bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scaling up a Gas-Phase Process for Converting Glycerol to Propane
Authors: Hulteberg Christian , Leveau Andreas
Published: September 2020

It is of interest to study not only the fundamental behavior of catalysts and reactors but also to ensure that they can be scaled up in size. This paper investigates the scale-up of a glycerol-to-propane process starting from fundamental laboratory data from micro-reactor testing to the kilogram scale. The process is described in detail and consist of the use of design documents and computer simulations for determining the sizes of the unit operations involved. The final design included a vaporizer section for a glycerol/water mixture, four reactors in tandem with subsequent dehydration and hydrogenation reactions, a flash vessel to separate the excess hydrogen used, and a compressor for recycling the excess hydrogen with additional light components. The system was commissioned in a linear fashion, which is described, and operated for more than 3000 h and more than 1000 h in the final operating mode including recycle. The major results were that no catalyst deactivation was apparent aside from the slow build-up of carbonaceous material in the first dehydration reactor. That the system design calculations proved to be quite close to the results achieved and that the data generated is believed to be sufficient for up-scaling the process into the 1000 to 10,000 tonnes-per-annum range.
Gene Expression Comparison between Sézary Syndrome and Lymphocytic-Variant Hypereosinophilic Syndrome Refines Biomarkers for Sézary Syndrome
Authors: Moerman-Herzog Andrea , Mehdi Syed J. , Wong Henry K.
Published: August 2020

Sézary syndrome (SS), an aggressive cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) with poor prognosis, is characterized by the clinical hallmarks of circulating malignant T cells, erythroderma and lymphadenopathy. However, highly variable clinical skin manifestations and similarities with benign mimickers can lead to significant diagnostic delay and inappropriate therapy that can lead to disease progression and mortality. SS has been the focus of numerous transcriptomic-profiling studies to identify sensitive and specific diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Benign inflammatory disease controls (e.g., psoriasis, atopic dermatitis) have served to identify chronic inflammatory phenotypes in gene expression profiles, but provide limited insight into the lymphoproliferative and oncogenic roles of abnormal gene expression in SS. This perspective was recently clarified by a transcriptome meta-analysis comparing SS and lymphocytic-variant hypereosinophilic syndrome, a benign yet often clonal T-cell lymphoproliferation, with clinical features similar to SS. Here we review the rationale for selecting lymphocytic-variant hypereosinophilic syndrome (L-HES) as a disease control for SS, and discuss differentially expressed genes that may distinguish benign from malignant lymphoproliferative phenotypes, including additional context from prior gene expression studies to improve understanding of genes important in SS.
Microstructure and Properties of the AlCrSi(O)N Tool Coatings by Arc Ion Plating
Authors: Liu Yanmei , Wang Tie-Gang , Lin Wei , Zhu Qiang , Yan Bing , Hou Xiang
Published: August 2020

Aluminum rich nitride coatings are often used to protect cutting tools and prolong their service life. In this work, a preoxidation technique and duplex coating design were combined to further improve the bearing capacity and heat resistance of cutting tools. The Al-Cr-Si-N, Al-Cr-Si-O-N, and Al-Cr-Si-N/Al-Cr-Si-O-N duplex coatings were developed by arc ion plating, respectively. The morphology, phase constituents, mechanical and tribological properties of the coatings were characterized and tested by SEM, XRD, a micro-hardness tester, scratch tester, and tribometer. The results showed the coating became more compact and smoother after oxygen doping. However, the Al-Cr-Si-N coating presented the best mechanical properties and tribological behaviors. Its hardness and critical load showed the highest values, which were about 4000 HV and 81 N, respectively. A friction coefficient of 0.67 and wear rate of 1.4 × 10−3 μm3/N·mm were also the lowest values in the study. The three coatings were deposited on the same solid carbide end mills and performed the cutting tests under same conditions. By comparison, the Al-Cr-Si-N coated tool presented the longest tool life and minimum cutting force when cutting C1045 medium-carbon steel. After 90 min of dry milling, the width of the flank wear band (VB) of the AlCrSiN coated tool reached 135 μm, which was much lower than that of the other two coated tools.
Magnetic Field Effect on Water Surface Tension in Aspect of Glass and Mica Wettability
Authors: Szcześ Aleksandra , Chibowski Emil , Rzeźnik Emilia
Published: September 2020

