bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Thermal Performance of Group of Energy Piles in Unsaturated Soils under Cyclic Thermal Loading
Authors: Sani Abubakar Kawuwa , Singh Rao Martand
Published: July 2021

Geothermal energy piles (GEPs) are an environmentally friendly heat exchange technology that dualizes the role of the structural foundation pile for load support and in meeting the building heating/cooling need. Energy loops made from high-density polyethylene, which allow heat carrier fluid circulation, are fitted into the pile foundation elements to extract or inject and store heat energy in the soil surrounding the pile. This paper reports the results of a numerical study investigating the long-term behaviour of a group of energy piles embedded in unsaturated soils (sand and clay) under continuous cyclic heating and cooling load. Additionally, two scenarios were investigated where: (1) the whole GEPs were heated and cooled collectively; (2) alternate piles were heated and cooled. It was found that the trend of temperature magnitude at all the observed locations decreases with time as a result of the continuous heating and cooling cycles. Furthermore, subjecting alternate GEPs to the heating and cooling cycles result in lower temperature development in comparison to thermally activating all the GEPs in the group. This is attributed to the applied thermal load, which is 0.5 times that considered in the first case. However, this might not be the case where equal thermal load is applied on the GEPs in the two cases investigated.
Thermal Decomposition of Olive-Mill Byproducts: A TG-FTIR Approach
Authors: Wzorek Małgorzata , Junga Robert , Yilmaz Ersel , Bozhenko Bohdan
Published: July 2021

In this study, the combustion of olive byproducts was investigated using the TG-FTIR technique. Different types of olive biomass were considered: twigs, leaves, olive-mill waste from the two-phase decanting method, and wastewater from the three-phase system. The reaction regions, ignition, and burnout temperatures at different heating rates were determined using TG/DTG analysis and the thermogravimetry results. Comprehensive combustion, ignition, burnout, and flammability indexes were also calculated. The highest combustion index values were obtained for waste from the three-phase system, followed by the two-phase decanting method, then with leaves and small twigs. The order of the index values indicated that the sample from the three-phase process ignited more quickly and yielded faster. The changes in activation energy calculated using different model-free isoconversional methods—Friedman, Ozawa–Flynn–Wall, and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose—fell within the range of 130–140 kJ/kmol. FTIR analyses presented differences in the exhaust gas composition for specific combustion temperature ranges.
Debt as a Source of Financial Energy of the Farm—What Causes the Use of External Capital in Financing Agricultural Activity? A Model Approach
Authors: Zawadzka Danuta , Strzelecka Agnieszka , Szafraniec-Siluta Ewa
Published: July 2021

The aim of this study was to identify and assess the factors influencing the increase in the financial energy of a farm through the use of external capital, taking into account the farmer’s and farm characteristics. For its implementation, a logistic regression model and a classification-regression tree analysis (CRT) were used. The study was conducted on a group of farms in Central Pomerania (Poland) participating in the system of collecting and using data from farms (Farm Accountancy Data Network—FADN). Data on 348 farms were used for the analyses, obtained through a survey conducted in 2020 with the use of a questionnaire. Based on the analysis of the research results presented in the literature to date, it was established that the use of external capital in a farm as a factor increasing financial energy is determined, on the one hand, by the socio-demographic characteristics of the farmer and the characteristics of the farm, and on the other hand, by the availability of external financing sources. Factors relating to the first of these aspects were taken into account in the study. Using the logistic regression model, it was established that the propensity to indebtedness of farms is promoted by the following factors: gender of the head of the household (male, GEND), younger age of the head of the household (AGE), having a successor who will take over the farm in the future (SUC), higher value of generated production (PROD_VALUE), larger farm area (AREA) and multi-directional production of the farm (production diversification), as opposed to targeting plant or animal production only (farm specialization—SPEC). The results of the analysis carried out with the use of classification and regression trees (CRT) showed that the key factors influencing the use of outside capital as a source of financial energy in the agricultural production process are, first of all, features relating to an agricultural holding: the value of generated production (PROD_VALUE), agricultural area (AREA) and production direction (SPEC). The age of the farm manager (AGE) turned out to be of key importance among the farmer’s features favoring the tendency to take debt in order to finance agricultural activity.
Wind Technologies for Wake Effect Performance in Windfarm Layout Based on Population-Based Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Hsieh Yi-Zeng , Lin Shih-Syun , Chang En-Yu , Tiong Kwong-Kau , Tan Shih-Wei , Hor Chiou-Yi , Cheng Shyi-Chy , Tsai Yu-Shiuan , Chen Chao-Rong
Published: July 2021

