bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular Control of Carpel Development in the Grass Family
Authors: Shen Chaoqun , Li Gang , Dreni Ludovico , Zhang Dabing
Published: February 2021

Carpel is the ovule-bearing female reproductive organ of flowering plants and is required to ensure its protection, an efficient fertilization, and the development of diversified types of fruits, thereby it is a vital element of most food crops. The origin and morphological changes of the carpel are key to the evolution and adaption of angiosperms. Progresses have been made in elucidating the developmental mechanisms of carpel establishment in the model eudicot plantArabidopsis thaliana, while little and fragmentary information is known in grasses, a family that includes many important crops such as rice (Oryza sativa), maize (Zea mays), barley (Hordeum vulgare), and wheat (Triticum aestivum). Here, we highlight recent advances in understanding the mechanisms underlying potential pathways of carpel development in grasses, including carpel identity determination, morphogenesis, and floral meristem determinacy. The known role of transcription factors, hormones, and miRNAs during grass carpel formation is summarized and compared with the extensively studied eudicot model plantArabidopsis. The genetic and molecular aspects of carpel development that are conserved or diverged between grasses and eudicots are therefore discussed.
Analysis and Psychoeducational Implications of the Behavior Factor During the COVID-19 Emergency
Authors: de la Fuente Jesús , Kauffman Douglass F. , Dempsy Michael S. , Kauffman Yashu
Published: February 2021

This theoretical analysis seeks to contribute to three objectives within the context of the proposed Frontiers Research Topic: (1) delimit two levels of analysis in the present pandemic situation: medicine-epidemiology and behavioral psychology, still under-addressed. While medicine has its essential role on the biological side, psychology has a comparable role on the behavioral side. (2) Analyze the importance of behavioral-educational factors in the pandemic situation, using a precise theoretical model from educational psychology for this analysis. (3) Propose preventive, psychoeducational intervention strategies based on the previous analyses.
Differences in Children’s Social Development: How Migration Background Impacts the Effect of Early Institutional Childcare Upon Children’s Prosocial Behavior and Peer Problems
Authors: Konrad-Ristau Kira , Burghardt Lars
Published: February 2021

This article focuses on the early years of children from immigrant families in Germany. Research has documented disparities in young children’s development correlating with their family background (e.g., immigrant or ethnic minority status), making clear the importance of early intervention. Institutional childcare—as an early intervention for children at risk—plays an important role in Germany, as 34.3% of children below the age of three and 93% of children above that age are in external childcare. This paper focuses on the extent to which children from families with a background of migration differ in their social development when considering their age of entry into early external childcare (and thus its duration). Data from the infant cohort study of the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS, N = 1,846) is used to analyze the impact of early institutional childcare before the age of 3 years on children’s social competence at the age of 5 years, controlling for gender, siblings, temperament, home learning activities, and socioeconomic status. Results show the effects of duration of early external childcare on peer problems for children from families with a background of migration, in such a way that children who attend early external childcare for more than 1 year before the age of three show less problem behavior with peers than those who attend for less than a year. These findings have equity implications for children with a migration background living in Germany, especially as the proportion of these children is trending upwards.
Effectiveness of CRSCE-Based De-escalation Training on Reducing Physical Restraint in Psychiatric Hospitals: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Ye Junrong , Xia Zhichun , Wang Chen , Liao Yao , Xu Yu , Zhang Yunlei , Yu Lin , Li Sijue , Lin Jiankui , Xiao Aixiang
Published: February 2021

Background: The use of physical restraint (PR) causes clinical and ethical issues; great efforts are being made to reduce the use of PR in psychiatric hospitals globally.

Aim: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of CRSCE-based de-escalation training on reducing PR in psychiatric hospitals.

Method: The proposed study adopted cluster randomized controlled trial design. Twelve wards of a psychiatric hospital were randomly allocated to experimental group (n = 6) and control group (n = 6). Wards of control group were assigned to routine training regarding PR; wards of experimental group underwent the same routine training while additionally received CRSCE-based de-escalation training. Before and after CRSCE-based de-escalation training, the frequency of and the duration of PR, and the numbers and level of unexpected events caused by PR, were recorded.

Results: After CRSCE-based de-escalation training, the frequency (inpatients and patients admitted within 24 h) of and the duration of PR of experimental group, showed a descending trend and were significantly lower than those of control group (P < 0.01); compared to control group, the numbers of unexpected events (level II and level III) and injury caused by PR of experimental group had been markedly reduced (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: CRSCE-based de-escalation training would be useful to reduce the use of PR and the unexpected event caused by PR in psychiatric hospitals. The modules of CRSCE-based de-escalation training can be adopted for future intervention minimizing clinical use of PR.

Clinical Trial Registration: This study was registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration Number: ChiCTR1900022211).
The Effects of Low Dose Naltrexone on Opioid Induced Hyperalgesia and Fibromyalgia
Authors: Jackson Daniel , Singh Sunita , Zhang-James Yanli , Faraone Stephen , Johnson Brian
Published: February 2021

Objectives:While opioids temporarily alleviate pain, the overshoot of balancing pain drivers may increase pain, leading to opioid induced hyperalgesia (OIH). Our goal was to find out what chronic opioid treatment does to pain tolerance as measured by the cold pressor test (CPT), an objective measure of pain tolerance, and to find an alternative effective treatment for chronic pain and FM.

