bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hospitalizations for Community-Acquired and Non-Ventilator-Associated Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia in Spain: Influence of the Presence of Bronchiectasis. A Retrospective Database Study
Authors: Sanchez-Muñoz Gema , López-de-Andrés Ana , Hernández-Barrera Valentín , Pedraza-Serrano Fernando , Jimenez-Garcia Rodrigo , Lopez-Herranz Marta , Puente-Maestu Luis , Miguel-Diez Javier de
Published: July 2020

To examine and compare in-hospital mortality (IHM) of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) among patients with or without bronchiectasis (BQ) using propensity score matching. A retrospective observational epidemiological study using the Spanish Hospital Discharge Records, 2016–17. We identified 257,455 admissions with CAP (3.97% with BQ) and 17,069 with NV-HAP (2.07% with BQ). Patients with CAP and BQ had less comorbidity, lower IHM, and a longer mean length of hospital stay (p < 0.001) than non-BQ patients. They had a higher number of isolated microorganisms, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In patients with BQ and NV-HAP, no differences were observed with respect to comorbidity, in-hospital mortality (IHM), or mean length of stay. P. aeruginosa was more frequent (p = 0.028). IHM for CAP and NV-HAP with BQ was 7.89% and 20.06%, respectively. The factors associated with IHM in CAP with BQ were age, comorbidity, pressure ulcers, surgery, dialysis, and invasive ventilation, whereas in NV-HAP with BQ, the determinants were age, metastatic cancer, need for dialysis, and invasive ventilation. Patients with CAP and BQ have less comorbidity, lower IHM and a longer mean length of hospital stay than non-BQ patients. However, they had a higher number of isolated microorganisms, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In patients with BQ and NV-HAP, no differences were observed with respect to comorbidity, in-hospital mortality, or mean length of stay, but they had a greater frequency of infection by P. aeruginosa than non-BQ patients. Predictors of IHM for both types of pneumonia among BQ patients included dialysis and invasive ventilation.
A Cross-Sectional Retrospective Study of Non-Splenectomized and Never-Treated Patients with Type 1 Gaucher Disease
Authors: Serratrice Christine , Stirnemann Jérôme , Berrahal Amina , Belmatoug Nadia , Camou Fabrice , Caillaud Catherine , Billette de Villemeur Thierry , Dalbies Florence , Cador Bérengère , Froissart Roseline , Masseau Agathe , Brassier Anaïs , Hivert Bénédicte , Swiader Laure , Bertchansky Ivan , de Moreuil Claire , Chabrol Brigitte , Durieu Isabelle , Leguy Seguin Vanessa , Astudillo Leonardo , Humbert Sébastien , Pichard Samia , Marcel Catherine , Hau Rainsard Isabelle , Bengherbia Monia , Yousfi Karima , Berger Marc G.
Published: July 2020

Patients with type 1 Gaucher disease (GD1) present thrombocytopenia, anemia, organomegaly, and bone complications. Most experts consider that the less aggressive forms do not require specific treatment. However, little is known about the disease course of these forms. The objective of this cross-sectional retrospective study was to compare the clinical, radiological, and laboratory characteristics of patients with less severe GD1 at diagnosis and at the last evaluation to identify features that might lead to potential complications. Non-splenectomized and never-treated patients (19 women and 17 men) were identified in the French Gaucher Disease Registry (FGDR). Their median age was 36.6 years (2.4–75.1), and their median follow-up was 7.8 years (0.4–32.4). Moreover, 38.7% were heterozygous for the GBA1 N370S variant, and 22.6% for the GBA1 L444P variant. From diagnosis to the last evaluation, GD1 did not worsen in 75% of these patients. Some parameters improved (fatigue and hemoglobin concentration), whereas platelet count and chitotriosidase level remained stable. In one patient (2.7%), Lewy body dementia was diagnosed at 46 years of age. Bone lesion onset was late and usually a single event in most patients. This analysis highlights the genotypic heterogeneity of this subgroup, in which disease could remain stable and even improve spontaneously. It also draws attention to the possible risk of Lewy body disease and late onset of bone complications, even if isolated, to be confirmed in larger series and with longer follow-up.
Psychiatric Aspects of Obesity: A Narrative Review of Pathophysiology and Psychopathology
Authors: Weiss Francesco , Barbuti Margherita , Carignani Giulia , Calderone Alba , Santini Ferruccio , Maremmani Icro , Perugi Giulio
Published: July 2020

