bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Taxonomic Identification of Different Species of the Genus Aeromonas by Whole-Genome Sequencing and Use of Their Species-Specific β-Lactamases as Phylogenetic Markers
Authors: Bertran Xavier , Rubio Marc , Gómez Laura , Llovet Teresa , Muñoz Carme , Navarro Ferran , Miro Elisenda
Published: March 2021

Some Aeromonas species, potentially pathogenic for humans, are known to express up to three different classes of chromosomal β-lactamases, which may become hyperproduced and cause treatment failure. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of these species-specific β-lactamase genes as phylogenetic markers using whole-genome sequencing data. Core-genome alignments were generated for 36 Aeromonas genomes from seven different species and scanned for antimicrobial resistance genes. Core-genome alignment confirmed the MALDI-TOF identification of most of the isolates and re-identified an A. hydrophila isolate as A. dhakensis. Three (B, C and D) of the four Ambler classes of β-lactamase genes were found in A. sobria, A. allosacharophila, A. hydrophila and A. dhakensis (blaCphA, blaAmpC and blaOXA). A. veronii only showed class-B- and class-D-like matches (blaCphA and blaOXA), whereas those for A. media, A. rivipollensis and A. caviae were class C and D (blaCMY, blaMOX and blaOXA427). The phylogenetic tree derived from concatenated sequences of β-lactamase genes successfully clustered each species. Some isolates also had resistance to sulfonamides, quinolones and aminoglycosides. Whole-genome sequencing proved to be a useful method to identify Aeromonas at the species level, which led to the unexpected identification of A. dhakensis and A.rivipollensis and revealed the resistome of each isolate.
Polymyxin B-Induced Kidney Injury Assessment of a Novel Formulation of Polymyxin B (VRP-034) in Rats
Authors: Roy Dilip , Kulkarni Amol , Chaudhary Manu , Chaudhary Saransh , Payasi Anurag , Aggarwal Anmol
Published: March 2021

Despite the crucial role of Polymyxin-B in treating life-threatening gram-negative infections, its clinical utility is limited due to the risk of acute kidney injury. In response, a novel formulation of polymyxin-B is being developed to mitigate drug-induced kidney injury. In this study, we have assessed the toxicity of four variants of that novel formulation (VRP034_F21-F24) in comparison with standard polymyxin-B using kidney injury biomarkers in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were subcutaneously administered either polymyxin-B (control) or one of the four polymyxin-B formulations at a dose of 25 mg/kg/day (HED: 4 mg/kg/day) in four divided doses for two days. Serum samples were collected at baseline and at the end of day 2 for the determination of serum biomarkers. Necropsy was done on day 2 and kidney was collected for histopathological evaluation. In the control group, statistically significant increase (p < 0.0001) in all biomarkers was observed on day 2 as compared to baseline values [urea: 311%; creatinine: 700%; KIM-1: 180%; cystatin-C: 66%] and 50% of the animals died (one after the 7th dose and two after the 8th dose) before scheduled necropsy. In contrast, animals treated with novel formulations did not show a significant increase across any of the biomarkers and no mortality was observed. Histopathology of the control group kidney confirmed necrotic changes in tissues with congestion and vacuolization, whereas only minor tubular damage was noted in two formulation groups (VRP034_F21, F24) and no appreciable damage was detected in the other two groups (VRP034_F22-23). The novel formulation of polymyxin-B tested in this study significantly reduced the risk of polymyxin-induced kidney injury in rats.
Indole Derivatives Obtained from Egyptian Enterobacter sp. Soil Isolates Exhibit Antivirulence Activities against Uropathogenic Proteus mirabilis
Authors: Amer Mai A. , Wasfi Reham , Attia Ahmed S. , Ramadan Mohamed A.
Published: March 2021

Proteus mirabilis is a frequent cause of catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). Several virulence factors contribute to its pathogenesis, but swarming motility, biofilm formation, and urease activity are considered the hallmarks. The increased prevalence in antibiotic resistance among uropathogens is alarming and requires searching for new treatment alternatives. With this in mind, our study aims to investigate antivirulence activity of indole derivatives against multidrug resistant P. mirabilis isolates. Ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extracts from Enterobacter sp. (rhizobacterium), isolated from Egyptian soil samples were tested for their ability to antagonize the virulence capacity and biofilm activity of P. mirabilis uropathogens. Extracts of two Enterobacter sp. isolates (coded Zch127 and Cbg70) showed the highest antivirulence activities against P. mirabilis. The two promising rhizobacteria Zch127 and Cbg70 were isolated from soil surrounding: Cucurbita pepo (Zucchini) and Brassica oleracea var. capitata L. (Cabbage), respectively. Sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations (Sub-MICs) of the two extracts showed potent antibiofilm activity with significant biofilm reduction of ten P. mirabilis clinical isolates (p-value < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, the Zch127 extract showed anti-urease, anti-swarming and anti-swimming activity against the tested strains. Indole derivatives identified represented key components of indole pyruvate, indole acetamide pathways; involved in the synthesis of indole acetic acid. Additional compounds for indole acetonitrile pathway were detected in the Zch127 extract which showed higher antivirulence activity. Accordingly, the findings of the current study model the feasibility of using these extracts as promising antivirulence agent against the P. mirabilis uropathogens and as potential therapy for treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Dietary Oxidative Distress: A Review of Nutritional Challenges as Models for Poultry, Swine and Fish
Authors: Bacou Elodie , Walk Carrie , Rider Sebastien , Litta Gilberto , Perez-Calvo Estefania
Published: March 2021

