bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TRACK (by NEHEP) Implementation: A Bangladesh Scenario
Authors: Mohiuddin Abdul Kader
Published: November 2019

With the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases in Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), biological risk factors, such as hyperglycemia, are a major public health concern in Bangladesh. Optimization of diabetes management by positive lifestyle changes is urgently required for prevention of comorbidities and complications, which in turn will reduce the cost. Diabetes had 2 times more days of inpatient treatment, 1.3 times more outpatient visits, and nearly 10 times more medications than non-diabetes patients, as reported by British Medical Journal. And surprisingly, 80% of people with this so called Rich Man’s Disease live in low-and middle-income countries. According to a recent study of American Medical Association, China and India collectively are home of nearly 110 million diabetic patients. The prevalence of diabetes in this region is projected to increase by 71% by 2035. Bangladesh was ranked as the 8th highest diabetic populous country in the time period of 2010-2011. In Bangladesh, the estimated prevalence of diabetes among adults was 9.7% in 2011 and the number is projected to be 13.7 million by 2045. The cost of diabetes care is considerably high in Bangladesh, and it is primarily driven by the medicine and hospitalization costs. According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, in 2017 the annual average cost per Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) was $864.7, which is 52% of per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Bangladesh and 9.8 times higher than the general health care cost. Medicine is the highest source of direct cost (around 85%) for patients without hospitalization. The private and public financing of diabetes treatment will be severely constrained in near future, representing a health threat for the Bangladeshi population.
The Utility of Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid in Cervical Cancer Screening
Authors: Onwuka Chidi Okorie , Ekanem Ima-Obong A.
Published: December 2019

Objective: Cervical cancer is potentially preventable but still remains a leading cause of cancer mortality in in developing countries like Nigeria. Cytology-based screening programmes are difficult to maintain in these countries. Developing a cheap and reliable alternative is an important public health measure in these regions. This study was carried out to compare the utility of VIA and Pap smear as Cervical cancer screening methods in HIV-infected and non HIV-infected women.
Methodology: Between March, 2013 and March, 2014, 461 consenting women, comprising 231 HIV positive women (HPW) and 230 HIV negative women (HNW) were recruited and screened for cervical cancer using conventional Pap smear and VIA simultaneously in University of Uyo Teaching Hospital. The Pap smear findings were classified using the 2001 Bethesda system. Patients with a positive Pap smear or abnormal VIA findings were recalled for biopsy. The results of the two tests were compared using biopsy as the gold standard.
Results: The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for VIA were 100%,80%,76.9%, and 100%, respectively compared to 80%, 100%, 100%, and 88.2% for conventional Pap smear. Visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid for cervical cancer screening is not specific but has a high negative predictive value.
Conclusion: This study does not support a “see-and-treat” approach in cervical cancer management using VIA only. In resource-challenged areas, VIA can be applied on a large scale basis in primary screening for cervical cancer so as to triage, women who will benefit from further evaluation before applying the appropriate treatment.
Conservation Agriculture Improves Long-term Yield and Soil Quality in Irrigated Maize-oats Rotation
Authors: Fonteyne Simon , Martinez Gamiño Miguel-Angel , Saldivia Tejeda Abel , Verhulst Nele
Published: December 2019

Conservation agriculture, characterized by minimal tillage, permanent soil cover and crop diversification, has been widely adapted under rainfed conditions, but adoption under irrigated conditions is limited. An experiment initiated in 1997 to evaluate the level of tillage and the amount of soil cover needed for conservation agriculture to work under irrigated conditions in the highlands of San Luis Potosí, Mexico. The trial encompassed seven treatments: conventional tillage, two types of reduced tillage and permanent raised beds (PB), which are untilled, with four levels of soil cover in an irrigated rotation with maize (Zea mays L.) in the summer and fodder oats (Avena sativa L.) in the winter. Maize and oats yielded significantly more under PB than with tillage. Maize yielded on average 1.2 Mg ha−1 more in PB with the hybrid used from 1997 to 2008 and 3.9 Mg ha−1 more with the hybrid used from 2012 to 2017. Permanent raised beds generated on average $18,424 MXN ha−1 more profit than the tilled treatments and increased soil organic carbon on average 63% at 0 to 5 cm depth and 32% at 5 to 30 cm depth. The trial shows that conservation agriculture, with PB and little residue cover, is a viable and sustainable option in similar production systems.
Analysis of Wheat Bread-Making Gene (wbm) Evolution and Occurrence in Triticale Collection Reveal Origin via Interspecific Introgression into Chromosome 7AL
Authors: Kirov Ilya , Pirsikov Andrey , Milyukova Natalia , Dudnikov Maxim , Kolenkov Maxim , Gruzdev Ivan , Siksin Stanislav , Khrustaleva Ludmila , Karlov Gennady , Soloviev Alexander
Published: December 2019

