bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Types of Eating Disorder Prodrome in Adolescence: The Role of Decision Making in Childhood
Authors: Harrison Amy , Francesconi Marta , Flouri Eirini
Published: March 2022

Psychiatric disorders like eating disorders (EDs) might be underpinned by differences in decision making. However, little previous research has investigated this potential relationship using longitudinal data. This study aimed to understand how components of decision making (delay aversion, risk adjustment, risk taking, quality of decision making and deliberation time) measured by the Cambridge Gambling Task in the United Kingdom’s Millennium Cohort Study (MCS; n = 11,303; female = 50.17%) at age 11 might explain clusters/types of ED prodrome involving body dissatisfaction, intention to lose weight, dietary restraint, excessive exercise and significant under/overweight measured in the MCS at age 14. Latent class analysis revealed two groups within the cohort: a non-prodromal eating pathology group, who were more likely to be of “average” weight, according to the UK90, with minimal disordered attitudes and behaviors in relation to eating and weight; and a second group with prodromal eating pathology, who had more body dissatisfaction, a desire to lose weight, were using dietary restriction and exercise to influence weight and were more likely to be “overweight” according to the UK90. Logistic regression showed that, after adjustment for confounding, higher risk-taking scores were associated with a 60% greater probability of being in the prodromal eating pathology group (b = 0.47, OR = 1.60, p < 0.01), and higher scores on quality of decision making were associated with a 30% lower probability of being in the prodromal eating pathology group (b = −0.34, OR = 0.70, p < 0.05). Helping young people to engage in moderate risk taking and improving decision making might reduce the later presence of ED prodromes.
Typology of Work–Family Balance Among Middle–Aged and Older Japanese Adults
Authors: Tomida Makiko , Nishita Yukiko , Tange Chikako , Nakagawa Takeshi , Otsuka Rei , Ando Fujiko , Shimokata Hiroshi
Published: March 2022

This study explores the clusters of work–family balance (WFB) among Japanese middle-aged and older adults and clarifies the characteristics of the derived clusters. Data on working adults (N = 1,351; age range = 40–85 years) were drawn from a pool of participants in the National Institute for Longevity Sciences—Longitudinal Study of Aging. The WFB scale consists of subscales assessing work–family conflict (WFC) and work–family facilitation (WFF). First, a cluster analysis was performed using the WFB scale, and four clusters were extracted. Second, we examined associations between the four clusters and related variables such as demographic characteristics, work, family, and lifestyle factors, social support, and mental health. Our findings showed that the clusters included high-WFC/high-WFF, high-WFC/low-WFF, low-WFC/high-WFF, and low-WFC/low-WFF. Differences were found in related variables among the clusters. Specifically, those in the Low-WFC/High-WFF cluster had a good lifestyle, received the highest levels of social support, and had the fewest mental health issues. Our findings have implications for maintaining sufficient WFB and promoting positive mental health among workers.
Identifying the Correlations Between the Semantics and the Phonology of American Sign Language and British Sign Language: A Vector Space Approach
Authors: Martinez del Rio Aurora , Ferrara Casey , Kim Sanghee J. , Hakgüder Emre , Brentari Diane
Published: March 2022

Over the history of research on sign languages, much scholarship has highlighted the pervasive presence of signs whose forms relate to their meaning in a non-arbitrary way. The presence of these forms suggests that sign language vocabularies are shaped, at least in part, by a pressure toward maintaining a link between form and meaning in wordforms. We use a vector space approach to test the ways this pressure might shape sign language vocabularies, examining how non-arbitrary forms are distributed within the lexicons of two unrelated sign languages. Vector space models situate the representations of words in a multi-dimensional space where the distance between words indexes their relatedness in meaning. Using phonological information from the vocabularies of American Sign Language (ASL) and British Sign Language (BSL), we tested whether increased similarity between the semantic representations of signs corresponds to increased phonological similarity. The results of the computational analysis showed a significant positive relationship between phonological form and semantic meaning for both sign languages, which was strongest when the sign language lexicons were organized into clusters of semantically related signs. The analysis also revealed variation in the strength of patterns across the form-meaning relationships seen between phonological parameters within each sign language, as well as between the two languages. This shows that while the connection between form and meaning is not entirely language specific, there are cross-linguistic differences in how these mappings are realized for signs in each language, suggesting that arbitrariness as well as cognitive or cultural influences may play a role in how these patterns are realized. The results of this analysis not only contribute to our understanding of the distribution of non-arbitrariness in sign language lexicons, but also demonstrate a new way that computational modeling can be harnessed in lexicon-wide investigations of sign languages.
Prevention of Alcohol Consumption Programs for Children and Youth: A Narrative and Critical Review of Recent Publications
Authors: Sánchez-Puertas Rafael , Vaca-Gallegos Silvia , López-Núñez Carla , Ruisoto Pablo
Published: March 2022

Background

Youth substance use is a public health problem globally, where alcohol is one of the drugs most consumed by children, and youth prevention is the best intervention for drug abuse.

