charles S.
Published: February 2021

Damage from Amyelois transitella, a key pest of almonds in California, is managed by destruction of overwintering hosts, timely harvest, and insecticides. Mating disruption has been an increasingly frequent addition to these management tools. Efficacy of mating disruption for control of navel orangeworm damage has been demonstrated in experiments that included control plots not treated with either mating disruption or insecticide. However, the navel orangeworm flies much farther than many orchard pests, so large plots of an expensive crop are required for such research. A large almond orchard was subdivided into replicate blocks of 96 to 224 ha and used to compare harvest damage from navel orangeworm in almonds treated with both mating disruption and insecticide, or with either alone. Regression of navel orangeworm damage in researcher-collected harvest samples from the interior and center of management blocks on damage in huller samples found good correlation for both and supported previous assumptions that huller samples underreport navel orangeworm damage. Blocks treated with both mating disruption and insecticide had lower damage than those treated with either alone in 9 of the 10 years examined. Use of insecticide had a stronger impact than doubling the dispenser rate from 2.5 to 5 per ha, and long-term comparisons of relative navel orangeworm damage to earlier- and later-harvested varieties revealed greater variation than previously demonstrated. These findings are an economically important confirmation of trade-offs in economic management of this critical pest. Additional monitoring tools and research tactics will be necessary to fulfill the potential of mating disruption to reduce insecticide use for navel orangeworm.
Characterization of Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease: Differences between Fibroelastic Deficiency and Barlow’s Disease
Authors: van Wijngaarden Aniek L. , Kruithof Boudewijn P. T. , Vinella Tommaso , Barge-Schaapveld Daniela Q. C. M. , Ajmone Marsan Nina
Published: February 2021

Degenerative mitral valve disease causing mitral valve prolapse is the most common cause of primary mitral regurgitation, with two distinct phenotypes generally recognized with some major differences, i.e., fibroelastic deficiency (FED) and Barlow’s disease. The aim of this review was to describe the main histological, clinical and echocardiographic features of patients with FED and Barlow’s disease, highlighting the differences in diagnosis, risk stratification and patient management, but also the still significant gaps in understanding the exact pathophysiology of these two phenotypes.
Immunological Risk Factors in Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: Guidelines Versus Current State of the Art
Authors: Vomstein Kilian , Feil Katharina , Strobel Laura , Aulitzky Anna , Hofer-Tollinger Susanne , Kuon Ruben-Jeremias , Toth Bettina
Published: February 2021

Around 1–5% of all couples experience recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Established risk factors include anatomical, genetic, endocrine, and hemostatic alterations. With around 50% of idiopathic cases, immunological risk factors are getting into the scientific focus, however international guidelines hardly take them into account. Within this review, the current state of immunological risk factors in RPL in international guidelines of the European Society of Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), German/Austrian/Swiss Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (DGGG/OEGGG/SGGG) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG) are evaluated. Special attention was drawn to recommendations in the guidelines regarding diagnostic factors such as autoantibodies, natural killer cells, regulatory T cells, dendritic cells, plasma cells, and human leukocyte antigen system (HLA)-sharing as well as treatment options such as corticosteroids, intralipids, intravenous immunoglobulins, aspirin and heparin in RPL. Finally, the current state of the art focusing on both diagnostic and therapeutic options was summarized.
Exploring the Role of Interleukin-6 Receptor Inhibitor Tocilizumab in Patients with Active Rheumatoid Arthritis and Periodontal Disease
Authors: Ancuța Codrina , Chirieac Rodica , Ancuța Eugen , Țănculescu Oana , Solomon Sorina Mihaela , Fătu Ana Maria , Doloca Adrian , Iordache Cristina
Published: February 2021

Background: The aim of our study was to explore the influence of weekly subcutaneous administration of interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor inhibitor tocilizumab (TCZ) on periodontal status in a local longitudinal study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontal disease (PD). Methods: We performed a 6-month prospective study in 51 patients with chronic periodontitis and moderate-to-severe RA starting TCZ in accordance with local recommendations. Extensive rheumatologic (clinical activity, inflammatory, serological biomarkers) and periodontal (visible plaque index, gingival index, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss) assessments were done. Changes in RA activity and periodontal status were reassessed after 3 and 6 months. Results: We demonstrated significant correlations between periodontal status, disease activity, and serologic biomarkers (p < 0.05). Tocilizumab significantly improved the gingival index scores and decreased the number of sites with bleeding on probing after only 3 months (p < 0.05), while the probing pocket depth significantly decreased after 6 months; overall, clinical attachment loss presented only slight changes without any statistical significance as well as teeth count and plaque levels (p > 0.05). Conclusion: IL-6 inhibition is able to improve periodontal outcomes in patients with RA and concomitant PD, which is essentially related to a dramatic decrease in serum inflammatory mediators.
Effects of the COVID-19 Epidemic on Hospital Admissions for Non-Communicable Diseases in a Large Italian University-Hospital: A Descriptive Case-Series Study
Authors: Caminiti Caterina , Maglietta Giuseppe , Meschi Tiziana , Ticinesi Andrea , Silva Mario , Sverzellati Nicola
Published: February 2021

