bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The PPARβ/δ-AMPK Connection in the Treatment of Insulin Resistance
Authors: Aguilar-Recarte David , Palomer Xavier , Wahli Walter , Vázquez-Carrera Manuel
Published: August 2021

The current treatment options for type 2 diabetes mellitus do not adequately control the disease in many patients. Consequently, there is a need for new drugs to prevent and treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. Among the new potential pharmacological strategies, activators of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)β/δ show promise. Remarkably, most of the antidiabetic effects of PPARβ/δ agonists involve AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. This review summarizes the recent mechanistic insights into the antidiabetic effects of the PPARβ/δ-AMPK pathway, including the upregulation of glucose uptake, muscle remodeling, enhanced fatty acid oxidation, and autophagy, as well as the inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress and inflammation. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the effects resulting from the PPARβ/δ-AMPK pathway may provide the basis for the development of new therapies in the prevention and treatment of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
NAD(H) Regulates the Permeability Transition Pore in Mitochondria through an External Site
Authors: Kharechkina Ekaterina , Nikiforova Anna , Kruglov Alexey
Published: August 2021

The opening of the permeability transition pore (mPTP) in mitochondria initiates cell death in numerous diseases. The regulation of mPTP by NAD(H) in the mitochondrial matrix is well established; however, the role of extramitochondrial (cytosolic) NAD(H) is still unclear. We studied the effect of added NADH and NAD+ on: (1) the Ca2+-retention capacity (CRC) of isolated rat liver, heart, and brain mitochondria; (2) the Ca2+-dependent mitochondrial swelling in media whose particles can (KCl) or cannot (sucrose) be extruded from the matrix by mitochondrial carriers; (3) the Ca2+-dependent mitochondrial depolarization and the release of entrapped calcein from mitochondria of permeabilized hepatocytes; and (4) the Ca2+-dependent mitochondrial depolarization and subsequent repolarization. NADH and NAD+ increased the CRC of liver, heart, and brain mitochondria 1.5–2.5 times, insignificantly affecting the rate of Ca2+-uptake and the free Ca2+ concentration in the medium. NAD(H) suppressed the Ca2+-dependent mitochondrial swelling both in KCl- and sucrose-based media but did not induce the contraction and repolarization of swollen mitochondria. By contrast, EGTA caused mitochondrial repolarization in both media and the contraction in KCl-based medium only. NAD(H) delayed the Ca2+-dependent depolarization and the release of calcein from individual mitochondria in hepatocytes. These data unambiguously demonstrate the existence of an external NAD(H)-dependent site of mPTP regulation.
Function and Mechanism of Jasmonic Acid in Plant Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses
Authors: Wang Yun , Mostafa Salma , Zeng Wen , Jin Biao
Published: August 2021

As sessile organisms, plants must tolerate various environmental stresses. Plant hormones play vital roles in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Among these hormones, jasmonic acid (JA) and its precursors and derivatives (jasmonates, JAs) play important roles in the mediation of plant responses and defenses to biotic and abiotic stresses and have received extensive research attention. Although some reviews of JAs are available, this review focuses on JAs in the regulation of plant stress responses, as well as JA synthesis, metabolism, and signaling pathways. We summarize recent progress in clarifying the functions and mechanisms of JAs in plant responses to abiotic stresses (drought, cold, salt, heat, and heavy metal toxicity) and biotic stresses (pathogen, insect, and herbivore). Meanwhile, the crosstalk of JA with various other plant hormones regulates the balance between plant growth and defense. Therefore, we review the crosstalk of JAs with other phytohormones, including auxin, gibberellic acid, salicylic acid, brassinosteroid, ethylene, and abscisic acid. Finally, we discuss current issues and future opportunities in research into JAs in plant stress responses.
Need for Uniform Definitions in Newborn Screening for SCID: The Next Challenge for Screeners and Immunologists
Authors: van der Burg Mirjam
Published: August 2021

During the ISNS meeting “Newborn Screening for SCID ‘State of the Art’” on 26 and 27 January 2021, the topic of case definitions and related issues were discussed. There is currently a lack of uniform definitions and therefore a lack of uniform registration of screen-positive cases. This severely hampers the comparison of outcomes of different screening programs and the exchange of experiences gained by the different countries performing SCID screening, which is essential to improve screening programs. In this letter, I outline the current situation and indicate the need for uniform definitions and classification, which in my view needs to be a joined effort of screeners and immunologists.
Design of Generalized Search Interfaces for Health Informatics
Authors: Demelo Jonathan , Sedig Kamran
Published: August 2021

In this paper, we investigate ontology-supported interfaces for health informatics search tasks involving large document sets. We begin by providing background on health informatics, machine learning, and ontologies. We review leading research on health informatics search tasks to help formulate high-level design criteria. We use these criteria to examine traditional design strategies for search interfaces. To demonstrate the utility of the criteria, we apply them to the design of ONTology-supported Search Interface (ONTSI), a demonstrative, prototype system. ONTSI allows users to plug-and-play document sets and expert-defined domain ontologies through a generalized search interface. ONTSI’s goal is to help align users’ common vocabulary with the domain-specific vocabulary of the plug-and-play document set. We describe the functioning and utility of ONTSI in health informatics search tasks through a workflow and a scenario. We conclude with a summary of ongoing evaluations, limitations, and future research.
Bombyx mori Nucleopolyhedrovirus p26 Is Associated with Viral Late Stage Replication
Authors: Ge Jun-Qing , Wang Zhu-Hong , Chen Xi , Chen Hua , Huang Jian
Published: August 2021

Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) p26 is conserved among all Lepidoptera baculoviruses that have been completely sequenced thus far, and some baculoviruses even have two copies of p26, which suggested that p26 may play an important role in the virus infection cycle. This study aimed to characterize BmNPV p26. We found that BmNPV p26 transcripts were detectable as early as 3 h post-infection (hpi), and the transcript levels rapidly increased starting from 12 hpi. Western blot analysis using an anti-p26 polyclonal antibody demonstrated that the corresponding protein was also detectable from 6 hpi in BmNPV-infected cell lysates. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that p26 was mainly dispersed in the infected cell cytoplasm, whereas the over-expressed fusion protein EGFP-p26 also accumulated in the nucleus. These results indicated that p26 is an early BmNPV gene and has functions both in the cytoplasm and the nucleus. RNAi-based knockdown of p26 could produce infectious virus and normal-appearing virions but decreased budded virus (BV) production in BmNPV-infected cells at 72 hpi. Moreover, the results of further quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) analysis indicated that the gp64 and p74 transcripts levels decreased significantly. These results indicated that BmNPV p26 may be associated with BmNPV replication during the late infection stage.
Natural and Synthetic Repellents for Pest Management of the Storage Mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Sarcoptiformes: Acaridae)
Authors: Manu Naomi , Schilling Mark Wesley , Phillips Thomas Wesley
Published: August 2021

The fumigant pesticide methyl bromide (MB) was used for stored products, but it is now banned for most uses in many countries as an ozone-depleting substance. MB was the only pesticide used to manage the ham mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, which is the most significant pest of dry cured hams. Effective alternatives to MB are needed to develop integrated pest management (IPM) programs for this pest. This study evaluated plant essential oils and food-safe compounds as repellents to directly protect hams from infestation. Experiments to assess the repellency to orientation, oviposition, and population growth of mites on pieces of aged country hams were conducted. Test compounds at different concentrations were dissolved in respective solvents and compared to the solvent control. Results showed that C8910, a mixture of three short-chain fatty acids, and the sesquiterpene ketone nootkatone had repellency indices of (RI) of 85.6% and 82.3%, respectively, at a concentration of 0.1 mg/cm2, when applied to a Petri dish arena. DEET and icaridin were also tested but performed poorly with RIs below 70% even at 0.1 mg/cm2.The monoterpene alcohol geraniol had the highest RI of 96.3% at 0.04 mg/cm2. Ham pieces dipped in C8910 and nootkatone at 150 ppm each had RIs of 89.3% and 82.8%, respectively. In general, as the concentrations of test compounds increased, the numbers of eggs that were laid on these treated ham cubes decreased after the 48 h exposure time. Ham pieces dipped in different concentrations of test compounds and then inoculated with 20 adult mites showed a significant decrease in mite population growth compared to control pieces after 14 days. The results of these experiments suggest that some plant secondary metabolites and synthetic food-safe compounds could serve as potential alternatives for managing mites on hams.
Double-Stranded RNA-Degrading Enzymes Reduce the Efficiency of RNA Interference in Plutella xylostella
Authors: Chen Jin-Zhi , Jiang Ying-Xia , Li Miao-Wen , Li Jian-Wen , Zha Ben-Hu , Yang Guang
Published: August 2021

DsRNA-degrading enzymes (dsRNases) have been recognized as important factors in reducing RNA interference (RNAi) efficiency in different insect species. However, dsRNases in Plutella xylostella are still unknown. We identified the full-length cDNAs of PxdsRNase1, PxdsRNase2, PxdsRNase3, and PxdsRNase4. Gene expression profile showed that PxdsRNase1 was mainly expressed in the hemolymph; and that PxdsRNase2 and PxdsRNase3 were mainly expressed in the intestinal tract. The expression of PxCht (Chitinase of P. xylostella) in P. xylostella larvae injected with the mixture of dsPxCht (dsRNA of PxCht) and dsPxdsRNase1 (dsRNA of PxdsRNase1), dsPxdsRNase2 (dsRNA of PxdsRNase2), or dsPxdsRNase3 (dsRNA of PxdsRNase3) was significantly higher than that in the larvae injected with the mixture of dsGFP (dsRNA of green fluorescent protein gene, GFP) and dsPxCht; the transcription level of PxCht in the larvae feeding on the mixture of dsPxCht and dsPxdsRNase1, dsPxdsRNase2, or dsPxdsRNase3 was significantly higher than that in the larvae feeding on the mixture of dsPxCht and dsGFP. The recombinant protein of PxdsRNase1 degraded dsRNA rapidly, PxdsRNase3 cleaved dsRNA without complete degradation, and PxdsRNase2 could not degrade dsRNA in vitro. These results suggested that PxdsRNases1, PxdsRNases2, and PxdsRNases3 were involved in the dsRNA degradation to reduce RNAi efficiency with different mechanisms.
Establishment of a Robust and Simple Corneal Organ Culture Model to Monitor Wound Healing
Authors: Schumann Sandra , Dietrich Eva , Kruse Charli , Grisanti Salvatore , Ranjbar Mahdy
Published: August 2021

