bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Large Multidomain Protein NMR: HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase Precursor in Solution
Authors: Ilina Tatiana V. , Xi Zhaoyong , Brosenitsch Teresa , Sluis-Cremer Nicolas , Ishima Rieko
Published: December 2020

NMR studies of large proteins, over 100 kDa, in solution are technically challenging and, therefore, of considerable interest in the biophysics field. The challenge arises because the molecular tumbling of a protein in solution considerably slows as molecular mass increases, reducing the ability to detect resonances. In fact, the typical 1H-13C or 1H-15N correlation spectrum of a large protein, using a 13C- or 15N-uniformly labeled protein, shows severe line-broadening and signal overlap. Selective isotope labeling of methyl groups is a useful strategy to reduce these issues, however, the reduction in the number of signals that goes hand-in-hand with such a strategy is, in turn, disadvantageous for characterizing the overall features of the protein. When domain motion exists in large proteins, the domain motion differently affects backbone amide signals and methyl groups. Thus, the use of multiple NMR probes, such as 1H, 19F, 13C, and 15N, is ideal to gain overall structural or dynamical information for large proteins. We discuss the utility of observing different NMR nuclei when characterizing a large protein, namely, the 66 kDa multi-domain HIV-1 reverse transcriptase that forms a homodimer in solution. Importantly, we present a biophysical approach, complemented by biochemical assays, to understand not only the homodimer, p66/p66, but also the conformational changes that contribute to its maturation to a heterodimer, p66/p51, upon HIV-1 protease cleavage.
Real-Time LFO Damping Enhancement in Electric Networks Employing PSO Optimized ANFIS
Authors: Pathan Md Ilius Hasan , Rana Md Juel , Shahriar Mohammad Shoaib , Shafiullah Md , Zahir Md. Hasan , Ali Amjad
Published: December 2020

In recent years, machine learning (ML) tools have gained tremendous momentum and received wide-spread attention in different segments of modern-day life. As part of digital transformation, the power system industry is one of the pioneers in adopting such attractive and efficient tools for various applications. Apparently, a nonthreatening, but slow-burning issue of the electric power systems is the low-frequency oscillations (LFO), which, if not dealt with appropriately and on time, could result in complete network failure. This paper addresses the role of a prominent ML family member, particle swarm optimization (PSO) tuned adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) for real-time enhancement of LFO damping in electric power system networks. It adopts and models two power system networks where in the first network, the synchronous machine is equipped with only a power system stabilizer (PSS), and in the other, the PSS of the synchronous machine is coordinated with the unified power flow controller (UPFC), a second-generation flexible alternating current transmission system (FACTS) device. Then, it develops the proposed ML approach to enhance LFO damping for both adopted networks based on the customary practices of statistical judgment. The performance measuring metrics of power system stability, including the minimum damping ratio (MDR), eigenvalue, and time-domain simulation, were used to analyze the developed approach. Moreover, the paper presents a comparative analysis and discussion with the referenced works’ achieved results to conclude the proposed PSO-ANFIS technique’s ability to enhance power system stability in real-time by damping out the unwanted LFO.
Perioperative Myocardial Infarction/Myocardial Injury Is Associated with High Hospital Mortality in Elderly Patients Undergoing Hip Fracture Surgery
Authors: Rostagno Carlo , Cartei Alessandro , Rubbieri Gaia , Ceccofiglio Alice , Magni Agnese , Forni Silvia , Civinini Roberto , Boccaccini Alberto
Published: December 2020

Cardiovascular complications in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery are associated with longer hospital stays and higher in-hospital mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of in-hospital myocardial infarction and/or myocardial injury in patients undergoing hip fracture surgery and their association with mortality. Moreover, we evaluated the prognostic value of troponin increase stratified on the basis of peak troponin value. The electronic records of 1970 consecutive hip fracture patients were reviewed. Patients <70 years, those with myocardial infarction <30 days, and those with sepsis or active cancer were excluded from the study. Troponin and ECG were obtained at admission and then at 12, 24, and 48 h after surgery. Echocardiography was made before and within 48 h after surgery. Myocardial injury was defined by peak troponin I levels > 99th percentile. A total of 1854 patients were included. An elevated troponin concentration was observed in 754 (40.7%) patients in the study population. Evidence of myocardial ischemia, fulfilling diagnosis of myocardial infarction, was found in 433 (57%). ECG and echo abnormalities were more frequent in patients with higher troponin values; however, mortality did not differ between patients with and without evidence of ischemia. Peak troponin was between 0.1 and 1 µg/L in 593 (30.3%). A total of 191 (10%) had peak troponin I ≥ 1 µg/L, and 98 died in hospital (5%). Mortality was significantly higher in both groups with troponin increase (HR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.1–1.7, p < 0.001 for peak troponin I between 0.1 and 1 µg/L; HR = 2.28, 95% CI 1.72–3.02, p < 0.0001 for peak troponin ≥1 µg/L) in comparison to patients without myocardial injury. Male gender, history of coronary heart disease, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease were also associated with in-hospital mortality. Myocardial injury/infarction is associated with increased mortality after hip fracture surgery. Elevated troponin values, but not ischemic changes, are related to early worse outcome.
Four Minutes of Sprint Interval Training Had No Acute Effect on Improving Alertness, Mood, and Memory of Female Primary School Children and Secondary School Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Chua Terence , Aziz Abdul Rashid , Chia Michael
Published: December 2020

