bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Antibiotic-Resistant Escherichia coli Isolated from Swine Faeces and Lagoons in Bulgaria
Authors: Dimitrova Lyudmila , Kaleva Mila , Zaharieva Maya M. , Stoykova Christina , Tsvetkova Iva , Angelovska Maya , Ilieva Yana , Kussovski Vesselin , Naydenska Sevda , Najdenski Hristo
Published: August 2021

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a worldwide health problem affecting humans, animals, and the environment within the framework of the “One Health” concept. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of pathogenic strains of the species Escherichia coli (E. coli), their AMR profile, and biofilm-forming potential. The isolated strains from three swine faeces and free lagoons (ISO 16654:2001/Amd 1:2017) were confirmed using Phoenix M50 and 16S rDNA PCR. The antibiotic sensitivity to 34 clinically applied antibiotics was determined by Phoenix M50 and the disc diffusion method, according to the protocols of the CLSI and EUCAST. We confirmed the presence of 16 E. coli isolates, of which 87.5% were multi-drug-resistant and 31.25% performed strong biofilms. The possibility for the carrying and transmission of antibiotic-resistance genes to quinolones (qnr), aminoglycosides (aac(3)), β-lactamase-producing plasmid genes ampC, and blaSHV/blaTEM was investigated. We confirmed the carrying of blaSHV/blaTEM in one and ampC in seven isolates. The strains were negative for the virulence genes (ETEC (LT, STa, and F4), EPEC (eae), and STEC/VTEC (stx and stx2all)). The results should contribute to the development of effective measures for limitation and control on the use of antibiotics, which is a key point in the WHO action plan.
Nanomaterials as a Successor of Antibiotics in Antibiotic-Resistant, Biofilm Infected Wounds?
Authors: Nowak Marcela , Barańska-Rybak Wioletta
Published: August 2021

Chronic wounds are a growing problem for both society and patients. They generate huge costs for treatment and reduce the quality of life of patients. The greatest challenge when treating a chronic wound is prolonged infection, which is commonly caused by biofilm. Biofilm makes bacteria resistant to individuals’ immune systems and conventional treatment. As a result, new treatment options, including nanomaterials, are being tested and implemented. Nanomaterials are particles with at least one dimension between 1 and 100 nM. Lipids, liposomes, cellulose, silica and metal can be carriers of nanomaterials. This review’s aim is to describe in detail the mode of action of those molecules that have been proven to have antimicrobial effects on biofilm and therefore help to eradicate bacteria from chronic wounds. Nanoparticles seem to be a promising treatment option for infection management, which is essential for the final stage of wound healing, which is complete wound closure.
Antimicrobial Consumption among 66 Acute Care Hospitals in Catalonia: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Grau Santiago , Hernández Sergi , Echeverría-Esnal Daniel , Almendral Alexander , Ferrer Ricard , Limón Enric , Horcajada Juan Pablo ,   on behalf of the Catalan Infection Control Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (VINCat-PROA)
Published: August 2021

Background: Antimicrobials have been widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the antimicrobial consumption of 66 hospitals in Catalonia. Methods: Adult antibacterial and antimycotic consumption was calculated as defined daily doses (DDD)/100 bed-days and DDD/100 discharges. Firstly, overall and ICU consumption in 2019 and 2020 were compared. Secondly, observed ICU 2020 consumptions were compared with non-COVID-19 2020 estimated consumptions (based on the trend from 2008–2019). Results: Overall, antibacterial consumption increased by 2.31% and 4.15% DDD/100 bed-days and DDD/100 discharges, respectively. Azithromycin (105.4% and 109.08% DDD/100 bed-days and DDD/100 discharges, respectively) and ceftriaxone (25.72% and 27.97% DDD/100 bed-days and DDD/100 discharges, respectively) mainly accounted for this finding. Likewise, antifungal consumption increased by 10.25% DDD/100 bed-days and 12.22% DDD/100 discharges, mainly due to echinocandins or amphotericin B. ICU antibacterial and antimycotic consumption decreased by 1.28% and 4.35% DDD/100 bed-days, respectively. On the contrary, antibacterial and antifungal use, expressed in DDD/100 discharges, increased by 23.42% and 19.58%. Azithromycin (275.09%), ceftriaxone (55.11%), cefepime (106.35%), vancomycin (29.81%), linezolid (31.28%), amphotericin B (87.98%), and voriconazole (96.17%) use changed the most. Observed consumption of amphotericin B, azithromycin, caspofungin, ceftriaxone, vancomycin, and voriconazole were higher than estimated values. Conclusions: The consumption indicators for most antimicrobials deviated from the expected trend pattern. A worrisome increase in antibacterial and antifungal consumption was observed in ICUs in Catalonia.
Anti-Virulence Activity of the Cell-Free Supernatant of the Antarctic Bacterium Psychrobacter sp. TAE2020 against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Clinical Isolates from Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Authors: Papa Rosanna , Vrenna Gianluca , D’Angelo Caterina , Casillo Angela , Relucenti Michela , Donfrancesco Orlando , Corsaro Maria Michela , Fiscarelli Ersilia Vita , Tuccio Guarna Assanti Vanessa , Tutino Maria Luisa , Parrilli Ermenegilda , Artini Marco , Selan Laura
Published: August 2021