The use of in vitro systems to investigate the process of corneal wound healing offers the opportunity to reduce animal pain inflicted during in vivo experimentation. This study aimed to establish an easy-to-handle ex vivo organ culture model with porcine corneas for the evaluation and modulation of epithelial wound healing. Cultured free-floating cornea disks with a punch defect were observed by stereomicroscopic photo documentation. We analysed the effects of different cell culture media and investigated the impact of different wound sizes as well as the role of the limbus. Modulation of the wound healing process was carried out with the cytostatic agent Mitomycin C. The wound area calculation revealed that after three days over 90% of the lesion was healed. As analysed with TUNEL and lactate dehydrogenase assay, the culture conditions were cell protecting and preserved the viability of the corneal tissue. Wound healing rates differ dependent on the culture medium used. Mitomycin C hampered wound healing in a concentration-dependent manner. The porcine cornea ex vivo culture ideally mimics the in vivo situation and allows investigations of cellular behaviour in the course of wound healing. The effect of substances can be studied, as we have documented for a mitosis inhibitor. This model might aid in toxicological studies as well as in the evaluation of drug efficacy and could offer a platform for therapeutic approaches based on regenerative medicine.
Preparedness of Health Care Workers and Medical Students in University Hospital in Krakow for COVID-19 Pandemic within the CRACoV Project
Authors: Żółtowska Barbara , Barańska Ilona , Szczerbińska Katarzyna , Różańska Anna , Mydel Krzysztof , Sydor Wojciech , Heczko Piotr B. , Jachowicz Estera , Wójkowska-Mach Jadwiga
Published: August 2021

Backgrounds Health care workers’ (HCWs) knowledge of and compliance with personal protective procedures is a key for patients’ and personnel safety. The aim of this study was to assess which factors are associated with higher self-evaluations of training on infection prevention and control (IPC) and higher self-assessment of IPC practices used by HCWs regarding COVID-19 in University Hospital in Krakow, Poland, in January 2021. Material and methods This was an online survey on the preparedness for COVID-19 epidemic of medical/non-medical staff and medical students. Questions included in the survey concerned participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, hospital staff involvement in the training, knowledge about the hand hygiene, and adherence to IPC measures. Knowledge and Performance Index (K&PI) based on selected questions was constructed for to reflect both subjective (self-evaluation) of preparedness and objective IPC knowledge and skills of HCWs participated in the IPC training. Results A total of 1412 health care workers, including 129 medical students, participated in the study. The largest group, 53.6%, was made up of nurses and paramedics. Age of respondents significantly correlated with knowledge of IPC and with K&PI. The mean age of workers with high K&PI was 42.39 ± 12.53, and among those with low, 39.71 ± 13.10, p < 0.001. 51% UHK workers participated in IPC training, but 11.3% of physicians, 28.8% of other HCWs, and 55.8% of students did not know the IPC standard precaution. Most participants, 72.3%, felt that they had received sufficient training; however, 45.8% of students declined this. There was no correlation between self-reported preparedness and the K&PI, indicating that self-reported preparedness was inadequate for knowledge and skills. Nurses and paramedics assessed their knowledge most accurately. Participants with low K&PI and high subjective evaluation constituted a substantial group in all categories. Students least often overestimated (23.8%) and most often (9.6%) underestimated their knowledge and skills. Conclusions Our study revealed inadequate IPC practice, especially as it refers to the training programme. We confirmed the urgent need of including theory and practice of IPC in curricula of health professions’ training in order to provide students with knowledge and skills necessary not only for future pandemic situations but also for everyday work.
Editorial of Special Issue “Metabolomic Analysis in Health and Diseases”
Authors: Sugimoto Masahiro
Published: August 2021

Metabolomics, a quantitative omics technology that simultaneously profiles hundreds of metabolites, has been used to explore new biomarkers and elucidate the metabolic pathways perturbed by various stimuli at a system level [...]
Cataract Surgery in Elderly Subjects with Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia in Prolonged Treatment with Statins
Authors: Marco-Benedí Victoria , Laclaustra Martín , Sánchez-Hernández Rosa M. , Ortega-Martínez de Victoria Emilio , Pedro-Botet Juan , Puzo Jose , Civeira Fernando
Published: August 2021

