bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimization of Culture Conditions for Oxygen-Tolerant Regulatory [NiFe]-Hydrogenase Production from Ralstonia eutropha H16 in Escherichia coli
Authors: Fan Qin , Caserta Giorgio , Lorent Christian , Lenz Oliver , Neubauer Peter , Gimpel Matthias
Published: June 2021

Hydrogenases are abundant metalloenzymes that catalyze the reversible conversion of molecular H2 into protons and electrons. Important achievements have been made over the past two decades in the understanding of these highly complex enzymes. However, most hydrogenases have low production yields requiring many efforts and high costs for cultivation limiting their investigation. Heterologous production of these hydrogenases in a robust and genetically tractable expression host is an attractive strategy to make these enzymes more accessible. In the present study, we chose the oxygen-tolerant H2-sensing regulatory [NiFe]-hydrogenase (RH) from Ralstonia eutropha H16 owing to its relatively simple architecture compared to other [NiFe]-hydrogenases as a model to develop a heterologous hydrogenase production system in Escherichia coli. Using screening experiments in 24 deep-well plates with 3 mL working volume, we investigated relevant cultivation parameters, including inducer concentration, expression temperature, and expression time. The RH yield could be increased from 14 mg/L up to >250 mg/L by switching from a batch to an EnPresso B-based fed-batch like cultivation in shake flasks. This yield exceeds the amount of RH purified from the homologous host R. eutropha by several 100-fold. Additionally, we report the successful overproduction of the RH single subunits HoxB and HoxC, suitable for biochemical and spectroscopic investigations. Even though both RH and HoxC proteins were isolated in an inactive, cofactor free apo-form, the proposed strategy may powerfully accelerate bioprocess development and structural studies for both basic research and applied studies. These results are discussed in the context of the regulation mechanisms governing the assembly of large and small hydrogenase subunits.
Mineral Phosphorus Supply in Piglets Impacts the Microbial Composition and Phytate Utilization in the Large Intestine
Authors: Reyer Henry , Sjöberg Per J. R. , Oster Michael , Wubuli Aisanjiang , Murani Eduard , Ponsuksili Siriluck , Wolf Petra , Wimmers Klaus
Published: June 2021

A sufficient supply of phosphorus (P) to pigs in livestock farming is based on the optimal use of plant-based phytate and mineral P supplements to ensure proper growth processes and bone stability. However, a high P supplementation might bear the risk of higher environmental burden due to the occurrence of excess P and phytate degradation products in manure. In this context, the intestinal microbiota is of central importance to increase P solubility, to employ non-mineral P by the enzymatic degradation of phytate, and to metabolize residual P. A feeding experiment was conducted in which piglets were fed diets with different P levels, resulting in three groups with low, medium (covering requirements), and high concentrations of available P. Samples from caecum and colon digesta were analysed for microbial composition and phytate breakdown to estimate the microbial contribution to metabolize P sources. In terms of identified operational taxonomic units (OTU), caecum and colon digesta under the three feeding schemes mainly overlap in their core microbiome. Nevertheless, different microbial families correlate with increased dietary P supply. Specifically, microbes of Desulfovibrionaceae, Pasteurellaceae, Anaerovoracaceae, and Methanobacteriaceae were found significantly differentially abundant in the large intestine across the dietary treatments. Moreover, members of the families Veillonellaceae, Selenomonadaceae, and Succinivibrionaceae might contribute to the observed phytate degradation in animals fed a low P diet. In this sense, the targeted manipulation of the intestinal microbiota by feeding measures offers possibilities for the optimization of intestinal phytate and P utilization.
Correction: Li et al. Multidrug-Resistant Streptococcus agalactiae Strains Found in Human and Fish with High Penicillin and Cefotaxime Non-Susceptibilities. Microorganisms 2020, 8, 1055
Authors: Li Carmen , Nanayakkara Sapugahawatte Dulmini , Yang Ying , Wong Kam Tak , Lo Norman Wai Sing , Ip Margaret
Published: June 2021

The authors would like to make the following correction to the published paper [...]
Extreme Weather Events Enhance DOC Consumption in a Subtropical Freshwater Ecosystem: A Multiple-Typhoon Analysis
Authors: Lai Chao-Chen , Ko Chia-Ying , Austria Eleanor , Shiah Fuh-Kwo
Published: June 2021

Empirical evidence suggests that the frequency/intensity of extreme weather events might increase in a warming climate. It remains unclear how these events quantitatively impact dissolved organic carbon (DOC), a pool approximately equal to CO2 in the atmosphere. This study conducted a weekly-to-biweekly sampling in a deep subtropical reservoir in the typhoon-prevailing season (June to September) from 2004 to 2009, at which 33 typhoons with distinctive precipitation (<1~362 mm d−1) had passed the study site. Our analyses indicated that the phosphate (i.e., DIP; <10~181 nMP) varied positively with the intensity of the accumulated rainfall 2-weeks prior; bacteria growth rate (0.05~3.68 d−1) behaved as a positive function of DIP, and DOC concentrations (54~119 µMC) changed negatively with bacterial production (1.2~26.1 mgC m−3 d−1). These implied that the elevated DIP-loading in the hyperpycnal flow induced by typhoons could fuel bacteria growth and cause a significant decline of DOC concentrations. As the typhoon’s intensity increases, many mineral-limited lentic freshwater ecosystems might become more like a CO2 source injecting more CO2 back to the atmosphere, creating a positive feedback loop that might generate severer extreme weather events.
Effects of Dispersants and Biosurfactants on Crude-Oil Biodegradation and Bacterial Community Succession
Authors: Thomas Gareth E. , Brant Jan L. , Campo Pablo , Clark Dave R. , Coulon Frederic , Gregson Benjamin H. , McGenity Terry J. , McKew Boyd A.
Published: June 2021

