bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Big Picture on Privacy Enhancing Technologies in e-Health: A Holistic Personal Privacy Workflow
Authors: Becher Stefan , Gerl Armin , Meier Bianca , Bölz Felix
Published: July 2020

The collection and processing of personal data offers great opportunities for technological advances, but the accumulation of vast amounts of personal data also increases the risk of misuse for malicious intentions, especially in health care. Therefore, personal data are legally protected, e.g., by the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which states that individuals must be transparently informed and have the right to take control over the processing of their personal data. In real applications privacy policies are used to fulfill these requirements which can be negotiated via user interfaces. The literature proposes privacy languages as an electronic format for privacy policies while the users privacy preferences are represented by preference languages. However, this is only the beginning of the personal data life-cycle, which also includes the processing of personal data and its transfer to various stakeholders. In this work we define a personal privacy workflow, considering the negotiation of privacy policies, privacy-preserving processing and secondary use of personal data, in context of health care data processing to survey applicable Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) to ensure the individuals’ privacy. Based on a broad literature review we identify open research questions for each step of the workflow.
Privacy Preservation of Data-Driven Models in Smart Grids Using Homomorphic Encryption
Authors: Syed Dabeeruddin , Refaat Shady S. , Bouhali Othmane
Published: July 2020

Deep learning models have been applied for varied electrical applications in smart grids with a high degree of reliability and accuracy. The development of deep learning models requires the historical data collected from several electric utilities during the training of the models. The lack of historical data for training and testing of developed models, considering security and privacy policy restrictions, is considered one of the greatest challenges to machine learning-based techniques. The paper proposes the use of homomorphic encryption, which enables the possibility of training the deep learning and classical machine learning models whilst preserving the privacy and security of the data. The proposed methodology is tested for applications of fault identification and localization, and load forecasting in smart grids. The results for fault localization show that the classification accuracy of the proposed privacy-preserving deep learning model while using homomorphic encryption is 97–98%, which is close to 98–99% classification accuracy of the model on plain data. Additionally, for load forecasting application, the results show that RMSE using the homomorphic encryption model is 0.0352 MWh while RMSE without application of encryption in modeling is around 0.0248 MWh.
Remote Sensing in Coastline Detection
Authors: Dominici Donatella , Zollini Sara
Published: July 2020

“Is beach erosion a natural cycle or is it getting worse with rising sea levels [...]
A New Design Criterion to Improve the Intact Stability of Galician Small Fishing Vessels
Authors: Alvite-Castro Jesús , Orosa José A. , Vergara Diego , Costa Ángel M. , Bouzón Rebeca
Published: July 2020

The first technical factor involved in maritime accidents is related to the lack of intact stability. The current stability criterion, based on fixing a minimum value for each of the different static and dynamic righting arms, is not regarded as satisfactory. Correspondingly, a new criterion based on the transverse metacentric height, dynamic stability up to 70° heel, and critical wave height were considered for fishing vessels less than or equal to 24 m in length. This can be understood as an improvement on the Rahola criterion or an equivalent criterion of dead ship capsize mode, as assumed in the second-generation stability criteria. The proposed criterion, when used in a real case study on the Galician fishing grounds, achieved higher precision. The few vessels that did not comply with the proposed requirement can continue to operate in the area if the Meteorological and Oceanographic Coefficient (CMO) is considered at the time we employ our criteria. As a result, their activity is limited to only a few fishing grounds where adequate weather conditions exist. Finally, the methodology developed can be easily extrapolated to other regions in the world.
Role of Magnesium and the Effect of Surface Roughness on the Hydroxyapatite-Forming Ability of Zirconia Induced by Biomimetic Aqueous Solution Treatment
Authors: Zamin Hasnat , Yabutsuka Takeshi , Takai Shigeomi , Sakaguchi Hiroshi
Published: July 2020

Zirconia is a well-known bioceramic for dental and orthopedic applications due to its mechanical and aesthetic properties. However, it lacks sufficient bioactivity to bond with the living bone. This study was aimed to induce bioactivity to tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (3Y-TZP) by simple biomimetic aqueous solution treatment. First, hydrofluoric acid (HF) etching was performed to enhance the surface roughness of the 3Y-TZP surface. Then, the samples were treated with two types of aqueous solutions containing calcium and phosphate ions (Ca-P solutions); one solution additionally contained magnesium (Mg) ions and the other without Mg ions. Finally, hydroxyapatite (HAp)-forming ability was evaluated by the conventional simulated body fluid (SBF) test, and the effect of Mg ions on the adhesive strength of the HAp layer to the roughened 3Y-TZP surface was also investigated. The results concluded that there were no noticeable differences in the effect of Mg ions on the HAp-forming ability, and both types of solution treatments resulted in dense HAp formation in 1 day SBF immersion. However, incorporation of Mg ions in one of the Ca-P solutions significantly improved the adhesive strength of the HAp layer to the HF-etched 3Y-TZP substrate compared to the Ca-P solution with no Mg ions.
Effect of Chemical Aggressive Media on the Flexural Properties of Cured-In-Place Pipes Supported by Microstructure Observation and Acoustic Emission
Authors: Hodul Jakub , Majerová Jana , Drochytka Rostislav , Dvořák Richard , Topolář Libor , Pazdera Luboš
Published: July 2020

The cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) method is currently the most frequently used approach for the renovation of piping without digging; this technology is suitable for pipes made from all types of material. The authors of this paper examined how chemical substances and increased temperature change samples of CIPP with vinyl-ester resin taken from a simulated installation. Changes were observed at several levels: visually via a digital optical microscope, through changes of short-term bending properties and by observation of the activity of the sample structure by means of acoustic emission (AE). Interdependencies among the observed parameters were examined, specifically, the cumulative number of hits (cnt)/deflection and flexural properties/mechanic wave velocity. The test results prove that after three weeks of immersion in a simulated aggressive environment that mirrors what may happen to CIPP in real conditions, short-term mechanical properties change. This is also proven by the results of the AE measurements. For clarity, the results include images from a digital optical microscope. In addition, this paper proves that CIPP samples have good resistance to the action of organic and inorganic acids and to increased temperatures. After three weeks of exposure to a temperature of 100 °C the CIPP flexural properties of the samples had even improved.
History, Developments and Open Problems on Approximation Properties
Authors: Kim Ju Myung , Zheng Bentuo
Published: July 2020

In this paper, we give a comprehensive review of the classical approximation property. Then, we present some important results on modern variants, such as the weak bounded approximation property, the strong approximation property and p-approximation property. Most recent progress on E-approximation property and open problems are discussed at the end.
Applicability of the Electrochemical Oxygen Sensor for In-Situ Evaluation of MgO Solubility in the MgF2–LiF Molten Salt Electrolysis System
Authors: Kim Youngjae , Yoo Junsoo , Kang Jungshin
Published: July 2020

The measurement and evaluation of MgO solubility in the molten fluoride system is of significant importance in the recently proposed magnesium electrolysis reduction process. In the present study, an in-situ quantitative method of evaluating the concentration of dissolved MgO in molten fluoride is proposed. The MgO solubility in the 32.8MgF2–67.2LiF system was measured at 1083 and 1123 K using a combustion analyzer. MgO saturation was achieved in under 2 h, and higher solubilities were observed as the temperature increased. Thermodynamic assessment was carried out in order to ascertain the applicability of the electrochemical oxygen sensor, which indicated that the logarithm of oxygen concentration in molten fluoride has a linear relationship with the measured electromotive force (EMF) potential. The EMF potential of the controlled MgO concentration was measured, and a straight calibration line was obtained, describing the relationship between the measured EMF and the logarithm of MgO concentration. From the obtained calibration line, MgO concentration in the 0.4 wt% MgO was calculated. The calculated value was 0.44 wt% that was in excellent accordance with the controlled MgO concentration of 0.4 wt%, verifying the practical applicability of electrochemical oxygen for the in-situ monitoring and evaluation of MgO solubility in the electrolysis magnesium reduction process.
Design, Setup, and Evaluation of a Compensation System for the Light Deflection Effect Occurring When Measuring Wrought-Hot Objects Using Optical Triangulation Methods
Authors: Quentin Lorenz , Reinke Carl , Beermann Rüdiger , Kästner Markus , Reithmeier Eduard
Published: July 2020

In this paper, we present a system to compensate for the light deflection effect during the optical geometry measurement of a wrought-hot object. The acquired 3D data can be used to analyze the formed geometry of a component directly after a hot forging process without waiting for the needed cooling time to room temperature. This may be used to parameterize the process and to detect defect components early in the production process, among others. The light deflection as the deviation from the linear path of the light is caused by an inhomogeneous refractive index field surrounding the hot object. We present the design and setup for a nozzle-based forced air flow actuator, which suppresses the light deflection effect. The design process includes a simulation of the developing field, as well as of the interaction of the field with an external forced air flow. The cooling effect of the air flow is evaluated, and conclusions are drawn from the conflicting interests of good measurement conditions against the forced cooling of the hot object. The findings are then implemented in the physical setup of the suppression system. The system is evaluated using a previously established method based on optical triangulation and fringe projection. Other occurring effects and their influence on the evaluation are considered and discussed.
Late Cenozoic Uguumur and Bod-Uul Volcanic Centers in Northern Mongolia: Mineralogy, Geochemistry, and Magma Sources
Authors: Perepelov Alexander , Kuzmin Mikhail , Tsypukova Svetlana , Shcherbakov Yuri , Dril Sergey , Didenko Alexey , Dalai-Erdene Enkhbat , Puzankov Mikhail , Zhgilev Alexander
Published: July 2020

