bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Salmonella spp. in Pigs Slaughtered in Small and Medium-Sized Abattoirs in Central Italy: Preliminary Results on Occurrence and Control Strategies
Authors: Primavilla Sara , Roila Rossana , Zicavo Alessia , Ortenzi Roberta , Branciari Raffaella , Shtylla Kika Tana , Valiani Andrea , Ranucci David
Published: August 2021

Salmonella in pork is still a relevant safety issue in the EU, and specific regulations are in force to control this hazard in the meat chain, in a from farm to fork perspective. In Italy, the control is mainly based on official sampling at the slaughterhouse level. The prevalence of Salmonella, and isolated serovars, was investigated during a three-year survey in small and medium slaughterhouses in central Italy. A total of 400 pig carcasses samples were collected by official authorities during the observation period. Data were also analyzed according to the year and season of sampling. The overall Salmonella prevalence in the five selected abattoirs was 13%, with no differences due to the slaughterhouses size and seasons of sampling. An increasing trend in Salmonella prevalence was registered over the years. The main serovars detected were Salmonella enterica 4,[5],12:i:- and Derby. The data emphasized that the number of contaminated carcasses is relatively high with respect to the level set by EU legislation, and equally distributed in the area, and therefore, appropriate monitoring and control strategies also need to be developed at the farm level.
Cascade Network with Deformable Composite Backbone for Formula Detection in Scanned Document Images
Authors: Hashmi Khurram Azeem , Pagani Alain , Liwicki Marcus , Stricker Didier , Afzal Muhammad Zeshan
Published: August 2021

This paper presents a novel architecture for detecting mathematical formulas in document images, which is an important step for reliable information extraction in several domains. Recently, Cascade Mask R-CNN networks have been introduced to solve object detection in computer vision. In this paper, we suggest a couple of modifications to the existing Cascade Mask R-CNN architecture: First, the proposed network uses deformable convolutions instead of conventional convolutions in the backbone network to spot areas of interest better. Second, it uses a dual backbone of ResNeXt-101, having composite connections at the parallel stages. Finally, our proposed network is end-to-end trainable. We evaluate the proposed approach on the ICDAR-2017 POD and Marmot datasets. The proposed approach demonstrates state-of-the-art performance on ICDAR-2017 POD at a higher IoU threshold with an f1-score of 0.917, reducing the relative error by 7.8%. Moreover, we accomplished correct detection accuracy of 81.3% on embedded formulas on the Marmot dataset, which results in a relative error reduction of 30%.
Modification of the Johnson–Cook Material Model for Improved Simulation of Hard Milling High-Performance Steel Components
Authors: Vovk Andrey , Pourkaveh Dehkordi Amin , Glüge Rainer , Karpuschewski Bernhard , Sölter Jens
Published: August 2021

Understanding the effect of thermomechanical loads during finish cutting processes, in our case hard milling, on the surface integrity of the workpiece is crucial for the creation of defined quality characteristics of high-performance components. Compared to computationally generated modifications by simulation, the measurement-based determination of material modifications can only be carried out selectively and on a point-by-point basis. In practice, however, detailed knowledge of the changes in material properties at arbitrary points of the high-performance component is of great interest. In this paper, a modification of the well-known Johnson–Cook material model using the finite element software Abaqus is presented. Special attention was paid to the kinematic hardening behavior of the used steel material. Cyclic loads are relevant for the chip formation simulation because, during milling, after each cut, the material under the surface is loaded plastically several times and not necessarily in the same direction. Therefore, in analogy, multiple bending was investigated on samples made of 42CrMo4. A pronounced Bauschinger effect was observed in the bending tests. An adaptation of the material model to the results of the bending tests was only possible to a limited extent without kinematic hardening, which is why the Johnson–Cook model was supplemented by the Armstrong–Frederick hardening approach. The modified Johnson–Cook–Armstrong–Frederick material model was developed for practical use as a VUMAT and verified by bending tests for simulation use.
Wave Propagation and Structural Health Monitoring Application on Parts Fabricated by Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Modir Alireza , Tansel Ibrahim
Published: August 2021

Additive manufacturing (AM) applications have been steadily increasing in many industry sectors. AM allows creating complex geometries inside of a part to leave some space empty, called infills. Lighter parts are manufactured in a shorter time with less warpage if the strength of the part meets the design requirements. While the benefits of structural health monitoring (SHM) have been proven in different structures, few studies have investigated SHM methods on AM parts. In this study, the relationship between wave propagation and infill density has been studied for the additively manufactured polymer parts. The propagation of surface waves is monitored by using piezoelectric elements. Four rectangular parts are manufactured by using the material extrusion method with 20%, 40%, 60%, and 100% rectilinear infill densities. Four piezoelectric elements were attached on the surface of each beam, one for excitation and three for monitoring the response of the part at equal distances on each part. The results demonstrated that the surface waves diminish faster at parts with lower densities. The received signal in the part with totally solid infills showed about 10 times higher amplitudes compare with the part with 20% infill. The surface response to excitation (SuRE) method was used for sensing the loading on the part. Also, the wave propagation speed was calculated with exciting parts with a pulse signal with a 10-microsecond duration. The wave propagation speed was almost the same for all infill densities.
Perineuronal Nets and Metal Cation Concentrations in the Microenvironments of Fast-Spiking, Parvalbumin-Expressing GABAergic Interneurons: Relevance to Neurodevelopment and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Authors: Burket Jessica A. , Webb Jason D. , Deutsch Stephen I.
Published: August 2021

