bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Actual Weight, Perceived Weight and Desired Weight of Romanian School Children by Parents and Children
Authors: Lotrean Lucia Maria , Popa Ioana , Florea Mira , Lazea Cecilia , Stanescu Ana Maria Alexandra , Lencu Codruta
Published: April 2021

Background and Objectives: The perception of the body weight by children and parents influences the consequent actions undertaken for children’s body weight management. This study investigated the correspondence between objective evaluations of Romanian school children (actual weight) and perceptions about weight (perceived weight), preoccupation with body weight management (desired weight) and parents’ perceptions on children’s weight. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was performed among 344 children aged 11 to 14 and 147 parents from Cluj-Napoca, Romania. We made anthropometric measurements of children, and short questionnaires were completed by the children and the parents. Results: The results show that 3.8% of children were underweight, 68.3% had a normal weight and 27.9% were overweight. Of this sample, 61.5% of underweight children, 20% of normal weight children and 43.7% of overweight children had misperceptions about their weight. The percentage of parents who did not estimate their children’s weight correctly was 50%, 11.9% and 41.5%, respectively, for each of the three weight groups. The results of the logistic regression analyses showed that several factors were associated with the misclassification of their own body weight by the children, such as body mass index, gender, weight management practices, misclassification by the parents as well as parent–child discussions on these issues. Conclusions: Education for both Romanian parents and children is needed with regard to correctly identifying and managing children’ body weight.
Medial Calcar Comminution and Intramedullary Nail Failure in Unstable Geriatric Trochanteric Hip Fractures
Authors: Tarrant Seth M. , Graan David , Tarrant Drew J. , Kim Raymond G. , Balogh Zsolt J.
Published: April 2021

Background and Objectives: An increasing global burden of geriatric hip fractures is anticipated. The appropriate treatment for fractures is of ongoing interest and becoming more relevant with an aging population and finite health resources. Trochanteric fractures constitute approximately half of all hip fractures with the medial calcar critical to fracture stability. In the management of unstable trochanteric fractures, it is assumed that intramedullary nails and longer implants will lead to less failure. However, the lack of power, inclusion of older generation femoral nails, and a variable definition of stability complicate interpretation of the literature. Materials and Methods: Between January 2012 and December 2017, a retrospective analysis of operatively treated geriatric trochanteric hip fracture patients were examined at a Level 1 Trauma Centre. The treatment was with a long and short version of one type of trochanteric nail. Unstable trochanteric fractures with medial calcar comminution were examined (AO31A2.3, 2.3 & 3.3). The length of the medial calcar loss, nail length, demographics, fracture morphology, and relevant technical factors were examined in univariate and multivariate analysis using competing risk regression analysis. The primary outcome was failure of fixation with post-operative death the competing event and powered to previously reported failure rates. Results: Unstable patterns with medial calcar comminution loss constituted 617 (56%) of operatively treated trochanteric fractures. Failure occurred in 16 (2.6%) at a median post-operative time of 111 days (40–413). In univariate and multivariate analysis, only younger age was a significant predictor of failure (years; SHR: 0.91, CI 95%: 0.86–0.96, p < 0.001). Nail length, medial calcar loss, varus reduction, and other technical factors did not influence nail failure. Conclusions: In a cohort of unstable geriatric trochanteric hip fractures with medial calcar insufficiency, only younger patient age was predictive of nail failure. Neither the length of the medial calcar fragment or nail was predictive of failure.
Tests and Finite Element Simulation of Yield Anisotropy and Tension-Compression Strength Difference of an Extruded ZK60 Mg Alloy
Authors: Wang Jun , Tang Yan , Ye Jianhui , Xie Chao
Published: April 2021

Multiroute yield experiments were carried out on extruded ZK60 magnesium alloy samples under 200 °C and strain rate of 10−2 s−1 by a thermomechanical simulator. A hypoelastoplastic large deformation constitutive relationship was employed to simulate large deformation yield subjected to uniaxial loading, biaxial loading, loading-reverse loading, and orthogonal loading in the finite element (FE) software with user subroutine. The results showed the following: (1) As the accumulative plastic strain increased, the convex yield surface in the 2D stress space gradually expanded or shrank, rotated, and distorted from the approximate ellipse at low accumulative plastic strain. At the same accumulative plastic strain, uniaxial tensile or compressive yield values along different directions were not the same. In addition, the tensile yield value differed considerably from the compressive one. The large deformation yield of ZK60 magnesium alloy showed significant anisotropy, tension-compression strength difference, and evolution effect. (2) FE simulations based on the hypoelastoplastic constitutive relationship could accurately capture the strongly evolving asymmetric yield behavior under complex loading routes. The stress-strain relationships and hardening rates were in better accordance with the experimental results and reflected the yield behavior more realistically compared to simulations without the evolution effect or with traditional linear interpolation. Deformation at low temperature and high strain rate is important to save process costs and improve processing efficiency, but it may cause evolving asymmetric yield during large deformation. It is believed that the simulation approach used herein is reliable for the prediction and optimization of severe plastic deformation processes of hexagonal close-packed (HCP) alloys.
Characterization and In Vitro Efficacy against Listeria monocytogenes of a Newly Isolated Bacteriophage, ΦIZSAM-1
Authors: Scattolini Silvia , D’Angelantonio Daniela , Boni Arianna , Mangone Iolanda , Marcacci Maurilia , Battistelli Noemi , D’Agostino Krizia , Pomilio Francesco , Camma Cesare , Migliorati Giacomo , Aprea Giuseppe
Published: April 2021