Bread-making quality is a crucial trait for wheat and triticale breeding. Several genes significantly influence these characteristics, including glutenin genes and the wheat bread-making (wbm) gene. World wheat collection screening showed that only a few percent of cultivars carry the valuable wbm variant, providing a useful source for wheat breeding. In contrast, no such analysis has been performed for triticale (wheat (AABB genome) × rye (RR) amphidiploid) collections. Despite the importance of the wbm gene, information about its origin and genomic organization is lacking. Here, using modern genomic resources available for wheat and its relatives, as well as PCR screening, we aimed to examine the evolution of the wbm gene and its appearance in the triticale genotype collection. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the wheat Chinese Spring genome does not have the wbm gene but instead possesses the orthologous gene, called wbm-like located on chromosome 7A. The analysis of upstream and downstream regions revealed the insertion of LINE1 (Long Interspersed Nuclear Elements) retrotransposons and Mutator DNA transposon in close vicinity to wbm-like. Comparative analysis of the wbm-like region in wheat genotypes and closely related species showed low similarity between the wbm locus and other sequences, suggesting that wbm originated via introgression from unknown species. PCR markers were developed to distinguish wbm and wbm-like sequences, and triticale collection was screened resulting in the detection of three genotypes carrying wbm-specific introgression, providing a useful source for triticale breeding programs.
The Role of Housing Environment and Dietary Protein Source on the Gut Microbiota of Chicken
Authors: Hubert Shawna Marie , Al-Ajeeli Morouj , Bailey Christopher A. , Athrey Giridhar
Published: December 2019

The gut microbiota of chicken has received much attention due to its importance for bird health, food safety, and performance. In the United States, the impending transition to cage-free housing environments has raised many questions about its consequences for poultry health, productivity, and welfare. Therefore, we investigated how housing environments and feed composition affect the poultry gut microbiome. Such data is necessary to inform the design of production systems that promote health and food safety. In this study, we investigated the cecal microbiome of both caged and cage-free laying hens that were fed either an industry-standard soy-based versus a soy-free diet. Caged hens were housed in standard industry-style layer cages with one bird per cage, and cage-free hens were housed in a poultry barn with an outdoor enclosed yard with multiple hens per pen. Our study showed significant differences in the gut microbiota between cage-free and caged environments. Cage free housing generated higher diversity compared to caged housing. Furthermore, we observed a synergistic interaction of soy-based feed in cage-free housing, as the cage-free soy group showed the highest alpha diversity, whereas the caged-soy group showed the lowest diversity overall.
Understanding Inter-Individual Variability in Monoclonal Antibody Disposition
Authors: Thomas Veena A. , Balthasar Joseph P.
Published: December 2019

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are currently the largest and most dominant class of therapeutic proteins. Inter-individual variability has been observed for several mAbs; however, an understanding of the underlying mechanisms and factors contributing to inter-subject differences in mAb disposition is still lacking. In this review, we analyze the mechanisms of antibody disposition and the putative mechanistic determinants of inter-individual variability. Results from in vitro, preclinical, and clinical studies were reviewed evaluate the role of the neonatal Fc receptor and Fc gamma receptors (expression and polymorphism), target properties (expression, shedding, turnover, internalization, heterogeneity, polymorphism), and the influence of anti-drug antibodies. Particular attention is given to the influence of co-administered drugs and disease, and to the physiological relevance of covariates identified by population pharmacokinetic modeling, as determinants of variability in mAb pharmacokinetics.
Antioxidative Defense and Fertility Rate in the Assessment of Reprotoxicity Risk Posed by Global Warming
Authors: Parisi Costantino , Guerriero Giulia
Published: December 2019

The objective of this review is to briefly summarize the recent progress in studies done on the assessment of reprotoxicity risk posed by global warming for the foundation of strategic tool in ecosystem-based adaptation. The selected animal data analysis that was used in this paper focuses on antioxidative markers and fertility rate estimated over the period 2000–2019. We followed a phylogenetic methodology in order to report data on a panel of selected organisms that show dangerous effects. The oxidative damage studies related to temperature fluctuation occurring in biosentinels of different invertebrate and vertebrate classes show a consistently maintained physiological defense. Furthermore, the results from homeothermic and poikilothermic species in our study highlight the influence of temperature rise on reprotoxicity.
Adsorption of Ammonium Nitrogen from Aqueous Solution on Chemically Activated Biochar Prepared from Sorghum Distillers Grain
Authors: Hsu Derlin , Lu Changyi , Pang Tairan , Wang Yuanpeng , Wang Guanhua
Published: December 2019

Chemically activated biochars prepared from sorghum distillers grain using two base activators (NaOH and KOH) were investigated for their adsorption properties with respect to ammonium nitrogen from aqueous solution. Detailed characterizations, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TG), and specific surface area analyses, were carried out to offer a broad evaluation of the prepared biochars. The results showed that the NaOH- and KOH-activated biochars exhibited significantly enhanced adsorption capacity, by 2.93 and 4.74 times, respectively, in comparison with the pristine biochar. Although the NaOH-activated biochar possessed larger specific surface area (132.8 and 117.7 m2/g for the NaOH- and KOH-activated biochars, respectively), the KOH-activated biochar had higher adsorption capacity owing to its much higher content of functional groups. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms of the KOH-activated biochar at different temperatures were further studied. The biochar had a maximum adsorption capacity of 14.34 mg/g at 45 °C, which was satisfactory compared with other biochars prepared using different feedstocks. The adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics, and chemical adsorption was the rate-controlling step. The equilibrium data were consistent with the Freundlich isotherm, and the thermodynamic parameters suggested that the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous. Consequently, this work demonstrates that chemically activated biochar from sorghum distillers grain is effective for ammonium nitrogen removal.
Seismic Behavior of Steel Plate-Concrete Shear Walls with Holes
Authors: Chen Zhihua , Wu Jingshu , Liu Hongbo
Published: December 2019

