bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Malnutrition in Pediatric Chronic Cholestatic Disease: An Up-to-Date Overview
Authors: Tessitore Maria , Sorrentino Eduardo , Schiano Di Cola Giuseppe , Colucci Angelo , Vajro Pietro , Mandato Claudia
Published: August 2021

Despite recent advances, the causes of and effective therapies for pediatric chronic cholestatic diseases remain elusive, and many patients progress to liver failure and need liver transplantation. Malnutrition is a common complication in these patients and is a well-recognized, tremendous challenge for the clinician. We undertook a narrative review of both recent and relevant older literature, published during the last 20 years, for studies linking nutrition to pediatric chronic cholestasis. The collected data confirm that malnutrition and failure to thrive are associated with increased risks of morbidity and mortality, and they also affect the outcomes of liver transplantation, including long-term survival. Malnutrition in children with chronic liver disease is multifactorial and with multiple potential nutritional deficiencies. To improve life expectancy and the quality of life, patients require careful assessments and appropriate management of their nutritional statuses by multidisciplinary teams, which can identify and/or prevent specific deficiencies and initiate appropriate interventions. Solutions available for the clinical management of these children in general, as well as those directed to specific etiologies, are summarized. We particularly focus on fat-soluble vitamin deficiency and malnutrition due to fat malabsorption. Supplemental feeding, including medium-chain triglycerides, essential fatty acids, branched-chain amino acids, and the extra calories needed to overcome the consequences of anorexia and high energy requirements, is reviewed. Future studies should address the need for further improving commercially available and nutritionally complete infant milk formulae for the dietary management of this fragile category of patients. The aid of a specialist dietitian, educational training regarding nutritional guidelines for stakeholders, and improving family nutritional health literacy appear essential.
Daily Vegetables Intake and Response to COPD Rehabilitation. The Role of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and DNA Damage
Authors: Ilari Sara , Vitiello Laura , Russo Patrizia , Proietti Stefania , Milić Mirta , Muscoli Carolina , Cardaci Vittorio , Tomino Carlo , Bonassi Gaia , Bonassi Stefano
Published: August 2021

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory disease associated with airways inflammation and lung parenchyma fibrosis. The primary goals of COPD treatment are to reduce symptoms and risk of exacerbations, therefore pulmonary rehabilitation is considered the key component of managing COPD patients. Oxidative airway damage, inflammation and reduction of endogenous antioxidant enzymes are known to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of COPD. Recently, also natural antioxidants have been considered as they play an important role in metabolism, DNA repair and fighting the effects of oxidative stress. In this paper we evaluated the response of 105 elderly COPD patients to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), based on high or low vegetable consumption, by analyzing clinical parameters and biological measurements at baseline and after completion of the three weeks PR. We found that daily vegetable intake in normal diet, without any specific intervention, can increase the probability to successfully respond to rehabilitation (65.4% of responders ate vegetables daily vs. 40.0% of non-responders, p = 0.033). The association was especially evident in subjects ≥ 80 year of age (OR = 17.0; p < 0.019). Three weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation are probably too short to reveal a reduction of the oxidative stress and DNA damage, but are enough to show an improvement in the patient’s inflammatory state.
Administration of Lactobacillus reuteri Combined with Clostridium butyricum Attenuates Cisplatin-Induced Renal Damage by Gut Microbiota Reconstitution, Increasing Butyric Acid Production, and Suppressing Renal Inflammation
Authors: Hsiao Yu-Ping , Chen Hsiao-Ling , Tsai Jen-Ning , Lin Meei-Yn , Liao Jiunn-Wang , Wei Meng-Syuan , Ko Jiunn-Liang , Ou Chu-Chyn
Published: August 2021

Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity is associated with gut microbiota disturbance. The present study aimed to investigate whether supplementation of Lactobacillus reuteri and Clostridium butyricum (LCs) had a protective effect on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity through reconstruction of gut microbiota. Wistar rats were given different treatments: control, cisplatin (Cis), cisplatin + C. butyricum and L. reuteri (Cis+LCs), and C. butyricum and L. reuteri (LCs). We observed that cisplatin-treated rats supplemented with LCs exhibited significantly decreased renal inflammation (KIM-1, F4/80, and MPO), oxidative stress, fibrosis (collagen IV, fibronectin, and a-SMA), apoptosis, concentration of blood endotoxin and indoxyl sulfate, and increased fecal butyric acid production compared with those without supplementation. In addition, LCs improved the cisplatin-induced microbiome dysbiosis by maintaining a healthy gut microbiota structure and diversity; depleting Escherichia-Shigella and the Enterobacteriaceae family; and enriching probiotic Bifidobacterium, Ruminococcaceae, Ruminiclostridium_9, and Oscillibacter. Moreover, the LCs intervention alleviated the cisplatin-induced intestinal epithelial barrier impairment. This study indicated LCs probiotic serves as a mediator of the gut–kidney axis in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity to restore the intestinal microbiota composition, thereby suppressing uremic toxin production and enhancing butyrate production. Furthermore, the renoprotective effect of LCs is partially mediated by increasing the anti-inflammatory effects and maintaining the integrity of the intestinal barrier.
Citrulline, Biomarker of Enterocyte Functional Mass and Dietary Supplement. Metabolism, Transport, and Current Evidence for Clinical Use
Authors: Maric Stefano , Restin Tanja , Muff Julian , Camargo Simone , Guglielmetti Laura , Holland-Cunz Stefan , Crenn Pascal , Vuille-dit-Bille Raphael
Published: August 2021

