bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Organizational and Individual Outcomes of Health Promotion Strategies—A Review of Empirical Research
Authors: Basińska-Zych Agata , Springer Agnieszka
Published: January 2021

The main purpose of the paper is to identify the outcomes for employers and employees indicated in research related to workplace health promotion interventions (WHPIs). We investigated what methods are used and what types of organization this type of research is most often carried out in. In addition, the authors attempted to assess to what extent the methods used in the previous research prove the effectiveness of the implemented WHPIs. A systematic review of English-language papers (2000–2020) focused on types of health-promoting interventions in the workplace, and outcomes for employers and employees were conducted using the SCOPUS database (n = 260). As a result, 29 texts qualified for a final qualitative synthesis of the results. The analyses were most frequently conducted in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based on both quantitative and qualitative methods. In order to draw conclusions, analyses were made by classifying the research presented in the texts according to the type of intervention implemented, classifying the outcomes identified, and indicating the type of evaluation made by the researcher. The analysis showed that most of the outcomes presented refer to changes in the strategy and organizational culture, as well as the behavior of employees. In 18 studies, the indication of outcomes resulted directly from the evaluation outcomes. In other cases, the outcomes were identified by an evaluation of the process or structure of WHPI. The conducted analysis showed significant diversity in terms of the outcomes measured and the research methods used. The quasi-experimental methods, randomly controlled cluster trials, or cross-sectorial studies used in the study to confirm the effectiveness of WHPI were used only in every third study. In these studies, measurements were usually performed twice: at baseline and after intervention. The majority of studies confirmed that WHPIs led to a positive change in the healthy behavior of employees and effected an organizational change, and more rarely led to savings or a reduction in costs resulting from sickness absenteeism, presentism, turnover, etc., and return on investment (ROI). The article shows the need to conduct further research towards the development of guidelines for the evaluation of the effectiveness of implemented programs.
Places to Smoke: Exploring Smoking-Related Practices among Danish Adolescents
Authors: Glenstrup Stine , Bast Lotus Sofie , Danielsen Dina , Andersen Anette , Tjørnhøj-Thomsen Tine
Published: January 2021

Several established school smoking prevention initiatives involve restrictions on places to smoke. The focus on tobacco control in schools is due to the risk of smoking initiation during adolescence and the perception of this life stage as a period of time when health behavior is established. Hence, this period of time is considered to be ideal for health-promoting initiatives. This paper is part of an ethnographic study on adolescents’ perceptions of tobacco use. Focus groups and field observations were used to explore adolescents’ smoking-related practices related to smoking bans at schools. The findings show that smoking, as a place-based practice, is influenced by locally embedded rules and carries social implications resulting in a distinction between smokers and non-smokers. The distinction between smokers and non-smokers contributes to the retention of a stereotypical view of smokers and, moreover, stigmatizes smokers. According to this, restrictions on places to smoke within the school should be considered carefully in order to avoid stigma or ethical issues.
Prevalence of Hyperuricemia and the Use of Allopurinol in Older Poles—Results from a Population-Based PolSenior Study
Authors: Winder Mateusz , Owczarek Aleksander J. , Mossakowska Małgorzata , Broczek Katarzyna , Grodzicki Tomasz , Wierucki Łukasz , Chudek Jerzy
Published: January 2021

Background: Our study analyzes the frequency and risk factors of hyperuricemia and the use of allopurinol in a representative cohort of the older Polish adult population. Methods: The analysis was a part of a cross-sectional PolSenior study on aging in Poland. The complete medication data were available in 4873 out of 4979 community dwelling respondents aged 65 and over. Serum uric acid concentrations were evaluated in 4028 participants (80.9% of the cohort). Results: Hyperuricemia was observed in 28.2% of women and 24.7% of men. Ten risk factors of hyperuricemia were selected based on multivariable LASSO logistic regression analysis. Nine factors showed significant odds ratios: eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (OR = 4.10), hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 1.88), obesity (OR = 1.75), heart failure (1.70), CRP > 3.0 mg/dL (OR = 1.64), coronary artery disease (OR = 1.30), use of loop-diuretics (OR = 4.20), hydrochlorothiazide (OR = 2.96), and thiazide-like diuretics (OR = 2.81). Allopurinol was used by 2.8% of men and 1.8% of women. The therapy was considered effective in 46.7% of men and 53.3% of women. Conclusions: Hyperuricemia was present in 23.1% (95% CI: 21.8–24.4) of the older Polish population. The frequency of hyperuricemia increases with age, reaching 30.5% in men and 33.7% in women aged 90 years or more. Chronic kidney disease, obesity, heart failure, hypertriglyceridemia, and the use of diuretics were the strongest risk factors for hyperuricemia in older adults. The treatment with allopurinol was ineffective in more than half of participants.
Usefulness of Linear Mixed-Effects Models to Assess the Relationship between Objective and Subjective Internal Load in Team Sports
Authors: Iannaccone Alice , Conte Daniele , Cortis Cristina , Fusco Andrea
Published: January 2021