Background: Concern is growing about the negative consequences that response measures to the COVID-19 epidemic may have on the management of other medical conditions. Methods: A retrospective descriptive case-series study conducted at a large University-hospital in northern Italy, an area severely hit by the epidemic. Results: Between 23 February and 14 May 2020, 4160 (52%) COVID-19 and 3778 (48%) non-COVID-19 patients were hospitalized. COVID-19 admissions peaked in the second half of March, a period characterized by an extremely high mortality rate (27.4%). The number of admissions in 2020 was similar to 2019, but COVID-19 patients gradually occupied all available beds. Comparison between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 admissions in 2020 revealed significant differences concerning all age classes and gender. Specifically, COVID-19 patients were older, predominantly male, and exhibited more comorbidities. Overall, admissions for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in 2020 vs. 2019 dropped by approximately one third. Statistically significant reductions were observed for acute myocardial infarction (−78, −33.9%), cerebrovascular disease (−235, −41.5%), and cancer (−368, −31.9%). While the first two appeared equally distributed between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients, chronic NCDs were statistically significantly more frequent in the former, except cancer, which was less frequent in COVID-19 patients. Conclusions: Prevention of collateral damage to patients with other diseases should be an integral part of epidemic response plans. Prospective cohort studies are needed to understand the long-term impact.
Medial Prefrontal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Aimed to Improve Affective and Attentional Modulation of Pain in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients
Authors: McPhee Megan E. , Graven-Nielsen Thomas
Published: February 2021

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is often without clear underlying pathology. Affective disturbance and dysfunctional pain mechanisms, commonly observed in populations with CLBP, have, therefore, been suggested as potential contributors to CLBP development and maintenance. However, little consensus exists on how these features interact and if they can be targeted using non-invasive brain stimulation. In this pilot trial, 12 participants completed two phases (Active or Sham) of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) to the medial prefrontal cortex, applied for 20 min on three consecutive days. Clinical pain ratings, questionnaires, and sensitivity to painful cuff pressure were completed at baseline, then 4 trials of conditioned pain modulation (CPM; alone, with distraction using a Flanker task, with positive affect induction, and with negative affect induction using an image slideshow) were performed prior to HD-tDCS on Day 1 and Day 4 (24 h post-HD-tDCS). At baseline, attentional and affective manipulations were effective in inducing the desired state (p < 0.001) but did not significantly change the magnitude of CPM-effect. Active HD-tDCS was unable to significantly alter the magnitude of the shift in valence and arousal due to affective manipulations, nor did it alter the magnitude of CPM under any basal, attentional, or affective manipulation trial significantly on Day 4 compared to sham. The CPM-effect was greater across all manipulations on Day 1 than Day 4 (p < 0.02) but also showed poor reliability across days. Future work is needed to expand upon these findings and better understand how and if HD-tDCS can be used to enhance attentional and affective effects on pain modulation.
Cigarette Smoking, miR-27b Downregulation, and Peripheral Artery Disease: Insights into the Mechanisms of Smoking Toxicity
Authors: Pereira-da-Silva Tiago , Napoleão Patrícia , Costa Marina C. , Gabriel André F. , Selas Mafalda , Silva Filipa , Enguita Francisco J. , Ferreira Rui Cruz , Carmo Miguel Mota
Published: February 2021

Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for the development of peripheral artery disease (PAD), although the proatherosclerotic mediators of cigarette smoking are not entirely known. We explored whether circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are dysregulated in cigarette smokers and associated with the presence of PAD. Ninety-four participants were recruited, including 58 individuals without and 36 with PAD, 51 never smokers, 28 prior smokers, and 15 active smokers. The relative expression of six circulating miRNAs with distinct biological roles (miR-21, miR-27b, miR-29a, miR-126, miR-146, and miR-218) was assessed. Cigarette smoking was associated with the presence of PAD in multivariate analysis. Active smokers, but not prior smokers, presented miR-27b downregulation and higher leukocyte, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts; miR-27b expression levels were independently associated with active smoking. Considering the metabolic and/or inflammatory abnormalities induced by cigarette smoking, miR-27b was independently associated with the presence of PAD and downregulated in patients with more extensive PAD. In conclusion, the atheroprotective miR-27b was downregulated in active smokers, but not in prior smokers, and miR-27b expression was independently associated with the presence of PAD. These unreported data suggest that the proatherogenic properties of cigarette smoking are mediated by a downregulation of miR-27b, which may be attenuated by smoking cessation.
Quantification of Bacteria in Mouth-Rinsing Solution for the Diagnosis of Periodontal Disease
Authors: Kim Jeong-Hwa , Oh Jae-Woon , Lee Young , Yun Jeong-Ho , Choi Seong-Ho , Lee Dong-Woon
Published: February 2021