Because of their abilities to catalyze generation of toxic free radical species, free concentrations of the redox reactive metals iron and copper are highly regulated. Importantly, desired neurobiological effects of these redox reactive metal cations occur within very narrow ranges of their local concentrations. For example, synaptic release of free copper acts locally to modulate NMDA receptor-mediated neurotransmission. Moreover, within the developing brain, iron is critical to hippocampal maturation and the differentiation of parvalbumin-expressing neurons, whose soma and dendrites are surrounded by perineuronal nets (PNNs). The PNNs are a specialized component of brain extracellular matrix, whose polyanionic character supports the fast-spiking electrophysiological properties of these parvalbumin-expressing GABAergic interneurons. In addition to binding cations and creation of the Donnan equilibrium that support the fast-spiking properties of this subset of interneurons, the complex architecture of PNNs also binds metal cations, which may serve a protective function against oxidative damage, especially of these fast-spiking neurons. Data suggest that pathological disturbance of the population of fast-spiking, parvalbumin-expressing GABAergic inhibitory interneurons occur in at least some clinical presentations, which leads to disruption of the synchronous oscillatory output of assemblies of pyramidal neurons. Increased expression of the GluN2A NMDA receptor subunit on parvalbumin-expressing interneurons is linked to functional maturation of both these neurons and the perineuronal nets that surround them. Disruption of GluN2A expression shows increased susceptibility to oxidative stress, reflected in redox dysregulation and delayed maturation of PNNs. This may be especially relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder. Conceivably, binding of metal redox reactive cations by the perineuronal net helps to maintain safe local concentrations, and also serves as a reservoir buffering against second-to-second fluctuations in their concentrations outside of a narrow physiological range.
How Are Adenosine and Adenosine A2A Receptors Involved in the Pathophysiology of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis?
Authors: Mori Akihisa , Cross Brittany , Uchida Shinichi , Kerrick Walker Jill , Ristuccia Robert
Published: August 2021

Adenosine is extensively distributed in the central and peripheral nervous systems, where it plays a key role as a neuromodulator. It has long been implicated in the pathogenesis of progressive neurogenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, and there is now growing interest in its role in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The motor neurons affected in ALS are responsive to adenosine receptor function, and there is accumulating evidence for beneficial effects of adenosine A2A receptor antagonism. In this article, we focus on recent evidence from ALS clinical pathology and animal models that support dynamism of the adenosinergic system (including changes in adenosine levels and receptor changes) in ALS. We review the possible mechanisms of chronic neurodegeneration via the adenosinergic system, potential biomarkers and the acute symptomatic pharmacology, including respiratory motor neuron control, of A2A receptor antagonism to explore the potential of the A2A receptor as target for ALS therapy.
Ratiometric Colorimetric Detection of Nitrite Realized by Stringing Nanozyme Catalysis and Diazotization Together
Authors: Wang Mengzhu , Liu Peng , Zhu Hengjia , Liu Bangxiang , Niu Xiangheng
Published: August 2021

Due to the great threat posed by excessive nitrite in food and drinking water to human health, it calls for developing reliable, convenient, and low-cost methods for nitrite detection. Herein, we string nanozyme catalysis and diazotization together and develop a ratiometric colorimetric approach for sensing nitrite in food. First, hollow MnFeO (a mixture of Mn and Fe oxides with different oxidation states) derived from a Mn-Fe Prussian blue analogue is explored as an oxidase mimic with high efficiency in catalyzing the colorless 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) oxidation to blue TMBox, presenting a notable signal at 652 nm. Then, nitrite is able to trigger the diazotization of the product TMBox, not only decreasing the signal at 652 nm but also producing a new signal at 445 nm. Thus, the analyte-induced reverse changes of the two signals enable us to establish a ratiometric colorimetric assay for nitrite analysis. According to the above strategy, facile determination of nitrite in the range of 3.3–133.3 μM with good specificity was realized, providing a detection limit down to 0.2 μM. Compared with conventional single-signal analysis, our dual-signal ratiometric colorimetric mode was demonstrated to offer higher sensitivity, a lower detection limit, and better anti-interference ability against external detection environments. Practical applications of the approach in examining nitrite in food matrices were also verified.
Commercial Brain Training: Efficacy, Transfer Effects, and the Influence of Personality Traits: A Study Conducted on Healthy Young Adults
Authors: Scholl Florian , Enge Sören , Gärtner Matti
Published: August 2021