Internal load can be objectively measured by heart rate-based models, such as Edwards’ summated heart rate zones, or subjectively by session rating of perceived exertion. The relationship between internal loads assessed via heart rate-based models and session rating of perceived exertion is usually studied through simple correlations, although the Linear Mixed Model could represent a more appropriate statistical procedure to deal with intrasubject variability. This study aimed to compare conventional correlations and the Linear Mixed Model to assess the relationships between objective and subjective measures of internal load in team sports. Thirteen male youth beach handball players (15.9 ± 0.3 years) were monitored (14 training sessions; 7 official matches). Correlation coefficients were used to correlate the objective and subjective internal load. The Linear Mixed Model was used to model the relationship between objective and subjective measures of internal load data by considering each player individual response as random effect. Random intercepts were used and then random slopes were added. The likelihood-ratio test was used to compare statistical models. The correlation coefficient for the overall relationship between the objective and subjective internal data was very large (r = 0.74; ρ = 0.78). The Linear Mixed Model using both random slopes and random intercepts better explained (p < 0.001) the relationship between internal load measures. Researchers are encouraged to apply the Linear Mixed Models rather than correlation to analyze internal load relationships in team sports since it allows for the consideration of the individuality of players.
Intracellular Ca2+ Signaling in Protozoan Parasites: An Overview with a Focus on Mitochondria
Authors: Scarpelli Pedro H. , Pecenin Mateus F. , Garcia Celia R. S.
Published: January 2021

Ca2+ signaling has been involved in controling critical cellular functions such as activation of proteases, cell death, and cell cycle control. The endoplasmatic reticulum plays a significant role in Ca2+ storage inside the cell, but mitochondria have long been recognized as a fundamental Ca2+ pool. Protozoan parasites such as Plasmodium falciparum, Toxoplasma gondii, and Trypanosoma cruzi display a Ca2+ signaling toolkit with similarities to higher eukaryotes, including the participation of mitochondria in Ca2+-dependent signaling events. This review summarizes the most recent knowledge in mitochondrial Ca2+ signaling in protozoan parasites, focusing on the mechanism involved in mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake by pathogenic protists.
More Than Just Simple Interaction between STIM and Orai Proteins: CRAC Channel Function Enabled by a Network of Interactions with Regulatory Proteins
Authors: Berlansky Sascha , Humer Christina , Sallinger Matthias , Frischauf Irene
Published: January 2021

The calcium-release-activated calcium (CRAC) channel, activated by the release of Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), is critical for Ca2+ homeostasis and active signal transduction in a plethora of cell types. Spurred by the long-sought decryption of the molecular nature of the CRAC channel, considerable scientific effort has been devoted to gaining insights into functional and structural mechanisms underlying this signalling cascade. Key players in CRAC channel function are the Stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) and Orai1. STIM1 proteins span through the membrane of the ER, are competent in sensing luminal Ca2+ concentration, and in turn, are responsible for relaying the signal of Ca2+ store-depletion to pore-forming Orai1 proteins in the plasma membrane. A direct interaction of STIM1 and Orai1 allows for the re-entry of Ca2+ from the extracellular space. Although much is already known about the structure, function, and interaction of STIM1 and Orai1, there is growing evidence that CRAC under physiological conditions is dependent on additional proteins to function properly. Several auxiliary proteins have been shown to regulate CRAC channel activity by means of direct interactions with STIM1 and/or Orai1, promoting or hindering Ca2+ influx in a mechanistically diverse manner. Various proteins have also been identified to exert a modulatory role on the CRAC signalling cascade although inherently lacking an affinity for both STIM1 and Orai1. Apart from ubiquitously expressed representatives, a subset of such regulatory mechanisms seems to allow for a cell-type-specific control of CRAC channel function, considering the rather restricted expression patterns of the specific proteins. Given the high functional and clinical relevance of both generic and cell-type-specific interacting networks, the following review shall provide a comprehensive summary of regulators of the multilayered CRAC channel signalling cascade. It also includes proteins expressed in a narrow spectrum of cells and tissues that are often disregarded in other reviews of similar topics.
Experimental Model Systems for Understanding Human Axonal Injury Responses
Authors: Lee Bohm , Cho Yongcheol
Published: January 2021

Neurons are structurally unique and have dendrites and axons that are vulnerable to injury. Some neurons in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) can regenerate their axons after injuries. However, most neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) fail to do so, resulting in irreversible neurological disorders. To understand the mechanisms of axon regeneration, various experimental models have been utilized in vivo and in vitro. Here, we collate the key experimental models that revealed the important mechanisms regulating axon regeneration and degeneration in different systems. We also discuss the advantages of experimenting with the rodent model, considering the application of these findings in understanding human diseases and for developing therapeutic methods.
Flavonoids: Nutraceuticals for Rheumatic Diseases via Targeting of Inflammasome Activation
Authors: Yi Young-Su
Published: January 2021

