bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Formation of Interstellar Silicate Dust via Nanocluster Aggregation: Insights From Quantum Chemistry Simulations
Authors: Rimola Albert , Bromley Stefan T.
Published: April 2021

The issue of formation of dust grains in the interstellar medium is still a matter of debate. One of the most developed proposals suggests that atomic and heteromolecular seeds bind together to initiate a nucleation process leading to the formation of nanostructures resembling very small grain components. In the case of silicates, nucleated systems can result in molecular nanoclusters with diameters ≤ 2 nm. A reasonable path to further increase the size of these proto-silicate nanoclusters is by mutual aggregation. The present work deals with modeling this proto-silicate nanocluster aggregation process by means of quantum chemical density functional theory calculations. We simulate nanocluster aggregation by progressively reducing the size of a periodic array of initially well-separated nanoclusters. The resulting aggregation leads to a set of silicate bulk structures with gradually increasing density which we analyze with respect to structure, energetics and spectroscopic properties. Our results indicate that aggregation is a highly energetically favorable process, in which the infrared spectra of the finally formed amorphous silicates match well with astronomical observations.
Flow Cytometry in the Diagnosis of Canine T-Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Comazzi Stefano , Riondato Fulvio
Published: April 2021

T cell lymphoma (TCL) is a heterogenous group of lymphoid malignancies representing about 30–40% of all canine lymphomas and often harboring a very aggressive behavior. WHO classification identifies the majority of TCLs as peripheral TCL, but other subtypes with peculiar presentation and outcome have been recognized. This review aims to explore the use of flow cytometry for refining the diagnosis of canine TCL, putting a particular emphasis on the identification of some peculiar immunotypes, such as T zone lymphoma; on the investigation of putative prognostic markers; and on the evaluation of lymphoma stage and of the minimal residual disease.
Prevalence and Correlates of Mental Health Outcomes During the SARS-Cov-2 Epidemic in Mexico City and Their Association With Non-adherence to Stay-At-Home Directives, June 2020
Authors: Flores-Torres Mario H. , Murchland Audrey R. , Espinosa-Tamez Priscilla , Jaen Jocelyn , Brochier Marion , Bautista-Arredondo Sergio , Lamadrid-Figueroa Héctor , Lajous Martin , Koenen Karestan
Published: April 2021

Objectives:To describe the prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and perceived negative mental health impact during the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic in Mexico City and evaluate their association with adherence to stay-at-home directives.

Methods:Baseline data from a cohort study of 2,016 Mexico City government employees were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression models.

Results:Among participants, 17.2% had clinically significant depressive symptoms, 21.6% had probable GAD, and 15.2% reported that the pandemic has had a major impact on their mental health. Factors including the presence of COVID-19 symptoms, self-isolation, and economic difficulties were associated with poor mental health. The presence of depressive symptoms and general anxiety were associated with non-adherence to public health directives, particularly among those who might have experienced these symptoms for the first time during the pandemic.

Conclusion:Our study is one of the first to document the population mental health burden during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Mexico and to provide evidence of the potential role of mental health in the adherence to public health measures.
Difference-Based Mutation Operation for Neuroevolution of Augmented Topologies
Authors: Stanovov Vladimir , Akhmedova Shakhnaz , Semenkin Eugene
Published: April 2021

In this paper, a novel search operation is proposed for the neuroevolution of augmented topologies, namely the difference-based mutation. This operator uses the differences between individuals in the population to perform more efficient search for optimal weights and structure of the model. The difference is determined according to the innovation numbers assigned to each node and connection, allowing tracking the changes. The implemented neuroevolution algorithm allows backward connections and loops in the topology, and uses a set of mutation operators, including connections merging and deletion. The algorithm is tested on a set of classification problems and the rotary inverted pendulum control problem. The comparison is performed between the basic approach and modified versions. The sensitivity to parameter values is examined. The experimental results prove that the newly developed operator delivers significant improvements to the classification quality in several cases, and allow finding better control algorithms.
Examining Researchers’ Attitudes, Barriers, and Opportunities for Participatory Research: The Case of the Riso-Biosystems Project on Organic Rice
Authors: Pagliarino Elena , Rolfo Secondo
Published: April 2021

This paper reports on the conception and implementation of a participatory approach within an agricultural research project aimed at fostering the transition towards organic in the Italian rice district. We investigate the relationships among scientists and stakeholders, exploring researchers’ attitudes, barriers, and potential in relation to participatory research. We use participant observation, in-depth interviews, and systematic cataloguing of communication documents, from the beginning to two years into project implementation, for a total period of three years. The results of the analysis show that, despite a high level of authoritative commitment to participation, scientists reveal a scarcity of knowledge and skills, and poor attitudes that come from a negative perception of participatory research. They engage in various forms of collaboration with stakeholders, as long as decision-making remains essentially in their hands. With the deep analysis of a case study, the paper contributes to the ongoing discussion on the quality of participatory agricultural research, in particular, presenting evidence on the key role of researchers and their attitudes. The paper also contributes to the development of a culture of learning by doing, through honest monitoring and evaluation, and the capacity to learn from failure.
Chemical Removal of Cu and Zn from Swine Feces before Soil Application
Authors: Shim Moo-Joon , Lee Seung-Mok
Published: April 2021