Steel plate-concrete shear walls (SPSW) are used as the containment in nuclear power stations. However, the influence of holes and axial loading on the behavior of steel plate-concrete shear walls is neglected in most studies. Thus, it is necessary to understand the seismic behavior of SPSW members with holes in order to avoid the potential risks for nuclear power stations. In this study, a series of specimens were tested by low-cycle reciprocal loading. The specimens were designed with different holes to simulate real members in nuclear power stations. A hysteretic curve of specimens was obtained from a low-cycle reciprocal test to discuss the seismic behavior of steel plate-concrete shear walls (SPSW). Moreover, effects of axial compression ratio, hole size, thickness of the steel plate, and hole position on the hysteretic performance of SPSW were analyzed. The horizontal ultimate bearing capacity of SPSW specimens was estimated using the norms of the Architecture Institute of Japan and the calculation method of Ono reduction rate. Results provide theoretical references for the design and application of SPSW with holes.
Hybrid Model-Based Analysis of Underground Articulated Vehicles Steering Characteristics
Authors: Gao Lulu , Jin Chun , Liu Yuchao , Ma Fei , Feng Zhipeng
Published: December 2019

Owing to the harsh environment of underground mines, autonomous underground articulated vehicles (UAVs) with precise control and positioning system are particularly important. However, the ambiguity of steering characteristics hinders the development of UAVs. This study presents a model-based method to uncover the steering characteristics of a UAV. Firstly, a hybrid model of UAV was established, which included a dynamic model of articulated frames and a model of the hydraulic power steering system. Secondly, a field test of a typical UAV, a load-haul-dump (LHD) with 4 m3 capacity, was carried out. In order to verify the correctness of the established model and the accuracy of the involved parameters, the field test results were used to verify the dynamic model in time and frequency domains. Then, the steering characteristics of the UAV were uncovered based on the verified hybrid model, and the results showed that the increased load would increase ‘oversteering’ under the same articulation angle and that the error of trajectory exceeded 0.3 m. In addition, the deviations of trajectories between the two frames were revealed during the transient steering process, and the maximum deviation reached 0.21 m when the velocity was 2 m/s and the articulation angle was 15°. The comprehensive results indicate that the steering characteristics of UAVs cannot be ignored in regard to precise autonomous control and positioning.
The Conundrum of Relaxation Volumes in First-Principles Calculations of Charged Defects in UO2
Authors: Goyal Anuj , Mathew Kiran , Hennig Richard G. , Chernatynskiy Aleksandr , Stanek Christopher R. , Murphy Samuel T. , Andersson David A. , Phillpot Simon R. , Uberuaga Blas P.
Published: December 2019

The defect relaxation volumes obtained from density-functional theory (DFT) calculations of charged vacancies and interstitials are much larger than their neutral counterparts, seemingly unphysically large. We focus on UO2 as our primary material of interest, but also consider Si and GaAs to reveal the generality of our results. In this work, we investigate the possible reasons for this and revisit the methods that address the calculation of charged defects in periodic DFT. We probe the dependence of the proposed energy corrections to charged defect formation energies on relaxation volumes and find that corrections such as potential alignment remain ambiguous with regards to its contribution to the charged defect relaxation volume. We also investigate the volume for the net neutral defect reactions comprising individual charged defects, and find that the aggregate formation volumes have reasonable magnitudes. This work highlights the issue that, as is well-known for defect formation energies, the defect formation volumes depend on the choice of reservoir. We show that considering the change in volume of the electron reservoir in the formation reaction of the charged defects, analogous to how volumes of atoms are accounted for in defect formation volumes, can renormalize the formation volumes of charged defects such that they are comparable to neutral defects. This approach enables the description of the elastic properties of isolated charged defects within an overall neutral material.
Urinary Levels of Free 2,5-Hexanedione in Italian Subjects Non-Occupationally Exposed to n-Hexane
Authors: Salamon Fabiola , Martinelli Andrea , Trevisan Andrea , Scapellato Maria Luisa , Bartolucci Giovanni Battista , Carrieri Mariella
Published: December 2019

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the urinary levels of free 2,5-hexanedione (2,5-HD) in Italian subjects non-occupationally exposed to n-hexane, in order to define background values in non-occupational settings. The study was carried out on 99 subjects of the general population. The analysis of free 2,5-HD was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Personal information about the subjects was ascertained by means of a self-administered questionnaire. The urinary levels of free 2,5-HD were in the range of <12.0–77.9 µg/L (5th–95th percentiles). The urinary excretion of the metabolite did not seem to be influenced by gender, age, smoking habit or area of residence. Statistically significant differences (p = 0.03) were found between the free 2,5-HD urinary levels according to the vehicular traffic intensity within the area of residence and to body mass index of subjects. The background levels of free 2,5-HD found in this study could contribute to the definition of reference values of general population non-occupationally exposed and could be useful to the toxicologists and industrial hygienists to determine whether workers have been exposed to higher levels of n-hexane than the general population.
Whole-Body Motion Planning for a Six-Legged Robot Walking on Rugged Terrain
Authors: Chen Jie , Gao Fan , Huang Chao , Zhao Jie
Published: December 2019

