bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Mediator Effect of Personality on the Relationship Between Symptomatic Impairment and Treatment Outcome in Eating Disorders
Authors: Muzi Laura , Tieghi Laura , Franco Anna , Rugo Michele , Lingiardi Vittorio
Published: July 2021

Features of personality disorders (PDs) have been found to explain meaningful variance in the onset, maintenance, and symptomatic presentation of eating disorders (EDs), and a co-occurent personality pathology is commonly associated with poorer response to ED treatment. The “pathoplasty model” of the relationship between personality and EDs implies that, once both conditions are established, they are likely to interact in ways that modify therapy outcome; however, to date, no studies have explored overall personality functioning, and especially PD clusters, as a mediator of treatment outcome. The present study aimed at conjointly exploring the associations between personality functioning and PDs, respectively, with pre-treatment ED symptomatic impairment and therapy outcome; and the mediating role of personality variables. At treatment onset, a sample of 107 women with ED problems were evaluated using both the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5-CV) and the Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure-200 (SWAP-200)—a clinician-rated procedure to dimensionally assess personality. Participants were also asked to complete self-report questionnaires on overall ED symptomatology, symptoms of binge eating and purging behaviors, and therapy outcome. The findings showed that, over and above the categorical ED diagnosis, the SWAP-200 healthy personality functioning score mediated the relationship between baseline ED symptom severity and therapy outcome, as well as the association between baseline bulimic symptoms and treatment outcome; furthermore, SWAP-200 Cluster B PD scores mediated the link between baseline binge eating and purging symptoms and therapy outcome, whereas scores in Clusters A and C showed no significant effects. The findings suggest that personality-based outcome research may improve treatment effectiveness in this difficult-to-treat population.
The Bottom-Line Mentality of Leaders in Education and Training Institutions: Where to Go for Innovation?
Authors: Wan Wenhai , Liu Longjun , Long Jing , Fan Qing , Wu Yenchun Jim
Published: July 2021

According to the social exchange theory, this study analyzed how a bottom-line mentality (BLM) among leaders affects teachers' innovative behavior and how this relationship is mediated by relative deprivation and psychological safety and moderated by person-organization values fit. Using two stages of data collection, 491 responses from teachers were obtained and analyzed. The results revealed that leader BLM significantly negatively affected teachers' innovative behavior, and relative deprivation and psychological safety both partially mediated this influence of leader BLM. Person-organization values fit negatively moderated the positive effect of leader BLM on teachers' relative deprivation and the negative effect of leader BLM on teachers' psychological safety. This study enriches the current literature about BLM and tests the influence of leader BLM on teacher's innovation in the Chinese education and training institutions, and provides insights into favorable educational management practices.
The Relationship Between a Baby's Age and Sleepiness in a Sample of Mothers
Authors: Sánchez-García Mar , Cantero María José , Carvajal-Roca Eva
Published: July 2021

One question of great practical importance for the parents, and especially the mother, after the birth of a baby, refers to how long the time during which they have to go with less and more fragmented sleep actually lasts. Most of the studies only explore this issue up to 6 months of the newborn's life, and less is known about the sleep problems the mothers may have after this initial period. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between the sleep disruption and daytime sleepiness of mothers with infants until 2 years old compared to a group of women currently not at care of babies. To this end, a sample of 113 women, 67 currently bringing up a baby of under 2 years old, and the remainder without a baby at their care under 6 years old, reported sleep duration, sleep interruptions, sleep quality, and responded to questionnaires of sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. The relationship between the age of the children and the comparison between the groups was used to highlight the sleep problems of the mothers taking care of the infant. The results showed that there was a positive relationship between the age of the infant and the duration of the sleep of the mothers and that the duration of sleep for them was similar to those of the women in the control group about 6 months after the infant was born. However, fragmentation of sleep, daytime sleepiness, and sleep problems were still higher than in the control group for mothers with children between 6 and 12 months old.
Assessing the Impact of Land Cover, Soil, and Climate on the Storage Potential of Dryland Sand Dams
Authors: Eisma Jessica A. , Saksena Siddharth , Merwade Venkatesh
Published: July 2021

Sand dams, a water-harvesting structure employed by rural communities in drylands have an inconsistent record of effectiveness. While many sand dams are highly functioning, improper siting, siltation, seepage, and high rates of evaporation from shallow sand reservoirs inhibit the water storage capacity of some sand dams. This study examines large-scale drivers of sand dam storage potential through analysis of an integrated surface and subsurface flow model. Multiple simulations were run, and comparative simulation analyses consider the effect of geomorphological factors, intraseasonal rainfall variability, and future climate conditions on sand dam performance criteria. The analyses revealed that a watershed highly cultivated with low water crops actually reduces evapotranspiration below that of natural vegetation and supports higher groundwater recharge. Additionally, intraseasonal variation and volume of rainfall impact sand dam performance less than the prevailing pattern and duration of dry and rainy seasons. Sand dams constructed in watersheds with sandier soils may experience greater connectivity with the stream margins and thus provide additional groundwater recharge. Lastly, climate change may improve some conditions desirable for sand dam performance, such as extending the duration of the rainy season and reducing overall evapotranspiration. However, the interactions between the expected climate change conditions and other geomorphological factors may result in a net decline in sand dam performance. The results of this study may help identify watersheds that are likely to support a sand dam with high potential for capturing and storing water throughout the dry season.
Colloids Yes or No? - a “Gretchen Question” Answered
Authors: Adamik Katja-Nicole , Yozova Ivayla D.
Published: July 2021