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen often involved in airway infections of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Its pathogenicity is related to several virulence factors, such as biofilm formation, motility and production of toxins and proteases. The expression of these virulence factors is controlled by quorum sensing (QS). Thus, QS inhibition is considered a novel strategy for the development of antipathogenic compounds acting on specific bacterial virulence programs without affecting bacterial vitality. In this context, cold-adapted marine bacteria living in polar regions represent an untapped reservoir of biodiversity endowed with an interesting chemical repertoire. In this paper, we investigated the biological activity of a supernatant derived from a novel Antarctic bacterium (SN_TAE2020) against specific virulence factors produced by P. aeruginosa strains isolated from FC patients. Our results clearly show a reduction in pyocyanin and protease production in the presence of SN_TAE2020. Finally, SN_TAE2020 was also able to strongly affect swarming and swimming motility for almost all tested strains. Furthermore, the effect of SN_TAE2020 was investigated on biofilm growth and texture, captured by SEM analysis. In consideration of the novel results obtained on clinical strains, polar bacteria might represent potential candidates for the discovery of new compounds limiting P. aeruginosa virulence in CF patients.
Engineered Sumoylation-Deficient Prdx6 Mutant Protein-Loaded Nanoparticles Provide Increased Cellular Defense and Prevent Lens Opacity
Authors: Chhunchha Bhavana , Kubo Eri , Kompella Uday B. , Singh Dhirendra P.
Published: August 2021

Aberrant Sumoylation-mediated protein dysfunction is involved in a variety of oxidative and aging pathologies. We previously reported that Sumoylation-deficient Prdx6K(lysine)122/142R(Arginine) linked to the TAT-transduction domain gained stability and protective efficacy. In the present study, we formulated wild-type TAT-HA-Prdx6WT and Sumoylation-deficient Prdx6-loaded poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) to further enhance stability, protective activities, and sustained delivery. We found that in vitro and subconjuctival delivery of Sumoylation-deficient Prdx6-NPs provided a greater protection of lens epithelial cells (LECs) derived from human and Prdx6−/−-deficient mouse lenses against oxidative stress, and it also delayed the lens opacity in Shumiya cataract rats (SCRs) than TAT-HA-Prdx6WT-NPs. The encapsulation efficiencies of TAT-HA-Prdx6-NPs were ≈56%–62%. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analyses showed that the NPs were spherical, with a size of 50–250 nm and a negative zeta potential (≈23 mV). TAT-HA-Prdx6 analog-NPs released bioactive TAT-HA-Prdx6 (6%–7%) within 24 h. Sumoylation-deficient TAT-HA-Prdx6-NPs provided 35% more protection by reducing the oxidative load of LECs exposed to H2O2 compared to TAT-HA-Prdx6WT-NPs. A subconjuctival delivery of TAT-HA-Prdx6 analog-NPs demonstrated that released TAT-HA-Prdx6K122/142R could reduce lens opacity by ≈60% in SCRs. Collectively, our results demonstrate for the first time that the subconjuctival delivery of Sumoylation-deficient Prdx6-NPs is efficiently cytoprotective and provide a proof of concept for potential use to delay cataract and oxidative-related pathobiology in general.
Diclofenac Administration after Physical Training Blunts Adaptations of Peripheral Systems and Leads to Losses in Exercise Performance: In Vivo and In Silico Analyses
Authors: Barcelos Rômulo Pillon , Lima Frederico Diniz , Courtes Aline Alves , Silva Ingrid Kich da , Vargas Jose Eduardo , Royes Luiz Fernando Freire , Trindade Cristiano , González-Gallego Javier , Soares Félix Alexandre Antunes
Published: August 2021

Recovery in athletes is hampered by soreness and fatigue. Consequently, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used as an effective strategy to maintain high performance. However, impact of these drugs on adaptations induced by training remains unknown. This study assessed the effects of diclofenac administration (10 mg/kg/day) on rats subjected to an exhaustive test, after six weeks of swimming training. Over the course of 10 days, three repeated swimming bouts were performed, and diclofenac or saline were administered once a day. Trained animals exhibited higher muscle citrate synthase and lower plasma creatinine kinase activities as compared to sedentary animals, wherein diclofenac had no impact. Training increased time to exhaustion, however, diclofenac blunted this effect. It also impaired the increase in plasma and liver interleukin-6 levels. The trained group exhibited augmented catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase activities, and a higher ratio of reduced-to-oxidized glutathione in the liver. However, diclofenac treatment blunted all these effects. Systems biology analysis revealed a close relationship between diclofenac and liver catalase. These results confirmed that regular exercise induces inflammation and oxidative stress, which are crucial for tissue adaptations. Altogether, diclofenac treatment might be helpful in preventing pain and inflammation, but its use severely affects performance and tissue adaptation.
Aging under Pressure: The Roles of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species (RONS) Production and Aging Skeletal Muscle in Endothelial Function and Hypertension—From Biological Processes to Potential Interventions
Authors: Speer Hollie , McKune Andrew J.
Published: August 2021