This study evaluated the effects of three commercial dispersants (Finasol OSR 52, Slickgone NS, Superdispersant 25) and three biosurfactants (rhamnolipid, trehalolipid, sophorolipid) in crude-oil seawater microcosms. We analysed the crucial early bacterial response (1 and 3 days). In contrast, most analyses miss this key period and instead focus on later time points after oil and dispersant addition. By focusing on the early stage, we show that dispersants and biosurfactants, which reduce the interfacial surface tension of oil and water, significantly increase the abundance of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, and the rate of hydrocarbon biodegradation, within 24 h. A succession of obligate hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria (OHCB), driven by metabolite niche partitioning, is demonstrated. Importantly, this succession has revealed how the OHCB Oleispira, hitherto considered to be a psychrophile, can dominate in the early stages of oil-spill response (1 and 3 days), outcompeting all other OHCB, at the relatively high temperature of 16 °C. Additionally, we demonstrate how some dispersants or biosurfactants can select for specific bacterial genera, especially the biosurfactant rhamnolipid, which appears to provide an advantageous compatibility with Pseudomonas, a genus in which some species synthesize rhamnolipid in the presence of hydrocarbons.
Performance Evaluation of Fe-Al Bimetallic Particles for the Removal of Potentially Toxic Elements from Combined Acid Mine Drainage-Effluents from Refractory Gold Ore Processing
Authors: Aghaei Elham , Wang Zexiang , Tadesse Bogale , Tabelin Carlito Baltazar , Quadir Zakaria , Alorro Richard Diaz
Published: June 2021

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a serious environmental issue associated with mining due to its acidic pH and potentially toxic elements (PTE) content. This study investigated the performance of the Fe-Al bimetallic particles for the treatment of combined AMD-gold processing effluents. Batch experiments were conducted in order to eliminate potentially toxic elements (including Hg, As, Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn, and Mn) from a simulated waste solution at various bimetal dosages (5, 10, and 20 g/L) and time intervals (0 to 90 min). The findings show that metal ions with greater electrode potentials than Fe and Al have higher affinities for electrons released from the bimetal. Therefore, a high removal (>95%) was obtained for Hg, As, Cu, and Pb using 20 g/L bimetal in 90 min. Higher uptakes of Hg, As, Cu, and Pb than Ni, Zn, and Mn also suggest that electrochemical reduction and adsorption by Fe-Al (oxy) hydroxides as the primary and secondary removal mechanisms, respectively. The total Al3+ dissolution in the experiments with a higher bimetal content (10 and 20 g/L) were insignificant, while a high release of Fe ions was recorded for various bimetal dosages. Although the secondary Fe pollution can be considered as a drawback of using the Fe-Al bimetal, this issue can be tackled by a simple neutralization and Fe precipitation process. A rapid increase in the solution pH (initial pH 2 to >5 in 90 min) was also observed, which means that bimetallic particles can act as a neutralizing agent in AMD treatment system and promote the precipitation of the dissolved metals. The presence of chloride ions in the system may cause akaganeite formation, which has shown a high removal capacity for PTE. Moreover, nitrate ions may affect the process by competing for the released electrons from the bimetal owing to their higher electrode potential than the metals. Finally, the Fe-Al bimetallic material showed promising results for AMD remediation by electrochemical reduction of PTE content, as well as acid-neutralization/metal precipitation.
Identification, Characterization and Antihypertensive Effect In Vivo of a Novel ACE-Inhibitory Heptapeptide from Defatted Areca Nut Kernel Globulin Hydrolysates
Authors: Liu Xing , Li Guanwen , Wang Huimin , Qin Nan , Guo Lili , Wang Xiaomin , Shen Sang
Published: June 2021

The areca (Areca catechu L.) nut kernel (ANK) is a good potential protein source for its high protein content of 9.89–14.62 g/100 g and a high yield of around 300,000 tons per year in China. However, utilization of the areca nut kernel is limited. To expand the usage of ANK in pharmaceutical or foods industries, areca nut kernel globulin was extracted and angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition peptides were prepared and identified using gel chromatography, reversed phase HPLC separation, UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis and in silico screening. Finally, a novel ACE-inhibitory heptapeptide (Ala–Pro–Lys–Ile–Glu–Glu–Val) was identified and chemically synthesized. The combination pattern between APKIEEV and ACE, and the inhibition kinetics, antihypertensive effect and endothlein-1 inhibition activity of APKIEEV were studied. The results of the molecular docking demonstrated that APKIEEV could bind to four active sites (not the key active sites) of ACE via short hydrogen bonds and demonstrated high ACE-inhibitory activity (IC50: 550.41 μmol/L). Moreover, APKIEEV exhibited a significantly lowering effect on both the systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats, and had considerable suppression ability on intracellular endothelin-1. These results highlight the potential usage of APKIEEV as ingredients of antihypertensive drugs or functional foods.
Collagen Characterization in a Model of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis with Fibrosis; A Call for Development of Targeted Therapeutics
Authors: Pellicano Anthony J. , Spahn Kiera , Zhou Ping , Goldberg Itzhak D. , Narayan Prakash
Published: June 2021

