bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Memetic Evolution of Latin American Architectural Design Culture
Authors: Akıner İlknur , Yitmen İbrahim , Akıner Muhammed Ernur , Akıner Nurdan
Published: July 2021

Architecture is an evolutionary field. Through time, it changes and adapts itself according to two things: the environment and the user, which are the touchstones of the concept of culture. Culture changes in long time intervals because of its cumulative structure, so its effects can be observed on a large scale. A nation displays itself with its culture and uses architecture as a tool to convey its cultural identity. This dual relationship between architecture and culture can be observed at various times and in various lands, most notably in Latin American designers. The geographical positions of Latin American nations and their political situations in the twentieth century leads to the occurrence of a recognizable cultural identity, and it influenced the architectural design language of that region. The nonlinear forms in architecture were once experienced commonly around Latin America, and this design expression shows itself in the designers’ other works through time and around the world. The cultural background of Latin American architecture investigated within this study, in terms of their design approach based upon the form and effect of Latin American culture on this architectural design language, is examined with the explanation of the concept of culture by two leading scholars: Geert Hofstede and Richard Dawkins. This paper nevertheless puts together architecture and semiology by considering key twentieth century philosophers and cultural theorist methodologies. Cultural theorist and analyst Roland Barthes was the first person to ask architects to examine the possibility of bringing semiology and architectural theory together. Following an overview of existing semiological conditions, this paper analyzed Roland Barthes and Umberto Eco’s hypothesis of the semiological language of architectural designs of Latin American designers by examining their cultural origin. The work’s findings express the historical conditions that enabled the contemporary architecture and culture study of Latin America between 1945 and 1975 to address the “Latin American model” of architectural modernism.
Characterization of Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa) Foam for Thermal Insulation and Sound Absorption Applications in Buildings
Authors: Siqueira Felippe Fabrício dos Santos , Cosse Renato Lemos , Pinto Fernando Augusto de Noronha Castro , Mareze Paulo Henrique , Silva Caio Frederico e , Nunes Lívio César Cunha
Published: July 2021

Exploring new construction materials with low environmental impact leads to innovation in buildings and also to the expansion of environmental sustainability in the construction industry. In this perspective, the thermal insulation and the sound absorption performances of Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa) foam were analyzed for potential application in buildings. This material is of plant origin, it is natural, renewable, abundant, and has a low environmental impact. In this research, characterizations were made by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), apparent density, thermogravimetry (TGA and DTG), thermal conductivity, and sound absorption. The SEM analysis revealed a predominantly porous, small, and closed-cell morphology in the vegetable foam. Due to its porosity and lightness, the material has an apparent density similar to other thermal insulating and sound-absorbing materials used commercially. The evaluation of thermogravimetric (TGA/DTG) results demonstrated thermal stability at temperatures that attest to the use of Buriti foam as a building material. Based on the thermal conductivity test, the Buriti foam was characterized as an insulating material comparable to conventional thermal insulation materials and in the same range as other existing thermal insulators of plant origin. Concerning sound absorption, the Buriti foam presented a low performance in the analyzed frequency range, mainly attributed to the absence of open porosity in the material. Therefore, understanding the sound absorption mechanisms of Buriti foam requires further studies exploring additional ways of processing the material.
Impaired Set-Shifting from Dorsal Stream Disconnection: Insights from a European Series of Right Parietal Lower-Grade Glioma Resection
Authors: Hartung Suzanne L. , Mandonnet Emmanuel , de Witt Hamer Philip , Klein Martin , Wager Michel , Rech Fabien , Pallud Johan , Pessanha Viegas Catarina , Ille Sebastian , Krieg Sandro M. , Robe Pierre A. , van Zandvoort Martine J. E.
Published: July 2021

Awake surgery with cognitive monitoring has increasingly been implemented to preserve brain networks and functionality. More recently, not only surgery in the left but also in the right hemisphere, i.c., the parietal lobe, was associated with potential risk for deficits in cognitive functions, such as cognitive flexibility. In this explorative pilot study, we compare cognitive performance more than three months after surgery with baseline measurements and explore the association between cognitive decline and subcortical tracts that may have been severed during surgery in the right hemisphere. Twenty-two patients who underwent surgery for a right parietal low-grade glioma were assessed pre- and postoperatively using the Trail Making Test and the Stroop task to administer set-shifting abilities and inhibition. Volume measurements and lesion–symptom mapping analyses were performed on postoperative MRI scans. Careful interpretation of the results shows a change in TMT performance and not on the Stroop Task when the lateral part of the arcuate fasciculus is damaged, indicating that disconnection of the lateral part of the dorsal stream might be correlated specifically with impaired set-shifting and not with inhibition. More importantly, this study underlines the need for international concertation to allow larger studies to increase power and perform more detailed analyses.
Effect of Asbestos Consumption on Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma in Italy: Forecasts of Mortality up to 2040
Authors: Oddone Enrico , Bollon Jordy , Nava Consuelo Rubina , Consonni Dario , Marinaccio Alessandro , Magnani Corrado , Gasparrini Antonio , Barone-Adesi Francesco
Published: July 2021