Inflammation, an innate immune response that prevents cellular damage caused by pathogens, consists of two successive mechanisms, namely priming and triggering. While priming is an inflammation-preparation step, triggering is an inflammation-activation step, and the central feature of triggering is the activation of inflammasomes and intracellular inflammatory protein complexes. Flavonoids are natural phenolic compounds predominantly present in plants, fruits, and vegetables and are known to possess strong anti-inflammatory activities. The anti-inflammatory activity of flavonoids has long been demonstrated, with the main focus on the priming mechanisms, while increasing numbers of recent studies have redirected the research focus on the triggering step, and studies have reported that flavonoids inhibit inflammatory responses and diseases by targeting inflammasome activation. Rheumatic diseases are systemic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases that primarily affect joints and connective tissues, and they are associated with numerous deleterious effects. Here, we discuss the emerging literature on the ameliorative role of flavonoids targeting inflammasome activation in inflammatory rheumatic diseases.
Genetics and Genomics of SOST: Functional Analysis of Variants and Genomic Regulation in Osteoblasts
Authors: Martínez-Gil Núria , Roca-Ayats Neus , Cozar Mónica , Garcia-Giralt Natàlia , Ovejero Diana , Nogués Xavier , Grinberg Daniel , Balcells Susanna
Published: January 2021

SOST encodes the sclerostin protein, which acts as a key extracellular inhibitor of the canonical Wnt pathway in bone, playing a crucial role in skeletal development and bone homeostasis. The objective of this work was to assess the functionality of two variants previously identified (the rare variant rs570754792 and the missense variant p.Val10Ile) and to investigate the physical interactors of the SOST proximal promoter region in bone cells. Through a promoter luciferase reporter assay we show that the minor allele of rs570754792, a variant located in the extended TATA box motif, displays a significant decrease in promoter activity. Likewise, through western blot studies of extracellular and intracellular sclerostin, we observe a reduced expression of the p.Val10Ile mutant protein. Finally, using a circular chromosome conformation capture assay (4C-seq) in 3 bone cell types (MSC, hFOB, Saos-2), we have detected physical interactions between the SOST proximal promoter and the ECR5 enhancer, several additional enhancers located between EVT4 and MEOX1 and a distant region containing exon 18 of DHX8. In conclusion, SOST presents functional regulatory and missense variants that affect its expression and displays physical contacts with far reaching genomic sequences, which may play a role in its regulation within bone cells.
Species-Specific and Distance-Dependent Dispersive Behaviour of Forisomes in Different Legume Species
Authors: Paulmann Maria K. , Zimmermann Matthias R. , Wegner Linus , van Bel Aart J. E. , Kunert Grit , Furch Alexandra C. U.
Published: January 2021

Forisomes are giant fusiform protein complexes composed of sieve element occlusion (SEO) protein monomers, exclusively found in sieve elements (SEs) of legumes. Forisomes block the phloem mass flow by a Ca2+-induced conformational change (swelling and rounding). We studied the forisome reactivity in four different legume species—Medicago sativa, Pisum sativum, Trifolium pratense and Vicia faba. Depending on the species, we found direct relationships between SE diameter, forisome surface area and distance from the leaf tip, all indicative of a developmentally tuned regulation of SE diameter and forisome size. Heat-induced forisome dispersion occurred later with increasing distance from the stimulus site. T. pratense and V. faba dispersion occurred faster for forisomes with a smaller surface area. Near the stimulus site, electro potential waves (EPWs)—overlapping action (APs), and variation potentials (VPs)—were linked with high full-dispersion rates of forisomes. Distance-associated reduction of forisome reactivity was assigned to the disintegration of EPWs into APs, VPs and system potentials (SPs). Overall, APs and SPs alone were unable to induce forisome dispersion and only VPs above a critical threshold were capable of inducing forisome reactions.
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs): Novel Therapeutic Strategies with Immunotherapy and Small Molecules
Authors: Vallilas Christos , Sarantis Panagiotis , Kyriazoglou Anastasios , Koustas Evangelos , Theocharis Stamatios , Papavassiliou Athanasios G. , Karamouzis Michalis V.
Published: January 2021

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common types of malignant mesenchymal tumors in the gastrointestinal tract, with an estimated incidence of 1.5/100.000 per year and 1–2% of gastrointestinal neoplasms. About 75–80% of patients have mutations in the KIT gene in exons 9, 11, 13, 14, 17, and 5–10% of patients have mutations in the platelet-derived growth factor receptor a (PDGFRA) gene in exons 12, 14, 18. Moreover, 10–15% of patients have no mutations and are classified as wild type GIST. The treatment for metastatic or unresectable GISTs includes imatinib, sunitinib, and regorafenib. So far, GIST therapies have raised great expectations and offered patients a better quality of life, but increased pharmacological resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors is often observed. New treatment options have emerged, with ripretinib, avapritinib, and cabozantinib getting approvals for these tumors. Nowadays, immune checkpoint inhibitors form a new landscape in cancer therapeutics and have already shown remarkable responses in various tumors. Studies in melanoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, and renal cell carcinoma are very encouraging as these inhibitors have increased survival rates. The purpose of this review is to present alternative approaches for the treatment of the GIST patients, such as combinations of immunotherapy and novel inhibitors with traditional therapies (tyrosine kinase inhibitors).
tRNA Biology in the Pathogenesis of Diabetes: Role of Genetic and Environmental Factors
Authors: Arroyo Maria Nicol , Green Jonathan Alex , Cnop Miriam , Igoillo-Esteve Mariana
Published: January 2021

