bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors Associated with Congenital Heart Disease in Severely Malnourished Children under Five and Their Outcomes at an Urban Hospital, Bangladesh
Authors: Shahid Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayeem Bin , Alam Tahmina , Ackhter Mst. Mahmuda , Islam Md. Zahidul , Parvin Irin , Shaima Shamsun Nahar , Shahrin Lubaba , Ahmed Tahmeed , Chowdhury Fahmida , Chisti Mohammod Jobayer
Published: December 2021

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common types of birth defect with a high morbidity and mortality, particularly in severely malnourished children under five. In this study, we aim to identify the predicting factors for CHD and their outcomes. 694 malnourished children under five years of age admitted between April 2015 and December 2017 constituted the study population. Of them, 64 were cases of CHD, and by comparison 630 were without CHD. CHD was diagnosed clinically and confirmed by echocardiogram. 64% of the cases had a single defect. Cases were more likely to be present with diarrhea, cough, respiratory distress, cyanosis, hypoxemia, hypoglycemia and hypernatremia on admission. The cases also had a high proportion of severe sepsis, bacteremia, heart failure, respiratory failure and death, compared to those without CHD. Cough (95% CI = 1.09–18.92), respiratory distress (95% CI = 1.46–5.39) and hypoxemia (95% CI = 1.59–6.86) were found to be the independent predictors for CHD after regression analysis, and their early identification might be helpful to lessen ramifications, including mortality, in such populations, especially in resource-limited settings.
Effect of Charge Voltage on the Microstructural, Mechanical, and Tribological Properties of Mo–Cu–V–N Nanocomposite Coatings
Authors: Mei Haijuan , Ding Jicheng , Zhao Junfeng , Wang Ting , Huang Kaijian , Guo Zhaohui , Luo Quanshun , Gong Weiping
Published: December 2021

As an important high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HIPIMS) parameter, charge voltage has a significant influence on the microstructure and properties of hard coatings. In this work, the Mo–Cu–V–N coatings were prepared at various charge voltages using HIPIMS technique to study their mechanical and tribological properties. The microstructure was analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The mechanical and tribological properties were investigated by nano-indentation and ball-on-disc tribometer. The results revealed that all the coatings showed a solid-solution phase of B1-MoVN, the V atoms dissolved into face-centered cubic (FCC) B1-MoN lattice by partial substitution of Mo, and formed a solid-solution phase. Even at a high Cu content (~8.8 at. %), the Cu atoms existed as an amorphous phase. When the charge voltage increased, more energy was put into discharge, and the microstructure changed from coarse structure into dense columnar structure, resulting in the highest hardness of 28.2 GPa at 700 V. An excellent wear performance with low friction coefficient of 0.32 and wear rate of 6.3 × 10−17 m3/N·m was achieved at 750 V, and the wear mechanism was dominated by mild abrasive and tribo-oxidation wear.
Comparative Study of Structures and Properties of Detonation Coatings with α-Al2O3 and γ-Al2O3 Main Phases
Authors: Rakhadilov Bauyrzhan , Kakimzhanov Dauir , Baizhan Daryn , Muslimanova Gulnar , Pazylbek Sapargali , Zhurerova Laila
Published: December 2021

This study is aimed at obtaining a coating of aluminum oxide containing α-Al2O3 as the main phase by detonation spraying, as well as a comparative study of the structural, tribological and mechanical properties of coatings with the main phases of α-Al2O3 and γ-Al2O3. It was experimentally revealed for the first time that the use of propane as a combustible gas and the optimization of the technological regime of detonation spraying leads to the formation of an aluminum oxide coating containing α-Al2O3 as the main phase. Tribological tests have shown that the coating with the main phase of α-Al2O3 has a low value of wear volume and coefficient of friction in comparison with the coating with the main phase of γ-Al2O3. It was also determined that the microhardness of the coating with the main phase of α-Al2O3 is 25% higher than that of the coatings with the main phase of γ-Al2O3. Erosion resistance tests have shown (evaluated by weight loss) that the coating with α-Al2O3 phase is erosion-resistant compared to the coating with γ-Al2O3 (seen by erosion craters). However, the coating with the main phase of γ-Al2O3 has a high value of adhesion strength, which is 2 times higher than that of the coating with the main phase of α-Al2O3. As the destruction of coatings by the primary phase, α-Al2O3 began at low loads than the coating with the main phase γ-Al2O3. The results obtained provide the prerequisites for the creation of wear-resistant, hard and durable layered coatings, in which the lower layer has the main phase of γ-Al2O3, and the upper layer has the main phase of α-Al2O3.
Formulation of Non-Fired Bricks Made from Secondary Aluminum Ash
Authors: Ni Hongjun , Wu Weiyang , Lv Shuaishuai , Wang Xingxing , Tang Weijia
Published: December 2021