The redox system is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis. When redox homeostasis is disrupted through an increase of reactive oxygen species or a decrease of antioxidants, oxidative distress occurs resulting in multiple tissue and systemic responses and damage. Poultry, swine and fish, raised in commercial conditions, are exposed to different stressors that can affect their productivity. Some dietary stressors can generate oxidative distress and alter the health status and subsequent productive performance of commercial farm animals. For several years, researchers used different dietary stressors to describe the multiple and detrimental effects of oxidative distress in animals. Some of these dietary challenge models, including oxidized fats and oils, exposure to excess heavy metals, soybean meal, protein or amino acids, and feeding diets contaminated with mycotoxins are discussed in this review. A better understanding of the oxidative distress mechanisms associated with dietary stressors allows for improved understanding and evaluation of feed additives as mitigators of oxidative distress.
Redox Homeostasis in Pancreatic β-Cells: From Development to Failure
Authors: Benáková Štěpánka , Holendová Blanka , Plecitá-Hlavatá Lydie
Published: March 2021

Redox status is a key determinant in the fate of β-cell. These cells are not primarily detoxifying and thus do not possess extensive antioxidant defense machinery. However, they show a wide range of redox regulating proteins, such as peroxiredoxins, thioredoxins or thioredoxin reductases, etc., being functionally compartmentalized within the cells. They keep fragile redox homeostasis and serve as messengers and amplifiers of redox signaling. β-cells require proper redox signaling already in cell ontogenesis during the development of mature β-cells from their progenitors. We bring details about redox-regulated signaling pathways and transcription factors being essential for proper differentiation and maturation of functional β-cells and their proliferation and insulin expression/maturation. We briefly highlight the targets of redox signaling in the insulin secretory pathway and focus more on possible targets of extracellular redox signaling through secreted thioredoxin1 and thioredoxin reductase1. Tuned redox homeostasis can switch upon chronic pathological insults towards the dysfunction of β-cells and to glucose intolerance. These are characteristics of type 2 diabetes, which is often linked to chronic nutritional overload being nowadays a pandemic feature of lifestyle. Overcharged β-cell metabolism causes pressure on proteostasis in the endoplasmic reticulum, mainly due to increased demand on insulin synthesis, which establishes unfolded protein response and insulin misfolding along with excessive hydrogen peroxide production. This together with redox dysbalance in cytoplasm and mitochondria due to enhanced nutritional pressure impact β-cell redox homeostasis and establish prooxidative metabolism. This can further affect β-cell communication in pancreatic islets through gap junctions. In parallel, peripheral tissues losing insulin sensitivity and overall impairment of glucose tolerance and gut microbiota establish local proinflammatory signaling and later systemic metainflammation, i.e., low chronic inflammation prooxidative properties, which target β-cells leading to their dedifferentiation, dysfunction and eventually cell death.
Safety-Aware Optimal Attitude Pointing for Low-Thrust Satellites
Authors: Henninger Helen , Biggs James , von Ellenrieder Karl
Published: March 2021

In geostationary orbit, long eclipses and the seasonal variations in the direction and intensity of the solar input can cause damage to sensitive equipment during attitude maneuvers, which may inadvertently point the equipment towards the Sun. The requirement that transmitting and receiving antennae remain pointed towards the Earth creates further restrictions to pointing directions. The aim of the study is to construct a novel geometric and reinforcement-learning-based method to determine attitude guidance maneuvers that maintain the equipment in safe and operational orientations throughout an attitude maneuver. The attitude trajectory is computed numerically using the geometric framing of Pontryagin’s maximum principle applied to the vehicle kinematics using the global matrix Lie group representation on SO(3), and the angular velocities are shaped using free parameters. The values of these free parameters are determined by a reinforcement learning algorithm to avoid the forbidden areas while maintaining the pointing in operational areas (modeled as subsets of the two-sphere of all possible pointing directions of a particular axis). The method is applied to a model geosynchronous satellite and demonstrated in a simulation.
AAAA: SSO and MFA Implementation in Multi-Cloud to Mitigate Rising Threats and Concerns Related to User Metadata
Authors: Hussain Muhammad Iftikhar , He Jingsha , Zhu Nafei , Sabah Fahad , Zardari Zulfiqar Ali , Hussain Saqib , Razque Fahad
Published: March 2021

