bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rescue Therapies for H. pylori Infection in Italy
Authors: De Francesco Vincenzo , Zullo Angelo , Gatta Luigi , Manta Raffaele , Pavoni Matteo , Saracino Ilaria Maria , Fiorini Giulia , Vaira Dino
Published: May 2021

Background/Aims: Curing Helicobacter pylori infection remains challenging for clinicians, as no proposed first-line therapy achieves bacterial eradication in all treated patients so that several patients need two or more consecutive treatments. Bacterial culture with antibiotics susceptibility testing is largely unachievable in Italy, and empiric second-line and rescue therapies are generally used. This study aimed to identify what eradication regimens perform better in Italy, following first-line therapy failure. Methods: We performed a literature search on PubMed for studies on standard therapy regimens used as second-line or rescue treatments performed in adult patients. Studies including modified drug combinations were not considered. Both intention-to-treat and per- protocol analyses were computed for each therapy subgroup. Results: Data from 35 studies with a total of 4830 patients were eventually considered. As a second-line therapy, Pylera® (90.6%) and a sequential regimen (89.8%) achieved eradication rates significantly higher than other therapies. For third-line therapy, a levofloxacin-based regimen and Pylera® achieved comparable eradication rates (88.2% vs. 84.7%; p = 0.2). Among therapies used as fourth (or more) attempts, Pylera® and a rifabutin-based therapy achieved 77.4% and 66.4% cure rates, respectively (p = 0.013). A therapy sequence based on the type of first-line therapy used was proposed. Conclusions: Data obtained through our review indicate that standard therapies for H. pylori eradication can be used when following an appropriate sequence, allowing clinicians to improve the cure rate without resorting to bacterial culture.
Discovery of Pyrrolidine-2,3-diones as Novel Inhibitors of P. aeruginosa PBP3
Authors: López-Pérez Arancha , Freischem Stefan , Grimm Immanuel , Weiergräber Oliver , Dingley Andrew , López-Alberca María , Waldmann Herbert , Vollmer Waldemar , Kumar Kamal , Vuong Cuong
Published: May 2021

The alarming threat of the spread of multidrug resistant bacteria currently leaves clinicians with very limited options to combat infections, especially those from Gram-negative bacteria. Hence, innovative strategies to deliver the next generation of antibacterials are urgently needed. Penicillin binding proteins (PBPs) are proven targets inhibited by β-lactam antibiotics. To discover novel, non-β-lactam inhibitors against PBP3 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, we optimised a fluorescence assay based on a well-known thioester artificial substrate and performed a target screening using a focused protease-targeted library of 2455 compounds, which led to the identification of pyrrolidine-2,3-dione as a potential scaffold to inhibit the PBP3 target. Further chemical optimisation using a one-pot three-component reaction protocol delivered compounds with excellent target inhibition, initial antibacterial activities against P. aeruginosa and no apparent cytotoxicity. Our investigation revealed the key structural features; for instance, 3-hydroxyl group (R2) and a heteroaryl group (R1) appended to the N-pyrroldine-2,3-dione via methylene linker required for target inhibition. Overall, the discovery of the pyrrolidine-2,3-dione class of inhibitors of PBP3 brings opportunities to target multidrug-resistant bacterial strains and calls for further optimisation to improve antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa.
Clinical Use and Adverse Drug Reactions of Linezolid: A Retrospective Study in Four Belgian Hospital Centers
Authors: Thirot Hélène , Briquet Caroline , Frippiat Frédéric , Jacobs Frédérique , Holemans Xavier , Henrard Séverine , Tulkens Paul M. , Spinewine Anne , Van Bambeke Françoise
Published: May 2021

In Belgium, linezolid is indicated for pneumonia and skin and soft tissue infections, but is more broadly used, due to its oral bioavailability and activity against multiresistant organisms. This could increase the risk of adverse drug reactions (ADR), notably hematological disorders (anemia, thrombocytopenia), neuropathy, or lactic acidosis. We analyzed linezolid clinical use in relationship with occurrence of ADR in Belgian hospitals and highlighted risk factors associated with the development of thrombocytopenia. A retrospective analysis of electronic medical records and laboratory tests of adult patients treated with linezolid in four Belgian hospitals in 2016 allowed the collection of ADR for 248 linezolid treatments. Only 19.7% of indications were in-label. ADR included 43 thrombocytopenia, 17 anemia, 4 neuropathies, and 4 increases in lactatemia. In a multi-variate analysis, risk factors of thrombocytopenia were a treatment duration > 10 days, a glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min, and a Charlson index ≥ 4. Off-label use of linezolid is frequent in Belgium, and ADR more frequent than reported in the summary of product characteristics, but not statistically associated with any indication. This high prevalence of ADR could be related to a high proportion of patients presenting risk factors in our population, highlighting the importance of detecting them prospectively.
Prevalence, Virulence Gene Distribution and Alarming the Multidrug Resistance of Aeromonas hydrophila Associated with Disease Outbreaks in Freshwater Aquaculture
Authors: Nhinh Doan Thi , Le Dung Viet , Van Kim Van , Huong Giang Nguyen Thi , Dang Lua Thi , Hoai Truong Dinh
Published: May 2021

