bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Fat Intake on Blood Glucose Control and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Garonzi Chiara , Forsander Gun , Maffeis Claudio
Published: July 2021

Nutrition therapy is a cornerstone of type 1 diabetes (T1D) management. Glycemic control is affected by diet composition, which can contribute to the development of diabetes complications. However, the specific role of macronutrients is still debated, particularly fat intake. This review aims at assessing the relationship between fat intake and glycemic control, cardiovascular risk factors, inflammation, and microbiota, in children and adolescents with T1D. High fat meals are followed by delayed and prolonged hyperglycemia and higher glycated hemoglobin A1c levels have been frequently reported in individuals with T1D consuming high amounts of fat. High fat intake has also been associated with increased cardiovascular risk, which is higher in people with diabetes than in healthy subjects. Finally, high fat meals lead to postprandial pro-inflammatory responses through different mechanisms, including gut microbiota modifications. Different fatty acids were proposed to have a specific role in metabolic regulation, however, further investigation is still necessary. In conclusion, available evidence suggests that a high fat intake should be avoided by children and adolescents with T1D, who should be encouraged to adhere to a healthy and balanced diet, as suggested by ISPAD and ADA recommendations. This nutritional choice might be beneficial for reducing cardiovascular risk and inflammation.
The Relationship of Lifestyle Risk Factors and Depression in Korean Adults: A Moderating Effect of Overall Nutritional Adequacy
Authors: Kang Minjeong , Joo Mingyu , Hong Haeryun , Kang Hyunsik
Published: July 2021

Background: Little is known regarding the role of nutrition in determining the associations between lifestyle risk factors and depression. Objectives: This study examined whether or not nutritional adequacy modulates the relationship between depression and lifestyle risk factors in Korean adults aged 18-65 years (n = 7446). Methods: Data were obtained from the 2016 and 2018 Korea National Health and Examination Survey. Depression, smoking, at-risk alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, sleep deprivation, and mean adequacy ratio (MAR) were assessed. Results: Individuals with two (OR = 1.960, p < 0.001), three (OR = 4.237, p < 0.001), or four (OR = 5.312, p < 0.001) risk factors had a significantly higher risk of depression compared to individuals with one or zero risk factor. In contrast, individuals with moderate MAR (OR = 0.607, p < 0.001) and high (OR = 0.698, p < 0.001) MAR had a lower depression risk compared to individuals with low MAR. Moderation analysis showed a moderating effect of MAR (coefficient = −0.220, p = 0.007) on the relationship between risk factors and depression. Conclusions: The current findings suggest that overall nutritional adequacy plays a modulating role in determining the relationship between depression and lifestyle risk factors in Korean adults.
Revisiting Konzo Risk Factors in Three Areas Differently Affected by Spastic Paraparesis in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Discloses a Prominent Role of the Nutritional Status—A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Baguma Marius , Malembaka Espoir Bwenge , Bahizire Esto , Mudumbi Germain Zabaday , Shamamba Dieudonné Bahati , Matabaro Alain-Narcisse , Rigo Jean-Michel , Njamnshi Alfred Kongnyu , Chabwine Joelle Nsimire
Published: July 2021

This comparative cross-sectional study aimed to better understand the respective contributions of protein malnutrition and cassava-derived cyanide poisoning in the development of konzo. We compared data on nutritional status and cyanide exposure of school-age adolescent konzo-diseased patients to those of non-konzo subjects of similar age from three areas in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Our results show that konzo patients had a high prevalence of both wasting (54.5%) and stunting (72.7%), as well as of cyanide poisoning (81.8%). Controls from Burhinyi and those from Idjwi showed a similar profile with a low prevalence of wasting (3.3% and 6.5%, respectively) and intermediate prevalence of stunting (26.7% and 23.9%, respectively). They both had a high prevalence of cyanide poisoning (50.0% and 63.0%, respectively), similar to konzo-patients. On the other hand, controls from Bukavu showed the lowest prevalence of both risk factors, namely chronic malnutrition (12.1%) and cyanide poisoning (27.6%). In conclusion, cassava-derived cyanide poisoning does not necessarily coexist with konzo outbreaks. The only factor differentiating konzo patients from healthy individuals exposed to cyanide poisoning appeared to be their worse nutritional status. This further suggests that, besides the known role of cyanide poisoning in the pathogenesis of konzo, malnutrition may be a key factor for the disease occurrence.
Reynoutria Rhizomes as a Natural Source of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro Inhibitors–Molecular Docking and In Vitro Study
Authors: Nawrot-Hadzik Izabela , Zmudzinski Mikolaj , Matkowski Adam , Preissner Robert , Kęsik-Brodacka Małgorzata , Hadzik Jakub , Drag Marcin , Abel Renata
Published: July 2021

