bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Comprehensive QSAR Study on Antileishmanial and Antitrypanosomal Cinnamate Ester Analogues
Authors: Bernal Freddy A. , Schmidt Thomas J.
Published: November 2019

Parasitic infections like leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis remain as a worldwide concern to public health. Improvement of the currently available drug discovery pipelines for those diseases is therefore mandatory. We have recently reported on the antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal activity of a set of cinnamate esters where we identified several compounds with interesting activity against L. donovani and T. brucei rhodesiense. For a better understanding of such compounds’ anti-infective activity, analyses of the underlying structure-activity relationships, especially from a quantitative point of view, would be a prerequisite for rational further development of such compounds. Thus, quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) modeling for the mentioned set of compounds and their antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal activity was performed using a genetic algorithm as main variable selection tool and multiple linear regression as statistical analysis. Changes in the composition of the training/test sets were evaluated (two randomly selected and one by Kennard-Stone algorithm). The effect of the size of the models (number of descriptors) was also investigated. The quality of all resulting models was assessed by a variety of validation parameters. The models were ranked by newly introduced scoring functions accounting for the fulfillment of each of the validation criteria evaluated. The test sets were effectively within the applicability domain of the best models, which demonstrated high robustness. Detailed analysis of the molecular descriptors involved in those models revealed strong dependence of activity on the number and type of polar atoms, which affect the hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties causing a prominent influence on the investigated biological activities.
Impact of Oxalate Ligand in Co-Precipitation Route on Morphological Properties and Phase Constitution of Undoped and Rh-Doped BaTiO3 Nanoparticles
Authors: Lontio Fomekong Roussin , You Shujie , Enrichi Francesco , Vomiero Alberto , Saruhan Bilge
Published: November 2019

In order to design and tailor materials for a specific application like gas sensors, the synthesis route is of great importance. Undoped and rhodium-doped barium titanate powders were successfully synthesized by two routes; oxalate route and classic route (a modified conventional route where solid-state reactions and thermal evaporation induced precipitation takes place). Both powders were calcined at different temperatures. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) analyses are employed to identify the phases and polymorphs, to determine the morphology, the chemical composition and the specific surface area of the synthesized materials, respectively. The so-called oxalate route yields pure BaTiO3 phase for undoped samples at 700 °C and 900 °C (containing both cubic and tetragonal structures), while the classic route-synthesized powder contains additional phases such as BaCO3, TiO2 and BaTi2O5. Samples of both synthesis routes prepared by the addition of Rh contain no metallic or oxide phase of rhodium. Instead, it was observed that Ti was substituted by Rh at temperatures 700 °C and 900 °C and there was some change in the composition of BaTiO3 polymorph (increase of tetragonal structure). Heat-treatments above these temperatures show that rhodium saturates out of the perovskite lattice at 1000 °C, yielding other secondary phases such as Ba3RhTi2O9 behind. Well-defined and less agglomerated spherical nanoparticles are obtained by the oxalic route, while the classic route yields particles with an undefined morphology forming very large block-like agglomerates. The surface area of the synthesized materials is higher with the oxalate route than with the classic route (4 times at 900 °C). The presence of the oxalate ligand with its steric hindrance that promotes the uniform distribution and the homogeneity of reactants could be responsible for the great difference observed between the powders prepared by two preparation routes.
Cellulose Nanocrystals to Improve Stability and Functional Properties of Emulsified Film Based on Chitosan Nanoparticles and Beeswax
Authors: Wardhono Endarto , Pinem Mekro , Kustiningsih Indar , Agustina Sri , Oudet François , Lefebvre Caroline , Clausse Danièle , Saleh Khashayar , Guénin Erwann
Published: November 2019

The framework of this work was to develop an emulsion-based edible film based on a chitosan nanoparticle matrix with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as a stabilizer and reinforcement filler. The chitosan nanoparticles were synthesized based on ionic cross-linking with sodium tripolyphosphate and glycerol as a plasticizer. The emulsified film was prepared through a combination system of Pickering emulsification and water evaporation. The oil-in-water emulsion was prepared by dispersing beeswax into an aqueous colloidal suspension of chitosan nanoparticles using high-speed homogenizer at room temperature. Various properties were characterized, including surface morphology, stability, water vapor barrier, mechanical properties, compatibility, and thermal behaviour. Experimental results established that CNCs and glycerol improve the homogeneity and stability of the beeswax dispersed droplets in the emulsion system which promotes the water-resistant properties but deteriorates the film strength at the same time. When incorporating 2.5% w/w CNCs, the tensile strength of the composite film reached the maximum value, 74.9 MPa, which was 32.5% higher than that of the pure chitosan film, while the optimum one was at 62.5 MPa, and was obtained by the addition of 25% w/w beeswax. All film characterizations demonstrated that the interaction between CNCs and chitosan molecules improved their physical and thermal properties.
A Study into the Effects of Factors Influencing an Underwater, Single-Pixel Imaging System’s Performance
Authors: Chen Qi , Mathai Anumol , Xu Xiping , Wang Xin
Published: November 2019