In the modern digital era, everyone is partially or fully integrated with cloud computing to access numerous cloud models, services, and applications. Multi-cloud is a blend of a well-known cloud model under a single umbrella to accomplish all the distinct nature and realm requirements under one service level agreement (SLA). In current era of cloud paradigm as the flood of services, applications, and data access rise over the Internet, the lack of confidentiality of the end user’s credentials is rising to an alarming level. Users typically need to authenticate multiple times to get authority and access the desired services or applications. In this research, we have proposed a completely secure scheme to mitigate multiple authentications usually required from a particular user. In the proposed model, a federated trust is created between two different domains: consumer and provider. All traffic coming towards the service provider is further divided into three phases based on the concerned user’s data risks. Single sign-on (SSO) and multifactor authentication (MFA) are deployed to get authentication, authorization, accountability, and availability (AAAA) to ensure the security and confidentiality of the end user’s credentials. The proposed solution exploits the finding that MFA achieves a better AAAA pattern as compared to SSO.
Load Frequency Control for Multi-Area Power Plants with Integrated Wind Resources
Authors: Huynh Van Van , Minh Bui Le Ngoc , Amaefule Emmanuel Nduka , Tran Anh-Tuan , Tran Phong Thanh , Phan Van-Duc , Pham Viet-Thanh , Nguyen Tam Minh
Published: March 2021

To provide a more practical method of controlling the frequency and tie-line power flow of a multi-area interconnected power system (MAIPS), a state observer based on sliding mode control (SOboSMC) acting under a second-order time derivative is proposed. The proposed design is used to study load frequency control against load disturbance, matched and mismatched uncertainty and parameter measurement difficulties of power systems that exist in the modern power plant, such as multi-area systems integrated with wind plants. Firstly, the state observer is designed to optimally estimate system state variables. The estimated states are applied to construct the model of the MAIPS. Secondly, a SOboSMC is designed with an integral switching surface acting on the second-order time derivative to forcefully drive the dynamic errors to zero and eliminate chattering, which can occur in the first-order approach to sliding mode control. In addition, the stability of the total power system is demonstrated with the Lyapunov stability theory based on a new linear matrix inequality (LMI) technique. To extend the validation of the proposed design control for practical purposes, it was tested in a New England system with 39 bus power against random load disturbances. The simulation results confirm the superiority of the proposed SOboSMC over other recent controllers with respect to overshoot and settling time.
High-Fidelity Fin–Actuator System Modeling and Aeroelastic Analysis Considering Friction Effect
Authors: Lu Jin , Wu Zhigang , Yang Chao
Published: March 2021

Both the dynamic characteristics and structural nonlinearities of an actuator will affect the flutter boundary of a fin–actuator system. The actuator models used in past research are not universal, the accuracy is difficult to guarantee, and the consideration of nonlinearity is not adequate. Based on modularization, a high-fidelity modeling method for an actuator is proposed in this paper. This model considers both freeplay and friction, which is easy to expand. It can be directly used to analyze actuator characteristics and perform aeroelastic analysis of fin–actuator systems. Friction can improve the aeroelastic stability, but the mechanism of its influence on the aeroelastic characteristics of the system has not been reported. In this paper, the LuGre model, which can better reflect the friction characteristics, was integrated into the actuator. The influence of the initial condition, freeplay, and friction on the aeroelastic characteristics of the system was analyzed. The comparison of the results with the previous research shows that oversimplified friction models are not accurate enough to reflect the mechanism of friction’s influence. By changing the loads, material, and geometry of contact surfaces, flutter can be effectively suppressed, and the power loss caused by friction can be minimized.
Functional Monitoring after Trabeculectomy or XEN Microstent Implantation Using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography and Visual Field Indices—A Retrospective Comparative Cohort Study
Authors: Schargus Marc , Busch Catharina , Rehak Matus , Meng Jie , Schmidt Manuela , Bormann Caroline , Unterlauft Jan Darius
Published: March 2021

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of trabeculectomy (TE), single XEN microstent implantation (solo XEN) or combined XEN implantation and cataract surgery (combined XEN) in primary open-angle glaucoma cases, naïve to prior surgical treatment, using a monocentric retrospective comparative cohort study. Intraocular pressure (IOP) and the number of IOP-lowering drugs (Meds) were monitored during the first 24 months after surgery. Further disease progression was monitored using peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness examinations using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) as well as visual acuity (VA) and visual field (VF) tests. In the TE group (52 eyes), the mean IOP decreased from 24.9 ± 5.9 to 13.9 ± 4.2 mmHg (p < 0.001) and Meds decreased from 3.2 ± 1.2 to 0.5 ± 1.1 (p < 0.001). In the solo XEN (38 eyes) and the combined XEN groups, the mean IOP decreased from 24.1 ± 4.7 to 15.7 ± 3.0 mmHg (p < 0.001) and 25.4 ± 5.6 to 14.7 ± 3.2 mmHg (p < 0.001), while Meds decreased from 3.3 ± 0.8 to 0.8 ± 1.2 (p < 0.001) and 2.7 ± 1.2 to 0.4 ± 1.0 (p < 0.001), respectively. The VF and VA indices showed no sign of further deterioration, the RNFL thickness further decreased in all treatment groups after surgery. TE and XEN led to comparable reductions in IOP and Meds. Although the VA and VF indices remained unaltered, the RNFL thickness continuously decreased in all treatment groups during the 24-month follow-up.
Retinal and Choriocapillaris Vascular Changes in Patients Affected by Different Clinical Phenotypes of β-Thalassemia: An Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Study
Authors: Cennamo Gilda , Montorio Daniela , Mazzella Giuliano , Ricchi Paolo , Costantini Silvia , Spasiano Anna , Filosa Aldo , Storino Maria , Aquila Francesca , Tranfa Fausto , Grosso Michela
Published: March 2021

