bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Linkages Between Non-Communicable Disease Multimorbidity, Health Care Utilization and Expenditure Among Aboriginal Older Adult Population in India
Authors: Puri Parul , Pati Sanghamitra
Published: March 2022

Objective: The study investigates the magnitude and correlates of non-communicable disease multimorbidity and explores its linkages with health care utilization and out-of-pocket expenditure among aboriginal or tribal older adults.

Methods: The study employed data on 11,365 older adults from Scheduled Tribes from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India, 2017-18. A disease score was computed integrating sixteen non-communicable diseases. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable analyses were performed to identify the magnitude and correlates of multimorbidity. The study further explored the linkages between selected diseases and multimorbidity with health care utilization and expenditure.

Results: The findings suggest that 27.1 and 14.5% of the aboriginal population lived with single or multiple disease, respectively. Hypertension and gastrointestinal disorders were frequent diseases. Higher age, Muslim religion, higher education, unemployment, and affluent background were the major correlates of multimorbidity. Health care utilization, mean expenditure on hospitalization, and outpatient visits increased significantly with multimorbidity.

Conclusion: Multimorbidity is emerging as a health care challenge among the aboriginal population. Measures need to be taken to assess the multimorbidity burden and reduce health care expenditure, ensuring health equity among country’s vulnerable population.
Understanding Shape Memory Alloy Torsional Actuators: From the Conceptual to the Preliminary Design
Authors: Sansone Mario , Ameduri Salvatore , Concilio Antonio , Cestino Enrico
Published: March 2022

Shape memory alloy actuators have been studied for more than thirty years. Many experimental tests have been performed, and several patents have been registered. However, designing such devices is still a challenging task. On the one hand, models are not yet able to provide the accuracy required to replace a substantial portion of the experimental tests; on the other hand, it seems that a gap exists in the literature between the main ideas behind SMA torsional actuators and their actual implementation. This work is a systematic effort to fill this gap, helping researchers and designers in developing SMA torsional actuators with a particular focus on aeronautical applications. This paper reports all the steps toward the preliminary design of such devices, using a state-of-the-art, commercially available FEM software. Moreover, the SMA rods’ behaviour under mechanical and thermal loading is thoroughly examined, looking at monitoring stress, temperature, torque and martensite evolution simultaneously, and thus providing a holistic vision of the macroscopic phenomena involved during phase transformations. Simple aerodynamic load predictions are also performed, using Xfoil for three classes of aircraft (medium size UAV, Four-Seat Aircraft and Regional Transport Aircraft).
Agricultural Diversification
Authors: Di Bene Claudia , Francaviglia Rosa , Farina Roberta , Álvaro-Fuentes Jorge , Zornoza Raúl
Published: March 2022

Agricultural intensification is a highly specialized agri-food system that has contributed to raising food production worldwide due to progress in agricultural machinery and technologies, the use of improved cultivars, and external inputs such as fertilizers, irrigation, and pesticides [...]
Chitosan as an Adjuvant to Improve Isopyrazam Azoxystrobin against Leaf Spot Disease of Kiwifruit and Enhance Its Photosynthesis, Quality, and Amino Acids
Authors: Wang Qiuping , Li Haitao , Lei Yang , Su Yue , Long Youhua
Published: March 2022

Leaf spot disease caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae is one of the most serious fungal diseases of kiwifruit production. In this work, the co-application of isopyrazam·azoxystrobin and chitosan against leaf spot disease in kiwifruit and its effects on disease resistance, photosynthesis, yield, quality, and amino acids of kiwifruit were investigated. The results show that isopyrazam·azoxystrobin exhibited a superior bioactivity against L. theobromae with an EC50 value of 0.1826 mg kg−1. The foliar application of chitosan could effectively enhance isopyrazam·azoxystrobin against leaf spot disease with a field control efficacy of 86.83% by spraying 29% isopyrazam·azoxystrobin suspension concentrate (SC) 1500 time + chitosan 100-time liquid, which was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than 78.70% of 29% isopyrazam·azoxystrobin SC 1000-time liquid. The co-application of isopyrazam·azoxystrobin and chitosan effectively enhanced soluble protein, resistance enzymes’ activity in kiwifruit leaves, and reduced their malonaldehyde (MDA), as well as reliably improved their photosynthetic characteristics. Simultaneously, their co-application was more effective in promoting growth, quality, and amino acids of kiwifruit fruits compared to isopyrazam·azoxystrobin or chitosan alone. This study highlights that the co-application of isopyrazam·azoxystrobin and chitosan can be used as a green, safe, and efficient approach for controlling leaf spot disease of kiwifruit and reducing the application of chemical fungicides.
The Effects of Two Species of Leucaena on In Vitro Rumen Fermentation, Methane Production and Post-ruminal Protein Supply in Diets Based on Urochloa hybrid cv. Cayman
Authors: Gaviria-Uribe Xiomara , Castro-Montoya Joaquín , Bolívar Diana María , Molina-Botero Isabel , Chirinda Ngonidzashe , Dickhoefer Uta , Barahona Rolando , Arango Jacobo
Published: March 2022