The secondary aluminum ash is the black slag left after the primary aluminum ash is extracted from the metal aluminum. To address the environmental pollution and resource waste caused by the accumulation and landfill of aluminum ash, this study fabricated non-fired bricks by using secondary aluminum ash as the principal raw material, which was supplemented by cement, slaked lime, gypsum and engineering sand. The effects of mix proportions of various admixtures on the mechanical properties of non-fired bricks were investigated, and on this basis, the hydration mechanism was analyzed. The results showed that the mix proportions were 68.3% aluminum ash, 11.4% cement, 6.4% slaked lime, 4.2% gypsum and 9.7% engineering sand. The compressive strength of the fabricated bricks reached 22.19 MPa, and their quality indicators were in line with the MU20 requirements for Non-fired Rubbish Gangue Bricks. Evident hydration reaction occurred inside the non-fired bricks, with main products being calcium silicate hydrate (CSH), calcium aluminate hydrate (CAH) and ettringite (AFt). Besides, a dense structure was formed, which enhanced the brick strength.
A New Hybrid Automated Security Framework to Cloud Storage System
Authors: El-Attar Noha E. , El-Morshedy Doaa S. , Awad Wael A.
Published: December 2021

The need for cloud storage grows day after day due to its reliable and scalable nature. The storage and maintenance of user data at a remote location are severe issues due to the difficulty of ensuring data privacy and confidentiality. Some security issues within current cloud systems are managed by a cloud third party (CTP), who may turn into an untrustworthy insider part. This paper presents an automated Encryption/Decryption System for Cloud Data Storage (AEDS) based on hybrid cryptography algorithms to improve data security and ensure confidentiality without interference from CTP. Three encryption approaches are implemented to achieve high performance and efficiency: Automated Sequential Cryptography (ASC), Automated Random Cryptography (ARC), and Improved Automated Random Cryptography (IARC) for data blocks. In the IARC approach, we have presented a novel encryption strategy by converting the static S-box in the AES algorithm to a dynamic S-box. Furthermore, the algorithms RSA and Twofish are used to encrypt the generated keys to enhance privacy issues. We have evaluated our approaches with other existing symmetrical key algorithms such as DES, 3DES, and RC2. Although the two proposed ARC and ASC approaches are more complicated, they take less time than DES, DES3, and RC2 in processing the data and obtaining better performance in data throughput and confidentiality. ARC outperformed all of the other algorithms in the comparison. The ARC’s encrypting process has saved time compared with other algorithms, where its encryption time has been recorded as 22.58 s for a 500 MB file size, while the DES, 3DES, and RC2 have completed the encryption process in 44.43, 135.65, and 66.91 s, respectively, for the same file size. Nevertheless, when the file sizes increased to 2.2 GB, the ASC proved its efficiency in completing the encryption process in less time.
Bamboo Sawdust as a Partial Replacement of Cement for the Production of Sustainable Cementitious Materials
Authors: Tong Yunyun , Seibou Abdel-Okash , Li Mengya , Kaci Abdelhak , Ye Jinjian
Published: December 2021

This paper reports on the utilization of recycled moso bamboo sawdust (BS) as a substitute in a new bio-based cementitious material. In order to improve the incompatibility between biomass and cement matrix, the study firstly investigated the effect of pretreatment methods on the BS. Cold water, hot water, and alkaline solution were used. The SEM images and mechanical results showed that alkali-treated BS presented a more favorable bonding interface in the cementitious matrix, while both compressive and flexural strength were higher than for the other two treatments. Hence, the alkaline treatment method was adopted for additional studies on the effect of BS content on the microstructural, physical, rheological, and mechanical properties of composite mortar. Cement was replaced by alkali-treated BS at 1%, 3%, 5%, and 7% by mass in the mortar mixture. An increased proportion of BS led to a delayed cement setting and a reduction in workability, but a lighter and more porous structure compared to the conventional mortar. Meanwhile, the mechanical performance of composite decreased with BS content, while the compressive and flexural strength ranged between 14.1 and 37.8 MPa and 2.4 and 4.5 MPa, respectively, but still met the minimum strength requirements of masonry construction. The cement matrix incorporated 3% and 5% BS can be classified as load-bearing lightweight concrete. This result confirms that recycled BS can be a sustainable component to produce a lightweight and structural bio-based cementitious material.
The Case of a Patient with Limited Systemic Sclerosis and Interstitial Lung Disease Overlapping with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Krawczyk Karolina , Mazur Ewelina , Kargol Jaromir , Kijowski Robert , Reich Adam
Published: December 2021

About 20% of patients with systemic sclerosis have symptoms of another connective tissue disease (CTD). Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the most common organ manifestations in systemic sclerosis (SSc) as well as viral illnesses, such as COVID-19, and can lead not only to diffuse alveolar damage, but also trigger an exacerbation of fibrosis among patients with preexisting ILD. It is also associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. According to the World Scleroderma Foundation, SSc-ILD can mask or mimic early COVID-19 lesions and there are no available computed tomography guidelines on how to discern those two conditions. We present a case of systemic sclerosis exacerbation after COVID-19 in a patient with SSc-Lupus Overlap Syndrome.
Towards a Theory of Quantum Gravity from Neural Networks
Authors: Vanchurin Vitaly
Published: December 2021