In this cross-sectional study we assessed the vascular alterations in retinal and choriocapillaris perfusion in patients affected by β-thalassemia, by means of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). A total of 124 eyes of 62 patients (mean age 44.74 ± 5.79 years old) affected by β-thalassemia (transfusion dependent thalassemia (TDT), non-transfusion dependent thalassemia (NTDT) and minor) were compared to 40 eyes of twenty healthy subjects. We evaluated the vessel density (VD) in superficial capillary plexus, deep capillary plexus, radial peripapillary capillary, choriocapillaris and the foveal avascular zone area. The TDT group showed a statistically significant reduction in retinal and choriocapillaris VD respect to controls and the other groups (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found in OCTA parameters between β-thalassemia minor and controls. The NTDT group showed a significant reduction in VD in deep capillary plexus respect to controls and β-thalassemia minor. Significant negative correlations were shown in TDT group between foveal avascular zone and hemoglobin (r = −0.437, p = 0.044) and between ferritin levels and VD of choriocapillaris (r = −0.431, p = 0.038). The OCTA parameters provided a deeper understanding on retinal and choriocapillaris vascular impairment affected by tissue hypoxia levels and the oxidative stress in different clinical phenotypes of the β-thalassemia.
Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis: A Clinical Dilemma in Neuroendocrine Neoplasms
Authors: Apostolidis Leonidas , Schrader Jörg , Jann Henning , Rinke Anja , Krug Sebastian
Published: March 2021

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement by paraneoplastic syndromes, brain metastases, or leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LC) in patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) has only been described in individual case reports. We evaluated patients with LC in four neuroendocrine tumor (NET) centers (Halle/Saale, Hamburg, Heidelberg, and Marburg) and characterized them clinically. In the study, 17 patients with a LC were defined with respect to diagnosis, clinic, and therapy. The prognosis of a LC is very poor, with 10 months in median overall survival (mOS). This is reflected by an even worse course in neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) G3 Ki-67 >55%, with a mOS of 2 months. Motor and sensory deficits together with vigilance abnormalities were common symptoms. In most cases, targeted radiation or temozolomide therapy was used against the LC. LC appears to be similarly devastating to brain metastases in NEN patients. Therefore, the indication for CNS imaging should be discussed in certain cases.
Analysis of the Dynamic Proteasome Structure by Cross-Linking Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Mendes Marta L. , Dittmar Gunnar
Published: March 2021

The 26S proteasome is a macromolecular complex that degrades proteins maintaining cell homeostasis; thus, determining its structure is a priority to understand its function. Although the 20S proteasome’s structure has been known for some years, the highly dynamic nature of the 19S regulatory particle has presented a challenge to structural biologists. Advances in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) made it possible to determine the structure of the 19S regulatory particle and showed at least seven different conformational states of the proteasome. However, there are still many questions to be answered. Cross-linking mass spectrometry (CLMS) is now routinely used in integrative structural biology studies, and it promises to take integrative structural biology to the next level, answering some of these questions.
Crosstalk between Existential Phenomenological Psychotherapy and Neurological Sciences in Mood and Anxiety Disorders
Authors: Balogh Lehel , Tanaka Masaru , Török Nóra , Vécsei László , Taguchi Shigeru
Published: March 2021

Psychotherapy is a comprehensive biological treatment modifying complex underlying cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and regulatory responses in the brain, leading patients with mental illness to a new interpretation of the sense of self and others. Psychotherapy is an art of science integrated with psychology and/or philosophy. Neurological sciences study the neurological basis of cognition, memory, and behavior as well as the impact of neurological damage and disease on these functions, and their treatment. Both psychotherapy and neurological sciences deal with the brain; nevertheless, they continue to stay polarized. Existential phenomenological psychotherapy (EPP) has been in the forefront of meaning-centered counseling for almost a century. The phenomenological approach in psychotherapy originated in the works of Martin Heidegger, Ludwig Binswanger, Medard Boss, and Viktor Frankl, and it has been committed to accounting for the existential possibilities and limitations of one’s life. EPP provides philosophically rich interpretations and empowers counseling techniques to assist mentally suffering individuals by finding meaning and purpose to life. The approach has proven to be effective in treating mood and anxiety disorders. This narrative review article demonstrates the development of EPP, the therapeutic methodology, evidence-based accounts of its curative techniques, current understanding of mood and anxiety disorders in neurological sciences, and a possible converging path to translate and integrate meaning-centered psychotherapy and neuroscience, concluding that the EPP may potentially play a synergistic role with the currently prevailing medication-based approaches for the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders.
An Interesting Molecule: γ-Aminobutyric Acid. What Can We Learn from Hydra Polyps?
Authors: Pierobon Paola
Published: March 2021