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterial pathogen responsible of listeriosis, a disease that in humans is often related to the contamination of ready-to-eat foods. Phages are candidate biodecontaminants of pathogenic bacteria thanks to their ability to lyse prokaryotes while being safe for eukaryotic cells. In this study, ΦIZSAM-1 was isolated from the drain-waters of an Italian blue cheese plant and showed lytic activity against antimicrobial resistant Listeria monocytogenes strains. This phage was subjected to purification and in vitro efficacy tests. The results showed that at multiplicities of infection (MOIs) ≤ 1, phages were able to keep Listeria monocytogenes at low optical density values up to 8 h, with bacterial counts ranging from 1.02 to 3.96 log10 units lower than the control. Besides, ΦIZSAM-1 was further characterized, showing 25 principal proteins (sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis profile) and a genome of approximately 50 kilo base pairs. Moreover, this study describes a new approach to phage isolation for applications in Listeriamonocytogenes biocontrol in food production. In particular, the authors believe that the selection of phages from the same environments where pathogens live could represent a new approach to successfully integrating the control measures in an innovative, cost effective, safe and environmentally friendly way.
Peroral Clove Essential Oil Treatment Ameliorates Acute Campylobacteriosis—Results from a Preclinical Murine Intervention Study
Authors: Bereswill Stefan , Mousavi Soraya , Weschka Dennis , Buczkowski Agnes , Schmidt Sebastian , Heimesaat Markus M.
Published: April 2021

Campylobacter (C.) jejuni infections pose progressively emerging threats to human health worldwide. Given the rise in antibiotic resistance, antibiotics-independent options are required to fight campylobacteriosis. Since the health-beneficial effects of clove have been known for long, we here analyzed the antimicrobial and immune-modulatory effects of clove essential oil (EO) during acute experimental campylobacteriosis. Therefore, microbiota-depleted interleukin-10 deficient (IL-10−/−) mice were perorally infected with C. jejuni and treated with clove EO via drinking water starting on day 2 post-infection. On day 6 post-infection, lower small- and large-intestinal pathogen loads could be assessed in clove EO as compared to placebo treated mice. Although placebo mice suffered from severe campylobacteriosis as indicated by wasting and bloody diarrhea, clove EO treatment resulted in a better clinical outcome and in less severe colonic histopathological and apoptotic cell responses in C. jejuni infected mice. Furthermore, lower colonic numbers of macrophages, monocytes, and T lymphocytes were detected in mice from the verum versus the placebo cohort that were accompanied by lower intestinal, extra-intestinal, and even systemic proinflammatory cytokine concentrations. In conclusion, our preclinical intervention study provides first evidence that the natural compound clove EO constitutes a promising antibiotics-independent treatment option of acute campylobacteriosis in humans.
Serotype Distribution of Remaining Pneumococcal Meningitis in the Mature PCV10/13 Period: Findings from the PSERENADE Project
Authors: Garcia Quesada Maria , Yang Yangyupei , Bennett Julia , Hayford Kyla , Zeger Scott , Feikin Daniel , Peterson Meagan , Cohen Adam , Almeida Samanta , Ampofo Krow , Ang Michelle , Bar-Zeev Naor , Bruce Michael , Camilli Romina , Chanto Chacón Grettel , Ciruela Pilar , Cohen Cheryl , Corcoran Mary , Dagan Ron , De Wals Philippe , Desmet Stefanie , Diawara Idrissa , Gierke Ryan , Guevara Marcela , Hammitt Laura , Hilty Markus , Ho Pak-Leung , Jayasinghe Sanjay , Kleynhans Jackie , Kristinsson Karl , Ladhani Shamez , McGeer Allison , Mwenda Jason , Nuorti J. , Oishi Kazunori , Ricketson Leah , Sanz Juan , Savrasova Larisa , Setchanova Lena , Smith Andrew , Valentiner-Branth Palle , Valenzuela Maria , van der Linden Mark , van Sorge Nina , Varon Emmanuelle , Winje Brita , Yildirim Inci , Zintgraff Jonathan , Knoll Maria ,   the PSERENADE Team
Published: April 2021

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) introduction has reduced pneumococcal meningitis incidence. The Pneumococcal Serotype Replacement and Distribution Estimation (PSERENADE) project described the serotype distribution of remaining pneumococcal meningitis in countries using PCV10/13 for least 5–7 years with primary series uptake above 70%. The distribution was estimated using a multinomial Dirichlet regression model, stratified by PCV product and age. In PCV10-using sites (N = 8; cases = 1141), PCV10 types caused 5% of cases <5 years of age and 15% among ≥5 years; the top serotypes were 19A, 6C, and 3, together causing 42% of cases <5 years and 37% ≥5 years. In PCV13-using sites (N = 32; cases = 4503), PCV13 types caused 14% in <5 and 26% in ≥5 years; 4% and 13%, respectively, were serotype 3. Among the top serotypes are five (15BC, 8, 12F, 10A, and 22F) included in higher-valency PCVs under evaluation. Other top serotypes (24F, 23B, and 23A) are not in any known investigational product. In countries with mature vaccination programs, the proportion of pneumococcal meningitis caused by vaccine-in-use serotypes is lower (≤26% across all ages) than pre-PCV (≥70% in children). Higher-valency PCVs under evaluation target over half of remaining pneumococcal meningitis cases, but questions remain regarding generalizability to the African meningitis belt where additional data are needed.
Natural Pigments of Bacterial Origin and Their Possible Biomedical Applications
Authors: Celedón Rodrigo Salazar , Díaz Leticia Barrientos
Published: April 2021