L-Citrulline is a non-essential but still important amino acid that is released from enterocytes. Because plasma levels are reduced in case of impaired intestinal function, it has become a biomarker to monitor intestinal integrity. Moreover, oxidative stress induces protein citrullination, and antibodies against anti-citrullinated proteins are useful to monitor rheumatoid diseases. Citrullinated histones, however, may even predict a worse outcome in cancer patients. Supplementation of citrulline is better tolerated compared to arginine and might be useful to slightly improve muscle strength or protein balance. The following article shall provide an overview of L-citrulline properties and functions, as well as the current evidence for its use as a biomarker or as a therapeutic supplement.
Effect of Co-Administration of Curcumin with Amlodipine in Hypertension
Authors: Lee Somin , Jo Cheolmin , Choi Ho-Young , Lee Kyungjin
Published: August 2021

Curcumin, a curcuminoid known as the main bioactive compound of turmeric, is used in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products. Amlodipine is a general antihypertensive drug used in combination with various other antihypertensive agents. To date, no studies have examined the effects of the co-administration of amlodipine with curcumin. In this study, the vasodilatory effects of curcumin, amlodipine, and the co-administration of curcumin with amlodipine on isolated rat aortic rings pre-contracted with phenylephrine were evaluated, and the hypotensive effects were evaluated using the tail cuff method. To measure blood pressure, male spontaneously hypertensive rats were divided into four groups, each containing six rats, as follows: amlodipine 1 mg/kg alone treated, amlodipine 1 mg/kg with curcumin 30 mg/kg treated, amlodipine 1 mg/kg with curcumin 100 mg/kg treated, and amlodipine 1 mg/kg with curcumin 300 mg/kg treated groups. Amlodipine and curcumin were intraperitoneally injected, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured at 1, 2, 4, and 8 h after administration. The combined administration of curcumin and amlodipine induced a stronger vasorelaxant effect than amlodipine alone. However, co-administration did not significantly lower SBP and DBP compared to the single administration of amlodipine. The results of this study suggest that hypertensive patients taking amlodipine can consume curcumin or turmeric for food or other medical purposes without inhibiting the blood pressure-lowering effect of amlodipine.
The WHO South-East Asia Region Nutrient Profile Model Is Quite Appropriate for India: An Exploration of 31,516 Food Products
Authors: Pandav Chandra , Smith Taillie Lindsey , Miles Donna R. , Hollingsworth Bridget A. , Popkin Barry M.
Published: August 2021

The rapid rise in prevalence of overweight/obesity, as well as high prevalence of type 2 diabetes and other nutrition-related noncommunicable diseases, has led the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to propose a front-of-package labeling (FOPL) regulation. An effective FOPL system applies a nutrient profile model that identifies foods high in sugar, sodium, and saturated fat that would receive a warning label for consumers to effectively discern between more and less healthy foods. Previous Nutrition Alchemy data collected by the food industry (n = 1306 products) estimated that approximately 96% of foods in India would have at least one warning label based on the FSSAI proposed FOPL. This near universal coverage of warning labels may be inaccurate and misleading. To address this, the current study compared two nutrient profile models, the WHO South-East Asia Region Organization (SEARO) and the Chilean Warning Octagon (CWO) Phase 3, applied to food products available in the Indian market from 2015–2020, collected through Mintel Global New Products Database (n = 10,501 products). Results suggest that 68% of foods and beverages would have at least one ‘ high-in’ level warning label. This study highlights the need to include a more comprehensive sample of food products for assessing the value of warning labels.
An Overview of Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era
Authors: Pascual-Iglesias Alejandro , Canton Javier , Ortega-Prieto Ana Maria , Jimenez-Guardeño Jose M. , Regla-Nava Jose Angel
Published: August 2021

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in late 2019 led to the COVID-19 pandemic all over the world. When the virus was first isolated and its genome was sequenced in the early months of 2020, the efforts to develop a vaccine began. Based on prior well-known knowledge about coronavirus, the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein was selected as the main target. Currently, more than one hundred vaccines are being investigated and several of them are already authorized by medical agencies. This review summarizes and compares the current knowledge about main approaches for vaccine development, focusing on those authorized and specifically their immunogenicity, efficacy preventing severe disease, adverse side effects, protection, and ability to cope with emergent SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Co-Spray Drying of Paracetamol and Propyphenazone with Polymeric Binders for Enabling Compaction and Stability Improvement in a Combination Tablet
Authors: Partheniadis Ioannis , Nikolakakis Ioannis , Zacharis Constantinos K. , Kachrimanis Kyriakos , Al-Zoubi Nizar
Published: August 2021