It was reported in many papers that the magnetic field (MF) affects properties of water, and, among others, its surface tension. Thus, it should be reflected in changes of the wetting contact angle of a water droplet deposited on the solid surface. In this study, the water contact angles were measured on the glass and mica surface. The water was first exposed to the static magnetic field (MF) (15 mT or 0.27 T) for 1, 5, and 10 min under dynamic conditions. Then applying the van Oss et al. approach (LWAB), it was found that the MF effect is reflected in the changes of the calculated acid-base components of the solids, especially the electron donor parameter. However, the total surface free energy of the solids remained practically unchanged. Moreover, the apparent surface free energy of the solids calculated from the water contact angle hysteresis (CAH), i.e., the difference between the advancing and receding contact angles, changes in the same way as the electron donor parameter does. Since the solid surfaces were not magnetically treated, the acid-base components, which are mainly results from hydrogen bonding interactions, may be indirect evidence of the water structure changed by the MF action. All of the mentioned changes are greater for the glass than for a more hydrophilic mica surface and depend upon the time of MF exposure and its strength. The magnetic field effect on the changes of the surface-free energy parameters for the mica and glass is opposite what may be due to the difference in the surface hydrophilicity. A “magnetic memory” effect was also found. The effect of MF on the water surface tension depends on the circulation time. It increases with the field duration. Moreover, the changes in the work of water adhesion indicate the possibility of solid surface wettability changes by the external MF water treatment. However, these are preliminary results that need further confirmation by other techniques.
An Oracle-Based On-Chain Privacy
Authors: Chen Yu-Jen , Wu Ja-Ling , Hsieh Yung-Chen , Hsueh Chih-Wen
Published: August 2020

In this work, we demonstrate how the blockchain and the off-chain storage interact via Oracle-based mechanisms, which build an effective connection between a distributed database and real assets. For demonstration purposes, smart contracts were drawn up to deal with two different applications. Due to the characteristics of the blockchain, we may still encounter severe privacy issues, since the data stored on the blockchain are exposed to the public. The proposed scheme provides a general solution for resolving the above-mentioned privacy issue; that is, we try to protect the on-chain privacy of the sensitive data by using homomorphic encryption techniques. Specifically, we constructed a secure comparison protocol that can check the correctness of a logic function directly in the encrypted domain. By using the proposed access control contract and the secure comparison protocol, one can carry out sensitive data-dependent smart contract operations without revealing the data themselves.
Recent Progress in Lithium Niobate
Authors: Jackson Robert A. , Szaller Zsuzsanna
Published: September 2020

This special issue features eight papers which cover the recent developments in research on lithium niobate. Papers are divided into three groups based on their topic.
Water Mite Diversity (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Parasitengonina: Hydrachnidiae) from Karst Ecosystems in Southern of Mexico: A Barcoding Approach
Authors: Montes-Ortiz Lucia , Elías-Gutiérrez Manuel
Published: August 2020

Water mites represent the most diverse and abundant group of Arachnida in freshwater ecosystems, with about 6000 species described; however, it is estimated that this number represents only 30% of the total expected species. Despite having strong biotic interactions with their community and having the potential to be exceptional bioindicators, they are frequently excluded from studies of water quality or ecology, due to actual and perceived difficulties of taxonomic identification in this group. The objective of this study is to use the variations in the sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI), also known as the DNA barcodes region, as a tool to assess the diversity of water mites at 24 sites in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. We found 77 genetic groups or putative species corresponding to 18 genera: Arrenurus, Atractides, Centrolimnesia, Eylais, Geayia, Hydrodroma, Hydryphantes, Hygrobates, Koenikea, Krendowskia, Limnesia, Limnochares, Mamersellides, Mideopsis, Neumania, Piona, Torrenticola, and Unionicola. This was significant, since there are only 35 species described for this region. Furthermore, this molecular information has allowed us to infer that there are characteristic assemblies per site. These data will facilitate the incorporation of water mites in different studies while the curatorial work continues to assign a Linnaean name.
High-Resolution Surface Water Classifications of the Xingu River, Brazil, Pre and Post Operationalization of the Belo Monte Hydropower Complex
Authors: Kalacska Margaret , Lucanus Oliver , Sousa Leandro , Arroyo-Mora J. Pablo
Published: August 2020

We describe a new high spatial resolution surface water classification dataset generated for the Xingu river, Brazil, from its confluence with the Iriri river to the Pimental dam prior to construction of the Belo Monte hydropower complex, and after its operationalization. This river is well-known for its exceptionally high diversity and endemism in ichthyofauna. Pre-existing datasets generated from moderate resolution satellite imagery (e.g., 30 m) do not adequately capture the extent of the river. Accurate measurements of water extent are important for a range of applications utilizing surface water data, including greenhouse gas emission estimation, land cover change mapping, and habitat loss/change estimates, among others. We generated the new classifications from RapidEye imagery (5 m pixel size) for 2011 and PlanteScope imagery (3 m pixel size) for 2019 using a Geographic Object Based Image Analysis (GEOBIA) approach.
Beyond Uterine Natural Killer Cell Numbers in Unexplained Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: Combined Analysis of CD45, CD56, CD16, CD57, and CD138
Authors: Chiokadze Maia , Bär Christin , Pastuschek Jana , Dons’koi Boris V. , Khazhylenko Kseniia G. , Schleußner Ekkehard , Markert Udo R. , Favaro Rodolfo R.
Published: August 2020