Left untreated, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, and end-stage liver disease. To date, few if any therapies have proven effective against NASH with fibrosis. Quantification and qualification of hepatic scar might enable development of more effective targeted therapies. In a murine model of NASH induced by diet, we characterized fibrillar collagen deposition within the hepatic parenchyma. At harvest, livers from the modified diet cohort exhibited NASH with fibrosis. Transcriptomic analysis of hepatic tissue revealed increased col1a1, col1a2, and col3a1, each of which correlated directly with hepatic hydroxyproline content. Circular polarized microscopic analysis of Picrosirius red-stained liver sections revealed deposition of collagen type I within the parenchyma. Development of therapeutics designed to mitigate collagen type I accumulation might prove effective in NASH with fibrosis.
Thiol- and Disulfide-Based Stimulus-Responsive Soft Materials and Self-Assembling Systems
Authors: Beaupre Danielle M. , Weiss Richard G.
Published: June 2021

Properties and applications of synthetic thiol- and disulfide-based materials, principally polymers, are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on soft and self-assembling materials in which interconversion of the thiol and disulfide groups initiates stimulus-responses and/or self-healing for biomedical and non-biomedical applications.
Chirality and Relativistic Effects in Os3(CO)12
Authors: Ryzhikov Maxim R. , Mirzaeva Irina V. , Kozlova Svetlana G. , Mironov Yuri V.
Published: June 2021

The energy and structural parameters were obtained for all forms of the carbonyl complex of osmium Os3(CO)12 with D3h and D3 symmetries using density functional theory (DFT) methods. The calculations took into account various levels of relativistic effects, including those associated with nonconservation of spatial parity. It was shown that the ground state of Os3(CO)12 corresponds to the D3 symmetry and thus may be characterized either as left-twisted (D3S) or right-twisted (D3R). The D3S↔D3R transitions occur through the D3h transition state with an activation barrier of ~10–14 kJ/mol. Parity violation energy difference (PVED) between D3S and D3R states equals to ~5 × 10−10 kJ/mol. An unusual three-center exchange interaction was found inside the {Os3} fragment. It was found that the cooperative effects of the mutual influence of osmium atoms suppress the chirality of the electron system in the cluster.
Enzyme-Loaded Flower-Shaped Nanomaterials: A Versatile Platform with Biosensing, Biocatalytic, and Environmental Promise
Authors: Al-Maqdi Khadega A. , Bilal Muhammad , Alzamly Ahmed , Iqbal Hafiz M. N. , Shah Iltaf , Ashraf Syed Salman
Published: June 2021

As a result of their unique structural and multifunctional characteristics, organic–inorganic hybrid nanoflowers (hNFs), a newly developed class of flower-like, well-structured and well-oriented materials has gained significant attention. The structural attributes along with the surface-engineered functional entities of hNFs, e.g., their size, shape, surface orientation, structural integrity, stability under reactive environments, enzyme stabilizing capability, and organic–inorganic ratio, all significantly contribute to and determine their applications. Although hNFs are still in their infancy and in the early stage of robust development, the recent hike in biotechnology at large and nanotechnology in particular is making hNFs a versatile platform for constructing enzyme-loaded/immobilized structures for different applications. For instance, detection- and sensing-based applications, environmental- and sustainability-based applications, and biocatalytic and biotransformation applications are of supreme interest. Considering the above points, herein we reviewed current advances in multifunctional hNFs, with particular emphasis on (1) critical factors, (2) different metal/non-metal-based synthesizing processes (i.e., (i) copper-based hNFs, (ii) calcium-based hNFs, (iii) manganese-based hNFs, (iv) zinc-based hNFs, (v) cobalt-based hNFs, (vi) iron-based hNFs, (vii) multi-metal-based hNFs, and (viii) non-metal-based hNFs), and (3) their applications. Moreover, the interfacial mechanism involved in hNF development is also discussed considering the following three critical points: (1) the combination of metal ions and organic matter, (2) petal formation, and (3) the generation of hNFs. In summary, the literature given herein could be used to engineer hNFs for multipurpose applications in the biosensing, biocatalysis, and other environmental sectors.
Application of Pulsed Laser Deposition in the Preparation of a Promising MoSx/WSe2/C(В) Photocathode for Photo-Assisted Electrochemical Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Romanov Roman , Fominski Vyacheslav , Demin Maxim , Fominski Dmitry , Rubinkovskaya Oxana , Novikov Sergey , Volkov Valentin , Doroshina Natalia
Published: June 2021