Neural network is a dynamical system described by two different types of degrees of freedom: fast-changing non-trainable variables (e.g., state of neurons) and slow-changing trainable variables (e.g., weights and biases). We show that the non-equilibrium dynamics of trainable variables can be described by the Madelung equations, if the number of neurons is fixed, and by the Schrodinger equation, if the learning system is capable of adjusting its own parameters such as the number of neurons, step size and mini-batch size. We argue that the Lorentz symmetries and curved space-time can emerge from the interplay between stochastic entropy production and entropy destruction due to learning. We show that the non-equilibrium dynamics of non-trainable variables can be described by the geodesic equation (in the emergent space-time) for localized states of neurons, and by the Einstein equations (with cosmological constant) for the entire network. We conclude that the quantum description of trainable variables and the gravitational description of non-trainable variables are dual in the sense that they provide alternative macroscopic descriptions of the same learning system, defined microscopically as a neural network.
The Linkage between Oil and Non-Oil GDP in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alabdulwahab Sami
Published: December 2021

Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s major producers of oil. The Saudi Government has launched its vision for the coming decade: Saudi Vision 2030 (also known as 2030 Vision). Saudi Vision 2030 aims to diversify economic income and be independent of oil revenue. The focus of Saudi Vision 2030 is increasing the role of the non-oil GDP in the economy. In this study, I tried to examine the link between oil and non-oil GDP in Saudi Arabia. I used autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) cointegration, the most common tool used to examine linkages among variables. My ARDL results confirm the long-term cointegration between non-oil GDP and oil rent, thus implying that oil rent-seeking strategies still exist in Saudi Arabia. The short-term dynamics confirmed the impact of oil rent over the non-oil GDP. The ARDL results led to analyses of asymmetric effects. The NARDL model estimated and confirmed the symmetric effect of the oil rent on non-oil GDP. These results demonstrate the challenges in diversifying Saudi Arabia’s income.
Social Capital Deviation in Capital Assistance System: Socio-Economic Studies of Coastal Communities
Authors: Ridwan Mochamad , In’am Akhsanul
Published: December 2021

Revealing the practice of the capital assistance system in coastal communities that are indicated to have deviated from the principles of social capital, and building an integrated model as a solution for improving fishermen’s low performance are the main objectives of this study. For this purpose, fishermen communities were chosen as the research sample. The research locations were focused on two provinces in Indonesia (Bengkulu and East Java provinces). Data were collected through observation, interview, and documentation methods. Discriminant and SEM/SmartPLS analysis methods were used to analyze quantitative data, while the descriptive analysis method was used to analyze qualitative data. The results show that the implementation of the capital assistance system by well-off fishermen (as capital providers) was proven to deviate from the principles of social capital because it was detrimental to small-scale/traditional fishermen. Six factors cause deviations in the capital assistance system: (a) the lack of “altruism cooperation” between well-off fisherman and small-scale/traditional fishermen; (b) mutual trust is not developed; (c) the powerlessness of the fishing community, which desperately needs funds for working capital; (d) government control is not effective; (e) the role of cooperative institutions (fisheries) as providers of funds/loan capital is still weak; and (f) an empowerment integrated model is considered capable of providing a comprehensive solution.
Effective Teacher Professional Development Programs. A Case Study Focusing on the Development of Mathematical Modeling Skills
Authors: Ramos-Rodríguez Elisabeth , Fernández-Ahumada Elvira , Morales-Soto Astrid
Published: December 2021

A concern in Mathematics Education is the professional development of the teacher and to promote effective training programs. The literature provides principles guiding the design of such programs, which were considered for an instruction intended to strengthen the teacher’s practice in relation to the development of mathematical skills. The objective of this work was to study if the designed program was effective, in relation to the impact on the teacher’s teaching. A case study on a group of in-service teachers focused on the ability of mathematical modeling (MM) and their perspectives of this skill was carried out. This was divided into three moments: before, during, and after the program. The findings show that, before the program, teachers conceived modeling from epistemological, pragmatic and conceptual perspectives; during the program, they focused on the pragmatic and educational perspectives; and at the end of the program, the group was stripped of the pragmatic, epistemological and conceptual perspectives to move towards the educational and socio-critical. They were also able to justify the choice or disassociation of one or more of them. The study advances towards the concretion of more specific and robust professional development programs for mathematics teachers.
Conception of High-Frequency Power Planar Transformer Prototypes Based on FabLab Platform
Authors: Thomy Simon , Margueron Xavier , Ngoua Teu Magambo Jean-Sylvio , Bakri Reda , Le Moigne Philippe
Published: December 2021

Conceiving planar magnetic components for power electronic converters is very constraining, especially in the case of prototype development. Indeed, such making requires skills, specific appliances as well as human time for setting up the machine tools and the fabrication process. With the emergence of Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab), conceiving of planar copper foil prototypes becomes more feasible in a shortened time process for engineers and researchers. This paper presents a methodology and process for conceiving power planar transformers with the help of machines and tools that can be found in the usual FabLab.
Doped Polythiophene Chiral Electrodes as Electrochemical Biosensors
Authors: Chahma M’hamed
Published: December 2021