Materials and Methods:The setting was an academic addiction medicine service that has an embedded pain service. Patients had routine clinical care starting with an evaluation that included assessment of medical and psychiatric conditions. Participants were 55 patients with OIH and 21 patients with fibromyalgia; all had at least two CPTs. Treatment included a single dose of buprenorphine for detoxification. In this open-label case series, patients were treated with low dose naltrexone (LDN), a pure opioid receptor antagonist that, we hypothesize, treats OIH and FM by restoring endogenous opioid tone.

Results:Comparing initial and last CPT times, those with OIH more than quadrupled their pain tolerance, and those with FM doubled theirs. This improved pain tolerance for OIH and FM was statistically significant (p< 0.0001 andp= 0.003, respectively) and had a large effect size (r= 0.82 andr= 0.63, respectively).

Discussion:Results suggest that patients on chronic opioid therapy should have pain tolerance measured by CPT with detoxification and LDN provided to correct opioid induced hyperalgesia if found. FM may also be treated with LDN. The main limitation of the findings was lack of a randomized control group treated with placebo.
Evidence for Progressive Cognitive Deficits in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Liu Jin , Liu Bangshan , Wang Mi , Ju Yumeng , Dong Qiangli , Lu Xiaowen , Sun Jinrong , Zhang Liang , Guo Hua , Zhao Futao , Li Weihui , Zhang Li , Li Zexuan , Zhang Yan , Liao Mei , Li Lingjiang
Published: February 2021

Background: Cognitive deficits have shown progressive feature in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, it remains unknown which component of cognitive function is progressively impaired across episodes of MDD. Here we aim to identify the progressively impaired cognitive components in patients with MDD.

Methods: A comprehensive neurocognitive test battery was used to assess the cognitive components (executive function, attention, processing speed, memory, working memory, inhibition, shifting, and verbal fluency) in 35 patients with first-episode MDD (FED), 60 patients with recurrent MDD (RD) and 111 matched healthy controls (HCs). After 6 months of treatment with antidepressant, 20 FED and 36 RD patients achieved clinical remission and completed their second-time neurocognitive tests. Statistical analyses were conducted to identify the impaired cognitive components in the FED and RD groups before and after treatment, and to assess the relationship between the cognitive components and the number of episodes and total illness duration in the MDD patient group.

Results: At baseline, both the FED and RD groups showed impairments in all of the cognitive components; the FED and RD groups showed no significant difference in all of the components except for shifting. After remission, only shifting in the RD group showed no significant improvement and remained in an impaired status. Furthermore, shifting was the only component negatively correlated with the number of episodes as well as the total illness duration.

Conclusions: Shifting may serve as the progressive cognitive deficit across episodes of MDD.

Clinical Trials Registration: Registry name: HPA function and MRI study of trauma-related depression; Registration number: ChiCTR1800014591; URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=24669&htm=4.
Economic Value of Lost Productivity Attributable to Human Papillomavirus Cancer Mortality in the United States
Authors: Priyadarshini Masoom , Prabhu Vimalanand S. , Snedecor Sonya J. , Corman Shelby , Kuter Barbara J. , Nwankwo Chizoba , Chirovsky Diana , Myers Evan
Published: February 2021

Objectives: To estimate years of potential life lost (YPLL) and present value of future lost productivity (PVFLP) associated with premature mortality due to HPV-attributable cancers, specifically those targeted by nonavalent HPV (9vHPV) vaccination, in the United States (US) before vaccine use.

Methods: YPLL was estimated from the reported number of deaths in 2017 due to HPV-related cancers, the proportion attributable to 9vHPV-targeted types, and age- and sex-specific US life expectancy. PVFLP was estimated as the product of YPLL by age- and sex-specific probability of labor force participation, annual wage, value of non-market labor, and fringe benefits markup factor.

Results: An estimated 7,085 HPV-attributable cancer deaths occurred in 2017 accounting for 154,954 YPLL, with 6,482 deaths (91%) and 141,019 YPLL (91%) attributable to 9vHPV-targeted types. The estimated PVFLP was $3.8 billion for cancer deaths attributable to 9vHPV-targeted types (84% from women). The highest productivity burden was associated with cervical cancer in women and anal and oropharyngeal cancers in men.

