bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metformin intervention against ovarian toxicity during chemotherapy for early breast cancer: study protocol for a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Zhang Jinjin , Ma Xiangyi , Li Ya , Liu Ronghua , Li Yan , Zhang Panshi , Ren Wu , Cui Pengfei , Wang Bo , Zhang Minli , Jin Yan , Li Xingrui , Wang Shixuan
Published: January 2020

Background With the significant improvement of the cure rate and survival rate of cancer patients, the survivors need to face quality of life problems, such as significant decline in reproductive system development, ovarian reserves and function, and even fertility loss and early menopause. These problems are often highly associated with chemotherapy-induced ovarian damage in the course of cancer treatment. However, there are no ideal treatment strategies at present. In our attempt to develop reagents and approaches for delaying ovarian aging and protecting chemotherapy-induced ovarian injury, we recently found that metformin may be the most potential drug to protect female malignant tumor patients from chemotherapy-induced ovarian injury. The optional trial is aimed to test whether administration of metformin during chemotherapy could protect normal ovarian function of early breast cancer patients. Methods This study is prospective, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled. Female early breast cancer patients (N=314), were randomly assigned to two groups (placebo, metformin 2000 mg). Metformin was administered during and after chemotherapy for patients with stage I-IIIa breast cancer. The primary outcome was the menstruation recovery rate 12 months after chemotherapy, defined as recovery of menstruation twice in a row within 1 year. Patients were followed up for 5 years to observe long-term ovarian function and prognosis of tumor, such as overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), disease-free survival (DFS). Quality of life and safety will also be assessed. Discussion Our research will provide new treatment strategy of fertility protection, and clinical treatment guidance for cancer patients.
Clinical validation of full genotyping CLART® HPV4S assay on SurePath and ThinPrep collected screening samples according to the International Guidelines for Human Papillomavirus Test Requirements for Cervical Screening
Authors: Ejegod Ditte Møller , Lagheden Camilla , Bhatia Ramya , Pedersen Helle , Boada Elia Alcañiz , Sundström Karin , Cortés Javier , Josë F. Xavier Bosch , Cuschieri Kate , Dillner Joakim , Bonde Jesper
Published: January 2020

BackgroundTo ensure the highest quality of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in primary cervical cancer screening, novel HPV assays must be evaluated in accordance with the international guidelines. Furthermore, HPV assay with genotyping capabilities are becoming increasingly important in triage of HPV positive women in primary HPV screening. Here we evaluate a full genotyping HPV assay intended for primary screening.MethodsThe CLART® HPV4S (CLART4S) assay is a newly developed full-genotyping assay detecting 14 oncogenic (16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68) and two non-oncogenic HPV genotypes (6, 11). It was evaluated using SurePath and ThinPrep screening samples collected from the Danish and Swedish cervical cancer screening programs, respectively. For calculation of sensitivity, 81 SurePath and 80 ThinPrep samples with confirmed ≥CIN2 were assessed. For clinical specificity analysis, 1,184 SurePath and 1,169 ThinPrep samples from women with <CIN2 histology were assessed. Sensitivity and specificity of the CLART4S assay was compared to an established reference test; the MGP-PCR (Modified General Primers GP5+/6+ with genotyping using Luminex). Inter and intra laboratory reproducibility of the assay was assessed using 540 SurePath and 520 ThinPrep samples, respectively. The genotype concordance between CLART4S and MGP-PCR was also assessed.ResultsIn SurePath samples, the sensitivity of CLART4S was 0.90 (MGP-PCR =0.93) and the specificity was 0.91 (MGP-PCR=0.91); In ThinPrep samples the sensitivity of CLART4S was 0.98 (MGP-PCR=1.00) and specificity was 0.94 (MGP-PCR =0.87). The CLART4S was shown to be non-inferior to that of MGP-PCR for both sensitivity (p=0.002; p=0.01) and specificity (p=0.01; p=0.00) in SurePath and ThinPrep samples, respectively. Intra-laboratory reproducibility and inter-laboratory agreement was met for both media types. The individual genotype concordance between CLART4S and MGP-PCR was good agreement for almost all 14 HPV genotypes in both media types.ConclusionsThe CLART4S assay was proved non-inferior to the comparator assay MGP-PCR for both sensitivity and specificity using SurePath and ThinPrep cervical cancer screening samples from the Danish and Swedish screening programs, respectively. This is the first study to demonstrate clinical validation of a full-genotyping HPV assay conducted in parallel on both SurePath and ThinPrep collected samples.
Occurrence and probiotic properties of Lactobacillus spp. of maternal breast milk in the Uyghur, Xinjiang China, at different lactation stages
Authors: Li Xiaojuan , Li Xu , Zhang Yan , Tian Fengwei , Ni Yongqing
Published: January 2020

