bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protective Effects of Fruit Wines against Hydrogen Peroxide—Induced Oxidative Stress in Rat Synaptosomes
Authors: Čakar Uroš , Čolović Mirjana , Milenković Danijela , Medić Branislava , Krstić Danijela , Petrović Aleksandar , Đorđević Brižita
Published: July 2021

This study aimed to evaluate, in vitro, the antioxidative potential of fruit wines produced from berry fruits (i.e., black chokeberry, blueberry, blackberry, and raspberry), cherry, and apple by different technological processes. For this purpose, the activities of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content as a marker of membrane damage were determined in wine-treated synaptosomes with hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress. All studied wines induced increased antioxidant enzyme activities and decreased MDA levels compared to hydrogen peroxide-treated synaptosomes (i.e., control). The highest SOD activity was observed in synaptosomes treated with blackberry wine (6.81 U/mg), whereas blueberry wine induced the highest catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities (0.058 U/mg and 0.017 U/mg, respectively). Black chokeberry proved to be the best in lipid peroxidation protection with the lowest MDA value (1.42 nmol/mg). Finally, principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis additionally highlighted a higher antioxidant capacity of wines produced from dark-skinned fruits (i.e., blackberry, black chokeberry, and blueberry). The results suggest protective effects of the fruit wines against oxidative damage, and, accordingly, their promising application as functional food.
The Significance of Microbial Transformation of Nitrogen Compounds in the Light of Integrated Crop Management
Authors: Grzyb Aleksandra , Wolna-Maruwka Agnieszka , Niewiadomska Alicja
Published: July 2021

Nitrogen (N) is widely distributed in the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. It is a basic component of every plant cell as well as microorganisms, as a component of proteins, nucleic acids and chlorophyll. It enters soil with organic and mineral fertilizers, plant and animal residues and biological nitrogen fixation. There are various forms of nitrogen in soil, and this element is usually transformed by microorganisms. The transformation of nitrogen compounds (ammonification, nitrification and immobilization) is significantly influenced by climatic conditions and the physicochemical properties of soil. Microbial mineralization of nitrogen organic matter results in the enrichment of soil with this element, which is necessary to generate a yield. The amount of nitrogen entering soil through the mineralization of crop residues ranges from 15 to 45 kg N/ha in cereal residues and from 80 to 144 kg N/ha in winter rape residues. Biological nitrogen fixation can increase the nitrogen content in soil by 30–50 kg/ha/year. In recent decades, the mismanagement of mineral fertilizers has drastically changed the natural balance of the nitrogen cycle. Every year huge amounts of nitrogen compounds enter the aquatic ecosystems and cause their eutrophication. That is why it is important to have adequate knowledge of sustainable fertilization so as to practice integrated crop management.
An N-ethyl-N-Nitrosourea Mutagenesis Screen in Mice Reveals a Mutation in Nuclear Respiratory Factor 1 (Nrf1) Altering the DNA Methylation State and Correct Embryonic Development
Authors: Sorolla Maria Alba , Marqués Marta , Parisi Eva , Sorolla Anabel
Published: July 2021

We have established a genome-wide N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis screen to identify novel genes playing a role in epigenetic regulation in mammals. We hypothesize that the ENU mutagenesis screen will lead to the discovery of unknown genes responsible of the maintenance of the epigenetic state as the genes found are modifiers of variegation of the transgene green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression in erythrocytes, which are named MommeD. Here we report the generation of a novel mutant mouse line, MommeD46, that carries a new missense mutation producing an amino acid transversion (L71P) in the dimerization domain of Nuclear Respiratory Factor 1 (Nrf1). The molecular characterization of the mutation reveals a decrease in the Nrf1 mRNA levels and a novel role of Nrf1 in the maintenance of the DNA hypomethylation in vivo. The heritability of the mutation is consistent with paternal imprinting and haploinsufficiency. Homozygous mutants display embryonic lethality at 14.5 days post-coitum and developmental delay. This work adds a new epi-regulatory role to Nrf1 and uncovers unknown phenotypical defects of the Nrf1 hypomorph. The generated mouse line represents a valuable resource for studying NRF1-related diseases.
Application of the FISH Technique to Visualize Sex Chromosomes in Domestic Cat Spermatozoa
Authors: Kij-Mitka Barbara , Cernohorska Halina , Kubickova Svatava , Prochowska Sylwia , Niżański Wojciech , Kochan Joanna , Bugno-Poniewierska Monika
Published: July 2021

Fluorescence in situ hybridization is a molecular cytogenetics technique that enables the visualization of chromosomes in cells via fluorescently labeled molecular probes specific to selected chromosomes. Despite difficulties in carrying out the FISH technique on sperm, related to the need for proper nuclear chromatin decondensation, this technique has already been used to visualize chromosomes in human, mouse, cattle, swine, horse, and dog spermatozoa. Until now, FISH has not been performed on domestic cat sperm; therefore, the aim of this study was to visualize sex chromosomes in domestic cat sperm. The results showed the presence of X and Y chromosomes in feline spermatozoa. The procedure used for sperm decondensation and fluorescence in situ hybridization was adequate to visualize chromosomes in domestic cat spermatozoa and, in the future, it may be used to determine the degree of chromosomal abnormalities in these gametes.
Increased Water Viscosity Enhances Water Intake and Reduces Risk of Calcium Oxalate Stone Formation in Cats
Authors: Hall Jean A. , Vanchina Melissa A. , Ogleby Blair , Jewell Dennis E.
Published: July 2021

