bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nutritional and Healthy Value of Chemical Constituents Obtained from Patagonian Squid (Doryteuthis gahi) By-Products Captured at Different Seasons
Authors: Aubourg Santiago P. , Trigo Marcos , Prego Ricardo , Cobelo-García Antonio , Medina Isabel
Published: September 2021

This study focuses on the extraction of nutritional and healthy constituents of whole by-products resulting from the commercialisation of Patagonian squid (Doriteuthis gahi). By-products corresponding to squid individuals captured at different seasons were comparatively analysed for proximate composition, lipid classes content, fatty acid (FA) profile, and macroelement and trace element composition. As a result, moisture, lipid, protein, and ash values were included in the ranges 829.0–842.8, 17.5–21.8, 106.0–123.7, and 9.3–13.3 g·kg−1 by-products, respectively. Phospholipids showed to be the most abundant lipid class (359.2–463.5 g·kg−1 lipids), while triacylglycerols were only present in a 9.5–13.1 g·kg−1 lipids range. Valuable levels were detected for α-tocopherol (539.6–973.3 mg·kg−1 lipids), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; 50.5–52.6 g·100 g−1 FA), ω3 PUFA (47.0–48.6 g·100 g−1 FA), PUFA/saturated FA ratio (1.4–1.6), and ω3/ω6 ratio (12.1–13.4). Among macroelements, S, P, and Na showed to be more abundant than K, Mg, and Ca. Profitable levels of Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Se, and Zn were detected in all kinds of individuals. In spite of content variations found as a result of the capture season of Patagonian squid individuals, whole by-products of this cephalopod species can be considered as a profitable source to provide the food and pharmaceutical industries with useful value-added constituents.
HPLC Fingerprints for the Characterization of Walnuts and the Detection of Fraudulent Incidents
Authors: Kalogiouri Natasa P. , Samanidou Victoria F.
Published: September 2021

A high-pressure liquid chromatographic method coupled to diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) was developed for the determination of phenolic compounds that could be used as markers in authentication studies of walnuts belonging to the Chandler variety, originating from Bulgaria, Greece, and France. An ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) protocol applied in the extraction of phenolic compounds was optimized. The method was validated and the relative standard deviations (RSD%) of the within-day, and between-day assays was lower than 6.3 and 11.1, respectively, showing adequate precision, and good accuracy ranging from 86.4 (sinapic acid) to 98.4% (caffeic acid) for within-day assay, and from 90.1 (gallocatechin gallate) to 100.6% (gallic acid) for between-day assay. Eighteen phenolic compounds were determined belonging to the classes of phenolic acids and flavonoids. The quantification results were further processed with chemometrics, and a robust partial least square–discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model was developed for the classification of the samples according to their geographical origin, proposing markers that could be used for the control of walnuts authenticity and the detection of fraudulent incidents.
Some Important Metabolites Produced by Lactic Acid Bacteria Originated from Kimchi
Authors: Lee Se-Jin , Jeon Hye-Sung , Yoo Ji-Yeon , Kim Jeong-Hwan
Published: September 2021

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been used for various food fermentations for thousands of years. Recently, LAB are receiving increased attention due to their great potential as probiotics for man and animals, and also as cell factories for producing enzymes, antibodies, vitamins, exopolysaccharides, and various feedstocks. LAB are safe organisms with GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status and possess relatively simple metabolic pathways easily subjected to modifications. However, relatively few studies have been carried out on LAB inhabiting plants compared to dairy LAB. Kimchi is a Korean traditional fermented vegetable, and its fermentation is carried out by LAB inhabiting plant raw materials of kimchi. Kimchi represents a model food with low pH and is fermented at low temperatures and in anaerobic environments. LAB have been adjusting to kimchi environments, and produce various metabolites such as bacteriocins, γ-aminobutyric acid, ornithine, exopolysaccharides, mannitol, etc. as products of metabolic efforts to adjust to the environments. The metabolites also contribute to the known health-promoting effects of kimchi. Due to the recent progress in multi-omics technologies, identification of genes and gene products responsible for the synthesis of functional metabolites becomes easier than before. With the aid of tools of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology, it can be envisioned that LAB strains producing valuable metabolites in large quantities will be constructed and used as starters for foods and probiotics for improving human health. Such LAB strains can also be useful as production hosts for value-added products for food, feed, and pharmaceutical industries. In this review, recent findings on the selected metabolites produced by kimchi LAB are discussed, and the potentials of metabolites will be mentioned.
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Profiling of 2OGD Superfamily Genes from Three Brassica Plants
Authors: Jiang Ding , Li Guangguang , Chen Guoju , Lei Jianjun , Cao Bihao , Chen Changming
Published: September 2021

