bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prospects of using penetrated cement concrete in the construction of transport infrastructure objects
Authors:   National Transport University, Gameliak Igor , Rutkovska Innesa ,   National Transport University, Herasimenko Alla ,   National Transport University, Filishchuk Marya ,   National Transport University
Published: September 2021

This article presents the analysis of the international experience of the use of pervious concrete in transport infrastructure. It provides the advantages and disadvantages of the material and the results of personal laboratory tests of relevant concrete samples. The object of the research is the use of pervious concrete in the construction of transport infrastructure. The objective of the paper is to justify the use of pervious concrete in the construction of transport infrastructure by analyzing previous international experience and lab tests of the corresponding concrete samples. Research methods included a analysis of the international and domestic literature, the evaluation of the experience in the use of the pervious concrete, and laboratory tests of the corresponding concrete samples. A review of the world experience connected with research of pervious (draining) concrete, installation and operation of layers of aerodrome surface made of it, proved their technical and economic relevance and effectiveness of their application. Pervious concrete is a material with high open porosity, which provides good sound-absorbing properties and drainage ability together with roughness, smoothness, and transverse friction. These are advantages of pervious concrete pavements, according to foreign studies: a rapid removal of water from the surface of the pavements in case of rain and improved drainage of road and airfield pavements reduce the risk of aquaplaning vehicles and increase traffic safety in rainy weather; increased and stable surface roughness; reduced level of noise provided by vehicles. The draining ability of the pavements makes it almost dry. It also has a high degree of sound absorption. The results of the article can be implemented in various technologies of construction and repair of transport infrastructure. The search for the optimal composition of pervious concrete for its further use in the technology of construction and repair of various objects is the main purpose of predictive assumptions about the development of the object of study.
Calculation method steel reinforced concrete continuous bridge spans with two reinforced concrete slabs on the effect of concrete shrinkage
Authors:   National Transport University, Snytko Valerii
Published: September 2021

The article is considered calculation method steel reinforced concrete continuous bridge spans with two reinforced concrete slabs on the effect of concrete shrinkage. For long-term processes that must be considered when calculating the span structures of bridges, besides creep, concrete shrinkage applies. Object of study: composite steel and concrete span beam bridge with two reinforced concrete slabs. Purpose: to develop a calculation method the cross section steel reinforced concrete bridges with two reinforced concrete slabs on the effect of concrete shrinkage considering concrete creep. Continuous spans of steel reinforced concrete bridges with two reinforced concrete slabs over intermediate supports much more economically, in terms of metal consumption, compared to steel reinforced concrete bridges with one concrete slab. Cross section of a reinforced reinforced concrete beam consists of a steel part that combined with two reinforced concrete slabs. The article presents the results of the calculation of continuous steel-concrete superstructure of a road bridge with two reinforced concrete slabs by the above method.
Features of the application of the method of quantile regression in problems of hydroecology
Authors:   Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Institute, Artemenko Vladislav , Petrovych Volodymyr ,   National Transport University
Published: September 2021

Such perspective method of the analysis of the natural time series is considered in article as method of quantile regression. They are discussed imperfection existing methods of the analysis of the natural processes (least square method and the method of linear robust regression). It is shown that transition towards quantile regression allows greatly to raise efficiency of the investigations of the natural time series. Main gоal of the work consists in practical applications of the quantile regression method for decision of the different problemsof the hydroecology. Hydrochemical time series were considered in article. By means of quantile regressin method was investigated behavior of the dissolved oxygen in water depending on temperature of river water and depending on discharge of river water (for quantiles of order 0.05; 0,50 und 0,95). When performing the investigations more perfect method of quantile regression was designed such as method piecewisf quantile regression (with uce polynomial degree 1; 2; 3). Numenical experiments when use the natural time series have shown greater advantage of the designed method of piecewise quantile regression in contrast with classical method of quantile regression.Such perspective method of the analysis of the natural time series is considered in article as method of quantile regression. They are discussed imperfection existing methods of the analysis of the natural processes (least square method and the method of linear robust regression). It is shown that transition towards quantile regression allows greatly to raise efficiency of the investigations of the natural time series. Main gоal of the work consists in practical applications of the quantile regression method for decision of the different problemsof the hydroecology. Hydrochemical time series were considered in article. By means of quantile regressin method was investigated behavior of the dissolved oxygen in water depending on temperature of river water and depending on discharge of river water (for quantiles of order 0.05; 0,50 und 0,95). When performing the investigations more perfect method of quantile regression was designed such as method piecewisf quantile regression (with uce polynomial degree 1; 2; 3). Numenical experiments when use the natural time series have shown greater advantage of the designed method of piecewise quantile regression in contrast with classical method of quantile regression.
Perancangan Sensor Kapasitor Dan Penggunaan Sensor Warna Sebagai Pendeteksi Tingkat Kematangan Biji Kopi Kawi Roasting Menggunakan Logika fuzzy Berbasis Arduino
Authors: Nugroho Bahril Ilmid , Muzakhim Azam , Mustafa Lis Diana
Published: September 2021

