bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quercetin and Its Nano-Scale Delivery Systems in Prostate Cancer Therapy: Paving the Way for Cancer Elimination and Reversing Chemoresistance
Authors: Hussain Yaseen , Mirzaei Sepideh , Ashrafizadeh Milad , Zarrabi Ali , Hushmandi Kiavash , Khan Haroon , Daglia Maria
Published: March 2021

Prostate cancer is the second most leading and prevalent malignancy around the world, following lung cancer. Prostate cancer is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer morbidity and mortality have grown drastically, and intensive prostate cancer care is unlikely to produce adequate outcomes. The synthetic drugs for the treatment of prostate cancer in clinical practice face several challenges. Quercetin is a natural flavonoid found in fruits and vegetables. Apart from its beneficial effects, its plays a key role as an anti-cancer agent. Quercetin has shown anticancer potential, both alone and in combination. Therefore, the current study was designed to collect information from the literature regarding its therapeutic significance in the treatment of prostate cancer. Studies performed both in vitro and in vivo have confirmed that quercetin effectively prevents prostate cancer through different underlying mechanisms. Promising findings have also been achieved in clinical trials regarding the pharmacokinetics and human applications of quercetin. In the meantime, epidemiological studies have shown a negative correlation between the consumption of quercetin and the incidence of prostate cancer, and have indicated a chemopreventive effect of quercetin on prostate cancer in animal models. The major issues associated with quercetin are its low bioavailability and rapid metabolism, and these require priority attention. Chemoresistance is another main negative feature concerning prostate cancer treatment. This review highlights the chemotherapeutic effect, chemo preventive effect, and chemoresistance elimination potential of quercetin in prostate cancer. The underlying mechanisms for elimination of prostate cancer and eradication of resistance, either alone or in combination with other agents, are also discussed. In addition, the nanoscale delivery of quercetin is underpinned along with possible directions for future study.
Response Prediction in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Immunotherapy for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Hung Hao-Chien , Lee Jin-Chiao , Wang Yu-Chao , Cheng Chih-Hsien , Wu Tsung-Han , Lee Chen-Fang , Wu Ting-Jung , Chou Hong-Shiue , Chan Kun-Ming , Lee Wei-Chen
Published: March 2021

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have been applied to treat advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and obtain promising effects. However, tumor response to treatment was unpredictable. A predicting biomarker of objective response or disease-control is an unmet need for patient selection. In this study, 45 advanced HCC patients who failed to sorafenib treatment and received nivolumab, 3 mg/kg bi-weekly, were included. Tumor responses to nivolumab treatment were assessed by the modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST) criteria. Tumor responses were correlated to clinical characteristics to find out response predictors. In this small series, the prevalence of extrahepatic nodal metastasis, distant metastasis, and portal vein thrombus among the patients were 22.2% (n = 10), 48.9% (n = 22), and 42.2% (n = 19), respectively. The pre-treatment tumor size was 7.2 ± 4.2 cm in maximal diameter, and the calculated total tumor volume was 619.0 ± 831.1 cm3. Among 45 patients, 3 patients had partial response (PR), 11 had stable disease (SD), and the other 31 had progression of disease. By correlating clinical data to the patients with PR and SD, serum neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.04) and patient-generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA) score (HR = 2.30) were the independent factors in multivariate analysis. By receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, pre-treatment NLR ≤ 2.5 and PG-SGA score < 4 were the cutoff points to predict tumor response to ICI treatment. In conclusion, biomarkers to predict tumor response for HCC are still lacking in this costly ICI therapy. In this study, NLR ≤ 2.5 and PG-SGA score < 4 indicated disease-control, and can be applied as biomarkers to select the right patients to receive this costly therapy.
Locoregional Treatment of Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Utilizing Resection, Ablation and Embolization: A Systematic Review
Authors: Timmer Florentine E. F. , Geboers Bart , Nieuwenhuizen Sanne , Schouten Evelien A. C. , Dijkstra Madelon , de Vries Jan J. J. , van den Tol M. Petrousjka , Meijerink Martijn R. , Scheffer Hester J.
Published: March 2021

The prognosis of metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) remains universally poor, requiring new and innovative treatment approaches. In a subset of oligometastatic PDAC patients, locoregional therapy, in addition to systemic chemotherapy, may improve survival. The aim of this systematic review was to explore and evaluate the current evidence on locoregional treatments for mPDAC. A systematic literature search was conducted on locoregional techniques, including resection, ablation and embolization, for mPDAC with a focus on hepatic and pulmonary metastases. A total of 59 studies were identified, including 63,453 patients. Although subject to significant bias, radical-intent local therapy for both the primary and metastatic sites was associated with a superior median overall survival from metastatic diagnosis or treatment (hepatic mPDAC 7.8–19 months; pulmonary mPDAC 22.8–47 months) compared to control groups receiving chemotherapy or best supportive care (hepatic mPDAC 4.3–7.6 months; pulmonary mPDAC 11.8 months). To recruit patients that may benefit from these local treatments, selection appears essential. Most significant is the upfront possibility of local radical pancreatic and metastatic treatment. In addition, a patient’s response to neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy, performance status, metastatic disease load and, to a lesser degree, histological differentiation grade and tumor marker CA19-9 serum levels, are powerful prognostic factors that help identify eligible subjects. Although the exact additive value of locoregional treatments for mPDAC patients cannot be distillated from the results, locoregional primary pancreatic and metastatic treatment seems beneficial for a highly selected group of oligometastatic PDAC patients. For definite recommendations, well-designed prospective randomized controlled trials with strict in- and exclusion criteria are needed to validate these results.
Risk-Adapted, Individualized Treatment Strategies of Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) and Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML)
Authors: Bewersdorf Jan Philipp , Zeidan Amer M.
Published: March 2021

