bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Energy Price Policies and Food Prices: Empirical Evidence from Iran
Authors: Radmehr Riza , Rastegari Henneberry Shida
Published: August 2020

During the last decade, the rising trend in energy prices and its potential effect on food prices have become a controversial issue between policy-makers and economists. Therefore, research addressing the relationship between food and macroeconomic variables, such as energy prices, will be useful in providing information for the design of appropriate economic policies. This study uses data from Iran to examine the impacts (short- and long-term) of exchange rate and energy prices on food prices. Iran is a good case study as in recent years its consumers have faced a rapid increase in both fuel and food prices. The variables employed in this study are the prices of ten food products, exchange rate (the value of Iranian rial per US dollar), and petroleum prices. All data in this study are from the Statistical Centre of Iran (SCI). We employ the panel unit root test, Pedroni co-integration tests, Pooled Mean Group (PMG), Mean Group (MG), and Dynamic Fixed Effects (DFE) estimation techniques, applied to a panel of monthly prices for ten food products for the period of March 1995 to February 2018. Results show that in both the short- and long-run, food prices would increase in response to an increase in energy prices. Findings also suggest that the appreciation of the United States Dollar (USD) in terms of the Iranian rial exerts a positive and significant impact on food prices in the long run.
Does Energy Price Induce China’s Green Energy Innovation?
Authors: Liu Yue , Liu Siming , Xu Xueying , Failler Pierre
Published: August 2020

This paper aims to comprehensively analyze the relationship between energy price and green energy innovation in China, and first studies the impact of energy price on China’s green energy innovation, then further investigates the moderating role of energy price distortion in the price–innovation relationship, especially in the context of lagging energy marketization level in the process of China’s transition from planned economy to the market economy. Based on the data of 30 provinces in China from 2003 to 2017, this paper provides a measurement of green energy innovation capacity through the number of “alternative energy production” and “energy conservation” patents. Our results show that energy price has a significantly positive impact on China’s green energy innovation, no matter the number of green energy patent applications or the number of green energy patent grants is used as the proxy of green energy innovation capacity. However, there exists heterogeneity related to the influence of energy price on green energy innovation. Specifically, energy price has a noticeable role in promoting green energy innovation in central and western China, but not in eastern China. Further research results show that energy price distortion significantly reduces the inducing effect of energy price on green energy innovation. Meanwhile, the distortion degrees of energy price in the central and western regions of China are significantly lower than that in the eastern region, which explains to a large extent why the inducing effect of energy price on innovation is more prominent in the central and western regions.
Optimal PV Parameter Estimation via Double Exponential Function-Based Dynamic Inertia Weight Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Kiani Arooj Tariq , Nadeem Muhammad Faisal , Ahmed Ali , Khan Irfan , Elavarasan Rajvikram Madurai , Das Narottam
Published: August 2020

Parameters associated with electrical equivalent models of the photovoltaic (PV) system play a significant role in the performance enhancement of the PV system. However, the accurate estimation of these parameters signifies a challenging task due to the higher computational complexities and non-linear characteristics of the PV modules/panels. Hence, an effective, dynamic, and efficient optimization technique is required to estimate the parameters associated with PV models. This paper proposes a double exponential function-based dynamic inertia weight (DEDIW) strategy for the optimal parameter estimation of the PV cell and module that maintains an appropriate balance between the exploitation and exploration phases to mitigate the premature convergence problem of conventional particle swarm optimization (PSO). The proposed approach (DEDIWPSO) is validated for three test systems; (1) RTC France solar cell, (2) Photo-watt (PWP 201) PV module, and (3) a practical test system (JKM330P-72, 310 W polycrystalline PV module) which involve data collected under real environmental conditions for both single- and double-diode models. Results illustrate that the parameters obtained from proposed technique are better than those from the conventional PSO and various other techniques presented in the literature. Additionally, a comparison of the statistical results reveals that the proposed methodology is highly accurate, reliable, and efficient.
Using Digital Technology to Protect Health in Prolonged Poor Air Quality Episodes: A Case Study of the AirRater App during the Australian 2019–20 Fires
Authors: Campbell Sharon L. , Jones Penelope J. , Williamson Grant J. , Wheeler Amanda J. , Lucani Christopher , Bowman David M. J. S. , Johnston Fay H.
Published: August 2020

In the southern hemisphere summer of 2019–20, Australia experienced its most severe bushfire season on record. Smoke from fires affected 80% of the population, with large and prolonged exceedances of the Australian National Air Quality Standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) recorded in all major population centers. We examined if AirRater, a free smartphone app that reports air quality and tracks user symptoms in near real-time, assisted those populations to reduce their smoke exposure and protect their health. We distributed an online survey to over 13,000 AirRater users to assess how they used this information during the 2019–20 bushfire season, and why it was helpful to aid decision-making in reducing personal smoke exposure. We received responses from 1732 users (13.3%). Respondents reported the app was highly useful, supporting informed decision-making regarding daily activities during the smoke-affected period. Commonly reported activities supported by information provided through the app were staying inside (76%), rescheduling or planning outdoor activities (64%), changing locations to less affected areas (29%) and informing decisions on medication use (15%). Innovative and easy-to-use smartphone apps such as AirRater, that provide individual-level and location-specific data, can enable users to reduce their exposure to environmental hazards and therefore protect their health.
Proteomic Strategies to Evaluate the Impact of Farming Conditions on Food Quality and Safety in Aquaculture Products
Authors: Carrera Mónica , Piñeiro Carmen , Martinez Iciar
Published: August 2020