The focus of this study is under the auspices of China Steel Corporation, Taiwan, in carrying out the national energy policy of 2025 Non-Nuclear Home. Under this policy, an estimated 600 offshore wind turbines will be installed by 2025. In order to carry out the wind energy project effectively, a preliminary study must be conducted. In this article, we investigated the influence of the wake effect on the efficiency of the turbines’ layout in a windfarm. A distributed genetic algorithm is deployed to study the wind turbines’ layout in order to alleviate the detrimental wake effect. In the current stage of this research, the historical weather data of weather stations near the site of the 29th windfarm, Taiwan, were collected by Academia Sinica. Our wake effect resilient optimized windfarm showed superior performance over that of the conventional windfarm. Additionally, an operation cost minimization process is also demonstrated and implemented using an ant colony optimization algorithm to optimize the total length of the power-carrying interconnecting cables for the turbines inside the optimized windfarm.
The Impact of Different Environmental Conditions during Vegetative Propagation on Growth, Survival, and Biochemical Characteristics in Populus Hybrids in Clonal Field Trial
Authors: Gudynaitė-Franckevičienė Valda , Pliūra Alfas
Published: July 2021

To have a cleaner environment, good well-being, and improve the health of citizens it is necessary to expand green urban and suburban areas using productive and adapted material of tree species. The quality of urban greenery, resistance to negative climate change factors and pollution, as well as efficiency of short-rotation forestry in suburban areas, depends primarily on the selection of hybrids and clones, suitable for the local environmental conditions. We postulate that ecogenetic response, phenotypic plasticity, and genotypic variation of hybrid poplars (Populus L.) grown in plantations are affected not only by the peculiarities of hybrids and clones, but also by environmental conditions of their vegetative propagation. The aim of the present study was to estimate growth and biochemical responses, the phenotypic plasticity, genotypic variation of adaptive traits, and genetically regulated adaptability of Populus hybrids in field trials which may be predisposed by the simulated contrasting temperature conditions at their vegetative propagation phase. The research was performed with the 20 cultivars and experimental clones of one intraspecific cross and four different interspecific hybrids of poplars propagated under six contrasting temperature regimes in phytotron. The results suggest that certain environmental conditions during vegetative propagation not only have a short-term effect on tree viability and growth, but also can help to adapt to climate change conditions and grow successfully in the long-term. It was found that tree growth and biochemical traits (the chlorophyll A and B, pigments content and the chlorophyll A/B ratio) of hybrid poplar clones grown in field trials, as well as their traits’ genetic parameters, were affected by the rooting-growing conditions during vegetative propagation phase. Hybrids P. balsamifera × P. trichocarpa, and P. trichocarpa × P. trichocarpa have shown the most substantial changes of biochemical traits across vegetative propagation treatments in field trial. Rooting-growing conditions during vegetative propagation had also an impact on coefficients of genotypic variation and heritability in hybrid poplar clones when grown in field trials.
Use of Corn-Steep Water Effluent as a Promising Substrate for Lactic Acid Production by Enterococcus faecium Strain WH51-1
Authors: Selim Mohamed T. , Salem Salem S. , Fouda Amr , El-Gamal Mamdouh S. , Abdel-Rahman Mohamed Ali
Published: July 2021

Various challenges facing the industrial production of bio-based lactic acid (LA) such as cost of raw materials and nitrogen sources, as well as contamination risk by mesophilic and neutrophilic producers, should be overcome for the commercial production. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of corn steep water (CSW) as a raw material for LA production using a newly thermo-alkali-tolerant lactic acid bacterium. The physicochemical characteristics of CSW were investigated. The high carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, vitamins, essential elements, minerals, and non-protein nitrogenous compounds content confirmed that the CSW is a promising substrate for LA production. Out of 67 bacterial isolates, Enterococcus faecium WH51-1 was selected based on its tolerance to high temperatures and inhibitory compounds (sodium metabisulfate, sodium chloride, sodium acetate, and formic acid). Fermentation factors including sugar concentration, temperature, inoculum size, and neutralizing agents were optimized for LA production. Lactic acid concentration of about 44.6 g/L with a high yield (0.89 ± 0.02 g/g) was obtained using 60 g/L of CSW sugar, inoculum size 10% (v/v), 45 °C, and sodium hydroxide or calcium carbonate as a neutralizing agent. These results demonstrated the potential of strain WH51-1 for LA production using CSW effluent as raw material.
Fast Flow Reconstruction via Robust Invertible n × n Convolution
Authors: Truong Thanh-Dat , Duong Chi Nhan , Tran Minh-Triet , Le Ngan , Luu Khoa
Published: July 2021

Flow-based generative models have recently become one of the most efficient approaches to model data generation. Indeed, they are constructed with a sequence of invertible and tractable transformations. Glow first introduced a simple type of generative flow using an invertible 1×1 convolution. However, the 1×1 convolution suffers from limited flexibility compared to the standard convolutions. In this paper, we propose a novel invertible n×n convolution approach that overcomes the limitations of the invertible 1×1 convolution. In addition, our proposed network is not only tractable and invertible but also uses fewer parameters than standard convolutions. The experiments on CIFAR-10, ImageNet and Celeb-HQ datasets, have shown that our invertible n×n convolution helps to improve the performance of generative models significantly.
Identifying Policy Best-Practices to Support the Contribution of Aquatic Foods to Food and Nutrition Security
Authors: Farmery Anna K. , White Amy , Allison Edward H.
Published: July 2021

