bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Odontoma compuesto asociado a canino superior primario retenido. Reporte de caso
Authors: Corral Peñafiel David Francisco , Perea Paz Miguel Benjamín , Lévano Loayza Sandro Alexander
Published: January 2021

El odontoma compuesto es una patología poco frecuente y representa el 1.3% de todos los tumores odontogénicos. Su etiología es multifactorial y se le atribuye principalmente, a algunas teorías. También a traumatismos y factores genéticos, etc. El tratamiento es la enucleación de la entidad. El presente caso es de un paciente masculino de 7 años de edad que acudió al Centro Dental Docente de la Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima - Perú presentando la ausencia de la pieza 63 y una tumoración en la zona anterosuperior del lado izquierdo. Se realizaron exámenes imagenológicos como radiografías periapicales, panorámica y Tomografía Computarizada de Haz Cónico (TCHC); posteriormente se procedió a la enucleación del tumor odontogénico y se extrajo la pieza 63; el diagnostico presuntivo fue confirmando por el examen anatomo patológico como odontoma compuesto. El conocimiento de las características normales de la cavidad oral y la cronología de erupción dentaria, pueden llevar a un diagnóstico temprano de una patología como el odontoma. Permitiendo tratar oportunamente al paciente, evitando así posibles complicaciones.
Hantering av gymnasieungdomars vardagliga konflikter med jämnåriga
Authors: Szklarski Andrzej
Published: January 2021

Konflikter kan hanteras destruktivt eller konstruktivt. Destruktiv hantering av vardagliga konflikter med jämnåriga dominerar kraftigt bland gymnasieungdomar. Det är därför viktigt att hjälpa ungdomarna att utveckla förmågor för konstruktiv konflikthantering. Utifrån en spelteoretisk metod skapades ett förhållningssätt som efter testning visade sig vara effektivt för att främja konstruktiv konflikthantering. Förhållningssättet upplevdes också övervägande positivt av ungdomarna efter dess användning under en veckas träningsperiod.
Stabilizing Grain Yield and Nutrition Quality in Purple Rice Varieties by Management of Planting Elevation and Storage Conditions
Authors: Yamuangmorn Supapohn , Jumrus Suchada , Jamjod Sansanee , Yimyam Narit , Prom-u-Thai Chanakan
Published: January 2021

Purple rice has become an interesting source of nutritional value among healthy cereal grains. The appropriate cultivation together with post-harvest management would directly benefit farmers and consumers. This study aimed (i) to determine the yield, grain nutritional quality, and antioxidant capacity of purple rice varieties grown at lowland and highland elevations, and (ii) to evaluate the effects of storage conditions on the stability of the rice nutritional value during six months of storage. The high anthocyanin PES variety grown in the lowlands had a higher grain yield than the plants grown in the highlands, but grain anthocyanin concentration had the opposite pattern. In the high antioxidant capacity KAK variety, grain yield and DPPH activity were not significantly different between plants grown at the two elevations. The storage of brown rice and vacuum-sealed packages were both found to preserve greater anthocyanin concentrations in PES, but there was no effect on the DPPH activity of KAK. The grain properties were not significantly different between storage at 4 °C and room temperature. This study suggests that the optimal cultivation practices and storage conditions would result in the higher yield and grain quality of purple rice varieties.
Insights in the Role of Lipids, Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis Unveiled by New Trends in Lipidomic Investigations
Authors: Ferreira Helena Beatriz , Melo Tânia , Paiva Artur , Domingues Maria do Rosário
Published: January 2021

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a highly debilitating chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease most prevalent in women. The true etiology of this disease is complex, multifactorial, and is yet to be completely elucidated. However, oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation are associated with the development and pathogenesis of RA. In this case, oxidative damage biomarkers have been found to be significantly higher in RA patients, associated with the oxidation of biomolecules and the stimulation of inflammatory responses. Lipid peroxidation is one of the major consequences of oxidative stress, with the formation of deleterious lipid hydroperoxides and electrophilic reactive lipid species. Additionally, changes in the lipoprotein profile seem to be common in RA, contributing to cardiovascular diseases and a chronic inflammatory environment. Nevertheless, changes in the lipid profile at a molecular level in RA are still poorly understood. Therefore, the goal of this review was to gather all the information regarding lipid alterations in RA analyzed by mass spectrometry. Studies on the variation of lipid profile in RA using lipidomics showed that fatty acid and phospholipid metabolisms, especially in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, are affected in this disease. These promising results could lead to the discovery of new diagnostic lipid biomarkers for early diagnosis of RA and targets for personalized medicine.
Disrupted H2S Signaling by Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Drinking: Evidence from Cellular, Animal, and Clinical Studies
Authors: Read Ethan , Zhu Jiechun , Yang Guangdong
Published: January 2021

The role of endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) as an antioxidant regulator has sparked interest in its function within inflammatory diseases. Cigarette and alcohol use are major causes of premature death, resulting from chronic oxidative stress and subsequent tissue damage. The activation of the Nrf2 antioxidant response by H2S suggests that this novel gasotransmitter may function to prevent or potentially reverse disease progression caused by cigarette smoking or alcohol use. The purpose of this study is to review the interrelationship between H2S signaling and cigarette smoking or alcohol drinking. Based on the databases of cellular, animal, and clinical studies from Pubmed using the keywords of H2S, smoking, and/or alcohol, this review article provides a comprehensive insight into disrupted H2S signaling by alcohol drinking and cigarette smoking-caused disorders. Major signaling and metabolic pathways involved in H2S-derived antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses are further reviewed. H2S supplementation may prove to be an invaluable asset in treating or preventing diseases in those suffering from cigarette or alcohol addiction.
Oxidative Stress in Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Ortega Ángel L.
Published: January 2021

