bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early Clinical Experience with Trifluridine/Tipiracil for Refractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: The ROS Study
Authors: García-Alfonso Pilar , Muñoz Andrés , Jiménez-Castro Jerónimo , Jiménez-Fonseca Paula , Pericay Carles , Longo-Muñoz Federico , Reyna-Fortes Carmen , Argilés-Martínez Guillem , González-Astorga Beatriz , Gómez-Reina María José , Ruiz-Casado Ana , Rodríguez-Salas Nuria , López-López Rafael , Carmona-Bayonas Alberto , Conde-Herrero Verónica , Aranda Enrique ,   on behalf of the ROS Study Group
Published: September 2021

Trifluridine/tipiracil is currently approved for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) refractory to available therapies. However, there is no consensus on factors that predict treatment outcomes in daily practice. We assessed the early clinical experience with trifluridine/tipiracil in Spain and potential survival markers. This was a retrospective cohort study of mCRC patients who participated in the trifluridine/tipiracil early clinical experience programme in Spain. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Associations between OS and patient characteristics were assessed using multivariate Cox regression analyses. A total of 379 patients were included in the study. Trifluridine/tipiracil was administered for a median of 3.0 cycles and discontinued mainly due to disease progression (79.2%). The median OS was 7.9 months, with a 12-month OS rate of 30.5%. Cox analyses revealed that the following variables independently enhanced OS: ≤2 metastatic sites, no liver metastasis, alkaline phosphatase < 300 IU, trifluridine/tipiracil dose reductions, and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio < 5. Grade ≥ 3 toxicities were reported in 141 (37.2%) patients, including mainly afebrile neutropaenia (23.2%), anaemia (12.1%), and thrombocytopaenia (5.3%). This study supports the real-life efficacy and safety of trifluridine/tipiracil for refractory mCRC and identifies tumour burden, liver metastasis, alkaline phosphatase, dose reductions, and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio as survival markers.
PARP Inhibitors in Melanoma—An Expanding Therapeutic Option?
Authors: Chan Wei Yen , Brown Lauren J. , Reid Lee , Joshua Anthony M.
Published: September 2021

Immunotherapy has transformed the treatment landscape of melanoma; however, despite improvements in patient outcomes, monotherapy can often lead to resistance and tumour escape. Therefore, there is a need for new therapies, combination strategies and biomarker-guided decision making to increase the subset of patients most likely to benefit from treatment. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors act by synthetic lethality to target tumour cells with homologous recombination deficiencies such as BRCA mutations. However, the application of PARP inhibitors could be extended to a broad range of BRCA-negative cancers with high rates of DNA damage repair pathway mutations, such as melanoma. Additionally, PARP inhibition has the potential to augment the therapeutic effect of immunotherapy through multi-faceted immune-priming capabilities. In this review, we detail the immunological role of PARP and rationale for combining PARP and immune checkpoint inhibitors, with a particular focus on a subset of melanoma with homologous recombination defects that may benefit most from this targeted approach. We summarise the biology supporting this combined regimen and discuss preclinical results as well as ongoing clinical trials in melanoma which may impact future treatment.
Indigo-Mediated Semi-Microbial Biofuel Cell Using an Indigo-Dye Fermenting Suspension
Authors: Kikuchi Mayu , Sowa Keisei , Nakagawa Kasumi , Matsunaga Momoka , Ando Akinori , Kano Kenji , Takeuchi Michiki , Sakuradani Eiji
Published: September 2021

Aizome (Japanese indigo dyeing) is a unique dyeing method using microbial activity under anaerobic alkaline conditions. In indigo-dye fermenting suspensions; microorganisms reduce indigo into leuco-indigo with acetaldehyde as a reductant. In this study; we constructed a semi-microbial biofuel cell using an indigo-dye fermenting suspension. Carbon fiber and Pt mesh were used as the anode and cathode materials, respectively. The open-circuit voltage (OCV) was 0.6 V, and the maximum output power was 32 µW cm−2 (320 mW m−2). In addition, the continuous stability was evaluated under given conditions starting with the highest power density; the power density rapidly decreased in 0.5 h due to the degradation of the anode. Conversely, at the OCV, the anode potential exhibited high stability for two days. However, the OCV decreased by approximately 80 mV after 2 d compared with the initial value, which was attributed to the performance degradation of the gas-diffusion-cathode system caused by the evaporation of the dispersion solution. This is the first study to construct a semi-microbial biofuel cell using an indigo-dye fermenting suspension.
Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Isothiocyanates Using Elemental Sulfur
Authors: Németh András , Ábrányi-Balogh Péter
Published: September 2021

