bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Release and Detection of microRNA by Combining Magnetic Hyperthermia and Electrochemistry Modules on a Microfluidic Chip
Authors: Horny Marie-Charlotte , Dupuis Vincent , Siaugue Jean-Michel , Gamby Jean
Published: December 2020

The heating of a biologic solution is a crucial part in an amplification process such as the catalytic detection of a biological target. However, in many situations, heating must be limited in microfluidic devices, as high temperatures can cause the denaturation of the chip components. Local heating through magnetic hyperthermia on magnetic nano-objects has opened the doors to numerous improvements, such as for oncology where a reduced heating allows the synergy of chemotherapy and thermotherapy. Here we report on the design and implementation of a lab on chip without global heating of samples. It takes advantage of the extreme efficiency of DNA-modified superparamagnetic core–shell nanoparticles to capture complementary sequences (microRNA-target), uses magnetic hyperthermia to locally release these targets, and detects them through electrochemical techniques using ultra-sensitive channel DNA-modified ultramicroelectrodes. The combination of magnetic hyperthermia and microfluidics coupled with on-chip electrochemistry opens the way to a drastic reduction in the time devoted to the steps of extraction, amplification and nucleic acids detection. The originality comes from the design and microfabrication of the microfluidic chip suitable to its insertion in the millimetric gap of toric inductance with a ferrite core.
Erratum: Do, D.-T., et al. Hybrid Satellite-Terrestrial Relay Network: Proposed Model and Application of Power Splitting Multiple Access. Sensors 2020, 20, 4296
Authors: Do Dinh-Thuan , Le Anh-Tu , Kharel Rupak , Silva Adão , Shattal Mohammad Abu
Published: December 2020

The authors wish to make the following erratum to this paper [...]
A New Cytotoxic Dimeric Sesquiterpene Isolated from Inula racemosa Hook. f. (Root): In Vitro and In Silico Analyses
Authors: Tyagi Rama , Alam Perwez , Rehman Md. Tabish , AlAjmi Mohamed Fahad , Hussain Afzal , Amin Saima , Mujeeb Mohd. , Mir Showkat R.
Published: December 2020

A new dimeric sesquiterpene named disesquicin (compound 1) was isolated from Inula racemosa roots by normal-phase MPLC (Medium Pressure Liquid Chromatography), and its structure was established by using extensive spectral analysis. Compound 1, when tested on different human cancer cell lines, showed marked cytotoxic activity (IC50 (µg/mL): 5.99 (MDA-MB), 9.10 (HeLa), and 12.47 (A549)). Docking study revealed that it binds at the catalytic domain of PLK-1 and interacts with catalytic site residues Leu59, Gly60, Lys61, Gly62, Cys67, Ala80, Lys82, Leu130, Arg136, Ser137, Leu139, Glu140, Lys178, Gly180, Asn181, Phe183, and Asp194. The binding of compound 1 to PLK-1 is spontaneous in nature as evident by a free energy of—8.930 kcal mol−1, corresponding to a binding affinity of 3.54 × 106 M−1. Results showed that compound 1 exhibited cytotoxic potential that was further confirmed by in vivo investigations.
The Impact of Climate Change on the Sugar Content of Grapes and the Sustainability of their Production in the Czech Republic
Authors: Navrátilová Miroslava , Beranová Markéta , Severová Lucie , Šrédl Karel , Svoboda Roman , Abrhám Josef
Published: December 2020

The aim of the presented article is to evaluate the impact of climate change on the sugar content of grapes in the Czech Republic during the period 2000–2019 through selected indicators on the basis of available secondary sources. Attention is focused on the developments in both the main wine-growing regions of Moravia and Bohemia. In the field of viticulture and wine-growing, the sugar content of grapes, as a basic parameter for the classification of wines, plays an important role. In the Czech Republic, the average sugar content of grapes has had a constantly growing trend. This trend is evident both in the wine-growing region of Bohemia and in the wine-growing region of Moravia. The impact of climate change, especially the gradual increase of average temperatures in the growing season, cannot be overlooked. It greatly affects, among other things, the sugar content of grapes. Calculations according to the Huglin Index and the Winkler Index were used to determine the relationship between climate and sugar content. These indexes summarize the course of temperatures during the entire vegetation period into a single numerical value. The results show that both indexes describe the effect of air temperature on sugar content in both wine regions of the Czech Republic in a statistically significant way. The Huglin Index shows a higher correlation rate. The Winkler Index proved to be less suitable for both areas. Alternatively, the Winkler Index calculated for a shorter growing season was tested, which showed a higher degree of correlation with sugar content, approaching the significance of the Huglin Index.
Hitchhiking Experiences and Perception of Affective Label Polarity in Social Networking Sites—Potential Memetic Implications for Digital Visual Content Management
Authors: Stepaniuk Krzysztof , Sturgulewska Anna
Published: December 2020