Changes in the number and cytotoxic potential of uterine Natural Killer (uNK) cells have been associated with reduced fertility. To provide a better characterization of immunophenotypes in the endometrium of women with uRPL (unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss), we examined the applicability of a set of five immune cell markers. The concentration (cells/mm2) of CD45+ leukocytes, CD56+ uNK cells, and CD138+ plasma cells as well as of CD16+ and CD57+ cells, which indicate high cytotoxic uNK cells, were assessed by immunohistochemistry in endometrial biopsies from 61 uRPL patients and 10 controls. Control fertile endometria presented 90–300 CD56+ uNK cells/mm2. uRPL cases were classified in subgroups of low (uRPL-CD56low < 90 cells/mm2), normal (uRPL-CD56normal 90–300 cells/mm2), and high uNK cell counts (uRPL-CD56high > 300 cells/mm2). Some cases from the uRPL-CD56low and uRPL-CD56normal subgroups showed elevated proportions of cytotoxic CD16+ and CD57+ cells in relation to CD56+ cells. In the uRPL-CD56high subgroup, the CD57/CD56 ratio was reduced in most samples and the CD16/CD56 ratio was unaltered. Analysis of CD138 excluded the influence of chronic endometritis on these observations. Our results reinforce a link between uRPL and a dysfunctional endometrial environment associated with distinct immune cell profiles.
Diagnostic Balance Tests for Assessing Risk of Falls and Distinguishing Older Adult Fallers and Non-Fallers: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kozinc Žiga , Löfler Stefan , Hofer Christian , Carraro Ugo , Šarabon Nejc
Published: September 2020

Falls are a major cause of injury and morbidity in older adults. To reduce the incidence of falls, a systematic assessment of the risk of falling is of paramount importance. The purpose of this systematic review was to provide a comprehensive comparison of the diagnostic balance tests used to predict falls and for distinguishing older adults with and without a history of falls. We conducted a systematic review of the studies in which instrumented (force plate body sway assessment) or other non-instrumented balance tests were used. We analyzed the data from 19 prospective and 48 retrospective/case-control studies. Among the non-instrumented tests, the single-leg stance test appears to be the most promising for discrimination between fallers and non-fallers. In terms of body sway measures, the center-of-pressure area was most consistently associated with falls. No evidence was found for increased benefit of the body sway test when cognitive tasks were added, or the vision was eliminated. While our analyses are limited due to the unbalanced representation of different test and outcome measures across studies, we can recommend the single-leg test for the assessment of the risk of falling, and the measurements of body sway for a more comprehensive assessment.
A New Adaptive Entropy Portfolio Selection Model
Authors: Song Ruidi , Chan Yue
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we propose an adaptive entropy model (AEM), which incorporates the entropy measurement and the adaptability into the conventional Markowitz’s mean-variance model (MVM). We evaluate the performance of AEM, based on several portfolio performance indicators using the five-year Shanghai Stock Exchange 50 (SSE50) index constituent stocks data set. Our outcomes show, compared with the traditional portfolio selection model, that AEM tends to make our investments more decentralized and hence helps to neutralize unsystematic risks. Due to the existence of self-adaptation, AEM turns out to be more adaptable to market fluctuations and helps to maintain the balance between the decentralized and concentrated investments in order to meet investors’ expectations. Our model applies equally well to portfolio optimizations for other financial markets.
Synthesis and Characterization of Aero-Eutectic Graphite Obtained by Solidification and Its Application in Energy Storage: Cathodes for Lithium Oxygen Batteries
Authors: Gregorutti Ricardo Walter , Tesio Alvaro Yamil , Gómez-Cámer Juan Luis , Roviglione Alicia Norma
Published: September 2020

Aero-eutectic graphite can be defined as a new light material with hierarchically structured porosity. It is obtained from the solidification of gray cast irons, followed by the dissolution of the ferrous matrix by an acidic sequence. The result is a continuous and interconnected network of graphite sheets with varied dimensions randomly oriented. X-ray diffraction characterization has revealed graphite crystallographic planes (002), (100), (101), (102) and (004), while the surface area measured by BET and Langmuir methods has been determined in the order of 90 m2 g−1 and 336 m2 g−1, respectively. The process of obtaining eutectic aero-graphite also allows the deposit of Cu nanofilms and TiC particles. Aero-eutectic graphite has been tested as cathode in Li–O2 batteries as it has been prepared, without the addition of binders or conductive carbons, showing an appropriate contact with the electrolyte, so that the oxygen reduction and evolution reactions may develop satisfactorily. In the discharge-charge galvanostatic tests, the battery accomplishes 20 complete cycles with area capacity limited to 1.2 mAh cm−2.
Gallium Nitride Normally Off MOSFET Using Dual-Metal-Gate Structure for the Improvement in Current Drivability
Authors: Yoon Young Jun , Lee Jae Sang , Kim Dong-Seok , Lee Jung-Hee , Kang In Man
Published: August 2020