Underwater detection has always been a challenge due to the limitations caused by scattering and absorption in the underwater environment. Because of their great penetration abilities, lasers have become the most suitable technology for underwater detection. In all underwater laser applications, the reflected laser pulse which contains the key information for most of the system is highly degraded along the laser’s propagation path and during reflection. This has a direct impact on the system’s performance, especially for single-pixel imaging (SPI) which is very dependent on light-intensity information. Due to the complications in the underwater environment, it is necessary to study the influential factors and their impacts on underwater SPI. In this study, we investigated the influence of the angle of incidence, target distance, and medium attenuation. A systematic investigation of the influential factors on the reflectance and ranging accuracy was performed theoretically and experimentally. The theoretical analysis was demonstrated based on the bidirectional reflection distribution function (BRDF) and laser detection and ranging (LADAR) model. Moreover, 2D single-pixel imaging (SPI) systems were setup for experimental investigation. The experimental results agree well with the theoretical results, which show the system’s dependency on the reflection intensity caused by the angle of incidence, target distance, and medium attenuation. The findings should be a reference for works looking to improve the performance of an underwater SPI system.
Exploiting the Allelopathic Potential of Aqueous Leaf Extracts of Artemisia absinthium and Psidium guajava against Parthenium hysterophorus, a Widespread Weed in India
Authors: Kapoor Dhriti , Rinzim  , Tiwari Anupam , Sehgal Amit , Landi Marco , Brestic Marian , Sharma Anket
Published: November 2019

Artemisia absinthium and Psidium guajava are powerful sources of secondary metabolites, some of them with potential allelopathic activity. Both the species grow together in India with a weed (Parthenium hysterophorus) that is becoming extremely invasive. The aim of the present research was to test the allelopathic effect of A. absinthium and P. guajava aqueous leaf extracts on seed germination, seedling growth (shoot and root length), as well as some biochemical parameters (enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, photosynthetic pigments, osmolytes, and malondialdehyde by-products) of P. hysterophorus plants. Leaf extracts of both A. absinthium and P. guajava constrained the germination and seedling development (root and shoot length), affected pigment content (chlorophylls, carotenoids), stimulated the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and increased the level of malondialdehyde by-products of P. hysterophorus plants. Non-enzymatic antioxidants (glutathione and ascorbic acid) in P. hysterophorus leaves were, conversely, negatively affected by both leaf extracts tested in the present experiment. Although A. absinthium was more effective than P. guajava in impacting some biochemical parameters of P. hysterophorus leaves (including a higher EC50 for seed germination), P. guajava extract showed a higher EC50 in terms of root inhibition of P. hysterophorus seedlings. The present study provides the evidence that A. absinthium and P. guajava extract could be proficiently exploited as a botanical herbicide against P. hysterophorus.
CoFe2O4 Nanomaterials: Effect of Annealing Temperature on Characterization, Magnetic, Photocatalytic, and Photo-Fenton Properties
Authors: To Loan Nguyen Thi , Hien Lan Nguyen Thi , Thuy Hang Nguyen Thi , Quang Hai Nguyen , Tu Anh Duong Thi , Thi Hau Vu , Van Tan Lam , Van Tran Thuan
Published: November 2019

In this research, structural, magnetic properties and photocatalytic activity of cobalt ferrite spinel (CoFe2O4) nanoparticles were studied. The samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV-visible diffused reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) analysis. The XRD analysis revealed the formation of the single-phase CoFe2O4 with a cubic structure that is annealed at 500–700 °C in 3 h. The optical band gap energy for CoFe2O4 was determined to be in the range of 1.57–2.03 eV. The effect on the magnetic properties of cobalt ferrites was analyzed by using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The particle size and the saturation magnetization of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles increased with increasing annealing temperature. The photocatalytic activity of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles was investigated by using rhodamine B dye under visible light. The decomposition of rhodamine B reached 90.6% after 270 min lighting with the presence of H2O2 and CF500 sample.
EEG-Based Multi-Modal Emotion Recognition using Bag of Deep Features: An Optimal Feature Selection Approach
Authors: Asghar Muhammad Adeel , Khan Muhammad Jamil , Fawad  , Amin Yasar , Rizwan Muhammad , Rahman MuhibUr , Badnava Salman , Mirjavadi Seyed Sajad
Published: November 2019

Much attention has been paid to the recognition of human emotions with the help of electroencephalogram (EEG) signals based on machine learning technology. Recognizing emotions is a challenging task due to the non-linear property of the EEG signal. This paper presents an advanced signal processing method using the deep neural network (DNN) for emotion recognition based on EEG signals. The spectral and temporal components of the raw EEG signal are first retained in the 2D Spectrogram before the extraction of features. The pre-trained AlexNet model is used to extract the raw features from the 2D Spectrogram for each channel. To reduce the feature dimensionality, spatial, and temporal based, bag of deep features (BoDF) model is proposed. A series of vocabularies consisting of 10 cluster centers of each class is calculated using the k-means cluster algorithm. Lastly, the emotion of each subject is represented using the histogram of the vocabulary set collected from the raw-feature of a single channel. Features extracted from the proposed BoDF model have considerably smaller dimensions. The proposed model achieves better classification accuracy compared to the recently reported work when validated on SJTU SEED and DEAP data sets. For optimal classification performance, we use a support vector machine (SVM) and k-nearest neighbor (k-NN) to classify the extracted features for the different emotional states of the two data sets. The BoDF model achieves 93.8% accuracy in the SEED data set and 77.4% accuracy in the DEAP data set, which is more accurate compared to other state-of-the-art methods of human emotion recognition.
Intelligent Detection of a Planetary Gearbox Composite Fault Based on Adaptive Separation and Deep Learning
Authors: Sun Guo-dong , Wang You-ren , Sun Can-fei , Jin Qi
Published: November 2019