Statistical models used to forecast malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) trends often do not take into account historical asbestos consumption, possibly resulting in less accurate predictions of the future MPM death toll. We used the distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) approach to predict future MPM cases in Italy until 2040, based on past asbestos consumption figures. Analyses were conducted using data on male MPM deaths (1970–2014) and annual asbestos consumption using data on domestic production, importation, and exportation. According to our model, the peak of MPM deaths is expected to occur in 2021 (1122 expected cases), with a subsequent decrease in mortality (344 MPM deaths in 2039). The exposure–response curve shows that relative risk (RR) of MPM increased almost linearly for lower levels of exposure but flattened at higher levels. The lag-specific RR grew until 30 years since exposure and decreased thereafter, suggesting that the most relevant contributions to the risk come from exposures which occurred 20–40 years before death. Our results show that the Italian MPM epidemic is approaching its peak and underline that the association between temporal trends of MPM and time since exposure to asbestos is not monotonic, suggesting a lesser role of remote exposures in the development of MPM than previously assumed.
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Neoangiogenesis in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Franz Leonardo , Nicolè Lorenzo , Frigo Anna Chiara , Ottaviano Giancarlo , Gaudioso Piergiorgio , Saccardo Tommaso , Visconti Francesca , Cappellesso Rocco , Blandamura Stella , Fassina Ambrogio , Marioni Gino
Published: July 2021

The mechanism of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is fundamental for carcinogenesis, tumor progression, cancer cell invasion, metastasis, recurrence, and therapy resistance, comprising important events, such as cellular junction degradation, downregulation of epithelial phenotype markers, overexpression of mesenchymal markers, and increase in cellular motility. The same factors that drive epithelial cells toward a mesenchymal phenotype may also drive endothelial cells toward a proangiogenic phenotype. The aim of this exploratory study was to investigate a potential interplay between EMT and angiogenesis (quantified through CD105 expression) in laryngeal carcinoma (LSCC). CD105-assessed microvessel density (MVD) and EMT markers (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Snail, Slug, Zeb1, and Zeb2) were assessed on 37 consecutive LSCC cases. The univariate Cox regression model identified pN+ status (p = 0.0343) and Slug expression (p = 0.0268) as predictive of disease-free survival (DFS). A trend toward significance emerged for CD105-assessed MVD (p = 0.0869) and N-cadherin expression (p = 0.0911). In the multivariate Cox model, pN-status, Slug, and N-cadherin expressions retained their significant values in predicting DFS (p = 0.0346, p = 0.0430, and p = 0.0214, respectively). Our data support the hypothesis of a mutual concurrence of EMT and angiogenesis in driving LSCC cells toward an aggressive phenotype. To better characterize the predictive performance of prognostic models based on EMT and angiogenesis, further large-scale prospective studies are required.
Role of Splicing Regulatory Elements and In Silico Tools Usage in the Identification of Deep Intronic Splicing Variants in Hereditary Breast/Ovarian Cancer Genes
Authors: Moles-Fernández Alejandro , Domènech-Vivó Joanna , Tenés Anna , Balmaña Judith , Diez Orland , Gutiérrez-Enríquez Sara
Published: July 2021

The contribution of deep intronic splice-altering variants to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) is unknown. Current computational in silico tools to predict spliceogenic variants leading to pseudoexons have limited efficiency. We assessed the performance of the SpliceAI tool combined with ESRseq scores to identify spliceogenic deep intronic variants by affecting cryptic sites or splicing regulatory elements (SREs) using literature and experimental datasets. Our results with 233 published deep intronic variants showed that SpliceAI, with a 0.05 threshold, predicts spliceogenic deep intronic variants affecting cryptic splice sites, but is less effective in detecting those affecting SREs. Next, we characterized the SRE profiles using ESRseq, showing that pseudoexons are significantly enriched in SRE-enhancers compared to adjacent intronic regions. Although the combination of SpliceAI with ESRseq scores (considering ∆ESRseq and SRE landscape) showed higher sensitivity, the global performance did not improve because of the higher number of false positives. The combination of both tools was tested in a tumor RNA dataset with 207 intronic variants disrupting splicing, showing a sensitivity of 86%. Following the pipeline, five spliceogenic deep intronic variants were experimentally identified from 33 variants in HBOC genes. Overall, our results provide a framework to detect deep intronic variants disrupting splicing.
Extending Age Ranges in Breast Cancer Screening in Four European Countries: Model Estimations of Harm-to-Benefit Ratios
Authors: Zielonke Nadine , Geuzinge Amarens , Heijnsdijk Eveline , Heinävaara Sirpa , Senore Carlo , Jarm Katja , de Koning Harry , van Ravesteyn Nicolien ,   on behalf of the EU-TOPIA Consortium
Published: July 2021

The main benefit of breast cancer (BC) screening is a reduction in mortality from BC. However, screening also causes harms such as overdiagnosis and false-positive results. The balance between benefits and harms varies by age. This study aims to assess how harm-to-benefit ratios of BC screening vary by age in the Netherlands, Finland, Italy and Slovenia. Using microsimulation models, we simulated biennial screening with 100% attendance at varying ages for cohorts of women followed over a lifetime. The number of overdiagnoses, false-positive diagnoses, BC deaths averted and life-years gained (LYG) were calculated per 1000 women. We compared four strategies (50–69, 45–69, 45–74 and 50–74) by calculating four harm-to-benefit ratios, respectively. Compared to the reference strategy 50–69, screening women at 45–74 or 50–74 years would be less beneficial in any of the four countries than screening women at 45–69, which would result in relatively fewer overdiagnoses per death averted or LYG. At the same time, false-positive results per death averted would increase substantially. Adapting the age range of BC screening is an option to improve harm-to-benefit ratios in all four countries. Prioritization of considered harms and benefits affects the interpretation of results.
Affecting HEK293 Cell Growth and Production Performance by Modifying the Expression of Specific Genes
Authors: Abaandou Laura , Quan David , Shiloach Joseph
Published: July 2021