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) are two distinct blood cancers with a variable clinical symptom burden and risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia. Management decisions should be guided by individual patient and disease characteristics and based on validated risk stratification tools. While supportive care with red blood cell transfusions, erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, and iron chelation remains the mainstay of therapy for lower-risk (LR)-MDS patients, luspatercept has recently been approved for transfusion-dependent anemic LR-MDS patients ending a decade without any new drug approvals for MDS. For higher-risk patients, allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (allo-HCT) remains the only curative therapy for both MDS and CMML but most patients are not eligible for allo-HCT. For those patients, the hypomethylating agents (HMA) azacitidine and decitabine remain standard of care with azacitidine being the only agent that has shown an overall survival benefit in randomized trials. Although early results from novel molecularly driven agents such as IDH1/2 inhibitors, venetoclax, magrolimab, and APR-246 for MDS as well as tagraxofusp, tipifarnib, and lenzilumab for CMML appear encouraging, confirmatory randomized trials must be completed to fully assess their safety and efficacy prior to routine clinical use. Herein, we review the current management of MDS and CMML and conclude with a critical appraisal of novel therapies and general trends in this field.
Cardiac Fibrosis: Key Role of Integrins in Cardiac Homeostasis and Remodeling
Authors: Meagher Patrick B. , Lee Xavier Alexander , Lee Joseph , Visram Aylin , Friedberg Mark K. , Connelly Kim A.
Published: March 2021

Cardiac fibrosis is a common finding that is associated with the progression of heart failure (HF) and impacts all chambers of the heart. Despite intense research, the treatment of HF has primarily focused upon strategies to prevent cardiomyocyte remodeling, and there are no targeted antifibrotic strategies available to reverse cardiac fibrosis. Cardiac fibrosis is defined as an accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins which stiffen the myocardium resulting in the deterioration cardiac function. This occurs in response to a wide range of mechanical and biochemical signals. Integrins are transmembrane cell adhesion receptors, that integrate signaling between cardiac fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes with the ECM by the communication of mechanical stress signals. Integrins play an important role in the development of pathological ECM deposition. This review will discuss the role of integrins in mechano-transduced cardiac fibrosis in response to disease throughout the myocardium. This review will also demonstrate the important role of integrins as both initiators of the fibrotic response, and modulators of fibrosis through their effect on cardiac fibroblast physiology across the various heart chambers.
The Relationship between COVID-19 and Innate Immunity in Children: A Review
Authors: Valentini Piero , Sodero Giorgio , Buonsenso Danilo
Published: March 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the virus responsible for the pandemic viral pneumonia that was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, and has since rapidly spread around the world. The number of COVID-19 cases recorded in pediatric age is around 1% of the total. The immunological mechanisms that lead to a lower susceptibility or severity of pediatric patients are not entirely clear. At the same time, the immune dysregulation found in those children who developed the multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIC-S) is not yet fully understood. The aim of this review is to analyze the possible influence of children’s innate immune systems, considering the risk of contracting the virus, spreading it, and developing symptomatic disease or complications related to infection.
Effects of Ag Nanoparticles on Zinc Oxide Photocatalytic Performance
Authors: Khiari Mouna , Gilliot Mickaël , Lejeune Michaël , Lazar Florica , Hadjadj Aomar
Published: March 2021

We used a sol–gel spin coating technique to synthesize nanocomposite thin films based on zinc oxide (ZnO) loaded with silver nanoparticles (NPs). We tested these ZnO/Ag NPs photocatalysts, with a thickness of about 100 nm, for the photodegradation of the indigo carmine dye solution. The study focused on the effects of Ag NPs on the ZnO matrix as well as the impact of their concentration on the photocatalytic performance of the nanocomposite. The study also highlighted the high stability of the photocatalytic performance of these nanocomposites. This work is a contribution in the search for non-toxic thin film photocatalysts that is usable under solar radiation for the treatment of contaminated wastewater. Innovation in the field of heterogeneous photocatalysis requires the use of solar resource with efficient results in terms of photocatalytic performance.
Interface Characteristics and Anticorrosion Performances of Cold Galvanizing Coatings Incorporated with γ-chloropropyl Triethoxysilane on Hot-Dip Galvanized Steel
Authors: Li Jiwen , Wang Qiumeng , Gao Ningjie , Nwokolo Izuchukwu Kenneth , Zhang Wanyu , Ma Lin , Liu Fuchun , Han En-Hou
Published: March 2021

