bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of the Thermal Performance of the Paraffin-Based Microcapsules Intended for Textile Applications
Authors: Skurkyte-Papieviene Virginija , Abraitiene Ausra , Sankauskaite Audrone , Rubeziene Vitalija , Baltusnikaite-Guzaitiene Julija
Published: April 2021

Phase changing materials (PCMs) microcapsules MPCM32D, consisting of a polymeric melamine-formaldehyde (MF) resin shell surrounding a paraffin core (melting point: 30–32 °C), have been modified by introducing thermally conductive additives on their outer shell surface. As additives, multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and poly (3,4-ethylenedioxyoxythiophene) poly (styrene sulphonate) (PEDOT: PSS) were used in different parts by weight (1 wt.%, 5 wt.%, and 10 wt.%). The main aim of this modification—to enhance the thermal performance of the microencapsulated PCMs intended for textile applications. The morphologic analysis of the newly formed coating of MWCNTs or PEDOT: PSS microcapsules shell was observed by SEM. The heat storage and release capacity were evaluated by changing microcapsules MPCM32D shell modification. In order to evaluate the influence of the modified MF outer shell on the thermal properties of paraffin PCM, a thermal conductivity coefficient (λ) of these unmodified and shell-modified microcapsules was also measured by the comparative method. Based on the identified optimal parameters of the thermal performance of the tested PCM microcapsules, a 3D warp-knitted spacer fabric from PET was treated with a composition containing 5 wt.% MWCNTs or 5 wt.% PEDOT: PSS shell-modified microcapsules MPCM32D and acrylic resin binder. To assess the dynamic thermal behaviour of the treated fabric samples, an IR heating source and IR camera were used. The fabric with 5 wt.% MWCNTs or 5 wt.% PEDOT: PSS in shell-modified paraffin microcapsules MPCM32D revealed much faster heating and significantly slower cooling compared to the fabric treated with the unmodified ones. The thermal conductivity of the investigated fabric samples with modified microcapsules MPCM32D has been improved in comparison to the fabric samples with unmodified ones. That confirms the positive influence of using thermally conductive enhancing additives for the heat transfer rate within the textile sample containing these modified paraffin PCM microcapsules.
Influence of Packaging Material on Polyphenol Content and Antioxidant Activity in Some Commercial Beers
Authors: Bratu Mihaela Mirela , Birghila Semaghiul , Popescu Antoanela , Negreanu-Pirjol Bogdan-Stefan , Radu Marius , Birghila Corina
Published: April 2021

Using two methods (ferric reducing antioxidant power and radical scavenging activity), the total polyphenol content (Folin–Ciocalteu reagent) and polyphenol patterns (HPLC) in 10 commercial lager beer brands produced in Romania was determined. Samples bottled in glass, plastic and aluminium packages were analysed for each brand when available. Results have indicated considerable variations in the total and individual phenolic contents as well as antioxidant activity across beer brands. Gallic and feulic acids were the dominant phenolic compounds identified samples. The statistical analysis indicates a significant difference between the levels of antioxidant activity detected using DPPH and FRAP, for all three types of material considered. The statistical test ANOVA indicates that the polyphenol concentration is similar across all types of material.
Toxicity of Essential Oils Nanoemulsion Against Aphis Craccivora and Their Inhibitory Activity on Insect Enzymes
Authors: Abdelaal Khaled , Essawy Mamdouh , Quraytam Attia , Abdallah Fahmy , Mostafa Heba , Shoueir Kamel , Fouad Hatem , Hassan Fahmy A. S. , Hafez Yaser
Published: April 2021

Essential oils are widely used as botanical insecticides rather than chemically synthesized pesticides which led to catastrophic effects on humans, the environment, and eutrophication. Here, encapsulation of four essential oils Basilicum ocimum, Cuminum cyminum, Origanum marjorana, and Matricaria chamomilla were utilized in the presence of 3% v/v ethanol, as anti-insect against Aphis craccivora and compared to traditional insecticides dinotefuran and pymetrozine. Different tools were used to characterize the prepared nanoemulsion such as TEM, SEM, and Zeta potential analyzer. Besides, selected B. ocimum and C. cyminum were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass GC/mass spectrometry. The results reveal that nanoemulsion exhibited considerable toxic activities against laboratory and field strains of cowpea aphid. In the toxicity bioassay test of essential oils, moderate mortality was observed at 10,000 mg/L against aphid with lethal concentration that kills 50% of insects (LC50) values of basil 992 mg/L and marjoram 3162 mg/L. Else, nanoemulsion provided the highest mortality rate at 625 mg/L and the LC50 values of basil nanoemulsion (NE) 45 mg/L, and marjoram NE 188 mg/L in laboratory strains. The systemic effects of the tested substances acetylcholine esterase, alkaline phosphatase, β-esterases, glutathione S-transferase (GST), and mixed-function oxidase (MFO) enzymes on insects were found to be significantly decreased and increased when compared with control groups. Overall, these results highlight that the nanoemulsion is potential tools to control cowpea aphid and could be useful in developing integrated insect management in faba bean fields.
Mechanical Properties of Concrete with Recycled Concrete Aggregate and Fly Ash
Authors: Katar Ihab , Ibrahim Yasser , Abdul Malik Mohammad , Khahro Shabir Hussain
Published: April 2021

Recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) collected from the demolition of old reinforced concrete structures can be reused to prepare structural and non-structural concrete, thereby protecting the environment by preserving natural resources. This study explores RCA’s use, collected from the crushed concrete of different building projects in Riyadh, to manufacture fresh self-compacting concrete (SCC) and investigate its properties in the fresh and hardened state. Four SCC mixes were prepared by replacing natural aggregate (NA) with RCA at 0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% replacement levels. The water-cement (w/c) ratio was maintained constant at 0.38 for all the mixes. Slump Flow, J-ring, and V-funnel tests were performed on the SCC mixes in the fresh state, and the compressive strength of hardened concrete was determined after seven, 14, and 28 days. Water absorption and split tensile tests were also carried out for all the mixes. The findings revealed that it is possible to reach compressive strengths higher than 40 MPa at 28 days for RCA replacement level of 75% by using a superplasticizer and low w/c ratio. The decrease in compressive strength concerning the SCC-NA mix was 25% for 75% replacement level. The highest split tensile strength at 28 days was around 3.3 MPa for a 50% replacement level. The lowest water absorption was 3.2% for SCC-NA, which was gradually increased and was highest at 5.6% for 75% replacement level.
Inventory Management in SMEs Operating in Polish Group Purchasing Organizations during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Zimon Grzegorz , Babenko Vitalina , Sadowska Beata , Chudy-Laskowska Katarzyna , Gosik Blanka
Published: April 2021

The COVID-19 virus has hit the economy around the world. In Poland, SMEs have the greatest problems with doing business. Border blockades and the quarantine for enterprises in virtually all industries throughout Poland greatly complicated the supply systems and the inventory management process. Up to now, SMEs have acted in group purchasing organizations to improve their competitive position. This form of activity also positively affects their financial security. Therefore, in this paper, the inventory management among this group of companies during the COVID-19 pandemic was analyzed. The purpose of the paper was to show how inventory management strategies changed during the COVID-19 pandemic in SMEs operating in industry GPOs. The analysis was carried out on a group of 88 Polish commercial enterprises operating in purchasing groups. The research period covered the years 2017–2019 and March–June 2020. The research showed a change in inventory management strategy in SMEs during the pandemic time of COVID-19. For the first four months, managers of enterprises tried to pursue a conservative policy and to accumulate stocks in the event of a shortage of supplies. This article also presents the form of security that was applied for SMEs operating in group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to avoid forced downtime caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Innovations in Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing: Modern Sensors, New Processing Strategies and Frontiers in Applications
Authors: Mancini Francesco , Pirotti Francesco
Published: April 2021

The recent development and rapid evolution of modern sensors and new processing strategies of collected data have paved the way for innovations in photogrammetry and remote sensing [...]
Refractive Index Measurement of Glass with Arbitrary Shape Based on Brewster’s Law and a Focusing Probe Beam
Authors: Hu Yao , Lv Jiahang , Hao Qun
Published: April 2021

The refractive index is one of the most important parameters of optical glasses and has a significant effect on optical properties. The measurement of optical glasses, especially for optical elements such as lenses, is urgently needed. However, several presented methods require the immersion of the sample in liquid and provide indirect measurements, while others require structural parameters as priori knowledge, which is complex and time-consuming. In this study, a Brewster-Law-based direct and simple measurement method for the refractive index of glasses with arbitrary shapes is proposed, and a laser beam is focused on the surface of the sample as a probe. The incident angle of the chief ray is close to the Brewster angle. The reflected light is collected by an array detector. The refractive index is calculated from the minimum intensity position obtained with image processing. Additionally, a symmetric measurement scheme is proposed to improve the accuracy. Using these methods, a prism and four spherical lens samples with different refractive indices or radii of curvature are tested and error analyses are carried out. Results indicate that the accuracy can reach 10−4.
The Relationship between VO2max, Power Management, and Increased Running Speed: Towards Gait Pattern Recognition through Clustering Analysis
Authors: Pardo Albiach Juan , Mir-Jimenez Melanie , Hueso Moreno Vanessa , Nácher Moltó Iván , Martínez-Gramage Javier
Published: April 2021

Triathlon has become increasingly popular in recent years. In this discipline, maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) is considered the gold standard for determining competition cardiovascular capacity. However, the emergence of wearable sensors (as Stryd) has drastically changed training and races, allowing for the more precise evaluation of athletes and study of many more potential determining variables. Thus, in order to discover factors associated with improved running efficiency, we studied which variables are correlated with increased speed. We then developed a methodology to identify associated running patterns that could allow each individual athlete to improve their performance. To achieve this, we developed a correlation matrix, implemented regression models, and created a heat map using hierarchical cluster analysis. This highlighted relationships between running patterns in groups of young triathlon athletes and several different variables. Among the most important conclusions, we found that high VO2max did not seem to be significantly correlated with faster speed. However, faster individuals did have higher power per kg, horizontal power, stride length, and running effectiveness, and lower ground contact time and form power ratio. VO2max appeared to strongly correlate with power per kg and this seemed to indicate that to run faster, athletes must also correctly manage their power.
Information Extraction and Population Estimates of Settlements from Historic Corona Satellite Imagery in the 1960s
Authors: Stratoulias Dimitris , Grekousis George
Published: April 2021