The 2-oxoglutarate and Fe(II)-dependent dioxygenase (2OGD) superfamily is the second largest enzyme family in the plant genome, and its members are involved in various oxygenation and hydroxylation reactions. Due to their important biochemical significance in metabolism, a systematic analysis of the plant 2OGD genes family is necessary. Here, we identified 160, 179, and 337 putative 2OGDs from Brassica rapa, Brassica oleracea, and Brassica napus. According to their gene structure, domain, phylogenetic features, function, and previous studies, we also divided 676 2OGDs into three subfamilies: DOXA, DOXB, and DOXC. Additionally, homologous and phylogenetic comparisons of three subfamily genes provided valuable insight into the evolutionary characteristics of the 2OGD genes from Brassica plants. Expression profiles derived from the transcriptome and Genevestigator database exhibited distinct expression patterns of the At2OGD, Br2OGD, and Bo2OGD genes in different developmental stages, tissues, or anatomical parts. Some 2OGD genes showed high expression levels in various tissues, such as callus, seed, silique, and root tissues, while other 2OGD genes were expressed at very low levels in other tissues. Analysis of six Bo2OGD genes in different tissues by qRT-PCR indicated that these genes are involved in the metabolism of gibberellin, which in turn regulates plant growth and development. Our working system analysed 2OGD gene families of three Brassica plants and laid the foundation for further study of their functional characterization.
Preliminary Effect and Acceptability of an Intervention to Improve End-of-Life Care in Long-Term-Care Facilities: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Yamagata Chihiro , Matsumoto Sachiko , Miyashita Mitsunori , Kanno Yusuke , Taguchi Atsuko , Sato Kana , Fukahori Hiroki
Published: September 2021

The number of deaths of older adults in long-term care settings will increase with the aging population. Nurses and care workers in these settings face various challenges in providing end-of-life care, and interventions for quality end-of-life care may be useful. This feasibility study aims to explore the preliminary effect and acceptability of an intervention named the EOL Care Tool to improve end-of-life care in long-term-care facilities. We conducted a single-arm quasi-experimental study using mixed methods. This tool consisted of multiple components: professionalized lectures, newly developed structured documents, regular conferences regarding end-of-life care, and educational support from administrators. Twenty-four nurses and fifty-five care workers employed in a long-term care facility participated. For nurses, improvement in attitudes toward end-of-life care (p < 0.05) and interdisciplinary collaboration (p < 0.05) were shown quantitatively. Regarding acceptability, nurses and care workers evaluated the tool positively except for the difficulty of using the new documents. However, qualitative results showed that care workers felt the reluctance to address the work regarding end-of-life care. Therefore, a good preliminary effect and acceptability for nurses were indicated, while acceptability for care workers was only moderate. Revision to address the mentioned issues and evaluation of the revised tool with a more robust research design are required.
SmartCards as Analogous Tools to Operate Tablet Computers for Elderly—A Feasibility Study
Authors: Mueller Stephanie M. , Göttke-Krogmann Bettina , Kortus Julia , Wiechmann Melanie , Weber Michael , Mozek Sarina , Mau Wilfried , Golla Andre , Huebner Gundula
Published: September 2021

Background: Older adults sometimes shy away from using modern digital communication devices due to lacking experience and fear of failure. Within the present project, SmartCards were developed as analogous means to operate tablet computers for older adults with little previous computer experience. We investigated whether the SmartCards-Tablet-System would (a) increase use of digital communication and (b) affect loneliness, autonomy, cognitive ability and wellbeing of the users. Methods: The suitability and acceptance of the system was evaluated during a three month trial period with seniors in retirement homes, seniors with home assistance care and a waiting control group. Results: Acceptance, duration of use and frequency of use were high in both experimental groups. Cognitive ability significantly improved after three months’ use in both experimental groups. Effects on loneliness, autonomy and wellbeing could not be observed. Discussion: Our results indicate that seniors are very much able and curious to use modern digital devices if the interface and hardware are adjusted to their needs and capabilities without being stigmatizing. The use of modern communication services and the World Wide Web can promote contact of seniors with their (younger) relatives.
Knowledge and Practice towards Alcohol Consumption in a Sample of University Students
Authors: Messina Marisa , Battagliese Gemma , D’Angelo Alessio , Ciccarelli Rosaria , Pisciotta Fabiola , Tramonte Luigi , Fiore Marco , Ferraguti Giampiero , Vitali Mario , Ceccanti Mauro
Published: September 2021

Objective: Alcohol affects many human systems and is involved in the pathogenesis of other diseases. Particular attention must be paid to alcohol consumption among young people. It has been shown that 25% of young people’s deaths are attributable to alcohol, and around 35 million people aged over 11 had consumed at least one alcoholic beverage in 2015. Study Design: Young people aged 18–24 were the most vulnerable to binge drinking in Italy, and 50.6% of teenagers drunk alcohol. Only a few studies in the literature have investigated those habits in university students. This study aims to examine alcohol use habits in a population of university students in Italy. Methods: Between 2018 and 2019, an anonymous online questionnaire was randomly sent to university students from 17 different universities in a network of research centres to study alcohol use disorders. The survey included socio-demographic information, questions about alcohol use, knowledge about alcohol consumption, and related risks. Used questionnaires were the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) and the Drinking Motive Questionnaire-Revised (DMQ-R). Results: the AUDIT-C revealed that 53.3% of students were high-risk drinkers. Regarding binge drinking habits, 13.1% of students admitted to binge drinking behavior at least once a month. In our sample, male students are more likely to be low-risk drinkers than female peers (p < 0.008). Students from northern Italy are more likely to be high-risk drinkers (p = 0.003). Beer (65.9%) and wine (60.9%) were the most consumed alcoholic beverages. The most common places to drink alcohol were pubs (85.5%). The most likely motivations to drink alcohol were enhancement (40.43%), social (38.39%), coping (15.63%), and social pressure or conformity (5.55%). Only 43.8% of participants reported having attended an educational course on alcohol. Conclusions: University students were not fully aware of the implications of alcohol misuse and will be part of the adult society as critical figures and future leaders. It is imperative to inform students about alcohol consumption risks and investigate the motivations to drink. Stress, anxiety, and social pressure are only a few issues young people are exposed to. Special attention must be paid to young people and their coping strategies that involve substance abuse by using educative, preventive, and motivational approaches.
Orthodontic Extrusion vs. Surgical Extrusion to Rehabilitate Severely Damaged Teeth: A Literature Review
Authors: Cordaro Martina , Staderini Edoardo , Torsello Ferruccio , Grande Nicola Maria , Turchi Matteo , Cordaro Massimo
Published: September 2021

