bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transformational Leadership across Cultures: Follower Perception and Satisfaction
Authors: Caza Arran , Caza Brianna B. , Posner Barry Z.
Published: March 2021

Leading people from diverse cultures is centrally important in organizations. This study investigates the extent to which transformational leadership behaviors are universal: by examining if leaders and followers perceive transformational leadership behaviors the same way across cultures; and by determining if the magnitude of satisfaction that followers derive from transformational leadership behavior is the same across cultures. Survey data from 71,537 leaders and their direct reports (n = 203,027) from 77 countries were analyzed. Respondents represented hundreds of different organizations, 12 functional areas, 26 industries, and all management levels. Cultural universality was examined by comparing internal reliability scores and using multilevel mixed coefficient models to assess the similarity of effect sizes in across cultures. Regardless of culture, when interacting with leaders from their own culture, followers were universally alike in their perceptions of transformational leadership behavior and in their satisfaction with such behavior.
Sensitivity Study of Ice Accretion Simulation to Roughness Thermal Correction Model
Authors: Ignatowicz Kevin , Morency François , Beaugendre Héloïse
Published: March 2021

The effects of atmospheric icing can be anticipated by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Past studies show that the convective heat transfer influences the ice accretion and is itself a function of surface roughness. Uncertainty quantification (UQ) could help quantify the impact of surface roughness parameters on the reliability of ice accretion prediction. This paper aims to quantify ice accretion uncertainties and identify the key surface roughness correction parameters contributing the most to the uncertainties in a Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) formulation. Ice accretion simulations over a rough flat plate using two thermal correction models are used to construct a RANS database. Non-Intrusive Polynomial Chaos Expansion (NIPCE) metamodels are developed to predict the convective heat transfer and icing characteristics of the RANS database. The metamodels allow for the computation of the 95% confidence intervals of the output probability distribution (PDF) and of the sensitivity indexes of the roughness parameters according to their level of influence on the outputs. For one of the thermal correction models, the most influential parameter is the roughness height, whereas for the second model it is the surface correction coefficient. In addition, the uncertainty on the freestream temperature has a minor impact on the ice accretion sensitivity compared to the uncertainty on the roughness parameters.
Active Energy Management Based on Meta-Heuristic Algorithms of Fuel Cell/Battery/Supercapacitor Energy Storage System for Aircraft
Authors: Çınar Hasan , Kandemir Ilyas
Published: March 2021

This paper presents the application of an active energy management strategy to a hybrid system consisting of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), battery, and supercapacitor. The purpose of energy management is to control the battery and supercapacitor states of charge (SOCs) as well as minimizing hydrogen consumption. Energy management should be applied to hybrid systems created in this way to increase efficiency and control working conditions. In this study, optimization of an existing model in the literature with different meta-heuristic methods was further examined and results similar to those in the literature were obtained. Ant lion optimizer (ALO), moth-flame optimization (MFO), dragonfly algorithm (DA), sine cosine algorithm (SCA), multi-verse optimizer (MVO), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and whale optimization algorithm (WOA) meta-heuristic algorithms were applied to control the flow of power between sources. The optimization methods were compared in terms of hydrogen consumption and calculation time. Simulation studies were conducted in Matlab/Simulink R2020b (academic license). The contribution of the study is that the optimization methods of ant lion algorithm, moth-flame algorithm, and sine cosine algorithm were applied to this system for the first time. It was concluded that the most effective method in terms of hydrogen consumption and computational burden was the sine cosine algorithm. In addition, the sine cosine algorithm provided better results than similar meta-heuristic algorithms in the literature in terms of hydrogen consumption. At the same time, meta-heuristic optimization algorithms and equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS) and classical proportional integral (PI) control strategy were compared as a benchmark study as done in the literature, and it was concluded that meta-heuristic algorithms were more effective in terms of hydrogen consumption and computational time.
Recent Advances of the BIRALET System about Space Debris Detection
Authors: Pisanu Tonino , Muntoni Giacomo , Schirru Luca , Ortu Pierluigi , Urru Enrico , Montisci Giorgio
Published: March 2021

Space debris is internationally recognized as a planetary threat. Efforts to enhance the worldwide radar monitoring networks have been intensified in the last years. Among the new radars employed for the observations, one of the most promising is the Bistatic Radar for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Tracking (BIRALET), which employs the Sardinia Radio Telescope as a receiving segment. The Sardinia Radio Telescope (SRT) has recently been proven to be a reliable instrument for space debris monitoring and, for this purpose, over the years has undergone some substantial modifications in order to be able to rise to the status of a fully functional radar receiver. However, an extensive measurement campaign, in order to assess the real potential of the radar, has never been done before. In this paper, the authors present the first real space debris measurement campaign of the SRT, made between December 2018 and October 2019 using the new dedicated channel of the P-band receiver. A total of 27 objects were correctly detected during this campaign, characterized by a radar cross section (RCS) interval between 0.13 and 13.4 m2 and a range interval between 459 and 1224 km.
Impact of Tillage and Crop Residue Management on the Weed Community and Wheat Yield in a Wheat–Maize Double Cropping System
Authors: Zhang Jin , Wu Lan-Fang
Published: March 2021