Colloid solutions, both natural and synthetic, had been widely accepted as having superior volume expanding effects than crystalloids. Synthetic colloid solutions were previously considered at least as effective as natural colloids, as well as being cheaper and easily available. As a result, synthetic colloids (and HES in particular) were the preferred resuscitation fluid in many countries. In the past decade, several cascading events have called into question their efficacy and revealed their harmful effects. In 2013, the medicines authorities placed substantial restrictions on HES administration in people which has resulted in an overall decrease in their use. Whether natural colloids (such as albumin-containing solutions) should replace synthetic colloids remains inconclusive based on the current evidence. Albumin seems to be safer than synthetic colloids in people, but clear evidence of a positive effect on survival is still lacking. Furthermore, species-specific albumin is not widely available, while xenotransfusions with human serum albumin have known side effects. Veterinary data on the safety and efficacy of synthetic and natural colloids is limited to mostly retrospective evaluations or experimental studies with small numbers of patients (mainly dogs). Large, prospective, randomized, long-term outcome-oriented studies are lacking. This review focuses on advantages and disadvantages of synthetic and natural colloids in veterinary medicine. Adopting human guidelines is weighed against the particularities of our specific patient populations, including the risk–benefit ratio and lack of alternatives available in human medicine.
How Does the Market Price Responsible and Sustainable Investments?
Authors: Timár Barnabás
Published: July 2021

In my study, I investigate whether it is possible to prove the hypothesis that investing in responsible, sustainable companies can be financially more rewarding from the perspective of investors, i.e. can result in higher profit than investing in companies that ignore these aspects. My further assumption is that this profit can be increased if I apply different restrictions or relative scores. I tested my hypotheses empirically on data from the New York Stock Exchange, both on investment strategies (portfolio creation) and at stock level (regression). I performed the tests for the total market, in detailed industry breakdowns and groupings as well. I tested the examined indicators (ESG, ENV) in isolation and with a relative approach, over several time horizons. For most of the tests, I obtained non-significant results; for some industries a minor negative impact can be seen, and for the regressions I obtained coefficients that are significant, but of negligible economic significance. Temporal decomposition shows the increasing significance of ESG and ENV, but even for the later time series it is not considered significant. The results suggest that the aspects under investigation are not yet priced by the market, so my hypotheses were not confirmed. This could be due to the greenwashing phenomenon or the developed US market.
Analysis of Retailer and Corporate Payment Habits in Hungary
Authors: Deák Vivien , Kajdi László , Nemecskó István
Published: July 2021

The study looks at the payment habits of retailers and companies in Hungary, especially the acceptance and share of electronic payments in 2019. In doing so, data from two questionnaire-based surveys and the online cash register database are analysed using statistical methods, decision trees and regressions. The results show that retailer payments are typically cash intensive, while credit transfer transactions dominate at companies. The factors with the largest impact on card acquiring and the share of cash at points of sale is sales revenue and the value of the purchase in the case of retailers, and the proportion of cash wage payments in the case of companies. Costs also play an important role in card acquiring, therefore instant payment, which provides cheaper electronic payment solutions, could be crucial when it comes to smaller retailers and companies offering electronic payments. Public policy measures could mainly target retailers and the micro and small enterprise segment.
ESG Investing: The Use of ESG Ratings in a Smart Beta Strategy
Authors: Stempler Balázs
Published: July 2021

ESG investing has recently been growing in popularity but the range of investment products available could still be widened. One possible approach is a combination of ESG ratings and the smart beta strategy that modifies index weighting based on a factor; thus, it contains elements from both active and passive fund management. The hypothetical funds created in this paper using this method achieved returns of over 50 per cent between 2015 and 2019, while the benchmark EURO STOXX 50 only provided a 19 per cent profit for investors during the five-year period. ESG ratings were found to be significant as a variable, suggesting that they can influence returns but other factors such as size or earnings growth have higher explanatory power. Also, while currently the possibilities for ESG investments are limited in Hungary, market players are starting to realise the potential of ESG, and with the suggested approach new investors could be attracted by funds
Dynamic Parameter Estimation of Large Space Debris Based on Inertial and Visual Data Fusion
Authors: Yao Jinming , Liu Yuqiang , Zhang Huibo , Dai Shijie
Published: July 2021