BackgroundAs a secure vehicle of probiotics, breast milk can provide babies with the Lactobacillus which can not only colonize and inhibit the pathogenic bacterial infection in infant's intestines. The purpose of this study was to assess the occurrence and probiotic properties of Lactobacillus spp. of maternal breast milk in the Uyghur population, Xinjiang China, by using culture method. Results Based on repetitive genomic fingerprinting PCR (rep-PCR), a total of 198 isolates of L actobacill us from 31 different lactation of breast milk samples of Uighur in kashi region of Xinjiang were classified into 11 genotypes, which were identified as Lactobacillus fermentum (82 isolates, prevalence: 61.3%, mean relative abundance: 45.4%, genotype: 3), Lactobacillus brevis (75, 41.9%, 38.1%, 4), Lactobacillus oris (37, 32.3%, 15.1%, 3) and rare Lactobacillus vaginalis (4, 9.7%, 1.4%, 1). From colostrum to mature milk, the number and species of Lactobacillus showed an uptrend, from mature milk to late milk, a downside was found in Lactobacillus. The relative abundance of L. fermentum decreased throughout lactation, while L . brevis showed an opposite trend. Three isolates were randomly selected for each genotype to estimate antimicrobial activity (33 isolates in total). Among the isolates, 20 isolates exhibited broad antibacterial spectrum with inhibition halos >10 mm against most indicator pathogens, which were selected for assessing probiotic properties. Nineteen isolates showed the resistance to vancomycin and co-trimoxazole, and KM66 ( L . brevis ) was resistant up to 5/8 antibiotics. KM147 ( L. brevis ) and Y3 ( L. fermentum ) strains were selected as potential probiotics by combining lysozyme, acid and bile salt tolerance. Conclusion Species composition and prevalence of Lactobacillus varied with the study subjects throughout lactation phase. The deliberately selected Lactobacillus strains from breast milk may have a great potential as probiotics to inhibit pathogen infection in infants.
The position of intellectual capital among Saudi banks
Authors: Sulphey M. M. , Naushad M.
Published: January 2020

All intangible assets and various human-centred and the intellectual property rights (IPR) of organizations are considered as Intellectual Capital (IC). It includes all nonmonetary and nonphysical resources that are fully or partially controlled by the organization and contribute to the organization`s value creation. Since conventional factors of production are increasingly being replaced by intellectual assets, IC is now being increasingly recognized as the most valuable resource, which can provide the required impetus to take on the competition. Through appropriate management of IC, it is possible to enhance the earning capability, sustain the value and help the achievement of organizational goals. Organisations that manage IC would acquire the required competitive advantage and superior business performance in the current volatile and uncertain market. This study was conducted to investigate the position of IC of Saudi banks. Empirical evidence exists to suggest that efficient utilization of IC can contribute towards the success of the banking industry. Objectives of the study included finding the value of IC of the Saudi banking industry and examine the performance of Islamic banks. Two regression models were used to achieve the objectives of the study. The models examined the relationships between Return on equity (ROE) and Return on total assets (ROA) and the aggregate measure of IC. It also examined the different components like Human capital efficiency (HCE), the Capital employed efficiency (CEE), and Structural capital efficiency (SCE). The present study has thus helped in presenting some interesting findings of the IC of Saudi banks. It was observed that Saudi banks are fairly efficient and has generated the required value from the component of Human capital (HC) than other capital elements. Drastic improvement was evident during recent years, reflecting the cues about the stability evident globally in the industry. Overall it can be concluded that Saudi banks, especially the Shariah-compliant ones, are efficient in generating value from its IC. A comparison between Saudi banks, as well as Islamic banks and those in other countries where banking operations are not done as per Shari’ah rules, is suggested as it is sure to bring in interesting results. Keywords: intellectual capital, structural capital, banking industry, Saudi Arabia.
The Impact of Task Technology Fit on Employee Job Performance
Authors: lyoubi B. A. , Yamin M. A. Y.
Published: January 2020

In today’s dynamic global business economy, the use of information technology has become an essential and pervasive technique for organizational success. In this essence, the present study extends the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology with task technology fit to see how underpinned factors impact on employee intention to adopt information technology and enhance employee job performance. In order to test the proposed research model, the respondent’s observations are required. Therefore, an administrative survey was conducted towards Saudi public organizations. A survey questionnaire was distributed among middle-level managers working in HR departments of Saudi Public organizations. In response to administrative survey 398 questionnaires were returned with a response rate of 79.6%. Among 398 questionnaires 38 were discarded due to inappropriate answers and 358 questionnaires were finally used for structural equation modelling. The inclusion criterion was that HR managers must have knowledge about online services offering by respective organizations to employees. For data analysis, structural equation modelling approach was used. Results indicate that the extended the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model has substantial power and explained 77.0% variance in employee intention to adopt the technology. The effect size analysis showed that within extended model effort expectancy was the most important factor. The predictive relevance of the model was also adequate. Finally, importance of performance matrix analysis suggested that managers and policymakers should focus on effort expectancy, task characteristics, technology characteristics and supervisor support to boost employee intention to adopt technology and employee job performance.
Keywords: employee job performance, innovation valance, intention to adopt technology, moderating analysis, structural equation modelling, supervisory support.
Management of Environmental Performance and Impact of the Carbon Dioxide Emissions (CO2) on the Economic Growth in the GCC Countries
Authors: Dkhili H. , Dhiab L. B.
Published: January 2020