We investigated whether a 4-min sprint interval training (SIT) protocol had an acute effect (15 min after) on improving alertness, mood, and memory recall in female students. Sixty-three children and 131 adolescents were randomly assigned to either a SIT or control (CON) group by the class Physical Education (PE) teachers. The SIT intervention was delivered twice a week for 3 weeks. SIT participants performed three, 20-s ‘all-out’ effort sprints interspersed with 60-s intervals of walking while CON group sat down and rested. PE lessons were arranged such that the first two sessions were to familiarise participants with the SIT protocol leading to acute assessments conducted on the third session. On that occasion, both groups rated their alertness and mood on a single-item hedonic scale and underwent an adapted memory recall test. The same assessments were administered to both groups fifteen minutes after delivery of SIT intervention. A 4-min SIT involving three, 20 s ‘all-out’ effort intensity sprints did not have an acute main effect on improving alertness, mood and, memory recall in female children (ηp2 = 0.009) and adolescents (ηp2 = 0.012). Students’ exercise adherence and feedback from PE teachers are indicatives of the potential scalability of incorporating SIT into PE programmes. Different work-to-rest ratios could be used in future studies.
Interaction of a Solitary Wave with Vertical Fully/Partially Submerged Circular Cylinders with/without a Hollow Zone
Authors: Chang Chih-Hua
Published: December 2020

In this article, a three-dimensional, fully nonlinear potential wave model is applied based on a curvilinear grid system. This model calculates the wave action on a fully/partially submerged vertical cylinder with or without a hollow zone. As basic verification, a solitary wave hitting a single fully or partially submerged circular cylinder is tested, and our numerical results agree with the experimental results obtained by others. The influence of cylinder immersion depth and size on the wave elevation change on the cylinder surface is considered. The model is also applied to investigate the wave energy of a solitary wave passing through a hollow circular cylinder to determine the effect of the size and draft on the wave oscillating in the hollow zone.
Hormonal Contraceptive Treatment May Reduce the Risk of Fibromyalgia in Women with Dysmenorrhea: A Cohort Study
Authors: Tu Cheng-Hao , Lin Cheng-Li , Yang Su-Tso , Shen Wei-Chih , Chen Yi-Hung
Published: December 2020

Dysmenorrhea is the most common gynecological disorder for women in the reproductive age. Study has indicated that dysmenorrhea might be a general risk factor of chronic pelvic pain and even chronic non-pelvic pain, such as fibromyalgia. We used the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 from the Taiwan National Health Research Institutes Database to investigate whether women with dysmenorrhea have a higher risk of fibromyalgia and whether treatment of dysmenorrhea reduced the risk of fibromyalgia. The dysmenorrhea cohort was matched with a non-dysmenorrhea cohort at a 1:1 ratio based on gender, age, and the year of entry study by frequency matching. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to assess the risk of fibromyalgia, with controlling for potential confounding variables such as age, comorbidities, and medication use. After controlling confounding variables, results revealed that women with dysmenorrhea have a significantly higher risk of fibromyalgia than women without dysmenorrhea. However, only treatment of dysmenorrhea with hormonal contraceptives reduce the risk of fibromyalgia. These results indicated that dysmenorrhea may be a risk factor of fibromyalgia, whereas personalized medicine for treatment of dysmenorrhea may be the key to reduce the risk of fibromyalgia. Future studies are needed to identify the causes and prevention strategies in detail.
Understanding the Relationships between Extensive Livestock Systems, Land-Cover Changes, and CAP Support in Less-Favored Mediterranean Areas
Authors: Delattre Laurence , Debolini Marta , Paoli Jean Christophe , Napoleone Claude , Moulery Michel , Leonelli Lara , Santucci Pierre
Published: December 2020

Farm abandonment and over-extensification trends in less-favored livestock breeding areas in the Mediterranean have led to socio-environmental issues that are difficult to assess and address, due to the characteristics of these areas (e.g., poor data availability and reliability). In a study case that presents many of the characteristics common to these areas, we combine qualitative and quantitative approaches to assess (i) the relationship between livestock production and land-cover change and (ii) the drivers of farmer decisions, concerning the types of livestock they breed. We show that the Common Agricultural Policy’s objective of open-landscape preservation cannot be achieved through the observed livestock management practices, with the most heavily CAP subsidy-dependent activities (e.g., suckler-cow breeding) having one of the weakest contributions to this objective. We also econometrically show that suckler-cow breeding is more likely to be adopted as a complementary or main activity in farms facing a labor scarcity and land abundance context. These results complement the literature and contribute to the discussion regarding the design of CAP support for less-favored Mediterranean areas.
Information-Seeking Question Intonation in Basque Spanish and Its Correlation with Degree of Contact and Language Attitudes
Authors: Romera Magdalena , Elordieta Gorka
Published: December 2020

