bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comment on “Hurdle Clearance Detection and Spatiotemporal Analysis in 400 Meters Hurdles Races Using Shoe-Mounted Magnetic and Inertial Sensor”
Authors: Schmidt Marcus , Alt Tobias , Nolte Kevin , Jaitner Thomas
Published: May 2020

The recent paper “Hurdle Clearance Detection and Spatiotemporal Analysis in 400 Meters Hurdles Races Using Shoe-Mounted Magnetic and Inertial Sensor” (Sensors 2020, 20, 354) proposes a wearable system based on a foot-worn miniature inertial measurement unit (MIMU) and different methods to detect hurdle clearance and to identify the leading leg during 400-m hurdle races. Furthermore, the presented system identifies changes in contact time, flight time, running speed, and step frequency throughout the race. In this comment, we discuss the original paper with a focus on the ecological validity and the applicability of MIMU systems for field-based settings, such as training or competition for elite athletes.
Evaluation of Topical Anti-Inflammatory Effects of a Gel Formulation with Plantago Lanceolata, Achillea Millefolium, Aesculus Hippocastanum and Taxodium Distichum
Authors: Zanfirescu Anca , Nitulescu Georgiana , Stancov Gheorghe , Radulescu Denise , Trif Cosmin , Nitulescu George Mihai , Negres Simona , Olaru Octavian Tudorel
Published: May 2020

Medicinal plants hold a significant place as alternative treatments available for inflammatory diseases, with many phytoconstituents being frequently tested in vitro for their biological activities. In the current study, we investigated the in vivo anti-inflammatory properties of a novel active gel formulation, combining Achillea millefolium and Taxodium distichum essential oils with extracts of Aesculus hippocastanum seeds and Plantago lanceolata leaves. The toxicity of the obtained extracts and volatile oils was determined using the invertebrate model based on Daphnia magna. Anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated by the plethysmometric method on Wistar rats, expressed as the inhibition of the inflammatory oedema (%IIO), while the antinociceptive response was determined on NMRI mice, according to the tail-flick latency method. The tested gel’s efficacy was similar to the 5% diclofenac standard (maximal %IIO of 42.01% vs. 48.70%, respectively), with the anti-inflammatory effect being observed sooner than for diclofenac. Our active gel also produced a significant prolongation of tail-flick latencies at both 60 and 120 min, comparable to diclofenac. Consequently, we can imply that the active constituents present in vivo anti-inflammatory properties, and the prepared gel may be suited for use as an alternative treatment of topical inflammatory conditions.
The Reliability of Neuromuscular and Perceptual Measures Used to Profile Recovery, and the Time-Course of Such Responses Following Academy Rugby League Match-Play
Authors: Aben Hendrickus G. J. , Hills Samuel P. , Higgins Darren , Cooke Carlton B. , Davis Danielle , Jones Ben , Russell Mark
Published: May 2020

In professional academy rugby league (RL) players, this two-part study examined; (A) the within- and between-day reliability of isometric mid-thigh pulls (IMTP), countermovement jumps (CMJ), and a wellness questionnaire (n = 11), and (B) profiled the responses with acceptable reliability (no between-trial differences and between-day coefficient of variation (CV) ≤10% and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) ≥0.8) for 120 h (baseline: −3, +24, +48, +72, +96, +120 h) following RL match-play (n = 10). In part A, force at 200, and 250 ms, and peak force (PF) demonstrated acceptable within- (CV%: 3.67–8.41%, ICC: 0.89–0.93) and between-day (CV%: 4.34–8.62%, ICC: 0.87–0.92) reliability for IMTP. Most CMJ variables demonstrated acceptable within-day reliability (CV%: 3.03–7.34%, ICC: 0.82–0.98), but only six (i.e., flight-time, PF, peak power (PP), relative PP, velocity at take-off (VTO), jump-height (JH)) showed acceptable between-day reliability (CV%: 2.56–6.79%, ICC: 0.83–0.91). Only total wellness demonstrated acceptable between-day reliability (CV%: 7.05%, ICC: 0.90) from the questionnaire. In part B, reductions of 4.75% and 9.23% (vs. baseline; 2.54 m∙s−1; 0.33 m) occurred at +24 h for CMJ VTO, and JH, respectively. Acceptable reliability was observed in some, but not all, variables and the magnitude and time-course of post-match responses were test and variable specific. Practitioners should therefore be mindful of the influence that the choice of recovery monitoring tool may have upon the practical interpretation of the data.
Green Product Design Based on the BioTRIZ Multi-Contradiction Resolution Method
Authors: Bai Zhonghang , Mu Lei , Lin Hsiung-Cheng
Published: May 2020

