bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Valorization of agro-industrial by-products for sustainable production of biosurfactant by Syncephalastrum racemosum UCP 1302
Authors: Bione Ana Paula , Lins Amanda Barbosa , Rodríguez Dayana Montero , Souza Adriana Ferreira de , Mendonça Rafael de Souza , Lima Filho Hilário J. B. de , Campos-Takaki Galba Maria
Published: July 2022

The reutilization of agro-industrial by-products for obtaining of high-value added biosurfactants is a promising approach for minimizing the total production costs. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the production of biosurfactant by the Mucoralean fungus Syncephalastrum racemosum UCP 1302, by bioconversion of renewable substrates: cassava wastewater (CWW), waste soybean oil (WSO) and corn steep liquor (CSL). For this, a 23 full-factorial design (FFD) was applied and the results showed the ability of this strain to produce biosurfactant in all conditions of the FFD, standing out the condition 7 due to the greatest reduction of surface tension (from 72 to 30.9 mN/m). Preliminary characterization showed the lipopeptide nature of the biomolecule, as well as its anionic character and critical micellar concentration (CMC) of 1.25 mg/ml. Biotensoactive demonstrated stability to variations of temperature, pH and NaCl concentrations, wettability in polyester textile and it was effective on reduction of viscosity of burned motor oil. Hence, S. racemosum showed excellent ability to produce biosurfactant by green bioconversion of low-cost substrates, making the bioprocess economical and enabling its biotechnological applications.
Associação entre violência doméstica e estado nutricional em idosos: uma revisão sistemática
Authors: Araújo Carolina Abreu Henn de , Bernardo Fabíula , Warmling Deise , Conceição Thays Berger , Coelho Elza Berger Salema
Published: July 2022

O objetivo desta revisão sistemática foi identificar a associação entre a violência doméstica e o estado nutricional em idosos. Seis bancos de dados foram pesquisadas, sem restrições quanto ao período e idioma de publicação. Dois revisores independentes conduziram a seleção, extração dos dados e análise de qualidade metodológica. Em caso de dúvidas ou divergências, a seleção foi definida com o auxílio de um terceiro revisor. Cinco dos 401 estudos identificados foram incluídos. Todos os estudos foram considerados adequados em todos os critérios avaliados na qualidade metodológica. Sofrer violência doméstica, seja por familiares/ cuidadores ou parceiros íntimos, independente da natureza, podendo ser física, psicológica e sexual, tanto pregressa como atual, esteve positivamente associado à obesidade, ao longo da vida.
A Study on Instructors’ Perception and Educational Application of Metaverse-based Korean Language Education.
Authors:   The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, Lee Haiyoung , Jeong Hyeseon
Published: July 2022

The ultimate purpose of this study is to comprehensively review teachers’ perceptions of metaverse -based Korean language education and views related to educational application, and to explore the possibility of metaverse application to Korean education through this. For this purpose, the instructor’s perception of metaverse-based education was studied, considering effect of their prior metaverse experience. In addition, educational application of metaverse was investigated from the perspective of the value and necessity of metaverse-based education, factors to consider when planning metaverse-based education, and expected difficulties and support directions of metaverse-based education. As a result of the study, the group of instructors who had experience with metaverse had higher understanding of the metaverse and were also statistically significant in terms of perceived usefulness and sense of efficacy. However, even in the unexperienced group, which showed a very low sense of efficacy, the behavioral intention to use was high, not showing a significant difference from the experienced group. In order to fully take advantages of metaverse in Korean language education, it was confirmed that speaking activities such as role play, simulation, and small group learning activities with interaction were the most effective. Furthermore, the necessity of metaverse-based education must be included in instructors’ training and re-training programs, as well as in the required courses for instructor qualification program.
Case Study of Untact Learning Coaching Program
Authors:   The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, Kim Heejung , Hong Hyojeong
Published: July 2022

This study tried to implemente Untact Learning Coaching in the COVID-19 situation, and to verify the effectiveness and sustainability of this program. To achieve this purpose, the satisfaction of students who participated in face-to-face and Untact learning coaching within 2019-2021 of the case universities and the contents of the learning coaching journals were compared and analyzed. The results, first, both Untact and face-to-face learning coaching showed high satisfaction among students in the program. Second, in both the untact and face-to-face learning coaching, the majority of learning to coach were conducted on the topics of study method, learning motivation, time management, college life, major, and career path. Third, the students in the program positively evaluated learning methods, set the direction of learning, and self-reflection. Fourth, the students in the Untact Learning Coaching program demanded a notification service for the completion of coaching. Through these research results, the effectiveness and sustainability of Untact learning coaching were confirmed, and a new paradiam learning coaching was suggested as a personalized program.
The Impact of Media Literacy Education on Academic Competency: Focusing on the Case of Undergraduate International Students Class
Authors:   The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, Yang Jisun
Published: July 2022