The present study analyzes the prosodic characteristics of the variety of Spanish in contact with Basque (in the Basque Country, Spain). We focus on information-seeking yes/no questions, which present different intonation contours in Spanish and Basque. In Castilian Spanish, these sentences end in a rising contour, whereas in Basque, they end in a falling or rising–falling circumflex contour. In our previous work, this topic was investigated among the urban populations of Bilbao and San Sebastian. The results were that 79% of information-seeking yes/no questions had final falling intonational configurations. All the speakers presented a substantial presence of final falls regardless of their linguistic profile, but there were differences among speakers in the degree of presence of such features. A correlation was observed between the dependent variable of ‘frequency of occurrence of final falls in absolute interrogatives’ and social factors, such as ‘degree of contact with Basque’ and ‘attitudes towards Basque and the Basque ethnolinguistic group’. The correlation was that the higher the degree of contact with Basque and the more positive the attitudes towards Basque and the Basque ethnolinguistic group, the greater the frequency of occurrence of final falling intonational contours in information-seeking absolute interrogatives. The interpretation of this correlation was that the adoption of the characteristic Basque prosody allows speakers to be recognized as members of the Basque community. In the present study, we focused on rural areas. Falling intonational contours at the end of information-seeking absolute interrogatives were even more common than in urban areas (93.4%), and no correlation was found with degree of contact with Basque and with attitudes towards Basque. Our interpretation is that in rural areas the presence of Basque in daily life is stronger, and that there is a consolidated variety of Spanish used by all speakers regardless of their attitudes. Thus, the adoption of intonating features of this language is not the only indicator belonging to the Basque ethnolinguistic group. Our study reveals the great relevance of subjective social factors, such as language attitudes, in the degree of convergence between two languages.
Synthesis Mechanism of an Environment-Friendly Sodium Lignosulfonate/Chitosan Medium-Density Fiberboard Adhesive and Response of Bonding Performance to Synthesis Mechanism
Authors: Ji Xiaodi , Guo Minghui , Zhu Li , Du Wenxin , Wang Hongbin
Published: December 2020

Environment-friendly medium-density fiberboards (MDFs) prepared using sodium lignosulfonate/chitosan adhesives (L/C) show potential in environment-friendly wood-based panel application. However, the synthesis mechanism of this adhesive and the relationships between synthesis mechanism and bonding performance were not discussed in depth. Herein, the synthesis mechanism of L/C was explored in detail based on characterizations of L/C with different mass ratios of sodium lignosulfonate to chitosan by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray diffraction. For L/C with different mass ratios of sodium lignosulfonate to chitosan, the corresponding bonding performance was also determined based on characterizations of mechanical and dimensional performance of MDFs. Results showed a 3D network structure of L/C formed through the hydrogen linkages among hydroxyl groups in sodium lignosulfonate and hydroxyl and amino groups in chitosan, amide linkages resulted from reaction between carbonyl groups in sodium lignosulfonate and amino groups in chitosan, and sulfonamide linkages originated from reaction between sulfonic groups in sodium lignosulfonate and amino groups in chitosan. The mechanical performance of MDF was closely related to the 3D network and amino groups of L/C, while the dimensional performance of MDF was negatively affected by sodium lignosulfonate. The MDFs with 1:3 and 1:2 mass ratios of sodium lignosulfonate to chitosan showed superior mechanical properties and comparable dimensional performance with a commercial panel.
A Three-Dimensional Random Walk Algorithm for Estimating the Chloride Diffusivity of Concrete
Authors: Rong Hua , Zhang Cong-Yan , Zheng Jian-Jun , Zhang Jian , Zhou Xin-Zhu , Zeng Bin
Published: December 2020

The chloride diffusivity of concrete is an important parameter for assessing the long-term durability of coastal concrete structures. The purpose of this paper is to present a three-dimensional random walk algorithm (RWA) for estimating the chloride diffusivity of concrete. By analyzing the size distribution of aggregates, the equivalent interfacial transition zone (ITZ) thickness is derived in an analytical manner. Each aggregate is combined with the surrounding ITZ to construct an equivalent aggregate model (EAM) and the chloride diffusivity is formulated. It is found that the equivalent ITZ thickness decreases with the increase of practical ITZ thickness and aggregate volume fraction. The aggregate gradation influences the equivalent ITZ thickness to a certain extent. The relative chloride diffusivity of the equivalent aggregate is almost directly and inversely proportional to the equivalent ITZ thickness and the aggregate radius, respectively. The numerical results show that, when the EAM is adopted, the computational time is greatly reduced. With the EAM, concrete can be modeled as a two-phase material and the chloride diffusivity is estimated by applying the RWA. It is shown that, with the increase of mean square displacement and number of Brownian particles, the average chloride diffusivity of concrete approaches a stable value. Finally, through comparison with experimental data, the validation of the RWA is preliminarily verified.
Effects of Ultrasonic Surface Rolling Processing and Subsequent Recovery Treatment on the Wear Resistance of AZ91D Mg Alloy
Authors: Zhao Xiaohui , Liu Kaichao , Xu Desheng , Liu Yu , Hu Chunhua
Published: December 2020

