bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nanoparticle-Mediated Angiotensin-(1-9) Drug Delivery for the Treatment of Cardiac Hypertrophy
Authors: Sepúlveda-Rivas Sabrina , Leal Matías S. , Pedrozo Zully , Kogan Marcelo J. , Ocaranza María Paz , Morales Javier O.
Published: June 2021

Ang-(1-9) peptide is a bioactive vasodilator peptide that prevents cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vitro and in vivo as well as lowers blood pressure and pathological cardiovascular remodeling; however, it has a reduced half-life in circulation, requiring a suitable carrier for its delivery. In this work, hybrid nanoparticles composed of polymeric nanoparticles (pNPs) based on Eudragit® E/Alginate (EE/Alg), and gold nanospheres (AuNS), were developed to evaluate their encapsulation capacity and release of Ang-(1-9) under different experimental conditions. Hybrid pNPs were characterized by dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, size distribution, and concentration by nanoparticle tracking analysis. Nanometric pNPs, with good polydispersity index and colloidally stable, produced high association efficiency of Ang-(1-9) and controlled release. Finally, the treatment of neonatal cardiomyocytes in culture with EE/Alg/AuNS 2% + Ang-(1-9) 20% pNPs decreased the area and perimeter, demonstrating efficacy in preventing norepinephrine-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. On the other hand, the incorporation of AuNS did not cause negative effects either on the cytotoxicity or on the association capacity of Ang-(1-9), suggesting that the hybrid carrier EE/Alg/AuNS pNPs could be used for the delivery of Ang-(1-9) in the treatment of cardiovascular hypertrophy.
Methane Production from H2 + CO2 Reaction: An Open Molecular Science Case for Computational and Experimental Studies
Authors: Falcinelli Stefano , Capriccioli Andrea , Rosi Marzio , Martì Carles , Parriani Marco , Laganà Antonio
Published: June 2021

The article illustrates the synergy between theoretical/computational advances and advanced experimental achievements to pursue green chemistry and circular economy technological implementations. The specific green chemistry focus concerns the production of carbon neutral fuels by converting waste carbon dioxide into methane. Both theoretical-computational and technological means were adopted to design a functional option implementing a heterogeneous catalysis process (Paul Sabatier (PS) catalytic reduction) to convert carbon dioxide into methane, and to further drive its evolution towards the employment of an alternative homogeneous gas phase plasma assisted technology. The details of both the theoretical and the experimental components of the study are presented and discussed. Future potential developments, including industrial ones, are outlined that are also from innovative collaborative economic prosumer model perspectives.
Investigation of Polymer Biofilm Formation on Titanium-Based Anode Surface in Microbial Fuel Cells with Poplar Substrate
Authors: Erensoy Ahmet , Çek Nurettin
Published: June 2021

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have attracted attention by directly converting the bioelectrochemical energy possessed by the organic materials that make up the biomass into electrical energy. In this study, the relationship between the biofilm formed on the titanium-based anode electrode surface, and the chemical composition of the substrate, the energy source of MFC, was investigated. For this, MFCs were made by using poplar wood shavings rich in organic material as the substrate, titanium-based material as the anode electrode, and natural soil as bacterial habitat. Three types of MFCs containing 1%, 10%, and 20% poplar wood shavings by weight were made and named P1-MFC, P2-MFC, and P3-MFC, respectively. According to electrochemical analysis, P3-MFC provided the highest open circuit voltage with 490 mV value, and the highest power density with 5.11 mW/m2 value compared to other MFCs. According to optical microscopy examinations, there were Bacillus and Coccus species of bacteria in the soil structure, and these bacteria also existed around the fiber of poplar wood shavings in MFCs. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectrum (EDS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed that MFCs formed biofilm in the titanium-based anode, and the chemical composition of this biofilm with poplar tree was similar. As a result, due to the catalysis reactions of bacteria, the titanium-based anode electrode surface was coated with polymer biofilm released from poplar wood shavings.
Thermo-Mechanical and Morphological Properties of Polymer Composites Reinforced by Natural Fibers Derived from Wet Blue Leather Wastes: A Comparative Study
Authors: Nanni Alessandro , Parisi Mariafederica , Colonna Martino , Messori Massimo
Published: June 2021