Kopi  merupakan  salah satu  minuman yang  sangat  di  gemari  di  Indonesia  karena  rasa  dan aromanya.  Kopi  dalam penyajiannya memiliki jenis berbeda yang ditentukan oleh tingkat kematangan biji kopi saat roasting antara lain light roast, medium roast dan dark roast. Dari ketiga jenis profil roasting tersebut masing-masing memiliki tingkat kadar air dalam biji yang berbeda. Penggunaan mesin roaster untuk menentukan tingkat kematangan biji kopi sering menggunakan pengaturan temperatur dan waktu roasting. Dengan mengetahui nilai kapasitansi dalam menentukan tingkat roasting diharapkan akan menambah keakurasian tingkat roasting. Pada penelitian ini dirancang sebuah sensor kapasitor yang terdiri dari dua keping plat tembaga yang sejajar untuk menentukan tingkat kematangan biji kopi yang telah diroasting.Nilai frekuensi dan sensor warna pada system digunakan untuk menentukan nilai dasar klasifikasi tingkat kematangan biji kopi kawi pada system fuzzy. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian yakni pa da jarak sensor kapasitor sejajar sebesar 2cm pembacaan osiloskop tingkat kematangan dark memliki range frekuensi antara 201 KHz-213 KHz, medium pada range 179 KHz- 206 KHz dan light 178 KHz- 200 KHz. Sedangkan pada pembacaan frequency counter arduino pada tingkat kematangan dark memiliki range 204 KHz- 234 KHz, medium pada range 210 KHz- 227 KHz dan light pada 205 KHz-223 KHz. Hasil klasifikasi jenis tingkat kematangan biji kopi kawi dengan nilai fuzzy untuk dark < 43.50 , 43,50 < medium < 1 74  dan light > 174.
Rancang Bangun Pendeteksi Gelombang Berdiri pada Kabel Koaksial Menggunakan Dioda Detector 1N4148
Authors: Haryanti Anisa Yulia , Zakaria M. Nanak , Hariyadi Aad
Published: September 2021

Dalam saluran transmisi koaksial, ada teori tentang gelombang berdiri (standing wave). Gelombang berdiri terjadi akibat adanya interferensi antara gelombang satu dengan gelombang yang lain. Beberapa institusi atau perguruan tinggi mungkin tidak semua memiliki peralatan untuk mengamati bentuk gelombang yang tepat dari sinyal listrik atau biasa disebut dengan osiloskop. Salah satunya yaitu Politeknik Negeri Malang. Maka dari itu, pada penelitian ini saya ingin memudahkan para mahasiswa, khususnya dalam mata kuliah praktikum saluran transmisi untuk dapat menggambarkan kurva gelombang berdiri pada kabel koaksial. Hasil penerapan sistem dilakukan dengan menggunakan IC LED VU Display sebagai tampilan kurva gelombang berdiri dimana generator fungsi sebagai masukan sinyal yang mana mengatur frekuensi dan tegangan input yang sudah ditentukan. Hasil dari pengujian sistem ini diperoleh gelombang berdiri dalam kondisi mismatch (Rl<50?) pada titik 4/10 ? hingga 7/10 ?, dalam kondisi mismatch (Rl>50?) pada titik 7/10 ? dan 8/10 ? diperoleh dengan diawali kondisi gelombang dalam kondisi match tidak ada gelombang yang dipantulkan.
Prototype Mini Crane Pemindah Barang Berbasis Sistem Otomasi
Authors: Alamsyah Aldi , Purnata Hendi , Yusuf Muhammad
Published: September 2021

Crane merupakan alat yang digunakan untuk mempermudah dalam memindahkan dan mengangkat suatu barang. Peneltian ini bertujuan untuk membuat sistem mini crane untuk optimalisasi pemindahan barang berbasis otomasi industri yang memanfaatkan PLC (programmable logic controller) sebagai kontroler dan pneumatik sebagai aktuatornya. Sistem ini menggunakan PLC Mitsubishi sebagai pengendali utama. PLC bekerja berdasarkan masukan yang diperoleh dari selector switch untuk memilih sistem kerja manual atau otomatis. Terdapat push button sebagai tombol start dan stop, limit switch sebagai pembatas gerak sumbu X dan Y dari Rodless Cylinder untuk memindahkan barang, proximity sensor untuk mendeteksi keberadaan dari barang yang akan dipindahkan dan yang telah dipindahkan. Pada hasil penelitian ini sensor yang digunakan untuk mendeteksi jenis material benda kerja menggunakan sensor proximity inductive. Dalam satu proses crane membutuhkan waktu maksimal 15,37 detik.  Berat maksimal yang dapat dihisap vacuum pada tekanan 3 bar adalah 650g, pada tekanan 4 bar adalah 950g, dan pada tekanan 6 bar adalah 1059g.
Pentingnya Opini Audit sebagai Pemediasi Peningkatan Indeks Pembangunan Manusia
Authors: Dendy Indramawan  , Antonius Beni Handayanto  , Atik Djajanti
Published: September 2021

This study examines the mediating effect of audit opinion on the relationship between local government financial performance and the Human Development Index (HDI) by implementing path analysis. The results showed that audit opinion does not mediate the relationship between Local Own-Source Revenue (PAD) effectiveness and HDI. Audit opinion partially mediates the influence of Regional Financial Independence on HDI, while it perfectly mediates the relationship between Activity Ratio and HDI. This indicates that local government financial performance must be followed by accountable management to accelerate HDI.