This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of diagnosing periodontitis via the identification of 18 bacterial species in mouth-rinse samples. Patients (n = 110) who underwent dental examinations in the Department of Periodontology at the Veterans Health Service Medical Center between 2018 and 2019 were included. They were divided into healthy and periodontitis groups. The overall number of bacteria, and those of 18 specific bacteria, were determined via real-time polymerase chain reaction in 92 mouth-rinse samples. Differences between groups were evaluated through logistic regression after adjusting for sex, age, and smoking history. There was a significant difference in the prevalence (healthy vs. periodontitis group) of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (2.9% vs. 13.5%), Treponema denticola (42.9% vs. 69.2%), and Prevotella nigrescens (80% vs. 2.7%). Levels of Treponema denticola, Prevotella nigrescens, and Streptococcus mitis were significantly associated with severe periodontitis. We demonstrated the feasibility of detecting periopathogenic bacteria in mouth-rinse samples obtained from patients with periodontitis. As we did not comprehensively assess all periopathogenic bacteria, further studies are required to assess the potential of oral-rinsing solutions to indicate oral infection risk and the need to improve oral hygiene, and to serve as a complementary method for periodontal disease diagnosis.
Bioactive Polymeric Materials for the Advancement of Regenerative Medicine
Authors: Iovene Anthony , Zhao Yuwen , Wang Shue , Amoako Kagya
Published: February 2021

Biopolymers are widely accepted natural materials in regenerative medicine, and further development of their bioactivities and discoveries on their composition/function relationships could greatly advance the field. However, a concise insight on commonly investigated biopolymers, their current applications and outlook of their modifications for multibioactivity are scarce. This review bridges this gap for professionals and especially freshmen in the field who are also interested in modification methods not yet in commercial use. A series of polymeric materials in research and development uses are presented as well as challenges that limit their efficacy in tissue regeneration are discussed. Finally, their roles in the regeneration of select tissues including the skin, bone, cartilage, and tendon are highlighted along with modifiable biopolymer moieties for different bioactivities.
Data-Driven Regularization Parameter Selection in Dynamic MRI
Authors: Hanhela Matti , Gröhn Olli , Kettunen Mikko , Niinimäki Kati , Vauhkonen Marko , Kolehmainen Ville
Published: February 2021

In dynamic MRI, sufficient temporal resolution can often only be obtained using imaging protocols which produce undersampled data for each image in the time series. This has led to the popularity of compressed sensing (CS) based reconstructions. One problem in CS approaches is determining the regularization parameters, which control the balance between data fidelity and regularization. We propose a data-driven approach for the total variation regularization parameter selection, where reconstructions yield expected sparsity levels in the regularization domains. The expected sparsity levels are obtained from the measurement data for temporal regularization and from a reference image for spatial regularization. Two formulations are proposed. Simultaneous search for a parameter pair yielding expected sparsity in both domains (S-surface), and a sequential parameter selection using the S-curve method (Sequential S-curve). The approaches are evaluated using simulated and experimental DCE-MRI. In the simulated test case, both methods produce a parameter pair and reconstruction that is close to the root mean square error (RMSE) optimal pair and reconstruction. In the experimental test case, the methods produce almost equal parameter selection, and the reconstructions are of high perceived quality. Both methods lead to a highly feasible selection of the regularization parameters in both test cases while the sequential method is computationally more efficient.
A Comprehensive Estuarine Hydrodynamics-Salinity Study: Impact of Morphologic Changes on Ria de Aveiro (Atlantic Coast of Portugal)
Authors: Dias João Miguel , Pereira Francisco , Picado Ana , Lopes Carina Lurdes , Pinheiro João Pedro , Lopes Sérgio Miguel , Pinho Paulo Gabriel
Published: February 2021

Shallow coastal lagoons driven by tidal processes are extremely dynamic environments prone to continuous natural and anthropogenic pressures. The hydrodynamics of these systems deeply depends on the effect of local morphology on the tidal propagation, so their permanent evolution constantly changes tidal dependent processes. For this reason, the present work aims to review the main characteristics of Ria de Aveiro hydrodynamics, a shallow lagoon located at the Atlantic Coast of Portugal, evaluating its evolution over the last 30 years (between 1987 and 2020) and investigating the main morphological changes in its origin. For this purpose, a comparative analysis is performed to determine the main process, including the observed hydrodynamic changes: Deepening of the inlet channel or of the main lagoon channels. To achieve these goals, the authors explored a remarkable database including bathymetric, tide gauge, and salinity data from 1987 until the present. This analysis is completed by the exploitation of a hydrodynamical model (Delft3D), validated against field data. Several simulations were performed to analyse changes in tidal propagation along the lagoon channels (considering the main semi-diurnal constituent M2), tidal asymmetry, tidal currents, tidal prism, and salinity patterns. The results show that the general deepening of the lagoon observed between 1987 and 2020 led to important changes in the lagoon hydrodynamics, namely the increase/decrease of the M2 constituent amplitude/phase, as well as the increase of tidal currents and salt intrusion within the entire lagoon, with the changes being amplified towards the head of the main channels. Although the inlet deepening partially contributed to the modifications found, the results revealed that the deepening of the main lagoon channels had the most significant contribution to the changes observed during the last 30 years.
Preliminary Examination of the Toxicity of Spalting Fungal Pigments: A Comparison between Extraction Methods
Authors: Almurshidi Badria H. , Van Court R.C. , Vega Gutierrez Sarath M. , Harper Stacey , Harper Bryan , Robinson Seri C.
Published: February 2021