This review presents the primary applications of various proteomic strategies to evaluate the impact of farming conditions on food quality and safety in aquaculture products. Aquaculture is a quickly growing sector that represents 47% of total fish production. Food quality, dietary management, fish welfare, the stress response, food safety, and antibiotic resistance, which are covered by this review, are among the primary topics in which proteomic techniques and strategies are being successfully applied. The review concludes by outlining future directions and potential perspectives.
Microencapsulation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae into Alginate Beads: A Focus on Functional Properties of Released Cells
Authors: Bevilacqua Antonio , Campaniello Daniela , Speranza Barbara , Racioppo Angela , Altieri Clelia , Sinigaglia Milena , Corbo Maria Rosaria
Published: August 2020

Five yeast strains (four wild Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains and a collection strain-S. cerevisiae var. boulardii) were encapsulated in alginate beads. Encapsulation yield was at least 60% (100% for some strains) and yeasts survived in beads for 30 days at 4 °C, although the viability was strongly affected during storage at 25 °C (3 log reduction after 7 days). The kinetic of cell release was studied under static and dynamic conditions, but the results suggest that, after 48 h, beads contained a high number of yeasts. Thus, their use is advisable as re-usable carriers of starter cultures or as a vehicle of probiotics into the gut. Finally, some functional properties (biofilm formation, hydrophobicity, auto-aggregation, survival during the transit into the gut) were evaluated on yeasts released by beads to assess if microencapsulation could negatively affect these traits. The results showed that yeasts’ entrapment in beads did not affect probiotic properties.
COVID-19 Global Risk: Expectation vs. Reality
Authors: Arsalan Mudassar , Mubin Omar , Alnajjar Fady , Alsinglawi Belal
Published: August 2020

Background and Objective: COVID-19 has engulfed the entire world, with many countries struggling to contain the pandemic. In order to understand how each country is impacted by the virus compared with what would have been expected prior to the pandemic and the mortality risk on a global scale, a multi-factor weighted spatial analysis is presented. Method: A number of key developmental indicators across three main categories of demographics, economy, and health infrastructure were used, supplemented with a range of dynamic indicators associated with COVID-19 as independent variables. Using normalised COVID-19 mortality on 13 May 2020 as a dependent variable, a linear regression (N = 153 countries) was performed to assess the predictive power of the various indicators. Results: The results of the assessment show that when in combination, dynamic and static indicators have higher predictive power to explain risk variation in COVID-19 mortality compared with static indicators alone. Furthermore, as of 13 May 2020 most countries were at a similar or lower risk level than what would have been expected pre-COVID, with only 44/153 countries experiencing a more than 20% increase in mortality risk. The ratio of elderly emerges as a strong predictor but it would be worthwhile to consider it in light of the family makeup of individual countries. Conclusion: In conclusion, future avenues of data acquisition related to COVID-19 are suggested. The paper concludes by discussing the ability of various factors to explain COVID-19 mortality risk. The ratio of elderly in combination with the dynamic variables associated with COVID-19 emerge as more significant risk predictors in comparison to socio-economic and demographic indicators.
How Does COVID-19 Pandemic Influence the Sense of Belonging and Decision-Making Process of Nursing Students: The Study of Nursing Students’ Experiences
Authors: Dos Santos Luis Miguel
Published: August 2020

Financial consideration, internal and external influence, personal goal, and educational achievement always influence the decision-making process and behavior of individuals. Using nursing students as the population, the researcher employed the Social Cognitive Career Theory as the theoretical framework to examine the nursing human resources shortages and how would the COVID-19 pandemic influence the experiences, sense of belonging, and career decision-making process of 58 nursing students in South Korea. The researcher categorized the sharing into two groups, which were before the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results indicated that financial consideration was the significant reason why South Korean nursing students decided to study nursing regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic. More importantly, almost all participants decided to leave the nursing profession due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the consideration between financial factor and personal sacrifice. The outcomes of this study provided a blueprint for human resources professionals, government leaders, policymakers, school leaders, and hospital managers to reform their current curriculum and human resources planning to overcome the potential human resources gaps in the soon future due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Measurement Invariance of the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT) Across Seven Cross-National Representative Samples
Authors: de Beer Leon T. , Schaufeli Wilmar B. , De Witte Hans , Hakanen Jari J. , Shimazu Akihito , Glaser Jürgen , Seubert Christian , Bosak Janine , Sinval Jorge , Rudnev Maksim
Published: August 2020

