bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digital Implementation of Harmonic and Unbalanced Load Compensation for Voltage Source Inverter to Operate in Grid Forming Microgrid
Authors: Guo Xiu-Hua , Chang Che-Wei , Chang-Chien Le-Ren
Published: March 2022

Voltage source inverter (VSI) is a good candidate for grid forming microgrid because it provides constant amplitude, frequency, and sinusoidal shape voltage at point of common coupling (PCC). As the microgrid is separated from utility grid, voltage quality of the PCC is easily affected by the type of load. To ensure power quality in grid operation, a three-phase VSI providing automatic voltage compensation for unbalanced or nonlinear load is presented in this paper. To maintain voltage quality at a certain level, the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm is embedded in a proportional-resonant (PR) controller to mitigate the total harmonic distortion (THD) at PCC. In the meantime, any change of voltage magnitude that is caused by the unbalanced load could be reduced as well. To further enhance the transient response with the change of load, a predictive current (PC) controller is integrated into the PR controller. All the control strategies are implemented by digital approach. The effectiveness of proposed controls is verified through experiments on a testbed of the three-phase stand-alone system.
Analysis of Physiological Signals for Stress Recognition with Different Car Handling Setups
Authors: Zontone Pamela , Affanni Antonio , Bernardini Riccardo , Del Linz Leonida , Piras Alessandro , Rinaldo Roberto
Published: March 2022

When designing a car, the vehicle dynamics and handling are important aspects, as they can satisfy a purpose in professional racing, as well as contributing to driving pleasure and safety, real and perceived, in regular drivers. In this paper, we focus on the assessment of the emotional response in drivers while they are driving on a track with different car handling setups. The experiments were performed using a dynamic professional simulator prearranged with different car setups. We recorded various physiological signals, allowing us to analyze the response of the drivers and analyze which car setup is more influential in terms of stress arising in the subjects. We logged two skin potential responses (SPRs), the electrocardiogram (ECG) signal, and eye tracking information. In the experiments, three car setups were used (neutral, understeering, and oversteering). To evaluate how these affect the drivers, we analyzed their physiological signals using two statistical tests (t-test and Wilcoxon test) and various machine learning (ML) algorithms. The results of the Wilcoxon test show that SPR signals provide higher statistical significance when evaluating stress among different drivers, compared to the ECG and eye tracking signals. As for the ML classifiers, we count the number of positive or “stress” labels of 15 s SPR time intervals for each subject and each particular car setup. With the support vector machine classifier, the mean value of the number of positive labels for the four subjects is equal to 13.13% for the base setup, 44.16% for the oversteering setup, and 39.60% for the understeering setup. In the end, our findings show that the base car setup appears to be the least stressful, and that our system enables us to effectively recognize stress while the subjects are driving in the different car configurations.
Harmonizing Forest Conservation Policies with Essential Biodiversity Variables Incorporating Remote Sensing and Environmental DNA Technologies
Authors: Lock Marcelle , van Duren Iris , Skidmore Andrew K. , Saintilan Neil
Published: March 2022

It remains difficult to compare the state of conservation of forests of different nations. Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) are a set of variables designed as a framework for harmonizing biodiversity monitoring. Methods to monitor forest biodiversity are traditional monitoring (according to conservation policy requirements), remote sensing, environmental DNA, and the information products that are derived from them (RS/eDNA biodiversity products). However, it is not clear to what extent indicators from conservation policies align with EBVs and RS/eDNA biodiversity products. This research evaluated current gaps in harmonization between EBVs, RS/eDNA biodiversity products and forest conservation indicators. We compared two sets of biodiversity variables: (1) forest conservation indicators and (2) RS/eDNA biodiversity products, within the context of the Essential Biodiversity Variables framework. Indicators derived from policy documents can mostly be categorized within the EBV ‘ecosystem vertical profile’, while ‘ecosystem function’ remains underrepresented. RS/eDNA biodiversity products, however, can provide information about ‘ecosystem function’. Integrating RS/eDNA biodiversity products that monitor ecosystem functioning into monitoring programs will lead to a more comprehensive and balanced reporting on forest biodiversity. In addition, using the same variables and similar RS/eDNA products for forest biodiversity and conservation policies is a requirement for harmonization and international policy reporting.
Towards a More Realistic Simulation of Plant Species with a Dynamic Vegetation Model Using Field-Measured Traits: The Atlas Cedar, a Case Study
Authors: Hambuckers Alain , Trolliet Franck , Dury Marie , Henrot Alexandra-Jane , Porteman Kristof , El Hasnaoui Yassine , Van den Bulcke Jan , De Mil Tom , Remy Cécile C. , Cheddadi Rachid , François Louis
Published: March 2022