The proportion of adults living with hypertension increases significantly with advancing age. It is therefore important to consider how health and vitality can be maintained by the aging population until end of life. A primary risk factor for the progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is hypertension, so exploring the factors and processes central to this burden of disease is essential for healthy aging. A loss of skeletal muscle quantity and quality is characteristic in normal aging, with a reduction of vasodilatory capacity caused by endothelial dysfunction, and subsequent increase in peripheral resistance and risk for hypertension. Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species (RONS) encompass the reactive derivatives of NO and superoxide, which are continuously generated in contracting skeletal muscle and are essential mediators for cellular metabolism. They act together as intra and intercellular messengers, gene expression regulators, and induce programmed cell death. In excessive amounts RONS can inflict damage to endothelial and skeletal muscle cells, alter signaling pathways or prematurely promote stress responses and potentially speed up the aging process. The age-related increase in RONS by skeletal muscle and endothelial mitochondria leads to impaired production of NO, resulting in vascular changes and endothelial dysfunction. Changes in vascular morphology is an early occurrence in the etiology of CVDs and, while this is also a normal characteristic of aging, whether it is a cause or a consequence of aging in hypertension remains unclear. This review serves to focus on the roles and mechanisms of biological processes central to hypertension and CVD, with a specific focus on the effects of aging muscle and RONS production, as well as the influence of established and more novel interventions to mediate the increasing risk for hypertension and CVD and improve health outcomes as we age.
MicroRNA-29a Mitigates Osteoblast Senescence and Counteracts Bone Loss through Oxidation Resistance-1 Control of FoxO3 Methylation
Authors: Lian Wei-Shiung , Wu Re-Wen , Chen Yu-Shan , Ko Jih-Yang , Wang Shao-Yu , Jahr Holger , Wang Feng-Sheng
Published: August 2021

Senescent osteoblast overburden accelerates bone mass loss. Little is understood about microRNA control of oxidative stress and osteoblast senescence in osteoporosis. We revealed an association between microRNA-29a (miR-29a) loss, oxidative stress marker 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), DNA hypermethylation marker 5-methylcystosine (5mC), and osteoblast senescence in human osteoporosis. miR-29a knockout mice showed low bone mass, sparse trabecular microstructure, and osteoblast senescence. miR-29a deletion exacerbated bone loss in old mice. Old miR-29a transgenic mice showed fewer osteoporosis signs, less 5mC, and less 8-OHdG formation than age-matched wild-type mice. miR-29a overexpression reversed age-induced senescence and osteogenesis loss in bone-marrow stromal cells. miR-29a promoted transcriptomic landscapes of redox reaction and forkhead box O (FoxO) pathways, preserving oxidation resistance protein-1 (Oxr1) and FoxO3 in old mice. In vitro, miR-29a interrupted DNA methyltransferase 3b (Dnmt3b)-mediated FoxO3 promoter methylation and senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity in aged osteoblasts. Dnmt3b inhibitor 5′-azacytosine, antioxidant N-acetylcysteine, or Oxr1 recombinant protein attenuated loss in miR-29a and FoxO3 to mitigate oxidative stress, senescence, and mineralization matrix underproduction. Taken together, miR-29a promotes Oxr1, compromising oxidative stress and FoxO3 loss to delay osteoblast aging and bone loss. This study sheds light on a new antioxidation mechanism by which miR-29a protects against osteoblast aging and highlights the remedial effects of miR-29a on osteoporosis.
Optimizing Power and Thermal Efficiency of an Irreversible Variable-Temperature Heat Reservoir Lenoir Cycle
Authors: Wang Ruibo , Chen Lingen , Ge Yanlin , Feng Huijun
Published: August 2021

Applying finite-time thermodynamics theory, an irreversible steady flow Lenoir cycle model with variable-temperature heat reservoirs is established, the expressions of power (P) and efficiency (η) are derived. By numerical calculations, the characteristic relationships among P and η and the heat conductance distribution (uL) of the heat exchangers, as well as the thermal capacity rate matching (Cwf1/CH) between working fluid and heat source are studied. The results show that when the heat conductances of the hot- and cold-side heat exchangers (UH, UL) are constants, P-η is a certain “point”, with the increase of heat reservoir inlet temperature ratio (τ), UH, UL, and the irreversible expansion efficiency (ηe), P and η increase. When uL can be optimized, P and η versus uL characteristics are parabolic-like ones, there are optimal values of heat conductance distributions (uLP(opt), uLη(opt)) to make the cycle reach the maximum power and efficiency points (Pmax, ηmax). As Cwf1/CH increases, Pmax-Cwf1/CH shows a parabolic-like curve, that is, there is an optimal value of Cwf1/CH ((Cwf1/CH)opt) to make the cycle reach double-maximum power point ((Pmax)max); as CL/CH, UT, and ηe increase, (Pmax)max and (Cwf1/CH)opt increase; with the increase in τ, (Pmax)max increases, and (Cwf1/CH)opt is unchanged.
Radiological Dose Assessment of the Landfill Disposal of Consumer Products Containing Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials in South Korea
Authors: Nandutu Mercy , Kim Juyoul
Published: August 2021

Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) are long-lived radioactive elements such as uranium, thorium, and potassium, and theirdecay products. They are abundant in natural rocks and minerals. In this study, we conducted a radiological dose assessment of the disposal of consumer products (CPs) containing NORMs at landfills and incinerators in South Korea. Household wastes were categorized as combustible and noncombustible on the basis of activity concentrations (ACs) ranging below and above 1 Bq/g, respectively. Analysis data were obtained from previous literature and the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) of South Korea, and statistical analysis was performed using an interval plot and 95% confidence interval of mean for each category as an input. Using RESRAD computer codes for noncombustible CPs with AC below and above 1 Bq/g, we found out that the dose rate was below and above 1 mSv/y, respectively. The RESRAD-OFFSITE results showed that the dose incurred during the study period for both ranges of AC was all below the public dose limit of 1 mSv/y. NORM and LegacY Site Assessment (NORMALYSA) code was used to validate the result of the RESRAD-ONSITE code, and the results showed that the dose was equal to and above 1 mSv/y for ACs below and above 1 Bq/g, respectively. HotSpot code was used for dose evaluation to offsite residents from incineration of combustible CPs, and the resulting dose was below 1 mSv/y. These findings can be used as a guideline for managing public exposure from landfill sites with varying ACs ranges. Therefore, the competent authority should ensure that criteria and protection measures are established for people who live within a distance of 10 km from incinerators and landfill sites that are contaminated with consumer products containing NORMs.
COVID-CGAN: Efficient Deep Learning Approach for COVID-19 Detection Based on CXR Images Using Conditional GANs
Authors: Al-Shargabi Amal A. , Alshobaili Jowharah F. , Alabdulatif Abdulatif , Alrobah Naseem
Published: August 2021

COVID-19, a novel coronavirus infectious disease, has spread around the world, resulting in a large number of deaths. Due to a lack of physicians, emergency facilities, and equipment, medical systems have been unable to treat all patients in many countries. Deep learning is a promising approach for providing solutions to COVID-19 based on patients’ medical images. As COVID-19 is a new disease, its related dataset is still being collected and published. Small COVID-19 datasets may not be sufficient to build powerful deep learning detection models. Such models are often over-fitted, and their prediction results cannot be generalized. To fill this gap, we propose a deep learning approach for accurately detecting COVID-19 cases based on chest X-ray (CXR) images. For the proposed approach, named COVID-CGAN, we first generated a larger dataset using generative adversarial networks (GANs). Specifically, a customized conditional GAN (CGAN) was designed to generate the target COVID-19 CXR images. The expanded dataset, which contains 84.8% generated images and 15.2% original images, was then used for training five deep detection models: InceptionResNetV2, Xception, SqueezeNet, VGG16, and AlexNet. The results show that the use of the synthetic CXR images, which were generated by the customized CGAN, helped all deep learning models to achieve high detection accuracies. In particular, the highest accuracy was achieved by the InceptionResNetV2 model, which was 99.72% accurate with only ten epochs. All five models achieved kappa coefficients between 0.81 and 1, which is interpreted as an almost perfect agreement between the actual labels and the detected labels. Furthermore, the experiment showed that some models were faster yet smaller compared to the others but could still achieve high accuracy. For instance, SqueezeNet, which is a small network, required only three minutes and achieved comparable accuracy to larger networks such as InceptionResNetV2, which needed about 143 min. Our proposed approach can be applied to other fields with scarce datasets.
Boat-to-Grid Electrical Energy Storage Potentials around the Largest Lake in Central Europe
Authors: Pintér Gábor , Vincze András , Baranyai Nóra Hegedűsné , Zsiborács Henrik
Published: August 2021

With the dynamic growth in both the global hunger for electrical energy and the share of variable renewable energy sources in the energy mix, distribution networks are facing new challenges where conventional solutions may not be the best ones. The increase in load in distribution grids is routinely countered by network development and expansion, in a great part to supply for on-peak load demand, which could also be done by utilizing supplementary technologies to lessen the need for or defer such expansion. Vehicle-to-grid technology could efficiently contribute to handling this issue, as electric vehicles can potentially function as storage capacities to mitigate the fluctuations of power generation. The battery energy storage systems of hybrid or completely electric watercraft, which are becoming increasingly popular, are no exception, either. These vehicles represent a considerable potential to create more complex vehicle-to-grid solutions for countries with significant inland or seaport networks, for example, Hungary, with the largest lake of Central Europe. Since there is only deficient information on the topic, the main goal of this study was to explore the energy storage capacities of small electric boats in the context of Lake Balaton, Hungary. By this example, the paper presents the potential utilization of Europe’s significant network of sea and inland recreational ports for the purpose of energy storage. Similarly to other European countries, Hungary’s energy strategy for 2030 also includes the promotion of virtual production integration, local energy communities and micro-grid solutions. At the beginning of 2021, the small electric boats in the sailing marinas of Lake Balaton represented a cumulative energy storage capacity of 4.8 MWh, which may reach even 15.6 MWh by 2030, by the promotion of micro-grid solutions. The innovative novelty of this study is that it regards small fully electric boats not just as vehicles, but also explores their energy storage potentials. The novel goal of these examinations is to explore the volume of the energy storage potentials of the small fully electric boats around Lake Balaton, the knowledge of which may facilitate the creation of new types of flexibility services related to energy storage.
A Survey on the Recent Advances of Deep Community Detection
Authors: Souravlas Stavros , Anastasiadou Sofia , Katsavounis Stefanos
Published: August 2021

