bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Discovery of Novel HSP27 Inhibitors as Prospective Anti-Cancer Agents Utilizing Computer-Assisted Therapeutic Discovery Approaches
Authors: Umar Haruna Isiyaku , Ajayi Adeola Temitayo , Mukerjee Nobendu , Aborode Abdullahi Tunde , Hasan Mohammad Mehedi , Maitra Swastika , Bello Ridwan O. , Alabere Hafsat O. , Sanusi Afees A. , Awolaja Olamide O. , Alshehri Mohammed M. , Chukwuemeka Prosper O. , Aljarba Nada H. , Alkahtani Saad , Malik Sumira , Alexiou Athanasios , Ghosh Arabinda , Rahman Md. Habibur
Published: August 2022

Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is a protein that works as a chaperone and an antioxidant and is activated by heat shock, environmental stress, and pathophysiological stress. However, HSP27 dysregulation is a characteristic of many human cancers. HSP27 suppresses apoptosis and cytoskeletal reorganization. As a result, it is recognized as a critical therapeutic target for effective cancer therapy. Despite the effectiveness of multiple HSP27 inhibitors in pre-clinical investigations and clinical trials, no HSP27 inhibitor has progressed to the anticancer phase of the development. These difficulties have mostly been attributable to existing anticancer therapies’ inability to target oncogenic HSP27. Highly selective HSP27 inhibitors with higher effective-ness and low toxicity led to the development of combination techniques that include computer-aided assisted therapeutic discovery and design. This study emphasizes the most recent results and roles of HSP27 in cancer and the potential for utilizing an anticancer chemical database to uncover novel compounds to inhibit HSP27.
HIV and Schistosoma Co-Exposure Leads to Exacerbated Pulmonary Endothelial Remodeling and Dysfunction Associated with Altered Cytokine Landscape
Authors: Medrano-Garcia Sandra , Morales-Cano Daniel , Barreira Bianca , Vera-Zambrano Alba , Kumar Rahul , Kosanovic Djuro , Schermuly Ralph Theo , Graham Brian B. , Perez-Vizcaino Francisco , Mathie Alistair , Savai Rajkumar , Pullamseti Soni , Butrous Ghazwan , Fernández-Malavé Edgar , Cogolludo Angel
Published: August 2022

HIV and Schistosoma infections have been individually associated with pulmonary vascular disease. Co-infection with these pathogens is very common in tropical areas, with an estimate of six million people co-infected worldwide. However, the effects of HIV and Schistosoma co-exposure on the pulmonary vasculature and its impact on the development of pulmonary vascular disease are largely unknown. Here, we have approached these questions by using a non-infectious animal model based on lung embolization of Schistosoma mansoni eggs in HIV-1 transgenic (HIV) mice. Schistosome-exposed HIV mice but not wild-type (Wt) counterparts showed augmented pulmonary arterial pressure associated with markedly suppressed endothelial-dependent vasodilation, increased endothelial remodeling and vessel obliterations, formation of plexiform-like lesions and a higher degree of perivascular fibrosis. In contrast, medial wall muscularization was similarly increased in both types of mice. Moreover, HIV mice displayed an impaired immune response to parasite eggs in the lung, as suggested by decreased pulmonary leukocyte infiltration, small-sized granulomas, and augmented residual egg burden. Notably, vascular changes in co-exposed mice were associated with increased expression of proinflammatory and profibrotic cytokines, including IFN-γ and IL-17A in CD4+ and γδ T cells and IL-13 in myeloid cells. Collectively, our study shows for the first time that combined pulmonary persistence of HIV proteins and Schistosoma eggs, as it may occur in co-infected people, alters the cytokine landscape and targets the vascular endothelium for aggravated pulmonary vascular pathology. Furthermore, it provides an experimental model for the understanding of pulmonary vascular disease associated with HIV and Schistosoma co-morbidity.
Effect of Collagen Crosslinkers on Dentin Bond Strength of Adhesive Systems: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hardan Louis , Daood Umer , Bourgi Rim , Cuevas-Suárez Carlos Enrique , Devoto Walter , Zarow Maciej , Jakubowicz Natalia , Zamarripa-Calderón Juan Eliezer , Radwanski Mateusz , Orsini Giovana , Lukomska-Szymanska Monika
Published: August 2022