Isothiocyanates (ITCs) are biologically active molecules found in several natural products and pharmaceutical ingredients. Moreover, due to their high and versatile reactivity, they are widely used as intermediates in organic synthesis. This review considers the best practices for the synthesis of ITCs using elemental sulfur, highlighting recent developments. First, we summarize the in situ generation of thiocarbonyl surrogates followed by their transformation in the presence of primary amines leading to ITCs. Second, carbenes and amines afford isocyanides, and the further reaction of this species with sulfur readily generates ITCs under thermal, catalytic or basic conditions. Additionally, we also reveal that in the catalyst-free reaction of isocyanides and sulfur, two—until this time overlooked and not investigated—different mechanistic pathways exist.
GDF-15 Deficiency Reduces Autophagic Activity in Human Macrophages In Vitro and Decreases p62-Accumulation in Atherosclerotic Lesions in Mice
Authors: Heduschke Aline , Ackermann Kathrin , Wilhelm Beate , Mey Lilli , Bonaterra Gabriel Alejandro , Kinscherf Ralf , Schwarz Anja
Published: September 2021

(1) Background: Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is associated with cardiovascular diseases and autophagy in human macrophages (MΦ). Thus, we are interested in investigating autophagic mechanisms with special respect to the role of GDF-15. (2) Methods: Recombinant (r)GDF-15 and siRNA GDF-15 were used to investigate the effects of GDF-15 on autophagic and lysosomal activity, as well as autophagosome formation by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in MΦ. To ascertain the effects of GDF-15−/− on the progression of atherosclerotic lesions, we used GDF-15−/−/ApoE−/− and ApoE−/− mice under a cholesterol-enriched diet (CED). Body weight, body mass index (BMI), blood lipid levels and lumen stenosis in the brachiocephalic trunk (BT) were analyzed. Identification of different cell types and localization of autophagy-relevant proteins in atherosclerotic plaques were performed by immunofluorescence. (3) Results: siGDF-15 reduced and, conversely, rGDF-15 increased the autophagic activity in MΦ, whereas lysosomal activity was unaffected. Autophagic degradation after starvation and rGDF-15 treatment was observed by TEM. GDF-15−/−/ApoE−/− mice, after CED, showed reduced lumen stenosis in the BT, while body weight, BMI and triglycerides were increased compared with ApoE−/− mice. GDF-15−/− decreased p62-accumulation in atherosclerotic lesions, especially in endothelial cells (ECs). (4) Conclusion: GDF-15 seems to be an important factor in the regulation of autophagy, especially in ECs of atherosclerotic lesions, indicating its crucial pathophysiological function during atherosclerosis development.
An Overview of Gadolinium-Based Oxide and Oxysulfide Particles: Synthesis, Properties, and Biomedical Applications
Authors: Ortega-Berlanga Benita , Betancourt-Mendiola Lourdes , del Angel-Olarte César , Hernández-Adame Luis , Rosales-Mendoza Sergio , Palestino Gabriela
Published: September 2021

In the last decade, the publications presenting novel physical and chemical aspects of gadolinium-based oxide (Gd2O3) and oxysulfide (Gd2O2S) particles in the micro- or nano-scale have increased, mainly stimulated by the exciting applications of these materials in the biomedical field. Their optical properties, related to down and upconversion phenomena and the ability to functionalize their surface, make them attractive for developing new probes for selective targeting and emergent bioimaging techniques, either for biomolecule labeling or theranostics. Moreover, recent reports have shown interesting optical behavior of these systems influenced by the synthesis methods, dopant amount and type, particle shape and size, and surface functionality. Hence, this review presents a compilation of the latest works focused on evaluating the optical properties of Gd2O3 and Gd2O2S particles as a function of their physicochemical and morphological properties; and also on their novel applications as MRI contrast agents and drug delivery nanovehicles, discussed along with their administration routes, biodistribution, cytotoxicity, and clearance mechanisms. Perspectives for this field are also identified and discussed.
Historical Zooplankton Composition Indicates Eutrophication Stages in a Neotropical Aquatic System: The Case of Lake Amatitlán, Central America
Authors: Jaime Sarahi , Cervantes-Martínez Adrián , Gutiérrez-Aguirre Martha A. , Suárez-Morales Eduardo , Juárez-Pernillo Julio R. , Reyes-Solares Elena M. , Delgado-Blas Victor H.
Published: September 2021

This paper presents a study of freshwater zooplankton biodiversity, deemed as a reliable indicator of water quality. The Guatemalan Lake Amatitlán, currently used as a water source, has shown signs of progressive eutrophication, with perceptible variations of the local zooplankton diversity. Biotic and abiotic parameters were determined at four sites of Lake Amatitlán (Este Centro, Oeste Centro, Bahía Playa de Oro, and Michatoya) in 2016 and 2017. The local composition, the species richness and abundance of zooplankton, and the system environmental parameters were analyzed during both years surveyed. Biological data suggesting eutrophication of this tropical system were obtained, including a high rotifer abundance (11 species: the rotifers Brachionushavanaensis (109 ind L−1) and Keratellaamericana (304 ind L−1) were the most abundant species in this lake). The presumably endemic diaptomid copepod species, Mastigodiaptomusamatitlanensis, was absent in our samples, but we report the unprecedented occurrence of two Asian cyclopoid copepods (i.e., Thermocyclopscrassus and Mesocyclops thermocyclopoides) for Lake Amatitlán and Guatemala. The presence of larger zooplankters like adults and immature copepods (i.e., Arctodiaptomusdorsalis) and cladocerans (Ceriodaphnia sp.) at site “Este Centro” indicates a relatively healthy zooplankton community and represents a focal point for managing the conservation of this lake.
On Spurious Causality, CO2, and Global Temperature
Authors: Goulet Coulombe Philippe , Göbel Maximilian
Published: September 2021