Microorganisms are considered one of the most promising niches for prospecting, production, and application of bioactive compounds of biotechnological interest. Among them, bacteria offer certain distinctive advantages due to their short life cycle, their low sensitivity to seasonal and climatic changes, their easy scaling as well as their ability to produce pigments of various colors and shades. Natural pigments have attracted the attention of industry due to an increasing interest in the generation of new products harmless to humans and nature. This is because pigments of artificial origin used in industry can have various deleterious effects. On this basis, bacterial pigments promise to be an attractive niche of new biotechnological applications, from functional food production to the generation of new drugs and biomedical therapies. This review endeavors to establish the beneficial properties of several relevant pigments of bacterial origin and their relation to applications in the biomedical area.
Downfalls of Chemical Probes Acting at the Kinase ATP-Site: CK2 as a Case Study
Authors: Atkinson Eleanor L. , Iegre Jessica , Brear Paul D. , Zhabina Elizabeth A. , Hyvönen Marko , Spring David R.
Published: April 2021

Protein kinases are a large class of enzymes with numerous biological roles and many have been implicated in a vast array of diseases, including cancer and the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19. Thus, the development of chemical probes to selectively target each kinase is of great interest. Inhibition of protein kinases with ATP-competitive inhibitors has historically been the most widely used method. However, due to the highly conserved structures of ATP-sites, the identification of truly selective chemical probes is challenging. In this review, we use the Ser/Thr kinase CK2 as an example to highlight the historical challenges in effective and selective chemical probe development, alongside recent advances in the field and alternative strategies aiming to overcome these problems. The methods utilised for CK2 can be applied to an array of protein kinases to aid in the discovery of chemical probes to further understand each kinase’s biology, with wide-reaching implications for drug development.
The Role of Genetic Polymorphism and Other Factors on Clopidogrel Resistance (CR) in an Asian Population with Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
Authors: Akkaif Mohammed Ahmed , Daud Nur Aizati Athirah , Sha’aban Abubakar , Ng Mei Li , Abdul Kader Muhamad Ali Sk , Noor Dzul Azri Mohamed , Ibrahim Baharudin
Published: April 2021

Clopidogrel is a widely-used antiplatelet drug. It is important for the treatment and prevention of coronary heart disease. Clopidogrel can effectively reduce platelet activity and therefore reduce stent thrombosis. However, some patients still have ischemic events despite taking the clopidogrel due to the alteration in clopidogrel metabolism attributable to various genetic and non-genetic factors. This review aims to summarise the mechanisms and causes of clopidogrel resistance (CR) and potential strategies to overcome it. This review summarised the possible effects of genetic polymorphism on CR among the Asian population, especially CYP2C19 *2 / *3 / *17, where the prevalence rate among Asians was 23.00%, 4.61%, 15.18%, respectively. The review also studied the effects of other factors and appropriate strategies used to overcome CR. Generally, CR among the Asian population was estimated at 17.2–81.6%. Therefore, our overview provides valuable insight into the causes of RC. In conclusion, understanding the prevalence of drug metabolism-related genetic polymorphism, especially CYP2C19 alleles, will enhance clinical understanding of racial differences in drug reactions, contributing to the development of personalised medicine in Asia.
Counteracting the Ramifications of UVB Irradiation and Photoaging with Swietenia macrophylla King Seed
Authors: Mahendra Camille Keisha , Abidin Syafiq Asnawi Zainal , Htar Thet Thet , Chuah Lay-Hong , Khan Shafi Ullah , Ming Long Chiau , Tang Siah Ying , Pusparajah Priyia , Goh Bey Hing
Published: April 2021

In this day and age, the expectation of cosmetic products to effectively slow down skin photoaging is constantly increasing. However, the detrimental effects of UVB on the skin are not easy to tackle as UVB dysregulates a wide range of molecular changes on the cellular level. In our research, irradiated keratinocyte cells not only experienced a compromise in their redox system, but processes from RNA translation to protein synthesis and folding were also affected. Aside from this, proteins involved in various other processes like DNA repair and maintenance, glycolysis, cell growth, proliferation, and migration were affected while the cells approached imminent cell death. Additionally, the collagen degradation pathway was also activated by UVB irradiation through the upregulation of inflammatory and collagen degrading markers. Nevertheless, with the treatment of Swietenia macrophylla (S. macrophylla) seed extract and fractions, the dysregulation of many genes and proteins by UVB was reversed. The reversal effects were particularly promising with the S. macrophylla hexane fraction (SMHF) and S. macrophylla ethyl acetate fraction (SMEAF). SMHF was able to oppose the detrimental effects of UVB in several different processes such as the redox system, DNA repair and maintenance, RNA transcription to translation, protein maintenance and synthesis, cell growth, migration and proliferation, and cell glycolysis, while SMEAF successfully suppressed markers related to skin inflammation, collagen degradation, and cell apoptosis. Thus, in summary, our research not only provided a deeper insight into the molecular changes within irradiated keratinocytes, but also serves as a model platform for future cosmetic research to build upon. Subsequently, both SMHF and SMEAF also displayed potential photoprotective properties that warrant further fractionation and in vivo clinical trials to investigate and obtain potential novel bioactive compounds against photoaging.
A Review on Cs-Based Pb-Free Double Halide Perovskites: From Theoretical and Experimental Studies to Doping and Applications
Authors: Heidari Gourji Fatemeh , Velauthapillai Dhayalan
Published: April 2021