In the present study, we investigated the effects of a four-week working memory (WM) and attention training program using commercial brain training (Synaptikon GmbH, Berlin). Sixty young healthy adults were assigned to the experimental and active control training programs. The training was conducted in a naturalistic home-based setting, while the pre- and post-examinations were conducted in a controlled laboratory setting. Transfer effects to an untrained WM task and to an untrained episodic memory task were examined. Furthermore, possible influences of personality, i.e., the five-factor model (FFM) traits and need for cognition (NFC), on training outcomes were examined. Additionally, the direct relationship between improvement in single trained tasks and improvement in the transfer tasks was investigated. Our results showed that both training groups significantly increased performance in the WM task, but only the WM training group increased their performance in the episodic memory transfer task. One of the training tasks, a visuospatial WM task, was particularly associated with improvement in the episodic memory task. Neuroticism and conscientiousness showed differential effects on the improvement in training and transfer tasks. It needs to be further examined whether these effects represent training effects or, for example, retest/practice or motivation effects.
Heartbeat-Evoked Cortical Potential during Sleep and Interoceptive Sensitivity: A Matter of Hypnotizability
Authors: Billeci Lucia , Faraguna Ugo , Santarcangelo Enrica L. , d’Ascanio Paola , Varanini Maurizio , Sebastiani Laura
Published: August 2021

Individuals with different hypnotizability display different interoceptive sensitivity/awareness (IS) and accuracy (IA), likely sustained by morphofunctional differences in interoception-related brain regions and, thus, possibly also observable during sleep. We investigated the heartbeat-evoked cortical potential amplitude (HEP) during sleep, its association with IS, and the role of hypnotizability in such association. We performed a retrospective analysis of polysomnographic recordings of 39 healthy volunteers. Participants completed the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), measuring IS and IA, and underwent hypnotic assessment via the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, form A. The amplitude of the early and late HEP components was computed at EEG frontal and central sites. In both regions, the early HEP component was larger in N3 than in N2 and REM, with no difference between N2 and REM. Greater HEP amplitude at frontal than at central sites was found for the late HEP component. HEP amplitudes were not influenced by the autonomic state assessed by heart rate variability in the frequency and time domains. We report for the first time a positive correlation between the central late HEP component and MAIA dimensions, which became non-significant after removing the effects of hypnotizability. Our findings indicate that hypnotizability sustains the correlation between IS and HEP amplitude during sleep.
The Effects of Exercise Duration and Intensity on Breast Cancer-Related DNA Methylation: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Gillman Arielle S. , Helmuth Timothy , Koljack Claire E. , Hutchison Kent E. , Kohrt Wendy M. , Bryan Angela D.
Published: August 2021

Emerging research suggests that one mechanism through which physical activity may decrease cancer risk is through its influence on the methylation of genes associated with cancer. The purpose of the current study was to prospectively test, using a rigorous experimental design, whether aerobic exercise affects DNA methylation in genes associated with breast cancer, as well as whether quantity of exercise completed affects change in DNA methylation in a dose–response manner. 276 women (M age = 37.25, SD = 4.64) were recruited from the Denver metro area for a randomized controlled trial in which participants were assigned to a supervised aerobic exercise program varying in a fully crossed design by intensity (55–65% versus 75–85% of VO2max) and duration (40 versus 20 min per session). DNA methylation was assessed via blood samples provided at baseline, after completing a 16-week supervised exercise intervention, and six months after the intervention. 137 participants completed the intervention, and 81 had viable pre-post methylation data. Contrary to our hypotheses, total exercise volume completed in kcal/kg/week was not associated with methylation from baseline to post-intervention for any of the genes of interest. An increase in VO2max over the course of the intervention, however, was associated with decreased post-intervention methylation of BRCA1, p = 0.01. Higher levels of self-reported exercise during the follow-up period were associated with lower levels of GALNT9 methylation at the six-month follow-up. This study provides hypothesis-generating evidence that increased exercise behavior and or increased fitness might affect methylation of some genes associated with breast cancer to reduce risk.
ZNF768 Expression Associates with High Proliferative Clinicopathological Features in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Poirier Audrey , Gagné Andréanne , Laflamme Philippe , Marcoux Meagan , Orain Michèle , Plante Sophie , Joubert David , Joubert Philippe , Laplante Mathieu
Published: August 2021

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common type of lung cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite important recent advances, the prognosis for LUAD patients is still unfavourable, with a 5 year-survival rate close to 15%. Improving the characterization of lung tumors is important to develop alternative options for the diagnosis and the treatment of this disease. Zinc-finger protein 768 (ZNF768) is a transcription factor that was recently shown to promote proliferation and repress senescence downstream of growth factor signaling. Although ZNF768 protein levels were found to be elevated in LUAD compared to normal lung tissue, it is currently unknown whether ZNF768 expression associates with clinicopathological features in LUAD. Here, using tissue microarrays of clinical LUAD surgical specimens collected from 364 patients, we observed that high levels of ZNF768 is a common characteristic of LUAD. We show that ZNF768 protein levels correlate with high proliferative features in LUAD, including the mitotic score and Ki-67 expression. Supporting a role for ZNF768 in promoting proliferation, we report that ZNF768 depletion severely impairs proliferation in several lung cancer cell lines in vitro. A marked decrease in the expression of key proliferative genes was observed in cancer cell lines depleted from ZNF768. Altogether, our findings support a role for ZNF768 in promoting proliferation of LUAD.
The Mutational Landscape of Myeloid Leukaemia in Down Syndrome
Authors: de Castro Carini Picardi Morais , Cadefau Maria , Cuartero Sergi
Published: August 2021