A gallium nitride (GaN)-based normally off metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) using a dual-metal-gate (DMG) structure was proposed and fabricated to improve current drivability. Normally off operation with a high Vth of 2.3 V was obtained using a Cl2/BCl3-based recess etching process. The DMG structure was employed to improve current characteristics, which can be degraded by recess etching. The ID and gm of a DMG-based device with nickel (Ni)-aluminum (Al) were improved by 42.1% and 30.9%, respectively, in comparison to the performances of a single-metal-gate-based device with Ni because the DMG structure increased electron velocity in the channel region. This demonstrates that the DMG structure with a large work-function difference significantly improves the carrier transport efficiency. GaN-based recessed-gate MOSFETs based on the DMG structure hold promising potentials for high-efficiency power devices.
Modelling Current and Future Potential Habitats for Plantations of Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden and E. dunnii Maiden in Uruguay
Authors: Resquin Fernando , Duque-Lazo Joaquín , Acosta-Muñoz Cristina , Rachid-Casnati Cecilia , Carrasco-Letelier Leonidas , Navarro-Cerrillo Rafael M.
Published: August 2020

Eucalyptus grandis and E. dunnii have high productive potential in the South of Brazil, Uruguay, and central Argentina. This is based on the similarity of the climate and soil of these areas, which form an eco-region called Campos. However, previous results show that these species have differences in their distribution caused by the prioritization of Uruguayan soils for forestry, explained by the particular conditions of each site. In this study, the site variables (climate, soil, and topography) that better explain the distribution of both species were identified, and prediction models of current and future distribution were adjusted for different climate change scenarios (years 2050 and 2070). The distribution of E. grandis was associated with soil parameters, whereas for E. dunnii a greater effect of the climatic variables was observed. The ensemble biomod2 model was the most precise with regard to predicting the habitat for both species with respect to the simple models evaluated. For E. dunnii, the average values of the AUC, Kappa, and TSS index were 0.98, 0.88, and 0.77, respectively. For E. grandis, their values were 0.97, 0.86, and 0.80, respectively. In the projections of climatic change, the distribution of E. grandis occurrence remains practically unchanged, even in the scenarios of temperature increase. However, current distribution of E. dunnii shows high susceptibility in a scenario of increased temperature, to the point that most of the area currently planted may be at risk. Our results might be useful to political government and foresters for decision making in terms of future planted areas.
Comparative Survey of Morphological Variations and Plastid Genome Sequencing Reveals Phylogenetic Divergence between Four Endemic Ilex Species
Authors: Su Tao , Zhang Mengru , Shan Zhenyu , Li Xiaodong , Zhou Biyao , Wu Han , Han Mei
Published: September 2020

Holly (Ilex L.), from the monogeneric Aquifoliaceae, is a woody dioecious genus cultivated as pharmaceutical and culinary plants, ornamentals, and industrial materials. With distinctive leaf morphology and growth habitats, but uniform reproductive organs (flowers and fruits), the evolutionary relationships of Ilex remain an enigma. To date, few contrast analyses have been conducted on morphology and molecular patterns in Ilex. Here, the different phenotypic traits of four endemic Ilex species (I. latifolia, I. suaveolens, I. viridis, and I. micrococca) on Mount Huangshan, China, were surveyed through an anatomic assay and DNA image cytometry, showing the unspecified link between the examined morphology and the estimated nuclear genome size. Concurrently, the newly-assembled plastid genomes in four Ilex have lengths ranging from 157,601 bp to 157,857 bp, containing a large single-copy (LSC, 87,020–87,255 bp), a small single-copy (SSC, 18,394–18,434 bp), and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs, 26,065–26,102 bp) regions. The plastid genome annotation suggested the presence of numerable protein-encoding genes (89–95), transfer RNA (tRNA) genes (37–40), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes (8). A comprehensive comparison of plastomes within eight Ilex implicated the conserved features in coding regions, but variability in the junctions of IRs/SSC and the divergent hotspot regions potentially used as the DNA marker. The Ilex topology of phylogenies revealed the incongruence with the traditional taxonomy, whereas it informed a strong association between clades and geographic distribution. Our work herein provided novel insight into the variations in the morphology and phylogeography in Aquifoliaceae. These data contribute to the understanding of genetic diversity and conservation in the medicinal Ilex of Mount Huangshan.
Integrating IP Mobility Management Protocols and MANET: A Survey
Authors: Al mojamed Mohammad
Published: September 2020

The Mobile ad hoc Network (MANET) is a collection of mobile devices that forms a self-created, self-administered, and self-organized network. It is an infrastructureless network that does not require an existing infrastructure to operate. MANET suits scenarios where a temporary network is needed, such as emergency rescue, the military field, and disaster areas. MANET is an isolated network, and communication is restricted to the participating nodes’ transmission coverage. In order to increase its connectivity and its application scope, however, MANET requires integration with other networks, forming a hybrid MANET. The integration of MANET and IP networks raises many challenges and issues. Mobility management is one of the main challenges. Traditional mobility management protocols provide seamless mobility in a single hop infrastructure network. Consequently, mobile nodes can maintain their global connectivity without interrupting the ongoing sessions. Mobility management becomes more challenging in a network that relies on multi-hop communication, such as MANET. This paper presents a survey of the use of mobility management systems when integrating MANET with the internet, with the objective of serving as a handy reference in this field of research. It presents, analyzes, and discusses existing mobility management solutions for integrated MANET networks. It also investigates their shortcomings and provides a comparative study of the surveyed proposals.
Intransitiveness: From Games to Random Walks
Authors: Baldi Alberto , Bagnoli Franco
Published: September 2020