Cu and Zn are known to be abundant in swine feces; hence, concentrations of these metals need to be lowered before swine feces are applied to land in order to prevent potential environmental problems. The main objective of this study was to develop an appropriate chemical process to remove Cu and Zn from swine feces using acid extractions. The removal efficiencies of Cu and Zn decreased in the order of H2SO4 > HNO3 > organic acids (citric and oxalic acids). Owing to the highest removal efficiencies of Cu and Zn by using H2SO4, it was selected for further elimination of Cu and Zn from swine feces. By using H2SO4, the optimal concentration, solid-to-liquid ratio, and reaction time were 2%, 1:50, and 8 h, respectively. At the optimum conditions, Cu concentration was decreased from 198 mg/kg to 40.1 mg/kg and Zn concentration from 474 mg/kg to 80.0 mg/kg, with removal rates of 79.7% and 83.1%, respectively. The low Cu removal efficiency, resulting from the strong complexation between Cu and organic matter of swine feces, was improved by the increase in the reaction time and H2SO4 solution concentrations. However, about half of the total nitrogen (TN) was also removed by using H2SO4, indicating that the swine feces treated with H2SO4 may have poor value as fertilizer. Additional studies are required to find an optimal method to maintain TN concentrations while simultaneously removing Cu and Zn.
Design, DEM Simulation, and Field Experiments of a Novel Precision Seeder for Dry Direct-Seeded Rice with Film Mulching
Authors: Li Hui , Zeng Shan , Luo Xiwen , Fang Longyu , Liang Zhanhao , Yang Wenwu
Published: April 2021

Existing devices for dry direct-seeded rice with film mulching in northern China have limitations such as imprecise sowing, unadjustable sowing depth, and seeding device blocking. In this regard, this study proposes a combined seeding method of ‘mini shovel + telescopic pipe’ for dry direct-seeded rice with film mulching. A precision seeder for dry direct-seeded rice with film mulching was developed through theoretical calculations, discrete element modelling (DEM) simulations, and field experiments. The configuration and diameter of the rollers were obtained. Twelve telescopic pipes were evenly distributed on the circumference of the roller, with a contact ratio exceeding one. This ratio reduced the slip rate of the roller effectively. Subsequently, DEM was used to develop a 33 central composite design. The response surface was established with the sowing depth as the response value. According to agronomic requirements, the sowing depth was set to 20 mm. The optimal combination of working parameters was obtained by optimizing the regression equation. The field experiments showed that the performance of the precision seeder for dry direct-seeded rice with film mulching satisfied the requirements of agricultural production, working stably and reliably. The developed device represents a useful solution for dry direct-seeded rice with film mulching.
Polysaccharides as Edible Films and Coatings: Characteristics and Influence on Fruit and Vegetable Quality—A Review
Authors: Kocira Anna , Kozłowicz Katarzyna , Panasiewicz Katarzyna , Staniak Mariola , Szpunar-Krok Ewa , Hortyńska Paulina
Published: April 2021

There has been a significant increase in the development of edible films and coatings in recent times, and this is expected to have a significant impact on the quality of fruit and vegetables in the coming years. Consumers expect fresh fruit and vegetables free from pesticide residues, with high quality, nutritional value and an extended shelf life. The application of coatings and edible films to fruits and vegetables represents an environmentally friendly approach to an innovative solution to this problem. Coatings and edible films can act as ecological and biodegradable packaging. The coating strategy involves a combination of natural biopolymers and appropriate preservation methods. The article presents the applicability, trends and perspectives of polysaccharide coatings and edible films and their impact on the quality of fruit and vegetables, providing an understanding of their main functions and benefits. Numerous studies show that natural polysaccharides are well suited for use as packaging material for fresh fruit and vegetables and can often be an important alternative to synthetic compounds. Natural polymer materials are a good barrier to oxygen and carbon dioxide; however, they are characterised by excessive solubility in the water environment, water vapour permeability and low extensibility. The properties of edible coatings can be modified by the addition of plasticisers, surfactants, cross-linkers, antimicrobial agents, functional additives, nanosilver particles or fruit and vegetable residues. The use of an electric field is also a promising technology here. The use of polysaccharides for the preparation of edible films and coatings is justified not only by the possibility of reducing the consumption of packaging made of synthetic polymer materials but also by the fact that the production of some natural polymers can be made using waste products generated during the processing of food raw materials.
Schizochytrium sp. (T18) Oil as a Fish Oil Replacement in Diets for Juvenile Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): Effects on Growth Performance, Tissue Fatty Acid Content, and Lipid-Related Transcript Expression
Authors: Osmond Angelisa T. Y. , Arts Michael T. , Hall Jennifer R. , Rise Matthew L. , Bazinet Richard P. , Armenta Roberto E. , Colombo Stefanie M.
Published: April 2021