Stips et al. (2016) use information flows (Liang (2008, 2014)) to establish causality from various forcings to global temperature. We show that the formulas being used hinge on a simplifying assumption that is nearly always rejected by the data. We propose the well-known forecast error variance decomposition based on a Vector Autoregression as an adequate measure of information flow, and find that most results in Stips et al. (2016) cannot be corroborated. Then, we discuss which modeling choices (e.g., the choice of CO2 series and assumptions about simultaneous relationships) may help in extracting credible estimates of causal flows and the transient climate response simply by looking at the joint dynamics of two climatic time series.
Risk Intelligence as a Resource in Career Transition: The Role of College Satisfaction on the Visions about Future Jobs
Authors: Lodi Ernesto , Zammitti Andrea , Magnano Paola
Published: September 2021

(1) Background: University transition is a critical step in career construction due to the uncertainty and unpredictability of socioeconomic conditions; these conditions compel people to manage a greater quantity of perceived risks associated with their career projects than in the past, and to face unexpected situations that could compromise their quality of life in educational and work contexts. After all, experiencing well-being during the university path can undoubtedly affect the visions of one’s future work, especially when a transition period is nearby. The present study aimed to explore the role of subjective risk intelligence in expectations about future work, analyzing the potential mediational role of academic satisfaction in this relationship. (2) Methods: A longitudinal study was carried out on 352 Italian university students at the end of the degree course. We used the following measures: in T1, Subjective risk intelligence scale, College Satisfaction scale; in T2, three items assessing the expectations about future work. (3) Results: The main findings showed that subjective risk intelligence has both direct and indirect effects (through the mediation of college satisfaction) on the expectations about future work. (4) Conclusions: The ability to manage risks, also through the contribution of domain-specific satisfaction, can lead to positive expectations toward one’s future work. This could increase the likelihood to perform career-related behaviors in a more proactive way if people have high risk management skills and high levels of academic satisfaction with their university path during transition.
A Custom Sensor Network for Autonomous Water Quality Assessment in Fish Farms
Authors: Fuentes-Pérez Juan Francisco , Sanz-Ronda Francisco Javier
Published: September 2021

The control of water quality is crucial to ensure the survival of fish in aquaculture production facilities. Today, the combination of sensors with communication technologies permits to monitor these crucial parameters in real-time, allowing to take fast management decisions. However, out-of-the-box solutions are expensive, due to the small market and the industrial nature of sensors, besides being little customizable. To solve this, the present work describes a low-cost hardware and software architecture developed to achieve the autonomous water quality assessment and management on a remote facility for fish conservation aquaculture within the framework of the Smart Comunidad Rural Digital (smartCRD) project. The developed sensor network has been working uninterruptedly since its installation (20 April 2021). It is based on open source technology and includes a central gateway for on-site data monitoring of water quality nodes as well as an online management platform for data visualization and sensor network configuration. Likewise, the system can detect autonomously water quality parameters outside configurable thresholds and deliver management alarms. The described architecture, besides low-cost, is highly customizable, compatible with other sensor network projects, machine-learning applications, and is capable of edge computing. Thus, it contributes to making open sensorization more accessible to real-world applications.
Explainable Sentiment Analysis: A Hierarchical Transformer-Based Extractive Summarization Approach
Authors: Bacco Luca , Cimino Andrea , Dell’Orletta Felice , Merone Mario
Published: September 2021

In recent years, the explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) paradigm is gaining wide research interest. The natural language processing (NLP) community is also approaching the shift of paradigm: building a suite of models that provide an explanation of the decision on some main task, without affecting the performances. It is not an easy job for sure, especially when very poorly interpretable models are involved, like the almost ubiquitous (at least in the NLP literature of the last years) transformers. Here, we propose two different transformer-based methodologies exploiting the inner hierarchy of the documents to perform a sentiment analysis task while extracting the most important (with regards to the model decision) sentences to build a summary as the explanation of the output. For the first architecture, we placed two transformers in cascade and leveraged the attention weights of the second one to build the summary. For the other architecture, we employed a single transformer to classify the single sentences in the document and then combine the probability scores of each to perform the classification and then build the summary. We compared the two methodologies by using the IMDB dataset, both in terms of classification and explainability performances. To assess the explainability part, we propose two kinds of metrics, based on benchmarking the models’ summaries with human annotations. We recruited four independent operators to annotate few documents retrieved from the original dataset. Furthermore, we conducted an ablation study to highlight how implementing some strategies leads to important improvements on the explainability performance of the cascade transformers model.
Fast Hybrid Computational Technique for the Analysis of Radome Structures Using Dual Domain Decomposition
Authors: Delgado Carlos , García Eliseo , Cátedra Felipe
Published: September 2021