The relationship between aquatic foods and food nutrition and security is increasingly recognised in policy and practice, yet many governance instruments do not acknowledge or support this important connection. The most effective policy approaches to support the link between these sectors, or ‘best practices’ are currently unknown. We reviewed relevant governance instruments from multiple countries to identify how these instruments linked fisheries, aquaculture and food security and nutrition, including the policy framing and evidence of political commitment. Of the documents connecting the sectors (65%), the majority did so in the context of developing the fisheries/aquaculture sector to increase aquatic food availability and/or access (51%), followed by developing the fisheries/aquaculture sector as a livelihoods approach to indirectly improve food security (33%), for example, through income generation. Sectoral links established in the context of nutrition-sensitive approaches to fisheries and aquaculture were less common (5%). Almost one third (29%) of instruments supported the connection between aquatic foods and food security and nutrition across three or more different contexts relevant to food security or food systems, while 12% indicated a very high level of commitment. We recommend some key attributes for future policy development to help build coherence between sectors and to help frame coherent food system-based policies.
Impact of Global Climate Change on the European Barley Market Requires Novel Multi-Method Approaches to Preserve Crop Quality and Authenticity
Authors: Bindereif Stefan G. , Rüll Felix , Kolb Peter , Köberle Lucas , Willms Holger , Steidele Simon , Schwarzinger Stephan , Gebauer Gerhard
Published: July 2021

Most recently in 2018 and 2019, large parts of Europe were affected by periods of massive drought. Resulting losses in cereal yield pose a major risk to the global supply of barley, as more than 60% of global production is based in Europe. Despite the arising price fluctuations on the cereal market, authenticity of the crop must be ensured, which includes correct declaration of harvest years. Here, we show a novel approach that allows such differentiation for spring barley samples, which takes advantage of the chemical changes caused by the extreme drought. Samples from 2018 were successfully differentiated from those of 2017 by analysis of changes in near-infrared spectra, enrichment in the isotope 13C, and strong accumulation of the plant-physiological marker betaine. We demonstrate that through consideration of multiple modern analysis techniques, not only can fraudulent labelling be prevented, but indispensable knowledge on the drought tolerance of crops can be obtained.
Epilepsy Syndromes in the First Year of Life and Usefulness of Genetic Testing for Precision Therapy
Authors: Bayat Allan , Bayat Michael , Rubboli Guido , Møller Rikke S.
Published: July 2021

The high pace of gene discovery has resulted in thrilling advances in the field of epilepsy genetics. Clinical testing with comprehensive gene panels, exomes, or genomes are now increasingly available and have led to a significant higher diagnostic yield in early-onset epilepsies and enabled precision medicine approaches. These have been instrumental in providing insights into the pathophysiology of both early-onset benign and self-limited syndromes and devastating developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs). Genetic heterogeneity is seen in many epilepsy syndromes such as West syndrome and epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures (EIMFS), indicating that two or more genetic loci produce the same or similar phenotypes. At the same time, some genes such as SCN2A can be associated with a wide range of epilepsy syndromes ranging from self-limited familial neonatal epilepsy at the mild end to Ohtahara syndrome, EIFMS, West syndrome, Lennox–Gastaut syndrome, or unclassifiable DEEs at the severe end of the spectrum. The aim of this study was to review the clinical and genetic heterogeneity associated with epilepsy syndromes starting in the first year of life including: Self-limited familial neonatal, neonatal-infantile or infantile epilepsies, genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus spectrum, myoclonic epilepsy in infancy, Ohtahara syndrome, early myoclonic encephalopathy, West syndrome, Dravet syndrome, EIMFS, and unclassifiable DEEs. We also elaborate on the advantages and pitfalls of genetic testing in such conditions. Finally, we describe how a genetic diagnosis can potentially enable precision therapy in monogenic epilepsies and emphasize that early genetic testing is a cornerstone for such therapeutic strategies.
Correction: Kocher (2021). Squaring the Triangle: Queer Futures in Centlivre’s The Wonder. Humanities 10: 53
Authors: Kocher Ziona
Published: July 2021

The authors wish to make the following correction to the paper published in Humanities (Kocher 2021) [...]
Mechanism Influencing Older People’s Willingness to Use Intelligent Aged-Care Products
Authors: Wang Biao , Zhang Rui , Wang Ying
Published: July 2021

Background: With the continuous integration of information technology in the aged-care industry, intelligent aged-care products have gradually appeared, positively promoting the development of the industry. To support the use of these products and to help older people to improve their own health literacy, we built a theoretical model of the mechanism influencing older people’s willingness to use intelligent aged-care products. Methods: A total of 241 valid questionnaires were collected through surveys in aged-care institutions in Anhui Province, China, for empirical analysis. Results: Older people’s perception of quality can significantly affect their emotional attachment and willingness to use these products. Emotional attachment has a significant positive impact on the willingness to use. Self-perceived ageing can also significantly affect the emotional attachment and willingness of older people to use these products. Conclusion: Through empirical analysis, the comprehensive mechanism influencing older people on the willingness to use intelligent aged-care products is clarified, which can help older people to better deal with the problems caused by ageing and help aged-care institutions better relieve the pressure on nursing staff.
Impact of Pumping Rate on Contaminant Transport in Groundwater—A Numerical Study
Authors: Ahmadi Hossein , Kilanehei Fouad , Nazari-Sharabian Mohammad
Published: July 2021