In the last decades, obesity has become a major concern for clinical and public health. Despite the variety of available treatments, the outcomes remain—by and large—still unsatisfactory, owing to high rates of nonresponse and relapse. Interestingly, obesity is being associated with a growing surge of neuropsychiatric problems, certainly related to the pathogenesis of this condition, and likely to be of great consequence as for its treatment and prognosis. In a neurobiologic direction, a sturdy body of evidence has recently shown that the immune–metabolic–endocrine dyscrasias, notoriously attached to excess body weight/adiposity, affect and impair the morpho-functional integrity of the brain, thus possibly contributing to neuroprogressive/degenerative processes and behavioral deviances. Likewise, in a neuropsychiatric perspective, obesity displays complex associations with mood disorders and affective temperamental dimensions (namely cyclothymia), eating disorders characterized by overeating/binge-eating behaviors, ADHD-related executive dysfunctions, emotional dysregulation and motivational–addictive disturbances. With this review, we attempt to provide the clinician a synoptic, yet exhaustive, tool for a more conscious approach to that subset of this condition, which could be reasonably termed “psychiatric” obesity.
Clinical Outcomes of Root-Analogue Implants Restored with Single Crowns or Fixed Dental Prostheses: A Retrospective Case Series
Authors: Böse Mats Wernfried Heinrich , Hildebrand Detlef , Beuer Florian , Wesemann Christian , Schwerdtner Paul , Pieralli Stefano , Spies Benedikt Christopher
Published: July 2020

The objective was to investigate clinical and radiological outcomes of rehabilitations with root-analogue implants (RAIs). Patients restored with RAIs, supporting single crowns or fixed dental prostheses, were recruited for follow-up examinations. Besides clinical and esthetical evaluations, X-rays were taken and compared with the records. Patients were asked to evaluate the treatment using Visual Analogue Scales (VAS). For statistical analyses, mixed linear models were used. A total of 107 RAIs were installed in one dental office. Of these, 31 were available for follow-up examinations. For those remaining, survival has been verified via phone. RAIs were loaded after a mean healing time of 6.6 ± 2.5 months. 12.1 ± 6.9 months after loading, a mean marginal bone loss (MBL) of 1.20 ± 0.73 mm was measured. Progression of MBL significantly decreased after loading (p = 0.013). The mean pink and white esthetic score (PES/WES) was 15.35 ± 2.33 at follow-up. A survival rate of 94.4% was calculated after a mean follow-up of 18.9 ± 2.4 months after surgery. Immediate installation of RAIs does not seem to reduce MBL, as known from the literature regarding screw-type implants, and might not be recommended for daily routine. Nevertheless, they deliver esthetically satisfying results.
Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria of the Oral Cavity and Their Relation with Periodontitis—Recent Advances
Authors: Kushkevych Ivan , Coufalová Martina , Vítězová Monika , Rittmann Simon K.-M. R.
Published: July 2020

The number of cases of oral cavity inflammation in the population has been recently increasing, with periodontitis being the most common disease. It is caused by a change in the microbial composition of the biofilm in the periodontal pockets. In this context, an increased incidence of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in the oral cavity has been found, which are a part of the common microbiome of the mouth. This work is devoted to the description of the diversity of SRB isolated from the oral cavity. It also deals with the general description of periodontitis in terms of manifestations and origin. It describes the ability of SRB to participate in its development, although their effect on periodontal inflammation is not fully understood. The production of hydrogen sulfide as a cytochrome oxidase inhibitor may play a role in the etiology. A meta-analysis was conducted based on studies of the occurrence of SRB in humans.
Mitochondrial DNA: Hotspot for Potential Gene Modifiers Regulating Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Kargaran Parisa K. , Evans Jared M. , Bodbin Sara E. , Smith James G. W. , Nelson Timothy J. , Denning Chris , Mosqueira Diogo
Published: July 2020

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a prevalent and untreatable cardiovascular disease with a highly complex clinical and genetic causation. HCM patients bearing similar sarcomeric mutations display variable clinical outcomes, implying the involvement of gene modifiers that regulate disease progression. As individuals exhibiting mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) present cardiac phenotypes, the mitochondrial genome is a promising candidate to harbor gene modifiers of HCM. Herein, we sequenced the mtDNA of isogenic pluripotent stem cell-cardiomyocyte models of HCM focusing on two sarcomeric mutations. This approach was extended to unrelated patient families totaling 52 cell lines. By correlating cellular and clinical phenotypes with mtDNA sequencing, potentially HCM-protective or -aggravator mtDNA variants were identified. These novel mutations were mostly located in the non-coding control region of the mtDNA and did not overlap with those of other mitochondrial diseases. Analysis of unrelated patients highlighted family-specific mtDNA variants, while others were common in particular population haplogroups. Further validation of mtDNA variants as gene modifiers is warranted but limited by the technically challenging methods of editing the mitochondrial genome. Future molecular characterization of these mtDNA variants in the context of HCM may identify novel treatments and facilitate genetic screening in cardiomyopathy patients towards more efficient treatment options.
Clinical Response and Changes of Cytokines and Zonulin Levels in Patients with Diarrhoea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treated with Bifidobacterium Longum ES1 for 8 or 12 Weeks: A Preliminary Report
Authors: Caviglia Gian Paolo , Tucci Alessandra , Pellicano Rinaldo , Fagoonee Sharmila , Rosso Chiara , Abate Maria Lorena , Olivero Antonella , Armandi Angelo , Vanni Ester , Saracco Giorgio Maria , Bugianesi Elisabetta , Astegiano Marco , Ribaldone Davide Giuseppe
Published: July 2020

Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum) ES1 is a probiotic strain capable of modulating microbiome composition, anti-inflammatory activity and intestinal barrier function. We investigated the use of B. Longum ES1 in the treatment of patients with diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). Sixteen patients were treated for 8 or 12 weeks with B. Longum ES1 (1 × 109 CFU/day). Serum zonulin and cytokines were measured at baseline (T0) and at the end of therapy (T1). Clinical response to therapy was assessed by IBS Severity Scoring System. Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-12p70 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α levels decreased from T0 to T1, irrespective of treatment duration (p < 0.05), while zonulin levels diminished only in patients treated for 12 weeks (p = 0.036). Clinical response was observed in 5/16 patients (31%): 4/8 (50%) treated for 12 weeks and 1/8 (13%) treated for 8 weeks. Abdominal pain improved only in patients treated for 12 weeks (5/8 vs. 0/8, p = 0.025), while stool consistency improved regardless of therapy duration (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the results of this pilot study showed, in IBS-D patients treated for 12 weeks with B. longum ES1, a reduction in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and intestinal permeability as well as an improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms, but further studies including a placebo-control group are necessary to prove a causal link.
Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma Treatment: Is It Still Relevant?
Authors: Park Hyunkyung , Byun Ja Min , Yoon Sung-Soo , Koh Youngil , Shin Dong-Yeop , Hong Junshik , Kim Inho
Published: July 2020

Background: Despite offering an attractive option, the role of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) for treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) remains unclear. Methods: Recognizing the paucity of data in the Asian population, we retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of 24 patients (median age 52) undergoing alloSCT between April 2003 and November 2017. Results: The median time from diagnosis to alloSCT was 39.4 months. The majority of the patients (70.8%) underwent alloSCT followed by reduced intensity conditioning regimens after a median of five lines of therapy. Among 24 patients, 15 patients (62.5%) had a high-risk MM feature. The two-year relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) of the total patients were 29.2 ± 9.3% and 44.3 ± 10.3%, respectively. Patients who were treated with less chemotherapy lines (<5) before alloSCT had a prolonged RFS and OS. All patients (seven patients) who received a myeloablative conditioning regimen had high-risk features, but two out of seven patients showed long-term survival without lasting sequelae. Nine patients (37.5%) experienced non-relapse mortality (NRM) within one year after alloSCT (the one-year cumulative incidence of NRM was 38.3 ± 10.1%). Conclusion: AlloSCT can still be implemented as effective salvage option in the treatment of relapsed/refractory high-risk MM. The optimal timing of alloSCT remains to be determined.
Effect of Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercise on the Complement System of Proteins in Healthy Young Males
Authors: Kostrzewa-Nowak Dorota , Kubaszewska Joanna , Nowakowska Anna , Nowak Robert
Published: July 2020

This study was aimed at examining the impact of common types of physical efforts used to determine the aerobic and anaerobic performance of the participants on the complement system in their peripheral blood. Fifty-one physically active young males aged 16 years old (range 15–21 years) were divided into two age groups (younger, 15–17 years old and older, 18–21 years old) and performed two types of intensive efforts: aerobic (endurance; 20-m shuttle run test; Beep) and anaerobic (speed; repeated speed ability test; RSA). Venous blood samples were collected before and after each exercise (5 and 60 min) to profile the complement system components, namely the levels of C2, C3, C3a, iC3b, and C4. The endurance effort caused a decrease in the post-test C3 (p < 0.001 for both age groups) and increase in post-test C3a (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01 for the younger and older group, respectively), recovery iC3b (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05 for younger and older group, respectively), recovery C2 (p < 0.01 for both age groups), and post-test C4 (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 for the younger and older group, respectively) levels, while the speed effort caused a decrease only in the post-test C2 (p < 0.05 for younger participants) and post-test C4 levels (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01 for the younger and older group, respectively) and an increase in the recovery C3a level (p < 0.05). Our study provides evidence that different types of physical effort promote different immune responses in physically active young men. Aerobic exercise induced the activation of an alternative pathway of the complement system, whilst the anaerobic effort had little influence. A better understanding of the post-exercise immune response provides a framework to prescribe physical activity to achieve different health outcomes.
Improving the Computational Efficiency for Optimization of Offshore Wind Turbine Jacket Substructure by Hybrid Algorithms
Authors: Liu Ding-Peng , Lin Tsung-Yueh , Huang Hsin-Haou
Published: July 2020

When solving real-world problems with complex simulations, utilizing stochastic algorithms integrated with a simulation model appears inefficient. In this study, we compare several hybrid algorithms for optimizing an offshore jacket substructure (JSS). Moreover, we propose a novel hybrid algorithm called the divisional model genetic algorithm (DMGA) to improve efficiency. By adding different methods, namely particle swarm optimization (PSO), pattern search (PS) and targeted mutation (TM) in three subpopulations to become “divisions,” each division has unique functionalities. With the collaboration of these three divisions, this method is considerably more efficient in solving multiple benchmark problems compared with other hybrid algorithms. These results reveal the superiority of DMGA in solving structural optimization problems.
Unraveling the Role of Plastic Waste Pollution in the Amvrakikos Wetlands National Park, Greece: The Stakeholders’ Views
Authors: Andrea Veronika , Mpeza Paraskevi , Barelos Dimitris , Stylios Chrysostomos
Published: July 2020