Whole-body motion planning is a key ability for legged robots, which allows for the generation of terrain adaptive behaviors and thereby improved mobility in complex environment. To this end, this paper addresses the issue of terrain geometry based whole-body motion planning for a six-legged robot over a rugged terrain. The whole-body planning is decomposed into two sub-tasks: leg support and swing. For leg support planning, the target pose of the robot torso in a walking step is first found by maximizing the stability margin at the moment of support-swing transition and matching the orientation of the support polygon formed by target footholds. Then, the torso and thereby the leg support trajectories are generated using cubic spline interpolation and transferred into joint space through inverse kinematics. In terms of leg swing planning, the trajectories in a walking step are generated by solving an optimal problem that satisfies three constraints and a bioinspired objective function. The proposed whole-body motion planning strategies are implemented with a simulation and a real-world six-legged robot, and the results show that stable and collision-free motions can be produced for the robot over rugged terrains.
Potential for Developing Biocarbon Briquettes for Foundry Industry
Authors: Mousa Elsayed , Kazemi Mania , Larsson Mikael , Karlsson Gert , Persson Erik
Published: December 2019

The foundry industry is currently facing challenges to reduce the environmental impacts from application of fossil fuels. Replacing foundry coke with alternative renewable carbon sources can lead to significant decrease in fossil fuel consumption and fossil CO2 emission. The low bulk density, low energy density, low mechanical strength and the high reactivity of biocarbon materials are the main factors limiting their efficient implementation in a cupola furnace. The current study aimed at designing, optimizing and developing briquettes containing biocarbon, namely, biocarbon briquettes for an efficient use in cupola furnace. Laboratory hydraulic press with compaction pressure of about 160 MPa and stainless-steel moulds (Ø = 40 mm and 70 mm) were used for compaction. The density, heating value, energy density, mechanical strength and reactivity of biocarbon briquettes were measured and evaluated. The compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of biocarbon briquettes were measured by a compression device. The reactivity of biocarbon briquettes was measured under controlled conditions of temperature and gas atmosphere using the thermogravimetric analysis technique (TGA). Different types of binders were tested for the compaction of commercial charcoal fines with/without contribution of coke breeze. The effect of charcoal ratio, particle size, binder type, binder ratio, moisture content and compaction pressure on the quality of the biocarbon briquettes was investigated. Molasses with hydrated lime and cement were superior in enhancing the biocarbon briquettes strength and energy density among other tested binders and additives. The briquettes’ strength decreased as the biocarbon content increased. The optimum recipes consisted of 62% charcoal fines, 20% molasses, 10% hydrated lime and 8% cement. Cement is necessary to develop the tensile strength and hot mechanical strength of the briquettes. The charcoal with high ash content showed higher strength of briquettes but lower heating value compared to that with low ash content. Dispersion of silica suspension on charcoal particles during the mixing process was able to reduce the reactivity of biochar in the developed biocarbon briquettes. The biocarbon briquettes density and strength were increased by increasing the compaction pressure. Commercial powder hydrated lime was more effective in enhancing the briquettes’ strength compared to slaked burnt lime. Upscaling of biocarbon briquettes (Ø = 70 mm) and testing of hot mechanical strength under load indicated development of cracks which significantly reduced the strength of briquettes. Further development of biocarbon briquettes is needed to fulfil the requirements of a cupola furnace.
Study on Bubble Cavitation in Liquids for Bubbles Arranged in a Columnar Bubble Group
Authors: Zhang Peng-li , Lin Shu-yu
Published: December 2019

In liquids, bubbles usually exist in the form of bubble groups. Due to their interaction with other bubbles, the resonance frequency of bubbles decreases. In this paper, the resonance frequency of bubbles in a columnar bubble group is obtained by linear simplification of the bubbles’ dynamic equation. The correction coefficient between the resonance frequency of the bubbles in the columnar bubble group and the Minnaert frequency of a single bubble is given. The results show that the resonance frequency of bubbles in the bubble group is affected by many parameters such as the initial radius of bubbles, the number of bubbles in the bubble group, and the distance between bubbles. The initial radius of the bubbles and the distance between bubbles are found to have more significant influence on the resonance frequency of the bubbles. When the distance between bubbles increases to 20 times the bubbles’ initial radius, the coupling effect between bubbles can be ignored, and after that the bubbles’ resonance frequency in the bubble group tends to the resonance frequency of a single bubble’s resonance frequency. Fluent software is used to simulate the bubble growth, shrinkage, and collapse of five and seven bubbles under an ultrasonic field. The simulation results show that when the bubble breaks, the two bubbles at the outer field first begin to break and form a micro-jet along the axis line of the bubbles. Our methods and conclusions will provide a reference for further simulations and indicate the significance of the prevention or utilization of cavitation.
Hydrogen Evolution on Nano-StructuredCuO/Pd Electrode: Raman Scattering Study
Authors: Juodkazytė Jurga , Juodkazis Kȩstutis , Matulaitienė Ieva , Šebeka Benjaminas , Savickaja Irena , Balčytis Armandas , Nishijima Yoshiaki , Niaura Gediminas , Juodkazis Saulius
Published: December 2019