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of media literacy education on the improvement of academic interest and thinking ability of undergraduate international students, and to verify the change in thinking ability through learners’ writing activity. Media analysis can enhance the thinking ability of international students and strengthen their domain of expression. Learners can organize their thoughts and present their opinions through discussion in the process of understanding the contents of the media as well as analyzing and evaluating information. This study defines academic competency reinforcement as the positive change in the ability to organize and express one’s opinions through discussion and writing activities in the process of analyzing media contents related to class topics. In the process of analyzing the media, learners shared their opinions and recognized changes in their speaking and writing skills. While analyzing various images from a critical point of view, they experienced improvement in their thinking ability, and they showed high satisfaction with media literacy education. Since the critical perspective in the process of distinguishing media contents has a positive effect on the improvement of thinking, writing and speaking skills of the learners, it is necessary to review media literacy education plans for undergraduate international students in domestic universities.
Changes in the Meaning of Old Downtown Space in Jeonju City: Focusing on the Change of Name of the Space from the Jewelry Street to Weridan-Gil
Authors:   The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, Lee Seonhee , Kim Dahui
Published: July 2022

This study examines the process in which a specific space in the Old downtown of Jeonju City is called differently and meaningfully by local residents according to the changes of the times. The area of Jungang-dong, Jeonju City, Called0 ‘Wedding Street’, was a commercial and administrative center from the 1950s to the 1990s. Administrative agencies were concentrated near ‘Wedding Street’, so public officials, teachers, and the wealthy used to purchase and repair watches and precious metals. In addition, the street was called “Jewelry Street” because gold and silver shops were concentrated, and it was signified as a women-centered consumption space due to its connection with nearby markets and changes in consumption culture. In “Jewelry Street,” hanbok, brand clothing, precious metals, and expensive luxury goods were mainly traded, and these were linked to the ritual of marriage. So it made the marriage-related industries concentrated on this street. In the 2000s, urban revitalization policies were implemented amid the stagnation of old downtown, and local governments named the street area “Wedding Street” and implemented street maintenance projects. Since then, space reorganization has intensified around marriage-related industries, Accordingly, the consumption and semanticization process of local residents in this street has also been centered on marriage. Wedding Street fell into recession again amid changes in the consumer culture related to marriage. However, with the recent popularity of “-ridan-gil,” it has been called “Weridan-gil,” and the composition of the space has changed into that composed of the restaurants, bars, and cafes aimed to the consumption culture of young merchants and Consumers, and the process of meaning is emerging through SNS. As such, this study reveals the interaction between the subject that makes meaning according to the change of the times and the factors that influence the change of meaning. In addition, This study also showed the dynamics of space composition and practice from the socio-cultural perspective. In addition, it will provide implications for the implementation of various policies to revitalize the original city center nationwide by revealing that administrative-led policy implementation cannot take precedence over voluntary interaction of local people.
Fabrication of Mesh-Patterned Transparent Heater using Large-Sized Sheets of Reduced Graphene Oxide
Authors: Moon Hae-In , Jo Seung Geun , Shin Yujin , Kang Yeoul , Lee Jung Woo
Published: July 2022

Transparent heaters are widely used for defrosting to improve visibility, insulation or heating of buildings, and thermal treatment. Indium tin oxide (ITO), which has excellent transmittance and electrical conductivity, is one of the representative materials used for these transparent heaters. However, it has several drawbacks including high material price, limited processability in large-area, and brittleness. Here, we fabricated a mesh-patterned transparent heater utilizing an inexpensive and solution-processable material, reduced graphene oxide, as an alternative to ITO. In this study, electrical conductivity was improved by the synthesis of large-sized reduced graphene oxide (LrGO). Over 80% of transmittance was obtained by adapting mesh patterns. Moreover, to alleviate the decrease in transmittance due to diffraction by the mesh pattern, transparent heaters were prepared with six different mesh patterns by changing the space between the repeating pattern units. Comparing the transmittance values from calculations and measurements, the HH (honeycomb-honeycomb) mesh pattern was determined to have the minimum degradation of transmittance due to diffraction. In addition, the electrical/optical properties and heating performances of LrGO meshpatterned transparent heaters were compared to confirm the optimal mesh pattern. As a result, frost was completely removed within 30 seconds under a low power of 0.07 W using a H-H 85% mesh patterned heater.
A Theory of Popular Power
Authors: Field Sandra Leonie
Published: July 2022

I propose a theory of popular power, according to which a political order manifests popular power to the extent it robustly maintains an egalitarian basic structure. There are two parts to the theory. First, the power of a political order lies in the basic structure's robust self-maintenance. Second, the popularity of the political order’s power lies in the equality of relations between the society's members.