The HEK293 cell line has earned its place as a producer of biotherapeutics. In addition to its ease of growth in serum-free suspension culture and its amenability to transfection, this cell line’s most important attribute is its human origin, which makes it suitable to produce biologics intended for human use. At the present time, the growth and production properties of the HEK293 cell line are inferior to those of non-human cell lines, such as the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and the murine myeloma NSO cell lines. However, the modification of genes involved in cellular processes, such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, metabolism, glycosylation, secretion, and protein folding, in addition to bioprocess, media, and vector optimization, have greatly improved the performance of this cell line. This review provides a comprehensive summary of important achievements in HEK293 cell line engineering and on the global engineering approaches and functional genomic tools that have been employed to identify relevant genes for targeted engineering.
Nano-Strategies Targeting the Integrin αvβ3 Network for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Cheng Tsai-Mu , Chang Wong-Jin , Chu Hsiu-Yi , De Luca Roberto , Pedersen Jens Z. , Incerpi Sandra , Li Zi-Lin , Shih Ya-Jung , Lin Hung-Yun , Wang Kuan , Whang-Peng Jacqueline
Published: July 2021

Integrin αvβ3, a cell surface receptor, participates in signaling transduction pathways in cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. Several ligands bind to integrin αvβ3 to regulate proliferation and metastasis in cancer cells. Crosstalk between the integrin and other signal transduction pathways also plays an important role in modulating cancer proliferation. Carcinoembryonic antigen cell adhesion molecule 6 (CEACAM6) activates the downstream integrin FAK to stimulate biological activities including cancer proliferation and metastasis. Blockage of signals related to integrin αvβ3 was shown to be a promising target for cancer therapies. 3,3′,5,5′-tetraiodothyroacetic acid (tetrac) completely binds to the integrin with the thyroid hormone to suppress cancer proliferation. The (E)-stilbene analog, resveratrol, also binds to integrin αvβ3 to inhibit cancer growth. Recently, nanotechnologies have been used in the biomedical field for detection and therapeutic purposes. In the current review, we show and evaluate the potentiation of the nanomaterial carrier RGD peptide, derivatives of PLGA-tetrac (NDAT), and nanoresveratrol targeting integrin αvβ3 in cancer therapies.
Fine Biocompatible Powders Synthesized from Calcium Lactate and Ammonium Sulfate
Authors: Kaimonov Maksim , Shatalova Tatiana , Filippov Yaroslav , Safronova Tatiana
Published: July 2021

Fine biocompatible powders with different phase compositions were obtained from a 0.5 M solution of ammonium sulfate (NH4)2SO4 and calcium lactate Ca(C3H5O3)2. The powder after synthesis and drying at 40 °C included calcium sulfate dehydrate CaSO4·2H2O and calcite CaCO3. The powder after heat treatment at 350 °C included β-hemihydrate calcium sulfate β-CaSO4·0.5H2O, γ-anhydrite calcium sulfate γ-CaSO4 and calcite CaCO3. The phase composition of powder heat-treated at 600 °C was presented as β-anhydrate calcium sulfate β-CaSO4 and calcite CaCO3. Increasing the temperature up to 800 °C leads to the sintering of a calcium sulfate powder consisting of β-anhydrite calcium sulfate β-CaSO4 main phase and a tiny amount of calcium oxide CaO. The obtained fine biocompatible powders of calcium sulfate both after synthesis and after heat treatment at temperature not above 600 °C can be recommended as a filler for producing unique composites with inorganic (glass, ceramic, cement) or polymer matrices.
Does Perceived Competence Mediate between Ball Skills and Children’s Physical Activity and Enjoyment?
Authors: Zhang Tao , Lee Joonyoung , Barnett Lisa M. , Gu Xiangli
Published: July 2021

The major purpose of this study was to examine the potential mediating role of perceived motor skill competence on relationships between actual ball skills and children’s physical activity (PA) and PA enjoyment. A total of 294 students (Mage = 10.96 ± 0.76; 51.7% boys) from three elementary schools completed validated questionnaires assessing their perceived competence, self-reported PA, and PA enjoyment. Students’ actual ball skills (i.e., basketball, overhand throwing, striking) were measured by PE MetricsTM. Correlation analyses showed positive relationships among the study variables (rs ranging from 0.12 to 0.56). The structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses demonstrated that the mediation model produces a goodness-of-fit to the data: χ2/df = 52.03/32; CFI = 0.96; NFI = 0.90; IFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.05, SRMR = 0.04. Path coefficients suggested that actual ball skill competence was strongly associated with perceived competence (β = 0.36, p < 0.01), which in turn significantly predicted PA (β = 0.29, p < 0.01) and PA enjoyment (β = 0.35, p < 0.01). The findings highlight that ball skills significantly impact students’ perceived competence, positively and indirectly affecting their PA and PA enjoyment. This study provides empirical evidence that recommends intervention strategies aimed at fostering elementary school students’ PA and PA enjoyment.
Sexual Activity in Adolescents and Young Adults through COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Stavridou Androniki , Samiakou Chrysa , Kourti Anastasia , Tsiorou Stauroula , Panagouli Eleni , Thirios Athanasios , Psaltopoulou Theodora , Sergentanis Theodoros N. , Tsitsika Artemis
Published: July 2021