The global rise in type 2 diabetes results from a combination of genetic predisposition with environmental assaults that negatively affect insulin action in peripheral tissues and impair pancreatic β-cell function and survival. Nongenetic heritability of metabolic traits may be an important contributor to the diabetes epidemic. Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are noncoding RNA molecules that play a crucial role in protein synthesis. tRNAs also have noncanonical functions through which they control a variety of biological processes. Genetic and environmental effects on tRNAs have emerged as novel contributors to the pathogenesis of diabetes. Indeed, altered tRNA aminoacylation, modification, and fragmentation are associated with β-cell failure, obesity, and insulin resistance. Moreover, diet-induced tRNA fragments have been linked with intergenerational inheritance of metabolic traits. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of how perturbations in tRNA biology play a role in the pathogenesis of monogenic and type 2 diabetes.
Profiling and Functional Analysis of Long Noncoding RNAs and mRNAs during Porcine Skeletal Muscle Development
Authors: Tan Ya , Gan Mailin , Shen Linyuan , Li Liang , Fan Yuan , Chen Ying , Chen Lei , Niu Lili , Zhao Ye , Jiang Anan , Jiang Dongmei , Zhang Shunhua , Zhu Li
Published: January 2021

Gene transcripts or mRNAs and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are differentially expressed during porcine skeletal muscle development. However, only a few studies have been conducted on skeletal muscle transcriptome in pigs based on timepoints according to the growth curve for porcine. Here, we investigated gene expression in Qingyu pigs at three different growth stages: the inflection point with the maximum growth rate (MGI), the inflection point of the gradually increasing stage to the rapidly increasing stage (GRI), and the inflection point of the rapidly increasing stage to the slowly increasing stage (RSI). Subsequently, we explored gene expression profiles during muscle development at the MGI, GRI and RSI stages by Ribo-Zero RNA sequencing. Qingyu pigs reached the MGI, GRI and RSI stages at 156.40, 23.82 and 288.97 days of age with 51.73, 3.14 and 107.03 kg body weight, respectively. A total of 14,530 mRNAs and 11,970 lncRNAs were identified at the three stages, and 645, 323 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 696, 760 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) were identified in the GRI vs. MGI, and RSI vs. MGI, comparisons. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that genes involved in immune system development and energy metabolism (mainly relate to amino acid, carbohydrate and lipid) were enriched at the GRI and MGI stages, respectively, whereas genes involved in lipid metabolism were enriched at the RSI stage. We further characterized G1430, an abundant lncRNA. The full-length sequence (316 nt) of lncRNA G1430 was determined by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). Subcellular distribution analysis by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) revealed that G1430 is a cytoplasmic lncRNA. Binding site prediction and dual luciferase assay showed that lncRNA G1430 directly binds to microRNA 133a (miR-133a). Our findings provide the basis for further investigation of the regulatory mechanisms and molecular genetics of muscle development in pigs.
CHD4 Predicts Aggressiveness in PTC Patients and Promotes Cancer Stemness and EMT in PTC Cells
Authors: Pratheeshkumar Poyil , Siraj Abdul K. , Divya Sasidharan Padmaja , Parvathareddy Sandeep Kumar , Alobaisi Khadija , Al-Sobhi Saif S. , Al-Dayel Fouad , Al-Kuraya Khawla S.
Published: January 2021

Chromodomain-helicase-DNA-binding protein 4 (CHD4), a core subunit of the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylation (NuRD) complex is highly expressed in several cancers. However, its role in the pathogenesis and progression of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has not been investigated. We investigated the prognostic significance of CHD4 in a large cohort of Middle Eastern PTC patients and explored the functional role of CHD4 in regulating cancer stemness and EMT in PTC cells. CHD4 overexpression was observed in 45.3% (650/1436) of PTCs, and was associated with aggressive clinico-pathological parameters and worse outcome. Functional analysis using PTC cell lines showed that forced expression of CHD4 promoted cell proliferation, spheroid growth, migration, invasion and progression of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in PTC cells whereas its knockdown reversed the effect. Methylation of E-cadherin was associated with loss of expression in CHD4 expressing cells, while CHD4 depletion reactivated E-cadherin expression. Most importantly, knockdown of mesenchymal transcriptional factors, Snail1 or Zeb1, attenuated the spheroid growth in CHD4 expressing PTC cells, showing a potential link between EMT activation and stemness maintenance in PTC. These findings suggest that CHD4 might be a promising therapeutic target in the treatment of patients with an aggressive subtype of PTC.
miR-210 and miR-152 as Biomarkers by Liquid Biopsy in Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
Authors: Lopes Beatriz C. , Braga Cristine Z. , Ventura Fabrício V. , de Oliveira Jéssica G. , Kato-Junior Edson M. , Bordin-Junior Newton A. , Zuccari Debora A. P. C.
Published: January 2021