In this study, we evaluated whether oil extracted from the marine microbe, Schizochytrium sp. (strain T18), with high levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), could replace fish oil (FO) in diets for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Three experimental diets were tested: (1) a control diet with fish oil (FO diet), (2) a microbial oil (MO) diet with a blend of camelina oil (CO) referred to as MO/CO diet, and (3) a MO diet (at a higher inclusion level). Rainbow trout (18.8 ± 2.9 g fish−1 initial weight ± SD) were fed for 8 weeks and evaluated for growth performance, fatty acid content and transcript expression of lipid-related genes in liver and muscle. There were no differences in growth performance measurements among treatments. In liver and muscle, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) was highest in trout fed the FO diet compared to the MO/CO and MO diets. Liver DHA was highest in trout fed the MO/CO diet compared to the FO and MO diets. Muscle DHA was highest in trout fed the MO and MO/CO diets compared to the FO diet. In trout fed the MO/CO diet, compared to the MO diet, fadsd6b was higher in both liver and muscle. In trout fed the FO or MO/CO diets, compared to the MO diet, cox1a was higher in both liver and muscle, cpt1b1a was higher in liver and cpt1a1a, cpt1a1b and cpt1a2a were higher in muscle. Schizochytrium sp. (T18) oil was an effective source of DHA for rainbow trout.
Albedo and Thermal Ecology of White, Red, and Black Cows (Bos taurus) in a Cold Rangeland Environment
Authors: Scasta John Derek
Published: April 2021

Cattle in high-elevation rangelands experience cold and hot extremes. Given the increase in black hided cattle globally, thermoregulation options on rangelands, and hide color function affecting mammal thermal ecology, this study quantified winter albedo, external cattle temperatures (Tempcow), and differences (ΔT) between Tempcow and ambient air temperature (Tempamb), for different color cattle along a thermal gradient (≈−33 °C to +33 °C). From 2016 to 2018, I measured 638 individual Tempcow × Tempamb combinations for white (n = 183), red (n = 158), and black (n = 297) Bos taurus female cattle free roaming extensive Wyoming, USA rangelands. Pixel brightness of cow images relative to snow indicated mean (±standard error) albedo for white, red, and black cows (n = 3 of each) was 0.69 (±0.15), 0.16 (±0.04), and 0.04 (±0.01), respectively (p = 0.0027). Tempcow was explained by Tempamb (+), clear sky insolation index (+), and cow albedo (−). However, ΔT was explained by Tempamb (−), long-wave radiation (infrared; RadLW (−)), Tempcow (+), and cow albedo (+). Tempamb relative to ΔT was correlated for all hide colors (all p-values < 0.0001; all r2 values > 0.7)), yet slopes (m) were ~2× greater for red and black cows than white cows.
Application of the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram to Elite Dressage Horses Competing in World Cup Grand Prix Competitions
Authors: Dyson Sue , Pollard Danica
Published: April 2021

There is considerable debate about the social license to compete with horses and controversy about training methods for dressage horses. The objectives were to: 1. apply the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE) to dressage horses competing at elite Grand Prix level; 2. compare RHpE and judges’ scores; and 3. document deviations in gaits from Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) guidelines. Video recordings of 147 competitors from nine World Cup competitions were assessed. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient tested the correlation between RHpE and judges’ scores. The median RHpE score was 3 (IQR 1, 4; range 0, 7). There was a moderate negative correlation (Spearman rho −0.40, p < 0.001) between the RHpE scores and the judges’ scores. Mouth open with separation of the teeth for ≥10 s (68%), head behind vertical ≥10° ≥10 s (67%), an intense stare for ≥5 s (30%) and repeated tail swishing (29%) were the most frequent RHpE behaviours. Deviations from FEI guidelines were most frequent in passage, piaffe, canter flying-changes, canter pirouettes and “halt-immobility-rein back five steps-collected trot”. In conclusion, most horses appeared to work comfortably for the majority of the test. Further investigation of the influence of a double bridle compared with a snaffle bridle on head position and mouth opening is merited.
Immune Cells and Immunoglobulin Expression in the Mammary Gland Tumors of Dog
Authors: Sfacteria Alessandra , Napoli Ettore , Rifici Claudia , Commisso Daria , Giambrone Giada , Mazzullo Giuseppe , Marino Gabriele
Published: April 2021

Inflammatory cells have a role in tumor progression and have prognostic and therapeutic potential. The immunohistochemical expression for Mast Cell Tryptase, Macrophage Marker, CD79a, IgA, IgM and IgG on 43 cases of canine mammary gland lesions was analyzed. In hyperplasia, a few B cells (BCs) and Tumor-Associated Macrophages (TAMs) were observed, while the number of Tumor-Associated Mast Cells (TAMCs) was the highest. In the peritumoral stroma of malignant lesions, low number of TAMCs and a high number of TAMAs and BCs were present. Immune cells of each type were always lower in the intratumoral than peritumoral stroma. Positivity to CD79a was also detected in the epithelial cells of simple and micropapillay carcinomas. Immunoglobulin reactivity was mainly located in the epithelial cells where an intense positivity to IgA and IgG and a weak positivity for IgM were detectable. On the basis of our preliminary results and literature data, we suggest that such cells and molecules could be directly involved in the biology of canine mammary gland tumors. In breast cancer, stromal inflammatory cells and cancer derived immunoglobulins have been correlated with the progression, malignancy and poor prognosis of the tumor. The results herein reported show that the dog’s mammary gland epithelium also expresses immunoglobulins, and they mostly show a direct relationship with the infiltration of macrophages. In addition, this study shows that the infiltration of mast cells, B-cells and macrophages varies depending on the degree of malignancy of neoplasia.
Integration of Metabolomics and Transcriptomicsto Comprehensively Evaluate the Metabolic Effects of Gelsemium elegans on Pigs
Authors: Huang Chong-Yin , Yang Kun , Cao Jun-Jie , Wang Zi-Yuan , Wu Yong , Sun Zhi-Liang , Liu Zhao-Ying
Published: April 2021