Objective

Review the latest evidence of alcohol use prevention programs in empirical research, oriented to all fields of action among children and youth.

Methods

A narrative and critical review was carried out within international databases (PsychInfo, Pubmed, Web of Science, and Scopus) in August 2021 and was limited to empirical studies that appeared in the last five years (2017–2021). A flow diagram was used according to the PRISMA statements. Empirical research articles in English with RCTs and quasi-experimental design that included alcohol, children, and young people up to 19 years of age (universal, selective, or indicated programs) were included. The authors examined the results and conceptual frameworks of the Prevention programs by fields of action.

Results

Twenty-two articles were found from four fields of action: school (16), family (2), community (2), and web-based (2), representing 16 alcohol prevention programs. School-based alcohol prevention programs are clinically relevant [Theory of Planned Behavior, Refuse, Remove, Reasons, Preventure, The GOOD Life, Mantente REAL, Motivational Interviewing (BIMI), Primavera, Fresh Start, Bridges/Puentes], they are effective in increasing attitudes and intentions toward alcohol prevention behavior, while decreasing social norms and acceptance of alcohol, reducing intoxication, and increasing perceptions with regards to the negative consequences of drinking.

Discussion

This narrative and critical review provides an updated synthesis of the evidence for prevention programs in the school, family, community, and web-based fields of action, where a more significant number of programs exist that are applied within schools and for which would have greater clinical relevance. However, the prevention programs utilized in the other fields of action require further investigation.
Creating Extraordinary From Ordinary: High Resource Efficiency of Underdog Entrepreneurs and Its Mechanism
Authors: Zhu Hong-Ming , Xiao Xiong-Hui , Tang Yanzhao
Published: March 2022

Existing theory has not documented the potential benefits of facing the challenges of underdog entrepreneurs, who may succeed unexpectedly. This research explains why, and under what circumstances, the underdog status of entrepreneurs can promote entrepreneurial success rather than just hinder it. We predict that the underdog effect has the potential to boost entrepreneurial resource efficiency when entrepreneurs hold an incremental (vs. entity) theory, enter a low-barrier (vs. high-barrier) industry, and are in a favorable (vs. unfavorable) business environment. Study 1 provides support for the positive relationship between underdog status and resource efficiency through an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis, which is accompanied by a moderating effect of the implicit theory, industry context, and business environment. The data was obtained from two nationwide surveys. By extending a qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) of multiple case studies, Study 2 reveals support for a synergistic effect of the above factors. Our research results examine the assumption that perceiving underdog status is detrimental and offer meaningful insights into why and when underdog entrepreneurs have good performance in entrepreneurial resource efficiency. We provide a psychological and behavioral explanation for the underdog effect, extending the underdog effect theory to the field of entrepreneurship for the first time from the perspective of the actors. Finally, theoretical contributions and practical implications are discussed by indicating the limitations of the research.
Psychological Distance Impacts Subgroup Reciprocity in Technological Innovation Networks: The Mediating Role of Divisive Faultlines
Authors: Yu Dongping , Deng Kaixin , Gao Xiangmao , Liu Yongsong
Published: March 2022

As information flows at ever-increasing speeds across technological innovation networks, it is crucial to optimize reciprocity among partnering enterprises. However, the impact of psychological distance on subgroup reciprocity in such networks has not yet been investigated. To address this gap, the current study drew on theories of faultlines and cohesive subgroups to model the relationship between psychological distance and subgroup reciprocity within technological innovation networks. Our hypotheses were tested using data from 174 respondents working in Yunnan Province, China. The results were as follows: first, psychological distance had negative effects on subgroup reciprocity in technological innovation networks; second, relationship-divisive and innovation-divisive faultlines negatively impacted reciprocity within and between subgroups; third, the faultlines partially mediated the negative relationship between psychological distance and intra-subgroup reciprocity; and fourth, the negative relationship between psychological distance and subgroup reciprocity was not mediated by the faultlines. The findings uncover the psychological mechanism of subgroup reciprocity within technological innovation networks. They will inform the decision-making process of enterprises when selecting partners within their technological innovation networks and support the development of effective reciprocal relationships with other innovators.
Centering the Strengths of American Indian Culture, Families and Communities to Overcome Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Walls Melissa , Chambers Rachel , Begay Marissa , Masten Kristin , Aulandez Kevalin , Richards Jennifer , Gonzalez Miigis , Forsberg Angie , Nelson Leonela , Larzelere Francene , McDougall Cindy , Lhotka Megan , Grass Ryan , Kellar Sidnee , Reid Raymond , Barlow Allison
Published: March 2022