We studied the possibility of using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) for the formation of a MoSx/WSe2 heterostructure on a dielectric substrate. The heterostructure can be employed for effective solar water splitting to produce hydrogen. The sapphire substrate with the conducting C(B) film (rear contact) helped increase the formation temperature of the WSe2 film to obtain the film consisting of 2H-WSe2 near-perfect nanocrystals. The WSe2 film was obtained by off-axis PLD in Ar gas. The laser plume from a WSe2 target was directed along the substrate surface. The preferential scattering of selenium on Ar molecules contributed to the effective saturation of the WSe2 film with chalcogen. Nano-structural WSe2 film were coated by reactive PLD with a nanofilm of catalytically active amorphous MoSx~4. It was established that the mutual arrangement of energy bands in the WSe2 and MoSx~4 films facilitated the separation of electrons and holes at the interface and electrons moved to the catalytically active MoSx~4. The current density during light-assisted hydrogen evolution was above ~3 mA/cm2 (at zero potential), whilst the onset potential reached 400 mV under irradiation with an intensity of 100 mW/cm2 in an acidic solution. Factors that may affect the HER performance of MoSx~4/WSe2/C(В) structure are discussed.
Differences in the Factor Structure of the Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26) in Different Cultures in Israel: Jews, Muslims, and Christians
Authors: Spivak-Lavi Zohar , Peleg Ora , Tzischinsky Orna , Stein Daniel , Latzer Yael
Published: June 2021

Background: In recent years, there has been a shift in the clinical presentation and, hence, diagnostic definitions of eating disorders (EDs), reflected in a dramatic change in the diagnostic criteria of EDs in the DSM-5. The Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) is currently considered an accepted instrument for community studies of EDs, although it features an inconsistent factorial structure in different cultures. Therefore, it is essential to investigate whether the EAT-26 can still be considered an adequate instrument for identifying the risk of developing EDs in different cultures. The aim of the present study was to examine the construct validity and internal consistency of the EAT-26. Method: The study used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) among different cultural populations in Israel. Results: Findings indicated different factors in different ethnic groups, most of which do not correspond with the original EAT-26 three-factor structure. Results: The analysis yielded two main factors among Israeli Jews, four main factors among Israeli Muslim Arabs, and three main factors among Israeli Christian Arabs. Conclusion: These findings shed light on cultural factors affecting perceptions of the EAT-26 items. This calls for a reconsideration of the generalization of the original three-factor structure of the questionnaire in different cultures.
C4 Bacterial Volatiles Improve Plant Health
Authors: Silva Dias Bruno Henrique , Jung Sung-Hee , Castro Oliveira Juliana Velasco de , Ryu Choong-Min
Published: June 2021

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) associated with plant roots can trigger plant growth promotion and induced systemic resistance. Several bacterial determinants including cell-wall components and secreted compounds have been identified to date. Here, we review a group of low-molecular-weight volatile compounds released by PGPR, which improve plant health, mostly by protecting plants against pathogen attack under greenhouse and field conditions. We particularly focus on C4 bacterial volatile compounds (BVCs), such as 2,3-butanediol and acetoin, which have been shown to activate the plant immune response and to promote plant growth at the molecular level as well as in large-scale field applications. We also disc/ uss the potential applications, metabolic engineering, and large-scale fermentation of C4 BVCs. The C4 bacterial volatiles act as airborne signals and therefore represent a new type of biocontrol agent. Further advances in the encapsulation procedure, together with the development of standards and guidelines, will promote the application of C4 volatiles in the field.
Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Protist Infections in Hospital Inpatients in Southwestern China
Authors: Zhang Shun-Xian , Carmena David , Ballesteros Cristina , Yang Chun-Li , Chen Jia-Xu , Chu Yan-Hong , Yu Ying-Fang , Wu Xiu-Ping , Tian Li-Guang , Serrano Emmanuel
Published: June 2021

Cryptosporidium spp., Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia duodenalis, and Blastocystis sp. infections have been frequently reported as etiological agents for gastroenteritis, but also as common gut inhabitants in apparently healthy individuals. Between July 2016 and March 2017, stool samples (n = 507) were collected from randomly selected individuals (male/female ratio: 1.1, age range: 38–63 years) from two sentinel hospitals in Tengchong City Yunnan Province, China. Molecular (PCR and Sanger sequencing) methods were used to detect and genotype the investigated protist species. Carriage/infection rates were: Blastocystis sp. 9.5% (95% CI: 7.1–12.4%), G. duodenalis 2.2% (95% CI: 1.1–3.8%); and E. histolytica 2.0% (95% CI: 0.9–3.6%). Cryptosporidium spp. was not detected at all. Overall, 12.4% (95% CI: 9.7–15.6) of the participants harbored at least one enteric protist species. The most common coinfection was E. histolytica and Blastocystis sp. (1.0%; 95% CI: 0.3–2.2). Sequence analyses revealed that 90.9% (10/11) of the genotyped G. duodenalis isolates corresponded to the sub-assemblage AI. The remaining sequence (9.1%, 1/11) was identified as sub-assemblage BIV. Five different Blastocystis subtypes, including ST3 (43.7%, 21/48), ST1 (27.1%, 13/48), ST7 (18.8%, 9/48), ST4 (8.3%, 4/48), and ST2 (2.1%, 1/48) were identified. Statistical analyses confirmed that (i) the co-occurrence of protist infections was purely random, (ii) no associations were observed among the four protist species found, and (iii) neither their presence, individually or jointly, nor the patient’s age was predictors for developing clinical symptoms associated with these infections. Overall, these protist mono- or coinfections are asymptomatic and do not follow any pattern.
Nontargeted Metabolomics by High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry to Study the In Vitro Metabolism of a Dual Inverse Agonist of Estrogen-Related Receptors β and γ, DN203368
Authors: Kim Sin-Eun , Ji Seung-Bae , Kim Euihyeon , Jeong Minseon , Kim Jina , Lee Gyung-Min , Seo Hyung-Ju , Bae Subin , Jeong Yeojin , Lee Sangkyu , Kim Sunghwan , Lee Taeho , Cho Sung Jin , Liu Kwang-Hyeon
Published: June 2021