Conclusions: HPV-attributable cancer deaths are associated with a substantial economic burden in the US, much of which could be vaccine preventable.
A Review of Recent Advances in 3D Bioprinting With an Eye on Future Regenerative Therapies in Veterinary Medicine
Authors: Jamieson Colin , Keenan Patrick , Kirkwood D'Arcy , Oji Saba , Webster Caroline , Russell Keith A. , Koch Thomas G.
Published: February 2021

3D bioprinting is a rapidly evolving industry that has been utilized for a variety of biomedical applications. It differs from traditional 3D printing in that it utilizes bioinks comprised of cells and other biomaterials to allow for the generation of complex functional tissues. Bioprinting involves computational modeling, bioink preparation, bioink deposition, and subsequent maturation of printed products; it is an intricate process where bioink composition, bioprinting approach, and bioprinter type must be considered during construct development. This technology has already found success in human studies, where a variety of functional tissues have been generated for both in vitro and in vivo applications. Although the main driving force behind innovation in 3D bioprinting has been utility in human medicine, recent efforts investigating its veterinary application have begun to emerge. To date, 3D bioprinting has been utilized to create bone, cardiovascular, cartilage, corneal and neural constructs in animal species. Furthermore, the use of animal-derived cells and various animal models in human research have provided additional information regarding its capacity for veterinary translation. While these studies have produced some promising results, technological limitations as well as ethical and regulatory challenges have impeded clinical acceptance. This article reviews the current understanding of 3D bioprinting technology and its recent advancements with a focus on recent successes and future translation in veterinary medicine.
Ewolucja pozycji wojewody w systemie władzy politycznej w Polsce do 2009 roku
Authors: Mroczka Kamil
Published: February 2021

Zasadniczym celem niniejszej dysertacji jest próba zaprezentowania urzędu wojewody w systemie władzy politycznej od momentu kształtowania się polskiej państwowości do rozwiązań przyjętych w 2009 roku. Autor konieczność naukowej analizy urzędu wojewody z perspektywy historycznej uzasadnia deficytami w zakresie nauk o polityce i administracji. Celem podjętego wysiłku badawczego jest próba zaprezentowania urzędu wojewody w systemie władzy politycznej od momentu kształtowania się polskiej państwowości do rozwiązań przyjętych w 2009 r. Celowo poza głównym nurtem rozważań pozostawiono analizę aktualnych rozwiązań prawnych. Jest to w pełni uzasadnione z punktu widzenia konstrukcji i założeń monografii. Autor wskazuje, iż zasadniczym argumentem monografii jest twierdzenie, że wojewoda od początku kształtowania się polskiej państwowości należał do istotnych urzędów posiadających wysoki prestiż społeczny i szeroki zakres kompetencji. Jego faktyczna pozycja wynikała z różnorakich czynników, wliczając w to względy polityczne, ustrojowe i społeczno-ekonomiczne, oraz miała związek z koncepcją państwa w danym okresie historycznym. Przyjęcie powyższej hipotezy skutkuje powstaniem szeregu ciekawych pytań badawczych, sukcesywnie rozwijanych przez autora w poszczególnych częściach monografii. Co bowiem istotne, szczegółowe pytania badawcze zostały odniesione do każdej z epok historycznych będących przedmiotem analizy. Autor w swojej monografii wykorzystał bogatą i zróżnicowaną literaturę. Monografia stanowi ważny głos w dyskusji dotyczącej jednej z zasadniczych instytucji polskiego ustroju politycznego i prawnego. Zawiera ponadto oryginalne i doskonale udokumentowane tezy, będąc istotnym wkładem w rozwój nauk politycznych i prawnych”.
The political reasons for the constitutional changes in Ukraine and the Republic of Poland
Authors: Kukuruz Oksana
Published: February 2021

In the article it is noted that since the introduction of the Basic Law in Ukraine (23 years) eight changes have been made, while in Poland (22 years) – two changes have been made. The article focuses on the reasons for amending the Constitution of Ukraine, which are related to the redistribution of powers (2004, 2010 and 2014). The author emphasizes that the reasons for constitutional change must be connected with public policy based on the public interest and not with politics as a struggle for power.
National referendum as a tool for the opposition to influence the legislative process
Authors: Koziełło Tomasz
Published: February 2021

The article is an analysis of the use of the institution of national referendum in Poland by the opposition to influence the legislative process. It examines two hypotheses: first, the opposition, by initiating the referendum process, intends to draw the attention of the state authorities to certain public issues that are important from its point of view; second, the greater the public’s support for these issues, the greater the chance for those in power to include the opposition’s demands in their legislation.
The independence of the public prosecutor’s office
Authors: Zaleśny Jacek
Published: February 2021

An analysis of the legal aspects of the independence of public prosecutors should examine the contexts that frame their external and internal independence. The paper proposes the thesis that although the legislation proclaims that within the scope of his/ her activities a public prosecutor is independent, though a particular legal solution has significantly limited this independence, and this has made public prosecutors dependent on political guidelines, dispositions, and orders.
Optimal Design and Performance Analysis of Radial MR Valve with Single Excitation Coil
Authors: Hu Guoliang , Zhou Feng , Yu Lifan
Published: February 2021