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a critical Indigenous health inequity rooted in experiences of colonization and marginalization including disproportionate exposure to stressors, disruption of traditional family and food systems, and attacks on cultural practices that have led to more sedentary lifestyles. Thus, an important step in redressing inequities is building awareness of and interventions attuned to unique Indigenous contexts influencing T2D and Indigenous culture as a pathway to community wellbeing. Using a dynamic, stage-based model of intervention development and evaluation, we detail the creation and evolution of a family-based, culturally centered T2D preventive intervention: Together on Diabetes (later Together Overcoming Diabetes) (TOD). The TOD program was built by and for Indigenous communities via community-based participatory research and has been implemented across diverse cultural contexts. The TOD curriculum approaches health through a holistic lens of spiritual, mental, physical and emotional wellness. Preliminary evidence suggests TOD is effective in reducing diabetes risk factors including lowering BMI and depressive symptoms, and the program is viewed favorably by participants and community members. We discuss lessons learned regarding collaborative intervention development and adaptation across Indigenous cultures, as well as future directions for TOD.
Association Between Risk Perception and Acceptance for a Booster Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine to Children Among Child Caregivers in China
Authors: Qin Chenyuan , Wang Ruitong , Tao Liyuan , Liu Min , Liu Jue
Published: March 2022

Background

At present, the widespread variants and the weakened immunity provided by vaccines over time have further emphasized the importance of vaccination, boosters, and prevention efforts against COVID-19. Here, this study intends to investigate the acceptability of a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine among child caregivers, aiming to explore the association between risk perception and child vaccine acceptance.

Methods

This anonymous, national, cross-sectional survey was conducted for one week from November 12, 2021 in mainland China. The risk perception among child caregivers was assessed based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) and the individuals was equally divided into three levels according to the total preset scores of each perception dimension. Pearson χ2 test was used to compare the differences among participants stratified by sociodemographic characteristics, health status, knowledge factors and risk perception. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were performed to explore the associations between risk perception and the acceptance of a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Results

A total of 88.46% of 1,724 participants were willing to accept the booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for their children. People who lived in central China (91.93%), had a high school or polytechnic school level education (93.98%), and had a history of COVID-19 vaccination (88.80%) were more likely to accept a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for their children. The complicated vaccination process (24.5%) and uncertainty about the safety (16.5%) and efficacy (21.3%) of vaccines were the three main reasons for vaccine hesitancy among child caregivers. The acceptance of the booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine was closely related to a higher level of perceived susceptibility (moderate: aOR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.07–2.29, P = 0.022; high: aOR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.06–2.89, P = 0.029) and high perceived benefit (high: aOR = 7.22, 95% CI: 2.63–19.79, P < 0.001). The results were stable in the sensitivity analysis.

Conclusions

88.46% of child caregivers were willing to have a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine to children, and the acceptance was closely associated with a higher level of perceived susceptibility and perceived benefit. The complicated vaccination process, uncertainty about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines were the main reasons for their hesitancy. Therefore, targeted public health measures to increase perceived susceptibility and benefit are still needed to meet the requirements of higher-level immunization coverage.
Model-Based Nonlinear Feedback Controllers for Pressure Control of Soft Pneumatic Actuators Using On/Off Valves
Authors: Xavier Matheus S. , Fleming Andrew J. , Yong Yuen K.
Published: March 2022

This article describes the application and comparison of three nonlinear feedback controllers for low-level control of soft actuators driven by a pressure source and single high-speed on/off solenoid valve. First, a mathematical model of the pneumatic system is established and the limitations of the open-loop system are evaluated. Next, a model of the pneumatic system is developed using Simscape Fluids to evaluate the performance of various control strategies. In this article, State-Dependent Riccati Equation control, sliding mode control, and feedback linearization are considered. To improve robustness to model uncertainties, the sliding mode and feedback linearization control strategies are augmented with integral action. The model of the pneumatic system is also used to develop a feedforward component, which is added to a PI controller with anti-windup. The simulation and experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed controllers for pressure tracking.
Where the Young Fish Are: Monitoring for Conservation
Authors: Damon Lauren J. , Slater Steven B.
Published: March 2022

The San Fransisco Estuary is an important nursery for young fish. Scientists use special nets and techniques to identify and count small fish in the estuary. Knowing how many and where the young fish are helps managers avoid harm to fish populations. Water flowing in rivers naturally flows out to sea, but in the San Francisco Estuary, some of that water is stored in reservoirs or pumped to other parts of California, which can have a negative impact on fish populations. These and other challenges to fish have resulted in severe declines in numerous species. In this article we will describe how we monitor young fish population trends. We also describe how the sampling method changes depending on the habitat and time of year sampling occurs. Finally, we explain how the information is used by scientists, managers, and the public within the San Francisco Estuary, California, USA.
Great “Space Weather Events” in March 1653 and September 1672 Were Not Supported With Simultaneous/Clustering Auroral Observations During the Maunder Minimum
Authors: Hattori Kentaro , Hayakawa Hisashi , Ebihara Yusuke
Published: March 2022