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a progressive asymptomatic neuro-vascular complication of diabetes that triggers irreversible retinal damage [...]
Overexpression of the Golden SNP-Carrying Orange Gene Enhances Carotenoid Accumulation and Heat Stress Tolerance in Sweetpotato Plants
Authors: Kim So-Eun , Lee Chan-Ju , Park Sul-U , Lim Ye-Hoon , Park Woo Sung , Kim Hye-Jin , Ahn Mi-Jeong , Kwak Sang-Soo , Kim Ho Soo
Published: January 2021

Carotenoids function as photosynthetic accessory pigments, antioxidants, and vitamin A precursors. We recently showed that transgenic sweetpotato calli overexpressing the mutant sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam) Orange gene (IbOr-R96H), which carries a single nucleotide polymorphism responsible for Arg to His substitution at amino acid position 96, exhibited dramatically higher carotenoid content and abiotic stress tolerance than calli overexpressing the wild-type IbOr gene (IbOr-WT). In this study, we generated transgenic sweetpotato plants overexpressing IbOr-R96H under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The total carotenoid contents of IbOr-R96H storage roots (light-orange flesh) and IbOr-WT storage roots (light-yellow flesh) were 5.4–19.6 and 3.2-fold higher, respectively, than those of non-transgenic (NT) storage roots (white flesh). The β-carotene content of IbOr-R96H storage roots was up to 186.2-fold higher than that of NT storage roots. In addition, IbOr-R96H plants showed greater tolerance to heat stress (47 °C) than NT and IbOr-WT plants, possibly because of higher DPPH radical scavenging activity and ABA contents. These results indicate that IbOr-R96H is a promising strategy for developing new sweetpotato cultivars with improved carotenoid contents and heat stress tolerance.
MANTRA: An Effective System Based on Augmented Reality and Infrared Thermography for Industrial Maintenance
Authors: Ortega Mario , Ivorra Eugenio , Juan Alejandro , Venegas Pablo , Martínez Jorge , Alcañiz Mariano
Published: January 2021

In recent years, the benefits of both Augmented Reality (AR) technology and infrared thermography (IRT) have been demonstrated in the industrial maintenance sector, allowing maintenance operations to be carried out in a safer, faster, and more efficient manner. However, there still exists no solution that optimally combines both technologies. In this work, we propose a new AR system—MANTRA—with specific application to industrial maintenance. The system can automatically align virtual information and temperature on any 3D object, in real time. This is achieved through the joint use of an RGB-D sensor and an IRT camera, leading to high accuracy and robustness. To achieve this objective, a pose estimation method that combines a deep-learning-based object detection method, YOLOV4, together with the template-based LINEMOD pose estimation method, as well as a model-based 6DOF pose tracking technique, was developed. The MANTRA system is validated both quantitatively and qualitatively through a real use-case, demonstrating the effectiveness of the system compared to traditional methods and those using only AR.
Smartphone-Based NFC Potentiostat for Wireless Electrochemical Sensing
Authors: Krorakai Karnpimon , Klangphukhiew Supannika , Kulchat Sirinan , Patramanon Rina
Published: January 2021

Most electrochemical sensing requires affordable, portable and easy-to-use electrochemical devices for use in point-of-care testing and resource-limited settings. This work presents the design and evaluates the analytical performance of a near-field communication (NFC) potentiostat, a flat card-sized electrochemical device containing a microchip for electrical analysis and an NFC antenna for smartphone connection. The NFC interface is a wireless connection between the microchip and smartphone to simplify measuring units and make the potentiostat into a passive operated device, running without a battery. The proposed potentiostat can perform the common electrochemical techniques including cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry with a current range and voltage range of ±20 µA and ±0.8 V. The performance of the NFC potentiostat is compared to a commercial benchtop potentiostat using ferricyanide as a standard solution. The results show that the NFC potentiostat is comparable to a commercial benchtop potentiostat for both cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry measurements. The application of the proposed potentiostat is demonstrated by measuring ascorbic acid concentration. As described, the NFC potentiostat, which is compatible with a smartphone, is low-cost, small in size and user-friendly. Thus, the device can be developed for on-site measurement to apply in various fields.
Role of Autologous Platelet Gel (APG) in Bone Healing: A Rabbit Study
Authors: Scarano Antonio , Inchingolo Francesco , Rapone Biagio , Lucchina Alberta Greco , Qorri Erda , Lorusso Felice
Published: January 2021