The cold galvanizing coatings (CGCs) are used to repair old hot-dip galvanized steel (HDG) in numerous anticorrosion engineering, but poor adhesion of the CGC restricts its large-scale applications in the industries. For the purpose of overcoming the weak adhesion problems of the CGC on HDG, γ-chloropropyl triethoxysilane (CPTES) was added directly into cold galvanizing coatings (CPTES/CGC). Interface characteristics and related corrosion protection behaviors were investigated by the pull-off adhesion test, water contact angle measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and electrochemical tests. The experimental results revealed that, there is an increase by 19.1% of the CPTES/CGC surface free energy when compared with that of CGC. In addition, Si–O–Si and Si–O–Zn bonds were found in the CPTES/CGC, which indicate new network structures formed inside the CPTES/CGC, between the interface of the CPTES/CGC and HDG substrate, resulting in dry adhesion, wet adhesion, and the cathodic protection time of CPTES/CGC increased by 50% and 200% and 300% respectively compared with the CGC.
Controlling the Surface Roughness of Surface-Electrode Ion Trap Based on Micro-Nano Fabrication
Authors: Hou Yizhu , Zhang Xinfang , Wu Wei , Zhang Ting , Chen Pingxing , Deng Zhijiao
Published: March 2021

The surface-electrode ion trap is one of the most promising devices to realize large-scale and integrated quantum information processing. However, a series of problems are faced in the micro-nano fabrication of surface-electrode ion traps. A prominent one is the difficulty to control the thick film surface roughness. A rough electrode surface could produce excessive radio frequency (RF) loss and deteriorate trapping ability of the surface-electrode ion trap. In this paper, a thick film micro-nano fabrication technology to control the surface roughness is presented, which can reduce the roughness of thick film surface-electrode down to 6.2 nm, while being controllable between 6.2 nm and 45 nm. Therefore, it can also provide a basis for studying the influence of electrode surface roughness on trap performance. The micro-nano fabrication technology is not only suitable for surface-electrode ion traps with various configurations, but also be further applied to researches of MEMS, solar cells and surface science.
A Revised and Improved Version of the Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) Transcriptome
Authors: Frias-Soler Roberto Carlos , Villarín Pildaín Lilian , Wink Michael , Bairlein Franz
Published: March 2021

This work presents an updated and more complete version of the transcriptome of a long-distance migrant, the Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe). The improved transcriptome was produced from the independent mRNA sequencing of adipose tissue, brain, intestines, liver, skin, and muscle tissues sampled during the autumnal migratory season. This new transcriptome has better sequencing coverage and is more representative of the species’ migratory phenotype. We assembled 20,248 transcripts grouped into 16,430 genes, from which 78% were successfully annotated. All the standard assembly quality parameters were improved in the second transcriptome version.
ARG1 mRNA Level Is a Promising Prognostic Marker in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas
Authors: Pokrývková Barbora , Šmahelová Jana , Dalewská Natálie , Grega Marek , Vencálek Ondřej , Šmahel Michal , Nunvář Jaroslav , Klozar Jan , Tachezy Ruth
Published: March 2021

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) can be induced by smoking or alcohol consumption, but a growing part of cases relate to a persistent high-risk papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Viral etiology has a beneficial impact on the prognosis, which may be explained by a specific immune response. Tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) represent the main immune population of the tumor microenvironment with a controversial influence on the prognosis. In this study, the level, phenotype, and spatial distribution of TAMs were evaluated, and the expression of TAM-associated markers was compared in HPV positive (HPV+) and HPV negative (HPV−) tumors. Seventy-three formalin and embedded in paraffin (FFPE) tumor specimens were examined using multispectral immunohistochemistry for the detection of TAM subpopulations in the tumor parenchyma and stroma. Moreover, the mRNA expression of TAM markers was evaluated using RT-qPCR. Results were compared with respect to tumor etiology, and the prognostic significance was evaluated. In HPV− tumors, we observed more pro-tumorigenic M2 in the stroma and a non-macrophage arginase 1 (ARG1)-expressing population in both compartments. Moreover, higher mRNA expression of M2 markers—cluster of differentiation 163 (CD163), ARG1, and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2)—was detected in HPV− patients, and of M1 marker nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) in HPV+ group. The expression of ARG1 mRNA was revealed as a negative prognostic factor for overall survival of HNSCC patients.
Shear Wave Elastography and Shear Wave Dispersion Imaging in the Assessment of Liver Disease in Alpha1-Antitrypsin Deficiency
Authors: Schulz Marten , Kleinjans Moritz , Strnad Pavel , Demir Münevver , Holtmann Theresa M. , Tacke Frank , Wree Alexander
Published: March 2021