More than a year has passed since the world began to fight the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) responsible for the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and still it spreads around the world, mutating at the same time. One of the sources of compounds with potential antiviral activity is Traditional Chinese Medicinal (TCM) plants used in China in the supportive treatment of COVID-19. Reynoutria japonica is important part of the Shu Feng Jie Du Granule/Capsule-TCM herbal formula, recommended by China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) for treatment of patients with H1N1- and H5N9-induced acute lung injury and is also used in China to treat COVID-19, mainly combined with other remedies. In our study, 25 compounds from rhizomes of R. japonica and Reynoutria sachalinensis (related species), were docked into the binding site of SARS-CoV-2 main protease. Next, 11 of them (vanicoside A, vanicoside B, resveratrol, piceid, emodin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate, procyanidin B2, procyanidin C1, procyanidin B2 3,3’-di-O-gallate) as well as extracts and fractions from rhizomes of R. japonica and R. sachalinensis were tested in vitro using a fluorescent peptide substrate. Among the tested phytochemicals the best results were achieved for vanicoside A and vanicoside B with moderate inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, IC50 = 23.10 µM and 43.59 µM, respectively. The butanol fractions of plants showed the strongest inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro (IC50 = 4.031 µg/mL for R. sachalinensis and IC50 = 7.877 µg/mL for R. japonica). As the main constituents of butanol fractions, besides the phenylpropanoid disaccharide esters (e.g., vanicosides), are highly polymerized procyanidins, we suppose that they could be responsible for their strong inhibitory properties. As inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 main protease could prevent the replication of the virus our research provides data that may explain the beneficial effects of R. japonica on COVID-19 and identify the most active compounds worthy of more extensive research.
Kinetical Study, Thermo-Mechanical Characteristics and Recyclability of Epoxidized Camelina Oil Cured with Antagonist Structure (Aliphatic/Aromatic) or Functionality (Acid/Amine) Hardeners
Authors: Di Mauro Chiara , Genua Aratz , Mija Alice
Published: July 2021

In an attempt to prepare sustainable epoxy thermosets, this study introduces for the first time the idea to use antagonist structures (aromatic/aliphatic) or functionalities (acid/amine) as hardeners to produce reprocessable resins based on epoxidized camelina oil (ECMO). Two kinds of mixtures were tested: one combines aromatic/aliphatic dicarboxylic acids: 2,2′-dithiodibenzoic acid (DTBA) and 3,3′-dithiodipropionic acid (DTDA); another is the combination of two aromatic structures with acid/amine functionality: DTBA and 4-aminophenyl disulfide (4-AFD). DSC and FT-IR analyses were used as methods to analyze the curing reaction of ECMO with the hardeners. It was found that the thermosets obtained with the dual crosslinked mechanism needed reduced curing temperatures and reprocessing protocols compared to the individual crosslinked thermosets. Thanks to the contribution of disulfide bonds in the network topology, the obtained thermosets showed recycling ability. The final thermomechanical properties of the virgin and mechanical reprocessed materials were analyzed by DMA and TGA. The obtained thermosets range from elastomeric to rigid materials. As an example, the ECMO/DTBA704-AFD30 virgin or reprocessed thermosets have tan δ values reaching 82–83 °C. The study also investigates the chemical recycling and the solvent resistance of these vitrimer-like materials.
A Comparative Study on Suitability of Model-Free and Model-Fitting Kinetic Methods to Non-Isothermal Degradation of Lignocellulosic Materials
Authors: Mahmood Hamayoun , Shakeel Ahmad , Abdullah Ammar , Khan Muhammad , Moniruzzaman Muhammad
Published: July 2021

The thermal kinetic modeling is crucial for development of sustainable processes where lignocellulosic fuels are a part of chemical system and their thermal degradation eventuates. In this paper, thermal decomposition of three lignocellulosic materials (bagasse, rice husk, and wheat straw) was obtained by the thermogravimetric (TG) technique and kinetics was analyzed by both model-fitting and isoconversional (model-free) methods to compare their effectiveness. Two models selected from each class include Arrhenius and Coats–Redfern (model-fitting), and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO) (model-free). The formal model-fitting approach simulating the thermal decomposition of solids by assuming a fixed mechanism was found to be unduly facile. However, activation energy (E) values calculated from two model-fitting techniques were considerably different from each other with a percentage difference in the range of 1.36% to 7.65%. Particularly, both model-fitting methods predicted different reaction mechanism for thermal disintegration of lignocellulosic materials (two-dimensional diffusion (D2) by Arrhenius and one-dimensional diffusion (D1) by Coat–Redfern method). Conversely, the model-free routine offers a transformation of mechanism and activation energy values throughout reaction and is, therefore, more authentic to illustrate the complexity of thermal disintegration of lignocellulosic particles. Based on the model-free kinetic analysis, the lignocellulosic materials may be devised in following order of activation energy: rice husk > bagasse > wheat straw, by both KAS and FWO methods with a percentage difference no more than 0.84% for fractional conversion up to 0.7. Isoconversional approach could be recommended as more realistic and precise for modeling non-isothermal kinetics of lignocellulosic residues compared to model-fitting approach.
Attention-Based Multi-Scale Convolutional Neural Network (A+MCNN) for Multi-Class Classification in Road Images
Authors: Eslami Elham , Yun Hae-Bum
Published: July 2021