AZ91D Mg alloy was treated by ultrasonic surface rolling processing (USRP) and subsequent recovery treatment at different temperatures. The dry sliding friction test was performed to investigate the effects of USRP and subsequent recovery treatment on the wear resistance of AZ91D Mg alloy by a ball-on-plate tribometer. The microstructure, properties of plastic deformation layer and worn morphology were observed by optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and microhardness tester. Results illustrate that the grains of AZ91D Mg alloy surface layer are refined to nanocrystallines. The maximum microhardness of the top surface of the USRP sample reaches 102.3 HV. When USRP samples are treated by recovery treatment at 150 °C, 200 °C and 250 °C, the microhardness of the top surface decreases to 90.68 HV, 79.29 HV and 75.06 HV, respectively. The friction coefficient (FC) and wear volume loss of the USRP-R-150 sample are the lowest among all the samples. The worn surface morphology of the USRP-R-150 sample is smoother than that of other samples, indicating that the wear resistance of AZ91D Mg alloy treated by USRP and recovery treatment at 150 °C is improved significantly.
Effect of Titanium and Boron Microalloying on Sulfide Stress Cracking in C110 Casing Steel
Authors: Luo Ming , Zhang Zhong-Hua , Liu Yao-Heng , Li Mou-Cheng
Published: December 2020

The effect of Ti and B microalloying on the hardenability, prior austenite grain size (PAGS), mechanical properties, and sulfide stress cracking (SSC) of C110 grade steel was studied by Jominy testing, static tensile testing, an optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and double cantilever beam (DCB) testing. The results show that the addition of 0.015% Ti and 0.002% B into a medium-carbon Fe-Cr-Mo-Nb-V steel increased the hardenability and refined the PAGS and quenched martensite packets, and the size of carbides was reduced. It is believed that these behaviors are responsible for the improvement in the threshold stress intensity factor KISSC.
Fabrication and Magneto-Optical Property of (Dy0.7Y0.25La0.05)2O3 Transparent Ceramics by PLSH Technology
Authors: Zhou Ding , Li Xiaohui , Wang Tun , Xu Jiayue , Wang Zhanyong , Shi Ying , Permin Dmitry , Balabanov Stanislav S.
Published: December 2020

(Dy0.7Y0.25La0.05)2O3 magneto-optical transparent ceramics were successfully fabricated by pressureless sintering in reductive H2 atmosphere (PLSH). The raw powder of (Dy0.7Y0.25La0.05)2O3 was synthesized by a modified self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) and sintered to transparent ceramics at 1400–1600 °C in a flowing H2 atmosphere, showing good sinterability of the as-synthesized raw powder. The magneto-optical Verdet constant of (Dy0.7Y0.25La0.05)2O3 transparent ceramics was measured to be −191.57 rad/(T·m) at a wavelength of 632.8 nm. In this magneto-optical material of (Dy0.7Y0.25La0.05)2O3, relative cheaper Dy and Y were used to replace Tb, and the low cost and good magneto-optical property showed the advantage of application on Faraday isolators (FIs) and Faraday rotators (FRs).
Lanthanoid-Anilato Complexes and Lattices
Authors: Benmansour Samia , Gómez-García Carlos J.
Published: December 2020

In this review, we describe all the structurally characterized complexes containing lanthanoids (Ln, including La and group 3 metals: Y and Lu) and any anilato-type ligand (3,6-disubstituted-2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone dianion = C6O4X22−). We present all the anilato-Ln compounds including those where, besides the anilato-type ligand, there is one or more coligands or solvent molecules coordinated to the lanthanoid ions. We show the different structural types observed in these compounds: from discrete monomers, dimers and tetramers to extended 1D, 2D and 3D lattices with different topologies. We also revise the magnetic properties of these Ln-anilato compounds, including single-molecule magnet (SMM) and single-ion magnet (SIM) behaviours. Finally, we show the luminescent and electrochemical properties of some of them, their gas/solvent adsorption/absorption and exchange capacity and the attempts to prepare them as thin films.
On the ‘Definability of Definable’ Problem of Alfred Tarski
Authors: Kanovei Vladimir , Lyubetsky Vassily
Published: December 2020

In this paper we prove that for any m≥1 there exists a generic extension of L, the constructible universe, in which it is true that the set of all constructible reals (here subsets of ω) is equal to the set D1m of all reals definable by a parameter free type-theoretic formula with types bounded by m, and hence the Tarski ‘definability of definable’ sentence D1m∈D2m (even in the form D1m∈D21) holds for this particular m. This solves an old problem of Alfred Tarski (1948). Our methods, based on the almost-disjoint forcing of Jensen and Solovay, are significant modifications and further development of the methods presented in our two previous papers in this Journal.
The Possibilities of Gamifying the Mathematical Curriculum in the Early Childhood Education Stage
Authors: Marín-Díaz Verónica , Sampedro-Requena Begoña E. , Muñoz-Gonzalez Juan M. , Jiménez-Fanjul Noelia N.
Published: December 2020