Some naturalphytogenic feed additives, which contain several active compounds, have been shown to be effective alternatives to traditional antibiotics. Gelsemium elegans (G. elegans) is a whole grass in the family Loganiaceae. It is a known toxic plant widely distributed in China and has been used as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine for many years to treat neuropathic pain, rheumatoid pain, inflammation, skin ulcers, and cancer. However, G. elegans not only is nontoxic to animals such as pigs and sheep but also has an obvious growth-promoting effect. To our knowledge, the internal mechanism of the influence of G. elegans on the animal body is still unclear. The goal of this work is to evaluate the metabolic consequences of feeding piglets G. elegans for 45 days based on the combination of transcriptomics and metabolomics. According to growth measurement and evaluation, compared with piglets fed a complete diet, adding 20 g/kg G. elegans powder to the basal diet of piglets significantly reduced the feed conversion ratio. Results of the liver transcriptome suggest that glycine and cysteine-related regulatory pathways, including the MAPK signaling pathway and the mTOR signaling pathway, were extensively altered in G. elegans-induced piglets. Plasma metabolomics identified 21 and 18 differential metabolites (p < 0.05) in the plasma of piglets in the positive and negative ion modes, respectively, between G. elegans exposure and complete diet groups. The concentrations of glycine and its derivatives and N-acetylcysteine were higher in the G. elegans exposure group than in the complete diet group.This study demonstrated that G. elegans could be an alternative to antibiotics that improves the immune function of piglets, and the latent mechanism of G. elegans may be related to various signaling pathways, including the MAPK signaling pathway and the PPAR signaling pathway.
Non-Invasive Measurement of Thyroid Hormones in Domestic Rabbits
Authors: Chmurska-Gąsowska Maria , Sowińska Natalia , Pałka Sylwia , Kmiecik Michał , Lenarczyk-Knapik Joanna , Migdał Łukasz
Published: April 2021

Thyroid hormones are essential for metabolism, energy homeostasis and reproduction. Hormones can be measured in various biological source materials: blood, feces, urine, saliva and others. The aim of our study was to verify usefulness of thyroid hormone analysis in the urine and feces of the domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus f. domesticus), comparing them with the serum analyses. Samples were collected from 27 does in the age of 12–14 weeks. Total thyroxine (tT4), total triiodothyronine (tT3), free thyroxine (fT4) and free triiodothyronine (fT3) were tested using the radioimmunological method in serum, feces and urine. The highest concentration of tT4 was found in feces (104.72 ± 59.52 nmol/mg) and the lowest in urine (3.03 ± 3.11 nmol/mL). The highest tT3 concentration was found in blood serum (3.19 ± 0.64 nmol/L) and the lowest in urine (0.31 ± 0.43 nmol/L). The highest concentration of fT4 was observed in feces (43.71 ± 4.79 pmol/mg) and the lowest in blood serum (14.97 ± 3.42 pmol/L). The statistically highest concentration of fT3 (28.56 ± 20.79 pmol/L) was found in urine, whereas the lowest concentration of this hormone was found in feces (3.27 ± 1.33 pmol/mg). There was a positive and statistically significant correlation between serum and urine fT3 (r = 0.76) and a high positive correlation between serum and feces fT3 concentration (r = 0.62). Correlations between concentrations of other thyroid hormones between serum, urine and feces were found to be insignificant. The results suggest that fT3 can be accurately and reliably measured in the feces and urine of the domestic rabbit.
Nutritional Potentials of Atypical Feed Ingredients for Broiler Chickens and Pigs
Authors: Babatunde Olufemi Oluwaseun , Park Chan Sol , Adeola Olayiwola
Published: April 2021

Diets play an important part in monogastric nutrition. This is because diets are comprised of various feed ingredients that supply energy and nutrients required by broiler chickens or pigs for normal growth and development. The main feed ingredients used for formulating diets for pigs and chickens are comprised of cereals and oilseed meals. Corn and soybean meal (SBM) are mostly used in North America for animal feeds. However, due to geographical locations, availability, and cost, ingredients such as wheat, barley, and canola meal are often used for feeding pigs and chickens. Overdependence on common ingredients such as corn and SBM for decades has resulted in rising costs of animal production. Therefore, the need has risen to examine the potentials of alternative feed ingredients capable of supplying the required energy and nutrients for monogastric animals. Research has been carried out to identify and evaluate several uncommon feed ingredients and their utilization by broiler chickens and pigs. Thus, this review enumerates the nutritional potentials of feed ingredients in 4 main nutritional classes using information from articles in peer-reviewed journals. Feeding practices, advantages, and limitations of using certain uncommon feed ingredients are discussed. In addition, species-specific factors in terms of practical applications are explored.
Generation of a Polyclonal Antibody against the Mouse Metal Transporter ZIP8
Authors: Wei Guojun , Wu Yuze , Zhao Ningning
Published: April 2021