The solar activity has been significantly weakened during the Maunder Minimum (MM: 1645–1715), whereas it has been somewhat controversial to reconstruct the actual solar-activity magnitude and the space weather activity in this interval. Here, the East Asian records provide unique references for the low-latitude aurorae in the MM, particularly with the (quasi-)simultaneous candidate auroral accounts in March 1653 and September 1672. These cases have formed unique cases for the intense space weather events and solar-terrestrial interactions in the MM. In particular, the former has been regarded as “virtually incontrovertible evidence” for an intense geomagnetic storm in the Maunder Minimum, despite significant suppression of the solar activity therein. Thus, this record has attracted scientific interpretations on the physical mechanism. However, our philological analyses have traced these source records further back to their original sources and have detected chronological problems in the Japanese source documents. For the 1653 March event, we have identified that the Japanese record retrospectively referred to a hearsay report between 31 December 1652 and 28 January 1653, instead of one on 2 March 1653. Our modification has been verified in two additional contemporary records. In addition, we have further analysed the candidate auroral report of 21 September 1672, which has been subjected to the doubts on the chronological errors. Herein, we have consulted contemporary records and reinforced the revised date of 7 September 1635. Our philological study has cast serious caveats on the reliability of the (quasi-)simultaneous East Asian records for candidate aurorae during the Maunder Minimum, emphasised the importance of philological studies on the auroral records, and highlighted that further discussions are required on the solar–terrestrial environment in the grand solar minima.
Transvaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery for Surgical Staging of Early-Stage Ovarian Cancers: A Report of Two Cases
Authors: Hurni Yannick , Romito Fabien , Huber Daniela
Published: March 2022

Surgical staging is essential in the management of ovarian cancers. This staging has traditionally been performed by laparotomy, but minimally invasive techniques are increasingly employed. Transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) is a promising technique in the field of gynecological oncology. We report 2 cases of vNOTES surgical staging for suspicious ovarian tumors. We operated on 2 patients aged of 81 and 62 years for low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma and ovarian cystadenofibroma, respectively. We performed surgical staging with a pure vNOTES technique for the first patient and used a hybrid approach for the second. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed. We suggest that vNOTES is a feasible and effective approach to surgically manage early-stage ovarian cancers.
V-QBA vs. QBA—How Do Video and Live Analysis Compare for Qualitative Behaviour Assessment?
Authors: Cooke A. S. , Mullan S. M. , Morten C. , Hockenhull J. , Lee M. R. F. , Cardenas L. M. , Rivero M. J.
Published: March 2022

Animal welfare is an inextricable part of livestock production and sustainability. Assessing welfare, beyond physical indicators of health, is challenging and often relies on qualitative techniques. Behaviour is a key component of welfare to consider and Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) aims to achieve this by systematically scoring behaviour across specific terms. In recent years, numerous studies have conducted QBA by using video footage, however, the method was not originally developed using video and video QBA (V-QBA) requires validation. Forty live QBAs were conducted, by two assessors, on housed beef cattle to help fill this validation gap. Video was recorded over the assessment period and a second video assessment was conducted. Live and video scores for each term were compared for both correlation and significant difference. Principle component analysis (PCA) was then conducted and correlations and differences between QBA and V-QBA for the first two components were calculated. Of the 20 terms, three were removed due to an overwhelming majority of scores of zero. Of the remaining 17 terms, 12 correlated significantly, and a significant pairwise difference was found for one (“Bored”). QBA and V-QBA results correlated across both PC1 (defined as “arousal”) and PC2 (defined as “mood”). Whilst there was no significant difference between the techniques for PC1, there was for PC2, with V-QBA generally yielding lower scores than QBA. Furthermore, based on PC1 and PC2, corresponding QBA and V-QBA scores were significantly closer than would be expected at random. Results found broad agreement between QBA and V-QBA at both univariate and multivariate levels. However, the lack of absolute agreement and muted V-QBA results for PC2 mean that caution should be taken when implementing V-QBA and that it should ideally be treated independently from live QBA until further evidence is published. Future research should focus on a greater variety of animals, environments, and assessors to address further validation of the method.
Modeling and Control Design of a Contact-Based, Electrostatically Actuated Rotating Sphere
Authors: Olbrich Michael , Farny Mario , Hoffmann Martin , Ament Christoph
Published: March 2022