DN203368 ((E)-3-[1-(4-[4-isopropylpiperazine-1-yl]phenyl) 3-methyl-2-phenylbut-1-en-1-yl] phenol) is a 4-hydroxy tamoxifen analog that is a dual inverse agonist of estrogen-related receptor β/γ (ERRβ/γ). ERRγ is an orphan nuclear receptor that plays an important role in development and homeostasis and holds potential as a novel therapeutic target in metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, and cancer. ERRβ is also one of the orphan nuclear receptors critical for many biological processes, such as development. We investigated the in vitro metabolism of DN203368 by conventional and metabolomic approaches using high-resolution mass spectrometry. The compound (100 μM) was incubated with rat and human liver microsomes in the presence of NADPH. In the metabolomic approach, the m/z value and retention time information obtained from the sample and heat-inactivated control group were statistically evaluated using principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis. Significant features responsible for group separation were then identified using tandem mass spectra. Seven metabolites of DN203368 were identified in rat liver microsomes and the metabolic pathways include hydroxylation (M1-3), N-oxidation (M4), N-deisopropylation (M5), N,N-dealkylation (M6), and oxidation and dehydrogenation (M7). Only five metabolites (M2, M3, and M5-M7) were detected in human liver microsomes. In the conventional approach using extracted ion monitoring for values of mass increase or decrease by known metabolic reactions, only five metabolites (M1-M5) were found in rat liver microsomes, whereas three metabolites (M2, M3, and M5) were found in human liver microsomes. This study revealed that nontargeted metabolomics combined with high-resolution mass spectrometry and multivariate analysis could be a more efficient tool for drug metabolite identification than the conventional approach. These results might also be useful for understanding the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of DN203368 in animals and humans.
Anti-Allergic, Anti-Inflammatory, and Anti-Hyperglycemic Activity of Chasmanthe aethiopica Leaf Extract and Its Profiling Using LC/MS and GLC/MS
Authors: Ayoub Iriny M. , Korinek Michal , El-Shazly Mohamed , Wetterauer Bernhard , El-Beshbishy Hesham A. , Hwang Tsong-Long , Chen Bing-Hung , Chang Fang-Rong , Wink Michael , Singab Abdel Nasser B. , Youssef Fadia S.
Published: June 2021

This study aims to comprehensively explore the phytoconstituents as well as investigate the different biological activities of Chasmanthe aethiopica (Iridaceae) for the first time. Metabolic profiling of the leaf methanol extract of C. aethiopica (CAL) was carried out using HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS. Twenty-nine compounds were annotated belonging to various phytochemical classes including organic acids, cinnamic acid derivatives, flavonoids, isoflavonoids, and fatty acids. Myricetin-3-O-rhamnoside was the major compound identified. GLC/MS analysis of the n-hexane fraction (CAL-A) resulted in the identification of 45 compounds with palmitic acid (16.08%) and methyl hexadecanoic acid ester (11.91%) representing the major constituents. CAL-A exhibited a potent anti-allergic activity as evidenced by its potent inhibition of β-hexosaminidase release triggered by A23187 and IgE by 72.7% and 48.7%, respectively. Results were comparable to that of dexamethasone (10 nM) in the A23187 degranulation assay showing 80.7% inhibition for β-hexosaminidase release. Both the n-hexane (CAL-A) and dichloromethane (CAL-B) fractions exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity manifested by the significant inhibition of superoxide anion generation and prohibition of elastase release. CAL showed anti-hyperglycemic activity in vivo using streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model by reducing fasting blood glucose levels (FBG) by 53.44% as compared with STZ-treated rats along with a substantial increase in serum insulin by 22.22%. Molecular modeling studies indicated that dicaffeoylquinic acid showed the highest fitting with free binding energies (∆G) of −47.24 and −60.50 Kcal/mol for human α-amylase and α-glucosidase, respectively confirming its anti-hyperglycemic activity. Thus, C. aethiopica leaf extract could serve as an effective antioxidant natural remedy combating inflammation, allergy, and hyperglycemia.
Drupe Characters, Fatty Acids, Polyphenolic and Aromatic Profile of Olive Oil Obtained from “Oliva Bianca”, Minor Autochthonous Cultivar of Campania
Authors: Di Vaio Claudio , Graziani Giulia , Gaspari Anna , De Luca Lucia , Aiello Alessandra , Cirillo Aurora , Bruno Antonio , Romano Raffaele , Ritieni Alberto
Published: June 2021