Liver affection of Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A noninvasive severity assessment of liver disease in AATD is urgently needed since laboratory parameters may not accurately reflect the extent of liver involvement. Preliminary data exist on two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) being a suitable method for liver fibrosis measurement in AATD. AATD patients without HCC were examined using 2D-SWE, shear wave dispersion imaging (SWD) and transient elastography (TE). Furthermore, liver steatosis was assessed using the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and compared to the new method of attenuation imaging (ATI). 29 AATD patients were enrolled, of which 18 had the PiZZ genotype, eight had PiMZ, two had PiSZ and one had a PiZP-Lowell genotype. 2D-SWE (median 1.42 m/S, range 1.14–1.83 m/S) and TE (median 4.8 kPa, range 2.8–24.6 kPa) values displayed a significant correlation (R = 0.475, p < 0.05). 2D-SWE, ATI (median 0.56 dB/cm/MHz, range 0.43–0.96 dB/cm/MHz) and CAP (median 249.5 dB/m, range 156–347 dB/m) values were higher in PiZZ when compared to other AATD genotypes. This study provides evidence that 2D-SWE is a suitable method for the assessment of liver disease in AATD. The newer methods of SWD and ATI require further evaluation in the context of AATD.
A Transfer Learning Approach on the Optimization of Edge Detectors for Medical Images Using Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Dumitru Delia , Dioșan Laura , Andreica Anca , Bálint Zoltán
Published: March 2021

Edge detection is a fundamental image analysis task, as it provides insight on the content of an image. There are weaknesses in some of the edge detectors developed until now, such as disconnected edges, the impossibility to detect branching edges, or the need for a ground truth that is not always accessible. Therefore, a specialized detector that is optimized for the image particularities can help improve edge detection performance. In this paper, we apply transfer learning to optimize cellular automata (CA) rules for edge detection using particle swarm optimization (PSO). Cellular automata provide fast computation, while rule optimization provides adaptability to the properties of the target images. We use transfer learning from synthetic to medical images because expert-annotated medical data is typically difficult to obtain. We show that our method is tunable for medical images with different properties, and we show that, for more difficult edge detection tasks, batch optimization can be used to boost the quality of the edges. Our method is suitable for the identification of structures, such as cardiac cavities on medical images, and could be used as a component of an automatic radiology decision support tool.
Modeling and Performance Optimization of an Irreversible Two-Stage Combined Thermal Brownian Heat Engine
Authors: Qi Congzheng , Ding Zemin , Chen Lingen , Ge Yanlin , Feng Huijun
Published: March 2021

Based on finite time thermodynamics, an irreversible combined thermal Brownian heat engine model is established in this paper. The model consists of two thermal Brownian heat engines which are operating in tandem with thermal contact with three heat reservoirs. The rates of heat transfer are finite between the heat engine and the reservoir. Considering the heat leakage and the losses caused by kinetic energy change of particles, the formulas of steady current, power output and efficiency are derived. The power output and efficiency of combined heat engine are smaller than that of single heat engine operating between reservoirs with same temperatures. When the potential filed is free from external load, the effects of asymmetry of the potential, barrier height and heat leakage on the performance of the combined heat engine are analyzed. When the potential field is free from external load, the effects of basic design parameters on the performance of the combined heat engine are analyzed. The optimal power and efficiency are obtained by optimizing the barrier heights of two heat engines. The optimal working regions are obtained. There is optimal temperature ratio which maximize the overall power output or efficiency. When the potential filed is subjected to external load, effect of external load is analyzed. The steady current decreases versus external load; the power output and efficiency are monotonically increasing versus external load.
Mixture-Based Probabilistic Graphical Models for the Label Ranking Problem
Authors: Rodrigo Enrique G. , Alfaro Juan C. , Aledo Juan A. , Gámez José A.
Published: March 2021

The goal of the Label Ranking (LR) problem is to learn preference models that predict the preferred ranking of class labels for a given unlabeled instance. Different well-known machine learning algorithms have been adapted to deal with the LR problem. In particular, fine-tuned instance-based algorithms (e.g., k-nearest neighbors) and model-based algorithms (e.g., decision trees) have performed remarkably well in tackling the LR problem. Probabilistic Graphical Models (PGMs, e.g., Bayesian networks) have not been considered to deal with this problem because of the difficulty of modeling permutations in that framework. In this paper, we propose a Hidden Naive Bayes classifier (HNB) to cope with the LR problem. By introducing a hidden variable, we can design a hybrid Bayesian network in which several types of distributions can be combined: multinomial for discrete variables, Gaussian for numerical variables, and Mallows for permutations. We consider two kinds of probabilistic models: one based on a Naive Bayes graphical structure (where only univariate probability distributions are estimated for each state of the hidden variable) and another where we allow interactions among the predictive attributes (using a multivariate Gaussian distribution for the parameter estimation). The experimental evaluation shows that our proposals are competitive with the start-of-the-art algorithms in both accuracy and in CPU time requirements.
A Review of Data-Driven Decision-Making Methods for Industry 4.0 Maintenance Applications
Authors: Bousdekis Alexandros , Lepenioti Katerina , Apostolou Dimitris , Mentzas Gregoris
Published: March 2021

Decision-making for manufacturing and maintenance operations is benefiting from the advanced sensor infrastructure of Industry 4.0, enabling the use of algorithms that analyze data, predict emerging situations, and recommend mitigating actions. The current paper reviews the literature on data-driven decision-making in maintenance and outlines directions for future research towards data-driven decision-making for Industry 4.0 maintenance applications. The main research directions include the coupling of decision-making with augmented reality for seamless interfacing that combines the real and virtual worlds of manufacturing operators; methods and techniques for addressing uncertainty of data, in lieu of emerging Internet of Things (IoT) devices; integration of maintenance decision-making with other operations such as scheduling and planning; utilization of the cloud continuum for optimal deployment of decision-making services; capability of decision-making methods to cope with big data; incorporation of advanced security mechanisms; and coupling decision-making with simulation software, autonomous robots, and other additive manufacturing initiatives.
Humidity in Power Converters of Wind Turbines—Field Conditions and Their Relation with Failures
Authors: Fischer Katharina , Steffes Michael , Pelka Karoline , Tegtmeier Bernd , Dörenkämper Martin
Published: March 2021