Spalting fungal pigments have shown potential in technologies ranging from green energy generation to natural colorants. However, their unknown toxicity has been a barrier to industrial adoption. In order to gain an understanding of the safety of the pigments, zebrafish embryos were exposed to multiple forms of liquid media and solvent-extracted pigments with concentrations of purified pigment ranging from 0 to 50 mM from Chlorociboria aeruginosa, Chlorociboria aeruginascens, and Scytalidium cuboideum. Purified xylindein from Chlorociboria sp. did not show toxicity at any tested concentration, while the red pigment dramada from S. cuboideum was only associated with significant toxicity above 23.2 uM. However, liquid cultures and pigment extracted into dichloromethane (DCM) showed toxicity, suggesting the co-production of bioactive secondary metabolites. Future research on purification and the bioavailability of the red dramada pigment will be important to identify appropriate use; however, purified forms of the blue-green pigment xylindein are likely safe for use across industries. This opens the door to the adoption of green technologies based on these pigments, with potential to replace synthetic colorants and less stable natural pigments.
Time-Consistent Investment and Consumption Strategies under a General Discount Function
Authors: Alia Ishak , Chighoub Farid , Khelfallah Nabil , Vives Josep
Published: February 2021

In the present paper, we investigate the Merton portfolio management problem in the context of non-exponential discounting, a context that gives rise to time-inconsistency of the decision-maker. We consider equilibrium policies within the class of open-loop controls that are characterized, in our context, by means of a variational method which leads to a stochastic system that consists of a flow of forward-backward stochastic differential equations and an equilibrium condition. An explicit representation of the equilibrium policies is provided for the special cases of power, logarithmic and exponential utility functions.
Optimal Irrigation Regime for Woody Species Potentially Suitable for Effective and Sustainable Afforestation in the Desert Region of Mongolia
Authors: Byambadorj Ser-Oddamba , Park Byung Bae , Hernandez Jonathan O. , Dulamsuren Narantugs , Sainbuyan Zoljargal , Altantugs Oyuntugs , Sharavdorj Khulan , Seong In Kyeong , Batkhuu Nyam-Osor
Published: February 2021

Long-term studies on plant response mechanisms to different irrigation regimes will provide a better understanding of the survivability and establishment of plant communities in a desert environment. Thus, across 10 years, we regularly investigated the effects of the rainfall (control), rainfall + 4 L h−1, rainfall + 8 L h−1, and rainfall + 12 L h−1 irrigation regimes on the growth and leaf morpho-physiology of Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb., Ulmus pumila L., Elaeagnus moorcroftii Wall. ex Schltdl., and Hippophae rhamnoides L. to suggest an optimal irrigation regime for each woody species for effective and sustainable afforestation in Mongolia. We measured the root collar diameter (RCD), annual height growth, survivability, leaf area (LA), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf biomass (LB), total chlorophyll concentration, and predawn (ψp) and midday (ψm) leaf water potentials across the treatments and species. Results showed that trees grown at 12 L h−1 grew taller per year and generally resulted in a higher SLA, but generally resulted in a lower survival rate compared with those in the other treatments in all species. Total chlorophyll content was higher in trees grown under 4 and/or 8 L h−1, particularly for T. ramosissima and E. moorcroftii. Lastly, leaf water potentials were found more negative for trees subjected to 4 L h−1, especially in T. ramosissima and U. pumila, but still resulted in a higher survival rate and LB compared with 12 L h−1. H. rhamnoides showed higher survivability at 8 and/or 12 L h−1 than at 4 L h−1. Therefore, we suggest 4 L h−1 to be the optimal irrigation regime for irrigating T. ramosissima, U. pumila and E. moorcroftii, and 8 and/or 12 L h−1 for H. rhamnoides. Our findings are relevant to ensuring the sustainability of afforestation programs in arid and semiarid landscapes in Mongolia.
Transfer Patterns and Drivers of Embodied Agricultural Land within China: Based on Multi-Regional Decomposition Analysis
Authors: Han Mengyao , Li Shuchang
Published: February 2021