Digital Visual Content (DVC), as sets of meanings, constitutes a pictorial representation of phenomena and may lead users of Social Networking Sites (SNS) to specific behavioral activities, i.e., connected with the expression of emotions. The goal of this research paper was to create a methodology of analysis and visualization of SNS users’ emotional responses to the hitchhiker archetype, built on the basis of a semantic decomposition of photos shared by hitchhikers in a closed group of Facebook users. Hitchhiker, as an archetype of authentic and sustainable tourism, was used as an illustrative example. ABSA (Aspect-Based Sentiment Analysis) methodology was used for a semantic decomposition of 300 randomly selected photos, applying the theoretical framework of information ecology. As a result, collections of single meanings (aspects) were distinguished and grouped into four main denotation groups: “Hitchhiker environment”, “Activities of hitchhikers”, “Season” and “Heritage”. Having created a holistic view of the archetype from aspects appearing at different frequencies, it was assumed that the archetype could be viewed as a meme. Given this memetic archetype and the emotional response associated with it, it could be considered a subject of cultural selection, conditioned by the influence of several factors, e.g., user demographics. The results allow for the development of the premises for research related to the dynamics, evolutionary analysis, and visualization of memes as well as emotional responses of visual content recipients.
Eco-Driving and Its Impacts on Fuel Efficiency: An Overview of Technologies and Data-Driven Methods
Authors: Fafoutellis Panagiotis , Mantouka Eleni G. , Vlahogianni Eleni I.
Published: December 2020

Eco-driving is a multidimensional concept that includes driving behavior, route selection and all other choices or behaviors related to the vehicles’ fuel consumption (e.g., the use of quality fuel, the use of air conditioning, driving at peak hours, etc.). The scope of this paper is to present an overview of recent literature referring to eco-driving and developed models for calculating fuel consumption, as well as the most important factors affecting it. Recent literature contains a large number of models that estimate fuel consumption, based on naturalistic driving data, which are collected using smartphones and OBDs. In this work, the existing literature is critically assessed in relation to conceptual, methodological and data related aspects. The analyses result to a set of limitations and challenges that are further discussed in the framework of system wide implementations for deriving policies that increase drivers’ awareness, but also improve system performance.
Potential Techno-Economic Feasibility of Hybrid Energy Systems for Electrifying Various Consumers in Yemen
Authors: Mubaarak Saif , Zhang Delong , Liu Jinxin , Chen Yongcong , Wang Longze , Zaki Sayed A. , Yuan Rongfang , Wu Jing , Zhang Yan , Li Meicheng
Published: December 2020

Global warming and climate change are becoming a global concern. In this regard, international agreements and initiatives have been launched to accelerate the use of renewable energy and to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Yemen is one of the countries signed on these agreements. However, Yemen is facing the problem that the structure of the power grid is fragile and the power shortage is serious. Accordingly, this paper aims to study the potential for renewable energy in Yemen and assess the technical and economic feasibility of hybrid energy systems. Firstly, this paper introduces the status and challenges of Yemen’s electricity sector, the status of renewable energy, and the status of GHG emission. Secondly, this study proposes the method of optimizing different configurations of off-grid hybrid (solar/wind/diesel engine) energy systems for electrifying various consumers in Taiz province, Yemen under three scenarios of energy strategies. The objective function is to seek the most optimal hybrid energy system that achieves the least cost and most advantageous technical performance, while instigating the best economic scenario of energy strategies. Finally, Homer pro software is used for simulation, optimization, and sensitivity analysis of the designed energy systems. The results found the best economically feasible scenario, the hybrid PV/wind/diesel energy system, among the other scenarios. A photovoltaic (PV)/wind energy system achieved the best technical performances of 100% CO2 reduction, with a 54.82% reduction in the net present cost (NPC) and cost of energy (COE); while the hybrid energy system (PV/wind/diesel engine) achieved the best economic cost of 61.95% reduction in NPC and COE, with a 97.44% reduction of CO2 emission.
Waste Valorization through Additive Manufacturing in an Industrial Symbiosis Setting
Authors: Ferreira Inês A. , Godina Radu , Carvalho Helena
Published: December 2020

Given the current environmental concerns related to manufacturing, the introduction to the industrial symbiosis concept brought purpose to waste, instead of disposing it in landfills or eliminating it through incineration. The waste generated by industrial processes, or end-of-life products, is redirected to be used as a “new” input in another process by one or more organizations, which is a mutual benefit or a “symbiosis”. Despite its relevancy, the industrial symbiosis concept is marginally explored in the context of additive manufacturing; this emerging technology has disruptive potential regarding the use of different materials as secondary raw materials. This paper presents a systematic literature review regarding industrial symbiosis and additive manufacturing. The main objective is to identify how wastes can be used as input materials to additive manufacturing processes and what exchanges of resources occur in an industrial symbiosis setting. A final sample of 32 documents was reached and analyzed. Five examples of using waste streams in additive manufacturing processes to produce goods were highlighted and explored.
Minimal Monitoring of Improvements in Energy Performance after Envelope Renovation in Subsidized Single Family Housing in Madrid
Authors: Martín-Consuegra Fernando , de Frutos Fernando , Oteiza Ignacio , Alonso Carmen , Frutos Borja
Published: December 2020