I will argue that this theory avoids the perverse consequences of some existing radical democratic theories of popular power which focus on mass expression, either in plebiscites or in social movements, as popular power's canonical instances. In particular, my theory does not valourise momentary expression over durable effect, and it offers a ready framework for conceptualising the sometimes-oligarchic substructure of the supposedly canonical instances of popular power. I will show that this theory has strong precedents within a certain republican tradition of political philosophy.1
Self and No-Self in Kant and Pali-Buddhism
Authors: Flikschuh Katrin
Published: July 2022

This paper compares the Pali-Buddhist conception of the self outlined in Jonardon Ganeri’s Attention, Not Self with a Kantian understanding of the self as a form of reflexive consciousness. Noting that both reject conceptions of the self as ‘inner agent’, the paper points to significant differences between them via a consideration of popular ‘mindfulness practice’ that teaches practitioners how to achieve emotional detachment from the contents of consciousness. It questions the possibility and desirability of focus on the present at the expense of past and future moments and argues that, in contrast to Buddhist meditative practice that favours a passive model of engagement with the world, Kantian reflexive consciousness is bound up with active engagement with the world and others. It points to important differences between contemplating the happiness of oneself and others and the forms of practical judgment and action that may help to bring about such outcomes.
SINARMAS BANK HEALTH LEVEL ANALYSIS YEAR 2016-2020 USING THE RGEC METHOD
Authors: Srisulistiowati Dwi Budi , Rejeki Sri
Published: July 2022

In general, it is said to be healthy with banks in carrying out some of their functions well by carrying out  various policies, especially monetary policy. The level of banking soundness shows the guarantee of the security of the customer's budget stored in the bank. When banking regulations have to assess the Banking Soundness Level using the securities approach (Risk based Banking Rating) as stated in Article 2 paragraph (3), regarding the scope of value on several elements with a risk profile, Good Corporate Governance (GCG) , Earnings (Profitability), Capital (Budget). The observation method used is descriptive analysis. This observation aims to see the level of banking soundness at Bank Sinarmas. Observations by taking secondary data obtained from the financial statements of Bank Sinarmas for 2016-2020 which are available on the website https://www.perbankansinarmas.com/id/. Sinarmas has to make efficiency in terms of spending on business operating costs seen from the high BOPO ratio. Even Bank Sinarmas has to follow up on the settlement of non-performing loans, seen from the fluctuations in the value of the NPL which has been unstable for several years.
THE EFFECT OF RETURN ON ASSETS (ROA), RETURN ON EQUITY (ROE) AND EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS) ON STOCK PRICES IN FOOD AND BEVERAGE COMPANIES LISTED ON THE INDONESIA STOCK EXCHANGE 2016-2020
Authors: Oktaria Eka Travilta , Arifa Siti Nur
Published: July 2022

This investigation intends to examine the impact of Return On Assets (ROA), Return On Equity (ROE) and Earnings Per Share (EPS) on stock costs in food and refreshment organizations recorded on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in 2016-2020. The example choice utilized purposive testing technique, to acquire 11 organizations with 5 periods. The information investigation procedure utilized the traditional supposition test, different straight relapse test, the coefficient of assurance test (R2) and speculation testing to decide the impact of the free factor on the reliant variable. The outcomes showed that (1) the various straight relapse condition Y = 5.858 + 0.018 (X1) + 0.071 (X2) + 0.003 (X3) + e. (2) The worth of the coefficient of assurance (R2) is 0.469. (3) Simultaneously Return On Assets (ROA), Return On Equity (ROE) and Earnings Per Share (EPS) affect stock costs. (4) Partially Return On Assets (ROA) has no impact on stock costs, while Return On Equity (ROE) and Earnings Per Share (EPS) to some extent influence stock costs.

Keywords: Return On Assets, Return On Equity, Earnings Per Share And Stock Price
ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TAX COLLECTION AND ENTERTAINMENT TAX RETRIBUTION ON LOCALLY-GENERATED REVENUE IN BATAM CITY
Authors: Wangdra Ronald
Published: July 2022

The purpose of this study is to find answers about the level of Entertainment Tax Retribution collection in Batam City and its contribution to local tax revenue. This research uses a descriptive analysis method, focusing on Batam City. The sampling technique used is non-probability sampling, that is, the technique of determining the sample using certain considerations or using financial statements for the years 2017-2021. The results of hypothesis testing using multiple regression analysis methods show that the Entertainment Tax Retribution collection and payment performance of Batam City Dispenda has a significant impact on Locally-generated revenue. Although partial Effectiveness of Tax Collection in Batam City Dispenda has a significant relationship with the initial income of the region, however
Spatial Determinants of Livestock Depredation and Human Attitude Toward Wolves in Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan, India
Authors: Mahajan Prashant , Chaudhary Rohit , Kazi Abduladil , Khandal Dharmendra
Published: July 2022