Improving the model-based predictions of plant species under a projected climate is essential to better conserve our biodiversity. However, the mechanistic link between climatic variation and plant response at the species level remains relatively poorly understood and not accurately developed in Dynamic Vegetation Models (DVMs). We investigated the acclimation to climate of Cedrus atlantica (Atlas cedar), an endemic endangered species from northwestern African mountains, in order to improve the ability of a DVM to simulate tree growth under climatic gradients. Our results showed that the specific leaf area, leaf C:N and sapwood C:N vary across the range of the species in relation to climate. Using the model parameterized with the three traits varying with climate could improve the simulated local net primary productivity (NPP) when compared to the model parameterized with fixed traits. Quantifying the influence of climate on traits and including these variations in DVMs could help to better anticipate the consequences of climate change on species dynamics and distributions. Additionally, the simulation with computed traits showed dramatic drops in NPP over the course of the 21st century. This finding is in line with other studies suggesting the decline in the species in the Rif Mountains, owing to increasing water stress.
Curcumin-Mediated Sono-Photodynamic Treatment Inactivates Listeria monocytogenes via ROS-Induced Physical Disruption and Oxidative Damage
Authors: Zhang Jiawen , Zheng Peiying , Li Jing , Yang Yijing , Zeng Shaoxiao , Qiu Jianqing , Lin Shaoling
Published: March 2022

Sono-photodynamic sterilization technology (SPDT) has become a promising non-thermal food sterilization technique because of its high penetrating power and outstanding microbicidal effects. In this study, Listeria monocytogenes (LMO) was effectively inactivated using curcumin as the sono-photosensitizer activated by ultrasound and blue LED light. The SPDT treatment at optimized conditions yielded a 4-log reduction in LMO CFU. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in LMO upon SPDT treatment was subsequently investigated. The results demonstrated SPDT treatment-induced excessive ROS generation led to bacterial cell deformation and membrane rupture, as revealed by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and cytoplasmic material leakage. Moreover, agarose gel electrophoresis and SDS-PAGE further revealed that SPDT also triggered bacterial genomic DNA cleavage and protein degradation in LMO, thus inducing bacterial apoptosis-like events, such as membrane depolarization.
COVID-19 Safety Measures in the Food Service Sector: Consumers’ Attitudes and Transparency Perceptions at Three Different Stages of the Pandemic
Authors: Vandenhaute Heidi , Gellynck Xavier , De Steur Hans
Published: March 2022

The food service sector was among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to examine consumers’ attitudes towards and transparency perceptions of COVID-19-related safety measures and to identify determinants of consumers’ intentions and behaviour regarding visiting restaurants and bars once reopened. By also surveying food service businesses, this study allows for comparison between both target groups. A total of 1697 consumers and 780 businesses participated in this study, conducted in Belgium both during and in between waves of infections. The findings demonstrate that consumers evaluated safety measures as important when revisiting restaurants and bars, against business owners’ expectations. Both consumers’ revisit intentions and behaviours are influenced by the perceived importance of hygiene measures (negatively) and past visit frequency (positively). This study highlights the importance of good compliance with safety measures as a strategy to attract customers during the reopening period. Further, our findings emphasize the importance of transparent communication by food service businesses and the government.
A Fresh Look on Bergenin: Vision of Its Novel Drug Delivery Systems and Pharmacological Activities
Authors: Mehta Sidharth , Kadian Varsha , Dalal Sweta , Dalal Pooja , Kumar Sunil , Garg Minakshi , Rao Rekha
Published: March 2022

Bergenin (BER), a key constituent of Bergenia crassifolia (Saxifragaceae), has gained extensive attention, owing to its array of pharmacological actions, including anti-infective, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, anti-urolithiatic, anti-hyperuricemic, and anti-bradykinin properties. Despite ever-intensifying support for its therapeutic features, the poor solubility, lower oral bioavailability, shorter half-life, and more intestinal pH degradation (pH 6.8 or above) of BER have puzzled researchers. To circumvent these pharmaceutical challenges, and to improve its therapeutic efficacy, newer approaches have been adopted by research scientists. Thus, a discussion of the existing literature may provide complete information about the advances in delivery strategies for enhancing its utility. This paper summarizes up-to-date works on the design and development of novel delivery carriers of this bioactive compound, such as phospholipid complexes, extended-release core tablets, prodrugs, herbal gels, polyherbal ointments, nanoparticles, and poly (lactic acid) polymers, with the objective of harnessing its full potential. This review also provides a deep insight into its bioactivities, along with mechanisms. Additionally, the physicochemical attributes, chemistry, and pharmacokinetics of BER are discussed herein. Hence, the comprehensive information documented in this review may introduce new avenues for research advancements of BER.
Citizens’ Literacy in Genomics: A Delphi Survey of Multidisciplinary Experts in the Field
Authors: Calabrò Giovanna Elisa , Sassano Michele , Boccia Stefania
Published: March 2022