Neuronal excitability is controlled primarily by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the central and peripheral nervous systems of vertebrate as well as invertebrate organisms. Besides its recognized neurotransmitter functions, GABA also plays a fundamental role in neurogenesis and synaptogenesis during embryonic development. In addition, GABAergic mechanisms are also involved in disorders of various peripheral tissues, ranging from diabetes to hypothyroidism to inflammatory responses. The discovery of the molecule and the history of its biosynthetic pathways in vertebrate and invertebrate phyla are summarized here. The occurrence and distribution of GABA, GABA-synthesizing enzymes, and receptors to GABA in the freshwater polyp Hydra vulgaris (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa), endowed with an early evolved nervous system, are discussed in relation to possible interactions with the microbiota, a stable component of Hydra polyps; their contribution to the evolution of nervous systems through microbe–neuronal interactions is proposed.
Investigation of the Effects of Multi-Wall and Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Concentration on the Properties of ABS Nanocomposites
Authors: Gutierrez Brenda Janett Alonso , Dul Sithiprumnea , Pegoretti Alessandro , Alvarez-Quintana Jaime , Fambri Luca
Published: March 2021

The effects of two types of carbon nanotubes, namely multiwall (MWCNT) and single-wall (SWCNT) carbon nanotube, on the thermal and mechanical properties of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) nanocomposites, have been investigated. ABS filled-CNT nanocomposites with various filler loadings of 5–10 wt% were properly produced by a solvent-free process in blend compounding at 190 °C. Compression moulded plates and extruded filaments were obtained at 190 °C and 230 °C, respectively. Melt flow index (MFI), shore hardness, Vicat temperature, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were performed to characterize and compared the different CNT nanocomposites. ABS/SWCNT composite filaments showed higher tensile properties (i.e., stiffness and strength), than ABS/MWCNT. The electrical resistivity of ABS/SWCNT and ABS/MWCNT filaments decreased to 0.19 Ω.cm and 0.65 Ω.cm for nanocomposites with 10 wt% of nanofillers; a power law was presented to describe the electrical resistivity of composites as a function of the CNTs content. A final comparative parameter regarding melt flow, stiffness and conductivity was also evaluated for understanding the combined effects of the nanofillers. SWCNT nanocomposites exhibited better overall cumulative results than MWCNT nanocomposites.
Review on the Visible Light Photocatalysis for the Decomposition of Ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, Tetracyclines, and Sulfonamides Antibiotics in Wastewater
Authors: Shurbaji Samar , Huong Pham Thi , Altahtamouni Talal Mohammed
Published: March 2021

Antibiotics are chemical compounds that are used to kill or prevent bacterial growth. They are used in different fields, such as the medical field, agriculture, and veterinary. Antibiotics end up in wastewater, which causes the threat of developing antibacterial resistance; therefore, antibiotics must be eliminated from wastewater. Different conventional elimination methods are limited due to their high cost and effort, or incomplete elimination. Semiconductor-assisted photocatalysis arises as an effective elimination method for different organic wastes including antibiotics. A variety of semiconducting materials were tested to eliminate antibiotics from wastewater; nevertheless, research is still ongoing due to some limitations. This review summarizes the recent studies regarding semiconducting material modifications for antibiotic degradation using visible light irradiation.
A Sensitive and Portable Deep-UV Absorbance Detector with a Microliter Gas Cell Compatible with Micro GC
Authors: Khan Sulaiman , Newport David , Le Calvé Stéphane
Published: March 2021

Deep-UV absorption spectrometry for detection of toxic airborne gases, for instance, Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes (BTEX) has drawn considerable attention owing to its high sensitivity and reliability. However, the development of a deep-UV absorbance detector having good sensitivity, portability, and a low-volume gas cell with applicability for a micro Gas Chromatography (μGC) is challenging. Herein we present a novel, self-referenced, and portable deep-UV absorbance detector with a microliter (275 μL) gas cell having minimal dead volume. It has excellent compatibility with μGC for detection of individual BTEX components in a mixed sample at a sub-ppm level. The design consists of the latest, portable, and cost-effective optical and electronic components, i.e., deep-UV LED, hollow-core waveguide, and photodiodes. The detector directly measures the absorbance values in volts using an integrated circuit with a log-ratio amplifier. The prototype was tested with direct injection of toluene-N2 (1.5 ppm to 50 ppm) and good linearity (R2 = 0.99) with a limit of detection of 196 ppb was obtained. The absorbance detector with μGC setup was tested with a BTEX mixture in N2 at different GC column temperatures. All the BTEX species were sequentially separated and detected with an individual peak for a concentration range of 2.5 ppm to 10 ppm.
Parents’ Initiation of Alcohol Drinking among Elementary and Kindergarten Students
Authors: Eto Kazuko , Sugimoto Masahiro
Published: March 2021