π-conducting materials such as chiral polythiophenes exhibit excellent electrochemical stability in doped and undoped states on electrode surfaces (chiral electrodes), which help tune their physical and electronic properties for a wide range of uses. To overcome the limitations of traditional surface immobilization methods, an alternative pathway for the detection of organic and bioorganic targets using chiral electrodes has been developed. Moreover, chiral electrodes have the ability to carry functionalities, which helps the immobilization and recognition of bioorganic molecules. In this review, we describe the use of polythiophenes for the design of chiral electrodes and their applications as electrochemical biosensors.
Technological Feasibility of Couscous-Algae-Supplemented Formulae: Process Description, Nutritional Properties and In Vitro Digestibility
Authors: Khemiri Sheyma , Nunes Maria Cristiana , Bessa Rui J. B. , Alves Susana P. , Smaali Issam , Raymundo Anabela
Published: December 2021

The aim of this work was to develop functional couscous in a traditional Tunisian manner (hand rolling), enriched in algae biomass (6% w/w). Four Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) biomasses and one mixture of C. vulgaris and two macroalgae biomasses (Ulva rigida and Fucus vesiculosus) were used. The C. vulgaris strain was subjected to random mutagenesis and different culture conditions (Allmicroalgae), resulting in different pigmentations and biochemical compositions. Couscous samples were characterized in terms of nutritional properties, oscillatory rheology properties and digestibility. All biomasses provided a significant supplementation of nutrients and excellent acceptance. The enrichment resulted in lower firmness, higher viscoelastic functions (G′ and G″) and a significant improvement in the cooking quality. Major differences between couscous samples with different microalgae were observed in protein and mineral contents, fully meeting Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006 requirements for health claims made on foodstuffs. The amount of digested proteins was also higher in algae-containing samples. The fatty acid profile of the enriched couscous varied in a biomass-specific way, with a marked increase in linolenic acid (18:3 ω3) and a decrease in the ω6/ω3 ratio. Sensory analysis revealed that microalgae-containing products could compete with conventional goods with an added advantage, that is, having an ameliorated nutritional value using algae as a “trendy” and sustainable ingredient.
Separation of Fructosyl Oligosaccharides in Maple Syrup by Using Charged Aerosol Detection
Authors: Sato Kanta , Yamamoto Tetsushi , Mitamura Kuniko , Taga Atsushi
Published: December 2021

Fructosyl oligosaccharides, including fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS), are gaining popularity as functional oligosaccharides and have been found in various natural products. Our previous study suggested that maple syrup contains an unidentified fructosyl oligosaccharide. Because these saccharides cannot be detected with high sensitivity using derivatization methods, they must be detected directly. As a result, an analytical method based on charged aerosol detection (CAD) that can detect saccharides directly was optimized in order to avoid relying on these structures and physical properties to clarify the profile of fructosyl oligosaccharides in maple syrup. This analytical method is simple and can analyze up to hepta-saccharides in 30 min. This analytical method was also reliable and reproducible with high validation values. It was used to determine the content of saccharides in maple syrup, which revealed that it contained not only fructose, glucose, and sucrose but also FOS such as 1-kestose and nystose. Furthermore, we identified neokestose as a maple syrup content. It has only been found in a few natural foods as a fructosyl oligosaccharide. These findings help to shed light on the saccharides profile of maple syrup.
Diluted Acetic Acid Softened Intermuscular Bones from Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) by Dissolving Hydroxyapatite and Collagen
Authors: Liu Yueyue , Jiang Huiman , Zhang Longteng , Tan Yuqing , Luo Yongkang , Hong Hui
Published: December 2021

Intermuscular bones (IBs) pose physical hazards that threaten consumer health and food safety. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of softening IBs from silver carp with diluted acetic acid. IBs (separated from muscle) and fillets (without removing IBs) were treated with diluted acetic acid. Analyses of sensory attributes and the hardness of treated IBs indicated that diluted acetic acid (<10 mmol/L) could soften IBs effectively. Additionally, 0.5 mmol/L acetic acid softened IBs within fillets without significantly affecting the texture and flavor of fillets. Analyses of microstructure, minerals (calcium and phosphorus) and collagen content, and the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of IBs indicated that acetic acid broke connections (formed by collagen that shared hydroxyl groups) between collagen molecules, and between collagen and hydroxyapatite (HAP), thus inducing the dissolution of collagen and HAP. The dissolution of HAP contributed more to IBs softening than collagen.
Biofilm Formation Reduction by Eugenol and Thymol on Biodegradable Food Packaging Material
Authors: Pleva Pavel , Bartošová Lucie , Máčalová Daniela , Zálešáková Ludmila , Sedlaříková Jana , Janalíková Magda
Published: December 2021