The paper presents new data on mineralogy, geochemistry, and Sr-Nd-Pb isotope systematics of Late Cenozoic eruption products of Uguumur and Bod-Uul volcanoes in the Tesiingol field of Northern Mongolia, with implications for the magma generation conditions, magma sources, and geodynamic causes of volcanism. The lavas and pyroclastics of the two volcanic centers are composed of basanite, phonotephrite, basaltic trachyandesite, and trachyandesite, which enclose spinel and garnet peridotite and garnet-bearing pyroxenite xenoliths; megacrysts of Na-sanidine, Ca-Na pyroxene, ilmenite, and almandine-grossular-pyrope garnets; and carbonate phases. The rocks are enriched in LILE and HFSE, show strongly fractioned REE spectra, and are relatively depleted in U and Th. The low contents of U and Th in Late Cenozoic volcanics from Northern and Central Mongolia represent the composition of a magma source. The presence of carbonate phases in subliquidus minerals and mantle rocks indicates that carbon-bearing fluids were important agents in metasomatism of subcontinental lithospheric mantle. The silicate-carbonate melts were apparently released from eclogitizied slabs during the Paleo-Asian and Mongol-Okhotsk subduction. The parent alkali-basaltic magma may be derived as a result from partial melting of Grt-bearing pyroxenite or eclogite-like material or carobantized peridotite. The sources of alkali-basaltic magmas from the Northern and Central Mongolia plot different isotope trends corresponding to two different provinces. The isotope signatures of megacrysts are similar to those of studied volcanic centers rocks. The P-T conditions inferred for the crystallization of pyroxene and garnet megacrysts correspond to a depth range from the Grt-Sp phase transition to the lower crust. Late Cenozoic volcanism in Northern and Central Mongolia may be a response to stress propagation and gravity instability in the mantle associated with the India-Asia collision.
Potentilla alba Extracts Affect the Viability and Proliferation of Non-Cancerous and Cancerous Colon Human Epithelial Cells
Authors: Kowalik Klaudia , Paduch Roman , Strawa Jakub W. , Wiater Adrian , Wlizło Kamila , Waśko Adam , Wertel Iwona , Pawłowska Anna , Tomczykowa Monika , Tomczyk Michał
Published: July 2020

The aim of this study was to determine the anti-tumor activity of extracts isolated from Potentilla alba L. on human colon cancer cells of the HT-29 line and on non-cancer colon epithelial cells of the CCD 841 CoTr line. The research methods we used to determine the cytotoxic and proliferative properties were 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and neutral red (NR) assays, the ability to produce nitric oxide, the Griess method, and the biochemical properties like 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods indicating reduction activity of tested samples. In order to obtain a phytochemical profile of the different extracts an analytical method based on liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection-electrospray ionization ion-trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-PDA-ESI-MS/TOF) was applied. Finally, the effects of the extracts on the morphology and cell counts were assessed by May–Grünwald–Giemsa staining. After a comprehensive analysis of all the experiments, the extracts were found to demonstrate cytotoxic properties, they stimulated the division of non-cancer cells, and they were able to scavenge free radicals. In the NR method, the cell viability dropped to approximately 80% compared to the control. In the MTT assay, tumor cell proliferation decreased to 9.5% compared to the control. Therefore, we concluded that this plant has medical potential.
Iron’s Wake: The Performance of Quantum Mechanical-Derived Versus General-Purpose Force Fields Tested on a Luminescent Iron Complex
Authors: Diez-Cabanes Valentin , Prampolini Giacomo , Francés-Monerris Antonio , Monari Antonio , Pastore Mariachiara
Published: July 2020

Recently synthetized iron complexes have achieved long-lived excited states and stabilities which are comparable, or even superior, to their ruthenium analogues, thus representing an eco-friendly and cheaper alternative to those materials based on rare metals. Most of computational tools which could help unravel the origin of this large efficiency rely on ab-initio methods which are not able, however, to capture the nanosecond time scale underlying these photophysical processes and the influence of their realistic environment. Therefore, it exists an urgent need of developing new low-cost, but still accurate enough, computational methodologies capable to deal with the steady-state and transient spectroscopy of transition metal complexes in solution. Following this idea, here we focus on the comparison between general-purpose transferable force-fields (FFs), directly available from existing databases, and specific quantum mechanical derived FFs (QMD-FFs), obtained in this work through the Joyce procedure. We have chosen a recently reported FeIII complex with nanosecond excited-state lifetime as a representative case. Our molecular dynamics (MD) simulations demonstrated that the QMD-FF nicely reproduces the structure and the dynamics of the complex and its chemical environment within the same precision as higher cost QM methods, whereas general-purpose FFs failed in this purpose. Although in this particular case the chemical environment plays a minor role on the photo physics of this system, these results highlight the potential of QMD-FFs to rationalize photophysical phenomena provided an accurate QM method to derive its parameters is chosen.
New Paracyclophanylthiazoles with Anti-Leukemia Activity: Design, Synthesis, Molecular Docking, and Mechanistic Studies
Authors: Aly Ashraf A , Bräse Stefan , Hassan Alaa A. , Mohamed Nasr K. , Abd El-Haleem Lamiaa E. , Nieger Martin , Morsy Nesrin M. , Abdelhafez Elshimaa M. N.
Published: July 2020