Public supply wells are commonly considered one of the most significant sources of freshwater on Earth. Therefore, potential well water contamination can conceivably be regarded as a crucial issue that is closely correlated with both environmental protection and water demand. In the present study, a three-dimensional numerical model is developed to simulate unsteady and spatially varying groundwater flow, along with contaminant migration. Besides, the proposed model is capable of investigating well water quality by the change of the wells’ pumping rates. The developed model uses a finite-volume time splitting numerical technique to solve governing groundwater flow and soluble contaminant transport equations. Comparison of the numerical simulation results with analytical solutions, as well as experimental and field data, clearly demonstrates the satisfactory performance of the present model. The fundamental aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of pumping rate and its variations on pollution migration through saturated porous media. To meet this purpose, contaminant concentrations and contaminants’ travel time were studied under different pump flow rate conditions. The modeling results revealed that choosing an optimum range for the pumping rate increases contaminant travel time and reduces aquifer vulnerability.
Living with Long Term Conditions from the Perspective of Family Caregivers. A Scoping Review and Narrative Synthesis
Authors: Marín-Maicas Patricia , Corchón Silvia , Ambrosio Leire , Portillo Mari Carmen
Published: July 2021

(1) Background: When living with one or more long term conditions (LTCs), both the patient and the family experience the impact of the condition at different levels. The family’s needs and perceptions should be considered in the process of caring for people with LTCs. The aim of this review is to understand “the process of living with LTCs” from a family perspective. (2) Methods: A scoping review and narrative synthesis were conducted using a systematic methodology in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science and PsycINFO, in English and Spanish, including evidence from 2018. (3) Results: A total of 28 articles were included in the review. Acceptance, coping, self-management, integration, and adjustment were key attributes in the process of living with LTCs from the perspective of family caregivers that interrelated in a dynamic way through different mechanisms: being aware of the changing situation, personal networks, information and education, personal conditions, attitude to life and communication. (4) Conclusions: The five attributes that comprise living with LTCs from the perspective of the family caregiver are closely connected of to those of patients living with LTCs; however, self-management and integration have a different meaning and application.
Evaluation of Prognostic Factors for Palatal Fistulae after Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery in a North-Western Romanian Population over a 10-Year Period
Authors: Opris Daiana Antoaneta , Opris Horia , Dinu Cristian , Bran Simion , Baciut Grigore , Armencea Gabriel , Mitre Ileana , Colosi Horatiu Alexandru , Baciut Mihaela
Published: July 2021

Cleft lip and palate is the most frequent birth anomaly, with increasing reported rates of complications, such as palate fistulae. Current studies concerning the occurrence rate of cleft lip and palate (CLP) report 2 to 10 cases in 10,000 births. The purpose of this study was to investigate the existence of factors that could predict the occurrence of fistulae after cleft lip and palate surgery. A retrospective study was performed by collecting and analyzing data from all patients who were operated for cleft lip and/or palate in the Maxillo-Facial Department of the Emergency Clinical County Hospital of Cluj-Napoca, Romania, between 2010 and 2020. We investigated the existing evidence for possible links between the number of fistulae observed after the primary palatoplasty and the age at which the primary palatoplasty was performed, the sex of the patient, the type of cleft, the timing of the surgical corrections, and the presence of comorbidities. A total of 137 cases were included for analysis. A significant link between the number of fistulae and the type of cleft was found (with fistulae occurring more frequently after the surgical correction of CLP—p < 0.001). No evidence was found for the existence of significant links between the number of fistulae and the patient’s sex, the timing of surgery, or the presence of comorbidities. This study concluded that the incidence of palatal fistulae appears to be influenced by the type of cleft (CLP), but not by the sex of the patient, the timing of surgery, or the presence of comorbidities.
The Long-Term Public Health Impact of Social Distancing on Brain Health: Topical Review
Authors: Kumar Anagha , Salinas Joel
Published: July 2021

Social distancing has been a critical public health measure for the COVID-19 pandemic, yet a long history of research strongly suggests that loneliness and social isolation play a major role in several cognitive health issues. What is the true severity and extent of risks involved and what are potential approaches to balance these competing risks? This review aimed to summarize the neurological context of social isolation and loneliness in population health and the long-term effects of social distancing as it relates to neurocognitive aging, health, and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The full scope of the underlying causal mechanisms of social isolation and loneliness in humans remains unclear partly because its study is not amenable to randomized controlled trials; however, there are many detailed experimental and observational studies that may provide a hypothesis-generating theoretical framework to better understand the pathophysiology and underlying neurobiology. To address these challenges and inform future studies, we conducted a topical review of extant literature investigating associations of social isolation and loneliness with relevant biological, cognitive, and psychosocial outcomes, and provide recommendations on how to approach the need to fill key knowledge gaps in this important area of research.
Big Data Technology Applications and the Right to Health in China during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Shen Taixia , Wang Chao
Published: July 2021