Most large space debris has large residual angular momentum, and the de-tumbling and capturing operation can easily cause instability and failure of tracking satellites. Therefore, it is necessary to perform real-time dynamic parameter identification of space debris prior to the imminent de-tumbling and capture operation, thus improving the efficiency and success of active debris removal (ADR) missions. A method for identifying dynamic parameters based on the fusion of visual and inertial data is proposed. To obtain the inertial data, the inertial measurement units (IMU) with light markers were fixed on the debris surface by space harpoon, which has been experimentally proven in space, and the binocular vision was placed at the front of a tracking satellite to obtain coordinates of the light markers. A novel method for denoising inertial data is proposed, which will eliminate the interference from the space environment. Furthermore, based on the denoised data and coordinates of the light markers, the mass-center location is estimated. The normalized angular momentum is calculated using the Euler–Poinsot motion characteristics, and all active debris removal parameters are determined. Simulations with Gaussian noise and experiments in the controlled laboratory have been conducted, the results indicate that this method can provide accurate dynamic parameters for the ADR mission.
A Peculiar Case of Allergic Granulomatous Reaction to Red Pigment: A Tattoo Touch-Up Treated Surgically
Authors: Tammaro Antonella , Adebanjo Ganiyat Adenike Ralitsa , Magri Francesca , Chello Camilla , Iacovino Chiara , Parisella Francesca Romana , Capalbo Alessandro , Luzi Fabiola , De Marco Gabriella
Published: July 2021

This case report describes a 50-year-old woman who developed an allergic granulomatous reaction after a tattoo touch-up.
Triazolo Based-Thiadiazole Derivatives. Synthesis, Biological Evaluation and Molecular Docking Studies
Authors: Kamoutsis Charalampos , Fesatidou Maria , Petrou Anthi , Geronikaki Athina , Poroikov Vladimir , Ivanov Marija , Soković Marina , Ćirić Ana , Carazo Alejandro , Mladěnka Přemysl
Published: July 2021

The goal of this research is to investigate the antimicrobial activity of nineteen previously synthesized 3,6-disubstituted-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives. The compounds were tested against a panel of three Gram-positive and three Gram-negative bacteria, three resistant strains, and six fungi. Minimal inhibitory, bactericidal, and fungicidal concentrations were determined by a microdilution method. All of the compounds showed antibacterial activity that was more potent than both reference drugs, ampicillin and streptomycin, against all bacteria tested. Similarly, they were also more active against resistant bacterial strains. The antifungal activity of the compounds was up to 80-fold higher than ketoconazole and from 3 to 40 times higher than bifonazole, both of which were used as reference drugs. The most active compounds (2, 3, 6, 7, and 19) were tested for their inhibition of P. aeruginosa biofilm formation. Among them, compound 3 showed significantly higher antibiofilm activity and appeared to be equipotent with ampicillin. The prediction of the probable mechanism by docking on antibacterial targets revealed that E. coli MurB is the most suitable enzyme, while docking studies on antifungal targets indicated a probable involvement of CYP51 in the mechanism of antifungal activity. Finally, the toxicity testing in human cells confirmed their low toxicity both in cancerous cell line MCF7 and non-cancerous cell line HK-2.
Comparative Analysis of Felixounavirus Genomes Including Two New Members of the Genus That Infect Salmonella Infantis
Authors: Barron-Montenegro Rocío , García Rodrigo , Dueñas Fernando , Rivera Dácil , Opazo-Capurro Andrés , Erickson Stephen , Moreno-Switt Andrea I
Published: July 2021

Salmonella spp. is one of the most common foodborne pathogens worldwide; therefore, its control is highly relevant for the food industry. Phages of the Felixounavirus genus have the characteristic that one phage can infect a large number of different Salmonella serovars and, thus, are proposed as an alternative to antimicrobials in food production. Here, we describe two new members of the Felixounavirus genus named vB_Si_35FD and vB_Si_DR94, which can infect Salmonella Infantis. These new members were isolated and sequenced, and a subsequent comparative genomic analysis was conducted including 23 publicly available genomes of Felixounaviruses that infect Salmonella. The genomes of vB_Si_35FD and vB_Si_DR94 are 85,818 and 85,730 bp large and contain 129 and 125 coding sequences, respectively. The genomes did not show genes associated with virulence or antimicrobial resistance, which could be useful for candidates to use as biocontrol agents. Comparative genomics revealed that closely related Felixounavirus are found in distinct geographical locations and that this genus has a conserved genomic structure despite its worldwide distribution. Our study revealed a highly conserved structure of the phage genomes, and the two newly described phages could represent promising biocontrol candidates against Salmonella spp. from a genomic viewpoint.
Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile and Tetracycline Resistance Genes Detection in Salmonella spp. Strains Isolated from Animals and Food
Authors: Gargano Valeria , Sciortino Sonia , Gambino Delia , Costa Antonella , Agozzino Vincenzo , Reale Stefano , Alduina Rosa , Vicari Domenico
Published: July 2021