Weeds are often harmful to crop growth due to the competition for space and resources. A field experiment containing four treatments with three replications in a complete randomized design was conducted at Yucheng Comprehensive Experiment Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences since 2008 to assess the impact of shifting from conventional tillage to no-till with crop residue management on weeds and wheat production at the North China Plain. We found that both aboveground weed density and species richness were higher under continuous no-till (NT) than conventional tillage (CT) in the regrowth and stem elongation stage of wheat growth. On the other hand, aboveground weed density in the stage of flowering and filling decreased with crop residue mulching. The density of the soil seed bank in crop residue removal treatments was significantly higher than that of crop residue retention. Besides, either crop residue mulching or incorporating into the soil significantly increased the wheat yield compared with crop residue removal regardless of tillage management. In conclusion, crop residue retention could decrease the weed density and species richness both aboveground and in the soil seed bank and inhibit the growth of broadleaf weeds by the residue layer. Moreover, crop residue retention could improve the wheat yield.
Cotton Seed Priming with Brassinosteroid Promotes Germination and Seedling Growth
Authors: Chakma Shyama Prashad , Chileshe Stephen Mushimwa , Thomas Richard , Krishna Priti
Published: March 2021

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is the largest fibre crop globally and an important oilseed crop. Rising temperatures and declining water supplies, which are also impacting soil salinity, threaten cotton plant productivity. Germination, emergence and young seedling stages in cotton are highly sensitive to salinity and heat stresses. Brassinosteroids (BRs) are plant steroid hormones that are essential for proper plant growth and development and also promote tolerance to a range of environmental stresses. Cotton seeds were primed with BR (24-epibrassinolide) alone or in combination with other hormones (abscisic acid, auxin and gibberellic acid) and tested for germination and early seedling growth. BR promoted germination under no stress as well as under salinity and heat stress conditions, while other hormones were ineffective under stress conditions. BR also promoted cotyledon opening and the development of lateral roots in germinated seedlings. The ability of BR to positively impact seedling growth across different stress conditions suggests that priming cotton seeds with BR may help in early and successful establishment of seedlings, which may benefit the plant through its lifecycle.
Effective Propagation of Selaginella tamariscina through Optimized Medium Composition
Authors: Park Kyungtae , Jang Bo Kook , Lee Ha Min , Cho Ju Sung , Lee Cheol Hee
Published: March 2021

Selaginella tamariscina is a medicinal plant that contains a variety of plant secondary metabolites; however, it is currently being collected indiscriminately from its native habitats. Hence, we have developed an efficient propagation method for S. tamariscina. Explants grown in vitro were cultured in Murashige and Skoog medium of various strengths (1/16–2x), and the highest number of sporophytes (65.7) were obtained with 1/4x MS medium. Culturing explants at various lengths (3–12 mm) for 12 weeks indicated 12 mm as the most appropriate size for sporophyte propagation. We then evaluated various concentrations of individual components, sucrose (0–5%), total nitrogen (7.5–30 mM), nitrogen ratio (3:0–0:3), and agar (0.6–0.8%), in the 1/4x MS medium for explant growth for 12 weeks. The maximum number of sporophytes were formed in media containing 3% sucrose, 15 mM nitrogen, and 0.6% agar, with a nitrogen ratio of 1:2. The propagated S. tamariscina was then acclimatized in a controlled environment to improve survival in an external environment. These results demonstrate the effective conditions for in vitro mass propagation of S. tamariscina, finding that methods utilizing sporophytes were more efficient than conventional propagation methods and yielded numerous plants in a short period.
Activity Time Budgets—A Potential Tool to Monitor Equine Welfare?
Authors: Auer Ulrike , Kelemen Zsofia , Engl Veronika , Jenner Florien
Published: March 2021

Horses’ behavior can provide valuable insight into their subjective state and is thus a good indicator of welfare. However, its complexity requires objective, quantifiable, and unambiguous evidence-based assessment criteria. As healthy, stress-free horses exhibit a highly repetitive daily routine, temporal quantification of their behavioral activities (time budget analysis) can assist in equine welfare assessment. Therefore, the present systematic review aimed to provide an up-to-date analysis of equine time budget studies. A review of the literature yielded 12 papers that fulfilled the inclusion criteria: assessment of equine time budgets for eating, resting and movement for a minimum of 24 continuous hours. A total of 144 horses (1–27 years old), 59 semi-feral and 85 domesticated horses, are included in this review. The 24 h time budgets for foraging or eating (10–6.6%), resting (8.1–66%), lying (2.7–27.3%), and locomotion (0.015–19.1%) showed large variance between studies, which can largely be attributed to differences in age and environmental conditions. Management interventions in domesticated horses (ad libitum access to food, increased space, decreased population density) resulted in time budgets similar to their (semi-)feral conspecifics, emphasizing the importance of environmental conditions and the ability of time budgets to assist in monitoring horses’ welfare.
Welfare Assessment: Correspondence Analysis of Welfare Score and Hematological and Biochemical Profiles of Dairy Cows in Sardinia, Italy
Authors: Loi Federica , Pilo Giovannantonio , Franzoni Giulia , Re Rossana , Fusi Francesca , Bertocchi Luigi , Santucci Ugo , Lorenzi Valentina , Rolesu Sandro , Nicolussi Paola
Published: March 2021

