bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Density Dependence Influences the Efficacy of Wastewater Remediation by Lemna minor
Authors: Walsh Éamonn , Coughlan Neil E. , O’Brien Seán , Jansen Marcel A. K. , Kuehnhold Holger
Published: July 2021

As part of a circular economy (CE) approach to food production systems, Lemnaceae, i.e., duckweed species, can be used to remediate wastewater due to rapid nutrient assimilation and tolerance of non-optimal growing conditions. Further, given rapid growth rates and high protein content, duckweed species are a valuable biomass. An important consideration for duckweed-mediated remediation is the density at which the plants grow on the surface of the wastewater, i.e., how much of the surface of the medium they cover. Higher duckweed density is known to have a negative effect on duckweed growth, which has implications for the development of duckweed-based remediation systems. In the present study, the effects of density (10–80% plant surface coverage) on Lemna minor growth, chlorophyll fluorescence and nutrient remediation of synthetic dairy processing wastewater were assessed in stationary (100 mL) and re-circulating non-axenic (11.7 L) remediation systems. Overall, L. minor growth, and TN and TP removal rates decreased as density increased. However, in the stationary system, absolute TN and TP removal were greater at higher densities (50–80% coverage). The exact cause of density related growth reduction in duckweed is unclear, especially at densities well below 100% surface coverage. A further experiment comparing duckweed grown at ‘low’ and ‘high’ density conditions with the same biomass and media volume conditions, showed that photosynthetic yield, Y(II), is reduced at high density despite the same nutrient availability at both densities, and arguably similar shading. The results demonstrate a negative effect of high density on duckweed growth and nutrient uptake, and point towards signals from neighbouring duckweed colonies as the possible cause.
Evaluation of Growth, Yield, and Biochemical Attributes of Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.) Cultivars under Karaj Conditions in Iran
Authors: Valyaie Akram , Azizi Majid , Kashi Abdolkarim , Sathasivam Ramaraj , Park Sang Un , Sugiyama Akifumi , Motobayashi Takashi , Fujii Yoshiharu
Published: July 2021

Vegetative and reproductive characteristics, fruit yield, and biochemical compounds of six bitter melon cultivars (Iranshahr, Mestisa, No. 486, Local Japanese, Isfahan, and Ilocano) were evaluated under Karaj conditions in Iran. The phytochemical properties of the cultivars were evaluated using both shade-dried and freeze-dried samples at three fruit developmental stages (unripe, semi-ripe, and ripe). There were significant differences in the vegetative and reproductive characteristics among cultivars, where cv. No. 486 was superior to most vegetative attributes. The fruit yield of cultivars varied from 2.98–5.22 kg/plant. The number of days to male and female flower appearance ranged from 19.00–25.33 and from 25–33 days, respectively. The leaf charantin content was in the range of 4.83–11.08 μg/g. Fruit charantin content varied with developmental stage, drying method, and cultivar. The highest charantin content (13.84 ± 3.55 µg/g) was observed at the semi-ripe fruit stage, and it was much higher in the freeze-dried samples than the shade-dried samples. Cultivar No. 486 had the highest (15.43 ± 2.4 µg/g) charantin content, whereas the lowest charantin content (8.51 ± 1.15 µg/g) was recorded in cultivar cv. Local Japanese. The highest total phenol content (25.17 ± 2.27 mg GAE/g) was recorded in freeze-dried samples of ripe fruits of cv. No. 486, whereas the lowest phenol content was detected in the shade-dried samples of semi-ripe fruits of Isfahan. cv. Flavonoid content was higher with the shade-drying method, irrespective of cultivar. In conclusion, considering the fruit yield and active biological compounds in the studied cultivars, cv. No. 486 should be grown commercially because of its higher yield and production of other secondary metabolites.
X-ray Shielding, Mechanical, Physical, and Water Absorption Properties of Wood/PVC Composites Containing Bismuth Oxide
Authors: Poltabtim Worawat , Wimolmala Ekachai , Markpin Teerasak , Sombatsompop Narongrit , Rosarpitak Vichai , Saenboonruang Kiadtisak
Published: July 2021

The potential utilization of wood/polyvinyl chloride (WPVC) composites containing an X-ray protective filler, namely bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) particles, was investigated as novel, safe, and environmentally friendly X-ray shielding materials. The wood and Bi2O3 contents used in this work varied from 20 to 40 parts per hundred parts of PVC by weight (pph) and from 0 to 25, 50, 75, and 100 pph, respectively. The study considered X-ray shielding, mechanical, density, water absorption, and morphological properties. The results showed that the overall X-ray shielding parameters, namely the linear attenuation coefficient (µ), mass attenuation coefficient (µm), and lead equivalent thickness (Pbeq), of the WPVC composites increased with increasing Bi2O3 contents but slightly decreased at higher wood contents (40 pph). Furthermore, comparative Pbeq values between the wood/PVC composites and similar commercial X-ray shielding boards indicated that the recommended Bi2O3 contents for the 20 pph (40 ph) wood/PVC composites were 35, 85, and 40 pph (40, 100, and 45 pph) for the attenuation of 60, 100, and 150-kV X-rays, respectively. In addition, the increased Bi2O3 contents in the WPVC composites enhanced the Izod impact strength, hardness (Shore D), and density, but reduced water absorption. On the other hand, the increased wood contents increased the impact strength, hardness (Shore D), and water absorption but lowered the density of the composites. The overall results suggested that the developed WPVC composites had great potential to be used as effective X-ray shielding materials with Bi2O3 acting as a suitable X-ray protective filler.
Work with Youth in the Russian Orthodox Church in the Contemporary Period
Authors: Grunt Elena , Levchenko Ilya
Published: July 2021