In this study, the processes taking place on the surfaces of nanostructured Cu/CuO and Cu/CuO/Pd electrodes at different potential, E, values in the solutions of 0.1 M KOH in H 2 O and D 2 O (heavy water) were probed by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), and the analysis of electrochemical reactions occurring under experimental conditions is presented. The bands of the SERS spectra of the Cu/CuO/Pd electrode observed in the range of E values from +0.3 V to 0 V (standard hydrogen electrode (SHE)) at 1328–1569 cm − 1 are consistent with the existence of species that are adsorbed or weakly bound to the surface with the energy of interaction close to 15–21 kJ mol − 1 . These bands can be attributed to the ad(ab)sorbed (H 3 O + ) ad , (H 2 + ) ab , and (H 2 + ) ad ions as intermediates in reversible hydrogen evolution and oxidation reactions (HER/HOR) taking place on the Cu/CuO/Pd electrode. There was no isotopic effect observed; this is consistent with the dipole nature of the electron-ion pair formation of adsorbed (H 3 O + ) ad and (H 2 + ) ad or (D 3 O + ) ad and (D 2 + ) ad . In accordance with the literature data, SERS bands at 125–146 cm − 1 and ∼520–565 cm − 1 were assigned to Cu(I) and Cu(II) oxygen species. These findings corroborate the quantitative stepwise mechanism of water reduction.
Quantifying the Predictability and Efficiency of the Cointegrated Ethanol and Agricultural Commodities Price Series
Authors: David Sergio Adriani , Inácio Claudio M. C. , Tenreiro Machado José António
Published: December 2019

Ethanol is an energy commodity and a biofuel that has contributed to mitigate the use of fossil fuels. Nonetheless, the environmental benefits derived from the use of ethanol can occur at the expense of the agricultural commodities prices, affecting their volatilities and efficiency. This problem occurs because most of the raw materials currently used to produce biofuels, such as corn in the US, sugarcane in Brazil and oilseeds in Europe, are also important global commodities. This work adopts several mathematical tools, namely the Detrended Fluctuation Analysis, fractal dimension, and the Hurst and Lyapunov exponents. This set of tools measures the market efficiency and the prices’ predictability for the ethanol and some agriculture commodities that revealed price transmission (cointegration), in a previous work. The results show that, in general, the ethanol has a lower predictability horizon than the other commodities. Moreover, it is discussed a quantitative measure to assess the market performance, by means of the efficiency index. We observe that the ethanol efficiency is similar to the other agricultural commodities evaluated.
Analysis of the Productive, Structural, and Dynamic Development of Augmented Reality in Higher Education Research on the Web of Science
Authors: López Belmonte Jesús , Moreno-Guerrero Antonio-José , López Núñez Juan Antonio , Pozo Sánchez Santiago
Published: December 2019

Augmented reality is an emerging technology that has gained great relevance thanks to the benefits of its use in learning spaces. The present study focuses on determining the performance and scientific production of augmented reality in higher education (ARHE). A bibliometric methodology for scientific mapping has been used, based on processes of estimation, quantification, analytical tracking, and evaluation of scientific research, taking as its reference the analysis protocols included in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses for Protocols (PRISMA-P) matrix. A total of 552 scientific publications on the Web of Science (WoS) have been analyzed. Our results show that scientific productions on ARHE are not abundant, tracing its beginnings to the year 1997, with its most productive period beginning in 2015. The most abundant studies are communications and articles (generally in English), with a wide thematic variety in which the bibliometric indicators “virtual environments” and “higher education” stand out. The main sources of origin are International Technology, Education and Development Conference (INTED) Proceedings and Education and New Learning Technologies (EDULEARN) Proceedings, although Spanish institutions are the most prolific. In conclusion, studies related to ARHE in the WoS have become increasingly abundant since ARHE’s research inception in 1997 (and especially since 2009), dealing with a wide thematic variety focused on “virtual environments” and “higher education”; abundant manuscripts are written in English (communications and articles) and originate from Spanish institutions. The main limitation of the study is that the results only reveal the status of this issue in the WoS database.
Multivariate Data Envelopment Analysis to Measure Airline Efficiency in European Airspace: A Network-Based Approach
Authors: Hermoso Ramon , Latorre M. Pilar , Martinez-Nuñez Margarita
Published: December 2019

In this paper, data envelopment analysis (DEA) is applied to exhaustively examine the efficiency of the main airline companies in the European airspace by using novel input/output parameters: business management factors, network analysis metrics, as well as social media estimators. Furthermore, we also use network analysis to provide a better differentiation among efficiency values. Results indicate that user engagement, as well as the analysis of the position within the airspace-from an operative perspective, influence the efficiency of the airline companies, allowing a more comprehensive understanding of its functioning.
GRSA Enhanced for Protein Folding Problem in the Case of Peptides
Authors: Frausto-Solís Juan , Sánchez-Hernández Juan Paulo , Maldonado-Nava Fanny G. , González-Barbosa Juan J.
Published: December 2019