The main issue addressed in this paper involves the magnetorheological (MR) valve increasing the pressure drop by changing the internal structure, which leads to the increase of dimension sizes and the easy blocking of the internal channel. Optimizing the design of the traditional radial MR valve without changing the internal structure and whole dimension size is indispensable. Firstly, a radial MR valve with single excitation coil was proposed. The mathematical models of the field-dependent pressure drop and viscosity pressure drop in fluid flow channels were deduced, and the calculation formula of pressure drop was also established. Then, ANSYS software was used to simulate and analyze the distributions of the magnetic flux lines and magnetic flux densities of the proposed radial MR valve. Subsequently, the radial MR valve was simulated and analyzed by using the ANSYS first-order and zero-order simulation tools. In addition, the experimental test bench of the proposed MR valve was setup, the static performance of pressure drop was tested, and the change of pressure drop of the optimal radial MR valve under different loads was studied, furthermore, the response time with current of the initial and optimal radial MR valve were also investigated. Finally, the dynamic performances of the optimal radial MR valve controlled cylinder system under different currents, frequencies and amplitudes were tested, respectively. The experimental results indicate that the total pressure drop of the initial valve is 1.842 MPa when the applied current is 1.8 A, and the total pressure drop of the optimal valve is 2.58 MPa, the increase is 40.07%. Meanwhile, the maximum damping force of the optimal radial MR valve controlled cylinder system can reach about 3.6 kN at the current of 1.25 A, which shows a better optimization effect of the optimal radial MR valve.
Radio Frequency Interference Measurements for a Radio Astronomy Observatory Site in Indonesia
Authors: Sitompul Peberlin Parulian , Manik Timbul , Batubara Mario , Suhandi Bambang
Published: February 2021

We report on the measurements of radio frequency interference (RFI) at Mount Timau, Kupang, Indonesia, which is intended to host a future radio astronomy observatory. These measurements were taken twice in October 2020 and December 2020 to obtain the RFI environment, at frequencies between 70 and 7000 MHz. Due to the limitations of the measurement data, the results presented in this paper are based on peak detection rather than statistical analysis. Based on the measurement results, the frequency interval between 70–88 MHz and 120–150 MHz is relatively quiet, and the frequency range of 150–300 MHz is relatively clear. The frequency interval of 300 to 800 MHz is relatively quiet, except at the frequency of 600 MHz. The frequency range of 800–1400 MHz is also relatively quiet. The predominant terrestrial services in this band are at 840 MHz, with an amplitude around 32 dB, and 916 MHz, with an amplitude around 12 dB, and the global system for mobile (GSM) signals around 954 MHz have an amplitude around 20 dB above the noise floor. The frequency range of 1400–7000 MHz is also relatively quiet. In this band frequency, we can see RFI at 2145 and 2407 MHz, emitted by local Wi-Fi, and at 2683 MHz, with amplitudes of 18, 40 and 15 dB, respectively, from the noise level. We conclude that, for this period, the frequency band allocated for astronomy can possibly be used for radio telescope development.
Agricultural Sustainability: Microbial Biofertilizers in Rhizosphere Management
Authors: Fasusi Oluwaseun Adeyinka , Cruz Cristina , Babalola Olubukola Oluranti
Published: February 2021

The world’s human population continues to increase, posing a significant challenge in ensuring food security, as soil nutrients and fertility are limited and decreasing with time. Thus, there is a need to increase agricultural productivity to meet the food demands of the growing population. A high level of dependence on chemical fertilizers as a means of increasing food production has damaged the ecological balance and human health and is becoming too expensive for many farmers to afford. The exploitation of beneficial soil microorganisms as a substitute for chemical fertilizers in the production of food is one potential solution to this conundrum. Microorganisms, such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and mycorrhizal fungi, have demonstrated their ability in the formulation of biofertilizers in the agricultural sector, providing plants with nutrients required to enhance their growth, increase yield, manage abiotic and biotic stress, and prevent phytopathogens attack. Recently, beneficial soil microbes have been reported to produce some volatile organic compounds, which are beneficial to plants, and the amendment of these microbes with locally available organic materials and nanoparticles is currently used to formulate biofertilizers to increase plant productivity. This review focuses on the important role performed by beneficial soil microorganisms as a cost-effective, nontoxic, and eco-friendly approach in the management of the rhizosphere to promote plant growth and yield.
Estimation of the Cooling Rate of Six Olive Cultivars Using Thermal Imaging
Authors: Plasquy Eddy , Garcia José M. , Florido Maria C. , Sola-Guirado Rafael R.
Published: February 2021

Bringing the olive harvest period forward leads to storing fruit in field temperatures that risk jeopardizing its quality. Knowledge about the bio-thermal characteristics of olives is crucial when considering their cooling, although published research on the subject is limited. In this work, the cooling rate of the fruit of six olive cultivars has been empirically determined by measuring the evolution of their low temperature under controlled conditions by thermal imaging. Based on these data, the cooling time needed to cool the fruit to 22 °C was estimated, considering the biometric characteristics of the individual fruit, a field temperature from 26 to 42 °C, and a room cooling temperature from −8 to −20 °C. The results showed differences among the cultivars and the need to further investigate the specific heat requirements for small varieties and the impact of the conduction factor on the heavier ones. The simulation suggests that between 2 min (for the light Arbequina and Koroneiki cultivars) and 5 min (for the heavier Verdial and Gordal cultivars) suffice to cool the fruit to the desired temperature with a room temperature of −16 °C. These results show the feasibility of developing technological solutions for cooling olives before their industrial processing with industrial applications such as cooling tunnels on individual fruit.
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) and Optical Sensors for Estimating Protein and Fiber in Dryland Mediterranean Pastures
Authors: Serrano João , Shahidian Shakib , Carapau Ângelo , Rato Ana Elisa
Published: February 2021