The purpose of this study is to determine if water with increased viscosity results in increased water intake, thus lowering the risk of urolithiasis in cats. Twelve healthy adult cats were fed pre-trial standard dry maintenance food for 1 week and then randomized into two groups for the study phase. The cats continued to receive the same food but were provided either control (deionized) water or viscous (1% methylcellulose) water for two months and then switched to the other water type for two months in a cross-over study design with repeated measures. Complete blood counts, serum chemistry profiles, and urinalysis were performed at the initiation of the study and again at 1, 2, 3, and 4 months. Daily water consumption and energy intake for each cat were recorded. Body weights were assessed weekly. Cats consuming 1% methylcellulose water with increased viscosity had increased water intake (p < 0.001; 25% and 21% higher at 28 and 56 days, respectively). Increased consumption of water resulted in lower urine specific gravity (p = 0.04), serum creatinine (p = 0.02), and blood urea nitrogen (p = 0.002) concentrations (without changing serum albumin, glucose, and calcium concentrations or serum osmolality) and decreased urine calcium concentration (p = 0.01) compared with cats consuming control water. In addition, the increased water intake increased (p = 0.05) resistance to oxalate crystal formation.
Crosstalks between NOD1 and Histone H2A Contribute to Host Defense against Streptococcus agalactiae Infection in Zebrafish
Authors: Wu Xiaoman , Xiong Fan , Fang Hong , Zhang Jie , Chang Mingxian
Published: July 2021

Correlation studies about NOD1 and histones have not been reported. In the present study, we report the functional correlation between NOD1 and the histone H2A variant in response to Streptococcus agalactiae infection. In zebrafish, NOD1 deficiency significantly promoted S. agalactiae proliferation and decreased larval survival. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the significantly enriched pathways in NOD1−/− adult zebrafish were mainly involved in immune and metabolism. Among 719 immunity-associated DEGs at 48 hpi, 74 DEGs regulated by NOD1 deficiency were histone variants. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified that H2A, H2B, and H3 had significant associations with NOD1 deficiency. Above all, S. agalactiae infection could induce the expression of intracellular histone H2A, as well as NOD1 colocalized with histone H2A, both in the cytoplasm and cell nucleus in the case of S. agalactiae infection. The overexpression of H2A variants such as zfH2A-6 protected against S. agalactiae infection and could improve cell survival in NOD1-deficient cells. Furthermore, NOD1 could interact with zfH2A-6 and cooperate with zfH2A-6 to inhibit the proliferation of S. agalactiae. NOD1 also showed a synergetic effect in inducing the expression of many antibacterial genes, especially antibacterial pattern recognition receptors PGRP2, PGRP5, and PGRP6. Collectively, these results firstly highlight the roles of NOD1 deficiency in the regulation of immune-related and metabolic pathways, and the correlation between zebrafish NOD1 and histone H2A variant in the defense against S. agalactiae infection.
Hydroxytyrosol Selectively Affects Non-Enzymatic Glycation in Human Insulin and Protects by AGEs Cytotoxicity
Authors: Sirangelo Ivana , Borriello Margherita , Liccardo Maria , Scafuro Marika , Russo Paola , Iannuzzi Clara
Published: July 2021

Hydroxytyrosol (HT), the major phenolic compound in olive oil, is attracting increasing interest for its beneficial properties including a notable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory power. In this study, using a combination of biophysical and cell biology techniques, we have tested the role of HT in the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). AGEs have a key role in clinical sciences as they have been associated to diabetes, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, as the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is strongly increased in diabetic patients, AGE formation is supposed to be involved in the development of the pathological hallmarks of AD. Our data show that HT selectively inhibits protein glycation reaction in human insulin, and it is able to counteract the AGE-induced cytotoxicity in human neurotypical cells by acting on SIRT1 level and oxidative stress, as well as on inflammatory response. This study identifies new beneficial properties for HT and suggests it might be a promising molecule in protecting against the AGE-induced toxicity, a key mechanism underlying the development and progression of neurodegenerative disorders.
Arbutin as a Skin Depigmenting Agent with Antimelanogenic and Antioxidant Properties
Authors: Boo Yong Chool
Published: July 2021