Many games in which chance plays a role can be simulated as a random walk over a graph of possible configurations of board pieces, cards, dice or coins. The end of the game generally consists of the appearance of a predefined winning pattern; for random walks, this corresponds to an absorbing trap. The strategy of a player consist of betting on a given sequence, i.e., in placing a trap on the graph. In two-players games, the competition between strategies corresponds to the capabilities of the corresponding traps in capturing the random walks originated by the aleatory components of the game. The concept of dominance transitivity of strategies implies an advantage for the first player, who can choose the strategy that, at least statistically, wins. However, in some games, the second player is statistically advantaged, so these games are denoted “intransitive”. In an intransitive game, the second player can choose a location for his/her trap which captures more random walks than that of the first one. The transitivity concept can, therefore, be extended to generic random walks and in general to Markov chains. We analyze random walks on several kinds of networks (rings, scale-free, hierarchical and city-inspired) with many variations: traps can be partially absorbing, the walkers can be biased and the initial distribution can be arbitrary. We found that the transitivity concept can be quite useful for characterizing the combined properties of a graph and that of the walkers.
Forest Fire Regime in a Mediterranean Ecosystem: Unraveling the Mutual Interrelations between Rainfall Seasonality, Soil Moisture, Drought Persistence, and Biomass Dynamics
Authors: Romano Nunzio , Ursino Nadia
Published: September 2020

Frequent and severe droughts typically intensify wildfires provided that there is enough fuel in situ. The extent to which climate change may influence the fire regime and long time-scale hydrological processes may soften the effect of inter-annual climate change and, more specifically, whether soil-water retention capacity can alleviate the harsh conditions resulting from droughts and affect fire regimes, are still largely unexplored matters. The research presented in this paper is a development of a previous investigation and shows in what way, and to what extent, rainfall frequency, dry season length, and hydraulic response of different soil types drive forest fires toward different regimes while taking into consideration the typical seasonality of the Mediterranean climate. The soil-water holding capacity, which facilitates biomass growth in between fire events and hence favors fuel production, may worsen the fire regime as long dry summers become more frequent, such that the ecosystem’s resilience to climate shifts may eventually be undermined.
The Impact of Different Factors on the Quality and Volatile Organic Compounds Profile in “Bryndza” Cheese
Authors: Štefániková Jana , Ducková Viera , Miškeje Michal , Kačániová Miroslava , Čanigová Margita
Published: August 2020

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different factors on the basic physicochemical and microbiological parameters, as well as volatile organic compounds of traditionally (farm) and industrially produced “bryndza” cheese. The samples were obtained from eight producers in different areas of Slovakia during the ewe’s milk production season, from May to September. The physicochemical parameters set by the legislation were monitored by reference methods. The “bryndza” cheese microbiota was determined by using the plate cultivation method. There was analysis of volatile organic compounds carried out by electronic nose, as well as gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Seasonality and production technology (traditional and industrial ones) are the main factors that affect the standard quality of “bryndza" cheese. Lactic acid bacteria were dominated from bacterial microbiota, mostly presumptive lactococci, followed presumptive lactobacilli and enterococci. The numbers of coliform bacteria were higher in traditionally produced “bryndza” cheese than in industrially produced “bryndza” cheese. The presence of Dipodascus geotrichum was detected in all samples. There were key volatile organic compounds such as ethyl acetate, isoamyl acetate, 2-butanone, hexanoic acid, D-limonene, and 2,3-butanedione. The statistically significant differences were found among “bryndza” cheese samples and these differences were connected with the type of milk and dairies.
Influence of Thermomechanical Treatment and Ratio of β-Lactoglobulin and α-Lactalbumin on the Denaturation and Aggregation of Highly Concentrated Whey Protein Systems
Authors: Quevedo Maria , Kulozik Ulrich , Karbstein Heike P. , Emin M. Azad
Published: August 2020

The influence of thermomechanical treatment (temperature 60 °C–100 °C and shear rate 0.06 s−1–50 s−1) and mixing ratio of β-lactoglobulin (βLG) and α-lactalbumin (αLA) (5:2 and 1:1) on the denaturation and aggregation of whey protein model systems with a protein concentration of 60% and 70% (w/w) was investigated. An aggregation onset temperature was determined at approx. 80 °C for both systems (5:2 and 1:1 mixing ratio) with a protein concentration of 70% at a shear rate of 0.06 s−1. Increasing the shear rate up to 50 s−1 led to a decrease in the aggregation onset temperature independent of the mixing ratio. By decreasing the protein concentration to 60% in unsheared systems, the aggregation onset temperature decreased compared to that at a protein concentration of 70%. Furthermore, two significantly different onset temperatures were determined when the shear rate was increased to 25 s−1 and 50 s−1, which might result from a shear-induced phase separation. Application of combined thermal and mechanical treatment resulted in overall higher degrees of denaturation independent of the mixing ratio and protein concentration. At the conditions applied, the aggregation of the βLG and αLA mixtures was mainly due to the formation of non-covalent bonds. Although the proportion of disulfide bond aggregation increased with treatment temperature and shear rate, it was higher at a mixing ratio of 5:2 compared to that at 1:1.
Do Your Kids Get What You Paid for? Evaluation of Commercially Available Probiotic Products Intended for Children in the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Korea
Authors: Dioso Clarizza May , Vital Pierangeli , Arellano Karina , Park Haryung , Todorov Svetoslav Dimitrov , Ji Yosep , Holzapfel Wilhelm
Published: September 2020

