bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Persuasive Effects of Message Framing and Narrative Format on Promoting COVID-19 Vaccination: A Study on Chinese College Students
Authors: Ye WeiMing , Li Qian , Yu Shubin
Published: September 2021

During a public health crisis, the provision and dissemination of health-related information are important for the relevant authorities to keep the public informed. By using different types of message framing, the authorities can effectively guide and persuade people to adopt health-related behaviors (such as vaccination). In this study, a web-based experiment using a 2 × 2 (message framing: gain framing versus loss framing) × (message presentation: narrative versus non-narrative) design was conducted to investigate the effects of different message frames on vaccination promotion. In total, 298 college students were recruited to participate in this study. The results suggest that, for message framing, loss-framed (vs. gain-framed) messages lead to higher intentions to get vaccinated. Furthermore, compared with non-narrative messages, narrative messages are more persuasive in promoting vaccination behavior. However, the interaction effect between gain–loss message framing and narrative framing is not significant. Additionally, perceived severity, perceived benefits, and perceived costs mediate the effect of narrative framing on behavioral intentions. In other words, compared with non-narrative messages, narrative messages lead to higher levels of perceived severity and perceived benefits, and a lower level of perceived costs, which in turn increase intentions to get vaccinated. This paper provides insightful implications for both researchers and practitioners.
The Role of the Pediatric Dentist in the Multidisciplinary Management of the Cleft Lip Palate Patient
Authors: Luzzi Valeria , Zumbo Giulia , Guaragna Mariana , Di Carlo Gabriele , Ierardo Gaetano , Sfasciotti Gian Luca , Bossù Maurizio , Vozza Iole , Polimeni Antonella
Published: September 2021

The focus of this paper is the pediatric dental care of Cleft Lip and Palate (CLP) children and the role of the pediatric dentist in the CLP team. The management of children with cleft lip and palate presents many challenges and a multidisciplinary and prepared team is always required. Affected individuals present a multiplicity of problems: effective management involves a wide range of specialities. The value of a multidisciplinary team is widely known and mentioned in the literature, but very few papers focus on the role and the importance of the pediatric dentist. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to underline the role of the pediatric dentist as a member of the cleft lip and palate team which ranges from prenatal counseling, presurgical prevention and orthopedics, to post-treatment rehabilitation and restoration.
Multi-Level and Multiple Aspect Semantic Trajectory Model: Application to the Tourism Domain
Authors: Cayèré Cécile , Sallaberry Christian , Faucher Cyril , Bessagnet Marie-Noëlle , Roose Philippe , Masson Maxime , Richard Jérémy
Published: September 2021

Here we design a semantic trajectory model responding to specific needs expressed by tourism analyst experts. Thus, this model takes into account: (i) the description of sequences of imbricated semantic segments, (ii) the definition of enrichment data integrating spatial, temporal and thematic dimensions and (iii) the association of such data with positions or with trajectory segments. Each of these features is necessary for the processing and analysis of tourist mobility data, which we will detail. For validation purposes, we experiment our model on two outdoor mobility track scenarios computed in a processing chain. We also show that our model is generic and extensible thanks to two other scenarios on different datasets.
An Efficient, Platform-Independent Map Rendering Framework for Mobile Augmented Reality
Authors: Huang Kejia , Wang Chenliang , Wang Shaohua , Liu Runying , Chen Guoxiong , Li Xianglong
Published: September 2021

With the extensive application of big spatial data and the emergence of spatial computing, augmented reality (AR) map rendering has attracted significant attention. A common issue in existing solutions is that AR-GIS systems rely on different platform-specific graphics libraries on different operating systems, and rendering implementations can vary across various platforms. This causes performance degradation and rendering styles that are not consistent across environments. However, high-performance rendering consistency across devices is critical in AR-GIS, especially for edge collaborative computing. In this paper, we present a high-performance, platform-independent AR-GIS rendering engine; the augmented reality universal graphics library (AUGL) engine. A unified cross-platform interface is proposed to preserve AR-GIS rendering style consistency across platforms. High-performance AR-GIS map symbol drawing models are defined and implemented based on a unified algorithm interface. We also develop a pre-caching strategy, optimized spatial-index querying, and a GPU-accelerated vector drawing algorithm that minimizes IO latency throughout the rendering process. Comparisons to existing AR-GIS visualization engines indicate that the performance of the AUGL engine is two times higher than that of the AR-GIS rendering engine on the Android, iOS, and Vuforia platforms. The drawing efficiency for vector polygons is improved significantly. The rendering performance is more than three times better than the average performances of existing Android and iOS systems.
Cyclosporine A and Tacrolimus Induce Functional Impairment and Inflammatory Reactions in Endothelial Progenitor Cells
Authors: Meyer Nadia , Brodowski Lars , von Kaisenberg Constantin , Schröder-Heurich Bianca , von Versen-Höynck Frauke
Published: September 2021