Paracetamol (PCT) and propyphenazone (PRP) are analgesic drugs that are often combined in a single dosage form for enhanced pharmacological action. In this work, PCT and PRP were co-spray dried separately with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) using drug suspensions in polymer solutions as feed liquids. It was thought that because of polymer adherence to the surface of drug particles, the risk of PCT–PRP contact and interaction could be reduced. Such interaction may be caused by localized temperature gradients due to frictional forces during tableting, or during storage under harsh conditions. A worst-case scenario would be eutectic formation due to variations in powder mixture homogeneity since eutectic and therapeutic mass PCT/PRP ratios are close (65:35 and 60:40, respectively) and eutectic temperature is low (~56 °C). Uniform particle size, round shape, compaction improvement and faster release of the analgesics were important additional benefits of co-spray drying. Experimental design was first applied for each drug to optimize the polymer concentration on the yield of spray drying and melting point separation (Δmp) of heated binary mixtures of co-spray dried PCT/neat PRP, and vice versa, with the two drugs always included at their therapeutic 60:40 ratio. Optimal combinations with largest Δmp and production yield were: co-spray dried PCT (15% HPC) with neat PRP and co-spray dried PRP (10% HPMC) with neat PCT. Compression studies of these combinations showed tableting improvement due to the polymers, as reflected in greater work of compaction and solid fraction, greater fracture toughness and tablet strength, easier tablet detachment from the punch surface and ejectability. Faster release of both drugs was obtained from the tablet of co-spray dried PCT (15% HPC) with neat PRP. A one-month stability test (75% RH/40 °C) showed moisture-induced alteration tablet strength.
Photonic Nanojet Modulation Achieved by a Spider-Silk-Based Metal–Dielectric Dome Microlens
Authors: Lin Ching-Bin , Lin Yu-Hsiang , Chen Wei-Yu , Liu Cheng-Yang
Published: August 2021

The photonic nanojet is a non-resonance focusing phenomenon with high intensity and narrow spot that can serve as a powerful biosensor for in vivo detection of red blood cells, micro-organisms, and tumor cells in blood. In this study, we first demonstrated photonic nanojet modulation by utilizing a spider-silk-based metal–dielectric dome microlens. A cellar spider was employed in extracting the silk fiber, which possesses a liquid-collecting ability to form a dielectric dome microlens. The metal casing on the surface of the dielectric dome was coated by using a glancing angle deposition technique. Due to the nature of surface plasmon polaritons, the characteristics of photonic nanojets are strongly modulated by different metal casings. Numerical and experimental results showed that the intensity of the photonic nanojet was increased by a factor of three for the gold-coated dome microlens due to surface plasmon resonance. The spider-silk-based metal-dielectric dome microlens could be used to scan a biological target for large-area imaging with a conventional optical microscope.
Green Microalgae Strain Improvement for the Production of Sterols and Squalene
Authors: Potijun Supakorn , Jaingam Suparat , Sanevas Nuttha , Vajrodaya Srunya , Sirikhachornkit Anchalee
Published: August 2021

Sterols and squalene are essential biomolecules required for the homeostasis of eukaryotic membrane permeability and fluidity. Both compounds have beneficial effects on human health. As the current sources of sterols and squalene are plant and shark oils, microalgae are suggested as more sustainable sources. Nonetheless, the high costs of production and processing still hinder the commercialization of algal cultivation. Strain improvement for higher product yield and tolerance to harsh environments is an attractive way to reduce costs. Being an intermediate in sterol synthesis, squalene is converted to squalene epoxide by squalene epoxidase. This step is inhibited by terbinafine, a commonly used antifungal drug. In yeasts, some terbinafine-resistant strains overproduced sterols, but similar microalgae strains have not been reported. Mutants that exhibit greater tolerance to terbinafine might accumulate increased sterols and squalene content, along with the ability to tolerate the drug and other stresses, which are beneficial for outdoor cultivation. To explore this possibility, terbinafine-resistant mutants were isolated in the model green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii using UV mutagenesis. Three mutants were identified and all of them exhibited approximately 50 percent overproduction of sterols. Under terbinafine treatment, one of the mutants also accumulated around 50 percent higher levels of squalene. The higher accumulation of pigments and triacylglycerol were also observed. Along with resistance to terbinafine, this mutant also exhibited higher resistance to oxidative stress. Altogether, resistance to terbinafine can be used to screen for strains with increased levels of sterols or squalene in green microalgae without growth compromise.
Energy Absorption and Limit Velocity of Epoxy Composites Incorporated with Fique Fabric as Ballistic Armor—A Brief Report
Authors: Oliveira Michelle , Luz Fernanda , Lopera Henry , Nascimento Lucio , Garcia Filho Fabio , Monteiro Sergio
Published: August 2021