Dryland pastures provide the basis for animal sustenance in extensive production systems in Iberian Peninsula. These systems have temporal and spatial variability of pasture quality resulting from the diversity of soil fertility and pasture floristic composition, the interaction with trees, animal grazing, and a Mediterranean climate characterized by accentuated seasonality and interannual irregularity. Grazing management decisions are dependent on assessing pasture availability and quality. Conventional analytical determination of crude protein (CP) and fiber (neutral detergent fiber, NDF) by reference laboratory methods require laborious and expensive procedures and, thus, do not meet the needs of the current animal production systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate two alternative approaches to estimate pasture CP and NDF, namely one based on near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) combined with multivariate data analysis and the other based on the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) measured in the field by a proximal active optical sensor (AOS). A total of 232 pasture samples were collected from January to June 2020 in eight fields. Of these, 96 samples were processed in fresh form using NIRS. All 232 samples were dried and subjected to reference laboratory and NIRS analysis. For NIRS, fresh and dry samples were split in two sets: a calibration set with half of the samples and an external validation set with the remaining half of the samples. The results of this study showed significant correlation between NIRS calibration models and reference methods for quantifying pasture quality parameters, with greater accuracy in dry samples (R2 = 0.936 and RPD = 4.01 for CP and R2 = 0.914 and RPD = 3.48 for NDF) than fresh samples (R2 = 0.702 and RPD = 1.88 for CP and R2 = 0.720 and RPD = 2.38 for NDF). The NDVI measured by the AOS shows a similar coefficient of determination to the NIRS approach with pasture fresh samples (R2 = 0.707 for CP and R2 = 0.648 for NDF). The results demonstrate the potential of these technologies for estimating CP and NDF in pastures, which can facilitate the farm manager’s decision making in terms of the dynamic management of animal grazing and supplementation needs.
Use of Biochar-Compost for Phosphorus Availability to Maize in a Concretionary Ferric Lixisol in Northern GHANA
Authors: Sulemana Nasirudeen , Nartey Eric K. , Abekoe Mark K. , Adjadeh Thomas A. , Darko Daniel A.
Published: February 2021

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of biochar-compost on availability of P for maize cultivation in a concretionary Lixisol of northern Ghana and residual soil characteristics thereof. Sawdust biochar was co-composted with kitchen waste and cow dung in various proportions. Four biochar-composts were selected based on their superior carbon and available P content, lower pH, and electrical conductivity (EC). These were amended to attain the standard phosphorus requirement (SPR) and half the SPR of the Lixisol. Triple superphosphate and (NH4)2 SO4 were, respectively, applied as inorganic fertilizer to meet the SPR and the average total nitrogen of the selected biochar-compost treatments. A control without any soil amendment was included. Maize was grown to tasseling (eight weeks) and shoot dry matter and P uptake determined. A 2.71 to 3.71-fold increase in P uptake led to a 1.51 to 2.33-fold increase in shoot dry matter in biochar-compost-amended soils over the control. Residual soil C, pH, and total and available P in the biochar-compost-amended soils were enhanced. Biochar-composts at half the SPR level produced maize with higher shoot dry matter than the equivalent inorganic amendment at full SPR.
Evaluation of Tomato-Based Packing Material for Retention of Ammonia, Nitrous Oxide, Carbon Dioxide and Methane in Gas Phase Biofilters: A Laboratory Study
Authors: Pereira José L. S. , Perdigão Adelaide , Marques Francisco , Coelho Catarina , Mota Mariana , Fangueiro David
Published: February 2021

Biofilters are an effective air pollution control technology to break down gaseous contaminants and produce innocuous end products. This laboratory study aimed to evaluate a biofilter media, mainly composed by tomato waste, as packing material to reduce NH3, N2O, CO2 and CH4 losses from stored pig slurry. Three mixtures of packing materials, with and without oxalic acid, were arranged in treatments, namely: mixture of tomato waste, pine bark and agricultural compost; mixture of tomato waste and rice husk; tomato waste only. A control treatment (no biofilter) was also included. The experiments were conducted using a system of laboratory scale biofilters connected to jars filled with pig slurry and under a constant airflow rate. The gas concentrations were measured for 14 days and the physicochemical of the packing materials were assessed. Results showed that biofilter media mixtures had a potential for NH3 retention ranging from 51 to 77% and the addition of oxalic acid to these biofilters increased NH3 retention to 72–79%. Additionally, the biofilter media mixtures with and without oxalic acid showed a potential retention for CH4 (29–69%) but not for N2O, yet with no impact on the global warming potential. It can be concluded that tomato based biofilters had the potential to reduce gaseous emissions from slurry.
Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Activities of Essential Oil of Atriplex semibaccata R.Br. Aerial Parts: First Assessment against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria
Authors: Zine Hamza , Ibrahimi Manar , Loqman Souad , Papazoglou Eleni G. , Ouhaddou Soukaina , Elgadi Sara , Ouhdouch Yedir , Hakkou Rachid , Adnani Mariam El , Ouhammou Ahmed
Published: February 2021