Detecting circulating microRNAs (miRNAs; miRs) by means of liquid biopsy is an important tool for the early diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer (BC). We aimed to identify and validate miR-210 and miR-152 as non-invasive circulating biomarkers, for the diagnosis and staging of BC patients, confirming their involvement in tumor angiogenesis. Methods: RT-qPCR was performed and MiRNA expression analysis was obtained from plasma and fragments of BC and benign breast condition (BBC) women patients, plus healthy subjects. Additionally, the immunohistochemistry technique was carried out to analyze the expression of target proteins. Results: Tumor fragments showed increased expression of oncomiR-210 and decreased expression of miR-152 tumoral suppressor. Both miRNAs were increased in plasma samples from BC patients. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that only the expression of oncomiR-210 in tissue samples and only the expression of the miR-152 suppressor in plasma have the appropriate sensitivity and specificity for use as differential biomarkers between early/intermediate and advanced stages of BC patients. In addition, there was an increase in the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α), insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in BC patients. On the contrary, a decrease in Von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) protein expression was observed. Conclusions: This study showed that increased levels of miR-210 and decreased levels of miR152, in addition to the expressions of their target proteins, could indicate, respectively, the oncogenic and tumor suppressive role of these miRNAs in fragments. Both miRNAs are potential diagnostic biomarkers for BC by liquid biopsy. In addition, miR-152 proved to be a promising biomarker for disease staging.
Polymer-Coated Magnetite Nanoparticles for Protein Immobilization
Authors: Mylkie Kinga , Nowak Pawel , Rybczynski Patryk , Ziegler-Borowska Marta
Published: January 2021

Since their discovery, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have become materials with great potential, especially considering the applications of biomedical sciences. A series of works on the preparation, characterization, and application of MNPs has shown that the biological activity of such materials depends on their size, shape, core, and shell nature. Some of the most commonly used MNPs are those based on a magnetite core. On the other hand, synthetic biopolymers are used as a protective surface coating for these nanoparticles. This review describes the advances in the field of polymer-coated MNPs for protein immobilization over the past decade. General methods of MNP preparation and protein immobilization are presented. The most extensive section of this article discusses the latest work on the use of polymer-coated MNPs for the physical and chemical immobilization of three types of proteins: enzymes, antibodies, and serum proteins. Where possible, the effectiveness of the immobilization and the activity and use of the immobilized protein are reported. Finally, the information available in the peer-reviewed literature and the application perspectives for the MNP-immobilized protein systems are summarized as well.
Interrogating Plant-Microbe Interactions with Chemical Tools: Click Chemistry Reagents for Metabolic Labeling and Activity-Based Probes
Authors: Lin Vivian S.
Published: January 2021

Continued expansion of the chemical biology toolbox presents many new and diverse opportunities to interrogate the fundamental molecular mechanisms driving complex plant–microbe interactions. This review will examine metabolic labeling with click chemistry reagents and activity-based probes for investigating the impacts of plant-associated microbes on plant growth, metabolism, and immune responses. While the majority of the studies reviewed here used chemical biology approaches to examine the effects of pathogens on plants, chemical biology will also be invaluable in future efforts to investigate mutualistic associations between beneficial microbes and their plant hosts.
A 2 Week Cross-over Intervention with a Low Carbohydrate, High Fat Diet Compared to a High Carbohydrate Diet Attenuates Exercise-Induced Cortisol Response, but Not the Reduction of Exercise Capacity, in Recreational Athletes
Authors: Terink Rieneke , Witkamp Renger F. , Hopman Maria T. E. , Siebelink Els , Savelkoul Huub F. J. , Mensink Marco
Published: January 2021

Low carbohydrate, high fat (LCHF) diets are followed by athletes, but questions remain regarding effects of LCHF on metabolic adaptation, exercise-induced stress, immune function and their time-course. In this cross-over study, 14 recreational male athletes (32.9 ± 8.2 years, VO2max 57.3 ± 5.8 mL/kg/min) followed a two week LCHF diet (<10 En% carbohydrates (CHO), ~75En% Fat) and a two week HC diet (>50 En% CHO), in random order, with a wash-out period of >2 weeks in between. After 2 days and 2 weeks on either diet, participants performed cycle ergometry for 90 min at 60%Wmax. Blood samples for analysis of cortisol, free fatty acids (FFA), glucose and ketones, and saliva samples for immunoglobin A (s-IgA) were collected at different time points before and after exercise. The LCHF diet resulted in higher FFA, higher ketones and lower glucose levels compared to the HC diet (p < 0.05). Exercise-induced cortisol response was higher after 2 days on the LCHF diet (822 ± 215 nmol/L) compared to 2 weeks on the LCHF diet (669 ± 243 nmol/L, p = 0.004) and compared to both test days following the HC diet (609 ± 208 and 555 ± 173 nmol/L, both p < 0.001). Workload was lower, and perceived exertion higher, on the LCHF diet compared to the HC diet on both occasions. A drop in s-IgA following exercise was not seen after 2 days on the LCHF diet, in contrast to the HC diet. In conclusion, the LCHF diet resulted in reduced workload with metabolic effects and a pronounced exercise-induced cortisol response after 2 days. Although indications of adaptation were seen after 2 weeks on the LCHF diet, work output was still lower.
Underwater Object Detection and Reconstruction Based on Active Single-Pixel Imaging and Super-Resolution Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Li Mengdi , Mathai Anumol , Lau Stephen L. H. , Yam Jian Wei , Xu Xiping , Wang Xin
Published: January 2021