Plastic waste pollution in marine environments is considered a major environmental problem in coastal areas. Relative environmental problems are also recorded in protected wetlands. The National Park of Amvrakikos Wetlands, one of the largest wetlands of Greece, is studied in order to evaluate the influence of plastic waste in the protected area and its surroundings, according to the stakeholders’ views. The survey applied using the method of census addressing the key stakeholders in the area of interest and the use of a questionnaire; the data analyzed with the Statistical Package SSPS. The main findings reveal that waste management is not considered satisfactory in the broader area. Marine litter, pollution, overfishing, ecosystem degradation, agriculture and livestock activities, as well as the insufficiency of the municipal solid waste management and recycling system are listed as the most important environmental problems of the coastal area. The stakeholders’ participation is regarded as crucial for effective decision making. Therefore, special strategies should be designed involving Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to widely address the local communities and increase their awareness on the problem in order to reduce plastic waste pollution. It should be noted that environmental conditions are closely affiliated with the citizens’ quality of life.
Dynamics and Seasonality of the Leeuwin Current and the Surrounding Counter-Current System in the Region South of Western Australia
Authors: Akhir Mohd Fadzil , Pattiaratchi Charitha , Meuleners Michael
Published: July 2020

Surface circulation associated with the Leeuwin Current System off the southern coast of Western Australia was simulated using the Regional Ocean Model Systems (ROMS). The Leeuwin current (LC) and Flinders current (FC) were reproduced in two simulation: with and without wind stress. The inclusion of wind resulted in a strong LC during autumn and winter months with the LC flowing close to the shelf, accelerating after reaching the south-west corner at Cape Leeuwin. The geopotential gradient was present through all seasons, indicating that it is the major driving force of the currents. At the subsurface, continuation of the opposing undercurrent present at the southwest corner. Interchanging of strength and transport between LC and FC can be seen between seasons, where LC strength drops significantly in autumn and winter when the wind stress is low and this subsequently increases the FC transport. The FC strength declines in summer when there is no wind stress, which during this time LC is stronger. Meanwhile, the analysis shows an inshore presence of Cresswell current is evident along the coast when there is south-easterly wind in summer. The study provides comprehensive overview of the complex currents system where wind influence proves to be determining factors to the current system.
Alternatives in Molecular Diagnostics of Encephalitozoon and Enterocytozoon Infections
Authors: Valenčáková Alexandra , Sučik Monika
Published: July 2020

Microsporidia are obligate intracellular pathogens that are currently considered to be most directly aligned with fungi. These fungal-related microbes cause infections in every major group of animals, both vertebrate and invertebrate, and more recently, because of AIDS, they have been identified as significant opportunistic parasites in man. The Microsporidia are ubiquitous parasites in the animal kingdom but, until recently, they have maintained relative anonymity because of the specialized nature of pathology researchers. Diagnosis of microsporidia infection from stool examination is possible and has replaced biopsy as the initial diagnostic procedure in many laboratories. These staining techniques can be difficult, however, due to the small size of the spores. The specific identification of microsporidian species has classically depended on ultrastructural examination. With the cloning of the rRNA genes from the human pathogenic microsporidia it has been possible to apply polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques for the diagnosis of microsporidial infection at the species and genotype level. The absence of genetic techniques for manipulating microsporidia and their complicated diagnosis hampered research. This study should provide basic insights into the development of diagnostics and the pitfalls of molecular identification of these ubiquitous intracellular pathogens that can be integrated into studies aimed at treating or controlling microsporidiosis.
Low-Latency VLC System with Fresnel Receiver for I2V ITS Applications
Authors: Nawaz Tassadaq , Seminara Marco , Caputo Stefano , Mucchi Lorenzo , Catani Jacopo
Published: July 2020

This work presents a characterization of a low-cost, low-latency Visible Light Communication (VLC) prototype for infrastructure-to-vehicle (I2V) communication for future Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). The system consists of a regular traffic light as a transmitter (the red light is modulated with the information), and a photodetector as a receiver. The latter is equipped with low-cost Fresnel lenses as condensers, namely, 1 ′ ′ Fresnel and 2 ′ ′ Fresnel, to increase the optical gain of the system at the receiver. The system is capable of Active Decode and Relay (ADR) of information to further incoming units. The experimental characterization of amplitude and Packet Error Rate (PER) for the proposed system has been performed for distances up to 50 m. The results show that by incorporating the 2 ′ ′ Fresnel lens in the photodetector, an error free ( PER ≤ 10 − 5 ) I2V communication is established up to 50 m. Furthermore, the prototype can be used for both broadcast and beaconing transmission modes. This low-cost VLC-based system could offer sub-millisecond latency in the full ADR process for distances up to 36 m, which makes it suitable for integration in Cellular-V2X (C-V2X) and 5G platforms.
Connectivity of Protected Areas: Effect of Human Pressure and Subnational Contributions in the Ecoregions of Tropical Andean Countries
Authors: Castillo Luis Santiago , Correa Ayram Camilo Andrés , Matallana Tobón Clara L. , Corzo Germán , Areiza Alexandra , González-M. Roy , Serrano Felipe , Chalán Briceño Luis , Sánchez Puertas Felipe , More Alexander , Franco Oscar , Bloomfield Henry , Aguilera Orrury Victoria Lina , Rivadeneira Canedo Catalina , Morón-Zambrano Vilisa , Yerena Edgard , Papadakis Juan , Cárdenas Juan José , Golden Kroner Rachel E. , Godínez-Gómez Oscar
Published: July 2020