Purpose: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the influence and efficacy of autologous platelets on bone regeneration in a rabbit defects model. Materials and Methods: A total of 12 critical size tibial defects were produced in six New Zealand rabbits: A total of six defects were filled with autologous platelet gel (APG) and six defects were maintained as untreated controls. No membranes were used to cover the bone osteotomies. The histology and histomorphometry were performed at four weeks on retrieved samples of both groups. Results: No complications were reported in any of the animals nor for the defects produced. A significantly higher lamellar and woven bone percentage was reported for the APG group with a lower level of marrow spaces (p < 0.05). Evidence of newly formed bone was found in the superficial portion of the bone defect of APG samples where no aspects of bone resorption were observed. Conclusions: The evidence of the present research revealed that APG increases new bone formation restricted to the cortical portion and induces more rapid healing in rabbit bone defects than in untreated defects.
Fatigue Failure of a Pressing Machine
Authors: Garan Martin , Chmelko Vladimír , Šulko Miroslav , Musil Miloš
Published: January 2021

This article presents an analysis of the causes of a fatigue crack in the guide bar of a pressing device. The detailed analysis included the analysis of a material’s microstructure and its cyclic properties. Direct measurements of the strains during operation allowed the nominal loading process in the critical cross-section of the press subassembly to be obtained. The notch effect of the inner thread of the guide bar was analyzed using a precision FEM (finite element method) model and was followed by the transformation of the nominal loading into the notch root. A methodological approach was formulated based on the analyses made, which lay in the statistical interpretation of the factors leading to an identification of the cause of an early fracture.
Compositional Modeling of Dimethyl Ether–CO2 Mixed Solvent for Enhanced Oil Recovery
Authors: Lee Young Woo , Lee Hye Seung , Jeong Moon Sik , Cho Jinhyung , Lee Kun Sang
Published: January 2021

Dimethyl ether (DME) is a compound first introduced by Shell as a chemical solvent for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). This study aims to investigate the efficiency of EOR using the minimum miscible pressure (MMP) and viscous gravity number when a mixed solvent of CO2 and DME is injected. Adding DME to the CO2 water-alternating-gas process reduces the MMP and viscous gravity number. Reduction in MMP results in miscible conditions at lower pressures, which has a favorable effect on oil swelling and viscosity reduction, leading to improved mobility of the oil. In addition, the viscous gravity number decreases, increasing the sweep efficiency by 26.6%. Numerical studies were conducted through a series of multi-phase, multi-component simulations. At a DME content of 25%, the MMP decreased by 30.1% and the viscous gravity number decreased by 66.4% compared with the injection of CO2 only. As a result, the maximum oil recovery rate increased by 31% with simultaneous injection of DME and CO2 compared with only using CO2.
A Passively Q-Switched Holmium-Doped Fiber Laser with Graphene Oxide at 2058 nm
Authors: Lee Jinho , Lee Ju Han
Published: January 2021

This study reports a Q-switching-based, 2058-nm holmium (Ho) fiber laser incorporating a saturable absorber (SA) based on graphene oxide (GO). The SA was prepared with a side-polished fiber, while GO particles were deposited onto the fiber-polished surface to realize an all-fiber SA. A continuous-wave thulium-doped all-fiber laser, which was configured with a master-oscillator power-amplifier (MOPA) structure, was constructed as a pumping source. By inserting the fabricated SA into an all-fiber ring resonator based on 1-m length of Ho-doped fiber, Q-switched pulses could readily be obtained at a wavelength of 2058 nm. The pulse width was observed to vary from 2.01 to 1.56 μs as the pump power was adjusted from ~759 to 1072 mW, while the repetition rate was tunable from 45.56 to 56.12 kHz. The maximum values of average optical power and pulse energy were measured as ~11.61 mW and 207.05 nJ, respectively, at a ~1072 mW pump power.
Somatostatin Ameliorates β-Amyloid-Induced Cytotoxicity via the Regulation of CRMP2 Phosphorylation and Calcium Homeostasis in SH-SY5Y Cells
Authors: Paik Seungil , Somvanshi Rishi K. , Oliveira Helen A. , Zou Shenglong , Kumar Ujendra
Published: January 2021

Somatostatin is involved in the regulation of multiple signaling pathways and affords neuroprotection in response to neurotoxins. In the present study, we investigated the role of Somatostatin-14 (SST) in cell viability and the regulation of phosphorylation of Collapsin Response Mediator Protein 2 (CRMP2) (Ser522) via the blockade of Ca2+ accumulation, along with the inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) and Calpain activation in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. Cell Viability and Caspase 3/7 assays suggest that the presence of SST ameliorates mitochondrial stability and cell survival pathways while augmenting pro-apoptotic pathways activated by Aβ. SST inhibits the phosphorylation of CRMP2 at Ser522 site, which is primarily activated by CDK5. Furthermore, SST effectively regulates Ca2+ influx in the presence of Aβ, directly affecting the activity of calpain in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. We also demonstrated that SSTR2 mediates the protective effects of SST. In conclusion, our results highlight the regulatory role of SST in intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. The neuroprotective role of SST via axonal regeneration and synaptic integrity is corroborated by regulating changes in CRMP2; however, SST-mediated changes in the blockade of Ca2+ influx, calpain expression, and toxicity did not correlate with CDK5 expression and p35/25 accumulation. To summarize, our findings suggest two independent mechanisms by which SST mediates neuroprotection and confirms the therapeutic implications of SST in AD as well as in other neurodegenerative diseases where the effective regulation of calcium homeostasis is required for a better prognosis.
Activation of Serum/Glucocorticoid Regulated Kinase 1/Nuclear Factor-κB Pathway Are Correlated with Low Sensitivity to Bortezomib and Ixazomib in Resistant Multiple Myeloma Cells
Authors: Tsubaki Masanobu , Takeda Tomoya , Matsuda Takuya , Seki Shiori , Tomonari Yoshika , Koizumi Shoutaro , Nagatakiya Miki , Katsuyama Mai , Yamamoto Yuuta , Tsurushima Katsumasa , Ishizaka Toshihiko , Nishida Shozo
Published: January 2021