Due to the existence of multiple rotating parts in the planetary gearbox—such as the sun gear, planet gears, planet carriers, and its unique planetary motion, etc.—the vibration signals generated under multiple fault conditions are time-varying and nonstable, thus making fault diagnosis difficult. In order to solve the problem of planetary gearbox composite fault diagnosis, an improved particle swarm optimization variational mode decomposition (IPVMD) and improved convolutional neural network (I-CNN) are proposed. The method takes as input the spectrum of the original vibration signal that contains rich information. First, the automatic feature extraction of signal spectrum is performed by I-CNN, while a classifier is used to diagnose the fault modes. Second, the composite fault signal is decomposed into multiple single fault signals by adaptive variational mode, and the signal is decomposed as a model input to diagnose the single fault component. Finally, a complete intelligent diagnosis of planetary gearboxes is conducted. Through experimental verification, the composite fault diagnosis method combining IPVMD and I-CNN will diagnose the composite fault and effectively diagnose the sub-fault included in the composite fault.
Cooperative Localization Improvement Using Distance Information in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Lobo Felipe , Grael Danilo , Oliveira Horacio , Villas Leandro , Almehmadi Abdulaziz , El-Khatib Khalil
Published: November 2019

In vehicular ad hoc networks (VANets), a precise localization system is a crucial factor for several critical safety applications. The global positioning system (GPS) is commonly used to determine the vehicles’ position estimation. However, it has unwanted errors yet that can be worse in some areas, such as urban street canyons and indoor parking lots, making it inaccurate for most critical safety applications. In this work, we present a new position estimation method called cooperative vehicle localization improvement using distance information (CoVaLID), which improves GPS positions of nearby vehicles and minimize their errors through an extended Kalman filter to execute Data Fusion using GPS and distance information. Our solution also uses distance information to assess the position accuracy related to three different aspects: the number of vehicles, vehicle trajectory, and distance information error. For that purpose, we use a weighted average method to put more confidence in distance information given by neighbors closer to the target. We implement and evaluate the performance of CoVaLID using real-world data, as well as discuss the impact of different distance sensors in our proposed solution. Our results clearly show that CoVaLID is capable of reducing the GPS error by 63%, and 53% when compared to the state-of-the-art VANet location improve (VLOCI) algorithm.
Vehicle Speed and Length Estimation Errors Using the Intelligent Transportation System with a Set of Anisotropic Magneto-Resistive (AMR) Sensors
Authors: Markevicius Vytautas , Navikas Dangirutis , Idzkowski Adam , Miklusis Donatas , Andriukaitis Darius , Valinevicius Algimantas , Zilys Mindaugas , Cepenas Mindaugas , Walendziuk Wojciech
Published: November 2019

Seeking an effective method for estimating the speed and length of a car is still a challenge for engineers and scientists who work on intelligent transportation systems. This paper focuses on a self-developed system equipped with four anisotropic magneto-resistive (AMR) sensors which are placed on a road lane. The piezoelectric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) sensors are also mounted and used as a reference device. The methods applied in the research are well-known: the fixed threshold-based method and the adaptive two-extreme-peak detection method. However, the improved accuracy of estimating the length by using one of the methods, which is based on computing the difference quotient of a time-discrete signal (representing the changes in the magnitude of the magnetic field of the Earth), is observed. The obtained results, i.e., the speed and length of a vehicle, are presented for various values of the increment Δn used in numerical differentiation of magnetic field magnitude data. The results were achieved in real traffic conditions after analyzing a data set M = 290 of vehicle signatures. The accuracy was evaluated by calculating MAE (Mean Absolute Error), RMSE (Root Mean Squared Error) for different classes of vehicles. The MAE is within the range of 0.52 m–1.18 m when using the appropriate calibration factor. The results are dependent on the distance between sensors, the speed of vehicle and the signal processing method applied.
Multi-State Energy Classifier to Evaluate the Performance of the NILM Algorithm
Authors: Desai Sanket , Alhadad Rabei , Mahmood Abdun , Chilamkurti Naveen , Rho Seungmin
Published: November 2019

With the large-scale deployment of smart meters worldwide, research in non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM) has seen a significant rise due to its dual use of real-time monitoring of end-user appliances and user-centric feedback of power consumption usage. NILM is a technique for estimating the state and the power consumption of an individual appliance in a consumer’s premise using a single point of measurement device such as a smart meter. Although there are several existing NILM techniques, there is no meaningful and accurate metric to evaluate these NILM techniques for multi-state devices such as the fridge, heat pump, etc. In this paper, we demonstrate the inadequacy of the existing metrics and propose a new metric that combines both event classification and energy estimation of an operational state to give a more realistic and accurate evaluation of the performance of the existing NILM techniques. In particular, we use unsupervised clustering techniques to identify the operational states of the device from a labeled dataset to compute a penalty threshold for predictions that are too far away from the ground truth. Our work includes experimental evaluation of the state-of-the-art NILM techniques on widely used datasets of power consumption data measured in a real-world environment.
Knowing the Blood Nondonor to Activate Behaviour
Authors: Martín-Santana Josefa D. , Robaina-Calderín Lorena , Reinares-Lara Eva , Romero-Domínguez Laura
Published: November 2019