Abstrak

Penelitian ini menganalisis efek mediasi opini audit pada hubungan kinerja keuangan pemerintah daerah dan Indeks Pembangunan Manusia (IPM) menggunakan analisis jalur. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa Opini Audit tidak memediasi hubungan antara Efektivitas Pendapatan Asli Daerah (PAD) dan IPM. Opini audit memediasi parsial pengaruh Kemandirian Keuangan Daerah terhadap IPM. Opini audit memediasi sempurna hubungan Rasio Aktivitas dan IPM. Ini mengindikasikan bahwa kinerja keuangan pemerintah daerah harus diikuti dengan pengelolaannya secara akuntabel, sehingga dapat mempercepat peningkatan IPM.
Allergen Risk Assessment for Specific Allergy to Small Ruminant's Milk: Development of Sensitive Immunoassays to Detect Goat's and Sheep's Milk Contaminations in Dairy Food Matrices
Authors: Bernard Hervé , Hazebrouck Stéphane , Gaiani Nicolas , Adel-Patient Karine
Published: September 2021

Despite a high level of sequence identity between cow's, goat's, and sheep's milk (CM, GM, and SM, respectively) proteins, some patients tolerant to CM are allergic to GM and SM. In most cases, this specificity is due to the presence of IgE antibodies that bind only to caprine and ovine caseins. The patients may then develop severe allergic reactions after ingestion of CM products contaminated with low amounts of GM or SM. We thus aimed to develop an assay able to detect traces of caprine/ovine β-caseins in different food matrices, irrespective of the presence of the bovine homolog. We produced monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific to caprine caseins in mice tolerized to the bovine whole casein then sensitized to the caprine whole casein. In order to develop a two-site immunometric assay, we selected mAbs that could discriminate the caprine β-casein from its bovine homolog. Characteristics and performances of two tests were determined with various dairy products. Results were analyzed in relation with the IgE-immunoreactivity of the food matrices, thanks to sera from CM, GM/SM allergic patients. Our two-site immunometric assays demonstrated a high sensitivity with a detection limit of 1.6–3.2 ng/mL of caprine and ovine β-caseins. The tests were able to detect contaminations of GM in CM at the ppm level. Heat-treatment, ripening and coagulation processes, usually applied to dairy products that exhibit a very high IgE-immunoreactivity, did not impair the test sensitivity. These quantitative assays could then be useful for the risk assessment of food products potentially contaminated with GM and SM in order to prevent adverse reactions in patients specifically allergic to these milks.
Regulation of Stem Cell Differentiation by Inorganic Nanomaterials: Recent Advances in Regenerative Medicine
Authors: He Fumei , Cao Jinxiu , Qi Junyang , Liu Zeqi , Liu Gan , Deng Wenbin
Published: September 2021

Transplanting stem cells with the abilities of self-renewal and differentiation is one of the most effective ways to treat many diseases. In order to optimize the therapeutic effect of stem cell transplantation, it is necessary to intervene in stem cell differentiation. Inorganic nanomaterials (NMs), due to their unique physical and chemical properties, can affect the adhesion, migration, proliferation and differentiation of stem cells. In addition, inorganic NMs have huge specific surface area and modifiability that can be used as vectors to transport plasmids, proteins or small molecules to further interfere with the fate of stem cells. In this mini review, we summarized the recent advances of common inorganic NMs in regulating stem cells differentiation, and the effects of the stiffness, size and shape of inorganic NMs on stem cell behavior were discussed. In addition, we further analyzed the existing obstacles and corresponding perspectives of the application of inorganic NMs in the field of stem cells.
Feasibility Study on Re-Using Tennis Balls as Seismic Isolation Bearings
Authors: Katsamakas Antonios A. , Chollet Miro , Eyyi Stefan , Vassiliou Michalis F.
Published: September 2021

This paper presents an experimental study of a low-cost seismic isolator that can be used for the protection of residential structures in low-income countries. The isolator is based on mortar-filled, used tennis spheres, rolling on flat or spherical concrete surfaces. The tennis spheres serve as permanent, spherical molds to cast mortar, and they are not removed after casting. The thin rubber shell of the tennis sphere offers increased damping and reduces stress concentrations at the contact areas. At the same time, this procedure creates a promising solution for the re-use of tennis spheres. Using a closely-spaced grid of such spheres may allow for avoiding the diaphragm slab at the isolation level, or reducing its thickness. Avoiding the cost of this additional, heavily reinforced isolation slab is crucial for making seismically isolated low-rise dwellings economically feasible in low-income regions of the globe. Initially, the tennis isolators were subjected to monotonic uniaxial compression to examine their behavior under vertical loading. Different mixes and low-cost reinforcement approaches to increase their strength were tested. Subsequently, cyclic tests were performed to obtain the lateral force-displacement diagram of the isolation system. The effects of the geometry of the rolling surface (i.e., flat or concave) and of the applied compressive load (i.e., 2.08, 3.23, 4.74, or 8 kN/sphere) on the cyclic behavior were investigated. It was found that the restoring force of such systems mainly originates from the curvature of the concrete surface. However, the vertical motion induced by the compressed sphere and its local casting imperfections is not negligible. When surface imperfections become significant, the force-displacement loops deviate from the bilinear curves that a rigid-body model suggests. When the spheres are properly cast, they experience zero damage even under 8 kN of compressive force, and their loops have a bilinear form. For the tested configurations, the rolling friction (defined as the ratio of lateral to vertical force at zero displacement) was in the range of 4.7–7.2%, thus suitable for seismic isolation applications. The cost of the tested tennis ball isolators was 0.05 $ per sphere.
SUMOylation of Arginyl tRNA Synthetase Modulates the Drosophila Innate Immune Response
Authors: Nayak Prajna , Kejriwal Aarti , Ratnaparkhi Girish S.
Published: September 2021