Arbutin is a compound of hydroquinone and D-glucose, and it has been over 30 years since there have been serious studies on the skin lightening action of this substance. In the meantime, there have been debates and validation studies about the mechanism of action of this substance as well as its skin lightening efficacy and safety. Several analogs or derivatives of arbutin have been developed and studied for their melanin synthesis inhibitory action. Formulations have been developed to improve the stability, transdermal delivery, and release of arbutin, and device usage to promote skin absorption has been developed. Substances that inhibit melanin synthesis synergistically with arbutin have been explored. The skin lightening efficacy of arbutin alone or in combination with other active ingredients has been clinically evaluated. Combined therapy with arbutin and laser could give enhanced depigmenting efficacy. The use of arbutin causes dermatitis rarely, and caution is recommended for the use of arbutin-containing products, especially from the viewpoint that hydroquinone may be generated during product use. Studies on the antioxidant properties of arbutin are emerging, and these antioxidant properties are proposed to contribute to the skin depigmenting action of arbutin. It is hoped that this review will help to understand the pros and cons of arbutin as a cosmetic ingredient, and will lead to future research directions for developing advanced skin lightening and protecting cosmetic products.
AGVs Collision and Deadlock Handling Based on Structural Online Control Policy: A Case Study in a Square Topology
Authors: Małopolski Waldemar , Zając Jerzy
Published: July 2021

Based on the novel structural online control policy (SOCP) deadlock handling method presented in our previous work, we have shown that for a specific group of use cases it is possible to relax the requirements of the method, providing an improvement in its performance. In the present work, a new type of deadlock-free zone was introduced which enabled the method to improve its efficiency for both bidirectional as well as unidirectional and mixed path systems. For bidirectional systems, a beneficial outcome was obtained by approaching the global problem solution using sequentially solved local problems. For unidirectional and mixed systems, on the other hand, this paper introduces a condition that allows verification of the feasibility of performing process reservations in a staged manner. The fulfillment of this condition means that there is a possibility of obtaining higher efficiency of the transportation system. The effectiveness of the proposed approaches has been verified by simulations. Their results were compared with the results of the original method resulting in a significant improvement.
Combining Cluster-Based Profiling Based on Social Media Features and Association Rule Mining for Personalised Recommendations of Touristic Activities
Authors: Orama Jonathan Ayebakuro , Borràs Joan , Moreno Antonio
Published: July 2021

Tourists who visit a city for the first time may find it difficult to decide on places to visit, as the amount of information in the Web about cultural and leisure activities may be large. Recommender systems address this problem by suggesting the points of interest that fit better with the user’s preferences. This paper presents a novel recommender system that leverages tweets to build user profiles, taking into account not only their personal preferences but also their travel habits. Association rules, which are mined from the previous visits of users documented on Twitter, are used to make the final recommendations of places to visit. The system has been applied to data of the city of Barcelona, and the results show that the use of the social media-based clustering procedure increases its performance according to several relevant metrics.
Simulation of Self-Consumption Photovoltaic Installations: Profitability Thresholds
Authors: Varo-Martínez Marta , Fernández-Ahumada Luis Manuel , López-Luque Rafael , Ramírez-Faz José
Published: July 2021

PV self-consumption can contribute positively to the spread of PV and, therefore, to the progress of renewable energies as a key element in a decarbonized energy model. However, the policies of each country regarding the promotion of this type of renewable technology is fundamental for their growth. Despite the high number of sunshine hours registered in Spain, self-consumption in this country has not been authorized until recently. In this new context, this work presents a systematic study of the profitability limits of a self-consumption PV installation under different conditions of installed peak power, orientation and inclination of the PV panels and level of obstruction of the installation. It was proved that, for the case of study (Córdoba, Spain), the maximum profitability was achieved for PV panels oriented to the south and with an inclination of 15° whereas the most unfavourable conditions are those of PV panels with an orientation and inclination of 180° and 90°, respectively. Furthermore, when the level of obstruction increases the maximum of the Net Present Value of self-consumptions PV installations decreases and this optimal value is achieved for installations with lower power. Finally, empirical adjustment equations have been developed to estimate the profitability parameters of self-consumptions PV installations as a function of their design variables.
Effects of Climatic and Soil Data on Soil Drought Monitoring Based on Different Modelling Schemes
Authors: Řehoř Jan , Brázdil Rudolf , Trnka Miroslav , Fischer Milan , Balek Jan , Štěpánek Petr , Zahradníček Pavel , Semerádová Daniela , Bláhová Monika
Published: July 2021

Satisfactory requirements for the spatial resolution of climate and the influences of soil data in defining the starting points, endings, and the intensities of droughts have become matters of discussion in recent years. The overall inclusiveness of the modelling tools applied is also frequently discussed. In this light, five model setups (MSs) of the daily SoilClim water balance model were developed and tested for the Czech Republic (CR) in the 1961–2020 period. These included two versions of the SoilClim model, two sets of soil data, and two sets of climatic data at different spatial resolutions. MS1–MS4 were based on local, spatially-interpolated data from meteorological stations (500 × 500 m resolution), while MS5 was developed for global drought monitoring, based on the coarser ERA5-Land reanalysis (0.1° × 0.1°). During the 1961–2020 period, all the MSs indicated strong, statistically significant increases in the occurrence of 10th-percentile soil drought in the April–June season; however, trends remained largely non-significant for the remainder of the year. Variations among MS1–MS4 demonstrate that the range of soil property input data affects results to a lesser extent than different modelling schemes. The major simplification of the model grid in MS5 still led to an acceptable conformity of results, while the non-conformities disclosed may be explained by differences between meteorological inputs. Comparison with the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) confirmed that the SoilClim model depicts the variability of soil drought occurrence in greater detail, while PDSI tends to highlight the most severe events. The discussion arising out of the study centers around model uncertainties and the expression of soil drought episodes in different MSs.
Catalytic Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Penicillin Residue for the Production of Bio-Oil over Different Homogeneous/Heterogeneous Catalysts
Authors: Hong Chen , Wang Zhiqiang , Si Yanxiao , Xing Yi , Yang Jian , Feng Lihui , Wang Yijie , Hu Jiashuo , Li Zaixing , Li Yifei
Published: July 2021