The impacts on the environment of many commercial products have not been fully considered in past years. For the sustainable development of Earth’s resources, future product design should move towards not only innovation, but also fundamentally in the green direction. Currently, the BioTRIZ method may provide a satisfactory solution for a single contradiction of green product design. However, if there are multiple contradictions existing due to multiple operational fields, difficulty in implementing design aspects may be posed. For this reason, this paper develops a BioTRIZ multi-contradiction resolution method targeting a green product design, which can find the crucial contradictions and thus achieve the necessary invention principles (IP). By summarizing the green factors and further dividing operational fields, the deduced matrix table becomes highly effective in the design. Accordingly, designers can be assisted to quickly find the operational fields under multiple contradictions. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified using a product example of a window-cleaning robot design.
A Joint Stochastic/Deterministic Process with Multi-Objective Decision Making Risk-Assessment Framework for Sustainable Constructions Engineering Projects—A Case Study
Authors: Marhavilas Panagiotis K. , Tegas Michael G. , Koulinas Georgios K. , Koulouriotis Dimitrios E.
Published: May 2020

This study, on the one hand, develops a newfangled risk assessment and analysis (RAA) methodological approach (the MCDM-STO/DET one) for sustainable engineering projects by the amalgamation of a multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) process with the joint-collaboration of a deterministic (DET) and a stochastic (STO) process. On the other hand, proceeds to the application of MCDM-STO/DET at the workplaces of the Greek construction sector and also of the fixed-telecommunications technical projects of OTE SA (that is, the Greek Telecommunications Organization S.A.) by means of real accident data coming from two official State databases, namely of “SEPE” (Labor Inspectorate, Hellenic Ministry of Employment) and of “IKA” (Social Insurance Institution, Hellenic Ministry of Health), all the way through the period of the years2009–2016.Consequently, the article’s objectives are the following: (i) The implementation and execution of the joint MCDM-STO/DET framework, and (ii) to make known that the proposed MCDM-STO/DET algorithm can be a precious method for safety managers (and/or decision-makers) to ameliorate occupational safety and health (OSH) and to endorse the sustainable operation of technical or engineering projects as well. Mainly, we mingle two different configurations of the MCDM method, initially the Analytical Hierarchy-Process (the typical-AHP), and afterwards the Fuzzy-Extended AHP (the FEAHP) one, along with the Proportional Risk Assessment Technique (PRAT) and the analysis of Time-Series Processes (TSP), and finally with the Fault-Tree Analysis (FTA).
A New ‘Lexicon’ of Land Degradation: Toward a Holistic Thinking for Complex Socioeconomic Issues
Authors: Egidi Gianluca , Salvati Luca , Cudlin Pavel , Salvia Rosanna , Romagnoli Manuela
Published: May 2020

Land degradation is perceived worldwide as a key process of resource depletion, representing a paradigmatic issue in national and supra-national political agendas for the 21st century in both advanced and emerging economies. Trying to delineate a ‘new lexicon of land degradation’, the present study contributes to a holistic thinking of driving forces in local communities and regional contexts through a refined analysis and discussion of (apparent and latent) factors of land degradation. Rethinking the importance of five notions (time, space, scale, systems, and response) having an intimate linkage with land degradation allows a refined understanding of socio-environmental dynamics and the most appropriate actions to combat (or mitigate) land resource depletion. The conclusions summarize the rationale proposed in this work, and provide a brief outlook on future research addressing land degradation, its drivers and consequences.
Drafting the Strategy for Sustainability in Universities: A Backcasting Approach
Authors: Sisto Roberta , Sica Edgardo , Cappelletti Giulio Mario
Published: May 2020

The contribution of universities to the sustainability challenge is nowadays crucial due to their role as centers of learning, innovation and research. However, universities can deal with sustainability matters in many different ways which should be accurately identified in their strategies. In this context, the present paper has tested the suitability of backcasting as a participatory approach to involve stakeholders in discussing the most effective actions to improve sustainability within universities’ strategic plan. The experiment—carried out at University of Foggia (UniFg-Italy)—has demonstrated the flexibility of the backcasting approach in identifying the actions required to reach the UniFg sustainability goals according to the 2030 Agenda, allowing the university governance bodies to reach a number of objectives in the design stage. Furthermore, backcasting enhanced the confidence of stakeholders involved with an overall improvement of their empowerment, enabling them to follow and keep track of the whole process of the university’s strategy definition.
Does Travel Really Enhance Destination-Country Image? Understanding Tourists’ Changes in Perception toward a Destination Country
Authors: Yu Peng , Zhang Hongmei
Published: May 2020

Tourism has played a fundamental role in shaping the image of destination countries. This study aimed to examine changes in international tourists’ enhanced and complex destination-country images (DCIs) by comparing pre- and post-trip perceptions. A total of 268 and 275 valid questionnaires from pre- and post-trip Chinese outbound tourists to South Korea, respectively, were collected. The results indicated that tourists’ DCIs were dynamic and could be effectively promoted through their actual tourism experiences. Overall, when considering enhanced DCI perception, compared with pre-trip tourists, post-trip tourists possessed a positive complex DCI perception. Tourism could provide an important channel for promoting a destination country’s image to the world.
Corporate Sustainability Reporting and Financial Performance
Authors: Oncioiu Ionica , Petrescu Anca-Gabriela , Bîlcan Florentina-Raluca , Petrescu Marius , Popescu Delia-Mioara , Anghel Elena
Published: May 2020