SUMO conjugation of a substrate protein can modify its activity, localization, interaction or function. A large number of SUMO targets in cells have been identified by Proteomics, but biological roles for SUMO conjugation for most targets remains elusive. The multi-aminoacyl tRNA synthetase complex (MARS) is a sensor and regulator of immune signaling. The proteins of this 1.2 MDa complex are targets of SUMO conjugation, in response to infection. Arginyl tRNA Synthetase (RRS), a member of the sub-complex II of MARS, is one such SUMO conjugation target. The sites for SUMO conjugation are Lys 147 and 383. Replacement of these residues by Arg (RRSK147R,K383R), creates a SUMO conjugation resistant variant (RRSSCR). Transgenic Drosophila lines for RRSWT and RRSSCR were generated by expressing these variants in a RRS loss of function (lof) animal, using the UAS-Gal4 system. The RRS-lof line was itself generated using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. Expression of both RRSWT and RRSSCR rescue the RRS-lof lethality. Adult animals expressing RRSWT and RRSSCR are compared and contrasted for their response to bacterial infection by gram positive M. luteus and gram negative Ecc15. We find that RRSSCR, when compared to RRSWT, shows modulation of the transcriptional response, as measured by quantitative 3′ mRNA sequencing. Our study uncovers a possible non-canonical role for SUMOylation of RRS, a member of the MARS complex, in host-defense.
Recent Advances in Quantum Dots for Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction: A Mini-Review
Authors: Park Young Ho , Murali G. , Modigunta Jeevan Kumar Reddy , In Insik , In Su-Il
Published: September 2021

Solar energy–driven carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction to valuable solar fuels/chemicals (e.g., methane, ethanol, and carbon monoxide) using particulate photocatalysts is regarded as one of the promising and effective approaches to deal with energy scarcity and global warming. The growth of nanotechnology plays an eminent role in improving CO2 reduction (CO2R) efficiencies by means of offering opportunities to tailor the morphology of photocatalysts at a nanoscale regime to achieve enhanced surface reactivity, solar light absorption, and charge separation, which are decisive factors for high CO2R efficiency. Notably, quantum dots (QDs), tiny pieces of semiconductors with sizes below 20 nm, offering a myriad of advantages including maximum surface atoms, very short charge migration lengths, size-dependent energy band positions, multiple exciton generation effect, and unique optical properties, have recently become a rising star in the CO2R application. In this review, we briefly summarized the progress so far achieved in QD-assisted CO2 photoreduction, highlighting the advantages of QDs prepared with diverse chemical compositions such as metal oxides, metal chalcogenides, carbon, metal halide perovskites, and MXenes.
The Chemical Complexity of e-Cigarette Aerosols Compared With the Smoke From a Tobacco Burning Cigarette
Authors: Margham J. , McAdam K. , Cunningham A. , Porter A. , Fiebelkorn S. , Mariner D. , Digard H. , Proctor C.
Published: September 2021

Background: As e-cigarette popularity has increased, there is growing evidence to suggest that while they are highly likely to be considerably less harmful than cigarettes, their use is not free of risk to the user. There is therefore an ongoing need to characterise the chemical composition of e-cigarette aerosols, as a starting point in characterising risks associated with their use. This study examined the chemical complexity of aerosols generated by an e-cigarette containing one unflavored and three flavored e-liquids. A combination of targeted and untargeted chemical analysis approaches was used to examine the number of compounds comprising the aerosol. Contributions of e-liquid flavors to aerosol complexity were investigated, and the sources of other aerosol constituents sought. Emissions of 98 aerosol toxicants were quantified and compared to those in smoke from a reference tobacco cigarette generated under two different smoking regimes.

Results: Combined untargeted and targeted aerosol analyses identified between 94 and 139 compounds in the flavored aerosols, compared with an estimated 72–79 in the unflavored aerosol. This is significantly less complex (by 1-2 orders of magnitude) than the reported composition of cigarette smoke. Combining both types of analysis identified 5–12 compounds over and above those found by untargeted analysis alone. Gravimetrically, 89–99% of the e-cigarette aerosol composition was composed of glycerol, propylene glycol, water and nicotine, and around 3% comprised other, more minor, constituents. Comparable data for the Ky3R4F reference tobacco cigarette pointed to 58–76% of cigarette smoke “tar” being composed of minor constituents. Levels of the targeted toxicants in the e-cigarette aerosols were significantly lower than those in cigarette smoke, with 68.5–>99% reductions under ISO 3308 puffing conditions and 88.4–>99% reductions under ISO 20778 (intense) conditions; reductions against the WHO TobReg 9 priority list were around 99%.

