bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
E-Learning Is Not Inferior to On-Site Teaching in a Psychiatric Examination Course
Authors: Rauch Christoph , Utz Janine , Rauch Miriam , Kornhuber Johannes , Spitzer Philipp
Published: April 2021

Background: Implementing e-learning into medical education is a growing field of research. Researchers have had positive experiences so far, and evidence suggests it to be no less effective than offline teaching. However, there are a few findings concerning psychiatric education and the use of simulated patients online.

Methods: We developed an online workshop for medical students at our psychiatric clinic, including group work exercises, lectures, and interviews with simulated patients. To compare the learning outcome, a cohort of students learning online was compared with a previous cohort that learned on-site. The same objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) was used in both cases. Evaluation questionnaires were gathered from students and lecturers and were compared with the former semesters along with the exam results.

Results: The exam grades did not significantly differ between on-site and online teaching, even though students rated their own communication skills better with online teaching. We also found that the connection experienced between students and teachers was impaired without on-site contact.

Discussion: We conclude that an online course may be an effective alternative to on-site teaching but requires further improvement to maintain a dependable student–teacher relationship.
Aberrant Structural and Functional Developmental Trajectories in Children With Intellectual Disability
Authors: Ma Xuejin , Tan Jianxia , Jiang Lin , Wang Xuqin , Cheng Bochao , Xie Peng , Li Yuanyuan , Wang Jiaojian , Li Shiguang
Published: April 2021

Intellectual disability (ID) is associated with aberrant structural and functional development of the brain, yet how the dynamical developmental changes of the structure and function of ID from childhood to around puberty remains unknown. To explore the abnormal developmental trajectories of structure and function, 40 children with ID aged 6–13 years and 30 sex-, age-, and educational level-matched healthy controls (HC) with age range from 6 to 13 were recruited. The automatic voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and resting-state functional connectivity (FC) analyses were adopted to delineate the structural and functional differences. Significantly decreased total gray matter volume (GMV) and white matter volume (WMV) in children with ID were found, and the developmental trajectories of GMV and WMV in children with ID showed an opposite direction as compared with HC. The voxel-wise VMB analysis further revealed significantly increased GMV in the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), bilateral orbital part of the inferior frontal gyrus (orb_IFG.L, orb_IFG.R), right cuneus (cuneus.R), and bilateral middle frontal gyrus (MFG.L, MFG.R) in children with ID. The following seed-based whole-brain functional connectivity analyses of the brain areas with changed GMV found decreased FCs between the cuneus.R and left intraparietal sulcus (IPS.L) and between the MFG.R and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in children with ID. Moreover, negative correlations between GMV values in the dmPFC, orb_IFG.L, cuneus.R, and intelligence quotient (IQ) scores and positive correlations between the FCs of the cuneus.R with IPS.L and MFG.R with ACC and IQ scores were found in children with ID and HC. Our findings provide evidence for the abnormal structural and functional development in children with ID and highlight the important role of frontoparietal network in the typical development. The abnormal development of GMV and functional couplings found in this study may be the neuropathological bases of children with ID.
Behavioral and Cognitive Interventions With Digital Devices in Subjects With Intellectual Disability: A Systematic Review
Authors: Torra Moreno Marta , Canals Sans Josefa , Colomina Fosch Maria Teresa
Published: April 2021

In recent years, digital devices have been progressively introduced in rehabilitation programs and have affected skills training methods used with children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities (ID). The objective of this review is to assess the effects of the use of digital devices on the cognitive functions and behavioral skills in this population, and to acknowledge their potential as a therapeutic tool. Electronic databases were analyzed until February 2020 using search formulas with free terms related to ID and the use of digital systems with children or adolescents. The risk of bias in randomized controlled trials was assessed by means of the modified Cochrane Collaboration tool and the quality level of the non-randomized studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Forty-four studies were analyzed, most of which were categorized as low quality. Of the executive function studies analyzed, 60% reported significant improvements, most commonly related to working memory. Within the cognitive skills, 47% of the studies analyzed reported significant improvements, 30% of them in language. Significant improvements in the social (50%) and behavioral domains (30%) were also reported. These results suggest that digital interventions are effective in improving working memory and academic skills, and positively affect both the social and behavioral domains. Little information has been published regarding the duration of the effects, which could be limited in time. Further research is necessary to assess long-term effectiveness, the influence of comorbidities, and the effects on subjects with severe ID. The inclusion of smartphones and special education centers is also necessary.
Enhancing Access and Usage of Earth Observations in Environmental Decision-Making in Eastern and Southern Africa Through Capacity Building
Authors: Shukla Shraddhanand , Macharia Denis , Husak Gregory J. , Landsfeld Martin , Nakalembe Catherine Lilian , Blakeley S. Lucille , Adams Emily Caitlin , Way-Henthorne Juliet
Published: April 2021