Despite the progressive enhancement in the flexibility of Pb-based perovskites for optoelectronic applications, regrettably, they are facing two main challenges; (1) instability, which originates from using organic components in the perovskite structure, and (2) toxicity due to Pb. Therefore, new, stable non-toxic perovskite materials are demanded to overcome these drawbacks. The research community has been working on a wide variety of Pb-free perovskites with different molecular formulas and dimensionality. A variety of Pb-free halide double perovskites have been widely explored by different research groups in search for stable, non-toxic double perovskite material. Especially, Cs-based Pb-free halide double perovskite has been in focus recently. Herein, we present a review of theoretical and experimental research on Cs-based Pb-free double halide perovskites of structural formulas Cs2M+M3+X6 (M+ = Ag+, Na+, In+ etc.; M3+= Bi3+, In3+, Sb3+; X = Cl−, Br−, I¯) and Cs2M4+X6 (M4+ = Ti4+, Sn4+, Au4+ etc.). We also present the challenges faced by these perovskite compounds and their current applications especially in photovoltaics alongside the effect of metal dopants on their performance.
The Products of Bone Resorption and Their Roles in Metabolism: Lessons from the Study of Burns
Authors: Klein Gordon L.
Published: April 2021

Surprisingly little is known about the factors released from bone during resorption and the metabolic roles they play. This paper describes what we have learned about factors released from bone, mainly through the study of burn injuries, and what roles they play in post-burn metabolism. From these studies, we know that calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, along with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, are released from bone following resorption. Additionally, studies in mice from Karsenty’s laboratory have indicated that undercarboxylated osteocalcin is also released from bone during resorption. Questions arising from these observations are discussed as well as a variety of potential conditions in which release of these factors could play a significant role in the pathophysiology of the conditions. Therapeutic implications of understanding the metabolic roles of these and as yet other unidentified factors are also raised. While much remains unknown, that which has been observed provides a glimpse of the potential importance of this area of study.
Alternative σ Factors Regulate Overlapping as Well as Distinct Stress Response and Metabolic Functions in Listeria monocytogenes under Stationary Phase Stress Condition
Authors: Orsi Renato H. , Chaturongakul Soraya , Oliver Haley F. , Ponnala Lalit , Gaballa Ahmed , Wiedmann Martin
Published: April 2021

Listeria monocytogenes can regulate and fine-tune gene expression, to adapt to diverse stress conditions encountered during foodborne transmission. To further understand the contributions of alternative sigma (σ) factors to the regulation of L. monocytogenes gene expression, RNA-Seq was performed on L. monocytogenes strain 10403S and five isogenic mutants (four strains bearing in-frame null mutations in three out of four alternative σ factor genes, ΔCHL, ΔBHL, ΔBCL, and ΔBCH, and one strain bearing null mutations in all four genes, ΔBCHL), grown to stationary phase. Our data showed that 184, 35, 34, and 20 genes were positively regulated by σB, σL, σH, and σC (posterior probability > 0.9 and Fold Change (FC) > 5.0), respectively. Moreover, σB-dependent genes showed the highest FC (based on comparisons between the ΔCHL and the ΔBCHL strain), with 44 genes showing an FC > 100; only four σL-dependent, and no σH- or σC-dependent genes showed FC >100. While σB-regulated genes identified in this study are involved in stress-associated functions and metabolic pathways, σL appears to largely regulate genes involved in a few specific metabolic pathways, including positive regulation of operons encoding phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)-dependent phosphotransferase systems (PTSs). Overall, our data show that (i) σB and σL directly and indirectly regulate genes involved in several energy metabolism-related functions; (ii) alternative σ factors are involved in complex regulatory networks and appear to have epistatic effects in stationary phase cells; and (iii) σB regulates multiple stress response pathways, while σL and σH positively regulate a smaller number of specific pathways.
Cytotoxicity, Intracellular Replication, and Contact-Dependent Pore Formation of Genotyped Environmental Legionella pneumophila Isolates from Hospital Water Systems in the West Bank, Palestine
Authors: Zayed Ashraf R. , Pecellin Marina , Jaber Lina , Butmeh Suha , Bahader Shereen A. , Steinert Michael , Höfle Manfred G. , Brettar Ingrid , Bitar Dina M.
Published: April 2021