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable malignancy often associated with primary and acquired resistance to therapeutic agents, such as proteasome inhibitors. However, the mechanisms underlying the proteasome inhibitor resistance are poorly understood. Here, we elucidate the mechanism of primary resistance to bortezomib and ixazomib in the MM cell lines, KMS-20, KMS-26, and KMS-28BM. We find that low bortezomib and ixazomib concentrations induce cell death in KMS-26 and KMS-28BM cells. However, high bortezomib and ixazomib concentrations induce cell death only in KMS-20 cells. During Gene Expression Omnibus analysis, KMS-20 cells exhibit high levels of expression of various genes, including anti-phospho-fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1), chemokine receptor type (CCR2), and serum and glucocorticoid regulated kinase (SGK)1. The SGK1 inhibitor enhances the cytotoxic effects of bortezomib and ixazomib; however, FGFR1 and CCR2 inhibitors do not show such effect in KMS-20 cells. Moreover, SGK1 activation induces the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65, and an NF-κB inhibitor enhances the sensitivity of KMS-20 cells to bortezomib and ixazomib. Additionally, high levels of expression of SGK1 and NF-κB p65 is associated with a low sensitivity to bortezomib and a poor prognosis in MM patients. These results indicate that the activation of the SGK1/NF-κB pathway correlates with a low sensitivity to bortezomib and ixazomib, and a combination of bortezomib and ixazomib with an SGK1 or NF-κB inhibitor may be involved in the treatment of MM via activation of the SGK1/NF-κB pathway.
Nanoscale Multidimensional Pd/TiO2/g-C3N4 Catalyst for Efficient Solar-Driven Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production
Authors: Lin Ting-Han , Chang Yin-Hsuan , Chiang Kuo-Ping , Wang Jer-Chyi , Wu Ming-Chung
Published: January 2021

Solar-to-fuel conversion is an innovative concept for green energy, attracting many researchers to explore them. Solar-driven photocatalysts have become an essential solution to provide valuable chemicals like hydrogen, hydrocarbon, and ammonia. For sustainable stability under solar irradiation, titanium dioxide is regarded as an acceptable candidate, further showing excellent photocatalytic activity. Incorporating the photo-sensitizers, including noble metal nanoparticles and polymeric carbon-based material, can improve its photoresponse and facilitate the electron transfer and collection. In this study, we synthesized the graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheet incorporated with high crystalline TiO2 nanofibers (NF) as 1D/2D heterostructure catalyst for photocatalytic water splitting. The microstructure, optical absorption, crystal structure, charge carrier dynamics, and specific surface area were characterized systematically. The low bandgap of 2D g-C3N4 nanosheets (NS) as a sensitizer improves the specific surface area and photo-response in the visible region as the incorporated amount increases. Because of the band structure difference between TiO2 and g-C3N4, constructing the heterojunction formation, the superior separation of electron-hole is observed. The detection of reactive oxygen species and photo-assisted Kelvin probe microscopy are conducted to investigates the possible charge migration. The highest photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of Pd/TiO2/g-C3N4 achieves 11.62 mmol·h−1·g−1 under xenon lamp irradiation.
An Overview of the Photocatalytic Water Splitting over Suspended Particles
Authors: Nadeem Muhammad Amtiaz , Khan Mohd Adnan , Ziani Ahmed Abdeslam , Idriss Hicham
Published: January 2021

The conversion of solar to chemical energy is one of the central processes considered in the emerging renewable energy economy. Hydrogen production from water splitting over particulate semiconductor catalysts has often been proposed as a simple and a cost-effective method for large-scale production. In this review, we summarize the basic concepts of the overall water splitting (in the absence of sacrificial agents) using particulate photocatalysts, with a focus on their synthetic methods and the role of the so-called “co-catalysts”. Then, a focus is then given on improving light absorption in which the Z-scheme concept and the overall system efficiency are discussed. A section on reactor design and cost of the overall technology is given, where the possibility of the different technologies to be deployed at a commercial scale and the considerable challenges ahead are discussed. To date, the highest reported efficiency of any of these systems is at least one order of magnitude lower than that deserving consideration for practical applications.
The Relationship between Stressors and Pain-Related Clinical Outcomes in Pediatric Chronic Pain Patients
Authors: Jagpal Anjana , Hainsworth Keri , Galijot Ratka , Salamon Katherine S. , Anderson Khan Kim , Tran Susan T.
Published: January 2021