In the past few decades, business performance has been approached from a multidimensional perspective, because a pro-active corporate sustainability reporting system for assessing the financial performance of an organization should at least address impacts at the organization and community levels, as well as the resulting associated social impacts. The purpose of this research was to identify the accessibility of corporate sustainability reporting instruments for Romanian managers and their role in increasing the financial performance of organizations. This study concludes that corporate social reporting indicators can be integrated into the reporting of the financial performance of a company and can transform sustainability into tangible value for all interested parties. In addition, the empirical results contribute to the understanding of corporate social responsibility practices; although being non-financial, these seem to be financially meaningful at a certain level after other financial factors are controlled for.
Local Perceptions of Fires Risk and Policy Implications in the Hills of Valparaíso, Chile
Authors: Sapiains Rodolfo , Ugarte Ana María , Aldunce Paulina , Marchant Germant , Romero Javier Alberto , González Mauro E. , Inostroza-Lazo Valentina
Published: May 2020

Climate change is increasing the occurrence of natural disasters worldwide, and more frequent and intense fires represent one of the most destructive expressions of this trend. Chile is highly vulnerable to climate change, and fires are a recurrent phenomenon affecting many people each year. To reduce fire risk, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggests reducing both exposure and vulnerability through multiple initiatives, which demand increased community engagement. In such a context, this study explores local perceptions of fire in a sample of inhabitants in a wildland-urban interface (WUI) in Valparaiso, a city that is affected by numerous fires each year. The ultimate goal was to identify psychological and community factors that should be taken into consideration to develop prevention plans and safer environments for people living in a context of poverty and social inequity. Using a qualitative approach, 28 interviews were conducted and analyzed following grounded theory principles. Results identified multiple causes, impacts, and characteristics of the problem perceived by people who permanently cohabit with fire risk, showing that for many of them, fire risk is not about the probability of occurrence of a disaster, but a question about when and how the next fire will happen. However, in such a complex scenario, psychological, community, and structural barriers deter people from implementing more effective actions. Conversely, in emergency situations, such barriers are irrelevant and cooperative actions prevail, suggesting the existence of resources and capacities within the community that could lessen exposure and vulnerability if activated on a day-to-day basis. Overall, reducing fire risk cannot be achieved by local communities alone nor without their support. To build, maintain, and consolidate fire prevention actions, it is critical to activate community strengths and cooperation and engage the resources and management capacity of local governments.
Alternative Metrics for Assessing the Social Impact of Tourism Research
Authors: Viana Lora Alba , Nel-lo Andreu Marta Gemma
Published: May 2020

Alternative metrics are increasingly used to measure the social impact of research. This article seeks to analyze the social impact of research in the field of tourism. For this purpose, we will determine the extent to which the articles in this field reach society by examining the scores they achieve on social media and studying the correlation between scientific impact and social impact. Altmetric information will be used for data extraction and analysis. The results show a low correlation between citations and the Altmetric Attention Score (AAS), as well as a presence that is not captured by most publications in the field of study. Interestingly, publications with higher AASs are concentrated in the same journals. The article concludes by determining that alternative metrics can be used to complement academic impact but cannot be a substitute for it. Further progress is needed in the development of a framework that unifies both impacts.
Numerical Study of a Francis Turbine over Wide Operating Range: Some Practical Aspects of Verification
Authors: Trivedi Chirag , Iliev Igor , Dahlhaug Ole Gunnar
Published: May 2020

Hydropower plays an essential role in maintaining energy flexibility. Modern designs focus on sustainability and robustness using different numerical tools. Automatic optimization of the turbines is widely used, including low, mini and micro head turbines. The numerical techniques are not always foolproof in the absence of experimental data, and hence accurate verification is a key component of automatic optimization processes. This work aims to investigate the newly designed Francis runner for flexible operation. Unsteady simulations at 80 operating points of the turbine were conducted. The numerical model consisted of 16 million nodes of hexahedral mesh. A SAS-SST (scale adaptive simulation-shear stress transport) model was enabled for resolving/modeling the turbulent flow. The selected time-step size was equivalent to one-degree angular rotation of the runner. Global parameters, such as efficiency, torque, head and flow rate were considered for proper verification and validation. (1) A complete hill diagram of the turbine was prepared and verified with the reference case. (2) The relative error in hydraulic efficiency was computed and the over trend was studied. This allowed us to investigate the consistency of the numerical model under extreme operating conditions, far away from the best efficiency point. (3) Unsteady fluctuations of runner output torque were studied to identify unstable regions and magnitude of torque oscillations.
Green Co-Creation Strategies among Supply Chain Partners: A Value Co-Creation Perspective
Authors: Li Genzhu , Shi Xianliang , Yang Yefei , Lee Peter K. C.
Published: May 2020