A new series of methyl 2-(2-(4′-[2.2]paracyclophanyl)-hydrazinylidene)-3-substituted-4-oxothiazolidin-5-ylidene)acetates 3a–f were synthesized from the reaction of paracyclophanyl-acylthiosemicarbazides 2a–f with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate. Based upon nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared (IR), and mass spectra (HRMS), the structure of the obtained products was elucidated. X-ray structure analysis was also used as unambiguous tool to elucidate the structure of the products. The target compounds 3a–f were screened against 60 cancer cell lines. They displayed anticancer activity against a leukemia subpanel, namely, RPMI-8226 and SR cell lines. The activity of compound 3a was found as the most cytotoxic potency against 60 cancer cell lines. Consequently, it was selected for further five doses analysis according to National Cancer Institute (NCI) protocol. The cytotoxic effect showed selectivity ratios ranging between 0.63 and 1.28 and between 0.58 and 5.89 at the GI50 and total growth inhibition (TGI) levels, respectively. Accordingly, compound 3a underwent further mechanistic study against the most sensitive leukemia RPMI-8226 and SR cell lines. It showed antiproliferation with IC50 = 1.61 ± 0.04 and 1.11 ± 0.03 µM against RPMI-8226 and SR cell lines, respectively. It also revealed a remarkable tubulin inhibitory activity, compared to colchicine with IC50 = 4.97 µM/mL. Caspase-3, BAX, and Bcl-2 assays for 3a using annexin V-FITC staining revealed significant pro-apoptotic activity. Furthermore, multidrug-resistant leukemia SR cells were used to show better resistance indices (1.285 ng/mL, 1.15-fold) than the reference. Docking studies with β-tubulin indicate that most of the tested compounds illustrated good binding at the colchicine binding site of the enzyme, especially for compound 3a, which made several interactions better than that of the reference colchicine.
Assembly and Redox-Rich Hydride Chemistry of an Asymmetric Mo2S2 Platform
Authors: McSkimming Alex , Taylor Jordan W. , Harman W. Hill
Published: July 2020

Although molybdenum sulfide materials show promise as electrocatalysts for proton reduction, the hydrido species proposed as intermediates remain poorly characterized. We report herein the synthesis, reactions and spectroscopic properties of a molybdenum-hydride complex featuring an asymmetric Mo2S2 core. This molecule displays rich redox chemistry with electrochemical couples at E½ = −0.45, −0.78 and −1.99 V vs. Fc/Fc+. The corresponding hydrido-complexes for all three redox levels were isolated and characterized crystallographically. Through an analysis of solid-state bond metrics and DFT calculations, we show that the electron-transfer processes for the two more positive couples are centered predominantly on the pyridinediimine supporting ligand, whereas for the most negative couple electron-transfer is mostly Mo-localized.
Quasi-Isostructural Co(II) and Ni(II) Complexes with Mefenamato Ligand: Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Activity
Authors: Gacki Michał , Kafarska Karolina , Pietrzak Anna , Korona-Głowniak Izabela , Wolf Wojciech M.
Published: July 2020

Three metal complexes of mefenamato ligand 1 were synthesized: [Co2(mef)4(EtOH)2(H2O)4]: 2; [Co(mef)2(MeOH)4]∙2MeOH: 3; and [Ni(mef)2(MeOH)4]∙2MeOH: 4. Their compositions and properties were investigated by elemental analysis (EA), flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Crystal structures were determined by the single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. Additionally, their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity were established, thus proving good/moderate bioactivity against Gram-positive bacteria and yeasts. In the crystal structure of 2, an apical water molecule is shared between two adjacent cobalt(II) ions, resulting in the formation of a polymeric chain extending along the [100] direction. Meanwhile, structures 3 and 4 have strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds with diverse topologies that yield unique quasi-isostructural arrangements. The packing topology is reflected by the Hirshfeld surface analysis of intermolecular contacts.
Granzyme B PET Imaging of the Innate Immune Response
Authors: Capaccione Kathleen M. , Doubrovin Mikhail , Bhatt Nikunj , Mintz Akiva , Molotkov Andrei
Published: July 2020

The human immune system is a complex system which protects against invaders and maintains tissue homeostasis. It is broadly divided into the innate and adaptive branches. Granzyme B is serine protease that plays an important role in both and can serve as a biomarker for cellular activation. Because of this, a granzyme B PET agent (GZP) has recently been developed and has been shown to be able to monitor response to immunotherapy. Here, we evaluated the utility of granzyme B PET imaging to assess the innate immune response. We subcutaneously administered LPS to mice to induce inflammation and performed granzyme B PET imaging after 24 and 120 h. We dissected out tissue in the region of injection and performed granzyme B immunofluorescence (IF) to confirm specificity of the GZP radiotracer. Granzyme B PET imaging demonstrated increased uptake in the region of LPS injection after 24 h, which normalized at 120 h. Granzyme B immunofluorescence showed specific staining in tissue from the 24 h time point compared to the PBS-injected control. These findings support the use of granzyme B PET for imaging innate immunity. In certain clinical contexts, the use of GZP PET imaging may be superior to currently available agents, and we therefore suggest further preclinical studies with the ultimate goal of translation to clinical use.
Beyond Maslow’s Pyramid: Introducing a Typology of Thirteen Fundamental Needs for Human-Centered Design
Authors: Desmet Pieter , Fokkinga Steven
Published: July 2020