Immunosuppressants are a mandatory therapy for transplant patients to avoid rejection of the transplanted organ by the immune system. However, there are several known side effects, including alterations of the vasculature, which involve a higher occurrence of cardiovascular events. While the effects of the commonly applied immunosuppressive drugs cyclosporine A (CsA) and tacrolimus (Tac) on mature endothelial cells have been addressed in several studies, we focused our research on the unexplored effects of CsA and Tac on endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs), a subgroup of endothelial progenitor cells, which play an important role in vascular repair and angiogenesis. We hypothesized that CsA and Tac induce functional defects and activate an inflammatory cascade via NF-κB signaling in ECFCs. ECFCs were incubated with different doses (0.01 µM–10 µM) of CsA or Tac. ECFC function was determined using in vitro models. The expression of inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules was explored by quantitative real-time PCR and flow cytometry. NF-κB subunit modification was assessed by immunoblot and immunofluorescence. CsA and Tac significantly impaired ECFC function, including proliferation, migration, and tube formation. TNF-α, IL-6, VCAM, and ICAM mRNA expression, as well as PECAM and VCAM surface expression, were enhanced. Furthermore, CsA and Tac led to NF-κB p65 subunit phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. Pharmacological inhibition of NF-κB by parthenolide diminished CsA- and Tac-mediated proinflammatory effects. The data of functional impairment and activation of inflammatory signals provide new insight into mechanisms associated with CsA and Tac and cardiovascular risk in transplant patients.
Myeloid Lineage Ablation of Phlpp1 Regulates M-CSF Signaling and Tempers Bone Resorption in Female Mice
Authors: Karkache Ismael Y. , Damodaran Jeyaram R. , Molstad David H. H. , Mansky Kim C. , Bradley Elizabeth W.
Published: September 2021

Prior work demonstrated that Phlpp1 deficiency alters trabecular bone mass and enhances M-CSF responsiveness, but the cell types and requirement of Phlpp1 for this effect were unclear. To understand the function of Phlpp1 within myeloid lineage cells, we crossed Phlpp1 floxed mice with mice harboring LysM-Cre. Micro-computed tomography of the distal femur of 12-week-old mice revealed a 30% increase in bone volume per total volume of Phlpp1 female conditional knockouts, but we did not observe significant changes within male Phlpp1 cKOLysM mice. Bone histomorphmetry of the proximal tibia further revealed that Phlpp1 cKOLysM females exhibited elevated osteoclast numbers, but conversely had reduced levels of serum markers of bone resorption as compared to littermate controls. Osteoblast number and serum markers of bone formation were unchanged. In vitro assays confirmed that Phlpp1 ablation enhanced osteoclast number and area, but limited bone resorption. Additionally, reconstitution with exogenous Phlpp1 suppressed osteoclast numbers. Dose response assays demonstrated that Phlpp1−/− cells are more responsive to M-CSF, but reconstitution with Phlpp1 abrogated this effect. Furthermore, small molecule-mediated Phlpp inhibition enhanced osteoclast numbers and size. Enhanced phosphorylation of Phlpp substrates—including Akt, ERK1/2, and PKCζ—accompanied these observations. In contrast, actin cytoskeleton disruption occurred within Phlpp inhibitor treated osteoclasts. Moreover, Phlpp inhibition reduced resorption of cells cultured on bovine bone slices in vitro. Our results demonstrate that Phlpp1 deficiency within myeloid lineage cells enhances bone mass by limiting bone resorption while leaving osteoclast numbers intact; moreover, we show that Phlpp1 represses osteoclastogenesis and controls responses to M-CSF.
Developing an Updated Strategy for Estimating the Free-Energy Parameters in RNA Duplexes
Authors: Dawson Wayne K. , Shino Amiu , Kawai Gota , Morishita Ella Czarina
Published: September 2021

For the last 20 years, it has been common lore that the free energy of RNA duplexes formed from canonical Watson–Crick base pairs (bps) can be largely approximated with dinucleotide bp parameters and a few simple corrective constants that are duplex independent. Additionally, the standard benchmark set of duplexes used to generate the parameters were GC-rich in the shorter duplexes and AU-rich in the longer duplexes, and the length of the majority of the duplexes ranged between 6 and 8 bps. We were curious if other models would generate similar results and whether adding longer duplexes of 17 bps would affect the conclusions. We developed a gradient-descent fitting program for obtaining free-energy parameters—the changes in Gibbs free energy (ΔG), enthalpy (ΔH), and entropy (ΔS), and the melting temperature (Tm)—directly from the experimental melting curves. Using gradient descent and a genetic algorithm, the duplex melting results were combined with the standard benchmark data to obtain bp parameters. Both the standard (Turner) model and a new model that includes length-dependent terms were tested. Both models could fit the standard benchmark data; however, the new model could handle longer sequences better. We developed an updated strategy for fitting the duplex melting data.
Novel Coumarin-Thiadiazole Hybrids and Their Cu(II) and Zn(II) Complexes as Potential Antimicrobial Agents and Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors
Authors: Karcz Dariusz , Starzak Karolina , Ciszkowicz Ewa , Lecka-Szlachta Katarzyna , Kamiński Daniel , Creaven Bernadette , Jenkins Hollie , Radomski Piotr , Miłoś Anna , Ślusarczyk Lidia , Matwijczuk Arkadiusz
Published: September 2021