Modern Russia is undergoing changes, including religion. In the Soviet Union, in contrast to the Western world, there was not only an active and rapid social secularization, but also a violent atheization of the population. As for the youth, due to the notorious atheism, there was a lack of youth’s religiosity. After the collapse of the USSR, it became necessary to implement effective measures so that Orthodoxy could adequately respond to the “challenge of the time”. Under these conditions, the organization of work with youth in the ROC began to revive. The major research objective was to study the Russian Orthodox Church’s main forms of work with youth in the post-Soviet period. Our research was conducted in the Ural region, one of the largest regions of the Russian Federation. The research methodology used a qualitative approach (in-depth interviews). Our research, based on informants’ opinions, has identified three forms of groups who work with the Russian youth through the Russian Orthodox Church. They are: traditional church forms (organizing groups for the study of the Holy Scriptures, doctrinal (catechism) classes, missionary activities, etc.), traditional secular forms (children’s and youth’s camps, young family clubs, sports and military-patriotic clubs, addiction prevention and social projects, etc.) and innovative forms (Internet projects, Internet communities, Orthodox forums, Orthodox cafes, bars, etc.). Our study has revealed that religious phenomena and manifestations of religiosity are observed in totally different areas, such as cultural, economic, educational, leisure, etc. The study has elucidated that the work of the Russian Orthodox Church fits into the framework of this paradigm, thus confirming T. Luckmann’s theory.
Progressive Pension Formula and Life Expectancy Heterogeneity
Authors: Diakite Keivan , Devolder Pierre
Published: July 2021

An increasing number of empirical studies have shown a positive relationship between lifetime income and life expectancy at retirement. One’s income during the active part of one’s career translates into the amount of retirement benefits one might receive, leading to actuarial unfairness inside cohorts of retirees. In order to discuss unfairness and sustainability issues, the Belgium pension reform committee issued a proposal for a point system designed to be both sustainable and adequate. In this paper, we use a similar defined benefit framework in order to set out a compensation mechanism linked to life expectancy heterogeneity during the active part of the career, aiming to reduce unfairness once reaching retirement. This method is based on the progressivity of pension benefit formulae. We implement these ideas in a simple demographic context in order to capture the constraints related to the model.
Measurement of Snow Water Equivalent Using Drone-Mounted Ultra-Wide-Band Radar
Authors: Jenssen Rolf Ole R. , Jacobsen Svein K.
Published: July 2021

The use of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-mounted radar for obtaining snowpack parameters has seen considerable advances over recent years. However, a robust method of snow density estimation still needs further development. The objective of this work is to develop a method to reliably and remotely estimate snow water equivalent (SWE) using UAV-mounted radar and to perform initial field experiments. In this paper, we present an improved scheme for measuring SWE using ultra-wide-band (UWB) (0.7 to 4.5 GHz) pseudo-noise radar on a moving UAV, which is based on airborne snow depth and density measurements from the same platform. The scheme involves autofocusing procedures with the frequency–wavenumber (F–K) migration algorithm combined with the Dix equation for layered media in addition to altitude correction of the flying platform. Initial results from field experiments show high repeatability (R > 0.92) for depth measurements up to 5.5 m, and good agreement with Monte Carlo simulations for the statistical spread of snow density estimates with standard deviation of 0.108 g/cm3. This paper also outlines needed system improvements to increase the accuracy of a snow density estimator based on an F–K migration technique.
Interp-SUM: Unsupervised Video Summarization with Piecewise Linear Interpolation
Authors: Yoon Ui-Nyoung , Hong Myung-Duk , Jo Geun-Sik
Published: July 2021

This paper addresses the problem of unsupervised video summarization. Video summarization helps people browse large-scale videos easily with a summary from the selected frames of the video. In this paper, we propose an unsupervised video summarization method with piecewise linear interpolation (Interp-SUM). Our method aims to improve summarization performance and generate a natural sequence of keyframes with predicting importance scores of each frame utilizing the interpolation method. To train the video summarization network, we exploit a reinforcement learning-based framework with an explicit reward function. We employ the objective function of the exploring under-appreciated reward method for training efficiently. In addition, we present a modified reconstruction loss to promote the representativeness of the summary. We evaluate the proposed method on two datasets, SumMe and TVSum. The experimental result showed that Interp-SUM generates the most natural sequence of summary frames than any other the state-of-the-art methods. In addition, Interp-SUM still showed comparable performance with the state-of-art research on unsupervised video summarization methods, which is shown and analyzed in the experiments of this paper.
Magnetic Nanowires for Nanobarcoding and Beyond
Authors: Zamani Kouhpanji Mohammad Reza , Stadler Bethanie J. H.
Published: July 2021