Major strides have been made in the development of remote sensing, reanalysis, and model-based earth observations (EOs), which can be used for long-term climate variability mapping, as well as real-time environmental monitoring and forecasting. Such EOs are particularly valuable for environmental decision-making (e.g., for environmental resources management and disaster mitigation) in the Eastern and Southern Africa (E & SA) region, where ground-based EOs are sparse. Nonetheless, operational application of those EOs to inform decision-making in the region remains limited. This paper reports on a recently concluded (as of June 2019) NASA SERVIR-supported Applied Science Team project that contributed to the uptake of EO applications to inform decision-making in this region. This project was conducted in close collaboration with the Regional Center for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD)—the NASA SERVIR regional hub in E & SA. The capacity-building efforts leveraged RCMRD's existing environmental service capacity, their long experience in capacity building in the region, and their extensive network of regional partners, with the goal of increasing RCMRD and their regional partners' ability to uptake EOs to enhance their environmental services and, hence, improve the environmental decision-making process. The project focused on: (1) Transfer of technology—Transition and implementation of web-based tools to RCMRD to allow easy processing and visualization of EOs and (2) Capacity training—training of representatives from regional and national environmental service agencies in EO application based on targeted case studies. Here, we describe these capacity-building efforts, provide specific examples to demonstrate the benefits of those efforts in terms of enhanced uptake of EOs, and provide recommendations for furthering the uptake of EOs in the region and beyond.
6-lncRNA Assessment Model for Monitoring and Prognosis of HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Based on Transcriptome Data
Authors: Zhang Xiaoming , Zhang Haiyan , Li Jie , Ma Xiaoran , He Zhengguo , Liu Cun , Gao Chundi , Li Huayao , Wang Xue , Wu Jibiao
Published: April 2021

Background: In view of the high malignancy and poor prognosis of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer, we analyzed the RNA expression profiles of HER2-positive breast cancer samples to identify the new prognostic biomarkers.

Methods: The linear fitting method was used to identify the differentially expressed RNAs from the HER2-positive breast cancer RNA expression profiles in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Then, a series of methods including univariate Cox, Kaplan-Meier, and random forests, were used to identify the core long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) with stable prognostic value for HER2-positive breast cancer. A clinical feature analysis was performed, and a competing endogenous RNA network was constructed to explore the role of these core lncRNAs in HER2-positive breast cancer. In addition, a functional analysis of differentially expressed messenger RNAs in HER-2 positive breast cancer also provided us with some enlightening insights.

Results: The high expression of four core lncRNAs (AC010595.1, AC046168.1, AC069277.1, and AP000904.1) was associated with worse overall survival, while the low expression of LINC00528 and MIR762HG was associated with worse overall survival. The 6-lncRNA model has an especially good predictive power for overall survival (p < 0.0001) and 3-year survival (the area under the curve = 0.980) in HER2-positive breast cancer patients.

Conclusion: This study provides a new efficient prognostic model and biomarkers of HER2-positive breast cancer. Meanwhile, it also provides a new perspective for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying HER2-positive breast cancer.
Estimating the Tour Length for the Close Enough Traveling Salesman Problem
Authors: Sinha Roy Debdatta , Golden Bruce , Wang Xingyin , Wasil Edward
Published: April 2021

We construct empirically based regression models for estimating the tour length in the Close Enough Traveling Salesman Problem (CETSP). In the CETSP, a customer is considered visited when the salesman visits any point in the customer’s service region. We build our models using as many as 14 independent variables on a set of 780 benchmark instances of the CETSP and compare the estimated tour lengths to the results from a Steiner zone heuristic. We validate our results on a new set of 234 instances that are similar to the 780 benchmark instances. We also generate results for a new set of 72 larger instances. Overall, our models fit the data well and do a very good job of estimating the tour length. In addition, we show that our modeling approach can be used to accurately estimate the optimal tour lengths for the CETSP.
A Review on Disturbance Analysis and Suppression for Permanent Magnet Linear Synchronous Motor
Authors: Wang Xuezhen , Chen Feixue , Zhu RenFeng , Huang Xiaolu , Sang Na , Yang Guilin , Zhang Chi
Published: April 2021

In high-end testing and manufacturing equipment, a trend exists whereby the traditional servo feed system with a ball screw and rotary motor will gradually be replaced by a direct drive system. The precision motion system driven by a permanent magnet linear synchronous motor (PMLSM) offers several advantages, including high speed, high acceleration, and high positioning accuracy. However, the operating precision of the feed device will be affected by the PMLSM robustness to nonlinear and uncertain disturbances, such as cogging force, friction, thermal effects, residual vibration, and load disturbance. The aim of this paper was to provide a survey on disturbance analysis and suppression approaches to improve the dynamic performance of PMLSM motion systems. First, the origin and inhibition methods of thrust ripple and friction are presented. Second, the mechanisms, modeling approaches, and mitigation measures of thermal effects are introduced. Additionally, the residual vibration characteristics and suppression methods are discussed. Finally, disturbance observers of periodic and aperiodic loads are introduced. These suppression methods from structural design and control compensation are then discussed in order to improve the dynamic response and steady-state accuracy of PMLSM.
The Role of the Ecological Awareness and the Influence on Food Preferences in Shaping Pro-Ecological Behavior of Young Consumers
Authors: Wierzbiński Bogdan , Surmacz Tomasz , Kuźniar Wiesława , Witek Lucyna
Published: April 2021