The aim of this study was to investigate the measurement invariance of the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT) across seven cross-national representative samples. In this study, burnout was modeled as a second-order factor in line with the conceptual definition as a syndrome. The combined sample consisted of 10,138 participants from countries in Europe and Japan. The data were treated as ordered categorical in nature and a series of models were tested to find evidence for invariance. Specifically, theta parameterization was used in conjunction with the weighted least squares (mean- and variance adjusted) estimation method. The results showed supportive evidence that BAT-assessed burnout was invariant across the samples, so that cross-country comparison would be justifiable. Comparison of effect sizes of the latent means between countries showed that Japan had a significantly higher score on overall burnout and all the first-order factors compared to the European countries. The European countries all scored similarly on overall burnout with no significant difference but for some minor differences in first-order factors between some of the European countries. All in all, the analyses of the data provided evidence that the BAT is invariant across the countries for meaningful comparisons of burnout scores.
Intimate Partner Violence: A Bibliometric Review of Literature
Authors: Wu Yanqi , Chen Jie , Fang Hui , Wan Yuehua
Published: August 2020

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a worldwide public health problem. Here, a bibliometric analysis is performed to evaluate the publications in the Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) field from 2000 to 2019 based on the Science Citation Index (SCI) Expanded and the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) databases. This work presents a detailed overview of IPV from aspects of types of articles, citations, h-indices, languages, years, journals, institutions, countries, and author keywords. The results show that the USA takes the leading position in this research field, followed by Canada and the U.K. The University of North Carolina has the most publications and Harvard University has the first place in terms of h-index. The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine leads the list of average citations per paper. The Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Journal of Family Violence and Violence Against Women are the top three most productive journals in this field, and Psychology is the most frequently used subject category. Keywords analysis indicates that, in recent years, most research focuses on the research fields of “child abuse”, “pregnancy”, “HIV”, “dating violence”, “gender-based violence” and “adolescents”.
Acute Effects of ACL Injury-Prevention Warm-Up and Soccer-Specific Fatigue Protocol on Dynamic Knee Valgus in Youth Male Soccer Players
Authors: García-Luna Marco Andrés , Cortell-Tormo Juan Manuel , García-Jaén Miguel , Ortega-Navarro Manuel , Tortosa-Martínez Juan
Published: August 2020

Childhood anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries—which can pose a major risk to a child’s sporting career—have been on the rise in the last few decades. Dynamic knee valgus (DKV) has been linked to an increased risk of ACL injury. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the acute effects of an ACL injury prevention protocol (ACL-IPP) and a soccer-specific fatigue protocol (SSFP) on DKV in youth male soccer players. The research hypothesis was that DKV would be reduced by the ACL-IPP and increased by the SSFP. Eighteen youth male soccer players were divided according to baseline DKV. Those with moderate or large DKV performed a neuromuscular training protocol based on activation of the abductor and external rotator hip muscles. Those with little or no DKV performed a soccer-specific fatigue protocol. DKV was assessed using the single-leg squat pre- and post-protocols in both legs. The ACL-IPP significantly decreased DKV during single-leg squat (p < 0.01, effect size = 1.39), while the SSFP significantly increased baseline DKV in the dominant leg during single-leg squat (p = 0.012; effect size = 1.74). In conclusion, the ACL-IPP appears to acutely reduce the DKV in youth male soccer players, and the SSFP seems to acutely increase the DKV in those players who showed a light or no DKV in a non-fatigue situation. By using the SSFP, it may be possible to determine which players would benefit from injury prevention programs due to increased DKV during game scenarios, while hip abductor and external rotator neuromuscular training may be beneficial for players who have moderate and severe DKV during single-leg squat under non-fatigued scenarios.
Assessing the Impact of Lean Healthcare on Inpatient Care: A Systematic Review
Authors: Zepeda-Lugo Carlos , Tlapa Diego , Baez-Lopez Yolanda , Limon-Romero Jorge , Ontiveros Sinue , Perez-Sanchez Armando , Tortorella Guilherme
Published: August 2020

Healthcare services are facing challenges in increasing their efficiency, quality of care, and coping with surges in demand. To this end, some hospitals have implemented lean healthcare. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the effects of lean healthcare (LH) interventions on inpatient care and determine whether patient flow and efficiency outcomes improve. The review was performed according to PRISMA. We used six databases to search for studies published from 2002 to 2019. Out of 5732 studies, 39 measuring one or more defined outcomes were included. Hospital length of stay (LOS) was measured in 23 studies, 16 of which reported a reduction, turnover time (TOT) decreased in six out of eight studies, while the turnaround time (TAT) and on-time starts (OTS) improved in all five and seven studies, respectively. Moreover, eight out of nine studies reported an earlier discharge time, and the boarding time decreased in all four cases. Meanwhile, the readmission rate did not increase in all nine studies. Lastly, staff and patient satisfaction improved in all eight studies. Our findings show that by focusing on reducing non-value-added activities, LH contributed to improving patient flow and efficiency within inpatient care.
Effectiveness of Using Voice Assistants in Learning: A Study at the Time of COVID-19
Authors: Sáiz-Manzanares María Consuelo , Marticorena-Sánchez Raúl , Ochoa-Orihuel Javier
Published: August 2020