Power converters in wind turbines exhibit frequent failures, the causes of which have remained unexplained for years. Field-experience based research has revealed that power- and thermal-cycling induced fatigue effects in power electronics do not contribute significantly to the field failures observed. Instead, clear seasonal failure patterns point to environmental influences, in particular to humidity, as a critical stressor and likely driver of converter failure. In addition to the electrical operating conditions, it is therefore important to also identify and characterize the climatic conditions that power converters in wind turbines are exposed to, both as a contribution to root-cause analysis and as a basis for the derivation of suitable test procedures for reliability qualification of components and systems. This paper summarizes the results of field-measurement campaigns in 31 wind turbines of seven different manufacturers spread over three continents. The temperature and humidity conditions inside the converter cabinets are characterized and related to the environmental conditions of the turbines and to their operation. The cabinet-internal climate is found to be subject to pronounced seasonal variations. In addition to the site-specific ambient climatic conditions and the operation of the turbines, the converter cooling concept is identified to significantly influence the climatic conditions inside the power cabinets.
Integration of Photovoltaic Electricity with Shallow Geothermal Systems for Residential Microgrids: Proof of Concept and Techno-Economic Analysis with RES2GEO Model
Authors: Perković Luka , Leko Domagoj , Brettschneider Amalia Lekić , Mikulčić Hrvoje , Varbanov Petar S.
Published: March 2021

The European Union aims to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 55% before 2030 compared to 1990 as a reference year. One of the main contributions to GHG emissions comes from the household sector. This paper shows that the household sector, when organised into a form of prosumer microgrids, including renewable sources for electric, heating and cooling energy supply, can be efficiently decarbonised. This paper investigates one hypothetical prosumer microgrid with the model RES2GEO (Renewable Energy Sources to Geothermal). The aim is to integrate a carbon-free photovoltaic electricity source and a shallow geothermal reservoir as a heat source and heat sink during the heating and cooling season. A total of four cases have been evaluated for the Zagreb City location. The results represent a balance of both thermal and electric energy flows within the microgrid, as well as thermal recuperation of the reservoir. The levelised cost of energy for all cases, based on a 20-year modelling horizon, varies between 41 and 63 EUR/MWh. On the other hand, all cases show a decrease in CO2 emissions by more than 75%, with the best case featuring a reduction of more than 85% compared to the base case, where electricity and gas for heating are supplied from the Distribution System Operator at retail prices. With the use of close integration of electricity, heating and cooling demand and supply of energy, cost-effective decarbonisation can be achieved for the household sector.
Environmental Corporate Social Responsibility Activities in Heating Industry—Case Study
Authors: Wolniak Radosław , Wyszomirski Adam , Olkiewicz Marcin , Olkiewicz Anna
Published: March 2021

The paper focuses on problems connected with Environmental Corporate Social responsibility in the energy industry. The objective behind this article is to analyse pro-environment activities within Environmental Corporate Social Responsibility (ECSR) that heating operators carry out, using the example of a Poland-based company called Miejska Energetyka Cieplna Spółka z o.o. with headquarters in Koszalin. In particular, this study focuses on pro-environment activities that the company has been involved in from 2017–2020. The data and information found in this study demonstrate that the company systematically devoted its financial resources to pro-environment efforts in terms of both ISO 14001 maintenance as well as educational/promotional activities. According to the findings, the company has been highly committed to Environmental Corporate social Responsibility issues. The implementation of its strategy in this field can lead to ecological innovation and help establish an effective business model that will be founded on ecological assumptions.
Grid-Connected PV Systems Controlled by Sliding via Wireless Communication
Authors: Cano Juan M. , Martin Aranzazu D. , Herrera Reyes S. , Vazquez Jesus R. , Ruiz-Rodriguez Francisco Javier
Published: March 2021

Grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems are designed to provide energy to the grid. This energy transfer must fulfil some requirements such as system stability, power quality and reliability. Thus, the aim of this work is to design and control a grid-connected PV system via wireless to guarantee the correct operation of the system. It is crucial to monitor and supervise the system to control and/or detect faults in real time and in a remote way. To do that, the DC/DC converter and the DC/AC converter of the grid-connected PV system are controlled wirelessly, reducing costs in cabling installations. The used control methods are the sliding for the DC/DC converter and the Proportional-Integral (PI) for the inverter. The sliding control is robust, ensures system stability under perturbations, and is proven to work well via wireless. The PI control is simple and effective, proving its validity through wireless too. In addition, the effect of the communications is analysed in both controllers. An experimental platform has been built to conduct the experiments to verify the operation of the grid-connected PV system remotely. The results show that the system operates well, achieving the desired values for the maximum power point tracker (MPPT) sliding control and the energy transfer from the inverter to the grid.
Bioactive Compounds and Evaluation of Antioxidant, Cytotoxic and Cytoprotective Effects of Murici Pulp Extracts (Byrsonima crassifolia) Obtained by Supercritical Extraction in HepG2 Cells Treated with H2O2
Authors: Pires Flávia Cristina Seabra , Oliveira Joicy Corrêa de , Menezes Eduardo Gama Ortiz , Silva Ana Paula de Souza e , Ferreira Maria Caroline Rodrigues , Siqueira Leticia Maria Martins , Almada-Vilhena Andryo Orfi , Pieczarka Julio Cesar , Nagamachi Cleusa Yoshiko , Carvalho Junior Raul Nunes de
Published: March 2021