A wide range of probiotic products is available on the market and can be easily purchased over the counter and unlike pharmaceutical drugs, their commercial distribution is not strictly regulated. In this study, ten probiotic preparations commercially available for children’s consumption in the Republic of the Philippines (PH) and the Republic of Korea (SK) have been investigated. The analyses included determination of viable counts and taxonomic identification of the bacterial species present in each formulation. The status of each product was assessed by comparing the results with information and claims provided on the label. In addition to their molecular identification, safety assessment of the isolated strains was conducted by testing for hemolysis, biogenic amine production and antibiotic resistance. One out of the ten products contained lower viable numbers of recovered microorganisms than claimed on the label. Enterococcus strains, although not mentioned on the label, were isolated from four products. Some of these isolates produced biogenic amines and were resistant to one or several antibiotics. Metagenomic analyses of two products revealed that one product did not contain most of the microorganisms declared in its specification. The study demonstrated that some commercial probiotic products for children did not match their label claims. Infants and young children belong to the most vulnerable members of society, and food supplements including probiotics destined for this consumer group require careful checking and strict regulation before commercial distribution.
Phage Displayed Domain Antibodies (dAb) for Detection of Allergenic Pistachio Proteins in Foods
Authors: Madrid Raquel , García-García Aina , González Isabel , Martín Rosario , García Teresa
Published: September 2020

Pistachio nuts (Pistacia vera) have been consumed by past and present-day civilizations because of their organoleptic characteristics and potential health benefits. However, they can also produce moderate to severe IgE-mediated reactions in allergic individuals. In this work, we report the isolation of the first recombinant antibodies against pistachio nut, produced without animal immunization, to be used in immunoassays for detection of allergenic pistachio in food products. Several phage display biopanning strategies were evaluated to screen the human-based domain antibody library (dAb) in search for pistachio-specific probes. The clone producing the PVF4 phage-dAb was finally selected, and it does not cross-react with cashew despite the phylogenetic proximity with pistachio. Western blot and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF) analysis demonstrated that this clone recognised a unique band of ∼22 kDa related to the basic subunit of pistachio 11S globulin (allergen Pis v 2). The PVF4 phage-dAb allowed detection of pistachio in a food matrix with a limit of detection (LOD) of 3983 mg kg-1 in an indirect phage-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The ELISA method developed was used to assess applicability of the PVF4 phage-dAb for analysis of 77 commercial food products.
The Role of Yeasts and Lactic Acid Bacteria on the Metabolism of Organic Acids during Winemaking
Authors: Mendes Ferreira Ana , Mendes-Faia Arlete
Published: September 2020

The main role of acidity and pH is to confer microbial stability to wines. No less relevant, they also preserve the color and sensory properties of wines. Tartaric and malic acids are generally the most prominent acids in wines, while others such as succinic, citric, lactic, and pyruvic can exist in minor concentrations. Multiple reactions occur during winemaking and processing, resulting in changes in the concentration of these acids in wines. Two major groups of microorganisms are involved in such modifications: the wine yeasts, particularly strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which carry out alcoholic fermentation; and lactic acid bacteria, which commonly conduct malolactic fermentation. This review examines various such modifications that occur in the pre-existing acids of grape berries and in others that result from this microbial activity as a means to elucidate the link between microbial diversity and wine composition.
OSucs: An Online Prognostic Biomarker Analysis Tool for Uterine Carcinosarcoma
Authors: An Yang , Wang Qiang , Sun Fengjie , Zhang Guosen , Wang Fengling , Zhang Lu , Li Yanan , Ren Weinan , Zhu Wan , Li Yongqiang , Ji Shaoping , Guo Xiangqian
Published: September 2020

Background: Uterine carcinosarcoma (UCS) is a type of rare and aggressive tumor. The standard treatment for UCS involves surgical treatment followed by radiochemotherapy. Clinical outcomes of UCS patients are poor due to high metastasis and relapse rate. Therefore, new targeted therapy strategies for UCS are needed. Because UCS is highly heterogenous, it is critical to identify and develop prognostic biomarkers to distinguish molecular subtypes of UCS for better treatment guidance. Methods: Using gene expression profiles and clinical follow-up data, we developed an online consensus survival analysis tool named OSucs. This web tool allows researchers to conveniently analyze the prognostic abilities of candidate genes in UCS. Results: To test the reliability of this server, we analyzed five previously reported prognostic biomarkers, all of which showed significant prognostic impacts. In addition, ETV4 (ETS variant transcription factor 4), ANGPTL4 (Angiopoietin-like protein 4), HIST1H1C (Histone cluster 1 H1 family member c) and CTSV (Cathepsin V) showed prognostic potential in a molecular subtype-specific manner. Conclusion: We built a platform for researchers to analyze if genes have prognostic potentials in UCS.
Plastic Hotspot Mapping in Urban Water Systems
Authors: Tasseron Paolo , Zinsmeister Hestia , Rambonnet Liselotte , Hiemstra Auke-Florian , Siepman Daniël , van Emmerik Tim
Published: August 2020

