bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Statistical Evaluation of Total Expiratory Breath Samples Collected throughout a Year: Reproducibility and Applicability toward Olfactory Sensor-Based Breath Diagnostics
Authors: Inada Katsushige , Kojima Hiroshi , Cho-Isoda Yukiko , Tamura Ryo , Imamura Gaku , Minami Kosuke , Nemoto Takahiro , Yoshikawa Genki
Published: July 2021

The endogenous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath can be promising biomarkers for various diseases including cancers. An olfactory sensor has a possibility for extracting a specific feature from collective variations of the related VOCs with a certain health condition. For this approach, it is important to establish a feasible protocol for sampling exhaled breath in practical conditions to provide reproducible signal features. Here we report a robust protocol for the breath analysis, focusing on total expiratory breath measured by a Membrane-type Surface stress Sensor (MSS), which possesses practical characteristics for artificial olfactory systems. To assess its reproducibility, 83 exhaled breath samples were collected from one subject throughout more than a year. It has been confirmed that the reduction of humidity effects on the sensing signals either by controlling the humidity of purging room air or by normalizing the signal intensities leads to reasonable reproducibility verified by statistical analyses. We have also demonstrated the applicability of the protocol for detecting a target material by discriminating exhaled breaths collected from different subjects with pre- and post-alcohol ingestion on different occasions. This simple yet reproducible protocol based on the total expiratory breath measured by the MSS olfactory sensors will contribute to exploring the possibilities of clinical applications of breath diagnostics.
Bankruptcy Risk Prediction in Ensuring the Sustainable Operation of Agriculture Companies
Authors: Srebro Bosiljka , Mavrenski Bojan , Bogojević Arsić Vesna , Knežević Snežana , Milašinović Marko , Travica Jovan
Published: July 2021

In recent decades, predicting company bankruptcies and financial troubles has become a major concern for various stakeholders. Furthermore, because financially sustainable businesses are affected by numerous highly complex factors, both internal and external, the situation is even more complex. This paper applies Altman’s Z-score models; more precisely, the paper applies the initial Z-score model (a model for manufacturing companies), the Z′-score model (for companies operating in emerging markets), and the Z-score bankruptcy probability calculation. Therefore, this paper offers the results of the application of different Z-score models and the calculation of bankruptcy probability on a sample of agricultural companies listed on the Belgrade Stock Exchange in the period 2015–2019. In addition, different Z-score models are used for the same sample so that the difference between their results and application can be determined. In addition, the validity of the data published in the financial statements of the respective companies was confirmed using the Beneish M-score model with five and eight variables. The results obtained by applying Altman’s Z-score model (initial and adapted to emerging markets) indicate that a certain number of companies had impaired financial stability during the observed period, i.e., that they were in danger of bankruptcy. In addition, based on the results obtained using the Beneish M-score model, it was identified that a number of companies showed signals that indicate possible fraudulent financial reporting. Further, it was found that less than half of the observed companies reported on environmental protection in their annual reports, and they did so by providing a modest amount of information. The originality and value of the paper lies in suggesting that policymakers in the Serbian emerging markets should pay more attention to the operations of companies from the observed sector, as well as to their financial and non-financial reporting. Future research should focus on comparisons with agricultural companies from the same sector whose securities are listed on stock exchanges in the region.
Determining Factors of Psychological Performance and Differences among Age Categories in Youth Football Players
Authors: Benítez-Sillero Juan de Dios , Martínez-Aranda Luis Manuel , Sanz-Matesanz Manuel , Domínguez-Escribano Marta
Published: July 2021

Within the determining factors of psychological performance, mental toughness is considered a multidimensional factor, comprising cognitive, affective, and behavioural components together with self-confidence, which is related to success in sports performance as well as psychological health and well-being. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between different factors composing mental toughness and age categories in young football players, in order to determine the presence of specific psychological skills in their formative progression. A total of 118 male players (16.91 ± 2.42 years old) completed the Spanish version by Cernuda (1988) of the original Psychological Performance Inventory (PPI) by Loher (1982, 1986). The results indicated significant differences in four variables (negative energy control, attention control, visual and image control, motivational level) on three different age categories, where the U19 category showed the best results for all the variables, decreasing afterwards in the semi-professional category. Significant correlations were established between mental toughness variables and age categories, where the age category variable was significantly correlated in a positive way with attention control, visual and image control, and motivational level. In the same line, the variable self-confidence correlated positively with negative energy control, attention control, motivational level, attention control, and positive energy. The assessment of psychological variables such as mental toughness, taking into account the formative stage, may be helpful for both coaches and players when selecting adequate mental skill training for improving competitive performance and sporting success, as well as for positive and healthy psychological development and well-being.
Validation of the Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale in Adolescent School Children in Spain (PALMS-e)
Authors: Santos-Labrador Ricardo M. , Melero-Ventola Alejandra R. , Cortés-Rodríguez María , Sánchez-Barba Mercedes , Arroyo-Anlló Eva M.
Published: July 2021