This study evaluates the effects of the inclusion of two different Leucaena species as a source of condensed tannins based on in vitro fermentation, methane production and post-ruminal protein supply in a diet based on Urochloa hybrid cv. Cayman CIAT BR02/1752 grass. Under in vitro conditions, Leucaena leucocephala CIAT 17263 and Leucaena diversifolia ILRI 15551 were incubated in two proportions (25% and 50% w/w) with Cayman grass and with/without polyethylene glycol as a tannin-binder. The results show that substrates with Leucaena diversifolia produced less gas and methane than those with Leucaena leucocephala with and without polyethylene glycol. The mass in undegraded feed + solid associated microbes fraction decreased linearly with increasing level of inclusion of both species of Leucaena, while increasing its nitrogen content. It is concluded that the condensed tannins of Leucaena diversifolia possess the superior activity and that the tannin content of both evaluated Leucaenas did not affect the diet degradation, and reductions in post-ruminal protein did not occur in the present study. Further studies are needed to differentiate the tannins present in different Leucaena species and their dietary effects.
Phenotypic Divergence among Sweet Pepper Landraces Assessed by Agro-Morphological Characterization as a Biodiversity Source
Authors: Martínez-Ispizua Eva , Calatayud Ángeles , Marsal José Ignacio , Mateos-Fernández Rubén , Díez María José , Soler Salvador , Valcárcel José Vicente , Martínez-Cuenca Mary-Rus
Published: March 2022

Traditional vegetable varieties constitute an important reservoir of biodiversity, so recovering, cultivating, and correctly classifying these landraces is part of key global heritage for the future of food security. In this study, 17 traditional pepper varieties from the Valencian Community (Spain) were characterized using 14 quantitative and 30 qualitative conventional morphological descriptors, including plant, flower, and fruit traits, in two ripening stages: green and red. As a result, landraces were grouped based mainly on their fruit morphology (G1: thin and elongated; G2: thick and robust; P-49: ball pepper). During a second trial, the preservation of the described characteristics was checked, and the number of fruit produced per plant was determined. From the acquired information, the most desirable traits that could be of interest for cultivation and harvesting practices were established, including erect growth habit, dense branching, big leaves, and uniformity and low persistence of fruit. Additionally, based mainly on fruit size and fruit wall thickness traits, the varieties with the highest potential to be marketed as fresh, P-37 (from G2), P-41, and P-72 (from G1), were determined. The ungrouped P-49 variety is an optimal candidate for industry processes because of its small size and robust fruit wall. The importance of phenotyping studies for preserving plant varieties is emphasized.
Genetic Diversity Based on Nutrient Concentrations in Different Organs of Robusta Coffee
Authors: Schmidt Raquel , Silva Cleidson Alves da , Dubberstein Danielly , Dias Jairo Rafael Machado , Vieira Henrique Duarte , Partelli Fábio Luiz
Published: March 2022

The objective of this study was to evaluate nutrient concentrations in the flowers, leaves (pre-flowering and grain-filling period), grains, and husks of Robusta coffee genotypes cultivated in the Amazon region, as well as to identify their genetic diversity. This experiment was carried out in Alta Floresta D’Oeste, Rondônia, Brazil, in randomized blocks with three replications; for the leaves, a factorial experimental design of sampling periods was included. The nutrient concentrations of the different evaluated organs were subjected to analysis of variance by the F test (p < 0.01), and the genetic parameters were estimated. To determine the genetic diversity, the genotypes were grouped by the UPGMA hierarchical method, and to predict it the relative importance of traits was analyzed. Genetic divergence among Coffea canephora genotypes was indicated by the leaf nutrient concentrations. At a maximum dissimilarity threshold of 82% for the genotypes, the UPGMA method formed six groups. Concentrations of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in the leaf sampling periods of pre-flowering and grain filling were not influenced by genotypes. The leaf and flower iron (Fe) concentrations contributed most to genetic divergence. For a nutritional diagnosis of Robusta coffee, it is important to take into account the comparisons of genetic diversity as well as the nutritional requirements during the flowering and grain-filling periods.
Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) Yields and Soil Chemical Properties Were Improved by Row-Surface Straw Mulching
Authors: Zhu Zihui , Qian Jiayu , Zhang Yongxian , Zhang Hao , Dai Haibo , Zhang Zhiping , Miao Minmin , Jiang Jiezeng
Published: March 2022

The rational use of a large amount of straw produced from grain fields is an important issue in major grain-producing areas. On the other hand, due to the long-term preferential applications of chemical fertilizers, soil organic carbon (SOC) content, soil fertility and organic matter levels have decreased, and the soil physical-chemical properties have deteriorated in protected agricultural facilities. In this study, a wet crop, taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) and the straw of two main crops [wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.)] were selected to investigate the effect of row-surface straw mulching on taro yields and soil chemical properties. The results showed that nearly all wheat straw and 74% of rice straw decomposed in one season under wet conditions. Straw mulching significantly increased the taro yield, increased the levels of SOC, soil rapid available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and improved the activities of sucrase and phosphatase in the soil. We conclude that row-surface straw mulching t of wet crops could not only improve the soil properties and crop yields in the protected facility but could also consume considerable straw (wheat: 14,250 kg/ha, rice: 111,00 kg/ha), and the method applied in other areas with similar conditions.
Essential Oil Composition and Bioactive Properties of Lemon Balm Aerial Parts as Affected by Cropping System and Irrigation Regime
Authors: Chrysargyris Antonios , Petropoulos Spyridon A. , Tzortzakis Nikolaos
Published: March 2022