This work is aimed at further developing the study of blood nondonor behaviour through a joint analysis of sociodemographic characteristics, psychological and physical barriers, impure altruism and anticipated emotions, as predictors of intention to donate. To that end, a step-by-step hierarchical regression analysis was applied on a sample of 2383 Spanish nondonors. The study’s results confirm the influence of traditional variables (sociodemographic characteristics, psychological and physical barriers and impure altruism), as well as the power of anticipated emotions, both positive and negative, of donation action and inaction as variables explaining the intention to donate. Another important contribution has been to develop the moderating role of psychological and physical barriers, in addition to impure altruism, on cause–effect relationships between anticipated emotions and intention to donate. A number of practical implications can be derived from this study for transfusion centres responsible for donation promotion.
Consumers Demand for Social Farming Products: An Analysis with Discrete Choice Experiments
Authors: Tempesta Tiziano , Vecchiato Daniel , Nassivera Federico , Bugatti Maria , Torquati Biancamaria
Published: November 2019

This paper analyses the demand for social farming (SF) products. In particular, we investigate the preferences of consumers who buy their products from large retailers, rather than from solidarity purchasing groups or other niche markets using a sample of 225 consumers. In this regard, a discrete choice experiment (DCE) was carried out to estimate the willingness to pay (WTP) a premium price for the purchase of a common product (i.e., eggs) from farms that employ disabled people. The attributes considered in our DCE design are the employment of disabled people and two additional attributes which may have ethical implications for the choices. The results indicate that consumers are interested in buying SF products, with about 74% of the sample willing to buy the eggs produced by social farms and the average WTP being equal to €1.36 for a pack of six eggs. Moreover, the average WTP for the use of labour of disabled people attribute amounted to €0.69 for a pack of six eggs.
Validation of Dynamic Risk Analysis Supporting Integrated Operations Across Systems
Authors: Lee Shenae , Landucci Gabriele , Reniers Genserik , Paltrinieri Nicola
Published: November 2019

Dynamic risk analysis (DRA) is a novel industrial approach that aims to capture changes in operational conditions over time and quantify their effect on risk. This aspect may be advantageous for providing insight into the causal factors that have substantial risk contributions and supporting decisions related to risk control. Some DRA methods were developed by the oil and gas industry to support the integration of work processes and the cooperation across virtual clusters, e.g., between offshore and onshore systems and/or oil company and supplier. However, DRA has not been extensively adopted and limited attention is given to its validity in practical applications. The objective of this article is to illustrate how this validity can be established based on common validation approaches for risk analysis. The case study focuses on a DRA method named risk barometer that was developed to support integrated operations across the oil and gas industrial systems. The outcome of this study may serve as a basis for the validation of other DRA methods, the use of DRA in practical cases, and ultimately the achievement of integrated operations (IO) capabilities.
Optimization of the National Land Space Based on the Coordination of Urban-Agricultural-Ecological Functions in the Karst Areas of Southwest China
Authors: Zhao Xiaoqing , Li Sinan , Pu Junwei , Miao Peipei , Wang Qian , Tan Kun
Published: November 2019

National land spatial planning is dominated by urban-agricultural-ecological functions and has become a Chinese national strategic issue. However, the three functional spaces have serious conflicts in the karst areas, causing inconsistencies in regional development and triggering poverty and a more serious situation for the ecological environment. In this study, we used the gray multi-objective dynamic programming model and the conversion of land use and its effects at small region extent model to simulate the developmental structures of future land use in the karst areas of Southwest China under a socioeconomic development scenario, an arable land protection scenario and an ecological security scenario. Finally, based on the coordination of the urban-agricultural-ecological functions, we used a functional space classification method to optimize the spatial structures of the national land space for 2035 year and to identify different functional areas. The results showed that the three scenarios with different objectives had differences in the quantities and spatial structures of land use but that the area of forestland was the largest and the area of water was the smallest in each scenario. The optimization of the national land space was divided into seven functional areas—urban space, agricultural space, ecological space, urban-agricultural space, urban-ecological space, agricultural-ecological space and urban-agricultural-ecological space. The ecological space was the largest and the urban-ecological space was the smallest among seven functional areas. The different types of functional spaces had significant differentiation characteristics in the layouts. The urban-agricultural space, urban-ecological space, agricultural-ecological space and urban-agricultural-ecological space can effectively alleviate the impacts of human activities and agricultural production activities in karst areas, promote the improvement of rocky desertification and improve the quality of the regional ecological environment. The results of this research can provide support for decisions about the balanced development of the national land space and the improvement of environmental quality in the karst areas.
Car-Following Modeling Incorporating Driving Memory Based on Autoencoder and Long Short-Term Memory Neural Networks
Authors: Fan Pengcheng , Guo Jingqiu , Zhao Haifeng , Wijnands Jasper S. , Wang Yibing
Published: November 2019