Multifunctional magnetic nanowires (MNWs) have been studied intensively over the last decades, in diverse applications. Numerous MNW-based systems have been introduced, initially for fundamental studies and later for sensing applications such as biolabeling and nanobarcoding. Remote sensing of MNWs for authentication and/or anti-counterfeiting is not only limited to engineering their properties, but also requires reliable sensing and decoding platforms. We review the latest progress in designing MNWs that have been, and are being, introduced as nanobarcodes, along with the pros and cons of the proposed sensing and decoding methods. Based on our review, we determine fundamental challenges and suggest future directions for research that will unleash the full potential of MNWs for nanobarcoding applications.
Spatial Autoregressive Model for Estimation of Visitors’ Dynamic Agglomeration Patterns Near Event Location
Authors: Ban Takumi , Usui Tomotaka , Yamamoto Toshiyuki
Published: July 2021

The rapid development of ubiquitous mobile computing has enabled the collection of new types of massive traffic data to understand collective movement patterns in social spaces. Contributing to the understanding of crowd formation and dispersal in populated areas, we developed a model of visitors’ dynamic agglomeration patterns at a particular event using dynamic population data. This information, a type of big data, comprised aggregate Global Positioning System (GPS) location data automatically collected from mobile phones without users’ intervention over a grid with a spatial resolution of 250 m. Herein, spatial autoregressive models with two-step adjacency matrices are proposed to represent visitors’ movement between grids around the event site. We confirmed that the proposed models had a higher goodness-of-fit than those without spatial or temporal autocorrelations. The results also show a significant reduction in accuracy when applied to prediction with estimated values of the endogenous variables of prior time periods.
Ambient Healthcare Approach with Hybrid Whale Optimization Algorithm and Naïve Bayes Classifier
Authors: Alwateer Majed , Almars Abdulqader M. , Areed Kareem N. , Elhosseini Mostafa A. , Haikal Amira Y. , Badawy Mahmoud
Published: July 2021

There is a crucial need to process patient’s data immediately to make a sound decision rapidly; this data has a very large size and excessive features. Recently, many cloud-based IoT healthcare systems are proposed in the literature. However, there are still several challenges associated with the processing time and overall system efficiency concerning big healthcare data. This paper introduces a novel approach for processing healthcare data and predicts useful information with the support of the use of minimum computational cost. The main objective is to accept several types of data and improve accuracy and reduce the processing time. The proposed approach uses a hybrid algorithm which will consist of two phases. The first phase aims to minimize the number of features for big data by using the Whale Optimization Algorithm as a feature selection technique. After that, the second phase performs real-time data classification by using Naïve Bayes Classifier. The proposed approach is based on fog Computing for better business agility, better security, deeper insights with privacy, and reduced operation cost. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach can reduce the number of datasets features, improve the accuracy and reduce the processing time. Accuracy enhanced by average rate: 3.6% (3.34 for Diabetes, 2.94 for Heart disease, 3.77 for Heart attack prediction, and 4.15 for Sonar). Besides, it enhances the processing speed by reducing the processing time by an average rate: 8.7% (28.96 for Diabetes, 1.07 for Heart disease, 3.31 for Heart attack prediction, and 1.4 for Sonar).
Feature Matching Combining Radiometric and Geometric Characteristics of Images, Applied to Oblique- and Nadir-Looking Visible and TIR Sensors of UAV Imagery
Authors: Jang Hyoseon , Kim Sangkyun , Yoo Suhong , Han Soohee , Sohn Hong-Gyoo
Published: July 2021

A large amount of information needs to be identified and produced during the process of promoting projects of interest. Thermal infrared (TIR) images are extensively used because they can provide information that cannot be extracted from visible images. In particular, TIR oblique images facilitate the acquisition of information of a building’s facade that is challenging to obtain from a nadir image. When a TIR oblique image and the 3D information acquired from conventional visible nadir imagery are combined, a great synergy for identifying surface information can be created. However, it is an onerous task to match common points in the images. In this study, a robust matching method of image pairs combined with different wavelengths and geometries (i.e., visible nadir-looking vs. TIR oblique, and visible oblique vs. TIR nadir-looking) is proposed. Three main processes of phase congruency, histogram matching, and Image Matching by Affine Simulation (IMAS) were adjusted to accommodate the radiometric and geometric differences of matched image pairs. The method was applied to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) images of building and non-building areas. The results were compared with frequently used matching techniques, such as scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT), speeded-up robust features (SURF), synthetic aperture radar–SIFT (SAR–SIFT), and Affine SIFT (ASIFT). The method outperforms other matching methods in root mean square error (RMSE) and matching performance (matched and not matched). The proposed method is believed to be a reliable solution for pinpointing surface information through image matching with different geometries obtained via TIR and visible sensors.
Design and Validation of a Device Attached to a Conventional Bicycle to Measure the Three-Dimensional Forces Applied to a Pedal
Authors: Martín-Sosa Ezequiel , Chaves Víctor , Alvarado Ignacio , Mayo Juana , Ojeda Joaquín
Published: July 2021