The need for animal welfare definition and assessment is increasing worldwide, and several studies have been conducted to help fill the knowledge gaps regarding the welfare of cattle. However, further studies are needed to provide valid synthetized measures for welfare evaluation. The aim of this study was to assess the welfare status of 16 Sardinian dairy cattle farms, based on the developed Animal Welfare and Biosecurity Evaluation checklist (AWB-EF) and the corresponding hematological, biochemical, and electrophoretic profiles of these animals. Considering the AWB-EF as gold standard, blood samples were collected from 230 Holstein breed dairy cattle, aged between 3 and 8 years, out of the periparturient period, and with no clinical signs of specific pathologies. Principal Component (PC) and correlation analyses were performed to simplify phenomena interpretation and assess positive/negative associations. Four PCs were able to explain 76% of the total variability, and six laboratory parameters were strongly associated with the AWB-EF score (Spearman’s correlation coefficient ≥ 0.40, p-Value < 0.05), reflecting the real health status of the animals. Given the complexity of animal welfare as a multidimensional concept and the need to include both animal-based and non-based measures in welfare evaluation, the present work represents a sound basis for future evaluation and veterinary health planning.
Comparison of Two Transmission Electron Microscopy Methods to Visualize Drug-Induced Alterations of Gram-Negative Bacterial Morphology
Authors: Nguyen Hang Thi , O’Donovan Lisa A. , Venter Henrietta , Russell Cecilia C. , McCluskey Adam , Page Stephen W. , Trott Darren J. , Ogunniyi Abiodun D.
Published: March 2021

In this study, we optimized and compared different transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods to visualize changes to Gram-negative bacterial morphology induced by treatment with a robenidine analogue (NCL195) and colistin combination. Aldehyde-fixed bacterial cells (untreated, treated with colistin or NCL195 + colistin) were prepared using conventional TEM methods and compared with ultrathin Tokuyasu cryo-sections. The results of this study indicate superiority of ultrathin cryo-sections in visualizing the membrane ultrastructure of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with a clear delineation of the outer and inner membrane as well as the peptidoglycan layer. We suggest that the use of ultrathin cryo-sectioning can be used to better visualize and understand drug interaction mechanisms on the bacterial cell membrane.
Use of Bacteriophage Amended with CRISPR-Cas Systems to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance in the Bacterial Foodborne Pathogen Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Parsons Cameron , Brown Phillip , Kathariou Sophia
Published: March 2021

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterial foodborne pathogen and the causative agent of the disease listeriosis, which though uncommon can result in severe symptoms such as meningitis, septicemia, stillbirths, and abortions and has a high case fatality rate. This pathogen can infect humans and other animals, resulting in massive health and economic impacts in the United States and globally. Listeriosis is treated with antimicrobials, typically a combination of a beta-lactam and an aminoglycoside, and L. monocytogenes has remained largely susceptible to the drugs of choice. However, there are several reports of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in both L. monocytogenes and other Listeria species. Given the dire health outcomes associated with listeriosis, the prospect of antimicrobial-resistant L. monocytogenes is highly problematic for human and animal health. Developing effective tools for the control and elimination of L. monocytogenes, including strains with antimicrobial resistance, is of the utmost importance to prevent further dissemination of AMR in this pathogen. One tool that has shown great promise in combating antibiotic-resistant pathogens is the use of bacteriophages (phages), which are natural bacterial predators and horizontal gene transfer agents. Although native phages can be effective at killing antibiotic-resistant pathogens, limited host ranges and evolved resistance to phages can compromise their use in the efforts to mitigate the global AMR challenge. However, recent advances can allow the use of CRISPR-Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR-associated proteins) to selectively target pathogens and their AMR determinants. Employment of CRISPR-Cas systems for phage amendment can overcome previous limitations in using phages as biocontrol and allow for the effective control of L. monocytogenes and its AMR determinants.
Novel Seleno- and Thio-Urea Containing Dihydropyrrol-2-One Analogues as Antibacterial Agents
Authors: Sabir Shekh , Yu Tsz Tin , Kuppusamy Rajesh , Almohaywi Basmah , Iskander George , Das Theerthankar , Willcox Mark D. P. , Black David StClair , Kumar Naresh
Published: March 2021

The quorum sensing (QS) system in multi-drug-resistant bacteria such as P. aeruginosa is primarily responsible for the development of antibiotic resistance and is considered an attractive target for antimicrobial drug discovery. In this study, we synthesised a series of novel selenourea and thiourea-containing dihydropyrrol-2-one (DHP) analogues as LasR antagonists. The selenium DHP derivatives displayed significantly better quorum-sensing inhibition (QSI) activities than the corresponding sulphur analogues. The most potent analogue 3e efficiently inhibited the las QS system by 81% at 125 µM and 53% at 31 µM. Additionally, all the compounds were screened for their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against the Gram-positive bacterium S. aureus, and interestingly, only the selenium analogues showed antibacterial activity, with 3c and 3e being the most potent with a MIC of 15.6 µM.
Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae—Implications for Treating Acute Leukemias, a Subgroup of Hematological Malignancies
Authors: Storhaug Kristin Ølfarnes , Skutlaberg Dag Harald , Hansen Bent Are , Reikvam Håkon , Wendelbo Øystein
Published: March 2021