Legionella pneumophila is the causative agent of Legionnaires’ disease. Due to the hot climate and intermittent water supply, the West Bank, Palestine, can be considered a high-risk area for this often fatal atypical pneumonia. L. pneumophila occurs in biofilms of natural and man-made freshwater environments, where it infects and replicates intracellularly within protozoa. To correlate the genetic diversity of the bacteria in the environment with their virulence properties for protozoan and mammalian host cells, 60 genotyped isolates from hospital water systems in the West Bank were analyzed. The L. pneumophila isolates were previously genotyped by high resolution Multi Locus Variable Number of Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA-8(12)) and sorted according to their relationship in clonal complexes (VACC). Strains of relevant genotypes and VACCs were compared according to their capacity to infect Acanthamoeba castellanii and THP-1 macrophages, and to mediate pore-forming cytotoxicity in sheep red blood cells (sRBCs). Based on a previous detailed analysis of the biogeographic distribution and abundance of the MLVA-8(12)-genotypes, the focus of the study was on the most abundant L. pneumophila- genotypes Gt4(17), Gt6 (18) and Gt10(93) and the four relevant clonal complexes [VACC1, VACC2, VACC5 and VACC11]. The highly abundant genotypes Gt4(17) and Gt6(18) are affiliated with VACC1 and sequence type (ST)1 (comprising L. pneumophila str. Paris), and displayed seroroup (Sg)1. Isolates of these two genotypes exhibited significantly higher virulence potentials compared to other genotypes and clonal complexes in the West Bank. Endemic for the West Bank was the clonal complex VACC11 (affiliated with ST461) represented by three relevant genotypes that all displayed Sg6. These genotypes unique for the West Bank showed a lower infectivity and cytotoxicity compared to all other clonal complexes and their affiliated genotypes. Interestingly, the L. pneumophila serotypes ST1 and ST461 were previously identified by in situ-sequence based typing (SBT) as main causative agents of Legionnaires’ disease (LD) in the West Bank at a comparable level. Overall, this study demonstrates the site-specific regional diversity of L. pneumophila genotypes in the West Bank and suggests that a combination of MLVA, cellular infection assays and hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis allows an improved genotype-based risk assessment.
Poor Adherence to the Screening-Based Strategy of Group B Streptococcus Despite Colonization of Pregnant Women in Greece
Authors: Berikopoulou Maria Maroudia , Pana Aikaterini , Liakopoulou-Tsitsipi Theodota , Vlahos Nikos F. , Papaevangelou Vasiliki , Soldatou Alexandra
Published: April 2021

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of serious neonatal infections. Maternal GBS colonization is associated with early- and late-onset neonatal disease (EOD/LOD). In Greece, a screening-based strategy is recommended, in which concurrent vaginal-rectal cultures should be obtained between 36 0/7 and 37 6/7 weeks’ gestation. We sought to examine the level of adherence to the GBS screening guidelines and estimate the prevalence of GBS colonization among pregnant women. Although in Greece the screening-based strategy is followed, we also examined known EOD risk factors and linked them to GBS colonization. A cross-sectional study of 604 women postpartum in three hospitals and maternity clinics was conducted. Following written informed consent, data were collected via a short self-completed questionnaire and review of patients’ records. In 34.6% of the enrolled pregnant women, no culture had been taken. Of the remaining, 12.8% had proper vaginal-rectal sample collections. The overall maternal colonization rate was 9.6%. At least one risk factor for EOD was identified in 12.6% of participants. The presence of risk factors was associated with positive cultures (p = 0.014). The rate of culture collection did not differ between women with or without an EOD risk factor. Adherence to a universal screening of pregnant women with vaginal-rectal cultures was poor. Despite probable underestimation of GBS carrier status, almost 1 in 10 participants were GBS positive during pregnancy. Screening of women with risk factors for EOD should, at least, be prioritized to achieve prevention and prompt intervention of EOD.
A Lipid Bodies-Associated Galactosyl Hydrolase Is Involved in Triacylglycerol Biosynthesis and Galactolipid Turnover in the Unicellular Green Alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Authors: Gu Xiaosong , Cao Li , Wu Xiaoying , Li Yanhua , Hu Qiang , Han Danxiang
Published: April 2021

Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) and digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG) are the main constituent lipids of thylakoid and chloroplast envelop membranes. Many microalgae can accumulate large amounts of triacylglycerols (TAGs) under adverse environmental conditions, which is accompanied by degradation of the photosynthetic membrane lipids. However, the process mediating the conversion from galactolipids to TAG remains largely unknown. In this study, we performed genetic and biochemical analyses of galactosyl hydrolases (CrGH) identified in the proteome of lipid bodies of the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The recombinant CrGH was confirmed to possess galactosyl hydrolase activity by using o-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactoside as the substrate, and the Michaelis constant (Km) and Kcat of CrGH were 13.98 μM and 3.62 s−1, respectively. Comparative lipidomic analyses showed that the content of MGDG and DGDG increased by 14.42% and 24.88%, respectively, in the CrGH-deficient mutant as compared with that of the wild type cc4533 grown under high light stress conditions, and meanwhile, the TAG content decreased by 32.20%. Up-regulation of CrGH at both a gene expression and protein level was observed under high light stress (HL) conditions. In addition, CrGH was detected in multiple subcellular localizations, including the chloroplast envelope, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum membranes. This study uncovered a new paradigm mediated by the multi-localized CrGH for the conversion of the photosynthetic membranes to TAGs.
Floristic and Vegetation Changes on a Small Mediterranean Island over the Last Century
Authors: Sciandrello Saverio , Cambria Salvatore , Giusso del Galdo Gianpietro , Guarino Riccardo , Minissale Pietro , Pasta Salvatore , Tavilla Gianmarco , Cristaudo Antonia
Published: April 2021