Conservationists recognize the value of protected area (PA) systems, with adequate coverage, ecological representation, connection, and management to deliver conservation benefits. Yet, governments primarily focus on coverage, disregarding quantification of the other criteria. While recent studies have assessed global representation and connectivity, they present limitations due to: (1) limited accuracy of the World Database of Protected Areas used, as governments may report areas that do not meet the IUCN or CBD PA definitions or omit subnational PAs, and (2) failure to include human impacts on the landscape in connectivity assessments. We constructed a validated PA database for Tropical Andean Countries (TAC; Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú, and Venezuela) and used the existing Protected-Connected-Land (ProtConn) indicator—incorporating the Global Human Footprint as a spatial proxy for human pressure—to evaluate TAC ecoregions’ representation and connectivity. We found that just 27% of ecoregions in the TAC are both protected and connected on more than 17% of their lands. As we included human pressure, we conclude that previous global ProtConn studies overestimate PA connectivity. Subnational PAs are promising for strengthening the representation of PA systems. If nations seek to meet Aichi target 11, or an upcoming post-2020 30% target, further efforts are needed to implement and report subnational conservation areas and appropriately evaluate PA systems.
Infiltration-Friendly Agroforestry Land Uses on Volcanic Slopes in the Rejoso Watershed, East Java, Indonesia
Authors: Suprayogo Didik , van Noordwijk Meine , Hairiah Kurniatun , Meilasari Nabilla , Rabbani Abdul Lathif , Ishaq Rizki Maulana , Widianto Widianto
Published: July 2020

Forest conversion to agriculture can induce the loss of hydrologic functions linked to infiltration. Infiltration-friendly agroforestry land uses minimize this loss. Our assessment of forest-derived land uses in the Rejoso Watershed on the slopes of the Bromo volcano in East Java (Indonesia) focused on two zones, upstream (above 800 m a.s.l.; Andisols) and midstream (400–800 m a.s.l.; Inceptisols) of the Rejoso River, feeding aquifers that support lowland rice areas and drinking water supply to nearby cities. We quantified throughfall, infiltration, and erosion in three replications per land use category, with 6–13% of rainfall with intensities of 51–100 mm day−1. Throughfall varied from 65 to 100%, with a zone-dependent intercept but common 3% increase in canopy retention per 10% increase in canopy cover. In the upstream watershed, a tree canopy cover > 55% was associated with the infiltration rates needed, as soil erosion per unit overland flow was high. Midstream, only a tree canopy cover of > 80% qualified as “infiltration-friendly” land use, due to higher rainfall in this zone, but erosion rates were relatively low for a tree canopy cover in the range of 20–80%. The tree canopy characteristics required for infiltration-friendly land use clearly vary over short distances with soil type and rainfall intensity.
A System Dynamics Model and Analytic Network Process: An Integrated Approach to Investigate Urban Resilience
Authors: Bottero Marta , Datola Giulia , De Angelis Elena
Published: July 2020

During the last decade, the concept of urban resilience has been increasingly implemented in urban planning, with the main aim to design urban development strategies. Urban resilience is a multi-dimensional and dynamic concept. When applied to urban planning, it consists of studying cities as complex socio-economic systems. Municipalities are currently working to undertake appropriate actions to enrich the resilience of cities. Moreover, several difficulties concern the evaluation of the impacts over time of the strategies designed to enhance urban resilience. The present paper proposes an integrated approach based on the System Dynamics Model (SDM) and the Analytic Network Process (ANP). The objective of this research is to describe the method and to illustrate its application to the area called Basse di Stura, located in the city of Turin, Italy. The method is applied to evaluate the possible impacts of two different urban scenarios in terms of the change of urban resilience performance over time. The final result is represented by an index that describes urban resilience performance.
Conversion of Waste Plastic to Oils for Tribological Applications
Authors: Sikdar Soumya , Siddaiah Arpith , Menezes Pradeep L.
Published: July 2020

Plastics are widely used owing to their light weight, easy production, and low cost. Even though plastics find application in different fields of industries and households, they do not degrade easily. If plastics are not disposed of appropriately, it has been shown that they cause widespread environmental pollution, which poses risks to human health. Recycling waste plastics has been an alternative to mitigating plastic pollution, which usually requires high labour costs and produces contaminated water during processing. If plastic recycling will contribute to the development of tribological products like lubricating oils, it is a safer alternative to disposing of plastics in the environment. In order to understand the tribological use of plastics by recycling, the present study reviews different techniques that can be employed to transform waste plastics into petroleum-based oils. The viscosity, density, and friction of pyrolyzed waste plastic oils are investigated and compared with commercial lubricants to assess their potential lubrication applications. The segregation processes, catalytic isomerization dewaxing, and Fischer–Tropsch method to recycle waste plastics are also reviewed to provide an insight into the methods to transform pyrolyzed waste plastic into lubricants.
Data-Driven Analytics for Personalized Medical Decision Making
Authors: Melnykova Nataliia , Shakhovska Nataliya , Gregus Michal , Melnykov Volodymyr , Zakharchuk Mariana , Vovk Olena
Published: July 2020