This study aimed to identify the role of crosslinking agents in the resin–dentin bond strength (BS) when used as modifiers in adhesives or pretreatments to the dentin surface through a systematic review and meta-analysis. This paper was conducted according to the directions of the PRISMA 2020 statement. The research question of this review was: “Would the use of crosslinkers agents improve the BS of resin-based materials to dentin?” The literature search was conducted in the following databases: Embase, PubMed, Scielo, Scopus, and Web of Science. Manuscripts that reported the effect on the BS after the use of crosslinking agents were included. The meta-analyses were performed using Review Manager v5.4.1. The comparisons were performed by comparing the standardized mean difference between the BS values obtained using the crosslinker agent or the control group. The subgroup comparisons were performed based on the adhesive strategy used (total-etch or self-etch). The immediate and long-term data were analyzed separately. A total of 50 articles were included in the qualitative analysis, while 45 articles were considered for the quantitative analysis. The meta-analysis suggested that pretreatment with epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), carbodiimide, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), glutaraldehyde, and riboflavin crosslinking agents improved the long-term BS of resin composites to dentin (p ≤ 0.02). On the other hand, the use of proanthocyanidins as a pretreatment improved both the immediate and long-term BS values (p ≤ 0.02). When incorporated within the adhesive formulation, only glutaraldehyde, riboflavin, and EGCG improved the long-term BS to dentin. It could be concluded that the application of different crosslinking agents such as carbodiimide, EDTA, glutaraldehyde, riboflavin, and EGCG improved the long-term BS of adhesive systems to dentin. This effect was observed when these crosslinkers were used as a separate step and when incorporated within the formulation of the adhesive system.
Characterisation of a Novel Cell Line (ICR-SS-1) Established from a Patient-Derived Xenograft of Synovial Sarcoma
Authors: Kerrison William G. J. , Ning Jian , Krasny Lukas , Arthur Amani , Guljar Nafia , Elms Mark L. , Swain Amanda , Jones Robin L. , Thway Khin , Huang Paul H.
Published: August 2022

Synovial sarcoma is a rare translocation-driven cancer with poor survival outcomes, particularly in the advanced setting. Previous synovial sarcoma preclinical studies have relied on a small panel of cell lines which suffer from the limitation of genomic and phenotypic drift as a result of being grown in culture for decades. Patient-derived xenografts (PDX) are a valuable tool for preclinical research as they retain many histopathological features of their originating human tumour; however, this approach is expensive, slow, and resource intensive, which hinders their utility in large-scale functional genomic and drug screens. To address some of these limitations, in this study, we have established and characterised a novel synovial sarcoma cell line, ICR-SS-1, which is derived from a PDX model and is amenable to high-throughput drug screens. We show that ICR-SS-1 grows readily in culture, retains the pathognomonic SS18::SSX1 fusion gene, and recapitulates the molecular features of human synovial sarcoma tumours as shown by proteomic profiling. Comparative analysis of drug response profiles with two other established synovial sarcoma cell lines (SYO-1 and HS-SY-II) finds that ICR-SS-1 harbours intrinsic resistance to doxorubicin and is sensitive to targeted inhibition of several oncogenic pathways including the PI3K-mTOR pathway. Collectively, our studies show that the ICR-SS-1 cell line model may be a valuable preclinical tool for studying the biology of anthracycline-resistant synovial sarcoma and identifying new salvage therapies following failure of doxorubicin.
The Presence of PDL-1 on CD8+ Lymphocytes Is Linked to Survival in Neonatal Sepsis
Authors: Akhmaltdinova Lyudmila L. , Zhumadilova Zhibek A. , Kolesnichenko Svetlana I. , Lavrinenko Alyona V. , Kadyrova Irina A. , Avdienko Olga V. , Panibratec Lyudmila G. , Vinogradskaya Elena V.
Published: August 2022

Sepsis is life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Neonatal sepsis is the main cause of death in newborns, especially preterm infants. The pathogenesis of sepsis is based on a hyper-inflammatory syndrome combined with an immunosuppressive mechanism in sepsis. This study aimed to find critical parameters that are associated with the outcome of newborns with suspected sepsis. Understanding the association might have clinical relevance for immuno-monitoring, outcome prediction, and targeted therapy. Methods: A total of 210 newborn infants no older than 4 days with suspected sepsis at admission in Karaganda (Kazakhstan) were prospectively enrolled. Blood cultures were incubated, and pathogens in positive cultures were determined by MALDI-TOF. An immunological assay for blood cell components was conducted by flow cytometry with antibody cocktails. The diagnostic criteria for neonatal sepsis were identified by qualified neonatologists and included both clinical sepsis and/or positive blood culture. The analyzed infants were grouped into non-septic infants, surviving septic infants, and deceased septic infants. The results showed that deceased septic newborns had a lower level of CD8+ lymphocytes and higher PDL-1 expression in comparison with surviving septic newborns. PDL-1 expression on CD8+ T cells might play an immunosuppressive role during neonatal sepsis and might be used as a laboratory biomarker in the future.
Corrosion Behavior of Stainless Steels in CO2 Absorption Process Using Aqueous Solution of Monoethanolamine (MEA)
Authors: Stergioudi Fani , Baxevani Aikaterini , Florou Christina , Michailidis Nikolaos , Nessi Evie , Papadopoulos Athanasios I. , Seferlis Panagiotis
Published: August 2022

The corrosion behavior of two stainless steels (316L and 304L) was evaluated using a CO2-loaded aqueous solution of 30 wt.% monoethanolamine (MEA) with a view to simulating corrosion related mechanisms in amine treatment procedures. Corrosion behavior was experimentally evaluated as a function of CO2 loading and solution temperature, using electrochemical techniques (polarization curves, cyclic polarization, and EIS measurement). The results reveal that the aqueous MEA solution containing CO2 creates a favorable environment for the corrosion of both stainless steels. The rate of corrosion is accelerated when the temperature of the loaded MEA solution rises, which was attributed to the thermal degradation of the loaded MEA, thus causing higher kinetics of the cathodic reactions at higher temperatures. More specifically, for the SS 304L the corrosion rate is almost doubled when the solution temperature is increased from 25 °C to 40 °C and is quadrupled when the solution temperature rises to 80 °C. For the SS 316L, the corrosion rate becomes almost threefold and sixfold upon increasing temperature of the load amine solution to 40 °C and 80 °C, respectively. The overall corrosion rate of SS 316L is lower with respect to the SS 304L for the same temperature and loading conditions. The essential dependency of corrosion rate on solution type (unloaded and loaded MEA solution) demonstrates that the corrosion process and reactions are controlled by a diffusion mechanism.
Multiverse of HawkNess: A Universally-Composable MPC-Based Hawk Variant
Authors: Banerjee Aritra , Tewari Hitesh
Published: August 2022