Salmonella spp. is among the leading causes of foodborne infections in humans and a large number of animals. Salmonella spp. is a pathogen involved in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance because it can accumulate antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In this study, the antibiotic resistance profile to 15 antibiotics, belonging to six different classes, of 60 strains of Salmonella spp. collected from pets, farm animals, wildlife, and food in Sicily (Italy) was investigated by the Kirby-Bauer method. Given that almost 33.3% of the Salmonella spp. strains were resistant to tetracycline, Real-Time PCR analysis was applied on all the 60 strains to detect the presence of eight selected tet resistance genes. Besides, the presence of the int1 gene, related to the horizontal gene transfer among bacteria, was also investigated in all the strains by Real-Time PCR analysis. Our data showed that 56% of the isolated strains harbored one or more tet resistance genes and that these strains were most frequently isolated from animals living in close contact with humans. Concerning int1, 17 strains (28.3%) harbored this genetic element and eight of these simultaneously contained tet genes. The results of this study highlight the importance of using a molecular approach to detect resistance genetic determinants, whose spread can increase the diffusion of multidrug-resistant strains. Besides, the study of zoonotic bacteria such as Salmonella spp. which significantly contribute to ARGs dissemination should always follow a One Health approach that considers the health of humans, animals, and the environment to be closely related.
The Interaction of Graphene Oxide with the Pollen−Stigma System: In Vivo Effects on the Sexual Reproduction of Cucurbita pepo L.
Authors: Zanelli Davide , Candotto Carniel Fabio , Tretiach Mauro
Published: July 2021

Applications involving graphene-related materials (GRMs) are becoming very common, raising concerns for their environmental impact. GRMs induce various effects on plants, but those on the sexual reproduction are still largely unknown. Here, the effects of graphene oxide (GO) and GO purified from production residues (PGO) were tested in vivo on the stigma of Cucurbita pepo L. ssp. pepo ”Greyzini” (summer squash). Stigmas were exposed to GO or PGO for three hours and were then analyzed by environmental scanning electron microscopy to verify possible alterations to their surface. Stigmas were then hand-pollinated to verify the effects of the two GOs on pollen adhesion and germination on the stigma, and, subsequently, on the development of fruits and seeds. Severe damages to the stigma were not detected; nevertheless, both pollen adhesion and germination on the stigma decreased. Moreover, fruits developed defectively with signs of necrosis in the case of GO, whereas fruits did not ripen in the case of PGO and ovules did not develop seeds after both GOs treatments. These results highlight different mechanisms of interaction of the two materials with the pollen-stigma system, suggesting a possible negative impact of GO on the sexual reproduction of other seed plants.
Numerical Association Rule Mining from a Defined Schema Using the VMO Algorithm
Authors: Jaramillo Iván Fredy , Garzás Javier , Redchuk Andrés
Published: July 2021

Association rule mining has been studied from various perspectives, all of which have made valuable contributions to data science. However, there are promising research lines, such as the inclusion of continuous variables and the combination of numerical and categorical attributes for a supervised classification variety. This research presents a new alternative for solving the numerical association rule-mining problem from an optimization perspective by using the VMO (Variable Mesh Optimization) meta-heuristic. This work includes the ability for classification when categorical data are available from a defined rule schema. Our technique implements an optimization process for the intervals of continuous variables, unlike others that discretize these types of variables. Some experiments were carried out with a real dataset to evaluate the quality of the rules obtained; in addition to this, this technique was compared with four population-based algorithms. The results show that this implementation is competitive in classification cases and has more satisfactory results for completely numerical data.
Use of Granulated Rubber Tyre Waste as Lightweight Backfill Material for Retaining Walls
Authors: Contreras-Marín Elizabeth , Anguita-García María , Alonso-Guzmán Elia Mercedes , Jaramillo-Morilla Antonio , Mascort-Albea Emilio J. , Romero-Hernández Rocío , Soriano-Cuesta Cristina
Published: July 2021