Children with Down syndrome (DS) are particularly prone to haematopoietic disorders. Paediatric myeloid malignancies in DS occur at an unusually high frequency and generally follow a well-defined stepwise clinical evolution. First, the acquisition of mutations in the GATA1 transcription factor gives rise to a transient myeloproliferative disorder (TMD) in DS newborns. While this condition spontaneously resolves in most cases, some clones can acquire additional mutations, which trigger myeloid leukaemia of Down syndrome (ML-DS). These secondary mutations are predominantly found in chromatin and epigenetic regulators—such as cohesin, CTCF or EZH2—and in signalling mediators of the JAK/STAT and RAS pathways. Most of them are also found in non-DS myeloid malignancies, albeit at extremely different frequencies. Intriguingly, mutations in proteins involved in the three-dimensional organization of the genome are found in nearly 50% of cases. How the resulting mutant proteins cooperate with trisomy 21 and mutant GATA1 to promote ML-DS is not fully understood. In this review, we summarize and discuss current knowledge about the sequential acquisition of genomic alterations in ML-DS.
PD-L1 Overexpression, SWI/SNF Complex Deregulation, and Profound Transcriptomic Changes Characterize Cancer-Dependent Exhaustion of Persistently Activated CD4+ T Cells
Authors: Jancewicz Iga , Szarkowska Joanna , Konopinski Ryszard , Stachowiak Malgorzata , Swiatek Monika , Blachnio Katarzyna , Kubala Szymon , Oksinska Paulina , Cwiek Pawel , Rusetska Natalia , Tupalska Agnieszka , Zeber-Lubecka Natalia , Grabowska Ewa , Swiderska Bianka , Malinowska Agata , Mikula Michal , Jagielska Beata , Walewski Jan , Siedlecki Janusz A. , Sarnowski Tomasz J. , Markowicz Sergiusz , Sarnowska Elzbieta A.
Published: August 2021

Growing tumors avoid recognition and destruction by the immune system. During continuous stimulation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) by tumors, TILs become functionally exhausted; thus, they become unable to kill tumor cells and to produce certain cytokines and lose their ability to proliferate. This collectively results in the immune escape of cancer cells. Here, we show that breast cancer cells expressing PD-L1 can accelerate exhaustion of persistently activated human effector CD4+ T cells, manifesting in high PD-1 and PD-L1 expression level son T cell surfaces, decreased glucose metabolism genes, strong downregulation of SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex subunits, and p21 cell cycle inhibitor upregulation. This results in inhibition of T cell proliferation and reduction of T cell numbers. The RNAseq analysis on exhausted CD4+ T cells indicated strong overexpression of IDO1 and genes encoding pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Some interleukins were also detected in media from CD4+ T cells co-cultured with cancer cells. The PD-L1 overexpression was also observed in CD4+ T cells after co-cultivation with other cell lines overexpressing PD-L1, which suggested the existence of a general mechanism of CD4+ T cell exhaustion induced by cancer cells. The ChIP analysis on the PD-L1 promoter region indicated that the BRM recruitment in control CD4+ T cells was replaced by BRG1 and EZH2 in CD4+ T cells strongly exhausted by cancer cells. These findings suggest that epi-drugs such as EZH2 inhibitors may be used as immunomodulators in cancer treatment.
The Neuroprotective Effect of L-Carnitine against Glyceraldehyde-Induced Metabolic Impairment: Possible Implications in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Magi Simona , Preziuso Alessandra , Piccirillo Silvia , Giampieri Francesca , Cianciosi Danila , Orciani Monia , Amoroso Salvatore
Published: August 2021

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive regression and memory loss. Dysfunctions of both glucose metabolism and mitochondrial dynamics have been recognized as the main upstream events of the degenerative processes leading to AD. It has been recently found that correcting cell metabolism by providing alternative substrates can prevent neuronal injury by retaining mitochondrial function and reducing AD marker levels. Here, we induced an AD-like phenotype by using the glycolysis inhibitor glyceraldehyde (GA) and explored whether L-carnitine (4-N-trimethylamino-3-hydroxybutyric acid, LC) could mitigate neuronal damage, both in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and in rat primary cortical neurons. We have already reported that GA significantly modified AD marker levels; here we demonstrated that GA dramatically compromised cellular bioenergetic status, as revealed by glycolysis and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) evaluation. We found that LC ameliorated cell survival, improved OCR and ATP synthesis, prevented the loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) and reduced the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Of note, the beneficial effect of LC did not rely on the glycolytic pathway rescue. Finally, we noticed that LC significantly reduced the increase in pTau levels induced by GA. Overall, these findings suggest that the use of LC can promote cell survival in the setting of the metabolic impairments commonly observed in AD. Our data suggest that LC may act by maintaining mitochondrial function and by reducing the pTau level.
Dynamic Diversity of NLR Genes in Triticum and Mining of Promising NLR Alleles for Disease Resistance
Authors: Li Xiaolong , Cheng Shifeng
Published: August 2021