Protein folding problem (PFP) consists of determining the functional three-dimensional structure of a target protein. PFP is an optimization problem where the objective is to find the structure with the lowest Gibbs free energy. It is significant to solve PFP for use in medical and pharmaceutical applications. Hybrid simulated annealing algorithms (HSA) use a kind of simulated annealing or Monte Carlo method, and they are among the most efficient for PFP. The instances of PFP can be classified as follows: (a) Proteins with a large number of amino acids and (b) peptides with a small number of amino acids. Several HSA have been positively applied for the first case, where I-Tasser has been one of the most successful in the CASP competition. PEP-FOLD3 and golden ratio simulated annealing (GRSA) are also two of these algorithms successfully applied to peptides. This paper presents an enhanced golden simulated annealing (GRSA2) where soft perturbations (collision operators), named “on-wall ineffective collision” and “intermolecular ineffective collision”, are applied to generate new solutions in the metropolis cycle. GRSA2 is tested with a dataset for peptides previously proposed, and a comparison with PEP-FOLD3 and I-Tasser is presented. According to the experimentation, GRSA2 has an equivalent performance to those algorithms.
Solutions of the Generalized Abel’s Integral Equations of the Second Kind with Variable Coefficients
Authors: Li Chenkuan , Plowman Hunter
Published: December 2019

Applying Babenko’s approach, we construct solutions for the generalized Abel’s integral equations of the second kind with variable coefficients on R and R n , and show their convergence and stability in the spaces of Lebesgue integrable functions, with several illustrative examples.
A Hepatic Scaffold from Decellularized Liver Tissue: Food for Thought
Authors: Croce Stefania , Peloso Andrea , Zoro Tamara , Avanzini Maria Antonietta , Cobianchi Lorenzo
Published: December 2019

Allogeneic liver transplantation is still deemed the gold standard solution for end-stage organ failure; however, donor organ shortages have led to extended waiting lists for organ transplants. In order to overcome the lack of donors, the development of new therapeutic options is mandatory. In the last several years, organ bioengineering has been extensively explored to provide transplantable tissues or whole organs with the final goal of creating a three-dimensional growth microenvironment mimicking the native structure. It has been frequently reported that an extracellular matrix-based scaffold offers a structural support and important biological molecules that could help cellular proliferation during the recellularization process. The aim of the present review is to underline the recent developments in cell-on-scaffold technology for liver bioengineering, taking into account: (1) biological and synthetic scaffolds; (2) animal and human tissue decellularization; (3) scaffold recellularization; (4) 3D bioprinting; and (5) organoid technology. Future possible clinical applications in regenerative medicine for liver tissue engineering and for drug testing were underlined and dissected.
Attenuation in Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor α9 and α10 Subunit Double Knock-Out Mice of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Authors: Liu Qiang , Li Minshu , Whiteaker Paul , Shi Fu-Dong , Morley Barbara J. , Lukas Ronald J.
Published: December 2019

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is attenuated in nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) α9 subunit knock-out (α9 KO) mice. However, protection is incomplete, raising questions about roles for related, nAChR α10 subunits in ionotropic or recently-revealed metabotropic contributions to effects. Here, we demonstrate reduced EAE severity and delayed onset of disease signs in nAChR α9/α10 subunit double knock-out (DKO) animals relative to effects in wild-type (WT) control mice. These effects are indistinguishable from contemporaneously-observed effects in nicotine-treated WT or in α9 KO mice. Immune cell infiltration into the spinal cord and brain, reactive oxygen species levels in vivo, and demyelination, mostly in the spinal cord, are reduced in DKO mice. Disease severity is not altered relative to WT controls in mice harboring a gain-of-function mutation in α9 subunits. These findings minimize the likelihood that additional deletion of nAChR α10 subunits impacts disease differently than α9 KO alone, whether through ionotropic, metabotropic, or alternative mechanisms. Moreover, our results provide further evidence of disease-exacerbating roles for nAChR containing α9 subunits (α9*-nAChR) in EAE inflammatory and autoimmune responses. This supports our hypothesis that α9*-nAChR or their downstream mediators are attractive targets for attenuation of inflammation and autoimmunity.
Human Periapical Cyst-Derived Stem Cells Can Be A Smart “Lab-on-A-Cell” to Investigate Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Related Alteration of the Exosomes’ Content
Authors: Tatullo Marco , Codispoti Bruna , Spagnuolo Gianrico , Zavan Barbara
Published: December 2019