The aim of this study was to translate and adapt the physical activity and leisure motivation scale (PALMS) into Spanish, and to analyse its validity and reliability. The sample comprised 867 adolescents, with a mean age of 14.04 ± 1.19 years, 53.9% of whom were male. During the translation process, some of the items in the instrument were modified slightly, improving its comprehensibility. On the other hand, the exploratory factor analysis did not present an adequate factor structure, so a more in-depth analysis was carried out, using item response theory and confirmatory factor analysis; the conclusion was that it would be appropriate to eliminate several items from the scale. From this, a final shortened version, consisting of 25 items, was produced, with adequate fit indices—CFI = 0.933, TLI = 0.918, SRMR = 0.042, RMSEA = 0.052 (90% CI 0.048; 0.056)—and good reliability for each of the dimensions, ranging from 0.625 to 0.835. It can be concluded that the abbreviated version of the PALMS instrument, adapted for Spanish adolescents (PALMS-e), is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing their motives for doing physical activity.
Effects of Combined HIIT and Stroop on Strength Manifestations, Serve Speed and Accuracy in Recreational Tennis Players
Authors: Fuentes-García Juan Pedro , Díaz-García Jesús , López-Gajardo Miguel Ángel , Clemente-Suarez Vicente Javier
Published: July 2021

Background: The importance of the serve in tennis players’ performance is well known but no previous studies have analyzed the effects of both physical and cognitive fatigue on the speed and accuracy of the serve. This study analyzed the effect of a High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) with and without cognitive load on serve speed and accuracy, spirometry, and strength manifestation. Methods: 32 recreational players (25 men and 7 women; aged 21.40 ± 1.52 years) performed a HIIT and a HIIT with a Stroop in recovery phases before performing a series of tennis services. Speed and accuracy of the services, spirometry, and strength manifestations were registered. Results: The main findings of the study showed that strength manifestations and spirometry were not affected by either protocol. A decrease in serve speed was observed in both protocols (p < 0.001) but service accuracy did not show impairments (p = 0.66). Conclusion: A combination of physical and mental fatigue may decrease serve speed but will not affect strength manifestations or spirometry negatively. These results could be caused by a response of the central nervous system to maintain the accuracy of the ball in presence of fatigue.
Alterations of Amino Acid Concentrations and Photosynthetic Indices in Light Irradiated Arabidopsis thaliana during Phytoextraction
Authors: Chen Yanmei , Liang Longfei , Chen Dan , Gan Tian , Cao Min , Luo Jie
Published: July 2021

Hyperaccumulation of heavy metals is substantial in some hyperaccumulators; however, few studies have been conducted to reveal the effect of light irradiation on the variations of representative amino acids and photosynthetic indices, which can represent the antioxidant capacity of plants during phytoremediation. The physiochemical responses of Arabidopsis thaliana to Cd stress were compared during six light irradiation treatments. The results of the experiment showed that the stress adaptation of A. thaliana was enhanced in all light irradiation treatments, except for monochromatic blue-light irradiation. The concentrations of glutamic acid and glutamine decreased significantly in pure blue light compared with the other treatments. The decrease in the concentrations of these two amino acids might be induced by an intensive biosynthesis of defensive factors, as manifested in the declined photosynthetic indices. Concentrations of aspartic acid and asparagine involved in the ammonification, absorption, and transportation of nitrogen in vascular plants increased in the red and blue combined irradiation treatments compared with the control, corresponding to the improved photosynthetic capacity of the species. The concentration of proline, which can represent environmental stresses including metal toxicity and excessive light energy, generally increased with an increasing ratio of blue light. This study proposes the key roles of amino acids and photosynthetic indices in light-motivated Cd pollution responses in A. thaliana.
A System for Optimizing the Process of Straw Bale Retrieval
Authors: Vahdanjoo Mahdi , Nørremark Michael , Sørensen Claus G.
Published: July 2021

During a baling operation, the operator of the baler should decide when and where to drop the bales in the field to facilitate later retrieval of the bales for transport out of the field. Manually determining the time and place to drop a bale creates extra workload on the operator and may not result in the optimum drop location for the subsequent front loader and transport unit. Therefore, there is a need for a tool that can support operators during this decision process. The key objective of this study is to find the optimal traversal sequence of fieldwork tracks to be followed by the baler and bale retriever to minimize the non-working driving distance in the field. Two optimization processes are considered for this problem. Firstly, finding the optimal sequence of fieldwork tracks considering the constraints of the problem such as the capacity of the baler and the straw yield map of the field. Secondly, finding the optimal location and number of bales to drop in the field. A simulation model is developed to calculate all the non-productive traversal distances by baler and bale retrieval in the field. In a case study, the collected positional and temporal data from the baling process related to a sample field were considered. The output of the simulation model was compared with the conventional method applied by the operators. The results show that application of the proposed method can increase efficiency by 12.9% in comparison with the conventional method with edited data where the random movements (due to re-baling, turns in the middle of the swath, reversing, etc.) were removed from the data set.
Water Utilities Challenges: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Ortega-Ballesteros Andrés , Manzano-Agugliaro Francisco , Perea-Moreno Alberto-Jesus
Published: July 2021