The ongoing climate crisis necessitates the sustainable use of natural resources and the adoption of environmentally friendly agronomic practices. Deficit irrigation is an ecofriendly technique that allows for the improvement in the water use efficiency of crops. On the other hand, medicinal and aromatic crops, which usually have an innate tolerance to harsh conditions, are suitable candidates for cultivation under low-input cropping systems. In the present study, Melissa officinalis plants were cultivated under conventional and organic cropping systems, while in each system two irrigation regimes (full irrigation or deficit irrigation) were tested. The aerial parts of the plants were evaluated in terms of growth and physiological parameters, chemical composition, antioxidant activity, essential oil yield and essential oil composition. Our results indicate that prolonged water stress after two deficit irrigation cycles had detrimental effects on the plant growth and biomass production, whereas it significantly increased the essential oil yield, regardless of the cropping system (organic or conventional cultivation). The recorded physiological parameters are in agreement with morphological features, especially the stomatal conductance, which was significantly reduced under deficit irrigation for both cultivation systems, revealing that the growth inhibition was the result of stomatal closure and carbon dioxide deprivation. Deficit irrigation and organic cultivation also increased total phenol and total flavonoid content, especially in the second harvest, thus resulting in higher antioxidant activity assayed by the FRAP method. In contrast, DPPH and ABTS methods did not show any differences among the tested treatments in the second harvest, which suggests that other bioactive compounds are also involved in the overall antioxidant mechanism of lemon balm plants, as indicated by the increased ascorbic acid content. Regarding the essential oil composition, the major detected compounds were geranial and neral and, although they were both increased under the organic cropping in the first harvest, the same trend was not observed in the second harvest. Finally, a variable effect of cropping system and irrigation regime on minerals content was recorded. In conclusion, deficit irrigation is an ecofriendly practice that could be applied in conventional and organic cropping systems of lemon balm crops, aiming to reduce irrigation water consumption and compensate for reduced herb yields with increased essential oil yield and polyphenol content.
Oxide Modified Iron in Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion—From Processability to Corrosion Properties
Authors: Torrent Christof J. J. , Krooß Philipp , Huang Jingyuan , Voigt Markus , Ebbert Christoph , Knust Steffen , Grundmeier Guido , Niendorf Thomas
Published: March 2022

Additive manufacturing (AM) processes are not solely used where maximum design freedom meets low lot sizes. Direct microstructure design and topology optimization can be realized concomitantly during processing by adjusting the geometry, the material composition, and the solidification behavior of the material considered. However, when complex specific requirements have to be met, a targeted part design is highly challenging. In the field of biodegradable implant surgery, a cytocompatible material of an application-adapted shape has to be characterized by a specific degradation behavior and reliably predictable mechanical properties. For instance, small amounts of oxides can have a significant effect on microstructural development, thus likewise affecting the strength and corrosion behavior of the processed material. In the present study, biocompatible pure Fe was processed using electron powder bed fusion (E-PBF). Two different modifications of the Fe were processed by incorporating Fe oxide and Ce oxide in different proportions in order to assess their impact on the microstructural evolution, the mechanical response and the corrosion behavior. The quasistatic mechanical and chemical properties were analyzed and correlated with the final microstructural appearance.
Sperm Gone Smart: A Portable Device (iSperm®) to Assess Semen Concentration and Motility in Dogs
Authors: Domain Guillaume , Banchi Penelope , Ali Hassan Hiba , Eilers Anouk , Lannoo Joke , Wydooghe Eline , Niżański Wojciech , Van Soom Ann
Published: March 2022

The iSperm® is a portable device for semen analysis. This study aimed to investigate its correlation with a conventional computer-assisted sperm analyzer (ISAS®v1) for the assessment of semen concentration and kinematic parameters in dogs (n = 224). The intra-assay variability of both devices and their ability to estimate semen concentration at a fixed value of 40 × 106/mL were also investigated. Results showed that the intra-assay variability was lower for the ISAS®v1 for all parameters compared to the iSperm®. Hence, iSperm® estimates were more variable in-between fields. Both the iSperm® and the ISAS®v1 were not reliable in estimating semen concentration (ISAS®v1: median 30 × 106/mL, interquartile range (IQR) 12, p < 0.01; iSperm®: median 35.12 × 106/mL, IQR 11.11, p < 0.01). Finally, positive correlations were found between both devices with stronger correlations obtained when four fields were analyzed by the iSperm®. However, the low number of spermatozoa analyzed per field and the inability to avoid artifacts are downsides that currently limit the reliability of the iSperm®. Therefore, the software of iSperm® needs some improvement to make it a valid and practical alternative to automated computerized systems for the analysis of canine semen.
Design and Characterization of Novel Antibody-Cytokine Fusion Proteins Based on Interleukin-21
Authors: Di Nitto Cesare , Neri Dario , Weiss Tobias , Weller Michael , De Luca Roberto
Published: March 2022