Agricultural land is fundamental to human survival and economic development. Unlike other resources, land resources are embodied in trade goods and commodities, which are continuously re-allocated between countries and regions. As a typical ecological element, agricultural land embodied in trade activities can play an essential role in allocating land resources and advancing agricultural development. Based on the multi-regional decomposition analysis, this study investigated the embodied agricultural land flows among 31 provinces/municipalities of China, and classified the transfer patterns into different drivers including intensity-, trade-, and specialization-driven types. The results showed that the total amount of embodied agricultural land is approximately half of the direct agricultural land use area. Among these regions, Heilongjiang had the largest embodied agricultural land outflows, while Guangdong showed a deficit of agricultural land with embodied inflows. For regions such as Heilongjiang, the relatively high intensity and trade specialization significantly contributed to the embodied agricultural land outflows. For municipalities such as Beijing and Shanghai in China, the embodied agricultural land played a practical role in balancing increasingly scarce land resources. From the embodied perspective, agricultural land linkages between supply and demand in different regions could provide a new perspective to address the agricultural land shortage and avoid the inefficient transfer flows, contributing to the optimal allocation of agricultural land within China.
A Regional GIS-Assisted Multi-Criteria Evaluation of Site-Suitability for the Development of Solar Farms
Authors: Prieto-Amparán Jesús A. , Pinedo-Alvarez Alfredo , Morales-Nieto Carlos R. , Valles-Aragón María C. , Álvarez-Holguín Alan , Villarreal-Guerrero Federico
Published: February 2021

One of the fastest-growing renewable energy sources is solar energy. A strategic step for a well-performing solar project is site identification. The evaluation of site-suitability is a complex task, where multiple qualitative and quantitative criteria, inherent to the territory, are involved. In this study, a GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methodology for site-suitability evaluation in the development of solar farms (DSF) is presented. Two scenarios, the ranking method (RM) and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), each representing a different weighting approach, were tested. A case study was performed for the Desert of Chihuahua, Mexico, a region with the potential to provide a significant portion of the country’s energy demand. The RM was more stringent and identified less area with high suitability (1237 km2) compared to the AHP (4983 km2). Given its flexibility in assigning weights, the AHP is considered to have greater potential in identifying site-suitability levels. The final suitability maps of the AHP showed the northern part of the study region to have high suitability for the DSF. Thus, sites in this area could be used for the construction of solar energy projects in the future. This methodology provides a useful tool for land-use planning based on its suitability level.
A Preliminary Study on the Impact of Landscape Pattern Changes Due to Urbanization: Case Study of Jakarta, Indonesia
Authors: Maheng Dikman , Pathirana Assela , Zevenbergen Chris
Published: February 2021

Urbanization is changing land use–land cover (LULC) transforming green spaces (GS) and bodies of water into built-up areas. LULC change is affecting ecosystem services (ES) in urban areas, such as by decreasing of the water retention capacity, the urban temperature regulation capacity and the carbon sequestration. The relation between LULC change and ES is still poorly examined and quantified using actual field data. In most ES studies, GS is perceived as lumped areas instead of distributed areas, implicitly ignoring landscape patterns (LP), such as connectivity and aggregation. This preliminary study is one of the first to provide quantitative evidence of the influence of landscape pattern changes on a selection of urban ecosystem services in a megacity as Jakarta, Indonesia. The impact of urbanization on the spatiotemporal changes of ES has been identified by considering connectivity and aggregation of GS. It reveals that LP changes have significantly decreased carbon sequestration, temperature regulation, and runoff regulation by 10.4, 12.4, and 11.5%, respectively. This indicates that the impact of GS on ES is not only determined by its area, but also by its LP. Further detailed studies will be needed to validate these results.
Landscape and Tourism as Tools for Local Development in Mid-Mountain Rural Areas in the Southeast of Spain (Castilla-La Mancha)
Authors: Abellán Francisco Cebrián , García Martínez Carmen
Published: February 2021

The modernization of economic activities in mountain areas is conditioned by the physical characteristics of the territory, the weight of activities related to the primary sector, infrastructure deficits, low population density, as well as the declining and ageing population. The response to this situation has involved implementing a certain degree of functional diversification. One of the aspects that has assisted in the expansion of the tertiary sector is leisure and recreational activities. Rural tourism in European mid-mountain regions has emerged as a key element, supported by local development strategies and changing preferences in demand. In the tourism industry, the resources are the raw material, in which landscape plays a leading role. The aim of this prospective study is to evaluate the landscape as a heritage and a tourism resource, focusing on its capacity to reactivate depressed rural areas of inland Spain (mid-mountain areas in the southeast of the autonomous region of Castilla-La Mancha). The study is based on opinions provided by tourists and uses a directed survey as an analytical tool. The results highlight the key role of landscape, especially natural landscape, in the use of such areas for tourism. This, in turn, underlines the need for a greater focus on organizing how the landscape is utilized.
HBV/HDV Co-Infection: Epidemiological and Clinical Changes, Recent Knowledge and Future Challenges
Authors: Sagnelli Caterina , Sagnelli Evangelista , Russo Antonio , Pisaturo Mariantonietta , Occhiello Laura , Coppola Nicola
Published: February 2021