Biofilm is a structured community of microorganisms adhering to surfaces of various polymeric materials used in food packaging. Microbes in the biofilm may affect food quality. However, the presence of biofilm can ensure biodegradation of discarded packaging. This work aims to evaluate a biofilm formation on the selected biodegradable polymer films: poly (lactic acid) (PLA), poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), and poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) by selected bacterial strains; collection strains of Escherichiacoli, Staphylococcusaureus; and Bacillus pumilus, Bacillussubtilis, Bacillustequilensis, and Stenotrophomonasmaltophilia isolated from dairy products. Three different methods for biofilm evaluation were performed: the Christensen method, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and fluorescence microscopy. High biofilm formation was confirmed on the control PBS film, whereas low biofilm formation ability was observed on the PLA polymer sample. Furthermore, the films with incorporated antimicrobial compounds (thymol or eugenol) were also prepared. Antimicrobial activity and also reduction in biofilm formation on enriched polymer films were determined. Therefore, they were all proved to be antimicrobial and effective in reducing biofilm formation. These films can be used to prepare novel active food packaging for the dairy industry to prevent biofilm formation and enhance food quality and safety in the future.
Nondestructive Detection of Codling Moth Infestation in Apples Using Pixel-Based NIR Hyperspectral Imaging with Machine Learning and Feature Selection
Authors: Ekramirad Nader , Khaled Alfadhl Y. , Doyle Lauren E. , Loeb Julia R. , Donohue Kevin D. , Villanueva Raul T. , Adedeji Akinbode A.
Published: December 2021

Codling moth (CM) (Cydia pomonella L.), a devastating pest, creates a serious issue for apple production and marketing in apple-producing countries. Therefore, effective nondestructive early detection of external and internal defects in CM-infested apples could remarkably prevent postharvest losses and improve the quality of the final product. In this study, near-infrared (NIR) hyperspectral reflectance imaging in the wavelength range of 900–1700 nm was applied to detect CM infestation at the pixel level for three organic apple cultivars, namely Gala, Fuji and Granny Smith. An effective region of interest (ROI) acquisition procedure along with different machine learning and data processing methods were used to build robust and high accuracy classification models. Optimal wavelength selection was implemented using sequential stepwise selection methods to build multispectral imaging models for fast and effective classification purposes. The results showed that the infested and healthy samples were classified at pixel level with up to 97.4% total accuracy for validation dataset using a gradient tree boosting (GTB) ensemble classifier, among others. The feature selection algorithm obtained a maximum accuracy of 91.6% with only 22 selected wavelengths. These findings indicate the high potential of NIR hyperspectral imaging (HSI) in detecting and classifying latent CM infestation in apples of different cultivars.
Changes in Gel Structure and Chemical Interactions of Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Surimi Gels: Effect of Setting Process and Different Starch Addition
Authors: Jiang Xin , Chen Qing , Xiao Naiyong , Du Yufan , Feng Qian , Shi Wenzheng
Published: December 2021

The modifications of histological properties and chemical forces on heated surimi gels with starch addition (0–12 g/100 g surimi) were investigated. Two types of heating processes (direct heating and two-step heating) were carried out on surimi gels in order to reveal the effect of setting on mixed matrices. The results of transverse relaxation time showed less immobile water and free water converted into bound water in a matrix subjected to the setting process. Scanning electron microscope and light microscopy images revealed inefficient starch-swelling in two-step heated gels. Chemical interactions and forces in direct cooking gels were more vulnerable to starch addition, resulting in significant decreases in hydrophobic interaction and sulfhydryl content (p < 0.05). With the increment of starch, the disulfide stretching vibrations of the gauche–gauche–gauche conformation were reduced in both gel matrices. The structural variations of different components collectively resulted in changes in texture profile analysis and water holding capacity. Overall, the results demonstrated that starch addition had a great and positive effect on the weak gel matrix by direct heating.
Further Integral Inequalities through Some Generalized Fractional Integral Operators
Authors: Hyder Abd-Allah , Barakat Mohamed A. , Fathallah Ashraf , Cesarano Clemente
Published: December 2021

In this article, we utilize recent generalized fractional operators to establish some fractional inequalities in Hermite–Hadamard and Minkowski settings. It is obvious that many previously published inequalities can be derived as particular cases from our outcomes. Moreover, we articulate some flaws in the proofs of recently affiliated formulas by revealing the weak points and introducing more rigorous proofs amending and expanding the results.
Towards a Mathematical Model for the Viral Progression in the Pharynx
Authors: Arya Raj Kumar , Verros George D. , Thapliyal Devyani
Published: December 2021

In this work, a comprehensive model for the viral progression in the pharynx has been developed. This one-dimension model considers both Fickian diffusion and convective flow coupled with chemical reactions, such as virus population growth, infected and uninfected cell accumulation as well as virus clearance. The effect of a sterilizing agent such as an alcoholic solution on the viral progression in the pharynx was taken into account and a parametric analysis for the effect of kinetic rate parameters on virus propagation was made. Moreover, different conditions caused by further medical treatment, such as a decrease in virus yield per infected cell, were examined. It is shown that the infection fails to establish by decreasing the virus yield per infected cell. It is believed that this work could be used to further investigate the medical treatment of viral progression in the pharynx.
Chemical Properties, Nutritional Quality, and Bioactive Components of Horticulture Food
Authors: Durazzo Alessandra , Lucarini Massimo
Published: December 2021