This paper summarizes the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on the issue the Management of Environmental Performance and the Carbon Dioxide Emissions (CO2) on the Economic Growth, with an innovative study in the context of the GCC countries. The main goal of the paper is to examine empirically the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis for the GCC countries. The methodological tool of this contribution tries to measure the effect of the emission of the CO2 on the Growth Economic and environmental performance. The main purpose of the research is focused on the empirical approach justified by the use of a dynamic panel modeling on a sample of the GCC countries during the period of 2002-2018. Systematization literary sources and approaches for solving the problem of the reaction of the development of the Environmental Performance with the level of the the Carbon Dioxide Emissions (CO2) and the economic growth. The study employed a GMM model system. Subsequently, the authors displayed a Panel Co-integration test of Pedroni (2004), the Kao Residual Co-integration test (1999), and the Granger causality tests. The results found unidirectional causal relationships between economic growth and the entire variable of the sample, except the variable CO2 emission. These relationships are statistically significant at the level of 5%. For the relation between Economic Growth and CO2 emission, one the hypothesis of the paper was checking a non-significant and unidirectional relationship. The results showed a long-run unidirectional causality between the variables and implied that Economic Growth in the GCC countries has a positive and significant unidirectional relation with Environment Performance, trade openness, foreign direct investment, and investment. The results confirm the existence of a negative relationship as insignificant, and unidirectional, between economic growth and CO2 emissions in the GCC countries. Finally, this finding doesn’t support the validity of the EKC hypothesis and provide information's to take the necessary policy suggestions to maintain the environmental performance and limit the average of the CO2 emissions. The results of the research can be useful for the GCC countries to avoid the higher level of Carbon Dioxide Emissions (CO2) and maintain a good Environmental Performance.
Keywords: environmental performance, Environmental Kuznets Curve, CO2 emissions.
Productive of the Service Sector: Theory and Practice of Corruption Declining
Authors: Wawrosz P.
Published: January 2020

Corruption contracts are, throughout the democratic world, illegal and considered immoral. Their participants thus cannot use standard procedures to find a second party, to negotiate the content of the contract, to check if it performs what was promised, and to enforce the promises. This increases the risks associated with the contract. Illegality or immorality of the contract makes both parties more vulnerable – each party can threaten to reveal the contract and denounce the second party. Connecting a corruption contract with a previously established legal contract is usually seen as the best way to reduce risks and to reinforce the corruption contract. Owing to legal contacts and contracts, potential parties interested in corruption know where they should seek a counterparty and what to offer. At the same time, the corruption contract is tied to legal contracts, and failure to fulfil conditions of the corruption contract may put such legal contract at risk, therefore there is a higher probability that both parties to the corruption contract would fulfil what was promised and that there will be no extortion by any of the parties to demand additional fulfilment after the end of the corruption contract or that the corruption contract will not be disclosed. This paper presents the opposite approach in which a corruption contract is established as the first and it creates the base for further often legal but immoral contracts. All contracts lead to the mutually advantageous affinity of all its participants who often become members of corruption networks. The article presents the model when a blackmailed or dependent person must participate in corruption contracts, otherwise, it faces serious problems. But sooner or later, participation will begin to bring him benefits, so he becomes dependent on the network, although initially, he had moral inhibitions to participate in its activities. The subjects looking a counterparty of the corruption contract thus often create the environment of dependency and blackmailing and when people that are obliged to corruption lose their scruples and they see corruption as the common behaviour. Our model comes from real corruption networks in the Czech Republic. Some of them are briefly analysed. Theory of corruption must pay higher attention to all factors contributing to the spread of corruption behaviour, including mutual dependence and extortion Keywords: blackmailing, corruption, corruption networks, corruption risks, mutual dependency
State Regulation of the Economic Security by Applying the Innovative Approach to its Assessment
Authors: Levchenko V. , Boyko A. , Savchenko T. , Bozhenko V. , Humenna Yu. , Pilin R.
Published: January 2020