In this study, penicillin residue (PR) was used to prepare bio-oil by hydrothermal liquefaction. The effects of homogeneous (organic acid and alkaline catalysts) and heterogeneous catalysts (zeolite molecular sieve) on the yield and properties of bio-oil were investigated. The results show that there are significant differences in the catalytic performance of the catalysts. The effect of homogeneous catalysts on the bio-oil yield was not significant, which only increased from 26.09 (no catalysts) to 31.44 wt.% (Na2CO3, 8 wt.%). In contrast, heterogeneous catalysts had a more obvious effect, and the oil yield reached 36.44 wt.% after adding 5 wt.% MCM-48. Increasing the amount of catalyst enhanced the yield of bio-oil, but excessive amounts of catalyst led to a secondary cracking reaction, resulting in a reduction in bio-oil. Catalytic hydrothermal liquefaction reduced the contents of heteroatoms (oxygen, mainly), slightly increased the contents of C and H in the bio-oil and increased the higher heating value (HHV) and energy recovery (ER) of bio-oil. FTIR and GC-MS analyses showed that the addition of catalysts was beneficial in increasing hydrocarbons and oxygen-containing hydrocarbons in bio-oil and reducing the proportion of nitrogen-containing substances. Comprehensive analyses of the distribution of aromatic, nitrogen-containing and oxygen-containing components in bio-oil were also performed. This work is beneficial for further research on the preparation of bio-oil by hydrothermal liquefaction of antibiotic fermentation residue.
TNFR2 Signaling Regulates the Immunomodulatory Function of Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells
Authors: Desu Haritha L. , Illiano Placido , Choi James S. , Ascona Maureen C. , Gao Han , Lee Jae K. , Brambilla Roberta
Published: July 2021

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuroimmune disorder characterized by inflammation, CNS demyelination, and progressive neurodegeneration. Chronic MS patients exhibit impaired remyelination capacity, partly due to the changes that oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) undergo in response to the MS lesion environment. The cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is present in the MS-affected CNS and has been implicated in disease pathophysiology. Of the two active forms of TNF, transmembrane (tmTNF) and soluble (solTNF), tmTNF signals via TNFR2 mediating protective and reparative effects, including remyelination, whereas solTNF signals predominantly via TNFR1 promoting neurotoxicity. To better understand the mechanisms underlying repair failure in MS, we investigated the cellular responses of OPCs to inflammatory exposure and the specific role of TNFR2 signaling in their modulation. Following treatment of cultured OPCs with IFNγ, IL1β, and TNF, we observed, by RNA sequencing, marked inflammatory and immune activation of OPCs, accompanied by metabolic changes and dysregulation of their proliferation and differentiation programming. We also established the high likelihood of cell–cell interaction between OPCs and microglia in neuroinflammatory conditions, with OPCs able to produce chemokines that can recruit and activate microglia. Importantly, we showed that these functions are exacerbated when TNFR2 is ablated. Together, our data indicate that neuroinflammation leads OPCs to shift towards an immunomodulatory phenotype while diminishing their capacity to proliferate and differentiate, thus impairing their repair function. Furthermore, we demonstrated that TNFR2 plays a key role in this process, suggesting that boosting TNFR2 activation or its downstream signals could be an effective strategy to restore OPC reparative capacity in demyelinating disease.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): Stressed by Dysfunctional Mitochondria-Endoplasmic Reticulum Contacts (MERCs)
Authors: Chen Junsheng , Bassot Arthur , Giuliani Fabrizio , Simmen Thomas
Published: July 2021

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease for which there is currently no cure. Progress in the characterization of other neurodegenerative mechanisms has shifted the spotlight onto an intracellular structure called mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) contacts (MERCs) whose ER portion can be biochemically isolated as mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs). Within the central nervous system (CNS), these structures control the metabolic output of mitochondria and keep sources of oxidative stress in check via autophagy. The most relevant MERC controllers in the ALS pathogenesis are vesicle-associated membrane protein-associated protein B (VAPB), a mitochondria-ER tether, and the ubiquitin-specific chaperone valosin containing protein (VCP). These two systems cooperate to maintain mitochondrial energy output and prevent oxidative stress. In ALS, mutant VAPB and VCP take a central position in the pathology through MERC dysfunction that ultimately alters or compromises mitochondrial bioenergetics. Intriguingly, both proteins are targets themselves of other ALS mutant proteins, including C9orf72, FUS, or TDP-43. Thus, a new picture emerges, where different triggers cause MERC dysfunction in ALS, subsequently leading to well-known pathological changes including endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, inflammation, and motor neuron death.
Fisher vs. the Worms: Extraordinary Sex Ratios in Nematodes and the Mechanisms that Produce Them
Authors: Van Goor Justin , Shakes Diane C. , Haag Eric S.
Published: July 2021