This paper introduces a design-focused typology of psychological human needs that includes 13 fundamental needs and 52 sub-needs (four for each fundamental need). The typology was developed to provide a practical understanding of psychological needs as a resource for user-centered design practice and research with a focus on user experience and well-being. The first part of the manuscript briefly reviews Abraham Maslow’s pioneering work on human needs, and the underlying propositions, main contributions and limitations of his motivational theory. The review results in a set of requirements for a design-focused typology of psychological needs. The second part reports on the development of the new typology. The thirteen needs were selected from six existing typologies with the use of five criteria that distinguish fundamental from non-fundamental needs. The resulting typology builds on the strengths of Maslow’s need hierarchy but rejects the hierarchical structure and adds granularity to the need categories. The third part of the paper describes three examples of how the need typology can inform design practice, illustrated with student design cases. It also presents three means for communicating the need typology. The general discussion section reflects on implications and limitations and proposes ideas for future research.
Antioxidant Functionalized Nanoparticles: A Combat against Oxidative Stress
Authors: Kumar Harsh , Bhardwaj Kanchan , Nepovimova Eugenie , Kuča Kamil , Singh Dhanjal Daljeet , Bhardwaj Sonali , Bhatia Shashi Kant , Verma Rachna , Kumar Dinesh
Published: July 2020

Numerous abiotic stresses trigger the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are highly toxic and reactive. These ROS are known to cause damage to carbohydrates, DNA, lipids and proteins, and build the oxidative stress and results in the induction of various diseases. To resolve this issue, antioxidants molecules have gained significant attention to scavenge these free radicals and ROS. However, poor absorption ability, difficulty in crossing the cell membranes and degradation of these antioxidants during delivery are the few challenges associated with both natural and synthetic antioxidants that limit their bioavailability. Moreover, the use of nanoparticles as an antioxidant is overlooked, and is limited to a few nanomaterials. To address these issues, antioxidant functionalized nanoparticles derived from various biological origin have emerged as an important alternative, because of properties like biocompatibility, high stability and targeted delivery. Algae, bacteria, fungi, lichens and plants are known as the producers of diverse secondary metabolites and phenolic compounds with extraordinary antioxidant properties. Hence, these compounds could be used in amalgamation with biogenic derived nanoparticles (NPs) for better antioxidant potential. This review intends to increase our knowledge about the antioxidant functionalized nanoparticles and the mechanism by which antioxidants empower nanoparticles to combat oxidative stress.
Correcting for Intra-Individual Variability in Sodium Excretion in Spot Urine Samples Does Not Improve the Ability to Predict 24 h Urinary Sodium Excretion
Authors: Charlton Karen Elizabeth , Schutte Aletta Elisabeth , Wepener Leanda , Corso Barbara , Kowal Paul , Ware Lisa Jayne
Published: July 2020

Given a global focus on salt reduction efforts to reduce cardiovascular risk, it is important to obtain accurate measures of salt intake on a population level. This study determined firstly whether adjustment for intra-individual variation in urinary sodium (Na) excretion using three repeated 24 h collections affects daily estimates and whether the use of repeated spot urine samples results in better prediction of 24 h Na compared to a single collection. Twenty three community-dwelling men and women from South Africa (mean age 59.7 years (SD = 15.6)) participating in the World Health Organization Study on global AGEing and adult health (WHO-SAGE) Wave 3 study collected 24 h and spot early morning urine samples over three consecutive days to assess urinary Na excretion. INTERSALT, Tanaka, and Kawasaki prediction equations, with either average or adjusted spot Na values, were used to estimate 24 h Na and compared these against measured 24 h urinary Na. Adjustment was performed by using the ratio of between-person (sb) and total (sobs) variability obtained from repeated measures analysis of variance. Sensitivity of the equations to predict daily urinary Na values below 5 g salt equivalent was calculated. The sb/sobs for urinary Na using three repeated samples for spot and 24 h samples were 0.706 and 0.798, respectively. Correction using analysis of variance for 3 × 24 h collections resulted in contraction of the upper end of the distribution curve (90th centile: 157 to 136 mmoL/day; 95th centile: 220 to 178 mmoL/day). All three prediction equations grossly over-estimated 24 h urinary Na excretion, regardless of whether a single spot urine or repeated collections corrected for intra-individual variation were used. Sensitivity of equations to detect salt intake equivalent values of ≤5 g/day was 13% for INTERSALT, while the other two equations had zero sensitivity. Correcting for intra-individual variability in Na excretion using three 24 h urine collections contracted the distribution curve for high intakes. Repeated collection of spot samples for urinary Na analysis does not improve the accuracy of predicting 24 h Na excretion. Spot urine samples are not appropriate to detect participants with salt intakes below the recommended 5 g/day.
Cognitive Impairment in Coeliac Disease with Respect to Disease Duration and Gluten-Free Diet Adherence: A Pilot Study
Authors: Croall Iain D , Tooth Claire , Venneri Annalena , Poyser Charlotte , Sanders David S , Hoggard Nigel , Hadjivassiliou Marios
Published: July 2020