The addition of gamification to the classroom as a methodological tool means that the teacher’s opinion about this has become an inflection point that can affect its use or not in the classroom. In this sense, the main objective of the present article is to explore the opinion of future Early Childhood education teachers on the use of this resource for the development of the mathematics curriculum at this education stage and to obtain an explanatory model that explains it. The design of the study utilized a descriptive perspective and a cross-sectional quantitative focus through a quantitative exploratory study. For data collection, an ad hoc questionnaire was utilized, which was administered to a sample of 232 teachers-in-training. The main result obtained was that the future early childhood education professionals considered that gamification could be a resource for the learning of specific mathematics contents, and this was shaped around a model of two elements. On one hand, the development of mathematical thinking, and on the other, the establishment of relationships between mathematical concepts. Lastly, we can conclude that elements such as age or gender do not determine the perception of the use of gamification in the early childhood education classroom.
Greening the Financial System in USA, Canada and Brazil: A Panel Data Analysis
Authors: Batrancea Ioan , Batrancea Larissa , Maran Rathnaswamy Malar , Tulai Horia , Fatacean Gheorghe , Rus Mircea-Iosif
Published: December 2020

Each country designs its own scheme to achieve green financing and, in general, credit is considered to be a fundamental source of greening financial systems. The novelty of this study resides in that we examined green financing initiatives in USA, Canada and Brazil by focusing on major components of the financial systems before, during and after the 2008 world financial crisis. By means of panel data analysis conducted on observations ranging across the period 1970–2018, we investigated variables such as domestic credit from banks, domestic credit from the financial sector, GDP, N2O emissions, CO2 emissions and the value added from agriculture, forest and fishing activities. According to our findings, domestic credit from banks was insufficient to achieve green financing. Namely, in order to increase economic growth while reducing global warming and climate change, the financial sector should assume a bigger role in funding green investments. Moreover, our results showed that domestic credit from the financial sector contributed to green financing, while CO2 emissions remained a challenge in capping global warming at the 1.5 °C level. Our empirical study supports the idea that economic growth together with policies targeting climate change and global warming can contribute to green financing. Over and above that, governments should strive to design sustainable fiscal and monetary policies that promote green financing.
Threshold-Based Post-Quantum Secure Verifiable Multi-Secret Sharing for Distributed Storage Blockchain
Authors: Mesnager Sihem , Sınak Ahmet , Yayla Oğuz
Published: December 2020

Blockchain systems store transaction data in the form of a distributed ledger where each node stores a copy of all data, which gives rise to storage issues. It is well-known that the tremendous storage and distribution of the block data are common problems in blockchain systems. In the literature, some types of secret sharing schemes are employed to overcome these problems. The secret sharing method is one of the most significant cryptographic protocols used to ensure the privacy of the data. The main purpose of this paper is to improve the recent distributed storage blockchain systems by proposing an alternative secret sharing method. We first propose a secure threshold verifiable multi-secret sharing scheme that has the verification and private communication steps based on post-quantum lattice-based hard problems. We then apply the proposed threshold scheme to the distributed storage blockchain (DSB) system to share transaction data at each block. In the proposed DSB system, we encrypt the data block with the AES-256 encryption algorithm before distributing it among nodes at each block, and both its secret key and the hash value of the block are privately shared among nodes simultaneously by the proposed scheme. Thereafter, in the DSB system, the encrypted data block is encoded by the Reed–Solomon code, and it is shared among nodes. We finally analyze the storage and recovery communication costs and the robustness of the proposed DSB system. We observe that our approach improves effectively the recovery communication cost and makes it more robust compared to the previous DSB systems. It also improves extremely the storage cost of the traditional blockchain systems. Furthermore, the proposed scheme brings to the DSB system the desirable properties such as verification process and secret communication without private channels in addition to the known properties of the schemes used in the previous DSB systems. As a result of the flexibility on the threshold parameter of the scheme, a diverse range of qualified subsets of nodes in the DSB system can privately recover the secret values.
Scheduling Optimization in Flowline Manufacturing Cell Considering Intercell Movement with Harmony Search Approach
Authors: Huang Zhuang , Yang Jianjun
Published: December 2020

Based on the non-permutation property of intercell scheduling in flowline manufacturing cells, a hybrid harmony search algorithm is proposed to solve the problem with the makespan criterion. On the basis of the basic harmony search algorithm, the three key elements of memory consideration, pitch adjustment and random selection are discretized and improved to adapt to the operation-based encoding. To compare the performance, different scale cases are generated in both the overall solution and the two-stage solution with the proposed algorithm, the hybrid particle swarm optimization algorithm and the hybrid genetic algorithm. The relative deviation is taken as the performance index. The compared results show that a better solution can be obtained with the proposed algorithm in both the overall solution and the two-stage solution, verifying the superior performance of the proposed algorithm.
Mixed Mechanisms for Auctioning Ranked Items
Authors: Alonso Estrella , Sánchez-Soriano Joaquín , Tejada Juan
Published: December 2020

This paper deals with the problem of designing and choosing auctioning mechanisms for multiple commonly ranked objects as, for instance, keyword auctions in search engines on Internet. We shall adopt the point of view of the auctioneer who has to select the auction mechanism to be implemented not only considering its expected revenue, but also its associated risk. In order to do this, we consider a wide parametric family of auction mechanisms which contains the generalizations of discriminatory-price auction, uniform-price auction and Vickrey auction. For completeness, we also analyze the Generalized Second Price (GSP) auction which is not in the family. The main results are: (1) all members of the family satisfy the four basic properties of fairness, no over-payment, optimality and efficiency, (2) the Bayesian Nash equilibrium and the corresponding value at risk for the auctioneer are obtained for the considered auctions, (3) the GSP and all auctions in the family provide the same expected revenue, (4) there are new interesting auction mechanisms in the family which have a lower value at risk than the GSP and the classical auctions. Therefore, a window opens to apply new auction mechanisms that can reduce the risk to be assumed by auctioneers.
Marine Compounds and Cancer: Updates 2020
Authors: Dyshlovoy Sergey A. , Honecker Friedemann
Published: December 2020