The need to rehabilitate severely compromised teeth is frequent in daily clinical practice. Tooth extraction and replacement with dental implant represents a common treatment choice. However, the survival rate for implants is inferior to teeth, even if severely damaged but properly treated. In order to reestablish a physiological supracrestal tissue attachment of damaged teeth and to arrange an efficient ferrule effect, three options can be considered: crown lengthening, orthodontic extrusion and surgical extrusion. Crown lengthening is considered an invasive technique that causes the removal of part of the bony support, while both orthodontic and surgical extrusion can avoid this inconvenience and can be used successfully in the treatment of severely damaged teeth. The aim of the present narrative review is to compare advantages, disadvantages, time of therapy required, contraindications and complications of both techniques.
Proof-of-Concept and Test-Retest Reliability Study of Psychological and Physiological Variables of the Mental Fatigue Paradigm
Authors: Brietzke Cayque , Vinícius Ítalo , Franco-Alvarenga Paulo Estevão , Canestri Raul , Goethel Márcio Fagundes , Santos Lucas Eduardo Rodrigues , Viana Bruno , Santos Tony Meireles , Pires Flávio Oliveira
Published: September 2021

This study provided a proof-of-concept and test–retest reliability of measures frequently used to assess a mental fatigue paradigm. After familiarization, 28 healthy men performed (40-min) the Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVP) test in a test–retest design, having mental fatigue sensation, motivation, emotional arousal, total mood disturbance, and electroencephalography (EEG) in the prefrontal cortex measured before and after the test. EEG was recorded during a 3-min rest so that the power spectral density of theta (3–7 Hz) and alpha (8–13 Hz) bands was calculated. Pre-to-post RVP test changes in psychological and physiological domains were compared (paired-T tests), and absolute (standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimal difference (MD)) and relative reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)) were calculated. The RVP test induced an increase (p < 0.05) in mental fatigue sensation (120.9% (109.4; 132.4)) and total mood disturbance (3.5% (−6.3; 13.3)), and a decrease in motivation (−7.1% (−9.2; −5.1)) and emotional arousal (−16.2% (−19.1; −13.2)). Likewise, EEG theta (59.1% (33.2; 85.0); p < 0.05), but not alpha band, increased due to RVP test. All psychophysiological responses showed poor-to-moderate relative reliability. Changes in mental fatigue sensation and motivation were higher than SEM and MD, but changes in EEG theta band were higher only than SEM. Mental fatigue sensation, motivation, and EEG theta band were sensitive to distinguish a mental fatigue paradigm despite true mental fatigue effects on theta activity may be trivial.
Association between Self-Reported Chewing Status and Glycemic Control in Japanese Adults
Authors: Iwai Komei , Azuma Tetsuji , Yonenaga Takatoshi , Ekuni Daisuke , Watanabe Kazutoshi , Obora Akihiro , Deguchi Fumiko , Kojima Takao , Morita Manabu , Tomofuji Takaaki
Published: September 2021

This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between self-reported chewing status and glycemic control in 30,938 Japanese adults who participated in health checkups. Chewing status was evaluated using a self-reported questionnaire. We defined high hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels as a HbA1c level ≥6.5%; 692 (2.2%) respondents met this criterion. After adjusting for gender, age, smoking status, exercise habits, body mass index and eating speed, high HbA1c levels was found to be associated with male gender (odds ratio (OR), 1.568; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.310 to 1.878; p < 0.001), older age (OR, 1.077; 95% CI, 1.068 to 1.087; p < 0.001), higher body mass index (OR, 1.246; 95% CI, 1.225 to 1.268; p < 0.001), current smoker status (OR, 1.566; 95% CI, 1.303 to 1.882; p < 0.001) and chewing difficulty (OR, 1.302; 95% CI, 1.065 to 1.591; p < 0.05). In conclusion, self-reported chewing difficulty was associated with high HbA1c levels in Japanese adults.
Intramuscular Injections and Dry Needling within Masticatory Muscles in Management of Myofascial Pain. Systematic Review of Clinical Trials
Authors: Nowak Zuzanna , Chęciński Maciej , Nitecka-Buchta Aleksandra , Bulanda Sylwia , Ilczuk-Rypuła Danuta , Postek-Stefańska Lidia , Baron Stefan
Published: September 2021