Introduction: Citizens’ literacy in the field of genomics represents one of the cornerstones of proper implementation of genomics in healthcare services. In order to identify the most effective tools by which to elevate citizens’ literacy in genomics, we conducted a survey among the group of multidisciplinary experts within the Italian Network of Genomics in Public Health (GENISAP). Methods. Two rounds of Delphi surveys were carried out in order to identify the main topics, tools, settings, and healthcare professionals’ backgrounds that might usefully be included in citizens’ training initiatives in genomics. To this end, we distributed a questionnaire with 39 items that are scored on a 5-point scale. Results. By the end of the Delphi process, 43 items were selected (19 for the topics, 6 for the tools, 9 for settings, and 9 for the healthcare professionals’ backgrounds). Genomic tests and counseling were among the main topics included, while in terms of tools, face-to-face discussion with healthcare professionals was prioritized by the experts. Among the most appropriate platforms, the group suggested internet/social media and healthcare settings. The healthcare professional considered to have the most relevant role in terms of citizens’ education was a medical doctor with a specialism in clinical genetics. Discussion. Our study attempted to identify the main characteristics that could guide the design of interventions to promote public literacy regarding the field of genomics. Specifically, we have identified the main topics to be included in an educational program for citizens, the tools and settings to consider when providing educational initiatives on genomics, and the healthcare professionals who need to be involved in these initiatives. Therefore, the results of our study provide the necessary basis for the realization of new training initiatives on genomics to be proposed and offered to citizens, these initiatives to be implemented at a national and international level for achieving the transformational change in health systems that is required by the precision health approach.
Priorities in the Prevention Strategies for Medication Error Using the Analytical Hierarchy Process Method
Authors: Kim Siin , Kim Hyungtae , Suh Hae Sun
Published: March 2022

As medication error is inherently “preventable”, we should try to minimize errors to improve patient safety and quality of care. The aim of this study was to prioritize strategies to prevent medication errors using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method. The hierarchy structure consisted of three stages: goal of the decision, decision criteria, and alternatives. Ten experts of patient safety research or clinical pharmacology compared each pair of criteria and alternatives and assigned a nine-point numerical scale. We used the eigenvector method to aggregate the pairwise comparisons obtained from experts and to estimate the weights of each criterion and alternative. Among the decision criteria, system improvement in reporting was the most preferred criterion, followed by cultural improvement and system improvement in the counterplan. The preferred alternative was a counterplan by healthcare institutions, followed by a change from a blame culture to safety culture and the building of a reporting system. A sensitivity analysis indicated that priorities were generally robust in the methods used for calculating the integrated matrices. We have suggested the priority of preventive strategies against medication errors using the AHP method. The prioritization of preventive strategies could help policymakers understand current needs and therefore develop evidence-based policies on patient safety.
Raspberry Pi-Based Sleep Posture Recognition System Using AIoT Technique
Authors: Chen Pei-Jarn , Hu Tian-Hao , Wang Ming-Shyan
Published: March 2022

The relationship between sleep posture and sleep quality has been studied comprehensively. Over 70% of chronic diseases are highly correlated with sleep problems. However, sleep posture monitoring requires professional devices and trained nursing staff in a medical center. This paper proposes a contactless sleep-monitoring Internet of Things (IoT) system that is equipped with a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B; radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags are embedded in bed sheets as part of a low-cost and low-power microsystem. Random forest classification (RFC) is used to recognize sleep postures, which are then uploaded to the server database via Wi-Fi and displayed on a terminal. The experimental results obtained using RFC were compared to those obtained via the support vector machine (SVM) method and the multilayer perceptron (MLP) algorithm to validate the performance of the proposed system. The developed system can be also applied for sleep self-management at home and wireless sleep monitoring in medical wards.
Preoperative Anxiety among Adult Patients Undergoing Elective Surgeries at a Tertiary Teaching Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study during the Era of COVID-19 Vaccination
Authors: Aloweidi Abdelkarim , Abu-Halaweh Sami , Almustafa Mahmoud , Marei Zaineh , Yaghi Sara , Hababeh Lina , Al-Gallab Neebal , Al-Jaberi Shatha , Ghattas Lina , Alrabadi Sham Romeo , Al-Oweidi Anas , Bsisu Isam
Published: March 2022

Anxiety in the perioperative period has significant impact on both the flow of surgery and the post-operative recovery process. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to determine the prevalence of preoperative anxiety among adult patients undergoing elective surgical procedures at a tertiary teaching hospital and the effect of COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines on preoperative anxiety. We used the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS) to assess patients’ anxiety toward surgery and their need for more information. Patients with APAIS about anesthesia and surgery (APAIS-A-T) total score <10 were considered as the low preoperative anxiety group, while patients with APAIS-A-T ≥11 were considered as the high preoperative anxiety group. The overall APAIS-A-T score of the 794 included patients was 8.5 ± 4.5. The mean APAIS-A-T score was 7.0 ± 3.8 among males and 9.6 ± 4.6 among female patients (p < 0.001). The APAIS-A-T score for those who had previously underwent surgery under anesthesia was 8.3 ± 4.4, compared to 9.5 ± 4.8 for those who had not (p = 0.002). No significant difference was found between those with a previous history of COVID-19 and those without (p = 0.105), nor between those who were vaccinated and those who were not (p = 0.550). Sixty-four (26.8%) highly anxious patients were afraid of becoming infected with COVID-19 during their hospital stay (p = 0.009). This fear of COVID-19 in-hospital transmission made 19 (7.9%) highly anxious patients and 36 (4.5%) of the total sample hesitant to undergo this surgery (p = 0.002). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that 30.1% of patients had high preoperative anxiety, with fear of pain after surgery being the most common factor related to anxiety on the day of surgery. Controlling the spread of COVID-19 can play a crucial role in decreasing preoperative anxiety during this pandemic.
Pathophysiology and Symptomatology of Drooling in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Polychronis Sotirios , Nasios Grigorios , Dardiotis Efthimios , Messinis Lambros , Pagano Gennaro
Published: March 2022