ZIP8 is a newly identified metal transporter. In human patients, mutations in ZIP8 result in severe manganese deficiency, suggesting a critical role for ZIP8 in regulating systemic manganese homeostasis. In mice, the deletion of ZIP8 recapitulates the symptoms of patients with ZIP8 mutations. However, further studies using mouse models to examine ZIP8′s function were hindered by the lack of suitable antibodies to detect endogenous ZIP8 protein. In this study, we report the design, generation, and validation of a polyclonal antibody against mouse ZIP8. We have demonstrated that the newly generated antibody can be reliably used in immunoblotting analysis to detect endogenous ZIP8 protein in mouse tissues. The successful generation and validation of anti-mouse ZIP8 antibody provide opportunities to further examine the function and regulation of this metal transporter. In addition, our study may provide valuable insights into the future development of antibodies targeting polytopic membrane proteins.
Antimicrobial Stewardship and Its Impact on the Changing Epidemiology of Polymyxin Use in a South Indian Healthcare Setting
Authors: Sathyapalan Dipu T. , James Jini , Sudhir Sangita , Nampoothiri Vrinda , Bhaskaran Praveena N. , Shashindran Nandita , Thomas Jisha , Prasanna Preetha , Mohamed Zubair Umer , Edathadathil Fabia , Singh Sanjeev , Moni Merlin
Published: April 2021

Polymyxins being last resort drugs to treat infections triggered by multidrug-resistant pathogens necessitates the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) initiatives to support its rational prescription across healthcare settings. Our study aims to describe the change in the epidemiology of polymyxins and patient outcomes following the implementation of ASP at our institution. The antimicrobial stewardship program initiated in February 2016 at our 1300 bed tertiary care center involved post-prescriptive audits tracking polymyxin consumption and evaluating prescription appropriateness in terms of the right indication, right frequency, right drug, right duration of therapy and administration of the right loading dose (LD) and maintenance dose (MD). Among the 2442 polymyxin prescriptions tracked over the entire study period ranging from February 2016 to January 2020, the number of prescriptions dropped from 772 prescriptions in the pre-implementation period to an average of 417 per year during the post-implementation period, recording a 45% reduction. The quarterly patient survival rates had a significant positive correlation with the quarterly prescription appropriateness rates (r = 0.4774, p = 0.02), right loading dose (r = 0.5228, p = 0.015) and right duration (r = 0.4361, p = 0.04). Our study on the epidemiology of polymyxin use demonstrated favorable effects on the appropriateness of prescriptions and mortality benefits after successful implementation of antimicrobial stewardship in a real-world setting.
Surveillance of Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Anaerobe Clinical Isolates in Southeast Austria: Bacteroides fragilis Group Is on the Fast Track to Resistance
Authors: König Elisabeth , Ziegler Hans P. , Tribus Julia , Grisold Andrea J. , Feierl Gebhard , Leitner Eva
Published: April 2021

Anaerobic bacteria play an important role in human infections. Bacteroides spp. are some of the 15 most common pathogens causing nosocomial infections. We present antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) results of 114 Gram-positive anaerobic isolates and 110 Bacteroides-fragilis-group-isolates (BFGI). Resistance profiles were determined by MIC gradient testing. Furthermore, we performed disk diffusion testing of BFGI and compared the results of the two methods. Within Gram-positive anaerobes, the highest resistance rates were found for clindamycin and moxifloxacin (21.9% and 16.7%, respectively), and resistance for beta-lactams and metronidazole was low (<1%). For BFGI, the highest resistance rates were also detected for clindamycin and moxifloxacin (50.9% and 36.4%, respectively). Resistance rates for piperacillin/tazobactam and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid were 10% and 7.3%, respectively. Two B. fragilis isolates were classified as multi-drug-resistant (MDR), with resistance against all tested beta-lactam antibiotics. The comparative study of 109 BFGI resulted in 130 discrepancies in 763 readings (17%) with a high number of Very Major Errors (VME) and Major Errors (ME). In summary, resistance rates, with the exception of clindamycin and moxifloxacin, are still low, but we are facing increasing resistance rates for BFGI. Surveillance studies on a regular basis are still recommended.
Plasma Vitamin C and Risk of Late Graft Failure in Kidney Transplant Recipients: Results of the TransplantLines Biobank and Cohort Study
Authors: Sotomayor Camilo G. , Bustos Nicolas I. , Yepes-Calderon Manuela , Arauna Diego , de Borst Martin H. , Berger Stefan P. , Rodrigo Ramón , Dullaart Robin P. F. , Navis Gerjan J. , Bakker Stephan J. L.
Published: April 2021