Campania, due to its pedo-climatic conditions and to its large varietal heritage, is able to produce oils with high typicity, each different from the other. In this study a “minor” autochthonous cultivar of Campania “Oliva Bianca” was analyzed. In autumn 2020, on drupes from trees belonging to the Campania germplasm collection a varietal characterization through physical, chemical and chromatic parameters at the harvest was carried out. Phenolic compounds profile, fatty acids composition and volatile organic compounds have been investigated in the resulting oil. Quality indices, organoleptic and sensory qualities (panel test) were also determined on the oil. Drupe weight was 4.31 g, flesh/pit ratio was 3.68 and the accumulation of oil content at harvest in drupes was 18.63% FW. The drupes showed high anthocyanins content equal to 116.10 mg/kg. In the oil studied, the secoiridoids represented the 82.25% of total phenolic compounds, the concentration of oleic acid was 74.82% and the most present volatile compound was trans-2-hexenal (72.30%). High secoiridoid derivatives concentrations such as oleuropein (85.93 mg/kg) and ligstroside (122.43 mg/kg) aglycones were showed. This study showed a good content of qualitative and quantitative parameters of “Oliva Bianca” oil and drupe, that can have important beneficial effects on human health.
Low-Temperature Mechanical Properties of High-Density and Low-Density Polyethylene and Their Blends
Authors: Salakhov Ildar I. , Shaidullin Nadim M. , Chalykh Anatoly E. , Matsko Mikhail A. , Shapagin Alexey V. , Batyrshin Ayrat Z. , Shandryuk Georgiy A. , Nifant’ev Ilya E.
Published: June 2021

Low-temperature properties of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), and their blends were studied. The analyzed low-temperature mechanical properties involve the deformation resistance and impact strength characteristics. HDPE is a bimodal ethylene/1-hexene copolymer; LDPE is a branched ethylene homopolymer containing short-chain branches of different length; LLDPE is a binary ethylene/1-butene copolymer and an ethylene/1-butene/1-hexene terpolymer. The samples of copolymers and their blends were studied by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), 13C NMR spectroscopy, and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) using testing machines equipped with a cryochamber. It is proposed that such parameters as “relative elongation at break at −45 °C” and “Izod impact strength at −40 °C” are used instead of the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature to assess frost resistance properties because these parameters are more sensitive to deformation and impact at subzero temperatures for HDPE. LLDPE is shown to exhibit higher relative elongation at break at −45 °C and Izod impact strength at −20 ÷ 60 °C compared to those of LDPE. LLDPE terpolymer added to HDPE (at a content ≥ 25 wt.%) simultaneously increases flow properties and improves tensile properties of the blend at −45 °C. Changes in low-temperature properties as a function of molecular weight, MWD, crystallinity, and branch content were determined for HDPE, LLDPE, and their blends. The DMA data prove the resulting dependences. The reported findings allow one to understand and predict mechanical properties in the HDPE–LLDPE systems at subzero temperatures.
Pressure Drops and Energy Consumption Model of Low-Scale Closed Circuit Cooling Towers
Authors: Táboas Francisco , Vázquez Francisco
Published: June 2021

Heat transfer models of closed-circuit cooling towers are available in the literature. Using these models, traditional parametric studies show how the inlet conditions of the streams influence the cooling capacity. This type of analysis could yield to suboptimal operation of the cooling tower since optimal heat and mass transfer processes do not necessarily imply an energy efficient cooling device. The optimal design of closed-circuit cooling towers should include any evaluation of pressure loses associated with the three streams involved. Air-water biphasic pressure drop across tube bundles in such devices was not sufficiently investigated in literature. The proposed literature correlations depend on geometry parameters, and these parameters are not known. In this work, an experimental device has been designed and constructed to study pressure drops, and an energy consumption model has been developed. The pressure drop was successfully calculated modifying a general correlation proposed for two phase flow across tube bundles. The energy model results show that the optimum was obtained where the intube water Reynolds number is near the transition region, and at air velocities near 1 m/s.
A Dissolution Kinetic Study of Disperse Dye in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide to Design an Efficient Supercritical Dyeing Process
Authors: Park Geonhwan , Kwon Dong Eui , Kong Wonbae , Park Jimin , Lee Youn-Woo
Published: June 2021

The dissolution behavior of dye in supercritical carbon dioxide influences the overall mass transfer that controls a supercritical dyeing process. Increasing the dissolution rate of the dye leads to shortening of the dyeing process time and can improve the efficiency of the process. Controlling the properties of the carbon dioxide flow is a good method to improve the dissolution rate of dyes. In this study, a dissolution kinetic model was designed by quantitatively analyzing and formulating the dissolution phenomenon of dyes using an in situ UV/Vis spectrometer. Through this model, the dissolution rate was compared by varying the geometric shape of the column containing the dye and the flow rate of carbon dioxide. Moreover, the correlation equation between the Reynolds number and Sherwood number was obtained through mass transfer coefficients derived under various conditions. In order to verify the utility of this equation, it was applied to a scaled-up device and the precise result could be predicted. This study can be useful in the design of dyeing processes and make-up equipment.
Adapting the ESSENZ Method to Assess Company-Specific Criticality Aspects
Authors: Yavor Kim Maya , Bach Vanessa , Finkbeiner Matthias
Published: June 2021