Automated pavement distress recognition is a key step in smart infrastructure assessment. Advances in deep learning and computer vision have improved the automated recognition of pavement distresses in road surface images. This task remains challenging due to the high variation of defects in shapes and sizes, demanding a better incorporation of contextual information into deep networks. In this paper, we show that an attention-based multi-scale convolutional neural network (A+MCNN) improves the automated classification of common distress and non-distress objects in pavement images by (i) encoding contextual information through multi-scale input tiles and (ii) employing a mid-fusion approach with an attention module for heterogeneous image contexts from different input scales. A+MCNN is trained and tested with four distress classes (crack, crack seal, patch, pothole), five non-distress classes (joint, marker, manhole cover, curbing, shoulder), and two pavement classes (asphalt, concrete). A+MCNN is compared with four deep classifiers that are widely used in transportation applications and a generic CNN classifier (as the control model). The results show that A+MCNN consistently outperforms the baselines by 1∼26% on average in terms of the F-score. A comprehensive discussion is also presented regarding how these classifiers perform differently on different road objects, which has been rarely addressed in the existing literature.
Lilium philadelphicum Flower as a Novel Source of Antimicrobial Agents: A Study of Bioactivity, Phytochemical Analysis, and Partial Identification of Antimicrobial Metabolites
Authors: Singh Shefali , Singh Vineeta , Alhazmi Alaa , Mishra Bhartendu Nath , Haque Shafiul , Sayyed R. Z. , Sunita Kumari
Published: July 2021

The members of the Liliaceae family are considered an excellent source of biologically active compounds. However, work on antimicrobial potential and characterization of the bioactive fractions of the Lilium philadelphicum flower is limited and needs to be explored. The present study reports the antimicrobial potential of the bioactive fraction extracted from the flower of L. philadelphicum (red lily) and partial characterization of the bioactive compound(s). The antimicrobial activity was tested against nine different Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of methanolic extract of the L. philadelphicum flower against Acinetobacter bouvetii, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, Bacillus subtilis MTCC 121, Candida albicans MTCC 183, Klebsiella pneumoniae MTCC 3384, and Salmonella typhi MTCC 537 were 25, 50, 12.5, 50, 100, and 50 μg/mL, respectively. The phytochemical analysis of the extract revealed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, glycosides, coumarins, and quinones. The cytotoxicity of the partially purified compound against the HepG2 cell line using MTT assay demonstrated up to 90% cell viability with a bioactive compound concentration of 50 μg/mL. However, the increase in the bioactive compound’s concentration up to 1000 μg/mL resulted in nearly 80% cell viability. This minor decline in cell viability suggests the importance and suitability of the bioactive compound for therapeutic applications. Spectroscopic studies of the bioactive compound by UV-visible spectroscopy, FT-infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), as well as phytochemical analysis, suggested the presence of a terpenoid moiety, which may be responsible for the antimicrobial property of the L. philadelphicum flower.
Examining the Relative Impact of Drivers on Energy Input for Municipal Water Supply in Africa
Authors: Macharia Pauline , Wirth Maria , Yillia Paul , Kreuzinger Norbert
Published: July 2021

This study examines supply-side and demand-side drivers of municipal water supply and describes how they interact to impact energy input for municipal water supply in Africa. Several key compound indicators were parameterized to generate cluster centers using k-means cluster analysis for 52 countries in Africa to show the impact of water supply–demand drivers on municipal water supply and associated energy input. The cluster analysis produced impact scores with five cluster centers that grouped countries with similar key compound indicators and impact scores. Three countries (Gambia, Libya, & Mauritius) were classified as outliers. Libya presented a unique case with the highest impact score on energy input for raw water abstraction, associated with largescale pumping from deep groundwater aquifers. Multivariate analysis of the key indicators for 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa that are either water-secure or water-stressed illustrate the relative impact of drivers on energy input for municipal water supply. The analytical framework developed presents an approach to assessing the impact of drivers on energy input for municipal water supply, and the findings could be used to support planning processes to build resilient drinking water infrastructure in developing countries with data challenges.
Unification of Edge Energy Grids for Empowering Small Energy Producers
Authors: Markakis Evangelos K. , Nikoloudakis Yannis , Lapidaki Kalliopi , Fiorentzis Konstantinos , Karapidakis Emmanuel
Published: July 2021