Bread wheat is an essential crop with the second-highest global production after maize. Currently, wheat diseases are a serious threat to wheat production. Therefore, efficient breeding for disease resistance is extremely urgent in modern wheat. Here, we identified 2012 NLR genes from hexaploid wheat, and Ks values of paired syntenic NLRs showed a significant peak at 3.1–6.3 MYA, which exactly coincided with the first hybridization event between A and B genome lineages at ~5.5 MYA. We provided a landscape of dynamic diversity of NLRs from Triticum and Aegilops and found that NLR genes have higher diversity in wild progenitors and relatives. Further, most NLRs had opposite diversity patterns between genic and 2 Kb-promoter regions, which might respectively link sub/neofunctionalization and loss of duplicated NLR genes. Additionally, we identified an alien introgression of chromosome 4A in tetraploid emmer wheat, which was similar to that in hexaploid wheat. Transcriptome data from four experiments of wheat disease resistance helped to profile the expression pattern of NLR genes and identified promising NLRs involved in broad-spectrum disease resistance. Our study provided insights into the diversity evolution of NLR genes and identified beneficial NLRs to deploy into modern wheat in future wheat disease-resistance breeding.
Amine-Rich Coatings to Potentially Promote Cell Adhesion, Proliferation and Differentiation, and Reduce Microbial Colonization: Strategies for Generation and Characterization
Authors: Martocq Laurine , Douglas Timothy E. L.
Published: August 2021

Biomaterial surface modification represents an important approach to obtain a better integration of the material in surrounding tissues. Different techniques are focused on improving cell support as well as avoiding efficiently the development of infections, such as by modifying the biomaterial surface with amine groups (–NH2). Previous studies showed that –NH2 groups could promote cell adhesion and proliferation. Moreover, these chemical functionalities may be used to facilitate the attachment of molecules such as proteins or to endow antimicrobial properties. This mini-review gives an overview of different techniques which have been used to obtain amine-rich coatings such as plasma methods and adsorption of biomolecules. In fact, different plasma treatment methods are commonly used with ammonia gas or by polymerization of precursors such as allylamine, as well as coatings of proteins (for example, collagen) or polymers containing –NH2 groups (for example, polyethyleneimine). Moreover, this mini-review will present the methods used to characterize such coatings and, in particular, quantify the –NH2 groups present on the surface by using dyes or chemical derivatization methods.
Electrochemical Corrosion Behavior of Pure Mg Processed by Powder Metallurgy
Authors: Minda Jozef , Fintová Stanislava , Hadzima Branislav , Doležal Pavel , Hasoňová Michaela , Doskočil Leoš , Wasserbauer Jaromír
Published: August 2021

Pure Mg samples were prepared by powder metallurgy using the cold and hot compacting methods. Cold compacted pure Mg (500 MPa/RT) was characterized by 5% porosity and the mechanical bonding of powder particles. Hot compacted samples (100 MPa/400 °C and 500 MPa/400 °C) exhibited porosity below 0.5%, and diffusion bonding combined with mechanical bonding played a role in material compaction. The prepared pure Mg samples and wrought pure Mg were subjected to corrosion tests using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Similar material corrosion behavior was observed for the samples compacted at 500 MPa/RT and 100 MPa/400 °C; however, hot compacted samples processed at 500 MPa/400 °C exhibited longer corrosion resistance in 0.9% NaCl solution. The difference in corrosion behavior was mainly related to the different binding mechanisms of the powder particles. Cold compacted samples were characterized by a more pronounced corrosion attack and the creation of a porous layer of corrosion products. Hot compacted samples prepared at 500 MPa/400 °C were characterized by uniform corrosion and the absence of a layer of corrosion products on the specimen surface. Powder-based cold compacted samples exhibited lower corrosion resistance compared to the wrought pure Mg, while the corrosion behavior of the hot compacted samples prepared at 500 MPa/400 °C was similar to that of wrought material.
Structural Changes of Hydroxylapatite during Plasma Spraying: Raman and NMR Spectroscopy Results
Authors: Heimann Robert B.
Published: August 2021

Functional osseoconductive coatings based on hydroxylapatite (HAp) and applied preferentially by atmospheric plasma spraying to medical implant surfaces are a mainstay of modern implantology. During contact with the hot plasma jet, HAp particles melt incongruently and undergo complex dehydration and decomposition reactions that alter their phase composition and crystallographic symmetry, and thus, the physical and biological properties of the coatings. Surface analytical methods such as laser-Raman and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies are useful tools to assess the structural changes of HAp imposed by heat treatment during their flight along the hot plasma jet. In this contribution, the controversial information is highlighted on the existence or non-existence of oxyapatite, i.e., fully dehydrated HAp as a thermodynamically stable compound.
Features and Functionality of the Optical Interference Meter for Measurement of Surface Displacements of Control Objects
Authors: Miroshnichenko Igor P. , Parinov Ivan A. , Chang Shun-Hsyung , Lin Chin-Feng
Published: August 2021