Recent studies have shown that depletion of vitamin C is frequent in outpatient kidney transplant recipients (KTR) and that vitamin C is inversely associated with risk of death. Whether plasma vitamin C is associated with death-censored kidney graft failure remains unknown. We investigated KTR who participated in the TransplantLines Insulin Resistance and Inflammation Biobank and Cohort Study. The primary outcome was graft failure (restart of dialysis or re-transplantation). Overall and stratified (pinteraction < 0.1) multivariable-adjusted Cox regression analyses are presented here. Among 598 KTR (age 51 ± 12 years-old; 55% males), baseline median (IQR) plasma vitamin C was 44.0 (31.0–55.3) µmol/L. Through a median follow-up of 9.5 (IQR, 6.3‒10.2) years, 75 KTR developed graft failure (34, 26, and 15 events over increasing tertiles of vitamin C, log-rank p < 0.001). Plasma vitamin C was inversely associated with risk of graft failure (HR per 1–SD increment, 0.69; 95% CI 0.54–0.89; p = 0.004), particularly among KTR with triglycerides ≥1.9 mmol/L (HR 0.46; 95% CI 0.30–0.70; p < 0.001; pinteraction = 0.01) and among KTR with HDL cholesterol ≥0.91 mmol/L (HR 0.56; 95% CI 0.38–0.84; p = 0.01; pinteraction = 0.04). These findings remained materially unchanged in multivariable-adjusted analyses (donor, recipient, and transplant characteristics, including estimated glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria), were consistent in categorical analyses according to tertiles of plasma vitamin C, and robust after exclusion of outliers. Plasma vitamin C in outpatient KTR is inversely associated with risk of late graft failure. Whether plasma vitamin C‒targeted therapeutic strategies represent novel opportunities to ease important burden of graft failure necessitates further studies.
The Impact of H2S on Obesity-Associated Metabolic Disturbances
Authors: Comas Ferran , Moreno-Navarrete José María
Published: April 2021

Over the last several decades, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has gained attention as a new signaling molecule, with extensive physiological and pathophysiological roles in human disorders affecting vascular biology, immune functions, cellular survival, metabolism, longevity, development, and stress resistance. Apart from its known functions in oxidative stress and inflammation, new evidence has emerged revealing that H2S carries out physiological functions by targeting proteins, enzymes, and transcription factors through a post-translational modification known as persulfidation. This review article provides a critical overview of the current state of the literature addressing the role of H2S in obesity-associated metabolic disturbances, with particular emphasis on its mechanisms of action in obesity, diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and cardiovascular diseases.
Vitamin E beyond Its Antioxidant Label
Authors: Ungurianu Anca , Zanfirescu Anca , Nițulescu Georgiana , Margină Denisa
Published: April 2021

Vitamin E, comprising tocopherols and tocotrienols, is mainly known as an antioxidant. The aim of this review is to summarize the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways linked to inflammation and malignancy modulated by its vitamers. Preclinical reports highlighted a myriad of cellular effects like modulating the synthesis of pro-inflammatory molecules and oxidative stress response, inhibiting the NF-κB pathway, regulating cell cycle, and apoptosis. Furthermore, animal-based models have shown that these molecules affect the activity of various enzymes and signaling pathways, such as MAPK, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, JAK/STAT, and NF-κB, acting as the underlying mechanisms of their reported anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anti-cancer effects. In clinical settings, not all of these were proven, with reports varying considerably. Nonetheless, vitamin E was shown to improve redox and inflammatory status in healthy, diabetic, and metabolic syndrome subjects. The anti-cancer effects were inconsistent, with both pro- and anti-malignant being reported. Regarding its neuroprotective properties, several studies have shown protective effects suggesting vitamin E as a potential prevention and therapeutic (as adjuvant) tool. However, source and dosage greatly influence the observed effects, with bioavailability seemingly a key factor in obtaining the preferred outcome. We conclude that this group of molecules presents exciting potential for the prevention and treatment of diseases with an inflammatory, redox, or malignant component.
SOD3 Is a Non-Mutagenic Growth Regulator Affecting Cell Migration and Proliferation Signal Transduction
Authors: Parascandolo Alessia , Laukkanen Mikko O.
Published: April 2021

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) family isoenzymes, SOD1, SOD2, and SOD3, synthesize hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which regulates the signal transduction. H2O2 is a second messenger able to enter into the cells through aquaporin 3 cell membrane channels and to modify protein tyrosine phosphatase activity. SOD3 has been shown to activate signaling pathways in tissue injuries, inflammation, and cancer models. Similar to the H2O2 response in the cells, the cellular response of SOD3 is dose-dependent; even a short supraphysiological concentration reduces the cell survival and activates the growth arrest and apoptotic signaling, whereas the physiological SOD3 levels support its growth and survival. In the current work, we studied the signaling networks stimulated by SOD3 overexpression demonstrating a high diversity in the activation of signaling cascades. The results obtained suggest that SOD3, although inducing cell growth and affecting various biological processes, does not cause detectable long-term DNA aberrations. Therefore, according to the present data, SOD3 is not a mutagen. Additionally, we compared SOD3-driven immortalized mouse embryonic fibroblasts to SV40 immortalized NIH3T3 cells, demonstrating a marked difference in the activation of cellular kinases. The data presented may contain important druggable targets to abrogate unwanted cell growth.
Ozone Pollution Alters Olfaction and Behavior of Pollinators
Authors: Vanderplanck Maryse , Lapeyre Benoît , Brondani Margot , Opsommer Manon , Dufay Mathilde , Hossaert-McKey Martine , Proffit Magali
Published: April 2021