Pro-ecological behavior of consumers on the food market is conditioned by many factors, among which the literature on the subject particularly indicates, is high environmental awareness. Among other factors, the influence of social groups is also emphasized, in relation to young consumers; these are mainly peers and friends, which was confirmed by the authors’ research. The aim of the research was to identify the role of ecological awareness and influence on the food purchasing habits of young consumers in shaping their pro-ecological behavior. Based on the literature on the subject, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the empirical material, reducing the number of dimensions through the use of factor analysis. Analyzing the collected material, the authors proposed three latent variables—ecological awareness (EA), impact on food preferences (IFP), and ecological behavior (EB). Hidden variables were defined by explicit variables, and the whole was characterized in the light of the literature. The research results indicated that there are significant correlations between all latent variables, however the strongest one could be observed between EA and EB. This proves that the ecological behavior of young consumers is strongly determined by their environmental awareness.
Recent Advances on Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Rice
Authors: Lee Sichul
Published: April 2021

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a daily staple food crop for more than half of the global population and improving productivity is an important task to meet future demands of the expanding world population. The application of nitrogen (N) fertilization improved rice growth and productivity in the world, but excess use causes environmental and economic issues. One of the main goals of rice breeding is reducing N fertilization while maintaining productivity. Therefore, enhancing rice nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is essential for the development of sustainable agriculture and has become urgently needed. Many studies have been conducted on the main steps in the use of N including uptake and transport, reduction and assimilation, and translocation and remobilization, and on transcription factors regulating N metabolism. Understanding of these complex processes provides a base for the development of novel strategies to improve NUE for rice productivity under varying N conditions.
Evaluation of Dietary Soluble Extract Hydrolysates with or without Supplementation of Inosine Monophosphate Based on Growth, Hematology, Non-Specific Immune Responses and Disease Resistance in Juvenile Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus
Authors: Bae Jinho , Song Yujin , Moniruzzaman Mohammad , Hamidoghli Ali , Lee Seunghan , Je Hyeongwoo , Choi Wonsuk , Min Taesun , Bai Sungchul C.
Published: April 2021

We performed an 8-week feeding trial to evaluate dietary soluble extract hydrolysates from fishery by-products, such as shrimp soluble extract (SSE) with or without inosine monophosphate (IMP), tilapia soluble extract (TSE) and squid soluble extract (SQSE), in juvenile Nile tilapia. A diet without feed additives was used as the control diet (CON); and five other experimental diets were formulated with 2% soluble extracts consisting of 100% SSE, 98% SSE + 2% IMP (SSEP2), 96% SSE + 4% IMP (SSEP4), 100% SQSE and 100% TSE. The diets were fed to 4.9 ± 0.07 g (mean ± SD) juvenile Nile tilapia in triplicate groups. The weight gain and specific growth rates of fish fed the SSE, SSEP2 and SSEP4 diets were significantly higher than those of fish fed the CON and SQSE diets. The superoxide dismutase activity levels of fish fed the SSE and SSEP4 diets were significantly higher than those of fish fed the CON, SSEP2, SQSE and TSE diets. Myeloperoxidase activity levels of fish fed the SSE and SSEP4 diets were significantly higher than those of fish fed the CON, SSEP2 and SQSE diets. Lysozyme activity levels of fish fed the SSEP4 and SQSE diets were significantly higher than those of fish fed the SSE and SSEP2 diets. Feed efficiency, protein efficiency ratio, survival rate, whole body proximate composition and hematological parameters were not significantly different among the groups. After ten days of challenge = against Aeromonas hydrophila, the cumulative survival rate of fish fed the SSE diet was significantly higher than those of fish fed the CON, SQSE and TSE diets. In conclusion, dietary shrimp soluble extract could improve the growth performance, non-specific immune responses and disease resistance in juvenile Nile tilapia, and inosine monophosphate did not add further benefits to this ingredient.
Proteomic Analysis Identifies Potential Markers for Chicken Primary Follicle Development
Authors: Wadood Armughan Ahmed , Wang Jingyuan , Pu Liping , Shahzad Qaisar , Waqas Muhammad , Liu Xingting , Xie Long , Yu Lintian , Chen Dongyang , Akhtar Rana Waseem , Lu Yangqing
Published: April 2021

Follicles’ development in chicken imparts a major impact on egg production. To enhance the egg-laying efficiency, comprehensive knowledge of different phases of follicular development is a prerequisite. Therefore, we used the tandem mass tag (TMT) based proteomic approach to find the genes involved in the primary follicular development of chicken. The primary follicles were divided into two groups—small primary follicles (81–150 μm) and developed primary follicles (300–500 μm). Differential expression analysis (fold change > 1.2, p-value < 0.05) revealed a total of 70 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), of which 38 were upregulated and 32 were downregulated. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis disclosed that DEPs were intricate with cellular protein localization, the establishment of protein localization, and nucleoside phosphate-binding activities. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment pathway indicated the involvement of DEPs in different metabolic pathways such as glycolysis, pyruvate metabolism, galactose metabolism, and fructose and mannose metabolism. The current proteomic analysis suggested suitable markers such as Anxa2, Pdia3, and Capzb, which may serve as a potential role for primary follicle development. The present study provides the first insight into the proteome dynamics of primary follicle development and would play a potential role for further studies in chicken to improve egg productivity.
Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance Characteristics of Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli among Healthy Chickens from Farms and Live Poultry Markets in China
Authors: Zou Ming , Ma Ping-Ping , Liu Wen-Shuang , Liang Xiao , Li Xu-Yong , Li You-Zhi , Liu Bao-Tao
Published: April 2021