A synthetic and updated overview about the vascular flora and vegetation of the Island of Capo Passero (SE-Sicily) is provided. These data issue from two series of field surveys—the first carried out between 1997 and 2000, and the second between 2005 and 2019 and mostly focused on refining and implementing vegetation data. The current islet’s flora consists of 269 taxa, of which 149 (58%) are annual plants. The Mediterranean species are largely prevailing, 108 (40%) of which have a strictly Mediterranean biogeographical status. The comparison with a species list published in 1919 and updated in 1957 suggest that, despite the overall prevalence of anemochorous taxa, the vertebrate fauna represents an important vector for the plant colonization of the island, while the immigration of myrmechocorous taxa does not compensate the extinction rate. As many as 202 phytosociological relevés, 191 of which issue from original recent field surveys, enabled identifying 12 different plant communities. The comparison with a vegetation map published in 1965 suggests a strong reduction in dune habitats (2120 and 2210 according to EU ‘Habitats’ Directive 92/43), as well as a deep disruption in the succession typical of the local psammophilous vegetation series. In order to preserve rare, endangered and protected plant species (such as Aeluropus lagopoides, Cichorium spinosum, Limonium hyblaeum, L. syracusanum, Poterium spinosum, Senecio pygmaeus and Spergularia heldreichii) and to stop the ongoing habitat degradation, urgent and effective conservation measures should be adopted for this tiny, yet precious islet.
Simulation of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene Nanocomposites for Small Wind Turbine Blades
Authors: Elhenawy Yasser , Fouad Yasser , Marouani Haykel , Bassyouni Mohamed
Published: April 2021

This study aims to evaluate the effect of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the performance of glass fiber (GF)-reinforced polypropylene (PP) for wind turbine blades. Support for theoretical blade movement of horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs), simulation, and analysis were performed with the Ansys computer package to gain insight into the durability of polypropylene-chopped E-glass for application in turbine blades under aerodynamic, gravitational, and centrifugal loads. Typically, polymer nanocomposites are used for small-scale wind turbine systems, such as for residential applications. Mechanical and physical properties of material composites including tensile and melt flow indices were determined. Surface morphology of polypropylene-chopped E-glass fiber and functionalized MWCNTs nanocomposites showed good distribution of dispersed phase. The effect of fiber loading on the mechanical properties of the PP nanocomposites was investigated in order to obtain the optimum composite composition and processing conditions for manufacturing wind turbine blades. The results show that adding MWCNTs to glass fiber-reinforced PP composites has a substantial influence on deflection reduction and adding them to chopped-polypropylene E-glass has a significant effect on reducing the bias estimated by finite element analysis.
Developing an Unreal Engine 4-Based Vehicle Driving Simulator Applicable in Driver Behavior Analysis—A Technical Perspective
Authors: Michalík David , Jirgl Miroslav , Arm Jakub , Fiedler Petr
Published: April 2021

Vehicle safety remains a topic of major interest, and diverse assistance systems are implemented that focus primarily on analyzing the immediate vicinity of the car and the driver’s control inputs. In this paper, by contrast, we emphasize understanding the driver’s control performance via obtaining valuable data and relevant characteristics. To acquire the data, we employed an in-house-designed, laboratory-built vehicle driving simulator. This simulator exploits the Unreal Engine 4 framework to deliver a high level of realism. The fact that the actual designing and associated processes were materialized through our own efforts has brought advantages such as simplified data acquisition, possibility of creating custom scenarios, and modification of the virtual elements according to our specific needs. We also developed an application to analyze the measured data from the perspective of control theory, establishing a set of parameters that provided the basis for an early version of a driver performance index indicator.
The Interference of Arabic Prepositions in Emirati English
Authors: Ribeiro Daquila Jean Pierre
Published: April 2021

The bond between England and the UAE date back to over 220 years ago. This article explored the interference of Arabic prepositions in the English used in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and their occurrences in light of gender and level of education, two important social variables related to linguistic behavior. To do so, participants translated 20 sentences in Arabic into English as well as filled in 30 gaps in sentences in English with the missing prepositions. We also experimented how musical intelligence improved the Emiratis’ performance regarding prepositions. An experiment was carried out to verify if participants from the experimental group, who received training on prepositions through music, obtained better results compared to the control group, who received training through a more traditional way (by listening to the instructor and repeating).
Grafting of Acrylic Membrane Prepared from Fibers Waste for Dyes Removal: Methylene Blue and Congo Red
Authors: Labena Ahmed , Abdelhamid Ahmed E. , Husien Shimaa , Youssef Tarek , Azab Ehab , Gobouri Adil A. , Safwat Gehan
Published: April 2021