Background: Myofascial pain is an important cause of disability among the whole population, and it is a common symptom of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs). Its management techniques vary widely; however, in recent years, there has been a growing interest especially in needling therapies within masticatory muscles, due to their simplicity and effectiveness in pain reduction. Methods: The construction of the following study is based on PICOS and PRISMA protocols. A systematic literature search was conducted based on the PubMed and BASE search engines. Searching the abovementioned databases yielded a total of 367 articles. The screening procedure and analysis of full texts resulted in the inclusion of 28 articles for detailed analysis. Results: According to analyzed data, clinicians manage myofascial pain either with wet or dry needling therapies. The most thoroughly studied approach that prevails significantly within the clinical trials is injecting the botulinum toxin into the masseter and temporalis. Other common methods are the application of local anesthetics or dry needling; however, we notice the introduction of entirely new substances, such as platelet-rich plasma or collagen. In the analyzed articles, the target muscles for the needling therapies are most commonly localized by manual palpation although there are a variety of navigational support systems described: EMG, MRI or EIP electrotherapy equipment, which often aid the access to located deeper lateral and medial pterygoid muscle. Conclusions: Needling therapies within masticatory muscles provide satisfactory effects while being simple, safe and accessible procedures although there still is a need for high quality clinical trials investigating especially injections of non-Botox substances and needling within lateral and medial pterygoid muscles.
Physical Activity Reduction and the Worsening of Gastrointestinal Health Status during the Second COVID-19 Home Confinement in Southern Italy
Authors: Bianco Antonella , Franco Isabella , Osella Alberto Rubén , Giannelli Gianluigi , Riezzo Giuseppe , Bonfiglio Caterina , Prospero Laura , Sorino Paolo , Russo Francesco
Published: September 2021

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in December 2020, the Italian government established a second home confinement during the Christmas holidays. These restrictions offered the opportunity to utilize a well-defined model for observing the consequences of lifestyle changes of healthy individuals. This study aimed at estimating in healthy subjects from Southern Italy the physical activity (PA), the presence and the severity of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, and the association between the possible worsening of GI health status and the PA levels. An adapted version of the International PA Questionnaire-short form (IPAQ-SF) and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) were proposed through Google’s online survey platform in three different periods via WhatsAppTM to 499 healthy subjects (62% females) from Apulia (25%), Calabria (37%), and Campania (38%). Our results showed statistically significant changes during the home confinement: reduced energy expenditure (EE) among overweight subjects (−239.82, 95%CI −405.74; −73.89) or those who had high GSRS total score (−1079.54, 95%CI −2027.43; −131.66). An increase in GSRS total score was observed in overweight subjects, reaching statistical significance in those from Campania. Our study supports the importance of PA to reduce health risks, including those related to the possible onset of GI tract diseases.
High-Dose Irradiation Inhibits Motility and Induces Autophagy in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Yamasaki Akira , Suzuki Michiyo , Funayama Tomoo , Moriwaki Takahito , Sakashita Tetsuya , Kobayashi Yasuhiko , Zhang-Akiyama Qiu-Mei
Published: September 2021

Radiation damages many cellular components and disrupts cellular functions, and was previously reported to impair locomotion in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. However, the response to even higher doses is not clear. First, to investigate the effects of high-dose radiation on the locomotion of C. elegans, we investigated the dose range that reduces whole-body locomotion or leads to death. Irradiation was performed in the range of 0–6 kGy. In the crawling analysis, motility decreased after irradiation in a dose-dependent manner. Exposure to 6 kGy of radiation affected crawling on agar immediately and caused the complete loss of motility. Both γ-rays and carbon-ion beams significantly reduced crawling motility at 3 kGy. Next, swimming in buffer was measured as a motility index to assess the response over time after irradiation and motility similarly decreased. However, swimming partially recovered 6 h after irradiation with 3 kGy of γ-rays. To examine the possibility of a recovery mechanism, in situ GFP reporter assay of the autophagy-related gene lgg-1 was performed. The fluorescence intensity was stronger in the anterior half of the body 7 h after irradiation with 3 kGy of γ-rays. GFP::LGG-1 induction was observed in the pharynx, neurons along the body, and the intestine. Furthermore, worms were exposed to region-specific radiation with carbon-ion microbeams and the trajectory of crawling was measured by image processing. Motility was lower after anterior-half body irradiation than after posterior-half body irradiation. This further supported that the anterior half of the body is important in the locomotory response to radiation.
The Cdc14 Phosphatase Controls Resolution of Recombination Intermediates and Crossover Formation during Meiosis
Authors: Alonso-Ramos Paula , Álvarez-Melo David , Strouhalova Katerina , Pascual-Silva Carolina , Garside George B. , Arter Meret , Bermejo Teresa , Grigaitis Rokas , Wettstein Rahel , Fernández-Díaz Marta , Matos Joao , Geymonat Marco , San-Segundo Pedro A. , Carballo Jesús A.
Published: September 2021