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been postulated that the sexual life of adolescent and young adults has been impacted in various aspects, potentially affecting their well-being. Our aim is to investigate the potential changes in the sexual activity and relationships of adolescents and young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. In general, a decrease in sexual desire was reported during the COVID-19 pandemic, in both genders. Fewer sexual intercourses and bonding behaviors between partners were associated with loneliness and depressive symptoms. On the contrary, an increase in sexual desire was expressed in a few people, with masturbation to be the most preferable means of satisfaction. The present paper highlights the multifaceted impact of COVID-19 upon the sexual life of adolescents and young adults during the ongoing pandemic. The changes observed in their sexual activity and relationships, could provide the basis of future preventive and educational programs.
Ketogenic Diet in Cancer Prevention and Therapy: Molecular Targets and Therapeutic Opportunities
Authors: Talib Wamidh H. , Mahmod Asma Ismail , Kamal Ayah , Rashid Hasan M. , Alashqar Aya M. D. , Khater Samar , Jamal Duaa , Waly Mostafa
Published: July 2021

Although cancer is still one of the most significant global challenges facing public health, the world still lacks complementary approaches that would significantly enhance the efficacy of standard anticancer therapies. One of the essential strategies during cancer treatment is following a healthy diet program. The ketogenic diet (KD) has recently emerged as a metabolic therapy in cancer treatment, targeting cancer cell metabolism rather than a conventional dietary approach. The ketogenic diet (KD), a high-fat and very-low-carbohydrate with adequate amounts of protein, has shown antitumor effects by reducing energy supplies to cells. This low energy supply inhibits tumor growth, explaining the ketogenic diet’s therapeutic mechanisms in cancer treatment. This review highlights the crucial mechanisms that explain the ketogenic diet’s potential antitumor effects, which probably produces an unfavorable metabolic environment for cancer cells and can be used as a promising adjuvant in cancer therapy. Studies discussed in this review provide a solid background for researchers and physicians to design new combination therapies based on KD and conventional therapies.
The Phase Evolution and Photocatalytic Properties of a Ti-TiO2 Bilayer Thin Film Prepared Using Thermal Oxidation
Authors: Lee Ping-Yuan , Widyastuti Endrika , Lin Tzu-Che , Chiu Chen-Tien , Xu Fu-Yang , Tseng Yaw-Teng , Lee Ying-Chieh
Published: July 2021

Ti-TiO2 bilayer thin films were successfully prepared onto a glass substrate using magnetron sputtering with different TiO2 bottom layer conditions. These represent a lack of (as-deposited) and full oxygen content (annealed). Single-layer Ti was additionally used as a control. The influence of oxygen diffusion phenomena of the bottom layer of TiO2 to the upper layer of Ti thin films at different oxidation temperatures on structural, optical, and photocatalytic performance was investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results confirmed that the crystalline phases coexisting on thin-film samples oxidized at 450 °C were TiO, TiO1.4, (bilayer, as-deposited TiO2), anatase (bilayer, annealed TiO2), and rutile (single and bilayer). This finding showed that the film’s phase structure evolution is significantly affected by oxygen diffusion from the bottom layer. Further increasing the thermal oxidation temperature caused a notable decline in the amorphous zone in bilayer thin films based on TEM analysis. Bilayer thin films lead to higher degradation of methylene blue under UV light radiation (63%) than single-layer films (45%) oxidized at 450 °C. High photocatalytic activity performance was found in the bilayer annealed TiO2-Ti thin-film sample. This study demonstrates that the bilayer modification strategy promotes the oxygen-induced bottom layer of TiO2 bilayer thin films.
Ultrasonic Induced Refinement of Induction Heated Oxide Coating on Titanium
Authors: Gao Han , Yu Meijie , Chen Xin , Xiao Guiyong , Chen Chuanzhong , Liu Bing , Lu Yupeng
Published: July 2021

Induction heating treatment (IHT) has recently been used to improve the bioactivity and biocompatibility of titanium and its alloys, greatly related to the formation of the nanoscale oxide coating. In this work, the effect of ultrasonic on the IHT oxidation behavior of pure titanium has been investigated. Ultrasonic-assisted IHT of pure titanium was carried out for 13, 20 and 25 s. Submicro-/nano-scale morphological coatings with rutile and anatase TiO2 were prepared on the surface of titanium substrates subjected to ultrasonic-assisted IHT. In particular, the TiO2 crystals were significantly refined by ultrasonic impact. An improvement in hydrophilicity and hardness of the oxide film was achieved by ultrasonic-assisted IHT. The refinement of TiO2 crystals is suggested to be caused by ultrasonic induced changes of energy, defect density and their correlation with diffusion of oxygen. The present study provides a potential method to refine the nanoscale oxide films on titanium substrates, which is promising for improving the wear resistance and bioactivity of titanium and its alloys.
Ultrasound Imaging versus Radiographs in Differentiating Periapical Lesions: A Systematic Review
Authors: Patil Shankargouda , Alkahtani Ahmed , Bhandi Shilpa , Mashyakhy Mohammed , Alvarez Mario , Alroomy Riyadh , Hendi Ali , Varadarajan Saranya , Reda Rodolfo , Raj A. Thirumal , Testarelli Luca
Published: July 2021