In times of increasing awareness of limited resources, companies are becoming especially interested in criticality assessments. Based on the existing approaches of ESSENZ (integrated method to assess resource efficiency) and SCARCE (approach is to enhance the assessment of critical resource use at the country level), a method called CS-ESSENZ (company-specific ESSENZ) has been developed to measure the company-specific aspects of criticality and social impact in supply chains for abiotic resources. These comprise 20 categories and corresponding indicators, based on 19 ESSENZ and 25 SCARCE categories. Eleven of these indicators were modified, four were newly developed (e.g., economic importance), and the last five were applied as they are in ESSENZ or SCARCE. CS-ESSENZ was tested using the case study of a smartphone, demonstrating the method’s applicability as well as generating additional information on company-specific improvement potential. The results for supply risk showed that 29 out of 58 ESSENZ hotspots showed high, and 12 showed medium, improvement potential from the company perspective. CS-ESSENZ enables companies to obtain specific information on criticality and social aspects in their supply chains and points out areas for improvement, e.g., with respect to purchasing strategies for cobalt.
A Digital Individual Benefit Statement to Mitigate the Risk of Poverty in Retirement: The Case of Switzerland
Authors: Equey Balzli Catherine
Published: June 2021

Old-age retirement benefits are a major concern among the Swiss population but estimating one’s revenue after retirement is challenging due to the Swiss social system’s complexity. In Switzerland, as with many other countries, the risk of poverty for retiree people is high, especially for women who often work part-time. The research presented in this paper proposes a methodology to enable the development of a digital platform to provide Swiss citizens the means to verify that their retirement income will allow them to live decently when retired. The aim of the platform will be to allow insured people to plan for retirement in a simplified manner. The methodology used was both qualitative (focus group) and quantitative (surveys). The main results are recommendations for the scope and functionality for a digital platform to be developed. A main conclusion is the need to limit the platform’s scope to old-age pension only (e.g., excluding survivors’ or disability pensions). Moreover, an outcome regarding the functionalities is the proposition of scenarios such as postponed retirement, additional purchases in pension fund, or changes to individual status. The development of the platform is not included in the article.
Adapting the Default Weighted Survival Analysis Modelling Approach to Model IFRS 9 LGD
Authors: Joubert Morne , Verster Tanja , Raubenheimer Helgard , Schutte Willem D.
Published: June 2021

Survival analysis is one of the techniques that could be used to predict loss given default (LGD) for regulatory capital (Basel) purposes. When using survival analysis to model LGD, a proposed methodology is the default weighted survival analysis (DWSA) method. This paper is aimed at adapting the DWSA method (used to model Basel LGD) to estimate the LGD for International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 9 impairment requirements. The DWSA methodology allows for over recoveries, default weighting and negative cashflows. For IFRS 9, this methodology should be adapted, as the estimated LGD is a function of in the expected credit losses (ECL). Our proposed IFRS 9 LGD methodology makes use of survival analysis to estimate the LGD. The Cox proportional hazards model allows for a baseline survival curve to be adjusted to produce survival curves for different segments of the portfolio. The forward-looking LGD values are adjusted for different macro-economic scenarios and the ECL is calculated for each scenario. These ECL values are probability weighted to produce a final ECL estimate. We illustrate our proposed IFRS 9 LGD methodology and ECL estimation on a dataset from a retail portfolio of a South African bank.
Incorporating Landslide Spatial Information and Correlated Features among Conditioning Factors for Landslide Susceptibility Mapping
Authors: Yang Xin , Liu Rui , Yang Mei , Chen Jingjue , Liu Tianqiang , Yang Yuantao , Chen Wei , Wang Yuting
Published: June 2021

This study proposed a new hybrid model based on the convolutional neural network (CNN) for making effective use of historical datasets and producing a reliable landslide susceptibility map. The proposed model consists of two parts; one is the extraction of landslide spatial information using two-dimensional CNN and pixel windows, and the other is to capture the correlated features among the conditioning factors using one-dimensional convolutional operations. To evaluate the validity of the proposed model, two pure CNN models and the previously used methods of random forest and a support vector machine were selected as the benchmark models. A total of 621 earthquake-triggered landslides in Ludian County, China and 14 conditioning factors derived from the topography, geological, hydrological, geophysical, land use and land cover data were used to generate a geospatial dataset. The conditioning factors were then selected and analyzed by a multicollinearity analysis and the frequency ratio method. Finally, the trained model calculated the landslide probability of each pixel in the study area and produced the resultant susceptibility map. The results indicated that the hybrid model benefitted from the features extraction capability of the CNN and achieved high-performance results in terms of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and statistical indices. Moreover, the proposed model had 6.2% and 3.7% more improvement than the two pure CNN models in terms of the AUC, respectively. Therefore, the proposed model is capable of accurately mapping landslide susceptibility and providing a promising method for hazard mitigation and land use planning. Additionally, it is recommended to be applied to other areas of the world.
Three-Dimensional Linear Restoration of a Tunnel Based on Measured Track and Uncontrolled Mobile Laser Scanning
Authors: Han Yulong , Sun Haili , Zhong Ruofei
Published: June 2021