This work details a technique tailored to the analysis of complex radome structures based on the non-overlapping separation of two different domains: antenna and radome. Both domains are analyzed isolated using the method of moments with the multilevel fast multipole algorithm (MoM-MLFMA) for the antenna domain and a modified characteristic basis function method with the multilevel fast multipole algorithm approach for the radome domain. An iterative procedure is then applied to compute the effect of each domain over the complementary domain. This approach usually converges into a few iterations, yielding very good results and significant efficiency improvements with respect to other efficient approaches such as a full-wave MoM-MLFMA analysis of the full problem. A realistic test case is included, considering a radome with an embedded frequency selective structure on one of its interfaces. The results show a very good agreement considering only three iterations between domains, requiring only one-third of the CPU-time needed by the conventional approach.
Impact of Inter-Gateway Distance on LoRaWAN Performance
Authors: Citoni Bruno , Ansari Shuja , Abbasi Qammer Hussain , Imran Muhammad Ali , Hussain Sajjad
Published: September 2021

The large-scale behaviour of LoRaWAN networks has been studied through mathematical analysis and discrete-time simulations to understand their limitations. However, current literature is not always coherent in its assumptions and network setups. This paper proposes a comprehensive analysis of the known causes of packet loss in an uplink-only LoRaWAN network: duty cycle limitations, packet collision, insufficient coverage, and saturation of a receiver’s demodulation paths. Their impact on the overall Quality of Service (QoS) for a two-gateway network is also studied. The analysis is carried out with the discrete-event network simulator NS-3 and is set up to best fit the real behaviour of devices. This approach shows that increasing gateway density is only effective as the gateways are placed at a distance. Moreover, the trade-off between different outage conditions due to the uneven distribution of spreading factors is not always beneficial, diminishing returns as networks grow denser and wider. In particular, networks operating similarly to the one analysed in this paper should specifically avoid SF11 and 12, which decrease the average overall PDR by about 7% at 10% nodes increment across all configurations. The results of this work intend to homogenise behavioural assumptions and setups of future research investigating the capability of LoRaWAN networks and provide insight on the weight of each outage condition in a varying two-gateway network.
Estimating Global Forest-Based Employment
Authors: Lippe Rattiya Suddeephong , Cui Shannon , Schweinle Jörg
Published: September 2021

There has been an ongoing interest in how important forests are for employment and what measures need to be taken to reduce decent work deficits. This study aims to contribute to the existing debate on the extent of informal and subsistence employment globally, with a particular focus on the forestry and logging sub-sector. Estimates on employment numbers not captured in the official statistics are aggregated with the recent official reported data to demonstrate a partial overview of global forest-based employment. The previous estimation method is extended by incorporating clustering techniques in response to the paucity of available labour productivity rates. Related employment and production data compiled by FAO are used as a basis of analyses. Main findings reveal that at least two-thirds of the entire forestry and logging-based employment is informal or subsistence. Estimates are highly concentrated in developing countries where decent forestry work need to be strengthened most. Aggregating official employment statistics and our additional estimates, the global forest-related workforce amounts to at least 64 million persons FTE in 2015. The study can be considered a step towards a more profound assessment approach in estimating informal and subsistence employment in the global forest sector based on the officially reported statistics. Disaggregated data based on employment status and gender is essential for improving the indirect estimation of the forest sector’s informal economy and thus requires more attention by policymakers in the near future.
Gene Frequency Shift in Relict Abies pinsapo Forests Associated with Drought-Induced Mortality: Preliminary Evidence of Local-Scale Divergent Selection
Authors: Cobo-Simón Irene , Méndez-Cea Belén , Seco José Ignacio , Wegrzyn Jill , Linares Juan Carlos , Gallego Francisco Javier
Published: September 2021

Current climate change constitutes a challenge for the survival of several drought-sensitive forests. The study of the genetic basis of adaptation offers a suitable way to understand how tree species may respond to future climatic conditions, as well as to design suitable conservation and management strategies. Here, we focus on selected genetic signatures of the drought-sensitive relict fir, Abies pinsapo Boiss. Field sampling of 156 individuals was performed in two elevation ecotones, characterized by widespread A. pinsapo decline and mortality. The DNA from dead trees was investigated and compared to living individuals, accounting for different ages and elevations. We studied the genes gated outwardly-rectifying K+ (GORK) channel and Plasma membrane Intrinsic Protein (PIP1) aquaporin, previously related to drought response in plant model species, to test whether drought was the main abiotic factor driving the decline of A. pinsapo forests. A combination of linear regression and factor models were used to test these selection signatures, as well as a fixation index (Fst), used here to analyze the genetic structure. The results were consistent among these approaches, supporting a statistically significant association of the GORK gene with survival in one of the A. pinsapo populations. These results provide preliminary evidence for the potential role of the GORK gene in the resilience to drought of A. pinsapo.
Integrating Detailed Timber Assortments into Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS)-Based Assessments of Logging Recoveries
Authors: Sanz Blanca , Malinen Jukka , Sirparanta Sanna , Peuhkurinen Jussi , Leppänen Vesa , Melkas Timo , Riekki Kirsi , Kauranne Tuomo , Vastaranta Mikko , Tokola Timo
Published: September 2021