Background: Ultrasonography is a non-invasive method of diagnosing periapical lesions while radiologic methods are more common. Periapical lesions due to endodontic infection are one of the most common causes of periapical radiolucency that need to be distinguished to help determine the course of treatment. This review aimed to examine the accuracy of ultrasound and compare it to radiographs in distinguishing these lesions in vivo. Methods: This review process followed the PRISMA guidelines. A literature search of databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science) was conducted without any restrictions on time. Articles available in English were included. The selection was done according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The QUADAS-2 tool was used to assess the quality of the studies. Results: The search provided a total of 87 articles, out of which, five were selected for the final review. In all the studies, ultrasound had higher accuracy in distinguishing periapical lesions. All the studies indicated a risk of bias, especially in patient selection. Conclusion: Within limitations, the study indicates that ultrasound is a better diagnostic tool to distinguish periapical lesions compared to radiographs but further studies with well-designed, rigorous protocols and low risk of bias are needed to provide stronger evidence.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Chitinases as Biomarkers for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Authors: Costa Júlia , Gromicho Marta , Pronto-Laborinho Ana , Almeida Conceição , Gomes Ricardo A. , Guerreiro Ana C. L. , Oliva Abel , Pinto Susana , de Carvalho Mamede
Published: July 2021

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative neuromuscular disease that affects motor neurons controlling voluntary muscles. Survival is usually 2–5 years after onset, and death occurs due to respiratory failure. The identification of biomarkers would be very useful to help in disease diagnosis and for patient stratification based on, e.g., progression rate, with implications in therapeutic trials. Neurofilaments constitute already-promising markers for ALS and, recently, chitinases have emerged as novel marker targets for the disease. Here, we investigated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) chitinases as potential markers for ALS. Chitotriosidase (CHIT1), chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1), chitinase-3-like protein 2 (CHI3L2) and the benchmark marker phosphoneurofilament heavy chain (pNFH) were quantified by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) from the CSF of 34 ALS patients and 24 control patients with other neurological diseases. CSF was also analyzed by UHPLC-mass spectrometry. All three chitinases, as well as pNFH, were found to correlate with disease progression rate. Furthermore, CHIT1 was elevated in ALS patients with high diagnostic performance, as was pNFH. On the other hand, CHIT1 correlated with forced vital capacity (FVC). The three chitinases correlated with pNFH, indicating a relation between degeneration and neuroinflammation. In conclusion, our results supported the value of CHIT1 as a diagnostic and progression rate biomarker, and its potential as respiratory function marker. The results opened novel perspectives to explore chitinases as biomarkers and their functional relevance in ALS.
SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Detection to Expand Testing Capacity for COVID-19: Results from a Hospital Emergency Department Testing Site
Authors: Menchinelli Giulia , De Angelis Giulia , Cacaci Margherita , Liotti Flora Marzia , Candelli Marcello , Palucci Ivana , Santangelo Rosaria , Sanguinetti Maurizio , Vetrugno Giuseppe , Franceschi Francesco , Posteraro Brunella
Published: July 2021

Background: SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection has currently expanded the testing capacity for COVID-19, which yet relies on the SARS-CoV-2 RNA RT-PCR amplification. Objectives: To report on a COVID-19 testing algorithm from a tertiary care hospital emergency department (ED) that combines both antigen (performed on the ED) and RT-PCR (performed outside the ED) testing. Methods: Between December 2020 and January 2021, in a priori designated, spatially separated COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 ED areas, respectively, symptomatic or asymptomatic patients received SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing on nasopharyngeal swab samples. Antigen results were promptly accessible to guide subsequent, outside performed confirmatory (RT-PCR) testing. Results: Overall, 1083 (100%) of 1083 samples in the COVID-19 area and 1815 (49.4%) of 3670 samples in the non-COVID-19 area had antigen results that required confirmation by RT-PCR. Antigen positivity rates were 12.4% (134/1083) and 3.7% (66/1815), respectively. Compared to RT-PCR testing results, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of antigen testing were, respectively, 68.0%, 98.3%, 88.8%, and 94.1% in the COVID-19 area, and 41.9%, 97.3%, 27.3%, and 98.6% in non-COVID-19 area. Practically, RT-PCR tests were avoided in 50.6% (1855/3670) of non-COVID-19 area samples (all antigen negative) from patients who, otherwise, would have needed antigen result confirmation. Conclusions: Our algorithm had value to preserve RT-PCR from avoidable usage and, importantly, to save time, which translated into a timely RT-PCR result availability in the COVID-19 area.
Neural Network Optimization Algorithms to Predict Wind Turbine Blade Fatigue Life under Variable Hygrothermal Conditions
Authors: Ziane Khaled , Ilinca Adrian , Karganroudi Sasan Sattarpanah , Dimitrova Mariya
Published: July 2021