The present work investigated the possibility to use wet blue (WB) leather wastes as natural reinforcing fibers within different polymer matrices. After their preparation and characterization, WB fibers were melt-mixed at 10 wt.% with poly(lactic acid) (PLA), polyamide 12 (PA12), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and the obtained samples were subjected to rheological, thermal, thermo-mechanical, and viscoelastic analyses. In parallel, morphological properties such as fiber distribution and dispersion, fiber–matrix adhesion, and fiber exfoliation phenomena were analyzed through a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) to evaluate the relationship between the compounding process, mechanical responses, and morphological parameters. The PLA-based composite exhibited the best results since the Young modulus (+18%), tensile strength (+1.5%), impact (+10%), and creep (+5%) resistance were simultaneously enhanced by the addition of WB fibers, which were well dispersed and distributed in and significantly branched and interlocked with the polymer matrix. PA12- and TPU-based formulations showed a positive behavior (around +47% of the Young modulus and +40% of creep resistance) even if the not-optimal fiber–matrix adhesion and/or the poor de-fibration of WB slightly lowered the tensile strength and elongation at break. Finally, the TPE-based sample exhibited the worst performance because of the poor affinity between hydrophilic WB fibers and the hydrophobic polymer matrix.
Insolvency Risk and Value Maximization: A Convergence between Financial Management and Risk Management
Authors: Gennaro Alessandro
Published: June 2021

This conceptual paper focuses on the relationship between insolvency, capital structure, and value creation. The aim is twofold: to define risk-based capital measures able to absorb the effects of financial distress and avoid corporate default; and to verify conditions and limits of use of these measures in corporate financial policies. The capital measures based on insolvency risk will be defined by recalling the concepts of Cash Flow-at-Risk and Capital-at-Risk. A first check on the usefulness of these risk-based measures and their consistency with the principle of value maximization is carried out through a simulation model. The scenario analysis allows us to examine how financial and risk policies oriented by insolvency avoidance affect the firm value. According to evidence from the simulation model, these measures appear to be useful in lowering the default risk, but they require a continuous assessment of their impact on the firm value.
Improved YOLO Network for Free-Angle Remote Sensing Target Detection
Authors: Qing Yuhao , Liu Wenyi , Feng Liuyan , Gao Wanjia
Published: June 2021

Despite significant progress in object detection tasks, remote sensing image target detection is still challenging owing to complex backgrounds, large differences in target sizes, and uneven distribution of rotating objects. In this study, we consider model accuracy, inference speed, and detection of objects at any angle. We also propose a RepVGG-YOLO network using an improved RepVGG model as the backbone feature extraction network, which performs the initial feature extraction from the input image and considers network training accuracy and inference speed. We use an improved feature pyramid network (FPN) and path aggregation network (PANet) to reprocess feature output by the backbone network. The FPN and PANet module integrates feature maps of different layers, combines context information on multiple scales, accumulates multiple features, and strengthens feature information extraction. Finally, to maximize the detection accuracy of objects of all sizes, we use four target detection scales at the network output to enhance feature extraction from small remote sensing target pixels. To solve the angle problem of any object, we improved the loss function for classification using circular smooth label technology, turning the angle regression problem into a classification problem, and increasing the detection accuracy of objects at any angle. We conducted experiments on two public datasets, DOTA and HRSC2016. Our results show the proposed method performs better than previous methods.
Integrating Circular Bioeconomy and Urban Dynamics to Define an Innovative Management of Bio-Waste: The Study Case of Turin
Authors: Taffuri Andrea , Sciullo Alessandro , Diemer Arnaud , Nedelciu Claudiu Eduard
Published: June 2021

Bio-waste could play a fundamental role in reaching the EU target to recycle 65% of municipal waste by 2035. The European waste policies and the Green New Deal are increasingly focusing on bio-waste enhancement, in particular within the Bioeconomy Strategy and the Circular Economy Package. Circular bioeconomy (CBE) combines these perspectives, with an increasing focus on organic flows extension and enhancement along the economic cycle. This paper analyses the potential of the CBE paradigm to improve the treatment of the organic fraction of the municipal solid waste (OFMSW), taking the Metropolitan City of Turin (MCT) as a case study. Our results indicate that the currently used OFMSW plant capacity of MCT is insufficient with respect to the need for treatment and, above all, inadequate for future demand trends. We advance an analysis of different CBE-related projects, which contribute to the creation of a feasible environment for bio-based closed loops in Turin. In particular, RePoPP (Porta Palazzo Organic Waste Project) is proposed as an instance of a systemic and circular process that could be improved by following the CBE principles. Through the use of qualitative system dynamics, we propose a decentralised alternative MSW management scenario with a micro anaerobic digestion plant at its core. A stakeholder analysis through a power-interest matrix identifies actors that are key to enabling this scenario. The sustainable pathways proposed in this paper can inspire local-level policy design and therefore contribute to the creation of new systemic food and waste policies for the city through the CBE paradigm.
Data-Driven Methodology to Support Long-Lasting Logistics and Decision Making for Urban Last-Mile Operations
Authors: Gutierrez-Franco Edgar , Mejia-Argueta Christopher , Rabelo Luis
Published: June 2021