The performance of micromirrors in terms of their maximum deflection is often limited due to mechanical constraints in the design. To increase the range of achievable deflection angles, we present a novel concept in which a free-lying sphere with a flat side as reflector can be rotated. Due to the large forces needed to move the sphere, multiple electrostatic actuators are used to cooperatively rotate the sphere in iterative steps by impacts and friction. A parameterized system-level model of the configuration is derived, which considers arbitrary multi-contact scenarios and can be used for simulation, analysis, and control design purposes. Due to the complex, indirect relation between the actuator voltages and the sphere motion, model-based numerical optimization is applied to obtain suitable system inputs. This results in rotation sequences, which can be understood as a sequence of motion primitives, thus transforming the continuous time model into an abstract discrete time model. Based on this, we propose a feedback control strategy for trajectory following, considering model uncertainties by a learning scheme. High precision is achieved by an extension controlling the angular change of each rotation step. The suitability of the overall approach is demonstrated in simulation for maximum angles of 40°, achieving angular velocities of approximately 10°/s.
A Multiplex PCR System for the Screening of Genetically Modified (GM) Maize and the Detection of 29 GM Maize Events Based on Capillary Electrophoresis
Authors: Yi Hongmei , Liang Ziyue , Ge Jianrong , Zhang Haibo , Liu Fengze , Ren Xuezhen , Ren Jie , Wang Haijie , Ren Jiali , Ren Xingxu , Zhang Ying , Jin Fang , Jin Shiqiao , Zhao Yikun , Wang Fengge
Published: March 2022

The detection of genetically modified (GM) maize events is an inevitable necessity under the strict regulatory systems of many countries. To screen for GM maize events, we developed a multiplex PCR system to specifically detect 29 GM maize events as well as the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter, the Agrobacterium tumefaciens nos terminator, the Streptomyces viridochromogenes pat gene, and the endogenous zSSIIb maize reference gene. These targets were divided into five panels for screening and event-specific detection by multiplex (10-plex, 7-plex, 7-plex, 4-plex, and 5-plex) PCR. All amplification products were separated and visualized by fluorescence capillary electrophoresis (CE). By taking advantage of the high resolution, multiple fluorescence detection, and high sensitivity of CE, our system was able to identify all targets simultaneously with a limit of detection of 0.1%. The accurate identification of specific amplification peaks from different GM maize materials by CE confirmed the specificity of the system. To verify the practical applicability of this system, we analyzed 20 blind samples. We successfully identified five MON810, four TC1507, and three MIR162 samples. The detection of concomitant elements also verified the accuracy of this approach. Our system can, therefore, be used for the screening and detection of GM maize events. The system, which is easy to use, facilitates high-throughput detection with the help of a high-throughput platform and automated identification software. Multiplex PCR coupled with CE is, thus, very suitable for the detection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) with a large number of detection targets. Additional multiplexed electrophoretic targets can be easily incorporated as well, thereby increasing the usefulness of this system as the number of GMO events continues to increase.
Effect of Planting Density and Row Spacing on the Yielding and Morphological Features of Pea (Pisum sativum L.)
Authors: Prusiński Janusz , Borowska Magdalena
Published: March 2022

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of planting density and row spacing in pea on the plant growth, yield, structural seed yield components, and some plant indices in the central-and-northern part of Poland. Field experiments were performed in 2016–2019. The study involved a Polish pea cultivar, Batuta (semi-leafless). Three planting densities were applied (70, 90, and 110 seeds per 1 m2), with two row spacings (16 and 32 cm), in four replications on 20 m2 plots There was considerable pea sensitivity to precipitation deficit; in higher precipitation years, the seed yield was almost half higher than in the dry years. There was no recorded effect of planting density or the row spacing (except in 2019) on pea yield, and their variation in successive research years was nonsignificant. Similar conclusions also applied to the protein yield; however, its significantly highest value was recorded in the hottest vegetation period with the lowest total precipitation. The deteriorating precipitation conditions across the years were accompanied by a lower number of pods per plant, the number of seeds and their weight per pod, and 1000 seed weight. Moreover, those results were not significantly correlated with the factors under study except for the planting density in HI.
Effect of Dietary Betaine on Muscle Protein Deposition, Nucleic Acid and Amino Acid Contents, and Proteomes of Broilers
Authors: Chen Rui , Song Yuduo , Yang Mi , Wen Chao , Liu Qiang , Zhuang Su , Zhou Yanmin
Published: March 2022

To investigate the effect of betaine supplementation on growth performance, muscle protein deposition, muscle nucleic acid and amino acid contents, and muscle proteome of broilers, 160 one-day-old male partridge shank broiler chickens were randomly divided into 2 groups with 8 replicates of 10 broilers each. Broilers were fed a basal diet alone, or a basal diet supplemented with 1000 mg/kg betaine. Compared with the control group, the betaine group significantly increased (p < 0.05) the broilers average daily gain, the levels of serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), growth hormone (GH), total protein (TP), the contents of muscle absolute protein deposition, RNA, Ser, Glu, Met, and Phe, and the ratio of RNA/DNA, and decreased (p < 0.05) the feed conversion ratio and serum blood urea nitrogen content. Moreover, proteomic analysis revealed 35 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) in the betaine group compared with the control group, including 27 upregulated proteins and 8 downregulated proteins (p < 0.05). These DAPs were mainly related to cell differentiation, small molecule metabolic process, and tissue development. In conclusion, diets supplemented with 1000 mg/kg betaine improved growth performance and muscle protein deposition of broilers. Increased serum GH, IGF-1, and TP contents, and alterations in muscle nucleic acids, amino acids, and protein abundance levels were involved in this process.
Ability of Essential Oil Vapours to Reduce Numbers of Culturable Aerosolised Coronavirus, Bacteria and Fungi
Authors: Kalaiselvan Parthasarathi , Yasir Muhammad , Kuppusamy Rajesh , Willcox Mark , Vijay Ajay Kumar
Published: March 2022