Parker, Baker, and Smith provided the first robust theory explaining why anisogamy evolves in parallel in multicellular organisms. Anisogamy sets the stage for the emergence of separate sexes, and for another phenomenon with which Parker is associated: sperm competition. In outcrossing taxa with separate sexes, Fisher proposed that the sex ratio will tend towards unity in large, randomly mating populations due to a fitness advantage that accrues in individuals of the rarer sex. This creates a vast excess of sperm over that required to fertilize all available eggs, and intense competition as a result. However, small, inbred populations can experience selection for skewed sex ratios. This is widely appreciated in haplodiploid organisms, in which females can control the sex ratio behaviorally. In this review, we discuss recent research in nematodes that has characterized the mechanisms underlying highly skewed sex ratios in fully diploid systems. These include self-fertile hermaphroditism and the adaptive elimination of sperm competition factors, facultative parthenogenesis, non-Mendelian meiotic oddities involving the sex chromosomes, and environmental sex determination. By connecting sex ratio evolution and sperm biology in surprising ways, these phenomena link two “seminal” contributions of G. A. Parker.
Multidecadal Analysis of an Engineered River System Reveals Challenges for Model-Based Design of Human Interventions
Authors: Berends Koen D. , Gensen Matthijs R. A. , Warmink Jord J. , Hulscher Suzanne J. M. H.
Published: July 2021

Hydraulic models were used in practice to predict the effect of human intervention during extreme conditions. However, the accuracy of such predictions remains untested. In this study, we compare a simulated trend in water levels covering a twenty-year period of large-scale human intervention with a thirty-year observational record. The results show that the observed water levels display a linearly decreasing trend attributed to channel bed erosion. A deviation from this trend, which would be an indication of the effect of human intervention, was not observed. We propose that the most likely explanation for this is that any effect observable at lower discharge is hidden in the uncertainty of the rating curve. Given the inherent uncertainties associated with making predictions about a changing system for conditions with a low period of return, we argue that model uncertainty should be considered in intervention design.
Using Autoencoders for Anomaly Detection and Transfer Learning in IoT
Authors: Tien Chin-Wei , Huang Tse-Yung , Chen Ping-Chun , Wang Jenq-Haur
Published: July 2021

With the development of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, more and more smart devices are connected to the Internet. Since these devices were designed for better connections with each other, very limited security mechanisms have been considered. It would be costly to develop separate security mechanisms for the diverse behaviors in different devices. Given new and changing devices and attacks, it would be helpful if the characteristics of diverse device types could be dynamically learned for better protection. In this paper, we propose a machine learning approach to device type identification through network traffic analysis for anomaly detection in IoT. Firstly, the characteristics of different device types are learned from their generated network packets using supervised learning methods. Secondly, by learning important features from selected device types, we further compare the effects of unsupervised learning methods including One-class SVM, Isolation forest, and autoencoders for dimensionality reduction. Finally, we evaluate the performance of anomaly detection by transfer learning with autoencoders. In our experiments on real data in the target factory, the best performance of device type identification can be achieved by XGBoost with an accuracy of 97.6%. When adopting autoencoders for learning features from the network packets in Modbus TCP protocol, the best F1 score of 98.36% can be achieved. Comparable performance of anomaly detection can be achieved when using autoencoders for transfer learning from the reference dataset in the literature to our target site. This shows the potential of the proposed approach for automatic anomaly detection in smart factories. Further investigation is needed to verify the proposed approach using different types of devices in different IoT environments.
Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Ni-Co-BN Nanocomposite Coatings by Two-Step Jet Electrodeposition
Authors: Li Hengzheng , Li Yanjiang , Zhao Guangzhen , Zhang Binhui , Zhu Guang
Published: July 2021

The stability of hydrophobic surface has an important influence on the application of superhydrophobic function. The destruction of hydrophobic micro-nano structures on the material surface is the main factor leading to the loss of superhydrophobic property. In order to improve the corrosion resistance of superhydrophobic surface, Ni-Co-BN nanocomposite coatings with superhydrophobic property were prepared on 45 steel by two-step jet electrodeposition. The surface morphology, water contact angle, and corrosion resistance of the samples were measured and characterized by scanning electron microscope, surface contact angle measuring instrument, and electrochemical workstation. The results of electrochemical analysis show that the superhydrophobic property improved the corrosion resistance of Ni-Co-BN nanocomposite coating. The enhanced corrosion resistance is of great significance to the integrity of the microstructure and the durability of the superhydrophobic function.
Pelletizing Analysis on MgO-Fluxed Pellets by DEM
Authors: Long Fang , Shen Fengman , Jiang Xin , Yang Fu , Zhou Yulu , An Haiwei
Published: July 2021