The water utilities are under big pressure to guarantee water access to their customers with the right level of service and quality due to challenges such as climate change, aging infrastructure, water scarcity, and growing populations, which put pressure on their operations. The scientific community has worked intensively over the last years to propose solutions and alternatives for the utilities to improve their operation and management in order to overcome these challenges. This paper aims to review scientific contributions to this field. The result shows increasing awareness from the scientific community in this topic which translates into a growing number of publications since the beginning of the current century. This paper analyzes the evolution of the publications, identifies the main countries and institutions working in this field and their scientific relationships over time. It also identifies the main keywords in the literature, which are grouped into three main topics: water quality, water management, and water optimization. The development of smart technologies is accelerating the scientific production towards the topic of water optimization, which is acquiring more importance over the last years. Future trends of research are related to identifying specific challenges per country and the specific solutions proposed by the scientific community to address them and its feasibility to be applied in other places.
The Influence of Personal Involvement on Festival Attendees’ Revisit Intention: Food and Wine Attendees’ Perspective
Authors: Lee Woojin , Kwon Haeyoon
Published: July 2021

Research on food and wine tourism is recent and mostly attraction-based. Further, it is essential to understand how locally grown food and beverages allow culinary tourists to amplify their involvement experiences and lead to enhance their satisfaction and destination loyalty. This research attempts to explore the structural relationships between the variables of motivation, different types of involvement, physical/intangible service satisfaction, and loyalty in the context of a food and wine festival. Data were collected via intercept surveys on site, which were distributed to and collected from attendees of the Wine and Food Festival in Miami, Florida. The results show that novelty seeking is only positively related to pleasure experience, whereas socialization motivation has an impact on pleasure experience, risk probability, and risk importance. Pleasure experience, in turn, has a positive influence on both physical and intangible service satisfaction; however, risk probability is only related to physical service, and risk importance is related to intangible service satisfaction. Finally, only the satisfaction with an intangible service has a positive impact on loyalty. Findings from this study suggest that developing a marketing strategy for attendees based on the characteristic of their cognitive mode can be effective in increasing their satisfaction and willingness to revisit the festival.
Enhancement of Methanogenic Activity in Volumetrically Undersized Reactor by Mesophilic Co-Digestion of Sewage Sludge and Aqueous Residue
Authors: Torretta Vincenzo , Tolkou Athanasia K. , Katsoyiannis Ioannis A. , Caccamo Francesca Maria , Miino Marco Carnevale , Baldi Marco , Collivignarelli Maria Cristina
Published: July 2021

To date, energy recovery from biological sewage sludge (BSS) by anaerobic digestion has been very popular. However, it can often happen that anaerobic reactors are volumetrically undersized, thus reducing performance in terms of biogas production. A continuous-flow pilot-scale plant was used to investigate, for the first time, the effects of mesophilic anaerobic co-digestion (MACoD) of sewage sludge and aqueous residue (AR) from a biosolids treatment plant (BTP) on methanogenic activity under low hydraulic retention time (HRT) conditions (to simulate the undersizing of the reactor). The results showed that the digestate is always more rapidly biodegradable than the matrices fed, while particulate COD hydrolyzed (12 ± 1.3%) is independent of the quantity of AR dosed. Feeding over 35% of soluble OLR, the total VFAs in the system strongly decreased, despite the low HRT. In correspondence with higher dosages of AR, the percentage of CH4 increased up to 77–78% and the CO2 CH4−1 ratio decreased to 0.25 ± 0.2. Specific methane production increased from 0.09 ± 0.01 m3CH4 kgCODremoved−1 with BSS alone to 0.28 ± 0.01 m3CH4CH4 kgCODremoved−1 in the case of BSS co-digested with AR. Moreover, co-digestion with AR from a BTP allowed continuous specific methanogenic activity to be enhanced from 1.76 ± 0.02 m3CH4 tVSS−1 d−1 to 6.48 ± 0.88 m3CH4 tVSS−1 d−1. Therefore, the MACoD of BSS and AR from a BTP could be a good solution to enhance methanogenic activity in a volumetrically undersized anaerobic digester with reduced HRT.
Indicators for Cultural and Creative Industries’ Impact Assessment on Cultural Heritage and Tourism
Authors: Jelinčić Daniela Angelina
Published: July 2021

Cultural heritage is an important factor in ensuring regional development. Practice has demonstrated that first sustainability of heritage sites needs to be ensured and tourism they generate should also be re-visited as current over-tourism models are unsustainable. The assumption is that cultural/creative industries (CCI) can be a powerful tool for heritage livability as well as for sustainable tourism based on experiences. In order to stimulate regional development, specific CCI measures are often introduced in public policies but results of policy interventions are rarely monitored. Their performance can be measured against the pre-set indicators. Research studies focusing on such indicators are scarce. This short communication provides a possible conceptual framework alongside concrete indicators for cultural/creative industries’ sector impact assessment on cultural heritage and sustainable experiential tourism on the policy as well as on the project level. Desk research and brainstorming methods were applied to design the indicator sets resulting in a tool which is to be further tested and used in practice.
Modeling the Compaction Characteristics of Fine-Grained Soils Blended with Tire-Derived Aggregates
Authors: Soltani Amin , Azimi Mahdieh , O’Kelly Brendan C.
Published: July 2021