The evolution of smart contracts in recent years inspired a crucial question: do smart contract evaluation protocols provide the required level of privacy when executing contracts on the blockchain? The Hawk (IEEE S&P ’16) paper introduces a way to solve the problem of privacy in smart contracts by evaluating the contracts off-chain, albeit with the trust assumption of a manager. To avoid the partially trusted manager altogether, a novel approach named zkHawk (IEEE BRAINS ’21) explains how we can evaluate the contracts privately off-chain using a multi-party computation (MPC) protocol instead of trusting said manager. This paper dives deeper into the detailed construction of a variant of the zkHawk protocol titled V-zkHawk using formal proofs to construct the said protocol and model its security in the universal composability (UC) framework (FOCS ’01). The V-zkHawk protocol discussed here does not support immediate closure, i.e., all the parties (n) have to send a message to inform the blockchain that the contract has been executed with corruption allowed for up to t parties, where t<n. In the most quintessential sense, the V-zkHawk is a variant because the outcome of the protocol is similar (i.e., execution of smart contract via an MPC function evaluation) to zkHawk, but we modify key aspects of the protocol, essentially creating a small trade-off (removing immediate closure) to provide UC (stronger) security. The V-zkHawk protocol leverages joint Schnorr signature schemes, encryption schemes, Non-Interactive Zero-Knowledge Proofs (NIZKs), and commitment schemes with Common Reference String (CRS) assumptions, MPC function evaluations, and assumes the existence of asynchronous, authenticated broadcast channels. We achieve malicious security in a dishonest majority setting in the UC framework.
A Large-Scale Dataset of Twitter Chatter about Online Learning during the Current COVID-19 Omicron Wave
Authors: Thakur Nirmalya
Published: August 2022

The COVID-19 Omicron variant, reported to be the most immune-evasive variant of COVID-19, is resulting in a surge of COVID-19 cases globally. This has caused schools, colleges, and universities in different parts of the world to transition to online learning. As a result, social media platforms such as Twitter are seeing an increase in conversations related to online learning in the form of tweets. Mining such tweets to develop a dataset can serve as a data resource for different applications and use-cases related to the analysis of interest, views, opinions, perspectives, attitudes, and feedback towards online learning during the current surge of COVID-19 cases caused by the Omicron variant. Therefore, this work presents a large-scale, open-access Twitter dataset of conversations about online learning from different parts of the world since the first detected case of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in November 2021. The dataset is compliant with the privacy policy, developer agreement, and guidelines for content redistribution of Twitter, as well as with the FAIR principles (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability) principles for scientific data management. The paper also briefly outlines some potential applications in the fields of Big Data, Data Mining, Natural Language Processing, and their related disciplines, with a specific focus on online learning during this Omicron wave that may be studied, explored, and investigated by using this dataset.
Impact of the Pandemic on STEAM Disciplines in the Sixth Grade of Primary Education
Authors: Dúo-Terrón Pablo , Hinojo-Lucena Francisco-Javier , Moreno-Guerrero Antonio-José , López-Belmonte Jesús
Published: August 2022

The demand for professionals entering the labor market requires knowledge and disciplines in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM). Schools are the first link to train competent students for today’s society. However, the pandemic has conditioned the teaching–learning methodologies based on promoting STEAM in educational centers, which is the reason that leads us to carry out this study. The main objective of the research is to evaluate the STEAM dimensions in the sixth grade of primary education in times of pandemic. The study method is based on a quasi-experimental, descriptive and correlational design with an experimental group and a control group. The data are collected through a validated questionnaire, pre-test and post-test, which develops an assessment of student collaboration in STEAM activities. The sample is made up of 142 Spanish students, of which 68 belong to the control group and 74 to the experimental group. The conclusions of the study highlight that the active methodologies, based on computational thinking and on makerspaces of the future classroom, influenced the STEAM dimensions of the experimental group before the pandemic. However, the pandemic and the health restrictions in face-to-face classes led to a negative assessment of the experimental group in the STEAM dimensions.
A 3DCNN-LSTM Multi-Class Temporal Segmentation for Hand Gesture Recognition
Authors: Gionfrida Letizia , Rusli Wan M. R. , Kedgley Angela E. , Bharath Anil A.
Published: August 2022