This study quantified the improvement in energy efficiency following passive renovation of the thermal envelope in highly inefficient residential complexes on the outskirts of the city of Madrid. A case study was conducted of a single-family terrace housing, representative of the smallest size subsidized dwellings built in Spain for workers in the nineteen fifties and sixties. Two units of similar characteristics, one in its original state and the other renovated, were analyzed in detail against their urban setting with an experimental method proposed hereunder for simplified, minimal monitoring. The dwellings were compared on the grounds of indoor environment quality parameters recorded over a period covering both winter and summer months. That information was supplemented with an analysis of the energy consumption metered. The result was a low-cost, reasonably accurate measure of the improvements gained in the renovated unit. The monitoring output data were entered in a theoretical energy efficiency model for the entire neighborhood to obtain an estimate of the potential for energy savings if the entire urban complex were renovated.
Challenges of the Facilities Management and Effects on Indoor Air Quality. Case Study “Smelly Buildings” in Belgrade, Serbia
Authors: Vukmirovic Milena , Salaj Alenka Temeljotov , Sostaric Andrej
Published: December 2020

One of the key objectives and challenges nowadays is to live in safe and healthy cities. Accordingly, maintaining good air quality is one of the preconditions for achieving this goal, which is not a simple task given the various negative impacts. This paper deals with a phase of the construction process that is a cause of extreme indoor air pollution in the newly built facilities of the Dr Ivan Ribar settlement in Belgrade, popularly known as “smelly buildings.” Indoor air pollution is observed from the aspect of indoor air quality (IAQ) prevention and facilities management (FM) in order to define recommendations for future prevention of these and similar situations. The research indicates the existence of specific sources of indoor pollutants, as well as the need to pay special attention to indoor air as an aspect that affects the health, comfort and well-being of individuals who permanently or temporarily use a particular space, and to point out additional costs. The paper will also consider the potential of the FM approach in preventing negative issues related to IAQ, especially in the field of public construction and social and affordable housing.
Water Quality Estimation and Population’s Attitudes: A Multi-Disciplinary Perspective of Environmental Implications in Tara National Park (Serbia)
Authors: Brankov Jovana , Pešić Ana Milanović , Joksimović Dragana Milijašević , Radovanović Milan M. , Petrović Marko D.
Published: December 2020

The paper analyzes the water quality of hydrological resources in the wider area of Tara National Park (NP Tara) in Serbia and the opinions of the local community and the national park visitors about the grade of the possible damage. The pollution level of the Drina River at the Bajina Bašta hydrological station was analyzed using the Water Pollution Index. The results showed that water quality corresponded to classes II (clean water) or III (moderately polluted water) and revealed the presence of organic pollution. In addition, using a survey combined with field research, the perceptions of local inhabitants and national park visitors related to environmental pollution were analyzed. The community believed that tourism does not cause significant damage to the environment. However, the older and more educated groups of residents and visitors had a more critical perception of the environmental impact of tourism. The results also indicated that the perceptions of visitors were mostly in agreement with measured water quality in the Drina River. The findings of this study have important implications for the management of protected areas and future policies related to national parks.
Priority of Accident Cause Based on Tower Crane Type for the Realization of Sustainable Management at Korean Construction Sites
Authors: Kim Ju Yong , Lee Don Soo , Kim Jin Dong , Kim Gwang Hee
Published: December 2020

Construction safety is a key factor among the many factors related to the sustainable management of construction sites. Although research is underway to reduce potential accidents in the construction industry in Korea, the number of tower crane (T/C) accidents is consistently increasing based on the increased use of such cranes. In this study, the priorities of accident causes for each T/C type were derived and utilized for the sustainable management of construction sites. An analytic hierarchy process (AHP) questionnaire was completed by experts such as construction engineers, construction managers, safety engineers, and T/C operators with more than ten years of field experience. The results of the AHP questionnaire revealed that the leading cause of cab-control T/C accidents is poor operator visibility, while the leading cause of accidents related to remote-control T/Cs is the poor management of lifting objects and control of surroundings. The high-ranking causes derived in this study should be managed and priority measures should be implemented to reduce the number of T/C accidents.
Adoption of Energy-Efficient Home Appliances: Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior
Authors: Bhutto Muhammad Yaseen , Liu Xiaohui , Soomro Yasir Ali , Ertz Myriam , Baeshen Yasser
Published: December 2020

This research applies an extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) to empirically investigate consumers’ intentions in Pakistan to purchase energy-efficient appliances (EEAs). Most developing countries face energy crises. As a result, many countries consider EEAs to be part of the solution to energy-related problems and teach sustainable consumption behavior to consumers. Previous studies have neglected developing countries in this context, yet developing markets have great potential for EEA adoption. To understand EEA adoption, we incorporated such variables as warm glow benefits, utilitarian environmental benefits, normative beliefs, and moral obligations as antecedents to TPB variables. The moderating effect of eco-literacy between attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control (PBC), and purchase intention toward EEAs are also examined. Data was gathered through a survey questionnaire from 673 Pakistani consumers to empirically test the proposed hypotheses. The results reveal that utilitarian environmental benefits and warm glow benefits significantly influence attitudes toward EEAs. The findings also show a positive effect of normative beliefs on subjective norms. The interaction effect of eco-literacy positively influences the relationship between attitude and purchase intention, with similar results for subjective norms and purchase intention. However, no significant moderating effect of eco-literacy is found between PBC and purchase intention. Furthermore, we performed multi-group analysis to explore significant group differences by utilizing socio-demographic variables such as gender, age, education, and income. The results show significant group differences, with females’ purchasing behavior, younger consumers, and educated consumers being more readily influenced. Finally, insights for policymakers, suggestions and future directions are discussed.
Differentiation in Healthcare Financing in EU Countries
Authors: Rokicki Tomasz , Perkowska Aleksandra , Ratajczak Marcin
Published: December 2020