Conclusion: These analyses showed that the e-cigarette aerosols contain fewer compounds and at significantly lower concentrations than cigarette smoke. The chemical diversity of an e-cigarette aerosol is strongly impacted by the choice of e-liquid ingredients.
Sensitized Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction With Earth Abundant 3d Metal Complexes Possessing Dipicolyl-Triazacyclononane Derivatives
Authors: Obermeier Martin , Beckmann Fabian , Schaer Raoul S. , Wenger Oliver S. , Schwalbe Matthias
Published: September 2021

Complexes based on nitrogen and sulfur containing ligands involving 3d metal centers are known for the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2. However, photocatalytical activation has rarely been investigated. We herein present results on the light-driven CO2 reduction using either Ir(dFppy)3 [Ir, dFppy = 2-(4,6-difluorophenyl)pyridine] or [Cu(xant)(bcp)]+, (Cu, xant = xantphos, bcp = bathocuproine) as photosensitizer in combination with TEA (triethylamine) as sacrificial electron donor. The 3d metal catalysts have either dptacn (dipicolyl-triazacyclononane, LN3) or dpdatcn (dipicolyl-diazathiocyclononane, LN2S) as ligand framework and Fe3+, Co3+ or Ni2+ as central metal ion. It turned out that the choice of ligand, metal center and solvent composition influences the selectivity for product formation, which means that the gaseous reduction products can be solely CO or H2 or a mixture of both. The ratio between these two products can be controlled by the right choice of reaction conditions. With using Cu as photosensitizer, we could introduce an intermolecular system that is based solely on 3d metal compounds being able to reduce CO2.
Surgical Menopause and Estrogen Therapy Modulate the Gut Microbiota, Obesity Markers, and Spatial Memory in Rats
Authors: Zeibich Lydia , Koebele Stephanie V. , Bernaud Victoria E. , Ilhan Zehra Esra , Dirks Blake , Northup-Smith Steven N. , Neeley Rachel , Maldonado Juan , Nirmalkar Khemlal , Files Julia A. , Mayer Anita P. , Bimonte-Nelson Heather A. , Krajmalnik-Brown Rosa
Published: September 2021

Menopause in human females and subsequent ovarian hormone deficiency, particularly concerning 17β-estradiol (E2), increase the risk for metabolic dysfunctions associated with obesity, diabetes type 2, cardiovascular diseases, and dementia. Several studies indicate that these disorders are also strongly associated with compositional changes in the intestinal microbiota; however, how E2 deficiency and hormone therapy affect the gut microbial community is not well understood. Using a rat model, we aimed to evaluate how ovariectomy (OVX) and subsequent E2 administration drive changes in metabolic health and the gut microbial community, as well as potential associations with learning and memory. Findings indicated that OVX-induced ovarian hormone deficiency and E2 treatment had significant impacts on several health-affecting parameters, including (a) the abundance of some intestinal bacterial taxa (e.g.,BifidobacteriaceaeandPorphyromonadaceae), (b) the abundance of microbial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) (e.g., isobutyrate), (c) weight/BMI, and (d) high-demand spatial working memory following surgical menopause. Furthermore, exploratory correlations among intestinal bacteria abundance, cognition, and BMI underscored the putative influence of surgical menopause and E2 administration on gut-brain interactions. Collectively, this study showed that surgical menopause is associated with physiological and behavioral changes, and that E2-linked compositional changes in the intestinal microbiota might contribute to some of its related negative health consequences. Overall, this study provides novel insights into interactions among endocrine and gastrointestinal systems in the post-menopausal life stage that collectively alter the risk for the development and progression of cardiovascular, metabolic, and dementia-related diseases.
Synbiotics Supplements Lower the Risk of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Children, Potentially by Providing Resistance to Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis
Authors: Guo Xiaoying , Lan Zixin , Wen Yaling , Zheng Chanjiao , Rong Zuhua , Liu Tao , Chen Siyi , Yang Xingfen , Zheng Huimin , Wu Wei
Published: September 2021

Background

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is an acute enterovirus-induced disease. Gut microbiota dysbiosis has been identified as a factor that plays an important role in enteral virus infection, but the gut microbiota profile in hand, foot and mouth disease has rarely been studied in a large population.

Methods

A total of 749 children (HFMD: n = 262, healthy control: n = 487) aged 2 to 7 years were recruited from hospitals and communities in the period from May to July, 2017. Clinical and demographical information was collected by trained personnel, and fecal samples were collected and processed for 16S ribosomal RNA(rRNA) gene sequencing.

Results

We observed a significant alteration in the microbiota profile of children with HFMD compared with that of control children. Patients with enteroviruses A71(EV71) positive had more dysbiotic gut microbiota than those with coxsackievirus A16 (CAV16) positive. We found that Prevotella and Streptococcus were enriched in children with HFMD, whereas beneficial bacteria, including Bifidobacterium and Faecalibacterium, were depleted. Children with synbiotics supplements had lower risk of HFMD and we observed that the gut microbiota of HFMD patients who were administered synbiotics exhibited potential resistance to the dysbiosis detected in HFMD.