This paper introduces a multi-class hand gesture recognition model developed to identify a set of hand gesture sequences from two-dimensional RGB video recordings, using both the appearance and spatiotemporal parameters of consecutive frames. The classifier utilizes a convolutional-based network combined with a long-short-term memory unit. To leverage the need for a large-scale dataset, the model deploys training on a public dataset, adopting a technique known as transfer learning to fine-tune the architecture on the hand gestures of relevance. Validation curves performed over a batch size of 64 indicate an accuracy of 93.95% (±0.37) with a mean Jaccard index of 0.812 (±0.105) for 22 participants. The fine-tuned architecture illustrates the possibility of refining a model with a small set of data (113,410 fully labelled image frames) to cover previously unknown hand gestures. The main contribution of this work includes a custom hand gesture recognition network driven by monocular RGB video sequences that outperform previous temporal segmentation models, embracing a small-sized architecture that facilitates wide adoption.
Spectrum Sensing Based on STFT-ImpResNet for Cognitive Radio
Authors: Gai Jianxin , Zhang Linghui , Wei Zihao
Published: August 2022

Spectrum sensing is a crucial technology for cognitive radio. The existing spectrum sensing methods generally suffer from certain problems, such as insufficient signal feature representation, low sensing efficiency, high sensibility to noise uncertainty, and drastic degradation in deep networks. In view of these challenges, we propose a spectrum sensing method based on short-time Fourier transform and improved residual network (STFT-ImpResNet) in this work. Specifically, in STFT, the received signal is transformed into a two-dimensional time-frequency matrix which is normalized to a gray image as the input of the network. An improved residual network is designed to classify the signal samples, and a dropout layer is added to the residual block to mitigate over-fitting effectively. We conducted comprehensive evaluations on the proposed spectrum sensing method, which demonstrate that—compared with other current spectrum sensing algorithms—STFT-ImpResNet exhibits higher accuracy and lower computational complexity, as well as strong robustness to noise uncertainty, and it can meet the needs of real-time detection.
Microbial Community Structure and Metabolic Characteristics of Intestine and Gills of Dwarf-Form Populations of Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis in South China Sea
Authors: Hu Xiaojuan , Su Haochang , Zhang Peng , Chen Zuozhi , Xu Yu , Xu Wujie , Li Jie , Wen Guoliang , Cao Yucheng
Published: August 2022

Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis is an important biological resource in the South China Sea. However, the microbiological characteristics of this squid, especially those of the dwarf-form, are poorly understood. This study was conducted to analyze the microbial community structure and metabolic characteristics of the intestinal and gill tissues of dwarf-form populations of S. oualaniensis. The dwarf-form squids of different sexes and gonadal maturities were collected from South China Sea in spring 2020. Results showed that Mycoplasma was the most dominant group of bacteria in the intestinal samples of the females with immature gonads (FN), females at sexual maturity (FY), and males at sexual maturity (MY) and the second-highest relative abundance group in males with immature gonads (MN). The microbial community structure in squid gills differed from that of intestinal flora. The BD1-7 clade was the dominant genus in gill samples of all groups. Furthermore, the microbial community activities in gills were higher than in intestinal groups, especially FYG. The larger dwarf-form populations had microbial communities with more robust utilization of carbon sources, assessed via average well color development (AWCD). Correlation and redundancy analysis determined that AWCD significantly positively correlated with the relative abundance of BD1-7 clade (p < 0.05). The results indicated that the dominant group of bacteria and microbial community structure were different between the intestinal and gill microbial communities in the dwarf-form S. oualaniensis populations of different sexes and maturities. Moreover, the metabolic potential of the gill microbial community was higher than that of the intestinal microbial community in the dwarf-form populations.
Serre-Green-Naghdi Dynamics under the Action of the Jeffreys’ Wind-Wave Interaction
Authors: Manna Miguel Alberto , Latifi Anouchah
Published: August 2022

We derive the anti dissipative Serre-Green-Naghdi (SGN) equations in the context of nonlinear dynamics of surface water waves under wind forcing, in finite depth. The anti-dissipation occurs du to the continuos transfer of wind energy to water surface wave. We find the solitary wave solution of the system, with an increasing amplitude under the wind action. This leads to the blow-up of surface wave in finite time for infinitely large asymptotic space. This dispersive, anti-dissipative and fully nonlinear phenomenon is equivalent to the linear instability at infinite time. The theoretical blow-up time is calculated based on real experimental data. Naturally, the wave breaking takes place before the blow-up time. However, the amplitude’s growth resulting in the blow-up could be observed. Our results show that, based on the particular type of wind-wave tank data used in this paper, for h=0.14m, the amplitude growth rate is of order 0.1 which experimentally, is at the measurability limit. But we think that by gradually increasing the wind speed U10, up to 10 m/s, it is possible to have the experimental confirmation of the present theory in existing experimental facilities.
Comparison of Two Hydrological Models, HEC-HMS and SWAT in Runoff Estimation: Application to Huai Bang Sai Tropical Watershed, Thailand
Authors: Chathuranika Imiya M. , Gunathilake Miyuru B. , Baddewela Pavithra K. , Sachinthanie Erandi , Babel Mukand S. , Shrestha Sangam , Jha Manoj K. , Rathnayake Upaka S.
Published: August 2022