Cognitive deficit has been reported in coeliac disease (CD), but previous reports often study heterogenous samples of patients at multiple stages of the disease, or lack control data. Healthy controls (N = 21), newly diagnosed CD patients (NCD; N = 19) and established CD patients (ECD; N = 35) were recruited from a specialist UK centre. Participants underwent a cognitive test battery that established seven overall domain scores. The SF-36 was administered as a quality of life (QoL) measure. Controlling for age, data were compared in between-group ANCOVAs with Tukey’s post-hoc test. Any significant outcome was compared in the ECD group only, between patients who were gluten-free diet adherent vs. non-adherent (defined via Biagi score and serology results). NCD and ECD groups underperformed relative to controls, by comparable degrees, in visual (overall model: p < 0.001) and verbal (p = 0.046) memory. The ECD group only underperformed in visuoconstructive abilities (p = 0.050). Regarding QoL, the NCD group reported lower vitality (p = 0.030), while the ECD group reported more bodily pain (p = 0.009). Comparisons based on dietary adherence were non-significant. These findings confirm cognitive deficit in CD. Dysfunction appears established at the point of diagnosis, after which it (predominantly) stabilises. While a beneficial effect of dietary treatment is therefore implied, future research is needed to establish to what extent any further decline is due to gluten exposure.
Inhibitory Properties of Aldehydes and Related Compounds against Phytophthora infestans—Identification of a New Lead
Authors: Mackrill John J. , Kehoe Roberta A. , Zheng Limian , McKee Mary L. , O’Sullivan Elaine C. , Prestwich Barbara M. Doyle , McCarthy Florence O.
Published: July 2020

The pathogen Phytophthora infestans is responsible for catastrophic crop damage on a global scale which totals billions of euros annually. The discovery of new inhibitors of this organism is of paramount agricultural importance and of critical relevance to food security. Current strategies for crop treatment are inadequate with the emergence of resistant strains and problematic toxicity. Natural products such as cinnamaldehyde have been reported to have fungicidal properties and are the seed for many new discovery research programmes. We report a probe of the cinnamaldehyde framework to investigate the aldehyde subunit and its role in a subset of aromatic aldehydes in order to identify new lead compounds to act against P. infestans. An ellipticine derivative which incorporates an aldehyde (9-formyl-6-methyl ellipticine, 34) has been identified with exceptional activity versus P. infestans with limited toxicity and potential for use as a fungicide.
SARS-CoV-2, ACE2, and Hydroxychloroquine: Cardiovascular Complications, Therapeutics, and Clinical Readouts in the Current Settings
Authors: Kalra Rajkumar Singh , Tomar Dhanendra , Meena Avtar Singh , Kandimalla Ramesh
Published: July 2020

The rapidly evolving coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2- SARS-CoV-2), has greatly burdened the global healthcare system and led it into crisis in several countries. Lack of targeted therapeutics led to the idea of repurposing broad-spectrum drugs for viral intervention. In vitro analyses of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)’s anecdotal benefits prompted its widespread clinical repurposing globally. Reports of emerging cardiovascular complications due to its clinical prescription are revealing the crucial role of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which serves as a target receptor for SARS-CoV-2. In the present settings, a clear understanding of these targets, their functional aspects and physiological impact on cardiovascular function are critical. In an up-to-date format, we shed light on HCQ’s anecdotal function in stalling SARS-CoV-2 replication and immunomodulatory activities. While starting with the crucial role of ACE2, we here discuss the impact of HCQ on systemic cardiovascular function, its associated risks, and the scope of HCQ-based regimes in current clinical settings. Citing the extent of HCQ efficacy, the key considerations and recommendations for the use of HCQ in clinics are further discussed. Taken together, this review provides crucial insights into the role of ACE2 in SARS-CoV-2-led cardiovascular activity, and concurrently assesses the efficacy of HCQ in contemporary clinical settings.
Combination of Alanine and Glutathione as Targeting Ligands of Nanoparticles Enhances Cargo Delivery into the Cells of the Neurovascular Unit
Authors: Porkoláb Gergő , Mészáros Mária , Tóth András , Szecskó Anikó , Harazin András , Szegletes Zsolt , Ferenc Györgyi , Blastyák András , Mátés Lajos , Rákhely Gábor , Deli Mária A. , Veszelka Szilvia
Published: July 2020

Inefficient drug delivery across the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and into target cells in the brain hinders the treatment of neurological diseases. One strategy to increase the brain penetration of drugs is to use vesicular nanoparticles functionalized with multiple ligands of BBB transporters as vehicles. Once within the brain, however, drugs must also be able to reach their therapeutic targets in the different cell types. It is, therefore, favorable if such nanocarriers are designed that can deliver their cargo not only to brain endothelial cells, but to other cell types as well. Here, we show that alanine-glutathione dual-targeting of niosomes enhances the delivery of a large protein cargo into cultured cells of the neurovascular unit, namely brain endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes and neurons. Furthermore, using metabolic and endocytic inhibitors, we show that the cellular uptake of niosomes is energy-dependent and is partially mediated by endocytosis. Finally, we demonstate the ability of our targeted nanovesicles to deliver their cargo into astroglial cells after crossing the BBB in vitro. These data indicate that dual-labeling of nanoparticles with alanine and glutathione can potentially be exploited to deliver drugs, even biopharmacons, across the BBB and into multiple cell types in the brain.
What Are the Current Approaches to Optimising Antimicrobial Dosing in the Intensive Care Unit?
Authors: Chai Ming G. , Cotta Menino O. , Abdul-Aziz Mohd H. , Roberts Jason A.
Published: July 2020