A series of coumarin-thiadiazole hybrids and their corresponding Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes were synthesized and characterized with the use of spectroscopic techniques. The results obtained indicate that all the coumarin-thiadiazole hybrids act as bidentate chelators of Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions. The complexes isolated differ in their ligand:metal ratio depending on the central metal. In most cases, the Zn(II) complexes are characteristic of a 1:1 ligand:metal ratio, while in the Cu(II) complexes the ligand:metal ratio is 2:1. All compounds were tested as potential antibacterial agents against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacterial strains demonstrating activities notably lower than commercially available antibiotics. The more promising results were obtained from the assessment of antineurodegenerative potency as all compounds showed moderate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition activity
Genome-Wide Analysis of LncRNA in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cell Injuries Induced by Escherichia Coli and Staphylococcus Aureus
Authors: Lin Changjie , Zhu Yifan , Hao Zhiyu , Xu Haojun , Li Ting , Yang Jinghan , Chen Xi , Chen Yingyu , Guo Aizhen , Hu Changmin
Published: September 2021

Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus are two common pathogenic microorganisms that cause mastitis in dairy cows. They can cause clinical mastitis and subclinical mastitis. In recent studies, lncRNAs have been found to play an important role in the immune responses triggered by microbial inducers. However, the actions of lncRNAs in bovine mastitis remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of bovine mammary epithelial cell injuries induced by treatment with E. coli and S. aureus, and to explore the lncRNA profile on cell injuries. The lncRNA transcriptome analysis showed a total of 2597 lncRNAs. There were 2234 lncRNAs differentially expressed in the E. coli group and 2334 in the S. aureus group. Moreover, we found that the E. coli and S. aureus groups of maternal genes targeted signaling pathways with similar functions according to KEGG and GO analyses. Two lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA interaction networks were constructed in order to predict the potential molecular mechanisms of regulation in the cell injuries. We believe that this is the first report demonstrating the dysregulation of lncRNAs in cells upon E. coli and S. aureus infections, suggesting that they have the potential to become important diagnostic markers and to provide novel insights into controlling and preventing mastitis.
Drug-Related Deaths in a Tertiary Hospital: Characteristics of Spontaneously Reported Cases and Comparison to Cases Detected from a Retrospective Study
Authors: Arellano Ana Lucía , Alcubilla Pau , Farré Magí , Montané Eva
Published: September 2021

Drug-related deaths (DRDs) are a common cause of hospital death. Pharmacovigilance, either as spontaneous reporting or active surveillance, plays a key role in the detection and reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs). We conducted a retrospective analysis of all DRDs spontaneously reported to a pharmacovigilance program of a tertiary hospital, by health care professionals. We compared these results to those of a previous retrospective study conducted in the same hospital from the hospital’s mortality registry. From 1460 spontaneous reported ADRs in a 10-year period, 73 (5%) were DRDs. The median age of DRD was 75 years (range 1 month–94) and 60.3% were men. The most frequent DRDs were hemorrhages (41.1%), followed by infections (17.8%). The most frequently involved drugs were anticoagulants and/or antithrombotic (30%), and antineoplastics (26.3%). When comparing both studies, spontaneous reporting detected more type B reactions (p < 0.001) and hospital-acquired DRD (p < 0.001); the number of concomitant drugs was higher (p = 0.0035); and the kind of ADR were different. The combination of several methods is mandatory to detect, assess, understand, and design strategies to prevent ADRs in a hospital setting, to ensure patient safety.
The Prognostic Role of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Patients Hospitalized with Acute Pulmonary Embolism
Authors: Efros Orly , Beit Halevi Tal , Meisel Eshcar , Soffer Shelly , Barda Noam , Cohen Omri , Kenet Gili , Lubetsky Aharon
Published: September 2021

Early risk stratification is essential for determining the appropriate therapeutic management approach of pulmonary embolism (PE). This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients hospitalized with acute pulmonary embolism by investigating its association with mortality in a large-scale population diagnosed and hospitalized with acute PE. We retrieved all consecutive patients hospitalized in an internal medicine department or an intensive care unit in a tertiary medical center from December 2007 to April 2021 with a discharge diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. A total of 2072 patients were included. Patients with above-median NLR (i.e., 5.12) had a higher 30-day mortality risk (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 2.82; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.14–3.70) and higher one-year mortality risk (aOR, 2.51; 95% CI 2.04–3.08). Similar trends were demonstrated in a sub-analysis of patients without cancer and hemodynamically stable (i.e., systolic blood pressure over 90 mmHg). Furthermore, the median hospital length of stay in patients with an elevated NLR was higher, and so was the in-hospital mortality rate. Elevated NLR in acute PE is associated with a worse short-term and long-term prognosis and with a longer duration of hospitalization.
Recycling-Oriented Characterization of Post-Earthquake Building Waste by Different Sensing Techniques
Authors: Trotta Oriana , Bonifazi Giuseppe , Capobianco Giuseppe , Serranti Silvia
Published: September 2021