In the present study, the streamflow simulation capacities between the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and the Hydrologic Engineering Centre-Hydrologic Modelling System (HEC-HMS) were compared for the Huai Bang Sai (HBS) watershed in northeastern Thailand. During calibration (2007–2010) and validation (2011–2014), the SWAT model demonstrated a Coefficient of Determination (R2) and a Nash Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) of 0.83 and 0.82, and 0.78 and 0.77, respectively. During the same periods, the HEC-HMS model demonstrated values of 0.80 and 0.79, and 0.84 and 0.82. The exceedance probabilities at 10%, 40%, and 90% were 144.5, 14.5, and 0.9 mm in the flow duration curves (FDCs) obtained for observed flow. From the HEC-HMS and SWAT models, these indices yielded 109.0, 15.0, and 0.02 mm, and 123.5, 16.95, and 0.02 mm. These results inferred those high flows were captured well by the SWAT model, while medium flows were captured well by the HEC-HMS model. It is noteworthy that the low flows were accurately simulated by both models. Furthermore, dry and wet seasonal flows were simulated reasonably well by the SWAT model with slight under-predictions of 2.12% and 13.52% compared to the observed values. The HEC-HMS model under-predicted the dry and wet seasonal flows by 10.76% and 18.54% compared to observed flows. The results of the present study will provide valuable recommendations for the stakeholders of the HBS watershed to improve water usage policies. In addition, the present study will be helpful to select the most appropriate hydrologic model for humid tropical watersheds in Thailand and elsewhere in the world.
The Large and Diverse Family of Mediterranean Flat Breads: A Database
Authors: Pasqualone Antonella , Vurro Francesca , Summo Carmine , Abd-El-Khalek Mokhtar H. , Al-Dmoor Haneen H. , Grgic Tomislava , Ruiz Maria , Magro Christopher , Deligeorgakis Christodoulos , Helou Cynthia , Le-Bail Patricia
Published: August 2022

An in-depth survey was conducted by collecting information from web sources, supplemented by interviews with experts and/or bakers, to identify all the flat breads (FBs) produced in the nine Mediterranean countries involved in the FlatBreadMine Project (Croatia, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta and Spain), and to have an insight into their technical and cultural features. A database with information on 143 FB types (51 single-layered, 15 double-layered, 66 garnished, 11 fried) was established. Flours were from soft wheat (67.4%), durum wheat (13.7%), corn (8.6%), rye, sorghum, chickpea, and chestnut (together 5.2%). The raising agents were compressed yeast (55.8%), sourdough (16.7%), baking powder (9.0%), but 18.6% of FBs were unleavened. Sixteen old-style baking systems were recorded, classified into baking plates and vertical ovens (tannur and tabun). Artisanal FBs accounted for 82%, while the industrial ones for 7%. Quality schemes (national, European or global) applied to 91 FBs. Fifteen FBs were rare, prepared only for family consumption: changes in lifestyle and increasing urbanization may cause their disappearance. Actions are needed to prevent the reduction of biodiversity related to FBs. Information in the database will be useful for the selection of FBs suitable to promotional activities and technical or nutritional improvement.
Compositional Changes in the Extra Virgin Olive Oil Used as a Medium for Cheese Preservation
Authors: Klisović Dora , Koprivnjak Olivera , Novoselić Anja , Pleadin Jelka , Lešić Tina , Brkić Bubola Karolina
Published: August 2022

The influence of semi-hard (C1), hard (C2), and soft whey cheese (C3) immersed in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) on its oxidative and hydrolytic parameters, fatty acids, and phenolic composition during two months of simultaneous storage was investigated. Accelerated hydrolytic and oxidative degradation was noted in EVOO stored with the immersed cheese compared to control oil. Oxidation indicator (K232), myristic (C 14:0), and trans-oleic fatty acid (C18:1t) exceeded the prescribed limit for the EVOO category in oils stored with immersed C1 and C2, which indicated that standard analytical parameters are ineffective as tools to examine the declared quality and authenticity of such topping oils. The noted changes in fatty acid profile were primarily prescribed to the migration of fats. C1 and C2 influenced a comparable reduction in EVOO total identified phenolic content (−92.1% and −93.5%, respectively), despite having a different content of total proteins and moisture, whereas C3 influenced a slightly lower reduction (−85.0%). Besides the protein profile, other cheese compounds (e.g., moisture, carbohydrates) have been shown to have a considerable role in the development of the EVOO phenolic profile. Finally, compositional changes in EVOO used as a medium for cheese preservation are under significant influence of the cheese’s chemical composition.
Current Trends in the Production of Probiotic Formulations
Authors: Kiepś Jakub , Dembczyński Radosław
Published: August 2022

Preparations containing probiotic strains of bacteria have a beneficial effect on human and animal health. The benefits of probiotics translate into an increased interest in techniques for the preservation of microorganisms. This review compares different drying methods and their improvements, with specific reference to processing conditions, microorganisms, and protective substances. It also highlights some factors that may influence the quality and stability of the final probiotic preparations, including thermal, osmotic, oxidative, and acidic stresses, as well as dehydration and shear forces. Processing and storage result in the loss of viability and stability in probiotic formulations. Herein, the addition of protective substances, the optimization of process parameters, and the adaptation of cells to stress factors before drying are described as countermeasures to these challenges. The latest trends and developments in the fields of drying technologies and probiotic production are also discussed. These developments include novel application methods, controlled release, the use of food matrices, and the use of analytical methods to determine the viability of probiotic bacteria.
Microbiological Safety and Shelf-Life of Low-Salt Meat Products—A Review
Authors: Barcenilla Coral , Álvarez-Ordóñez Avelino , López Mercedes , Alvseike Ole , Prieto Miguel
Published: August 2022