Acute leukemias (AL) are a group of aggressive malignant diseases associated with a high degree of morbidity and mortality. Patients with AL are highly susceptible to infectious diseases due to the disease itself, factors attributed to treatment, and specific individual risk factors. Enterobacteriaceae presence (e.g., Klebsiella pneumonia and Escherichia coli) is a frequent cause of bloodstream infections in AL patients. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) is an emerging health problem worldwide; however, the incidence of CRE varies greatly between different regions. Carbapenem resistance in Enterobacteriaceae is caused by different mechanisms, and CRE may display various resistance profiles. Bacterial co-expression of genes conferring resistance to both broad-spectrum β-lactam antibiotics (including carbapenems) and other classes of antibiotics may give rise to multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). The spread of CRE represents a major treatment challenge for clinicians due to lack of randomized clinical trials (RCTs), a limited number of antibiotics available, and the side-effects associated with them. Most research concerning CRE infections in AL patients are limited to case reports and retrospective reviews. Current research recommends treatment with older antibiotics, such as polymyxins, fosfomycin, older aminoglycosides, and in some cases carbapenems. To prevent the spread of resistant microbes, it is of pivotal interest to implement antibiotic stewardship to reduce broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment, but without giving too narrow a treatment to neutropenic infected patients.
High Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Moderate Fat Intake Are Associated with Higher Carotenoid Concentration in Human Plasma
Authors: Marhuenda-Muñoz María , Rinaldi de Alvarenga José Fernando , Hernáez Álvaro , Tresserra-Rimbau Anna , Martínez-González Miguel Ángel , Salas-Salvadó Jordi , Corella Dolores , Malcampo Mireia , Martínez José Alfredo , Alonso-Gómez Ángel M. , Wärnberg Julia , Vioque Jesús , Romaguera Dora , López-Miranda José , Estruch Ramón , Tinahones Francisco J. , Lapetra José , Serra-Majem J. Lluís , Bueno-Cavanillas Aurora , Tur Josep A. , Sánchez Vicente Martín , Pintó Xavier , Delgado-Rodríguez Miguel , Matía-Martín Pilar , Vidal Josep , Vázquez Clotilde , Daimiel Lidia , Ros Emilio , Serra-Mir Mercè , Vázquez-Ruiz Zenaida , Nishi Stephanie K. , Sorlí Jose V. , Zomeño María Dolores , Zulet María Angeles , Vaquero-Luna Jessica , Carabaño-Moral Rosa , Notario-Barandiaran Leyre , Morey Marga , García-Ríos Antonio , Gómez-Pérez Ana M. , Santos-Lozano José Manuel , Buil-Cosiales Pilar , Basora Josep , Portolés Olga , Schröder Helmut , Abete Itziar , Salaverria-Lete Itziar , Toledo Estefanía , Babio Nancy , Fitó Montse , Martínez-Huélamo Miriam , Lamuela-Raventós Rosa M
Published: March 2021

Carotenoids are pigments contained mainly in fruit and vegetables (F&V) that have beneficial effects on cardiometabolic health. Due to their lipophilic nature, co-ingestion of fat appears to increase their bioavailability via facilitating transfer to the aqueous micellar phase during digestion. However, the extent to which high fat intake may contribute to increased carotenoid plasma concentrations is still unclear. The objective was to examine the degree to which the consumption of different amounts of both carotenoid-rich foods and fats is associated with plasma carotenoid concentrations within a Mediterranean lifestyle context (subsample from the PREDIMED-Plus study baseline) where consumption of F&V and fat is high. The study population was categorized into four groups according to their self-reported consumption of F&V and fat. Carotenoids were extracted from plasma samples and analyzed by HPLC-UV-VIS-QqQ-MS/MS. Carotenoid systemic concentrations were greater in high consumers of F&V than in low consumers of these foods (+3.04 μmol/L (95% CI: 0.90, 5.17), p-value = 0.005), but circulating concentrations seemed to decrease when total fat intake was very high (−2.69 μmol/L (−5.54; 0.16), p-value = 0.064). High consumption of F&V is associated with greater systemic levels of total carotenoids, in particular when fat intake is low-to-moderate rather than very high.
Chiral Pyrazolo[4,3-e][1,2,4]triazine Sulfonamides—Their Biological Activity, Lipophilicity, Protein Affinity, and Metabolic Transformations
Authors: Bernat Zofia , Mieszkowska Anna , Mazerska Zofia , Matysiak Joanna , Karczmarzyk Zbigniew , Kotwica-Mojzych Katarzyna , Mojzych Mariusz
Published: March 2021