Meiotic defects derived from incorrect DNA repair during gametogenesis can lead to mutations, aneuploidies and infertility. The coordinated resolution of meiotic recombination intermediates is required for crossover formation, ultimately necessary for the accurate completion of both rounds of chromosome segregation. Numerous master kinases orchestrate the correct assembly and activity of the repair machinery. Although much less is known, the reversal of phosphorylation events in meiosis must also be key to coordinate the timing and functionality of repair enzymes. Cdc14 is a crucial phosphatase required for the dephosphorylation of multiple CDK1 targets in many eukaryotes. Mutations that inactivate this phosphatase lead to meiotic failure, but until now it was unknown if Cdc14 plays a direct role in meiotic recombination. Here, we show that the elimination of Cdc14 leads to severe defects in the processing and resolution of recombination intermediates, causing a drastic depletion in crossovers when other repair pathways are compromised. We also show that Cdc14 is required for the correct activity and localization of the Holliday Junction resolvase Yen1/GEN1. We reveal that Cdc14 regulates Yen1 activity from meiosis I onwards, and this function is essential for crossover resolution in the absence of other repair pathways. We also demonstrate that Cdc14 and Yen1 are required to safeguard sister chromatid segregation during the second meiotic division, a late action that is independent of the earlier role in crossover formation. Thus, this work uncovers previously undescribed functions of the evolutionary conserved Cdc14 phosphatase in the regulation of meiotic recombination.
Molecular Characterizations and Functional Analyses of LmR2D2 in the Locusta migratoria siRNA Pathway
Authors: Gao Lu , Wang Yanli , Abbas Mureed , Zhang Tingting , Ma Enbo , Xing Shuping , Zhu Kun Yan , Zhang Jianzhen
Published: September 2021

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are non-coding RNAs with a length of 21~23 nucleotides (nt) and present in almost all eukaryotes. The formation of siRNA is a highly conserved post-transcriptional gene-silencing mechanism mediated by key proteins, including Dicer2, Argonaute2 (Ago2) and R2D2. R2D2 has been identified as a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-binding protein and reported as an integral component of the siRNA pathway in Drosophila. However, the involvement of R2D2 in the siRNA pathway of Locusta migratoria is still unknown. In the present study, we identified an LmR2D2 gene from the transcriptome of L. migratoria. It consists of a 954-bp open reading frame that encodes a protein of 318 amino acid residues. Further sequence analysis revealed that LmR2D2 possesses two tandem dsRNA-binding domains (dsRBD) at the N-terminus. Analysis of the developmental expression profile of LmR2D2 indicated that its transcript level was stable in third-instar nymphs of L. migratoria, whereas the tissue-dependent expression profile exhibited high levels of expression of LmR2D2 in the testis and ovary. When LmR2D2 was silenced by RNAi, the RNAi efficiency against Lmβ-tubulin as a marker gene was significantly diminished, as indicated by the 37.7% increased Lmβ-tubulin transcript level. Additionally, the prokaryotic expression system was used to obtain the LmR2D2 supernatant protein. By incubating the LmR2D2 protein with biotin-dsRNA, we found that LmR2D2 can bind to dsRNA in vitro, which supports our conclusion that LmR2D2 plays an essential role in the siRNA pathway of L. migratoria.
CHA2DS2-VASc Score for Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events Stratification in Patients with Pneumonia with and without Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Wang Bo-Yuan , Lin Fei-Yi , Ku Min-Sho , Wang Yu-Hsun , Lee Kun-Yu , Ho Sai-Wai
Published: September 2021

Background: Recent studies have shown an association between CHA2DS2-VASc (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥ 75 years, diabetes mellitus, stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), vascular disease, age 65 to 74 years, sex category) score and outcome of acute myocardial infarction, stroke, and chest pain. As pneumonia can affect the cardiovascular system, this study aimed to investigate the performance of the CHA2DS2-VASc score for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) risk stratification in patients with pneumonia. Methods: A retrospective population-based cohort study including 61,843 patients with pneumonia. These patients were divided into two cohorts that were stratified based on the presence or absence of underlying atrial fibrillation (AF). We calculated the CHA2DS2-VASc score and incidence density rates of MACEs in each cohort. Cox regression was conducted to calculate hazard ratio of MACEs in pneumonia patients. The diagnostic performance of CHA2DS2-VASc with regard to MACEs was tested using the receiver operator characteristic curve. Results: Pneumonia patients with higher CHA2DS2-VASc score were more likely develop MACEs in both the AF and non-AF groups. In the AF group, the areas under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity were 0.824 (0.7773–0.8708), 0.7, and 0.84 respectively. In the non-AF group, the AUC, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.8185 (0.8152–0.8217), 0.75, and 0.83 respectively. Conclusions: The CHA2DS2-VASc score showed good performance in the prediction of MACE in patients with pneumonia.
Editorial for the Special Issue on Advanced Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites
Authors: Malakooti Mohammad H. , Bowland Christopher C.
Published: September 2021

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are ubiquitous structural materials owing to their high specific strength, impact resistance, and scalable manufacturing [...]
Toughening and Healing of CFRPs by Electrospun Diels–Alder Based Polymers Modified with Carbon Nano-Fillers
Authors: Kotrotsos Athanasios , Rouvalis Constantinos , Geitona Anna , Kostopoulos Vassilis
Published: September 2021