Due to medium scattering, absorption, and complex light interactions, capturing objects from the underwater environment has always been a difficult task. Single-pixel imaging (SPI) is an efficient imaging approach that can obtain spatial object information under low-light conditions. In this paper, we propose a single-pixel object inspection system for the underwater environment based on compressive sensing super-resolution convolutional neural network (CS-SRCNN). With the CS-SRCNN algorithm, image reconstruction can be achieved with 30% of the total pixels in the image. We also investigate the impact of compression ratios on underwater object SPI reconstruction performance. In addition, we analyzed the effect of peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity index (SSIM) to determine the image quality of the reconstructed image. Our work is compared to the SPI system and SRCNN method to demonstrate its efficiency in capturing object results from an underwater environment. The PSNR and SSIM of the proposed method have increased to 35.44% and 73.07%, respectively. This work provides new insight into SPI applications and creates a better alternative for underwater optical object imaging to achieve good quality.
A Contactless Laser Doppler Strain Sensor for Fatigue Testing with Resonance-Testing Machine
Authors: Wang Fangjian , Krause Steffen , Hug Joachim , Rembe Christian
Published: January 2021

In this article, a non-contact laser Doppler strain sensor designed for fatigue testing with the resonance-testing machine is presented. The compact sensor measures in-plane displacements simultaneously from two adjacent points using the principle of in-plane, laser-Doppler vibrometry. The strain is computed from the relative displacements divided by the distance between these two points. The optical design, the mathematical model for estimating noise-limited resolution, the simulation results of this model, and the first measurement results are presented. The comparison of the measurement results of our sensor with the results of a conventional strain gauge shows that our design meets the measurement requirements. The maximum strain deviation compared to conventional strain gauges of the laser-Doppler extensometer is below 4×10−5 in all performed experiments.
Development of the Circular Bioeconomy: Drivers and Indicators
Authors: Kardung Maximilian , Cingiz Kutay , Costenoble Ortwin , Delahaye Roel , Heijman Wim , Lovrić Marko , van Leeuwen Myrna , M’Barek Robert , van Meijl Hans , Piotrowski Stephan , Ronzon Tévécia , Sauer Johannes , Verhoog David , Verkerk Pieter Johannes , Vrachioli Maria , Wesseler Justus H. H. , Zhu Benz Xinqi
Published: January 2021

The EU’s 2018 Bioeconomy Strategy Update and the European Green Deal recently confirmed that the bioeconomy is high on the political agenda in Europe. Here, we propose a conceptual analysis framework for quantifying and analyzing the development of the EU bioeconomy. The bioeconomy has several related concepts (e.g., bio-based economy, green economy, and circular economy) and there are clear synergies between these concepts, especially between the bioeconomy and circular economy concepts. Analyzing the driving factors provides important information for monitoring activities. We first derive the scope of the bioeconomy framework in terms of bioeconomy sectors and products to be involved, the needed geographical coverage and resolution, and time period. Furthermore, we outline a set of indicators linked to the objectives of the EU’s bioeconomy strategy. In our framework, measuring developments will, in particular, focus on the bio-based sectors within the bioeconomy as biomass and food production is already monitored. The selected indicators commit to the EU Bioeconomy Strategy objectives and conform with findings from previous studies and stakeholder consultation. Additionally, several new indicators have been suggested and they are related to measuring the impact of changes in supply, demand drivers, resource availability, and policies on sustainability goals.
A Partially Non-Compensatory Method to Measure the Smart and Sustainable Level of Italian Municipalities
Authors: Ciacci Andrea , Ivaldi Enrico , González-Relaño Reyes
Published: January 2021

A smart sustainable city (SSC) is a paradigm that encapsulates the latest lines of development in multiple fields of research. The attempt to converge towards a model of sustainable urban life, made difficult by increasing anthropic pressure and polluting activities conducted by man, is also reflected in the intentions of public institutions to take measures of environmental risk mitigation. The change towards more liveable cities must also include the adoption of more far-reaching measures in various sectors. The objective of our work was to provide an analysis in order to assess which of the Italian provincial municipalities were most closely related to the paradigm of SSCs. This aim was pursued through a comparison based on the results of a partially non-compensatory quantitative method, known as the Pena’s Distance method (DP2). The smartest and most sustainable cities, such as Siena, Milan and Padua, were not identified on the basis of common urban characteristics but rather derived from the combination of distinctive and functional elements in the pursuit of a strategic approach aimed at fully exploiting the resources of each area. Moreover, at a macro-geographical level, from the analysis emerged the presence of contiguous clusters, i.e., areas in which a major concentration of smart sustainable municipalities tended to form.
Use of Software on Modeling Hazardous Substance Release as a Support Tool for Crisis Management
Authors: Polorecka Maria , Kubas Jozef , Danihelka Pavel , Petrlova Katarina , Repkova Stofkova Katarina , Buganova Katarina
Published: January 2021