The use of clean technologies in the development of bioactive plant extracts has been encouraged, but it is necessary to verify the cytotoxicity and cytoprotection for food and pharmaceutical applications. Therefore, the objective of this work was to obtain the experimental data of the supercritical sequential extraction of murici pulp, to determine the main bioactive compounds obtained and to evaluate the possible cytotoxicity and cytoprotection of the extracts in models of HepG2 cells treated with H2O2. The murici pulp was subjected to sequential extraction with supercritical CO2 and CO2+ethanol, at 343.15 K, and 22, 32, and 49 MPa. Higher extraction yields were obtained at 49 MPa. The oil presented lutein (224.77 µg/g), oleic, palmitic, and linoleic, as the main fatty acids, and POLi (17.63%), POO (15.84%), PPO (13.63%), and LiOO (10.26%), as the main triglycerides. The ethanolic extract presented lutein (242.16 µg/g), phenolic compounds (20.63 mg GAE/g), and flavonoids (0.65 mg QE/g). The ethanolic extract showed greater antioxidant activity (122.61 and 17.14 µmol TE/g) than oil (43.48 and 6.04 µmol TE/g). Both extracts did not show cytotoxicity and only murici oil showed a cytoprotective effect. Despite this, the results qualify both extracts for food/pharmaceutical applications.
Modelling the Extraction of Pectin towards the Valorisation of Watermelon Rind Waste
Authors: Méndez Daniel Alexander , Fabra María José , Gómez-Mascaraque Laura , López-Rubio Amparo , Martinez-Abad Antonio
Published: March 2021

Watermelon is the second largest fruit crop worldwide, with great potential to valorise its rind waste. An experimental design was used to model how extraction parameters (temperature, pH, and time) impact on the efficiency of the process, purity, esterification degree, monosaccharide composition and molar mass of watermelon rind pectin (WRP), with an insight on changes in their structural properties (linearity, branching degree and extraction severity). The models for all responses were accurately fitted (R2 > 90%, lack of fit p ≥ 0.05) and experimentally validated. At optimum yield conditions, WRP yield (13.4%), purity (540 µg/g galacturonic acid) and molar mass (106.1 kDa) were comparable to traditional pectin sources but showed a higher branching degree with longer galactan side chains and a higher protein interaction. Harsher conditions (pH 1) generated purer homogalacturonan fractions with average molar masses (80 kDa) at the expense of yield, while mild extraction conditions (pH ≥ 2) produced highly branched entangled pectin structures. This study underlines novel compositional features in WRP and the possibility of producing novel customized pectin ingredients with a wider potential application scope depending on the targeted structure.
Hesperidin and Naringin Improve Broiler Meat Fatty Acid Profile and Modulate the Expression of Genes Involved in Fatty Acid β-oxidation and Antioxidant Defense in a Dose Dependent Manner
Authors: Hager-Theodorides Ariadne L. , Massouras Theofilos , Simitzis Panagiotis E. , Moschou Katerina , Zoidis Evangelos , Sfakianaki Eleni , Politi Katerina , Charismiadou Maria , Goliomytis Michael , Deligeorgis Stelios
Published: March 2021

The beneficial properties of the flavanones hesperidin and naringin as feed additives in poultry have lately been under investigation. In broilers, both flavanones have been shown to exhibit antioxidant properties while their individual effects on fatty acid (FA) composition and the underlying molecular mechanisms of their activity have not been explored. Here, we studied their effects on broiler meats’ FA profiles and on the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism, antioxidant defense and anti-inflammatory function. The experimental design comprised six treatment groups of broilers, each supplemented from day 11 until slaughter at 42 days with hesperidin, naringin or vitamin E, as follows: the E1 group received 0.75 g of hesperidin per kg of feed, E2 received 1.5 g hesperidin/kg feed, N1 received 0.75 g naringin/kg feed, N2 received 1.5 g naringin/kg feed, vitamin E (VE) received 0.2 g a-tocopheryl acetate/kg feed, and the control group was not provided with a supplemented feed. The VE treatment group served as a positive control for antioxidant activity. An analysis of the FA profiles of the abdominal adipose tissue (fat pad), major pectoralis (breast) and biceps femoris (thigh) muscles showed that both hesperidin and naringin had significant effects on saturated FA (SFA), polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) and omega n-6 content. Both compounds reduced SFA and increased PUFA and n-6 content, as well as reducing the atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices in the breast muscle and fat pad. The effects on the thigh muscle were limited. An analysis of gene expression in the liver revealed that naringin significantly increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), Acyl-CoA oxidase 1 (ACOX1) and glutathione disulfide reductase (GSR) expression. In the breast muscle, both hesperidin and naringin increased fatty acid synthase (FASN) expression and hesperidin increased the expression of adiponectin. In brief, both hesperidin and naringin supplementation beneficially affected FA profiles in the breast meat and fat pad of broiler chicken. These effects could be attributed to an increase in FA β-oxidation since the increased expression of related genes (PPARα and ACOX1) was observed in the liver. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of hesperidin and naringin previously observed in the meat of broilers could be attributed, at least partly, to the regulation of antioxidant defense genes, as evidenced by the increased GSR expression in response to naringin supplementation.
“Die Grenzen des Sagbaren”: H. G. Adler (on) Writing Literature after the Holocaust
Authors: O’Brien Traci S.
Published: March 2021