Conclusions

This study suggested that the gut microbiota of patients with hand, foot and mouth disease exhibits dysbiosis and that synbiotics supplements potentially helps maintain the homeostasis of the gut flora.
Characterization of Flow Dynamics in the Pulmonary Bifurcation of Patients With Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot: A Computational Approach
Authors: Boumpouli Maria , Sauvage Emilie L. , Capelli Claudio , Schievano Silvia , Kazakidi Asimina
Published: September 2021

The hemodynamic environment of the pulmonary bifurcation is of great importance for adult patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) due to possible complications in the pulmonary valve and narrowing of the left pulmonary artery (LPA). The aim of this study was to computationally investigate the effect of geometrical variability and flow split on blood flow characteristics in the pulmonary trunk of patient-specific models. Data from a cohort of seven patients was used retrospectively and the pulmonary hemodynamics was investigated using averaged and MRI-derived patient-specific boundary conditions on the individualized models, as well as a statistical mean geometry. Geometrical analysis showed that curvature and tortuosity are higher in the LPA branch, compared to the right pulmonary artery (RPA), resulting in complex flow patterns in the LPA. The computational analysis also demonstrated high time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS) at the outer wall of the LPA and the wall of the RPA proximal to the junction. Similar TAWSS patterns were observed for averaged boundary conditions, except for a significantly modified flow split assigned at the outlets. Overall, this study enhances our understanding about the flow development in the pulmonary bifurcation of rTOF patients and associates some morphological characteristics with hemodynamic parameters, highlighting the importance of patient-specificity in the models. To confirm these findings, further studies are required with a bigger cohort of patients.
Association of Pericoronary Adipose Tissue Quality Determined by Dual-Layer Spectral Detector CT With Severity of Coronary Artery Disease: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Dang Yuxue , Chen Xujiao , Ma Shaowei , Ma Yue , Ma Quanmei , Zhou Ke , Liu Ting , Wang Kunhua , Hou Yang
Published: September 2021

Background: Pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) is considered as a source of inflammatory mediators, leading to the development of coronary atherosclerosis. The study aimed to investigate the correlation between PCAT quality derived from dual-layer spectral detector CT (SDCT) and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD), and whether PCAT parameters were independently associated with the presence of CAD.

Materials and Methods: A total of 403 patients with symptoms of chest pain who underwent SDCT were included. PCAT quality including fat attenuation index (FAI) measured from conventional polychromatic CT images (FAI120kvp) and spectral virtual mono-energetic images at 40 keV (FAI40keV), slope of spectral HU curve (λHU), and effective atomic number (Eff-Z) were measured around the lesions representing the maximal degree of vascular stenosis in each patient. Meanwhile, overall epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) attenuation was acquired in the conventional polychromatic energy imaging.

Results: FAI40keV, λHU, Eff-Z, and FAI120kvp increased along with the degree of CAD in general and were superior to the overall EAT attenuation for detecting the presence of CAD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that FAI40keV was the most powerful independent indicator (odds ratio 1.058, 95% CI 1.044–1.073; p < 0.001) of CAD among these parameters. Using an optimal cut-off (−131.8 HU), FAI40keV showed higher diagnostic accuracy of 80.6% compared with the other parameters.

Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest that FAI40keV on SDCT may be an appealing surrogate maker to allow monitoring of PCAT changes in the development of CAD.
Suprasellar Mature Cystic Teratoma Mimicking Rathke’s Cleft Cyst: A Case Report and Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Jiang Shenzhong , Wang Zhaojian , You Yan , Wang Renzhi , Bao Xinjie
Published: September 2021

In this article, we present a 31-year-old female who presented with intermittent headache and oligomenorrhea of over 10 years’ duration. Imaging revealed a large suprasellar mass with sellar extension. The patient underwent an endoscopic endonasal trans-sphenoidal surgery to resection of the mass. Clinical, radiological, and operative findings from this patient were initially considered to be Rathke’s cleft cyst (RCC). However, postoperative histological examinations revealed a mature cystic teratoma. No radiotherapy was performed after surgery. At the most recent follow-up, approximately 1 year later, the patient is doing well with no headache and no recurrence of the teratoma.
Prediction of the Recurrence of Non-Functioning Pituitary Adenomas Using Preoperative Supra-Intra Sellar Volume and Tumor-Carotid Distance
Authors: Chen Wenli , Wang Mengqi , Duan Chengbin , Yao Shun , Jiao Haosen , Wang Zongming , Hu Bin , Mao Zhigang , Zhu Yonghong , Wang Haijun
Published: September 2021

Background

Currently, it is difficult to estimate the possibility of recurrence of nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs). Markers such as Ki-67 or transcription factors rely on postoperative pathology, while few indices can be used for preoperative prediction. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the predictive effectiveness of supra-intrasellar volume and tumor-carotid distance based on measurements derived from preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data.