Reducing plastic pollution in rivers, lakes, and oceans is beneficial to aquatic animals and human livelihood. To achieve this, reliable observations of the abundance, spatiotemporal variation, and composition of plastics in aquatic ecosystems are crucial. Current efforts mainly focus on collecting data on the open ocean, on beaches and coastlines, and in river systems. Urban areas are the main source of plastic leakage into the natural environment, yet data on plastic pollution in urban water systems are scarce. In this paper, we present a simple method for plastic hotspot mapping in urban water systems. Through visual observations, macroplastic abundance and polymer categories are determined. Due to its simplicity, this method is suitable for citizen science data collection. A first application in the Dutch cities of Leiden and Wageningen showed similar mean plastic densities (111–133 items/km canal) and composition (75–80% soft plastics), but different spatial distributions. These observations emphasize the importance of long-term data collection to further understand and quantify spatiotemporal variations of plastics in urban water systems. In turn, this will support improved estimates of the contribution of urban areas to the plastic pollution of rivers and oceans.
Volcanic Geomorphology: A Review of Worldwide Research
Authors: Carrión-Mero Paúl , Montalván-Burbano Néstor , Paz-Salas Nataly , Morante-Carballo Fernando
Published: September 2020

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of academic research on volcanic geomorphology, through the use of bibliometric analysis and bibliographic visualization maps for the discernment of its growing interest by the academy in the last 30 years. It is sustained on the publications indexed in the Scopus database between 1956 and 2019, obtaining relevant information on scientific production, following the methodological structure of a rigorous bibliometric process, which ranges from the search for descriptors or keywords to the configuration of visualizations of tables and maps that allowed to consider the contributions by authors, institutions, journals and topics that have shaped the evolution of this field of study. The generations of bibliometric maps allowed understanding the intellectual structure of the field of study made up of 707 articles where the analysis of co-occurrence of author keywords showed six main lines of research that, combined with the co-citation maps, allowed understanding the breadth of intellectual structure. Extensive information is provided on the thematic that other investigations partially addressed or failed to capture their current status. Considering that the results allow us to identify areas of current interest and the potential of research in volcanic geomorphology.
Whole-Rock Elemental and Sr-Nd Isotope Geochemistry and Petrogenesis of the Miocene Elmadağ Volcanic Complex, Central Anatolia (Ankara, Turkey)
Authors: Asan Kürşad
Published: September 2020

This study presented whole-rock elemental and Sr-Nd isotope geochemistry data with the purpose to decipher the origin and evolution of the Miocene Elmadağ Volcanic Complex, Central Anatolia (Ankara, Turkey). Volcanic products spanned in composition from mildly alkaline basaltic (47–52 wt% SiO2) and medium- to high-K calc-alkaline intermediate (54–62 wt% SiO2; andesite to trachyandesite) to felsic (64–74 wt% SiO2; dacite to rhyolite) units. Despite a homogeneous major element composition, basaltic rocks were characterized by two distinct trace element and isotopic signatures, which have been correlated with different mantle sources. The first group of basaltic rocks was similar to those of oceanic island basalts (OIB) and was derived from asthenospheric mantle source. The second group had geochemical characteristics of orogenic basalts derived from subduction-modified lithospheric mantle source and represented parental magma of the intermediate to felsic rocks. By coupling geochemical and textural analyses of the rocks from the Elmadağ Volcanic Complex, I suggest that crystallization of olivine + clinopyroxene + apatite played an important role in the evolution of basaltic rocks, while plagioclase + amphibole + apatite + Fe-Ti oxides ± zircon crystallization was major process involved in the evolution of intermediate to felsic rocks. The EVC basaltic rocks were associated with the post-collisional extensional tectonic regime in the Central Anatolia, but the coexistence of the OIB-like volcanism implies variations in the extension dynamics during Miocene.
Seawater Intrusion on the Arctic Coast (Svalbard): The Concept of Onshore-Permafrost Wedge
Authors: Kasprzak Marek
Published: September 2020