Interleukin-21 (IL21) is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in the modulation of both innate and adaptive immunity. IL21 is mainly secreted by natural killer (NK) and activated CD4+ T-cells. The biology of this cytokine can be associated to proinflammatory responses reflecting its potent stimulatory activity of NK and CD8+ T-cells. Here we describe four formats of novel IL21-based antibody–cytokine fusion proteins, targeting the extra domain A (EDA) of fibronectin and explore their potential for cancer treatment. The fusion proteins were designed, expressed, and characterized. F8 in single-chain diabody (scDb) format fused to IL21 at its C-terminus exhibited a promising profile in size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and SDS-PAGE. The lead candidate was further characterized in vitro. A cell-based activity assay on murine cytotoxic T-cells showed that human IL21, compared to murine IL21 partially cross-reacted with the murine receptor. The prototype was able to recognize EDA as demonstrated by immunofluorescence analysis on tumor sections. In an in vivo quantitative biodistribution experiment, F8(scDb)-murine IL21 did not preferentially accumulate at the site of disease after intravenous injection, suggesting that additional protein engineering would be required to improve the tumor-homing properties of IL21-based product.
Tobramycin Blood Levels after Local Antibiotic Treatment of Bone and Soft Tissue Infection
Authors: Pargas Carlos D. , Elhessy Ahmed H. , Abouei Mehdi , Gesheff Martin G. , Conway Janet D.
Published: March 2022

Local antibiotic delivery using different carriers plays an important role in both infection prophylaxis and treatment. Besides dead space management, these carriers have the advantage of providing a high concentration of local antibiotics with a lower risk of systemic toxicity. Few studies have reported on systemic toxicity associated with antibiotic-impregnated carriers. The present study investigates the systemic tobramycin concentration at 24, 48 and 72 h postoperatively after using tobramycin-loaded polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and calcium sulfate (CS) as local antibiotic carriers. Additionally, this work assesses the renal function postoperatively for indications of acute kidney injury (AKI). Fifty-two patients were treated in 58 procedures with tobramycin and vancomycin-loaded PMMA, CS, or both. All systemic tobramycin levels were <2 mcg/mL at 72 h, and the resulting rate of AKI was 12% (7/58). In conclusion, local tobramycin antibiotic delivery using PMMA, CS, or both remains a safe and effective modality in the treatment of osteomyelitis as long as the surgeon is aware of its possible nephrotoxic effect.
Synthesis and Biological Activity of Antimicrobial Agents
Authors: Carvalho M. Fernanda N. N.
Published: March 2022

New antimicrobial agents are urgent and necessary to overcome the acquired resistance of microorganisms to existing antibiotics and antifungals [...]
Prevalence, Antibiotic Resistance, Toxin-Typing and Genotyping of Clostridium perfringens in Raw Beef Meats Obtained from Qazvin City, Iran
Authors: Hassani Samaneh , Pakbin Babak , Brück Wolfram Manuel , Mahmoudi Razzagh , Mousavi Shaghayegh
Published: March 2022

Background: Clostridium perfringens is one of the highest prevailing spore-forming foodborne pathogens, which is widely distributed and causes severe disease and outbreaks in humans and animals. Raw meat and poultry are the main vehicles of this pathogen. In this study, we investigated the prevalence, antibiotic resistance pattern, toxin-encoding genes and genetic diversity of C. perfringens isolates from raw whole and minced meat samples purchased from local markets in Qazvin city, Iran (the source of beef cattle production was also located in Qazvin city, Iran). Methods: We used conventional culture-based and Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion and conventional and arbitrary primer PCR methods. Results: A total of 18 C. perfringens strains were isolated from 133 raw meat samples (13.53%). Up to 44.4 and 55.5% of these isolates were detected in raw minced and whole meat samples, respectively. We found that 72.2, 66.6, 61.1, 37.8 and 33.3% of the C. perfringens isolates were resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol antibiotics, respectively. Multidrug resistance was found in 38% of the isolates. Among the four main toxin genes evaluated, the Cpa gene was detected in all isolates, and 61.1% of the isolates were mostly recognized as type A C. perfringens. High levels of genetic diversity were observed among the isolates, and they were classified into five distinct groups. Conclusions: The isolates from whole meat samples were more resistant to antibiotics. However, toxin genes were more detected in the isolates from minced meat samples. Our findings suggest that contamination of raw meat products with multidrug resistant C. perfringens could be regarded as one of the concerning pathogens in these products. Comprehensive monitoring of C. perfringens isolates is strongly recommended.
Real-World Use of Sotrovimab for Pre-Emptive Treatment in High-Risk Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: An Observational Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ong Sean W. X. , Ren Dongdong , Lee Pei Hua , Sutjipto Stephanie , Dugan Christopher , Khoo Bo Yan , Tay Jun Xin , Vasoo Shawn , Young Barnaby E. , Lye David C.
Published: March 2022