Background: Cataracts are the main cause of blindness and represent one fifth of visual problems worldwide. It is still unknown whether prolonged statin treatment favors the development of cataracts. We aimed to ascertain the prevalence of cataract surgery in elderly subjects with genetically diagnosed heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) receiving statin treatment for ≥5 years, and compare this with controls. Methods: This is an observational, multicenter, case–control study from five lipid clinics in Spain. We collected data with the following inclusion criteria: age ≥65 years, LDL cholesterol levels ≥220 mg/dL without lipid-lowering drugs, a pathogenic mutation in a candidate gene for HeFH (LDLR, APOB, or PCSK9) and statin treatment for ≥5 years. Controls were selected from relatives of HeFH patients without hypercholesterolemia. Linear and logistic regressions based on generalized linear models and generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used. Cataract surgery was used as a proxy for cataract development. Results: We analyzed 205 subjects, 112 HeFH, and 93 controls, with a mean age of 71.8 (6.5) and 70.0 (7.3) years, respectively. HeFH subjects presented no difference in clinical characteristics, including smoking, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus, compared with controls. The mean duration of lipid-lowering treatment in HeFH was 22.5 (8.7) years. Cataract surgery prevalence was not significantly different between cases and controls. The presence of cataracts was associated neither with LDLc nor with the length of the statin therapy. Conclusion: In the present study, HeFH was not a risk factor for cataract surgery and prolonged statin treatment did not favor it either. These findings suggest that statin treatment is not related with cataracts.
Markers of Monocyte Activation, Inflammation, and Microbial Translocation Are Associated with Liver Fibrosis in Alcohol Use Disorder
Authors: Fuster Daniel , Garcia-Calvo Xavier , Farré Oriol , Zuluaga Paola , Bolao Ferran , Leis Alba , Hernández-Rubio Anna , Rivas Inmaculada , Muga Robert
Published: August 2021

Background: The association between markers of inflammation (interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10), monocyte activation (sCD163 and sCD14), and microbial translocation (lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and LPS binding protein) and liver fibrosis in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and no overt liver disease is not well established. Methods: We studied patients admitted for treatment of AUD at two hospitals in Barcelona. Advanced liver fibrosis (ALF) was defined as FIB-4 > 3.25. Results: A total of 353 participants (76.3% male) were included and 94 (26.5%) had ALF. In adjusted correlation analyses, sCD163, sCD14, IL-6, IL-10, and LPS binding protein levels directly correlated with FIB-4 values (adjusted correlation coefficients 0.214, 0.452, 0.317, 0.204, and 0.171, respectively). However, LPS levels were inversely associated with FIB-4 (−0.283). All plasma marker levels in the highest quartile, except LPS, were associated with ALF (sCD163, sCD14, IL-6, IL-10, and LPS binding protein: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 11.49 (95% confidence interval 6.42–20.56), 1.87 (1.11–3.16), 2.99 (1.79–5.01), 1.84 (1.11–3.16), and 2.13 (1.30–3.50), respectively). Conversely, LPS levels in the lowest quartile were associated with ALF (aOR 2.58 (1.48–4.58), p < 0.01). Conclusion: In AUD patients, plasma levels of the markers of inflammation, monocyte activation, and microbial translocation are associated with ALF.
Metformin Use Is Associated with Decreased Mortality in COVID-19 Patients with Diabetes: Evidence from Retrospective Studies and Biological Mechanism
Authors: Poly Tahmina Nasrin , Islam Md. Mohaimenul , Li Yu-Chuan (Jack) , Lin Ming-Chin , Hsu Min-Huei , Wang Yao-Chin
Published: August 2021

Background and Aims: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) increases hyperinflammatory state, leading to acute lung damage, hyperglycemia, vascular endothelial damage, and a higher mortality rate. Metformin is a first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes and is known to have anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. Previous studies have shown that metformin use is associated with decreased risk of mortality among patients with COVID-19; however, the results are still inconclusive. This study investigated the association between metformin and the risk of mortality among diabetes patients with COVID-19. Methods: Data were collected from online databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science, and reference from the most relevant articles. The search and collection of relevant articles was carried out between 1 February 2020, and 20 June 2021. Two independent reviewers extracted information from selected studies. The random-effects model was used to estimate risk ratios (RRs), with a 95% confidence interval. Results: A total of 16 studies met all inclusion criteria. Diabetes patients given metformin had a significantly reduced risk of mortality (RR, 0.65; 95% CI: 0.54–0.80, p < 0.001, heterogeneity I2 = 75.88, Q = 62.20, and τ2 = 0.06, p < 0.001) compared with those who were not given metformin. Subgroup analyses showed that the beneficial effect of metformin was higher in the patients from North America (RR, 0.43; 95% CI: 0.26–0.72, p = 0.001, heterogeneity I2 = 85.57, Q = 34.65, τ2 = 0.31) than in patients from Europe (RR, 0.67; 95% CI: 0.47–0.94, p = 0.02, heterogeneity I2 = 82.69, Q = 23.11, τ2 = 0.10) and Asia (RR, 0.90; 95% CI: 0.43–1.86, p = 0.78, heterogeneity I2 = 64.12, Q = 11.15, τ2 = 0.40). Conclusions: This meta-analysis shows evidence that supports the theory that the use of metformin is associated with a decreased risk of mortality among diabetes patients with COVID-19. Randomized control trials with a higher number of participants are warranted to assess the effectiveness of metformin for reducing the mortality of COVID-19 patients.
D-Dimer Levels Are Not Elevated in SARS-CoV-2 IgG Positive Patients Undergoing Elective Orthopedic Surgery
Authors: Jungwirth-Weinberger Anna , Oezel Lisa , Morgenstern Rachelle , Shue Jennifer , Hanreich Carola , Sama Andrew A. , Boettner Friedrich
Published: August 2021