Individuals have the right to health according to the Constitution and other laws in China. Significant barriers have prevented the full realisation of the right to health in the COVID-19 era. Big data technology, which is a vital tool for COVID-19 containment, has been a central topic of discussion, as it has been used to protect the right to health through public health surveillance, contact tracing, real-time epidemic outbreak monitoring, trend forecasting, online consultations, and the allocation of medical and health resources in China. Big data technology has enabled precise and efficient epidemic prevention and control and has improved the efficiency and accuracy of the diagnosis and treatment of this new form of coronavirus pneumonia due to Chinese institutional factors. Although big data technology has successfully supported the containment of the virus and protected the right to health in the COVID-19 era, it also risks infringing on individual privacy rights. Chinese policymakers should understand the positive and negative impacts of big data technology and should prioritise the Personal Information Protection Law and other laws that are meant to protect and strengthen the right to privacy.
Accuracy of a Smartphone Application Measuring Snoring in Adults—How Smart Is It Actually?
Authors: Klaus Katharina , Stummer Anna-Lena , Ruf Sabine
Published: July 2021

About 40% of the adult population is affected by snoring, which is closely related to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and can be associated with serious health implications. Commercial smartphone applications (apps) offer the possibility of monitoring snoring at home. However, the number of validation studies addressing snoring apps is limited. The purpose of the present study was to assess the accuracy of recorded snoring using the free version of the app SnoreLab (Reviva Softworks Ltd., London, UK) in comparison to a full-night polygraphic measurement (Miniscreen plus, Löwenstein Medical GmbH & Co., KG, Bad Ems, Germany). Nineteen healthy adult volunteers (4 female, 15 male, mean age: 38.9 ± 19.4 years) underwent simultaneous polygraphic and SnoreLab app measurement for one night at home. Parameters obtained by the SnoreLab app were: starting/ending time of monitoring, time in bed, duration and percent of quiet sleep, light, loud and epic snoring, total snoring time and Snore Score, a specific score obtained by the SnoreLab app. Data obtained from polygraphy were: starting/ending time of monitoring, time in bed, total snoring time, snore index (SI), snore index obstructive (SI obstructive) and apnea-hypopnea-index (AHI). For different thresholds of percentage snoring per night, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated. Comparison of methods was undertaken by Spearman-Rho correlations and Bland-Altman plots. The SnoreLab app provides acceptable accuracy values measuring snoring >50% per night: 94.7% accuracy, 100% sensitivity, 94.1% specificity, 66.6% positive prediction value and 100% negative prediction value. Best agreement between both methods was achieved in comparing the sum of loud and epic snoring ratios obtained by the SnoreLab app with the total snoring ratio measured by polygraphy. Obstructive events could not be detected by the SnoreLab app. Compared to polygraphy, the SnoreLab app provides acceptable accuracy values regarding the measurement of especially heavy snoring.
Relations between Stress and Depressive Symptoms in Psychiatric Nurses: The Mediating Effects of Sleep Quality and Occupational Burnout
Authors: Hsieh Hsiu-Fen , Liu Yi , Hsu Hsin-Tien , Ma Shu-Ching , Wang Hsiu-Hung , Ko Chih-Hung
Published: July 2021

This study examines the parallel multiple mediators of quality of sleep and occupational burnout between perceived stress and depressive symptoms in psychiatric nurses. Nurses are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, decreased job satisfaction, and reduced organizational loyalty as a result of the stressful work environment and heavy workload. A total of 248 psychiatric ward (PW) nurses participated in this cross-sectional survey study. Structural equation modelling was used for data analysis. In the model of parallel multiple mediators for depressive symptoms, quality of sleep and occupational burnout played mediating roles, and these two mediators strengthened the effect of stress on depressive symptoms, with the final model showing a good fit. Stress, occupational burnout, and quality of sleep explained 46.0% of the variance in psychiatric nurses’ depressive symptoms. Stress had no significantly direct effect on psychiatric nurses’ depressive symptoms, but it had a completed mediation effect on their depressive symptoms through occupational burnout and quality of sleep. This study showed that reduction of occupational burnout and improvement of quality of sleep play important roles against depressive symptoms among PW nurses. Healthcare managers should provide PW nurses with a better environment for improving quality of sleep and reducing occupational burnout.
Bioactive Compounds of Porcine Hearts and Aortas May Improve Cardiovascular Disorders in Humans
Authors: Chernukha Irina , Kotenkova Elena , Derbeneva Svetlana , Khvostov Daniil
Published: July 2021

Functional foods promote health benefits in human metabolism, with bioactive compounds acting as therapeutic agents. The aim was to investigate the biological effects of a pâté made of pork hearts and aortas, minced, sterilised and packed in tins. Adults (61–66 years old) with a body mass index of 26.4–60.7 kg/m2 (n = 36) were randomly divided into two groups: one group consumed a low-calorie diet (LCD), while the other consumed an LCD with the developed meat product (MP) for 28–30 days. Serum biochemical parameters, anthropometry and blood pressure were measured. Consumption of an LCD + MP by experimental group participants helped to maintain reduced cholesterol levels. The difference in total cholesterol was significantly different (p = 0.018) from that of the control group, mainly due to the difference in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.005). Six peptides with potential cholesterol-binding properties and four peptides with potential antioxidant activity were identified in the MP, while elevation of the content of two peptides with potential angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitory activity was detected in patients’ plasma. Intervention with the MP can be considered as a supportive therapy to the main treatment for medical cardiovascular diseases due to a positive effect on serum cholesterol.
GhKWL1 Upregulates GhERF105 but Its Function Is Impaired by Binding with VdISC1, a Pathogenic Effector of Verticillium dahliae
Authors: Chen Yang , Zhang Mi , Wang Lei , Yu Xiaohan , Li Xianbi , Jin Dan , Zeng Jianyan , Ren Hui , Wang Fanlong , Song Shuiqing , Yan Xingying , Zhao Juan , Pei Yan
Published: July 2021