Several investigations have been published on Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) infection in recent years, from which we have drawn the salient data to provide readers with useful information to improve their knowledge on the subject. HDV genotypes 5–8 have been recently imported to Western countries from central Africa, whose clinical relevance deserves further investigation. Ongoing HDV replication has been identified as an independent predictor of progression to cirrhosis and HCC for patients with HDV chronic hepatitis (HDV-CH). Long-term treatments of HDV-CH with standard or pegylated interferon alfa (peg-IFN-α) have all been unsatisfactory, leading to a sustained virological response (SVR) only in 20–30% of patients treated, faced with a poor tolerability and frequent serious adverse reactions; the addition of HBV nucleo(s)tide analogues to peg-IFN- α did not improve the rate of SVR. The improved knowledge of the HDV life cycle has allowed the development of direct acting agents towards key-points of the HDV life cycle, namely bulevirtide, lonafarnib and nucleic acid polymers. Preliminary data have shown that these drugs are more effective than interferon-based therapies, but adverse reactions are also common, which however seem toned down in combination therapy with other antivirals.
Numerical Analysis of a Continuous Vulcanization Line to Enhance CH4 Reduction in XLPE-Insulated Cables
Authors: Ruslan Mohd Fuad Anwari Che , Youn Dong Joon , Aarons Roshan , Sun Yabin , Sun Shuyu
Published: February 2021

Herein, we apply a computational diffusion model based on Fick’s law to study the manner in which a cable production line and its operating conditions can be enhanced to effectively reduce the CH4 concentration in cables insulated with cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE). Thus, we quantitatively analyze the effect of the conductor temperature, curing tube temperature distribution, transition zone length, and online relaxation on CH4 generation and transport during the production of 132 kV cables with an insulation thickness of 16.3 mm. Results show that the conductor temperature, which is initially controlled by a preheater, and the curing tube temperature distribution considerably affect the CH4 concentration in the cable because of their direct impact on the insulation temperature. The simulation results show 2.7% less CH4 remaining in the cable when the preheater is set at 160 °C compared with that when no preheater is used. To study the curing tube temperature distribution, we consider three distribution patterns across the curing tube: constant temperature and linear incremental and decremental temperature. The amount of CH4 remaining in the cable when the temperature was linearly increased from 300 to 400 °C was 1.6% and 3.7% lower than in the cases with a constant temperature at 350 °C and a linear temperature decrease from 400 to 300 °C, respectively. In addition, simulations demonstrate that the amount of CH4 removal from the cable can be increased up to 9.7% by applying an elongated and insulated transition zone, which extends the residence time for CH4 removal and decelerates the decrease in cable temperature. Finally, simulations show that the addition of the online relaxation section can reduce the CH4 concentration in the cable because the high cable temperature in this section facilitates CH4 removal up to 2.2%, and this effect becomes greater at low production speeds.
Machine Learning Data Imputation and Prediction of Foraging Group Size in a Kleptoparasitic Spider
Authors: Su Yong-Chao , Wu Cheng-Yu , Yang Cheng-Hong , Li Bo-Sheng , Moi Sin-Hua , Lin Yu-Da
Published: February 2021

Cost–benefit analysis is widely used to elucidate the association between foraging group size and resource size. Despite advances in the development of theoretical frameworks, however, the empirical systems used for testing are hindered by the vagaries of field surveys and incomplete data. This study developed the three approaches to data imputation based on machine learning (ML) algorithms with the aim of rescuing valuable field data. Using 163 host spider webs (132 complete data and 31 incomplete data), our results indicated that the data imputation based on random forest algorithm outperformed classification and regression trees, the k-nearest neighbor, and other conventional approaches (Wilcoxon signed-rank test and correlation difference have p-value from < 0.001–0.030). We then used rescued data based on a natural system involving kleptoparasitic spiders from Taiwan and Vietnam (Argyrodes miniaceus, Theridiidae) to test the occurrence and group size of kleptoparasites in natural populations. Our partial least-squares path modelling (PLS-PM) results demonstrated that the size of the host web (T = 6.890, p = 0.000) is a significant feature affecting group size. The resource size (T = 2.590, p = 0.010) and the microclimate (T = 3.230, p = 0.001) are significant features affecting the presence of kleptoparasites. The test of conformation of group size distribution to the ideal free distribution (IFD) model revealed that predictions pertaining to per-capita resource size were underestimated (bootstrap resampling mean slopes <IFD predicted slopes, p < 0.001). These findings highlight the importance of applying appropriate ML methods to the handling of missing field data.
Fibonacci, Golden Ratio, and Vector Bundles
Authors: Giansiracusa Noah
Published: February 2021

There is a family of vector bundles over the moduli space of stable curves that, while first appearing in theoretical physics, has been an active topic of study for algebraic geometers since the 1990s. By computing the rank of the exceptional Lie algebra g2 case of these bundles in three different ways, a family of summation formulas for Fibonacci numbers in terms of the golden ratio is derived.
Robust Stabilization of Interval Plants with Uncertain Time-Delay Using the Value Set Concept
Authors: Zamora Pedro , Arceo Alejandro , Martínez Noé , Romero Gerardo , Garza Luis E.
Published: February 2021

This paper considers the robust stabilization problem for interval plants with parametric uncertainty and uncertain time-delay based on the value set characterization of closed-loop control systems and the zero exclusion principle. Using Kharitonov’s polynomials, it is possible to establish a sufficient condition to guarantee the robust stability property. This condition allows us to solve the control synthesis problem using conditions similar to those established in the loopshaping technique and to parameterize the controllers using stable polynomials constructed from classical orthogonal polynomials.
Stability Concepts of Riemann-Liouville Fractional-Order Delay Nonlinear Systems
Authors: Agarwal Ravi , Hristova Snezhana , O’Regan Donal
Published: February 2021