Youth with chronic pain and youth who have experienced stressors are at risk for poor outcomes; however, little is known about the intersection of pain and stressors. This study aims to understand the prevalence of stressors among youth with chronic pain and the relationship between stressors and pain-related outcomes. Seven hundred and seventy youth with chronic pain aged 8–18 (Mage = 14.15 years, 70% female) reported pain characteristics, stressors, anxiety, disability, and quality of life. Most participants (82%) endorsed at least one stressor. A greater number of stressors was significantly related to greater anxiety and disability, and lower levels of quality of life. School stressors were significantly associated with functional disability; family, school, and peer stressors were significantly associated with anxiety and quality of life. Stressors are common in youth with chronic pain, and the presence of stressors is related to greater functional impairment. The results of this preliminary study using semi-structured clinical interviews suggest the importance of developing a validated measure that encompasses a wide variety of stressors for youth with pain. Future research on patient-reported stressors, relative intensity, and impact are needed.
Coexistence of Common Pathologies of the Cardiovascular System in a Patient with Pain in the Right Lower Limb
Authors: Gać Paweł , Hajac Martyna , Macek Piotr , Poręba Rafał
Published: January 2021

Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection, as well as peripheral arterial atherosclerosis, are frequently diagnosed vascular disorders. In this paper, the authors present the case of coexistence of common pathologies of the cardiovascular system in a patient with pain in the right lower limb. The presented images provide a didactically valuable overview of serious cardiovascular pathologies. This article highlights the value of computed tomography angiography in diagnosis of cardiovascular life-threatening conditions, especially as a result of proper medical interview and physical examination.
Neoplasia-Associated Pericarditis—Predictor of Cancer Progression?
Authors: Boldan Anca , Negru Alina Gabriela , Boldan Maria , Mazilu Laura , Tudor Anca , Popovici Dorel , Săftescu Sorin , Luca Constantin Tudor , Negru Șerban Mircea
Published: January 2021

Pericarditis may signal the presence of cancer, even in the absence of other clinical or paraclinical signs. Corollary, the following question arises: Could the discovery of a newly developed pericarditis be used in patients with known neoplasia as a marker of cancer progression? In an attempt to find an answer to this question, this two-centre study included 341 consecutive patients with a confirmed diagnosis of cancer and evidence of pericardial effusion at echocardiography and/or CT/MRI scan. The patients’ data were collected retrospectively if they further fulfilled the following inclusion criteria: available medical data from confirmation of pericarditis until evidence of cancer progression or until at least 12 months without progression. The average age of the patients was 62.16 years (22–86 years), and the study comprised 44.28% males and 55.71% females. All types of the most common neoplasms were represented. The results showed that 85.33% of patients had cancer progression temporally linked to pericarditis. Of these, 41.64% had cancer progression within 18 months after the diagnosis of pericarditis with a median time to progression of 5.03 months, ranging from 0 to 17 months; 43.69% had progression within a maximum of 2 months before the diagnosis of pericarditis. Only 14.66% had no cancer progression during the observation period. We concluded that pericarditis could be a sensitive marker of cancer evolution that could be widely used as a follow-up investigation for cancer patients as a marker of progression or recidive.
The Association between Dynamic Changes in Serum Presepsin Levels and Mortality in Immunocompromised Patients with Sepsis: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Lee Jongmin , Kim Seohyun , Kim Kyung Hoon , Jeong Na Ri , Kim Seok Chan , Oh Eun-Jee
Published: January 2021

Presepsin is a subtype of soluble CD14 that is increased in the blood of septic patients. We investigated the role of dynamic changes in serum presepsin levels in critically ill, immunocompromised patients with sepsis. This is a prospective cohort study that included 119 adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Presepsin level was measured on day 1 and day 3 after ICU admission. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. In immunocompromised patients, presepsin levels on day 1 were higher in patients with sepsis than those in patients without sepsis. The area under the curve (AUC) of presepsin for diagnosing sepsis in immunocompromised patients was 0.87, which was comparable with that of procalcitonin (AUC, 0.892). Presepsin levels on day 3 were higher in patients who died in the hospital than in those who survived. In immunocompromised patients who died in the hospital, presepsin levels on day 3 were significantly higher than those on day 1. In the multivariate analysis, ΔPresepsin+ alone was independently correlated with in-hospital mortality in immunocompromised patients. These findings suggest that dynamic changes in presepsin levels between day 1 and day 3 are associated with in-hospital mortality in patients with sepsis, especially in immunocompromised patients.
Diagnostic Value of Plasma Annexin A2 in Early-Stage High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Lokman Noor A. , Ricciardelli Carmela , Stephens Andrew N. , Jobling Thomas W. , Hoffmann Peter , Oehler Martin K.
Published: January 2021