The methodology presented here can assist in making timber markets more efficient when assessing the value of harvestable timber stands and the amounts of timber assortments during the planning of harvesting operations. Information on wood quality and timber assortments is essential for wood valuation and procurement planning as varying wood dimensions and qualities may be utilized and refined in different places, including sawmills, plywood mills, pulp mills, heating plants or combined heat and power plants. We investigate here alternative approaches for generating detailed timber assortments for Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and birch (Betula spp.) from airborne laser scanning (ALS) data, aerial images, harvester data and field data. For this purpose, we used 665 circular plots, and logging recovery information recorded from 249 clear-cut stands using cut-to-length harvesters. We estimated timber assortment volumes, economic values and wood paying capabilities (WPC) for each stand in different bucking scenarios, and used the resulting timber assortment estimates to assess logging recoveries. The bucking scenarios were (1) bucking-to-value using maximum sawlog and pulpwood volumes excluding quality (theoretical maximum), and (2) bucking-to-value using sawlog lengths at 30 cm intervals for Norway spruce and Scots pine and veneer logs of lengths 4.7 m, 5.0 m, 6.0 m and 6.7 m for birch, either excluding quality (the usual business practice) or including quality (a novel business practice). The results showed that our procedure can assist in locating stands that are likely to be more valuable and have the desired timber assortment distributions. We conclude that the method can estimate WPC with root mean square errors of 28.7%, 66.0% and 45.7% in Norway spruce, Scots pine and birch, respectively, for sawlogs and 19.3%, 63.7% and 29.5% for pulpwood.
Changes in Soil Organic Carbon Concentration and Stock after Forest Regeneration of Agricultural Fields in Taiwan
Authors: Lin Yi-Han , Lee Pei-Chen , Menyailo Oleg V. , Cheng Chih-Hsin
Published: September 2021

Afforestation or abandonment of agricultural fields to forest regeneration is a method of sequestering carbon to offset the increasing atmospheric concentration of CO2. We selected 11 sites with altitudes ranging from 14 to 2056 m and with paired forest regenerated and adjacent agricultural fields. Our objectives were to (1) examine the changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration and stock after forest regeneration of agricultural fields and (2) identify the factors related to elevation and adjacent agricultural practices that affect the SOC accumulation rate. Our results demonstrated overall increases in both SOC concentrations and stocks after forest regeneration of the abandoned agricultural fields. The average increase rates of SOC concentrations in the forest regenerated soil samples were 1.65 and 0.95 g C kg−1 at 0–10 and 10–20 cm depths, respectively, representing 101% and 65% increases relative to those in the soil samples from agricultural fields. The average accumulation rates of SOC stocks in the regenerated forests were 13.0 and 6.7 ton C ha−1 at the 0–10 and 10–20 cm depths, respectively, representing 96% and 62% increases relative to those in the agricultural soil samples. The average annual sequestration rate was 1.03 Mg C ha−1 year−1 for the top 0–20 cm soils, which is greater than that observed by previous reviews and meta-analyses. The tropical/subtropical climate, sampling soil depth, forest regeneration period, and tree species in this study are likely to have contributed to the high average SOC accumulation levels. In addition, the SOC stock accumulation rates were higher at low-elevation sites than at middle-elevation sites, which could also be attributed to the favorable climatic conditions at the low-elevation sites. Along with the build-up of carbon sequestration in the forest floor and tree biomass, the afforestation/abandonment of agricultural fields to forest regeneration appears to be a promising carbon offset mechanism.
Consumption, Attitudes, and Trends of Vending Machine Foods at a University Campus: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Hasan Hayder , Faris Moez Al-Islam E. , Mohamad Maysm N. , Al Dhaheri Ayesha S. , Hashim Mona , Stojanovska Lily , Al Daour Rameez , Rashid Malak , El-Farra Lena , Alsuwaidi Azza , Altawfiq Heba , Erwa Zainab , Cheikh Ismail Leila
Published: September 2021