This article presents in detail the methodology and results of test studies of the functionality of a prospective optical setup for measuring the surface linear displacements of control objects, developed on the basis of a new interference measurement method, namely the “luminous point” method. The dependencies of the changes in intensity of the optical field of interference patterns are obtained, characterizing the features of the functional capabilities of the setup. It is experimentally confirmed that with significant changes in the angle of incidence of radiation on the surface of the control object, the sensitivity of the investigated setup does not change. The noted research results are most appropriate for use in the development of new contactless optical setups for measuring the displacements of the surfaces of control objects, and for use in various experimental works in the processes of the creation and production of machines and equipment, as well as in the diagnosis of the state of structural materials and power elements of machines and equipment during operation.
The Use of Nanocellulose in Edible Coatings for the Preservation of Perishable Fruits and Vegetables
Authors: Pirozzi Annachiara , Ferrari Giovanna , Donsì Francesco
Published: August 2021

The usage of edible coatings (ECs) represents an emerging approach for extending the shelf life of highly perishable foods, such as fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. This review addresses, in particular, the use of reinforcing agents in film-forming solutions to tailor the physicochemical, mechanical and antimicrobial properties of composite coatings. In this scenario, this review summarizes the available data on the various forms of nanocellulose (NC) typically used in ECs, focusing on the impact of their origin and chemical or physical treatments on their structural properties (morphology and shape, dimension and crystallinity) and their functionality. Moreover, this review also describes the deposition techniques of composite ECs, with details on the food engineering principles in the application methods and formulation optimization. The critical analysis of the recent advances in NC-based ECs contributes to a better understanding of the impact of the incorporation of complex nanoparticles in polymeric matrices on the enhancement of coating properties, as well as on the increase of shelf life and the quality of fruits and vegetables.
When Italians Follow the Rules against COVID Infection: A Psychological Profile for Compliance
Authors: Duradoni Mirko , Fiorenza Maria , Guazzini Andrea
Published: August 2021

The 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has drastically changed people’s lifestyles and forced them to adopt new behaviors. To assess Italians’ reported compliance to the behavioral provisions issued by the Italian Ministry of Health against the COVID-19 pandemic and identify the socio-demographic and psychological profile of a person who is more likely to comply with them, we conducted a quantitative study with 1556 participants. Notably, in Italy, after a month of lockdown, the reported compliance with anti-COVID prescriptions was high overall. Moreover, personality traits, risk perception, well-being levels, and emotional activations appeared to play a role in promoting or hindering people’s reported compliance. These findings emphasize the importance of being aware of the reported compliance’s antecedents for defining advanced pro-compliance policies and messages and thus better manage each stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy and, plausibly, in other countries.
High Pressure Behavior of Mascagnite from Single Crystal Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction Data
Authors: Comodi Paola , Fastelli Maximiliano , Criniti Giacomo , Glazyrin Konstantin , Zucchini Azzurra
Published: August 2021

High-pressure synchrotron X-ray diffraction was carried out on a single crystal of mascagnite, compressed in a diamond anvil cell. The sample maintained its crystal structure up to ~18 GPa. The volume–pressure data were fitted by a third-order Birch–Murnaghan equation of state (BM3-EOS) yielding K0 = 20.4(7) GPa, K’0 = 6.1(2), and V0 = 499(1) Å3, as suggested by the F-f plot. The axial compressibilities, calculated with BM3-EOS, were K0a = 35(3), K’0a = 7.7(7), K0b = 10(3), K’0b = 7(1), K0c = 25(1), and K’0c = 4.3(2) The axial moduli measured using a BM2-EOS and fixing K’0 equal to 4, were K0a = 52(2), K0b = 20 (1), and K0c = 29.6(4) GPa, and the anisotropic ratio of K0a:K0b:K0c = 1:0.4:0.5. The evolution of crystal lattice and geometrical parameters indicated no phase transition until 17.6 GPa. Sulphate polyhedra were incompressible and the density increase of 30% compared to investigated pressure should be attributed to the reduction of weaker hydrogen bonds. In contrast, some of them, directed along [100], were very short at room temperature, below 2 Å, and showed a very low compressibility. This configuration explains the anisotropic compressional behavior and the lowest compressibility of the a axis.
Traumatic Intralenticular Neovascularization in a HLA B27+ Pediatric Patient
Authors: Tătaru Călin Petru , Tătaru Cătălina Ioana , Dudău Maria , Moșu Alexandra , Luca Lăcrămioara , Maria Bosa , Bancu Alice , Curcă Paul Filip
Published: August 2021

(1) Background: Intralenticular tumors are an entity akin to Schrodinger’s cat since, although the human crystalline cells themselves are not known to malignly proliferate, various entities can take the appearance and clinical presentation of a tumor originating in the lens. We present the peculiar case of an 11-year-old male patient of African descent, HLA B27+, with a previous history of minor ocular trauma and unilateral anterior uveitis a year before which was admitted to our department with total opacification of the crystalline lens in the right eye and lens neovascularization. During surgery, a vascular, white fibrotic mass measuring 0.1–0.2 cm was discovered inside the lens bag and was excised. (2) Methods: Retrospective case review. (3) Results: The histopathological exam of the excised mass revealed an abundant infiltrate consisting of CD68+ foamy macrophages and lymphoplasmacytic elements. CD68 is a pan-macrophage marker associated with an active inflammatory mechanism soliciting macrophages, and tissue activated macrophages are correlated to increased stromal and serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor, providing an explanation for lens angiogenesis. (4) Conclusions: The diagnosis is of a “masquerade tumor” resulted from an abnormal inflammatory process in connection with previous ocular trauma and possibly the patient’s HLA B27+ status.
Quantitative SARS-CoV-2 Spike Antibody Response in COVID-19 Patients Using Three Fully Automated Immunoassays and a Surrogate Virus Neutralization Test
Authors: Kim Yoonjoo , Lee Ji Hyun , Ko Geon Young , Ryu Ji Hyeong , Jang Joo Hee , Bae Hyunjoo , Yoo Seung-Hyo , Choi Ae-Ran , Jung Jin , Lee Jongmin , Oh Eun-Jee
Published: August 2021