Dyes are a type of pollutant that have been discharged into water streams by various industries and had harmful effects on the environment and human health. Therefore, present work was directed to recycle acrylic fibers waste to be used as an adsorbent to exclude dyes such as methylene blue (MB) and Congo red (CR) from dyes-polluted wastewater. Acrylic fibers waste was converted into membrane followed by chemical grafting with p-phenylenediamine monomer to form functional modified membranes. Afterwards, some characterization analyses; Fourier transform-infrared, scanning electron microscope, swelling behavior, and porosity properties were performed for the acrylic fiber grafted membrane (AFGM). For obtaining the best conditions that permit the highest adsorption capacity of the AFGM, some preliminary experiments followed by general full factorial design experiments were displayed. Langmuir, Freundlich isotherms and kinetic studies evaluations were applied. Results revealed that, the adsorption capacities of the AFGM were 61% for Methylene blue and 86% for Congo red that stated the high affinity of the AFGM to the anionic dyes. The reusability of the AFGM membranes in different cycles for 3Rs processes “Removal, Recovery, and Re-use” indicated the efficiency of the AFGM to be used in wastewater treatment.
Solid State NMR for Nonexperts: An Overview of Simple but General Practical Methods
Authors: Shenderovich Ilya G. , Limbach Hans-Heinrich
Published: April 2021

There are varieties of methods available for the exploration of solids using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Some of these methods are quite sophisticated, others require specialized equipment. This review is addressed to those for whom NMR is not the main research method. It discusses simple methods that can be applied to solids with little or no adaptation to a specific system. Despite their technical simplicity and ease of use, these methods are powerful analytical tools that provide unique insights into the structure, dynamics, and noncovalent interactions in homo- and heterogeneous systems. Particular attention is paid to the characterization of porous materials and solids containing phosphorus. 31P NMR of organometallic compounds has been used as an example of how theoretical calculations can help in deeper analysis of experimental data.
Inverted Weibull Regression Models and Their Applications
Authors: Al-Dawsari Sarah R. , Sultan Khalaf S.
Published: April 2021

In this paper, we propose the classical and Bayesian regression models for use in conjunction with the inverted Weibull (IW) distribution; there are the inverted Weibull Regression model (IW-Reg) and inverted Weibull Bayesian regression model (IW-BReg). In the proposed models, we suggest the logarithm and identity link functions, while in the Bayesian approach, we use a gamma prior and two loss functions, namely zero-one and modified general entropy (MGE) loss functions. To deal with the outliers in the proposed models, we apply Huber and Tukey’s bisquare (biweight) functions. In addition, we use the iteratively reweighted least squares (IRLS) algorithm to estimate Bayesian regression coefficients. Further, we compare IW-Reg and IW-BReg using some performance criteria, such as Akaike’s information criterion (AIC), deviance (D), and mean squared error (MSE). Finally, we apply the some real datasets collected from Saudi Arabia with the corresponding explanatory variables to the theoretical findings. The Bayesian approach shows better performance compare to the classical approach in terms of the considered performance criteria.
Exploring the Rapid Assessment Method for Nature Reserve Landscape Protection Effectiveness—A Case Study of Liancheng National Nature Reserve, Gansu, China
Authors: Huang Zhihao , Peng Yangjing , Wang Ruifeng , Cui Guofa , Zhang Bo , Lu Nachuan
Published: April 2021

The rapid assessment of the effectiveness of landscape protection in nature reserves is of great significance for the scientific formulation of protection and management countermeasures. There is also an urgent problem to be solved for the construction and management of nature reserves in China. Using high-resolution remote sensing image data, this study analyzes the landscape dynamics in the Liancheng National Nature Reserve (LNNR) and their driving factors since the reserve’s promotion to the national level in 2005, and proposes a comprehensive evaluation method for the effectiveness of landscape protection in protected areas based on the Landscape Transfer Index (LTI), Protected Landscape Integrity Index (PLII), and Interfered Landscape Sprawl Index (ILSI). Between 2006 and 2019, the area of protected landscape—namely woodland, grassland, and water—in the LNNR decreased, while the area of interfered landscape such as residential land, industrial and mining land, and water conservancy facility land increased. The LTI was −0.14, and among the driving factors, the development of industry and mining, land use by indigenous inhabitants, and the development of the transport industry made the highest contributions to the landscape transfer tendency, respectively 34.79%, 28.98%, and 17.30%. The results indicate that the overall quality of the landscape declined slightly during this period, mainly as a result of industrial and mining development, indigenous use of the land, and road construction. The PLII decreased from 82.7 to 68.7; this result indicates that the spatial pattern of the protected landscape became more fragmented, and the degree of human interference in the landscape increased. The ILSI increased from 26.61 to 26.68 which indicates that the scope of influence of human interference did not change significantly. The effectiveness of landscape protection in the LNNR is low. Despite the insignificant nature of these changes, they still require attention and timely remedial measures. The methodology proposed in this study may be applicable to the rapid assessment of the effectiveness of landscape conservation in various types of nature conservation sites around the world.
Casimir Puzzle and Casimir Conundrum: Discovery and Search for Resolution
Authors: Mostepanenko Vladimir M.
Published: April 2021