In the present investigation, thermo-reversible bonds formed between maleimide and furan groups (Diels–Alder (DA)-based bis-maleimides (BMI)) have been generated to enable high-performance unidirectional (UD) carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRPs) with self-healing (SH) functionality. The incorporation of the SH agent (SHA) was performed locally, only in areas of interest, with the solution electrospinning process (SEP) technique. More precisely, reference and modified CFRPs with (a) pure SHA, (b) SHA modified with multi-walled carbon nano-tubes (MWCNTs) and (c) SHA modified with graphene nano-platelets (GNPs) were fabricated and further tested under Mode I loading conditions. According to experimental results, it was shown that the interlaminar fracture toughness properties of modified CFRPs were considerably enhanced, with GNP-modified ones to exhibit the best toughening performance. After the first fracture and the activation of the healing process, C-scan inspections revealed, macroscopically, a healing efficiency (H.E.) of 100%; however, after repeating the tests, a low recovery of mechanical properties was achieved. Finally, optical microscopy (OM) examinations not only showed that the epoxy matrix at the interface was partly infiltrated by the DA resin, but it also revealed the presence of pulled-out fibers at the fractured surfaces, indicating extended fiber bridging between crack flanks due to the presence of the SHA.
Effects of Different Multi-Year Physical Exercise Programs on Motor Skills in Preschool Children
Authors: Plazibat Kristian , Karuc Josip , Vidranski Tihomir
Published: September 2021

Acquiring optimal motor skills in preschool children presents a key element for proper psychomotor development. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine gender differences and the effects of a multi-year exercise program on the level of motor skills in 161 preschool children (5–6 yo). Participants were divided into one control and three experimental groups. Motor skills were assessed with the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2). To determine the difference in scores for each BOT-2 test between control and experimental groups, one-way ANOVA was used for girls and boys separately, while two-way ANOVA was used to determine the difference between the genders in the overall BOT-2 score. The results indicate that a 1-year multilateral exercise program has a positive effect on the level of motor skills in preschool children. Interestingly, additional years of participation in exercise programs yielded the maintenance of acquired motor skills level. Additionally, the exercise program affected preschool girls more than boys considering both individual and composite BOT-2 scores. According to the findings of this study, the presented exercise program could have potential benefits on multilateral development of the motor skills in preschool children, which could facilitate the balance of locomotor and manipulative skills. Therefore, the integration of multilateral programs intended for preschool children could be considered for implementation within the kindergarten curriculum.
Proline-Specific Fungal Peptidases: Genomic Analysis and Identification of Secreted DPP4 in Alkaliphilic and Alkalitolerant Fungi
Authors: Alkin Nikita , Dunaevsky Yakov , Elpidina Elena , Beljakova Galina , Tereshchenkova Valeria , Filippova Irina , Belozersky Mikhail
Published: September 2021

Proline-specific peptidases (PSP) play a crucial role in the processing of fungal toxins, pheromones, and intracellular signaling. They are of particular interest to biotechnology, as they are able to hydrolyze proline-rich oligopeptides that give a bitter taste to food and can also cause an autoimmune celiac disease. We performed in silico analysis of PSP homologs in the genomes of 42 species of higher fungi which showed the presence of PSP homologs characteristic of various kingdoms of living organisms and belonging to different families of peptidases, including homologs of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) and prolyl aminopeptidase 1 found in almost all the studied fungal species. Homologs of proliniminopeptidases from the S33 family absent in humans were also found. Several studied homologs are characteristic of certain taxonomic groups of fungi. Phylogenetic analysis suggests a duplication of ancestral DPP4 into transmembrane and secreted versions, which predate the split of ascomycete and basidiomycete lineages. Comparative biochemical analysis of DPP4 in alkaliphilic and alkali-tolerant strains of fungi showed that, notwithstanding some individual features of these enzymes, in both cases, the studied DPP4 are active and stable under alkaline conditions and at high salt concentrations, which makes them viable candidates for biotechnology and bioengineering.
Bioactivity and Biocompatibility Properties of Sustainable Wollastonite Bioceramics from Rice Husk Ash/Rice Straw Ash: A Review
Authors: Ismail Hamisah , Mohamad Hasmaliza
Published: September 2021

Recently, there has been an increase in interest in agricultural waste in scientific, technological, environmental, economic, and social contexts. The processing of rice husk ash/rice straw ash into biocompatible products—also known as biomaterials—used in biomedical implants is a technique that can enhance the value of agricultural waste. This method has effectively converted unprocessed agricultural waste into high-value products. Rice husk and straw are considered to be unwanted agricultural waste and are largely discarded because they pollute the environment. Because of the related components present in bone and teeth, this waste can produce wollastonite. Wollastonite is an excellent material for bone healing and implants, as well as tissue regeneration. The use of rice husk ash or rice straw ash in wollastonite production reduces the impact of agricultural waste on pollution and prompts the ensuing conversion of waste into a highly beneficial invention. The use of this agricultural waste in the fabrication of wollastonite using rice husk ash or rice straw ash was investigated in this paper. Wollastonite made from rice husk ash and rice straw ash has a fair chance of lowering the cost of bone and tooth repair and replacement, while having no environmental effects.
Extrusion-Based 3D Printing of Calcium Magnesium Phosphate Cement Pastes for Degradable Bone Implants
Authors: Götz Lisa-Marie , Holeczek Katharina , Groll Jürgen , Jüngst Tomasz , Gbureck Uwe
Published: September 2021