Quantitative SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays against the spike (S) protein are useful for monitoring immune response after infection or vaccination. We compared the results of three chemiluminescent immunoassays (CLIAs) (Abbott, Roche, Siemens) and a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT, GenScript) using 191 sequential samples from 32 COVID-19 patients. All assays detected >90% of samples collected 14 days after symptom onset (Abbott 97.4%, Roche 96.2%, Siemens 92.3%, and GenScript 96.2%), and overall agreement among the four assays was 91.1% to 96.3%. When we assessed time-course antibody levels, the Abbott and Siemens assays showed higher levels in patients with severe disease (p < 0.05). Antibody levels from the three CLIAs were correlated (r = 0.763–0.885). However, Passing–Bablok regression analysis showed significant proportional differences between assays and converting results to binding antibody units (BAU)/mL still showed substantial bias. CLIAs had good performance in predicting sVNT positivity (Area Under the Curve (AUC), 0.959–0.987), with Abbott having the highest AUC value (p < 0.05). SARS-CoV-2 S protein antibody levels as assessed by the CLIAs were not interchangeable, but showed reliable performance for predicting sVNT results. Further standardization and harmonization of immunoassays might be helpful in monitoring immune status after COVID-19 infection or vaccination.
Drone RGB Images as a Reliable Information Source to Determine Legumes Establishment Success
Authors: Parra Lorena , Mostaza-Colado David , Yousfi Salima , Marin Jose F. , Mauri Pedro V. , Lloret Jaime
Published: August 2021

The use of drones in agriculture is becoming a valuable tool for crop monitoring. There are some critical moments for crop success; the establishment is one of those. In this paper, we present an initial approximation of a methodology that uses RGB images gathered from drones to evaluate the establishment success in legumes based on matrixes operations. Our aim is to provide a method that can be implemented in low-cost nodes with relatively low computational capacity. An index (B1/B2) is used for estimating the percentage of green biomass to evaluate the establishment success. In the study, we include three zones with different establishment success (high, regular, and low) and two species (chickpea and lentils). We evaluate data usability after applying aggregation techniques, which reduces the picture’s size to improve long-term storage. We test cell sizes from 1 to 10 pixels. This technique is tested with images gathered in production fields with intercropping at 4, 8, and 12 m relative height to find the optimal aggregation for each flying height. Our results indicate that images captured at 4 m with a cell size of 5, at 8 m with a cell size of 3, and 12 m without aggregation can be used to determine the establishment success. Comparing the storage requirements, the combination that minimises the data size while maintaining its usability is the image at 8 m with a cell size of 3. Finally, we show the use of generated information with an artificial neural network to classify the data. The dataset was split into a training dataset and a verification dataset. The classification of the verification dataset offered 83% of the cases as well classified. The proposed tool can be used in the future to compare the establishment success of different legume varieties or species.
Towards a Global Energy-Sustainable Economy Nexus; Summing up Evidence from Recent Empirical Work
Authors: Menegaki Angeliki N.
Published: August 2021

The recent trend in New Economics is the establishment of measures of sustainable wealth and welfare which take into account all the parameters of economic, environmental, and social life and progress, juxtaposed to the conventional and myopic GDP. This review summarizes results from a series of recent papers in the energy-growth nexus field, which have perused a proxy for the sustainable GDP instead of the conventional GDP and discusses the difference in results and policy implications. The energy-growth nexus field itself has generated a bulk of work since the seminal study of Kraft and Kraft (1978), but still the field needs new perspectives in order to generate results with a consensus. The bidirectional causality between energy consumption and sustainable economy provides evidence for the Feedback Hypothesis, a statement that essentially warns that it is too early for sustainability to be feasible without fossil energy consumption, and vice versa. The unidirectional causality reveals, on the one side, that an economy cannot grow without the plentiful consumption of energy (the Growth Hypothesis) and, on the other side, that the growth of the economy fuels energy consumption (the Conservation Hypothesis). Failure to corroborate causality between energy consumption and economic growth is evidence for the Neutrality Hypothesis.
Techno-Economic Performance Assessment of a Trigeneration System Operating in a Hospital
Authors: Papadimitriou Aikaterini , Tosios Anastasios , Giannini Eugenia
Published: August 2021