Last-mile operations in forward and reverse logistics are responsible for a large part of the costs, emissions, and times in supply chains. These operations have increased due to the growth of electronic commerce and direct-to-consumer strategies. We propose a novel data- and model-driven framework to support decision making for urban distribution. The methodology is composed of diverse, hybrid, and complementary techniques integrated by a decision support system. This approach focuses on key elements of megacities such as socio-demographic diversity, portfolio mix, logistics fragmentation, high congestion factors, and dense commercial areas. The methodological framework will allow decision makers to create early warning systems and, with the implementation of optimization, machine learning, and simulation models together, make the best utilization of resources. The advantages of the system include flexibility in decision making, social welfare, increased productivity, and reductions in cost and environmental impacts. A real-world illustrative example is presented under conditions in one of the most congested cities: the megacity of Bogota, Colombia. Data come from a retail organization operating in the city. A network of stakeholders is analyzed to understand the complex urban distribution. The execution of the methodology was capable of solving a complex problem reducing the number of vehicles utilized, increasing the resource capacity utilization, and reducing the cost of operations of the fleet, meeting all constraints. These constraints included the window of operations and accomplishing the total number of deliveries. Furthermore, the methodology could accomplish the learning function using deep reinforcement learning in reasonable computational times. This preliminary analysis shows the potential benefits, especially in understudied metropolitan areas from emerging markets, supporting a more effective delivery process, and encouraging proactive, dynamic decision making during the execution stage.
Advances in Biological Nitrogen Removal of Landfill Leachate
Authors: Li Ye , Tang Fan , Xu Dan , Xie Bing
Published: June 2021

With the development of economy and the improvement of people’s living standard, landfill leachate has been increasing year by year with the increase in municipal solid waste output. How to treat landfill leachate with high efficiency and low consumption has become a major problem, because of its high ammonia nitrogen and organic matter content, low carbon to nitrogen ratio and difficult degradation. In order to provide reference for future engineering application of landfill leachate treatment, this paper mainly reviews the biological treatment methods of landfill leachate, which focuses on the comparison of nitrogen removal processes combined with microorganisms, the biological nitrogen removal methods combined with ecology and the technology of direct application of microorganisms. In addition, the mechanism of biological nitrogen removal of landfill leachate and the factors affecting the microbial activity during the nitrogen removal process are also described. It is concluded that the treatment processes combined with microorganisms have higher nitrogen removal efficiency compared with the direct application of microorganisms. For example, the nitrogen removal efficiency of the combined process based on anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX) technology can reach more than 99%. Therefore, the treatment processes combined with microorganisms in the future engineering application of nitrogen removal in landfill leachate should be paid more attention to, and the efficiency of nitrogen removal should be improved from the aspects of microorganisms by considering factors affecting its activity.
Waterfront Hotels’ Chillers: Energy Benchmarking and ESG Reporting
Authors: Lau Chammy , Tang Irini Lai Fun , Chan Wilco
Published: June 2021

Chillers consumes the largest amount power in subtropical hotels. To monitor chillers’ power usage is of critical importance in energy control. This study attempted to establish the benchmark of electricity usage of hotel chillers and elucidate how the benchmarking results can be integrated with the various types reports for monitoring purposes. A survey of 20 waterfront hotels in the city of Greater Bay Area was conducted and 13 complete samples were used in the analysis. Multiple regression with selected 12 parameters—outdoor temperature, solar radiation, wind speed, cooling degree days, room occupancy, number of employees, service types, and unequally sized chillers were employed. The investigation found that the mean electricity usage of a chiller is 118 kWh/m2 on an annual basis for a deluxe waterfront hotel. The analysis excluded air-conditioned floor area, an exploratory variable, as the valid factor in the chiller’s electricity usage. While the overall R2 of the modeling equation for the whole year was limited to 0.76, the explanatory power of equations for humid spring and deep summer reached 80%. Hoteliers may harness this exercise as a reference to monitor and report the performance of key energy production facility per the Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) guide.
Basic Mechanical and Neutron Shielding Performance of Mortar Mixed with Boron Compounds with Various Alkalinity
Authors: Lee Binna , Woo Byeong-Hun , Ryou Jae-Suk
Published: June 2021

This study conducted fundamental tests on mortars using the boron compounds recycled industrial wastes to replace uneconomic boron products. The boron compounds were three types according to the pH and the physical and neutron shielding performance of mortar mixed with boron compounds was examined. The adopted boron compounds classified as acid, slightly alkaline, and strongly alkaline with respect to the pH are acidic boric acid, alkali borax, and high alkali borax, respectively. The physical properties were evaluated by measuring the compressive strength and setting time as well as the thermal neutron shielding performance. The measured compressive strength revealed that the strengths of the specimens mixed with boron compounds were generally lower than that of the basic specimen made of control specimen. In addition, the initial and final setting times were longer than those of the control specimen. The thermal neutron shielding performances of the specimens mixed with boron compounds were higher than that of the control specimen. Consequently, the differences of the type and chemical composition of boron compounds influenced the physical properties and thermal neutron shielding performance of mortar, including its compressive strength, setting time, and neutron shielding performance. Therefore, it is important to determine the optimal amount of boron compounds in the fabrication of mortar.
The Relationship between Strategic Orientation, Service Innovation, and Performance in Hotels in Angola
Authors: Serafim Gerdina Handa , Cristóvão Veríssimo José Manuel
Published: June 2021