Given the current integration processes of the world economies, the issue of economic security of the state is extremely acute. The openness of markets facilitates the free flow of resources but also threatens the rapid transfer of crisis phenomena from one economy to another. There is a need to develop an innovative methodological tool for assessing the level of economic security in the country based on the calculation of a generalized indicator that will serve as a benchmark in the formation of state economic policy in the context of ensuring its sustainable growth and countering internal and external threats. The methodological tools of the study are methods of normalization, Fishburn’s rule, multiplicative model. Assessment of economic security level in the article is carried out in the following logical sequence: formation of an extended list of indicators characterizing the economic security of the state; characteristics of indicators in terms of opportunities and risk; determining the priority of indicators in the summarizing indicator; bringing indicators to a single measurement system; calculation of the integral indicator of economic security by constructing a multiplicative model; qualitative interpretation of the integral indicator of economic security. The results of the selection of relevant factors influencing the economic security of the state revealed that the selected determinants confirm the hypothesis of financialization of all economic processes in Ukraine and the need for state regulation of the financial system in order to ensure economic security. Empirical calculations have shown that during 2008–2018, Ukraine's level of economic security can be assessed as medium or low, and its dynamics correlate with crisis processes in the financial and economic sector and exacerbation of political instability in the country. Taking into account the low level of economic security in Ukraine, the authors elaborated a set of measures to improve the state regulation of economic security within the institutional, procedural and functional elements of it, as well as substantiate the impact of the proposed innovations on the economic security of the state. The results of the research can be useful for governments in order to adequately respond to destabilizing factors in the national economy.
Keywords: economic security, integral indicator, innovation, money laundering, state regulation
USE OF NON-TRADITIONAL VEGETABLE RAW MATERIALS IN THE TECHNOLOGY OF FLOURY CONFECTIONARY PRODUCTS FOR RESTAURANT ECONOMY ENTERPRISES
Authors: Myroshnyk Yuliya , Dotsenko Viktor , Sharan Larisa , Tsyrulnikova Vita
Published: January 2020

Products of biscuit dough are ones of most popular among floury confectionary products that is conditioned by their taste advantages, and ones of constant elements of food rations. Biscuit semi-products are a base of such confectionary products as tarts, fancy cakes, cookies.

It is expedient to use supplements of non-traditional raw materials that can not only influence the technological process and quality of ready products, but also enrich them with biologically active substances as additional components of floury confectionary products. The most promising raw material for enriching products of this group is vegetable powders, because fresh products are seasonal and don’t regularly provide the food ration of the population with biologically active substances.

The article considers a possibility of using snowball, ashberry and buckthorn powders for making biscuit semi-products. The aim of the work was to study the expedience and technological possibility of using vegetable raw materials in the biscuit semi-product technology.

The chemical composition of chosen powders was studied. The influence of vegetable powder on the quality and quantity of cellulose, structural-mechanical and physical properties of dough was established. The expedience of using surface-active substances in the biscuit semi-product technology for improving the quality of ready products was substantiated.
CYTOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF POSTOPERATIVE METASTASES OF PAPILLARY THYROID CANCER DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SECONDARY RADIOIODINE REFRACTORINESS
Authors: Zelinskaya Anna , Kvachenyuk Andrey , Kulinichenko Galina , Moroz Victoria
Published: January 2020

Radioiodine refractoriness is the main problem in the diagnosis and treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma. The aim of the study was to investigate the cytological and immunocytochemical changes of thyrocytes in fine-needle aspiration smears of thyroid papillary cancer metastases in the course of the development of secondary radioiodine resistance. A total of 70 postoperative metastases of thyroid papillary cancer (secondary radioiodine refractory metastases, previously responsive to radioiodine, that eventually loses the ability to radioiodine accumulation, radioiodine-avid metastases, primary radioiodine-refractory metastases), immunohistochemical staining of thyroid peroxidase, thyroglobulin, cytokeratin 17 and cytological analysis were performed. Revealing the presence of specific cellular phenotypes and structures in punctuates, a low percentage of thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin-positive thyrocytes allows the development of the method of cytological prediction of the radioiodine therapy effectiveness.
STUDY OF QUALITY OF SNACK GHERKIN TINNED FOOD
Authors: Zubkova Kateryna , Stoianova Olha
Published: January 2020

This work considers a problem of raising a marinade quality for producing snack gherkin tinned food. There is offered a new way for raising a marinade food value. The aim of the work is to raise a tinned food quality at the expanse of recipe peculiarities of ingredients. There is offered to produce snack tinned food with adding mustard. The tinned food contains gherkin, sugar refined sunflower oil, kitchen vinegar 9 %, salt, dry mustard, grinded red pepper and chopped garlic. An optimal recipe for diminishing mass consumption of the raw materials is developed in the study. The tinned food recipe was modeled by the simplex method that allowed to get an optimal variant with a maximal complex quality parameter. According to the recipe, a bank of І-82-500 needs: gherkin – 375 g, sugar – 37.5 g, refined sunflower oil – 37.5 g., kitchen vinegar 9 % – 37.75 g, salt – 3.75 g, garlic – 3.75 g, mustard (powder) – 3.75 g, grinded red pepper – 1 g.

It is established, that the new snack tinned food is characterized by high organoleptic properties.

The technological scheme at producing the snack tinned food “Pickled gherkins with mustard” includes the following processes: preparation of the raw materials (cleaning, sorting), soaking in cold water for 5–8 hours; inspection; pouring with marinade; mixing and infusion; packing; closing; sterilization, formation of ready products. Gherkins are processed by the standard technology for pickled vegetables. Physical-chemical parameters in the raw materials and ready products were studied during the work: the content of soluble dry substances – by the refractometric method; the total content of organic acids – by titration; рН-medium – by the potentiometric method; the content of nitrates – by the ionometric method. Mustard was added for raising a food value and quality of the snack tinned food. It is healthy, because it improves the appetite, disintegrates fats and facilitates digestion of protein meals, at that activating metabolism. Main healthy properties of mustard are antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Added spices and garlic give a pleasant taste and add the composition of mineral substances.