Knowledge of the forces applied to the pedals during cycling is of great importance both from the point of view of improving sporting performance and medical analysis of injuries. The most common equipment for measuring pedal forces is usually limited to the study of forces in the sagittal plane. Equipment that measures three-dimensional forces tends to be bulky and to be incorporated into bicycles that are modified to accommodate it, which can cause the measurements taken to differ from those obtained in real pedalling conditions. This work presents a device for measuring the 3D forces applied to the pedal, attachable to a conventional bicycle and pedals, which does not alter the natural pedalling of cyclists. The equipment consists of four gauges located on the pedal axis and two on the crank, controlled by a microcontroller. Pedal forces measurements were made for six cyclists, with results similar to those shown in the literature. The correct estimation of the lateral-medial direction force is of great interest when evaluating a possible overload at the joints; it will also allow a comparison of the effectiveness index during pedalling, showing the role of this component in this index from a mechanical standpoint.
Machine Learning Based Short-Term Travel Time Prediction: Numerical Results and Comparative Analyses
Authors: Qiu Bo , Fan Wei (David)
Published: July 2021

Due to the increasing traffic volume in metropolitan areas, short-term travel time prediction (TTP) can be an important and useful tool for both travelers and traffic management. Accurate and reliable short-term travel time prediction can greatly help vehicle routing and congestion mitigation. One of the most challenging tasks in TTP is developing and selecting the most appropriate prediction algorithm using the available data. In this study, the travel time data was provided and collected from the Regional Integrated Transportation Information System (RITIS). Then, the travel times were predicted for short horizons (ranging from 15 to 60 min) on the selected freeway corridors by applying four different machine learning algorithms, which are Decision Trees (DT), Random Forest (RF), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and Long Short-Term Memory neural network (LSTM). Many spatial and temporal characteristics that may affect travel time were used when developing the models. The performance of prediction accuracy and reliability are compared. Numerical results suggest that RF can achieve a better prediction performance result than any of the other methods not only in accuracy but also with stability.
A Study of Emotional Solidarity in the Homestay Industry between Hosts and Tourists in the Post-Pandemic Era
Authors: Zhang Xi , Tang Juan
Published: July 2021

Tourists’ perceptions of various risks at their travel destinations have crucial implications for destination management organizations and other tourism industry practitioners, which is growing into an unprecedented concern in the post-pandemic era. The Internet has boosted the global homestay industry. The perceived risk of homestay tourists requires further attention from researchers to promote the sustainable development of the homestay industry, especially in the post-pandemic era. To supplement and enrich the literature, this study aims to explore the relationships between tourists’ perceived risk, three dimensions of tourists’ emotional solidarity with hosts (feeling welcome, sympathetic understanding, and emotional closeness), and their customer loyalty towards the homestay industry in the post-pandemic era by taking the homestay industry of Guangzhou, China as the context, and employing SmartPLS for the empirical analysis. The results indicate that perceived risk has a significantly negative impact on emotional solidarity and customer loyalty, while emotional solidarity has a significantly positive impact on customer loyalty and plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between perceived risk and customer loyalty. The theoretical contributions of the article and the practical implications of the findings for the sustainable development of the homestay industry are discussed.
A Linkage Framework for the China National Emission Trading System (CETS): Insight from Key Global Carbon Markets
Authors: Pan Chunyu , Shrestha Anil Kumar , Wang Guangyu , Innes John L. , Wang Kevin Xinwei , Li Nuyun , Li Jinliang , He Yeyun , Sheng Chunguang , Niles John-O.
Published: July 2021

Given that international collaborative efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are urgent and crucial, a critical understanding of challenges and opportunities of linking China’s newly established national ETS with existing domestic or regional ETSs is essential in order to achieve global emission targets, and may attract other jurisdictions to join in global carbon market development. In this backdrop, we analyzed the experiences, lessons, and insights from three key global carbon markets, namely North America, the EU and China, in terms of the barriers to linking the global carbon market, with a focus on China, using thematic analysis. The four most commonly cited linkage design elements (barriers) were the legal basis; monitoring, reporting, and verification; political feasibility; and the price-management mechanism. Like-minded jurisdictions with similar political views and design features will have a higher chance of linking. Additionally, sustaining market liquidity, widening sectoral coverage, minimizing carbon leakage, ensuring offset quality, and a transparent allowance and cap setting rules are crucial steps towards linkage. These outcomes can be used as an ETS linkage-ready design framework for CETS and ETS under development to overcome barriers to future international ETS linkages.
Serodiagnosis and Bacterial Genome of Helicobacter pylori Infection
Authors: Ichihara Aina , Ojima Hinako , Gotoh Kazuyoshi , Matsushita Osamu , Take Susumu , Okada Hiroyuki , Watanabe Akari , Yokota Kenji
Published: July 2021