Drooling can present in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), and it is manifested as an excessive pooling of saliva inside the oral cavity. Currently, the exact pathophysiological mechanism of drooling in PD is not yet fully explicated. Thus, it becomes crucial to understand if some clinical characteristics may emphasize drooling or if they are just concomitant. In PD, excessive drooling has been associated with a higher burden of non-motor symptoms, such as cognitive impairment, sleep problems, autonomic dysfunction, constipation and orthostatic hypotension, and of worse severity of motor fluctuations and bradykinesia. PD patients with excessive drooling also showed a reduction of striatal DAT availability at DaTSCAN imaging. Excessive drooling in patients with Parkinson’s cannot be attributed to a single factor but to a mixture of factors, including but not limited to impaired nigrostriatal pathways.
Amino Acid-Enriched Formula for the Post-Operative Care of Extraction Sockets Evaluated by 3-D Intraoral Scanning
Authors: Cosola Saverio , Oldoini Giacomo , Boccuzzi Michela , Giammarinaro Enrica , Genovesi Annamaria , Covani Ugo , Marconcini Simone
Published: March 2022

Background: Hyaluronic acid and amino acids play an important role in the wound healing process, stimulating the development of the connective tissue and the activity and proliferation of fibroblasts. The aim of the present controlled clinical study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a topical gel formula containing hyaluronic acid and amino acids in terms of wound closure rate, painkiller intake, and patients’ reported pain and edema. Methods: This study included patients in need of a single tooth extraction. Patients were randomized into two groups with differing post-operative care regimens. Patients in the test group used the amino acid and hyaluronic acid-based gel, while the control group did not use any product. Each parameter was measured in both groups at different time points: immediately after surgery, and after 7, 14, 30, and 60 days. Results: A total of 40 patients (46.52 ± 9.84 years old) completed the observational period, and 40 extraction sockets were examined. After 7 days, the edema was significantly lower in the test group. The reported pain was lower in the test group without a significant difference, except for the first time point at 7 days. With the follow-up questionnaire, patients declared to have taken painkillers mainly during the first 7 days after surgery; however, the test group showed a lower need for painkillers than the control group. Conclusion: The post-operative and domiciliary use of an amino acid and hyaluronic acid-based gel for the management of soft tissue closure after tooth extraction is a valid coadjutant to reduce swelling, pain, and the need for painkillers. Additional studies are required to support the results of the present study.
The Effectiveness of Group-Based Core Stability Exercise and Educational Booklet for Hospital Workers in Taiwan with Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Lin Ching-Yueh , Liu Yung-Hsuan , Chen Shu-Mei , Cheng Su-Chun , Liu Mei-Fang
Published: March 2022

To investigate the effectiveness of health promotion strategies for nonspecific low back pain in hospital workers, we compared the therapeutic effects of group-based core stability exercises and an educational booklet. Subjects participated in a 60-min core stability exercise on a weekly basis for 8 weeks (N = 24) or consulted an educational booklet for advice (N = 22). The numerical rating scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and the brief version of the World Health Organization’s Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) were used as outcome measures. The ODI, as well as the total score and domains of overall, physical, and psychological health in the WHOQOL-BREF were significantly improved in the exercise group (p < 0.05). The NRS score significantly improved in the booklet group (p < 0.05). The total score, psychological domain, and environmental domain of the WHOQOL-BREF improved significantly in the exercise group compared with the booklet group (p < 0.05). Group-based core stability exercises and educational booklets are helpful to hospital workers in different ways for nonspecific low back pain. In contrast to the pain reduction by the educational booklet, more active participation in group-based core stability exercise can provide a better outcome in the overall quality of life, especially in the psychological and environmental domains of hospital workers.
A Bayesian Hierarchical Spatial Model to Correct for Misreporting in Count Data: Application to State-Level COVID-19 Data in the United States
Authors: Chen Jinjie , Song Joon Jin , Stamey James D.
Published: March 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic that began at the end of 2019 has caused hundreds of millions of infections and millions of deaths worldwide. COVID-19 posed a threat to human health and profoundly impacted the global economy and people’s lifestyles. The United States is one of the countries severely affected by the disease. Evidence shows that the spread of COVID-19 was significantly underestimated in the early stages, which prevented governments from adopting effective interventions promptly to curb the spread of the disease. This paper adopts a Bayesian hierarchical model to study the under-reporting of COVID-19 at the state level in the United States as of the end of April 2020. The model examines the effects of different covariates on the under-reporting and accurate incidence rates and considers spatial dependency. In addition to under-reporting (false negatives), we also explore the impact of over-reporting (false positives). Adjusting for misclassification requires adding additional parameters that are not directly identified by the observed data. Informative priors are required. We discuss prior elicitation and include R functions that convert expert information into the appropriate prior distribution.
Impact of Climate Change on Rural Poverty Vulnerability from an Income Source Perspective: A Study Based on CHIPS2013 and County-Level Temperature Data in China
Authors: Li Qihang , Sun Peng , Li Bo , Mohiuddin Muhammad
Published: March 2022