Parental experience of initiation of alcohol drinking has been identified as one of the early causes of alcohol drinking in preadolescents in many countries, including Japan. This study identified the association between parental alcohol-related knowledge and the initiation of alcohol use among preadolescent students in an urban area in Japan. Self-administrated questionnaires were distributed to 420 parents of kindergarteners and elementary school students, of which 339 were filled and returned (response rate: 81%). The parents’ experience in initiating alcohol drinking in their children and their knowledge about the effects of alcohol on youth were explored. The requirements for drinking prevention programs for youth were also investigated. The result showed that a significantly higher proportion of parents of elementary school students had experiences of initiating alcohol use in their children compared to parents of kindergarten children. The parents’ knowledge regarding the effects of alcohol on youth showed no significant difference between the two parent groups. These data indicate that the age of children is the only factor as opposed to parents’ knowledge. We also found significant differences in the requirements of prevention programs between the two parent groups. The results of this study can contribute to the design of alcohol prevention programs for these parents, which could reduce the onset of children’s drinking.
Utility of Genetic Testing from the Perspective of Parents/Caregivers: A Scoping Review
Authors: Hayeems Robin Z. , Luca Stephanie , Assamad Daniel , Bhatt Ayushi , Ungar Wendy J.
Published: March 2021

In genomics, perceived and personal utility have been proposed as constructs of value that include the subjective meanings and uses of genetic testing. Precisely what constitutes these constructs of utility and how they vary by stakeholder perspective remains unresolved. To advance methods for measuring the value of genetic testing in child health, we conducted a scoping review of the literature to characterize utility from the perspective of parents/caregivers. Peer reviewed literature that included empiric findings from parents/caregivers who received genetic test results for an index child and was written in English from 2016–2020 was included. Identified concepts of utility were coded according to Kohler’s construct of personal utility. Of 2142 abstracts screened, 33 met inclusion criteria. Studies reflected a range of genetic test types; the majority of testing was pursued for children with developmental or neurodevelopmental concerns. Coding resulted in 15 elements of utility that mapped to Kohler’s four domains of personal utility (affective, cognitive, behavioural and social) and one additional medical management domain. An adapted construct of utility for parents/caregivers may enable specific and standardized strategies for researchers to use to generate evidence of the post-test value of genetic testing. In turn, this will contribute to emerging methods for health technology assessment and policy decision making for genomics in child health.
Diagnostic Tools for Autism Spectrum Disorders by Gender: Analysis of Current Status and Future Lines
Authors: Navarro-Pardo Esperanza , López-Ramón Maria Fernanda , Alonso-Esteban Yurena , Alcantud-Marín Francisco
Published: March 2021

Studies on the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders have shown gender disproportion. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in this investigation area. There are two main research lines; the first is focused mostly on gender-related biological reasons that could account for low ASD prevalence in women (i.e., related to some protective factors related to hormones or the immune system, among others), and the second research line studies possible diagnostic biases. In the present study, a review of the latter line of research is made based on two main objectives: (a) analysis of possible biases in diagnostic tools and (b) other nonbiological ASD prevalence explained by gender differences. As a result of our theoretical review, we found that the articles reviewed showed contradictory results and possible diagnostic biases, not only in their design but also in their assessment standards. We concluded that specific or complementary diagnostic tools and procedures differentiated by gender should be developed in order to reduce these biases.
A Prospective Study Comparing Laparoscopic vs. Conventional Stomach Pull Up in Total Pharyngo-Laryngo-Esophagectomy for Post Cricoid Cancer
Authors: Prakash Basavegowda Vinod , Anwar Ali Zaid , Abhishek Mahadev , Sharma Shivaji , Shruthi Saseendran
Published: March 2021

The aim of this study is to compare laparoscopic and conventional techniques following Total Pharyngo-laryngo-esophagectomy (TPLE) with respect to perioperative morbidity and mortality and postoperative recovery in post cricoid cancer patients. This is a prospective study, which was undertaken in Gujrat Cancer Research Institute (GCRI) in the period of July 2007 to March 2010. Fifteen consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic TPLE were compared to that of 18 consecutive patients who underwent open TPLE. Laparoscopic and open TPLE procedure were compared with respect to patient characteristics, intra operative and complications present. The average duration was observed to be 3.5 h in the MIS (Minimally Invasive Group) group and was 5.3 h in the open group. The average blood loss was 300 mL in the MIS group and 500 mL in the open group. Average duration of the hospital stay in the MIS group was 13 days and 16 days in the open group. In the MIS group, one patient (6.7%) had a pneumonic complication and two patients (13%) had wound complications. In the open group, six patients (33%) had pneumonic consolidation and four patients (22%) had wound infections. In both groups, one patient each suffered mortality. Laparoscopic TPLE has been found to be much safer with less morbidity as compared with open surgery.
Grasp the Challenge of Digital Transition in SMEs—A Training Course Geared towards Decision-Makers
Authors: Azevedo Américo , Almeida António
Published: March 2021