Method

Ninety-eight cases of NFPAs were evaluated, along with their clinical characteristics and MRI features. Four radiologic indices were analyzed, including intrasellar tumor volume, suprasellar tumor volume, maximum horizontal tumor diameter, and intercarotid distance. The ratio of supra-intrasellar volume and ratio of tumor-carotid distance were measured using 3D Slicer software, and the sum of two ratios was defined as the V-D value. The correlation between recurrence and multiple factors was analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis, and ROC curves were used to estimate the prognostic performance of radiologic measurements in NFPAs.

Result

The supra-intrasellar volume ratio, tumor-carotid distance ratio and V-D value were significantly correlated with the recurrence of NFPAs. The predictive importance of the V-D value reached 84.5%, with a sensitivity of 83.7% and specificity of 67.3%. The cutoff limit of the V-D value was 1.53, and patients with V-D values higher than 1.53 tended to relapse much earlier.

Conclusion

The V-D value has predictive importance for the recurrence of NFPAs preoperatively. Patients with higher V-D values will undergo recurrence earlier and should be given greater consideration in terms of surgery and follow-up time.
Quantifying Heat Transfer Characteristics of the Kroll Reactor in Titanium Sponge Production
Authors: Wang Wenhao , Wu Fuzhong
Published: September 2021

Various reactors with different sizes have been widely used for the production of titanium sponge in the Kroll process. But the further commercialization of the forced heat transfer design of the Kroll reactor is limited by lack of standard parameter to evaluate its convective heat transfer characteristics. This work proposes to evaluate and compare the Kroll reactor with the dimensionless Nusselt number. The results shown that the heat transfer coefficients for both surfaces increase with the volume flow rate of cooling air for each dimensionless temperature, and the heat transfer coefficients of the external surface of the reactor are higher than that of the internal surface of the heater. And new correlations regarding the Nusselt number between the cooling air and the external surface of the reactor or the internal surface of the heater are obtained based on experimental data, while the characteristics of the cooling air, equipment and operation parameters are considered.
Intelligent Frequency Control Strategy Based on Reinforcement Learning of Multi-Objective Collaborative Reward Function
Authors: Zhang Lei , Xie Yumiao , Ye Jing , Xue Tianliang , Cheng Jiangzhou , Li Zhenhua , Zhang Tao
Published: September 2021

Large scale wind power integration into the power grid will pose a serious threat to the frequency control of power system. If only Control Performance Standard (CPS) index is used as the evaluation standard of frequency quality, it will easily lead to short-term centralized frequency crossing, which will affect the effect of intelligent Automatic Generation Control (AGC) on frequency quality. In order to solve this problem, a multi-objective collaborative reward function is constructed by introducing a collaborative evaluation mechanism with multiple evaluation indexes. In addition, Negotiated W-Learning strategy is proposed to globally optimize the solution of the objective function from multi dimensions, it avoids the poor learning efficiency of the traditional Greedy strategy. The AGC control model simulation of standard two area interconnected power grid shows that the proposed intelligent strategy can effectively improve the frequency control performance and improve the frequency quality of the system in the whole-time scale.
Measuring Metrics of Climate Change and Its Implication on the Endangered Mammal Conservation in the Leuser Ecosystem
Authors: Condro Aryo Adhi , Prasetyo Lilik Budi , Rushayati Siti Badriyah , Santikayasa I Putu , Iskandar Entang
Published: September 2021

The Leuser Ecosystem is one of the essential landscapes in the world for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services. However, the Leuser Ecosystem has suffered many threats from anthropogenic activities and changing climate. Climate change is the greatest challenge to global biodiversity conservation. Efforts should be made to elaborate climatic change metrics toward biological conservation practices. Herein, we present several climate change metrics to support conservation management toward mammal species in the Leuser Ecosystem. We used a 30-year climate of mean annual temperature, annual precipitation, and the BIOCLIM data to capture the current climatic conditions. For the future climate (2050), we retrieved three downscaled general circulation models for the business-as-usual scenario of shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP585). We calculated the dissimilarities of the current and 2050 climatic conditions using the standardized Euclidean distance (SED). To capture the probability of climate extremes in each period (i.e., current and future conditions), we calculated the 5th and 95th percentiles of the distributions of monthly temperature and precipitation, respectively, in the current and future conditions. Furthermore, we calculated forward and backward climate velocities based on the mean annual temperature. These metrics can be useful inferences about species conservation. Our results indicate that almost all of the endangered mammals in the Leuser Ecosystem will occur in the area with threats to local populations and sites. Different conservation strategies should be performed in the areas likely to present different threats toward mammal species. Habitat restoration and long-term population monitoring are needed to support conservation in this mega biodiversity region.
The Effect of Low Temperature Stress on the Leaves and MicroRNA Expression of Potato Seedlings
Authors: Yan Chongchong , Zhang Nan , Wang Qianqian , Fu Yuying , Wang Feng , Su Yanbin , Xue Bingjie , Zhou Lin , Liao Huajun
Published: September 2021