Introduction: In acute COVID-19, D-Dimer levels can be elevated and those patients are at risk for thromboembolic events. This study aims to investigate differences in preoperative D-Dimer levels in SARS-CoV-2 IgG positive and negative patients undergoing primary total knee and total hip replacement (TJA) or spine surgery. Methods: D-Dimer levels of 48 SARS-CoV-2 IgG positive and 718 SARS-CoV-2 IgG negative spine surgery patients were compared to those of 249 SARS-CoV-2 IgG positive and 2102 SARS-CoV-2 IgG negative TJA patients. Patients were assigned into groups based on D-Dimer levels as follows: <200 ng/mL, 200–400 ng/mL, and >400 ng/mL D-Dimer Units (DDU). Results: D-Dimer levels did neither differ significantly between SARS-CoV-2 IgG positive spine surgery patients and TJA patients (p = 0.1), nor between SARS-CoV-2 IgG negative spine surgery and TJA patients (p = 0.7). In addition, there was no difference between SARS-CoV-2 IgG positive and negative spine surgery patients and SARS-CoV-2 IgG positive and negative TJA patients (p = 0.3). Conclusions: There is no difference in D-Dimer levels between SARS-CoV-2 IgG positive and negative patients and there does not seem to be any difference for different orthopedic specialty patients. Routine testing of D-Dimer levels is not recommended for patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery.
The Fate of Nitrogen in Dredged Material Used for Tidal Marsh Restoration
Authors: Staver Lorie W. , Cornwell Jeffrey C. , Nidzieko Nicholas J. , Staver Kenneth W. , Stevenson J. Court , Owens Michael , Boynton Walter , Lopez-Gonzalez Leysa
Published: August 2021

Tidal marsh restoration using dredged material is being undertaken in many coastal areas to replace lost habitat and ecosystem services due to tidal marsh loss. The fate of high levels of nitrogen (N) in fine-grained dredged material used as a substrate for marsh restoration is uncertain, but if exported tidally may cause subtidal habitat degradation. In this study, a mass balance was developed to characterize N fluxes in a two-year-old restored tidal marsh constructed with fine-grained dredged material at Poplar Island, MD, in Chesapeake Bay, and to evaluate the potential impact on the adjacent submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) habitat. Denitrification and N accumulation in Spartina organic matter were identified as the major sinks (21.31 and 28.5 mg N m−2 d−1, respectively), while tidal export of TN was more modest (9.4 mg N m−2 d−1) and inorganic N export was low (1.59 mg N m−2 d−1). Internal cycling helped retain N within the marsh. Mineralization of N associated with labile organic matter in the dredged material was likely a large, but unquantified, source of N supporting robust plant growth and N exports. Exceedances of SAV water quality habitat requirements in the subtidal region adjacent to the marsh were driven by elevated Chesapeake Bay concentrations rather than enrichment by the marsh.
Influence of Sand Trapping Fences on Dune Toe Growth and Its Relation with Potential Aeolian Sediment Transport
Authors: Eichmanns Christiane , Schüttrumpf Holger
Published: August 2021

This study provides insights into dune toe growth around and between individual brushwood lines of sand trapping fences at the dune toe of coastal dunes using digital elevation models obtained from repeated unmanned aerial vehicle surveys. Prevailing boundary conditions, especially sediment supply, as well as the porosity and arrangement of the installed sand trapping fences significantly influence the effectiveness of different configurations of sand trapping fences. The dune toe growth is significant immediately after constructing a new sand trapping fence and decreases over time. According to the results presented in this study, for sand trapping fences that have been in place longer, the protruding branch height and the porosity of the remaining branches play a minor role in trapping sand. Sand trapping fences with lower permeability favour localized coastal dune toe growth directly at their brushwood lines, whereas fences with higher porosity allow for more sediment deposition further downwind. The trend in dune toe changes can be roughly predicted by integrating potential sediment transport rates calculated with hourly meteorological data.
Flume Experiments on Energy Conversion Behavior for Oscillating Buoy Devices Interacting with Different Wave Types
Authors: Qin Shufang , Fan Jun , Zhang Haiming , Su Junwei , Wang Yi
Published: August 2021

Oscillating buoy device, also known as point absorber, is an important wave energy converter (WEC) for wave energy development and utilization. The previous work primarily focused on the optimization of mechanical design, buoy’s array configuration and the site selection with larger wave energy density in order to improve the wave energy generation performance. In this work, enlightened by the potential availability of Bragg reflection induced by multiple submerged breakwaters in nearshore areas, we investigate the energy conversion behavior of oscillating buoy devices under different wave types (traveling waves, partial and fully standing waves) by flume experiments. The localized partial standing wave field is generated by the Bragg resonance at the incident side of rippled bottoms. Furthermore, the fully standing wave field is generated by the wave reflection of vertical baffle installed in flume. Then the wave power generation performance is discussed under the conditions with the same wave height but different wave types. The experimental measurements show that the energy conversion performance of the oscillating buoy WEC could be improved under the condition of standing waves when compared with traveling waves. This work provides the experimental comparison evidence of wave energy conversion response of oscillating buoy devices between travelling waves and standing (fully or partial) wave conditions.
Personalised Advanced Therapies in Parkinson’s Disease: The Role of Non-Motor Symptoms Profile
Authors: Leta Valentina , Dafsari Haidar S. , Sauerbier Anna , Metta Vinod , Titova Nataliya , Timmermann Lars , Ashkan Keyoumars , Samuel Michael , Pekkonen Eero , Odin Per , Antonini Angelo , Martinez-Martin Pablo , Parry Miriam , van Wamelen Daniel J. , Ray Chaudhuri K.
Published: August 2021