Referring to our previous laboratory results related to the tyrosinase and urease inhibition by pyrazolo[4,3-e][1,2,4]triazine sulfonamides, we examined here in silico the mechanism of action at the molecular level of the investigated pyrazolotriazine sulfonamides by the molecular docking method. The studied compounds being evaluated for their cytotoxic effect against cancer cell lines (MCF-7, K-562) and for recombinant Abl and CDK2/E kinase inhibitory potency turned out to be inactive in these tests. The pyrazolotriazines were also investigated with respect to their lipophilicity and plasma protein binding using HPLC chromatography in isocratic conditions. The observed small affinity for plasma proteins could be advantageous in the potential in vivo studies. Moreover, the compounds were sensitive to metabolic transformations with phase I enzymes, which led to the hydroxylation and dealkylation products, whereas phase II transformations did not occur.
An AI-Based Exercise Prescription Recommendation System
Authors: Chen Hung-Kai , Chen Fueng-Ho , Lin Shien-Fong
Published: March 2021

The European Association of Preventive Cardiology Exercise Prescription in Everyday Practice and Rehabilitative Training (EXPERT) tool has been developed for digital training and decision support in cardiovascular disease patients in clinical practice. Exercise prescription recommendation systems for sub-healthy people are essential to enhance this dominant group’s physical ability as well. This study aims to construct a guided exercise prescription system for sub-healthy groups using exercise community data to train an AI model. The system consists of six modules, including three-month suggested exercise mode (3m-SEM), predicted value of rest heart rate (rest HR) difference after following three-month suggested exercise mode (3m-PV), two-month suggested exercise mode (2m-SEM), predicted value of rest HR difference after following two-month suggested exercise mode (2m-PV), one-month suggested exercise mode (1m-SEM) and predicted value of rest HR difference after following one-month suggested exercise mode (1m-PV). A new user inputs gender, height, weight, age, and current rest HR value, and the above six modules will provide the user with a prescription. A four-layer neural network model is applied to construct the above six modules. The AI-enabled model produced 95.80%, 100.00%, and 95.00% testing accuracy in 1m-SEM, 2m-SEM, and 3m-SEM, respectively. It reached 3.15, 2.89, and 2.75 BPM testing mean absolute error in 1m-PV, 2m-PV, and 3m-PV. The developed system provides quantitative exercise prescriptions to guide the sub-healthy group to engage in effective exercise programs.
Classification of Full Text Biomedical Documents: Sections Importance Assessment
Authors: Oliveira Gonçalves Carlos Adriano , Camacho Rui , Gonçalves Célia Talma , Seara Vieira Adrián , Borrajo Diz Lourdes , Lorenzo Iglesias Eva
Published: March 2021

The exponential growth of documents in the web makes it very hard for researchers to be aware of the relevant work being done within the scientific community. The task of efficiently retrieving information has therefore become an important research topic. The objective of this study is to test how the efficiency of the text classification changes if different weights are previously assigned to the sections that compose the documents. The proposal takes into account the place (section) where terms are located in the document, and each section has a weight that can be modified depending on the corpus. To carry out the study, an extended version of the OHSUMED corpus with full documents have been created. Through the use of WEKA, we compared the use of abstracts only with that of full texts, as well as the use of section weighing combinations to assess their significance in the scientific article classification process using the SMO (Sequential Minimal Optimization), the WEKA Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm implementation. The experimental results show that the proposed combinations of the preprocessing techniques and feature selection achieve promising results for the task of full text scientific document classification. We also have evidence to conclude that enriched datasets with text from certain sections achieve better results than using only titles and abstracts.
Light-Induced Photoluminescence Quenching and Degradation in Quasi 2D Perovskites Film of (C6H5C2H4NH3)2 (CH3NH3)2[Pb3I10]
Authors: Hu Shu , Yan Xiaoliang , Zhang Yang , Yang Bo , Li Heng , Sheng Chuanxiang
Published: March 2021

Quasi-two-dimensional (2D) perovskites recently came into the focus because of their moisture stability. In addition to ambient air, light illumination could also cause degradation for the film of 2D perovskites; however, few studies have investigated their photostability. Here, we work on light-induced photoluminescence quenching, as well as the degradation of quasi-2D perovskites of PEA2MAn−1PbnI3n+1 (n = 3 nominally, PEA+ = C6H5(CH2)2NH3+, MA+ = CH3NH3+). Light-induced photoluminescence (PL) quenching generally happens with different speeds, depending on the wavelength and intensity of the laser as well as the film’s environment. With red light (635 nm) illumination, the film does not decompose into ambient air with an intensity below ~500 mW/cm2, although in general, a higher laser intensity and/or higher photon energy (447 nm) could render the decomposition process easier and faster. On the other hand, when the film is in a vacuum, both light-induced PL quenching and film degradation are significantly suppressed. Furthermore, we find that the multiphase of n = 1, 2, 3 in the PEA2MA2Pb3I10 film decomposes together and that the degradation processes begin with the collapses of the crystalline structures.
Sustainable Modularity Approach to Facilities Development Based on Geothermal Energy Potential
Authors: Ćuković Ignjatović Nataša , Vranješ Ana , Ignjatović Dušan , Milenić Dejan , Krunić Olivera
Published: March 2021