This paper aims to investigate the impacts of customer orientation, competitor orientation, learning orientation, technology orientation, and entrepreneurial orientation on hotel innovation and performance. Data from 69 hotels in four Angolan provinces were analyzed using the partial least squares (PLS) approach and multi group analysis. The results show that learning and entrepreneurial orientations have a positive impact on hotel innovation. As anticipated, innovation has a positive impact on performance. According to the multigroup analysis, only the hotel category has a moderating effect on performance. Results suggest that hotels in developing countries could add value to both customers and shareholders by promoting new services and exploring new business opportunities. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the few studies that has researched the impact of strategic orientation on hotel innovation and financial performance in developing countries.
Urban Sub-Center Design Framework Based on the Walkability Evaluation Method: Taking Coomera Town Sub-Center as an Example
Authors: Shao Jizhong , Yang Minge , Liu Guan , Li Ye , Luo Dan , Tan Yanran , Zhang Yuxin , Song Qize
Published: June 2021

As current society’s reflection on the rapid development of motorization and increasing emphasis on the ecological environment, the study of walkable cities has become one of the key points of urban sustainable design. Creating a walkable city is an effective way to build a low-carbon and healthy city. With the development of cities, walkability concepts and theories are constantly being given new life, and research methods and design strategies continue to be updated. A city’s walkability and walkability index have become current research hotspots. Based on prior research on walkability and related urban policies, this study selects Coomera Town on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia, as the research area because of Coomera Town policy regulations and environmental requirements. This study utilizes traditional qualitative and quantitative research methods, machine mining technology, and the deep learning big data analysis technology to conduct thematic design research in a real place. Its combines walkability evaluation with walkability design to construct a walkable city in a targeted manner. This provides a reference for related city design in the future.
Sustainable Agri-Food Systems: Environment, Economy, Society, and Policy
Authors: El Bilali Hamid , Strassner Carola , Ben Hassen Tarek
Published: June 2021

Agri-food systems (AFS) have been central in the debate on sustainable development. Despite this growing interest in AFS, comprehensive analyses of the scholarly literature are hard to find. Therefore, the present systematic review delineated the contours of this growing research strand and analyzed how it relates to sustainability. A search performed on the Web of Science in January 2020 yielded 1389 documents, and 1289 were selected and underwent bibliometric and topical analyses. The topical analysis was informed by the SAFA (Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture systems) approach of FAO and structured along four dimensions viz. environment, economy, society and culture, and policy and governance. The review shows an increasing interest in AFS with an exponential increase in publications number. However, the study field is north-biased and dominated by researchers and organizations from developed countries. Moreover, the analysis suggests that while environmental aspects are sufficiently addressed, social, economic, and political ones are generally overlooked. The paper ends by providing directions for future research and listing some topics to be integrated into a comprehensive, multidisciplinary agenda addressing the multifaceted (un)sustainability of AFS. It makes the case for adopting a holistic, 4-P (planet, people, profit, policy) approach in agri-food system studies.
Study on Compulsory Classification Management and Behavior Synergy of Municipal Solid Waste
Authors: Cui Tiening , Su Xiabing , Zhang Yunjia
Published: June 2021

There is a general phenomenon of incoordination between garbage classification management and participation behavior, which seriously affects the sustainable management efficiency of domestic garbage. In order to solve this problem, this paper introduced the subject-object-process model into the waste classification management system, and constructed a mandatory classification management model of municipal solid waste and a comprehensive evaluation index system. Taking Beijing, China, as an example, the coupling coordination degree of garbage classification behaviors of residents in different was compared, and the coordination status of household waste management and behaviors was obtained. The results show that the synergy between government management and residents’ household waste classification behavior is between 0.40 and 0.68, and the synergy between enterprises’ participation in governance and residents’ behavior is between 0.45 and 0.75. The coordination degree between domestic waste management and residents’ participation behavior is generally in primary coordination or slight imbalance. The synergy degree between the secondary indicators of domestic waste management and residents’ behavior is higher than that of the tertiary indicators. Superposition effect of integrated management measures is better; among the psychological factors affecting residents’ classification behavior, the awareness rate and recognition degree of waste classification are very high, the awareness of environmental responsibility and social pressure are lagging behind. The study of synergy under the framework of subject-object-process not only quantifies the overall synergy between management and residents’ behavior, but also provides a method to further implement garbage classification management in a targeted manner. Based on the synergy analysis, according to the weak links of various regions, classified management is carried out around publicity and education, supervision and management, assessment, rewards and punishments.
Identifying the Locations of Atmospheric Pollution Point Source by Using a Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Chaiwino Wipawinee , Manorot Panasun , Poochinapan Kanyuta , Mouktonglang Thanasak
Published: June 2021