Polymer composites reinforced with natural fabric have recently been investigated as possible ballistic armor for personal protection against different levels of ammunition. In particular, fabric made of fique fibers, which is extracted from the leaves of the Furcraea andina, was applied as reinforcement for polymer composites used in a multilayered armor system (MAS). The superior performance of the fique fabric composites as a second MAS layer motivated this brief report on the determination of the absorbed energy and capability to limit velocity in the stand-alone ballistic tests. The single plates of epoxy composites, which were reinforced with up to 50 vol% of fique fabric, were ballistic tested as targets against 7.62 mm high-speed, ~840 m/s, impact ammunition for the first time. The results were statistically analyzed by the Weibull method and ANOVA. The absorbed energies of the 200–219 J and limit velocities of 202–211 m/s were found statistically similar to the epoxy composites reinforced with the fique fabric from 15 to 50 vol%. Predominantly, these findings are better than those reported for the plain epoxy and aramid fabric (KevlarTM) used as stand-alone plates with the same thickness. Macrocracks in the 15 and 30 vol% fique fabric composites compromise their application as armor plates. The delamination rupture mechanism was revealed by scanning electron microscopy. By contrast, the integrity was maintained in the 40 and 50 vol% composites, ensuring superior ballistic protection compared to the use of KevlarTM.
Expandable Graphite for Flame Retardant PA6 Applications
Authors: Tomiak Florian , Rathberger Klaus , Schöffel Angelina , Drummer Dietmar
Published: August 2021

A new expandable graphite (EG) type was studied as a flame retardant additive in Polyamide 6 (PA6). The fire behavior was characterized by a cone calorimeter using external heat fluxes of 35, 50 and 65 kW/m2, limiting the oxygen index (LOI) and UL-94 burning tests. Additionally, electric and thermal conductivity as well as rheological properties were characterized to provide a general property overview. Fire tests were conducted using dry and humid conditioned samples. Cone Calorimeter tests showed a minimum filling degree of 15 wt.% (8.6 vol.%) EG was required to achieve a significant fire inhibiting effect in PA6 independent of the sample condition. UL-94 fire tests show a V0 classification at filling degrees greater than 20 wt.% (humid) and 25 wt.% (dry), although the associated LOI values of 39% and 38% demonstrate good flammability inhibition. Correlation analyses were conducted to identify major influences given by the sample condition for most important key figures measured in cone calorimeter tests. Accordingly, humid-conditioned samples containing between 2.5 (PA6 + 25 wt.% EG) and 4.2 wt.% (PA6) water were found to reduce the total heat evolved (THE) on average by 16% and the total smoke production (TSP) on average by 22%.
Optimization of a Totally Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Composite Sandwich Construction of Helicopter Floor for Weight Saving, Fuel Saving and Higher Safety
Authors: Al-Fatlawi Alaa , Jármai Károly , Kovács György
Published: August 2021

The application of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) composites as structural elements of air vehicles provides weight saving, which results in a reduction in fuel consumption, fuel cost, and air pollution, and a higher speed. The goal of this research was to elaborate a new optimization method for a totally FRP composite construction for helicopter floors. During the optimization, 46 different layer combinations of 4 different FRP layers (woven glass fibers with phenolic resin; woven glass fibers with epoxy resin; woven carbon fibers with epoxy resin; hybrid composite) and FRP honeycomb core structural elements were investigated. The face sheets were composed of a different number of layers with cross-ply, angle-ply, and multidirectional fiber orientations. During the optimization, nine design constraints were considered: deflection; face sheet stress (bending load, end loading); stiffness; buckling; core shear stress; skin wrinkling; intracell buckling; and shear crimping. The single-objective weight optimization was solved by applying the Interior Point Algorithm of the Matlab software, the Generalized Reduced Gradient (GRG) Nonlinear Algorithm of the Excel Solver software, and the Laminator software. The Digimat-HC software solved the numerical models for the optimum sandwich plates of helicopter floors. The main contribution is developing a new method for optimizing a totally FRP composite sandwich structure—due to its material constituents and construction—that is more advantageous than traditional helicopter floors. A case study validated this fact.
Mn-N-C Nanostructure Derived from MnO2-x/PANI as Highly Performing Cathode Additive in Li-S Battery
Authors: Gao Xingyuan , Liu Ruliang , Wu Lixia , Lai Changdi , Liang Yubin , Cao Manli , Wang Jingyu , Yin Wei , Lu Xihong , Kawi Sibudjing
Published: August 2021

Highly dispersed Mn metallic nanoparticles (15.87 nm on average) on a nitrogen-doped porous carbon matrix were prepared by thermal treatment of MnO2-x/polyaniline (PANI), which was derived from the in situ polymerization of aniline monomers initiated by γ-MnO2 nanosheets. Owing to the large surface area (1287 m2/g), abundant active sites, nitrogen dopants and highly dispersed Mn sites on graphitic carbon, an impressive specific capacity of 1319.4 mAh g−1 with an admirable rate performance was delivered in a Li-S battery. After 220 cycles at 1 C, 80.6% of the original capacity was retained, exhibiting a good cycling stability.
Broadacre Mapping of Wheat Biomass Using Ground-Based LiDAR Technology
Authors: Colaço André Freitas , Schaefer Michael , Bramley Robert G. V.
Published: August 2021