In the first days of social networking, the typical view of a community was a set of user profiles of the same interests and likes, and this community kept enlarging by searching, proposing, and adding new members with the same characteristics that were likely to interfere with the existing members. Today, things have changed dramatically. Social networking platforms are not restricted to forming similar user profiles: The vast amounts of data produced every day have given opportunities to predict and suggest relationships, behaviors, and everyday activities like shopping, food, traveling destinations, etc. Every day, vast data amounts are generated by the famous social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and so on. For example, Facebook alone generates 4 petabytes of data per day. The analysis of such data is of high importance to many aspects like recommendation systems, businesses, health organizations, etc. The community detection problem received considerable attention a long time ago. Communities are represented as clusters of an entire network. Most of the community detection techniques are based on graph structures. In this paper, we present the recent advances of deep learning techniques for community detection. We describe the most recent strategies presented in this field, and we provide some general discussion and some future trends.
Enhanced Oil Recovery with Size-Dependent Interactions of Nanoparticles Surface-Modified by Zwitterionic Surfactants
Authors: Son Han Am , Lee Taehun
Published: August 2021

This study reports the size-dependent interactions of silica nanoparticle (NP) dispersions with oil, which facilitate oil recovery from sandstone rock. Herein, we studied various 7–22 nm sized colloidal silica NPs (CSNPs; the colloidal state when dispersed in aqueous solutions) and fumed silica nanoparticles (FSNPs; the dry powder state). Interfacial tension at the oil-nanofluids interface declined with decreasing NP size in a range from 7 to 22 nm. This is because NP spatial density at the interface increased with smaller particle size, thereby, the interface area per NP decreased to approximately 1/30, and interfacial energy had reduced enough. In addition, smaller NPs more strongly were adsorbed to the rock because of improved diffusion in suspension and increased adsorption density. This caused creating a wedge film between oil and rock, which changed the oil contact angle. Due to this effect, core flooding experiments indicated that oil recovery increased with decreasing particle size. However, FSNP dispersions exhibited low recovery factor because of particle aggregation. This phenomenon may facilitate massive permeability reduction, thus causing oil trapping inside rock pore. We found that both the sizes and types of CSNPs and FSNP affected the Interfacial tension at oil-water interface and rock surface wettability, which influenced ultimate oil recovery.
Validation of Eye Temperature Assessed Using Infrared Thermography as an Indicator of Welfare in Horses
Authors: Kim Su-Min , Cho Gil-Jae
Published: August 2021

This study aimed to validate eye temperature (ET) assessed using infrared thermography (IRT) as an indicator of welfare in horses. Moreover, this study aimed to determine the most accurate position for ET measured using IRT and to validate this approach as a gold-standard measurement method. As the quantitative data obtained by IRT have strongly influenced the ET results depending on the specific location of the measurement area, an accurate definition of the regions of interest (ROI) was established. A total of 176 horses (Thoroughbred, Warmblood, and Halla horses) were used at the racing course of the Korea Racing Authority and public horse-riding clubs in South Korea. The present study also compared temperatures among three ROIs of the eye—lacrimal sac, medial canthus, and lateral canthus—at rest. Correlations between ET, rectal temperature (RT), heart rate (HR), and respiratory rate (RR) were assessed. There were no significant correlations between HR, RR or RT; however, among the three ROIs, the temperature of the medial canthus was positively correlated with RT (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the size of ROI was negatively correlated with accuracy of temperature measurement. These results indicate that the most suitable area for ET measurement using IRT in horses is the medial canthus, and it is recommended to use the average temperature of the smallest ROIs (2 × 2 pixels) for temperature analysis. Therefore, this study offers a validated protocol in which ET measured using IRT in the horses is useful as an indicator of welfare.
Nanotechnology, Nanomedicine, and the Kidney
Authors: Hauser Peter V. , Chang Hsiao-Min , Yanagawa Norimoto , Hamon Morgan
Published: August 2021

The kidneys are vital organs performing several essential functions. Their primary function is the filtration of blood and the removal of metabolic waste products as well as fluid homeostasis. Renal filtration is the main pathway for drug removal, highlighting the importance of this organ to the growing field of nanomedicine. The kidneys (i) have a key role in the transport and clearance of nanoparticles (NPs), (ii) are exposed to potential NPs’ toxicity, and (iii) are the targets of diseases that nanomedicine can study, detect, and treat. In this review, we aim to summarize the latest research on kidney-nanoparticle interaction. We first give a brief overview of the kidney’s anatomy and renal filtration, describe how nanoparticle characteristics influence their renal clearance, and the approaches taken to image and treat the kidney, including drug delivery and tissue engineering. Finally, we discuss the future and some of the challenges faced by nanomedicine.
A Payload Based Malicious HTTP Traffic Detection Method Using Transfer Semi-Supervised Learning
Authors: Chen Tieming , Chen Yunpeng , Lv Mingqi , He Gongxun , Zhu Tiantian , Wang Ting , Weng Zhengqiu
Published: August 2021