Harsh natural climatic environments, such as extreme weather and natural disasters, cause devastating blows to production activities and increase the probability of geographic poverty, climate poverty, and return to poverty. Thus, this study uses climate data and micro survey data (CHIPS2013) to examine the impact of climate on vulnerability to individual poverty in rural China. The results demonstrated that extreme temperatures (hotter summers, colder winters, and greater day-to-day temperature gaps) reduce vulnerability to poverty. This was also supported by the median and average temperatures. Second, there is an association between poverty vulnerability and poverty; that is, poorer people will become poorer with an increase in poverty vulnerability. In fact, in the case of higher income, the higher the probability of returning to poverty, the higher the vulnerability. Policy formulation processes should take into consideration different types of impacts from harsh climate on different vulnerable groups. No single action might be adequate and an integrative approach integrating various strategies and actions are required to overcome challenges posed by climate change and poverty vulnerabilities.
Effects of Menstrual Health and Hygiene on School Absenteeism and Drop-Out among Adolescent Girls in Rural Gambia
Authors: Shah Vishna , Nabwera Helen , Sonko Bakary , Bajo Fatou , Faal Fatou , Saidykhan Mariama , Jallow Yamoundaw , Keita Omar , Schmidt Wolf-Peter , Torondel Belen
Published: March 2022

Poor knowledge and management of menstruation impacts girls’ school attendance and academic performance. This paper aims to explore how menstrual hygiene management practices and related factors influence school absenteeism and drop-out among primary and secondary school girls in rural Gambia. Mixed-method studies were conducted among students and key informants from 19 schools from July 2015–December 2017. Focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, cross-sectional surveys, menstrual diaries, and school water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facility observations were used. Key findings from the interviews were that menstrual pain, cultural beliefs, fear of peers knowing menstrual status, and poor school WASH facilities led to school absenteeism, however, they had no impact on school drop-out. Of the 561 girls surveyed, 27% reported missing at least one school day per month due to menses. Missing school during the most recent menstrual period was strongly associated with menstrual pain (extreme pain adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 16.8 (95% CI: 7.29–38.74)), as was having at least one symptom suggestive of urinary tract infection (AOR = 1.71 (95% CI: 1.16–2.52)) or reproductive tract infection (AOR = 1.99 (95% CI: 1.34–2.94)). Clean toilets (AOR = 0.44 (95% CI: 0.26–75)), being happy using school latrines while menstruating (AOR = 0.59 (95% CI: 0.37–0.93)), and soap availability (AOR = 0.46 (95% CI: 0.3–0.73)) were associated with reduced odds of school absenteeism. This study suggests menstrual pain, school WASH facilities, urogenital infections, and cultural beliefs affected school attendance among menstruating girls in rural Gambia.
The Environment Encouraging COVID-19 Response at Public Health Centers and Future Challenges in Japan
Authors: Osawa Eri , Okuda Hiroko , Koto-Shimada Kyoko , Shibanuma Akira , Saito Tomoya
Published: March 2022

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered the implementation of public health measures globally. The health department of local governments has played a critical role in confronting COVID-19. In Japan, public health centers (PHCs) are focal points for COVID-19 response. Understanding the response to COVID-19 in local areas is critical to ensure adequate preparation for future emergencies. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to clarify how the COVID-19 operations by PHCs in Japan were managed and facilitated at the beginning of the infection spread, and their future challenges. We designed a case study that included two PHCs with a population of approximately 400,000 in Japan. Semi-structured focus group interviews with public health nurses from these two PHCs were conducted in September and October 2020. The data were analyzed using chronological time-series analysis. The switch to crisis response was encouraged by the business continuity plan. Their operations for the prevention of COVID-19 in the community were facilitated by the existing network. Further, strengthening the knowledge and skill regarding infectious disease control and management skills during infectious disease-related health emergencies were recommended. It is important to ensure that the environment facilitates emergency response and that people-and-community-centered health promotion activities are conducted, during an emergency situation, with more innovative action and leadership.
Monitored and Modeled Ambient Air Concentrations of Ethylene Oxide: Contextualizing Health Risk for Potentially Exposed Populations in Georgia
Authors: Lewis Ryan C. , Sheehan Patrick J. , DesAutels Christopher G. , Watson Heather N. , Kirman Christopher R.
Published: March 2022