The Special Issue “Chemical Properties, Nutritional Quality, and Bioactive Components of Horticulture Food” is here presented [...]
Improving Hillslope Link Model Performance from Non-Linear Representation of Natural and Artificially Drained Subsurface Flows
Authors: Velásquez Nicolás , Mantilla Ricardo , Krajewski Witold , Fonley Morgan , Quintero Felipe
Published: December 2021

This study evaluates the potential for a newly proposed non-linear subsurface flux equation to improve the performance of the hydrological Hillslope Link Model (HLM). The equation contains parameters that are functionally related to the hillslope steepness and the presence of tile drainage. As a result, the equation provides better representation of hydrograph recession curves, hydrograph timing, and total runoff volume. The authors explore the new parameterization’s potential by comparing a set of diagnostic and prognostic setups in HLM. In the diagnostic approach, they configure 12 different scenarios with spatially uniform parameters over the state of Iowa. In the prognostic case, they use information from topographical maps and known locations of tile drainage to distribute parameter values. To assess performance improvements, they compare simulation results to streamflow observations during a 17-year period (2002–2018) at 140 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauging stations. The operational setup of the HLM model used at the Iowa Flood Center (IFC) serves as a benchmark to quantify the overall improvement of the model. In particular, the new equation provides better representation of recession curves and the total streamflow volumes. However, when comparing the diagnostic and prognostic setups, the authors found discrepancies in the spatial distribution of hillslope scale parameters. The results suggest that more work is required when using maps of physical attributes to parameterize hydrological models. The findings also demonstrate that the diagnostic approach is a useful strategy to evaluate models and assess changes in their formulations.
The Editor’s Choice for Issue 3, Volume 7
Authors: Fingerhut Ralph
Published: December 2021

Dear Readers: Choosing one paper from a total of 28 papers published in the third issue of Volume 7 was quite a challenge [...]
In Vitro Rearing Changes Social Task Performance and Physiology in Honeybees
Authors: Schilcher Felix , Hilsmann Lioba , Rauscher Lisa , Değirmenci Laura , Krischke Markus , Krischke Beate , Ankenbrand Markus , Rutschmann Benjamin , Mueller Martin J. , Steffan-Dewenter Ingolf , Scheiner Ricarda
Published: December 2021

In vitro rearing of honeybee larvae is an established method that enables exact control and monitoring of developmental factors and allows controlled application of pesticides or pathogens. However, only a few studies have investigated how the rearing method itself affects the behavior of the resulting adult honeybees. We raised honeybees in vitro according to a standardized protocol: marking the emerging honeybees individually and inserting them into established colonies. Subsequently, we investigated the behavioral performance of nurse bees and foragers and quantified the physiological factors underlying the social organization. Adult honeybees raised in vitro differed from naturally reared honeybees in their probability of performing social tasks. Further, in vitro-reared bees foraged for a shorter duration in their life and performed fewer foraging trips. Nursing behavior appeared to be unaffected by rearing condition. Weight was also unaffected by rearing condition. Interestingly, juvenile hormone titers, which normally increase strongly around the time when a honeybee becomes a forager, were significantly lower in three- and four-week-old in vitro bees. The effects of the rearing environment on individual sucrose responsiveness and lipid levels were rather minor. These data suggest that larval rearing conditions can affect the task performance and physiology of adult bees despite equal weight, pointing to an important role of the colony environment for these factors. Our observations of behavior and metabolic pathways offer important novel insight into how the rearing environment affects adult honeybees.
Polyandrous Mexican Fruit Flies: Second Male Paternity and Biological Attributes of Transgenic Strains
Authors: Verónica-Murrieta Betzabé , Meza José Salvador , Baena Martha L. , Alvarado-Castillo Gerardo , Pérez-Staples Diana
Published: December 2021

Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a damaging agricultural pest. Currently, the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is used as part of its control. The SIT consists of the mass-rearing, sterilization, and release of insects in target areas. Sterile males mate with wild females, and prevent them from laying fertile eggs. However, even if females mate with sterile males, they can then remate with a second male. If this second male is wild, then this could reduce the efficiency of the SIT by producing viable offspring. The amount of progeny produced by second males (P2 values) for A. ludens is unknown. Here, we evaluated the biological attributes, mating competitiveness, and the proportion of male paternity gained by the second male, using strains that carry fluorescent marker genes and can be potentially used to develop transgenic sexing strains. Furthermore, the transgenic strains were irradiated, to test their ability to induce sterility in females. We found that the 443-G strain had significantly higher larval survival than the 419-R strain. No significant difference was found between the two strains in their mating probability with wild females. We found P2 values between 67 and 74% for the 419-R and the 443-G strain, respectively. Second male sperm precedence only decreased slightly after 12 days, suggesting that sperm from the first and second male is not mixing with time, but rather the second male’s sperm prevails. Furthermore, sterile 443-G males induced significantly higher sterility in females than sterile males from the 419-R strain. The apparent lower ability of the 443-G strain to inhibit female remating should be further investigated. Knowledge of the pre and postcopulatory performance of transgenic strains will help in understanding their potential for control.
Carbon Emissions and Renewables’ Share in the Future Iberian Power System
Authors: Pereira Gonçalo Marques , Castro Rui , Santos Paulo
Published: December 2021