This paper provides a review of the complicated problems in Lifshitz theory describing the Casimir force between real material plates composed of metals and dielectrics, including different approaches to their resolution. For both metallic plates with perfect crystal lattices and any dielectric plates, we show that the Casimir entropy calculated in the framework of Lifshitz theory violates the Nernst heat theorem when the well-approved dielectric functions are used in computations. The respective theoretical Casimir forces are excluded by the measurement data of numerous precision experiments. In the literature, this situation has been called the Casimir puzzle and the Casimir conundrum for the cases of metallic and dielectric plates, respectively. This review presents a summary of both the main theoretical and experimental findings on this subject. Next, a discussion is provided of the main approaches proposed in the literature to bring the Lifshitz theory into agreement with the measurement data and with the laws of thermodynamics. Special attention is paid to the recently suggested spatially nonlocal Drude-like response functions, which consider the relaxation properties of conduction electrons, as does the standard Drude model, but lead to the theoretical results being in agreement with both thermodynamics and the measurement data through the alternative response to quantum fluctuations of the mass shell. Further advances and trends in this field of research are discussed.
Quantum Physics Literacy Aimed at K12 and the General Public
Authors: Foti Caterina , Anttila Daria , Maniscalco Sabrina , Chiofalo Maria
Published: April 2021

Educating K12 students and general public in quantum physics represents an evitable must no longer since quantum technologies are going to revolutionize our lives. Quantum literacy is a formidable challenge and an extraordinary opportunity for a massive cultural uplift, where citizens learn how to engender creativity and practice a new way of thinking, essential for smart community building. Scientific thinking hinges on analyzing facts and creating understanding, and it is then formulated with the dense mathematical language for later fact checking. Within classical physics, learners’ intuition may in principle be educated via classroom demonstrations of everyday-life phenomena. Their understanding can even be framed with the mathematics suited to their instruction degree. For quantum physics, on the contrary, we have no experience of quantum phenomena and the required mathematics is beyond non-expert reach. Therefore, educating intuition needs imagination. Without rooting to experiments and some degree of formal framing, educators face the risk to provide only evanescent tales, often misled, while resorting to familiar analogies. Here, we report on the realization of QPlayLearn, an online platform conceived to explicitly address challenges and opportunities of massive quantum literacy. QPlayLearn’s mission is to provide multilevel education on quantum science and technologies to anyone, regardless of age and background. To this aim, innovative interactive tools enhance the learning process effectiveness, fun, and accessibility, while remaining grounded on scientific correctness. Examples are games for basic quantum physics teaching, on-purpose designed animations, and easy-to-understand explanations on terminology and concepts by global experts. As a strategy for massive cultural change, QPlayLearn offers diversified content for different target groups, from primary school all the way to university physics students. It is addressed also to companies wishing to understand the potential of the emergent quantum industry, journalists, and policymakers needing to seize what quantum technologies are about, as well as all quantum science enthusiasts.
Demand Creation for COVID-19 Vaccination: Overcoming Vaccine Hesitancy through Social Marketing
Authors: Evans William Douglas , French Jeff
Published: April 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to millions of deaths and tested the capabilities of the medical and public health systems worldwide. Over the next two years as more approved vaccines are made available and supply meets or exceeds demand, medical and public health professionals will increasingly be faced with the challenge of vaccine hesitancy. There is an urgent need to create demand in groups that are either uninformed, vaccine hesitant, or actively resistant to COVID-19 vaccination. This study reviews theory, evidence, and practice recommendations to develop a vaccine demand creation strategy that has wide applicability. Specifically, we focus on key elements including supply side confidence, vaccine brand promotion strategy, service marketing as it relates to vaccine distribution, and competition strategy. We present evidence that these strategies can make a significant contribution to overcoming COVID-19 hesitancy in a high supply scenario. The paper also makes recommendations about factors that need to be considered in relation to vaccine delivery services and systems that, if done badly, may reduce uptake or result in the creation of more vaccine hesitancy. In summary, there is a need for well researched and tested demand creation strategies that integrate with brand strategy, supply side, and service delivery.
The Implementation of Mass-Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2: A Systematic Review of Existing Strategies and Guidelines
Authors: Hasan Tasnim , Beardsley Justin , Marais Ben J. , Nguyen Thu Anh , Fox Greg J.
Published: April 2021

The global drive to vaccinate against severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) began in December 2020 with countries in Europe, Middle East, and North America leading the roll out of a mass-vaccination program. This systematic review synthesised all available English-language guidelines and research regarding mass-vaccination for COVID-19 until 1 March 2021—the first three months of the global mass-vaccination effort. Data were extracted from national websites, PubMed, Embase, Medline and medRxiv, including peer and non-peer review research findings. A total of 15 national policy documents were included. Policies were summarised according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) framework for mass vaccination. All included policies prioritised front-line health care workers and the elderly. Limited information was available regarding staffing, cold chain, communication strategies and infrastructure requirements for effective vaccine delivery. A total of 26 research studies were identified, reporting roll-out strategies, vaccine uptake and reasons for refusal, adverse effects, and real-life estimates of efficacy. Early data showed a reduction in SARS-CoV-2 cases, hospitalisation and deaths in settings with good coverage. Very low rates of vaccine-related serious adverse events were observed. These findings provide an overview of current practice and early outcomes of COVID-19 mass-vaccination, guiding countries where roll-out is yet to commence.