Chicken products and chickens with colibacillosis are often reported to be a suspected source of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) causing several diseases in humans. Such pathogens in healthy chickens can also contaminate chicken carcasses at the slaughter and then are transmitted to humans via food supply; however, reports about the ExPEC in healthy chickens are still rare. In this study, we determined the prevalence and characteristics of ExPEC isolates in healthy chickens in China. A total of 926 E. coli isolates from seven layer farms (371 isolates), one white-feather broiler farm (78 isolates) and 17 live poultry markets (477 isolates from yellow-feather broilers) in 10 cities in China, were isolated and analyzed for antibiotic resistance phenotypes and genotypes. The molecular detection of ExPEC among these healthy chicken E. coli isolates was performed by PCRs, and the serogroups and antibiotic resistance characteristics of ExPEC were also analyzed. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were used to analyze the genetic relatedness of these ExPEC isolates. We found that the resistance rate for each of the 15 antimicrobials tested among E. coli from white-feather broilers was significantly higher than that from brown-egg layers and that from yellow-feather broilers in live poultry markets (p < 0.05). A total of 22 of the 926 E. coli isolates (2.4%) from healthy chickens were qualified as ExPEC, and the detection rate (7.7%, 6/78) of ExPEC among white-feather broilers was significantly higher than that (1.6%, 6/371) from brown-egg layers and that (2.1%, 10/477) from yellow-feather broilers (p < 0.05). PFGE and MLST analysis indicated that clonal dissemination of these ExPEC isolates was unlikely. Serogroup O78 was the most predominant type among the six serogroups identified in this study, and all the six serogroups had been frequently reported in human ExPEC isolates in many countries. All the 22 ExPEC isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR) and the resistance rates to ampicillin (100%) and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (100%) were the highest, followed by tetracycline (95.5%) and doxycycline (90.9%). blaCTX-M was found in 15 of the 22 ExPEC isolates including 10 harboring additional fosfomycin resistance gene fosA3. Notably, plasmid-borne colistin resistance gene mcr-1 was identified in six ExPEC isolates in this study. Worryingly, two ExPEC isolates were found to carry both mcr-1 and blaNDM, compromising both the efficacies of carbapenems and colistin. The presence of ExPEC isolates in healthy chickens, especially those carrying mcr-1 and/or blaNDM, is alarming and will pose a threat to the health of consumers. To our knowledge, this is the first report of mcr-1-positive ExPEC isolates harboring blaNDM from healthy chickens.
Periprosthetic Joint Infection Prophylaxis in the Elderly after Hip Hemiarthroplasty in Proximal Femur Fractures: Insights and Challenges
Authors: Rodríguez-Pardo Dolors , Escolà-Vergé Laura , Sellarès-Nadal Júlia , Corona Pablo S. , Almirante Benito , Pigrau Carles
Published: April 2021

We review antibiotic and other prophylactic measures to prevent periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after hip hemiarthroplasty (HHA) surgery in proximal femoral fractures (PFFs). In the absence of specific guidelines, those applied to these individuals are general prophylaxis guidelines. Cefazolin is the most widely used agent and is replaced by clindamycin or a glycopeptide in beta-lactam allergies. A personalized antibiotic scheme may be considered when colonization by a multidrug-resistant microorganism (MDRO) is suspected. Particularly in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization or a high prevalence of MRSA-caused PJIs a glycopeptide with cefazolin is recommended. Strategies such as cutaneous decolonization of MDROs, mainly MRSA, or preoperative asymptomatic bacteriuria treatment have also been addressed with debatable results. Some areas of research are early detection protocols in MDRO colonizations by polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR), the use of alternative antimicrobial prophylaxis, and antibiotic-impregnated bone cement in HHA. Given that published evidence addressing PJI prophylactic strategies in PFFs requiring HHA is scarce, PJIs can be reduced by combining different prevention strategies after identifying individuals who will benefit from personalized prophylaxis.
Antioxidants-Related Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPX), Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST), and Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) Gene Variants Analysis in an Obese Population: A Preliminary Case-Control Study
Authors: Gusti Amani M. T. , Qusti Safaa Y. , Alshammari Eida M. , Toraih Eman A. , Fawzy Manal S.
Published: April 2021