The study was conducted by applying machine learning and data mining methods to treatment personalization. This allows individual patient characteristics to be investigated. The personalization method was built on the clustering method and associative rules. It was suggested to determine the average distance between instances in order to find the optimal performance metrics. The formalization of the medical data preprocessing stage was proposed in order to find personalized solutions based on current standards and pharmaceutical protocols. The patient data model was built using time-dependent and time-independent parameters. Personalized treatment is usually based on the decision tree method. This approach requires significant computation time and cannot be parallelized. Therefore, it was proposed to group people by conditions and to determine deviations of parameters from the normative parameters of the group, as well as the average parameters. The novelty of the paper is the new clustering method, which was built from an ensemble of cluster algorithms, and the usage of the new distance measure with Hopkins metrics, which were 0.13 less than for the k-means method. The Dunn index was 0.03 higher than for the BIRCH (balanced iterative reducing and clustering using hierarchies) algorithm. The next stage was the mining of associative rules provided separately for each cluster. This allows a personalized approach to treatment to be created for each patient based on long-term monitoring. The correctness level of the proposed medical decisions is 86%, which was approved by experts.
Common Fixed Point Theorems in Intuitionistic Generalized Fuzzy Cone Metric Spaces
Authors: Jeyaraman Mathuraiveeran , Suganthi Mookiah , Shatanawi Wasfi
Published: July 2020

In the present work, we study many fixed point results in intuitionistic generalized fuzzy cone metric space. Precisely, we prove new common fixed point theorems for three self mappings that do not require any commutativity or continuity but a generalized contractive condition. Our results are generalizations for many results in the literature. Some examples are given to support these results.
Numerical Estimation of Switched Reluctance Motor Excitation Parameters Based on a Simplified Structure Average Torque Control Strategy for Electric Vehicles
Authors: Hamouda Mahmoud , Abdel Menaem Amir , Rezk Hegazy , Ibrahim Mohamed N. , Számel László
Published: July 2020

Switched reluctance motors (SRMs) have been receiving great attention in electric vehicle (EV) applications. However, the complicated control and inherent torque ripples are the major drawbacks of SRMs. This paper introduces a numerical estimation method for the optimum control parameters of SRM based on a simplified average torque control (ATC) strategy for EVs. The proposed control aims to simplify the control algorithm to cut down complexity and cost. Besides, it aims to achieve all the vehicle requirements. A multi-objective optimization problem is set to determine the most efficient excitation parameters that can fulfill the vehicle requirements. The objective function has two terms: torque ripple and efficiency. Proper constraints for both turn-on and turn-off angles are included in order to achieve high-performance control, maximum torque per Ampere (MTPA) production, and reliable operation. Besides, additional toque constraints are involved to ensure fast dynamics, high-performance torque tracking capability, and parameter insensitivity. The motor model is accurately achieved based on the experimentally measured torque and flux characteristics. Several simulations are executed to prove the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed control. Moreover, experimental results are obtained to validate the theoretical findings. It is observed that the proposed control has a significant reduction of torque ripples compared to the conventional control methods. The average reduction ratio of torque ripple over the speed range is about 72.43%. Besides, the proposed control succeeds in maintaining a very good efficiency and high torque/current ratio. It also has a fast-dynamic performance.
A Partial Allocation Local Search Matheuristic for Solving the School Bus Routing Problem with Bus Stop Selection
Authors: Calvete Herminia I. , Galé Carmen , Iranzo José A. , Toth Paolo
Published: July 2020

This paper addresses the school bus routing problem with bus stop selection, which jointly handles the problems of determining the set of bus stops to visit, allocating each student to one of these bus stops and computing the routes that visit the selected bus stops, so that the total routing cost is minimized and the walking distance of the students is limited by a given value. A fast and efficient matheuristic is developed based on an innovative approach that first partially allocates the students to a set of active stops that they can reach, and computes a set of routes that minimizes the routing cost. Then, a refining process is performed to complete the allocation and to adapt the routes until a feasible solution is obtained. The algorithm is tested on a set of benchmark instances. The computational results show the efficiency of the algorithm in terms of the quality of the solutions yielded and the computing time.
An Optimization-Based Supervisory Control and Coordination Approach for Solar-Load Balancing in Building Energy Management
Authors: Allen James , Halberstadt Ari , Powers John , El-Farra Nael H.
Published: July 2020