The main aim of this work was to identify and present the situation and changes in the level of expenditure on healthcare in the European Union in the years 2013–2017. This involved an analysis of the available literature on healthcare financing, data from the EUROSTAT database. For this work, the comparative method was used, dynamics indicators were used, the Gini concentration coefficient was calculated, and the degree of concentration was presented using the Lorenz curve. Pearson’s linear correlation coefficients were also used. A descriptive, tabular and graphic method was used to present the test results that were obtained. A high concentration of expenditure on healthcare was found in the EU countries with the largest population and that are the most economically developed. These results also relate to these expenses on a per capita basis. The main factor differentiating the level of healthcare financing was the level of economic development. This regularity was confirmed in the statement of expenditure per capita, the relationship between this expenditure and the value of GDP and the results obtained when calculating the correlation between expenditure and economic development. In addition to the economic situation, an important factor determining the amount of expenditure on healthcare was the percentage of the country’s population that are older people.
Extraction Method and Integration Framework for Perception Features of Public Opinion in Transportation
Authors: Liu Shaojie , Teng Jing , Gong Yue
Published: December 2020

To better facilitate government management and planning based on public opinion, it is essential to propose a method for extracting public opinion perception features in consideration of an integrated framework, which aims at industry monitoring and decision-making. Based on fundamental characteristics of ordinary traffic incidents, this paper develops a perception features system of public opinion consisting of four modules, where the construction methods have been elaborated. First, mining thematic features is realized via the similarity calculation of text vector. Second, based on summarized Chinese expression patterns, time extraction rules, and a five-layer tree-like spatial feature thesaurus are established to extract spatiotemporal features. Third, the modeling of the emotional features is achieved by a dictionary-based analysis model. Fourth, the evolutional features are extracted by the Exponential Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (EGARCH). In view of the attributes of each module, an integrated framework is built to determine the collaboration relationship of feature indicators. Finally, a case study of Shenzhen public transport has been performed to illustrate the application of proposed methods. Results show that the strong odor in electric buses and a rumor that electric buses have great radiation are two main causes of the decrease in passenger satisfaction in the first quarter of 2017. In contrast, adding new bus lines, increasing service frequency, and guaranteeing the bus-lane right will improve passenger satisfaction, which is basically consistent with the official report. It should be noticed that the developed framework has been validated in the case study of passenger satisfaction analysis, while it can be extensively replicated in other fields. Furthermore, it is important for stakeholders to grasp the public perception of transportation services, in order to enhance public participation in transportation management and decision-making.
Design and Stability Analysis of a Wall-Climbing Robot Using Propulsive Force of Propeller
Authors: Liang Peng , Gao Xueshan , Zhang Qingfang , Gao Rui , Li Mingkang , Xu Yuxin , Zhu Wei
Published: December 2020

This article introduces a wall-climbing robot that uses the reverse thrust of the propeller as the adsorption force. The robot is symmetrically distributed in structure and the adsorption force is symmetrically distributed before and after so that it can adapt to the surface of a variety of different media materials and achieve stable adsorption and movement of a variety of wall surfaces. The robot mainly uses the reverse thrust of the aircraft propeller as the adsorption force to achieve wall adsorption. The robot relies on four wheels to move forward. The forward power mainly comes from the combined action of the propeller reverse thrust component and the front wheel driving force. During the movement of the robot, the steering is realized by the front wheel differential control. In this paper, we design the structure of a dual-propeller dynamic adsorption wall mobile robot, plan the movement process of the robot from the ground to the wall, analyze the stable adsorption conditions of the robot wall, and carry out the robot’s motion performance and adaptability test under different ground/wall environments to verify that the robot is stable and feasible.
Are Delay and Interval Effects the Same Anomaly in the Context of Intertemporal Choice in Finance?
Authors: Cruz Rambaud Salvador , Ortiz Fernández Piedad
Published: December 2020

Traditionally, the interval and delay effects have been identified and considered as the same anomaly in the context of intertemporal choice, when individuals or groups of individuals make their decisions about reward preferences. This has supposed that most studies on this topic have been focused on the delay effect and, consequently, that the discount functions provided by the existing literature have considered only this effect. This is the case of hyperbolic discounting, which has been used to describe the delay, but not the interval effect. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to carry out a detailed analysis of both anomalies, which will allow us to mathematically relate them, thus finding their analogies and differences. To do this, we will first analyze the concept of delay effect and later the different definitions of the interval effect. The main conclusion of this paper is twofold. On the one hand, if the benchmark for valuation is fixed, the delay effect coincides with the so-called decreasing interval effect. On the other hand, if the assessment reference point is the beginning of each interval, both anomalies are different. These findings make necessary to redefine the concept of interval effect. Finally, we will analyze the relationship between the interval effect, the delay effect and the subadditivity
Differences in Cardiac Effects of Venoms from Tentacles and the Bell of Live Carukia barnesi: Using Non-Invasive Pulse Wave Doppler
Authors: Little Mark , Pereira Peter , Seymour Jamie
Published: December 2020