Atriplex semibaccata R.Br. is a perennial halophyte that has received much attention for studies of revegetation of marginal lands in arid and semi-arid environments. It was, recently, demonstrated that there are no risks in terms of contamination of essential oil (EO) from growing plant on such land. Interest in exploring the antibacterial and antioxidant potential of A. semibaccata EO has consequently been renewed. The objective of this study was to investigate the chemical composition, as well as the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of A. semibaccata EO. The antibacterial activity was evaluated against native (drug-sensitive) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria by testing the EO alone and in combination with conventional antibiotics. The chemical composition of EO was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, 52 chemical compounds were identified, and 2-Methoxy-4-vinyl phenol (48.9%), benzaldehyde (6.7%), and benzyl alcohol (6.3%) were found to be the main constituents of EO. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity was evaluated using a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl reducing–scavenging test. The EO from this species possessed high antioxidant activity (938.65 μg TE/g EO). The antibacterial test demonstrated an inhibitory effect on six native and MDR bacterial strains. We found that Staphylococcus aureus (Gram+), Klebsiella pneumoniae (Gram−), and Escherichia coli (Gram−) were more sensitive than MDR strains, with an inhibition zone ranging from 11.16 mm to 12 mm. Moreover, the minimum inhibitory concentration ranged from 3.12 mg/mL to 6.25 mg/mL. The combination of gentamicin and EO revealed a high synergistic effect. The effect on S. aureus and K. pneumoniae showed lower fractional inhibitory concentration indices of 0.39 and 0.27, respectively. The results also revealed that A. semibaccata EO contained compounds with antibacterial potential against MDR bacteria, with antioxidant properties, and with a moderate synergistic effect in combination with gentamicin. The EO from A. semibaccata could be considered a new and potential source of natural antioxidant and antibacterial agents. These findings make A. semibaccata an excellent choice for the revegetation of marginal lands with the subsequent use of biomass for the production of EO with significant potential in the control of microbial infection.
Endocrine and Electrolyte Balances during Periovulatory Period in Cycling Mares
Authors: Satué Katiuska , Fazio Esterina , Muñoz Ana , Medica Pietro
Published: February 2021

In cycling females, the periovulatory period is characterized by stimulation of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. The aim of present study was to analyze the pattern and interrelationships among adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol (CORT), aldosterone (ALD) and electrolytes (sodium—Na+, potassium—K+ and chloride—Cl−) during periovulatory period in cycling mares. Venous blood samples were obtained daily from a total of 23 Purebred Spanish broodmares, aged 7.09 ± 2.5 years, from day −5 to day +5 of estrous cycle, considering day 0, the day of ovulation. Plasma ACTH was measured by a fluorescent immunoassay kit, serum CORT and ALD by means of a competitive ELISA immunoassay, and plasma Na+, K+ and Cl− were quantified by an analyzer with selective electrodes for the three ions. ACTH showed higher concentrations at day 0 compared to days −5 to −1 and +1 to +3 (p < 0.05). CORT showed higher concentrations at day 0 compared to days −5 to −2 and +1 to +5 (p < 0.05). ALD showed higher concentrations at day 0 compared to days −5 to −2 (p < 0.05) and +2 (p < 0.05). Na+ and Cl− showed higher concentrations at day 0, compared to day −5 and +5. K+ showed lower concentrations at day 0 compared to day +1 (p < 0.05). The significant correlations obtained between ACTH and CORT (r = 0.20) and between ACTH and ALD (r = 0.32) suggest that although ACTH may have an effect both on CORT and ALD, there are other very important determinants that could be considered. Hence, it is possible to presume that the pituitary adrenocortical response and ALD may be involved in the ovulatory mechanisms without a direct relation with electrolyte pattern.
Efficacy of Lysophosphatidylcholine as Direct Treatment in Combination with Colistin against Acinetobacter baumannii in Murine Severe Infections Models
Authors: Miró-Canturri Andrea , Ayerbe-Algaba Rafael , Jiménez-Mejías Manuel Enrique , Pachón Jerónimo , Smani Younes
Published: February 2021

The stimulation of the immune response to prevent the progression of an infection may be an adjuvant to antimicrobial treatment. Here, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) treatment in combination with colistin in murine experimental models of severe infections by Acinetobacter baumannii. We used the A. baumannii Ab9 strain, susceptible to colistin and most of the antibiotics used in clinical settings, and the A. baumannii Ab186 strain, susceptible to colistin but presenting a multidrug-resistant (MDR) pattern. The therapeutic efficacies of one and two LPC doses (25 mg/kg/d) and colistin (20 mg/kg/8 h), alone or in combination, were assessed against Ab9 and Ab186 in murine peritoneal sepsis and pneumonia models. One and two LPC doses combined with colistin and colistin monotherapy enhanced Ab9 and Ab186 clearance from spleen, lungs and blood and reduced mice mortality compared with those of the non-treated mice group in both experimental models. Moreover, one and two LPC doses reduced the bacterial concentration in tissues and blood in both models and increased mice survival in the peritoneal sepsis model for both strains compared with those of the colistin monotherapy group. LPC used as an adjuvant of colistin treatment may be helpful to reduce the severity and the resolution of the MDR A. baumannii infection.
Conservative Management of Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws (MRONJ): A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Varoni Elena M. , Lombardi Niccolò , Villa Giulio , Pispero Alberto , Sardella Andrea , Lodi Giovanni
Published: February 2021