Salt is widely employed in different foods, especially in meat products, due to its very diverse and extended functionality. However, the high intake of sodium chloride in human diet has been under consideration for the last years, because it is related to serious health problems. The meat-processing industry and research institutions are evaluating different strategies to overcome the elevated salt concentrations in products without a quality reduction. Several properties could be directly or indirectly affected by a sodium chloride decrease. Among them, microbial stability could be shifted towards pathogen growth, posing a serious public health threat. Nonetheless, the majority of the literature available focuses attention on the sensorial and technological challenges that salt reduction implies. Thereafter, the need to discuss the consequences for shelf-life and microbial safety should be considered. Hence, this review aims to merge all the available knowledge regarding salt reduction in meat products, providing an assessment on how to obtain low salt products that are sensorily accepted by the consumer, technologically feasible from the perspective of the industry, and, in particular, safe with respect to microbial stability.
Mechanical Properties and Chloride Penetration Resistance of Copper Slag Aggregate Concrete
Authors: Zhang Lu , Gong Hongyu , Liu Jianping , Li Haizhou
Published: August 2022

The authors of this paper systematically studied the mechanical properties and durability of concrete prepared with copper slag instead of natural aggregates. An analysis index was used to assess compressive strength, and a statistical method was used to establish a mix proportion design theory of copper slag aggregate concrete. The analysis was used to quantify the effect of copper slag aggregate concrete on resistance to chloride ion migration. Combined with the morphological analysis of SEM images and fractal calculations, the tests were used to explain the improvement mechanism of copper slag as a fine aggregate on concrete’s mechanics and durability from the microscopic mechanism perspective. The results showed that replacing a natural sand fine aggregate with copper slag improved the compressive strength of concrete, and the optimum replacement rate was found to be 40%. The influence of the water–cement ratio on the strength of copper slag aggregate concrete was exceptionally conspicuous—the more significant the water–cement proportion was the lower the compressive strength of the concrete. The optimum dosage of the water-reducing agent was found to be 3.8 kg/m3. A rapid chloride ion migration test and potential corrosion analysis showed that copper slag aggregate concrete’s initial density and corrosion resistance were higher than those of natural aggregate concrete. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis results showed that the structural concrete comprising copper slag aggregate instead of natural sand had a better anticorrosion effect on embedded steel bars. SEM morphology and fractal dimension analyses showed that the incorporation of steel slag aggregate decreased the initial damage to the concrete internal section.
The Polarized Emission of AGN at Millimeter Wavelengths as Seen by POLAMI
Authors: Agudo Iván , Thum Clemens
Published: August 2022

We review results from the POLAMI program, which monitors the polarization properties of 36 blazars at the IRAM 30 m telescope. We found that the variability of the degree of linear polarization is faster and of higher amplitude at 1 mm than at 3 mm and that the linear polarization is also more variable than the total flux. The linear polarization angle is highly variable in all sources with excursions > 180°; and for the case of the polarization angle, also the 1 mm variations appear to be faster than those at 3 mm. These results are fully compatible with recent multi-zone turbulent jet models, and they definitively rule out the popular single-zone models for blazars. They also further confirm that the short-wavelength (inner) emitting regions have better ordered magnetic fields than the long-wavelength ones (further downstream). Moreover, the POLAMI program has shown statistical evidence that, for most of the monitored sources, circular polarization emission is displayed the majority of the time. The circular polarization detection rate and the maximum degree of circular polarization found are comparable with previous surveys at much longer wavelengths, thus, opening a new window for circular polarization and jet composition studies in the mm range. The process generating circular polarization must not be strongly wavelength-dependent. The widespread presence of circular polarization in the POLAMI sample is likely due to Faraday conversion of the linearly polarized synchrotron radiation in the helical magnetic field of the jets. The peculiar behavior of circular polarization in 3C 66A, which we consider a hallmark of circular polarization generation by Faraday conversion in helical fields, is discussed.
Screening and Validation of SSR Molecular Markers for Identification of Downy Mildew Resistance in Intraspecific Hybrid F1 Progeny (V. vinifera)
Authors: Wang Zhilei , Wang Ying , Cao Xiao , Wu Dong , Hui Miao , Han Xing , Yao Fei , Li Yihan , Li Hua , Wang Hua
Published: August 2022

Downy mildew is a major disease that severely restricts the healthy and sustainable development of the global grape and wine industry, so there is significant interest in breeding high-quality disease-resistant varieties. In this study, hybridization was carried out between two disease-resistant and four high-quality varieties for eight hybrid combinations. The downy mildew resistance of 6 hybrid parents and 350 hybrid F1 progeny was determined by the leaf disc inoculation test, and the frequency distribution of the disease resistance grades was analyzed for the different populations. Agarose gel electrophoresis and disease resistance identification were used to screen SSR molecular markers of the tested hybrids for resistance to downy mildew. The results showed that minor disease-resistance genes in V. vinifera varieties were the main determinant of the variation in disease susceptibility among different varieties. V. vinifera resistance to downy mildew is inherited by a quantitative trait controlled by multiple genes. Intraspecific hybridization of V. vinifera can be applied to breed suitable intermediate materials or new types of disease resistance. The screening and verification of simple-sequence repeats (SSR) as molecular markers revealed that UDV-304, UDV-305, and UDV-737 could be used as standard markers for the identification of downy mildew resistance of hybrid progeny of Ecolly and Cabernet Sauvignon, UDV-305 could be used for the hybrid progeny of Meili and Cabernet Sauvignon, and VMC8g9 could be used for the hybrid progeny of Ecolly or Meili and Dunkelfelder. The disease-resistant progeny selected in this study can be used as intermediate materials for the breeding of new high-quality, disease-resistant varieties by intraspecific recurrent selection in V. vinifera. The screened standard markers can be utilized for rapid batch identification of hybrid progeny of different hybrid combinations to facilitate molecular marker-assisted breeding.
Evaluating the Response of Hydrological Stress Indices Using the CHyM Model over a Wide Area in Central Italy
Authors: Lombardi Annalina , Gallicchio Davide , Tomassetti Barbara , Raparelli Edoardo , Tuccella Paolo , Lidori Raffaele , Verdecchia Marco , Colaiuda Valentina
Published: August 2022