Transmission of pathogens present in the indoor air can occur through aerosols. This study evaluated the efficacy of an evaporated mix of essential oils to reduce the numbers of culturable aerosolized coronavirus, bacterium and fungus. The essential oil-containing gel was allowed to vaporize inside a glass chamber for 10 or 20 min. Aerosols of a surrogate of SARS-CoV-2, murine hepatitis coronavirus MHV-1, Escherichia coli or Aspergillus flavus spores were produced using a collision nebuliser and passed through the essential oil vapours, then collected on a six-stage Andersen sampler. The six-stages of the impact sampler capture aerosols in sizes ranging from 7 to 0.65 µm. The number of culturable microbes present in the aerosols collected in the different stages were enumerated and compared to the number of culturable microbes in control microbial aerosols that were not exposed to the evaporated essential oils. After 10 and 20 min evaporation, the essential oils reduced the numbers of culturable aerosolized coronavirus by 48% (log10 reduction = 0.3; p = 0.002 vs. control) and 53% (log10 reduction = 0.3; p = 0.001 vs. control), respectively. The essential oils vaporised for 10 min, reduced the number of viable E. coli by 51% (log10 reduction = 0.3; p = 0.032 vs. control). The Aspergillus flavus spores were mostly observed in the larger aerosols (7.00 µm to 2.10 µm) and the essential oils vaporised for 10 min reduced the number of viable spores by 72% (log10 reduction = 0.6; p = 0.008 vs. control). The vapours produced by a gel containing naturally occurring essential oils were able to significantly reduce the viable numbers of aerosolized coronavirus, bacteria and fungal spores. The antimicrobial gel containing the essential oils may be able to reduce aerosol transmission of microbes when used in domestic and workplace settings.
Evaluation of Phenolic Compounds and Pigments Content in Yellow Bell Pepper Wastes
Authors: Razola-Díaz María del Carmen , Gómez-Caravaca Ana Mª , López de Andrés Julia , Voltes-Martínez Ana , Zamora Alberto , Pérez-Molina Gema M. , Castro David J. , Marchal Juan Antonio , Verardo Vito
Published: March 2022

Bell peppers are one of the most important species consumed and cultivated in Spain. Peppers are a source of carotenoids and phenolic compounds widely associated with biological activities such as antimicrobial, antiseptic, anticancer, counterirritant, cardioprotective, appetite stimulator, antioxidant, and immunomodulator. However, undersized and damaged fruits are usually wasted. Thus, in order to evaluate the phenolic content, a Box–Behnken design has been carried out to optimize the extraction from Capsicum annuum yellow pepper by ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). The independent factors were time (min), ethanol/water (% v/v) and solvent/sample ratio (v/w). The model was validated by ANOVA and confirmed. Furthermore, the whole pepper and the pepper without peduncles and seeds were extracted using optimal conditions and characterized by HPLC-ESI-TOF-MS. Moreover, their antioxidant activities, measured by three different methods (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP), carotenoid composition, assessed by HPLC-MS, and chlorophyll content, assessed by a spectrophotometric method, were compared. A total of 38 polar compounds were found of which seven have been identified in pepper fruit extracts for the first time. According to the results, whole pepper (WP) samples presented higher content in phenolic acids; meanwhile, the edible portion (EP) was higher in flavonoids. No differences were found in the antioxidant activity except for the FRAP assay where the WP sample showed higher radical scavenging activity. EP samples showed the highest content of carotenoids and WP ones in chlorophylls.
Role and Potential Mechanism of Heme Oxygenase-1 in Intestinal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Katada Kazuhiro , Takagi Tomohisa , Iida Takaya , Ueda Tomohiro , Mizushima Katsura , Fukui Akifumi , Okayama Tetsuya , Kamada Kazuhiro , Uchiyama Kazuhiko , Ishikawa Takeshi , Naito Yuji , Itoh Yoshito
Published: March 2022