By the end of the year 2020, there are nine marine-derived anticancer drugs available on the market, and the field is currently growing exponentially [...]
Hypercholesterolemia in Two Siblings with Resistance to Thyroid Hormones Due to Disease-Causing Variant in Thyroid Hormone Receptor (THRB) Gene
Authors: Pajek Maja , Avbelj Stefanija Magdalena , Trebusak Podkrajsek Katarina , Suput Omladic Jasna , Zerjav Tansek Mojca , Battelino Tadej , Groselj Urh
Published: December 2020

Resistance to thyroid hormone beta (RTHβ) is a syndrome characterized by a reduced response of target tissues to thyroid hormones. In 85% of cases, a pathogenic mutation in the thyroid hormone receptor beta (THRB) gene is found. The clinical picture of RTHβ is very diverse; the most common findings are goiter and tachycardia, but the patients might be clinically euthyroid. The laboratory findings are almost pathognomonic with elevated free thyroxin (fT4) levels and high or normal thyrotropin (TSH) levels; free triiodothyronin (fT3) levels may also be elevated. We present three siblings with THRB mutation (heterozygous disease-variant c.727C>T, p.Arg243Trp); two of them also had hypercholesterolemia, while all three had several other clinical characteristics of RTHβ. This is the first description of the known Slovenian cases with RTHβ due to the pathogenic mutation in the THRB gene. Hypercholesterolemia might be etiologically related with RTHβ, since the severity of hormonal resistance varies among different tissues and hypercholesterolemia in patients with THRB variants might indicate the relatively hypothyroid state of the liver. We suggest that cholesterol levels are measured in all RTHβ patients.
Structural and Biomedical Properties of Common Additively Manufactured Biomaterials: A Concise Review
Authors: Ødegaard Kristin S. , Torgersen Jan , Elverum Christer W.
Published: December 2020

Biomaterials are in high demand due to the increasing geriatric population and a high prevalence of cardiovascular and orthopedic disorders. The combination of additive manufacturing (AM) and biomaterials is promising, especially towards patient-specific applications. With AM, unique and complex structures can be manufactured. Furthermore, the direct link to computer-aided design and digital scans allows for a direct replicable product. However, the appropriate selection of biomaterials and corresponding AM methods can be challenging but is a key factor for success. This article provides a concise material selection guide for the AM biomedical field. After providing a general description of biomaterial classes—biotolerant, bioinert, bioactive, and biodegradable—we give an overview of common ceramic, polymeric, and metallic biomaterials that can be produced by AM and review their biomedical and mechanical properties. As the field of load-bearing metallic implants experiences rapid growth, we dedicate a large portion of this review to this field and portray interesting future research directions. This article provides a general overview of the field, but it also provides possibilities for deepening the knowledge in specific aspects as it comprises comprehensive tables including materials, applications, AM techniques, and references.
Highly-Sensitive Textile Pressure Sensors Enabled by Suspended-Type All Carbon Nanotube Fiber Transistor Architecture
Authors: Heo Jae Sang , Lee Keon Woo , Lee Jun Ho , Shin Seung Beom , Jo Jeong Wan , Kim Yong Hoon , Kim Myung Gil , Park Sung Kyu
Published: December 2020

Among various wearable health-monitoring electronics, electronic textiles (e-textiles) have been considered as an appropriate alternative for a convenient self-diagnosis approach. However, for the realization of the wearable e-textiles capable of detecting subtle human physiological signals, the low-sensing performances still remain as a challenge. In this study, a fiber transistor-type ultra-sensitive pressure sensor (FTPS) with a new architecture that is thread-like suspended dry-spun carbon nanotube (CNT) fiber source (S)/drain (D) electrodes is proposed as the first proof of concept for the detection of very low-pressure stimuli. As a result, the pressure sensor shows an ultra-high sensitivity of ~3050 Pa−1 and a response/recovery time of 258/114 ms in the very low-pressure range of <300 Pa as the fiber transistor was operated in the linear region (VDS = −0.1 V). Also, it was observed that the pressure-sensing characteristics are highly dependent on the contact pressure between the top CNT fiber S/D electrodes and the single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) channel layer due to the air-gap made by the suspended S/D electrode fibers on the channel layers of fiber transistors. Furthermore, due to their remarkable sensitivity in the low-pressure range, an acoustic wave that has a very tiny pressure could be detected using the FTPS.
Impact of Mediterranean Diet on Disease Activity and Gut Microbiota Composition of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
Authors: Picchianti Diamanti Andrea , Panebianco Concetta , Salerno Gerardo , Di Rosa Roberta , Salemi Simonetta , Sorgi Maria Laura , Meneguzzi Giorgia , Mariani Maria Benedetta , Rai Alessandra , Iacono Dalila , Sesti Giorgio , Pazienza Valerio , Laganà Bruno
Published: December 2020