Taking the next step in our understanding of the testimony of Holocaust literature involves taking a step back to recuperate a theoretical approach that does not cede all human attempts at knowledge to skepticism. At odds with Theodor Adorno about the possibility of writing poetry after Auschwitz, Adler, a survivor of Theresienstadt and Auschwitz, transformed his experiences into fiction. In his novel, Eine Reise, published in 1962, and in his 1965 essay on “Die Grenzen des Sagbaren,” or the limits of the sayable, Adler addresses these dilemmas. While Adorno collapses traditions of value into barbarity, Adler struggles to maintain, describe and explain the possibility of human resistance to evil. I examine Adler’s nuanced use of language in these two works and show that the rage and epistemological uncertainty that dominate the post-Holocaust world do not necessarily lead to the destruction of all traditional forms of meaning.
Nominal Groups to Develop a Mobile Application on Healthy Habits
Authors: Palacios-Gálvez Mª Soledad , Andrés-Villas Montserrat , Vélez-Toral Mercedes , Merino-Godoy Ángeles
Published: March 2021

The new pandemic-lockdown situation has caused empowerment of new technologies; mobile phones and computers have gained further importance. Homes have become the new educators of health since health education has decreased or stopped during the pandemic. The lack of knowledge in the child and adolescent population about how to incorporate healthy habits in their daily lives, along with the rise of health devices and the introduction of healthcare in the syllabus, has led to the realization of the present study. The aim of this study was to identify the relevant health topics in a sample of adolescents for the later development of a mobile application (Healthy Jeart) that promotes the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits in adolescence. The information was gathered through the technique of nominal groups. The sample was recruited by nonprobability purposive sampling, with a total of 92 students from 4 educational centers of the province of Huelva (Spain). According to the obtained results, the most relevant categories were physical wellbeing (40.81%), psychological wellbeing (22.13%), interpersonal relationships and social skills (21.58%), toxic substances and addictions (10.35%) and sex habits (1.83%). This technique allowed identifying and selecting the most relevant content areas of the “Healthy Jeart” application.
Abbreviated MRI Protocol for the Assessment of Ablated Area in HCC Patients
Authors: Granata Vincenza , Grassi Roberta , Fusco Roberta , Setola Sergio Venanzio , Belli Andrea , Piccirillo Mauro , Pradella Silvia , Giordano Marzia , Cappabianca Salvatore , Brunese Luca , Grassi Roberto , Petrillo Antonella , Izzo Francesco
Published: March 2021

Background: Liver Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (LI-RADS) Treatment Response Algorithm (TRA) was created to provide a standardized assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following loco regional therapy. The aim of this study was to compare sensitivity of standard MRI protocol versus abbreviated protocol (only T1-Weigthed fat suppressed (FS) sequences pre- and post-contrast phase) in the detection of ablated area according to LI-RADS Treatment Response (LR-TR) categories. Methods: From January 2015 to June 2020, we selected 64 patients with HCC, who underwent Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or Microwave ablation (MWA) treatment. According to inclusion criteria, 136 pathologically proven treated HCC (median 2, range 1–3 per patient; mean size 20.0 mm; range 15–30 mm) in 58 patients (26 women, 32 men; median age, 74 years; range, 62–83 years) comprised our study population. For each ablated area, abbreviated protocol, and standard Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies were independently and blindly assessed in random order within and between three expert radiologists. Each radiologist assessed the ablated area by using the following categories: “LR-TR Non-viable” = 1; “LR-TR Equivocal” = 2 and “LR-TR Viable” = 0. Results: According to the concordance between MRI and Contrast enhancement ultrasound (CEUS) among 136 treated HCCs, 115 lesions were assessed as non-viable or totally ablate and 21 as viable or partially ablate. The accuracy for standard MRI protocol and abbreviated MRI protocol for predicting pathologic tumor viability of a consensus reading was 98.6% (sensitivity = 100%; specificity = 98.3%; positive predictive value = 91.3% and negative predictive value = 100%). No differences were found in sensitivity or specificity between standard MRI LR-TR viable and abbreviated MRI LR-TR viable categories (p value > 0.05 at McNemar test). Conclusion: The abbreviated dynamic protocol showed similar diagnostic accuracy to conventional MRI study in the assessment of treated HCCs, with a reduction of the acquisition study time of 30% respect to conventional MRI.
Are Historical Buildings More Adaptive to Minimize the Risks of Airborne Transmission of Viruses and Public Health? A Study of the Hazzazi House in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia)
Authors: Alaidroos Alaa , Almaimani Ayad , Baik Ahmed , Al-Amodi Mohamed , Rahaman Khan Rubayet
Published: March 2021