First, we set up in an appropriate way the initial value problem for nonlinear delay differential equations with a Riemann-Liouville (RL) fractional derivative. We define stability in time and generalize Mittag-Leffler stability for RL fractional differential equations and we study stability properties by an appropriate modification of the Razumikhin method. Two different types of derivatives of Lyapunov functions are studied: the RL fractional derivative when the argument of the Lyapunov function is any solution of the studied problem and a special type of Dini fractional derivative among the studied problem.
Canonical Almost Geodesic Mappings of the First Type of Spaces with Affine Connections onto Generalized m-Ricci-Symmetric Spaces
Authors: Berezovski Volodymyr , Cherevko Yevhen , Mikeš Josef , Rýparová Lenka
Published: February 2021

In the paper we consider almost geodesic mappings of the first type of spaces with affine connections onto generalized 2-Ricci-symmetric spaces, generalized 3-Ricci-symmetric spaces, and generalized m-Ricci-symmetric spaces. In either case the main equations for the mappings are obtained as a closed system of linear differential equations of Cauchy type in the covariant derivatives. The obtained results extend an amount of research produced by N.S. Sinyukov, V.E. Berezovski, J. Mikeš.
Lung Adenocarcinoma Presenting as a Soft Tissue Metastasis to the Shoulder: A Case Report
Authors: Hashimoto Kazuhiko , Nishimura Shunji , Akagi Masao
Published: February 2021

Background: Metastasis to soft tissue is rare, and the pathogenesis remains unclear. Soft tissue metastases (STMs) have varied presentations; existing reports are few. Herein, we report a case of STMs of the shoulder with a rich characterization. Case presentation: A 93-year-old man presented to our hospital with pain and swelling of the left shoulder for one week. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a T1 low-intensity and T2 high-intensity mass. We suspected a primary sarcoma and performed a needle biopsy. However, on histopathological examination, the findings were suggestive of lung adenocarcinoma. Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography-computed tomography also revealed FDG accumulation in the right lung, thus confirming the diagnosis. Conclusion: Oncologists should keep in mind that STMs of lung cancer may resemble soft-tissue sarcomas at the time of initial diagnosis.
Lyme Disease among Patients at an Ambulatory Unit in a Highly Endemic Country: Lithuania
Authors: Petrulionienė Agnė , Radzišauskienė Daiva , Paulauskas Algimantas , Venalis Algirdas
Published: February 2021

Background and objectives: Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne infectious disease in Europe, caused by the spirocheta bacteria of Borrelia burgdorferi. Several genospecies of B. burgdorferi are pathogenic to humans. B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, which is prevalent in North America, causes reactive arthritis, whereas B. garinii and B. afzelii, common in Europe, can affect the skin, heart, or nervous system; it has been shown that the clinical symptoms of the disease may be very different. The objective of this study was to identify the baseline characteristics of Lyme disease and to elucidate the frequency of different Lyme disease syndromes in Lithuania. Materials and Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with Lyme disease during an ambulatory visit to the Center of Infectious Diseases, Vilnius University Santaros clinics, from 2014 to 2016, were enrolled in this study. A retrospective material analysis was conducted. Results: In total, 1005 patients were enrolled with the following prevalence of clinical syndromes: erythema migrans (EM), 945 (94.02%); Lyme arthritis, 32 (3.18%); neuroborreliosis, 23 (2.28%); Lyme carditis, 4 (0.39%); and acrodermatitis, 1 (0.09%). Erythema migrans was dominant among middle-aged women, with a rash appearing mainly on the lower extremities. Lyme arthritis mainly manifested among middle-aged women as an oligoarthritis, mostly affecting the knee joint. Neuroborreliosis was seen more often in middle-aged women than men and the main symptom was nervus facialis neuropathy. Lyme carditis, manifested as an atrioventricular block, with a male/female ratio of 3:1, and the median age was 51. Acrodermatitis was diagnosed in a 61-year-old woman, as a painful, red rash on the hand. Conclusions: According to the prevalence of B. garinii and B. afzelii in Europe, previously it was thought that Lyme disease presented as erythema migrans, and less frequently as neuroborreliosis; however, this study revealed that other syndromes may also be seen. In addition, we revealed that the longer it takes for erythema migrans to appear, the greater the likelihood of Lyme arthritis developing.
Efficient Fluoride Removal from Aqueous Solution Using Zirconium-Based Composite Nanofiber Membranes
Authors: Mohamed Alaa , Sanchez Elvia P. Valadez , Bogdanova Evgenia , Bergfeldt Britta , Mahmood Ammar , Ostvald Roman V. , Hashem Tawheed
Published: February 2021