The current energy landscape is largely comprised of big stakeholders, who are often the monopolistic drivers of their local market. This fact does not leave any room for smaller players to participate in this procedure by contributing their part in the energy pool. Moreover, the dynamic demand for power along with the current power production rate are not corelated, rendering the power distribution grid, a best effort network, prone to power failures, due to the inevitable irregularities in demand. This paper introduces a novel concept that allows small energy producers, such as solar panel grids, to offer their production excess through an intelligent energy brokerage blockchain-based framework. The proposed framework ingests the vast amounts of bigdata stemming from the distributed smart energy grids smart metering and allows for automatic commercial transactions of power between the participants of a dedicated marketplace. Values dynamically fluctuate depending on the real-time offer and demand and the grid’s state. Thus, all partaking stakeholders are able to take the most out of their product by leveraging the intelligence provided by the energy marketplace, and contribute to the overall stabilization of the energy grid.
The MicroBioDiverSar Project: Exploring the Microbial Biodiversity in Ex Situ Collections of Sardinia
Authors: Daga Elisabetta , Budroni Marilena , Multineddu Chiara , Cosentino Sofia , Deplano Maura , Romano Paolo , Comunian Roberta
Published: July 2021

In the last decades, biodiversity preservation has gained growing attention and many strategies, laws and regulations have been enacted by governments with this purpose. The MicroBioDiverSar (MBDS) project, the first one regarding microbiological resources, funded by the Italian Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies (Mipaaf) through the Law 194/2015, was aimed at surveying, cataloguing, and managing the microbial resources and the related information of three Sardinian collections (Agris BNSS, Uniss, and Unica). While microorganisms were reordered and inventoried, a federated database, accessible via the web, was designed by the bioinformatician of Ospedale Policlinico San Martino of Genova, according to both international standards and laboratory needs. The resulting MBDS collection boasts a great richness of microbial resources. Indeed, over 21,000 isolates, belonging to over 200 species of bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi isolated from different matrices, mainly food, of animal and vegetable origin, collected in over 50 years, were included in the database. Currently, about 2000 isolates, belonging to 150 species, are available online for both the scientific community and agri-food producers. The huge work done allowed one to know the consistency and the composition of most of the patrimony of the Sardinian microbial collections. Furthermore, the MBDS database has been proposed as a model for other Italian collections that, as the MBDS partners, are part of the Joint Research Unit MIRRI-IT Italian collections network, with the aim of overcoming fragmentation, facing sustainability challenges, and improving the quality of the management of the collections.
Spatio-Temporal Characteristics and Obstacle Factors of Cultivated Land Resources Security
Authors: Huang Liejia , Feng Yue , Zhang Boqing , Hu Weiyan
Published: July 2021

The security of cultivated land resources is closely related to a country’s food security, economic security and social security, and as such is always the top priority of those responsible for the governance and administration of state affairs. The study area is 13 prefecture-level cities in Hubei Province. An entropy weight method, comprehensive index method, spatial analysis and obstacle degree model are employed to explore the spatio-temporal characteristics and obstacle factors of cultivated land resources in quantity, quality and ecological security. The study shows that (1) the security level of cultivated land resources in Hubei Province showed an upward trend between 2010 and 2019. The land resources’ quality and ecological security showed an upward trend, while quantity security showed a downward trend. (2) The security of cultivated land resources presents obvious spatial differences, generally showing a decreasing trend from west to east. Among them, quantity security presents a spatial pattern of being high in the central, low in the east and lower in the west of Hubei Province. Quality security presents a spatial pattern of being high in the central region and low in the east and west. Ecological security presents a spatial pattern of being high in the west and low in the east. (3) The main obstacles to its security in quantity, in quality and in ecology are obviously different. Finally, some countermeasures are put forward to ensure the security of cultivated land resources from the perspectives of quantity, quality and ecological security, and to assist with the implementation of different protection policies in the western, central and eastern areas of Hubei. This study expands the content and perspective of cultivated land resources security and has a certain novelty in the selection of the index of water resources per unit of land area, and the application of the obstacle degree model expands the research on the influencing factors of cultivated land resource security.
Overview of Safety Measures at Selected Airports during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Blišťanová Monika , Tirpáková Michaela , Brůnová Ľubomíra
Published: July 2021

The year 2020 was very challenging for the whole world, given the outbreak of the ongoing coronavirus-related pandemic, and was marked in particular by overcoming new hitherto unknown obstacles. For air transport, in particular, airlines stopped flying altogether and were forced to ground hundreds of planes worldwide involuntarily. Airports had to close their terminals for a long time, wholly suspend operations, and its resumption required significant organizational changes. This article summarizes the measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic adopted by airports to minimize the risk of spreading the disease. The article focuses on countermeasures and their implementation at selected airports in a specific time frame and airports’ behavior during a pandemic which varies depending on country and time of the year. The results demonstrated that steps being taken at airports include the use of face coverings or masks, social distance, enhanced cleaning and disinfection, or temperature checks and/or symptoms (fever, loss of smell, chills, cough, shortness of breath), RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) screening and data collection with health declaration. These measures have now become an essential standard for the operation of airports and can, therefore, be used to assess the level of airport safety achieved. In the final phase, the article evaluates the level of achieved airport safety based on the proposed scoring method.
A Framework for Evaluating and Disclosing the ESG Related Impacts of AI with the SDGs
Authors: Sætra Henrik Skaug
Published: July 2021