Promising researches have demonstrated that the alteration of biological rhythms may be consistently linked to neurodegenerative pathologies. Parkinson’s disease (PD) has a multifactorial pathogenesis, involving both genetic and environmental and/or molecular co-factors. Generally, heterogeneous alterations in circadian rhythm (CR) are a typical finding in degenerative processes, such as cell aging and death. Although numerous genetic phenotypes have been discovered in the most common forms of PD, it seems that severe deficiencies in synaptic transmission and high vesicular recycling are frequently found in PD patients. Neuron-to-neuron interactions are often ensured by exosomes, a specific type of extracellular vesicle (EV). Neuron-derived exosomes may carry several active compounds, including miRNAs: Several studies have found that circulating miRNAs are closely associated with an atypical oscillation of circadian rhythm genes, and they are also involved in the regulation of clock genes, in animal models. In this context, a careful analysis of neural-differentiated Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) and the molecular and genetic characterization of their exosome content, both in healthy cells and in PD-induced cells, could be a strategic field of investigation for early diagnosis and better treatment of PD and similar neurodegenerative pathologies. A novel MSC population, called human periapical cyst–mesenchymal stem cells (hPCy–MSCs), has demonstrated that it naively expresswa the main neuronal markers, and may differentiate towards functional neurons. Therefore, hPCy–MSCs can be considered of particular interest for testing of in vitro strategies to treat neurological diseases. On the other hand, the limitations of using stem cells is an issue that leads researchers to perform experimental studies on the exosomes released by MCSs. Human periapical cyst-derived mesenkymal stem cells can be a smart “lab-on-a-cell” to investigate neurodegenerative diseases and the related exosomes’ content alteration.
Social-Psychological Satiety: Empirical Study of a New Phenomenon
Authors: Drobysheva Tatiana , Larionov Ivan
Published: December 2019

This article is devoted to the development of a new phenomenon in the field of social psychology of the city—satiety with living conditions in a metropolis. The study involved 87 people aged 18–30 years. The aim of the study was to identify and analyze the expression of the satiety of young Moscovites with living conditions in the metropolis, and its dependence on the sources of experience of this state. It was shown that satiety as a state of the human psyche performs the function of a protective mechanism from an overabundance of various stimuli from the surrounding world. The satiety with living conditions in the metropolis is a complex state that is caused by a variety of phenomena of social life in the urban environment: Excessive communication, an abundance of information, overpopulation, forced informatization of the urban environment, high rate of life, etc. It was found that satiety with living conditions in a metropolis has different forms of expression, such as emotional experiences and behavioral reactions. The article outlines perspectives for further research on the phenomenon of satiety in living conditions in a megacity in the direction of types, factors, and mechanisms of satiety.
Multi-Features Classification of Prostate Carcinoma Observed in Histological Sections: Analysis of Wavelet-Based Texture and Colour Features
Authors: Bhattacharjee Subrata , Kim Cho-Hee , Park Hyeon-Gyun , Prakash Deekshitha , Madusanka Nuwan , Cho Nam-Hoon , Choi Heung-Kook
Published: December 2019

Microscopic biopsy images are coloured in nature because pathologists use the haematoxylin and eosin chemical colour dyes for biopsy examinations. In this study, biopsy images are used for histological grading and the analysis of benign and malignant prostate tissues. The following PCa grades are analysed in the present study: benign, grade 3, grade 4, and grade 5. Biopsy imaging has become increasingly important for the clinical assessment of PCa. In order to analyse and classify the histological grades of prostate carcinomas, pixel-based colour moment descriptor (PCMD) and gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) methods were used to extract the most significant features for multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural network classification. Haar wavelet transformation was carried out to extract GLCM texture features, and colour features were extracted from RGB (red/green/blue) colour images of prostate tissues. The MANOVA statistical test was performed to select significant features based on F-values and P-values using the R programming language. We obtained an average highest accuracy of 92.7% using level-1 wavelet texture and colour features. The MLP classifier performed well, and our study shows promising results based on multi-feature classification of histological sections of prostate carcinomas.
CTCs Expression Profiling for Advanced Breast Cancer Monitoring
Authors: Pereira-Veiga Thais , Martínez-Fernández Mónica , Abuin Carmen , Piñeiro Roberto , Cebey Victor , Cueva Juan , Palacios Patricia , Blanco Cristina , Muinelo-Romay Laura , Abalo Alicia , Costa Clotilde , López-López Rafael
Published: December 2019

The study of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has a huge clinical interest in advance and metastatic breast cancer patients. However, many approaches are biased by the use of epithelial markers, which underestimate non-epithelial CTCs phenotypes. CTCs enumeration provides valuable prognostic information; however, molecular characterization could be the best option to monitor patients throughout the disease since it may provide more relevant clinical information to the physicians. In this work, we aimed at enumerating and performing a molecular characterization of CTCs from a cohort of 20 patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), monitoring the disease at different time points of the therapy, and at progression when it occurred. To this end, we used a CTC negative enrichment protocol that allowed us to recover a higher variety of CTCs phenotypes. With this strategy, we were able to obtain gene expression data from CTCs from all the patients. In addition, we found that high expression levels of PALB2 and MYC were associated with a worse outcome. Interestingly, we identified that CTCs with an EpCAMhighVIMlowALDH1A1high signature showed both shorter overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), suggesting that CTCs with epithelial-stem features had the most aggressive phenotype.
Type I Interferons and Cancer: An Evolving Story Demanding Novel Clinical Applications
Authors: Aricò Eleonora , Castiello Luciano , Capone Imerio , Gabriele Lucia , Belardelli Filippo
Published: December 2019