Verticillium wilt, caused by Verticillium dahliae, is a devastating disease for many important crops, including cotton. Kiwellins (KWLs), a group of cysteine-rich proteins synthesized in many plants, have been shown to be involved in response to various phytopathogens. To evaluate genes for their function in resistance to Verticillium wilt, we investigated KWL homologs in cotton. Thirty-five KWL genes (GhKWLs) were identified from the genome of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). Among them, GhKWL1 was shown to be localized in nucleus and cytosol, and its gene expression is induced by the infection of V. dahliae. We revealed that GhKWL1 was a positive regulator of GhERF105. Silencing of GhKWL1 resulted in a decrease, whereas overexpression led to an increase in resistance of transgenic plants to Verticillium wilt. Interestingly, through binding to GhKWL1, the pathogenic effector protein VdISC1 produced by V. dahliae could impair the defense response mediated by GhKWL1. Therefore, our study suggests there is a GhKWL1-mediated defense response in cotton, which can be hijacked by V. dahliae through the interaction of VdISC1 with GhKWL1.
Ipragliflozin Ameliorates Diabetic Nephropathy Associated with Perirenal Adipose Expansion in Mice
Authors: Okuma Hideyuki , Mori Kentaro , Nakamura Suguru , Sekine Tetsuo , Ogawa Yoshihiro , Tsuchiya Kyoichiro
Published: July 2021

Sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors inhibit the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). We determined whether changes in perirenal fat (PRAT) by a SGLT2 inhibitor ipragliflozin (Ipra) contribute to the suppression of DN development. High-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice were used as a DN model and were treated with or without Ipra for 6 weeks. Ipra treatment reduced urinary albumin excretion (UAE) and glomerular hypertrophy in HFD-fed mice. In the PRAT of Ipra-treated mice, adipocyte size was increased, and inflammation, fibrosis, and adipocyte death were suppressed. In conditioned medium made from PRAT (PRAT-CM) of Ipra-treated mice, the concentration of leptin was significantly lower than PRAT-CM of mice without Ipra treatment. Serum leptin concentration in renal vein positively correlated with UAE. PRAT-CM from HFD-fed mice showed greater cell proliferation signaling in mouse glomerular endothelial cells (GECs) than PRAT-CM from standard diet-fed mice via p38MAPK and leptin-dependent pathways, whose effects were significantly attenuated in PRAT-CM from Ipra-treated mice. These findings suggest that Ipra-induced PRAT expansion may play an important role in the improvement of DN in HFD-fed mice. In vitro experiments suggest that reduced PRAT-derived leptin by Ipra could inhibit GECs proliferation, possibly contributing to the suppression of DN development.
Pantoea Bacteriophage vB_PagS_MED16—A Siphovirus Containing a 2′-Deoxy-7-amido-7-deazaguanosine-Modified DNA
Authors: Šimoliūnienė Monika , Žukauskienė Emilija , Truncaitė Lidija , Cui Liang , Hutinet Geoffrey , Kazlauskas Darius , Kaupinis Algirdas , Skapas Martynas , Crécy-Lagard Valérie de , Dedon Peter C. , Valius Mindaugas , Meškys Rolandas , Šimoliūnas Eugenijus
Published: July 2021

A novel siphovirus, vB_PagS_MED16 (MED16) was isolated in Lithuania using Pantoea agglomerans strain BSL for the phage propagation. The double-stranded DNA genome of MED16 (46,103 bp) contains 73 predicted open reading frames (ORFs) encoding proteins, but no tRNA. Our comparative sequence analysis revealed that 26 of these ORFs code for unique proteins that have no reliable identity when compared to database entries. Based on phylogenetic analysis, MED16 represents a new genus with siphovirus morphology. In total, 35 MED16 ORFs were given a putative functional annotation, including those coding for the proteins responsible for virion morphogenesis, phage–host interactions, and DNA metabolism. In addition, a gene encoding a preQ0 DNA deoxyribosyltransferase (DpdA) is present in the genome of MED16 and the LC–MS/MS analysis indicates 2′-deoxy-7-amido-7-deazaguanosine (dADG)-modified phage DNA, which, to our knowledge, has never been experimentally validated in genomes of Pantoea phages. Thus, the data presented in this study provide new information on Pantoea-infecting viruses and offer novel insights into the diversity of DNA modifications in bacteriophages.
Influence of Small Quantities of Water on the Physical Properties of Alkylammonium Nitrate Ionic Liquids
Authors: Ausín David , Parajó Juan J. , Trenzado José L. , Varela Luis M. , Cabeza Oscar , Segade Luisa
Published: July 2021