In response to the global fight against environmental deterioration and resource shortage, many governments call on firms to implement green innovation strategies. However, for most small and medium-sized firms, the high cost of green innovation makes it difficult to achieve green goals, causing the need for a growing number of firms to cooperate with their supply chain partners on green innovations. Thus, this study explores, from a value co-creation perspective, how supply chain partners share the investment in, and benefits of, green innovation, assuring their long-term cooperation. Based on a three-level manufacturing supply chain, this paper proposes three different types of green co-creation strategies (i.e., the manufacturer and its supplier, the manufacturer and its competitor, the manufacturer and its retailer). We set the mechanism of co-creation to share the cost of green investment and consider the impact of co-creation on the sales of supply chain partners. Then, by constructing the value functions of three co-creation strategies and proving the concavity of these functions, the findings indicate that different co-creation strategies can indeed improve the firm’s profit in a certain range and achieve a different maximum value in a certain green investment sharing point. This study enriches the literature on green co-creation in supply chains by combing green investment sharing strategies among supply chain partners with value co-creation. In addition, this study provides manufacturers with guidelines on how to share green costs and choose a green co-creation strategy in different operational environments.
Investor Happiness and Predictability of the Realized Volatility of Oil Price
Authors: Bonato Matteo , Gkillas Konstantinos , Gupta Rangan , Pierdzioch Christian
Published: May 2020

We use the the heterogeneous autoregressive realized volatility (HAR-RV) model to analyze both in sample and out-of-sample whether a measure of investor happiness predicts the daily realized volatility of oil-price returns, where we use high-frequency intraday data to measure realized volatility. Full-sample estimates reveal that realized volatility is significantly negatively linked to investor happiness at a short forecast horizon. Similarly, out-of-sample results indicate that investor happiness significantly improves the accuracy of forecasts of realized volatility at a short forecast horizon. Results for a medium and a long forecast horizon are insignificant. We argue that our results shed light on the role played by speculation in oil products and the potential function of oil-related products as a hedge against risks in traditional financial assets.
Climate Change Policy Implications of Sustainable Development Pathways in Korea at Sub-National Scale
Authors: Chae Yeora , Choi Seo Hyung , Kim Yong Jee
Published: May 2020

Climate action is goal 13 of UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Future impacts of climate change depend on climatic changes, the level of climate change policy, both mitigation and adaptation, and socio-economic status and development pathways. To investigate the climate change policy impact of socio-economic development pathways, we develop three pathways. Climate change affects socio-economic development in many ways. We interpret global storylines into South Korean contexts: Shared Socio-economic Pathway 1 (SSP1), SSP2, and SSP3 for population, economy, and land use. SSP elements and proxies were identified and elaborated through stakeholder participatory workshops, demand survey on potential users, past trends, and recent national projections of major proxies. Twenty-nine proxies were quantified using sector-specific models and downscaled where possible. Socio-economic and climate scenarios matrixes enable one to quantify the contribution of climate, population, economic development, and land-use change in future climate change impacts. Economic damage between climate scenarios is different in SSPs, and it highlights that SSPs are one of the key components for future climate change impacts. Achieving SDGs generates additional incentives for local and national governments as it can reduce mitigation and adaptation policy burden.
Aspects of Marketing in Dental Tourism—Factor of Sustainable Development in Romania
Authors: Oltean Flavia Dana , Gabor Manuela Rozalia , Stăncioiu Aurélia-Felicia , Kardos Mihaela , Kiss Marta , Marinescu Roxana Cristina
Published: May 2020

Dental tourism is a growing and emerging phenomenon that is becoming more attractive to patients due to its potential for decreased expenses, increased convenience, and immediacy of treatment. The necessity for travel is the primary motivation for seeking dental treatment due to the successful cooperation between tourism and healthcare. While dental tourism has been largely researched from the perspective of the patient, our research is the first research to apply a concomitant approach on dental clinics and tourism agencies. The aim of our study wasto provide comprehensive empirical evidence from the perspective of the dental clinics and tourism agencies in Romanian dental tourism. We used a representative sampling with an online questionnaire on 160 dental clinics and 32 tourism agencies. The results indicate that both entities have small amounts of information, but they are interested in investing, promoting, and creating a partnership to create a sustainable industry of dental tourism. Dental tourism could strongly contribute to the country’s image and help to prolong the seasonality of tourism activity by enhancing the strategic marketing of dental clinics and tourism agencies toward sustainable health tourism.
Diversity of Trichoderma spp. in Marine Environments and Their Biological Potential for Sustainable Industrial Applications
Authors: Kim Kyeongwon , Heo Young Mok , Jang Seokyoon , Lee Hanbyul , Kwon Sun-Lul , Park Myung Soo , Lim Young Woon , Kim Jae-Jin
Published: May 2020

Microorganisms are regarded as a sustainable source of biologically active molecules. Among them, Trichoderma spp. have been an attractive source of biological compounds. However, the study of marine-derived Trichoderma has developed slowly because of the difficulty in isolating the fungi. In our study, 30 strains of marine-derived Trichoderma were identified through the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1α) sequences, and their biological activities, such as antioxidant activity by ABTS and DPPH assays, antifungal activity against Asteromyces cruciatus and Lindra thalassiae, and tyrosinase inhibition activity, were investigated. As a result, the 30 marine Trichoderma species were classified into 21 taxa, including three new species candidates. Three strains of T. asperellum showed the highest ABTS radical scavenging activity and antifungal activity. T. bissettii SFC20170821-M05 and T. guizhouense SFC20180619-M23 showed notable DPPH radical scavenging activity and tyrosinase inhibition activity, respectively. This study showed the potential of marine-derived Trichoderma as a source of bioactive compounds.
A Proposal for Reform of EU Member States’ Corporate Governance Codes in Support of Sustainability
Authors: Tsagas Georgina
Published: May 2020