Crop biomass is an important attribute to consider in relation to site-specific nitrogen (N) management as critical N levels in plants vary depending on crop biomass. Whilst LiDAR technology has been used extensively in small plot-based phenomics studies, large-scale crop scanning has not yet been reported for cereal crops. A LiDAR sensing system was implemented to map a commercial 64-ha wheat paddock to assess the spatial variability of crop biomass. A proximal active reflectance sensor providing spectral indices and estimates of crop height was used as a comparison for the LiDAR system. Plant samples were collected at targeted locations across the field for the assessment of relationships between sensed and measured crop parameters. The correlation between crop biomass and LiDAR-derived crop height was 0.79, which is similar to results reported for plot scanning studies and greatly superior to results obtained for the spectral sensor tested. The LiDAR mapping showed significant crop biomass variability across the field, with estimated values ranging between 460 and 1900 kg ha−1. The results are encouraging for the use of LiDAR technology for large-scale operations to support site-specific management. To promote such an approach, we encourage the development of an automated, on-the-go data processing capability and dedicated commercial LiDAR systems for field operation.
“If You Don’t Speak English, I Can’t Understand You!”: Exposure to Various Foreign Languages as a Threat
Authors: Lee Timothy , Molina Ludwin E.
Published: August 2021

The number of non-English speaking and bilingual immigrants continues to grow in the U.S. Previous research suggests that about one third of White Americans feel threatened upon hearing a language other than English. The current research examines how exposure to a foreign language affects White Americans’ perceptions of immigrants and group-based threats. In Study 1, White Americans were randomly assigned to read one of four fictional transcripts of a conversation of an immigrant family at a restaurant, where the type of language being spoken was manipulated to be either Korean, Spanish, German, or English. In Study 2, White Americans read the same fictional transcript—minus the Spanish; however, there was an addition of two subtitles conditions in which the subtitles were provided next to the Korean and German texts. The two studies suggest that exposure to a foreign language—regardless of whether they are consistent with Anglocentric constructions of American identity—lead White Americans to form less positive impressions of the immigrant targets and their conversation, experience an uptick in group-based threats, and display greater anti-immigrant attitudes. Moreover, there is evidence that the (in)ability to understand the conversation (i.e., epistemic threat) influences participants’ perceptions of immigrants and group-based threats.
To Purchase or Not to Purchase? Drivers of Consumers’ Preferences for Animal Welfare in Their Meat Choice
Authors: Yeh Ching-Hua , Hartmann Monika
Published: August 2021

This study investigates the relevance of psychological constructs in determining consumer intention to buy and Willingness-To-Pay (WTP) for a processed meat product, cured ham, differentiated by the attributes of animal welfare, ham variety, and price. Data obtained from an online survey conducted in Germany was used to estimate an integrated choice and latent variable (ICLV) model, which is based on an extension of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework. There are two consumer segments that are identified: one that is highly price sensitive in its product choice and one that gives roughly equal weight to the animal welfare, ham variety, and price attributes. The ICLV model shows consistency across the two groups regarding the importance of psychological constructs—moral norms, attitude, and perceived behavioral control—in explaining respondent intentions to buy cured ham and their stated product choice. Subjective norms, however, are only a significant determinant of consumer intention to buy cured ham for the price sensitive consumer group.
Climate Change and Thermal Comfort in Top Tourist Destinations—The Case of Santorini (Greece)
Authors: Katavoutas George , Founda Dimitra , Kitsara Gianna , Giannakopoulos Christos
Published: August 2021

The Mediterranean area is one of the most visited tourist destinations of the world, but it has also been recognized as one of the most vulnerable to climate change areas worldwide with respect to increased thermal risk. The study focuses on a top worldwide tourist destination of the Mediterranean, Santorini Island in Greece, and aims to assess the past, present and future thermal environment in the island based on the advanced Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). The study utilizes historical observations capturing past (late 19th to early 20th century) and more recent (1982–2019) time periods, while future projections are realized based on four regional climate models (RCMs) under the weak mitigation scenario (RCP4.5) and the non-mitigation scenario with high emissions (RCP8.5). The frequency of cold stress conditions at midday decreases during winter and early spring months by up to 19.8% (January) in the recent period compared to the historical one, while heat stress conditions increase in summer by up to 22.4% (August). Future projections suggest progressive shifts of the UTCI towards higher values in the future and an increase in the exposure time under heat stress depending on the RCM and adopted scenario. The increase in moderate and strong heat stress conditions is mainly expected during the summer months (June, July, August); nevertheless, a noticeable increase is also foreseen in September and May. The highest occurrences of favorable (no thermal stress) conditions are also projected to shift by one month, from June to May and from September to October, in the future.
Rotating Microtab Implementation on a DU91W250 Airfoil Based on the Cell-Set Model
Authors: Ballesteros-Coll Alejandro , Portal-Porras Koldo , Fernandez-Gamiz Unai , Zulueta Ekaitz , Lopez-Guede Jose Manuel
Published: August 2021