Although a lot of work has been conducted on car-following modeling, model calibration and validation are still a great challenge, especially in the era of autonomous driving. Most challengingly, besides the immediate benefit incurred with a car-following action, a smart vehicle needs to learn to evaluate the long-term benefits and become foresighted in conducting car-following behaviors. Driving memory, which plays a significant role in car-following, has seldom been considered in current models. This paper focuses on the impact of driving memory on car-following behavior, particularly, historical driving memory represents certain types of driving regimes and drivers’ maneuver in coordination with the variety of driving regimes. An autoencoder was used to extract the main features underlying the time-series data in historical driving memory. Long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network model has been employed to investigate the relationship between driving memory and car-following behavior. The results show that velocity, relative velocity, instant perception time (IPT), and time gap are the most relevant parameters, while distance gap is insignificant. Furthermore, we compared the accuracy and robustness of three patterns including various driving memory information and span levels. This study contributes to bridging the gap between historical driving memory and car-following behavior modeling. The developed LSTM methodology has the potential to provide personalized warnings of dangerous car-following distance over the next second.
Migration of Rural Residents to Urban Areas Drives Grassland Vegetation Increase in China’s Loess Plateau
Authors: Wei Jian-Zhou , Zheng Kai , Zhang Feng , Fang Chao , Zhou Yu-Yu , Li Xue-Cao , Li Feng-Min , Ye Jian-Sheng
Published: November 2019

Human activities are critical factors influencing ecosystem sustainability. However, knowledge on regarding the mechanisms underlying the response of vegetation dynamics to human activities remains limited. To detect the driving factors and their individual contribution to the grassland vegetation dynamics in China’s Loess Plateau, a structural equation model (SEM) and a principal component regression model were built. The SEM showed that population change and urbanization, temperature and humidity, and agriculture and economy accounted for 62.5%, 31.2%, and 7.7%, respectively, of the overall impact directly affecting grassland vegetation dynamics. Furthermore, the principal component regression model demonstrated that the effects of the urbanization rate on the grassland above-ground biomass exceeded those of the other factors. The agriculture population had the maximum negative effect on grassland area. The higher the urbanization rate means the higher the number of residents migrates from rural to urban areas. Following this argument, the disturbances of human activities to grassland vegetation were expected to gradually decrease in rural areas, where the vast majority of the Loess Plateau is located. The migration of rural residents to urban areas promoted the increase in biomass and areas of grassland vegetation. Our findings suggest that the effect of urbanization should be considered when assessing vegetation change.
A Review on the Feedstocks for the Sustainable Production of Bioactive Compounds in Biorefineries
Authors: Serna-Loaiza Sebastián , Miltner Angela , Miltner Martin , Friedl Anton
Published: November 2019

Since 2015, the sustainable development goals of the United Nations established a route map to achieve a sustainable society, pushing the industry to aim for sustainable processes. Biorefineries have been studied as the technological scheme to process integrally renewable resources. The so-called “bioactive” compounds (BACs) have been of high interest, given their high added value and potential application in pharmaceutics and health, among others. However, there are still elements to be addressed to consider them as economic drivers of sustainable processes. First, BACs can be produced from many sources and it is important to identify feedstocks for this purpose. Second, a sustainable production process should also consider valorizing the remaining components. Finally, feedstock availability plays an important role in affecting the process scale, logistics, and feasibility. This work consists of a review on the feedstocks for the sustainable production of BACs in biorefineries, covering the type of BAC, composition, and availability. Some example biorefineries are proposed using wheat straw, hemp and grapevine shoots. As a main conclusion, multiple raw materials have the potential to obtain BACs that can become economic drivers of biorefineries. This is an interesting outlook, as the integral use of the feedstocks may not only allow obtaining different types of BACs, but also other fiber products and energy for the process self-supply.
An Electrochemical Fiveplex Biochip Assay Based on Anti-Idiotypic Antibodies for Fast On-Site Detection of Bioterrorism Relevant Low Molecular Weight Toxins
Authors: Schulz Katharina , Pöhlmann Christopher , Dietrich Richard , Märtlbauer Erwin , Elßner Thomas
Published: November 2019

Modern threats of bioterrorism force the need for multiple detection of biothreat agents to determine the presence or absence of such agents in suspicious samples. Here, we present a rapid electrochemical fiveplex biochip screening assay for detection of the bioterrorism relevant low molecular weight toxins saxitoxin, microcystin-LR, T-2 toxin, roridin A and aflatoxin B1 relying on anti-idiotypic antibodies as epitope-mimicking reagents. The proposed method avoids the use of potentially harmful toxin-protein conjugates usually mandatory for competitive immunoassays. The biochip is processed and analyzed on the automated and portable detection platform pBDi within 13.4 min. The fiveplex biochip assay revealed toxin group specificity to multiple congeners. Limits of detection were 1.2 ng/mL, 1.5 ng/mL, 0.4 ng/mL, 0.5 ng/mL and 0.6 ng/mL for saxitoxin, microcystin-LR, T-2 toxin, roridin A or aflatoxin B1, respectively. The robustness of the fiveplex biochip for real samples was demonstrated by detecting saxitoxin, microcystin-LR, HT-2 toxin, roridin A and aflatoxin B1 in contaminated human blood serum without elaborate sample preparation. Recovery rates were between 52–115% covering a wide concentration range. Thus, the developed robust fiveplex biochip assay can be used on-site to quickly detect one or multiple low molecular weight toxins in a single run.
Next-Generation Sequencing on Insectivorous Bat Guano: An Accurate Tool to Identify Arthropod Viruses of Potential Agricultural Concern
Authors: Bourgarel Mathieu , Noël Valérie , Pfukenyi Davies , Michaux Johan , André Adrien , Becquart Pierre , Cerqueira Frédérique , Barrachina Célia , Boué Vanina , Talignani Loïc , Matope Gift , Missé Dorothée , Morand Serge , Liégeois Florian
Published: November 2019