This paper presents a comprehensive study of two alkylammonium nitrate ionic liquids. As part of this family of materials, mainly ethylammonium nitrate (EAN) and also propylammonium nitrate (PAN) have attracted a great deal of attention during the last decades due to their potential applications in many fields. Although there have been numerous publications focused on the measurement of their physical properties, a great dispersion can be observed in the results obtained for the same magnitude. One of the critical points to be taken into account in their physical characterization is their water content. Thus, the main objective of this work was to determine the degree of influence of the presence of small quantities of water in EAN and PAN on the measurement of density, viscosity, electrical conductivity, refractive index and surface tension. For this purpose, the first three properties were determined in samples of EAN and PAN with water contents below 30,000 ppm in a wide range of temperatures, between 5 and 95 °C, while the last two were obtained at 25 °C. As a result of this study, it has been concluded that the presence of water is critical in those physical properties that involve mass or charge transport processes, resulting in the finding that the absolute value of the average percentage change in both viscosity and electrical conductivity is above 40%. Meanwhile, refractive index (≤0.3%), density (≤0.5%) and surface tension (≤2%) present much less significant changes.
Rosiglitasone and ROCK Inhibitors Modulate Fibrogenetic Changes in TGF-β2 Treated Human Conjunctival Fibroblasts (HconF) in Different Manners
Authors: Oouchi Yuika , Watanabe Megumi , Ida Yosuke , Ohguro Hiroshi , Hikage Fumihito
Published: July 2021

Purpose: The effects of Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase (ROCK) 1 and 2 inhibitor, ripasudil hydrochloride hydrate (Rip), ROCK2 inhibitor, KD025 or rosiglitazone (Rosi) on two-dimension (2D) and three-dimension (3D) cultured human conjunctival fibroblasts (HconF) treated by transforming growth factor (TGFβ2) were studied. Methods: Two-dimension and three-dimension cultured HconF were examined by transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER, 2D), size and stiffness (3D), and the expression of the extracellular matrix (ECM) including collagen1 (COL1), COL4 and COL6, fibronectin (FN), and α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) by quantitative PCR (2D, 3D) in the presence of Rip, KD025 or Rosi. Results: TGFβ2 caused a significant increase in (1) the TEER values (2D) which were greatly reduced by Rosi, (2) the stiffness of the 3D organoids which were substantially reduced by Rip or KD025, and (3) TGFβ2 induced a significant up-regulation of all ECMs, except for COL6 (2D) or αSMA (3D), and down-regulation of COL6 (2D). Rosi caused a significant up-regulation of COL1, 4 and 6 (3D), and down-regulation of COL6 (2D) and αSMA (3D). Most of these TGFβ2-induced expressions in the 2D and αSMA in the 3D were substantially inhibited by KD025, but COL4 and αSMA in 2D were further enhanced by Rip. Conclusion: The findings reported herein indicate that TGFβ2 induces an increase in fibrogenetic changes on the plane and in the spatial space, and are inhibited by Rosi and ROCK inhibitors, respectively.
Genetic Modeling of the Neurodegenerative Disease Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1 in Zebrafish
Authors: Elsaey Mohamed A. , Namikawa Kazuhiko , Köster Reinhard W.
Published: July 2021

Dominant spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are progredient neurodegenerative diseases commonly affecting the survival of Purkinje cells (PCs) in the human cerebellum. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is caused by the mutated ataxin1 (Atx1) gene product, in which a polyglutamine stretch encoded by CAG repeats is extended in affected SCA1 patients. As a monogenetic disease with the Atx1-polyQ protein exerting a gain of function, SCA1 can be genetically modelled in animals by cell type-specific overexpression. We have established a transgenic PC-specific SCA1 model in zebrafish coexpressing the fluorescent reporter protein mScarlet together with either human wild type Atx1[30Q] as control or SCA1 patient-derived Atx1[82Q]. SCA1 zebrafish display an age-dependent PC degeneration starting at larval stages around six weeks postfertilization, which continuously progresses during further juvenile and young adult stages. Interestingly, PC degeneration is observed more severely in rostral than in caudal regions of the PC population. Although such a neuropathology resulted in no gross locomotor control deficits, SCA1-fish with advanced PC loss display a reduced exploratory behaviour. In vivo imaging in this SCA1 model may help to better understand such patterned PC death known from PC neurodegeneration diseases, to elucidate disease mechanisms and to provide access to neuroprotective compound characterization in vivo.
Contribution of “Omic” Studies to the Understanding of Cadasil. A Systematic Review
Authors: Muiño Elena , Fernández-Cadenas Israel , Arboix Adrià
Published: July 2021