Flow control device modeling is an engaging research field for wind turbine optimization, since in recent years wind turbines have grown in proportions and weight. The purpose of the present work was to study the performance and effects generated by a rotating microtab (MT) implemented on the trailing edge of a DU91W250 airfoil through the novel cell-set (CS) model for the first time via CFD techniques. The CS method is based on the reutilization of an already calculated mesh for the addition of new geometries on it. To accomplish that objective, the required region is split from the main domain, and new boundaries are assigned to the mentioned construction. Three different MT lengths were considered: h = 1%, 1.5% and 2% of the airfoil chord length, as well as seven MT orientations (β): from 0° to −90° regarding the horizontal axis, for five angles of attack: 0°, 2°, 4°, 6° and 9°. The numerical results showed that the increases of the β rotating angle and the MT length (h) led to higher aerodynamic performance of the airfoil, CL/CD = 164.10 being the maximum ratio obtained. All the performance curves showed an asymptotic trend as the β angle reduced. Qualitatively, the model behaved as expected, proving the relationship between velocity and pressure. Taking into consideration resulting data, the cell-set method is appropriate for computational testing of trailing edge rotating microtab geometry.
Sustainable Passive Design for Building Performance of Healthy Built Environment in the Lingnan Area
Authors: Li Bin , Guo Weihong , Liu Xiao , Zhang Yuqing , Russell Peter John , Schnabel Marc Aurel
Published: August 2021

Having a healthy built environment becomes increasingly important, especially under the effects of COVID-19. This paper intends to combine sustainable goals based on climate change with passive design principles to achieve a healthy built environment regarding the building performance of residential buildings. The Yuedao Residential Community in the Lingnan area was taken as an example for the research. Based on relevant standards of healthy buildings, the thermal, light, and acoustic environment requirements were determined. The methods of building performance simulation and on-site measurement were used to quantify the research object environments. Then, the outcomes were obtained based on these standards. As observed, the thermal environment’s adaptive thermal comfort level was level III. It was hot indoors, but the light and acoustic environments met the requirements. Building designs based on a built environment optimized by external shading systems aim to solve problems through building performance simulation and qualitative analysis. After optimization, the thermal environment improved. According to the literature review, this research focused on a healthy built environment with a sustainable passive design in terms of building performance. A research workflow was established that could be used for more practical research, with abundant research methods. The problems were solved to varying degrees, and the Lingnan architectural culture was preserved. Moreover, this research filled the gap in interactive research on healthy built environments with sustainable passive design regarding building performance.
Indoor and Outdoor Particle Number Concentration in the Sapienza University Campus of Rome
Authors: Di Menno di Bucchianico Alessandro , Cusano Mariacarmela , Gaddi Raffaela , Gaeta Alessandra , Leone Gianluca , Boccuni Fabio , Ferrante Riccardo , Pelliccioni Armando , Cattani Giorgio
Published: August 2021

Exposure to ultrafine particles has been associated with short- and long-term effects on human health. The object of this paper was to assess Particle Number Concentration (PNC) and size distribution in a university environment and study the indoor/outdoor relationships. Measurements were carried out using co-located (indoor/outdoor) condensation particle counters and size spectrometers during two seasonal periods characterized by different meteorological conditions at five selected classrooms different for size, capacity, floor and use destination. PNC was dominated by particles in the ultrafine mode both indoor and outdoor. The indoor/outdoor ratios were on average between 1 and 1.2 in the summer and between 0.6 and 0.9 in the winter. Mostly the differences found among classrooms could be related to the condition of use (i.e., crowding, natural air exchange, air conditioning, seasonality). Only little differences were found among PNC measured immediately outside the classrooms. Based on information taken during the measurement campaigns, on the classrooms condition of use, it was possible to assess as a source of indoor particles in the coarse mode, the presence of students and teachers.
Cultural Heritage, Sustainable Development, and Climate Policy: Comparing the UNESCO World Heritage Cities of Potsdam and Bern
Authors: Kern Kristine , Irmisch Janne , Odermatt Colette , Haupt Wolfgang , Kissling-Näf Ingrid
Published: August 2021

Developing sustainable, carbon-neutral, and climate-resilient districts seems to be particularly challenging with respect to historic city centers. However, barriers posed by legal requirements for historical buildings are counterbalanced by opportunities because historic cities have not undergone urban modernization and did not embrace the concept of functional cities, which nowadays impedes urban sustainability transformations. Thus, this paper focuses on the relationship between cultural heritage, urban sustainable development, and climate policy. We study continuity and change in the mid-sized UNESCO World Heritage cities Potsdam (Germany) and Bern (Switzerland). These matching forerunner cities share many characteristics, which enables them to transfer policies and jointly create new solutions for common problems. We find that national context matters, but we also identify functional equivalents like referenda and active citizen participation. Despite many similarities, Potsdam is ahead of Bern with respect to the institutionalization and integration of climate mitigation and adaptation. The comparative analysis (interviews and document analysis) identifies innovations that can be transferred between the two cities (e.g., Potsdam’s integrative climate policy or Bern’s efforts to become a role model for stakeholders and citizens). Moreover, the challenge to coordinate heritage management and climate governance offers chances for cooperation between matching cities like Bern and Potsdam.
Assessing Multi-Micronutrients Deficiency in Agricultural Soils of India
Authors: Shukla Arvind Kumar , Behera Sanjib Kumar , Prakash Chandra , Patra Ashok Kumar , Rao Ch Srinivasa , Chaudhari Suresh Kumar , Das Soumitra , Singh Anil Kumar , Green Andrew
Published: August 2021