Data on use of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in hospitalized patients are limited. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the use of mAbs for early treatment of unvaccinated hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. All inpatients at our center were screened on 27 October 2021. Primary outcome was in-hospital deterioration as defined by a composite of oxygen requirement, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, or mortality within 28 days of admission. Ninety-four out of 410 COVID-19 inpatients were included in the final analysis, of whom 19 (20.2%) received early treatment with sotrovimab. The median age was 73 years (IQR 61–83), and 35 (37.2%) were female. Although the treatment group was significantly older and had more comorbidities, there was a lower proportion of progression to oxygen requirement (31.6% vs. 54.7%), ICU admission (10.5% vs. 24.0%), or mortality (5.3% vs. 13.3%). Kaplan–Meier curves showed a significant difference in time to in-hospital deterioration (log-rank test, p = 0.043). Cox proportional hazards model for in-hospital deterioration showed that sotrovimab treatment was protective (hazard ratio, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.17–0.99; p = 0.047) after adjustment for baseline ISARIC deterioration score. Our findings support the use of sotrovimab for early treatment in hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 at a high risk of disease progression.
Genomic Characterization of Clinical Acinetobacter baumannii Isolates Obtained from COVID-19 Patients in Russia
Authors: Shelenkov Andrey , Mikhaylova Yulia , Petrova Lyudmila , Gaidukova Irina , Zamyatin Mikhail , Akimkin Vasiliy
Published: March 2022

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has already affected all realms of public healthcare and, in particular, has led to increasing use of various antibiotics to treat possible bacterial coinfections even in cases for which such infections were not confirmed clinically. This could lead to an increase in the fraction and severity of multidrug-resistant bacterial isolates in healthcare facilities, especially in intensive care units (ICU). However, detailed epidemiological investigations, possibly including whole genome sequencing (WGS), are required to confirm the increase in antibiotic resistance and changes, if any, in the population and clonal structures of bacterial pathogens. In this study, we performed a comprehensive genomic and phenotypic characterization of selected multidrug-resistant A. baumannii isolates obtained from the patients of a dedicated COVID-19 ICU in Moscow, Russia. Hybrid short- and long-read sequencing allowed us to obtain complete profiles of genomic antimicrobial resistance and virulence determinants, as well as to reveal the plasmid structure. We demonstrated the genomic similarity in terms of cgMLST profiles of the isolates studied with a clone previously identified in the same facility. We believe that the data provided will contribute to better understanding the changes imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic on the population structure and the antimicrobial resistance of bacterial pathogens in healthcare facilities.
Impact of Antibiotic Authorisation at Three Provincial Hospitals in Thailand: Results from a Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Wangchinda Walaiporn , Srisompong Jintana , Chayangsu Sunee , Ruangkriengsin Darat , Thamlikitkul Visanu , Koomanachai Pornpan , Sirijatuphat Rujipas , Rattanaumpawan Pinyo
Published: March 2022

Implementing antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) at non-university hospitals is challenging. A quasi-experimental study was conducted to determine the impact of customised antibiotic authorisation implementation on antimicrobial consumption and clinical outcomes at three provincial hospitals in Thailand. Customised pre-authorisation of selected restricted antibiotics and post-authorisation of selected controlled antibiotics were undertaken and implemented at each hospital by the local AMS team with guidance from the AMS team at the university hospital. From January 2019–December 2020, there were 1802 selected patients (901 patients during the pre-implementation period and 901 patients during the post-implementation period). The most commonly used targeted antimicrobial was meropenem (49.61%), followed by piperacillin/tazobactam (36.46%). Comparison of the outcomes of the patients during the pre- and post-implementation periods revealed that the mean day of therapy of the targeted antimicrobials was significantly shorter during the post-implementation period (6.24 vs. 7.64 days; p < 0.001), the favourable clinical response (the improvement in all clinical and laboratory parameters at the end of antibiotic therapy) was significantly higher during the post-implementation period (72.70% vs. 68.04%; p = 0.03) and the mean length of hospital stay was significantly shorter during the post-implementation period (15.78 vs. 18.90 days; p < 0.001). In conclusion, implementation of antibiotic authorisation at provincial hospitals under experienced AMS team’s guidance was feasible and useful. The study results could be a good model for the implementation of customised AMS strategies at other hospitals with limited resources.
Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet Has a Protective Role against Metabolic and DNA Damage Markers in Colorectal Cancer Patients
Authors: Acevedo-León Delia , Gómez-Abril Segundo Ángel , Monzó-Beltrán Lidia , Estañ-Capell Nuria , Arroyo-Montañés Rafael , Bañuls Celia , Salas-Salvadó Jordi , Sáez Guillermo
Published: March 2022

Oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation have been related to colorectal cancer (CRC), but the influence of the Mediterranean diet (MD) on these parameters is unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the association between adherence to the MD and markers of OS and DNA damage in CRC patients and to study the influence of adherence to the MD on metabolic and tumor-related factors. This prospective observational study included a total of 80 patients diagnosed with CRC. Adherence to the MD was estimated by the 14-item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) questionnaire. The levels of OS markers (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione system in serum; 8-oxo-7′8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine and F2-isoprotanes in urine) and tumor and metabolic factors were determined. A total of 51.2% of our CRC patients showed a high adherence to the MD. These patients presented decreased levels of 8-oxodG, increased GPX and HDL–cholesterol levels, and a downward trend in the GSSG/GSH ratio with respect to patients with low adherence to the MD. In addition, a high adherence to the MD was associated with a lower histological grade of the tumor and a lower presence of synchronous adenomas. We conclude that a high adherence to the MD has a protective role against metabolic and oxidative DNA damage and improves antioxidant systems in CRC patients.
Oxidative Stress in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Domanskyi Andrii , Parlato Rosanna
Published: March 2022

Oxidative stress is typically reported in neurodegenerative diseases [...]
Investigating the Potential Use of EEG for the Objective Measurement of Auditory Presence
Authors: Zhang Shufeng , Feng Xuelei , Shen Yong
Published: March 2022

Presence is the sense of being in a virtual environment when physically situated in another place. It is one of the key components of the overall virtual reality (VR) experience, as well as other immersive audio applications. However, there is no standardized method for measuring presence. In our previous study, we explored the possibility of using electroencephalography (EEG) to measure presence by using questionnaires as a reference. It was found that an increase in the subjective presence level was correlated with an increase in the theta/beta ratio (an index derived from EEG). In the present study, we re-analyzed the original data and found that the peak alpha frequency (PAF), another EEG index, may also have the potential to reflect the change in the subjective presence level. Specifically, an increase in the subjective presence level was found to be correlated with a decrease in PAF. Together with our previous study, these results indicate the potential use of EEG for the objective measurement of presence in the future.
Comparison of Anthropometric and Physiological Profiles of Hungarian Female Rowers across Age Categories, Rankings, and Stages of Sports Career
Authors: Podstawski Robert , Borysławski Krzysztof , Ihasz Ferenc , Pomianowski Andrzej , Wąsik Jacek , Gronek Piotr
Published: March 2022

There is very little research on the anthropometric and physiological profiles of lower-ranked young female athletes, even though, in most rowing clubs, such rowers constitute the vast majority. Therefore, this study investigated the anthropometric and physiological profiles of young Hungarian female rowers of different age categories and sports rankings (international vs. club). Anthropometric and physiological profiles were created for 36 junior (15–16 years), 26 older-junior (17–18 years), and 8 senior (19–21 years) female rowers who were club and international ranked members of seven of the largest Hungarian rowing clubs. Rowers >17-years-old with international rankings significantly outperformed their age-group peers with club rankings in terms of power, absolute VO2 max, and time to cover 2000 m, among other differences, but such differences were not observed with junior rowers. In all age groups, the length of the athletes’ sports career was not significantly associated with differences in anthropometric and physiological characteristics. This study suggests that ranking is not associated with differences in the anthropometric and physiological characteristics of juniors. Thus, with non-elite juniors, it can be more difficult to predict competition outcomes based on differences in anthropometric and physiological profiles.
A Computationally Efficient Musculoskeletal Model of the Lower Limb for the Control of Rehabilitation Robots: Assumptions and Validation
Authors: Farhat Nidal , Zamora Pau , Reichert David , Mata Vicente , Page Alvaro , Valera Angel
Published: March 2022

We present and validate a computationally efficient lower limb musculoskeletal model for the control of a rehabilitation robot. It is a parametric model that allows the customization of joint kinematics, and it is able to operate in real time. Methods: Since the rehabilitation exercises corresponds to low-speed movements, a quasi-static model can be assumed, and then muscle force coefficients are position dependent. This enables their calculation in an offline stage. In addition, the concept of a single functional degree of freedom is used to minimize drastically the workspace of the stored coefficients. Finally, we have developed a force calculation process based on Lagrange multipliers that provides a closed-form solution; in this way, the problem of dynamic indeterminacy is solved without the need to use an iterative process. Results: The model has been validated by comparing muscle forces estimated by the model with the corresponding electromyography (EMG) values using squat exercise, in which the Spearman’s correlation coefficient is higher than 0.93. Its computational time is lower than 2.5 ms in a conventional computer using MATLAB. Conclusions: This procedure presents a good agreement with the experimental values of the forces, and it can be integrated into real time control systems.
A High Thermal Conductivity of MgO-H2O Nanofluid Prepared by Two-Step Technique
Authors: Judran Hadia Kadhim , Al-Hasnawi Adnan G. Tuaamah , Al Zubaidi Faten N. , Al-Maliki Wisam Abed Kattea , Alobaid Falah , Epple Bernd
Published: March 2022