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe risk their competitiveness if they fail to embrace digitalization. Indeed, SMEs are aware of the need to digitalize—more than one in two SMEs are concerned that they may lose competitiveness if they do not adopt new digital technologies. However, a key obstacle is related with decision-makers’ lack of awareness concerning digital technologies potential and implications. Some decision-makers renounce digital transition simply because they do not understand how it can be incorporated into the business. Take into account this common reality, especially among SMEs, this research project intends to identify the skills and subjects that need to be addressed and suggests the educational methodology and implementation strategy capable of maximizing its success. Therefore, and supported by a focused group research methodology, an innovative training program, oriented to decision-makers, was designed and implemented. The program was conceived based on a self-directed learning methodology, combining both asynchronous lecture/expositive and active training methodologies, strongly based on state-of-the-art knowledge and supported by reference cases and real applications. It is intended that the trainees/participants become familiar with a comprehensive set of concepts, principles, methodologies, and tools, capable of significantly enhancing decision-making capability at both strategic and tactical level. The proposed programme with a multidisciplinary scope explores different thematic chapters (self-contained) as well as cross-cutting thematic disciplines, oriented to the Industry 4.0 and digital transformation paradigm. Topics related with Digital Maturity Assessment, Smart Factories and Flexible Production Systems, Big Data, and Artificial Intelligence for Smarter Decision-Making in Industry and Smart Materials and Products, as well as new production processes for new business models. Each thematic chapter in turn is structured around a variable set of elementary modules and includes examples and case studies to illustrate the selected topics. A teaching-learning methodology centered on an online platform is proposed, having as a central element, a collection of videos complemented by a set of handouts that organize the set of key messages and take-ways associated with each module. In this paper, we present the design and practice of this training course specifically oriented to decision-makers in SME.
Stand-Alone Hybrid Power Plant Based on SiC Solar PV and Wind Inverters with Smart Spinning Reserve Management
Authors: Martín-Arroyo Susana , Cebollero José Antonio , García-Gracia Miguel , Llamazares Álvaro
Published: March 2021

Stand-alone hybrid power plants based on renewable energy sources are becoming a more and more interesting alternative. However, their management is a complex task because there are many variables, requirements and restrictions as well as a wide variety of possible scenarios. Though a proper sizing of the power plant is necessary to obtain a competitive cost of the energy, smart management is key to guarantee the power supply at a minimum cost. In this work, a novel hybrid power plant control strategy is designed, implemented and simulated under a wide variety of scenarios. Thereby, the proposed control algorithm aims to achieve maximum integration of renewable energy, reducing the usage of non-renewable generators as much as possible and guaranteeing the stability of the microgrid. Different scenarios and case studies have been analyzed by dynamic simulation to verify the proper operation of the power plant controller. The main novelties of this work are: (i) the stand-alone hybrid power plant management regarding a battery energy storage system as a part of the spinning reserve, (ii) the characterization of the largest loads as non-priority loads, (iii) the minimization of the needed spinning reserve and fuel consumption from diesel generators.
An E-Band 21-dB Variable-Gain Amplifier with 0.5-V Supply in 40-nm CMOS
Authors: Shin Gibeom , Kim Kyunghwan , Lee Kangseop , Jeong Hyun-Hak , Song Ho-Jin
Published: March 2021

This paper presents a variable-gain amplifier (VGA) in the 68–78 GHz range. To reduce DC power consumption, the drain voltage was set to 0.5 V with competitive performance in the gain and the noise figure. High-Q shunt capacitors were employed at the gate terminal of the core transistors to move input matching points for easy matching with a compact transformer. The four stages amplifier fabricated in 40-nm bulk complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) showed a peak gain of 24.5 dB at 71.3 GHz and 3‑dB bandwidth of more than 10 GHz in 68–78 GHz range with approximately 4.8-mW power consumption per stage. Gate-bias control of the second stage in which feedback capacitances were neutralized with cross-coupled capacitors allowed us to vary the gain by around 21 dB in the operating frequency band. The noise figure was estimated to be better than 5.9 dB in the operating frequency band from the full electromagnetic (EM) simulation.
An Effective Learning Method for Automatic Speech Recognition in Korean CI Patients’ Speech
Authors: Jeong Jiho , Mondol S. I. M. M. Raton , Kim Yeon Wook , Lee Sangmin
Published: March 2021

The automatic speech recognition (ASR) model usually requires a large amount of training data to provide better results compared with the ASR models trained with a small amount of training data. It is difficult to apply the ASR model to non-standard speech such as that of cochlear implant (CI) patients, owing to privacy concerns or difficulty of access. In this paper, an effective finetuning and augmentation ASR model is proposed. Experiments compare the character error rate (CER) after training the ASR model with the basic and the proposed method. The proposed method achieved a CER of 36.03% on the CI patient’s speech test dataset using only 2 h and 30 min of training data, which is a 62% improvement over the basic method.
Novel Single-Phase Short-Stroke Tubular Permanent Magnet Oscillating Machines with Partitioned Stator
Authors: Zhu Zi-Qiang , Shuraiji Ahlam Luaibi , Lu Qinfen , Li Yanxin , Qu Huan
Published: March 2021