Recent studies have monitored and modeled long-term ambient air concentrations of ethylene oxide (EO) around emitting facilities in Georgia with the intent of informing risk management of potentially exposed nearby residential populations. Providing health context for these data is challenging because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s risk-specific concentrations lack practical utility in distinguishing a health significant increase in exposure. This study analyzes EO data for eight emitting facilities, using a previously published alternative exposure metric, the total equivalent concentration, which is based on U.S. Centers for Disease Control biomarker data for the non-smoking U.S. population. Mean concentrations for monitoring sites were compared to mean background concentrations to assess whether emissions contribute significantly to environmental concentrations. To assess the health significance of potential exposure at nearby residential locations, the 50th percentile concentration was added to the 50th percentile endogenous equivalent concentration and compared to the total equivalent concentration distribution for the non-smoking U.S. population. The findings demonstrate that impacts from nearby emission sources are small compared to mean background concentrations at nearby locations, and the total equivalent concentrations for exposed populations are generally indistinguishable from that of the 50th percentile for the non-smoking U.S. population.
Asian Sand Dust Particles Enhance the Development of Aspergillus fumigatus Biofilm on Nasal Epithelial Cells
Authors: Shin Seung-Heon , Ye Mi-Kyung , Lee Dong-Won , Chae Mi-Hyun
Published: March 2022

Background: Asian sand dust (ASD) and Aspergillus fumigatus are known risk factors for airway mucosal inflammatory diseases. Bacterial and fungal biofilms commonly coexist in chronic rhinosinusitis and fungus balls. We evaluated the effects of ASD on the development of A. fumigatus biofilm formation on nasal epithelial cells. Methods: Primary nasal epithelial cells were cultured with A. fumigatus conidia with or without ASD for 72 h. The production of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 from nasal epithelial cells was determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The effects of ASD on A. fumigatus biofilm formation were determined using crystal violet, concanavalin A, safranin staining, and confocal scanning laser microscopy. Results: ASD and A. fumigatus significantly enhanced the production of IL-6 and IL-8 from nasal epithelial cells. By coculturing A. fumigatus with ASD, the dry weight and safranin staining of the fungal biofilms significantly increased in a time-dependent manner. However, the increased level of crystal violet and concanavalin A stain decreased after 72 h of incubation. Conclusions: ASD and A. fumigatus induced the production of inflammatory chemical mediators from nasal epithelial cells. The exposure of A. fumigatus to ASD enhanced the formation of biofilms. The coexistence of ASD and A. fumigatus may increase the development of fungal biofilms and fungal inflammatory diseases in the sinonasal mucosa.
Botrytis cinerea Loss and Restoration of Virulence during In Vitro Culture Follows Flux in Global DNA Methylation
Authors: Breen James , Mur Luis Alejandro Jose , Sivakumaran Anushen , Akinyemi Aderemi , Wilkinson Michael James , Rodriguez Lopez Carlos Marcelino
Published: March 2022

Pathogenic fungi can lose virulence after protracted periods of culture, but little is known of the underlying mechanisms. Here, we present the first analysis of DNA methylation flux at a single-base resolution for the plant pathogen B. cinerea and identify differentially methylated genes/genomic regions associated with virulence erosion during in vitro culture. Cultures were maintained for eight months, with subcultures and virulence testing every month. Methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphisms were performed at monthly intervals to characterise global changes to the pathogen’s genome during culture and also on DNA from mycelium inoculated onto Arabidopsis thaliana after eight months in culture. Characterisation of culture-induced epialleles was assessed by whole-genome re-sequencing and whole-genome bisulfite sequencing. Virulence declined with time in culture and recovered after inoculation on A. thaliana. Variation detected by methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphisms followed virulence changes during culture. Whole-genome (bisulfite) sequencing showed marked changes in global and local methylation during culture but no significant genetic changes. We imply that virulence is a non-essential plastic character that is at least partly modified by the changing levels of DNA methylation during culture. We hypothesise that changing DNA methylation during culture may be responsible for the high virulence/low virulence transition in B. cinerea and speculate that this may offer fresh opportunities to control pathogen virulence.
Identification of D Modification Sites Using a Random Forest Model Based on Nucleotide Chemical Properties
Authors: Zhu Huan , Ao Chun-Yan , Ding Yi-Jie , Hao Hong-Xia , Yu Liang
Published: March 2022

Dihydrouridine (D) is an abundant post-transcriptional modification present in transfer RNA from eukaryotes, bacteria, and archaea. D has contributed to treatments for cancerous diseases. Therefore, the precise detection of D modification sites can enable further understanding of its functional roles. Traditional experimental techniques to identify D are laborious and time-consuming. In addition, there are few computational tools for such analysis. In this study, we utilized eleven sequence-derived feature extraction methods and implemented five popular machine algorithms to identify an optimal model. During data preprocessing, data were partitioned for training and testing. Oversampling was also adopted to reduce the effect of the imbalance between positive and negative samples. The best-performing model was obtained through a combination of random forest and nucleotide chemical property modeling. The optimized model presented high sensitivity and specificity values of 0.9688 and 0.9706 in independent tests, respectively. Our proposed model surpassed published tools in independent tests. Furthermore, a series of validations across several aspects was conducted in order to demonstrate the robustness and reliability of our model.
Male Infertility in the XXI Century: Are Obesogens to Blame?
Authors: Sousa Ana C. A. , Alves Marco G. , Oliveira Pedro F. , Silva Branca M. , Rato Luís
Published: March 2022