In this paper, the main goal is to study the impact of nanopowder volume concentration and ultrasonication treatment time on the stability and thermophysical properties of MgO-DW nanofluid at room temperature. The co-precipitation method was utilized to prepare pure MgO nanoparticles with an average particle size of 33 nm. The prepared MgO nanopowder was characterized by using XRD, SEM, and EDX analyses. Then, MgO-DW nanofluid was obtained with different volume concentrations (i.e., 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, and 0.25 vol.%) and different ultrasonication time periods (i.e., 45, 90, 135, and 180 min) by using a novel two-step technique. With volume concentration and ultrasonication time of 0.15 vol.% and 180 min, respectively, good stability was achieved, according to the zeta potential analysis. With increasing volume concentration and ultrasonication time period of the nanofluid samples, the thermal conductivity measurements showed significant increases. As a result, the maximum enhancement was found to be 25.08% at a concentration ratio of 0.25 vol.% and agitation time of 180 min. Dynamic viscosity measurements revealed two contrasting trends with volume concentration and ultrasonication time. The lowest value of relative viscosity was gained by 0.05 vol.% MgO-DW nanofluid. The chemical and physical interactions between MgO nanoparticles and DW molecules play an important function in determining the thermal conductivity and dynamic viscosity of MgO-DW nanofluid. These findings exhibit that MgO-DW nanofluid has the potential to be used as an advanced heat transfer fluid in cooling systems and heat exchangers.
Impacted Central Incisors in the Upper Jaw in an Adolescent Patient: Orthodontic-Surgical Treatment—A Case Report
Authors: Malcangi Giuseppina , Inchingolo Alessio Danilo , Patano Assunta , Coloccia Giovanni , Ceci Sabino , Garibaldi Mariagrazia , Inchingolo Angelo Michele , Piras Fabio , Cardarelli Filippo , Settanni Vito , Rapone Biagio , Corriero Alberto , Mancini Antonio , Corsalini Massimo , Nucci Ludovica , Bordea Ioana Roxana , Lorusso Felice , Scarano Antonio , Giovanniello Delia , Dipalma Gianna , Posa Vito Marino , Di Venere Daniela , Inchingolo Francesco
Published: March 2022

The inclusion of both maxillary permanent central incisors is uncommon. This condition compromises face aesthetics, phonation and masticatory function. Therefore, early diagnosis is essential to avoid complications and failures. There are various reasons for inclusion, but supernumerary teeth are the leading cause. Early causes of removal and rapid expansion of the palate determine a high probability of success with the spontaneous eruption of the impacted elements. However, it is often necessary to proceed with a surgical–orthodontic treatment. The inclination of teeth in relation to the midline and the root maturation degree determine prognosis and therapeutic timing. In this case report, the orthopantomogram (OPG) X-ray of a 9-year-old boy revealed two impacted supernumerary teeth in the anterior maxillary region, preventing the eruption of the permanent upper central incisors. The impacted supernumerary teeth were surgically removed at different times. A straight wire multibrackets technique associated with a fixed palatal appliance was used. The palatal appliance featured an osteomucous resin support at the level of the retroincisal papilla. Subsequently, surgical exposure was carried out using the closed eruption technique and elastic traction, bringing 11 and 21 back into the arch.
Processing Analytical Queries over Polystore System for a Large Astronomy Data Repository
Authors: Poudel Manoj , Sarode Rashmi P. , Watanobe Yutaka , Mozgovoy Maxim , Bhalla Subhash
Published: March 2022

There are extremely large heterogeneous databases in the astronomical data domain, which keep increasing in size. The data types vary from images of astronomical objects to unstructured texts, relations, and key-values. Many astronomical data repositories manage such kinds of data. The Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) is one such data repository with a large amount of data with different varieties. Handling different types of data in a single database may have performance and efficiency issues. In this study, we propose a web-based query system built around the Polystore database architecture, and attempt to provide a solution for the growing size of data in the astronomical domain. The proposed system will unify querying over multiple datasets directly, thereby eliminating the effort to translate complex queries and simplify the work for the users in the astronomical domain. In this proposal, we study the models of data integration, analyze them, and incorporate them into a system to manage linked open data provided by astronomical domain. The proposed system is scalable, and its model can be used for various other systems to efficiently manage heterogeneous data.
Nanovised Control Flow Attestation
Authors: Ben Yehuda Raz , Kiperberg Michael , Zaidenberg Nezer Jacob
Published: March 2022

This paper presents an improvement of control flow attestation (C-FLAT) for Linux. C-FLAT is a control attestation system for embedded devices. It was implemented as a software executing in ARM’s TrustZone on bare-metal devices. We extend the design and implementation of C-FLAT through the use of a type 2 Nanovisor in the Linux operating system. We call our improved system “C-FLAT Linux”. Compared to the original C-FLAT, C-FLAT Linux reduces processing overheads and is able to detect the SlowLoris attack. We describe the architecture of C-FLAT Linux and provide extensive measurements of its performance in benchmarks and real-world scenarios. In addition, we demonstrate the detection of the SlowLoris attack on the Apache web server.
The Efficacy and Predictability of Maxillary First Molar Derotation with Invisalign: A Prospective Clinical Study in Growing Subjects
Authors: Lione Roberta , Paoloni Valeria , De Razza Francesca Chiara , Pavoni Chiara , Cozza Paola
Published: March 2022