This paper presents three novel configurations of single-phase (SP) short-stroke (SS) tubular permanent magnet oscillating machines (TPMOMs) with partitioned stator (PS), termed PS-SPSS-TPMOMs. The machine structures are described and the influence of permanent magnet pole alignment with either stator slot or stator tooth is investigated. It is found that the PM poles should be aligned with the stator slots in order to ease the oscillation. The electromagnetic performance of these proposed machines is analyzed and compared. The results show that such machines have the advantages of low mover mass and low magnet eddy current loss, compared with a conventional surface-mounted SPSS-TPMOM.
PV String-Level Isolated DC–DC Power Optimizer with Wide Voltage Range
Authors: Kim Hyungjin , Yu Gibum , Kim Jaehoon , Choi Sewan
Published: March 2021

This paper proposes a photovoltaic (PV) string-level isolated DC–DC power optimizer with wide voltage range. A hybrid control scheme in which pulse frequency modulation (PFM) control and pulse width modulation (PWM) control are combined with a variable switching frequency is employed to regulate the wide PV voltage range. By adjusting the switching frequency in the above region during the PWM control process, the circulating current period can be eliminated and the turn-on period of the bidirectional switch of the dual-bridge LLC (DBLLC) resonant converter is reduced compared to that with a conventional PWM control scheme with a fixed switching frequency, resulting in better switching and conduction loss. Soft start-up control under a no-load condition is proposed to charge the DC-link electrolytic capacitor from 0 V. A laboratory prototype of a 6.25 kW DBLLC resonant converter with a transformer, including integrated resonant inductance, is built and tested in order to verify the performance and theoretical claims.
Technological and Functional Assessment of Riboflavin Enriched Probiotic SoyCurd
Authors: Singh Narayan Kapil , Gaurkhede Sakshi , Sharma Virat , Kumar Ankur , Bhushan Bharat , Mishra Vijendra
Published: March 2021

Preparation of soymilk-based product with probiotics is reasonably a novel approach in the field of fermented functional foods. The aim of this study was to develop riboflavin enriched fermented soy curds with either or combination of the two riboflavin producing probiotic strains of Lactobacillus plantarum i.e., MTCC 25432 (BBC32B) and MTCC 25433 (BBC33), and to compare the technological and functional properties of its developed products. Acidification rate and lactic acid production were enhanced with L. plantarum and its combination in a shorter time to reach pH 4.7. Hardness and cohesiveness were significantly (p < 0.05) higher for fermented soymilk by co-culture of L. plantarum followed by individual strains. Similarly, higher G′ (6.25 × 102 Pa), G” (2.30 × 103 Pa) and G* (8.00 × 102 Pa) values observed for the combination of both L. plantarum strains showed that the gel formed was firmer and had solid character. The riboflavin content of product developed with a combination of test cultures was significantly higher (342.11 µg/L) than individual cultures and control. The final product had a higher probiotic count (more than 9 log cfu/mL), which is also required for functional food containing probiotics.
Synthesis of Nanogels: Current Trends and Future Outlook
Authors: Mauri Emanuele , Giannitelli Sara Maria , Trombetta Marcella , Rainer Alberto
Published: March 2021

Nanogels represent an innovative platform for tunable drug release and targeted therapy in several biomedical applications, ranging from cancer to neurological disorders. The design of these nanocarriers is a pivotal topic investigated by the researchers over the years, with the aim to optimize the procedures and provide advanced nanomaterials. Chemical reactions, physical interactions and the developments of engineered devices are the three main areas explored to overcome the shortcomings of the traditional nanofabrication approaches. This review proposes a focus on the current techniques used in nanogel design, highlighting the upgrades in physico-chemical methodologies, microfluidics and 3D printing. Polymers and biomolecules can be combined to produce ad hoc nanonetworks according to the final curative aims, preserving the criteria of biocompatibility and biodegradability. Controlled polymerization, interfacial reactions, sol-gel transition, manipulation of the fluids at the nanoscale, lab-on-a-chip technology and 3D printing are the leading strategies to lean on in the next future and offer new solutions to the critical healthcare scenarios.
Localization and Diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Wang Peng , Zhao Xuejing , Zhong Jitao , Zhou Ying
Published: March 2021

In this paper, a random-forest-based method was proposed for the classification and localization of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a common neurodevelopmental disorder among children. Experimental data were magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from the public case-control dataset of 3D images for ADHD-200. Each MRI image was a 3D-tensor of 121×145×121 size. All 3D matrices (MRI) were segmented into the slices from each of three orthogonal directions. Each slice from the same position of the same direction in the training set was converted into a vector, and all these vectors were composed into a designed matrix to train the random forest classification algorithm; then, the well-trained RF classifier was exploited to give a prediction label in correspondence direction and position. Diagnosis and location results can be obtained upon the intersection of these three prediction matrices. The performance of our proposed method was illustrated on the dataset from New York University (NYU), Kennedy Krieger Institute (KKI) and full datasets; the results show that the proposed methods can archive more accuracy identification in discrimination of ADHD, and can be extended to the other practices of diagnosis. Moreover, another suspected region was found at the first time.