The permanent exposure to environmental contaminants promoting weight gain (i.e., obesogens) has raised serious health concerns. Evidence suggests that obesogens are one of the leading causes of the marked decline in male fertility and are key players in shaping future health outcomes, not only for those who are directly exposed to them, but also for upcoming generations. It has been hypothesized that obesogens affect male fertility. By using an interdisciplinary strategy, combining in silico, in vitro, in vivo and epidemiological findings, this review aims to contribute to the biological understanding of the molecular transformations induced by obesogens that are the basis of male infertility. Such understanding is shaped by the use of Adverse Outcomes Pathways, a new approach that may shift the paradigm of reproductive toxicology, contributing to the improvement of the diagnosis and management of the adverse effects of obesogens in male fertility.
Small Angle X-ray Diffraction as a Tool for Structural Characterization of Muscle Disease
Authors: Ma Weikang , Irving Thomas C.
Published: March 2022

Small angle X-ray fiber diffraction is the method of choice for obtaining molecular level structural information from striated muscle fibers under hydrated physiological conditions. For many decades this technique had been used primarily for investigating basic biophysical questions regarding muscle contraction and regulation and its use confined to a relatively small group of expert practitioners. Over the last 20 years, however, X-ray diffraction has emerged as an important tool for investigating the structural consequences of cardiac and skeletal myopathies. In this review we show how simple and straightforward measurements, accessible to non-experts, can be used to extract biophysical parameters that can help explain and characterize the physiology and pathology of a given experimental system. We provide a comprehensive guide to the range of the kinds of measurements that can be made and illustrate how they have been used to provide insights into the structural basis of pathology in a comprehensive review of the literature. We also show how these kinds of measurements can inform current controversies and indicate some future directions.
Water-Based Graphene Oxide–Silicon Hybrid Nanofluids—Experimental and Theoretical Approach
Authors: Huminic Gabriela , Vărdaru Alexandru , Huminic Angel , Fleacă Claudiu , Dumitrache Florian , Morjan Ion
Published: March 2022

In the current paper, a new hybrid nanofluid based on graphene oxide sheets and silicon nanoparticles is proposed for thermal applications. GO sheets and Si nanoparticles with different mixture ratios are dispersed in distilled water. Dynamic viscosity is measured at temperatures within the range 20–50 °C and the values are compared to the results available in the literature. The results indicated that the viscosity increases with increasing the mixture ratio of graphene oxide. A new correlation for the dynamic viscosity based on the experimental findings is proposed. Finally, the criteria for the performance of new hybrid nanofluid for thermal applications are analyzed.
Mesenchymal Stem-Cell Remodeling of Adsorbed Type-I Collagen—The Effect of Collagen Oxidation
Authors: Komsa-Penkova Regina , Stavreva Galya , Belemezova Kalina , Kyurkchiev Stanimir , Todinova Svetla , Altankov George
Published: March 2022

This study describes the effect of collagen type I (Col I) oxidation on its physiological remodeling by adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs), both mechanical and proteolytic, as an in vitro model for the acute oxidative stress that may occur in vivo upon distinct environmental changes. Morphologically, remodeling was interpreted as the mechanical rearrangement of adsorbed FITC-labelled Col I into a fibril-like pattern. This process was strongly abrogated in cells cultured on oxidized Col I albeit without visible changes in cell morphology. Proteolytic activity was quantified utilizing fluorescence de-quenching (FRET effect). The presence of ADMSCs caused a significant increase in native FITC-Col I fluorescence, which was almost absent in the oxidized samples. Parallel studies in a cell-free system confirmed the enzymatic de-quenching of native FITC-Col I by Clostridial collagenase with statistically significant inhibition occurring in the oxidized samples. Structural changes to the oxidized Col I were further studied by differential scanning calorimetry. In the oxidized samples, an additional endotherm with sustained enthalpy (∆H) was observed at 33.6 °C along with Col I’s typical one at 40.5 °C. Collectively, these data support that the remodeling of Col I by ADMSCs is altered upon oxidation due to intrinsic changes to the protein’s structure, which represents a novel mechanism for the control of stem cell behavior.
c-Myc Protein Level Affected by Unsymmetrical Bisacridines Influences Apoptosis and Senescence Induced in HCT116 Colorectal and H460 Lung Cancer Cells
Authors: Pawłowska Monika , Kulesza Jolanta , Augustin Ewa
Published: March 2022