The infection caused by Helicobacter pylori is associated with several diseases, including gastric cancer. Several methods for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection exist, including endoscopy, the urea breath test, and the fecal antigen test, which is the serum antibody titer test that is often used since it is a simple and highly sensitive test. In this context, this study aims to find the association between different antibody reactivities and the organization of bacterial genomes. Next-generation sequences were performed to determine the genome sequences of four strains of antigens with different reactivity. The search was performed on the common genes, with the homology analysis conducted using a genome ring and dot plot analysis. The two antigens of the highly reactive strains showed a high gene homology, and Western blots for CagA and VacA also showed high expression levels of proteins. In the poorly responsive antigen strains, it was found that the inversion occurred around the vacA gene in the genome. The structure of bacterial genomes might contribute to the poor reactivity exhibited by the antibodies of patients. In the future, an accurate serodiagnosis could be performed by using a strain with few gene mutations of the antigen used for the antibody titer test of H. pylori.
Oncolytic Viruses for Malignant Glioma: On the Verge of Success?
Authors: Suryawanshi Yogesh R. , Schulze Autumn J.
Published: July 2021

Glioblastoma is one of the most difficult tumor types to treat with conventional therapy options like tumor debulking and chemo- and radiotherapy. Immunotherapeutic agents like oncolytic viruses, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and chimeric antigen receptor T cells have revolutionized cancer therapy, but their success in glioblastoma remains limited and further optimization of immunotherapies is needed. Several oncolytic viruses have demonstrated the ability to infect tumors and trigger anti-tumor immune responses in malignant glioma patients. Leading the pack, oncolytic herpesvirus, first in its class, awaits an approval for treating malignant glioma from MHLW, the federal authority of Japan. Nevertheless, some major hurdles like the blood–brain barrier, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and tumor heterogeneity can engender suboptimal efficacy in malignant glioma. In this review, we discuss the current status of malignant glioma therapies with a focus on oncolytic viruses in clinical trials. Furthermore, we discuss the obstacles faced by oncolytic viruses in malignant glioma patients and strategies that are being used to overcome these limitations to (1) optimize delivery of oncolytic viruses beyond the blood–brain barrier; (2) trigger inflammatory immune responses in and around tumors; and (3) use multimodal therapies in combination to tackle tumor heterogeneity, with an end goal of optimizing the therapeutic outcome of oncolytic virotherapy.
Human Papillomavirus and Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Unknown Primary in the Head and Neck Region: A Comprehensive Review on Clinical Implications
Authors: Larsen Mikkel Hjordt Holm , Channir Hani Ibrahim , von Buchwald Christian
Published: July 2021

Squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary (SCCUP) is a challenging diagnostic subgroup of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). The incidence of SCCUP is increasing in parallel with the well-documented increase in OPSCC and is likewise driven by the increase in human papillomavirus (HPV). The SCCUP patient often presents with a cystic lymph node metastasis and undergoes an aggressive diagnostic and treatment program. Detection of HPV in cytologic specimens indicates an oropharyngeal primary tumor origin and can guide the further diagnostic strategy. Advances in diagnostic modalities, e.g., transoral robotic surgery and transoral laser microsurgery, have increased the successful identification of the primary tumor site in HPV-induced SCCUP, and this harbors a potential for de-escalation treatment and increased survival. This review provides an overview of HPV-induced SCCUP, diagnostic modalities, and treatment options.
From Protein to Pandemic: The Transdisciplinary Approach Needed to Prevent Spillover and the Next Pandemic
Authors: Plowright Raina K. , Hudson Peter J.
Published: July 2021

Pandemics are a consequence of a series of processes that span scales from viral biology at 10−9 m to global transmission at 106 m. The pathogen passes from one host species to another through a sequence of events that starts with an infected reservoir host and entails interspecific contact, innate immune responses, receptor protein structure within the potential host, and the global spread of the novel pathogen through the naive host population. Each event presents a potential barrier to the onward passage of the virus and should be characterized with an integrated transdisciplinary approach. Epidemic control is based on the prevention of exposure, infection, and disease. However, the ultimate pandemic prevention is prevention of the spillover event itself. Here, we focus on the potential for preventing the spillover of henipaviruses, a group of viruses derived from bats that frequently cross species barriers, incur high human mortality, and are transmitted among humans via stuttering chains. We outline the transdisciplinary approach needed to prevent the spillover process and, therefore, future pandemics.
Fusion Protein of Rotavirus VP6 and SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain Induces T Cell Responses
Authors: Tamminen Kirsi , Heinimäki Suvi , Gröhn Stina , Blazevic Vesna
Published: July 2021