The main objective of this study is to assess if the targets set by the European Commission (EC) relating to the share of renewables and CO2 emissions by 2030 will be accomplished by the Iberian power system. In this regard, several projections for each generation technology’s installed capacity in the future power system are identified. These forecasts were issued by governmental and private Iberian organizations and by the European Association of Transmission System Operators (ENTSOE), the latter with three scenarios regarding the speed of the energy transition. The outputs of the study are extended to the 2040 horizon and include the energy generated by each technology, the CO2 emissions, the costs involved in the decarbonization, and the storage capacity needed to compensate for the renewables’ variability. The conclusion is that the Iberia peninsular is on the right path to achieve a fully decarbonized power system by 2040, outperforming by far the EC’s targets in 2030 if the governmental projections are followed. A significant capacity of storage options is envisaged to compensate for the variability of generation from renewables and to replace the power regulation services provided by the fossil fuel plants that will be shut down.
A Deep Learning Ensemble Approach for Automated COVID-19 Detection from Chest CT Images
Authors: Zazzaro Gaetano , Martone Francesco , Romano Gianpaolo , Pavone Luigi
Published: December 2021

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of an automated COVID-19 detection method based on a transfer learning technique that makes use of chest computed tomography (CT) images. Method: In this study, we used a publicly available multiclass CT scan dataset containing 4171 CT scans of 210 different patients. In particular, we extracted features from the CT images using a set of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) that had been pretrained on the ImageNet dataset as feature extractors, and we then selected a subset of these features using the Information Gain filter. The resulting feature vectors were then used to train a set of k Nearest Neighbors classifiers with 10-fold cross validation to assess the classification performance of the features that had been extracted by each CNN. Finally, a majority voting approach was used to classify each image into two different classes: COVID-19 and NO COVID-19. Results: A total of 414 images of the test set (10% of the complete dataset) were correctly classified, and only 4 were misclassified, yielding a final classification accuracy of 99.04%. Conclusions: The high performance that was achieved by the method could make it feasible option that could be used to assist radiologists in COVID-19 diagnosis through the use of CT images.
Modulation of Bile Acid Metabolism to Improve Plasma Lipid and Lipoprotein Profiles
Authors: Zhang Boyan , Kuipers Folkert , de Boer Jan Freark , Kuivenhoven Jan Albert
Published: December 2021

New drugs targeting bile acid metabolism are currently being evaluated in clinical studies for their potential to treat cholestatic liver diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Changes in bile acid metabolism, however, translate into an alteration of plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, which may also affect cardiovascular outcomes in such patients. This review attempts to gain insight into this matter and improve our understanding of the interactions between bile acid and lipid metabolism. Bile acid sequestrants (BAS), which bind bile acids in the intestine and promote their faecal excretion, have long been used in the clinic to reduce LDL cholesterol and, thereby, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk. However, BAS modestly but consistently increase plasma triglycerides, which is considered a causal risk factor for ASCVD. Like BAS, inhibitors of the apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBTi’s) reduce intestinal bile acid absorption. ASBTi’s show effects that are quite similar to those obtained with BAS, which is anticipated when considering that accelerated faecal loss of bile acids is compensated by an increased hepatic synthesis of bile acids from cholesterol. Oppositely, treatment with farnesoid X receptor agonists, resulting in inhibition of bile acid synthesis, appears to be associated with increased LDL cholesterol. In conclusion, the increasing efforts to employ drugs that intervene in bile acid metabolism and signalling pathways for the treatment of metabolic diseases such as NAFLD warrants reinforcing interactions between the bile acid and lipid and lipoprotein research fields. This review may be considered as the first step in this process.
Marathon-Induced Cardiac Strain as Model for the Evaluation of Diagnostic microRNAs for Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Shirvani Samani Omid , Scherr Johannes , Kayvanpour Elham , Haas Jan , Lehmann David H. , Gi Weng-Tein , Frese Karen S. , Nietsch Rouven , Fehlmann Tobias , Sandke Steffi , Weis Tanja , Keller Andreas , Katus Hugo A. , Halle Martin , Frey Norbert , Meder Benjamin , Sedaghat-Hamedani Farbod
Published: December 2021