The use of advanced learning technologies in a learning management system (LMS) can greatly assist learning processes, especially when used in university environments, as they promote the development of Self-Regulated learning, which increases academic performance and student satisfaction towards personal learning. One of the most innovative resources that an LMS may have is an Intelligent Personal Assistant (IPA). We worked with a sample of 109 third-grade students following Health Sciences degrees. The aims were: (1) to verify whether there will be significant differences in student access to the LMS, depending on use versus non-use of an IPA. (2) To verify whether there will be significant differences in student learning outcomes depending on use versus non-use of an IPA. (3) To verify whether there will be significant differences for student satisfaction with teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, depending on use versus non-use of an IPA. (4) To analyze student perceptions of the usefulness of an IPA in the LMS. We found greater functionality in access to the LMS and satisfaction with teaching, especially during the health crisis, in the group of students who had used an IPA. However, both the expansion of available information and the usability of the features embedded in an IPA are still challenging issues.
Perspectives Emerged from Students and Supervisory Staff Interaction in Drug Use Prevention: A Q Methodology Investigation
Authors: Huang Chiu-Mieh , Liao Jung-Yu , Hsu Hsiao-Pei , Lin Cheng-Yu , Guo Jong-Long
Published: August 2020

This study aims to identify and describe the patterns of shared perspectives of students and supervisory staff associated with their interaction in drug use prevention. We applied the Q methodology to cluster participants into groups according to the similarities of their Q sorts. A total of 31 pairs of students and their supervisory staff participated in the study to rank the designed Q statements. The Q factor analysis for supervisory staff revealed a five-factor solution that accounted for 58% of the total variance. Another five-factor solution for the students explained 49% of the total variance. One similarity between the groups was the need to enhance the involvement of significant others to help the students quit drugs. A major identified difference between the groups was that whereas the students highlighted the importance of health consequences of drug use in helping them stop use, the supervisory staff did not. The elucidation of similarities and differences between supervisory staff and students could offer more insightful strategies of preventing the drug use.
PremPRI: Predicting the Effects of Missense Mutations on Protein–RNA Interactions
Authors: Zhang Ning , Lu Haoyu , Chen Yuting , Zhu Zefeng , Yang Qing , Wang Shuqin , Li Minghui
Published: August 2020

Protein–RNA interactions are crucial for many cellular processes, such as protein synthesis and regulation of gene expression. Missense mutations that alter protein–RNA interaction may contribute to the pathogenesis of many diseases. Here, we introduce a new computational method PremPRI, which predicts the effects of single mutations occurring in RNA binding proteins on the protein–RNA interactions by calculating the binding affinity changes quantitatively. The multiple linear regression scoring function of PremPRI is composed of three sequence- and eight structure-based features, and is parameterized on 248 mutations from 50 protein–RNA complexes. Our model shows a good agreement between calculated and experimental values of binding affinity changes with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.72 and the corresponding root-mean-square error of 0.76 kcal·mol−1, outperforming three other available methods. PremPRI can be used for finding functionally important variants, understanding the molecular mechanisms, and designing new protein–RNA interaction inhibitors.
Early Transcriptomic Changes upon Thalidomide Exposure Influence the Later Neuronal Development in Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Spheres
Authors: Kikegawa Mami , Qin Xian-Yang , Ito Tomohiro , Nishikawa Hiromi , Nansai Hiroko , Sone Hideko
Published: August 2020

Stress in early life has been linked with the development of late-life neurological disorders. Early developmental age is potentially sensitive to several environmental chemicals such as alcohol, drugs, food contaminants, or air pollutants. The recent advances using three-dimensional neural sphere cultures derived from pluripotent stem cells have provided insights into the etiology of neurological diseases and new therapeutic strategies for assessing chemical safety. In this study, we investigated the neurodevelopmental effects of exposure to thalidomide (TMD); 2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether; bisphenol A; and 4-hydroxy-2,2′,3,4′,5,5′,6-heptachlorobiphenyl using a human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived sphere model. We exposed each chemical to the spheres and conducted a combinational analysis of global gene expression profiling using microarray at the early stage and morphological examination of neural differentiation at the later stage to understand the molecular events underlying the development of hESC-derived spheres. Among the four chemicals, TMD exposure especially influenced the differentiation of spheres into neuronal cells. Transcriptomic analysis and functional annotation identified specific genes that are TMD-induced and associated with ERK and synaptic signaling pathways. Computational network analysis predicted that TMD induced the expression of DNA-binding protein inhibitor ID2, which plays an important role in neuronal development. These findings provide direct evidence that early transcriptomic changes during differentiation of hESCs upon exposure to TMD influence neuronal development in the later stages.
Passive Transfer of Sera from ALS Patients with Identified Mutations Evokes an Increased Synaptic Vesicle Number and Elevation of Calcium Levels in Motor Axon Terminals, Similar to Sera from Sporadic Patients
Authors: Meszlényi Valéria , Patai Roland , Polgár Tamás F. , Nógrádi Bernát , Körmöczy Laura , Kristóf Rebeka , Spisák Krisztina , Tripolszki Kornélia , Széll Márta , Obál Izabella , Engelhardt József I. , Siklós László
Published: August 2020