In this paper, a methodological approach based on hyperspectral imaging (HSI) working in the short-wave infrared range (1000–2500 nm) was developed and applied for the recycling-oriented characterization of post-earthquake building waste. In more detail, the presence of residual cement mortar on the surface of tile fragments that can be recycled as aggregates was estimated. The acquired hyperspectral images were analyzed by applying different chemometric methods: principal component analysis (PCA) for data exploration and partial least-squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) to build classification models. Micro-X-ray fluorescence (micro-XRF) maps were also obtained on the same samples in order to validate the HSI classification results. Results showed that it is possible to identify cement mortar on the surface of the recycled tile, evaluating its degree of liberation. The recognition is automatic and non-destructive and can be applied for recycling-oriented purposes at recycling plants.
Relationship of Leadership and Envy: How to Resolve Workplace Envy with Leadership—A Bibliometric Review Study
Authors: Liu Hongda , Geng Jiejun , Yao Pinbo
Published: September 2021

In recent years, workplace envy has gradually become a hot research topic for organizational behavior. Scholars have explored the antecedents and consequences of envy following the traditional research paradigm. The latest leadership theory also provides new ideas for its development. Although the traditional methods continue to optimize the research on the relationship between leadership and envy, they still do not fully reflect the binary logical relationship between the two and cannot offer sufficient explanatory power for the psychological activities and behaviors of employees and supervisors. In this paper, two pieces of bibliometric software, CiteSpace (American, Drexel University) and Histcite (American, Clarivate Analytics), were used in order to analyze the previous literature in regard to providing a theoretical basis, the main content, and the stages of development. Based on the integration, we propose a dual-track theoretical model of leadership and envy as the prediction framework for future research. The research has returned to the intelligent attribute of leadership and believes that effective leadership can adjust the existence of various types of envy and transform it into the actual productivity of the workplace.
Numerical Study on the Hydrodynamic Characteristics of a Double-Row Floating Breakwater Composed of a Pontoon and an Airbag
Authors: Cheng Xiaofei , Liu Chang , Zhang Qilong , He Ming , Gao Xifeng
Published: September 2021

By adding a cylindrical airbag on the leeward side of a cuboid pontoon, a new-type double-row floating breakwater is designed to improve the wave attenuation performance, and its hydrodynamic characteristics are studied through numerical simulations. First, based on the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method, a numerical model used to simulate the interaction between waves and moored floating bodies is built. The fluid motion is governed by the Navier–Stokes equations. The motion of the floating body is computed according to Newton’s second law. The modified dynamic boundary condition is employed to treat the solid boundary. The lumped-mass method is adopted to implement the mooring system. Then, two physical model experiments on waves interaction with cuboid and dual cylindrical floating pontoons are reproduced. By comparing the experimental and numerical wave transmission coefficients, wave reflection coefficients, response amplitude operators and mooring force, the reliability of the numerical model is validated. Finally, the validated numerical model is applied to study the influence of separation distance and wave parameters on the hydrodynamic characteristics of the double-row floating breakwater. The results indicate that the optimal separation distance between pontoon and airbag is 0.75 times the wavelength. At such separation distance and within the concerned 1–4 m wave heights and 4–7 s wave periods, the pontoon-airbag system presents better wave attenuation performance than a single pontoon. This improvement weakens as wave height increases while it strengthens as the wave period increases. In addition, the double-row floating breakwater is more effective in a high-wave regime than in a low-wave regime. In the case of short waves, attention should be paid to the stability and mooring reliability of the seaward pontoon, while in the case of long waves, care needs to be taken of the leeward airbag.
Mean Current Profile over Rippled-Beds in the Presence of Non-Breaking Waves and Analysis of Its Influencing Factors
Authors: Hu Chunye , Hao Jialing , Liu Zhen
Published: September 2021

Classical eddy viscosity model deviates from the actual mean current profiles, when calculating the mean current profiles over rippled-beds in the presence of non-breaking waves, owing to the neglect of the enhancement of the wave boundary layer thickness by ripples and the wave-induced shear stress (the radiation stress and the wave Reynolds stress). Considering these shortcomings, a semi-empirical one-dimensional vertical (1DV) model is presented in this study. The present model was obtained using the two-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations and eddy viscosity assumptions, which differ from those of previous researchers, while a top-to-bottom sequence was adopted to calculate the mean current profiles. Empirical formulae were derived from the laboratory measurements and used in the present model to accurately predict the wave boundary layer thickness and bed roughness. The present model is in satisfactory agreement with the data from laboratory experiments. The factors influencing the mean current profiles were analyzed also. The wave-induced second-order shear stresses were found to be the principal reason for the deviations of the mean current profiles in the near-surface layer; as the influencing factors of wave-induced shear stress, the intensity of the wave relative to the current, the angle between the wave and current, and the size of ripples can also have a non-negligible effect on the mean current profiles.
Desferrioxamine B-Mediated Pre-Clinical In Vivo Imaging of Infection by the Mold Fungus Aspergillus fumigatus
Authors: Misslinger Matthias , Petrik Milos , Pfister Joachim , Hubmann Isabella , Bendova Katerina , Decristoforo Clemens , Haas Hubertus
Published: September 2021