Viruses belonging to the Dicistroviridae family have attracted a great deal of attention from scientists owing to their negative impact on agricultural economics, as well as their recent identification as potential aetiological agents of febrile illness in human patients. On the other hand, some Dicistroviruses are also studied for their potential biopesticide properties. To date, Dicistrovirus characterized in African mainland remain scarce. By using High-Throughput Sequencing technology on insectivorous bat faeces (Hipposideros Caffer) sampled in a cave used by humans to collect bat guano (bat manure) as fertilizer in Zimbabwe, we characterized the full-length sequences of three Dicistrovirus belonging to the Cripavirus and Aparavirus genus: Big Sioux River Virus-Like (BSRV-Like), Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (ABPV), and Aphid Lethal Paralysis Virus (ALPV). Phylogenetic analyses of ORF-1 and ORF-2 genes showed a complex evolutionary history between BSRV and close viruses, as well as for the Aparavirus genus. Herewith, we provide the first evidence of the presence of Dicistrovirus in Zimbabwe and highlight the need to further document the impact of such viruses on crops, as well as in beekeeping activities in Zimbabwe which represent a crucial source of income for Zimbabwean people.
Palm Tocotrienol-Adjuvanted Dendritic Cells Decrease Expression of the SATB1 Gene in Murine Breast Cancer Cells and Tissues
Authors: Abdul Hafid Sitti Rahma , Radhakrishnan Ammu Kutty
Published: November 2019

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of immunotherapy using dendritic cells (DC) pulsed with tumor lysate (a DC vaccine) in combination with daily supplementation of tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) to potentiate anti-tumor immune responses. We had previously reported that DC-vaccine immunotherapy together with TRF supplementation induced protective immunity to tumor challenge. Breast cancer was induced in female BALB/c mice. The mice were randomly assigned into the treatment groups. At autopsy, peripheral blood was collected in heparinized tube and the expression of cell surface molecules (CD40, CD80, CD83, and CD86) that are crucial for T-cell activation and survival were analyzed by flow cytometry. Tumor was excised from each animal and snap-frozen. Total RNA was extracted from each tumor tissue for microarray and gene expression analysis. Total protein was extracted from tumor tissue for protein expression studies using Western blotting. The results show that systemic administration of 1 mg TRF daily in combination with DC-vaccine immunotherapy (DC + TL + TRF) caused a marked reduction (p < 0.05) of tumor size and increased (p < 0.05) the survival rates of the tumor-inoculated mice. The expression of CD40, CD80, CD83, and CD86 were upregulated in peripheral blood from the DC + TL + TRF group compared to other groups. In addition, there was higher expression of FasL in tumor-excised mice from the DC + TL + TRF group compared to other groups. FasL plays an important role in maintaining immune privilege and is required for cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activity. Microarray analysis identified several genes involved in the regulation of cancer. In this study, we focused on the special AT rich binding protein 1 (SATB1) gene, which was reported to have dual functions, one of which was to induce aggressive growth in breast cancer cells. Tumors from DC + TL + TRF mice showed lower (p < 0.05) expression of SATB1 gene. Further study will be conducted to investigate the molecular functions of and the role of SATB1 in 4T1 mammary cancer cells and DC. In conclusion, TRF supplementation can potentiate the effectiveness of DC-vaccine immunotherapy.
Características sociodemográficas e psicossociais de trabalhadores relacionadas ao uso de álcool
Authors: Silva Nayara Baptista , Ferreira Maira Leon , Sartes Laisa Marcorela Andreoli
Published: November 2019

Introdução: O consumo abusivo de álcool acompanha os indivíduos durante a idade economicamente ativa, sendo a causa de diversos problemas no ambiente de trabalho. Objetivos: Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a relação entre o consumo de álcool e características sociodemográficas e psicossociais de trabalhadores do setor metalúrgico. Metodologia: Foram selecionados, por conveniência, 104 dos 120 trabalhadores de uma empresa de médio porte do setor metalúrgico, sendo que, deste total dezesseis foram excluídos por não estarem presentes nos dias das entrevistas ou por falta de disponibilidade no dia da aplicação dos testes. Os instrumentos utilizados na coleta de dados foram: (1) o AUDIT (Alcohol Disorders Identification Test) para avaliar o padrão de consumo de álcool e comparar os funcionários usuários e não usuários de álcool; (2) a área médica do ASI6 (Addiction Severity Index 6), para associar outras questões de saúde com o uso de álcool; (3) o URICA (University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale), para analisar o estágio de motivação para mudança dos usuários de risco e (4) questionário de dados sociodemográficos e questões sobre o álcool, para descrever a amostra. Resultados: Os resultados demonstram que, quanto ao padrão de uso de álcool, 75% dos participantes pontuaram como uso de baixo risco de álcool, 21,2% como uso nocivo e 3,8% como dependência. Observou-se que a maioria da amostra afirmou ter consumido álcool nos últimos meses (61 trabalhadores/ 58,7%). Conclusão: Como a maioria dos funcionários entrevistados fazia uso de álcool e, destes, a maior parte fazia uso episódico excessivo do álcool, padrão denominado de binge drink, fica evidenciada a necessidade das empresas de investirem em programas de prevenção e tratamento, reduzindo os riscos de acidentes de trabalho e problemas como absenteísmo e queda de produtividade.
Ocorrência e perfil bacteriano de culturas coletadas em pacientes internados na unidade de terapia intensiva em um hospital terciário
Authors: Naue Carine Rosa , Ribeiro Tércio , Ribeiro Rafaella , Batista Katia , Aquino Samuel
Published: November 2019