Gray wolves are capable of adapting to human-dominated landscapes by utilizing domestic prey as a source of food. Livestock depredation by wolves incurs a heavy economic loss to the villagers, resulting in negative attitudes toward the species and leading to increased conservation conflict. We used multi-state occupancy modeling on the interview data to assess the ecological factors governing livestock depredation by wolves. We also assessed the socio-demographic factors that may govern the attitude of villagers toward the wolf using ordinal regression. Over the past year, 64% of respondents reported a loss of livestock, in which goats (63%) comprised the major share, followed by sheep (22%) and cattle calves (15%). Wolves tend to hunt medium-sized domestic prey (sheep and goats) that commonly graze in open agricultural areas. The estimated livestock depredation probability of wolves was 0.84 (SD = ± 0.23). Depredation probability was influenced by habitat use by wolves, the extent of agricultural areas, scrubland area, and settlement size. Respondents with prior experience of livestock loss held more negative attitudes. Shepherds held more negative attitudes than other occupations. Increases in the respondent’s age and education level reflected a positive shift in attitudes toward the wolf. High economic loss caused by livestock depredation by wolves can lead to retaliatory persecution of wolves. Adequate compensation for livestock loss, along with better education and awareness can help lead to coexistence between wolves and humans in multi-use landscape of Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan, India.
GBS-Based SNP Map Pinpoints the QTL Associated With Sorghum Downy Mildew Resistance in Maize (Zea mays L.)
Authors: Jadhav Kashmiri Prakash , Saykhedkar Gajanan R. , Tamilarasi Pandiampalayam Marappan , Devasree Subramani , Ranjani Rajagopalan Veera , Sarankumar Chandran , Bharathi Pukalenthy , Karthikeyan Adhimoolam , Arulselvi Soosai , Vijayagowri Esvaran , Ganesan Kalipatty Nalliappan , Paranidharan Vaikuntavasan , Nair Sudha K. , Babu Raman , Ramalingam Jegadeesan , Raveendran Muthurajan , Senthil Natesan
Published: July 2022

Sorghum downy mildew (SDM), caused by the biotrophic fungi Peronosclerospora sorghi, threatens maize production worldwide, including India. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with resistance to SDM, we used a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between resistant inbred line UMI936 (w) and susceptible inbred line UMI79. The RIL population was phenotyped for SDM resistance in three environments [E1-field (Coimbatore), E2-greenhouse (Coimbatore), and E3-field (Mandya)] and also utilized to construct the genetic linkage map by genotyping by sequencing (GBS) approach. The map comprises 1516 SNP markers in 10 linkage groups (LGs) with a total length of 6924.7 cM and an average marker distance of 4.57 cM. The QTL analysis with the phenotype and marker data detected nine QTL on chromosome 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 across three environments. Of these, QTL namely qDMR1.2, qDMR3.1, qDMR5.1, and qDMR6.1 were notable due to their high phenotypic variance. qDMR3.1 from chromosome 3 was detected in more than one environment (E1 and E2), explaining the 10.3% and 13.1% phenotypic variance. Three QTL, qDMR1.2, qDMR5.1, and qDMR6.1 from chromosomes 1, 5, and 6 were identified in either E1 or E3, explaining 15.2%–18% phenotypic variance. Moreover, genome mining on three QTL (qDMR3.1, qDMR5.1, and qDMR6.1) reveals the putative candidate genes related to SDM resistance. The information generated in this study will be helpful for map-based cloning and marker-assisted selection in maize breeding programs.
Marine Microbial Communities of North and South Shelves of Iceland
Authors: Jégousse Clara , Vannier Pauline , Groben René , Guðmundsson Kristinn , Marteinsson Viggó Thor
Published: July 2022

The North Atlantic Ocean surrounds Iceland, influencing its climate and hosting a rich ecosystem that provides the Icelandic nation with economically valuable marine species. The basis of the Icelandic marine ecosystem consists of communities of diverse microorganisms including bacteria, archaea, and unicellular eukaryotes. While the primary production of Icelandic waters has been monitored since the 50s, there is limited knowledge of the taxonomic and metabolic diversity of the marine microorganisms in Icelandic waters based on molecular techniques. In this study, we conducted annual sampling at four hydrographic stations over several years to characterize marine microbial communities and their metabolic potential. Using 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing and metagenomics, we resolved the microbial community composition on the North and South Shelves of Iceland, analyzed its evolution from 2011 to 2018, identified frequently occurring taxa, and predicted their potential metabolism. The results showed correlations between the marine microbial community profiles and the water masses in spring, between the North and South Shelves of Iceland. The differences in marine microbial diversity appear to be linked to the average seawater temperature in the mixed surface layer at each sampling station which also constrains the relative abundance of photosynthetic microorganisms. This study set a baseline for the marine microbial diversity in Icelandic marine waters and identified three photosynthetic microorganisms – the cyanobacteria Synechococcus and two members of the Chlorophyta clade – as valuable indicator species for future monitoring, as well as for application in ecosystem modeling in context with research on climate change.
Antimicrobial Resistance and Genotype Characteristics of Vibrio scophthalmi Isolated from Diseased Mariculture Fish Intestines With Typical Inter-Annual Variability
Authors: Yu Yongxiang , Liu Xiao , Wang Yingeng , Liao Meijie , Tang Miaomiao , Rong Xiaojun , Wang Chunyuan , Li Bin , Zhang Zheng
Published: July 2022