The deficiencies of nutrient elements and inappropriate nutrient management practices in agricultural soils of the world is one of the reasons for low crop productivity, reduced nutritional quality of agricultural produce, and animal/human malnutrition. We carried out the present study to evaluate the single and multi-nutrient deficiencies of sulfur (S) and micronutrients (zinc (Zn), boron (B), iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn)) in agricultural soils of India for their effective management to achieve sustainable crop production, improved nutritional quality in crops and better animal/human health. Altogether, 24,2827 surface soil samples (0 to 15 cm depth) were collected from the agriculture fields of 615 districts in 28 states of India and were analyzed for available S and micronutrient concentration. The concentration of available S and micronutrients varied widely. There were variable and widespread deficiencies of S and micronutrients in different states. The deficiencies of S, Zn and B were higher compared to the deficiencies of Fe, Cu and Mn. There were occurrences of two-nutrient (namely S + Zn, Zn + B, S + B, Zn + Fe Zn + Mn, S + Fe, Zn + Cu and Fe + B), three-nutrient (namely S + Zn + B, S + Zn + B and Zn + Fe + B) and four-nutrient (namely Zn + Fe + Cu + Mn and Zn + Fe + Cu + Mn + B) deficiencies in different extents. This information could be used by various stakeholders for production, supply and application of the right kind of fertilizers in different districts, states and agro-ecological regions of India for better crop production, crop nutritional quality, nutrient use efficiency and soil and environmental health. This will also help in a greater way to address the issue of malnutrition in human/animals.
Machine Learning-Based Models for Accident Prediction at a Korean Container Port
Authors: Kim Jae Hun , Kim Juyeon , Lee Gunwoo , Park Juneyoung
Published: August 2021

The occurrence of accidents at container ports results in damages and economic losses in the terminal operation. Therefore, it is necessary to accurately predict accidents at container ports. Several machine learning models have been applied to predict accidents at a container port under various time intervals, and the optimal model was selected by comparing the results of different models in terms of their accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. The results show that a deep neural network model and gradient boosting model with an interval of 6 h exhibits the highest performance in terms of all the performance metrics. The applied methods can be used in the predicting of accidents at container ports in the future.
School Management Culture, Emotional Labor, and Teacher Burnout in Mainland China
Authors: Tsang Kwok Kuen , Teng Yuan , Lian Yi , Wang Li
Published: August 2021

The literature suggests that teacher burnout is influenced by the market and hierarchy cultures of school management and teachers’ emotional labor strategies of surface and deep acting. However, studies have suggested that school management cultures and emotional labor strategies may not function independently based on the emotional labor theory. Nevertheless, the literature has paid less attention to the relationship between the school management cultures, emotional labor, and teacher burnout. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the relationship between the three variables in China via an online questionnaire survey. After surveying 425 kindergarten, primary and secondary teachers who participated in a professional development program organized by a public university in Beijing, the study found that teacher burnout was positively related to market culture but negatively related to hierarchy culture. Moreover, the impact of the market culture was fully mediated by surface acting while the impact of hierarchy culture was partially mediated by surface acting and deep acting.
Control Theory Application for Swing Up and Stabilisation of Rotating Inverted Pendulum
Authors: Bajrami Xhevahir , Pajaziti Arbnor , Likaj Ramë , Shala Ahmet , Berisha Rinor , Bruqi Mirlind
Published: August 2021

This paper introduces a new scheme for sliding mode control using symmetry principles for a rotating inverted pendulum, with the possibility of extension of this control scheme to other dynamic systems. This was proven for swing up and stabilisation control problems via the new sliding mode control scheme using both simulations and experiments of rotary inverted pendulum (RIP) underactuated systems. According to the Lyapunov theory, a section of the pendulum was compensated with a scale error in the upright position, as the desired trajectory was followed by the pendulum arm section. As the RIP’s dynamic equations were nonlinearly complex and coupled, the complex internal dynamics made the task of controller design difficult. The system control for the pathway of the reference model of the rotational actuator with the application of the sliding mode technique for moving back and forth up the inverted pendulum’s structure, till the arm to reach the linear range round the vertical upright position, was created and tested in an existent device. The stabilisation scheme was switched on in the sliding mode as soon as the arm reached the linear range. A comparison of the stabilisation performance for the same rotating inverted pendulum as discussed by other authors revealed that the proposed controller was more flexible and reliable in terms of the swing up and stabilisation time.
Exposure to Environmental Arsenic and Emerging Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease: Perspective Mechanisms, Management Strategy, and Future Directions
Authors: Rahman Md. , Hannan Md. , Uddin Md , Rahman Md , Rashid Md , Kim Bonglee
Published: August 2021