Background: Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a severe side effect of bisphosphonates and anti-resorptive drugs prescribed for treatment of severe osteoporosis, Paget’s disease, and bone malignancies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of a combined pharmacological and surgical management strategy on patients affected by MRONJ. Materials and methods: Medical records of patients with MRONJ were retrospectively examined to collect clinical history data. Conservative management included an initial pharmacological phase with antibiotics and antiseptic agents, followed by surgical intervention to remove bone sequestrum. Primary outcomes were healing from MRONJ at short term (1 month after surgery) and at longer term (3 months after surgery). Secondary outcome was assessment of recurrences at longer-term follow-up. Results: Thirty-five patients were included in the study with mean follow-up of 23.86 ± 18.14 months. Seven cases showed spontaneous exfoliation of necrotic bone during pharmacological therapy, which in one case did not require any further intervention. At 1-month posttreatment, 31 out of 35 (88.5%) patients showed complete healing. The 25 patients who were followed for at least 3 months revealed a healing rate of 92% (23/25). Recurrences occurred in 7 patients out 23 who showed the long-term healing, after a mean period of 7.29 ± 3.45 months. The prognostic score (University of Connecticut Osteonecrosis Numerical Scale—UCONNS) was significantly higher (p = 0.01) in patients with poor healing as compared to complete healing, both at 1 and 3 months posttreatment. Conclusions: A MRONJ treatment approach based on a combined pharmacological and surgical treatment strategy showed a high rate of healing and few recurrences.
Automatic Assessment of Privacy Policies under the GDPR
Authors: Sánchez David , Viejo Alexandre , Batet Montserrat
Published: February 2021

To comply with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), companies managing personal data have been forced to review their privacy policies. However, privacy policies will not solve any problems as long as users do not read or are not able to understand them. In order to assist users in both issues, we present a system that automatically assesses privacy policies. Our proposal quantifies the degree of policy compliance with respect to the data protection goals stated by the GPDR and presents clear and intuitive privacy scores to the user. In this way, users will become immediately aware of the risks associated with the services and their severity; this will empower them to take informed decisions when accepting (or not) the terms of a service. We leverage manual annotations and machine learning to train a model that automatically tags privacy policies according to their compliance (or not) with the data protection goals of the GDPR. In contrast with related works, we define clear annotation criteria consistent with the GDPR, and this enables us not only to provide aggregated scores, but also fine-grained ratings that help to understand the reasons of the assessment. The latter is aligned with the concept of explainable artificial intelligence. We have applied our method to the policies of 10 well-known internet services. Our scores are sound and consistent with the results reported in related works.
Use of Waste from Granite Gang Saws to Manufacture Ultra-High Performance Concrete Reinforced with Steel Fibers
Authors: Gayarre Fernando López , Suárez González Jesús , Lopez Boadella Iñigo , López-Colina Pérez Carlos , Serrano López Miguel
Published: February 2021

The purpose of this study is to analyze the feasibility of using the ultra-fine waste coming from the granite cutting waste gang saws (GCW-GS) to manufacture ultra-high performance, steel-fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). These machines cut granite blocks by abrasion using a steel blade and slurry containing fine steel grit. The waste generated by gang saws (GCW-GS) contains up to 15% Fe2O3 and up to 5% CaO. This is the main difference from the waste produced by diamond saws (GCW-D). Although this waste is available in large quantities, there are very few studies focused on recycling it to manufacture any kind of concrete. In this study, the replaced material was the micronized quartz powder of natural origin used in the manufacture of UHPRFC. The properties tested include workability, density, compressive strength, elasticity modulus, flexural strength, and tensile strength. The final conclusion is that this waste can be used to manufacture UHPFRC with a better performance than that from diamond saws given that there is an improvement of their mechanical properties up to a replacement of 35%. Even for higher percentages, the mechanical properties are within values close to those of control concrete with small decreases.
Impact of the Samples’ Surface State on the Glow Discharge Stability in the Metals’ Treatment and Welding Processes
Authors: Bolotov Maksym , Bolotov Gennady , Stepenko Serhii , Ihnatenko Pavlo
Published: February 2021