This research aims to improve the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm by combining a multidimensional search with a line search to determine the location of the air pollution point sources and their respective emission rates. Both multidimensional search and line search do not require the derivative of the cost function. By exploring a symmetric property of search domain, this innovative search tool incorporating a multidimensional search and line search in the PSO is referred to as the hybrid PSO (HPSO). Measuring the pollutant concentration emanating from the pollution point sources through the aid of sensors represents the first stage in the process of evaluating the efficiency of HPSO. The summation of the square of the differences between the observed concentration and the concentration that is theoretically expected (inverse Gaussian plume model or numerical estimations) is used as a cost function. All experiments in this research are therefore conducted using the HPSO sensing technique. To effectively identify air pollution point sources as well as calculate emission rates, optimum positioning of sensors must also be determined. Moreover, the frame of discussion of this research also involves a detailed comparison of the results obtained by the PSO algorithm, the GA (genetic algorithm) and the HPSO algorithm in terms of single pollutant location detection, respectively. In the case of multiple sources, only the findings based on PSO and HPSO algorithms are taken into consideration. This research eventually verifies and confirms that the HPSO does offer substantially better performance in the measuring of pollutant locations as well as emission rates of the air pollution point sources than the original PSO.
Gut Microbiota Manipulation to Mitigate the Detrimental Effects of Environmental Pollutants
Authors: Chen Lianguo
Published: June 2021

The ecotoxicology and human health risks of environmental pollutants are creating global concern, especially in the context of the prevalent and severe contamination of environmental abiotic and biotic compartments [...]
Post-Contrast Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Various Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease—Is Fear Justified?
Authors: Chomicka Inga , Kwiatkowska Marlena , Lesniak Alicja , Malyszko Jolanta
Published: June 2021

Post-contrast acute kidney injury (PC-AKI) is one of the side effects of iodinated contrast media, including those used in computed tomography. Its incidence seems exaggerated, and thus we decided to try estimate that number and investigate its significance in our clinical practice. We analyzed all computed tomographies performed in our clinic in 2019, including data about the patient and the procedure. In each case, we recorded the parameters of kidney function (serum creatinine concentration and eGFR) in four time intervals: before the test, immediately after the test, 14–28 days after the test, and over 28 days after the test. Patients who did not have a follow-up after computed tomography were excluded. After reviewing 706 CT scans performed in 2019, we included 284 patients undergoing contrast-enhanced CT and 67 non-enhanced CT in the final analysis. On this basis, we created two comparable groups in terms of age, gender, the severity of chronic kidney disease, and the number of comorbidities. We found that AKI was more common in the non-enhanced CT population (25.4% vs. 17.9%). In terms of our experience, it seems that PC-AKI is not a great risk for patients, even those with chronic kidney disease. Consequently, the fear of using contrast agents is not justified.
Geometric Approach to Analytic Marginalisation of the Likelihood Ratio for Continuous Gravitational Wave Searches
Authors: Wette Karl
Published: June 2021

The likelihood ratio for a continuous gravitational wave signal is viewed geometrically as a function of the orientation of two vectors; one representing the optimal signal-to-noise ratio, and the other representing the maximised likelihood ratio or F-statistic. Analytic marginalisation over the angle between the vectors yields a marginalised likelihood ratio, which is a function of the F-statistic. Further analytic marginalisation over the optimal signal-to-noise ratio is explored using different choices of prior. Monte-Carlo simulations show that the marginalised likelihood ratios had identical detection power to the F-statistic. This approach demonstrates a route to viewing the F-statistic in a Bayesian context, while retaining the advantages of its efficient computation.
DIC-Like Syndrome Following Administration of ChAdOx1 nCov-19 Vaccination
Authors: Casucci Gerardo , Acanfora Domenico
Published: June 2021

In recent weeks, adverse reactions have been reported after administration of Oxford–AstraZeneca chimpanzee adenovirus vectored vaccine ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222), in particular thrombus formation, which has led several European Countries to discontinue administration of this vaccine. On March 8, 2021, the European Medicines Agency Safety Committee did not confirm this probable association. We report the case of a patient who developed disseminated intravascular coagulation after the first dose of Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine, which resolved in a few days with the administration of dexamethasone and enoxaparin. This work demonstrates the safety of the Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine and that any development of side effects can be easily managed with a prompt diagnosis and in a short time with a few commonly used drugs.
Management and Treatment of Hepatitis C: Are There Still Unsolved Problems and Unique Populations?
Authors: Solitano Virginia , Plaz Torres Maria Corina , Pugliese Nicola , Aghemo Alessio
Published: June 2021