An overview of the European Union’s varying policies on the harmonisation of Member States’ company and securities laws dating back to the 1970s showcases the Commission’s averseness to deviate from the path dependence of the shareholder primacy norm and the existence of a series of policies that superficially afford attention to ‘stakeholders’ rights’, ‘sustainability’ and ‘corporate social responsibility’. The article seeks to demonstrate that the ‘greenwashing’ attempts it identifies in several of the Commission’s documents and legislative initiatives have given rise to problematic outcomes, one of which is the subsequent whitewashing of recent initiatives that aim to provide real support to sustainability concerns. The question the article sets out to answer is whether, at this stage in time, the main sociolegal challenges in the form of tensions that the Commission was faced with, in an attempt to address corporate governance at European level in a uniform manner, can now be resolved so as to better support sustainability. If so, what ‘softer’ options are available to the legislator to signal a renewed approach to corporate governance and a deviation from the path dependence shareholder primacy norm? The argument that the article puts forward is that in order to better complement the latest, more positive attempts, that aim to support corporations’ sustainable practices, a reform of European Union Member States’ Corporate Governance Codes to include a robust stakeholder friendly provision may well constitute one pragmatic way forward.
Analysis of the Level of Service of Unloading Zones Using Diversity Measures in a Multiplex Network
Authors: Santos Junior Jorge Luiz dos , Oliveira Leise Kelli de
Published: May 2020

Unloading zones are a fundamental part of the infrastructure of urban freight transport. The location and accessibility of unloading zones to commercial establishments reduce the operating time and, consequently, the transportation costs. In general, unloading zones are located on-street and allocated by local authorities. In this context, this paper aims to evaluate the level of service of unloading zones. The research approach uses the diversity measures in a multiplex network to identify the level of service and cargo accessibility of unloading zones. An analysis is developed for the central area of Belo Horizonte (Brazil). The results indicate that unloading zones located up to 25 m from the establishments have a high accessibility and low level of service. In contrast, unloading zones located up to 100 m from the establishments have a low accessibility and high level of service. These results allow us to conclude that the planning process of the location of unloading zones in Belo Horizonte is flawed. In addition, the maximum distance from unloading zones to establishments must be 75 m, so that there is a balance between the accessibility and level of service.
Emission of Photons by Quasiparticles in Weyl Semimetals
Authors: Andrianov Alexander , Soldati Roberto , Vassilevich Dmitri
Published: May 2020

We show that quasiparticles in Weyl semimetals may decay with emission of a single photon. We study the spectrum of emitted photons and estimate the decay rates.
Thermal and Visual Imaging to Assist with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Examination of the Knees
Authors: Nwaizu Harriet , Saatchi Reza , Hawley Daniel Philip , Ward Oliver
Published: May 2020

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) causes inflammation of the joints, and it is frequently associated with their pain and stiffness. Its timely diagnosis is important to avoid its progressive damage to the bones and cartilage. Increases in the joint’s temperature and redness could be indicators of active JIA, hence their accurate quantification could assist with diagnosis. Thermal and visual images of the knees in 20 JIA participants (age: mean = 11.2 years, standard deviation = 2.3 years) were studied. The median temperature of knees with active inflammation was 3.198% higher than that of inactive knees. This difference, examined by a Wilcoxon signed-rank test, was statistically significant (p = 0.0078). In six out of the eight participants who had one active inflamed knee, thermal imaging identified the corresponding knee as warmer. In 16 out of 20 participants, the knee identified as warmer by thermal imaging was also identified as having a greater colour change by visual imaging as compared to their respective reference regions. The devised methods could accurately quantify the colour and temperature of the knees. It was concluded that thermal and visual imaging methods can be valuable in examining JIA. Further studies involving a larger number of participants and more detailed explorations would be needed prior to clinical application.
Paralytic Shellfish Toxins (PST)-Transforming Enzymes: A Review
Authors: Raposo Mariana I. C. , Gomes Maria Teresa S. R. , Botelho Maria João , Rudnitskaya Alisa
Published: May 2020

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) are a group of toxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning through blockage of voltage-gated sodium channels. PSTs are produced by prokaryotic freshwater cyanobacteria and eukaryotic marine dinoflagellates. Proliferation of toxic algae species can lead to harmful algal blooms, during which seafood accumulate high levels of PSTs, posing a health threat to consumers. The existence of PST-transforming enzymes was first remarked due to the divergence of PST profiles and concentrations between contaminated bivalves and toxigenic organisms. Later, several enzymes involved in PST transformation, synthesis and elimination have been identified. The knowledge of PST-transforming enzymes is necessary for understanding the processes of toxin accumulation and depuration in mollusk bivalves. Furthermore, PST-transforming enzymes facilitate the obtainment of pure analogues of toxins as in natural sources they are present in a mixture. Pure compounds are of interest for the development of drug candidates and as analytical reference materials. PST-transforming enzymes can also be employed for the development of analytical tools for toxin detection. This review summarizes the PST-transforming enzymes identified so far in living organisms from bacteria to humans, with special emphasis on bivalves, cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates, and discusses enzymes’ biological functions and potential practical applications.
Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of Staphylococcal Enterotoxin (-Like) Genes sey, selw, selx, selz, sel26 and sel27 in Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Aung Meiji Soe , Urushibara Noriko , Kawaguchiya Mitsuyo , Ito Masahiko , Habadera Satoshi , Kobayashi Nobumichi
Published: May 2020

Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) are virulence factors of Staphylococcus aureus associated with various toxic diseases due to their emetic and superantigenic activities. Although at least 27 SE(-like) genes have been identified in S. aureus to date, the newly identified SE(-like) genes have not yet been well characterized by their epidemiological features. In this study, the prevalence and genetic diversity of SE gene sey and SE-like genes selw, selx, selz, sel26, and sel27 were investigated for 624 clinical isolates of community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA). The most prevalent SE(-like) gene was selw (92.9%), followed by selx (85.6%), sey (35.4%) and selz (5.6%), while sel26 and sel27 were not detected. Phylogenetically, sey, selw, selx, and selz were discriminated into 7, 10, 16, and 9 subtypes (groups), respectively. Among these subtypes, sey was the most conserved and showed the highest sequence identity (>98.8%), followed by selz and selx. The SE-like gene selw was the most divergent, and four out of ten genetic groups contained pseudogenes that may encode truncated product. Individual subtypes of SE(-like) genes were generally found in isolates with specific genotypes/lineages of S. aureus. This study revealed the putative ubiquity of selw and selx and the prevalence of sey and selz in some specific lineages (e.g., ST121) in CA-MRSA, suggesting a potential role of these newly described SEs(-like) in pathogenicity.
First crAss-Like Phage Genome Encoding the Diversity-Generating Retroelement (DGR)
Authors: Morozova Vera , Fofanov Mikhail , Tikunova Nina , Babkin Igor , Morozov Vitaliy V. , Tikunov Artem
Published: May 2020

A new crAss-like genome encoding diversity-generating retroelement (DGR) was found in the fecal virome of a healthy volunteer. The genome of the phage referred to as the crAssphage LMMB, belonged to the candidate genus I of the AlphacrAssvirinae subfamily. The DGR-cassette of the crAssphage LMMB contained all the essential elements: the gene encoding reverse transcriptase (RT), the target gene (TG) encoding the tail-collar fiber protein, and variable and template repeats (VR and TR) with IMH (initiation of mutagenic homing) and IMH* sequences at the 3′-end of the VR and TR, respectively. Architecture of the DGR-cassette was TG-VR(IMH)-TR(IMH*)-RT and an accessory variable determinant (avd) was absent from the cassette. Analysis of 91 genomes and genome fragments from genus I of the AlphacrAssvirinae showed that 15 (16%) of the genomes had DGRs with the same architecture as the crAssphage LMMB, while 66 of the genomes contained incomplete DGR-cassettes or some elements of the DGR.
Unexpected Genetic Diversity of Two Novel Swine MRVs in Italy
Authors: Cavicchio Lara , Tassoni Luca , Zamperin Gianpiero , Campalto Mery , Carrino Marilena , Leopardi Stefania , De Benedictis Paola , Beato Maria Serena
Published: May 2020

Mammalian Orthoreoviruses (MRV) are segmented dsRNA viruses in the family Reoviridae. MRVs infect mammals and cause asymptomatic respiratory, gastro-enteric and, rarely, encephalic infections. MRVs are divided into at least three serotypes: MRV1, MRV2 and MRV3. In Europe, swine MRV (swMRV) was first isolated in Austria in 1998 and subsequently reported more than fifteen years later in Italy. In the present study, we characterized two novel reassortant swMRVs identified in one same Italian farm over two years. The two viruses shared the same genetic backbone but showed evidence of reassortment in the S1, S4, M2 segments and were therefore classified into two serotypes: MRV3 in 2016 and MRV2 in 2018. A genetic relation to pig, bat and human MRVs and other unknown sources was identified. A considerable genetic diversity was observed in the Italian MRV3 and MRV2 compared to other available swMRVs. The S1 protein presented unique amino acid signatures in both swMRVs, with unexpected frequencies for MRV2. The remaining genes formed distinct and novel genetic groups that revealed a geographically related evolution of swMRVs in Italy. This is the first report of the complete molecular characterization of novel reassortant swMRVs in Italy and Europe, which suggests a greater genetic diversity of swMRVs never identified before.
Zika Virus with Increased CpG Dinucleotide Frequencies Shows Oncolytic Activity in Glioblastoma Stem Cells
Authors: Trus Ivan , Berube Nathalie , Jiang Peng , Rak Janusz , Gerdts Volker , Karniychuk Uladzimir
Published: May 2020