This study aims at modeling the compaction characteristics of fine-grained soils blended with sand-sized (0.075–4.75 mm) recycled tire-derived aggregates (TDAs). Model development and calibration were performed using a large and diverse database of 100 soil–TDA compaction tests (with the TDA-to-soil dry mass ratio ≤ 30%) assembled from the literature. Following a comprehensive statistical analysis, it is demonstrated that the optimum moisture content (OMC) and maximum dry unit weight (MDUW) for soil–TDA blends (across different soil types, TDA particle sizes and compaction energy levels) can be expressed as universal power functions of the OMC and MDUW of the unamended soil, along with the soil to soil–TDA specific gravity ratio. Employing the Bland–Altman analysis, the 95% upper and lower (water content) agreement limits between the predicted and measured OMC values were, respectively, obtained as +1.09% and −1.23%, both of which can be considered negligible for practical applications. For the MDUW predictions, these limits were calculated as +0.67 and −0.71 kN/m3, which (like the OMC) can be deemed acceptable for prediction purposes. Having established the OMC and MDUW of the unamended fine-grained soil, the empirical models proposed in this study offer a practical procedure towards predicting the compaction characteristics of the soil–TDA blends without the hurdles of performing separate laboratory compaction tests, and thus can be employed in practice for preliminary design assessments and/or soil–TDA optimization studies.
Integrated Reporting as an Academic Research Concept in the Area of Business
Authors: Navarrete-Oyarce José , Gallegos Juan Alejandro , Moraga-Flores Hugo , Gallizo José Luis
Published: July 2021

Recent financial scandals and the global financial crisis have generated numerous criticisms of the value and use of annual financial and sustainability reports prepared by companies. This has generated the elaboration and use of a new model of corporate-information reporting that considers strategic, social, economic, and environmental aspects. This study synthesizes the knowledge of the use of integrated reporting as a source of information, and bibliometrically analyzes of 268 articles published in the Web of Science database in 2011–2019. Results show that 77.6% of the academic articles were from developed countries, and the five most influential countries are Italy, South Africa, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Results show that the development of this type of research is scarce in emerging economies. The most influential authors are García, Rodríguez, and De Villiers. A high level of interconnections is observed in used keywords, of which the most used are ‘sustainability’ and ‘management’. Lastly, this article contributes to the international discussion on integrated reporting by carrying out a structured review of the literature, highlighting previous research.
Stability Design of Air Vibration Isolation Device for a High Power Density Main Engine
Authors: Zhao Jingmin , Bu Wenjun , Shi Liang , Hu Zechao
Published: July 2021

In order to improve the alignment stability of the air vibration isolation device of a high-powered main engine, we established a mechanical model for the air vibration isolation system and analyzed the alignment deviation of the device and the vibration decoupling conditions of the system. Additionally, an optimized design method for the dual-direction support of the air vibration isolators positioned symmetrically on the main engine was proposed. The resultant design showed that when compared to the conventional inclined support of air springs for the main engines onboard ships, the dual-direction support design proposed in this paper for air vibration isolation could eliminate the adverse effect of the output torque reaction on the alignment of the main engine and decouple the system to reduce the number of peaks in the frequency response of vertical force transmission. The optimized design could effectively improve the alignment performance of the device for tilted or swinging operating conditions and maintain the good alignment stability of the device when a single vertical support air spring fails. A single vertical support air spring failure mainly affects the stability of the main engine under the reaction of the output torque, especially the air springs arranged in the corner, while the air springs arranged in the middle have no effect. The optimized design could also improve the vibration isolation performance. This is important for the design of air spring vibration isolation devices for high power density main engines.
Effect of the Metal Transfer Mode on the Symmetry of Bead Geometry in WAAM Aluminum
Authors: Veiga Fernando , Suárez Alfredo , Aldalur Eider , Bhujangrao Trunal
Published: July 2021

The symmetrical nature in the case of wall fabrication by wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) has been observed in the literature, but it has not been studied as a source of knowledge. This paper focuses on the comparative study of three drop transfer methods employing Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) technology, one of the most reported for the manufacture of aluminum alloys. The transfer modes studied are the well-known pulsed GMAW, cold arc, and the newer pulsed AC. The novelty of the last transfer mode is the reversal of the polarity during the preparation phase of the substance for droplet deposition. This study compares the symmetry of zero beads to determine the best parameters and transfer modes for wire arc additive manufacturing of 5 series aluminum. The pulsed transfer modes show values of 0.6 for symmetry ratio, which makes them more interesting strategies than cold arc with a symmetry ratio of 0.5. Furthermore, the methodology proposed in this study can be extrapolated to other materials manufactured with this technology.
Atomic Structure Calculations of Helium with Correlated Exponential Functions
Authors: Yerokhin Vladimir A. , Patkóš Vojtěch , Pachucki Krzysztof
Published: July 2021