Introdução: O ambiente da UTI é considerado o foco das infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde (IRAS). Isso deve-se a particularidades desse ambiente como a utilização de dispositivos invasivos, uso de imunossupressores, período de internação prolongado, colonização por micro-organismos resistentes, prescrição de antimicrobianos e a própria característica do ambiente da UTI, além da condição clínica do paciente. O conhecimento do perfil bacteriano de cada cultura norteia a equipe médica no tratamento inicial das infecções. Objetivo: O objetivo desse trabalho foi verificar a ocorrência e o perfil bacteriano presente em pacientes internados na UTI de um hospital universitário. Material e métodos: O estudo foi realizado através da análise de exames de secreções traqueais, hemoculturas e uroculturas de pacientes internados no período de janeiro a junho de 2018. Os dados foram coletados por meio de impressos laboratoriais do próprio serviço e tabulados na planilha do Excel®, sendo divididos em amostras positivas e negativas, e realizada análise descritiva com valores absolutos e percentuais. Resultados: Em geral, as bactérias de maior ocorrência foram Acinetobacter baumannii (20,3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19,7%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (15,1%), Staphylococcus aureus (11,9%), Staphylococcus coagulase negativa (7,2%) e Escherichia coli (5,7%). As espécies bacterianas com maior resistência foram Acinetobacter baumanni, Klebisiella pneumoniae, aPseudomonas aeruginosa, Eschericia coli, Serratia marcencens e Enterobacter cloacae. Conclusão: Os dados deste trabalho permitem o conhecimento do perfil bacteriano encontrado nos pacientes internados, o que poderá nortear o tratamento das infecções e consequentemente diminuir a seleção de bactérias multirresistentes, auxiliando na prevenção e no controle das infecções hospitalares.
Efeitos da suplementação de ômega 3 na resistência à insulina em mulheres com síndrome do ovário policístico: revisão sistemática
Authors: De Araújo Silva Ana Raquel , Silva Dela-Sávia Viviane , Sernizon Guimarães Nathália , Andrezza de Freitas Folly Zocateli Gilce
Published: November 2019

Introdução: A síndrome do ovário policístico (SOP) é uma disfunção hormonal que acomete mulheres em idade reprodutiva podendo causar infertilidade, alterações no ciclo menstrual, hirsutismo, presença de cistos nos ovários, amenorreia e distúrbios metabólicos. Dentre as alterações metabólicas resistência à insulina (RI) está presente em 70,5% das brasileiras com SOP. Objetivo: Revisar sistematicamente a literatura para descrever os efeitos da suplementação de ômega-3 na RI em mulheres com SOP. Materiais e métodos: As buscas pela informação foram realizadas na base de dados PubMed e LILACS utilizando os descritores "síndrome do ovário policístico"; "ácidos graxos ômega-3" e "resistência à insulina", em português e inglês. Resultados: Foram encontrados sessenta estudos e após o crivo metodológico seis foram selecionados para compor esta revisão. Ao total dos ensaios clínicos incluídos nesta revisão, 326 mulheres com faixa etária correspondente a 18-45 anos foram avaliadas com variações de índice de massa corporal entre 25 e 45 kg/m2. A variação de tempo de acompanhamento entre os estudos foi de 2 a 6 meses. Discussão: Em todos os estudos incluídos nesta revisão, a homeostase da glicose sérica foi avaliada pelo índice HOMA. Apenas 1 estudo avaliou o índice quantitativo de verificação da sensibilidade à insulina (QUICK1); 2 estudos avaliaram hemoglobina glicada e índice de sensibilidade à insulina (ISI de Matsuda). A avaliação da insulinemia de jejum foi realizada em 4 estudos. Metade dos estudos incluídos suplementou os pacientes com 1.000 mg de ômega-3 ao dia, enquanto 25% dos estudos utilizou a dosagem de 2000 mg/dia 25% utilizou 4000 mg/dia. A maioria das pesquisas encontradas (67%) descreveu efeito positivo entre a suplementação de ômega-3 e melhora da RI de mulheres com SOP, utilizando os diferentes métodos de dosagem da homeostase da glicose sérica. Conclusão: Conclui-se que o consumo de ômega-3 pode ter efeito positivo sobre a RI.
Avaliação da estabilidade dimensional da silicona de condensação em diferentes tempos de vazamento em moldagens para prótese fixa
Authors: Vidal Capelupi Rebeca , Salvato de Souza Viviam , Tarcísio Martins Marcelo , Gouvêa Chagas Júlio Marcos , Teodoro de Aquino Rogério , Dos Reis Furlani Zouain-Ferreira Thalyta , Aparecida Mayrink de Oliveira Fabiana
Published: November 2019