Device-aided therapies, including levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel infusion, apomorphine subcutaneous infusion, and deep brain stimulation, are available in many countries for the management of the advanced stage of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Currently, selection of device-aided therapies is mainly focused on patients’ motor profile while non-motor symptoms play a role limited to being regarded as possible exclusion criteria in the decision-making process for the delivery and sustenance of a successful treatment. Differential beneficial effects on specific non-motor symptoms of the currently available device-aided therapies for PD are emerging and these could hold relevant clinical implications. In this viewpoint, we suggest that specific non-motor symptoms could be used as an additional anchor to motor symptoms and not merely as exclusion criteria to deliver bespoke and patient-specific personalised therapy for advanced PD.
Spurious Relationships for Nearly Non-Stationary Series
Authors: Cheng Yushan , Hui Yongchang , McAleer Michael , Wong Wing-Keung
Published: August 2021

Literature shows that the regression of independent and (nearly) nonstationary time series could result in spurious outcomes. In this paper, we conjecture that under some situations, the regression of two independent and nearly non-stationary series does not have any spurious problem at all. To check whether our conjecture holds, we set up several situations and conduct simulations to justify our conjecture. Our simulations show that under some situations, the chance that the regressions being spurious is very high for all the cases simulated in our paper. Nonetheless, under some other situations, our simulation shows that the rejection rates are much smaller than the 5% level of significance for all the cases simulated in our paper, implying that our conjecture could hold under some situations that regression of two independent and nearly non-stationary series does not have any spurious problem at all.
Simulating the Capacity of Rainfed Food Crop Species to Meet Social Demands in Sudanian Savanna Agro-Ecologies
Authors: Jiménez Martínez Marcos , Fürst Christine
Published: August 2021

West African land use systems have been experiencing one of the fastest transformations in the world over recent decades. The Sudanian savanna is an interesting example, as it hosts the cultivation of some crops typical of the Guinean savanna as well as some of the Sahel. Therefore, this region is likely to experience further changes in its crop portfolio over the next decades due to crop migration processes responding to environmental change. Simulation approaches can guide the development of agricultural production strategies that contribute to sustainably optimize both food and fuel production. This study used crop models already available in the APSIM platform to simulate plant production and the soil water and nutrient cycles of plots cultivated with groundnut, millet, sorghum, maize, and rice on three (two upland and one lowland) soil fertility classes and subjected to five levels of management (conventional tillage without residue incorporated to the soil and nor fertilizer application; conventional tillage without residue incorporated to the soil and 5 kg N ha−1; conventional tillage with residue incorporated to the soil 20 kg N ha−1, and no-till herbicide treated with 50 and 100 kg N ha−1). Simulation outputs were contrasted against data reported in the literature and converted into nutritional, fuel and feed yields based on the qualities and uses of their different plant comparments. Groundnut yields outperformed all of the cereals across most growing conditions, nutritional and feed indicators. Maize and rice provided the highest caloric yields, with the least fertile growing conditions. Sorghum provided average to high caloric and iron yields across all of the treatments. Millet provided the highest iron yields and high fuel yields across most treatments. Some simulated treatments could not be compared against literature review data because of their absence in actual cropping systems and the lack of experimental data. Plant production was simulated with higher accuracy than the other components of the simulation. In particular, there is a need to better parameterize and validate the rice, groundnut and millet models under Sudanian savanna conditions in order to perform more accurate comparative assessments among species.
Erosion Rate of the Aliano Biancana Badlands Based on a 3D Multi-Temporal High-Resolution Survey and Implications for Wind-Driven Rain
Authors: Marsico Antonella , De Santis Vincenzo , Capolongo Domenico
Published: August 2021

Biancana badlands are peculiar landforms in the Basilicata region of Italy resulting from the local combination of geological, geomorphological, and climatic settings. The evolution of badlands mainly depends on slope erosion, which is controlled by the angle, exposure, and vegetation of the slope and its interactions with insolation, rain, and wind. Multi-temporal, detailed, high-resolution surveys have led researchers to assess changes in slopes to investigate the spatial distributions of erosion and deposition and the influence of wind-driven rain (WDR). A comparison between two terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) point clouds surveyed during 2006 and 2016 fieldwork showed that the study area suffers from intense erosion that is not spatially uniform on all sides of biancane. By combining slope and exposure data and the cloud of difference (CoD), derived from a 3D model, we showed that all the steepest southern sides of biancane suffered the most intense erosion. Because splash and sheet erosion triggers sediment displacement, the analysis was also focused on the intensity and direction of WDR. We performed a real field experiment analysing erosion rates over 10 years in relation to daily and hourly wind data (direction and speed), and we found that frequent winds of moderate force, combined with moderate to heavy rainfall, contributed to the observed increase in soil erosion when combined with the insolation effect. Our results show how all the considered factors interact in a complex pattern to control the spatial distribution of erosion.
Development of a Virtual Wetland Ecological System Using VR 360° Panoramic Technology for Environmental Education
Authors: Ou Kuo-Liang , Chu Shun-Ting , Tarng Wernhuar
Published: August 2021