Carukia barnesi was the first in an expanding list of cubozoan jellyfish whose sting was identified as causing Irukandji syndrome. Nematocysts present on both the bell and tentacles are known to produce localised stings, though their individual roles in Irukandji syndrome have remained speculative. This research examines differences through venom profiling and pulse wave Doppler in a murine model. The latter demonstrates marked measurable differences in cardiac parameters. The venom from tentacles (CBVt) resulted in cardiac decompensation and death in all mice at a mean of 40 min (95% CL: ± 11 min), whereas the venom from the bell (CBVb) did not produce any cardiac dysfunction nor death in mice at 60 min post-exposure. This difference is pronounced, and we propose that bell exposure is unlikely to be causative in severe Irukandji syndrome. To date, all previously published cubozoan venom research utilised parenterally administered venom in their animal models, with many acknowledging their questionable applicability to real-world envenomation. Our model used live cubozoans on anaesthetised mice to simulate normal envenomation mechanics and actual expressed venoms. Consequently, we provide validity to the parenteral methodology used by previous cubozoan venom research.
Chloroquine and Sulfadoxine Derivatives Inhibit ZIKV Replication in Cervical Cells
Authors: de Souza Audrien Alves Andrade , Torres Lauana Ribas , Capobianco Lyana Rodrigues Pinto Lima , de Paula Vanessa Salete , Cascabulho Cynthia Machado , Salomão Kelly , Bonecini-Almeida Maria da Gloria , Ferreira Maria de Lourdes Garcia , Boechat Nubia , Pinheiro Luiz Carlos da Silva , de Souza Elen Mello
Published: December 2020

Despite the severe morbidity caused by Zika fever, its specific treatment is still a challenge for public health. Several research groups have investigated the drug repurposing of chloroquine. However, the highly toxic side effect induced by chloroquine paves the way for the improvement of this drug for use in Zika fever clinics. Our aim is to evaluate the anti-Zika virus (ZIKV) effect of hybrid compounds derived from chloroquine and sulfadoxine antimalarial drugs. The antiviral activity of hybrid compounds (C-Sd1 to C-Sd7) was assessed in an in-vitro model of human cervical and Vero cell lines infected with a Brazilian (BR) ZIKV strain. First, we evaluated the cytotoxic effect on cultures treated with up to 200 µM of C-Sds and observed CC50 values that ranged from 112.0 ± 1.8 to >200 µM in cervical cells and 43.2 ± 0.4 to 143.0 ± 1.3 µM in Vero cells. Then, the cultures were ZIKV-infected and treated with up to 25 µM of C-Sds for 48 h. The treatment of cervical cells with C-Sds at 12 µM induced a reduction of 79.8% ± 4.2% to 90.7% ± 1.5% of ZIKV–envelope glycoprotein expression in infected cells as compared to 36.8% ± 2.9% of infection in vehicle control. The viral load was also investigated and revealed a reduction of 2- to 3-logs of ZIKV genome copies/mL in culture supernatants compared to 6.7 ± 0.7 × 108 copies/mL in vehicle control. The dose–response curve by plaque-forming reduction (PFR) in cervical cells revealed a potent dose-dependent activity of C-Sds in inhibiting ZIKV replication, with PFR above 50% and 90% at 6 and 12 µM, respectively, while 25 µM inhibited 100% of viral progeny. The treatment of Vero cells at 12 µM led to 100% PFR, confirming the C-Sds activity in another cell type. Regarding effective concentration in cervical cells, the EC50 values ranged from 3.2 ± 0.1 to 5.0 ± 0.2 µM, and the EC90 values ranged from 7.2 ± 0.1 to 11.6 ± 0.1 µM, with selectivity index above 40 for most C-Sds, showing a good therapeutic window. Here, our aim is to investigate the anti-ZIKV activity of new hybrid compounds that show highly potent efficacy as inhibitors of ZIKV in-vitro infection. However, further studies will be needed to investigate whether these new chemical structures can lead to the improvement of chloroquine antiviral activity.
Broadly Active Antiviral Compounds Disturb Zika Virus Progeny Release Rescuing Virus-Induced Toxicity in Brain Organoids
Authors: Pettke Aleksandra , Tampere Marianna , Pronk Robin , Wallner Olov , Falk Anna , Warpman Berglund Ulrika , Helleday Thomas , Mirazimi Ali , Puumalainen Marjo-Riitta
Published: December 2020

RNA viruses have gained plenty of attention during recent outbreaks of Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Zika virus (ZIKV), and Ebola virus. ZIKV is a vector borne Flavivirus that is spread by mosquitoes and it mainly infects neuronal progenitor cells. One hallmark of congenital ZIKV disease is a reduced brain size in fetuses, leading to severe neurological defects. The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging the development of new antiviral treatments against ZIKV, as there are no efficient countermeasures against ZIKV disease. Previously, we presented a new class of host-targeting antivirals active against a number of pathogenic RNA viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2. Here, we show the transfer of the image-based phenotypic antiviral assay to ZIKV-infected brain cells, followed by mechanism-of-action studies and a proof-of-concept study in a three-dimensional (3D) organoid model. The novel antiviral compounds showed a therapeutic window against ZIKV in several cell models and rescued ZIKV-induced neurotoxicity in brain organoids. The compound’s mechanism-of-action was pinpointed to late steps in the virus life cycle, impairing the formation of new virus particles. Collectively, in this study, we expand the antiviral activity of new small molecule inhibitors to a new virus class of Flaviviruses, but also uncover compounds’ mechanism of action, which are important for the further development of antivirals.
Therapy Implications of Hepatitis C Virus Genetic Diversity
Authors: Martinez Miguel Angel , Franco Sandra
Published: December 2020