Previously, we demonstrated increased calcium levels and synaptic vesicle densities in the motor axon terminals (MATs) of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Such alterations could be conferred to mice with an intraperitoneal injection of sera from these patients or with purified immunoglobulin G. Later, we confirmed the presence of similar alterations in the superoxide dismutase 1 G93A transgenic mouse strain model of familial ALS. These consistent observations suggested that calcium plays a central role in the pathomechanism of ALS. This may be further reinforced by completing a similar analytical study of the MATs of ALS patients with identified mutations. However, due to the low yield of muscle biopsy samples containing MATs, and the low incidence of ALS patients with the identified mutations, these examinations are not technically feasible. Alternatively, a passive transfer of sera from ALS patients with known mutations was used, and the MATs of the inoculated mice were tested for alterations in their calcium homeostasis and synaptic activity. Patients with 11 different ALS-related mutations participated in the study. Intraperitoneal injection of sera from these patients on two consecutive days resulted in elevated intracellular calcium levels and increased vesicle densities in the MATs of mice, which is comparable to the effect of the passive transfer from sporadic patients. Our results support the idea that the pathomechanism underlying the identical manifestation of the disease with or without identified mutations is based on a common final pathway, in which increasing calcium levels play a central role.
Cell Sheets from Adipose Tissue MSC Induce Healing of Pressure Ulcer and Prevent Fibrosis via Trigger Effects on Granulation Tissue Growth and Vascularization
Authors: Alexandrushkina Natalya , Nimiritsky Peter , Eremichev Roman , Popov Vladimir , Arbatskiy Mikhail , Danilova Natalia , Malkov Pavel , Akopyan Zhanna , Tkachuk Vsevolod , Makarevich Pavel
Published: August 2020

We report a comparative study of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) delivered by injection, MSC-based cell sheets (CS) or MSC secretome to induce healing of cutaneous pressure ulcer in C57Bl/6 mice. We found that transplantation of CS from adipose-derived MSC resulted in reduction of fibrosis and recovery of skin structure with its appendages (hair and cutaneous glands). Despite short retention of CS on ulcer surface (3–7 days) it induced profound changes in granulation tissue (GT) structure, increasing its thickness and altering vascularization pattern with reduced blood vessel density and increased maturation of blood vessels. Comparable effects on GT vascularization were induced by MSC secretome, yet this treatment has failed to induce repair of skin with its appendages we observed in the CS group. Study of secretome components produced by MSC in monolayer or sheets revealed that CS produce more factors involved in pericyte chemotaxis and blood vessel maturation (PDGF-BB, HGF, G-CSF) but not sprouting inducer (VEGF165). Analysis of transcriptome using RNA sequencing and Gene Ontology mapping found in CS upregulation of proteins responsible for collagen binding and GT maturation as well as fatty acid metabolism enzymes known to be negative regulators of blood vessel sprouting. At the same time, downregulated transcripts were enriched by factors activating capillary growth, suggesting that in MSC sheets paracrine activity may shift towards matrix remodeling and maturation of vasculature, but not activation of blood vessel sprouting. We proposed a putative paracrine trigger mechanism potentially rendering an impact on GT vascularization and remodeling. Our results suggest that within sheets, MSC may change their functional state and spectrum of soluble factors that influence tissue repair and induce more effective skin healing inclining towards regeneration and reduced scarring.
Consequences of Vitamin A Deficiency: Immunoglobulin Dysregulation, Squamous Cell Metaplasia, Infectious Disease, and Death
Authors: Surman Sherri L. , Penkert Rhiannon R. , Sealy Robert E. , Jones Bart G. , Marion Tony N. , Vogel Peter , Hurwitz Julia L.
Published: August 2020