The Discrete Element Method (DEM) was used to analyze the pelletization process of MgO-fluxed pellets. The effects of the charge ratio and rotational speed of the disc pelletizer on the behavior of MgO-fluxed pellets were investigated by using a simulation. The simulation results show that under the condition of a certain tilt angle of the disc pelletizer (the tilt angle is 49°), the suitable parameters of the disc pelletizer are that the charge ratio is 20% and the rotational speedis 0.7 N/NC. This simulation model proposed will be useful to research pellets behavior and for the design of disc pelletizers.
36th Annual CAPO Conference: Advocating for All: Psychosocial Oncology at the Intersections of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, 8–10 June 2021
Authors: Traversa Peter
Published: July 2021

On behalf of the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology, we are pleased to present the Abstracts from the 2021 Annual Conference, titled “Advocating for All: Psychosocial Oncology at the Intersections of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion”. The Conference was held virtually from 8 June 2021 to 10 June 2021. This conference brought together key stakeholders including multidisciplinary professionals from nursing, psychology, psychiatry, social work, spiritual care, nutrition, medicine, rehabilitation medicine, occupational health and radiation therapy for both adult and pediatric populations. Participants included clinicians, researchers, educators in cancer care, community-based organizations and patient representatives. Patients, caregivers and family members presented abstracts that speak to their role in managing cancer experiences and care. Over one hundred (100) abstracts were selected for presentation as symposia, 20-min oral presentations, 10-min oral presentations, 90-min workshops and poster presentations. We congratulate all the presenters on their research work and contribution.
Preprocessing of Public RNA-Sequencing Datasets to Facilitate Downstream Analyses of Human Diseases
Authors: Rapier-Sharman Naomi , Krapohl John , Beausoleil Ethan J. , Gifford Kennedy T. L. , Hinatsu Benjamin R. , Hoffmann Curtis S. , Komer Makayla , Scott Tiana M. , Pickett Brett E.
Published: July 2021

Publicly available RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data are a rich resource for elucidating the mechanisms of human disease; however, preprocessing these data requires considerable bioinformatic expertise and computational infrastructure. Analyzing multiple datasets with a consistent computational workflow increases the accuracy of downstream meta-analyses. This collection of datasets represents the human intracellular transcriptional response to disorders and diseases such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), B-cell lymphomas, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), colorectal cancer, lupus erythematosus; as well as infection with pathogens including Borrelia burgdorferi, hantavirus, influenza A virus, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), Streptococcus pneumoniae, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We calculated the statistically significant differentially expressed genes and Gene Ontology terms for all datasets. In addition, a subset of the datasets also includes results from splice variant analyses, intracellular signaling pathway enrichments as well as read mapping and quantification. All analyses were performed using well-established algorithms and are provided to facilitate future data mining activities, wet lab studies, and to accelerate collaboration and discovery.
Symptomatic Female Genital Tract Infections Due to Neisseria meningitidis in Athens, Greece
Authors: Tsakalos Anastasios , Xirogianni Athanasia , Ekonomou Georgia , Papandreou Anastasia , Prokopiou Efstratios , Vagiakou Eleni , Tzanakaki Georgina
Published: July 2021

Neisseria meningitidis is considered as an obligate human pathogen and can cause life-threatening diseases like meningitis and/or septicaemia. Occasionally, it can be recovered from infections outside the bloodstream or central nervous system, like respiratory, ocular, joint, urogenital or other unusual sites. Herein, we present two rare cases of female genital infections due to N. meningitidis within a two-year period (2019–2020), identified as serogroup B (MenB) and Y (MenY), respectively. Genotypic analysis for PorA, FetA and MLST revealed the following characteristics: MenB: 7-12, 14, F5-36, 1572cc and MenY: 5-1,10-1, F4-5, 23cc, respectively. Such unusual presentations should alert the clinicians and microbiologists not to exclude N. meningitidis from routine diagnosis and the need of early detection. This is the first report in Greece, and, to our knowledge, in Europe since 2005 describing meningococcal female genital infections.
Randomized Trial to Improve Primary Care Patient Management and Patient Outcomes Using a Drug–Drug Interaction Test: Confirmation of the DECART Simulated Patient Clinical Utility Trial Results
Authors: Peabody John , Schrecker Joshua , Heltsley Rebecca , Paculdo David , de Belen Enrico , Tamondong-Lachica Diana , Acelajado M. Czarina , Ouenes Othman , Kennedy Trina , Jeter Elaine
Published: July 2021