Vending machines (VMs) have been identified as an obesogenic factor, offering mainly energy-dense and nutrient-poor foods, with limited healthy options available. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess consumption trends and attitude toward vending machine (VM) foods in a university setting. A web-based survey was conducted among 1250 students and staff. Most participants reported weight gain (43.4%) and poorer food choices (53.4%) since joining the university. Participants described VM foods as expensive (53.7%) and lacking variety (34.3%). Over 81% demanded the availability of healthier options. About 75% of participants were VMs users. The most frequently purchased VM items were water, chocolate, and chips. Males reported consuming nuts, soda, iced tea, and energy drinks more frequently than females (p < 0.005). The main reasons for using the VM were hunger and lack of time. Over 40% nominated fresh fruits, baked chips, sandwiches, and dry roasted nuts to be provided in the VMs as healthier food options. Males and those responsible for buying their own food were more likely to select healthier options (p = 0.001). Findings can be used to inform stakeholders of current vending behaviors and to plan tailored interventions to improve the nutritional quality of vended items and promote healthier food choices.
Archaeological Sites’ Management, Interpretation, and Tourism Development—A Success Story and Future Challenges: The Case of Bibracte, France
Authors: Ababneh Abdelkader
Published: September 2021

Bibracte is described as a well-managed property with significant heritage value. Even as the site’s managing body and its partners continue to deliver encouraging and engaging projects, there are barriers to success. Thus, the primary purpose of this study was to identify and analyze the possible future challenges that the current management may encounter. This study used a field work methodology, and comprised interviews, observations, guided visits, discussions, discourse analysis, and the review of an important corpus of material, from which conclusions were drawn. Significant problems arising from various causes were identified. The results reveal that despite the appropriate heritage management, interpretation, and tourism development practices, the heritage and tourism potential remain not fully captured. The management of the site has established its notoriety as an important research center for experimental and educational archaeology, rather than as an important tourist attraction. Thus, the site has failed to become a popular tourist destination. These difficulties are said to have been molded and enforced by imperatives connected to the site and its surroundings, as well as the Réseau des Grands Sites de France title. This research may contribute to elucidating heritage sites and their unknown management difficulties, which will be beneficial to the sites’ employees and visitors.
Modeling Impact of Climate Change on Surface Water Availability Using SWAT Model in a Semi-Arid Basin: Case of El Kalb River, Lebanon
Authors: Saade Jad , Atieh Maya , Ghanimeh Sophia , Golmohammadi Golmar
Published: September 2021

Assessing the impact of climate change on streamflow is crucial for depicting the vulnerability of water resources and for identifying proper adaptation measures. This study used the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to simulate the impact of climate change on the streamflow of El Kalb river, a major perennial river in Lebanon. The model performance was tested for monthly flow at two stations under a nine-year calibration period (2003–2011) and a four-year validation period (2012–2015). The model results indicated satisfactory precision in fitting observed and simulated flow using various acceptable statistical indices. Future projections of climate change were obtained for three Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) (2.6, 4.5, and 8.5). The model indicated that the average annual discharge of El Kalb River in the near future (2021–2040) will decrease by around 28–29% under the three RCP scenarios. End-of-century projections (2081–2100) indicated that the flow will decrease by 23%, 28%, and 45% under RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, and RCP 8.5, respectively.
Resilience, Coping Strategies and Posttraumatic Growth in the Workplace Following COVID-19: A Narrative Review on the Positive Aspects of Trauma
Authors: Finstad Georgia Libera , Giorgi Gabriele , Lulli Lucrezia Ginevra , Pandolfi Caterina , Foti Giulia , León-Perez José M. , Cantero-Sánchez Francisco J. , Mucci Nicola
Published: September 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a traumatic event that has profoundly changed working conditions with detrimental consequences for workers’ health, in particular for the healthcare population directly involved in addressing the emergency. Nevertheless, previous research has demonstrated that traumatic experiences can also lead to positive reactions, stimulating resilience and feelings of growth. The aim of this narrative review is to investigate the positive aspects associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the possible health prevention and promotion strategies by analyzing the available scientific evidence. In particular, we focus on the constructs of resilience, coping strategies and posttraumatic growth (PTG). A literature search was performed on the PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Psycinfo databases. Forty-six articles were included in the literature synthesis. Psychological resilience is a fundamental variable for reducing and preventing the negative psychological effects of the pandemic and is associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety and burnout. At the individual and organizational level, resilience plays a crucial role in enhancing wellbeing in healthcare and non-healthcare workers. Connected to resilience, adaptive coping strategies are essential for managing the emergency and work-related stress. Several positive factors influencing resilience have been highlighted in the development of PTG. At the same time, high levels of resilience and positive coping strategies can enhance personal growth. Considering the possible long-term coexistence and consequences of COVID-19, organizational interventions should aim to improve workers’ adaptive coping skills, resilience and PTG in order to promote wellbeing.
The Potential of Strategic Environmental Assessment to Improve Urban Planning in Sierra Leone
Authors: Mabey Prince T. , Li Wei , Sundufu Abu J. , Lashari Akhtar H.
Published: September 2021