In this study, the VR 360° panoramic technology is used to develop a virtual wetland ecological system for applications in environmental education. The system provides a virtual wetland environment for autonomous exploration, where the user can conduct inquiry-based learning by cardboard VR to obtain essential information and concepts in ecological protection. It contains the learning contents of wetland ecology and creatures in Hsinchu coastal areas, northern Taiwan. To investigate the learning effectiveness of the VR system, we recruited 42 seventh graders as participants and divided them evenly into two groups. The experimental group used the virtual wetland ecological system for learning and the control group learned with conventional teaching materials. The differences of the experimental results indicated: (1) the experimental group showed a high degree of satisfaction after using the virtual wetland ecological system; (2) the learning achievement of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group; (3) the learning motivation of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group. The virtual wetland ecological system can enhance the learning effectiveness and learning motivation using low-cost cardboard glasses, so it is a suitable tool for promoting environmental education in remote areas.
The Role of Urban Agriculture Technologies in Transformation toward Participatory Local Urban Planning in Rafsanjan
Authors: Farhangi Mohsen , Farhangi Sara , van de Vlasakker Paulien C. H. , Carsjens Gerrit J.
Published: August 2021

The agricultural sector in developing countries is one of the most vulnerable sectors to climate change and water scarcity. Iran is one Middle Eastern country facing a growing water crisis. Rafsanjan county, located in the province of Kerman, is losing its pistachio orchards to water shortages and climate change. The modernisation of irrigation methods and transfer of water from other regions have been the main strategies taken by the governmental authorities. The lack of success of these strategies has led to the emergence of more participatory approaches in the transformation of the agricultural sector and local urban planning in Rafsanjan. This study analyses the actor network of transformation in the agricultural sector and the rise of high-tech urban agriculture, and aims to understand the role of technologies in supporting citizen participation in local urban planning. The research draws on the concept of Technology-Driven Transitions (TDT). The interactions among social and materials entities and the impact of technological novelties on the re-configuration of their relationships in the transition process were studied. The research comprised an exploratory case study, and data were gathered through observations, document study and in-depth interviews with farmers, planners, researchers, and policy makers in Rafsanjan. The results of the study show that governmental planning organizations and their implementation bodies, such as the Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO) and the 10-year plan for the development of greenhouses, were the most influential actants in the transition process. Their relationships with the other actants involved, such as the private sector, knowledge institutes and farmers, were re-configured by technological novelties. This re-configuration of relationships has led to strengthened participatory decision making in local urban planning in Rafsanjan.
Effects of Altitude on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients: Risks and Care
Authors: Georges Thomas , Le Blanc Camille , Ferreol Sophie , Menu Pierre , Dauty Marc , Fouasson-Chailloux Alban
Published: August 2021

Air travel and altitude stays have become increasingly frequent within the overall population but also in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is the most common respiratory disease worldwide. While altitude is well tolerated by most individuals, COPD patients are exposed to some serious complications, that could be life-threatening. COPD patients present not only a respiratory illness but also frequent comorbidities. Beyond oxygen desaturation, it also affects respiratory mechanics, and those patients are at high risk to decompensate a cardiac condition, pulmonary hypertension, or a sleep disorder. Recently, there has been considerable progress in the management of this disease. Nocturnal oxygen therapy, inhaled medications, corticosteroids, inspiratory muscle training, and pulmonary rehabilitation are practical tools that must be developed in the comprehensive care of those patients so as to enable them to afford altitude stays.
Influence of Intermediate Annealing Treatment on the Kinetics of Bainitic Transformation in X37CrMoV5-1 Steel
Authors: Łukaszewicz Grzegorz , Wasiak Krzysztof , Skołek Emilia K. , Diduszko Ryszard , Świątnicki Wiesław A.
Published: August 2021

Intermediate annealing treatment (IAT) is a new process that accelerates the bainitic transformation in steels. This stimulation is crucial, especially in the prolonged production of nanobainitic steels. Among other recognised methods, it seems to be an effective and economical process. However, there are very few research works in this area. The objective of this study was to collate microstructural changes caused by IAT with differences in the kinetics of the subsequent bainitic transformation in the X37CrMoV5-1 tool steel. Differential dilatometry, LM and SEM microscopic observations, EDS and XRD analysis, and computer simulations were used to investigate the effect of IAT on the kinetics of bainitic transformation. The study has revealed that introducing an additional isothermal heating stage immediately after austenitising significantly affects the kinetics of bainitic transformation—it can accelerate or suppress it. The type and strength of the effect depends on the concentration, distribution, and morphology of the precipitations that occurred during IAT.
Synthesis and Characterization of Porous CaCO3 Vaterite Particles by Simple Solution Method
Authors: Febrida Renny , Cahyanto Arief , Herda Ellyza , Muthukanan Vanitha , Djustiana Nina , Faizal Ferry , Panatarani Camellia , Joni I Made
Published: August 2021