The low temperature plasma of glow discharge has found a widespread use as a heating source in welding and surface treatment of metals. The meticulous analysis of glow discharge’s instabilities in these processes allowed us to highlight the physicochemical characteristics of the cathode surface (the welded or treated samples) as one of the main reasons of its transition into an electric arc—as a more stable form of gas discharges. The prolonged arc action on the samples surfaces inevitably leads to the disruption of the technological process and, consequently, to undesirable overheating of samples. In this regard, the main aim of this work is to study the influence of the macro- and micro relief of the cathode on the stable glow discharge existence in the processes of metals treatment and diffusion welding. It has been analytically established and experimentally supported that the glow discharge’s stability is mainly affected by the sharp protrusions generated on the cathode surface because of samples pre-treatment by machining before welding. It has been established that the rough surface pre-treatment with the Rz about 60–80 µm decreases the pressure range of glow discharge sustainable existence from 1.33–13.3 kPa to 1.33–5.3 kPa compared with the surface machining with the Rz about 10 µm.
Design of a Wrist Rehabilitation System with a Novel Mixed Structural Optimization Applying Improved Harmony Search
Authors: Vega-Alvarado Eduardo , Vázquez-Castillo Valentín , Portilla-Flores Edgar Alfredo , Calva-Yañez Maria Bárbara , Sepúlveda-Cervantes Gabriel
Published: February 2021

This paper presents the development of a wrist rehabilitation system with a novel approach for structural design, based on the modeling of an optimization problem solved by a metaheuristic algorithm, Improved Harmony Search (ImHS). It is part of a project for developing low-cost rehabilitation systems expressly designed for the population of Latin American countries. A mixed optimization problem is modeled for the design, where the material type is associated with an integer variable and the dimensions of the components are continuous parameters. The novelty is that each element is calculated individually, but considering the combined effect over the structure. The optimization works simultaneously on both the material selection and the meeting of the associated constraints, to guarantee that the system will not fail because of any load, neither it will be unsafe for the patients, since the operation will always be within the limits considered in the modeling. ImHS is a variant of the Harmony Search algorithm, modified to enhance the exploration and exploitation processes. It is a simple yet powerful metaheuristic, implemented in this development with additional modifications to handle constraints and mixed variables. The proposed approach produced quality results, indicating that ImHS can be applied to solve complex engineering problems, facilitating the manufacture and control processes.
Evaluation of Groundwater Salinization Risk Following Application of Anti-Dust Emission Solutions on Unpaved Roads in Arid and Semiarid Regions
Authors: Ben-Hur Meni , Cohen Reut , Danon Michael , Nachshon Uri , Katra Itzhak
Published: February 2021

Unpaved roads could be a significant source of dust emission. A common and effective practice to suppress this emission is the application of brine solution on these roads. However, this application could increase the risk of water source salinization in arid and semiarid regions, such as Israel. The general objective of the present study was to investigate the potential effects of treated wastewater (TWW), fresh water (FW), and brine applications as anti-dust emission solutions on water source salinization in these regions. A rainfall simulator experiment and a mass balance model were used for this goal. The TWW loaded the highest amounts of Cl, Na, and Ca+Mg on the unpaved roads, while the brine loaded higher amounts of Cl and Ca+Mg than the FW, and ~0 Na. In the rainfall experiment, runoff was not formed, and ~100% of the loaded amounts were leached downwards by rain, indicating a negligible salinization risk to surface water. We estimated that the average increases in the Cl concentrations in the modeled aquifer, following TWW, brine, and FW applications, were low: 1.2–1.6, 0.58–0.8, and 0.32–0.4 mg L−1, respectively. Thus, the solution selection for preventing dust emission should be based on the total cost of the solution application.
Evaluating the Effect of Intensity Standardisation on Longitudinal Whole Brain Atrophy Quantification in Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Carvajal-Camelo Emily , Bernal Jose , Oliver Arnau , Lladó Xavier , Trujillo María , Initiative The
Published: February 2021

Atrophy quantification is fundamental for understanding brain development and diagnosing and monitoring brain diseases. FSL-SIENA is a well-known fully automated method that has been widely used in brain magnetic resonance imaging studies. However, intensity variations arising during image acquisition may compromise evaluation, analysis and even diagnosis. In this work, we studied whether intensity standardisation could improve longitudinal atrophy quantification using FSL-SIENA. We evaluated the effect of six intensity standardisation methods—z-score, fuzzy c-means, Gaussian mixture model, kernel density estimation, histogram matching and WhiteStripe—on atrophy detected by FSL-SIENA. First, we evaluated scan–rescan repeatability using scans taken during the same session from OASIS (n=122). Except for WhiteStripe, intensity standardisation did not compromise the scan–rescan repeatability of FSL-SIENA. Second, we compared the mean annual atrophy for Alzheimer’s and control subjects from OASIS (n=122) and ADNI (n=147) yielded by FSL-SIENA with and without intensity standardisation, after adjusting for covariates. Our findings were threefold: First, the use of histogram matching was counterproductive, primarily as its assumption of equal tissue proportions does not necessarily hold in longitudinal studies. Second, standardising with z-score and WhiteStripe before registration affected the registration performance, thus leading to erroneous estimates. Third, z-score was the only method that consistently led to increased effect sizes compared to when omitted (no standardisation: 0.39 and 0.43 for OASIS and ADNI; z-score: 0.45 for both datasets). Overall, we found that incorporating z-score right after registration led to reduced inter-subject inter-scan intensity variability and benefited FSL-SIENA. Our work evinces the relevance of appropriate intensity standardisation in longitudinal cerebral atrophy assessments using FSL-SIENA.