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is a complex, multifactorial, and pathophysiological condition with high morbidity and mortality, leading to serious difficulties in treatment, especially in humans. Heme oxygenase (HO) is the rate-limiting enzyme involved in heme catabolism. HO-1 (an inducible form) confers cytoprotection by inhibiting inflammation and oxidation. Furthermore, nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) positively regulates HO-1 transcription, whereas BTB and CNC homolog 1 (Bach1) competes with Nrf2 and represses its transcription. We investigated the role and potential mechanism of action of HO-1 in intestinal IR injury. Intestinal ischemia was induced for 45 min followed by 4 h of reperfusion in wild-type, Bach1-deficient, and Nrf2-deficient mice, and a carbon monoxide (CO)-releasing molecule (CORM)-3 was administered. An increase in inflammatory marker levels, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation, and morphological impairments were observed in the IR-induced intestines of wild-type mice. These inflammatory changes were significantly attenuated in Bach1-deficient mice or those treated with CORM-3, and significantly exacerbated in Nrf2-deficient mice. Treatment with an HO-1 inhibitor reversed this attenuation in IR-induced Bach1-deficient mice. Bach1 deficiency and treatment with CORM-3 resulted in the downregulation of NF-κB activation and suppression of adhesion molecules. Together, Bach1, Nrf2, and CO are valuable therapeutic targets for intestinal IR injury.
Automated Graffiti Detection: A Novel Approach to Maintaining Historical Architecture in Communities
Authors: Choi Jongseong , Toumanidis Lazaros , Yeum Chul Min , Charalampos Patrikakis , Lenjani Ali , Liu Xiaoyu , Kasnesis Panagiotis , Ortiz Ricardo , Jiang Ning-Jun , Dyke Shirley J.
Published: March 2022

Graffiti is common in many communities and even affects our historical and heritage structures. This leads to a decrease in the revenue associated with commercial activities or services (e.g., shops, restaurants, residences), and potentially reduces tourism in a region. Visual data, in the form of photographs, is becoming an efficient mechanism to record information. Photographs can be quickly captured, and are already frequently posted online by ordinary citizens (e.g., tourists, residents, visitors). Exploiting image data through automation and computer vision provides a new opportunity to simplify the current manual graffiti-monitoring processes, enabling automated detection, localization, and quantification of such markings. In this study, we developed a vision-based graffiti-detection technique using a convolutional neural network. Images collected from historical structures of interest within a community can be utilized to automatically inspect for graffiti markings. In the case in which citizens collect and contribute data, there is a high degree of duplication and repetition, and potentially a lack of GPS information. These hinder the direct use of the images for automating the process. To address these challenges, we built high-resolution, single-view façade images (orthophotos) before applying our robust graffiti detector. The robust graffiti detector was built using a database with 1022 images of damaged or contaminated structures gathered during a recent European Union project, entitled “Safeguarding Cultural Heritage through Technical and Organisational Resources Management” (STORM). A total of 818 images were used for training (10% of the training set was randomly chosen for the validation set), achieving 88% accuracy among the remaining 204 samples for testing. Using the trained detector, the technique developed was demonstrated using data collected from the Church of Agios Nikolaos (Leontariou), Kantza, Greece.
A Stability Analysis of the Ancient Site of Liye Based on the Strength Reduction Method
Authors: Yue Jianwei , Huang Xuanjia , Zhao Limin , Wang Zifa
Published: March 2022

Due to the effects of time and space, there is a continuous deterioration of the surface layers of earthen sites and a corresponding decline in soil stability. Evaluating the stability of these sites is very important for potential site restoration. In this study, we analyze, evaluate, and summarize the factors that adversely affect the ancient moat site in Liye, a town of Longshan County, Hunan Province, China, through on-site investigation, sampling, and testing. An X-ray diffractometer and a scanning electron microscope were used to analyze the chemical composition and microstructure of the soil sample of the trench, and the ABAQUS software was used to produce two-dimensional models of seriously damaged areas. Using the strength reduction method, we obtained the minimum safety factor of the trench under its natural state and after rainfall; thus, the stability of the trench was examined under different working conditions. Additionally, we evaluated the safety and stability performance of the more dangerous sections to provide a basis for the safety evaluation, protection, and repair of the trench. The results show that rain erosion, freeze–thaw cycles, and man-made damage are the primary factors contributing to a deterioration of the soil site. The safety factor of the trench is found to decrease with increases in water content; thus, water has an impact on the strength of the site wall. The wall soil has larger pores and more initial cracks than does the trench soil, which is easy to peel off. As a result, there is a high probability of a secondary deformation of the wall slope. Our results identify the real state of the existing site and provide both a basis for stability evaluation and a scientific formulation for restoration schemes.
The Planning Process of Transport Tasks for Autonomous Vans—Case Study
Authors: Caban Jacek , Nieoczym Aleksander , Dudziak Agnieszka , Krajka Tomasz , Stopková Mária
Published: March 2022