Antimicrobial dosing in the intensive care unit (ICU) can be problematic due to various challenges including unique physiological changes observed in critically ill patients and the presence of pathogens with reduced susceptibility. These challenges result in reduced likelihood of standard antimicrobial dosing regimens achieving target exposures associated with optimal patient outcomes. Therefore, the aim of this review is to explore the various methods for optimisation of antimicrobial dosing in ICU patients. Dosing nomograms developed from pharmacokinetic/statistical models and therapeutic drug monitoring are commonly used. However, recent advances in mathematical and statistical modelling have resulted in the development of novel dosing software that utilise Bayesian forecasting and/or artificial intelligence. These programs utilise therapeutic drug monitoring results to further personalise antimicrobial therapy based on each patient’s clinical characteristics. Studies quantifying the clinical and cost benefits associated with dosing software are required before widespread use as a point-of-care system can be justified.
Biochemical and Histo-Anatomical Responses of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. to Spruce and Beech Bark Extracts Application
Authors: Tanase Corneliu , Ștefănescu Ruxandra , Darkó Béla , Muntean Daniela Lucia , Fărcaş Anca Corina , Socaci Sonia Ancuţa
Published: July 2020

This paper aims to assess the biological responses of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. to beech and spruce bark crude extract application. Thus, the biological activity of bark extracts was assessed by determining the germination capacity, biomass production, histo-anatomical aspects and photo-assimilatory pigment accumulation, and by quantitative and qualitative volatile compounds analysis. The application of spruce bark extract (500 mg dry bark/100 mL solvent) resulted in a better development of the leaf tissue and an increase in foliar biomass. We observed the stimulating effect of photo-assimilating pigments accumulation, for all experimental variants, compared to the control. Also, the amount of volatile oil was significantly higher in the treated plants with spruce bark extract (500 mg dry bark/100 mL solvent). Some volatile compounds (cyclen, borneol, cryptone, santalen, and caryophyllene oxide β—farnesene) were identified only in the experimental variants. Also, in the experimental variants, an increase in the quantity of limonene, linalyl acetate and lavandulol was observed. These preliminary results showed that the beech and spruce bark extracts can have biological activities and influence the production of volatile oil in Lavandula angustifolia, causing significant changes in the phytochemical profile of the essential oil. Thus, forest waste bark extracts could be recommended as natural bioregulators in lavender crops.
Effect of Seedling Nitrogen Condition on Subsequent Vegetative Growth Stages and Its Relationship to the Expression of Nitrogen Transporter Genes in Rice
Authors: Thi Nong Hue , Tateishi Ryota , Suriyasak Chetphilin , Kobayashi Takuya , Oyama Yui , Chen Wun Jin , Matsumoto Ryo , Hamaoka Norimitsu , Iwaya-Inoue Mari , Ishibashi Yushi
Published: July 2020

Nitrogen (N) deficiency is one of the most common problems in soils, limiting crop growth and production. However, the effects of N limitation in seedlings on vegetative growth remain poorly understood. Here, we show that N limitation in rice seedlings restricted vegetative growth but not yield. Aboveground parts were affected mainly during the period of tillering, but belowground parts were sensitive throughout vegetative growth, especially during panicle development. At the tillering stage, N-limited plants had a significantly lower N content in shoots, but not in roots. On the other hand, N content in roots during the panicle development stage was significantly lower in N-limited plants. This distinct response was driven by significant changes in expression of N transporter genes during growth. Under N limitation, N translocation from roots to shoots was greatly sped up by systemic expression of N transporter genes to obtain balanced growth. N limitation during the seedling stage did not reduce any yield components. We conclude that the N condition during the seedling stage affects physiological responses such as N translocation through the expression of N transporter genes.
A Comparative and Review Study on Shape and Stress Sensing of Flat/Curved Shell Geometries Using C0-Continuous Family of iFEM Elements
Authors: Abdollahzadeh Mohammad Amin , Kefal Adnan , Yildiz Mehmet
Published: July 2020

In this study, we methodologically compare and review the accuracy and performance of C0-continuous flat and curved inverse-shell elements (i.e., iMIN3, iQS4, and iCS8) for inverse finite element method (iFEM) in terms of shape, strain, and stress monitoring, and damage detection on various plane and curved geometries subjected to different loading and constraint conditions. For this purpose, four different benchmark problems are proposed, namely, a tapered plate, a quarter of a cylindrical shell, a stiffened curved plate, and a curved plate with a degraded material region in stiffness, representing a damage. The complexity of these test cases is increased systematically to reveal the advantages and shortcomings of the elements under different sensor density deployments. The reference displacement solutions and strain-sensor data used in the benchmark problems are established numerically, utilizing direct finite element analysis. After performing shape-, strain-, and stress-sensing analyses, the reference solutions are compared to the reconstructed solutions of iMIN3, iQS4, and iCS8 models. For plane geometries with sparse sensor configurations, these three elements provide rather close reconstructed-displacement fields with slightly more accurate stress sensing using iCS8 than when using iMIN3/iQS4. It is demonstrated on the curved geometry that the cross-diagonal meshing of a quadrilateral element pattern (e.g., leading to four iMIN3 elements) improves the accuracy of the displacement reconstruction as compared to a single-diagonal meshing strategy (e.g., two iMIN3 elements in a quad-shape element) utilizing iMIN3 element. Nevertheless, regardless of any geometry, sensor density, and meshing strategy, iQS4 has better shape and stress-sensing than iMIN3. As the complexity of the problem is elevated, the predictive capabilities of iCS8 element become obviously superior to that of flat inverse-shell elements (e.g., iMIN3 and iQS4) in terms of both shape sensing and damage detection. Comprehensively speaking, we envisage that the set of scrupulously selected test cases proposed herein can be reliable benchmarks for testing/validating/comparing for the features of newly developed inverse elements.
Encoding Time Series as Multi-Scale Signed Recurrence Plots for Classification Using Fully Convolutional Networks
Authors: Zhang Ye , Hou Yi , Zhou Shilin , Ouyang Kewei
Published: July 2020