As an intestinal organism settled long-term within the gut of marine fish, Vibrio scophthalmi is a potential object for the bacterium genetic variation and adaptation research. The genetic diversity, antimicrobial resistance phenotype, and genotype of 33 V. scophthalmi isolated from diseased marine fish intestines between 2002 and 2020 were evaluated. The results showed that all isolates were frequently resistant to penicillins, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, and macrolides and displayed multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotype in vitro. Thirty percent of isolates were resistant to more than 20 different drugs. The average insensitive (resistant and intermediate) rate of V. scophthalmi isolates was 49.5%~81.8% between 2002 and 2020, but the t-test revealed that there was no significant difference in the drug-resistance rate of V. scophthalmi isolates with typical interannual variability. Eleven antimicrobial resistance genes (strB, strA, ant(3 ˝)-I, mphA, blaPSE, qnrS, tetC, tetE, tetM, tetS, and int1) were detected in these isolates, but the antimicrobial resistance phenotypes and genotypes of these isolates were not consistent. Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR) analysis indicated that 33 isolates could be divided into two clusters (G1 and G3) and two single isolates (G2 and G4), and the G2 cluster was isolated from South Sea C. undulates with typical geographical species differences. There was no significant correlation between the drug susceptibility and the genetic types of V. scophthalmi isolates. The results reveal the mismatch phenomenon between antimicrobial resistance and genotype of inherent V. scophthalmi in the marine fish intestines, and the antimicrobial susceptibility isolates might be a potential risk source for storage and transmission of resistance genes.
Whole-Genome Sequencing Identified KCNJ12 and SLC25A5 Mutations in Port-Wine Stains
Authors: Chen Kai , Hu Yan-Yan , Wang Lin-Lin , Xia Yun , Jiang Qian , Sun Lan , Qian Shan-Shan , Wu Jin-Zhao , Chen Liu-Qing , Li Dong-Sheng
Published: July 2022

Port-wine stains (PWSs) are a congenital capillary malformed disorder and are caused by a number of somatic mutations that disrupt vascular development. However, the underlying genetic mutations in the pathogenesis of PWS have not yet been fully elucidated. To understand PWS genetic variations and investigate novel genetic mutations, we extracted genomic DNA from four sporadic PWS patients and then performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Using Sorting Intolerant from Tolerant (SIFT), PolyPhen2, Mutation Assessor, MetaSVM to identify candidate genetic mutations and whole-exome sequencing (WES) to confirm the identified variants. We found a previously reported G protein subunit alpha q (GNAQ) mutation c.548G > A, p.Arg183Gln in one case, whereas no such mutation was found in the other three samples. Moreover, six novel somatic mutations in three genes, including KCNJ12, SLC25A5, POTEE, were found in these four samples. Importantly, WES also verified the KCNJ12 (c.433G > A, p.Gly145Ser) and SLC25A5 (c.413G > A, p.Arg138His) mutations in other five sporadic PWS patients, with the frequency of 60% (3 of 5) and 40% (2 of 5), respectively. Thus, we reveal in this study two novel somatic mutations, KCNJ12 and SLC25A5, in the sporadic PWS patients for the first time. These findings highlight the genetic polymorphism of PWS and provide potential clinical prediction targets for this disease.
Accounting Transparency, Fear Sentiment and the COVID-19 Epidemic: For Public Health Security and the Construction of an Early Warning System
Authors: Wang Haiyan , Sun Min , Li Han , Kang Diantong , Yan Lei , Gao Jianhao
Published: July 2022

A central issue of public health security and the construction of an early warning system is to establish a set of responsibility-oriented incentives and restraint mechanisms. This is closely related to the accounting transparency of the institutional environment and the fear sentiment of the individual's predicament. This study analyses the relationship between accounting transparency, fear sentiment, and COVID-19 through a VAR model analysis. The results show a significant and negative relationship between accounting transparency and daily new COVID-19 patients. In particular, accounting transparency has a negative impact on the increase in the number of people infected with a two-period lag, while the three-period lag in the number of new epidemics has a negative impact on accounting information. Second, accounting transparency has a positive impact on the increase in the search volume on COVID-19 within a three-period lag. After the three-period lag, the number of new epidemics has a positive impact on accounting information. Third, an increase in fear sentiment can be driven by the fear of COVID-19. Fourth, in the public health early warning system, according to the abovementioned time characteristics, the system arranges the emotional counseling, early warning incentives, and institutional constraints to be dealt with in the first 4 days. In addition, in the early warning target-oriented system setting, the parallel system helps to improve the early warning efficiency.
Occurrence of Fasciola (Digenea: Fasciolidae) Species in Livestock, Wildlife and Humans, and the Geographical Distribution of Their Intermediate Hosts in South Africa—A Scoping Review
Authors: Nyagura Ignore , Malatji Mokgadi Pulane , Mukaratirwa Samson
Published: July 2022