The use of industrial waste in civil engineering applications constitutes a potential innovative effort to reduce environmental degradation and enable a sustainable use of natural resources. This paper reports a comprehensive laboratory study that was performed to evaluate the rubber granulates from End-of-Life Tyres (ELTs) as a lightweight backfill material in retaining walls. Various tests have been performed to provide specific information on the mechanical and physical properties of a detailed range of particle sizes smaller than 12 mm, with six different particle size distributions (S1: 0.0–0.8 mm/S2: 0.6–2.0 mm/S3: 2.0–4.0 mm/S4: 2.0–7.0 mm/S5: 90% 2.0–7.0 mm + 10% 0.6–2.0 mm/S6: 50% 2.0–7.0 mm + 50% 0.6–2.0 mm). The density and unit weight, compaction energy, compressibility, shear strength, and deformability have been evaluated to determine their performance. As a main conclusion, the research confirms that rubber granulates from ELTs possess great potential as backfill material behind retaining walls. The characteristic values of the geotechnical parameters have been estimated according to Eurocode 7. The friction angle results range from 18.27 to 23.21 degrees, and the cohesion results are wide-ranging, with values from 9.35 to 17.83 kPa. For this reason, two cantilever L-shaped retaining walls, selected as representative case studies, have been tested with these sample properties. The results of the geotechnical verifications are presented together with a comparison of the safety factors in accordance with the Spanish standard design (CTE-DB-SE-C) and the European (EC7-1) regulations. The calculations indicate that the overdesign factors (ODF) achieved in the verifications using the material properties of the S4, S5, and S6 combination improve the calculation results obtained if a conventional filler material such as sand is considered.
BIM Environment Based Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Resource Optimization System for Small to Medium-Sized Architectural Design Firms
Authors: Lee Kyuhyup , Shin Joonghwan , Kwon Soonwook , Cho Chung-Suk , Chung Suwan
Published: July 2021

The recent fourth industrial revolution and the era of post-COVID-19 have ushered in a series of technologies including a 5G network and online systems, such as cloud computing technology. In other industries, extensive studies on cloud platforms utilizing such technologies were conducted. Although the cloud environment has taken on greater importance in the construction sector as well, it was used only for servers, failing to fully reflect the characteristics of the cloud system. In particular, compared to large architectural design firms, it is challenging for small to medium-sized design firms to establish a virtual cloud computing environment, which requires high capital investment. Targeting small to medium-sized architectural design firms in Korea, this study was conducted to introduce the VDI system, one of the cloud computing technologies that was recently used in other industries, to the BIM environment for initial application, operation, and management. Specifically, after an analysis was carried out to see if the VDI system utilized in other industries may resolve the hindrance faced with the BIM environment in the construction industry, the KBimVdi system was created based on an algorithm for estimating server scales by analyzing the VDI system suitable for the BIM work environment. This was followed by a validation of the KBimVdi system based on selected projects carried out by small to medium-sized architectural firms where BIM was used for design work.
Development of Prediction Models for Shear Strength of Rockfill Material Using Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Ahmad Mahmood , Kamiński Paweł , Olczak Piotr , Alam Muhammad , Iqbal Muhammad Junaid , Ahmad Feezan , Sasui Sasui , Khan Beenish Jehan
Published: July 2021

Supervised machine learning and its algorithms are a developing trend in the prediction of rockfill material (RFM) mechanical properties. This study investigates supervised learning algorithms—support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), AdaBoost, and k-nearest neighbor (KNN) for the prediction of the RFM shear strength. A total of 165 RFM case studies with 13 key material properties for rockfill characterization have been applied to construct and validate the models. The performance of the SVM, RF, AdaBoost, and KNN models are assessed using statistical parameters, including the coefficient of determination (R2), Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) coefficient, root mean square error (RMSE), and ratio of the RMSE to the standard deviation of measured data (RSR). The applications for the abovementioned models for predicting the shear strength of RFM are compared and discussed. The analysis of the R2 together with NSE, RMSE, and RSR for the RFM shear strength data set demonstrates that the SVM achieved a better prediction performance with (R2 = 0.9655, NSE = 0.9639, RMSE = 0.1135, and RSR = 0.1899) succeeded by the RF model with (R2 = 0.9545, NSE = 0.9542, RMSE = 0.1279, and RSR = 0.2140), the AdaBoost model with (R2 = 0.9390, NSE = 0.9388, RMSE = 0.1478, and RSR = 0.2474), and the KNN with (R2 = 0.6233, NSE = 0.6180, RMSE = 0.3693, and RSR = 0.6181). Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis result shows that normal stress was the key parameter affecting the shear strength of RFM.
Impact of Computer-Based Assessments on the Science’s Ranks of Secondary Students
Authors: Soto Rodríguez Eduardo A. , Fernández Vilas Ana , Díaz Redondo Rebeca P.
Published: July 2021

This study reports the impact of examining either with digital or paper-based tests in science subjects taught across the secondary level. With our method, we compare the percentile ranking scores of two cohorts earned in computer- and paper-based teacher-made assessments to find signals of a testing mode effect. It was found that overall, at cohort and gender levels, pupils were rank-ordered equivalently in both testing modes. Furthermore, females and top-achieving pupils were the two subgroups where the differences between modes were smaller. The practical implications of these findings are discussed from the lens of a case study and the doubt about whether regular schools could afford to deliver high-stakes computer-based tests.
On the Use of Quality Models to Address Distinct Quality Views
Authors: Galli Tamas , Chiclana Francisco , Siewe Francois
Published: July 2021