Herein, composite nanofiber membranes (CNMs) derived from UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH2 Zr-metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were successfully prepared, and they exhibited high performance in adsorptive fluoride removal from aqueous media. The resultant CNMs were confirmed using different techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) in addition to Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The parameters that govern the fluoride adsorption were evaluated, including adsorbent dose, contact time, and pH value, in addition to initial concentration. The crystalline structures of CNMs exhibited high hydrothermal stability and remained intact after fluoride adsorption. It could also be observed that the adsorbent dose has a significant effect on fluoride removal at high alkaline values. The results show that UiO-66-NH2 CNM exhibited high fluoride removal due to electrostatic interactions that strongly existed between F− and metal sites in MOF in addition to hydrogen bonds formed with MOF amino groups. The fluoride removal efficiency reached 95% under optimal conditions of 20 mg L−1, pH of 8, and 40% adsorbent dose at 60 min. The results revealed that UiO-66-NH2 CNM possesses a high maximum adsorption capacity (95 mg L−1) over UiO-66 CNM (75 mg L−1), which exhibited better fitting with the pseudo-second-order model. Moreover, when the initial fluoride concentration increased from 20 to 100 mg/L, fluoride adsorption decreased by 57% (UiO-66 CNM) and 30% (UiO-66-NH2 CNM) after 60 min. After three cycles, CNM revealed the regeneration ability, demonstrating that UiO-66-NH2 CNMs are auspicious adsorbents for fluoride from an aqueous medium.
Improvement of Barrier Properties of Biodegradable Polybutylene Succinate/Graphene Nanoplatelets Nanocomposites Prepared by Melt Process
Authors: Cosquer Raphaël , Pruvost Sébastien , Gouanvé Fabrice
Published: February 2021

Polybutylene Succinate (PBS)/Graphene nanoplatelets (GnP) nanocomposites over a range of GnP from 0 to 1.35 wt.%. were prepared by a melt process. A mixture of individual graphene nanosheets and aggregates was obtained by the addition of GnP in the PBS matrix. The presence of these fillers did not significantly modify the morphology, crystalline microstructure of the matrix or its thermal stability. However, a slight reinforcement effect of PBS was reported in the presence of GnP. The water sorption isotherm modelling with Guggenheim, Andersen and De Boer (GAB) equation and Zimm-Lundberg theory allowed a phenomenological analysis at the molecular scale. The presence of GnP did not modify the water sorption capacity of the PBS matrix. From a kinetic point of view, a decrease of the diffusion coefficient with the increasing GnP content was obtained and was attributed to a tortuosity effect. The influence of water activity was discussed over a range of 0.5 to 1 and 0 to 0.9 for water and dioxygen permeability. Improvement of the barrier properties by 38% and 35% for water and dioxygen permeability respectively were obtained.
Effect of Processing Parameters on Mechanical Properties of Deformed and Partitioned (D&P) Medium Mn Steels
Authors: Huang Chengpeng , Huang Mingxin
Published: February 2021

Deformed and partitioned (D&P) medium Mn steels exhibiting high strength, large ductility, and excellent fracture toughness have been developed recently. The ultra-high dislocation density and transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) effect are the main mechanisms for their exceptional mechanical properties. The simple processing route to manufacturing D&P steel makes it promising for large-scale industrial applications. However, the exact effect of each processing step on the final mechanical properties of D&P steel is not yet fully understood. In the present work, the effects of processing parameters on the mechanical properties of D&P steels are systematically investigated. The evolution of microstructure, tensile behavior and austenite fraction of warm rolled samples and D&P samples are revealed. Two D&P steels, with and without the intercritical annealing process, are both produced for comparison. It is revealed that the intercritical annealing process plays an insignificant role to the mechanical properties of D&P steel. The partitioning process is extremely important for obtaining large uniform elongation via slow but sustaining strain hardening by the TRIP effect in the partitioned austenite. The cold rolling process is also significant for acquiring high strength, and the cold rolling thickness reduction (CRTR) is extremely critical for the strength–ductility synergy of D&P steels.
Glucose-Binding of Periplasmic Protein GltB Activates GtrS-GltR Two-Component System in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Xu Chenchen , Cao Qiao , Lan Lefu
Published: February 2021

A two-component system GtrS-GltR is required for glucose transport activity in P. aeruginosa and plays a key role during P. aeruginosa-host interactions. However, the mechanism of action of GtrS-GltR has not been definitively established. Here, we show that gltB, which encodes a periplasmic glucose binding protein, is essential for the glucose-induced activation of GtrS-GltR in P. aeruginosa. We determined that GltB is capable of binding to membrane regulatory proteins including GtrS, the sensor kinase of the GtrS-GltR TCS. We observed that alanine substitution of glucose-binding residues abolishes the ability of GltB to promote the activation of GtrS-GltR. Importantly, like the gtrS deletion mutant, gltB deletion mutant showed attenuated virulence in both Drosophila melanogaster and mouse models of infection. In addition, using CHIP-seq experiments, we showed that the promoter of gltB is the major in vivo target of GltR. Collectively, these data suggest that periplasmic binding protein GltB and GtrS-GltR TCS form a complex regulatory circuit that regulates the virulence of P. aeruginosa in response to glucose.