Ovarian cancer (OC) is commonly diagnosed at advanced stage when prognosis is poor. Consequently, there is an urgent clinical need to identify novel biomarkers for early detection to improve survival. We examined the diagnostic value of the calcium phospholipid binding protein annexin A2 (ANXA2), which plays an important role in OC metastasis. Annexin A2 plasma levels in patients with high grade serous OC (n = 105), benign ovarian lesions (n = 55) and healthy controls (n = 143) were measured by ELISA. Annexin A2 levels were found to be significantly increased in patients with stage I (p < 0.0001) and stage IA (p = 0.0027) OC when compared to healthy controls. In the logistic regression models followed by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analyses, plasma annexin A2 showed 46.7% sensitivity at 99.6% specificity in distinguishing stage IA OC patients from healthy controls and 75% sensitivity at 65.5% specificity in the diagnosis of stage IA versus benign ovarian tumors. In the diagnosis of stage IA OC versus normal controls, the combination of plasma annexin A2 and CA125 showed 80% sensitivity at 99.6% specificity (AUC = 0.970) which was significantly higher than for CA125 (53.3% sensitivity at 99.6% specificity; AUC = 0.891) alone. The diagnostic accuracy in distinguishing stage IA OC from benign ovarian disease when combining annexin A2 and CA125 (71.4% accuracy at 100% sensitivity) was almost twice as high compared to CA125 (37.1% accuracy at 100% sensitivity) alone. In conclusion, annexin A2 in combination with CA125 has potential as a biomarker for the early detection of OC and to predict malignancy in patients with ovarian lesions, warranting further investigations.
AMC2N: Automatic Modulation Classification Using Feature Clustering-Based Two-Lane Capsule Networks
Authors: Al-Nuaimi Dhamyaa H. , Akbar Muhammad F. , Salman Laith B. , Abidin Intan S. Zainal , Isa Nor Ashidi Mat
Published: January 2021

The automatic modulation classification (AMC) of a detected signal has gained considerable prominence in recent years owing to its numerous facilities. Numerous studies have focused on feature-based AMC. However, improving accuracy under low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) rates is a serious issue in AMC. Moreover, research on the enhancement of AMC performance under low and high SNR rates is limited. Motivated by these issues, this study proposes AMC using a feature clustering-based two-lane capsule network (AMC2N). In the AMC2N, accuracy of the MC process is improved by designing a new two-layer capsule network (TL-CapsNet), and classification time is reduced by introducing a new feature clustering approach in the TL-CapsNet. Firstly, the AMC2N executes blind equalization, sampling, and quantization in trilevel preprocessing. Blind equalization is executed using a binary constant modulus algorithm to avoid intersymbol interference. To extract features from the preprocessed signal and classify signals accurately, the AMC2N employs the TL-CapsNet, in which individual lanes are incorporated to process the real and imaginary parts of the signal. In addition, it is robust to SNR variations, that is, low and high SNR rates. The TL-CapsNet extracts features from the real and imaginary parts of the given signal, which are then clustered based on feature similarity. For feature extraction and clustering, the dynamic routing procedure of the TL-CapsNet is adopted. Finally, classification is performed in the SoftMax layer of the TL-CapsNet. This study proves that the AMC2N outperforms existing methods, particularly, convolutional neural network(CNN), Robust-CNN (R-CNN), curriculum learning(CL), and Local Binary Pattern (LBP), in terms of accuracy, precision, recall, F-score, and computation time. All metrics are validated in two scenarios, and the proposed method shows promising results in both.
A Review of Plant Phenotypic Image Recognition Technology Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Xiong Jianbin , Yu Dezheng , Liu Shuangyin , Shu Lei , Wang Xiaochan , Liu Zhaoke
Published: January 2021

Plant phenotypic image recognition (PPIR) is an important branch of smart agriculture. In recent years, deep learning has achieved significant breakthroughs in image recognition. Consequently, PPIR technology that is based on deep learning is becoming increasingly popular. First, this paper introduces the development and application of PPIR technology, followed by its classification and analysis. Second, it presents the theory of four types of deep learning methods and their applications in PPIR. These methods include the convolutional neural network, deep belief network, recurrent neural network, and stacked autoencoder, and they are applied to identify plant species, diagnose plant diseases, etc. Finally, the difficulties and challenges of deep learning in PPIR are discussed.
Miniaturized Antipodal Vivaldi Antenna with Improved Bandwidth Using Exponential Strip Arms
Authors: Honari Mohammad Mahdi , Ghaffarian Mohammad Saeid , Mirzavand Rashid
Published: January 2021

In this paper, a miniaturized ultra-wideband antipodal tapered slot antenna with exponential strip arms is presented. Two exponential arms with designed equations are optimized to reduce the lower edge cut-off frequency of the impedance bandwidth from 1480 MHz to 720 MHz, resulting in antenna miniaturization by 51%. This approach also improves antenna bandwidth without compromising the radiation characteristics. The dimension of the proposed antenna structure including the feeding line and transition is 158 × 125 × 1 mm3. The results show that a peak gain more than 1 dBi is achieved all over the impedance bandwidth (0.72–17 GHz), which is an improvement to what have been reported for antipodal tapered slot and Vivaldi antennas with similar size.
Performance Evaluation of Power-Line Communication Systems for LIN-Bus Based Data Transmission
Authors: Brandl Martin , Kellner Karlheinz
Published: January 2021

Powerline communication (PLC) is a versatile method that uses existing infrastructure such as power cables for data transmission. This makes PLC an alternative and cost-effective technology for the transmission of sensor and actuator data by making dual use of the power line and avoiding the need for other communication solutions; such as wireless radio frequency communication. A PLC modem using DSSS (direct sequence spread spectrum) for reliable LIN-bus based data transmission has been developed for automotive applications. Due to the almost complete system implementation in a low power microcontroller; the component cost could be radically reduced which is a necessary requirement for automotive applications. For performance evaluation the DSSS modem was compared to two commercial PLC systems. The DSSS and one of the commercial PLC systems were designed as a direct conversion receiver; the other commercial module uses a superheterodyne architecture. The performance of the systems was tested under the influence of narrowband interference and additive Gaussian noise added to the transmission channel. It was found that the performance of the DSSS modem against singleton interference is better than that of commercial PLC transceivers by at least the processing gain. The performance of the DSSS modem was at least 6 dB better than the other modules tested under the influence of the additive white Gaussian noise on the transmission channel at data rates of 19.2 kB/s.
The Impact of Ambient Sensing on the Recognition of Electrical Appliances
Authors: Huchtkoetter Jana , Tepe Marcel Alwin , Reinhardt Andreas
Published: January 2021