Direct-acting antivirals (DAA) have revolutionized the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, possibly leading to HCV elimination by 2030 as endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, some patients belonging to the so-called unique or special populations are referred to as difficult-to-treat due to unreached sustained virological response, potential drug side effects or interactions or co-morbidities. Several years after the DAA introduction and on the basis of excellent findings in terms of efficacy and safety, some doubts arise around the exact meaning of the special population designation and whether this group of patients actually exists. The aim of this review is to discuss and analyze current evidence on the management and treatment of the so-called “unique populations”. We placed particular emphasis on patients with decompensated cirrhosis, chronic kidney disease (CKD), coinfections, rare genotypes, and previous treatment failure, in order to provide physicians with an updated overview of the actual problems and needs in the current scenario.
Predictive Markers of Immunogenicity and Efficacy for Human Vaccines
Authors: Van Tilbeurgh Matthieu , Lemdani Katia , Beignon Anne-Sophie , Chapon Catherine , Tchitchek Nicolas , Cheraitia Lina , Marcos Lopez Ernesto , Pascal Quentin , Le Grand Roger , Maisonnasse Pauline , Manet Caroline
Published: June 2021

Vaccines represent one of the major advances of modern medicine. Despite the many successes of vaccination, continuous efforts to design new vaccines are needed to fight “old” pandemics, such as tuberculosis and malaria, as well as emerging pathogens, such as Zika virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Vaccination aims at reaching sterilizing immunity, however assessing vaccine efficacy is still challenging and underscores the need for a better understanding of immune protective responses. Identifying reliable predictive markers of immunogenicity can help to select and develop promising vaccine candidates during early preclinical studies and can lead to improved, personalized, vaccination strategies. A systems biology approach is increasingly being adopted to address these major challenges using multiple high-dimensional technologies combined with in silico models. Although the goal is to develop predictive models of vaccine efficacy in humans, applying this approach to animal models empowers basic and translational vaccine research. In this review, we provide an overview of vaccine immune signatures in preclinical models, as well as in target human populations. We also discuss high-throughput technologies used to probe vaccine-induced responses, along with data analysis and computational methodologies applied to the predictive modeling of vaccine efficacy.
An Immunoinformatics Approach for SARS-CoV-2 in Latam Populations and Multi-Epitope Vaccine Candidate Directed towards the World’s Population
Authors: Cuspoca Andrés Felipe , Díaz Laura Lorena , Acosta Alvaro Fernando , Peñaloza Marcela Katherine , Méndez Yardany Rafael , Clavijo Diana Carolina , Yosa Reyes Juvenal
Published: June 2021

The coronavirus pandemic is a major public health crisis affecting global health systems with dire socioeconomic consequences, especially in vulnerable regions such as Latin America (LATAM). There is an urgent need for a vaccine to help control contagion, reduce mortality and alleviate social costs. In this study, we propose a rational multi-epitope candidate vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. Using bioinformatics, we constructed a library of potential vaccine peptides, based on the affinity of the most common major human histocompatibility complex (HLA) I and II molecules in the LATAM population to predict immunological complexes among antigenic, non-toxic and non-allergenic peptides extracted from the conserved regions of 92 proteomes. Although HLA-C, had the greatest antigenic peptide capacity from SARS-CoV-2, HLA-B and HLA-A, could be more relevant based on COVID-19 risk of infection in LATAM countries. We also used three-dimensional structures of SARS-CoV-2 proteins to identify potential regions for antibody production. The best HLA-I and II predictions (with increased coverage in common alleles and regions evoking B lymphocyte responses) were grouped into an optimized final multi-epitope construct containing the adjuvants Beta defensin-3, TpD, and PADRE, which are recognized for invoking a safe and specific immune response. Finally, we used Molecular Dynamics to identify the multi-epitope construct which may be a stable target for TLR-4/MD-2. This would prove to be safe and provide the physicochemical requirements for conducting experimental tests around the world.
Operation of Norwegian Hydropower Plants and Its Effect on Block Fall Events in Unlined Pressure Tunnels and Shafts
Authors: Neupane Bibek , Vereide Kaspar , Panthi Krishna Kanta
Published: June 2021