The Corona satellite program was a historic reconnaissance mission which provided high spatial resolution panchromatic images during the Cold War era. Nevertheless, and despite the historic uniqueness and importance of the dataset, efforts to extract tangible information from this dataset have primarily focused on visual interpretation. More sophisticated approaches have been either hampered or unrealized, often justified by the primitive quality of this early satellite product. In the current study we attempt to showcase the usability of Corona imagery outside the context of visual interpretation. Using a 1968 Corona image acquired over the city municipality of Plovdiv, Bulgaria, we reconstruct a panchromatic 1.8 m spatial resolution georegistered image with a relative displacement Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 6.616 (for x dimension) and 1.886 (for y dimension) and employ segmentation and texture analysis to discern agricultural parcels and settlements’ footprints. Population statistics of this past era are retrieved from national census and related to settlements’ footprints. An exponential relationship between the two variables was identified by applying a semi-log regression. The high adjusted R2 value found (76.54%) indicates that Corona images offer a unique opportunity for population data analysis of the past. Overall, we showcase that the Corona images’ usability extends beyond the visual interpretation, and features of interest extracted through image analysis can be subsequently used for further geographical and historical research.
The Influence of Antenna Height on the Measurement of Collective Variables Using an Ultra-Wide Band Based Local Positioning System in Team Sports
Authors: Pino-Ortega José , Arcos Asier Los , Gantois Petrus , Clemente Filipe Manuel , Nakamura Fabio Yuzo , Rico-González Markel
Published: April 2021

Ultra-wide band (UWB) based local positioning systems (LPS) are based on devices and a portable antenna set. The optimal installation height of the antennae is crucial to ensure data accuracy. Collective variables are metrics that consider at least two pairs of coordinates, which may lead to lower precision than an individual one. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the influence of antenna height with collective metrics using a UWB (i.e., IMU; WIMU PRO™, RealTrack Systems, Almeria, Spain) based LPS. Data acquisition was carried out in a basketball court measuring 28 × 15 m. Five devices were used; one of which was carried by a healthy and well-trained athlete (age: 38 years, mass: 76.34 kg, height 1.70 m), while each of the remaining four was positioned on a tripod in one of the four corners of the court. Four kinds of variables were extracted: (1) static distances, (2) dynamic distances, (3) static areas and (4) dynamic areas in all antenna installation modes of 0.15, 1.30 and 2.00 m. The results showed that the antenna of 1.30 m provided better accuracy for all measures (% difference range from −0.94 to 1.17%) followed by the antenna of 2.00 m (% difference range from −2.50 to 2.15%), with the antenna of 0.15 m providing the worst accuracy level (% difference range from −1.05 to 3.28%). Overall, the measurements of distance metrics showed greater accuracy than area metrics (distance % difference range from −0.85 to 2.81% and area % difference range from −2.50 to 3.28). In conclusion, the height of the antennae in basketball courts should be similar to the height at which the devices are attached to a player’s upper back. However, as the precision is sensitive to the magnitude of the measure, further studies should assess the effects of the relative height of antennae in team sports with greater playing spaces.
Non-Invasive Cattle Body Temperature Measurement Using Infrared Thermography and Auxiliary Sensors
Authors: Wang Fu-Kang , Shih Ju-Yin , Juan Pin-Hsun , Su Ya-Chi , Wang Yu-Chieh
Published: April 2021

To achieve a sensitive and accurate method in body temperature measurement of cattle, this study explores the uses of infrared thermography (IRT), an anemometer, and a humiture meter as a multiple sensors architecture. The influence of environmental factors on IRT, such as wind speed, ambient temperature, and humidity, was considered. The proposed signal processes removed the IRT frames affected by air flow, and also eliminated the IRT frames affected by random body movement of cattle using the frame difference method. In addition, the proposed calibration method reduced the impact of ambient temperature and humidity on IRT results, thereby increasing the accuracy of IRT temperature. The difference of mean value and standard deviation value between recorded rectal reference temperature and IRT temperature were 0.04 °C and 0.10 °C, respectively, and the proposed system substantially improved the measurement consistency of the IRT temperature and reference on cattle body temperature. Moreover, with a relatively small IRT image sensor, the combination of multiple sensors architecture and proper data processing still achieved good temperature accuracy. The result of the root-mean-square error (RMSE) was 0.74 °C, which is quite close to the accurate result of the IRT measurement.
A Risk Assessment Framework Proposal Based on Bow-Tie Analysis for Medical Image Diagnosis Sharing within Telemedicine
Authors: Poleto Thiago , Silva Maisa Mendonça , Clemente Thárcylla Rebecca Negreiros , de Gusmão Ana Paula Henriques , Araújo Ana Paula de Barros , Costa Ana Paula Cabral Seixas
Published: April 2021

The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework for cybersecurity risk management in telemedicine. The framework, which uses a bow-tie approach for medical image diagnosis sharing, allows the identification, analysis, and assessment of risks, considering the ISO/TS 13131:2014 recommendations. The bow-tie method combines fault tree analysis (FTA) and event tree analysis (ETA). The literature review supported the identification of the main causes and forms of control associated with cybersecurity risks in telemedicine. The main finding of this paper is that it is possible, through a structured model, to manage risks and avoid losses for everyone involved in the process of exchanging medical image information through telemedicine services. Through the framework, those responsible for the telemedicine services can identify potential risks in cybersecurity and act preventively, recognizing the causes even as, in a mitigating way, identifying viable controls and prioritizing investments. Despite the existence of many studies on cybersecurity, the paper provides theoretical contributions to studies on cybersecurity risks and features a new methodological approach, which incorporates both causes and consequences of the incident scenario.
Study of Obstacle-Crossing and Pitch Control Characteristic of a Novel Jumping Robot
Authors: Mo Jixue , Yan Ze , Li Bing , Xi Fengfeng , Li Yao
Published: April 2021