Malicious HTTP traffic detection plays an important role in web application security. Most existing work applies machine learning and deep learning techniques to build the malicious HTTP traffic detection model. However, they still suffer from the problems of huge training data collection cost and low cross-dataset generalization ability. Aiming at these problems, this paper proposes DeepPTSD, a deep learning method for payload based malicious HTTP traffic detection. First, it treats the malicious HTTP traffic detection as a text classification problem and trains the initial detection model using TextCNN on a public dataset, and then adapts the initial detection model to the target dataset based on a transfer learning algorithm. Second, in the transfer learning procedure, it uses a semi-supervised learning algorithm to accomplish the model adaptation task. The semi-supervised learning algorithm enhances the target dataset based on a HTTP payload data augmentation mechanism to exploit both the labeled and unlabeled data. We evaluate DeepPTSD on two real HTTP traffic datasets. The results show that DeepPTSD has competitive performance under the small data condition.
Modeling and Parametric Simulation of Microplastic Transport in Groundwater Environments
Authors: Ryu Han-Sun , Moon Jinah , Kim Heejung , Lee Jin-Yong
Published: August 2021

Efforts to reduce the toxic effects of microplastics (MPs) on the environment have increased globally in recent years. However, the existing models used for the simulation of contaminant transport in groundwater are meant for dissolved substances, which is not suitable for studying MPs. Therefore, in this study, the transport of MPs in a saturated porous medium was modeled by establishing governing equations. Simulations were performed using the finite element method to examine the effects of the parameters of the governing equations on the transport of MPs. The results suggest that it is necessary to reduce the diffusivity of MPs and increase the water flow velocity, porosity, and first-order attachment coefficient to effectively contain this environmental hazard. From the simulation results, it can be derived that a combination of low diffusivity, fast water flow velocity, and high soil porosity may reduce the amount of MPs that are leaked into groundwater environments. The modeling and simulations performed in this study provide a clear understanding of the transport phenomena of MPs with applications in combating water pollution.
3D Interpreted Model: A Novel Product Definition Model by Integrating and Fusing a 3D Annotated Model and Design Knowledge
Authors: Hou Yongzhu , Liu Jihong , Yue Gaofeng
Published: August 2021

Model based definition (MBD) is the core of product digital research and development. The extension of the scope and content of the product model is an important way to improve the application ability of MBD methodology. In view of the demand of the development of the product definition method and the lack of systematic theoretical methods to support the further improvement of product model quality and ability, this paper proposes the concept of a 3D interpreted model as a new product definition model by integrating and fusing design knowledge on the basis of the MBD model. Firstly, the concept, characteristics and representation method of the 3D interpreted model are elaborated. Then, the construction method of the 3D interpreted model is proposed, which includes two steps. The first step is design knowledge annotation, which is used to integrate design knowledge with the MBD model and form the 3D interpreted model in a CAD environment. The second step is information extraction and knowledge fusion, which is used to construct a 3D interpreted model network by processing the product information and design knowledge stored in a STEP file and knowledge index file, respectively. Finally, a prototype system is developed, and the construction process of a 3D interpreted model is demonstrated and verified through an example. The results show that as a new product definition model, a 3D interpreted model realizes the comprehensive integration of a MBD model and design knowledge, so as to realize the inheritance and development of the product definition method, and supports business activities and saves more social resources.
Simulation Study on an ICT-Based Maritime Management and Safety Framework for Movable Bridges
Authors: Komol Md Mostafizur Rahman , Sagar Md Samiul Islam , Mohammad Naeem , Pinnow Jack , Elhenawy Mohammed , Masoud Mahmoud , Glaser Sebastien , Liu Shi Qiang
Published: August 2021

Maritime management is a crucial concern for movable bridge safety. Irregular management of water vehicles near movable bridges may lead to collision among ships and bridge infrastructures, causing massive losses of life and property. The paper presents a theoretical framework and simulation of an intelligent water vehicle management system for movable bridges corresponding to vehicle traffic responses. The water regime around the bridge is considered in virtually separated domains to estimate the desired safety actions based on the position of the approaching ships. An emergency clash avoidance control system is represented to prevent ship-infrastructure collision and ensure transportation safety. In addition, a simulation platform is developed specifically adaptable for movable bridge maritime and dynamic traffic management. The proposed theory is experimented using the simulation platform for different ship speeds and bridge-vehicle traffic volumes. Based on analyzing the velocity profile of approaching ships at different incidents, the bridge is found incapable of evacuating vehicles and unable to open promptly in case of speeding ships and high traffic density of vehicles on the bridge. Computational results show that the emergency control system is effective in reducing ship speed and prevent certain collisions. Lastly, the transportation policy for the newly proposed maritime management system is validated by real-world implementation in movable bridges across the world.
Multi-Agent Robot System to Monitor and Enforce Physical Distancing Constraints in Large Areas to Combat COVID-19 and Future Pandemics
Authors: Shah Syed Hammad Hussain , Steinnes Ole-Martin Hagen , Gustafsson Eirik Gribbestad , Hameed Ibrahim A.
Published: August 2021