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important human pathogen with a high chronicity rate. An estimated 71 million people worldwide are living with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection, which carries the risk of progression to hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Similar to other RNA viruses, HCV has a high rate of genetic variability generated by its high mutation rate and the actions of evolutionary forces over time. There are two levels of HCV genetic variability: intra-host variability, characterized by the distribution of HCV mutant genomes present in an infected individual, and inter-host variability, represented by the globally circulating viruses that give rise to different HCV genotypes and subtypes. HCV genetic diversity has important implications for virus persistence, pathogenesis, immune responses, transmission, and the development of successful vaccines and antiviral strategies. Here we will discuss how HCV genetic heterogeneity impacts viral spread and therapeutic control.
Control of Suitability of the Culture Daphnia magna Straus for Bioassays of Aquatic Environments, Taking into Account Demographic Indicators of Model Populations
Authors: Olkova Anna
Published: December 2020

The purpose of this work was to experimentally determine conditional reference demographic indicators of laboratory populations of Daphnia magna Straus (1820). These indicators can be used when determining suitability of the aquaculture for bioassays of aquatic environments. The experiments were carried out with parthenogenetic clones of D. magna, the temperature of the environment was 20 °C, the light period was 12 h. It was found that the maximum lifetime of crustaceans is observed in groups with a density of 25 individuals/dm3. In these groups, other demographic characteristics of D. magna such as the day of the first offspring (10 ± 2 days), average lifetime (79.7 ± 1.0 days), specific fertility (74.3 ± 2.4 days) and other related parameters of well-being were established. Then, it was showed that the culture of D. magna, having the necessary sensitivity to the model toxicant K2Cr2O7, can significantly differ in demographic characteristics from the conventional reference groups. Audit of the conditions of keeping this aquaculture revealed a complex reason for the unsatisfactory state of D. magna: the lack of daily aquaculture care and increased concentration of nitrate ions in the cultivation water. Therefore, regular monitoring of D.magna demographic characteristics can complement procedures of standardization of test-cultures. This will contribute to improving the accuracy of bioassay results.
Trivialidade do mal e excepcionalidade do bem nas imagens jornalísticas
Authors: Anaz Sílvio Antonio Luiz
Published: December 2020

Notícias negativas ocupam espaço significativo no jornalismo impresso, televisivo e on-line. Muitas são ilustradas por fotografias e vídeos que contribuem para reforçar a negatividade. Diferentes hipóteses nos campos da comunicação, psicologia, sociologia e antropologia buscam explicar o fenômeno da predominância das más notícias. Para contribuir nessa discussão, este artigo desenvolve a análise dos significados potenciais de trinta das mais icônicas imagens veiculadas pelo jornalismo em âmbito global, entre 2001 e 2017, a partir da perspectiva da teoria geral do imaginário e da matriz arquetipológica, desenvolvidas por Gilbert Durand. A análise desenvolvida utiliza o método mitocrítico e a classificação dos regimes de imagens. Os resultados revelam que 80% dessas imagens são associadas a notícias com conotações negativas. As más notícias são ilustradas por imagens predominantemente diurnas, isto é, que materializam uma visão de mundo pautada pela lógica do combate, cisão, purificação e hipóstase das dificuldades existenciais. Destaca-se nesse âmbito a redundância do arquétipo da oposição alto vs. baixo, presente em 80% delas, sendo o aspecto da queda – que junto com a ascensão compõem duas faces do mesmo arquétipo – o mais frequente.
O O consumo de selênio e sua relação com a manutenção da função cognitiva: uma revisão sistemática sobre humanos e animais
Authors: Stallen Lopes Nogueira Brendon , Ducatti Mariana , Horiquini-Barbosa Everton
Published: December 2020

Introdução. O indivíduo é considerado idoso a partir dos 60 anos e o processo de envelhecimento é caracterizado por alterações morfológicas, fisiológicas, bioquímicas e psicológicas que dependem do modo de vida. O envelhecimento resulta do acúmulo de danos moleculares e celulares ao longo da vida, levando a uma diminuição gradual da capacidade física e mental, e maiores chances do desenvolvimento de patologias a exemplo do declínio da função cognitiva. Estudos apontam que o consumo adequado de alimentos que contém selênio atua na inibição da produção de radicais livres, reduzindo os danos causados pelo estresse oxidativo. Objetivo. Deste modo, objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a relação entre selênio e a manutenção da função cognitiva. Método. Este estudo se trata de uma revisão sistemática da literatura, realizada nas bases eletrônicas de dados PubMed, MedLine e Lilacs, utilizando a combinação de palavras-chave específicas. Resultados. A busca resultou em 270 estudos, contudo, aplicado os critérios de inclusão e exclusão, selecionou-se oito artigos. Conclusão. Segundo os artigos selecionados, o consumo de selênio pode melhorar o sistema antioxidante e assim, apresentar efeitos positivos sobre a função cognitiva em idosos humanos. Os estudos com animais mostraram que a suplementação por selênio foi capaz de diminuir o estresse oxidativo e melhorar o aprendizado e o funcionamento da memória em testes comportamentais específicos. Conclusão. Em síntese, os estudos discutidos neste trabalho mostram uma alta relação do consumo de selênio e a melhora do desempenho cognitivo, tanto em humanos, quanto em animais.
Population trends and fluctuations in Swedish woodpeckers
Authors: Nilsson Sven G , Olsson Ola , Svensson Sören , Wiktander Ulf
Published: December 2020