The developed recipe is designed for production technological lines and recommended for implementation at processing enterprises. The conducted work testifies to the expedience of producing new types of snack tinned food, which food value is increased and organoleptic parameters are improved at the expanse of ingredients.
Time-resolved electrical detection of chiral edge vortex braiding
Authors: Adagideli Inanc , Hassler Fabian , Grabsch Aurélien , Pacholski Michał , Beenakker Carlo
Published: January 2020

A 2\pi2π
phase shift across a Josephson junction in a topological superconductor
injects vortices into the chiral edge modes at opposite ends of the
junction. When two vortices are fused they transfer charge into a metal
contact. We calculate the time dependent current profile for the fusion
process, which consists of {\pm e/2}±e/2
charge pulses that flip sign if the world lines of the vortices are
braided prior to the fusion. This is an electrical signature of the
non-Abelian exchange of Majorana zero-modes.
Rank $Q$ E-string on a torus with flux
Authors: Pasquetti Sara , Razamat Shlomo , Sacchi Matteo , Zafrir Gabi
Published: January 2020

We discuss compactifications of rank QQ
E-string theory on a torus with fluxes for abelian subgroups of the
E_8E8
global symmetry of the 6d6d
SCFT. We argue that the theories corresponding to such tori are built
from a simple model we denote as E[USp(2Q)]E[USp(2Q)].
This model has a variety of non trivial properties. In particular the
global symmetry is USp(2Q)\times USp(2Q)\times U(1)^2USp(2Q)×USp(2Q)×U(1)2
with one of the two USp(2Q)USp(2Q)
symmetries emerging in the IR as an enhancement of an
SU(2)^QSU(2)Q
symmetry of the UV Lagrangian. The E[USp(2Q)]E[USp(2Q)]
model after dimensional reduction to 3d3d
and a subsequent Coulomb branch flow is closely related to the familiar
3d3dT[SU(Q)]T[SU(Q)]
theory, the model residing on an S-duality domain wall of
4d4d\mathcal{N}=4𝒩=4SU(Q)SU(Q)
SYM. Gluing the E[USp(2Q)]E[USp(2Q)]
models by gauging the USp(2Q)USp(2Q)
symmetries with proper admixtures of chiral superfields gives rise to
systematic constructions of many examples of
4d4d
theories with emergent IR symmetries. We support our claims by various
checks involving computations of anomalies and supersymmetric partition
functions. Many of the needed identities satisfied by the supersymmetric
indices follow directly from recent mathematical results obtained by
E. Rains.
Purchasing decisions making in the context of digital transformation of retail
Authors: Proskurnina Nadiia
Published: January 2020

The paper analyzes the impact of retail transformation on the consumers’ expectations and behavior in the electronic environment and identifies the main directions of digitalization of the marketing activities of domestic retail enterprises at each stage of the purchasing decision-making process. It also systematizes the consumer expectations in the context of the digital transformation of retail, which made it possible to establish the importance of managing customer acquisition for retailers and demonstrated how technology changes the way customers purchase. The results of an online study of the impact of marketing efforts in retail outlets to highlight digital transformation tools at every stage of consumer decision-making by consumers are presented and the main directions of digitalization of marketing activities of domestic retail enterprises are summarized. The legitimacy of taking consumer expectations into account when determining the impact on the business model of retailers, returning it to the plane of mobility, digitalizing the purchase process, and the integration of digital and physical trading, has been proven. It is suggested to consider the main areas of digital transformation as digital interaction with customers, innovation in the development of products and services, distribution channels, marketing and sales; digital implementation, risk optimization, strengthening corporate control, intelligent information management and customer service, managing customer and contact center experience, customer relationship management. This made it possible to specify promising areas of digital transformation in the retail industry, in particular, optimizing human resources, creating new ways of cooperation, attracting labor and assistance (flexible work, social cooperation, corporate cooperation, integrated communications), as well as employee training for the retail industry.
CFD-DEM modelling of sediment transport in sewer systems under steady and unsteady flow conditions
Authors: Alihosseini Maryam , Sægrov Sveinung , Thamsen Paul Uwe
Published: January 2020

Numerical and experimental investigations were undertaken to study sediment transport under steady flow conditions and under flush waves in sewer pipes. Experiments were carried out with sand and gravel of different size distributions under smooth and rough bed conditions. Moreover, different hydraulic boundary conditions were investigated for flush waves. The numerical part of this study was carried out in the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software ANSYS Fluent, which is two-way coupled to the Discrete Element Method (DEM) software EDEM. The main focus of this study is to determine if the CFD-DEM coupled method could reasonably predict the behaviour of sediments in sewers and thus be used for studying various features of sediment transport that are not easy to determine in laboratory experiments or in-situ measurements. Furthermore, it is important to replace the traditional empirical approaches developed for fluvial conditions with new methodologies, which are able to consider the high number of variables involved in sediment transport in sewers. The numerical model was validated with laboratory experiments and used to study details of sediment transport processes in sewers.
Predicting impacts of water conservation with a stochastic sewer model
Authors: Bailey O. , Arnot T. C. , Blokker E. J. M. , Kapelan Z. , Hofman J. A. M. H.
Published: January 2020