To analyze the derotation of maxillary mesio-rotated first permanent molars in subjects with Class II edge-to-edge dental malocclusion in mixed dentition treated with Invisalign Clear Aligners (CA). In total, 36 patients (16 males, 20 females, 9.9 ± 1.9 years) treated with CA are enrolled from the Department of Orthodontics. Inclusion criteria are the following: Caucasian ancestry, mixed dentition, molar Class II edge-to-edge, no tooth/craniofacial anomalies, no caries/periodontal diseases. Pre-treatment (T1) and post-treatment (T2) digital casts, and final ClinCheck representations (T2ClinCheck) are acquired. The Henry’s angle (HA) is used to assess maxillary first molars rotation. The molars with an HA > 11° are taken (53 teeth). Five measurements are performed at T1, T2, and T2ClinCheck: Henry’s angle (HA), mesiobuccal-expansion (MBE), distobuccal-expansion (DBE), mesiobuccal-sagittal (MBS), and distobuccal-sagittal (DBS). A paired t-test was used to compare T2-T1 and T2ClinCheck-T2. The T2-T1 shows a distal-rotation (difference −6.3°) with an expansion of 2.2 mm for MBE and 1.5 mm for DBE. At T2, the mesiobuccal cusps show a distal movement of 1.0 mm and the distobuccal cusps of 0.9 mm. The HA’s T2ClinCheck-T2 difference is −4.2°. In the sagittal plane, the difference is 0.9 mm for the MBS and 0.7 mm for the DBS. The expansion showed the highest predictability (60% HA, 52.6% MBS, and 56.25% DBS). The CA effectively produces an arch expansion and upper molars’ distal rotation. Upper molar derotation provides a 1 mm of gain in arch perimeter and occlusal improvement.
Modelling Approach for the Prediction of Machinability in Al6061 Composites by Electrical Discharge Machining
Authors: Ram Hariharan Sree , Uthayakumar Marimuthu , Kumar Shanmugam Suresh , Kumaran Sundaresan Thirumalai , Korniejenko Kinga
Published: March 2022

This work aims to identify the pattern for the major output parameters, material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (Ra) of different combinations of Al6061-based composites. Based on the verification carried out on these patterns using analysis of variance (ANOVA) as the mathematical tool, the work predicts the mentioned output characteristics while machining Al6061 composites of different material compositions based on their hardness values. ANOVA was employed for the generation of equations of the particular composite. The equations were compared for the coefficients of each parameter employed in ANOVA. The work was carried out comparing the characteristic equation of different combinations of Al6061-based composite. The results indicate that the coefficients of the current show a drastic variation when compared to other coefficients for both the output parameters. It was observed that the current and its coefficients contribute to the output parameters based on the variation in hardness. For surface roughness, the constant of the characteristic equation was also found to influence the parameter for the change in hardness. The equation derived for both material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (Ra) were identified to be matching with the experimental result carried out for validation. The average variation observed was 9.3% for MRR and 7.2% for surface roughness.
A White-Box Sociolinguistic Model for Gender Detection
Authors: Morales Sánchez Damián , Moreno Antonio , Jiménez López María Dolores
Published: March 2022

Within the area of Natural Language Processing, we approached the Author Profiling task as a text classification problem. Based on the author’s writing style, sociodemographic information, such as the author’s gender, age, or native language can be predicted. The exponential growth of user-generated data and the development of Machine-Learning techniques have led to significant advances in automatic gender detection. Unfortunately, gender detection models often become black-boxes in terms of interpretability. In this paper, we propose a tree-based computational model for gender detection made up of 198 features. Unlike the previous works on gender detection, we organized the features from a linguistic perspective into six categories: orthographic, morphological, lexical, syntactic, digital, and pragmatics-discursive. We implemented a Decision-Tree classifier to evaluate the performance of all feature combinations, and the experiments revealed that, on average, the classification accuracy increased up to 3.25% with the addition of feature sets. The maximum classification accuracy was reached by a three-level model that combined lexical, syntactic, and digital features. We present the most relevant features for gender detection according to the trees generated by the classifier and contextualize the significance of the computational results with the linguistic patterns defined by previous research in relation to gender.
Effect of Novel Aspergillus and Neurospora Species-Based Additive on Ensiling Parameters and Biomethane Potential of Sugar Beet Leaves
Authors: Undiandeye Jerome , Gallegos Daniela , Lenz Jürgen , Nelles Michael , Stinner Walter
Published: March 2022

Research on additives that improve the quality of silages for an enhanced and sustainable biogas production are limited in the literature. Frequently used additives such as lactic acid bacteria enhance the quality of silages but have no significant effect on biogas yield. This study investigated the effect of a new enzymatic additive on the quality of ensiling and BMP of sugar beet leaves. Sugar beet leaves were ensiled with and without the additive (Aspergillus- and Neurospora-based additive) in ratios of 50:1 (A50:1), 150:1 (B150:1), and 500:1 (C500:1) (gsubstrate/gadditive) for 370 days at ambient temperature. Results showed that silages with additive had lower yeast activity and increased biodegradability compared to silages without additive (control). The additive increased the BMP by 45.35%, 24.23%, and 21.69% in silages A50:1, B150:1, and C500:1 respectively, compared to silages without additive (control). Although the novel enzyme is in its early stage, the results indicate that it has a potential for practical application at an additive to substrate ratio (g/g) of 1:50. The use of sugar beet leaves and the novel enzyme for biogas production forms part of the circular economy since it involves the use of wastes for clean energy production.