This is a quantitative study of population changes in four non-migratory woodpeckers in Sweden. Data were collected during five periods from late autumn to spring and during the breeding season, mainly using point counts. Most analyses are based on the proportion of the routes (each with 20 points) with observation of the species in each year. From 1975 to 1991 there were no population trends in the Great Spotted and Black Woodpeckers, but decreases in the Green and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. The mean annual decrease was about 2% in the Green and 4% in the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. There was no trend in winter weather over this period, and only for the Black Woodpecker we found associations between mild winters and numbers recorded. The Great Spotted Woodpecker population increased in years with a high spruce seed supply. In southernmost Sweden frequency of observation was higher for the Green and, in winter, for the Black Woodpecker than further north, while the reverse was true for the Great Spotted Woodpecker. No regional difference was found for the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.
Effect of Polyetheretherketone and Indirect Composite Resin Thickness On Stress Distribution in Maxillary Premolar Teeth Restored with Endocrown: A 3D Finite Element Analysis
Authors: KÖSEOĞLU Merve , FURUNCUOĞLU Fatma
Published: December 2020

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of polyetheretherketone substructure and indirect composite resin veneering material thicknesses on stress distribution in endodontically treated maxillary premolar teeth restored with endocrowns.

Methods: A sound maxillary premolar teeth was used as control group. Polyetheretherketone substructure and indirect composite resin veneering materials were used as endocrown materials in all study groups. The occlusal thicknesses of the endocrowns were fixed at 3 mm in study groups. Thicknesses of polyetheretherketone and indirect composite resin veneering material were determined as; 1, 1.5 and 2 mm. Stress distributions of maxillary premolar teeth under 200 N vertical and oblique loads were analyzed.

Results: Von Mises stress distributions were same in study groups. Von Mises stress values in enamel and dentin were same in all study groups and they were higher than sound teeth. The lowest Von Mises in restorative material were found in a study group with 2 mm PEEK substructure and 1 mm indirect composite resin veneering material thickness.

Conclusion: Difference in polyetheretherketone and indirect composite resin veneering materials’ thickness didn’t affect von Mises stress values and distributions in enamel, dentin.
Hasta Kan Yönetimi; Neden, Nereden Ve Nasıl Başlamalıyız?
Authors: PİLAVCI ADIGÜL Merve , ERDOĞAN Eyüp , ALTINDİŞ Selma , TAŞ TUNA Ayça
Published: December 2020

Kan, dünyada en çok nakledilen organdır ve her yıl artan oranlarda eritrosit süspansiyonu(ES) nakledilmekte, buda önemi bir miktarda bir maliyete karşılık gelmektedir. Kan transfüzyonu ihtiyacı gerçekçi belirlenirse hasta sonuçlarını iyileştirir, riski en aza indirebilir ve maliyetleri düşürebiliriz. Bu anlamda, Dünya Sağlık Örgütü 2010’dan günümüze, hastanede bağımsız ve hasta merkezli, tıbbi kanıtlara ve cerrahi rehberlere dayanan ve multidisipliner bir yaklaşım ile dikkatli cerrahi hemostaz ve tüm hastaların prognozunu iyileştirmek için kan ürünlerinin rasyonel kullanımı uygulamasından oluşan, aneminin erken teşhisi ve tedavisi planlayan, ES nakli sayısını azaltma stratejisi olarak Hasta Kan Yönetimi(HKY) programını önermiştir. Neden HKY programı kullanalım sorusunun yanıtı istatistiklerde gizlidir. Transfüzyon yapılmayan hastaların hastanede kalması, transfüzyon yapılan hastalara göre ortalama %25 daha düşüktür. Çalışmalar, kalp cerrahisinde transfüzyon strateji programının uygulanmasının ölüm oranını %47 ve cerrahi sonrası hastane maliyetlerini %50 oranında azalttığını göstermektedir. Bununla birlikte, daha önemli olarak kabul edilen ve muhtemelen tüm anestezi uzmanlarının basit ve çok etkili bir şekilde hareket edebilecekleri nokta, preoperatif aneminin yönetimidir. Anemik bir hastayı anestezi öncesi konsültasyonda teşhis etmek ve onu tedavi etmek çok kolaydır. Hastanın anemik durumu 15-20 gün makul bir sürede yönetilebilir, limitler dâhilinde ameliyat geçirebilir. Aneminin preoperatif tanı ve uygun tedavisi transfüzyon insidansını azaltacaktır. Öneri olarak, anemi ameliyattan önce teşhis ve tedavi edilmelidir. Tek başına bu bile, kan transfüzyonunu azaltmak için hastaya büyük fayda sağlayacak ve anestezinin de kalitesini artıracak ilk ve büyük adımdır.
ANALISIS Z-SCORE DALAM MENGUKUR KINERJA KEUANGAN UNTUK MEMPREDIKSI KEBANGKRUTAN PERUSAHAAN MANUFAKTUR PADA MASA PANDEMI COVID-19
Authors: Setyaningrum Kristina Dewanti , Atahau Apriani Dorkas Rambu , Sakti Imanuel Madea
Published: December 2020