Drug–drug interactions (DDIs) are a serious problem in the healthcare system, leading to excess healthcare utilization and costs. We conducted a second prospective randomized, controlled trial to further establish the real-world clinical utility of a novel assay that objectively identifies potentially serious DDIs in real-world patients. Re-recruiting primary care physicians (PCPs) from our first randomized, controlled, simulated-patients study on DDIs, we experimentally introduced a definitive, urine-based mass spectrometry test intervention that the physicians could use when caring for their eligible patients. Patients were eligible if taking four or more prescription medications or suspected of taking other non-prescribed substances with potential medication interactions. The primary outcome was whether DDI testing changed clinical care. We explored a secondary outcome to see if the change in practice improved symptoms in patients with potential DDIs. A total of 169 control and 162 intervention patients were enrolled in the study, and their medical records were abstracted. In real-world patients, intervention physicians identified and/or treated a DDI at 3.0x the rate in their patient population compared to controls (21.6% vs. 7.1%, p < 0.001). Intervention physicians were more likely to discontinue or adjust the interacting agent compared to controls (62.9% vs. 8.3%, p = 0.001), and patient-reported symptoms also significantly declined (29.6% vs. 20.1%, p = 0.045). These results were nearly identical to concurrent measurements that used simulated patients, wherein intervention was more likely to both make a DDI diagnosis (56.3% vs. 21.6%, p < 0.001) and stop the interacting medications (58.3% versus 26.6%, p < 0.001). Bringing a new diagnostic test to market, particularly for an under-recognized clinical problem, requires robust data on both clinical validity and clinical utility. The results of this follow-up study showed that the use of DDI testing in real-world patients significantly improved (1) primary care patient management of drug interactions and (2) patient outcomes.
Abdominal Ultrasound and Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Numata Kazushi
Published: July 2021

Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer and the third most common cause of cancer death, based on Global Cancer Statistics 2020 [...]
Imaging Evaluation of Pulmonary and Non-Ischaemic Cardiovascular Manifestations of COVID-19
Authors: Cicco Sebastiano , Vacca Antonio , Cariddi Christel , Carella Rossella , Altamura Gianluca , Solimando Antonio , Lauletta Gianfranco , Pappagallo Fabrizio , Cirulli Anna , Stragapede Assunta , Susca Nicola , Grasso Salvatore , Ria Roberto
Published: July 2021

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a pandemic challenge for the last year. Cardiovascular disease is the most described comorbidity in COVID-19 patients, and it is related to the disease severity and progression. COVID-19 induces direct damage on cardiovascular system, leading to arrhythmias and myocarditis, and indirect damage due to endothelial dysfunction and systemic inflammation with a high inflammatory burden. Indirect damage leads to myocarditis, coagulation abnormalities and venous thromboembolism, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, Kawasaki-like disease and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Imaging can support the management, assessment and prognostic evaluation of these patients. Ultrasound is the most reliable and easy to use in emergency setting and in the ICU as a first approach. The focused approach is useful in management of these patients due its ability to obtain quick and focused results. This tool is useful to evaluate cardiovascular disease and its interplay with lungs. However, a detailed echocardiography evaluation is necessary in a complete assessment of cardiovascular involvement. Computerized tomography is highly sensitive, but it might not always be available. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance and nuclear imaging may be helpful to evaluate COVID-19-related myocardial injury, but further studies are needed. This review deals with different modalities of imaging evaluation in the management of cardiovascular non-ischaemic manifestations of COVID-19, comparing their use in emergency and in intensive care.
Examining GDP Growth and Its Volatility: An Episodic Approach
Authors: Bartak Jakub , Jabłoński Łukasz , Jastrzębska Agnieszka
Published: July 2021

In this paper, we study economic growth and its volatility from an episodic perspective. We first demonstrate the ability of the genetic algorithm to detect shifts in the volatility and levels of a given time series. Having shown that it works well, we then use it to detect structural breaks that segment the GDP per capita time series into episodes characterized by different means and volatility of growth rates. We further investigate whether a volatile economy is likely to grow more slowly and analyze the determinants of high/low growth with high/low volatility patterns. The main results indicate a negative relationship between volatility and growth. Moreover, the results suggest that international trade simultaneously promotes growth and increases volatility, human capital promotes growth and stability, and financial development reduces volatility and negatively correlates with growth.
PUF-Based Key Generation Scheme for Secure Group Communication Using MEMS
Authors: Mehdi Mubarak , Ajani Muhammad Taha , Tahir Hasan , Tahir Shahzaib , Alizai Zahoor , Khan Fawad , Riaz Qaiser , Hussain Mehdi
Published: July 2021

Consumer electronics manufacturers have been incorporating support for 4G/5G communication technologies into many electronic devices. Thus, highly capable Internet of Things (IoT)-ready versions of electronic devices are being purchased which will eventually replace traditional consumer electronics. With the goal of creating a smart environment, the IoT devices enable data sharing, sensing, awareness, increased control. Enabled by high-speed networks, the IoT devices function in a group setting thus compounding the attack surface leading to security and privacy concerns. This research is a study on the possibility of incorporating PUF as a basis for group key generation. The challenge here lies in identifying device features that are unique, stable, reproducible and unpredictable by an adversary. Each device generates its own identity leading to collaborative cryptographic key generation in a group setting. The research uses a comprehensive hardware testbed to demonstrate the viability of PUFs for the generation of a symmetric key through collaboration. Detailed analysis of the proposed setup and the symmetric key generation scheme has shown that the system is scalable and offers unrivalled advantages compared to conventional cryptographic implementations.
ULearnEnglish: An Open Ubiquitous System for Assisting in Learning English Vocabulary
Authors: da Silva Letícia Garcia , Neto Eduardo Gonçalves de Azevedo , Francisco Rosemary , Barbosa Jorge Luis Victória , Silva Luis Augusto , Leithardt Valderi Reis Quietinho
Published: July 2021