Transport is an area that is developing at a tremendous pace. This development applies not only to electric and hybrid cars appearing more and more often on the road but also to those of an autonomous or semi-autonomous nature. This applies to both passenger cars and vans. In many different publications, you can find a description of a number of benefits of using automated guided vehicles (AGV) for logistics and technical tasks, e.g., in the workplace. An important aspect is the use of knowledge management and machine learning, i.e., artificial intelligence (AI), to design these types of processes. An important issue in the construction of autonomous vehicles is the IT connection of sensors receiving signals from the environment. These signals are data for deep learning algorithms. The data after IT processing enable the decision-making by AI systems, while the used machine learning algorithms and neural networks are also needed for video image analysis in order to identify and classify registered objects. The purpose of this article is to present and verify a mathematical model used to respond to vehicles’ demand for a transport service under set conditions. The optimal conditions of the system to perform the transport task were simulated, and the efficiency of this system and benefits of this choice were determined.
Autonomous Prostate Segmentation in 2D B-Mode Ultrasound Images
Authors: Carriere Jay , Sloboda Ron , Usmani Nawaid , Tavakoli Mahdi
Published: March 2022

Prostate brachytherapy is a treatment for prostate cancer; during the planning of the procedure, ultrasound images of the prostate are taken. The prostate must be segmented out in each of the ultrasound images, and to assist with the procedure, an autonomous prostate segmentation algorithm is proposed. The prostate contouring system presented here is based on a novel superpixel algorithm, whereby pixels in the ultrasound image are grouped into superpixel regions that are optimized based on statistical similarity measures, so that the various structures within the ultrasound image can be differentiated. An active shape prostate contour model is developed and then used to delineate the prostate within the image based on the superpixel regions. Before segmentation, this contour model was fit to a series of point-based clinician-segmented prostate contours exported from conventional prostate brachytherapy planning software to develop a statistical model of the shape of the prostate. The algorithm was evaluated on nine sets of in vivo prostate ultrasound images and compared with manually segmented contours from a clinician, where the algorithm had an average volume difference of 4.49 mL or 10.89%.
Value-Added Products by Solvent Extraction and Steam Distillation from Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.)
Authors: Sanchez Angel , Míguez Clara , Iglesias Antía , Saborido Lucia
Published: March 2022

Medicinal plants are very important in sustainable economic development, in the pharmaceutical industry and in promoting the conservation of biodiversity. The main objective of this work was to obtain extracts and hydrolytes of flowers, leaves and bark of Sambucus nigra, and analyse their possible uses. Two sampling areas in a field were chosen, and collection was carried out at different times, according to the selected parts of the plant. Two techniques were chosen, steam distillation and ethanol and glycerol extraction. The hydrolytes of the different parts of Sambucus nigra can be used in therapeutic applications due to their pH. Distillations of the stems and leaves gave no indication of essential oil, at least with the quantities used. Therefore, the highest percentage of essential oil was found in the flowers. Ethanol was a better extraction solvent than glycerine, with yields of 99% and 90%, respectively. Flower extracts prepared with ethanol showed a total phenolic content of 59.3 ± 2 mg gallic acid equivalent/g and a total flavonoid content of 16.2 ± 0.2 mg quercetin equivalent/g. This research could contribute to the valorisation of this species giving a boost to its reuse from a circular economy perspective.
Diamonds for Life: Developments in Sensors for Biomolecules
Authors: Santos Nádia E. , Figueira Flávio , Neto Miguel , Paz Filipe A. Almeida , Braga Susana Santos , Mendes Joana C.
Published: March 2022

Diamond-based electrodes and biosensors are interesting in analytics because of their particular set of properties, namely: large potential window, chemical inertness, low baseline current, stability, and transparency. Diamond-based electrodes and biosensors were shown to detect biological molecules such as neurotransmitters and proteins, respectively. In this review, we summarise the different types of diamond electrodes and biosensors based on their type of detection (electrochemical or optical), functionalisation, and target analyte. The last section presents a discussion on the different analytical responses obtained with electrodes or biosensors, according to the type of analyte. Electrodes work quite well for detecting small molecules with redox properties, whereas biosensors are more suited for detecting molecules with a high molecular weight, such as DNA and proteins.
Assessment of Structural Behavior, Vulnerability, and Risk of Industrial Silos: State-of-the-Art and Recent Research Trends
Authors: Khalil Mohammad , Ruggieri Sergio , Uva Giuseppina
Published: March 2022

This paper presents a literature compendium about the main studies on the structural behavior, vulnerability, and risk of industrial silos, as one of the most important players of different industrial processes. This study focuses on the main scientific works developed in the last decades, highlighting the more notable issues on circular steel silos as the most widespread typology in practice, such as the content–container complicated interaction, the structural and seismic response, and the several uncertainties in the design and assessment processes. Specifically, this paper proposes a near-full state-of-the-art on (i) the behavior of silos under different kinds of loads, ordinary and extreme, (ii) the effects of imperfections and the interacting structures (e.g., ring beams, supporting structures), (iii) the stored material properties, the relevant uncertainties and the impact on the silo behavior, (iv) the possible failure modes given by the focused structural configuration and the stored materials, and (v) assessment and risk mitigation strategies. Throughout the text, some considerations are provided in order to summarize the more recent research trends about steel silos and to highlight the still open issues on the risk and vulnerability reduction of these kinds of structures.