Recent advances in time series classification (TSC) have exploited deep neural networks (DNN) to improve the performance. One promising approach encodes time series as recurrence plot (RP) images for the sake of leveraging the state-of-the-art DNN to achieve accuracy. Such an approach has been shown to achieve impressive results, raising the interest of the community in it. However, it remains unsolved how to handle not only the variability in the distinctive region scale and the length of sequences but also the tendency confusion problem. In this paper, we tackle the problem using Multi-scale Signed Recurrence Plots (MS-RP), an improvement of RP, and propose a novel method based on MS-RP images and Fully Convolutional Networks (FCN) for TSC. This method first introduces phase space dimension and time delay embedding of RP to produce multi-scale RP images; then, with the use of asymmetrical structure, constructed RP images can represent very long sequences (>700 points). Next, MS-RP images are obtained by multiplying designed sign masks in order to remove the tendency confusion. Finally, FCN is trained with MS-RP images to perform classification. Experimental results on 45 benchmark datasets demonstrate that our method improves the state-of-the-art in terms of classification accuracy and visualization evaluation.
A Comparison of Denoising Methods in Onset Determination in Medial Gastrocnemius Muscle Activations during Stance
Authors: Zhang Jian , Soangra Rahul , E. Lockhart Thurmon
Published: July 2020

One of the most basic pieces of information gained from dynamic electromyography is accurately defining muscle action and phase timing within the gait cycle. The human gait relies on selective timing and the intensity of appropriate muscle activations for stability, loading, and progression over the supporting foot during stance, and further to advance the limb in the swing phase. A common clinical practice is utilizing a low-pass filter to denoise integrated electromyogram (EMG) signals and to determine onset and cessation events using a predefined threshold. However, the accuracy of the defining period of significant muscle activations via EMG varies with the temporal shift involved in filtering the signals; thus, the low-pass filtering method with a fixed order and cut-off frequency will introduce a time delay depending on the frequency of the signal. In order to precisely identify muscle activation and to determine the onset and cessation times of the muscles, we have explored here onset and cessation epochs with denoised EMG signals using different filter banks: the wavelet method, empirical mode decomposition (EMD) method, and ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) method. In this study, gastrocnemius muscle onset and cessation were determined in sixteen participants within two different age groups and under two different walking conditions. Low-pass filtering of integrated EMG (iEMG) signals resulted in premature onset (28% stance duration) in younger and delayed onset (38% stance duration) in older participants, showing the time-delay problem involved in this filtering method. Comparatively, the wavelet denoising approach detected onset for normal walking events most precisely, whereas the EEMD method showed the smallest onset deviation. In addition, EEMD denoised signals could further detect pre-activation onsets during a fast walking condition. A comprehensive comparison is discussed on denoising EMG signals using EMD, EEMD, and wavelet denoising in order to accurately define an onset of muscle under different walking conditions.
Non-Permanent Employment and Employees’ Health in the Context of Sustainable HRM with a Focus on Poland
Authors: Piwowar-Sulej Katarzyna , Bąk-Grabowska Dominika
Published: July 2020

This study is focused on the assumption that the analyses focused on sustainable human resource management (HRM) should include the problem of unstable forms of employment. Reference was also made to Poland, the country where the share of unstable forms of employment is the highest in the European Union. The authors based their findings on the literature and the data published, i.e., by Eurostat, OECD and Statistics Poland, accompanied by CSR reports. Insecure forms of employment have negative impact on employees’ health, primarily regarding their mental health. Statistically significant correlations were found between the expectation rate of possible job loss and non-standard employment variables, and the rate of reporting exposure to risk factors that affect mental wellbeing and precarious employment rates. However, conducting statistical analyses at the macro level is associated with limitations resulting from leaving out many important factors characteristic of the given countries and affecting the presented data. Current guidelines, relevant to reporting the use of non-standard forms of employment by enterprises, are inconsistent. Companies voluntarily demonstrate the scope of using non-permanent forms of employment and not referring to the issue of employees’ choice of a given type of employment and employees’ health. Future research projects should be focused on developing a comprehensive, coherent and universal tool allowing for an assessment of the implementation level of sustainable HRM ideas in an organization, including standardized reporting of non-permanent employment and employees’ health, and making comparisons not only between organizations, but also between countries.