Vaccines based on mRNA and viral vectors are currently used in the frontline to combat the ongoing pandemic caused by the novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, there is still an urgent need for alternative vaccine technologies inducing/boosting long-lasting and cross-reactive immunity in different populations. As a possible vaccine candidate, we employed the rotavirus VP6-protein platform to construct a fusion protein (FP) displaying receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S) at the N-terminus of VP6. The recombinant baculovirus-insect cell produced VP6-RBD FP was proven antigenic in vitro and bound to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) receptor. The FP was used to immunize BALB/c mice, and humoral- and T cell-mediated immune responses were investigated. SARS-CoV-2 RBD-specific T cells were induced at a high quantity; however, no RBD or S-specific antibodies were detected. The results suggest that conformational B cell epitopes might be buried inside the VP6, while RBD-specific T cell epitopes are available for T cell recognition after the processing and presentation of FP by the antigen-presenting cells. Further immunogenicity studies are needed to confirm these findings and to assess whether, under different experimental conditions, the VP6 platform may present SARS-CoV-2 antigens to B cells as well.
Bone Marrow Transfer in Relapsing-Remitting EAE Ameliorates Disease at First Remission, with No Synergistic Effect upon Co-Transplantation with Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Ferrara Giovanni , Ivaldi Federico , Mancardi Gianluigi , Kerlero de Rosbo Nicole , Uccelli Antonio
Published: July 2021

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disorder characterized by an autoimmune response, demyelinating plaques and axonal damage. Intense immunosuppression (II) followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been proposed as a treatment in severe forms of MS. We have used murine relapsing-remitting (RR) experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (RR-EAE) to evaluate the transplantation of syngeneic bone marrow cells (BMC) after II, in combination with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a new therapeutic adjunct capable of improving immune reconstitution. In EAE-affected mice treated with BMC alone, we observed a drastic reduction in the clinical course only during the early RR phase of the disease. There was no difference in the RR-EAE clinical course between mice treated with BMC alone and co-transplanted mice. To analyze the immune reconstitution, we quantified the circulating immune cells in naïve and RR-EAE-affected mice after II, with BMC alone or in combination with MSC. Although II resulted in reduced numbers of circulating immune cells, reconstitution did not differ in co-transplanted mice. During the early phase of the disease, IL-4 was significantly elevated in co-transplanted mice, as compared to those treated with BMC alone. These data suggest that BMC transplantation after II transiently ameliorates the clinical symptoms of RR-EAE, but that co-transplantation with MSC has no synergistic effect.
Pollution Biomarkers in the Framework of Marine Biodiversity Conservation: State of Art and Perspectives
Authors: Lionetto Maria Giulia , Caricato Roberto , Giordano Maria Elena
Published: July 2021

Marine biodiversity is threatened by several anthropogenic pressures. Pollution deriving from the discharge of chemical contaminants in the sea represents one of the main threats to the marine environment, influencing the health of organisms, their ability to recover their homeostatic status, and in turn endangering biodiversity. Molecular and cellular responses to chemical pollutants, known as biomarkers, are effect-based methodologies useful for detecting exposure and for assessing the effects of pollutants on biota in environmental monitoring. The present review analyzes and discusses the recent literature on the use of biomarkers in the framework of biodiversity conservation. The study shows that pollution biomarkers can be useful tools for monitoring and assessment of pollution threat to marine biodiversity, both in the environmental quality monitoring of protected areas and the assessment of the health status of species at risk. Moreover, key areas of the research that need further development are suggested, such as the development of omics-based biomarkers specifically addressed to conservation purposes and their validation in the field, the extension of the biomarker study to a wider number of endangered species, and the development of organic guidelines for the application of the biomarker approach in support to conservation policies and management.
Controlling the Structural Robustness of Zirconium-Based Metal Organic Frameworks for Efficient Adsorption on Tetracycline Antibiotics
Authors: Kim Hee-Gon , Choi Keunsu , Lee Kibong , Lee Soonjae , Jung Kyung-Won , Choi Jae-Woo
Published: July 2021

Tetracyclines (TCs) are the most widely used antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of livestock diseases, but they are toxic to humans and have frequently been detected in water bodies. In this study, the physical and chemical properties of the zirconium-based metal organic framework (MOF) UiO-66 and its NH2-functionalized congener UiO-66-NH2 were investigated along with batch TC adsorption tests to determine the effect of functionalization on TC removal. TC removal was highest at pH 3 and decreased with increasing pH. Pseudo-1st and pseudo-2nd-order kinetic models were used to study the adsorption equilibrium times, and Langmuir isotherm model was found to be more suitable than Freundlich model. The maximum uptake for UiO-66 and UIO-66-NH2 was measured to be 93.6 and 76.5 mg/g, respectively. Unexpectedly, the TC adsorption capacity of UiO-66-NH2 was observed to be lower than that of UiO-66. Density functional theory calculations revealed that the pore structures are irrelevant to TC adsorption, and that the –NH2 functional group could weaken the structural robustness of UiO-66-NH2, causing a reduction in TC adsorption capacity. Accordingly, robust MOFs with zirconium-based metal clusters can be effectively applied for the treatment of antibiotics such as TC in water.
Festivals and street theater as their integral part in aesthetic environment of modern culture of Europe and Russia
Authors: Fedorenko T.
Published: July 2021

The paper is devoted to the major socio-cultural forms of modern culture festival in Europe and Russia, the preservation of historical and cultural heritage of modern cities.
Cultural and axiological examination of the content of general education
Authors: Dokuchaev I.
Published: July 2021