The study aims to evaluate the infection prevalence, virulence gene distribution and antimicrobial resistance of Aeromonas hydrophila associated in diseased outbreaks of cultured freshwater fish in Northern Vietnam. The confirmed A. hydrophila were screened for the presence of the five pitutative-virulence genes including aerolysin (aerA), hemolysin (hlyA), cytotonic enterotoxin (act), heat-labile cytotonic enterotoxin (alt), and heat-stable enterotoxin (ast), and examined the susceptibility to 16 antibiotics. A total of 236 A. hydrophila isolates were recovered and confirmed from 506 diseased fish by phenotypic tests, PCR assays, and gyrB, rpoB sequenced analyses, corresponding to the infection prevalence at 46.4%. A total of 88.9% of A. hydrophila isolates harbored at least one of the tested virulence genes. The genes aerA and act were most frequently found (80.5% and 80.1%, respectively) while the ast gene was absent in all isolates. The resistance to oxacillin, amoxicillin and vancomycin exhibited the highest frequencies (>70%), followed by erythromycin, oxytetracycline, florfenicol, and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (9.3–47.2%). The multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index ranged between 0.13–0.88 with 74.7% of the isolates having MAR values higher than 0.2. The results present a warning for aquaculture farmers and managers in preventing the spread of A. hydrophila and minimizing antibiotic resistance of this pathogen in fish farming systems.
Community-Acquired, Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing and Extensively Drug-Resistant Escherichia coli in a 28-Year-Old Pyelonephritis Patient Lacking Risk Factors
Authors: Evins Connor W. , Sutton Caroline M. , Withers Sarah T. , Grier Jennifer T. , Schammel Christine M. G. , Fiester Steven E.
Published: May 2021

While Escherichia coli is a common cause of urinary tract infections and pyelonephritis, there are few documented cases of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) isolates from the community resulting in infection requiring hospitalization, especially in individuals lacking risk factors. In the United States, exposure to ESBL-producing E. coli is typically nosocomial, whereas patients from developing countries often encounter ESBL-producing E. coli in the community through the consumption of contaminated food or water. Considering the rarity at which XDR E. coli isolates are encountered, there is also a scarcity of literature describing the successful treatment of ESBL-producing XDR E. coli. Here we present a case of an otherwise healthy 28-year-old female delicatessen worker infected with ESBL-producing and XDR E. coli without recent travel, antibiotic use, or healthcare contact, who required admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) with pyelonephritis and septic shock. Treatment with intravenous meropenem through a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line at home was curative and follow up thereafter unremarkable. Given the patient’s lack of obvious exposure to and risk factors for an ESBL-producing XDR E. coli infection and the specific lack of risk factors for severe pyelonephritis requiring hospitalization, this case represents a unique addition to the literature and is of value to clinicians by describing successful treatment.
High Resolution Mass Spectroscopy-Based Secondary Metabolite Profiling of Nymphaea nouchali (Burm. f) Stem Attenuates Oxidative Stress via Regulation of MAPK/Nrf2/HO-1/ROS Pathway
Authors: Alam Md Badrul , Naznin Marufa , Islam Syful , Alshammari Fanar Hamad , Choi Hee-Jeong , Song Bo-Rim , Kim Sunghwan , Lee Sang-Han
Published: May 2021

The secondary metabolites profiling of Nymphaea nouchali stem (NNSE) extract was carried out using a high-resolution mass spectroscopic technique. The antioxidant effects of NNSE, as well as the underlying mechanisms, were also investigated in tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-stimulated oxidative stress in RAW264.7 cells. Tandem mass spectroscopy with (−) negative mode tentatively revealed the presence of 54 secondary metabolites in NNSE. Among them, phenolic acids and flavonoids were predominant. Phenolic acids (brevifolincarboxylic acid, p-coumaroyltartaric acid, niazinin B, lalioside, 3-feruloylquinic acid, and gallic acid-O-rutinoside), flavonoids (elephantorrhizol, apigenin-6-C-galactoside 8-C-arabinoside, and vicenin-2), sialic acid (2-deoxy-2,3-dehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid), and terpenoid (α-γ-onoceradienedione) were identified in NNSE for the first time. Unbridled reactive oxygen species/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) and redox imbalances participate in the induction and development of many oxidative stress-linked diseases. The NNSE exhibited significant free radical scavenging capabilities and was also able to reduce t-BHP-induced cellular generation in RAW264.7 cells. The NNSE prevented oxidative stress by inducing the endogenous antioxidant system and the levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) by upregulating Nrf2 through the modulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), such as phosphorylated p38 and c-Jun N terminal kinase. Collectively, these results indicate that the NNSE exhibits potent effects in preventing oxidative stress-stimulated diseases and disorders through the modulation of the MAPK/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Our findings provide new insights into the cytoprotective effects and mechanisms of Nymphaea nouchali stem extract against oxidative stress, which may be a useful remedy for oxidative stress-induced disorders.
Urolithiasis Develops Endothelial Dysfunction as a Clinical Feature
Authors: Sáenz-Medina Javier , Martinez María , Rosado Silvia , Durán Manuel , Prieto Dolores , Carballido Joaquín
Published: May 2021

An increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity has been reported in lithiasic patients. In this context, endothelial dysfunction (ED), an earlier status of atherogenesis, has been identified in hyperoxaluria rat models of urolithiasis. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the endothelial vascular function in patients with urolithiasis in relation to systemic inflammatory, oxidative stress, and vascular function serum markers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed between 27 urolithiasic patients, matched for age and sex, with 27 healthy patients. Endothelial function was assessed by measuring flow-mediated dilation (Celermajer method). Fasting blood was collected to determine metabolic parameters (glucose and lipid profile), along with serum CRP, IL-6, MDA, ADMA, and VCAM-1. Results: Both the control and urolithiasis groups were homogenous in anthropometric, exploration, and general laboratory measures. Flow-mediated dilation (%FMD) was 11.85% (SE: 2.78) lower in the lithiasis group (p < 0.001). No significant differences were achieved between groups when CRP, IL-6, MDA, ADMA, and VCAM-1 were compared, although slightly higher values of CRP, ADMA, and VCAM-1 were detected in the lithiasic group. A correlation was not reached in any of the serum markers when they were related to flow-mediated values, although a slight negative correlation trend was observed in MDA, VCAM-1, and IL-6 values. Conclusions: Endothelial dysfunction constitutes an important disorder related to urolithiasis patients. It must be considered as an early feature responsible for future cardiovascular events. Our study did not find a significant association between inflammatory, oxidative stress, endothelial serum markers, and flow-mediated dilation.
Inhibitory Effect of Olive Phenolic Compounds Isolated from Olive Oil By-Product on Melanosis of Shrimps
Authors: Lama-Muñoz Antonio , Gómez-Carretero Antonio , Rubio-Senent Fátima , Bermúdez-Oria Alejandra , Maya Inés , Fernández-Bolaños José G. , Vioque Blanca , Fernández-Bolaños Juan
Published: May 2021

Melanosis is an unsolved problem of the crustacean industry and the cause of great loss of value. This study investigates the effect of two potent, natural antioxidants isolated from olive waste (hydroxytyrosol, HT and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol, DHPG) and three novel HT-derivatives containing selenium and sulfur (dihydroxytyrosyl diselenide, N-hydroxytyrosyl selenourea, and N-hydroxytyrosyl thiourea) on the prevention of melanosis in Atlantic ditch shrimp (Palaemonetes varians) during refrigerated storage. These results clearly demonstrate the positive inhibitory effect of DHPG and dihydroxytyrosyl diselenide on delaying melanosis in vivo, although this effect was not dose dependent. The effect was associated with a concomitant-inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity in vitro. To our knowledge, so far no studies on the prevention of melanosis have been conducted on this small specie of shrimp which is available in large quantities at any time of the year at low cost. Studies with these promising compounds could then be extended to other more economically important species with a greater guarantee of success.
Hydrogen Sulfide and Carbon Monoxide Tolerance in Bacteria
Authors: Mendes Sofia S. , Miranda Vanessa , Saraiva Lígia M.
Published: May 2021

Hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide share the ability to be beneficial or harmful molecules depending on the concentrations to which organisms are exposed. Interestingly, humans and some bacteria produce small amounts of these compounds. Since several publications have summarized the recent knowledge of its effects in humans, here we have chosen to focus on the role of H2S and CO on microbial physiology. We briefly review the current knowledge on how bacteria produce and use H2S and CO. We address their potential antimicrobial properties when used at higher concentrations, and describe how microbial systems detect and survive toxic levels of H2S and CO. Finally, we highlight their antimicrobial properties against human pathogens when endogenously produced by the host and when released by external chemical donors.
Automatic Scaffolding Workface Assessment for Activity Analysis through Machine Learning
Authors: Ying Wenzheng , Shou Wenchi , Wang Jun , Shi Weixiang , Sun Yanhui , Ji Dazhi , Gai Haoxuan , Wang Xiangyu , Chen Mengcheng
Published: May 2021

Scaffolding serves as one construction trade with high importance. However, scaffolding suffers from low productivity and high cost in Australia. Activity Analysis is a continuous procedure of assessing and improving the amount of time that craft workers spend on one single construction trade, which is a functional method for monitoring onsite operation and analyzing conditions causing delays or productivity decline. Workface assessment is an initial step for activity analysis to manually record the time that workers spend on each activity category. This paper proposes a method of automatic scaffolding workface assessment using a 2D video camera to capture scaffolding activities and the model of key joints and skeleton extraction, as well as machine learning classifiers, were used for activity classification. Additionally, a case study was conducted and showed that the proposed method is a feasible and practical way for automatic scaffolding workface assessment.
Using Formal Grammars as Musical Genome
Authors: Albarracín-Molina David D. , Raglio Alfredo , Rivas-Ruiz Francisco , Vico Francisco J.
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we explore a generative music method that can compose atonal and tonal music in different styles. One of the main differences between regular engineering problems and artistic expressions is that goals and constraints are usually ill-defined in the latter case; in fact the rules here could or should be transgressed more regularly. For this reason, our approach does not use a pre-existing dataset to imitate or extract rules from. Instead, it uses formal grammars as a representation method than can retain just the basic features, common to any form of music (e.g., the appearance of rhythmic patterns, the evolution of tone or dynamics during the composition, etc.). Exploring different musical spaces is the responsibility of a program interface that translates musical specifications into the fitness function of a genetic algorithm. This function guides the evolution of those basic features enabling the emergence of novel content. In this study, we then assess the outcome of a particular music specification (guitar ballad) in a controlled real-world setup. As a result, the generated music can be considered similar to human-composed music from a perceptual perspective. This endorses our approach to tackle arts algorithmically, as it is able to produce novel content that complies with human expectations.
A Systematic Compact Model Parameter Calibration with Adaptive Pattern Search Algorithm
Authors: Chang Jeesoo , Hwang Sungmin , Park Kyungchul , Jang Taejin , Min Kyung-Kyu , Oh Min-Hye , Park Jonghyuk , Lee Jong-Ho , Park Byung-Gook
Published: May 2021