Fungal infections are a serious threat, especially for immunocompromised patients. Early and reliable diagnosis is crucial to treat such infections. The bacterially produced siderophore desferrioxamine B (DFO-B) is utilized by a variety of microorganisms for iron acquisition, while mammalian cells lack the uptake of DFO-B chelates. DFO-B is clinically approved for a variety of long-term chelation therapies. Recently, DFO-B-complexed gallium-68 ([68Ga]Ga-DFO-B) was shown to enable molecular imaging of bacterial infections by positron emission tomography (PET). Here, we demonstrate that [68Ga]Ga-DFO-B can also be used for the preclinical molecular imaging of pulmonary infection caused by the fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus in a rat aspergillosis model. Moreover, by combining in vitro uptake studies and the chemical modification of DFO-B, we show that the cellular transport efficacy of ferrioxamine-type siderophores is impacted by the charge of the molecule and, consequently, the environmental pH. The chemical derivatization has potential implications for its diagnostic use and characterizes transport features of ferrioxamine-type siderophores.
Gene Mining for Conserved, Non-Annotated Proteins of Podosphaera xanthii Identifies Novel Target Candidates for Controlling Powdery Mildews by Spray-Induced Gene Silencing
Authors: Ruiz-Jiménez Laura , Polonio Álvaro , Vielba-Fernández Alejandra , Pérez-García Alejandro , Fernández-Ortuño Dolores
Published: September 2021

The powdery mildew fungus Podosphaera xanthii is one of the most important limiting factors for cucurbit production worldwide. Despite the significant efforts made by breeding and chemical companies, effective control of this pathogen remains elusive to growers. In this work, we examined the suitability of RNAi technology called spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) for controlling cucurbit powdery mildew. Using leaf disc and cotyledon infiltration assays, we tested the efficacy of dsRNA applications to induce gene silencing in P. xanthii. Furthermore, to identify new target candidate genes, we analyzed sixty conserved and non-annotated proteins (CNAPs) deduced from the P. xanthii transcriptome in silico. Six proteins presumably involved in essential functions, specifically respiration (CNAP8878, CNAP9066, CNAP10905 and CNAP30520), glycosylation (CNAP1048) and efflux transport (CNAP948), were identified. Functional analysis of these CNAP coding genes by dsRNA-induced gene silencing resulted in strong silencing phenotypes with large reductions in fungal growth and disease symptoms. Due to their important contributions to fungal development, the CNAP1048, CNAP10905 and CNAP30520 genes were selected as targets to conduct SIGS assays under plant growth chamber conditions. The spray application of these dsRNAs induced high levels of disease control, supporting that SIGS could be a sustainable approach to combat powdery mildew diseases.
Antifungal Activity of Propyl-Propane-Thiosulfinate (PTS) and Propyl-Propane-Thiosulfonate (PTSO) from Allium cepa against Verticillium dahliae: In Vitro and in Planta Assays
Authors: Falcón-Piñeiro Ana , Remesal Efrén , Noguera Miguel , Ariza Juan José , Guillamón Enrique , Baños Alberto , Navas-Cortes Juan Antonio
Published: September 2021

Verticillium wilt, caused by Verticillium dahliae, is the most devastating soil-borne fungal disease of olive trees worldwide. Currently, there is no effective measure available to control the pathogen in diseased plants in open field conditions. Searching more effective and sustainable solutions are a priority for the olive sector. The existing alternatives for disease control include the use of biological control microorganisms and compounds of natural origin from plants, such as Alliaceae. Propyl propane thiosulfinate (PTS) and propyl propane thiosulfonate (PTSO) are two organosulfur compounds derived from Allium cepa with a widely documented antimicrobial activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of PTS and PTSO against the defoliating and non-defoliating V. dahliae pathotypes. Firstly, several in vitro tests were performed (Minimum Antifungal Concentration, susceptibility studies according to the Kirby–Bauer disk-diffusion method, antifungal activity through aerial diffusion and effect on mycelial growth). The ability of both compounds to sanitize soil was evaluated using a sterile substrate inoculated with V. dahliae. Finally, challenges in growth chambers were carried out. PTS and PTSO generated growth inhibition zones in agar diffusion and the gas phase, and the mycelial growth of all the V. dahliae strains was significantly altered. The V. dahliae population in soil was considerably reduced after the sanitization. Finally, in planta assays demonstrated the ability of these compounds to reduce disease related parameters and their contribution to control the phytopathogen. In conclusion, the results showed that the PTS and PTSO from Allium cepa display in vitro and in vivo antifungal activity against V. dahliae and suggested that both compounds could be used as natural and environmentally friendly tools for Verticillium wilt management.
Fungal Cell Wall Proteins and Signaling Pathways Form a Cytoprotective Network to Combat Stresses
Authors: Ibe Chibuike , Munro Carol A.
Published: September 2021