Traditional precision measurement adopts discrete artificial static observation, which cannot meet the demands of the dynamic, continuous, fine and high-precision holographic measurement of large-scale infrastructure construction and complex operation and maintenance management. Due to its advantages of fast, accurate and convenient measurement, mobile laser scanning technology is becoming a popular technology in the maintenance and measurement of infrastructure construction such as tunnels. However, in some environments without satellite signals, such as indoor areas and underground spaces, it is difficult to obtain 3D data by means of mobile measurement technology. This paper proposes a method to restore the linear of the point cloud obtained by mobile laser scanning based on the measured track center line. In this paper, the measured track position is interpolated with a cubic spline to calculate the translations, and the rotation parameters are calculated by combining the simulation design data. The point cloud of the cross-section of the tunnel under the local coordinate system is converted to the absolute coordinate system to calculate the tunnel line. In addition, the method is verified by experiments combined with the subway tunnel data, and the overall point error can be controlled to within 0.1 m. The average deviation in the horizontal direction is 0.0551 m, and that in the vertical direction is 0.0274 m. Compared with the previous methods, this method can effectively avoid the obvious deformation of the tunnel and the sharp increase in the error, and can process the tunnel point cloud data more accurately and quickly. It also provides better data support for subsequent tunnel analysis such as 3D display, completion survey, systematic hazard management and so on.
Structural Racism and Racialization of Roma/Ciganos in Portugal: The Case of Secondary School Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Magano Olga , Mendes Maria Manuela
Published: June 2021

The aim of this article is to contribute to the analysis of the structural racism and racialization that exists in Portugal against Roma people. Racialization takes place in various dimensions of life, but we will focus here on issues of schooling and education, which were accentuated during the COVID-19 pandemic and revealed a lack of social deprotection and inequalities between Roma and non-Roma students. This analysis, focusing on the impact on young people attending secondary education, is based on a qualitative study carried out in the Metropolitan Areas of Lisbon and Porto using data from three focus groups and in-depth interviews with 33 secondary school students. Several public policies currently cover the Roma/Ciganos, but social inequality persists in terms of basic subsistence conditions and civic participation, as well as in the form of structural racism, with little Roma participation in political life and the invisibility of representation. The situation has worsened exponentially due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the combination of “classic” forms of racism and discrimination and the new forms of exclusion that have also appeared. We argue that the implicit acceptance of poverty and marginalization among Roma people needs to be viewed as a component of the racialization and antigypsyism to which they are subjected, and this dimension needs to be further investigated by scientific agendas.
Personalizing Child Protection: The Value of Responsivity Factors
Authors: Bijlsma Anne M. E. , van der Put Claudia E. , Overbeek Geertjan , Stams Geert Jan J. M. , Assink Mark
Published: June 2021

Personalization is an important strategy for enhancing the effectiveness of treatment that is aimed at reducing the risk of child maltreatment. In recent years, a growing body of research has appeared on how child protection can benefit from the principles of the Risk-Need-Responsivity model, but no attention has yet been paid to the implementation of the responsivity principle in child protection. Put simply, this principle states that treatment must be tailored to individual characteristics of clients to optimize its effectiveness. This study was the first to address how the responsivity principle can be of value in child protection. First, a systematic review of responsivity factors in forensic care was performed. Second, the relevance of applying each factor in child protection was examined through interviews with clinical professionals working in the field, who also provided suggestions on how treatment can be tailored to each of these factors. This resulted in an overview of seven responsivity factors all related to caregiver characteristics: problem denial, motivation to cooperate with treatment, psychological problems, cognitive abilities, cultural background, practical barriers such as financial problems and social support, and barriers to specific treatment types such as group therapy. Implications and recommendations for strengthening clinical practice are discussed.
The Effect of Lower Body Anaerobic Pre-loading on Upper Body Ergometer Time Trial Performance
Authors: Purge Priit , Valiulin Dmitri , Kivil Allar , Müller Alexander , Tschakert Gerhard , Jürimäe Jaak , Hofmann Peter
Published: June 2021

Pre-competitive conditioning has become a substantial part of successful performance. In addition to temperature changes, a metabolic conditioning can have a significant effect on the outcome, although the right dosage of such a method remains unclear. The main goal of the investigation was to measure how a lower body high-intensity anaerobic cycling pre-load exercise (HIE) of 25 s affects cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses in subsequent upper body performance. Thirteen well-trained college-level male cross-country skiers (18.1 ± 2.9 years; 70.8 ± 7.6 kg; 180.6 ± 4.7 cm; 15.5 ± 3.5% body fat) participated in the study. The athletes performed a 1000-m maximal double-poling upper body ergometer time trial performance test (TT) twice. One TT was preceded by a conventional low intensity warm-up (TTlow) while additional HIE cycling was performed 9 min before the other TT (TThigh). Maximal double-poling performance after the TTlow (225.1 ± 17.6 s) was similar (p > 0.05) to the TThigh (226.1 ± 15.7 s). Net blood lactate (La) increase (delta from end of TT minus start) from the start to the end of the TTlow was 10.5 ± 2.2 mmol L−1 and 6.5 ± 3.4 mmol L−1 in TThigh (p < 0.05). La net changes during recovery were similar for both protocols, remaining 13.5% higher in TThigh group even 6 min after the maximal test. VCO2 was lower (p < 0.05) during the last 400-m split in TThigh, however during the other splits no differences were found (p < 0.05). Respiratory exchange ratio (RER) was significantly lower in TThigh in the third, fourth and the fifth 200 m split. Participants individual pacing strategies showed high relation (p < 0.05) between slower start and faster performance. In conclusion, anaerobic metabolic pre-conditioning leg exercise significantly reduced net-La increase, but all-out upper body performance was similar in both conditions. The pre-conditioning method may have some potential but needs to be combined with a pacing strategy different from the usual warm-up procedure.