Moisture and temperature are the most important environmental factors that affect the degradation of wind turbine blades, and their influence must be considered in the design process. They will first affect the resin matrix and then, possibly, the interface with the fibers. This work is the first to use a series of metaheuristic approaches to analyze the most recent experimental results database and to identify which resins are the most robust to moisture/temperature in terms of fatigue life. Four types of resin are compared, representing the most common types used for wind turbine blades manufacturing. Thermoset polymer resins, including polyesters and vinyl esters, were machined as coupons and tested for the fatigue in air temperatures of 20 °C and 50 °C under “dry” and “wet” conditions. The experimental fatigue data available from Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) for wind turbine-related materials have been used to build, train, and validate an artificial neural network (ANN) to predict fatigue life under different environmental conditions. The performances of three algorithms (Backpropagation BP, Particle Swarm Optimization PSO, and Cuckoo Search CS) are compared for adjusting the synaptic weights of the ANN and evaluating the efficiency in predicting the fatigue life of the materials studied, under the conditions mentioned above. For accuracy evaluation, the mean square error (MSE) is used as an objective function to be optimized by the three algorithms.
Onset of Linear and Nonlinear Thermosolutal Convection with Soret and Dufour Effects in a Porous Collector under a Uniform Magnetic Field
Authors: Rebhi Redha , Mamou Mahmoud , Hadidi Noureddine
Published: July 2021

The present paper reports on an analytical and numerical study of combined Soret and Dufour effects on thermosolutal convection in a horizontal porous cavity saturated with an electrically conducting binary fluid under a magnetic field. The horizontal walls of the system are subject to vertical uniform fluxes of heat and mass, whereas the vertical walls are assumed to be adiabatic and impermeable. The main governing parameters of the problem are the Rayleigh, the Hartmann, the Soret, the Dufour and the Lewis numbers, the buoyancy ratio, the enclosure aspect ratio, and the normalized porosity of the porous medium. An asymptotic parallel flow approximation is applied to determine the onset of subcritical nonlinear convection. In addition, a linear stability analysis is performed to predict explicitly the thresholds for the onset of stationary, overstable and oscillatory convection, and the Hopf bifurcation as functions of the governing parameters. The combined effect of a magnetic field, Soret and Dufour parameters have a noticeable influence on the intensity of the convective flow, the heat and mass transfer rates, and the thresholds of linear convection. It is found that the imposition of a magnetic field delays the onset of convection and its intensification can lead to the total suppression of the convective currents. The heat transfer rate increases with the Dufour number and decreases with the Soret number and vice versa for the mass transfer rate.
Effect of Herbal Addition on the Microbiological, Oxidative Stability and Sensory Quality of Minced Poultry Meat
Authors: Jaworska Danuta , Rosiak Elżbieta , Kostyra Eliza , Jaszczyk Katarzyna , Wroniszewska Monika , Przybylski Wiesław
Published: July 2021

The study aimed to assess the effect of herbal additions with antioxidant properties (pepper, thyme and oregano) on the microbiological and oxidative stability as well as the sensory quality of minced poultry meat. Meatballs treatments without additives and treatments with the addition of three types of spices in two forms—dry spices and industrial extracts were examined. Popular seasoning additives of oregano (Origanum vulgare), thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and black pepper (Piper nigrum) at 0.3% of dry herbal or 0.003% as industrial extract were added to minced meat. The microbiological, chemical and sensory tests were performed at specified times and storage temperature. Based on the studied criteria, products maintained constant and adequate quality by up to 10 days while stored in 4 °C. In the case of all tested samples, the overall sensory quality began to deteriorate after 10 days of storage. The preservative role of herbs and extracts in meat products during processing and storage was observed. Oregano and black pepper in both forms maintained good microbial quality and showed their inhibitory effects on the growth of psychrotrophic bacteria. It was observed that dried herbs revealed a stronger antioxidant effect than additives in the form of extracts. The studied dried herbs played an antioxidant, antimicrobial and preservative role in meat products during processing and storage.
Improving Hunted Wild Boar Carcass Hygiene: Roles of Different Factors Involved in the Harvest Phase
Authors: Ranucci David , Roila Rossana , Onofri Andrea , Cambiotti Fausto , Primavilla Sara , Miraglia Dino , Andoni Egon , Di Cerbo Alessandro , Branciari Raffaella
Published: July 2021