Candida species are part of the normal flora of humans, but once the immune system of the host is impaired and they escape from commensal niches, they shift from commensal to pathogen causing candidiasis. Candida albicans remains the primary cause of candidiasis, accounting for about 60% of the global candidiasis burden. The cell wall of C. albicans and related fungal pathogens forms the interface with the host, gives fungal cells their shape, and also provides protection against stresses. The cell wall is a dynamic organelle with great adaptive flexibility that allows remodeling, morphogenesis, and changes in its components in response to the environment. It is mainly composed of the inner polysaccharide rich layer (chitin, and β-glucan) and the outer protein coat (mannoproteins). The highly glycosylated protein coat mediates interactions between C. albicans cells and their environment, including reprograming of wall architecture in response to several conditions, such as carbon source, pH, high temperature, and morphogenesis. The mannoproteins are also associated with C. albicans adherence, drug resistance, and virulence. Vitally, the mannoproteins contribute to cell wall construction and especially cell wall remodeling when cells encounter physical and chemical stresses. This review describes the interconnected cell wall integrity (CWI) and stress-activated pathways (e.g., Hog1, Cek1, and Mkc1 mediated pathways) that regulates cell wall remodeling and the expression of some of the mannoproteins in C. albicans and other species. The mannoproteins of the surface coat is of great importance to pathogen survival, growth, and virulence, thus understanding their structure and function as well as regulatory mechanisms can pave the way for better management of candidiasis.
Parental Quality of Life and Involvement in Intervention for Children or Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review
Authors: Musetti Alessandro , Manari Tommaso , Dioni Barbara , Raffin Cinzia , Bravo Giulia , Mariani Rachele , Esposito Gianluca , Dimitriou Dagmara , Plazzi Giuseppe , Franceschini Christian , Corsano Paola
Published: September 2021

Previous research has examined several parental, child-related, and contextual factors associated with parental quality of life (QoL) among parents with a child or an adolescent with autism spectrum disorders (ASD); however, no systematic review has examined the relationship between parental QoL and parental involvement in intervention. To fill this gap, a systematic review was conducted using four electronic databases and checked reference lists of retrieved studies. Records were included in the systematic review if they presented original data, assessed parental QoL, and involvement in intervention for children or adolescents with ASD, were published in peer-reviewed journals between 2000 and 2020, and were written in English. Among the 96 screened full-texts, 17 articles met the eligibility criteria. The selected studies included over 2000 parents of children or adolescents with ASD. Three categories of parental involvement (i.e., none, indirect, direct) were identified, which varied across studies, although most had direct parental involvement. The results from this review show that increased parental involvement in the intervention for children or adolescents with ASD may be one way to promote their QoL. However, further research specifically focused on parental involvement during the intervention for children and adolescents with ASD is warranted.
Parsing Fabry Disease Metabolic Plasticity Using Metabolomics
Authors: Ducatez Franklin , Mauhin Wladimir , Boullier Agnès , Pilon Carine , Pereira Tony , Aubert Raphaël , Benveniste Olivier , Marret Stéphane , Lidove Olivier , Bekri Soumeya , Tebani Abdellah
Published: September 2021

Background: Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal disease due to a deficiency in the activity of the lysosomal α-galactosidase A (GalA), a key enzyme in the glycosphingolipid degradation pathway. FD is a complex disease with a poor genotype–phenotype correlation. FD could involve kidney, heart or central nervous system impairment that significantly decreases life expectancy. The advent of omics technologies offers the possibility of a global, integrated and systemic approach well-suited for the exploration of this complex disease. Materials and Methods: Sixty-six plasmas of FD patients from the French Fabry cohort (FFABRY) and 60 control plasmas were analyzed using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry-based targeted metabolomics (188 metabolites) along with the determination of LysoGb3 concentration and GalA enzymatic activity. Conventional univariate analyses as well as systems biology and machine learning methods were used. Results: The analysis allowed for the identification of discriminating metabolic profiles that unambiguously separate FD patients from control subjects. The analysis identified 86 metabolites that are differentially expressed, including 62 Glycerophospholipids, 8 Acylcarnitines, 6 Sphingomyelins, 5 Aminoacids and 5 Biogenic Amines. Thirteen consensus metabolites were identified through network-based analysis, including 1 biogenic amine, 2 lysophosphatidylcholines and 10 glycerophospholipids. A predictive model using these metabolites showed an AUC-ROC of 0.992 (CI: 0.965–1.000). Conclusion: These results highlight deep metabolic remodeling in FD and confirm the potential of omics-based approaches in lysosomal diseases to reveal clinical and biological associations to generate pathophysiological hypotheses.
Update on Robotic Total Mesorectal Excision for Rectal Cancer
Authors: Giuratrabocchetta Simona , Formisano Giampaolo , Salaj Adelona , Opocher Enrico , Ferraro Luca , Toti Francesco , Bianchi Paolo Pietro
Published: September 2021