Central Italy is characterized by complex orography. The territorial response to heavy precipitation may activate different processes in terms of hydrogeological hazards. Floods, flash floods, and wet mass movements are the main ground effects triggered by heavy or persistent rainfall. The main aim of this work is to present a unique tool that is based on a distributed hydrological model, able to predict different rainfall-induced phenomena, and essential for the civil protection early warning activity. The Cetemps Hydrological Model is applied to the detection of hydrologically stressed areas over a spatial domain covering the central part of Italy during a weather event that occurred in 2014. The validation of three hydrological stress indices is proposed over a geographical area of approximately 64,500 km2 that includes catchments of varying size and physiography. The indices were used to identify areas subject to floods, flash floods, or landslides. Main results showed very high accuracies (~90%) for all proposed indices, with flood false alarms growing downstream to larger basins, but very close to zero in most cases. The three indices can give complementary information about the predominant phenomenon and are able to distinguish fluvial floods from pluvial floods. Nevertheless, the results were influenced by the presence of artificial reservoirs that regulated flood wave propagation, therefore, indices timing slightly worsen downstream in larger basins.
Seismic Vulnerability Assessment of Critical Port Infrastructure Components by Modelling the Soil-Wharf-Crane Interaction
Authors: Özcebe Ali Güney , Bozzoni Francesca , Borzi Barbara
Published: August 2022

This paper aims to investigate the seismic vulnerability of key port infrastructure components by using the outcomes of advanced numerical analysis. For the first time, to the best knowledge of the authors, a pile-supported wharf structure, the soil deposits where the wharf lies, and a crane typically operating on the wharf are numerically modelled as a combined system. The starting point for building the numerical model is the main components of strategic facilities at the port of Gioia Tauro (Italy), which is a strategic hub for container traffic located in one of the most seismically active regions of the Mediterranean Sea. Based on the results obtained from two-dimensional (2D) dynamic analyses, fragility curves were developed for single port components and the wharf-crane-soil system. A scenario-based seismic damage assessment was then exemplified to compare the predictions resulting from the fragility model presented in this work with the relevant data available in the literature. It turns out that, besides some inevitable variations, expected damage percentages were in general agreement. As the main contribution of this work, derived fragility curves might be adopted as an effective tool for rapid evaluation of the seismic performance of port components during the development of strategies for risk mitigation and also the emergency management in case of an earthquake.
Social Representations of Violence among Brazilian Older People with Functional Dependence
Authors: Santana Elaine , Silva Rosa , Bernardo Joana , Loureiro Ricardo , Gil Isabel , Mestre Tatiana , Reis Luciana
Published: August 2022

Elder abuse is a multifactorial public health issue deeply affected by silence and discrimination. This paper aims to analyze the social representations of violence among older people with functional dependence based on the theory of social representations. A qualitative exploratory–descriptive study was conducted with a sample of 21 older people enrolled in a home-based program in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil. A sociodemographic survey and an interview script were used for data collection. The data were analyzed using the content analysis technique and QSR NVivo® software. Concerning the social representations of violence, older people’s narratives revealed a broad perception of the phenomenon through the following categories: multivariate phenomenon, ageism, neglect, and denial. The identification of the subtle forms of violence against older people and the exploration of this issue from the perspective of these vulnerable people can contribute to the production of new knowledge and the creation of mechanisms by which to raise awareness of and prevent this issue, as well as to break the silence surrounding it through reporting.
Contractile Reserve in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Di Lisi Daniela , Ciampi Quirino , Madaudo Cristina , Manno Girolamo , Macaione Francesca , Novo Salvatore , Novo Giuseppina
Published: August 2022