Unsymmetrical bisacridines (UAs) are highly active antitumor compounds. They contain in their structure the drugs previously synthesized in our Department: C-1311 and C-1748. UAs exhibit different properties than their monomer components. They do not intercalate to dsDNA but stabilize the G-quadruplex structures, particularly those of the MYC and KRAS genes. Since MYC and KRAS are often mutated and constitutively expressed in cancer cells, they can be used as therapeutic targets. Herein, we investigate whether UAs can affect the expression and protein level of c-Myc and K-Ras in HCT116 and H460 cancer cells, and if so, what are the consequences for the UAs-induced cellular response. UAs did not affect K-Ras, but they strongly influenced the expression and translation of the c-Myc protein, and in H460 cells, they caused its full inhibition. UAs treatment resulted in apoptosis, as confirmed by the morphological changes, the presence of sub-G1 population and active caspase-3, cleaved PARP, annexin-V/PI staining and a decrease in mitochondrial potential. Importantly, apoptosis was induced earlier and to a greater extent in H460 compared to HCT116 cells. Moreover, accelerated senescence occurred only in H460 cells. In conclusion, the strong inhibition of c-Myc by UAs in H460 cells may participate in the final cellular response (apoptosis, senescence).
Gene-Delivery Ability of New Hydrogenated and Partially Fluorinated Gemini bispyridinium Surfactants with Six Methylene Spacers
Authors: Massa Michele , Rivara Mirko , Donofrio Gaetano , Cristofolini Luigi , Peracchia Erica , Compari Carlotta , Bacciottini Franco , Orsi Davide , Franceschi Valentina , Fisicaro Emilia
Published: March 2022

The pandemic emergency determined by the spreading worldwide of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has focused the scientific and economic efforts of the pharmaceutical industry and governments on the possibility to fight the virus by genetic immunization. The genetic material must be delivered inside the cells by means of vectors. Due to the risk of adverse or immunogenic reaction or replication connected with the more efficient viral vectors, non-viral vectors are in many cases considered as a preferred strategy for gene delivery into eukaryotic cells. This paper is devoted to the evaluation of the gene delivery ability of new synthesized gemini bis-pyridinium surfactants with six methylene spacers, both hydrogenated and fluorinated, in comparison with compounds with spacers of different lengths, previously studied. Results from MTT proliferation assay, electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA), transient transfection assay tests and atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging confirm that pyridinium gemini surfactants could be a valuable tool for gene delivery purposes, but their performance is highly dependent on the spacer length and strictly related to their structure in solution. All the fluorinated compounds are unable to transfect RD-4 cells, if used alone, but they are all able to deliver a plasmid carrying an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression cassette, when co-formulated with 1,2-dioleyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) in a 1:2 ratio. The fluorinated compounds with spacers formed by six (FGP6) and eight carbon atoms (FGP8) give rise to a very interesting gene delivery activity, greater to that of the commercial reagent, when formulated with DOPE. The hydrogenated compound GP16_6 is unable to sufficiently compact the DNA, as shown by AFM images.
An Accurate Refinement Pathway for Visual Tracking
Authors: Xu Liang , Cheng Shuli , Wang Liejun
Published: March 2022

Recently, in the field of visual object tracking, visual object tracking algorithms combined with visual object segmentation have achieved impressive results while using mask to label targets in the VOT2020 dataset. Most of the trackers get the object mask by increasing the resolution through multiple upsampling modules and gradually get the mask by summing with the features in the backbone network. However, this refinement pathway does not fully consider the spatial information of the backbone features, and therefore, the segmentation results are not perfect. In this paper, the cross-stage and cross-resolution (CSCR) module is proposed for optimizing the segmentation effect. This module makes full use of the semantic information of high-level features and the spatial information of low-level features, and fuses them by skip connections to achieve a very accurate segmentation effect. Experiments were conducted on the VOT dataset, and the experimental results outperformed other excellent trackers and verified the effectiveness of the algorithm in this paper.
Timely Application of Four Insecticides to Control Corn Earworm and Fall Armyworm Larvae in Sweet Corn
Authors: Viteri Diego M. , Linares-Ramírez Angela M.
Published: March 2022

Insecticide sprays are a common practice to control corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), and fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in corn (Zea mays L.) at reproductive stages. Our objectives were to determine (1) the most appropriate time for insecticide applications and (2) the effect of four insecticides on the survival of larvae as well as their weight. ß-cyfluthrin (0.4 mL/L), chlorantraniliprole (0.6 mL/L), emamectin benzoate (0.2 g/L), and spinetoram (1.5 mL/L) were sprayed on silks of sweet corn planted in Isabela and Lajas, Puerto Rico 3 h before and 24 and 48 h after pollination. The number of kernels produced and the damage of larvae on kernels were quantified at harvest. In addition, percentages of mortality and changes on larval weight were noted at 96 h after insecticide applications. Insecticide sprays at 3 h before pollination reduced the number of kernels or were similar to the control in all treatments. However, emamectin benzoate sprayed in Lajas and chlorantraniliprole applied in Isabela at 48 h after pollination increased the number of kernels (281–294) and reduced the damage of larvae on kernels (<0.5%) compared to the control (201–229; >7%). Furthermore, applications of emamectin benzoate caused higher percentages of fall armyworm larval mortality (>70%). Conversely, ß-cyfluthrin and chlorantraniliprole caused lower percentages of mortality (<30%) and only chlorantraniliprole and spinetoram reduced the weight of corn earworm and fall armyworm larvae collected in both locations. This information may help pest management programs and corn breeders to schedule insecticide sprays and pollination in the field.