The first report on the antitumor effects of interferon α/β (IFN-I) in mice was published 50 years ago. IFN-α were the first immunotherapeutic drugs approved by the FDA for clinical use in cancer. However, their clinical use occurred at a time when most of their mechanisms of action were still unknown. These cytokines were being used as either conventional cytostatic drugs or non-specific biological response modifiers. Specific biological activities subsequently ascribed to IFN-I were poorly considered for their clinical use. Notably, a lot of the data in humans and mice underlines the importance of endogenous IFN-I, produced by both immune and tumor cells, in the control of tumor growth and in the response to antitumor therapies. While many oncologists consider IFN-I as “dead drugs”, recent studies reveal new mechanisms of action with potential implications in cancer control and immunotherapy response or resistance, suggesting novel rationales for their usage in target and personalized anti-cancer treatments. In this Perspectives Article, we focus on the following aspects: (1) the added value of IFN-I for enhancing the antitumor impact of standard anticancer treatments (chemotherapy and radiotherapy) and new therapeutic approaches, such as check point inhibitors and epigenetic drugs; (2) the role of IFN-I in the control of cancer stem cells growth and its possible implications for the development of novel antitumor therapies; and (3) the role of IFN-I in the development of cancer vaccines and the intriguing therapeutic possibilities offered by in situ delivery of ex vivo IFN-stimulated dendritic cells.
Lipase Catalyzed Acidolysis for Efficient Synthesis of Phospholipids Enriched with Isomerically Pure cis-9,trans-11 and trans-10,cis-12 Conjugated Linoleic Acid
Authors: Niezgoda Natalia , Gliszczyńska Anna
Published: December 2019

The production of phospholipid (PL) conjugates with biologically active compounds is nowadays an extensively employed approach. This type of phospholipids conjugates could improve bioavailability of many poorly absorbed active compounds such as isomers of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which exhibit versatile biological effects. The studies were carried out to elaborate an efficient enzymatic method for the synthesis of phospholipids with pure (>90%) cis-9,trans-11 and trans-10,cis-12 CLA isomers. For this purpose, three commercially available immobilized lipases were examined in respect to specificity towards CLA isomers in acidolysis of egg-yolk phosphatidylcholine (PC). Different incorporation rates were observed for the individual CLA isomers. Under optimal conditions: PC/CLA molar ratio 1:6; Rhizomucor miehei lipase loading 24% wt. based on substrates; heptane; DMF, 5% (v/v); water activity (aw), 0.11; 45 °C; magnetic stirring, 300 rpm; 48 h., effective incorporation (EINC) of CLA isomers into PC reached ca. 50%. The EINC of CLA isomers was elevated for 25–30% only by adding a water mimic (DMF) and reducing aw to 0.11 comparing to the reaction system performed at aw = 0.23. The developed method of phosphatidylcholine acidolysis is the first described in the literature dealing with isometrically pure CLA and allow to obtain very high effective incorporation.
Dry Reforming of Ethanol and Glycerol: Mini-Review
Authors: Yu Jie , Odriozola José A. , Reina Tomas R.
Published: December 2019

Dry reforming of ethanol and glycerol using CO2 are promising technologies for H2 production while mitigating CO2 emission. Current studies mainly focused on steam reforming technology, while dry reforming has been typically less studied. Nevertheless, the urgent problem of CO2 emissions directly linked to global warming has sparked a renewed interest on the catalysis community to pursue dry reforming routes. Indeed, dry reforming represents a straightforward route to utilize CO2 while producing added value products such as syngas or hydrogen. In the absence of catalysts, the direct decomposition for H2 production is less efficient. In this mini-review, ethanol and glycerol dry reforming processes have been discussed including their mechanistic aspects and strategies for catalysts successful design. The effect of support and promoters is addressed for better elucidating the catalytic mechanism of dry reforming of ethanol and glycerol. Activity and stability of state-of-the-art catalysts are comprehensively discussed in this review along with challenges and future opportunities to further develop the dry reforming routes as viable CO2 utilization alternatives.
Applications of Microbial Laccases: Patent Review of the Past Decade (2009–2019)
Authors: Zerva Anastasia , Simić Stefan , Topakas Evangelos , Nikodinovic-Runic Jasmina
Published: December 2019

There is a high number of well characterized, commercially available laccases with different redox potentials and low substrate specificity, which in turn makes them attractive for a vast array of biotechnological applications. Laccases operate as batteries, storing electrons from individual substrate oxidation reactions to reduce molecular oxygen, releasing water as the only by-product. Due to society’s increasing environmental awareness and the global intensification of bio-based economies, the biotechnological industry is also expanding. Enzymes such as laccases are seen as a better alternative for use in the wood, paper, textile, and food industries, and they are being applied as biocatalysts, biosensors, and biofuel cells. Almost 140 years from the first description of laccase, industrial implementations of these enzymes still remain scarce in comparison to their potential, which is mostly due to high production costs and the limited control of the enzymatic reaction side product(s). This review summarizes the laccase applications in the last decade, focusing on the published patents during this period.