A systematic device-model calibration (extraction) methodology has been proposed to reduce parameter calibration time of advanced compact model for modern nano-scale semiconductor devices. The adaptive pattern search algorithm is a variant of the direct search method, which explore in the parameter space with adaptive searching step and direction. It is very straightforward, but powerful, in high dimensional optimization problem since adaptive step and direction are decided by simple computation. The proposed method iterates less but shows superior accuracy over the conventional method. It is possible to be applied to a behavioral or empirical model correspond to emerging devices, such as tunneling field-effect transistor (TFET) and negative capacitance field-effect transistor (NCFET) due to its universality in parameter calibration for the model accuracy.
Sizing and Sitting of DERs in Active Distribution Networks Incorporating Load Prevailing Uncertainties Using Probabilistic Approaches
Authors: Nematollahi Amin Foroughi , Shahinzadeh Hossein , Nafisi Hamed , Vahidi Behrooz , Amirat Yassine , Benbouzid Mohamed
Published: May 2021

In this study, a microgrid scheme encompassing photovoltaic panels, an energy storage system, and a diesel generator as a backup supply source is designed, and the optimal placement for installation is suggested. The main purpose of this microgrid is to meet the intrinsic demand without being supplied by the upstream network. Thus, the main objective in the design of the microgrid is to minimize the operational cost of microgrid’s sources subject to satisfy the loads by these sources. Therefore, the considered problem in this study is to determine the optimal size and placement for generation sources simultaneously for a microgrid with the objectives of minimization of cost of generation resources along with mitigation of power losses. In order to deal with uncertainties of PV generation and load forecasting, the lognormal distribution model and Gaussian process quantile regression (GPQR) approaches are employed. In order to solve the optimization problem, the lightning attachment procedure optimization (LAPO) and artificial bee colony (ABC) methods are employed, and the results are compared. The results imply the more effectiveness and priority of the LAPO approach in comparison with ABC in convergence speed and the accuracy of solution-finding.
Special Issue on Innovative Textiles in the Era of Circular Economy
Authors: Furferi Rocco
Published: May 2021

This work presents the Special Issue on Innovative Textiles in the Era of Circular Economy, published in the Applied Sciences Journal. Such an issue was introduced to promote papers related to the textile field aiming at the development of a range of sustainable processes, technologies, products, and actions for the improvement of human well-being and social equity. Works proposed in this Special Issue are aimed at significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological shortcomings related to the development of textile products.
Toxicity Testing by the Microbial Assay for Risk Assessment (MARA) in Relation to Trace Elements Content in King Bolete (Boletus edulis) Collected in Several Sites of Poland
Authors: Zubaidi Muhamad Alfiyan , Proch Jędrzej , Konieczny Piotr , Tomczyk Łukasz
Published: May 2021

Boletus edulis (King bolete) is one of the most consumed wild mushrooms on a global scale, but this is particularly the case in Poland. Several studies have reported that mushrooms accumulate many potentially toxic elements (PTEs) such as Hg, Pb, and Cd, which may lead to adverse effects. Therefore, in this preliminary study, an assessment of the potential of a microbial assay for risk assessment (MARA) for ecotoxicological testing of both dried samples of fruiting bodies of King bolete collected from several sites of Poland and water extracts of mushrooms being tested were analyzed. An evaluation of MARA response in Boletus edulis extracts was performed to identify their toxicity and then, using the same samples, instrumental determination of 10 elements (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) was performed. In general, the MARA responses indicated that the samples were only slightly toxic or nontoxic. Similarly, most of the PTEs were not detected in all dried samples of the fruiting bodies of King bolete. However, the analysis of digested samples (total content) proved that the elements’ content in water extracts was markedly lower than in dried fruit bodies. It implies that the MARA test corresponded better to the elements that are well extracted in water. Therefore, the MARA system can be applied for toxic identification if the targeted toxin is highly extracted in water. Further and more detailed research is still needed to develop reliable approach in order to evaluate the ecotoxicity in food-related bio-based raw materials using the MARA assay.
Effects of Colonic Fermentation Products of Polydextrose, Lactitol and Xylitol on Intestinal Barrier Repair In Vitro
Authors: Yue Yuan , Nielsen Ditte S. G. , Forssten Sofia D. , Knudsen Knud Erik B. , Saarinen Markku T. , Ouwehand Arthur C. , Purup Stig
Published: May 2021