Population growth and climate change put a strain on water resources; hence, there are growing initiatives to reduce water use. Reducing household water use will likely reduce sewer input. This work demonstrates the use of a stochastic sewer model to quantify the effect water conservation has on sewer hydraulics and wastewater concentration. Probabilistic discharge patterns have been developed using SIMDEUM WW® and fed into hydraulic modelling software InfoWorks ICM® to produce likely flow and quality profiles for five future water use scenarios. The scenarios tested were developed to outline how commercial and political factors may change water use in future. Scenario testing revealed that 15–60% water reduction reflected a 1–48% drop in the morning peak flow. The water use reduction was predicted to increase wastewater concentrations of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and total phosphorus (TPH) by 55–180%, 19–116% and 30–206% respectively. The sewer flow model was developed, calibrated and validated using a case study in the Wessex Water region of the UK and all future scenarios were compared to the validated baseline case. This wastewater flow and quality model allows scenario testing, which could help redesign future sewer networks to better prepare for water conservation strategies.
Enhanced removal of NO3-N from water using Fe-Al modified biochar: behavior and mechanism
Authors: You Hanyang , Li Wenying , Zhang Yi , Meng Zilin , Shang Zhenxiao , Feng Xuedong , Ma Yanfei , Lu Jie , Li Menghong , Niu Xiaoyin
Published: January 2020

To remove NO3-N from water, coconut shell biochar (CSB) was modified by a solution of FeCl3, a solution of AlCl3 and a mixture solution of FeCl3 and AlCl3 respectively. The obtained modified biochar with the best effect of NO3-N adsorption was screened out to explore the adsorption behavior and mechanism of NO3-N removal by batch experiments and kinetics and thermodynamics and correlated characterization. The results indicated that the mixture solution of FeCl3- and AlCl3- modified CSB (Fe-Al/CSB) showed the best adsorption performance for NO3-N removal. Iron and aluminum elements existed on the surface of Fe-Al/CSB in the form of FeOOH, Fe2O3, Fe2+, and Al2O3 respectively. The adsorption process could reach equilibrium in 20 min. An acidic condition was favorable for NO3-N adsorption. The presence of coexisting anions was not conducive for NO3-N adsorption. The quasi-second-order model and Freundlich model could be well fitted in the adsorption process. The maximum adsorption capacity of Fe-Al/CSB fitted by the Langmuir model could reach 34.20 mg/g. The adsorption of NO3-N by Fe-Al/CSB was an endothermic and spontaneous process. Ligand exchange and chemical redox reaction were the NO3-N adsorption mechanisms which led to NO3-N adsorption by Fe-Al/CSB.
Short-term effect of shock ammonium nitrogen load on activated sludge properties
Authors: Golovko Ksenija , Tihomirova Kristina , Neilands Romans , Resetilovs Jurijs , Mezule Linda , Juhna Talis
Published: January 2020

The activated sludge process suffers from rapid load changes of ammonium (NH4), which may result in process failure during wastewater treatment. In this study, the response of activated sludge properties in terms of microfauna composition and sludge volume index (SVI5 and SVI30) on short-term increase of NH4 concentration (from 55 mg/l to 105 mg/l) was evaluated in batch scale reactors over 72 h. The results show that the first-step nitrification (NH4 transformation to nitrite (NO2)) was inhibited after 24 h, whereas the second-step nitrification (NO2 transformation to nitrate (NO3)) was not significantly affected. Sludge volume indices (sedimentation ability characteristics) SVI5 and SVI30 in the reactor with NH4–N shock concentration increased, whereas microfauna diversity decreased (Shannon-Weaver index decreased from 2.12 at 48 h to 1.23 at 72 h) leading to dominance of stalked ciliate Epistylis sp. Notable changes in inorganic carbon concentration (IC) were observed, indicating that rapid decrease of IC concentration leads to nitrification inhibition and challenges the overall process recovery. To conclude, short-term exposure of about two times higher concentration of NH4 caused significant changes in activated sludge properties by inhibiting NH4-oxidizing bacteria, reducing sludge microfauna diversity and deteriorating sludge sedimentation ability.
Purification and Characterization of a Novel Rhamnose/Fucose-Specific Lectin from the Hemolymph of Oak Tasar (Antheraea proylei J.) Silkworm
Authors: Devi Hijam Kiranbala , Devi Sanjenbam Kunjeshwori , Rully Huidrom , Singh Sorokhaibam Jibankumar , Singh Wayenbam Sobhachandra , Thongam Helena , Singh Laishram Rupachandra
Published: January 2020

Background:

Lectins are proteins or glycoproteins of non-immune origin which bind specifically but reversibly to carbohydrates or glycoconjugates. They play a crucial role in various biological processes including host defense mechanism, inflammation and metastasis. Therefore, there is an expanding scientific emphasis on purification and characterization of novel lectins possessing different useful biological properties.