We studied whether cytosine phosphate–guanine (CpG) recoding in a viral genome may provide oncolytic candidates with reduced infection kinetics in nonmalignant brain cells, but with high virulence in glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs). As a model, we used well-characterized CpG-recoded Zika virus vaccine candidates that previously showed genetic stability and safety in animal models. In vitro, one of the CpG-recoded Zika virus variants had reduced infection kinetics in nonmalignant brain cells but high infectivity and oncolytic activity in GSCs as represented by reduced cell proliferation. The recoded virus also efficiently replicated in GSC-derived tumors in ovo with a significant reduction of tumor growth. We also showed that some GSCs may be resistant to Zika virus oncolytic activity, emphasizing the need for personalized oncolytic therapy or a strategy to overcome resistance in GSCs. Collectively, we demonstrated the potential of the CpG recoding approach for oncolytic virus development that encourages further research towards a better understanding of host–tumor–CpG-recoded virus interactions.
A High-Throughput HIV-1 Drug Screening Platform, Based on Lentiviral Vectors and Compatible with Biosafety Level-1
Authors: Ellinger Bernhard , Pohlmann Daniel , Woens Jannis , Jäkel Felix M. , Reinshagen Jeanette , Stocking Carol , Prassolov Vladimir S. , Fehse Boris , Riecken Kristoffer
Published: May 2020

HIV-1 infection is a complex, multi-step process involving not only viral, but also multiple cellular factors. To date, drug discovery methods have primarily focused on the inhibition of single viral proteins. We present an efficient and unbiased approach, compatible with biosafety level 1 (BSL-1) conditions, to identify inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcription, intracellular trafficking, nuclear entry and genome integration. Starting with a fluorescent assay setup, we systematically improved the screening methodology in terms of stability, efficiency and pharmacological relevance. Stability and throughput were optimized by switching to a luciferase-based readout. BSL-1 compliance was achieved without sacrificing pharmacological relevance by using lentiviral particles pseudo-typed with the mouse ecotropic envelope protein to transduce human PM1 T cells gene-modified to express the corresponding murine receptor. The cellular assay was used to screen 26,048 compounds selected for maximum diversity from a 200,640-compound in-house library. This yielded z’ values greater than 0.8 with a hit rate of 3.3% and a confirmation rate of 50%. We selected 93 hits and enriched the collection with 279 similar compounds from the in-house library to identify promising structural features. The most active compounds were validated using orthogonal assay formats. The similarity of the compound profiles across the different platforms demonstrated that the reported lentiviral assay system is a robust and versatile tool for the identification of novel HIV-1 inhibitors.
Identifying Cattle Breed-Specific Partner Choice of Transcription Factors during the African Trypanosomiasis Disease Progression Using Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Rajavel Abirami , Heinrich Felix , Schmitt Armin Otto , Gültas Mehmet
Published: May 2020

African Animal Trypanosomiasis (AAT) is a disease caused by pathogenic trypanosomes which affects millions of livestock every year causing huge economic losses in agricultural production especially in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease is spread by the tsetse fly which carries the parasite in its saliva. During the disease progression, the cattle are prominently subjected to anaemia, weight loss, intermittent fever, chills, neuronal degeneration, congestive heart failure, and finally death. According to their different genetic programs governing the level of tolerance to AAT, cattle breeds are classified as either resistant or susceptible. In this study, we focus on the cattle breeds N’Dama and Boran which are known to be resistant and susceptible to trypanosomiasis, respectively. Despite the rich literature on both breeds, the gene regulatory mechanisms of the underlying biological processes for their resistance and susceptibility have not been extensively studied. To address the limited knowledge about the tissue-specific transcription factor (TF) cooperations associated with trypanosomiasis, we investigated gene expression data from these cattle breeds computationally. Consequently, we identified significant cooperative TF pairs (especially D B P − P P A R A and D B P − T H A P 1 in N’Dama and D B P − P A X 8 in Boran liver tissue) which could help understand the underlying AAT tolerance/susceptibility mechanism in both cattle breeds.
Immunological Basis of Genesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Unique Challenges and Potential Opportunities through Immunomodulation
Authors: Jayant Kumar , Habib Nagy , Huang Kai W. , Podda Mauro , Warwick Jane , Arasaradnam Ramesh
Published: May 2020

A majority of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops in the setting of persistent chronic inflammation as immunological mechanisms have been shown to play a vital role in the initiation, growth and progression of tumours. The index review has been intended to highlight ongoing immunological changes in the hepatic parenchyma responsible for the genesis and progression of HCC. The in-situ vaccine effect of radiofrequency (RF) is through generation tumour-associated antigens (TAAs), following necrosis and apoptosis of tumour cells, which not only re-activates the antitumour immune response but can also act in synergism with checkpoint inhibitors to generate a superlative effect with intent to treat primary cancer and distant metastasis. An improved understanding of oncogenic responses of immune cells and their integration into signaling pathways of the tumour microenvironment will help in modulating the antitumour immune response. Finally, we analyzed contemporary literature and summarised the recent advances made in the field of targeted immunotherapy involving checkpoint inhibitors along with RF application with the intent to reinstate antitumour immunity and outline future directives in very early and early stages of HCC.
Knowledge and Attitude towards Vaccination among Healthcare Workers: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study in a Southern Italian Region
Authors: Di Martino Giuseppe , Di Giovanni Pamela , Di Girolamo Arturo , Scampoli Piera , Cedrone Fabrizio , D’Addezio Michela , Meo Francesca , Romano Ferdinando , Di Sciascio Maria Bernadette , Staniscia Tommaso
Published: May 2020