Oxidative stress and antioxidants play an important role in obesity etiopathology. Genetic variants, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the antioxidant-related genes, may impact disease risk in several populations. This preliminary study aimed to explore the association of 12 SNPs related to superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) genes with obesity susceptibility in a Saudi population. A total of 384 unrelated participants, including 154 (40.1%) obese individuals, were enrolled. TaqMan OpenArray Genotyping assays were used. Six SNPs were significantly more prevalent in obese cohorts: (1) GSTM1 rs1056806*C/T; (2) SOD1 rs2234694*A; (3) SOD2 rs4880*G; (4) SOD3 rs2536512*A; (5) GPX1 rs1800668*A; (6) NOS3 rs1799983*G. Four SNPs were associated with higher obesity risk under heterozygote and dominant models for GSTM1 rs1056806 (C/T), homozygote model for SOD2 rs4880 (A/G), and homozygote and recessive models for GPX1 rs1800668 (A/G). In contrast, SOD3 rs2536512 (A/G) were less likely to be obese under heterozygote and dominant models. The CGAG, CAAA, TGGG, and CGAG combined genotypes showed a higher risk of obesity. In conclusion, the present results suggest that oxidative-stress-related genetic determinants could significantly associate with obesity risk in the study population.
Therapeutic Potential and Immunomodulatory Role of Coenzyme Q10 and Its Analogues in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases
Authors: López-Pedrera Chary , Villalba José Manuel , Patiño-Trives Alejandra Mª , Luque-Tévar Maria , Barbarroja Nuria , Aguirre Mª Ángeles , Escudero-Contreras Alejandro , Pérez-Sánchez Carlos
Published: April 2021

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a mitochondrial electron carrier and a powerful lipophilic antioxidant located in membranes and plasma lipoproteins. CoQ10 is endogenously synthesized and obtained from the diet, which has raised interest in its therapeutic potential against pathologies related to mitochondrial dysfunction and enhanced oxidative stress. Novel formulations of solubilized CoQ10 and the stabilization of reduced CoQ10 (ubiquinol) have improved its bioavailability and efficacy. Synthetic analogues with increased solubility, such as idebenone, or accumulated selectively in mitochondria, such as MitoQ, have also demonstrated promising properties. CoQ10 has shown beneficial effects in autoimmune diseases. Leukocytes from antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients exhibit an oxidative perturbation closely related to the prothrombotic status. In vivo ubiquinol supplementation in APS modulated the overexpression of inflammatory and thrombotic risk-markers. Mitochondrial abnormalities also contribute to immune dysregulation and organ damage in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Idebenone and MitoQ improved clinical and immunological features of lupus-like disease in mice. Clinical trials and experimental models have further demonstrated a therapeutic role for CoQ10 in Rheumatoid Arthritis, multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes. This review summarizes the effects of CoQ10 and its analogs in modulating processes involved in autoimmune disorders, highlighting the potential of these therapeutic approaches for patients with immune-mediated diseases.
Extended Evolutionary Algorithms with Stagnation-Based Extinction Protocol
Authors: Ye Gan Zhen , Kang Dae-Ki
Published: April 2021

Extinction has been frequently studied by evolutionary biologists and is shown to play a significant role in evolution. The genetic algorithm (GA), one of popular evolutionary algorithms, has been based on key concepts in natural evolution such as selection, crossover, and mutation. Although GA has been widely studied and implemented in many fields, little work has been done to enhance the performance of GA through extinction. In this research, we propose stagnation-driven extinction protocol for genetic algorithm (SDEP-GA), a novel algorithm inspired by the extinction phenomenon in nature, to enhance the performance of classical GA. Experimental results on various benchmark test functions and their comparative analysis indicate the effectiveness of SDEP-GA in terms of avoiding stagnation in the evolution process.
Detectors and Cultural Heritage: The INFN-CHNet Experience
Authors: Giuntini Lorenzo , Castelli Lisa , Massi Mirko , Fedi Mariaelena , Czelusniak Caroline , Gelli Nicla , Liccioli Lucia , Giambi Francesca , Ruberto Chiara , Mazzinghi Anna , Barone Serena , Marchegiani Francesca , Nisi Stefano , Lubritto Carmine , Altieri Simona , Tortora Luca , Branchini Paolo , Fabbri Andrea , Graziani Valerio , Lins Sergio Barcellos , Guidorzi Laura , Lo Giudice Alessandro , Re Alessandro , Sottili Leandro , Balerna Antonella , Cestelli Guidi Mariangela , Pronti Lucilla , Romani Martina , Albertin Fauzia , Bettuzzi Matteo , Brancaccio Rosa , Morigi Maria Pia , Alloni Daniele , Salvini Andrea , Smilgys Barbara , Prata Michele , Altieri Saverio , Bonesini Maurizio , Di Martino Daniela , Clemenza Massimiliano , Carpinelli Massimo , Oliva Piernicola , Sipala Valeria , Gueli Anna Maria , Pasquale Stefania , Stella Giuseppe , Pepponi Giancarlo , Grazzi Francesco , Taccetti Francesco
Published: April 2021