Objective:

The present investigation is concerned with purification and characterization of a novel lectin from the hemolymph of oak tasar (Antheraea proylei J.) silkworm.

Methods:

The lectin was purified from the hemolymph by a procedure involving successive steps of hemocyte-free hemolymph preparation, ammonium sulfate (0-40%) fractionation and affinity chromatography on a column of Sephadex G-50 covalently coupled with L-rhamnose. It was then characterized by various physico-chemical methods including SDS-PAGE, gel filtration, hemagglutination assay, hemagglutination inhibition assay and tandem mass spectrometry (LCMS/ MS) coupled with Mascot sequence matching software (Matrix Science).

Results:

The lectin was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from the silkworm hemolymph and was found to be a monomeric protein with a native molecular weight of 39.5 kDa. It was specifically inhibited by L-rhamnose and D-fucose, the former being sixteen times more inhibitory than the latter. The hemagglutinating activity was further characterized by independency of metal ion, optimum at pH 7-7.5 and thermal stability with t1/2 of 60°C. Analysis with tandem mass spectrometry coupled with Mascot sequence matching software confirmed the purified lectin to be a protein not purified and characterized earlier.

Conclusion:

A novel rhamnose/fucose-specific lectin was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from the hemolymph of oak tasar (Antheraea proylei J.) silkworm. The lectin was found to be a monomeric protein with a native molecular weight of 39.5 kDa. Its activity was found to be independent of metal ion, optimum at pH 7-7.5 and characterized by thermal stability with t1/2 of 60°C. Analysis with tandem mass spectrometry coupled with Mascot sequence matching software confirmed the purified lectin to be a protein not characterized earlier.
Binding Insight of Anti-HIV Phytocompounds with Prime Targets of HIV: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Analysis
Authors: Vora Jaykant , Athar Mohd , Sinha Sonam , Jha Prakash C. , Shrivastava Neeta
Published: January 2020

Background:

Despite intense efforts, AIDS is difficult to tackle by current anti-retroviral
therapy (ART) due to its side effects; therefore, there is an urgent need to discover potential, multitarget
and low-cost anti-HIV compounds.

Objective:

We have shown that few phytocompounds can potentially inhibit the prime targets of
HIV namely GP120 envelope protein, reverse transcriptase, protease, integrase and ribonulcease. In
this study, top ranked prioritized compounds were subjected to Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation
in order to study the conformational dynamics and integrity of crucial interaction in the receptor
sites.

Method:

The system was built for selected protein-ligand complex using TIP3P water model and
OPLS_2005 force field. Trajectories were recorded up to 20 ns simulation time in Desmond module
of Schrödinger software.

Conclusion:

These findings can aid in the designing of the structural properties for more effective
anti-HIV compounds against the given targets.
The Emerging of CRF01_AE: A Clinical Story and Future HIV/AIDS Situation in Thailand
Authors: Winichakoon Poramed , Tongjai Siripong
Published: January 2020

The HIV epidemic in Thailand in the 1980’s compromised the country’s socio-economic development. The epidemic first became evident in the community of men with male sexual partners (MSM), and subsequently spread to intravenous drug users (IVDU), female commercial sex workers (CSW) and their male clients, and, ultimately, to their partners and children. The HIV epidemic has devastated the country’s working-age population. The extensive negative impact and social stigma associated with the disease do not only have an impact on the victims of HIV but also on their descendants and relatives. An epicenter of the HIV epidemic has been in the northern provinces of Thailand. An HIV-1 subtype CRF01_AE, a complex chimeric virus composed of both A and E subtypes, is prevalent in Northern Thailand. The virus has quickly become a predominant viral strain circulating in Thailand, other neighboring Southeast Asian countries, and China as well as some other countries throughout the world. The epidemiology, evolution, and biology of CRF01_AE offer a unique model for further scientific investigations which would advance the knowledge of and curative strategies against HIV. In addition, Thailand has developed suitable national guidelines on HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention in order to control the epidemic. Effective antiretroviral drugs are, therefore, able to be made available to those who live with HIV. The national surveillance system has also been effective. The great efforts and resources which Thailand has dedicated to the fight against the epidemic have eventually paid off. In 2010, a plan was proposed to eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission and Thailand has become the first country to be effective in this objective. Thailand therefore has become recognized as being the global leader in HIV prevention and treatment. The experience which Thailand has gained from the past and the current research and management strategies of the HIV epidemic has prepared the country for emerging strains of HIV-1 in the future.
Vagaries of the Host Response in the Development of Hepatitis B-related Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Series
Authors: Block Peter , Shinn Brianna , Roth Christopher , Needleman Laurence , Rosato Ernest , Hann Hie-Won
Published: January 2020