Many functional food ingredients improve intestinal barrier function through their colonic fermentation products short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Effects of individual SCFAs have been well studied, but the effects of SCFA mixtures–colonic fermentation products have been rarely investigated. Therefore, this study used an EnteroMix semi-continuous model to simulate the colonic fermentation of three widely used food ingredients, polydextrose, lactitol and xylitol in vitro, and investigated the effects of their fermentation products on impaired colonic epithelial barrier function through a mucus-secreting human HT29-MTX-E12 cell model. Fermentation of polydextrose and lactitol produced mainly acetate, while fermentation of xylitol produced mainly butyrate and resulted in a much higher butyrate proportion. All fermentation products significantly improved intestinal barrier repairing as measured by increased transepithelial electrical resistance and decreased paracellular permeability. Among these, xylitol fermentation products exhibited better repairing effects than that of polydextrose and lactitol. Correlation analysis showed that the repairing effects were attribute to butyrate but not acetate or propionate, implying that in the fermentation products butyrate may play a major role in improving intestinal barrier function. Our results suggest that functional food ingredients that mainly produce butyrate during fermentation may be of more value for improving gut health related to chronic diseases.
Decontamination of Food Packages from SARS-CoV-2 RNA with a Cold Plasma-Assisted System
Authors: Capelli Filippo , Tappi Silvia , Gritti Tommaso , de Aguiar Saldanha Pinheiro Ana Cristina , Laurita Romolo , Tylewicz Urszula , Spataro Francesco , Braschi Giacomo , Lanciotti Rosalba , Gómez Galindo Federico , Siracusa Valentina , Romani Santina , Gherardi Matteo , Colombo Vittorio , Sambri Vittorio , Rocculi Pietro
Published: May 2021

The accidental contamination of food and food packaging surfaces with SARS-CoV-2 is of increasing concern among scientists and consumers, particularly in relation to fresh foods that are consumed without further cooking. The use of chemical sanitizers is often not suitable for these kinds of commodities; therefore, a non-thermal sanitation technology could help to increase safety in relation to the food supply chain. Cold plasma has proven to be a promising strategy for virus inactivation. This research is aimed at evaluating the ability of a cold plasma sanitation system to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 RNA on packaged foods. Two different plastic materials were investigated and subjected to 5- and 10-min exposure to plasma after experimental inoculum of the RNA. In addition to viral degradation, possible changes in the performance of the materials were evaluated. Shelf-life of the foods, after exposure of the packages to plasma, was also investigated. Results showed that 10 min of exposure was sufficient to almost completely eliminate the viral RNA from package surfaces. The treatment did not produce any significant variation in packaging material performance or the shelf-life of the tested packaged products, indicating the potentiality of this treatment for the decontamination of packaged products.
Real-Time Physical Prototyping Tool Design Based on Shape-Changing Display
Authors: Ban Seonghoon , Hyun Kyung Hoon
Published: May 2021

Prototyping during the early design phases has become an essential part of conceptualization and product development. Recent advances in digital design tools have enabled active user participation in the design process and direct interaction with prospective products. Despite the rapid advancements in prototyping, immediate prototyping methods remain unavailable. Creating a working prototype and evaluating its user interactions is an effective design strategy. If a prototype can be created immediately for designers to sensorially experience a model, they can test and simulate various design ideas with immediate user feedback in the early design phases. Therefore, this paper aims to develop a real-time prototyping method that enables designers to evaluate a physical model of a design. Accordingly, we demonstrated a complete design and proof of concept for closed surface-based shape-changing displays (SCDs) that can assist designers in realizing conceptual design development. Experiments were conducted to verify the robustness and accuracy of the shapes displayed using the proposed SCD. Simulation-experiment results reveal that complex organic shapes (rabbits or human faces) and man-made shapes (chairs, cars, and buildings) could be accurately reconstructed using the proposed closed surface-based SCD with numerous actuators. Furthermore, an experiment with a physical SCD prototype (2V icosphere) demonstrated accurate reconstruction of the optimized shapes of a digital model.
s-Guard: Multisensor Embedded Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Bruxism Real-Time Data Transmission Intraoral Appliance Device
Authors: Lee Seo-Joon , Jeong Il-Do , Kim Eo-Bin , Park Jin-Young , Jo In-Hwan , Han Jae-Hoon , Jung Tae-Young
Published: May 2021

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and bruxism are widely recognized as common forms of sleep obstruction in modern everyday life. The most representative and conventional treatment method using continuous positive airway pressure has a critical problem owing to its high inconvenience. A relatively modern alternative solution is the mandibular advancement device, but it still has no monitoring function for patient compliance. Therefore, this research proposes Sleep Guard (s-Guard), a multisensor embedded OSA monitoring intraoral appliance device based on Internet-of-Things technology. Relevant health information monitoring sensors, such as temperature, gyroscope, accelerometer, and SpO2 sensors, were embedded for real-time health monitoring. Results showed an average transmission speed of 91,870.19 bytes per second, a successful connection check rate of 100%, and a wireless data stream error rate of 0.1%. Overall, the actual speed, connection, and error test results revealed the robust functioning of s-Guard in real monitoring scenarios. This research is envisioned to greatly enhance patient compliance when treating OSA or bruxism and is also expected to motivate other sensors to be embedded in our proposed model for the application of other disease areas.
Human Pose Detection for Robotic-Assisted and Rehabilitation Environments
Authors: Hernández Óscar G. , Morell Vicente , Ramon José L. , Jara Carlos A.
Published: May 2021