In this study, we demonstrated a novel jumping robot that has the ability of accurate obstacle-crossing jumping and aerial pitch control. The novel robot can quickly leap high into the air with a powerful water jet thruster. The robot was designed to overcome multiple general obstacles via accurate jumping. Then a modified whale optimization algorithm (MWOA) was proposed to determine an optimized jumping trajectory according to the form of obstacles. By comparing with classical intelligent optimization algorithms, the MWOA revealed superiority in convergence rate and precision. Besides, the dynamics model of aerial pitch control was built and its effect was verified by the pitch control experiment. Lastly, the robot’s obstacle-crossing experiments were performed and the results validated the robot’s good ability of obstacle-crossing and aerial body righting. We believe the optimization of trajectory and the pitch control are of great help for the jumping robot’s complex jumping and obstacle-crossing performance.
Eco-Didactic Project for the Knowledge of a Community Museum
Authors: Molina-Torres María-Pilar
Published: April 2021

The aim of this work is to identify the educational competences and training of third-year students taking the degree in Primary Education at the University of Cordoba, in relation to the protection and conservation of community museums and from an eco-didactic and historical point of view. In this study, the collection of information was validated by means of a Likert-type questionnaire (1–5) with which we collected data from five academic years by handing it out to a sample (n = 332). Among the results obtained, we can emphasize both the degree of involvement and the opinions of the students with respect to valuing the cultural and natural heritage of their environment, as well as the didactic use of the ecomuseum in the area where it is placed. Finally, the conclusions highlight the perceptions of university students regarding the educational impact of ecomuseums as cultural and sustainability elements, in addition to their being an eco-didactic resource for teaching and implementing projects about historical heritage.
A Novel Ensemble Machine Learning Approach for Bioarchaeological Sex Prediction
Authors: Muzzall Evan
Published: April 2021

I present a novel machine learning approach to predict sex in the bioarchaeological record. Eighteen cranial interlandmark distances and five maxillary dental metric distances were recorded from n = 420 human skeletons from the necropolises at Alfedena (600–400 BCE) and Campovalano (750–200 BCE and 9–11th Centuries CE) in central Italy. A generalized low rank model (GLRM) was used to impute missing data and Area under the Curve—Receiver Operating Characteristic (AUC-ROC) with 20-fold stratified cross-validation was used to evaluate predictive performance of eight machine learning algorithms on different subsets of the data. Additional perspectives such as this one show strong potential for sex prediction in bioarchaeological and forensic anthropological contexts. Furthermore, GLRMs have the potential to handle missing data in ways previously unexplored in the discipline. Although results of this study look promising (highest AUC-ROC = 0.9722 for predicting binary male/female sex), the main limitation is that the sexes of the individuals included were not known but were estimated using standard macroscopic bioarchaeological methods. However, future research should apply this machine learning approach to known-sex reference samples in order to better understand its value, along with the more general contributions that machine learning can make to the reconstruction of past human lifeways.
Inflammatory Biomarkers Interleukin 1 Beta (IL-1β) and Tumour Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α) Are Differentially Elevated in Tobacco Smoke Associated COPD and Biomass Smoke Associated COPD
Authors: Shyam Prasad Shetty Bellipady , Chaya Sindaghatta Krishnarao , Kumar V Sravan , Mahendra Maheswarappa , Jayaraj Biligere Siddaiah , Lokesh Komarla Sundararaja , Ganguly Koustav , Mahesh Padukudru Anand
Published: April 2021

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, is characterized by abnormal activation of inflammatory cells. The increased pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), further amplify the inflammation. We evaluated the dose response relationship of IL-1β and TNF-α levels and severity of airflow limitation, and differential responses in IL-1β and TNF-α between biomass COPD (BMS-COPD) and tobacco smoke COPD (TS-COPD) using a case control design in 160 subjects. Patients with COPD had higher serum levels of both IL-1β and TNF-α compared to healthy controls. A large difference in TNF-α was observed between TS-COPD and BMS-COPD, where TS-COPD patients had much higher levels. Serum IL-1β levels were higher in BMS-COPD. Levels of IL-1β correlated better with severity of airflow limitation than TNF-α levels. Both TNF-α and IL-1β levels had a negative linear relationship with Forced Expiratory Volume in 1st second (FEV1) and six-minute walk distance. The correlations were stronger with FEV1 than six-minute walk distance. The correlations of TNF-α and IL-1β with St George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) scores and body mass index (BMI) were not significant. In conclusion, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β are differently elevated in TS-COPD and BMS-COPD, respectively.
In Vivo Effects of Neonicotinoid-Sulfoximine Insecticide Sulfoxaflor on Acetylcholinesterase Activity in the Tissues of Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Authors: Piner Benli Petek , Çelik Mehmet
Published: April 2021