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the leading causes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. In the endemic region, the infection is commonly spread through vertical transmission in which mother and child possess genetically identical viral genotypes in the setting of similar host genomes. Despite these genetic similarities, clinical outcomes from chronic hepatitis B (CHB) can vary widely, ranging from lifelong asymptomatic infection to terminal HCC. Presented here are the longitudinal observations over multiple decades of three family clusters, including monozygotic twins with non-discordant HCC, that demonstrate the heterogeneity of HBV-related outcomes. These findings emphasize the important need to untangle the role of genetic and non-genetic host factors in the development of HBV-related HCC, as well as highlight the novel research avenues that can clarify the contributions of such factors in HBV-related HCC.
In vitro and In silico Analysis of the Anti-diabetic and Anti-microbial Activity of Cichorium intybus Leaf extracts
Authors: Ramakrishnamurthy Suganya , Singaravelu Ganesan , Devadasan Velmurugan , Prakasarao Aruna
Published: January 2020

Objective:

To screen the selected phytochemicals against diabetes by docking studies in comparison with experimental analysis.

Methods:

Ethanol crude extract was obtained from the leaves of C.intybus and its chemical compounds
were identified using GC- MS. Docking studies were carried out for selected phytochemicals
to find the binding affinity and H-bond interaction using Schrodinger suite. Dynamic simulations
were carried out for protein-ligand complex up to 50ns using desmond OPLS AA forcefield
and α- Amylase and α- Glucosidase assay were carried for the ethanolic extract to infer its inhibition.

Results:

Four compounds were chosen for induced fit docking based on the docking score and glide
energy obtained from GLIDE-XP docking. The compounds were docked with the protein target
human aldose reductase (PDB ID: 2FZD) for checking the anti-diabetic nature. The molecular dynamics
simulations were carried out for the most favorable compounds and stability was checked
during the simulations. The ethanol extract exhibits significant α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory
activities with an IC50 value of 38μg and 88μg dry extract, respectively, and well compared
with standard acarbose drug. The antimicrobial activity was also carried out for various extracts
(Chloroform, Ethyl acetate, and Ethanol) of the same (C. intybus) screened against four selected
human pathogens. Compared to other solvent extracts, ethanol and chloroform extracts show better
inhibition and their minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) value has been calculated.

Conclusion:

In-silico studies and in-vitro studies reveals that C.intybus plant compounds have more potent for treating diabetes
Bioinformatics Analysis of The Rhizosphere Microbiota of Dangshan Su Pear in Different Soil Types
Authors: Ma Xiaojing , Thakar Sambhaji Balaso , Zhang Huimin , Yu Zequan , Meng Li , Yue Junyang
Published: January 2020

Background:

The rhizosphere microbiota are of vital importance for plant growth and
health in terrestrial ecosystems. There have been extensive studies aiming to identify the microbial
communities as well as their relationship with host plants in different soil types.

Objective:

In the present study, we have employed the high-throughput sequencing technology to
investigate the composition and structure of rhizosphere microbiota prosperous at the root of
Dangshan Su pear growing in sandy soil and clay soil.

Methods:

A high-throughput amplicon sequencing survey of the bacterial 16S rRNA genes and
fungal ITS regions from rhizosphere microbiota was firstly performed. Subsequently, several
common bacterial and fungal communities were found to be essential to Dangshan Su pear by using
a series of bioinformatics and statistics tools. Finally, the soil-preferred microbiota were identified
through variance analysis and further characterized in the genus level.

Result:

Dangshan Su pears host rich and diverse microbial communities in thin layer of soil
adhering to their roots. The composition of dominant microbial phyla is similar across different soil
types, but the quantity of each microbial community varies significantly. Specially, the relative
abundance of Firmicutes increases from 9.69% to 61.66% as the soil ecosystem changes from clay
to sandy, which can be not only conducive to the degradation of complex plant materials, but also
responsible for the disinfestation of pathogens.

Conclusion:

Our results have a symbolic significance for the potential efforts of rhizosphere
microbiota on the soil bioavailability and plant health. Through selecting soil types and altering
microbial structures, the improvement of fruit quality of Dangshan Su pear is expected to be
achieved.
On the Formulation and Functioning of a Micro Haptics Actuator Based Unit Braille Display Cell
Authors: Ghosh Moumita , Ghosh Subham , Mukhopadhyay Manish , Neogi Biswarup
Published: January 2020

Aims:

The article focusses on the working principle of devising a display board and introduction to a
working model of a single unit of a novel prototype of a computer display board for blind people.

Objective:

The developed prototype is aimed at converting a conventional computer screen to a
braille screen based tactile display board. The arrangement will enable the blind people to accesses
soft data as a converted braille language text. In addition, the position of the write-up will also be recognizable
by the blind.

Methods:

The system employs six number of micro linear actuators providing haptics feedback.

Results:

The ABCD display unit was tested with the blind and was found to be received well by the
community. According to the survey, this raised dot mechanism is very effective for blind communication.