Artificial intelligence (AI) now permeates all aspects of modern society, and we are simultaneously seeing an increased focus on issues of sustainability in all human activities. All major corporations are now expected to account for their environmental and social footprint and to disclose and report on their activities. This is carried out through a diverse set of standards, frameworks, and metrics related to what is referred to as ESG (environment, social, governance), which is now, increasingly often, replacing the older term CSR (corporate social responsibility). The challenge addressed in this article is that none of these frameworks sufficiently capture the nature of the sustainability related impacts of AI. This creates a situation in which companies are not incentivised to properly analyse such impacts. Simultaneously, it allows the companies that are aware of negative impacts to not disclose them. This article proposes a framework for evaluating and disclosing ESG related AI impacts based on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The core of the framework is here presented, with examples of how it forces an examination of micro, meso, and macro level impacts, a consideration of both negative and positive impacts, and accounting for ripple effects and interlinkages between the different impacts. Such a framework helps make analyses of AI related ESG impacts more structured and systematic, more transparent, and it allows companies to draw on research in AI ethics in such evaluations. In the closing section, Microsoft’s sustainability reporting from 2018 and 2019 is used as an example of how sustainability reporting is currently carried out, and how it might be improved by using the approach here advocated.
Study on Low-Frequency Band Gap Characteristics of a New Helmholtz Type Phononic Crystal
Authors: Han Dong-Hai , Zhao Jing-Bo , Zhang Guang-Jun , Yao Hong
Published: July 2021

In order to solve the problem of low-frequency noise of aircraft cabins, this paper presents a new Helmholtz type phononic crystal with a two-dimensional symmetric structure. Under the condition of the lattice constant of 62 mm, the lower limit of the first band gap is about 12 Hz, and the width is more than 10 Hz, thus the symmetric structure has distinct sound insulation ability in the low-frequency range. Firstly, the cause of the low-frequency band gap is analyzed by using the sound pressure field, and the range of band gaps is calculated by using the finite element method and the spring-oscillator model. Although the research shows that the finite element calculation results are basically consistent with the theoretical calculation, there are still some errors, and the reasons for the errors are analyzed. Secondly, the finite element method and equivalent model method are used to explore the influence of parameters of the symmetric structure on the first band gap. The result shows that the upper limit of the first band gap decreases with the increase of the lattice constant and the wedge height and increases with the increase of the length of wedge base; the lower limit of the band gap decreases with the increase of the wedge height and length of wedge base and is independent of the change of lattice constant, which further reveals the essence of the band gap formation and verifies the accuracy of the equivalent model. This study provides some theoretical support for low-frequency noise control and broadens the design idea of symmetric phononic crystal.
Some Operators on Quantum B-Algebras
Authors: Zhan Qiuyan
Published: July 2021

The aim of this paper is to investigate several operators on quantum B-algebras. At first, we introduce closure and interior operators on quantum B-algebras and consider their relations on bounded quantum B-algebras. Furthermore, we discuss very true operators on quantum B-algebras by three cases via the unit element, and present some similar conclusions and different results. Finally, by constructing a very true operator on a quotient very true perfect quantum B-algebra, we establish a homomorphism theorem on very true perfect quantum B-algebras.
An Entropic Gradient Structure in the Network Dynamics of a Slime Mold
Authors: Bonifaci Vincenzo
Published: July 2021

The approach to equilibrium in certain dynamical systems can be usefully described in terms of information-theoretic functionals. Well-studied models of this kind are Markov processes, chemical reaction networks, and replicator dynamics, for all of which it can be proven, under suitable assumptions, that the relative entropy (informational divergence) of the state of the system with respect to an equilibrium is nonincreasing over time. This work reviews another recent result of this type, which emerged in the study of the network optimization dynamics of an acellular slime mold, Physarum polycephalum. In this setting, not only the relative entropy of the state is nonincreasing, but its evolution over time is crucial to the stability of the entire system, and the equilibrium towards which the dynamics is attracted proves to be a global minimizer of the cost of the network.
Serum Galectin-3 Level Is Positively Associated with Endothelial Dysfunction in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 3 to 5
Authors: Hsu Bang-Gee , Wang Chih-Hsien , Lai Yu-Hsien , Tsai Jen-Pi
Published: July 2021