The study presented in this paper assessed the multidisciplinary approach of geothermal potential in the area of the most southeastern part of the Pannonian basin, focused on resources utilization. This study aims to present a method for the cascade use of geothermal energy as a source of thermal energy for space heating and cooling and as a resource for balneological purposes. Two particular sites were selected—one in a natural environment; the other within a small settlement. Geothermal resources come from different types of reservoirs having different temperatures and chemical compositions. At the first site, a geothermal spring with a temperature of 20.5 °C is considered for heat pump utilization, while at the second site, a geothermal well with a temperature of 54 °C is suitable for direct use. The calculated thermal power, which can be obtained from geothermal energy is in the range of 300 to 950 kW. The development concept was proposed with an architectural design to enable sustainable energy efficient development of wellness and spa/medical facilities that can be supported by local authorities. The resulting energy heating needs for different scenarios were 16–105 kW, which can be met in full by the use of geothermal energy.
Halophyte Plants and Their Residues as Feedstock for Biogas Production—Chances and Challenges
Authors: Turcios Ariel E. , Cayenne Aadila , Uellendahl Hinrich , Papenbrock Jutta
Published: March 2021

The importance of green technologies is steadily growing. Salt-tolerant plants have been proposed as energy crops for cultivation on saline lands. Halophytes such as Salicornia europaea, Tripolium pannonicum, Crithmum maritimum and Chenopodium quinoa, among many other species, can be cultivated in saline lands, in coastal areas or for treating saline wastewater, and the biomass might be used for biogas production as an integrated process of biorefining. However, halophytes have different salt tolerance mechanisms, including compartmentalization of salt in the vacuole, leading to an increase of sodium in the plant tissues. The sodium content of halophytes may have an adverse effect on the anaerobic digestion process, which needs adjustments to achieve stable and efficient conversion of the halophytes into biogas. This review gives an overview of the specificities of halophytes that needs to be accounted for using their biomass as feedstocks for biogas plants in order to expand renewable energy production. First, the different physiological mechanisms of halophytes to grow under saline conditions are described, which lead to the characteristic composition of the halophyte biomass, which may influence the biogas production. Next, possible mechanisms to avoid negative effects on the anaerobic digestion process are described, with an overview of full-scale applications. Taking all these aspects into account, halophyte plants have a great potential for biogas and methane production with yields similar to those produced by other energy crops and the simultaneous benefit of utilization of saline soils.
A Novel, Minimally Invasive Method to Retrieve Failed Dental Implants in Elderly Patients
Authors: Leighton Yerko , Miranda Javier , Souza Raphael Freitas de , Weber Benjamin , Borie Eduardo
Published: March 2021

This practice-based study presents the clinical outcomes of a minimally invasive method for retrieving failed dental implants from elderly patients. Traditional removal methods for failed dental implants include trephination and other invasive procedures. That can be a special concern for the elderly, since aging exacerbates oral surgery-related morbidity and anxiety. This retrospective cohort study gathers data from 150 patients seen in a private clinic. Their implants (n = 199) failed due to biological, mechanical, or iatrogenic causes, and were removed as part of their treatment plan. Collected data included: (1) implant location (maxilla/mandible, anterior/posterior region), (2) reasons for implant retrieval, (3) connection type, (4) removal torque, and (5) operatory procedure—flapless and using a counter-torque removal kit, whenever possible. Flapless/minimally invasive retrieval was successful for 193 implants (97%). The remaining six implants demanded trephination (open-flap). The most common reasons for implant retrieval (81%) involved biological aspects, whereas iatrogenic (12%) and biomechanical (7%) reasons were less common. The surgical technique used was not associated to connection types or removal torque. Authors conclude that a counter-torque ratchet system is a minimally invasive technique with a high success rate in retrieving implants from elderly patients. Present findings support its use as a first-line approach for implant retrieval in that population.
Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Detection of Damage in Aircraft Composites by Advanced Synergistic Infrared Thermography and Phased Array Techniques
Authors: Padiyar M. Janardhan , Zanotti Fragonara Luca , Petrunin Ivan , Raposo Joao , Tsourdos Antonios , Gray Iain , Farmaki Spyridoyla , Exarchos Dimitrios , Matikas Theodore E. , Dassios Konstantinos G.
Published: March 2021

This paper presents an advanced methodology for the detection of damage in aircraft composite materials based on the sensor fusion of two image-based non-destructive evaluation techniques. Both of the techniques, phased-array ultrasonics and infra-red thermography, are benchmarked on an aircraft-grade painted composite material skin panel with stringers. The sensors systems for carrying out the inspections have been developed and miniaturized for being integrated on a vortex-robotic platform inspector, in the framework of a larger research initiative, the Horizon-2020 ‘CompInnova’ project.
Measured Solid State and Sub-Cooled Liquid Vapour Pressures of Benzaldehydes Using Knudsen Effusion Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Shelley Petroc , Bannan Thomas J. , Worrall Stephen D. , Alfarra M. Rami , Percival Carl J. , Garforth Arthur , Topping David
Published: March 2021