This study aimed to develop printable calcium magnesium phosphate pastes that harden by immersion in ammonium phosphate solution post-printing. Besides the main mineral compound, biocompatible ceramic, magnesium oxide and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) were the crucial components. Two pastes with different powder to liquid ratios of 1.35 g/mL and 1.93 g/mL were characterized regarding their rheological properties. Here, ageing over the course of 24 h showed an increase in viscosity and extrusion force, which was attributed to structural changes in HPMC as well as the formation of magnesium hydroxide by hydration of MgO. The pastes enabled printing of porous scaffolds with good dimensional stability and enabled a setting reaction to struvite when immersed in ammonium phosphate solution. Mechanical performance under compression was approx. 8–20 MPa as a monolithic structure and 1.6–3.0 MPa for printed macroporous scaffolds, depending on parameters such as powder to liquid ratio, ageing time, strand thickness and distance.
Study of High-Temperature Behaviour of ZnO by Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy
Authors: Bocharov Dmitry , Pudza Inga , Klementiev Konstantin , Krack Matthias , Kuzmin Alexei
Published: September 2021

Wurtzite-type zinc oxide (w-ZnO) is a widely used material with a pronounced structural anisotropy along the c axis, which affects its lattice dynamics and represents a difficulty for its accurate description using classical models of interatomic interactions. In this study, ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) was employed to simulate a bulk w-ZnO phase in the NpT ensemble in the high-temperature range from 300 K to 1200 K. The results of the simulations were validated by comparison with the experimental Zn K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra and known diffraction data. AIMD NpT simulations reproduced well the thermal expansion of the lattice, and the pronounced anharmonicity of Zn–O bonding was observed above 600 K. The values of mean-square relative displacements and mean-square displacements for Zn–O and Zn–Zn atom pairs were obtained as a function of interatomic distance and temperature. They were used to calculate the characteristic Einstein temperatures. The temperature dependences of the O–Zn–O and Zn–O–Zn bond angle distributions were also determined.
Removal of Aniline and Benzothiazole Wastewaters Using an Efficient MnO2/GAC Catalyst in a Photocatalytic Fluidised Bed Reactor
Authors: Ferreiro Cristian , Villota Natalia , Lombraña José Ignacio , Rivero María J. , Zúñiga Verónica , Rituerto José Miguel
Published: September 2021

This work presents an efficient method for treating industrial wastewater containing aniline and benzothiazole, which are refractory to conventional treatments. A combination of heterogeneous photocatalysis operating in a fluidised bed reactor is studied in order to increase mass transfer and reduce reaction times. This process uses a manganese dioxide catalyst supported on granular activated carbon with environmentally friendly characteristics. The manganese dioxide composite is prepared by hydrothermal synthesis on carbon Hydrodarco® 3000 with different active phase ratios. The support, the metal oxide, and the composite are characterised by performing Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller analysis, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, X-ray fluorescence analysis, UV–Vis spectroscopy by diffuse reflectance, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in order to evaluate the influence of the metal oxide on the activated carbon. A composite of MnO2/GAC (3.78% in phase α-MnO2) is obtained, with a 9.4% increase in the specific surface of the initial GAC and a 12.79 nm crystal size. The effect of pH and catalyst load is studied. At a pH of 9.0 and a dose of 0.9 g L−1, a high degradation of aniline and benzothiazole is obtained, with an 81.63% TOC mineralisation in 64.8 min.
Delignification Effects on Indonesian Momala (Homalium foetidum) and Korean Red Toon (Toona sinensis) Hardwood Pore Structure and Sound Absorption Capabilities
Authors: Jang Eun-Suk , Kang Chun-Won
Published: September 2021

Among the various methods used to improve the sound absorption capability of wood, we focused on delignification in Indonesian momala (Homalium foetidum) and Korean red toon (Toona sinensis). We performed gas permeability, pore size, and porosity analyses and evaluated how the change in the pore structure affects the sound absorption capabilities. Results show that delignification increased the through-pore porosity and improved sound absorption capability in both species. In addition, the air gap in the rear space maximized the sound absorption of momala and the red toon. The noise reduction coefficient (NRC) of delignified momala (90 min) with a 3 cm air gap was 0.359 ± 0.023. This is approximately 154.6% higher than that of untreated momala without an air gap. The NRC of delignificated red toon (90 min) with a 3 cm air gap was 0.324 ± 0.040, an increase of 604.3% over untreated red toon without an air gap.
A Molecular Dynamics Simulations Study of the Influence of Prestrain on the Pop-In Behavior and Indentation Size Effect in Cu Single Crystals
Authors: Xu Rong-Guang , Song Hengxu , Leng Yongsheng , Papanikolaou Stefanos
Published: September 2021

The pop-in effect in nanoindentation of metals represents a major collective dislocation phenomenon that displays sensitivity in the local surface microstructure and residual stresses. To understand the deformation mechanisms behind pop-ins in metals, large scale molecular dynamics simulations are performed to investigate the pop-in behavior and indentation size effect in undeformed and deformed Cu single crystals. Tensile loading, unloading, and reloading simulations are performed to create a series of samples subjected to a broad range of tensile strains with/without pre-existing dislocations. The subsequent nanoindentation simulations are conducted to investigate the coupled effects of prestrain and the presence of resulting dislocations and surface morphology, as well as indenter size effects on the mechanical response in indentation processes. Our work provides detailed insights into the deformation mechanisms and microstructure-property relationships of nanoindentation in the presence of residual stresses and strains.
In-Memory-Computing Realization with a Photodiode/Memristor Based Vision Sensor
Authors: Vasileiadis Nikolaos , Ntinas Vasileios , Sirakoulis Georgios Ch. , Dimitrakis Panagiotis
Published: September 2021