Background: Diastolic stress echocardiography (SE) is useful for confirming the diagnosis of heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF) when it is uncertain. The aim of this study was to assess the value of new echocardiographic parameters during diastolic SE in patients with dyspnea and suspected HFpEF. Methods: Sixty-two patients with exertional dyspnea and inconclusive rest echocardiography for a diagnosis of HFpEF were enrolled. Exercise SE was performed in all patients. Contractile reserve (LVCR) was assessed by measuring: 1. changes in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) between rest and peak stress; 2. stress-to-rest ratio of force (force was defined as the ratio between systolic arterial pressure and left ventricular end-systolic volume); and 3. mechanical reserve, defined as the change in systolic strain (GLS) between rest and peak stress. Results: Diagnosis of HFpEF was performed by SE in 26 patients. Comparing patients with a diagnosis of HFpEF (group A) to patients with other causes of dyspnea (group B), we found a significant increase in the E/e’ ratio in group A at peak stress. LV GLS was significantly reduced in group A compared to group B at rest and stress (p value 0.01 at rest; p value 0.04 at stress). At peak stress, GLS did not significantly increase in group A, while it increased in group B (p value 0.04). LVEF increased significantly in both groups. Conclusion: Patients with HFpEF have impaired LVCR when assessed using GLS. Thus, the assessment of mechanical reserve could give additional diagnostic information during stress tests in patients with HFpEF.
Reply to Böning et al. Comment on “Ceruti et al. Temporal Changes in the Oxyhemoglobin Dissociation Curve of Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients. J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11, 788”
Authors: Ceruti Samuele , Minotti Bruno , Glotta Andrea , Biggiogero Maira , Bona Giovanni , Marzano Martino , Greco Pietro , Spagnoletti Marco , Garzoni Christian , Bendjelid Karim
Published: August 2022

We would like to thank Böning et al. for all the important issues raised in the present commentary [...]
Traffic Noise and Ambient Air Pollution Are Risk Factorsfor Preeclampsia
Authors: Bilenko Natalya , Ashin Michal , Friger Michael , Fischer Laura , Sergienko Ruslan , Sheiner Eyal
Published: August 2022

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the effect of traffic-related noise (TRN), environmental noise (EN) and traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) on preeclampsia. Methods: We followed 285 pregnant women from Maternal and Child Health Clinics who reported exposure to TRN on a scale from 0 (absence of EN) to 10 (high level of EN). EN was measured using a portable dosimeter, and NOx was calculated using the AERMOD pollutant dispersion model. Results: Using a multiple logistic regression model, adjusted for maternal age, BMI, number of births, fetal sex and maternal chronic illness, TRN (score ≥ 6 vs. score < 6) and TRAP (NOx ≥ 300 µ/m3 vs. NOx < 300 µ/m3) were noted as independent risk factors for preeclampsia, with OR = 3.07 (95% CI 0.97; 9.70, p = 0.056) and OR = 3.43 (95% CI 1.20; 9.87, p = 0.022), respectively. Joint exposure to TRN and TRAP was associated with a significant and independent risk for preeclampsia (OR of 4.11 (95% CI 1.31; 12.94, p = 0.016). Conclusions: In our population, traffic-related noise and ambient TRAP were risk factors for preeclampsia.
Lip Lifting Efficacy of Hyaluronic Acid Filler Injections: A Quantitative Assessment Using 3-Dimensional Photography
Authors: Rho Nark-Kyoung , Goo Boncheol , Youn Seong-Jae , Won Chong-Hyun , Han Kwang-Ho
Published: August 2022

The study aimed to compare the volume enhancement and the lifting capacity of two different hyaluronic acid gels for lip injection. Thirty-six Korean female patients were randomized into two groups according to the cross-linking degree of the hyaluronic acid filler injected. Using a fixed injection protocol, patients were injected with 1 mL of hyaluronic acid filler in the lips and followed up at four and 12 weeks after injection. Lip volume, lip projection, and columella–labial angle were measured using a 3-dimensional imaging system at each time point. Follow-up values were compared with baseline. Compared with pre-treatment values, there was a statistically significant increase in mean lip volume and lip projection at four and 12 weeks after injection, with no significant differences between the two groups. Lips injected with hyaluronic acid filler of intermediate cross-link density resulted in more acute angles than lips injected with lightly cross-linked hyaluronic acid. The difference was statistically significant at each follow-up time point. No serious complications were observed throughout the study period. Our results imply that in patients who want a prominent upper lip lift, lip injections using hyaluronic acid fillers with intermediate cross-linking density can be a good option due to their lift capacity. The degree of cross-linking may not be a significant determinant of simple lip volume augmentation when other variables are constant.
Oocyte Cryopreservation in Patients with Endometriosis: Current Knowledge and Number Needed to Treat
Authors: Henry Laurie , Vervier Julie , Boucher Astrid , Brichant Géraldine , Gaspard Olivier , Labied Soraya , Munaut Carine , Ravet Stéphanie , Nisolle Michelle
Published: August 2022

The rise of oocytes cryopreservation (OOC) in assisted reproductive techniques allows fertility preservation (FP) in an increasing number of indications. Endometriosis, a highly prevalent disease, potentially impairing ovarian reserve, seems, therefore, an interesting indication for it. The purpose of this study is to summarize the available evidence concerning FP by OOC in women with endometriosis and to calculate the number needed to treat (NNT). In total, 272 articles related to this topic were identified in PubMed. Eight studies were eligible for the review. In order to shed some light, a SWOT analysis was performed and the argument pros and cons were developed. The NNT calculated of OOC was 16, meaning that 16 women need to perform an OOC for one of them to have a child that she would not have had without this technique. In conclusion, OOC must be discussed with patients who suffer from endometriosis since it is an effective technique of FP, which can allow these patients to succeed a pregnancy that they otherwise would not have achieved. Nevertheless, it should not be performed in all patients as there is still a lack of robust socio-economic and risk–benefit data.