Background: The current gold standard biomarker for myocardial infarction (MI), cardiac troponin (cTn), is recognized for its high sensitivity and organ specificity; however, it lacks diagnostic specificity. Numerous studies have introduced circulating microRNAs as potential biomarkers for MI. This study investigates the MI-specificity of these serum microRNAs by investigating myocardial stress/injury due to strenuous exercise. Methods: MicroRNA biomarkers were retrieved by comprehensive review of 109 publications on diagnostic serum microRNAs for MI. MicroRNA levels were first measured by next-generation sequencing in pooled sera from runners (n = 46) before and after conducting a full competitive marathon. Hereafter, reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) of 10 selected serum microRNAs in 210 marathon runners was performed (>10,000 qPCR measurements). Results: 27 potential diagnostic microRNA for MI were retrieved by the literature review. Eight microRNAs (miR-1-3p, miR-21-5p, miR-26a-5p, miR-122-5p, miR-133a-3p, miR-142-5p, miR-191-5p, miR-486-3p) showed positive correlations with cTnT in marathon runners, whereas two miRNAs (miR-134-5p and miR-499a-5p) showed no correlations. Upregulation of miR-133a-3p (p = 0.03) and miR-142-5p (p = 0.01) went along with elevated cTnT after marathon. Conclusion: Some MI-associated microRNAs (e.g., miR-133a-3p and miR-142-5p) have similar kinetics under strenuous exercise and MI as compared to cTnT, which suggests that their diagnostic specificity could be limited. In contrast, several MI-associated microRNAs (miR-26a-5p, miR-134-5p, miR-191-5p) showed different release behavior; hence, combining cTnT with these microRNAs within a multi-marker strategy may add diagnostic accuracy in MI.
The Association between Emotional Stress, Sleep, and Awake Bruxism among Dental Students: A Sex Comparison
Authors: Levartovsky Shifra , Msarwa Soad , Reiter Shoshana , Eli Ilana , Winocur Efraim , Sarig Rachel
Published: December 2021

Psychosocial factors may play an important role in the etiology of sleep and awake bruxism. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between emotional stress and bruxism in male and female dental students at various stages of their education. Dental education in Israel is based on a six-year curriculum, divided into three stages: pre-medical studies (yr. 1–2), manual skills (yr. 3–4), and clinical experience (yr. 5–6). Each stage requires different capabilities and skills. Questionnaires regarding psychological state (SCL-90) measuring depression, anxiety, and somatization as well as stress evaluation questioners (Perceived Stress Scale questionnaire 14) were completed by 387 dental students in the 1st to 6th years. Sleep and awake bruxism were evaluated based on the respondent’s awareness. During the manual stage of studies, a significant increase was identified, albeit with weak correlations, between stress scales, depression, anxiety, somatization, and the prevalence of awake bruxism, particularly among males. Only in females was sleep bruxism correlated with emotional parameters, whereas no significant difference in sleep bruxism was observed in males throughout the stages of the study. The manual years of dental education were found to be linked to higher levels of emotional distress and awake bruxism, particularly in men. Sleep bruxism, on the other hand, was not directly linked to emotional factors, implying a distinct etiology.
Quality of Life and Burden of Disease in Italian Patients with Transfusion-Dependent Beta-Thalassemia
Authors: Tedone Fabio , Lamendola Piero , Lopatriello Stefania , Cafiero Davide , Piovani Daniele , Forni Gian Luca
Published: December 2021

Lifespan treatment in transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (TDT) is expected to impact quality of life. This study aimed at evaluating health-related quality of life (HRQoL), well-being, and the burden of TDT on Italian patients. Patients (≥14 years) were invited to complete a cross-sectional, online volunteer survey. HRQoL was measured by the 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) and wellbeing was measured by the Italian version of the Psychological General-Well-Being-Index (PGWBI). A total of 105/167 completed questionnaires were analyzed (46% males; median age 44, (IQR = 11)). Patients reported lower HRQoL compared with the general population in all SF-36 domains (except for emotional well-being (p = 0.7024) and role limitations due to emotional problems (p = 0.1389)). PGWBI domains general health and vitality and the total PGWBI score were all significantly lower (p = 0.0001) compared with the general population. On average, patients spent 16.62 h/month engaged in care activities that were additional to the time required for completing transfusions. Of the 16.62 h/month, 11.7 h/month were required for therapy management and 4.92 h/month for family management. This study found lower HRQoL and well-being in physical and psychological domains compared with the general population. Further, patients were found to have a high perceived burden of disease.
Fatal Events Associated with Adverse Drug Reactions in the Korean National Pharmacovigilance Database
Authors: Jo Hyeong-Geun , Jeong Kyeoul , Ryu Ji-Young , Park Soyun , Choi Yun-Seok , Kwack Won-Gun , Choi Yeo-Jin , Chung Eun-Kyoung
Published: December 2021

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) pose a global public health threat, substantially contributing to death. Due to the relative paucity of clinical evidence regarding fatal ADRs, this study was performed to characterize the epidemiology of fatal ADRs in Korea. This was a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of ADR cases reported to the Korea Adverse Event Reporting System from 2010 to 2019. All ADRs were coded using the World Health Organization-Adverse Reaction Terminology system and classified as either fatal or non-fatal events. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with fatal events. Among 289,756 ADR records, 629 fatal events (0.2%) occurred. The most common causative agent of fatal ADRs was antibacterials (20.3%), followed by antimycobacterials (5.4%), analgesics (4.0%), and contrast media (1.9%). Among antimicrobials, vancomycin was most frequently implicated without significantly increasing the risk of fatal events. The risk for fatal ADRs was significantly increased with male sex; advanced age; polypharmacy; piperacillin/β-lactamase inhibitor; cefotetan; ceftriaxone; combination antimycobacterial therapy consisting of rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol; morphine; and iopromide (reporting odds ratio > 1, p < 0.05 for all). Although fatal ADRs are uncommon (<1%) in Korea, they are primarily caused by commonly used medications including antibiotics, analgesics, and contrast media.