This work considers the problem of reducing the cost of electricity to a grid-connected commercial building that integrates on-site solar energy generation, while at the same time reducing the impact of the building loads on the grid. This is achieved through local management of the building’s energy generation-load balance in an effort to increase the feasibility of wide-scale deployment and integration of solar power generation into commercial buildings. To realize this goal, a simulated building model that accounts for on-site solar energy generation, battery storage, electrical vehicle (EV) charging, controllable lighting, and air conditioning is considered, and a supervisory model predictive control (MPC) system is developed to coordinate the building’s generation, loads and storage systems. The main aim of this optimization-based approach is to find a reasonable solution that minimizes the economic cost to the electricity user, while at the same time reducing the impact of the building loads on the grid. To assess this goal, three objective functions are selected, including the peak building load, the net building energy use, and a weighted sum of both the peak load and net energy use. Based on these objective functions, three MPC systems are implemented on the simulated building under scenarios with varying degrees of weather forecasting accuracy. The peak demand, energy cost, and electricity cost are compared for various forecast scenarios for each MPC system formulation, and evaluated in relation to a rules-based control scheme. The MPC systems tested the rules-based scheme based on simulations of a month-long electricity consumption. The performance differences between the individual MPC system formulations are discussed in the context of weather forecasting accuracy, operational costs, and how these impact the potential of on-site solar generation and potential wide-spread solar penetration.
OctoPartenopin: Identification and Preliminary Characterization of a Novel Antimicrobial Peptide from the Suckers of Octopus vulgaris
Authors: Maselli Valeria , Galdiero Emilia , Salzano Anna Maria , Scaloni Andrea , Maione Angela , Falanga Annarita , Naviglio Daniele , Guida Marco , Di Cosmo Anna , Galdiero Stefania
Published: July 2020

Microorganism resistance to conventional antibiotics represents one of the major global health concerns. This paper focuses on a peptide (OctoPartenopin) extracted from suckers of Octopus vulgaris; bioassay-guided chromatographic fractionation was used to identify this sequence, which holds significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. OctoPartenopin is encrypted within the calponin sequence and was associated with the high levels of proteolytic activity already reported in octopus arm suckers. We synthesized the parent peptide and four analogues; all peptide were tested for their antibacterial and antibiofilm activities. Preliminary antibiofilm experiments showed that that one of the analogues had the best activity in both inhibition and eradication of biofilm of all three microorganisms tested. The occurrence of OctoPartenopin in arm suckers provided novel speculative information on animal behavior, as concerns maternal care of fertilized eggs. Our results highlight that suckers are a rich source of multifaceted peptides to develop alternative antimicrobial agents and food preservatives.
Bioactive Metabolites from the Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus Diaporthe longicolla FS429
Authors: Liu Zhaoming , Chen Yuchan , Li Saini , Wang Qinglin , Hu Caiyun , Liu Hongxin , Zhang Weimin
Published: July 2020

The chemical investigation of a methanol extract of the deep-sea-derived fungus Diaporthe longicolla FS429 led to the isolation of two novel diterpenoids longidiacids A and B (1 and 2), two new polyketides (3 and 4), two new cytochalasin analogues longichalasins A and B (6 and 8) and three known analogues 5, 7, 9. Their structures were elucidated through comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, while the absolute configurations were established by the comparison of the experimental and quantum chemical calculated ECD spectra. The structure of compound 7 was confirmed through X-ray diffraction for the first time. In the bioassays compound 8 exhibited antiproliferative effects against SF-268, with an IC50 value of 16.44 μM. Moreover, compounds 1 and 8 were detected to inhibit 35.4% and 53.5% of enzyme activity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein tyrosine phosphatase B (MptpB) at a concentration of 50 μM.
Clinical Outcomes of Complications Following Self-Expandable Metallic Stent Insertion for Benign Tracheobronchial Stenosis
Authors: Jeong Byeong-Ho , Ng Jeffrey , Jeong Suk Hyeon , Kim Hojoong
Published: July 2020

Background and Objectives: The use of metallic stents in benign TBS is controversial. Here, we report the clinical outcomes of patients who developed complications due to self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) insertion for benign TBS. Materials and Methods: Our institution, which is the largest and most active referral hospital for airway stenosis in South Korea, only uses silicone stents. We conducted a retrospective review of 20 patients referred after the insertion of SEMS for benign TBS from 2006 to 2015. Results: All 20 patients underwent rigid bronchoscopy for SEMS removal due to airway obstruction from granulation tissue overgrowth. All but one (95%) experienced successful removal of the SEMS. During a median follow-up period of 40 months, a median of seven rigid bronchoscopies per patient was needed to maintain airway patency. Three (15%) patients suffered acute complications during SEMS removal (bleeding (10%) and fistula (5%)). All patients suffered chronic complications (granulation tissue (80%), stent migration (58%), mucostasis (55%), and restenosis (43%)). Eventually, 15 patients (75%) needed airway prostheses (silicone stent (75%) and tracheostomy (25%)). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that SEMS should be avoided until positive results are consistently reported by high-quality studies in patients with benign TBS.
Potency of Combining Eucalyptus camaldulensis subsp. camaldulensis with Low-Dose Cisplatin in A549 Human Lung Adenocarcinomas and MCF-7 Breast Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Nasser Mohamad , Damaj Raghida , Merah Othmane , Hijazi Akram , Trabolsi Christine , Wehbe Nour , Nasser Malak , Al-Khatib Batoul , Damaj Ziad
Published: July 2020