The minimally invasive treatment of rectal cancer with Total Mesorectal Excision is a complex and challenging procedure due to technical and anatomical issues which could impair postoperative, oncological and functional outcomes, especially in a defined subgroup of patients. The results from recent randomized controlled trials comparing laparoscopic versus open surgery are still conflicting and trans-anal bottom-up approaches have recently been developed. Robotic surgery represents the latest consistent innovation in the field of minimally invasive surgery that may potentially overcome the technical limitations of conventional laparoscopy thanks to an enhanced dexterity, especially in deep narrow operative fields such as the pelvis. Results from population-based multicenter studies have shown the potential advantages of robotic surgery when compared to its laparoscopic counterpart in terms of reduced conversions, complication rates and length of stay. Costs, often advocated as one of the main drawbacks of robotic surgery, should be thoroughly evaluated including both the direct and indirect costs, with the latter having the potential of counterbalancing the excess of expenditure directly related to the purchase and maintenance of robotic equipment. Further prospectively maintained or randomized data are still required to better delineate the advantages of the robotic platform, especially in the subset of most complex and technically challenging patients from both an anatomical and oncological standpoint.
Quantitative-Qualitative Method for Quick Assessment of Geodiversity
Authors: Zakharovskyi Vladyslav , Németh Károly
Published: September 2021

The article demonstrates a method for quantitative-qualitative geodiversity assessment based on core elements of abiotic nature (geology and geomorphology) according to a proposed weight multiplied by the area of spread through the studied region. The territory of the Coromandel Peninsula was selected as a case study due to its diverse geology and geomorphology. The north part of the Peninsula (Port Jackson, Fletcher Bay and Port Charles districts) was chosen because of the variety of rock types (sedimentary and volcanic groups) covering the region, while historical stratovolcano remnants and old sediments provide a good variety of meadow hills and weathered coastal cliffs. Meanwhile, the method utilizes easily accessible data (topographical and geological map) to assess slope angle (morphometry) and rock groups, including their age (geology) to identify areas in the sample region with significant geodiversity values. Moreover, the aim of this research is to make the assessment of geodiversity simpler and more accessible for various parts of the world with minimal required information. In this paper, we provide access to improve and utilize this method in geologically diverse territories to select the best areas for geotourism, geoeducation and geconservation planning.
An Item Response Theory Model of Inter-Regional Collaboration for Transportation Planning in the United States
Authors: Kim Soyoung , Kim Woo-Je , Feiock Richard
Published: September 2021

Regional governments and regional intergovernmental organizations play an increasingly important role in land use and transportation planning in many countries. In the U.S., regional organizations such as metropolitan planning organizations provide regional forums and institutions to coordinate actions of local government necessary to overcome collective action problems that result from the fragmentation of local authority. Their regional scope allows them to directly address collaboration problems or broker collaborative arrangements among local governments within their boundaries. Nevertheless, the scale of regional problems often extends beyond the boundaries of these regional entities. Thus, collaboration across regional governance organizations is necessary to address problems that have multi-regional impacts, such as large transportation projects. Extant research generally measures regional collaboration based on counts of collaboration actions undertaken, but this does not account for the fact that some are symbolic, while others require resources and commitment. Drawing insights from the institutional collective action framework, we advance an explanation for how regional organizations overcome collaboration risks to participate in collaborative solutions to regional and multi-regional problems. The analysis employs a unique national survey of metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and adds a novel application of item response theory (IRT) to capture differences in risk or difficulty among collaborative actions. The IRT results offer support for our ICA-based explanation of collaboration commitments. The implications of the findings for theory development and empirical study of RIGOs are discussed in conclusion.
The Politics of Decentralization: Competition in Land Administration and Management in Ghana
Authors: Adam James Natia , Adams Timothy , Gerber Jean-David
Published: September 2021

Decentralization policy forms part of a broader global ideology and effort of the international donor community in favor of subsidiarity and local participation, and represents a paradigm shift from top-down command-and-control systems. Since 2003, the formalization of property rights through titling became an integral component of decentralized land administration efforts in Ghana. The creation of new forms of local government structures and the related changes in the distribution of responsibilities between different levels of government have an impact on natural resource management, the allocation of rights, and the unequal distribution of powers. This paper aims to understand how decentralization reforms modify the balance of power between public administration, customary authorities, and resource end-users in Ghana. Decentralization’s impact is analyzed based on two case studies. Relying on purposive and snowball sampling techniques, and mixed methods, we conducted 8 key informant interviews with local government bureaucrats in land administration, 16 semi-structured interviews with allodial landholders, 20 biographic interviews and 8 focus group discussions with small-scale farmers. The interviews analyzed the institutions and the roles of actors in land administration. Our case studies show that decentralization has the tendency to increase local competition in land administration where there are no clear distribution of power and obligation to local actors. Local competition and elitism in land administration impact the ability of small-scale farmers to regularize or formalize land rights. Thus, the paper concludes that local competition and the elitism within the land administration domain in Ghana could be the main obstacles towards decentralization reforms.
China Viewed by the West before COVID-19: Spaniards’ Perceptions and Knowledge of China as a Tourist Destination
Authors: Cuesta-Valiño Pedro , Serra-Cantallops Antoni , Ramón-Cardona José , Ravina-Ripoll Rafael
Published: September 2021