Benzaldehydes are components of atmospheric aerosol that are poorly represented in current vapour pressure predictive techniques. In this study the solid state (PSsat) and sub-cooled liquid saturation vapour pressures (PLsat) were measured over a range of temperatures (298–328 K) for a chemically diverse group of benzaldehydes. The selected benzaldehydes allowed for the effects of varied geometric isomers and functionalities on saturation vapour pressure (Psat) to be probed. PSsat was measured using Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry (KEMS) and PLsat was obtained via a sub-cooled correction utilising experimental enthalpy of fusion and melting point values measured using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The strength of the hydrogen bond (H-bond) was the most important factor for determining PLsat when a H-bond was present and the polarisability of the compound was the most important factor when a H-bond was not present. Typically compounds capable of hydrogen bonding had PLsat 1 to 2 orders of magnitude lower than those that could not H-bond. The PLsat were compared to estimated values using three different predictive techniques (Nannoolal et al. vapour pressure method, Myrdal and Yalkowsky method, and SIMPOL). The Nannoolal et al. vapour pressure method and the Myrdal and Yalkowsky method require the use of a boiling point method to predict Psat. For the compounds in this study the Nannoolal et al. boiling point method showed the best performance. All three predictive techniques showed less than an order of magnitude error in PLsat on average, however more significant errors were within these methods. Such errors will have important implications for studies trying to ascertain the role of these compounds on aerosol growth and human health impacts. SIMPOL predicted PLsat the closest to the experimentally determined values.
An Overview on Sustainability in the Wine Production Chain
Authors: Baiano Antonietta
Published: March 2021

Despite the great relevance of sustainable development, the absence of a shared approach to sustainable vitiviniculture is evident. This review aimed to investigate sustainability along the entire wine chain, from primary production to the finished wine, with specific attention to three key dimensions of sustainability (environmental, social, and economic) and relating measures. Therefore, it was decided to: investigate the ways in which sustainability is applied in the various stages of the production chain (wine growing, wineries, distribution chain, and waste management); analyse the regulations in force throughout the world and the main labelling systems; provide numerical information on sustainable grapes and wines; study the objective quality of sustainable wines and that perceived by consumers, considering that it affects their willingness to pay. The research highlighted that rules and regulations on organic production of grapes and wines are flanked by several certification schemes and labelling systems. Although sustainable wines represent a niche in the market, in recent years, there has been an increase in vineyards conducted with sustainable (mainly organic and biodynamic) methods, and a consequent increase in the production of sustainable wines both in traditional and emerging producing countries. Although (or perhaps precisely for this reason) no significant differences in quality are found among sustainable and conventional wines, consumers are willing to pay a premium for sustainably produced wines. This finding should encourage wineries to both put in place environmental activities and intensify their communication.
Spectral Decomposition of the Flow and Characterization of the Sound Signals through Stenoses with Different Levels of Severity
Authors: Khalili Fardin , Gamage Peshala T. , Taebi Amirtahà , Johnson Mark E. , Roberts Randal B. , Mitchell John
Published: March 2021

Treatments of atherosclerosis depend on the severity of the disease at the diagnosis time. Non-invasive diagnosis techniques, capable of detecting stenosis at early stages, are essential to reduce associated costs and mortality rates. We used computational fluid dynamics and acoustics analysis to extensively investigate the sound sources arising from high-turbulent fluctuating flow through stenosis. The frequency spectral analysis and proper orthogonal decomposition unveiled the frequency contents of the fluctuations for different severities and decomposed the flow into several frequency bandwidths. Results showed that high-intensity turbulent pressure fluctuations appeared inside the stenosis for severities above 70%, concentrated at plaque surface, and immediately in the post-stenotic region. Analysis of these fluctuations with the progression of the stenosis indicated that (a) there was a distinct break frequency for each severity level, ranging from 40 to 230 Hz, (b) acoustic spatial-frequency maps demonstrated the variation of the frequency content with respect to the distance from the stenosis, and (c) high-energy, high-frequency fluctuations existed inside the stenosis only for severe cases. This information can be essential for predicting the severity level of progressive stenosis, comprehending the nature of the sound sources, and determining the location of the stenosis with respect to the point of measurements.
Bioactive Potential of Several Actinobacteria Isolated from Microbiologically Barely Explored Desert Habitat, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Almuhayawi Mohammed , Mohamed Mahmoud , Abdel-Mawgoud Mohamed , Selim Samy , Al Jaouni Soad , AbdElgawad Hamada
Published: March 2021

Biomolecules from natural sources, including microbes, have been the basis of treatment of human diseases since the ancient times. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the potential bioactivity of several actinobacteria isolates form Al-Jouf Desert, Saudi Arabia. Twenty-one actinobacterial isolates were tested for their antioxidant (flavonoids, phenolics, tocopherols and carotenoids) content, and biological activities, namely FRAP, DPPH, ABTS, SOS and XO inhibition, anti-hemolytic and anti-lipid peroxidation as well as their antibacterial and antiprotozoal activities. Accordingly, five isolates (i.e., Act 2, 12, 15, 19 and 21) were selected and their 90% ethanolic extracts were used. The phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA sequences indicated that the most active isolates belong to genus Streptomyces. The genus Streptomyces has been documented as a prolific producer of biologically active secondary metabolites against different cancer types. Thus, the anti-blood cancer activity and the possible molecular mechanisms by which several Streptomyces species extracts inhibited the growth of different leukemia cells, i.e., HL-60, K562 and THP-1, were investigated. In general, the five active isolates showed cytotoxic activity against the tested cell lines in a dose dependent manner. Among the potent isolates, isolate Act 12 significantly decreased the cell viability and showed maximum cytotoxic activities against both HL-60 and K562 cells, while isolate Act 15 exhibited maximum cytotoxic activity against THP-1 cells. Moreover, Act 2 and Act 12 reduced cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and lipoxygenase (LOX) activity, which is involved in the proliferation and differentiation of cancer cells and may represent a possible molecular mechanism underlying leukemia growth inhibition. The bioactive antioxidant extracts of the selected Streptomyces species inhibited leukemia cell growth by reducing the COX-2 and LOX activity. Overall, our study not only introduced a promising natural alternative source for anticancer agents, but it also sheds light on the mechanism underlying the anticancer activity of isolated actinomycetes.
The Open Question of How GPCRs Interact with GPCR Kinases (GRKs)
Authors: Cato M. Claire , Yen Yu-Chen , Francis Charnelle J. , Elkins Kaely E. , Shareef Afzaal , Sterne-Marr Rachel , Tesmer John J. G.
Published: March 2021