Different software product quality models interpret different amounts of information, i.e., they can capture and address different manifestations of software quality. This characteristic can cause misleading statements and misunderstandings while explaining or comparing the results of software product quality assessments. A total of 23 previously identified distinct software product quality models are analysed on how they handle the abstract notion of quality, and a taxonomy on the quality manifestations that the individual software product quality models are able to capture is established. Quality models that are able to solely describe the quality manifestation of the source code are attractive due to their full automation potential through static code analysers, but their assessment results ignore a huge part of software product quality, which is the one that most impresses the end user. The manifestations of software product quality that address the behaviour of the software while it operates, or the perception of the end user with regard to the software in use, require human involvement in the quality assessment. The taxonomy contributes to interpreting the quality assessment results of different quality models by showing the possible quality manifestations that can be captured by the identified models; moreover, the taxonomy also provides assistance while selecting a quality model for a given project. The quality manifestations used for the quality measurement always need to be presented, otherwise the quality assessment results cannot be interpreted in an appropriate manner.
The Role of Food Supplementation in Microcirculation—A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Raposo António , Saraiva Ariana , Ramos Fernando , Carrascosa Conrado , Raheem Dele , Bárbara Rita , Silva Henrique
Published: July 2021

(1) Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major public health concern worldwide and a key cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. Accumulating evidence shows that several CVD forms are characterized by significant microcirculatory dysfunction, which may both cause and be caused by macrovascular disease, often preceding clinical manifestations by several years. Therefore, interest in exploring food supplements to prevent and restore microcirculation has grown. Given the continuous need to expand the available therapeutic arsenal for CVD, the food supplements market has recently grown and is expected to continue growing. (2) Methods: We provide an authoritative up-to-date comprehensive review of the impact of food supplementation on microcirculation by analyzing the European and American legal food supplements framework and the importance of food safety/food quality in this industry. We review the main literature about food bioactive compounds with a focus on microcirculation and some main food supplements with proven benefits. (3) Results: Despite a lack of scientific evidence, diet and microcirculatory function are clearly connected. The main food supplement examples in the literature with potential beneficial effects on microcirculation are: Ruscus aculeatus L., Centella asiatica L., Ginkgo biloba L., Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, Crataegus spp., Ginseng, Mangifera indica L., Aesculus hippocastanum L., Hamamelis virginiana L., and Vitis vinifera L. (4) Conclusions: Further clinical trials are necessary to better explore the effects of these food supplements.
Phytochemical Analysis and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Different Ethanolic Phyto-Extracts of Artemisia annua L.
Authors: Abate Giulia , Zhang Leilei , Pucci Mariachiara , Morbini Giulia , Mac Sweeney Eileen , Maccarinelli Giuseppina , Ribaudo Giovanni , Gianoncelli Alessandra , Uberti Daniela , Memo Maurizio , Lucini Luigi , Mastinu Andrea
Published: July 2021

Artemisia annua L. (AA) has shown for many centuries important therapeutic virtues associated with the presence of artemisinin (ART). The aim of this study was to identify and quantify ART and other secondary metabolites in ethanolic extracts of AA and evaluate the biological activity in the presence of an inflammatory stimulus. In this work, after the extraction of the aerial parts of AA with different concentrations of ethanol, ART was quantified by HPLC and HPLC-MS. In addition, anthocyanins, flavanols, flavanones, flavonols, lignans, low-molecular-weight phenolics, phenolic acids, stilbenes, and terpenes were identified and semi-quantitatively determined by UHPLC-QTOF-MS untargeted metabolomics. Finally, the viability of human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) was evaluated in the presence of the different ethanolic extracts and in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The results show that ART is more concentrated in AA samples extracted with 90% ethanol. Regarding the other metabolites, only the anthocyanins are more concentrated in the samples extracted with 90% ethanol. Finally, ART and all AA samples showed a protective action towards the pro-inflammatory stimulus of LPS. In particular, the anti-inflammatory effect of the leaf extract of AA with 90% ethanol was also confirmed at the molecular level since a reduction in TNF-α mRNA gene expression was observed in SH-SY5Y treated with LPS.
Glycobiology of the Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
Authors: Pucci Michela , Malagolini Nadia , Dall’Olio Fabio
Published: July 2021

Glycosylation consists in the covalent, enzyme mediated, attachment of sugar chains to proteins and lipids. A large proportion of membrane and secreted proteins are indeed glycoproteins, while glycolipids are fundamental component of cell membranes. The biosynthesis of sugar chains is mediated by glycosyltransferases, whose level of expression represents a major factor of regulation of the glycosylation process. In cancer, glycosylation undergoes profound changes, which often contribute to invasion and metastasis. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key step in metastasis formation and is intimately associated with glycosylation changes. Numerous carbohydrate structures undergo up- or down-regulation during EMT and often regulate the process. In this review, we will discuss the relationship with EMT of the N-glycans, of the different types of O-glycans, including the classical mucin-type, O-GlcNAc, O-linked fucose, O-linked mannose and of glycolipids. Finally, we will discuss the role in EMT of galectins, a major class of mammalian galactoside-binding lectins. While the expression of specific carbohydrate structures can be used as a marker of EMT and of the propensity to migrate, the manipulation of the glycosylation machinery offers new perspectives for cancer treatment through inhibition of EMT.
YTHDF1 Promotes Cyclin B1 Translation through m6A Modulation and Contributes to the Poor Prognosis of Lung Adenocarcinoma with KRAS/TP53 Co-Mutation
Authors: Lou Xiaoying , Ning Jinfeng , Liu Wei , Li Kexin , Qian Benheng , Xu Danfei , Wu Yue , Zhang Donghong , Cui Wei
Published: July 2021