Appropriately engineered CaCO3 vaterite has interesting properties such as biodegradability, large surface area, and unique physical and chemical properties that allow a variety of uses in medical applications, mainly in dental material as the scaffold. In this paper, we report the synthesis of vaterite from Ca(NO3)2·4H2O without porogen to obtain a highly pure and porous microsphere for raw material of calcium phosphate as the scaffold in our future development. CaCO3 properties were investigated at two different temperatures (20 and 27 °C) and stirring speeds (800 and 1000 rpm) and at various reaction times (5, 10, 15, 30, and 60 min). The as-prepared porous CaCO3 powders were characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, and BET methods. The results showed that vaterite with purity 95.3%, crystallite size 23.91 nm, and porous microsphere with lowest pore diameter 3.5578 nm was obtained at reaction time 30 min, temperature reaction 20 °C, and stirring speed 800 rpm. It was emphasized that a more spherical microsphere with a smaller size and nanostructure contained multiple primary nanoparticles received at a lower stirring speed (800 rpm) at the reaction time of 30 min. One of the outstanding results of this study is the formation of the porous vaterite microsphere with a pore size of ~3.55 nm without any additional porogen or template by using a simple mixing method.
The Impact of Chloride and Sulphate Aggressiveness on the Microstructure and Phase Composition of Fly Ash-Slag Mortar
Authors: Falaciński Paweł , Machowska Agnieszka , Szarek Łukasz
Published: August 2021

The article discusses the results of examining the impact of aggressive solutions on specimens of mortars with a slag-ash binder. Bar specimens were exposed to unidirectional diffusion of sodium chloride and sodium sulphate for 90 days. Next, the specimens were subjected to flexural and compressive strength tests, ion content tests, XRD phase composition tests, and microstructural SEM-EDS tests. The test results indicated that aggressive solution action resulted in decreased flexural strength, however, it did not impact the compressive strength of mortars. A minor impact of chloride ions on the pH of the pore liquid was recorded, while the tests did not show any influence of sulphate ions. Furthermore, aggressive ion concentration decreased in deeper specimen slices. Specimen phase composition testing after chloride ion action indicated the presence of a small amount of Friedel’s salt, while regular sodium chloride crystals were identified in the microscopic image. The performance properties of mortars exposed to the action of aggressive solutions were maintained.
Extended Damage Detection and Identification in Aircraft Structure Based on Multifrequency Eddy Current Method and Mutual Image Similarity Assessment
Authors: Chady Tomasz , Okarma Krzysztof , Mikołajczyk Robert , Dziendzikowski Michał , Synaszko Piotr , Dragan Krzysztof
Published: August 2021

In this paper, a novel approach to Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) of defective materials for the aircraft industry is proposed, which utilizes an approach based on multifrequency and spectrogram eddy current method combined with an image analysis method previously applied for general-purpose full-reference image quality assessment (FR IQA). The proposed defect identification method is based on the use of the modified SSIM4 image quality metric. The developed method was thoroughly tested for various locations, sizes, and configurations of defects in the examined structure. Its application makes it possible to not only determine the presence of cracks but also estimate their size.
Efficacy of Water-Soluble Pearl Powder Components Extracted by a CO2 Supercritical Extraction System in Promoting Wound Healing
Authors: Liu Minting , Tao Junjun , Guo Hongchen , Tang Liang , Zhang Guorui , Tang Changming , Zhou Hu , Wu Yunlong , Ruan Huajun , Loh Xian Jun
Published: August 2021

Pearl powder is a biologically active substance that is widely used in traditional medicine, skin repair and maintenance. The traditional industrial extraction processes of pearl powder are mainly based on water, acid or enzyme extraction methods, all of which have their own drawbacks. In this study, we propose a new extraction process for these active ingredients, specifically, water-soluble components of pearl powder extracted by a CO2 supercritical extraction system (SFE), followed by the extraction efficiency evaluation. A wound-healing activity was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. This demonstrated that the supercritical extraction technique showed high efficiency as measured by the total protein percentage. The extracts exhibited cell proliferation and migration-promoting activity, in addition to improving collagen formation and healing efficiency in vivo. In brief, this study proposes a novel extraction process for pearl powder, and the extracts were also explored for wound-healing bioactivity, demonstrating the potential in wound healing.
Strain Characterization in Two-Dimensional Crystals
Authors: Feng Shizhe , Xu Zhiping
Published: August 2021

Two-dimensional (2D) crystals provides a material platform to explore the physics and chemistry at the single-atom scale, where surface characterization techniques can be applied straightforwardly. Recently there have been emerging interests in engineering materials through structural deformation or transformation. The strain field offers crucial information of lattice distortion and phase transformation in the native state or under external perturbation. Example problems with significance in science and engineering include the role of defects and dislocations in modulating material behaviors, and the process of fracture, where remarkable strain is built up in a local region, leading to the breakdown of materials. Strain is well defined in the continuum limit to measure the deformation, which can be alternatively calculated from the arrangement of atoms in discrete lattices through methods such as geometrical phase analysis from transmission electron imaging, bond distortion or virial stress from atomic structures obtained from molecular simulations. In this paper, we assess the accuracy of these methods in quantifying the strain field in 2D crystals through a number of examples, with a focus on their localized features at material imperfections. The sources of errors are discussed, providing a reference for reliable strain mapping.