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a proactive and collaborative method for environmental management designed to integrate environmental considerations into decision-making; and it is good for Sierra Leone. To understand whether SEA would be useful in the context of Sierra Leone, the authors interviewed 64 out of 78 experts face to face from March to July 2019. In addition, government policies and regulatory documents on environmental management and sustainable development, published articles served as secondary sources of data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. These Sierra Leonean experts agreed that SEA would be useful for integration and achievement of improved sustainable urban planning strategies. However, the barriers identified to integrating SEA include: not addressing environmental issues during the preparation of policies and programs, insufficient political will, the absence of clear objectives, targets, principles and approaches, overlapping mandates among environmental institutions, and inadequate institutional coordination and non-integrated development framework as barriers to integrating SEA into their work. The study shows that SEA has the potential to have a positive impact on environmental concerns in decision-making, but it would need to be supported by stronger political will, legal frameworks, and improved technical guidance from the policy perspective. Moreover, we propose a conceptual framework for the inclusion of SEA into the urban planning process in Sierra Leone.
Offline Victimization, Psychological Morbidity, and Problematic Online Behavior among Chinese Secondary School Students
Authors: Li Xiang , Shek Daniel T. L. , Shek Esther Y. W.
Published: September 2021

Despite the rise of child victimization in different societies, few researchers have examined its consequences in terms of psychological morbidity (such as depression and anxiety) and problematic online behavior (such as Internet addiction and cyberbullying) in a single study. Moreover, no study has investigated the role of psychological morbidity in mediating the impact of victimization on problematic online behavior (indexed by Internet addiction and cyberbullying) in a single model. Based on a survey of 2843 Chinese secondary students (49.3% male; Mage = 13.97) from six public secondary schools in Fujian, China, we found that experience of victimization was positively associated with depression and anxiety, as well as Internet addiction and cyberbullying. Depression mediated the links between victimization and both Internet addiction and cyberbullying, with the mediating effect on Internet addiction found to be stronger for girls. While anxiety did not mediate the association between victimization and cyberbullying, it mediated the relationship between victimization and Internet addiction in boys. These findings enrich our understanding of the negative outcomes of victimization, as well as directions for intervention.
Seasonal Effects of High-Altitude Forest Travel on Cardiovascular Function: An Overlooked Cardiovascular Risk of Forest Activity
Authors: Tsao Tsung-Ming , Hwang Jing-Shiang , Tsai Ming-Jer , Lin Sung-Tsun , Wu Charlene , Su Ta-Chen
Published: September 2021

Cardiovascular physiological responses involving hypoxemia in low temperature environments at high altitude have yet to be adequately investigated. This study aims to demonstrate the health effects of hypoxemia and temperature changes in cardiovascular functions (CVFs) by comparing intra-individual differences as participants ascend from low (298 m, 21.9 °C) to high altitude (2729 m, 9.5 °C). CVFs were assessed by measuring the arterial pressure waveform according to cuff sphygmomanometer of an oscillometric blood pressure (BP) device. The mean ages of participants in winter and summer were 43.6 and 41.2 years, respectively. The intra-individual brachial systolic, diastolic BP, heart rate, and cardiac output of participants significantly increased, as participants climbed uphill from low to high altitude forest. Following the altitude increase from 298 m to 2729 m, with the atmosphere gradually reducing by 0.24 atm, the measured average SpO2 of participants showed a significant reduction from 98.1% to 81.2%. Using mixed effects model, it is evident that in winter, the differences in altitude affects CVFs by significantly increases the systolic BP, heart rate, left ventricular dP/dt max and cardiac output. This study provides evidence that cardiovascular workload increased significantly among acute high-altitude travelers as they ascend from low to high altitude, particularly in winter.
Recycling of Expired Ceftamil Drug as Additive in the Copper and Nickel Electrodeposition from Acid Baths
Authors: Duca Delia-Andrada , Dan Mircea Laurențiu , Vaszilcsin Nicolae
Published: September 2021

Due to the large quantity of expired and unused drugs worldwide, pharmaceutical disposal has become a serious problem that requires increased attention. In the present paper, the study on recycling ceftazidime (CZ) as an additive in copper and nickel electrodeposition from acid baths is highlighted. CZ is the active substance from expired commercial drug Ceftamil®. Its electrochemical behavior was studied by cyclic voltammetry. As well, kinetic parameters for copper and nickel electrodeposition were determined using Tafel plots method at different temperatures and CZ concentrations in these acid baths. The activation energy was calculated from Arrhenius plots. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to investigate the charge transfer resistance and coverage degree in the electrolyte solutions at several potential values. Gibbs free energy values, calculated from Langmuir adsorption isotherms, revealed the chemical nature of CZ–electrode surface interactions. The favorable effect of the organic molecules added in copper and nickel electroplating baths was emphasized by optical microscope images. The morphology of the obtained deposits without and with 10−4 mol L−1 CZ was compared. The experimental results revealed that expired Ceftamil® is suitable as additive in copper and nickel electroplating processes from acid baths.
Prevention and Harm Reduction Interventions for Adult Gambling at the Local Level: An Umbrella Review of Empirical Evidence
Authors: Velasco Veronica , Scattola Paola , Gavazzeni Laura , Marchesi Lara , Nita Ioana Elena , Giudici Gilberto
Published: September 2021