Detectors are a key feature of the contemporary scientific approach to cultural heritage (CH), both for diagnostics and conservation. INFN-CHNet is the network of the Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics that develops and applies new instrumentation for the study of CH. This process results in both optimized traditional state-of-the-art and highly innovative detection setups for spectrometric techniques. Examples of the former are X-rays, gamma-rays, visible-light and particles spectrometers tailored for CH applications, with optimized performances, reliability, weight, transportability, cost, absorbed power, and complementarity with other techniques. Regarding the latter, examples are ARDESIA, the array of detectors at the DAΦNE-Light facility, the MAXRS detection setup at the Riken-RAL muon beamline and the imaging facilities at the LENA Laboratory. Paths for next-generation instruments have been suggested, as in the case of the X-ray Superconductive Detectors and X-ray Microcalorimeter Spectrometers, allowing astonishing improvement in energy resolution. Many issues in CH can now be addressed thanks to scientific techniques exploiting the existing detectors, while many others are still to be addressed and require the development of new approaches and detectors.
The Influences of Projectile Material and Environmental Temperature on the High Velocity Impact Behavior of Triaxial Braided Composites
Authors: Liu Lulu , Yin Shikai , Luo Gang , Zhao Zhenhua , Chen Wei
Published: April 2021

Two-dimensional (2D) triaxial braided composites with braiding angle (± 60°/0°) have been used as aero-engine containing casing material. In the current paper, three types of projectile with the same mass and equivalent diameter, including cylinder gelatin projectile, carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP), and titanium alloy blade-like projectile, were employed to impact on triaxial braided composites panels with thickness of 4.3 mm at room temperature (20 °C) to figure out the influences of projectile materials on the damage pattern and energy absorption behavior. Furthermore, the influences of environmental temperature were also discussed considering the aviation service condition by conducting ballistic impact tests using CFRP projectile at cryogenic temperature (−50 °C) and high temperature (150 °C). The triaxial braided target panel were pre-heated or cooled in a low-temperature chamber before mounted. It is found that soft gelatin project mainly causes global deformation of the target and therefore absorb much more energy. The triaxial braided composite absorb 77.59% more energy when impacted with CFRP projectile than that with titanium alloy projectile, which mainly results in shear fracture. The environmental temperature has influences on the damage pattern and energy absorption of triaxial braided composites. The cryogenic temperature deteriorates the impact resistance of the triaxial braided composite material with matrix cracking damage pattern, while high temperature condition improves its impact resistance with shearing fracture damage pattern.
Generating Robotic Speech Prosody for Human Robot Interaction: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Lee Jaeryoung
Published: April 2021

The use of affective speech in robotic applications has increased in recent years, especially regarding the developments or studies of emotional prosody for a specific group of people. The current work proposes a prosody-based communication system that considers the limited parameters found in speech recognition for the elderly, for example. This work explored what types of voices were more effective for understanding presented information, and if the affects of robot voices reflected on the emotional states of listeners. By using functions of a small humanoid robot, two different experiments conducted to find out comprehension level and the affective reflection respectively. University students participated in both tests. The results showed that affective voices helped the users understand the information, as well as that they felt corresponding negative emotions in conversations with negative voices.
Antimicrobial Efficacy of Propolis in Comparison to Chlorhexidine against Enterococcus faecalis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Almadi Khalid H. , Ahmed Muhammad Adeel , Ghazal Tuba , Jouhar Rizwan , Alkahtany Mazen F. , Abduljabbar Tariq , Vohra Fahim
Published: April 2021

Propolis is proposed to possess antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which can be used in endodontic applications. However, evidence on its efficacy in comparison to chlorhexidine against Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) is controversial. The aim of the current study was to compare the antibacterial efficacy of Propolis and chlorhexidine as an intracanal medicament against E. faecalis in extracted human permanent teeth. The focused question was, “Does Propolis show better antibacterial efficacy than Chlorhexidine (CHX) as an intracanal medicament against E. faecalis in extracted human permanent teeth?”. Databases including PubMed/Medline, Scopus, EMBASE, ISI-Web of Science were searched from 1990 to August 2020 using different combinations of the following keywords: “Propolis”, “Intracanal medicament”, “E. faecalis”, “Antibacterial activity” and “Chlorhexidine”. Ten studies fulfilling inclusion criteria were considered for qualitative analysis, followed by quantitative analysis of eight studies. Heterogeneity was calculated for colony forming units (CFU) of E. Faecalis using the Chi-square test and I2 statistics. Forest plots were computed reporting standard mean difference (SMD) of outcomes and 95% confidence intervals. The overall mean difference for CFU of E. faecalis showed a statistically significant difference between the antibacterial efficacy of Propolis and CHX (SMD = 3.20 [1.70, 4.69] Z = 4.20; p < 0.001). CHX showed superior antibacterial efficacy against E. faecalis compared to Propolis.
Fluorescent Silver Nanoclusters Embedded in Hydrogel Matrix and Its Potential Use in Environmental Monitoring
Authors: Burratti Luca , De Matteis Fabio , Francini Roberto , Lim Joohyun , Scheu Christina , Prosposito Paolo
Published: April 2021