China is not only becoming a major international tourist destination, and it also has huge potential as an issuing market. Spain, meanwhile, has long ranked among the world’s top tourist destinations, and as an issuing market, it is gradually growing in importance. There is high potential for an increase in tourist flows between Spain and China in both directions. This paper analyses Spaniards’ perceptions of China as a country and as a tourist destination and their familiarity with the reality of this Asiatic country, before the first news about COVID-19. Likewise, it aims to identify possible factors that might inhibit Spaniards from traveling on holiday to China while also offering an initial insight into Spain’s future potential as an issuing market to China. For this purpose, 1063 interviews were conducted and analyzed. The results point to a strong potential intention by Spaniards to visit China, although it also reveals very little familiarity with the reality of China as a tourist destination, except for its two major symbols, Beijing and the Great Wall. The results also seem to indicate the existence of big travel inhibitors among certain segments, mainly related to the travel costs, politics and safety, environmental issues, and a lack of awareness of the quality standards of China’s tourist sector. Future studies should analyze the changes that the pandemic may have produced in China’s image.
Can Carbon Finance Optimize Land Use Efficiency? The Example of China’s Carbon Emissions Trading Policy
Authors: Duan Bin , Ji Xuanming
Published: September 2021

Land resources have become one of the major factors limiting urban development in China. In the context of sustainable development, how to improve land use efficiency (LUE) has become a major challenge on the road to sustainable development in China. Carbon finance provides a new idea for sustainable development. With the help of carbon emissions trading policy (CETP), this paper aims to investigate whether carbon finance can optimize LUE in terms of economic effects and environmental effects. Based on the data of 158 prefectural-level cities in China from 2010 to 2017, this paper uses a combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis to investigate these issues. Specifically, this paper measures the land use efficiency from economic effects (LUE_Eco) and environmental effects (LUE_Env) using the entropy method, and visualizes the data to obtain information on their spatio-temporal evolution patterns. Furthermore, this paper verifies the causal relationship between policy implementation and LUE_Eco and LUE_Env by using the difference in differences (DID) method. The conclusions show that: (1) the levels of LUE_Eco and LUE_Env in the pilot regions generally increase after the implementation of the CETP, but only the increase of LUE_Env is due to the policy implementation; (2) the CETP not only effectively reduces CO2 emissions, but also promotes the reduction of industrial ‘three wastes’ emissions. Accordingly, this paper has gained insights on how to improve LUE in China.
Preparation and Characterization of Porous Scaffolds Based on Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)
Authors: Esmail Asiyah , Pereira João R. , Sevrin Chantal , Grandfils Christian , Menda Ugur Deneb , Fortunato Elvira , Oliva Abel , Freitas Filomena
Published: September 2021

Poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs) with different material properties, namely, the homopolymer poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), P(3HB), and the copolymer poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate, P(3HB-co-3HV), with a 3HV of 25 wt.%, were used for the preparation of porous biopolymeric scaffolds. Solvent casting with particulate leaching (SCPL) and emulsion templating were evaluated to process these biopolymers in porous scaffolds. SCPL scaffolds were highly hydrophilic (>170% swelling in water) but fragile, probably due to the increase of the polymer’s polydispersity index and its high porosity (>50%). In contrast, the emulsion templating technique resulted in scaffolds with a good compromise between porosity (27–49% porosity) and hydrophilicity (>30% water swelling) and without impairing their mechanical properties (3.18–3.35 MPa tensile strength and 0.07–0.11 MPa Young’s Modulus). These specifications are in the same range compared to other polymer-based scaffolds developed for tissue engineering. P(3HB-co-3HV) displayed the best overall properties, namely, lower crystallinity (11.3%) and higher flexibility (14.8% elongation at break. Our findings highlight the potency of our natural biopolyesters for the future development of novel porous scaffolds in tissue engineering, thanks also to their safety and biodegradability.
Full-Scale Use of Microwave Heating in Construction of Longitudinal Joints and Crack Healing in Asphalt Pavements
Authors: Maliszewski Maciej , Zofka Adam , Maliszewska Dominika , Sybilski Dariusz , Salski Bartłomiej , Karpisz Tomasz , Rembelski Rafał
Published: September 2021

Asphalt pavement construction technology is an industry branch that undergoes constant development. Analyzing the directions of the development, one can divide it into two mainstreams: the development of roadworks equipment and the development of roadworks technology. Microwave heating technique has been mentioned in the road industry from the early ‘70s, but research records from practical full-scale use are very rare. This article presents the evaluation of the possible use of microwave heating technique during a particular aspect of the construction process, namely, the formation of longitudinal joints and the potential repair process of the cracked asphalt pavement. Research results showed that joints constructed using microwave-assisted heating performed the same or even better with regards to tensile characteristics comparing to other techniques. Also, the highest level of compaction was reached among the other tested techniques applied to the wearing course level. The second part of the research experiment showed the large potential of the microwave crack healing technique. The asphalt pavement was healed on its full depth of 10 cm with the single healing operation applied. Although some limitations may occur in the practical use of microwave heating, the test results suggest that it is a very promising technique and should be further developed (for, e.g., shielding concerns, electricity supply). The microwave heating technique is powered with electricity, which is important when there is a constant need for further reductions of CO2 emissions. It can be reached in parallel with clean energy or clean electricity sources.