Assistance and rehabilitation robotic platforms must have precise sensory systems for human–robot interaction. Therefore, human pose estimation is a current topic of research, especially for the safety of human–robot collaboration and the evaluation of human biomarkers. Within this field of research, the evaluation of the low-cost marker-less human pose estimators of OpenPose and Detectron 2 has received much attention for their diversity of applications, such as surveillance, sports, videogames, and assessment in human motor rehabilitation. This work aimed to evaluate and compare the angles in the elbow and shoulder joints estimated by OpenPose and Detectron 2 during four typical upper-limb rehabilitation exercises: elbow side flexion, elbow flexion, shoulder extension, and shoulder abduction. A setup of two Kinect 2 RGBD cameras was used to obtain the ground truth of the joint and skeleton estimations during the different exercises. Finally, we provided a numerical comparison (RMSE and MAE) among the angle measurements obtained with OpenPose, Detectron 2, and the ground truth. The results showed how OpenPose outperforms Detectron 2 in these types of applications.
Impact of Minutiae Errors in Latent Fingerprint Identification: Assessment and Prediction
Authors: Loyola-González Octavio , Ferreira Mehnert Emilio Francisco , Morales Aythami , Fierrez Julian , Medina-Pérez Miguel Angel , Monroy Raúl
Published: May 2021

We study the impact of minutiae errors in the performance of latent fingerprint identification systems. We perform several experiments in which we remove ground-truth minutiae from latent fingerprints and evaluate the effects on matching score and rank-n identification using two different matchers and the popular NIST SD27 dataset. We observe how missing even one minutia from a fingerprint can have a significant negative impact on the identification performance. Our experimental results show that a fingerprint which has a top rank can be demoted to a bottom rank when two or more minutiae are missed. From our experimental results, we have noticed that some minutiae are more critical than others to correctly identify a latent fingerprint. Based on this finding, we have created a dataset to train several machine learning models trying to predict the impact of each minutia in the matching score of a fingerprint identification system. Finally, our best-trained model can successfully predict if a minutia will increase or decrease the matching score of a latent fingerprint.
The Role of Cholinesterases in Post-Exercise HRV Recovery in University Volleyball Players
Authors: Hoyos-Flores José Raúl , Rangel-Colmenero Blanca R. , Alonso-Ramos Zeltzin N. , García-Dávila Myriam Z. , Cruz-Castruita Rosa M. , Naranjo-Orellana José , Hernández-Cruz Germán
Published: May 2021

Some studies show interest in measuring heart rate variability (HRV) during post-exercise recovery. It is known that the parasympathetic system is relevant during this process, where one of the factors of this modulation is the interaction of acetylcholine and cholinesterases (ChE). However, the behavior of ChE and its relationship during recovery is little known; therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the behavior of ChE and its relationship with recovery evaluated in HRV indicators in volleyball players. An exercise protocol with long-term and intermittent high-intensity phases was applied in nine volleyball players. HRV measurements were made, and blood samples were drawn to evaluate the ChE before exercise and after 24 and 48 h post-exercise. The results show a modification of the variables after exercises with respect to the baseline values (ChE: 1818.4 ± 588.75 to 2218.78 ± 1101.58; RMSSD: 42.64 ± 12.86 to 17.72 ± 12.55 (p < 0.05); SS: 8.76 ± 1.93 to 21.93 ± 10.05 (p < 0.01); S/PS Ratio: 0.32 ± 0.14 to 3.26 ± 3.28 (p < 0.01)), as well as recovery after 24 and 48 h with respect to postexercise (ChE: 1608.81 ± 546.88 (p < 0.05) and 1454.54 ± 580.45 (p < 0.01); RMSSD: 43.83 ± 24.50 and 46.18 ± 33.22 (p < 0.01); SS; 10.93 ± 5.16 and 11.86 ± 4.32 (p < 0.01); S/PS Ratio: 0.46 ± 0.32 and 0.50 ± 0.28 (p < 0.01)). ChE correlations (p < 0.001) were found with moderate (SS: r = 0.465) and large (RMSSD: r = −0.654; S/PS Ratio: r = 0.666) HRV indexes. In conclusion, ChE modifications are related to changes in HRV showing a very similar behavior in the case of the study subjects.
Special Issue on “Recent Advances in Indoor Localization Systems and Technologies”
Authors: Simon Gyula , Sujbert László
Published: May 2021

Despite the enormous technical progress seen in the past few years, the maturity of indoor localization technologies has not yet reached the level of GNSS solutions. The 23 selected papers in this special issue present recent advances and new developments in indoor localization systems and technologies, proposing novel or improved methods with increased performance, providing insight into various aspects of quality control, and also introducing some unorthodox positioning methods.
Statistical Indoor Exclusion Zone Analysis by Investigating Electromagnetic Fields inside a Nuclear Power Plant
Authors: Jang Doyoung , Youn Sangwoon , Lee Jun-Yong , Choo Hosung
Published: May 2021

This article investigates a statistical indoor exclusion zone (EZ) that can be efficiently applied to a nuclear power plant (NPP) by examining electromagnetic fields inside the actual NPP. To obtain the statistical indoor EZ, the indoor environment of the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) simulator room is modeled using the Wireless InSite commercial electromagnetic simulation software. The indoor space around the transmitting antenna is classified as multiple observation regions, and the EZ boundaries of each region are independently defined within each separate observation region. The EZ boundaries are then obtained using a margined regression model, which makes it possible to determine a reasonable boundary of the statistical indoor EZ. To validate the statistical indoor EZ, the received power inside the KINS simulator room is then measured, which agrees well with the simulated results. The results demonstrate that the proposed statistical indoor EZ can be properly obtained not only from the simulation data but also from the measurement data.
Implementation of Robust Satellite Techniques for Volcanoes on ASTER Data under the Google Earth Engine Platform
Authors: Genzano Nicola , Marchese Francesco , Neri Marco , Pergola Nicola , Tramutoli Valerio
Published: May 2021