The paper deals with the possibilities of cultural and axiological examination of the content of textbooks and curricula of general education in Russia. We are talking about such disciplines as Social Studies, History, World Art Culture, Local History, Fundamentals of the spiritual and moral culture of the peoples of Russia, Fundamentals of religious culture and secular ethics. It is shown that axiological components are an obligatory part of the content of these disciplines, regardless of whether they are consciously oriented to being a conductor of any ideology, or to abandon all ideological attitudes. Culturology as the science of value models that generate culture as an integral system of artifacts, implemented in a specific time and place, allows us to identify the axiological content of any of these artifacts, including textbooks and programs. It is within the framework of general education that this is an extremely urgent task, since general education performs an educational function, determining the values of the younger generation and the future of our country.
Theological views of Theophan the Recluse
Authors: Panyshev A.
Published: July 2021

This paper is devoted to the theological arguments of Saint Theophan the Recluse (1815– 1894). First of all, the work notes that since the beginning of the XVIII century, the Church was subordinated to the state power, which greatly hindered the development of theology in Russia and led to many contradictions in the Church environment itself. Nevertheless, even in such difficult conditions, there were people in the Church who were able to set an example of a righteous life and intensive intellectual work. Among these we noticed Theophan the Recluse. He wrote many works that reflected not only the General principles of the Church, but also his own understanding of a number of phenomena. The works of Theophan the Recluse can be in demand not only in religious studies and theological disciplines, but also in psychology and sociology.
Philosophy of law as social-humanity discipline
Authors: Lapina T. S.
Published: July 2021

It is reasonable to develop the philosophy of law as a single socio-humanitarian discipline, and there is no epistemological need to divide it into "philosophical philosophy of law" and "legal philosophy of law". The interpenetration of philosophy and law is possible, because love of wisdom has a lawgenetical potential, and jurisprudence contains a socio-philosophical potential. For the first time, the proposed explication of philosophicallawgenetical structures serves as a theoretical defense against belittling the role of philosophy in the formation of law and in the performance of its functions. Legal progress is guided by the values of humanistic philosophy
Using the Vktech digital microscope for metallographic research
Authors: Krymov V.N. , Nazina N. S.
Published: July 2021

The possibility of using the Vktech digital microscope for metallographic studies and observation of microscopic objects was studied. The efficiency of using this microscope for observation of objects with dimensions of about 0.1 is shown. When measuring smaller objects, there is an error of more than 10% and a sharp decrease in image quality is observed.
Research and analysis of processes occurring during abrasive wear of materials with heterogeneous cementitious structures
Authors: Gadalov V.N. , Petrenko V.R. , Skripkina Yu.V. , Gubanov O.M. , Gvozdev A.E.
Published: July 2021

The article considers the impact of hardness and the number of solid-phase inclusions, as well as the properties of steels with ferritic, austenitic and martensitic matrices with heterophase cementitious structures on wear resistance. It is demonstrated that to ensure high wear resistance and impact toughness, solid phase particles in the structure of a heterophase metal material must be isolated from each other by sections of a relatively viscous matrix. Such structures can be obtained on the surface of a part or tool by surfacing, chemical-thermal treatment, and other methods. The results of calculations of the hardness of steel with different content of the carbide phase in its structure and the specific strain energy absorbed by the cementitious layer from the relative content of carbides in the ferritic, austenitic and martensitic matrices are presented. The contribution of carbide particles to determining the level of wear resistance of a two-phase material with different amounts of them in steels with different matrices is evaluated.
Limits of financial independence of state corporations
Authors: Dubrova M.
Published: July 2021

Russian state corporations are becoming the most important tools for implementing state policy in significant areas of the economy in Russia, through the mobilization of state financial resources and directing them to priority areas of state development, the implementation of social projects. The purpose of the study is to study the financial independence of state corporations in order to increase the efficiency of their activities and interaction with state authorities for the implementation of state policy in various areas. The proposed article emphasizes the specifics of a state corporation as a unitary non-profit organization, substantiates the principles of organizing finance, taking into account the specifics of the association and management of commercial organizations, and provides recommendations for improving the openness of the financial statements of state corporations.
Methodology for assessing the quality of state programs of the Russian Federation based on a multi-criteria model
Authors: Gumerov R. , Guseva N. , Lysenko A.
Published: July 2021

The article substantiates an innovative approach to assessing the quality of state programs of the Russian Federation. The proposed multi-criteria model involves evaluating the quality of programs in four areas. In turn, for each of the selected areas of evaluation, several specific criteria are used, which together form a comprehensive assessment of the quality of the state program. The proposed algorithm and tools allow for ranking and rating of state programs according to the quality criterion of their development, taking into account the effectiveness of implementation in the reporting period.
Methods of forming managers' ideas for updating the organization
Authors: Morozov Vladimir
Published: July 2021