The techno-economic performance evaluation of a combined cooling heating and power (CCHP) system installed in a hospital building in Greece is presented. The aim was to verify performance standards and evaluate real behavior, while highlighting the economic gains. In this research, system performance was evaluated using actual and year-round field measurements. The data were used to calculate the recovered heat and the generated electric energy. Furthermore, the performance was modeled and compared to the manufacturer specifications. Financial assessment was conducted through energy cost analysis to verify the operating viability of the system, both for its heating and cooling functions. The results showed that, overall, after eight years of operation, the energy efficiency was still within design standards. Electrical efficiency was constantly above 30%, while thermal efficiency was around 40–45%. Total efficiency was usually above the 75% threshold, characterizing the system as fully CHP operating. The analysis also pointed out the economic effectiveness of the system in the Greek energy market. The results verified the potential of a CCHP system for improving the energy and economic performance of a building.
Enhancement of Wood Biological Resistance and Fire Retardant Properties after Laccase Assisted Enzymatic Grafting
Authors: Bolaño Cristian , Palanti Sabrina , Benni Luigi , Moldes Diego
Published: August 2021

Several treatments of wood, based on laccase assisted grafting, were evaluated in this paper. Firstly, the efficacy of lignosulfonate and kraft lignin from Eucalyptus spp. as a wood preservative was assessed. Both ligno products were anchored to wood surfaces via laccase treatment in order to avoid leaching. Moreover, some of these wood preservative treatments were completed with the addition of silver nanoparticles. For comparison, a commercial product was also analyzed in terms of its fungal decay resistance during surface application, in accordance to use class 3, CEN EN 335. Secondly, the anchoring of a flame retardant based on tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA) was attempted, to limit the dispersion of this toxic substance from treated wood. In both cases, kraft lignin and lignosulfonate showed an improvement in wood durability, even after leaching. However, the addition of silver nanoparticles did not improve the efficacy. On the other hand, the efficacy of TBBPA as a flame retardant was not improved by grafting it with laccase treatment or by adding O2, a co-factor of laccase.
Modelling of Ocean Waves with the Alber Equation: Application to Non-Parametric Spectra and Generalisation to Crossing Seas
Authors: Athanassoulis Agissilaos G. , Gramstad Odin
Published: August 2021

The Alber equation is a phase-averaged second-moment model used to study the statistics of a sea state, which has recently been attracting renewed attention. We extend it in two ways: firstly, we derive a generalized Alber system starting from a system of nonlinear Schrödinger equations, which contains the classical Alber equation as a special case but can also describe crossing seas, i.e., two wavesystems with different wavenumbers crossing. (These can be two completely independent wavenumbers, i.e., in general different directions and different moduli.) We also derive the associated two-dimensional scalar instability condition. This is the first time that a modulation instability condition applicable to crossing seas has been systematically derived for general spectra. Secondly, we use the classical Alber equation and its associated instability condition to quantify how close a given nonparametric spectrum is to being modulationally unstable. We apply this to a dataset of 100 nonparametric spectra provided by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and find that the vast majority of realistic spectra turn out to be stable, but three extreme sea states are found to be unstable (out of 20 sea states chosen for their severity). Moreover, we introduce a novel “proximity to instability” (PTI) metric, inspired by the stability analysis. This is seen to correlate strongly with the steepness and Benjamin–Feir Index (BFI) for the sea states in our dataset (>85% Spearman rank correlation). Furthermore, upon comparing with phase-resolved broadband Monte Carlo simulations, the kurtosis and probability of rogue waves for each sea state are also seen to correlate well with the PTI (>85% Spearman rank correlation).
Screening of Bioactive Properties in Brown Algae from the Northwest Iberian Peninsula
Authors: Silva Aurora , Rodrigues Carla , Garcia-Oliveira Paula , Lourenço-Lopes Catarina , Silva Sofia A. , Garcia-Perez Pascual , Carvalho Ana P. , Domingues Valentina F. , Barroso M. Fátima , Delerue-Matos Cristina , Simal-Gandara Jesus , Prieto Miguel A.
Published: August 2021

Algae are an underexploited source of natural bioactive compounds in Western countries, so an increasing interest in the valorization of these marine organisms has emerged in recent years. In this work, the effect of extracting solvent on the extraction yield, phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and antimicrobial activity of nine brown macroalgae species (Ascophyllum nodosum, Himanthalia elongata, Undaria pinnatifida, Pelvetia canaliculata, Saccharina latissima, Bifurcaria bifurcata, Laminaria ochroleuca, Sargassum muticum, and Fucus spiralis) was assessed. Total phenolic content (TPC) and the antioxidant properties of extracts by different assays: radical scavenging activity (DPPH-RSA) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were performed. The antimicrobial activity of extracts was studied against six different foodborne microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The highest extraction yield was achieved in ethanolic extracts. However, the highest TPC and FRAP values were obtained on the ethyl acetate extracts, especially from A. nodosum. Concerning algal species, the highest TPC and FRAP values were found in A. nodosum, while the highest DPPH-RSA values were achieved in the hexane extracts of B. bifurcata. The antimicrobial activity of algal extracts varied according to the solvent and alga selected, suggesting the species- and solvent-dependent behavior of this property, with B. bifurcata extracts showing the highest results for a wide range of bacteria. Our results provide insight on the characterization of widespread brown algae in the coasts of the North-Western region of the Iberian Peninsula, reflecting multiple health-enhancing properties which may lead to their exploitation in food, pharmacological, and cosmetic industries.