State-of-the-art IoT technologies request novel design solutions in edge computing, resulting in even more portable and energy-efficient hardware for in-the-field processing tasks. Vision sensors, processors, and hardware accelerators are among the most demanding IoT applications. Resistance switching (RS) two-terminal devices are suitable for resistive RAMs (RRAM), a promising technology to realize storage class memories. Furthermore, due to their memristive nature, RRAMs are appropriate candidates for in-memory computing architectures. Recently, we demonstrated a CMOS compatible silicon nitride (SiNx) MIS RS device with memristive properties. In this paper, a report on a new photodiode-based vision sensor architecture with in-memory computing capability, relying on memristive device, is disclosed. In this context, the resistance switching dynamics of our memristive device were measured and a data-fitted behavioral model was extracted. SPICE simulations were made highlighting the in-memory computing capabilities of the proposed photodiode-one memristor pixel vision sensor. Finally, an integration and manufacturing perspective was discussed.
Robust Vibration Control Based on Rigid-Body State Observer for Modular Joints
Authors: Xin Qiang , Wang Chongchong , Chen Chin-Yin , Yang Guilin , Chen Long
Published: September 2021

The vibration caused by resonance modes frequently occurs during acceleration and deceleration of the modular joint integrated with flexible harmonic drive. The conventional equivalent rigid-body velocity method with observer can suppress the residual vibration induced by resonant frequency but has poor robustness to model uncertainties and external disturbances. Moreover, it cannot eliminate the torque ripple caused by the harmonic drive during low-speed uniform motion, reducing the velocity tracking accuracy. Hence, a velocity controller with a rigid-body state observer and an adjustable damper is designed to improve the robust performance and velocity tracking accuracy. The designed rigid-body state observer allows a higher gain so that the bandwidth of the observer can increase, and the equivalent rigid-body velocity can be acquired more accurately. Notably, the high gain observer reduces the sensitivity to model uncertainties and exotic disturbances, especially near the resonant frequency. In addition, the observer combined with an adjustable damper can suppress the residual vibration and torque ripple simultaneously. The proposed method is compared experimentally with a PI method and two other rigid-body velocity methods, such as the conventional equivalent rigid-body observer method and the self-resonance cancellation method, to verify its advantages.
Investigation on the Finishing Characteristics of a Magnetic Abrasive Finishing Process with Magnetic Abrasive Slurry Circulation System
Authors: Xu Jiaye , Zou Yanhua , Xie Huijun
Published: September 2021

The magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF) process is an ultra-precision surface finishing technology. In order to further improve the finishing efficiency and continuity, a magnetic abrasive finishing process using the circulatory system to renew magnetic abrasive slurry was proposed. This study investigated the mechanism of the compound magnetic finishing fluid in the process using the conveyor belt as the carrier to complete the circulation and finishing through simulation and theoretical analysis. The influence of the different distribution states of the magnetic finishing fluid in the conveyor belt and the finishing area on the finishing characteristics is observed and analyzed, in addition to a series of experiments to explore the feasibility of finishing polychlorotrifluoroethylene resin plate through this process. Experimental results show that as the working gap decreases, the distribution width of compound magnetic finishing fluid on the conveyor belt becomes larger, and the distribution of the points of action on the workpiece in the finishing area is significantly different and the area increases, and obtains a higher finishing force and finishing efficiency. In this study, the surface roughness of polychlorotrifluoroethylene resin plate was improved from 274 nm Ra to 34 nm Ra within 15 min.
Extreme Value Analysis for Mixture Models with Heavy-Tailed Impurity
Authors: Morozova Ekaterina , Panov Vladimir
Published: September 2021

This paper deals with the extreme value analysis for the triangular arrays which appear when some parameters of the mixture model vary as the number of observations grows. When the mixing parameter is small, it is natural to associate one of the components with “an impurity” (in the case of regularly varying distribution, “heavy-tailed impurity”), which “pollutes” another component. We show that the set of possible limit distributions is much more diverse than in the classical Fisher–Tippett–Gnedenko theorem, and provide the numerical examples showing the efficiency of the proposed model for studying the maximal values of the stock returns.
A Characterization of GRW Spacetimes
Authors: Al-Dayel Ibrahim , Deshmukh Sharief , Siddiqi Mohd. Danish
Published: September 2021

We show presence a special torse-forming vector field (a particular form of torse-forming of a vector field) on generalized Robertson–Walker (GRW) spacetime, which is an eigenvector of the de Rham–Laplace operator. This paves the way to showing that the presence of a time-like special torse-forming vector field ξ with potential function ρ on a Lorentzian manifold (M,g), dimM>5, which is an eigenvector of the de Rham Laplace operator, gives a characterization of a GRW-spacetime. We show that if, in addition, the function ξ(ρ) is nowhere zero, then the fibers of the GRW-spacetime are compact. Finally, we show that on a simply connected Lorentzian manifold (M,g) that admits a time-like special torse-forming vector field ξ, there is a function f called the associated function of ξ. It is shown that if a connected Lorentzian manifold (M,g), dimM>4, admits a time-like special torse-forming vector field ξ with associated function f nowhere zero and satisfies the Fischer–Marsden equation, then (M,g) is a quasi-Einstein manifold.