Vitamin A is an important regulator of immune protection, but it is often overlooked in studies of infectious disease. Vitamin A binds an array of nuclear receptors (e.g., retinoic acid receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, retinoid X receptor) and influences the barrier and immune cells responsible for pathogen control. Children and adults in developed and developing countries are often vitamin A-deficient or insufficient, characteristics associated with poor health outcomes. To gain a better understanding of the protective mechanisms influenced by vitamin A, we examined immune factors and epithelial barriers in vitamin A deficient (VAD) mice, vitamin D deficient (VDD) mice, double deficient (VAD+VDD) mice, and mice on a vitamin-replete diet (controls). Some mice received insults, including intraperitoneal injections with complete and incomplete Freund’s adjuvant (emulsified with PBS alone or with DNA + Fus-1 peptide) or intranasal inoculations with Sendai virus (SeV). Both before and after insults, the VAD and VAD+VDD mice exhibited abnormal serum immunoglobulin isotypes (e.g., elevated IgG2b levels, particularly in males) and cytokine/chemokine patterns (e.g., elevated eotaxin). Even without insult, when the VAD and VAD+VDD mice reached 3–6 months of age, they frequently exhibited opportunistic ascending bacterial urinary tract infections. There were high frequencies of nephropathy (squamous cell hyperplasia of the renal urothelium, renal scarring, and ascending pyelonephritis) and death in the VAD and VAD+VDD mice. When younger VAD mice were infected with SeV, the predominant lesion was squamous cell metaplasia of respiratory epithelium in lungs and bronchioles. Results highlight a critical role for vitamin A in the maintenance of healthy immune responses, epithelial cell integrity, and pathogen control.
Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Dika Emi , Scarfì Federica , Ferracin Manuela , Broseghini Elisabetta , Marcelli Emanuela , Bortolani Barbara , Campione Elena , Riefolo Mattia , Ricci Costantino , Lambertini Martina
Published: August 2020

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of carcinoma worldwide. BCC development is the result of a complex interaction between environmental, phenotypic and genetic factors. However, despite the progress in the field, BCC biology and mechanisms of resistance against systemic treatments have been poorly investigated. The aim of the present review is to provide a revision of BCC histological and molecular features, including microRNA (miRNA) dysregulation, with a specific focus on the molecular basis of BCC systemic therapies. Papers from the last ten years regarding BCC genetic and phenotypic alterations, as well as the mechanism of resistance against hedgehog pathway inhibitors vismodegib and sonidegib were included. The involvement of miRNAs in BCC resistance to systemic therapies is emerging as a new field of knowledge.
The Artemisinin-Derived Autofluorescent Compound BG95 Exerts Strong Anticytomegaloviral Activity Based on a Mitochondrial Targeting Mechanism
Authors: Wild Markus , Hahn Friedrich , Grau Benedikt , Herrmann Lars , Niesar Aischa , Schütz Martin , Lorion Melanie M. , Ackermann Lutz , Tsogoeva Svetlana B. , Marschall Manfred
Published: August 2020

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a major human pathogen associated with severe pathology. Current options of antiviral therapy only partly satisfy the needs of a well-tolerated long-term treatment/prophylaxis free from drug-induced viral resistance. Recently, we reported the strong antiviral properties in vitro and in vivo of the broad-spectrum anti-infective drug artesunate and its optimized derivatives. NF-κB signaling was described as a targeting mechanism and additional target proteins have recently been identified. Here, we analyzed the autofluorescent hybrid compound BG95, which could be utilized for intracellular visualization by confocal imaging and a tracking analysis in virus-infected primary human fibroblasts. As an important finding, BG95 accumulated in mitochondria visualized by anti-prohibitin and MitoTracker staining, and induced statistically significant changes of mitochondrial morphology, distinct from those induced by HCMV infection. Notably, mitochondrial membrane potential was found substantially reduced by BG95, an effect apparently counteracting efficient HCMV replication, which requires active mitochondria and upregulated energy levels. This finding was consistent with binding properties of artesunate-like compounds to mitochondrial proteins and thereby suggested a new mechanistic aspect. Combined, the present study underlines an important role of mitochondria in the multifaceted, host-directed antiviral mechanism of this drug class, postulating a new mitochondria-specific mode of protein targeting.
Contour Changes Following Immediate Placement of Ultra-Wide Implants in Molar Extraction Sockets without Bone Grafting
Authors: Hattingh André , De Bruyn Hugo , Van Weehaeghe Manù , Hommez Geert , Vandeweghe Stefan
Published: August 2020

The aim was to evaluate ridge reduction and mucosal recession following immediate placement of ultra-wide implants in molar sockets, without bone grafting. Impressions were taken prior to tooth extraction, 4 months and 1 year after implant placement. The casts were digitized and compared. Mucosal recessions and horizontal ridge reduction were measured. A total of 16 implants were in the maxilla and 11 in the mandible. At the buccal aspect, there was a mean reduction of 0.94 mm after 4 months and 0.89 mm after one year (p = 0.933). At the palatal/lingual aspect, this was 1.09 mm after 4 months and 0.69 mm after 1 year (p = 0.001). After 1 year, a recession of 0.59 mm was measured at the zenith, 1.04 mm at the mesial and 0.98 mm at the distal papilla. The mean midfacial horizontal ridge reduction was 1.23 mm after 4 months and 1.45 mm after 1 year. At the midpalatal/midlingual aspect, the mean horizontal reduction was 1.43 mm after 4 months and 1.16 mm after 1 year. Immediate implant placement without bone grafting in the posterior jaw yields a significant horizontal ridge reduction and minor mucosal recession. Clinicians should anticipate the amount of ridge reduction and consider augmentation at the time of implant placement.
Evaluation of the Influence of Genetic Variants of SLC2A9 (GLUT9) and SLC22A12 (URAT1) on the Development of Hyperuricemia and Gout
Authors: Pavelcova Katerina , Bohata Jana , Pavlikova Marketa , Bubenikova Eliska , Pavelka Karel , Stiburkova Blanka
Published: August 2020