Background: In Italy, the loss of confidence towards vaccination resulted in low vaccine coverage, also among healthcare workers (HCWs). Indeed, low vaccination coverage among HCWs can lead to dangerous outbreaks of disease, reduce productivity, and increase absenteeism. The aim of this study was to investigate the vaccine coverage and attitudes toward vaccination among HCWs. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted among HCWs referred to all hospitals of the Local Health Authority 02 of Abruzzo Region, Italy. The survey was based on the questionnaire proposed by the H-ProImmune Project. Results: A total of 347 HCWs were enrolled in the study. Of these, 57.3% reported missing diphtheritis-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccination, 50.1% reported missing measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination, and 62.5% reported missing flu vaccination. Regarding attitudes, other healthcare professionals reported to believe more in natural immunization compared to vaccination (26.5%; p < 0.001), and they were worried about long-term effects of vaccination (10.2%; p = 0.044). Conclusions: This survey showed all vaccination coverage considered resulted below the 95% threshold. Training on vaccination and mandatory measures may be needed in order to achieve better coverage.
Minimal Invasive Piezoelectric Osteotomy in Neurosurgery: Technic, Applications, and Clinical Outcomes of a Retrospective Case Series
Authors: Crovace Alberto , Luzzi Sabino , Lacitignola Luca , Fatone Gerardo , Giotta Lucifero Alice , Vercellotti Tomaso , Crovace Antonio
Published: May 2020

Objective: To report the physical and technical principles, clinical applications, and outcomes of the minimal invasive piezoelectric osteotomy in a consecutive veterinary neurosurgical series. Methods: A series of 292 dogs and 32 cats underwent an osteotomy because a neurosurgical pathology performed with a Mectron Piezosurgery® bone scalpel (Mectron Medical Technology, Genoa, Italy) was retrospectively reviewed. Efficacy, precision, safety, and blood loss were evaluated intraoperatively by two different surgeons, on a case-by-case basis. Postoperative Rx and CT scans were used to assess the selectivity and precision of the osteotomy. A histological study on bony specimens at the osteotomized surface was carried out to evaluate the effects of piezoelectric cutting on the osteocytes and osteoblasts. All the patients underwent a six-months follow-up. A series of illustrative cases was reported. Results: All the osteotomies were clear-cut and precise. A complete sparing of soft and nervous tissues and vasculature was observed. The operative field was blood- and heat-free in all cases. A range of inserts, largely different in shape and length, were allowed to treat deep and difficult-to-reach sites. Two mechanical complications occurred. Average blood loss in dogs’ group was 52, 47, and 56 mL for traumatic, degenerative, and neoplastic lesions, respectively, whereas it was 25 mL for traumatized cats. A fast recovery of functions was observed in most of the treated cases, early on, at the first sixth-month evaluation. Histology on bone flaps showed the presence of live osteocytes and osteoblasts at the osteotomized surface in 92% of cases. Conclusions: Piezosurgery is based on the physical principle of the indirect piezo effect. Piezoelectric osteotomy is selective, effective, and safe in bone cutting during neurosurgical veterinary procedures. It can be considered a minimal invasive technique, as it is able to spare the neighboring soft tissues and neurovascular structures.
An Integrative Information Aqueduct to Close the Gaps between Satellite Observation of Water Cycle and Local Sustainable Management of Water Resources
Authors: Su Zhongbo , Zeng Yijian , Romano Nunzio , Manfreda Salvatore , Francés Félix , Ben Dor Eyal , Szabó Brigitta , Vico Giulia , Nasta Paolo , Zhuang Ruodan , Francos Nicolas , Mészáros János , Dal Sasso Silvano Fortunato , Bassiouni Maoya , Zhang Lijie , Rwasoka Donald Tendayi , Retsios Bas , Yu Lianyu , Blatchford Megan Leigh , Mannaerts Chris
Published: May 2020

The past decades have seen rapid advancements in space-based monitoring of essential water cycle variables, providing products related to precipitation, evapotranspiration, and soil moisture, often at tens of kilometer scales. Whilst these data effectively characterize water cycle variability at regional to global scales, they are less suitable for sustainable management of local water resources, which needs detailed information to represent the spatial heterogeneity of soil and vegetation. The following questions are critical to effectively exploit information from remotely sensed and in situ Earth observations (EOs): How to downscale the global water cycle products to the local scale using multiple sources and scales of EO data? How to explore and apply the downscaled information at the management level for a better understanding of soil-water-vegetation-energy processes? How can such fine-scale information be used to improve the management of soil and water resources? An integrative information flow (i.e., iAqueduct theoretical framework) is developed to close the gaps between satellite water cycle products and local information necessary for sustainable management of water resources. The integrated iAqueduct framework aims to address the abovementioned scientific questions by combining medium-resolution (10 m–1 km) Copernicus satellite data with high-resolution (cm) unmanned aerial system (UAS) data, in situ observations, analytical- and physical-based models, as well as big-data analytics with machine learning algorithms. This paper provides a general overview of the iAqueduct theoretical framework and introduces some preliminary results.