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most prevailing neurodegenerative diseases, characterized by memory dysfunction and the presence of hyperphosphorylated tau and amyloid β (Aβ) aggregates in multiple brain regions, including the hippocampus and cortex. The exact etiology of AD has not yet been confirmed. However, epidemiological reports suggest that populations who were exposed to environmental hazards are more likely to develop AD than those who were not. Arsenic (As) is a naturally occurring environmental risk factor abundant in the Earth’s crust, and human exposure to As predominantly occurs through drinking water. Convincing evidence suggests that As causes neurotoxicity and impairs memory and cognition, although the hypothesis and molecular mechanism of As-associated pathobiology in AD are not yet clear. However, exposure to As and its metabolites leads to various pathogenic events such as oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunctions, ER stress, apoptosis, impaired protein homeostasis, and abnormal calcium signaling. Evidence has indicated that As exposure induces alterations that coincide with most of the biochemical, pathological, and clinical developments of AD. Here, we overview existing literature to gain insights into the plausible mechanisms that underlie As-induced neurotoxicity and the subsequent neurological deficits in AD. Prospective strategies for the prevention and management of arsenic exposure and neurotoxicity have also been discussed.
Counting Tensor Rank Decompositions
Authors: Obster Dennis , Sasakura Naoki
Published: August 2021

Tensor rank decomposition is a useful tool for geometric interpretation of the tensors in the canonical tensor model (CTM) of quantum gravity. In order to understand the stability of this interpretation, it is important to be able to estimate how many tensor rank decompositions can approximate a given tensor. More precisely, finding an approximate symmetric tensor rank decomposition of a symmetric tensor Q with an error allowance Δ is to find vectors ϕi satisfying ∥Q−∑i=1Rϕi⊗ϕi⋯⊗ϕi∥2≤Δ. The volume of all such possible ϕi is an interesting quantity which measures the amount of possible decompositions for a tensor Q within an allowance. While it would be difficult to evaluate this quantity for each Q, we find an explicit formula for a similar quantity by integrating over all Q of unit norm. The expression as a function of Δ is given by the product of a hypergeometric function and a power function. By combining new numerical analysis and previous results, we conjecture a formula for the critical rank, yielding an estimate for the spacetime degrees of freedom of the CTM. We also extend the formula to generic decompositions of non-symmetric tensors in order to make our results more broadly applicable. Interestingly, the derivation depends on the existence (convergence) of the partition function of a matrix model which previously appeared in the context of the CTM.
Special Issue “APOBECs and Virus Restriction”
Authors: Chelico Linda
Published: August 2021

The apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide (APOBEC) enzyme family in humans has 11 members with diverse functions in metabolism and immunity [...]
“Vaccine Passports” May Backfire: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study in the UK and Israel on Willingness to Get Vaccinated against COVID-19
Authors: Porat Talya , Burnell Ryan , Calvo Rafael A. , Ford Elizabeth , Paudyal Priya , Baxter Weston L. , Parush Avi
Published: August 2021

Domestic “vaccine passports” are being implemented across the world as a way of increasing vaccinated people’s freedom of movement and to encourage vaccination. However, these vaccine passports may affect people’s vaccination decisions in unintended and undesirable ways. This cross-sectional study investigated whether people’s willingness and motivation to get vaccinated relate to their psychological needs (autonomy, competence and relatedness), and how vaccine passports might affect these needs. Across two countries and 1358 participants, we found that need frustration—particularly autonomy frustration—was associated with lower willingness to get vaccinated and with a shift from self-determined to external motivation. In Israel (a country with vaccine passports), people reported greater autonomy frustration than in the UK (a country without vaccine passports). Our findings suggest that control measures, such as domestic vaccine passports, may have detrimental effects on people’s autonomy, motivation, and willingness to get vaccinated. Policies should strive to achieve a highly vaccinated population by supporting individuals’ autonomous motivation to get vaccinated and using messages of autonomy and relatedness, rather than applying pressure and external controls.
Exploring the Capability of Natural Flood Management Approaches in Groundwater-Dominated Chalk Streams
Authors: Barnsley Imogen , Spake Rebecca , Sheffield Justin , Leyland Julian , Sykes Tim , Sear David
Published: August 2021

This study aims to address the gap in the Natural Flood Management (NFM) evidence base concerning its implementation potential in groundwater-dominated catchments. We generated a typology of 198 chalk catchments using redundancy analysis and hierarchical clustering. Three catchment typologies were identified: (1) large catchments, (2) headwater catchments with permeable soils, and (3) catchments with impermeable soils and surfaces (urban and suburban land uses). The literature suggests that natural flood management application is most effective for catchments <20 km2, reducing the likelihood of significant flood mitigation in large catchments. The relatively lower proportion of surface runoff and higher recharge in permeable catchments diminishes natural flood management’s likely efficacy. Impermeable catchments are most suited to natural flood management due to a wide variety of flow pathways, making the full suite of natural flood management interventions applicable. Detailed groundwater flood maps and hydrological models are required to identify catchments where NFM can be used in a targeted manner to de-synchronise sub-catchment flood waves or to intercept runoff generated via groundwater emergence. Whilst our analysis suggests that most chalk groundwater-dominated catchments in this sample are unlikely to benefit from significant flood reductions due to natural flood management, the positive impact on ecosystem services and biodiversity makes it an attractive proposition.