The RST (Robust Satellite Techniques) approach is a multi-temporal scheme of satellite data analysis widely used to investigate and monitor thermal volcanic activity from space through high temporal resolution data from sensors such as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI). In this work, we present the results of the preliminary RST algorithm implementation to thermal infrared (TIR) data, at 90 m spatial resolution, from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER). Results achieved under the Google Earth Engine (GEE) environment, by analyzing 20 years of satellite observations over three active volcanoes (i.e., Etna, Shishaldin and Shinmoedake) located in different geographic areas, show that the RST-based system, hereafter named RASTer, detected a higher (around 25% more) number of thermal anomalies than the well-established ASTER Volcano Archive (AVA). Despite the availability of a less populated dataset than other sensors, the RST implementation on ASTER data guarantees an efficient identification and mapping of volcanic thermal features even of a low intensity level. To improve the temporal continuity of the active volcanoes monitoring, the possibility of exploiting RASTer is here addressed, in the perspective of an operational multi-satellite observing system. The latter could include mid-high spatial resolution satellite data (e.g., Sentinel-2/MSI, Landsat-8/OLI), as well as those at higher-temporal (lower-spatial) resolution (e.g., EOS/MODIS, Suomi-NPP/VIIRS, Sentinel-3/SLSTR), for which RASTer could provide useful algorithm’s validation and training dataset.
Quantitative GIS Model for Evaluating the Favorability of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Culture for Suitable Varieties in Romania: Case Study Bihor County
Authors: Brejea Radu , Rosca Sanda , Taut Florian Dumitru , Bilașco Ștefan , Domuța Cristian , Borza Ioana Maria
Published: May 2021

The adaptation measures of agricultural crops to current climate change are also reflected at the level of land-use planning for species with resistance to rainfall shortages and periods of prolonged droughts. The present paper aimed at the spatial modeling of land favorability for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) within Bihor county, which is located in Northwest Romania. This was performed by using GIS spatial analysis techniques, particularly the technique of rating agricultural plots by using as a modeling basis the synthetic climate indicators, soil indices, as well as topographic characteristics, which are considered relevant for the studied species. As a result of the modeling process, agricultural plots that are favorable for the alfalfa culture were identified. A comparative analysis of the profit was also carried out both for the green and dry masses of eight types of alfalfa, which are suitable for the national environmental conditions. Land favorability modeling for alfalfa cultivation will be carried out by using GIS spatial analysis techniques, which allow the use of large databases while maintaining the necessary degree of detail, and they make possible the correlations between factors and production estimated per hectare, which are correlations that are characteristic for the environmental factors. Thus, for the studied territory, the best green alfalfa production was identified as being obtained from the Carinca and Daniela varieties, whereas the Mihaela and Teodora varieties were noticed to provide the best dry alfalfa production.
Hepatotoxicity Caused by Repeated and Subchronic Pulmonary Exposure to Low-Level Vinyl Chloride in Mice
Authors: Chang Li-Te , Lee Yueh-Lun , Yuan Tzu-Hsuen , Chang Jer-Hwa , Chang Ta-Yuan , Lee Chii-Hong , Ho Kin-Fai , Chuang Hsiao-Chi
Published: May 2021

Vinyl chloride (VC) is classified as a group 1 carcinogen to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and inhalation is considered to be an important route of occupational exposure. In addition, increasing numbers of studies have observed adverse health effects in people living in the vicinity of petrochemical complexes. The objective of this study was to investigate the adverse in vivo health effects on the lungs and liver caused by pulmonary exposure to low-level VC. BALB/c mice were repeatedly intranasally administrated 50 µL/mouse VC at 0, 1, and 200 ng/mL (5 days/week) for 1, 2, and 3 weeks. We observed that exposure to 1 and 200 ng/mL VC significantly increased the tidal volume (μL). Dynamic compliance (mL/cmH2O) significantly decreased after exposure to 200 ng/mL VC for 3 weeks. Total protein, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and interleukin (IL)-6 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) significantly increased after exposure to 200 ng/mL VC for 2 and/or 3 weeks. Significant decreases in 8-isoprostane and caspase-3 and an increase in IL-6 in the lungs were found after VC exposure for 2 and/or 3 weeks. We observed that aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALKP), albumin (ALB), and globulin (GLOB) had significantly increased after three weeks of VC exposure, whereas the ALB/GLOB ratio had significantly decreased after 3 weeks of exposure to VC. IL-6 in the liver increased after exposure to 1 ng/mL VC, but decreased after exposure to 200 ng/mL. IL-1β in the liver significantly decreased following exposure to 200 ng/mL VC, whereas tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and caspase-3 significantly increased. Hepatic inflammatory infiltration was confirmed by histological observations. In conclusion, sub-chronic and repeated exposure to low levels of VC can cause lung and liver toxicity in vivo. Attention should be paid to all situations where humans are frequently exposed to elevated VC levels such as workplaces or residents living in the vicinity of petrochemical complexes.
An Information-Theoretic Framework for Optimal Design: Analysis of Protocols for Estimating Soft Tissue Parameters in Biaxial Experiments
Authors: Aggarwal Ankush , Lombardi Damiano , Pant Sanjay
Published: May 2021