The technique of quantum electrodynamics (QED) calculations of energy levels in the helium atom is reviewed. The calculations start with the solution of the Schrödinger equation and account for relativistic and QED effects by perturbation expansion in the fine structure constant α. The nonrelativistic wave function is represented as a linear combination of basis functions depending on all three interparticle radial distances, r1, r2 and r = |r→1−r→2|. The choice of the exponential basis functions of the form exp(−αr1−βr2−γr) allows us to construct an accurate and compact representation of the nonrelativistic wave function and to efficiently compute matrix elements of numerous singular operators representing relativistic and QED effects. Calculations of the leading QED effects of order α5m (where m is the electron mass) are complemented with the systematic treatment of higher-order α6m and α7m QED effects.
Parasporin A13-2 of Bacillus thuringiensis Isolates from the Papaloapan Region (Mexico) Induce a Cytotoxic Effect by Late Apoptosis against Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Borin Diego Becker , Castrejón-Arroyo Karen , Cruz-Nolasco Alain , Peña-Rico Miguel , Sagrillo Michele Rorato , Santos Roberto C. V. , Baco Lucas Silva de , Pérez-Picaso Lemuel , Camacho Luz , Navarro-Mtz A. Karin
Published: July 2021

The protein A13-2 was obtained from Bacillus thuringiensis strains isolated from the Papaloapan watershed region (Oaxaca, Mexico). The cytotoxic activity of parasporal inclusions was studied against breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and normal cell (human peripheral blood mononuclear cells). The MTT, the formation of reactive species, nitric oxide, free cell DNA, and the type of death cellular were assessed. The protein A13-2 shows the highest cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 (13% cell viability at 6 µg/mL), the extracellular DNA increases, and it shows no stress for reactive species or nitric oxide. Besides, the A13-2 parasporin shows no toxicity to peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and it does not generate changes in nitric oxide levels or free cell DNA. Due to that, the cytotoxic effect of A13-2 was specific for MCF-7, and it does not affect normal cells. According to microscopy and flow cytometry, A13-2 parasporin leads to the death of MCF-7 cells by late apoptosis together with necrosis and without allowing the triggering of the survival mechanisms. When analyzed together, our results show for the first time that the A13-2 protein isolated from Mexican strains of B. thuringiensis preferentially kills MCF- 7 (cancer cells) over HEK 293 and PBMC cell lines (normal cells), thus representing a promising alternative for the treatment of cancer breast.
Circulating p-Cresyl Sulfate, Non-Hepatic Alkaline Phosphatase and Risk of Bone Fracture Events in Chronic Kidney Disease-Mineral Bone Disease
Authors: Chang Jia-Feng , Hsieh Chih-Yu , Liou Jian-Chiun , Lu Kuo-Cheng , Zheng Cai-Mei , Wu Mai-Szu , Chang Shu-Wei , Wang Ting-Ming , Wu Chang-Chin
Published: July 2021

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially those undergoing hemodialysis, are at a considerably high risk of bone fracture events. Experimental data indicate that uremic toxins intricately involved in bone-related proteins exert multi-faced toxicity on bone cells and tissues, leading to chronic kidney disease–mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD). Nonetheless, information regarding the association between p-cresyl sulfate (PCS), non-hepatic alkaline phosphatase (NHALP) and skeletal events remains elusive. We aim to explore the association between PCS, NHALP and risk of bone fracture (BF) in patients with hemodialysis. Plasma concentrations of PCS and NHALP were ascertained at study entry. Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were used to determine unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) of PCS for BF risk. In multivariable analysis, NHALP was associated with incremental risks of BFs [aHR: 1.06 (95% CI: 1.01–1.11)]. The association between the highest PCS tertile and BF risk remained robust [aHR: 2.87 (95% CI: 1.02–8.09)]. With respect to BF events, the interaction between NHALP and PCS was statistically significant (p value for the interaction term < 0.05). In addition to mineral dysregulation and hyperparathyroidism in hemodialysis patients, higher circulating levels of PCS and NHALP are intricately associated with incremental risk of BF events, indicating that a joint evaluation is more comprehensive than single marker. In light of the extremely high prevalence of CKD-MBD in the hemodialysis population, PCS may act as a pro-osteoporotic toxin and serve as a potential surrogate marker for skeletal events.
Photocatalytic Degradation of Deoxynivalenol Using Cerium Doped Titanium Dioxide under Ultraviolet Light Irradiation
Authors: He Pengzhen , Zhao Zhiyong , Tan Yanglan , E Hengchao , Zuo Minghui , Wang Jianhua , Yang Junhua , Cui Shuxin , Yang Xianli
Published: July 2021

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a major mycotoxin with high toxicity that often contaminates grains, foods and feeds. The traditional approaches for DON removal are difficult to meet industry and agriculture demands due to the high stability of the DON molecule. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop green and effective strategies for DON degradation. In this study, a batch of photocatalytic nanomaterials of cerium (Ce) doped titanium dioxide (TiO2) were successfully prepared by sol-gel method. The catalysts were systematically characterized by XRD, HRTEM, FT-IR, UV-Vis and XPS. The catalyst 0.5Ce-TiO2 showed superior photocatalytic activity for DON degradation in aqueous solution under ultraviolet light irradiation, better than that of traditional photocatalyst pure TiO2, and 96% DON with initial concentration of 5.0 mg/L could be degraded in 4 h. In addition, the two possible degradation intermediate products C5H8O3 and C17H18O6 were identified, the photocatalytic degradation mechanism and degradation pathway were studied. The results indicate that Ce doped TiO2 photocatalyst can be used to reduce DON effectively.
Colpodella sp. (ATCC 50594) Life Cycle: Myzocytosis and Possible Links to the Origin of Intracellular Parasitism
Authors: Getty Troy A. , Peterson John W. , Fujioka Hisashi , Walsh Aidan M. , Sam-Yellowe Tobili Y.
Published: July 2021