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which regulate a vast number of eukaryotic processes, are desensitized by various mechanisms but, most importantly, by the GPCR kinases (GRKs). Ever since GRKs were first identified, investigators have sought to determine which structural features of GRKs are used to select for the agonist-bound states of GPCRs and how this binding event in turn enhances GRK catalytic activity. Despite a wealth of molecular information from high-resolution crystal structures of GRKs, the mechanisms driving activation have remained elusive, in part because the GRK N-terminus and active site tether region, previously proposed to serve as a receptor docking site and to be key to kinase domain closure, are often disordered or adopt inconsistent conformations. However, two recent studies have implicated other regions of GRKs as being involved in direct interactions with active GPCRs. Atomic resolution structures of GPCR–GRK complexes would help refine these models but are, so far, lacking. Here, we assess three distinct models for how GRKs recognize activated GPCRs, discuss limitations in the approaches used to generate them, and then experimentally test a hypothetical GPCR interaction site in GRK2 suggested by the two newest models.
The Impact of Far-Red Light Supplementation on Hormonal Responses to Cold Acclimation in Barley
Authors: Ahres Mohamed , Pálmai Tamás , Gierczik Krisztián , Dobrev Petre , Vanková Radomíra , Galiba Gábor
Published: March 2021

Cold acclimation, the necessary prerequisite for promotion of freezing tolerance, is affected by both low temperature and enhanced far-red/red light (FR/R) ratio. The impact of FR supplementation to white light, created by artificial LED light sources, on the hormone levels, metabolism, and expression of the key hormone metabolism-related genes was determined in winter barley at moderate (15 °C) and low (5 °C) temperature. FR-enhanced freezing tolerance at 15 °C was associated with promotion of abscisic acid (ABA) levels, and accompanied by a moderate increase in indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and cis-zeatin levels. The most prominent impact on the plants’ freezing tolerance was found after FR pre-treatment at 15 °C (for 10 days) followed by cold treatment at FR supplementation (7 days). The response of ABA was diminished in comparison with white light treatment, probably due to the elevation of stress tolerance during FR pre-treatment. Jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) were transiently reduced. When the plants were exposed directly to a combination of cold (5 °C) and FR supplementation, ABA increase was higher than in white light, and was associated with enhanced elevation of JA and, in the longer term (after 7 days), with IAA and cis-zeatin increase, which indicates a stronger stress response and better acclimation. Cold hardening was more efficient when FR light was applied in the early developmental stage of the barley plants (three-leaf stage, 18 days), rather than in later stages (28-days). The dynamics of the phytohormone changes are well supported by the expression profiles of the key hormone metabolism-related genes. This series of treatments serves as evidence for the close relationship between plant hormones, light quality, and low temperature at the beginning of cold acclimation. Besides the timing of the FR treatments, plant age also represents a key factor during light spectrum-dependent cold acclimation.
Efficient Hydrolysis of Gluten-Derived Celiac Disease-Triggering Immunogenic Peptides by a Bacterial Serine Protease from Burkholderia gladioli
Authors: Liu Yu-You , Lee Cheng-Cheng , Hsu Jun-Hao , Leu Wei-Ming , Meng Menghsiao
Published: March 2021

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by toxic peptides derived from incompletely digested glutens in the stomach. Peptidases that can digest the toxic peptides may formulate an oral enzyme therapy to improve the patients’ health condition. Bga1903 is a serine endopeptidase secreted by Burkholderia gladioli. The preproprotein of Bga1903 consists of an N-terminal signal peptide, a propeptide region, and an enzymatic domain that belongs to the S8 subfamily. Bga1903 could be secreted into the culture medium when it was expressed in E. coli. The purified Bga1903 is capable of hydrolyzing the gluten-derived toxic peptides, such as the 33- and 26-mer peptides, with the preference for the peptide bonds at the carbonyl site of glutamine (P1 position). The kinetic assay of Bga1903 toward the chromogenic substrate Z-HPQ-pNA at 37 °C, pH 7.0, suggests that the values of Km and kcat are 0.44 ± 0.1 mM and 17.8 ± 0.4 s−1, respectively. The addition of Bga1903 in the wort during the fermentation step of beer could help in making gluten-free beer. In summary, Bga1903 is usable to reduce the gluten content in processed foods and represents a good candidate for protein engineering/modification aimed to efficiently digest the gluten at the gastric condition.