Random outbreaks of infectious diseases in the past have left a persistent impact on societies. Currently, COVID-19 is spreading worldwide and consequently risking human lives. In this regard, maintaining physical distance has turned into an essential precautionary measure to curb the spread of the virus. In this paper, we propose an autonomous monitoring system that is able to enforce physical distancing rules in large areas round the clock without human intervention. We present a novel system to automatically detect groups of individuals who do not comply with physical distancing constraints, i.e., maintaining a distance of 1 m, by tracking them within large areas to re-identify them in case of repetitive non-compliance and enforcing physical distancing. We used a distributed network of multiple CCTV cameras mounted to the walls of buildings for the detection, tracking and re-identification of non-compliant groups. Furthermore, we used multiple self-docking autonomous robots with collision-free navigation to enforce physical distancing constraints by sending alert messages to those persons who are not adhering to physical distancing constraints. We conducted 28 experiments that included 15 participants in different scenarios to evaluate and highlight the performance and significance of the present system. The presented system is capable of re-identifying repetitive violations of physical distancing constraints by a non-compliant group, with high accuracy in terms of detection, tracking and localization through a set of coordinated CCTV cameras. Autonomous robots in the present system are capable of attending to non-compliant groups in multiple regions of a large area and encouraging them to comply with the constraints.
Examination of Photo-, Mixo-, and Heterotrophic Cultivation Conditions on Haematococcus pluvialis Cyst Cell Germination
Authors: Bauer Andreas , Minceva Mirjana
Published: August 2021

The microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis is used for the biotechnological production of astaxanthin. The red carotenoid accumulates in the cytoplasm under unfavorable conditions. Astaxanthin synthesis is associated with the transformation of motile vegetative cells into non-motile cyst cells. In the industrial process, after harvesting, the cyst cells are mechanically disrupted, dried, and finally, astaxanthin is extracted with supercritical CO2. The germination of the cyst cells represents an interesting alternative, replacing the mechanical cyst cell wall disruption. When cyst cells are exposed to favorable growth conditions, germination of the cyst cells occurs and zoospores are released after a certain time. These zoospores show a much weaker cell matrix compared to cyst cells. In this study, germination under phototrophic, mixotrophic, and heterotrophic conditions was examined. Glucose was used as the carbon source for mixotrophic and heterotrophic germination. Applying heterotrophic conditions, up to 80% of the cells were in the zoospore stage 49 h after the start of germination, and extraction yields of up to 50% were achieved using the solvent ethyl acetate for the extraction of astaxanthin from the algal broth containing zoospores. An extraction yield of up to 64% could be achieved by doubling the nitrate concentration and combining mixotrophic and heterotrophic cultivation.
A Method for Visualizing Posterior Probit Model Uncertainty in the Early Prediction of Fraud for Sustainability Development
Authors: Tseng Shih-Hsien , Nguyen Tien Son
Published: August 2021

Corporate fraud is not only curtailed investors’ rights and privileges but also disrupts the overall market economy. For this reason, the formulation of a model that could help detect any unusual market fluctuations would be essential for investors. Thus, we propose an early warning system for predicting fraud associated with financial statements based on the Bayesian probit model while examining historical data from 1999 to 2017 with 327 businesses in Taiwan to create a visual method to aid in decision making. In this study, we utilize a parametric estimation via the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). The result show that it can reduce over or under-confidence within the decision-making process when standard logistic regression is utilized. In addition, the Bayesian probit model in this study is found to offer more accurate calculations and not only represent the prediction value of the responses but also possible ranges of these responses via a simple plot.
Effect of Housing Conditions on Cortisol and Body Fat Levels in Female Rhesus Macaques
Authors: Zijlmans Dian G. M. , Meijer Lisette , Vernes Marit K. , Wubben Jacqueline A. M. , Hofman Linda , Louwerse Annet L. , Sterck Elisabeth H. M. , Langermans Jan A. M. , Stammes Marieke A.
Published: August 2021

Macaques are among the most commonly used non-human primates in biomedical research. They are highly social animals, yet biomedical studies often require group-living animals to be pair-housed in a controlled environment. A change in environment causes only short-term stress in adapting individuals, while non-adapting animals may experience long-term stress that can adversely affect study results. Individuals likely differ in their ability to adapt depending on individual characteristics. Changes in cortisol and body fat levels may reflect these different individual responses. Here, we investigate the long-term effect of a change from group- to pair-housing on cortisol and body fat levels in 32 female rhesus macaques, exploring whether age, dominance rank, original cortisol, and body fat levels are related to long-term stress in pair-housing. Hair samples were analyzed for cortisol levels, while anthropometric measurements and computed tomography were performed to quantify body fat. Monkeys served as their own control with a 7.5-month period between the measurements. Cortisol levels increased, while average body fat levels did not differ when individuals were moved from group- to pair-housing. Cortisol and body fat levels were not significantly correlated. Changes in cortisol were independent of age and dominance rank, whereas individual variation in body fat alterations was related to the group-housed body fat level and dominance rank. Although this study did not identify individual characteristics related to long-term stress in pair-housing, the individual variation confirms that some individuals are more resilient to change than others and provides possibilities for future refinement studies.
Profiling Human CD55 Transgene Performance Assist in Selecting Best Suited Specimens and Tissues for Swine Organ Xenotransplantation
Authors: Martínez-Alarcón Laura , Liarte Sergio , Quereda Juan J. , Sáez-Acosta Aida , Torre-Minguela Carlos de , Mendonça Livia , Abellaneda Juana M. , Majado María J. , Ríos Antonio , Ramírez Pablo , Muñoz Antonio , Ramis Guillermo
Published: August 2021