This review was conducted to provide an update on the status of the occurrence of Fasciola species in livestock, wildlife and humans, and the geographical distribution of snail intermediate host (IH) species in South Africa. The literature search was conducted on four electronic databases using the Boolean operators in combination with predetermined search terms for thematic analysis. Results showed that Fasciola species have been reported in six out of nine provinces of South Africa in the last six decades (1960–2021), with both F. hepatica and F. gigantica infecting vertebrate hosts and F. hepatica and Fasciola spp infecting humans. Results also showed that most studies relied on morphological identification of eggs and flukes without molecular confirmation, which might have led to the misidentification of specimens, especially when immature. Fasciola hepatica has been documented in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. The occurrences of Galba truncatula as the probable snail IH for F. hepatica in the three provinces has been documented while Pseudosuccinea columella has only been documented in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. The occurrence of F. gigantica to date has been reported in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, with overlapping distribution with F. hepatica. Radix natalensis, the main IH of F. gigantica has been documented in all the three provinces, while the two alien Radix species (R. auricularia and R. rubiginosa) were documented in KwaZulu-Natal province and have been implicated elsewhere with the transmission of F. gigantica. The presence of Fasciola spp eggs and antibodies in humans were documented in the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape provinces, where both P. columella and G. truncatula are known to be present. The prevalence of Fasciola spp infection in livestock ranged from 9.1 to 37.67 %, with an estimated annual financial loss ranging from R44930.26-129901 in cattle production in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. This review reaffirms the scarcity of information on the occurrence and burden of fasciolosis in South Africa, and further highlights the importance of future research covering all provinces of the country and assessing the public health significance of the disease in resource-poor livestock communities in the areas where the parasite is endemic.
Informer-WGAN: High Missing Rate Time Series Imputation Based on Adversarial Training and a Self-Attention Mechanism
Authors: Qian Yufan , Tian Limei , Zhai Baichen , Zhang Shufan , Wu Rui
Published: July 2022

Missing observations in time series will distort the data characteristics, change the dataset expectations, high-order distances, and other statistics, and increase the difficulty of data analysis. Therefore, data imputation needs to be performed first. Generally, data imputation methods include statistical imputation, regression imputation, multiple imputation, and imputation based on machine learning methods. However, these methods currently have problems such as insufficient utilization of time characteristics, low imputation efficiency, and poor performance under high missing rates. In response to these problems, we propose the informer-WGAN, a network model based on adversarial training and a self-attention mechanism. With the help of the discriminator network and the random missing rate training method, the informer-WGAN can efficiently solve the problem of multidimensional time series imputation. According to the experimental results under different missing rates, the informer-WGAN model achieves better imputation results than the original informer on two datasets. Our model also shows excellent performance on time series imputation of the key parameters of a spacecraft control moment gyroscope (CMG).
LTU Attacker for Membership Inference
Authors: Pedersen Joseph , Muñoz-Gómez Rafael , Huang Jiangnan , Sun Haozhe , Tu Wei-Wei , Guyon Isabelle
Published: July 2022

We address the problem of defending predictive models, such as machine learning classifiers (Defender models), against membership inference attacks, in both the black-box and white-box setting, when the trainer and the trained model are publicly released. The Defender aims at optimizing a dual objective: utility and privacy. Privacy is evaluated with the membership prediction error of a so-called “Leave-Two-Unlabeled” LTU Attacker, having access to all of the Defender and Reserved data, except for the membership label of one sample from each, giving the strongest possible attack scenario. We prove that, under certain conditions, even a “naïve” LTU Attacker can achieve lower bounds on privacy loss with simple attack strategies, leading to concrete necessary conditions to protect privacy, including: preventing over-fitting and adding some amount of randomness. This attack is straightforward to implement against any model trainer, and we demonstrate its performance against MemGaurd. However, we also show that such a naïve LTU Attacker can fail to attack the privacy of models known to be vulnerable in the literature, demonstrating that knowledge must be complemented with strong attack strategies to turn the LTU Attacker into a powerful means of evaluating privacy. The LTU Attacker can incorporate any existing attack strategy to compute individual privacy scores for each training sample. Our experiments on the QMNIST, CIFAR-10, and Location-30 datasets validate our theoretical results and confirm the roles of over-fitting prevention and randomness in the algorithms to protect against privacy attacks.
Bivariate-Dependent Reliability Estimation Model Based on Inverse Gaussian Processes and Copulas Fusing Multisource Information
Authors: Chen Rentong , Zhang Chao , Wang Shaoping , Hong Li
Published: July 2022

Reliability estimation for key components of a mechanical system is of great importance in prognosis and health management in aviation industry. Both degradation data and failure time data contain abundant reliability information from different sources. Considering multiple variable-dependent degradation performance indicators for mechanical components is also an effective approach to improve the accuracy of reliability estimation. This study develops a bivariate-dependent reliability estimation model based on inverse Gaussian process and copulas fusing degradation data and failure time data within one computation framework. The inverse Gaussian process model is used to describe the degradation process of each performance indicator. Copula functions are used to capture the dependent relationship between the two performance indicators. In order to improve the reliability estimation accuracy, both degradation data and failure time data are used simultaneously to estimate the unknown parameters in the degradation model based on the likelihood function transformed using the zeros-ones trick. A simulation study and a real application in the reliability estimation of mechanical seal used in airborne hydraulic pump are conducted to validate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed model compared with existing reliability models.
Role of Oxidative Stress in the Pathogenesis of Atherothrombotic Diseases
Authors: Petrucci Giovanna , Rizzi Alessandro , Hatem Duaa , Tosti Giulia , Rocca Bianca , Pitocco Dario
Published: July 2022