CADASIL (Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy) is a small vessel disease caused by mutations in NOTCH3 that lead to an odd number of cysteines in the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like repeat domain, causing protein misfolding and aggregation. The main symptoms are migraines, psychiatric disorders, recurrent strokes, and dementia. Omic technologies allow the massive study of different molecules for understanding diseases in a non-biased manner or even for discovering targets and their possible treatments. We analyzed the progress in understanding CADASIL that has been made possible by omics sciences. For this purpose, we included studies that focused on CADASIL and used omics techniques, searching bibliographic resources, such as PubMed. We excluded studies with other phenotypes, such as migraine or leukodystrophies. A total of 18 articles were reviewed. Due to the high prevalence of NOTCH3 mutations considered pathogenic to date in genomic repositories, one can ask whether all of them produce CADASIL, different degrees of the disease, or whether they are just a risk factor for small vessel disease. Besides, proteomics and transcriptomics studies found that the molecules that are significantly altered in CADASIL are mainly related to cell adhesion, the cytoskeleton or extracellular matrix components, misfolding control, autophagia, angiogenesis, or the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling pathway. The omics studies performed on CADASIL have been useful for understanding the biological mechanisms and could be key factors for finding potential drug targets.
Transition between Random and Periodic Electron Currents on a DNA Chain
Authors: Faraji Elham , Franzosi Roberto , Mancini Stefano , Pettini Marco
Published: July 2021

By resorting to a model inspired to the standard Davydov and Holstein-Fröhlich models, in the present paper we study the motion of an electron along a chain of heavy particles modeling a sequence of nucleotides proper to a DNA fragment. Starting with a model Hamiltonian written in second quantization, we use the Time Dependent Variational Principle to work out the dynamical equations of the system. It can be found that, under the action of an external source of energy transferred to the electron, and according to the excitation site, the electron current can display either a broad frequency spectrum or a sharply peaked frequency spectrum. This sequence-dependent charge transfer phenomenology is suggestive of a potentially rich variety of electrodynamic interactions of DNA molecules under the action of electron excitation. This could imply the activation of interactions between DNA and transcription factors, or between DNA and external electromagnetic fields.
Provider Perspectives on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Newborn Screening
Authors: Gold Jessica I. , Campbell Ian M. , Ficicioglu Can
Published: July 2021

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant changes in healthcare delivery. Telemedicine rapidly and unexpectedly became the primary vehicle for ambulatory management. As newborn screen (NBS) referrals require varying levels of acuity, whether telemedicine could be used as a safe and effective medium to return these results were unknown. We sent an online survey to metabolism providers internationally to investigate triage differences of abnormal NBS results during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey compared personal practice for the periods of March–June 2019 and March–June 2020. Responses were received from 44 providers practicing in 8 countries. Nearly all (93%) practiced in areas of widespread SARS-COV-2 community transmission during spring 2020. There was a significant expansion of telemedicine use for NBS referrals at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (OR: 12, 95% CI: 3.66–39.3, p < 0.0001). Telehealth primarily replaced in-person ambulatory metabolism visits. The increased frequency of virtual care was similar across NBS analytes. Providers found telehealth for NBS referral equally efficacious to in-person care. Institutional patient surveys showed no difference in satisfaction with provider communication, provider empathy, or appointment logistics. Our survey was limited by unprecedented disruption in healthcare delivery, necessitating further validation of telegenetics for NBS in the post-pandemic era. Nevertheless, our findings demonstrate that telemedicine is potentially a viable and practical tool for triaging abnormal NBS results.
Mono- and Dinuclear Aluminium Complexes Derived from Biguanide and Carbothiamide Ligands
Authors: Dehmel Maximilian , Görls Helmar , Kretschmer Robert
Published: July 2021

Dianionic N,N-chelating ligands play a crucial role in coordination chemistry, but reports on related complexes remain limited to certain types of ligands. In here, the reactions of two diprotic ligands, i.e., a biguanide and a carbothiamide, with trimethylaluminium, are reported, which give rise to mono- and dinuclear aluminium(III) complexes. In addition, single deprotonation of the diprotic biguanide using potassium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide gives rise to a one-dimensional coordination polymer. All complexes have been fully characterized, and their solid-state structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.
Distribution of the Main Apis mellifera Mitochondrial DNA Lineages in Italy Assessed Using an Environmental DNA Approach
Authors: Utzeri Valerio Joe , Ribani Anisa , Taurisano Valeria , Banqué Carles Hernández i , Fontanesi Luca
Published: July 2021

Growing interest has been emerging on the need to monitor the genetic integrity of the European Apis mellifera subspecies that could be threatened by the human-mediated dispersion of non-native populations and lines. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineages can provide useful information for this purpose. In this study, we took advantage of the environmental DNA (eDNA) contained in the honey, which can be analyzed to detect the main groups of mitotypes of the honey bees that produced it. In this study, we applied this eDNA to produce a distribution map all over the Italian peninsula and the two major islands (Sicily and Sardinia) of the following three honey bee mtDNA lineages: A, C and M. A total of 607 georeferenced honey samples, produced in all Italian regions, was analyzed to detect these lineages. The A lineage was widespread in Sicily, as expected, considering that A. m. siciliana carries the African lineage. Surprisingly, this lineage was also reported in about 14% of all other samples produced in almost all continental regions, and in Sardinia. The applied method obtained an updated distribution map of honey bee mtDNA lineages that could be useful to design policies for the conservation of Italian honey bee genetic resources.