Introdução: O envelhecimento da população aumenta a necessidade de reabilitação protética e o custo do atendimento odontológico. Para reabilitar com qualidade e baixo custo é necessário conhecer os materiais odontológicos desse processo, como os materiais de moldagem. O mais utilizado no Brasil é a silicona de condensação, que possui limitações. Porém, o fabricante modificou a fórmula com o intuito de melhorar a estabilidade dimensional. Objetivo: avaliar a estabilidade dimensional da silicona de condensação Speedex com a nova tecnologia DCP, em diferentes tempos de vazamento nas moldagens para prótese fixa. Material e métodos: Foi confeccionado um modelo padrão metálico com dois cilindros de mesmos diâmetros e mesma altura para simular uma prótese fixa. Foi elaborada uma moldeira metálica padronizada com retenções e guias de inserção. A partir dessa, outras quatro, em acrílico incolor, foram reproduzidas pelo alginato reversível. No total, foram realizadas 20 impressões, sendo 5 impressões por grupo. Os grupos foram vazados com o gesso tipo IV em diferentes tempos: grupo 1 (n=5): imediato; grupo 2 (n=5): 30 min; grupo 3 (n=5): 36h; grupo 4 (n=5): 72h. O modelo padrão e todos os modelos de gesso do grupo 1, 2, 3 e 4 foram medidos por dois pesquisadores de forma cega com auxílio de um paquímetro digital. Foram analisadas as distâncias externas e internas entre os pontos de referência dos cilindros. Os grupos foram comparados pelo teste t de Student, o nível de significância considerado foi p<0,05. Resultados: não se observou diferença estatística entre as medidas do pesquisador 1 e 2 (p>0,05). Não houveram diferenças entre os grupos 1 e 2 e 1 e 3; porém houve diferença significativa entre o 1 e 4. Conclusão: A silicona de condensação Speedex, não altera a estabilidade dimensional com o vazamento em até 36 horas.
Medidas de precaução padrão adotadas em uma clínica escola de graduação em Odontologia
Authors: Trezena Samuel , Silva Sarmento Thayna , Stéfany Rodrigues Cruz Bárbara , Barbosa Mendes Paula , Soares Figueiredo Santos Aline , De Melo Costa Simone , De Quadros Coelho Pinto Mânia
Published: November 2019

Introdução: Precauções padrão (PP) são normas de prevenção que devem ser utilizadas na assistência a todos os pacientes, independente de seu diagnóstico sorológico prévio. Dentre as PP temos medidas simples como a lavagem das mãos, o uso adequado de todos os equipamentos de proteção individual (EPIs) e a imunização contra patógenos que podem ser transmitidos durante acidentes de trabalho com material biológico. Objetivo: Verificar ações de precaução padrão em biossegurança realizadas por docentes e discentes em clínica escola, para controle de infecção durante atendimento odontológico. Material e Métodos: Realizou-se pesquisa com delineamento transversal descritiva. Os dados foram coletados por meio de dois questionários, um para 21 docentes coordenadores das disciplinas clínicas do 3º ao 9º períodos da graduação em Odontologia e outro para sete discentes, líderes de turmas. A análise estatística foi realizada através do programa IBM SPSS versão 22.0. Resultados: A maioria dos entrevistados era do gênero feminino. Todos os discentes e 95,2% dos docentes fazem uso rotineiro de EPIs. Dentre os professores pesquisados, 52,4% já sofreram acidente com perfurocortantes, o que também foi observado em 14,3% dos acadêmicos. Os 21 docentes e a maioria dos discentes conheciam os procedimentos a serem realizados após acidentes com exposição sanguínea. A maioria dos entrevistados relatou conhecer o protocolo de biossegurança e as normas para controle de infecção cruzada. Conclusão: Grande parte dos pesquisados relataram conhecer as normas de biossegurança, no entanto os mesmos ainda sentem necessidade de aprimorar no que se refere ao tema investigado. É relevante estimular a revisão de protocolos para controle de infecções em Instituições de Ensino Superior em Odontologia.
Éthique des valeurs et éthique théologique
Authors: Müller Denis
Published: November 2019

Value Ethics and Theological Ethics.

The philosophical discussion on axiologie requires a reexamination of the theological denial put forward by E. Jungel with regard to any ethic concerning values, which he supposed to be incompatible with justification by faith. This reexamination produces a reappraisal of the different models that have been proposed, from Schleiermacher to contemporary Protestant ethics, for descri¬ bing the differentiated connections between value ethics and theological ethics.
De Qoumrân à Doura-Europos : La vision des ossements desséchés (Ezéchiel 37,1-4)
Authors: Philonenko Marc
Published: November 2019

From Qumran to Doura-Europos : The Vision of the Dried Bones (Ezechiel 37 :1-4)

A fragment o/Pseudo-Ezekiel discovered in cave IV of Qumran sheds new light on certain motifs of the large fresco of Doura-Europos which illustrates the vision of the dried bones.