Galectin-3, which is a novel biomarker of cardiovascular stress and related to inflammation, could predict adverse cardiovascular events. However, its relationship with endothelial function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains inconclusive. This study aimed to investigate the association between serum galectin-3 levels and endothelial function in patients with stages 3–5 CKD. Fasting blood samples were obtained from 130 patients. Serum galectin-3 levels were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The endothelial function, demonstrated as a vascular reactivity index (VRI), was measured noninvasively through digital thermal monitoring test. Then, we sorted the patients into poor, intermediate, and good vascular reactivity (VRI < 1.0, 1.0 ≤ VRI < 2.0, and VRI ≥ 2.0), accounting for 24 (18.5%), 44 (33.8%), and 62 (47.7%) patients, respectively. As the VRI decreased, the serum galectin-3 and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels significantly increased. The galectin-3 value positively correlated with the CRP value but negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate. In multivariable stepwise linear regression analysis, serum log-transformed galectin-3 level and log-transformed CRP were significantly negatively associated with VRI values. Therefore, galectin-3 together with CRP is associated with VRI values and is a potential endothelial function modulator and a valuable biomarker of endothelial dysfunction in patients with CKD.
Combined Action of Shiga Toxin Type 2 and Subtilase Cytotoxin in the Pathogenesis of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
Authors: Álvarez Romina S. , Gómez Fernando D. , Zotta Elsa , Paton Adrienne W. , Paton James C. , Ibarra Cristina , Sacerdoti Flavia , Amaral María M.
Published: July 2021

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) produces Stx1 and/or Stx2, and Subtilase cytotoxin (SubAB). Since these toxins may be present simultaneously during STEC infections, the purpose of this work was to study the co-action of Stx2 and SubAB. Stx2 + SubAB was assayed in vitro on monocultures and cocultures of human glomerular endothelial cells (HGEC) with a human proximal tubular epithelial cell line (HK-2) and in vivo in mice after weaning. The effects in vitro of both toxins, co-incubated and individually, were similar, showing that Stx2 and SubAB contribute similarly to renal cell damage. However, in vivo, co-injection of toxins lethal doses reduced the survival time of mice by 24 h and mice also suffered a strong decrease in the body weight associated with a lowered food intake. Co-injected mice also exhibited more severe histological renal alterations and a worsening in renal function that was not as evident in mice treated with each toxin separately. Furthermore, co-treatment induced numerous erythrocyte morphological alterations and an increase of free hemoglobin. This work shows, for the first time, the in vivo effects of Stx2 and SubAB acting together and provides valuable information about their contribution to the damage caused in STEC infections.
Crystal Structure of a Retroviral Polyprotein: Prototype Foamy Virus Protease-Reverse Transcriptase (PR-RT)
Authors: Harrison Jerry Joe E. K. , Tuske Steve , Das Kalyan , Ruiz Francesc X. , Bauman Joseph D. , Boyer Paul L. , DeStefano Jeffrey J. , Hughes Stephen H. , Arnold Eddy
Published: July 2021

In most cases, proteolytic processing of the retroviral Pol portion of the Gag-Pol polyprotein precursor produces protease (PR), reverse transcriptase (RT), and integrase (IN). However, foamy viruses (FVs) express Pol separately from Gag and, when Pol is processed, only the IN domain is released. Here, we report a 2.9 Å resolution crystal structure of the mature PR-RT from prototype FV (PFV) that can carry out both proteolytic processing and reverse transcription but is in a configuration not competent for proteolytic or polymerase activity. PFV PR-RT is monomeric and the architecture of PFV PR is similar to one of the subunits of HIV-1 PR, which is a dimer. There is a C-terminal extension of PFV PR (101-145) that consists of two helices which are adjacent to the base of the RT palm subdomain, and anchors PR to RT. The polymerase domain of PFV RT consists of fingers, palm, thumb, and connection subdomains whose spatial arrangements are similar to the p51 subunit of HIV-1 RT. The RNase H and polymerase domains of PFV RT are connected by flexible linkers. Significant spatial and conformational (sub)domain rearrangements are therefore required for nucleic acid binding. The structure of PFV PR-RT provides insights into the conformational maturation of retroviral Pol polyproteins.
Emerging Viral Pathogens in Sturgeon Aquaculture in Poland: Focus on Herpesviruses and Mimivirus Detection
Authors: Stachnik Magdalena , Matras Marek , Borzym Ewa , Maj-Paluch Joanna , Reichert Michał
Published: July 2021

Recently, Poland has become a leading producer of sturgeon meat and caviar in Europe and is one of the largest in the world. The growing importance of this branch of aquaculture means that diseases of these fish, especially viral ones, are becoming the object of interest for ichthyopathologists. In recent years, there have been increasing reports of health problems in the dynamically developing sturgeon farming. The greatest risk appears to be emerging infectious diseases that are caused by viruses and that can become a serious threat to the development of the aquaculture industry and the success of sturgeon restitution programs undertaken in many European countries, including Poland. In this paper, an attempt was made to determine the spread of the two most important groups of viruses in Polish sturgeon farming: These include the herpesviruses and sturgeon nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (sNCLDV), in particular, mimiviruses. In the years 2016–2020, 136 samples from nine farms were collected and tested by using the WSSK-1 cell line, PCR and Real Time PCR methods. All results were negative for herpesviruses. Out of the samples, 26% of the samples have been tested positive for mimiviruses. Sanger sequencing of mimiviruses demonstrated their affiliation with AciV-E. The sequence characterization confirmed the presence of both V1 and V2 lineages in Polish fish facilities, but variant V2 seems to be more widespread, as is observed in other European countries.
Age variability of the live weight of heifers depending on the part of blood of Holstein breed
Authors: Kaloev B. S. , Albegova L. Kh. , Nogaeva V. V.
Published: July 2021