The optical absorption and fluorescence of silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) are widely exploited in many different application fields such as sensors, bio-imaging, drug delivery, etc. In the sensor field, optical devices are highly versatile thanks to their ease of fabrication and low costs and, therefore, are optimal candidates to replace expensive apparatuses commonly used. In this study, we synthesized AgNCs in aqueous phase by photochemical synthesis using poly methacrylic acid (PMAA) as a stabilizer. Colloidal water solutions of these NCs showed a very good sensitivity to Pb(II) ions, and in order to fabricate a solid-state sensor, we introduced them in a hydrogel material formed by poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate with a molecular weight of 700 g/mol (PEGDA700). The systems were characterized using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Finally, the sensitivity to Pb(II) ions has been tested with the aim to use these systems as solid-state optical sensors for water quality.
The Use of Sorghum in a Phytoattenuation Strategy: A Field Experiment on a TE-Contaminated Site
Authors: Perlein Alexandre , Bert Valérie , Desannaux Océane , Fernandes de Souza Marcella , Papin Arnaud , Gaucher Rodolphe , Zdanevitch Isabelle , Meers Erik
Published: April 2021

Phytoattenuation combines phytoextraction or phytostabilization with the economic valorization of the biomass produced on the contaminated soil. Sorghum bicolor is a suitable crop for this strategy, as it is known to be metal-tolerant and can be used for biogas or bioethanol production or in strategies toward biofortification. In the current investigation, two cultivars, Biomass 133 and Trudan Headless (HL), were studied in a metal-contaminated (Cd, Pb, Zn) field site located in northern France to assess their potential use in a phytoattenuation strategy. The biomass yield and the metal transfer in the produced biomass were monitored in three plots with different pollution levels. Both cultivars were tolerant to high levels of metal pollution in field conditions, with yields similar to that obtained on uncontaminated sites. Neither of the cultivars changed the metal mobility of the soil and both exhibited a metal-excluder behavior. Nevertheless, Cd concentration in the aboveground part of Trudan HL, and of Biomass 133 to a lesser extent, could restrict their use in some valorization options. However, biogas production was possible with the produced biomass, indicating anaerobic digestion to be a possible valorization route for sorghum grown on contaminated sites.
Investigating the Influence of Ion Species on the Irradiation-Induced Mechanical Properties of Borosilicate Glass
Authors: Guan Yedong , Lv Peng , Wang Zuojiang , Jiang Yuzhe , Sun Zhao , Wang Limin , Zhang Bingtao , Zhang Limin , Chen Liang , Wang Tieshan
Published: April 2021

Investigating the irradiation effects on borosilicate glass is of great significance for understanding the long-term evolutions of this substance in radioactive environments. In the present study, the hardness and modulus of conventional and ion-irradiated borosilicate glass were investigated through nanoindentation measurements. The obtained results show that the maximum decrease of the mean hardness after He and Ar ion irradiation was 8.4% and 17.0%, respectively, when the fluence reached 1.1 × 1015. It was found that the hardness reduction had a significant ionic correlation. Meanwhile, it was observed that the mean modulus increased by less than 5.0%, while there was no meaningful ionic correlation. The variation in hardness and modulus were primarily the consequence of nuclear energy deposition. The hardness recovery was observed under Ar-irradiated and He-irradiated Ar pre-damaged samples. It was concluded that the hardness recovery mainly originates from electronic energy deposition induced by ion irradiation.
Lifetime Benefit Analysis of Intelligent Maintenance: Simulation Modeling Approach and Industrial Case Study
Authors: Nordal Helge , El-Thalji Idriss
Published: April 2021

The introduction of Industry 4.0 is expected to revolutionize current maintenance practices by reaching new levels of predictive (detection, diagnosis, and prognosis processes) and prescriptive maintenance analytics. In general, the new maintenance paradigms (predictive and prescriptive) are often difficult to justify because of their multiple inherent trade-offs and hidden systems causalities. The prediction models, in the literature, can be considered as a “black box” that is missing the links between input data, analysis, and final predictions, which makes the industrial adaptability to such models almost impossible. It is also missing enable modeling deterioration based on loading, or considering technical specifications related to detection, diagnosis, and prognosis, which are all decisive for intelligent maintenance purposes. The purpose and scientific contribution of this paper is to present a novel simulation model that enables estimating the lifetime benefits of an industrial asset when an intelligent maintenance management system is utilized as mixed maintenance strategies and the predictive maintenance (PdM) is leveraged into opportunistic intervals. The multi-method simulation modeling approach combining agent-based modeling with system dynamics is applied with a purposefully selected case study to conceptualize and validate the simulation model. Three maintenance strategies (preventive, corrective, and intelligent) and five different scenarios (case study data, manipulated case study data, offshore and onshore reliability data handbook (OREDA) database, physics-based data, and hybrid) are modeled and simulated for a time period of 20 years (175,200 h). Intelligent maintenance is defined as PdM leveraged in opportunistic maintenance intervals. The results clearly demonstrate the possible lifetime benefits of implementing an intelligent maintenance system into the case study as it enhanced the operational availability by 0.268% and reduced corrective maintenance workload by 459 h or 11%. The multi-method simulation model leverages and shows the effect of the physics-based data (deterioration curves), loading profiles, and detection and prediction levels. It is concluded that implementing intelligent maintenance without an effective predictive horizon of the associated PdM and effective frequency of opportunistic maintenance intervals, does not guarantee the gain of its lifetime benefits. Moreover, the case study maintenance data shall be collected in a complete (no missing data) and more accurate manner (use hours instead of date only) and used to continuously upgrade the failure rates and maintenance times.
Instability Study of Magnetic Journal Bearing under S-CO2 Condition
Authors: Kim Dokyu , Baik SeungJoon , Lee JeongIk
Published: April 2021