Concerns about negative consequences of gambling diffusion are increasing. Prevention and harm reduction strategies play a crucial role in reducing gambling supply and harms. This study aims to conduct an umbrella review of the effectiveness of gambling preventive and harm reduction strategies, which can be implemented at a local level and targeted at adults. It was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Sixteen reviews were analyzed, and 20 strategies were selected and classified in 4 areas with different targets and aims. Reducing the supply of gambling is an effective strategy both for the general population and for risky or problematic gamblers. Demand reduction interventions have been found to have limited effects but most of them are mainly focused on knowledge about risks and odds ratios. Risk reduction strategies aim to reduce contextual risk factors of the area where gambling is provided, change the gambling locations’ features, and modify individual behaviors while gambling. Smoking and alcohol bans or restrictions are considered one of the most effective strategies. Finally, harm reduction strategies targeted at problematic gamblers are potentially effective. Some relevant implementation conditions are identified and the results show inconsistent effects across different targets.
Evaluation of Heartwood Extracts Combined with Linseed Oil as Wood Preservatives in Field Tests in Southern Mississippi, USA
Authors: Hassan Babar , Mankowski Mark E. , Kirker Grant T.
Published: September 2021

Heartwood extracts of naturally durable wood species are often evaluated as alternatives to chemical wood preservatives, but field data from long-term performance testing are lacking. The current study evaluated the long-term (five-year) performance of two non-durable wood species treated with heartwood extracts of either Tectona grandis, Dalbergia sissoo, Cedrus deodara, or Pinus roxburghii alone or combined with linseed oil. Stakes (45.7 × 1.9 × 1.9 cm) and blocks (12.5 × 3.75 × 2.5 cm) cut from the sapwood of cottonwood and southern pine were vacuum-pressure impregnated with the individual heartwood species extract, linseed oil, or a mixture of each individual wood extract and linseed oil. For comparison, solid heartwood stakes and blocks of the wood species used to obtain extracts were also included in the tests. All samples were exposed for five years to decay and termites at a test site in southern Mississippi using ground contact (AWPA E7) and ground proximity (AWPA E26) tests. Results showed that extract-oil mixtures imparted higher termite and decay resistance in cottonwood and southern pine than linseed oil only or the individual heartwood species extract in both tests. However, these treatments were as not effective as to commercially used wood preservatives, copper naphthenate (CuN) or disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT) in either test. Moreover, solid heartwood P. roxburghii stakes were completely decayed and attacked by termites after five years in the ground contact test. In contrast, C. deodara stakes were slightly attacked by termites and moderately attacked by decay fungi. However, T. grandis and D. sissoo stakes showed slight to superficial attack by termites and decay fungi in ground contact test. In contrast, T. grandis and D. sissoo blocks showed slight decay fungi attack in above-ground tests. However, termites did not attack T. grandis, D. sissoo, and C. deodara blocks. However, decay fungi moderately attacked C. deodara blocks, and P. roxburghii blocks were severely attacked by decay fungi and termites in the above-ground test.
The Role of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Stojek Magdalena , Jabłońska Anna , Adrych Krystian
Published: September 2021

The exact pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is still not completely understood. It is hypothesized that a genetic predisposition leads to an exaggerated immune response to an environmental trigger, leading to uncontrolled inflammation. As there is no known causative treatment, current management strategies for inflammatory bowel disease focus on correcting the excessive immune response to environmental (including microbial) triggers. In recent years, there has been growing interest in new avenues of treatment, including targeting the microbial environment itself. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a novel treatment modality showing promising results in early studies. The article discusses the rationale for the use of FMT in inflammatory bowel disease and the yet-unresolved questions surrounding its optimal use in practice.
SARS-CoV-2 in Urine May Predict a Severe Evolution of COVID-19
Authors: Perrella Alessandro , Brita Mario , Coletta Francesco , Cotena Simona , De Marco GiamPaola , Longobardi Adele , Sala Crescenzo , Sannino Dania , Tomasello Antonio , Perrella Marco , Russo Giuseppe , Tarsitano Marina , Chetta Massimo , Della Monica Matteo , Orlando Valentina , Coscioni Enrico , Villani Romolo
Published: September 2021

We hypothesized that the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in urine during a severe COVID-19 infection may be the expression of the worsening disease evolution. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify if the COVID-19 disease severity is related to the viral presence in urine samples. We evaluated the clinical evolution in acute COVID-19 patients admitted in the sub-intensive care and intensive care units between 28 of December 2020 and 15th of February 2021 and being positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the respiratory tract, including repeated endotracheal aspirates (ETA), sputum, nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) and urine. We found that those subjects with SARS-COV-2 in the urine at admittance (8 out of 60 eligible patients) had a more severe disease than those with negative SARS-CoV-2 in urine. Further, they showed an increase in fibrinogen and (C-reactive Protein) CRP serum levels, requiring mechanic ventilation. Of those with positive SARS-CoV-2 in the urine, 50% died. According to our preliminary results, it seems that the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the urine characterizes patients with a more severe disease and is also related to a higher death rate.