Numerous hydrogeological studies on the coastal zone describe the intrusion of sea water inland, salting underground aquifers. The phenomenon is commonly observed in the coasts outside polar areas. However, the impact of sea water has so far not been an object of detailed investigation in a periglacial environment devoid of subsea permafrost. Geophysical measurements at the west coast of the Wedel-Jarlsberg Land in Svalbard indicate that the border between the unfrozen seabed and the frozen ground onshore is not delimited by the shoreline. A zone of coastal unfrozen ground is located under a thin layer of permafrost reaching toward the sea. This state was observed with the use of electrical resistivity tomography under rocky headlands and capes, uplifted marine terraces located at the foot of mountain massifs and valley mouths as well as in the marginal zone of the Werenskiold Glacier. This short article presents the results of such a measurement, supplemented with electromagnetic detection. The measurements are unique in that they were conducted not only on the land surface, but also at the floor of the sea bay during the low water spring tide. The author proposes name structures detected in the coastal zone as a “permafrost wedge”, extending an identification of the permafrost base between the coast and the glaciers of Svalbard. However, in the absence of boreholes that would allow determining the thermal state of the ground in the study sites, the concept is based only on the interpretation of the geophysical imaging. Therefore, further discussion is required on whether the identified contrasts in electrical resistivity indeed result from thermal differences between the rocks or if they only indicate the cryotic state of the ground (saline cryopeg) within the range of seawater intrusion.
Burnout Syndrome in Paediatric Oncology Nurses: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: De la Fuente-Solana Emilia Inmaculada , Pradas-Hernández Laura , Ramiro-Salmerón Alicia , Suleiman-Martos Nora , Gómez-Urquiza José Luis , Albendín-García Luis , Cañadas-De la Fuente Guillermo Arturo
Published: August 2020

Purpose: To determine levels of burnout among paediatric oncology nurses, and the risk factors that may influence its development. Method: A literature review with meta-analysis was conducted, via a search in the PubMed, CINHAL, Scopus, ProQuest (Health and Medical Complete), Scielo and PsycINFO databases, using the search equation: “Nurs* AND burnout AND oncology AND pediatric”. Results: The final sample of selected studies was of eight articles. All were quantitative studies of paediatric oncology nurses, using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, written in English or Spanish. No search restrictions were established on the year of publication. The eight studies reported moderate–high levels of burnout in each of its three dimensions. These dimensions were all related to the characteristics of the profession, in terms of complexity, shifts and workload, and to sociodemographic variables such as marital status, work experience, age and gender. The prevalence meta-analytical estimation for a sample of n = 361 nurses were 37% for high emotional exhaustion, 16% for high depersonalisation and 27% for low personal fulfilment. Conclusions: Most paediatric oncology nurses present moderate–high levels of burnout. Therefore, strategies and interventions should be identified and implemented to protect these workers from the syndrome.
Needs of Older People Attending Day Care Centres in Poland
Authors: Mazurek Justyna , Szcześniak Dorota , Trypka Elżbieta , Lion Katarzyna Małgorzata , Wallner Renata , Rymaszewska Joanna
Published: August 2020

Introduction: Day care centres (DCC) aim to support older adults living in their own homes by providing a variety of activities to promote the independence of those people and reduce the caregiver’s burden. In Poland, there are no standards for providing this form of care. The provided care is delivered by different organisations, and there is a lack of quality control in the majority of places. Regrettably, in Poland, there is a paucity of research on the holistic needs of the elderly attending DCC. Aim of this study: This is the first study which has aimed to identify the Polish day care centres attendees’ needs to ensure that the increasing number of older people receive the best possible care, and as a part of the quality improvement process for recommendation development of the new day care services model in Poland within the ‘Homely Marina’ project. Methods and Materials: A representative sample (n = 269) was randomly selected from day care centres attendees (estimated as 10,688) in Poland. An anonymous survey for the assessment of needs was developed by the authors. Results: The respondents assessed the level of provided services as very good or good. Best rated services included meals, supportive and welfare services (occupational therapy, music therapy, art therapy, cognitive training). Almost half of the participants indicated the need for company as the main reason to attend a DCC. This research reveals a lack of support with regard to additional staff: e.g., a nurse. Conclusions: In Poland, the services offered in DCC should focus on social isolation and sense of loneliness prevention, and maintenance of social activity of the elderly. The presented analysis of needs in Polish day care centres suggests a need for changes which may improve the quality of services. There is a great need to find a balance between home-based care and in-patient care, using better integration of available services and strengthening support for informal caregivers. Robust research with a collection of meaningful outcomes is required to ensure that in Poland, the increasing number of older people is enabled to access high-quality day care service provision.
Factors Associated with Healthy Ageing, Healthy Status and Community Nursing Needs among the Rural Elderly in an Empty Nest Family: Results from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study
Authors: Fu Liping , Wang Yuhui , He Lanping
Published: September 2020

Health care for the rural elderly in and empty nest family is a major problem in such an ageing society such as China. Based on previous studies, China’s rural health care services only focus on the physical health of the elderly, while public health care services only provide primary services such as blood pressure and blood glucose measurement. This leads to the question of whether physical health is the most important issue for the Chinese rural empty nest elderly (CREE). It is necessary to find out their health status, nursing needs and influencing factors associated with healthy ageing (HA). Using the method of logistic regression, four dimensions of HA (adding psychological health, social participation and daily activities to physical health) among 618 respondents in total were analyzed based on public panel data from the national survey of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Interesting results have been found; for example, the most important factor restricting the HA of the CREE is not physical health but social participation. The independence, health, good employment and economic conditions of their adult children play an important role in protecting the HA of the CREE.