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has brought immense challenges to the natural and built environment to develop an antivirus-enabled model for reducing potential risks of spreading the virus at varied scales such as buildings, neighborhoods, and cities. Spatial configurations of structures may hinder or assist the spread of viruses in the built environment. In this study, we have hypothesized that suitable air ventilation in historic buildings may enhance the built environment to combat the spreading of infectious viruses. To provide such quantitative shreds of evidence, we have generated and estimated an integrated model to summarize obtained information by considering natural ventilation, wind speed, inflow and outflow, wind direction, and forecasting the associated risks of airborne disease transmission in a historical building (i.e., the Hazzazi House in particular). Intrinsically, the results have demonstrated that the effectiveness of natural ventilation has directly influenced reducing the risks of transmitting airborne infectious viruses for the selected heritage building in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia). The adopted methods in this research may be useful to understand the potentials of conserving old heritage buildings. Consequently, the results demonstrate that natural air ventilation systems are critical to combat the spread of infectious diseases in the pandemic.
Comparison of the Morphological Characteristics of South African Sub-Elite Female Football Players According to Playing Position
Authors: Strauss Anita , Sparks Martinique , Pienaar Cindy
Published: March 2021

Limited information is available on the morphological characteristics of adult female footballers, therefore the aim of this article was to examine if there are position-specific differences in the morphological characteristics of sub-elite female football players and to establish normative standards for this level of female football players. The morphological features of 101 sub-elite female football players (age: 21.8 ± 2.7 years) were assessed. Twenty anthropometric sites were measured for body composition and somatotype. The average value of body fat percentage was 20.8 ± 5.7%. The somatotype of the overall group was 4.0–2.4–2.1. Significant (p ≤ 0.05) differences were found between goalkeepers and outfield players in morphological characteristics. Goalkeepers were taller (166.2 ± 8.4 cm), heavier (66.5 ± 5.1 kg), possessed the highest body fat percentage (17.2 ± 6.2%) and showed higher values for all skinfold (sum of 6 skinfolds = 125.6 ± 45.9 cm), breadth, girth and length measurements. However, there were very few practically worthwhile differences between the outfield positions. Positional groups did not differ (p ≤ 0.05) in somatotype characteristics either. The study suggests that at sub-elite level there are mainly differences between goalkeepers and outfield players, but outfield players are homogeneous when comparing morphological characteristics. These results may serve as normative values for future comparisons regarding the morphological characteristics of female football players.
The Sequential Mediating Effects of Dietary Behavior and Perceived Stress on the Relationship between Subjective Socioeconomic Status and Multicultural Adolescent Health
Authors: Kim Youlim , Lee Hyeonkyeong , Lee Mikyung , Lee Hyeyeon , Kim Sookyung , Konlan Kennedy Diema
Published: March 2021

Studies have examined the impact of social determinants of health on the health behaviors and health statuses of ethnic minority adolescents. This study examines the subjective health of this population by examining the direct effects of multicultural adolescents’ subjective socioeconomic status (SES) and the sequential mediating effects of their dietary behaviors and perceived stress. We utilized secondary data of 500 middle school students from multicultural families who participated in the 15th Korean Youth Health Behavior Survey, 2019. Information about SES, perceived stress, subjective health status, and dietary behavior (measured by the breakfast intake frequency during the prior week) were utilized. For the relationship between the SES and the subjective health status, we confirmed the sequential mediating effects of breakfast frequency and perceived stress using SPSS 25.0 and PROCESS macro with bootstrapping. The results showed that SES had a direct effect on subjective health status and indirectly influenced subjective health status through the sequential mediating effect of breakfast frequency and perceived stress. However, SES had no direct effects on perceived stress. These findings emphasize that broadening the community-health lens to consider the upstream factor of SES when preparing health promotion interventions is essential to achieving health equity for vulnerable populations.
The Psychological Responses of Nurses Caring for COVID-19 Patients: A Q Methodological Approach
Authors: Cho Kyung Hyeon , Kim Boyoung
Published: March 2021

Anxiety among nurses attending patients at the forefront of the global coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic is on the rise. Accordingly, examining the psychological response of nurses who have attended COVID-19 patients is necessary. This study aimed to categorize and characterize the psychological responses of nurses who have experienced COVID-19 patient care based on the Q methodology. The Q-sample extracted 34 statements, and the P-sample marked 22 nurses who had operated a screening clinic and experienced patient care in the local base hospitals treating COVID-19 using convenience sampling. The findings suggest that nurses who have experienced COVID-19 patient care fall into three categories based on the following psychological responses: (1) fear of social stigma, (2) anxiety about the risk of infection, and (3) burden of infection prevention and control nursing. Therefore, it is expected that the results of this study may serve as the basis for emotional support programs that are capable of understanding and mediating the psychological state of nurses who care for patients with COVID-19.