Smart spaces are characterized by their ability to capture a holistic picture of their contextual situation. This often includes the detection of the operative states of electrical appliances, which in turn allows for the recognition of user activities and intentions. For electrical appliances with largely different power consumption characteristics, their types and operational times can be easily inferred from data collected at a single metering point (typically, a smart meter). However, a disambiguation between consumers of the same type and model, yet located in different areas of a smart building, is not possible this way. Likewise, small consumers (e.g., wall chargers) are often indiscernible from measurement noise and spurious power consumption events of other appliances. As a consequence thereof, we investigate how additional sensing modalities, i.e., data beyond electrical signals, can be leveraged to improve the appliance detection accuracy. Through a set of practical experiments, recording ambient influences in eight dimensions and testing their effects on 21 appliance types, we evaluate the importance of such added features in the context of appliance recognition. Our results show that electrical power measurements already yield a high appliance recognition accuracy, yet further accuracy improvements are possible when considering ambient parameters as well.
Techno-Economic Feasibility Analysis of Grid-Connected Microgrid Design by Using a Modified Multi-Strategy Fusion Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm
Authors: Singh Sweta , Slowik Adam , Kanwar Neeraj , Meena Nand K.
Published: January 2021

The present work investigates the techno-economic solution that can address the problem of rural electrification. To maintain a continuous power supply to this village area, a grid-connected microgrid system was designed that consists of solar photovoltaic (SPV) and battery energy storage systems (BESS). The recently introduced multi-strategy fusion artificial bee colony (MFABC) algorithm was hybridized with the simulated annealing approach and is referred to as the MFABC+ algorithm. This was employed to determine the optimal sizing of different components comprising the integrated system as well as to maximize the techno-economic objectives. For validation, the simulation results obtained by the MFABC+ algorithm are compared with the results obtained using HOMER software, the particle swarm optimization algorithms and the original MFABC algorithm. It was revealed that the MFABC+ algorithm has a better convergence rate and the potential ability to provide compromising results in comparison to these existing optimization tools. It was also discovered through the comprehensive evaluation that the proposed system has the potential capability to meet the electricity demand of the village for 24 × 7 at the lowest levelized cost of electricity.
Wheat Bread Fortification by Grape Pomace Powder: Nutritional, Technological, Antioxidant, and Sensory Properties
Authors: Tolve Roberta , Simonato Barbara , Rainero Giada , Bianchi Federico , Rizzi Corrado , Cervini Mariasole , Giuberti Gianluca
Published: January 2021

Grape pomace powder (GPP), a by-product from the winemaking process, was used to substitute flour for wheat bread fortification within 0, 5, and 10 g/100 g. Rheological properties of control and fortified doughs, along with physicochemical and nutritional characteristics, antioxidant activity, and the sensory analysis of the obtained bread were considered. The GPP addition influenced the doughs’ rheological properties by generating more tenacious and less extensible products. Concerning bread, pH values and volume of fortified products decreased as the GPP inclusion level increased in the recipe. Total phenolic compounds and the antioxidant capacity of bread samples, evaluated by FRAP (ferric reducing ability of plasma) and ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) assays, increased with GPP addition. Moreover, the GPP inclusion level raised the total dietary fiber content of bread. Regarding sensory evaluation, GPP fortification had a major impact on the acidity, the global flavor, the astringency, and the wine smell of bread samples without affecting the overall bread acceptability. The current results suggest that GPP could be an attractive ingredient used to obtain fortified bread, as it is a source of fiber and polyphenols with potentially positive effects on human health.
Physicochemical Composition, Antioxidant Status, Fatty Acid Profile, and Volatile Compounds of Milk and Fresh and Ripened Ewes’ Cheese from a Sustainable Part-Time Grazing System
Authors: Gutiérrez-Peña Rosario , Avilés Carmen , Galán-Soldevilla Hortensia , Polvillo Oliva , Ruiz Pérez-Cacho Pilar , Guzmán José Luis , Horcada Alberto , Delgado-Pertíñez Manuel
Published: January 2021