KRAS and TP53 mutations are the two most common driver mutations in patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), and they appear to reduce latency and increase metastatic proclivity when a KRAS and TP53 co-mutation (KRAS/TP53-mut) occurs. However, the molecular mechanism involved is unclear. N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the most abundant RNA modification in mammal mRNAs, plays a critical role in tumorigenesis. Here, we used genomic and transcriptomic data and found that only LUAD patients with KRAS/TP53-mut, but not an individual mutation, appeared to exhibit poor overall survival when compared with patients without KRAS and TP53 mutation (wildtype). Subsequently, we analyzed the differential expression of the 15-m6A-related genes in LUAD with different mutations and found that YTHDF1 was the most upregulated in KRAS/TP53-mut patients and associated with their adverse prognosis. Bioinformatics and experimental evidence indicated that elevated YTHDF1 functionally promoted the translation of cyclin B1 mRNA in an m6A-dependent manner, thereby facilitating the tumor proliferation and poor prognosis of LUAD with KRAS/TP53-mut. Furthermore, the concurrent increase in YTHDF1 and cyclin B1 was confirmed by immunohistochemistry staining in patients with co-occurring KRAS/TP53 mutations. YTHDF1 was correlated with an unfavorable clinical stage and tumor size. Collectively, we identified and confirmed a novel “YTHDF1–m6A–cyclin B1 translation” axis as an essential molecular pathway for the prognosis of KRAS/TP53-mut LUAD.
Effects of Land-Related Policies on Deforestation in a Protected Area: The Case Study of Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, Bangladesh
Authors: Hossain Mohammad Ismail , Numata Shinya
Published: July 2021

In protected areas (PAs) in Bangladesh, as policies shift from net deforestation, conservation initiatives and various management plans have been implemented to reduce deforestation and include public participation at multiple levels. However, the interactive effect of land-related policies on deforestation in PAs is poorly understood. In this study, land-use change analysis using geographic information system data was performed to investigate how policies affected land use and land cover change in Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary (RKWS), particularly the National Forest Policy (1979~), National Land Policy (2001~), and Agricultural Land Policy (1999~), using a series of Landsat images captured at different times. Our analyses showed that the total forest area increased in the 1994–2005 period when a plantation program was implemented, and also that many forest areas were replaced with noncommercial agricultural land areas in the 2005–2013 and 2013–2018 periods, when land zoning and co-management programs were implemented under different land-related policies. Commercial and non-commercial agricultural land expansions were the main drivers of deforestation, suggesting that several programs under the different land-related policies could have had synergetic effects on deforestation even in PAs. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering the undesirable effects of land-related policies in Pas, and the need to support the community for forest conservation.
Designing a Suitable Stability Protocol in the Face of a Changing Retail Landscape
Authors: Kirkbride Laura , Humphries Laura , Kozielska Paulina , Curtis Hannah
Published: July 2021

Many recommended stability practices have been unchanged for decades and yet the retail landscape has considerably evolved during that time. First, as a result of the rise of social media and second in the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic. This article reviews the published guidelines available to the cosmetic scientist when developing a suitable stability protocol and considers them in the context of a changing retail landscape. It sets the context with a background to stability testing and a summary of the relevant regulations across different territories. It outlines the current recommended guidelines for stability testing as stated in publications, including the International Federation of the Societies of Cosmetic Chemists (IFSCC) monograph and Cosmetics Europe. Modern advances in stability testing are also considered including early stability prediction techniques. The article concludes that accelerated stability testing is not a precise science, rather a prediction of shelf life. Scientists must consider the various modes of transport, sizes of shipments and regulation in the country of destination as well as the new and emerging ways of consumer production interaction when developing a suitable stability protocol for their formulation.
The Role of Exercise Doppler Echocardiography to Unmask Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Selected Patients with Systemic Sclerosis and Equivocal Baseline Echocardiographic Values for Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Rallidis Loukianos S. , Papangelopoulou Konstantina , Anthi Anastasia , Tsangaris Iraklis , Varounis Christos , Makavos Georgios , Konstantonis Dimitrios , Vlachoyiannopoulos Panagiotis , Orfanos Stylianos E. , Iliodromitis Efstathios K.
Published: July 2021