Sulfoxaflor is the first member of the neonicotinoid-sulfoximine insecticides that acts as an agonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). This study investigated the acute effects of sulfoxaflor on acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7) enzyme activity in the brain and muscle tissues of zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model organism. The zebrafish were exposed to 0.87 mg/L (2.5% of 96 h 50% lethal concentration (LC50), 1.75 mg/L (5% of 96 h LC50) and 3.51 mg/L (10% of 96 h LC50) of sulfoxaflor for 24 h–48 h and 96 h periods. AChE enzyme activities were analysed by a spectrophotometric method in the brain and muscle tissues. The results of this study showed that in vivo acute sulfoxaflor exposure significantly increased AChE enzyme activity in the brain and muscle tissues of zebrafish. The induction percentages of AChE were between 10 and 83%, and 19 and 79% for brain and muscle tissues, respectively. As a result, it was found that sulfoxaflor had an effect on AChE enzyme activity in the two main tissues containing this enzyme, and it can be considered as a potential neuroactive compound for zebrafish.
Synthesis of Fe Doped Poly p-Phenylenediamine Composite: Co-Adsorption Application on Toxic Metal Ions (F− and As3+) and Microbial Disinfection in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Munzhelele Elisa Pandelani , Ayinde Wasiu Babatunde , Mudzielwana Rabelani , Gitari Wilson Mugera
Published: April 2021

Water is regarded as an important natural resource to sustain life, and its purification is an important criterion that determines its quality and usefulness. In this study, the incorporation of Fe3+ oxide onto a phenylenediamine (pPD) polymer matrix through chemical co-polymerization was prepared, and its arsenite and fluoride removal potentials at optimal conditions from aqueous solution were evaluated. The morphology and structural analysis of the synthesized Fe-doped pPD (Fe-pPD) were comparatively evaluated using the FT-IR, SEM, EDS, and XRD techniques. Fe was successfully incorporated onto pPD matrix as confirmed by different morphological characterizations. The rate of adsorption of F− and As3+ onto the Fe-pPD composite best followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The experimental data for both As3+ and F− onto the Fe-pPD composite better fit the Freundlich isotherm model at different operating temperatures. Overall, the synthesized composite exhibited a strong affinity towards fluoride uptake (96.6%) than arsenite uptake (71.14%) with a maximum capacity of 6.79 (F−) and 1.86 (As3+) mg/g. Additionally, the synthesized adsorbent showed some level of antimicrobial activity against common water-borne bacterial. Therefore, the Fe-doped pPD composite has the potential ability for inorganic metal species pollutants remediation and bacterial disinfection in community-level water purification processes.
Adjuvants and Vaccines Used in Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy Induce Neutrophil Extracellular Traps
Authors: Karacs Jasmine , Reithofer Manuel , Kitzmüller Claudia , Kraller Markus , Schmalz Stefanie , Bleichert Sonja , Huppa Johannes B. , Stockinger Hannes , Bohle Barbara , Jahn-Schmid Beatrice
Published: April 2021

Aluminum hydroxide (alum) and monophosphoryl-lipid A (MPLA) are conventional adjuvants in vaccines for allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT). Alum triggers the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) by neutrophils. NETs contain expelled decondensed chromatin associated with granular material and may act as danger-associated molecular patterns and activate antigen-presenting cells. We investigated whether adjuvant-induced NETs contribute to innate responses to AIT-vaccines. Human neutrophils were incubated with alum, MPLA and adjuvant-containing AIT-vaccine preparations. NETs were verified by time-lapse and confocal fluorescence microscopy and quantitatively assessed by DNA and elastase release and ROS production. In contrast to MPLA, alum represented a potent trigger for NET release. Vaccine formulations containing alum resulted in less NET release than alum alone, whereas the vaccine containing MPLA induced stronger NET responses than MPLA alone. NETs and alum alone and synergistically increased the expression of molecules involved in antigen presentation, i.e., CD80, CD86 and CD83, by peripheral blood monocytes. Monocyte priming with NETs resulted in individually differing IL-1β- and IL-6-responses. Thus, NETs induced by adjuvants in AIT-vaccines can provide autonomous and cooperative effects on early innate responses. The high diversity of individual innate responses to adjuvants and AIT-vaccines may affect their therapeutic efficacy.
Structure, Immunoreactivity, and In Silico Epitope Determination of SmSPI S. mansoni Serpin for Immunodiagnostic Application
Authors: De Benedetti Stefano , Di Pisa Flavio , Fassi Enrico Mario Alessandro , Cretich Marina , Musicò Angelo , Frigerio Roberto , Mussida Alessandro , Bombaci Mauro , Grifantini Renata , Colombo Giorgio , Bolognesi Martino , Grande Romualdo , Zanchetta Nadia , Gismondo Maria Rita , Mileto Davide , Mancon Alessandro , Gourlay Louise Jane
Published: April 2021

The human parasitic disease Schistosomiasis is caused by the Schistosoma trematode flatworm that infects freshwaters in tropical regions of the world, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, South America, and the Far-East. It has also been observed as an emerging disease in Europe, due to increased immigration. In addition to improved therapeutic strategies, it is imperative to develop novel, rapid, and sensitive diagnostic tests that can detect the Schistosoma parasite, allowing timely treatment. Present diagnosis is difficult and involves microscopy-based detection of Schistosoma eggs in the feces. In this context, we present the 3.22 Å resolution crystal structure of the circulating antigen Serine protease inhibitor from S. mansoni (SmSPI), and we describe it as a potential serodiagnostic marker. Moreover, we identify three potential immunoreactive epitopes using in silico-based epitope mapping methods. Here, we confirm effective immune sera reactivity of the recombinant antigen, suggesting the further investigation of the protein and/or its predicted epitopes as serodiagnostic Schistosomiasis biomarkers.
Persistence of Anti-Hbs after up to 30 Years in Health Care Workers Vaccinated against Hepatitis B Virus
Authors: Cocchio Silvia , Baldo Vincenzo , Volpin Anna , Fonzo Marco , Floreani Annarosa , Furlan Patrizia , Mason Paola , Trevisan Andrea , Scapellato Maria Luisa
Published: April 2021