Colpodella species are free living bi-flagellated protists that prey on algae and bodonids in a process known as myzocytosis. Colpodella species are phylogenetically related to Apicomplexa. We investigated the life cycle of Colpodella sp. (ATCC 50594) to understand the timing, duration and the transition stages of Colpodella sp. (ATCC 50594). Sam-Yellowe’s trichrome stains for light microscopy, confocal and differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy was performed to identify cell morphology and determine cross reactivity of Plasmodium species and Toxoplasma gondii specific antibodies against Colpodella sp. (ATCC 50594) proteins. The ultrastructure of Colpodella sp. (ATCC 50594) was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The duration of Colpodella sp. (ATCC 50594) life cycle is thirty-six hours. Colpodella sp. (ATCC 50594) were most active between 20–28 h. Myzocytosis is initiated by attachment of the Colpodella sp. (ATCC 50594) pseudo-conoid to the cell surface of Parabodo caudatus, followed by an expansion of microtubules at the attachment site and aspiration of the prey’s cytoplasmic contents. A pre-cyst formed at the conclusion of feeding differentiates into a transient or resting cyst. Both DIC and TEM microscopy identified asynchronous and asymmetric mitosis in Colpodella sp. (ATCC 50594) cysts. Knowledge of the life cycle and stages of Colpodella sp. (ATCC 50594) will provide insights into the development of intracellular parasitism among the apicomplexa.
Screening for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Chronic Hepatitis B: An Update
Authors: Lok James , Agarwal Kosh
Published: July 2021

(1) Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an important cause of mortality in individuals with chronic hepatitis B infection, with screening of high-risk groups recommended in all major international guidelines. Our understanding of the risk factors involved has improved over time, encouraging researchers to develop models that predict future risk of HCC development. (2) Methods: A literature search of the PubMed database was carried out to identify studies that derive or validate models predicting HCC development in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Subsequently, a second literature search was carried out to explore the potential role of novel viral biomarkers in this field. (3) Results: To date, a total of 23 models have been developed predicting future HCC risk, of which 12 have been derived from cohorts of treatment-naïve individuals. Most models have been developed in Asian populations (n = 20), with a smaller number in Caucasian cohorts (n = 3). All of the models demonstrate satisfactory performance in their original derivation cohorts, but many lack external validation. In recent studies, novel viral biomarkers have demonstrated utility in predicting HCC risk in patients with chronic hepatitis B, amongst both treated and treatment-naïve patients. (4) Conclusion: Several models have been developed to predict the risk of HCC development in individuals with chronic hepatitis B infection, but many have not been externally validated outside of the Asian population. Further research is needed to refine these models and facilitate a more tailored HCC surveillance programme in the future.
Resveratrol and Pterostilbene Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Replication in Air–Liquid Interface Cultured Human Primary Bronchial Epithelial Cells
Authors: ter Ellen Bram M. , Dinesh Kumar Nilima , Bouma Ellen M. , Troost Berit , van de Pol Denise P.I. , van der Ende-Metselaar Heidi H. , Apperloo Leonie , van Gosliga Djoke , van den Berge Maarten , Nawijn Martijn C. , van der Voort Peter H.J. , Moser Jill , Rodenhuis-Zybert Izabela A. , Smit Jolanda M.
Published: July 2021

The current COVID-19 pandemic is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and has an enormous impact on human health and economy. In search for therapeutic options, researchers have proposed resveratrol, a food supplement with known antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties as an advantageous antiviral therapy for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we provide evidence that both resveratrol and its metabolically more stable structural analog, pterostilbene, exhibit potent antiviral properties against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. First, we show that resveratrol and pterostilbene antiviral activity in African green monkey kidney cells. Both compounds actively inhibit virus replication within infected cells as reduced virus progeny production was observed when the compound was added at post-inoculation conditions. Without replenishment of the compound, antiviral activity was observed up to roughly five rounds of replication, demonstrating the long-lasting effect of these compounds. Second, as the upper respiratory tract represents the initial site of SARS-CoV-2 replication, we also assessed antiviral activity in air–liquid interface (ALI) cultured human primary bronchial epithelial cells, isolated from healthy volunteers. Resveratrol and pterostilbene showed a strong antiviral effect in these cells up to 48 h post-infection. Collectively, our data indicate that resveratrol and pterostilbene are promising antiviral compounds to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection. Because these results represent laboratory findings in cells, we advocate evaluation of these compounds in clinical trials before statements are made whether these drugs are advantageous for COVID-19 treatment.
Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) Gene Delivery: Dissecting Molecular Interactions upon Cell Entry
Authors: Large Edward E. , Silveria Mark A. , Zane Grant M. , Weerakoon Onellah , Chapman Michael S.
Published: July 2021