Concentration of air pollutants, particularly ozone (O3), has dramatically increased since pre-industrial times in the troposphere. Due to the strong oxidative potential of O3, negative effects on both emission and lifetime in the atmosphere of plant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have already been highlighted. VOCs alteration by O3 may potentially affect the attraction of pollinators that rely on these chemical signals. Surprisingly, direct effects of O3 on the olfaction and the behavioral response of pollinators have not been investigated so far. We developed a comprehensive experiment under controlled conditions to assess O3 physiological and behavioral effects on two pollinator species, differing in their ecological traits. Using several realistic concentrations of O3 and various exposure times, we investigated the odor antennal detection and the attraction to VOCs present in the floral scents of their associated plants. Our results showed, in both species, a clear effect of exposure to high O3 concentrations on the ability to detect and react to the floral VOCs. These effects depend on the VOC tested and its concentration, and the O3 exposure (concentration and duration) on the pollinator species. Pollination systems may, therefore, be impaired in different ways by increased levels of O3, the effects of which will likely depend on whether the exposure is chronic or, as in this study, punctual, likely causing some pollination systems to be more vulnerable than others. While several studies have already shown the negative impact of O3 on VOCs emission and lifetime in the atmosphere, this study reveals, for the first time, that this impact alters the pollinator detection and behavior. These findings highlight the urgent need to consider air pollution when evaluating threats to pollinators.
A DMAIC Integrated Fuzzy FMEA Model: A Case Study in the Automotive Industry
Authors: Godina Radu , Silva Beatriz Gomes Rolis , Espadinha-Cruz Pedro
Published: April 2021

The growing competitiveness in the automotive industry and the strict standards to which it is subject, require high quality standards. For this, quality tools such as the failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) are applied to quantify the risk of potential failure modes. However, for qualitative defects with subjectivity and associated uncertainty, and the lack of specialized technicians, it revealed the inefficiency of the visual inspection process, as well as the limitations of the FMEA that is applied to it. The fuzzy set theory allows dealing with the uncertainty and subjectivity of linguistic terms and, together with the expert systems, allows modeling of the knowledge involved in tasks that require human expertise. In response to the limitations of FMEA, a fuzzy FMEA system was proposed. Integrated in the design, measure, analyze, improve and control (DMAIC) cycle, the proposed system allows the representation of expert knowledge and improves the analysis of subjective failures, hardly detected by visual inspection, compared to FMEA. The fuzzy FMEA system was tested in a real case study at an industrial manufacturing unit. The identified potential failure modes were analyzed and a fuzzy risk priority number (RPN) resulted, which was compared with the classic RPN. The main results revealed several differences between both. The main differences between fuzzy FMEA and classical FMEA come from the non-linear relationship between the variables and in the attribution of an RPN classification that assigns linguistic terms to the results, thus allowing a strengthening of the decision-making regarding the mitigation actions of the most “important” failure modes.
Sound Environments in Large Public Buildings for Crowd Transit: A Systematic Review
Authors: Yang Tingting , Aletta Francesco , Kang Jian
Published: April 2021

Sound environments in large public buildings are likely to be different from those of performance spaces, as well as those not specifically designed for acoustic “performance”, but where sounds still play an important role because of the function they can promote (or disrupt). The aim of this study was identifying common strategies and empirical approaches researchers have been implementing for these acoustically complex enclosures and to provide some methodological indications for future studies on the topic. Studies conducted in three building types for crowd transit, such as museums/exhibition spaces, shopping malls, and transportation hubs/stations, which were collecting data about either physical outcomes or individual responses for such sound environments, were selected. The Scopus databases were searched for peer-reviewed journal papers published in English without time limitations. An additional manual search was performed on the reference lists of the retrieved items. The general consideration on inclusion was to meet the requirement that the case belonged to the three building types, and then the specific inclusion criteria were: (1) including at least an objective acoustic measure of the space; or (2) including at least a subjective measure of the space. The search returned 1060 results; after removing duplicates, two authors screened titles and abstracts and selected 117 papers for further analysis. Twenty-six studies were eventually included. Due to the limited number of items and differences in measures across studies, a quantitative meta-analysis could not be performed, and a qualitative approach was adopted instead. The most commonly used objective measures were SPL, and more specifically often considered as LAeq, and T. The intervals across studies were currently of inconsistency, and the selection is recommended to take space scale factor into account. The used subjective measures can be classified into four categories as annoyance, affective quality, room-acoustic quality, and acoustic spatiality. Four basic perceptual assessments concerning dynamic contents are accordingly suggested as “annoying-not annoying”, “crowded-uncrowded”, “long-short (reverberation)”, and “far away-nearby”. The other descriptors can be project-specific. The methodologies involve measurement, questionnaire/interview, listening test, and software simulation. It is necessary for the former two to consider temporal and spatial features of such spaces, and the adoption of the latter two will lead to better understanding of users’ exposure in such spaces, e.g., acoustic sequences and user amount. The outputs of investigations inform that background noise level, e.g., 90 dB in museum/exhibition spaces, and sound reverberation, e.g., 4.0 to 5.0 s in shopping malls and transportation hubs/station, are of fundamental importance to the design of such spaces. Sufficient acoustic comfort can be achieved with integrated design of indoor soundscape.
The Influence of Mechanical Composition and Mineral Composition of Calcareous Soil on Slope Farmland on Phosphorus Fixation
Authors: Han Weiyi , Li Ye , Yin Hang
Published: April 2021