Language learners often face communication problems when they need to express themselves and do not have the ability to do so. On the other hand, continuous advances in technology are creating new opportunities to improve second language (L2) acquisition through context-aware ubiquitous learning (CAUL) technology. Since vocabulary is the foundation of all language acquisition, this article presents ULearnEnglish, an open-source system to allow ubiquitous English learning focused on incidental vocabulary acquisition. To evaluate our proposal, 15 learners used the developed system, and 10 answered a survey based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Results indicate a favorable response to the application of incidental learning techniques in combination with the learner context. ULearnEnglish achieved an acceptance rate of 78.66% for the perception of utility, 96% for the perception of ease of use, 86.5% for user context assessment, and 88% for ubiquity. Among its main contributions, this study demonstrates a possible tool for ubiquitous use in the future in language learning; additionally, further studies can use the available resources to develop the system.
A New Simulated Inductor with Reduced Series Resistor Using a Single VCII±
Authors: Yuce Erkan , Safari Leila , Minaei Shahram , Ferri Giuseppe , Barile Gianluca , Stornelli Vincenzo
Published: July 2021

This paper presents a new realization of a grounded simulated inductor using a single dual output second-generation voltage conveyor (VCII±) as an active building block, two resistors and one grounded capacitor. The main characteristic of the proposed circuit is that the value of the series resistor can be significantly reduced. Thus, it has the property of improved low-frequency performance. Another feature is the use of a grounded capacitor that makes the proposed circuit attractive for integrated circuit (IC) realization. A simple CMOS implementation of the required VCII± is used. However, a single passive component-matching condition is required for the proposed structure. As an application example, a standard fifth-order high-pass ladder filter is also given. SPICE simulations using 0.18 μm CMOS technology parameters and a supply voltage of ±0.9 V as well as experimental verifications, are carried out to support the theory.
Multi-Sensory Color Code Based on Sound and Scent for Visual Art Appreciation
Authors: Cavazos Quero Luis , Lee Chung-Heon , Cho Jun-Dong
Published: July 2021

The development of assistive technologies is improving the independent access of blind and visually impaired people to visual artworks through non-visual channels. Current single modality tactile and auditory approaches to communicate color contents must compromise between conveying a broad color palette, ease of learning, and suffer from limited expressiveness. In this work, we propose a multi-sensory color code system that uses sound and scent to represent colors. Melodies express each color’s hue and scents the saturated, light, and dark color dimensions for each hue. In collaboration with eighteen participants, we evaluated the color identification rate achieved when using the multi-sensory approach. Seven (39%) of the participants improved their identification rate, five (28%) remained the same, and six (33%) performed worse when compared to an audio-only color code alternative. The participants then evaluated and compared a color content exploration prototype that uses the proposed color code with a tactile graphic equivalent using the System Usability Scale. For a visual artwork color exploration task, the multi-sensory color code integrated prototype received a score of 78.61, while the tactile graphics equivalent received 61.53. User feedback indicates that the multi-sensory color code system improved the convenience and confidence of the participants.
A Phenomenological Model of a Downdraft Biomass Gasifier Flexible to the Feedstock Composition and the Reactor Design
Authors: Costa Michela , La Villetta Maurizio , Piazzullo Daniele , Cirillo Domenico
Published: July 2021

The development of a one-dimensional (1D) phenomenological model for biomass gasification in downdraft reactors is presented in this study; the model was developed with the aim of highlighting the main advantages and limits related to feedstocks that are different from woodchip, such as hydro-char derived from the hydrothermal carbonization of green waste, or a mix of olive pomace and sawdust. An experimental validation of the model is performed. The numerically evaluated temperature evolution along the reactor gasifier is found to be in agreement with locally measured values for all the considered biomasses. The model captures the pressure drop along the reactor axis, despite an underestimation with respect to the performed measurements. The producer gas composition resulting from the numerical model at the exit section is in quite good agreement with gas-chromatograph analyses (12% maximum error for CO and CO2 species), although the model predicts lower methane and hydrogen content in the syngas than the measurements show. Parametric analyses highlight that lower degrees of porosity enhance the pressure drop along the reactor axis, moving the zones characterized by the occurrence of the combustion and gasification phases towards the bottom. An increase in the biomass moisture content is associated with a delayed evolution of the temperature profile. The high energy expenditure in the evaporation phase occurs at the expense of the produced hydrogen and methane in the subsequent phases.