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder in which gut and oral microbiota play a crucial role. Diet is a modifiable factor that can influence both microbiota composition and arthritis outcome; previous studies have suggested associations between dietary habits and RA, with contrasting results. We investigate the protective effect of the Mediterranean diet (MD) on disease activity and the gut microbiota profile in RA patients. Sixty consecutive RA patients were enrolled upon filling a validated 14-item questionnaire for the assessment of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (Prevention with Mediterranean Diet-PREDIMED). Then, 16S analysis was employed to explore the gut microbiota within the two cohorts of patients. Patients with high adherence to MD (20) had a significantly lower C-reactive protein (p < 0.037) and disease activity (p < 0.034) than the 40 patients with low/moderate adherence to MD. An inverse association between MD and disease activity was confirmed by multivariate analysis after adjustments for all the different demographic, clinical and serologic variables. A healthier gut microbiota composition was observed in the high adherence group, with a significant decrease in Lactobacillaceae and an almost complete absence of Prevotella copri with respect to the low/moderate adherence group. In conclusion, our findings support the protective role of MD on disease activity and microbiota composition in RA patients, and suggest the feasibility of shifting the habitual diet to modulate the gut microbiota and promote the benefits associated with MD.
Changes in the Ultrastructure of Staphylococcus aureus Treated with Cationic Peptides and Chlorhexidine
Authors: Grigor’eva Alina , Bardasheva Alevtina , Tupitsyna Anastasiya , Amirkhanov Nariman , Tikunova Nina , Pyshnyi Dmitrii , Ryabchikova Elena
Published: December 2020

Antimicrobial peptides, including synthetic ones, are becoming increasingly important as a promising tool to fight multidrug-resistant bacteria. We examined the effect of cationic peptides H2N-Arg9-Phe2-C(O)NH2 and H2N-(Lys-Phe-Phe)3-Lys-C(O)NH2 on Staphylococcus aureus, which remains one of the most harmful pathogens. Antiseptic chlorhexidine served as reference preparation. We studied viability of S. aureus and examined its ultrastructure under treatment with 100 µM of R9F2 or (KFF)3K peptides or chlorhexidine using transmission electron microscopy of ultrathin sections. Bacterial cells were sampled as kinetic series starting from 1 min up to 4 h of treatment with preparations. Both peptides caused clearly visible damage of bacteria cell membrane within 1 min. Incubation of S. aureus with R9F2 or (KFF)3K peptides led to cell wall thinning, loss of cytoplasm structure, formation of mesosome-derived multimembrane structures and “decorated fibers” derived from DNA chains. The effect of R9F2 peptides on S. aureus was more severe than the effect of (KFF)3K peptides. Chlorhexidine heavily damaged the bacteria cell wall, in particular in areas of septa formation, while cytoplasm kept its structure within the observation time. Our study showed that cell membrane damage is critical for S. aureus viability; however, we believe that cell wall disorders should also be taken into account when analyzing the effects of the mechanisms of action of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs).
Chemoprevention of DMH-Induced Early Colon Carcinogenesis in Male BALB/c Mice by Administration of Lactobacillus Paracasei DTA81
Authors: da Silva Duarte Vinícius , dos Santos Cruz Bruna Cristina , Tarrah Armin , Sousa Dias Roberto , de Paula Dias Moreira Luiza , Lemos Junior Wilson José Fernandes , Fidélis Silva Lívia Carneiro , Rocha Santana Gabriele , Licursi de Oliveira Leandro , Gouveia Peluzio Maria do Carmo , Mantovani Hilario Cuquetto , Corich Viviana , Giacomini Alessio , de Paula Sérgio Oliveira
Published: December 2020

We evaluated the effects of the probiotic candidate Lactobacillus paracasei DTA81 (DTA81) on liver oxidative stress, colonic cytokine profile, and gut microbiota in mice with induced early colon carcinogenesis (CRC) by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH). Animals were divided into four different groups (n = 6) and received the following treatments via orogastric gavage for 8 weeks: Group skim milk (GSM): 300 mg/freeze-dried skim milk/day; Group L. paracasei DTA81 (DTA81): 3 × 109 colony-forming units (CFU)/day; Group Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG): 3 × 109 CFU/day; Group non-intervention (GNI): 0.1 mL/water/day. A single DMH dose (20 mg/kg body weight) was injected intraperitoneally (i.p), weekly, in all animals (seven applications in total). At the end of the experimental period, DTA81 intake reduced hepatic levels of carbonyl protein and malondialdehyde (MDA). Moreover, low levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-17, as well as a reduced expression level of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were observed in colonic homogenates. Lastly, animals who received DTA81 showed an intestinal enrichment of the genus Ruminiclostridium and increased concentrations of caecal acetic acid and total short-chain fatty acids. In conclusion, this study indicates that the administration of the probiotic candidate DTA81 can have beneficial effects on the initial stages of CRC development.
Maternal Microbiome and Infections in Pregnancy
Authors: Amir Mohammed , Brown Julia A. , Rager Stephanie L. , Sanidad Katherine Z. , Ananthanarayanan Aparna , Zeng Melody Y.
Published: December 2020