Much attention when breeding dairy cattle is paid to the genetic potential of the livestock and the improvement of methods of its use. This is due to the fact that at present the number of crossbred animals with different parts of blood of Holstein breed has significantly increased, but there are no proven methods for determining the optimal part of Holstein blood, as a result of which the question of the association between the productivity of animals and their genotype remains very relevant. The research has been carried out under the conditions of JSC “ART” in the Right-bank district in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. For the purpose of conducting a scientific experiment, 3 groups of heifers of the line Reflection Sovereign 198998 have been formed with 10 heads in each. At the same time, the proportion of blood of the black-and-white Holstein breed in the experimental heifers was in the range from 50 to 75 %: 1st group – 1/2-blooded, 2nd group – 5/8-blooded and group 3rd – 3/4-blooded. The groups have been formed at the birth of young animals according to the method of analogues, taking into account the live weight and productivity of their ancestors. Accounting for the growth and development of heifers has been carried out by weighing at birth, at 3 and 6 months of age. The calculations made it possible to trace the dynamics of the variability of the live weight of experimental animals. The results obtained indicate the association between the indicators of live weight of heifers and their genotype. Against the background of the same conditions of maintenance and feeding in all age periods, the heifers of the 2nd group were superior in terms of live weight to the herdmates of the 1st and 3rd groups. So, with approximately the same live weight at birth with the herdmates of other groups, the heifers of the 2nd group at 3 months of age exceeded the half-blooded heifers from the 1st group by 3,2 kg or by 3,67 %, the 3rd group by 2,0 kg or by 2,26 %, at 6 months of age by 4,9 kg or by 3,27 % and by 3,3 kg or by 2,18, respectively. Heifers of the 3rd group slightly outstripped in the live weight of their herdmates from the 1st group. The fact that the heifers of the 2nd group (5/8-blooded according to Holstein) had better indicators of live weight compared to their herdmates of the 1st and 3rd groups (1/2-and 3/4-blooded), is proof of the influence of their genotype on the intensity of live weight gain.
Rearing of broiler chickens with the use of different technological modes of biocidal means
Authors: Lukashenko V. S. , Burova D. A.
Published: July 2021

Water is a serious vector of transmission of pathogenic bacteria. The quality of drinking water supplied to the drinking system when raising broiler chickens is one of the main афсещкs for the efficient production of poultry meat. With intensive poultry management when a large number of livestock is concentrated in one territory, it is necessary to pay special attention to the microflora of indoor air. The main sources of pollution are the poultry itself, feed and litter. The purpose of the research was to develop technological modes of using drug Anolit ANK SUPER in the rearing of broiler chickens. The research has been carried out on broiler chickens of the cross «Ross 308». The conditions of housing and feeding with the exception of the studied factor were the same for all groups of poultry and corresponded to the recommendations of the Federal Scientific Center «All-Russian Scientific Research and Technological Institute of Poultry» of Russian Academy of Science. The series of five experiments on the use of the neutral anolyte Anolit ANK SUPER was carried out in the work. It has been proposed to determine the quality of the preparation of the system of drinking lines in poultry premises using the System SURE Plus device (luminometer) and the Ultra Snap test. Experiment 5 has been carried out to study the effect of aerosol air treatment of poultry premises in the presence of poultry with the neutral anolyte on the concentration of microorganisms in the air of the poultry house and the productivity of broilers. The expediency of using the Anolit ANK SUPER drug for the sanitation of the drinking system in poultry premises has been determined. Comparative tests of the effectiveness of the drugs Anolit ANK SUPER, CID 2000 and DUTRION have been conducted. The features of various technological modes of using the Anolit ANK SUPER product in the rearing of broiler chickens have been shown and the effectiveness of their use has been established.
Methodological solutions in part of optimal interaction of harvesting and transport units in the process of harvesting sugar beet
Authors: Panin A. V. , Guba A. N.
Published: July 2021

The article presents the results of a study on the choice of methodological solutions to optimize the composition and number of vehicles for harvesting sugar beets. A number of computational techniques are proposed for finding the optimality criterion in the process of functioning of the harvesting and transport links, which ensure a minimum of losses from the mutual fulfillment of the expected requirements. These techniques are aimed at improving the efficiency of the MTA.
Technical condition of agricultural machinery
Authors: Solomashkin A. A. , Kostomakhin M. N.
Published: July 2021

Two basic functions of the machine, consumer and technical are given. Application the law of conservation of energy is shown in case of the description of an energy balance of an element of the machine. The expanded concept of technical condition in relation to the machine is this, parameters of technical condition are justified. Communications of technical condition with operability and working capacity and also communication of operability of an element of the machine with its efficiency are defined. The possibility of representation of technical condition in the form of сlass in object-oriented programming is revealed.
Selecting items and accounting for depreciation fixed assets
Authors: Selezneva Irina Pavlovna , Selezneva Irina Ahmatyasavievna , Shlyapnikova Elena Arsentyevna , Dzhikiya Konstantin Akakievich
Published: July 2021