The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of hydropower plant operation on the long-term stability of unlined pressure tunnels of hydropower plants in Norway. The authors analyzed the past production data of some hydropower plants to find out the number of starts/stops and the frequency and magnitude of load changes. The study demonstrates that an average of 200–400 start/stop events are occurring per turbine per year for the analyzed period, with an increasing trend. Currently, 150–200 large load changes per turbine smaller than 50 MW are occurring every year, and this is expected to increase by 30–45% between 2025 and 2040 for one of the studied power plants. Most importantly, the monitored pressure transients and pore pressure response in the rock mass during real-time operation at Roskrepp power plant are presented. A new method is proposed to calculate and quantify the hydraulic impact (HI) of pressure transients on rock joints and the effect of duration of shutdown/opening, which is found to be the most dominant parameter affecting the magnitude. The results show that faster shutdown sequences cause unnecessary stress in rock mass surrounding pressure tunnel. The hydraulic impact (HI) can be more than 10 times higher when the shutdown duration is reduced by 50 percent. The study recommends that duration of normal shutdowns/openings in hydropower plants should be slower so that hydraulic impacts on the rock joints are reduced and cyclic hydraulic fatigue is delayed, prolonging the lifetime of unlined pressure tunnels and shafts.
Ubiquity of Euglena mutabilis Population in Three Ecologically Distinct Acidic Habitats in Southwestern Japan
Authors: Yanagawa Katsunori , Haraguchi Akira , Yoshitake Kai , Asamatsu Katsuhiro , Harano Masanari , Yamashita Kei , Ishibashi Jun-ichiro
Published: June 2021

Three strains of Euglena mutabilis were isolated from sediments in acidic inland water systems (pH = 3.4–4.7), in Southwestern Japan—acid mine drainage in Sensui (Fukuoka), cold sulfidic spring in Bougatsuru (Oita), and a temporal pool in the Ebinokogen volcanic area (Miyazaki). All strains grew well in acidic media at pH 3.07. Phylogenetic analysis among these three strains showed high similarities to plastid SSU and nuclear SSU rRNA gene sequences (99.86% and 99.76%, respectively). They were closely related to the cultured isolates from other highly acidic habitats (pH = 2.0–5.9). Concentration of sulfate, aluminum, calcium, and iron had 7–70 fold of differences among the three studied habitats. Our results imply that the rRNA genes of E. mutabilis have compensated for their low genetic diversity by adapting to a wide pH range, as well as various water chemistry of habitats.
Interactive Visualisation of Sustainability Indicators for Water, Energy and Food Innovations
Authors: Forbes Paula J. , Falconer Ruth E. , Gilmour Daniel , Panayotov Nikolay
Published: June 2021

The Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus describes the synergies and trade-offs between water, energy and food. Despite the significant attention that the WEF nexus has received in recent years, challenges remain, primarily related to gaps in integrated data, information and knowledge related to the most critical inter-linkages and their dynamics. These WEF nexus complexities and uncertainty make decision-making and future forecasting extremely difficult. Policy makers and other stakeholders are currently faced with the task of understanding longer term environmental impacts and tJhe benefits and limitations of innovations that could be potentially beneficial, such as Anaerobic Digestion as a waste solution or insect protein production. This paper describes an approach to support decision making for local-level innovations within the WEF nexus by creating a set of sustainability indicators and an accompanying interactive visualisation. The indicators were derived from stakeholder consultation processes and workshops, and they were selected to include a much broader assessment than just financial aspects when considering the viability of such innovations. By taking this bottom-up approach and placing stakeholders at the heart of the project, we produced a visualisation tool to support sustainable decision making when considering the implementation of WEF innovations. Considering other, often overlooked factors and giving greater priority to these deepens knowledge and the recognition of influential issues that in conventional processes may be overlooked. This visualisation tool is designed to support decision makers to engage in a exploration of the different interlinkages, and to be the basis of stakeholder dialogue around sustainability. The visualisation tool developed was designed to be easily modifiable in order to be updated with new insights and to include other future innovations.
Collocational Knowledge Uptake by University Students under Online Learning
Authors: Danilina Svetlana
Published: June 2021

The article discusses an experiment that looked into the acquisition of collocational knowledge in three university groups studying online, each subjected to different learning conditions: incidental acquisition, intentional acquisition, and intentional acquisition with an extra productive output (essay), the latter having been assessed for the amount and accuracy of target lexis usage in their texts. The aim of the study was to see how well upper-intermediate university students could identify collocations in an input text, and how the text-based output affected the collocational uptake outcomes. The study showed that the productive output group outperformed the other intentional learning group, while incidental acquisition group failed to complete a productive knowledge posttest. Although the study revealed only slightly higher gains in the output group, their results appeared more consistent than those demonstrated by the other intentional uptake group, whose retention rate decreased by the time of delayed posttest.
RESEARCH OF ORAL SPEECH WITH SIGNS OF INTERLINGUAL INTERFERENCE, VERNACULAR WITH FOREIGN LANGUAGE ELEMENTS, IMITATION OF SPEECH IN NON-NATIVE LANGUAGE
Authors: Ovannisian A.
Published: June 2021