The burden of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious public health problem all over the world. Vaccination remains the most effective prevention measure, and safe and effective HBV vaccines have been available since 1982. Health care workers (HCWs) vaccinated against HBV and prospectively followed up for at least 14 years were classified by their antibody titers after primary vaccination as: poor responders (10–99 mIU/mL); moderate responders (100–999 mIU/mL); and good responders (≥1000 mIU/mL). The incidence of antibody loss was calculated for 1000 person-years and the anti-HBs persistence was calculated. The analysis concerned 539 HCWs: 494 good responders (91.7%); 37 moderate responders (6.9%); and eight poor responders (1.5%). The incidence of anti-HBs loss was 52.1 per 1000 person-years for the poor responders, 11.3 per 1000 person-years for the moderate responders, and 1.4 per 1000 person-years for the good responders. The mean persistence of anti-HBs differed significantly between the three groups, being: 19.2 years (95% CI: 15.6–22.8), 25.4 years (95% CI: 23.0–27.9), and 31.0 years (95% CI: 30.5–31.5) for the poor, moderate and good responders, respectively. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate a good persistence of protective anti-HBs titers in HCWs exposed to occupational risk for up to 30 years after a primary vaccination cycle (even without a booster dose) if their titer was initially higher than 100 mIU/mL.
Humoral Immunity to Varicella Zoster Virus in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Rheumatoid Arthritis Compared to Healthy Controls
Authors: Krasselt Marco , Baerwald Christoph , Liebert Uwe G. , Seifert Olga
Published: April 2021

Background: The prevalence of herpes zoster (HZ) is high in patients with rheumatic diseases. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) doubles the risk for developing HZ. However, little is known about natural humoral immunity against varicella zoster virus (VZV) in patients with SLE. Hence, we compared VZV IgG antibody concentrations in a group of SLE patients with healthy controls and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: n = 56 patients with SLE, n = 54 patients with RA, and n = 56 healthy controls were included in this study. The VZV IgG antibody concentration was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The antibody concentrations were compared between the groups. Results: Overall IgG antibody titers for VZV in SLE patients were comparable to healthy controls but higher when compared to patients with rheumatoid arthritis (p = 0.0012). In consequence, antibody levels in controls were higher than in RA patients (p = 0.0097). Stratification by age revealed highest titers among SLE patients in the fourth life decade (p = 0.03 for controls, p = 0.0008 for RA patients) whereas RA patients in their sixth decade had the lowest antibody concentration (p = 0.03 for controls, p = 0.04 for SLE patients). Regarding the individual HZ history, antibody levels of SLE patients with a positive history exceeded all other groups. Conclusions: Although humoral VZV immunity in SLE patients is comparable to healthy controls it seems to be pronounced in young SLE patients between 30 and 39. The lowest VZV IgG levels were found in RA patients. HZ seems to induce antibody production, particularly in patients with SLE. Immunological processes might contribute to VZV antibody levels in SLE patients, but further investigations are needed to substantiate this hypothesis. Even though the increased HZ prevalence seems to be independent of humoral immunity in SLE patients, reduced humoral immunity might contribute to HZ in RA patients. The available HZ subunit vaccination might be an appropriate way to reduce the HZ risk in patients with rheumatic diseases.
Efficacy of Birth Dose Vaccination in Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of Hepatitis B: A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Engerix-B and Sci-B-Vac
Authors: Safadi Rifaat , Khoury Tawfik , Saed Nizar , Hakim Marwan , Jamalia Jeryes , Nijim Yousef , Farah Nicola , Nuser Tawfik , Natur Nidaa , Mahamid Mahmud , Amer Johnny , Roppert Pia L. , Gerlich Wolfram H. , Glebe Dieter
Published: April 2021