Game meat production strongly differs from that of other meats, as peculiar factors present in the field and in the steps prior to transfer to a game-handling establishment can influence the hygiene of the carcasses and, therefore, of the meat. The effects of such factors were considered in hunted wild boars based on the main hygienic criteria adopted in meat processing. Environmental, animal, and hunting conditions were studied during two selective hunting seasons in Central Italy. A total of 120 hunted wild boar carcasses were sampled after the skinning process and analyzed for aerobic colony count, Enterobacteriaceae count, and Salmonella spp. isolation. The calculated mean values for aerobic colony and Enterobacteriaceae counts were 3.66 and 2.05 CFU/cm2, respectively, in line with the limits set for the meat of other ungulates by EU legislation. Salmonella spp. showed a prevalence of 2.5% (IC 95%: 1.72–3.27%). Statistical analysis of the data performed with the AIC criterion showed that the main parameter to consider for improving the hygienic level of carcasses is to reduce the time in the refrigerator before skinning, followed by hunting on cold days (<10 °C) without rain, hunting animals <60 kg, and reducing the time between shooting and evisceration.
The Effects of Hydrocolloids-Protein Mixture as a Fat Replacer on Physicochemical Characteristics of Sugar-Free Muffin Cake: Modeling and Optimization
Authors: Azmoon Elahe , Saberi Farzad , Kouhsari Fatemeh , Akbari Mehdi , Kieliszek Marek , Vakilinezam Amir
Published: July 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hydrocolloids–protein mixture as a fat replacer in sugar-free low-fat muffin cakes. In this study, a hydrocolloids mixture including konjac and guar gums and soy protein isolate (SPI) was applied to the cake. The combination of gums and SPI was named as mixture of stabilizers (MOS), and the treatments were designed using Design-Expert software and the response surface methodology (RSM) in order to optimize and reduce the oil content of muffin cakes by replacing it with MOS. Evaluation of treatments characteristics were investigated on days 1 and 15 of their production. The dependent variables were moisture content, water activity, specific volume, porosity, hardness, cohesiveness, springiness, chewiness and crumb color of cakes. The results show that increasing the percentage of MOS has positive effects on the final products in comparison to oil. In other words, an increase in the MOS content resulted in an increase in the moisture content, water activity, specific volume, height, springiness, cohesiveness, chewiness and L* (lightness) values, but negative effect on hardness, a* (redness) and b* (yellowness) values. As a result of optimizing using RSM, the usage of 4.08% oil and 0.31% MOS resulted in a 62.9% reduction in oil content in comparison with the control sample. The panelists assigned the lowest score to hardness and crumb color and the highest score to overall acceptability and cohesiveness to the optimized muffin.
Check-All-That-Apply (CATA) Test to Investigate the Consumers’ Perception of Olive Oil Sensory Properties: Effect of Storage Time and Packaging Material
Authors: Piochi Maria , Cabrino Giorgia , Torri Luisa
Published: July 2021

Sensory changes during shelf-life of oils have been mostly studied by descriptive methods, while consumer-based approaches have been poorly explored. This study assessed the variations in consumers’ liking and sensory perception of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and olive oil (OO) packaged in glass, polyethylene terephthalate and tinplate. After 2, 10 and 19 months of storage, oil perception was investigated with consumers (n = 50) performing both a liking test and a check-all-that-apply (CATA) test. No significant effect of the packaging material on consumers’ response was found, whereas storage time negatively affected the sensory properties of and acceptability of OOs and EVOOs from the 10th month of storage. The CATA test results revealed the sensory changes in oils over 19 months, mainly described as a decrease in pungency for EVOO and a decrease in herbaceous and ripe fruitiness in OO. The CATA technique combined with the liking test allowed the drivers of liking (“olive” for OO and “green fruitiness” for EVOO) and disliking (“bitter” and “pungent” for EVOO) to be identified. In conclusion, the sensory approach based both on CATA technique and liking test seems promising as a rapid tool to evaluate the changes in sensory properties perceivable during the shelf-life of oils.
Editorial for Special Issue “New Frontiers in Forecasting the Business Cycle and Financial Markets”
Authors: Paccagnini Alessia
Published: July 2021

The global financial crisis of 2007–2009 and the COVID-19 pandemic have heightened uncertainty in financial markets and the business cycle [...]
Effectiveness of Protected Areas in the Pan-Tropics and International Aid for Conservation
Authors: Kim Do-Hyung , Anand Anupam
Published: July 2021

Evaluation of the effectiveness of protected areas is critical for forest conservation policies and priorities. We used 30 m resolution forest cover change data from 1990 to 2010 for ~4000 protected areas to evaluate their effectiveness. Our results show that protected areas in the tropics avoided 83,500 ± 21,200 km2 of deforestation during the 2000s. Brazil’s protected areas have the largest amount of avoided deforestation at 50,000 km2. We also show the amount of international aid received by tropical countries compared to the effectiveness of protected areas. Thirty-four tropical countries received USD 42 billion during the 1990s and USD 62 billion during the 2000s in international aid for biodiversity conservation. The effectiveness of international aid was highest in Latin America, with 4.3 m2/USD, led by Brazil, while tropical Asian countries showed the lowest average effect of international aid, reaching only 0.17 m2/USD.
Feasibility of a Geriatric Assessment to Detect and Quantify Sarcopenia and Physical Functioning in German Nursing Home Residents—A Pilot Study
Authors: Haigis Daniel , Pomiersky Rebekka , Altmeier Dorothée , Frahsa Annika , Sudeck Gorden , Thiel Ansgar , Eschweiler Gerhard , Nieß Andreas Michael
Published: July 2021

Background: Entering into a nursing home leads to increased immobility and further reductions in physical and cognitive functioning. As a result, there is a risk of sarcopenia, which is characterized by loss of muscle strength, muscle mass and physical functioning. To our knowledge, the feasibility of sarcopenia screening has not yet been performed in the German nursing home setting. Methods: For sarcopenia screening, the specifications of EWGSOP2 were applied. The quantification of sarcopenia was performed according to the corresponding cut-off values. The collection of anthropometric data and the morbidity status were recorded. SARC-F, mini-mental state examination, Barthel Index, Short Physical Performance Battery and Timed Up and Go tests were implemented. Results: In one participant, severe sarcopenia could be identified. The quantification was not possible for four participants. A suspicion of sarcopenia was not confirmed in five participants. Only one person was able to perform all assessments. Conclusions: Sarcopenia screening according to EWGSOP2 presented satisfactory feasibility by nursing home residents. However, further tests to assess the physical functioning of the participants often could not be performed. Moreover, inconsistencies in individual assessments became apparent, leading to inconclusive analyses. The recording of sarcopenia prevalence in German nursing homes should be the goal of further research.
Does Parental Alcohol Use Influence Children’s Age at First Alcohol Intake? A Retrospective Study of Patients with Alcohol Dependence
Authors: Berent Dominika , Wojnar Marcin
Published: July 2021