Xenotransplantation of pig organs receives substantial attention for being comparable to human’s. However, compatibility constraints involving hyper-acute rejection (HAR) still block clinical applications. Transgenesis of human complement regulatory proteins has been proposed to overcome xenorejection. Pigs expressing human-CD55 have been widely tested in experimental surgery. Still, no standardized method has been developed to determine tissue expression of human decay-accelerating factor (DAF), hCD55’s product, or to predict the ability to overpass HAR. Here we describe objective procedures addressing this need. Organs and tissues from five hCD55 transgenic pigs were collected and classified according to their xenotransplantation value. The ability to overcome HAR was assessed by classical complement pathway hemolysis assays. Quantitative PCR mRNA expression and Western blot protein level studies were performed. Real-time cytotoxicity assays (RTCA) on fibroblast cultures exposed to baboon and human sera informed on longer-term rejection dynamics. While greater hCD55/DAF expression correlated with better performance, the results obtained varied among specimens. Interestingly, the individual with highest mRNA and protein levels showed positive feedback for hCD55 transcript after challenge with human and baboon sera. Moreover, hCD55 expression correlated to DAF levels in the liver, lung and intestine, but not in the heart. Moreover, we found significant correlations among valuable and non-valuable tissues. In sum, the methodology proposed allows us to characterize the hCD55 transgene functioning and performance. Moreover, the correlations found could allow us to predict hCD55/DAF expression in surrogate tissues, thus eliminating the need for direct biopsies, resulting in preservation of organ integrity before xenotransplantation.
The Roadmap of RANKL/RANK Pathway in Cancer
Authors: Casimiro Sandra , Vilhais Guilherme , Gomes Inês , Costa Luis
Published: August 2021

The receptor activator of the nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)/RANK signaling pathway was identified in the late 1990s and is the key mediator of bone remodeling. Targeting RANKL with the antibody denosumab is part of the standard of care for bone loss diseases, including bone metastases (BM). Over the last decade, evidence has implicated RANKL/RANK pathway in hormone and HER2-driven breast carcinogenesis and in the acquisition of molecular and phenotypic traits associated with breast cancer (BCa) aggressiveness and poor prognosis. This marked a new era in the research of the therapeutic use of RANKL inhibition in BCa. RANKL/RANK pathway is also an important immune mediator, with anti-RANKL therapy recently linked to improved response to immunotherapy in melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This review summarizes and discusses the pre-clinical and clinical evidence of the relevance of the RANKL/RANK pathway in cancer biology and therapeutics, focusing on bone metastatic disease, BCa onset and progression, and immune modulation.
MEMS-Based Cantilever Sensor for Simultaneous Measurement of Mass and Magnetic Moment of Magnetic Particles
Authors: Nyang’au Wilson Ombati , Kahmann Tamara , Viereck Thilo , Peiner Erwin
Published: August 2021

This study presents a measurement approach suitable for the simultaneous determination of both the mass mp and magnetic moment µp of magnetic particles deposited on a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) resonant cantilever balance, which is operated in parallel to an external magnetic field-induced force gradient F′(z). Magnetic induction B(z) and its second spatial derivative δ2B/δz2 is realized, beforehand, through the finite element method magnetics (FEMM) simulation with a pair of neodymium permanent magnets configured in a face-to-face arrangement. Typically, the magnets are mounted in a magnet holder assembly designed and fabricated in-house. The resulting F′ lowers the calibrated intrinsic stiffness k0 of the cantilever to k0-F′, which can, thus, be obtained from a measured resonance frequency shift of the cantilever. The magnetic moment µp per deposited particle is determined by dividing F′ by δ2B/δz2 and the number of the attached monodisperse particles given by the mass-induced frequency shift of the cantilever. For the plain iron oxide particles (250 nm) and the magnetic polystyrene particles (2 µm), we yield µp of 0.8 to 1.5 fA m2 and 11 to 19 fA m2 compared to 2 fA m2 and 33 fA m2 nominal values, respectively.
Climatology of Three-Dimensional Eliassen–Palm Wave Activity Fluxes in the Northern Hemisphere Stratosphere from 1981 to 2020
Authors: Gečaitė Indrė
Published: August 2021

Based on the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA-2) reanalysis data from 1981 to 2020, the climatological features of the vertical components of three-dimensional Eliassen–Palm (EP) wave activity fluxes (WAF) were investigated. The parameter is related to eddy heat flux and is a key indicator of the upward and downward propagation of quasi-stationary planetary-scale waves. Northern Hemisphere data from a 30 km height (or about a 10-hPa level) were used for the analysis. We evaluated the extreme values (daily maxima and minima) of the vertical WAFs, the probability of their recurrences, and their interannual and daily variability observed over the last four decades. The correlation between the upward EP WAF maxima and the 10-hPa stratosphere temperature anomalies were examined. The results show that very close relationships exist between these two parameters with a short time lag, but the initial state of the stratosphere is a key factor in determining the strength of these relationships. Moreover, trends over the last 40 years were evaluated. In this research, we did not find any significant changes in the extreme values of the vertical WAFs. Finally, the dominant spatial patterns of upward and downward extreme WAFs were evaluated. The results show that there are three main regions in the stratosphere where extremely intensive upward and downward WAFs can be observed.