Background and aims: Peripartum transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) from an infected mother to the child can be prevented in most but not all cases by immediate vaccination of the newborn. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of two licensed hepatitis B vaccines, Engerix-B versus Sci-B-Vac, in preventing peripartum HBV transmission. Methods: A prospective multicenter randomized controlled study in 4 delivery centers was performed from 2009 to 2014. HBsAg positive pregnant women and their newborns were recruited at the delivery rooms. All newborns received Hepatitis B Immune Globulin within 10 h after birth, as well as active HBV vaccination at 0, 1 and 6 months of age. Maternal assessment at delivery included transaminases, blood count, international normalized ratio and viral status. Infants were tested for HBsAg, anti-HBc and anti-HBs at 12 months of age. Results: In the intention to treat (ITT), 171 infant and mother pairs fulfilled the study enrollment criteria and completed follow up, 82 received Engerix-B and 89 Sci-B-Vac. Maternal parameters and viral status were similar in both groups. At 12 months of age, the Sci-B-Vac group had lower HBsAg carriage rates (1/89, 1.1%) than the Engerix-B group (5/82, 6.1%) with borderline significance (risk difference of −0.05, 95% CI −0.11–0.007, t-test = 0.05), and borderline significance lower vaccine failure rates with anti-HBs < 10 mIU/mL in the Sci-B-Vac (2/89, 2.2%) than in the Engerix-B (8/82, 9.8%, p = 0.05). Higher seroprotection rates were found in the Sci-B-Vac group with all anti-HBs titer stratifications of >10 mIU/mL (p = 0.05), >100 mIU/mL (p = 0.05) and >1000 mIU/mL (p = 0.01). Active/passive vaccination was effective in 10/13 cases with maternal HBV DNA levels > 7 log10 IU/mL up to 9.5 log10 IU/mL, but failed in 3 cases for unknown reasons. Conclusion: Sci-B-Vac was superior to Engerix-B in preventing peripartum HBV transmission in neonates from HBsAg+ mothers and induces significantly higher anti-HBs levels. NIH registration number: NCT 01133184.
Sex-Related Differences in Allelic Frequency of the Human Beta T Cell Receptor SNP rs1800907: A Retrospective Analysis from Milan Metropolitan Area
Authors: Varoni Elena M. , Lodi Giovanni , Del Fabbro Massimo , Sardella Andrea , Carrassi Antonio , Iriti Marcello , Tripputi Pasquale
Published: April 2021

This paper aims at retrospectively re-analyzing the different distribution, between males and females, in the allelic frequency of the human β T cell receptor (TCR β) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) rs1800907 in Caucasian patients in the Milan metropolitan area. The allelic frequency significantly differed between sexes. Females showed higher frequency of C/C genotype than males, but lower T/C genotype (p < 0.0001). Heterozygous (T/C) versus homozygous (T/T + C/C) genotypes resulted in a different distribution of frequencies in males than in females, the latter possessing higher homozygosis (p < 0.0001). Within the limitations of this work (small number of included studies that concerned just a specific geographical area), allelic distribution according to sex might account the role of TCRβ-related SNPs in autoimmune diseases and further investigations are required to explain better this genetic background, in the perspective of a sex-related T cell immune responsiveness and auto-immunity.
Evaluation of Vertebrate-Specific Replication-Defective Zika Virus, a Novel Single-Cycle Arbovirus Vaccine, in a Mouse Model
Authors: Wan Shengfeng , Cao Shengbo , Wang Xugang , Zhou Yanfei , Yan Weidong , Gu Xinbin , Wu Tzyy-Choou , Pang Xiaowu
Published: April 2021

The flavivirus Zika (ZIKV) has emerged as a global threat, making the development of a ZIKV vaccine a priority. While live-attenuated vaccines are known to induce long-term immunity but reduced safety, inactivated vaccines exhibit a weaker immune response as a trade-off for increased safety margins. To overcome the trade-off between immunogenicity and safety, the concept of a third-generation flavivirus vaccine based on single-cycle flaviviruses has been developed. These third-generation flavivirus vaccines have demonstrated extreme potency with a high level of safety in animal models. However, the production of these single-cycle, encapsidation-defective flaviviruses requires a complicated virion packaging system. Here, we investigated a new single-cycle flavivirus vaccine, a vertebrate-specific replication-defective ZIKV (VSRD-ZIKV), in a mouse model. VSRD-ZIKV replicates to high titers in insect cells but can only initiate a single-round infection in vertebrate cells. During a single round of infection, VSRD-ZIKV can express all the authentic viral antigens in vertebrate hosts. VSRD-ZIKV immunization elicited a robust cellular and humoral immune response that protected against a lethal ZIKV challenge in AG129 mice. Additionally, VSRD-ZIKV-immunized pregnant mice were protected against vertically transferring a lethal ZIKV infection to their offspring. Immunized male mice were protected and prevented viral accumulation in the testes after being challenged with lethal ZIKV. Overall, our results indicate that VSRD-ZIKV induces a potent protective immunity against ZIKV in a mouse model and represents a promising approach to develop novel single-cycle arbovirus vaccines.
The COVID-19 Vaccine Is Here—Now Who Is Willing to Get It?
Authors: Killgore William D. S. , Cloonan Sara A. , Taylor Emily C. , Dailey Natalie S.
Published: April 2021

The U.S. vaccine campaign against COVID-19 began in December 2020, but many individuals seem reluctant to get vaccinated. During the first week of the vaccination campaign, we collected data from 1017 individuals with an online survey to identify factors that were associated with willingness to get the vaccine once it is available. Most participants (55.3%) were willing to get the vaccine, although 46.2% also expressed some fear of the vaccine. Political ideology was by far the most consistent predictor of both willingness to be vaccinated and fear of the vaccine, followed by participant sex, education level, income, and race/ethnicity. Our findings suggest that, for the vaccine campaign to be broadly supported and successful, it will be important for frontline healthcare workers to discuss the role of inoculation for COVID-19 in a manner consistent with each individual patient’s political and sociological worldview.
Flexibility-Enhancing Charging Station to Support the Integration of Electric Vehicles
Authors: Ilieva Iliana , Bremdal Bernt
Published: April 2021