The article discusses the features of the selection of elements, accrual and accounting of depreciation in accordance with the norms of FSB 6/2020 “Fixed Assets”, approved by the order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation of 17.09.2020 No. 204n, mandatory for use starting from the accounting statements for 2022. The features of the application of depreciation methods in accordance with the new rules are considered.
Modern tools of deep analysis in the system of cost management in inter-organizational relations of agricultural formations
Authors: Khoruzhy Lyudmila Ivanovna , Katkov Yury Nikolaevich , Romanova Anastasiya Alekseevna
Published: July 2021

The article, based on the theoretical analysis and the study of accounting practices, presents the place and role of tools for deep cost analysis in the cost management system of inter-organizational interaction of partners. The features of agriculture that have a significant impact on the interorganizational cooperation of agricultural companies are revealed. The advantages of the introduction and use of modern methods of cost management, including simulation modeling in identifying deviations in business processes, are revealed.
Analysis of the distribution of peasant (farmer) households by income
Authors: Ukolova Anna , Dashieva Bayarma
Published: July 2021

The paper studies the distribution of peasant (farm) households by income according to the departmental reporting form 1-peasant (farm) household “Information on the production activities of heads of peasant (farm) households — individual entrepreneurs.” The study revealed the presence of a strong differentiation of peasant (farm) households by income, which indicates the need to use the grouping before summarizing the data for the population. It is proved that the distribution of peasant (farm) households by income are close to a lognormal distribution. Based on the allocation of groups with equal intervals according to the logarithms of income, analytical groupings can be built that allow researching the relationship between the features that characterize peasant (farm) households. Thus, the patterns of an increase in the resources of agricultural production and its efficiency were revealed as incomes grew per 1 peasant (farm) household; the differences between the initial and final analytical groups are statistically significant. The intervals of the selected analytical groups by region are of a similar nature, which may indicate the possibility of their consolidation and the establishment of uniform boundaries for typical income groups, as is done in countries with developed agriculture (the USA, the EU).
Analysis of the development of agriculture in Russia during the pandemic
Authors: Kagirova M. V. , Panin A. V. , Butyrin V. V. , Dzhikiya K.A. , Khoruzhy V.I.
Published: July 2021

The article is devoted to the study of the results of agricultural production in the context of economic and social constraints during the COVID-19 pandemic. The main objective of the study is to determine the factors that form the stability of the agricultural sector during crisis periods in the country’s economy in order to stimulate their development and strengthen, as well as to identify the negative features of agricultural sectors that reduce the growth rate of production volumes and the development of this type of activity. Based on the analysis of time series, the features of the influence of crisis situations in the economy as a whole on the production of agricultural products are revealed, the rates of change in the indicators of the conditions and results of the production of crop and livestock products are determined. The use of the grouping method made it possible to establish differences in the reaction of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation to the pandemic crisis, to determine the location of production in a large territory with different climatic conditions as one of the favorable factors for the formation of the stability of the agricultural sector. The dependence of agricultural sectors on imported resources (seed and planting material, herbicides, chemicals, etc.), as well as the low level of use of digital technologies in the production and sale of products, were noted as unfavorable factors that hinder the development of the industry.
THE EFFECT OF HEALTH EDUCATION ON PREGNANT WOMEN'S KNOWLEDGE LEVEL ABOUT COVID-19 IN MAIN CLINIC CIDENG MEDICAL CENTER REGENCY OF CIREBON IN 2020
Authors: Mawaddah Fadillah , Widiyastuti Dyah
Published: July 2021

Health education is an effort to convey the health message that is expected that people, groups, or individuals can gain knowledge about better health so that it can affect behavior. Video media is a health education tool used to facilitate the reception of health messages that rely on the senses of vision and hearing. Pregnant women are at considerable risk of being infected with COVID-19. There is still a low knowledge of pregnant women about COVID-19 at Cideng Medical Center Main Clinic by 40%. The purpose of this study is to analyze the differences in pregnant women's knowledge about COVID-19 before and after the provision of health education about COVID-19 at the Main Clinic of Cideng Medical Center CirebonDistrict in 2020. Research design using a quasi-experimental design with one group design pre test-post test without control design.The sampling technique used is accidental sampling. The population in this study was pregnant women, with a sample of 30 respondents.The results of the analysis with the Wilcoxon T-Test test in pregnant women before and after obtained a p-value of 0.000 from the results of the study obtained a value of p < 0.05 so that the hypothesis is accepted. The average increase in the knowledge level score of pregnant women between before and after being given health education was 2.13. There is an influence of health education on the level of knowledge of pregnant women about COVID-19 at the Main Clinic of Cideng Medical Center Cirebon Regency in 2020