A new framework for optimal design based on the information-theoretic measures of mutual information, conditional mutual information and their combination is proposed. The framework is tested on the analysis of protocols—a combination of angles along which strain measurements can be acquired—in a biaxial experiment of soft tissues for the estimation of hyperelastic constitutive model parameters. The proposed framework considers the information gain about the parameters from the experiment as the key criterion to be maximised, which can be directly used for optimal design. Information gain is computed through k-nearest neighbour algorithms applied to the joint samples of the parameters and measurements produced by the forward and observation models. For biaxial experiments, the results show that low angles have a relatively low information content compared to high angles. The results also show that a smaller number of angles with suitably chosen combinations can result in higher information gains when compared to a larger number of angles which are poorly combined. Finally, it is shown that the proposed framework is consistent with classical approaches, particularly D-optimal design.
The TSPO Ligands MGV-1 and 2-Cl-MGV-1 Differentially Inhibit the Cigarette Smoke-Induced Cytotoxicity to H1299 Lung Cancer Cells
Authors: Zeineh Nidal , Nagler Rafael M. , Gabay Martin , Obeid Fadi , Kahana Meygal , Weizman Abraham , Gavish Moshe
Published: May 2021

TSPO is involved in cigarette smoke (CS)-induced cellular toxicity, which may result in oral and pulmonary diseases and lung cancer. H1299 lung cancer cells were exposed directly to CS. The H1299 cells were pretreated with our TSPO ligands MGV-1 and 2-Cl-MGV-1 (Ki = 825 nM for both) at a concentration of 25 µM 24 h prior to CS exposure. Cell death and apoptotic markers were measured, in addition to TSPO expression levels, ATP synthase activity, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), cAMP and LDH levels. Pretreatment with MGV-1 and 2-Cl-MGV-1 (25 µM), 24 h prior to CS exposure, differentially attenuated the CS-induced cellular insult as well as cell death in H1299 lung cancer cells. These protective effects included prevention of ATP synthase reversal, ROS generation, depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane and elevation in LDH. The preventive efficacy of 2-Cl-MGV-1 was superior to that achieved by MGV-1. Both ligands did not prevent the elevation in cAMP. These findings may indicate a mild protective effect of these TSPO ligands in CS-related pulmonary and keratinocyte cellular pathology.
Sublingual AKBA Exerts Antidepressant Effects in the Aβ-Treated Mouse Model
Authors: Morgese Maria Grazia , Bove Maria , Francavilla Matteo , Schiavone Stefania , Dimonte Stefania , Colia Anna Laura , Bevilacqua Matteo , Trabace Luigia , Tucci Paolo
Published: May 2021

The 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA) is the most active compound of Boswellia serrata proposed for treating neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), characterized in its early phase by alteration in mood. Accordingly, we have previously demonstrated that an intracerebroventricular injection of soluble amyloid beta 1-42 (Aβ) peptide evokes a depressive-like phenotype in rats. We tested the protective effects of AKBA in the mouse model of an Aβ-induced depressive-like phenotype. We evaluated the depressive-like behavior by using the tail suspension test (TST) and the splash test (ST). Behavioral analyses were accompanied by neurochemical quantifications, such as glutamate (GLU), kynurenine (KYN) and monoamines, and by biochemical measurements, such as glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP), CD11b and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), in mice prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HIPP). AKBA prevented the depressive-like behaviors induced by Aβ administration, since we recorded a reduction in latency to initiate self-care and total time spent to perform self-care in the ST and reduced time of immobility in the TST. Likewise, the increase in GLU and KYN levels in PFC and HIPP induced by the peptide injection were reverted by AKBA administration, as well as the displayed increase in levels of GFAP and NF-kB in both PFC and HIPP, but not in CD11b. Therefore, AKBA might represent a food supplement suitable as an adjuvant for therapy of depression in early-stage AD.
Molecular Targets and Biological Functions of cAMP Signaling in Arabidopsis
Authors: Xu Ruqiang , Guo Yanhui , Peng Song , Liu Jinrui , Li Panyu , Jia Wenjing , Zhao Junheng
Published: May 2021

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) is a pivotal signaling molecule existing in almost all living organisms. However, the mechanism of cAMP signaling in plants remains very poorly understood. Here, we employ the engineered activity of soluble adenylate cyclase to induce cellular cAMP elevation in Arabidopsis thaliana plants and identify 427 cAMP-responsive genes (CRGs) through RNA-seq analysis. Induction of cellular cAMP elevation inhibits seed germination, disturbs phytohormone contents, promotes leaf senescence, impairs ethylene response, and compromises salt stress tolerance and pathogen resistance. A set of 62 transcription factors are among the CRGs, supporting a prominent role of cAMP in transcriptional regulation. The CRGs are significantly overrepresented in the pathways of plant hormone signal transduction, MAPK signaling, and diterpenoid biosynthesis, but they are also implicated in lipid, sugar, K+, nitrate signaling, and beyond. Our results provide a basic framework of cAMP signaling for the community to explore. The regulatory roles of cAMP signaling in plant plasticity are discussed.