Urate transporters, which are located in the kidneys, significantly affect the level of uric acid in the body. We looked at genetic variants of genes encoding the major reabsorption proteins GLUT9 (SLC2A9) and URAT1 (SLC22A12) and their association with hyperuricemia and gout. In a cohort of 250 individuals with primary hyperuricemia and gout, we used direct sequencing to examine the SLC22A12 and SLC2A9 genes. Identified variants were evaluated in relation to clinical data, biochemical parameters, metabolic syndrome criteria, and our previous analysis of the major secretory urate transporter ABCG2. We detected seven nonsynonymous variants of SLC2A9. There were no nonsynonymous variants of SLC22A12. Eleven variants of SLC2A9 and two variants of SLC22A12 were significantly more common in our cohort than in the European population (p = 0), while variants p.V282I and c.1002+78A>G had a low frequency in our cohort (p = 0). Since the association between variants and the level of uric acid was not demonstrated, the influence of variants on the development of hyperuricemia and gout should be evaluated with caution. However, consistent with the findings of other studies, our data suggest that p.V282I and c.1002+78A>G (SLC2A9) reduce the risk of gout, while p.N82N (SLC22A12) increases the risk.
Mean Platelet Volume as a Marker of Vasculogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Future Cardiovascular Risk
Authors: Crafa Andrea , Condorelli Rosita A. , Mongioì Laura M. , Cannarella Rossella , Barbagallo Federica , Aversa Antonio , Izzo Giulia , Perri Anna , Calogero Aldo E. , La Vignera Sandro
Published: August 2020

Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of mortality in the Western population, so the attempt to find a marker capable of predicting their early onset is not surprising. It is known that arteriogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) precedes the onset of a major coronary event by several years. However, a marker that is able to early identify those patients who should undergo further diagnostic investigations is, to date, missing. Recent research on this topic has focused on the role of the mean platelet volume (MPV), a marker of platelet activity that is high in most vascular diseases, such as coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, peripheral artery disease (PAD), and ED. The basic pathophysiological mechanism of all these clinical conditions is atherosclerosis. Platelets play a central role in amplifying this process both indirectly by stimulating endothelial cells to produce inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and directly through the expression of membrane receptors and the release of molecules that contribute to the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. The objective of this review is to critically analyze the evidence on the role of MPV in predicting the diagnosis and severity of vasculogenic ED and the possibility of using this simple marker as a first step to start a diagnostic process aimed at assessing the cardiovascular risk in these patients.
How Input Processing Factors into Lexical Semantics: Motion Events with Double Particles in L3 German
Authors: Oliveira Duarte
Published: August 2020

Motion events are almost absent in the course syllabus of L2 German as a formally addressed structure in the classroom. Learners have merely receptive contact with this type of structure in reading texts or in aural activities. The occurrence of motion events with the so-called “double particles” is even less frequent. These are composed of the deictic morphemes hin- and her- denoting the speaker’s perspective and Path morphemes (-ein-, -aus-, -auf-, etc.). The main goal of the present study is to test a group of Portuguese L3 learners of German regarding their knowledge of double particles, and to apply VanPatten’s Processing Instruction (PI) model (VanPatten 2004; VanPatten and Williams 2015), which rests on an input-based focus-on-form approach for teaching grammar. The theoretical framework is based on Talmy’s typology of motion events (Talmy 2000a, 2000b). The empirical component of this study was divided into three parts: first, I tested the participants by means of a pretest; then, I conducted a pedagogical intervention based on the PI model; finally, a posttest determined the successful effects of PI in the participants’ knowledge of the target forms, both in interpretative and productive contexts.
Failure Analysis of a Flare Tip Used in Offshore Production Platform in Qatar
Authors: Mahdi Elsadig , Esmaeili Ali
Published: August 2020

An immature failure of a gas flare tip used in Qatar oil and gas offshore industry was investigated throughout this study. The design lifetime of the flare was fifteen years; however, it manifested immature failure resulting in a reduction of its lifetime to ten years. The flare is composed of different parts where the upper flare body and wind deflector showed failure while other components were still healthy. The material used for the aforementioned failed parts was Incoloy 800H, which is a highly corrosion and high-temperature resistant steel alloy. The material was rolled up and welded together with different welding joints. The root cause of failure was identified by using chemical analysis and microstructural and mechanical characterizations. For the mechanical characterization, an optical microscope (OM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analyses were used for the specimen extracted from the failed part in order to ensure that the material mentioned by the manufacturer demonstrated the same metallurgical properties. For the mechanical characterization, two sets of specimens were used, one close to the failure region and the other far from the failure area. The chemical analysis revealed that the material was truthfully Incoloy 800H. The mechanical examination results showed a significant reduction of mechanical properties, i.e., the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and microhardness dropped by 44% and 41% for samples close and far from the failure regions, respectively. Careful examination of the failed parts indicated that failure mostly took place in the vicinity of the welds, in particular near the joints. Improper joint designs, as well as a number of joints being designed in tiny areas, worsened the harmful effect of the heat-affected zone (HAZ), resulting in crack nucleation in the HAZ regions. The effect of welding in a combination of harsh service conditions of flare caused further crack extension where they merged, resulting in final immature failure.
Incorporation of Alkali-Activated Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator Bottom Ash in Mortar and Concrete: A Critical Review
Authors: Kurda Rawaz , Silva Rui Vasco , de Brito Jorge
Published: August 2020