We conducted the first nutritional analysis of dairy products from the traditional Roja Mallorquina sheep breed. Samples of bulk raw milk were taken twice a month from December 2015 to March 2016 from sheep fed using a part-time grazing system, and fresh soft (FC, n = 8) and ripened (RC, n = 8) cheeses were made. The variability in vitamins, total phenolic compounds (TPC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and fatty acid (FA) content was influenced by the cheese-making process (differences between the cheese and the original milk) and by the type of cheese-making technology (mainly related to heating, the use of starter culture, and ripening). The most notable physicochemical characteristic of the cheeses was low fat content (24.1 and 29.6 g/100 g for FC and RC). Milk and RC were characterised by major concentrations of retinol (211.4 and 233.6 μg/100 g dry matter (DM), respectively) and TPC (18.7 and 54.6 μg/100 g DM, respectively), while FC was characterised by major concentrations of retinol (376.4 μg) and α-tocopherol (361.7 μg). The fat-soluble components of the FC generally exhibited better nutritional value for human health than those of the milk and RC, with a higher level of retinol and α-tocopherol; lower values for saturated FA, atherogenic, and thrombogenic indices; and higher levels of monounsaturated FA, polyunsaturated FA, n-3, and n-6. Acids, alcohols, and ketones comprised almost 95% of the volatile compounds detected. Acetoin and products of lactose and citrate metabolism played an important role in the development of the aromatic attributes of both kinds of cheese. This preliminary study can contribute to add value to these traditional products according to healthy nutritional criteria and supports the implementation of strategies to promote their commercialisation and obtain product labelling as “pasture-fed” or specific marks.
Effect of Seasoning Addition on Volatile Composition and Sensory Properties of Stewed Pork
Authors: Han Dong , Zhang Chun-Hui , Fauconnier Marie-Laure
Published: January 2021

The study aimed to investigate the influence of seasoning formulations (SP1: water; SP2: water and salt; SP3: water, salt and spices; SP4: water, salt, spices and soy sauce; SP5: water, salt, spices, soy sauce, sugar; SP6: water, salt, spices, soy sauce, sugar and cooking wine) on the volatile profiles and sensory evaluation of stewed pork. Volatile compounds were extracted using solid phase microextraction (SPME), then analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/olfactometry (GC-MS/O) and two-dimensional gas chromatographic combined with time-of-fight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-TOFMS). The results revealed that the most abundant volatile compounds, especially aldehydes, were presented in the stewed pork using SP1 and SP2. This indicated that the stewed pork with water and salt could promote lipid oxidation and amino acid degradation. As revealed by principal component analysis (PCA), the stewed pork samples with SP3 were located on the opposite side of that with SP4, SP5, and SP6 in the first and third principal component (PC1-PC3), which indicated that the overall flavour formed by adding spices was significantly different from that of adding soy sauce, sugar, and cooking wine. Sensory evaluation showed that stronger spicy, caramel, and soy sauce odour were present in samples SP3, SP4, SP5, and SP6. This study has indicated that the addition of food seasoning had a positive effect on flavour profiles of stewed pork, particularly for salt and spices.
Understanding the Determination of Meat Quality Using Biochemical Characteristics of the Muscle: Stress at Slaughter and Other Missing Keys
Authors: Terlouw E. M. Claudia , Picard Brigitte , Deiss Véronique , Berri Cécile , Hocquette Jean-François , Lebret Bénédicte , Lefèvre Florence , Hamill Ruth , Gagaoua Mohammed
Published: January 2021

Despite increasingly detailed knowledge of the biochemical processes involved in the determination of meat quality traits, robust models, using biochemical characteristics of the muscle to predict future meat quality, lack. The neglecting of various aspects of the model paradigm may explain this. First, preslaughter stress has a major impact on meat quality and varies according to slaughter context and individuals. Yet, it is rarely taken into account in meat quality models. Second, phenotypic similarity does not imply similarity in the underlying biological causes, and several models may be needed to explain a given phenotype. Finally, the implications of the complexity of biological systems are discussed: a homeostatic equilibrium can be reached in countless ways, involving thousands of interacting processes and molecules at different levels of the organism, changing over time and differing between animals. Consequently, even a robust model may explain a significant part, but not all of the variability between individuals.
Coagulative Disorders in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients with Acute Distress Respiratory Syndrome: A Critical Review
Authors: Robba Chiara , Battaglini Denise , Ball Lorenzo , Valbusa Alberto , Porto Italo , Della Bona Roberta , La Malfa Giovanni , Patroniti Nicolò , Brunetti Iole , Loconte Maurizio , Bassetti Matteo , Giacobbe Daniele R. , Vena Antonio , Silva Claudia Lucia M. , Rocco Patricia R. M. , Pelosi Paolo
Published: January 2021

In critically ill patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a high incidence of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic events is reported. COVID-19 may lead to impairment of the coagulation cascade, with an imbalance in platelet function and the regulatory mechanisms of coagulation and fibrinolysis. Clinical manifestations vary from a rise in laboratory markers and subclinical microthrombi to thromboembolic events, bleeding, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. After an inflammatory trigger, the mechanism for activation of the coagulation cascade in COVID-19 is the tissue factor pathway, which causes endotoxin and tumor necrosis factor-mediated production of interleukins and platelet activation. The consequent massive infiltration of activated platelets may be responsible for inflammatory infiltrates in the endothelial space, as well as thrombocytopenia. The variety of clinical presentations of the coagulopathy confronts the clinician with the difficult questions of whether and how to provide optimal supportive care. In addition to coagulation tests, advanced laboratory tests such as protein C, protein S, antithrombin, tissue factor pathway inhibitors, D-dimers, activated factor Xa, and quantification of specific coagulation factors can be useful, as can thromboelastography or thromboelastometry. Treatment should be tailored, focusing on the estimated risk of bleeding and thrombosis. The aim of this review is to explore the pathophysiology and clinical evidence of coagulation disorders in severe ARDS-related COVID-19 patients.