The need to write this article is due to the linguistic situation, that has developed, in particular, in Ukraine, when, as a result of the activation of migration processes, the object of forensic research is increasingly becoming speech with foreign language elements. Based on this, an acute problem arises of developing methodological approaches to the forensic study of speech material with signs of interlingual interference, its distinction from common speech using foreign language elements (pidgin in Ukrainian realities), and, if necessary, the appearance of signs of imitation of speech in a non-native language.
The article deals with the universal basic criteria for establishing signs of interlingual interference: consistency, complexity, predictability, stability of their manifestation, which makes it possible to distinguish them from signs of speech in the native language, and, no less important, from signs of pidgin or imitation, which do not have the above properties.
The possibilities of obtaining useful information in the process of studying speech with signs of interlingual interference are also analyzed, which concerns, in particular:
1) establishing whether the speaker is a native speaker of the language in which he speaks;
2) establishing the native language of the speaker (provided that the expert is fluent in this language);
3) establishing whether the participants in the polylogue or dialogue are speakers of one or different languages;
4) conducting an identification study of speech in a non-native language of two speakers of the same language, etc.
Proceeding from the fact that interlingual interference is, in fact, a complex feature that can be unambiguously established only if its manifestations are recorded at different linguistic levels, the article discusses possible forms of its implementation in phonetic, prosodic, morphological, lexical, syntactic, ethnolinguistic levels.
As specific examples of a comprehensive study of the signs of interlanguage interference, the article sets out the systems of the main signs of interlanguage interference that can be recorded in the speech in Russian of the native speakers of the Ukrainian language and in the speech in the Ukrainian language of the native speakers of the Russian language.
PREPARATION OF MATERIALS FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND SITUATIONAL EXPERT RESEARCH OF WEAPONS, CARTRIDGES AND TRACES OF ITS USE
Authors: Samoilenko I. , Koloniuk V.
Published: June 2021

The article considers the issues of preparing materials for sending it to carry out diagnostic and situational expert research of weapons, cartridges and traces of its use, the work of an investigator or a person acting as an investigator during an inspection of the crime scene. It is also pointed how to identify, correctly document and seize objects and materials for referrals for expert research, identification, preliminary inspection and assessment of objects and materials found during the inspection of the crime scene, its documentation and seizure.
The correct examination and assessment of weapons and cartridges makes it possible to obtain information about preliminary data on the type, kind, model of weapons and cartridges, taking into account the design of objects by external similarities with known types and models of weapons, samples of cartridges. It is also makes possible to identify the external state of weapons and cartridges, the presence or absence of individual parts and mechanisms of the weapon; loaded, equipped with a weapon; destruction of parts of weapons, elements of cartridges; deformation of weapons and cartridges; presence of corrosion, pollution, etc. The presence of outside traces on weapons and cartridges that are significant for further investigation - this may be contamination, including blood stains, layers, etc., which will be taken into account when conducting diagnostic and situational expert research.
There are described general methods and rules of preparation and packing of the objects revealed at inspection of a crime scene.
PROCESSING CORRUPTION RISKS IN INSTITUTIONS BY SEARCHING INFORMATION ON OFFICIALS USING PUBLIC INFORMATION SOURCES
Authors: Proskura K.
Published: June 2021

The article deals with the methods and publicly available means of searching for information about individuals – carriers of corruption risks at an enterprise, institution, organization. This search, collection and analysis of information in open sources helps to establish phones, email addresses, places of registration of persons, identify their contacts on social networks, find their posts, messages, publications, photos and other information that could be interesting in assessing the likelihood of committing the face of corruption crimes and the assessment of corruption risks at the enterprise.
In the process of assessing corruption risks, the key point is to determine the circle of persons who are carriers of the risks of committing corruption at the enterprise/organization, and in the future - to work out their actions, behavior, relationships with other employees and outsiders. It is important to identify stakeholders internal and external to the enterprise / organization (third party), their interests and relationships that can influence the emergence of corruption risks and acts of corruption, or can help reduce risks and prevent corruption.
In the process of assessing corruption risks, the key point is to determine the circle of persons who are carriers of the risks of committing corruption at the enterprise / organization, and in the future – to work out their actions, behavior, relationships with other employees and outsiders. It is important to identify stakeholders internal and external to the enterprise / organization (third party), their interests and relationships that can influence the emergence of corruption risks and acts of corruption, or can help reduce risks and prevent corruption.
Today there are quite a few Internet resources for collecting public information about an individual, some of them (those that are freely available and are not paid) are discussed in the article. Social networks are undoubtedly one of the most important channels for collecting information about a person, they can help in the investigation and identification of corruption risks associated with the investigated person.
Working out information about the person – the bearer of corruption risks using publicly available sources is an important stage in both the anti-corruption policy and investigations related to suspicions of corruption offenses. The information revolution and the globalization of information resources makes people's lives more public and open to external investigators, which requires the formation of new approaches and methods of working with information.