Oxidative stress is generated by the imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and antioxidant scavenger system’s activity. Increased ROS, such as superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical and peroxynitrite, likely contribute to the development and complications of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD). In genetically modified mouse models of atherosclerosis, the overexpression of ROS-generating enzymes and uncontrolled ROS formation appear to be associated with accelerated atherosclerosis. Conversely, the overexpression of ROS scavenger systems reduces or stabilizes atherosclerotic lesions, depending on the genetic background of the mouse model. In humans, higher levels of circulating biomarkers derived from the oxidation of lipids (8-epi-prostaglandin F2α, and malondialdehyde), as well as proteins (oxidized low-density lipoprotein, nitrotyrosine, protein carbonyls, advanced glycation end-products), are increased in conditions of high cardiovascular risk or overt ASCVD, and some oxidation biomarkers have been reported as independent predictors of ASCVD in large observational cohorts. In animal models, antioxidant supplementation with melatonin, resveratrol, Vitamin E, stevioside, acacetin and n-polyunsaturated fatty acids reduced ROS and attenuated atherosclerotic lesions. However, in humans, evidence from large, placebo-controlled, randomized trials or prospective studies failed to show any athero-protective effect of antioxidant supplementation with different compounds in different CV settings. However, the chronic consumption of diets known to be rich in antioxidant compounds (e.g., Mediterranean and high-fish diet), has shown to reduce ASCVD over decades. Future studies are needed to fill the gap between the data and targets derived from studies in animals and their pathogenetic and therapeutic significance in human ASCVD.
Improved YOLOv5: Efficient Object Detection Using Drone Images under Various Conditions
Authors: Jung Hyun-Ki , Choi Gi-Sang
Published: July 2022

With the recent development of drone technology, object detection technology is emerging, and these technologies can also be applied to illegal immigrants, industrial and natural disasters, and missing people and objects. In this paper, we would like to explore ways to increase object detection performance in these situations. Photography was conducted in an environment where it was confusing to detect an object. The experimental data were based on photographs that created various environmental conditions, such as changes in the altitude of the drone, when there was no light, and taking pictures in various conditions. All the data used in the experiment were taken with F11 4K PRO drone and VisDrone dataset. In this study, we propose an improved performance of the original YOLOv5 model. We applied the obtained data to each model: the original YOLOv5 model and the improved YOLOv5_Ours model, to calculate the key indicators. The main indicators are precision, recall, F-1 score, and mAP (0.5), and the YOLOv5_Ours values of mAP (0.5) and function loss were improved by comparing it with the original YOLOv5 model. Finally, the conclusion was drawn based on the data comparing the original YOLOv5 model and the improved YOLOv5_Ours model. As a result of the analysis, we were able to arrive at a conclusion on the best model of object detection under various conditions.
Density Prediction in Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing: Machine Learning-Based Techniques
Authors: Gor Meet , Dobriyal Aashutosh , Wankhede Vishal , Sahlot Pankaj , Grzelak Krzysztof , Kluczyński Janusz , Łuszczek Jakub
Published: July 2022

Machine learning (ML) is one of the artificial intelligence tools which uses past data to learn the relationship between input and output and helps to predict future trends. Powder bed fusion additive manufacturing (PBF-AM) is extensively used for a wide range of applications in the industry. The AM process establishment for new material is a crucial task with trial-and-error approaches. In this work, ML techniques have been applied for the prediction of the density of PBF-AM. Density is the most vital property in evaluating the overall quality of the AM building part. The ML techniques, namely, artificial neural network (ANN), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), and linear regression (LR), are used to develop a model for predicting the density of the stainless steel (SS) 316L build part. These four methods are validated using R-squared values and different error functions to compare the predicted result. The ANN and SVM model performed well with the R-square value of 0.95 and 0.923, respectively, for the density prediction. The ML models would be beneficial for the prediction of the process parameters. Further, the developed ML model would also be helpful for the future application of ML in additive manufacturing.
An Optical and Chemiluminescence Assay for Assessing the Cytotoxicity of Balamuthia mandrillaris against Human Neurospheroids
Authors: Pengsart Worakamol , Kulkeaw Kasem
Published: July 2022

A spheroid is a cell aggregate in a three-dimensional context; thereby, it recapitulates the cellular architecture in human tissue. However, the utility of spheroids as an assay for host–parasite interactions remains unexplored. This study demonstrates the potential use of neurospheroids for assessing the cytotoxicity of the life-threatening pathogenic amoeba Balamuthia mandrillaris. The neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells formed a spheroid in a hanging drop of culture medium. Cellular damage caused by B. mandrillaris trophozoites on human neuronal spheroids was observed using microscopic imaging and ATP detection. B. mandrillaris trophozoites rapidly caused a decrease in ATP production in the spheroid, leading to loss of neurospheroid integrity. Moreover, 3D confocal microscopy imaging revealed interactions between the trophozoites and SH-SY5Y neuronal cells in the outer layer of the neurospheroid. In conclusion, the neurospheroid allows the assessment of host cell damage in a simple and quantitative manner.
Multi-Targeting Approach in Glioblastoma Using Computer-Assisted Drug Discovery Tools to Overcome the Blood–Brain Barrier and Target EGFR/PI3Kp110β Signaling
Authors: Franco Catarina , Kausar Samina , Silva Margarida F. B. , Guedes Rita C. , Falcao Andre O. , Brito Maria Alexandra
Published: July 2022