The article discusses methods for increasing the value of an enterprise through innovation. Project management models and managers' participation in their formation are studied. Methods of active search for ideas, both in group and individual terms, are investigated. The method of generating ideas — group brainstorming, as well as an alternative method — «brainwriting», which includes several tools. Their strengths and weaknesses are revealed. The process of sorting ideas using the clustering method is described. The necessity of having these tools in organizations is justified.
Dietary supplementation of protexin and artichoke extract for modulating growth performance and oxidative stress in broilers
Authors: GHASEMIAN Seyedeh Ommolbanin , GHOLAMİ-AHANGARAN Majid , POURMAHDİ Oveys , AHMADİ-DASTGERDİ Asiye
Published: July 2021

In this study, the effects of Protexin and artichoke extract (AE) were evaluated on the performance and oxidative stress of chickens. Totally, 300 chicks were divided into 4 groups that were fed a basal diet, a diet containing Protexin, AE, and Protexin plus AE all over the growing period. The growth indices were measured weekly and analyzed at 21 and 42 days of age. At 42 days of age, blood samples were collected from all chickens. The concentrations of liver enzymes, lipid profiles, and antioxidant status were measured in blood samples. Results showed that the weight gain (WG) was significantly higher and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) significantly lower in chickens that received Protexin, or Protexin plus AE, in comparison with chickens that received AE and control chickens (P<0.05). Furthermore, the addition of AE plus Protexin can significantly increase the activity of blood Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total antioxidant status (TAS) with respect to chickens that were fed Protexin and AE alone. The triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was lower and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were higher in chickens that received AE or Protexin plus AE, with a comparison of chickens fed Protexin and control chickens (P<0.05). The levels of aspartate transferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) show a significant decrease in chickens that get Protexin plus AE. In conclusion, continuous utilization of Protexin along with artichoke extract in broiler diets can promote growth performance and modulate oxidative stress in broilers.
Evaluation of acute partial unilateral ureteral obstruction based on the renal venous impedance index in Rabbit: An experimental study
Authors: KAYA Mahir , ÇETİNKAYA Mehmet Alper
Published: July 2021

To investigate the feasibility of the venous impedance index (VII) in the diagnosis of acute partial unilateral ureteral obstruction (APUUO), in this study we aimed to measure and compare changes in intrarenal venous flow and arterial flow. In New Zealand rabbits (n=10) the left ureter was narrowed by ligation. Doppler ultrasonographic (US) examination of the interlobar arteries and veins in both kidneys was performed preoperatively and 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after ureteral ligation. Resistive index (RI), RI difference (RIΔ) and the RI ratio (RIr), and the VII difference (VIIΔ) were calculated from RI and VII obtained from the obstructive and nonobstructive kidneys. The RI and VII were postoperatively compared between the left and right kidneys. Although the mean RI for obstructive kidneys was higher than those for nonobstructive kidneys, the difference was only statistically significant at 3 and 24 h (P=0.007, and P=0.049, respectively). In all postoperative measurement times, RIΔ was ≥0.08 and RIr was ≥1.169, and the mean VII values were significantly lower in the obstructive kidneys than the nonobstructive kidneys (P≤0.002), and the VIIΔ was equal to or greather than 0.159. The venous flow was more affected than arterial flow in the obstructive kidney. The renal RI alone was insufficient as a diagnostic criterion. The renal VIIΔ ≥0.16 can be enhanced the diagnostic accuracy of in APUUO if used as a combination of the RIΔ≥0.08 and RIr≥1.1.
Vaginalsamlagets självklarhet
Authors: Sörensdotter Renita
Published: July 2021

På såväl ungdomsmottagningar som inom den gynekologiska vården används begreppet samlagssmärta på ett självklart sätt för att klassificera smärtor i underlivet. Samlagssmärta som begrepp beskriver smärtor i slidmynningen som försvårar vaginalsamlag eftersom de sitter där en penis ska passera vid hetero- sexuellt sex. Genom begreppet samlagssmärta sätts vaginalsamlaget i centrum för den diskurs som formas om smärtorna i underlivet. Därutöver innebär den heteronormativa bilden av sex som likställt med vaginalsamlag att personer med vulvasmärtor som har lesbiskt eller queert sex, eller som lever asexuellt, osynlig- görs. Personalen på ungdomsmottagningarna har formell expertmakt i hur de definierar, kategoriserar och förklarar vulvasmärtor. Därmed är det intressant att analysera hur begreppet samlagssmärta och dess konnotationer är verksamma i personalens arbete med dem som lider av vulvasmärtor.

I den här artikeln analyserar jag hur personal på ungdomsmottagningar talar om samlagssmärta och hur de därigenom formar en diskurs som bygger på sam- manlänkningar av unga kvinnor, vulvasmärtor och sexuell praktik. Genom teorier om heteronormativitet, samlagsimperativ och expertmakt visar jag på hur vaginal- samlaget blir det nav som smärtan i underlivet kategoriseras och förklaras utifrån. Diskursen om samlagsmärta diskuteras främst med utgångspunkt i hur barnmor- skor, kuratorer och gynekologer på ungdomsmottagningar i sin roll som experter använder begreppet, men även utifrån hur den formats historiskt och medicinskt. Artikeln innehåller också material ur ett tidigare projekt om dem som är drab- bade av vulvasmärtor, men detta material står inte i centrum för analysen.