Parental alcohol misuse has detrimental effects on the entire family. In particular, the safety and general health of the children of parents with alcohol abuse/dependence are of concern to health authorities around the globe. The present study aimed to examine the impact of parental history of alcohol abuse/dependence on the age of first alcohol intake in adult patients with alcohol dependence. Questionnaire data were collected from 294 (57 females) patients with alcohol dependence (M ± SD, 42 ± 10.96 years). The majority of males (61.2%) and over half (50.9%) of females reported no history of parental alcohol abuse/dependence. Male patients with alcohol dependence were less likely to report living with both parents with alcohol abuse/dependence than female patients with alcohol abuse/dependence (p < 0.05). However, male patients who lived with both parents with alcohol abuse/dependence were younger at first alcohol intake than their female counterparts (median age: 12.00 vs. 18.00, p = 0.002) and males raised by parents without alcohol abuse/dependence (median age: 12.00 vs. 16.00, p = 0.036). Our findings suggest that age at first alcohol intake may serve as a marker of household dysfunction, including poor parental management. Our study supports the global need for systemic interventions to help alcohol abusing/dependent parents to carry out their parental responsibilities.
Nutritional Intervention Improves Nutrition Outcomes in Stomach and Colon Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: Finding from a Quasi-Experiment in Vietnam
Authors: Huong Le Thi , Phuong Duong Thi , Anh Dang Kim , Toi Phung Lam , Anh Nguyen Le Tuan , Huy Trinh Le , Linh Nguyen Thuy
Published: July 2021

Background: Evidence on the effects of nutritional interventions on gastrointestinal cancer patients receiving chemotherapy is not well documented. This study aims to assess the effects of nutritional intervention in patients diagnosed with stomach and colon cancer receiving chemotherapy in Vietnam. Methods: A quasi-experiment with intervention and control groups for pre- and post-intervention was carried out in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in a university hospital in Vietnam. Patients in the intervention group were provided nutritional counseling, personalized specific dietary advice, and received oral nutrition supplements (ONSs) while patients in the control group only received nutrition counseling. Results: The weight in the intervention and control group after 2 months increased significantly by 1.4 ± 2.6 kg and 0.4 ± 2.3 kg, respectively. Muscle mass increased by 1.2 ± 4.1 cm in the intervention group, while those in the control group decreased by 0.55 ± 2.77 cm. There was no statistical significance between two groups after intervention in terms of Mid–Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) and percentage of fat. The percentage of malnutrition based on the Scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) and Body Mass Index (BMI) declined after the intervention in both groups. According to the average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) using the propensity score matching and DiD method, participants receiving the intervention were more likely to have a higher score of weight (Coef = 0.84; 95%CI = 0.47; 2.16) and muscle mass (Coef = 1.08; 95%CI = 0.09; 2.06) between pre- and post-intervention. By contrast, the PG-SGA scores on treated participants were more likely to decrease after the intervention (Coef = −1.28; 95%CI = −4.39; −0.84). After matching, being female, living in rural areas, or having stomach cancer were still positively related to being moderately/severely malnourished by the PG-SGA, and these findings were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The nutritional interventions had a positive effect on weight gain, muscle mass, and reduced malnutrition. Further studies with a longer follow-up duration are needed to confirm the effects of the intervention.
The Archive’s Moment
Authors: Caimari Lila
Published: July 2021

This article summarizes observations on the “archive question” as it manifests itself in Argentina at the present moment. Based on a presentation delivered in Buenos Aires, it opens with a general appraisal of the multiple dynamics (political, disciplinary, technological) converging on this issue. Then, it focuses on a particular dimension of this process—namely, the impact of the digital archive on the reconstruction of the Argentine past.
Effect of Oak Tree Sawdust Fermentation Period on Peanut Seed Germination, Seedling Biomass, and Morphology
Authors: Ahn Junsik , Oh Soyeon , Kang Yang Joo , Kim KiBum , Moon Sung-Kwon , Moon BoKyung , Myung SoonChul , Kim Moon-Soo , Lee Young Koung , Ko Kisung
Published: July 2021

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) seeds were germinated to investigate the effect of the fermentation period of oak tree sawdust on germination viability and seedling characteristics. Its germination rate, seedling weight, length, and total vigor index were assessed. The seeds were sown in oak tree sawdust fermented for 0, 30, 45, and 60 days. The germination rates of the seeds in fermented sawdust were significantly different. The seeds in the 45-day fermented sawdust produced the heaviest biomass weight (4.6 g) with the longest true leaf (1.7 cm) and hypocotyl (3.4 cm) resulting in the highest total vigor index (925.8). In contrast, seeds in 0-day fermented sawdust had the lowest total vigor index (18.3). Microbiome analysis showed that the microbial community in the sawdust changed as the fermentation progressed, indicating that the microbial community seems to affect seed germination physiology. Taken together, 45-day fermented sawdust is recommended for optimal peanut seed germination and seedling growth.