A supercritical CO2 (S-CO2)-cooled Brayton cycle is under development for distributed power applications for remote regions. In order to successfully develop it, issues of controlling shaft levitation with bearings have to be solved. From several studies, magnetic bearings have been suggested for reliable levitation performance with reduced cost and complexity. However, several studies on magnetic bearing show that instability issues under high-pressure fluid and high-speed operating conditions may exist. The purpose of this research is to provide background for understanding the instability of magnetic bearings under S-CO2 conditions and propose functional requirements of the magnetic bearing. Thus, the rotating shaft with magnetic bearings operating under high pressure fluid was first analyzed. To test the theory, a magnetic bearing test rig was constructed. By comparing experimental data to the analysis results, the analysis results were verified. Therefore, the analysis results can be used for predicting instability in the future and can contribute to the development of better magnetic bearing controllers.
Higher-Order-Mode Triple Band Circularly Polarized Rectangular Dielectric Resonator Antenna
Authors: Zambak Muhammad Fitra , Yasin Mohd Najib Mohd , Adam Ismahayati , Iqbal Javed , Osman Mohamed Nasrun
Published: April 2021

The paper presents a triband circular polarized rectangular dielectric resonator antenna. A single coaxial cable feeds the DRA to a double stub strip on the DRA side. A patch strip coupled to the feed assists in widening the bandwidth of the proposed DRA. The degenerate mode pair TE∂11x and higher-TE∂23x has been excited to achieve CP and enhance the antenna gain. The higher-order mode has been excited using a low-cost simple excitation mechanism without compromising on the size and shape of the DRA. An impedance bandwidth of 48% with a gain ~6–9 dBic was achieved in all resonance frequencies. Additionally, the AR bandwidth of 5.5%, 4.2%, and 2.76% was obtained at three different frequencies. Note that the proposed DRA exhibits a wide beamwidth of 112o, which is good for better signal reception. A comparison between the measured with simulated results shows that the measured results are matched by the simulated result trends.
Clinical and Electromyographic Assessment of Swallowing in Individuals with Functional Dysphonia Associated with Dysphagia Due to Muscle Tension or Atypical Swallowing
Authors: Krasnodębska Paulina , Jarzyńska-Bućko Agnieszka , Szkiełkowska Agata , Bartosik Jędrzej
Published: April 2021

Introduction: Over the past few years, attention has been paid to the coexistence of dysphonia with dysphagia, in the context of functional disorders. The aim of this work was to objectify logopaedic examination of dysphonic patients with coexisting swallowing difficulties by surface electromyography. Methods: The material of the work included 58 patients with muscle tension dysphonia (MTD). Each patient underwent otolaryngologic, phoniatric and logopaedic examination. We collected information about medical history and asked patients to fill out Reflux Symptom Index (RSI), Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10), Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI) and Swallowing Disorder Scale (SDS). The algorithm of dysphagia diagnostics in our clinic assumes parallel surface electromyography (SEMG) during Functional Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing. Results: In comparison to patients suffering from atypical swallowing, patients with muscle tension dysphagia (MTDg) obtained higher values from almost all questionnaires. Logopaedic evaluation revealed abnormalities in the structure and efficiency of the articulatory organs and in the assessment of primary functions. Patients with more abnormalities in logopaedic examination had significantly higher infrahyoid muscle activity during swallowing observed in EMG. Patients with non-normative swallowing pattern had significantly greater asymmetry of the average and maximum amplitude of masseters, as well as submental muscles. Patients with higher percent of muscles asymmetry gained higher scores in questionnaires. Conclusions: Surface electromyography objectifies logopaedic examination of patients with swallowing difficulties. The results of this work showed that, apart from longer swallows, patients with MTDg differ from patients with non-normative swallowing patterns in the muscle activity measured by SEMG, abnormalities in logopaedic evaluation and the severity of complaints reported by patients.
Multi-Strain Probiotics: Synergy among Isolates Enhances Biological Activities
Authors: Kwoji Iliya D. , Aiyegoro Olayinka A. , Okpeku Moses , Adeleke Matthew A.
Published: April 2021

The use of probiotics for health benefits is becoming popular because of the quest for safer products with protective and therapeutic effects against diseases and infectious agents. The emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance among pathogens had prompted restrictions over the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics for prophylaxis and growth promotion, especially in animal husbandry. While single-strain probiotics are beneficial to health, multi-strain probiotics might be more helpful because of synergy and additive effects among the individual isolates. This article documents the mechanisms by which multi-strain probiotics exert their effects in managing infectious and non-infectious diseases, inhibiting antibiotic-resistant pathogens and health improvement. The administration of multi-strain probiotics was revealed to effectively alleviate bowel tract conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, inhibition of pathogens and modulation of the immune system and gut microbiota. Finally, while most of the current research focuses on comparing the effects of multi-strain and single-strain probiotics, there is a dearth of information on the molecular mechanisms of synergy among multi-strain probiotics isolates. This forms a basis for future research in the development of multi-strain probiotics for enhanced health benefits.