Human gene therapy has advanced from twentieth-century conception to twenty-first-century reality. The recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) is a major gene therapy vector. Research continues to improve rAAV safety and efficacy using a variety of AAV capsid modification strategies. Significant factors influencing rAAV transduction efficiency include neutralizing antibodies, attachment factor interactions and receptor binding. Advances in understanding the molecular interactions during rAAV cell entry combined with improved capsid modulation strategies will help guide the design and engineering of safer and more efficient rAAV gene therapy vectors.
Phylogenetic Classification of Global Porcine Deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) Reference Strains and Molecular Characterization of PDCoV in Taiwan
Authors: Hsueh Fu-Chun , Hsu Feng-Yang , Chen Yu-Hsuan , Shih Hsing-Chun , Lin Wei-Hao , Yang Cheng-Yao , Lin Chuen-Fu , Chiou Ming-Tang , Lin Chao-Nan
Published: July 2021

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV), a highly transmissible intestinal pathogen, causes mild to severe clinical symptoms, such as anorexia, vomiting and watery diarrhea, in piglets and/or sows. Since the first report of PDCoV infection in Hong Kong in 2012, the virus has readily disseminated to North America and several countries in Asia. However, to date, no unified phylogenetic classification system has been developed. To fill this gap, we classified historical PDCoV reference strains into two major genogroups (G-I and G-II) and three subgroups (G-II-a, G-II-b and G-II-c). In addition, no genetic research on the whole PDCoV genome or spike gene has been conducted on isolates from Taiwan so far. To delineate the genetic characteristics of Taiwanese PDCoV, we performed whole-genome sequencing to decode the viral sequence. The PDCoV/104-553/TW-2015 strain is closely related to the G-II-b group, which is mainly composed of PDCoV variants from China. Additionally, various mutations in the Taiwanese PDCoV (104-553/TW-2015) strain might be linked to the probability of recombination with other genogroups of PDCoVs or other porcine coronaviruses. These results represent a pioneering phylogenetic characterization of the whole genome of a PDCoV strain isolated in Taiwan in 2015 and will potentially facilitate the development of applicable preventive strategies against this problematic virus.
The Effect of Prophylactic HPV Vaccines on Oral and Oropharyngeal HPV Infection—A Systematic Review
Authors: Nielsen Kristoffer Juul , Jakobsen Kathrine Kronberg , Jensen Jakob Schmidt , Grønhøj Christian , Von Buchwald Christian
Published: July 2021

Human papillomavirus (HPV) imposes an increased risk of developing cervical, anal and oropharyngeal cancer. In the Western world, HPV infection is currently the major cause of oropharyngeal cancer. The effectiveness of HPV vaccines for oral or oropharyngeal HPV infection is yet to be determined. This study conducted a systematic literature search in Pubmed and Embase. Studies investigating the impact of HPV vaccines on oral or oropharyngeal HPV infection were enrolled. This review reports the relative prevention percentage (RPP), including a risk of bias assessment as well as a quality assessment study. Nine studies were included (48,777 participants): five cross-sectional studies; one randomized community trial study (RCT); one longitudinal cohort study; and two case-control studies. A significant mean RPP of 83.9% (66.6–97.8%) was calculated from the cross-sectional studies, 82.4% in the included RCT and 83% in the longitudinal cohort study. Further, two case-control studies that measured antibody response in participants immunized with HPV vaccines were included. Respectively, 100% and 93.2% of participants developed HPV-16 Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in oral fluids post-vaccination. Analysis of the studies identified a significant decrease in vaccine-type oral or oropharyngeal HPV infections in study participants immunized with HPV vaccines across study designs and heterogenous populations. Further, a significant percentage of participants developed IgG antibodies in oral fluid post-vaccination.
Multiple Sclerosis, Disease-Modifying Therapies and COVID-19: A Systematic Review on Immune Response and Vaccination Recommendations
Authors: Cabreira Verónica , Abreu Pedro , Soares-dos-Reis Ricardo , Guimarães Joana , Sá Maria José
Published: July 2021

Understanding the risks of COVID-19 in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) receiving disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) and their immune reactions is vital to analyze vaccine response dynamics. A systematic review on COVID-19 course and outcomes in patients receiving different DMTs was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Emerging data on SARS-CoV-2 vaccines was used to elaborate recommendations. Data from 4417 patients suggest that MS per se do not portend a higher risk of severe COVID-19. As for the general population, advanced age, comorbidities, and higher disability significantly impact COVID-19 outcomes. Most DMTs have a negligible influence on COVID-19 incidence and outcome, while for those causing severe lymphopenia and hypogammaglobulinemia, such as anti-CD20 therapies, there might be a tendency of increased hospitalization, worse outcomes and a higher risk of re-infection. Blunted immune responses have been reported for many DMTs, with vaccination implications. Clinical evidence does not support an increased risk of MS relapse or vaccination failure, but vaccination timing needs to be individually tailored. For cladribine and alemtuzumab, it is recommended to wait 3–6 months after the last cycle until vaccination. For the general anti-CD20 therapies, vaccination must be deferred toward the end of the cycle and the next dose administered at least 4–6 weeks after completing vaccination. Serological status after vaccination is highly encouraged. Growing clinical evidence and continuous surveillance are extremely important to continue guiding future treatment strategies and vaccination protocols.
Assessing the Effect of Changing Ambient Air Temperature on Water Temperature and Quality in Drinking Water Distribution Systems
Authors: Lai Yuchuan , Dzombak David A.
Published: July 2021

Drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) are affected by climate change and this work aimed to assess the effect of changing ambient air temperature on the water temperature and various water quality parameters in DWDS. A water temperature estimation model was identified and evaluated at seven specific locations in the U.S. and water quality parameters were assessed with a case study for Washington D.C. Preliminary estimation of changes in water temperature and two temperature-related parameters (the chlorine decay rate and bacterial activity) were developed for 91 U.S. cities using local air temperature observations and projections. Estimated water temperature changes in DWDS are generally equivalent to air temperature changes on an annual average basis, suggesting modest changes for the assessed historical periods and possibly more intensified changes in the future with greater increase in air temperature. As higher water age can amplify the temperature effect and the effects of temperature on some water quality parameters can be inter-related, yielding an aggregated effect, evaluation of extreme cases for DWDS will be of importance. In responding to changing climate conditions, assessments of DWDS water temperature changes and resulting impacts on water quality merit more attention to ensure appropriate adaptation of DWDS design and management.
Evaluación de proyectos de telecomunicaciones en la industria petrolera
Authors: García de Mujica Denys
Published: July 2021

El objetivo de este estudio fue diseñar un modelo para la evaluación de proyectos de telecomunicaciones en la industria petrolera. La investigación fue descriptiva y de campo, bajo    la modalidad de proyecto factible, con diseño no experimental - transeccional. Se seleccionó    una muestra de 22 sujetos al que se aplicó un cuestionario. La confiabilidad del instrumento se determinó mediante el coeficiente Alfa de Cronbach y arrojó un valor igual a 0,99. Los resultados con respecto a la variable “modelo para la evaluación de proyectos” reflejan una media aritmética correspondiente a 3,76 que se ubica en la categoría de alta manifestación y arroja un porcentaje igual a 32,59 % para el nivel de respuesta “casi siempre”. Se presentó una propuesta basada en cuatro fases: (a) ex-ante, (b) en proceso, (c) ex-post y (d) de impacto. Se evidenció la necesidad de establecer programas de actualización permanente sobre las tecnologías de telecomunicaciones, así como del proceso de evaluación de proyectos para coadyuvar a solventar las contingencias.
Tipos de riesgos operacionales en empresas metalmecánicas
Authors: Castillo Jiménez Patricia , Martínez Ramírez Marle Cecilia
Published: July 2021

El objetivo de la investigación fue especificar los tipos de riesgos operacionales en las empresas metalmecánicas venezolanas; particularmente aquellas ubicadas en la Costa Oriental del Lago de Maracaibo. La investigación fue de tipo descriptiva, con diseño no experimental, transeccional, de campo. La población estuvo constituida por 11 empresas metalmecánicas, la técnica aplicada fue la encuesta, el instrumento de recolección de datos fue un cuestionario validado por 5 expertos. Se estimó la confiabilidad mediante el coeficiente Alfa Cronbach arrojando un resultado de 0,92. Se utilizó la estadística descriptiva mediante el análisis de las frecuencias, medias y la desviación estándar. Se concluyó que existe una alta aplicación y presencia de los tipos de riesgos, considerando los indicadores: tecnología de la información, procesos y personas; poniendo en evidencia la expectativa de alta rentabilidad al favorecer que los tomadores de decisiones con reducida aversión al riesgo valoren los beneficios percibidos.
VALIDAÇÃO DO APLICATIVO AUTISMO PROJETO INTEGRAR NO APOIO ÀS ATIVIDADES DA VIDA DIÁRIA DE PESSOAS COM TRANSTORNO DO ESPECTRO AUTISTA
Authors: Krause Maico , da Costa Kenneth Anderson Cavalcante , Barbosa Leonardo Luna , Costa Neto Macilon Araújo
Published: July 2021

A tecnologia presente em dispositivos móveis trouxe muitas facilidades para o cotidiano de pessoas em todo o mundo, incluindo aquelas com Transtorno do Espectro Autista (TEA), sendo capaz de auxiliá-las nas mais diversas atividades. O aplicativo Autismo Projeto Integrar foi desenvolvido para ser uma ferramenta de apoio no aprendizado das Atividades da Vida Diária (AVDs) de pessoas com TEA, porém, é necessário verificar se ele é capaz de cumprir com esse propósito. Este trabalho teve o objetivo de investigar se o uso do aplicativo Autismo Projeto Integrar pode auxiliar pessoas com TEA na execução de tarefas diárias. Para analisar a eficácia da ferramenta, foram realizados testes com 10 famílias que possuem algum integrante com TEA na cidade de Rio Branco, no Estado do Acre, além da aplicação de questionários para identificar o perfil e as rotinas mais problemáticas no cotidiano dessas pessoas. Através deste estudo foi possível verificar que o uso do aplicativo é capaz de proporcionar resultados positivos na educação de pessoas com TEA, auxiliando-as no planejamento e execução de AVDs com maior autonomia.