In the light of one of the most common waste management issues in urban areas, namely the elimination of municipal solid waste (MSW; about 486 kg of the waste per capita were generated in the EU in 2017), this study discusses one technique as an outlet in the construction industry for the by-product of the waste’s incineration in energy recovery facilities (i.e., MSW incinerator bottom ash—MIBA). There have been some investigations on the use of MIBA as partial replacement of cement to be used in cementitious composites, such as concrete and mortars. However, the waste’s incorporation ratio is limited since further products of hydration may not be produced after a given replacement level and can lead to an unsustainable decline in performance. In order to maximize the incorporation of MIBA, some research studies have been conducted on the alkali activation of the waste as precursor. Thus, this study presents an extensive literature review of the most relevant investigations on the matter to understand the material’s applicability in construction. It analyses the performance of the alkali-activated MIBA as paste, mortar, and concrete from different perspectives. This literature review was made using search engines of several databases. In each database, the same search options were repeated using combinations of various representative keywords. Furthermore, several boundaries were made to find the most relevant studies for further inspection. The main findings of this review have shown that the chemical composition and reactivity of MIBA vary considerably, which may compromise performance comparison, standardization and commercialization. There are several factors that affect the performance of the material that need to be considered, e.g., type and content of precursor, alkaline activator, curing temperature and time, liquid to solid ratio, among others. MIBA-based alkali-activated materials (AAM) can be produced with a very wide range of compressive strength (0.3–160 MPa). The main factor affecting the performance of this precursor is the existence of metallic aluminum (Al), which leads to damaging expansive reactions and an increase in porosity due to hydrogen gas generation stemming from the reaction with the alkaline activator. Several approaches have been proposed to eliminate this issue. The most effective solution was found to be the removal of Al by means of eddy current electromagnetic separation.
Silk Fibroin/Collagen/Chitosan Scaffolds Cross-Linked by a Glyoxal Solution as Biomaterials toward Bone Tissue Regeneration
Authors: Grabska-Zielińska Sylwia , Sionkowska Alina , Coelho Catarina C. , Monteiro Fernando J.
Published: August 2020

In this study, three-dimensional materials based on blends of silk fibroin (SF), collagen (Coll), and chitosan (CTS) cross-linked by glyoxal solution were prepared and the properties of the new materials were studied. The structure of the composites and the interactions between scaffold components were studied using FTIR spectroscopy. The microstructure was observed using a scanning electron microscope. The following properties of the materials were measured: density and porosity, moisture content, and swelling degree. Mechanical properties of the 3D materials under compression were studied. Additionally, the metabolic activity of MG-63 osteoblast-like cells on materials was examined. It was found that the materials were characterized by a high swelling degree (up to 3000% after 1 h of immersion) and good porosity (in the range of 80–90%), which can be suitable for tissue engineering applications. None of the materials showed cytotoxicity toward MG-63 cells.
Retentive Characteristics of a New Attachment System for Hybrid Dentures
Authors: Arnold Christin , Stampa Charlotte , Schweyen Ramona , Hey Jeremias , Boeckler Arne
Published: August 2020

Removable implant-anchored dentures have become an established treatment concept especially for older, multimorbid patients. This study investigates the retention force (RF) of two different attachment systems. A total of 96 specimens (n = 8 for each condition) were fabricated and RF was measured under different conditions: fatigue (10,000 cycles dislodging), thermal undulation (5/55 °C, 5000 cycles) and implant-angulation (0°, 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°). The Novaloc system ((N), 0° and 15° abutments, yellow matrix (Y)) was compared to the Locator system ((L), pink (P) and orange (O)). Initial RFs (8.57 ± 0.99 N (NY), 19.39 ± 8.10 N (LP), 8.8 ± 5.28 N (LO)) were reduced by ageing simulation (26% (NY), 66% (LP), 89% (LO); p < 0.001). After thermocycling, Novaloc’s RFs decreased by 33% (p < 0.001) while the Locators’ RFs increased by 34% (LP: p = 0.002, LO: p = 0.148). In contrast to LP, the RFs of Novaloc abutments and LOs predominantly showed no clinically relevant dependence on implant angulation. Ageing processes tended to result in lower RFs at higher implant angulation. Thus, the Novaloc attachment system offers an alternative to Locator attachments. It is characterized by a comparatively continuous RF-curve over the entire wearing period. Future clinical studies have to be conducted to verify the in vitro demonstrated advantages of the Novaloc system.