Recently, a lower mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) cutoff of >20 mmHg for pulmonary hypertension (PH) definition has been proposed. We examined whether exercise Doppler echocardiography (EDE) can unmask PA hypertension (PAH) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients whose baseline echocardiography for PH is equivocal. We enrolled 49 patients with SSc who underwent treadmill EDE. Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) velocity was recorded immediately after EDE. Inotropic reserve of right ventricle (RV) was assessed by the change (post-prior to exercise) of tissue Doppler imaging-derived peak systolic velocity (S) of tricuspid annulus. Inclusion criteria comprised preserved left and RV function, and baseline TR velocity between 2.7 and 3.2 m/s. All patients had right-heart catheterization (RHC) within 48 h after EDE. From 46 patients with good quality of post-exercise TR velocity, RHC confirmed PAH in 21 (45.6%). Post-exercise TR velocity >3.4 m/s had a sensitivity of 90.5%, a specificity of 80% and an accuracy of 84.8% in detecting PAH. Inotropic reserve of RV was positively correlated with maximum achieved workload in METs (r = 0.571, p < 0.001). EDE has a good diagnostic accuracy for the identification of PAH in selected SSc patients whose baseline echocardiographic measurements for PH lie in the gray zone, and it is also potentially useful in assessing RV contractile reserve.
Identification of Dipeptidyl Peptidase (DPP) Family Genes in Clinical Breast Cancer Patients via an Integrated Bioinformatics Approach
Authors: Choy Tak-Kee , Wang Chih-Yang , Phan Nam Nhut , Khoa Ta Hoang Dang , Anuraga Gangga , Liu Yen-Hsi , Wu Yung-Fu , Lee Kuen-Haur , Chuang Jian-Ying , Kao Tzu-Jen
Published: July 2021

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease involving complex interactions of biological processes; thus, it is important to develop therapeutic biomarkers for treatment. Members of the dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) family are metalloproteases that specifically cleave dipeptides. This family comprises seven members, including DPP3, DPP4, DPP6, DPP7, DPP8, DPP9, and DPP10; however, information on the involvement of DPPs in breast cancer is lacking in the literature. As such, we aimed to study their roles in this cancerous disease using publicly available databases such as cBioportal, Oncomine, and Kaplan–Meier Plotter. These databases comprise comprehensive high-throughput transcriptomic profiles of breast cancer across multiple datasets. Furthermore, together with investigating the messenger RNA expression levels of these genes, we also aimed to correlate these expression levels with breast cancer patient survival. The results showed that DPP3 and DPP9 had significantly high expression profiles in breast cancer tissues relative to normal breast tissues. High expression levels of DPP3 and DPP4 were associated with poor survival of breast cancer patients, whereas high expression levels of DPP6, DPP7, DPP8, and DPP9 were associated with good prognoses. Additionally, positive correlations were also revealed of DPP family genes with the cell cycle, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, kappa-type opioid receptor, and immune response signaling, such as interleukin (IL)-4, IL6, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interferon (IFN)-alpha/beta. Collectively, DPP family members, especially DPP3, may serve as essential prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer.
STEM vs. STEAM Education and Student Creativity: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Aguilera David , Ortiz-Revilla Jairo
Published: July 2021

STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) is an educational approach that is now accompanied by the STEAM (STEM + Arts) variant. Both educational approaches seek to renew the scientific literacy of younger generations, and, with the inclusion of the arts, student creativity is described as a key skill that must receive special attention. A review is therefore presented here of empirical STEM and STEAM-based educational interventions so as to determine their potential to develop student creativity. A systematic search of papers over one decade, 2010–2020, found 14 didactic interventions on the Web of Science and Scopus databases for analysis within the review process. The analysis suggested that: (1) the interventions based both on STEM and STEAM have multiple and even contradictory forms, both in theory and in practice; (2) there appears to be a preference among researchers for the Likert-type test to evaluate creativity; and (3) both educational approaches show evidence of positive effects on student creativity. In the light of the principal findings, it was concluded that arguing for the implementation of STEAM education over STEM education, with a view to developing or promoting student creativity, is not in agreement with the evidence from the empirical studies.
Battery Durability and Reliability under Electric Utility Grid Operations: Analysis of On-Site Reference Tests
Authors: Dubarry Matthieu , Tun Moe , Baure George , Matsuura Marc , Rocheleau Richard E.
Published: July 2021

Grid-tied energy storage will play a key role in the reduction of carbon emissions. Systems based on Li-ion batteries could be good candidates for the task, especially those using lithium titanate negative electrodes. In this work, we will present the study of seven years of usage of a lithium titanate-based battery energy storage system on an isolated island grid. We will show that, even after seven years, the modules’ capacity loss is below 10% and that overall the battery is still performing within specifications. From our results, we established a forecast based on the internal degradation mechanisms of the hottest and coldest modules to show that the battery full lifetime on the grid should easily exceed 15 years. We also identified some inaccuracies in the online capacity estimation methodology which complicates the monitoring of the system.