Background: Lung and breast cancers are common in the world and represent major public health problems. Systemic chemotherapy is an effective way to prolong survival but it is associated with side effects. Plants are used as traditional treatments for many types of cancers, mostly in combination with chemotherapy. We investigated the antitumor effect of ethanolic (EE) and aqueous (AE) extracts of Eucalyptus camaldulensis on human alveolar adenocarcinoma basal epithelial cells (A549) and breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7) and checked the synergistic effect of the combination with low-dose cisplatin (CDDP). Methods: AE and EE were characterized for their secondary metabolites including content of phenol and antioxidant activity of both extracts. Cell viability was tested by the neutral red assay and MTT. Combinations of extract with low-dose CDDP on A549, MCF-7 cells, and normal cells peripheral blood mononuclear cells was used to study cell viability. Results: AE contains higher level of active constituents than EE. Higher antioxidant activity was observed in AE. Both extracts showed cytotoxic activity on A549 and MCF-7 cells. Moreover, combining E. camaldulensis with low-dose CDDP increases significantly the cell death of treated cells in comparison to those treated with CDDP alone. Conclusions: Our results highlight a new therapeutic concept that combines Eucalyptus camaldulensis with low-dose CDDP to treat lung and breast adenocarcinoma.
Yarrowia lipolytica and Lactobacillus paracasei Solid State Fermentation as a Valuable Biotechnological Tool for the Pork Lard and Okara’s Biotransformation
Authors: Cotârleț Mihaela , Stănciuc Nicoleta , Bahrim Gabriela Elena
Published: July 2020

This study reports the biovalorization of the two agri-food by-products (pork lard and freeze-dried okara) through solid-state fermentation using a monoculture of Yarrowia lipolytica or a co-culture of Y. lipolytica and Lactobacillus paracasei, for developing a valuable fermented product with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. First, some yeast strains were selected based on their properties to produce enzymes (protease and lipase) by cultivation on 5% (w/v) pork lard or 2% (w/v) freeze-dried okara. Two selected strains, Y. lipolytica MIUG D5 and Y. lipolytica ATCC 18942, were further used for the fermentation alone or in a co-culture with L. paracasei MIUG BL2. The Plackett–Burman experimental design was used to establish the effects of the fermentation parameters in order to obtain a fermented product with improved antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. As the Plackett–Burman experimental design are independent variables, the concentrations of the freeze-dried okara, pork lard, glycerol, inoculums type, inoculum concentration, and the fermentation time were analyzed. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging potential and the antimicrobial activity against aerobic spore-forming microorganisms were assessed as responses. For the fermented products, an antioxidant potential between 6.77–17.78 mM TE/g was obtained while the antimicrobial activity against Aspergillus niger ranged from 24 to 64%. Based on the statistical analysis, the time of the yeast fermentation and the concentration of pork lard were selected as variables with the influence on the SSF fermentation process and the functional properties of the fermented product. In the general context of a circular economy, the results demonstrate the possibility of bio-transforming the freeze-dried okara and the pork lard using Y. lipolytica as a valuable workhorse for the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) metabolism and postbiotics production into a fermented product, which is recommended for use as a food and feed ingredient with biotic properties.
Quorum Quenching in a Novel Acinetobacter sp. XN-10 Bacterial Strain against Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum
Authors: Zhang Wenping , Luo Qingqing , Zhang Yiyin , Fan Xinghui , Ye Tian , Mishra Sandhya , Bhatt Pankaj , Zhang Lianhui , Chen Shaohua
Published: July 2020

Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell density-dependent mechanism that regulates the expression of specific genes in microbial cells. Quorum quenching (QQ) is a promising strategy for attenuating pathogenicity by interfering with the QS system of pathogens. N-Acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) act as signaling molecules in many Gram-negative bacterial pathogens and have received wide attention. In this study, a novel, efficient AHL-degrading bacterium, Acinetobacter sp. strain XN-10, was isolated from agricultural contaminated soil and evaluated for its degradation efficiency and potential use against QS-mediated pathogens. Strain XN-10 could effectively degrade N-(3-oxohexanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (OHHL), N-hexanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C6HSL), N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (3OC12HSL), and N-(3-oxooctanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (3OC8HSL), which all belong to the AHL family. Analysis of AHL metabolic products by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) led to the identification of N-cyclohexyl-propanamide, and pentanoic acid, 4-methyl, methyl ester as the main intermediate metabolites, revealing that AHL could be degraded by hydrolysis and dehydroxylation. All intermediates were transitory and faded away without any non-cleavable metabolites at the end of the experiment. Furthermore, strain XN-10 significantly attenuated the pathogenicity of Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pcc) to suppress tissue maceration in carrots, potatoes, and Chinese cabbage. Taken together, our results shed light on the QQ mechanism of a novel AHL-degrading bacterial isolate, and they provide useful information which show potential for biocontrol of infectious diseases caused by AHL-dependent bacterial pathogens.