Today’s modern society offers many new opportunities, but also many risks. Even modernization of companies cannot completely eliminate these dangers. In the smart industry, despite significant technological progress, it is necessary to work with various raw materials, including hazardous substances. It is these raw materials that will continue to pose risks in the future for industrial accidents, which cannot be ruled out. The possible release of hazardous substances can potentially have a negative impact on the environment and safety of the population. In order to deal with certain emergencies, it is necessary to allocate a large amount of funds and resources to them. The paper focuses on risk prevention in industry and the use of modern and new approaches. Specifically, it focuses on the implementation of the prevention of leakage of hazardous substances in the gaseous state from industrial facilities. The aim of the paper is to present a new approach to the prevention of leakage of hazardous substances, which provides more realistic calculations for modeling leaks and thus helps to reduce the cost of prevention. However, security in crisis management is not diminished. ALOHA CAMEO software was used for leak modeling, which the authors commonly use in practical applications and modeling in industrial enterprises in the performance of duties in the field of civil protection and crisis management. ALOHA software is used for such modeling, serving as a support tool for modeling for all crisis managers in Industry 4.0. This paper deals with the modeling of dispersion of hazardous substances with specific properties escaping from technological equipment located inside a building. This concerns the inability of the current dispersion model software to prevent the spread of the next leak inside the building containing the substance. A solution is needed to fix this problem. This issue is well illustrated by a specific example at the end of this article. The mentioned improvement of tools for simulation of industrial accidents influences the possibilities of development also in Industry 4.0. It enables more effective preparation for the management of possible accidents with regard to the appropriate spending of funds for prevention and subsequent response.
In Situ Observations on the Crack Morphology in the Ancient Timber Beams
Authors: Ruggieri Nicola
Published: January 2021

The conservation of ancient structures is, in the construction panorama, a highly eco-sustainable operation. In fact, it provides for a very limited consumption of resources. This article provides an in-depth analysis of ancient wooden material, an essential element for drawing up correct conservation interventions. Ancient timber beams have a peculiar morphology of failure dependent on many factors, among which are the species of wood, the quality of the material-knots, presence of fissures caused by shrinkage (checks), direction of the grain, and environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity. In addition, it is linked to load conditions and static configuration. This paper presents a case study of failed ancient timber members still in place and describes the type of failure as well as the origin and propagation of the cracks. The objective is to provide a classification of the causes and of the effects and their evolution, useful to practitioners and to those who have to make decisions on the timber structures conservation.
A Systematic Review on Flood Early Warning and Response System (FEWRS): A Deep Review and Analysis
Authors: A. Hammood Waleed , Abdullah Arshah Ruzaini , Mohamad Asmara Salwana , Al Halbusi Hussam , A. Hammood Omar , Al Abri Salem
Published: January 2021

Flood is the major natural hazard in Malaysia in terms of populations affected, area extent, frequency, social–economic damage, and flood duration. This shows the importance of providing comprehensive and effective flood mitigation management, which requires government agencies to enhance their employment performance that involves technological innovation. A flood early warning and response system (FEWRS) is essential to ensure that all stakeholders receive the right information and are provided with necessary actions and response information to avoid loss of lives and property. It should have some effective usability features and success components of its strategic information access and display; existing FEWRS fail and often do not effectively provide information on flood disasters to reduce their impacts at a local level to save the population’s lives. The measurement of information system (IS) success remains a top concern for researchers, managers, and practitioners. Therefore, this study seeks to provide a systematic overview of the most successful model of employment-related technical advancement for the management of flood disasters to improve its employees’ performance. In addition, examined factors that affect the successful implementation of flood management approaches, based on a systematic literature review among IS, show interrelationship of success factors. Findings from the literature suggest that the DeLone and McLean (D&M) model is the most widely employed model, recorded in 28 studies (39%). Further description of the 28 studies indicates that the D&M was either adopted alone or integrated with other theories. Moreover, results suggest the D&M is has been applied alone 39% of the time and has been extended 29% of the time; in total, 68% of the time, D&M has been applied either alone or extended in the information system domain. Additionally, 22% of the time it has been integrated with other theories.
Variability in Anesthesia Models of Care in Cardiac Surgery
Authors: McCallister Dianne , Malone Bethany , Hanna Jennifer , Firstenberg Michael S.
Published: January 2021