A manufacturing company is a business entity whose main activity is to process raw materials into finished goods, therefore they have a sale value. During the covid-19 pandemic, many manufacturing companies were threatened with bankruptcy. That is because the company’s performance has decreased. The purpose of this research is to compare how big the opportunities of PT. Astra International, PT. Mandom Indonesia, PT. Gudang Garam, and PT. Sri Rejeki Isman bankruptcy as a result of covid-19 by using the Altman z-score model. Financial distress is a situation where a company experiences liquidity difficulties or the ability to fulfill its obligations. Based on the results of PT. Astra International from 2016 to 2020 in the first quarter was potentially bankruptcy, while in the second quarter the company was based on the grey area. PT. Mandom Indonesia both in the first quarter and second quarter in healthy. PT. Gudang Garam in first quarter and second quarter in the grey area. PT. Sri Rejeki Isman in the first quarter and second quarter classified as a potentially bankrupt company.
PELUANG DAN TANTANGAN PEMERINTAH PROVINSI JAWA BARAT DALAM MENDORONG REVOLUSI INDUSTRI 4.0 DI SEKTOR INDUSTRI
Authors: Idris Syaharuddin
Published: December 2020

Penelitian ini dimaksudkan untuk menjelaskan beberapa peluang dan tantangan yang dihadapi oleh Pemerintah Provinsi Jawa Barat dalam mendorong penerapan konsep-konsep Revolusi Industri 4.0 di sektor industri di Jawa Barat. Menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan mengedepankan Analisa Lingkungan Eksternal sebagai metode penjelasannya, penelitian ini mengidentifikasi beberapa peluang dan tantangan hingga merekomendasikan beberapa pilihan kebijakan yang bisa dirujuk oleh pengambil kebijakan dalam merespon kecenderungan konsep Revolusi Industri 4.0 di Jawa Barat. Hasil penelitian menemukan peluang Pemerintah Provinsi Jawa Barat dalam mendorong penerapan konsep-konsep Revolusi Industri 4.0 di sektor industri di Jawa Barat pada aspek komitmen pemerintah terhadap pengembangan sektor industri, ketersediaan infrastruktur pendukung Industri, dan jaringan kerjasama yang dimiliki oleh pemerintah untuk pengembangan sektor industri. Sedangkan tantangan yang perlu untuk diantisipasi adalah persoalan ketenagakerjaan, lingkungan hidup, dan hambatan birokrasi. Adapun beberapa pilihan kebijakan yang direkomendasikan di antaranya adalah mendorong Riset, Pengembangan, dan Pelatihan; diversifikasi produk; dan mendorong peningkatan ekspor produk.
Phase composition of coatings on the D16 alloy during micro-arc oxdation in alkaline and silicate electrolytes
Authors: V Subbotina , V Belozerov , O Sobol’
Published: December 2020

Goal. The influence of electrolysis conditions at different electrolyte compositions on the phase formation of coatings obtained by micro-arc oxidation (MDO) on an aluminum alloy D16 was studied. Method. For electrolysis, two types of electrolytes were used: alkaline electrolyte (solution (KOH) in distilled water), silicate electrolyte (with different percentages of Na2SiO3 component). Research results. It was found that the phase composition of the MAO coatings obtained in an alkaline (KOH) electrolyte mainly consists of γ - Al2O3 phases and, to a much lesser extent, the α-Al2O3 phases. An increase in the KOH concentration leads to a shift in the γ – Al2O3 → α – Al2O3 polymorphic reaction toward the formation of the hardest α-Al2O3 phase (corundum). The formation of the preferred orientation of the growth of crystallites of γ – Al2O3 and α – Al2O3 phases during their formation in an alkaline electrolyte was not detected. Scientific novelty. A significant influence on the mechanism and processes of coating formation is made by the addition of liquid glass (Na2SiO3) in the electrolyte. In this case, the growth rate of the coating increases significantly, but the size of the ordering regions decreases from crystalline to X-ray amorphous. The phase composition of the MAO coatings, when they are formed in a silicate electrolyte, varies from a mixture of the γ - Al2O3 phase and mullite (3Al2O3 • 2SiO2) with a low content of liquid glass (10 g/l Na2SiO3) to the formation of only the X-ray amorphous phase with a high content of liquid glass in the electrolyte (50 g/l Na2SiO3).
Practical significance. It was concluded that the use of an alkaline or silicate electrolyte with different percentages allows a wide variation of both the phase composition and structural state (α- Al2O3 and γ- Al2O3 phases, mullite (3Al2O3 • 2SiO2) or X-ray amorphous state) and the kinetics of growth the coating itself.
Standardization as a Tool of Achieving Sustainable Development of Organizations of Social Services
Authors:   Baltic State Technical University «VOENMEH» named after D.F. Ustinova, Solovieva N.L. , Chudinovskikh I.V. ,   Institute of problems of regional economics of Russian academy of sciences
Published: December 2020

The article discusses the management of sustainable development of organizations using standardization as one of the tools of the quality economy. Particular attention is paid to the existing practice of Russian and international companies building strategic goals and objectives in accordance with the UN SDGs. The connection between standardization and sustainable development of the organization, in particular organizations of the social services sector, is shown.