In recent years, with the wanton destruction of the ecological environment by humans and the frequent occurrence of extreme bad weather, many places that should have been warm and blooming in spring have instead experienced the phenomenon of the “April blizzard,” which has seriously affected China's crops, especially spring potato production in most areas. Potato cultivars, especially potato seedlings, are sensitive to frost, and low temperature frost has become one of the most important abiotic stresses affecting potato production. Potato cold tolerance is regulated by a complex gene network. Although some low temperature resistant microRNAs have been identified, little is known about the role of miRNAs in response to low temperature stress in potato. Therefore, the objective of this study is to clarify the influence of low temperature stress on the miRNA expression of potato by comparing the expression differences of miRNA in potato which was treated with different low temperatures. For the study, 307 known miRNAs belonging to 73 small RNA families and 211 novel miRNAs were obtained. When the temperature decreased, the number of both known and novel miRNA decreased, and the minimum temperature was −2°C. Most of the miRNAs respond to low temperature, drought, and disease stress; some conserved miRNAs were first found to respond to low temperature stress in potato, such as stu-miR530, stu-miR156d, and stu-miR167b. The Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes, and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis of 442 different expression miRNAs target genes indicated that there existed diversified low temperature responsive pathways, but Abscisic Acid was found likely to play a central coordinating role in response to low temperature stress in many metabolism pathways. Quantitative real-time PCR assays indicated that the related targets were negatively regulated by the tested different expression miRNAs during low temperature stress. The results indicated that miRNAs may play an important coordination role in response to low temperature stress in many metabolic pathways by regulating abscisic acid and gibberellin, which provided insight into the roles of miRNAs during low temperature stress and would be helpful for alleviating low temperature stress and promoting low temperature resistant breeding in potatoes.
Genetic and Epigenetic Therapies for β-Thalassaemia by Altering the Expression of α-Globin Gene
Authors: Mettananda Sachith
Published: September 2021

β-Thalassaemia is caused by over 300 mutations in and around the β-globin gene that lead to impaired synthesis of β-globin. The expression of α-globin continues normally, resulting in an excess of α-globin chains within red blood cells and their precursors. These unpaired α-globin chains form unstable α-hemichromes that trigger cascades of events to generate reactive oxygen species, leading to ineffective erythropoiesis and haemolysis in patients with β-thalassaemia. The clinical genetic data reported over several decades have demonstrated how the coinheritance of α-thalassaemia ameliorates the disease phenotype of β-thalassaemia. Thus, it is evident that down-regulation of the α-globin gene expression in patients with β-thalassaemia could ameliorate or even cure β-thalassaemia. Over the last few years, significant progress has been made in utilising this pathway to devise a cure for β-thalassaemia. Most research has been done to alter the epigenetic landscape of the α-globin locus or the well-characterised distant enhancers of α-globin. In vitro, pre-clinical studies on primary human erythroid cells have unveiled inhibition of histone lysine demethylation and histone deacetylation as potential targets to achieve selective downregulation of α-globin through epigenetic drug targeting. CRISPR based genome editing has been successfully used in vitro to mutate α-globin genes or enhancers of α-goblin to achieve clinically significant knockdowns of α-globin to the levels beneficial for patients with β-thalassaemia. This review summarises the current knowledge on the regulation of human α-globin genes and the clinical genetic data supporting the pathway of targeting α-globin as a treatment for β-thalassaemia. It also presents the progress of epigenetic drug and genome editing approaches currently in development to treat β-thalassaemia.
Comparative Genome Analysis of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Focusing on Phylogenomics, Functional Traits, and Prevalence of Antimicrobial and Virulence Genes
Authors: Liu Hualin , Prajapati Vimalkumar , Prajapati Shobha , Bais Harsh , Lu Jianguo
Published: September 2021

Bacillus amyloliquefaciensis a gram-positive, nonpathogenic, endospore-forming, member of a group of free-living soil bacteria with a variety of traits including plant growth promotion, production of antifungal and antibacterial metabolites, and production of industrially important enzymes. We have attempted to reconstruct the biogeographical structure according to functional traits and the evolutionary lineage ofB. amyloliquefaciensusing comparative genomics analysis. All the available 96 genomes ofB. amyloliquefaciensstrains were curated from the NCBI genome database, having a variety of important functionalities in all sectors keeping a high focus on agricultural aspects. In-depth analysis was carried out to deduce the orthologous gene groups and whole-genome similarity. Pan genome analysis revealed that shell genes, soft core genes, core genes, and cloud genes comprise 17.09, 5.48, 8.96, and 68.47%, respectively, which demonstrates that genomes are very different in the gene content. It also indicates that the strains may have flexible environmental adaptability or versatile functions. Phylogenetic analysis showed thatB. amyloliquefaciensis divided into two clades, and clade 2 is further dived into two different clusters. This reflects the difference in the sequence similarity and diversification that happened in theB. amyloliquefaciensgenome. The majority of plant-associated strains ofB. amyloliquefacienswere grouped in clade 2 (73 strains), while food-associated strains were in clade 1 (23 strains). Genome mining has been adopted to deduce antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes and their prevalence among all strains. The genestmrBandyuaBcodes for tunicamycin resistance protein and hydrophobic coat forming protein only exist in clade 2, whileclpP, which codes for serine proteases, is only in clade 1. Genome plasticity of all strains ofB. amyloliquefaciensreflects their adaption to different niches.