The operating room in a cardiothoracic surgical case is a complex environment, with multiple handoffs often required by staffing changes, and can be variable from program to program. This study was done to characterize what types of practitioners provide anesthesia during cardiac operations to determine the variability in this aspect of care. A survey was sent out via a list serve of members of the cardiac surgical team. Responses from 40 programs from a variety of countries showed variability across every dimension requested of the cardiac anesthesia team. Given that anesthesia is proven to have an influence on the outcome of cardiac procedures, this study indicates the opportunity to further study how this variability influences outcomes and to identify best practices.
Statistical Estimates of the Pulsar Glitch Activity
Authors: Montoli Alessandro , Antonelli Marco , Haskell Brynmor , Pizzochero Pierre
Published: January 2021

A common way to calculate the glitch activity of a pulsar is an ordinary linear regression of the observed cumulative glitch history. This method however is likely to underestimate the errors on the activity, as it implicitly assumes a (long-term) linear dependence between glitch sizes and waiting times, as well as equal variance, i.e., homoscedasticity, in the fit residuals, both assumptions that are not well justified from pulsar data. In this paper, we review the extrapolation of the glitch activity parameter and explore two alternatives: the relaxation of the homoscedasticity hypothesis in the linear fit and the use of the bootstrap technique. We find a larger uncertainty in the activity with respect to that obtained by ordinary linear regression, especially for those objects in which it can be significantly affected by a single glitch. We discuss how this affects the theoretical upper bound on the moment of inertia associated with the region of a neutron star containing the superfluid reservoir of angular momentum released in a stationary sequence of glitches. We find that this upper bound is less tight if one considers the uncertainty on the activity estimated with the bootstrap method and allows for models in which the superfluid reservoir is entirely in the crust.
Jumbo Phages: A Comparative Genomic Overview of Core Functions and Adaptions for Biological Conflicts
Authors: M. Iyer Lakshminarayan , Anantharaman Vivek , Krishnan Arunkumar , Burroughs A. Maxwell , Aravind L.
Published: January 2021

Jumbo phages have attracted much attention by virtue of their extraordinary genome size and unusual aspects of biology. By performing a comparative genomics analysis of 224 jumbo phages, we suggest an objective inclusion criterion based on genome size distributions and present a synthetic overview of their manifold adaptations across major biological systems. By means of clustering and principal component analysis of the phyletic patterns of conserved genes, all known jumbo phages can be classified into three higher-order groups, which include both myoviral and siphoviral morphologies indicating multiple independent origins from smaller predecessors. Our study uncovers several under-appreciated or unreported aspects of the DNA replication, recombination, transcription and virion maturation systems. Leveraging sensitive sequence analysis methods, we identify novel protein-modifying enzymes that might help hijack the host-machinery. Focusing on host–virus conflicts, we detect strategies used to counter different wings of the bacterial immune system, such as cyclic nucleotide- and NAD+-dependent effector-activation, and prevention of superinfection during pseudolysogeny. We reconstruct the RNA-repair systems of jumbo phages that counter the consequences of RNA-targeting host effectors. These findings also suggest that several jumbo phage proteins provide a snapshot of the systems found in ancient replicons preceding the last universal ancestor of cellular life.
Content analysis of bank disclosures related to ESG risks
Authors: Tamásné Vőneki Zsuzsanna , Gabriella Lamanda
Published: January 2021

The current article focuses on ESG risks. Taking into account ESG aspects, and the expectations and guidelines related to public reports on ESG risks, we created a list of questions, based on which we evaluated the reports of nine large domestic banks published in 2019. Based on a content analysis of the reports, we can con-firm the hypothesis that ESG risks are not built into the risk management process and are not defined as independent risks, and that the ESG framework does not have a dedicated organization. The management of ESG risks is unstructured and only partially reflected in domestic practice, and since there is no uniform requirement for disclosure, heterogeneous reports and information content are typical. The main problem can be seen in the absence of a definition of the ESG framework. Related to the three issues (the environment, social responsibility, and corporate governance), banks lag far behind in integrating environmental considerations into lending policy.
Inundação em áreas urbanas do distrito sede do município de Petrópolis-RJ: a não observância dos aspectos geomorfológicos no planejamento urbano
Authors:   Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, da Silva Stephany Emiliane Lopes , Nunes Rafael da Silva ,   Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, de Freitas Marcelo Motta ,   Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro
Published: January 2021

Cada vez mais o entendimento sinérgico dos processos físicos torna-se importante para estabelecerem-se possíveis resultantes de fenômenos que corroboram para o aumento da exposição de riscos de uma determinada população. Nos últimos anos, a Região Serrana do estado do Rio de Janeiro tem vivenciado um conjunto de acontecimentos que resultam destes processos, apresentando impactos econômicos, sociais e ambientais na região. Neste sentido, o artigo busca abordar a dinâmica hidrológica das microbacias Alto Curso Piabanha e Quitandinha no Distrito Sede do Município de Petrópolis, estado do Rio de Janeiro, visando o entendimento dos processos de inundação urbana. A identificação e caracterização de elementos que compõe o meio físico, como o clima, a geomorfologia e a geologia apresentam-se como essenciais para que se possa entender a dinâmica geomorfológica e hidrológica dessas microbacias e, consequentemente, avaliar a vulnerabilidade da população às condições de risco de inundações.