This paper discusses the Inspiria charging station facility in Norway, which enables various charging point operators to offer different charging systems for different purposes and needs. The charging station can be considered a specific case of a shared economy, as users share the same infrastructure and much of the same space. By utilizing new technology and the differences in charging needs in an innovative way, the power requirements for charging can be controlled and the severity of high-load periods can be reduced—both within the charging station’s system and outside it. Using historical traffic data from the Inspiria charging station’s area and Monte Carlo simulations, this study investigated the impact of charging on the grid—both in the current period and in the future. Attention was paid to the impact associated with the usage of superfast chargers. The possibility of containing grid disturbances through utilization of local flexibility was investigated. Finally, we investigated the benefits that the charging station model brings to charging point operators and car owners. The research reported provides support for ambitions for accelerated roll-out and increased density of cost-effective charging points, the wider implication of which concerns the transition to fossil-free transport and the utilization of locally generated, renewable energy.
Transição democrática e modelos de democracia
Authors: Dumas Teixeira Ricardino Jacinto
Published: April 2021

Para pensar a democracia na atualidade é preciso ir além de uma abordagem meramente econômica e institucional. Este artigo discute os significadosda democracia, tendo em vista as experiências mais recentes de transições democráticas nos países que saíram do regime monopartidário nos anos de 1970 e 1990.
Entre a classe e a nação
Authors: Gomes Daniel de Oliveira R.
Published: April 2021

Analiso sociologicamente o pensamento internacionalista de Gramsci, interpretando como conciliou ideais inerentes ao “internacionalismo proletário” com a demanda de unificação nacional italiana. A metodologia consiste em traçar um paralelo entre biografia e “Escritos Políticos”, expondo suas primeiras investidas em prol da independência da Sardenha, passando pela militância operária em Turim e a luta antifascista. Concluo com argumentos à luz de teóricos das nacionalidades.
modalidades actuales del subimperialismo
Authors: Katz Claudio
Published: April 2021

El subimperialismo se verifica en las ambiciones de Turquía, las aventuras de Arabia Saudita y la reconstitución de Irán. Ese estatus no se extiende a Israel, Canadá o Australia, mientras que Rusia o China actúan como imperios en formación. Tanto Brasil como Sudáfrica son formaciones intermedias con recortados sus márgenes de intervención externa. El concepto de subimperialismo permite clarificar escenarios de la época actual.
Communist International, the Soviet Union, and their impact on the Latin America Workers' Movement
Authors: Botz Dan La
Published: April 2021

The Soviet Union and the Communist International had an adverse influence on the Latin American workers’ movement, continually diverting it fighting for a  emocratic socialist society. They subordinated the workers’ movements to the interests of the Soviet Union’s ruling class, the Communist bureaucracy. At one  oment, they led the workers’ movement in disastrous uprisings, while in a subsequent era they encouraged it to build alliances with capitalist and imperialist power.
Partido e revolução em Lenin, Gramsci e Mariátegui
Authors: Lopes Túlio César Dias
Published: April 2021

A partir da Revolução Russa, diversos intelectuais se debruçaram na tarefa de formar organizações revolucionárias. O partido político de “novo tipo” na perspectiva leninista superava os limites dos partidos reformistas. Na concepção gramsciana, o intelectual coletivo ou “moderno príncipe” era necessário ao processo revolucionário. Mariátegui contribuiu com suas experiências e atividades políticas para a construção do partido leninista no Peru. Os três autores convergiram em suas ideias de partido e revolução
Transición socialista: recepción y desarollo en el socialismo cubano
Authors: Domínguez Jhosman Gerliud Barbosa
Published: April 2021

La Revolución Cubana llegó al poder en la plenitud de la Guerra Fría, que la instó a la adscripción ineludible a uno de los polos: el capitalismo o el comunismo. Los antecedentes del siglo XIX, las demandas sociales postergadas, la formación marxista por parte de su vanguardia y las tensiones con Estados Unidos la situaron en la dirección del comunismo e inevitablemente en la transición socialista. La recepción e implementación de la experiencia soviética explican la singularidad de su socialismo.
Petróleo y nación
Authors: Riquelme Milton Waldemar
Published: April 2021

En esta reflexión se elabora una breve presentación de las obras “Nacionalismo y petróleo” de Gabriel Cohn y “Petróleo y política” de Arturo Frondizi.  Exponemos las tensiones previas a la creación de las empresas Petrobras en Brasil e YPF en Argentina frente a los intereses de empresas extranjeras. Finalmente, nos proponemos un contrapunto sobre las políticas en el área petrolera entre ambos países desde el descubrimiento hacia mediados del siglo pasado.
Refugiados ambientais e migração pelo mar
Authors: Gondim Laís Maria Belchior , Mont'Alverne Tarin Cristino Frota
Published: April 2021

O refúgio surge após a Segunda Guerra Mundial com a alta mortalidade observada na Europa pelos regimes totalitários. Em 1950, foi criado o ACNUR, para solucionar a questão dos refugiados. A definição do vocábulo está na Convenção de 1951, no entanto, não abrange os refugiados ambientais, deixando essa delimitação a cargo da doutrina e das pesquisas acadêmicas. Já a migração pelo mar é feita, frequentemente, de modo irregular, trazendo muitos perigos para os migrantes. Tal artigo visa analisar a questão dos refugiados ambientais e a migração pelo mar como desafios do Direito Internacional contemporâneo através de artigos, legislações e notícias internacionais que abordem o tema.