Pregnancy induces unique changes in maternal immune responses and metabolism. Drastic physiologic adaptations, in an intricately coordinated fashion, allow the maternal body to support the healthy growth of the fetus. The gut microbiome plays a central role in the regulation of the immune system, metabolism, and resistance to infections. Studies have reported changes in the maternal microbiome in the gut, vagina, and oral cavity during pregnancy; it remains unclear whether/how these changes might be related to maternal immune responses, metabolism, and susceptibility to infections during pregnancy. Our understanding of the concerted adaption of these different aspects of the human physiology to promote a successful pregnant remains limited. Here, we provide a comprehensive documentation and discussion of changes in the maternal microbiome in the gut, oral cavity, and vagina during pregnancy, metabolic changes and complications in the mother and newborn that may be, in part, driven by maternal gut dysbiosis, and, lastly, common infections in pregnancy. This review aims to shed light on how dysregulation of the maternal microbiome may underlie obstetrical metabolic complications and infections.
Impact of Staphylococcus aureus Small Colony Variants on Human Lung Epithelial Cells with Subsequent Influenza Virus Infection
Authors: Wilden Janine J. , Hrincius Eike R. , Niemann Silke , Boergeling Yvonne , Löffler Bettina , Ludwig Stephan , Ehrhardt Christina
Published: December 2020

Human beings are exposed to microorganisms every day. Among those, diverse commensals and potential pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) compose a significant part of the respiratory tract microbiota. Remarkably, bacterial colonization is supposed to affect the outcome of viral respiratory tract infections, including those caused by influenza viruses (IV). Since 30% of the world’s population is already colonized with S. aureus that can develop metabolically inactive dormant phenotypes and seasonal IV circulate every year, super-infections are likely to occur. Although IV and S. aureus super-infections are widely described in the literature, the interactions of these pathogens with each other and the host cell are only scarcely understood. Especially, the effect of quasi-dormant bacterial subpopulations on IV infections is barely investigated. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the impact of S. aureus small colony variants on the cell intrinsic immune response during a subsequent IV infection in vitro. In fact, we observed a significant impact on the regulation of pro-inflammatory factors, contributing to a synergistic effect on cell intrinsic innate immune response and induction of harmful cell death. Interestingly, the cytopathic effect, which was observed in presence of both pathogens, was not due to an increased pathogen load.
Influence of Light and Water Activity on Growth and Mycotoxin Formation of Selected Isolates of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus
Authors: Priesterjahn Eva-Maria , Geisen Rolf , Schmidt-Heydt Markus
Published: December 2020

Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus are the main causes of aflatoxin contamination in various foods, particularly grains, as they can thrive in environments with lower water activity and higher temperatures. The growth of Aspergillus and the formation of the mycotoxins aflatoxin and cyclopiazonic acid are strongly influenced by environmental stimuli and can be reduced by modulating parameters such as water activity, pH, temperature and light during the storage. This study has two objectives—on the one hand, to assess how global warming and an increase in exposure to sunlight affect growth and mycotoxin formation, and on the other hand, how the findings from these experiments can be used to reduce fungal growth and mycotoxin formation in stored foods. Using growth substrates with two different water activities (aw 0.95, aw 0.98), together with a light incubation device consisting of different chambers equipped with diodes emitting visible light of five different wavelengths (455 nm, 470 nm, 530 nm, 590 nm, 627 nm) plus white light, we analyzed the growth and mycotoxin formation of selected Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus isolates. It was shown that light with a wavelength of 455/470 nm alone, but especially in combination with a lower water activity of aw 0.95, leads to a significant reduction in growth and mycotoxin formation, which was accompanied by reduced transcriptional activity of the responsible mycotoxin biosynthetic genes. Therefore, these results can be used to significantly reduce the growth and the mycotoxin formation of the analyzed fungi during storage and to estimate the trend of fungal infestation by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus in water activity- and light exposure-equivalent climate change scenarios. Mycotoxin-producing aspergilli can be effective and sustainably inhibited using a combination of short-wave light and lowered water activity in the substrate. A higher annual mean temperature accompanying climate change may lead to an increased spread of aflatoxin-producing fungi in areas that were previously too cold for them. On the other hand, there will be regions in the world where contamination with aflatoxin-producing fungi will be reduced due to increased drought and sun exposure.
Establishment of a Challenge Model for Sheeppox Virus Infection
Authors: Wolff Janika , Abd El Rahman Sahar , King Jacqueline , El-Beskawy Mohamed , Pohlmann Anne , Beer Martin , Hoffmann Bernd
Published: December 2020

Sheeppox virus (SPPV) together with goatpox virus and lumpy skin disease virus form the genus Capripoxvirus of the Poxviridae family. Due to their great economic importance and major impact on livelihood of small-scale farmers, OIE guidelines classify capripox viruses as notifiable diseases. In the present study, we examined pathogenesis of an Indian SPPV isolate and an Egyptian SPPV isolate in sheep. Three different infection routes were tested: (i) intravenous infection, (ii) intranasal infection and (iii) contact transmission between infected and naïve sheep. Clinical course, viremia and viral shedding as well as seroconversion were analyzed in order to establish a challenge model for SPPV infections that can be used in future vaccine studies. Next to in vivo characterization, both SPPV strains underwent next- and third-generation sequencing to obtain high quality full-length genomes for genetic characterization and comparison to already published SPPV sequences.