Soil erosion on slope farmland causes the degradation of soil quality and eutrophication of water bodies due to the loss of phosphorus. In order to explore the influence of soil mechanical composition and mineral composition on phosphorus fixation, we selected calcareous soil on slope farmland in the Three Gorges Reservoir area as the research object and separated the samples on the basis of particle size. Next, we determined the content of different forms of phosphorus for each particle size, and then characterized and analyzed the mineral composition. The adsorption performance of each particle size was also studied. The results show that the calcareous soil on slope farmland has a high proportion of coarse fractions, and the carbonate minerals enriched in coarse fractions will fix a large amount of phosphorus and degrade soil quality. As slope farmland is prone to soil erosion, when the soil undergoes selective migration, the loss of fine fractions will increase the proportion of coarse fractions and aggravate soil quality degradation. Meanwhile, because of the large amount of phosphorus adsorbed by fine fractions, the available phosphorus is easily lost with fine fractions, leading to eutrophication of water bodies.
The Role of Metal Ions in the Electron Transport through Azurin-Based Junctions
Authors: Romero-Muñiz Carlos , Ortega María , Vilhena Jose Guilherme , Pérez Rubén , Cuevas Juan Carlos , Zotti Linda A.
Published: April 2021

We studied the coherent electron transport through metal–protein–metal junctions based on a blue copper azurin, in which the copper ion was replaced by three different metal ions (Co, Ni and Zn). Our results show that neither the protein structure nor the transmission at the Fermi level change significantly upon metal replacement. The discrepancy with previous experimental observations suggests that the transport mechanism taking place in these types of junctions is probably not fully coherent.
Unsupervised Cell Segmentation and Labelling in Neural Tissue Images
Authors: Iglesias-Rey Sara , Antunes-Santos Felipe , Hagemann Cathleen , Gómez-Cabrero David , Bustince Humberto , Patani Rickie , Serio Andrea , De Baets Bernard , Lopez-Molina Carlos
Published: April 2021

Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of largely incurable disorders characterised by the progressive loss of neurons and for which often the molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. To bridge this gap, researchers employ a range of techniques. A very prominent and useful technique adopted across many different fields is imaging and the analysis of histopathological and fluorescent label tissue samples. Although image acquisition has been efficiently automated recently, automated analysis still presents a bottleneck. Although various methods have been developed to automate this task, they tend to make use of single-purpose machine learning models that require extensive training, imposing a significant workload on the experts and introducing variability in the analysis. Moreover, these methods are impractical to audit and adapt, as their internal parameters are difficult to interpret and change. Here, we present a novel unsupervised automated schema for object segmentation of images, exemplified on a dataset of tissue images. Our schema does not require training data, can be fully audited and is based on a series of understandable biological decisions. In order to evaluate and validate our schema, we compared it with a state-of-the-art automated segmentation method for post-mortem tissues of ALS patients.
Which Is the Motion State of a Droplet on an Inclined Hydrophilic Rough Surface in Gravity: Pinned or Sliding?
Authors: Dong Jian , Guo Youhai , Jiao Long , Si Chao , Bian Yinbo , Zhang Zheng , Hu Jianliang
Published: April 2021

The motion state of a droplet on an inclined, hydrophilic rough surface in gravity, pinned or sliding, is governed by the balance between the driving and the pinned forces. It can be judged by the droplet’s shape on the inclined hydrophilic rough surface and the droplet’s contact angle hysteresis. In this paper, we used the minimum energy theory, the minimum energy dissipation theory, and the nonlinear numerical optimization algorithm to establish Models 1–3 to calculate out the advancing/receding contact angles (θa/θr), the initial front/rear contact angles (θ1−0/θ2−0) and the dynamic front/rear contact angles (θ1−*/θ2−*) for a droplet on a rough surface. Also, we predicted the motion state of the droplet on an inclined hydrophilic rough surface in gravity by comparing θ1−0(θ2−0) and θ1−*(θ2−*) with θa(θr). Experiments were done to verify the predictions. They showed that the predictions were in good agreement with the experimental results. These models are promising as novel design approaches of hydrophilic functional rough surfaces, which are frequently applied to manipulate droplets in microfluidic chips.
Chiral-Lattice-Filled Composite Tubes under Uniaxial and Lateral Quasi-Static Load: Experimental Studies
Authors: Gunaydin Kadir , Tamer Aykut , Turkmen Halit Suleyman , Sala Giuseppe , Grande Antonio Mattia
Published: April 2021

Our research investigated the energy absorption characteristics of chiral auxetic lattices filled cylindrical composite tubes subjected to a uniaxial and lateral quasi-static load. The lattice structures were manufactured using a 3D printing technique. Carbon fiber composite tubes without filler material were initially subjected to uniaxial and lateral quasi-static crushing load. The same types of experiment were then performed on chiral lattices and chiral lattices filled composite tubes. For the different cases, the load–displacements curves were analyzed and the specific energy absorption (SEA) values were compared. The SEA capability for the axial quasi-static crushing of the chiral lattices filled composite tubes decreased in comparison with the hollow composite design. However, the most significant result was that the average SEA value in the case of lateral loading increased dramatically in comparison with the hollow composite configuration.