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is upregulated in glioblastoma, becoming an attractive therapeutic target. However, activation of compensatory pathways generates inputs to downstream PI3Kp110β signaling, leading to anti-EGFR therapeutic resistance. Moreover, the blood–brain barrier (BBB) limits drugs’ brain penetration. We aimed to discover EGFR/PI3Kp110β pathway inhibitors for a multi-targeting approach, with favorable ADMET and BBB-permeant properties. We used quantitative structure–activity relationship models and structure-based virtual screening, and assessed ADMET properties, to identify BBB-permeant drug candidates. Predictions were validated in in vitro models of the human BBB and BBB-glioma co-cultures. The results disclosed 27 molecules (18 EGFR, 6 PI3Kp110β, and 3 dual inhibitors) for biological validation, performed in two glioblastoma cell lines (U87MG and U87MG overexpressing EGFR). Six molecules (two EGFR, two PI3Kp110β, and two dual inhibitors) decreased cell viability by 40–99%, with the greatest effect observed for the dual inhibitors. The glioma cytotoxicity was confirmed by analysis of targets’ downregulation and increased apoptosis (15–85%). Safety to BBB endothelial cells was confirmed for three of those molecules (one EGFR and two PI3Kp110β inhibitors). These molecules crossed the endothelial monolayer in the BBB in vitro model and in the BBB-glioblastoma co-culture system. These results revealed novel drug candidates for glioblastoma treatment.
MicroRNAs, Tristetraprolin Family Members and HuR: A Complex Interplay Controlling Cancer-Related Processes
Authors: Sobolewski Cyril , Dubuquoy Laurent , Legrand Noémie
Published: July 2022

MicroRNAs represent the most characterized post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. Their altered expression importantly contributes to the development of a wide range of metabolic and inflammatory diseases but also cancers. Accordingly, a myriad of studies has suggested novel therapeutic approaches aiming at inhibiting or restoring the expression of miRNAs in human diseases. However, the influence of other trans-acting factors, such as long-noncoding RNAs or RNA-Binding-Proteins, which compete, interfere, or cooperate with miRNAs-dependent functions, indicate that this regulatory mechanism is much more complex than initially thought, thus questioning the current models considering individuals regulators. In this review, we discuss the interplay existing between miRNAs and the AU-Rich Element Binding Proteins (AUBPs), HuR and tristetraprolin family members (TTP, BRF1 and BRF2), which importantly control the fate of mRNA and whose alterations have also been associated with the development of a wide range of chronic disorders and cancers. Deciphering the interplay between these proteins and miRNAs represents an important challenge to fully characterize the post-transcriptional regulation of pro-tumorigenic processes and design new and efficient therapeutic approaches.
Evaluation of a Deep Learning Approach to Differentiate Bowen’s Disease and Seborrheic Keratosis
Authors: Jansen Philipp , Baguer Daniel Otero , Duschner Nicole , Le’Clerc Arrastia Jean , Schmidt Maximilian , Wiepjes Bettina , Schadendorf Dirk , Hadaschik Eva , Maass Peter , Schaller Jörg , Griewank Klaus Georg
Published: July 2022

Background: Some of the most common cutaneous neoplasms are Bowen’s disease and seborrheic keratosis, a malignant and a benign proliferation, respectively. These entities represent a significant fraction of a dermatopathologists’ workload, and in some cases, histological differentiation may be challenging. The potential of deep learning networks to distinguish these diseases is assessed. Methods: In total, 1935 whole-slide images from three institutions were scanned on two different slide scanners. A U-Net-based segmentation deep learning algorithm was trained on data from one of the centers to differentiate Bowen’s disease, seborrheic keratosis, and normal tissue, learning from annotations performed by dermatopathologists. Optimal thresholds for the class distinction of diagnoses were extracted and assessed on a test set with data from all three institutions. Results: We aimed to diagnose Bowen’s diseases with the highest sensitivity. A good performance was observed across all three centers, underlining the model’s robustness. In one of the centers, the distinction between Bowen’s disease and all other diagnoses was achieved with an AUC of 0.9858 and a sensitivity of 0.9511. Seborrheic keratosis was detected with an AUC of 0.9764 and a sensitivity of 0.9394. Nevertheless, distinguishing irritated seborrheic keratosis from Bowen’s disease remained challenging. Conclusions: Bowen’s disease and seborrheic keratosis could be correctly identified by the evaluated deep learning model on test sets from three different centers, two of which were not involved in training, and AUC scores > 0.97 were obtained. The method proved robust to changes in the staining solution and scanner model. We believe this demonstrates that deep learning algorithms can aid in clinical routine; however, the results should be confirmed by qualified histopathologists.